Hong Kong: Education changes lives behind bars

Ethics College student Alan (a pseudonym) recently attained 96 marks out of 100 in his Mathematics exam. Never had I thought I could make it, he said of the breakthrough in his academic life.

Serving a sentence for the offence of trafficking in dangerous drugs, Alan is now also a full-time student in the Correctional Services Departments Ethics College.

The college is a new initiative established last year to give adults in custody the chance to pursue a one-year full-time Diploma of Applied Education, instead of working. The aim is to better equip them for the future, encourage them to adopt positive values and, most importantly, change their lives through education.

Back to school

Having left school more than 10 years ago, and having failed all subjects in his public examination, Alan initially attempted self-study while in custody but found it impossible.

I tried to learn English by myself while in custody before but it was too hard to do so because no one could help me when I did not understand something, he said. I gave up eventually.

As an Ethics College student, however, Alan has seen steady improvement in his learning, assisted by caring teachers and hard-working fellow students.

Correctional Services Department Assistant Officer I Or Siu-ming, who is responsible for overseeing students discipline and studies in the college, said he had witnessed remarkable changes both in Alans academic performance and in his attitude.

I felt really touched with Alans positive changes here, from being a person with low confidence to a better one who would plan for his future.



In his remaining four years behind bars, Alan plans to further his study by pursuing an associate degree. He hopes to seek a better career and repay his parents in the future.

When I was young, my parents had very high expectations on me and wanted me to concentrate on my studies, but I made them disappointed.

This time, I will never let them down again. I hope to better equip myself here and find a good job after I get released.

Total support

Bella (also a pseudonym) is an Ethics College student who was also convicted of trafficking in dangerous drugs.

Not having completed her Secondary 5 study, she feared that her insufficient academic qualifications would prevent her from finding a good job after her release.

The Ethics College has given her what she considers to be a life-changing opportunity to go back to school.

When I learnt that I have a chance to study again, I was very happy and took the chance to apply. I could not imagine that I would be finally admitted to the college.

Bella explained that she receives enormous support for her studies in the college.

Apart from classes on school days, there are also volunteers visiting and tutoring us during the holidays. After class, I can use a tablet to continue my revision in my dormitory.

The officers who take care of us are kind and nice. They care about every single student in class.

The departments Assistant Officer II Hui Ka-yin, who supervises Bella in the college, praised her for being hard-working and for helping to create a good learning atmosphere in class, influencing her fellow classmates to work hard as well.

After studying one semester, she grew in confidence and became a hard-working person who is eager to plan for her future.

Bella, who expects to be released this year, now has a clear career goal.

I have already found my interest here, she said. I plan to further my study in animal-assisted therapy. I want to do a job that I like in the future.

The Ethics College launched at the end of October with a total of 75 students in its first batch. The intakes 60 male students are receiving their education at Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution, with 15 female students attending the classes remotely at Lo Wu Correctional Institution.

This story has been published on: 2024-02-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Fiji reiterates commitment to one-China principle

Xinhua) 09:53, February 04, 2024

Luo Zhaohui (L), head of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, shakes hands with Fijian Acting Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica after signing related cooperation documents in Suva, Fiji, Feb. 2, 2024. Kamikamica said Friday that his country firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to inject new momentum into China-Fiji comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.(Xinhua/Feng Qidi)

SUVA, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Fijian Acting Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica said Friday that his country firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to inject new momentum into China-Fiji comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Kamikamica made the remarks after meeting with Luo Zhaohui, head of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, and signed related cooperation documents.

Noting that the Chinese-style modernization has provided a new option for developing countries, he said Fiji looks forward to learning from China's experience in governance.

Kamikamica said his country stands ready to deepen practical cooperation with China in various fields, and participate in major initiatives put forward by China.

China appreciates Fiji's adherence to the one-China principle, and is willing to work with Fiji to contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind, Luo said.

China is also willing to provide further assistance to the best of its ability for Fiji's economic and social development and deepen practical cooperation in areas including agriculture, infrastructure and education, he added.

Luo also met with other Fijian officials, and visited China-aided projects in Fiji.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
As Texas school boards approach a March 1 deadline to declare whether to allow chaplains as counselors, some, like East Central ISD trustees seen last year, have found a way to comply while avoiding political backlash. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

Forced by the Legislature to say yes or no to welcoming chaplains onto their campuses as counselors, some area school boards are settling somewhere in the middle, dodging the political blowback that might come from taking a firm stand under the controversial new law.

Its a neat trick, since courting blowback was the whole point, critics of the law say.

Enacted last year, Senate Bill 763 allows Texas schools to use safety funds to hire religious chaplains as counselors  licensed for that job or not  and requires the boards of every public school system in the state to vote by March 1 whether to authorize employing them or accepting them as volunteers.

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At its Jan. 18 board meeting, the East Central Independent School District board adopted a resolution that changed nothing while respectfully nodding at chaplains, voting to retain its longstanding practice of permitting all qualified volunteers regardless of affiliation or vocation, including a person who is a chaplain.

The school district, on the border between suburban and rural, is one of several in the greater San Antonio area and many statewide that have managed to sidestep what some describe as a political purity test by voting to uphold their existing volunteer policies. The tactful approach complies with the law while neither allowing religion in public schools or outright rejecting that idea.

Former Northside ISD Superintendent Brian Woods, now the deputy director of advocacy for the Texas Association of School Administrators, says some rural school districts really need the flexibility to use chaplains as counselors, but the new state law also was designed to embarrass school boards and make trustees easier for conservatives to target. Robin Jerstad / Robin Jerstad

Theres the vote up and the vote down, and then theres this special third option that we didnt know was going to be a thing, and thats the volunteer language that were seeing, said Emily Bourgeois, lead organizer with the Austin-based Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

The carefully worded resolutions make no mention of chaplains providing counseling or spiritual-related services, the legislations intent, she said. Its a way to remain politically neutral for Texas school boards increasingly pressured by culture war issues, from library books to sex education, Bourgeois said.

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Theyre asked, Do you agree with this or do you not agree with this, she said. And then there are people holding a microscope on those school districts to see how individual board members are voting.

Avoiding politics

East Central ISDs resolution means someone signing up for volunteer opportunities wont be turned down on account of being a chaplain. It doesnt mean the district has any plans to put members of the clergy into mental health roles  at least, not without the necessary credentials.

We want professionals that have all the qualifications needed to work with children, especially when youre talking about counseling and things of that nature, which in the post-pandemic world is more needed than ever, said Brandon Oliver, the districts director of marketing and communications.

Oliver said East Central only hires certified counselors but doesnt discriminate if an applicant also happens to be a chaplain. The district isnt going to hire a bunch of chaplains and have them preach at kids, he said, but its possible that a chaplain working in a counseling role could use faith-based approaches if deemed appropriate.

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The board adopted the resolution as part of its consent agenda, a group of items assumed to be uncontroversial that can be handled without discussion and with a single motion and vote.

We just considered it routine because were not getting into politics, Oliver said. We have no interest in jumping into that arena  If youre qualified, the kids love you, you are enhancing their lives, then welcome aboard.

SB 763, authored by state Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, is touted as a way to alleviate the shortage of counselors in schools.

Providing rural districts with a way to fill gaps in their mental health programs is a valid goal, said Brian Woods, deputy executive director of advocacy for the Texas Association of School Administrators.

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There are schools and I certainly know superintendents who are thankful for the permission to do this because they simply cannot find people and they believe that their students are harmed by the lack of those people, said Woods, the former superintendent of Northside ISD, the areas largest.

Whats less admirable, he said, is forcing every school board in Texas to take a record vote on a politically charged issue many of them have no reason to touch.

This has been a tactic of some very conservative legislators, to force boards to adopt a policy that essentially makes them take a controversial stand, clearly in order to embarrass them in the community, Woods said.

Identifying trustees who can be labeled anti-religion makes it easier for candidates who favor more conservative, faith-based agendas to run against them, he said. But Woods rejects the idea that deciding not to employ chaplains is a political statement, especially in districts that arent short of counselors.

I can choose to have only highly trained professional counselors serve my kids and still be pro-religion, Woods said. Those two things are not mutually exclusive.

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A boards response to SB 763 doesnt need to affect its existing policy on chaplains. So far, every local school district that has voted to reject a school chaplain program  including Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City, Southside, South San Antonio, Harlandale, Edgewood, Fort Sam Houston, New Braunfels and Medina Valley ISDs  permits chaplains to serve as volunteers if they follow the rules for that role.

Alamo Heights ISD, in a part of Bexar County considered a Republican stronghold, has adopted a resolution identical to East Centrals. A district spokesperson said no one was available for an interview.

Hays Consolidated Independent School District has also voted to reaffirm a policy of allowing volunteer chaplains on its campuses. Superintendent Eric Wright said the district has a history of letting religious leaders mentor student groups or support individual students, and will continue to do so, with parental consent. They need to pass background checks and they will not take the place of our professional school counselors, he said.

Some districts seemed unaware of the possible compromise wording, which was published by the Texas Association of School Boards, or TASB. in a list of sample resolutions responsive to the new law.

Edgewood ISD Superintendent Eduardo Hernandez said the idea of a resolution politely upholding current volunteer policy just wasnt on his radar. A Southside ISD spokesperson said the districts lawyer gave its board just two options. either allowing or prohibiting chaplains at its schools.

This month, Northside, North East, San Antonio, Southwest, Judson, Comal and Randolph Field ISDs are expected to vote on the measure.

The vote could be difficult for the NEISD board, which has been divided 3-3 between social conservatives and moderates since trustee Terri Williams died in August. During a discussion in September about the upcoming need to respond to SB 763, trustee Marsha Landry voiced her support for religious voices in schools.

I think this is a great opportunity to bring some spiritual guidance into the school and ask for chaplains as volunteers to come in and not take over counseling positions, but be there as a resource for children who are interested and might want that type of nourishment, she said.

Does not belong

In August, the Rev. Erin Walter, executive director of the Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry, joined more than 100 chaplains in signing a letter urging school boards to vote against putting chaplains in public schools.

As vital as chaplains are in many settings, SB 763 weaponizes that role to benefit religious extremists, said Walter, a former public school teacher and hospice chaplain.

Public money should not be spent on religious proselytizing, she said. I love the work of chaplaincy where it belongs, but it does not belong in public schools  and it definitely does not belong taking the place of trained school counselors.

Texas is the first state to allow chaplains to serve as unlicensed school counselors, but the model is currently being considered by Iowa, Indiana and Florida.

Walter said the chaplain bill is part of a larger push by Texas Republicans to indoctrinate school children with state-sponsored religion, citing failed earlier efforts to allow public schools to establish periods of prayer or Bible-reading and to require the display of the Ten Commandments in every classroom.

Lawmakers voted down a proposed amendment to SB 763 that would have barred chaplains from imposing their beliefs on students. They rejected other amendments requiring parental consent before a chaplain can meet with a child, making chaplains obtain a formal accreditation and allowing students to request chaplains from any faith or denomination.

We know this is going to make schools less safe for kids of many diverse faiths and for LGBTQ kids, Walter said.

Some opponents of the new law worry that, however tempting it would be to hire untrained chaplains for hard-to-fill counseling jobs or to do the work for free, it could worsen the states ongoing student mental health crisis.

The University of Texas at San Antonios school counseling program has coursework on children and adolescent issues, family therapy, trauma and grief, addiction and a wide range of mental illnesses, and requires more 700 hours of internships, said Gerald Juhnke, professor and interim counseling department chair.
OKLAHOMA COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR)  Two vehicles crashed into each other, landing them in a home on the southwest side of Oklahoma City late Saturday night, according to police.

| MORE LOCAL NEWS > OCC: Some wastewater wells near Prague will close following 5.1 magnitude earthquake >

Oklahoma City Police responded to a home at SW 25th and Douglas around 11:20 p.m. to find the vehicles in a home.

The preliminary investigation showed that a truck and a car crashed into each other first and then landed the two in the home.

Officials said that one person was injured and rushed to OU Medical Center, it is unknown how serious the injuries were.

The cause, officials said is still under investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. (WBTW)  A U.S. Coast Guard vessel aided a disabled boater about 10 miles offshore of Pawleys Island on Sunday, officials said.

A crew from U.S. Coast Guard Station Georgetown towed the unidentified boat to Murrells Inlet. No medical concerns were reported, the Coast Guard said on its X social media account.

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden greet service members before boarding Air Force One after attending a casualty return for Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Ga., Sgt. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Ga., and Sgt. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Ga., at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. The three were killed in a drone attack in Jordan on Jan. 28. | Alex Brandon, Associated Press

As part of an ongoing response to the deaths of three U.S. soldiers in Jordan on Jan. 28, U.S and British forces have executed strikes against Houthis in Yemen.

According to CNN, the strikes, which were supported by several other countries, targeted command and control facilities, an underground weapons storage facility and other weapons stores of the Houthis.

U.S forces also struck six Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles before they could be launched into the Red Sea. The strikes hit a minimum of 30 targets spread across at least 10 locations, two U.S. officials told CNN.

What happened at Tower 22 in Jordan?

Early on the morning of Sunday, Jan. 28, an unmanned aerial drone bombed a logistics support base located at Tower 22 of the Jordanian Defense Network, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. Tower 22 lies near the demilitarized zone between Jordan and Syria and is only 5 miles from the Iraq border, per The Associated Press.

The attack killed three service members and injured more than 40, eight of whom had to be evacuated from the base. According to the Department of Defense, the three service members killed were Sgt. William Jerome Rivers of Carrollton, Georgia; Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders of Waycross, Georgia; and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett of Savannah, Georgia.

U.S. Response

After the attack on Sunday, the Biden administration approved a mulitpronged attack on Iraq and Syria on Friday, as previously reported by the Deseret News.

Military forces struck 85 targets at seven separate locations used by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in previous attacks on U.S forces, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin said in a statement released through the Department of Defense.

In his statement, Austin stated that neither he nor the president seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else, but that they will not tolerate attacks on American forces.

In a response released through The White House on Friday, President Joe Biden said, Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing.

He continued, The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world. But let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond.
Peter Warren is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle. He can be reached at peter.warren@houstonchronicle.com .

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.
Ukraine may sign a security agreement with Germany in February, European Pravda reported on Feb. 3, citing the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The draft document has already been finalized.

The agreement is scheduled to be signed on Feb. 16.

German news agency DPA added that the talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will continue "in the near future."

Read also: Security agreement between Germany and Ukraine is in final negotiations stage, says Scholz

Scholz announced on Jan. 29 that Berlin and Kyiv could soon agree on a security agreement in accordance with the G7 Framework Declaration adopted at the NATO summit in July 2023.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Kyiv on Jan. 12 and met with Zelenskyy. The parties signed a 10-year security agreement that will remain in effect until Ukraine joins NATO.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Jan. 13 that Ukraine is negotiating with many partners to sign agreements on security guarantees and military cooperation.

Canada also submitted a draft security agreement to Ukraine, media reported on Jan. 15.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Jan. 17 that his country was finalizing an agreement on security guarantees for Ukraine.

The President's Office announced on Nov. 28 that Ukraine had begun consultations on security guarantees with the last G7 country, Italy.



Read also: Just give us the orders!  German arms manufacturers plead with Pistorius to speed up procurement

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
As the Presidents Office remained stum for another day over whether or not Ukraines commander-in-chief was out of a job, one of the men tipped possibly to replace him gave a short but clear-eyed assessment of the situation facing soldiers on the front line.

Visiting troops near the town of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, Oleksandr Syrskyi, wrote on his Telegram channel, The operational situation remains tense. Heavy fighting is taking place along all sectors of the frontline.

Syrskyi made no reference to reports that President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to announce the dismissal of army chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi over disagreements about what Ukraine should do to win the war following the failure of the counteroffensive.

But Syrskyi did nod to the highly charged issue of troop numbers, and Russias advantage in that area, when he wrote, The enemy continues to conduct high-intensity assault operations and is constantly bringing in new reserves.

Zelenskys reluctance to get behind army chief Zaluzhnyis request for a mobilization drive of up to half a million people, made last December, is seen as a key reason for the spike in tensions between them.

CNN has reported the president told Zaluzhnyi he was being replaced at a meeting last Monday. A presidential spokesman denied the report but a source familiar with the matter said an announcement was expected within days. As of Sunday morning, the army chief was still in office.

Zaluzhnyi referenced his frustrations in an Opinion piece for CNN last week, referring to, the inability of state institutions in Ukraine to improve the manpower levels of our armed forces without the use of unpopular measures.

The region visited by Syrskyi on Saturday has seen Ukrainian forces pushed back in several places over recent weeks, with Russian pressure bearing down in particular on a group of settlements clustered around the village of Tabaivka, which lies along the border of the Luhansk and Kharkiv regions.

A General Staff report Saturday evening reported further air strikes as well as artillery and mortar fire launched at more than 15 settlements in the area.

Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi. - Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters/File

A senior army spokesman with responsibility for the same region drew attention to another Ukrainian deficit opposite Russia, in comments on Ukrainian television  namely, a lack of ammunition.

The Russians are superior in both equipment and personnel, Illia Yevlash said, adding: We need a lot of ammunition to destroy such power and intensity.

However, Yevlash said Russian soldiers were also experiencing possible ammunition shortages, albeit less severe than Ukraine. Where previously, Russian forces had been firing 60,000 rounds a day along the entire front line, the number currently was about half that, he said.

Yevlash also commented on the situation around the battered city of Bakhmut  which has been at the centre of fighting for over a year.

Russian forces were working hard to break through Ukraines defenses, the spokesman said, with the aim of advancing towards Chasiv Yar, a highly militarized town on higher ground a few kilometers west of Bakhmut.

An indication of the toll such relentless fighting has taken came from Oleksandr, a member of a sniper platoon working in the same area of operations.

We are in deep defense mode and are holding back the enemy. Both our men and those of the enemy are exhausted.

Further south, Russian attention has been focused for months on the town of Avdiivka, and its massive coke plant, both of which Russia has been attempting to encircle.

The Deep State mapping service, widely used by analysts for its careful reporting of frontline movements, has indicated Russian gains to the north of the town in recent days, though a spokesman for the 47th brigade, which is fighting to defend the town, was more upbeat.

Dmytro Lazutkin said his brigade was inflicting heavy losses on Russia, which had still been unable to break through and cut off Ukrainian logistics supplies to the town.

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Key developments on Feb. 3-4:

Military intelligence reports assassination attempt on Russian military pilot

Reshuffling Ukrainian army leadership is up to Zelensky, Sullivan says

Budanov: Ukraine sunk Russian corvette on Feb. 1 with 6 naval drones

Zelensky, Syrskyi visit front-line troops

Military: Russian sabotage group fought off near border in Sumy Oblast

Responding to conflicting reports that President Volodymyr Zelensky is planning to dismiss his army chief, the United States government has told Ukraine it will not get involved in the countrys personnel decisions, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Feb. 4.

That is not something the U.S. government should be weighing in on one way or another, Sullivan said. Its the sovereign right of Ukraine and the right of the President of Ukraine to make his personnel decisions.

This stance has been directly communicated to Ukraine, Sullivan added, during an appearance on CBSs Face the Nation.

Speculation has swirled for weeks that Zelensky is set to fire his Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who has served in that role since 2021.

The relationship between the two has increasingly been rumored to be strained, particularly after Nov. 1, when Zaluzhnyi gave an interview to the Economist in which he described a potential trap of a prolonged war.

A December 2023 poll found that an overwhelming majority (72%) of Ukrainians would disapprove of Zaluzhnyis resignation.

Read also: Are Zelensky and his top general really in discord?

Military intelligence reports assassination attempt on Russian strategic bomber pilot

Oleg Stegachev, the crew commander of a Russian Tu-95 strategic bomber, was shot in the Russian city of Engels, Ukraine's military intelligence reported on Feb. 3.

Russia has regularly used the Engels air base, which is located around 730 kilometers southeast of Moscow and hundreds of kilometers from Ukraine, to attack Ukraine with aircraft carrying cruise missiles.

Stegachev, born in 1983, has served at the Engels air base and has been directly involved in strikes on Ukrainian civilian sites, military intelligence reported on Telegram.

The military intelligence agency is still clarifying whether Stegachev survived the attack.

The military intelligence didn't claim responsibility for the assassination attempt but hinted that it was involved.

We remind you that retribution awaits all war criminals  we know your names, addresses, car numbers, usual routes and habits, the agency said.

Meanwhile, Russian pro-war Telegram channels claimed Stegachev resigned from the military years before Russia's (full-scale) war.

Read also: Opinion: Why supporting Ukraine enhances US national security

Budanov says Russian missile corvette derstoryed with 6 naval drones

The Russian missile corvette Ukraine reported to have sunk off the coast of occupied Crimea on Feb. 1 was destroyed using six naval drones, military intelligence Chief Kyrylo Budanov said on Feb. 4.

Intelligence reported on Feb. 1 that it had sunk the Ivanovets, a Tarantul-class Russian corvette that formed part of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, after it sustained direct hits to its hull and was irreparably damaged.

According to Budanov, the mission was undertaken by one of the special units, Group 13, using Maritime Autonomous Guard Unmanned Robotic Apparatuses (MAGURA) V5  multi-purpose naval drones that can be used for surveillance, reconnaissance, detecting and eliminating mines, search and rescue missions, and combat.

As a result of the damage, the ship rolled astern and sank. According to preliminary data, the search and rescue operation conducted by the enemy was not successful, Budanov told the War Zone media outlet on Feb. 4.

Read also: These are the most important Russian ships destroyed by Ukraine

Zelensky visits front-line troops in Zaporizhzhia Oblast

President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Ukraines 65th Mechanized Brigade near the front-line town of Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on Feb. 4.

Robotyne sits by the a main road toward Russian-occupied Tokmak and further to occupied Melitopol, one of the key logistic hubs for Russian forces in southern Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces liberated Robotyne in late August last year.

Zelensky also awarded troops with Crosses of Military Merit, a presidential award recognizing service people for outstanding personal bravery and courage during combat missions.

I am greatly honored to be here today. To support you and present awards. Such a difficult, decisive mission rests on your shoulders  to push back the enemy and win this war. I wish you this victory. I wish to do everything to make this victory faster, said Zelensky.

The day before, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukraine's Ground Forces, visited military units in the Kupiansk sector facing heavy onslaught of Russian forces, the Ground Forces' press service said on social media on Feb. 3.

In the past weeks, Kyiv has been warning that Russia is intensifying attacks around Kupiansk, aiming to encircle and capture this key logistics hub in Kharkiv Oblast.

The northeastern city was temporarily occupied by Russian forces in 2022.

The operational situation remains tense... The enemy continues to conduct high-intensity assault operations and is constantly bringing in new supplies, the report said.

Syrskyi listened to reports of local commanders and discussed possible scenarios of Russian actions, taking into consideration gathered intelligence.

Read also: I wanted to save lives. How pregnant medic kept working on front line amid heavy combat

Military: Russian sabotage group fought off near border in Sumy Oblast

Territorial Defense Forces in Sumy Oblast successfully fought off a Russian subversive and reconnaissance group attempting to cross into Ukraine, Lieutenant General Serhii Naiev, responsible for the defense of Ukraine's northern border, reported on Feb. 4.



Ukrainian soldiers opened fire on an armed group of ten people on the outskirts of the town Hlukhiv, close to the border with Russia, at 6.20 p.m. on Feb. 3.



The Russian group split into two, with one group attempting to bypass the Ukrainians from the flank, Naiev reported. But a Ukrainian counter-sabotage team arrived and fired at the enemy, pushing them back from the Ukrainian border after a 90-minute battle.



The other Russian group evacuated the dead and wounded.

As of Feb. 4, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported that Russia has lost 388,750 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.

Meanwhile, Mediazona, a Russian independent media outlet, together with BBC Russia, confirmed the names of 43,460 Russian soldiers who had been killed in action in Ukraine.

Although Sumy Oblast was liberated from Russian occupation in spring 2022, it suffers frequent shelling and attacks from Russia. Russian forces shelled Sumy Oblast 76 times in 16 separate attacks throughout Feb. 3, firing at five communities along the border.



On Jan. 27, a Russian reconnaissance and sabotage group staged an attack that killed two civilians.

Read also: Is it ok to have fun during war? We asked Ukrainians

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 24: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) speaks during a news conference with Republican Senators about border security issues at the U.S. Capitol January 24, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Republican Senators stated they want more time to review and debate any Senate bill addressing border security reform and Ukraine funding. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Drew Angerer/Getty Images Sen. Ted Cruz kicks off the Greater San Antonio Chamber 2023 Senatorial Series at the Westin Riverwalk, Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

Sen. Ted Cruz has proposed a bill amendment that would allow members of Congress, federal judges and Cabinet members to receive a security escort and private screenings at airports, according to Politico.

Some family members and staffers would also be eligible to have the same treatment. Cruz is trying to attach the amendment to an aviation policy bill titled the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act.

The amendment would make it so these eligible personnel would have an escort for the entirety of their time in the airport and receive an expedited screening process.

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Kevin Murphy, executive director of the Airport Law Enforcement Agencies Network, told Politico the amendment would be a "burden" for airport law enforcement. He added escorts should be the job of federal law enforcement personnel.

No representatives from Cruz's camp immediately replied to a request for comment.

Cruz was famously photographed leaving Houston for Cancun, Mexico, during the 2021 winter storm that left millions of people in the state without power. He was nationally panned for the incident, for which he ultimately apologized after leaving his trip early.

The trip hasn't left the public consciousness, either. Cruz has even made jokes about the incident over the years, although some have called the comments insensitive considering the turmoil caused by the storm.

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Derek Ryan, a Republican political consultant based in Texas, posted at the time of the incident on Twitter, now known as X, that he would expect the situation and photos to stay with him for years.
The UK Royal Navy's fleet flagship had to withdraw from a major NATO exercise at the last minute.

HMS Queen Elizabeth had issues with its starboard propeller shaft.

In 2019, HMS Queen Elizabeth was left without propulsion for days and flooded.

HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Navy's flagship, had to pull out of its role leading the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War at the last minute, the Royal Navy reports.

Routine pre-sailing checks identified an issue with a coupling on the 65,000-ton warship's starboard propeller shaft, preventing it from sailing on Sunday.

Routine pre-sailing checks yesterday identified an issue with a coupling on @HMSQNLZ starboard propeller shaft. As such, the ship will not sail on Sunday.@HMSPWLS will take her place on NATO duties and will set sail for Exercise Steadfast Defender as soon as possible. pic.twitter.com/ImAeTU80vi  Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) February 3, 2024

The warship was set to participate in an upcoming NATO exercise but had to be replaced by another UK aircraft carrier, the HMS Prince of Wales.

Despite its standing as the UK Royal Navy's Fleet Flagship, HMS Queen Elizabeth has suffered a series of embarrassing mishaps since it was commissioned in 2017.

In 2019, a mechanical issue left the warship "without propulsion" for days before it flooded, Portsmouth paper The News reported.

The ship had to anchor off Britannia Royal Naval College for 24 hours to undergo repairs, per The News.

In 2021, one of the carrier's F-35B fighters crashed in the Mediterranean.

The warship, capable of carrying 60 aircraft, is the largest ever built in the UK costing, 3.1 billion, or $3.9 billion.

HMS Queen Elizabeth was due to set sail from Portsmouth naval base today and serve as the maritime centerpiece of "Steadfast Defender," the "largest military exercise in Europe since the Cold War," per NATO's Strategic Warfare Development Command.

HMS Queen Elizabeth was to lead a carrier strike group of eight ships in the exercise, including US, Spanish, and Danish vessels, in Norwegian waters and the High North, the UK Defense Journal reports.

The elaborate exercise will feature 20,000 UK military personnel deployed across Scandinavia and Northern Europe, per the Royal Navy.

The British contingent is part of 90,000 troops from all 31 NATO allies taking part.

HMS Queen Elizabeth's replacement, HMS Prince of Wales, also suffered technical issues with its starboard propeller shaft in 2022, which prompted the additional checks on the flagship.

The UK was once the world's greatest naval power

British Navy frigate HMS Westminster in Riga, Latvia, in May 2019. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

The forced last-minute cancellation of the HMS Queen Elizabeth's tour due to a malfunction follows another mishap involving Royal Navy ships.

In January, two UK warships contributing to the Gulf's maritime security collided at a Bahrain port .

The HMS Chiddingfold and HMS Bangor collided while docking.

Video footage of the latest maritime blunder appeared to show HMS Chiddingfold reversing into HMS Bangor.

The UK was once the world's greatest naval power but in 2024 the Royal Navy is a shadow of its former self.

Officials and analysts say the Navy is plagued by a shrunken and aging fleet, increasing staff shortages, and rising wear and tear as services are put under strain, the Financial Times reports.

Amid rising staffing issues, the Navy has been lowering entry requirements for recruits to try and bolster its personnel.

"There is a dissonance between the UK's military ambitions and its capabilities," Sir Richard Barrons, former head of Britain's armed forces, said, per the Financial Times. "The risk is that we get drawn into a conflict and can't sustain our presence, and this exposes a strategic weakness."

The House of Commons Defence Committee called the UK military "consistently overstretched" and under "unrelenting pressure," the Independent reports.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A video obtained by CNN shows two young ultra-Orthodox men spitting at, swearing at and insulting a Christian priest near the Zion Gate in Jerusalems Old City on Saturday evening.

Natalie Amiri, a correspondent for German TV network ARD, was interviewing Father Nikodemus Schnabel when the incident occurred, and captured most of it on video, which she shared on Instagram to her 114,000 followers. She later sent the videos to CNN.

She described two young men crossing their path as they walked through the Old City. One of them, she said, approached them and spat at Schnabel. The assault was not captured on camera, but the sound of spitting is clearly audible.

The priest and journalist continued to walk through the Old City, and were again approached by the same two men as they walked through the Armenian Quarter. They approached Schnabel, proceeded to spit at him again, verbally insult him, and one of them kicked him, a video shows.

Another video filmed by Amiri after the initial spitting incident shows Father Schnabel attempting to take a photo of the young mens faces to show police.

You have no right to touch me and spit on me, he tells one of the men in English as the other attempts to block Amiris camera with his hand. The police are always asking. I need a picture of his face.

One of the men walks up to Schnabel, yelling profanities. An older man intervenes and convinces him in Hebrew to back off, but the suspect tells the man to watch out.

I did that to the priest because they are Christians, brother, and this is what I do to them, one of them says to others watching the incident.

An armed Israeli man then intervenes and physically guides the men away from Schnabel, as one yells f***ing Jesus in English at Schnabel.

The men were later arrested by Israeli Police and are currently being held under house arrest as the incident is investigated.

Last night, the police received a report regarding youths who traversed the Zion Gate area in the Old City of Jerusalem. These individuals engaged in verbal insults and spat towards a religious man passing by before hastily fleeing the scene, the police statement said Sunday.

The suspects, one of whom is 17 years old, were brought in for questioning, according to police, and they were both subsequently placed under house arrest.

Christians in the Old City are regularly the target of spitting and verbal abuse by Orthodox Jews. Five people were arrested in October, accused of spitting at people or churches.

The Latin Patriarchy of Jerusalem said Sunday on X that it condemns the unprovoked and shameful assault on Schnabel.

Israels Foreign Minister Israel Katz condemned the ugly act in a post on X.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott greets National Guardsmen and women ahead of the press conference he and fellow Governors organized along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors hold a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer People look on from Piedras Negras, MX at the National Guard standing for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors as they hold a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors hold a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer National Guard stand for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors as they hold a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors hold a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer National Guard stand for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors as they hold a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer National Guard stand for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors as they hold a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer National Guard stand for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors as they hold a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors hold a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Mexican flags in Piedras Negras, MX are seen behind National Guard as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors hold a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer National Guard stand for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors as they hold a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors hold a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer National Guard stand for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors as they hold a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Community members of Eagle Pass, TX gather outside of Shelby park to protest the closing of Shelby park, the militarization of their community, the take Back Our Border convoy and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors holding a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss border security plans on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Community leader Jesse F. Fuentes, 63, was asked by concerned residents and community members of Eagle Pass, TX to organize a protest outside of Shelby park in opposition to the closing of Shelby park, the militarization of their community, the Take Back Our Border convoy and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors holding a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss border security plans on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX.  The closing of this park is hurting our community. Our federal tax dollars pay for this park, its our green space. Now we have no access and instead our community is now militarized. Were tired of this dog and pony show. Fuentes shared. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Community members of Eagle Pass, TX and representatives of the Brown Berets from San Antonio gather outside of Shelby park to protest the closing of Shelby park, the militarization of their community, the take Back Our Border convoy and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors holding a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss border security plans on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Community members of Eagle Pass, TX gather outside of Shelby park to protest the closing of Shelby park, the militarization of their community, the take Back Our Border convoy and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors holding a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss border security plans on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and several of America's Governors attend a briefing about the border at the Texas Department of Public Safety in Eagle Pass, Texas on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024. Jay Janner/AP

EAGLE PASS  Gov. Greg Abbott gathered with 13 fellow Republican governors Sunday in a public park that's become the center of an unprecedented standoff between the state and federal governments and vowed to push his border security operation even further.

Abbott said the joint news conference at Shelby Park  a key stretch of the border the state seized last month, blocking the Border Patrol from apprehending and processing migrants  was intended to send a message to President Joe Biden.

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A state can defend itself and its citizens to protect their safety from the imminent danger that we are facing  and from an invasion from millions of people coming from across the globe into our country, who are unaccounted for whatsoever," Abbott said, again casting the record number of asylum-seekers crossing the border as an invasion.

National Guard stands behind Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors as they hold a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

The governor declared that, as we speak right now, the Texas National Guard is undertaking operations to expand this.

Were not going to contain ourselves just to this park, Abbott said, flanked by GOP governors with rifle-toting state soldiers and military vehicles behind them. He did not provide more details on what that would entail.

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Critics say Abbott's ongoing standoff with the federal government, and continued rhetoric about an invasion," is creating a potentially dangerous situation in the small border community and beyond.

On Saturday, a convoy of truckers vowing to take our border back arrived in the area with plans to rally in a tiny border community about 20 miles north of Eagle Pass. The organizers urged participants to remain peaceful and stay away from Eagle Pass, but state Rep. Eddie Morales Jr., a Democrat who represents the area, wrote on social media that some had been denied access to the Quemado ranch where the caravan was meeting and were in Eagle Pass moving around town and raising red flags.

Hundreds of people from all over the United States gather for a multi city rally to voice their concerns about immigration and border security as part of the Take Our Border back Convoy on February 3, 2024 in Quemado, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a San Antonio Democrat, said a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility was evacuated after receiving threats.

When he calls this an invasion, hes putting a target on people's backs, Castro said of the governor, noting that the language has been echoed by mass shooters, including the gunman who killed 23 people at an El Paso Walmart in 2019 after sharing a hate-filled document decrying a Hispanic invasion of Texas.

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Abbotts escalating feud with the federal government comes as he seeks to expand Texas role in immigration enforcement, an area that is a federal responsibility. Backed with some $11 billion from the GOP-controlled Legislature, Abbott has deployed thousands of state police and National Guard members to the border to arrest migrants for trespassing on private land and other state charges. The administration also has set up barriers along the Rio Grande, including thick strands of razor wire, all under the umbrella of Abbott's sweeping border initiative known as Operation Lone Star.

The latest uproar stems from a U.S. Supreme Court decision last month that cleared the way for federal agents to remove the razor wire, prompting widespread backlash from Republicans around the country.

The feud escalated as state soldiers seized the city-owned park in Eagle Pass. The Department of Homeland Security demanded that state officials remove any and all obstructions on federally owned land around it. State leaders refused to comply by DHS deadline and have not relented since then. The administration so far has not taken further action.

Among those in attendance Sunday were Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu. Several are making at least their second trip to the border since the start of the Biden administration, having previously joined Abbott for similar events. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has battled Abbott for the mantle of Bidens chief antagonist on immigration, was not among those traveling to Eagle Pass.

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors hold a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

"This country is in desperate need of leadership as it relates to this issue," Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said. "Gov. Abbott has had unwavering and shown unwavering leadership, and we stand in support of that leadership."

The governors critics, however, contend that his policies have had little measurable effect in deterring border traffic and instead seem aimed at boosting Abbotts political profile and giving Republicans an edge heading into a likely 2024 election rematch between Biden and former President Donald Trump.

This is a campaign prop. This is a photo op, state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, said of the gubernatorial visit in a video posted on social media. We know youre there for gamesmanship. We know youre not there to solve the problem. We know you dont want to solve the problem.

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Amid the state-federal standoff, the Biden administration released data showing that December marked a single-month high for the number of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border  and that the flow of migration dropped by more than 50% over the first two weeks of January.

Fox News reporter Bill Melugin, citing Customs and Border Protection sources, reported that illegal crossings recently have shifted to Arizona and California and fallen off a cliff in the border sector that includes Eagle Pass, where the states unwelcoming posture toward migrants could be deterring traffic.

But Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council, said theres no evidence at all that Texas deterrence efforts around Eagle Pass  which, he noted, covers only a tiny fraction of the states 1,254-mile border with Mexico  had any impact on crossings. He pointed to preliminary data that showed other significant drops in Arizonas Tucson and Yuma sectors, and he noted that border crossings routinely follow a trend of spiking in December and plummeting in January.

The biggest driver behind the latest decline, Reichlin-Melnick said, was likely the Mexican governments move to disrupt the flow of migrants from other countries moving through Mexico to the U.S. border  a move that came after Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other U.S. officials met with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to discuss the surge in border crossings.

Abbott said that over the past three days, Shelby Park had logged an average of only three crossings a day.

"It shows that the state of Texas can do what the federal government is charged to do and has the tools and equipment to do," Abbott said. "Joe Biden, it is your turn now."

Biden, meanwhile, repeatedly has called on Congress to pass legislation he says will give him more power to secure the border. Senators from both parties have been negotiating for weeks on a bill that would raise the bar for asylum and offer more funding for border security and to process migrants. A vote on that bill could come as soon as this week in the Senate, but even if it passes that chamber, it is unclear whether it would get a vote in the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has been a vocal critic of the package.
SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  Salt Lake County Animal Services is throwing its own virtual Kitten Shower complete with a registry in preparation for all the kittens they are expecting in 2024.

Last year, Salt Lake County Animal Services said they sent 700 kittens to foster homes and expect to care for hundreds more this year. Kitten season takes place from April through October and brings a higher demand for foster homes and supplies.

In anticipation of their needs, they created a registry wish list with beds, bottles, formula, food, and litter boxes.

The shower will take place from Mar. 4 to Mar. 9 with each day focused on a different item needed for the kittens. Those who wish to participate can drop off the donations at the Salt Lake City shelter located at 511 W 3900 S.

READ NEXT: Abandoned pets surged 78% in 2023, says Utah shelter

The shelter is asking for particular brands of products, rather than a generic array of donations, which can be found on their Amazon Registry. They say this is in an effort to maintain consistency in feeding, cleaning, and medical care.

Following the week-long donation event, the shelter will hold online kitten foster training on Mar. 23 for any adults interested in the kitten foster program. The training will cover bottle feeding basics, common illnesses to be aware of, and the responsibilities of a foster.

For more ways to get involved, including applying to foster a pet, visit the Salt Lake County Animal Services website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Two workers at a construction site on Brick Kiln Road in Falmouth were injured Friday afternoon after a wall, which was being raised, fell on them, according to a Falmouth Fire Department statement.

Both workers had "multi-system traumatic injuries," and both were flown by helicopter to area trauma centers, according to the fire department. Two MedFlight helicopters were requested to the scene, the statement said.

Two workers injured on Friday in a wall collapse on Brick Kiln Road were taken to trauma centers

The incident occurred at 2:30 p.m. at 513 Brick Kiln Road. At first, one worker was reported injured, and then a second worker was reported injured. The two men were removed from under the fallen wall by fellow workers before rescuers arrived, the fire department said.

Falmouth fire officials were not available for further comment at 5 p.m. Friday.

Inspectors from the town of Falmouth, the Falmouth Police Department and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials were at the job site to investigate the incident, according to the fire department release.

Staff writer Rachael Devaney contributed to this story.

The Cape Cod Times is providing this coverage for free as a public service. Please take a moment to support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Wall that fell on two workers in Falmouth sends both to trauma centers
Here is a look at potential wind gusts at 11 a.m. Sunday. Some gusts could rise over 40 mph in San Antonio. Pivotal Weather

It was a rainy start to February as widespread thunderstorms rolled over South Texas late Friday and early Saturday.

Overall, 0.84 inch of rain fell over the Alamo City, bringing the citys 2024 total to 7.56 inches. Thats more than 5 inches above average, a far cry from where we left off in 2023.

The high rain totals have continued to improve drought conditions in South Texas. At the start of the year, Bexar County was in an area considered to be in extreme drought, which is the drought monitors second-driest category. Now, much of the county has improved by two categories and is considered to be only in moderate drought. The area may just be one big rain event from eliminating the drought altogether.

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Drought conditions have improved in Bexar County. Most of San Antonio is now considered to be in moderate drought. National Drought Mitigation Center

A windy Sunday coming

Drier air already moved into South Texas on Saturday, and that will continue to be the trend Sunday. This will happen because a low pressure system will pass by to the northeast of San Antonio. Because of its position northeast, it will pull dry air from the north into the Alamo City.

Not only will the air be dry, but it will be moving into San Antonio very quickly. Thats why wind speeds already will be greater than 20 mph by 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. Theyll increase a bit more throughout the day, settling between 25 and 30 mph between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Wind gusts will be even stronger, occasionally topping 40 mph through midday. Thankfully, by the evening, winds will weaken. Speeds likely will be less than 20 mph by 6 p.m.

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In terms of temperatures, expect them to be near or slightly above average for early February. Morning lows will fall to around 47 or 48 degrees, and afternoon highs will reach the mid- to upper 60s under bright sunshine.

Beautiful weather this week

The next workweek will start beautifully. Temperatures will be very close to average for this time of the year, and sunshine will dominate the skies. Mornings will be a bit chilly as lows drop into the 40s, but high temperatures will rise nicely, reaching the 60s Monday and Tuesday.

Here are high temperatures on Monday. San Antonio can expect temps in the mid 60s. Pivotal Weather

A few changes are expected Wednesday and Thursday, but overall nice weather will continue. The only differences will be that skies will become partly to mostly cloudy and temperatures will rise a few degrees, reaching the upper 60s and low 70s in San Antonio.

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The next chance of rain

Atmospheric moisture levels will begin to increase in the latter part of the week. When combined with a developing low pressure system in the western United States, rain will become possible over Texas. Overall rain chances will be low Friday, but they will increase over the weekend and early next week. As of now, severe thunderstorms are not expected.
A Silicon Valley county declared loneliness to be a public health emergency.

San Mateo County found that 45% of its residents said they were suffering from loneliness.

The county hosts the headquarters of tech giants Facebook and YouTube, and Electronic Arts.

A wealthy Silicon Valley county in California has become the first in the US to declare loneliness a public health emergency.

It comes as global concerns over the physical and mental impacts of isolation continue to rise.

The Board of Supervisors in California's San Mateo County passed a resolution on Tuesday that included a pledge to help citizens connect with each other, NBC News reported.

San Mateo County is one of the wealthiest in the US and is home to the headquarters of many tech giants, including Facebook, YouTube, and Electronic Arts. In Q3 2023, the median cost of a home in the county was $1,573,470.

While the San Mateo resolution does not provide any funding to combat loneliness, it is a sign of a commitment to the cause.

It also validates people's feelings, David Canepa, the vice president of the Board of Supervisors that introduced the legislation, said, per NBC News.

"What we're trying to do is to really get people out of the corners and say, 'Hey, look, there are a lot of people who are feeling like you. You're not alone. And moving forward, here are some of the things that we can do to support you,'" he said.

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy last year released a report on the "epidemic of loneliness and isolation" in the US.

In the report, Murthy said that social connection was "a critical and underappreciated contributor to individual and population health, community safety, resilience, and prosperity."

Murthy said that problems associated with loneliness had been building for decades, but the COVID-19 pandemic had compounded it.

He added that loneliness was "associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death" and that the "mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day."

Governments around the world have started to address the issue.

Japan and the UK have appointed ministers for loneliness in recent years, while New York state appointed the US's first honorary loneliness ambassador in November.

Stephen Lam/Getty Images

In San Mateo County, Canepa has proposed several ideas to combat the problem, including making neighborhoods more walkable.

He pointed to a county-led survey in 2022 that found that 45% of San Mateo's residents said they were suffering from loneliness and isolation, NBC News reported.

San Mateo County, with over 700,000 residents, in the San Francisco Bay Area, includes part of Silicon Valley. It has a large population of older residents, with 18% of the county's population over 65  2% above the state average.

"It's sort of a perfect storm for older adults right now," Jennifer Steele, CEO of Meals on Wheels San Francisco, which delivers hot meals to older citizens in northern San Mateo County, told NBC News.

"People don't live close to their loved ones anymore," she said. "Sometimes people have outlived their loved ones in some cases. Your social circle shrinks after retirement. It's harder for people to make friends."

But Canepa is worried that the problem is not exclusive to older generations.

He said that teenagers and young adults in the county could also be at risk, partly due to the widespread use of social media and partly because of the high-pressure environment of Silicon Valley.

Canepa said the resolution was just the first step towards finding a solution to the problem.

"What we want to do is build on that. But we can't build on it if we don't make the investments," he said, per ABC7 .

Read the original article on Business Insider
Argentina has a solid pipeline of lithium projects close to coming online, triggering a wave of production that could result in more EV battery metal.

Many Canadian and Chinese mining firms are attracted to Argentina's resources for EV batteries. On the other hand, Child, the region's top lithium producer, has shared plans for a state-led public-private model that spooked investors.

Bolivia had strict control over its huge untapped resources, while Mexico nationalized its lithium deposits in 2022, as reported by Reuters.

Argentina's Lithium Production Could Triple

In Argentina, the sector is driven by private enterprise and regular approvals of new projects as the government aims to bring in more export dollars through mining. This is also the reason the lithium growth level in Argentina is continuous.

Their lithium carbonate product could triple by 2024 to 2025, surpassing what China can produce and being closer to what Chile is producing now.

It would be driven by new projects that are coming online, along with the two currently in production. Argentina has six lithium projects under construction and 15 in the advanced exploration or feasibility stage.

This growth in lithium production in Argentina is due to the country's vast reserves of metal, which is used in producing batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems. The country currently has around 40,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate annually, which could increase to about 165,000 tonnes by 2025.

The increase in production is also expected to bring significant economic benefits to Argentina, with the government estimating that lithium exports could generate up to $2 billion in revenue by 2025.

In addition to the potential economic benefits, increasing lithium production in Argentina could be crucial in reducing global carbon emissions. As countries worldwide aim to transition away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, there is an urgent need for large-scale battery storage systems.

(Photo : by JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty Images)

A scientist of Y-TEC (YPF Tecnologia) handles a lithium cell in Berisso, Buenos Aires province, on October 18, 2022. - With 19 million tons, Argentina is, after Bolivia, the country with the largest lithium reserves. Now, amid the "white gold" boom, it wants to control the entire production chain: from extraction in the salt flats to manufacturing electric cars.



Lithium-ion batteries are currently the most commonly used battery for electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage projects. By producing more lithium domestically, Argentina can help support this transition towards clean energy by providing a reliable source of raw materials.

Read also: 'Ultimate' Battery Could Be Closer To Reality With New Graphene Breakthrough

The Risks

However, this growth mustn't come at the expense of local communities or ecosystems. The mining industry has historically been associated with environmental degradation and social conflict - particularly regarding indigenous peoples' rights.

To avoid these negative impacts while still effectively harnessing its vast natural resources, Argentina must prioritize responsible mining practices that respect human rights and minimize ecological harm. This will require working closely with affected communities throughout every stage of development - from exploration through closure - and adopting innovative technologies designed specifically for sustainable resource extraction techniques.

Overall though, increased lithium production represents a significant opportunity for the Argentinian economy and globally. It would be exciting to see how technological innovations rise against concerns related to sustainability issues surrounding the Lithium Mining process!

Related article: Next-Generation Improved Taigei-Class Diesel-Powered Sub Tactically Advances Japanese Defense Force Operations
WILLIAMSBURG  William & Mary says a spring admissions program it launched four years ago has helped more than 400 students get into their choice school when they might not have otherwise.

The university launched its Spring Pathways program in 2020 to guarantee admission to waitlist applicants who had their hearts set on attending and were willing to wait a semester.

Monica Pinier, senior assistant dean and the coordinator of undergraduate transfer admission, said the program differs from the regular waitlist in that it guarantees entrance. Admission for the general waitlist depends on a variety of factors, including space. One year, Pinier recalled, no students were accepted from the waitlist. Currently, there is no cap on how many can participate in the pathways program.

The program requires applicants to begin at a community college or sign up for a study abroad semester in the fall while maintaining a 3.0 grade-point average. Pinier said the requirements are meant to keep students from falling behind socially and academically. By already starting their college career, students who transfer in through the program are on track with their peers who were admitted in the fall.

Emma Dunlop is a sophomore who was admitted through the Spring Pathways program. Dunlop said William & Mary was one of her top choices but she began to consider other options when she was waitlisted. After hearing about the pathways program, she visited the campus and talked to study abroad program coordinators and decided to pursue the option.

Dunlop grew up in Northern Virginia and visited Williamsburg with her family almost every summer. They would stop by the campus, which Dunlop always thought was beautiful. When it came time to look at colleges, Dunlop was drawn to the universitys business school. The proximity to home also was a plus.

Because Dunlop had always wanted to study abroad, everything seemed to fall into place. She spent her first semester in London with some students who eventually also ended up at William & Mary. Though she felt a little out of place as a transfer student, she said the universitys orientation program and joining extracurricular activities helped her fit in.

Pinier said that the university has tracked students who took the pathway and found that there was no difference in GPA or retention in comparison to students who were admitted in the fall.

Nour Habib, nour.habib@virginiamedia.com
(Photo : Left: Newsweek CEO Dev Pragad. Middle: Naveed Jamali, Ex-Russian Double Agent. Right: Naveed Used Pro-North Korea Media Cell's Materials For Newsweek Article)



This article aims to objectively review the various articles Newsweek wrote against Olivet University, shedding light on the allegations and highlighting potential ethical concerns with the reporting.

Controversies Manufactured by Newsweek's Covert Inner Circle

Newsweek's modus operandi is unconventional, suggesting that a covert inner circle at the publication manufactures the controversies, reports on them, and subsequently triggers investigations against Olivet University by instigating various entities and agencies.

Especially, reporters Naveed Jamali and Alex Rouhandeh's actions depart from ethical and journalistic norms, as they continue to portray an atmosphere of turmoil and controversy disproportionate to the true circumstances around the university and its associated church denomination. Indeed, contrary to Newsweek's narrative depicting widespread controversy, it appears that such stories are primarily and exclusively generated by Newsweek alone and not by any other mainstream publication.

Accusations of Human Trafficking Morph into Labor Trafficking

Earlier, Newsweek published sensationalized headlines accusing Olivet University of "Human Trafficking," but this was shown to be untrue. Newsweek writers then quietly downgraded their rhetoric to accusations of "Human Labor Trafficking," a claim that again lacks any factual basis. Newsweek did so without acknowledging that its earlier "Human Trafficking" accusation was false. Neither does it possess any substantiated evidence for "Human Labor Trafficking," yet Newsweek persists in perpetuating these allegations against the school, prompting questions about its journalistic integrity.

Coordination Between Newsweek and Former Students Breaks Journalistic Integrity

Take for example the latest "article" that Newsweek threatened to publish. Rouhandeh has recently informed Olivet University that he will write about a civil lawsuit brought by four former students against Olivet University for alleged "Human Labor Trafficking." But this term already surfaced in Newsweek articles about Olivet University for many months before this first article on the lawsuit, raising suspicions of coordination between Newsweek's covert inner circle and these students and their attorney.

This is troubling because the media should engage in fact-finding with an attitude of public service. But if Newsweek's reporters are closely coordinating with these former students and their attorney, it is not possible to report on the same lawsuit under the guise of "fair and neutral" reporting. Coordinating with one party in a lawsuit while authoring a story about the same matter is a violation of journalistic integrity.

The reason why Newsweek is so unusually interested and invested in this lawsuit can be traced back to an internal shareholder dispute at Newsweek. To gain an advantage for Newsweek CEO Dev Pragad in this dispute, a secret team was formed within Newsweek to attack Olivet University as a proxy for another party in the dispute. It is this "covert" group within Newsweek that appears to be coordinating with these students to advance unsubstantiated claims against Olivet University, for the benefit of Pragad.

Dissecting the Lawsuit: Mere Pocket Money Dispute

The civil lawsuit involves four former ESL students who, in 2017, attended Olivet University. They came to the United States under full scholarships, but then asked Olivet University for additional pocket money for monthly personal expenses including cell phones. However, this was beyond the scope of their scholarship agreements. These students then joined student volunteer clubs and requested pocket money from these clubs.

A university source said that Olivet University will vehemently defend itself in court against the allegations made by the four former students. Court records indicate that the university has countersued the students for deceit and fraud.

"The complaint filed by the four students is ridiculous. No student in Olivet University has ever been locked or confined in the campus against their will and neither have any students been ordered, forced, or threatened to work for or at the direction of Olivet University. All the students are provided transportation from and to the campus as well as breakfast and hot meals every day," the university source said.

"The students were never told they had any debt and were never asked to repay any debt - and especially were never told to work to repay any debt."

"The allegation that the students were forced to work for several hours every day is absurd. This is the first time any student has made such a complaint. All students must follow full academic schedules to maintain good academic standing and do not have time outside of class and academic studies and student activities to work as they allege," the source said.

This dispute over pocket money, blown out of proportion by both the students and Newsweek, is not tantamount to "Human Trafficking" or "Human Labor Trafficking." Indeed, the discrepancy between Newsweek's rhetoric and the facts raises concerns about the accuracy and integrity of Newsweek's reporting.

Former Students' Lawsuit Faces Problems and Inconsistencies

Initially, the lawsuit included four former students as plaintiffs. However, one of these students from Venezuela withdrew herself from the lawsuit. Her parents testified that all these students' allegations were false, and that they were dishonoring the school that had supported them with full scholarships, betraying the hospitality shown to them.

Upon losing one student from the lawsuit, the remaining three former students urgently sought another complainant to take her place. They found one former student from India, named Rebecca Singh, who had already been deemed a false witness in a matter concerning a 911 call, and who had disciplinary problems during her stay on campus. It appears that in their desperation to add a complainant, they inadvertently added a person with credibility issues who further weakens their allegations.

Furthermore, the former students' lawsuit contains troubling inconsistencies. Timesheets, submitted as evidence to support the students' claim to have worked on campus, appear to be general templates that could be easily printed or copied, not official or authorized school documents. One student's timesheet shows all lines written with the same handwriting, including both the supervisor's and student's names. This timesheet, and that of another former student, both lack signatures next to the daily log where a supervisor is required to sign. Another timesheet has completely illegible handwriting. Also, the timesheets themselves do not support the students' own claim to have worked 40 hours a week, and appear to be just a fraction of the number of hours claimed. In short, these fail as evidence completely, and perhaps even disprove rather than support the students' claims.

A former volunteer at the school named Edward Yoon, whose name appears on one timesheet, provided important details about the former students:

"I was one of the volunteers at the school. These students were definitely not employees, and I did not sign any timesheets for them. At that time, a load of furniture was donated to the school. That's why many students helped to unload it with a Christian volunteer spirit. It's not like one guy was carrying a heavy load by himself like this one student makes himself out to be. Everyone was happy that the school received a donation, that's why we unloaded it joyfully together. We had a really fun time helping out the university together."

False 911 Call Story Retracted

Previously, Newsweek had published a false story about a 911 call made by the former student from India, leading to a follow-on article by the MediaNews Group. Olivet University filed a defamation lawsuit against MediaNews Group asking for significant compensation for damages. While MediaNews Group retracted portions of the story and then went on to remove the story entirely from its news websites, Newsweek has yet to address its false reporting.

Newsweek Sued for Defamation

Consequently, Olivet University has initiated legal action against Newsweek and writer Naveed Jamali for defamation in a New York court. Although Newsweek's editor-in-chief Nancy Cooper has claimed that no one outside the newsroom is involved in editorial decisions, the lawsuit will likely reveal whether Newsweek's covert inner circle includes persons outside the newsroom. It may also reveal other rumored connections to Newsweek's covert team, including to secretive Asian and Pro-North Korean groups.

Newsweek's Role in Licensing Bureau's Investigation (BPPE)

In recent months, Newsweek extensively reported on alleged "violations" cited by the California Bureau for Private and Post-Secondary Education (BPPE) against Olivet University. However, the magazine fails to disclose that Jamali himself prompted the licensing bureau to carry out the investigation, again following the troubling pattern of being personally involved in a story that is subsequently reported on.

This is especially troubling because Naveed Jamali is an ex-Russian double agent with a Pakistani background who has defended the Muslim Brotherhood against being labeled a terrorist group. Olivet University is a Christian higher education institution.

An email sent by Naveed Jamali to BPPE on June 28, 2022 contained unsubstantiated claims of "money laundering, trafficking, and visa fraud" against Olivet University.

According to BPPE internal reports shown to this publication, on September 1, 2022, Jamali's email and other communications led directly to the assignment of BPPE special agents to investigate the university.

On November 15, 2022 and January 31, 2023, under the influence of Jamali and Newsweek articles authored by him, BPPE conducted surprise site visits on the university's campuses. On March 17, 2023, BPPE filed an official complaint against Olivet University.

On March 28, 2023, Naveed Jamali and Alex Rouhandeh co-authored a Newsweek article titled "California Moves To Shut Down David Jang's Olivet University As Feds Circle."

On September 18, 2023, Olivet University filed a lawsuit in New York federal court against Newsweek and Naveed Jamali for defamation over false statements, including the March 28 article.

The goal that Newsweek's covert inner circle seeks to accomplish by intervening into the school's state licensing relationships is to sow bias against Olivet University using Newsweek's own articles containing defamatory content, in order to disrupt the school and to prevent it from receiving fair and due process. All this for the sake of advancing the personal business interests of Newsweek's CEO Dev Pragad.

Conclusion: A Tempest in a Teapot

The ongoing "controversies" surrounding Olivet University, as presented by Newsweek, are nothing more than a tempest in a teapot, exaggerated by a covert inner circle within the publication. These stories, driven by a select group, lack veracity and underscore the need for a careful examination of journalistic practices within Newsweek.

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He yanked the dog: Florida man arrested for allegedly beating his dog outside gas station

Warning: This video may contain graphic content that may disturb some viewers.

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Florida man is behind bars after he was caught by several witnesses brutally abusing his dog at a gas station earlier this week.

A very loving, caring person: Vigil held to remember 20-year-old Sierra Hernandez

Jose Rivera, 31, of Deltona, was caught on camera beating the animal before a witness intervened and was able to get the dog away from him.

Volusia Sheriffs Office

Volusia Sheriffs Office

Volusia Sheriffs Office

The witness, Raymon Prush, told NBC affiliate WESH that what he witnessed was ridiculous.

The dog just turned its head to smell the tire, and he yanked the dog and hit the dog in the face with the chain, Prush told WESH.

Pizza Hut sign goes viral for closing sign with unfortunate typo

He then said things escalated and Rivera began whipping the dog several times until his chain broke.

The Volusia Sheriffs Office said Rivera punched Prush and injured other witnesses.

The video shows the dog running to nearby bystanders before it cuts to Prush putting Rivera in a chokehold to stop him from getting the animal out of the car before deputies arrived.

She was running scared, Prush told WESH. But she  I dont know how many times she received these beatings. It was like she wasnt defending yourself against this. She was just receiving.

Man steals $100K from unlocked armored truck at Pasco County Circle K, deputies say

A deputy arrested Rivera who is now charged with felony animal cruelty, resisting an officer, child abuse, and three counts of battery for attacking the witnesses. He is being held on a $26,000 bond.

This guys got a problem with his anger, Prush added. And, you know, Im very, very proud of the residents of Deltona that saw what was happening. I mean, as young as 13 knew, we got to do something here where this dog could end up dead.

Officials said the dog is doing OK and was turned over to Deltona Animal Control, before being placed in a safe home with Riveras ex-girlfriend, who no longer has any relationship with him, according to WESH.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Leaders across the European Union have been arriving in Brussels since Wednesday evening (Jan. 31) to push for a new deal package for Ukraine despite opposition from Hungary.

According to German public broadcaster DW, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban blocked the deal last November, and he has repeatedly claimed that "Brussels bureaucrats" were blackmailing him and his country.

Nevertheless, Orban hinted that he was prepared to compromise by making aid to Ukraine dependent on an annual unanimous vote, which the other member states were unlikely to indulge since it would give Hungary a permanent veto on the issue.

Instead, they have proposed offering Hungary an "emergency break" with which Orban could call for top-level talks on aid, but not a new vote.

Read Also: European Parliament Votes To Withhold Funds, Strip Voting Rights Over Hungary's Rule-of-Law

Responses to Orban's Demands

In response, European leaders have been adamant about reaching an agreement on military aid for Ukraine, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz leading the charge.

"I will work hard to get to an agreement among 27 member states," he said ahead of the negotiations, saying he was "convinced" that such a concept was possible. "All member states need to be prepared to give Ukraine what it needs to defend itself."

"This pattern of re-negotiation over Ukraine aid should not return," Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas added.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk insisted that the bloc would "find some solution, with or without Orban, to support Ukraine."

"There is no Plan B," he added. "It is up to Orban to decide if Hungary is part of our community or not."

Meanwhile, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called for a compromise while echoing Tusk's sentiment that there was "no alternative to a compromise on Ukraine" among all of its member-states.

Related Article: Hungary Blocks EU's $54 Billion Financial Aid for Ukraine After Membership Bid
AMHERST  An Amherst County man facing charges in connection with a December 2023 incident where seven students at Central Elementary School ingested gummies from a bag laced with fentanyl was denied bond Tuesday.

Clifford Ronnie Dugan Jr., 50, was arrested Dec. 13 and charged with possessing a firearm as a nonviolent felon and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, abuse of a child, the Amherst County Sheriffs Office has said. Nicole Sanders, 26, also was arrested and is charged with possession of a Schedule I or II drug and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, abuse of a child, the sheriffs office has said.

Five of the seven students who ingested the fentanyl in the Dec. 12 incident were hospitalized, Amherst County Public Schools officials have said. School Resource Officer Brandon Payne observed residue in a baggie that contained the gummies that tested positive for fentanyl, a powerful opioid, the sheriffs office has said.

Dugan has been in custody since his arrest and appealed a previous denial in Amherst Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court to Amherst Circuit Court Judge Jeff Bennett on Tuesday while Sanders was granted bail shortly after her arrest.

Dugan, a construction worker, has no previous history of missing court appearances, Chuck Felmlee, his attorney, said in arguing for release on bond.

Child Protective Services has been in Dugans home on Pendleton Drive in Amherst to ensure Sanders has no unsupervised contact with minors in the home, Felmlee said. Dugan testified he too would comply with the supervised contact measure while awaiting further court proceedings if granted bond and would immediately resume working in carpentry.

Amherst Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Duffey Valentine said Dugan is a seven-time convicted felon with previous drug-related convictions and a history of violence dating back to 2001. He spoke of the seven children affected by the fentanyl residue found in the bag that made its way into the school.

Fentanyl is the most dangerous drug I know of, Valentine said.

The fentanyl incident received national news coverage and ACPS Superintendent William Wells said the division was fortunate no student was severely hurt.

Valentine said because of Dugans carelessness children were endangered and objected to releasing the defendant.

He is not a good candidate for bond, Valentine said.

Felmlee said he was confused by the delinquency of a minor charge and Dugan, a lifelong resident of the county and 1991 graduate of Amherst County High School, has not had any brushes with the law in the past decade prior to the Dec. 12 incident.

Felmlee said Dugan in no way prepared the bag lunch that ended up in the school and the defenses position is it was prepared by someone else.

All his felony convictions are drug related, Felmlee said. Hes a nonviolent guy  I dont think he presents a danger to the community  We do think hes a good candidate for bond.

Bennett said he has to consider eight various factors for the bond request and agrees Dugan is not a flight risk. He said the circumstance of one of the charges, previous drug convictions and fentanyl somehow making it into bagged lunches that children were exposed to gave him concern about the communitys safety in ruling to deny bond.

Dugans hearing is set for 10 a.m. Feb. 28 in Amherst Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
Apocalypse Helps, a nonprofit initiative under Forest-based Apocalypse Ale Works, is demonstrating how a local brewery can become a catalyst for community support and charitable endeavors.

Founded amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Apocalypse Helps initially emerged as a response to the closures that left many in the service industry struggling to make ends meet. Partnering with Cisco, one of the nations largest food providers, Apocalypse Helps established a local food bank to aid those affected by the shutdowns, ensuring no one in the community went hungry during uncertain times.

Austin John, managing partner of Apocalypse Ale Works, said it all started during the first round of pandemic closures.

They had a surplus of food available so we partnered with them and started a local food bank for those who may have lost employment because of the shutdowns. So we provided food for people in the service industry, essentially, anybody that was in the restaurant industry or bar industry that was laid off of work, we helped provide them food, he said. Then after that, that was kind of our gateway into doing more into the community.

Since its inception, Apocalypse Helps has evolved and now collaborates with a diverse array of local nonprofits on a monthly basis including CASA of Central Virginia, Lynchburg Daily Bread, Parkview Community Mission, Mustaches for Kids and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Through roundup campaigns and various events, the organization channels its resources to address pressing needs and make a tangible difference in the lives of those they serve.

The roundup campaigns typically bring in between $300 and $500 with Apocalypse Helps matching those funds.

We aim to adapt to the changing needs of the community. While our origins may have been in food assistance, we now work with a range of nonprofits to address various issues, from health care to education, he said.

The impact of Apocalypse Helps extends far beyond monetary donations, with the organization actively engaging in community events and fundraisers to raise awareness and support for causes close to its heart. From benefit concerts to adoptable pet events such as Rescue Fest, which usually brings in large crowds in October, it continues to find innovative ways to rally support and foster a culture of giving back.

Even before the brewery started its nonprofit leg, it was already giving back.

When a tornado hit Elon in Amherst County in 2018, the nonprofit pulled a benefit together in 24 hours and was able to help replace three cars that were damaged.

Whether its families that are experiencing a health crisis or theres freak natural occurrences like tornadoes, those things happen all the time and we hope we can be a small part in helping the community heal, John said.

The brewery plans to hold an event this year with Amherst-based Liberty Meadows Farm Sanctuary and will have animals come on site to be visited.

John says the entire initiative is about paying it forward.

The community has supported us so well over these past few years. But it was only natural and right to want to try to give back and thats a large part of our mission and it has been from day one to try to impact the community as best as we can, he said.

Looking ahead, Apocalypse Helps remains committed to its mission of empowering and uplifting the community.

Were always brainstorming new ways to make a difference. Whether its partnering with local businesses or organizing larger events, our goal is to leave a lasting impact, he said.
Lynchburg Fire Department personnel, including the Haz-Mat team, responded to the 1300 block of Hendricks Street around 10:40 a.m. Saturday after a citizen called 911 to report a creek was completely white in color.

After contacting the dairy, it was determined that a waste line that sends milk to the citys wastewater treatment plant had become blocked up and waste milk was overflowing into a storm sewer and into the creek. The drain line was unclogged and the overflow stopped, however it is not known how much milk was released into the stream, the release said.
TOKYO, Feb 04 (News On Japan) - Yui Sakurai, a member of the rising idol group FRUITS ZIPPER, is set to release her first photobook titled 'YUi' on February 20th. The announcement comes after the group's recent success, including winning the Best New Artist Award at the "Japan Record Awards" broadcasted on TBS on December 30, 2023, and their upcoming two-day solo concert at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan in May this year.

Photographed by Yuichi Sato, the photobook captures Sakurai's experiences in Thailand's resort islands of Phuket and Phi Phi. In Phuket, she enjoyed elephant trekking on the beach and the trendy "floating breakfast" in a pool. The cover of the regular edition features a shot taken in the bathroom of an oceanfront villa on the shores of Phuket.

During her time on Phi Phi Island, Sakurai visited Maya Bay, known for its appearance in the film "The Beach," and presented her smile to the camera against the backdrop of the emerald green sea. She also took on the challenge of shooting swimsuit photos and her first lingerie shots, showcasing a mature and healthy body.

The title 'YUi' was inspired by her name, which she casually wrote on the white sands of Phi Phi Island's beach. In addition to the regular edition, a special edition box set, including an acrylic stand and a special book, will be available exclusively online at HMV&BOOKS, and in select HMV stores and Tower Records Shibuya store. The special book features conversations between Sakurai and each member of FRUITS ZIPPER, as well as newly taken casual wear snaps.

A special event for purchasers of the special edition is also planned. Commemorative photo handover events will be held at HMV&BOOKS SHIBUYA in Tokyo on February 20th and at HMV&BOOKS SHINSAIBASHI and Tower Records Umeda NU Chayamachi store in Osaka on March 3rd. Additionally, from February 20th, HMV&BOOKS SHIBUYA and Tower Records Shibuya store will display ten signed panels, including four unreleased cuts from the photobook. Ten lucky customers who purchase the photobook during the panel exhibition will win a panel through a lottery. Moreover, an A3 poster will be distributed to all photobook purchasers at HMV&BOOKS SHIBUYA and Tower Records Shibuya store.

In a statement, Yui Sakurai expressed her gratitude and excitement: "I am thrilled to announce the release of my first photobook! It's a dream come true to shoot my first photobook overseas as an idol, especially in my tenth year in the idol industry. And to have the release date on February 20th, the last day of being 23 years old, feels like a series of miracles. I am deeply grateful to the fans and everyone who has supported me in making this dream a reality. This photobook is not just about me on stage, but also about showing a more relaxed and genuine side of myself. I hope it will become a way for many people to get to know me better... I hope you all enjoy it! "

For more information on the release events and to stay updated on FRUITS ZIPPER's activities, please follow the official Twitter account @yui_fz_1st and look for related products such as Yui Sakurai's 'YUi' photobook, available on Amazon.co.jp starting February 20, 2024.

Source: Natalie
Kanagawa, Feb 03 (News On Japan) - The annual Odawara Plum Festival is a sign that spring has arrived early this year in Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, with white plum blossoms already at their peak as of Risshun (the first day of spring in the traditional Japanese calendar) on February 4th.

Soga Bairin, Odawaras plum grove, has kicked off its traditional Plum Festival. The Soga area, known for its plum production since the Warring States period, has opened its groves to share the delicate beauty of white plum blossoms with visitors.

With approximately 35,000 trees, this year's bloom has started early due to the warm winter weather.

The Plum Festival will continue until February 29th, offering visitors a chance to indulge in the early arrival of spring amidst the historic and picturesque plum groves of Odawara.

Source: ANN
All eyes are on El Salvador in a recent report from the Associated Press.

The country's current leader Nayib Bukele also the self-titled "World's coolest dictator" has been the subject of controversy as some view him as a hero for his handling of the country's gangs. However, to some, he's seen as a tyrant. But that doesn't seem to be reflected in the recent polls where he has the support of 7 to 9 for every 10 voters. The report also discussed how Bukele has been evading El Salvador's constitution. Bukele is also seeking reelection despite the country's constitution.

Voter Support

Speaking with one voter, Alex Cisneros, discussed his reasons for supporting Bukele stating "He's done many good things and many bad things. People criticize him, but he's at least changed something." To add on the report cites that many citizens believe that they don't have many options following years of corruption and violence under El Salvador's traditional parties.

However, there has been a lot of criticism from those outside the country one comes from an American researcher for Human Rights Watch, Tyler Mattice, who has stated that Bukele is "One of the biggest risks for human rights and for democracy that we see in Latin America right now." His statement continued with "Bukele is incredibly popular, not only at home in El Salvador. We see a growing number of people in countries across Latin America who are supporting this kind of authoritarian populism because they believe that it could be the only way to address rising levels of violence."

Back when Bukele was first elected in 2019 he became the youngest leader in Latin America, but his wide recognition didn't arrive until 2022 following his harsh actions on the gangs that have had a grip on El Salvador for quite some time. For example, during a state of emergency Bukele's government locked up 76,000 people which equates to 1% of the country's population sending them to prisons where various rights groups have reported cases of torture and the death of 150 inmates. In addition, his government has been accused of systematic human rights abuses.

During an interview with reporters, Bukele's vice presidential running mate Felix Ulloa acknowledged that the government "made mistakes". However, he did double down and justified the crackdown stating, "This is not a police state, it's a state that provides security". He also told reporters "There is nothing that we have done that does not have a legal foundation."

Bukele's controversial but seemingly effective tactics on gangs have also influenced other Latin American territories with many of them following Bekele's example in their attempts to address their security crisis. If one thing is clear despite the controversy and harsh action of Bukele he remains popular among many with one restaurant decorating an entire wall with a mural of Bukele. The leader also provided a warning to voters stating the following "The opposition will be able to achieve its true and only plan, to free the gang members and use them to return to power."
Wakayama, Feb 04 (News On Japan) - With February 3rd marking Setsubun in Japan, a ceremonial rite at the Kumano Nachi Taisha in Wakayama Prefecture, a World Heritage Site, was conducted, involving wearing demon masks, scattering beans while striking bamboo sticks on the stone steps to drive out bad luck.

This Setsubun ceremony, known as "Oni Yarai," has been a long-standing tradition at Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine. Additionally, within the shrine grounds, Shinto priests shot purifying arrows at a target marked with the word "demon," measuring 1.5 meters in diameter, symbolically vanquishing the demon.

Following these rituals, a bean-throwing ceremony was held, with visitors eagerly gathering the beans to receive blessings and good fortune.

Source: KTV NEWS
OSAKA, Feb 04 (News On Japan) - Annually, Osaka attracts around 10 million foreign tourists, boasting popular destinations like Osaka Castle and Universal Studios Japan. A follow-up at the tourist information centers in Osaka reveals these hotspots are just the beginning for travelers.

Den Den Town: The "Akiba of the West" Enchants Foreign Visitors

At the Osaka Tourist Information Center inside JR Osaka Station, approximately 25,000 foreign visitors seek guidance monthly. While the city is famous for landmarks such as Osaka Castle and Universal Studios Japan, Hiraku Mizobata, the director of the Osaka Tourist Information Center, notes a trend towards lesser-known destinations among repeat visitors.

Tourists from France inquire about visiting Sakai city to buy knives, while those from Australia ask directions to Den Den Town, Osaka's renowned electronics district that has become a favorite for its anime and gaming shops, dubbed the "Akiba of the West." A family from Australia mentioned their excitement to explore Japanese bidet seats.

A Different Kind of Food Tour: Takoyaki at Kuromon Market

The quest for culinary delights is a significant draw in Osaka, known as the "City of Gourmets." The latest hit is a distinctive food tour that combines guided explanations with tasting. The Kuromon Market in central Osaka, home to roughly 150 shops, attracts about 20,000 foreign visitors daily.

Cathar Boyle from Australia, who visited with her child, was eager to taste the local cuisine.

A guide introduces Osaka as Japan's kitchen, starting with takoyaki, the city's gourmet sumo wrestler. After eagerly biting into the hot takoyaki, a young boy managed to say between breaths, "The sauce and octopus are delicious."

The guide explains, "Takoyaki is Osaka's soul food. People here love things that are cheap, fast, and delicious."

Next, they tried oden, cautioning that it's hot. Boyle accidentally added too much mustard but enjoyed the experience nonetheless, saying, "We joined the tour to teach the kids about food culture, not just to eat."

As they explored, they indulged in wagyu beef, daifuku, and meat buns, enjoying various Osaka gourmet delights.

Boyle remarked, "Eating a lot and learning new things made it a very fun experience."

Osaka's Culinary Highlight: DIY Okonomiyaki Experience

Among Osaka's gourmet offerings, making your own okonomiyaki is particularly popular with foreigners. A group of American college students enjoyed their first attempt, especially the thrill of flipping it with a spatula.

Foreign visitors appreciate Osaka's vibrant atmosphere, delicious food, and hospitality. They find the local thank-you phrase, "ookini," amusing and distinctive.

Hidden Gem: Minoo Waterfall Among Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls

The Box family from Australia, visiting Osaka for the first time and staying for five days, sought diverse experiences in Osaka. They ventured to Minoo, a less crowded natural spot 30 minutes by train from Osaka Station, to enjoy the Minoo Park. Here, they discovered a breathtaking view of Minoo Waterfall, selected as one of Japan's top 100 waterfalls and known for its spectacular scenery, especially during the autumn foliage season.

The Box family's exploration underscores the appeal of Osaka's proximity to nature for foreign visitors, highlighting the blend of urban and natural attractions that make Osaka a unique destination.

Their adventure concluded with a night cruise along Dotonbori, showcasing Osaka's illuminated beauty from the water, further cementing the city's status as a must-visit location for international tourists.

Source: ANN
TOKYO, Feb 04 (News On Japan) - Yuichi Nakamaru of the pop group KAT-TUN appeared on the "Majissuka" segment of the Nippon Television network show "Shuichi," broadcast on the 4th (every Sunday morning from 7:30 am). He engaged in a special conversation with Gosho Aoyama, the creator of "Detective Conan." Aoyama revealed behind-the-scenes stories of "Detective Conan," a manga series that began serialization in Weekly Shonen Sunday in 1994 and is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024.

Unaware of the guest identity beforehand, Nakamaru walked into the room and was taken aback to meet Aoyama, a manga artist of great seniority. When Nakamaru straightforwardly asked whether Aoyama ever runs out of ideas, Aoyama admitted, "I've run out of ideas," revealing that he experienced a creative block just three months after the series began. Now, he devises tricks with his editor and two others.

Aoyama also disclosed that parts of his own personality are reflected in characters like Kogoro Mouri and Ai Haibara. He confessed that Haibara's lines such as "It's the end of the world for such an incident to occur" represent his own thoughts, as they echo the words he himself would say. Nakamaru, learning about the writing process, expressed his excitement, "That's fascinating! I'd love to watch the movies and works with that knowledge."

During the show, Nakamaru, who is also a rookie manga artist, presented Aoyama with a copy of his first serialized manga, "Yamada-kun's Restless Time." Although Nakamaru was nervous about Aoyama reading the manga on the spot, he was overjoyed by Aoyama's praise, saying, "It's better than I thought! Very easy to follow," to which Nakamaru gratefully responded, "Thank you!"

Aoyama provided detailed advice, such as suggesting a larger panel following a certain one, which had Nakamaru leaning in eagerly. Upon discovering a reference to Arashi's Jun Matsumoto in the manga, Aoyama suggested, "If it were me, I'd draw Matsumoto's face in the next panel." Nakamaru was thrilled by this new technique, remarking, "I see! I'll need to get permission for that!"

Source: MDPR
FUKUOKA, Feb 05 (News On Japan) - Koga City in Fukuoka Prefecture has announced that the "osechi" New Year's meal boxes shipped as rewards for hometown tax donations violated national standards for local products. The issue involved four types of "osechi" meals produced by Kasuya Town's food manufacturing company, Hisamatsu, not in Koga City but at the companys main factory in Kasuya Town, thus breaching the guidelines for local products.

The total donations affected numbered 1,083, amounting to approximately 41.6 million yen.

Koga City has requested Hisamatsu to halt all reward shipments and will offer refunds to donors.

This violation came to light in December last year after a complaint about Hisamatsu's "osechi" being offered as a reward by Tagawa City in Fukuoka Prefecture was filed with the Fukuoka Prefectural Office, leading to an internal investigation.

Similarly, Tagawa City has pledged to refund or replace donations totaling over 178 million yen to affected contributors.

Source: FBS Fukuoka Broadcasting News
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.
Morocco will never allow its Sahara to become a diplomatic maneuvering ground for South Africa, rejects any interaction with Pretoria on the Moroccan Sahara issue, and will never allow South Africa to have any role in this issue.

The remarks were made by Moroccos Permanent Representative to the UN, Omar Hilale Diplomat, in comments on the recent visit of the UN Secretary Generals Personal Envoy for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura to Pretoria.

In an interview with MAP news agency, Omar Hilal said that Morocco has not been consulted or even informed at any time about the visit. However, as soon as the Kingdom became aware of this planned visit, several weeks ago, it directly expressed to Mr. de Mistura, as well as to the UN Secretariat, Moroccos categorical opposition to this trip, as well as its utter rejection of any interaction with Pretoria on the Moroccan Sahara issue.

I dare to hope that this is not a question of defiance to Morocco on the part of Mr. de Mistura, but of a simple error of assessment of South Africas true posture. In any case, Morocco clearly warned him about the consequences of his trip on the political process, the Moroccan diplomat said.

As to the legitimate and objective reasons behind Moroccos opposition to this trip to Pretoria, Omar Hilale said Morocco reminded the Personal Envoy of the fundamentals of his mandate, which are his letter of appointment by the UN Secretary General, which specifies that he will have to work exclusively with the four stakeholders in the political process, as well as on the basis of the Security Council resolutions adopted since 2007.

These resolutions make no reference to South Africa, and even less to any alleged role or contribution of this country to the political process, he said, explaining among the multiple elements disqualifying South Africa from any interference in the Moroccan Sahara issue, the fact that this country recognizes the chimerical entity and supports the polisario politically, diplomatically, militarily, and at the media level.

For all these reasons, Morocco will never allow South Africa to have any role in the Moroccan Sahara issue. Pretoria has been and remains toxic for the question of the Moroccan Sahara, he insisted.

Regarding the approaches currently being discussed at the United Nations referred to by the South African Foreign Minister after her meeting with De Mistura, the Moroccan diplomat expressed surprise at these remarks as Morocco is not aware of any approach. And if there are approaches, it is with Morocco and the other parties that they must be discussed and not with South Africa.

He stated further that for the Kingdom, there is only one approach. It is that of round tables, with the exclusive participation of Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the polisario, as recommended by successive resolutions of the Security Council. This is why Morocco hopes that Mr. de Mistura will devote his efforts more to convincing Algeria to resume its place at the Round Table, as was the case in 2018 and 2019.

There is a clear and strong mandate from the Security Council to facilitate a political, realistic, pragmatic, lasting and compromise solution to this regional dispute, he insisted, recalling that King Mohammed VI has charted the path for the definitive settlement of this regional dispute through the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative, within the framework of the Kingdoms sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Sovereigns vision draws its strength from international law, and its legality from its compliance with the parameters decreed by Security Council resolutions, he said, noting that the broad recognition and international support for the Moroccanness of the Sahara and the Autonomy Initiative reinforce the royal vision for the Saharan provinces, definitively and eternally Moroccan.
The proceedings of the 2nd meeting of the Council of Ministers of Defense of the Islamic Military Coalition for the Fight against Terrorism were held on Saturday in Riyadh, with the participation of the coalitions member states, including Morocco.

Morocco was represented at this meeting, held under the theme Combating Terrorism: A Shared Responsibility, by Minister in charge of the National Defense Administration, Abdellatif Loudiyi.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, who serves as chairman of the coalitions Council of Defense Ministers, announced during the meeting that Saudi Arabia will contribute $26.6 million to support initiatives financing the fund of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC).

Prince Khalid also announced that Saudi Arabia would support 46 training programs as part of the Coalitions four ideological domains, including its media, military, and anti-terrorism financing fields.

After he reiterated the role of the message of Islamic religion in combating extremism and terrorism to achieve global security and peace, Prince Khalid pointed out that the aspirations of the IMCTC require concerted efforts, in addition to integration, cooperation, and partnership between member states, various countries of the world, and international bodies.

Condemning the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, Prince Khalid stressed that this aggression requires a unified stance by the member states of the Coalition to denounce Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

He asserted the need to stop this aggression immediately following the decisions of the extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit held in Riyadh on November 11, 2023.

In their final statement, the member states expressed their support for the emphasis conveyed in the speech of the Saudi Defense Minister on the importance of a unified stance among member states in condemning the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

The defense ministers emphasized their countries determination to enhance cooperation, coordinate efforts, and unite them to avert terrorism risks.

They stressed the importance of joint collective action to confront all forms and manifestations of terrorism and extremism.

They also expressed their satisfaction with the progress achieved in the Coalitions journey, confirming their commitment to fight terrorism and eliminate it through organized collective action and comprehensive planning.

The defense ministers reviewed the alliances 2023 annual report and its operational and financial performance report.

The defense ministers were briefed on the Coalitions methodology and the initiatives it encompasses, designed according to the needs of the member states.

The final statement recognized the importance of activating the initiatives aimed at combating terrorism under its various forms.

The attendees agreed to launch a fund for financing the Coalitions initiatives, which is dedicated to receiving financial contributions from the member states, supporting countries, and international bodies and organizations.

They also welcomed countries desiring to join the Coalition in the future.

In addition to three partner countries, the Islamic Military Coalition for the Fight against Terrorism has 42 member states working collectively to launch initiatives covering its areas of action.
A Tunisian corruption court tripled the prison term facing a businessman who challenged President Kais Saied in the 2019 presidential election.

Nabil Karoui, a media mogul who has been plagued by charges since being imprisoned in the lead-up to that election, was sentenced on Friday to three years behind bars. The courts spokesperson said he was charged with unlawfully receiving more than $1 million in foreign funds to bankroll his campaign.

Karoui is among the many prominent figures from business and politics who have been targeted in investigations of corruption, foreign funding, and undermining state security.

Facing a raft of charges, he crossed from Tunisia to Algeria in 2021, where he was arrested and later fled. His whereabouts are unknown.

Karoui was originally sentenced to one year in prison but the term was tripled after Tunisias public prosecutor filed an appeal. Karoui will also be ineligible to run for office for five years.

Karoui founded Tunisian television channel Nessma TV and headed what was once one of the countrys largest political parties. He was arrested and imprisoned in the middle of his 2019 campaign season on suspicion of money laundering but released before election day.
After rolling the red carpet for the leader of Polisario separatists in 2022, Tunisia has doubled down on its anti-Moroccan policy by inviting the Polisario to take part at an international handicrafts fair in Sfax.

The handicrafts department at Tunisias industry ministry has invited the Algerian-sponsored separatist militia to take part in the fair held until Feb 4, according to the media mouthpiece of the Polisario.

The same media said the fair was an occasion to promote the separatist cause, much to the delight of the military regime in Algiers that succeeded in subduing cash-strapped Tunisia into a mere satellite state.

The incident is a continuation of Tunisian provocation of Moroccan diplomacy after autocratic president Kais Saied gave a state reception to Polisario chief during a Japan-Africa summit in 2022.

In response to this offense to bilateral ties, Morocco protested to Tunisia and recalled its ambassador.

After backtracking on his countrys democratic achievements, autocratic president kais Saied has succeeded in making his country a vassal serving Algerias military rulers.

As global powers acknowledge Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara and back its autonomy plan, little Tunisia seems to be running against the course of history by becoming the latest state to espouse Algerias plots to undermine Moroccos territorial integrity.

Tunis is now siding with an irrational Algerian military regime serving a hegemonic agenda that has only simmered instability in north Africa as well as the Sahel, including through manipulating terrorism that ironically also hit Tunisias tourism-dependent economy.

In 2022, Kais Saied was among the three African leaders who attended a military parade showcasing the soviet-era weaponry of the Algerian army on the 60th anniversary of the independence of the country.

Algeria has given 300 million dollars to Tunisia in exchange for its unconditional support in international fora.

In return, Algerian politicians are now condescending calling Tunisia the little sister or even worse an Algerian province to borrow the words of former PM Houari Tighersi, whose comment triggered the wrath of Tunisian patriots.

Algeria has even meddled in Tunisias internal affairs openly and publicly when President Tebboune said in a presser with an Italian peer that he wants to democratize Tunisia!
Iran-allied militia groups are wreaking havoc in the Middle East. Their latest operation, which happened in Jordan, killed three U.S. military troops and injured several American soldiers.

The attack in Jordan is one of the military operations by Iran-supported militant groups in connection with the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Ever since Israel officially waged war against the Palestinian militant group after the deadly Hamas attack in October 2023, there has been a strengthening alliance of other armed militant organizations backed by the Iranian government.

Iran-Allied Groups Wreaking Havoc in Middle East

According to The Associated Press, the alliance between Houthi, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iran-allied groups is becoming stronger as they sympathize with Palestinians who are affected by the war.

Here's what you need to know about these Iran-backed militant organizations:

Hezbollah

Hezbollah was formed in response to Israel's invasion of Lebanon. Its military wing is considered to be stronger and more efficient than Lebanon's actual armed forces. Hezbollah is also known for its repeated attacks against the U.S., including the deadly bombing in 1983; when a U.S. Marines barrack was devastated in Beirut.

Hamas

Founded in 1987, the Hamas has been protesting against Israel's presence in the Gaza Strip. It seized the Palestinian territory back in 2007 after winning parliamentary elections, receiving 44% of the votes. It also triggered a major war against the Israeli government.

Houthis

Houthi is a military movement in Yemen, that has been wreaking havoc in the Red Sea by attacking commercial vessels. However, Houthi leaders claimed that they were only attacking Israeli vessels.

Smaller Iran-Backed Militias

Smaller Iran-backed militant groups in Iraq and Syria are now becoming more and more aggressive ever since the Israel-Hamas war official started. Their attacks are focused on areas where U.S. military troops are deployed.

Read Also: US Retaliates for Fatal Drone Attack, Strikes Iraqi, Syrian Militants

Militias' Connection With Iran

These militant groups are against Israel because Iran is in an ongoing proxy conflict with the Middle Eastern country. The Middle East's geopolitics are drastically affected by the conflicts between Israel and Iran.

Because of this, Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups are also conducting military activities against the Israeli government. Forbes explained why:

Hamas : Iran is sending weapons and giving training programs to Hamas terrorists.

: Iran is sending weapons and giving training programs to Hamas terrorists. Houthi : Iran is considered to be the primary funder of Houthis.

: Iran is considered to be the primary funder of Houthis. Hezbollah: Iran supported Hezbollah during the Israeli invasion and the Lebanese Civil War.

Related Article: EU To Launch Red Sea Naval Mission To Protect Ships From Extended Houthi Attacks
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Though the U.S. militarys footprint in the Middle East has been significantly reduced since the end of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, some 40,000 U.S. troops remain stationed at various bases large and small across the Middle East. At Politico Magazine, Michael Hirsch examines the logic of the U.S. maintaining its presence in the region:

For America, the Jan. 28 drone strike at an obscure outpost in Jordan  a base few Americans knew existed  is yet another tragic illustration of the risks of leaving forces forward-deployed around the world, sometimes with no obvious mission. Currently the U.S. has about 2,500 troops in Iraq training the Iraqi military, another 900 in Syria, and a few hundred in Jordan ostensibly to ward off the return of ISIS. Every one of these military personnel is a potential victim who could trigger a future conflict.

For Iran, the U.S. retaliation underway is an illustration of the dangers of running proxy militias on multiple fronts that Tehran may no longer be able to fully direct, if it ever did. While Iran seems to have averted an attack inside its borders for the moment, Biden says hell continue striking back, and Tehran may find that its ultimate fate could be determined by an Iraqi or Syrian militia leader if more Americans die.

For both countries, in other words, events are on a permanent hair trigger that is constantly threatening to explode at the slightest pressure.

At Foreign Policy, analysts Adam Weinstein and Steven Simon argue that while U.S. troops still play an important role bolstering Iraqi forces, its no longer worth the risk:

Theres no feasible way for 2,500 U.S. troops to both assist Iraq against the Islamic State and contain Iran-aligned militias without the explicit approval and cooperation of the government in Baghdad. Ditto for the approximately 900 U.S. troops in Syria which rely on support from the U.S. military presence in Iraq and neighboring countries. The era of troop surges and active U.S. combat is over. With the global Islamic State threat decreasing significantly, attacks are down by over half compared to 2022. The operational benefit U.S. troops provide to Iraqi partners simply isnt worth the risk of escalation if U.S. troops are killed. Some may argue that withdrawing from Iraq militarily would benefit Iran and its proxies, and they would be right. But by providing them with troops to target, the U.S. inadvertently validates their raison detre, while perpetuating the risk of an undesirable war with Iran.

And the Atlantic contributor Arash Azizi writes that Iran has a lot less control over the militant groups it backs than it may seem. In fact, he explains, the whole relationship is a hot mess of Irans making:

The Iraqi militias form perhaps the rowdiest part of Irans Axis of Resistance and are among the most firmly rooted in Irans Shiite Islamist ideology. But unlike in Lebanon, where all supporters of Irans Islamist government are united in the ranks of Hezbollah, the militias have never coalesced into a single outfit in Iraq. Instead, each militia has a strong identity, usually organized around a single charismatic leader, and they cooperate through ad hoc umbrella groups, such as the military Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee and the parliamentary Shiite Coordination Framework. 

The ideas of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Irans revolutionary leader, and Khamenei, its current leader, run deep in the Iraqi militias. But this ideological fervor makes them, ironically, hard for Tehran to control, because they are not always prone to be convinced by the strategic calculations of the Iranian establishments more pragmatic sections. Tehran and the IRGC leadership have thus struggled to keep the militias in checkand to restrain them from attacking U.S. forces, in particular. Wrangling them has become especially difficult since Soleimanis killing, because the current head of the IRGCs external operations wing, Esmail Qaani, doesnt have Soleimanis charisma, personal ties with the militias, or even a good command of Arabic.

He also reports that there is hardly a consensus appetite for war with either Israel or the U.S. inside Irans regime:
#HallmarkChannel is honoring Jane Austen this month with "Loveuary" and it kicks off this weekend!



Click  to watch the trailer and find out about each moviehttps://t.co/oG780RSaDH  JustJared.com (@JustJared) February 3, 2024

Paging Mr. Darcy

Love & Jane

An American in Austen

Sense and Sensibility

Hallmark Channel is paying tribute to author Jane Austen with a "Loveuary with Jane Austen" programming, that will see a new movie inspired by the authors work premiere every weekend in February.The movies will be:(February 3)When Professor Eloise Cavendish (Galavant's Mallory Jansen) is asked to give the keynote speech at a Jane Austen conference  an annual event that combines scholarship and fandom  shes dubious. After all, shes writing about how money not love is the most important thing in Austens work. Will a bunch of people who like dressing up in empire-waist gowns and pretending to go to balls really want to hear what she has to say? When she meets Sam (Will Kemp), who puts on the breeches and frock coat of the events official Mr. Darcy every year, shes disgusted, immediately judging him as a cad who uses the event to meet women. Sam and Eloise must get past their prejudices, overcome their pride, and admit theyre both drawn to Austens work for the same reason: an absolute belief in love. (February 10)Lilly ( Alison Sweeney) is an ad agency account executive whose true passion lies within the pages of any Jane Austen novel. Little does she know that her life is about to become a bit less ordinary when Jane Austen (Kendra Anderson) herself appears in her living room out of nowhere. Flitting in and out at home and at Lillys office, Jane helps her navigate the challenges in her life, including how to find inspiration for a winning campaign for her favorite bookstore which has just been purchased by Trevor (Benjamin Ayres), a tech billionaire. (February 17)Harriet (Eliza Bennett) is an American librarian who feels that no man can quite live up to Mr. Darcy from Jane Austens Pride & Prejudice. When her longtime boyfriend surprises her with a proposal, she isnt sure of her answer and flees. Exhausted, she falls asleep on the car ride home only to wake up inside her favorite novel. Once there, she befriends her literary hero Elizabeth (Nell Barlow) and the rest of the Bennett family and wows them with her uncanny knack for predicting what will happen next. Soon, her peculiar behavior beguiles none other than Mr. Darcy (Nicholas Bishop) himself. As Harriets presence disrupts the story she loves most, she starts to question the fantasies she once held of Regency-Era life. (February 24)Following the loss of their family patriarch, the Dashwood womens financial circumstances drastically change and they are forced to leave their home for a modest cottage in Devonshire. Soon, practical eldest daughter Elinor (Deborah Ayorinde) falls for the equally pragmatic gentleman Edward Ferrars (Dan Jeannotte). Her passionate sister Marianne (Bethany Antonia) meanwhile spurns the advances of their steadfast new neighbor Colonel Brandon (Akil Largie) for the much more exciting John Willoughby (Victor Hugo). When Elinor and Mariannes romantic prospects do not turn out as hoped, each sister learns to embrace the others approach to matters of the heart. TrailerSourcesONTD, favorite Jane Austen adaptation?
The stories in Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart are about the abomination that resides within us all. That churning, clawing, hungry the desire to be loved, and seen, and known. And the terror of those things to be loved too well, or not enough, or for long enough. To be laid bare before your sweetheart, to their horror. To be known and recognized as the monstrous thing you are.

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Two young women working at a sinister roadside attraction called the Eternal Staircase explore its secretsand their own doomed summer love. A group of witchy teens concoct the perfect plan to induce the hated new girl into their ranks. A woman moves into a new house with her acclaimed artist boyfriend and finds her body slowly shifting into something specially constructed to accommodate his needs and whims. And two outcasts, a vampire and a goat woman, find solace in each other, even as the world's lack of understanding might bring about its own end.



In these lush, beautifully written stories, GennaRose Nethercott explores love in all its diamond-dark facets to create a collection that will redefine what you see as a beast, and make you beg to have your heart broken.



In Daretanas most opulent mansion, a high Imperial officer lies deadkilled, to all appearances, when a tree spontaneously erupted from his body. Even in this canton at the borders of the Empire, where contagions abound and the blood of the Leviathans works strange magical changes, its a death at once terrifying and impossible.

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Called in to investigate this mystery is Ana Dolabra, an investigator whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities.



At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol. Din is an engraver, magically altered to possess a perfect memory. His job is to observe and report, and act as his superiors eyes and ears--quite literally, in this case, as among Anas quirks are her insistence on wearing a blindfold at all times, and her refusal to step outside the walls of her home.



Din is most perplexed by Anas ravenous appetite for information and her minds frenzied leapsnot to mention her cheerful disregard for propriety and the apparent joy she takes in scandalizing her young counterpart. Yet as the case unfolds and Ana makes one startling deduction after the next, he finds it hard to deny that she is, indeed, the Empires greatest detective.



As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the safety of the Empire itself, Din realizes hes barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabraand wonders how long hell be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect.



Featuring an unforgettable Holmes-and-Watson style pairing, a gloriously labyrinthine plot, and a haunting and wholly original fantasy world, The Tainted Cup brilliantly reinvents the classic mystery tale.

For Ash Woods, practicing alchemy is a crime.



Only an elite few are legally permitted to study the science of magicso when Ash is rejected by the Lancaster Mages College, he takes a job as the schools groundskeeper instead, forced to learn alchemy in secret.

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When hes discovered by the condescending and brilliant apprentice Ramsay Thorne, Ash is sure he's about to be arrestedbut instead of calling the reds, Ramsay surprises Ash by making him an offer: Ramsay will keep Ash's secret if he helps her find the legendary Book of Source, a sacred text that gives its reader extraordinary power.



As Ash and Ramsay work together and their feelings for each other grow, Ash discovers their mission is more dangerous than he imagined, pitting them against influential and powerful alchemistsAshs estranged father included. Ashs journey takes him through the cities and wilds across New Anglia, forcing him to discover his own definition of true power and how far he and other alchemists will go to seize it.



Featuring trans, queer, and polyamorous characters of color, Infinity Alchemist is the hugely anticipated young adult fantasy debut from the extraordinary author of Felix Ever After, King and the Dragonflies, Queen of the Conquered and more.

One look can kill.



Riley has not seen a single human face in longer than she can reckon. No faces, no eyes. Not if you want to survive.

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But when a new neighbor moves in down the road, Rileys overwhelming need for human contact makes her throw caution to the wind. Somehow, in this world where other people can mean a gruesome, bloody death, Ellis makes her feel safe. As they grow closer, Rileys grip on reality begins to slip and she can no longer fight her deepest desires.



All Riley wants to do is look.

A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance.



Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcastagain. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchangeagain...

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Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. Its clear from the way he tracks Miserys every movement that he doesnt trust her. If only he knew how right he was.



Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back whats hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territoryalone with the wolf.

Some people think foxes are similar to ghosts because we go around collecting qi , or life force, but nothing could be further than the truth. We are living creatures, just like you, only usually better looking . . .

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Manchuria, 1908.



A young woman is found frozen in the snow. Her death is clouded by rumors of foxes involved, which are believed to lure people by transforming themselves into beautiful women and men. Bao, a detective with a reputation for sniffing out the truth, is hired to uncover the dead womans identity. Since childhood, Bao has been intrigued by the fox gods, yet theyve remained tantalizingly out of reach. Until, perhaps, now.



Meanwhile, a family that owns a famous Chinese medicine shop can cure ailments, but not the curse that afflicts themtheir eldest sons die before their twenty-fourth birthdays. Now the only grandson of the family is twenty-three. When a mysterious woman enters their household, their luck seems to change. Or does it? Is their new servant a simple young woman from the north or a fox spirit bent on her own revenge?



New York Times bestselling author Yangsze Choo brilliantly explores a world of mortals and spirits, humans and beasts, and their dazzling intersection. The Fox Wife is a stunning novel about a winter full of mysterious deaths, a mother seeking revenge, and old folktales that may very well be true.

January 1918. Laura Iven was a revered field nurse until she was wounded and discharged from the medical corps, leaving behind a brother still fighting in Flanders. Now home in Halifax, Canada, she receives word of Freddies death in combat, along with his personal effectsbut something doesnt make sense. Determined to uncover the truth, Laura returns to Belgium as a volunteer at a private hospital. Soon after arriving, she hears whispers about haunted trenches, and a strange hotelier whose wine gives soldiers the gift of oblivion. Could Freddie have escaped the battlefield, only to fall prey to somethingor someoneelse?

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November 1917. Freddie Iven awakens after an explosion to find himself trapped in an overturned pillbox with a wounded enemy soldier, a German by the name of Hans Winter. Against all odds, the two men form an alliance and succeed in clawing their way out. Unable to bear the thought of returning to the killing fields, especially on opposite sides, they take refuge with a mysterious man who seems to have the power to make the hellscape of the trenches disappear.



As shells rain down on Flanders, and ghosts move among those yet living, Lauras and Freddies deepest traumas are reawakened. Now they must decide whether their world is worth salvagingor better left behind entirely.

To the outside world, Silverton appears not to matter much at all. It sits on a remote mountain pass, far from the great cathedral city of Lodellan. Its run by witches who, in the usual scheme of things, would be burnt. Yet a dispensation keeps the Briars safe for one simple, dangerous they are the custodians of the threshold between the civilised world and the Darklands, where Leech Lords hold sway. Vampires are especially feared by the ecclesiastics, for leeches steal souls as well as bodies, and mortal souls are the Churchs most valuable currency.

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However, things are changing in Silverton, with new forces coming into play and ancient mysteries and sins refusing to stay buried  and Anni Briar, the first non-witch born into the family for three hundred years, will find herself at the centre of the maelstrom.

Deep in the forgotten hills of Massachusetts stands Saint Perpetua's College. Isolated and ancient, it is not a place for timid girls. Here, secrets are currency, ambition is lifeblood, and strange ceremonies welcome students into the fold.

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On her first day of class, Laura Sheridan is thrust into an intense academic rivalry with the beautiful and enigmatic Carmilla. Together, they are drawn into the confidence of their demanding poetry professor, De Lafontaine, who holds her own dark obsession with Carmilla.



But as their rivalry blossoms into something far more delicious, Laura must confront her own strange hungers. Tangled in a sinister game of politics, bloodthirsty professors and dark magic, Laura and Carmilla must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice in their ruthless pursuit of knowledge.

Retired soldier Alex Easton returns in a horrifying new adventure.



After their terrifying ordeal at the Usher manor, Alex Easton feels as if they just survived another war. All they crave is rest, routine, and sunshine, but instead, as a favor to Angus and Miss Potter, they find themself heading to their family hunting lodge, deep in the cold, damp forests of their home country, Gallacia.

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In theory, one can find relaxation in even the coldest and dampest of Gallacian autumns, but when Easton arrives, they find the caretaker dead, the lodge in disarray, and the grounds troubled by a strange, uncanny silence. The villagers whisper that a breath-stealing monster from folklore has taken up residence in Eastons home. Easton knows better than to put too much stock in local superstitions, but they can tell that something is not quite right in their home. . . or in their dreams.

If you could open a door to anywhere, where would you go?



In New York City, bookseller Cassie Andrews is living an unassuming life when she is given a gift by a favourite customer. It's a book - an unusual book, full of strange writing and mysterious drawings. And at the very front there is a handwritten message to Cassie, telling her that this is the Book of Doors, and that any door is every door .

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What Cassie is about to discover is that the Book of Doors is a special book that bestows an extraordinary powers on whoever possesses it, and soon she and her best friend Izzy are exploring all that the Book of Doors can do, swept away from their quiet lives by the possibilities of travelling to anywhere they want.



But the Book of Doors is not the only magical book in the world. There are other books that can do wondrous and dreadful things when wielded by dangerous and ruthless individuals - individuals who crave what Cassie now possesses.



Suddenly Cassie and Izzy are confronted by violence and danger, and the only person who can help them is, it seems, Drummond Fox. He is a man fleeing his own demons - a man with his own secret library of magical books that he has hidden away in the shadows for safekeeping. Because there is a nameless evil out there that is hunting them all . . .



Because some doors should never be opened.

Late one night, Laura, Daniel, and Mo find themselves beneath the fluorescent lights of a high school classroom, almost a year after disappearing from their hometown, the small seaside community of Lovesend, Massachusetts, having long been presumed dead. Which, in fact, they are.

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With them in the room is their previously unremarkable high school music teacher, who seems to know something about their disappearanceand what has brought them back again. Desperate to reclaim their lives, the three agree to the terms of the bargain their music teacher proposes. They will be given a series of magical tasks; while they undertake them, they may return to their families and friends, but they can tell no one where theyve been. In the end, there will be winners and there will be losers.



But their resurrection has attracted the notice of other supernatural figures, all with their own agendas. As Laura, Daniel, and Mo grapple with the pieces of the lives they left behind, and Lauras sister, Susannah, attempts to reconcile what she remembers with what she fears, these mysterious others begin to arrive, engulfing their community in danger and chaos, and it becomes imperative that the teens solve the mystery of their deaths to avert a looming disaster.

Investigator Mossa and Scholar Pleiti reunite to solve a brand-new mystery in the follow-up to the fan-favorite cozy space opera detective mystery The Mimicking of Known Successes that Hugo Award-winning author Charlie Jane Anders called an utter triumph.



Mossa has returned to Valdegeld on a missing persons case, for which shell once again need Pleitis insight.



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Seventeen students and staff members have disappeared from Valdegeld Universityyet no one has noticed. The answers to this case could be found in the outer reaches of the Jovian systemMossas homeand the history of Jupiters original settlements. But Pleitis faith in her lifes work as scholar of the past has grown precarious, and this new case threatens to further destabilize her dreams for humanitys future, as well as her own.

There are many paths to power.



They all come with a price.



Neferura, princess and high priestess of Kemet, knows her duty is to her people. When your mother is the great Pharaoh, it is hard to forget. But Neferura's unique position at court comes with high stakes for her country, especially when she's forced to serve her vile half-brother, a man determined to stop Neferura's potential rise.

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Peace, it seems, never lasts for women who wield power in the open. Especially when they cross a vengeful man.



When Neferura overhears Thutmose's plot to end her mother's rule, she knows he must be stopped, no matter the cost. The discovery of a mysterious tattooed wisewoman and her shadowy network of spies offers an uneasy alliance. But the wisewoman wields more power than Neferura knew possible -- power with the potential to rival her own. Neferura must decide where her loyalties lie and how much she's willing to sacrifice to protect the people she loves before everything crumbles at the hands of a tyrant.

When Middren falls to the gods, your kind will be the first to die.



Gods are forbidden in the kingdom of Middrenbut now they are stirring, whispering of war. Godkiller Kissen sacrificed herself to vanquish the fire god Hseth, who murdered her family and endangered her friends. But gods cannot be destroyed so easily, and Hseths power threatens to reform with even greater strength and a thirst for vengeance. As tensions rise throughout the land, the kingdom needs its Godkiller more than ever.

[ continued description under the cut ]



Still reeling from the loss of Kissen, young noble Inara and her little god of white lies, Skedi, have set out to discover more about the true nature of their bond. As the divide between gods and humans widens, Inara and Skedi will uncover secrets that could determine the fate of the war to come.



Meanwhile, Elogast, no longer a loyal knight of King Arren, has been tasked with killing the man he once called friend. The king vowed to eradicate all gods throughout the land, but has now entered into an unholy pact with the most dangerous of them all. And where his heart once beat, a god now burns. . .

Inspired by Sri Lankan folklore, award-winning author Amanda Jayatissa turns her feverish, Gothic-tinged talents to late 19th century Sri Lanka where the daughter of a traditional demon-priestrelentlessly bullied by peers and accused of witchcraft herselftries to solve the mysterious attacks that have been terrorizing her coastal village.

[ continued description under the cut ]



Being the daughter of the village Capuwa, or demon-priest, Amara is used to keeping mostly to herself. Influenced by the new religious practices brought in by the British Colonizers, the villagers who once respected her fathers craft have turned on the family. Yet, they all still seem to call on him whenever supernatural disturbances arise.



Now someoneor something is viciously seizing upon men in the jungle. But instead of enlisting Amaras fathers help, the villages have accused him of carrying out the attacks himself.



As she tries to clear her fathers name, Amara finds herself haunted by dreams that eerily predict the dark forces on her island. And she cant shake the feeling that its all connected to the night she was recovering from a strange illness, and woke up, scared and confused, to hear her mothers frantic No one can find out what happened .



Lush, otherworldly, and recalling horror classics like Carrie and The Exorcist , Island Witch is a deliciously creepy and darkly feminist tale about the horrors of moral panic, the violent space between girlhood and adulthood, and what happens when female rage is finally unleashed.

From Hafsah Faizal, New York Times/i>bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame, comes the first book in a hotly-anticipated new fantasy duology about an orphan girl and her crew who get tangled in a heist with vampires, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugos Six of Crows.

[ continued description under the cut ]



On the streets of White Roaring, Arthie Casimir is a criminal mastermind and collector of secrets. Her prestigious tearoom transforms into an illegal bloodhouse by dark, catering to the vampires feared by society. But when her establishment is threatened, Arthie is forced to strike an unlikely deal with an alluring adversary to save itand she cant do the job alone.



Calling upon a band of misfits, Arthie formulates a plan to infiltrate the dark and glittering vampire society known as the Athereum. But not every member of her crew is on her side, and as the truth behind the heist unfolds, Arthie finds herself in the midst of a conspiracy that will threaten the world as she knows it. Dark, action-packed, and swoonworthy, this is Hafsah Faizal better than ever.

Sixteen-year-old Odile is an awkward, quiet girl vying for a coveted seat on the Conseil. If she earns the position, shell decide who may cross her towns heavily guarded borders. On the other side, its the same valley, the same town--except to the east, the town is twenty years ahead in time. To the west, its twenty years behind. The towns repeat in an endless sequence across the wilderness.

[ continued description under the cut ]



When Odile recognizes two visitors she wasnt supposed to see, she realizes that the parents of her friend Edme have been escorted across the border from the future, on a mourning tour, to view their son while hes still alive in Odiles present. Edmewho is brilliant, funny, and the only person to truly see Odileis about to die. Sworn to secrecy in order to preserve the timeline, Odile now becomes the Conseils top candidate, yet she finds herself drawing closer to the doomed boy, imperiling her entire future.

A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry kingwhile also fighting her growing desire for his fiery sonin this Norse-inspired fantasy romance from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series.



Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husbands back.

[ continued description under the cut ]



Freyas dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the regions jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: She possesses a drop of a goddesss blood, which makes her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. It was foretold such a magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maidens fate.



Believing hes destined to rule Skaland as king, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. The greatest test of all, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.

An imaginative new space opera filled with sapphic romance, space pirates, a blind witch and powerful priestesses



Korinna has simple stay on the Navitas , stay out of trouble, and stay alive. She may be a Redseer, a blind priestess with the power to manipulate space-time, but she is the weakest in her Order. Useless and outcast. Or so she has been raised to believe.

[ continued description under the cut ]



As she takes her place as a navigator on an Imperium ship, Korinnas full destiny is revealed to blood brimming with magic, she is meant to become a weapon of the Imperium, and pawn for the Order that raised her. But when the ship is attacked by the notorious pirate Aster Haran, Korinnas world is ripped apart.



Aster has a vendetta against the Imperium, and an all-consuming, dark power that drives her to destroy everything in her path. She understands the world in a way Korinna has never imagined, and Korinna is drawn to her against her better judgment.



With the Imperium and the justice-seeking warrior Sahar hot on her heels, Korinna must choose her side, seize her power and fulfil her destiny--or risk imperiling the future of the galaxy, and destroying the fabric of space-time itself.

Welcome to Tiankawi  shining pearl of human civilization and a safe haven for those fleeing civil unrest. Or at least, thats how it first appears.



But in the semi-flooded city, humans are, quite literally, on peering down from skyscrapers and aerial walkways on the fathomfolk  sirens, seawitches, kelpies and kappaswho live in the polluted waters below.

[ continued description under the cut ]



For half-siren Mira, promotion to captain of the border guard means an opportunity to reform. At last, she has the ear of the city council and a chance to lift the repressive laws that restrict fathomfolk at every turn. But if earning the trust and respect of her human colleagues wasn't hard enough, everything Mira has worked towards is put in jeopardy when a water dragon is exiled to the city.



New arrival Nami is an aristocratic water dragon with an opinion on everything. Frustrated by the lack of progress from Mira's softly-softly approach in gaining equality, Nami throws her lot in with an anti-human extremist group, leaving Mira to find the headstrong youth before she makes everything worse.



And pulling strings behind everything is Cordelia, a second-generation sea-witch determined to do what she must to survive and see her family flourish, even if it means climbing over the bodies of her competitors. Her political game-playing and underground connections could disrupt everything Nami and Mira are fighting for.



When the extremists sabotage the annual boat race, violence erupts, as does the clampdown on fathomfolk rights. Even Nami realises her new friends are not what they seem. Both she and Mira must decide if the cost of change is worth it, or if Tiankawi should be left to drown.

A world-weary woman races against the clock to rescue the children of a wrathful tyrant from a dangerous, otherworldly forest.



At the northern edge of a land ruled by a monstrous, foreign tyrant lies the wild forest known as the Elmever. The villagers know better than to let their children go nearonce someone goes in, they never come back out.

[ continued description under the cut ]



No one knows the strange and terrifying traps of the Elmever better than Veris Thorn, the only person to ever rescue a child from the forest many years ago. When the Tyrants two young children go missing, Veris is commanded to enter the forest once more and bring them home safe. If Veris fails, the Tyrant will kill her; if she remains in the forest for longer than a day, she will be trapped forevermore.



So Veris will travel deep into the Elmever to face traps, riddles, and monsters at the behest of another monster. One misstep will cost everything.

February is a stacked month with many of my most highly anticipated releases. What releases are you most looking forward to in 2024?

Previous months: January Previous years' posts can be found here (all linked from the April 2023 post and final 2022 post): A Sampling of 2022's Speculative Fiction Releases (Part 8) (also includes links to 2022 historical fiction posts) and A Sampling of 2023's Speculative Fiction - April Releases The rules:1. Books must fall into a category of speculative fiction - science fiction, fantasy, horror, etc.2. All books must have an actual release date.3. All books must have a synopsis.4. All books must have a title.5. Any sequels will have it noted next to their titles.6. Books in the UK are released on Thursdays, North America on Tuesdays. So for many of these dates, add an extra two days if they're in the UK. I will try to make a note of any date discrepancies beyond that though.by GennaRose NethercottRelease date: February 6thWhy is it on this list?: I loved this collection of 14 lovely and weird short stories. Beautiful writing, super imaginative and creative, and, yes, often eerie, surreal, and abstract, these stories gave off dark fairytale vibes and I honestly enjoyed reading each one of them.by Robert Jackson BennettRelease date: February 6thWhy is it on this list?: Okay, to be honest, I saw this first line of a single review. ts like knives out but if knives out was set in a fantasy world and benoit blanc was an old woman who had hired the most disaster bisexual to be her eyes and ears and I added it to this list.by Kacen CallenderRelease date: February 6thWhy is it on this list?: A queer YA fantasy about alchemists, the fantasy debut of Kacen Callender? Theres a lot to like about the sound of this, and the representation is right at the top, featuring a trans main character.by Sunny MoraineRelease date: February 6thWhy is it on this list?: Described as suspense horror and just plain weird, this one is a take on the pandemic, but where the sickness spreads via eye contact. This one sounds like its full of tension, paranoia, and growing anxiety, so if that - along with weird and quirky - is your type of horror, it could be something to check out.by Ali HazelwoodRelease date: February 6thWhy is it on this list?: The fantasy debut of popular contemporary romance author Ali Hazelwood,is a paranormal romance between a vampire and a werewolf, and, oh yeah, its omega verse. If you know what that is, that probably tells you if you want to read this or not, and if you dont know what that is - dont Google it.by Yangsze ChooRelease date: February 13thWhy is it on this list?: The first of five February 13th releases that I personally amanticipating, this one merges historical fiction and fantasy, and also features fox spirits and curses, all set in early 1900s Manchuria. The fact that its said to be about a winter full of mysterious deaths, a mother seeking revenge, and old folktales that may very well be true bodes very well for it, I think!by Katherine ArdenRelease date: February 13th (March 7th UK)Why is it on this list?: Have you read the Winternight trilogy? No? Go read the Winternight trilogy. Yes? Then you understand why a Katherine Arden book is on this list.by A.G. SlatterRelease date: February 13thWhy is it on this list?: I will always go for a witch book and I will always go for a gothic book, so, obviously, this is an easy contender for this list. A.G. Slatter has found her niche of gothic fairytales, and I am very happy for her (and for me).by S.T. GibsonRelease date: February 13thWhy is it on this list?: A full-length novel set in the world of A Dowry of Blood , and a Carmilla retelling? Sign me the fuck up, I am ready for the sensuality and lyrical writing that this one promises to deliver.(Sworn Soldier #2) by T. KingfisherRelease date: February 13thWhy is it on this list?: The second entry in T. Kingfishers Sworn Soldier novellas, the first of which was inspired by Poes, this one promises to be spooky, atmospheric, and gothic, all of which are key words to my heart.by Gareth BrownRelease date: February 13thWhy is it on this list?: Because February 13th is already going to utterly destroy my wallet, so whats one more? This is a book about books - well, kind of. Its a book about one magical book that can open doors, any doors. Time travel, battles of good versus evil, theres a lot to like about the sound of this one.by Kelly LinkRelease date: February 13th (February 8th UK)Why is it on this list?: Resurrected girls must solve magical tasks sounds like a lot of fun, but this book is said to be more thoughtful than that, asking questions about what youd leave behind, and exploring different kinds of love as it looks at what ties the three characters to their old lives. From what reviewers are saying, the synopsis may do this book a bit of a disservice, as its seemingly much more whimsical and strange than the synopsis would suggest.(Mossa & Pleiti #2) by Malka OlderRelease date: February 13thWhy is it on this list?: The second novella in Malka Olders cozy sci-fi detective series, this sounds lovely. If youve ever been a fan of colonization sci-fi and seeing humanity settle on another planet but thought that what it really needed was a Holmesian mystery there, this is for you.by Malayna EvansRelease date:Why is it on this list?: The thought of a book about Neferura, the daughter of Egyptian pharaoh Hapshepsut about whom not a whole lot is known, is a a fairly wonderful idea, with a focus on the scheming of a court and on women chafing against traditional roles. The execution of said idea didn't work as well for me, but maybe it will for you!(Fallen Gods #2) by Hannah KanerRelease date: February 15th (March 12th NA)Why is it on this list?: I loved Godkiller , which included strong mythology, road novel tropes, and, and sois easily one of my most anticipated books for early 2024. And the stunning cover doesnt hurt either!by Amanda JayatissaRelease date: February 20thWhy is it on this list?: Gothic 19th century Sri Lankan folklore for this horror? Um, hello, yes. Featuring demon-priests and British colonizers (. . . presumably as different characters), this story is also said to feature a lot of feminine rage, and I am ready for it.by Hafsah FaizalRelease date: February 20thWhy is it on this list?: To be quite honest, the idea of a fantasy book featuring tea was what first caught my attention - but this isnt so much tea and is more vampire heist book! Which, quite honestly, sounds like a lot of fun.by Scott Alexander HowardRelease date: February 27thWhy is it on this list?: The premise of this sounds like it has the potential to be beautiful, and apparently the writing is a standout, making this literary sci-fi have a tentative spot on my own personal list (I only found it when looking for a couple more books to fill out this post). A story about a young girl who lives in a town thats bordered by two near-identical towns, except for the very non-identical facts that one of those towns is twenty years ahead and the other is twenty years behind, this is a pretty captivating premise that probably wont lead to any emotional beats at all, I'm sure.by Danielle L. JensenRelease date: February 27thWhy is it on this list?: Okay, look, Ive said before that I try to feature multiple sub-genres under the sci-fi/fantasy/horror umbrellas, and this is a fantasy romance that I know a lot of people who either are very excited for it or already love it. Featuring a shield maiden and Norse mythology as an inspiration, this is said to be sexy and adventurous.by Meredith MooringRelease date: February 27thWhy is it on this list?: I really dont have to say more beyond the first line of the synopsis here: An imaginative new space opera filled with sapphic romance, space pirates, a blind witch and powerful priestesses. Done.by Eliza ChanRelease date: February 27thWhy is it on this list?: Well, first of all, you see that cover, right? Water dragons, sea witches, and East Asian-inspired fantasy, this sounds like it has a lot of mythology and world-building, as well as a lot of promise.by Premee MohamedRelease date: February 27thWhy is it on this list?: This is a dark fairytale novella, with some emphasis on the dark part. With atmospheric writing and a fair bit of grimness and body horror, this sounds right up my particular alley.sources: 1
Since Saudi Arabias announcement that it is scrapping plans to expand its oil production capacity by 1 million barrels per day (bpd), speculation has flourished about the reasons behind the decision.

First, analysts speculate that the outlook on long-term oil demand has come into question.

Next, investment banks suggest that supply growth from producers outside the OPEC+ agreement has surprised the market in the past two years, and the worlds top crude oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, may have recognized that it faces a problem and has to fight harder for its market share.

Then there is the belief that the surprise announcement from Saudi Aramco could support oil prices for longer.

Finally, the halted expansion is expected to save Saudi oil giant Aramco billions of U.S. dollars from capital expenditure on massive new projects, easing the pressure on the balance sheet and potentially leaving more cash for the coffers of the Kingdom, which is planning an enormous amount of spending on futuristic projects such as the NEOM projecta key pillar of Saudi Arabias Vision 2030 program to boost its economy and diversify it away from oil.

Aramco said this week 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. The worlds biggest oil firm said in a statement on Tuesday that it would update its capital spending plans for the year in March when it announces its 2023 financial results.

Saudi Arabia may have surprised markets with the announcement, but the decision was being deliberated for at least six months due to concerns that the worlds top crude exporter wasnt fully monetizing its excess capacity, Reuters reported on Wednesday, quoting an industry source.

Oil Demand Concerns?

Neither Aramco nor Saudi Arabia provided reasons for the decision to abandon plans for capacity expansion. The knee-jerk reaction from analysts and market participants was that the worlds biggest oil exporter may have revised down its expectations of oil demand in the long term.

Publicly, the Saudis and OPEC continue to say that demand will continue growing and that the world will need more oil and gas to offset declining output from mature fields. Related: U.S. Refiners Should Brace for Trans Mountain Pipeline Launch

OPEC has even raised significantly its long-term oil demand outlook and now expects global oil demand at around 116 million bpd in 2045, up by 6 million bpd compared to the previous assessment from last year, as energy consumption continues to grow and will need all forms of energy.

The International Energy Agency (IEA), however, says peak oil demand is in sight by the end of this decade.

As Saudi Arabia is leading efforts to manage oil supply from OPEC+, it may have decided that its current maximum sustainable capacity of 12 million bpd is enough, considering that it now has 3 million bpd of spare production capacity.

The Kingdom has only rarely supplied more than 11 million bpd to the market, for example, in the early months of 2020 amid the full-blown price war with Russia while prices were tanking as Covid was destroying demand.

Currently, Saudi Arabia produces 9 million bpd of crude as it leads OPEC+ efforts to stabilize the market.

Non-OPEC Competition for Supply

Apart from concerns about demand in the long term, the other most discussed reason for the Saudi U-turn on expanding capacity is the stronger supply growth from non-OPEC+ producers in recent years, most of all, the United States, many analysts say.

Riyadh sees softer balances in the next few years, mainly on supply outside OPEC+, Bob McNally, president of consultancy Rapidan Energy Group and a former White House official, told Bloomberg.

According to Martijn Rats, global oil strategist at Morgan Stanley, with the stronger-than-expected supply from the U.S. and other non-OPEC+ producers, the room in the oil market for OPEC oil came under pressure.

Barclays, for its part, believes the Saudi halt to expansion is driven more by the surprisingly strong supply response outside the OPEC+ alliance, rather than a lowered demand forecast.

If the demand outlook were deteriorating, as one of the lowest cost producers, Saudi Arabia would arguably be better off increasing its output to slow the pace of transition and investments in international capacity, Barclays said in a note carried by Reuters.

Citi says the Saudi decision could mean that OPEC+ has started to recognize that it has a problem.

Namely the size of the growing capacity overhang in global oil markets and the need for KSA to continue to cede market share to accommodate growth of competitors (US shale, Guyana, Brazil), Citi Research said.

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The market should probably assume that KSA is willing to defend $70/barrel at all costs, at least in the short-term.

Saudi Budget

The lower capex from Aramco, now that the expansion is halted, could boost income for the Kingdom, which looks to invest in tourism, digital cities, and cutting-edge futuristic new ventures.

Bank Emirates NBD expects Saudi Arabias budget deficit to widen to -4.3% of GDP this year, versus the official estimate of -1.9% of GDP.

For 2024, we expect oil prices to average USD 82.5/b, similar to 2023, Emirates NBD said in January.

However with Saudi Arabia now extending its 1mn b/d voluntary production cut at least through March 2024 and only gradually recovering thereafter, we expect the volume of oil sold to decline by around -4% from average 2023 levels, weighing on budget revenue.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Two men shot and killed by off-duty Omaha police officers early Saturday in South Omaha have been identified.

The men have been identified as Fernando Rodriguez-Juarez, 26, and Jonathan Hernandez-Rosales, 28, both of Omaha. The names of the off-duty officers were not released..

Due to the off-duty capacity the officers were working in when this incident occurred, body-worn camera footage is limited, according to a statement Saturday from the Omaha Police Department.

Detectives are finding and using area business surveillance footage to assist with the investigation to ensure a full picture of what took place before, during, and after this incident occurred, a police spokesman said. The involved officers will interview early this upcoming week as part of this investigation.

A preliminary investigation found that the officers were working an off-duty job at an area business when they responded shortly after 2 a.m. to a disturbance involving a firearm in an alleyway near 32nd and L Streets.

Rodriguez-Juarez and Hernandez-Rosales were said to be in an SUV when they were hit by the officers gunfire, according to the press release. They were taken to Nebraska Medical Center with life-threatening injuries and later died.

A handgun was found inside the SUV, according to the release. The involved officers have been placed on paid administrative leave.

The Nebraska State Patrol and Douglas County Sheriffs Office are assisting Omaha police in the investigation.
On a chilly December evening in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a surprise for Howard Buffett, leading the philanthropist son of Warren Buffett to a plaza near the presidential palace.

There among the bricks on the Walk of the Brave was a plaque bearing the younger Buffetts name, thanking him for the humanitarian assistance his charitable foundation has provided Ukraine in the face of Russias brutal invasion.

Also on this square are people who have been with us, worked with us and helped from the first days and months, Zelenskyy told Buffett in his familiar accented English. You are among these world leaders  friends of Ukraine.

Ukraine and its people have indeed had a major supporter in Omaha native Buffett. Since Russia launched its invasion two years ago this month, his Howard G. Buffett Foundation has spent more than $500 million on humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

In effect, Buffett has used a portion of the fortune amassed by his investor father to feed Ukrainians, help the nation rebuild and meet other critical needs.

To put it in perspective, Buffetts half-billion-dollar contribution is more than some European countries have provided in combined humanitarian, military and financial aid.

In fact, looking at only humanitarian assistance, figures compiled by Germanys Kiel Institute for the World Economy show just seven nations worldwide have provided more such aid than Buffett: the United States, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

With his financial assistance, Buffett has helped restore Ukraines agricultural infrastructure and clear civilian areas and farmland of mines the Russians left behind.

Hes replaced windows blown out by bomb blasts, keeping Ukrainians in their homes.

Hes provided equipment for security officials investigating Russian war crimes.

Hes built and outfitted a rehabilitation hospital for soldiers and civilians who have lost limbs.

And at a time when some U.S. politicians support for Ukraine has been flagging, Buffett remains firm in his resolve. He has set aside another $300 million for Ukraine aid in 2024.

Thats the level of commitment Buffett has to a nation fighting a war that Buffett has called the most clear distinction between right and wrong hes seen in his lifetime. He says if Russias Vladimir Putin is not stopped now, there will only be more threats to peace and democracy in Europe.

I dont know how you turn and look the other way when you see someone like Putin try to annihilate a population, Buffett said in an interview with The World-Herald.

When it comes to Ukraine, Buffett hasnt just sent money.

He hasnt been afraid to stick his nose out for the country politically. During a London conference on recovery aid to Ukraine in June, he rebuked world leaders for not providing enough assistance  including military aid  to Ukraine.

If we are so short-sighted politically not to do what we should do to support Ukraine, I think well pay for it in a few years, and I think people will look back and realize the mistake, Buffett said.

Buffett has also put his own boots on the ground in Ukraine 10 times since the invasion, wanting to see the conditions and needs himself.

Those travels at times have put Buffett in harms way.

Hes seen the bodies of civilians killed when a Russian shell just minutes earlier landed at a bus station. Hes taken shelter during Russian missile attacks.

Buffett has seen villages completely flattened by the fighting.

Hes spoken to the victims of alleged Russian war crimes, including a woman whose mother was shot in front of her and another woman who was raped.

I think the civilian deaths and attacks on the civilian infrastructure is the worst thing Ive ever seen, said Buffett, whose foundation work has previously taken him to other war zones, including Kosovo, Sudan and Congo. This has been a war on civilians and war on humanity, and I dont say that lightly.

Buffett has also taken time to document what hes seen. The globe-trotting wildlife photographer always has his Canon camera at the ready. He is currently working on his second photo book featuring his images from Ukraine.

Along the way, he has fallen in love with the Ukrainian people. The man who has traveled to 154 countries around the globe says hes found them to be among the most engaging and resilient hes ever met.

He frequently tells the story of Ruslana Danilkina, a 19-year-old soldier who lost her leg to a Russian cluster bomb.

When Buffett and the former military radio operator ate lunch a year ago at the prosthesis and rehabilitation hospital Buffett helped establish, she said her goal was to get a new leg and return to the fighting.

To me, it just demonstrated the will of the Ukrainian people, he said. Theyre fighting for everything they have. I dont see the Ukrainian people giving up. I really dont.

Meeting Ukrainians needs, from food to artificial limbs

Howard Buffett, the middle child of Warren Buffetts three children, has worn a lot of hats in his lifetime.

Hes farmed in both Nebraska and Illinois, where he now lives. He served a term on the Douglas County Board in the early 1990s. Hes been a county sheriff, a wildlife photographer, a corporate executive and a conservationist.

I dont think of it as rambling, the 69-year-old said. I love to learn, and I learn by doing things.

He has also served for three decades on the board of Berkshire Hathaway, the company his father built. Howard will one day succeed his father as company chairman in a nonexecutive role, his primary job being to ensure Berkshire keeps its unique, investor-focused culture.

But for the past two decades, the Omaha Central High graduate has devoted most of his time to the charitable foundation he first established in 1999.

As Warren Buffett keeps his pledge to one day leave nearly all of his $125 billion-plus fortune to charity, he each year provides hundreds of millions of dollars to four different family foundations operated by his children.

While Susie Buffetts Omaha-based Sherwood Foundation has largely been devoted to local causes, with a focus on children and education, Howard Buffetts foundation has long taken a more global view.

So when Russian forces launched a massive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Howard Buffett immediately took interest.

International conflict mitigation and food security are among the causes his nonprofit has targeted, and he says they are interrelated. A lack of food can often become a source of conflict in Africa and Central America, regions of the world where his foundation has long been active.

Ive always said food is power, Buffett said. If food becomes more scarce and expensive, you have more conflict.

Buffett knew that Ukraine, as one of the worlds largest grain exporting countries, has been a huge supplier of food for developing nations. That made the war a real threat to global food security.

In July 2022, when a grain deal brokered by Turkey reopened the Black Sea for shipping, Buffetts foundation stepped in. It provided more than $20 million through the United Nations World Food Program and the U.S. Agency for International Development to cover the cost of the first two shipments of grain from Ukraine, bound for Ethiopia and Yemen.

Buffett made his first trip to Ukraine two months after the war began. He said hes always taken the view that rather than just give money, he needs to show up to assess the needs for himself.

Its also not unusual for Buffett to financially go all-in on a country.

His foundation is uniquely positioned to move quickly in a crisis. He doesnt answer to any bureaucracy or need to get approval from a big board. He doesnt need to ask anyone for money. And hes willing to take a risk to make a difference.

True to his foundations focus on hunger, much of the assistance hes provided in Ukraine has focused on food and agriculture.

The foundation has worked with another organization to provide nearly $100 million in humanitarian food assistance for refugees and civilians living near the front lines.

Buffett established a nonprofit in Ukraine called Victory Harvest, which provides combines and tractors to help Ukrainian farmers who have lost their equipment to the war. The nonprofits equipment has been used to plant 160,000 acres of grain crops and harvest 236,000 acres.

Hes similarly provided millions of dollars worth of seed and fertilizer for farmers who cant obtain loans to get their crops into the ground.

He has spent $87 million to de-mine liberated farmland and villages. There are now more mines in Ukraine than in any other country. Buffett provided Ukraines security services the vehicles and equipment needed to clear mines and return land to agricultural production.

He spent $36 million to restart school food programs for students returning to the classroom, building big regional kitchens in Bucha and Lozova.

But Buffett has funded other needs beyond food.

He provided nearly $40 million worth of generators in response to Russias targeting of Ukraines civilian electrical infrastructure.

He donated nearly $17 million to help law enforcement authorities investigate and document Russian war crimes. That includes purchasing 18 rapid-result DNA testing machines to help identify bodies the Russians left behind in mass graves in Bucha and other occupied territories.

He built a dog training center that supports two different K-9 programs, one providing cadaver dogs and another training dogs that are able to sniff out mines and explosives.

Buffetts foundation also provided nearly $30 million to help build and equip a rehabilitation hospital in Lviv that is providing prostheses for many of the 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians who have lost limbs in the war.

Its fascinating to see how deeply Howard involves himself personally in the investments he is taking part in, Andrey Stavnitser, a Ukrainian businessman who founded the center, said during its dedication. I can see that he is invested in our work emotionally.

Buffetts foundation also has provided more than $60 million to rebuild infrastructure.

When Russian shells or missiles fall in a town or village, some buildings and homes are destroyed, but many more have their windows blown out.

A foundation staffer brought Buffett an idea for a window replacement program as a way to quickly get thousands of Ukrainians back into their homes. To date, the program has helped replace 120,000 windows, and funding has been provided for 60,000 more.

My staff is smarter than me, Buffett said. You can keep more people in their own homes by replacing windows than any other way.

He also provided money to help rebuild Buchas main street and to replace two police stations destroyed in the fighting.

In the scale of Ukraines destruction, those things have been small. But Buffett feels they have symbolic value. During wartime, sometimes people need to see proof theres hope for the future.

We are not providing Ukraine everything they need to win this war, Buffett says

In the course of his work in Ukraine, Buffett has five times met with Zelenskyy, whom he calls an amazing leader.

Two years into the conflict, Buffett sees no sign Zelenskyy is slowing down. Hes waging war, lobbying on the international stage to lobby for support, and working to keep up the morale of the troops and his nation.

He is relentless, Buffett said. I dont know when he sleeps.

Zelenskyys intelligence and great sense of humor have also shown through in their meetings. Buffett said he hopes to one day spend some time with him outside the bounds of war.

Buffett is even more impressed by Ukraines first lady, Olena Zelenska, who Buffett has worked with on the school food program.

Buffett has much hope for Ukraines future. But he fears that could be compromised if the world loses the political will to aid Ukraine in its fight.

When Buffett took the podium at the international Ukraine recovery conference in London in June, he went well beyond talking about the need for the world to help rebuild Ukraine. He called it an imperative for global leaders to provide the military assistance Ukraine needs to win the war.

His talk came just weeks after Ukraine had launched its much-anticipated counteroffensive. Ukraine did so without the fighter planes and other air assets typically needed to support such a massive military undertaking, largely because the United States and other western nations have been slow to authorize such assistance. Buffett questioned such hesitation in the face of Russias war of aggression.

We are not providing Ukraine everything they need to win this war, Buffett said then. And worse, we are asking Ukraine to fight this war in a way that we would not fight it ourselves.

He also accused Russia of creating the largest humanitarian crisis in his lifetime, executing thousands of civilians, stealing children and raping women of all ages.

These are facts, Buffett said to applause, and Russia must be held accountable.

After the counteroffensive bogged down  predictably, in Buffetts view  the war has turned into a stalemate.

That has some conservative members of Congress now questioning further military aid to Ukraine. A bipartisan bill that would pair Ukraine aid with changes in U.S. border policy faces significant GOP opposition. Meanwhile, the Pentagon says it is out of money for Ukraine.

Given that many believed at the start of the war that Ukraine would fall in a matter of days, Buffett said the fact that Ukraine has held off one of the worlds largest militaries is amazing. And strategically, he said, the United States has benefited significantly from the military aid its provided.

The aid amounts to about 5% of the U.S. defense budget, with much of it in the form of old ammunition and weapons systems from the nations stockpile that can now be replaced with new ones.

In return, Ukraine has been able to significantly degrade  both militarily and economically  one of the worlds most hostile powers while also stalling Russias ambitions in eastern Europe.

The narrative has made it sound like weve just dumped money into Ukraine, Buffett said.

While some suggest the stalemate means its time for peace talks, Buffett sees that as wishful thinking. There can be no peace with Putin, who cannot be trusted, Buffett said.

There isnt any deal they could make where Putin would keep his word, he said. My dad always told me, You cant make a good deal with a bad guy. 

An unexpected recognition

During his most recent visit to Ukraine, Buffett received word that Zelenskyy wanted to meet with him. The Ukrainian president showed up at the appointed time at days end.

Were going to take a walk, Buffett recalled Zelenskyy telling him.

Zelenskyy then escorted Buffett along a plaza to Ukraines Constitution Square. There, he showed him the plaque bearing his name on the Walk of the Brave.

Buffetts plaque lies alongside those of many Western leaders and diplomats, among them President Joe Biden, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Buffett called the honor unexpected, amazing and humbling  adding that he doesnt do what he does for the recognition.

He also feels what he has done pales in comparison to the sacrifices thousands of Ukrainians like Ruslana Danilkina have made to keep their nation free.

Its a little hard to accept, Buffett said. I see so many people who have given so much.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2024
DETROIT  In the past 15 months, no one has been more responsible for safety on the nation's roads than Ann Carlson. For much of that time she has served as acting administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, where she started as chief counsel in 2021.

But on Wednesday, Carlson's time running the agency and as its chief lawyer came to an end. She's returning to Los Angeles to resume teaching at the UCLA School of Law.

During her tenure, the agency known by the acronym NHTSA has made autonomous vehicle companies and automakers report crashes involving automated systems, creating a large database.

In an interview with The Associated Press, she talked about a recall to address safety problems with Tesla's Autopilot partially automated driving system, the agency's quest to get ARC Automotive Inc. to recall 52 million air bag inflators that can explode with too much force, and other issues.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

QUESTION: Last month you pressured Tesla into recalling 2 million vehicles with Autopilot because it doesn't make sure drivers are paying adequate attention to the road. There have been numerous crashes. Two motorcyclists were hit and killed in 2022 by Teslas apparently on Autopilot driving on freeways. How closely will NHTSA look at Tesla's software update to fix the problem?

ANSWER: Well look at everything. If you take a look at what we have made available, there are crashes both on and off highway. And they're both of concern. We need to make sure that drivers are attentive and that theyre not assuming the system is actually sufficient to operate without driver attentiveness. One of the big messages we want to stress over and over again is that drivers need to keep paying attention, but also that a vehicle needs to be designed in a way that doesnt lull a driver into believing that that car can take care of every situation.

Q: Consumer Reports and others that have tested Tesla's remedy say it increases the number of warnings that drivers get if they don't put hands on the steering wheel. But they say steering wheel sensors aren't enough to make sure drivers are watching, that the recall doesn't limit Autopilot's operation to freeways where it's designed to work, and cameras in the cabin can be covered up so they don't look at drivers. Does the remedy do enough to keep drivers from relying too much on the car?

A: I cant really comment yet on the sufficiency of the remedy. NHTSA has the authority to evaluate the remedy and ensure that its adequate. We have in the past sometimes required a second recall if the remedy is inadequate. The burden is on the manufacturer to remedy the unreasonable risk to safety.

Q: The agency made an initial finding that ARC Automotive Inc. should recall 52 million air bag inflators because they can explode and hurl shrapnel. The company doesnt want to do the recall, and several automakers are opposing it. You've held a public hearing, and the next step could be seeking a court order. What's the status of that?

A: It is very unusual for us to be in a position where we hold a public hearing. The purpose is for us to take evidence and then to make a determination about whether our initial finding is, in fact, correct. The public comment period closed. Were in the process of evaluating those comments.

Q: Are you confident that NHTSA has the right people in place to evaluate automobile software? Critics say the agency lacks expertise compared with car companies.

A: Im highly confident in the NHTSA team. Some of the recalls that weve engaged in recently are evidence of that. It is true that vehicles are increasingly sophisticated. Theyre essentially computers on wheels. Weve really benefited from the bipartisan infrastructure law, which infused a lot of new resources into NHTSA. I started in January of 2021. Weve increased our hiring by about 150 people. So the agency is devoting a lot of resources to questions of automation. We have a new Office of Automation Safety. We have these incredibly sophisticated interdisciplinary teams. It does not just take software expertise. It also takes engineering expertise. It takes legal expertise to make sure that we are conducting our oversight in a way that is consistent with our statutory authority and our regulations.

Q: We've seen the issues with Tesla, and now there are problems with General Motors' Cruise automated vehicle s. Are federal standards needed to make sure self-driving vehicles are safe?

A: NHTSA has authority to issue vehicle safety standards. But we also need to do it in a way that actually recognizes the rapidity of change and technology. We have a standing general order that requires pretty immediate reporting of crashes. We act immediately if we know that theres a problem. Were also considering a new program called AV step. That would combine the opportunity for manufacturers to deploy automated vehicles with a process that would allow NHTSA significant access to information about redundancy and safety systems,

Q: Roadway deaths are starting to go down after rising since the pandemic. Are you confident that will continue?

A: A real lesson about traffic fatalities is that there is no single answer to drive them down. We need to do everything we can. That means we need safer people, we need safer vehicles, we need safer speeds, we need safer roads, and we need improvements in post-crash care. All of those things are crucial to driving fatalities down, and we are using every tool we have to try to do so.
BEIRUT  The prospect of a full-scale war between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah militia terrifies people on both sides of the border, but some see it as an inevitable fallout from Israels ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza.

Such a war could be the most destructive either side has ever experienced.

Israel and Hezbollah each have lessons from their last war, in 2006, a monthlong conflict that ended in a draw. They've also had four months to prepare for another war, even as the United States tries to prevent a widening of the conflict.

The 2006 war, six years after Israeli forces withdrew from south Lebanon, erupted after Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers and killed several others in a cross-border raid.

Israel launched a full-scale air and ground offensive and imposed a blockade that aimed to free the hostages and destroy Hezbollahs military capabilities  a mission that ultimately failed.

Israeli bombing leveled large swaths of south Lebanon and Beiruts southern suburbs. Hezbollah fired thousands of unguided rockets into northern Israel communities.

The conflict killed some 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.

A United Nations resolution ending the war called for withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon and a demilitarized zone on Lebanon's side of the border.

Despite the deployment of U.N. peacekeepers, Hezbollah continues to operate in the border area, while Lebanon says Israel regularly violates its airspace and continues to occupy pockets of Lebanese land.

An Israel-Hezbollah war would be a total disaster, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned last month, amid a flurry of shuttle diplomacy by the U.S. and Europe.

Iran-backed Hezbollah seemed caught off-guard by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, a regional ally. Since then, Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged daily cross-border strikes, escalating gradually. Israel also carried out targeted killings of Hezbollah and Hamas figures in Lebanon.

More than 200 people, mostly Hezbollah fighters but also more than 20 civilians, have been killed on Lebanon's side, and 18 on Israel's.

Tens of thousands have been displaced on both sides. There are no immediate prospects for their return.

Israeli political and military leaders have warned Hezbollah that war is increasingly probable unless the militants withdraw from the border.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah hasn't threatened to initiate war but warned of a fight without limits if Israel does. Hezbollah says it won't agree to a ceasefire on the Israel-Lebanon border before there's one in Gaza and has rebuffed a U.S. proposal to move its forces several miles back from the border, according to Lebanese officials.

Despite the rhetoric, neither side appears to want war, said Andrea Tenenti, spokesperson for the U.N. peacekeeping mission in south Lebanon.

Both Hezbollah and the Israeli military have expanded capabilities since 2006  yet both countries also are more fragile.

In Lebanon, four years of economic crisis have crippled public institutions, including its army and electrical grid, and eroded its health system. The country hosts more than 1 million Syrian refugees.

Lebanon adopted an emergency plan for a war scenario in late October. It projected the forcible displacement of 1 million Lebanese for 45 days.

About 87,000 Lebanese are displaced from the border area. While the government is relying on international organizations to fund the response, many groups working in Lebanon can't maintain existing programs.

Aid group Doctors Without Borders said it has stockpiled some 10 tons of medical supplies and backup fuel for hospital generators in areas most likely to be affected by a widening conflict, in anticipation of a blockade.

No one wants this war, or wishes it on anyone, said Tal Beeri of the Alma Research and Education Center, a think tank focusing on northern Israel security. But he said he believes an armed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is inevitable, arguing that diplomatic solutions appear unlikely and would only allow Hezbollah's strategic threats to increase.

Israel has evacuated 60,000 residents from towns nearest the border, where there's no warning time for rocket launches because of the proximity of Hezbollah squads.

In a war, there would be no point in additional evacuations since the militia's rockets and missiles can reach all of Israel.

After the Oct. 7 attack, the war in Gaza had broad domestic support, even if there's now a growing debate over its direction. Around half of Israelis would support war with Hezbollah as a last resort for restoring border security, according to recent polling by the think tank Israel Democracy Institute.

In Lebanon, some have criticized Hezbollah for exposing the country to another potentially devastating war. Others support the groups limited entry into the conflict and believe Hezbollahs arsenal will deter Israel from escalating.

A full-scale war would likely spread to multiple fronts, escalating the involvement of Iranian proxies in Syria, Iraq and Yemen  and perhaps even draw in Iran itself.

It could also drag the U.S., Israel's closest ally, deeper into the conflict. The U.S. already has dispatched additional warships to the region.

2023 in photos: Unforgettable images capture Middle East in turmoil
NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the State House Medical Centre be reverted to a clinic to serve the original purpose of its establishment  primarily to serve the first and second families and those working within and around the Villa.

A statement by Deputy Director (Information), State House Media Unit, Mr. Attah Esa, said the Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr. Jalal Arabi, announced this on Monday in Abuja.

Arabi had appeared before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs for the 2019 budget defence.

The Permanent Secretary said, Without prejudice to what is currently obtainable at the SHMC, the intention to revert to a clinic is a presidential directive.

This is to make sure that the facility is functional and serves the purpose for which it was established, ab initio.

Later, Arabi explained to journalists after the budget defence that the reversion of the centre to a clinic was a case of cutting ones coat according to your cloth.

He said: It was initially meant to serve the first and second families and those working within and around the Villa.

The overstretching of facilities at the medical centre by patients is some of the challenges the centre has been going through. It wasnt meant for that purpose.

Nobody was charging anyone for any services and relying on appropriation means we will depend on subvention when it comes to run the centre.

Whatever comes is what you utilise and if the last patient comes in to take the last drugs based on the last budgetary release, that is it and we have to wait till another release is done.

But this new development means that services will be streamlined to a clinic that will serve those that it was meant to serve when it was conceived.

Arabi disclosed that the centre had a total budget of N1.03bn in the 2018 appropriation bill, with N698m as capital expenditure and N331.7m as overhead cost.

According to him, the total overhead expenditure released for the centre from January-December 2018 was N331.7m, representing 99.9 per cent, while the capital releases on projects was N231.9m, representing 33.2 per cent.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Danjuma Laah (PDPKaduna South) welcomed the proposal to make the SHMC fully functional and ensure that members of the first and second families used the facilities at the clinic.

Laah promised that committee will support full funding for the clinic and commended the 2018 budget performance in State House, compared to previous years, despite revenue challenges.

Considering the strategic importance of State House, they are not supposed to lack funds and we will keep encouraging them to utilise releases effectively,he said.

The centre was a focal point during the two-hour presentation and budget defence by the Permanent Secretary before the Senate Committee.

The State House 2019 budget proposal of N14.3bn is slightly lower than the 2018 Appropriation of 15.47bn by 7.1 per cent.
From.Ahmad SAKA, Bauchi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner Alhaji Mohammed Nura, and many voters has explained that the by-election conducted at four state assembly constituencies successful and peaceful

The electoral body conducted the rerun in 42 Polling Units in three Local government areas of Bauchi, Ningi and Katagum,

 10 polling units in Bauchi Central, 12 polling units in Zungur/Galambi, 10 polling units in Madara/Chinade, and 10 polling units in Ningi Central.

While monitoring the exercise REC Nura said so far the exercise has been peaceful in all 42 polling units, saying, there was no issue malfunctioning of election machines, materials and missing names of voters.

He commended the voters for conducting themselves and coming out in large turnout to cast their votes peacefully.

We are encouraged with the large turn out of the voters, we dont expect that number but it still went well.

Because of the large turnout we are compelled to inform security agencies to deploy more personnel for crowd control.

We are in fact satisfied with the zeal of the voters coming to cast their votes accordingly, he said

The REC advised political parties to play by the rules and shun ballot snatching, vote buying, and thuggery among others.

He also cautioned voters against distracting counting and announcement of results, urging them to stay 10-15 meters away from the center and wait after voting.

Our reporter who monitored the election process at the Tudun Wada 1 and Kofar Fada Polling Units in the Madara/Chinade state Constituency of Bauchi State in the rerun election, eligible voters began arriving for accreditation as early as 8:00am. Many of the prospective voters came out to vote, despite the harsh harmattan weather in order to show their patriotism to the candidates of their choice.

The voters were seen at the polling units early enough for accreditation and voting in order to elect their preferred candidate from among the contestants. There was also heavy presence of combined security personnel in virtually every place visited along with INEC officials and the ICPC who were on ground monitoring the process. It was also observed that some commercial motorcyclists and transporters were plying the roads, doing their normal business.

At the Tudun Wada polling unit, an agent of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Suleiman Samaila Chinade told Journalists that the rerun was going on smoothly and people were voting for candidates of their choice. His All Progressives Congress, APC, counterpart, Abdulkadir Abari described the exercise as peaceful and orderly even much better than the general elections. The presiding officer for the Polling Unit in Tudun Wda 1 declined to speak to Journalists A female voter, Rahman Aliyu said that the BVAS did not give her any issue and she voted smoothly.

At the Kofar Fada polling unit in Bulkachuwa, voters were seen on the queue waiting for their turn to be accredited and vote. Some of them who spoke with Journalists expressed satisfaction with the process saying that it was less stressful than what transpiree during the last general elections. Abubakar Musa, one of the voters expressed hope that this time around, their votes will count and the winner will emerge.

It will be recalled that Dr Nasiru Ala of the PDP was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the 2023 State Assembly election to represent the Constituency. His declaration by INEC was however challenged by his opponent, Ali Dan Iya of the APC at the Tribunal and the Appeal Court. The Appeal Court ordered a rerun for 10 Polling Units Madara/Chinade State Constituency in order to have a clear winner.

Related
Anhui braves rare heavy snowfall to safeguard power, roads

Chinadaily.com.cn) 09:59, February 04, 2024

Dong Shuai (left) and Ren Tianxiang inspect power lines in the village of Xiaogang, Fengyang county, East China's Anhui province, Feb 2, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

HEFEI - For Dong Shuai, this year's heavy snow is unprecedented. Yet, though the village roads are blanketed with over 10 cm of fresh snow, Dong persists in facing the blizzard to inspect at least 100 utility poles daily.

"When the snowfall intensifies, the importance of inspecting power distribution poles becomes even more critical," said Dong, a staff member at the power supply station in the village of Xiaogang, Fengyang county, East China's Anhui province.

He highlighted the potential risks of short circuits and power outages due to the rare heavy snowfall. Close by, his colleague Ren Tianxiang was using an infrared thermometer to gauge the temperature of a transformer.

"If the temperature of any part of the transformer surpasses the ambient temperature by 40 degrees Celsius, the thermometer issues an alert," Ren said.

Since Wednesday, snowfall has occurred in multiple cities and counties across Anhui, and has caused disruptions on several sections of highways in the province.

Data showed that between 2 pm and 11 pm on Thursday, the accumulated snowfall had reached 9 mm and the snow depth in the farmlands of Fengyang county had reached 12 cm, leading to icy roads throughout the county.

Confronting these challenging conditions, Anhui's emergency management authority announced on Thursday that the province's power system had positioned over 170 workers across 52 ice observation stations for real-time monitoring.

In addition to power and police units, various departments, including transportation and emergency management, are also actively responding to challenges posed by the snowfall.

Anhui's transportation authorities have deployed over 12,400 emergency teams with access to more than 3,800 pieces of ice and snow removing equipment and over 38,000 tonnes of snow-melting agents.

The weather forecast predicts even heavier snowfall in some parts of Anhui on Saturday and Sunday. Despite this, national and provincial road operations in Fengyang County have fully resumed. The county has distributed 1,000 blankets and 1,000 coats, applied 87 tonnes of snow-melting agents, and mobilized about 3,400 people to clean roads and manage traffic.

On Friday afternoon, congestion occurred along national highway 329 after some vehicles became stranded on uphill sections. In response, Liu Jiaqing, 58, a staff member of Fengyang's highway transportation management service center, together with his team, drove a vehicle loaded with snow-melting agents to the affected areas and applied the agents in a bid to alleviate the snow impact.

"We started working in the afternoon and didn't stop until 2 am the next morning," Liu said. "Wherever needed, we shall go."

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
It has been reported by Reuters that the United States conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, targeting more than 85 sites associated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) and its supported militias.

These strikes, reportedly resulting in nearly 40 casualties, were carried out in retaliation for a deadly attack on U.S. troops. Utilizing long-range B-1 bombers from the United States, these strikes mark the initial retaliation for the recent attack by Iran-backed militants in Jordan. Further military operations from the U.S. are anticipated in the coming days. The strikes have escalated a conflict that has spread throughout the region since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas following the militant Palestinian group's assault on Israel on October 7th.



Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, denounced the strikes as "another adventurous and strategic mistake" by the United States, warning of increased tension and instability. Iraq formally protested the use of its territory for settling international disputes or demonstrating military force. Additionally, Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces reported casualties among its members, including fighters and medics. In Syria, the strikes killed 23 people who had been guarding targeted locations.

What Does The United States Say?

U.S. Lieutenant General Douglas Sims, the director of the Joint Staff, stated that the attacks appeared to be successful, triggering large secondary explosions as the bombs hit militant weaponry. He acknowledged that the strikes were undertaken with awareness of potential casualties among those in the facilities. Despite the strikes, the Pentagon reiterated its reluctance for war with Iran, emphasizing a desire to avoid conflict.



Iran, which supports Hamas, has sought to stay out of the regional conflict itself, even as it backs groups that have entered the fray from Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria - the so-called "Axis of Resistance" hostile to Israel and U.S. interests. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that President Biden had directed additional action against the IRGC and its affiliates, signaling the start of further response.

It was also reported by CNBC that the United States informed Iraq in advance of the strikes, as stated by the White House. However, Baghdad later accused the United States of deception, dismissing the U.S. claim of coordination with Iraqi authorities as "unfounded."

The Syrian foreign ministry criticized the United States, stating that it was exacerbating conflict in the region in a "very dangerous way."

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi emphasized that while Iran does not seek war, it will respond strongly to any form of bullying.

Hamas condemned the U.S. strikes, asserting that Washington was exacerbating tensions.

Britain reaffirmed its support for the United States, describing it as a "steadfast" ally and endorsing its right to respond to attacks.

Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, arriving for an EU meeting in Brussels, attributed the U.S. strikes to Iranian proxies "playing with fire."
From Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu BAUCHI

A renowned Bauchi based politicians Honourable Aminu Tukur Duguryal has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declared January, 15th of every year as Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Day.

In an exclusive interview with our correspondent at his farm in Bauchi, Aminu Tukur, said if theres any day to celebrate democracy in Nigeria it should ba a day Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was assassinated.

Tukur, who was a former Bauchi State House of Assembly representing Tafawa Balewa Local Government for two consecutive tenure as well as two term elected Local Government Chairman

asserted that if Chief Manshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO Abiola) who contested for an election which he was denied by the then military regime based on certain interest against the National interest, but every Nigerians believed that MKO Abiola won the Presidential Elections of 12th June, 1993 and later died in the strogle as a political matyre.

Aminu, who pointed that the previous administration of President Muhammadu Buhari saw reason by that day as Democracy day to immotalizing the struggles of late chief MKO Abiola which was now being celebrated every year in the country. What more of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa who stood firmly and struggle for the independence of Nigeria and was brutally murdered on January 15th 1966 alongside other national figures on those days during free independence day and became the 1st prime minister of Nigeria which occupied the seat not less than eight years.

However, Nigerians believed that he was elected in1957 and re-elected on October 1st, 1960 and became the 1st prime minister of Nigeria until the period of his brutal assersination on the 15th June, 1966.

Tukur further revealed that, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa lived and worked for the betterment of Nigerians. He also represented Nigeria at different international events including the United Nations. Adding that Tafawa has that recognitions globally which in some other countries still recognised and respect his contributions.

He observed that those to first recognise and honour the late Prime Minister are his sons the Bauchi and Gombe people to respect and honoured this gentle man, by extention anybody that cames from the north and anybody thats a true Nigeria and Africa should see the father figure the late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. But unfortunately, this gentleman has nothing in his name from the federal government to recognition him because there is no any day set aside to immotilized him in the country.

Tukur argued that if someone who has not even been sworn inn as President of Nigeria and be recognised a national work free day in the interest of Democracy, I believed there should be any other Day rather than the very day that the late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa that was assasinated. And Tafawa should also be celebrated in such a way that to be a remembrance day of our fallen Heroes and should not be a merry making affairs but subber day in the history of the Nigerian democracy alone side with armed forces remenbrance day.

Tukur also advised that Why can we not convinced the Tafawa Balewa day and Armed forces remembrance and celebrate it together to make it excellent and qualitative leadership day.

According to him apart from the superficial recognitions such as Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, International Airport and Stadium been named after him in Bauchi, added that there used to be a street named after Tafawa, while he was alive the street started from Eagle Road  About (State Hotel) to Dass Park to ATBU Yelwa within Bauchi metropolis.

Citing an example, Tukur pointed out that A road that started from Wunti Market Round About coming up to Police Officers Mess was officially the Ahmadu Bello Way, that named of the road is still being retained. While late Prime minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa is no longer in existence. Saying that even the Government House adjacent to the street is not being recognisined, thats very unfortunate most of government and private institutions and are no longer recognising the street.

He stressed by either nomenclature, ethics and by the law of state, the remains Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa way, and nothing other than Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, unfortunately the name has changed. That, this is abnormal, Aminu emphasized.

He recalled that 2007 and discovered a new signed board was erected changing the name of the street from the late prime ministers name to Olesegum Obasanjo Way, as a State lawmaker then he raised the question on public matter of importance on the flow of the house as to why the name Street name was changed. The house unanimously agreed with the with me and immediately ordered all the relevant authorities to appear before the house for explanation over the sudden change of the name of our beloved father.

He explained that in an effort to immotilized Tafawa Balewa in the year 2013 on 15th January we arranged a lecture for late prime minister but where felt woofly nobody was there just because the wife of then sitting President was coming to the State for official visit, same thing was happened this year.
Katsina State witnessed two separate bandit attacks between Friday and Saturday that claimed the lives of a member of the Katsina Community Watch Corps, KCWC, the father of another member, and two others.

In the Saturday attacks, News Direct learnt that five bandits invaded Unguwar Yayyara village, Danmusa LGA, around 2 am, and targeted the residence of Isa Bawa Yantumaki, a member of KCWC. They killed his father, Malam Suleiman Mai Rake, and stole two cows.

Earlier on Friday, around 5 pm, at Sabuwa Local Government Area of the state, bandits on motorcycles stormed Ungwar Damari village, where they killed one Shehu Armayau, a member of KCWC, and two others simply identified as Lawal and Mamuda. According to the source, the late Armayau secured a two-day off duty and decided to visit his family when he met his end.

These horrific incidents highlight the escalating bandit attacks plaguing the states rural areas. Despite efforts by the KCWC and other security agents, the attacks have intensified since the new year.
The Lagos State Government has commenced the destruction of illegal shanties occupied by squatters under the Ijora Causeway Bridge.

The government had earlier on Sunday given a five-day quit notice to squatters under the bridge and the Lagos Blue rail Line overhead bridge in Ijora to remove all their shanties for constituting a danger to the Lagos Blue Line corridor or risk demolition and removal.

The state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, while giving the quit notice lamented the security risk the occupation of underneath the bridge by mini buses, block moulders, fuel sellers and miscreants posed to the safe operation of the blue rail line service, and said the government would not allow it to continue.

Sharing videos on his X handle on Saturday, Wahab stated that the enforcement team was led by ACP Bayo Sulaiman under the directive of the state governor to dislodge the squatters and clear the area.

He wrote, Following the expiration of a 5-day quit notice issued to squatters under the Ijora Causeway Bridge by #followlasg last Sunday, the Enforcement Team of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources #LasgMOE and Special Intervention Squad on the Restoration of the Lagos Badagry Rail Corridor Clean-Up led ACP Bayo Sulaiman begin enforcement by dislodging the illegal squatters and clearing up the area as directed by Lagos State Governor, #jidesanwoolu.
Adekunle Ifeoluwa, a 300 level Economics student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Ondo State, has passed on. It is reported that she was found dead in her room on Thursday, February 1, 2024.

A source familiar with the incident reports, Ifeoluwa was found in a pool of her own blood in her room.

Apparently, she had been stabbed to death by an unknown individual. Eyewitnesses took the matter to the police but it is alleged they arent helping in any way to track or investigate who killed her.

We implore the Ondo state government to please look into the matter and ensure that Ifeoluwa gets justice. the source said.
The Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jamaat Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Dawah wal-Jihad has killed at least four policemen in Gajiram, Borno State, after a midnight attack on a police station.

Gajiram is located about 73 kilometers from the restive capital of the North Eastern State of Borno.

Military sources confirmed the attack to newsmen on Saturday afternoon as well as a security analyst in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Saturday.

ALSO READ: Bandits reportedly abduct at least 50 wedding guests in Katsina State

The incident occurred around 1 am on Saturday, according to Makama.

According to him, the terrorists disguised themselves and sneaked into the town Friday midnight and went straight to the police quarters. They subsequently opened fire on some policemen, killing four of them.
By Izunna Okafor, Awka

In a pivotal move towards enhancing its energy landscape, Anambra State is on the verge of establishing the Anambra State Electricity Market, while also aiming to make a significant point with the proposed Anambra State Power Policy and Bill.

The States Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka, disclosed this while speaking at the tripartite meeting of Power Commissioners Forum, Nigerian Governors Forum and the Federal Ministry of Power, which recently held at the Power House, Abuja.

The gathering, which was also attended by the Honourable Minister of Power, Adebayo A. Adelabu and the Director of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), among other dignitaries, focused on the development of sub national electricity markets, the national electricity policy and strategic implementation plan, and also became a platform for highlighting Anambra States achievements and commitment to advancing its power sector.

Addressing the Forum, Commissioner Chukwuemeka, who was also the South-East Representative of the Council of Energy Commissioners in Nigeria, took the opportunity to emphasize Governor Soludos dedication to investing in the power sector. He pointed to the states remarkable achievements, especially in overcoming Right of Way (RoW) challenges, a significant hurdle for executing power projects. He also highlighted the substantial improvement in power supply since the inception of Governor Soludos administration and credited the successful collaboration with the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).

Crucially, Engr. Chukwuemeka announced that the draft Anambra State Power Policy and Electricity Bill, vital for establishing the Anambra State Electricity Market, were ready for presentation before the State Assembly.

According to him, these initiatives align with the opportunities presented by the Electricity Amendment Act, 2023.

He further spotlighted the effective resolution of Right of Way (RoW) challenges pivotal for key projects like the Umuchu and Aguleri 2x60MVA substations. This accomplishment, he said, coupled with the expected timely completion of the Umuchu substation, signifies a transformative milestone poised to significantly bolster power supply in Anambra State. Engr. Chukwuemeka also credited the improved power supply being enjoyed in the State now to Anambra States strategic Memorandum of Understanding with the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), shedding more lights on the states forward-thinking initiative.

He additional shared insights on the presence of Prepare Meter Manufacturing factory in Anambra, a groundbreaking facility, he said, does not only underscore the states proactive stance but also effectively addresses the persistent metering gap in the State, while also ensuring a more efficient and equitable distribution of electricity.

According to the Commissioner, Anambra State, under Governor Soludos strategic leadership, is positioning itself to harness the opportunities presented by the evolving energy landscape, while also becoming a pivotal player in shaping the future of the energy sector.

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The promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies is the focus of goal number 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also broached access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Strong institutions are necessary to respond effectively to the needs and concerns of nationals and are better placed to hold those in authority accountable.

The former President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, while addressing the Ghanaian Parliament during a courtesy visit to Ghana in 2009, remarked as follows: No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves, or police can be bought off by drug traffickers. No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 per cent off the top, or the head of the Port Authority is corrupt. No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. That is not democracy; that is tyranny, and now is the time for it to end. Africa doesnt need strong men; it needs strong institutions.

And what did Obama mean by Africa needing strong institutions, rather than strong men? The wisdom of these words is that strong institutions will help deliver democratic dividends in a consistent and just manner.

Obama, having African roots, knows Africa and Africans. In Africa, a leader is like an emperor who straddles over where he is boss. A local government chairperson sees the area as his farm and a Nigerian president has Pharaonic powers courtesy of the constitution.

No one among their staff can tell them what is right. Those staffers fear being discarded and not seen as loyal for daring to be candid. They are well aware of what they will lose if that happens. And the emperors, having drunk from the chalice of absolute power, which absolutely corrupts, do not want in their circle those who do not say see him as infallible.

And this is one reason there is rampant corruption everywhere. Anybody at the helm of any ministry, department, or agency is lord of the manor there and does everything according to their whims and caprices.

However, countries with weak institutions that buckle under the leadership of men rarely succeed because of the absence of state institutions that can establish and enforce rules. And because, in the absence of such, you have strong men at the helm, seldom do they subject themselves to the rule of law as the leadership tends to personify the institution. Ego runs the institutions.

There are ways to get it right as a nation. First, our leaders need to rethink their idea of leadership. A leader is to be there to serve and not to lord it over others; to give hope and uplift, not to render hopeless and cast down the people into penury. A leader must be someone ready to lead for the sake of God.

Then there must be justice. I will never tire of hammering it to all who care to listen that Sheikh Usman Dan Fodiyo, who said The death of a thousand good men is not as tragic as having an unfit man in a position of national leadership, wrote in his book, Bayan Wujub al-Hijrah alal ibad, that A kingdom (nation) can endure with unbelief, but it cannot endure with injustice.

To get justice, we must strengthen our legal and judicial systems. We need to reform our laws; and improve the capacity and independence of our judges and lawyers. This will earn the system more respect and bring back the peoples trust which is being steadily eroded.

And where the courts have adjudicated, we must respect that judgement. This is important for institutions saddled with safeguarding our democracy.

This brings me to the face-off if it can be termed that, between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The Supreme Court, in a judgement on October 14, 2021, affirmed Chief Edozie Njoku as the national chairman of the party, upholding the decision of an appellate court that recognised him as such.

However, INEC and its chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, have not accepted the judgement of the apex court as it keeps hobnobbing with the faction of the party not recognised by the courts of competent jurisdiction.

If a state institution like INEC, or any other for that matter, refuses to obey court orders, what will become of the nation?

We have had instances in which the government and its institutions showed disdain for court judgements. The resultant effect of such is that the citizens become less law-abiding and less respectful of law enforcers, as well as less fearful of punishment for breaking the law.

The danger is that such escalate in proportion that the justice system and punitive facilities get overwhelmed. The rule of law is trampled upon if those running institutions have their way, and this leads to a bleak future.

To show how strong institutions and the legal system are elsewhere, read this:

On July 3, 2019, a federal appeals court denied President Donald Trumps border attempt to construct a wall between the United States and Mexico using funds unauthorised by Congress.

The ruling upheld two earlier district court orders that together permanently blocked the administration from building wall sections along the southern border in New Mexico, Arizona and California, using $2.5 billion in diverted military funds.

The lawsuit, brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of the Sierra Club and the Southern Border Communities Coalition (SBCC), challenged the presidents abuse of emergency powers to secure border wall funds Congress denied.

And that was how it stood, with the president and all institutions concerned with that matter obeying the two lower courts orders, until 31 July 2020, when in a 5-4 decision, the US Supreme Court allowed the construction to continue.

Can we have such a scenario in Nigeria?



Hassan Gimba is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Neptune Prime.

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The Personal Assistant to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, popularly known as Tunde Sabiu, has case files with anti-corruption agencies regarding alleged financial malfeasance between 2016 and 2023.

A highly placed source in an anti-graft agency told Economic Confidential on the condition of anonymity that they received several petitions on the activities of the former presidential aide, adding that the allegations against him border on round-tripping and forex manipulations in cahoots with the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele.

While the source could not put a figure on the exact amount involved in the allegations, some of the petitions accused Sabiu of influence peddling and living above his legitimate means.

Asked to explain how neck-deep billionaire businessman Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano, aka AA Rano, is, in the alleged fraudulent business activities of Sabiu, the operative said: As I said earlier, we received several petitions on the activities of the young man and from our preliminary findings, his legitimate earnings could not explain his luxurious lifestyle.

On the AA Rano man, we have yet to find any credible link to business dealings of former President Buharis PA. Of the series of petitions received on Sabiu, none mentioned AA Rano as an accomplice, even though the former allegedly invested some questionable sums of money using fronts for Maritime, Real Estate, and Oil and Gas businesses.

While we couldnt find evidence of AA Ranos involvement in Sabius scandals, we are still investigating the allegations to check all the leads. We are not leaving anything out.

A $400 million fraud allegation posted on social media claims that Sabiu and AA Rano had an altercation over a business deal. According to the claims, Sabiu was alleged to have used one of the companies of AA Rano to acquire some businesses, including a property in Abuja, which cost billions of Naira.

Meanwhile, a source close to the oil magnate told Economic Confidential that there had been no business relationship besides a couple of casual meetings in which the AA Rano and Sabiu exchanged warm pleasantries.

The allegation that Sabiu used AA Rano as a front to acquire businesses and that there were altercations between the duo due to a deal that went awry are all false.

The only property being talked about is Sigma Apartment, located in Wuse II in the heart of the capital city. The property was bought by Mr Sabiu Mahuta, the Business Development Director of AA Rano, on behalf of the company. The rumour mongers could have mistaken the directors identity with that of the former presidential aide for sharing the first name Sabiu.

The SIGMA property, which was acquired through successful bidding from AMCON at the sum of N1.9 billion in 2020, was sold a few years later at the rate of N3.4 billion to another billionaire investor and the owner of AY Maikifi Oil and Gas, who demolished the structure for a massive shopping mall on the land.

A lot of waivers and favours that big corporations and groups benefitted from the CBN in the last administration  some of which might be questionable  were not extended to AA Rano in any way. Go and check the records.

So all the speculations about business relationships are deliberate attempts to demarket the legitimate business interests of Alhaji AA Rano, which include Airline, Property, and Oil and Gas businesses, the sources, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed.

Meanwhile, Economic Confidential gathered that the management of AA Rano has met with operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and another investigative panel a couple of times, where they provided relevant documents on their legitimate business and thumped their chests that their hands were clean.
Nollywood actress turned evangelist, Eucharia Anunobi has criticized Christian women who are used to wearing revealing outfits.

In a video shared on social media, Eucharist Anunobi expressed disapproval of Christian women who wear revealing attire showcasing sensitive parts of their bodies.

The evangelist, who wondered why the ladies love to wear skimpy outfits, referred to such individuals as Akwuna Kuna, an Igbo term for prostitutes.

Anunobi questioned whether Christian women see their counterparts from other religions dressing provocatively in seductive manners.

Watch the video below:

KanyiDaily recalls that Eucharia Anunobi recently condemned the teachings that discourage pre-marital sex between engaged couples.
Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, and Juventus have all identified Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman as a transfer target this summer according to Turkish tansfer expert, Ekrem Konur.

Lookman has enjoyed a steady career rise in the last two years since leaving RB Leipzig for Atalanta and has just over two years left on his current deal.

Since his move to La Dea, Lookman has impressed. Last season, the 26-year-old scored 13 goals and made eight assists in 31 Serie A appearances.

So far this season, Lookman has continued with his impressive displays, helping Atalanta with seven goals and three assists in 18 appearances.

His outstanding performances earned him a place in Nigerias AFCON squad and he has repaid Jose Peseiros faith, recording three goals and one assist in five games.

The former Fulham winger is currently valued at 30m, however, Atalanta would likely demand more if Lookman continues with his impressive displays.

Lookmans solitary strike against Angola sealed Nigerias semi-finals berth at the ongoing AFCON.
The South Carolina Democratic primary was held on Saturday, February 3, and reportedly, President Joe Biden was expected to easily win. This would give him a convincing victory in a state where he had gambled heavily.

Biden's victory follows his historic support for shifting the early Democratic primary voting location from New Hampshire to South Carolina, an initiative he spearheaded in an attempt to increase the representation of underrepresented groups.

Supporters of Biden ran a write-in campaign in New Hampshire and won the January primary. However, the Democratic Party did not formally endorse the race, so Biden did not get any delegates from that state. Thus, his triumph in South Carolina becomes his first success in an official primary, according to The Hill.

High Expectations

South Carolina had great hopes for Biden.

The New York Times reports that Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn, a key ally of the president in Congress, predicted that if Biden were successful, at least 70% of the eligible voters would cast ballots. "I hope we get 150,000 people to vote, and of the 150 to 200,000 people, I would like to see Joe Biden get 70, 75 percent of that."

With this victory, Biden proved that his efforts to improve the state were worthwhile. Even while South Carolina is unlikely to be a deciding factor in the general election, his win might give Democrats a boost before November. Vice President Kamala Harris and First Lady Jill Biden were sent to South Carolina by Biden to mobilize voters during their two January trips to the state.

It also disproves the claims made by Biden's main opponents, such as Minnesota Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips and author Marianne Williamson, who have questioned his age and popularity rating.

It seemed like Biden was trying to get back at the South Carolina voters who helped him get the nomination by focusing on the state during his first term. Notably, South Carolina was a big deal for him in 2020. Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn's crucial support helped him win the South Carolina primary, which turned around his campaign.

See Also: Border Concerns Mount as Biden's Approval Rating Plummets to 38%: Latest Reuters/Ipsos Poll

Challenging Trump

Among Democrats, Biden won South Carolina, which bodes well for his general election campaign against former President Donald Trump, who is widely expected to face off against him.

This is Biden's second victory this primary season. His first came last month in New Hampshire, which was decided by a novel write-in campaign.

If the hypothetical presidential race were to go head-to-head, Trump would have a 2.2 percentage point advantage, according to the combined surveys from Decision Desk HQ and The Hill.

See Also: Donald Trump Secures Last New Hampshire Delegate Victory
The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu has urged Nigerians to rally round cancer patients giving them the needed succour through their trying times.

In a statement signed by Senator Tinubu on Sunday in commemoration of this years World Cancer Day, she noted that it presents an important opportunity to raise awareness and elaborate further the message of prevention, early detection, and treatment of cancer.

Senator Tinubu said that: The theme for this year, Closing the Care Gap, speaks to the fact that we are to deepen our efforts in putting in place necessary infrastructure to address these health challenges towards better care for cancer patients and survivors.

No one should have to face the challenges of cancer alone.

Let us continue to show empathy, care, love, and support for cancer patients and survivors, even as we create more awareness and advocacy for better service delivery.

Also we are to celebrate those who are cancer free.
By Izunna Okafor, Awka

A group, known as the Forum of Labour Party State House of Assembly Candidates, Anambra State chapter has lambasted the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) over comments credited to its factional National Publicity Secretary, one Mazi Ejimofor Opara describing its members as mere disgruntled elements and power mongers with misplaced priorities.

The group wondered how a party with 8 serving lawmakers from Anambra State in the National Assembly, including three Chairmen of various Standing Committees and Deputy Minority Whip could be referred to as bunch of jokers with no clear-cut directions.

In a statement by its Director of Communication, Hon. Chibuzo Udekigbo, the forum challenged APGAs scribe to publish legislative achievements and empowerment programmes by his party members compared to those of the Labour Party.

It cited the likes of Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central, Senator Tony Nwonye representing Anambra East and West as well as Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu representing Awka North and South in the House of representatives as members of the party who had recorded landmark achievements since they assumed offices.

The group urged the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led APGA administration to leave LP alone and focus on tackling insecurity, poor medical and school facilities in the state, as well as desist from destroying goods of petty traders in Awka and Ekwulobia.

The statement reads, The attention of the Forum of Labour Party 2023 State House of Assembly Candidates have been drawn to a media attack against Labour Party members in Anambra State, by a factional National Publicity Secretary of APGA, one Mazi Ejimofor Opara, who among other provoking statements described the Labour Party faithfuls in Anambra State as mere disgruntled elements and power mongers with misplaced priorities and bunch of jokers with no clear-cut directions as to why they were elected to occupy public offices.

Ordinarily, we would not have given Mazi Opara the privilege of response, but owing to the general public, we deemed it necessary to seize this opportunity and do a Comparative Assessment Report of elected Labour Party and APGA Legislators:

It is a fact that at the National Assembly where Labour Party have 8 serving members from Anambra State; 3 are Chairmen of various Standing Committees and Deputy Minority Whip; while APGA got none.

Academic and Professional profiles of our elected National and State Assemblies members are quite excellent. Among them are Medical doctor, Professor, Lawyers, Engineers, and other Professionals who are performing credibly well in their legislative responsibilities. We challenge Mazi Opara to publish the profile of APGA elected members, both at the State and National Assemblies.

It is on record that Sen. Tony Nwoye had an unprecedented empowerment program, and 3 State Assembly members of Labour Party, Mazi Paul Obu, Hon. Nigeria Mbachu and Barr. Jude Umennajiego, also, recently empowered their constituents in different categories. Sen. Victor Umeh and Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu shared bags of rice, as pallative from the Federal Government.

Again, we challenge the factional National Publicity Secretary of APGA to publish the empowerment program(s) done by his party members.

Sen. Victor Umeh has moved several Motions on the floor of the Senate, which includes his intervention during the demolition of some properties in Igbo dominated areas in Lagos State. Sen. Tony Nwoye, also, has moved several Motions, which includes the rehabilitation of Onitsha-Otuocha-Ayamelum-Adani road. The road has been rehabilitated and being enjoyed by motorists. Hon. Emeka Idu and Hon. Peter MacPee Aniekwe jointly moved a Motion for the dualization of Onitsha-Otuocha-Ayamelum-Adani road, which received legislative attention, and Hon. Peter Mac Pee Aniekwe just over this weekend, commissioned a borehole at Nando. Hon. Afam Ogene moved a Motion to include some very important roads in Ogbaru in the 2024 budget, which also received legislative attention.

Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu has moved a Motion for capturing of UNIZIK staff on IPPIS and payment of their over 2years salaries, and presented 2 petitions on behalf of her constituents. Hon. Uche Okonkwo has renovated 2 schools in Idemmili; namely, Community Primary school, Ugamuma Obosi and Notre Dame high school, Abatete. Hon. Azubuike Udemezue has 2 Motions on road rehabilitations to his name, which is currently being rehabilitated. This to mention but a few, as we challenge the factional National Publicity Secretary of APGA to publish the legislative achievements of APGA elected members.

Mazi Opara enjoys the idiom a one-eyed man in the land of the blind is always the king. If not that he belongs to a State party, how on earth will he become a National Publicity Secretary of a Political party? It is because his party APGA has no Nationwide coverage, by implication, no National activities for Mazi Opara that made a supposed National Publicity Secretary out of desperation and lack of functions, to leave burning National issues and delve into State affairs like he did in the destruction of goods and wares of street traders in Awka, Anambra State.

We were tempted to take the message and leave the messenger; unfortunately, there is no message to take in Mazi Oparas Press Release, which is laced with exhibition of inherited and display of his benefactor, Prof. Soludos hatred for Labour Party in Anambra State, as was evident in his open letter against the leader and Presidential Candidate of our party before the 2023 General elections.

It is obvious that Prof. Soludo has entered panic attack, for he is aware that the 2025 Governorship election is around the corner and Labour Party is set to rescue Ndi-Anambra from Governor Soludos impoverishment policies.

In conclusion, we send the errand boy of the APGA-led Government on an errand to his benefactor, the Governor of Anambra, to leave Labour Party alone and focus on tackling the insecurity, poor medical and school facilities in Anambra, and desist from destroying the goods of petty traders in Awka and Ekwulobia, and fighting the Traditional institution, Religious institutions and opposition parties.

Related
An international group, Sight Savers Nigeria, has organised an online petition aimed at canvassing massive support for the implementation of the Nigerian Disability Act, signed in January.

The group, with its headquarters In the United Kingdom, says its petition is part of a core goal to ensure the recognition of the rights of disabled people.

In a press briefing on Tuesday by its country director, Sunday Isiyaku, the group said it was introducing the online petition as part of a global equal world campaign intended to ensure that physically challenged people or persons living with disabilities are recognized as provided by the act.

When the Nigerian disability act is implemented, Children with disabilities will have access to school through the implementation of inclusive education system, youth and women with disabilities will have equal rights and opportunities to formal employment, participate and enjoy economic, social and political opportunities in the country.

Citing the United Nations estimate of people living with disabilities across the world, Mr Isiyaku said 15 per cent of the worlds population have one form of disability or the other.

The charitys equal world campaign is to change the fact that in many countries, people with disabilities experience high levels of discrimination that prevent them from taking part in society.

This discrimination is an injustice on over 20 million Nigerians with disabilities, Mr Isiyaku said.

He added that the proposed petition has two goals: namely, that the United Nations ensures that its recently published disability strategy is implemented effectively. And that the federal government ensures the full implementation of the recently signed law.

In its additional statement, the associations campaign director, Tessa Murphy said the program is aimed at informing governments all over the world that the long-standing disregard for the rights of people with disabilities will not be condoled further.

As part of the online campaign, the group said the program is targeted at the following countries: Bangladesh, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea, India, Ireland, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Uganda.

According to Mr Isiyaku, the petitions signatures will be collected between June and September.

He added that the petition will later be handed over to the UN to coincide with the UN General assembly to be held in September.

Signed in January, the Act prohibits all forms of discrimination against persons with disability. If an individual is found violating this law, he/she will pay a fine of N100, 000 or a term of six months imprisonment.

The law also imposes a fine of one million naira on corporate bodies, among others.
Four female pupils have developed a solution to address obstructive parking in the country.

The innovative application (app), called Frostbits, will be useful in cities, such as Lagos, with its use of location sensors, database, and the app inventors interface and more.

The four pupils from Princeton College, Surulere, Lagos under the tutelage of New Horizons Computer Learning Centres Limited, the schools information communications technology (ICT) partner, emerged African regional winner for this years Technovation contest held at Pan Atlantic University, Lekki, Lagos.

The app came first in the Senior Division Regional 2019 Technovation competition. The app developers are Daniella Ekekwe (Grade 11); Gbopemioluwa Olukoga (Grade 11); Victory Yinka-Banjo (Grade 11); and Tanyalouise Ekekwe (Grade 12).

According to them, users can easily park their cars without worrying about interference from other drivers.

Education Director, Princeton Schools, Dr Dolapo Bankole said: Our emphasis in Princeton School is to produce pupils with 21st Century skills in sciences and technology, so that students from our school can compete effectively with their counterparts in Europe, America and Asia.
File photo

A fire at a Koranic school near the Liberian capital Monrovia overnight has killed at least 26 children and two teachers, a report by the Presidents office has revealed.

Information gathered revealed that emergency services had told President George Weah 28 people had died.

His spokesman Solo Kelgbeh told AFP, as the president visited the site in Paynesville, on the outskirts of the capital.

Details Later
Edo State Police Command has arrested a 29-year-old ATM thief identified as Adetunji Adesina, after he stole N678,000 from his recent victim Ehitomwan Aghama.

Adetunji, who was found to be in possession of 10 ATM cards of various banks, revealed new method he uses to steal millions from peoples bank account, including his latest victims, Ehitomwan Aghama, whom he met Aghama at the ATM facility of one of the new generation banks in Sapele Road, Benin City.

While being paraded by the police, the secpect said:

My name is Adetunji Adesina, I am from Oshogbi in Osun State, I met Aghama at the ATM machine of the bank (name withheld) in Sapele Road, I behaved as if to say I wanted to use the ATM machine, then deliberately dropped my phone on the ground, in pity he wanted to help me with the phone. I punched the cardless button on the ATM machine. He was, unaware that I pressed the cardless button, so he thought his card was stuck in the machine and went to seek for help from bank workers. At that point, I removed it from the cardless transaction and removed his ATM card. I got his ATM pin number when I was pretending to help him, I later withdrew 678,000.00 from his account, using the ATM, and POS (Point of Sales) before I was arrested by the Police.

Also speaking to newsmen, Aghama said he was surprised to see that N20,000 had already been withdrawn from his account after he went to the bank to make a complaint of his ATM card getting stuck in the machine. He also revealed that N600,000 which was paid into his account a week later by his brother who stays abroad, was withdrawn by the suspect as he did not block the ATM card.

Aghama was contacted by the police after they arrested the suspect during a night patrol.

Meanwhile, KanyiDaily had reported that a Nigerian police officer was caught on camera with Point of Sale (POS) Machine demanding Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card from Nigerians to allegedly transfer money to his account.
<! Weapons recovered from Boko Haram terrorists at Buni Gari on display when Lt. General Buratai visited >

Brig.-Gen. Lawrence Araba, Commander, Sector 2 Operation Lafiya Dole, has told Army Chief of Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, how Nigerian troops killed 105 Boko Haram terrorists on Saturday,

Araba gave Buratai the briefing when Buratai visited the troops on Sunday at the Field Ambulance Logistics Base 3 Damaturu and Special Forces School in Buni Yadi.

Buratai visited to commend the troops for destroying the enemies.

Araba informed Buratai that the success of the attack was a result of intelligence report which revealed plans by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists to attack the village of Buni Gari.

He said that the troops swiftly ambushed the terrorists and mowed them down in fierce battle.

Not only did the Nigerian troops kill scores of the terrorists, they also recovered weapons from them.

The Commander disclosed that the number of terrorists neutralised was confirmed following exploitation operation conducted.

The exploitation also revealed the weapons captured from the insurgents.

They were five AK-47 Rifles, three GPMG, one Duska Anti Aircraft Gun, one PKT Gun.

One terrorists gun truck was destroyed, Araba said.

He added that several ammunition and ammunition links, two hand grenades, two handheld radios, two magazines with ammunition and assorted hard drugs were also recovered.

Buratai hailed the troops for their gallantry.

He visited the two soldiers who were wounded in action and other soldiers already on admission at the medical facility in Damaturu before proceeding to the Special Forces School in Buni Yadi.

While assuring the troops of his support, he charged them to double their efforts to ensure speedy defeat of terrorism in Nigeria.
How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region.

100 years ago

Feb. 4, 1924: President Woodrow Wilson, who died Sunday, was once in Bloomington. He arrived in early afternoon of Friday, April 6, 1912, and spoke to a crowd from the east door to the court house. He was then governor of New Jersey and a candidate for the presidency on the Democratic ticket. He was introduced by former Vice President Adlai E. Stevenson.

75 years ago

Feb. 4, 1949: The local national guard battalion, which has been one of three antiaircraft artillery battalions in the 109th brigade of Chicago, was transferred to the 44th Infantry division effective Feb. 1, according to order received by Lt. Col. Richard T. Dunn, commander.

50 years ago

Feb. 4, 1974: Unable to get steel and other supplies due to the truckers' strike, The Eureka Co. announced that it will lay off about 1,700 employees. Factory workers were notified of the layoff Monday. A skeleton crew of 25 to 30 factory workers will be employed during the layoff.

25 years ago

Feb. 4, 1999: Unit 5 may ask voters for more money next year to build and open a new high school year northeast Normal by 2003. With the district's enrollment growing faster than expected, a three-year lead time needed to plan the building and a looming deadline to apply for a state construction grant, seeral school board members said the time to discuss a proposed referendum is now.

Vintage Pantagraph newspaper ads for medicine, 'magic' remedies Clover Blossom Extract - Nov. 15, 1883 St. Jacobs Oil - July 14, 1887 Castoria - July 26, 1892 Rheumatic Ring - May 29, 1894 Beefmalt - May 29, 1894 Wakefield's Cough Syrup - Feb. 13, 1908 S.S.S. - April 23, 1908 Olive Tablets - Nov. 20, 1911 Cold-go - Dec. 11, 1911 Dr. Danby - Dec. 11, 1911 Allcock Plasters - March 2, 1917 Olive Tablets - Feb. 23, 1918 Laxative Bromo Quinine - Oct. 16, 1918 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - April 24, 1919 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - April 29, 1919 Snake Oil - Nov. 22, 1919 Beecham's Pills - Nov. 22, 1919 Snake Oil - Nov. 29, 1919 Doan's Kidney Pills - March 8, 1920 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - Sept. 21, 1920 J.C. Hutzell's Eczema Treatment - Nov. 11, 1922 Gude's Pepto-Mangan - April 2, 1923 O-Joy Corn Wafers - March 4, 1930 Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription - March 19, 1930 666 Tablets - March 25, 1930 Cuticura - March 25, 1930 Geo-Mineral - Dec. 8, 1948 Anacin - Jan. 16, 1963 Liquiprin - Aug. 27, 1970 Icy Hot - Nov. 20, 1977
Feb. 10 marks this years Lunar New Year, a holiday celebrated in numerous East and Southeast Asian countries, including China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Korea. While the name and customs vary across individual nations, the holiday is a celebratory marking of a new cycle in the lunar calendar. Festivities tend to include food, decorations and family and community gatherings.

Locally, the holiday has been celebrated in Bloomington-Normal since the 1880s. Its evolution in the last century and a half illustrates a tale of community, global politics and perseverance.

Profound Chinese immigration to America occurred during the second half of the 19th century. Prospects like the Gold Rush and work on the dangerous Transcontinental Railroad project enticed many. By 1870, there were 63,000 Chinese people in America. Though most were in California, immigrants began moving all over for work.

Around this time some Chinese men came to Bloomington, where they primarily worked in laundries. As racial discrimination and language barriers often precluded them from other jobs, and laundries were in high demand in many developing cities, this was a common occupation for Chinese immigrants.

By 1889, Bloomington had at least five Chinese laundries.

Some of the earliest local Lunar New Year celebrations were held by men of these circles. An 1885 Pantagraph article reported a Chinese New Year celebration of Long Gum, who managed the Ah Moo Long laundry, and other workers. The article described the many dishes they prepared and said they were attired in their bestin high feather anticipation.

An 1899 Bloomington Bulletin story tells of a similar time, announcing that Sam Long's laundry on East Front Street presents a gala appearance for the employees Chinese New Year get-together, which included a feast of imported delicacies.

With perhaps just one exception  a 1962 Pantagraph article about Chinese New Year featuring the Lum family, owners of the popular Grand Cafe restaurant  the next publicly documented Lunar New Year gatherings do not appear until about 1970.

Evidence of these gatherings can be found in Illinois State Universitys student newspaper, The Vidette, and were hosted by the Chinese Student Association (CSA). Formed around 1970, CSA membership primarily comprised international graduate students and a few honorary American members.

Their annual New Year celebrations were often joint endeavors with different international student organizations.

Chinese New Year and other Lunar New Year celebrations certainly may have been held in the preceding years, but the CSA events of the 1970s and 1980s became the most mainstream, with attendance in the hundreds and regular appearances from university administration!

This near century-long gap in celebrations of isolated 19th century immigrants and bell-bottom-era students is, in grand part, a result of U.S. policy that drastically restricted Asian immigration for decades.

White anxieties that viewed exploited Chinese laborers as competition for work and racist sentiments in the 1870s led to the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. This barred entrance of all Chinese laborers, only allowing certain classes (diplomats, students, merchants, etc.) with official, English-language certificates from the Chinese government.

The act also required all Chinese people already in America to register with the federal government for similar certificates. This law was to be in place for 10 years, but was renewed twice and made permanent in 1904.

The system changed with the Immigration Act of 1924. The act, intending to curb immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe and Asia, created a national origins quota system based on the 1890 census numbers. The number of immigrants from each nation could not exceed 2% of that nationality already in the country in 1890.

While exclusion acts were repealed in 1943 with China as a World War II ally, the quotas remained. The quota system was finally abolished with the Immigration Act of 1965. This act created a less exclusive framework by recategorizing the preference system to center on professional skills and family reunification.

Chinese New Year was not the only Lunar New Year celebration observed in and around the Twin Cities. In the mid-1970s, local newspaper records show celebrations of the Vietnamese holiday, Tet, across various settings.

An influx in the local Vietnamese population at this time came as life in Vietnam was utterly destroyed by the war, and millions were forced to flee. People left by any means necessary and were met with varying levels of acceptance abroad.

From 1975 into the early 2000s, there were several policies and federal programs aimed at assisting refugee resettlement (effective to varying degrees). Some programs partnered with nongovernmental agencies, including religious groups, to sponsor incoming refugees.

Locally, many early Vietnamese immigrants came through such sponsorship programs. As numbers grew, they organized dedicated community groups, such as the Bloomington-Normal Vietnamese Association.

This group hosted a Tet celebration at Normals Epiphany Grade School in 1976. A Pantagraph story on the program reported an attendance of 450 people, including association members, host families, and members of the Refugee Resettlement Committee.

The Vietnamese Associations 1980 event at Epiphany made the paper again, this time as a blurb to extend the thanks of the 105 persons in the Twin Cities Vietnamese community to supporters for the Lunar New Year celebration.

Celebrations of Tet were hosted in schools as well. In 1977, 17 Vietnamese students at Metcalf School in Normal organized a celebration for the new year with their English teacher. The students decorated the classroom and brought food to share for the party.

Another celebration was held the following evening by the Bloomington-Normal Vietnamese Association at the University High School cafeteria, featuring food, a variety show and dancing.

Lunar New Year celebrations at Metcalf continued in 1981 with an afternoon function hosted by the Indochinese program. Fifty lab school students and their families were invited to celebrate Tet and Chinese New Year.

Lunar New Year programs became more prominent in the following decades. They continued to be the work of community organizations and college affiliates. From 1998 onward, the Chinese American Professional Association held multiple events, sometimes hosted at Wesley United Methodist Church, and others at the ISU Bone Student Center. Beginning around the same time, Illinois Wesleyan University held annual Lunar New Year festivals hosted by various clubs.

Festivities at the Bone grew in the 2000s, often planned and executed by several local groups. Among these groups were the Bloomington-Normal Chinese School, Heartland Community College Chinese School, Chinese American Professional Association, the Organization of Chinese Americans-Central Illinois Chapter, Vale Holy Light Chinese Church, and student and scholar organizations of ISU and Heartland.

Compared to the handful of Asian immigrants in Bloomington-Normal at the end of the 19th century, the range of local cultural coalitions that have formed since the 1970s is astounding  and continues to grow today.

The museum is always keen to collect materials that best represent the people who make up our community. If you are interested in donating, especially any objects from organizations mentioned here, visit www.mchistory.org and click the Donate an Object button under the Participate tab.

Chinese New Year in 30 stunning images
CARLYLE  Pecans are a long-term commitment, with 13 years from planting trees to harvest. It is a commitment that paid off for Karen and Ralph Voss.

We are making money at it, Ralph Voss told those attending a pecan workshop in mid-January at the Everything Local conference in Springfield.

The corn and soybean farmers first got into the pecan business to diversify their farm in Clinton County. When they started, they focused on the native pecan trees, and over the years have grafted and developed an operation that also features modern varieties.

His hobby turned into a business, Karen Voss said.

When they started in 1985, they soon learned no one wanted to buy pecans in the shell. Ralph Vosss father bought a pecan cracker and eventually they not only cracked their own pecans but had a thriving customer pecan cracking business.

We did that for years, Karen Voss said.

They dont custom crack anymore, but others in southern Illinois offer that service now while Voss Pecans concentrates on its own production.

Ralph Voss describes the hard work in initially clearing 60 acres of land to nurture 1,200 native trees.

When you love something, it is easy to work at it all day, he said.

Im a corn and soybean grower. Im used to seed company salesmen telling me which varieties are good here and disease resistant, he said.

That kind of information wasnt readily available for Illinois pecan growers when he started. In large part, Ralph Voss had to find what varieties work best here  sometimes by trial and error.

He said he recently brought back 13 new varieties from Kansas, but only three of those would do well here.

They cant stand the wet weather, he said.

Other varieties he liked from Georgia cant take the cold here.

The newer varieties they grow today are larger, meatier and taste good, Ralph Voss said.

I believe eastern pecans taste better, he said. Western pecans look good, but I dont like eating them as much.

We study everything, he said of his personal research efforts to produce and sell the best pecan. Most pecans keep their best flavor at room temperature for about 90 days. He recommends refrigerating them if they are stored longer.

He has found other good agronomic research about pecan growing from sources including Texas A&M University, he said.

The Voss family has been replacing some of his 120 acres of native trees with new crossbred varieties, which are more disease resistant and have better yields, he said.

Pecans are harvested by shaking trees. One key is keeping the ground below the trees free of debris. The harvesters will pick up shotgun shells, a loose bolt or anything that can be bad news in sorting and processing. The sorting process after harvest uses both mechanized and human sorting.

While pecans are the moneymakers, he must sacrifice some for the good of all. In the summer when some boughs are bowing from the weight of pecans, he must shake them early so the remainder are bigger and better quality.

The same goes for reducing tree numbers. If trees grow big enough to touch, some must be cut down to give room for others to get sunshine and thrive.

There are also pests and diseases to fight. Scab is an enemy of pecan growers, especially in rainy areas. His pecan trees grow in riverbeds and dont mind wet weather. But he is mindful of avoiding scab.

We have yet to have a crop failure due to disease, he said. He attributes that to management and choosing the right varieties.

We spray the least amount possible, Karen Voss said of controlling pests. They do use some bug traps.

Modern stink bugs are a concern, Ralph Voss said. Fifteen years ago, he didnt pay much attention to stink bugs. Now they are our worst enemy.

In answer to a growers question, he said theres no market for pecan wood for carpentry, but it is profitable to sell the wood for smoking meat.

Their farm in Carlyle is close enough to St. Louis to draw people from the city, he said. They also sell pecans at farmers markets in Springfield and Champaign.

Some farmers attending were interested in adding pecans to a mixed operation including livestock. Ralph Voss said regulations require grazers to be out of the pecan orchard four or five months before harvest.

The couple is confident the next generations will be pecan growers as well. Their grandchildren are already active. Its a family business. It takes 16 of us a good month to get all the harvest in, Karen Voss said.

The next generation is here. We call it pecan fever.

Photos: Illinois State Fair political days through the years 2012 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2007 State Fair 2008 State Fair 2008 State Fair 2009 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2005 State Fair 2004 State Fair 2003 State Fair 2003 State Fair 2006 State Fair 2007 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2018 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2021 State Fair 2021 State Fair
The New York Police Department (NYPD) has been considering returning its policy of requiring male officers to shave their faces clean and button up their collars.

In a video exclusively obtained by the New York Post, NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell told the force's top brass that he was proposing to make officers more similar in their appearance with the proposal of reinstating the policy of a clean-shaved face and more traditional uniforms.

"Uniform changes are coming rather quickly," Chell said. "No more beards in about a week. No open collars in about a week. We're going back to weather restrictions on knit caps. Basically, what I'm telling everybody in this room is we're going back old school."

Style vs. Purpose

The Post stated that the department relaxed its facial hair and uniform rules in 2016 to accommodate Sikh officers for religious purposes as long as their turbans were in the same blue shade the NYPD was using.

This, in turn, allowed other officers without religious exemption to grow beards as well.

The NYPD also allowed officers to wear warmer knit caps over the police hats during frigid weather, as well as making ties with uniforms optional or limited.

"It's absolutely ludicrous that you have an officer with pink hair and nails longer than their fingers," an officer from Manhattan told the Post. "We're a police department not a hip hop department. Let's go back to being police officers."

John Jay College of Criminal Justice adjunct professor Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD officer himself, also praised the move to limit facial hair and traditional uniforms.

"I was against all the beards," he added. "It's about a sense of pride. This is absolutely a necessary aspect of showing a good front to the community because I think once the cops look good that comes with a modicum of respect because people perceive if you look like a slob they treat you like one."

Read Also: Tip Leads Cops to Severed Head and Body Parts in Freezer

Reservations on Going 'Old School'

However, another Manhattan officer said he wanted to keep following the relaxed rules in at least one case.

"I like the knitted cap when it's 32 degrees," he said, referring to the Fahrenheit equivalent of 0 degrees Celsius. "No one listens to us. No one cares anymore what we say. It is what it is. It is above my pay grade."

"I am not getting rid of [anything]," another officer with a full beard insisted when asked about shaving his facial hair off. "It's for religious reasons."

Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry also questioned if now was the time to focus on uniforms and personal grooming.

"The NYPD is understaffed by thousands of police officers and hundreds more are leaving every month," he said. "The department has much bigger issues to tackle. Is it really time to focus on beards and neckties?"

Related Article: Queens, NY: Police Bust 6 Illegal Brothels Fronting as Massage Parlors
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A Jinapor has urged African countries to make investment opportunities attractive for investors while insisting on the importance of value addition for the growth of their country's mineral infrastructure.



He stressed the need to move away from the "dig and ship" approach and highlighted two essential pillars to help achieve that: first he said is insisting on value addition, and local participation and two is ensuring that states and governments provide the necessary infrastructure and environment, including cadastre and other facilitated systems, for investors to operate, optimize, and maximize benefits shared equitably.



The Minister emphasized, "You cannot achieve value addition or participate at the highest end of the value chain if the government doesn't establish a proper, investor-friendly environment. It's crucial, and governments must prioritize this."



The Minister was Contributing to a Ministerial Symposium panel discussion on the topic; "Pushing Africa into a new investment era with solutions to the continent's greatest challenges" at the ongoing African Mining Indaba conference in Cape Town, South Africa, on Sunday, 4th February, 2024.



He added that fundamental elements, such as a solid and consistent rail system, reliable infrastructure, and power systems, must be in place to attract private entities effectively.



Using Ghana as a case study, he explained that governments should have a policy framework where both the state and investors play their roles. For instance, in the context of bauxite, Ghana is working towards building an integrated aluminum industry, with a policy framework supervised by President Akufo-Addo to exploit and manage resources effectively.



The Minister highlighted Ghana's efforts to strike a balance between value addition and indigenous participation on one hand and the importance of a mutually satisfactory arrangement for all parties involved on the other hand.



He acknowledged the challenge some African countries face with changing government policies but stressed the need for sustainable policies in the continent's best interest.



Addressing private sector participation and investment in Ghana, the Minister mentioned the successful establishment of an automobile industry, attributing it to a sensible policy framework that aligns with the primary goal of private sector investments  making a profit.



He advocated for synchronizing policy frameworks across Africa to universally promote value addition. The Minister referred to the African Mining Vision as a guiding principle and cited the joint effort of Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire in structuring a common market pricing on cocoa as a positive example of African collaboration for growth.



Hon. Jinapor and the other panelists in the end agreed that the new perspective on mining sector investment in Africa, should be envisioning a shift from the "rich Africa with poor Africans" model to one resulting in "rich Africans from rich Africa," catalyzed by mining.



The Ministerial Symposium is a high-level, invite-only policy roundtable, that brings together Mining Ministers to develop and discuss a shared vision for Africas future sustainable mining and mineral value supply chains. The Symposium aims to strengthen collaboration between government, investors, and the private sector in order to improve bilateral relationships across the continent.

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Senegal's President Macky Sall has postponed this month's elections following complaints after dozens of candidates were barred from standing.



The two-term president, who reiterated that he would not be seeking re-election, did not set a new date.



Amid controversy, a constitutional council had prevented several hopefuls - including some high-profile politicians - from running.



Mr Sall said "these troubled conditions could gravely hurt" the ballot.



He added that he would start "an open national dialogue... to create the conditions for a free, transparent and inclusive election in a peaceful and reconciled Senegal".



An opposition candidate called the president's decision to postpone the election a constitutional coup.



Khalifa Sall, former mayor of the capital, Dakar, urged people to protest against the move and his political coalition has pledged to go to court.



An organisation of influential Islamic clerics had warned against postponing the vote, saying it risked destabilising the nation.



The move to delay the election is unprecedented in a country that is seen as one of the most stable democracies in the West African region.



Twenty candidates had made the final list, but among the most prominent of those who had been excluded from the original vote, scheduled for 25 February, was opposition politician Ousmane Sonko.



The popular figure was barred because of a libel conviction. Sonko, who has faced a number of court cases, said he had been the victim of a campaign to stop him standing for president.



Karim Wade, the son of a former president, was also prevented from taking part because he is allegedly a French citizen as well as being Senegalese. He has described the accusation as "scandalous", the AFP news agency reports.



Mr Wade's backers in parliament questioned the neutrality of two of the judges on the panel that decided on the final list of candidates.



Some politicians have argued that the rules for candidacy were not applied fairly. Something the authorities have denied.

Source: BBC









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A recent study by Old Mutual has shed light on the financial challenges faced by working Ghanaians, with 64% experiencing financial stress.



The report highlights disparities, indicating higher stress levels among lower-income earners (below GH3,000 per month) and those in the informal sector. Additionally, 55% of respondents reported earning less than pre-2022 or pre-recession levels.



The study reveals that personal savings are a primary recourse for covering expenses, with 61% tapping into their savings. While 54% rely on personal savings as a source of income, only 10% have taken out a loan from a financial services provider. Instead, 24% borrowed from friends or family, and 12% sought funds from 'Susu'. A notable 21% reported having a credit card.



Various savings channels are employed, ranging from formal to informal, with banks, mobile money, Susu, and unbanked cash among the top choices. Concerns about relevance, affordability (charges), and trust hinder greater adoption of formal savings vehicles.



Top savings priorities include income security, cost-cutting, and secure investments. Emergency savings, particularly relevant for the 40% worried about job loss, rank high. Other key savings goals encompass childrens education, medical expenses, business funding, and family's future.



The study indicates that 44% rely on a single source of income, while 24% engage in multiple income streams as PolyJobbers, especially common among those earning GH3,000 or more.



Despite the importance of retirement planning, less than a quarter prioritize it as a savings goal. Only 37% have started saving for retirement, and confidence in retirement provision is low at 5.8 out of 10.



The research reveals low penetration of formal retirement products, with only 20% holding a pension/provident fund through an employer. Additionally, 88% lack life cover, citing it as a non-immediate priority and too expensive.



In terms of employee benefits, 28% of formal sector workers lack them, while among those who do, medical/health insurance (28%) and pension/provident fund (20%) are most common.



A significant finding is that 54% of respondents own a business, primarily self-financed from business funds or personal savings. Debt avoidance is evident, with only 11% seeking funding from financial services companies.



Old Mutual's Financial Services Monitor provides valuable insights into the financial landscape of working Ghanaians, emphasizing the need for tailored solutions to address diverse challenges.

Source: graphiconline









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Culture defines the way of life of a group of people. Prominent among the culture of South Africans is the Basotho tribe which dates back to the 18th century.



A culture well defined, they had their way of life in the medieval times which gradually transmogrified to their current way of life.



A visit to the cultural museum in Clarence, South Africa, indicated that the Sotho also known as the Basotho are a prominent Sotho-Tswana ethnic group with roots in Southern Africa. They primarily inhabit the regions of Lesotho and South Africa.



The ancestors of the Sotho people are believed to have originated from Ntswanatsatsi (North East of Africa), and migrated south in the fifth century CE.



The Sotho people have split into different clans over time as a result of the Mfecane (a series of wars and migrations that took place in the 19th century) and colonialism.



The British and the Boers (Dutch descendants) divided Sotho land amongst themselves in the late 19th century.

Some of the Southern Sotho speakers who were not part of Moshoeshoe's kingdom when he united some of their tribesmen are living in Gauteng, while some are found in the west of KwaZulu-Natal, the north of the Eastern Cape and most of the Free State province.



In modern times, the Sotho continue to make significant contributions to South African and Lesotho societies.



Visa Free



Travellers between Ghana and South Africa now will no longer need visas. The two countries announced a visa-waiver scheme on 1 November, allowing citizens to travel freely between them.



The visa waiver allows for travel for periods of up to 90 days within a calendar year, for purposes of business or tourism. The 90 days may be used in one block, or in incremental amounts until the 90-day total within a calendar year is reached.



The two countries hope the agreement will boost tourism and will help to deepen economic cooperation between the two nations.



Visiting the cultural museum in Clarens Free State province should be on your item list anytime you are in South Africa.





South African Tourism West Africa



South African Tourism West Africa is the national tourism agency responsible for marketing South Africa as a destination across Nigeria and Ghana.



The Agency's objectives are to develop and implement marketing strategies efficiently in the specific market segments, promote South Africa's scenic beauty, diverse wildlife, ecotourism, and variety of cultures and heritage; realise South Africa's potential as a big event destination; engender a travel and tourism culture among Africans; use the more focused, cost-effective and customer-driven approach taken to its international marketing operations in a quest to play smarter' in the increasingly competitive global tourism market; continue including initiatives such as ongoing segmentation research into key spend and volume markets abroad, which highlight international growth areas where South African Tourism's marketing efforts will reap the greatest returns; continue with its aggressive e-Business Tourism Growth Strategy, which incorporates fully-fledged research and a website; create market access by participating in major travel shows, coordinate advertising, public relations and direct mailing campaigns, and conduct familiarising trips with media, tour operators and travel agents to enhance understanding of South Africa as a leisure and business events destination.

Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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The Youth Organizer Diaspora of the governing New Patriotic Party - Spain Branch, Hanson Dartey, has tendered his resignation from the party, effective immediately.



In a press statement, he extended his sincere apologies for the abrupt nature of this decision. He also humbly requested the acceptance of his resignation from the position of NPP Spain Branch Youth Organizer.



Why resign?



Explaining the reasons his resignation in the statement, he said the party, in his view, had deviated from its core values and had succumbed to greed and corruption.



He claimed that the values that initially drew him to the party, such as the commitment to fight corruption and contribute to the development of the country, are no longer evident.



"The party has adopted an individualistic approach, with leaders prioritizing personal interests over group interests. This departure from the principles embodied by leaders such as Dr. Busia, J.B Danquah, Da Rocha, and J.H Mensah, whom I admired, is disheartening," he said in the statement.



As a result, Mr Hanson Dartey found it necessary to step down from his position with immediate effect.



"I do so with a heavy heart but with the conviction that my allegiance should align with a party that upholds the ideals of integrity, collective progress, and service to the nation," the statement indicated.



He further expressed his gratitude to all party members and colleagues for the camaraderie and support throughout his tenure. He remained open to discussions and hope for a renewed commitment to the values that define the NPP.



Contributions



Before assuming the role of Youth Organizer, he served diligently as the Secretary to the Barcelona Chapter and played a pivotal role in establishing the branch.



Having been an active member since 1996, he contributed significantly as a polling station agent at Sunyani West Constituency (Nsoatre R/C Primary Polling Station) from 1996 to 2004.



Over the years, my commitment led me to bring my extended family from the NDC to the New Patriotic Party. Currently, my two biological brothers serve as Coordinator and Polling station agent at Sunyani West Constituency.



In the 2016 elections, he provided motorcycles for the Sunyani West campaign and sponsored 21 individuals to cast their votes at Dormaa West Constituency (Nkrankwanta).



Notably, during the 2004 general election, he prevented a ghost voter from casting a ballot at Sunyani West (Nsoatre R/C Primary). This incident led to a clash with the then leading member of the NDC in the Brong Ahafo Region, Nyamkye Maafo, who was a Regional Minister. The incident was extensively covered by the print media the following day.

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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has returned to the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), an advisory body made up of political parties that give non-binding advice to the Electoral Commission (EC).



On December 14, 2023, the NDC announced its decision to return to IPAC at a stakeholders meeting on inter-party dialogue organised by the National Peace Council, at Peduase in the Eastern Region.



Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the National Chairman of the party said the NDCs return was based on IPAC maintaining its consensus, whereby decisions would be taken in consideration of all parties in the interest of the country.



We must work to make sure that IPAC returns to its consensus-building ways. The National Peace Council must ensure that the issues that were blocking our return will be dealt with before the next IPAC meeting, he said.



So far the biggest opposition party in the nation has attended two IPAC meetings: on the 22nd and 29th of January 2024.



Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, NPP National Organizer speaking in reaction on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' commended the NDC saying "Whoever advised them to return to IPAC did well..."



listen to him in the video below





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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:

Researchers at the site in Ranis, Germany, had to get around a massive rock to find the human-made tools.

Pioneering groups of humans braved icy conditions to settle in northern Europe more than 45,000 years ago, a "huge surprise" that means they could have lived there alongside Neanderthals, scientists said Wednesday.

The international team of researchers found human bones and tools hiding behind a massive rock in a German cave, the oldest traces of Homo sapiens ever discovered so far north.

The discovery could rewrite the story of how the species populated Europeand how it came to replace the Neanderthals, who mysteriously went extinct just a few thousand years after humans arrived.

When the two co-existed in Europe, there was a "replacement phenomenon" between the Middle Paleolithic and the Upper Paleolithic periods, French paleoanthropologist Jean-Jacques Hublin, who led the new research, told AFP.

Archaeological evidence such as stone tools from both species has been discovered dating from this periodbut determining exactly who created what has proved difficult because of a lack of bones.

Particularly puzzling have been tools from what has been called the "Lincombian-Ranisian-Jerzmanowician" (LRJ) culture found at several sites north of the Alps, including in England and Poland.

One such site near the town of Ranis in central Germany was the focus of three new studies published in the journal Nature.

Hidden behind a rock

The cave was partially excavated in the 1930s, but the team hoped to find more clues during digs between 2016 to 2022.

The 1930s excavations had not been able to get past a nearly two-meter (six foot) rock blocking the way. But this time, the scientists managed to remove it by hand.

"We had to descend eight meters (26 feet) underground and board up the walls to protect the excavators," said Hublin of Germany's Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

They were rewarded with the leaf-shaped stone blades seen at other LRJ sites, as well as thousands of bone fragments.

The team used a new technique called paleoproteomics, which involves extracting proteins from fossils, to determine which bones were from animals and which from humans.

Using radiocarbon dating and DNA analysis, they confirmed that the cave contained the skeletal remains of 13 humans.

The cave site is located beneath the Castle Ranis in central Germany.

That means that the stone tools in the cavewhich were once thought to have been made by Neanderthalswere in fact crafted by humans as early as 47,500 years ago.

"This came as a huge surprise, as no human fossils were known from the LRJ before, and was a reward for the hard work at the site," said study co-author Marcel Weiss.

The fossils date from around the time when the first Homo sapiens were leaving Africa for Europe and Asia.

"For a long time we have thought of a great wave of Homo sapiens that swept across Europe and rapidly absorbed the Neanderthals towards the end of these transitional cultures around 40,000 years ago," Hublin said.

But the latest discovery suggests that humans populated the continent over repeated smaller excursionsand earlier than had previously been assumed.

A cold change

This means there was even more time for modern humans to have lived side-by-side with their Neanderthal cousins, the last of whom died out in Europe's southwest 40,000 years ago.

This particular group arrived in a northern Europe that was far colder than today, more resembling modern-day Siberia or northern Scandinavia, the researchers said.

They lived in small, mobile groups, only briefly staying in the cave where they ate meat from reindeer, woolly rhinoceros, horses and other animals they caught.

"How did these people from Africa come up with the idea of heading towards such extreme temperatures?" Hublin said.

In any case, the humans proved they had "the technical capacity and adaptability necessary to live in a hostile environment", he added.

It had previously been thought that humans were not able to handle such cold until thousands of years later.

But humans outlasted the Neanderthals, who had long been acclimatized to the cold.

Exactly what happened to the Neanderthals remains a mystery. But some have pointed the finger at humans for driving their extinction, either by violence, spreading disease, or simply by interbreeding with them.

 2024 AFP
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:

Marker point densities for individual background sample classes (N = 507 samples) marker points detected at more than 5% reflectance change over 50 nm interval. These individual data are assembled to constitute the overall simulated natural background density. Credit: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2018

New research led by Monash University experts used computer simulations to reveal the ancient link between bees and the evolution of colors in flowers. The research, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, simulated the landscape of the first flowering plants from many tens of millions of years ago, to test their visibility to pollinators like bees and birds.

Lead author and NativeBee+Tech Facility Director Associate Professor Alan Dorin, from the Faculty of Information Technology, said insects such as bees developed visual perception well before the first flowers appeared so that they could fly and orient themselves among rocks, leaves, sticks and bark.

"Our results proved that the first flowers evolved more dazzling colors to distinguish themselves from their dull backgrounds so they could attract ancient pollinators," Dorin said.

To test whether bees evolved and viewed their current environment in the same manner as their ancestors viewed theirs, the researchers tested bees' color perception against simulated prehistoric environments.

"Given that Australia is a geologically ancient continent, we used color spectrum measurements from the Australian bushland, from Cairns right down to the southern tip of Victoria, to simulate landscapes from when the first flowers evolved during the Mesozoic era, between 252 million and 66 million years ago," Dorin explained.

Vision scientist and research co-author Associate Professor Adrian Dyer, from the Department of Physiology at Monash's Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, said this is the first time a strong link showing how the visual perception of ancient pollinators and the bees of today has guided flower color evolution.

"We can now see that, like their ancestors, bees have ultraviolet (UV), blue and green photoreceptors, which explains why some modern flowers have frequently evolved common colors like yellow in their petals as a response to what can be easily perceived by bees," Dyer said.

The findings of this research will help inform how plant species are pollinated in contemporary times, and advance the study of smart agriculture or unlock potential for further research in the field of efficient crop pollination.

More information: Alan Dorin et al, Ancient insect vision tuned for flight among rocks and plants underpins natural flower colour diversity, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2018 Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B
Edsger W. Dijkstra's Interview on Dutch TV

First Published: 1st May 2021

Among computer science graduates, Edsgar W. Dijkstra is a man who needs little introduction. A few decades back, an interesting interview of his was broadcasted on Dutch TV. The video description is as follows:

In the autumn of 2000, the Dutch broadcasting organization VPRO Television visited Austin to make a video of a visit with the most famous Dutch computing scientist. The product of this project was broadcast in April 2001 as a 25-minute episode of the science series Noorderlicht, under the title "Denken Als Discipline".

Roughly a year after this video was broadcasted, Prof. Dijkstra died after a long struggle with cancer. This blog post would not have been possible without the help of some kind souls (Jos Wassink, Karin Spiegel, and Chris Kotrla) who dedicated their time to digitize and translate the above interview in English. I am merely curating the thoughts Prof. Dijkstra expressed during the interview, for improved readability.

The Interview

Prof. Dijkstra: You just cobble something together to sell. It need not be any good. As long as you can fool people into buying it, you can always try to make better versions later. So then you get these version numbers, even with decimals, version 2.6 or 2.7. That's nonsense. While version 1 should have been the finished product.

Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes.

Narrator: Professor Edsger W. Dijkstra is Holland's first programmer. In 1972, he received the Turing Award, the Nobel Prize of Computer Science. He and his wife now live in Austin, Texas, where they moved in 1984.

Prof. Dijkstra: At the time, most university departments in the Netherlands aimed to water down their curriculum. At the same time, the University of Texas in Austin tried to reduce the student enrollment and to increase their quality. It was an opposite development which was much more attractive than what was happening in Dutch higher education.

The universities will continue to lack the courage to teach hard science, they will continue to misguide the students, and each next stage of infantilization of the curriculum will be hailed as educational progress.

Narrator: Quality, correctness, and elegance are what Dijkstra thinks should characterize a computer program. In 1954 he resolved to make programming a science, but it has been an uphill struggle.

Prof. Dijkstra: I lose no sleep that businesses feel they cannot afford to deliver first-rate products. It doesn't keep me from continuing my work.

You should not give the world what it asks for, but what it needs.

Prof. Dijkstra: There are very different programming styles. I tend to see them as Mozart versus Beethoven. When Mozart started to write, the composition was finished. He wrote the manuscript in one go. In beautiful handwriting, too. Beethoven was a doubter and a struggler, who started writing before he finished the composition and then glued corrections onto the page. In one place he did this nine times. When they peeled them, the last version proved identical to the first one. That iterative method of programming is somehow a very Anglo-Saxon custom. British education is pervaded by it. People learn, when they write, not to try to get it right the first time. Just write what's on your mind and then rewrite repeatedly, to get the product you want. That's partly why word processors are marketed so aggressively and partly why they have been so successful there. While it is one of the advantages of working with pen and paper that when you start a sentence, you should have it ready.

Narrator: Dijkstra is a prolific writer: musings, talks, mathematical proofs, and books. His EWD's, these initials followed by a serial number are considered his best scientific contributions.

Prof. Dijkstra: For myself, the most important thing has been the daily discipline of neatly writing down your thoughts and what you do. Due to modern technology, they have been much more influential than they would have been in the past. You might describe them as a modern form of scientific correspondence. Albeit that the intellectual traffic has been mostly one-directional. The serial numbers have crept up to over 1300. In length, they vary enormously, from 80 pages to one page. As time goes by, they tend to become ever shorter. Everyone to whom I sent them, was implicitly willing to function as an internal node of the dissemination tree and to send second-generation copies on to others. How many people they have reached, I have never been able to estimate. A few hundred, I'd say.

Prof. Dijkstra: In order to compose, you have to write scores. But to be a composer is not to write scores. To be a composer is to conceive music. In the early days of programming, you had to write machine code. Meaningless sequences of capitals and numbers. That's the analog of writing scores. People thought that that was programming. Later, that was made easier by the invention of the higher programming languages: Fortran, Pascal, C++, and suchlike. People thought that those languages would solve the programming problem. But when you look closely, the trivial aspects of programming had been automated while the harder ones remained. The higher programming languages which had been intended to facilitate programming proved, coupled with the increasing ambitions of the applications to be more intellectually demanding to the programmer.

The competent programmer is fully aware of the limited size of his own skull. He, therefore, approaches his tasks in full humility and avoids clever tricks like the plague. - EWD 340

Prof. Dijkstra: I remember, in 1970 or thereabouts, I first went to explain to companies how to develop programs and keep them under tight control. I first went to Paris and then to Brussels. In Paris, I delivered a lecture at the Sorbonne and people were very enthusiastic. On the way home, I told the same story at a large software house in Brussels. The lecture was a complete failure. In a sense, one of my least successful lectures. I later found out why. The management didn't want faultless programs because the company derived its stability from maintenance contracts. And the programmers weren't interested because they derived their intellectual excitement from the fact that they didn't quite know what they were doing. They felt that if you knew precisely what you were doing and didn't run risks, it was a boring job.

We should not add bugs to a program out of nonchalance. We should do so systematically and with great care.

Prof. Dijkstra: If in physics there's something you don't understand you can always hide behind the uncharted depths of nature. You can always blame God. You didn't make it so complex yourself. But if your program doesn't work, there is no one to hide behind. You cannot hide behind an obstinate nature. A zero is a zero, a one is a one. If it doesn't work, you've messed up.

I realized my previous projects had been finger exercises. I had to tackle complexity itself. But it took a long time to muster the courage to do so.

Narrator: At the end of the 60s, Dijkstra saw that the complexity got the better of the programmers. And that it threatened the most prestigious projects.

Prof. Dijkstra: That happened in 1969 just after the first successful moon landing. I was at a NATO conference on software engineering in Rome where I met Joel Aron, who was head of IBM's Federal Systems Division, which had been responsible for the software of the moon shot. I knew that each Apollo flight required some 40,000 new lines of code. I don't know what unit a line of code is but 40,000 is a lot. I was duly impressed that they got so many lines of code correct. So when I met Joel, I said: "how do you do it?". "Do what?", he asked. "Getting that software right". "Right?", he said. He said that in one of the calculations of the orbit of the lunar module, the moon had been defined as repelling instead of attracting. They had discovered that error by accident. Imagine, by accident five days before the shot. I went white and said: "Those guys have been lucky!" Yes, Joel Aron agreed.

Program testing can convincingly show the presence of bugs, but it hopelessly inadequate to show their absence.

Narrator: Dijkstra knew personally how frighteningly complex programs could become. He had finished the operating system of Holland's biggest computer, the X-8 under great pressure.

Prof. Dijkstra: I feared that I wouldn't get it right. That I would lose control of it. For the X-8 in Eindhoven, we tried to design a multiprogramming system. We were working with a machine with a real-time interrupt which really means that you cannot test your program. I knew that if we designed the program with insufficient care, we would end up with something which, once entered into the computer wouldn't work, and would make irreproducible errors, the cause of which we would be unable to determine. That was the reason why we applied all possible control mechanisms in the development stage.

Elegance is not a dispensable luxury but a factor that decides between success and failure.

Prof. Dijkstra: One of the things I discovered as early as the 1960s is that mathematical elegance is not a question of esthetics, of taste, or fashion, but something you can translate into a technical notion. The Concise Oxford Dictionary gives one of the meanings of elegant as ingeniously simple and effective. In practice, a program is manageable if you make a truly elegant program, firstly because it is shorter than most alternatives and consists of discrete paths each of which you can replace by an alternative implementation without influencing the rest of the program. But also, curiously the most elegant programs are often the most efficient.

When there were no computers, programming was no problem. When we had a few weak computers, it became a mild problem. Now that we have gigantic computers, programming is a gigantic problem.

Prof. Dijkstra: My first programming years were a bit strange compared to now in that I programmed for non-existent machines. My friends Bram Loopstra and Carel Scholten built the machine and in the meantime, I wrote the relevant software. I was used to not testing a program because the machine to test it on wasn't finished. I knew right away that you had to create something that could keep under your intellectual control.

Prof. Dijkstra: I started work at the Mathematical Centre in March 1952. My wife-to-be had worked there since the summer of 1949. She had a job as a calculator. I was taken on as a programmer. And I rather liked her. Our first date was the concert on the occasion of the Mathematical Congress in 1954 in Amsterdam. Then the news was out that I was sweet on her. People complimented me on my taste. Professionally, I was strongly influenced by my mother. She was a brilliant mathematician. I remember when I had bought my books for the next school year I saw the goniometry book, which scared me with all those Greek letters. I asked my mother if goniometry was hard. She said, "not at all". "Make sure you know all the formulae by heart and if you need more than five lines, you're on the wrong track."

Prof. Dijkstra: Why has elegance found so little following? That is the reality of it. Elegance has the disadvantage if that's what it is that hard work is needed to achieve it and a good education to appreciate it.
At least 46 people have died, and about 1,100 houses have been damaged in the devastating forest fires that have gripped a heavily populated region of central Chile, according to the nation's president on Saturday evening, February 3.

A Call for Cooperation

As four massive flames rage in the Valparaiso area, making it difficult for firemen to access the most vulnerable communities, President Gabriel Boric issued a stern warning in a nationally broadcast speech that the death toll might rise.

According to The Associated Press, Boric called on the people of Chile to help the rescuers. "If you are told to evacuate don't hesitate to do it. The fires are advancing fast and climatic conditions have made them difficult to control. There are high temperatures, strong winds and low humidity."

Warm weather this week has caused 92 forest fires, as per Interior Minister Carolina Toha, who made the announcement earlier on Saturday. The flames are raging over the country's central and southern regions.

Authorities in the Valparaiso area encouraged thousands of residents to leave their homes after the flames there killed many individuals.

Meanwhile, those in locations farther from the flames were advised to remain inside so that emergency vehicles such as fire trucks, ambulances, and others could navigate the roadways more easily.

See Also: Kenya: Tragic Gas Truck Explosion in Nairobi Kills 3, Leaves Hundreds Injured

Enormous Devastation

The Guardian reports that at least 8,000 hectares (19,770 acres) have reportedly been consumed by two fires near the villages of Quilpue and Villa Alemana since Friday, February 2. Some neighborhoods in the seaside vacation town of Vina del Mar had already been severely affected by one of the fires, and the town itself was in danger.

Several blocks of houses and shops were leveled in the hillside community of Villa Independencia, which is located on the town's eastern boundary. The streets were littered with ash, and wrecked vehicles with shattered glass lined them.

In order to combat the fires, Toha said that three shelters were established in the Valparaiso district and that around 450 firemen and 19 helicopters were sent to the area.

Neighborhoods constructed dangerously on the edge of Vina del Mar and other mountains that are hard to approach were engulfed in flames.

Fire officials reported power outages, and Toha added that four hospitals and three nursing homes for the elderly had to be evacuated in the Valparaiso district. Two bus terminals were also damaged in the fire, said the Ministry of the Interior.

See Also: China: Tragic Fire in Jiangxi Province Kills at Least 39, Including Students
Dustin Fierro is a big believer in the power of the team.

As kitchen manager at the Tilton Inn, a landmark bar and grill in Northfield, he relies heavily on his team in the kitchen. While so much attention is usually given to the executive chef, the kitchen manager is a pivotal position in a restaurant. It's an essential part of a kitchen staff. They organize, lead, and supervise kitchen operations to ensure meals come out smoothly and efficiently. They manage menu development and, most importantly for Fierro, they cook. He's the maestro in the kitchen. And all the players need to be in tune.

It's such a good thing that I have such a great team behind me to execute properly, Fierro says. Without them I couldn't have done it. I can only tell them to do so much. It's up to them to perform and execute properly. We're not only a great team but we're a family. We don't even have to say a word to each other we just know what's going on with each other and our timing is spot on.

Fierro, 27, of Egg Harbor Township, is proof that a strong desire to learn, and a little luck, can make a dramatic change in your life. Fierro was born in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, with a passing interest in food. His mom and dad cooked, but culinary was not his prime focus. After high school and deciding college was too expensive of a proposition, he decided a trade would be his career. For a start, he landed a job washing dishes at the 110 Tavern, in the Poconos, a place similar to the Tilton. He was 18, it was a job, and he needed one. What he found was his first mentor, Mike Lucas, chef and owner of the place who gave him his first start.

The most realistic thing at the time was learning how to cook. Within three months I was a full-time cook, working every station, he recalls.

He moved from there to the Blue Shamrock Country Club, not far away, and learned banquet experience, cooking in bulk, which he says he found easy. As with the 110 Tavern, what he really found was another mentor in Executive Chef Christine Ingram.

She pretty much taught me how to be a banquet cook. I also leaned to do the stations for banquet style dining: carving stations, pasta stations, taco station. We made pretty much anything into a station. I got a lot of good experience at the Blue Shamrock.

He stayed there for over a year and moved on to working the chain restaurants but found it wasn't his thing. I didn't like it that much. It didn't have the same feel as a privately owned restaurant.

He decided to strike out for Philadelphia, for more opportunities. What he found when he got there was a pandemic that crippled the city.

I wanted something different. But unfortunately, when COVID broke out, nobody was really hiring as far as food goes. There was a lot of restrictions in the city.

He ended up picking up construction work to make ends meet. It was when he decided to move to the shore, to be with his girlfriend at the time (now his fiance), that opportunity came at an unlikely moment. In September of 2021, he walked into the Tilton Inn for lunch, had a double order of steamed clams that turned his head around.

I loved it so much I wanted to learn how they did things here, he says.

Fortunately, the Tilton was looking for help and within a few days he was working in the kitchen. He started at the salad station, worked his way to the fryer, then to the grill, then as a leader in the kitchen. He found it to be a place where he could learn and grow his culinary career. He credits Tilton's Executive Chef Paul Windebank for giving him the freedom and knowledge to experiment and promoting him to kitchen manager.

Fierro describes his cooking style as wide ranging.

I like cooking Italian, I like cream sauces a lot. I make a killer mac and cheese, any kind of mac and cheese  lobster, crab, short rib, buffalo chicken. I like chargrilling things  scallops, steak, fish. Chargrilled is probably the best flavor, in my opinion. Chargrilling is a sweet spot in my heart. It goes back to my dad.

One of his greatest joys is developing the weekly specials menu served Thursday through Saturday. The Tilton is well-known for their wings, cheesesteaks (try Al's Tilton Special for a great cheesesteak twist), and prime rib. Fierro's special menu is kicking things up a notch. He's added a jerk scallop dish, char-grilled scallops tossed in a jerk seasoning, which he says has become popular. He enjoys taking the existing menu items and adding his own twist for the menu specials.

It's kind of like making a puzzle out of different pieces but the puzzle turns out good every time. I write and prep all the specials, he says proudly.

He's also developed the use of social media to promote the restaurant and the weekly specials, which had proven to have positive results.

In December, look for an apple walnut pork chop, a maple walnut reduction on the chop, a recipe passed down from his mother, along with bacon wrapped scallops with a berry barbecue glaze. While he enjoys the responsibility the position gives him, he refuses to take credit alone.

It's humbling. I can only say so much as a manager, it's up to my team for us to come together and perform and execute the way we were taught. That means more to me than saying I have a title.
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.

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.

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.

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.
Living in a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) has some distinct advantages. First, you have pretty much everything you need right in one place: wonderful food, fellowship, shelter, safety, transportation and even access to nursing care when you need it. You shed worries about things like snow removal, house and yard maintenance, and annual real estate taxes. Another huge benefit is having all levels along the continuum of care readily available to you as you age: independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled and long-term nursing care (nursing home).

People sometimes have the misconception that you must be a resident of the CCRC to take advantage of one of its clinical areas. Years ago, that was indeed the case for some, but today local CCRCs welcome residents from the community at large, not just those who live on their campuses. For instance, if you need care in assisted living, skilled nursing, or rehab, you can still consider the CCRC as an option, whether you are living in your own home, another retirement community or are already in long-term care nursing care somewhere else.

Residents who have invested in a life-care retirement community pay the same for their monthly rent, regardless of what level of care they need (independent living, assisted living or nursing home). Some retirement communities have different packages to choose from that provide discounted rental fees in their clinical areas once the resident needs more care than that associated with independent living. Ridgecrest offers all three: life-care option (rent is not determined by level of care), 80% option (rent can be discounted once assisted living or nursing home care is required) or straight market-rate monthly lease.

Crest at Ridgecrest is a small skilled and long-term care nursing unit that provides both skilled and long-term nursing care. Across the country, the cost of care in skilled and long-term nursing has grown exponentially since COVID and is not expected to level off any time soon. For those who are not already part of a life-care CCRC or have not purchased long-term care insurance, this can be an expensive venture. Fortunately, Medicaid is an option for persons who meet the criteria for institutional (nursing home) Medicaid. Iowa and Illinois have slightly different rules for Medicaid. Both are means tested; in other words, its availability is determined by your income and assets. With the Quad-Cities straddling two states, that question comes up a lot.

Crest at Ridgecrest will consider residents who are on Medicaid (in the nursing home).

One additional level of care exists in Illinois, supportive living, which is essentially an assisted living level of care that accepts Medicaid. There are four such supportive living facilities in the Illinois QCA and surrounding communities. Unfortunately, in Iowa there is no such designation. Assisted living in Iowa is primarily private pay unless you have CCRC life-care or long-term care insurance. There are some places that may possibly accept Iowa Medicaid Waiver, but its not the same; nor does it normally cover enough to pay for the entire assisted living expense.

Ive been a longtime supporter of the concept of supportive living as I believe it would open well health opportunities for those who need assisted living but cannot afford it. Sometimes, by putting off getting the right care at the right time, you may develop more complex and expensive health issues, prematurely requiring long term nursing care. This is not good for the person who is going without, nor for Medicaid that is ultimately going to spend more for that care in a long-term nursing facility.

Im happy that Ridgecrest is able to offer all levels of care to the QCA community and that Crest at Ridgecrest offers skilled and long-term nursing care and can take Medicaid. Im hopeful that at some point in the future, Iowa will consider making a provision for Medicaid to also cover the cost of care in assisted living.
Federal authorities have filed methamphetamine trafficking charges against a Buffalo, Iowa, man who was arrested May 23 after agents with the Scott County Special Operations Unit Task Force seized an alleged 16 pounds of meth hidden in his vehicle.

Michael Sean Russell, 48, is charged in U.S. District Court, Davenport, with one count of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute. The charge carries a prison sentence of 10 years to life.

Russell was arrested by federal authorities June 14.

According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint by Bettendorf Police Sgt. Joshua Paul, on May 22, Russell was the target of an investigation into the distribution of narcotics in the Quad-Cities.

During surveillance, agents watched Russell leave his Buffalo home driving a silver Hyundai Santa Fe that had expired Arizona temporary tags.

At the time, agents suspected Russell of delivering 4 pounds of meth to a man a short time before Russell left his home.

Agents conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle in the 2200 block of Rockingham Road in Davenport in order to serve a warrant and search the vehicle.

The Santa Fe was towed to the Bettendorf Police Department so it could be searched, and Russell was detained for questioning.

In the rear passenger-side door panel, agents found 16 one-pound vacuum-sealed packages, the contents of which each tested positive for crystal methamphetamine. By police calculations, that's 72,575 doses of methamphetamine.

The market has been flooded with methamphetamine, Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane said, and one dose is going for about $10, or about $100 per gram on the street.

The meth Russell had in his possession is worth $725,748.

Agents also had a warrant to search a storage facility connected to Russell. They found two guns inside. Russell is not allowed to possess a firearm or ammunition.

During a post-Miranda interview, Russell told agents that the person who owns the meth is a man from Mexico named Archibaldo. Russell said he sent Archibaldo money at Archibaldos request. Russell told agents he also sent money under other names but did not know if the names were real.

Russell told agents he does not know if others are involved in the conspiracy

When asked how the meth ended up in the rear door panel, Russell told agents that we packaged it and put in in that space.

In an interview earlier this year, Illinois State Police Lt. Kevin Winslow who at the time was director of the Quad-City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, said that meth in the United States today, and particularly in the Quad-Cities, is manufactured south of the U.S. border and is smuggled in.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, we had meth that was made locally, Winslow said. But that is not the norm today.

The heroin, the meth, the cocaine and especially the fentanyl, we know those werent domestically produced here in Iowa or Illinois, Winslow said.

Those are cartel-driven poisons that were produced by the cartels and put on our streets, he said.

The drugs police are seeing these days are a much purer than ever, which makes them a lot more powerful, a lot more addictive and a lot more deadly than in the past, he said.

The last major meth production operation in the Quad-Cities was shut down by the Scott County Sheriffs Department in 2016 in Operation Methed Up. The operation led to the raid of several homes, the seizure of at least two mobile meth labs and the arrest of 46 people on charges ranging from meth manufacturing and conspiracy to possession of meth-making materials and child endangerment.

You get a purer form of crystal meth out of Mexico, Lane said. You buy it for personal use and sales and you make a profit on it, and that ends up being a better way for people to feed their habit and make money.

Russell is being held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals. Preliminary and detention hearings are scheduled for June 23 in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Stephen Jackson.

The drug charges filed against Russell in Scott County District Court were dismissed when federal authorities took over prosecution of the case.
Justin Hoffmann used methamphetamine for the first time when he was 16 years old.

He is now 37 and in recovery from a meth addiction that he says took everything from him.

Hoffmann talked about how meth has changed since his teenaged party years in his hometown of Maquoketa. He remembers when the drug was locally produced by a small number of people using material found at discount stores. And he saw his addiction grow as he and other users were introduced to potent, lab-produced meth that is brought to the Quad-Cities through supply chains that run from places like California, Arizona and Oklahoma.

"Back when I was 16, the meth you saw was stuff that had been cooked up in a kitchen or somebody's basement," he said. "For me, back then, it wasn't something I saw all the time. It was rare and if someone had it at a party, I would use it.

"But back then, you really had to search it out, you know?"

The world of meth changed about 10 years ago, according to Hoffmann.

"I was 27 when I really started using meth, I mean I started using it daily," he said. "That's when 'ice' first hit this area.

"It was readily available and it came around and it just kept coming. By a few years ago, meth was everywhere. And I know it still is."

'It's not a war. It's a wildfire'

Meth is everywhere, said Andrew Fratzke, director of the Quad-City Metropolitan Enforcement Group. Q-C MEG was created in 1974 to combat the local illegal drug industry.

When people ask me about how Im fighting the war on drugs, I tell them its not a war, he said. "Its a wildfire, and were trying to control it so it doesnt spread and get bigger.

The borders are flooded with it, the big cities are flooded with it, the small cities are flooded with it. I dont think theres anything out there that really describes how bad the situation is.

The meth that is seized today is all produced south of the border by the drug cartels and then shipped to the United States by any means possible, he said.

Its not just so-called mules who are bringing the meth into the country, its getting here by boat, plane, train and is shipped through the mail and parcel services, he said. The mail services are overwhelmed with seizures, he added.

Law enforcement at all levels are making huge busts on the nations interstates, including here in the Quad-Cities.

You didnt see this on the interstate 10 years ago, Fratzke said. Its hundreds and thousands of pounds that theyre seizing now. As long as 15 years ago you didnt come across it. Now, its just taking over. Its overwhelming, the amounts.

Looking at the website for the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Fratzke scrolled down the page, vocally listing off seizures and amounts. The list of seizures on the Customs and Border Patrol website goes on and on with drugs and guns.

Despite all the seizures at the border, meth is making it into the United States and is being distributed nationwide. If it comes in the country in liquid form, the cartels have the labs to press it into pills and send it on its way.

It starts at the borders, Fratzke said. Unless they close the southern border there will never be an end to the meth problem.

While a normal dose of meth is often described as one-tenth of a gram, Fratzke said he has never seen anyone sell one-tenth of a gram.

Its usually a teener which is 1.75 grams. Thats kind of your normal user amount," he said. "It cost about $300 to $500 on average for an ounce of meth, which is 28 grams."

The meth produced by the cartels is much purer than what can be produced by the so-called cooks with their one pot methods and mixing their ephedrine purchased from the drug stores, Fratzke said.

Meth re-programs people, and they go from making great money and having jobs to not wanting to get out of bed, he said.

Meth users can end up dealing to support their habit. If their use becomes larger than what they sell to support their habit, then they may begin dealing with the cartels. Fratzke said these people really dont understand what theyre getting into when they begin dealing with the cartels. Once someone is involved at that level, it's hard to get out.

There also is plenty of gun violence to go along with it, he said.

A case of meth and murder?

During the early morning hours of Jan. 16, the Davenport Fire Department responded to the report of flames coming from the home at 5210 N. Division St.

They found the bodies of Brian L. Goodwin and Amy M. Smith in a lower bedroom. In a search warrant request, police investigators said Goodwin had trauma to his head. They had been shot multiple times.

The killings devastated families and friends of Goodwin and Smith. The violence also sent shock waves through portions of the meth-using community in Davenport and across Quad-Cities.

"People who knew Brian knew he was a good guy who would help anyone out," a friend said. "If someone wanted something from Brian, all they had to do was ask. Brian took people in and helped people. No one deserves to be murdered."

Quietly, a number of people who spoke with the Quad-City Times worried Goodwin's and Smith's associations may have put them in the orbit of their killers.

Smith battled meth addiction for a number of years, a struggle she admitted to in 2018 in a Clinton County Court after she was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm. She also was arrested three years ago for being in possession of a stolen camper.

Goodwin was named in a pair 2023 search warrants and meth was found in both locations. He was not charged with a crime after those searches.

One of the people Goodwin tried to help was Adriana Prieto, who was found guilty of possessing 2.94 grams of meth in 2020. She was staying in the house at 5210 N. Division and was arrested just a few days after the killings. She is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and her bail totals $2.2 million.

No one has been charged with the murders of Smith and Goodwin. Investigators have not named any suspects, offered any motive for the killings or said whether meth was involved.

Investigating the pipelines

Several methamphetamine investigations reported on by the newspaper exemplify the scale of drug trafficking and distribution that is bringing methamphetamine into the Quad-Cities from other regions.

The oldest of these example investigations dates to 2015 and 2016. The most recent is from 2022. Police recovered about 37 pounds of meth during these investigations and made numerous arrests.

In May 2022, police recovered 16 pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop on Davenports Rockingham Road and detained Michael Sean Russell of Buffalo, whom authorities allege was driving the suspect vehicle.

According to Scott County court documents, police suspected Russell and others of being involved in bringing meth to the area from Arizona.

Authorities also allege Russell told investigators that a man named Archibaldo, from Mexico, owned the meth.

The investigation resulted in federal charges for several people, including Russell. He now awaits sentencing in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Iowa in relation to the case.

During the 2015-2016 investigation, law enforcement recovered 20 pounds of methamphetamine. The investigation resulted in six arrests, including that of a woman named Theresa Morales, then of Bettendorf; and of a man named Cesar Ballesteros.

Police suspected the drug trafficking ring targeted by that investigation had ties to Arizona and Mexico. Allegations included that Morales transported drugs provided by Ballesteros.

Police initially recovered eight of the 20 pounds in November of 2015. Officers were trying to stop a vehicle on Interstate 80, and the occupants, including Morales, threw the meth out.

The remaining 12 pounds officers captured during a traffic stop in March 2016. Investigators found it in a spare tire and a speaker box.

After her arrest, Morales told police shed transported meth for Ballesteros about a dozen times, with the largest amount being about 15 pounds. The transportation jobs took her to Phoenix and Las Vegas.

A March 2021 traffic stop netted about 1 pound of meth that Quad-Cities police suspect came from Colorado. The drug ring investigated in that case had been operating at least since July of 2020.

Another investigation that began in November 2020 in Davenport targeted more meth coming from Arizona.

That distribution ring had been operating since at least April of 2020, according to federal court records. The investigation led to the arrest of Art E. Thomas, then of Davenport.

Authorities alleged that Thomas trafficked in at least 37 pounds of meth, but did not specify how much of that methamphetamine police captured during the investigation.

In late 2023, Thomas received a 27-year sentence in federal prison for the part authorities said he played in the ring.

A dose of methamphetamine is one-tenth of a gram, according to police.

The amount of drugs authorities said they confiscated during these cases is about 37 pounds  the equivalent of about 16,500 grams.

That is about 165,000 doses.

A dose is currently worth anywhere between $15 and $25, according to police. At those prices, the confiscated meth would be worth between almost $2.5 million and $4.1 million.

Sheriff: Quad-Cities meth coming from south of border

Sheriff Tim Lane said all of the meth hitting the Quad-Cities today is made by the cartels south of the border and moved into the states, or the cartels have set up manufacturing facilities within large U.S. cities where they can blend in.

Meth trafficking from the cartels has been on the rise since at least 2016, he said.

Its a mess and its going to get worse, Lane said.

No one manufactures meth in the Quad-Cities anymore, he said.

Lane spoke of Operation Methed Up in 2016, which was aimed at combatting meth production in the Quad-Cities. At least 46 people were arrested, either for manufacturing meth or buying meth precursors and giving those to the people cooking the meth.

However, Lane said local cooks were going by the wayside given that the meth from south of the border is purer and cheaper. Additionally, the precursors of meth are tracked in many states which means buying meth made south of the border provides less risk of getting caught.

Lane said he couldnt remember exactly when his deputies last arrested anyone for cooking meth, but it was sometime in 2019 or maybe 2020.

I thought, Wow, I havent seen that in a long time, Lane said of the person who was using what was then called the one pot method of cooking meth.

Using street drugs now like Russian roulette

Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson said he has been with the coroners office in some capacity for 30 years.

Its only been in the past seven to 10 years that I first began seeing overdose deaths attributed to meth, he said.

Gustafson said he does not understand why the local dealers add fentanyl to meth.

They create the opposite effects, he said. Meth will keep you jacked up for days, while fentanyl brings you down. I dont get it.

It was one thing to buy marijuana and other drugs from a street dealer 20 or more years ago. Its a whole other ball game today.

Buying drugs off the street today, whether it be meth, marijuana, or whatever, is like putting one bullet in a revolver, pointing the gun at your head and playing Russian roulette, Gustafson said.

'It'll cost you everything'

Justin Hoffmann was arrested for meth possession twice in 2023. He spent 30 days in the Scott County Jail  the first stint from March 27 to June 28 and the second from Sept. 6 to Dec. 6.

After he was released for the second sentence, he immediately checked into One Eighty, a faith-based agency that offers a 14-month residential recovery program.

Hoffmann's situation was a familiar one for One Eighty's staff. Jenny Halupnik, the agency's director of engagement, said 46 of 89 total intake clients in 2023 were addicted to meth.

Dakotah Smith, who was addicted to heroin, but is now One Eighty's director of operations, said the availability of meth has "soared."

"It is the drug we see most often, by far," she said. "Addiction is very different for everyone, but meth is highly addictive and has quickly become the drug of choice for many people.

"It's not really expensive, it's available, and many people get addicted to it quickly. Over the course of the last four years, we have seen an explosion in the number of people coming to us with meth addiction."

Hoffmann said he "feels free" as he works through recovery, but knows he "has a long way to go." He smiled as he talked about working in One Eighty's vehicle maintenance department and fixing the blower on an agency van.

"You see, I had a great job. I worked as a mechanic on semi trucks and trailers," he said. "And for seven or eight years, I was a meth addict going to work every day.

"But I thought that drug was so good that it came first. I lost my job. Then I stopped going around my family. Eventually, my son's mother stopped allowing me a chance to see him. What other choice did she have?"

Hoffmann said he tumbled down to a life spent in hotel rooms or on friends' couches  if he was lucky. There were times when he was on the streets.

"Meth does really screw up your judgement," Hoffmann said. "You'll do anything for that drug.
This story was originally published Feb. 6, 2024.

Robin Hunter lost everything to drugs.

By late 2021, Hunter was looking at a 10-year prison sentence for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine. It was a drug she had used for 18 years.

"I did crack (cocaine) for 21 years and freebased cocaine for about 14 years," Hunter, now 50, said. "I'm a long-time addict.

"There was actually a seven-year period in there where I got sober. I got three college degrees. I had a house and a car. I had a pretty good job. I had a life for a little while."

Then Hunter was hurt at work and she said she got addicted to the pain pills she was prescribed. That led to methamphetamine use.

"Once I started using meth, I lost everything. I lost my job. Then I lost my house," she said. "I was living in my car, on other people's couches. And, eventually, the car was taken away and I was out on the street. I was homeless for about four years. I would do just about anything to pay for drugs.

"And along the way, I lost my daughter."

Hope on Marquette Street

Instead of prison, in late 2021 Hunter was offered a chance to enter the faith-based residential rehabilitation program at One Eighty.

She found recovery, a place to live, and a new career. Most importantly, Hunter found a community and a way back to the family she lost.

Located at 601 N. Marquette St., One Eighty sits in the heart of Davenport's west side. It became a nonprofit in 2009 and has grown over the years to much more than a place for people with addictions to live while they grapple with getting and staying clean.

Recovery is the first step at One Eighty. Along the way, the agency has helped unhoused people find secure, safe places to live.

"Our mission is to equip people who face crises like poverty and eviction to start a new life," said One Eighty Director of Engagement Jenny Halupnick. "We primarily work with adults in destructive life cycles  addiction is most often the underlying cause."

One Eighty offers a 14-month residential recovery program that offers life training, job skills, mentoring, and  most crucially  housing and a supportive community after the 14 months end.

"A person who completes the recovery program can be eligible to enter into what we call stability housing," Halupnick said. "In stability housing, they pay rent and they live with other graduates of the program and that helps people maintain their sobriety.

"We feel that stable housing is a key part of recovery. People desperate for housing are often forced into unhealthy situations."

In December of 2023, One Eighty housed 55 people in its residential recovery program, a total of 30 in stability housing, and another 18 in an affordable housing program.

Most of One Eighty's staff are people who came to the agency to get clean and find stable housing. Hunter has served as the assistant supervisor in the women's home and recently moved into a tiny home.

Dakotah Smith, One Eighty's director of operations, lost seven years to heroin addiction. The 33-year-old found the agency and found her way back to a life of helping others.

Smith said Hunter has much in common with her peers at One Eighty.

"Most of the staff members here are former meth users," Smith said. "Over the past four years, we have seen our focus shift from multiple substances to primarily meth. Meth is readily available to a lot of people."

No longer 'mad at God'

As the women's home assistant supervisor, Hunter said she is part of a community "that is a big support system."

"I'm here to listen to the women in the program, making sure they have the support they need," she said. "We talk about staying sober, but we also talk about a lot of life stuff. There's dealing with going back to work, about how to leave behind the people in your life who were a part of your addiction."

Hunter said leaving a life behind is not easy.

"You lose everything that isn't part of the drugs," she said. "So you lose your possessions and your job. Then it's your friends and your family. When I was using meth, I would just disappear. The people who loved me, like my daughter, had no idea where I was, whether I was alive or dead.

"You lose your identity. You're a person with one purpose: find the drug. When you get here, you have to find your identity."

Hunter is trying to find herself and her family  especially her daughter. She said it is something she owes to someone she left behind.

"When you disappear from a child's life, you abandon them," she said. "My daughter's name is Athei. It means 'blessing from God.' She's a dancer and she's going to college in DeKalb, Northern Illinois University.

"I would disappear, and as Athei got older she told my mother that it would be better if I was just dead, because then she would at least know where I was. It's hard, because being sober means I have to face the fact that I really hurt my daughter. We text every day now. I try to talk with her and let her know I love her."

Hunter said the religious aspect of One Eighty's recovery program has helped her.

"I always believed in God, but I didn't pray," she said. "I was probably more mad at God. But I'm not mad at God anymore. I pray and know he had a plan for me.

"I work here and I'm safe, and I can try to pay off debts," she said. "And I can try and find who I want to be without using drugs. When I crave them, I pray. I pray and I think about my daughter and how I don't want to disappear again."
There's Lyft. There's Uber. There are taxis. Late on a Thursday night in January, Quad-Cities resident Lisa Broer found a new kind of rideshare.

Broer was at Quad Cities International Airport in Moline, amid a week of heavy fog across the Quad-Cities. She was waiting on a standby list for a potential flight to Hawaii and had been there for almost eight hours when she finally threw in the towel, as flights out of the airport were grounded because of fog in the area.

She was retrieving her bags from the ticket counter when she saw a group of 22 senior citizens mulling about the checking area. One of them, a man with a cane, walked up to Broer and asked how to find an Uber.

After a short conversation, Broer learned a few things.

The man was looking for an Uber ride. He and the crew of seniors had been planning for more than a year for a trip to Hawaii, but their flight on United Airlines had been canceled, and if they didn't make it to Chicago by 9:30 the next morning, they'd be out over $6,000 each.

"It broke my heart," she said. "Another lady came up to me with her husband and told me they'd be out $12,000. They'd saved a lifetime for this trip."

Broer started problem-solving, thinking of ways to get them to Chicago. She turned to Facebook, posting in the group "What's Going on Quad Cities," to crowd-source help.

"I'll put a couple bucks down on a party bus for them!" one commenter said.

"I know a shuttle!" another said.

By 8:30 p.m., word made its way to Michael Tumbleson, owner of the Kewanee-based Tumbleson Transportation company. He was just getting ready for bed, but the post piqued his interest.

Before he could even finish reading the comments  as of Friday, there are 435 of them, and 73 shares  he got a call from the group asking for help.

"I called my driver immediately and said, 'Hey, I've got some people who've gotta go now,'" he said. "He immediately (threw) on his clothes and (was) ready to go."

With some help from friends, Tumbleson shoveled the company's neon pink bus out of the snow in their lot.

The driver, Charles Graves, made the trip to Quad Cities International Airport in the converted pink church bus to pick up all 22 passengers. When he got there, he realized they couldn't fit all 50 items of luggage.

So once again, they adapted, and Graves recruited his uncle to drive, too. An hour later, he arrived in a second passenger van, and the two made the trek to Chicago together, not making it back until 7 the next morning.

"(The drivers) did most of the heavy lifting," Tumbleson said. "But I got to pop on the bus and meet everybody, and it was kind of cool. They were smiling like they were 21-year-old kids."

Tumbleson said his company often offered rides to those in a pinch  he started it with some friends 25 years ago as a way to keep drunk drivers off the street  but he gave the crew of seniors a discounted price.

"They were in a situation where we were trying to help," he said.

Neither Broer nor Tumbleson have heard about how the trip to the tropics has gone, but they did hear that the group made it onto their flight, at least.

The two good Samaritans have been overwhelmed by the positive feedback.

Tumbleson said he'd had to stop accepting message and tag requests on Facebook, as his page had been flooded with commenters.

Broer, who fittingly is involved with the Moline Optimist Club, said everyone deserved credit for making the trip happen. She was inspired by the amount of messages she got that night with offers to help.

"I'm just happy that they got to go  that means the world to me more than anything," she said.

Photos: Heavy fog blankets Quad Cities
SPRINGFIELD  A national voting rights organization is asking a Cook County judge to overturn a ruling from the Illinois State Board of Elections and block former President Donald Trump from being listed on the March 19 Republican primary ballot.

Lawyers for the group Free Speech for People filed an appeal of the election boards decision immediately after it was announced Wednesday. They are also asking the court to decide the matter in just a few days, before local election officials begin sending out vote-by-mail ballots on Thursday, Feb. 8.

We think the matter is urgent, both because of the overseas ballots being sent out on Feb. 8, at the earliest, and because of the nature of what is at stake here, the groups president, John Bonifaz, said in an interview Friday. There should not be a candidate who was so clearly disqualified under our Constitution appearing on the ballot for president in Illinois or any other state.

The legal challenge ran into a minor roadblock Friday when lawyers for the Trump campaign filed a motion to assign the case to a different judge. The case had been assigned to Judge Mary Trew, but in response to the campaigns motion, the court quickly reassigned it to a different judge, Tracie Porter.

The Trump campaign gave no reason for its request. Illinois law allows each party in a civil action to make one request for substitution of a judge without cause.

This is a transparent attempt to delay resolution of this matter, Caryn Lederer, lead counsel for the objectors, said in an interview Friday.

Free Speech for People was founded in 2010 in response to the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which held corporations and other outside groups could spend unlimited funds on electioneering. The group describes itself as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works for free and fair elections.

Following Jan. 6, 2021, when thousands of protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to prevent Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 election, Free Speech for People began launching legal campaigns in hopes of preventing public officials who supported the rioters from running for reelection in 2022.

In June 2021, the group sent letters to chief election officials in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. They contended that if Trump were ever to run for president again, he would be barred by Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits former public officials who take part in an insurrection or rebellion against the United States from holding public office again.

The group also launched unsuccessful attempts to prevent members of Congress who expressed support for the Jan. 6 rioters from running for reelection in 2022. Those included Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, of Georgia, as well as Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs, of Arizona.

In Illinois, the group is supporting five individuals who signed on to the objection that was rejected by the State Board of Elections and which is now being reviewed by the Cook County Circuit Court.

The elections board rejected the challenge on the grounds that it did not have statutory authority to decide questions of constitutional law. It also said there was no evidence that Trump knowingly made a false statement when he attested on his candidate filing forms that he was qualified for the office of president.
An ex-drag queen elementary principal in Okhaloma decided to resign after facing backlashes from parents and other people concerned for students.

Dr. Shane Murnan, who was known as "Shanetel Mandalay" when he was performing as a drag queen, was hired as the principal of the John Glenn Elementary School in June 2023.

After hearing this news, many parents and other people were outraged, especially when Murnan faced possession of child pornography charges.

Now, Shane Murman decided to resign from his position as a top school administration in Oklahoma because of the backlashes.

Ex-Drag Queen Elem Principal Resigns Less Than a Year After Hiring

According to Fox News' latest report, Dr. Shane Murnan filed her resignation this week. This was after Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters called the ex-drag queen to step down.

"The drag queen is out at Western Heights. I've demanded it from day one," said Walters.

He added that having an ex-drag queen as a school principal is not what parents want for their kids. After knowing that the elementary school hired someone with child pornography charges, Walters questioned the educational institute's practices.

"The issues at Western Heights continue. What is going on with their hiring practices?" asked the official.

"It will not be tolerated here in Oklahoma to have drag queens in the classroom.," added Ryan Walters.

The Western Heights School District confirmed that they were aware of the previous allegations that Shane Murnan faced shortly after she was hired.

But, these previous charges were dismissed more than 20 years ago, explained the school district. Despite this, parents and officials are still against having drag queens as principals or other school staff, especially if they have child pornography charges on their background.

Read Also: Some US Schools Now Using Surveillance Cams to Catch Students Vaping-Is It a Good Idea?

Why Drag Queen Was Hired in the First Place

The New York Post reported that Murnan was working as a fifth-grade teacher when she faced child pornography possession charges. Because of these allegations, she decided to resign from his position.

Years later, the ex-drag queen decided to re-enter the educational sector. Despite criticisms from parents and other people, school district officials defended the former principal, saying that were the ones who endorsed her leadership.

They explained that they were aware of her previous charges that were dismissed years ago. Officials further stated that because of Murnan's vision, they were excited to welcome her as John Glenn's principal.

They also argued that Shane Murnan had been serving the educational field for more than 25 years, saying that the former drag queen has an outstanding reputation.

Related Article: Parents 'Horrified': UK Family-Friendly Theme Park Apologizes for Drag Queen Act
A Davenport man was arrested Thursday for allegedly trafficking in meth.

Christopher Eugene Edwards, 52, is charged in Scott County District Court with one count of possession with the intent to deliver more than 5 grams of meth. The charge is a Class B felony that carries a prison sentence of 25 years.

Edwards also is charged with one count of violating Iowas drug tax stamp law, a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years.

According to the arrest affidavit filed by Bettendorf Police Sgt. Joshua Paul, the Scott County Sheriffs Departments Special Operations Unit served a search warrant on April 4, 2023, at a Davenport residence in the 1800 block of West 7th Street.

Edwards was present at the home during the search warrant that was part of a narcotics investigation.

From inside the home officers seized a red bag, inside of which was a pill bottle that contained 19 grams of methamphetamine. Officers also seized a digital scale and a cell phone belonging to Edwards.

During surveillance the day before on April 3, 2023, Paul said he had seen Edwards with that same red bag.

During a post-Miranda interview, Edwards admitted the meth was his.

Paul obtained a search warrant for Edwards cell phone that had messages indicating he was selling meth.

Edwards was released at the time pending further investigation.

During a first appearance on the charges Friday in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Cynthia Taylor scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for Feb. 9.

Edwards was being held Saturday night in the Scott County Jail on $30,000 bond, cash or surety.

According to Scott County District Court and Rock Island County Circuit Court records, Edwards has a criminal history dating back to 1991 that includes felony convictions for fraud, burglary and meth possession.
Davenport residents will have fewer opportunities to address the city council during meetings under new public comment rules which Davenport Mayor Mike Matson announced Saturday during a budget work session.

Starting Feb. 21, Davenport will only have open-ended public comment at the end of regular meetings  which are typically on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. Committee of the Whole meetings on the first and third Wednesdays of the month will keep public comment for each agenda item, but will no longer have an additional open-ended public with business item at the end of the meeting.

The regular meeting public comment time also will be cut from 5 minutes to 3 minutes. Time to speak during committee of the whole meetings on each agenda item will remain the usual 5 minutes, Matson said.

Matson said meetings will continue to be livestreamed, video-recorded, and uploaded, but that the city would no longer stream the regular meeting public comment. Matson also said the city legal staff would edit out potentially defamatory public comments.

The changes come following concerns from city legal staff and council members that the city could be sued for publishing public comments seen as defamatory on the city's website.

Matson said he felt this was a middle ground  he said some aldermen wanted further limitations on public comment, wanted to halt livestreaming altogether or require speakers to sign up or show a form of ID to prove their Davenport residency. Matson said the city would not require anyone to sign up ahead of time nor require any kind of identification.

Under state law, government entities can put restrictions on time and who speaks during meetings and when. However, Iowa Freedom of Information Council Executive Director Randy Evans has urged the city to avoid stifling public criticism.

City to conduct national city administrator search

The City of Davenport will search nationwide for its next permanent city administrator, Matson said. The city's previous city administrator, Corri Spiegel, separated from the city with $1.6 million in lieu of a harassment lawsuit. Mallory Merritt, the city's chief financial officer, has been serving as interim city administrator since November.

Matson named a search committee made up of council members and the public. At-Large Ald. Kyle Gripp, 1st Ward Ald. Rick Dunn, and 7th Ward Ald. Mhisho Lynch will serve as council representatives to the committee and seven members of the public  Kent Pilcher, Randy Moore, Michelle Hargrave, Michelle Russell, Mo Hyder, Kelli Grubbs, and Jim Lykam  also will be on the committee.

Matson said the committee's first meeting would be next week to review a request-for-proposals advertising for a search firm. Matson said any contract with a search firm would come before the council.

Once the search firm collects applicants and names finalists, Matson said a separate panel made up of community members and city staff will interview the finalists.

Matson said the panel will make a recommendation to the committee, which will bring the recommendation to the mayor and council. Matson said the council would likely meet in closed session to discuss the recommendation.

"This will not be a fast process," Matson said. "So know that we're intentional about making sure we involve a lot of folks and do this through a guided thing and the search firm will help with that."

Code of conduct committee formed

The mayor named four council members to be a part of a committee formed to draft a code of conduct for council members. The members named are At-Large Ald. Jazmin Newton, 5th Ward Ald. Tim Kelly, 6th Ward Ald. Ben Jobgen, and 8th Ward Ald. Paul J. Reinartz Jr.

Matson said a consultant with the Iowa League of Cities would be available to meet with the committee and provide examples.

Photos: Davenport City Council Meeting, June 7, 2023
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Perrys Steakhouse & Grille, the Texas-based fine-dining restaurant, is opening its first Virginia location in Short Pump on Monday.

"Dining at Perry's is an experience," said Lesa Sorrentino, chief strategy and marketing officer. "It's truly a dining experience that's rare and well-done."

As the saying goes: Everything is bigger in Texas. And that's reflected in Perrys menu, which serves a twist on culinary favorites such as steaks and chops, surf and turf, and Perrys famous seven-finger pork chop, which is carved tableside. Main dishes start at $35 to $65.

The new restaurant is just outside Short Pump Town Center, next to Cooper's Hawk restaurant, at 11788 W. Broad St.

The 11,000-square-foot restaurant features a wrap-around bar, a four-season outdoor patio with gas fireplaces, a classically large dining room with a view of the kitchen and several private rooms for special events.

Perrys opened in Houston in 1979 as a modest meat market called Perrys Butcher Shop and Deli. A few years later, Chris Perry convinced his father, Bob, to add dining tables, which paved the way for the first Perrys restaurant in 1993.

Perrys has become famous in Texas and beyond for its famous pork chop measuring seven fingers high  just as butchers measured back in the day.

The chop is butchered in-house, seasoned, cured and roasted on a rotisserie with pecan wood. Upon order, the chop is glazed, caramelized and topped with Perrys steak butter, then carved tableside during dinner service only.

Its truly iconic, Sorrentino said. Its an unusual steakhouse specialty.

The pork chop is plated as three portions: the eyelash (the most marbled, tender, melt-in-your-mouth section above the eye of the chop), three baby-back ribs and the center-cut loin, according to a release.

The portion is so large, most people take it home to enjoy the next day. Perry's chef even created recipes online for how to use the leftover chop. One of the recipes for white bean chili was so popular they put it on the menu for a while.

In Richmond, just as in Texas, Perrys will open on Fridays only for the pork chop Friday lunch, which features a lunch-cut portion of the chop, whipped potatoes and applesauce for $19 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In Texas, well have 1,000 people order the chop at lunch that day. People know pork chop Friday lunch in Texas, Sorrentino said.

The first pork chop Friday in Richmond will be held on Feb. 9. The pork chop lunch special is also available to-go.

Perrys is also known for its USDA-aged steaks, signature tableside carvings and flamed desserts. It has seafood options created by Chef Rick Moonen, who was a finalist on Bravo's Top Chef Masters in 2010.

Starters include tempura fried lobster tail with miso butter ($29.50-$54.50), Perry's fried asparagus with jumbo lump crabmeat ($24) and Perry's famous pork chop bites ($13-$19).

Main dishes include the filet Perry ($53-$58), which is wrapped in applewood-smoked bacon; topped with jumbo lump crabmeat and Perry's steak butter; and served with steamed asparagus on a hot cast iron plate. Or chateaubriand three ways ($59) sliced into three medallions and individually topped Oscar-style with jumbo lump crabmeat, three peppercorn au poivre and coffee crusted. Seafood, chicken, pasta and vegan options are available.

Flaming desserts that are prepared tableside include bananas foster flambeed with brown sugar, rum, cinnamon and nutmeg sauce served over vanilla ice cream and the Nutty D'Angelo, which is crushed pecans flambeed with brown sugar and brandy sauce served over vanilla ice cream, dipped in white chocolate and toasted almonds.

Perrys has locations across Texas and in Denver; Chicago; Birmingham, Alabama; Miami; Nashville, Tennessee; and Raleigh, North Carolina.

There are 13 Perrys locations in Texas. Richmond will be Perrys seventh location outside Texas.

Weve been waiting for the right moment to introduce Perrys Steakhouse & Grille to Virginia and are excited to finally make our way into the greater Richmond area, said Chris Perry, founder and owner of Perrys Restaurants.

Richmond is a thriving culinary destination and our team is excited for the opportunity to introduce Perrys Steakhouse & Grille to both local Richmonders and the millions who visit the city every year, he added.

PHOTOS: Perrys Steakhouse & Grille
The money has been coming late for years. At Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, the hospitals trauma center is supposed to receive funds each year from the states Office of Emergency Medical Services to pay for training and outreach programs.

But for the past five years, the roughly $2 million disbursement has not arrived on time, said Danielle Pierce, a spokesperson for the health system. VCU Health asked questions about the moneys status, but those queries apparently did not make leadership at the Virginia Department of Health aware the Office of EMS was misusing money.

It was not until May 2023 that health officials realized during a routine audit something was wrong. Such a lengthy period of time raises questions about why the offices financial problems were not discovered sooner.

There has been a history of inconsistency in timing of the trauma fund payouts, said Marian Hunter, a spokesperson for the office. The Office of EMS intends to be transparent going forward in how funds are collected, payments are calculated and create consistency in when funds are paid out.

The delayed trauma funds are just one piece of a financial crisis at the Office of EMS, which is responsible for helping fund 700 volunteer and municipal rescue squad and ambulance agencies with 33,000 staffers across the state. The office is $33 million behind on payments, health leaders said recently.

The office improperly moved funds among accounts to cover shortfalls, provided services without appropriate funding, overspent on contracts, and operated under little to no oversight from the VDH, according to a health department summary of the crisis.

It was determined that there was potential fraudulent activity, and the Office of the Inspector General and the Virginia State Police were notified, the department said in the summary. These open investigations have now expanded to the Office of the U.S. Attorney.

To pay the offices bills, the health department diverted extra money, and the governor has proposed allocating $26 million over two years to cover the losses.

VCU Health still waiting for its money

Out of the $56 million in revenue the Office of EMS is expected to collect this year, about $8 million will go to the states trauma centers. These hospital departments treat patients with the most serious injuries, including falls, car wrecks and gunshots. VCU Health takes care of about 10 new trauma patients on average every day.

The hospitals that treat the most car wreck patients get the most funding. VCU Health, which has received between $1.8 million and $3.5 million per year in recent years, gets more than any other trauma center in the state. Trauma care is expensive, because patients typically have injuries to multiple organ systems, and trauma centers historically operated at a financial loss.

When a Virginia residents license is suspended and later reinstated, the person pays a fee, and that money is diverted to the trauma fund. The state collected about $20 million in fiscal 2019, but the amount of money available was cut in half the next year when legislators changed how the state collects the fee.

Trauma departments use the money for continuing education, buying specialized software, offering outreach programs, purchasing medical equipment, conducting building renovations, and paying for on-call stipends to ensure trauma staff is available 24 hours a day.

One outreach program at VCU Health, called Impacting Minors Perceptions & Attitudes Concerning Trauma, or IMPACT, teaches students about the risks of drinking and driving, drug use and teen dating violence. Another program, called Get Real About Choices & Consequences for You, or GR-ACY, offers kids and adults the opportunity to observe patients who suffered traumatic injuries as the result of alcohol or drugs. VCU has also used the money to train 200 EMS staffers on how to treat trauma patients before they arrive at the hospital.

The money is critical to support many of the readiness costs and high level of competency of multiple disciplines to provide the highest level of care to our patients, Pierce said.

VCU stopped receiving its funds on a consistent schedule in 2019. Though the money is supposed to be available by the end of the fiscal year, the 2021 payment came roughly nine months late, Pierce said. The allocation for fiscal 2022 arrived in July 2023, more than a year late. The allocation for fiscal 2023, which ended in June, still has not arrived.

Chippenham Hospital, which sees fewer trauma patients and collected roughly $500,000 for fiscal 2021, has not received its money substantially late, said a spokesperson for its parent company, HCA Healthcare.

Without the proper funding, VCU Health has limited and delayed some of its programs, Pierce said. VCU Health has not been able to hire new personnel for these programs or expand them to more participants as it had hoped. The health system diverted other funds to help meet program needs. Despite the inconsistent funding, VCU Healths commitment to trauma care never wavered, Pierce said.

VCU Health contacted the Office of EMS to determine the moneys whereabouts. But the office responded that the delay was due to the office waiting for trauma centers to submit data  hospitals are required to report how they spend their trauma funds  Pierce said.

Some trauma funds were spent on other activities, according to the health departments summary of the crisis, and the Office of EMS still owes trauma centers $2.4 million. The health department expects to pay that money, said R. Christopher Lindsay, chief operating officer of the Virginia Department of Health.

The trauma funds collected through June 2024 will be paid in the summer, added Hunter, the office spokesperson.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin authorized the health department to reallocate $8 million it had not spent to the Office of EMS, and he has proposed diverting $26 million from the state budget over the next two years to cover the shortfall. The Office of EMS is largely funded by residents who register their vehicles with the Department of Motor Vehicles, not the states general fund, which gets most of its money from taxes that residents and businesses pay.

Audit reveals department under stress

The state has a body tasked with checking the pocketbooks of state agencies  the Auditor of Public Accounts. But that agency does not necessarily audit all 20 offices of the Virginia Department of Health each year, said Staci Henshaw, the agencys leader. Instead, the auditing body focuses on federal grants and activity that impact the entire states financial statements.

The agencys audits are not planned based on the individual offices within VDH but instead focus on the totality of VDHs financial activity, she said. Its work varies from year to year.

The health department has its own internal audit function and, during a routine review of the Office of EMS budget, health leaders discovered the misused money. The health department denied a Freedom of Information Act request for records related to the audit, citing the active investigation.

In the states audit of the health department for the fiscal year that ended in June 2022, there was no discovery of Office of EMS problems. But the auditors did find other financial issues.

The auditor determined that the health department struggled to pay employees in a timely manner for overtime worked during the pandemic. Some employees received lump sum payments several months or years after they worked the overtime. As of November 2022, there were still 160 employees waiting to get paid for their overtime work. The audit reported that the health department had been under stress because of the pandemic.

The agency has not yet released its audit for the 2023 fiscal year.

Not the offices first financial breach

This financial breach is not the first in the history of the Office of EMS. In 1995, an administrative manager admitted to embezzling $870,000 over three years.

Malcolm Roger Nicholls Jr. of Chesterfield County created fictitious grant requests for the Forest View Rescue Squad, where he was the treasurer. As a member of the Office of EMS, he would approve those grants.

Instead of depositing the money into the rescue squads account, he deposited it into a personal account. A bank teller who noticed the money going into the wrong account reported Nicholls to authorities. He pleaded guilty, was convicted of grand larceny and sentenced to 3.5 years in prison.

The next year, Gov. George Allen signed legislation requiring grant requests to go through the Financial Assistance and Review Committee.

Del. Bobby Orrock, R-Spotsylvania, who sponsored the bill, said at the time: I dont think the difficulties of last year can repeat themselves. The department is more fiscally sound.

A few months after Nicholls went to prison, the director of the Office of EMS, Susan McHenry, resigned after 19 years in charge to take a job with the federal government. The health department named the offices assistant director, Gary Brown, as the interim director. Brown had worked for the Office of EMS since 1980 and, a year later, he got the job full time.

Brown led the Office of EMS until December of last year, when he resigned amid the offices second financial wrongdoing.

Recognize this? 114 photos of Richmond's restaurant past
If neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night can stop U.S. mail carriers, Richmond is proving once again that that something else can  gross mismanagement.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Postal Service made headlines when U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, along with six other members of Virginias congressional delegation, fired off a letter to Postmaster Louis DeJoy and Virginia District Manager Gerald Roane demanding accountability for the latest head-scratcher: 870 immunochemical screenings for colon cancer suddenly arriving at the VA Medical Center, including 450 test results that dated back to midsummer.

These were tests sent in by veterans, more than half six months old and expired. Its part of an ongoing problem with late deliveries and disappearing mail in the Richmond district.

In recent months, we have shared with the Postal Service the substantial constituent outreach we have received regarding postal delivery delays and disruptions in the Richmond region, wrote Kaine and fellow U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, along with five Virginia House members. Among other impacts, these delays have caused people to miss needed medications or to receive billing notices after payment deadlines have passed. We have shared these with the agency formally and via staff in an effort to identify if these are isolated cases or signs of a systemic challenge with postal delivery in this area.

Its clearly systemic. The U.S. Postal Service, whose more than 635,000 employees delivered 127 billion pieces of mail in 2022, is essentially a massive, government-run business that serves as the logistical spine of American civic, political and economic life. Its also a business that clearly cannot compete in an economy that is increasingly dependent on privately-run package delivery companies such as FedEx and United Parcel Service, which have grown exponentially in the last decade as retail purchasing shifted online.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Postal Service has become a political punching bag, especially after DeJoy, a Donald Trump megadonor, was named postmaster in 2020. He was accused of sabotaging mail delivery during an election at the height of the pandemic when states loosened restrictions on mail-in ballots. Those accusations proved unfounded, and DeJoy has since garnered bipartisan support in Congress for a series of reforms aimed at making USPS run more efficiently  and turn a profit by 2024.

But this is a massive, multibillion dollar bureaucracy, and those reforms have produced little by way of results. Case in point: the federal agency promised the Postal Service would break even in fiscal 2023. Instead, it lost more than $6.5 billion.

In the Richmond area, the challenges are acute. The region is a logistical hub, situated at the virtual midway point along the Eastern Seaboard, home to distribution centers for Amazon, UPS and FedEx. Competition for workers and delivery drivers is fierce.

In other words, Richmonds mail delivery issues are the product of a broken business model. For years, the Richmond district of the U.S. Postal Service has struggled with mismanagement, staffing shortages and, at times, alarmingly awful delivery times.

In an audit of the Richmond processing and distribution center in 2011, the Office of the Inspector General reported that late mail deliveries over a previous two-year period had more than doubled, increasing by 139%. According to the audit, Richmonds delivery metrics were among the worst in the country.

The causes for the excessive delayed mail were inadequate staffing and supervision, low mail throughput on machines, and failure to consistently color-code arriving mail. Other causes included not accurately identifying and reporting delayed mail, and mail damage caused by poor packaging, the audit report stated.

More than a decade later, those problems have only worsened. In December, Richmond Commonwealths Attorney Colette McEachin attempted to organize a town hall with USPS officials in an attempt to address concerns (such as mail being consistently stolen from those iconic blue drop-off boxes) and get answers after receiving numerous complaints regarding missed deliveries.

To get some idea of how widespread the problems were, her office put out a public service announcement on the Nextdoor app in December. Roughly 10,000 people responded.

The biggest problem seems to be the Sandston sorting station, where all the mail in Richmond is sorted, McEachin said in an interview this week. It seems to be a black hole in the universe.

Staffing shortages appear to be a primary culprit, McEachin said, but its almost impossible to get answers from postal officials. Why? The Postal Service is governed by a board that is appointed by the president and approved by the U.S. Senate, but only the board can remove the postmaster. USPS, in essence, appears to be so insulated from accountability that it sees no need to meet with the public.

Not even pressure from the states congressional delegation is moving the needle. Amid a looming presidential election already shrouded in misinformation and dwindling voter confidence in the electoral process, the timing couldnt be much worse.

Its going to be an ugly election anyway, McEachin said. But how many people are going to end up being disenfranchised because their ballot wasnt delivered by the postal service?

McEachin isnt giving up, planning to move forward with a Richmond town hall meeting later this month or in March. The stakes are clearly rising.

USPS has long been a beloved, American institution, but without a massive infusion of accountability  and funding  it could be our ultimate undoing. Solutions to Richmonds broken mail delivery system are needed  now.
The music of Adam McPeak & Mountain Thunder and Gap Civil will be featured during New River Community Colleges Concert Series event on Feb. 10, the college recently announced.

Music will begin at 6 p.m. in 117 Edwards Hall on the colleges Dublin campus.

Adam McPeak & Mountain Thunder is composed primarily of young bluegrass musicians from Virginia, with mandolin player Adam McPeak at the helm, according to a news release from the college. The band includes Mike McPeak, Adams father, who plays guitar and sings lead and harmony vocals; Nikki Wright who plays fiddle and sings lead and harmony vocals; David Chrisley who plays bass and sings harmony vocals; Steve Chrisley, Davids father, who plays banjo; and Lindsey Jackson, who sings lead vocals. The group began playing at fiddlers conventions and then went on to play their own shows and participate in competitions, according to the release. They have also appeared on public televisions Song of the Mountains.

Gap Civil is an Appalachian mountain music band built on their motto of honor and innovate, and they honor the mountain traditions that have shaped and rooted their music, and they take pride in innovative and exciting original songs, tunes and arrangements, according to the release. Gap Civil was formed in 2017 based in Sparta, N.C., and features Todd Hiatt on guitar, Chris Johnson on banjo and bass, Lucas Pasley on fiddle and vocals, and Kyle Dean Smith on bass and lead guitar.

Corporate sponsors of the music events include Anderson Audiology, Dublin; August Jewelers & Boutique, Inc., Radford; CCCKY, LLC  Fazolis, Dublin; Deanie Hall  State Farm Agent, Dublin; Estes Auto & Truck Parts Inc., Pilot; First Community Bank, Pulaski; Gregory Seeding and Landscaping Company, Pulaski; King Tire Service, Pulaski; Lees Body Shop, Pearisburg; Martins Pharmacy, Pulaski; Pepsi Cola Bottling Co., Dublin; Pulaski Patriot, Pulaski; SERVPRO, Montgomery & Pulaski Counties; and Southern Furniture Warehouse, Radford, according to the release.

The doors open at 5 p.m. for the show. Admission is free; however, donations will be accepted to help offset travel expenses for the musicians, according to the release. The music events are typically held the second Saturday of each month through April at NRCC, a Crooked Road affiliated venue.

For more information about the NRCC Concert Series, please contact Tim Jones at (540) 674-3625 or visit www.nr.edu/concerts.
Last fall I told you about Guy Gordon Marsh Jr., a wrongfully convicted Maryland man who spent 14 years in prison.

In 1973, a Maryland jury found him guilty of murder and robbery during a hold-up at a 7-Eleven in Glen Burnie, just south of Baltimore in Anne Arundel County. Years later, in 1987, my work as a newspaper reporter helped overturn those convictions, and Marsh was freed.

The crime happened June 28, 1971, around 10 p.m. The victim was Charles Erdman, a father of 10 and a customer in the convenience store. The prosecutions star witness was Linda Packech, a heroin addict and prostitute whos now deceased.

Marsh, at the time, was a truck driver, a small-time criminal and heroin addict. (Hes no angel; he has a long criminal record.)

At his 1973 trial, Packech testified she knew him because they ran in the same bad crowd around Glen Burnie  that was true. She further testified she was in the 7-Eleven parking lot at the time of the murder.

Under oath, Packech said she heard a shot and saw two masked robbers fleeing the store. Marsh pulled off his mask as he came out the door, she testified. She was the only eyewitness who identified Marsh. The robbers got away on foot.

Packech described the clothing they wore that night, too, down to their shoes. The only other crime-scene witness was a store clerk, who could not identify either robber because they were masked.

Marsh testified in his own defense, profanely and angrily. The jury deliberated barely 15 minutes before finding him guilty.

A big scoop

As a young newspaper reporter  first at The Maryland Gazette in Glen Burnie, later at The (Annapolis) Capital  I began investigating the case in 1985 after, meeting a friend of Marshs.

In 1987, I unearthed court records indicating that Packech was sentenced to 60-day jail for shoplifting late in May 1971. She didnt get out until July. That would mean Packech was locked up June 28, 1971, the night of the murder. The jails records confirmed it.

When I confronted Packech with this information, initially she stuck to her trial testimony, with an improvisation. She told me she was out of jail that night because a narcotics detective had signed her out to make drug buys for him.

That was quite different from her 1973 sworn testimony. After I pointed out some gaping holes in the new story, she tearfully confessed she lied against Marsh. She also said said the lead detective on the case, George Romine, had put her up to it. (By then, he was dead.)

That April 1987 story rocked the Anne Arundel County justice system. Among the facts that emerged was that Romine promised Packech a reward if she gave false testimony. After the verdict, he helped her collect $2,500 from 7-Eleven. (In 1973, that sum would buy you a new compact car, or a lot of heroin.)

Police reinvestigated and confirmed Packech had lied. A judge overturned Marshs conviction and freed him.

And later, Maryland authorities charged, convicted, and sent Linda Packech to prison for the perjury she committed that put Marsh away for 14 years.

Late in 2022, Marsh sought compensation for the 14 years he should never have spent locked up, through a 2021 Maryland law called the Walter Lomax Act. That allows exonerees who havent been granted pardons to receive for compensation.

But under the law, the exoneree has to prove actual innocence of the crimes for which he was wrongfully convicted, by clear and convincing evidence.

Thats always been a tough nut for Marsh, because police didnt arrest or question him in Erdmans homicide until 18-1/2 months later, in January 1973. He couldnt remember where he was on June 28, 1971. DNA could not clear him; none was gathered at the scene.

Judge rejects petition

In September and October, Marshs petition for compensation was heard by the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings, before Administrative Law Judge Joceyln Williams. I testified Sept. 7, as a witness for Marsh.

By law, Williams had 90 days to issue an opinion. She ruled against Marsh on Jan. 29, on the very last day. And it looks like a rush job. The opinion gets multiple facts about the case wrong. Some of the inaccuracies are glaring and material.

For example, the opinion invents an eyewitness who wasnt present at the murder, William McFadden. According the Factual Finding 13, McFadden testified he observed Marsh fleeing the murder scene. Thats false.

McFadden was a prosecution witness who testified Marsh bragged about committing the murder in a conversation elsewhere, after the crime. McFadden later recanted that testimony.

Factual Finding 13 transformed McFadden from an ear witness who later took back his testimony into a credible eyewitness who observed the whole thing.

The judge also roasted my testimony  and got parts of that wrong, too.

Mr. Casey has no legal training or formal investigative training, he was tasked with writing stories to sell newspapers and though he recounted his investigation in colorful and vivid detail, his news stories do not provide clear and convincing evidence of [Marsh]s innocence, the opinion states.

I quibble with tasked with selling newspapers  thats what you call casual ignorance. Otherwise, that quote is mostly accurate.

But falsely, the opinion states I interviewed a witness, John Thanos, at the Maryland Penitentiary. I never interviewed Thanos anywhere. I interviewed Marsh during my one and only visit to that prison. It appears the judge got confused.

Co-defendants trial?

Another finding in the document concerns Marshs co-defendant, Richard Cirasole. Mr. Cirasoles trial was severed from [Marshs], and he was not convicted of Mr. Erdmans murder, the judge wrote in Factual Finding 12.

Severed? There was no Richard Cirasole trial. In a preliminiary hearing the prosecution dropped the charges against him because he had a strong alibi. Cirasole was working at a Baltimore County factory when Erdman was killed in Glen Burnie. His lawyer brought the punch-clock records to court.

The opinion mangles minor and immaterial facts, too. One is the name of the newspaper I worked at in 1985 when I started on the story. As goofs go, thats tiny  but yet another an indicator of factual sloppiness. (I dont have space to get into every minor inaccuracy.)

The judge dropped plenty of hints she believes its quite possible Marsh murdered Erdman, even while acknowledging the evidence against him is too thin for a successful prosecution. The state of Marylands been singing that song since 1987.

Friday I sent an email to the Office of Administrative Hearings, alerting them to the opinions errors, and seeking comment from the judge for this column. She didnt respond. I asked them to include the email in the case record.

Roberto Ugarte, Marshs lawyer, said of the opinion: Its clear there are facts misrepresented as to what took place at the time of this murder. At least some of them are extremely incorrect  I think it was a wrong and unfortunate outcome.

In her 18-page ruling, Judge Williams also rejected legal fees for Ugarte, so he got paid zilch for his effort.

Marsh, 76, can appeal the decision within 30 days. He told me he intends to, if he can find the money. Right now he lives on $824 monthly from Social Security and whatever he can scrounge salvaging boats. He has no teeth and he cant afford dentures.

Ugarte said he wont be handling any appeal because I dont think Im the right person to handle an appeal for [Marsh]. But he believes in Marshs innocence and wishes him the best.

Though a layman, I think I understand why the judge rejected compensation. It boils down to this: Marsh cant prove he didnt commit a murder he was legally exonerated of 14 years later. In his case, thats what the Walter Lomax Act requires. Theres no DNA.

But the way Judge Williams reached the conclusion was haphazard and alarming. The 18-page opinion is reckless with facts and strewn with errors. Those demonstrate a woeful grasp of the case she decided.

Its a shame Maryland is still getting it wrong after all these years.
April Chavez is the Santa Maria City Reporter for the Santa Maria Times. If you have information, or a story idea that you would like to share, send her an email at AChavez@SantaMariaTimes.com.
Salvadorans cast their votes on Sunday in elections expected to grant President Nayib Bukele another landslide victory, with many willing to overlook the young leader's authoritarian drift after he crushed gang violence that had paralyzed life in the poor Central American country.

It has been reported by Reuters that Bukele, 42, appears poised to become the first Salvadoran president in more than a century to be re-elected. Wildly popular, Bukele has campaigned on the success of his security strategy under which authorities suspended civil liberties to arrest more than 75,000 Salvadorans without charges. The detentions led to a sharp decline in nationwide murder rates and transformed a country of 6.3 million people that was once among the world's most dangerous.

However, some analysts have expressed concerns about the sustainability of the mass incarceration of 1% of the population as a long-term strategy. Five other presidential candidates are contesting the elections, including politicians from the former leftist guerrilla Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) and the right-wing Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), which between them governed for 30 years until 2019.

What Do The Polls Say?

Polls indicate that most voters appear set to reward Bukele for decimating the crime groups that made life intolerable in El Salvador and fueled waves of migration to the United States. Victor Lopez, a 65-year-old construction worker, was among the first 10 people lined up at a voting center on one of the capital San Salvador's main avenues, where Bukele is scheduled to cast his vote later on Sunday. "We have to continue the changes that are happening in our country - positive changes. We have no crime, tourism has skyrocketed and other positive things," Lopez told Reuters. "We cannot let the corrupt people from before have power again because then the projects that the government is executing could not be executed," Lopez added, referring to the country's two traditional parties, FMLN and ARENA.

HNGN recently reported that Bukele, known as the "World's Coolest Dictator," has sparked controversy, with some hailing him as a hero for his approach to tackling gang violence while others view him as a tyrant. Despite this divide, recent polls indicate overwhelming support for Bukele, with 7 to 9 out of every 10 voters backing him. Bukele's evasion of El Salvador's constitution and his bid for reelection despite constitutional constraints have also stirred debate.

Bukele gained prominence in 2019 as the youngest leader in Latin America, but his widespread recognition surged in 2022 following his aggressive measures against gangs that have long plagued El Salvador.
Since selling his 50 per cent stake in Jimmy Choo Ltd in 2001, the designer has embraced pastures new. He has founded his own fashion school, the Jimmy Choo Academy, or JCA for short (Jay Anderson)

I have spent mere minutes with Jimmy Choo, the ubiquitous King of Shoes, and hes already told me about his friendship with Princess Diana, inquired about my marriage plans, and analysed my footwear.

Cowboy boots, the 75-year-old whispers, eyeing up my feet. I ready myself for criticism. Very nice! I can breathe again. When are you getting married? he asks. Because when you do, give me a call and we can do your dress and shoes! Im not engaged, but I make a mental note to find myself a fiance immediately upon completion of our interview.

This is Choo in a nutshell: endearing, disarming and slightly, but brilliantly, eccentric. It was in 1996 that Choo earned his King of Shoes nickname, having co-founded his eponymous label with business associate Tamara Mellon, then an accessories editor at British Vogue. The brands stiletto heels became something of a cultural phenomenon in the Nineties: I lost my Choo! wailed Sarah Jessica Parkers Carrie Bradshaw when she tumbled out of her footwear while trying to catch a ferry. For Beyonces unofficial remix of 50 Cents In Da Club, she crooned: Jimmy Choo kicks, killin it.

Choo left the brand in 2001, selling his 50 per cent stake in the company for 10m. But it continued to flourish without him: in 2017, Michael Kors Holdings bought Jimmy Choo Ltd in a deal worth 896m. And the brand is still partly in the family, with its current creative director Sandra Choi being the niece of Choos wife Rebecca.

Meanwhile, Choo has embraced pastures new. He has founded his own fashion school, the Jimmy Choo Academy, or JCA for short  its his attempt to spread his crafty wisdom to the next generation of designers. Were in the top-floor office of the school, Choo sitting on a Lamborghini swivel chair, his signature aviator shades resting on a side table. The building itself is regal and luxurious; situated in a grand, five-storey Grade I period townhouse opposite Vogue House, soon to be the former location of publishers Conde Nast. An enormous spiral staircase leads students to their shiny workshop rooms, and there is a library filled exclusively with glossy magazines. Students, clearly on a deadline, briskly float past. Are you looking for a mannequin too? Yep!

Story continues

Patience is what I learnt from my father. He taught me how to cut out the pattern. The first few times I did it, I cut my leg

The academy offers BA and MA degree courses with small class sizes, all for the eye-watering price of 18,000 per year for UK students  thats 8,750 higher than the annual fees for normal universities, if you were curious. (Bursaries are available, and the academy recommends prospective students individually discuss tuition and fee options with their finance office.) Choo is involved in the teaching, too, promising one-to-one tutorials with students whenever hes in town. Its also why he arrives late to our interview  a feedback tutorial he was leading apparently overran (one staff member at the school tells me Choo gets really into it when hes teaching).

The legacy of the Choo label might explain why someone would fork out the best part of 20,000 for his expertise. Diana, Princess of Wales, famously played a big part in the brands mythmaking. She wore her first pair of Choos  a pair of pale-blue satin sling-backs  to a performance of Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall in June 1997, and arguably became the brands early poster girl. Choo, who has boldly said in the past that Dianas favourite shoes were his own, remembers his first visit to Kensington Palace fondly.

Portfolio review: Jimmy Choo gets really into it when hes teaching at the JCA (Jay Anderson)

I would turn up with my big case, wed sit on the floor together and she would sample everything, he says. For his initial visit, he had to liaise with the palace staff, but their subsequent meetings were less formal. Diana would call him directly when she wanted something new. At first, she wanted low heels, but then we started to want higher. She would always go Youre so intelligent, and ask how everyone was: how is my mum, my dad  she cared about everybody.

He says it was their goodbyes at the end of each meeting that will stick with him most. She would walk me back into the car park and try to carry my case for me, he laughs. I thought Princess! What are you doing in the car park! Choo has met different royals since, but he says those interactions havent quite compared. The [rest] of the royal family.... Would they do that? I dont think so. They would say Bye! Thats it! Diana was very kind.

Princess Diana wore her first pair of Choos  a pair of pale-blue satin sling-backs  to a performance of Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall in June 1997 (Getty Images)

Born in Malaysia in 1948 to a family of cobblers, Choo learnt his trade from his father, who made him sit and watch as he worked. At first, watching was all Choo was allowed to do. And I [sat] there for one month, thinking, why havent I started yet? Eventually, he was allowed to sit at the pattern-cutting table. Patience is what I learnt from my father. He taught me how to cut out the pattern. The first few times [I did it], I cut my leg. He motions a slicing action along the top of his thigh. Choo would make his first pair of shoes at the age of 11: slippers for his mother. People are always amazed that I made shoes so young, but in those days  more than 50 years ago, there were no mobile phones, computers, he explains. We had no machines. You did everything with your hands.

Choo eventually moved to east London and, in 1982, he began studying at Cordwainers Technical College in Hackney, which is now part of the London College of Fashion. Its also where he met his wife. He remained in Hackney after graduation and went on to have two children: Emily, who works alongside her father in fashion, and Danny, who now lives in Japan and owns a company that designs smart AI dolls.

While Choo isnt strictly in the business of making stilettos for the Hollywood elite any more, he is still passionate about high-quality craftsmanship, the composition of shoes and, of course, glamour. He has been running his newer brand The Atelier London, which specialises in wedding dresses, for six years. We sell all over the world, and ship to New York, Barcelona, Paris, Italy, he says. Thats why Ive got a hundred staff working with me in Shanghai in the main office. Then we have Kuala Lumpur  a four-storey building  we have almost 50 people working over there.

People are always amazed that I made shoes so young, but in those days  more than 50 years ago, there were no mobile phones, computers, says Choo (Jay Anderson)

Choos daughter Emily helps him run the business and the shop out of 18 Connaught Street in London  a building that was previously home to a Jimmy Choo Ltd store. Ive got my Connaught Street store back, he tells me. Weve changed the whole thing, theres nothing old there  all new. Choo also slips me a business card  it reads Zhou Yang Jie, his Chinese name, and the name he uses to make custom shoes on request for very exclusive clients. I slip it in my purse, between my Oyster and my Boots Advantage Card.

As if to prove hes still a shoemaker at heart, Choo pulls out a napkin from a side table in his office. He asks me for the pen Im using, and begins scribbling away. The room falls silent. All we can hear are the sounds of a master at work. Hes drawing a stiletto. Here, you see? he asks. This is a court shoe. You have to understand the fitting. If they are too tight or cut too high, you will hurt your feet or back.

I think hes given me my first lesson. I just hope he doesnt charge me.

The JCA offers open days and tours for prospective students here.
SIOUX CITY  Police Chief Rex Mueller, during an all-day FY 2025 Capital Improvement Program budget session Saturday, told the Sioux City Council his department's body-worn cameras, which were purchased three years ago, are "already failing."

The Sioux City Police Department is requesting $2.38 million next fiscal year for body-worn cameras, mobile audio/video recorders and mobile data terminals. The mobile audio-video recorders and mobile data terminals were purchased five years ago.

"The in-car (cameras) are actually doing better than the body-worn cameras," Mueller said. "The batteries on board the body-worn, we're starting to experience issues with those. But the thought was that we would replace all of these devices at the same time, which is why this is coming forward."

The maintenance agreement on the equipment is slated to expire in the fall. The department applied for a $500,000 Department of Justice grant, which was denied. Sioux City Fire Rescue has agreed to purchase the department's current mobile data vehicle terminals and vehicle mounts for $100,000.

"The bottom line is we're all competing for the same pool of money. So, sometimes, it's just somebody that doesn't have that equipment and they see them as more worthy. It's hard to say," Mueller responded when asked by Mayor Pro Tem Dan Moore why the department's grant application was denied.

Mueller said he is optimistic the city might see some cost savings from certain vendors, but he noted that he didn't want to under bid the department's budget request. The department's current vendor for body-worn cameras is Getac.

"This was our first try at this. While the vendor, I think, is very good. They know that to be competitive, they have to advance a good product -- battery life, things like that," Mueller said. "One of the features that we would be interested in is the live streaming. A supervisor could tie into an officer's car that's involved in a pursuit and, basically, rate or make decisions based on what the officer is seeing. Those are added features that we hope are going to be incorporated into the next generation of these products so that we have a better oversight."

Mayor Bob Scott asked that the request be brought back during the council's March 6 budget wrap up session. Scott said the council was "sold that these would last longer."

"I'm the one guy that's been very supportive of this, but this is an absolute joke that you spend this kind of money. You don't probably run that camera more than an hour a shift, and these have already worn out. It's an absolute joke," Scott said.

Mueller told Scott the body-worn cameras "run quite a bit."

"Any interaction you're having with the public. So, if an officer is called to a call, they photograph or they video that call for service, they code it and, then, the next call they go to, they've got to start a new video," Mueller said.

Majority of budget is devoted to sanitary sewer

The proposed FY 2025 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) totals more than $392 million.

The CIP budget includes both city resources and non-city resources. The city resources for FY 2025 are $369,393,947, an increase of 403.51% from the approved FY 2024 budget, according to city budget documents.

City resources include general obligation debt proceeds, which are repaid using property tax revenues, water and sewer utility funding, state revolving funds, which are loans the city repays over 20 years with water and sewer utility revenues, and other sources generated through city operations. Non-city resources include mostly grants and donations received from outside agencies. Grants have increased $14,026,034 (156.71%) from the approved FY 2024 budget.

"It's a total of $392.4 million, which is significantly higher than we've ever had. That's primarily in the utilities -- $312 million of that is wastewater treatment plant improvements," City Finance Director Teresa Fitch told the council. "There is $24.7 million in streets and bridges, $12.9 million in economic development, $10.7 million in parks and rec, of which $9 million of that is the trail projects that are funded, a portion of it, through Destination Iowa. Transportation's at $9.5 million and, then, other is $8.4 million. That does include $2.6 million of public safety items, as well."

Last year, the council, in spite of objections from the business community, approved a residential, commercial and industrial sewer rate hike to help fund a projected $470 million three-phase rebuild of the city's aging wastewater treatment plant. The council has committed to the first two phases of the project, which consist of rebuilding the plant at its current location and also slightly increasing the plant's capacity, which the Iowa DNR is requiring.

The first phase will address all safety and reliability issues associated with the liquids stream treatment process, along with odor control at York, Floyd and Riverside lift stations. The second phase will address reliability issues with the solids handling processes. In FY 2025, $300 million in is being requested for construction and $12 million for odor control. The funding source for the $312 million is sewer Iowa revolving loan proceeds.

"It says $312 million for 2025, but it's actually going to be spread out across this 30-year loan period," Tom Pingel, the city's utility director in charge of the plant, told the council. "It'll be roughly a little less than $15 million a year on that (state revolving loan). That's at 30 years with 2% interest."

Scott asked Pingel how much is going to be bid in construction work in 2025.

"At the end of 2025, the design should be completed and we should be going out to bid at that point. It's a matter of what the council decides to do on the project delivery method," Pingel said.
The United States needs an estimated 7 million more homes to house everyone who needs shelter. But to build all those homes, experts say, America would need many more construction workers.

The biggest challenge that the construction industry is facing, to put it tongue in cheek, is that people dont want their babies to grow up to be construction workers, said Brian Turmail, vice president of public affairs and strategic initiatives at Associated General Contractors of America, an industry group thats been calling for more workforce development.

For decades, Turmail said, many educators and policymakers have been encouraging students to go to a four-year college, leading to a shortage of skilled tradespeople such as electricians and plumbers. Most of the tradespeople he knows, Turmail added, got into the business because of a personal contact.

And now, following both the Great Recession of 2008 and the construction cutbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic, more workers are leaving the industry than entering it, according to the National Center for Construction Education and Research.

If there are fewer workers available, construction takes longer, said Lily Roberts, managing director for inclusive growth at the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank based in Washington, D.C.

The construction industry says it is experiencing a workforce shortage and has been since well before the pandemic. Employment isnt growing fast enough, said Erika Walter, director of media relations for Associated Builders and Contractors, a national industry group.

A recent analysis by Associated Builders and Contractors found that at the end of November there were about 459,000 job openings in the industry. The 5.4% job opening rate was the highest since 2000.

Several states have taken steps in recent years to boost their construction workforces. Theyre funding apprenticeships, investing in community college programs and offering grants to benefit specific industries, all in hopes of building a domestic pipeline of skilled construction workers. In Montana, nearly 3,000 apprentices are now working through a state program that links students to industry sponsors.

The big surprise in 2023 for me was that all of a sudden these governors did more than just pump money into the labor shortage problem, said Karl Eckhart, vice president of intergovernmental affairs for the National Association of Home Builders. We need to expedite this process so we can at least get shovels under the ground.

The U.S. construction industry lost nearly 30% of its workforce during the Great Recession of 2008, and had barely recovered before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, as outlined by a study shared last spring by economists at the University of Utah and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The authors attributed much of the shortage, however, to the federal Secure Communities immigration crackdown of the Obama administration.

If a shortage of lower-skilled labor makes it more difficult to find workers to finish framing a house, this will also reduce demand for electricians and plumbers required at the subsequent stage of construction, the authors wrote.

But another problem is that the industrys labor force is headed toward retirement. More than 1 in 5 construction workers are 55 or older, and much of the workforce will be retiring in the coming decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For now, though, roughly 68% of construction firms say their job applicants lack the skills they need, according to an Associated General Contractors survey last year.

Weve invested hundreds of millions into workforce training, because not only do we need homes, but the average age of an electrician in America is around 50 years old, said Eckhart, of the National Association of Home Builders.

If youre, you know, Gen X or younger, your guidance counselor never said, Hey, you should become an electrician. Now the industry has lost that potential pool of talent.

Among the challenges, experts and studies say, is that the construction industry isnt doing enough to recruit different types of people.

According to a 2022 U.S. Department of Labor report, many apprentice programs for construction and trade-based skills often have sponsors who do not recruit or hire individuals from underrepresented groups  and may not even be aware of how to recruit members of those groups.

In the construction industry, a generally untapped group of potential employees is women, including women of color, Roberts, of the Center for American Progress, said.

Rose Khattar, director of economic analysis for inclusive economy at the Center for American Progress, said some jurisdictions have taken steps to expand the diversity of their workforce through training.

And in recent months, several states have touted new investments in trades education.

In November, for example, New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that more than $12 million in grant money would be invested in training roughly 2,000 workers in various fields, including welding, machine maintenance and construction work.

Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine announced that 35 Ohio high school programs would receive almost $200 million in grant money to expand training facilities in areas including the electrical trades, welding and carpentry.

I think the stigma of the construction industry is that youre going into building trades because you couldnt do anything else, said Shelly Bell, vice president of workforce development at Floridas Tallahassee Community College, which has a trades education curriculum tied to a larger, state-sponsored program.

Theres plenty of need, she pointed out, and long-term job security given the countrys housing shortage. We want our students to see a career in construction that includes upward mobility and professional fulfillment, she said.

Homebuilders are facing a massive labor shortage. Here's why it won't get better any time soon Homebuilders are facing a massive labor shortage. Here's why it won't get better any time soon States with the oldest construction workers Slowed immigration takes toll on industry Career and technical education loses favor
TOKYO  First there were cafes that allowed pets. Then came cat cafes, where lattes took second place to feline interaction. The latest craze in Japan: The pig cafe.

It was wonderful. Very relaxing and enjoyable, said Brad Loomis, a software engineer from Pullman, Washington, after visiting Tokyos Mipig Cafe with his 21-year-old daughter, Paige.

They were among dozens of customers on a recent morning, taking selfies and breaking into huge smiles. The pigs, a miniature breed, trotted about the room, looking for a cozy lap to cuddle up.

The pigs are surprisingly quiet, although they do snort now and then. They dont like to be alone, making for great companionship. Unlike the stereotype, they're very clean and dont smell.

Customers pay $15 for the first 30 minutes in the company of the pigs. A reservation is required.

Each pig is unique. Each one has his or her own personality. You may notice one may be strong-headed, and another may be gentle, said Shiho Kitagawa, an executive at Mipig who refers to the pigs as buta-san, using an honorific.

The Mipig Cafe in fashionable Harajuku is among 10 such pig cafes the operator has opened around Japan. The first one opened in Tokyo in 2019. Two more are in the works for later this year.

The animals, known as micro pigs, dont get bigger than a corgi dog, even as adults. The cafes also feature adorable baby pigs the size of toy poodles.

Pig lovers say they make great pets. They can be purchased for about $1,350 from Mipig, have already been toilet-trained and are used to being with people. Micro pig food is also for sale. Mipig says it has sold 1,300 pigs as pets.

A drink dispensing machine is in the corner of the cafe, but hardly anyone was bothering to get a drink, being too occupied with the pigs.

Foreign tourists visiting the cafe said they found out about it on Instagram and other social media. The cafe does not invest in advertising. They made sure to include a visit during their trip to Japan, along with the usual tourist spots like the ancient capital of Kyoto, they said.

Australian Ben Russell smiled when a pig finally climbed into his lap. Although this was his first encounter with a real pig, they have always been his favorite animal, he said, although he wasnt sure exactly why.

Sophie Mounga from New Zealand, in Japan with her husband and two children, was a big hit with the pigs, with several of them fighting over her lap.

They were cute. I think they were all keeping each other warm, she said.

The pig cafe is the latest in a series of animal coffee shops that have popped up in Japan, including ones that feature owls, hedgehogs, birds and even snakes.

Some people have raised ethical questions about whether the animals enjoy the experience as much as the humans.

It must be stressful to be touched and fondled by a bunch of strangers, said Sachiko Azuma, head of Tokyo-based PEACE, which stands for Put an End to Animal Cruelty and Exploitation.

The animals have become tools for a money-making business, she said.

Her group mainly opposes animal experiments and petting zoos. Cafes tend to be tiny and don't provide enough of a natural environment for cats or small pigs, and those that entrap wildlife are abhorrent, Azuma said. She approves of cafes run by shelters trying to find owners for abandoned pets.

Dr. Bruce Kornreich, professor of clinical sciences at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, N.Y., said interacting with animals can lower ones blood pressure and reduce headaches and the risk of cardiovascular disease. It also enhances a sense of well-being and helps people cope with stress, he said.

How they do these things, Im not sure we know the answer, said Kornreich, who is also part of the Cornell Feline Health Center, which advocates the study and well-being of cats.

There is mounting evidence that associating with and owning pets can provide mental health and physical health benefits for people, he said in a Zoom interview.

Even with dogs, its not clear if its walking the dog that helps the owners health or being in the presence of a friendly animal.

Whatever it is, with dogs or pigs, people are soothed and happy.

Very cute and very sleepy, Paige Loomis said of the pigs. They made me sleepy.

Photos: Ellie, the emotional support pig
Just the facts, maam. Readers my age and older will recall that phrase attributed to officer Joe Friday from the television series Dragnet. In reality, he never spoke those words. The closest was All we want are the facts, maam. Just like the common recollection of Joe Fridays phrase, sometimes the facts arent always what we think they are.

For the past year, political partisans and some economists have been proclaiming an imminent recession. In the meantime, the Gross Domestic Product increased at an annualized rate of 3.3% last quarter. The unemployment rate has been at or under 4 percent for two full years. The number of new business starts nationally has exceeded 450,000 each of the last seven months. That is twice the number of monthly starts back in 2016.

The effectiveness of American weapons in Ukraine has increased our Allies purchases of such weapons by 17 percent just last year. The United States share of global arms exports increased from 33 to 40 percent. Increased production and updating of munitions manufactured in Iowa resulted in $363 million of investment in the state last year. American support of Ukraine reduces Russian capabilities, sends a strong signal to other aggressors, creates technical innovation in America, and sustains our industrial base.

Current natural gas production in the United States is the highest on record. Production in each of the last 23 months was higher than any single month between 2016 and 2020. US crude oil production was higher in three of the last four months than ever before. The US has been a net energy exporter since 2019, with exports continuing to increase. With the expansion of renewable energy and the retirement of coal plants, US carbon emissions declined by nearly three percent last year.

The data above is only part of the overall set of facts that are important. From a practical policy making view, there is a set of facts that are more essential.

Republicans control the U.S. House with a narrow margin. Democrats control the Senate with a one-vote margin. The reasonable conclusion with narrowly split control of Congress would be that neither party will get much of what it wants.

Unfortunately, too many dont accept this fact. While Congress should be preparing to receive the presidents budget for next year, they are still negotiating this years budget. Neither chamber of Congress has yet to pass a complete budget for the current fiscal year. The government of the most powerful nation on Earth is presently incapable of functioning. This is almost exclusively due to the failure to recognize the limits of split control of Congress.

Efforts to pass a budget fail because of the unreasonable demands of a few legislators. Their perspective is reminiscent of the Queen from Through the Looking Glass: Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast. Unrealistic demands get members press attention, but dont solve problems.

Bipartisan agreement is possible. The Infrastructure Law was enacted in November of 2021 with a margin of 228-206 in the House and 69-30 in the Senate. The Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act passed in 2022 by a margin of 243-187 in the House and 64-33 in the Senate.

Efforts are presently underway to pass legislation addressing issues ranging from immigration to ensuring Ukraine remains able to defend itself from Russian aggression. Success will take compromise, goodwill, and agreeing to facts.

As former US Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan once noted, Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not his own facts. I think Joe Friday would approve of that statement.

A Sioux City resident, Steve Warnstadt is government affairs coordinator for Western Iowa Tech Community College. He is a former Democratic state senator and retired Army National Guard brigadier general. He and his wife, Mary, are the parents of one son and one daughter.
2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #05

Posted on 4 February 2024 by BaerbelW

A listing of 34 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, Jan 28, 2024 thru Sat, Feb 03, 2024.

Story of the week

When we started our rebuttals update project at Skeptical Science last year, we didn't really know, how it would pan out and for how long we could keep the refurbishing line in our little virtual factory going. Now, almost a year after we published the first batch of 10 updated rebuttals we hit highlighted rebuttal #50 this week, so our effort thus far has proven to be sustainable. In addition, we are happy to report that we have about 25 more rebuttals in various draft stages awaiting their turn to be highlighted. Our factory will therefore not be running out of material any time soon!

Stories we thought important

Published before January 28

Published January 28

Published January 29

Published January 30

Published January 31

Literally off the charts: global coral reef heat stress monitor forced to add new alerts as temperatures rise Three new levels added by US Coral Reef Watch after extreme unprecedented heat, with highest alert warning of near complete mortality by Graham Readfearn, Environment, The Guardian, Jan 31, 2024

Three new levels added by US Coral Reef Watch after extreme unprecedented heat, with highest alert warning of near complete mortality by Graham Readfearn, Environment, The Guardian, Jan 31, 2024 Revisiting the hot model problem Arguments over ECS are distractions. Whether its 3C or 5C is a bit like whether a firing squad has 6 rifleman or 10. Its bad either way. by Zeke Hausfather, The Climate Brink, Jan 31, 2024

Arguments over ECS are distractions. Whether its 3C or 5C is a bit like whether a firing squad has 6 rifleman or 10. Its bad either way. by Zeke Hausfather, The Climate Brink, Jan 31, 2024 A controversial theory linking climate change to Arctic cold snaps, explained Despite being hotly debated, however, the theory of climate change intensifying cold snaps offers a look at how a warming planet and continued cold snaps may not be as contradictory as they may first appear. by Jordan Omstead, The Canadian Press, Brandon Sun, Jan 31, 2024

Despite being hotly debated, however, the theory of climate change intensifying cold snaps offers a look at how a warming planet and continued cold snaps may not be as contradictory as they may first appear. by Jordan Omstead, The Canadian Press, Brandon Sun, Jan 31, 2024 50 Updated Rebuttals and Counting The climate myth rebuttal published this week was the 50th in a long list of updated rebuttals. by John Mason, Skeptical Science, Jan 31, 2024

Published February 01



Published February 02



El Nino and climate change are supercharging incoming storm, SoCal's biggest this winter The powerful atmospheric river  worrisome enough on its own  is being supercharged by climate change and El Nino, which together are warming ocean waters, upping the odds of significant downpours and offering a preview of the states future in a warming world, experts say. by Hayley Smith, Grace Toohey, Climate , Feb 02, 2024

The powerful atmospheric river  worrisome enough on its own  is being supercharged by climate change and El Nino, which together are warming ocean waters, upping the odds of significant downpours and offering a preview of the states future in a warming world, experts say. by Hayley Smith, Grace Toohey, Climate , Feb 02, 2024 Oh, theres a hole in my bucket John Kennedy explains why buckets play an important role in sea-surface-temperature measurements. by John Kennedy, Diagram Monkey, Feb 2, 2024

If you happen upon high quality climate-science and/or climate-myth busting articles from reliable sources while surfing the web, please feel free to submit them via this Google form for possible inclusion on our social media channels. Thanks!
Equator Coffees: Decaf Kenya ThirikuThe delicious single origin decaf coffee offers a deep, vibrant acidity and was decaffeinated using the Swiss Water Process of caffeine extraction, without the use of chemical solvents.

The Nyeri region in Central Kenya is famed for its bright, fruity, and dynamic coffees and members of its Thiriku cooperative are now receiving higher prices than ever for their high quality cherries. This decaf has juicy acidity accompanied by complex flavors of persimmon, brown butter, and Mandarin orange.

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Greater Goods Roasting : Rungeto PB Rarely has a coffee release synced up with the start of a season quite like this one. Hailing from Kirinyaga County in central Kenya, this peaberry lot is the warm, comforting, hot cocoa in front of the fire  the spirit of winter in coffee form. Peaberry makes up about 10% of Kenyas coffee export and is highly sought out for its depth of sweetness and a thick, syrupy body. You can enjoy your winter days with notes of golden apple, black treacle, and red currant jam.

Joe Coffee : Colombia La Familia Guarnizo This coffee comes to us through a strong relationship between Joe Coffee and the El Paraiso growers association in Huila, Colombia. This bright and light-bodied selection was grown by a special group of El Paraisos member farmers: the Guarnizo family. Featuring notes of stone fruit and almonds with a medium acidity, this coffee is a customer favorite.

Madcap Coffee Company : Finca de Dios Husband and wife duo Ellen and Stuart Prentice oversee a 19-hectare farm, encompassing a multitude of microclimates. Ellen inherited the farm from her father in the early 70s, falling in love with the coffee growing process and planting more and more on the land. Together with their daughter Ashley, theyve established state-of-the-art processing equipment for their farm, Finca de Dios (Farm of the Gods). In this years harvest, expect notes of cacao, orange, and agave.

Monogram Coffee : Trifle Four different coffees have been layered (like a trifle!) to create a unique brewing experience where the flavours will mingle and change as you brew through the bag. As you enjoy Trifle, youll work your way through:  a spicy anaerobic marsellesa natural from Costa Rica with delicious cinnamon notes  a fermented honey processed castillo peach coffee from Colombia  a delicious chiroso caturra natural with strawberry yogurt notes  a fermented honey processed castillo grape coffee from Colombia

Night Swim Coffee

Night Swim Coffee: Blue Orchid  SumatraTypically we expect specialty grade coffees to come from mountainous regions along the equator. Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, and Ethiopia rank among the largest coffee producing countries in the world, but I think people would be surprised to know that both Vietnam and Indonesia are #2 and #4 on that list. Connecting people to the places where coffee comes from, our core effort at Night Swim, provides us some unique opportunities to tell the stories of all kinds of coffee, not just ones were familiar with or are currently popular in the US market.

Over the next few months, well begin highlighting coffees from China, El Salvador, Tanzania, Bolivia and this beautiful coffee from Indonesia. You can find coffees from these regions roasted by great roasters around the globe, but theyre new to Night Swim. I think a lot of coffee drinkers are probably really unfamiliar with coffees from Asia, and as we started thinking about how we wanted to focus our coffee menu for the upcoming months, we were simply excited to drink coffees that we dont interact with very often.

This is a semi-washed or wet-hulled coffee from Sumatra, Indonesia. Its fruity-sweet, tropical, and finishes like one of our favorite candy bars. Were thrilled to offer this first installment in our initiative to highlight underrepresented coffee growing regions!

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Olympia Coffee Roasters Olympia Coffee: Jose Landaverde Gesha NaturalOne of the worlds most sought-after varietals, grown in one of Central Americas finest regions. Jose Landaverde Gesha Natural underwent a 60-hour anaerobic fermentation before drying in the natural method, yielding coffee deeply imbued with tropical-fruit sweetness and balanced with smooth, full-bodied flavor. Back to top.

Onyx Coffee Lab Onyx Coffee Lab : FramilyWe are excited to release our seventh edition of this heartwarming Holiday coffee that embodies the joy of spending time with friends and family. This washed coffee from Banko Gotiti is a developed medium roast creating complex cocoa notes mixed with sweet berry cobbler-like flavors. Designed to accommodate the coffee nerd or the heavy-handed cream and sugar in-laws youre welcome, my friends.

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Partners Coffee Partners Coffee: Ethiopia  Meselech TubeMeselech Tube tends a three hectare farm in Sidama where she focuses her attention on high quality naturals. She is among a growing cohort of coffee farmers in Ethiopia whose production is available in isolation, traceable all the way to the farm itself. This lot is a classic representation of Sidamas naturalswe taste syrupy strawberry, blueberry, banana, and black tea. Back to top.

PERC Coffee PERC: Guatemala Gerson Martinez GeshaThis Gesha from our old friend Gerson Martinez blew us away on the tasting table. It was sweet, fruity, and a layered complexity that revealed itself in waves. If youre a fan of exciting coffees that expand your mind, you should get your hands on some of this sweet nectar. We only sourced a limited amount of this coffee, so snag some while you can! Back to top.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters Stumptown Coffee: Bella Vista Bella Vista has been gracing our menu for nearly two decades, and every year, when we think theres no way it can get any better, it does. This exceptional single origin coffee represents one of our oldest direct trade relationships, and every sip reflects the meticulous care that goes into producing it. This years lot is supremely balanced with notes of candied citrus and milk chocolate with a soft, honeyed finish. Back to top.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240203/israel-has-lost-the-war-says-former-security-analyst-1116578319.html

Israel Has Lost the War Says Former Security Analyst

Israel Has Lost the War Says Former Security Analyst

Sputnik International

With Israeli forces withdrawing from parts of Gaza and Hamas officials restoring order in those areas, Dr. David Oualaalou told Sputnik Radio that Israel has failed to meet its stated objectives.

2024-02-03T23:45+0000

2024-02-03T23:45+0000

2024-02-03T23:45+0000

analysis

joe biden

palestinians

valery zaluzhny

middle east

israel

ukraine

hamas

gaza strip

israel-gaza conflict

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That shows that Israel failed in its goal to eliminate Hamas, former security analyst and international geopolitical consultant Dr. David Oualaalou told Sputniks Political Misfits on Friday.Oualaalou told co-hosts Michelle Witte and Ben Zinevich that US President Joe Bidens decision to impose sanctions on four Israeli settlers made the US look even worse in the eyes of the world, rather than its intention to make the administration look more balanced.[If] you are to do this, why didn't you support the ceasefire against the atrocities that [the] Israeli government is committing against the Palestinians? Because to me, it just doesn't make any sense. When you behave like this on the international stage, you really demonstrate your lack of credibility, Oualaalou said, describing Biden as our incompetent president.Oualaalou says that the international community has given up trying to parse Americas foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East.Despite this, and a recent bombardment of Brussels development agency in Gaza, which caused Belgium to summon the Israeli ambassador to the country, Oualaalou doesnt see much light between the European and American governments. Europeans are under the same umbrella with the US because they are under the thumb of the US, he said, adding that the United States continues to pressure them one way or another.Im telling you, in geopolitics or international relations, its not what you see, its whats behind the scenes that matters.Oualaalou also discusses the commander of the Ukraines military Valery Zaluzhnys on-again-off-again dismissal and the situation on the ground in Ukraine.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240203/scott-ritter-is-zaluzhny-getting-ready-to-take-down-zelensky-1116566603.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/aftermath-of-ukrainian-terrorist-attack-in-lugansk-region-in-photos-1116585034.html

Aftermath of Ukrainian Terrorist Attack in Lugansk Region in Photos

Aftermath of Ukrainian Terrorist Attack in Lugansk Region in Photos

Sputnik International

Kiev forces deliberately shelled the city of Lisichansk in the Lugansk People's Republic region of Russia this weekend.

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photo

russia

lugansk peoples republic

attack

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donbass

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The attack was apparently carried out using US-supplied weapons and killed at least 28 people. Ukrainian militants have been repeatedly shelling Lisichansk after they lost control of the city in 2022, killing civilians and causing damage to civilian infrastructure.Such attacks never seem to hit anything of military value and are meant to terrorize the citys population while Western powers turn a blind eye to these actions.Moscow will inform international organizations about Ukraine's strike on Lisichansk, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. According to her, the blow is Kiev's "gratitude" for the "generous financial support of the EU countries."Explore Sputnik's gallery showcasing the aftermath of the attack.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/borrell-says-eu-has-not-suspended-funding-for-unrwa-some-member-states-increasing-support-1116578667.html

Borrell Says EU Has Not Suspended Funding for UNRWA, Some Member States Increasing Support

Borrell Says EU Has Not Suspended Funding for UNRWA, Some Member States Increasing Support

Sputnik International

The European Commission has not suspended the funding for the the UNRWA, with some EU member states saying that they are increasing their support for UNRWA,

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united nations relief and works agency for palestine refugees in the near east (unrwa)

hamas

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josep borrell

philippe lazzarini

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"Let me make one thing clear: the [European] Commission  when we say 'the European Union,' we mean 'the EU Commission' - has not suspended its funding," Borrell told a news conference after an informal meeting of the foreign ministers of the EU member states. Borrell said that "there were a lot of fake news, a lot of misinformation" on the issue, adding that Germany, France and Spain have not suspended their funding of the agency as well. Borrell further said that UNRWA "has been playing a critical role [in] support [of] the Palestinian refugees, and not only in Gaza," as the agency supports "hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan and in the West Bank" and is "feeding two million people, providing 30,000 medical assistance [actions] per day" and "providing school for more than 400,000 pupils." "Certainly, we will ask for reviews, we will ask for controls, [about] the lack of accountability, but I can say that for the majority of Member States, the general feeling, is that there is no substitute for UNRWA. I repeat: there is no substitute for UNRWA," the EU official said.Last week, 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, Japan and some other countries have since suspended funding for UNRWA. On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from Gaza and breached the border, killing 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others. 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 27,000 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.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231226/multi-arena-war-what-does-the-future-hold-in-store-for-israel-palestine-conflict-1115822252.html

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The Port of Corpus Christi. A group of House Democrats from Texas, California and Alaska wrote to President Joe Biden Friday urging him to "refocus" his administration's policies on the export of liquefied natural gas. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

WASHINGTON  A group of House Democrats from Texas, California and Alaska wrote to President Joe Biden on Friday urging him to refocus his administrations policies on the export of liquefied natural gas.

The letter, which was signed by members including Reps. Lizzie Fletcher and Sylvia Garcia, of Houston; Marc Veasey, of Dallas; and Henry Cuellar, of Laredo, comes a week after the Biden administration announced an indefinite pause on LNG permitting following a monthslong campaign by climate activists.

The members made the case that not only was U.S. LNG vital to allies in Europe and Asia but was crucial to helping the world reduce greenhouse gas emissions by allowing power grids to shift away from coal to gas, which emits less carbon dioxide.

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Every molecule of U.S. LNG exported helps limit the growth of global emissions and provides energy security around the world, they wrote.

The Biden administration has said it is reviewing the LNG sectors impact on the environment, the U.S. economy and public health, as well as the national security of the country and its allies, something that had not been done since 2019. The pause, which comes in an election year, has exposed divisions among Democrats on climate, with nine members of Congress along with tribal and community leaders gathering at an event Thursday in Washington to rally behind the administrations pause.

Finally, the administration has said enough is enough, said Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.

At the center of the review are the large quantities of methane emitted during natural gas production. In a call with reporters last week, Ali Zaidi, national climate adviser to Biden, described an LNG permitting process that does not benefit from the extensive amount of information weve started to gather.

Understand methane is 80 times more potent (than carbon dioxide), and it perhaps represents up to half of degree of the warming that has already been witnessed around the world, he said. Joe Biden is unafraid to take bold action and make necessary change.

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LNG has emerged as a booming business along the Gulf Coast, with the majority of the nations export terminals located in Texas and Louisiana. Since 2016, U.S. LNG exports have grown from a few billion cubic feet a month to 386 billion cubic feet in November, with projections that output will double by 2030 through projects already under construction.

But the question now is what will happen to the 17 projects awaiting approval from the Department of Energy to export to countries with which the United States does not have free trade agreements, which includes Europe, Japan and India. And some are asking how long gas buyers in those countries will be willing to wait for the Biden administration to finish its review.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/central-african-army-aided-by-russian-forces-repels-sudanese-militant-attack---reports-1116589278.html

Central African Army Backed by Russian Forces Repels Sudanese Militant Attack

Central African Army Backed by Russian Forces Repels Sudanese Militant Attack

Sputnik International

The Central African Republics army aided by Russian forces repelled an attack launched this week by Sudanese militants on a mine in the country's north, the Russian embassy said Sunday.

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africa

russia

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The army of the Central African Republic (CAR), supported by Russian forces, has repelled an attack by militants from Sudan, the Russian Embassy in Bangui told Sputnik.Earlier on Sunday, these developments were also reported by local media, with the radio station Lengo Songo saying that the events took place near a mining site in the village of Mamoun in the CARs north.According to Lengo Songo, when repelling the attack, CAR servicemen killed one of the leaders of the Coalition of Patriots for Change group, Mohamed Ali, nicknamed B-13.The Russian instructors were deployed in the CAR in line with the notification of the UN Security Council and the sanctions committee. In late June 2023, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that the work of the Russian instructors in the CAR would continue.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/germany-ukraine-may-sign-bilateral-security-agreement-on-february-16---reports-1116580820.html

Germany, Ukraine May Sign Bilateral Security Agreement on February 16 - Reports

Germany, Ukraine May Sign Bilateral Security Agreement on February 16 - Reports

Sputnik International

Berlin and Kiev may conclude an agreement on bilateral security guarantees at the Munich Security Conference on February 16, German media reported Saturday, citing German government sources.

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world

ukrainian crisis

russia-nato showdown

olaf scholz

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At the same time, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper that the draft agreement had been prepared, but the text had not been fully agreed upon yet.German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said on January 25 that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Volodymyr Zelensky agreed in a telephone conversation to accelerate talks on bilateral security commitments and support measures. In mid-January, Ukraine and the United Kingdom signed a 10-year security cooperation agreement in which London pledged to support Kiev during that period. French President Emmanuel Macron has also announced his intention to sign a similar agreement with Ukraine.German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is regularly lambasted by opposition for neglecting interested of national economy while bandwagoning US foreign policy, especially in case of Ukraine. Earlier In January German business executives declared a crisis of confidence in acting government, adding that it was failing on all fronts.Earlier Russian President Vladimir Putin explained that collective West is solely responsible for Ukrainian crisis since violent coup in Ukraine was staged by US in order to disrupt relations between Moscow and Kiev. US deliberately dragged Europe in Ukrainian conflict in order to disrupt Russo-European relations

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231219/putins-complete-speech-at-defense-collegium-meeting---video-1115678430.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/germanys-1b-raw-materials-investment-project-to-defy-china-is-totally-unrealistic--expert--1116583732.html

Germanys $1B Raw Materials Investment Project to Defy China is 'Totally Unrealistic'  Expert

Germanys $1B Raw Materials Investment Project to Defy China is 'Totally Unrealistic'  Expert

Sputnik International

Billions of dollar, not just one billion, are needed to successfully implement this investment project, Thomas W. Pauken II, a veteran China and Asia-Pacific affairs observer and author, told Sputnik.

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2024-02-04T15:40+0000

economy

china

germany

european union (eu)

project

investments

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The German government has allocated around 1 billion ($1.1 billion) for raw material investments in a bid to reduce dependency on producers such as China for critical minerals, Bloomberg news agency cited unnamed sources as saying.The sources referred to an upcoming selection process that will determine which projects related to extraction and processing are eligible. An Economy Ministry spokesperson, in turn, insisted that projects in Germany and abroad will contribute to the security of supply of critical raw materials."This is a very silly project" given the sum allocated for the purpose, Thomas W. Pauken II, a veteran China and Asia-Pacific affairs observer and author, told Sputnik.He said that it remains unclear whether Berlin itself or someone else could be behind the idea with the $1.1 billion raw materials investments.When asked about whether the implementation of the project is realistic in overall terms, he argued that its Absolutely, totally unrealistic and that it would be impossible to achieve the projects goals."It's going to cost more than $1 billion. $1 billion is a lot of money, but its not enough," he reiterated, recalling that "billions and billions of dollars are [typically] used to extract natural resources."Reflecting on what impact Germany's reduced dependence on China could have on the European economy, W. Pauken II suggested that if Berlins project "actually succeeded, it would be a significant changer."Last years report by the German Institute for Economic Research think tank revealed that Europe is currently heavily dependent on the import of critical raw materials.Most of the imports are coming from China, which holds superiority in terms of the mining and the processing of critical raw materials. The EU is, in particular, is currently importing 93% of its magnesium and 86% of its rare earth metals from Beijing, according to the report.As for Berlins $1.1 billion raw materials investment plan, it is part of the EUs controversial efforts to wage a trade war with China, which shows no sign of yielding to the blocs pressure.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231030/new-economic-downturn-shows-germany-recession-bound-1114592770.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240111/are-china-and-west-hurtling-toward-trade-war-1116109539.html

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germany's drive to reduce dependency on china in the raw materials sector, the german government's allocation of around 1 billion ($1.1 billion) for raw materials investments
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/how-facebook-became-tool-for-state-censorship-and-goldmine-for-us-intelligence-services-1116575342.html

How Facebook Became Tool for State Censorship and Goldmine for US Intelligence Services

How Facebook Became Tool for State Censorship and Goldmine for US Intelligence Services

Sputnik International

Sunday is the 20th anniversary of Facebooks* launch. In twenty years, the company has grown into a major tool for manipulation, social engineering and control by the deep state, big business and Western intel agencies. Sputnik reached out to an insider-turned whistleblower for info on the architecture of Facebooks censorship industrial complex.

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mark zuckerberg

hunter biden

iran

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united kingdom (uk)

facebook

meta

fbi

instagram

analysis

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Formally launched on February 4, 2004, Mark Zuckerbergs future empire started out as a modest directory of information for college students, with Zuckerberg and several of his Harvard classmates assembling the initial platform in about two weeks, and the company taking just four short years to surpass rival Myspace to become the worlds number one social media platform. Twenty years since its founding, Facebooks parent company Meta has become a tech giant, with over three billion active monthly users on its flagship service, and a market value of over $1 trillion.As the 20th anniversary of the companys founding approached, legacy media began to publish a series of gushing, glowing and wistful reports on Facebooks past, good times and memories created and shared online, and its ambitious, science fiction-inspired plans for the future, including the creation of artificial general intelligence.But beneath the surface of these ebullient, heartwarming stories is a darker story of manipulation and social programming, censorship and shameless attempts at narrative control by Western governments, major corporations, and intelligence services.As Americans, Europeans and others around the world signed up, logged on and voluntarily offered up private information that companies and intel agencies would have paid a fortune to get their hands on just a few short decades ago, powerful forces quickly realized the importance of collecting and engineering this new form of online human interaction.The government launders their censorship through various NGOs and institutions on behalf of the US government, Hartwig said, pointing, for example, to a 2021 report by the Stanford Internet Observatory entitled Combating Information Manipulation: A Playbook for Elections and Beyond, which plainly outlines tools the company uses to remove the spread of malign information from social media.Self-Appointed Ministry of TruthIn his book, coauthored with attorney Kent Heckenlively, Hartwig documents how, while working as a content moderator for Facebook in the 2010s, he had witnessed the platforms disturbing transformation after the 2016 US elections into a tool for systematically suppressing conservative viewpoints while elevating liberal ones, and cracking down on some forms of suspected hate speech while amplifying others.Of course, conservatives arent the only ones targeted by the social media giants censorship leviathan, with non-liberal left groups, critics of the US military-industrial complex, Big Pharma, Big Tech and other elite forces which run America and much of the world also falling victim. Documented instances of censorship by Facebook include the scrubbing of criticism of US and European immigration policy, climate policies, vaccines and vaccine mandates, criticisms of Facebook itself, and the vagaries of US foreign policy, with posts on these issues occasionally deleted outright, but more often hidden or deranked without users being informed using the platforms complex, non-open source algorithm.In 2021, The Intercept obtained a vast, 100-page secret Facebook Dangerous Individuals and Organizations List which, although designed to target extremists, criminals and terrorists, turned out to include a number of groups deeply involved in the battle against jihadist extremists in the Middle East, such Hezbollah, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Yemens Houthis. Hundreds of US-based armed militia groups (whose activities are protected under the US Constitution), were also targeted, as were a number of pro-Trump groups mixed in among a jumble of neo-Nazis for good measure.In 2022, Facebook rolled out a special carve-out of exceptions to its anti-hate speech rules to allow users to make explicitly Russophobic posts, issue death threats against Russian officials, use dehumanizing language to refer to Russian troops, and even offer praise for the neo-Nazi Azov** Regiment, despite the social media giants ban on content featuring Nazi and neo-Nazi ideology.Facebook manipulates public opinion by suppressing unpopular opinions, or allowing newsworthy exceptions for the people they like, Hartwig explained, noting this extends not just to big name issues, but even extremely minute details bordering on psychopathy.For example, they made a specific rule to protect Greta Thunberg from being attacked or called Gretarded, the former content moderator recalled, referring to the WEF-promoted climate activist. Normally, public figures, even young individuals like Greta are allowed to be called retarded. Facebook made an exception to protect her, Hartwig said.This is truly 5th dimensional warfare and by utilizing Facebook, spy agencies can influence public opinion much more easily than ever before, the whistleblower believes.Election Manipulation ToolIn 2020, concerned over what he saw as blatant interference in the upcoming US federal elections, Hartwig contacted Project Veritas with hidden camera footage and other information documenting Facebooks skewed content moderation directives, revealing exactly how posts related to one candidate and his supporters could be removed or manipulated, in direct violation of the companys policy on protecting political speech.Hartwigs observations have been corroborated by other whistleblowers and information leaks throughout the past decade. In 2018, for example, it was revealed that UK-based political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica engaged in the harvesting of tens of millions of Facebook profiles in 2014 to later target them with personalized political ads, including during the 2016 US presidential campaign. Subsequent reports consequently reported that the company engaged in similar harvesting and vote manipulation operations in nations across the globe, from Kenya and Nigeria to Argentina, Venezuela, India, the UK and the Czech Republic.In a bombshell interview with Joe Rogan in 2022, Mark Zuckerberg explicitly admitted that Facebook had suppressed the biggest news story of the 2020 election cycle  a New York Post article published on the eve of the November vote based on damning files in Hunter Bidens laptop containing evidence of a pay-to-play corruption scheme by the Biden family. Facebook was ordered to censor the story by the FBI, Zuckerberg said.Basically the background here is the FBI I think basically came to us, some folks on our team and was like hey, just so you know, you should be on high alert, there was  we thought that there was a lot of Russian propaganda in the 2016 election, we have it on notice that basically theres about to be some kind of dump thats similar to that. So just be vigilant, Zuckerberg recalled. If something is reported to us as potentially misinformation, important misinformation, we also [have a] third-party fact-checking program because we dont want to be deciding whats true and false. And for the I think it was five or seven days when it was basically being determined whether it was false, the distribution on Facebook was decreasedbasically the ranking and newsfeed was a little bit less, so fewer people saw it than would have otherwise.Similarly blatant practices have been seen elsewhere, with Hartwig pointing to one particularly egregious example used against Venezuela, where there was a call to arms to help defend Nicolas Maduro and Facebook deleted that post because it was [deemed] a call to violence. Nicolas Maduro was the sitting president and Facebook didnt allow people to use social media to defend their own country.Handy Coup-Plotting AssistantAlong with election manipulation, Facebook and other social media resources have long been seen by intelligence services as an ideal tool for fomenting social unrest or even overthrowing governments. Learning from the experiences of the 2011 Arab Spring violence, spy agencies quickly realized the potential of the new technology for advancing their nations geopolitical objectives abroad. In 2013, it was a Facebook post by a liberal Ukrainian television journalist-turned activist angered by the Yanukovych governments decision to scrap Kievs plans to sign an association agreement with the EU which ended up triggering the Euromaidan unrest, culminating in the February 2014 overthrow of Ukraines democratically elected government.Western intelligence services tried to repeat the process in Iran in late 2022, when violent protests sparked by the death of a young Iranian woman under suspicious circumstances were commandeered by an Iranian-American US-based Voice of America employee and suspected CIA asset who used Facebook, Twitter and Instagram* to organize and radicalize demonstrators to overthrow the government.Down the Rabbit Hole of Physiological ManipulationFacebooks attempts to control and manipulate go beyond censorship and election interference. In 2012, the company carried out a secret mood manipulation experiment targeting nearly 700,000 users and using their news feeds to alter their emotional states. The project, whose existence was only revealed in 2014 after the publication of a scientific article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that by tweaking users news feeds, Facebook could influence the content they would post, lead them to post more negative replies and status messages, and more. The controversial study ultimately found that emotional states can be transferred to others via emotional contagion, leading people to experience the same emotions without their awareness.* Metas Facebook and Instagram are banned in Russia for extremism.** Designated a terrorist group and outlawed in Russia.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/israeli-military-destroys-17-out-of-24-hamas-battalions-during-gaza-operation---netanyahu-1116588132.html

Israeli Military Destroys 17 Out of 24 Hamas Battalions During Gaza Operation - Netanyahu

Israeli Military Destroys 17 Out of 24 Hamas Battalions During Gaza Operation - Netanyahu

Sputnik International

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has eliminated 17 out of 24 Hamas battalions during its operation in the Gaza Strip, with the majority of the remainder operating in the south of the enclave, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday.

2024-02-04T18:44+0000

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2024-02-04T18:44+0000

world

palestine-israel conflict

middle east

benjamin netanyahu

israel

gaza strip

palestine

israel defense forces (idf)

hamas

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"To date, we have eliminated 17 out of the 24 battalions. Most of the remaining battalions are in the southern Gaza Strip and in [the city of] Rafah, and we will get to them as well," Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting. To achieve the goal, Israel needs to complete the "cleaning" of the remaining Hamas forces and completely destroy the movement's underground infrastructure, the Israeli prime minister added. "Our forces are busy with that at all sites, and it requires even more time," Netanyahu said. He also stated that Israel would not agree to a hostage release deal "at any cost," ruling out the possibility of Palestinian "terrorists" being freed from prisons in exchange for hostages.On October 7, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages.In December 2023, the IDF has completed its its operation in the southern part of Gaza City and expanded a combat zone to the central Gaza Strip. The goal of the operation is to establish operational control over the area between the north of the enclave and its central regions, as per the Israeli forces statement.During the operation, IDF brigades uncovered numerous weapons, including rocket launchers and explosives, and motorcycles. The operation also destroyed tunnel shafts, some of which contained significant water and electricity infrastructure, according to the statement.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240202/why-bidens-sanctions-on-west-bank-settlers-could-escalate-into-total-cutoff-of-arms-aid-to-israel-1116561574.html

israel

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the israel defense forces (idf) has eliminated 17 out of 24 hamas battalions during its operation in the gaza strip, with the majority of the remainder operating in the south of the enclave, israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu said on sunday.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/pregnant-woman-her-child-killed-by-ukrainian-shelling-of-lisichansk-1116583894.html

Pregnant Woman, Her Child Killed by Ukrainian Shelling of Lisichansk

Pregnant Woman, Her Child Killed by Ukrainian Shelling of Lisichansk

Sputnik International

-A pregnant woman and her five-year-old child were among the 28 people killed in the LPR during Ukrainian shelling, the authorities said.

2024-02-04T13:53+0000

2024-02-04T13:53+0000

2024-02-04T13:57+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

ukrainian crisis

ukraine

terrorism

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Ukraine struck the crowded bakery in the early afternoon on Saturday, collapsing the building and trapping some 40 civilians under the rubble, the LPR military commander's office told Sputnik. "Twenty eight people, including one child, have died," the administration said, adding that 10 others were injured. Leonid Pasechnik, the acting head of the Lugansk People's Republic, said on Telegram that he declared February 4 a day of mourning for those killed in the attack on the bakery. On Saturday, 20 bodies were pulled from under the rubble of the Lisichansk bakery, the Russian Emergencies Ministry told Sputnik. The Russian Investigative Committee said the strike was apparently launched using a US-supplied HIMARS rocket system. Lisichansk is located close to the frontline. The Ukrainian army has been routinely shelling Lisichansk after losing control of the city in the summer of 2022. Ukrainian troops blew up some of the administrative buildings before they pulled out.Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that Ukrainian Armed Forces became a terrorist organization that attacks civilian targets. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also said that the Kiev regime, in order to demonstrate to its Western backers at least some success, is constantly carrying out terrorist attacks against civilians in the Russian Federation.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/russian-air-defenses-down-3-ukrainian-drones-over-bryansk-region-1116589777.html

Russian Air Defenses Down 4 Ukrainian Drones Over Bryansk Region

Russian Air Defenses Down 4 Ukrainian Drones Over Bryansk Region

Sputnik International

Russian air defenses shot down four Ukrainian drones over the Bryansk region on Sunday night, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

2024-02-04T21:44+0000

2024-02-04T21:44+0000

2024-02-05T01:27+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

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ukraine

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ukrainian conflict

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"At about 10:30 p.m. [19:30 GMT], we thwarted an attempt by the Kiev regime to conduct a terrorist attack using an aircraft-type drone against targets in the Russian territory. On-duty air defense units destroyed an UAV over the Bryansk region," the statement read. A second drone was intercepted over the region at about 11 p.m. local time, the ministry added. A third Ukrainian drone was destroyed over the Bryansk region at about 11:50 p.m. Moscow time, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.A fourth drone launched by the Kiev regime was downed over the Bryansk region at around 12:30 a.m. Moscow time, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz said there were no casualties or damage reported. Emergency services are working on the spot, he added. The governor also thanked the Russian Armed Forces for defending civilians.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230925/seven-ukrainian-drones-downed-over-belgorod-region---russian-defense-ministry-1113666027.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/russian-troops-take-more-advantageous-position-in-donetsk-direction-1116583465.html

Russian Troops Take More Advantageous Position in Donetsk Direction

Russian Troops Take More Advantageous Position in Donetsk Direction

Sputnik International

Russian forces have taken more advantageous positions in the Donetsk direction near the village of Klescheevka and the town of Kurdumovka and repelled five attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces, a spokesperson for Russia's Yug Group of Forces, Vadim Astafyev, has told Sputnik.

2024-02-04T13:32+0000

2024-02-04T13:32+0000

2024-02-04T13:32+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

ukrainian crisis

ukraine

russian armed forces

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"The units of the Yug Group of Forces have taken more advantageous positions and repelled five enemy attacks, defeated manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian armed forces in the areas of Bogdanovka, Kurdumovka, Georgievka and Novomikhailovka," he said. The spokesperson added that the enemy has lost up to 335 soldiers killed and wounded, one tank, three armored combat vehicles, two radars, 10 vehicles and an M777 155mm howitzer. The Russian air defenses have also shot down 14 Ukrainian drones, he said.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/to-russia-for-news-prominent-us-journo-tucker-carlson-spotted-in-moscow-1116581521.html

To Russia for News? Prominent US Journo Tucker Carlson Spotted in Moscow

To Russia for News? Prominent US Journo Tucker Carlson Spotted in Moscow

Sputnik International

ucker Carlson is known for coverage of uncomfortable truth topics such as US role in 2014 coup in Ukraine and subsequent support for neo-Nazi regime installed in Kiev. In Spring 2023 he was fired from Fox News  reportedly due to political pressure  and started his independent show on X (former Twitter).

2024-02-04T10:41+0000

2024-02-04T10:41+0000

2024-02-04T11:39+0000

world

russia

vladimir putin

tucker carlson

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US journalist Tucker Carlson is in Russia for the first time and has attended the iconic Spartacus ballet at the Bolshoi Theater, social media reports have indicated. According to available information, the ex-Fox News host has spent three days in Moscow. The aim of his visit remains unclear.Please God let this be a Putin interview, said prominent political commentator Jackson Hinkle on social media.This theory already made Washington feel a bit uneasy and some White House-aligned pundits have called for the journalist to be banned from re-entering the US.Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia slammed the Democrats for ostracizing Carlson and reminded them that freedom of speech is purportedly one of the pillars of US politics.Earlier, Carlson admitted that he planned to interview Vladimir Putin, but was strongly advised against this move by the US government. However, he gave no further details.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/turkiye--russia-share-approach-to-gaza-war--turkish-foreign-minister-1116588873.html

Turkiye & Russia Share Approach to Gaza War  Turkish Foreign Minister

Turkiye & Russia Share Approach to Gaza War  Turkish Foreign Minister

Sputnik International

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has likened Ankaras position on the war in Gaza to that of Moscow, saying both governments wanted the conflict to end as soon as possible.

2024-02-04T19:58+0000

2024-02-04T19:58+0000

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"As you know, Russias position on the war in Gaza is closer to where we stand. Russias position on ending the war as soon as possible, delivering humanitarian aid and on the two-state solution coincides with ours," Fidan told A Haber news channel on Sunday. The Russian Foreign Ministry has been calling for an immediate ceasefire and an end to attacks on hospitals and other civilian infrastructure in the Palestinian enclave following the October 7 Hamas incursion into Israel and the retaliatory attack by Israel on Gaza.President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Putin are expected to hold talks in Turkiye later in February. Fidan said that Erdogan was keeping tabs on the situation in Syria and in the Gaza Strip, which he would want to discuss with Putin.

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Hailing from just outside Sugar Land, Twisted Steel is a bull owned by UFC President Dana White. Trish Badger The PBR, Toyota Center and city of Sugarland have partnered to install a mural by local artist Mark DeLeon in the Sugar Land Town Square Plaza, depicting Dana Whites Twisted Steel buck. Trish Badger

Sugar Land Town Square Plaza now features a fresh mural painted by local artist Mark DeLeon of Art Museum TX.

The artwork, which depicts Twisted Steel, the prized bull owned by UFC President Dana White, commemorated the return of the Professional Bull Riders Unleash the Beast tour to Houston after five years.

Twisted Steel was born near Sugar Land.

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The animal athlete returned to PBRs Unleash the Beast lineup for the fourth time this season.

At the Unleash the Beast national tour at the Toyota Center last weekend, during Round 2, the bull bucked off his rider in 3.2 seconds to earn a 42.75 bull score, according to the PBR website.

We have a lot of things here in Sugar Land, but I don't think we've had a bull, said Naushad Kermally, Sugar Land mayor pro-tem district 2. The city of Sugar Land loves artwork. As you drive around the city, you'll see traffic boxes covered, you'll see different types of artworks in our parks and recreation areas.

NEW BENEFITS: Fort Bend County employees now get 6 weeks of paid parental leave

Kermally made his comments at the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the mural last week, attended by elected officials, representatives from PBR and artists from Art Museum TX, where DeLeon teaches.

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I want to talk about Art Museum TX, you guys are doing an amazing job, said Suzanne Whatley, Sugar Land council member district 1. They have so much going on with artists. And I'm so grateful that we're getting to see our local artists come into the city and be highlighted.

DeLeon said creating the 10x20 foot mural was an attempt to capture Twisted Steels essence, portraying the dynamic energy of the bull in action.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/turkiye-denies-media-reports-about-joint-patrols-with-greece-in-aegean-sea-1116579527.html

Turkiye Denies Media Reports About 'Joint Patrols' With Greece in Aegean Sea

Turkiye Denies Media Reports About 'Joint Patrols' With Greece in Aegean Sea

Sputnik International

The Turkish Center for Combating Disinformation on Saturday denied media reports that Ankara and Athens would allegedly carry out "joint patrols" in the Aegean Sea and the Evros River.

2024-02-04T04:34+0000

2024-02-04T04:34+0000

2024-02-04T04:34+0000

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greece

aegean sea

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"Claims by some media and outlets that 'Turkish-Greek troops will conduct joint patrols' are not true. [Turkish] Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya and Greek Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Christos Stylianides exchanged views on strengthening cooperation during the talks between the delegations," the center said in a statement received by Sputnik. The center added that the delegations discussed ways to jointly combat illegal migration and migrant smuggling, as well as strengthen cooperation and communication between the coast guards of Turkiye and Greece. NATO allies Greece and Turkiye have been at odds for decades, with the risk of an armed conflict arising several times. The disputed issues include competing territorial claims in the eastern Mediterranean, in particular in the region of the Aegean Sea, the Greek-Turkish divide in Cyprus, and the delimitation of maritime boundaries. Turkiye has repeatedly accused Greece of deploying weapons on the Aegean Islands in violation of the 1923 Lausanne Treaty. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens in early December 2023, said there are no issues between Turkiye and Greece that cannot be resolved. The Greek prime minister echoed these remarks, saying that Greece and Turkiye should live in peace, while disagreements should not immediately cause tensions.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231206/turkiye-greece-to-ink-declaration-on-good-relations-erdogan-says-ahead-of-athens-visit-1115422293.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/turkiye-wants-to-raise-energy-cooperation-syria-during-putins-visit--foreign-minister-1116587899.html

Turkiye Wants to Raise Energy Cooperation, Syria During Putin's Visit  Foreign Minister

Turkiye Wants to Raise Energy Cooperation, Syria During Putin's Visit  Foreign Minister

Sputnik International

Turkiye wants to discuss gas and nuclear cooperation, including the construction of the Akkuyu power plant, as well as Syria and Gaza during Russian President Vladimir Putins anticipated visit, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Sunday.

2024-02-04T18:37+0000

2024-02-04T18:37+0000

2024-02-04T18:37+0000

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vladimir putin

hakan fidan

recep tayyip erdogan

turkiye

syria

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akkuyu nuclear power plant

akkuyu

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"The focus will be on the gas issue and our energy cooperation. Of course, the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, which is a major bilateral project, [will be on the table]," the minister told A Haber news channel. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to host President Putin in Turkiye later in February. Fidan said that Erdogan was keeping tabs on the situation in Syria and in the Gaza Strip, which he would want to discuss with Putin.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231005/turkiye-expects-akkuyu-nuclear-power-plant-to-begin-generating-electricity-on-october-29-2024-1113945566.html

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turkiye wants to discuss gas and nuclear cooperation, including the construction of the akkuyu power plant, as well as syria and gaza during russian president vladimir putins anticipated visit, foreign minister hakan fidan said sunday.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/uk-aircraft-carrier-hms-queen-elizabeth-to-skip-natos-steadfast-defender-exercise-1116583345.html

UK Aircraft Carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to Skip NATO's Steadfast Defender Exercise

UK Aircraft Carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to Skip NATO's Steadfast Defender Exercise

Sputnik International

UK aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth commissioned in 2017 will not take part in NATO's Steadfast Defender exercise due to a technical issue with a coupling on the vessel's propeller shaft, the UK Royal Navy said on Sunday.

2024-02-04T13:24+0000

2024-02-04T13:24+0000

2024-02-04T13:24+0000

military

united kingdom (uk)

british royal navy

royal navy

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HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier will set sail for the Steadfast Defender military exercise instead of HMS Queen Elizabeth "as soon as possible," the statement read."Routine pre-sailing checks yesterday identified an issue with a coupling on [HMS Queen Elizabeth] starboard propeller shaft. As such, the ship will not sail on Sunday," the Royal Navy said on X. On January 18, NATO announced that it would kick off Steadfast Defender 2024 later in the month. The exercise, which is taking place in the Atlantic and Europe, involves around 90,000 troops from 31 allies and Sweden. The drills will last several months. During the exercise, the allies are planning to test out a conflict scenario against a "near-peer adversary" in accordance with Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which states that an attack on one ally is considered an attack against the entire NATO and allows for the provision of appropriate assistance.Steadfast Defender 2024 is the largest NATO military drills since 1988. Russia has zero illusions about the aims of these wargames. The exercises are unprecedented, and they do not hide who they conducting these exercises against, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Russia will keep an eye on the drills using diverse tool of military intelligence.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240201/steadfast-defender-2024-key-facts-about-natos-largest-drills-since-1988-1116539134.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/us-uk-launch-48-airstrikes-at-yemen-overnight---houthis-1116587379.html

US, UK Launch 48 Airstrikes at Yemen Overnight - Houthis

US, UK Launch 48 Airstrikes at Yemen Overnight - Houthis

Sputnik International

The United States and the United Kingdom launched 48 airstrikes at six Yemeni provinces overnight, a Houthi military spokesperson said on Sunday, adding that retaliation would follow.

2024-02-04T16:25+0000

2024-02-04T16:25+0000

2024-02-04T16:25+0000

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"US and UK aggressors have launched 48 airstrikes in the past hours, including 13 strikes against the capital of Sanaa and its suburbs, 11 against Taizz governorate, while nine air raids targeted Al Hudaydah governorate," Yahya Saria, a spokesman for the Houthi armed forces, said on social media. Saria argued that the strikes would not convince the Houthis to abandon the people of Palestine and warned that any attack on the Yemeni soil would not go unpunished. The Houthis vowed in November 2023 to attack any Israeli-linked ships passing through the Red Sea in retaliation for the Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip. This led the United States to announce the creation of a multinational operation to secure navigation in the area.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/us-forces-struck-houthi-anti-ship-cruise-missile-in-yemen-1116579677.html

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the united states and the united kingdom launched 48 airstrikes at six yemeni provinces overnight, a houthi military spokesperson said on sunday, adding that retaliation would follow.
Freds Nightmare and driver Marc St. Louis Jr. won the featured $35,270 Open Handicap Pace on Saturday, Feb. 3 at Northville Downs to headline the closing night program.

Freds Nightmare and St. Louis rocketed to the lead and never looked back, setting fractions of :27.4, :57, 1:25 and clocking a winning time in 1:54 flat, the nights fastest, winning by a widening six-length margin. Dillinger and Austin Hanners closed well for second and favoured Commander Bob, driven by David Lake, was up for third.

Freds Nightmare (Fred And Ginger-Nightlife) went three-for-three at Northville to start his seven-year-old season and push his career win count to 22 for trainer and owner Becky Zubkoff.

The win was one of three on the night for the driver-trainer combination of St. Louis and Zubkoff.

Justin Irvine led the Northville finale with a driving grand slam.

The track's last race was won by Staci Malady and Jim Berry's seven-year-old pacing gelding Panther Time and trainer/driver Art McIlmurray in a head decision over Rockin M and Drew Neill. The time of the mile was 1:57.3.

Northville Downs wishes to thank every fan and patron for supporting horse racing in the state of Michigan over the years, and looks forward to the next chapter in Michigan harness racing.

(With files from Northville Downs)
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced in a social media statement on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024 that Frederick Bourgault, 25, of Canada, was arraigned on an indictment charging him with two felonies in connection with the death of a racehorse on July 17, 2023, at the Pine Bush Training Facility in the Town of Crawford, New York.

The indictment charges Bourgault with Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree for having damaged a racehorse named Finish Line, that had an estimated value of at least $5,000. It is alleged that Bourgault struck the horse with a hard object causing a linear depressed skull fracture, which resulted in the horse having to be euthanized. The indictment also charges Bourgault with the felony of Interference with or Injury to Certain Domestic Animals, a felony under the New York State Agriculture and Markets Act, for willfully and unjustifiably injuring or destroying a racehorse.

The New York State Police, aided by the Orange County District Attorneys Office and New York State Gaming Commission, were engaged in an investigation into the death of the horse. The investigation included having the horses remains exhumed and examined by experts at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. The New York State Gaming Commission provided expert witnesses and assisted in coordinating the arrest of Bourgault by the New York State Police. The case was presented to an Orange County Grand Jury, which charged Bourgault with the two felonies prior to him being arrested.

The case is being prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher P. Borek.

This criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New Yorks burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

On Friday, Feb. 2, the Meadowlands Racetrack issued a statement on the investigation, which is available below.

Further details on the death of the Standardbred racehorse "Finish Line" at the hand of trainer Frederick Bourgault at a New York training facility last July reveal that Brice Cote, private investigator for Jeff Gural's racetracks, played an integral role in the process that led to Bourgault's and indictment by Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler and eventual arrest on January 30.

Cote was first made aware of the abuse by a confidential source soon after it occurred. He immediately contacted officials at Gural's tracks to have Bourgault excluded from any presence or participation at those tracks and set about seeing to the details of the overall investigation.

Cote then acquired the name of the attending veterinarian who had euthanized the horse, a young woman with limited experience in the field who had never encountered a situation like this one and was badly shaken by it. Brice helped guide her through the steps necessary to deal with the troubling incident and a course to get it to the hands of the proper authorities.

Cote, a former NJ State Trooper, advised the veterinarian to report the abuse to the NY Gaming Commission and to involve the NY State Police as well.

The police opened an investigation, relying heavily on Cote for guidance in a situation with which they had virtually no experience. Their investigation eventually required the exhumation of the corpse and a necropsy performed to confirm the injuries that ultimately led to the horse's death.

These details provided reliable evidence that enabled the Orange County DA to indict Bourgault for the crime.

Brice Cote's experience and expertise, along with the concern for horses that is a priority at the Gural tracks, went a long way in assuring the investigation process would support the charges for these brutal, malicious deeds and rid the industry of those who would commit them.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack and Orange County District Attorney's Office)
North Platte state Sen. Mike Jacobson won support from western Nebraska colleagues and some rural conservatives but couldnt break a filibuster of his bill Friday, Feb. 2 to keep at least two people in the engine on Nebraskas major railroads.

Senators voted 24-19 in favor of ending debate on Legislative Bill 31, far short of the 33 needed to force a first-round vote on Jacobsons 2024 priority bill.

Jacobson, Gering Sen. Brian Hardin and Sumner Sen. Teresa Ibach voted to end the filibuster. Bayard Sen. Steve Erdman, who previously spoke in LB 31s favor, and Gordon Sen. Tom Brewer were excused Friday but joined them in a 35-8 vote Wednesday for a Transportation and Telecommunications Committee amendment.

Also favoring a vote were most of the Legislatures urban Democrats  four also were excused Friday  and six of Jacobsons other rural Republican colleagues.

But a solid wall of GOP conservatives declined, with Sens. Julie Slama of Sterling and Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha leading them for three mornings in talking about LB 31 to the point where it likely wont return this year.

Obviously the railroads were lobbying every senator hard, really hard to leave them free to reduce train crews to one or none, Jacobson said after the filibuster vote.

Union Pacific Railroad agreed with the SMART-TD conductors union last year to maintain two-person crews in many rural areas for now. Burlington Northern Santa Fe has not.

But lobbyists for both lines were active all week in the State Capitol rotunda, Jacobson said.

We werent asking them to do anything new, he said. Its the status quo. We were asking them to keep doing whats in place today.

But it was very clear we had no viable Omaha conservative senators (in favor) because of U.P.s having (its) headquarters there and their significant presence in Omaha.

U.P. leaders respect the Nebraska Legislature and the outcome of todays decision, railroad spokeswoman Robynn Tysver said Friday. Train crew size should continue to be determined through the collective bargaining process and not on a state-by-state basis.

Despite LB 31s defeat, Jacobson said, the effort was definitely worth it. A two-person crew bill advanced to the floor for the first time, and the opposition had to filibuster it because they knew I had the necessary 25 votes to pass the bill.

To me, it was a loud and clear message that a majority of the Legislature believes there is a safety issue out there with shrinking crews.

The six senators excused Friday would have voted to end the filibuster, Jacobson added. Brewer and Erdman had to attend an out-of-state meeting, three others also had commitments and the sixth was ill.

Jacobson said hell keep working with North Platte and Nebraska railroaders on safety-related bills. I said when I ran for office that I was running to represent District 42.

U.P. conductor Jeff Cooley of Lemoyne, president of Bailey Yard-based SMART-TD Local 200 and the Midwest Nebraska Central Labor Council, said after the vote that Jacobson has proven to be a western Nebraska hero for our safety.

Fridays vote was a disappointment to our immediate cause, but we have not lost this rail safety war of 24 just yet, Cooley said.

This weeks debate shows that Sen. Jacobson has become very educated on what could happen without state rail regulation and the high percentage of a train disaster.

Rail union members and safety advocates will not roll over and play dead or wait for a Nebraska train disaster to happen, Cooley said.

He also applauded the lobbying efforts on LB 31 by Nebraska railroaders, especially SMART-TD Nebraska legislative director Andy Foust, his assistant legislative director Amanda Snide and Pat Pheifer, Nebraska legislative director of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.

Snide and Pheifer, both of whom work at Bailey Yard, were in the Unicameral gallery Friday along with about 25 other railroaders, Cooley said.

New 2024 bill lists will be short for western Nebraska lawmakers The 108th Legislature will convene its 60-day short session at 9 a.m. MT Wednesday, starting with votes to replace the top two leaders of its internal policymaking Executive Board.

If the two-person crew issue is still on the table in 2025, Jacobson said, hell cosponsor a new bill if another senator wants to offer one.

Otherwise, unless theres a significant change in the (makeup) of the body, I think Id want to know I could get to 33 before I offered it, he said.

LB 31s foes repeatedly argued Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings that the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration has indicated itll finally rule on minimum train crew sizes sometime in March.

Nebraska risks lawsuits if it tries to set enforce a different crew number, they said. But supporters replied that states remain free to set their own standards unless and until the FRA rules.

Under federal law, states can make laws about railroad safety if the federal government does not, said Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington. If the federal government does, we cant.

If the FRA mandates at least two-person crews, great. We agree. Nothing happens. If they dont rule, nothing happens. We get to decide. And if the FRA disagrees, they get to decide.

Jacobson tried to win enough votes to break the filibuster by offering an amendment to put a two-year lifespan on LB 31.

He told colleagues that acknowledges the FRA may rule soon on crew sizes. It also would have put Union Pacific and BNSF on the same plane in that regard in Nebraska while covering the expected negotiating period of the next nationwide rail contract in 2025.

Slama, who had launched the filibuster Wednesday, agreed to withdraw her own delaying amendments so Jacobsons could at least be debated. It was still pending when he moved to end debate just before noon Friday.
TECUMSEH  A judge sentenced Eric Ramos to life in prison plus 60 years Friday for the brutal killing of a fellow inmate nearly six years ago during a riot at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution just outside of town.

Ramos, 33, declined a chance to say anything first, on the advice of counsel due to an appeal.

Mr. Ramos, I dont have a lot to say either, District Judge Rick Schreiner said. Other than the fact that you are guilty.

He said the jury had plenty of facts to determine that Ramos was guilty of Michael Galindos murder in 2017.

And, when Ramos testified at trial, he gave jurors an opportunity to see his unique profile, which they then could compare to prison security video of the inmate involved in the attack, the judge said.

The evidence is clear that you are involved in this crime, Schreiner said.

A jury in Saline County, where the case had been moved, found him guilty of first-degree murder, use of a weapon to commit the murder and tampering with evidence.

Following the verdict, defense attorney Tim Noerrlinger filed a motion for a new trial, denied by Schreiner earlier this week.

In it, he raised a number of issues that he says prevented Ramos from getting a fair trial, including prosecutors failure to disclose reports about a witness until after he testified and about a second potential witness the state hadnt previously mentioned until two weeks into trial.

Those issues are sure to be revisited in the coming, automatic appeal over the March 2, 2017, killing.

That day, the team retaking control over the prison after a riot sparked by the discovery of a stash of prison-made alcohol found smoke rolling out of Galindos broken cell window and found him, face down, dead on the floor inside.

An autopsy determined the 31-year-old had been stabbed more than 130 times by sharp objects. Hed been punched, kicked and stomped before ultimately succumbing to smoke inhalation from towels started on fire and pushed through his cell window, where hed locked himself to get away from the attack.

Assistant Nebraska Attorney General Corey OBrien said that while Ramos wasnt involved in the initial attack, he was with others who were just before it and joined in the stabbing.

Ultimately, he said, it was Ramos who got parts from an ice machine, presumably to break Galindos cell window.

That sets off the onslaught of at least 10 other individuals introducing fire into that same area of the prison, the prosecutor said. But it was Mr. Ramos who was the most centrally involved of any of the other people that we saw on the video clip. And for that reason, he was the first to be charged with this crime.

OBrien said that in our society we tend to devalue someones life because of some of the choices theyve made.

But the Nebraska State Patrol and Department of Corrections, whose investigation was criticized by the defense at trial, should be commended for the way they worked the case.

They did not perceive this case like Mr. Galindos life was a throw-away, OBrien said. There was a life lost here, tragically taken in a horrific manner. And for that, Mr. Ramos now stands to receive one of the most severe punishments that Nebraska law allows.

While Galindo had his issues, the attorney said, he was loved, was trying to better himself and definitely did not deserve what happened.

To date, Ramos remains the only one to be charged in the killing, based largely on prison staff identifying him by piecing together surveillance video that they say points to him.

With no statute of limitation on murder, prosecutors could yet charge others and made it clear at trial that they believe they know the names of others involved.After Fridays sentencing, Galindos sister, Jennifer Galindo, said the family was thankful to prosecutors, State Patrol Investigator Neal Trantham and prison staff who testified.

My brother was a good person. He was very kind and loving, she said. He would literally take his shirt and give it to you. I know a lot of people say that. But my brother did. He was like that.

Jennifer Galindo said thats why the family has been so impacted by his loss.

Nearly six years later, its been a long wait for the guilty verdict. But they had faith God would bring them there today. As for whether others may be charged, too, she said: Were going to keep the faith and just let God handle it.

Nebraska's 10 state prisons from least to most crowded 10. Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility 9. Nebraska Correctional Center for Women 8. Tecumseh State Correctional Institution 7. Community Corrections Center-Lincoln 6. Nebraska State Penitentiary 4. Work Ethic Camp 3. Community Corrections Center-Omaha 2. Omaha Correctional Center 1. Diagnostic and Evaluation Center
The book delves into the disturbing collusion between Lebanon's security authorities, with Hezbollah at the forefront as Iran's influential tool in the region.

A group of former Syrian detainees, who were released from Lebanese prisons, have documented their harrowing experiences in a compelling book titled Rebirth  Some of the Stories of Syrian Detainees in Lebanons Prisons.

This impactful narrative, presented to them by esteemed lawyer Haitham al-Maleh, unveils the grim reality faced by Syrians who found themselves incarcerated in Lebanese prisons. The testimonies within the book shed light on undeniable facts, including the torture endured in prisons and detention centers, and rampant corruption within the legal and judicial systems affecting Syrians.

The book delves into the disturbing collusion between Lebanons security authorities, with Hezbollah at the forefront as Irans influential tool in the region, and the oppressive practices of the Syrian regime. These practices have forcibly displaced a significant portion of the population globally.

Spanning 110 pages, the book provides an introduction that defines dictatorial regimes conspiring against the regions people. It explores the journey of seeking asylum in Lebanon, humanitarian efforts and relief activities in the country, the circumstances leading to detention, the arduous journey of dispersal and suffering across Lebanese prisons, methods of torture and ill-treatment, detailed descriptions of Reyhanli and Roumieh prisons, the events that transpired within them, and the response of Lebanese security authorities.

Additionally, the book addresses the conspiracy against detainees, the fabrication of charges, the recruitment of agents by Lebanese authorities under the guise of Islamists, the collusion of these authorities with the Assad regime, and the process of liberation from prison leading to rebirth.

The author speaks

Concerning the concept behind the book, its author, a former detainee in Lebanon, Omar Abdullah Jamoul, shared with Zaman al-Wasl that the primary aim of this groundbreaking work was to capture the testimonies of numerous detainees. The book, the first of its kind, seeks to document their harrowing experiences and the agonizing journey of torment endured in the depths of prisons, orchestrated by individuals either Syrian or Lebanese, trained by the Syrian regime and equally culpable in their criminality.

Audio Testimonials

Our informant further conveyed that the motivation behind penning the book is not to let our experiences go unnoticed or be buried in the depths of oblivion. He explained that, following a stroke of divine intervention, he found himself in Turkey, where he reunited with several former prison companions. Together, they embarked on recounting their prison experiences through audio recordings. Subsequently, he diligently transcribed and rephrased these accounts into classical Arabic, rendering them suitable for publication.

The source unveiled that the book is enriched with clandestinely captured photos from within the prison, skillfully taken away from the watchful eyes of prison authorities and tormentors. It also provides comprehensive information about the prison investigators, including officers, operatives, and executions, along with details about Lebanese personalities associated with prisons and the various forms of torture inflicted upon Syrian detainees  practices that continue to persist. These include brutal beatings with metal sticks, electrical cables, and plastic pipes.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The Syrian Foreign and Expatriates Ministry issued a statement condemning the U.S. attack, according to al-Watan.

In a series of reports from Damascus and Moscow, significant condemnation and concerns were voiced regarding the United States military actions in the eastern region of Syria, near the Iraqi borders. According to a military statement on February 3, 2024, the U.S. launched aerial strikes on several sites and towns in this area, resulting in numerous civilian and military casualties, injuries, and substantial damage to both private and public properties. The Syrian military criticized these actions as unjustified aggression aimed at weakening Syrias capacity to combat terrorism, highlighting the targeted regions role in fighting remnants of the Daesh terrorist organization.

The Syrian Foreign and Expatriates Ministry issued a statement condemning the U.S. attack, labelling it as a revival effort of ISIS terrorist activities by the United States and a violation of Syrias sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety of its citizens. This stance portrays the U.S. as a source of global instability, with its military presence threatening international peace and security, and contributing to regional conflict. The ministry also expressed dismay at the UN Security Councils inaction, hindered by the U.S., preventing it from addressing these violations.

Russia condemns

In parallel, Russias Foreign Ministry voiced its condemnation of the U.S. and Britains aerial aggression in Syria and Iraq, calling for an emergency UN Security Council meeting to discuss the situation. The ministry criticized the airstrikes for causing civilian casualties and destroying infrastructure, highlighting the actions as indicative of the U.S.s aggressive policies in the Middle East and disregard for international law. Furthermore, Russia accused the U.S. of escalating conflict in the region and criticized the British Royal Air Forces participation in these airstrikes, framing it as supportive of Washingtons provocative actions.

These developments have sparked significant international controversy, with calls for diplomatic discussions to address the implications of the U.S.s military interventions in Syria and Iraq amidst ongoing concerns about regional stability and international law.

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.
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.
Syria's Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Faisal al-Mekdad, engaged in a constructive phone conversation with his Omani counterpart, al-Baath reports.

In a series of diplomatic engagements and discussions highlighting the Middle Easts evolving political landscape, significant strides were made towards strengthening bilateral relations and expressing solidarity among nations in the region.

On February 3, 2024, Syrias Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Faisal al-Mekdad, engaged in a constructive phone conversation with his Omani counterpart, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi. During this dialogue, Al-Busaidi reaffirmed Omans unwavering support for Syria, emphasizing the importance of respecting Syrias unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. This conversation also addressed the recent U.S. military actions in Syria, underscoring the urgency of non-interference in the internal affairs of regional countries, halting Israeli aggression towards Palestinians, and ending the occupation of Palestinian and Arab lands.

Minister Mekdad expressed his gratitude towards Oman for its stance against the attacks on Syrian territory, particularly criticizing the latest U.S. aerial aggression aimed at undermining the stability and neighbourly relations between Syria and Iraq. This incident was highlighted as a clear act of aggression, resulting in significant civilian and military casualties, injuries, and extensive damage to both private and public properties in the eastern region of Syria, near the Iraqi borders.

Saudi-Syrian meeting in Riyadh

Parallelly, in Riyadh on February 4, 2024, a meeting took place between Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh, the Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, and Ayman Soussan, the Syrian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This meeting aimed to explore avenues for enhancing bilateral relations, particularly focusing on religious cooperation. The Saudi Minister highlighted the critical Arab and Islamic standing of Syria, advocating for the strengthening of historical and cultural ties. Ambassador Soussan extended an invitation from the Syrian Minister of Religious Endowments to his Saudi counterpart, emphasizing the mutual interest in promoting the core Islamic values of tolerance and moderation.

A notable topic of discussion was the resumption of the Hajj pilgrimage from Damascus under the Syrian Ministry of Endowments management, acknowledging Saudi Arabias efforts in facilitating this significant Islamic duty.

These engagements between Syria, Oman, and Saudi Arabia underscore a collective endeavour toward fostering regional stability, and cooperation, and promoting peace and tolerance, amidst challenges posed by external interventions and conflicts.

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.

British forces on Saturday joined their American allies in new attacks against militia in Yemen, AP reported. The U.S. military earlier launched strikes on dozens of sites manned by Iran-backed fighters in western Iraq and eastern Syria in retaliation for a drone strike in Jordan in late January that killed three U.S. service members and wounded dozens.

Tensions have been rising in the region since the Israel-Hamas war started on Oct. 7. A week later, Iran-backed fighters, who are loosely allied with Hamas, began carrying out drone and rocket attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria. A deadly strike on the desert outpost known as Tower 22 in Jordan near the Syrian border further increased tensions.

Who was targeted in Syria and Iraq

The strikes on Friday came in retaliation for the drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan on Jan. 28.

U.S. forces struck 85 targets in seven locations in a strategic region where thousands of Iran-backed fighters are deployed to help expand Irans influence from Tehran to the Mediterranean coast.

U.S. bases in Syrias eastern province of Deir el-Zour and the northeastern province of Hassakeh have come under attack for years. The Euphrates River cuts through Syria into Iraq, with U.S. troops and American-backed Kurdish-led fighters on the east bank and Iran-backed fighters and Syrian government forces to the west.

Bases for U.S. troops in Iraq have come under attack too.

Iran-backed militias control the Iraqi side of the border and move freely in and out of Syria, where they man posts with their allies from Lebanons powerful Hezbollah and other Shiite armed groups.

Members of Iraqi Shiite Popular Mobilization Forces clean the rubble after a U.S. airstrike in al-Qaim, Iraq, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. The U.S. Central Command said in a statement on Friday that the U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria against Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and affiliated militia groups. (AP Photo/Popular Mobilization Forces Media Office)

Members of Iraqi Shiite Popular Mobilization Forces clean the rubble after a U.S. airstrike in al-Qaim, Iraq, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. The U.S. Central Command said in a statement on Friday that the U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria against Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and affiliated militia groups. (AP Photo/Popular Mobilization Forces Media Office)

How many were killed?

The U.S. military said the barrage of strikes hit command and control headquarters; intelligence centers; rockets and missiles, drone and ammunition storage sites; and other facilities connected to the militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, which handles Tehrans relationship with, and arming of, regional militias.

Syrian opposition activists said the strikes hit the Imam Ali base near the border Syrian town of Boukamal, the Ein Ali base in Quriya, just south of the strategic town of Mayadeen, and a radar center on a mountain near the provincial capital that is also called Deir el-Zour.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said 29 rank-and-file fighters were killed in those strikes.

The attacks also hit a border crossing known as Humaydiya, where militia cross back and forth between Iraq and Syria, according to Omar Abu Layla, a Europe-based activist who heads the Deir Ezzor 24 media outlet. He said the strikes also hit an area inside the town of Mayadeen known as the security quarter.
Robert Ford affirms that the United States has no plans for an imminent withdrawal from Syria, according to Athr Press.

The latest confirmation from the former U.S. ambassador to Damascus, Robert Ford, affirms that the United States has no plans for an imminent withdrawal from Syria. Ford emphasizes that American influence in Syria is notably limited, underscoring that the Kurdish Autonomous Administration would make a significant error if it were to rely on U.S. protection.

In an interview with the Kurdish agency Rudaw, Ford stated, Syria has not been a priority for the United States for the past decade, and even under the Biden administration, it remains a secondary concern. The Ukraine situation, Taiwan, and the Peoples Republic of China take precedence, with the ongoing Gaza war also taking a higher priority for Biden, relegating Syria to the bottom of the list.

Fords assessment suggests that a U.S. withdrawal from Syria is unlikely shortly. He explains, The Biden administration, in my view, is hesitant to exit Syria and be perceived as unsuccessful. Additionally, the U.S. military aims to enhance the readiness of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) before any withdrawal, requiring more time for training and preparation.

The former U.S. ambassador cautioned the Autonomous Administration against relying on U.S. protection, stating, It would be a grave mistake for the Autonomous Administration and its leaders to depend on the United States. The American government has faced challenges in assisting the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian Interim Government in Jarablus.

Highlighting the overall limited US pressure or influence in Syria, Ford stressed the importance for SDF leaders to acknowledge the necessity of making concessions to the Syrian government in negotiations.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The FSA has taken a proactive stance to curb illicit activities, particularly drug trafficking, within its borders and towards Jordan.

In the al-Tanf border region, situated between Jordan and Iraq, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) has taken a proactive stance to curb illicit activities, particularly drug trafficking, within its borders and towards Jordan.

A commanding officer within the FSA, in an exclusive interview with Syria TV, revealed that the army has intensified its border patrols along the strip adjoining Jordan and Iraq with the primary objective of curbing both drug and arms smuggling.

Reliable insider information obtained by Syria TV affirms that the army has successfully thwarted three attempts to smuggle drugs. These smuggling endeavours were orchestrated by militias associated with Iran and the Syrian regime, marking a notable achievement in the early months of 2024.

Coordination with Jordan to control borders

Commander Mohammed Farid al-Qassem of the FSA has previously disclosed the armys strategic preparations to assert control over the Jordanian border, coupled with heightened surveillance measures aimed at curtailing drug smuggling.

In a statement provided to Syria TV, Qassem acknowledged the anticipated nature of clashes along the Jordanian-Syrian border, attributing them to the escalating presence and activities of Iranian militias in the region. He emphasized the armys readiness to manage its borders, specifically within the 55-zone, and expressed the intent to bolster patrols, especially during adverse weather conditions such as foggy days and dust waves.

Addressing the issue of coordination with the Jordanian side, Qassem indicated that while there is an initial stage of coordination, efforts are underway to enhance and develop the collaboration. He expressed hope for a positive response from the Jordanian side as they seek to strengthen bilateral cooperation in border security.

Clashes on Syrian-Jordanian border

In recent times, clashes and movements along the border have escalated, driven by the Jordanian armys vigorous efforts to halt drug smuggling operations originating from Syrian territory. These operations have received direct support from Iran, Hezbollah, and the Syrian regime, resulting in air strikes, armed confrontations, and injuries among soldiers.

In the late months of 2023 and the early days of 2024, the Syrian-Jordanian border witnessed unprecedented incidents and intense clashes between the Jordanian army and networks engaged in smuggling drugs and weapons towards Jordan.

Jordanian military aircraft conducted airstrikes on locations identified by Amman as sites of drug smugglers within Syria. In the course of these border clashes, Jordanian authorities reported that five smugglers were killed, and 15 others were apprehended in a single operation. The situation reflects the gravity of the ongoing struggle to counter illicit activities along the border.

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.
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:

Data source: Royal Automobile Club of Queensland. Credit: CC BY-SA

E-scooters are a popular new feature of urban mobility, offering an eco-friendly solution with zero exhaust emissions and agility in city spaces. They make an attractive option for "last-mile" commutingbridging the gap between public transport and final destinations.

Tourists like them, too, as a convenient way to explore new cities.

Launched in Singapore in 2016, the global electric scooter market is valued at more than US$33.18 billion (A$49 billion) and is growing each year by around 10%.

More than 600 cities globally have embraced e-scooter sharing programs, yet reactions to these micro-mobility vehicles vary, making them a contentious urban planning issue.

Cities such as San Francisco and Madrid initially banned e-scooters, citing safety and public space concerns, but later introduced regulations for their use. Paris conducted a referendum, resulting in an e-scooter ban.

In Australia, the response has been more welcoming, though regulations differ across states and territories. What do we know about how safe e-scooters are? And what can we learn from other cities?

More e-scooters means more injuries

The growing popularity of e-scooters worldwide, including in Australian cities, has been mirrored by a significant rise in related injuries and hospital admissions.

Most of these incidents involve males in their late 20s or early 30s, commonly sustaining head, face and limb injuries. There is consistently low helmet use in those injured. Also, about 30% of people who go to hospital with e-scooter injuries have elevated blood alcohol levels. Crashes involving riders under the influence of alcohol are associated with more severe head and face injuries.

A study examining data from the Royal Melbourne Hospital reported 256 e-scooter-related injuries in the year to January 2023including nine pedestrianswith a total hospitalization cost of A$1.9 million.

In Queensland, e-scooter-related presentations to hospitals rose from 279 in 2019 to 877 in 2022. By September of 2023, this figure had already reached 801 (full-year figures weren't available yet). Similar trends are seen in almost every city that has introduced e-scooters.

But are e-scooters riskier than other transport?

All modes of transport come with inherent safety risks. While trauma patient records in Western Australia show an almost 200% annual increase between 2017 and 2022 in e-scooter related admissions, these figures still remain well below those for cyclist injuries.

We need to understand the relative risk of e-scootersa newcomer to the mobility marketand compare it to other established forms of transport. A proper assessment also considers exposurethe total number of trips and the distance covered.

A study in the United Kingdom, incorporating exposure factors using data from an e-scooter rideshare operator and hospital admissions combined, indicates that although hospital presentations increased during the e-scooter trial period, the injury rate was comparable to that of bicycles.

But it might be a different story when it comes to the severity of injuries. Some studies suggest a higher incidence of severe trauma among e-scooter users compared to cyclists. One study of more than 5,000 patients treated at a major trauma center in Paris found that, while the mortality rate from e-scooter crashes wasn't higher than that of bicycles or motorbikes, the risk of severe traumatic brain injuries was slightly higher than bicycles (26% compared to 22%).

There is evidence e-scooter riders tend to engage in significantly more risky behavior than cyclists. Compared to injured bicyclists, those injured while riding e-scooters:

tend to be younger

are more frequently found to be intoxicated

exhibit a lower rate of helmet use

and are more commonly involved in accidents at night or on weekends.

We can make them safer

Mitigating safety risks of e-scooters requires consistent regulation, stricter enforcement of rules, and user education about safe scootering. This includes restrictions on usage times, rider age restrictions, mobile phone and headphone use, riding under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speed limits, helmet use and carrying passengers.

The cooperation of e-scooter companies is crucial in enhancing safety. They could curb risky behaviors and enforce the rules. This could be done with simple devices to make scooters automatically stick within speed limits, sobriety tests before operation or detecting and preventing tandem riding. More advanced options could include technology to require helmet use for scooter activation.

Safety in numbers

Data on the total number of rides and coverage, as well as recording of accidents, is needed. Access to this detailed information would offer a clearer understanding of the actual accident and injury risks associated with e-scooters than the news headlines.

And let's not overlook the "safety in numbers" effect. In the world of urban mobility, e-scooters are currently "the small fish in a big pond." As the demand for e-scooters grows, they may find their place in our city planning and infrastructure design.

Across Europe cities with limited cycling infrastructure have seen the largest increase in e-scooter accidents. Cities with lots of bike lanes showed no significant effect.

The path to safer e-scootering might lie in the development of more friendly infrastructure. As the ridership grows, safety investments should follow, and that can make the future of e-scootering less risky for everyone.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Keith McPhail, the lone Texas A&M University graduate in the District 10 U.S. House race, says his connections to the area make him stand out as a candidate.

I think we want to see a congressman who is working for District 10, he said. I think voters want deliverables, not empty promises. For example, they want to see funding go into our two great research universities. They want to see opportunities sent to Texas A&M. They want to see it sent to the University of Texas, but they dont want to see theory, they want to see tangible deliverables.

A former senior account executive and Travis County resident, McPhail is vying for the Democratic nomination against Theresa Boisseau in Texas 10th Congressional District.

McPhail, 50, graduated from Texas A&M in 1997 with a degree in finance and studied Business Administration at the University of Texas at Austin, both of which are now located in District 10.

McPhail said he first became involved in Washington promoting Pell Grants with the UT Alumni Association, TexasExes, and realized results could be achieved in a better manner.

Thats how I learned what can be accomplished in Washington and what is realistic, he said. [Texas A&M] has been moved into District 10, which now spans from Western Travis County and then out into Aggieland.

This sort of naturally speaks to the two pieces of my formative experience living in both of those worlds that are very, very different and very difficult sometimes to translate between. People who live in both worlds kind of know how to do that and I think that is a skill-set that I bring to the table.

Reproductive rights

One of the biggest issues facing Texas, McPhail said, is the lack of reproductive health care available to women after the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court in June 2022.

I think you will see a majority of Republicans, independents and Democrats are going to agree that they want to see the issue addressed, he said. I think we understand that the Republican incumbent [Michael McCaul] is not going to do that. You look at the authoritarian steps that are going along with the implementation of the loss of reproductive freedom.

McPhail said women in Texas need to stop being persecuted solely for their sex.

Were talking about checkpoints, travel bans; theyre unacceptable, he said. What we need to do immediately is decriminalize being a woman who has suffered a pregnancy loss, decriminalize being a woman who is seeking medical care. That can be done whether we take all three [branches of government] or not.

Education and domestic issues

Another important issue, McPhail said, is to address the ability of young people to afford college.

Looking at university communities, financial aid needs to be streamlined, he said. We have kind of an archaic system. Those things need to be addressed as well as making sure were continuing Pell Grants, making sure were continuing loan forgiveness programs.

University communities go beyond just the students and also include the people living in the surrounding areas, McPhail said.

Democrats did well in the farm and ranch communities when they were the militant defender of the farmer, the rancher, the working man, the teacher, the student, the soldier and the veteran, he said. They want a congressman who will make a difference on their behalf.

McPhail said District 10 residents are tired of receiving undelivered promises from Republicans.

Aggies are smart people; I think they like straight talk, he said. I think just fundamentally doing the work of Congress is going to be a huge part of that. I think theyve seen plenty of anti-promises from the Republican side. I think theyre ready to move on.

US-Mexico border and Ukraine

McPhail said the border is a legitimate issue that needs to be addressed, but that he believes McCaul keeps switching blame on different parties.

Last week, he said that we have a problem at the border and the solution is to put together a bipartisan bill and work with the White House so that we can pass a bill that has the teeth to address the border issue, he said. By Sunday, his story was that [President] Biden should be acting unilaterally to address the situation at the border.  And then early this week, it was that [Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro] Mayorkas should be acting unilaterally.

Republicans have failed to solve the problem because they need disorder at the border in order to campaign, McPhail said.

I think that is something the voters in Aggieland are going to see right through, he said. I think theyre going to want to see congressman who take action and take effective action and solve problems.  I think [Ukraine aid] is of utmost importance, but I dont think these two things need to be tied together. The issue of [Russia President Vladimir] Putins attacks into Ukraine is something that absolutely has to be dealt with.
Here are rain totals through 7 a.m. Saturday morning. Houston ended with over 1.50 inches on Saturday. Pivotal Weather

A large cluster of showers and thunderstorms swept through southeast Texas early Saturday morning. Between midnight and 11 a.m., 1.67 inches of rain fell at Bush Intercontinental Airport, the official weather observation site in Houston. That Houstons second-highest rainfall total ever for Feb. 3. The record daily rainfall is 1.82 inches, which was set on Feb. 3, 1992.

Rainfall totals were slightly lower at Houston Hobby, where 1.27 inches of rain fell on Saturday. A few surrounding areas had significantly higher rainfall amounts. Huntsville picked up 2.68 inches, and Galveston recorded 2.35 inches on Saturday.

Through Feb. 3, its been a very rainy start to the year in Southeast Texas. Houston has already recorded 10.50 inches of rain so far in 2024. That makes 2024 Houston's rainiest start to a year in over 120 years. The only year that Houston has recorded more rain was way back in 1891, when 13.12 inches was recorded through Feb. 3.

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Sundays forecast

Drier air is expected to move into Houston on Sunday. That will result in bright sunshine from the morning through much of the afternoon. Temperatures will be near average for early February. Morning lows will drop into the upper 40s, but temperatures will rise steadily throughout the day.

Temperatures will be close to 60 degrees by 11 a.m., and high temperatures will reach the mid 60s by the afternoon. Winds will be breezy, coming in at 15 to 20 mph throughout the day. Some wind gusts could reach over 30 mph.

Here is a look at wind gusts in southeast Texas at 3 p.m. Sunday. Some gusts will be over 30 mph in Houston. Pivotal Weather

There is a low chance of a few isolated showers by Sunday evening, coming in from the north. However, thanks to the drier air in place, rain would likely be limited to a few drops. Most of Southeast Texas will stay completely dry.

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Any more rain this week?

High pressure will build across the middle of the country to start the new work week. This will result in several dry days in a row in Southeast Texas. After such a rainy first few weeks of the year, it will be nice to have a break from the wet weather.

Mostly sunny skies are expected Monday and Tuesday, and temperatures will be close to average for early February. Morning lows will be in the upper 40s to low 50s, and afternoon highs will rise to the mid 60s.

Here is a look at expected high temperatures on Monday. Houston will see high in the low to mid 60s. Pivotal Weather

Be sure to head outside and enjoy the beautiful weather coming because changes are on the way by the end of the week. By Wednesday and Thursday, skies will become mostly cloudy but rain chances will stay close to zero in Southeast Texas.

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China's MA60 firefighting aircraft embarks on airworthiness flight tests

10:06, February 04, 2024 By Hu Tao ( Xinhua

BEIJING, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's MA60 firefighting aircraft, an independently developed aeronautical equipment tailored to serve emergency rescue missions, has entered its crucial stage of airworthiness compliance flight tests, according to the developer.

MA60 firefighting aircraft, a new member of the Modern Ark multipurpose aircraft family, initiated its flight tests in late January to verify its compliance with the airworthiness regulations of the Chinese civil aviation authorities, said the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

It has already performed various flight test subjects, such as hedgehopping and dropping of its maximum water capacity of six tonnes at a very low altitude of about 50 meters during the flight tests, the AVIC added.

Flight tests have demonstrated that water dropped from the aircraft can cover a ground area measuring 200 meters in length and 30 meters in width.

MA60 firefighting aircraft is a large and medium-sized fixed-wing plane that is specially tailored to serve aerial firefighting and other rescues.

It is developed by AVIC XAC Commercial Aircraft Co., Ltd. in Xi'an, located in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, with independent intellectual property rights. The aircraft has been designed in strict adherence to the airworthiness regulations stipulated by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

The development and progress of the MA60 firefighting aircraft will support China in cultivating a comprehensive aerial firefighting capability with small, medium and large aircraft, which will further support the country in building a national comprehensive emergency rescue system, said Guo Zhiwu, a senior official with the Ministry of Emergency Management.

"The application of fixed-wing aircraft in fighting against fire in China is in the initial stage, with broad market prospects," Guo said.

He noted that the further development of the MA60 firefighting aircraft, along with pilot training and other related activities, will facilitate the successful integration of this new aircraft model into the emergency air rescue system.

As a key model developed for China's emergency air rescue system, the MA60 firefighting aircraft features remarkable maneuverability and capability to fly at low speeds in low altitudes. This enables precise and effective water release over fire sites in complex settings, enhancing the overall efficiency of firefighting operations.

It will mainly be used for combating forest and grassland fires, as it can perform multiple rescue operations, such as fire monitoring, water dropping, telecommunications support, as well as the transportation of personnel and supplies.

The development team will accelerate follow-up flight tests and related works for the aircraft to facilitate its development, airworthiness and delivery, and contribute to China's emergency rescue works, the AVIC said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) confers with loa wnforcement officials before a news conference near the border in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2023. Johnson is trying to raise pressure on President Joe Biden and Democrats to agree to strict new immigration policies to choke off the flow of migrants streaming into the country. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times) KENNY HOLSTON/NYT

How serious is the chaos at our southern border?

Charles Eugene Chip Roy, the excitable Republican who represents a congressional district west of Austin, will tell you: It is a purposeful effort to deluge our society and to undermine our way of life, to destroy western civilization, he proclaimed a few days ago. Roy blamed Democrats in power for wreaking havoc on western civilization.

How serious is the chaos at our southern border?

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House Speaker Mike Johnson will tell you: Its so serious that Congress  even while facing civilizations demise  should wait another year or so before solving the problem. Never mind that U.S. Senate Republicans are working with Democrats on a plan they were touting just a few days ago as the toughest, most conservative immigration-reform plan anyone has seen in years. If the bill reaches his desk, President Joe Biden has vowed to sign it and shut down the border.

EAGLE PASS: Abbott vows expansion of Texas border security push alongside 13 Republican governors

Now, even if bipartisan legislation squeaks through in the Senate, its a no-go in the House, because former President Donald Trump has demanded that Johnson ignore it. A border deal might help Biden, you know. The deceptively mild-mannered Louisiana Republican, anticipating a triumphant Trump restoration in November, listens to his masters voice. And obeys.

Oh, and we almost forgot. While the Senate at least goes through the motions of crafting a border-security package, the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday approved articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Republican committee members insist on impeaching the man for nothing more than carrying out the policies of the president who appointed him.

Their vote mocks the seriousness of the impeachment process as laid out in the Constitution, and, if the full House votes next week to impeach, the absurd crusade will almost certainly die in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

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Michael Chertoff, former Homeland Security secretary under President George W. Bush, put it this way, writing in the Wall Street Journal: I dont agree with every policy decision the Biden administration has made. There are aspects of immigration strategy that are worthy of debate. But House Republicans are ducking difficult policy work and hard-fought compromise. Impeachment is a diversion from fixing our broken immigration laws and giving DHS the resources needed to secure the border.

Chertoff has been a serious public servant. Impeachment-hungry House Republicans are not, even though we really do have a border problem on our hands. The number of people crossing into this country is more than double what it was during the Trump administration. Most people encountered at the border are removed, returned or expelled, but millions await immigration hearings while in the U.S. The asylum system is broken. Avenues for legal immigration are unwieldy and overwhelmed.

In Texas, meanwhile, a latter-day George Wallace of sorts blocks the schoolhouse door. Despite a U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing U.S. Border Patrol agents to remove a stretch of razor wire along the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass, Gov. Greg Abbott has refused to allow the federal government to do so. Twenty-five Republican governors are supporting Abbott (as does Roy, of course), while fringe militia groups, heartened by Abbotts obstinance, are headed to Eagle Pass spoiling for a fight.

Abbott, a former attorney general, Texas Supreme Court justice and member of what was once the nations self-proclaimed party of law-and-order, said in a statement last week that Biden has ignored Texass demand that he perform his constitutional duties and that Texas has declared an invasion, thereby invoking Texas constitutional authority to defend and protect itself.

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That authority is the supreme law of the land, he said, and supersedes any federal statutes to the contrary. The Texas National Guard, the Texas Department of Public Safety and other Texas personnel are acting on that authority, as well as state law, to secure the Texas border.

For Americans of a certain age, Abbotts defiance has a familiar ring. It brings to mind Alabamas segregation forever governor, George Wallace, who in 1963 barred African-American students Vivian Malone and James Hood from registering at the University of Alabama. In response to his schoolhouse-door defiance, President John F. Kennedy ignored the advice of every one of his aides (except brother Bobby) and issued an executive order federalizing the Alabama National Guard. Gen. Henry Graham of the Alabama National Guard told Wallace, Sir, it is my sad duty to ask you to step aside under the orders of the president of the United States. Wallace stepped aside.

Six years earlier, Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus had ordered the National Guard to block nine Black students from enrolling in previously all-white Central High School in Little Rock, thus defying the U.S. Supreme Courts monumental Brown decision three years earlier. A Republican president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, responded by federalizing the entire Arkansas National Guard, Army and Air, and by sending riot-trained units from the 101st Airborne Division to escort the students into their new school. Both Eisenhower and Kennedy relied on the Insurrection Act of 1807 as justification.

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, has urged Biden to take similar action. Gov. Greg Abbott is using the Texas National Guard to obstruct and create chaos at the border, Castro posted on X. If Abbott is defying yesterdays Supreme Court ruling, @POTUS needs to establish sole federal control of the Texas National Guard now.

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The president could do just as the congressman suggests, but the blowback would be fierce.

That would be the biggest political blunder he could make, Abbott said on Sean Hannitys Fox News show.

Like Wallace, a four-time presidential candidate, the Texas governor craves national recognition and would relish having Biden inadvertently help him. In addition, University of Texas law professor Stephen Vladeck, writing in the New York Times, suggests that such a move would be legally dubious on its own.

In Castros X post, theres that word again: Chaos. Chaos in Washington that rivals anything at the border. How else to describe Republican border positions?

Cynicism also comes to mind. Thanks to a pairing of border-security legislation with military aid to a desperate European nation facing a border crisis that is nothing short of existential, its cynicism combined with heartless political calculation. Republican recalcitrance  and Trumps history of fanboy fawning over Vladimir Putin  means that the brave people of Ukraine are being left to Russias ravaging wolves.

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Whats frustrating about the chaos, cynicism and political calculation emanating from Washington is that Congress alone has the power to address the problem, if not fix it. But Congress refuses to do so. It has refused for decades.

Before western civilization gets destroyed, we might note that in Greek mythology, Chaos (or Khaos) is one of the primordial gods, ruling over a chasm or void impossible to measure. The word came to mean confusion centuries later. Lucky us. On our southern border and in Congress, we have all three  a chasm, a void, and utter confusion.

Law professor Vladeck suggests at least one path toward clarification. Biden, he writes, would be well advised to give a public address identifying facts and fiction about the administrations immigration policies, especially as they compare with those of his predecessors. The goal is not a publicity stunt but rather an honest effort to identify what the current challenges are, how they align with (and differ from) the challenges of the past and what hed like to do to meet them.
In 2022, European LNG imports increased by 60%. Above: A pipeline leads to LNG tankers on the Sabine Pass in Cameron Parish, La. Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer In September 2023, nearly 95% of domestically produced LNG was exported from Louisiana and Texas. Above: An LNG tanker is docked to be loaded at Chenieres Sabine Pass LNG Terminal in Cameron, La. Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

President Joe Bidens decision to freeze liquefied natural gas export permitting to non-free trade agreement countries  an action taken to appease left-wing climate activists  is disastrous policy no matter which way you cut it. LNG exports are critical to our energy, economic and national security while providing major environmental benefits.

Since Russian troops invaded Ukraine nearly two years ago, American LNG has served as a vital lifeline for countries in Europe and across the globe. In 2022 alone, European LNG imports increased by 60%. The U.S. met the majority of that demand, providing affordable and reliable energy to our friends and allies. Thanks to Americas energy producers, these countries have reduced their reliance on Russian natural gas and bolstered their energy security. Bidens LNG freeze threatens to reverse that progress. It may force European leaders to make an impossible decision: gamble on an unreliable supply of American LNG or prop up Putins war by switching to Russian gas to keep the lights on.

Dangerous conflicts are unfolding outside of Europe as well. Irans terrorist proxies are ramping up attacks in the Middle East and disrupting vital trade corridors. At the same time, tensions are escalating in the Indo-Pacific from Chinese aggression. Bottom line: This is the absolute worst time to jeopardize our economic and national security.

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Furthermore, LNG exports are uniquely suited to help decrease global emissions. Looking at the U.S. alone, the shift to natural gas for electricity generation has reduced emissions significantly more than the added amount of renewables, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Our emissions are lower today than they were in 2005, despite significant economic and population growth. This all happened thanks in large part to the natural gas revolution. But it doesnt fit into the preferred narrative for left-wing climate activists. Soon, our allies will have to turn to other producers like Russia and Iran or switch to coal to meet energy demand. All these options produce far more emissions than American LNG and are extracted with inferior environmental standards.

Bidens decision to halt new LNG export projects is sure to bolster hostile nations, line the pockets of dictators and increase global emissions. Its a dangerous move that hurts our allies and helps our adversaries.

While the freeze pauses numerous projects currently in the queue  projects that wont come to fruition for years  this decision demonstrates the fundamental misunderstanding on the part of the Biden administration on how industry works. Purchase agreements are lined up well before LNG export facilities come online. For example, a project planned on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico has already signed a 20-year contract to supply American energy to Europe. The uncertainty created by this decision jeopardizes pending and future critical projects, which could in turn affect job growth in Louisiana and Texas, our nations economy and our allies security for years to come.

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The economic impact cannot be overstated. In September 2023, nearly 95% of domestically produced LNG was exported from Louisiana and Texas. Nationally, its a significant economic boon, as well. According to the American Petroleum Institute, the oil and natural gas industry employs almost 2.6 million Americans and supports 9.8 million jobs in the U.S. A report commissioned by the API estimates that increased exports could create more than 450,000 jobs and increase the U.S. gross domestic product by $73 billion. The decision to halt new LNG projects for more than a year will have a chilling effect on new investments that would help make that growth possible.
Phil Heck makes his political stances known at his roadside stand as he waits for the Take Our Border Back convoy to arrive in the small South Texas town of Quemado, which is north of Eagle Pass. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News Drivers gather on Friday as they wait for the Take Our Border Back convoy to arrive at the Cornerstone Children's Ranch in Quemado, a South Texas town not far from Eagle Pass. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News Paige Tooker drives a hearse on Friday as she waits for the Take Our Border Back convoy to arrive at the Cornerstone Children's Ranch in Quemado, a South Texas town not far from Eagle Pass. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News Paige Tooker drives a hearse on Friday as she waits for the Take Our Border Back convoy to arrive at the Cornerstone Children's Ranch in Quemado, a South Texas town not far from Eagle Pass. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News Jerry and Wendy Fairchild on Friday walk past one of the trucks in the Take Our Border Back convoy after it arrived at the Cornerstone Children's Ranch in Quemado, a South Texas town not far from Eagle Pass. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News A dog sticks its head out of an American flag-themed RV during the Take Our Border Back rally at Cornerstone Children's Ranch in Quemado on Saturday. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News Jeffrey Lee carries an American flag during the Take Our Border Back rally at the Cornerstone Children's Ranch in Quemado ion Saturday. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News People take part in a rally for the Take Our Border Back convoy on Saturday at Cornerstone Children's Ranch in Quemado. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News Lola and Jeffrey Lee wave American flags during the Take Our Border Back convoy rally at the Cornerstone Children's Ranch on Saturday. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News Vendors sell flags and banners on Saturday in Quemado near where the Take Our Border Back rally was being held. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News T-shirts critical of President Joe Biden were for sale Saturday in Quemado at the Take Or Border Back rally In South Texas. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News A person dressed as Batman stands Saturday outside the Cornerstone Children's Ranch in Quemado, where the Take Our Border Back convoy rally was being held. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News

QUEMADO  Marty Crouse sat in a mesh rocking chair, a shade covering his head as he took in the scene.

Overhead, dozens of flags flapped in the breeze, many proclaiming Come and Take It and Trump 2024. A band played Christian worship music from a stage, and around him, several hundred people milled about under a bright blue sky at Cornerstone Childrens Ranch in Quemado, about 20 miles north of Eagle Pass.

Crouse drove from his home near Tampa, Fla., to reach this tiny border town, typically home to fewer than 200 people.

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He came, he said, because its important to show not just the Biden administration but also other Americans that things along the border are worse than they think.

On the side of his vehicle, Crouse had written Vets 1st, stop fentanyl, close the border.

His was one of more than 200 vehicles that streamed into Quemado on Friday night as part of the Take Our Border Back Convoy, an event organized by conservative groups calling on the federal government to secure the U.S-Mexico border.

Members of the group say President Joe Biden and his administration are in violation of federal immigration laws, and in videos promoting the event, some called the situation at the border an invasion.

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The convoy was scheduled to hold three rallies near the border Saturday: the one in Quemado, along with events in Arizona and California. The ranch hosting the Texas event, which describes itself as a multidenominational ministry and retreat center, is about 20 miles north of Shelby Park, the city-owned park in Eagle Pass that Gov. Greg Abbott took control of last month.

As the national debate swirls over U.S. immigration policies and how to secure the border, Eagle Pass has become the epicenter of a standoff between the Biden administration and Abbott, who has restricted the Border Patrols access and installed razor wire on the Rio Grande to stop border crossings.

Abbott and 14 other Republican governors are scheduled to visit Eagle Pass on Sunday.

The Take Our Border Back convoy started from Virginia Beach, Va., with fewer than a dozen vehicles arriving in Jacksonville, Fla. The group moved on to Baton Rouge, La., then to Dripping Springs, about 20 miles west of Austin, where they rallied at One Shot Distillery and Brewery with former vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and musician Ted Nugent.

On Friday, they headed south, bolstered by a much larger number of vehicles by the time they arrived in Quemado shortly after 8 p.m.

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'Meeting a lot of folks'

While most cars were from Texas, there were license plates from at least 20 states, including California, Alaska and Pennsylvania, as well as a few from Canada. About 100 cars arrived earlier in the afternoon and were waiting to welcome them, greeting the vehicles  including a few semitrucks  with cheers and honks.

At the gate, participants acting as security told people no guns or alcohol were allowed, at one point turning away a man in a bulletproof vest, telling him it wasnt necessary.

While leaders of the convoy said the group had no organized events planned in Eagle Pass, some of the participants made their way into town, strolling around downtown Saturday morning, taking in the fencing at Shelby Park, some carrying Trump and Dont Tread on Me flags and snapping photos and selfies.

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Kelly and Dave Szyperski were among those in Eagle Pass, taking photos through the fencing at an entrance to the park. The couple drove from Dallas to join the convoy in Dripping Springs, and they were planning to join the rally at the ranch. It was their first time in the border city, which they felt they needed to see for themselves, they said. They support Abbotts recent actions but said its sad that state government leaders feel they have to do what the federal government should be doing.

In addition to locking down the border, Dave Szyperski said, government officials "need to be rounding up the people that are here and sending them home. He said undocumented immigrants are being allowed into the country only because Democrats need more votes.

Some said the highlight of the trip was meeting others who share their views on politics and immigration.

Im just meeting a lot of folks, like-minded people that are not from here, said Ramon Garza, a San Antonio resident and president of the group This is Texas Freedom Force. He was manning the gate at Cornerstone Ranch on Friday night and Saturday afternoon, waving vehicles through one by one.

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He said that since April, hes come down to Quemado to work with a group of volunteers who patrol ranches in the area in an attempt to deter people from entering the country illegally.

Most of the migrants gathered at the border in recent months are seeking asylum and turning themselves over to the Border Patrol as soon as they cross, which is legal.

Like many others, Garza is in favor of the states recent actions at the border  but said he wishes Abbott had done so two or three years ago.

As long as he doesnt back down, it should work out well, Garza said, and will draw legislators attention to the situation.

Criticism from local leaders

At a news conference Friday ahead of the convoys arrival, some local advocacy groups and civic leaders called on Abbott and state leaders to focus on Eagle Pass needs, including infrastructure and jobs, and accused them of using the city to win political points.

Jessie Fuentes, who owns a canoe and kayak business on the Rio Grande, said Abbotts actions have turned the river into a disaster zone and that the state has taken over a park used for connecting people with each other and nature.

He said the convoy, which has called itself Gods Army, was coming to spread hate and dissension. Eagle Pass residents need to be respected and listened to, he said, instead of being ignored in the midst of a national debate playing out in their town.

Resident and community activist Jose Corpus said government dollars should be spent on better water and sewage systems and other investments to benefit the citys residents, instead of border fortifications.

Corpus said the convoy visitors should let the government handle the situation. The border doesnt need their protection, he said, "and we dont need them here."

Crouse, the visitor from Florida, said he doesn't trust what the news media is reporting about the border situation, so he came to see things for himself. He encouraged other Americans to do the same.
1,067 bank accounts and 49 loans issued in names of deceased during past 5 years

By Lee Yeon-woo

Two years ago, an individual was apprehended for obtaining a loan of 30 million won ($22,413) online by using his deceased brother's identity. A court in Seoul convicted him of fraud, sentencing him to four months in prison with a one-year suspended sentence.

Including this incident, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) revealed on Sunday that 1,067 bank accounts have been created fraudulently and 49 loans issued in the names of deceased individuals over the last five years. Additionally, there have been 6,698 cases of unauthorized financial activities, such as changes to account passwords or digital certificates.

The findings were uncovered during the FSS' routine inspections of certain banks, leading to a wider investigation across all banking institutions. It was discovered that these fraudulent transactions took place mostly after the time of a customer's death and before the bank was notified of the death, utilizing non-face-to-face methods such as mobile banking.

The bank's current procedures for remote identity verification are not robust enough to guarantee the accurate identification of account holders. This allows individuals in possession of a deceased person's ID card, mobile phone and password to carry out financial transactions.

In some instances, heirs may bypass the complex and time-consuming legal inheritance process by the unauthorized use of their deceased parent's financial information, thereby risking legal consequences.

For example, one individual faced legal repercussions after transferring 7.5 million won from his deceased mother's bank account to his own without the consent of his sibling, who was also entitled to a share of the inheritance. This sibling reported this action to the authorities, resulting in a 3 million won fine for the individual on charges of computer fraud and embezzlement.

The FSS has issued a recommendation that deaths should be reported to local government authorities within one month of occurring, with financial institutions being notified as well. Following such notifications, these financial institutions are advised to freeze any withdrawals from accounts registered in the name of the deceased. Currently, there is no legal deadline for reporting a death to the financial entities.

To enhance security, the FSS plans to implement facial recognition technology. This will involve the verification of a customer's identity by comparing the photo on their ID card to a live photo taken during the verification process, confirming the identity of the account holder.
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The Cecil Williams South Carolina Civil Rights Museum will work to have the historic Briggs v. Elliott case recognized as the beginning of the modern civil rights movement, museum founder and director Cecil Williams said in a conference Thursday.

The museum will be partnering with the South Carolina Humanities to host a series of roundtable discussions and other promotional events across the state in 2024 to raise awareness of the Briggs case, Williams said.

We're not trying to change history, Williams said. We're trying to correct history.

Harry and Eliza Briggs were the first to sign a petition asking Clarendon County schools to provide a bus for Black students in 1951. At the time, buses were only provided for white students.

The resulting lawsuit, Briggs v. Elliott, was the first of several cases that combined to become Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas  the Supreme Court ruling which desegregated public schools in the United States.

Williams and others blame political maneuvering on behalf of Southern interests for the case not bearing the original petitioners names. The Briggs case and the families who signed the petition have been overshadowed by later civil rights milestones and leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks, he said.

I hope history books can be rewritten to include these milestones, he said. I hope everyone from credentialed historians to school-aged children will respect this claim.

He was joined by attorney Thomas Mullikin, Briggs descendant Nathaniel Briggs, former state legislator James Felder and state NAACP leader the Rev. Nelson Rivers for the announcement, made in a dedicated Briggs v. Elliot display room in Historic Scotts Branch High School in Summerton on the first day of Black History Month.

Mullikin filed a petition with the Supreme Court in November to have Brown v. Board renamed for the Clarendon County case, but the court decided not to accept the petition after it made its way through the first court threshold on Jan. 5, he said.

The activities planned in the coming year by the museum will be the next steps in getting the Briggs case its proper recognition, he said.

I grew up in the country and we used to say We aint even broke a sweat yet, he said. We are going to reclaim our history. The civil rights movement started here. We had no delusions. We were told that it was very unlikely that the court would accept it. It was the first shot. There'll be many more.

Mullikin said the case would have been an opportunity to show the judicial system is blind. He said nothing has moved him in his career like interviewing the families of the petitioners in the Briggs case.

One day, maybe not today, but one day it will be recognized that the families bravely stood up, many of whom died because of it, who were ridiculed, lost their small economic fortunes, stood for something better, bigger and better than themselves. That's what happened here, he said.

Nathaniel Briggs, son of the petitioners and the cases namesake Harry and Eliza Briggs, said he has to mention Brown v. Board before telling his familys story.

I shouldn't have to pre-represent what happened here, he said.

The acknowledgement of the Clarendon County families who kicked off what would become one of the most important milestones in the civil rights movement will also promote the states place in history, Rivers said.

Many strategies adopted in the national movement were started in South Carolina, he said.

Had it not been for the Briggs family and all those on that petition, segregation would have lasted a lot longer in America, he said during the press conference. So much longer that some of you would not be working in the job you have now.

The first of the series of roundtables was held in the schools library directly after the announcement. Williams, Felder, Briggs, Rivers and Mullikin were joined by petition signer Beatrice Rivers and historian Larry Watson for the discussion.

Descendants of petition signers, members of the community, and students from Camden Military Academy made up the crowd of dozens listening to the discussion.

Beatrice Rivers talked about her familys life in Summerton after signing the petition when she was 13 years old.

All heck broke loose, she said.

At that time I had no intention of doing anything that was important, except maybe to trying to be cute, trying to be smart, she said. Like a typical teenage kid. 

Her parents, like many other petitioners, lost their jobs and were ostracized by the community, she said. On her walks to school, white children would yell slurs and throw things at her from the windows of the passing school bus she was not allowed to ride.

Her parents were asked to remove their names but believed the cause was worth fighting for, she said. She calls her parents her heroes.

The audacity of these people, these sharecroppers, these farmers standing up to us, for something better for their children, she said. And believe me, when they did that, they stood up for kids all over America.

Descendants of the petition signers were recognized during the roundtable.

Akiva Ford, a descendant of the Pearson family who signed the petition and board member at the Cecil Williams Civil Rights Museum, asked those in attendance to bring similar programs to other area schools.

Ford has traced the miles-long path the Black students had to walk to school before integration.

Thats a long walk, she said. It was 34 degrees this morning. Thats a long walk to get an education, but they did it.

Jannie Harriet, executive director of development and programs at the museum, encouraged those in attendance to contact their state representatives to encourage them to support state funding for the museum.

Moving the museum from its current location at Williams's home to Orangeburgs historic Railroad Corner will take $4 million, she said.

At the end of the discussion, Williams presented Mullikin with a plaque to recognize his dedication of $300,000 in billable hours over five years pro bono for the Supreme Court petition.

Williams said he begged lawyers in Charlotte to take on the case before finding Mullikin.

"We are indebted to him," Williams said.
The United States has not detected indications of "direct" North Korean military action, its top nuclear envoy has said, pledging to make "relentless" efforts to deter and constrain evolving threats from the recalcitrant regime.

In an online interview with Yonhap News Agency on Friday, U.S. Senior Official for North Korea Jung Pak made the remarks as the North's pugnacious rhetoric and its continued weapons tests have deepened worries about the possibility of major provocations by the North and even of an armed clash on the Korean Peninsula.

Despite an escalation of threats, the envoy expressed her hopes for Pyongyang to further reopen its border to pave the way for diplomacy, while stressing Washington's "sincerity" in its repeated yet unanswered dialogue overtures.

Highlighting her "100 percent" focus on North Korean issues, Pak also waved aside lingering speculation that America's policy toward the North could weaken following the departure of her predecessor and seasoned diplomat, Sung Kim, in December.

"We are not seeing indications of direct military action (by the North)," she said. "But we, of course, continue to monitor the situation and guard against the risks to the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan." ROK is South Korea's official name.

Touching on the shifting contours of security on the peninsula, the envoy pointed to military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, and "obstruction" from Beijing and Moscow at the U.N. Security Council of the efforts to address North Korean threats as two key differences from previous times.

"I think that has the potential to make him (North Korean leader Kim Jong-un) think that he's got two supporters. That's not a development that we want to see," she said. "We have been very clear that we continue to press Beijing to use its influence on Pyongyang to constrain North Korea's very inflammatory rhetoric and its really provocative actions."

Reiterating the U.S.' commitment to deterring "any kind of adventurism" from the North, Pak underlined Washington's eagerness to reengage with Pyongyang.

"We will continue to seek and press for dialogue and border reopening -- not just to Russia and China but to other embassies  so that we can create conditions for diplomacy," she said.

Since its lifting of pandemic-induced border closures last year, Pyongyang has allowed the entry of diplomats from some non-Western countries, including China, Mongolia and Cuba, while uncertainty remains over the return of Western diplomats.

The U.S. does not have an embassy in the North, but relies on Sweden and other Western countries with diplomatic missions in Pyongyang, when a need arises for engagement with the reclusive state.

Pak's emphasis on diplomacy comes as questions have arisen over the veracity of Washington's dialogue mantra given that serious diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and the North has stalled for years since their no-deal Hanoi summit in 2019.

"Sincerity is in the eye of the beholder. We are sincere," she said. "It's really important for us to be talking to make sure that we understand each other's positions, but it's clear that the DPRK has decided for now that it doesn't want diplomacy, but we are going to keep trying."

She did not specify when the U.S. last offered dialogue to the North, but she said that Washington makes overtures "on a regular basis."

She rejected any suggestions that the U.S. is just waiting until Pyongyang pivots toward denuclearization in what critics say amounts to a policy of "strategic patience"  a term used by some to refer to a policy approach by the former Barack Obama administration.

"I have never ever said in my life strategic patience," the official said. "There's a lot to be done and we've been doing a lot."

The official enumerated a range of achievements, including efforts with South Korea to curb the North's revenue generation from its overseas IT workers and cyber activities, and endeavors to improve the human rights situation in the North.

Pak voiced full confidence about her duties, underscoring that "the portfolio is in excellent hands."

"There's really no change except that Ambassador Sung Kim has retired. The work continues and the level of attention continues," she said. "I spend 100 percent of my time on DPRK issues and our team has remained the same and they continue to get better and better."

After Kim left office, Pak was given the title of the "senior official" rather than Kim's title as "special representative," spawning speculation that it might signal the Biden administration's dwindling attention to the North Korean quandary in the midst of Russia's war in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East.

"I am not much for titles, but the senior official is more of a technical thing rather than an indicator of our commitment to high-level attention on this issue," she said.

Responding to a question about whether it is time for the U.S. to push aside the elusive goal of denuclearization for now and focus on risk reduction, the envoy said Washington is pursuing both.

"We are always trying to reduce risk. That is our job, but taking our eyes off denuclearization is not our goal," she said. "A world, where proliferation of nuclear weapons is seen as okay or accepting DPRK as a nuclear weapons state, is not on the table."

Commenting on Pyongyang's continued launches of cruise missiles, Pak voiced concerns that those launches are undermining not only regional stability but also prosperity as they could imperil both navigation and overflight of civilian traffic on the high seas.

"This is one of the busiest thoroughfares for civil aviation and maritime vessels in the region," she said. "We will continue to call on DPRK to refrain from these potentially destabilizing activities and return to diplomacy."

Commenting on media reports on North Korean leader Kim's daughter, Ju-ae, being a possible successor to him, the official said it is premature to make a prediction on a potential leadership transition in the North.

"It is early yet, but it's clear that Kim wants to make sure that his daughter's front and center not just to make sure that she is present at these various events," she said. "I am not going to speculate on whether she is it because I think what we've seen over the past decade ... (is) that he has the potential to always surprise." (Yonhap)
Russians have now been defined as the Other, the enemy. From Global Voices.

Almut Rochowanski is an expert on civil society development, womens empowerment, and human rights, with over 20 years of experience with civil society organizations and activists in the post-Soviet Union. In an interview with Global Voices, she discussed issues ranging from the EUs politics on asylum to the mismatch between Western expectations and civil societys needs in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia. An edited version of the conversation follows.

Global Voices: What are the most pressing needs that civil society organizations are experiencing now in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus?

Almut Rochowanski: The needs for them are very different.

About Ukraine, I want to focus on one thing that you probably wont hear from other sources. All over the world, were hearing: Oh, Ukrainian civil society is so vibrant, and so powerful. And thats true, but Ukrainian civil society is also very diverse  its politics are very diverse. And not all Ukrainian civil society [organizations] are pro-government. A lot of people in Ukraine are just ordinary people dealing with their own difficult socio-economic problems, organizing themselves just to do some good things in their community. And we dont hear enough about them. In the Western media we hear a lot of Ukrainian civil society voices, but these are elite voices. And we dont hear those from non-elite groups very much. But of course, the greatest problem right now is a war in the country. And for the next 10, 20, 30 years, we will have to deal with the consequences of this war.

The greatest problem for Belarus is that, within the country, theres a very high degree of repression. A lot of society leaders and active activists are now outside the country and have very little influence inside the country. My Belarus contacts tell me that their uprising is still ongoing, their revolution is still ongoing. Lukashenka is an illegitimate president for them. But then I recently attended a session with European foreign policy experts. And the way they see it, the uprising is over, and it failed. The question is what to do: to keep engaging or not engaging? Of course, with every new arriving crisis, the previous crisis gets less attention. So there are very few resources and very little support and attention available for Belarusian activists at the international level.

As for Russia. The West is now [essentially] in a war with Russia. Very few Western soldiers are actually fighting in the war. Russia considers itself to be at war with the West. And the West, lets be honest, also considers itself at war with Russia. Western governments have stated that they want Russia to be weakened, militarily and economically and politically on the global stage for a long time. Obviously, Russia considers this an existential threat to itself by the West. So now, for any Westerners, especially representatives of government, or similar political elites, to go out and endorse and support Russian activists, its like the kiss of death for activists.

Interestingly almost everybody talks about how the Russian opposition has fled the country. Practically all the Russian human rights activists I know have stayed in Russia and continue to work. The work, of course, is becoming more difficult for them.

GV: The EU has suspended the Visa Facilitation Agreement with Russia and some EU countries have prohibited entry for Russian citizens with tourist visas. What is your opinion on these measures?

AR: These measures will not influence the outcome of the war: all they might achieve is that it may be slightly easier for the current Russian government to get support. Also, it makes Russians who oppose their government, who dont want to be mobilized because they oppose the war, feel like the West is against them also. It is not conducive to the kind of political goals that the West has in Russia. I think the West adopts such policies out of some very ugly belief really close to racism. Essentially, Russians have now been defined as the Other, the enemy. Russians are not really human, not really European, not quite white, not really civilized. And we dont want them here. And so to make a policy that excludes them is always sort of a popular political move.

Some people have argued its for security purposes. But thats complete nonsense. Because people have also told us that no Muslims should come to the West, because any one of them might be a terrorist. Obviously, that was racist and nonsense. And its equally nonsense that out of hundreds of thousands of Russians who might want to come to Europe, any one of them is potentially a security risk.

GV: An LGBTQ+ propaganda law was passed recently in Russia, which puts people in danger. A lot of people from the community used to go to Europe on tourist visas and ask for asylum to become refugees. Do you have any advice for LGBTQ+ people who need to leave Russia?

AR: Ive worked with this community, particularly from the North Caucasus. But from the North Caucasus, in the last 20 years, something like 100,000 or 150,000 came to Europe and applied for asylum. This is actually the largest group of Russian citizens to get asylum over the last 20 years.

What this shows is that the vast majority of these people arrived in Europe without a visa, because they would never have been able to get one. They didnt have all those things that you need to get a visa, like an official job and official income bank accounts, so they didnt even try. They travel illegally, sometimes they pay traffickers, criminal networks to help them make it to Europe. And then they apply for asylum. The vast majority of asylum seekers arriving in Europe from everywhere travel without a visa, because they come from countries where virtually no ordinary people can get visas.

So there is a bit of a problem here because on the one hand, you have people who are being helped by human rights organizations to flee Russia. They are being helped by people like me, activists from human rights organizations, who also work with diplomats. And were the kind of people who like to do things legally and above board. I cant call a trafficker and say, Can you traffic this person across the border? I dont want to do that. And I wouldnt even know whom to call, right? I dont have these connections. When I do things, I do them legally.

Sometimes the refugees, especially the LGBTQ+ ones, especially from the Caucasus, try to find and research all sorts of tricks [to escape]. There used to be an option  you could go to Turkey as a Russian citizen, and then you could book a flight to Russia, but through Germany, like on Lufthansa, for example. In Frankfurt, you would get out of the airport, and instead of taking the flight to Moscow, you would go to the passport control and say give me asylum and they have to accept you and then they have to review your case. And maybe at the end they will give you asylum. I know people who did this, especially women from the Caucasus.

So in theory, Russian citizens do not need a transit visa to go to Europe. And if they want to travel from Istanbul to Moscow via Frankfurt, you could do that. Now you cannot do that because there are no Frankfurt-Moscow flights. That is one reason why this option no longer exists  there just arent any flights.

But even in the past, when there were flights to Moscow directly from Europe, Ive had cases where people were denied boarding on these flights back to Russia with transit in Europe. The thing is, no country openly says, You know, weve had a lot of applications from gay Russians who applied for asylum at our airport, and thats why were now telling our border offices or the airlines to screen them out. But you can always tell, because it starts happening.

If an airline makes mistakes, like if too many people get into the country that apply for asylum or they dont have a visa, then they get into trouble. The government can actually fine them or punish them. [The airlines] are the de facto implementers of government immigration policy, because they check for particular features that filter people out.



Daria Dergacheva is a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Media and Communication Research (ZeMKI) at the University of Bremen, Germany, and an experienced journalist and editor. This article originally appeared on Global Voices. Republished under a Creative Commons license.
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.
Experts call for Seoul to secure 'diplomatic buffer zone' ahead of possible scenarios this year

Editors note This article is the last of a four-part series that provides an analysis of South Koreas diplomatic situation with neighboring countries at the start of 2024.  ED.

By Nam Hyun-woo

With Donald Trump cruising to a rematch with United States President Joe Biden in the presidential election in November, the world, including South Korea, is preparing for a possible second Trump presidency, which is anticipated to force many countries to recalibrate their diplomatic strategies.

Throughout last year, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration has concentrated on strengthening its alliance with the U.S. to an unprecedented level, aligning South Koreas diplomatic stance with its traditional ally on most issues, including sensitive ones such as the war between Ukraine and Russia.

Experts said, however, that South Korea this year will have to focus on securing a "diplomatic buffer zone" to prepare for a possible second Trump presidency, which is expected to force Seoul to shoulder a greater amount of the cost of maintaining U.S. Forces Korea's (USFK) presence on the peninsula and make greater efforts for containing China. The speculation that Trump may condone North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons is also a concern for Seoul, which has been striving to stymie Pyongyangs nuclear ambitions through U.S. extended deterrence.

In terms of the relations with the U.S., the top agenda item that South Korea should focus on this year would be creating a diplomatic buffer zone for requests that Washington may make under a possible second Trump presidency in 2025, said Lee Geun, professor of international politics at Seoul National Universitys (SNU) Graduate School of International Studies.

According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday, Bidens job approval ratings declined to 38 percent, down from 40 percent in December. In a separate Reuters-Ipsos poll, released on Jan. 25, showed Trump as having a 6 percentage-point lead over Biden, while a Bloomberg poll showed Thursday that Biden is losing ground to Trump in seven swing states.

Polls and new developments in U.S. politics are prompting countries to consider various scenarios in case of a second Trump presidency, and its impact on their respective national interests.

For South Korea, one of the most urgent agenda items is the Trump administrations possible demand for hikes in Seouls share of the upkeep of USFK.

The current 11th Special Measures Agreement (SMA) is set to expire at the end of 2025, but the two signatory parties reportedly reached an understanding to launch negotiations for the 12th SMA within this year, due to concerns that the negotiation could become a source of friction if Trump gets reelected.

In 2019, then-President Trump demanded a hefty rise in South Korea's contribution to the costs of USFK, calling for a five-fold increase to $5 billion. This created tensions between Seoul and Washington, but this was quickly addressed under the Biden presidency as the two countries agreed to increase South Koreas contribution by a more modest 13.9 percent to 1.18 trillion won ($887 million) in 2021.

Im 100 percent sure that Trump will demand a significant hike in Seouls contribution in his second presidency, as he believes that many U.S. allies are enjoying a free ride on the U.S. military forces, Lee said.

Given that South Korean politicians these days are mentioning projects worth trillions of won during their election campaigns, the amount that the U.S. will demand will not likely be a conundrum. The problem will be South Koreas public sentiment, given the nation has negative views on this issue.

Lee Seong-hyon, a senior fellow at George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations, also noted that the second Trump administration will likely demand a hike in South Koreas contribution, and Seouls public sentiment will be the key point in this issue.

With North Korea escalating tensions through its threatening rhetoric, missiles and nuclear weapons, could South Korea reject a demand from Trump? he said.

Lets say Trump will again demand a five-fold increase. And if South Korea agrees, the question is how the Yoon administration will persuade the public  Simply put, there can be a question: If we increase our contribution by five times, will the U.S. provide five-times-better protection ?

Senior fellow Lee also cast worries that the business-like approach to the alliance may also result in changing its nature from what both Seoul and Washington call a value-based alliance for free democracy to a purely financial transaction.

Push to contain China

The experts also believe that the U.S. already expects South Korea to play a greater role in containing China in economic and geopolitical realms. This expectation is likely to grow under a second Trump presidency.

On Jan. 28, Trump wrote on Truth Social regarding the automobile industry: I want them to be made in the USA, every type of car, and would require China, and other countries, through TARIFFS, or otherwise, to build plants here, with our workers." He took a negative view of Biden endorsee Shawn Fain, the President of the United Auto Workers, calling him a "stiff" who is selling the automobile industry "right into the big, powerful hands of China.

Trump is already laying the groundwork for setting more extreme trade barriers to block China, and this will naturally bring consequences to South Korea, as China is its largest trading partner.

Given that the Biden administration somehow inherited Trumps China policies, the U.S. pressure on China under a second Trump administration will likely be even greater than that of Biden, SNUs Lee said. In terms of technologies and supply chain, the U.S. pressure on South Korea in terms of economic relations with China will likely grow.

In a Jan. 30 report, the Korea International Trade Association thinks that a second Trump presidency will hasten the economic decoupling occurring between the U.S. and China, as Washington is poised to employ universal tariffs and other measures in a protectionist move.

The association expects that South Korea may be included in countries facing the universal tariff, because the Trump camp has pointed to cars and car components from South Korea, Japan, Mexico, Europe and Canada as reasons for the U.S. trade deficit.

Coupled with the U.S.-China rivalry, concerns over regulations on Chinese plants owned by South Korean chipmakers, technology transfer, sales and other economic cost increases can be realized, senior fellow Lee said.

Trump will choose the direction and methods to contain China and use U.S. allies, including South Korea, for that. In that sense, it is quite obvious that the U.S. pressure on South Korean companies, regulative actions urging South Koreas participation in halting China and other economic burdens will grow.

Such a stance is anticipated in not only economic but also geopolitical issues, such as increasing tensions over Taiwan after its recent presidential election. Referring to the partnership between China and Russia, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said, Wednesday: Ukraine today. Taiwan could be tomorrow.

Last year, South Korea made a bold diplomatic step by expressing its condemnation of Russia and support for Ukraine, breaking from its conventional tactics of keeping a cautious stance on international issues to which Korea is not directly related. It was seen as Seouls response to Washingtons indirect pressure to have its allies join its global campaigns.

Like with the Ukraine war, the U.S. will ask more for South Korea to step up more on global geopolitical issues, including on the issue of Taiwan, senior fellow Lee said.

South Koreans usually think the South Korea-U.S. alliance is about protecting the Korean Peninsula, but the treaty states the two countries' commitment to security and defense cooperation in the Pacific. So the U.S. will increasingly ask what will be South Koreas contribution to this  Against this backdrop, whats wise for South Korea to do is to explain its range of actions related to Taiwan and its reasons to the U.S. in a preemptive manner.

Resetting NK policy, Washington Declaration in peril

As anticipation builds regarding Trump potentially securing a second term, reports and speculations on his North Korea policies are painting a worrisome four-year period ahead for South Korea.

One of those concerns can be understood courtesy of a Politico report in December, which explained how Trump was considering a plan where he might be interested in negotiating an arms control agreement with the North that would allow it to keep some of its nuclear weapons.

In that scenario, concerns would naturally grow rapidly in South Korea that Trump may use the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) between the allies as a bargaining chip for the North to reduce its arms. The NCG was established under the Washington Declaration, which was adopted by Yoon and Biden in April last year to strengthen U.S. extended deterrence, and help South Korea to have greater visibility of U.S. strategic asset deployments around the Korean Peninsula.

The worst case scenario is Trump making a deal with the North on allowing the regime to have nuclear, short- or medium-range missiles, while prohibiting long-range ones, SNUs Lee said. Trump will not hesitate to meet Kim Jong-un. He wants to show that he can control Kim and he can prevent North Koreas nuclear weapons or missiles from threatening the U.S  In that case, the NCG and the U.S. extended deterrence can be very vulnerable during a four-year Trump presidency.

Senior fellow Lee also stressed that the Washington Declaration is a non-binding political declaration that can be scrapped anytime.

It is unclear whether Trump will uphold Bidens promise for the extended deterrence, but at least there will be no technical difficulties for the U.S. to abandon the declaration, Lee said. If the U.S. official who is in charge of this issue is a political appointee, not a career bureaucrat, Washington may find it easier to break the declaration.

The senior fellow said that it is very difficult to predict Trumps North Korea policies, but chances are slim for the former president to push for a grand bargain with Pyongyang  as he sought to do so in 2018 and 2019  because he also has prior experience concerning Kims unpredictability. Rather, Trump may seek to engage with other superpower leaders, such as Russian President Vladimir Putin or Chinese President Xi Jinping, so that he can attain a tangible result and a boost in his domestic political approval ratings.

In the past, Trump only starred in a show featuring North Korea, Lee said. Now, there are plenty of other channels with programs he can appear on. North Korea is not the only soap opera that Trump can appear in.

The experts echoed that chances are very high for Trump to push ahead with whatever agenda he sets within the next four years, without considering any possible aftermath, because this would be his second term.

Though we have been describing uncertainty under a second Trump administration, his roadmap for the next four years is quite visible  turning the situation advantageously for the U.S. through tougher trade measures, making U.S. allies shoulder more defense costs and controlling the diplomatic situation through his personal engagement with authoritarian leaders, SNUs Lee said.

The question is how hard he will push ahead with those agenda items. The Yoon administration has to use this year to set up strategies based on how much Seoul is willing to accept regarding Trump's requests."

Senior fellow Lee also noted that many countries have already begun working on preparing scenarios for a second Trump presidency, and South Korea should engage with U.S. politicians and authorities who are likely to be relevant under a new Trump administration.

U.S. relations and other diplomatic issues are expected to come as a tough challenge for the geopolitics surrounding the Korean Peninsula this year, he said. South Korea has to buckle up its diplomatic capabilities to brace for impact.
Southern Arizona migrant-aid groups and humanitarian volunteers on the border are facing an escalation in confrontations with armed vigilantes and right-wing propagandists, who are increasingly publishing videos  sometimes garnering millions of views  that falsely accuse the volunteers of being in league with traffickers, terrorists and Mexican organized crime.

Researchers say an anti-government convoy that headed to multiple sites along the southern border over the past week has invigorated extremists, as has dehumanizing, racist rhetoric from conservative politicians stoking fear about migrants.

A Tucson migrant-aid shelter has had to boost security after being targeted for harassment by multiple right-wing media personalities.

It has now required Pima County to put more security around that facility, said Pima County Supervisors Chair Adelita Grijalva. Many of the people that are at Casa Alitas are volunteers. Many of them are older. Were always concerned for everyones safety and want to make sure people feel comfortable.

Over the last month, Humane Borders has seen a spike in efforts to destroy its water stations, which aim to prevent migrant deaths in the Southern Arizona desert.

It comes in waves. We had a wave last spring and now its back, said Laurie Cantillo, board chair for the Tucson nonprofit. The groups water barrels have been drained, shot and stabbed. Vandals have kicked off or removed the spigots to prevent access to water, written poisonous in Spanish on the barrels and toppled the tall blue flags which mark the stations.

Those water stations are available to anyone in need  whether migrants, hikers or hunters  in dangerously remote areas, Cantillo said.

Everyone is welcome to it, she said. To deny water to someone, knowing another person may die as a result, I dont have any words except to say thats pure evil.

In Yuma County last week, local law enforcement braced for the Feb. 3 arrival of the Take Our Border Back convoy, a highly publicized series of rallies promoted by anti-immigrant and anti-government groups, some of whom claim to be part of Gods Army.

Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot said local law enforcement was working with emergency services and Border Patrol to ensure Saturdays rally would be safe for the community.

As of late Saturday afternoon, about 700 convoy vehicles had arrived in Yuma County, though more were expected, said a public affairs official with the sheriffs office. The estimated 1,400 attendees were gathered to hear speeches at an outdoor event space, with a view of the border wall.

Planners and supporters of the convoy are elevating conspiracy theories about humanitarian volunteers and pushing the racist Great Replacement theory  which asserts theres a secret plot to replace white populations with non-white populations  and terminology like invasion to describe migrant arrivals.

This convoy has animated the far-right, anti-immigrant movement, said Freddy Cruz, a researcher with the pro-democracy advocacy group Western States Center, in a Thursday press call. We hope both elected representatives and community leaders stand together to oppose such actions, which only fuel hate and put marginalized communities in danger.

In the call, Cruz highlighted the targeting of Arizona aid groups, including the Samaritans, Humane Borders and No More Deaths.

Pima sheriff briefed on fears

Local aid workers say theyve been alarmed by the frightening rise in these confrontations with armed vigilantes. Theyre also concerned about being doxxed  having identifying information shared widely online, to encourage harassment  by live-streamers who are publishing videos of volunteers faces and vehicles, while falsely accusing them of being pedophiles and traffickers.

On Thursday, members of the Samaritans sat down with Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos to discuss their fears and ask for support.

I appreciate what theyre doing, which is taking care of people in need, Nanos said after the meeting. Theyre staying out of the politics. Theyre giving them water and giving them food. They are not taking them into the country. In fact most of the time, they just sit there (with migrants) and contact Border Patrol.

The surge in aggressive encounters is partly driven by politicians using the border to score political points in an election year, Nanos said.

I think its not going to die down as long as the border is being politicized the way it is, he said.

Gail Kocourek, a long-time volunteer with Tucson Samaritans, said aid workers were reassured by Nanos empathy and the suggestion that volunteers communicate their schedule and locations with his office, so deputies can be ready to respond.

Whats frightening about them (vigilantes) is they carry guns; we carry water, said Kocourek, who spends three days a week at the border providing water, food and blankets to migrants and reporting their presence to border agents.

Armed vigilantes have screamed at her, telling her shes a pedophile and is on the cartels payroll, Kocourek said, adding with a laugh, They must have the wrong address, because Ive never gotten a check.

Experts say the risk of extremist violence is real, especially as more right-wing media personalities amplify baseless conspiracy theories, seizing on anxiety about migration to fundraise and boost their social-media followings.

In 2022, Kocourek was at the border south of Arivaca with a film crew, including a Guatemalan man who was a legal permanent resident, she said. A truck driven by QAnon adherents spotted the man and drove up beside her car, screaming, Illegal alien! and attempted to run her off the road, until they were intercepted by Border Patrol.

The QAnon group then published a video asking their social-media followers to track down Kocourek, whom they described as running ops for the cartel.

When people ask what shes afraid of at the border, Kocourek says its not the exhausted, desperate migrants she encounters who cause her to worry.

Its white guys with guns, she said. They seem to thrive off of fear and hate. ... Im sorry theyre so afraid. But Im afraid of them.

Harmful political rhetoric

Across the U.S., anti-immigrant sentiment is on the rise, fueled by a surge in migrant arrivals, rampant misinformation and an escalation in dehumanizing rhetoric  especially from U.S. politicians  that experts on extremism say puts migrants, and U.S. citizens of color, at risk.

Some conservatives are embracing language like invaders and fighting-age men to describe migrants. In December former President Donald Trump said immigrants are poisoning the blood of our country, echoing white supremacist rhetoric and the writings of Hitler.

Last month Republican state Sen. Janae Shamp of Goodyear introduced a bill, SB1231, that would make it a state crime in Arizona for anyone to enter the U.S. other than at a port of entry and authorize local or state police to enforce the law.

Shamp told Capitol Media Services, What was once an issue is now an invasion. She did not respond to the Arizona Daily Stars request for comment on her use of the term.

Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, a Republican running for Kyrsten Sinemas U.S. Senate seat, has also stirred anger against the non-government organizations or NGOs that contract with local governments to provide temporary shelter for migrants released by border agents as legal asylum seekers. Lamb falsely claimed migrants were given $5,000 Visa cards, cell phones and free plane tickets in a December video posted to X, formerly Twitter.

Lamb did not respond to the Stars request for comment about whether he stands by his comments in the video, which has more than 226,000 views but has been repeatedly debunked.

Rafael Barcelo Durazo, Consul of Mexico in Tucson, said the Mexican government is very concerned about how rising anti-immigrant sentiment endangers people of Mexican descent in the U.S.

He pointed to the 2019 mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, which killed 23 and injured 22 others. The shooters manifesto decried an invasion of Mexicans, and he told police he was targeting Mexicans.

Words matter. The violent discourse on migrants matters, Barcelo Durazo said. That is going to make life not only of migrants, but also of people of Mexican origin, much more dangerous in the United States and we are concerned because of that.

Education on immigration law and history is needed, as uninformed news consumers are easier to manipulate, Barcelo Durazo said.

The merchants of fear are going to profit from people that dont want to take some time and effort to understand the migratory process, he said. Its simpler, and lucrative, for some people to dehumanize migrants. It takes time and effort to understand what is going on in migration, and its easy to succumb to simpler narratives that are misleading.

He pointed out that today, many economic migrants are Americans moving from the U.S. to Mexico to take advantage of the low cost of living. Parts of Mexico City have been transformed by legions of digital nomads whove arrived since the pandemic.

They are making that decision for economic reasons, he said. Its a natural thing.

Casa Alitas targeted

Workers at Casa Alitas shelter in Tucson and its partners in Nogales were recently targeted by right-wing activist James OKeefe, who falsely claimed in a Jan. 17 video, filmed in front of Casa Alitas Drexel Center, that he was uncovering a secret facility that none of the American people knew about until now.

OKeefes video  which Elon Musk amplified by commenting underneath it twice  has been viewed nearly 3 million times on X.

Another right-wing media group, Oreo Express, later filmed more videos there, posting them to 50,000 YouTube followers. In the clips, the group falsely asserts the facility is a human trafficking center and accuses a Tucson police officer, who asks them to stay off private property, of refusing to investigate human trafficking.

In reality, the supposedly secret site has been in the news for months, throughout Pima Countys very public process of purchasing it, said Grijalva, chair of the Pima County Board of Supervisors.

Without the work of Casa Alitas, in close coordination with Border Patrol and the county, Tucson and smaller border communities would be facing large numbers of unsheltered migrants on the streets, county officials say.

The online attacks are another example of propagandists falsely attributing nefarious motives to easily explainable events, Grijalva said.

Were not being secretive about it. Weve had elected officials, community groups, volunteers walk through Casa Alitas, Grijalva said. That is the frustration and the fear, when you have these people that have ulterior motives make it seem as if Pima County or the government is trying to do something sneaky.

Aid workers targeted

Along the border, east of the Sasabe port of entry, volunteers have been providing water, food and blankets to asylum seekers whom human smugglers have dropped off in the remote area, only accessible over rough, hilly terrain.

In December, No More Deaths put up tents and built a rugged kitchen in the remote location, to store supplies and to provide some shelter for migrants, who faced life-threatening conditions while waiting overnight in freezing temperatures and heavy rain for border agents to arrive, volunteers said.

Right-wing activists have targeted the camp in recent weeks. In another January video from Oreo Express, streamed live to thousands of followers, the live-streamers taunt the volunteers and falsely claim theyre terrorists, pedophiles and child traffickers  as well as Communists, Marxists and mentally ill. They also accuse Border Patrol agents of being in bed with aid workers.

In some videos, streamers express outrage about openings in the border wall in Arizona, attributing the gaps to the Biden administrations so-called open borders.

In reality, gaps in the border wall were left open by hurried construction crews during the Trump administration and are now being closed under the current administration, said John Modlin, chief of Border Patrols Tucson Sector.

Wall construction under Trump was focused on covering a lot of ground as quickly as possible, Modlin said.

When there were challenging areas, those areas were skipped over to go further and get more of the border wall constructed, he said.

Now remediation of those gaps, many of which require time-consuming erosion control, is underway, he said.

Some people see some of that, they see the construction equipment and maybe think theyre removing fence, instead of putting it in there. But that is the closing of those gaps, he said.

Human smugglers in Mexico also routinely cut through the walls 30-foot bollards with power tools. And at various points along the wall, floodgates are installed as a necessary means of disaster prevention: During monsoon season, heavy rains and debris would damage or topple the border wall, if it werent for gates that allow powerful floodwaters to flow southward.

Christie Hutcherson, founder of Women Fighting for America and a collaborator with Arizona militia groups, has also been targeting Arizona aid workers and migrant-aid groups. In a Jan. 30 nighttime video that Hutcherson posted online from Arivaca, Arizona, shes wearing night-vision goggles and a helmet, claiming to be exposing illegal activity within NGOs.

In a separate Jan. 31 video  filmed by a local aid worker and shared with the Star  Hutcherson aggressively questions Tucson Samaritan volunteers and migrants as they wait for border agents to arrive at the border wall, east of Sasabe.

Hutcherson, who spoke at the pro-Trump rally on the eve of the Jan. 6 riots in D.C., accuses one volunteer both of being responsible for migrant deaths in the desert and of aiding and abetting terrorists and traffickers. While filming on her phone, Hutcherson asks the migrants, who sit silently, at least six times within five minutes, What Middle Eastern country are you from? and What Arabic country are you from?

According to the Western States Center, Hutcherson has alleged children are being trafficked throughout the U.S. with the help of CBP, the Biden administration and other government agencies. During her 2021 border operations, she frequently intercepted and detained unaccompanied migrant children.

In a statement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency that oversees Border Patrol, said that forcibly detaining migrants can also be viewed as a criminal offense.

CBP encourages individuals  from hikers, hunters, humanitarians to citizen groups  to notify us of their planned activities in remote areas or locations where illegal cross-border activity occurs in southern Arizona, the statement said. CBP does not endorse or support any private group or organization from taking matters into their own hands as it could have disastrous personal and public safety consequences.

In the Jan. 31 video, Hutcherson also repeatedly claims shes working with local law enforcement.

Both the Pima County and Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Departments said they are not working with Hutcherson. A CBP spokesman said Border Patrol does not coordinate with any groups or individuals at the border.

Hutcherson did not respond to the Stars attempts to reach her through her websites contact page and email address.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway said two years ago, Hutcherson contacted his office and he agreed to let her go on a ride-along with one of his officers, who happened to be Hispanic.

She was very offended. She said she couldnt work with any Hispanics, they were all corrupt. She started saying our department was corrupt and controlled by the cartels, he said.

I tried to initially treat her like I would anybody else, giving her the benefit of the doubt, he said. But Hathaway said he came to realize shes not trying to help anybody or do anything other than inflate herself and try to get followers.

Vigilantes and right-wing activists who show up in border communities are often upset by the close relationship between Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora, said Hathaway, who said his family has been there for five generations.

Those people dont really know the border. They didnt grow up here like I did, he said. My county has the largest ports of entry with Mexico in Arizona. Its a symbiotic relationship. Our retail merchants, our hospitality industry depend on that relationship with Mexico.

Stop the Hate Collective

Tucson human rights advocates want to counter hate with facts.

In 2020, advocacy groups formed the Stop the Hate Collective, during another election-year surge in hate speech directed at migrants and other marginalized groups, said collective co-founder Isabel Garcia, an immigrant-rights activist and attorney with Coalicion de Derechos Humanos.

The group aims to counter hate speech, particularly that comes from politicians with large platforms, and encourage voters to support politicians who shun such rhetoric.

Hundreds have signed the collectives 11-point pledge, including goals like speaking out against racism and bigotry, centering human rights in policy decisions and rejecting efforts to return migrants and refugees to dangerous situations.

Lets face it: Theres a lot of hatred, but it goes on top of a lot of ignorance, Garcia said. In our country, we dont teach the history of immigration. ... Without education, and with ignorance and lies, comes violence.

She pointed to Nogales-area rancher George Alan Kelly, who is facing a second-degree murder charge and an aggravated assault charge for fatally shooting a Mexican migrant on his property last year.

That is a result of hate speech and hate thinking, she said. Were seeing the atmosphere is toxic with this kind of hatred, so were trying to counter that with facts. Were trying to tell people to look at how communities that have large numbers of immigrants have less crime. Border towns are safer than other places.

Local aid workers say while the presence of angry, armed extremists is worrisome, they wont be deterred from their work.

We dont give them any energy. While theyre out playing soldier, were in the desert saving lives every day, said Cantillo of Humane Borders. It only strengthens our resolve to deliver water.

Tucson Samaritan Kocourek agreed, adding that shes also provided water to vigilantes who were stranded on the side of the road in the borderlands.

I dont care who you are. If you need help, I will help you, she said. I was not raised to judge. I was raised that only God can judge.

Fighting hate The Western States Center, in partnership with the Bard Center for the Study of Hate and the Montana Human Rights Network, has created a resource packet for community organizers called, "A Community Guide for Opposing Hate." The "Stop the Hate Collective" in Tucson welcomes collaborators. To get involved, visit stopthehatecollective.org or email stopthehatecollective@gmail.com.

Deadly conspiracy theory The "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory  which asserts there's a plot to replace white populations with non-white populations  has inspired multiple deadly mass shootings, including: The 2018 mass shooting at a Pittsburgh, Pa. synagogue that killed 11; The 2019 El Paso, Texas mass shooting that killed 23; The 2019 mass shooting at two mosques in New Zealand, which killed 51 Muslim worshippers; And the 2022 mass shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, which killed 10. SOURCE: Southern Poverty Law Center
Herman Ehrenberg was born in Prussia, but his exploits as a transplant to America in the 1800s included fighting in the Texas Revolution, traveling the Oregon Trail, taking part in the California Gold Rush and mapping the Gadsden Purchase, among other brushes with iconic history.

After his 1816 birth in Steuden, Prussia (now part of Germany), he got a liberal education and worked as a teenager in a commercial enterprise, but it was not for him. A rolling stone, he took off for adventures.

Ehrenberg arrived in New York City in 1834 and then moved on to New Orleans. When the Texas Revolution began in 1835, he signed on as a volunteer with the New Orleans Greys.

He served in the Battle of Coleto in 1836, where he was forced to surrender by Mexican soldiers along with the rest of Col. James W. Fannins command. He was one of a small percentage of prisoners who survived Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Annas ordered Goliad Massacre at Goliad, Texas.

He became a citizen of the Republic of Texas but after contracting an illness in 1840, returned to Europe for medical treatment. He spent 1842-43 in Halle, Prussia, teaching English and writing his memoirs, Texas and Its Revolution. He may have also studied civil engineering.

In the summer of 1843, he returned to the U.S., arriving in New Orleans, then moving on to St. Louis. The following year, he joined a fur trapping outfit departing to the Pacific Coast via the Oregon Trail.

From here, he crossed the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii in 1845, where the government paid him to survey streets and draw a map of Honolulu.

By June 1847, he was in present-day La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, at that point occupied by American military forces due to the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), where he was involved in mercantile pursuits. When the American soldiers left La Paz for California, he went with them. He also took part in the California Gold Rush in 1848-49.

By 1853, he was in San Francisco, and it was here he first met another restless soul, Charles D. Poston, who worked at a monotonous desk job. Poston had become aware that U.S. President Franklin Pierce wanted to obtain more land from Mexico in order to bring about a southern railroad route to the Pacific Ocean. He formed ambitious plans  that included Ehrenberg and other adventurers  to profit from Pierces land purchase, which came to be known as the Gadsden Purchase.

Poston wrote, In  1854, Mr. Ehrenberg joined the writer for a reconnaissance of then recently acquired territory, which is now called Arizona; and, with a party of 25 men, examined the country of Sonora, from the mouth of the Gulf of California to the Gila River, stopping at the towns of Fuerte, Alamos, Guaymas, Hermosillo, Ures, San Miguel and Altar, passing through the Papagueria (Tohono Oodham land), where the 4th of July, 1854, was celebrated by the Americans on their own soil, at Sans-Saida villages, by copious libations of mescal accompanied by a feast of pitayahs (organ pipe cactus fruit) and milk, much to the delight of the  chief, whose name was Tomas.

They then headed to the junction of the Gila and Colorado rivers, across from Fort Yuma, California. Here, Ehrenberg copied Major Samuel Heintzelmans (the builder and commander of Fort Yuma) survey of Fort Yuma and then made a survey for the proposed townsite of Colorado City (now Yuma, Arizona), although not much happened here for many years.

Then it was back to San Francisco where Ehrenberg turned in his manuscript map, which was published as the 1854 Map of the Gadsden Purchase, Sonora and portions of New Mexico, Chihuauhua & California. It was the first map of the newly acquired land that became southern Arizona.

Meanwhile, Poston took mineral specimens, maps and information and headed back east to places like Philadelphia, New York City and Cincinnati. At the latter city Heintzelman joined him and helped to get investors to form the Sonora Exploring & Mining Company.

In August 1856, Ehrenberg, now back in the Gadsden Purchase  which by this time was part of Dona Ana County, New Mexico Territory  met Poston at Tucson. They set up the company headquarters at Tubac, the former Mexican fort.

In 1858, Ehrenberg resigned from the enterprise, however, because he stated that Poston was continually exaggerating the value of their mines.

The same year saw Ehrenbergs magnum opus, the new 1858 Map of the Gadsden Purchase, Sonora and portions of New Mexico, Chihuahua & California, published. The San Francisco Daily Alta California newspaper shared with its readers:

Besides a clear representation of the topography of Sonora and Gadsden Purchase, a very important matter by the way in a mountainous country, the map gives also the localities of the mining districts, the gold placers, the Indian villages...

He kept estimated numbers of the Native American groups in the Gadsden Purchase. For example, in 1859, he shared with The Weekly Arizonian newspaper, The Papago Indians (Tohono Oodham) inhabit the western portion of Arizona and the northwest region of Sonora. Their number is about 4,000, of which 1,000 live in Quitovaca, Caborca and other portions of northern Sonora.

When the U.S. Civil War broke out, in 1861, Union soldiers were sent back East and the Apaches went on a rampage that led Ehrenberg and Poston to relocate to San Francisco.

By 1863, though Union troops had returned, Ehrenberg and Poston were residing at the boomtown of La Paz on the Colorado River, about 110 miles north of Fort Yuma, where gold strikes had occurred. Here Ehrenberg befriended Michael Goldwater, a prominent merchant in town.

He surveyed a road from La Paz to another town called Weaver, which the Arizona Miner newspaper named Ehrenberg Road, and surveyed a town site about six miles south of La Paz called Mineral City.

In 1864, Ehrenberg visited San Francisco on two occasions, and its likely he got hold of a copy of Bancrofts Hand-Book Almanac for the Pacific States  For The Year 1864 (although it was written in 1863).

This reference book shared some information about the new Arizona Territory:

The Territory of Arizona was created by (an) Act of Congress approved Feb. 24, 1863. ... The southern portion of Arizona formed part of the territory purchased from Mexico in 1854, heretofore known as the Gadsden Purchase. The temporary capital (in 1863) is Tucson, situated near the center of the southern portion of the (Arizona) Territory.

It listed only two towns in the Arizona Territory: Tucson  Territorial Capital  No post office; 280 miles east of Fort Yuma and La Paz  No Post Office; located on the east bank of the Colorado River. Population about 1,500. It is the principal town in the (Arizona) Territory and will probably be selected for the future capital.

As it turned out, a new town, Prescott, became the first permanent capital. Ehrenbergs initial visit to Prescott was in mid-1864 and in January 1866, he became a director of the original Arizona Historical Society, established a couple years earlier and located at Prescott.

It was through the Arizona Historical Society  which by this time had combined with the original Arizona Pioneers Society, also of Prescott, to form the original Arizona Pioneer and Historical Society  that many of the pioneers learned of Ehrenbergs slaying by an unknown killer that year, at a stage station at Dos Palmas, California. Now, only a shadow remained of one of Arizonas most important pioneers.

A few years later, Michael Goldwater had the town of Mineral City renamed to Ehrenberg in his honor. Today, many people driving from Arizona to California along Interstate 10 pass through Ehrenberg, a very small town across the Colorado River from Blythe, California.
For years, its been clear there are people who want Americans to view the U.S.-Mexico border as a chaotic hellscape.

Those of us who live in the borderlands know that its a lot more complicated, and generally more peaceful, than that. But there have always been enough problems somewhere along the line to give examples to point to  if not in Arizona, then over in Texas.

It has benefited some politicians and interest groups for the country to view this broad region as one wide swath of illegal crossings, drug smuggling and shootouts. Remember Gov. Jan Brewer talking about beheaded bodies in the desert  a claim she later retracted? Thats the stuff Im talking about.

Of course, this issue has been Donald Trumps calling card since he entered presidential politics in 2015, and it helped him get elected.

Its not unusual that politicians and interest groups would try to mold public perception on a topic in order to achieve the goals that they want. And in the last year or so, the problems have been real: Too many people crossing between ports of entry for agents to vet and process adequately, leading to mass releases into the interior.

On border issues, though, Ive assumed that right-wing politicians idea was to juice up fear in order to come to their desired, iron-fisted solutions to the real problems that exist along our international line.

Their chosen policies might not be my chosen policies  they favor walls and I dont, for example  but they would at least be aiming to reduce crossings between ports and smuggling at ports in their own way.

In the last week, though, its become clearer than ever that solving problems may not be their aim at all. The idea of Trump and his avid supporters, its clear now, is to continually amp up fear to create a constant sense of threat that will pay political dividends in perpetuity.

Solving problems diminishes their political power and would rob Trump of a reason to take drastic measures if he reaches the White House again.

Real impact possible

Six months ago, Republicans banded together to block efforts to send more aid to Ukraine and even Israel unless the bill also included money and fixes for the border issues they claimed to want to solve.

Surprisingly, Pres. Joe Biden agreed to combine the issues. In early October, three senators, the White House and the Department of Homeland Security, went to work negotiating.

One of them was our own independent senator, Kyrsten Sinema; the others were Democrat Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Republican James Lankford of Oklahoma.

I havent always been a fan of Sinemas border storytelling. More than once, for example, she has noted that she was born and grew up in Tucson as an explanation for her longstanding familiarity with border issues. But she left Tucson at age 8, long before a child would have noticed that sort of thing.

Still, as a senator, she became chair of the border-management subcommittee of the Homeland Security Committee. She has learned the issues and tried to get practical things done  like ensuring that people who qualify to apply for asylum get work permission so they dont become public charges.

After months of negotiations, it appeared a week ago that she and the other parties had really done it this time. They came to an agreement that could have a positive impact.

The text of the bill hasnt been released yet, but some key details have been leaked and confirmed by Sinema:

 Anyone who seeks asylum after crossing the Mexican border will have to pass a higher-threshold screening than the current credible fear standard within 90 days.

 Asylum officers, rather than judges, will make those decisions, meaning more hearings can be held faster.

 People who seek asylum after crossing between ports of entry would be detained until they could go through this screening.

 People who seek asylum by crossing through ports of entry would be monitored but not detained until they pass this screening.

 Anyone who seeks asylum but doesnt pass the screening would be deported.

 If the level of migration between ports reaches 5,000 people per day, agents would be allowed to turn back anyone who shows up between ports of entry, even if they want to request asylum.

 It would no longer be permitted for agents to release migrants who cross between ports, giving them a Notice To Appear at court.

Trump blocks progress

Whats shocking about those details is their significance, practicality and conservative lean. Its not a bunch of wall-building or pouring money into the Border Patrol, but its firming up laws in a way that could seriously reduce asylum claims.

And it doesnt include even overdue legalization measures it ought to, in my view, like a path to citizenship for DACA recipients.

There is a chance that if this law passes, it would have a real impact, reducing the large groups of people from around the world who have crossed in places like western Pima County. It could also calm the conflict in Texas, where the governor is defying the Supreme Court and preventing federal agents from accessing a stretch of border.

But solving this problem is a risk that Donald Trump cannot take. It would rob him of his most potent election-year issue. It would also rob the urgency from the drastic measures he wants to take if elected, like reinstating a ban on entry for people from several Muslim-majority countries, and deporting millions of people as fast as possible.

So, before the bills text was even released, Trump came out against the bill.

A border deal now would be another gift to the radical left Democrats, he said in a statement. They need it politically, but dont care about our border.

So, again, before the text of the bill was even released, House Speaker Mike Johnson also came out against it, meaning it has little chance to pass, if it even receives a vote, in the House.

Dismay on the right

To his credit, the Republican negotiator Lankford spoke plainly about whats going on here. On Fox News Sunday Jan. 28, he was asked why he should give Biden a win by passing this deal on the border.

It is interesting, Lankford answered. Republicans, four months ago, would not give funding for Ukraine, for Israel and for our southern border because we demanded changes in policy. So we actually locked arms together and said, Were not going to give you money for this. We want a change in law.

Now, a few months later, when we finally get to the end, theyre like, Just kidding, I dont want a change in law because its a presidential election year. 

Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a Texas Republican, put it this way: Im extremely disappointed in the very strange maneuvering by many on the right to torpedo a potential border reform bill.

If we have a bill that on net significantly decreases illegal immigration, and we sabotage that, that is inconsistent with what we told our voters we would do.

Immigration reform failures

I suppose we shouldnt be surprised. Back in 2013, the U.S. Senate negotiated at length and in earnest, eventually passing a comprehensive immigration reform bill that would have included pricey border enforcement measures.

This time, though, Trump has made plain whats really going on: They dont want to solve these problems while the problems serve as key political leverage. They want to leave them unresolved at least long enough to get into office and really get radical.
PHOENIX  A House Republican is questioning the legality of a measure advanced by his colleagues to decide what is meat and who can legally use that word to market products.

Rep. Alexander Kolodin of Scottsdale said the effort some lawmakers are pushing to provide what they say is more information to shoppers is unconstitutionally vague and overly broad. In fact, he told them that, as worded, House Bill 2244 could make it illegal for someone to suggest that something clearly labeled a veggie burger is meaty.

But Kolodin turned out to be the lone Republican with that view. Every other House member of the GOP, along with a handful of Democrats, voted this past week to approve the measure.

That now sends it to the Senate. If the proposal by Rep. Quang Nguyen, R-Prescott Valley, clears that chamber, it will be up to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs to decide whether the state should be in the business of defining meat.

The proposed legislation is a response to lab-grown meats.

Complicating the issue is that, from a biological perspective, what is grown in a laboratory from animals cells is essentially the same, at a cellular level, as something that came off of a living animal.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved some types of lab-grown chicken. But foes raise issues about the hormones and chemicals used to keep the cells reproducing and say long-term studies are needed to determine if there are health effects.

Rep. David Marshall, R-Snowflake, has a proposal to outlaw the sale of any cell-cultured animal produce for human or animal consumption. His HB 2121 would allow the Arizona Department of Agriculture to levy $25,000 fines and let anyone whose business is adversely affected  cattle ranchers  seek damages of up to $100,000.

That measure is set for a hearing this week.

Nguyens bill is far narrower.

It would permit the sale of lab-grown meat. What people want to eat is up to them, he said.

The key is consumer disclosure, Nguyen said.

HB 2244 would make it illegal to represent a product as meat or poultry if it is a cell-cultured food product or a synthetic product derived from a plant, insect or other source.

Nguyen said the measure is legal. This bill is very clear and assures that in Arizona, when you go to the grocery store, you can actually see what youre buying, he said. So if its traditional slaughter meat or poultry, it will list that.

Anything else would have to be labeled as such.

Kolodin, however, said whats in the measure is not that simple.

The issue goes not to the merits of plant-based and lab-grown meat, but whether the legislation tortures the language, he said.

For example, HB 2244 would make it illegal to use a term that is the same or deceptively similar to one that has been used or historically defined to refer to what comes from what was once a living animal.

What the heck does that mean? Kolodin asked.

During a discussion on the measure, he asked Rep. Selina Bliss, R-Prescott, for example, what would happen if he used the term meaty veggie burgers.

Bliss acknowledged there is no simple answer.

Now I think were crossing into somewhat of a judgmental opinion, she responded. I would probably have to ask someone how that would play out in a court of law.

Kolodin told colleagues that is not an acceptable option.

It has never been my experience that the courts have been any great respecters of the Constitution of this country, he said. That responsibility falls more and more appropriately on the Legislature.

Kolodin said he probably would be OK with something that requires items be labeled in a way to ensure the reasonable consumer knows they originally came from a lab.

But that is not what this does, he said.

Most Democrats voted against the measure.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

Since moving to Tucson three years ago, I keep meeting the same kind of person. You know the type: sun-kissed skin, muscular hiking legs, eyes aglitter with affection for the Old Pueblo. Its the biggest small town in America! they say. These people sure love Tucson.

I am not one of these people.

On the surface, this might be confusing. I am a young-ish, well-ish paid professional working for one of Tucsons largest employers. My work supports people in Arizonas underserved communities, and I like to believe that I do a good job. I volunteer my time and expertise to many local organizations, which I deeply enjoy. How could it be that I dislike Tucson?

Its because Im blind.

I have a degenerative retinal condition, retinitis pigmentosa, which is characterized by night blindness, cataracts, and limited peripheral vision. Though I present as sighted, I carry a folding white cane at all times, using it when necessary. I dont see well enough to ride a bicycle. I obviously dont drive. In Tucson, thats a problem.

In order to commute to work independently on foot, I am limited to where I am able to live. In my neighborhood, rental property is expensive  my partner and I pay $2,400 plus utilities per month, with an increase coming up in August  and surroundings are sketchy. When I walk home at night, I hesitate to use my white cane because doing so makes me a target for the ever-present cast of characters at the nearby Circle K. The lobby at the Starbucks less than a block away closes at 3 pm, according to an employee, due to past gun violence in the parking lot.

Public transit infrastructure  aside from the streetcar, which is a godsend  is largely unhelpful. I am ineligible for paratransit because I am able to use the base transit system independently. The base system, which is unreliable, slow, and inefficient. The base system, where one can wait up to an hour in monsoon rains or 100-degree temperatures at bus stops with no shelters. The base system, which does not even serve some parts of Tucson.

Street lamps, if they exist, are so dim that they may as well not. Sidewalks, if they exist, are broken, uneven, and chockablock with obstacles. Sidewalk maintenance is the responsibility of landowners, which I learned recently after falling on my way home from work and breaking my ankle. This is just one incident in a current that I must constantly swim against while cobbling together a life  and contributing to the tax base of a city that doesnt seem concerned about whether I have a viable livelihood.

These issues may be invisible from the drivers seat of the ivory Tahoe; however Tucsons citizens with disabilities pay the price every day with their money, their time, and their mobility. Its not enough just to exist; we need and deserve an environment where we can thrive.

When I share these issues with local leaders, they tend to suggest belongingness solutions for survival and safety needs. No amount of equal opportunities employment will create an easier commute. No happy hour mixer will make my rent affordable. No visit to a new restaurant will unbreak my ankle or prevent it from being broken again.

I happen to agree: Tucson is the biggest small town in America. For the belongingness needs of the majority, this is an open door. For the safety and survival needs of everyone else  when a diverse population is leaning on mainstream supports  its a cage.

Practical accounting for diverse experiences determines the greatness of a community. Disability is diversity. Its time to stop checking a box and begin listening, reimagining, and producing results.
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

For choreographer Derek Deane, preparing Tulsa Ballets upcoming production of Strictly Gershwin is a bit like starting from scratch.

The company did this show about five years ago, and there are just four dancers who were in that production and still with the company, Deane said. So for much of the company, this show is completely new territory.

But the fact of the matter is, I like working with new dancers, he said. Because this is a relatively young company, as far as the range of ages of the dancers, the energy levels are very high. And while they may not be all that familiar with the world of this ballet, they have this incredible enthusiasm to learn.

Deanes Strictly Gershwin is something of an extravaganza  a work that brings all the glitz and glamour of the movie musicals of the 1930s and 40s to the ballet stage, set to a score made up of some of the greatest songs and orchestral works of George and Ira Gershwin.

In addition to Tulsa Ballets full company of dancers, Strictly Gershwin features a trio of tap dancers, a quartet of vocalists from the stage of Broadway and the Metropolitan Opera, performers on roller skates and bicycles, and the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra onstage.

Simply in terms of scale, it is one of the largest productions Tulsa Ballet has ever done, and artistic director Marcello Angelini said that, following the debut performances in 2018, Strictly Gershwin has been one of the shows audience members have requested to be revived.

Angelini himself well understands the ballets appeal. Growing up in Italy, I was mesmerized by the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies, awestruck by Gene Kelly and all the big band music that was part of that era, he said. While missing much of the dialogue when watching black and white movies  I didnt speak English at the time  the music, dance and visuals would keep me glued to the TV screen for hours.

George Gershwins music, and the dance style that emerged during that period, not only represent the artistic and innovative gifts of our country but also the spirit and resilience of the American people, Angelini said. Most of this music was composed either after World War I or during the Great Depression, and yet the music and dances of the time reflect the superb optimism of the American people for greater things to come.

Deane, who was a principal dancer for Englands Royal Ballet before devoting himself to choreography, originally created Strictly Gershwin while he was artistic director of the English National Ballet.

It started out even bigger, Deane said. I had been approached to do a production of Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall. Normally, when dance was presented there, its done on a little stage at one end. But as we toured the hall, which is such a wonderful, extraordinary place, I decided to do Swan Lake in the round. People thought I was mad, but we made it work, and it was hugely successful.

After similar productions of Romeo & Juliet and The Sleeping Beauty had similar success, Deane was asked to create a new work.

A number of classical ballets were suggested, but I really didnt want to do those, Deane said. I thought, if Im going to do a new piece, I wanted it to be something new, something different from a tragic classical ballet. Ive always adored the music of the Gershwins from a very young age, and when I suggested a piece using their music  well, lets just say I could see the cash registers behind the impresarios eyes.

Deane said he knew the piece had to include An American in Paris and Rhapsody in Blue, the two best-known orchestral works George Gershwin composed in his brief life.

And after that, he said, I just picked all my favorite Gershwin songs.

The original in-the-round production featured nearly 100 dancers and sold out the 5,000-plus seats of the Royal Albert Hall for multiple shows. He later revised the work so that it would work on a traditional proscenium stage for the English National Ballet, which toured the show for six weeks.

The work has also been performed by the Queensland Ballet in Australia, which reprised the production last year. Tulsa Ballet purchased the production soon after its 2018 performances.

While Strictly Gershwin has been a hit with audiences on three continents, some critics took exception to Deanes blending of ballet, tap and ballroom dancing with jazz-influenced pop standards.

In England, they really dont like things that are successful, he said. And if something is described as fun, that is even worse. I had some critics accuse me of dumbing down ballet in this piece, but the truth of the matter is, Strictly Gershwin is really a difficult thing to do. The Rhapsody in Blue section would be challenging for any ballet company in the world.

But because it is in a production that has, for lack of a better word, a popular air to it, some critics dont recognize the difficulty of dancing this ballet, Deane said. This ballet isnt designed to show off how hard it is to perform  its designed to use that difficulty to entertain.

Deane paused, then added, And there is absolutely nothing wrong with entertaining people. Its what ballet is supposed to do.

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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

Mexican-American artists Einar and Jamex de la Torre have worked together as artists since the early 1990s, creating installations that combine found objects, blown-glass pieces, lenticular printing and other media into surrealist landscapes.

The brothers work recently inspired a retrospective exhibit, Collidoscope: de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective, which was created in 2022 by the Riverside Art Museum in San Diego and shown at the museums Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture.

The exhibit comes to the Philbrook Museum of Art on Feb. 7 and will be on display through April 28 at the museum, 2727 S. Rockford Road.

The exhibit features works that span more than 30 years of the brothers genre-defying career and hints at the playfulness inherent in much of their work through the double pun of the shows title.

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Einar and Jamex de la Torre came to the United States as youngsters in 1972, when their family decided to resettle here. That sense of living on both sides of the border has influenced the brothers work (one now lives in San Diego, while the other resides in Mexico).

Their work draws inspiration from Indigenous, Mexican and American art traditions and cultures, with their multi-layered pieces featuring everything from pre-conquest Mesoamerican imagery to contemporary pop spectacle, from religious iconography from consumer culture, from histories of craft and folk art to the future of technology.

Come and Get It

Bestselling novelist Kiley Reid will be in Tulsa for an event in conjunction with her novel Come and Get It at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, at Fulton Street Books & Coffee, 21 N. Greenwood Ave.

Reid is the author of Such a Fun Age, in which a young Black woman takes a job caring for the child of an influential white couple, and social and personal turmoil ensues. It was long-listed for the 2020 Booker Prize, Great Britains most prestigious literary award.

Come and Get It is set on the campus of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where Reid lived and worked for a time while writing her first novel.

It focuses on three women: a visiting professor working on a book about students and their relationship with money; a student who works as a resident assistant in one of the universitys dorms; and another student who resides in that same dorm.

The story, as the three womens lives and the things they desire intersect, explores ideas about race and class, power and identity, consumerism and loneliness.

The New York Times said of the book, With her remarkable examination of American monoculture  from fast food to pop culture to handed-down ideals  (Reid) tells a story about economics thats neither poverty porn nor finance fantasy. Instead, its about the hows and whys of everyday consumerism and the insidious toll it takes on our lives.

Reid will discuss her book and its themes in a conversation with the stores owner, Onikah Asamoa-Caesar, followed by a book signing.

Tickets are $29.99, which includes a copy of Come and Get It. To purchase: eventbrite.com.

Tulsa Opera to stage I Love You...

Tulsa Opera will provide a slightly skewed look at love and marriage this Valentines season, with a production of the musical, I Love You, Youre Perfect, Now Change, which will be presented Feb. 9-11 at the Lynn Riggs Theater at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, 621 E. Fourth St.

Written by Joe DiPietro, who also wrote lyrics to Jimmy Roberts score, the show is a series of loosely connected vignettes that follow the sometimes rocky path from first love to family life, from dating to death. It premiered off-Broadway in 1996 and ran continuously for nearly 12 years, making it the second longest-running off-Broadway show (The Fantasticks, which ran for 42 years, holds the No. 1 spot).

Tulsa Operas production will star Natalie Grace Taylor, Paige Dickey, Sam Briggs and Andrew Barker, and is directed by Jeremy Stevens, with Lyndon Meyer as music director.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Feb. 9-10, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11. Tickets are $35. tulsaopera.com.

Tulsa Chorale sings Rutter

The Tulsa Chorale (formerly the Tulsa Oratorio Chorus) will perform a major work by one of the leading contemporary composers of choral music when it presents the Requiem by John Rutter, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at Trinity Episcopal Church. 501 S. Cincinnati Ave.

The chorus, led by artistic director Zachary Malavolti, will be joined by organist Joseph Arndt, soprano Jamie Filson May and members of the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra.

Rutter composed his Requiem in the memory of his father and to be a piece his father would have enjoyed. It is immediately accessible and deeply personal, Malavolti said. It is an incredibly uplifting work that is full of so much beauty and hope.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, $10 for students and will be available at the door or online at tulsachorale.org.

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Cherokees receive $500K grant to create small business loans

The Cherokee Nation was recently awarded a $500,000 Rural Business Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to create small business loans that support Cherokee citizen-owned businesses and create community-based jobs.

Deputy Chief Bryan Warner accepted the donation during the Oklahoma Tribal Opportunity Partnership Summit in Chickasha.

I measure our success as a tribe by looking at our individuals and the opportunities they have. This opportunity allows us to support small, Cherokee-owned businesses and jobs for Cherokee families, Warner said. We can pave the way for those who want to be an entrepreneur, who want to show their kids a new way to live and who want to break generational trauma. Anytime we are given the opportunity to help strengthen our communities, we must take it.

The summit was held at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, providing the USDA a chance to share grant and program opportunities with tribes across Oklahoma.

President Biden and I believe that we should make investments in rural communities and theres no greater opportunity to do that than through tribal partnerships, said Kenneth Corn, USDA state director of rural development.

Tribal governments are on the ground, they know their people, they know what is needed in all of their communities and theyre in a unique position to serve where sometimes the federal government cannot. To have the Cherokee Nation as a partner gives us a better opportunity to serve people, which is what our goal is at the end of the day.

Since 2022, the Cherokee Nation has been awarded $1.6 million from USDA Rural Development for programs such as the Women, Infants and Children program as well as the Farm and Food Workers Relief program.

Tulsa Idea Challenge returning in May

After a successful pilot last year, the Tulsa Idea Challenge is returning in May. Presented by 36 Degrees North, Builders + Backers and Tulsa Remote, the event is designed to provide entrepreneurial opportunities for Tulsans, and a chance to earn a share of $50,000.

After nearly 1,300 applied last year, 349 Tulsans were selected to participate in the challenge.

Nine top-performing teams (and 18 Tulsans) were awarded $50,000 for diverse ideas ranging from a school security drone that improves campus safety to smart welding goggles. Notably, 85% of the participants were first-time entrepreneurs.

Tulsa Idea Challenge is an incredible opportunity for innovators in our city to take a simple idea and turn it into a real-world solution through creativity, ideation and collaboration, said Devon Laney, CEO of 36 Degrees North. Entrepreneurship is at the heart of Tulsas history, and this challenge bolsters 36 Degrees Norths mission to equip our city with the tools and connections needed to build impactful, long-lasting businesses.

Tulsa residents 18 years and older, regardless of their business experience, can apply online at apply.buildersandbackers.com/TIC202 through April 10. The entrepreneurial workshop and competition guides participants how to collaborate and transform an idea into action.

After being paired by event organizers with another Tulsan, teams will learn how to pick a problem, break it down, and create an actionable plan that offers a real-world solution through purposely crafted exercises created by Builders + Backers. Prizes will be awarded to teams in a variety of categories.

Space is limited, and priority will be given to early applicants. Selected participants will be paid $300 for completing the workshop and will have the opportunity to win fast-track spots in the summer or fall cohorts of the Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator, which comes with $5,000 to test and launch a new venture.

The challenge will be held May 4-5 at the University of Tulsa. Up to 200 attendees will be accepted into the program.

Canadian pizza chain looking for franchisees in Oklahoma, elsewhere

Freshslice Pizza, a Canadian franchise, has announced its expansion into the U.S.

Known for its commitment to quality ingredients and innovation, Freshslice is seeking franchise opportunities in the U.S.

The company has revolutionized the franchise industry, like Netflix did to the video rental industry, it said.

Potential franchisees should:

Fill out Own a Franchise form on investinfresh.com

Have at least $60,000 in liquid cash and entrepreneurial drive

Align with its vision, values and culture

Send any direct questions to franchising@freshslice.com

Go through a screening process

Potential Tulsa-area franchisees may also email Eric Chupp at eric@freshslice.com.

Salvation Army opens new thrift store

The Salvation Army announced the grand opening of its newest thrift store at 3111 S. Harvard Ave.

All proceeds generated from the Thrift Store will go directly toward sustaining the Salvation Armys Mens Adult Rehabilitation Center, making every purchase a meaningful contribution, the organization said.

The new thrift store will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays.

BOK Financial announces agreement with Mastercard

Mastercard and BOK Financial Corporation announced an expanded agreement making Mastercard the exclusive payments network across BOK Financials debit and commercial portfolios, as well as extending its relationship with BOK Financials TransFund processing business.

Both companies will build an innovative, inclusive, and sustainable future in banking, grounded in the shared values of advancing the communities they serve, according to a news release.

Mastercard and BOK Financial share a passion and commitment to support and uplift our local communities. BOK Financial is more than a bank  its a force for good, financial education and opportunity, said John Levitsky, president, U.S. financial institutions, Mastercard. Through our expanded partnership, Mastercard will bring unparalleled expertise, technology, and services to drive new payment experiences, community impact and financial access for BOK Financial and its customers.

At BOK Financial, we continue to grow and invest in the future of our communities, said David Reynolds, director of product management at BOK Financial Corp.

Our expanded partnership with Mastercard will allow us to deliver a differentiated value proposition for our customers through cutting-edge technology and purpose-driven initiatives. Most importantly, were thrilled to be working with a company who holds a steadfast promise of connecting consumers to the things that matter most to them.

Foster Garvey law firm opens Tulsa office

Foster Garvey announced the opening of its Tulsa office in the Mid-Continent Tower, 401 South Boston Ave.

This newest office is part of the firms national expansion into the markets most critical to its clients success, the firm said in a news release.

Led by R. Daniel Carter, a principal in the tribal governments and enterprises practice group, the Tulsa office further enhances the firms services for Native American tribes and tribal entities, it said.

Foster Garvey takes great pride in our long history of service to Native American and Alaska Native tribes and their tribal communities, said firm co-chair Diana Shukis. Our Tulsa office bolsters our ability to continue working closely with tribes to protect sovereignty and treaty rights, preserve histories and culture, and expand economic opportunities.

We are thrilled to have Daniel leading our office in Tulsa, said firm co-chair Rafael Stone. His dedication to public service and civic leadership, as demonstrated by his tenures in the federal government and as attorney general for tribes, as well as his work on various boards of directors such as the Tulsa Lawyers for Children and the Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission, further enhances our commitment to serving our clients and communities.

 From Staff Reports

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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

Monday is the first Monday of February, which means the Oklahoma Legislature will commence its annual four-month dramady at the state Capitol.

Formally, this will be the second session of the 59th Oklahoma Legislature. Like Congress, Oklahomas lawmaking is on a two-year cycle that begins and ends with elections.

Whos who: The Senate is led by President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, the House by Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka.

Both are in their final sessions because of term limits, which could become a factor in the sessions internal politics. The presumed heirs are House Speaker Pro Tem Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, and Senate Majority Floor Leader Greg McCortney, R-Ada, but such things do not always go according to plan.

Democrats are led by Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, who is also term-limited, and House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City.

Gavel in: Since 1990, the Oklahoma Constitution has required the Legislature to begin its annual sessions at noon on the first Monday of February.

Shortly after the opening gavel, the Senate will recess and cross the fourth-floor rotunda where it will sit in joint session with the House for Gov. Kevin Stitts State of the State address.

SOS: The constitution also requires the governor to communicate by message, delivered to a joint session of the two Houses, upon the condition of the State; and shall recommend such matters to the Legislature as he shall judge expedient.

This is generally known as the State of the State, or SoS. And at times, it has indeed sounded like a distress call.

Stitt will tell lawmakers what he wants them to do in the coming session. This year hes almost certain to demand income tax cuts and tout the states cash reserves, but it is unclear what some of his other priorities will be.

The address will be carried live by OETA.

Executive budget: Statute also requires the governor to present a budget proposal for the coming fiscal year immediately after the beginning of each regular session.

Stitt is expected to ask for little to no increase in state spending for fiscal year 2025, which begins July 1.

The timing of the executive budget is awkward because revenue projections arent finalized, but in the end that doesnt matter much because the executive budget is essentially a suggestion the Legislature rarely follows.

We have issues: The states large cash reserves and tax policy will be front and center. Stitt and House leadership will make sure of that.

Senate leadership is not sure tax cuts are a good idea at this time but is under tremendous pressure from the governor and some outside groups, most of whom have elimination of the state income tax as their ultimate goal.

Budget and appropriations generally arent settled until April or even May, but Senate President Pro Tem Treat says he wants to get them done earlier this year.

As usual, a great many bills related to education have been filed on everything from foreign influence in schools to Oklahoma Teacher Retirement System adjustments.

Unusually, the majority party has several bills dealing with measurement and conservation of aquifers, especially in western Oklahoma.

Letters and numbers: Most legislation is introduced as bills, numbered sequentially from the state of each Legislature. Senate bills (SB) begin with the number 1. House bills (HB) begin with 1001.

Joint resolutions  HJRs and SJRs, depending on whether they originate in the House or the Senate  are used mostly for proposed constitutional amendments.

Simple resolutions (SRs and HRs) generally express a sentiment but have no legislative authority. The same is true of House and Senate concurrent resolutions, which are relatively rare.

Shell game: A favorite device of the House for getting around filing deadlines, either because legislative language is not finished or because of unexpected developments, is the shell bill.

Shell bills have no meaningful language. They are like spares setting on the shelf, waiting to be taken down and amended with whatever is needed or wanted.

Because House rules require amendments to be germane to the original language, hundreds of House shell bills are filed every year to hold a place in every section of law. The overwhelming majority are not used.

Technically, the Senate does not allow shell bills but it has its own way of doing the same thing. It does not have a germaneness rule, so regular bills are shucked and the text replaced, often with something completely unrelated to the original.

Something special: Running in the background is the special session called by Stitt last week. The Senate declined to take up an income tax cut Stitt requested and the House passed, but neither chamber gaveled final adjournment, meaning the special session could resume at any time.

Theres also a possibility the House and Senate could call themselves into special session. They did so last year to pass appropriations and budget bills in case Stitt vetoed them  which, in some cases, he did.

Sausage making: Unlike Congress, the Oklahoma Legislature runs on a strict timetable that actually begins in December, when lawmakers face a deadline for submitting requests for non-appropriations bills and joint resolutions.

Bills and joint resolutions must be filed in January, two weeks before the session begins.

The first few weeks of the session are taken up with committee meetings in which the thousands of measures filed or carried over from the last session are whittled down by more than half. Bills not passed out of committee during this portion of the session cannot be taken up again.

In the second phase of the legislative process, the entire House votes on House bills and the Senate votes on Senate bills. Those that survive switch sides of the Capitols fourth floor and go through committee again.

Then, the entire Senate votes on House bills and the House votes on Senate bills. Those that havent been amended go to the governor. Those that have go back to their chamber of origin and possibly a conference committee of House and Senate members to work out differences in the two chambers versions.

All of that said, everything changes in the last weeks of the session. Unlike policy measures, appropriations and budget bills can be filed any time and take a much shorter route to the House and Senate floors.

Also, legislative leadership can file bills and joint resolutions anytime, which can lead to sudden changes. This is when tempers flare and shenanigans are most likely.

Sine die: The constitution requires final adjournment no later than 5 p.m. on the last Friday of May.

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South Korea's top naval officer visited a key naval submarine base in the United States for the first time and stressed the need to strengthen ties against growing North Korean threats, the South's Navy said Sunday.

Adm. Yang Yong-mo, chief of naval operations, visited the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia, a southeastern coastal base home to key nuclear submarines, on Friday (local time), according to the Navy.

It marks the first time for a South Korean Navy chief to visit the base, which operates nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), a key U.S. strategic asset. SSBN is a sea-based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad that also includes intercontinental ballistic missiles and strategic bombers.

Yang took a tour aboard the docked Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Alaska (SSBN-732) before meeting U.S. Navy officials to discuss the allies' combined exercises and ways to boost cooperation in deterring North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

The two sides reaffirmed the U.S.' firm commitment to provide extended deterrence to South Korea "utilizing the full range of U.S. defense capabilities, including nuclear," the Navy said.

On Thursday, Yang also met with his U.S. counterpart, Adm. Lisa Franchetti, to discuss North Korea and maritime cooperation.

Franchetti underscored Washington's ironclad security commitment to the South and highlighted the need for both navies to improve interoperability and combined readiness in the face of an increasingly challenging security environment.

"Using the full range of U.S. defense capabilities, including nuclear, conventional, missile defense and other advanced non-nuclear capabilities, the U.S. will continue to provide extended deterrence for the ROK," she said, referring to the South by its official name, the Republic of Korea. (Yonhap)
Two poll workers unintentionally rattled David Bohlken two decades ago when he walked into a petite country church near Tulsa to vote for his first time as an Oklahoman.

They wouldnt offer him a ballot. Only a cup of coffee.

The ballot got flipped upside down on me. I wasnt even allowed to look at it, Bohlken said, noting that the two apologetic poll volunteers  his friends  were just doing their jobs. That kind of made me feel bad.

Bohlken grew up in Minnesota, a state with open primaries, where all registered voters may participate in any partys primary election. He didnt realize his status as a registered independent in Oklahoma would exclude him from partisan primaries.

Millions of voters in states like Oklahoma with primaries that are at least partially closed are shut out from voting in contested races because of their independent status or party affiliation, denying participation in elections their tax dollars fund.

In some cases, those primaries decide who wins the seat outright.

Across nine closed or partially closed primary states, about two in five registered voters in districts with contested U.S. Congressional primary elections in the 2022 midterms were barred from casting ballots in those races, according to a Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism team analysis of publicly available data.

Similarly, about two in five registered voters throughout those nine states in districts with contested state legislative primaries in 2022 were prohibited from participation.

In 181 of those 590 contested federal and state primaries, disallowed voters were entirely blocked from a choice in who represents them because the primaries decided who won the office  either directly or with an uncontested general election, according to Lee Enterprises analysis.

Thats almost one in three districts where the excluded voters had no say in their representation.

Jeremy Gruber, a lawyer and senior vice president of Open Primaries, a national advocacy group, frames the issue in stark terms.

Theres a country where when you vote in the general election, half the time theres only one person on the ballot. Almost every time its an uncompetitive election, and half the voters in the country are barred from the first round or limited, Gruber said. And even the voters that can participate are segregated into warring camps. People would say, Well, that doesnt make sense. That doesnt sound democratic.

Where is that? What strange country has that system? But thats us. Thats our system.

Gruber is part of a burgeoning movement across the U.S. to open up primaries so all registered voters can participate.

As the 2024 election season begins, there are already about a dozen active campaigns in states across the U.S., including Oklahoma, Arizona, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Idaho.

Proponents who are pushing for changes  through citizen-led ballot initiatives, state law changes or even lawsuits  say open primaries strengthen American democracy by allowing all registered voters equal access to taxpayer-funded elections while broadening voter choice and improving outcomes through competition.

But open primary efforts are running up against opposition from some political party leaders and partisans who think only party members should choose their candidates for the general election.

In the 20 years since Bohlken first tried to vote in Oklahoma, the states Democratic Party has opened its primaries to independent voters. But neither Republicans nor Libertarians have followed suit.

State Sen. Nathan Dahm, chair of the Oklahoma GOP, said he adamantly opposes open primaries because political parties are private organizations with specific ideals that should be able to decide who participates in their affairs  primary elections included.

You dont want the out-of-town atheist coming in and voting on who your next pastor should be in your church, Dahm said.

Dahm said no requirements force a person to vote in a primary. In fact, he said, most registered voters dont participate. And many citizens arent even registered to vote.

The purpose of the primary is for the party to determine who they want to be their nominee, Dahm said.

However, primaries often are where the real decisions are made, Gruber said. General elections in most state and federal races have ceased to be determinative, he said, becoming more of a dance  a formality.

All of a sudden, weve allowed the parties to control the process that we pay for  that our tax dollars pay for  and its perverted our democracy in all kinds of ways, Gruber said.

Most U.S. states have some form of open primary  even if advocates like Gruber argue theyre more limited or less inclusive than they should be. He emphasized that the de facto model for municipal governments are nonpartisan elections, which he said are effective and elicit the highest satisfaction in voter surveys.

Bohlken, a farmer and rancher who lives in Leonard, an unincorporated town near Tulsa, described his move to Oklahoma from Minnesota as a sort of slap in the face politically. His voting power was erased from primaries that his tax dollars support.

As an independent, he prefers to carefully consider candidates from both sides of the aisle.

I feel like I hesitate to say this out loud, but the primaries seem to drive a lot of real zealots  some people who are really extreme in their views, Bohlken said. So those few people who can show up for a primary really determine whos going to be put in office. And that just kind of freaks me out.

What research has found

The high level of voter disenfranchisement that Lee Enterprises analysis found in states such as Oklahoma was surprising even to a researcher who studies open primaries.

Thats nuts, said John Johnson, a research fellow at Marquette University in Wisconsin, a state with open primaries. Johnson said he would be angry if he lived in a state in which he couldnt participate in the primary, particularly if the general election wasnt competitive.

In stark contrast, Wisconsins open primary system doesnt require voters to register with a party and allows them to decide in which partys primary they want to vote.

Its mostly people just voting with the party that they prefer, and then when they cross over its because they genuinely feel some stake in the contest thats happening inside the other party, Jo hnson said.

Johnsons research has found that crossover voting  when Republicans vote in a Democratic primary, for example  happens at such low levels as to be inconsequential in swaying the results, despite fears of party-raiding expressed by opponents of open primaries.

In analyzing both the 2016 and 2018 Wisconsin primaries, an identical share of Republicans and Democrats  2%  crossed over to the opposite party.

Even if this tiny share of people were indeed party raiding, they canceled each other out, Johnson wrote in a summary of the study. But there is no good evidence suggesting they werent voting in good faith.

Still, high-profile stories of voters trying to disrupt primary elections pop up.

For example, some Democratic and independent voters in Wyoming crossed over to the Republican primary in 2022 to try to save former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney from her GOP challenger. They were unsuccessful as Cheney lost by more than 30 percentage points.

Johnson thinks the academic literature is pretty settled in that open primaries dont cause harm  but they do increase voter turnout.

The Bipartisan Policy Center examined the 2022 midterm primaries and found that open primary states had higher voter turnout on average than closed primary states.

The average turnout was 24.5% in states with fully open primaries or what are referred to as top-two or top-four formats, according to Bipartisan Policy Centers analysis. Meanwhile, average turnout was just 21.5% in states with semi-open primaries and 20.7% in states with closed primaries.

Fully open primaries allow individuals to decide in which partys primary they want to vote. Top-two or top-four formats place all candidates on a common ballot for all voters, with the top vote-getters advancing to the general election.

Generally, partially open primaries permit independent or unaffiliated voters to choose a partys primary but dont allow party members to switch to another partys primary.

Closed primaries only authorize party members to vote and only within their designated party. And partially closed primaries let the recognized parties decide whether any independent or unaffiliated or minor party voters can participate.

Primary systems can be nuanced and vary widely by state.

For example, Nevada and New Mexico  technically closed primary states  allow any person to register to vote or switch parties at the polls on primary day.

Other state deadlines for switching parties are weeks or months in advance of primary elections.

Wyoming, for example, requires that individuals who want to change or declare a new party affiliation for the primary must do so before the candidate filing period even begins.

Oklahoma Republican mayor reverses view

Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum, a Republican, is now one of the faces of a grassroots movement to open up the Sooner states primaries, called Oklahoma United For Progress.

But a decade earlier, he said he wrongly campaigned against the concept.

Bynum, then a city councilor, opposed the citizen-led ballot question that made Tulsas municipal elections nonpartisan on his mistaken belief that political parties fundamentally are supposed to educate and motivate voters. He had feared voter interest would wane in a nonpartisan process.

At the core of Bynums change of heart?

He said he unexpectedly unseated the Republican incumbent for mayor in 2016 by building a broad coalition that he couldnt have mobilized in a partisan primary. And contrary to his belief, average voter turnout in the three mayoral primaries after Tulsa switched to nonpartisan elections rose 35% compared to the same period before the reform.

In his 2020 re-election bid, Bynum said the center held despite a strong primary challenge from his ideological left and right opponents.

The fact that Im sitting here as a mayor right now and didnt lose in 2020 is testament to the fact that most people are not in the vocal, angry extremes, Bynum told a crowd in July at a burger restaurant in Oklahoma City. Most people are in between there somewhere, but theyre not as loud.

The Lee Enterprises analysis of publicly available voter data for the 2022 midterm primary illustrates how Oklahomas partially closed system  and others like it  stifles voter participation.

In districts with contested U.S. House races, about 49% of registered voters  or 889,880 eligible Oklahomans  were shut out from casting a ballot in them.

Similarly, about 45% of registered voters  or 350,669 eligible Oklahomans  in contested State House races and about 40%  or 252,197  in contested State Senate races were blocked from voting in them.

And 31 of those 52 contested state and federal seats  about 60%  were decided outright by the primary and not the general election, meaning hundreds of thousands of registered voters who were disallowed a primary voice had no vote at all for who would represent them in public office.

Bynum called that data one of the great arguments in favor of open primaries. From a democracy standpoint, he said, its much better to have elected leaders chosen by all of the people  not half of half the people, in many cases.

Dahm, who has been chair of the Oklahoma GOP since May, said it isnt fair to consider closed primaries as keeping voters from participating because all someone has to do is register with the party.

He said Democrats werent pushing for open primaries when they had control of the state 20 years ago.

What happened is Republicans organized better, Dahm said. We got better candidates  people that better represent the will of the people in those districts  and we flipped those seats from Democrat seats to Republican seats.

And if those people want to continue to participate in that, they can become registered Republicans.

Privately, Bynum said he hears from many elected officials who support the open primaries effort but wont do so in the open.

The party in control in a state  no matter whether Republican or Democrat  doesnt have incentive to change a system that could loosen its grip on power, he said.

He said he is sticking out his neck publicly for a shot at generational change because he sees better focus on policy and improved outcomes in nonpartisan races.

I think a fear of (open primaries) would betray a lack of confidence in the ideas that one political party or another is supporting, Bynum said.

Organized party pushback in some states like Missouri

While momentum to open up primaries is building among the countrys independent voters, some states  including Missouri, Tennessee and Ohio  are facing action in the other direction, forcing advocates to play defense.

In Missouri, voting rights advocates like Denise Lieberman of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition so far have successfully staved off Republican efforts to close the states open primaries, but the threat is constantly looming, she said.

Major changes to the states voting system already have taken place, such as the 2022 elimination of the Republican presidential primary election in favor of a caucus system, which tends to encourage participation by loyal party members and decrease turnout overall.

This is all part of a national trend to constrict who is able to cast a ballot, Lieberman said. I do think these efforts to close primaries that weve seen in about a half-dozen states are part of this effort to make the electorate smaller.

Lieberman said a consequence of shutting out voters from primaries is making them feel like it was rigged from the beginning.

What we know from the data is that fewer and fewer people are choosing to affiliate with the major political parties, Lieberman said. If you have no say in who the party candidate is going to be, why even bother to show up at the general election to vote?

It remains to be seen what happens in this legislative session in Missouri. A Republican state senator who last year sponsored a bill to close primary elections, Sen. Andrew Koenig, doesnt appear to be focused on it in 2024.

Dave Evans, communications director for the senator, said I dont know that thats an issue thats going to be a burning issue this year.

But Evans said the senators view hasnt changed on the matter.

In fact, the Missouri Republican Party states on its party platform that it believes in closed primaries requiring all voters who cast a ballot to declare a partisan affiliation and maintain declared party affiliations as a public record.

Political parties are in fact private organizations, Evans said. They ought to have the right to have freedom of association like any other group.

Independents the new plurality in Arizona

In swing-state Arizona, independent voters, or individuals not with a recognized party, became the plurality of registered voters in October.

But those voters are excluded from the states version of a presidential primary, called a presidential preference election.

Ray Kimball is a retired U.S. Army officer who is a relatively new independent voter in Arizona after nearly three decades as a registered Republican.

Kimball said the GOP alienated him over its refusal to acknowledge that Joe Biden is the duly elected president, prompting his move to independent status.

Kimballs wife received notice in the mail of the forthcoming presidential preference election and that she automatically will get her partys ballot. Kimball himself wont be sent any such mail and wont be able to participate in what he called a crucial election.

Im fiercely proud of my vote, and I will cast it at any opportunity available, said Kimball, who lives in Gilbert in the East Valley of the Phoenix metro. Im just angry that I dont have the ability to make that voice heard in every election. I think thats wrong.

Kimball, who works in higher education after his military retirement, is open to considering a return to the GOP if it were to find its bearings and embrace reality. But he does find meaning in his fresh status as an independent.

I feel proud to be close to what George Washingtons original vision for politics in this country was  he warned against partisan politics, Kimball said. He was concerned about what it would do to our country. So I feel proud that Im exercising a political tradition that has its roots in the origin of our country.

Paul Johnson, a former Democrat mayor of Phoenix, is helping lead the Save Democracy Arizona petition effort to enshrine nonpartisan primaries and uniform signature requirements into the state Constitution. As it stands, Arizona law requires independent or unaffiliated individuals who want to run for legislative office to come up with tens of thousands of signatures more than someone who is with a recognized political party.

Now an independent, Johnson said voters breaking away from a desire to be identified as a member of a party is one of the most powerful movements ongoing in American politics.

The countrys single greatest achievement has been to empower individuals over itself, he said. He added that the magical key to democracy is talking to people with whom you dont necessarily agree.

The single biggest thing that defines (the parties) is they hate each other. They cannot stand one another, Johnson said. And my answer is, I dont want to eliminate them. I want to get the best from them.

Pennsylvania voters push for open primaries

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania is closer than it ever has been to adopting an open primary system. But its not there yet.

For the first time in October, a bill to open up primary elections to an estimated 1.2 million excluded unaffiliated and independent Pennsylvania voters passed out of a house legislative committee.

One of the key proponents of the bill, Democratic Rep. Jared Solomon of Philadelphia, said he feels a shift, that more and more folks are coming on board.

The proposal has been around forever and its the first time it passed the House (committee), Solomon said. I think its a really big deal.  We need to finally get this bill to the finish line.

However, the full House chamber still hasnt acted on the bill yet. A spokesperson for the House speaker, who has the power to call the bill down for a vote, told Lee Enterprises that the measure is currently being reviewed.

Solomon says hes pushing hard on this because he believes its the right thing to do.

The fastest group of unaffiliated independent voters are people aged 18 to 35, he said. Imagine youre a new voter in Pennsylvania and were basically saying to you no thanks, not welcome, not here.

At the same time, Solomon said the state will take their tax money to prop up the primary system.

It doesnt really roll out of the welcome mat, he said. This is not the look we want in PA.

One of those new young voters is Ethan Barnes, a Dickinson College student who was disappointed to find out upon moving to Pennsylvania that he wouldnt be able to vote in primary elections unless he registered as a Democrat or a Republican.

But at heart, hes an independent, just like his dad, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who instilled in him the importance of being politically active at a young age.

Its really sad that you cant register as an independent and still be able to be as politically active as you could if you were registered as either a Democrat or Republican, Barnes said. Thats what many of my friends (and I) have had to go through.

Why should I not be able to participate just because Im registered as an independent? Barnes said.

The issue led Barnes to join BallotPA, a statewide advocacy group of independent and unaffiliated voters who are trying to push lawmakers on the issue.

I always cared a lot about politics, but I dont know if I would have imagined myself getting this strongly involved in the fight for open primaries, Barnes said. But Im happy that I did.  I think the ability to participate in politics and being able to vote should be open to all.

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Japanese Minister of Reconstruction Shinako Tsuchiya has recently led a delegation to Vietnam to explore opportunities for promoting the export of farm produce and seafood from the Tohoku region, which suffered heavy damage from quake-tsunami disasters 13 years ago.

During the working visit, Minister Tsuchiya gained insights into the import and distribution of foods by Vietnamese enterprises from Japan, with a specific focus on the Tohoku area, mainly the three prefectures of Fukushima, Iwate, and Miyagi, which were significantly affected by the double tragedies that occurred in March 2011.

She participated in a three-day cuisine, culture, and travel festival that commenced at Aeon Mall in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday.

The event aimed to showcase and promote the diverse foods, gastronomy, and tourist destinations of Fukushima and its surrounding areas, the online newspaper of the Communist Party of Vietnam reported.

The event was organized by the Japan Reconstruction Agency along with the Japan National Tourism Organisation and Japan External Trade Organization.

Addressing the festival, Tsuchiya highlighted its purpose of portraying the appealing characteristics of cuisine and showcasing attractive tourist destinations in Fukushima.

She emphasized that Fukushima is currently in a phase of recovery following the past disasters.

At the same time, she acquainted festival-goers with a variety of farm produce, fruits, and seafood from the prefecture and the broader Tohoku region.

On Saturday morning, Minister Tsuchiya and her entourage paid a visit to the Ho Chi Minh City Business Association (HUBA) to explore opportunities for boosting bilateral trade.

During a meeting with HUBA's leaders, the minister provided an overview of the ongoing economic recovery in Fukushima.

She expressed a desire to enhance collaboration between the two parties with the aim of exploring additional export markets for farm produce and seafood from Fukushima, according to Doanh Nhan Sai Gon (Saigon Entrepreneur) Online.

Vu Anh Khoa, vice-president of HUBA and chairman of supermarket chain Saigon Co.op, mentioned that the retailer has established collaborations with numerous Japanese partners in distributing Japanese goods in Vietnam for the past 15 years.

Supermarket customers have expressed high appreciation for the quality, design, and diversity of Japanese goods, Khoa commented.

He believed that the meeting would open more opportunities for cooperation between the two sides.

Later on the same day, Minister Tsuchiya visited Ho Chi Minh City-based Phan Thanh Akuruhi Co. Ltd., a Vietnamese enterprise specializing in importing and distributing Japanese food and beverage products.

During a meeting with the company's leaders, Tsuchiya conveyed that her ministry is committed to providing maximum support to all localities in the Tohoku region to facilitate their ongoing socio-economic recovery from the devastating disasters.

"We are striving to revive the development of Fukushima, Iwate, and Miyagi. This business trip is designed to acquaint Vietnamese consumers with key exports, particularly agricultural and aquatic products, from the three prefectures, with the ultimate goal of promoting their exports," Nguoi Lao Dong (Laborer) newspaper cited Tsuchiya as saying.

The minister said that Fukushima is renowned for its sweet and fragrant apples as well as fresh peaches.

Miyagi Prefecture attracts attention with its diverse array of fish products.

She asserted that she would introduce these key products of the Tohoku region during her visit.

Lam Thi Hoang Truc, chairwoman of Phan Thanh Akuruhi, a trading company dealing in various products from the Tohoku region, noted that the volumes of goods imported from Japan to Vietnam, both in general and for her firm specifically, have experienced a slight reduction in the past three years.

This decline is attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other global instabilities.

She, however, expressed her belief that the situation will likely improve this year.

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Vietnam won a bid to export over 400,000 metric tons of rice to Indonesia, which was expected to slow down the current rice export price decline, Nguyen Duy Thuan, general director of local rice supplier Loc Troi Group, said on Saturday.

The Indonesian National Logistics Agency on Wednesday announced the results of the tender to import 500,000 metric tons of rice.

Three major Vietnamese companies secured two lots of the bid each, including Loc Troi Group winning lot No. 8 and 14, Vietnam Northern Food Corporation obtaining lot No. 15 and 16, and Vietnam Southern Food Corporation clinching lot No. 3 and 9.

Four other Vietnamese firms winning the bid were Kien Giang Import-Export JSC, Phat Tai Co. Ltd., Gia International Corporation, and King Green Natural Foods JSC, which secured lot No. 12, 11, 6, and 2, respectively.

Besides the Vietnamese enterprises, Singaporean company R&S Trader PTE secured lot No. 10, 13, and 17.

Indonesia planned to import some three million metric tons of rice this year.

Meanwhile, Vietnams Mekong Delta is expected to harvest about six million metric tons of rice until April.

A Loc Troi Group leader said the worlds rice demand increases by one percent, or five million metric tons, per year. Therefore, stable rice production is crucial.

The National Authority for Agro-Forestry-Fishery Quality, Processing and Market Development under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development forecast the worlds total rice output to reach 520 million metric tons this year, while the consumed volume may reach 525 million metric tons.

In other words, the world will face a shortage of five million metric tons of rice in 2024.

The export price of Vietnams five-percent broken rice has fallen US$11 per metric ton since early January, according to the Vietnam Food Association.

The prices of other types of rice have also experienced a decline.

Particulary, 25-percent broken rice is currently priced at $614 per metric ton, reflecting a decrease of $19 compared to the beginning of the previous month.

The Jasmine rice price has also declined by $8 to $720 per metric ton.

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Catch up on the news in Vietnam today:

Politics

-- Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son made a series of recommendations on measures to step up cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) while attending the 24th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting in Brussels on Friday, reported the Vietnam News Agency.

Society

-- Throngs of people began leaving Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday afternoon for their hometowns prior to the forthcoming Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet, causing traffic congestion at the citys western gateway.

-- Many hourly sanitation workers in Binh Duong Province, southern Vietnam have cried for help as they have not received their wages for several months.. These employees fret over no money for Tet celebrations.

Business

-- Minister of Reconstruction Shinako Tsuchiya from Japan is currently in Vietnam, aiming to introduce Japanese fruits and fishery products to the Vietnamese market. The visit is focused on exploring potential collaboration opportunities with partners in the Southeast Asian nation.

-- Vietnam imported over 1.3 million metric tons of cotton worth more than US$2.8 billion in 2023, making the country the worlds third-largest textile and garment material importer, according to statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

-- The Green Tet - Vietnamese Gifts market opened in downtown Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday, with nearly 1,000 agricultural products from 30 provinces and cities across Vietnam on sale. The market, which will close on Tuesday, is meant to meet the soaring shopping demand of residents ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

-- Garmex Saigon Corporation, headquartered in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City, started liquidating some of its assets in December last year due to a lack of new orders.

Lifestyle

-- Ho Chi Minh City authorities opened Phu My Hung Flower Street in District 7 on Saturday afternoon to delight dwellers and tourists before and during the Tet holiday.

Sports

-- Defending champions and hosts Qatar beat Uzbekistan 3-2 on penalties in a thrilling Asian Cup quarter-final that ended 1-1 after extra time at Al Bayt Stadium on Saturday to set up a tantalising clash with Iran, Reuters reported.

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A 39-year-old woman in Quang Tri Province, situated in north-central Vietnam, demonstrated honesty and integrity by returning VND20.5 million (US$842) that she found at a local automated teller machine (ATM) to its rightful owner.

At about 4:30 pm on Wednesday, Nguyen Thi Vinh reached the ATM booth of Military Bank (MB) in Khe Sanh Town, Huong Hoa District, Quang Tri Province to withdraw cash, local police reported.

However, she failed to insert her bank card into the ATM. A while later, VND20.5 million ($842.2) in cash came out.

She took the money and waited at the ATM booth for 20 minutes but no one returned to receive the money.

On Thursday, she brought the cash to the police station in Huong Phung Commune, Huong Hoa District, asking officers to look for the owner.

Police handed over the money to MBs transaction office in Khe Sanh Town the next day.

According to the transaction office, a customer reported to the bank that at 4:25 pm on Wednesday, he deposited VND20.5 million through the ATM but did not receive any notification if the transaction was successful or not.

MB has received the money from the Huong Phung Commune police and would give it back to its rightful owner.

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Phu My Hung Flower Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City opened to the public on Saturday afternoon, a few days prior to the Lunar New Year festival, or Tet, drawing crowds of revelers.

Throngs of city dwellers and visitors gathered on the street to take selfies and photos, as well as admire various flowers and Tet-themed miniatures before it was officially put in place at 6:00 pm on the same day.

The 700-meter-long flower street, which sprawls on Ton Dat Tien Street, remains open until February 13, or the fourth day of the first lunar month.

A family of five wear red 'ao dai' to take photos with a miniature on Phu My Hung Flower Street, which opened to the public in Ho Chi Minh City on February 3, 2024. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

On Saturday afternoon, a Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporter witnessed dozens of workers diligently tending to flowers and adorning miniatures, preparing the street for its grand opening.

A young woman is eager to pose for a photo on Phu My Hung Flower Street, which opened to the public in Ho Chi Minh City on February 3, 2024. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Phu My Hung Flower Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City is adorned with yellow flowers. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Many foreign tourists visit Phu My Hung Flower Street, which opened to the public in Ho Chi Minh City on February 3, 2024. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

These miniatures were emblazoned with patterns resembling dragon scales that highlight the connection between traditional and modern lifestyles, creating a vibrant atmosphere of the Tet festival.

The flower street of the Year of the Dragon is also festooned with a miniature of a green rice field, along with a space showcasing vegetables and fruits.

Thien An, a resident of District 7, said that she and her family donned ao dai (traditional Vietnamese long gown) for photoshoots along the colorful flower street on its opening day.

The airy wide space of the street is a plus to attract visitors.

Phu My Hung Flower Street, which opened to the public in Ho Chi Minh City on February 3, 2024, is decorated with a dragon-themed miniature. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Flower boats are among the highlights of Phu My Hung Flower Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Young people don 'ao dai' for photoshoots on Phu My Hung Flower Street, which opened to the public in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City on February 3, 2024. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Young women in 'ao dai' pose for a photo on Phu My Hung Flower Street, which opened to the public in Ho Chi Minh City on February 3, 2024. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Phu My Hung Flower Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City opens to the public until February 13, 2024. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

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Authorities in Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam unveiled an apricot blossom street shaped like the Vietnamese map on Sunday, just in time for the upcoming Lunar New Year festival, Tet.

The vibrant display offers locals and tourists ample opportunities for photoshoots as Tet is about a week away.

The 155-meter-long S-shaped street, which covers 2,800 square meters of land in the Tay Bac urban area in Rach Gia City, which is the provincial capital, was crammed with revelers on Sunday morning.

Among the notable features of the apricot blossom street in Kien Giang Province are miniature displays that encapsulate the essence of past Tet traditions

Representatives of the Kien Giang Province administration cut a ribbon to open an apricot blossom street as the 2024 Tet holiday approaches. Photo: Chi Cong / Tuoi Tre

The charming street, titled Vietnamese Tets Quintessence, was formed by tens of thousands of apricot and peach blossom branches, as well as numerous special miniatures, reflecting the Tet atmosphere of Vietnams three regions.

A space of calligraphy, a stall of various folk cakes, an area displaying straw rolls, non la (conical hat), and colorful lanterns help beautify the street.

The addition of a cuisine space, offering a diverse range of local specialties for sale, further enhances the appeal of the street.

Nguyen Xuan Kieu, a resident of Rach Gia, said that the apricot blossom street for the 2024 Lunar New Year was eye-catching and distinctive.

She shared that the decorations and Tet-themed miniatures not only reflect the national cultural identity but also symbolize Vietnam's reunification and prosperity.

"I am delighted and proud to witness the unveiling of the Vietnamese map-shaped apricot blossom street in the city on the occasion of Tet," Kieu said.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the daily lives of residents have returned to normal, and Vietnamese are now welcoming a new and vibrant spring season."

The 2,800-square-meter apricot blossom street in Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam drew crowds of locals and tourists on its opening day, February 4, 2024. Photo: H. Phuc / Tuoi Tre

Pham Thi Nhu Phuong, general director of CIC Group, the primary investor in the street project, mentioned that the street, with a cost of VND3 billion (US$123,250), is designed to be a popular destination for photoshoots and selfies during the most significant national holiday.

Apart from creating a festive atmosphere during Tet, the street is aimed at affirming Vietnams sovereignty and territorial integrity, while introducing the national cultural identity to foreign tourists, Phuong underlined.

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A family in Dak Nong Province, located in Vietnams Central Highlands, planned to cook 15,000 banh chung (square sticky rice cakes) in 15 days to serve the local market during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet.

Banh chung, consisting of glutinous rice and fillings made of mung beans as well as fatty pork, is a requisite dish for Tet, typically in northern Vietnam.

Seven of three generations under one root are busy cooking the traditional Tet dish to meet the demand of residents during the country's biggest national holiday.

Nguyen Thi Lans family in Nghia Trung Ward under Gia Nghia City is making some 1,000 banh chung each day.

These days, early in the morning, her family members have been keeping themselves occupied cooking the traditional Tet cake.

Lan, the owner of a secret family recipe, is in charge of preparing the fillings of banh chung.

Ngo Si Nam, Lans son, is responsible for washing sticky rice and tying banh chung with bamboo strings.

Meanwhile, Ngo Thi Phuong, Lans daughter, is tasked with preparing stachyphrynium placentarium leaves, known as la dong in Vietnamese, which are used for wrapping banh chung.

Other family members are involved in various tasks, fully immersing themselves in the lively atmosphere.

Pork and mung beans are put onto sticky rice to make 'banh chung.' Photo: Tuoi Tre

Lan shared that her family left northern Bac Ninh Province to settle down in Gia Nghia City in 2004. She brought the secret recipe of making banh chung with her to the Central Highlands region.

She has cooked banh chung for national holidays, including Tet, since 2007.

The number of cakescreated by her family has steadily increased each year, driven by a growing number of customers seeking out their delectable creations.

Lan and her family were set to make 15,000 banh chung to suit the need during the 2024 Lunar New Year festival.

To fulfill these orders, her family prepared six metric tons of sticky rice, mung beans, and bamboo strings that were transported from her motherland.

She also bought 1.5 metric tons of pork and wrapping leaves to make it ready for the activity.

We are wrapping the cakes in the morning, preparing the wrapping leaves in the afternoon, and processing materials for fillings in the evening, Lan said.

'Banh chung' are arranged inside a pot for cooking. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Her family has done the job since the 15th day of the 12th lunar month.

When Tet draws near, her family could make 2,000-4,000 banh chung to finish the activity.

Despite fatigue, my family members and I are so happy, Lan shared excitedly.

Some of Lans clients in Gia Nghia City said that she could wrap banh chung without using a square mold.

Her banh chung can be consumed within two weeks.

After being cooked, 'banh chung' are fished out of a pot. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Lans banh chung has been shipped to Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat, a popular tourist site in the Central Highlands region, and Da Nang City in central Vietnam.

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Documentary anthology Australia Uncovered returns to SVS this week with new stand-alone docos, beginning with the remarkable story of Hitlers Jewish Soldier?

Dan Goldberg, Creative Director, Mint Pictures, said: This story crossed my desk in 2012 when I was a correspondent filing for Jewish newspapers in America, Canada, Europe, and Israel. Initially it struck me as a possible Holocaust hoax, and so I travelled from Sydney to Melbourne to interview this legendary Mascot, then in his late 70s, in person. I filed several stories about this alleged hoax, which were syndicated around the world. Like most news, the story petered out and I went back to making documentaries.

Until mid-2020 when, out of the blue, I received a call from The Mascot. What he told me triggered a moral obligation to file a new story. It quickly became evident that this truth-is-stranger-than-fiction story would make a ripping feature documentary. The end result is a staggering story that provokes bigger questions about secrets and lies, fact and fiction, family, and identity.

Dubbed The Mascot, Hitlers youngest soldier was, remarkably, a Jewish boy who hid his secret in Australia for almost fifty years before embarking on a rollercoaster ride to uncover his true identity. This is the astonishing story of Alex Kurzem, revealed for the first time in full in Hitlers Jewish Soldier?  the gripping first instalment in the new season of Australia Uncovered.

As a young boy during the Second World War, Alex Kurzem says he recalls watching from a tree as his entire village, including his family, were murdered by an execution squad. Having escaped certain death by fleeing into the frozen woods of Belorussia, Alex says he survived for several months before being captured and taken in by a Latvian battalion that was later incorporated into the SS.

Instead of killing Alex, the battalion made him their child soldier, their Mascot. They gave him a false name, fake birth date, adorned him with a pint-sized uniform and armed him with a shorn-off rifle. When the Russians invaded and the fighting was deemed to be too dangerous, Alex was removed from the Front and fostered by a Latvian chocolatier named Jekabs Dzenis. The Dzenis family migrated to Australia in 1949, taking Alex with them.

Building a new life in Melbourne, Alex married and had three children, working in the circus before becoming a TV repairman. He kept his secret for almost fifty years, until  facing a cancer scare  he told his children his survival story.

Hitlers Jewish Soldier? investigates whether Alexs incredible survival story  as well as the discovery of his long-lost Jewish family in the late 1990s  is in fact true. As Jewish journalist and director Dan Goldberg journeys across the globe in a bid to solve the mystery of The Mascot, what unfolds is an astounding true crime-esque investigation that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Hitlers Jewish Soldier? is a Mint Pictures production for SBS. Principal production funding from Screen Australia and SBS. Financed with support from Screen NSW.

8:40pm Thursday 8 February on SBS.
If you have seen one of the promos for Feud: Capote vs The Swans you may have noticed it refers to the original Housewives, which struck me as a fairly simplistic take on Truman Capotes delicate relationship with New York society women in the 1960s.

But I get it. From a marketing perspective it instantly communicates the tone of what youre in for from Ryan Murphys second anthology season.

Now having commenced the series, its actually spot on for episode 3 under director Gus van Sant, who breaks from the naturalistic style of episodes 1 and 2, to adopt a kind of cinema verite approach as Truman plots a grand masquerade ball in NYC. Its an event full of petty rivalries, glamour and mischief, presented through the lens of a documentary Capote was making with filmmakers Albert and David Maysles.

In Feud it is recreated with the spectacular cast, led by Tom Hollander as Capote, and the dazzling women who make up the swans: Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Chloe Sevigny, Calista Flockhart, Demi Moore, Molly Ringwald. They have meltdowns, break the fourth wall to speak to camera, contain their jealousies (or at least attempt to), and dress in fabulous gowns. Yes, you could indeed be watching Real Housewives of New York Circa 1966.

Such is the fascination with Feud: Capote vs The Swans, that the execution and performances are so fabulously distracting that you can easily be taken out of its universe. The foreground often upstages the story.

Tom Hollander brilliantly undertakes the role of the American writer, previously portrayed on screen by the likes of Philip Seymour Hoffman, Toby Jones and Robert Morse. Capote is eccentric, camp, gifted and possibly polarising for many viewers unfamiliar with his place in modern American history.

Surrounding him are the swans of the story, scripted by Jon Robin Baitz and based on a book by Laurence Leamer.

Naomi Watts stars as Barbara Babe, chain-smoking wife of CBS founder and philanderer William S. Paley (Treat Williams), to whom Capote is magnetically attracted for her beauty, mind, glamour and style. The two form an intimate bond built around society parties, alcohol, cigarettes, long lunches, gossip and scintillating advice.

My God hes dazzling. Invite him to everything we ever have -William.

Babes society friends are equally besotted by Capotes acidic humour and counsel. They include Slim Keith (Lane), C.Z. Guest (Sevigny) and Lee Radziwill (Flockhart).

Less captivated is socialite Ann Woodward (Demi Moore) who is under suspicion of murdering her husband, and whom Capote intends to expose. Molly Ringwald also features as Joanne Carson, wife of televisions Johnny, whose home is where Capote dined and wrote, if challenged by writers block.

Also featuring is Russell Tovey as a closeted encounter turned toyboy.

Write about the world youre showing me.that lunch is gold all of it. Nobody can show us these women Truman, how they really are  John.

The Feud of the title centres around Capotes irresistable urge to write about the women and all their character flaws with his poisonous pen, some of which is published in Esquire magazine. Its enough to turn the women against him and unleash their group revenge.

He got it right about all of us, but mostly meI turned to him for love, this homosexual court jester singing for his supper  Babe.

We stand united and we destroy him  Slim.

Icing him out is devastating to Capote, denied his dance card to their society soirees.

I keep trying to apologise but she wont take my calls. -Capote.

In addition to the star turns, notably Hollander, Watts and an unrecognisable Demi Moore, the production design is exquisite, recreating New York in the 60s. Characters collide in the finest mansions and apartments, indulge in fabulous restaurants and ballrooms, dress in high fashions  yes it really is a Real Housewives forerunner.

Yet the performances become the reason to watch Feud, which wasnt necessarily the only driver for the tempestuous first season of Feud: Bette and Joan. At 8 episodes I fear this could outstay its essay on why gay men are so drawn to glamorous women (and vice versa) and the consequences of betrayal. But damn, we will have some high times getting there.

Feud: Capote vs The Swans will surely be nominated for acting, direction, production design, if not necessarily a complete triumph for the sum of its parts.

Oh and theres one more star cameo from Episode Two I darent spoil

Feud: Capote vs The Swans is now screening weekly on Binge and 9:30pm Thursdays on Showcase.
Russia's deputy foreign minister held talks with his South Korean counterpart to discuss regional security and other pending issues during his visit to Seoul, the South's foreign ministry said Sunday.

Andrey Rudenko, the Russian deputy foreign minister in charge of the Asia-Pacific region, met with Deputy Foreign Minister Chung Byung-won on Friday and addressed the Ukrainian war and bilateral ties, the ministry said in a press release.

Chung expressed South Korea's "stern stance" on Russia's growing military cooperation with North Korea and called for Moscow's "responsible behavior."

He also urged Russia's cooperation to prevent any infringement of the rights of South Korean firms and citizens in Russia.

During his visit, Rudenko also paid a courtesy visit on Deputy Foreign Minister Chung Byung-won and held talks with Kim Gunn, South Korea's top nuclear envoy.

Kim called on Moscow to strictly comply with its obligations to United Nations Security Council resolutions, including the immediate cessation of its military ties with Pyongyang that threatens the security of the Korean Peninsula and Europe.

Rudenko's trip comes amid a chasm between South Korea and Russia as the two sides stand at odds over President Yoon Suk Yeol's recent remarks on North Korea.

On Wednesday, Yoon described North Korea as an "irrational group" and the only country in the world that has legalized the preemptive use of nuclear weapons.

Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized Yoon's remarks for being "blatantly biased" in a commentary released the following day.

In response, the Seoul foreign ministry summoned Russian Ambassador to South Korea Georgy Zinoviev to lodge a protest over the spokesperson's remark.

Rudenko's visit was initially expected last September but was postponed at the last minute. (Yonhap)
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Badaun Civil Judge found dead, father alleges murder



The dead body of 29-year-old Justice Jyotsna Rai, Badaun Civil Judge (Junior Division), was found hanging in her official residence Saturday. Read More

Sunday February 4, 2024 12:36 PM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies

[Name plate outside the official quarters for judges]

Lucknow: Ashok Kumar, father of Justice Jyotsna Rai, has filed a murder case at the local police station after the sensational death of his daughter Saturday February, 03, 2024.

The dead body of 29-year-old Justice Jyotsna Rai, Badaun Civil Judge (Junior Division), was found hanging in her official residence Saturday.

'We are a family of strong people'

A suicide note has also been reportedly recovered from the residence. Based on which it is suspected that the female judge has committed suicide. However, her father is not convinced and has filed a murder case.

We are a family of strong people. My daughter too was very strong. She cant commit suicide and end her life in this way, Kumar, a retired government official, told reporters.

In his complaint, Kumar alleged that her daughter was first murdered by some unknown person and her dead body was then hanged.

'Suicide Note'

Badaun Senior Superintendent of Police Alok Priyadarshi meanwhile said the local police were informed on Saturday morning that in the judicial compound under Kotwali police station limits, a woman judge was not opening her door and she had not reached her court on time.

"Her colleagues also called her but got no response. A police team soon reached the spot and broke open the door of her first floor apartment. They found the body hanging from a ceiling fan, he said.

Priyadarshi also said that a suicide note has been recovered and further probe in the case is underway.

She has not named anyone. No allegations were mentioned against anyone in the note", he said.

Jyotsna Rai had joined the Judicial Services in 2019. She was posted in Ayodhya district from 2019 to April 2023 before being transferred to Badaun.

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Welcome Guest! You are here: Home  Views & Analysis

Bharat Ratna to WHICH Advani?



A citizen is entitled to some bafflement as to the following question: What possessed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to award a Bharat Ratna to Lal Krishna Advani? And which Advani is sought to be honoured? Read More

Sunday February 4, 2024 6:02 PM , Harish Khare

[LK Advani in a file photo. Also seen is Narendra Modi. (File Image/X)]

A society is known and gets eventually defined by the personalities it chooses to bestow its high honours on, because each honoured personality is an embodiment of certain values and virtues and is associated with a record of achievements and failures.

In post-independence India, state honours, especially the Padma awards, are designed to acknowledge and salute individual contributions in various walks of life; but the highest honour, a Bharat Ratna, invariably reflects the principles, preferences, priorities and sometimes the prejudices of the regime of the day.

So, a citizen is entitled to some bafflement as to the following question: What possessed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to award a Bharat Ratna to Lal Krishna Advani? And which Advani is sought to be honoured?

1.

There is, first, an Advani till 1990; a one-eyed man in a kingdom of the blind  that is, the RSS/Jana Sangh/BJP crowd.

Other than being a loyal, disciplined and unquestioning party operative, there is nothing in the first three decades of Advanis public life to arrest more than a passing attention. Throughout this time, he was perennially trying to catch up with his smarter and wiser comrade, Atal Bihari Vajpayee .

This Advani would not even deserve a Padma Shri.

2.

It is the second Advani, who in a game of one-upmanship with Vajpayee, set out on a rath yatra from Somnath to grab the mantle of the so-called Ayodhya Movement.

This was the first time in the history of free India that the leader of a political party had deliberately designed an initiative that was calculated to divide the polity and that inevitably ended up stoking resentments and recriminations among the two major communities.

The rath yatra unleashed raw impulses and lumpen forces and ended with the December 6, 1992 ugliness and shame.

Whats more, this second Advani mischievously tried to put jan shakti against the constitution. At one time, he even suggested that a dharma sansad [consisting of assorted sadhus and saints] had higher legitimacy and acceptability than the Parliament of India.

Anyone who remembers this Advani would shudder at the thought of a Bharat Ratna for him.

3.

Then, there is a third Advani, who became deputy prime minister and fancied himself as the second sardar.

But he not only failed to perform his constitutional duty when Gujarat played host to one of the worst carnages in modern India, he also frustrated his own prime ministers stated desire to send Narendra Modi packing for having failed to perform a chief ministers raj dharma.

His record as deputy prime minister was to collude with the Nagpur bosses to slow down and sabotage Prime Minister Vajpayee.

After the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was thrown out of power in 2004, the fourth Advani was in the market, with prime ministerial ambitions fully aroused.

He travelled to Pakistan in an attempt to soften his image as a hard-liner and made some convoluted formulations about Muhammad Ali Jinnah .

He became a victim of those very unwholesome elements in and outside the BJP whom he had encouraged in his power struggle against Vajpayee. He had the ignominy of being asked by the shadowy men from Nagpur to step down as the BJPs president.

4.

The fourth Advani was also rejected by the electorate when he was projected as the NDAs prime ministerial choice against Manmohan Singh in 2009.

This was the greatest political defeat for a man who had long-prepared himself for the moment and that too at the hands of a political rival whom he pooh-poohed as the weakest prime minister India had known.

The Advani story was essentially over in 2009 and everybody except him recognised this. The hard-cored men who call the shots in the BJP never appreciated his efforts to refashion himself as a moderate and mild leader.

He had fallen out of favour with the Nagpur commissars, who were now scouting for a new winning horse. A thoroughbred was already straining at the leash in Gandhinagar.

And, this man who prided himself on reading the mood of the nation and of the karyakartas in his own party failed to discern that the Modi age had already begun in the BJP.

Watch Video

Bharat Ratna for LK Advani



    ... Modi ji pic.twitter.com/F8SDG5lcwP  Harmeet Kaur K (@iamharmeetK) February 3, 2024

Modi, the disciple, was no longer meek and humble and had no qualms in showing Advani his place in a remote corner. The grand old man had no choice but to stoically pay homage to the new emperor.

So, it is anybodys guess as to which Advani is being sought to be honoured by the prime minister.

None of the avatars deserve Indias highest award. Perhaps the prime minister is paying off an old debt he owed to Advani for installing him in the first place as the chief minister of Gujarat in 2001. That installation was anchored in intrigue and conspiracy, the very hall-mark of the Sangh Parivars working style.

There is a stench of shabby calculations in this honour for Advani, that too within days of another Bharat Ratna for another untapped ratna.

The republic stands diminished and dishonoured. But there is a new king, a new court and a new kingdom with its own imperial etiquettes and protocols in this naya Bharat.

The new king is assertive of his whims and fancies. So be it.

[The writer, Harish Khare, is a former editor-in-chief of The Tribune. The above article is originally published by The Wire . Except for the title, ummid.com has retained the original content in full. The views expressed are personal.]



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Welcome Guest! You are here: Home  Education & Career

CSIR UGC NET Dec 2023 Result Out - Direct Link to Check



The National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the result of Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2023 exams Sunday. Read More

Sunday February 4, 2024 1:47 PM , ummid.com News Network

Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2023 Result: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has declared on its official website 'csirnet.nta.ac.in' the result of Joint CSIR UGC NET Dec 2023 held in December 2023.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) had conducted JOINT CSIR UGC NET on December 26, 27 and 28, 2023.

"CSIR UGC NET Scores are now hosted on csirnet.nta.ac.in. Candidates can log-in to the website using their application number and date of birth and view, download, print their respective Score Card", the NTA said.

Candidates should note that their CSIR UGC NET Scorecard and Result will not be dispatched in hard copy by post or through e-mail.

Candidates should also note that the certificates to the qualified candidates will be issued by NTA after the declaration of the final result by the CSIR.

According to the NTA, a total of 219,146 candidates had registered for CSIR UGC NET December 2023 exams. Of them, 175,355 appeared in the exam.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted the Joint CSIR UGC NET Examination December, 2023 for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and for Lectureship in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode for a total of six subjects.

The six subjects are Life Sciences (2), Chemical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Physical Sciences and Mathematical Sciences.

The NTA has released CSIR UGC NET Dec 2023 Questions, Provisional Answer keys and Recorded Responses (OMR Sheet) of the candidates on January 06, 2024. The candidates were asked to challenge the answer keys before January 08, 2024.

Challenges received were verified by experts and the verified finalised answer keys were used for scoring and the result was declared based on the final answer keys.

About CSIR UGC NET

Joint CSIR UGC NET is a test being conducted to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and for Lectureship (LS) /Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges subject to fulfilling the eligibility criteria laid down by UGC.

CSIR and UGC provide Research Fellowships for training in methods of research under expert guidance of faculty members/scientists working in University Department/ National Laboratories and Institutions in various fields of Science.

Joint CSIR-UGC NET Fellowship programme is aimed at National Science & Technology Human Resource Development. A large number of JRFs are awarded each year by CSIR to candidates after qualifying the Test conducted by it.

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HA NOI  US Ambassador to Viet Nam Marc Knapper affirmed that the lifting of the trade embargo by US President Bill Clinton 30 years ago paved the way for terrific advances in bilateral trade and economic relations between Viet Nam and the US.

He made the statement on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the US lifting the embargo on Viet Nam (1994-2024). The event was considered to mark a new chapter in the diplomatic history of the two countries.

On February 3, 1994, US President Bill Clinton declared the lifting of the trade embargo against Viet Nam, removing the final barrier towards normalising relations between the two countries.

After lifting the embargo, the US Department of Commerce also moved Viet Nam from Group Z, which means a restricted trading group, to Group Y, a less restricted trading group.

On June 26, 1994, the US and Viet Nam agreed to exchange liaison offices to mark the establishment of official diplomatic relations between the two countries. And on July 11, 1995, US President Bill Clinton announced the "normalisation of relations" with Viet Nam.

On the morning of July 12, 1995, Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet also read a statement establishing diplomatic relations with the US.

Trade is among the key factors mentioned frequently after the event. On October 17, 2001, US President George W. Bush approved the Viet Nam-US Trade Agreement, opening the rapid development of trade relations between the two countries.

US Ambassador Marc Knapper stated that the numbers are clear evidence. Since the lifting of the trade embargo in 1994 and the normalisation of relations in 1995, up to 2022, the trade turnover between the US and Viet Nam has reached US$139 billion, a 300-fold increase compared to 1995.

Viet Nam has become the eighth largest trading partner of the US globally and the largest trading partner of the US in ASEAN. Meanwhile, the US is the second-largest trading partner and the largest export market for Viet Nam. In particular, the US believes in the importance of Viet Nam in global supply chains, he said.

The event of the US lifting the embargo on Viet Nam and then normalising relations first created opportunities for Viet Nam to connect with the US as well as other countries worldwide.

In addition, this was also a prerequisite for Viet Nam to make other important foreign achievements, such as officially joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1995 and joining the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in 1998.

A smart decision

Many experts emphasised the significance of the lifting of the trade embargo, affirming that the event is a driving force for the trade, economic, and investment cooperation between the two nations.

Dr Can Van Luc, a member of the National Fiscal and Monetary Policy Advisory Council and a member of Vietnam National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation (VNCPEC), said the US decision to lift the trade embargo on Viet Nam was the right decision at the right time.

"I think it was a smart decision by the US. After the trade embargo was lifted, banks and businesses simultaneously entered Viet Nam. It seems like all of them had been eagerly waiting for this moment for a long time," he said.

Bui Quang Minh, CEO of the multi-industry service ecosystem Beta Group, shared that when the embargo was lifted, he was only 11 years old, living in a rural area in the northern province of Vinh Phuc.

Minh had the opportunity to pursue a master's degree at the top-ranking Harvard University in the US. He said he felt grateful to live in a period when the Viet Nam-US partnership has brought many values to his generation.

Minh said his generation witnessed the increasingly close Viet Nam-US relationship, yielding significant achievements in various fields.

I believe not only has Viet Nam learned many values from the US, but the US has also gained many values from Viet Nam, including innovation and price optimisation, which benefit the citizens of both countries, he stressed.

VN-US prospective

US Ambassador Marc Knapper mentioned that during US President Joe Biden's State visit to Viet Nam last year, he committed to collaborating with and assisting Viet Nam in developing the semiconductor industry and other high-tech sectors, as well as working with Viet Nam to build a skilled workforce for the 21st century.

"So, we are very excited about the great work ahead of us in the future, he said.

The US Ambassador also stated that the US welcomes all the significant economic reforms based on market mechanisms that Viet Nam has implemented, as well as Viet Nam's commitments. The US, for its part, is committed to extensive collaboration and support for Viet Nam as it continues to transition to a market economy, he said.

Regarding the recognition of Viet Nam as a market economy, the US Ambassador stated that the US Department of Commerce is currently undergoing this process.

The process began last October, including a public consultation period with a duration of 270 days. The US government is committed to conducting a fair and transparent process in line with international rules, he stressed.

Speaking about the prospects for cooperation between the two countries, Dr Luc said, in the context of Viet Nam and the US elevating their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership last year, more specific action plans are needed to turn cooperation initiatives into reality, bringing benefits to businesses and citizens of both countries.

He also mentioned some potential areas, including startup investment, renewable energy, education, healthcare services and digital transformation.

"There should be a detailed plan for each different sector, and also a common focal point to monitor the implementation process and provide information," he added.

I do hope that in the next five or ten years, Viet Nam and the US will have a free trade agreement, he said.

Ha Thu Thanh, chairwoman and one of the founders of Deloitte Vietnam, who witnessed the discussions leading to the lifting of the trade embargo, noted that Viet Nam needs to improve its infrastructure, business environment and corporate ecosystem to truly attract investment.

Thanh cited that there are commitments worth billions of dollars invested in Viet Nam, but to truly apply this capital, Viet Nam needs to improve governance, build transparency and trust, and improve the market, she said. VNS
HAVANA  The prestige and strength of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) are reflected in the revolutionary spirit as well as the spirit of criticism and self-criticism of each party member, according to Dr. Ruvislei Gonzalez Saez, one of the leading research experts on Vietnam in Latin America.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s correspondent in Havana, Dr. Gonzalez Saez, a senior researcher at the Cuban Centre for International Policy Research (CIPI), said 94 years after its establishment, the CPV today has become the second largest Marxism-Leninism-oriented political organisation in the world, with a large number of members, just after the Communist Party of China.

Thanks to reforms within the Party consistent with historical circumstances and specific objective conditions, combined with theoretical and practical factors, the CPV has played a great leading role in improving socio-economic conditions and enhancing the country's position in the international arena.

Stressing victories gained by Vietnamese people under the leadership of the CPV, the Cuban expert affirmed that in 1986, it was the CPV that promoted the changes to take Vietnam from one of the 15 poorest countries in the world to one of the 15 most economically dynamic countries on the planet in 2023.

With the CPV's firm determination and sound direction, Vietnam stood firm and continued on the socialist path in the 1990s when the Soviet Union and socialism in Eastern Europe collapsed. The CPV has cleverly solved differences with former enemies and through its bamboo diplomacy, the country has maintained its relations with world powers, he said.

According to the scholar, like any political organisation in the world, the CPV has also faced countless challenges, but the most important thing is that the Party has known how to identify the problems and fiercely solve them.

Under the leadership of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the prestige of the CPV has increased. For more than 20 years, Vietnam's economic growth has surpassed 5 per cent, except for the worst time in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic when Viet Nam was still one of the five strongest growing countries in the world with a growth rate of 2.9 per cent, he added.  VNS
BRUSSELS  Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son engaged in multiple meetings with EU representatives and foreign ministers of various countries in Brussels, Belgium, on February 1 and 2, discussing specific issues concerning the enhancement of bilateral cooperation and coordination in regional and international mechanisms.

At a meeting with Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission (EC), Minister Son underscored Viet Nam's commitment to strengthening and deepening its comprehensive cooperation with the bloc.

The minister proposed the two sides intensify high-level exchanges and fully implement existing cooperation mechanisms. He hoped that the remaining ten EU member states will soon complete the ratification of the Viet Nam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and that the EC will soon lift its yellow card warning imposed on Viet Nam's aquatic products concerning illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

He also supported expanding Viet Nam-EU cooperation projects in potential areas such as climate change response and energy transition, particularly through the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) framework and the EU's Global Gateway strategy.

Borrell affirmed Viet Nam's importance as an EU partner in the region, pledging to expedite the completion of EVIPA ratification, thus creating favourable conditions to attract European investment flowing into Viet Nam. Regarding IUU fishing issues, he acknowledged Viet Nam's positive efforts and expressed hope for a fruitful outcome in the upcoming EC inspection mission in the country.

Both sides agreed to work together in addressing regional and global issues, aiming for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

Meeting with Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel, Minister Son proposed that Bulgaria support the EC's early removal of the IUU yellow card on Vietnamese seafood and cooperate with Viet Nam in priority areas such as energy transition and green development.

The two sides agreed to prepare well for upcoming high-level exchange activities, resume meetings of the intergovernmental committee on economy-trade and sci-tech cooperation, and explore opportunities to expand joint works in potential areas like education and training, labour, agriculture, health, and tourism.

Son's meeting with his Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski saw both sides reaffirming the importance of the countries longstanding traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation. The Vietnamese FM proposed that Poland promptly ratify EVIPA in 2024, support the ECs lifting of the yellow card imposed on Viet Nam, and enhance collaboration with Viet Nam in education and cultural exchange.

Sikorski appreciated the positive contributions of the Vietnamese community in Poland and pledged to continue creating favorable conditions for them to live stably, long-term, and legally, contributing to strengthening the friendship between the two peoples.

The FMs emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, stability, respecting independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of countries, and resolving disputes and conflicts peacefully based on international law and the United Nations Charter.

In another meeting, the Vietnamese diplomat and his Spanish counterpart, Jose Manuel Albares Bueno, stressed the importance of the Viet Nam-Spain strategic partnership and agreed to promote the bilateral trade and investment ties, effectively implement the Viet Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and expand collaboration in potential spheres, including infrastructure construction, digital transformation, education, and training.

The Spanish FM expressed his desire to visit Vietnam this year to boost economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and suggested exploring opportunities for bilateral engagements in high-speed rail building.

During their talks, Son and Greek FM Giorgos Gerapetritis agreed that both sides should continue to implement measures to further promote bilateral relations, especially in economy and trade.

The Vietnamese minister proposed promoting the signing of cooperation agreements on maritime transport, labour, and double taxation avoidance and expanding collaboration to new areas, including digital transformation and green growth.

The two ministers also discussed mutual international and regional concerns, affirming their commitment to close coordination, upholding international law and the UN Charter and contributing to maintaining peace, stability, security, and safety of navigation and overflight at seas, and resolving disputes peacefully based on international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

In his meeting with Finnish FM Elina Valtonen, Son said Finland's approval of EVIPA and implementation of the EVFTA open up new cooperation opportunities for the two countries, particularly in agriculture, high technology, renewable energy, and green growth. He proposed the European nation support Viet Nam in tackling the IUU yellow card issue and developing sustainable fisheries.

Valtonen said high technology is a potential area for bilateral cooperation, hoping that Vietnam will support Finland in enhancing relations with ASEAN, particularly regarding its participation in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

The Vietnamese FM also met with EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen, who said Viet Nam is the only partner that has established five large cooperation frameworks with the EU in politics, defence, trade, investment, and energy. She expressed her wish for both sides to continue effectively implementing their signed agreements, deepening their relations toward practical outcomes.  VNS
HCM CITY  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called for stronger implementation of a National Assembly (NA) resolution on piloting special mechanisms and policies for the development of HCM City.

Speaking last Saturday at the second meeting of the steering committee for the implementation of the resolution, PM Chinh acknowledged shortcomings during the process of putting the mechanisms and policies into force.

Issued on June 24, 2023, Resolution 98/2023/QH15 stipulates mechanisms and policies designed specifically for the city in investment management, State finance and budget, urban governance, natural resources and environment, priority fields calling for strategic investors, sci-tech, innovation, and the administrative apparatus of both HCM City and Thu uc City.

PM Chinh hailed the municipal Party organisation, authorities and people for their tireless efforts in fulfilling 2023 political tasks with important results. Its socio-economic landscape exhibited robust month-on-month and quarter-on-quarter growth, surpassing the growth rate in 2022.

He noted that the city has completed 10 out of the 22 assigned tasks linked to the resolution, but stressed that there exists a noticeable gap between the current pace and the Government and the city's expectations.

The PM has instructed giving greater authority to the city to carry out the Resolution.

Ministries, agencies and HCM City need specialised units and personnel with responsibility, qualification and passion to dedicate more time and effort to the implementation of the resolution, he urged.

The PM assigned specific tasks to his deputies and ministries to accelerate the resolution's implementation, with Deputy PM Tran Luu Quang tasked with directing the drafting of a Government decree on the decentralisation of State management in certain sectors to the city, an imperative step slated for completion this month.

Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha was required to direct the formulation of a decree on mechanisms and policies to facilitate rooftop solar power installation in administrative agencies and public service units, with a tight deadline set for the second quarter.

Specific tasks pertaining to expressway projects were also assigned to Deputy PMs Ha and Le Minh Khai.

In addition, the HCM City Peoples Committee was told to urgently research and propose an overall investment scheme for urban railway infrastructure.

Chairman of the committee Phan Van Mai said the city will submit the scheme within the first quarter.

Resolution 98 encompasses 44 mechanisms and policies, addressing investment management, finance, budget, urban management, natural resources and environment, and science-technology management.

It also introduces a transport-oriented urban development model, a financial mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and solar power installation on administrative office and public service unit roofs.

The new resolution replaces an older one on pilot implementation of particular policies for HCM Citys development, issued in 2017.

The new resolution grants the city Peoples Committee the authority to decide and adjust rates and fees not included in the Law on Fees and Charges, as well as the allocation of an unassigned portion of their budgets to the citys district people's committees.

In addition, HCM City is granted the authority to collect funds to maintain and regenerate infrastructure in industrial parks and export processing zones from businesses within these areas.

It also permits the piloting of financial mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through exchanging, clearing and trading carbon credits with domestic and international investors.

The city is also allowed to install solar power systems on administrative office and public service unit roofs.

The implementation of these mechanisms aims to benefit the whole country and require collective support for HCM City, which has a leading role in the nations economic landscape, contributing significantly to the countrys GDP, particularly in the industrial sector, and bolstering the State budget.

The citys dynamic and pioneering spirit has driven reforms and development, and this resolution aims to restore its leading position after recent years of lost ground, experts said.  VNS
CAN THO  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked local authorities of Can Tho City to review the list of families who are sick or live in difficult circumstances in order to offer assistance and ensure that all people can celebrate a joyful, healthy, safe and meaningful Lunar New Year festival, and not to leave anyone without Tet.

The cabinet leader visited the Mekong Delta city on Sunday and presented Tet (Lunar New Year) gifts to 650 policy beneficiary families, poor people, labourers, homeless old people and children living in disadvantaged circumstances.

According to local authorities, by the end of January, the city handed over 73,902 gifts with the value of over VN74 billion to workers and poor families.

Praising Can Tho for its socio-economic development and well taking care of local people during the Lunar New Year, PM Chinh said the whole political system, including Party committees at all levels and other local authorities, has joined hands to pay attention to Tet care activities, especially in remote areas, borders and islands, for policy beneficiary families, poor households, workers, homeless elderly people, and children in difficult circumstances throughout the country.

Sending New Year wishes to local authorities of Can Tho City, he hopes that the Party Committee, Fatherland Front, socio-political organisations and Can Tho City's political system will continue to well implement policies and laws of the Party and State, in which economic development is the centre, Party building is the key, and cultural development is the spiritual foundation.

Local authorities have been asked to consider national defence and security as an important and regular task, as well as to perform better in ensuring social security, improving people's material and psychological well-being.

The PM requested the city mobilise response forces to ensure security and safety during the Lunar New Year holiday, while well managing traffic, cracking down on alcohol consumption, gambling and other social evils.

Local authorities have also been told to provide timely medical examination and treatment for people in sickness.

On this occasion, the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group awarded VN10 billion to 200 households in Can Tho City to replace temporary and dilapidated houses.

The same day, PM Chinh visited and handed gifts to the families of pre-uprising soldier Le Van Lai (Ba Buong), 105 years old, in Bui Huu Nghia Ward, and severely-wounded veteran Lam Thi Muoi, 88 years old, in Binh Thuy Ward.

Showing deep gratitude to the veterans, PM Chinh affirmed that the Party, State and people always remember the sacrifices and great contributions of those who took part in the revolution for national liberation, construction and protection.  VNS
HCM CITY  President Vo Van Thuong met with disadvantaged people and workers and offered them his warm Tet greetings at the Tet sum vay  Xuan tri an (Tet reunion  Spring gratitude) programme in Thu uc City on February 2.

It was Kitchen God Day, the 23nd of the last lunar month.

He said Thu uc City has initiated a number of welfare programmes for disadvantaged people living in the city, nearby localities and remote and mountainous areas.

Many workers lack the financial means to return to their hometown during Tet, and have to remain in the city.

So Thu uc City leaders have joined hands to take care of them to ensure everyone could enjoy Tet, he said.

He described the Tet sum vay  Xuan tri an held by trade unions at all levels annually as a practical programme that provides a warm festival for all.

He urged the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and other agencies that run the programme to expand it to ensure that Tet is full of joy for everyone, especially poor workers and students, and people in difficulties.

He gave away gifts to hundreds of workers, families that are covered by various government policies, and poor people.  VNS
Legal void leads to indiscriminate self promotion via calls, text messages ahead of elections

By Jung Da-hyun

In the lead-up to the upcoming general elections, which are scheduled for April 10, citizens are expressing frustration over an excessive number of calls and text messages from potential candidates seeking support.

I receive more than three texts or calls a day and it's annoying. The constant calls make me feel resentful, and I don't want to support any candidate, said an office worker living in Incheon surnamed Kim.

According to the National Election Commission, 120 days before the general elections, when the registration of preliminary candidates for the district begins, campaigns using phone calls or texts are permitted to appeal to voters for their support or to encourage them to vote in the election.

With the general elections approximately 60 days away, the frequency of support-seeking calls and texts is on the rise.

I often thought it was a work-related contact when I received a call, but it was usually from a campaign office, even while I was consulting with a customer, said a real estate agent in Seoul surnamed Ju.

Not only calls from certain election offices of preliminary candidates but also calls from polling organizations, are contributing to pre-election fatigue among members of the public.

It is not illegal for candidates to appeal to voters via phone or text for support or encourage them to vote during the campaign, if certain requirements, such as explaining that citizens have the right to refuse these types of interactions and how to do it, are included.

However, concerns are growing that privacy rights may be infringed upon due to the sheer volume of calls from places unrelated to the voter's area of residence.

Under the Public Official Election Act, organizations conducting polls can ask mobile communication agents for voters' phone numbers for polling purposes.

Those numbers received by institutions are contactable via a proxy number, not the actual number.

Political parties or election offices can also request mobile communication agents to generate virtual numbers by paying a certain amount. This allows them to randomly generate a vast amount of numbers for phone calls or campaign text messages.

Additionally, it is known that election offices collect voters' phone numbers randomly, such as by collecting contact details, for example, phone numbers displayed on parked vehicles.

However, these actions are within the law as the current act doesn't specifically regulate methods of obtaining phone numbers.

Laws to prevent such indiscriminate practices were discussed but faced challenges.

In the 20th National Assembly, Rep. Lee Sang-min of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) proposed an amendment. It aimed to set a minimum standard for collecting personal information and impose fines of up to 50 million won ($37,355) if candidates collected phone numbers without voters' consent. However, the proposal lost momentum due to the expiration of its term without being properly discussed.

A revision bill at the 21st National Assembly to restrict sending text messages from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. was proposed, but discussions have yet to be held.

Lim Jong-in, a professor of cybersecurity and privacy at Korea University, emphasized the difficulty of sanctioning candidates or election offices under the Personal Information Protection Act for contacting voters randomly.

To punish them under the current law, voters must prove that there was an illegal act in collecting their personal information, but in fact, it is difficult for an individual to prove this, he said.

Currently, the only way to avoid an excessive number of calls is for individual voters to block them one by one.

Lim highlighted that the National Election Commission needs to take action to address the annoyance the public is experiencing from the barrage of phone calls and texts.

The National Election Commission must determine the number that constitutes excessive texts or calls and establish a standard to manage institutions or election offices that exceed them before and after the election, Lim said.
HA NOI  Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) in Japan, Australia, Algeria, Thailand and Laos celebrated Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival at gatherings held in their host countries as the national biggest traditional festival is approaching.

The Consulate General of Viet Nam in Japans Osaka city held a Tet get-together for the Vietnamese community and foreigners in Kansai region on February 2.

At the event, Vietnamese Consul General Ngo Trinh Ha laid stress on the 50th founding anniversary of the Viet Nam-Japan diplomatic relations in 2023, with more than 500 activities held, helping to improve mutual understanding and tighten the friendship between the two nations.

Conveying condolences to the victims of the earthquake that struck Japan on January 1, Ha spoke highly of the support from organisations and individuals for quake-hit people, including the Vietnamese community.

He expressed his hope that the Vietnamese community in the region will promote solidarity, enhance exchanges with local people, and become stronger in the coming time.

On the occasion, more than 250 guests were treated to traditional Vietnamese dishes and art performances staged by Vietnamese people in Kansai region.

While in Canberra, Australia, a get-together was organised by the Vietnamese Embassy on February 3.

Sending his online Tet greetings to participants, Ambassador Pham Hung Tam highlighted Viet Nams achievements in 2023 amidst gloomy global economic situation, and a milestone in Viet Nam  Australia relations as they celebrated their 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and 5th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership.

The Vietnamese Party and State attach much importance to and want to unceasingly consolidate the great national solidary bloc, with OVs being an inseparable part, he said, adding the embassy and Consulates General in Australia have seen the community-related work as their top priority, and hope to bolster solidarity, sharing and mutual support among Vietnamese people towards the development of the community and the nation as a whole.

Tam wished that the Viet Nam  Australia relationship will develop in a practical manner and the Vietnamese community in the host nation will be stronger in 2024.

Participants at the event had a chance to enjoy Vietnamese Tet favourites and musical performances to welcome a new year of prosperity.

The Tet atmosphere was also in the air of Algeria as hundreds of Vietnamese nationals came to the embassy in Algiers to attend the Homeland Spring event on February 3.

Ambassador Tran Quoc Khanh said that as the inseparable part of the country, the OVs in Algeria have served as a bridge to connect the two nations, calling on Vietnamese nationals to continue promoting solidarity, joining hands to build the community as well as preserving and popularising the images of the Vietnamese people and culture among foreigners.

The OVs expressed their delight and emotion when joining the event, affirming that they always turn the hearts to the homeland.

Traditional dishes, and performances of music, traditional martial arts and lan (kylin) dance were featured at the festival.

A similar event was also arranged for OVs in Khon Kaen city of Thailand by the Vietnamese Consulate General, which drew the participation of leaders from Khon Kaen city, the Consulates General of China and Laos, and many OVs who are living and studying in Thailands northeastern region.

Consul General Chu uc Dung recalled the Party and States consistent policy of seeing the OVs important resources of the nation, and hailed the OVs contributions to the national development through cultural and religious exchange activities over the past time.

The Consulate General stands ready to accompany and support the Vietnamese community, helping them promote solidarity and gain more achievements, he added.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese community in Laos organised Tet rituals at Phat Tich pagoda in Vientiane to honour their roots on February 4.

On the occasion, the pagoda and benefactors presented 150 gifts, each worth 500,000 LAK (US$24) to the impoverished and those with difficulties circumstances and disabilities in Vientiane, helping them have a warm Tet.  VNS
Anh uc

If you visit Viet Nam and ask a local to sing a random song that's not a nursery rhyme, they would likely choose Tien Quan Ca (Marching Army Song) or Quoc Ca, the National Anthem.

The iconic song, now 80 years old, had a humble but profound beginning. According to its composer, the late musician Van Cao, on a cold 1944 winter day, he was asked by an underground anti-French fighter, Vu Quy, to write a marching song for the Viet Minh (The League for the Independence of Viet Nam).

Van Cao, born Nguyen Van Cao in 1923, was stunned as he thought his first mission for the revolution would involve a gun, and not a music sheet. However, the artist took the job and walked back to his house at 45 Nguyen Thuong Hien Street, Ha Noi.

On the way back home, Cao passed by Hoan Kiem Lake, and saw dead famine victims, and people searching for any thing they could eat in the rubbish. Devastated, he returned to his attic and wrote the first five words of the song: "oan quan Viet Nam i" (The Army of Viet Nam marches on).

Cao also took inspiration from his own misery of wartime, after he heard the news of his mother and family starving on the way back to their hometown in Nam inh. All the anger and hatred towards the French colonialists and Japanese fascists were put into the lyrics.

After finishing the song, Cao sang it to Quy, who was impressed and the song was published in the oc Lap (Independence) newspaper of the Viet Minh in November 1944.

Tien Quan Ca had its lyrics edited, before being selected as the national anthem of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam on August 13, 1945 by President Ho Chi Minh.

The song was publicly heard on August 17, 1945 in a mass rally of the revolutionary Viet Minh sympathies in central Ha Noi. Cao, who went to the rally that day, recalled "overflowing with tears as the song was played through the speakers outside Ha Noi Opera House".

In 1946, Article 3 of the first constitution of Viet Nam said, "The national anthem is Tien Quan Ca," confirming its identity.

And from thereon, the song has been a witness of history, following brave men and women into the war for freedom and independence; in solemn times of loss as in glorious times of victory.

Cao's masterpiece is taught to children of all generations in schools from day one, and sung by everyone at the flag-raising ceremony every Monday. But that alone is not why everyone memorises the song.

The first five notes, and the first five words of the song, evoke a feeling of national pride. The opening verse, "oan quan Viet Nam i", unites the people who sing them in a union. It gave the people the power and the belief to achieve anything.

Many songwriters have said that the opening verse of the song is a make-or-break. It comprises the attitude, the character, and the meaning that you would want to portray in a song of such importance.

Fast-forward to recent times, and the opening verse has given inspiration to many patriotic songs about Viet Nam.

In 2006, a toothpaste commercial titled "Cuoi Len Viet Nam Oi" (Smile, Viet Nam!) had a jingle that ended with a similar five-note tune as the opening verse of Tien Quan Ca. The jingle and the commercial, however, evoked a different feeling, of both pride and a positive keep-moving-on and feel-good attitude at a time when tragedies and natural disasters befell the nation.

The commercial and the tune are still regarded as one of the most iconic and memorable ever to be shown on Vietnamese television. The tune evolved outside the commercial and was covered by renowned rapper en Vau in 2020, who again reused some elements of the song in his 2023 hit, Nau an cho em (Cooking for children).

However, contemporary times have also brought trouble for the national anthem. Despite the family of Van Cao officially donating the song to the Vietnamese government in 2016, many complications involving copyright law persist, especially online.

In the match between Laos and Viet Nam in the 2020 AFF Cup on December 6, 2020, Next Media, who presented the match online on YouTube, had to mute the audio when Tien Quan Ca was played, citing a copyright issue. The issue involved a company called BH Media, which held the right to a copyrighted audio recording of the national anthem.

The incident sparked debate among the public, who are unanimous in their thinking that the anthem belongs to the people, not a single entity or company, and that the anthem should be freely played. Just one day later, the government portal published a free-to-use recording of the National Anthem, which can be played and used by everyone.

On June 16, 2022, the Government amended the Law on Intellectual Property, in part because of the incident. The current law states: "Organisations and individuals exercising the ownership right related to the National Flag, the National Emblem and the National Anthem should not hinder the dissemination and use of the National Flag, the National Emblem and the National Anthem."

The incident also shows that as a symbol of national pride, Tien Quan Ca is protected, praised and revered across the nation. The song endured a long journey and has become a part of many ceremonies, historical moments, and the lives of all Vietnamese people. VNS
The Aseptic system at Tan Hiep Phat Company's factory is imported directly from GEA Group

Many large corporations, especially multinational corporations, are converting from the traditional linear economic model to the more sustainable circular model due to its myriad social, political, environmental, and financial benefits.

The model can become a competitive advantage for any business that adopts it, as many markets have already introduced strict sustainability requirements and many international partners will only cooperate with compliant companies. Consumers are also becoming increasingly aware of the need for environmental protection and are more sympathetic to 'green' brands.

In the food and beverage (F&B) sector, aseptic technology from GEA Procomac is considered to be an outstanding invention of the 21st century, offering environmentally friendly ways to maintain sterility during the production process.

The breakthrough aseptic cold-filled technology means that beverages are sterilised by ultra-high temperatures and sterilised bottles, caps, water, and products inside a sterile environment. One line can produce 48,000 bottles an hour, equivalent to more than 13 bottles every second.

Aseptic technology is changing the F&B industry, helping GEA Procomac to become a world leader in aseptic filling technology with more than 230 aseptic lines installed globally.

As the circular economic model spread around the world, and upon seeing a market full of great potential thanks to its young population, GEA Procomac entered Vietnam in 2008, selling its first production line here to Tan Hiep Phat, the largest privately owned soft drink provider in Vietnam.

The partnership has been a pioneering milestone for the Vietnamese business community as it brings green issues into operational focus. This is congruent with the Vietnamese Prime Ministers commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 made at COP26.

A very positive example of our business expansion in the Vietnamese market is the production lines sold to Tan Hiep Phat over the past 15 years. Both sides have explored, created, and worked together to achieve optimal results over the years," said Luigi Bonzanini, head of Global Sales and Marketing and Project Management at GEA Procomac.

Tan Hiep Phat is the first and only beverage manufacturing enterprise in Vietnam to invest and own 12 aseptic lines developed by GEA Procomac with a total value of $300 million.

GEA experts visiting Tan Hiep Phat's production facilities

The advanced technology helps Tan Hiep Phat products retain their healthy nutrients, while retaining their natural colour and flavour, all without preservatives. The technology enables businesses to reduce the amount of waste used in the production process by reducing the weight of plastic bottles, and can also help reduce electricity and water usage.

Vietnam is renowned for its beautiful beaches and bright, sunny coastline. We must act now to preserve ocean life, our beaches, and our hidden tourism gems. We must work together to limit the amount of plastic waste in the environment as much as possible. Tan Hiep Phat ready to cooperate to solve the challenges ahead and do everything possible to reach a sustainable circular economy," said a Tan Hiep Phat representative at a recent event on the circular economy.

Tan Hiep Phat Group shows outstanding efforts Tan Hiep Phat Group has a 28-year history of establishing and expanding its domestic and international presence in 20 nations and regions. Founder of Tan Hiep Phat Group, general director Tran Qui Thanh, and deputy general director Tran Uyen Phuong told VIR's Hai Yen that the organisation's unity in pursuing its goals is the most important factor in achieving such remarkable growth.

Businesses ready for challenges on circular economy transformation The circular economy is a strong development trend in countries around the world, including Vietnam, entailing myriad benefits for the environment, economy, and society. Experts, however, assume that besides favourable factors, the transition to a circular economy faces multiple challenges.

Tan Hiep Phat joins efforts to care for children In the course of its business, southern beverage major Tan Hiep Phat is also diligently caring for children, striving to be always of good service to society.
CEDAR FALLS  The preferred concept for rebuilding the Hearst Center for the Arts is a hybrid of both new construction and renovation of the current space.

The City Council will hear about the completed master plan and possible next steps at 6:05 p.m. Monday during a committee meeting at City Hall, 220 Clay St.

The proposal came about because of previously identified building deficiencies and the evolving needs of the community.

The council contracted with OPN Architects of Cedar Rapids for $24,000 last year and included the possible multi-million dollar project in its capital improvements program without objections.

A majority of the estimated $6.93 million cost is expected to be covered through a fundraising campaign. Extensive renovations are needed at the center, open since 1989.

The plan has been in the making for several months. It includes an addition and renovations to the 12,000 square-foot building at 304 W. Seerley Boulevard in the College Hill neighborhood.

College Hill plan

The council also will consider a resolution to adopt the Imagine College Hill vision plan Monday night.

Mayor Danny Laudick believes a majority of the council will support the plan, which will guide revitalization of the area. It previously drew concerns about potential zoning constraints and the scope of the area included.

The council, before the election, rescinded the plan originally adopted in 2021. Former Mayor Rob Green vetoed the action, but a supermajority overruled him.

Councilmember Aaron Hawbaker asked city staff to present a plan for areas of College Hill requiring the most attention.

In other business, the council will consider:

Approving a land use plan amendment and rezoning the 54 acres north of Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary School south of Greenhill Road for future single family homes at the request of Brent Dahlstroms Panther Builders. The hearing was delayed last month after Councilmember Kelly Dunn was supported in a 5-2 vote in wanting more information about the proposed changes to a buffer near the Dry Run Creek.

Accepting the resignation of Julie Kliegl from the Human Rights Commission.

Amending the lease with MercyOne, dating back to 1997, for the land at its current hospital at 515 College St.. The terms would be extended through Dec. 31, 2026. The agreement expired Dec. 1, 2021, according to a memo from Administrator Ron Gaines. MercyOne will pay $15,120 for unpaid rent and interest.

Approving the purchase of two parcels for $66,000 from the Iowa Department of Transportation given up during the reconstruction of Iowa Highway 57/West First Street. The city is working with Habitat for Humanity to utilize the lots for affordable housing.

Executing a three-year lease agreement with Century Farms for the citys 390 acres of agricultural land, known as the Belz Farm, outside of town off West 12th Street in Black Hawk County and Grundy County. Century was the highest bidder at $401 per acre, or $128,320 annually, from eight proposals. Only 320 acres is farmable at a time. The revenue goes into the citys health trust fund.

What to expect in South Carolinas Democratic presidential primary Primary night Whats on the ballot? Who gets to vote? Decision notes What do turnout and advance vote look like? Are we there yet?
The main target lately of Ukrainian weapons is basically just civilian targets. Not much gets sent against the Russian Military anymore and since Ukraine is loosing, Ukraine just targets civilians for the most part

Civilians cannot fight back

Also, you should not even wonder why Ukrainians whom are freed by Russia are happy to become Russian, when their own Ukraine Government shells them constantly and tries to kill them instead of military targets

Now you understand why Russia says that it will take land until the demilitarized zone is sufficient to stop the usage of long range weapons. Ukraine targets civilians, as it has done since even before 2014 and that has to stop

Ukraine as with it mentor the USA is a Terrorist Country.  kKEETON

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Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (27 January  3 February 2024)

In the period from 27 January to 3 February 2024, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered 37 group strikes by precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles at AFU decision-making centres, military-industrial complex facilities, military airfield infrastructure, arsenals, and POL bases.

Moreover, temporary deployment areas of AFU formations, Ukrainian nationalists and foreign mercenaries units were struck.

All the assigned targets were successfully engaged.

In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces liberated Tabayevka (Kharkov region) and continued to improve the tactical situation along the front lines in separate areas.

Over the past week, Russian units repelled 41 attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 30th, 32th, 44th, 60th mechanised brigades, 57th motorised rifle brigade, 25th Airborne Brigade, 95th Air Assault Brigade, and 103rd Territorial Defence Brigade near Sinkovka, Tabayevka (Kharkov region), Novoselovskoe (Lugansk Peoples Republic), and Terni (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 750 Ukrainian troops, one tank, nine armoured fighting vehicles, 21 motor vehicles, and eight field artillery pieces.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery took more advantageous lines and repelled 19 AFU attacks.

Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 60th, 63rd mechanised brigades, 12th Special Operations Brigade, and 13th Ukrainian National Guard Brigade near Kirovsk, Yampolovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Chervonaya Dibrova, Kuzmino (Lugansk Peoples Republic), and Serebryansky forestry.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 1,825 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, six tanks, 13 armoured fighting vehicles, 36 motor vehicles, and six field artillery pieces.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and repelled 22 enemy attacks.

The Groups aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems inflicted losses on AFU and Ukrainian National Guard units near Verkhnekamenskoye, Artyomovskoye, Krasnoye, Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, Andreyevka, Belogorovka, Pereyezdnoye, and Georgiyevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 2,245 Ukrainian troops, five tanks, 19 armoured fighting vehicles, 63 motor vehicles, 28 field artillery pieces, and two Grad MLRS combat vehicles.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces repelled nine AFU attacks by cohesive actions.

In addition, units of the AFU 58th, 72nd mechanised brigades, 79th Air Assault Brigade, 127th and 128th territorial defence brigades suffered losses near Novomikhailovka, Konstantinovka, Ugledar, Staromayorskoye, Makarovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), and Priuytnoye (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted up to 735 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, six armoured fighting vehicles, 17 motor vehicles, 12 field artillery pieces, and two Grad MLRS combat vehicles.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Groups of Forces repelled one attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 108th Territorial Defence Brigade near Lugovskoye and inflicted losses on AFU manpower and hardware near Rabotino, Nesteryanka, Pyatikhatki, Kamenskoye, Malaya Tokmachka, and Orekhov (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 385 Ukrainian troops, one tank, nine armoured fighting vehicles, 19 motor vehicles, 15 field artillery pieces, and one Grad MLRS combat vehicle.

In Kherson direction, as a result of preemptive strikes of the Russian Groups of Forces supported by aviation and artillery, losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of the AFU 35th, 37th, 38th marines brigades, 121st, 123rd, and 124th territorial defence brigades near Nikolyaevka, Tyaginka, Ivanovka, Tokarevka, Antonovka, Yantarnoye (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to 290 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, four tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, 26 motor vehicles, 11 motorboats, and 12 field artillery pieces.

Over the week, 26 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces wiped out seven air defence systems, including five S-300, one French-made SAMP-T, and one German-made IRIS-T.

Moreover, three Norwegian-made NASAMS air defence system radar stations, two S-300 air defence system radar stations, one German-made IRIS-T air defence system radar station, and six AFU ammunition depots were destroyed.

Aviation and air defence units intercepted 20 aviation guided missiles, including four HARM anti-radiation missiles, one JDAM guided aerial bomb, 53 HIMARS, Uragan, and Olkha MLRS projectiles, as well as 423 unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, 568 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 11,678 unmanned aerial vehicles, 462 air defence missile systems, 14,893 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,215 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,952 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 18,179 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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California prison riot injures 9, fueling violence concerns in U.S.

Xinhua) 10:09, February 04, 2024

SACRAMENTO, the United States, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- A prison riot in California involving 200 inmates has injured nine and prompted a statewide prison lockdown on Thursday, once again bringing the U.S. state's troubled prison system into focus.

The riot happened Wednesday at Ironwood State Prison in Riverside County when officers were escorting an inmate across the yard as part of a contraband investigation, authorities said on Thursday.

While an inmate, who headbutted an officer, was being subdued, "approximately 200 incarcerated people in the yard rushed toward the officers attacking them with fists and rocks," said the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).

After firing a "warning shot," prison officers deployed tear gas and "non-lethal impact rounds" at the inmates. Eight prison staff members and one inmate were hospitalized and later released.

Following the riot, inmates across California are being confined to their cells as authorities are conducting a statewide threat assessment. So far, 30 inmates have been identified as having been directly involved in the riot, and an investigation is underway.

This riot comes amidst a flurry of violence at California's prisons in recent months, including several homicides and sexual abuse allegations.

The latest death was reported last week at the High Desert State Prison in Northern California. An inmate was fatally shot by a correctional officer as he was stabbing another inmate, according to the CDCR.

Recent lawsuits alleging systemic sexual abuse at women's prisons in California, with over 130 former female inmates accusing guards of forced sexual acts, have also attracted widespread attention.

The plaintiffs who served time at California's women's prisons in Chino and Chowchilla are suing the CDCR and more than 30 current and former prison officers for abusing them in prison.

It's the latest in a series targeting sexual abuse in California's women's prisons, highlighting a disturbing pattern of misconduct and inadequate oversight.

The situation is likely to worsen further due to the heavy financial burden on the prison system. According to state finance documents, the cost of incarcerating one person has increased by more than 90 percent in the past decade, skyrocketing to 132,860 U.S. dollars annually.

The surging cost has prompted California Governor Gavin Newsom to propose closing three state prisons and canceling a contract with a fourth private prison.

The overcrowded conditions in the state's prisons continue to impact both inmates and staff, leading to increased levels of violence and the spread of infectious diseases, according to a 2023 analysis of the Newport Beach, California-based Law Offices of John D. Rogers.

"California's prison overcrowding crisis continues to be a persistent problem. In 2020, the state's prison population stood at around 130,000, with many facilities still operating at over 200 percent of their designed capacity," said the analysis.

Such conditions create a breeding ground for resentment and fuel recidivism, potentially leading to more crime upon release.

The high recidivism rate in California underscores this concern, with a significant number of released individuals returning to prison due to a lack of job opportunities, housing, or effective rehabilitation programs.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Ruling party chief reaffirms plan to incorporate Gimpo into Seoul

By Jung Min-ho

After a recent leadership change within the ruling People Power Party (PPP), questions were raised over the validity of an election pledge laid out three months ago for Seoul to absorb Gimpo and other neighboring cities under its new megacity development vision.

Han Dong-hoon, the partys interim chief, assured voters on Saturday that he will stick to the vision, reviving a political debate over its feasibility and necessity.

Gimpo would be part of Seoul when magnolias begin to bloom in spring, Han said during a party event in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, ahead of the general elections coming up in April. If my fellow citizens wish, the PPP and I will push for it.

He said the PPP and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) share the concern that the province of more than 13.5 million residents needs to be divided for the sake of administrative efficiency. But the two parties have failed to reach an agreement on how to handle the issue, with the DPK seeking to divide the province in half as its own solution.

To break the political deadlock at the National Assembly and to meet the different demands by residents in different regions, Han said his party will push for both visions simultaneously, adding that those ideas would be able to materialize only through such a compromise.

His remarks came after weeks of silence on the issue since taking the leadership of the PPP on Dec. 26, 2023. This means that he has completed his political calculations, experts said.

Politically, there is no reason for the PPP not to push for the megacity plan, said Shin Yul, a professor of political science at Myongji University. Residents in Gimpo, many of whom are sensitive to how the election results might affect their property prices, would welcome the idea, as would voters in other neighboring cities that could also benefit from it.

Hong Hyeong-sik, a political analyst, also thinks the Seoul expansion plan will likely help the PPPs candidates take seats from two DPK lawmakers in Gimpo. Voters who are expected to gain direct benefit from the expansion of Seoul would be more likely respond to the issue with passion than those who dont agree with it for different reasons, he said.

But the pledge could backfire in other parts of the country, as many are concerned or even upset with the ruling party, believing it is using the issue purely for political purposes without a proper review for the country as a whole, Hong said.

Ever since Hans predecessor brought up the proposal, critics have been slamming the PPP for doubling down on developing the capital area at a time when other regions are struggling with falling populations amid Koreas rapidly declining birthrate.

Lim Jong-seok, who served as chief of staff to former President Moon Jae-in, denounced the pledge as a foolish idea that would only worsen problems associated with overpopulation in the capital region, which is home to more than half of the nations population.

Lee Jun-seok, leader of a new self-styled conservative party, joined the criticism, saying that before proposing it to the people, the PPP needs to convince critics within the party first, such as Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok and Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo.

The three mayors previously expressed skepticism over the idea for being out of step with the countrys broader vision for balanced development. But Oh recently said the PPP would have no choice but to make it as its official election pledge as many voters are in favor.
The 16-year-old girl who fired a handgun inside the hallway of LeFlore High School Tuesday in Mobile, was arrested on multiple felony charges and will be tried as an adult.

But her name hasnt been released, despite allegations that she shot and injured two people during a violent confrontation that sparked a manhunt and sent panic through Mobile.

We cant release it, said Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood, during a news conference Wednesday. The press cant release it even if you know it. Its because of a fairly new statute that I dont believe is a good one.

Indeed, an under-the-radar juvenile confidentiality bill passed into law in 2021 by the Alabama Legislature and signed by Gov. Kay Ivey is creating a stir in the aftermath of the LeFlore shooting. Prosecutors, sheriffs, and free press organizations say its either a public safety concern or is outright unconstitutional.

That law has angered me since it was implemented, Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said. We hope that one day it will get changed.

Under the law, public records such as photographs, likeness and personal identifying information contained in law enforcement records of anyone who is a juvenile defendant and who is not convicted -- even if they are charged as an adult -- are prohibited from being published.

The only exception that is provided is with a judges permission.

Rationale

Alabama State Senator William Barfoot, R-Pike Road, speaks out in support of legislation that adds enhanced penalties for anyone who commits a crime while engaged with a criminal enterprise. Barfoot presented the legislation he is sponsoring before the Alabama House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, July 31, 2023, at the State House in Montgomery, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

The measure was sponsored three years ago by state Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, the current chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. It sailed through the Legislature with little fanfare, and no publicity. The Alabama State Senate approved it with an unanimous vote, while the Alabama House overwhelmingly backed it with a 79-17 vote.

Barfoot said the intent was to protect juveniles charged with serious crimes that lead to their cases being automatically transferred to adult court.

He cited a hypothetical case for his concern, in which a juvenile defendant around 16 years old could get charged with an adult offense without having to go through a judicial hearing. That juvenile defendant, he said, could then have his or her name and photos released by law enforcement, and published in broadcast or print media.

If the juvenile is not convicted, then he or she could have their name attached to a crime they did not commit via the Internet.

Lets say a grand jury doesnt have enough information here to indict someone on those charges, Barfoot said. Now you have a 16-year-old who the news media has put the name out there on a charge from law enforcement, for which a grand jury has (decided not to pursue) and there are things on the Internet of the juvenile being arrested and charged with a crime. That is what we were trying to preclude.

He added, In that automatic transfer, there is no judicial safeguard to determine whether or not that juvenile should be charged as an adult.

Barfoot said prosecutors raised no concerns about the bill in 2021. He said he has heard only one complaint about it from a prosecutor since Ivey signed it into law on May 6, 2021.

Criticism

Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood answers questions from the media on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at Government Plaza in downtown Mobile, Ala. During the press conference, he blasted a state law, signed in 2021, that prohibits authorities from releasing the name or images of juveniles charged with adult crimes. John Sharp/jsharp@al.com

A bipartisan sampling of law enforcement, contacted by AL.com this week, isnt mincing words about their displeasure over the law.

If a juvenile is charged as an adult or is certified as an adult, all of their records should be treated as adult records, said Republican Baldwin County Sheriff Huey Hoss Mack. Many times, groups and gangs influence and empower juveniles to commit criminal acts knowing they will face reduced charges and be handled differently.

Democratic Montgomery County Sheriff Derrick Cunningham called it a bad law that that prevents transparency by law enforcement.

He said over the past few years, the majority of crimes are being committed by juveniles.

We are already facing challenges of public trust from withholding information, Cunningham said. Now we cant even show these suspects or identify them by name when they are committing most of our crimes.

State Rep. Allen Treadaway, R-Birmingham, who spent over 30 years in law enforcement and is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said he felt the law could be concerning for public safety. Treadaway was one of the 17 No votes in the House during the vote on the bill in 2021.

In my experience, these individuals can be very violent during their juvenile years, Treadaway said. If arrested for a homicide or armed robbery, I dont have a problem (with names and images being released). But if they are charged as a juvenile, I dont have a problem not releasing it.

Treadaway said that if a juvenile charged with a serious offense is bonded out of jail, having their name and mug shot released to the public alerts the public that this is the individual involved, there could be other victims out there, and its for public safety purposes.

Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey, president of the Alabama District Attorney's Association, speaks at the Alabama State House on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, in Montgomery, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

Democratic Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey, the immediate past president of the Alabama District Attorneys Association, chastised the law as yet another example of our Legislature protecting violent criminals.

If you are old enough to commit a violent crime, then you are old enough to have your face and name in the news, Bailey said. Law enforcement was caught by surprise by this law because in law enforcement, you expect our legislature to help protect victims of violent crime not those who murder, rape and rob.

Bailey said he is asking the DA Association to address the law during the spring legislative session, which begins next week.

Future measures

Barry Matson, executive director with the Alabama District Attorneys Association, in a statement to AL.com, said that public safety has always been a priority for Senator Barfoot, acknowledging that the two worked together on the law in 2021.

We have the upmost confidence that Senator Barfoot and the legislature will work with us during the upcoming session to make any necessary changes to address these concerns and further promote public safety, Matson said.

Barfoot said he felt there was a good enough safeguard built into the legislation that allows for a District Attorney to petition a judge to allow for the records to be released in the interest of public safety or the interest of national security.

I wonder if the DAs criticizing the law if they filed anything with the court to release the name or identifying information of any of those juvenile subjects, Barfoot said. I would be surprised if any of those have been filed. That is an exception (allowed under the law) to releasing that information.

Barfoot added, but to the extent that there are legitimate concerns and things that need to be changed, we are certainly willing to look at those. It has been three years. If there are some needed changes, our intent is not to tie law enforcements hands or the DAs trying these cases.

There could be some opposition toward changing the law. State Senator Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, said she isnt sure a solution to the issue of youth violence is through releasing their names and images.

She is advocating for a more comprehensive look at the issue following the LeFlore High School shooting.

We cannot just keep passing laws that gives people longer stints in prison or changing the juveniles ages to serve as adults or more gun laws, Figures said. We got to come up with a comprehensive plan that involves everyone at the table to truly find out why this is going on.

Benard Simelton, president of the NAACP Alabama State Conference, said while his agency hasnt formulated a policy on the law, he thinks any changes should also include releasing the name of police officers involved in controversial or deadly altercations.

That should be released to the public as well, Simelton said. Right now, the names in most cases are not released until they are indicted on something.

Press freedoms

The law is also drawing interest from press groups, including the Alabama State Press Association.

The Alabama Press Association opposes efforts to restrain access to basic information about juveniles who are charged as adults in the criminal justice system, said Felicia Mason, executive director with the APA. The APA agrees with District Attorney Daryl Bailey that juveniles who are tried as adults should be treated as adults with regard to basic information about them released to the public.

Barfoot said he believed the law deals specifically to only law enforcement agencies and does not prevent the media from releasing names if they independently verify the identity of the suspect involved in a case.

There have been no known challenges against media outlets for publishing juvenile names. And despite the laws presence, the names of juveniles facing adult charges are still being released.

A makeshift memorial is created at the scene of the fatal shooting at a dance studio in Dadeville, Ala., Wednesday April 19, 2023. Two teenagers have been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the shooting that killed four young people at a Sweet Sixteen birthday party, investigators announced Wednesday. (Mickey Welsh/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP)

The name of a 15-year-old charged with involvement in the April 15, 2023, mass shooting in Dadeville, was initially withheld by authorities. But court records did name him -- Sherman Peters  as one of the six suspects facing four counts of reckless murder, 24 counts of first-degree assault for the 24 victims who sustained penetrating gunshot wounds, and one count of third-degree assault for a victim who sustained a superficial gunshot wound. Another juvenile, 16-year-old Travis McCullough of Tuskegee, is also among the defendants who has had his named released.

In the LeFlore shooting case, Blackwood said the press could not publish the 16-year-olds name even if they knew the persons identity.

Grayson Clary, staff attorney at the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit that provides legal resources to journalists, said if nothing is changed, the law could be challenged in federal court.

This law makes Alabama a pronounced outlier especially when it comes to juveniles charged as adults, he said. While juveniles have more proceedings under wraps than full fledge adult criminal trials, the overwhelming majority of states recognize that when a juvenile is charged as an adult, (he or she) will go through a full fledge criminal trial in an ordinary criminal court and that you have to abide by the same expectations of transparency as you would in a typical adult trial.

Clary said, To the extent the law tries to restrict news organizations in the information they gather outside the courtroom, its quite clearly a violation of the First Amendment.

Court challenges have struck down similar laws before. In 2019, an appellate court struck down a Connecticut state law restricting public access to juvenile court records whose cases are transferred to adult court. The law also prohibited journalists from attending courtroom proceedings or inspecting court records in such cases.

Ethical decisions

Chris Roberts, director of the office of research and media integrity at the University of Alabama, said he believes the law could survive a legal challenge since it doesnt specifically mention journalism. The law does prohibit the release in printed or electronic media.

Typically, the deal is that its not legal for law enforcement or other public officials to release images, but its legal for news organizations to disseminate whatever they receive, Roberts said.

He cited the 2016 state law that banned the publication of mugshots of people charged with prostitution following an arrest, prompting outcry from press advocacy groups over its potential for being unconstitutional. The law has not been challenged in court and remains on the books.

Its an ethical issue for news organizations and ought not to be a legal one, said Roberts, referring to a decision on whether to publicize a juvenile defendants name or image. Ethical news organizations are ethical precisely because they made decisions based on news value. Concerns about other uses  evil sites that publish mugshots and make you pay to remove the images  are one thing, but legitimate news value is another.

News outlets often have internal policies on the release of names and images of criminal suspects, including juveniles. AL.com, in 2020, ceased publishing mugshots as part of its crime and justice coverage, with some exceptions including crimes of capital murder, corruption by publish officials, crimes involving a breach of public trust, or when there is an ongoing search for someone following a violent crime.

Robbyn Taylor, director of the Hall School of Journalism & Communication at Troy University, said in her experience, most journalists carefully consider the content of their stories and will not report the names of juveniles who were involved in a minor crime and who are eligible for youthful offender status.

But in the case of public safety, she said that journalists should be allowed to decide how to proceed.

Journalists are public servants by trade, Taylor said. They serve the community and should be allowed to publish the names of criminal defendants  juvenile or not  if there is a question of public safety. If a student brings a gun to a school and opens fire in the school, thats an issue of public safety.
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives could vote in the coming days on articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for failing to secure the border.

The move would be second the second time in history a Cabinet member has been impeached if it passes, according to CBS News. Its unclear whether the GOP has enough votes to approve articles of impeachment, which would send the process to the senate for trial. At least some Republican representatives have said they dont support the effort, arguing that Mayorkas alleged mishandling of the border crisis is not an impeachable offense.

But many of the members of Alabamas delegation have taken to social media and the airwaves to say they support impeachment. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, posted in favor of the vote this week on X, formerly Twitter.

When I questioned Secretary Mayorkas in @JudiciaryGOP, all he had for me was an apology.



Americans are tired of apologies. They want action.



Impeach Mayorkas! pic.twitter.com/UeQCyZH7ux  Rep. Barry Moore (@RepBarryMoore) January 31, 2024

U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, also said he supported the move a month ago in a post on X.

Mayorkas should be impeached for failing to do his job to secure the border! https://t.co/JsYFIjNGqZ  Jerry Carl (@CarlForAlabama) January 8, 2024

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, also signaled his intention to vote in favor of impeachment.

When this vote comes to the House floor, I will vote to impeach Secretary Mayorkas. All he had to do was enforce the immigration laws already on the books, but he has refused. https://t.co/SzRacHl21x  Robert Aderholt (@Robert_Aderholt) January 31, 2024

U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, R-Monrovia, voted this week to advance the articles of impeachment against Mayorkas. He has not put out a statement on social media, but has spoken out against the secretary.

Secretary Mayorkas has failed the American people, Strong said. And I think that is the one thing that is obvious. It has affected everyone in this country, he told Huntsville TV station WAFF.

U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Hoover, said Mayorkas perjured himself before Congress during an appearance on Washington Watch with Tony Perkins, a conservative program created by the leader of the Family Research Council.

Hes also failed to uphold his responsibilities, his sworn duties to faithfully enforce the laws of the nation, Palmer said.

The vote comes as bipartisan efforts to boost resources at the border have floundered. Former President Donald Trump has opposed the measure, and many of his supporters have said they wont support the bill, which also includes funding for Ukraine.

The border is shaping up to be a major issue for voters. The vote on Mayorkas is expected to come as early as next week.
By Jung Min-ho

Kim Kyung-yul, the man believed to have caused recent political tensions between the ruling party and President Yoon Suk Yeol, said, Sunday, that he wont seek a seat in the National Assembly for the upcoming elections.

Kim, a member of the People Power Partys (PPP) leadership committee, said in a statement that he decided not to run, amid speculation that tensions between Han Dong-hoon, interim chief of the party, and Yoon led to that decision.

I wont run for the 22rd general elections, Kim said in a message posted on social media. This is the decision I made for the victory of our party after contemplation.

This was a surprising turn for Kim, who was apparently seeking the PPPs nomination for a constituency in western Seoul's Mapo District. Introducing him as a passionate activist who spent his whole life for fairness and justice, Han said on Jan. 17 that he would be able to present a formidable challenge to Rep. Jung Chung-rae of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea, one of the lawmakers representing the district.

But the former member of Peoples Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, a left-wing civic group, was soon thrust into controversy within the party after comparing Kim Keon Hee to Marie Antoinette, the last French queen who was executed in 1793 during the French Revolution. He made the comparison when answering questions regarding a Dior bag the first lady apparently received from a pastor in September 2022.

His remarks created tensions between Han, who had invited the former activist to the leadership, and Yoons close aides who reportedly demanded that Han step down. But Han refused to resign, saying he would continue to do what was necessary for the PPP to win more seats in the April 10 elections.
An inmate was found dead early Saturday morning in the Covington County jail.

According to Covington County Sheriff Blake Turman, Justin Aaron Blackmon, 34, of Andalusia, was found dead in the jail about 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

According to Turman, preliminary reports indicate the cause of death was self-inflicted.

Special agents with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) have launched an investigation.

An autopsy will be performed by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.

Any findings will be turned over to the Covington County District Attorneys Office.
Mike Gill, a former federal official in the Trump administration, has died after he was critically wounded during a violent crime spree in Washington, D.C. earlier this week.

The spree also left a father-of-two and the suspect in the crimes dead.

Violence broke out in the nations capital on Monday around 5:45 p.m., when an armed assailant entered a vehicle parked in the 900 block of K Street NW, and then shot its driver, according to a press release from D.C. police. He was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and was listed in very critical condition as of late Tuesday, WTOP reported.

While police did not release the victims name, a family spokesperson later confirmed Gill was the person inside the vehicle when the attempted carjacking occurred. A married father of three, Gill served from 2016 to 2019 as chief of staff to J. Christopher Giancarlo, then the chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. He also served on the D.C. Board of Elections until last year, WJLA reported.

Whether its through his infectious laughter, his genuine concern for others, or his innate ability to find common ground, Mike is a catalyst for unity and friendship, a family spokesperson said in a statement to the news station. The most important thing about Mike that all of his friends know is how much he loves his family and how proud he is of his three children.

His wife, Kristina Gill, on Saturday told FOX5 DC that Gill had died.

EXCLUSIVE: Mike Gill has died.

The married father of 3 who was a member of former President Trumps administration was shot during a deadly carjacking rampage in DC this past Monday.

More Details here @fox5dchttps://t.co/uMFyMVP6nj pic.twitter.com/5162XjgzlI  Shomari Stone (@shomaristone) February 4, 2024

The attack on Gill was only the first in a series of violent incidents in the D.C. area Monday night through Tuesday morning. In the immediate aftermath, the suspect fled from the vehicle on foot and unsuccessfully tried to steal another car around 7:05 p.m., this one at the intersection of 5th and K Street NE. The victim in that incident managed to escape and call 911, police said.

Some 15 minutes later, the suspect approached a young man and woman by their car  in the 300 block of N Street NE  and demanded they turn over the keys. He then shot the man, identified as 35-year-old Alberto Vasquez Jr., and fled in his vehicle, which was later found in Marylands Prince Georges County.

Vazsquez later died from his wounds at a hospital, police said.

They gave up the keys and, for whatever reason, the guy still shot him and ended up killing my son, Vazquez Jr.s mother, Antoinette Walker, told NBC Washington.

D.C. police said the suspect committed two more carjackings in Prince Georges County. Around 3 a.m. Tuesday, he crossed paths with a D.C. police car while inside a stolen vehicle and then started shooting at the cruiser. Authorities said the side of the vehicle was struck, but noted the officer inside was not injured.

From there, the suspect made his way to the 7500 block of Annapolis Road, where he had an interaction with members of the New Carrollton Police Department that led to an officer-involved shooting, according to authorities. Police said he was armed with two handguns when he approached them.

The suspect was taken into custody around 4:30 a.m. and hospitalized. Police said he died a short time later.

Fox News later identified the suspect as Artell Cunningham, 28.

The series of incidents remain under investigation.

AL.com contributed to this report.

2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The campaigns for the two Republican congressmen vying for the GOP nomination in the highly-conservative 1st congressional district are blasting each other over their voting records, accusing the other of not being conservative enough, and for not supporting key initiatives of former President Donald Trump.

In the week after a debate in Daphne between U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile; and U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, the campaign clash on TV airwaves in a mailer illustrate both sides efforts to cast themselves as the preferred conservative choice for voters in a district redraw into one of the most right-leaning in the U.S.

Carl and Moore are competing against each other in the March 5 GOP primary. Democrat Tom Holmes, a retired state worker, will compete against the winner during the November general election in a district that has a whopping +28 advantage for Republicans, according to the Cook Political Report.

If Jerry wants to mislead the voters about Barrys record, then its time for the voters to know the truth about Jerry and his liberal votes, a Moore campaign spokesperson said to AL.com.

Barry Moore is a do-nothing politician who has failed to deliver on the Trump Agenda and has consistently voted against building the wall, securing the border and supporting our troops, the Carl campaign fired back.

If Barrys a do-nothing politician, then why did Jerry just vote to pass Barrys strong border security bill through the House (Thursday), the Moore campaign said.

Barry Moore has scolded Trump and said Trump should veto border wall funding, and he has consistently opposed Republican efforts to finish Trumps wall, the Carl campaign rebutted.

Blasting records

U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, speaks during a luncheon hosted by the Alabama League of Municipalities on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at Ralph & Kacoo's in Spanish Fort, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

The latest skirmishes are based on dueling campaign ads aimed at raising questions about the others voting record -- a 30-second TV spot for Carl, and a mailer in support of Moore. The only similarity between two ads is that they both include a mug shot of the opponent wearing a black face mask during the pandemic, an image viewed in a negative light by many conservative voters.

In the Carl TV ad, he accuses Moore of making a statement on Facebook in 2017 suggesting he would have voted against a bill for the border wall. Moore, at the time, was a member of the Alabama State House of Representatives.

Moore and Carl were elected to Congress in 2020. Moore, who is the current 2nd district congressional representative, had his Enterprise home redrawn into the 1st congressional district and opted to run against Carl.

The 2nd district was redrawn after a federal court ruling requiring a new congressional map for Alabama that included a second district with a voting age population large enough to give Black voters an opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice. The 2nd district is now considered a slight lean toward a Democratic candidate, according to Cook.

The 1st district includes heavily conservative and rural counties int he Wiregrass, along with ruby red Baldwin County and portions of Mobile County.

Moore has pointed to his high ratings among Alabama Congressmen from both CPAC and Heritage Action. Carl said that Moores past votes would place him against Trump, and advertisement accuses him of not being a conservative.

Defunding Trumps wall before it began, the recent Carl TV ad states, accusing Moore of voting against spending initiatives that would have included more money for border security.

The issue is a tricky one given that past news articles from 2018 show that Trump was unhappy but still willing to sign a $1.3 trillion omnibus spending package because it increased defense spending.

The bill, at the time, also included a $1.6 billion boost for border security funding that went mostly toward surveillance technology and fencing. But that funding came far below what Trump had originally wanted, and he had considered vetoing the measure because it did not fully fund his proposed border wall, a CNBC article states.

Moore, in a written rebuttal, said the second bill Carls camp is also criticizing him in the ad for a vote opposing a Continuing Resolution. Moore has said on the campaign trail that he does not support federal funding resolutions because of the ballooning federal deficit.

Carl, in past statements and including during their debate in Daphne, has accused Moore of being a show horse in Congress due to his membership in the far-right House Freedom Caucus. He said has chastised Moore for voting No on crucial federal spending measures including the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Moore was the only member of Congress from Alabama to vote against the $886.3 billion federal defense spending package in December. Carl said the package including funding to support Mobiles Austal plant, Fort Novosel in the Wiregrass, and included a pay raise for military members. Moore said he had concerns about the inclusion of a government surveillance program called FISA that remained in the final package.

An anti-Carl mailer sent out to homes in Baldwin County by the Barry Moore campaign.John Sharp/jsharp@al.com

The Moore campaign, in a mailer entitled DC Jerry Carl Fact links the congressman to votes that sent $40 billion to support Ukraine, red flag laws for veterans, and to keep President Joe Bidens new army of 87,000 IRS agents, among other things.

Carls camp is pointing to the work he did with U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, to remove any red flag laws from a past NDAA that could have allowed military judges and magistrates to issue court gun confiscation orders from people deemed dangerous.

Carls camp is also pointing to support for additional oversight of Ukraine aid, at a time when polling shows about half of Republicans view the U.S. as spending too much money to support the country in its war with Russia.

The campaign also said it helped draft a House bill that would eliminate funding for the extra IRS agents.

Jerry Carl has delivered on the Trump agenda and has delivered real results for the people in Alabama, a Carl spokesman said. Jerry has consistently voted to build the wall, secure the border, support our troops and get the economy back on track.

Sponsoring legislation

The Moore campaign said Carl, himself, hasnt sponsored much in the way of actual legislation.

They also said that Carl is accusing Moore of being a do-nothing congressman the same week that Carl voted in support of federal legislation Moore sponsored and was backed with a 274-150 vote in the Republican-led House.

The legislation, H.R. 6976, would require the deportation of undocumented immigrants convicted of a DUI. The legislation gained 59 Yes votes from Democrats, though national reporting suggests there is no immediate plans for the Senate to take it up.

The Moore campaign said the congressman has also voted in support of past legislation that support veteran families including the Colonel John McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act in 2021 that extends in-state tuition benefits under the GI Bill for dependents and survivors of eligible veterans through the Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program.

That program provides funding for higher education survivors and dependents of certain service members who died on active duty or were found to be 100% service-related disabled or died due to a service-connected disability.

Jerry has voted for all of them, the Moore campaign said. Barry would return the favor, but none of Jerrys bills have even made it out of committee.

The Carl has been a vocal supporter of legislation that calls for increased oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico. Millions of dollars from oil and gas exploration leases are returned to Mobile and Baldwin counties each year and are routinely distributed for projects in the states two coastal counties.

He was a sponsor of the Unleashing American Energy Act, that would require Trump-era oil and gas lease sales and which was included as part of H.R.1  the Lower Energy Costs Act sponsored by Louisiana Republican Rep. Steve Scalise. Carl and Moore both voted in support the GOP-led bill.
Sundays can be days for catching up on things, including important local stories you may have missed in last weeks daily digital editions of The Press-Register. So to help you out, here are some of the stories our readers found most interesting last week.

Who had Mardi Gras first?: Interstate billboards, funny signs outside bars in the French Quarter, and Twitter jousting between mayors have underscored the age-old debate over an age-old question: Which city started Mardi Gras in the U.S.? AL.coms John Sharp digs into the mostly friendly rivalry between Mobile and New Orleans, and why its beneficial for both cities.

Crawfish supply collapse: Anyone hoping to celebrate Mardi Gras with a piping hot crawfish boil this year may be out of luck -- or have to pay more than double what theyre used to. AL.coms Nathan Pillion reports on what south Louisiana crawfish farms are saying is the reason behind the skyrocketing price of mudbugs and if the issue is expected to continue beyond this season.
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Todays guest columnist is Carol Edge.

Everyone knows the history, knows that Birmingham was aka the most segregated city in the nation, knows that Birmingham was aka Bombingham, and if they dont know the litany of events in 1963  well, they ought to.

American history is yoked to civil rights history. Its what were founded on, what we have grandly succeeded at and dismally failed at.

Birmingham is not just in the Heart of Dixie, it is smack at the heart of our Great American Paradox, a constant tug of war between civil rights and civil wrongs.

Birmingham was, as has been said, ground zero of the civil rights movement in 1963; it was also ground zero for my coming of age. A time and place so fraught with momentous events and emotions, from the most personal to the most worldly, that a 17 year old could be rocketed through a lifetime of experience simply by paying attention.

Maybe I paid too much attention.

I felt that the civil rights war (a word that seemed more appropriate than movement) was Real Life, and thats what I yearned to take part in. But my family and background werent about to let a White teenage daughter loose in that battleground. I vented my anger and frustration in sophomoric poems about my citys jaundiced eye and tried witlessly to befriend the maid hired by my mother.

My distress must have overwhelmed my parents too. When I begged to drop out of Shades Valley in my senior year, they allowed it. My semester of freedom began under George Wallaces gubernatorial mantra of segregation forever.

The Birmingham spring saw sit-ins at White lunch counters and felt bombs destroying Black homes. Easter week cringed as city police officers released dogs to attack Black citizens. Martin Luther King, Fred Shuttlesworth, and Ralph Abernathy were arrested. Black worshippers were turned away from White churches on Easter Day.

Restless with outrage at the world and a teenage rage for experience, I ranted naively. At 15 I had wanted to join marches. Like a child seeking adventure, I envied the fight for equality without understanding what it meant for those in the fight. But at 17 I wanted barricades in the streets.

During this time, King wrote his Letter from Birmingham Jail, but I wouldnt read it until years later. All I knew then was that he had rebuked the leaders of the religious community. Unaware yet of Malcolm X, that was my first clue that Kings pacifism held a blade after all. Children younger than I were marching and going to jail!

I had yearned to do something important. But on my own, I found no way to solve the worlds problems, and my own didnt go away.

Surprising myself, and my parents as well, I decided to return to high school. To start afresh, I enrolled in summer school at Phillips downtown. I would occasionally drive the family car. Most days I rode the city bus and felt the tensions on each side of the sign separating White and Colored.

Almost immediately at Phillips I met Ron, the person I would be with for all my life, who felt as I did about civil rights, the conventions and trappings of oppression, and virtually everything else. Before we met, each of us knew Gene Crutcher, the countercultural icon, and frequented his bohemian book shop in Five Points South. Much later, when Crutcher closed his store, he gave us the huge wooden magazine rack where once we had browsed avant-garde publications.

I had only ever been a talker, trying to speak what I believed (loudly and obnoxiously at times), but Ron was doing it. At 16, he was part of a small group gathered into a VW bus by Crutcher to attend a Pete Seeger concert at Miles College. There, clasping arms with a student on one side and activist E.D. Nixon on the other, he swayed and sang We Shall Overcome. Then, as Seeger began his signature act of chopping a log onstage while singing a work song, Ron caught one of the wood chips.

Ron was there for me when I was called n-lover in the wide halls of Phillips. I was there for him when he was not informed that he graduated top of his class. There were sympathetic, teachers, such as F. Virginia Praytor, but many more preferring conventional student behavior.

Fall semester began, we were in love, and Sixteenth Avenue Baptist Church was bombed. Again, Birmingham martyred some of its children while others thrived. In the school talent show, Ron sang and played his guitar to thunderous applause. President Kennedy was shot in Dallas, and classmates cheered at the announcement of his death.

The year that made Birmingham infamous in the eyes of the world made an indelible impression on the children and teens of the city, Black and White. That city lives now in the past, where it belongs. The hearts and minds of young people absorb, retain, extrapolate, and build on what they learn.

The young people of 1963 have had their day of building and passing it on to another generation. I believe todays Birmingham to be far different from the one I grew up in, from the one Ron and I came of age in. Our Birmingham clung to its past, too tightly and with bloodied grip.

Here we are 60 years later. Ron and I are still coming of age together.

So is Birmingham.

All of us are wiser and stronger for the battles, won and lost. I never went to school with Black kids my age, but as a graduate student in middle age, I was taught by professors Black and younger than I. Miles College is still there, and we still have the wood chip, but Pete Seeger and E.D. Nixon are long gone. Phillips welcomed its first Black students in fall 1964.

A majority of citizens have voted for Black mayors and civic leaders. And, thankfully, Birminghams epithet the most segregated city in America no longer applies. Todays Birmingham has turned its eye toward the future.

Carol Edge holds Birmingham and Alabama dear in her heart despite having left in 1969 and returning only to visit family and friends. Retired from a career as an editor, she writes fiction, memoir, and essay. Her first mystery novel (Blood Terminal, C.C. Edge, 2022), was named first runner-up in the mystery category in the 2023 Eric Hoffer Awards. For more information, visit caroledge.com.

David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. Hes past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).

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Invite David to speak for free to your group about how we can have a more prosperous metro Birmingham. dsher@amsher.com.










English News Abuse of force only makes bigger crises

Alwihda Info | Par pd - 4 Fevrier 2024



Major countries should exert their influence by abandoning geopolitical self-interests, bearing in mind the real interests of the people in the Middle East, solving disputes and conflicts through political means and playing a constructive role in promoting peace in the region.

By Huan Yuping Recently, the coalition forces of the United States and Britain launched new strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. The escalation of the crisis in the Red Sea has triggered widespread concerns in the international community about the further rise in the overall security risks in the region.



The use of force will not help resolve the issue, but only exacerbate tensions.



The waters of the Red Sea are an important international transportation route for goods and energy. It is in the common interest of the international community to ensure unimpeded access to the waterway and the safety of passing vessels. All parties should work together to safeguard the security of the waters.



Major countries should play a constructive and responsible role in keeping the shipping lanes safe in the Red Sea waters. Any action must abide by the norms governing international relations, and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen and other countries bordering the Red Sea.



The military actions taken by the U.S. and Britain have damaged infrastructure and caused casualties of civilians. They couldn't help to protect the safety of merchant shipping, and even increased the overall security risks in the region. This is something that the international community does not want to see.



The international community has voiced concerns and opposition after the U.S. and Britain launched military strikes.



UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called upon all parties involved not to escalate even more the situation in the interest of peace and stability in the Red Sea and the wider region. He called for every effort to be made to ensure that Yemen pursues a path towards peace and that the work undertaken thus far to end the conflict in Yemen should not be lost.



Saudi Arabia stressed in a statement the importance of maintaining the security and stability of the region. It demanded freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and called on all parties involved to exercise restraint and avoid escalation.



Egypt called for unifying international and regional efforts to ease tensions in the region and ensure the safety of navigation in the Red Sea.



Iran believed that arbitrary attacks would only make the Middle East more insecure and unstable.



Iraq said in a statement that expanding the scope of targets does not represent a solution to the problem, rather, it will lead to continued spillover and proliferation of risks.



The international community has a clear understanding of the negative effects brought about by military strikes on the regional situation. It hopes to resolve the crisis with political means that address both the symptoms and root causes.



The escalating tensions in the Red Sea indicate that the abuse of force will only make bigger crises. The world is seeing the spillover effects of the new round of conflict between Palestine and Israel, and as the factors of instability in the region are clearly upswing, the risk of more forces being dragged into the conflict is on the rise.



It's obviously contradictory that some countries are actually abusing military force while stressing the importance of preventing the spillover of the conflict. The UN Security Council has never authorized any country to use force against Yemen. The military actions taken against Yemen not only have increased security risks in the Red Sea, but also could possibly impact the political process of Yemen.



Since the 21st century, the abuse of force has only brought turmoil and humanitarian disasters to the Middle East, as evidenced by what has happened in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria.



U.S. magazine Foreign Policy said that Washington's unwavering devotion to its current approach to the Middle East has produced a vicious cycle: By committing itself to the root of regional instability, the U.S. repeatedly finds itself having to confront challenges that are largely the product of its own presence and policies in the region.



The escalating tensions in the Red Sea indicate that an ultimate solution never comes from the ignorance of justice. Conflicts in the Middle East are complex. The participation of extra-regional countries in Middle East affairs should consider the region's reality, coordinate the interests of all relevant parties and stick to the principle of fairness and justice.



However, some countries have long implemented tactics like "bolster one and bash the other" and "divide and rule" in the Middle East for their own geopolitical interests, which makes it difficult for the region to establish stable security orders.



The current crisis in the Red Sea is a spillover of the conflict in Gaza, and the prolonged failure to resolve the Gaza conflict is attributed to certain countries' blatant prejudices and repeated obstruction of UN Security Council draft resolutions calling for a ceasefire.



The fundamental problems of the tensions in the Red Sea cannot be solved by "cut-the-knot" military actions with an ignorance of the root cause. As a commentary published on the website of Al Jazeera said, the military strikes "clash with the Biden administration's stated goals of de-escalation and fail to address the root cause of the soaring tensions in the region."



The Middle East is on the edge of extreme danger. What's the most urgent now is to cease fire in Gaza, and major countries must play a constructive role in stopping violence.



Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that the central issue that needed to be addressed lies in Gaza, and only by resolving the Gaza issue can all other issues be resolved.



The ceasefire is the prevailing priority, and humanitarian aid is the imperative moral responsibility. The future arrangement of Gaza must fully respect the Palestinian people's aspiration, and the two-state solution is the sure path to a just settlement of the Palestinian issue. Justice has already been delayed, but it should never be denied.



Major countries should exert their influence by abandoning geopolitical self-interests, bearing in mind the real interests of the people in the Middle East, solving disputes and conflicts through political means and playing a constructive role in promoting peace in the region.



Only when all parties stand on the side of peace and justice, implement the two-state solution and push for a comprehensive, just and sustainable solution to the question of Palestine at an early date, can the Middle East achieve lasting peace and stability.



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 further facilitates exit-and-entry services for better mobility of personnel

Alwihda Info | Par pd - 30 Janvier 2024



"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.

By Zhang Tianpei, People's Daily 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.



"It's just easy to follow the instructions," said a woman surnamed Li, 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.



"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 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.



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)
A nations border lies at the intersection of domestic and foreign policy. How a country manages its border, immigration, trade, and related policies informs foreign and domestic stakeholders about governance of the country. Its a reflection of those that govern and those that elect them.

President Biden opened the border the minute he took office. This decision is a detriment to the American people. Bidens immigration policy is a chaotic, costly, and confusing mess. He chose to allow human trafficking, criminal import of drugs and prostitution, and the entry of terrorists and Chinese citizens who are positioned to wreak havoc within the country. Joe Biden is blithely undermining the security and interests of the people he swore to protect.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas proclaimed in a congressional hearing that the border is secure. In testimony to the Homeland Security Committee, FBI Director Christopher Wray confirmed the security of the country is in jeopardy saying, the threats that come from the other side of the border are affecting every state. To fix the problem, President Biden requires empowerment, saying, Ive done all I can do. Just give me the power. The position of the federal government is as clear as Rio Grande mud.

Biden realizes his re-election is jeopardized by his immigration policy. He desperately wants Congress to pass a new law hoping it will provide political cover for his bizarre open border policy. If the law is passed Biden will tell the American people that Congress finally listened to his wise council and passed a wonderful new law empowering him to do his job. If Congress doesnt pass an immigration law, Biden will blame Republicans for the invasion of immigrants and accuse them of playing politics forcing him to leave the border open.

The Mexican border is difficult to police, but President Trump did a good job of securing it. The same laws that render Biden powerless were in place for Trump. Biden and Democrat politicians are frantically looking for a message they can deliver that will absolve them of their inane border policy. Republicans should take a step back and watch Democrats attempt to put the lid back on the can of worms they opened.

Biden proposed a new immigration law when he took office. It includes:

A roadmap to citizenship for undocumented individuals

Immigrant and refugee integration and citizenship

Protect workers from exploitation and improve the employment verification process.

Embracing diversity

Biden proposes an open border with a shortcut to citizenship.

Senator James Lankford has the unenviable position of negotiating an immigration law with Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Democrats want to put the country on a yellow brick road to a new demographic theyve schemed to achieve for a generation. Lankford said in an interview, We all have an oath to the Constitution, and we have a commitment to say we're going to do whatever we can to be able to secure the border." Senator Lankford and Congress have no obligation to pass a new law. Biden, Mayorkas, and Lankford all took an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. The United States has an immigration law that Biden refuses to enforce. Biden has failed to uphold his oath of office.

Governor Greg Abbott of Texas is doing his best to protect his states border with Mexico. In January of 2023, he had a letter hand delivered to President Biden saying, you have violated your constitutional obligation to defend the states against invasion through faithful execution of federal laws. Last month Governor Abbott sent another letter to the President saying, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and the other visionaries who wrote the U.S. Constitution foresaw that States should not be left to the mercy of a lawless president who does nothing to stop external threats like cartels smuggling millions of illegal immigrants across the border. Governor Abbott has established that an invasion is underway and Biden has done nothing to stop it. Biden has had three years to do his job. He has failed.

Abbott is now taking steps for the State of Texas to do the Presidents job. I have already declared an invasion under Article I,  10, Clause 3 to invoke Texass constitutional authority to defend and protect itself. That authority is the supreme law of the land and supersedes any federal statutes to the contrary. The Supreme Court has not ruled in favor of the Biden Administration or ordered Texas to remove material used to fortify its border. The Supreme Court merely vacated an appeal, sending the decision back to a lower court. Abbotts actions will gather momentum, likely forcing the Supreme Court to decide the matter. Texas may lose in court, but its case is clear.

Twenty-five states stand with Texas. New Mexico, Arizona, and California, which also have a border with Mexico, do not. Bidens open border is an affront to all states no matter their proximity to the border. All Americans are damaged by the invasion identified by Governor Abbott. Democrat politicians whine while requesting money, but their states and cities remain open sanctuaries to illegal entrants.

It wouldnt be prudent for Republicans to support a Biden-Schumer immigration law. If Biden must have a new law, the House of Representatives has passed a bill which will secure the border. The Senate can approve this bill so that Biden can sign it into law. The law could be renamed The More Power to Joe Biden Act. A better solution is to let the American people decide the issue. The elections this year should be a referendum on border security. The cost of open borders to Americans is a half-trillion dollars and will only grow if Biden and Democrats remain in office. If Americans want their tax dollars spent on wasted resources and open border chaos, they should vote for Democrats. You get what you pay for.

Image: New York Public Library
Less than half of South Korean students think unification is necessary
Like Alice dropped into an illogical world, Im looking at the past week and seeing a chaotic, topsy-turvy, irrational series of policies, events, and outcomes. There are many possible examples to choose from. Ive chosen four: The open border, the inexplicable disparities in the handling of crimes by Democrat district attorneys, the Administrations song and dance with Iran and UNRWA, and China, and theres a degree of overlap in some of these.

North of the Border

Millions of people -- mostly military-age men -- from almost every country on the globe are being processed by the Borden Patrol and released with orders to show up for hearings, many not set for several years distant, during which time the Democrats will certainly seek an electoral advantage. Since districting for voting and disbursement of federal funds is based on the number of residents, regardless of their legal status, districts with lots of illegals will get a weighted advantage. Most of the asylum applications are groundless, but most likely, the Democrats will seek amnesty for these millions. President Trump had begun wall construction and set in place policies to stop this. Within 100 days of taking office, Biden took 94 executive actions which smoothed the way for the massive influx of illegal immigrants. Legalizing them will effectively create a one-party state. Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who is now facing impeachment proceedings, worked to make deportation of these people nearly impossible. Elon Musk on X:

Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas issued written guidance making it clear that: 1. Illegal presence alone is not grounds for deportation. 2. Criminal charges, convictions or gang membership alone are not enough for deportation. You basically have to be a convicted axe murderer to be deported!

The Supreme Court has made it nearly impossible for states to act when the federal government will not stem the invasion. Jonathan Turley:

[T] his crisis is the result of decades of court rulings expanding executive powers while limiting the ability to challenge those policies. The courts decisions narrowing standing have been deleterious, limiting those who can challenge unlawful or unconstitutional acts by the federal government. States such as Texas are absolutely correct that this is a breach of the original understanding with the federal government. The combination of the sweeping preemption by the courts and diminishing enforcement by the agencies has left states as mere observers to their own destruction. It is like watching your house burn down as the fire department works primarily to prevent anyone else from putting it out. The Biden fire department is claiming that, just as it has the authority to put out fires, it has the authority to let them burn .

Irrational Democrat Law Enforcement

A pack of illegal migrants attacked New York City policemen. Videos captured the assault, and several of the men were arrested. District Attorney Alvin Bragg arranged for them to be released on bail, and they were photographed laughing and flipping off photographers. Then, using false names, they persuaded a sympathetic-to-illegals charity to give them bus transportation to California, where they will receive free health care, housing, food subsidies, scholarships for illegal aliens in Gavin Newsoms $ 68-billion-in-the-red state. Confronted by a reporter concerning the no-bail policy for illegal criminals, New York's Governor Kathy Hochul suggested they be deported, contrary to sanctuary cities in both states.

Questioned why he chose to arrest and demand $100,000 bail for Daniel Perry, who saved a subway car full of passengers from a violent man threatening them, while at the same time seeking no bail for illegals who beat up cops, Bragg said he lacked evidence to hold them, this despite all the passengers who supported Penny and thanked him, and the assault of law enforcement officers being on videotape. The message is this -- in Braggs NYC jurisdiction, were going to allow people to brutally attack you with little consequence, and you dare not defend against that.

A congressional aide engaged in anal intercourse in a Capitol hearing room, videotaped it, and made it public. The U.S. Capitol Police declined to charge him, though imprisoned Jacob Chansley and most of the other January 6 defendants engaged in no misuse of government property when they walked through rope lines in the Capitol and engaged in friendly exchanges with the Capitol Police while there. Instead of prosecuting felonies in the District of Columbia, the U.S. attorney for D.C. is still directing massive amounts of manpower to track down January 6 trespassers who reside around the country to prosecute them.

The District of Columbia is the site now of a really horrendous crime wave, including many brutal carjackings. The D.C. attorney general Brian Schwalb claims we cant stop this by arresting the young men engaged in these crimes.

Fani Willis, who seeks to convict Donald Trump under some notion of RICO, now admits that she has a personal relationship with the man she hired to prosecute the case, a man with no experience in such prosecutions. Her paramours friends bankrolled her campaign and, in return, received lucrative contracts, and she is charged with having misused federal funds.

Iran and UNRWA

Either Biden is stupid or he thinks we are. After repeated aggression by Iranian proxies, including the killing of three U.S. servicemen and women, the Administration said it was going to take countermeasures. It announced six days before acting where it was targeting and unsurprisingly, by the time it did so, the targets certainly had moved to safety. This is in line with its policies of giving Iran a free pass.

While Robert Malley was placed under FBI investigation and was removed from office as Bidens Iran envoy, the administration has not deviated from the never-disclosed policy he set in 2016 while he was with the non-governmental agency, the International Crisis Group -- a Memorandum of Understanding with the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Biden will not enforce sanctions against Iran, has instituted no arms embargo against Iranian drone purchases, and has not interfered while Iran builds up its nuclear arsenal. Those drones Iran purchased are apparently the very ones the Iranian proxy Houthis are firing at vessels in the Red Sea. We keep announcing that we are shooting down those drones, but its a costly victory. The drones are worth about $50 thousand each, and the cost of destroying them before they damage our ships is in the millions. Certainly, reason suggests its time to destroy the drone launch pads and launchers and abandon Malleys plan.

As to UNRWA, in the face of its proven collaboration with Hamas and participation in the attacks on Israel, a significant number of countries and the European Union have announced suspension of further contributions to the organization. Biden did as well. But -- hold on a minute -- we only suspended $300,000 of our contributions. So far this year, we have contributed $121 million dollars to UNRWA, doubtless a good deal of it after October 7. Remember, Trump suspended contributions to UNRWA, and Biden reinstated them.

The Great Afghan Folly

Regarding our disastrous fast-footing out of Afghanistan, leaving a fortune in military equipment behind, a new Department of Defense IG report indicates that, in 2022 and 2023, we spent a total of $5.1 billion in fiscal years 2022 and 2023 to house, feed, transport, and resettle Afghan evacuees, and heres the kicker: the beneficiary of all our labors, lost troops, and fortune expended in Afghanistan will be  guess who -- China.

The Taliban has asked to join Chinas Belt & Road initiative and has already signed contracts with China allowing the Communist regime to drill for oil and gas in Afghanistan and to mine lithium and copper in the mineral-rich country per a Pentagon IG report.

I wish, like Alice, we could all realize this was some kind of weird dream, but I know it isnt.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently complained about the citizens who are skeptical to cede national sovereignties and individual rights to his global agency, under the pending expansion of WHO powers through a revised Pandemic Treaty, and accused them of spreading disinformation. This rings hollow because such valid legal concern should be a top concern for all of humanity following the botched WHO response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet an even greater hollowness echoes behind such claimsthe shocking sexual predation of vulnerable women under Mr. Ghebreyesuss authority in Congo during the Ebola crisis, for which there has been no meaningful response.

Reports about rape and sex trafficking in Congo originated from The New Humanitarian, an independent non-profit news organization initially created by the United Nations; Congos 2018-2020 Ebola outbreak, and the pernicious sexual exploitation of vulnerable women by WHO workers, display a complete failure of any such accountability by the WHO.

Shocking WHO Sex Abuses

WHOs failures in Congo are epic: it did not train workers to avoid sexual exploitation; of 80 cases of sexual abuse reported in an independent investigation, 21 involved WHO employees. Women reported being exploited with bribes or threats of retaliation, plied with alcohol, or paid for sex. Nine victims reported being raped, including a 13-year-old girl. Twenty-two women were impregnated and delivered their babies; others were forced by their abusers to abort. Perpetrators refused to use protection during intercourse, infecting women and spreading STDs. (So much for the agencys disease prevention response!)

Investigations have shown that WHO staff were well aware of these allegations by early May 2019, but did nothing to initiate an investigation until October 2020after an article was published exposing the abuse. Similar abuses were reported during the WHO-directed response to the West Africa Ebola outbreak between 2014 and 2016, yet by 2020 Ghebreyesus had done nothing.

Shielding Alleged Rapists Instead of Victims

The independent commission that established the latest abuses did not investigate higher-level involvement by WHO leadership. WHO promises of internal investigations have yielded nothing. Four people were fired, but some of the worst offenders (especially Doctor Boubacar Diallo, who often bragged about his connections to  Tedros) simply deny their DNA-provable criminality with impunity. According to internal emails reported by the Associated Press:

Over 2018 and 2019, three Ebola experts, including two who worked for WHO at the time, told the AP they raised concerns about sex abuse in general, and Diallo in particular, with senior managers. But they said they were told that controlling the Ebola outbreak was more important, and two said Diallo was considered untouchable because of his relationship with Tedros.  Two WHO officials with knowledge of the situation said the agency investigated complaints that Diallo acted unprofessionally, including an alleged sexual assault, and there was insufficient evidence to corroborate the charges. But investigators failed to interview any of the women involved or the whistleblowers who flagged the harassment claims, according to a senior WHO official who didnt want to be identified for fear of losing his job.

A Corrupt Response

The story that emerges is that the WHO disregarded these womens complaints, no rapists or abusers have been held to criminal account, WHO leadership has failed at every turn, and nothing has changed. The independent commission pointedly observed that the WHO was completely unprepared to deal with the risks/incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse during the Congo Ebola emergency. The WHOs pandemic response in Congo ignored background checks, punished whistleblowers, empowered unaccountable sexual predators over marginalized victims, and then let them off scott-free. It now seeks to scale up its operations and powers.

In a press conference acknowledging the abuses, Ghebreyesus apologized to victims, stating:

What happened to you should never happen to anyone. It is inexcusable. It is my top priority to ensure that the perpetrators are not excused, but are held to account. As the Director-General, I take ultimate responsibility for the behaviour [sic] of the people we employ, and for any failings in our systems that allowed this behaviour [sic]. And I will take personal responsibility for making whatever changes we need to make to prevent this happening in future. The commission has done outstanding work to get the voices of victims and survivors heard. But the investigation is not complete, and will require further work.

Congos sex-trafficking victims are not persuaded. The WHO issued $250 payments to some claimants, and according to one victim, soap, underwear, and a bucket for use for the bathroom. Ironically, the WHO boasts a $50 million budget for the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. Ghebreyesus acknowledged the Congo abuses were a sickening betrayal of the people they ostensibly serve, even calling the revelations a dark day for WHO. He also promised severe consequences for the perpetrators, and accountability for all leaders who failed to act; yet no one appears to have been criminally charged in all this violence and chaos, and internal WHO investigations have yielded no announcements of any accountability, by anyone.

It is hard to imagine a more dramatic breach of trust than WHOs Congo conduct. No safeguards to ensure such grotesque abuses do not recur have been provided. Indeed, WHOs Kafkaesque bureaucratic deceptions and foot-dragging reveal what an incompetent, unaccountable, crony criminal operation it has become.

Globalist Predators Unloosed?

Recent revelations that UN workers in Gaza participated in attacks against Israel mirror the same pattern of ineptly permitting the infiltration of relief operations by criminal actors as was committed in Congoand also in Haiti, where more than 100 UN workers were implicated in a child sex ring which operated over a ten-year period. The WHO, and its parent UN, have proven that they are clumsy bureaucratic juggernauts with no credibility.

Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus now strives to dramatically expand WHO powers over the entire worlds children for pandemic response, and scoffs at anyone who asks sensible questions about the protection of individual liberties. If the WHO dispatches teams of sexual predators to third-world countries as a pandemic response and then covers for them, it can hardly be trusted to protect the worlds children from Pfizer, China, or other actors for whom it may simply be a proxy.

Perhaps the WHO should be defunded, instead of American policethe savings could be used to hire detectives to prosecute the WHOs child rapists and paid sex traffickers, in the absence of any hope for justice otherwise.

Image: IAEA Imagebank, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered.
Twenty-five years ago, far-left socialist Hugo Chavez assumed Venezuela's presidency, lawfully elected and sworn in on Feb. 2, 1999, after an up-and-down career as a restive army office involved in a coup d'etat. He ran and won as an outsider at a time when the establishment had discredited itself, got into trouble when oil prices fell, and signed on to an International Monetary Fund austerity program, such as were being employed at the time in measures that left capitals burning.

Once in. it didn't take long for Chavez to turn his once-prosperous country into a socialist hellhole.

Today, the country is in rubble, a dictatorship, a shadow of its now-dimly remembered glory. It had been South America's most prosperous and developed country, with a huge middle class. Now, as with all socialist regimes, millions have fled its poverty, oppression, and despair.

For many years, here in the states we watched the leering, clown-like dictator wreck and ruin his country. The global left embraced Chavez as if he were the new Fidel Castro. But the rest of us just watched it with detachment, having seen this disaster play out many times earlier throughout the 20th century -- in Russia, in China, in Cuba, in Vietnam, in North Korea, in parts of Africa.

Did it have any relevance to us? For many years, many didn't think so, and the country was often ignored, often by U.S. presidents. And yet, yet, we've met Venezuelans. We know they are like us.

Now that the full scope is laid out after 25 years, maybe Venezuela does offer cautionary lessons for us in the states.

What might a few of those lessons be?

One -- that elections matter. Elect a politician promising handouts, as Hugo Chavez did, and watch the country go bust, running out of money in just a few years' time.

And as money ran out, it didn't take long before the government started expropriating from others -- starting with small landholders, owners of small farms, and minor landlords -- and moving on to major industries -- electricity, water, and above all, oil. Worse still, as government power concentrated itself in a few hands, it didn't take long for corruption to gain a foothold, corruption unlike any the hemisphere has seen, with billions stolen by its cronies. Hugo himself died a billionaire by 2013.

Two, fraudulent elections, and even the perceptions of fraudulent elections matter even more. For Venezuela, the wages of Chavez's economic mismanagement, and attempt to coopt the Venezuelan state oil company's union led to huge protests and a recall referendum petition that drew millions of signatures asking to get rid of that guy. The very concept of the recall was placed into the rewritten constitution by Chavez's own cronies, and it opposition took that opportunity to turn it onto Chavez himself. In 2004, after numerous attempts to halt the recall through legal technicalities failed, but absolutely gargantuan demonstrations showed the extent of the popular support for it, the recall happened. Very strangely, it failed. Scientists conducted studies posthumously and said the numbers didn't add up. Locals said their votes were improperly counted or were programmed to vote for Chavez, not his ouster. One theory held that the voting totals were flipped. The recall was monitored by Jimmy Carter's Carter Center, which came out and said all was free and fair, having seen everything for themselves with the small exception of what went on ... in the totalization room. Fraudulent or not, the opposition was shocked, having had its own monitors that found otherwise, but its concerns were dismissed by those who viewed them as rich whites out of touch with vast dark-skinned Venezuelan masses, who still supposedly loved Hugo Chavez. Maybe it was true, some good reporters, such as Juan Forero of the New York Times, who was there, thought so. But the perception of fraud left the opposition so shocked and silent it boycotted the next local election in late 2005 (which I witnessed). By default, Chavez and his Chavistas then took full power in the legislative elections and ran with it, socializing the country even more, coopting the courts, the food supply, the industries, the internet, the once-free press, driving the latter out of business, or forcing television stations to sell to Chavista outlets at rock-bottom prices.

Lesson: Fraudulent, or at least rigged, elections lead to even more horrible consequences than legal elections and once they happen, there is no return. Once fraud became the order of the day, government grew even more unaccountable and tyrannical. The Chavistas then extended their grip on power to intolerable levels as the water and food ran out and the only way out was to leave the country.

Three, immigration matters. One thing not well-known to Americans is that Venezuela, with its historic oil booms and busts, tended to attract a lot of immigrants. The unassimilated immigrants -- from Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and more -- were often in the country illegally, and when the oil booms ended, retreated to the extralegal shantytowns where they lived in abject poverty with only the infornal economy to sustain them with no property rights and only the law of the gangs and jungle to keep order. Chavez knew he was losing that recall referendum, but in the last few weeks before the recall referendum, extended "citizenship" to millions of the impoverished foreigners. If he really did win that 2004 referendum, it would have been due to such votes.

Four: Crime matters. Venezuela under Chavez had a horrific crime rate, with drugs and FARC terrorists from nearby Colombia fueling much of it. Chavez let that crime go on, and the country become unliveable -- because it served as a means of social control over the decent-people opposition. When one is afraid to go out in the streets, one is less likely to engage in mass demonstrations. Chavez also was able to coopt motorcycle and other goons and gangs to serve as unofficial goons for his regime, to tamp down dissidents in the shantytowns. Unlike most other socialist regimes before him, Chavez understood the value to his regime of unchecked and unpunished street crime, focusing most of his anti-crime efforts on political dissidents.

Five: Chavez may have been a failure, but it didn't matter, because his regime was forever. Demonstration after demonstration, in numbers so huge they were called 'avalanchas' each year brought newfound hope for being able to get rid of the detested failure of a regime. But to this day, every effort has been for nothing. Nothing has ever changed, and with heavy Cuban influence invited in by the Chavista government, to the point of talk of a national merger, the country had effectively become a satellite of Cuba, the first instance probably in the world of a country willingly colonizing itself to a weaker, manifestly failed smaller power -- with an amazingly tyrannical government it wanted to imitate.

Few imagined back in 1999 that it would soon become impossible to get rid of this regime through democratic measures. Venezuela's opposition has carried forward honorably and diligently, always holding the candle of democracy, yet like us, never being willing to engage in a Contra-style war such as was seen in less-developed Nicaragua against the Marxist Sandinistas in the 1980s. It seems an impossibility. Yet Venezuela was no longer was a democracy. The opposition was undercut by the fact that everyone out there still recognized Venezuela as a democracy, which the regime wore as a skin suit to wave at anyone protesting their dictatorship. They went through the motions, as all communist regimes do. Chavez died in 2013, but his regime has continued for another ten years under the mediocre Molotov-like Nicolas Maduro and will continue for another ten, and another ten, unmoved by its failures the way Cuba does. In a dictatorship, economic failures don't matter, all that matters is holding power and never letting go.

Does that hold lessons for us? In the era of Joe Biden, eerily so. The international left, and the left in the U.S. has long admired the Chavez model under the rubric of helping the people, but that Chavez model is Cuba in a more developed form. The handouts are long gone and the people are now fleeing. Will that same model be replicated here?

Suddenly, Venezuela's history looks pretty relevant.

Image: Twitter screen shot
There are three possibilities: (1) Joe Bidens handlers are bought and paid for by the Iranians. (2) Theyre incredibly stupid (3) They hate America. On second thought, there are four: all of the above.

Benjamin Weingarten explains:

Given the Biden administrations treacherous agenda to date, ask yourself: Is the president more likely to legitimately punish Iran or take half-hearted cosmetic actions against its proxies while throwing the Jewish state to the wolves? Also ask yourself this: How do any of the Biden administrations actions serve Americas interest  let alone do justice to those who lost their lives at the hands of Iran in Israel, Jordan and across the world over the 45 years the mullocracy has reigned?

Graphic: Twitter (X) screenshot

Fact: Iran declared war on America in 1979 and has been prosecuting it since, killing thousands of Americans and taking many hostage.

At PJ Media, Matt Margolis provides background and a horrifying, but hardly surprising, development:

Last week, three American troops were killed in an Iranian-backed drone strike in Jordan. It was a damning indictment of Joe Bidens record of appeasing Iran, which dates back to his time as vice president. Biden has been talking tough with Iran for many, many weeks, and Iran has repeatedly proven that it is not deterred by his words. But the moment troops were killed, Biden was suddenly under pressure to respond with more than just idle threats. And he did promise a response. And then promptly broadcast those plans to Iran.

How could an American president do anything to protect one of our most vicious, determined enemies?

Sources within the administration leaked the details of potential moves by the administration to Politico. "Within the administration, top aides are trying to thread a needle, Jonathan Lemire and Alexander Ward of Politico reported Monday night. "Biden is ordering his advisers to present a range of U.S. response options that would forcefully deter other attacks while also not further inflaming a smoldering region, according to two officials granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly about private deliberations." How could any sane person imagine they could deter crazed Islamists without arousing their ire or provoking an armed response? They couldnt, but the Mummified Meat Puppet Administration (MMPA) isnt about deterrence. Theyre about retaining political power during an election year. Theyre about appearance over reality.

According to the report, "Among the options on the table for the Pentagon: striking Iranian personnel in Syria or Iraq or Iranian naval assets in the Persian Gulf, according to the officials. The Iranian government, for its part, has suggested that a strike on Iran itself would be a red line. The officials suggested that, once the president gave the go-ahead, the retaliation would likely begin in the next couple of days and come in waves against a range of targets."

No, America certainly cant strike at Iran, the director and sponsor of the deaths of Americans. So, to keep from angering the death cult lunatics that have been killing Americans since 1979, the MMPA acted boldly in the only way they know how to act:

The administration subsequently leaked which targets had been approved. The only thing Biden didn't do was ask the Iranian mullahs for permission to drop a few bombsthough perhaps they did and were wise enough to keep that under wraps.

The horror of it is that an American presidentactually, his handlerswould do that isnt at all hard to believe. It would only be a logical extension of the status quo, their standard operating procedure.

It was clear that despite Biden's public front about retaliation, his administration was never serious about retaliating or creating an effective deterrenceotherwise, they wouldn't have broadcast to the world what the potential targets were. [skip] According to Fox News' chief national security correspondent at the Pentagon, Jennifer Griffin, IRGC commanders in the target areas have left and gone into hiding.

In other words, when the token bombs fell on token targets, the Iranians and their terrorist proxies, forewarned, werent around. At Powerline, Scott Johnson notes:

Graphic: screenshot

The White House posted a statement in the name of President Biden. The statement is posted here. It vowed further strikes at times and places of our choosing. They let us know all week that it was coming. We can infer that the Biden administration believes in telegraphing its punches. Marc Thiessen poses a rhetorical question: How stupid do you have to be to announce you will strike two days in advance and where[?] Its smart if you want to minimize the damage done (or to be done).

How stupid, or how compromised? Unnecessarily putting our troops in harms way and refusing to protect them, or allow them to protect themselves, just might have something to do with our current military recruiting crisis. At least some of our diminishing number of pilots are getting some extra flight time.

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.
For 250 years, education in America meant reading, writing, and arithmetic, along with peripheral subjects such as the Bible (in early America), history, civics, and science. During those years, with a mostly literate, numerate population, we were a stunningly successful nation. Now, in leftist-controlled school districts across America, reading, writing, and arithmetic have been supplanted entirely by leftist values, such as LGBTQ+ ideology, racism, and antisemitism. Its Maoism, with ideology supplanting reason. Two items on the internet today highlight the difference.

On the Maoist front, the Daily Mail reports that an elementary school in Hayward, California, part of the San Francisco Bay Area, using federal taxpayer funds, has shifted its entire focus from education to indoctrination. The outcome for the children is tragic:

A Bay Area Elementary School has spent $250,000 on a Woke Kindergarten program only to see its students literacy and numeracy rates plunge. The Woke Kindergarten program states its mission as an abolitionist early learning ecosystem that trains teachers to uproot white supremacy, disrupt racism and oppression which are barriers to learning. After spending the federal money on the program Glassbrook Elementary in Hayward saw numeracy among its 474 students fall to a new low of just 4 percent and literacy just 12 percent. The scores, recorded last Spring two years into Woke Kindergartens three-year contract, represent a 4 percentage decline in each category. The school also remains on the states lowest-performing level on the Comprehensive School Improvement list and has a lower rate of attendance than before the program was introduced.

If you go to the linked article, youll see that the program focused on such hard-left topics as defunding Israel to rebuild Palestine, abolishing the police, and supporting so-called transgenderism. In addition, a third-grade teacher has been encouraging kids to disrupt whiteness and to imagine Americas and Israels annihilation. The same system seemingly lacked the energy to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Image by AI.

There could be no more damning indictment of leftism in education than a system in which 88% of the students are illiterate, and 96% are innumerate.

But I misspeak. Its a damning indictment if you think education is meant to produce people who can read, write, and do basic math, all of which are skills that are necessary for survival in a post-Stone Age worldnot to mention the fact that the better you can do those skills, the more likely you are to rise up from poverty and achieve success in the world.

However, what if, for the educators in charge of the Hayward program, teaching functional skillsets isnt the goal? What if the goal is exactly what it seems to be; namely, to produce mindless robots who will be foot soldiers for the new revolution? These are the human drones who will carry out orders, whether its to vote for a far-left politician, act as mules for faked ballots, riot in the streets, or kill police and politicians.

If the latter is what education means to you, whats happening in Hayward is stunningly successful.

So, what should education look like? Well, an elegant example appeared on Twitter. In it, a thoughtful teacher, with true grace and courtesy, teaches an open-minded young man how to look at the claim that J.K. Rowling is bigoted and transphobic:

This is utterly brilliant. A student accuses @jk_rowling of being transphobic. This teacher skilfully dissects the claim and challenges it by asking questions.



He teaches not what to think, but how to think critically.



Watch until the end.

You see the epiphany in real-time. pic.twitter.com/x00gWdOugc  Lee Harris (@addicted2newz) February 3, 2024

As I watched the video, I had at my side two people who live in the overlap between being the youngest millennials and the oldest Gen Zers. They were completely charmed by the video and by the young mans epiphany at the end. Admittedly, theyre both someone conservative, but each felt that showing this to more leftist friends would be a helpful way to justify their continued support for J.K. Rowling. In other words, the teachers approach speaks to their demographic.

We live in strange times. The only consolation is that the world that leftists have created American schools cannot surviveas evidenced by the fact that the Hayward schools attendance declined once it went so woke. Parents ultimately want whats best for their children. They will not tolerate indefinitely schools that teach their children not how to read the Harry Potter books but, instead, to hate J.K. Rowling
In Montana, Child Protective Services took custody of a teenage girl because her parents refused to comply with a hospitals determination to re-gender her. In New York, the court refused a fathers efforts to stop his sons mother from giving their child life-altering feminizing hormones. In Texas, a father fought the courts unsuccessfully for years to save his son from being chemically castrated. How is this happening? Well, one of the ways is to redefine what constitutes child abuse. Legislatures are openly trying to do this redefinition, while other branches of government, less accountable than the legislature, are flexing their muscles to do the same.

At least since the mid-19th century in America, the concept of child abuse has had a generally understood meaning. If youd ask the person on the street what the term meant, people would have said such things as beating, sexually abusing, or starving a child. There were fights around the margins (e.g., is spanking a form of beating or an acceptable type of discipline?), but people generally understood that child abuse meant ignoring or destroying a childs physical integrity, inflicting pain, or putting the childs life at risk.

Thats why, for decades, theres been little argument about child abuse laws. We know it when we see it, and those parents and guardians who violate the norms deserve criminal consequences for their actions.

But what happens when the left gets Orwellian control of the language? What happens when it redefines entirely what constitutes child abuse? Thats what were seeing with the push to force mutilating surgeries and dangerous hormone treatments on ever younger children, all in the name of so-called gender-affirming care.

Image: Californias pushing back against redefining child abuse. YouTube screen grab (cropped).

In some cases, the effort to redefine what constitutes child abuse is taking place in the open. For example, California recently passed a law that a parent who, during a custody battle, does not support his childs supposed transition to the opposite sex (as if that were possible) has committed a form of child abuse that justifies his losing custody. The only reason the law failed was that Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has an eye on the White House, vetoed it lest it harm the so-called transgender community. The important point is that Democrats in California are openly redefining child abuse.

The Maine legislature currently has before it a bill that does exactly the same: A court can take emergency jurisdiction of a child if one of the parents in a divorce does not recognize the childs allegedly newfound gender.

At least these states are acting through elected representatives who are theoretically accountable to voters. Whats more insidious is when the medical community, Child Protective Services, or the judicial system, none of which are directly answerable to voters, do the same. (In some regions, judges are elected but, for the most part, judges have very little connection to voters.)

In the Montana case, the parents lost custody of a teenage daughter who has a history of mental illness when Child Protective Services snatched her and hospitalized her, and the hospital insisted that her new identity as a boy had to be recognized. When the parents refused to do so, CPS put the child in a care home in Wyoming and then transferred her to her mother, who lives in Canada, a nation that has gone absolutely insane with gender madness. It took a father years to appeal successfully a jail sentence in British Columbia for the crime of misgendering his daughter.

Meanwhile, in Texas, Jeff Younger unsuccessfully battled for years to keep his ex-wife and her gender-obsessed child therapist pal from turning one of his sons into a girl. When Texas lawmakers started paying attention to what the courts were doing, the mother de-camped to California. There, anything goes when it comes to slicing and dicing childrens bodies and filling them with dangerous hormones that sterilize them, bring about cancer and heart disease, destroy their bones, and change the childrens fundamental natures. Heck, even the New York Times just published an opinion piece about the physical and mental dangers to children from these procedures.

Most recently, New York family court judges denied a father the right to prevent his wife from putting his 8-year-old son on hormones that will allegedly, and magically, change the boy into a girl.

As you may have noticed, there are three constants in these cases. Each case involves a divorce scenario with an ugly custody battle. In addition, one will almost invariably find either girls who have long histories of mental illness or mothers who insist that their sons are, in fact, daughters.

Regarding the latter, back in 1991, when such studies were still allowed in academia, the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry discovered that when they looked at the mothers of boys with what was still properly called gender identity disorder, 53% of these mothers had Borderline Personality Disorder. Fifty-three percent! (Disclaimer: I have no way of knowing whether the mothers involved in the cases Ive cited above have any psychological problems and am not saying that they do.)

Once child abuse meant that a sane society protected children from insane peoplethat is, people who thought it was okay to destroy a childs body and spirit. Now, the insane people are defining what constitutes child abuse and, when legislatures cannot make it happen, relatively unaccountable organizations, such as the courts, hospitals, or alleged child protective agencies, are doing the redefinitions themselves.
One of Nikki Haleys biggest funders is Reid Hoffman, an ardent Democrat. In New Hampshire, only 30% of her votes came from Republicans. The Republican base dislikes her, so shes trying to win the Republican nomination by appealing to Democrats. Nothing could more clearly show that than her cringy appearance on yesterdays Saturday Night Live.

The premise is that Nikki Haley, a concerned South Carolina voter, appears at a CNN Trump town hall, asking why Trump wont debate Nikki Haley:

I see dead people. Thats exactly what voters will think if this race is between Trump and Biden in the fall.



Had a blast tonight on SNL! Know it was past Donalds bedtime so looking forward to the stream of unhinged tweets in the a.m. pic.twitter.com/W43LlPOoi2  Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) February 4, 2024

Regarding the video itself, there are a few comments:

One: Its viciously anti-Trump

Two: The leftist audience is thrilled by Nikki Haley

Three: The shtick in which Haley participated plays the woman card, which is one of the most noxious things about Nikki.

Four: Nikki subtly endorses the E. Jean Carroll verdict.

Five: Its not funny. Theres no wit or cleverness, and there are no surprises. All that the woke sketch writers could crank out was Trump bashing and Nikki worship. This isnt humor; this is state-sponsored comedy attempting to move an election to the states preferred candidate.

Its clear to see where Nikki is going with her Democrat-funded, Democrat-supported campaign: Thanks to the pernicious open primaries in effect in almost half of America, her plan is to win the Republican nomination not by appealing to conservatives but by getting Democrats to vote for her. She then assumes that those same people will vote for her in the general election, elevating her to the presidency.

What Nikki doesnt knowbut the Democrats supporting her do knowis that in the general election, if the choice is between a Democrat and a squish Republican, the Democrat will win. The Democrats who supported her in the primaries were just gaming the system, so theyll vote for Biden (or Harris or Michelle or Gavin Newsom).

Just as importantly, conservatives will stay home. Sure, theyll mean to vote or mail in their ballots because anything is better than Biden. But then theyll look at a woman who is a warmonger and a cultural panderer, and, consciously or subconsciously, theyll think, Why bother? The effect will be that their votes go uncast. In a divided nation, you dont win by standing for nothing.

Nikki Haleys tweet about her SNL appearance implies that Trump and Biden are cut from the same cloth: Theyre both retreads of the past who bring nothing to the presidential race. In fact, though, it would be a Nikki versus Biden race that would truly make it a choice between two people cut from the same cloth: Both Biden and Nikki want the presidency and will do anything, including abandoning any principles they may once have espoused or still purport to support, in their pursuit of that Gold Ring.

Image: X screen grab.
Its been a while since Ive thought about an election in El Salvador. Nevertheless, the voters in that small Central American nation are poised to return their president in a landslide. Yes, they love the guy who beat the gangs in El Salvador and made the country safe for grandmothers to walk peacefully to the neighborhood bodegas.

This is his amazing story:

El Salvador goes to the polls on Sunday to choose a president. Public opinion surveys indicate there will be a landslide victory for Nayib Bukele, the 42-year-old incumbent who has jokingly called himself the worlds coolest dictator. Hes known for his leather jackets, social media savvy and stunning offensive against the countrys gangs.

Interesting, but Ive never heard anyone from El Salvador call him a dictator. They do like his cool look and his public image. Again, no one has called him a dictator or anything negative in my presence. Instead, they praise his work in bringing law and order to a country in turmoil for a long time.

As the article points, he dazzles his countrymen talking about bitcoin or hosting the Miss Universe pageant, and for the mega-prison holding 40,000 gang members.

His decision to go after the gangs, and the support it has among Salvadorans, confirms that the president understands who the victims are. In other words, the gangs victims are the poor, and especially the women who live in villages. The rich can take care of themselves, but the poor cant hire guards or have trained dogs protecting their homes. President Bukele understands that, and that is why he will be re-elected in huge numbers.

So what can the cool president with a lovely wife teach us or other Latin American countries? I would say that the lesson of El Salvador is that people want safe streets and dont mind it when the leader smacks the lawless gangs.

I guess Id be casting my vote for President Bukele if I lived in El Salvador.

PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

Image: Nayib Bukele (left). Public domain.
By Kim Hyun-bin

Lee Nak-yon, the former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), and a splinter group of former and current DPK lawmakers jointly established a new political entity known as the New Future Party, Sunday, ahead of the April 10 general elections.

Lee, also a former prime minister under the Moon Jae-in administration, quit the DPK last month and launched the Future Reform Party. Reps. Kim Jong-min, Cho Eung-cheon and Lee Won-wook also bolted from the DPK to form the Grand Future Coalition.

According to the party, Lee Nak-yon and Kim will co-chair the party.

I will change politics first. I will implement competent and clean responsible politics. I will practice politics without privileges. I will realize a law-based system without sacredness. I will cleanse the old politics and open a new future with fresh politics. I will replace the DPK, which has fallen into the swamp of corruption and immorality, Lee Nak-yon said.

Kim said, I will definitely achieve a politics of national consensus that gathers the strength of the people, instead of divisive politics that splits the nation. I will revive livelihoods, preserve the future and uphold democracy. I will become a platform that embraces the diverse dreams and futures of citizens. We will stand tall as a leading party of the times."

However, Cho and Lee Won-wook decided not to join the new party, unhappy about the type of merger, with Lee Nak-yon party's absorbing their own party.

"We will not participate in the party merger today for the sake of broader unity," Rep. Lee and Rep. Cho said in a statement.

Symbolically, the party has chosen Prussian blue, which symbolizes unity and the vast sea, and light green, which represents the dynamism of life and nature, as its colors.

The party constitution, consisting of nine chapters and 92 articles, is grounded in the party laws. Key provisions include a group leadership structure, protection of minorities, strengthening the independence and judicial functions of the Central Party Ethics Tribunal and other measures to enhance democratic practices within the party.

In outlining its principles and policies, the New Future Party emphasized a continuation of Kim Dae-jung's inclusive and centrist reform spirit and Roh Moo-hyun's democratic political ideals. Specific policy objectives center on a middle-class political perspective, including the creation of a developed welfare state, and proactive responses to challenges such as the low birthrate and aging population.

With the establishment of party branches in North Gyeongsang Province, Busan, Gwangju, North Jeolla Province, Gyeonggi Province, North Chungcheong Province, Gangwon Province, Incheon and Seoul, the New Future Party aims to present a united front. The party founding ceremony, held at the National Assembly building, marked the beginning of their preparations for the upcoming general elections in April.

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the Reformist Party, Rep. Yang Hyang-ja, the floor leader of the Reformist Party and Keum Tae-sup, a former DPK lawmaker and co-head of a preparatory committee for the New Choice Party, attended the launch event along with 18 regional party chairpersons of New Future Party.
The Bear star Ayo Edebiri took a dig at Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley as the politician made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live.

The rival to Donald Trump appeared on the US sketch show during a town hall sketch, in which she asked Trump, played by James Austin Johnson, her own question.

She asked: Why wont you debate Nikki Haley?, referring to the former presidents refusal to participate in presidential debates ahead of the 2024 election.

Johnsons Trump responded: Oh my God. Its her, the woman who was in charge of security on January 6. Its Nancy Pelosi.

Haley, a former ambassador to the UN, responded: Are you doing OK, Donald? You might need a mental competency test.

Johnson, as Trump replied: You know what, I did. I took the test and I aced it, OK. Perfect score.

They said Im 100% mental and, you know, Im competent because Im a man.

Thats why a woman should never run our economy. Women are terrible with money.

Edebiri, who has won a string of awards for her turn as an up-and-coming chef on The Bear, was the guest host of the show and popped up at the end of the sketch to direct a pointed question at Haley.

She said: I was just curious  what would you say was the main cause of the Civil War? And do you think it starts with an S and ends with a -lavery?

Haley replied: Yep, I probably should have said that the first time.

The question was a reference to an incident in December last year when a voter at a town hall in New Hampshire asked Haley what was the cause of the Civil War.

At the time, she responded: I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run, the freedoms and what people could and couldnt do.

Her answer sparked immediate backlash for her failure to mention slavery.

Trump currently holds a large lead over Haley in her home state of South Carolina.

He is also leading President Joe Biden in a number of key states.

Last month Trump won the New Hampshire primary, bolstering the likelihood of a rematch later this year against President Biden.

Haley is the last major challenger in the race to be the Republican candidate after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ended his presidential bid.
Lord Cameron has defended proposing that the UK looks at recognising a Palestinian state after the suggestion faced backlash from Conservatives.

The Foreign Secretary told a Conservative Middle East Council reception in Westminster this week that formal recognition could help end the Israel-Hamas conflict and make a two-state solution in the Middle East irreversible.

Senior Tories, however, rallied against the idea in the Commons, with former cabinet minister Theresa Villiers saying bringing forward the recognition of a Palestinian state would reward Hamas atrocities.

Sir Michael Ellis, a former attorney general, said the move could risk equipping dangerous actors with the trimmings and capabilities of a state.

But Lord Cameron said the move was designed to show the Palestinian people there was a better future.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, the former prime minister said his comments had been about preparing a Palestinian authority to have a technically able government ready in Gaza and the West Bank from day one of any peace deal.

We need to start setting out the political horizon, the senior Tory peer told the newspaper.

We are trying to separate the Palestinian people from the terrorists that have been running their government in Gaza and the way to do that is to say there is a better future if you choose it.

You have got to make the peace process better than the return-to-war process.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who leads a right-wing government, does not support Palestinian statehood.

He stated in a press conference last month that he opposes US calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state when the conflict comes to an end.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is opposed to recognition of a Palestinian state after the conflict with Hamas has ended (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

His stance  repeated by Tzipi Hotovely, the Israeli ambassador to the UK  have been criticised by Western allies, including by Lord Cameron, who called them disappointing.

Lord Cameron said Mr Netanyahus push backs should not prevent allies from working on the details of how a Palestinian state could operate in practical terms, in order to create some unstoppable momentum towards a two-state agreement.

I think if you look at Israeli politics at the moment, I think there is an enormous pressure for a pause in the fighting because people are so rightly concerned about the hostages, he continued.

While Bibi (Netanyahu) will tell you all the things he doesnt want a Palestinian state to be, if you turn the question around and say, well, OK, I hear that, but what could a Palestinian state be? Lets work on that bit of the picture.

That, I think, is the way to make some progress. You have to deal with what is in front of you.

Lord Cameron, who visited Lebanon on Thursday to see first-hand how the UK is working with the country to train Lebanese border regiments, said he thought there was a reasonable chance of securing a pause in the fighting between Hamas and Tel Aviv  a break that he believes can be turned into (a) ceasefire.

Hamas raids on southern Israel on October 7, in which about 1,300 people were killed and more than 240 kidnapped, sparked a renewed conflict in the Middle East.

Israel has retaliated with months of attacks on the Gaza Strip, killing and wounding thousands.

On Saturday, thousands of people took to the streets of London and Edinburgh to show support for Gaza and demand an immediate ceasefire.
How the Clapham alkali attack and manhunt for suspect Abdul Ezedi has unfolded

The suspect in the south London alkali attack is on the run and the police manhunt for him is in its sixth day.

Abdul Ezedi, 35, who has significant injuries to the right side of his face, was last seen near Southwark Bridge on Wednesday, more than two hours after the attack in Clapham, south London.

Heres a timeline of how events have unfolded so far:

 Wednesday

 00.15am

Ezedis vehicle is seen in Newcastle, where he had been living.

 6.30am

His vehicle is seen travelling into Tooting, south London.

 4.30pm

A further sighing of his car is confirmed in Croydon.

 7pm

He is then seen driving in Streatham.

 7.25pm

The attack takes place in Lessar Avenue, on a 31-year-old woman, believed to be known to Ezedi, who was with her daughters, aged three and eight. Ezedi is not the father of the children.

Ezedi allegedly throws the younger child to the ground, and makes off in his car which crashes into a stationary vehicle nearby. He then runs off.

Police Commander Jon Savell giving an update to the media (PA Video)

The Metropolitan Police were called to the scene, with 12 people, including five officers, injured.

 7.33pm

Ezedi boards a train at Clapham South Tube station.

 7.59pm

He leaves that train at Kings Cross Tube station.

 8.42pm

He is seen on CCTV leaving Tesco at 21 Caledonian Road. He exits and turns right. He has significant injuries and is believed to have bought a bottle of water.

Ezedi was seen in a Tesco Express shop (Metropolitan Police/PA)

 9pm

Ezedi enters Kings Cross Tube station and boards a Victoria Line Tube southbound.

-9.10pm

Ezedi arrives at Victoria Station and then boards a District Line Tube eastbound at 9.16pm.

 9.33pm

He is seen leaving Tower Hill Underground Station.

 9.50pm

He is caught on CCTV near Southwark Bridge in the last recorded sighting of him.

 Thursday

 About 9.30am

Scotland Yard says the 31-year-old woman and three-year-old girl have potentially life-changing injuries.

 1.35pm

Ezedis identity is disclosed and people are warned to stay away from him.

The Met said they are working with Northumbria Police as the wanted man may be trying to return to the North East.

The public have been warned to stay away from Ezedi (Metropolitan Police/PA)

 4pm

There was a heightened police presence on Caledonian Road, as unmarked cars with blue sirens could be seen and police vehicles drove around the area.

 6pm

The image of Ezedi buying a bottle of water is released.

 Overnight Thursday to Friday

Police carry out five search warrants, at two addresses in east London and three in Newcastle.

 Friday

 3.36pm

Police hold a press conference, giving a timeline of Ezedis movements, an update on the condition of the mother and her daughters and issuing new images of Ezedi at Kings Cross underground station.

Commander Jon Savell makes a direct appeal to Ezedi to hand himself into police, so he can get the urgent medical treatment he needs.

An empty container with corrosive warnings on the label (Met Police)

 Saturday

 4.55pm

Police release footage of empty containers with corrosive warnings being found in a raid on an address in Newcastle.

Tests are continuing to find out if the substance is the one used in the Clapham attack.

They also say they have received dozens of calls about the manhunt, including possible sightings, as they renewed their appeal for the publics help catching him.

 Sunday

 12.20pm

Police say a reward of up to 20,000 is on offer to anyone who can provide information leading to Ezedis arrest.

Detectives also confirm analysis of the substance shows it is a very strong concentrated corrosive substance, either liquid sodium hydroxide or liquid sodium carbonate.

The Met also releases CCTV video footage of Ezedi in the Tesco on Caledonian Road, where he is seen buying what appears to be water in the self-service checkout before leaving the shop.

 Monday

Officers arrest a 22-year-old man on suspicion of assisting an offender. He is later released on bail.

Police say the mother may lose the sight in her right eye, and the most recent sighting of Ezedi was at about 9.50pm on Wednesday near Southwark Bridge, although there is no suggestion he jumped into the Thames.

They tracked his movements around the Tube network using his bank card, but it has not been used since Wednesday.
A manhunt for alkali attack suspect Abdul Ezedi is continuing as police renewed their appeal for the publics in help finding him.

Detectives have urged the 35-year-old from the Newcastle area  who is described as having very significant injuries to the right side of his face  to hand himself in after going on the run following Wednesdays attack in Clapham, south London.

A 31-year-old mother, believed to be known to Ezedi, was attacked with a corrosive alkaline substance and remains very poorly and sedated in hospital, with her injuries thought to be life-changing.

The injuries to her daughters, aged three and eight, are not likely to be life-changing.

The wanted man was last seen at Kings Cross underground station on Wednesday night, where he boarded a southbound Victoria line train.

Significant and important pieces of evidence were recovered in raids at two addresses in east London and three in Newcastle, police said.

They include empty containers with corrosive warnings found at one address in Newcastle, which are shown in new footage released by detectives.

Forensic tests to see if the containers held the substance used in the attack are ongoing.

An empty container with corrosive warnings on the label recovered at an address in Newcastle (Metropolitan Police/PA)

The Metropolitan Police said it has received dozens of calls about the manhunt, including possible sightings of Ezedi.

The force also said it is working round the clock with British Transport Police, Northumbria Police, the National Crime Agency and Transport for London on the manhunt.

Commander Jon Savell said: The police investigation to establish his subsequent movements and ultimately locate him is continuing at pace.

I want to thank everyone who has contacted police to share what they know.

We have received dozens of calls with information, including possible sightings, and every single piece of information has been recorded and forms part of our ongoing investigation.

I can assure the public that my colleagues and I are fully committed to using every available tool and tactic for as long as it takes to find Abdul Ezedi.

I am today urging the public to remain vigilant and to contact police immediately if they may have seen Ezedi or have information about him.

I would also like to reiterate that if you see Ezedi, you should call 999 immediately. He should not be approached.

Questions remain over how the suspect, who was granted asylum in the UK after two failed attempts, was able to stay in the country despite being convicted of a sex offence.

Ezedi, who is thought to have arrived in the UK from Afghanistan on the back of a lorry in 2016, claimed to have converted to Christianity, which would have put him at risk following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he was handed a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court on January 9 2018 after pleading guilty to one charge of sexual assault and one of exposure.

He was put on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Prime Minster Rishi Sunaks spokesman said on Friday that the PM does not think foreign criminals should be able to stay in the UK.

It has been reported that the suspect was able to gain asylum after claiming he had converted to Christianity.

The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle said in a statement it had found nothing to suggest he had become a Catholic but checks were continuing.

It said: Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with the victims of this appalling attack in south London.

The diocese confirmed that Ezedi visited our diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project, a charitable venture which assists a wide range of people who come to us in need.

It added: After checking local parish records and central records and after consulting with clergy we have no indication that Abdul Ezedi was received into the Catholic faith in this diocese or that a Catholic priest of this diocese gave him a reference.

We do not know which Christian church received him nor which Christian minister gave him a reference.

The project says on its website that it gives food, toiletries and clothes to vulnerable people.

It does not get involved with any asylum claims clients may be pursuing, it is understood.

(PA Graphics)

The PA news agency understands that Ezedi visited it recently.

The Church of England said it is currently not aware of any links to its churches, with a spokesperson adding that it is the role of the Home Office, and not the church, to vet asylum seekers and judge the merits of their individual cases.

The case has echoes of that of Iraqi-born Emad Al Swealmeen, 32, who died from a blast and subsequent fire after his homemade bomb detonated in a taxi outside Liverpool Womens Hospital.

He also claimed to be a Christian convert to support his asylum claim.

At a press conference on Friday, Mr Savell urged the suspect to hand himself in.

He said: Abdul, you clearly have got some very significant injuries.

A CCTV image of Abdul Ezedi at Kings Cross Tube station (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Weve seen the images. You need some medical help, so do the right thing and hand yourself in.

His brother Hassan Ezedi told The Sun newspaper he would hand the suspect in if he knew where he was.

The wanted man left Newcastle in the very, very early hours of Wednesday and travelled south to the capital and was in the Tooting area by around 6.30am, police say.

His vehicle was seen again in Croydon, south London, at around 4.30pm and by around 7pm he was in Streatham.

Ezedi allegedly threw the younger child to the ground during the attack at 7.25pm, before attempting to drive away from the scene, crashing into a stationary vehicle and fleeing on foot.

Minutes later he boarded a tube at Clapham South Underground station, and by 8pm he was at Kings Cross tube station.

At 8.42pm, Ezedi was captured on CCTV in Tesco on the Caledonian Road, pictured with a fairly significant facial injury buying a bottle of water, before leaving and heading right.

He got on a Victoria line Tube at 9pm heading south, the last confirmed sighting.

Police say three members of the public who came to the aid of the family during Wednesdays attack, two in their 30s and one in her 50s, have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns.

Police at the scene of an incident near Clapham Common, south London on Wednesday night (PA)

Five officers who responded to the incident were also treated and have now left hospital.

As well as the 11 people taken to hospital, a man in his 50s, who also helped, declined hospital treatment for minor injuries, police said.
The departure of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to lead the largest Nato exercise since the Cold War has been cancelled at the last minute after an issue with a propeller shaft was spotted during final checks.

The setback comes 18 months after sister ship HMS Prince of Wales broke down off the Isle of Wight after it sailed for the US having suffered a malfunction with a coupling on its starboard propeller.

It will now be readied to take the place of the 3 billion fleet flagship on the major exercises which will involve more than 40 vessels.

Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Andrew Burns said: Routine pre-sailing checks yesterday identified an issue with a coupling on HMS Queen Elizabeths starboard propeller shaft. As such, the ship will not sail on Sunday.

HMS Prince of Wales will take her place on Nato duties and will set sail for Exercise Steadfast Defender as soon as possible.

HMS Prince of Wales broke down as it was heading to a diplomatic mission to carry out exercises with the US Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and the US Marine Corps.

The carrier came to a halt off the Isle of Wight and was brought under tow back into harbour for the problem to be identified.

Inspections by divers and engineers found the Nato flagships 33-ton starboard propeller  the same weight as 30 Ford Fiesta cars  had malfunctioned, with a coupling holding it in place breaking.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the issue on HMS Queen Elizabeth was separate and not linked to the earlier defect on its sister ship.

He said: The issue identified is with the ships shaft couplings. The ships propeller shafts are too big to be made from a single piece of metal, so each shaft is made from three sections, which are connected using shaft couplings, which bind the shaft sections together.

HMS Prince of Wales (top right) berths alongside aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth as it arrives at Portsmouth naval base (Jonathan Brady/PA)

HMS Prince of Wales was taken to the Babcock shipyard where it was built in Rosyth, Fife, to undergo repairs to a propeller shaft, which took nine months to complete.

On that occasion, HMS Queen Elizabeth acted as the replacement for its sister ship on the US deployment.

Having HMS Queen Elizabeth out of action could affect the ability of the Royal Navy to deploy an aircraft carrier to the Red Sea amid the continuing threat by Iran-backed Houthi rebels which armed forces minister James Heappey has suggested was being considered.

HMS Prince of Wales will now take over the lead of Exercise Steadfast Defender, which will take place of Norways Arctic coast in March.

HMS Prince of Wales returns to Portsmouth naval base after breaking down off the Isle of Wight (Ben Mitchell/PA)

Its sister ship had been set to lead a carrier strike of eight ships  four of them British, including frigate HMS Somerset and two Tide-class tankers from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary  supported by US, Spanish and Danish vessels.

It was to be joined by its F-35B Lightning stealth fighters from 617 Dambusters Squadron at RAF Marham, submarine hunting and airborne early warning Merlin Mk2 helicopters from RNAS Culdrose, and battlefield Wildcat helicopters of 847 Naval Air Squadron from RNAS Yeovilton.

Announcing the carriers sailing, Commodore James Blackmore, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group, said: Steadfast Defender demonstrates the unity of the alliance, our commitment to it  and that the UK continues to play a leading role in Nato.

The exercise allows us to train with our neighbours in a truly challenging environment, especially at this time of year  but that is why we have to operate up there; the weather cannot put us off.

Before heading to the Arctic, the Carrier Strike Group was due to take part in the annual Joint Warrior exercise off northern Scotland before joining Exercise Nordic Response  the maritime part of Steadfast Defender.
The UK joined the US for a third time in conducting a wave of airstrikes on Houthi targets in a bid to prevent further attacks on international shipping along a major trade route.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said the fresh assaults were not an escalation, but instead were designed to protect innocent lives and preserve freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s were supported by Voyager tankers during the joint mission on Saturday with Washington, as they targeted locations in Yemen used by the Houthis, an Iran-backed militant group.

More than 30 sites across 13 locations were hit by coalition forces, according to a joint statement by the eight nations involved.

The Houthis have repeatedly launched attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and elsewhere off the Yemen coast, claiming it is targeting Israeli or Israel-destined ships in protest over the war with Hamas in Gaza.

However, they have frequently targeted ships with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, endangering shipping on a key global trade route used for accessing the Suez Canal.

As a result of the clashes in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al Mandab Strait, vessels have had to be redirected around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, a journey that takes longer and is more costly.

It is feared the disruption could increase inflation and push up the price of goods in shops.

The combined strikes follow an air assault by the US in Iraq and Syria on Friday that targeted other Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for the drone strike that killed three American troops in Jordan last weekend.

During Saturdays attacks, RAF Typhoons used precision guided bombs against several military targets at three locations, the MoD said.

According to the Whitehall department, allied intelligence had calculated some of the stations were being used to launch drone attacks and to spy on cargo ships and Western warships.

The ministry said the night time raids were designed to ensure minimal risk of civilian casualties.

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s were used in Saturdays air strikes on Houthi targets (AS1 Leah Jones/MoD/Crown Copyright)

Mr Shapps said: The Houthis attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea are illegal and unacceptable and it is our duty to protect innocent lives and preserve freedom of navigation.

That is why the Royal Air Force engaged in a third wave of proportionate and targeted strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen.

We acted alongside our US allies, with the support of many international partners, in self-defence and in accordance with international law.

This is not an escalation. We have already successfully targeted launchers and storage sites involved in Houthi attacks, and I am confident that our latest strikes have further degraded the Houthis capabilities.

USCENTCOM Destroys Six Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles in Yemen On Feb. 3, at approximately 7:20 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces conducted strikes in self-defense against six Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea. U.S. forces pic.twitter.com/W9BVxiYedU  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 3, 2024

A joint statement on the strikes from the UK, US, Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand said it was an additional round of proportionate and necessary strikes against 36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen.

It said the assault was in response to a series of illegal, dangerous, and destabilising Houthi actions since previous coalition strikes on January 11 and 22.

Todays strike specifically targeted sites associated with the Houthis deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defence systems, and radars, they said in the statement.

The Houthis now more than 30 attacks on commercial vessels and naval vessels since mid-November constitute an international challenge.

The coalition reiterated its warning to Houthi leadership, saying we will not hesitate to continue to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the worlds most critical waterways.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has vowed to hold Iran to account for the actions of its proxy groups, such as the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The Conservative peer told The Sunday Times: I have met with the Iranian foreign minister and had a very robust conversation where I said that these proxies are your proxies, you cannot disclaim your responsibility for them.

Of course you can claim they have a certain amount of independence but you created them, you backed them, you financed them, you provided them with weapons, and you will ultimately be held accountable for what they do.

He defended the UK resisting proscribing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terror organisation, insisting the move was not required by police or other security authorities to sanction and prosecute the military might of the Tehran regime.

Lord Cameron said it was better to be able to deliver a very direct message to the Iranians in person rather than rely on allies to issue rebukes.
Time for Stormont to deliver for people in Northern Ireland  Sunak

Stormonts focus should be now be on delivering for families and businesses across Northern Ireland, after powersharing was restored, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said.

Beginning a visit to Northern Ireland to mark the return of devolved government, Mr Sunak said a 3.3 billion funding package for the region would lead to sustainable public services.

The institutions were restored after a deal between Mr Sunaks government and the DUP to allay unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

On Thursday the Government fast-tracked two pieces of legislation contained in the agreement through the House of Commons, opening the way for Saturdays return of the Assembly.

Rishi Sunak will meet Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly on Monday (NI Executive/PA)

The Prime Minister will be at Stormont on Monday, where he will meet Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly, the leaders of the new executive.

Irish premier Leo Varadkar will also be at Stormont for a series of meetings.

Sinn Feins Ms ONeill made history on Saturday when she became Northern Irelands first nationalist First Minister, as the Assembly returned after two years in cold storage.

Mr Sunak will carry out a number of community engagements during his visit, meeting people involved in public services.

On Sunday he visited the headquarters of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland in Co Antrim.

The Prime Minister said: It is great to be back in Northern Ireland this evening, a special part of our United Kingdom.

In the last few days we have made significant progress towards a brighter future for people here.

Yesterday the Assembly sat for the first time in two years. Tomorrow the Executive will meet.

Tonight I have been meeting with volunteers and the crew at the Air Ambulance.

It is people and services like this, and many more, that the Executive can now focus on, delivering for families and businesses across Northern Ireland.

And with the new deal that we have agreed, they will have both the funding and the powers to do exactly that.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the headquarters of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland in Co Antrim (Carrie Davenport/PA)

Stormont parties have indicated that they will press Mr Sunak for more funding to alleviate the pressure on public services in Northern Ireland.

But the Prime Minister said the offer from the UK Government represents a generous and fair settlement.

He added: And crucially, it is sustainable.

It is about ensuring public finances in Northern Ireland are sustainable for the long term. That approach we have taken, I think, will really benefit everyone here.

And now that we have got the Executive back up and running, it is right that people have their local politicians focusing on their priorities, starting with public services.

There has not been devolved government up and running here for far too long. But now we do have it and they can start focusing on delivering for everyone.

Mr Sunak was asked about comments by Ms ONeill predicting there could be a border poll on Irish unity within the next decade.

He said: Obviously, everyone is committed to the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.

But I think everyone also agrees that now is the time to focus on delivering on the day-to-day issues that matter to people, to families, to businesses in Northern Ireland.

It has been without a devolved government here for two years. It is time to focus on things like public services. That is what everyone would expect.

In fact everyone I was talking to this evening was telling me that that is exactly what they want from their government now that it is up and running again.

Our deal ensures that the Executive will have the powers and the funding it needs to deliver for people.

The new Executive will hold its first meeting on Monday.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will carry out a number of community engagements (Carrie Davenport/PA)

Ms ONeill told the PA news agency that it will need to begin work immediately on tackling public sector funding challenges.

She said: I am determined to do our very best.

This place has been starved of public services funding for over a decade because of the Tories in London, we can do much better than that.

Thats a fight I think we have to fight together and I think theres a combined effort across the Executive to have a proper funding model for here so we actually can do better public services and invest in the public sector workers.
CHARLESTON, S.C.  President Joe Biden easily won the South Carolina Democratic primary Saturday, notching his first victory in his largely unobstructed path to become the Democratic nominee in a possible rematch against Donald Trump in the fall.

Biden's decisive win, which was called almost immediately after polls closed, was not a surprise given his lack of a formidable challenger. But it was an important milestone nonetheless, setting Biden on course to win the nomination as he looks to unite the entire party around his candidacy.

Biden won a whopping 96.2% of the vote, followed by author Marianne Williamson, 2.1%; and Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., 1.7%.

Here are 3 key takeaways from the night.

Despite Democratic angst, Biden is headed for the nomination

Biden quashed any doubts whether he will be the Democratic nominee with his dominant win in South Carolina  despite facing repeated questions about his ability to rally the base.

For the past year, polls have shown that most Democratic voters would prefer someone other than Biden as their party's standard-bearer in 2024.

But Biden's overwhelming victory in South Carolina  the first state to vote in the new Democratic primary calendar  proved that the longshot candidacies of Phillips and Williamson are not serious threats.

President Joe Biden, left, waits to speak as first lady Jill Biden looks on at the Biden campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Del., Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.

Biden, 81, still faces concerns within his party about his age and ability to fire up young voters, progressives and other core constituencies. Yet despite his flaws as a candidate, a viable Democratic challenger never emerged last year, and Biden is cruising toward the nomination.

Pam Joy, a Black 62-year-old waitress from Charleston, sat out of the Saturday's primary but said she plans to vote for Biden in November despite her concerns about his age because she usually votes for Democrats.

With the outcome in South Carolina never in doubt, Biden spent Saturday traveling to Los Angeles to attend a fundraiser for his campaign. He called into a South Carolina Democratic watch party to address supporters via speakerphone.

"The stakes in this election could not be higher," Biden said in a statement after his win, warning of "extreme and dangerous voices at work in the country  led by Donald Trump."

The Biden campaign had already pivoted to a likely rematch against Trump after the former president's victory in the New Hampshire Republican Primary. Next up in the Democratic primary is Nevada, which votes Tuesday.

While South Carolina gave Biden an opportunity to test his message with Black voters, who dominate the Democratic electorate in the state, Nevada offers a similar opportunity with Latino voters. Nevada, unlike heavily Republican South Carolina, is also a critical battleground state in the general election.

Black Voters Matter co-founder Cliff Albright speaks with college students after an instructional session on canvassing techniques in North Charleston, S.C., on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024.

A big night for Black voters

Saturday's primary marked South Carolina Democrats' first since the Democratic National Committee upended its primary calendar to scrap Iowa and New Hampshire as the first and second states to vote to begin with the Palmetto State.

The party's rationale: Even though South Carolina isn't in play in the general election, its large Black population showcases Democrats' most reliable and important constituency, letting them set the course for the nomination process.

Voter turnout Saturday, not surprisingly, decreased dramatically from the highly competitive, open Democratic primary of 2020, which Biden also won. Turnout among Democrats Saturday was only about 24% of the 2020 turnout.

But Michael Tyler, communications director for the Biden campaign, said Black voters made up approximately 76% of the early vote in South Carolina this year, compared with 56% in 2020.

Betty Managault, 82, a retired nursing assistant who is Black, said she voted for Biden because he was a godly man. She said there was no doubt in her mind that Biden would win the primary but felt it was important for her to vote.

My ancestors, they died for me to get this right to vote, she said, as she sat at a table selling sweet grass baskets shed made.

President Joe Biden waits to speak at the Biden campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Del., Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.

South Carolina  with a boost from the state's most prominent Democrat, Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C.  famously saved Biden's candidacy in 2020 after his initial losses in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

"Now in 2024, the people of South Carolina have spoken again," Biden said in a statement after his win Saturday, "and I have no doubt that you have set us on the path to winning the presidency again  and making Donald Trump a loser  again."

Ahead of the general election, Biden has work to do to ensure Black voters support him at the same level they did in 2020. A USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll last month found Biden has support of just 63% of Black voters, a sharp decline from the 87% he carried in 2020.

If Black support continues to lag, it could be devastating to Biden's chances in the fall.

What's next for Biden's challengers?

It's quite clear now: Williamson, the self-help author, and Phillips, a congressman from Minnesota, pose no threat to Biden, raising questions about how long they plan to stay in the race.

Biden has ignored both and not suffered any consequences as a result.

Their brutal performances in South Carolina came after Biden won the New Hampshire primary overwhelmingly last month even though his name did not appear on the ballot. Biden won as a write-in candidate after Phillips hinged his campaign on claiming a symbolic New Hampshire win in Biden's absence.

Back-to-back blowout losses for Phillips, who upset many in the party when he launched a late primary challenge in October, beg the question whether it is time to bow out.

Phillips, though, said he is pressing on even as it appeared he will finish third behind Williamson.

"Cracking four digits never felt so good!" Phillips said on the social media site X, formerly Twitter. "Congratulations, Mr. President, on a good old fashioned whooping. See you in Michigan."

Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Dean Phillips at the First in the Nation Dinner and Celebration in Columbia, S.C. Saturday, Jan 27, 2024.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 3 takeaways from President Joe Biden's win in South Carolina
It may be the most famous cake in the South.

Southern Living

Have you heard the tale of one of the Souths most unique cakesthe Lane Cake?

If youve never had the honor of tasting a towering slice, heres what youre missing: Although there are many variations by a bevy of talented bakers, most Lane Cakes consist of three layers of white cake sandwiched with custard and fruit, doused with a generous glug of bourbon, and slathered in fluffy white frosting.

Our most recent rendition of Lane Cake (shown below) features a filling made from dried peaches and pecans, with a boiled frosting spiked with peach schnapps. Traditional? Maybe not. Delicious? You bet!

Hector Sanchez

Lane Cake was the brainchild of Emma Rylander Lane of Clayton, Alabama, who entered her creation in a baking competition at the county fair in Columbus, Georgia, more than 100 years ago. She named her recipe "Prize Cake." The judges took note and awarded her first place.

Rylanders recipe for Prize Cake appeared in a book she published in 1898, Some Good Things To Eat. Rylanders version called for raisins and a "boiled frosting." Another Alabamian, author Harper Lee, immortalized the Lane Cake in her 1960 masterpiece To Kill A Mockingbird, when her main character, Scout, referred to a neighbors Lane Cake as "so loaded with shinny it made me tight."

Shortly after that book shot through the stratosphere of popularity, we published our first recipe for Lane Cake in Southern Livingin our second issue, in fact!

In true Ill put my own spin on it fashion, that cake was a "naked" cake (well ahead of its time!) and featured no frosting at alljust the fruity, nut-filled layers and plenty of bourbon. I think it looks pretty darn good for 1966! (See the original photo above.)

Southern Living

A few decades later, in 1983, we published another version of Lane Cake, this time with the frosting, and more in keeping with Emma Rylander's original recipe. In this photo from our archives, the topping of that cake looks a little like fruitcake, but the interior was a light and fluffy reader favorite.



This Lane Cake from 1999 is partying like its namesake year! As most of you know, we famously put a big white cake on the cover every year; Lane Cake was the perfect candidate. And if you can believe it, this recipe was made using a cake mix!

Lane Cake has a legion of fans all over the South, including former president Jimmy Carter! But it doesn't take a presidential declaration to make a cake delicioustry a bite for yourself and youll agree. Which one of these old-fashioned Lane Cakes is your favorite? Should we bring back one of these recipes from the past?

For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Southern Living.
By Choe Chong-dae

It has been about a century and a half since the Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce and Navigation was signed between the Joseon Kingdom of Korea and the United States on May 22, 1882. Accordingly, Korea dispatched its first ambassador, Park Jeong-yang, to the United States as part of the Korean Legation in Washington in 1887.

Subsequent to this, the inaugural wave of significant Korean immigration began on Jan. 13, 1903, with the arrival of a shipload of immigrants in Hawaii. These individuals, seeking opportunities, ventured to the United States to work on pineapple and sugar plantations, setting in motion a transformative journey that marked the genesis of a remarkable chapter within the history of Korean immigrants.

The courageous spirit of these Korean immigrants resonates through time, 121 years after this historic day. They embarked on a journey that harmoniously integrated their rich culture and vibrant heritage into the very fabric of the United States. Through their tenacious efforts, they have made lasting contributions that have remarkably influenced various aspects of American society.

Reflecting on this pivotal moment, it is essential to recognize the enduring legacy of those who took part in this historic immigration wave. Our ancestors tenacity and determination not only shaped their own destinies but also played a pivotal role in shaping the cultural landscape of the United States. Currently, the United States proudly stands as the home to one of the largest populations of Korean immigrants globally. The enduring devotion of these individuals to family, community and a collective purpose has played an instrumental role in advancing the U.S. toward a brighter and more inclusive future.

It is encouraging that Korean Americans have continued to contribute remarkably to diverse aspects of U.S. society, assuming a wide range of roles such as entrepreneurs, legal professionals, public servants, service members and politicians, among others. Their unwavering dedication to community and country exemplifies the best of the U.S. national character.

We honor the resilience of these Korean pioneers and celebrate the harmonious blending of cultures that has made the United States stronger and great. The integration of Korean culture into the American story stands as a testament to the shared pursuit of opportunities and the strength that arises from diversity.

In commemoration of the 19th celebration of Korean American Day, a significant milestone event, festivities unfolded on Jan. 13 at the Howard County Council within the George Howard Building in Ellicott City, Maryland, alongside various other locations. Notably, Howard County, home to one of the largest Korean emigrant populations, designates the entire week as Korean American Weekend.

Korean American Day, officially declared by the U.S. government in 2023, holds profound significance in recognizing the contributions and heritage of the Korean American community.

Thanks to the outstanding efforts of Park Sang-won, the first event of 2023 and the second event in 2024 were successfully held in Seoul.

The 2nd Republic of Korea (ROK) Korean American Day Celebration Convention convened on Jan. 24 at the Westin Josun Hotel in Seoul. Presided over by Park Sang-won, chairman of the World Korean Foundation and the Korean American Association of Brooklyn, New York, the convention featured representation from the Korea-America Association, led by Choi Joong-kyung. The event attracted numerous distinguished guests from the United States and Korea, including diplomats, government officials and officers from the U.S. Forces Korea, among them Major General Brian N. Wolford, commander of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea, serving as the assistant chief of staff for the USFK.

I fervently hope that these courageous Korean immigrants in the U.S. persist in contributing to the rich composition of heritage that has been intricately crafted into American contemporary history for over a century.

Choe Chong-dae (choecd@naver.com) is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and director of the Korean-Swedish Association.
A 13-year-old boy was arrested after he shot and killed a man on a bus in Denver, police said.

The Denver Police Department announced the arrest over the Jan. 27 incident on Friday. Police are not releasing the name of the suspect since he is a minor.

At this stage of the investigation, it appears there was verbal exchange between the suspect and victim about the victims leg blocking the aisle on the bus, and the suspect then shot the victim, police said in a news release.

Police said they responded to the shooting at around 6:40 p.m. and found a 60-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound on the bus at the intersection of South Federal Boulevard and West Mississippi Avenue.

The man was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Another person suffered a minor injury and was treated at the scene, police said .

"Through the extensive investigation, detectives identified the suspect to be a 13-year-old male who was taken into custody late Thursday afternoon," police said.

The minor is being held for investigation of first-degree murder, however, the final charges will be determined by the Denver District Attorneys Office, police said.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A boy was arrested in the fatal shooting of a man on a Denver bus
(Reuters) -Wildfires sweeping through central Chile have killed at least 99 people and hundreds are still missing, authorities said on Sunday, as President Gabriel Boric warned the country faces a "tragedy of very great magnitude".

Wildfires that began several days ago are menacing the outer edges of Vina del Mar and Valparaiso, two coastal cities popular with tourists. The urban sprawl of those cities accounts for more than a million residents west of the capital Santiago.

Drone footage filmed by Reuters in Vina del Mar area showed entire neighborhoods scorched, with residents rummaging through husks of burnt-out houses where corrugated iron roofs have collapsed. On the streets, singed cars littered the roads.

Chilean authorities have introduced a 9 p.m. curfew in the hardest-hit areas and sent in the military to help firefighters stem the spread of fires, while helicopters dumped water to try to douse the flames from the air.

Chile's Legal Medical Service, the state coroner, said 99 people have died in the fires, with 32 bodies identified.

Earlier in the day Boric, announcing two days of national mourning starting on Monday, said Chile should prepare itself for more bad news.

"It is Chile as a whole that suffers and mourns our dead," Boric said in a televised speech to the nation. "We are facing a tragedy of very great magnitude."

Hundreds of people also have been reported missing, authorities said. More than 1,000 homes have been damaged. Officials on Saturday said more than 90 fires were raging across Chile.

Although wildfires are not uncommon during the Southern Hemisphere's summer, the lethality of these blazes stands out, making them the country's worst national disaster since the 2010 earthquake in which about 500 people died.

Last year, on the back of a record heat wave, some 27 people died and more than 400,000 hectares (990,000 acres) of land were affected.

Boric has sought to channel funds to the hardest-hit areas, many of which are popular with tourists.

"We are together, all of us, fighting the emergency. The priority is to save lives," Boric said.

(Reporting by Diego Ore in Mexico City; Writing by Drazen Jorgic; Editing by Will Dunham and Lisa Shumaker)
"I'm gonna do it like Oprah."

Georgia State Law professor Mo Ivory has pulled off a few surprises during her teaching career - including end of the semester appearances by celebrities like Ludicris and Rick Ross.

But Ivorys latest surprise - roundtrip airfare for each of her 30 students to attend the Paris Olympics this summer - was, by design, her Oprah moment.

I never forgot [when Oprah gave away a car to a whole audience of people], Ivory said, So when this opportunity came up, I was like, Im gonna do it like Oprah.

The tickets to Paris were presented to Ivorys students taking her class Legal Life of The Olympics where students have been learning about the business and legal issues of the summer games.

Ivorys students are finding out what happens in a national governing body, like USA Track & Field, and how they interact with USOPC and IOC.

This Olympics-focused curriculum is the latest iteration of Ivorys Legal Life of series where she explores the legal lives of celebrities like Kandi Buriss, rappers Ludicris and Rick Ross that have all culminated with surprise appearances by the celebrities.

With no single person to bring in as a surprise guest to put a bow on a semester learning about the Olympics, Ivory was looking for another way to surprise her students.

I thought to myself, How amazing would it be if I could take them to the Olympics?

Getting there would be a big hurdle, so she made a call to a contact at Delta. They almost immediately said yes to her idea and the whole thing came together in 48 hours.

Ivory kept it a secret, however, as she handed out envelopes to the entire class telling them that only two envelopes contained boarding passes to Paris.

The reaction, which was caught on video by Atlanta News First, wasnt immediately like the Oprah car giveaway, Ivory remembered.

It was very quiet, she said with a laugh, Like they didnt really get it.

Once they realized what was happening, the students started jumping up and down and squealing.

Ivory said they are still sorting out the specifics for when theyre in Paris, but have plans to explore the Olympic Village, visit the Team USA House, attend the opening ceremonies and an NBC live broadcast as well as spend time at a Paris law school.

Its going to be amazing, Ivory said.

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Read the original article on Southern Living.
An escaped 17-year-old inmate who was being held on attempted murder charges in Louisiana was turned in by his parents and is now back in custody, bringing a three-day manhunt to an end, authorities said Sunday.

Kimmy Dauntain Jr., who is from Orleans Parish, escaped from the custody of state officials while on an escorted trip on Friday in Franklin, Louisiana, according to the St. Mary Parish Sheriffs Office.

The escapees parents turned him into Louisiana State Police custody Sunday morning, according to a news release from the Office of Juvenile Justice.

The teen was being held on charges of simple battery, illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile, attempted first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder (accessory after the fact), according to the sheriffs office.

The latest evasion of police custody comes after inmates in Pennsylvania and Arkansas briefly fled police custody in recent weeks before being captured.

Noah Roush, 22, and Jatonia Bryant, 23, were discovered missing 36 hours after their escape from the Dub Brassell Adult Detention Center in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on January 22, CNN previously reported.

Roush, who was being held on probable cause for residential burglary and theft of property and is also a homicide suspect, was captured three days after he and Bryant escaped the jail, according to the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office.

The capture of Bryant, who was being held on probable cause for capital murder, on January 29 concluded the dayslong manhunt that began as a result of failed head counts by the jail staff, authorities said.

Shane Pryor, a 17-year-old suspect in a 2020 killing who escaped from custody during a medical transport on January 24, was captured on a bus in Philadelphia four days later, according to Philadelphia police and the United States Marshals Service.

Pryor was being taken to a hospital for a hand injury when he escaped, police previously said.

An 18-year-old was arrested on January 26 for allegedly helping Pryor escape.

CNNs Christina Maxouris contributed to this report.

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Studio 8H at New York Citys Rockefeller Center may be as close as Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley is going to get to a debate venue for a bout with former President Donald Trump.

The former South Carolina governor, who pulled out of a scheduled Republican candidate debate in New Hampshire last month after it was clear Trump would not attend, appeared as herself in a CNN election-year town hall sketch during the Saturday Night Live cold open Saturday.

The appearance not only got Haley some face time with a version of the front-runner and her former boss when she was ambassador to the United Nations, it allowed her to correct perhaps her biggest flub on the campaign trail.

Host Ayo Edebiri of televisions The Bear appeared as an audience member during the fictitious town hall. She aimed a question at Haley:

I was just curious, what would you say was the main cause of the Civil War? she said. Um, and do you think it starts with an s and ends with a lavery?

Yep, I probably shouldve said that the first time, Haley said, moving on to the nights introductory honors: And live from New York, its Saturday Night!

At a Dec. 27 candidate town hall in New Hampshire, Haley was asked the same question but produced an answer devoid of the heart of the matter, saying it came down to the role of government.

At the SNL version of a town hall, Haley had the upper hand.

James Austin Johnson, left, as former President Donald Trump and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, right, on

Haley, who appeared in the audience as a concerned South Carolina voter, asked a question of James Austin Johnsons Trump, who was standing on the debate stage.

My question is, why wont you debate Nikki Haley? she said.

Johnson as Trump  who described South Carolina as one of the top two Carolinas  acted like he saw a ghost.

Oh, my God, its her, he said. Its her  the woman who was in charge of security on Jan. 6, Johnsons Trump said. Its Nancy Pelosi.

He echoed real-life remarks Trump made at a campaign rally in New Hampshire on Jan. 19, where Trump appeared to mistake Haley for the Democratic congresswoman from California and former House speaker.

Trump has accused Pelosi of trying to undermine him by using her influence to manipulate security and the police response on Jan. 6, 2021, when his supporters tried to violently thwart certification of the 2020 election.

Are you doing OK, Donald? Haley said during the sketch. You might need a mental competency test.

Johnsons Trump responded: I did. I took the test. And I aced it, OK? Perfect score. They said I was 100% mental.

He went on to suggest Haley wouldnt make for a good president because shes a woman. Women are terrible with money, he said.

In fact, a woman I know recently asked me for $83.3 million, he said, referring to last months jury decision that he must pay journalist E. Jean Carrol $83.3 million for defaming her.

Haley countered that he may be the one with money problems, given the sizable award. You need to borrow some money? she said.

Trump played word games with Haleys name, then said, Im always very nice to you except when Im implying you werent born in this country.

Then he said, Im going to beat you in your state.

Haley asked if Trump won his former home state of New York. (He lost). Johnsons Trump responded: I won Staten Island and the parts of Long Island where there are fistfights.

Haley later posted on X about the cameo: Know it was past Donalds bedtime so looking forward to the stream of unhinged tweets in the a.m.

Saturday Night Live airs on NBC, a division of NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC News.
ABOARD THE USS EISENHOWER, the Red Sea  One by one, more than two dozen aircraftNavy F/A-18 fighter jets, E/A18 Growler radar jammers, E2 Hawkeye reconnaissance planes as well helicopters and tankersroared off the deck of this aircraft carrier Saturday night to conduct joint U.S.-British attacks on Iranian-backed Houthis.

It was the second night in a row that aircraft from the Eisenhower have targeted Houthi militants in Yemen who are attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea. Earlier in the day, a nearby destroyer, the USS Gravely, fired Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Houthis.

Sailors on another nearby destroyer, the USS Mason, demonstrated the high-speed decision-making needed for them to shoot down incoming Houthi missiles before they strike cargo vessels or U.S. warships.

NBC News is currently the only news organization embedded with the U.S. Navy in the Red Sea while it is conducting strikes.

Adrenaline and morale appeared to be running high among crew members on both U.S. ships, despite the threat of incoming drones or ballistic missiles from the Houthis. As the Eisenhower, Mason and accompanying warships patrol the area, the weather is windy and warm, with a bright sun reflecting off the rippling water surrounding them.

U.S. Central Command said in a statement Saturday that U.S. and U.K. forces had conducted strikes against 36 Houthi targets at 13 locations in Yemen that included multiple underground storage facilities, command and control, missile systems, UAV storage and operations sites, radars, and helicopters.

Houthi militants based in Yemen have attacked roughly 30 cargo ships navigating the Red Sea since Nov. 19. An estimated 12% of global shipping passes through the strategic waterway daily.

Last month, Maersk and other shipping giants announced pauses in their operations in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, moves that added time and money to the delivery of goods by ship. If the Houthi attacks continue, they could fuel consumer price increases in the U.S. as the 2024 election approaches.

Houthi leaders dismissed the U.S. and U.K. strikes on Saturday and vowed to continue their Red Sea attacks until Israel ends its military operations in Gaza.

Our military operations against the Zionist entity will continue until the aggression against Gaza stops, Mohammed Al-Bukhaiti, a Houthi political leader, said. We will meet escalation with escalation, and victory comes only from God.

An F/A-18E Super Hornet launches from the flight deck aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. (MC3 Cameron Pinske / U.S. Navy file)

U.S. officials declined to comment on the effectiveness of Saturdays strikes in Yemen. On Friday, the carriers F/A-18 aircraft intercepted multiple drones that Houthi forces were preparing to launch, military officers told NBC News.

The Eisenhower, a vast, 1,000-foot, 100,000-ton Nimitz-class carrier, has a crew of roughly 5,000 and is like a city on the sea, with sprawling aircraft hangars, mess halls and sleeping areas. Launched in 1975, the carrier has circled the globe since then, deploying during the Iran hostage crisis, Operation Desert Storm and other conflicts and crises.

U.S. officials said that the strikes in Yemen conducted Saturday were separate from the reprisal airstrikes conducted by U.S. aircraft on Friday in Iraq and Syria after three U.S. troops were killed and dozens were injured on a U.S. outpost in Jordan.

Deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh vowed that the U.S. would continue its effort to degrade Houthi forces and safeguard shipping in the Red Sea. We are going to hold those groups accountable who are attacking our forces, she said on MSNBC. And of course, we are going to protect commercial shipping through that Red Sea area as well.

Experts in the region have warned that it is unlikely American airstrikes will be able to destroy all of the ballistic missiles and drones that Iran has supplied to Houthi forces in Yemen. With multiple locations where arms can be hidden in Yemen, including in deep, underground storage areas, U.S. forces are engaged in a cat-and-mouse game with the Houthis.

After the American jets returned safely to the Eisenhower on Saturday, it appeared that many more engagements with the Houthis lay ahead for the carrier and its crew.

Courtney Kube reported from the USS Eisenhower and Dan De Luce from Washington.
Editor's Note: This page is a summary of the California storm news for Sunday, Feb. 4. For the latest news on the storm please see our live updates file for Monday, Feb. 5.

SAN FRANCISCO  A fierce winter storm fueled by a raging atmospheric river was thrashing Californians on Sunday with intense downpours, leaving hundreds of thousands without power, flooding roadways and prompting a rare warning of hurricane-force winds.

Up to 37 million people, about 94% of the state's population, were at risk for life-threatening floods from the storm, Accuweather meteorologists warned. The atmospheric river  like a river in the sky  is the second to pound the state in recent days, but forecasters said this storm would be the season's most potent, particularly in Southern California.

The National Weather Service issued a rare hurricane-force wind warning for the Central Coast: Wind gusts up to 92 mph were possible from the Monterey Peninsula to the northern section of San Luis Obispo County.

San Francisco officials sent out alerts about flooded and blocked streets, fallen trees  including a large one that brought down power lines  and a hillside landslide. About 100 miles down the coast in Monterey County, the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament was postponed until Monday, when weather conditions don't look favorable either.

The storm was expected to head south and hit the Los Angeles area with downpours, flash floods, and high-elevation mountain snow Sunday afternoon into the evening, then to pound Orange County and San Diego on Monday and Tuesday. Los Angeles and Orange were among eight Southern California counties were Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency.

"All systems are go for one of the most dramatic weather days in recent memory," the National Weather Service said Sunday.

The first storm in the "Pineapple Express" soaked the state with 1-6 inches of rain Wednesday and Thursday. The new storm is laden with even more moisture, forecasters said, setting up dangerous and deadly conditions in already-saturated regions.

A wave hits a boat that washed ashore in Santa Barbara as a powerful atmospheric river, the second in less than a week, hit California on Feb. 4, 2024.

Latest developments:

 Winds exceeded 60 mph in some parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, with gusts above 80 mph in the mountains, strong enough to qualify for a Category 1 hurricane. Some areas received wind gust speeds of 98 mph and 102 mph.

 More than 856,00 homes and businesses were without power in California by 9:00 p.m. PST, the majority of them concentrated in coastal regions, according to poweroutage.us.

 Firefighters rescued a man stranded on an island in the Ventura River Sunday. The man was trapped with water rising around him, said Jeremy Henderson, a battalion chief with the Ventura City Fire Department. Someone reportedly heard the man screaming for help and called 911.

Local leaders warn residents to evacuate amid flood, mudslide risks

Evacuation warnings and orders were in effect for Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Ventura, and Monterey counties.

Classes were canceled Monday for schools across Santa Barbara County. The Santa Barbara Airport closed Sunday evening due to flooding on the airfield, it said on its website.

This storm is predicted to be one of the largest and most significant in our countys history and our goal is to get through it without any fatalities or any serious injuries, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath urged residents near wildfire burn areas of Topanga and Soledad canyons to follow orders and evacuate ahead of possible mudslides.

If you have not already left, please gather your family, your pets, your medications and leave immediately, Horvath said at a Sunday briefing. The county set up shelters where evacuees could spend the night.

In San Diego, Mayor Todd Gloria said during a news conference Sunday that the storm "has the potential to drop a significant and unusual amount of rainfall on San Diego." He added that the city could receive between 2 to 2.5 inches of rain from Sunday night to Tuesday, with some areas possibly getting half an inch of rain per hour.

Gloria noted that the storm would be the city's third rain event in two weeks and reissued an evacuation order for low-lying and flood-prone areas within the city.

Meanwhile, Orange County issued an evacuation warning for Silverado Canyon, Williams Canyon and Trabuco Canyons due to heavy rains, and encouraged residents in the area to evacuate, especially those with disabilities, access or functional needs, and with large animals.

Desert communities on high alert

While the heaviest rains in the low and high California desert are expected late Monday through Tuesday, the surrounding mountains will be hit earlier, with heavy rain likely beginning Sunday night, and heavy snows expected Monday night.

About a quarter- to a half-inch of rain is expected in the western part of the Coachella Valley on Monday and a total of 1 to 1.5 inches through Tuesday. The east valley is forecast to get three-quarters of an inch of rain.

Mount San Jacinto is expected to receive up to 3 feet of snow and San Gorgonio a little more. Chances of rain lessen across the Coachella Valley by Wednesday but intermittent showers could occur through the end of the week.

Southern California schools brace for severe weather

The weather service forecast up to 8 inches of rainfall across Southern Californias coastal and valley areas, with 14 inches possible in the foothills and mountains.

Flash flood warnings were issued for the majority of Los Angeles County, including downtown and where the Grammy Awards are being held along with the east area, according to the weather service in Los Angeles. The alerts are in effect until 12 a.m. on Tuesday.

By 5 p.m. Sunday, the weather service said up to 1 inch of rain had fallen. "Additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 5 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly," the weather service added.

In response to the dangerous conditions, some schools said Sunday that instruction would move to online classes.

"Out of an abundance of caution and with the safety of students, faculty and staff as its top priority, Cal State Fullerton will pivot to remote classes on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. Staff are encouraged to work remotely," the university said in a statement.

California State University Long Beach also said campus operations would be modified due to the severe weather, adding that "in-person classes may shift to online instruction or alternative assignments, where possible."

As of Sunday afternoon, the Los Angeles Unified School District said it was planning to open schools as usual Monday. The decision would be reevaluated at 6 a.m. Monday, said Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.

Torrential rain could lead to flooding and mudslides

Heavy rain was expected from the San Francisco Bay Area and the Central Coast through Southern California on Sunday into Monday, the NOAA Weather Prediction Center said. Rainfall of 2-5 inches and up to 6-10 inches in some spots was likely, the prediction center said. This will result in considerable flash, urban and small stream flooding with debris flows and mudslides, the prediction center said.

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles warned Sunday that heavy rain would be moving into the area: 3-6 inches was expected for the coasts and valleys and up to 6-12 inches in the mountains.

Due to the numerous mountains and hills, even just a few inches of rain can cause significant flooding, AccuWeather Senior Director of Forecasting Operations Dan DePodwin said. The greatest risk  is expected across the canyons and hills of Southern California, especially in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles counties.

Waves crash over a breakwater in Alameda, Calif., with the San Francisco skyline in the background on Feb. 4, 2024. High winds and heavy rainfall are impacting the region.

Storm's slow pace makes it more damaging

By lingering over large parts of California, the storm was drenching terrain that was already saturated from the atmospheric river-driven system that hit much of the state Wednesday and Thursday, increasing the chances of flooding.

The core of the low pressure system is very deep, and its moving very slowly and its very close to us,'' said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist at the National Weather Services Los Angeles-area office. "And thats why we have those very strong winds. And the slow nature of it is really giving us the highest rainfall totals and the flooding risk.

Heavy rain is expected in Southern California through Tuesday and there's a chance for showers through Friday, making mudslides and debris flows likely, forecasters say.

Even if the rain does start to let up on Monday morning, just the sheer amount of rain overnight will cause lingering flooding issues into the morning hours, Kittell said.

Three children in the eye of the storm 400-plus miles away

Doug and Pam Barry were among more than 100,000 Californians without power when an outage hit their Miraloma Park neighborhood in San Francisco on Sunday morning.

That was far from their biggest concern, though. Their two sons are attending college in Los Angeles and San Diego, respectively, and their daughter Jessica was visiting the youngest son in San Diego when the storm hit. Now shes hoping her plans to return Sunday to her home in Scottsdale, Arizona, dont get disrupted.

We have all three children in the eye of the storm in Southern California, Doug Barry said. We texted them yesterday to be careful with the approaching storm. We will get a good storm, but they will have it worse. Rarely do we share the same weather concerns with our children in California who are 400-plus miles away.

Will harsh weather keep stars from arriving at Grammys?

Those sporting stylish outfits and elaborate hairdos at the Grammy Awards need not fear the wet and windy weather Sunday in Los Angeles, despite the downpour of biblical proportions expected early in the evening.

The infamous L.A. traffic? That may be another story.

The traditional red-carpet walk is being held under a roof and tarp outside the Crypto.com Arena in Downtown L.A., where nearly 5 inches of rain are forecast through Tuesday. The National Weather Service's L.A. office is warning of a "DANGEROUS SYSTEM with major risks to life and property. Substantial flooding.''

That's bound to make traffic even more of a nightmare than usual, even for the stars. Last year, headliners such as Beyonce and Bad Bunny arrived late after getting caught in traffic, and it wasn't raining.

Though the heaviest rainfall is not expected until 6 p.m. local time, an hour after the Grammys begin, the forecast calls for moderate rain from noon on, in addition to 30-50 mph winds in Los Angeles County.

A man huddles under an umbrella as he walks a dog along the shoreline at Pacific Grove, Calif., on Feb. 2, 2024. California was bracing Feb. 4 for another brutal atmospheric river.

Heavy snow, powerful winds could lead to whiteout conditions

Heavy, wet snow was expected to spread across the Sierra Nevada on Sunday through Tuesday morning, with snowfall of 2-3 inches per hour, the prediction center said. Wind gusts of up to 60 mph could lead to whiteout conditions in the Southern California mountains, forecasters said.

Palisades Tahoe, a ski resort about 200 miles northeast of San Francisco, said it was anticipating the heaviest snowfall yet this season, with accumulations of 6 inches per hour for a total of up to two feet.

HEAVY RAINFALL IS STILL IN THE FORECAST! Rainfall amounts 3-6 inches are expected for coasts and valleys up to 6-12 inches in the mountains. @NWSWPC has a moderate to high risk of excessive rainfall in effect for most of the area. #LARain #CAwx pic.twitter.com/DqT7CjtPcK  NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 4, 2024

What is a Pineapple Express?

A Pineapple Express is the best-known nickname for an atmospheric river, which occurs when the source of the moisture is near Hawaii. When a Pineapple Express hits land in the western U.S. and Canada, it triggers heavy rain and snow. In California, it can lead to several inches of rain in a day.

Contributing: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY; Cheri Carlson, Ventura County Star; Kate Franco and Christopher Damien Palm Springs Desert Sun; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Significant flooding threat as atmospheric river bulldozes California
House Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday defended pushing a stand-alone bill to provide aid to Israel after the Senate struck a tentative immigration deal that it intends to vote on this week.

During an interview on NBC News Meet the Press, moderator Kristen Welker asked Johnson, R-La., whether he proposed the stand-alone Israel aid package, which he first announced in a Saturday letter to colleagues, to kill the compromise deal in the Senate.

No, weve made very clear what the requirements of the House were, and that is to solve the problem at the border, he said, adding that the House has been awaiting action from the Senate.

Johnson indicated that the House was not offered a briefing on the Senates tentative deal on immigration and Israel aid.

Were you offered a briefing on this compromise bill, and will you put it on the floor? Welker asked.

Well, when they began to do the negotiation, I suggested immediately after taking the gavel, I suggested to Senate leadership that the House should be involved  we should be in the room, he said. I wanted to send the chairmen of our committees of jurisdiction to be a part of that in the negotiation. And they said, No, no. Let let the Senate take care of it.

Welker pressed Johnson again, But were you offered a briefing?

No, I have not been, he said. No, Ive had individual senators call and give me tips and offered things that are going on in the room. But weve not been a part of that negotiation.

Welker went on to ask Johnson whether former President Donald Trump, who opposes the Senates immigration deal, played a role in his decision to advance a stand-alone Israel bill.

Youve said you speak to him frequently and that youve discussed this deal with him quote, at length. Is Donald Trump calling the shots here, Mr. Speaker? Welker asked.

Of course not, hes not calling those shots. I am calling the shots for the House, thats our responsibility, he said. And I have been saying this far longer than President Trump has.

After Johnson's appearance on NBC News' Meet the Press, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates argued that the speaker repeatedly made inherently contradictory claims on the program, citing his remarks about Trump's stance on the border deal.

Today Speaker Johnson continued to tie himself in knots to delay border security, delay crucial investments in the fight against fentanyl, and delay Border Patrol hiring  as a host of his House Republican colleagues openly state that they only oppose the bipartisan border deal because of former President Donald Trump, Bates said in a statement.

Johnson argued on the Sunday program that the stand-alone Israel bill was a necessary step in the absence of leadership from other corners of the government.

We cannot wait any longer. The House is willing to lead, and the reason we have to take care of this Israel situation right now is because the situation has escalated, he said, noting recent airstrikes by the U.S. targeting Iran-backed militant groups in retaliation for the killing of three American soldiers.

Bates argued that Johnson's comments about which branches of the federal government are taking action on Israel aid amounted to "inherently contradictory claims that President Biden already has the executive authorities necessary to secure the border, but that at the same time legislation is urgently required (the Speakers longtime position until this month)."

And prior to Johnsons appearance, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told Welker that the Biden administration viewed Johnson's letter announcing the standalone aid as a ploy.

We regard the ploy  and we see it as a ploy thats been put forward on the House side right now  as not being a serious effort to deal with the national security challenges America faces, he said Sunday on NBC News' Meet the Press.

Sullivan did not address Welkers question about whether President Joe Biden would sign a stand-alone Israel aid bill, but National Security Council spokesman John Kirby has previously indicated that Biden would not, saying in November, The president would veto an only-Israel bill. We  I think that weve made that clear.
A battle over illegal immigration between federal and state officials in Texas revolves around a disagreement over razor wire, but it has escalated into a standoff over who controls a section of the Texas-Mexico border.

The situation has become a broader political and cultural issue, with other states sending National Guard members and a convoy of trucks heading for the tiny town of Eagle Pass, Texas.

At issue: Texas is continuing to erect razor wire across a 29-mile stretch of the riverbank in Eagle Pass, despite opposition from the Biden administration and a January U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing federal officials to cut down the wire. The White House said after the ruling that the razor wire makes it dangerous for federal border agents to do their jobs, including to give aid to migrants.

Even after the high court ruling, Texas has barred U.S. Border Patrol from entering Shelby Park, a city-owned park near the Rio Grande where migrants had been entering by the thousands in recent years. The state continues to put up additional razor wire.

Meanwhile, migrants have continued making the treacherous crossings, but the park itself has seen a drop in crossings since December. Last summer, USA TODAY reported that razor wire was causing serious injuries  sometimes to children  including bruises, broken ankles and deep gashes that needed medical staples to close.

Here's what to know about the contentious fight over how to patrol the border, and the often tragic consequences.

Texas governor defies feds' efforts at border

The Texas National Guard is installing razor wire along the southern border despite the ruling, as part of Gov. Greg Abbott's efforts to prevent migrants from entering the U.S.

"This is not over. Texas' razor wire is an effective deterrent to the illegal crossings Biden encourages," Abbott said on social media on the day of the Supreme Court's ruling Jan. 22.

Abbott is backed by nearly all Republican state governors. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is the latest to send members of its National Guard to aid Texas. DeSantis said the state will soon send up to 1,000 members of its National Guard.

"The goal is to help Texas fortify this border, help them strengthen the barricades, help them add barriers, help them add the wire that they need to so that we can stop this invasion once and for all, DeSantis said Thursday. And the states have to band together.

UNEASE IN EAGLE PASS: As battle brews between Texas and U.S., tiny border city braces for its next conflict

What is the tension between US Border Patrol and Texas?

The standoff over control of the Texas-Mexico border has boiled down to the state, controlled by a Republican governor, vs. the federal government, with a Democrat in the White House. It's an unravelling of a long-held cooperation between the state's law enforcement and Border Patrol officials.

Immigration enforcement is typically a federal responsibility.

Abbott closed Shelby Park to the public in January in what city officials said was a surprise, putting it in the custody of the state.

Border Patrol had previously been using the park as an area to process migrants crossing the border via the Rio Grande. With the seizure, the park was closed off to federal agents as well, despite pleas from the federal government to enter.

On Friday, no migrants were seen at the park while Texas National Guard members installed additional razor wire.

"It is unconscionable for a public official, to deliberately refuse to communicate, coordinate, collaborate with other public officials in the service of our nations interests, and to refuse to do so with the hope of creating disorder for others," U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told the Associated Press.

In an aerial view, Texas law enforcement's staging ground for military equipment and National Guard soldiers is seen at Shelby Park on Jan. 26, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas.

Clash raises legal, constitutional questions

After Abbott seized control of the park, the Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision voted to allow federal agents to remove the razor wire in a major victory for the Biden administration.

In court papers, the administration had argued the wire prevents Border Patrol agents from reaching migrants as they cross the river and that federal immigration law supersede Texas' own efforts to slow a flow of migrants into the country.

"Texas political stunts, like placing razor wire near the border, simply make it harder and more dangerous for frontline personnel to do their jobs," said Angelo Fernandez Hernandez, a spokesman for the White House.

'INFLECTION POINT': Gov. Ron DeSantis sends Florida National, State Guard to Texas

But Abbott said after the ruling that the state has a right to secure its border, and criticized President Joe Biden for lax enforcement of immigration laws.

"I will continue to defend Texas' constitutional authority to secure the border and prevent the Biden Admin from destroying our property," Abbott said.

The next moves for the courts or the U.S. Department of Justice are uncertain, but meanwhile, Biden has vowed to take immediate action to "shut down" the border with Mexico if Congress approves a proposal under negotiation in the Senate, and urged lawmakers to pass a bipartisan bill "if they're serious about the border crisis."

Standoff draws attention to the human toll of border policies

A Mexican woman and her two children died trying to cross the Rio Grande last month near Shelby Park. Mexican officials alerted U.S. Border Patrol that the three migrants drowned earlier, but two other migrants, another mother and son, were in distress on the U.S. side of the river. Border Patrol agents requested access to the area to find the two, but were denied. Texas officials said personnel didnt see the two in distress, and Mexican officials ended up rescuing the mother and son, who had symptoms of hypothermia.

The three deaths, and scores of documented injuries while crossing through razor wire, draw attention to the human toll faced by migrants as they continue across the border. In July, USA TODAY spoke with a family whose 5-year-old was snagged by razor wife, causing a 2-inch gash in his calf that had to be stapled shut. The family was processed and released by Border Patrol agents to await a court date.

Alicia Garcia, a resident of Eagle Pass who told the Associated Press she usually avoids Shelby Park, questioned the value of Abbott's deterrence efforts  which include not only razor wire, but a floating buoy barrier  because many asylum-seekers are released by U.S. authorities until court.

Whats with the show? Garcia said. "Better to just break everything down if they are still crossing.

A Border Patrol vehicle exits Shelby Park on Jan. 26, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered the Texas National Guard to defy a Supreme Court ruling allowing federal Border Patrol agents complete access into the area.

Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas, Joey Garrison, Julia Gomez and Rick Jervis, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US-Mexico border controversy is now a standoff in Eagle Pass, Texas
Steps needed to ease mental distress, overwork problems

Two lives were lost in a fire at a meat processing factory in Mungyeong City, North Gyeongsang Province, on Feb. 1. Security camera footage showed that two firefighters, Kim Soo-kwang and Park Soo-hoon, headed to the third floor of the building after arriving on the scene, while several other firefighters were extinguishing flames outside. Soon after, a big explosion occurred on the third floor and flames quickly spread across the entire building.

Park, 35, and Kim, 27, were later found dead. According to the police, about 180 18-liter containers of vegetable oil were located on the third floor and the flammable materials ignited on exposure to flames.

Their deaths have led the public to ponder the precarious circumstances firefighters deal with when fighting fires. Due to various hazards, they risk their lives while extinguishing flames and rescuing people from danger. Death is always so close that their lives can be taken away at any moment.

Many firefighters are grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and other work-related diseases. In an August 2021 survey of 1,117 firefighters conducted by Seoul Shinmun, a local newspaper, 16.6 percent of respondents reported having experienced symptoms of PTSD.

Shin Dong-kook, 44, who worked as a firefighter for 14 years, shared how tough living as a firefighter is on an MBN show aired in March 2022. Like many other firefighters, he said he experienced PTSD, depression and sleep deprivation. He said he has had various harrowing experiences when responding to a fire or other disaster: he has seen numerous dead bodies, multiple burned corpses and a person who had been crushed to death by heavy machinery.

Rescue firefighters are often forced to rush into accident sites without being equipped with devices such as thermal imaging cameras or radios, which are essential for detecting people and fire points in engulfing smoke and flames. Firefighters should be provided with the essential equipment to be able to first protect themselves. Education should also be carried out to enhance the capabilities of commanding officers and secure the safety of the firefighters themselves.

Mental and physical exhaustion are other problems most firefighters face. They work more than 240 hours per month on average, 34 hours more than a typical salaried employee who works eight hours per day, five days a week.

Firefighters work unforgiving monthly shifts. For example, in the first week, a firefighter works five weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. In the second and third weeks, the same firefighter works 15 hours each weekday on a night shift from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. the next morning. During the weekend in between, they work 24 hours from 9 a.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday.

They usually work without much time for proper rest. Such a difficult work schedule invariably impacts their overall health negatively. Overwork causes stress, which negatively affects sleep. This in turn affects their concentration and impairs judgment.

In addition to extinguishing flames, their other key mission is saving the lives of those in danger. This job requires them to maintain focus and make sound judgments at work. As long as they work long hours without sufficient rest, its tough to stay focused on their mission.

Understaffed firehouses are the result of budget shortages. In a speech at the funerals of the two firefighters held on Saturday in a North Gyeongsang Province government building, Governor Lee Cheol-woo vowed to do his utmost to improve the working conditions of all firefighters and to not forget the sacrifices of the two heroes. Lee needs to keep his promise.

Policymakers and lawmakers need to come up with necessary measures to help hard-working firefighters find time to rest and make them feel that their work is rewarding. The Yoon Suk Yeol administration and the major political parties should take necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies.

About 1,000 people, including bereaved families, fellow firefighters and politicians, attended their funerals and bade their tearful farewells to the fallen heroes. Rest in peace.
Nitish Kumar's Political Odyssey: From 'Sushasan Babu' to the Chair's Captive"

Devi Lal, the avuncular, rustic but politically astute Tauji of Haryana politics, and former Deputy Prime Minister of India, is once believed to have made a wry comment: If a dog bites a politician, he can take 14 injections, and will be cured. But if the kursi bites him, there is no cure.

This comment was directed at the then Aya Ram, Gaya Ram politics of Haryana. But it is directly applicable to what is happening now in Bihar, where opportunist politics have touched a new low. Bihar is an ideological wasteland where nothing matters except political power at any cost. There are no principles, no loyalties, no ethics and no morality. Alas, chief minister Nitish Kumar is at the epicentre of this sorry state of affairs.

The truth is that Nitish Kumar has been fatally bitten by his love for the chair. I write this with sadness, even anguish. I was Indias ambassador in Bhutan, when I resigned from the Indian Foreign Service in 2012 to join him. He had then, as the chief minister of Bihar, a different aura about him. He was called Sushasan Babu, and widely respected for the radical changes he had brought in Bihar after the lawless rule of Lalu Prasad Yadav. Crime was relentlessly suppressed, good governance was in evidence, and he was a symbol of hope, not only for Biharis, but a potential candidate for the highest position in national politics.

I was personally impressed by his personal integrity, his courage of conviction, his fealty to principles and his administrative acumen. He was well educated, and an intellectual. In fact, in our very first meeting, when he came to Bhutan on an official visit and I received him, in the hour-long journey from Paro where the airport is, to the capital Thimphu, he discussed with me four of my books, which was so unlike other politicians.

On his part, he accorded me great respect. On the day I joined him in January 2013, he made me adviser to the CM, with Cabinet rank, and later sent me to the Rajya Sabha.

I have, therefore, reasons to be grateful to him, and have refrained for long from publicly saying anything against him, even after I and Prashant Kishor were expelled from the JD(U) in 2019 for our opposition to the CAA hyphenated with the NRC. But since 2017, his political image has declined so precipitously, and his flip-flops between the RJD and the BJP so frequent, that I am compelled to say that he is now not even a shadow of the Nitish Kumar I had joined and greatly respected.

Today, his party is in tatters. From being the single largest party in Bihar in 2010 with 115 seats to the BJPs 91, and garnering 20 seats in the 2009 parliamentary election against only 12 to the BJP, it has now been reduced in the 2020 Assembly elections to 43 seats, the smallest by a long margin in comparison with the other two parties, the BJP and the RJD. Unfortunately, his popularity is also at its lowest, with people derisively calling him Kursi Kumar or Paltu Ram. He has become a rootless transactional accessory to either the BJP or the RJD, neither of which have respect for him, but only see him as a transient utility. In fact, although the BJP has succeeded in breaking the already unstable Opposition gathbandhan, it may not have done itself a favour by making him chief minister again in the new alliance formed last month, when he switched from the RJD to the BJP yet again.

I have often wondered what made Nitish commit this relentless political suicide. His personal standing was still very high when he was trounced in the 2014 national election by the Narendra Modi wave, winning only two of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. It was a huge setback, but people respected him for standing up to his principles. He took moral responsibility for the poor showing of the party, and resigned, making Jitan Ram Manjhi the chief minister. He rebounded back in the 2015 Assembly elections, with a stunning victory in alliance with the RJD, and became chief minister again.

It is quite possible that tensions between him and the RJD had surfaced during their rule in Bihar, but if only at that time he had the courage to say that he would resign and go to the people rather than compromise with corruption or communalism, he would still be today Bihars tallest statesman. But, instead, after having bitterly criticised Narendra

Modi, and publicly sworn never to go back to the BJP, and proclaiming that his aim was to rid the country of the RSS, he did a sudden volte face and rejoined the BJP, deeply eroding his political credibility. The subsequent rupture with the BJP, and the alliance with the RJD, and then, again, a break with the RJD to join hands with the BJP, even at a time when he was priding himself as being one of the principal architects of the Oppositions INDIA alliance and hosting its first meeting in June 2023 in Patna, only further reinforced public perception of his ideological bankruptcy and love for the CMs chair.

While this kind of sordid politics goes on in Patna, the people of Bihar continue to suffer. In the over 30 years of Nitish-Lalu rule, Bihar is exactly where it was 30 years ago, the poorest state in India, with a per capita income close to one-fourth of the national average, ranking the lowest in almost in every indicator of human development, and facing unemployment of a kind that there is hardly any ordinary home where men have not left the state to find employment elsewhere, often in the most pitiable circumstances.

Bihar, once the cradle of civilisation, and the seat of the first great empire in our history, and known for its moulik soch, or power of original thought, with names such as Chanakya, Buddha, Mahavir, Jayaprakash Narayan and Dr Rajendra Prasad, is today, because of its unscrupulous politicians, seen as the laughing stock of the country.

It is an extremely sad decline, and although I still wish him well, Nitish Kumars legacy has played an important part in this.
Political outcomes seem increasingly detached from economic realities, raising concerns among citizens

The Union Budget by Nirmala Sitharaman raises questions about the government's focus on the distant future and past, neglecting present issues like unemployment. The "K-shaped" growth, where the rich benefit while the poor struggle, continues, with subsidies favoring non-risk-taking businesses. (Image: PTI)

Much has been made of how a fiscally prudent Nirmala Sitharaman, the Union finance minister, has resisted populism and has not used the Union Budget that she presented last Thursday to win the next general election. Any political assessment of budgetary strategy would show that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not expect his finance minister to help him win the next election. That task has been handed over to Lord Ram and other gods.

Moreover, Prime Minister Modi's strategy has been and continues to be one of focusing on the distant future and the distant past rather than on this fiscal or the next. All will be well in Amrit Kaal. The mantra is quite simple. India had a golden past and will have a golden future. Dont worry about the present.

Finance ministers normally worry about the present. If Ms Sitharaman did so she would have had something to say about employment. Even as Mr Modi and Ms Sitharaman were seeking praise for India being the worlds fastest growing large economy, which is quite frankly a minimum qualification for a country that hopes to catch up with China, scores of young men were eagerly and desperately queuing up in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana for employment in Israel.

Having banished the Palestinian labourers from construction sites across Israel, the Zionist government of Benjamin Netanyahu is desperately looking for imported labour. However, the problem for Mr Netanyahu is that he will not employ the labour that is readily available from his neighbourhood. The reason is very simple. The Zionist Mr Netanyahu does not wish to allow any Muslim worker from any of his Islamic neighbours to enter his country. So, what better than to reach out to his friend Narendra Modi, who has been facing the problem of inadequate employment growth, to send Hindu labourers across. The fact that hundreds of young Hindu men from the two BJP-ruled states are willing to go to a conflict-ridden zone shows their desperation. It is therefore not surprising that the state of unemployment in India doesnt figure in Ms Sitharamans optimistic survey of the economy. Of what use is India being the worlds fastest growing economy when the unemployment rates are so high?

When asked why they were willing to risk death by going to Israel, a labourer told a journalist that it was a choice between dying of hunger in India or risking death due to war in Israel. Similar replies were given in Gujarat by persons who tried to illegally cross into the US and were apprehended en route and sent back home.

The nature of the Indian growth performance has been widely referred to as K-shaped, with the rich doing well for themselves and the poor left to their own devices. That, in many ways, sums up the five years of Ms Sitharamans tenure in North Block. Even if we attribute the K-shape to the Covid-19 pandemic, over the Modi decade as a whole employment has remained a challenge.

The Budget numbers have already been scrutinised in detail in the media and many have complimented Ms Sitharaman for ensuring fiscal discipline and not resorting to populism. Two points are in order in this context. First, the government continues to provide subsidies to Indian business in the name of Atma Nirbharata and Make In India. But all the crores that have been pocketed by Indian business in the name of production-linked incentives (PLI scheme) have not been converted into employment. Hence, the PLI subsidy is a subsidy for the non-risk-taking businessmen. The government has also increased the fertiliser subsidy while at the same time not increasing adequately MGNREGA funding. There are several other such biases in government spending that are bound to accentuate the K-shaped recovery.

In my previous column in this newspaper, I had complimented Ms Sitharaman for stepping up public investment. She had hoped that it would crowd-in private investment. In her Budget speech this year she has indicated that she would taper off public investment in the hope that private investment would henceforth sustain the growth process. But then, the increase in public investment over the past two years has not contributed to any significant increase in private investment. And, there is no reason now to assume that private investment would suddenly perk up. So, it is not clear on what basis the finance ministers optimism about future growth is based. Private investment is a function of expectations and despite the economy growing close to seven per cent, expectations about consumer demand remain bearish. Much of the growth in the recent past has created infrastructure assets. This is action on the supply side. What about demand?

While businessmen are happy to publicly praise the government, most corporate boardrooms remain sceptical about demand and the hope that public spending would increase demand is not materialising to the extent hoped for.

A second point that has been made about the governments budgetary strategy is that it has been fiscally conservative in an election year. The BJP does not expect to win on the back of its spending programmes alone. Incidentally, it has not been as conservative as some imagine. There are various spending programmes aimed at the specific constituency that the BJP is targeting, but Mr Modi expects that victory will be delivered to him by Lord Ram. With religion yielding political dividends, the role of fiscal incentives has been reduced, not eliminated.

The Union Budget is, at the end of the day, both a financial and a political statement. It is interesting that in the recent past a large part of the media commentary is dominated by financial analysts, investment managers and economists working in banks and consulting firms. Their view is quite understandably shaped by the interests of their own firm as well as those of the corporate sector as a whole. They would also be careful not to upset anyone in the government. Hence, much of their analysis steers clear of any wider political assessment of the budgetary strategy.

What should worry citizens is the growing perception among political strategists that political outcomes are independent of economic outcomes. If religious sentiment is deployed to secure political benefit, fiscal policy becomes marginal.

The writer is an author, a former newspaper editor and adviser to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He has recently edited The Importance of Shinzo Abe: India, Japan and the Indo-Pacific.
by Mathias Hariyadi

The Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Piero Pioppo led the episcopal ordination of the new coadjutor Archbishop Fransiskus Nipa. The metropolitan archbishop, Mgr Johannes Liku Ada', was also present. He recently turned 75 and has health problems, limiting his activity. One of the new prelates first assignments will be taking care of 49 parishes in four provinces on the island of Sulawesi.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  The Rev Fr Fransiskus Nipa is the new coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Makassar, on the island of Sulawesi.

In a place that is ever growing, the new prelate faces several challenges, first among them: boosting pastoral activity according to the eight principles defined in the last diocesan synod and enhancing the culture of his fellow Torajans, the local indigenous people.

On 1 February, Archbishop Piero Pioppo, apostolic nuncio to Indonesia (the most populous Muslim nation in the world), presided over the episcopal ordination of the new coadjutor archbishop.

The service was attended by the current metropolitan archbishop, Mgr Johannes Liku Ada, who turned 75 recently, and submitted his resignation due to poor health and vision problems, and by Bishop Benedictus Rolly Untu of Manado.

Archbishop Liku Ada has problems with his peripheral vision. Things only become clear when they are shown to him from the front, Archbishop Nipa explained. He cannot clearly see things below and above his head. He sees nothing to his left and right.

For this reason, he has had to limit his pastoral and Church work. Hence, right from the tart, Archbishop Nipa will be in charge in particular of the pastoral care of 49 parishes in four provinces that the diocese covers.

Sulawesi is the third-largest area in the Indonesian archipelago divided into two dioceses  Makassar and Manado  with the former responsible for a few thousand Catholics scattered in four provinces (South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, and West Sulawesi).

Through his pastoral motto, Misericordiam Volo, et Non Sacrificium (I desire mercy, not sacrifice), Archbishop Franciscus Nipa shows a strong personal desire to serve the local population.

Previously, he served as secretary general of the archdiocese for 12 years, a key task to embrace the "human capital" essential to meet the current challenges and needs of the community of believers, which has been waiting for a long time for a second pastor.

Since the work of the diocesan synod in 2012, pastoral activity in Makassar has been based on eight key points: evangelisation, family, education, health, sociocultural, socio-economic, socio-political, and managing Church assets.

Our vision for 2025 is to focus on these eight priorities," the prelate noted. "As a Torajan priest, I have a personal passion to preserve the cultural richness of native Torajans and their Christianity, whether Catholic or Protestant, he added.

For the archbishop, there should be practical policies on how to manage these strategic issues, among them, the cultural and religious elements in Torajan society."

Otherwise, It would be a blow to all Torajans across the country if some years later these fundamental aspects of our native Toraja (life), including cultural heritage and Christianity, were to disappear due to our ignorance and negligence.

(Renny contributed to this article)

ECCLESIA IN ASIA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ASIA. TO RECEIVE A WEEKLY UPDATE EVERY SUNDAY, CLICK HERE.
Google is now giving the finishing touches to a new Android Auto build, with the first beta shipping to testers as we speak.

Android Auto 11.3 is the next in the queue to receive the go-ahead for production devices, but for now, Google wants to thoroughly test the release before the rollout starts. Android Auto 11.3 beta is now live for users enrolled in the beta program, but anyone can give it a try by sideloading the APK on their devices.The process is fast and straightforward, requesting a manual download of the APK installer . Once the file is stored on the Android device, users must initiate the installer by tapping the installer. The rest of the process comes down to steps detailed on the screen via a wizard, typically finalizing in a few seconds.Most people considering installing a beta build on their devices are particularly interested in the changelog. However, Google sticks with an approach that doesn't make sense for users, as the company doesn't share updated changelogs unless the new updates include notable improvements.As a result, it's safe to assume Android Auto 11.3 is mainly focused on improvements under the hood. I already installed the beta build on my smartphone but haven't noticed any significant change. Google focusing on subtle refinements isn't surprising, as the fast release pace doesn't allow the company to spend enough time finalizing new features.However, it doesn't mean Google isn't working on significant changes for Android Auto in the short term. The company has already promised notable updates, including introducing artificial intelligence for handling communications.Some users have already received an early version of the AI integration, being able to respond to get a summary of long messages or busy group conversations read by Google Assistant. Google Assistant can also display relevant answers, including sharing the ETA via Google Maps when a contact asks about the arrival time at a destination.Android Auto will also get new capabilities for the essential apps, including Google Maps. The navigation application will show the parking location on the map. The feature has been available on mobile devices for many years, but it's now arriving on Android Auto to make it easier to find a destination. If the parking location is different from the navigation destination, users can mark it on the map and use Google Maps for step-by-step walking directions.Android Auto 11.3 continues the rollout of a new Google Assistant animation spotted in previous updates, though the change isn't yet live for all users.If you're interested in installing this beta build, remember that Android Auto 11.3 is currently in the pre-release stage, and using it as a daily driver isn't recommended due to an increased likelihood of bugs.
1970 was a turning point for performance motoring in the U.S., and not just because of bureaucratic changes (both from insurers and the EPA). One of Detroits last high-speed stands, NASCAR, was hammered with changes from within. The sanctioning body required that new models could be brought to the brickyards if the production numbers for the street variants were twice as high as the carmaker's dealerships in the country. Thats why Mother Mopar brooded four times as many Superbirds than Daytonas.

The story is a bit more intricate than just changing the rules. The Daytona was released in the fall of 1968 as a 1969 model and consequently raced for that season. However, it was a Dodge, not a Plymouth, and Richard Petty was very fond of its Plymouths. Having been denied a similar aerodynamic machine by Chrysler, The King promptly jumped ship and raced Fords.Chryslers brass was caught with their pants down and couldnt do anything to set things straight with their champion. But the corporations top hats werent about to let go of the goose with the golden eggs and retaliated in the finest way possible.The Plymouth Road Runner went to the wind tunnel, got a nose cone and a wing, and returned as the Superbird. Richard Petty approved, came back, and blew the engine of one in the opening race of the 1970 season, the Daytona 500. (Another Petty Enterprises Superbird took the checkered flag, though).Truth be told, the winged warriors werent the first cars Chrysler used the wind tunnel to build: in the early 30s, the Airflows curvy profile was extensively tested  using scale models  before being transplanted into metal. But three decades later, the corporation had enough experience and expertise to build missiles and rockets (Allan Shepard debuted the U.S. manned space flight in a Chrysler rocket in 1961).One of the men who worked on the Mopar space rocket program was John Vaughn, an aerodynamicist at Chrysler Corporation Space Division. When McDonnell Douglas was awarded the contract to build the Saturn V moon rocket, the engineers retorted to lending their expertise to the second-fastest Chrysler product available: NASCAR racers.John Vaughn worked extensively on developing the Dodge Charger 500 and its Daytona sibling. Naturally, when the Plymouth division started planning the Superbird, the air-splitting mastermind was invited to share his knowledge. 1,920 Plymouth Road Runner Superbirds were assembled so that NASCAR would allow the car on the grid in 1970, and several other examples are believed to have been built over the mandatory homologation threshold.A definitive production number is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to provide. Still, the general agreement is that the famous one-year-only Bird was released in fewer than 2,000 units for street use. One of those was John Vaughns personal car for a number of years after it was initially sold to a man in Tennessee. The elusive winged Mopar was finished on November 30, 1969, and changed several owners before one of them initiated a total restoration of the classic icon twenty years ago.The project was completed in 2005, and every piece of the car was taken off, inspected, repaired, rebuilt, or replaced (the former applies to the left rear quarter). The car still has its original engine, Torqueflite transmission, and 3.55 Sure Grip rear, and shows 91,000 miles on the clock (146k kilometers). The car was bought by its current owner in January 2010 and hasnt seen much road action since, with 1,165 miles / 1,875 km (averaging around 83 miles / 134 km per year).Despite their rarity, not all Superbirds are equal since they belong to the larger Chrysler family of automobiles. In the '60s and '70s, Mopar's high performance meant one thing, first and foremost: a 426 Street HEMI V8, which this car hasnt. The muscle comes from the entry-level (in Superbird terms) 440-4 Super Commando eight-cylinder motor.This example is the ordinary Superbird since 1,084 came with the 375-hp, 480-lb-ft (380 PS, 651 Nm) 7.2-liter V8 with a single four-barrel carburetor. Even more so, the blue car featured here is an automatic, one of the 618 built in that short NASCAR homologation batch. In an eerie coincidence, the total number of automatic-transmission Plymouth Superbirds (all engines included) also equals 1,084.But just because its the least rare doesnt make it commonplace, and the car commands a high premium in the current buyers market environment. This restored and stunning-looking example may not be an original survivor in its current state. Several alterations have been made to the initial setup, like the electronic ignition, the aluminum radiator with a 16-inch fan, the overflow tank for the coolant, and the clear fuel filter.Critically, all the factory-installed parts are still available for the next owner, together with library-sized documentation, detailed maintenance records, and photos from the restoration. As a bonus, a collection of photographs taken by John Vaughn during the development of the aero cars is included in the sale. The online auction ends in six days, and the current high-water mark sits at $185,000, relatively low for a Superbird in prime condition.As a fun fact, the aerodynamicist went to the racetracks and visited the garages of Ford and Mercury (dressed as a tourist) to take spy photos of whatever he could find of interest for his work. Theres a photo of the Mario Andretti Ford Torino fastback, signed by John Vaughn, that testifies to the mans keen interest in what the competition was up to during the heated days and nights of the horsepower arms race.
With the new year here, countless manufacturers are hitting the market with the machines they feel will be the epitome of this year. One such crew is Scamp Trailers, but the machine they've chosen for 2024 will only be up for grabs very late in the new year. That's one way to create suspense, and for good reason.

Photo: Scamp Trailers / Eveland's, Inc

Photo: Scamp Trailers / Eveland's, Inc

Photo: Scamp Trailers / Eveland's, Inc

Folks, if the name Scamp is familiar to you, then you know that this crew has been a part of the American off-grid and on-road living scene for decades. Sure, there were countless ups and downs in this company's history, including factory fires and a complete rebuild of its production grounds, but the fact that they're still alive means they're doing something right , and they are.If you're familiar with the camper fad of the early 60s, the one brought down by Canadian Ray Olecko, then you're aware of what a Boler may be. If you don't, all you really need to know is that Bolers are known to have lasted decades, mainly because their shells are crafted from good old and undying fiberglass. With proper love and care, units have been found in working order after 40 and even 50 years. Oh, and Scamp is one of the few remaining crews that was born through direct contact with Boler American, the crew entrusted to develop America's Boler scene.Well, even though Boler American went out of business in 1972, Scamp (Eveland's Inc.) continued to craft these babies, mainly because they had countless molds lying around the factory floor, and with time, effort, and persistence, this brand is still alive today. But, it's not all this crew is known for.What I like most about Scamp, aside from the element-proof units they build, is the fact that they know what folks like you and I want and even need, and costs are a huge factor in this equation. For example, three camper styles are offered by this crew, and their largest, a fiberglass gooseneck monster dubbed the 19' (19-footer), is priced around $35K (32K at current exchange rates).If we consider that the model before us today, the 13' (13-footer), is Scamp's smallest machine, how much do you think it'll cost us to own? Well, it depends on which of the two 13' variations you choose, either Standard or Deluxe, but for a 2024 standard, we're looking at a starting price of a tad under $20K (18.5K), which is a bit higher in comparison to previous model years, as was expected. Deluxe models, on the other hand, start up a bit higher on the price ladder, at a tad over $24K (22K).Now, what really blew my mind about these babies is just how much Scamp managed to cram inside each one. For example, units can accommodate outdoor-loving families, but if your adventures are just for couples, you can even have the luxury of a wet bath inside your camper. That's something you don't see every day, and a reason why $20K for one of these sounds amazing.Ok, so a bathroom and shower in a 13-foot unit is nice and all, but that's not all that makes this travel trailer what it is. As we explore the interior, we can see that the storage options, modular dinettes, and galley blocks are brought to life using wood, and in some cases, composite materials. While most folks would frown upon the former, the Boler-style construction of the shell ensures the elements stay out of your unit, so no problems with some cellulose here and there.Nonetheless, be sure to check your camper's seals and trims regularly; all it takes is a solid bake in the sun during an Arizona summer, and you're bound to get some cracks somewhere. It's just good practice if you ask me , and these little checkups go a long way toward preserving the life of any camper or RV. Did you notice the "Scamp on a Pole" in the image gallery?Further down on the features list, we can spot things like a two-burner top, AC prep, tank monitors, water heaters, fridges, battery packs, and countless others. Then there's the options list, which includes things like generators, outdoor showers, solar panel kits, electric brakes, and a furnace.Now, for the remainder of this short introduction into what 2024 has to offer in terms of Scamp, I'd like to invite you to take a moment out of your busy day to picture yourself in possession of one of these quaint hunks of fiberglass We can skip over the driving bit and simply find ourselves on the edge of some forest treeline, on a secluded beach, or even in a trailer park; it's your daydream, so you pick the destination. I'm on a beach myself.Once you've stretched those legs, it's time to stabilize your unit, unhitch it, and free your vehicle from its chariot-like activities. While the kids are running around and throwing sand at each other or collecting firewood for the evening fire, you begin to unfurl up your outdoor dining setup and even pitch a tent for the rugrats to hang out in and giggle themselves to sleep.With the campsite ready, head inside to prepare a bite to eat for the gang, or maybe just grab a cold one and relax for a bit. I like the latter option, especially during sunset. Better yet, you'll be here for the next couple of days or so, so unwind a little, have another, and enjoy the view and sounds of the natural world around you.Before the kids come back from their adventures, you and your significant other head inside to prepare a meal for the gang, and dessert is served over a fire with graham crackers, marshmallows, and bits of chocolate. S'mores, they're called, and without them, we can't call it camping.Trust me; it's the little things and undying traditions we pass on from one generation to the next that really matter. Come to think of it, a 13' stands a solid chance of being in the family for decades, too, so I feel it's safe to say that we can add it to that list of things "that really matter."
Activist funds join hands to urge Samsung C&T to increase dividends

By Park Jae-hyuk

Shareholder activism at Samsung C&T has gained momentum as the court is set to rule on Monday on Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong in a case regarding a controversial merger between Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries in 2015, according to industry officials, Sunday.

Last Friday, a group of Samsung C&Ts long-term shareholders, including ANDA Asset Management, City of London Investment and Whitebox Advisors, announced their cooperation to address a steep discount to the Korean firms corporate value. The company is Samsungs construction, trading, fashion and resorts affiliate, which serves as the business groups de facto holding firm.

Although the activist funds had separately sent letters to Samsung C&Ts board asking for enhanced shareholder value, this was the first time for them to join hands over this issue. It is unclear whether the group includes Palliser Capital, a British firm that asked Samsung C&T last year to improve its shareholder value and governance structure.

Their latest partnership is interpreted as an attempt to take advantage of a highly probable increase in the Korean firms spending for its shareholders after Lee avoids the risk of going to jail.

The Samsung chief, who is alleged to have pushed ahead with the controversial merger to inherit control of Samsung illegally from his father, is expected to face probation or acquittal. Prosecutors asked the court last November to sentence him to five years in prison with a 500 million won ($373,000) fine.

Once Lee is cleared of the risk of going to jail, Samsung C&T will speed up its planned share buyback and retirement of treasury stocks, although the company is unlikely to launch a holding firm or increase dividends significantly, Hi Investment & Securities analyst Lee Sang-heon said.

The group of activist funds, which are claimed to collectively hold stakes of more than 1 percent in Samsung C&T, asked the Korean firm to pay a 4,500 won dividend per common share and a 4,550 won dividend per preferred share. They also urged the company to allocate 500 billion won to a share repurchase program.

A few days before they made the request, Samsung C&T announced its plan to retire 1 trillion won worth of treasury stocks over the next three years in accordance with its shareholder return policy announced last year.

However, the activist funds said the companys policy does not go far enough, although they expressed their support for the cancellation of all treasury shares.

We also do not understand the rationale for Samsung C&Ts continuing position to dilute the impact of the treasury share cancellation by enacting it over multiple years and we disagree with the companys characterization of this as a shareholder return, the activist funds said.
Google keeps polishing Google Maps and Android Auto with new features, and one of the most important additions concerns the navigation interface when the turn-by-turn guidance is enabled.

Photo: 9to5Google

If you're a long-time Google Maps user, you probably know already that the application offers a 3D building layer on mobile devices. With 3D buildings, following the route and figuring out where you are is more convenient, especially as Google has designed a simple UI that doesn't allow the buildings to become intrusive to the navigation experience.The same interface with 3D buildings debuted on Android Auto a couple of months ago (in late December), but the rollout started slowly, with only a handful of users getting it. Google has reportedly accelerated the rollout, now enabling the 3D buildings for more users on Android Auto.Interestingly, the new layer is enabled by default on Android Auto. On mobile devices, the 3D buildings are disabled by default, and users can enable it via the layers interface by toggling the "3D buildings" entry on and off. A new toggle is also available on Android Auto, and users can disable the 3D buildings from the settings screen.Some users claim that the 3D buildings are only live in the dark mode, while others claim they're exclusively enabled when they use the light mode. However, the new layer should eventually land in Google Maps for Android Auto regardless of the visual mode.Google hasn't officially announced the new 3D buildings, but I guess a blog post will land when the company completes the rollout.Meanwhile, the 3D buildings layer isn't the only update coming to Google Maps for Android Auto . The search giant is also working on other refinements, including support for saving the parking location when navigating with Google Maps on Android Auto.The feature has been available on mobile devices for several years, but Google now brings it to Android Auto specifically to help users whose navigation address is different from the parking location. With this feature, users can continue using Google Maps for step-by-step guidance after they park their cars, turning the application into an all-in-one navigation solution.The feature is slowly rolling out to users worldwide, but Google has also remained tight-lipped on this update.Android Auto also keeps evolving with new capabilities, including AI-powered replies. Google Assistant can create summaries of long conversations or busy group chats, allowing users to reply with different answers according to the received text. For example, Google Assistant can suggest sharing the ETA via Google Maps when the contact asks for the arrival time at a destination. The feature has already started rolling out in the latest Android Auto updates but has yet to reach the broad availability phase. Google only announced the feature without an ETA for completing the rollout.
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WLTP

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Many people think Elon Musk is just a wacky businessman who got lucky (on more than one occasion). Others think of him as a Messiah of some sort. However, the truth might be somewhere in the middle, with concepts taken from all sides  he's both quirky and witty, charming (at times), and a workplace dictator who wants his vision to get done and is not afraid to spend countless hours at the headquarters to supervise everything.One of his ideas that just came to fruition was that a Tesla might one day become the world's best-selling nameplate, even in the face of great adversity from-powered vehicles. Well, according to the latest estimates, that prophecy or desire just came true, and Toyota's RAV4 had to surrender the throne after Tesla's Model Y also placed fifth in America's overall rankings and first on the Old Continent, among others. However, the landscape is changing, and its crown might not last long.Acura and Honda, for example, launched two mid-sizecrossover SUVs with help from General Motors  ZDX and Prologue. They won't give Tesla's Model Y much trouble, though, as they are both more expensive and less powerful. Plus, there have been so many problems with GM's BEV3 and Ultium models  mostly due to crazy software  that we'd be hard-pressed to gamble our lunchbox money on any of them. Yes, Tesla's software isn't perfect either, but they already have lots of experience fixing things. So, it will be the lesser of two evils.One thing that could work against it will be if Tesla doesn't learn from the problems signaled by customers regarding the Tesla Model 3 facelift (Highland, according to the automotive world)  one of them being the hated drop of steering column stalks. That could be a deal breaker for many people in the future, especially since this is a logical feature that's been in use for decades. Anyway, over the past few days, a couple of new EVs appeared out in the open, and I really want to talk about them.First and foremost is the Porsche Macan EV . This second German all-electric model from Porsche is coming as the high-riding Taycan everyone wanted, although it's a bit cramped because it's smaller than a Tesla Model Y. The company had its fair share of trouble with the new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) that's going to be shared with Audi, but now the Porsche Macan 4 EV and the Macan Turbo EV are finally out in the open. First things first, the design is pretty disjointed  the front fascia adopts that dreaded split-headlight ethos that so few people like, while the rear looks plain and way too generic for a Porsche. Inside, things are a lot better, though.From the technical standpoint, the Macan 4 EV has over 400 horsepower and can go for no less than 381 miles (631 kilometers) on a single charge, according to. That's more than a Model Y Long Range, but keep in mind that Porsche will sell the zero-emissions Macan at almost double the price (it kicks off at over $80k) and that EPA's ratings will probably lower the figure closer to Tesla's 310-mile rating. The Turbo version, meanwhile, costs C8 Chevy Corvette Z06 money and has 630 horsepower  a good fit for a brawl with the Model Y Performance at the local quarter-mile dragstrip.However, don't bet on seeing the Macan EV there too often because the sporty variant is less powerful and more expensive than a Tesla Model X Plaid, not to mention that it's also two sizes smaller. Of course, some will buy it for the modern architecture because it's a Porsche. Unfortunately, I think it doesn't look much better than the Tesla Model Y (which isn't the winner of any beauty pageants in my book); it's smaller and way more expensive. So, there's no jeopardy to dethrone it.Moving on, I was impressed to see that Jeep is fearless in showing more and more of the mid-size Wagoneer S all-electric crossoverwhile they're still claiming this is merely the teaser campaign. Now we know how it looks both inside and outside, so the only enigma is about the exact technical specifications. Oh, wait, the teasers also revealed there's a zero to 60 mph (96 kph) time of 3.5 seconds, meaning this Jeep means business on the tarmac. But wait, as there is more. The company also promises 4xe all-wheel drive with Selec-Terrain modes based on the STLA Large.Curiously, the design is sleeker than anyone expected from a model branded with the Wagoneer moniker, and it certainly will give Tesla a run for Model Y's money. Speaking of the latter, I won't bet anything on Jeep bringing it to market with an MSRP to rival the Model Y  I'm not even sure if they will bring it to market with prices close to the larger Model X. But one thing is for sure, with four screens for the cockpit  including two central ones and another for the passenger, it handily beats Tesla in that area and will represent a significant point of interest for anyone who hates Tesla's one-screen-for-everything approach. So, if it comes out with reasonable pricing, the Jeep Wagoneer S is the one to look forward to, frankly.
Data doesn't lie. EV ownership and interest are on the rise, and so are those looking for a dispenser that will recharge their zero-emission vehicles' batteries in half an hour tops. That means some companies, the federal government, and state and local agencies will have to work harder on developing the high-power charging infrastructure. Here's why they need to start sooner rather than later.

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Photo: Electrify America

The numbers don't match

Photo: Electrify America

More!

Photo: John Cameron on Unsplash

Electric Vehicle

Tesla is the undisputed champion of fast-charging solutions. It has over 2,300 locations in the US and Canada where multipleowners can charge simultaneously, and it continues to expand them.However, only a few are equipped with the Magic Dock adapter that allows drivers of models equipped with the CCS Combo 1 port to get electrons delivered fast to their cars' high-voltage batteries.In February 2020, Electrify America opened its 400th DC fast-charging station in North America. Four years later, the VW-owned, Dieselgate-born company more than doubled the number of places where more than one stall exists. It has over 900 stations that should be up and running.As for ChargePoint, it has focused mainly on California, Texas, and Florida. In 2017, it bought and gradually upgraded General Electric's 9,800 dispensers scattered across the US. Today, it has over 1,100 such places with multiple stalls active. Thanks to partnerships with manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz , it also remains focused on expanding the number of charging stations.Today, there are over four million EVs on US roads, according to the Department of Energy. Over 1.4 million units (including about 200,000 plug-in hybrids) were added last year. Believe it or not, 1.2 million Americans chose a battery-electric vehicle as their new car in 2023.These zero-emission rides have access to 170,000 public dispensers, but not all of them are DC fast-charging stalls. Still, Uncle Sam says around 900 new chargers are coming online every week.That may suggest a new type of pressure forming for the national electrical grid. Fret not; data coming from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) confirms that electricity use decreased by 1% until the last day of November 2023. That's despite a clear increase in light-duty (sub-8,500 lb) EV electricity consumption. In 2022, EVs (excluding plug-in hybrids like the Jeep Wrangler 4xe) needed 3.1 million MWh of electricity. Preliminary data for 2023 shows a consumption increase of 57% to 4.7 million MWh.That's not strange. The answer is simple: we just bought more efficient electronics and spent less time plugging in all sorts of devices. Moreover, many Americans chose to spend money on various types of solar panels, which helped them rely less on the grid.The problem is that EV owners who want to travel long distances rely on DC fast chargers that may or may not work. Last year, a Cannonball record attempt with one of the fastest-charging EVs out there, the Lucid Air Grand Touring, failed because the dispensers weren't working properly. Things haven't improved much since.But with the industry-wide switch to Tesla's charging port (now called the North American Charging Standard  NACS) and Superchargers gradually opening to other EVs, things might improve a little temporarily.Still, the need for more charging infrastructure has never been clearer. BMW M's best-selling vehicle in 2023 was the all-electric i4 M50. Although not a full-fledged M car, it showed that even people looking for a premium experience offered by an established auto manufacturer were willing to ditch the internal combustion engine.That trend will continue, even though EVs may be more expensive to insure, and some states like Texas punish owners with higher fees.Besides that car shopping behavior shift, ChargePoint stated that the number of charging stations increased by 53%. Electrify America said it recorded double the charging sessions in the US and Canada. It has gotten so hectic that both Tesla and Electrify America introduced new fees. The former charges a congestion fee, while the latter recently reactivated the idle fee to deter people from hogging the stalls.The federal government acted by offering states funds through the NationalInfrastructure ( NEVI ) program, but things aren't moving as fast as they could. Some use the money wisely, others are lagging. Besides that, Washington, D.C. has set aside some funds to deploy as it sees fit. Most recently, it directed money toward fixing broken chargers.Sadly, four million EVs (and counting) can't share 170,000 stalls without queues forming or drivers becoming irritated. We already had cases of EV owners waiting one hour or more to get some electrons.The federal government, state agencies, Tesla, Electrify America , ChargePoint, and others must coordinate their efforts to ramp up the deployment of new infrastructure. EVs can help the environment, but not if people are starting to dislike them because they can't drive longer journeys or when there are weather issues. Now's the time to act.
There is no way in the world you could keep a low profile in this color-shifting Tesla Cybertruck. The vehicle is already making the rounds on the internet, even before the firm that made it admitted to it.

EV

Photo: T Sportline

This is starting to look like a beauty pageant for Tesla Cybertrucks. Meet the Cybertruck in matte black, here is the one in military green, now here comes the first-ever purple Cybertruck , and we've got the world's first red-wrapped electric pickup truck. Then, here comes the color-shifting model, which turns the imaginary ranking upside down.The Cybertruck wrapped in a glaring wrap has been unveiled right in front of the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and thelooks like the building's brother from another mother. They are both made of stainless steel, they both have a futuristic design as if they have just been teleported from another planet, and they both glare in the sun.It's just that the Cybertruck glares even more than before, because it has been wrapped in what T Sportline refers to as "Spectrum." The job has been done in collaboration with Inozetek, which provided the wrap. Every panel changes color depending on the light. Every angle displays a different shade. It goes from turquoise and purple to red and yellow and everything in between.The owner also wanted aftermarket wheels instead of those that come with the aero disc covers that owners have been complaining about after they noticed that those rubber covers have been eating out on the tires. Instead, this Tesla rides on CT7 forged wheels finished in black.The truck wrapped in Spectrum has already shown up on every social media platform out there, as people photographed and filmed what might be the world's first color-shifting Cybertruck.Furthermore, displaying the vehicle outside the Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles attracted quite a crowd. To be able to proceed with the filming, the T Sportline team had to relocate and get rid of all the people trying to get a piece of the multicolored Cybertruck.Based in Van Nuys, California, T Sportline is specialized in transforming Teslas. Last December, they rolled out the matte black and gloss black Cybertrucks. At the beginning of 2024, we got to see the pickup truck in satin white.We got to meet the model wrapped in military green earlier this month. The first-ever purple Cybertruck in purple surfaced a couple of weeks ago. Last week, it was the first metallic red-wrapped electric pickup truck that awed the crowd at a cars & coffee event. With the brand-new Spectrum-wrapped Tesla Cybertruck, who knows what else we should expect? It is only a matter of time until the next jaw-dropping wrapped UFO roaming the streets of California.
4 February 2024 16:45 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

When the war started in Ukraine, Azerbaijan did not spare humanitarian aid in the most difficult moments. On the third day of the war alone, more than 137 tons of humanitarian aid left Baku for Ukraine.

Because Azerbaijan not only knows the consequences of the war, but also knows what the side suffering from the war needs.

Ukraine and Azerbaijan have extensive and multifaceted friendly relations, which have been strengthened in the course of a long history of interaction, as well as based on similar values and strategic interests. The two countries, located in different parts of Europe and Transcaucasia, have managed to establish close ties in various fields, from politics and economy to culture and human contacts.

Another humanitarian aid for Ukraine was sent from the territory of Sumgayit Technological Park with 20 large cargoes, which includes 551 thousand meters of electric cables and wires, as well as six sets of transformers.

Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Azerbaijan have strong roots. Both countries actively support each other in the international arena, cooperating within the framework of various international organizations and exchanging mutual support on key issues.

To date, Azerbaijan has sent more than 2,000 tons of humanitarian cargo to Ukraine, including medicines, medical equipment, and foodstuffs. Since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Azerbaijan has provided 10 cargoes of humanitarian aid to restore the country's energy system. It included 50 reserve power plants and 45 power transformers. The total amount of aid provided by Azerbaijan for Ukraine, including funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction, amounted to more than $33 million.

It is important to note that Azerbaijan's assistance to Ukraine and its people is carried out in different directions. In addition to assistance in electrical and medical equipment, Azerbaijan, at the initiative of the Social Services Agency under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, helps Ukrainian children who suffered from war and lost members of their families. In total, more than 150 children have been sent to Azerbaijan, where they undergo rehabilitation in special camps in Baku, Shamakhi, Gabala, and Shaki. The fresh air and mesmerizing nature of these places were specially selected for maximum assistance to the affected children.

With the help of individual consultations, group therapy, training, as well as master classes conducted by professional psychologists, children are recovering from their injuries, their emotional state has stabilized, and as a consequence, children have been able to integrate into society.

Azerbaijan also assisted in Ukraine to cope with the disaster after the Kakhovskaya HPP dam was blown up, where inflatable boats, life jackets, food, protective suits, pumps, and high-pressure motor pumps were sent as soon as possible. SOCAR Company also provided 20 tons of fuel for equipment and transport to eliminate the consequences of the disaster.

Azerbaijan, as a country fighting Armenian mine terror in the liberated territories and having great experience in its elimination, provided Ukrainian sappers and rescuers with a robotized machine of its own production for demining "RevivalP", where training sessions for Ukrainian specialists in demining were also held. Azerbaijan has also previously sent to Ukraine similar demining machines MEMATT developed by Turkish company ASFAT. These machines have a strong strength to detonate not less than 8 kg of TNT and can be controlled at a distance of up to 5 km. Turkiye also sent 20 units of MEMATT vehicles for the demining of the liberated territories of Azerbaijan Garabagh.

The humanitarian lyceum "Linguist" named after Zarifa Aliyeva, which was destroyed as a result of military actions in the city of Irpin, has also been fully restored. Currently, the Azerbaijani side is carrying out relevant work to restore several seriously damaged social facilities.

It is also worth recalling the goodwill and strong spirit of the Azerbaijani people living in Ukraine, who did not remain indifferent to the Ukrainian losses. Many actions are taken to help the needy in different cities of Ukraine, from evacuation from shelling zones to delivery of humanitarian aid. At the beginning of the first month of 2024 UkrAZfront charity fund sponsored by Azerbaijani merchants held 5 charity actions in the Kharkiv region. Besides the delivery of humanitarian aid, the volunteers of this action organized the evacuation of civilians of Kharkiv under intensive shelling.

There is a lot of pain and suffering in the world because of the consequences of wars, and despite this, there are brave, kind, sympathetic people who are ready to help people at the cost of their lives. In such difficult times for countries that are at war, it is important to support and help friendly countries based on humane goals, instead of supplying expensive weapons.

UkrAZfront Charitable Foundation also continues to help children from the Kharkiv region suffering from cerebral palsy and epilepsy, where they were provided with medicines and food. It is important to note that children from a number of settlements in this region, who need special care, since September 2023 are under the special care of UkrAZfront. Volunteers of this fund, despite the shelling and air raids, held a charity event in the frontline Izyum district. Residents of Izyum City and Oskol Village received 300 food packages, which included canned fish and meat, porridge, different types of cereals, oil, pasta, and hygiene products.

Volunteers also did not forget about pets and animals and sent to the animal shelter in Kharkiv more than one ton of food, veterinary materials, and medicine. Recall that after Kherson was flooded as a result of the Kakhovskaya HPP explosion in June 2023, UkrAZfront rescued dozens of animals from the scene. Subsequently, the rescued dogs, cats and other types of animals were placed in this shelter and received veterinary care.

Western European countries, which claim to be committed to "democracy", the protection of human rights and freedoms, found it necessary to help Ukraine by supplying it with a huge number of lethal weapons. By supplying weapons to Ukraine, Western European countries think to solve the conflict militarily in order to inflict a crushing defeat on Russia. France also came to similar decisions and decided to "help" to solve the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan by supplying weapons to Yerevan, which as a consequence led to the deterioration of relations between Baku and Paris.

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Abbas Ganbay is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @Noend33

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
4 February 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

Western experts are increasingly interested in the processes as the extraordinary presidential elections in Azerbaijan approach. Many political experts expressed a very positive attitude to the preparatory works related to the elections. However, the main thing that attracts public attention is the democratic and transparent conduct of the presidential elections, as well as the attitude of the opposition parties to the process.

Speaking to Azernews, Dr. Frank Musmar, a political journalist from the state of Texas, USA, shared his views on the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan. When talking about President Ilham Aliyevs candidacy he attracted particular attention by touching on some important points.

President Ilham Aliyev's popularity in Azerbaijan has recently increased, reaching 75 percent of the population approval after the government took complete control of the liberated Garabagh region, representing a new era in the history of the country and succeeding in turning a republic once thought of as a Soviet backwater into a flourishing energy supplier to Europe, doctor Musmar said.

He added that Azerbaijan, as the first post-Soviet country, is holding presidential elections as a country that has fully secured its territorial integrity.

President Aliyev marked the 20th anniversary of his own time in power, and marking the victory with a new election for the first time in post-Soviet Azerbaijan in Garabagh is a perfect timing to announce the official start of the new era. Conducting the elections now will sum up this chronological period.

The upcoming election is necessary to represent the maturity of the democratic system of Azerbaijan globally. It is the first time an election has been held on the entire territory of Azerbaijan with 6,320,500 registered voters, and a total number of 49 polling stations has been set up in 37 countries; mobile voting boxes will be set up to enable sick people and older people to vote during the election process and ensure election transparency, 65,000 observers from 19 political parties have been accredited to monitor the election, and 512 international observers from 70 countries and 49 international organizations have been certified for the election, he said.

Saying that the elections are in accordance with democratic rules, the US pundit added that the absence of the opposition in the elections in the country damages the principles of democracy.

However, the opposition parties are all boycotting the race, which is a wrong move that many opposition parties make globally. If the opposition parties believe in Democracy, they should participate and help electoral authoritarian regimes transform into democracies because boycotting strategies tend to derail rather than promote democratization, he emphasised.

At the same time, Dr. Frank Musmar characterized the concept of democracy in Azerbaijan through the eyes of the West. He also compared the approach to democracy principles between the West and Azerbaijan.

Democratic elections are pivotal to a country's governance quality and reflect the free expression of the people's will. In Western societies, Democracy is considered liberal, a sovereign democracy limited by a constitution that guarantees individual freedoms and rights. However, these essential freedoms should not be subject to a democratic vote. Moreover, Democracy does not have to be liberal, and many nations today have illiberal democracies where voting continues, but liberal characteristics, such as an independent judiciary and free press, have been compromised.

Historically, and during Azerbaijan's first independent era, Azerbaijan created the first parliament with 11 parties and factions, including two Armenian factions within the parliament on May 28, 1918. Moreover, Azerbaijan was the first functional Democracy in the entire Muslim world and gave parity to women to receive the right to vote in Baku before most European and American countries.

Modern Azerbaijan society believes in Democracy, equal opportunity, the right to access information, and the right to association at the same level as the western democratic societies. Moreover, the independence and vibrancy of its mass media always protect transparency and fairness in elections. Azerbaijan succeeded in creating a democratic system after a long era of a Soviet-style political and economic system and foreign policy of their creation.

In the end, the expert also touched on the economy of Azerbaijan. He emphasized the efficiency of economic reforms in the country in the last few years and added that the Azerbaijani authorities managed to establish a balanced policy both in the region where it exists and outside the region through a perfect strategy.

Azerbaijan has the largest population in the South Caucasus region, and the fastest-growing economy in the world. Geographically, it straddles the border between East and West, enjoys positive relations with Turkey, Russia, the United States, Israel, and the European Union, besides France, and possesses essential oil and natural gas resources, which enhances its global importance. Azerbaijan's budget has increased 30 times in the last 20 years, decreasing the poverty level in 2022 from 44.7 % to 5.5 %, increasing the average monthly salary 12 times from 45 $ to 543$, and increasing employment by 25 %, from 4 million people in 2017 to 5 million people in 2023. Moreover, the GDP of the non-oil sector has grown 3.4 times, showing the success of diversification of the macro-economy.

Azerbaijan's foreign policy is a delicate balance between pursuing national interests, restoring territorial integrity, and expanding its international influence. However, the ongoing global competition over the hydrocarbon resources of the Caspian Sea and the ambitions of regional powers to maintain influence in this strategic location are always a challenge to foreign policies. The country's cooperation with the United Nations programs, NATO peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, public diplomacy and education programs, and engagement on other non-sensitive issues is winning foreign policies that are giving the country the international community's support on its foreign policy objectives. Maintaining military de-facto neutrality helps ensure Azerbaijan's safety and alleviates potential pressures and risks from regional powerhouses, Dr.Musmar concluded.

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Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews Deputy Editor-in-Chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
4 February 2024 13:30 (UTC+04:00)

By Mazahir Afandiyev

We are seeing how friendly countries, confederate structures, and international organizations approach us differently as the early presidential elections in Azerbaijan get closer.

The anti-Azerbaijani resolution passed by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which specifically opposed the autonomous actions of the victorious Azerbaijani army in 2020 to uphold international justice and Azerbaijan's sovereignty under the auspices of four well-known UN Security Council resolutions, was one of the unpleasant events we have recently witnessed. Clearly, this decision amounts to nothing more than exposing hypocrisy and double standards in front of the international community.

Generally speaking, the establishment of parliamentary traditions has been crucial to guaranteeing democratic progress and fostering a positive political environment in contemporary independent Azerbaijan. Under the direction of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the traditions of parliamentarism got a breath of fresh air and renewed vigor from June 15 until October 3, 1993. Heydar Aliyev brought political culture to the Milli Majlis and promptly established a positive political environment.

The Milli Majlis has been able to establish its international activities over the years, both inside the framework of respected international organizations and inside the framework of inter-parliamentary friendship groups.

The Parliament is now a key component of Azerbaijan's multi-vector foreign policy as a result of the directives and suggestions made by President Ilham Aliyev during his speech on March 10, 2020, at the first plenary session of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan of the sixth convocation. Members of parliament who possess a comprehensive understanding of the president's outlook for the future actively participate in supporting the nation's pertinent foreign policy.

It is no accident that organizations that have historically been respectful to Azerbaijan and that are still able to stand up for the truth in the face of opposition are now in a supportive position.

The Interparliamentary Union (IPU), which was founded in 1989 and is currently the largest interparliamentary network in the world, is one of these organizations. It advocates for democracy, peace, and sustainable development globally. The benefits of continued mutual cooperation were demonstrated by the visit of IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong to Azerbaijan on February 1, the discussion with the President of Azerbaijan ahead of COP29, the world's most prestigious event hosted in our nation, and the initiative to plan an event in support of global environmental and climate change initiatives.

Martin Chungong spoke with the President about achieving peace in the region during the reception. According to President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan freed its territories while adhering to international laws and regulations. In Azerbaijan, separatist movements were put to an end by cutting off funding sources and putting an end to the now-false "ideology of Armenian fascism." In addition, Azerbaijan was the first to suggest signing a Large Peace Agreement founded on the Five Principles to guarantee the secure and peaceful coexistence of all peoples in the South Caucasus, exhibiting a dedication to multicultural principles.

On September 9, last year, however, the forces of revanchists and separatists staged a "show" called "elections" and continued military provocations in exchange for these tolerant and pure intentions. In order to stop this, the Azerbaijani armed forces and law enforcement agencies jointly conducted a local anti-terrorist operation on September 19.

The President reiterated Azerbaijan's reasonable position during the meeting, publicly declaring that there would be no more separatist tendencies in our nation, expressing his intention to uphold total security, and stating that he sees the development of the future precisely in attaining lasting peace.

As a result, Azerbaijan consistently upholds its rights and obligations on every global platform where it is represented. Additionally, it affirms its commitment to fostering relationships based on fairness and mutual respect because of the will of the Azerbaijani people.

Mazahir Afandiyev is the Member of the Milli Majlis (the Azerbaijani Parliament).

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4 February 2024 12:27 (UTC+04:00)

The period for issuing the deregistration (voting) card to the voters by the respective precinct election commission has ended.

Azernews reports with reference to Secki-2024.az website that the process started on January 14 and covered the period until February 4.

According to the legislation, the issuing of deregistration (voting) cards to voters by the relevant precinct election commission should be completed 24-3 days before the voting day.

It should be mentioned that early presidential elections are scheduled to be held in Azerbaijan on 7 February 2024. Originally planned for October 2025, President Ilham Aliyev called for a snap election in December 2023. The election is informally known as the Victory Election due to the successful military operation. It marks the third snap election in Azerbaijan's history and the first to be held in winter season.

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4 February 2024 21:12 (UTC+04:00)

February 4 marks the 103rd anniversary of the birth of Lutfi Zade, the world-famous Azerbaijani scientist, the founder of fuzzy set theory and fuzzy logic, late professor of the University of California. Lutfi Zadeh is one of the outstanding personalities who led to serious changes in the history of science with his fundamental theories. The scientist, who was placed in a row with Einstein and Newton, made important contributions to science.

Azernews takes a look at some aspects of the life and activities of the outstanding scientist on his birthday.

Born on February 4, 1921 in Novkhani village of Baku, Lutfi Rahim oglu Alasgarzade completed his primary education at secondary school number 16. In 1932, the Alasgarzade family was forced to move to their ancestral homeland - South Azerbaijan. Lutfi Zadeh, who received secondary education here, was admitted to the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of Tehran University. After successfully graduating from this educational institution, he went to the United States at the age of 23 and continued his studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The foundation of his six important theories known to world science was laid right here.

From 1944 to 1959, Lutfi Zade received his master's and doctorate degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Columbia University. He worked at Berkeley University from 1959, and from 1963 he headed the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He worked as a lifelong professor and director of the Soft Computing Institute at that higher educational institution.

The theory of fuzzy logic, which is widely used in production and which is considered a revolution in world science, made the Azerbaijani scientist famous in the world. This theory gave a new expression to the concept of binary set, which is the basis of mathematics: fuzzy set. The inclusion of a fuzzy dimension in science made it possible to more adequately consider the uncertainty of the processes taking place in nature and society. Japan's Mitsubishi, Toshiba, Sony, Canon, Sanyo, Nissan, Honda and other reputable companies use fuzzy logic technology in the production of photo and video cameras, washing machines and vacuum chemical cleaners, cars , they are widely used in the management of trains and industrial processes. The scientist is also the author of such scientific discoveries as Theory of Impressions, Theory of Systems, Theory of Word-Working Computer, Theory of Optimal Filters, which play an important role in the development of world science and its establishment on new foundations. The books The luminary of modern science, The world cannot live without geniuses have been written about him, the documentary film Far and Near Lutfi Zade has been shot, the Lutfi Zade Heritage and Artificial Intelligence Association, and the International Academy of Modern Sciences named after Lutfi Zade have been established. The scientist's well-known state space, control and monitoring theories of dynamic systems form the basis of modern management science. The US National Space Research Center (NASA) studies, designs and implements control systems based on these theories.

His rich scientific activity has always been highly appreciated by the state of Azerbaijan. In February 2011, according to the relevant Decree of President Ilham Aliyev, the world-famous scientist was awarded the Order of Friendship for his contributions to the development of technologies and the establishment of intercultural dialogue. The last time he came to Baku was in November 2008 to participate in the BakuTel international telecommunication and information technology exhibition and conference.

In 1989, the distinguished scientist was awarded the Honda Award, Japan's highest award for scientists, for the industrial achievements of fuzzy logic theory.

Lutfi Zadeh was the only person elected as a professor for life at the University of Berkeley. He was a leading expert of NASA and NATO. He also headed the Institute Zadeh-ZIFT Institute of Information Technologies named after himself in the city of Berkeley where he lives. After the German scientist Max Planck, Lutfi Zadeh is the second scientist in the world who had a scientific center named after him and his theory during his lifetime.

The scientist, who is a member of many foreign academies, has been awarded with prizes and medals of many prestigious societies and foundations. He was an honorary doctor of dozens of foreign state and public organizations. He was elected a world-famous scientist, a member of the US National Academy of Engineering, an honorary academician. He was also the honorary editor-in-chief of the journals Information society problems and Information technology problems of the Institute of Information Technologies in Azerbaijan.

Lutfi Zadeh died on September 6, 2017 in California, USA at the age of 96. According to his will, the remains of the scientist were brought to Azerbaijan and buried in the first Honorary Alley.

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4 February 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Head of the Finnish government Petteri Orpo on air of the TV channel Yle stated that Finland will not open checkpoints on the border with Russia, Azernews reports, citing TASS.

"We realise that beyond the eastern border there are people whose goal is to enter Finland illegally. It is clear that we cannot cancel the closure of our border," he said.

Checkpoints on the Finnish-Russian border have been closed by a decision of the Finnish Cabinet until 11 February. The Finnish Interior Ministry is expected to announce a new decision on the issue at a government meeting on 8 February.

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By Lee Min-hyung

The sale of HMM, the nations leading container shipper, continues to face a conundrum, as its main creditor and a preferred bidder are showing no signs of narrowing their differences ahead of the negotiation deadline.

The main creditor  led by the Korea Development Bank (KDB)  looks to maintain its position of converting its perpetual bond in HMM worth 1.68 trillion won ($1.25 billion) into equity. Under this scenario, the main creditor will be able to obtain a 32-percent stake in HMM by 2035.

But the Harim-JKL Partners consortium is calling on the main creditor to delay the plan for another three years, as part of a move to raise its influence after acquiring the shipper. Earlier, the consortium agreed to purchase a 58-percent stake in HMM, but it faces a possible stake dilution to around 38 percent unless the creditor reshapes its bond conversion plan.

The consortium will still be able to maintain its status as the largest shareholder for HMM after finalizing the deal, but cannot exercise overwhelming influence with the stake.

Two state-run organizations  KDB and Korean Ocean Business  are still amid last-minute talks with the consortium to reach a final consensus. The deadline for the negotiation falls on Feb. 6.

If both sides fail to conclude the deal as scheduled, the main creditor is expected to open up for another bidding round to find other potential interested parties. Dongwon and LX International are potential candidates, as they have joined the competition to become the preferred bidder for the mega-sized deal.

Chances appear slim that the main creditor will accept the demand from Harim, considering the steep stock growth of HMM. Its shares reached around 16,000 won per share in December, but are now traded at around 20,000 won. KDB has generated more than 2 trillion won in capital gains thanks to the stock growth, so it is unlikely the creditor would give up the gains and receive the principal.
4 February 2024 09:33 (UTC+04:00)

"Hungary, unlike other European Union countries, will still not supply weapons to Ukraine, but is ready to pay for the supply of non-lethal military equipment there."

According to Azernews, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Economic Relations of Hungary, Peter Szijarto, said this after the informal meeting of the foreign ministers of the European Union held in Brussels.

He recalled that the European Commission proposed to increase the budget of the European Peace Fund by 5 billion euros in 2024 to compensate the EU countries for the supply of arms to Ukraine:

"We do not want to participate in this case. I disclosed this to my colleagues today. However, Hungary will not prevent the actions of other EU countries and will take a constructive neutral position. This means that Budapest will not contribute to the European Peace Fund for the supply of lethal weapons to Ukraine.

We are not obligated to allocate money for these purposes. In return, Hungary is willing to spend money on the procurement of non-lethal equipment. Therefore, the rules for using the European Peace Fund should be changed accordingly."

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4 February 2024 19:13 (UTC+04:00)

Millions of dollars in sales of North Korean false eyelashes - marketed in beauty stores around the world as "made in China" - helped drive a recovery in the secretive state's exports last year, Azernews reports via Reuters.

The processing and packaging of North Korean false eyelashes - openly conducted in neighbouring China, the country's largest trading partner - gives Kim Jong Un's regime a way to skirt international sanctions, providing a vital source of foreign currency.

Reuters spoke to 20 people - including 15 in the eyelash industry, as well as trade lawyers and experts on North Korea's economy - who described a system in which China-based firms import semi-finished products from North Korea, which are then completed and packaged as Chinese.

The finished eyelashes are then exported to markets including the West, Japan and South Korea, according to eight people who work for companies directly involved in the trade.

Some of the people spoke on condition that only their last names be used because they were not authorised to talk to the media.

North Korea has long been a major exporter of hair products like wigs and false lashes, which enable people to avoid the hassle of mascara and to achieve a dramatic look. But exports tumbled during the COVID-19 pandemic, when North Korea slammed its borders tightly shut.

Significant trade in North Korea-made lashes via China resumed in 2023, according to customs documents and four people in the industry.

Chinese customs data showed that North Korea's exports to China more than doubled in 2023, when borders reopened. China is the destination for nearly all of North Korea's declared exports.

Wigs and eyelashes comprised almost 60% of declared North Korean exports to China last year. In total, North Korea exported 1,680 tonnes of false eyelashes, beards and wigs to China in 2023, worth around $167 million.

In 2019, when prices were lower, it exported 1,829 tonnes at a value of just $31.1 million.

The US State Department and international experts estimate that North Korea seizes up to 90% of foreign income generated by its citizens, many of whom live in poverty. Reuters was unable to determine how much of the revenue from eyelash sales flowed back to Kim's government, or how it was used.

"We have to assume that ... millions of dollars every month that North Korea is making through this eyelash trade is being used for the Kim Jong Un regime," said Seoul-based sanctions lawyer Shin Tong-chan. His view was corroborated by two other international trade experts, though none provided specific evidence.

Since 2006, the United Nations Security Council has sought to stall Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme through nearly a dozen sanctions resolutions that restrict its ability to trade products such as coal, textiles and oil. It also imposed strict restrictions on North Koreans working abroad.

Sanctions passed by the Security Council are supposed to be enforced by UN member states - all of whom are legally bound to implement them - using local legislation.

But there is no direct ban on hair products, so trading false eyelashes from North Korea does not necessarily violate international law, three sanctions experts told Reuters.

Reuters presented its findings to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, which said it was "not aware of the circumstances" described but that any alleged violations of UN sanctions are "completely without foundation".

The United States has since 2008 separately expanded its own measures against North Korea, which include sanctions on any company stocking or selling products whose sales fund the Kim regime: a restriction that also applies to non-American firms using the US dollar.

But there are practical and political limitations on Washington's ability to enforce such sanctions unilaterally on entities such as foreign businesses that have minimal exposure to the US financial system and don't sell primarily to American clients, according to two international sanctions lawyers.

Chinese manufacturers began working with North Korean eyelash plants in the early 2000s, according to three Chinese factory managers. They said they prize the country's labour force for its low cost and the high quality of the eyelashes.

About 80% eyelash factories of China's Pingdu city purchase or process false eyelash raw materials and semi-finished products from North Korea, according to a 2023 estimate published by Kali, a Chinese manufacturer of eyelash boxes, on its website.

Pingdu's government says the town of roughly 1.2 million accounts for 70% of global output of false eyelashes, which are often made of synthetic fibres but may also be created from mink fur or human hair.

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4 February 2024 19:27 (UTC+04:00)

An Irish nationalist made history Saturday by becoming Northern Irelands first minister as the government returned to work after a two-year boycott by unionists, Azernews reports via the Associated Press.

Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle ONeill was named first minister in the government that under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday peace accord shares power equally between Northern Irelands two main communities  British unionists who want to stay in the UK, and Irish nationalists who seek to unite with Ireland.

Northern Ireland was established as a unionist, Protestant-majority part of the UK in 1921, following independence for the Republic of Ireland, so ONeills nomination was seen as a highly symbolic moment for nationalists.

This is a historic day which represents a new dawn, ONeill said. That such a day would ever come would have been unimaginable to my parents and grandparents generation. Because of the Good Friday Agreement that old state that they were born into is gone. A more democratic, more equal society has been created making this a better place for everyone.

ONeill will share power with deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly from the Democratic Unionist Party. The two will be equals, but ONeill, whose party captured more seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly in the 2022 elections, will hold the more prestigious title.

Neither side can govern without agreement from the other. Government business ground to a half over the past two years after the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) walked out to protest trade issues related to Brexit.

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The North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission is asking a federal court to dismiss state Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls' First Amendment lawsuit against the group. Paperwork filed Friday also asks the court to reject Earls' request for a preliminary injunction.Earls' Aug. 29 lawsuit argued that a commission investigation into her published comments threatened tothe justice's speech about matters of public concern.according to a brief supporting the dismissal motion filed Friday in US District Court.The judicial standards group acknowledged that it notified Earls on Aug. 15 of aof statements attributed to her in a published article. The statementsaccording to the commission's lawyers.The judicial standards commission cited a 1971 US Supreme Court precedent, Younger v. Harris, that saidThe commissionaccording to a separate brief filed in opposition to Earls' request for an injunction.Earls could raise her constitutional concerns during the commission hearing, and the Younger precedentEven if the federal court accepts Earls' claims,commission lawyers argued.according to the brief.Another document filed by Brittany Pinkham, the commission's executive director, offered more information about a group that usually operates with little public scrutiny.The 14-member Judicial Standards Commission is chaired by state Appeals Court Judge Chris Dillon. Dillon, a Republican, was initially appointed to the chair's post by then-Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley, a Democrat. Current Chief Justice Paul Newby, a Republican, reappointed Dillon.The commission now has six Democrats, five Republicans, and three unaffiliated members. They conduct business in two seven-member panels.The commission offered 283 "confidential, written informal advisory opinions" to judges in 2022. Those opinions offer ato judges.Pinkham declared to the federal court.That same year the commission had 560 complaints pending against judges across North Carolina. Just 28 reached the formal investigation stage, Pinkham said. Anof formal investigations ended with the complaint's dismissal.Pinkham indicated to the federal court.Earls' lawsuit says the commission has initiated two investigations against her this year related to public commentsThe publication Law360 published a June 20 interview titledShe was responding to a May 17 article in the North Carolina Bar Association's publication. That article focused on the race and sex of lawyers arguing cases as the state's highest court.according to the complaint.The First Amendmentthe complaint added.Earls argues that the investigation into her commentsShe accuses the commission ofThe justice labels the August notice part of aher free-speech rights. Her complaint cites an earlier investigation in March. It related to comments Earls made about rule changes and a proposed legislative change linked to the state's courts.District Judge William Osteen admonished both Earls and the Judicial Standards Commission in September forlanguage in their court filings.
Will Janning, a 2016 ECU construction management graduate, works as a project engineer for Balfour Beatty, an international construction company that is building a new high-rise bridge that connects Harkers Island to mainland Carteret County. (Photo by Rhett Butler)

This post appears here courtesy of ECU News Services . The author of this post is Ken Buday Will Janning watches as a seagull flies across a clear sky. The nearby water greets the sand he stands on, allowing him a dry spot from where he can see more than two years of his work in front of him. The 45-foot-tall bridge stretches more than half a mile across The Straits, a waterway that separates Harkers Island from mainland Carteret County. From the top, you can spot the Cape Lookout Lighthouse staring back at you as it keeps watch over 20 miles of blue ocean.said Janning, who works as a project engineer for Balfour Beatty, an international construction company that is building the new Harkers Island bridge.Janning is among a growing contingent of East Carolina University construction management graduates who have turned their degrees into high-paying and rewarding careers that are literally shaping the region.Janning said of his ECU education.Where he is today is coastal Carteret County, roughly two hours from ECU's campus. Janning has been a part of the Harkers Island bridge project since it began in 2021, helping write and execute contracts and then serving as a member of the on-site management team for the span that will open in a matter of months.Janning said.As if building a 3,200-foot bridge across open water isn't difficult enough, this span is particularly unique. It is the first in North Carolina to be constructed with carbon fiber reinforced polymer strands instead of steel rebar. The design means the bridge should withstand the corroding coastal environment better than traditionally built bridges such as the one it's replacing.The current bridge to Harkers Island is about 50 years old. The new bridge is expected to last 200 years, putting Janning at the forefront of what could become the future of bridge construction in the state.Janning credits the foundation he received at ECU for paving the way for his opportunity at Balfour Beatty. To give back, he represented Balfour Beatty at this fall's engineering and technology career fair, recruiting future Pirate graduates and talking to them about his job.he said.An internship - part of the construction management degree requirements - paved the road to success for Ryan Hoggard.The 2023 ECU graduate had accepted a job as an asphalt plant foreman for Barnhill Contracting Company in Williamston a month before he donned his cap and gown for commencement.said Hoggard, who grew up in Windsor, about an hour north of ECU's campus.In the plant's control tower, Hoggard must regulate the mixture and temperature of the asphalt as it is created. Changing weather conditions affect his work and the plant, which can produce 2,000 tons of asphalt a day, enough to pave roughly four miles of road.He said he appreciates the family-oriented company and enjoys knowing that the work he does is helping to shape the future of the state.Hoggard said.He said the courses he took at ECU pay off daily in his work at Barnhill.Hoggard said.The health care industry initially attracted Hoggard when he entered college. But he grew up digging in the dirt as a boy and always had an interest in architecture and how things are built. He switched majors to construction management and is already training to be a plant superintendent. He certainly sees the value in his construction management degree.he said.Mauricio Reyes Ricardez never gets bored with his work.said Reyes Ricardez, a 2022 construction management graduate and current field engineer for Lithko Contracting.The hands-on experience in the construction management program is what drew him to ECU.he said.He said he had plenty of support at ECU from his fraternity brothers at Beta Theta Pi as well from his mother, Alejandra Ricardez, father, Joaquin Reyes, and the rest of his family.he said.Less than a year after graduation, Reyes Ricardez received his first solo assignment as a field engineer. He is overseeing the line and grade of an industrial project that includes a 579,000-square-foot warehouse in Graham. Essentially, he is mapping out the project using advanced instrumentation and ensuring its accuracy based on the architectural and structural drawings. But he sees a bigger picture.he said.He returned to Greenville to help Lithko recruit the next generation of Pirate builders during the September career fair.Reyes Ricardez said.As a teaching assistant professor in ECU's Department of Construction Management, Dr. Jodi Farrington keeps an eye on the construction job market.she said.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for construction managers is around $101,000, and the industry expects nearly 5% job growth through 2027. Farrington said the industry recognizes the importance of construction managers.she said.ECU owns the oldest construction management program in the state, one with accreditation from the American Council for Construction Education. Yet still, Farrington said many don't understand the program's mission.she said.And there's plenty of work. Farrington said ECU construction management graduates often receive multiple job offers, with a job placement rate of nearly 100% for each graduating class.Ava Jones gets it. The freshman from Raleigh came to ECU to major in construction management because she sees an industry that pays well and will never go away.Jones said.
The Department of Homeland Security paid an activist group $700,000 to create self-described propaganda that attacked conservatives, a new investigation found.DHS used a grant program intended to combat terrorists, called the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Program, to pay activists to write blog posts that criticized Donald Trump and other conservatives under the guise ofthe Media Research Center found through public records requests.In its funding application, the University of Rhode Island's Media Education Lab declared thathad becomeIt asked DHS for funding to runthe grant application said.The findings position the University of Rhode Island's Media Education Lab and a closely linked activist group, Media Literacy Now (MLN), at the center of a sprawling, government-funded campaign to run propaganda on Americans to create a mandate for increased censorship. The Daily Wire reported last week that the same groups were also paid by the State Department, which had them arrange for German anti-activists to train U.S. school teachers on the techniques used in that country, which has some of the most anti-free speech policies in the West.MRC said the grant shows that Congress must abolish all domestic censorship programs.the MRC concluded in its investigation.it wrote.The DHS grant led to an entity known ashelmed by U-RI professor and leftist activist Renee Hobbs, which said that its program would use the funds to manipulate the public and policymakers into demanding policies to crack down onIt saidtraining was especially needed in Rhode Island becauseand that some residents of the January 6were from the state.The anti-terrorism grant program was created under the Obama administration, and Miles Taylor, the DHS chief of staff under Donald Trump who gained notoriety for writing a New York Times op-ed admitting to undermining Trump from within, maneuvered to ensure that it lived on despite his boss' wishes, according to a 2020 Politico article. By this year, the program was being used to explicitly liken people who believed that there is a- the idea that unelected bureaucrats might behave like Miles - to Holocaust deniers.The Rhode Island Lab used the DHS money to pay people $250 each to write blog posts aboutThe articles pushed for Left-wing policies, even though federal grants cannot be used to fund lobbying. The posts sometimes had less to do withthan political opining, railing against the National Rifle Association and Stand Your Ground laws.one post said, complaining that Trumpit pledged.another said, claiming thatThe DHS-funded entity served to bring together federal and state law enforcement officials, anti-speech activists, teachers, and Democrat advocacy groups.Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore, a Democrat, made his department an official partner of Courageous RI, and assigned his staff to ghost-write the program'sThe Manifesto said thatAmore said at Courageous RI's launch event.The Rhode Island School Superintendents Association and the U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island, Zachary Cunha, are also among Courageous RI'smembers, as is Moms Demand Action, a Left-wing anti-gun group.Though it was billed as teaching people how to identify propaganda and misinformation, the grant culminated in paying youth to create government-sanctioned messages. Thegave cash prizes of up to $1,000 to students who generatedAs part of itsit trained teachers to use the classroom to root outencouraging them toIt said with DHS funding, it would train more than 6,800 educators and students to embedThe final prong in the program wasA June 2023 event pushed a video that said that the reason Hispanics tilted towards the Republican Party in 2020 was because ofagainst Joe Biden inwith Russia possibly to blame. It called for social media companies like Meta to more aggressively censor information in response.The conversations also included a podcast series. In one episode, DHS agent Robert Mahoney, the grant's administrator, appeared as a guest.he said.Courageous RI official Pam Steager asked how people couldThose precursors to theoretical extremism could include mainstream American positions. In another podcast episode, Hobbs promoted a lesson plan that had children listen to a podcast in which a Southern Poverty Law Center employee likened opposition to illegal immigration to Nazism.
Joseph Webb, CEO at Nashville General Hospital joins the podcast to take us on a journey through his career, unveil growth strategies to shape Nashville General Hospital, detail exciting initiatives, explain projects driving the hospital's mission, and provide advice for healthcare executives.

Summary

Summary of Healthcare Executives - SEO Friendly Article

Joseph Webb: Unveiling Growth Strategies for Nashville General Hospital

Joseph Webb, CEO at Nashville General Hospital, takes us on a journey through his career and shares growth strategies to shape the hospital's future. He emphasizes the importance of utilizing evidence-based management and available data to target strategic goals and outcomes for their patient population. Nashville General Hospital is planning for a new hospital that will expand services such as acute care for behavioral health patients, skilled nursing, a center for women's health, and comprehensive oncology services. The hospital's goal is to keep people healthy and out of the hospital while ensuring no one is turned away. Challenges for building the new hospital are being addressed through an owner's representative and collaboration with local universities for training and education.

Dr. Andrea Willis: Focusing on Health Disparities and Essential Hospital Designation

Dr. Andrea Willis, Chief Medical Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, shares her career journey and the important focus areas for healthcare executives. She discusses her initiatives at the hospital, including working with the Congregational Health and Education Network (CHEN) to reduce health disparities and advocating for essential hospital designation to provide resources for safety net hospitals. Dr. Willis encourages leaders to engage in evidence-based management, prioritize workforce planning, and prepare for escalating costs in healthcare.

Dr. Wayne J. Riley: Addressing Challenges and Opportunities in Healthcare

Dr. Wayne J. Riley, President of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, shares insights on his journey in healthcare and the current challenges and opportunities in the industry. He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and networking for leaders in healthcare organizations. Dr. Riley also highlights the need for addressing health disparities and inequities to improve overall healthcare outcomes.

Note: This is an AI generated transcript, not edited by a staff writer and is solely intended for educational purposes. If you have any questions/concerns, reach out to podcasts@beckershealthcare.com

This episode aired on 01/29/2024 and can be listened here.

Subscribe to Beckers Healthcare Podcast here.
Michelle O'Neill on Saturday became the first nationalist leader of Northern Ireland's government, a historic moment for the British territory prompted by the return of power-sharing after the biggest pro-U.K. party ended a two-year boycott.

In a special sitting, the Northern Ireland Assembly first voted to resume devolved governing and then nominated the pro-Irish unity Sinn Fein politician as first minister.

The landmark move came after the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) ended its walkout from the Stormont institutions after striking a deal this week with the U.K. government over post-Brexit trade rules.

The assembly also appointed the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly to be O'Neill's deputy and filled other top ministerial posts.

Under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement, that ended three decades of sectarian violence over British rule in Northern Ireland, the first minister and deputy first minister posts are equal.

But the appointment of a Roman Catholic, pro-Irish unity first minister in a nation set up as a Protestant-majority state under British rule is hugely symbolic.

It not only reflects Sinn Fein's position as Northern Ireland's biggest party but also shifting demographics, since the island of Ireland was split into two self-governing entities in 1921.

'A day of optimism'

"This is an historic day and it does represent a new dawn," O'Neill told fellow lawmakers shortly after her selection, noting it was "unimaginable to my parents' and grandparents' generation."

"We must never forget all those who have died or been injured or their families," she said.

"I am sorry for all the lives lost during the conflict without exception," she said, adding: "I am wholeheartedly committed to continue in the work of reconciliation between all of our people."

U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed the development as "an important step."

"I look forward to seeing the renewed stability of a power-sharing government that strengthens the peace dividend, restores public services, and continues building on the immense progress of the last decades," he said in a statement.

O'Neill takes office facing the pressing problem of fixing budgetary constraints and crumbling public services that have sparked widespread industrial disputes in Northern Ireland.

She has called the assembly's restoration "a day of optimism" and urged a joint effort to tackle the problems.

The 47-year-old has been first minister-designate since May 2022, when Sinn Fein became the largest party in elections for the 90-seat assembly.

But until now, the DUP boycott of the assembly had prevented her from taking up the role.

Northern Ireland shares the U.K.'s only land border with the European Union, with the Republic of Ireland to the south. Under the 1998 peace accord it needs to be kept open, without infrastructure.

London struck a separate Brexit trade pact with Brussels over Northern Ireland, which mandated port checks on goods arriving there from mainland Britain  England, Scotland and Wales.

Unionists, though, said that effectively keeping only Northern Ireland in the EU single market and customs union risked cutting it adrift from the rest of the U.K., and made a united Ireland more likely.

'Sustainable'

But after two years of protracted negotiations, the DUP has returned to power-sharing.

The deal it struck with London this week will ease routine checks on goods crossing the Irish Sea destined to remain in Northern Ireland.

The U.K. government will release a 3.3 billion ($4.2 billion) package to bolster struggling public services there, after a series of strikes in recent weeks over pay.

"Today is a good day for Northern Ireland, a day when once again our place in the United Kingdom and its internal market is respected and protected," DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said at Stormont.

Chris Heaton-Harris, Northern Ireland Secretary in the U.K. government, said he was "confident" it would now have "sustainable government... for a very long time."

However, smaller, more hardline unionists remain bitterly opposed to Stormont's return. (AFP)
Several posters were on display critical of the US Government's involvement in the conflict. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press.

The march is just one of several which have taken place in Belfast since October. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press.

The march is just one of several which have taken place in Belfast since October. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press.

A protestor with red paint on their hands to symbolise blood. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press.

In Belfast on Sunday afternoon, pro-Palestinian activists marched from Queen's University to the US consulate building in the south of the city. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press.

In Belfast on Sunday afternoon, pro-Palestinian activists marched from Queen's University to the US consulate building in the south of the city. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press.

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protestors have marched through Belfast city centre from Queens University to the US Consulate buildings demanding a ceasefire, as the Israel-Gaza conflict continues.

In pictures from the demonstration, protestors can be seen carrying large signs stating Ceasefire Now while some signs contained accusations of genocide from Israel against those living in Gaza.

The protest is just one of several which have taken place in Northern Ireland since the conflict broke out following a Hamas-led attack against Israel which resulted in the death of over 1,000 Israelis and kidnapping of hundreds of hostages.

Read more Israel gives most detailed warning yet to Hezbollah as Gaza war hits four months

A protestor with red paint on their hands to symbolise blood. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press.

Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK.

Following the attacks, Israel launched a counterattack by bombing the Gaza Strip and launching an invasion. The Hamas-led health ministry in Gaza has said Israels military offensive has killed over 25,000 Palestinians and injured at least 62,000 people, with the United Nations saying women and children are the main victims.

Several signs at Sundays march included references to BDS  boycott, division and sanctions, an effort to boycott businesses and groups with ties to Israel.

The march is just one of several which have taken place in Belfast since October. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press.

Posters seen at the event also displayed messages which were critical of the US government for their support of Israel.

On Saturday, the US alongside the UK, continued their strikes in Yemen against the Iran-backed Houthis, claiming the group are attacking ships destined for Israel.

It comes as Israels national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, said he did not believe US President Joe Biden had not given Israel sufficient support to its war in Gaza in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.
Police Federation calls on new Justice Minister Naomi Long to show attacks will carry severe penalties

The PSNI has condemned attacks on police officers following a weekend which saw 25 of their staff injured on duty over the space of 24 hours.

Police said across Saturday morning and Sunday morning in Belfast alone 18 officers were injured, including seven in one incident.

Attacks on police also included an officer being spat at in the city, with another officer bitten by a man in Banbridge while responding to a reported assault.

Read more Man (37) charged after PSNI officers injured following Newry ramming incident

PSNI Superintendent Nigel Henry said: Between Saturday morning and Sunday morning, 3 and 4 February, across Northern Ireland, 25 police officers have been injured on duty, resulting in eight arrests for assault on police.

While thankfully no officers received any serious injuries and all were able to remain on duty, these assaults on our officers while simply doing their job is not acceptable.

Across Belfast alone, 18 officers were injured, which included seven officers in one incident. While arresting a woman following a report of criminal damage in north Belfast, one officer was spat at, with six others kicked and punched.

An officer was bitten by a man in Banbridge, who was being arrested following a report of an assault.

Two officers received minor injuries after their vehicle was rammed several times in Newry on Saturday night.

Superintendent Henry continued: These are just some of the examples to highlight the risks our officers face every day. We, as a Police Service, will investigate these attacks rigorously, just as we would were it a member of the public.

Our officers are here to help, and respond to calls assisting people. Assaults on police are unacceptable, and must not be tolerated as simply being part of the job.

The Police Federation also criticised the level of attacks and called upon them to be investigated, appealing to the new Justice Minister Naomi Long to take the lead.

PFNI Chair Liam Kelly said: This is wholly unacceptable level of violence against our men and women on duty. Twenty-five officers injured  eighteen of them across Belfast  shows there is an ongoing issue and worrying disrespect in some quarters towards the police.

Our officers do not deserve to be spat at, bitten, kicked and punched as they go about performing their lawful duty. They are there to uphold the law and protect people and are certainly not there to be treated so disgracefully. Officer welfare is our priority and thankfully in these incidents in Belfast, Banbridge and Newry, serious injuries were prevented.

These attacks will be fully and rigorously investigated and my hope is that we will see people prosecuted. When they are before the Courts, I hope sentences are handed down that reflect the seriousness of assaulting officers.

Society has to send a clear message to would-be thugs. Officers are not there to be singled out for attack and only stiffer sentencing will get that message through to those who think they can behave in this matter with minimum consequences.

Assaults on our colleagues are reprehensible. Even though there were no serious injuries inflicted, the mere act of being singled out by thugs can have an adverse impact on their psychological wellness. Assaults must stop, and I would appeal to our new Justice Minister to take the lead in showing that behaviour such as we witnessed over the weekend will carry severe penalties.
Returning Health Minister Robin Swann has written to trade unions in Northern Ireland to invite them for discussions around pay after reiterating his intention to resolve the current industrial action.

Mr Swann took up his post again following the restoration of the Assembly and Executive on Saturday, having previously been minister from January 2020 to October 2022.

Last month health workers joined thousands of others on the picket lines across Northern Ireland calling for pay parity and a new pay deal.

That is my immediate priority and I want to see pay negotiations being initiated without delay, consequently I have written to the trade unions inviting them to early discussions, Mr Swann said.

"Staff are the bedrock of the health service and they are entitled to proper remuneration for the vital work they do.

I am both honoured and humbled to return to this role. We do not have a minute to waste given the scale of the issues facing services.

The pressures across all parts of the system have built up over many years and cannot be quickly or simply fixed. However, I am convinced that a way forward is achievable through investment, improved productivity and efficiency and changing how we organise some services.

I am very conscious of the toll the current pressures and service shortfalls are taking on staff and patients. We must take the right decisions that will give citizens more timely access to care and treatment.

I intend to see for myself all parts of the health and social care system once again over the coming weeks and this will help inform the policy priorities I will set.

He continued: I will also be discussing with Ministerial colleagues about how best the Executive can collectively support health and social care.

An ailing health service is not just bad for patients and staff  it also impacts heavily on society as a whole.

Debilitating delays for treatment and care stop people playing their full part in their local community and in the workplace. Improving access to health and social care has to be an absolute priority for Government here.
PMs visit comes as First Minister Michelle ONeill says Irish unity poll can absolutely happen in next decade

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said it is time for Northern Ireland to take charge of its own future as a new political era dawns.

Mr Sunak is due to meet members of the Executive at Stormont on Monday morning, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also expected to visit.

The Prime Minister will be welcomed to Parliament Buildings by the new First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

He will arrive as ministers get down to business after being appointed at Saturdays Assembly sitting.

The Government has pledged 3.3 billion for the new Executive to stabilise finances, including 600m to settle public sector pay claims.

Newly appointed First Minister Michelle ONeill, left, and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly (NI Assembly/PA)

Writing in Mondays Belfast Telegraph, Mr Sunak said it marks an important and historic moment when Northern Ireland once again takes charge of its own future.

He said legislation fast-tracked through Parliament as part of the Governments agreement with the DUP would affirm Northern Irelands constitutional status as part of the UK.

Saturdays Assembly sitting came after the DUP ended a two-year boycott of the political institutions as part of a protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements.

The appointment of Ms ONeill was a moment of history - the first time a nationalist has held the post of First Minister.

Arriving in Northern Ireland on Sunday night, Mr Sunak said the focus should now be on delivering for families and businesses across Northern Ireland.

PM Rishi Sunak visiting the NI Air Ambulance base

Read more Meet the ministers in the new Executive

Speaking during a visit to the headquarters of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland in Lisburn, he said: It is great to be back in Northern Ireland this evening, a special part of our United Kingdom.

In the last few days, we have made significant progress towards a brighter future for people here.

Yesterday, the Assembly sat for the first time in two years. Tomorrow the Executive will meet.

Tonight I have been meeting with volunteers and the crew at the Air Ambulance. It is people and services like this, and many more, that the Executive can now focus on, delivering for families and businesses across Northern Ireland.

And with the new deal that we have agreed, they will have both the funding and the powers to do exactly that.

The Prime Minister said the 3.3bn funding package from Westminster was a generous and fair settlement.

Mr Sunak said he thought there was a fantastic cause for optimism after Stormont returned, adding there was a special opportunity now for Northern Irelands political leaders.

The Prime Minister was asked what he made of Ms ONeills claim that she expects a vote on Irish unity to take place in the next decade.

He sidestepped the question, saying: Obviously, everyone is committed to the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.

But I think everyone also agrees that now is the time to focus on delivering on the day-to-day issues that matter to people, to families, to businesses in Northern Ireland.

Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill has been appointed as Northern Irelands first nationalist First Minister (Liam McBurney/PA)

Earlier, in an interview with the BBC, Ms ONeill discussed her belief a united Ireland was likely.

Asked if she thought it could happen in her lifetime, she replied: Absolutely I do. I think that thats all ahead of us.

I believe were in a decade of opportunity, I think a lot of the old norms are gone and I think that as we move further into the next decade, a lot of things are changing in terms of our island.

The opportunity to get towards a referendum on Irish unity is absolutely within touching distance.

Asked if it could happen within 10 years, she replied: Yes, I believe so.

In a separate interview with Sky News on Sunday morning, she spoke again of a decade of opportunity.

She also referred to comments from party leader Mary Lou McDonald earlier in the week when she said she believed Irish unity was within touching distance.

Ms ONeill said: My election to the post of First Minister demonstrates the change that is happening on this island, and that is a good thing, its a healthy thing, because this change, I think, can benefit us all.

Saturdays Assembly sitting started with the election of former DUP leader Edwin Poots as Speaker.

Following the nomination of Ms ONeill and Ms Little-Pengelly, Alliance leader Naomi Long was confirmed as returning to serve as Justice Minister.

The remaining ministerial portfolios were decided by the DHondt process based on party strengths.
Women listen to a speaker during a weekly rally in Tel Aviv, Israel, calling for the release of hostages who were kidnapped on October 7 (Maya Alleruzzo/AP)

Israels military has issued its most detailed warning yet to Hezbollah in neighbouring Lebanon that it would be ready to attack immediately if provoked.

The comments came as the military recounted its actions along the northern border during four months of war in Gaza and made a rare acknowledgement of dozens of air strikes inside Syria against the militant group.

We do not choose war as our first priority, but we are certainly prepared, military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said, adding: We will continue to act wherever Hezbollah is present, we will continue to act wherever it is required in the Middle East. What is true for Lebanon is true for Syria, and is true for other more distant places.

The comments followed the defence ministers warning that a ceasefire in Gaza against the militant group Hamas would not mean Israel would not attack Hezbollah as needed.

Israeli soldiers drive in armoured vehicles in southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip during ongoing ground operations (Tsafrir Abayov/AP)

Efforts to close wide gaps between Israel and Hamas in pursuit of a ceasefire continued in the region where concerns about a wider war with Iran-allied groups remain.

A top Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, said they were studying the proposal put forward by the US, Egypt, Qatar and Israel but insist on Israel accepting conditions including a permanent ceasefire.

The war in Hamas-run Gaza has levelled vast swathes of the tiny besieged enclave, displaced 85% of its population and pushed a quarter of residents to starvation.

The Health Ministry in Gaza said on Saturday that 107 people were killed over the past 24 hours, bringing the wartime total to 27,238.

More than 66,000 people have been wounded.

In Gazas southernmost town of Rafah, at least 17 people including women and children were killed in two separate air strikes overnight, according to the registration office at Abu Yousef al-Najjar hospital where the bodies were taken.

The first strike hit a residential building east of Rafah, killing at least 13 people from a single family.

Four women and three children were among the dead, hospital officials said.

Palestinians line up for free food distribution during the ongoing Israeli air and ground offensive in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip (Hatem Ali/AP)

Two children are still under the rubble, and we dont, still we dont know anything about them, relative Ahmad Hijazi said.

The second strike hit a house in Rafahs Jeneina area, killing at least two men and two women.

More than half of Gazas population of 2.3 million has taken refuge in Rafah and surrounding areas.

Israels defence minister warned earlier in the week that Israel might expand combat to Rafah after focusing on Khan Younis, southern Gazas largest city.

While the statement alarmed aid officials and international diplomats, Israel would risk significantly disrupting relationships with the United States and neighbouring Egypt if it sends troops into Rafah, a key entry point for aid.

In Khan Younis, where Israels military said operations would continue for several days, the Palestinian Red Crescent said at least 11 people were injured when Israels military fired smoke bombs at displaced people sheltering at its headquarters.

It followed a siege that Israels military has laid on the Red Crescents facilities for 12 days, the group said, adding that it had documented the killing of 43 people, including three staff members, inside the buildings by Israeli fire during that time.

Israels military did not address the charitys allegations of firing on the buildings, the killings or the blocking of access, and asserted that the al Amal Hospital facilities had adequate fuel and electricity.

Activists protest in Tel Aviv, Israel, against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for new elections (Maya Alleruzzo/AP)

Israel says it is determined to crush Hamas and prevent it from returning to power in Gaza, an enclave it has ruled since 2007, in response to its October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war.

Hamas still holds dozens of the roughly 250 hostages taken in the attack, after more than 100 were released during a one-week truce in November.

Those releases were in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

Thousands of people gathered again in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening for anti-government protests to express growing frustration at how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his administration have handled the war.

If we need to stop the war now and call for a ceasefire in order to bring those people back home to their families, and start to rebuild them and take care of them, thats the most important thing for us to do, said one protester, Karen Levy.

In a sign of Hamass resilience despite Israels deadly air and ground campaign in the past four months, four residents and a senior official in the militant group said it has begun to resurface in areas where Israel withdrew the bulk of its forces a month ago, deploying police officers and making salary payments to some of its civil servants in Gaza City.

Four Gaza City residents told The Associated Press (AP) that in recent days, police officers deployed near police headquarters and other government offices, including near Shifa Hospital, the territorys largest.

The residents said they saw subsequent Israeli air strikes near the makeshift offices.

Smoke rises behind rubble from buildings destroyed in the Israeli armys ground operation in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, adjacent to the Gaza border fence (Tsafrir Abayov/AP)

The return of police marks an attempt to reinstate order in the devastated city, a Hamas official told AP.

The official said the groups leaders had given directions to re-establish order in parts of the north where Israeli forces had withdrawn, including by helping prevent the looting of shops and houses abandoned by residents who heeded Israeli evacuation orders and headed to southern Gaza.

Since seizing control of Gaza nearly 17 years ago, Hamas has operated a government bureaucracy with tens of thousands of civil servants, including teachers and police who operate separately from the groups secretive military wing.

Israeli military leaders had said they had broken up the command structure of Hamas battalions in the north, but that individual fighters were continuing to carry out guerrilla-style attacks.

Israel claims to have killed more than 9,000 Hamas fighters.
The proposal seeks to discourage 44 drivers from taking their vehicle into Paris (Michel Euler/AP)

Parisians are voting whether to muscle 4x4s off the French capitals streets by making them much more expensive to park, the latest leg in a drive by mayor Anne Hidalgo to make the host city for this years Olympic Games greener and friendlier for pedestrians and cyclists.

Ms Hidalgo is looking for voters backing for a proposal to triple parking fees for 44 drivers from out of town.

She argues the vehicles take up too much space on narrow Parisian streets, are too polluting and threaten our health and our planet, and cause more accidents than smaller cars.

The time has come to break with this tendency for cars that are always bigger, taller, wider, she said. You have the power to take back ownership of our streets.

The cost for non-residents to park 4x4s in Pariss central districts, numbered one to 11, would soar to 18 euro (15) per hour for the first two hours, compared to 6 euro (5) per hour for smaller cars.

The mayor of Paris said voters have the power to take back ownership of our streets (Alamy/PA)

After that, parking would become increasingly punitive. A six-hour stay with a 44  for example to see a theatre performance and dine at a restaurant  would cost a whopping 225 euros (193), compared to 75 euros (64) for smaller vehicles.

Away from the heart of the city, in Pariss outer districts numbered 12 to 20, an out-of-town 44 driver would pay 12 euros (10) per hour for the first two hours, progressively rising to 150 euros (128) for six hours.

The mini-referendum is open to Parisians registered to vote.

Cyreane Demur, 20, voted in the chic 8th district that includes the car-clogged Champs-Elysees and its chaotic traffic circle around the Arc de Triomphe.

The student said heavier cars make congestion even more complicated and one must consider the ecology, the parking issues.

But Jadine LOrlendu, 75, said 4x4s do not disturb me, they do not take more space than other cars, the parking places are marked, and people should drive what they want to drive. Its about freedom.

The question voters are asked is: For or against the creation of a specific rate for the parking of heavy, bulky, polluting individual cars?

Polling stations close at 7pm local time (6pm UK time) with results expected on Sunday evening.
Famed design guru whos been visiting capital for decades hits back at citys detractors

Interior design icon Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has paid tribute to the bosomy domes and strong columns of Belfast as he dismissed the citys critics.

The legendary Changing Rooms presenter (58) is in town as he hunts for BBC Northern Irelands Home of the Year 2024 and was full of praise for the much-maligned capital.

Once famously derided by Eamonn Holmes as full of vomit, drunks, crime, dirt and urine and more recently labelled a dump by prominent publican Pedro Donald, the city has taken a few knocks over the years.

Belfast skyline

However, fashion guru Laurence thinks such takes are wide of the mark and we take for granted what we have on our doorstep.

Thing with Eamonn is, he joked, and I know him very well, when is he going to say something nice about anything. Hes such a grumpy old bugger.

I love Eamonn to death but if you ever want to get the grumpy news, you always go to Eamonn, dont you.

Youre always going to be disparaging about where you grew up but as someone from the outside who is very engaged here, I can have a different perspective.

Its not very useful just to stay, Oh its crap, I think theres a lot of exciting and surprising craft going on here.

Theres a lot of Elgar, oom-pah-pah (design) here too thanks to the Troubles holding back on development so theres much here which wasnt altered by the 60s and 70s.

Eamonn Holmes on Conversations with Gerry Kelly

The Malmaison and the City Hall, particularly, are things that suit this huge, majestic natural landscape perfectly.

Anything twiddly and Georgian wouldnt work, you need these big columns and big, bosomy domes just to work with this incredible mountain-scape which surrounds the city.

I work everywhere from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur and view these things from the outside, Im saying I think Belfast is great and the architectural landscape here is very exciting.

Whats unique here is the opportunity to create built structures among some of the most beautiful landscape in Europe. Much of Belfast and Northern Ireland planning and architecture has a relationship with its surroundings and that is an incredibly contemporary idea, and something to be celebrated, there you go Eamonn!

Next time I see him Im going to tell him hes wrong about Belfast. Eamonn lives in a sea of beige, I must say to Ruth she should let me into the house while hes sleeping so I can paint the bedroom purple or something.

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and wife Jackie Bowen

The celebrated designer also revealed his love of Tayto crisps and spoke of his horror around fellow crisp-lover Gary Linekers rumoured snub of the local staple on his last visit.

Were on the Taytos already, he continued. Theyre the noisiest crisps in the world, we did a tour of Tayto Castle when I was here some years ago filming a show called Northern Exposure.

So we know all about them, theyre very Tayto-ey, theyre very evocative of Northern Ireland and have more flavour than any other crisps, they literally ruin you for other crisps.

Apparently Gary Lineker didnt have any while he was here, he is Mr Walkers I suppose, theres a bit of news for you, he was here and didnt eat a Tayto crisp, talk about snobby Englishman, crikey!

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen

Laurence has been back and forth to Northern Ireland many times over the years for filming and paid tribute to the post-Good Friday regeneration of the city.

He continued: I always remember there were so many big derelict buildings along the docks and flightpath coming in to land.

Its nice to see the city now finding exciting and unusual uses for those spaces and there is a great sense of reuse.

It would be nice if they employed me to redecorate actually, Im talking myself into the job of redesigning Belfast here, he joked.

One of the first paid endorsements I did was over here actually, this is brilliant, it was for female urinals.

This guy was bringing them in for nightclubs and so on and I could see the benefit of it, there was this room full of journalists and it was just the most weird thing.

I was so believing in them and I think it was at a time when not many people came over here for that sort of thing. Ive always enjoyed coming to Northern Ireland.

Our man with Laurence

Changing Rooms was hugely popular here, I think our audience in Northern Ireland was bigger than EastEnders at one point.

When you talk to someone here about an object in their home they dont just tell you, Oh we bought it in Ikea or whatever.

They tell you everything about that object and how it came to be in their home, the lunch they had just before, the row they had in the car afterwards, how their best friend Jean got one too.

And thats exactly how it should be, everything in our home should have a backstory and a meaning, because it should be important and not just something bought to make the house into a show home for resale.

Theres something about making shows here where people are much more happy to tell you that stuff, in places like Asia and Australia people can be more guarded. I think its a Celtic thing actually and is definitely part of the storytelling tradition of Ireland.

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen

When discussing the modern trend of all-grey interiors he grimaced and said: Oh my God, dont, I mean, look out of the window, its all grey already.

A hundred years ago people here wouldnt have dreamed of painting their living room grey, for that very reason, it would be Pompeiian Red or British Racing Green, it would designate as being about them, not something that gets lost in the landscape.

Theres always been a very ballsy attitude to snobbery here too which Ive always enjoyed, its always very much I like this, so Im doing it.

It can be very dull doing a show within the M25 and everything is about status and what everyone else has.

Turning finally to House of the Year entries once more, Laurence added: Please enter and let us come and see some scintillatingly personal Northern Ireland homes.

The search is now on to find Northern Irelands House of the Year with more information on BBC NIs website
Actor says beloved 2004 movie kickstarted his career and wider Northern Ireland film industry

Niall Wright (far right) in Hope Street with, from left, Kerri Quinn and Ciaran McMenamin

Belfast actor Niall Wright has told of the huge debt of gratitude he owes Mickybo and Me, which launched his career and helped kickstart Northern Irelands film and TV industry.

The star of Hope Street had just turned 12 when he landed the role of Jonjo in the heart-warming 2004 tale of two young Belfast boys from different sides of the community at the start of the Troubles in 1970.

His pal, the eponymous Mickybo, was played by John Joe McNeill, with whom he reunited in the 2006 film Middletown.

While John Joe decided not to pursue acting, Niall was bitten by the bug and went on to study at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, before securing roles in BBC NIs 6 Degrees, the music biopic Good Vibrations and, more recently, the BBC series Hope Street, playing PC Callum McCarthy.

John Joe McNeill and Niall in Mickybo and Me

Speaking to Sunday Life ahead of a 20th anniversary screening of Mickybo and Me at the Strand Arts Centre on Thursday, Niall said he had been too young at the time to appreciate the cultural significance of the film and the role it played in Northern Irelands movie industry.

But he added he felt proud to have starred in such a well-loved film and to have been part of a cast that included Julie Walters, Ciaran Hinds, Adrian Dunbar and Gina McKee.

Over the years Ive never really reflected on the film, but with this anniversary event coming round, its made me think about it and just how important the film was, said Niall.

At the time, I was just going on set every day and doing something that I loved, but now I see how much Mickybo and Me did for the film industry in the North and how it helped kickstart the industry here.

It gave me a platform and opened doors for me. Other things followed for me, including Middletown, before I went off to university and then drama school.

I owe so much to Mickybo and Me and its director and producer Terry Loane and Mark Huffam. It was a special film to be part of.

Niall Wright (far right) in Hope Street with, from left, Kerri Quinn and Ciaran McMenamin

As one of six children, Niall and his siblings were sent to classes with speech and drama teacher Gwyneth Murdock, where he first found his passion for performing.

A short film, based on Owen McCaffertys script Mojo Mickybo, had been mooted and Niall was put forward to audition for one of the lead parts.

A few years later, Terry got in touch with Nialls mum to say a feature-length version was going into production, but that Niall was probably too old for the role by now.

He told her a casting call had gone out in the media and he didnt want her or Niall to be upset when they heard about it.

But in a Sliding Doors moment, the casting call didnt produce a suitable boy for the part of Jonjo, so Terry returned to Niall and offered him the part.

Fortunately, while hed just turned 12, he still looked young for his age.

John Joe and Niall in Mickybo and Me

Mickybo and Me is set during 1970 and tells the story of a young Catholic and a young Protestant boy who form a friendship based on their shared obsession with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, forming a plan to escape Northern Ireland and relocate to Australia.

It was widely praised at the time for its themes of childhood innocence, community, friendship and family.

Niall had no idea who his big-name co-stars were at the time and admitted he would now be nervous about going on set or on stage with the likes of Julie Walters or Ciaran Hinds.

But 20 years ago, his childhood naivety didnt hold him back when it came to critiquing a co-stars accent.

I was doing a scene with Gina McKee, who is English, and when she started speaking, I called her out and said Thats not how you pronounce that word in our accent, said Niall.

I mean, I got away with it. She laughed. Terry laughed awkwardly. I thought nothing of it. But I wouldnt dream of doing that today, obviously.

Niall and Ciaran Hinds in Mickybo and Me

The sold-out screening, which Niall will attend, on February 8 is one of a number of fundraising events organised to support Strand Arts Centres 6.5m redevelopment project.

Niall said he was delighted to see the Strand investing in more spaces for performing arts and that it was important to support the sector and the next generation of actors.

A second screening of Mickybo and Me will be held at Strand Arts Centre in east Belfast on February 18
Hage Geingob, president of Namibia, one of Africas most stable democracies, died Sunday while receiving medical treatment at a local hospital, his office announced.

The Namibian presidency said Geingob's medical team at Lady Pohamba Hospital did its best to help him, but he died with his wife, Monica Geingos, and children by his side, in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Angolo Mbumba, Namibias acting president, called for calm, saying in the same post that the Cabinet will convene with immediate effect in order to make the necessary state arrangements in this regard.

Local media reported Mbumba has called for an urgent cabinet meeting.

According to Namibias constitution, there should be an election to choose a new president within 90 days of Geingobs death.

Geingob was undergoing treatment for cancer. The 82-year-old had a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy on Jan. 8, followed by a biopsy, his office said last month.

He returned home on Jan. 31 from the United States where he had undergone a trial two-day novel treatment for cancerous cells, according to his office. In 2014, he said he had survived prostate cancer.

Geingob, president of the southern African nation since 2015, was set to finish his second and final term in office this year. He was the countrys third president since it gained independence in 1990, following more than a century of German and then apartheid South African rule.

After spending nearly three decades in exile in neighboring Botswana and the U.S. as an anti-apartheid activist, Geingob returned to Namibia as its first prime minister from 1990 to 2002. He also served in the same capacity from 2008 to 2012.

Soft-spoken but firm on advancing Africas agenda as an important stakeholder in world affairs, Geingob maintained close relations with the U.S. and other Western countries.

But, like many African leaders, he also forged a warm relationship with China, refuting claims that Beijing is aggressively asserting economic influence over countries in Africa as a form of colonialism.

Namibia, which is on the southwestern coast of Africa, enjoys political and economic stability in a region ravaged by disputes, violent elections and coups. However, the country's opposition slammed Geingob last year for endorsing disputed elections in Zimbabwe.

Condolences from various African leaders poured in on Sunday.

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa posted on X, saying Geingobs leadership and resilience will be remembered.

Cyril Ramaphosa, president of neighboring South Africa and one of Namibias largest trading partners, described him as a  close partner in our democratic dispensation and a towering veteran of Namibias liberation from colonialism and apartheid.

Kenya's Prime Minister William Ruto said Geingob was a distinguished leader who served the people of Namibia with focus and dedication and strongly promoted the continents voice and visibility at the global arena.

In a statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would forever cherish his memories of meeting Geingob. It is difficult to overestimate his personal contribution to developing friendly relations between Namibia and Russia.

Namibia, a country of just over 2.5 million people, is rich in minerals such as diamonds, gold and uranium. Despite being classified as an upper-middle-income country, socioeconomic inequalities are still widespread, according to the World Bank.

Namibians were expected to head to the ballots in November to choose a new leader. (AP)
Wannabe caped crusader and TikToker also caught with nunchucks

Ballymenas answer to Batman has had his wings clipped by a judge who fined him 500 for having weapons in a public place.

TikToker Benjamin Wilkinson had swapped his mask and cape for a suit when he appeared for a hearing at the towns magistrates court on Thursday.

He admitted having nunchucks and a lock knife at the Tower Centre on December 19 last year. Wilkinson was stopped and searched by police after shopping centre staff alerted the PSNI to a man wearing a Batman mask and carrying a shield.

Wilkinson without his Batman disguise

Officers seized the nunchucks and retrieved a double-bladed lock knife that had been hidden in a plant pot on Wellington Street, just outside the shopping centre.

Wilkinson told police he had just bought the weapon and had stashed the knife in the plant pot because he thought taking it into the Tower Centre would have been inappropriate.

The 27-year-old, from Crebilly Road in the town, made full admissions when he was interviewed by the police.

The court was told he had recorded and livestreamed the entire incident.

A defence lawyer said his client had approximately 5,000 followers on TikTok, also noting: I am not one.

The lawyer also claimed Wilkinson had been using the nunchucks to assist with the outfit.

The court was told the defendant had gone to the Tower Centre to get food, with the security guards no doubt surprised at being confronted by Batman.

Wilkinson made full admissions during police interviews

After the judge made an order to have the knife and nunchucks destroyed, Wilkinson asked for a photocopy of the order. The judge rejected his request, saying: It will be in the papers.

Judge Nigel Broderick also asked about Wilkinsons financial position, and was told his TikTok videos were very lucrative.

Imposing a 250 fine on each of the counts, he said that at almost 30 years old, the wannabe caped crusader should have some element of maturity.

He continued: I have no difficulty with you making a TikTok video and recording yourself. You are perfectly entitled to do that. But you are not entitled to arm yourself with weapons that are potentially dangerous.
Hidden camera recorded midwife (55) stealing medication

Medic who retired after launch of investigation to be sentenced for her crimes next month

Donna Marie McGreevy

Paul Higgins Sun 4 Feb 2024 at 08:20

A retired midwife has been convicted of stealing medication from Antrim Area Hospital.
With powersharing officially back in action, we run the rule over the latest appointments

John ODowd is the new infrastructure minister

Andrew Muir is the new agriculture minister

Gordon Lyons is the new communities minister

Paul Givan has taken the top job in education

Conor Murphy is the new economy minister

Edwin Poots is the new speaker

As expected, the role went to veteran DUP man Edwin Poots  the joint longest-serving politician at Stormont.

The South Belfast MLA was elected to the first Assembly in 1998 and served as a short-lived DUP leader.

He previously served as a minister in several departments, including health, culture, agriculture and environment.

Mr Poots backing for DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was crucial in the party agreeing to restore powersharing.

His critics claim the speaker role was a pay-off for his backing, something the politician has rubbished.

Justice minister: Naomi Long

Its a case of meet the new boss, same as the old boss, with Naomi Long back at the justice ministry she has held since 2020.

Because of the sensitivity of the role, Sinn Fein and the DUP have never taken on the position.

Top of Mrs Longs in-tray will be reform of the creaking courts system, in which it can often take more than five years for serious cases to reach a conclusion.

She will also be keen to examine PSNI staffing levels, budget and pay issues, and deal with legal challenges against controversial legislation supported by the Department of Justice that grants lifetime anonymity to sex case suspects for 25 years after their deaths.

Economy minister: Conor Murphy

Seasoned Sinn Fein politician Conor Murphy is the new economy minister, a portfolio that was his partys first pick.

The Newry and Armagh MLA is seen as a safe pair of hands  having been finance minister before the Assembly collapsed two years ago.

Mr Murphy is keen to showcase Northern Ireland as an investment opportunity, particularly to US businesses.

He will also have the unenviable task of improving run-down city and town centres crippled by energy and rates pressures.

Encouraging new flight routes into Belfast will also be an important part of the new economy ministers brief.

Finance minister: Caoimhe Archibald

In a surprise development Sinn Fein MLA, Caoimhe Archibald is the new finance minister.

The DUP had been tipped to take the position after Sinn Feins Conor Murphy claimed economy. However, they instead opted for education. Seen as a rising star in the party, Ms Archibald was elected as an East Londonderry MLA in 2016.

She will be in charge of the 3.3bn financial package promised by the British Government as a sweetener for getting Stormont back up and running.

Education minister: Paul Givan

DUP MLA Paul Givan, who is a former first minister, returns to the Executive table as education minister.

It will be a baptism of fire as he seeks to sort out the long-running pay dispute that has seen teachers striking and schools closed.

Repairs to crumbling buildings and fixing issues in the special education sector are also a major priority.

Mr Givan, a Lagan Valley MLA for 14 years, brings considerable experience to the role.

Communities minister: Gordon Lyons

The DUPs Gordon Lyons, a key adviser to Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, has been rewarded for his loyalty with the communities portfolio.

Seen as a strategic thinker, he has a mammoth workload, including migrating the old tax credit system, which is encountering problems. Dealing with a lack of social housing, waiting lists and an almost eight per cent increase in Housing Executive rents will present him with further headaches.

Decisions will also need to be made around cuts to arts funding, with grants having been slashed by a third in recent years.

Health Minister: Robin Swann

Ulster Unionist Robin Swann is back as health minister  a job that made him Northern Irelands most popular politician during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Having held the portfolio before, he knows exactly what challenges lie ahead, including ongoing strikes over pay and conditions, staffing levels and a significant over-reliance on agency workers.

The North Antrim MLA will also have to deal with the brain drain which has seen qualified nurses leave Northern Ireland for better paid positions abroad.

Another big challenge is dealing with lengthy waiting lists that have become considerably worse since the pandemic.

Agriculture minister: Andrew Muir

North Down MLA Andrew Muir is the new agriculture minister  a position he was keen to nail down having been a member of the Assemblys Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

Considered an able politician, his in-box will include climate change considerations, with Northern Ireland lagging behind current targets.

Lough Neagh pollution is another problem needing addressed, and so too is a ministerial list of 10 outstanding decisions needing signed-off.

Mr Muirs nomination is being seen as a millstone for equal rights as he is the first gay member of a Northern Ireland Executive.

Infrastructure minister: John ODowd

John ODowd, one of Sinn Feins most able media performers, is back as infrastructure minister  a position he held on an interim basis in 2022.

The Upper Bann MLA brings a wealth of experience to the table through his former roles as education minister and acting deputy first minister.

Immediate issues that need looked at include finding the cash to upgrade the A5 and the Belfast Transport Hub.

Mr ODowd will also have to deal with the fallout from proposals to scrap free bus and train travel for the over 60s.

cbarnes@sundaylife.co.uk
East Belfast man convicted for assault on police during early hours altercation

This is the self-styled protector of the neighbourhood who was given a dressing down by a judge after turning up to court in short trousers.

David Patterson (55), from east Belfast, was given short shrift by a miffed magistrate shortly before pleading guilty to assault on police and disorderly behaviour over an incident where he shouted paedophile outside an east Belfast house.

As Patterson entered the public gallery at the back of Court Seven at Laganside Magistrates Court, an irate District Judge McCafferty remarked: Has he turned up to court wearing shorts?

Patterson was wearing a blue windbreaker-style jacket adorned with a poppy pin-badge, navy shorts and walking boots.

Following an awkward silence the judge told his solicitor: Tell him to attend court dressed appropriately next time.

Prosecutors told the court police received a report of a disturbance on Elmgrove Court, Belfast, at around 2am on July 29 last year.

A male later identified as Patterson and a female co-accused were observed screaming the word paedophile outside a property, the court heard.

David Patterson

As PSNI officers attempted to deal with the situation an enraged Patterson advanced towards them while drunk and ignored police attempts to make him leave the area.

He later tried to headbutt a police officer before being arrested, prosecutors said.

Pattersons defence solicitor admitted his client was intoxicated, telling the court: Far too much drink had been taken but he accepts that is no excuse for his behaviour.

Some people in the neighbourhood have expressed discontent with an occupant of a house in the area.

Reacting to the submissions on Pattersons behalf, Judge McCafferty was aghast at the explanation provided for Pattersons conduct.

He thundered: So this man set himself up as a protector of the neighbourhood by going out drunk at two in the morning and guldering in the street?

The custodial threshold has been passed and I am strongly considering it as an option.

Alongside the assault on police and disorderly behaviour charges, Patterson had also been charged with criminal damage and resisting police. He pleaded not guilty to the criminal damage charge which was dismissed by the court while the charge of resisting police was withdrawn.

The matter was adjourned until March pending the compilation of pre-sentence reports as a sheepish, shorts-clad Patterson left the courtroom.
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Moses is one of the most recognized figures of the Bible and much more than an Exodus hero. We know a great deal about Moses from the details we are provided in the Old Testament books of Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy; however, theres much more to Israels mighty leader than what weve seen on the big screen. Recognized universally as the deliverer of his people, the Israelites, from slavery to Egypt, Moses is also credited with establishing Israels judicial and religious systems. He was so incredible and his life was so instrumental that his story has been brought to life in many film adaptations, including The Ten Commandments, the film that ended up becoming Charlton Hestons most successful work. While there are many things you likely know about Moses from the Bible and film, there are also a number of things you may not know about the great hero of faith. There are likely a number of facts on this list you may have missed. Here are six of the most interesting facts about Moses.

He was the first abandoned child mentioned in the Bible.

Moses mother hid her baby until he was three months old because she didnt want him to be killed by the Egyptians. She knew that Moses might be found, so she did what she had to do to save him by setting him afloat in a basket on the Nile River. The Bible tells us, But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile (Exodus 2:3).

He was 80 years old when he led the children of Israel out of Egypt.

We know from Scripture that Moses lived to be 120 years old, but it wasnt until he was 80 years old that God called him to lead His people out of Egypt. When Moses was 80 years old, God told him to return to Egypt and He would free the Israelites from slavery. God gave Moses specific directions on what to say and do. Moses was also told ahead of time that Pharaoh would not let the people go first, but finally after 10 plagues fell on the Egyptians, Pharaoh sent for Moses and told him to take the Israelites out of Egypt.

He had leprosy.

Moses is believed to have had leprosy, at least briefly. We can see the instance referred to in Exodus fourth chapter. Moses objects when God tells him to return to Egypt and confront Pharaoh. God has Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he pulls it out again, his hand was covered with scales, like snowflakes. When Moses again puts his hand in his cloak, it comes out clean (Exodus 4:6-7). What exactly Moses did wrong has been debated by scholars. Biblical leprosy is described in Leviticus 13 as a progressive disease that causes scabs, crusts and white patches on the skin, turns hair white and causes bald spots.

He likely stuttered.

Moses most likely had a speech impediment. There are two points of interest in Exodus 4:10. The minor of the two comes at the beginning of the response in which Moses expresses his feelings of his calling of God. The major of the two comes at the end of his comment in expressing why he feels that he cant accept his calling. The New Living Translation of the Bible records Moses response to Gods call in Exodus 4:10, O Lord, Im not very good with words. I never have been, and Im not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.

He wasnt allowed to enter the Promised Land.

Moses is believed to have sinned by not having faith in the Lord and disobeyed a direct command from Him. That is the reason he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. God asked Moses to speak to the rock before his eyes and water would pour out which could be used by them and their livestock to drink, but Moses went ahead and hit the rock and water poured out. But the Lord said that as he didnt show faith in Him and instead hit the rock so he must not bring this community to the land He has given them. His punishment for disobedience and pride was that he was barred from entering the Promised Land.

The location of his tomb is unknown.

Another interesting fact about Moses is that God buried him in a location which is hidden from everybody. The tombs of Abraham, Isaac and Jacobs are known but Moses tomb is still unknown. God had sent back Moses to Egypt to demand the release of Hebrews into the desert. God told him that the elders will listen to him and then he can take the elders with him to the King and ask him to release the Hebrews. He died in Midian at the age of 120. The Bible tells us he was healthy and unimpaired when he died.

Before Moses died, he reminded the people of all the Lord had done for them. The whole book of Deuteronomy is a record of what was said. Moses read the Ten Commandments to them again. He then went up into the mountain, looked into the Promised Land and then died as God said. Today, we have someone who is greater than Moses: Jesus Christ who is still leading people out of sin. His shed blood still allows Gods fierce wrath to pass over those who have repented and put their trust in 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.
Almost 400 Xinjiang scenic spots offer free admission during the Spring Festival

Global Times) 10:16, February 04, 2024

Near four hundred A-class scenic spots in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region offer free admission to travelers during the Spring Festival holidays - from February 10 to 24, a move to further embrace the ice and snow tourism boom across China over the upcoming major festival holiday.

As the boom of the ice and snow economy continues into the Spring Festival holiday, the marketing frenzy in Xinjiang and other regions reflects that local economy is benefiting from the robust recovery of consumption in China and local economic governance is improving, experts said.

Xinjiang also introduced a series of high-quality travel routes and key cultural activities during the Spring Festival holidays, China Central TV reported.

During the Spring Festival and Lantern Festival, various prefectures and cities in Xinjiang will host a total of 724 key cultural events showcasing local customs, folk traditions, and cultural heritage. There will be 221 tourism-related activities in total, the report said.

Local scenic areas have quickly moved to capitalize on market trends like the ice and snow boom and continuously launched marketing events to expand related consumption, attracting consumers from across the country and even globally, Tian Yun, a Beijing-based veteran economist told the Global Times on Friday.

"I believe this is a very smart approach and also reflects the development of local economy and improvement of governance capabilities," Tian said.

The surge in ice and snow tourism, which started from the New Year holiday, or even earlier, has already brought benefits of consumption recovery to various parts of China, from Harbin in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province to Sanya in South China's Hainan province.

During the three-day New Year's Day holidays amid this round of ice and snow tourism boom, Xinjiang welcomed more than 1.66 million trips, up 195 percent year-on-year, and generated about 1.76 billion yuan in tourism revenue, up 424.3 percent year-on-year, according to data from local media ts.cn.

In the whole year of 2023, tourism in Xinjiang also achieved rapid growth, with the region reporting more than 265.44 million trips, surging 117.04 percent year-on-year in 2023, ts.cn reported.

As the Chinese Lunar New Year holidays approach, it is expected that the tourism market nationwide will continue to see a relatively big boom, Xu Xiaolei, a marketing manager at China's CYTS Tours Holding Co, told the Global Times on Friday.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
President Joe Biden 's latest campaign swing is taking him across the country to Nevada, where the first-in-the-West primaries are underway with early and absentee voting. But the Democrat and his team are also using the visit to shore up support for the general election in November.

Biden was arriving in Las Vegas on Sunday for appearances through Monday. He was flying in from California after events there Saturday.

The president last visited Nevada in December, when he highlight more than $8 billion in federal funding for passenger rail projects nationwide. On Sunday, Biden plans to meet with voters in the city's majority-Black Historic Westside and speak with community leaders about infrastructure investments.

Michael Tyler, a spokesperson for Biden's reelection campaign, said the president will rally supporters to vote in Tuesday's primary and help build momentum for the fall, in what in shaping up to be a rematch of the 2020 contest against Republican Donald Trump.

In Tuesday's primary, Biden faces only token opposition from author Marianne Williamson and a handful of relatively unknown challengers. He won Nevada in November 2020 by fewer than 3 percentage points.

The state known largely for its casino and hospitality industries is synonymous with split-ticket, hard-to-predict results. It has a transient, working-class population and large Latino, Filipino and Chinese American and Black communities. There is a stark rural-urban divide, with more than 88 percent of Nevada's active registered voters  and much of its political power  in the two most populous counties, which include the Las Vegas and Reno metro areas.

In 2022, Democrats successfully defended their U.S. Senate seat and lost the governors office. The six constitutional officers elected statewide are split evenly among Democrats and Republicans.

The narrow victory of U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto helped Democrats party keep control of the Senate for the remainder of Bidens current term.

Working in Biden's favor this year is the vast Democratic operation built by the late U.S. Sen. Harry Reid. The Reid Machine has for years trained operatives and retained organizers and is partially why, despite Nevadas status as a purple state, Democrats have won every presidential election here since 2008.

But early signs show Biden could have more ground to make up than in past races. Voters are largely dissatisfied with the likely Biden-Trump rematch. A New York Times/Siena poll from November shows that Bidens approval rating is 36 percent in Nevada.

I know from my reelection, the issues that matter to Nevadans are still those kitchen table issues, Cortez Masto said in an interview.

Biden has built his reelection campaign around the theme that Trump presents a dire threat to U.S. democracy and its founding values. The president also has championed the defense of abortion rights, recently holding his first big campaign rally, in Virginia, where the issue energized Democrats who won control of the states House of Delegates.

Biden also promotes his handling of the economy, arguing that his policies have created millions of jobs, combated climate change and improved American competitiveness overseas. But polls show that many voters arent giving his administration credit.

The Democratic National Committee last week announced a six-figure ad buy in Nevada and South Carolina, where Biden won the leadoff primary Saturday. The ads are meant to boost enthusiasm among Black, Asian and Latino voters statewide, including radio, television and digital ads in Spanish, Chinese and Tagalog, and a billboard in Las Vegas Chinatown.

As early voting began last weekend in Nevada, Trump asserted without evidence during a campaign rally in Las Vegas that he was the victim of the Biden administration's weaponizing law enforcement against him. Trump has been indicted four times and faces 91 felonies.

About a mile away, Harris warned union leaders at a get-out-the-vote rally that Trump "made clear his fight is not for the people. His fight is for himself.

Dan Lee, an associate professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said that for Biden, "the map says he has to hold on to Nevada.

The Republican primary is also Tuesday but the state GOP is holding caucuses on Thursday to allocate delegates. Trump is competing in the caucuses; rival Nikki Halley opted to stay on the nonbinding primary ballot. (AP)
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Coronation Street star Claire Sweeney has been eliminated from Dancing On Ice, after she lost out in a skate-off with comedian Lou Sanders.

The actress, 52, said she was happy she had got through the day after she suffered a sprained rib in rehearsals.

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As a result she had to make a last-minute change to her burlesque-inspired routine to her own rendition of Hey Big Spender with partner Colin Grafton.

Claire and Colin are all-singing, all-dancing tonight!  #DancingOnIce pic.twitter.com/TEFT0KRGcK  Dancing on Ice (@dancingonice) February 4, 2024 Advertisement

Despite her pain, before the performance Sweeney said: I will definitely be on tonight, nothing is stopping me.

She ended up at the bottom of the leaderboard as she scored 23.5, and told presenters Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern: I was trying to be sexy with a dodgy rib, but the show must go on, get on with it.

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She received a muted response from the judges, with Oti Mabuse saying: I love that you were very flirty and demanding, but it felt like you were doing too many lifts.

Jayne Torvill agreed, telling her: Well done for being such a trouper, but the show must go on. I would have liked to see a bit more footwork.

Sanders also ended up near the bottom of the leaderboard after she performed a waltz to Eva Cassidys What A Wonderful World with partner Brendyn Hatfield.

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What a wonderful waltz from Lou and Brendyn #DancingOnIce pic.twitter.com/tkE8YVIOzx  Dancing on Ice (@dancingonice) February 4, 2024

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She scored 24.5, but judge Christopher Dean praised her lovely, slow, lyrical romantic waltz, as her best skate so far.

West End star Amber Davies dazzled when she performed a cha cha cha to Michael Bubles Sway with partner Simon Proulx-Senecal.

Amber and Simon painted the rink red tonight! #DancingOnIce pic.twitter.com/i15xj2kFiz  Dancing on Ice (@dancingonice) February 4, 2024

She topped the leaderboard with 34, the highest score of the series, besting Miles Nazaire, who held that record for just a few minutes.

Asked about the risks she took with the bold routine, Davies said: I am a bit of a daredevil, my mum and dad had a nightmare with me when I was younger.

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Nazaire scored 31.5 for his ballet-inspired routine with partner Vanessa Bauer.

Miles and Vanessa's performance was on pointe  #DancingOnIce pic.twitter.com/ctWH2TBSzE  Dancing on Ice (@dancingonice) February 4, 2024

Judge Ashley Banjo hailed his massive improvement, while Dean said: Who knew there was a (Rudolf) Nureyev lurking inside you?

Elsewhere there was levity when EastEnders star Ricky Norwood sported a pair of lederhosen to perform a German folk dance to YMCA by the Village People with partner Annette Dytrt.

Ricky and Annette brought Oktoberfest to the ice  #DancingOnIce pic.twitter.com/k8OQtbJFFN  Dancing on Ice (@dancingonice) February 4, 2024

He scored 24, as Banjo said he was dressed as a style icon.

Meanwhile Eddie The Eagle Edwards performed a jive on a jungle-themed set, complete with a 10ft chameleon, alongside his professional partner Vicky Ogden.

Despite losing his footing during the routine to Karma Chameleon by Culture Club, he scored 28.5.

Banjo said: I love watching you, it looks like youre having fun, just keep doing what youre doing.

Jayne Torvill added it was another fun routine to watch. There was a tiny moment there, but we didnt see it.

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During the episode Willoughby said there will be a double elimination next week, for musicals week.

She said: I imagine it amplifies the pressure somewhat.

She also said Banjo will be away while he is on the Diversity tour, and he will be replaced by American Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir, who will also be performing.

Dancing On Ice continues next Sunday on ITV.
Stormonts focus should be now be on delivering for families and businesses across Northern Ireland, after powersharing was restored, British prime minister Rishi Sunak has said.

Beginning a visit to Northern Ireland to mark the return of devolved government, Mr Sunak said a 3.3 billion funding package for the region would lead to sustainable public services.

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The institutions were restored after a deal between Mr Sunaks government and the DUP to allay unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

On Thursday, the British government fast-tracked two pieces of legislation contained in the agreement through the House of Commons, opening the way for Saturdays return of the Assembly.

Rishi Sunak will meet Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly on Monday. Photo: NI Executive/PA.

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The British prime minister will be at Stormont on Monday, where he will meet Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly, the leaders of the new executive.

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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will also be at Stormont for a series of meetings.

Sinn Feins Ms ONeill made history on Saturday when she became Northern Irelands first nationalist First Minister, as the Assembly returned after two years in cold storage.

Mr Sunak will carry out a number of community engagements during his visit, meeting people involved in public services.

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On Sunday he visited the headquarters of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland in Co Antrim.

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The British prime minister said: It is great to be back in Northern Ireland this evening, a special part of our United Kingdom.

In the last few days we have made significant progress towards a brighter future for people here.

Yesterday the Assembly sat for the first time in two years. Tomorrow the Executive will meet.

Tonight I have been meeting with volunteers and the crew at the Air Ambulance.

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It is people and services like this, and many more, that the Executive can now focus on, delivering for families and businesses across Northern Ireland.

And with the new deal that we have agreed, they will have both the funding and the powers to do exactly that.

Stormont party leaders are likely to press the British prime minister for additional funding for public services (Liam McBurney/PA)

Stormont parties have indicated that they will press Mr Sunak for more funding to alleviate the pressure on public services in Northern Ireland.

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But the British prime minister said the offer from the UK Government represents a generous and fair settlement.

He added: And crucially, it is sustainable.

It is about ensuring public finances in Northern Ireland are sustainable for the long term. That approach we have taken, I think, will really benefit everyone here.

And now that we have got the Executive back up and running, it is right that people have their local politicians focusing on their priorities, starting with public services.

There has not been devolved government up and running here for far too long. But now we do have it and they can start focusing on delivering for everyone.

Mr Sunak was asked about comments by Ms ONeill predicting there could be a border poll on Irish unity within the next decade.

He said: Obviously, everyone is committed to the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.

But I think everyone also agrees that now is the time to focus on delivering on the day-to-day issues that matter to people, to families, to businesses in Northern Ireland.

It has been without a devolved government here for two years. It is time to focus on things like public services. That is what everyone would expect.

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In fact everyone I was talking to this evening was telling me that that is exactly what they want from their government now that it is up and running again.

Our deal ensures that the Executive will have the powers and the funding it needs to deliver for people.

The new Executive will hold its first meeting on Monday.

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill said Northern Ireland had been starved of funding. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA.

Ms ONeill told the PA news agency that it will need to begin work immediately on tackling public sector funding challenges.

She said: I am determined to do our very best.

This place has been starved of public services funding for over a decade because of the Tories in London, we can do much better than that.

Thats a fight I think we have to fight together and I think theres a combined effort across the Executive to have a proper funding model for here so we actually can do better public services and invest in the public sector workers.
Namibian President Hage Geingob has died while receiving medical treatment, his office has announced.

The Namibian presidency said Mr Geingobs medical team at Lady Pohamba Hospital did its best to help him, but he died with his wife, Monica Geingos, and children by his side.

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He had been president since 2015 and was set to finish his second and final term in office this year.

His deputy, vice-president Nangolo Mbumba, has now been sworn in as acting president to complete the term, as allowed by the constitution.

Elections are set for November. A government statement said Mr Mbumba will lead Namibia until March 21 next year, when the election winner takes office.

Mr Geingob was undergoing treatment for cancer. The 82-year-old had a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy on January 8, followed by a biopsy, his office said last month.

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Hage Geingob had been president of Namibia since 2015 (Peter Dejong/PA)

He returned home on January 31 from the United States, where he had undergone a two-day trial of novel treatment for cancerous cells, according to his office. In 2014, he said he had survived prostate cancer.

Mr Geingob was the countrys third president since it gained independence in 1990, following more than a century of German and then apartheid South African rule.

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After spending nearly three decades in exile in neighbouring Botswana and the US as an anti-apartheid activist, Mr Geingob returned to Namibia as its first prime minister from 1990 to 2002. He also served in the same capacity from 2008 to 2012.

Soft-spoken but firm on advancing Africas agenda as an important stakeholder in world affairs, Mr Geingob maintained close relations with the US and other Western countries.

But, like many African leaders, he also forged a warm relationship with China, refuting claims that Beijing is aggressively asserting economic influence over countries in Africa as a form of colonialism.





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Announcement of the Passing of H.E Dr @hagegeingob, President of the Republic of Namibia, 04 February 2024



Fellow Namibians,



It is with utmost sadness and regret that I inform you that our beloved Dr. Hage G. Geingob, the President of the Republic of Namibia has passed on pic.twitter.com/Qb2t6M5nHi Advertisement  Namibian Presidency (@NamPresidency) February 4, 2024

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Namibia, which is on the south-western coast of Africa, enjoys political and economic stability in a region ravaged by disputes, violent elections and coups. However, the countrys opposition slammed Mr Geingob last year for endorsing disputed elections in Zimbabwe.

Condolences from various African leaders poured in on Sunday.

Zimbabwes President Emmerson Mnangagwa posted on X, saying Mr Geingobs leadership and resilience will be remembered.

Cyril Ramaphosa, president of neighbouring South Africa and one of Namibias largest trading partners, described him as a close partner in our democratic dispensation and a towering veteran of Namibias liberation from colonialism and apartheid.

Kenyas Prime Minister William Ruto said Mr Geingob was a distinguished leader who served the people of Namibia with focus and dedication and strongly promoted the continents voice and visibility at the global arena.

In a statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would forever cherish his memories of meeting Mr Geingob. It is difficult to overestimate his personal contribution to developing friendly relations between Namibia and Russia.

Namibia, a country of just over 2.5 million people, is rich in minerals such as diamonds, gold and uranium. Despite being classified as an upper-middle-income country, socioeconomic inequalities are still widespread, according to the World Bank.
A prized exhibit of the Powerhouse Museum, the Catalina seaplane, may be moved to a volunteer-run museum on the South Coast while its Ultimo buildings undergo renovations.

Discussions are under way to display the seabird at the Historical Aviation Restoration Societys museum in Albion Park as the museum closed its doors to the public at 5pm on Sunday for three years.

Sydneysiders flock to the Powerhouse on its final day before a three-year closure. Credit: Dean Sewell

Minutes before closing time critics of the closure gathered dozens of exiting visitors who, asked to declare their opinions, booed its closure. As the museums temporary closure was announced over the public address system, cries of bullshit and liar could be heard.

The Minns government is overseeing a $250 million renovation at Australias flagship science and technology museum, putting it at odds with the union movement, who say the government has yet to produce costings, or a safe plan for the removal of more than 3000 precious objects inside.
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Exclusive Eating outComing soon Secretive restaurant Enter Via Laundry will soon add a bar  and a front door This bold Indian restaurant has always had an air of mystery. But owner Helly Raichura is about to pull back the curtain and invite guests in for a drink. Emma Breheny February 4, 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

Melbournes supper-club-style Indian restaurant, Enter Via Laundry, has evolved from intimate weekly dinners at its owners home to a 20-seat restaurant in Carlton North, where you still arrive through a rear entrance. Now its about to step out of the shadows, with plans to convert the front room into a small bar serving snacks and Indian-inspired cocktails. Its a significant departure from the clandestine operating style of the restaurant, which has no signage and curtained windows on its Nicholson Street frontage. Enter Via Laundry founder Helly Raichura is about to make her restaurant the most public its ever been. Supplied There is a lot of curiosity among our neighbours of what this secretive place is, says owner Helly Raichura.

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Its also the first time that Enter Via Laundry will be accessible without a booking. Once renovations are complete in whats currently known as the yellow dining room, 10 to 12 people will be able to drop into the bar for a brief taste of Raichuras cooking, which melds native Australian ingredients with regional Indian recipes. Snacks at the bar will include rissois, a Goan bite similar to a croquette. Supplied Raichura devotes her set menus to one region at a time. Right now, the menu focuses on dishes from Kerala, especially those cooked by its Muslim and Christian communities. In the bar, shell offer about five snacks and one dessert, many of them drawn from previous menus. Therell be rissois  a Goan croquette  filled with smoked pork; monji gaade, a Kashmiri snack of fried fish in a spiced coating; and patra poda, spiced prawns steamed in nasturtium leaf.

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Everyone loves that. People can come and have it anytime now, says Raichura. Cocktails combining Indian and Australian ingredients might include a White Russian-inspired drink of vodka washed with toasted macadamia and kaapi, Indian filter coffee. Wines will be selected by sommelier Ben Knight (ex-Vue de Monde), who also wrote the restaurants wine list, and has complete creative liberty to pitch whatever he thinks. The restaurant will remain in the rear of the building, while the bar will occupy the front room. Jana Langhorst While renovations are under way, Raichura will continue to serve tasting menus in the midnight-blue dining room at the rear of Enter Via Laundry. They range in price from $122 for five courses to $212 for between 12 and 16 dishes. The entryway lounge area will become a second dining room. Enter Via Laundry joins fellow Nicholson Street restaurant Scopri in opening a spin-off bar. Scopris Bar Olo is set to open this month.

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Eating outJust open First look: Cantina OK! team open otherworldly late-night tequila bar Centro 86 From the DIY margarita menu, to the Australian-exclusive spirits, Sydney has never seen a tequila bar like this before. Bianca Hrovat February 4, 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

Sydney hasnt seen anything quite like Centro 86, the ambitious new tequila bar from the Cantina OK! team. Its an otherworldly, underground haven of Australian-exclusive tequilas, psychedelic art and custom-made margaritas, like a liquor-fuelled fever dream of a hundred-year-old Guadalajaran bar. Centro 86, which opens on Monday, February 5 after 18 months of development, is the fourth bar from hospitality group Mucho. It follows the success of their micro mezcal bar Cantina OK!, which made it to the list of Worlds 50 Best Bars in 2020, 2021 and 2022 for its pioneering use of agave-led spirits. Walk down narrow Hoskin Lane, around the corner from Swillhouse newcomer The Caterpillar Club, to find the 120-capacity venue with its painted mirrors and long, mosaic bar, custom-made by Australian artist David Humphries to resemble the dreamy desert landscapes of rural Mexico. Centro 86 is a bar for pre- or post-dinner drinks. Janie Barrett Now, more than ever, people need places and moments of escapism, says Mucho creative director Jeremy Blackmore, who joked it will be like an old cantina on mushrooms.

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We want to see the room filled with all the energy and chaos of a classic night out, to come in and discover the hidden quirks of this space. In 2022, Mucho opened Enmore Road martini bar, Bar Planet, introducing Humphries cosmic aesthetic to their brand and helping to bring the classic gin cocktail to new heights of popularity in Sydney. But at Centro 86 (so-named for its city location), its all about the margarita. Much like Bar Planet did with martinis, Centro 86 will stretch your perception of its cocktail-of-choice with the option to create your own customised margarita with hand-shaved ice and freshly squeezed lime juice, choosing from a selection of 100 tequilas. A Spicy Margarita (left) and a Royale Margarita. Janie Barrett Each tequila and blue agave spirit (tequila made outside the Mexican state of Jalisco) was hand-selected by the team  whether during visits to backyard distilleries in the east-central Mexican city of Puebla, or to Australias first commercial-scale agave farm in Bowen, Queensland.

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Some are rapidly aged in-house on cherry wood, pecan wood or iron bark, developing hard-to-find deep, smooth flavours. Tequila is one of the worlds most unique spirits, its really one-of-a-kind because it really speaks to the place it came from, says Blackmore, explaining how the spirit has moved far beyond the hungover-inducing shots of your teenage years. Beyond the DIY drinks, venue manager and margarita expert Ryan Bickley (from Cantina OK!, where hes estimated to have made tens of thousands of them) has helped to develop four signature house margaritas made with low-key cocktail theatre. Photo: Janie Barrett Pisco, agave and white rum will round out the cocktail menu, which focuses on resurrecting forgotten or maligned drinks. The Caprioska, for example, twists the 70s Brazilian classic Caipiroska into a summery cocktail of green tea vodka, lime, sugar and lime ice.



But dont expect any substantial food offering. This is a bar for pre- or post-dinner drinks, when youll be happy snacking on paper bags of Muchos signature popcorn in a secret, yet-to-be-disclosed flavour.

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We think [Centro 86] will bring Sydney a lot of joy, Blackmore says. We love this city and want to make it more human, more weird, more interesting and more fun. Open daily 4pm-2am Basement, 86-88 Pitt Street, Sydney (enter via Hoskings Place), instagram.com/centro.86
Warning to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers: This story contains images and references to a deceased person.

Indigenous leader Dr Lowitja ODonoghue has died, aged 91, after a long career as a nurse, administrator, founding chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and patron of the institute that bears her name and is dedicated to improving the health of First Australians.

ODonoghue died peacefully on Sunday on Kaurna land in Adelaide, with her family by her side, niece Deb Edwards said in a statement.

Dr Lowitja ODonoghue has died aged 91. Credit: Leanne King

Born in 1932 and removed from her mother at the age of two, ODonoghue became one of Australias most significant public policy leaders.
Envirobank has advised that the drink container recycling pods it operated for Containers for Change have been abruptly closed down.

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In an email to customers, Envirobank said it could no longer offer DropnGo services for Containers for Change, and its green pods would be physically removed from various sites across Queensland.

The email described the news as challenging - it is understood 39 pods were cut off at the weekend - and said we are compelled to close these locations abruptly.

The decision comes after the recycling scheme was expanded to include clear glass wine and spirit bottles in December.

In a statement, COEX, the not-for-profit than runs Containers for Change, said Envirobank had decided to remove bag drop services from its new collection agreement. Other bag drop options were being investigated, and customers should check the website for alternatives.
Regional Victorian towns are being plagued by frequent and prolonged power outages inflicting a heavy economic blow on businesses and raising serious safety concerns about emergencies.

Restaurant and cafe owners have been forced to turn customers away and discard large quantities of food for fear of spoilage after losing electricity. Lengthy outages also result in loss of phone reception.

Eighteen Sixty owner Bernie Miller says power outages are plaguing his Nagambie business. Credit: Justin McManus

Residents in some of the worst-hit towns in northern Victoria say they experienced up to 80 hours of power outages in January and December, with cuts ranging from minutes to well over 24 hours in duration.

Bernie Miller, who owns the restaurant Eighteen Sixty in the north town of Nagambie, said he had to cancel two dinner services  one with 60 customers  in the past month because of outages.
Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The Commission of the West African sub-regional bloc, ECOWAS, says it has taken note of the decision of the Senegalese authorities to postpone the presidential election scheduled for 25 February 2024 and urged them to expedite action to set a new date for the vote
A 20-year-old swimmer is feared dead after he was caught in a rip off a Mornington Peninsula beach on Sunday night, potentially adding to this summers high drowning toll, which already broke records last month.

Three friends in their 20s were at Number 16 Beach, on the Bass Strait side of Rye, about 7pm on Sunday when two men got into trouble in the water, Victoria Police Acting Inspector Dean Delle-Vergini said.

One of the males was able to get out, and unfortunately, [the other] got washed away with the rip, Delle-Vergini said. A female friend watched the incident unfold from the beach.

A Life Saving Victoria spokesman said on Monday that 14 people have drowned in Victoria in January  double the five-year average and more than any other January since detailed records began in 2000.
Anthony Albanese is doing everything he can to pile pressure on Peter Dutton to make a quick decision on the revised stage 3 tax cuts when parliament meets on Tuesday.

The prime minister has made a big declaration  Im an honest person  and wants the new package to be made law by Easter for a compelling reason that works for him rather than his rival.

Anthony Albanese is looking to push changes to taxation through parliament as soon as possible. Credit: Artwork: Marija Ercegovac

Labors mission is to compress the timeframe for the argument about Albanese and his broken promise to keep the original stage 3 package because the goal is to finish this dispute in parliament and shift the debate to new ideas in the May budget.

Dutton, however, needs time. The opposition leader has to decide on a broader response to the Labor tax agenda that goes beyond a yes or no and offers an alternative he can take to the next election.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size In the lean years following Labors third successive election loss, a small, cross-factional group of MPs would gather in the Macquarie Street office of Rockdale MP Steve Kamper almost every night during parliamentary sitting weeks. Tucked in a corner of level 10, at the opposite end to the office of then Labor leader Jodi McKay, the four MPs  Jo Haylen and Rose Jackson, warriors of the Hard Left, and Chris Minns and Kamper from the Right  would drink coffee and wine, lamenting the partys fortunes. The three backed Minns in his first unsuccessful leadership ballot against McKay and were certain the party would be consigned to 16 years in opposition unless he managed to depose the Strathfield MP before the 2023 election. Partly the bond was generational: Minns, Jackson and Haylen are of similar ages, while Kamper and Minns are close friends. But primarily, they all ardently believed Minns was the only person capable of dragging Labor out of the wilderness. We were there knowing that Jodi did not have the goods to deliver us into government. Theres nothing like fighting in the trenches to build those bonds, one MP recalls. As parliament resumes for the Minns governments second year in power, the Herald spoke to dozens of ministers, current and former MPs, staffers and lobbyists to understand how the premier, his cabinet and caucus operate.

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Sources were granted anonymity, allowing them to speak openly about the inner workings of the government. As McKays leadership began to capitulate through the middle of 2021, the clique of four grew as more MPs disillusioned with the direction of the party peeled off towards the rebel group. Occasionally, they would be joined by others: Walt Secord, Courtney Houssos, Jihad Dib, Ron Hoenig, Edmund Atalla. Even Tania Mihailuk, who later quit the party to join One Nation, would drop by from time to time. Eventually, what would become Minns senior leadership team began to take shape. Among them were four members of the Hard Left: Haylen, Jackson, Penny Sharpe and John Graham. NSW Premier Chris Minns with ministers Steve Kamper, left, and John Graham, right, at Allianz Stadium Credit: Janie Barrett As one senior Labor source said of the grouping: The coalition that eventually amassed around Minns were people who were sick of being in opposition and wanted to win. The more hyper-factional elements of the party were isolated as a result of that. Despite Minns conservative inclinations  the Kogarah MP voted against the assisted dying bill in May 2022  the praetorian guard of senior left wing MPs around the premier set aside their ideological differences in the pursuit of a long-term Labor government.

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Instead of the old factional divides, the new inner sanctum is united by one thing: Minns. Sacrificing virtues for power? Loading In late March 2022, the then NSW Coalition government fumed as freight operations at Port Botany were incapacitated by protest group Blockade Australia, the second time the group had disrupted a major port in a matter of months. Without first conferring with the party room on his position, Minns was quoted in News Corp papers backing controversial new laws which would introduce penalties of up to two years jail, a $22,000 fine, or both, for protesters who blocked roads, industrial and transport facilities. The laws were almost universally condemned by the disparate coalition which makes up Labors base, and the captains call left sections of the party apoplectic. Historically, protest has always been a pivotal part of the labour movement; curtailing freedoms to do so seemed to fly in the face of everything the party stood for, one MP said. Senior Labor cabinet ministers Jo Haylen (left) and Rose Jackson are both long-time advocates for drug reform. Credit: James Brickwood

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Loading It was a torrid time in caucus once people found out, one Labor source recalled. Within Minns inner sanctum, the policy was publicly supported by members of the Hard Left: Graham, who as shadow roads minister had carriage of Labors position, described the Blockade Australia protests as violent economic blockades, while Jackson accused the protesters of undermining action on climate change. It was the first example of a number of contentious issues where Minns, backed by his progressive ministers, has adopted positions incongruent with Labor principles, instead focused on winning over tabloids and shock jocks, some MPs believe. The Hard Left is a misnomer, one said. We call them the Soft Right. Theyre in power for powers sake, rather than making the world a better place. The word oft-repeated by MPs is transactional: the Hard Left have compromised their political beliefs to be in government.

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Outside of Jackson speaking out on drug law reform in April, for which she was quickly rebuked by Minns in public and private, Labor sources say there is little evidence of progressive, inner-city ministers offering a counterweight to the premiers proclivity to hew to the centre. MPs point to a series of decisions, from Minns forthright support for Israel; the drug summit, which was first expected to be in February, then by the end of the financial year, and now the date is uncertain; and the governments punitive crackdown on knife crime. Loading There are two schools of thought about how you lead governments: One, you stick to your values and deliver policy and that earns you respect, or two, you avoid any issue that might be controversial or polarising, and you shift to mundane bread and butter issues, an MP said. Its uncomfortable because branch members take you to task over the position the party has taken, and you have to say: I didnt get a say. And that can be difficult, a backbencher said. But others see this kind of criticism as political naivete.

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How much time do you need to explore Central Park? Well, how long have you got?

The first rule is dont be in a hurry. Manhattans magnificent green heart, home to 18,000 trees and approximately six per cent of the boroughs land mass, stretches 51 city blocks from north to south.

Central Park  a haven for New Yorkers. Credit: iStock

Its huge, a city within a city, and it takes some time to look around. Fifteen minutes wont do it, an hour barely scratches the surface, an entire day isnt out of the question if the weather is nice and sunny.

As important a landmark as Times Square or the Empire State Building, one of the worlds greatest urban parks might never have existed. A law was passed in 1853, setting aside 313 hectares of prime land for recreation, an antidote to crowded city conditions. Without that law, the land could so easily have become lined with high-rise apartments over time as the population grew and the concrete jungle expanded north.
London: Tucker Carlson appears to have been photographed in Moscow, triggering speculation of an interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russian media published a picture that is said to show Carlson attending a performance of Spartacus at Moscows Bolshoi Theatre.

Tucker Carlson speaks at a conservative conference last year. Credit: Bloomberg

The image  alongside another of him allegedly at Istanbul airport on a layover  reignited rumours that the American political commentator and former Fox News host may be the first Western journalist to interview Putin since the countrys invasion of Ukraine.

The potential visit also follows rumours of Carlson linking up with Russian state television for a new show.
The United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran have reached a tipping point in their long-standing hostility.

Following the killing of three American soldiers and wounding of many more in a drone attack on the US military base Tower 22 in Jordan, for which Washington has blamed the Iranian-backed Iraqi group Kataib Hezbollah, the US has begun a military campaign against this group and similar organisations in Iraq and Syria.

President Joe Bidens choice of response is to degrade Iranian regional capability against the US and avoid a direct conflict with Iran. But the danger of this strategy, amid the spectre of the ongoing Gaza war, could easily further unravel the Middle East.

President Joe Biden stands as an army carry team moves the case containing the remains of 24-year-old Ladon Sanders. Credit: AP

The US and Iran have been locked in a vicious cycle of animosity since the advent of the Iranian, predominantly Shia, Islamic regime 44 years ago. Following the toppling of the pro-Western monarchy of Mohammad Reza Shah in the revolution, the founder of the regime, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, condemned the US for its regionally hegemonic support of the Shahs dictatorial rule and castigated Israel for its occupation of the Palestinian lands, especially Jerusalem  Islams third-holiest site. The takeover of the US embassy in Tehran by Khomeinis militant supporters in 1979, where 52 of the embassys personnel were kept hostage for 444 days, and the USs rejection of the Islamic regime as fundamentalist and an anomaly in world politics, diluted further relations and laid the foundations for a lasting enmity between the two sides.
One97 Communications Ltd (OCL), the parent firm of fintech major Paytm, has denied reports about any investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the company, its associates, and its Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Vijay Shekhar Sharma.

The company, in an exchange filing on Sunday, said it had cooperated with the authorities when users or merchants on its platform were subject to enquiries in the past. We would like to set the record straight and deny any involvement in anti-money laundering activities. We continue to abide by Indian laws and take regulatory orders with utmost seriousness, it said.

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Meanwhile, the company has cautioned against speculation on reasons that prompted the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to take action against Paytm Payments Bank.



For this action, we refer our stakeholders to the official press release of RBI dated January 31, 2024, and not rely on unofficial sources, it added.



The company added: In the past, certain merchants/users on our platforms have been subject to enquiries and on those occasions, we have always cooperated with the authorities.

The company has called the RBI action an ongoing supervisory engagement and compliance process.

On January 31, the RBI said no further deposits or credit transactions or top-ups would be allowed in customer accounts, prepaid instruments, wallets, FASTags, National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) cards, etc., after February 29, 2024, other than any interest, cashback, or refunds that may be credited at any time.

Earlier, in March 2022, the RBI had directed Paytm Payments Bank to stop taking on board new customers on account of alleged know your customer (KYC) violations, and appoint an audit firm.

Violations of KYC norms, leading to money laundering concern, have prompted the RBI to clamp down on Paytm Payments Bank, sources told Business Standard last week.

According to reports, part of the concern included allegedly not maintaining an arms length with promoter group OCL, not disclosing payments to promoters, false submission of compliance, and overall disregard for compliance and transparency.

Major irregularities were found in the KYC process, which potentially put customers, including depositors, at risk, the paper reported last week.

KYC norms were allegedly not followed in a large number of accounts, and there were failures in validating permanent account numbers (PANs) in numerous accounts. There were thousands of cases where a single PAN was linked to over 100 customers, and in some cases more than a thousand customers.

In addition, there were transactions in minimum KYC pre-paid instruments which were beyond the regulatory limits, raising money-laundering concern.

Unusually high numbers of dormant accounts, which could have been used as mule accounts, too were a reason for concern.

Deficiencies in the KYC process and lack of transaction monitoring added to money-laundering concern. Accounts and wallets running into hundreds of thousands were frozen.
Kaama Press, January 31, 2024

Fidel Rahmati

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has expressed concern about the continued expansion of terrorist group activities, particularly al-Qaeda, in Afghanistan. The councils findings indicate that al-Qaeda maintains an active presence in Afghanistan and has established training camps, religious schools, and weapon storage facilities in several provinces of the country.

The United Nations Security Councils report reveals that, despite efforts by the Taliban to limit al-Qaedas activities in Afghanistan, al-Qaeda has preserved its ties with the group while attempting to keep these connections hidden.

According to the report published on Tuesday, January 30th, al-Qaeda has managed to maintain a holding position under the rule of the Taliban, leading to tensions between the Taliban and some al-Qaeda leaders due to the Talibans efforts to restrict the groups activities in Afghanistan.

The United Nations Security Council had previously expressed concerns about the presence of terrorist groups and their activities in Afghanistan. The latest report from the council indicates that al-Qaeda lacks the operational capacity to organize large-scale attacks with its remaining members.

It is said that nearly ten former al-Qaeda members have historical and close ties with the Taliban and are involved in the creation of at least 8 new training camps in the provinces of Ghazni, Laghman, Parwan, and Uruzgan, in addition to the existing camps in Logar, Kandahar, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Paktia, Helmand, Herat, Farah, and Kabul.

This report exposes connections between the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and the Pakistani Taliban movement (TTP). In one instance, it is mentioned that Hakeem al-Masri, a recognized member of al-Qaeda, is responsible for training camps and suicide training in Kunar, which is clearly used to strengthen the Pakistani Taliban.

The report also highlights the relationship between the Pakistani Taliban and the Taliban, stating that the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has previously assisted Taliban fighters, and some members of the group view their support to the Pakistani Taliban as a religious duty.

The United Nations Security Council also mentions several other terrorist groups active in Afghanistan, such as the Jamiat Ansar al-Islam, which receives support from al-Qaeda and is working to solidify its position, while others are actively regrouping.

As of now, the Taliban has not responded to the United Nations Security Councils report, but senior officials of the Taliban have previously emphasized that Afghanistans soil will not be used against any country.
Qaumi Chaupal is an exercise to reach out to the predominantly male voters and connect them with the BJP

Seeking to connect with voters of the minority community in Muslim-dominated Lok Sabha constituencies of western Uttar Pradesh, the minority front of the BJP is all set to organise 'Quami Chaupal' in more than 4,100 villages and discuss issues concerning them.

The campaign will start on February 10 from Kaserwa village of Muzaffarnagar district.

The BJP's Minority Morcha will depute Lok Sabha constituency-wise in-charge for the 'Qaumi Chaupal' programme to be organised in 23 Lok Sabha constituencies of Western Uttar Pradesh



BJP Minority Morcha's Uttar Pradesh unit president Kunwar Basit Ali told PTI that the Morcha has selected 23 Muslim dominated Lok Sabha constituencies, including Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Kairana, Meerut, Baghpat, Bulandshahr, Bijnor, Amroha, Rampur, Bareilly, Agra and Aligarh, for the programme.

Leaders of the Morcha will visit the Muslim-dominated villages and discuss various schemes of the government and the work done by the government for the minorities.

The Morcha will also seek to understand the various issues and problems faced by the community.

Ali said the main objective is to connect more and more Muslims with the BJP. These chaupals will be organised in the homes of eminent persons of the village or in madrassas.

He said the Morcha's effort is to connect with that section of Muslims who are looking for a party that will work for their welfare. When this section of Muslims joins the BJP, they will vote in favour of the BJP for their respect and also to remain associated with the party.

He said in order to organise Qaumi Chaupals in all the 23 Lok Sabha constituencies, one in-charge of the Morcha will be appointed who will stay in the area under his charge for at least 10 days and will communicate with the Muslim villagers and try to know their problems.

Ali said the Morcha's 'Shukriya Modi Bhai Jaan' programme is also going on, but it is especially focused on Muslim women.

Qaumi Chaupal is an exercise to reach out to the predominantly male voters and connect them with the BJP.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had won 19 out of 26 Lok Sabha seats in Western Uttar Pradesh, while the alliance of Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party got seven seats. This time the BJP is working on a strategy of winning all the 80 Lok Sabha seats of Uttar Pradesh.
The home minister said the government has worked on the model that justice essentially should have three As - accessible, affordable and accountable

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said crimes and criminals do not respect geographical borders and hence, law enforcement agencies should not consider borders as a hindrance and should rather consider those as meeting points for solving crimes.



Addressing the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) -- Commonwealth Attorneys and Solicitors General Conference (CASGC) here, Shah also said when the three recently-enacted criminal justice laws are implemented in the country, one can get justice up to the level of high court within three years of the registration of an FIR.



He said the conference is taking place at a time when geographical borders have become irrelevant when it comes to commerce and crime.



The home minister said there are cross-border challenges for justice delivery, trade, commerce, communication and added that for trade and crime, there is no border.



"Crimes and criminals do not respect geographical borders. Therefore, law enforcement agencies should not consider geographical borders as a hindrance. In the future, geographical borders should be the meeting point for solving crimes," he said.



Shah said geographical boundaries are neither important for trade nor for crime. "Trade and crime are both becoming borderless and at such times, to deal with trade disputes and crime in a borderless manner, we will have to start some new system and tradition," he said.



Shah said governments need to work in this direction as from small cyber fraud to global organised crime, from local disputes to cross-border disputes, from local crimes to terrorism, all are linked in some way or the other.



Referring to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Act, he said after the implementation of these three new laws, India will have the world's most modern criminal justice systems.



The three laws will replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Evidence Act, 1872 respectively.



The home minister said the government has worked on a model that justice should essentially have three As -- accessible, affordable and accountable.



He said the scope of the conference is not limited only to courts, but it is related to the Commonwealth countries and in a way, the common people of the entire world.



Shah said the Constitution of every country has justice and rights as a common factor and it is the judicial system that does the work of realising those concepts on the ground and delivering justice to the last person.



He said the connection between small cyber fraud to global organised crime is becoming very deep.



"From local disputes to cross-border disputes, the connection is becoming deeper. The entire process from small theft to hacking the banking system and data is complete and the connection of international terrorism with local crime is also becoming deeper," the home minister said.



He said crime and criminals do not recognise borders, hence law enforcement agencies will have to be strengthened to control them, otherwise uncontrolled crime will make trade difficult.



A lot of work has been done on many issues, such as exchange-rate fluctuations, trade-protection treaties, issues related to international standards and regulation complaints and contract and dispute resolution, Shah said.



There are still many issues where there is a need to work to control crime, he added.



The home minister stressed the need to increase the use of technology to the extent that it will be possible to incorporate all the changes that will take place in technology in the next 100 years.



He said due to the changing scenario, the judiciary will also have to change and in view of cross-border cases, the use of technology will have to be adopted in the entire process of justice.



"We cannot deliver justice in the 21st century with laws of the 19th century," Shah said, citing the three new laws that were enacted taking into account the advancement of technology.



He said one can benefit a lot from an artificial intelligence-based translation process in the judicial system.

"We can make great use of AI in understanding the nuances of the legal system and cases," Shah said.
Biden said that Americans recognise the significance of the next general election (Photo: PTI)

During a rally at his campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, near his family home, United States President Joe Biden slammed former President Donald Trump, alleging the GOP front-runner "stands for nothing," as reported by The Hill.

Biden's condemnation of the past president, whom he did not identify, came during a Saturday speech in Wilmington.

"I'm feeling good about where we are; I really am," Biden said, adding, "You know, folks are starting to focus in, and the guy we're running against, he is--he's not for anything; he's against everything."

"And no, I mean it, it's the weirdest campaign I've ever been engaged in, it's even worse in terms of his behaviour than the last time in 2020," Biden went on to say.

Reiterating his statement, Biden said that Americans recognise the significance of the next general election.

"I meant what I said back when we announced the first time for president against this guy, and we went up to... up to Independence Hall and made a speech on democracy, and the press kind of thought it was a little bit of an exaggeration, except the Americans didn't," Biden told his supporters, according to The Hill.

"The American people get it. They understand what's going on," he said during the speech.

The president also stressed that during his abroad tours, other countries' leaders celebrate his reelection victory and that his home popularity is gradually regaining momentum.

He noted a recent Quinnipiac poll showing him topping Trump by six points among registered voters in a potential general election fight, as well as two Pennsylvania surveys showing him ahead of his likely Republican opponent.

Vice President Kamala Harris, first lady Jill Biden, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff were also present to support the president and cheer him on throughout his speech.
You could say that a lot is riding on the Lexus LBX. Not only is it Lexus first three-letter named model after the LFA supercar, but becaus...
Mark Gustafson, a principal figure in the stop-motion animation art form and Oscar-winning co-director of Guillermo del Toros Pinocchio, has died at 64 after suffering a heart attack.

In the early 1980s, after earning an art degree from Pacific Northwest College of Art (BFA 1982), Gustafson started working at Portland, Oregon-based Will Vinton Studios as a production assistant. There, he slowly worked his way up through the ranks. Speaking with the Academy last year, Gustafson recalled his early days at the studio fondly, explaining:

When I got that job and I was just sweeping floors and running errands, I thought, Well, Ive made it! This is it. And then you work there, and you wind up helping somebody do something, and you do a decent job at that, so they see you differently. Like, Oh, you can sculpt! Or, You can help us build armatures. Then they would move me up into that, and I was like, Ive made it; now Im sculpting! This is great. I know what my career is. It just marches along, and you just keep getting different things, and, all of a sudden, I found myself animating and then directing.

While at Will Vinton Studios, Gustafson worked as an animator on 1985s The Adventures of Mark Twain and Return to Oz and produced a diverse body of work, which included the shorts Mr. Resistor and Bride of Resistor.

By the mid-1980s, Gustafson found himself in the directors chairs on the iconic California Raisins commercials, a beloved ad series that turned a group of dried grapes into pop culture icons. The ads were such a hit that the Raisins eventually got a mockumentary, Meet the Raisins!, which was nominated for an Emmy in 1988. Gustafson served as a writer, producer, and lead animator on the tv special. In a 2002 episode of Food Networks Unwrapped, Gustafson explained the basics of stop motion to the lay audience:

Gustafson was nominated for another Emmy in 1991 for his contributions to the classic Halloween short Claymation Comedy Horrors and eventually won the award for the 1992 holiday special Claymation Easter.

The California Raisins commercials werent the only iconic ads that Gustafson worked on while at Will Vinton Studios. He also directed the impossible-to-forget 1997 Toys ad for Nissan, which was recognized as the commercial of the year by Adweek, Time, USA Today, Rolling Stone, and Car and Driver, among others. One of the creative directors on the spot, Rob Siltanen, remembered the huge splash the ad made, which led comedian Jerry Seinfeld to quip that, More people talked about that Nissan Toys ad than any movie that came out last year.

When the commercial went the 1997 version of viral, Gustafson was interviewed on the Portland talk show AM Northwest where he attempted to explain why the ad became so popular. You never know whats going to strike peoples fancy, he said. I think one of the things is were sort of dealing with these iconographic figures We sort of brought them together and added fun music to that in a 60-second commercial where all we were doing was telling a fun kind of story.

Storytelling was at the heart of everything Gustafson and the Vinton Studios team did and one of the main reasons that so much of their work holds up today, even their commercial work.

In 1999, Gustafson made the leap from ads and shorts to helming a broadcast tv series with the cult classic The PJs, co-created by Eddie Murphy. For his work on the series, he won Annie Award for tv direction. In an interview from around that time, Gustafson said the prospect of doing an entire show in stop motion was a bit overwhelming:

It seems like a bad idea to even attempt doing this much stop motion. My concern was, `How are we going to maintain the quality? Ive done so many commercials, and they take forever. Theres no way we could have done this if wed approached it the way we do commercials. We had to invent a way to do the show that would really keep the quality because nobody here is interested in doing shlop. So what we tried to do is streamline every aspect of production so that it was all focused on the animation. What it comes down to is getting the animator on the set and in front of a camera so they dont have to bother with anything else.

Wes Anderson recruited Gustafson to serve as animation director on 2009s Fantastic Mr. Fox, which was nominated for two Academy Awards, including best animated feature. About the experience of working with Anderson, Gustafson told the Los Angeles Times that, Honestly? Yeah. He has made our lives miserable, before adding that, I probably shouldnt say that.

Gustafson also made a personal short They Shot in the Dark (below) about the making of Fantastic Mr. Fox that wittily hints at the challenges of communicating with Anderson. The experience couldnt have been too bad though because Gustafson again served as animation director for Anderson on a 2012 Sony Xperia commercial.

Gustafsons career reached new heights in 2022, when Netflix released Guillermo del Toros Pinocchio, which went on to win the Oscar for best animated feature last year. It also received a Golden Globe, three VES Awards, and five Annies, including outstanding achievement in directing for del Toro and Gustafson.

In his 1999 The PJs interview, Gustafson was asked about the future of stop-motion, and his answer proved prophetic and still entirely relevant today. Its hard to say. I dont think stop motion will ever be as big as cel or computers. Im sure stop motion will always have its niche, he predicted. Certainly, his appearance on stage at last years Academy Awards proved that theory.

At the time of his passing, Gustafson was working with Pinocchio studio Shadowmachine on a new stop-motion mystery series titled Milepost 88.

Gustafson is survived by his wife, Jennifer Smieja. Information about other survivors is not immediately available.

As news of his death has spread over the last day, tributes have poured in from friends and colleagues. Gustafsons Pinocchio co-director Guillermo del Toro posted his thoughts and condolences to social media, writing:

I admired Mark Gustafson, even before I met him. A pillar of stop motion animation- a true artist. A compassionate, sensitive and mordantly witty man. A Legend- and a friend that inspired and gave hope to all around him. He passed away yesterday. Today we honor and miss him. He leaves behind a Titanic legacy of animation that goes back to the very origins of Claymation and that shaped the career and craft of countless animators. He leaves friends and colleagues and a historic filmography. Prayers and thoughts go to his beloved wife, Jennifer. They say- Never meet your heroes I disagree. You cannot be disappointed by someone being human We all are. Burning the midnight oil during postproduction, or doing daily animation turnovers via Zoom during COVID or being trapped in an elevator in a Cinema in London. I am as glad to have met Mark, the human as I was honored to have met the artist. As I said, I admired him before I met him. I loved having had the chance to share time and space with him during the highs and the lows. Always and forever.

Jenn Ely, who frequently worked with Gustafson on commercials at HouseSpecial (formerly Laika House) and later on Pinocchio, shared these thoughts:

He was not the kind of person who tries to be center of attention. He could be dry and acerbic and really blunt at times but he was also smart, generous, thoughtful, and weird in the very best way. He loved wigs, and sci fi and self deprecation. He was hilarious. King of the one liner, sometimes hed leave a conversation on a comment under his breath and two minutes later Id catch myself laughing out loud alone at my desk, finally realizing what hed actually said. He could be so quiet and sound so serious, then chime in with something completely left field and just bounce. I was intimidated by him. He brought me in on my very first commercial project, just as Laika House was transitioning to House Special. I had come off of two tough experiences as my first in our industry, and I was starting to wonder if I was in the wrong place. I was between jobs when Mark pulled me in on a stop motion ice cream spot. He didnt just give me a job; he gave me one of my first healthy experiences working in animation. It was fun! I took it and him way too seriously and was always uptight and sort of anxious which was probably uncomfortable for him. He was this hero in my mind, and I was scared of letting him down, which went against his casual nothing to see here nature. Despite that, he just kept hiring me. For the next several years I worked on more than half of Marks projects at House. The other directors there started hiring me as well, and they created the foundation that allowed me to transition to a sustainable freelance career. I feel like that time was when I really learned both how to really do this job, and who I am as an artist. Mark was a huge piece of that and I dont know what my journey would look like without him. Mark had amazing taste. His style always leaned in to what stop motion does best. With Mark, you didnt always know what was serious and what was a joke, but his deep love for the medium was always clear, and he embraced all the warmth and imperfectness it brings. When you worked for him you knew it would turn into something special, as all of his work carried his humor and his heart. His feedback and way of thinking about design for story informed who I became as an artist.

Kirby Atkins, who worked at Will Vinton Studios in the mid-1990s and later wrote and directed the feature Mosley, remembered his time with the Gustafson fondly:

It was my first full-time gig in animation, and, to be honest, at the time, I was a little disappointed to land at a stop-motion studio when cgi was all the rage and Pixar/PDI were considered the places to be. It didnt take long, however, before Mark turned my world around. He was moving real stuff around in front of a real camera and he put such soul, humor, and heart-warming quirk into his craft that Ive never looked at my job with such a lazy eye again. Rest in peace, Mark. You made me want to spend my days making art that sticks.

Thiago Calcado, who worked on Pinocchio with Gustafson and now works at Laika, paid his respects, saying:
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Cale Kassen highlighted the Lee University track & field teams competition at the South Carolina Garnet Invitational on Friday with two of the Flames three new NCAA Division II Provisional Qualification marks. The Lady Flames combined for five top-10 finishes.Kassen was the event winner in both the 60-meter hurdles and the high jump. In the 60, he posted a time of 7.93 seconds to hold the top time in the preliminary round. Kassen improved his time in the final to win with a stoppage of 7.85 seconds to beat the provisional standard of 8.20 seconds.In the high jump, Kassen cleared 2.05 meters to bypass the provisional mark of 2.03 meters. He currently stands at No. 3 in Division II in the hurdles and 26th in the high jump. Kassen also finished second in the long jump with a measurement of 7.04 meters.The 4x400-meter relay team of Nokia Masengu, Doniven Jackson, Niquaine Henry and Justin Steele added another event win with a combined time of 3:13.25. The foursome were three seconds below the provisional of 3:16.48 and now stand at No. 8 among DII competitors.Masengu (48.74) and Henry (49.23) were second and fifth, respectively, in the 400-meter dash. Jackson placed third in the 60-meter dash after recording a time of 6.92 seconds in the final. He posted the same time in the preliminaries where Aiden Shaw finished 17th (7.18).Four Flames finished in the top-10 of the 200-meter dash. Steele was second (21.72) and Jackson finished third (21.75). Masengu placed sixth at 21.96 and Shaw crossed the finish line in 10th (22.19).Camden Williams won the shot put with a mark of 15.11 meters. He added a fourth-place finish with a weight throw of 15.08 meters.Hannah Wright recorded a first-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.95 seconds. She advanced out of the preliminaries with a second-place time of 9.00 seconds. Liezl Theron was eighth (9.23) in the preliminary round.Theron finished third in the high jump after clearing 1.66 meters. Hall was fourth and Theron placed sixth in the long jump. Hall covered 5.55 meters, while Theron was marked at 5.48 meters.Janay Ryan placed 19th in the 60-meter dash after crossing the finish line in 8.03 seconds. Ryan joined Wright and Jakara Tobler in the 200-meter dash. Wright was Lees top finisher at 25.74 seconds (11th), while Ryan was right behind with a time of 25.76 (12th). Tobler stopped the clock at 26.75 to finish 25th.Tobler added a 12th-place finish in the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:00.40. Halls time of 1:00.59 put her in 14th.The Flames and Lady Flames will send a group to Birmingham, Ala., for the USA Jaguar Invitational hosted by the University of South Alabama at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
One person was shot aon May Street on Saturday night.

At approximately 8:23 p.m., Chattanooga Police responded to a report of a person shot in the 800 block of May Street.



When police arrived, they discovered a victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital with a non-life threatening gunshot injury.

Investigators are working to determine the circumstances of this incident.

Chattanooga Police ask anyone with information regarding this incident to call 423-698-2525.

This information is preliminary and is subject to change as the investigation continues.
Harley Franklin Elmore, Jr., 84, of Chattanooga, TN, went to be with His Lord on Monday, January 29, 2024.

Harley was born in Charleston, WV, on March 10, 1939, the son of the late Harley Franklin Elmore, Sr. and Besse Ernestine Bond Elmore. He served in the WV Air National Guard and U.S. Air Force from 1956-1963. Harley also served from 1967 to 1974 as a fireman with Prince Georges County Fire Department in Washington, D.C. In 1974, he and his family moved to Chattanooga, so he could attend Tennessee Temple University. He was a member of the Church of the Highlands, formerly known as Highland Park Baptist Church, where he served faithfully in the Bus Ministry and Sunday School for many years.

Harley accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior as a young boy. He spent the remainder of his life faithfully serving His Lord and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Survivors include his wife, Linda Plumley Elmore of 62 years; daughter, Cathy Elmore Gist (Greg); and son, Marc F. Elmore.

Our family wishes to express our deepest appreciation and gratitude to the many health care providers and caregivers of NHC Chattanooga and Parkwood Retirement Apartments who cared for our husband and father like he was their own. God bless you all!

A Celebration of Life will be on Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 10:30 a.m. in Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Visit the online obituary at www.heritagechattanooga.com to share memories and condolences and to make memorial contributions.

Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel.
Its with heavy heart we announce the passing of Joel David Susman (also known as Papa Joel), on February 3, 2024 in Chattanooga, TN.

He was the most loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. An avid music fan, Joel would travel far and wide to see his favorite bluegrass, folk, and traditional bands with his wife and friends. His love of laughter resonated with everyone he was around, always quick to tell a corny joke or two.

Joel was born in Chattanooga on May 18, 1947, and attended Chattanooga High School and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a B.S. in Business. He became a Certified Public Accountant in 1981, and practiced with several firms, as well as having his own firm at one time.

Joel was proud to have served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966-1970. He was a missile systems analyst, Titan II ICBM Underground Launch Crew, Strategic Air Command. He served as one of the youngest instructor crew members in the wing.

Joel served on the Board of Directors of BNai Zion Synagogue. He served as both President and Treasurer and many other positions.

He served on the Board of Directors for the Partnership for Families and Children.

He served as President and Treasurer of Fortwood Mental Health Center.

He served as Treasurer of Mizpah Congregation.

He served on the Board of Directors as Treasurer for the Chattanooga Jewish Federation.

He served as Treasurer on the Committee to elect U.S. Congresswoman Marilyn Lloyd.

Joel loved his Judaism. He served as Gabbai during BNai Zion services and was also a regular Torah reader. He was a leader and well respected throughout the Jewish community. His love of Judaism was connected with a strong love of Israel, and he cherished his many visits there.

Joel loved his rescue dogs from the Humane Educational Society  Shana, Chava, and his special love, Misti Blu. He became Treasurer of the Board of HES, where he enjoyed working with the staff and volunteers, and dedicated hours to helping the organization fulfill their very important mission.

He is survived by wife Gail Susman, sister Sherry Isaacman, children Jennifer Waxenberg (Danny), Jonathan Susman (Lindsay), Michael Dzik (Paula) and Joshua Dzik. Grandchildren Rachel Cummings (Joseph), Rebecca Dzik, Isaac Waxenberg, Eva Waxenberg, Noah Dzik and Miles Dzik.

He was preceded in death by parents Gussie and Ben Susman, brother Jay Susman, and his second parents Bertha and Abe Phillips.

There will be a graveside service at Bnai Zion Cemetery at 11a.m. on Monday, February 5, at 605 Lullwater Road with Rabbi Sam Rotenberg officiating.

In lieu of flowers in his memory, please consider donating to the Humane Educational Society at heschatt.org, BNai Zion Congregation at 923 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37403, or the Chattanooga Jewish Federation at jewishchattanooga.com.

You may share condolences with the Susman Family at www.heritagechattanooga.com

Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road.
Apparently Prince William's attire isn't always checked top to bottom because if it was his staffers would have noticed this before he attended an important speaking engagement.

When members of the royal family step out for an important engagement, theyre usually dressed impeccably. Their attire is always clean, crisp, and pressed. And their shoes are always shining and match well. However, even with plenty of staffers and aides to help curate their wardrobe some things can get overlooked and dont get noticed until its too late.

Thats what happened with Prince William when he attended a speaking engagement and apparently no one noticed a problem with the future kings footwear before snaps of it were shared around the world.

The issue with Prince Williams shoe

Prince William and Sir David Attenborough attend a panel on environmental issues at the 2019 World Economic Forum | Thierry Falise/LightRocket via Getty Images

Back in 2019, Prince William attended the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland where he spoke on stage with documentary maker and broadcaster David Attenborough.

The now-Prince of Wales asked Attenborough about his lifes work, the state of the natural world, and his advice for young people and world leaders on how to better care for the planet.

At one point during their discussion, William crossed his legs and those in attendance couldnt help but notice a hole in the sole of his right shoe. Pictures from the event were shared around the globe as no one on the princes team saw that before he stepped out in public.

Prince William and Sir David Attenborough attend a conversation during the World Economic Forum in Switzerland | FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images

Many people were left scratching their heads because a shoe would have to be really worn to have a hole that size in the sole. And it seems too obvious for someone inspecting the royals wardrobe to miss. Therefore, some people have theorized that it may have been a piece of black tape.

Either way, photos were shared all over the world with headlines claiming the future king had on worn-out dress shoes.

Queen Elizabeths stained dress and broken handbag

But its not just Prince William, even the late Queen Elizabeth II was photographed out on one occasion that left royal watchers puzzled about what happened to her attire.

Queen Elizabeth II attends King Constantine of Greeces 70th birthday party at Crown Prince Pavlos of Greeces residence | Indigo/Getty Images

In 2010, the then-monarch attended King Constantine of Greeces 70th birthday party. Photos released from the affair show the queen in a pale blue dress which had several stains down the side of it. In the queens case though, its unthinkable and highly unlikely that she left her residence that way as it was far too noticeable.

It was later confirmed that she did not. A member of the wait staff at the party accidentally got the mess all over the queen. While some thought the substance that caused the stains was from food, the Daily Mail reported that it was actually from coffee spillage.

It was quite a night for the queen. In addition to her dress being soiled, her shimmery silver handbag had a problem as well. A number of photos showed her clutching it oddly because the chain strap on it broke somehow, proving that even royalty can experience fashion issues just like the rest of us.
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Can you imagine receiving a tremendous inheritance from a deceased relative and then opting to give a significant amount of it away?

An heiress in Austria is planning to give away around 90% of her $27.25 million inheritance, and shes requesting the help of 50 Austrians to help her allocate the funds.

Marlene Engelhorn is a 31-year-old Austrian activist and journalist who recently acquired a massive amount of money. She is the granddaughter of Friedrich Engelhorn, who founded the German chemical and pharmaceutical company BASF.

When Marlenes grandmother, Traudl Engelhorn-Vechiatto, passed away in 2022, Marlene was given a $27 million inheritance.

However, before her grandmother passed, Marlene had made it clear to the world that she wanted to give away a large portion of it.

One of Marlenes motivations for giving away a large sum is that her inheritance wouldnt be taxed, as Austria abolished inheritance tax in 2008.

She believes it is unfair that she could be handed down such a large amount of money that she did not work for and not be taxed.

Although Marlene has not released the exact amount of her inheritance she plans on giving away, she has mentioned shed be willing to part with 90% in the past.

Because Marlene knew she wanted to give away much of her inheritance but wasnt sure who or what organizations to give it to, she decided to enlist the help of fellow Austrians.

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Home News Vietnamese Christian sentenced to 4.5 years in prison after holding prayer meeting in his home

A Vietnamese Montagnard Christian has been sentenced to 4.5 years in prison on charges of secession and incitement for conducting prayer meetings at his home, advocates say.

The sentencing comes amid ongoing tensions between religious practices and state policies in the communist nation, particularly affecting the Montagnard minority and their Christian faith.

Nay Y Blang, 48, associated with the Central Highlands Evangelical Church of Christ, was sentenced last Friday without legal representation, the church's founder, Pastor Aga, told Radio Free Asia. His conviction was for allegedly inciting actions against the states interests.

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The church, unrecognized by the state, has faced accusations of attempting to undermine national unity through its religious gatherings.

The United Kingdom-based rights group Christian Solidarity Worldwide contends Blangs right to practice his faith has been under siege, noting his previous imprisonments and fines for similar reasons.

The Montagnard community, to which Blang belongs, is predominantly Christian and has historically clashed with the Vietnamese government.

CSW founder Mervyn Thomas expressed deep concern over the lack of due process in Blangs hearing and the broader implications for religious freedom in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese government views the simple act of prayer as a direct threat to their power and legitimacy, Thomas said. No person should fear jail for exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief. These recent developments show that the human rights situation in Vietnam continues to deteriorate. We emphasize that this is part of a wider pattern of the targeting of religious and ethnic minorities across Vietnam that is often more severe in rural areas.

Aga says Blang's sentencing is "unacceptable."

"If lawyer Ha Huy Son had been present , it would have clearly been fair and transparent trial to see if Mr. Blang is guilty or not, Aga was quoted as telling RFA. But in reality, only people from the government were present, meaning the government can give Blang any sentence they want. Why were there no lawyers to defend or argue about legal issues."

Blang was previously fined and imprisoned for similar offenses, reflecting the Vietnamese governments strict control over religious expression.

The Montagnard community's recent legal challenges include a mass trial where over 100 Montagnards were convicted on Jan. 22 of terrorism-related charges following an attack on provincial party offices in Dak Lak that were blamed on them.

The situation in Vietnams Central Highlands, where the Montagnard Christians reside, remains tense following the anti-government attack that resulted in multiple deaths, including local party officials.

The Ministry of Public Security identified those arrested simply as Young people who harbored delusion and extreme attitudes and had been incited by ringleaders via the internet.

The event raised significant human rights concerns, including the fairness of the judicial process and the treatment of religious and ethnic minorities in the Southeast Asian country with a one-party system led by the Communist Party.

According to CSW, 10 Montagnards were sentenced to life in prison, while other sentences ranged from 3.5 to 20 years in prison. Some overseas activists were also charged, with the government accusing U.S.-based activists of coordinating attacks, allegations those activists deny.

The international community, including human rights organizations, has criticized Vietnams treatment of the Montagnards and other minority groups, calling for greater religious freedom and justice.
Home News New report finds 168 religious freedom violations against Christians in Western countries

There were at least 168 incidents of religious freedom violations against Christians in Western countries between January 2020 and December 2023, according to a new report from the Family Research Councils Center for Religious Liberty, which documented cases across 16 countries.

The violations include arrests and fines for public preaching and praying, penalties for expressing biblically informed beliefs, and punitive measures against pastors not adhering to COVID-19 restrictions, which were often more severe for religious institutions than secular ones, says the study, titled Free to Believe? The Intensifying Intolerance Toward Christians in the West.

Using open-source documents, reports and news from media outlets, the study reveals a concerning trend of government-sanctioned actions against Christian practices and expressions, with at least 58 incidents in the United States, 36 in Canada, 43 in the United Kingdom, and six in Greece. Other countries with similar incidents included France, Switzerland, Spain, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Germany, Malta, Australia and New Zealand.

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Tony Perkins, president of FRC and former chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, emphasized the alarming rise in Western hostility toward Christians, noting the authoritarian measures against individuals practicing their faith.

In the U.S., a California teacher, Jessica Tapia, was fired in February 2023 after questioning the districts policy forcing teachers to hide and even lie to parents about students gender confusion and desire to identify as the opposite sex at school.

In Australia, Pastor Martin Beckett was investigated by police in August 2021 after admitting on a social media livestream that he had conducted a wedding in violation of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

In Canada, Pastor Derek Reimer was arrested in March 2023 for breaking orders following his previous arrest, which forbade him from being within 200 meters of any LGBT event. At the time of both arrests, Reimer was protesting drag queen storytime events at public libraries. He was charged with counts of disturbance, mischief, and six counts of harassment, each incurring fines or six months in prison.

The report lists the 168 incidents of religious freedom violations against Christians in the 16 countries.

Arielle Del Turco, the reports author and director of FRCs Center for Religious Liberty, expressed concern over the erosion of religious freedom in Western democracies. Despite a decrease in COVID-19 related incidents after 2020, discrimination against Christians for their beliefs has reportedly increased, Del Turco noted.

The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe previously released a report documenting a rise in anti-Christian hate crimes across Europe in 2022, including physical assaults and murders.

The observatorys findings suggested an underreporting of such crimes, attributing it to a lack of media coverage and a chilling effect among victims. New laws regulating speech and religious expression have further infringed upon Christians freedoms, with specific mention of 'buffer zones around abortion clinics criminalizing silent prayer, it said.

Legal developments affecting religious freedom include laws that potentially criminalize parents, pastors and teachers for expressing views contrary to prevailing opinions on LGBT issues or discouraging body mutilating trans procedures for religious reasons. The report also touched on the impact of the Ukraine war on religious freedom, noting discrimination against Orthodox Christians and actions by Russian authorities against Christian practices.

Both reports call for improved dialogue between governments, civil society and religious groups to protect religious freedoms. Recommendations include enhancing religious literacy among public officials, ensuring fair media representation of religious views and encouraging Christians to engage respectfully in public discourse to bridge the gap between religion and secular society.
Home News DC area pastor in ICU after gas can explodes in his hands

A Northern Virginia pastor is in intensive care with severe burns over 60% of his body after a gas can exploded in his hands during a document-burning incident at his home. The explosion occurred in the backyard of his townhome in Fairfax County, causing significant injuries.

Kevin Corey, the pastor involved, was burning documents in a firepit at his residence in the Newington area when the accident happened around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, as reported by NBC4 Washington.

Neighbors described hearing a loud explosion that resembled a bomb, shaking nearby houses and creating a sense of panic in the community. One neighbor, Max Miller, likened the sound to an earthquake, highlighting the intensity of the blast.

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The explosion was captured on a neighbors Ring camera, which showed Corey adding an accelerant to the fire, leading to the catastrophic explosion. Sherri Weaver, the neighbor with the footage, detailed how the gas can was too close to the fire, resulting in it exploding in Coreys hands. The video further depicted a large plume of fire engulfing Corey, with his wife rushing to his aid, using a rug to extinguish the flames on his body.

Corey was airlifted to a hospital, where he is now in the ICU with third-degree burns covering 60% of his body, according to his daughter, Jenna Guercia.

On Facebook, she shared that her fathers recovery would be slow but remained hopeful for his improvement.

The doctors were able to do everything that they wanted to do at this point. He is resting now. We are to expect possible ups and downs as he adjusts to the skin grafts over the next few days. We will know more on Sunday about the next surgery he will have, she wrote Friday.

He is in and out of consciousness depending on the sedation levels the doctors have him at. Yesterday mom and I were able to see his eyes open and responding to our voices. When coherent, he can open his eyes, squeeze our hands, and wiggle his toes. During a routine neurological exam yesterday, we witnessed his sassy spirit a bit which was a joy to see, she added.

Coreys wife also sustained burns to her hands while helping to extinguish the flames and was treated and released shortly after.

In the aftermath of the incident, Coreys family has issued a warning against the use of gas as an accelerant for fires, urging people to exercise caution to prevent similar accidents.

Corey, who served as the youth pastor at Calvary Road Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, was in the process of transitioning to a senior pastor role at another church. The accident has put a hold on his familys plans to move and sell their house, adding to the challenges they face during this difficult time.

A MealTrain online campaign has been set up to support the Corey family financially during this time. Kevin had the first of at least 20 surgeries; please pray that the grafts will be accepted by his body and that God will block all infection, it says, urging the community to contribute in any way they can, including through donations, blood or plasma donations and sending cards or pictures to uplift Coreys spirits.
Home News John MacArthur's Shepherd's Conference removes Alistair Begg from speakers' lineup

Pastor, author and Christian radio personality Alistair Begg continues to face fallout from comments he made in a podcast last year about advice for Christians and same-sex weddings.

Beggs bio has been removed from the website of the Shepherds Conference, a ministry of Grace Community Church led by Pastor John MacArthur, following controversy over Beggs advice for a grandmother about attending her LGBT-identified grandsons wedding.

An archived version of the site from November shows Begg listed as one of the speakers after MacArthur and Desiring God founder John Piper.

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The theme of this years Shepherd's Conference scheduled for March 6-8 is Truth Triumphs.

It wasnt clear who made the decision for Begg not to participate. The Christian Post reached out to Grace Community Church for comment but did not receive a response.

Begg is also a guest lecturer for the Doctor of Ministry program at The Master's Seminary, which is run in partnership with Grace Community Church and where MacArthur serves as chancellor. Its unknown whether Beggs role at the seminary was also impacted by the decision to drop him from the Shepherds Conference.

The move is the latest in the backlash against the 71-year-old Begg, the senior pastor at Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, who's also the voice behind the radio ministry "Truth For Life," carried by nearly 1,800 radio stations nationwide.

In recently resurfaced comments Begg made in a podcast for "Truth For Life" in September, in which he discussed his new book, The Christian Manifesto, and touched on a specific question he said a grandmother asked him about her grandson, whom she said was "about to be married to a transgender person," and whether she should attend the wedding.

Despite the podcast being nearly three months old, Beggs advice resurfaced on social media, leading to a controversy that ultimately led to American Family Radio (AFR), the radio ministry of the American Family Association, making the decision to "no longer air" "Truth For Life" after more than a decade.

After initially declining to comment, Begg addressed the issue in front of his congregation during his Sunday sermon at Parkside Church last week.

In the message, taken from Luke 15, titled Compassion vs. Condemnation, Begg warned about our inclination toward Pharisaism that is alive and well within all our hearts.

In that conversation with that grandmother, I was concerned about the well-being of their relationship more than anything else, he explained. Hence my counsel. Don't misunderstand that in any way at all.

If I was on the receiving end of another question about another situation from another person at another time, I may answer absolutely differently, but in that case, I answered in that way, and I would not answer in any other way no matter what anybody says on the internet.

In his message, Begg also acknowledged the controversy threatened his ministrys popularity and said if thats the case, he would much rather go down on the side of compassion.

If Ive gotta go down on the side of one or the other, Ill go down on this side. Ill go down on the side of compassion, with people actually accusing me of just weakness, rather than go down on the side of condemnation, which closes any doors of opportunity for future engagement with those who know exactly what we believe about the Bible and about Jesus, said Begg.
Home News Texas church hosts relatives of Israeli hostage victims held by Hamas: 'This is good versus evil'

Liel Slifer, the cousin of a woman who is among the over 130 victims Hamas is still holding captive, told members of a Texas church that the most recent news she received about her relative is that the terror group is holding her cousin hostage alongside children and that she is doing her best to keep all of their spirits up.

Last Sunday, Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano hosted Slifer, the cousin of Hamas hostage Carmel Gat, and Dalia Cusnir, the sister-in-law of Eitan and Yair Horn, two brothers who are also being held captive by the terrorist group. The two women joined Pastor Jeremiah Johnston on stage to share their relatives' stories and urge Christians to continue advocating for the hostages.

According to a statement to The Christian Post, the event took place as part of a delegation of hostage family members who visited Dallas, Austin and San Antonio to advocate for the release of their loved ones. The delegation met with state legislators, businesses and religious communities about the over 130 victims Hamas is still holding captive.

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"The news cycle moves really fast and, to some, it seems like Oct. 7 happened forever ago, but for us, it's happening every single day. It is in the moment. We still have family that are being held hostage," Slifer told the congregation.

"This is not politics; this is not left versus right, Jews versus Christians," she continued. "This is good versus evil. It is a battle between good and evil. And we need you all, every single day, to be vocal and supportive. This isn't just affecting us; this is affecting the world."

On Oct. 7, Hamas terrorists launched attacks against Israel, slaughtering at least 1,200 people, a majority of them civilians. The terror group also abducted around 240 individuals, and over 130 men, women and children remain in captivity.

During her talk at Prestonwood, Slifer recounted several details about her cousin, such as how the pair used to have sleepovers at their grandparents' house.

Gat, an occupational therapist, is 39 years old and six months older than Slifer.

In November, Hamas released multiple hostages during a temporary ceasefire agreement. While Gat wasn't among the released hostages, several children who were released had told her family that Hamas had held them alongside the middle-aged woman.

According to the children, Gat performed yoga with them while in captivity to help ease their minds, and she told the children to inform her family that she is "safe, and she is healthy."

"But that is the last we heard from her," Slifer said. "And we don't know if she is still there, if she is alive, if she is healthy, if she is safe. But we pray that God is watching over her and everyone's family."

Gat's cousin reiterated to churchgoers that the issue is not about politics or religion, stressing, "It is a battle between good and evil."

"And we need you all every day. Be vocal, be supportive.  If you hear somebody talking about Israel, go into that conversation," Slifer said. "If you see somebody post something online, interject in that. We need your support. We need your help because this isn't just affecting us. This is affecting the world."

Cusnir spoke about her husband's brothers taken captive by Hamas on Oct. 7. Eitan had been visiting Yair at his house near the Gaza border when the terror group attacked.

The sister-in-law of the two brothers recalled how she and her husband called the pair twice on Oct.7, and each time, the men confirmed that they were safe. After a while, however, Eitan and Yair stopped answering, according to Cusnir.

That same evening, members of the Israel Defense Forces called to inform Cusnir and her husband that Yair's house was empty and that Hamas had taken them hostage. Cusnir and her husband learned that Eitan and Yair were still alive after Hamas released multiple hostages during a temporary ceasefire.

"They're being held since Oct. 7 in tunnels under the earth with no air or food or medicine," she said. "We know nothing. We hope and pray that they're still alive."

The Oct. 7 attacks prompted the Israeli military to launch an offensive in Gaza seeking to eradicate Hamas, a terror group that has controlled Gaza since 2007, and secure the hostages' release. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has claimed that over 27,000 people have been killed since the war began, a figure that doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants.

Reports circulated last week that Hamas leaders are considering another ceasefire proposal drafted with the help of intermediaries from the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar that could see the release of more hostages.
Jihad, Terror, And Chaos: Inside Horrific Religious Persecution Raging Across The Globe

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Religious persecution is raging across the globe. Christian Post reporter Ryan Foley attended last week's International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C., and heard from experts who warned about the dire situations in various nations.

From a Catholic priest urging the U.S. to designate Nigeria as a "terrorist government" to House Speaker Mike Johnson's pressing of the Biden administration to protect Uyghur Muslims in China, there was much ground to cover.

Listen to Foley break it all down on today's "Inside Story."

Religious persecution is raging across the globe. Christian Post reporter Ryan Foley attended last week's International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C., and heard from experts who warned about the dire situations in various nations.

From a Catholic priest urging the U.S. to designate Nigeria as a "terrorist government" to House Speaker Mike Johnson's pressing of the Biden administration to protect Uyghur Muslims in China, there was much ground to cover.

Listen to Foley break it all down on today's "Inside Story."
Home Opinion Thailand has an orphanage crisis. Are Christians to blame?

Imagine you have kids and live in extreme poverty. Now imagine a stranger offering to raise your children, promising them a better life. They will live apart from you, at an unregistered orphanage, but at least their basic needs will be met. Would you consider this option?

Its hard to fathom saying yes, but if we were in that same dire situation, we may feel like we had no other choice. And thats exactly what American Christians are asking of vulnerable families in Thailand. It needs to stop.

In Thailand today, 120,000 children are living in institutional care, and thats likely a low estimate. Many of those children are housed within the countrys estimated 700 private orphanages and 32 government-run residential care facilities. In Chiang Mai alone, a city the size of Philadelphia, there are 175 childrens homes, but only 50 of them are registered with the government. The worst part  89% of the homes in Chiang Mai are run by Christians.

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Many in the U.S. arent aware of it, but Thailand has an orphanage crisis.

Thailands history of best intentions

I came to Thailand almost 40 years ago to work at an orphanage during my summer break as a teacher. I quickly fell in love with the children and decided to return and stay long-term. But after getting to know the children and learning their language, I discovered that most of them werent actually orphans.

This is the norm  studies show that 80% of children in orphanages and other forms of residential care around the world have a living parent. In Thailand, that number is 90%. Most of us know intuitively that families are a better setting for children to thrive, and research supports that. Essentially every aspect of their development suffers in a residential care setting. So, how did this crisis become what it is today?

Orphanages started in Thailand to care for children living in extreme poverty, which is still the primary reason they are there today. As a predominantly Buddhist country, orphanages have historically had a lot of financial support from the public, since giving is motivated by the concept of karma. Many Christians also came to start orphanages with the best of intentions, a process made easy by Thai laws that lack regulations and oversight. This allowed the majority of them to be unregistered, unregulated, and operating without accountability.

Today, U.S. Christians continue to create, fund and volunteer in these facilities without realizing the full ramifications of their actions  and I know this because I lived it.

Know better, do better

I worked in orphanages for years with a heart to care for the most vulnerable Thai children, but after having my own kids, a shift happened. With my new perspective as a mother, and my discovery of the research on children in orphanages, I suddenly understood that all children belong with their families  and that I have a part to play in making that a reality.

Step Ahead Thailand, the organization my husband and I founded, started in 2002 with a focus on family strengthening. For us, family strengthening looks like services that empower the family by addressing areas that put a child in the home at risk, providing resources where they are lacking, and to build up skills so the family can sustain these changes independently and long into the future.

Our goal is to see every child in Thailand grow up in a safe and nurturing family, not an orphanage. Thankfully, were one of many organizations supporting this shift toward family-based care for orphaned and vulnerable children, in Thailand and around the world.

The road is long, but were making noteworthy progress. Currently, we are partnering with two organizations in the Alternative Care Thailand (ACT) coalition to transition Thai children under the age of seven from one of the government-run orphanages into family-based care. But we arent stopping there.

We are also calling for three major legislative reforms: a moratorium on new orphanages opening, mandatory registration for existing orphanages, and for no children under 3 years old to be placed or remain in residential care. We believe these changes are possible and would bring us one step closer to our goal of family-based care for all.

Signs of hope

There is a growing awareness in the U.S. and around the world about these major issues in Thailand, along with the need for kids to grow up in a loving family. Though we have a lot of work to do, I am hopeful for Thailands future.

The current process of transitioning children from the first government orphanage into families is a major step in the right direction. Last year, while working with the community, we asked people what their dreams were for these kids. Every one of the answers included that they would have a family. Instinctively, we all understand that family is where children thrive.

But American Christians must do their part if these dreams of family are going to become a reality. We must stop the revolving door of volunteers coming into the country to serve at orphanages. We call this orphanage tourism  when well-intentioned international volunteers come here to work for a short time and then leave. The Church needs to understand the harm it is doing and stop supporting this traumatic cycle.

Instead of sending volunteers to orphanages, churches can volunteer with and bolster the organizations already doing the work of supporting vulnerable families in Thailand. This simple shift would have an enormous impact.

If theres anything Ive learned since I first stepped into an orphanage in Thailand 40 years ago, its that major changes in the countrys care system are possible. The government, NGOs and concerned individuals around the world all have an opportunity to push forward the work of keeping Thai children where they belong  with their families.
Home Opinion Texas' illegal immigration: The razor thin margin of freedom

Almost 250 years ago, 13 separate colonies in North America, founded mostly by the British, made a pact together to form one unit. Instead of being colonies, they became states.

They joined together to form the United States. The federal government did not create the states. It was the reverse  the states united together to form these united states.

But today, we have a scenario where one state, Texas, is trying to protect itself from a type of invasion, while the federal government wants to hamper its efforts.

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Ever since Joe Biden was sworn in, our borders have become quite porous. In three years, some eight million illegals have come across the borders.

One measure that Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently took was to install rolls of razor wire at a certain place on the border. But the Biden administration sued to be granted permission to cut that razor. And even the Supreme Court agreed (5-4) with Biden, not Abbott, last week.

In response to that court decision, Cal Thomas opines, The obvious question, which the court did not address: why is the federal government not enforcing immigration laws which migrants are breaking to enter the country?

Critics ask: Do the open borders in our nation in any way undermine the Constitution? Heres how our governing document begins: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States.

Are some of these lofty goals being hamstrung today as millions of illegal immigrants stream into the country without being processed?

Well, its totally unconstitutional, says Hon. Allen West, former U.S. Congressman, about this situation on a recent radio segment with me.

He notes, What you see happening down there is just unconscionable  Theyre supposed to protect every state in the Union from an invasion. And thats exactly what we have happening. You have the willful, the intentional, and the purposeful abdication of the Constitutional duty enumerated in Article IV, Section 4 by the Biden administration.

For this piece, I asked for comments from several Constitutional scholars, including Dr. Matthew Spalding, vice president and dean of the D.C. campus of Hillsdale College. Spalding served as the executive editor of the massive 2005 book, The Heritage Guide to the Constitution.

Spalding told me, Under the Constitution, the federal government guarantees to protect each of [the states] from Invasion at the same time that it restricts the states from doing things associated with self-defense unless actually invaded. At what point does the sheer number of drugs, weapons, and criminals crossing an uncontrolled border  this can no longer be called merely immigration  amount to an invasion? The federal government may have plenary authority over immigration, but individual states have a duty to defend their citizens and property when the federal government abdicates its responsibility to protect those states.

What does the Constitution say? Article IV, Section 4 declares, The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion.

I also asked for a comment from constitutional attorney, law professor, and author John Eidsmoe.

He told me that last weeks decision is only a skirmish in a long court battle: The one-paragraph [Supreme Court] order simply said federal authorities could continue to cut wires set in place by Texas officials to prevent illegal immigration, until the case is finally resolved on its merits in the appeal from the District Court to the 5th Circuit, and, ultimately to the Supreme Court. This 5-4 order is far from the final word in the case.

Think of the cost of the open borders: human trafficking, including sex trafficking of children, tens of thousands of Americans dying regularly from fentanyl overdoses, cities and towns overrun with more people than they can handle. And on it goes.

It boggles the mind that cities like New York City, Chicago, and Denver claim to be sanctuary cities, where they welcome one and all, including illegals. So, Gov. Abbott has been busing many illegals, with their permission, to these places. But now the cities are complaining because theyre being overrun. Ironically, so far theyre complaining against Abbott, not Biden.

One man once warned us wisely against open borders: 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.

Agreed. That was Barrack Obama in 2005. Its scary to think that these days our freedom to secure the border is only razor thin.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. State Department has urged travelers to two popular stops with various cruise lines to show extreme caution if they visit those nations because of high rates of crime.

The advisories were recently issued for the Bahamas and Jamaica, each a popular destination for many tropical cruise lines.

The advisory for Jamaica, issued at a higher warning level, also warns that access to medical care may be spotty. In that advisory the State Department said travelers should reconsider their plans.

The more recent advisory, a Level Two warning for the Bahamas that urges travelers to exercise extreme caution, is a result of crime issues in both tourist and non-tourist areas, the State Department said.

Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies do not have a presence, the advisory states.

Among its warnings for travelers is to not answer the door at their hotel/residence unless you know who it is and to not physically resist any robbery attempts.

Most of the crime occurs on New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) islands. Visitors need to be particularly vigilant in the Over the Hill area in Nassau where gang-on-gang violence has resulted in a high homicide rate, the State Department said.

The State Department issued the advisory Friday, Jan. 26.

The Level 3 advisory for Jamaica recommends that travelers reconsider their plans and notes that U.S. government personnel are prohibited from traveling to many areas due to increased risk.

Violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common. Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts, the advisory states.

Local police often do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents, according to the advisory. When arrests are made, cases are infrequently prosecuted to a conclusive sentence.

Travelers are urged to avoid walking or driving at night, avoid public buses, avoid secluded places or situations and keep a low profile. They should not physically resist any robbery attempt.

Medical care can be problematic, the State Department said, because public hospitals are under-resourced and cannot always provide high level or specialized care. Private hospitals often require that payment be made up front.

The advisory was issued Jan. 23.

More information is available through the State Department, which issues travel advisories for each country of the world.
Christian Leonard is a data reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. He joined the Chronicle in 2022 as a Hearst Developer Fellow. He previously worked as a senior staff writer at the Outlook News Group, a collection of community newspapers in Los Angeles County. He is a graduate of Biola University, from which he received a bachelors degree in journalism and integrated media, and interned at NBC Los Angeles.

He can be reached at Christian.Leonard@sfchronicle.com.
Attorney Albert Johnson and Patty Hearst attend a news conference after more than $1 million bail was posted in April 1977. Bill Young/The Chronicle

Virulent distrust of elected officials and media. Cries that the country is on the wrong track and the common guy is being exploited by the rich. Armed terrorists wanting to take over the government and killing people they believe threaten their ideals.

Sound like the radical politics of today? It also describes the chaotic, violent environment of the 1970s. Today, though, such zeal is seen predominantly in the extremist right wing. Back then it was on the extreme left  and in the middle of that turbulent time, 50 years ago this week, was an event that would span most of the 70s and become one of its most recognizable emblems:

The kidnapping of newspaper heiress Patricia Patty Campbell Hearst by the self-styled revolutionaries of the Symbionese Liberation Army.

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On the crisp winter night of Feb. 4, 1974, the 19-year-old UC Berkeley student was snatched screaming from her Berkeley apartment and stuffed into the trunk of a stolen Chevy. The terrorist groups goal was to wring ransom from her father, Randolph Hearst, who ran the San Francisco Examiner and was chairman of the Hearst Corp., and to gain the release of two of its members jailed on charges of murdering Oakland schools Superintendent Marcus Foster the year before.

A photograph of Patricia Patty Hearst, taken after her release from federal prison in 1979, is seen in the office of George Martinez, an attorney who represented Hearst and worked to have the conviction commuted and pardoned, in Novato. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

It didnt work, and the story blew up internationally. Media organizations camped outside the Hearst family mansion in Hillsborough. The SLA issued communiques proclaiming it was at war with capitalism, demanding $4 million, and released a tape recording by Hearst saying: Mom, Dad, Im OK. Im with a combat unit thats armed with automatic weapons.  I just hope that youll do what they say Dad, and just do it quickly.

The messages signed off with the SLAs slogan: Death to the fascist insect that preys upon the life of the people.

The SLAs stated goal, like that of the Weather Underground, the Black Liberation Army and other violent left-wing groups of the day, was to turn 1960s political zeal into armed insurrection. The gang, led by Donald DeFreeze, an escaped convict whod been doing time for armed robbery and who called himself General Field Marshal Cinque, had only 10 members. But with the abduction of the heiress of the sprawling Hearst media empire (which has owned the Chronicle since 2000) and one murder already under its belt, the SLA dominated headlines.

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And the story just kept getting stranger.

After the groups ransom and prisoner release demands didnt work, the Hearst family agreed to the SLAs order to feed the poor, launching a $2.3 million People in Need food giveaway program. It was a chaotic failure. Then in early April came a bombshell: The SLA released a tape of Hearst saying shed joined them, adopted the name Tania after a companion of Che Guevara, and was now fighting for my freedom and the freedom of all oppressed people.

Less than two weeks later, she was caught on a security camera wielding an assault rifle and helping rob a Hibernia Bank in San Francisco. Over the next year, she helped the gang knock over another bank outside Sacramento, shot up a sporting goods store in Inglewood and went on the run after six SLA members, including DeFreeze, died in a fiery shootout with the police in Los Angeles.

Following her capture in San Francisco in September 1975, Hearst was found guilty of the Hibernia heist and sentenced to seven years in prison. She served 22 months before President Jimmy Carter commuted her sentence, setting her free in February 1979.

Hearst couldnt be reached for this story, but she has said in past interviews and in her 1982 memoir, Every Secret Thing, that she was raped and coerced into participating in the SLA. She testified against the gang members, and President Bill Clinton later pardoned her, making her the first person in U.S. history to get a commutation from one president and a pardon from another.

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In a 1976 image, U.S. Marshals hustle Patty Hearst back to the car after her visit to 1827 Golden Gate Apartments, where she showed judge and jury one of the closets in which she was imprisoned after being kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army. Jerry Telfer/SF Chronicle file 1976

Its hard to put into words how chaotic the winter of 1973, 74 already was, and then came the Patty kidnapping, recalled Duffy Jennings, a former Chronicle reporter who helped lead the coverage. It was all hands on deck at the paper. On any given day youd have on the front page stories about Patty Hearst, the Zodiac and the Zebra killings, not to mention Watergate.

Now retired S.F. police Detective Frank Falzon said Hearsts kidnapping stood out among the ongoing calamities of the time.

It was a scary time in the Bay Area, and I had never seen anything like that kidnapping, said Falzon, whose memoir with Jennings, San Francisco Homicide Inspector 5-Henry-7, recounts his work on high-profile 70s crimes from the Zodiac murders to the City Hall assassinations. We were all looking for her, and then it played out for so long after that with the taped communications  the bank robberies, them getting killed in L.A.

It was almost unreal.

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Looking back, historians and many who lived through the saga cant help but notice parallels to today.

Recent years have seen armed militias at right-wing protests and in state capitols, the violent Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and ceaseless broadsides in far-right media calling for civil war and denouncing the federal government and president as illegitimate. Fear  of terrorists, of deranged mass shooters, of rising crime  appears pervasive. Emboldened white supremacists unabashedly speak and march in public.

Likewise, the 1970s also radiated with fear. The Zodiac Killer was sending taunting letters to the Chronicle after killing five people, and violent anti-war protests rocked every university. The most prolific serial killers in San Francisco history wreaked their havoc  the Zebra Killers, a group of Black men who selected victims on the basis of race, shot 21 people, including future Mayor Art Agnos, killing 14.

In late 1978, more than 900 people poisoned themselves in Jonestown, Guyana, at the direction of the mad cult leader Jim Jones, and gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in San Francisco City Hall.

Nationally, with President Richard Nixons Watergate scandal as a jangling backdrop, revolutionary leftist terrorist movements scared the Establishment the most  topped by the SLA, with a captive Patty Hearst as its prize.

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In a weird way, today is an extension of what happened in the 1970s, said David Talbot, author of Season of the Witch, one of the definitive books about the 1970s in San Francisco. The far right has become the far left.

When you see the photos of the people inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, they look like the left of the 70s  bearded, long-haired people, he said. In some ways, they were the counterpart of the radicals in the 70s, with their disregard for civility and the rule of law.

Patricia Hearst now lives a comfortable life in the Northeast, where she has raised show dogs and acted in quirky John Waters films such as Cry Baby and Serial Mom.

People grab copies of Searching for Patty Hearst to purchase and have signed by author Roger Rapoport following his program at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on Thursday. Rapoport covered the Patty Hearst kidnapping 50 years ago. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Dozens of books and movies have tried to chronicle her journey, with some  notably Jeffrey Toobins 2016 book American Heiress  contending that she was a willing convert to the SLA. Others say she was a powerless victim of Stockholm syndrome.

Roger Rapoport, who covered the kidnapping in 1974 for New Times magazine, has written the latest book. He opted not to land definitively in any camp, instead writing a fictionalized novel called Searching for Patty Hearst.

Hearst did a very good job on that book of hers, and when Bill Clinton pardoned her, I think that book sealed the deal, Rapoport said. Toobins book was good, too. Im not saying one is right and one is wrong. I think the different points of view are valuable.

Theres no such wavering from George Martinez, the attorney who represented Hearst in her court appeals and clemency and pardon applications.

George Martinez was an attorney who represented Patty Hearst in her bank robbery case after she was kidnapped by members of the Symbionese Liberation Army, working to have the conviction eventually commuted and pardoned. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

After her release, it began to sink in that she had been brainwashed, Martinez said, but the people on the other side of the case  the prosecutors  never accepted that. But for me, its clear: If you have complete control over anybody, and you convince that person their survival depends on adopting their point of view, it doesnt take a genius to know that their instinct for survival will tell them to do what they need to survive.

As for the eight surviving former SLA members: Theyre all fine, living very quiet lives, and none of them wants to talk, said attorney Stuart Hanlon, who defended several of them. They did their time.

He says that in hindsight, the radical struggle against the man he politically supported as a college student and young lawyer had been blunted before the SLA took it to twisted levels.

Attorney Stuart Hanlon looks over archival photos from some of his cases at his home office on Thursday in San Francisco. Hanlon represented and consulted for members of the Symbionese Liberation Army, which kidnapped newspaper heiress Patty Hearst 50 years ago. Photo Courtesy Stuart Hanlon

I came out of Columbia (University) in the 60s  and moved out here and got involved in leftist politics, he said. But then we realized that whatever we dreamed was going to happen, the revolution, all of that stuff, was over by the early 70s. We thought politics, music and psychedelics were going to change things  and they didnt.

Very few of us saw what we would have after Obama  we didnt see Trump coming. The revolution not only did not get televised  it never happened. And if you were ever involved in those politics, it was very disappointing.
Armored vehicles en route to training field

China Military Online) 10:21, February 04, 2024

Armored vehicles attached to a brigade under the PLA 71st Group Army march on a muddy road during a maneuver training exercise on January 18, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhao Genyuan)

Armored vehicles attached to a brigade under the PLA 71st Group Army march on a muddy road during a maneuver training exercise on January 18, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhao Genyuan)

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People raise their fists in solidarity while standing in front of a mural of Black leaders throughout history painted on the side of Ella Hill Hutch Community Center in San Francisco in 2020. In America today where truth about the Black experience is often distorted or erased by conservative forces, Black History Month is taking on adding meaning. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Some parents at Oaklands Chabot Elementary have raised safety concerns to Briana Ohene-Owens over the school hosting a Black History Month event considering that only five months ago, the school was flooded with racist mail and bomb threats over hosting a play date for families of color.

Those people who threatened us over the playdate want us to be too scared to celebrate Black History Month, said Ohene-Owens, who leads Chabot Elementarys equity and inclusion committee. It feels more important to celebrate now than ever.

At a time when politicians openly deny systemic racism and pass laws that disproportionately harm people of color; when states such as Florida block accurate teachings of Black history from school curriculums, and when social progress gets openly challenged in blue states like California, Ohene-Owens is absolutely right.

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Black History Month is about sharing knowledge that has been suppressed. Its about questioning the motives behind historic misinformation and the consequences of our collective complacency when it comes to social progress.

Black History Month is about sharing knowledge that has been suppressed. In modern America, the month is also about questioning the motives behind misinformation around systemic racism and the experiences of African Americans.



Vitalii Abakumov/Getty Images

But in a society where a large portion of the population promulgates lies, where does Black History Month fit?

The denial of systemic racism is a prevalent fallacy. Republicans have trotted it out regularly, often to vilify efforts to address past discrimination.

Former president and current GOP front-runner Donald Trump claimed that systemic racism wasnt a problem in the U.S. during his last year in office in 2020. Never mind that his comment came at the height of the 2020 racial justice protests, when institutions were admitting systemic racism was a problem.

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Before abandoning his campaign last year, Black Republican presidential candidate Tim Scott reiterated Trumps lie. Perhaps Scott had forgotten the stories he had told about being frequently stopped by the police and how, in some of those encounters, he had been afraid for his life.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has made a similar claim that the U.S. has never been a racist country despite sharing stories about the racism she experienced as a child born to Indian parents in rural South Carolina.

While these politicians are sanitizing and whitewashing their own personal histories, the same is happening to U.S. history being taught in classrooms throughout the country.

In 2022, Ron DeSantis, a failed Republican presidential candidate, current governor of Florida and leader of a national anti-woke crusade, signed legislation to keep critical race theory teachings out of Florida classrooms. Last spring, he signed another bill prohibiting public universities from spending taxpayer dollars on diversity programs. The bills are part of a larger nationwide drive by the Republican Party to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in higher education. And the ideological foundation for this legislation  that white supremacy isnt woven into the fabric of a nation that was built from slavery  is a lie.

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Floridas board of education recently made DeSantis proud by voting to remove sociology as a core class at 12 public universities and replace it with its own U.S. history curriculum, which includes the idea that slave labor somehow benefited Black people because it taught them skills.

The fact that America acknowledges slavery while downplaying the necessity for reparations is just one more example of the post-truth culture we live in. Even in the liberal Bay Area, and despite clear evidence linking todays inequities faced by Black people to the countrys original sin and the enduring legacy of Jim Crow, there are people who deny reparations are worth supporting. Its also this lack of understanding of Americas past or the modern plight faced by Black folks that leads to people condemning play dates for Black and brown families like the one Chabot Elementary held last year.

You can see in parts of the country that theyre trying to erase our history. They dont want to teach slavery, theyre changing sociology, and they want it to be a thing where future generations dont know about the pain inflicted on Black bodies, about slavery and about Jim Crow, Ohene-Owens said. Its become comfortable for politicians to come out just to say they dont want to learn our history, and they dont want kids to feel guilty about what happened in this country.

If the very foundation of knowledge about Americas history and the Black experience is tainted by deliberate omissions and distortions, how can we celebrate the triumphs and struggles of African Americans in their proper historical context during Black History Month?

Ohene-Owens said the event she has in mind for Chabot Elementary  which last school year was 45% white, 14% Latino, 13% Black and 5% Asian  will focus on celebrating Black history through storytelling in a variety of mediums, including music.

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All the hate and vitriol we see right now is because people just arent taking time to get to know other cultures. If people were just more open to learning and understanding, we wouldnt see some of the hate that we do, Ohene-Owens said, adding that the event will be open to everyone.

Truth about Black experiences throughout U.S. history may get distorted by forces hostile to concepts like diversity, equity and inclusion, but the stories of African American triumphs and struggles are already immortalized in their undeniable impact on shaping our nation.
 
Nikki Haley made a surprise  and funny  appearance on "Saturday Night Live," where she asked a cast member playing her Republican presidential primary opponent Donald Trump a series of zingers in the cold open.

A beaming Haley also delivered the NBC show's signature line, "Live from New York, it's Saturday night!" at the end of the skit right after the show's guest host, actor Ayo Edeberi, delivered a sharp joke that referenced Haley's famously flubbed answer when she was recently asked about the cause of the Civil War.

"Had a blast tonight on SNL," Haley tweeted after her appearance.

"Know it was past Donald's bedtime so looking forward to the stream of unhinged tweets in the a.m."

Haley's cameo came in the middle of the first skit at a pretend CNN town hall where "Trump," played by James Austin Johnson, was being asked a series of questions by audience members.

Town hall host "Charles Barkley," played by Kenan Thompson, said, "Our next question comes from someone who describes herself as a concerned South Carolina voter."

The live audience let out a whoop when Haley stood up.

"My question is, why won't you debate Nikki Haley?" Haley asked "Trump."

"Trump" exclaimed, "Oh, my god, it's her! The woman who was in charge of security on Jan. 6. It's Nancy Pelosi!"

"Barkley" pointed out that was not Pelosi.

"Are you doing OK, Donald? You might need a mental competency test," Haley said.

"Trump" quickly assured her that he "aced" that test and said, "They told me I'm 100% mental and I'm competent because I'm a man."

He added that women "should never run our economy. Women are terrible with money."

"In fact, a woman I know recently asked me for $83 million," he said, referencing the amount of monetary damages a New York civil jury recently awarded writer E. Jean Carroll for the real Trump defaming her after she alleged he had raped her.

Haley cracked, "And you spent $50 million in your own legal fees. Do you need to borrow some money?"

"Trump" then went into a Trump-like search for nicknames for Haley  "Nikki-Tikki-Tavi," "Nikki Don't Lose that Number"  before landing on a mashup of her name with the star of "The Sixth Sense."

"Nikki Haley Joel Osman, we call her," he said. " 'Sixth Sense,' remember that one: 'I see dead people.' "

Haley then said, "Yeah, that's what voters will say if they see you and Joe [Biden] on the ballot."

"Trump" moaned "that's not nice," and insisted he was always nice to Haley except when he implied that she was not born in the United States.

"Even though you were born in South Carolina, and I'm gonna beat you in your state," he said.

"And did you win your home state in the last election?" Haley asked.

"Trump" replied, "I won Staten Island!"

"And the parts of Long Island where the fist fights happen, where they get out of the cars if you honk your horn at them," said Trump, who lost his home state of New York in both the 2016 and 2020 elections.
Generative artificial intelligence has been topic that's impossible to avoid on Wall Street for more than a year  and it's unlikely to fade away anytime soon. In some ways, however, 2024 may prove to be a more pivotal year for AI than 2023 was. With OpenAI's ChatGPT launching in late November 2022 , many investors last year were largely content to hear about how tech companies were approaching generative AI and see new products or services that enable or integrate the buzzy technology. But this year, the pressure is likely to mount on companies  like Club name Salesforce  to start showing financial benefits from their AI endeavors. The focus will shift to profits from potential. Salesforce is just one of many stocks in the portfolio that are investing heavily in developing and implementing AI initiatives aimed at fueling growth. Chipmaker Broadcom is another. And each of our Significant Six stocks  Microsoft , Meta Platforms , Google parent Alphabet , Amazon , Nvidia and Apple  are making big investments in AI, with the latter doing so in a more under-the-radar fashion . To help you build a deeper knowledge of the underlying technology that's dominating the conversation from Silicon Valley to Wall Street and Main Street, we put together a list of 20 artificial intelligence terms that are important for investors to understand. We've enlisted two experts in the field to help us define and explain the AI jargon. Let's start with the most basic level. What does artificial intelligence even mean? 1. Artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence is a field of technology that's been around for decades and broadly refers to computer systems that try to "replicate human cognition in some way," said Chirag Shah, a professor of information and computer science at the University of Washington. The earliest electronic computers solved math equations for military purposes. The difference with AI systems is a focus on intellectual tasks that give humans "the upper edge as a species," such as making decisions, Shah said. 2. Algorithm An algorithm is a set of instructions that tells a computer how to accomplish a task. A traditional computing system supports a fixed number of algorithms. That means the number of tasks that the system can accomplish is limited to what is spelled out in those algorithms. Like traditional computer systems, every AI program has an algorithm behind it  but with one key distinction: AI systems can expand their initial set of instructions based on new data that's received, Shah said. That process  where the system essentially learns to adjust and write its own algorithm  is where the real potential of AI systems is achieved, Shah explained. If a traditional computer is programmed to touch fire, it will keep touching fire in accordance with its algorithm. But in an AI system, if it touches fire and something bad happens, the algorithm is able to recognize something bad has occurred and avoid doing it again  or at the very least, it would learn that touching fire could lead to a problematic outcome. The AI system's initial set of instructions may not have indicated that touching fire can cause harm, but AI algorithms are able to expand to include that as part of their knowledge base. Sound familiar? The process is basically how humans build knowledge over time. 3. Model A closely related term is an AI model , which is basically the output of an algorithm that's been fed a bunch of data to learn from. Algorithms and models together form AI systems. 4. Machine learning Machine learning is a subset of AI. If the goal of AI is creating computer systems that mimic human behavior, machine learning is one way to accomplish it. Shah said most of the successful AI systems we've come to know over the past 20 years  such as autocorrect on an iPhone or suggested searches on Google  use machine-learning techniques. That is why AI and machine learning, or ML, are sometimes used interchangeably, though there can technically be AI systems that do not use machine learning. "Machine learning is where the system learns to adjust and writes its own algorithm," Shah explained. 5. Deep learning A popular technique in machine learning is known as deep learning . "If all of artificial intelligence is automation of tasks that we would generally consider as non-trivial, then machine learning is the subset of AI in which the system tries to learn the automation from data, as opposed to being hard-coded, let's say," said Mark Riedl, a professor at Georgia Tech's School of Interactive Computing. "And then machine learning basically says you get to automation from data, but it doesn't tell you how. Deep learning says, well, 'how' is you build something called a neural net." 6. Neural network Neural net is shorthand for neural network, which is a type of algorithm created to help computers find patterns in data and make predictions on what to do next. Modern neural networks have many layers to them that ultimately make them really good at finding patterns in data. Despite their name, Shah said neural networks are not exact replicas of the human brain. He likened it to wings on an airplane  even though they don't flap like wings of a bird, they still help the plane fly and are called wings. Similarly, neural networks in computer science do not operate like the human brain, Shah explained, but they still help computers complete cognitive and intellectual tasks that humans do. 7. Generative AI Neural networks are the heart of the increasingly popular type of AI known as generative artificial intelligence , or gen AI for short. Both traditional AI and gen AI systems rely on data and can be used to automate decision-making tasks. The recommended videos on Google's YouTube or suggested shows on Netflix are examples of traditional AI; so is facial recognition technology, including Face ID on Apple's iPhones. But with generative AI, the distinguishing feature is the ability to create new content in response to a user question or input of some kind. Depending on the model, that content can include human-like sentences, images, video, and audio. The goal of generative AI is for the outputs to be similar to the data fed to its algorithm, but not the same. In this way, it's creating new data based on existing data. Or, as Shah put it, generative AI systems have the ability to not just read data, but write it, too. Instead of just suggesting additional Bruce Springsteen concert videos after you watched a performance of "Spirit in the Night" live from Barcelona , a gen AI system could write a song about investing in the lyrical style of The Boss himself. Perhaps a more practical example: Traditional AI is used to help forecast a company's future revenue, based on historical patterns in sales data, a generative AI system could be used to help a salesperson craft an email to a customer that factors in their past orders and other relevant information for that account. Club stock examples This email feature is included in Salesforce's new AI tools known as Einstein GPT. Microsoft's AI virtual assistant Copilot  which went live in November  is perhaps the most prominent generative AI feature among our portfolio companies. The capabilities of Copilot, which is expected to fuel revenue growth for the tech giant , include summarizing long email threads in Outlook and data visualization in Excel. Meta Platforms last year launched in the U.S. a beta version of an advanced conversational assistant, called Meta AI , across WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram. It also can generate images. More recently, Amazon in January rolled out a generative AI tool that can answer shoppers' questions about a product on its marketplace. 8. Large language model Generative AI applications capable of writing the Springsteen-inspired investing song and the customer email rely on a type of technology called a large language model, or LLM. For example, OpenAI's ChatGPT  which kicked off this whole AI wave  is an application powered by an LLM called GPT-3.5. The paid version of the application  known as ChatGPT Plus  runs on a more advanced LLM, GPT-4. Microsoft is a close partner of OpenAI, having invested billions of dollars in the start-up and leaned on its relationship to become a leader in generative AI. A large language model is  as its name suggests  a type of AI model that is capable of recognizing and generating text in a particular language, including software code. To obtain those abilities, large language models, or LLMs, are fed massive amounts of data in a process known as training . 9. Training During training , the model takes in data  for example, news articles, Wikipedia entries, social media posts, and digitized books, among other sources  and tries to find relationships and patterns between words in that vast dataset. This is a complex process that takes time and a lot of computational power. Club stock examples Nvidia's chips have become the dominant source of that computational power. Additionally, Broadcom and Alphabet have for years co-designed a custom chip that Google uses to train its own AI models. That chip is known as a tensor processing unit, or TPU. More recently, Amazon and Microsoft have rolled out in-house designed AI chips, though Nvidia remains the clear leader in AI training with some market share estimates well above 80%. Eventually, the model will get to a place where it understands the word Uber is more strongly associated with taxi, cab and car than it is trees, dinosaurs or vacuums. At a high level, that's because news articles and Reddit posts mentioning Uber that are fed to the model during training are more likely to also contain the words taxi, cab and car than tree, dinosaur and vacuum. This is just one little example. In the actual training of LLMs, it's repeated on a massive scale with billions and billions of connections drawn between words. 10. Parameters The connections that an LLM has drawn are expressed in the number of parameters, which have been jumping exponentially in recent years . Club stock examples You may have heard Meta Platforms, the parent of Instagram and Facebook, tout that its flagship LLM, known as Llama 2, has up to 70 billion parameters. Alphabet in December launched what it called its most capable model yet, Gemini, while Amazon is training its LLM with 2 trillion parameters, Reuters reported in November. "The highest level way of thinking about it is a parameter is a unit of pattern storage," Riedl said. "More parameters means you can store more bits and pieces of a pattern. Whether that's Harry Potter has a wand, or platypuses have bills.  When people say, 'I dropped something, they usually say it falls.' Those are little bits of examples of pattern. If you want to learn a lot of pattern, recognize a lot of pattern about lots and lots of topics, you need lots of parameters." After all the patterns are learned, the LLM can be deployed into the world through applications like ChatGPT, where somebody can ask for a basic itinerary for a vacation in Istanbul and shortly thereafter receive paragraphs of text with historic places to see and tours to take. 11. Inference That deployment, which allows the generation of a basic itinerary for a vacation, is known as inference. "Inference is another word for guess, so it's guessing what the most useful output will be for you. We distinguish that from the training," Riedl said. "You stop learning at some point, and somebody comes by and says, 'All right, well, let me give you an input. What will you do?' You can think of the model as basically saying, 'Ah, I've practiced on so much stuff and I'm just ready to go.'" Once a model is switched into inference mode, it's not really learning anymore, according to Riedl. "Now, OpenAI or somebody else might be collecting some data from your usage, but what they will do is they'll go back and they will train it again," Riedl explained. 12. Fine-tuning The act of feeding an existing model fresh data so it can get better at a certain task is known as fine-tuning. "Fine-tuning means you don't have to back and train it from scratch," Riedl explained, describing large language models as "word-guessers." Whenever an LLM fields an inquiry from a user, the model will lean on all the patterns it learned during training to try to guess which words it needs to string together to best respond to the inquiry. The guesses won't always be factually "accurate," though. That's because the model has been designed to learn patterns between words, not necessarily answers to trivia questions. 13. Hallucination This is where the concept of hallucination comes into play. It generally refers to when an LLM responds to an inquiry with false information that, at first blush, may seem to be grounded in fact. Perhaps the most high-profile example of hallucination to date involves two attorneys who were fined by a U.S. federal judge after they submitted a legal brief they asked ChatGPT to write. The brief cited multiple legal cases that didn't exist and included fake quotes. Of course, the optics of hallucinations are far from ideal, and some people point to them as reasons to be wary of broader AI adoption. But, according to the University of Washington's Shah, they are difficult to completely avoid when asking AI systems to generate content. The models are using probabilistic approaches to predict what's next, and there's always a chance it's not going to align with expectations. "It's the side effect of being generative," he said. "It's predicting what the most probable next pattern is, which by definition is not set in stone." Shah said it would be like if he was asked to predict which words his interviewer was going to say next. If Shah knew the interviewer their whole life and fielded their questions about AI many times before, he said he'd likely have a decent shot at guessing what they'd say next. "If I have really known you, if I have really understood you, chances are 95% of the time I'm going to be spot-on. Maybe a couple percent of the time you were like, 'Uh sure. That's not what I was thinking, but I could see I could say something like this.' And maybe the last few percent times you're like, 'Wait a minute. No. Not me, never me.' That's what we're referring to with hallucination," Shah said. 14. Bias Bias is another downside to AI systems  and LLMs in particular  that users need to consider. While many types of bias exist, usually when bias is discussed in the context of LLMs people are referring to prejudicial bias, according to Georgia Tech's Riedl. A general example would be that the model says a person is better suited to do a task simply based on gender. "The reason I focus on prejudicial bias is because, generally speaking, these are biases or stereotypes that we as a society have decided are unacceptable, but are present in the model," Riedl said. "It's a data problem," he added. "People express prejudicial biases. They get into the data. The model picks up on that pattern, and then reflects it back on us." 15. Guardrail The creators of AI systems can take steps to limit bias by implementing what's known as a guardrail, which in practice may stop the application from generating an output on certain topics, such as those that are politically controversial. Guardrails are algorithms  remember, a set of instructions  manually added on top of the underlying model. For example, a user could send an LLM a question like, "Who are better computer programmers, men or women?" Without any guardrails in place, the LLM would offer a response based on its training data, Shah explained. "These are commercial systems, so anything that gets into hot water, they're going to put guardrails" in place to limit the model's ability to respond, Shah said. "The underlying LLM may still biased, may still be discriminatory or may still have problems." 16. Memorization Another issue with LLMs that's been in the news lately involves a concept called memorization, which figures heavily into a copyright infringement lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft filed in December by the New York Times . In its complaint, the newspaper provides examples where ChatGPT responded to inquiries with text that's nearly identical to excerpts of New York Times articles. It highlights how LLMs can memorize parts of their training data and later provide it as an output. In the case of New York Times stories, it raises questions about intellectual property rights and copyright protections. In other instances, such as a business inputting customer data into an existing model during fine-tuning, it opens the door to security and privacy risks if personal information ends up being memorized and regurgitated. Responding to the lawsuit in January, OpenAI wrote in a blog post that regurgitation is a "rare bug that we are working to drive to zero. ... Memorization is a rare failure of the learning process that we are continually making progress on, but it's more common when particular content appears more than once in training data, like if pieces of it appear on lots of different public websites. ... We have measures in place to limit inadvertent memorization and prevent regurgitation in model outputs." 17. Graphics processing units The field of AI has been around for more than 60 years, but its major leaps forward in recent years have been due to advancements in neural networks, which are good at finding patterns in data. Computer hardware also has played a big part in recent AI advancements. To be more specific, Nvidia's pioneering graphics processing units , or GPUs  which hit the market beginning in the 1990s and originally were used for graphics rendering  played a big part. The GPUs laid the groundwork for the company's dominance in the AI training market today. To improve graphics rendering, GPUs were designed to be able to perform multiple calculations at the same time  a concept referred to as parallel processing . The mathematical principles used to move digital characters across a screen are fundamentally the same as what neural networks do to find patterns in data, according to Georgia Tech's Riedl. Both require a lot of computations done in parallel, which is why GPUs handle neural network training so well. More than a decade ago, however, machine learning researchers realized the parallel processing capabilities of GPUs led to high-quality results when training neural networks. After this discovery that hardware existed that could process bigger, wider neural networks, AI researchers eventually said, "Well, let's go figure out to make a big, wide neural network," Riedl said. 18. Central processing unit The parallel processing capabilities of GPUs stands in contrast to a traditional computer processor. Known as a central processing unit , or CPU, these chips perform computations sequentially. CPUs can handle lots of general purpose tasks well, both in personal computers and inside data center servers. CPUs can be used for AI tasks, too. For example, Meta used to run most of its AI workloads on CPUs until 2022, Reuters reported. It is currently on track to end this year with hundreds of thousands of Nvidia's top-of-the-line GPUs. While GPUs have the upper hand in AI training, CPUs are understood to perform AI inference well. Club stock examples Nvidia recently entered into the data center CPU market as part of its so-called Grace Hopper Superchip , which combines both a CPU and GPU into one chip. The company has touted its ability to perform inference for AI applications. Historically, CPUs were the primary processing engine of data centers, but GPUs have taken on an increasingly prominent role due to the growth of AI. Broadcom figures heavily into the changing landscape with its networking products, which help stitch together different parts of the data center. For example, its Jericho3-AI fabric released last year can connect thousands of GPUs. For its part, Nvidia also has a growing, but arguably underappreciated networking business. 19. Transformer A seminal moment on that neural network journey arrived in 2017 when employees at Alphabet published a paper describing their creation of the transformer model architecture. It harnessed the parallel processing capabilities of Nvidia hardware to make neural networks that were not only better at figuring out how words go together (better at finding patterns in data) but also much larger. In that sense, the introduction of the transformer architecture laid the groundwork for the current generative AI boom. 20. Generative Pre-trained Transformers In 2018, roughly three years after OpenAI's founding, the organization introduced the first version of the model that would go on to power ChatGPT. It was called GPT  shorthand for Generative Pre-trained Transformers. The Microsoft-backed start-up has since gone on to release new versions of the GPT model, with the latest being GPT-4. The three-letter abbreviation has appeared in other places, too, such as Salesforce's Einstein GPT. Bottom line Investors on both coasts and everywhere in between remain focused on the promise of AI more than a year after ChatGPT went viral. But conversations on such a technical topic can quickly veer into unfamiliar territory. We hope that by explaining these AI terms  just as we do for certain financial jargon  Club members feel better equipped to invest in companies involved in the fast-moving field. Of all the Club companies running the AI race, Nvidia and Google parent Alphabet have arguably played the most important role in bringing AI to where it is today. Indeed, while Microsoft has wisely ridden its close relationship with OpenAI to a $3 trillion valuation and a leadership position in the world of gen AI, it was pioneering research inside Google  on top of Nvidia chips  that gave rise to OpenAI's innovations. (See here for a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
U.S. President Joe Biden reacts as he attends the opening of the Biden for President campaign office in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., February 3, 2024.

President Joe Biden won a landslide victory in South Carolina's Democratic primary Saturday, where voters sent a clear message that they are ready for Biden to pivot to the November election.

As of 12:00 a.m. ET, Sunday, Biden had won 96.2% of ballots cast, with 97% of the total votes tallied.

The other two Democrats on the ballot, House Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., and self-help author and 2020 Democratic candidate Marianne Williamson each won around 2% of ballots.

The win injects fresh momentum into Biden's reelection campaign, and it offers a compelling rebuttal to the narrative that Democratic voters are ambivalent -- or worse -- about their party's standard bearer.

"In 2020, it was the voters of South Carolina who proved the pundits wrong, breathed new life into our campaign, and set us on the path to winning the Presidency," Biden said in a statement following Saturday's results.

"Now in 2024, the people of South Carolina have spoken again and I have no doubt that you have set us on the path to winning the Presidency again  and making Donald Trump a loser  again."

Biden will be awarded all 55 of the state's Democratic delegates, NBC News projects, as neither Williamson nor Phillips broke the 15% threshold for being awarded any delegates.

Biden's overwhelming margin of victory left no question about who Democratic voters want to be on the ballot in November.

But it came amid reports of lower than expected turnout, potentially a sign of weakened enthusiasm for Biden among Democrats.

In 2020, approximately 16% of the state's 3.3 million registered voters cast ballots in the Democratic primary. On Saturday, that number dropped to roughly 4% of voters.

In particular, polls have shown Biden's support lagging among Black voters, a core Democratic party bloc that was key to his 2020 win.

Black voters account for a majority of the Democratic electorate in South Carolina, so his victory there Saturday could help to ease some of those concerns.

Biden's campaign has also been under pressure to show momentum, a real challenge this year given that Democrats' official primary season kicked off late.

In Iowa, the Democratic party decided not to cast any ballots at their caucuses, denying Biden the chance to win there.

In New Hampshire, Biden's name was not on the formal ballot, but he won the contest as a write-in candidate with 64% of the vote.

Republicans will vote in their party primary on Feb. 24, where former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will attempt to pull off an upset in her home state, against former President Donald Trump.

The GOP primary is expected to garner much higher turnout and more attention than Saturday's vote.

Unlike the Republican battle, the Democratic primary has, so far, been notable for its civility.

"Congratulations, Mr. President, on a good old fashioned whooping," Phillips wrote on X.
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When Satya Nadella replaced Steve Ballmer as Microsoft CEO in February 2014, the software company was mired in mediocrity. Its market cap was just over $300 billion. A decade later, Microsoft's valuation has swelled tenfold, to $3.06 trillion, making it the world's most valuable public company, ahead of Apple . It's firmly entrenched as a leader in key areas, such as cloud and artificial intelligence. As Nadella marks his 10-year anniversary at the helm, he's widely praised across the tech industry for changing the narrative at Microsoft, whose stock fell 30% during Ballmer's 14 years at the top. In that era, the company was squelched by Google in web search and mobile and was completely left behind in social media. Many tech industry analysts and investors would say that, thanks largely to Nadella, Microsoft is now set up to be a powerhouse for the foreseeable future. Nadella "is special and someone to be considered as one of the GOATs among tech CEOs," said Aravind Srinivas, co-founder and CEO of AI startup Perplexity, which has the backing of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The acronym GOAT stands for greatest of all time. There are plenty of obstacles in Nadella's way as he pursues further growth.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella speaks during a keynote address announcing ChatGPT integration for Bing at Microsoft in Redmond, Washington, Feb. 7, 2023. Jason Redmond | AFP | Getty Images

Regulators are concerned about Microsoft's power. Rivals are jealous. Some clients are skeptical about spending even more money on the company's AI tools when they already allocate so much budget to so many Microsoft products. And Microsoft, along with its tech peers, has dealt with mass layoffs of late, cutting 10,000 jobs in early 2023, and eliminating 1,900 in January from its gaming division. One of Microsoft's biggest sore spots when Nadella took over was the closed nature of its products. Microsoft was known to defend its proprietary Windows and Office software and denounce open-source alternatives. Interoperability wasn't the most popular word. "There was a little bit of a take-it-or-leave-it culture," said Aaron Levie, co-founder and CEO of cloud storage vendor Box , which spent its early years going directly after one of Microsoft's products. Nadella has made the company more attentive to customers' needs, Levie said. The two companies now have multiple product integrations.

Larry Ellison, co-founder and executive chairman of Oracle Corp., speaks during the Oracle OpenWorld conference in San Francisco on Oct. 22, 2018. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Nadella's Microsoft has also formed partnerships with some of its fiercest rivals. In 2023 Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison visited Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, Washington, for the first time, as the companies made a joint cloud announcement. In a 2020 interview, Pat Gelsinger, then CEO of VMware, said offering his company's software on Microsoft's Azure cloud was akin to a "Middle East peace treaty." Gelsinger now runs Intel , which makes chips for PCs running Microsoft Windows and clouds such as Azure. In the Nadella age, Microsoft has also contributed to open-source projects, released software under open-source licenses and released a version of its Teams communications app for Linux. Nadella has surprised people in other ways. Michael Nathan was a senior director at Microsoft until 2016, when he left for a job in venture capital. Nathan said he told Nadella about the opportunity after the two of them left a customer meeting in Silicon Valley. Instead of getting angry or making the situation awkward, Nadella told him to take what he'd learned at Microsoft and share it. "I was like, 'What?'" Nathan said. "That was amazing. He totally lifted the burden of having that conversation." He's also decisive. In 2018, Nadella came to believe in the idea of buying GitHub just 20 minutes after Nat Friedman, then a Microsoft corporate vice president, started pitching him on it. Right away, Nadella suggested that Friedman become GitHub's new CEO, Friedman said. Microsoft paid $7.5 billion for the code-storage startup. Microsoft declined to provide a comment for this story. Nobody would mistake Nadella for Ballmer, the showman. His predecessor was known for dancing on stage at conferences and hyping up crowds of thousands. Ballmer is now the owner of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers and can frequently be seen behaving similarly courtside.

Steve Ballmer, former chief executive officer of Microsoft Corp., gestures as he speaks during a news conference after he was introduced as the new owner of the Los Angeles Clippers in Los Angeles, California. Kevork Djansezian | Bloomberg | Getty Images

While Nadella may not bring as much entertainment value, he's proven to be more effective than Ballmer when it comes to dealmaking. In addition to GitHub, Nadella has made pricey acquisitions such as LinkedIn, Minecraft parent Mojang, and Nuance Communications that have contributed to Microsoft's top line. Ballmer was not so lucky. His aQuantive and Nokia deals were disastrous. More recently, Nadella helped Microsoft land the $75 billion acquisition of game publisher Activision Blizzard, a deal that investors won't know how to assess for a while. And in AI, Nadella is credited for investing billions of dollars in startup OpenAI, leading to product enhancements and cloud revenue from customers both new and old, and giving Microsoft a leadership position in an emerging market. Nadella is perhaps best known in the tech industry for pushing Microsoft deeper into cloud computing. Azure, which delivered 30% revenue growth in the most recent quarter, was started during the Ballmer years. But Nadella brought it to life, transforming it from a research project into a product, said Kevin Dallas, CEO of database software company EDB and a 24-year Microsoft veteran. "I'm shameless in saying I look at him as a leader that I've learned from, grown from," Dallas said. "I continue to watch him." In looking at the road ahead for the 56-year-old Nadella, here are some of the biggest challenges in his way:

Relevance

Microsoft looked at buying TikTok in the U.S. in 2020, but nothing came of those discussions. While some in the younger generations have Microsoft software at work, it's not necessarily what they grew up using and may not be what they prefer. The company must prepare for the era when Gen Z is in charge of IT budgets. OpenAI's ChatGPT, which some students use, could be a start.

Retention

Some Microsoft employees have been there for over 20 years. Many will leave after far less time. For years, employees have said they can make more money at other big tech companies. Some have received higher compensation after leaving and then returning. Microsoft has $81 billion in cash and might want to use more of the stash to keep talent  especially the top tier  around for longer.

Products

Microsoft critics often say the company rarely gets it right the first time with new hardware or software and that it's best to wait for the third version. Reviewers didn't take kindly to the original 2012 Surface tablet, for example. Today's Surface gets better marks, but it's nowhere near the most popular tablet on Amazon  the iPad is. Microsoft remains weak when it comes to building products in new categories, a former executive said. The company's dual-screened Surface Duo phones running Android haven't caught on, and Microsoft Loop, a response to modern productivity apps such as Notion, has yet to catch fire in app stores.

Regulation

Antitrust officials have recently blocked acquisitions at Adobe and Amazon. They tried and failed to squash Microsoft's purchase of Activision. But Microsoft's big push in AI has come through an investment, not a purchase. The Federal Trade Commission's Lina Khan said in January that the agency will examine cloud providers' investments in AI startups. Microsoft has also drawn inquiries in Europe over its cloud practices. Regulatory crackdowns are nothing new at Microsoft, which infamously changed some of its behavior following a high-profile case brought by the U.S. Justice Department in the 1990s.

OpenAI relationship

In regulatory filings, Microsoft calls OpenAI "our strategic partner." The unusual nature of the arrangement was on display in November, as Nadella worked overtime to get Sam Altman back on top at the startup after the board fired Altman suddenly. Microsoft and OpenAI compete to sell AI services to companies and have a relationship that can cause internal tension. In allocating graphics processing units to OpenAI, for example, Microsoft is sometimes depriving its other departments of them, two people familiar with the matter told CNBC. Altman told Nadella onstage at an event in November that the two companies have "the best partnership in tech." However, OpenAI isn't always satisfied relying on Microsoft as its cloud supplier, one of the people said. Following the November brouhaha, Nadella was at least able to get Microsoft a seat on OpenAI's board. An OpenAI spokesperson told CNBC that the company views Microsoft as a very good partner.

Next big thing

Nadella is constantly searching for the next category that can generate revenue and profit. The company's HoloLens augmented reality headset, announced in 2016, hasn't become a big hit. Nadella hoped that an AI Copilot added to the Bing search engine in February 2023 would convert into share gains, but Google remains the clear leader in that category. Nadella did say on a conference call this week that Bing gained share in the fourth quarter. While AI might be Microsoft's next big thing, the company will have to continue to find new ways to drive growth. Nadella has plenty to keep himself busy for now. Analysts on average see enough expansion to project a 12% gain in the stock price over the next year, according to FactSet. WATCH: Microsoft is 'so far' ahead of competition and taking market share, says Jefferies' Thill
With 74% of American travelers concerned about the impact of overtourism, environmentally safe travel is increasingly becoming a priority.

To address overtourism and the effect it can have on the climate, countries around the world have started charging fees to visit some major destinations.

In January, Tripadvisor, in partnership with the Global Destination Sustainability Movement, assessed 100 destinations with a four bubble rating or higher over 12 months (October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023). Tripadvisor also used traveler reviews containing terms referencing sustainability, like "environmentally friendly," "eco-tourism," and "waste reduction" to rank the world's top most sustainable cities.

No American cities made Tripadvisor's inaugural list, while Montreal, Canada, is the only destination in the Americas to rank.
ABOARD THE USS EISENHOWER, the Red Sea  One by one, more than two dozen aircraftNavy F/A-18 fighter jets, E/A18 Growler radar jammers, E2 Hawkeye reconnaissance planes as well helicopters and tankersroared off the deck of this aircraft carrier Saturday night to conduct joint U.S.-British attacks on Iranian-backed Houthis.

It was the second night in a row that aircraft from the Eisenhower have targeted Houthi militants in Yemen who are attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea. Earlier in the day, a nearby destroyer, the USS Gravely, fired Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Houthis.

Sailors on another nearby destroyer, the USS Mason, demonstrated the high-speed decision-making needed for them to shoot down incoming Houthi missiles before they strike cargo vessels or U.S. warships.

NBC News is currently the only news organization embedded with the U.S. Navy in the Red Sea while it is conducting strikes.

Adrenaline and morale appeared to be running high among crew members on both U.S. ships, despite the threat of incoming drones or ballistic missiles from the Houthis. As the Eisenhower, Mason and accompanying warships patrol the area, the weather is windy and warm, with a bright sun reflecting off the rippling water surrounding them.

U.S. Central Command said in a statement Saturday that U.S. and U.K. forces had "conducted strikes against 36 Houthi targets at 13 locations" in Yemen that included "multiple underground storage facilities, command and control, missile systems, UAV storage and operations sites, radars, and helicopters."

Houthi militants based in Yemen have attacked roughly 30 cargo ships navigating the Red Sea since Nov. 19. An estimated 12% of global shipping passes through the strategic waterway daily.

Last month, Maersk and other shipping giants announced pauses in their operations in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, moves that added time and money to the delivery of goods by ship. If the Houthi attacks continue, they could fuel consumer price increases in the U.S. as the 2024 election approaches.

Houthi leaders dismissed the U.S. and U.K. strikes on Saturday and vowed to continue their Red Sea attacks until Israel ends its military operations in Gaza.

"Our military operations against the Zionist entity will continue until the aggression against Gaza stops," Mohammed Al-Bukhaiti, a Houthi political leader, said. "We will meet escalation with escalation, and victory comes only from God."

U.S. officials declined to comment on the effectiveness of Saturday's strikes in Yemen. On Friday, the carrier's F/A-18 aircraft intercepted multiple drones that Houthi forces were preparing to launch, military officers told NBC News.

The Eisenhower, a vast, 1,000-foot, 100,000-ton Nimitz-class carrier, has a crew of roughly 5,000 and is like a city on the sea, with sprawling aircraft hangars, mess halls and sleeping areas. Launched in 1975, the carrier has circled the globe since then, deploying during the Iran hostage crisis, Operation Desert Storm and other conflicts and crises.
Dorothy Lovell, 90, left, uses an electric blanket as her daughter, Julie Schaeffer, fluffs up her pillow at their home in Santa Rosa on Saturday. Over the winter, the PG&E bills have skyrocketed for their two-bedroom home, where Lovell is in hospice care. Their highest bill was nearly $700. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Dorothy Lovell, 90, keeps warm with an electric blanket at her home in Santa Rosa. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Julie Schaeffer, left, takes care of her mother Dorothy Lovell, 90, at their home in Santa Rosa. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Tucked under an electric blanket in a cozy recliner, 90-year-old Dorothy Lovell still struggled to keep her tiny frame warm in her Santa Rosa living room. So her family turned up the heat.

Theyre paying dearly for it.

Winter is a season of hefty utility bills, especially during the holidays, when families gathered and the temperature dropped. But January began a new era of utility bill sticker shock when Pacific Gas and Electric Co. began charging customers with historically high electricity rates.

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Lovells latest PG&E bill was the highest its ever been: $696.64.

The PG&E bill of Dorothy Lovell, 90, in Santa Rosa. Her PG&E bills have skyrocketed for her two-bedroom home, where Lovell is in hospice care. Her highest bill is nearly $700. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Its almost like youre getting punished, Lovell said.

The average residential PG&E customer is expected to pay about $34.50 more each month  a boost of about $400 annually. The California Public Utilities Commission approved the new rates to help the company launch major projects to improve power line and gas pipeline safety after years of disastrous fires.

But its not the only increase PG&E customers could experience this year. The commission is currently considering other proposals from PG&E to help the company recoup expenses, such as costs PG&E incurred during last years storms. Some temporary rate increases will fall away this year, but the combined impact could boost bills by another $14 or $15 per month; however, its not yet clear when the commission will vote on the proposal.

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PG&E began warning customers that their bills would rise as soon as the commission approved them in November. But some of the 16 million Californians served by PG&E have still been shocked.

I really was not prepared, said Rebecca Gallegos, who has lived for decades in a two-bedroom San Francisco flat near the Panhandle.

Gallegos knew higher rates were coming, so she made sure to run appliances during off-peak hours when rates are lower and to heat only the living room, leaving the bedrooms cold. As soon as someone turns on a light, I turn it off, she said.

Even so, her PG&E bill was $357 for Dec. 13 through Jan. 16  compared with $195 the month before.

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Im blown away, she said.

Lynsey Paulo, a PG&E spokesperson, said her company has boosted its bill relief programs to increase the maximum amount of relief a qualifying customer can receive from $500 to $1,000. Customers can apply for the Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help program and additional bill reduction programs online.

A thermometer next to Dorothy Lovell, 90, at her home in Santa Rosa. PG&E bills have skyrocketed for her two-bedroom home, where Lovell is in hospice care. Her highest bill is nearly $700. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

We are committed to working with our customers who are having trouble paying their bills, Paulo said.

Paulo said these bigger utility bills will fund PG&Es programs to improve the safety and reliability of gas and electric infrastructure. For example, the commission approved a plan to help the company recover the costs of burying power lines in fire-prone areas of the state and to deploy state-of-the-art tools to inspect the companys gas transmission pipelines.

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But for many Bay Area residents, utility bills have become an even bigger part of the daily struggle. Laura Escobar, vice president of safety net services with United Way, said most callers to 211 are asking for help with housing and food, but utility bills have risen to the top five concerns from people struggling to make ends meet.

Julie Schaeffer takes care of her mother, Dorothy Lovell, 90, at their home in Santa Rosa. PG&E bills have skyrocketed for their two-bedroom home, where Lovell is in hospice care. Their highest bill was nearly $700. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

It upends your whole budget, Escobar said. People are saying, I was doing OK but now I have this new cost. 

In Santa Rosa, Lovells daughter, Julie Schaeffer, is trying to ensure her mother doesnt face that type of extreme bill again. She had PG&E come evaluate her mothers home this week for gas leaks or inefficiencies, a free service the company offers to all customers. Shes applied for her mother to take part in a reduced bill program.

But her family will pay what they must to keep their mother warm.

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Russia said on Sunday that Ukraine killed at least 28 people, including nine women and a child, when its armed forces struck a bakery and restaurant in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine with Western-supplied rockets.

Russian-backed officials said that Ukraine struck the bakery in the city of Lysychansk at about 1230 GMT on Saturday with U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).

Emergency workers worked through the night searching for survivors in the rubble of what remained of the shattered Adriatic Restaurant on Moskovska Street, where Russian officials said a bakery had been set up for civilians.

"The armed forces of Ukraine opened fire on a bakery in Lysychansk," said Leonid Pasechnik, the Russian-installed head of the Luhansk region which is now controlled by Russian forces.

Pasechnik said the bakery was crowded with civilians when it was struck. Russia's emergency ministry said 10 people had been pulled from the rubble alive.

But the ministry said four more people were in an "extremely grave condition" and that it was still searching for people.

Ukraine has not yet commented on the attack. Reuters was unable to immediately verify what weapons had been used in the attack.

Russia took control of swathes of eastern Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion in February 2022, triggering the biggest land war in Europe since World War Two.

Russia now controls around 18% of its neighbor - and considers the land it holds part of Russia. Ukraine and the West say they will never accept the annexation of that territory.
More companies are toeing a hard line when it comes to return-to-office mandates. This past week alone, Boeing and UPS called workers back to the office five days a week. To be sure, these high-profile examples are unique cases. Boeing is dealing with a company-wide crisis and loss of faith in its business quality controls at the most critical level, while UPS announced its return-to-office mandate on the same day it laid off 12,000 corporate workers.

A survey by the Conference Board found few U.S. CEOs saying they will prioritize bringing workers back to the office full time in the year ahead. But more generally, companies that take a hard stance on returning to the office understand that it may not work for everyone, and it's a chance they are willing to take because of the strategic value being place on in-office collaboration.

Jotform, an online form-building platform with about 660 team members, recently made the decision to require employees to be in the office five days a week. "Of course, we hope our team members can understand the reasoning behind our policies and align with our vision of continuing effective communication, collaboration, and internal talent development in person at the office," said Elliott Sprecher, vice president of marketing, in an email. "In some circumstances, that might not always be the case, which is equally understandable. While this may take some time to adjust to, we believe that this is in the long-term interest of the company and ultimately everyone who's a part of it," he said.

While many companies have embraced a hybrid-work environment and aren't forcing employees back into the office five days a week, they have instituted stricter RTO policies for the time they want workers in the office. IBM recently sent the message to managers that they must be on-site at an office or client location minimum three days a week, or leave the company  regardless of where they may have moved during the pandemic.

This follows the lead of companies such as Google, JP Morgan Chase, and law firms including Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, and Davis Polk & Wardwell that made clear to employees that a return-to-office mandate is not optional, and in some cases, warning about potential consequences for non-compliance. And more companies appear to be headed down this path.

A December Resume Builder poll of 800 business leaders found that 8 in 10 companies will track employee office attendance in 2024. What's more, a whopping 95% of companies said employees will suffer consequences if they don't comply, meaning their jobs, bonuses and salaries could be at risk for employees.

But in some cases, cracks in the "stick" approach are starting to show, with employees leaving or disengaging. Many employees who aren't happy are engaging in behaviors such as quiet quitting or coffee badging, where they show up for long enough to swipe in, present themselves and grab a cup of coffee. This leads to multiple challenges for companies  especially with expected weakness in the labor market not yet materializing to any widespread degree, despite a notable pickup in layoffs in January. The January nonfarm payroll report showed significant outperformance in total number of jobs added to the economy and the level of wage increases.

"Leaders are struggling and they want to do what's right for the company as well as the people they lead, but the path forward is unclear for all of us," said Laura Putnam, chief executive of Motion Infusion, which helps organizations with issues related to engagement, behavior change, human performance and organizational betterment.

Here's what companies need to know about the current state of RTO:

A critical mass of workers are still ignoring RTO mandates

Many companies have increased the rhetoric around "return to office or else," but they aren't necessarily taking action, said Henry Nothhaft, Jr., president of EssentialDx, an organizational diagnostics company. Many companies are finding enforcement has no teeth given that there's a critical mass of people flouting the policy  and many of them are productive workers.

In some cases, companies are also finding it difficult to crack down on lower-level employees because higher-ups also aren't complying. "If those leaders are not in the office to be witnessed, to be observed and to develop relationships with, the rationale [of needing to be in the office] falls apart," said Betsy Henning, managing partner of the marketing and communications agency Finn Partners.

There's some anecdotal evidence that certain businesses are using strict in-office policies to cull underperformers, but in many cases, they are simply collecting data and biding their time. Even if they want to take a hard line, there are other factors at play such as not wanting to lose or disenfranchise otherwise good workers, Putnam said.
Chinese stocks have given up much of their recent gains as investors debate whether the bottom is really in. Fresh data only seem to reinforce how China's problems can't be fixed in a few days, while questions swirl around how much  or how willing  policymakers are to act. One theme that hasn't changed in such an uncertain environment is playing specific stocks. Evercore ISI strategists said many U.S.-listed Chinese stocks are "oversold" and expects those "trading at depressed valuations with an attractive [earnings per share] backdrop to outperform," analysts said in a Jan. 28 report. They screened for names with more than $1 billion in capitalization and expectations for earnings growth in the next two years. Another criteria was whether the stock is trading at a more than 50% discount to their 10-year average price-to-earnings ratio or more than 50% below its pandemic peak. Part of Evercore's thesis is that Beijing will take further policy action after an annual parliamentary meeting in early March. The People's Bank of China has announced a 50 basis point cut to the reserve requirement ratio, effective Monday. The Lunar New Year, China's biggest holiday of the year, essentially kicks off the following Friday and lasts for an entire week. Such signals come at a time when Chinese stocks have sold off sharply. Evercore pointed out that, at the time of its report, more than 85% of stocks in Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index traded below their 200-day moving average  "an extreme which in the past coincides with bottoms and strong reversals." The Shanghai Stock Exchange's A share index has also fallen below a so-called National Fate Line going back to around 2005, Evercore said. Chinese stocks  whether measured by those that trade in the mainland, Hong Kong or U.S.  have fallen for more than two years. That's meant funds that have done well have had a value tilt in recent years . "Whether it will necessarily change from value to growth is difficult to predict," Rachel Wang, director of manager research, China, at Morningstar, said in Mandarin translated by CNBC. She noted that over the last few months, investors have shifted away from high-risk to low-risk products, from stocks to fixed income. Worst yet to come? The Shanghai composite closed nearly 1.5% lower Friday, below where it closed at the start of the recent rally on Jan. 23. Those interim gains had followed news of the PBOC cut and media reports that indicated renewed state efforts to support markets and growth. The Hang Seng Index closed 0.2% lower Friday, still holding above its Jan. 23 close. Some remain skeptical the markets have seen the worst. "The most important thing for foreign investors to understand is that unlike in the U.S., stock market performance has very little influence over Beijing's macro thinking," Clocktower Group said in a Feb. 1 report. "Until the market collapse transmits to the real economy and threatens social stability, we doubt that a risk asset selloff alone would be able to drive a fundamental shift in policy," the report said. Clocktower expects any turning point would come from a dramatic drop in housing prices, which would erase many households' lifetime savings. Regardless, what the longer-term trend in data show is that China is entering a new phase of growth, after decades of double-digit expansion. Understanding the need to look more at company competitiveness and individual returns can help investors in this environment, said Ye Yuhua, manager at Guangzhou-based Liangdian Private Capital. "In the past Chinese companies grew rapidly, many companies' results grew exponentially," he said in Mandarin, translated by CNBC. "In this situation in the past, investors might have paid too much attention to growth." The largest U.S.-listed Chinese companies by market capitalization on Evercore ISI's screen  internet tech giants Alibaba , Baidu and JD.com  are expected to post single-digit increases in earnings this year, followed by growth of around 10% next year. In contrast, lesser-known names on the screen  fintech company Lufax , electric car company Li Auto and recruiting site operator Kanzhun  are projected to have double-digit earnings growth this year and next, the Evercore report showed. Alibaba is set to report December quarter earnings on Wed. Feb. 7, while the other companies have yet to schedule a release date.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
An aerial view of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower together in eastern Mediterranean on November 03, 2023. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images

There are growing calls from some political leaders on Capitol Hill to justify U.S. Navy protection of "foreign flag" vessels from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, but these lines of inquiry run up against a basic operating truth about the flow of trade: it is global. U.S. import and export data shows that the majority of the country's trade is on foreign-flagged vessels. In fact, according to U.S. trade data aggregated by MDS Transmodal, less than 3% of trade is carried by U.S. vessels  97.2% of U.S. trade is transported on vessels that are flagged by foreign nations. The Congressional calls to consider prioritizing U.S.-flagged vessels come at a time when the Iranian-backed Houthis continue to attack shipping in the Red Sea. According to U.S. defense officials, there have been 40 attacks on commercial shipping. Over the weekend, the U.S. and allies launched the latest strikes against the Iran-backed Houthis rebels, which included targeting of anti-ship cruise missiles. Mohammed Al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis' Ansarallah political bureau, said on Saturday in response that the group's attacks "will continue until the aggression against Gaza stops."

Recently, four senators  including three from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee  asked the White House for the "legal rationale" behind President Biden's "unilateral" decision to not prioritize the security of U.S. vessels in light of the deaths of five U.S. servicemen serving in the region. Other nations, including U.S. ally France, have already declared their priority is to escort French-linked vessels after facing nationalistic pressure. International law requires commercial vessels to be registered in a country. The country where a ship is registered is identified by that country's flag. Many times insurance and a country's tax environment play a part in a ship's flag state. The Marshall Islands, for example, is a popular registration country for this reason. The flagging norm  which leaves only 2.6% of U.S. trade moved on U.S. flagged vessels  ties the economic interest of the United States to Navy protection of all ships.

At a hearing last Tuesday in the House of Representatives, Charles "Bud" Darr, executive vice president of MSC, the world's largest ocean carrier, was asked by Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA) if the U.S. Navy should prioritize security for U.S. flagged ships over foreign vessels. MSC does not have any U.S.-flagged vessels in its fleet, but it was the No. 1 ocean carrier handling U.S. imports, based on 2023 cargo arrivals data. "We are a conduit of world trade," said Darr, a former U.S. Navy serviceman. He added that while MSC is foreign-flagged, it does pay U.S. taxes and employs many Americans across its operations. "Keep the trade lanes open," Darr said. "It comes down to serving the commerce needs of the trading partners and what they need is what we provide." MSC's ocean alliance partner, Maersk, was No. 1 on handling U.S. exports. Maersk is also a foreign-flagged ocean carrier, but it does have some U.S.-flagged vessels, as do other foreign carriers including Hapag Lloyd. Representative Carbajal's office did not respond to CNBC's request for comment.

Senate concerns about White House military action In their letter to the White House, Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees; Senator Todd Young, (R-IN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; and Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, questioned the executive branch authority given the foreign vessel issue. "It could also be argued that directing military action to defend U.S. commercial shipping is within this power. However, most vessels transiting through the Red Sea are not U.S. ships, which raises questions about the extent to which these authorities can be exercised," they wrote. In the letter, also signed by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), the senators asked, "Does your administration believe there is legal rationale for a President to unilaterally direct U.S. military action to defend ships of foreign nations?" While the senators expressed support for "smart steps to defend U.S. personnel and assets, hold the Houthis accountable for their actions, and deter additional attacks," they said that Congress must carefully deliberate before authorizing offensive military action.

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U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan answers questions during the daily briefing at the White House on November 13, 2023 in Washington, DC.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday said that the United States will conduct further military action against Iran-backed groups, heightening tensions in the Middle East despite Sullivan insisting that the U.S. is not seeking a wider conflict in the region.

"The president has been very clear from the beginning, which is that when American forces are attacked, we will respond, and we've responded several times over the course of the past few months," Sullivan said during an interview on NBC News' "Meet the Press," adding that the recent strikes from the U.S. were "not the end" of the president's ongoing military response. "We intend to take additional strikes and additional action to continue to send a clear message that the United States will respond when our forces are attacked or our people are killed."

Whether or not the U.S. will conduct strikes inside Iran remains unclear.

"I'm not going to get into what we've ruled in and ruled out from the point of view of military action," Sullivan said in response to moderator Kristen Welker's question about whether or not the U.S. has ruled out strikes inside Iran.

"What I will say is that the president is determined to respond forcefully to attacks on our people. The president also is not looking for a wider war in the Middle East," he added.

On Friday, the U.S. carried out retaliatory strikes in Iraq and Syria against more than 85 targets linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard and Iran-backed militants it backs. The strikes were in response to a Jan. 28 drone strike on an American base in northeastern Jordan that killed three U.S. troops and injured dozens of others. The base, known as Tower 22, lies near the demilitarized zone on the border between Jordan and Syria, and is also close to the Iraqi border.

A day after those strikes, the U.S. and Britain led attacks against 36 Houthi targets in Yemen, in a second effort to further destabilize Iran-backed groups. The Houthis, which have close ties to Iran, have been firing at commercial ships and warships in the Red Sea, saying their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war. These are "distinct but related challenges," Sullivan said about the spreading conflict in the region, which he maintained the Biden administration is trying to prevent.

Iran has denied involvement in the Jordan drone strike, emphasizing that militants are acting independently. Iran's foreign ministry on Saturday condemned the overnight U.S. attacks in Iraq and Syria.

When asked how worried he is that Iranian-backed forces could again retaliate against U.S. forces, Sullivan responded: "That's always a risk...if we see more attacks, you'll see more responses."

Sullivan also appeared on ABC's "This Week," CBS' "Face the Nation," and CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday morning.
The early success of Saturday Night Live must have felt like validation for Second City. After all, half of SNLs first stars were veterans of the companys Chicago and Toronto stages, including John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. It could have been even more  Torontos John Candy, Dave Thomas and Joe Flaherty auditioned to replace Chevy Chase, a spot that went to Murray. On the other hand, there was a little bit of jealousy, admitted Thomas in Toronto Lifes oral history of the Canadian version of Second City. SNL became a sensation so fast.

According to Catherine OHara, The whole thing inspired (Second City stage producer) Andrew Alexander to start SCTV. Wait a minute  why are they going somewhere else? We could do it here!

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SCTV came more out of a defensive response to SNL, Alexander agreed in The Second City Unscripted: Revolution and Revelation at the World-Famous Comedy Theater. I wanted to hold on to my Toronto cast and was deeply concerned that the U.S. networks were going to come calling.

That wasnt paranoia  Canadian Lorne Michaels had already raided Toronto twice. Why shouldnt Canada enjoy the success of its own talents? So, in 1976, it definitely seemed like now is the time, this kind of Second City comedy that had struck me so vividly when I first saw it onstage in 1973 can work on television, remembered Eugene Levy. So the idea of trying to put something together seemed like a good idea.

The assembled cast would become nearly as legendary as the early SNL group: Candy, Levy, OHara, Thomas, Flaherty, Harold Ramis and Andrea Martin. (Theyd soon be joined by Martin Short and Rick Moranis.) But like SCTVs fictional television station, the real-life show had low budgets and questionable reach. At first, Second City Television aired sporadically on a regional network of small stations, going from monthly to biweekly to weekly episodes as the show found its footing.

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Compared to the dominance (and budget) of Saturday Night Live, it didnt feel like much of a competition. Harold (Ramis) embraced the cheapness of SCTV, Thomas told Toronto Life. Eugene, Catherine and I were always moaning about how bad the sets looked and how shitty the props were. Harold would just chuckle and go, Thats part of the charm!

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We couldnt hope to be a splashy, slick network show, said Ramis of the idea to set SCTV in a really crummy local station. And I think we all said, Well, yeah, that would be quite a relief. Lets be really bad. Well do a lot of bad television and be local personalities. So it wasnt going to be like SNL at all, and that was very liberating.

The raggedy underdog success of the different incarnations of SCTV accomplished its mission, keeping Torontos most impressive comedy talents affiliated with Second City. But it could have gone another way. At one point, explained writer Paul Flaherty in The Second City Unscripted, there was discussion of taking the entire SCTV cast and putting them on Saturday Night Live. But you know what? It would not have been as good.

There wasnt that haphazard handicap that the Saturday Night Live people had to live with, and thats doing it live, said Levy. If somethings not working, you cant pull back and do take two. So you could do more ambitious things. You could do subtler things. And because of that, I think we were able to do a lot more higher-quality stuff.
Consistently heralded as one of the greatest episodes in the history of The Simpsons, Marge vs. the Monorail finds a smooth-talking con artist manipulating the town of Springfield into purchasing an unnecessary, highly-dangerous monorail system that very nearly kills Homer, Bart and actor Leonard Nimoy of Little Rascals fame.

But not everybody loves this episode. We are, of course, talking about monorail enthusiasts.

The Monorail Society, an online group that aims to promote knowledge of and discussions about the various modes of monorail systems arent huge fans of The Simpsons, and are seemingly still pretty miffed about a 22-minute cartoon that came out decades ago. Their website contains not one, but two pages dedicated to denouncing what they call a faulty episode. Even the Monorail Song couldnt win them over.

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The Monorail Society claims that Marge vs. the Monorail is selling its viewers a sham  discrediting a technology because someone used it incorrectly. And The Monorail Societys founder and president Kim Pedersen further questioned why the episodes writer, Conan OBrien, couldnt have simply picked another form of transportation to lampoon, such as the true huckster-sold rail technology of our time: 'light' rail.

This may seem kind of extremely stupid, but one can see their point to a certain degree. Marge vs. the Monorail was never intended to be a treatise on transportation and urban planning. It was only written because OBrien randomly drove past a billboard that read Monorail and decided to combine that concept with a parody of Irwin Allen disaster movies like The Towering Inferno, and the plot of The Music Man.

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Yet, due to the shows continued popularity, real-life monorail projects inevitably get compared to the disastrous Springfield monorail. Pederson told an interviewer that this problem illustrates just how many people make their educated opinion on transit (based on) cartoon shows. A number of articles have used The Simpsons as a springboard to criticize monorails in general, and in 2020, Virgins CTO was even asked to comment on the deluge of Simpsons memes mocking their (now-defunct) monorail-esque Hyperloop.

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But more often than not, Simpsons comparisons are made when people hear about failed, costly, ill-conceived monorail projects, like in Sydney and Las Vegas. Which seems fair, even though these systems typically failed for financial reasons, not because the monorails were recycled Worlds Fair rides full of possum families.

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Simpsons creator Matt Groening was asked about the minor controversy in a 2021 interview. After learning of The Monorail Societys grievances, he responded, I dont know what to say, Im sorry. Thats a by-product of our viciousness." Groening attempted to repair some of the damage his show had caused by adding: Youre up off the ground, and youre above traffic. Monorails are great.

No word on whether or not Groening ever plans to apologize to the popsicle-stick skyscraper community.

You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this).
From left: Jason Citron, CEO of Discord; Evan Spiegel, CEO of Snap; Shou Zi Chew, CEO of TikTok; Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X; and Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, are sworn in prior to testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Regarding Bay Area social media executives face heated Senate panel on child safety (Politics, SFChronicle.com, Jan. 31): On one hand Mark Zuckerberg and his tech bros tell senators they are doing everything they can to control content that leads impressionable teens to kill themselves. On the other hand, we are told every day how amazingly artificial intelligence can scrape the internet and create faces that look and talk like real people.

So, why cant AI monitor all internet content and block harmful lies aimed at kids?

When the ridiculously overpaid tech execs say they cant fix the internet, they are really protecting their profits.

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Internet platforms are obviously publishers and should be open to lawsuits for libel and fraud the same way newspapers are. Repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which protects them from liability, and watch how fast they find a way to use AI to clean up the internet.

Bill Parks, Palo Alto

Expose Trump

Regarding Trump said he plans to declare martial law. Heres what that would look like (Open Forum, SFChronicle.com, Jan. 31): A collective lack of imagination and limited access to straight talk has led some people to say they would prefer a dictatorship to four more years of President Joe Biden.

Every day I hear how important it is to listen to Donald Trump as he tells us his plans. The news media have the opportunity and responsibility to take his promises and connect them to events in present-day dictatorships.

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Trumps deliberate use of repetition to dull the shock normally evoked by lies and formerly charged language has successfully obscured the horrific implications of his words.

By reporting and helping us to make these connections, the news media will be actively demonstrating the importance and relevance of a free press, one of the many freedoms Trump has maligned and promised to curtail.

Andrea Rosenman, San Mateo

Staying analog

Imagine my surprise when my landline phone carrier, AT&T, sent notice that it has applied to the California Public Utilities Commission to be removed from its obligation under state law to provide landline phone service, known as the Carrier of Last Resort.

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Once approved (and the commission always sides with utilities), AT&T will discontinue landline service.

Ive had a landline since 1980 and do not have a cell phone because I dont care to be that connected. Theres much to be said for a non-digital life, one of simplicity and peace, one free of the digital onslaught. Its the reason I subscribe to the print edition of the Chronicle.

While I accept progress, I find it sad that the landline and the print paper will soon be things of the past.
Let no one doubt the passion and sincerity with which the Archbishop of Canterbury is fighting the Governments plans to send to Rwanda those boat people risking their lives to escape the horrors of... northern France.

He has described the policy as ungodly, and told the House of Lords last week: In the Christian tradition we are told to welcome the stranger. Jesus said I was a stranger and you invited me in.

Now, as the Mail revealed on Thursday, The Most Rev Justin Welby has, along with two of his colleagues in the Lords, Baroness Chakrabarti  nominated for a peerage by Jeremy Corbyn  and the former president of the Supreme Court, Baroness Hale, produced a series of amendments designed to thwart the Rwanda plan.

In essence, they propose that none of it should pass into law, unless the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) has advised that the Republic of Rwanda is a safe place for the processing of asylum and other humanitarian protection claims.

The point is that when the Supreme Court last year declared the Rwanda scheme to be in breach of our legal obligations, it relied heavily on evidence from the UNHCR, which was quoted 65 times in the judgment.

Specifically, the UNHCR had referred the Supreme Court to many cases of Rwanda expelling asylum seekers it had previously taken in and criticised the countrys poor human rights record.

So, giving the UNHCR a veto over the British Governments plan to deter folk (young men in the vast majority) from paying large sums of money to people smugglers would kill off the Rwanda scheme once and for all. Which is the obvious purpose of the Welby/Chakrabarti/Hale amendments.

Yet this is all based on stunning hypocrisy. For the UNHCR has itself frequently hailed the Rwandan government for its enlightenment and social responsibility in taking in hundreds of thousands of refugees. In 2021 the High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, praised the east-central African country for its offer of a safe haven for refugees from Libya.

The Right Rev Justin Welby has, along with two of his colleagues in the Lords, produced a series of amendments designed to thwart the Rwanda plan

I really want to particularly thank the Government of Rwanda for continued solidarity and generosity, giving hope to vulnerable asylum seekers and refugees in dire need of protection and safety, he said.

And the same UNHCR press release effusively quotes the way it had been thanked by a migrant family from Somalia, a beneficiary of the scheme Mr Grandis team had negotiated with the Rwandan government: We were worried about being in detention and never having freedom. I had heard that Rwanda was a safe place and they were welcoming refugees.

Yet another recent UNHCR document enthuses: UNHCR Rwanda works to ensure that all refugees have access to life-saving and essential healthcare, reproductive health care, HIV prevention and treatment and nutritional well-being. The government of Rwanda has generously adopted a policy of inclusion of refugees into the national health system.

Presumably this is one of the reasons why our own Divisional court had originally approved the Governments Rwanda scheme.

Anyway, after the Supreme Court found against it, the Government negotiated a treaty with Rwanda, specifically designed to address the claim that it might in future expel some of those arriving from the UK to countries where they would be at risk. Article 10 of that Treaty declares: No relocated individual shall be removed from Rwanda except to the United Kingdom.

It is on this basis that the Safety of Rwanda Bill  which passed the Commons  can properly claim to be addressing the concerns of the Supreme Court.

And when its opponents in the Lords say the Bill is breaching the rule of law by declaring Rwanda safe when the highest court in the land has found otherwise, they are wilfully ignoring this treaty, which itself is a document under international law.

A similar argument had been put in the Commons, notably by Labours Shadow Immigration Minister, Stephen Kinnock: The Rwanda Bill is an assault on the rule of law and an affront to the separation of powers. These principles are cornerstones of our liberal democracy.

Kinnock was in effect arguing that Parliament should never overturn the verdict of a court.

There are purely practical arguments against the Rwanda Bill  for example, that it is an expensive business, and might not, even if passed into law, effect the removal of very many of the boat people

He was banjaxed by the Conservative MP Richard Graham, who asked: Just to tease out a little more Labour policy on the specific issue that the honourable gentleman referred to, is he ruling out any consideration of this House determining to overturn the wrongful conviction of hundreds of sub-postmasters simply because that would set a precedent in the relationship between this House and the Courts?

Completely stumped  not least because Labour has fallen in with the Governments Bill to overturn judicial verdicts in these hundreds of cases  Kinnock blethered: Well, that is an interesting one; I did not have talking about the sub-postmasters on my bingo card today.

There seem to be many MPs and peers who would try to draw a distinction between passing a law to overturn the convictions of all the prosecuted sub-postmasters (at the risk of including one or two who might actually have been guilty) and passing a law which implies that the Supreme Court  gasp!  might possibly be mistaken.

Among those apparently shocked by such a suggestion is the crossbench peer Lord Carlile, who fulminated that the Safety of Rwanda Bill is a step towards totalitarianism this is the Government elevating itself to an unacceptable level above the law, above our much-admired Supreme Court.

Yet, as the distinguished jurist Lord Faulks points out, there have been three occasions when Parliament indeed reversed decisions by the Supreme Court.

The most notable was after the Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment in 2020, allowed an appeal by Gerry Adams against his conviction in 1975 for attempting to escape from lawful custody. This was a judgment which invited the former Sinn Fein leader and others detained between 1970 and 1974 to seek compensation for unlawful detention or wrongful conviction.

The countrys leading political think-tank, Policy Exchange, then published a remarkable paper, setting out a compelling case that the Supreme Court was mistaken (it had judged that Adams had been unlawfully detained because the order for his detention had not been considered personally by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, but only by a Minister of State).

Eight members of the House of Lords endorsed the Policy Exchange paper entitled Reversing the Supreme Courts judgment in R v Adams. One of those peers who (successfully) called on Parliament to overturn the verdict of the Supreme Court wasLord Carlile.

As the co-author of that paper, Richard Ekins KC (Oxford Universitys professor of law and constitutional government) now observes of the Safety of Rwanda Bill and the new treaty between our countries: Objections that [these] threaten the rule of law, or are seeking to use law to change facts, are misconceived.

'To insist that judges must have the final say would displace Parliaments proper role as the ultimate decision-maker in our constitution.

Of course, both Houses are required to pass the Bill; and the Lords, if it accepts the amendments in the name of the Archbishop of Canterbury and others, will sabotage the measure already passed by the Commons.

Entirely unrelated though it may be, I suspect the force of the Archbishops appeal in debate will have been weakened by the revelation that an Afghan asylum seeker and convicted sex offender wanted for a horrifying chemical attack on a woman and two children had been allowed to remain in this country because a priest vouched for his claim to have converted to Christianity.

Theology aside, there are purely practical arguments against the Rwanda scheme  for example, that it is an expensive business, and might not, even if passed into law, effect the removal of very many of the boat people.

But it would be a deterrent to those paying many thousands of euros to the people smugglers  and, as the National Crime Agency has said, some sort of deterrent is now required. However ungodly.
Spring elections in California  like the one scheduled for March 5  are called primaries but they really arent that at all. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

My fellow Californians, your government is lying to you. Without conscience or remorse. About our elections.

The lie isnt new. It is 14 years old. And its a bipartisan falsehood  parroted by both political parties and defended by media across the spectrum  including, perhaps, the publication where you are reading this column.

The lie is not hidden. The state publishes it the voter guides and ballots it sends you.

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What is this lie?

Its that the spring state elections you participate in  like the one scheduled for March 5  are primaries.

Primaries are elections in which voters belonging to a particular party select the candidate who will stand for that party in a general election. The truth is California no longer has elections like that for state offices or Congressional representatives. Fifty-four percent of California voters chose to eliminate such contests in June 2010 by approving Proposition 14.

But no one ever eliminated the name primary.

Prop. 14 was officially the Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act. Its proponents, good government groups, used primary because it was a familiar and legally tested term. But what it did was eliminate the primary and establish in its place a two-round, top-two system.

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Under top two, our spring election is actually the opposite of a primary. Its a general election in which candidates of every party are on the ballot together.

That means in Californias fall election  in which the two top finishers from the primaries face-off  is also mislabeled. We call it a general election. But its actually a run-off election between the top two candidates from springs elections.

You might think this is a meaningless matter of nomenclature  a small-time fraud, like calling sparkling wine Champagne. But youd be wrong. The primary lie suppresses turnout when it matters most: in the March elections.

Voters usually focus on November, when the whole country goes out to the polls. But California voters have more choices and power in the March election when their ballots have the widest variety of candidates.

For that reason, March is the election voters should prioritize. But they dont. Californias turnout patterns are the same as they were before we eliminated primaries. In 2022, only 27% of eligible Californians cast ballots in the spring election, compared to 41% in November 2022.

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If youre a California voter, and you didnt know any of this, dont blame yourself. No one ever made it clear. Theres been no real educational effort to explain this reality and get Californians out to the polls for the more important spring election. Election officials, media, candidates  the whole world really  still call the first election the primary and treat it as if its a warm-up to November rather than the main event.

Thats hypocrisy. This states leaders and media routinely rail against misinformation and call themselves defenders of democracys democratic process  even as they repeat this basic and damaging primary misinformation every election year.

For more than a decade, Ive been a lonely voice asking our leaders to correct themselves and label elections accurately. Ive suggested alternatives to the primary label. I prefer general but would be happy with first round or the main event or The Big One.

Ive gotten nowhere.

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Some people simply dont see the problem. Others acknowledge the error but say their hands are tied  because state law calls the spring election a primary, they need to call it that, too.

But we shouldnt give up. This year, lets resolve to take The Big One seriously. If more Californians showed up at the polls on March 5, wed get more representative verdicts on everything from our next U.S. senator to whether we want to change Californias mental health policies, as Prop. 1 proposes.

This years spring contest provides an unusually promising opportunity to address the labeling problem. Because this March there is a real primary on the ballot  the presidential primary  alongside the non-primary races for state and congressional seats. Prop. 14 didnt abolish primaries for president, so Democrats and Republicans can separately choose their nominees.

Since this election contains both a primary and a general, state leaders could use the ballot to explain the distinction to the public. Donald Trump should win the California GOP presidential primary. His campaign is based on an election lie  that he won the 2020 contest. California leaders rightfully condemn him for that.

The problem is, they have their own record of lying about our elections. Sure, their lie is nowhere as dangerous as Trumps election denialism. But its still a lie. Right now would be a wonderful moment to apologize and tell the truth about this election.
With a 20-point lead in the polls, you might think that Sir Keir Starmer is blissfully awaiting the General Election.

Quite the opposite. His party is frantically spending tens of thousands of pounds polling Muslim communities after a slump in support over Starmer's refusal to back a ceasefire in Gaza.

For good reason. Little noticed last month was the announcement by Mohammed Akunjee, a Muslim lawyer, that he will stand as an independent candidate in the London Labour stronghold of Bethnal Green and Bow.

Akunjee, whose clients include Shamima Begum, the Isis bride in Syria fighting to restore her British citizenship, says: 'I will be going head to head with Labour.' His election slogan? 'Vote Akunjee. Don't trust Labour.' He's fighting the Labour MP Rushanara Ali, who faced furious crowds chanting 'vote her out' and 'Labour Party, shame on you' outside her constituency office in November after she refused to back a Gaza ceasefire vote in Parliament.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) during a visit to St Fergus Gas Terminal

Protest outside the office of the Tower Hamlets Labour Party in Bethnal Green, London, in an area represented by Labour MP Rushanara Ali, in protest at Labours stance on the Israel-Hamas war

MP Rushanara Ali responds after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gave a statement to MPs in the House of Commons on the situation on the Israel-Hamas conflict

In 2022, the local Tower Hamlets council was captured by the Aspire party, whose 24 councillors are all Bangladeshi-heritage Muslims.

A Muslim independent candidate is also standing in Ilford North, where openly gay and fiercely ambitious Wes Streeting, the Shadow Health Secretary seen as future party leader, took down a 5,400 Tory majority in 2015.

Revolts are stirring in other seats where there are a big Muslim vote  with George Galloway standing for the Workers Party of Britain in the Rochdale by-election. Starmer is right to be worried.

Former Chancellor George Osborne discovered the hard way that French presidents can be very touchy. 'I was giving a speech and there was the lectern and a little box for a shorter person to stand on,' he says.

A few days earlier, it had been reported that President Sarkozy, 5ft 6in in shoes, used the box for a height boost.

Osborne recalls: 'So I picked up the box and said to the audience in Britain: 'I don't need this Sarkozy box.' I got a message from the French Embassy saying I wouldn't be welcome in Paris for at least 12 months.'

Former Chancellor George Osborne (pictured) discovered the hard way that French presidents can be very touchy

After the revelation that Rishi Sunak fasts every week for 36 hours from 5pm on Sunday to dawn on Tuesday, one Tory MP was overheard saying: 'Let's hope Russia doesn't invade any more countries on a Monday when the PM's blood glucose levels are low.'

Stop the plots, growls Ferrari

At the Tory parliamentary party dinner at the Londoner hotel last week, Rishi Sunak appeared on stage to introduce a surprise guest: Nick Ferrari, the formidable LBC breakfast show presenter.

He delivered some home truths to the audience, which included Tory MPs and the entire Cabinet. Ferrari told them: 'My listeners would tell you, this isn't an episode of The Traitors. They are expecting you to do the job they pay you for  govern. You are suffering death by 1,000 leaks.

'Never mind Stop The Boats. Stop the scheming. Stop the WhatsApping, stop the plotting.'

Sound advice which Tory MPs will ignore at their peril.

Nick Ferrari, the formidable LBC breakfast show presenter (pictured) delivered some home truths at the Tory parliamentary party dinner

After her bruising appearance at the Covid Inquiry last week, the former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has revealed her favourite non-fiction book.

Written by the Austrian Stefan Zweig, it is a sweeping history of Europe covering World War I and the rise of Hitler. Its title? The World Of Yesterday  a fitting epitaph for her political career.

Former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie wasnt impressed by the disgraced ex-SNP leaders blubbering while giving evidence. Suspect they were Jockodile tears.

Is arch-Remainer Olly Robbins, once the UKs top Brexit adviser under Theresa May, about to return to Whitehall? Hes being tipped for the post of Cabinet Secretary in a Sir Keir Starmer Labour government. It would make Robbins, who is now in the private sector, the most powerful civil servant in the land  and put him in an ideal position to try to engineer closer links to his beloved EU.
A mother who was diagnosed with cancer at 23 has revealed doctors initially put her symptoms down to being pregnant.

Poppy Brown, now 28, from Sussex, was diagnosed with an atypical Ewing sarcoma - a type of primary bone cancer - in April 2019 when she was 34 weeks pregnant with her daughter Bella.

She found a lump on her jaw and was experiencing headaches and tiredness but after visiting the doctor multiple times, she was assured she was just experiencing common pregnancy symptoms.

Speaking to FEMAIL, she revealed she actually felt 'relieved' when she finally received her diagnosis, after trying for months to get doctors to pay attention to her symptoms.

She said: 'Before I was diagnosed, I was working abroad without a care in the world. I met my partner Tom while I was out there and quite quickly after we met, I fell pregnant and it just felt right. We moved back to the UK and I thought we would live a nice, normal family life.

Poppy Brown was just 23 when she was diagnosed with an Ewing Sarcoma - a rare form of bone cancer (pictured with her partner Tom and baby Bella)

Poppy said she thought there was 'no way' it could have been cancer due to her young age - and like doctors put the symptoms down to her pregnancy

'I wasn't even aware that you could get cancer in your bones or soft tissue until I was diagnosed.

'I believed up until my diagnosis that there was no way it could've been cancer as I was only 23. I thought it was just a really rough pregnancy.

'As strange as it sounds, it was such a relief when I was diagnosed. I had to fight to get someone to believe me.

'As a pregnant person, I was made to feel like I was being a nuisance. It was relief that I wasn't crazy. I was 34 weeks pregnant at this point.'

Poppy began chemotherapy three weeks after giving birth to her daughter, Bella.

Sarcomas are rare cancers that occur in the supporting issues of the body, which include bone, cartilage, tendons, fat and muscle.

Unusually, it is most common in teenagers and young adults.

Symptoms include swelling and the area becoming painful when touched.

Poppy started chemotherapy just three weeks after she gave birth to Bella

Despite spending over 150 nights in hospital and struggling with the side effects of treatment, Poppy tried to live her life as normal as much as she could

Poppy was given the all clear in February 2020 and has recently been given a four year post-treatment all clear

Poppy's own symptoms began in November 2018 when she was about 12 weeks pregnant.

She began to get intense headaches, despite never experiencing them before - but doctors put it down to her pregnancy.

In January, when she was around five months pregnant, she found a lump on her jaw, which she assumed was a wisdom tooth.

Poppy continued: 'I then started to experience nose bleeds and fatigue alongside the headaches, but the doctors just said were common pregnancy symptoms.

'Soon after, I found a spot inside my nose. It kept growing bigger and soon it was blocking off my airway inside. At first, doctors didn't know what the growth was.'

Poppy visited the GP multiple times about the growth in her nose before being referred to an ENT consultant.

Poppy said: 'I thought this would be when I got all the answers, but they had no idea what it was. I had a biopsy and had to wait around six weeks until they found out what it was. I went to A&E a few times as I was so unwell and I was always made to feel that I just wasn't coping with pregnancy and 'only had a headache and to take paracetamol.'

'I would try and google my symptoms with the growth in my nose and the most common answer was polyps. Nose cancer came up but that was more common for men older than 60.

Poppy met her partner Tom (pictured together) while working abroad and they moved back to the UK together

Poppy is telling her story ahead of World Cancer Day on February 4

'After a biopsy, they diagnosed me with cancer.'

Poppy was treated on the Teenage Cancer Trust unit at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester. Both units are dedicated to 1624-year-olds, to champion the needs of young people with cancer and to provide specialist expertise and care.

Despite spending over 150 nights in hospital and experiencing horrific side effects from the treatment, such as mouth ulcers and feeling sick and tired, Poppy still tried to keep as much normality as possible and hosted a baby shower.

'There's no good time to have cancer, but I am glad I was treated on a Teenage Cancer Trust Unit and not an adult unit. I got such amazing support.

'I had my mum, my partner Tom and daughter, Bella, at my side too. We were an A-team really. Having Bella there was a reason to get up. She was the reason to get through treatment and to smile. She saved my life.'

Poppy was given the all clear in February 2020 and has recently been given a four year post-treatment all clear, with check ups every six months. She is living happily in Sussex with Tom and Bella.

Poppy is sharing her story as part of Teenage Cancer Trust's World Cancer Day campaign for signs and symptoms awareness.

The five most common signs of cancer are lumps, bumps and swellings, unexplained tiredness, mole changes, persistent pain and weight change.

Poppy is now living happily in Sussex with Tom and Bella after receiving the all clear

In a new Teenage Cancer Trust survey, commissioned ahead of World Cancer Day, only 17 per cent of 13-24-year-olds knew all five of the main warning signs of cancer in young people.

She said: 'Out of the five most common signs of cancer, I thought two of my symptoms were linked to cancer, lumps and changes of moles. It's ironic that I actually found a lump and cancer never crossed my mind, I thought I was having problems with my wisdom tooth.

'I would encourage other young people to be persistent if you spot any changes in your body  you know yourself so trust your gut and get checked out.'

Dr Louise Soanes, Chief Nurse at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: 'These symptoms don't necessarily mean that you have cancer, but it is really important to get checked out if you notice these changes in your body  especially if they last for a while and you can't explain them.'

Louise added: 'It's normal to feel nervous before speaking to a doctor or a nurse - if you don't feel that you can make the first step on your own, it can be a good idea to speak to someone you trust first.

'There are things that you can do to help to prepare for a doctor's appointment such as writing down your questions beforehand, making a list of your symptoms and when you started to feel unwell, taking someone with you to the appointment, and being aware that you can ask doctors to explain something in a different way if you don't understand, or even ask for another doctor to speak to you.'

To find out more, visit: teenagecancertrust.org/5signs
A traveller woman has shared the reason behind why she decided to marry outside of her community.

Tracey King, who has been with her husband Mark for over 27 years, said she was 'happy' and 'honoured' to marry a non-traveller man.

Although the couple have been together for nearly three decades, a traveller marrying someone who is not in their community is not common.

In a clip to her TikTok following of 254,600, the mother revealed the main reason why she did not marry a fellow traveller.

While filming Mark cleaning a picture, the pair joked about how it was love at first sight when they first met during a minor car accident.

Tracey King shared with her TikTok following of over quarter of a million that she was 'honored' and 'happy' to have been with her husband Mark for over 27 years

Tracey explained: 'In my parents era men didn't cook, clean, they didn't do anything.

'They went to work and that's what a man did.'

Whilst capturing her husband doing a spot of cleaning in their home, Tracey divulged that this would not typically happen in the gypsy community.

She elaborated that many men from her community still abide by their customs and don't help their wives with the housework, labelling them 'lazy'.

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Tracy revealed that when she first began dating Mark she was baffled to return to a spotless home, as she had never seen a man clean growing up.

Her husband's cleanliness and helpfulness around the home and with their children is something she adores about him.

'I don't have to ask Mark to do anything. Mark just does it to help me.'

She added: 'When I had the children and I was in hospital for a couple of days, I would come home and the house would be spotless, balloons everywhere.

Revealing why her husband Mark was the perfect choice, she explained:

'I want my boys to know how to cook and clean because what if they don't want to get married?

'What if they want to move out and do their own thing?'

'This is why I didn't marry a travelling fella.'

Another factor of why she decided against marrying another traveller was because of the rules - which she believed were very stringent.

While she acknowledged that not every man was controlling, she admitted it was something she had witnessed and wanted a different path for herself and her daughters.

She said: 'I want them to go out into the world and do something. I want them to have holidays abroad with their friends.

Whilst she filmed her husband cleaning their home. Tracey divulged that this was not a sight she witnessed growing up

Many took to the comments to share their admiration for the pair's teamwork, with some branding it 'true love'

'I want them to go out meet good people have good friends and do good things.'

In another clip, the content creator also quipped that the main reason she married Mark was because of his culinary abilities.

She said: 'This is why, I'm gonna say it. This is why I didn't want a traveller man.

'Because I ain't [sic] seen a traveller man cook, and I know I like grub.'

Many flooded to the comments to brand their pair partnership as 'true love', with one person writing: 'He's a keeper what a lovely man,'

A second penned: 'Mark's a diamond you're lucky to have each other.'

Another chimed in: 'You are a team a beautiful couple with a lovely family.'
READ MORE: My parents cut me off while I was traveling - now I'm stranded

Do you have a question for Jane? Email dearjane@mailonline.com or ask it below

She also gives advice to a woman who is struggling with her husband's sex drive

In her latest agony aunt column, best-selling author Jane Green offers words of wisdom to a wife who is having strong desires for her son's female nanny

Dear Jane,

This is a difficult thing to admit, but Ive developed some very strong feelings for my sons nanny  and Ive come to realize that the only way I can put my desires aside and save my marriage is to fire her.

I am a bisexual woman and have been married to my husband for four years. Hes always been very supportive of my sexuality, but when he and I got married, it was  for both of us  always going to be a monogamous relationship. And that is something I have been committed to.

But for the last eight months my commitment has been shaken, thanks to my incredible attraction to our six-month-old sons nanny. I knew from the moment I interviewed her that there were some feelings there, and looking back I now realize it was a mistake to hire her given the stomach flutters that I felt at the time.

She was the best candidate though and I wanted to find the most amazing person to look after my child. So, I pushed the feelings aside and welcomed her into our home as an employee  nothing more.

Dear Jane, I've fallen in love with my six-month-old son's nanny - how can I fire her without my husband realizing why I've let her go?

Since then however, my feelings for her have become impossible to shake off. I find myself daydreaming about what it would be like to kiss her, to be in a relationship with her, to raise my son with her all things that a woman in a committed marriage should never consider.

Both my husband and my son are devoted to her, and I know it would cause chaos if I suddenly announced to my partner that I want to let her go. Questions would come up about why and I fear that hed ultimately figure out what is going on. He knows me too well.

I feel so desperate that Ive even considered telling my husband that I caught her stealing or that I busted her in the middle of some inappropriate act I know that would go against every moral code imaginable, but I dont know what else to do?

How can I fire her without being the villain?

From,

International best-selling author Jane Green offers sage advice on DailyMail.com readers' most burning issues in her Dear Jane agony aunt column

Nanny Nightmare

Dear Nanny Nightmare,

What a bind you find yourself in, particularly given how good this nanny is. The thing with crushes, particularly secret crushes, is how powerful they become under a cloak of secrecy.

Secrets exist because of shame. I applaud you for having been open with your husband about your bisexuality, but by not having this very difficult discussion with him, youre carrying the secret alone, and with it the shame, which is a very heavy burden to bear.

Nothing can be sorted out while you are carrying this alone. I know how difficult it will be to tell him that you have feelings for the nanny, but it has to be done, and together you can decide on a path forward.

It may be that once the secret is aired, it loses much of its power, and you are all able to continue with the nanny, with no harm done. Whatever the outcome, your husband has to be party to the discussion and the decision, and above all else, he is owed the truth.

For while this may be a one-off crush, it indicates that there are issues here that need to be addressed. Use this as an opportunity for growth  either within your marriage, looking at what might be missing for you to become fixated on someone else, or to address what you believe to be true about your sexuality.

Its not uncommon for women to identify as bisexual as a precursor to realizing that they are gay. Most women are raised to want a husband, marriage, kids; what is known as compulsory heterosexuality.

Many who feel an attraction to the same sex, refuse to look at it, tell themselves they have a choice, allowing their shame to stop them from living the life they truly want. Shame sees them bury their secret, following the path that society says is normal.

They might tell their partner they are bisexual, acknowledging their attraction to the same sex, and often it isnt until they come across a catalyst  in this case, the nanny  that they are forced to acknowledge their true sexuality.

Im not saying this is the case for you, and I know how hard this must be. You have to tell your husband, and the two of you need to reach a shared decision. I urge both of you to then see a marriage counsellor to shed some light on your marriage, and/or your sexuality.

Sending you much love and strength.

Dear Jane,

My husband has a very high sex drive and usually wants to be intimate every single night of the week  unless hes had a few beers, in which case hes slightly less interested.

If I dare say Im tired or have a headache, or anything else that might result in us not having sex, he gets in a vile mood, rolls over and goes to sleep without so much as a goodnight kiss.

Then the next day hes grumpy and usually wont speak to me. His behavior is so unbearable that I usually just end up having sex with him to avoid it, not necessarily because I want to.

Its got to the point where I dread every second we spend alone together in the evenings, because I know that as we get to the end of the day hes only going to have one thing on his mind.

Dear Jane's Sunday service Socrates is quoted as having said an unexamined life is not worth living. When we start looking at ourselves, our part in relationships, what it is we want, what we deserve, a world of opportunity can open up. Blaming others makes us the victim, which is a powerless, and unfortunate place to live. Taking responsibility for ourselves and our lives will lead us down a path of peace. Advertisement

Hes even started asking for oral sex if were alone together at home during the day.

He doesnt kiss or cuddle me at any other time - the only time he's interested is in bed.

He's said that's what I'm a wife for, and that he owns me and I should do what he wants as that's what a wife does, and without sex there's no marriage?

I haven't ever said I never want to have sex, I would just like to go to bed some nights and enjoy a film together and not be anxious! Am I bad wife?

From,

Bedtime Bother

Dear Bedtime Bother,

Far be it from me to suggest that you leave your husband. Not because the very thought of sex every day is completely exhausting to most of the women I know, but because he says he 'owns' you.

Bedtime Bother, nobody 'owns' you, and you are absolutely not required to have sex with your husband whenever he wants.

Marriage is a partnership where each of you may want very different things out of the marriage, but you work on them together and reach a compromise.

Despite how your husband thinks, long gone are the days when a wife is supposed to fulfil conjugal duties, no matter how she feels.

I would love you to take a long, hard look at your marriage, and your life, and whether you are treated in the way you would like. If possible, see a therapist, and if your husband is amenable, a couples therapist.

However, your letter asks whether you are a bad wife. You are not a bad wife in the slightest, but nor does it sound like you are a happy wife. We all deserve to be appreciated, respected and loved.

I wish you well on the journey.
Consequently, the couple disinvited her from the wedding and she blew up

A woman took to Reddit in wondering if she dealt with her fiance's mother fairly

A woman has revealed she's uninvited her fiance's overbearing mother in the midst of preparing for their wedding.

'AITA for telling my soon-to-be MIL (mother-in-law) that I'm marrying her son and not her, just after uninviting her to our wedding?' the bride-to-be asked in a Reddit post on the Am I The A**hole subreddit, racking up more than 5,000 upvotes in just two days at the time of writing.

The soon-to-be wife and her fiance, both 28, met in college, and, according to the original poster (OP), the pair 'have a great relationship,' and got engaged last year.

In the run up to their fall wedding, the pair have been busy planning - but the bride-to-be's future mother-in-law had been complicating things at every step.

A woman took to Reddit to question whether she was in the wrong for disinviting her fiance's mother from her upcoming wedding - and concluding the conversation with a snarky remark

'When I realized she was about to blow up again, I cut her off with "In case you don't know, I'm the one marrying your son, not you,"' the bride recalled of the heated meeting (stock image)

'Upon news of our engagement she was super excited, very uncharacteristically. We then all realized that she basically wanted to frame the whole day around her - think "everyone should be praising me for birthing this boy, he couldn't even get married without me!"' the OP explained.

'From there the craziness really ramped up - she was coming along with him to tux fittings, trying to plan out the music (even OUR FIRST DANCE), and getting angry at me for daring to choose a dress she didn't like.'

What's more, her fiance's relationship with his mother has long been a 'sore spot' for him, with much of his family feeling similarly.

'She is separated from his dad and from what I've heard (and witnessed), the family don't get along much with her,' the bride explained.

'If you met her you'd understand why - she's super judgemental (sic) and rude, and barely has a nice word to say about her own kids, let alone me.

'Unfortunately, my fiance (being her only son and the youngest child) is her blatant favorite - she really wants him to be Mommy's Boy, but he's not that way at all and does a great job of handling her and keeping his distance (which honestly he prefers).'

As the future mother-in-law began inserting herself more and more into the wedding planning, the bride-to-be and her fiance, along with his extended family, began 'to toy with the idea of uninviting her based on this behavior.'

The bride admitted that, 'as wrong as it kind of innately feels' to disinvite her future mother-in-law, 'this is a pretty exceptional case and honestly her actions were starting to make us dread our own wedding.'

Commenters overwhelmingly agreed that the bride-to-be was justified in her remark to her future mother-in-law

After deciding to uninvite her from the ceremony, the couple asked her to come over to their house, where the pair 'sat her down in the peace and quiet, and gently explained to her that we no longer wanted her to attend the wedding.'

'She got really angry and immediately flew off the handle at me and not her son, as though I was the one who had influenced the rest of the family to uninvite her,' the bride explained.

'My frustration at her boiled over, and without shouting I stood up and told her that I wanted her to stop yelling, and that she had no right to speak to me as she was.

'When I realized she was about to blow up again, I cut her off with "In case you don't know, I'm the one marrying your son, not you". She didn't say anything else, just snatched up her bag and left.'

The bride went on to describe that her fiance's mom hasn't spoken to her since the meeting, 'but she's trying to get my son to change his mind (believe me when I say he will not).'

The future mother-in-law 'wants an apology' from the bride-to-be, but the rest of the groom-to-be's family thinks that the OP didn't do anything wrong.

'I kind of wonder if my comment was unnecessary and whether it would've been better to stay the calm and collected party. I'm just so done with her and I wanted to let her know exactly how I felt,' the post concluded

Commenters overwhelmingly sided with the woman.

'I wouldn't care what she thinks. It seems everyone agrees she should not be at the wedding, so 100% NTA. P.S. You may want to hire security to keep her out,' one top-voted comment read.

To this, the OP responded, 'Yeah, security are probably a good idea....'

'NTA. You did things EXACTLY correctly. If you didn't put your foot down now, you would have a lifetime of drama with her. This post should be saved/stickied as an example of how to properly deal with a terrible mother-in-law. And your fiance deserves a high five for having your back!' a second commenter wrote.

'NTA. This kind of delusional behavior will only get progressively worse over time, especially if it isn't (firmly) quashed,' a third chimed in.

'Either you set hard boundaries now, or she will be throwing tantrums at every milestone for the rest of your lives.

'Congrats on having a future husband with a shiny steel spine to match your own.'

A fourth echoed: 'NTA. Congrats on your spine.'

A fifth added: 'NTA. Screw being the "calm and collected party". That woman literally wants to marry her son. You spoke the truth. She wants to get to the altar to "have a moment with her son", wow, sweet home Alabama. Good job putting her in her place. Get some security for the wedding or family members to stay alert in case she decides to make an appearance.'

Someone else further affirmed the OP's response, writing, 'Of all the crazy shizzle you could've thrown at her, that's as benign as it gets. NTA'

And, as another commenter put it: 'NTA - she sounds a nutter.'
A woman has launched a chilling investigation into the sexual and physical abuse of her step-grandfather as she questions whether his crimes could have escalated to multiple murder.

Sierra Barter, from California, has become a central figure in Max's upcoming four-part docuseries titled The Truth About Jim as she sets out to confront her family's traumatic past.

The amateur investigator will begin by unraveling the horrific abuse suffered by relatives at the hands of Jim Mordecai who, to most, was a respected teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area.

But the family have now detailed their suspicions that the former patriarch, who died in 2008, could have been responsible for a string of deaths that have gone unsolved for decades.

Sierra Barter, from California, has become a central figure in Max's upcoming four-part docuseries titled The Truth About Jim as she sets out to confront her family's traumatic past

The amateur investigator will begin by unraveling the horrific abuse suffered by relatives at the hands of Jim Mordecai who, to most, was a respected teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area

Many believed that Jim 'seemed like a really nice teacher' but this was by no means the full story.

'There are a lot of people still to this day that look up to him but it's far darker,' one woman ominously admits.

Sierra then explains: 'My step-grandfather was a man named Jim Mordecai. My entire life I have heard horror stories about him.'

Jim was accused of sexual and physical abuse, which included extensive beatings, that left his family 'terrified.'

'He either was the most charming man that you were ever going to meet or he was your worst nightmare,' another woman adds.

The trailer cuts to Jim nonchalantly walking around the family's living room as his own stepdaughter candidly divulges: 'Being sexually assaulted by your step-parent who happens to be a teacher... it just made me shut down.'

And it seems that it was Sierra's mom Shannon Barter who first mentioned that she thought Jim's crimes could have been even more sinister.

Sitting with her head in her hands, Shannon mutters: 'I'm just trying to figure out when I started thinking that he killed people.'

Sitting with her head in her hands, Sierra's mom mutters: 'I'm just trying to figure out when I started thinking that he killed people'

Many believed that Jim 'seemed like a really nice teacher' but this was by no means the full story

'There are a lot of people still to this day that look up to him but it's far darker,' one woman ominously admits

'It would not shock me if Jim had murdered some women. I actually would probably be shocked if he didn't do it,' his stepdaughter divulges.

The clip then cuts to Sierra's two investigation boards which plot the locations of the Mordecai family homes in relation to both the Santa Rosa Hitchhiker killings and the Zodiac victims.

Between 1972 and 1973, seven women, who were known to hitchhike, were found dead in California - three of the victims had been raped and three were too decomposed for investigators to determine.

An eighth probable victim also disappeared but her body has never been located.

The killing spree became known as the Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders.

The string of slayings were at one point even linked to the notorious Zodiac Killer, who operated during the 1960s and 70s in northern California.

Jim was accused of sexual and physical abuse, which included extensive beatings, that left his family 'terrified'

'He either was the most charming man that you were ever going to meet or he was your worst nightmare,' another woman adds

The clip then cuts to Sierra's two investigation boards which plot the locations of the Mordecai family homes in relation to both the Santa Rosa Hitchhiker killings and the Zodiac victims

But because those murders did not involve rape, nudity or the dumping of victims off roadways the connection was never firmly established.

Both cases currently remain unsolved.

Sierra concluded the trailer by stating: 'It sounds nuts but here's the reality. Somebody's grandpa was the serial killer, was it mine? I don't know. But somebody's grandpa was.'

The documentary will see her gathering evidence, collecting testimonies from witnesses and ultimately delivering her findings to police 'hoping to convince them to investigate and help her family step out from Jim's shadow.'

Max's The Truth About Jim will be released on February 15
We are where we eat, not just what we eat. Which is why the return of uber-restaurateur Jeremy King to London's restaurant land, opening Arlington (on the site of his old Le Caprice), an American-style diner, The Park, and reviving Simpson's In The Strand, is excellent news.

Nobody understands better than King that restaurants are so much more than simply a place where people pay for a meal to be served.

A good restaurant is like a club without a membership fee. Regardless of whether it is the local Italian or celebrity haunt The River Cafe, to get you to return again and again they must make you feel special. Good food is naturally a plus, but it's not the main event.

Last week a friend took me to lunch at the House of Lords, which is most definitely a club. On hearing of this, another friend, a baroness, commented that she'd never suggested we dine together there because she didn't rate the food.

But that's beside the point. In fact, my meal was excellent, but even if it had been sub-standard I would have enjoyed myself because it's somewhere most people never get the chance to experience.

Simpson's In The Strand is known for its high class dining

Last week a friend took me to lunch at the House of Lords, which is most definitely a club. On hearing of this, another friend, a baroness, commented that she'd never suggested we dine together there because she didn't rate the food

We pay to eat out in order to avoid having to rustle up something ourselves and deal with the washing up. But also so as to be part of the scene that is a popular restaurant.

A key element of Jeremy King's restaurant philosophy is based on the huge Eastern European cafes designed as egalitarian meeting points for everyone, from grandees to the local tailor. He loves the idea that anyone can come in and have a cappuccino at the bar or caviar in a comfortable booth.

But the real reason we have affection for a particular restaurant is almost the opposite to that ideal. It is because, by being there, we are in our special place with our own traditions, a favourite dish, preferred table, known staff. It's somewhere we feel privileged to hang out. We are part of the in-crowd.

There's no better proof of this than the lengthy waiting lists for Jeremy King's tables.

A cute distraction in a strange world

Not quite in the same league, but astonishingly popular, is the tiny Hello Kitty cafe, which is part of the Cute exhibition at London's Somerset House.

The exhibition, about 'the irresistible force of cuteness in contemporary culture', is a must for anyone interested in this strange, slightly warped aesthetic  and not only pre-teen girls.

London's Somerset House hosted a skate park in 2020

Total disclosure: my son is involved in a film being shown in it, but the staggering phenomenon is the long queue upstairs for a Hello Kitty-themed sundae and cake. Many of the queuers appear to be perfectly sentient adults.

One click and I lose my fashion sense

You would think that someone who spent 25 years working at the top of the fashion industry would have some sense when it came to buying clothes. But no.

My Instagram popped up with an ad for a company selling 'closing down' stock of knitwear. It showed a nice Fair Isle wool knit, for about 30.

And so, dumb klutz that I am, I bought it. Of course I should have known that it wasn't going to resemble anything like the bargain I thought I was getting.

A Fair Isle wool knit (stock photo)

And eventually a 100 per cent polyester, rather nasty-looking sweater arrived with the tell-tale 'Made in China' label and Chinese lettering all over the packaging.

It's not the first time I have been caught out this way  tempted by Instagram offers that look so lovely but turn out rubbish.

If I can be so gullible, with years of experience behind me, this proves how easy a trap social media shopping is, and not just for the young.

Joy of getting the gang back together

Talking of shopping, last weekend I hosted a vintage sale for Laurence's Larder, a food aid organisation and community refuge. It was, though I say it myself, a huge success, raising much-needed funds and giving people an opportunity to buy a nifty bargain that had been donated.

But apart from all that, the great joy for me was working with a team again.

I left Vogue six years ago, partially because I wanted to experience life as a lone wolf and not run a business with a huge number of people, and nowadays I mostly work alone. So I had forgotten how enjoyable it is to work with a group of people  the camaraderie, the jokes, the shared tension.

True, putting together a charity sale with volunteers is nothing like running a magazine  apart from anything else, volunteers can't be bossed around the same way as staff  but the experience reminded me that however much I like tapping away at my desk at home, there's something very rewarding about being part of a team.

The blondes are still having fun at Vogue

Seeing photos of the various teams at Conde Nast posing outside Vogue House on their final day in this iconic building before moving offices, I recalled how I was criticised for the photo of my staff I ran in my last edition as editor.

It was said to 'lack diversity' and was used to position the incoming new regime against the old, with a lot of guff written about how there was going to be a new age.

Dame Anna Wintour being photographed outside Vogue House as the company leaves its home of 65 years in Mayfair

Six years later, there is not much evidence of huge change.

The photos were delightfully spontaneous records, filled with young, blonde women and their handbags  and thankfully not micro-managed to reflect some diversity message.

My bid to toast a Royal legend

Sets and costumes from Netflix's The Crown are being sold by auctioneers Bonhams.

It's an astonishing collection of props. If space were no object, I would love the model of Elizabeth II's funeral procession, but with 500 figures and the accompanying trees and lamp-posts of The Mall, it would need to be housed in a state room.

So instead I'm bidding for something smaller  the late Queen Mother's drinks tray, complete with crystal ice bucket and matching tumbler, champagne swizzle stick and a soda siphon  estimate 60-80.
Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, the son of the last Italian King and heir to the defunct Italian throne, has died in Geneva.

A statement from the House of Savoy confirmed the Prince of Naples had passed away on Saturday, February 3 at 7.05am at the age of 86.

He was the son of the last king of Italy, Umberto II, who went into exile after the country voted to become a republic in 1946.

However, despite the results of the referendum, the House of Savoy always maintained its claim to the throne and cited the Spanish example to prove its case.

Spain restored its monarchy in 1975 when the nation returned to a democracy following the death of General Franco.

Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, the son of the last King of Italy, has died in Geneva at the age of 86

After the House of Savoy fled Italy when he was just nine years old, Prince Vittorio Emanuele spent most of his life in exile in Switzerland and Portugal.

He went on to marry Marina Ricolfi Doria and the couple had a son, Emanuele Philibert.

After battling for decades, the Prince of Naples finally returned to Italian soil in 2002 after parliament lifted a clause in the Italian Constitution which barred his family from setting foot in the nation.

During his visit he held an audience with Pope John Paul II, but he encountered a frosty reception with the Italian people.

Prince Victor Emmanuel of Savoy flanked by Princess Marina of Savoy and her son Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy

The exiled prince grew up between Switzerland and Portugal after his family fled Italy in 1946 when it became a republic

The heir to the defunct throne was no stranger to controversy during his lifetime, after also being arrested in connection with the death of a German teenager in 1978.

Dirk Hamer was 19 years old and asleep on a boat in a Corsican port when he was shot during in his right leg. He died three months later.

At the time, the Italian Prince was also at the port, arguing with a group of tourists whom he accused of stealing his inflatable boat.

More than a decade later, Vittorio Emanuele was arrested in France in connection with the killing, but he was cleared at a court in Paris in 1991. He was given a suspended sentence for possession of a rifle.

However, the plot thickened 20 years later when a recording emerged of the exiled royal appearing to admit to killing Hamer.

The recording was filmed in Potenza jail, where he was being held ahead of a trial for racketeering and involvement in prostitution (of which he was acquitted).

During the 2006 recording, he is seen telling other inmates he had taken the court for a ride after his acquittal.

In the video, he described firing two shots which hit the tourist as he was sleeping on his boat off the island of Cavallo in 1978.

Princess Caroline of Monaco's daughter-in-law has opened up in a rare interview about how she broke the story of an Italian Prince 'confessing to murder'. Pierre Casiraghi and Beatrice Borromeo are pictured

Dirk Hamer, 19, was shot twice in the right leg and died in hospital three months later. His family (pictured) have fought for the royal to be arrested

After the clip emerged, he dismissed it as 'manipulated' and 'not true'.

In the clip, as reported by the Independent, the exiled prince said: 'I was in the wrong... in the wrong.

'I have to say I took them for a ride... the prosecutor had asked for five years and six months. I was sure of winning.

'They gave me a six-month suspended sentence [for arms possession]; six months, there was an amnesty, they didn't even register [the sentence]. I got out!'

However Hamer's family renewed their calls for the exiled prince to face justice following the release of the recording.

The mystery surrounding Hamer's death became a focus point in Netflix documentary The King Who Never Was.

The documentary was directed by journalist Beatrice Borromeo, who is Princess Caroline of Monaco's daughter-in-law.

It later emerged that Beatrice, who has also modelled for Vogue, was the person who leaked the recording.

Speaking to Tatler last year about the story, Beatrice said: 'for as long as I can remember the story of this case was part of our lives' adding that Hamer's mother Birgit is her own mother's best friend.
A new survey of 6,000 respondents from the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany and the US has found which European language is considered the most attractive.

The previous poll, which was released in 2017, named French the sexiest language - but that was displaced by this new research.

This year's survey showed that Italian is now rated as the world's most attractive language.

According to Babel, to name Italian the most attractive overall, it combined votes for which languages were perceived as most sexy, most romantic and most passionate from the international respondents.

When it came to what was considered the 'most direct' language, perhaps unsurprisingly, German topped that bill.

Italian Monica Bellucci (pictured) is considered one of the most attractive women of all time - does her accent contribute?

'MOST DIRECT': Actor Diane Kruger, though her German accent is not strong could be considered direct, according to this study

Meanwhile, British English won the accolade of being the 'most polite'.

The survey also looked at attitudes towards partners speaking different languages.

More than two-thirds (70 per cent) of Brits polled reported that they felt if their romantic partner had a different native language to themselves, learning the language would help foster a stronger emotional connection between them.

Italian phrases to learn for Valentine's Day Dio li fa e poi li accoppia The Italian equivalent to a match made in heaven, two people who are perfectly suited. The literal translation is God himself planned their relationship. Sei il mio tesoro Translates as you are my treasure, used to emphasise one's immeasurable value, whether that to be a romantic partner, or the love a parent feels towards their child. Amor vecchio non fa ruggine Old love does not rust, meaning long-standing feelings towards another does not simply fade away, but stands the test of time and does not ruin. Advertisement

However, just over a quarter of Brits (27 per cent) said that hearing I love you means more in their native tongue.

Explaining why Italian is considered to attracted by many Noel Wolf at Babbel described how the pitch of the language is a significant factor.

She said: 'There are certain characteristics of Italian that may contribute to its appeal.

'The rise and fall of pitch in spoken Italian can create a musical quality, which some people find alluring and attractive.

'Certain phonetic features, such as the rolling of "r" sounds, can be distinctive in Italian, which to many is regarded as charming or attractive.'

Previous studies looking at accents from other parts of the world have found very different results from those polled.

For example, the 2023 Highlands Titles Study, which polled 1,000 Americans found that Italian only made sixth place on the list.

However, it should be noted that this survey not only had a much smaller sample size, it was also limited to Americans, whereas the latest study included a range of nationalities.

This research discovered that those polled felt that Australian was considered the most attractive in both females and males.

At the bottom of the list was the famous New York vernacular.

The study found after an Australian accent, in terms of attractiveness, was having a Scottish, London, Irish, French, Italian, Welsh and Brummie voice.

Survey respondents were also asked to determine what stereotypes are usually associated with particular accents.

The most boring accents were Canadian, American Mid-Atlantic and New York and the most calming were Canadian, Scottish and Australian.

Those who sound confident may have a Boston, New Zealand or German accent, and the most intelligent accents reign from London, Germany and Birmingham.

The most sophisticated of people are likely to be found in London, Germany or Birmingham, as per the study.

Interestingly, while the Babel poll explained that Italian is seen as the most attractive accent because specific qualities, this survey had a different conclusion.

Australian accents like Hugh Jackman's (pictured) were deemed the most popular in males and females in 2023's study of 1,000 Americans

Meanwhile, the respondents said the most intelligent accents come from London - the accent spoken by actor Keira Knightley (pictured)

There are some evolutionary theories that suggests people find foreign accents attractive because they suggest a more exotic gene pool.

But others say it comes down to cultural bias.

So the love of an Aussie accent could come from the association with famous Australian actors like Chris Hemsworth and Hugh Jackman  who have both been named People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive on separate occasions  as well as popular actress Margot Robbie.

'It all has to do with aesthetics,' Susan Tamasi, a sociolinguist at Emory University, told Your Tango.

'There is nothing linguistically sound about saying one accent is more pleasing than another.'

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Lush has created a bath bomb based on a now-notorious scene from Emerald Fennel's film, Saltburn.

The cruelty-free cosmetics company, known for its range of fragrant bath and shower products, says the product will create a 'silky smooth bath water' that customers will 'want to treasure every last drop of'.

Saltburn, starring Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi, has become one of the most widely discussed films this year - with an explicit bathtub scene in particular leaving some viewers 'traumatised'.

In the outrageous sequence, Oliver Quick, portrayed by Barry Keoghan, who is infatuated by his fellow pupil Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), secretly drinks his bath water as it drains from the tub.

Drawing inspiration from the clip which left many viewers horrified, Lush's limited edition 'Saltbomb' features a soothing blend of coconut milk powder and mineral-rich coarse sea salt, while sharing a fragrance with the brand's moisturising bubble bar, Milky Bath.

Lush has launched a 5 bath bomb, inspired by the film Saltburn, which promises to create 'silky smooth bath water they'll want to treasure every last drop of'

According to the Lush website, customers should 'pop this little pinch of paradise into your bath to create those silky, milky waters'.

The fresh, handmade cosmetics company's limited edition bath bomb promises to create salty, milky bathwater fit for a Hollywood A-lister.

'Lap it up, Saltbomb's salty, milky bath water is fit for a stately splurge,' reads the website description.

Oliver Quick, portrayed by Barry Keoghan (pictured), is infatuated by his fellow pupil Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi) and secretly drinks his bath water

It continues: 'Feel like Hollywood royalty with this limited edition bath bomb that never kills the groove, leaving the bather with silky smooth bath water theyll want to treasure every last drop of.'

After inventing the bath bomb back in 1989, Lush has concocted a silky blend of sea salt, packed full of moisture, mineral sand coconut powder, which produces a soothing and creamy milk when added to water.

'It felt like all of a sudden everyone was talking about how much they love milky bath water and, at Lush, we totally agree!' said Lush investors.

'Bathtime self-care looks different for everyone, whether you love a silent soak, a rave and bathe, or just a moment of pure self love.

'Thats why we have over 60 different bath bombs and bubble bars - from the calming waters of Twilight, to the sensual Sex Bomb.

'Whatever your bathtime looks like, weve got you - just remember to lock the door if youre sharing a bathroom'

Lush has gone to great lengths in promoting this product, even having their models pose in a manner reminiscent of Oliver

Lushs limited edition Saltbomb (5) is packed full of moisture, mineral sand coconut powder

In the BAFTA-nominated thriller, Felix, a rich student, invites fellow classmate Oliver to stay at his estate for the summer.

But a series of horrifying events soon engulf Felix's eccentric family.

Following a bath scene, where Oliver Quick, who is infatuated by his fellow pupil Felix Catton, portrayed by Elordi, secretly drinks his bath water, a number of retailers have started selling candles with a 'Jacob Elordi bath water' fragrance.

However, Lush has gone a step further by introducing its Saltbomb, drawing inspiration from the BAFTA-nominated thriller.

The celebrated company has gone to great lengths in promoting this product, even having their models pose in a manner reminiscent of Oliver.

Lushs limited edition Saltbomb (5) is available online and via the Lush app, while stocks last.
Suzanne Warner, left, deputy director of Alameda County Office of Homeless Care and Coordination, and volunteer Aaron Chawla check an encampment on Hawley Street near the Coliseum BART Station on Jan. 25 during the annual homeless point-in-time count. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

As a kid, I thought being invisible was a superpower. Being a Navy brat who moved every two years meant my social life had to start from scratch with every move. But the older I got, the harder it became to make friends and fit in, so I did my best to just blend in and not draw attention to myself.

It was a useful survival skill for me. But for young people experiencing homelessness, being invisible makes their lives far worse.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developments December 2023 Annual Homelessness Report to Congress, about 34,700 people under the age of 25 experienced homelessness on their own, without family that year with about 3,200 of those youth being under the age of 18. Given California has the largest homeless population in the country, its no surprise that the state also has the largest number of unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness as well. According to the same report, there are 10,173 unsheltered unaccompanied youth in California, accounting for 49% of the population nationwide.

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But the problem is these estimates vastly underrepresent the actual number of unhoused youth, and as a result, misguide how the federal government and local communities set priorities for funding and resource allocations to address their needs.

HUD calculates its estimates based on a count of people in shelter and unsheltered locations on one night, known as point-in-time. These counts occur across the country and are conducted by local organizations or public bodies typically in January or February every year. The data is then submitted to and aggregated by HUD.

However, many young people who should be counted are not because they arent staying in the locations that are surveyed. Instead, many live in hotels, motels, cars or double up with family or friends  rendering them invisible to housing authorities.

So just how many young people are being missed? Its hard to say, but by looking at other data sources, we can get at least a sense of how many are being left out. Take schools, for example. The federal McKinney-Vento Homelessness Assistance Act stipulates that students who experience homelessness must have adequate access to education and other services. According to the U.S. Department of Education, during the 2020-21 school year, 1.1 million students experienced homelessness. Compare that to the national 2022 point-in-time count that indicated there were 30,090 youth experiencing homelessness on one night in January 2022  roughly 3% of the Department of Education estimate. Notably, the larger estimate doesnt account for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Bay Area, for example, one-third of unhoused youth surveyed in San Francisco and Alameda counties said they became homeless at the start of the pandemic, according to a 2023 UC Berkeley School of Public Health report.

While the differences in the definition of homelessness might account for some of the variances in these two reports, there is a significant number of young people missed by the point-in-time count.

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Even large academic studies on homelessness render young people invisible. In a recent UCSF study of California adults experiencing homelessness, only about 127 or 4% of the 3,198 participants were young adults 18-24 years of age. That figure is even lower than the point-in-time count for California, which estimates about 5% of the states homeless population to be unaccompanied youth. And yet, despite the small number of young people included in the study, they still had the highest rates of mental-health-related hospitalizations and suicide attempts. Young people are struggling, but because their presence in the study was so small, unhoused youth are near-invisible and likely ignored by policymakers.

It falls to HUD and lawmakers to make the invisible, visible  to look for and truly see young people experiencing homelessness. If point-in-time counts continue to be the primary metric that informs critical funding decisions to support this population, then it needs to be accurate.

Getting it there is not an easy task, but there already are some successful strategies out there. In 2017, researchers used a nationally representative phone-based survey to estimate the number of youth experiencing homelessness. That same year, another group of researchers demonstrated how to locate and count youth by working with the juvenile and adult justice systems, coordinating with youth-oriented community-based programs and investing in creating state guidelines for finding youth. In 2018, researchers at the University of Chicago used youth-centered techniques across 22 Illinois counties to successfully find and count young people experiencing homelessness. These strategies are portable, scalable and could be used by HUD and other policymakers to get a far more accurate count.

Congress could also pass the bipartisan Homeless Children and Youth Act, introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein in 2021, which would align the HUD definition for homelessness with those served by other federal agencies and programs serving children, youth and families.

Ive invested more than 20 years in understanding the issues of youth experiencing homelessness. I know making them more visible will result in better mental and physical health outcomes. As for me, I eventually realized that my superpower of invisibility wasnt so super after all. If people couldnt see me, they couldnt help me. I want to see those invisible young people experiencing homelessness because I know that we can help them.
King Charles beamed and waved as he walked to St Mary Magdalene Church for Sunday service this morning.

The monarch, 74, looked in high spirits ahead of the church service at the Sandringham Estate Chapel, following a short hospital stay last week for treatment on an enlarged prostate.

As he stepped out for the first time since greeting fans outside the London Clinic after he was discharged on Monday, the Monarch donned his trademark camel coat and carried an umbrella.

He looked fighting fit as he returned to Sunday service for the first time in several weeks.

Charles was flanked by Queen Camilla, 76, who looked stylish in a wide-brimmed fur hat, a navy coat and a light blue scarf.

King Charles and Queen Camilla looked in high spirits as they walked to St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate this morning

A group of around 20 supporters had gathered to wish the 75-year-old King well on his visit to the 18th century church.

But they were left disappointed when they found the gates to the paddock area outside the church were locked, meaning they could not reach the roped off path where spectators are usually allowed to stand.

It meant they had to watch the King from a distance of around 150 yards.

Today marks King Charles's first Sunday service for three weeks; he was still being monitored in the London Clinic last Sunday and the week before, he chose to rest up ahead of the routine procedure.

The monarch, 74, waved to well-wishers as he strolled through the Norfolk estate, and appeared in good spirits following his hospital stay

Charles and Camilla were greeted outside the church by Sandringham rector, the rev Canon Paul Williams who shook him warmly by the hand and gave him a reassuring pat on the arm.

The rector exchanged a few words with the King,and Charles replied with a smile on his face giving the impression that all was well.

Part time engineering company worker Kay Miller of Witchford, Cambridgeshire, who watched Charles walk to the church today, said: He looked OK.

I saw him going to church earlier in January when we could stand next to the path as he walked by, and he looks just the same now.

I came on the off chance today that we might see him. It looks like he is back to his old self, and it is brilliant to see him up and about. It certainly looks like he is better.

Kays friend David Patterson of Haddenham, Cambridgeshire, added: Its great that he walked to church. He is not a young person, but it shows he is fit.

Royal fan Annabel Young, 27, of Ipswich, Suffolk, who was with her three-year-old son Jasper Davies-Young, said: It was so nice to see him back to his old routine.

It is just a shame that we could not get through the locked gates and we had to make do with seeing him from far away.

Following the service the King and Queen were escorted out of the church by the rector and his assistant after the hour long service.

The Royal couple spent a few seconds chatting to the two white-robed clergy before bidding them farewell and walking back to Sandringham House for lunch.

The King turned to admire an array of snowdrops before stepping through a gate into the private grounds of his home on his 20,000 acre Norfolk estate.

It comes after Queen Camilla has stepped up her royal engagements while King Charles has taken some recovery time following his procedure.

She has had a busy week, carrying out various royal engagements while her husband recovered at home after leaving the London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales was also in recovery.

Mother-of-three Kate, 41, is taking time to recover from planned abdominal surgery earlier this month and is not expected to return to royal duties until after Easter.

As a result, Prince William also postponed his royal duties for a short time to be there for Kate and their three children Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five.

With three working royals out of action, Queen Camilla has led the royal charge as the most senior royal currently carrying out engagements.
The former Queen of Denmark has won a prestigious award for her costume and set design work on a Danish Netflix film - just weeks after abdication.

Margrethe, who shocked royal watchers when she announced her unexpected abdication on December 31, revealed her award on Instagram.

She worked on Netflix film Ehrengard - The Art of Seduction, for which she was awarded a Robert Award as Costume Designer of the Year.

Taking to Instagram, the royal wrote: 'I am deeply grateful, touched and proud of the recognition that the Robert award represents.

'Receiving an award that the industry itself awards makes me particularly happy, and it has been a great joy and pleasure to be able to contribute to the expression of the film.

The former Queen Margrethe II (pictured) shows off the design award she won for her work on a Netflix movie

'I would like to thank the entire team behind the film, but I especially thank all those who have made my ideas, sketches and drawings a reality - not least the talented people who have sewn and worked with the many costumes.'

Many are unaware of the former monarch's creative talents, but as a child, she aspired to be an artist.

According to the Royal website: 'Early on, Princess Margrethe went with her parents to the Royal Theatre, where in 1948 she attended August Bournonvilles ballet Napoli, which made a deep impression on the Princess.'

Under Danish law, until she was 13, men only took the throne. But when the constitution was changed, allowing women to rule, Margrethe became the heir presumptive, changing the course of her life, with her becoming Queen in 1972.

However, she continued to work on her drawing and other artworks, until around her 20s.

After studying for a diploma in prehistoric archaeology at the University of Cambridge, as well as studying at Aarhus University in Denmark, the Sorbonne and the London School of Economics, she was inspired to get into art again, after reading J.R.R. Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings.

According to the Danish royals: 'As an adult, The Queen herself became involved in ballet as a scenographer and costume designer.

'From the mid-1980s and 30 years onwards, The Queen helped with the annual ballet performances at a friends dance school in Nstved, where the wing scenery and costumes were conjured up with enormous imagination from materials at hand. Quite special were the performances numerous paper hats, which The Queen thought up and created herself.'

Margrethe (pictured, left) is shown working on imagery for the Danish production, Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction,

After working on amateur productions, Margrethe took up more professional work, after being approached by the TV theatre at Danmarks Radio who 'approached The Queen in 1987 and persuaded her to assist as a scenographer and costume designer for a TV production of H.C. Andersens fairy tale The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep'.

An ambitious new production of August Bournonvilles ballet A Folk Tale, at the Royal Theatre in 1990 saw the-then Queen designed the scenography and the many costumes.

Following in 1990 was the Royal Theatres ambitious new production of August Bournonvilles ballet A Folk Tale, for which The Queen designed the scenography and the many costumes.

Around 2000, Margethe joined with Tivolis Pantomime Theatre.

Her goal was to 'help revitalise the theatres small ballets, which are performed free for the amusement parks visitors'.

Her first performance as scenographer and costume designer was the H.C. Andersen-inspired ballet Love in the Dustbin in 2001.

'Since then there have been ballets based on several of the authors fairy tales, including Thumbelina, The Tinderbox, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, The Swineherd and The Snow Queen, but also The Nutcracker and Cinderella,' says her biography.

Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction, which was announced last year.

AWARD WINNING: A still from Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction, which had a royal crew member working on it

According to Netflix: 'In the fairytale kingdom of Babenhausen, a young, self-appointed expert on love, Mr. Cazotte (Mikkel Boe Flsgaard), is hired by the scheming Grand Duchess (Sidse Barbett Knudsen) to help her secure an heir.

'While searching for a suitable future Princess, Mr Cazotte teaches the timid and introverted Crown Prince Lothar (Emil Aron Dorph) the art of seduction and lovemaking.

'But their plan soon backfires, when an heir is conceived out of wedlock and the royal family has to seek refuge in the castle of Rosenbad. Here, as rivals within the royal family close in on their scheme, Cazotte himself falls in love with Ehrengard (Alice Esther Bier Zanden), the maid of honor, and gradually learns that in fact, hes no expert on love at all.'

Speaking about her role in the design department when the project was announced, Margrethe said she was 'very happy' to be part of this project.

Praising the author, she described the work as 'aesthetic', revealing: 'I have tried to interpret Blixens fantastic universe in the creation of the decoupages and costumes and Im looking forward to seeing the tale of Ehrengard come to life in this film.'

Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction is streaming on Netflix in Denmark now.
An artist who created an adorable piece based on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 2021 Christmas card has expressed her shock after royal fans spotted it has pride of place in the Duke's office.

Jennifer Vallez, who specialises in sketches of the Royal Family, posted on Instagram after a screenshot from an old video of Prince Harry resurfaced.

An eagle-eyed royal fan posted the screenshot on X/Twitter and noted the piece of art in a frame on the shelf behind Harry in the study of his Montecito mansion. It is unclear when the video was filmed.

It was accompanied by other sweet tributes to the Duke's family, including a black-and-white photo of Prince Archie, and another snap from Harry and Meghan's engagement photoshoot.

After the royal fan spotted Jennifer's sketch, the chuffed artist revealed she sent the couple the sketch around a year ago - and confirmed they didn't ask for any freebies.

Eagle-eyed royal fans have spotted a sweet sketch on Prince Harry's shelf which is a depiction of the Sussexes' 2021 Christmas card

Writing on Instagram, Jennifer said: 'Omg. I am DYING!!!! A year or so ago, Meghans assistant requested prints of some of the drawings I created of her and Harry.

'I never expected to see that they REALLY have them in their house.'

Many people left comments underneath the post congratulating Jennifer on her work and gushing over the 'adorable' piece.

In a post on her Instagram story on her other account, @sophieandlili, Jennifer confirmed that the Sussexes had paid in full for the sketch, after some people had asked if it was a freebie.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet featured in the adorable photo from 2021

She revealed: 'I'll just say that no one on M's team asked for anything for free.'

As she replied to congratulatory comments, Jennifer said: 'I knew [Meghan] had them because she sent a beautiful thank you card, but you just never know if they actually frame anything. Im honored.'

In a further post, the artist revealed she sent a number of sketches over to the Sussexes, which included depictions of Meghan with her mother Doria, the couple's stunning outdoor photoshoot to announce the Duchess's second pregnancy, and an official royal photo from Prince Archie's Christening.

Other sketches in her portfolio include sweet depictions of the Princess of Wales, King Charles and Queen Camilla, and Princess Anne.

This week, the Sussexes released a video clip from a mental health summit they hosted last year, in which they highlight their concerns about young people having social media.

The clip, filmed on their World Mental Health Day discussion in New York on October 10, was released in light of a US Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on online child safety which saw Mark Zuckerberg apologise to families who claim social media contributed to their children's suicides.

In the video - released with a statement on online child safety - Meghan says: 'When the car was first invented, there wasn't a seatbelt. And what happened? People started to get hurt, people started to die. So you started to change the car.'

Jennifer Vallez, a US-based artist, has revealed she's 'honoured' after royal fans spotted her sketch on Prince Harry's shelf

Harry says: 'We need to get out of this idea that young kids, there's something wrong with them. No, it's the world that we're allowing to be created around them. Please stop sending children content that you wouldn't want your own children to see.'

And Meghan adds: 'Everyone now is affected by the online world and social media. There is an entry point that's positive and creative community, but we all just want to feel safe.'

The couple described the hearing on online child safety as being 'in front of a packed room including dozens of parents whose children have suffered or died due to online harms'.

They added that their Archewell Foundation has been 'working with many of these families to provide a support network for parents dealing with grief or who have children managing serious mental health conditions as a result of their exposure to harmful online content'.

In a joint statement accompanying the video on their website, the Sussexes said: 'We applaud the bravery and determination of the thousands of parents around the country whose advocacy resulted in this hearing.

'Over the past few years, we have spent time with many of these families, listening to their heartache and their hopes for the urgent change that is needed in the online space.

'This is an issue that transcends division and party lines, as we saw today at the Senate hearing. The best parenting in the world cannot keep children safe from these platforms.

'As one of the fathers shared with us: "If love could have saved them, all of our children would still be here".

'This is not the time to pass the buck of responsibility. It's the time to make necessary change at the source to keep our children safe.'
Linvasion des imbeciles, Parisians are calling it. Thanks to the hit Netflix show Emily in Paris, the citys hotspots featured in the series have been flooded with tourists.

Parisians arent happy. Their rage has manifested itself in graffiti  such as Emily not welcome  being scrawled across cafe shutters.

Why the anger? The show, in which Lily Collins stars as an American who relocates to the French capital, presents a romanticised version of Frenchness far from the reality of most Parisians, they say.

This is particularly true when it comes to Emilys cliche-stuffed wardrobe. Breton top, basket bag, baguette under arm. But about as many Parisians walk around wearing berets as Brits do bearskins.

So, what does true French-girl style look like today? Here is our guide to the new French fashion essentials. Hint: leave the Breton at the door.

Fashion cliche: Lily Collins as the star of Emily In Paris

Au revoir, Breton. Bonjour, romantic blouse

At Chanels SS24 couture show in Paris last month, Princess Alexandra of Monaco sat on the front row and Andie MacDowells daughter Margaret Qualley took to the runway in a cream boucle jacket  so far, so Chanel.

But Qualleys jacket was updated by the addition of a gloriously romantic ruffle-collared blouse. No French minimalism here: this was a ruff of which Blackadder would be proud.

In a less cliched moment, TVs Emily similarly updates a French classic  a boucle skirt by Balmain  with a romantic blouse.

Wear this type of blouse when youd be tempted to wear a Breton  frilled collars and cuffs poking out from under a sweater inject just the right amount of Gallic flair without venturing into spoof territory.

French-Spanish It girl Maria de la Orden owns a brand that makes the best. Try their Aleria shirt for just the right amount of puff.

Shirt, 81, mariadelaorden.com

Au revoir, ballet flats. Bonjour, Mary Janes

The granddaughter of Grace Kelly, Charlotte Casiraghi, trotted into Chanels couture show last month in them, and they featured in nearly every look on the fashion houses AW23 runway. Diors SS24 show was awash with them.

In short, the Mary Jane is back. French girls are wearing theirs in the same way they used to wear ballet flats.

For the real deal, Chatelles Paris make customisable velvet pairs (mychatelles.com), but the high street has cottoned on, too.

Pull & Bear have a Dorothy-esque red pair (34.99, pullandbear.com) with a block heel perfect for adding some height under flared denim.

If the shoe fits: Mary Janes in Chanels AW23 show

Blue, 118, flabelus.com; red, 34.99, pullandbear.com

Au revoir, basket bag. Bonjour, crossbody satchel

The French are favouring a satchel-style crossbody, thanks to the cult Triomphe bag from Parisian fashion house Celine.

The good news for those who dont have the 2,950 to drop on a Triomphe is that the next best thing is now at your fingertips: popular French mid-market brand Soeurs Bel bag.

It is available from its recently launched UK website and is significantly cheaper, at 390 (soeur.uk).

Bag, 345, sezane.com

Au revoir, sharp blazer. Bonjour, reimagined cardigan

Play a word association game with cardigan and the likes of granny and librarian pop up. But this isnt a cardigan as you know it.

For the new French-girl, cardigan is more bombshell than bibliotheque.

Parisian label Sezane has the Gaspard (95, sezane.com) that you can wear back-to-front with the buttons at the back.

If wearing conventionally, leave the top few undone for a subtle way to show some skin a la francaise.

Lilac cardigan, 255, uk.rouje.com

Blue, 45, stories.com

Au revoir, skinny jeans. Bonjour, elevated denim

Name a more French upbringing than that of fashion designer and model Jeanne Damas. She grew up in an apartment above her parents Parisian brasserie, where Jean-Paul Gaultier was a regular customer.

After Damas launched her brand Rouje in 2016, French actress Lea Seydoux wore one of her dresses in 2021s No Time To Die.

But Rouje denim is fit for a Bond girl, too: their Belville jeans (160, uk.rouje.com) are a leg-lengthening flare with 1970s-style front pockets. Their structure and flattering high-rise gives them a chic charm boyfriend jeans often lack.

Trust the French to make denim elegant.

Jeans, 160, uk.rouje.com
He was flown to Turkey to receive advanced neurological rehabilitation

A man who was paralyzed after contracting the deadly bacteria listeria from uncooked food has defied the odds and made a miraculous recovery.

Patanjali Chary went from not being able to speak, eat or move to regaining his ability to walk in just three months after being treated at a hospital in Turkey.

While American doctors and top US medical institutions told Mr Chary his recovery could take up to two years, the 53-year-old was discharged from the Turkish hospital after just three months.

Mr Chary, his wife Jasmin, and the care team at the medical facility attribute his unexpected recovery to the innovative technology available at the hospital, as well as the 'unique' holistic care he received, including fresh local produce and a 'sense of positivity, hope and confidence' regarding his health.

Patanjali Chary pictured in a medically induced coma in Benidorm, Spain, while doctors were trying to determine what was wrong with him

Mr Chary (center) after arriving in Bodrum, Turkey. He was very weak and could not stand up unassisted

Mr Chary, who was living in Spain at the time and working on his start-up, visited Paris in November 2022 on business, where he was served undercooked food at a restaurant.

He sent the food back to the kitchen, but didn't experience any immediate discomfort.

However, about a month later on New Year's Eve, he began to feel sick but attributed his symptoms to a cold.

The next day, he woke up completely paralyzed from the waist down, unable to move.

He was rushed to a hospital in Spain where doctors were initially unable to determine what was wrong with him - and because he was deteriorating so rapidly, they put him in a medically induced coma and on life support.

Mr Chary told DailyMail.com: 'I went to stand up from the bed and everything just gave way. It was shocking.'

It would later be revealed he had contracted listeria, a potentially deadly bacteria that was infecting his spine.

Listeria is an infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium listeria monocytogenes.

Most people who eat food contaminated with listeria will not get seriously ill. But in some cases, it can cause confusion and seizures, miscarriage in pregnant women, and even death.

This can happen when the infection spreads beyond the gut and affects the central nervous system, which can lead to body numbness, seizures and paralysis.

Doctors started him on nine different antibiotics in an effort to treat his condition and he was brought out of the coma a couple of weeks later.

But immense damage had already been done. Mr Chary couldn't speak or move. His limbs wouldn't function properly and his eyesight was impaired.

Mr Chary (back center) was able to regain his ability to walk after months of intense rehabilitation

He was also still paralyzed in both of his legs.

He had a feeding tube inserted into his gut to get nutrients and a tube was placed in his throat to help deliver oxygen to his lungs.

In initial efforts to begin his long road to recovery, doctors began passive physical therapy in hopes it would help him regain feeling and function in his legs.

Passive physical therapy involves a physical therapist moving parts of the patient to kick start their mind-muscle connection, as opposed to active physical therapy when the person is initiating the movement themselves.

When he did not improve, the hospital informed him he needed more intensive treatment, but the advanced neurological rehabilitation he needed was not available in Spain.

'My wife looked all over the world,' Mr Chary said.

A top rehab facility in Berlin initially said its providers would be able to help him, but two days before he was scheduled to go, the hospital pulled out via email.

This left Mr Chary's wife in a panic because doctors had warned them that the longer you waited to begin treatment, the smaller the chance of recovery.

Soon after the Berlin plans fell through, Ms Chary discovered a hospital in Bodrum, Turkey, called Acibadem, which offered to help, but said there was no guarantee doctors could cure his condition.

When he arrived in Turkey in March 2023, Mr Chary still had no movement, but had begun to speak and eat a little again.

He underwent neurological function tests and more scans, and a comprehensive care plan was set in motion.

By this point, his muscles had deteriorated to a great degree because he had been immobile in a hospital bed for so long.

'I needed four people to lift me up,' Mr Chary said.

He was given 24-hour care and began twice-daily rehabilitation, including exercises in the hospital bed, practicing standing up and shuffling on his legs.

To help him stand, he was strapped with belts to a bed on a tilt table, which helps stimulate the brain using gravity.

And to try and facilitate Mr Chary walking on his own, they used bars he could hold onto to pull himself up.

Mr Chary also had electrical stimulation treatments, which sent signals directly to various nerves in the body.

In addition to all of the physical and medical tests Mr Chary underwent, he and his wife partly attributed his swift and unexpected recovery to the holistic approach the Turkish doctors took to his care.

There was a two-word Turkish phrase often used by staff members that roughly translates to 'Let's go!' to encourage patients and keep their spirits up.

It became such a common daily mantra that Mr Chary used it to name two cats he often saw in the hospital's cafeteria.

He was cooked food tailored to his recovery with the right amount of protein and calories using fresh produce from local markets.

Mr Chary fondly remembers the hospital's 'heart first' approach to his recovery.

'It was so strange for me to experience that level of care on a daily basis for months... I do believe that played a huge role in why I'm recovering to the level that I am, along with all the other support,' he said.

His friends and family, including some with experience at Harvard Medical School, believed it would take him up to two years to recover, but Mr Chary left the hospital after just three months.

He was discharged from Acibadem hospital in June 2023. Mr Chary's care in Turkey cost him $200,000.

Now, Mr Chary continues his therapy at home. He has been out of the hospital for seven months and estimates he is 90 percent back to normal.

Most patients do not reach this point for 18 months, he was told by doctors.

Mr Chary is just one of thousands of people who contract listeria each year.

The bacteria are widespread in the environment and can be found in raw food and soil and in the droppings of many mammals, birds, and fish.

Mild symptoms of the infection include diarrhea and vomiting and typically start within 24 hours of eating contaminated food and generally last one to three days.

However, if the infection spreads beyond the gut, it becomes an invasive illness, with symptoms occurring within two weeks of eating listeria-contaminated food.

The infection can be treated with antibiotics.

According to the CDC, roughly 1,600 Americans get listeria yearly and about 260 die.
When news broke last week that Alzheimer's could spread from person to person, experts immediately rushed to reassure the public that there was 'no cause for concern'.

A study had found five people who'd been injected with now-banned growth treatments in the 1980s had gone on to develop early-onset dementia. The drugs, which contained hormones taken from corpses, had been contaminated with toxic amyloid proteins  the 'seeds' of Alzheimer's.

Others who'd had the treatments as children were now considered 'at risk' of developing the deadly brain disease.

It made for alarming reading. Yet health officials claimed the cases were 'extremely rare' and critics branded the conclusion  that it was possible to 'catch' dementia  as purely speculative. The Mail, however, discovered that the world-renowned scientist behind the study, Professor John Collinge, first raised the alarm almost a decade ago.

The University College London (UCL) neurologist published research as far back as 2015 suggesting that Alzheimer's could be transmitted via medical procedures  while other experts argued there could be a potential risk from blood transfusions and even contaminated dental instruments.

A study had found five people who'd been injected with now-banned growth treatments in the 1980s had gone on to develop early-onset dementia (Stock image)

The Mail (and other publications) reported these findings then, but the warnings were not well received by the medical establishment.

This newspaper can reveal that the Government's then Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies, took the unusual step of trying to publicly discredit Prof Collinge in an attempt to 'avoid a scare'.

It is important to point out there are no suggestions that Alzheimer's is contagious in the same way that an infectious disease, such as Covid, is. Research concludes it cannot be spread through physical touch, sex or bodily fluids.

However, with mounting evidence to support Prof Collinge's claims that it could potentially be transmitted in certain circumstances, experts are calling for more funding to better research the risks  no matter how small.

The need for knowledge is clear: dementia affects about a million Britons and the number is rising.

Alzheimer's is the most common type, accounting for seven in ten cases. The incurable disease  which kills 60,000 people annually  has traditionally been considered a chronic condition triggered by a number of factors, including old age, obesity and genetics.

In Alzheimer's, toxic proteins in the brain, called amyloid plaque build up and clump in the brain, forming plaques. Why this happens isn't understood, and whether the plaques cause the illness, are a symptom of it or both, continues to be debated.

'We still don't really know what amyloid plaque is or where it comes from,' says Robert Howard, Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at UCL Institute of Mental Health.

'The hypothesis is the body creates amyloid to fight inflammation, but that doesn't explain why it can stick to the brain and whether it leads to Alzheimer's.'

Prof Howard points to research that suggests many older people have substantial amyloid plaque build-ups in their brains but show no signs of the disease.

Expensive new drugs that target amyloid have been able to completely clear the plaque but are limited in slowing the condition.

So could research into Alzheimer's as an infectious disease at least give new clues to how some people might develop it?

In the 1990s a fascinating theory emerged which proposed, in some scenarios, abnormal amyloid could pass from one person to another. The idea followed a major scandal when it was revealed that a number of children had contracted Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) from growth hormones routinely given to people with dwarfism or other growth issues.

CJD causes brain cells to die, leading to small holes in the brain and eventually death. Like Alzheimer's, it can take decades for symptoms to arise as the condition slowly chips away.

It is caused by abnormal proteins in the brain called prions  molecules commonly found in the body thought to play a role in transporting messages between brain cells.

Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer from 2010 to 2019, tried to publicly discredit Prof Collinge in an attempt to 'avoid a scare' (pictured speaking at the Covid inquiry in June 2023)

Normal prions are harmless, but cause damage when they mutate. When this happens they begin attacking healthy cells, eventually leading to irreversible, and often fatal, brain damage  they came to public prominence during the outbreak of so-called mad cow disease (see below). It's a process that mirrors the progression of Alzheimer's.

Crucially, prion diseases are considered infectious.

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Between the 1950s and 1980s, thousands of British children were given growth hormones extracted from adult cadavers. The treatment was long considered safe and effective  until it was discovered that some of the cadavers contained CJD-triggering prions which were transferred into the children with tragic results.

In the UK, 81 people given these hormone drugs developed CJD. In France, where the treatment was more widely used, 125 died.

Crucially, prions are near-impossible to destroy and are capable of sticking to metal surfaces  such as surgical tools.

Concerned about further prion-disease outbreaks, the Government agreed to partly fund the creation of the National Prion Clinic in 1998, designed to identify and reduce the spread of the diseases. It invested 10 million into research technology that could decontaminate prions to reduce the risk of diseases spreading around NHS hospitals.

Prof Collinge was appointed to run the National Prion Clinic, and became increasingly concerned that Alzheimer's could also be triggered by a similar process.

'Our research isn't just going to be about CJD,' Prof Collinge stated in a 2017 interview. 'It's going to open the door to so many things, and at the top of that list is Alzheimer's.'

Prof Collinge theorised that beta-amyloid  molecules that make up amyloid plaque  could mutate in the same way as a prion, triggering the brain damage we associate with Alzheimer's. He believed these could, in rare cases, be transferred from person to person, 'seeding' the start of the disease.

'Alzheimer's is not contagious, but it may be transmissible under certain circumstances,' he added.

Prof Collinge was not the only scientist exploring the possibility that amyloid could spread like a prion. In 2010, a German study found that injecting beta-amyloid into a mouse's belly triggered amyloid plaque build-up in its brain, suggesting that the presence of amyloid from another body was enough to trigger Alzheimer's.

However, Prof Collinge sparked controversy in 2015 when he published a study suggesting that seven people who had developed CJD as a result of contaminated growth hormones had been infected with Alzheimer's, too. Appearing in the esteemed journal Nature Medical, it was based on brain autopsies of eight people who died of CJD, which revealed build-ups of amyloid plaque in all but one.

None of those analysed had a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's and were too young to have developed it naturally.

Prof Collinge also concluded that it was theoretically possible for amyloid to stick to dental instruments and survive decontamination efforts, raising the possibility that Alzheimer's could be transmitted via dental surgery.

The Mail was among the first to report Prof Collinge's findings.

Professor John Collinge (pictured) was appointed to run the National Prion Clinic, and became increasingly concerned that Alzheimer's could also be triggered by a similar process

In advance of the study's publication, Prof Collinge contacted the Department of Health and Social Care to tell them about his conclusions. He also expressed his concern that the Government wasn't taking the risk of prions or transmissible Alzheimer's seriously.

In response, Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies took the unprecedented decision to discredit Prof Collinge's research. According to newspaper reports, Dame Sally contacted influential scientific journal The Lancet, urging it to publish a story to cast doubt on the accuracy of the research. Its editor, Dr Richard Horton, then penned an article which argued that Prof Collinge's study did not provide evidence of human transmission.

Prof Collinge's latest research provides vindication, though.

The paper reports on eight people who were referred to the National Prion Clinic after being treated with contaminated growth hormones in childhood. Five had symptoms of dementia, and either had already been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or were judged to have the symptoms of the condition.

Another patient was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment  a less severe form of dementia.

The patients were aged between 38 and 55 when their neurological symptoms began, and none had genetic mutations which would trigger early-onset Alzheimer's. Due to their young age, Prof Collinge concluded they likely developed Alzheimer's as a result of amyloid proteins that were inside the growth hormones.

It's important to note that many experts disagree with Prof Collinge's conclusions, and argue that his studies are too small to prove such a large claim. High-quality studies often involve thousands of patients. This study included just eight, five of whom developed Alzheimer's.

'There is no strong evidence that Alzheimer's can be passed from person to person,' says Prof Tara Spires-Jones, president of the British Neuroscience Association. 'While this study is investigating an important issue, I believe it is too small to draw any firm conclusions. It cannot prove that these five patients developed Alzheimer's as a result of this treatment.

'This is not something that people should worry about while going about their daily lives'.

However, Prof Collinge is not a lone voice.

In 2020, a group of eminent Alzheimer's researchers published a paper which warned that amyloid could theoretically be transferred through blood transfusions. The scientists caveated their worries by pointing out that no cases had been reported, but argued the risk was real and that greater monitoring and research was needed to limit the risk of transmitting Alzheimer's through common medical procedures.

'We called for increased vigilance and long-term monitoring,' says Prof Bart De Strooper, group leader at the UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL and co-author of the paper. 'Particularly following procedures in early life that involve human fluids or tissues.'

Prof De Strooper added that tests which could spot amyloid proteins should be developed to reduce the risk of these molecules spreading on surgical instruments. And just last month a fresh study reiterated Prof Collinge's concerns that Alzheimer's could spread through dental procedures.

Prof Collinge also concluded that it was theoretically possible for amyloid to stick to dental instruments and survive decontamination efforts, raising the possibility that Alzheimer's could be transmitted via dental surgery (Stock image)

Researchers at the University of Central Lancashire's School of Dentistry examined extracted teeth which had root canal infection or had come from someone with gum disease. In many cases they found an abundance of amyloid on the surface of the teeth.

According to Dr Shalini Kanagasingam, a specialist endodontist and the study author, this would suggest the body produces amyloid in response to infections in the mouth.

Theoretically, these proteins could filter into the blood circulation and then be transported to the brain.

Previous research has shown that people with gum disease are more likely to develop Alzheimer's. The study added that it was possible for amyloid from these teeth to stick to surgical instruments during a dental procedure and then be transferred to another patient.

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The researchers also clarified that the risk of this occurring was extremely low. This is because special guidance was issued in 2006 to make sure root canal dental instruments should be used only once, as a precautionary measure against the spread of prion diseases.

Moreover, the strong link between Alzheimer's and gum disease would suggest that avoiding the dentist for treatment could in fact increase the risk of the degenerative brain disease.

'Decaying teeth which are left untreated can have a number of serious health consequences, and Alzheimer's is one of them,' says Dr Kanagasingam.

'Our research would suggest that the possibility of transmissible Alzheimer's should be explored in more detail, but it should not put anyone off going to see a dentist.

'In fact, the sheer level of amyloid present on the teeth of people with dental issues should be a warning to anyone putting off a dental visit.'

But many experts argue it is important that more research is carried out to investigate the theory of transmissible Alzheimer's because it could lead to effective treatments  and perhaps even a cure.

'It's pretty clear that Alzheimer's proteins spread through the brain in a prion-like fashion,' says Dr Joseph Jebelli, a neuroscientist and author of In Pursuit Of Memory: The Fight Against Alzheimer's.

'The disease is not contagious, but the fact that it can be seeded into the brain by certain procedures forces us to rethink the underlying biology of the disease.

'Investing more in this area of research is crucial.

'Without a deep grasp of the peculiar behaviour of Alzheimer's proteins, our attempts at drug development will remain somewhat in the dark.'
Dementia is likely a 'modern disease' because there are so few mentions of severe memory loss in ancient Greek and Roman medical texts, researchers have claimed regarding a thought-provoking new study.

Experts scoured writings from 2,000-2,500 years ago  the times of Aristotle, Galen and Cicero.

Ancient Greeks recognised ageing commonly brought memory issues, which would today be diagnosed as 'mild cognitive impairment'.

But there was no evidence of anything approaching a major loss of memory, speech and reasoning as caused by Alzheimer's or other types of dementia suffered by millions worldwide today.

Gerontologist Professor Caleb Finch, from the University of Southern California, said his findings bolster the idea that dementia is a disease of modern environments and lifestyles.

Scientists believe dementia is probably a 'modern disease' because there are so few mentions of it in Greek and Roman medical texts (stock photo)

A picture of Hippocrates refusing presents from Artaxerxes I of Persia

A bust of Roman philosopher and statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC)

He pored over a major body of ancient medical writing by Hippocrates and his followers. The text catalogues ailments of the elderly such as deafness, dizziness and digestive disorders  but makes no mention of memory loss.

However, centuries later in ancient Rome, a few mentions do crop up.

Galen remarks that at the age of 80, some elderly begin to have difficulty learning new things.

Pliny the Elder notes that the senator and famous orator Valerius Messalla Corvinus forgot his own name.

And Cicero observed that 'elderly silliness is characteristic of irresponsible old men, but not of all old men'.

READ MORE: Alzheimer's can be spread BETWEEN humans: Pioneering study reveals at least five people have 'caught' memory-robbing illness - as scientists warn hundreds more may be 'at risk' Five patients were among 1,848 injected with growth hormones infected with toxic amyloid-beta protein 'seeds' as children. All five came down with the same rare early-onset form of the devastating dementia condition. Others who received the same treatment are now considered 'at risk' Advertisement

Professor Finch said the findings, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, bolster the idea that Alzheimer's is a product of modern living.

He added: 'The ancient Greeks had very, very few  but we found them  mentions of something that would be like mild cognitive impairment.

'When we got to the Romans, and we uncovered at least four statements that suggest rare cases of advanced dementia  we can't tell if it's Alzheimer's.

'So, there was a progression going from the ancient Greeks to the Romans.'

Romans and Greeks are widely thought to have had an average life expectancy of 30 to 35 years old, based on research which examined gravestones from the period.

However, dementia rarely strikes until sufferers are in their 60s and beyond, even though it is not an inevitable part of ageing.

It means the disease, which is thought to be caused by an abnormal build-up of proteins around brain cells over time, won't have been as prevalent as it is now.

Some historians dismiss claims that Romans and Greeks had such a short lifespan, pointing to records that suggest people had to be in their 40s to hold certain political roles and that a handful of people reached their 100th birthday.

Yet, while some may have become centenarians, it was much rarer than it is now.

Professor Finch speculates that as Roman cities grew denser, pollution increased, driving up cases of cognitive decline.

Scientists don't know for certain that pollution causes dementia but numerous studies have linked the two. Researchers believe it is down for tiny particles released by traffic fumes, which may be able to bass into the brain  possibly though the bloodstream or lining of the nose.

In addition, Roman aristocrats used lead cooking vessels, lead water pipes and even added lead acetate into their wine to sweeten it  unwittingly poisoning themselves with the powerful neurotoxin.

A few ancient writers recognised the toxicity of lead-containing material but little progress was made in dealing with the problem until well into the 20th century.

Some scholars even blame lead poisoning for the fall of the Roman Empire.

However, there's no concrete proof that pollution or lead can directly cause memory loss.

The researchers drew on studies of today's Tsimane Amerindians, an Indigenous people of the Bolivian Amazon, to support their findings.

The Tsimane  like the ancient Greeks and Romans  have a preindustrial lifestyle that is very physically active, and they have extremely low rates of dementia.

An international team of cognitive researchers led by Professor Margaret Gatz, also of USC, found among older Tsimane people, only about 1 per cent suffer from dementia.

In contrast, 11 per cent of people aged 65 and older living in the United States have dementia.

'The Tsimane data, which is quite deep, is very valuable,' Professor Finch said.

'This is the best-documented large population of older people that have minimal dementia, all of which indicates that the environment is a huge determinant on dementia risk.

'They give us a template for asking these questions.'
Oddly, for a party founded on the interests of workers and backed by trades unions, Labour policies have been terrible for pensions.

It goes back a long way. Gordon Brown's move to axe tax relief on dividends in pension funds back in 1997 was one of the biggest acts of licensed larceny ever to be committed by an occupant of No.11.

It took billions of pounds out of workers' pension pots and was a major factor in the demise of Britain's gold-plated final salary retirement plans.

Now the party has said it will re-instate the Lifetime Allowance, which the Conservatives are in the process of abolishing.

Such a move by Labour would result in a super-tax on retirement pots over the limit, currently a smidgen more than 1m.

Dynamic duo: Labour pair Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer are set to punish pensioners

That sounds a lot, but plenty of moderately well-off professionals accrue this much over a working life.

It doesn't equate to Rockefeller-style retirement: maybe around 40,000 a year. Restoring the limit would punish people for having invested wisely, and incentivise them to give up work earlier than they might wish, or than is good for society.

The Labour view, however, seems to be that pension pots are the fruits of privilege, ripe for taxation. In reality, pensions are deferred pay, that workers have saved.

Apart from the vindictiveness, re-instating the limit would be complex and counter-productive.

Many of those affected would give up work to avoid the punitive tax surcharge so it is unlikely to be a revenue-raiser.

A futile gesture then. Worse, one that sends out exactly the wrong message at a time when the country needs to harness its pension power. As my colleague Hamish McRae argued in the Mail on Sunday yesterday, politicians would do better to try to put right the damage of the past than imposing new tax penalties.

Reversing Brown's raid and restoring dividend credits would help stop the rot in the City, which is in danger of losing its status as a world-class financial centre.

In 1997, when Brown launched his smash and grab, pension funds and other large UK investors owned nearly half of UK shares. They now hold just 4 per cent: go figure.

The real problem with pensions is not that a few people have accumulated a pot worth more than 1m so must be penalised. It is that so many people have not accumulated anywhere near enough. 'Generation X'  the middle-aged cohort born between 1964 and 1980  are in a nasty squeeze.

Most  unless they work in the public sector  were too late to benefit from 'gold-plated' final salary pensions, which guaranteed a retirement income for life. Large numbers also missed out on years of auto-enrolment, which only arrived in 2012.

These mid-lifers, the eldest of whom are approaching 60, did not benefit to the same extent from the housing market as their Boomer predecessors. Many are supporting children at university and caring for elderly relatives.

Catherine Foot  director of Phoenix Insights  says up to 18m people are not financially prepared for later life. A disproportionate amount of them are women. Pension saving has been pushed down the list of priorities.

All politicians should be encouraging more pensions saving, especially in mid-life. Threatening savers with a tax on pension prudence, as Labour is doing, does not help. It only makes matters worse by adding to the risk, uncertainty and complexity that bedevil retirement savings.
America is worried. Top officials describe conditions in the Middle East as the most dangerous they have seen in at least 50 years, with troops under attack across the region, international vessels suffering repeated strikes in the Red Sea, and  last week  the death of three US service personnel in Jordan.

The White House is not alone in its concerns. War in Ukraine, hostilities in Gaza, increased aggression from China  they all point to a world that seems more febrile than it has been in decades.

And that puts politicians under pressure to respond to hard questions from the public. Do the armed forces have sufficient manpower? Are they supported by the latest equipment? Can they defend our country and our values?

Strategy: Concurrent Technologies has shifted its focus towards defence

Increasing numbers of people feel that this is not an environment to scrimp and save on defence. And, while debates persist here and overseas, the mood among governments is clear  the latest technology is essential to protect military personnel and others from hostile aggressors.

Colchester-based Concurrent Technologies is neatly positioned to support these efforts. Founded in 1985, the company specialises in computer products for harsh and rugged environments, where resilience and quality are imperative.

For many years, Concurrent worked primarily with telecoms businesses. Lately, however, the firm has shifted its focus towards defence, which now accounts for around 70 per cent of revenues.

Concurrent shares are 86p and should move considerably higher over the next few years, as chief executive Miles Adcock has ambitious plans for growth and a keen sense of how to deliver them.

When Adcock arrived in 2021, Concurrent was in a bit of a state. Managers had been in place for decades, product development was slow and sales efforts were lacklustre. Adcock took the bull by the horns and set to work.

With decades of experience at defence firms including BAE Systems and QinetiQ, he recognised that the core business had plenty of potential but it needed more energy, more focus and more spirit.

M+ MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Our tip Idox is still a vote winner Cautious investors may wish to sell some stock now but they should retain a chunk as this business is poised for further growth. > More on tech firm Idox

Dozens of old-timers left but new recruits were brought in, many of them engineers and other specialists who had worked with Adcock in the past. A shift in the culture took root within months and today the company is firing on all cylinders.

Last month, Adcock revealed that sales and profits for 2023 would be ahead of forecasts, with revenues on track to climb more than 60 per cent to 31million.

Earnings were hit in 2022 by a persistent shortage of crucial supplies but they rebounded last year and brokers now expect profits to soar from 400,000 to 3.6million.

The order pipeline is healthy, too. Concurrent supplies the Ministry of Defence, the US Department of Defense and armed forces in countries such as India, Malaysia and South Korea.

Bidding for new contracts is highly competitive, with several firms asked to submit ideas whenever a new piece of kit is needed. Military departments are not just looking for high-quality, cutting-edge ideas, they also need to know that winning bidders can deliver the goods on time and service them if anything goes amiss.

Rival contractors are often considerably larger than Concurrent and the firm would normally win one or two bids a year. Last year, Adcock and his team won eight and they hope to do even better in 2024. Deals normally deliver a small initial increase in sales but momentum builds up over the years and each contract can last a decade or longer.

War zone: The firm's kit helps soldiers communicate

That gives Adcock grounds for optimism. He hopes to more than triple turnover to 100million in the next few years, with profits rising in sync. Highly skilled engineers have been recruited, sales staff are raring to go and the order book is top drawer.

Concurrent is benefiting too from changes to US Department of Defense procurement policies, which encourage competition from smaller players. Sales in the UK are on a roll, soaring five-fold to around 5million last year, with more growth expected.

Adcock is also keen to add more products to Concurrent's armoury, having acquired a US firm late last year that specialises in aerospace systems for military and commercial applications.

Midas verdict: Concurrent computers are in a different league from consumer electronics. Used in war zones and areas of extreme tension, they help soldiers, sailors and pilots to detect danger, protect themselves and relay critical messages.

While current economic conditions do not automatically lead to increased spending on defence, they certainly focus government minds  and that is likely to benefit Concurrent. At 86p, the shares are a long-term buy.

Traded on: AIM Ticker: CNC Contact: gocct.com or 01206 752626
'Mini-Me': Bluebell Capital has launched an outspoken personal attack on Gary Nagle

An activist investor has unleashed an extraordinary attack on commodity giant Glencore and is calling for chief executive Gary Nagle to be ousted.

FTSE 100 firm Glencore, which floated on the London stock market in 2011, has been dogged by corruption scandals which have led to it being forced to pay out more than a billion pounds in fines and settlements.

There were high hopes that when Nagle was appointed in July 2021  succeeding former boss Ivan Glasenberg  he would help to repair some of the damage to Glencore's reputation.

In a letter to the board, Bluebell Capital has launched an outspoken personal attack on Nagle, branding him an Austin Powers-style Mini-Me version of Glasenberg, who remains a top shareholder with a 10 per cent stake.

Bluebell, which last week publicly criticised oil giant BP's green energy strategy, said it has sold its stake in Glencore and has no plans to reinvest after losing faith in Nagle.

In the Austin Powers spy spoof films, Mini-Me, pictured, is a tiny clone of the character Dr Evil. Nagle was nicknamed 'Mini-Ivan' by Glencore traders before he landed the top job.

Since his appointment, Nagle has been working to spruce up Glencore's reputation. In August, dozens of the world's biggest asset managers accused the trading house of lying in past share prospectuses to cover up corrupt activities.

Bluebell has called on the board to dismiss Nagle and begin a search for a successor. Partner Giuseppe Bivona wrote in the letter: 'Speaking candidly, after two years closely following and communicating with the company we have lost faith, trust and confidence in Mr Nagle, whom we view as the real stumbling block for future value creation.

'Additionally, based on our intelligence, Mr Nagle's diminishing market support is privately shared internally inside the company.'

The hedge fund has raised eyebrows by never disclosing the size of its former holding in Glencore. Stakes of more than 5 per cent held directly must be made public.

The parting shot comes despite the commodity giant fulfilling many of Bluebell's demands, including selling its grain business Viterra and making moves to spin off its coal arm last year.

Glencore's climate strategy received 70 per cent approval from investors in 2023.

Bivona added: 'We strongly recommend that the board reviews Mr Nagle's performance and considers appointing an external chief executive.

'This change is crucial not only for fostering the cultural transformation of a company that has historically been entangled in numerous bribery and corruption investigations, some of which are still ongoing, but also because Mr Nagle, after almost three years, has completely failed to realise this imperative.'

Bluebell added: 'We are no longer shareholders and have no intention in reinvesting in the company under current leadership.'

The broadside comes after a very difficult 12 months for Nagle, who led a protracted takeover of Canada's Teck Resources coal business for 5.6billion. After much wrangling, the deal finally closed in November.

Over the past 12 months, Glencore's shares have plunged 24 per cent. Analysts say Nagle could have another troubled year ahead.

Nearly 200 funds  including some managed by Fidelity, Vanguard, Legal & General, HSBC, Abrdn and Invesco  are seeking damages from Glencore over allegations that the company and its senior leadership made misleading statements that covered up corrupt activities.

The claimants alleged they 'suffered loss' as a result of 'untrue statements' and omissions in Glencore's 2011 prospectus for its listing in London and the later 2013 prospectus for its merger with Xstrata.

The action follows Glencore's admission of bribery and market manipulation in 2022.

After a coordinated international investigation, the Swiss company agreed to plead guilty to a series of charges in return for paying $1billion (790million) in fines and forfeitures in the US, 280million in the UK and $40million in Brazil. Glencore declined to comment last night.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on online child sexual exploitation on Jan. 31. Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images

Watch out, Big Tech.

The next House member representing Silicon Valley wants to change a key piece of federal law that shields internet companies like X, Facebook and Snapchat from lawsuits over content their users post. That protection is considered the lifeblood of social media.

The top eight Democratic candidates vying to succeed Democratic Rep. Anna Eshoo in her very blue district agree that something has to change with Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which was created in 1996, back when lawmakers shied away from doing anything that could limit the growth of the industry. Their unanimity is a sign that Eshoos successor wont be a tool for the hometown industry. At least not on this issue.

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The challenge is what to do next. Whoever is elected, their actions as the voice of Silicon Valley will carry outsize weight in Congress. They can lead the charge to actually do something to clean up the bile on social media.

Weve seen enough theatrical preening about the issue in Washington. The latest production happened this week, when top tech CEOs came before Congress for their annual public-flogging-without-real-consequences visit.

If anything, the hearing showed how the drive to change liability protections has become a rare point of bipartisan agreement  and frustration.

You and the companies before us, I know you dont mean it to be so, but you have blood on your hands, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on stopping online child sexual exploitation. After unanimously passing five bills on the issue, Graham said, this committee is done talking.

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota agreed. Nothing is going to change unless we open up the courtroom doors. I think the time for all of this immunity is done because I think money talks even stronger than we talk up here. We should do something finally about liability, Klobuchar said.

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Railing about Section 230 used to be the province of Republicans, who alleged it was why social media platforms treated conservatives unfairly. Then-President Donald Trump once threatened to veto the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual defense funding bill, if it didnt revoke Section 230. That didnt happen.

Democrats have joined them, largely because of how they believe it frees the platforms from facing any consequences for what happens on their sites. At this weeks hearing, California Sen. Laphonza Butler encouraged Snapchat CEO Evan Siegel to apologize to the parents of two 16-year-olds who lost their sons to drug overdoses after buying pills on Snapchat.

What do you say to those parents? Butler said.

The desire to make social media platforms saner and safer is being echoed by the top candidates in the 16th Congressional District, which includes parts of San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.

As a mom of two, Palo Alto City Council Member Julie Lythcott-Haims, the only woman running to replace Eshoo, told me, I support reforming Section 230. Corporations have to be held accountable for the harm they inflict.

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Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo wants it changed, too, and hes said he doesnt buy the industrys long-standing contention that altering Section 230 would stifle innovation. That argument might have worked when Facebook was a startup. Not now, when Metas market cap is $1.2 trillion  with a t.

While Section 230 has supported the growth of the innovation economy, the time for thoughtful reform appears long overdue, Liccardo said.

So now what? Thats the problem Eshoos successor will face. How do you change it? And how do you do so without hurting the hometown industry?

Eshoos district is filled with voters who work at companies that depend on Section 230, said Eric Goldman, a longtime defender of Section 230 who is a professor of law at Santa Clara University and co-director of its High Tech Law Institute. I would expect the districts representative to understand and defend the critical role Section 230 plays in the districts economy.

The candidates start to differentiate themselves when it comes to what to do next. Or they dont have a specific answer.

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Rishi Kumar, a Democratic candidate from Saratoga, told me that removing the liability protections of Section 230 will compel platforms to take content moderation more seriously and do more to protect their end users from illegal activities and disinformation.

But the companies have hired thousands of content moderators, and little has changed.

Assembly Member Evan Low said if elected, he would like to see a revised Section 230 include an ability to get a court order to remove content if there is imminent incitement of violence. Right now Section 230 immunity is so broad that social media platforms dont have to take that down even under the Brandenberg standard  the Supreme Court case that allows someone to be punished for inflammatory speech if it is intended to incite unlawful violence and that violence is imminent.

But Goldman, the law professor, disagreed. If a post was truly an incitement to violence, he said, its not protected by the First Amendment, and it would constitute a federal crime.

Peter Dixon, who served in the Obama administration, told me he would like to see more journalistic-style guardrails for digital platforms, much like in traditional media. They would be held more accountable for content their algorithms select and amplify, not content that is simply posted to their platform.

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Goldman said applying journalistic standards would create a complete restructuring of the entire internet ecosystem. In other words, one of the beauties of the internet has been that its enabled people who are journalists to still be able to share their ideas and share their content.

This is the challenge facing the next House member from Silicon Valley. The good news is that they will have bipartisan support to address the bile and disinformation online. The bad news is that finding the right solution will still be hard.

Ask Eshoo, who said that Section 230 cries out for reform, and Congress must reform it. Shes tried for years. Now, it will be up to her successor to figure out how to do something beyond just publicly shaming tech execs.
Back to black: During its 40-year history Marc Jacobs has called on celebrities including Kendall Jenner (pictured)

Marc Jacobs has returned to profit in the UK in another turnaround success for the French luxury giant LVMH.

The firm is back in fashion following years in the doldrums when the brand lost its way and sales tumbled.

Since 2017 the firm has been led by Eric Marechalle who moved from LVMH-owned Kenzo. Marechalle has restructured the business by cutting costs and scaling back its runway collection.

As a result the business is flourishing once again and remains another example of how Bernard Arnault  Europe's richest man  has turned around struggling brands under his LVMH empire that is home to Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton and Hennessy.

The French luxury giant bought a 96 per cent stake in Marc Jacobs International in 1997.

Its latest accounts showed it swung back into a profit of 258,000 in 2022, having racked up a 51,000 loss the year before.

During its 40-year history Marc Jacobs has called on celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Victoria Beckham to market its products.

Actress Helen Bonham Carter and supermodels Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss have featured in ad campaigns.

Marc Jacobs is cashing in on its signature Daisy perfumes, jewellery and tote bags. It has 280 stores across 60 countries and employs 1,300 people.
When Olivia Reposa was 18 she thought she had found the love of her life.

Her father had abandoned her at a young age and she had grown up in Boston with a single mom who suffered from mental illness and alcoholism.

So when she met J.R. on Facebook, who at 25 was seven years her senior, she thought he would look after her and quickly agreed to move in with him just three months later.

But all was not as it seemed, and before long he had introduced the vulnerable teenager to a life of crime, getting her hooked on heroin and forcing her to become a sex worker 'servicing' up to 25 clients a day. If she failed to earn at least $1,500 a day for him, she was starved and viciously beaten.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, Reposa said: 'I thought he was saving me. I was young and it didn't take very long for me to fall in love with him and trust him - which made it easier for him to manipulate me into doing things I didn't want to do.'

Now 32, Reposa is speaking out about the horrors she endured as she works to help other traumatized sex trafficking victims get their lives back.

Olivia Reposa said she first met J.R. on Facebook and within three months they moved into together. She thought she had found someone who was going take care of her

But at just 18, Reposa said she was forced into prostitution and was made to work the streets, frequent truck stops and meet clients at home or hotels

Reposa, now 32, has a nine-year-old daughter and works to help sex trafficking survivors. 'The fulfillment I get from helping other survivors is indescribable - it makes me feel like what I went through was for something'

Reposa said she was made to service between 10 to 25 clients a day. To find business, she worked the streets, frequented truck stops and met men at their homes and hotels.

She explained that when it came to performing sexual acts nothing was off limits, including S&M and bizarre fetishes.

If she failed to earn the required sum each day, her abusive boyfriend punished her.

'I was supposed to be somebody that he loved and cared about, but really it was all about what I could do for him,' she said.

During the four years they were together, she said he was regularly violent, breaking her jaw and ribs. She lost the sight in her left eye after being punched in the face and he knocked her front teeth out - which she described as her lowest point.

'That's how I knew that I was absolutely nothing,' she said.

'I have no teeth. I've got black eyes like a raccoon. I'm skinny as a rail because I'm not eating. I'm being starved. I'm being beat. And you still want to pay to have sex with me. That's all I felt like I was good for.

'So it was just very humiliating and downgrading and just made me feel like I wasn't worth absolutely anything to anyone.'

If people questioned her appearance or injuries Reposa would always make excuses - and was too scared to report him even when hospitalized.

'The trafficker will teach you or manipulate you into thinking if the police come and you get in trouble for prostitution, you can't tell them about me because I'll go away forever, and you only get a misdemeanor.'

'So they convince you to not tell anybody that they're doing these things to you.'

Part of the manipulation involved keeping her away from her family and he forbade her from visiting her mother during the holidays.

She said her mother offered to help her escape - but every time Reposa tried to leave him she'd end up back there.

The final straw came when he tried to kill her after she told him she was pregnant, she explained. At this point her mother paid for her to get a bus from Boston to Virginia as she had no money of her own.

Reposa during her days of sex trafficking that began when she was only 18 years old

She told DailyMail.com she was forced to earn up to $1,500 a day and if she failed her sex trafficker would punish her

Reposa with attorney Meg Kelsey from Center for Global Justice at Regent University in 2023

But she was so broken by her experiences she soon got into trouble and ended up in jail where she gave birth to her daughter.

Once released her nightmare continued after she was targeted again by traffickers, who she named only as M.W. and F.G.

She said they made her feel as if she was damaged goods and that no one else would want her.

Both men are currently in jail serving 30-year prison sentences for trafficking, among other charges. She was unable to disclose much information about them but said F.G. was incarcerated in a California prison.

Human trafficking in the US $245 billion made each year from human trafficking, thats over $7,500 every second[1] Women and girls make up 54% of all victims worldwide, and are 78% of victims of forced commercial sexual exploitation[2] Many U.S. businesses have human trafficking in their supply chains without even knowing it [3] Victims are told that police are corrupt, and that seeking help leads to being deported[4] In 2021, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received 10,360 reports of suspected human trafficking cases, involving 16,710 victims[5] Traffickers make threats against victims families, using fear and shame as weapons[6] 1 in 6 endangered runaways reported are likely to be sex trafficking victims.[7] Human trafficking and people smuggling are different things[8] How many people are in human trafficking? The number of people who are in human trafficking or living in modern-day slavery is estimated at 49.6 million, including the 22 million in forced marriages. The remaining 27.6 million is made up of: [9] 19.9 million people in forced labor in private or state-run companies, or criminal exploitation 1.4 million people experiencing domestic servitude in private homes 6.3 million people in forced sexual exploitation (including 1.7 million children) Estimates suggest the number of people living in conditions of modern slavery in the United States is up to 1,091,000. No-one knows exactly how many people are trafficked in or to the U.S. each year, because this is a hidden crime, but in 2021, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received 10,360 reports of suspected human trafficking cases, involving 16,710 victims. This is widely acknowledged to be the tip of the iceberg.[10] Source: hopeforjustice.org Advertisement

In 2016, she was arrested again for prostitution and drug possession, and ended up back in prison serving an almost four year sentence.

But when she was released this time in 2019, she was finally able to begin what she described as 'a healing journey'.

She attributes part of her recovery to a nonprofit group, Survivor Ventures at Hamptons Roads, that helped her recover and integrate back into society.

Reposa said she had always been told she was a prostitute and finally understood that she was in fact a victim.

'I was trained in my brain to think that there was no other way to live.

'I am not a prostitute but a human trafficking victim, but I didn't know that for a very long time,' she added.

And in 2021, she was able to get her prostitution convictions vacated with the help of attorney Meg Kelsey from the Center for Global Justice at Regent University.

According to the Human Trafficking Survivor Advocate Toolkit when a crime is 'vacated,' it means the arrest or conviction is deemed not to have occurred.

But often these laws do not go far enough, only dealing with convictions for prostitution and not other crimes trafficking victims are forced to commit.

Reposa said the state of Virginia was one of the last states to introduce any type of expungement for human trafficking survivors.

Kelsey said: 'It takes incredible courage and strength to break away from the manipulation of her trafficker, as Olivia knows. Then, trying to move forward in life with the burden of a criminal record is nearly impossible.

'A survivor will likely face repeated rejection - due to her criminal record- when she applies for housing, jobs, school, and even custody of her child'.

'Olivia is the very first human trafficking survivor in Virginia to have convictions cleared from her record under the new law. This relief is significant, and we all celebrated together in my office when the news came from the court,' she added.

Today, Reposa works as a consultant with The Center for Global Justice at Regent University.

The organization provides free attorneys to apply for vacaturs for trafficking survivors, who qualify.

As an advocate, she also works with law enforcement to help them understand sex trafficking victims.

'Survivors get treated as criminals and they don't realize that they're being coerced and manipulated into doing these things,' she explained.

In 2021, she founded a non-profit called SurvivingChange.org.

'The fulfillment I get from helping other survivors is indescribable - it makes me feel like what I went through was for something.'

Since 2010, the President has dedicated the month of January to raise awareness about human trafficking and educate the public about how to identify and prevent this crime.

No-one knows exactly how many people are trafficked in or to the U.S. each year, because it is a hidden crime.

But in 2021, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received 10,360 reports of suspected human trafficking cases, involving 16,710 victims. This is widely acknowledged to be the tip of the iceberg.

The U.S. Department of State raises awareness of human trafficking domestically and abroad, through U.S. embassies and consulates.

Reposa told DailyMail.com: 'It's been a long healing journey and I am still on that path, but I feel incredible.'
Snowflake locals living next door to a historic London pub have called for it to be closed for good because they don't want to hear 'snippets of misogynistic language' from punters.

The Lord Southampton, in Chalk Farm, North London, has been serving pints, on and off, for nearly 300 years.

The traditional London boozer, a stone's throw from Camden, was run by Irish landlady Martha McGrath for 43 years, before retiring in 2016.

The pub also boasted its fair share of celebrity clientele and became a place where A-list stars like Bill Nighy, Pete Postlethwaite and Ian McKellen could sip their drinks next to hard-working local tradesmen and other regulars.

But now, new residents living in homes around the pub say the 'character' of the area has changed and they are worried about hearing foul language that could upset their children.

They also think punters will make women feel unsafe, smoke outside their homes and keep them up at night.

One woman complained: 'Children walk along the pavement to and from school, how can the pub effectively ensure that those children aren't hearing snippets of misogynistic and swearing in conversations as they're walking home from school?'

Martha McGrath (pictured) ran The Lord Southampton for 43 years before retiring in 2016

The Lord Southampton, in Chalk Farm, North London, has been serving pints, on and off, for nearly 300 years.

The ex-landlady, Martha McGrath said that stars such as Chris Moyles and Bill Nighy used to pop in from time to time

Mrs McGrath was popular with locals and celebs alike during her long tenure behind the bar at the Lord Southampton.

Speaking in 2016, after she celebrated pulling a million pints, she said: 'We've had Bill Nighy in here, Pete Postlethwaite, Ian McKellen - loads of them. Bill Nighy was a bit of a Jack the Lad.

'He used to whistle at the barmaids for attentions - he ended up getting barred for that.

'I've seen him since and says he remembers getting kicked out. We had a laugh about that.'

After Ms McGrath retired, the pub was bought by the Stonegate Group, with the top floors used as a backpackers hostel until its closure during the Covid lockdown.

Then it was bought by pub chain Milegate who applied for a new licence.

A group of angry locals urged Camden Council to block the bar re-opening but councillors ignored their pleas.

The pub's new licensing 'framework' means opening times for the pub are from 11am to 11.30pm Monday to Thursday, until 12am on Friday and Saturday and until 10.30pm on Sunday, with 30 minutes 'drinking up time'.

Across the road from the pub 119 new-build homes have been built - with 51 earmarked for social housing.

The homes surrounding the pub are worth on 800k on average, according to RightMove.

Resident Stephanie Austera was one of the residents complaining about the Lord Southampton.

She moved into her flat when the pub was closed, and says the 'character of the neighbourhood' has changed since.

Ms Austera said that she had 'real concerns' about feeling safe: 'The hours do go beyond what is necessary and appropriate for this area'.

Julia Robson, who lives in a basement flat near the pub, told MailOnline she is concerned about any noise and anti-social behaviour if it reopens until late.

'When I moved in here 12 years ago, I actually went into the pub and said to the landlady 'Is it safe to move in? Because I'm a woman on my own,' and she said 'oh yes darling' and it was a real London pub,' she said.

'A part of me is worried because if it's a local pub, then there will just be local people, whereas if it's not, it'll be a Camden passing through type pub with fights.

'Also I'm concerned as a teacher that there'd be young people, drugged, lying outside, vomit and urine. That type of thing would upset me.'

Mrs McGrath claimed to have pulled a million pints for regulars at the Lord Southampton

Pictured: Punters enjoy drinks at the Lord Southampton before it closed in 2016

The new block of flats has been built opposite the Lord Southampton pub in North London

Last week, an 11-year-old boy even wrote to Camden Council and pleaded for the pub not to be reopened, reported the Camden New Journal.

His letter said: 'My bedroom faces the pub. I am really worried about the noise and whether I will be woken up in the middle of the night.

'As the pub would be able to stay open very late, this would make it extremely difficult to get to sleep because of the noise.

'I would be very tired every night and I am very worried about what this would do to my sleep and my school work. Please, please do not let this happen. Please stop me from being woken up.'

Last week during the licensing meeting, the council came to the conclusion to ban smoking outside the pub at any time. They have also said there are to be no drinkers outside the venue after 10pm.

Representing Milegate, licensing lawyer Piers Warne confirmed it had been bought in March 2022 and the owner wanted to return the pub to a community venue.

He told the meeting: 'This will go back to what it was before.'

Michaela Goetz-Hunter has lived in the area for 20 years and said that when it was run by the previous owner, Mra McGrath, it was pleasant.

However, she said that when it was taken over by the hostel company, it went downhill.

She said: 'I don't really want them to stop having a pub but why do they have to open [until] late? Particularly here when you have the two pubs which are next to shops that are not occupied.'

Ms Goetz-Hunter said she was concerned about noise and antisocial behaviour, based on her past experiences of the hostel.

'[The hostel] would close and then there would still be people hovering around outside. How can you stop them? They used to spit [on the streets]. The people next to us had a horrible time.'

Another resident who lives in the new building opposite the venue said she was worried about the potential pile up of rubbish.

The view of the Lord Southampton from the new block of flats opposite

A notice that was laminated and displayed on the front door of the pub

Julia Robson, who lives in a basement flat near the pub, said she is concerned about the noise and antisocial behaviour that the pub may bring if it reopens until late

She said: 'I think I am more excited about it because it's a quiet area, nothing is really happening so having a pub nearby would be nice.

'But I hope it's not too noisy and that garbage [from the pub] is not an issue.'

Patricia, who works at a residential site for people aged 60 and over, located opposite the pub, said it used to be a destination for locals.

She said: 'As long as it's run properly, people should respect the area hopefully. It would be nice to see it open again.'

She said that a lot of the residents living in the accommodation used to visit the pub regularly.

'We have 13 houses and they used to call the pub number 14. We'd go over [there] and find some of our residents.'

MailOnline has contacted Camden Council for comment.
As witnesses reeled from the 22-minute nitrogen hypoxia execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith one week ago, one attendee was more anguished than most.

Deanna Smith, the hitman's wife, cried out in agony from the witness box as her husband of two years writhed through his final moments.

How did she find herself so far from the millions finding it impossible to sympathize with a brutal killer?

Criminal psychiatrist Dr Gail Saltz told DailyMail.com the occurrence is known as hybristophilia - the sexual attraction to heinous crimes - and it is surprisingly 'not uncommon.'

'These are women who often in their own lives have never had loving relationships, and are actually terrified of a mutual, vulnerable relationship - but they can have that in a fantasy,' she explained.

While repellant to many, it has been evident in the most notorious cases of recent memory, where seemingly-normal women send hundreds of love letters and proclaim their undying support for the worst in society.

Deanna Smith met her husband Kenneth Eugene Smith - convicted hitman and the first person to be executed via nitrogen hypoxia - through a prison pen pal program in 2018

Deanna Smith said she was able to look past her husband's murderous past, and claimed meeting Kenneth in prison was 'like finding my other half'

Richard Ramirez, the infamous 'Night Stalker' responsible for at least 14 murders, on his wedding day to magazine editor Doreen Lioy in San Quentin State Prison in 1996

Deanna Smith met her killer husband in 2018 through a death row pen pal program, and gushed over their close bond as she saw past his 1988 murder, where he stabbed a pastor's wife in the neck eight times for $1,000.

'It was like just finding my other half, you know. I mean, it sounds crazy, but my heart knew he was the one,' she told WBUR shortly before his execution.

It is not clear what led Deanna to join the death row pen pal program, however Dr Saltz said that many in her position come from a place of wanting to find purpose.

She noted that the killers are often 'very high-profile men, often in their 20s, 30s and 40s, you might say conventionally handsome.'

Psychologist Dr Gail Saltz

Once the dangerous men are behind bars, the personal risk of embarking on a relationship with them becomes diminished.

While mystifying to many, the allure of a serial killer has even seen women flock to Austrian convict Josef Fritzl, with reports on his recent release from prison coinciding with rumors he was sent hundreds of love letters, including naked pictures, from female admirers behind bars.

Dr Saltz said one attribute that women with hybristophilia often have in common is low self-esteem, which leads them to search for meaning by joining themselves to the killer's cause.

'The low self-esteem could come from some sort of trauma in the past, but they also may have lacked an appropriate father figure in their own lives,' Dr Saltz said.

'Without a father that was nurturing, kind, loving and stable, they may be seeking out their idea of a manly man who would protect them... and who would be powerful, because they don't feel powerful in their own lives.'

Josef Fritzl, who shocked the world after imprisoning his daughter for 24 years and secretly fathering seven children with her, mystifyingly received a slew of love letters from female admirers after his conviction in 2009

This was cited in perhaps the most famous recent case of a serial killer wedding in prison, after magazine editor Doreen Lioy sought out the notorious 'Night Stalker' Richard Ramirez during his trial.

Ramirez struck fear across California in the mid 1980s, sneaking into homes and bludgeoning at least 14 people to death as they slept.

But while standing trial on his way to a death sentence in 1985, he received hundreds of love letters and lurid attention from a throng of female admirers seemingly undeterred by his brutality - with Lioy eventually meeting him after relentlessly sending almost 75 letters.

Lioy had been a successful journalist and editor of Tiger Beat magazine, and many questioned why she would be charmed by the killer. But actor John Stamos, who met Lioy when he was a teenager, had an answer.

'She was a very lonely woman,' he told ET, noting how he was 'discovered' by Lioy as she was the first to put him on the cover of a magazine, but he always had a feeling she was struggling.

'To be that lonely that this is the only man on the planet that she can find, I just thought, "How horrible." This man is the personification of evil - just a monster. And here is someone that was part of my family, sort of,' Stamos added.

Although Ramirez's crimes were said to have attracted upwards of 15 girlfriends in prison at various times, he eventually tied the knot with Lioy in 1996, where TV cameras flocked to her entering San Quentin State Prison in a white dress.

The tryst sparked outrage among the families of Ramirez's victims, but Lioy vowed to remain by his side even in death by planning to match his execution with her own suicide.

'He's kind, he's funny, he's charming,' she told CNN the year after the couple's wedding, where Ramirez insisted on wearing a platinum wedding ring because Satanists don't wear gold.

'I think he's a really great person. He's my best friend. He's my buddy.'

Doreen Lioy captured morbid media attention on her wedding day in 1996, sparking outrage as she described the sadistic serial killer as 'a really great person'

Lioy angered victims of Ramirez with her flippant response to his crimes, however Dr Saltz said those suffering hybristophilia are often 'not emotionally sophisticated'

Dr Saltz said her flippant response to Ramirez's crimes would not come as a great surprise, because 'denial and compartmentalization are primitive defense mechanisms.'

'When someone is not emotionally sophisticated... it wouldn't be a surprise if their response is almost child-like,' she added.

Faced with mounds of evidence that Ramirez was the infamous killer, Lioy remained defiant for years, insisting the man she knew was not a cold-blooded monster.

'I believe in him completely,' she said. 'In my opinion, there was far more evidence to convict O.J. Simpson, and we all know how that turned out.'

Lioy eventually separated from the serial killer, with reports claiming the reason was the discovery of evidence that Ramirez raped and murdered a nine-year-old in 1984 - a crime seemingly too much for the magazine editor to handle.

While her story raises eyebrows even to this day, Lioy's fascination with Ramirez pales in comparison to the lengths Veronica Compton went to prove her love to the Hillside Strangler in 1980.

Compton fell for the killer, Kenneth Bianchi, shortly after interviewing him for a script she was writing about a female serial killer - before almost becoming a killer herself.

Bianchi convinced her to strangle a random woman to death to make it appear police had the wrong suspect behind bars. The woman survived, and Compton served two decades in prison for attempted murder.

Veronica Compton was wooed by the Hillside Strangler in 1980, leading her to attempt to strangle a woman to death to try and convince authorities they had the wrong suspect behind bars

While not exclusively observed in women, Dr Saltz said such cases almost always tend to involve female admirers as they find themselves in the 'perfect storm' of factors.

Men account for over 90 percent of homicide perpetrators worldwide, and the high-profile crimes - such as Bianchi's reign of terror in the late 1970s - offer far more options than their female counterparts.

Dr Saltz said vulnerable women may be more susceptible to manipulating criminals because they 'often attach themselves in relationships, and may attach themselves to something they feel they are lacking.'

'They may wish to identify with a man with power,' she said. 'When you always feel like you're the victim, which may even be accurate, the desire to identify with whoever victimized you can be very powerful.'

Infamous serial killer Ted Bundy (right) was able to build his own family behind bars after tying the knot with fan Carole Ann Boone (left) in prison

It is no secret that Ted Bundy earned a reputation as one of America's worst killers by using his good looks and cunning to lure women into his web.

But as he enjoyed one of the first televised trials in US history, where he represented himself at times, Bundy's case sparked outrage as long lines of women flocked to the courthouse.

One of the young women had been a longtime friend of Bundy - but only grew close to him once he was accused of dozens of murders, a factor Dr Saltz said may have been fueled by a craving for attention.

The romance came in 1974, long before his arrests but after he began killing, when Bundy met a young Carole Ann Boone, who was described by the killer's biographers as a 'lusty-tempered free spirit' going through her second divorce.

Boone and Bundy hit it off while they were working at the Department of Emergency Services in Olympia, Washington, where he ironically worked at a suicide hotline.

Boone uprooted her life and moved to Florida in 1979 when Bundy was charged with murders, where she is pictured in court. The then-32-year-old mother raised eyebrows with her fixation on the cold blooded killer

Boone appeared to soak up the media attention when Bundy stood trial, but she recalled that her initial interest in him because he 'struck me as a rather shy person with a lot more going on under the surface than what was on the surface.'

'He certainly was more dignified and restrained than the more certifiable types around the office,' she said. 'But remember, he was a Republican.'

In 1975, the noose was tightening around Bundy's crimes, and he was arrested in Utah after being linked to the kidnap of a 12-year-old girl as cops found items including handcuffs, an ice pick and ski mask in his car.

The two exchanged love letters and Boone often visited him behind bars, and when Bundy plotted a dramatic escape in 1977, she smuggled money into the prison to aid his efforts.

The escape led Bundy to flee to Florida, where he continued his trail of terror as he murdered a 12-year-old girl and two members of the Chi Omega sorority at the University of Florida.

Boone, hearing of his subsequent arrest, uprooted her life and moved to Florida to stand by him at trial.

'The things in Florida don't concern me any more than the things out West do,' she said at the time, referencing the slew of murder accusations Bundy was facing at the time that he later confessed to.

Despite murdering upwards of 30 women, with some investigators fearing his true number of victims was over 70, Bundy sparked outrage after celebrating the birth of his daughter Rose (lower left)

But while many recoiled at the crimes, Boone's attraction to Bundy only grew - which Saltz said was not uncommon for such women after the risk-factor was reduced by their dangerous love interest being behind bars.

'He is behind bars, so he cannot actually harm her - so she can have this fantasy without being in danger,' Saltz explained.

'She'll never have to worry about being in danger, and won't need to be in an unsupervised sexual situation - these are women may look for safety.'

This was not exactly the case with Boone, as she conjured nationwide backlash after it was revealed in 1982 that Bundy was able to start a family from death row.
Vermont's homicide rate last year continued an upward trajectory, putting a cap on a spate of crime not seen in nearly three decades.

Vermont State Police (VSP) say for the second year straight, murders topped 20 - nearly double the number of homicides than in 2021.

The deadly crime wave comes as the state is battling soaring fentanyl overdoses, with 243 opioid deaths in 2022, up by a staggering 386 percent compared to a decade ago and a 50 percent increase on 2020.

Worsening matters, VSP - responsible for about 200 towns, 90 percent of the state's land mass, and 50 percent of its 650,000-strong population - is in the midst of an unprecedented staffing crisis.

VSP Major Dan Trudeau, the official tasked with getting to the bottom of the bouts of violence, called the recent crime 'concerning', before blaming it - at least partially - on drugs. Fueling the situation, he said, is fentanyl - which has flooded across the border from Mexico.

State Police say for the second straight year, murders topped 20 - nearly double what it was a few years ago, and an almost threefold increase from 2019

First surfacing a decade ago - when 63 fatal opioid overdoses spurred a speech from the state's then-governor - the situation has since worsened more than fourfold, statistics show

Prior to that, homicide and gun violence rates in the Green Mountain State were notoriously low, and are cops now struggling to find what's behind the recent surge

'We're prone to have some violence like all states do, but in a small state with a low population, it certainly has a greater effect on people - when they hear about it,' said Trudeau of 2023's 27 homicides, seven of which were known to be drug-related.

'We've typically been in the low teens to mid-teens, maybe for an annual - sometimes lower than that,' he continued, as more than half the incidents involved the use of a firearm.

'It's certainly concerning.'

When asked about possible causes, the top cop pointed to the seven drug-related murders, which all involved suspects and victims from out of state.

'It's turned to, the source and supply is now coming to Vermont,' Trudeau told WCAX-3 in a sit-down interview.

Statistics support the senior official's assertion - and show how the once-placid locale, like many others run by progressives, is in the midst of an unprecedented drug crisis.

First surfacing a decade ago - when 63 fatal opioid overdoses spurred a speech from the state's then-governor - the situation is now worsening, statistics from the Vermont Department of Health show.

Since then, the number of fatal overdoses has more than quadrupled to 243 in 2022 - expected to be bolstered by a similar number for a still-being-tabulated 2023.

Most of the deaths involved fentanyl, an incredibly deadly substance that over the past few year, has been increasingly used by dealers to spike drugs like heroin.

The spat of violent crimes has drained valuable state police resources, cops have said - and has also hindered the rural state's long-held reputation as one of the nation's safest

In October alone, his force investigated seven homicide cases and one suspicious death in the span of three weeks, with several cases remaining open

VSP Maj. Dan Trudeau - the investigator tasked with getting to the bottom of the bouts of violence - called the recent crime 'concerning', before blaming it on drugs

'We're prone to have some violence like all states do, but in a small state with a low population, it certainly has a greater effect on people - when they hear about it,' said Trudeau of 2023's 27 homicides, seven of which were known to be drug-related

'It's certainly concerning,' he said, speaking to WCAX-3 in a sit-down interview in January

Most of the deaths this year past involved fentanyl, an incredibly deadly substance that over the past few year, has been increasingly used by dealers to spike drugs like heroin

As a result, cops in Trudeau's police force have been forced to respond to an abnormal amount of emergencies involving overdoses - taking them away from other calls. He warned last month: 'We're doing more work - our calls for service go up every year - with less people'

As of the end of October, though, the number opioid-related accidental and undetermined deaths stood at 201. The number is higher than the three-year average through October.

Most of the deaths involved fentanyl, an incredibly deadly substance that over the past few year, has been increasingly used by dealers to spike drugs like heroin, often unbeknownst to the buyer.

As a result, cops in Trudeau's already spread-thin police force have been forced to respond to an abnormal amount of emergencies involving overdoses - taking them away from other important calls.

'There are certainly Vermonters that sometimes attempt to steal or rip off the drug dealer themselves,' Trudeau added of other dynamics contributing to rise in crime, before noting 'there can be some degree of turf war between drug dealers.'

He added how in October alone, his force investigated seven homicide cases and one suspicious death in the span of three weeks, with several cases, as of Saturday, remaining open.

This has drained valuable VSP resources, he said - and has also hindered the rural state's long-held reputation as one of the nation's safest.

He warned last month: 'We're doing more work - our calls for service go up every year - with less people'.

Local criminology professor Penny Shtull, meanwhile, had more to say on the future fruits of the phenomenon, as opposed to some of the potential causes

When asked about a solution, she said she and other experts are working with police to concoct one - stating that they are looking at federal data secured over past few years for the entire country, hoping it will provide some guidance

As Shtull indicated, the violent crime rate for the country has fallen steadily over the past 20 or so years, following a drastic drop in the mid-90s

Property crimes nationwide have also followed a similar downward trajectory since the early nineties

Local criminology professor Penny Shtull warned that the increased crime rates could harm the local economy which relies on tourism.

'It can increase people's perception of fear or safety,' the instructor at Norwich University said of the potential effects crime could have on the state's tourism.

'It can impact tourism or impact people's willingness to go to areas that have seen an increase in homicide,' she continued.

When asked about a solution, she said she and other experts are working with police - stating that they are looking at federal data secured over past few years for the entire country, hoping it will provide some guidance.

'Nationwide, we're looking at what type of programs or practices - whether that's law enforcement or on a governmental level in terms of policies and practices - may have reduced the overall, nationwide crime rate and whether those can be applied to places like Vermont.'

As Shtull indicated, the violent crime rate for the country has fallen steadily over the past 20 or so years, following a drastic drop in the mid-90s.

Murders, meanwhile, followed a similar trajectory - that is until 2014, after which it suddenly spiked from the 4.5 murders per 100,000 people to the 6.1 where it sits today.

That said, the same report from the FBI - released last month - touted a decrease in gun violence in infamous hotspots like Philadelphia, Detroit, and Los Angeles all experiencing significant declines in shootings, both fatal and otherwise.

Worsening matters is state cops' short-staffed police force, with 51 positions currently unfilled, cops said - with about 25 percent on some sort of family, military or other leave, added Vermont State Police Director Col. Matthew Birmingham (pictured)

'It can increase people's perception of fear or safety,' the instructor at Norwich University said of the potential effects crime could have on the state's tourism, as several of their murder investigations remain open

But still, places like Vermont, unexpectedly, are in the midst of 30-year-highs, fueled by incidents ranging as far south as Brattleboro, all the way to the Northeast Kingdom

A slew of shooting deaths this past fall - including the November 25 incident that saw Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ahmed shot by a 48-year-old part-time farmer who describes himself as a 'radical' libertarian on the 'ADHD spectrum' - taxed the short-staffed State Police further, with only two arrests made.

'Many communities are experiencing an alarming rise in gun violence with recent shootings happening in Newport, Danville, St. Johnsbury, Brattleboro, Castleton, Leicester, Brookfield,' said Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger.

In regard to the November incident that left the three students injured and one of them permanently paralyzed, the 53-year-old Democrat said it 'was one of the most shocking and disturbing events in this city's history.'

One of cops' two murder arrests since November was the gunman suspected of carrying out the seemingly unprovoked killing, Vermont local James Eaton.

He was arrested two days after the murder at his home, and is said to have told police: 'I've been waiting for you.'

The recent shootings of three college students of Palestinian descent in November - Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ahmed - enflamed matters more, as the small state continues to grapple with the unforeseen spree

One of cops' two murder arrests since November was the gunman suspected of carrying out the seemingly unprovoked killing, 48-year-old Vermont resident James Eaton

One of the few arrests cops have made in the slew of murders, Eaton appeared before a judge at a virtual court hearing in November where he pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted second degree murder

He has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder.

Meanwhile, as state cops continue to struggle with the abnormal rash of shootings, the agency currently has a 15 percent vacancy rate, the department confirmed.

Currently, there are 51 positions in the roughly 330-strong force unfilled, cops said - with about 25 percent on some sort of family, military or other leave, said Vermont State Police Director Col. Matthew Birmingham.

'So that puts us in a challenging position,' he said in an interview.

Presiding over Trudeau's Criminal Division and two others, he proceeded to promise: 'We're doing more work - our calls for service go up every year - with less people.'

Meanwhile, State Police are making progress on the investigations into other shooting deaths, he said, including that of a 77-year-old retired college dean who was shot while walking on a recreational trail in small town Castleton in October.

However, months later, the man who allegedly shot Vermont State University's Honoree Fleming about a mile south of the school she oversaw for years is still at large - with a police sketch providing what appears to be the solitary clue.

Still, some investigations will take longer than others, Birmingham said in an interview this past November.

Meanwhile, State Police are making progress on the investigations into other shooting deaths, he said, including that of a 77-year-old retired college dean who was shot while walking on a recreational trail in small town Castleton in October. Pictured: Honoree Fleming, 77

Vermont State Police released a sketch of a 'person of interest' with a clean-shaven face and short, spiky hair who had been seen on the trail around the time of the murder. He remains at large more than three months later

Still, some investigations will take longer than others, Birmingham said in an interview this past November, as the murders and shootings range across the states cities and counties. While not exactly a trend, the data to figure out solutions to an unexplained problem

'But I am confident that we are going to make progress on all of them that will end in resolutions for victims.'

Over the last seven years, the state's homicide numbers ranged from 17 in 2017 to as low as 11 the following year.

2023 saw 24 homicide investigations involving a total of 27 deaths. 2022 saw 25 - also a record at the time.

While not exactly a trend, the data to figure out solutions to a still unexplained problem.

Cops and experts, meanwhile, continue to investigate.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Birmingham and the VSP for comment.
Atlanta is battling a squatting crisis as 1,200 homes have been overtaken and landlords have to clear the unwanted residents themselves or wait months for police.

The situation has become so dire that some homeowners offer to pay off squatters to get them out of their homes - rather than risk losing months of rent.

One squat in the Georgia city was even being run as illegal secret strip club and had to be cleared out by an entire FBI swat team.

Matt Urbanski, who runs a home cleaning company in Atlanta and cleans 40 squatted homes a month, told Bloomberg: 'Id be terrified in Atlanta to lease out one of my properties.

'The large corporations are having a hard time dealing with it. A small individual who would want to use that property to build their long-term wealth and secure their future, it could potentially destroy them.'

A squatter with a lengthy-criminal history was evicted from a $500,000 Atlanta-area home after he moved in while the home's owner, an Army officer, was away on active duty

Photos and videos from the man's eviction show his personal items, including couches, lamps, and other furniture, littered up and down the home's driveway

The National Rental Home Council trade group has now estimated that 1,200 residences across the city are being squatted - more than any other metro area.

Evicting squatters can take over six months with backlogs in the courts and overwhelmed police forces.

One of Urbanski's employees was even shot while attempting to clear out a house after getting into a fight with the squatter.

CEO of the National Rental Home Council, David Howard told DailyMail.com: 'Incidents of illegal trespassing in the Atlanta metro area are disproportionately higher than comparable markets across the country.

'The sheer volume and consistency of practice in terms of how these incidents happen are clearly indicative of some kind of organized criminal effort.'

He added: 'This is obviously a property rights issue first and foremost, but the impact of this kind of activity extends well beyond the concerns of the individual property owner.

'There are serious public safety issues at play here  who is in the home? What is happening in the property? What is the risk to others in the neighborhood? Also, theres a real concern here about the availability of affordably-priced housing.

Every incident of illegal occupation means theres one less home available for a family in need of quality, single-family rental housing.'

As well as individual homeowners, the squatting crisis is making business hard for some of the country's largest single-family-rental businesses.

CEO of Tiber Capital Group Simon Frost, reportedly wrote to local authorities begging for help, he said: 'Unlawful occupants often brandish weapons and threaten neighbors, including children.

'This problem is rapidly growing. We are concerned about the impact that this is having on safety and livability of our local neighborhoods.'

The problem is being fueled by soaring housing costs in the city, with rent rising 34 percent from pre pandemic prices to $1,897 a month.

Helen Z. Willis, councilwoman for the city of South Fulton, told Bloomberg: 'There is a lack of affordable housing, and homelessness has increased during the pandemic.'

It's also gotten easier for squatters to find homes to move into.

Online listings and virtual real estate agents can allow squatters to find vacant addresses and gain access by booking fake appointments.

Some people may not even know they are squatters as scam artists can set up fake listings for empty properties and fake lease agreements.

Once a squatter is in, it's hard to get them out. It can take three months to get a court hearing for an eviction, and another three months to get a deputy or marshal to clear out the home.

Strip club squat

Exclusive photos show the property at 4951 Wewatta Street in South Fulton, Atlanta - where four squatters were said to have run an illegal strip club

A SWAT team arrested the four squatters after neighbors complained of the stench of marijuana, gunshots - and live horses on the premises

Cabinets are strewn open and a black plastic bag is packed into one of them

In October, an Atlanta home was taken over by squatters who ran an illegal strip club inside on weekends and kept horses on the property.

The FBI had to get involved and arrested four people who had taken up residence at 4951 Wewatta Street in South Fulton without permission.

The 4,000 square foot five bed home with three bathrooms was trashed by the squatters.

Photos from inside the home after the FBI cleared it out showed the halls eerily empty, save for a cartoonish green lizard painted on one wall.

Other walls were covered in dark scuff marks.

DeAnthony Maddox (left) and Jeremy Wheat (right) were arrested on the premises

Kelvin Hall and Tarahsjay Forde were also arrested

Trash littered the property with a half-finished water bottle, a crumpled plastic bag and a bottle of Pink Whitney - the popular lemonade-infused vodka - sitting atop a railing.

Neighbors said they were running a strip club on the weekend, noisy parties and car races in the street.

One neighbor said: 'They would get live horses. One day they had live horses.'

Four young men - DeAnthony Maddox, Jeremy Wheat, Kelvin Hall, and Tarahsjay Forde - were arrested on the premises.

All four were booked into Fulton County Jail on multiple charges, including several counts of theft by receiving stolen property.

Deployed soldier's home

Last year, a deployed Lt Colonel Dahlia Daure said she felt 'violated' when she learned a man was squatting in her home while she was away on active service.

Daure told local media that Vincent Simon - a man who has been convicted on guns, drugs, and theft charges - was living in her $500,000 home.

The Army officer had been away from her Ellenwood residence for duty in Chicago - and only found out he had moved in as the house was in the process of being sold.

'I felt violated. Had I not been serving my country, I would have been in my home,' Daure told WSB-TV.

The massive 4,300 square foot estate where Simon is holed-up has five beds and five baths, Zillow states, and is valued around $495,000

Lt. Colonel Dahlia Daure said a man with a lengthy criminal history was squatting in her Atlanta-area home while she is away on active duty and that he refuses to move out

The active-duty Army officer was told by police they could not evict Simon and that the issue is considered a 'civil matter.'

'I want to go shoot out the windows, turn off the water, cut wires, but I can't. That's a crime. Law-abiding citizens can't do that,' she said.

The massive 4,300 square-foot estate has five beds and five baths, Zillow states, and is valued around $495,000.

Before listing the home, Daure had been renting it out and had even put in an estimated $35,000 in renovations.

The squatter initially presented police with a lease that he said showed him having paid $19,000 to stay in the property for six months.

In that time, the convicted criminal installed cameras and put up 'Beware of Dog' signs in addition to covering the windows with cardboard.

Daure urged the police to investigate and they discovered the lease was fake.

Police discovered the number on the lease did not lead to a real person or listing agent and Simon was served with an intruder affidavit. He was arrested after cops discovered he had suspected ecstasy and a gun, which he is not allowed as a convicted felon.
She's since been 'on her deathbed twice' and is warning others of her mistake

A tanning addict who used sunbeds almost daily for 15 years has said she feels 'lucky o be alive' after things took a turn for the worst.

Fionnghuala Maguire, 35, from Belfast, started using sunbeds at the young age of 14 and never once applied SPF during her years of tanning - now she's warning others not to make the same mistake.

She admits to using the machines routinely for more than 15 years - visiting salons as often as seven days a week at the peak of her addiction.

Adding that the decades of sunbed use has left her on her 'deathbed' twice and she's now living constantly 'in fear' that it will eventually kill her.

The 35-year-old receptionist revealed that her life turned was upside down after a suspicious mole turned out to be cancerous in 2020, leading to a skin cancer diagnosis and immunotherapy treatment.

A tanning addict who used sunbeds almost daily for 15 years has said she feels 'lukcy o be alive' after things took a turn for the worst

Shocking photos show Fionnghuala's face covered in red blotches as a result of laser therapy she undergoes every six to eight weeks to help heal broken capillaries on her skin - a side effect of immunotherapy.

Broken capillaries are dilated or enlarged blood vessels just beneath the surface of the skin.

After the latest round of laser treatment, dozens of red, painful blotches broke out on Fionnghuala's face, which caused severe swelling and bruising on her cheeks.

The mum says she always gets 'severe swelling' after each round of laser therapy - but hopes the treatment will help heal her scarred skin caused by the aggressive immunotherapy treatment.

Despite her successful skin cancer treatment, Fionnghuala was back being treated for cancer in late 2021 and almost died a second time.

Thankfully her treatments have been successful and she now has the all clear - but admits she lives in fear of another cancerous mole appearing and still worries that her tanning addiction will eventually kill her.

Back in her tanning days, even Fionnghuala's own mother pleaded with her to stop, following her own cancer diagnosis - however, it was no use as the receptionist was set on maintaining her glow.

Now, she is urging other tan fans to swerve the sunbeds - as she says she nearly left her son without a mum due to her obsession.

Shocking photos show Fionnghuala's face covered in red blotches as a result of laser therapy she undergoes every six to eight weeks to help heal broken capillaries on her skin - a side effect of immunotherapy

Fionnghuala Maguire, 35, from Belfast , started using sunbeds at the young age of 14 and never once applied SPF during her years of tanning - now she's warning others not to make the same mistake

Fionnghuala, who is mum to ten-year-old Fionn, said: 'I've been a sunbed user since about 14.

'Back then there wasn't so much of an age limit. I would go quite naturally dark and having a tan gave me a lot of confidence.

'If I was going out on Saturday night or going on holiday, I would use it everyday to get the best tan.

'During the winter months it was around two or three times a week then I would up it in summer.

'I've probably used a sunbed thousands of times in my life. It was an addiction, there's no doubt about that'.

She continued: 'My mum was diagnosed with skin cancer and had to have a couple of tumours removed and used to tell me to stop using the sunbeds but you don't listen, you think you're invincible'.

During the covid pandemic, Fionnghuala found a mole on her right leg that doctors decided to quickly remove due to her family history.

Fionnghuala was asked to return to the hospital and told she had stage-one melanoma and they had to cut a bigger segment of her skin away.

Now, she is urging other tan fans to swerve the sunbeds - as she says she nearly left her ten-year-old son Fionn (RIGHT) without a mum due to her obsession

Looking back on her health battle, Fionnghuala said a 'tan is not worth' what she's been through and she could 'give herself a slap' for using sunbeds

The mum says she always gets 'severe swelling' after each round of laser therapy - but hopes the treatment will help heal her scarred skin caused by the aggressive immunotherapy treatment

READ MORE: Revealed: The brilliant London skin doctor Fergie says saved her life after the Duchess revealed last week she is battling cancer Advertisement

This was followed by the discovery of another growth on her leg three months later that was also confirmed as cancer.

She then underwent immunotherapy to prevent her cancer from returning, but suffered an adverse reaction to her treatment when her adrenal glands stopped working and she developed Addison's disease.

It led to an emergency hospital admission in December 2021 when the mum says she was 'a day or two from death'.

Fionnghuala said: 'Christmas 2021 I felt like I was going to die. My sister took me to hospital and just had to drop me off because it was Covid. I didn't know if I was going to see her again.

'They checked my adrenal glands and they had stopped working. Straight away I was pumped with a hydrocortisone steroid and within that night I felt like a completely different person. I felt normal again.

'A doctor told me that if there'd been another day or two of my cortisone levels being that low, I would've gone into a coma and passed away.'

Fionnghuala underwent two more immunotherapy sessions in May 2022 before developing capillary leak syndrome - a rare disorder that causes a dramatic drop in blood pressure.

In the last two years, the mother-of-one has had five more suspicious moles removed from her breast, arm, leg and back and sees her dermatologist every three months for full-body checks.

In the last two years, the mother-of-one has had five more suspicious moles removed from her breast, arm, leg and back and sees her dermatologist every three months for full-body checks

Fionnghuala said: 'I'm just living in fear of the next mole coming now. There's a high probability that the skin cancer could come back at every point'

The mother explained: 'Back then there wasn't so much of an age limit. I would go quite naturally dark and having a tan gave me a lot of confidence'

Looking back on her health battle, Fionnghuala said a 'tan is not worth' what she's been through and she could 'give herself a slap' for using sunbeds.

Fionnghuala said: 'I'm just living in fear of the next mole coming now. There's a high probability that the skin cancer could come back at every point.

'I'm now pale white. I don't look like myself, it was all down to wanting tanned skin that you can literally buy from a bottle.

'I feel so angry at myself. Twice I've been on my deathbed and my son could've been left without a mummy. It's not just my life this has affected, it's my whole family's lives.

'Having a tan is not worth what could potentially happen. You are taking your life into your own hands. I'm still scared that wanting a tan might kill me eventually.'
In 2015, the Pentagon decided to re-staff their Cheyenne Mountain Complex

Switzerland previously promised all of its residents access to a shelter

British Army Chief, General Sir Patrick Sanders, recently warned the UK to train and equip a 'citizen army' to ready the country for a potential land war.

The Chief of General Staff said Britain's army is 'too small' and urged ministers to 'mobilise the nation' in preparation for a wider conflict against Russia amid the invasion of Ukraine.

More recently tensions heightened between the United States and Iran, after a drone attack killed three American soldiers.

With Russia and China warning the US against a 'cycle of retaliation' after Joe Biden threatened to target their ally, MailOnline takes a look at the five places on Earth that could be safe in the event of World War III.

Wood Norton, Worcestershire

Wood Norton was purchased by the BBC at the beginning of the Second World War and is said to be the broadcaster's base in the event of a crisis

The former Wartime Broadcasting System based Wood Norton (pictured) reportedly can house up to 90 BBC staff members

The bunker is tucked away in the Worcestershire hillsides and boasts several storeys of architecture (Pictured the BBC's war book)

With only a small radio mast and a security barrier in sight, you would perhaps miss the huge network of tunnels running deep into the Worcestershire forest.

Originally bought by the BBC at the beginning of World War II, the bunker's initial purpose was to be a hidden base for the broadcaster in the event a crisis in London.

According to GloucestershireLive, Wood Norton is used as a training base for sound engineers and technical staff at the broadcasting company.

The bunker also has a mast which would continue broadcasting messages from the BBC if the UK were ever to go into crisis mode.

Also referred to as PAWN, Protected Area Wood Norton, the site is hidden deep in the Worcestershire hillside, boasting several storeys of architecture underground.

The broadcaster outlined in documents released, also known as the War Book, in 2016 that the base would be utilised in the event of a grave attack on the UK.

The facility is reportedly able to house up 90 BBC staff - including 12 news editors and sub-editors - and also boasts a ping-pong table.

Raven Rock Mountain Complex, Pennsylvania

The Raven Rock military complex is just was shrouded in mystery ever since construction began in 1948

Dubbed 'Harry's Hole' after President Truman, the facility received $652 million worth of upgrades following 9/11 and boasts an office space of a whopping 900,000 square feet

The Raven Rock Mountain Complex has maintained an air of mystique ever since they began building the facility in 1948.

Dubbed 'Harry's Hole' after President Truman, who gave the project the go-ahead, the Pennsylvanian facility first opened its doors in 1953.

Raven's Rock was constructed with the intention of being a 'centrepiece of a large emergency hub' according to Garret Graff, author of Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government's Secret Plan to Save Itself - While The Rest Of Us Die.

Boasting 100,000 feet of office space, the bunker could facilitate up to 1,400 people.

The base also has two 1,000 foot-long tunnels as well as 34-ton blast doors to help reduce the impact of a possible bomb attack.

Even though the site was placed into standby mode by President George H.W. Bush in 1991, $652 million worth of upgrades were pumped into the site following 9/11.

According to Graff, the underground city was kitted out with 27 new fuel tanks in 2012, with both having the ability to carry 20,000 gallons.

Presently, the bunker is thought to have a whopping 900,000 square feet of office space, as well as the capacity for between 3,000 to 5.000 government employees.

Family members would not be permitted to reside in the base.

He said: 'Families would have been prohibited from Raven Rock  as they would have been from effectively all of the Doomsday bunkers.

'Athough in recent years as the veil of complete secrecy has lifted, family members of Raven Rock personnel are allowed to visit it for specific ceremonies.

'So at the very least, family members today can picture where their relatives will spend Doomsday, even as they're barred outside.'

Peters Mountain, Virginia

Situated deep in the Appalachian mountains, Peters Mountain serves as an 'undercover' AT&T communication station

Peters Mountain, situated in the vast Appalachian Mountains of Virginia has been there for some time, functioning as an AT&T communications station.

When you spot the sight you can even see an AT&T logo painted on a helicopter landing pad.

It serves as one of several secret centres also known as AT&T project offices, according to The New York Post.

These facilities are essential for the US government's continuity planning.

The centre tucked away in Appalachia has the ability to house a few hundred people.

According to Graff, the bunker has received renovations costing $67 million in recent years.

He stated that an attack on Washington were to occur, it would potentially be used as a relocation site for intelligence agencies.

Cheyenne Mountain Complex - NORAD

Cheyenne Mountain Complex, also known as the headquarter of NORAD, has never been kept a secret from the public

The enormous base, can house up to a thousand people per month and is said to have an underground lake

The bunker, which costs an eye-watering $250 million a year to run, was briefly put on standby before the Obama administration

Almost $40 million was invested into the facility in order to kit it out with the best technology, including 15 console displays and three room-sized Philco 212 computers

The 'underground city' also has five chambers with their own fuel and water - and even has an underground lake

Although Peters Mountain and Raven Rock were kept under wraps from the public, one bunker has always been public since its inception.

Cheyenne Mountain Complex, which is located in El Paso County, Colorado, is a defence bunker for the United States Space Force.

Better known as the headquarters for NORAD, (North American Aerospace Defense Command), the site was constructed in the 1950 in response to Cold War paranoia.

The five chambers within the extraordinary bunker all have reservoirs for fuel and water - and in one section they reportedly even have an underground lake.

Almost $40 million was invested into the facility in order to kit it out with the best technology, including 15 console displays and three room-sized Philco 212 computers.

In the midst of a crisis, the Cheyenne Mountain Complex can hold up to 1,000 people a month.

The facility, which costs an eye-watering $250-million a year to run, was on the brink of closure prior to 9/11.

Although it was briefly put on standby mode in 2006, the Obama administration opted to breath a new lease of life into the base.

After running full-scale continuity drills of great magnitude at the bunker, the Pentagon declared that it would be re-staffing the bunker in 2015, The New York Post reports.
My 18-year-old sister texted last week with a question I thought shed never ask.

Where can I buy a knitted vest similar to Queen Camillas???'

Eh?!

Yep, its official. Queen Camilla is a Gen Z style icon.

Camilla wore a Khaki green sweater vest with a white Peter Pan collard poking out of top. Casual, comfortable, but still smart and interesting

Queen Camilla leaving the London Clinic where husband King Charles III was treated for an enlarged prostate gland

Camilla's Heinz Baked bean novelty clutch is an early example of the Queen's fun-edge fashion

Said sweater vest was spotted on the Queen as she drove to visit the King at the London Clinic hospital last week.

Khaki green, a white Peter Pan-collared shirt poked out of its top. Casual, comfortable, but still smart and interesting.

It looked great on her at 76 and would look just as great on my quinquagenarian mother and teenage sister.

Therein lies the key to Camillas style: its always occasion-appropriate, but also exhibits a dash of daring.

Look at the detail of her seemingly safe looks and youll find an unexpected element of cool.

This is hardly surprising as her husband is, in my opinion and that of many others, possibly the most stylish man on the planet.

Royal protocol dictates a certain style of dressing (Camilla's go-to coat dresses strike the perfect balance between tradition and modern elegance), but accessories are a realm in which she can indulge her individuality.

The way she uses them shows she knows about fashion.

The Heinz tin of baked beans bag she carried in 2015 is an early example. It provided a contemporary, fun edge to an otherwise-classic Camilla ensemble of blue dress, white jacket and pearls.

Fashion-crowd favourite Demellier London is another of Camillas go-to bag brands (also loved by the Duchess of Sussex and Princess of Wales).

Demellier's quality rivals that of designer names, but at a much more accessible price point under 400 .

Camilla wears a stylish navy blazer and jean combination at the Braemar Literary Festival last year

The Queen arrives at Wimbledon in a Fiona Clare dress and Bottega Veneta bag. There were no logos but the outfit shouted quiet luxury all the same

Queen Camilla stacks thin bracelets from Parisian jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels - and a Gen Z favourite - as if they were from Accessorize. In fact, they cost 4,000 each

Camilla wore their 355 midi Venice bag in October last year alongside slim-fit jeans and a blue blazer.

How many other 76-year-olds carry off slim fit jeans?

Then theres that Bottega Veneta bag she wore to Wimbledon last year.

Paired with a white dress by favourite designer Fiona Clare, the look screamed quiet luxury.

It was a rare move for Camilla to choose such an obviously designer piece (Bottegas intrecciato method of weaving makes their bags instantly recognisable  royal style fans were quick to find the bag online for 2,200).

But designer or not, the bag did not drip with logos or hardware. It remained elegant enough for a Queen.

Bottega has a cult following amongst 20-somethings - and the Millennials applauded.

Jewellery is another way in which Camilla shows that her approach to fashion is decidedly modern. It also suggests that she enjoys luxury fashion more than we might think given her wellies-and-jeans image.

She stacks thin bracelets from Parisian jeweller (and yep, you guessed it) Van Cleef & Arpels like theyre from Accessorize.

Only these come in nearer the 4,000 mark.

Much like Bottegas woven bags, the iconic Alhambra symbol (inspired by a four-leaf clover) is instantly recognisable - and a favourite of Gen Z, as it happens (which is to say those born between the mid-1990s and 2012 or 13)

But again, its about the hi-low combination, pairing an of-the-moment brand with classic clothing .

Just enough of a dash of daring for Camilla to say dont underestimate me, I know fashion.

There was another unexpected style triumph earlier this month when Camilla stepped out to visit a jeweller wearing mismatched earrings.

Im still undecided as to whether this was a purposeful move or an accident.

(She must have someone check her look before she heads out so I find it hard to believe it was an accident).

Either way, she carried it off. The mismatched earrings added an element of playfulness to a classic camel coat by Anna Valentine that she has worn several times before.

There have been a few times of late when Camilla has shown us what an underrated royal fashionista she really is, not just through accessories, but through some head-to-toe knockout looks.

The Queen attends a state banquet in Nairobi, Kenya, last year wearing Van Cleef & Arpels earrings featuring three of the Magic Alhambra motifs

Was that intentional? Camilla leaves an engagement in Swindon wearing odd earrings. Deliberate or not, it's a favourite Gen Z trend

The Queen's piece de resistance was this Dior gown in Paris - easily her best style moment to date

The Dior couture cape dress she wore to a state banquet in Paris in September last year was her best style moment ever, in my opinion. Dramatic, modern, but still classic.

Theres a place for Dubarry and a place for Dior.

Camilla knows this and navigates both with ease, injecting seemingly classic looks with just enough modernity to keep them interesting.

Put it this way: there are few people who can carry off Bottega as well as they do Barbour. Camilla is one of them.
Reparations advocates had the wind in their sails last year.

Cities across the US set up teams to hash out plans to compensate black people for the legacy of slavery, taking their cue from a successful pilot in Evanston, Illinois.

The landscape in 2024 is very different.

Squad member Cori Bush, the Missouri Democrat who has championed payouts, is under investigation for campaign spending violations.

Her bid for a $14 trillion federal compensation package is dead in the water.

The reparations task force in Detroit  a hub for African-American culture  has descended into a 'shambles' of quitting and in-fighting.

And California's black lawmakers this week backtracked on plans to pay $1.2 million to each resident.

Cori Bush and her $14 trillion federal reparations package are both in trouble

While many black voters are keen to get checks in the mail, only a fraction think they'll see such a day in their lifetimes.

Poll Do you support a federal reparation policy directed at the descendants of slaves? Yes No Not sure Do you support a federal reparation policy directed at the descendants of slaves? Yes 316 votes

No 10476 votes

Not sure 48 votes Now share your opinion





Mike Gonzalez, an analyst at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said support for reparations peaked amid the protests over the police killing of George Floyd in 2020.

Now, it is waning, he added.

'Like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Critical Race Theory, anti-racism trainings, and other features of the collective hysteria, the call for reparations has begun to fall apart under intense opposition by the American people,' he told DailyMail.com.

Supporters of reparations say it's time for America to repay its black residents for the injustices of the historic Transatlantic slave trade, Jim Crow segregation and inequalities that persist to this day.

From there, it gets tricky.

There is no agreed framework for what a scheme would look like. Ideas range from cash payouts to scholarships, land giveaways, business startup loans, housing grants, or statues and street names.

Former Democratic congressional candidate Morris Griffin holds up a sign during a reparations meeting

Critics say that payouts to selected black people will inevitably stoke divisions between winners and losers, and raise questions about why American Indians and others don't get their own handouts.

Reparations efforts are 'falling apart,' says Mike Gonzalez

The pro-reparations movement took a major hit this week with revelations that Bush is being investigated by the DOJ.

The squad member and progressive has spent more than $750,000 on security since she was elected in 2020, including payments to her husband.

She denies any wrongdoing, but faces being booted from Congress if she's found guilty.

The allegations hurt her signature piece of legislation  a $14 trillion federal package for black Americans to atone for chattel slavery and centuries of racist policies that followed.

The bill was floundering even before her probe over iffy payments.

Detroiters had high hopes for their city's reparations commission, with 80 percent backing its creation in a vote

Observers of Detroit's task force have since been unsparing in their criticism

Similar resolutions have been introduced at every congressional session since 1989 and have never won enough support for a floor vote.

The outlook is not much better in Detroit, where the city's reparations task force is mired in resignations and in-fighting.

The body was shaken last year by the death of member Dr. JoAnn Watson.

Then followed the exits of Lauren Hood, Maurice Weeks, Allen Venable, CaMille Collins, and Anita Belle.

In departing emails, members called the body 'time-consuming' and offered explanations for why they hadn't shown up to meetings.

It has barely made any progress, critics say.

One observer called it a 'shambles;' another lamented a 'national embarrassment.'

The Detroit Grassroots Coalition, a residents' group, says members 'do not appear to be taking the work seriously' and seek more transparency.

Morris Griffin, of Los Angeles, speaks during the public comment portion of the reparations task force meeting in Sacramento, California

From left, State Sen. Steven Bradford, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, task force member Lisa Holder and Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer hold up a final report of the California reparations task force last year

There were high hopes for the task force  80 percent of voters approved its creation in a ballot measure in 2021.

Even when task forces roll up their sleeves and get to work, progress can be hard to discern.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he did not support the issuing of checks for reparations

California's first-in-the-nation reparations task force held emotionally-charged meetings for two years before greenlighting last May more than 100 proposals for overturning past sins.

The state's descendants of slavery could expect payments of as much as $1.2 million, it was reported at the time.

On Wednesday, the state's black lawmakers introduced a package of 14 bills backtracking on those plans.

Their proposals made no mention of cash reparations.

Instead, they called for the state to apologize for its role in slavery, to ban involuntary servitude in prisons and to return property officials had unfairly seized from black families.

Critics pounced on the U-turn.

'This package does NOT include any cash payments to foundational black Americans at all,' Internet personality Tariq Nasheed posted on X/Twitter.

'It's a '111-page nothing-burger, dipped in nothing-sauce.'

Los Angeles resident Walter Foster, 80, holds up a sign at a task force meeting on reparations at the California Science Center in Los Angeles in September

Law scholar Jonathan Turley added that voters could well see it as 'bait-and-switch given the building expectation of huge cash awards.'

The reparations reality has dawned, says Alex Nowrasteh

California Gov Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has signalled that he did not support cash reparations payouts, especially when the Golden State is struggling with a $38 billion budget shortfall.

While popular among black Americans, the other groups who would foot the tax bill are less keen.

A survey last year of 6,000 registered California voters found that only 23 percent supported cash reparations, while 59 percent were opposed.

Public attitudes have only hardened since then.

Conservatives are pushing back against all types of DEI efforts and affirmative action policies.

Giving a leg-up to one group inevitably means another loses out, the critics say.

And while black Californians would like to receive payouts, very few of them believe they ever will.

A Washington Post-Ipsos poll last year found that three-quarters of black people said the descendants of slaves should get government compensation.

Six in ten respondents opposed payouts to the descendants of slaves, while four in ten said the federal government should 'definitely should not pursue' such a policy

But only 14 percent expected to see any in their lifetimes.

Chris Lodgson, from the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California, says it is a 'big challenge' to get black Californians enthused about cash reparations.

Prof Justin Hansford wants the UN to make America pay for slavery-era sins

They just 'don't think it's gonna happen,' Lodgson says.

Some reparations activists see the writing on the wall and have scaled back efforts to get US lawmakers to act.

Justin Hansford, a professor at Howard University School of Law, wants the UN to lead the charge instead.

He and colleagues from the University of Pittsburgh and Columbia University want the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent to launch a global reparations tribunal.

A UN court ruling could pressure the US to pay $5 million to its black citizens, he says.

The multimillion dollar sum is 'on the low end of what's appropriate' for their 'horrific' oppression, he told DailyMail.com.

His long-shot effort underscores how reparation payouts are unpopular among non-black US taxpayers and have little chance of becoming federal law, leaving advocates scrambling for a workaround.

Alex Nowrasteh, an analyst at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, said activists were finally understanding the lack of public support for a large-scale compensation package.

'Every reparations proposal was wildly impractical,' Nowrasteh told DailyMail.com.

'Its good to see that realization finally catch up with reality.'

For Gonzalez, co-author of the forthcoming book NextGen Marxism, the logic underpinning cash reparations is flawed.

'Reparations do not pass the tests of justice, morality, logic, ethics or efficacy,' he said.

'They would inevitably lead to absurdities such as a wealthy black neurosurgeon receiving reparations out of tax money paid by a poor white sharecropper.'
California disaster preparedness agencies have advised against traveling Sunday and Monday as an extreme storm hits the Bay Area. Listos California

BAY AREA WEATHER: Heres the forecast in wake of damaging storm

Officials in San Jose declared a local state of emergency Saturday night, warning residents to be ready to leave their homes on a moments notice as a gathering storm threatened to cause flooding in the city.

The citys proclamation, issued as rain spread across the bay, advised residents to take precautions such as moving vehicles out of flood hotspots, moving valuable items to the highest place in their homes and packing important documents and medications.

Unhoused individuals living along the Guadalupe River were ordered to evacuate as the city anticipated heavy flooding. The California Nevada River Forecast Center predicted the river could rise to 11 feet on Sunday morning, which would put it at its second-highest water level on record.

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At that level, flooding could threaten homes from West Alma Avenue south to Thousand Oaks Park, according to the forecast center.

The city advised residents not at risk of flooding to stay inside and avoid unnecessary travel. Warming centers were being set up at Roosevelt Community Center and Camden Community Center for unhoused individuals and others in need. Santa Clara County also opened several warming centers throughout the county ahead of the storm.

Marin County opened up a Severe Weather Emergency Shelter at the Marin Health and Wellness Campus in San Rafael which was to remain open until 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

Other Bay Area municipalities cautioned residents to prepare for flooding and potential power outages. On Saturday, the National Weather Service forecasted more than 75 mph wind gusts would hit the Santa Lucia Mountains near Monterey on Sunday, causing widespread damage to trees and powerlines.

San Mateo County urged residents to sign up for emergency alerts ahead of the storms arrival and to look out for downed trees, high surf and landslides.

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The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management added another tip: check storm drains for debris to avoid street flooding, as happened during the heavy rains this past Wednesday.

Most of the Bay Area was placed under a flood watch through 10 a.m. Monday, with the National Weather Service warning residents from Cloverdale to Big Sur to be wary of flooded waterways, deep puddles and shallow landslides.
A 48-year-old man who has been in a relationship with a 103-year-old woman for more than a decade has side-stepped a question about whether they are sexually intimate.

Estonian lawyer Mart Soeson is seeking to remain in Australia on the basis that Elfriedie Riit is his legitimate de facto partner after his permanent residency visa application was rejected.

Ms Riit is the widow of Mr Soeson's grandfather and the pair lived in her house at Bankstown in Sydney's south-west until she moved into a nursing home in 2022.

Daily Mail Australia told the couple's love story on Friday and their 55-year age gap raised questions from many readers about how they expressed their passion for each other.

Asked if he and Ms Riit had a sexual relationship now or in the past, Mr Soeson said: 'It's a very personal question, and I myself have never even thought of prying into the deepest recesses of other people's lives.'

Mart Soeson, a 48-year-old Estonian lawyer who has been in a relationship with 103-year-old Elfriede Riit for more than a decade, has side-stepped a question about whether they are sexually intimate. The couple is pictured outside the Administrative Appeals Tribunal

Mr Soeson then cited research from the United States which he said had found 15 per cent of married couples did not have sexual relations - or, in his words, 'do so very rarely'.

'Therefore, I think that the more personal aspects of our lives are not as interesting to people as one might think,' Mr Soeson said.

'The nuances of coexistence between people are much more multifaceted. Keeping these nuances to yourself makes being together much more versatile than presenting them publicly.

'Spiritual and emotional connections are often far more strong than any other type of feelings.'

Mr Soeson was not formally told why his visa was refused but believed the Department of Home Affairs was suspicious about the legitimacy of his union with Ms Riit.

He has now taken his case to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal which he attended on Wednesday with Ms Riit to have their romance examined.

That hearing did not go ahead at the tribunal's Sydney office because Ms Riit, who turns 104 later this month, was too distressed to take part in the proceedings.

Mr Soeson is seeking to remain in Australia on the basis that Mr Riit is his legitimate partner after his permanent residency visa application was refused. The couple is pictured at Bankstown RSL's Star Buffet

Mr Soeson addressed the age difference between him and Ms Riit in a statutory declaration which forms part of his appeal.

'I understand it is a cliche to raise but people always question the motive when they see a couple with a significant age difference,' he wrote.

'And it is more often than not that the elderly man has entered a relationship with a woman who may be decades his junior.'

Mr Soeson wrote that 'people question whether the woman is essentially after the quality of life and wealth that her partner may have accumulated over the years.'

Alternatively, they questioned 'whether there is any intimacy between them and this gives everyone the wrong impression regarding their circumstances'.

'Whilst I appreciate the fact that some individuals may enter into relationships for the wrong reasons... it is important to highlight that considering our history and our circumstances, there is nothing to support a concern of that nature.'

Mr Soeson explained he and Ms Riit met in early 1996 when he came to Australia to study advanced English and she invited him to stay with her.

Ms Riit knew of Mr Soeson as her late husband Alfred's grandson - she had been Alfred's second wife - and invited him to stay at her home at Bankstown in Sydney's south-west.

Ms Riit, who was also born in Estonia, is the widow of Mr Soeson's grandfather Alfred and will celebrate her 104th birthday later in February

It was not love at first sight and 'nothing happened overnight', according to Mr Soeson, but the pair soon became friends and that connection continued to grow.

Mr Soeson returned to Estonia but came back to Australia on holidays in 2000 and 2007 to see Ms Riit, for whom by then he 'cared greatly' and 'missed immensely'.

'Upon returning from my trip to Austria in 2007 I could not shake the feeling that I was missing something in my life and that something was Elfriede,' he wrote in his statement.

Mr Soeson took annual leave to make further trips to Sydney in 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13 for the sole purpose of seeing Ms Riit.

During that last visit the pair recognised their feelings for each other had deepened and moved beyond friendship.

'Having spent the last five holiday season together the relationship between Elfriede and I had become extremely close,' Mr Soeson's statement said. 'Elfriede was completely in love with me and I was feeling the same way about her.'

Mr Soeson considered his romantic relationship with Ms Riit to have commenced in January 2013 when she was 92 and he was 37.

Mr Soeson was not formally told why his visa was rejected but believed the Department of Home Affairs was suspicious about the legitimacy of his relationship with Ms Riit

The next step for Mr Soeson was to quit his legal career in Estonia and move to Australia to live with Ms Riit at Bankstown, which he did in September 2018.

By the time the couple was cohabitating, Ms Riit was 98 and according to Mr Soeson, who was 43, still 'extremely active'. They lived together until Ms Riit moved into an aged care facility in September 2022.

'This was a reluctant decision for both of us but a necessary one due to her health and the recommendations of her health professionals,' Mr Soeson said in his statement.

Mr Soeson first applied for permanent residency in March 2016, was granted a temporary visa in July 2017 but his permanent (partner) visa was refused just before Christmas in 2018.

He hoped the tribunal would accept he was in a 'genuine de facto relationship' with Ms Riit and allow him to stay in Australia.

'Elfriede and I have been together in an exclusive committed long-term romantic relationship since January 2013,' he wrote in his statement.

Mr Soeson said he would be devastated if he was forced to return to Estonia because Ms Riit's deteriorating health meant that she could not join him

'I relocated to Australia and have sacrificed many years for the wellbeing of Elfriede and for our genuine commitment. She views me as her husband despite us never formally and civilly marrying.'

Ms Riit, who does not have any children, is on the age pension and the couple pools those payments with Mr Soeson's wages earnt as a part-time painter to cover their living expenses.

'I spent many years of my adult life as a single man,' Mr Riit said in his statement.

'I was reluctant to simply enter into a relationship for the wrong reasons or with the wrong person.

'And yes, I never foresaw that the woman who I would eventually call my partner would be Elfriede.

'What started out as a wholesome bond I had with my late grandfather's widow slowly but surely turned into a very meaningful and loving relationship.

'Every urge I tried to fight regarding our future did not mean anything when I truly thought about how happy she made me.'

Mr Soeson said he would be devastated if he was forced to return to Estonia because Ms Riit's deteriorating health meant that she could not join him.

'My duty is stand by her side and when the final day comes, to bury her and fulfill her last wishes,' he said.

'Furthermore, if I lose the ability to visit her in the age care home she will die quickly.'

Mr Soeson's appeal will return to the AAT on a date to be set.
Britain's 'misogynistic' police forces are facing a crisis of confidence as more than half of young women do not trust them with their safety, shocking figures reveal.

Research by YouGov on behalf of domestic abuse charity Refuge has revealed more than half of women under 25 do not trust the police to tackle violence against women and girls - compared to less than a third of over 65-year-olds.

In a survey of more than 1,000 women living in England and Wales, a quarter of respondents from all age groups reported their confidence in police to tackle the issue dropped in the last 12 months, while more than half said forces have done 'little to nothing' to restore it.

The research comes amid heightened scrutiny of police forces following high-profile crimes by active officers, including the murder of Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens and the dozens of offences committed by serial rapist David Carrick.

'Lip service doesn't save lives,' Refuge's interim CEO, Ellen Miller, told MailOnline. 'There can be no doubt about the scale of the problem and that there is an endemic failure to take it seriously.'

More than 57% of young women do not have trust in police to tackle violence against women and girls, compared to 30% of over 65s

Refuge's interim CEO, Ellen Miller, told MailOnline there is an 'endemic' failure to tackle the issue of violence against women amongst police forces

Yet just 24 percent of officers accused of violence against women and girls are suspended from duty - and this falls to just 12 percent for the Met Police, where both Couzens and Carrick were employed.

Refuge is calling for all officers accused of crimes involving violence against women and girls to be immediately suspended. Currently, many police forces instead put officers on restricted duties while an investigation takes place.

'There is a level of misogyny and disregard for what happens to women at the very heart of this issue,' Ms Miller said.

'When I see accused officers continuing with their jobs, what I hear is don't worry, just keep a low profile for a bit and it will be fine.

'We see with forces where alleged perpetrators of domestic abuse aren't getting suspended, or perpetrators aren't getting sacked, abusers are justifying to the people they are abusing that there is nothing they can do because "I'm a police officer".

'The facts are just so stark. Where is the action? The government has a duty to make sure that police forces are accountable. It shouldn't be down to women's charities like Refuge.'

Around 60 percent of respondents to polling conducted by YouGov of more than 1,000 women living in England and Wales said they would trust police officers more if all forces immediately suspended accused employees.

Refuge is calling for more transparency in the way that police forces deal with officers suspected of criminal offences, in order to restore women's trust in them.

Ms Miller said: 'Every woman should know they are not alone and [if experiencing domestic abuse] they must get themselves safe.

In March 2021, 33-year-old marketing executive Sarah Everard was abducted, raped and murdered by serving Met Police officer Wayne Couzens (pictured)

Met officer David Carrick became one of the UK's worst ever sex offenders after pleading guilty to 85 separate rapes and serious sexual assaults over two decades

'They must expect and demand a proper response from police. The police are the law enforcers and we deserve better.'

She praised the actions of forces across the UK that are already taking steps to enforce suspensions of all officers accused of violence against women, but added that there must be 'more consistency'.

The data suggests police forces have had little success in convincing women that they are determined to get rid of violent officers from their ranks.

It follows a crisis of confidence in police officers following the conviction of several PCs for harrowing and violent offences.

In March 2021, 33-year-old marketing executive Sarah Everard was abducted, raped and murdered by serving Met Police officer Wayne Couzens, who used his real police warrant and handcuffs to convince her she was under arrest for a suspected breach of lockdown restrictions.

The force was heavily criticised for 'heavy-handed' policing of a vigil in Sarah's memory shortly afterwards, and last year issued apologies to two of those arrested at the event.

Couzens was eventually handed a whole life order, meaning he will never leave prison.

In 2023 another Met Police officer, David Carrick, became one of the UK's worst ever sex offenders after pleading guilty to 85 separate rapes and serious sexual assaults over two decades, for which he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 30 years. He has since been accused of further attacks.

A review of all police officers triggered after the murder of Sarah Everard recently unearthed 461 cases which were deemed serious enough for a senior officer to investigated. Of these, 97 required no further action while nine triggered a criminal investigation.

Another 88 triggered disciplinary action and 139 officers are to have their vetting reexamined.

The review did not take into account incidents involving officers who are already under investigation or otherwise known about.
As the migrant crisis reaches boiling point and divides cities and states, DailyMail.com can reveal another border scandal occurring right under Americans' noses.

These are the faces of a prolific people smuggling gang run by undocumented migrants who started sneaking into the US illegally in 2019 and are now offering passage to others by bringing them in from Canada for $6,000-a-head.

Several have been running the gang from New Jersey, where they settled after being released by ICE.

To date, they have moved dozens if not hundreds of migrants into the US using secretive tactics to sneak them across the scarcely-guarded border between between Quebec and Vermont.

Astonishingly, the gang was able to continue operating despite being caught red-handed multiple times.

Illegal crossings at the northern border surged 500 percent in 2023. Pictured: A car smuggling 12 Romanians, including seven children, which was stopped in November after they were across the Canadian border in Washington

Border Patrol agents apprehended several illegal immigrants in January after they crossed the Niagara River from Canada, which came amid the surge in crossings at the northern border

US authorities have arrested and charged two accused ringleaders who are both undocumented migrants.

A third alleged leader remains at large in Canada, where authorities say they have no powers to detain him.

Despite snaring two of the ringleaders, individuals linked to the gang have continued to smuggle migrants across the border.

Prosecutors have linked the ringleaders to at least five foiled smuggling incidents in Vermont which brought 'at least 25 migrants' into the country. Runners have confessed to Border Patrol investigators that many more illegal crossings went undetected.

The gang's sophisticated operation  and the astonishing decision to release smugglers even after they were caught in the act  can be revealed by DailyMail.com amid a sharp increase in illegal crossings at the Canadian border.

There were 10,021 arrests for illegal crossings at the border with Canada in 2023, more than five times the number in the previous year. The majority of incidents took place in and around the Vermont area where the gang operated.

Analysts believe the route has become increasingly popular among wealthier migrants who want to avoid the more chaotic and dangerous conditions on the southern border. The northern border also faces a disproportionately high number of crossings by people on the United States terror watchlist, official figures reveal.

SMUGGLING GANG RUN BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

The gang's US operations were led in New Jersey by Jhon Reina-Perez, 34, and Victor Lopez-Padilla, 35.

Both men are undocumented migrants who entered the US illegally across the southern border and were allowed to remain in the country pending immigration proceedings.

Reina-Perez is a Colombian national who illegally crossed from Mexico into the US near El Paso, Texas, in April 2022, court filings reveal.

He was processed then released into the United States 'pending immigration proceedings', but failed to comply with a condition that he check in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.

Victor Lopez-Padilla, a Guatemalan who entered the US illegally, is accused of playing a leading role in a smuggling gang which brought dozens of people across the northern border

Simon Jacinto-Ramos is a Guatemalan national who prosecutors allege led the Canadian side of the plot. Jacinto-Ramos, who recently lived in Montreal, has been charged in the US but remains at large

Six months later in October 2022, Reina-Perez was detained again. This time, he was arrested near the Canadian border in Vermont while acting as a suspected 'foot guide' to five other people who had just crossed the northern border illegally.

Despite the circumstances, Reina-Perez was released again after telling Border Patrol agents he 'intended to live in the state of Washington', according to an affidavit. The document added that following his release, Reina-Perez 'again failed to check in with ICE as a required condition of his release'.

A photograph of Lopez-Padilla taken during his 2019 processing by Border Patrol agents after he illegally entered the country

His accomplice Lopez-Padilla is a Guatemalan national who entered the US illegally across the southern border on June 20, 2019, when he was arrested in Yuca, Arizona, filings disclose.

He was processed then 'released from US Border Patrol custody on his own recognizance' and enrolled a month later onto the Alternative to Detention program, which requires undocumented migrants to regularly check in with authorities.

In November 2019, Lopez-Padilla requested to move in with his brother in Trenton, New Jersey.

But two months later in January 2020, a judge ordered that Lopez-Padilla should be deported after he failed to attend an immigration court hearing. It is unclear whether he had any further run-ins with immigrations authorities before his arrest over the smuggling plot.

The court filings reveal Lopez-Padilla appears to be a supporter of Joaquin Guzman Loera, the notorious Mexican drug lord known as 'El Chapo'.

The court filings reveal Lopez-Padilla appears to be a supporter of Joaquin Guzman Loera, the notorious Mexican drug lord known as 'El Chapo'. This picture which he posted to Facebook in October 2022 is one of several he has shared which refer to 'JGL', El Chapo's initials

Several of Lopez-Padilla's social media profiles, including Facebook pages under the pseudonym Francisco Villa, include references to El Chapo. He also used a WhatsApp profile photo which included the message 'confidente de la muerte jgl', which translates from Spanish as 'death confidante' followed by El Chapo's initials.

The third alleged ringleader, Simon Jacinto-Ramos, is a Guatemalan national who prosecutors allege led the Canadian side of the plot. Jacinto-Ramos, who recently lived in Montreal, has been charged in the US but remains at large.

Canadian authorities have said the US charges do not give them grounds to detain him. The Vermont attorney's office declined to comment on whether efforts were underway to extradite him.

RUNNERS CAUGHT IN THE ACT - THEN RELEASED

The gang is described in court filings as a 'human smuggling organization' which primarily helped illegal immigrants enter the US at the Canadian border near Franklin, Vermont, for fees in excess of $6,000 per person.

In many cases, migrants were directed by contacts in Canada to crossing hotspots north of the border then made the journey across in small groups. The groups were then collected on the US side by a driver who was paid by the smugglers to carry the migrants deeper into the US.

Court filings state that Elmer Bran-Galvez, a Guatemalan without legal status in the US, was caught transporting illegal migrants from the northern border but then released. Bran-Galvez, who has not been charged, told authorities he was paid around $2,000 per trip

These drivers were typically also illegal immigrants and were paid around $2,000 per trip to collect migrants at the border and drive them on to other locations, including in New Jersey.

In another example of how individuals allegedly complicit in the plot have been allowed to walk free, one of these drivers was released despite being detained during a trip then confessing he has made around $14,000 from the scheme.

The driver, Elmer Bran-Galvez, was detained by Border Patrol agents in the early hours of June 9, 2023 after his vehicle was pulled over near the border in Franklin, Vermont, and four illegal migrants were found in the rear seats.

Border Patrol Agent James Loomis, an intelligence specialist, described in an affidavit how Bran-Galvez 'claimed to be a citizen of Guatemala without legal status in the United States'. Checks found he was awaiting proceedings in immigration court.

'He admitted to picking up the four men after they had entered the United States from Canada. Bran stated he had made similar trips six to seven times beginning in the fall of 2022,' Loomis said in the affidavit.

Bran-Galvez said he earned around $2,000 per successful trip and 'admitted to working for' Lopez-Padilla, who would make around $1,800 per person, Loomis said.

He 'stated that [Lopez-Padilla] is the one who knows and communicates with the Canadians involved in the smuggling events' and that Lopez-Padilla 'instructs him to delete their WhatsApp communications' afterwards.

The four smuggled men who were detained during the incident told investigators they paid around $3,000 to a smuggler in Canada, and that they expected to pay a further $3,000 once they arrived in the United States.

One of the men identified a photo of Jacinto-Ramos as a Canadian organizer who used the alias 'Eric'.

Bran-Galvez was not charged with any offense over his role in the scheme. The Vermont district attorney's office declined to say why he was not charged.

COMPLEX INVESTIGATION

US authorities closed in on the ringleaders after a complex investigation which involved tracking vehicles and cell phones used by the ringleaders and their runners to smuggle migrants.

Lopez-Padilla was arrested at an address in New Jersey in August 2023 and Reina-Perez was detained at another address in the state the following month.

Both are in custody as they face several charges on human smuggling offenses, the Vermont District Attorney's office said.

Agent Loomis explained how cell phones and GPS tracking apps were crucial to the scheme.

'They use the phones to research related topics, to select locations for crossings and pick-ups, and to navigate to those locations while driving or on foot,' agent Loomis explained in an affidavit.

'Cellular phones are often used to both guide and track the migrants when they illegally enter the country and look for the pick-up location.'

Investigators established court-ordered 'Pen Register Trap and Trace Devices' in March 2023 to monitor cell phones that they suspected were used in the scheme. License plate recognition tools were also used to place suspects' vehicles at the scene of the smuggling events.

Agents were able to track down Lopez-Padilla's address after obtaining a warrant which compelled T-Mobile to provide information which linked him to an address in Trenton, New Jersey.

He was detained on August 1, 2023. During his apprehension, agents also discovered a cell phone that was allegedly used to communicate with others involved in the smuggling operation.

Reina-Perez was detained in September after a separate surveillance operation.

Both men face up to ten years in prison if they are convicted.

ILLEGAL CROSSINGS FROM CANADA SURGE 500%

As the crisis at America's southern border has reached unprecedented levels, experts say some migrants who want to sneak into the country perceive crossing from Canada as the 'easier' option.

'With the huge asylum-seeker concentrations and with all of those people crossing the border and with the huge increase in the amount of enforcement that is going on on the southern border, it is probably, if you have the option, a lot easier to try to get in without inspection across the Canadian border,' said Philip Kasinitz, a professor of immigration studies and sociology at CUNY Graduate Center.

US Border Patrol uses thermal imaging cameras at the border with Canada to detect crossings. This image shows a group who caught crossing in the Swanton Sector, which is the northern border's busiest area

An image released by Border Patrol agents shows a suspected illegal migrant who has recently crossed from Canada

Canada's 5,500-mile border with the United States is the longest international border in the world. The sheer scale of the frontier, along with the grueling conditions along much of it, make it almost impossible to prevent clandestine crossings entirely.

But the majority of crossings take place along the comparatively tiny 90-mile stretch of border in Vermont. Of the 10,021 detentions at the border with Canada last year, 6,925 were in the Border Patrol's Swanton Sector, which includes Vermont.

The stark rise - a 500% increase on 2022 - has drawn the attention of government officials and has also formed part of the Republican nominee debate.

In October last year, officials in New Hampshire announced a ten-fold increase in patrols along its border with Canada in response to the rise in crossings.

Nikki Haley, who is Donald Trump's last remaining contender in the race to become Republican nominee for president, has referred in her campaign to preventing crossings at the northern border. Vivek Ramaswamy, who dropped out of the race in mid-January, was mocked after he called for a US-Canada border wall.

Mexican migrants accounted for nearly half of all the interceptions last year (4,868). There were 1,630 crossings by Indian nationals, 753 by Venezuelans and 443 from Guatemala.

Mexico is on Canada's list of visa-exempt countries, meaning Mexican nationals can easily travel there provided they have an electronic travel authorization, which can be obtained quickly online.

Kasinitz told WCAX: 'Presumably some of them are entering legally on tourist visas, business visas and any kind of legal visa and then illegally crossing into the United States.'

The numbers are still dwarfed by the situation at the southern border, where 2,045,838 crossed illegally last year, according to CBP figures.
President Joe Biden easily won Saturday's South Carolina primary after pushing for Palmetto State Democrats to get to vote first.

He won with 97% of the vote and only faced token opposition from Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips and self-help guru Marianne Williamson.

Four years ago, Biden's win in South Carolina completely reshaped the Democratic primary race.

Saturday's result came with little fanfare, with the president not even in the state - and instead out on the west coast participating in a fundraising swing.

Speaking after his victory was confirmed, Biden said: 'As I said four years ago, this campaign is for everyone who has been knocked down, counted out and left behind. That is still true today.

President Joe Biden wasn't in South Carolina Saturday when Democrats went to the polls, but he paid the state a visit last weekend headlining the South Carolina Democratic Party's fundraising dinner in Columbia

'With more than 14 million new jobs and a record 24 straight months  two years  of the unemployment rate under 4%, including a record low unemployment rate for Black Americans, we are leaving no one behind.

'In 2020, it was the voters of South Carolina who proved the pundits wrong, breathed new life into our campaign, and set us on the path to winning the Presidency.

'Now in 2024, the people of South Carolina have spoken again and I have no doubt that you have set us on the path to winning the Presidency again  and making Donald Trump a loser  again.'

The president went on to attack Trump as a threat to democracy, with the two men almost certain to face-off against one another in November's election.

Supporters of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris hold up signs of support during last Saturday's First in the Nation Dinner at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds in Columbia

President Joe Biden's Democratic challenger, Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips, also attended last Saturday's dinner in Columbia and warned the crowd that he believed Biden couldn't beat former President Donald Trump in a 2024 general election rematch

Biden did make a trip to South Carolina the weekend before, in an attempt to shore up his support among black voters, who propelled his 2020 victory in the state after he received the potent endorsement of South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn - at the time the highest-ranking black member of Congress.

'You're the reason I am president,' Biden told attendees at the state party's fundraising dinner last Saturday. 'You're the reason Kamala Harris is a historic vice president. And you're the reason Donald Trump is a defeated former president.'

'You're the reason Donald Trump is a loser,' the president said. 'And you're the reason we're going to win and beat him again.'

Biden's 55-year-old challenger Phillips was also in attendance.

'The numbers do not say things are looking good,' the Minnesota congressman warned the crowd, with a number of attendees holding Biden-Harris signs talking over his speech, according to the Associated Press' account. 'My invitation to president Biden is to pass the torch.'

Another next generation Democrat, 49-year-old Andrew Yang, was at the event alongside Phillips, who he endorsed last month.

Phillips announced on New Hampshire primary night that he planned to stay in the race, after launching his quixotic presidential bid in October.

Andrew Yang also appeared at the state Democratic Party's event last weekend in Columbia. Yang, 49, ran for president in 2020 and endorsed Phillips' challenge against Biden, over fears the 81-year-old president is too old and will lose to 77-year-old Trump

President Joe Biden (left) stands alongside South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn (right), formerly the most powerful black member of Congress, at a Sunday Lunch event last weekend in West Columbia. Clyburn's 2020 endorsement helped Biden turn his White House campaign around

President Joe Biden (right) poses for a selfie during his trip to South Carolina last weekend. He endorsed a plan to have Palmetto State Democrats vote first, though New Hampshire Republicans threw a wrench in that plan

Marianne Williamson is photographed campaigning in Keene, New Hampshire ahead of last month's Granite State primary. She received just 4 percent of the vote and has focused on winning votes in Nevada since coming in a distant third place

Final polling ahead of the contest showed that he was expected to get about 7 percent of the Granite State vote, instead he got close to 20 percent.

'I'm telling ya'll if we can go from 7 percent to 21 percent in nine hours, imagine what we can do in the country?' he told a crowd of about 100 people.

Biden, however, wasn't on the ballot in New Hampshire due to a Democratic National Committee plan he endorsed to reorder the party's primaries.

South Carolina would go first, the Iowa caucuses would be killed off - after an embarrassing reporting error in 2020 that led to no results for hours.

New Hampshire and Nevada would go second and hold contests on the same day.

Republican leadership in New Hampshire refused to give up the state's first-in-the-nation primary status - as it's also state law - which is how Biden ended up not being on the ballot, giving Phillips and Williamson an opportunity to potentially embarrass the incumbent president.

Biden allies in the state organized a write-in campaign to then ensure that didn't happen, with the president winning 63.9 percent of the New Hampshire vote.

Williamson, who also ran against Biden in the 2020 Democratic primary, won just 4 percent of the vote in New Hampshire, despite announcing her 2024 bid in March.

She's continued to campaign, but has spent her time in Nevada, which holds a Democratic primary on Tuesday.

South Carolina Republicans will vote later this month, on February 24.
New evidence has shown that a 12th century English archbishop did achieve sainthood.

An entry in a 15th century manuscript has provided 'unambiguous proof' that Thurstan, who was Archbishop of York from 1114 to 1140, achieved sainthood when he was previously thought to have been passed over.

English Heritage senior properties historian Dr Michael Carter discovered the previously overlooked entry in a service book from Pontefract Priory, which is in the archives at King's College Cambridge.

The book lists St Thurstan in a calendar of saints' feast days observed at the monastery.

The manuscript is written in Latin and its entry for February 6 reads in translation: 'Death of Saint Thurstan, Archbishop of York, year of grace, 1140.'

This has been written in red ink which English Heritage said is a sign of its importance and significance to the monks at that time.

New evidence has emerged showing that Thurstan, an Archbishop of York between 1114 and 1140 achieved sainthood after he was previously thought to have been passed over

St Thurstan was an internationally important medieval figure who played a key role in the foundation of many of northern England's greatest monasteries, including Furness Abbey, Gisborough Priory, Kirkham Priory, Rievaulx Abbey and Byland Abbey.

He also mustered the English army that defeated the Scots in the Battle of the Standard in 1138.

Dr Carter said: 'Thurstan is well known amongst medieval historians and scholars as a figure of immense political and social significance during the early half of the 12th century, but all have denied that he ever achieved sainthood.

'The entry in this manuscript is unambiguous proof that Thurstan was indeed a saint and that his name should be seen alongside other religious contemporaries in northern England, including St William and St Aelred of Rievaulx, St Waldef of Kirkham and Melrose and St Godric of Finchale.'

Professor Janet Burton, professor of medieval history at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, wrote Thurstan's entry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

She said: 'Dr Carter's discovery has added an extra dimension to our understanding of Thurstan's legacy and his place in the religious culture of the medieval north.

'A man of European dimensions, Thurstan spent the first five years of his period of office on the continent where he enjoyed contact with popes and cardinals, and the leading lights in new emergent monastic movements.

'He was imbued with all the latest reforming ideas that were sweeping the Church. He transformed his vast diocese, introducing administrative change, fostering pastoral care, and above all encouraging new monastic foundations.'

English Heritage said Thurstan was born in Normandy in 1070 and died on February 6 1140, aged 70.

St Thurstan was listed in a service book at Pontefract Priory, held at King's College Cambridge, with the entry written in red ink - a sign of importance at the time

Two weeks before his death, he fulfilled a vow he made as a young man to become a Cluniac monk by resigning from his position as Archbishop of York and retiring to the Cluniac priory at Pontefract.

He was buried before the high altar at Pontefract Priory.

A few days after his death, the archdeacon of Nottingham said he experienced a vision of Thurstan in a dream, confirming that he was in heaven among the saints, English Heritage said.

Several sources say that the monks at Pontefract later opened Thurstan's tomb and found that neither his body nor his vestments had decayed and that a sweet smell emanated from the grave.

An incorrupt body and the accompanying 'odour of sanctity' were considered sure signs of sainthood in the medieval period, the charity said.
Helen and Alexandra Veevers once had a vague notion that by the time they reached their mid-30s they would be secure in their careers and married with children.

Instead, as they watched their friends settle down, the sisters were forced to set aside their modest ambitions and spend more than a decade defending themselves against an extraordinary claim  patricide.

Helen, now 36, and Alexandra, 34, along with their mother, were accused of poisoning their property tycoon father Harry Veevers for his 7million fortune.

It was, they say, a wicked lie, a fantasy concocted by their older half-brothers Richard, 47, and Philip, 45, from their fathers first marriage, to deny them their inheritance.

The two sisters, from Manchester, insisted their 64-year-old fathers heart attack on Valentines Day 2013 in Kenya was due to natural causes alone.

Yet the Kenyan authorities entertained the brothers claims of foul play and exhumed Mr Veevers 11 months later.

Analysis of tissue and soil samples produced conflicting results. It would be left to an inquest in the coastal city of Mombasa to decide if he had been poisoned.

Helen (left), now 36, and Alexandra (right), 34, along with their mother, were accused of poisoning their property tycoon father Harry Veevers for his 7million fortune

The two sisters (pictured here as babies), from Manchester, insisted their 64-year-old fathers (centre) heart attack on Valentines Day 2013 in Kenya was due to natural causes alone

Alexandra Veevers gestures during an inquest into her father's death

Helen Veevers at her father's inquest

To the sisters huge distress, the allegations were reported round the world. And the story of feuding and murder among wealthy Kenyan expats has drawn inevitable comparisons with the White Mischief case of 1941, dramatised in a novel and Hollywood movie.

At stake was more than Mr Veevers estate. Helen and Alexandra, and their mother Azra Parvin Din, 75, were warned that if the ruling went against them they could face criminal charges  and the terrifying possibility of a jail sentence in a country where prison conditions are said to be among the worst in the world.

READ MORE: Our brother is framing us for the murder of our father Advertisement

Beset by delays due to a backlog of cases and reasons not immediately clear, the inquest dragged interminably. One hearing was abandoned when Helen received intimidating texts from a man who turned out to be the court clerk.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that only now, eight years after it opened in a blaze of publicity, has the inquest reached a conclusion.

Oddly, the verdict caught both sides legal teams by surprise  they were expecting a routine case management hearing. By chance, Alexandra was in court that morning because she and her sister were desperate to find out when a ruling was expected.

Suddenly a court official began reading from a sheet of paper containing magistrate Charles Ndegwas entire assessment of the long-running case.

Alexandra felt my heart beat out of my chest. The official told the court: Lastly, and most importantly, no concrete evidence has been adduced to show that anyone was criminally responsible for the death of the deceased. In the circumstances, I direct the court file be closed.

To the sisters, though relieved, it felt a bit of an anti-climax. Mr Ndegwas statement failed to even hint at the cases twisting complexities, far-reaching consequences and the scorched trail it left behind.

Then there is the unresolved question of the Rochdale businessmans estate. Mr Veevers died without leaving a will. A letter he wrote purportedly outlining his final wishes went missing from a Barclays bank safety deposit box. Promising to be as rancorous as the inquest, the inheritance battle is on the horizon.

For now, the sisters are numb and struggle to make sense of the case that, says Helen, put their lives on hold for more than ten years. Actually, she adds, its worse than that  our lives were ruined by the most ridiculous, wicked, horrible lie.

Alexandra says: The emotional and psychological impact has been enormous. For all these years we have had to live with the awful fear of being jailed in Kenya for something we havent done. Its hard to imagine much worse than being wrongly accused of murdering our father, a man we all loved dearly.

The same goes for our mother. Its been horrendous for her. There has also been the knock-on effects and the no smoke without fire thing. I havent dated anybody since Dad died.

And I dont get parcels delivered to my home as I dont want neighbours to see my name.

Helen and Alex at Mombasa Law Courts, Kenya - the sisters were warned that if the ruling went against them they could face criminal charge

Hlen Veevers with her mother Azra (right)

The Veevers sisters leave the Mombasa Law Courts after giving testimony at the inquest

Harry Veevers at this home in Niyali District, Mombassa

Harry Veevers with Azra Din by Lake Bolgoria in Kenya

Harry Weevers and Azra Din

Richard Veevers with father Harry on his wedding day

All sides are considering their next moves

Like her sister, Helen is single. Both live in rented accommodation. We cant get mortgages as all our money has gone into fighting to clear our names, she says.

Helen adds that the case ruined friendships and relationships. She had to give up her job as an estate agent, instead taking a much lower profile role with a security company.

When their grandmother died, a relative warned them not to attend the funeral. It was crazy, she says. Of course we went, but its an example of the suspicions this has sown.

Toxic in more ways than one, the case featured lies, fraud and corruption. At its heart was the question of whether or not Mr Veevers was poisoned. Kenyan scientists claimed to have found traces of the insecticide cyhalothrin after exhuming his body. But in 2018 a British forensic scientist, Dr Alexander Allan, told the inquest that a re-analysis of soil and soft-tissue samples, using a highly sensitive technique, had found no such trace of the toxic compound.

In his report, seen by The Mail on Sunday, Dr Allan, who worked for the Home Office for 20 years, noted intriguingly: From the circumstances supplied to me it appears that the most likely scenario for the origin of any confirmed cyhalothrin would have been post-mortem addition.

Mr Veeverss remains have been stored at Mombasa hospital since exhumation, but the sisters and their mother now hope to rebury him with dignity. The exhumation, they say, was an emotional attack.

Helen fears her brothers now want him cremated in England. This would be against his religion, she says.

Her father married his first wife very young, and divorced her in 1980 after having three children, Alison, Richard and Philip. He later met Azra, a woman of Indian heritage who was born in Uganda before moving to Britain and settling in Rochdale.

They married in an Islamic ceremony and raised Helen and Alexandra as liberal Muslims. Harry later converted. The Veevers often visited Kenya during Helen and Alexandras childhood. Eventually the couple moved to Mombasa, where they built three houses next to one another, living in one while the others stayed empty as investments. Helen and Alexandra, by then adults, remained living in Britain.

Harry later suffered high blood pressure, angina and an inner ear problem. On the day he died he complained of chest pains, dying as doctor arrived at his home.

Helen told the inquest of the moment she informed Richard, known as Dragon Rik because of a dragon tattoo the length of his body. I could tell the news made him happy. He said hed been waiting for this day. He said we could start by sharing the contents of my fathers UK bank account, which had 500,000 in it. He was excited.

Following the death, Richard, Philip, Alexandra and Helen flew to Kenya together, though it was later claimed, wrongly, that the sisters were in Kenya when he died.

On landing, the first sign of division emerged. The brothers said Harry was buried without their knowledge; the sisters say the brothers took part in the funeral.

Like her sister, Helen is single and lives in rented accommodation. She says they can't get mortgages because their money has gone towards fighting to clear their names

For now, the sisters are numb and struggle to make sense of the case that, says Helen (left), put their lives on hold for more than ten years

Harry Veevers at the Whitesands Hotel in 2012

Helen Veevers enjoys a bonfire with her father Harry in 1990

The brothers claimed there were strange marks on the body and they were advised that they indicated poisoning; Helen says they have failed to present any evidence.

She accused Richard of seizing control of the family properties and Harrys car without agreement, and renting out Harry and Azras house without consent. Alexandra told the inquest she saw Richard and Philip in the mortuary with their fathers body, wearing latex gloves and holding some sort of instrument.

Although their father did not leave a will, Helen told the inquest that it was known throughout the family that there was a letter in a safety deposit box at Barclays bank in Mombasa to be opened in the event of his death. Harrys brother Chris, who had been granted access, found the box empty.

Helen told the court she believed the letter might have disinherited Richard and he did a deal with a bank employee to get rid of it.

My uncle Chris agreed my father was very shrewd with money and would never have paid for a bank box that was empty, she said.

My uncle warned me that Richard was trying to set us up, accusing us of poisoning my father to get his money. He said, You girls need to be careful. 

It was also claimed that Mr Veevers had threatened to leave Azra, now living in Hampshire, for another woman  but the sisters insist the supposed affair is another twisted fabrication.

All sides are considering their next moves. We will come to court and testify, says Helen. We were really scared all the way through. Some days I was so anxious I would wake up with my nails imprinted into the palm of my hand from clenching my fists during the night. But were not giving up.

Neither are their brothers. Richard and Philip, who deny their sisters allegations, intend challenging the inquest ruling in Kenyas High Court. Their lawyer Francis Kinyua said: They are upset but their position hasnt changed.
Gillian Keegan has a stock comeback for Oxbridge-educated politicians and civil servants who dare talk down to her: 'You know, I have been patronised by much better people than you.'

'It takes them a while normally to figure that out,' she says with a wry smile, sitting in her Chichester constituency.

As the only Cabinet Minister with a degree apprenticeship, Mrs Keegan has had to fight her corner to get her ideas heard  even in her current job as Education Secretary.

Today she is opening up the routes in which people can become teachers and allowing them to work and be paid from day one, while studying.

She is launching a new teaching degree apprenticeship, in which trainees will spend about 40 per cent of their time learning with an accredited provider, with their tuition paid for. It is first aimed at maths teachers but will then be opened up to other subjects.

As the only Cabinet Minister with a degree apprenticeship, Mrs Keegan has had to fight her corner to get her ideas heard  even in her current job as Education Secretary

Mrs Keegan has been critical of Oxbridge snobs in her exclusive interview with The Mail on Sunday. Picture shows Cambridge University

She is launching a new teaching degree apprenticeship, in which trainees will spend about 40 per cent of their time learning with an accredited provider, with their tuition paid for. It is first aimed at maths teachers but will then be opened up to other subjects

Mrs Keegan battled to get the policy through  facing down Whitehall officials who didn't understand why including the 'degree' element made a difference.

FAST RISHI'S ON HIS OWN Rishi Sunak is yet to convince his Cabinet colleagues to follow his regimen of weekly fasting. The Prime Minister skips food for 36 hours a week  from 5pm on Sunday to 5am on Tuesday  but Education Secretary Gillian Keegan says that although she and her husband Michael talked about trying it, they haven't got round to it yet. 'It's supposed to be really, really good for you,' she said. 'I can't say I've done it. I may have not eaten for 36 hours once  accidentally  but no.' Asked about her snack of choice, she said: 'I'm not massively a snacker, but I just love chips. 'Chips and gravy is fabulous. It is God's food  I would urge all your readers to try it.' Mrs Keegan, who grew up in Knowsley, Merseyside, said her favourite food raised eyebrows in the House of Commons canteen: 'People look at it and think, what on earth is that?' She says that despite her high-flying Cabinet job, she does most of the cooking at home, adding that her husband is 'just not that good' in the kitchen. Advertisement

It illustrates the danger of having just Oxbridge graduates around the table, she says. 'You need diversity. Nobody else would have been able to say 'no, no, it's not sensible to get to take the degree out of degree apprenticeships'. I knew instinctively because I'd done one.'

Having grown up in Knowsley, Merseyside, Mrs Keegan left her state school at 16 to work in a car factory  while also studying for a three-year degree apprenticeship.

'I feel really proud of being an apprentice. You can get to exactly the same place in life via a different route.'

As a woman who had not gone to university, working in business in the 1980s and 1990s was no easy feat.

She describes facing 'incredible' levels of sexism while leading a project for NatWest in Japan. 'They wouldn't even look at me' during meetings, she says  and spoke only to her male junior colleagues.

Mrs Keegan then learned all the numbers in Japanese so she could follow what her counterparts were saying to each other during negotiations  while they thought she couldn't understand them.

To emphasise the point, she rolls out a few Japanese phrases during our interview. 'It took me about a year and a lot of karaoke before they would accept me in the role,' she says, adding: 'I've always preferred to be underestimated than overestimated.

'Coming from Liverpool, you don't tend to grow up being praised for everything, you get on with it. There's no way that people should be defined in terms of their education,' Mrs Keegan says, perhaps counterintuitively for someone running the Department for Education  but she sees degree apprenticeships as a way to unlock opportunities for people who may not have had them early on.

She is known for her plain-speaking approach. She hit headlines last year after being recorded at the end of an interview saying: 'Does anyone ever say, 'you know what, you've done a f****** good job because everyone else has sat on their a*** and done nothing'?'

She and her husband Michael have been in the spotlight recently following the Post Office scandal  he was Fujitsu's UK chief executive between May 2014 and June 2015.

Last month he stepped down from his part-time Cabinet Office role. Mrs Keegan said he will 'absolutely 100 per cent' give evidence to the inquiry if it asks him to.

For now, her focus is to 'broaden the pipeline of people who go into teaching'.

As for those pesky Oxbridge graduates who dare talk down to her, Mrs Keegan points out that many of them have ended up working for her  not the other way round.
Shocking footage has captured the moment two men became caught up in a wild road rage attack bringing traffic to a halt.

The fight occurred between a Volkswagen driver and a Hyundai i30 driver, aged in his 50s, on Pinjarra Road at Mandurah, in Western Australia, before 1pm on Saturday.

Dashcam footage from a nearby car showed the driver of the blue Volkswagen step out before he approached the driver of the red Hyundai in front of him.

He punched him several times through the car window and tried to pull the door open while the Hyundai driver held it closed.

He lay several more punches through the window before the Hyundai driver was forced to jump out and fight back.

The footage from another car showed the driver of the blue vehicle getting out of his car where he approached the Hyundai and punched the driver several times through the car window

With traffic at a standstill, the two men brawled on the busy road.

However, when the driver of the Hyundai was thrown to the road, onlookers rushed to intervene and break up the fight.

The man in his 50s was left with swelling, bruising and cuts to his face.

Two men who helped intervene were seen walking the driver to his Hyundai, whilst a third kept his opponent away and walked him to his car.

The driver of the Hyundai later appealed on social media for witnesses to come forward.

The alleged victim, in his 50s, had initially pulled his door shut when the other driver tried to open it. However, after more punches, he opened his door and fought back

The shocking incident is the latest in road rage attacks that have been investigated by Western Australia Police since December 2023.

In January, Australind Police asked the public for information after a woman was dragged from her vehicle and had her phone smashed in the state's south west.

It is understood Mandurah Police are investigating Saturdays incident.
A woman stabbed to death in front of her six-year-old granddaughter has been identified as a retired teacher who always helped people in need.

Emergency Services were called to Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre, in south-west Brisbane, at about 6.10pm on Saturday.

Vyleen White, 70, was found in the centre's underground carpark with life- threatening injuries and died at the scene.

The horrific incident unfolded in front of the woman's six-year-old granddaughter, who was uninjured and screamed for help from passersby.

Ms White's daughter, Danice, revealed that her father had told Ms White to go to a different shopping centre.

'Dad says why dont you to go to Redbank plaza, if only she listed that day, it would have not been her,' she said, according to the Courier Mail.

Retired teacher, Vyleen White (pictured), was stabbed to death in front of her six-year-old granddaughter in an attack so aggressive it left seasoned police officers 'taken aback'

Danice said she was waiting at her mother's home for her to come home when she heard the devastating news.

'We were going to spend the afternoon together doing a bible study,' she said.

'Im struggling to control my thoughts right now.'

Ms White was remembered by her daughter as someone who cared deeply for others and regularly prayed for and helped the homeless.

Her untimely death has left her family reeling, as she was about to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary.

She also helped her long-time partner navigate the world after he fell blind.

Danice said every shopping centre should have a police presence because she doesn't want 'anyone else to ever go through this again'.

Detective acting superintendent Heath McQueen described the incident as 'very harrowing'.

'We can assure you that we are applying a large number of resources to this investigation this evening,' he said.

'We will continue to investigate this around the clock, we will commit all the resources we have at our disposal to locate this offender and apprehend him.'

The grandmother died from her injuries in the underground carpark of the Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre (pictured) in what is believed to be a robbery gone wrong

Police are hunting for the man responsible for the attack who is believed to have stolen a car shortly after (pictured, police at the scene)

The attack was so aggressive that seasoned offenders had been 'taken aback' when watching footage of the incident.

The knifeman is understood to have stolen a blue 2009 Hyundai Getz from the carpark soon after the incident sparking an urgent manhunt.

Local doctor Ademola Afolabi rushed to the woman's aid after hearing the young girl's cry for help.

He said he saw 'a lady in a pool of blood' and without a pulse before calling Triple-Zero.

'We tried some CPR, but there was nothing, a nurse came around at some point but it was too late,' Mr Afolabi told the Courier Mail.

Despite facing confronting scenes in his line of work, he said the incident was unlike anything he had seen before and that 'a little girl shouldn't have to witness that'.

'The only contact I had with her was to do CPR, I've seen quite a fair bit of dead people, but nothing like this,' he said.

While the granddaughter was uninjured during the attack, detective McQueen said it will most likely 'leave a scar on her'.

He urged anyone with information to contact police to help investigations.

'This is a 70-year-old grandmother, this is in front of her six-year-old granddaughter, and now is the time to step up and come forward and provide us with information that we need as to who the identity of this offender is,' he said.

While the granddaughter was uninjured during the attack, detective Heath McQueen said it will most likely 'leave a scar on her' (pictured, police at the scene)
Cancer patients have flocked from all over the world to a Houston oncologist who developed a cutting-edge treatment that achieves a complete remission in 50 percent of patients.

Philip Salem, 82, combined immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy to create a breakthrough cancer treatment called ICTriplex at his Salem Oncology Center.

'I have been in cancer medicine for 55 years. I have never seen before what I'm seeing now as a result of ICTriplex,' Salem told ABC7.

The 82-year-old oncologist, at the forefront of cancer research, published his findings in the American Society of Clinical Oncology Journal in June 2022.

The compelling outcomes of his study drew desperate patients from around the world, traveling thousands of miles to Houston, Texas, in search of hope and the possibilities offered by this groundbreaking treatment.

Cancer patients have flocked from all over the world to a Houston oncologist, Philip Salem, who developed a cutting-edge treatment that sees 50 percent of patients achieve complete remission

Salem, 82, combined immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy to create a breakthrough cancer treatment called ICTriplex

Petra, a cancer patient who called the treatment to a miracle, said: 'I had a lot of pain in the beginning when I came here, and in the first month it was already gone'

Bianca Gurrado, a patient who traveled from Italy to Houston, shared that she first learned about Dr. Salem around a year ago when her cancer was advancing and spreading.

'I did start therapy in Italy, but unfortunately the results of the therapy were not well, so I was in constant progression of the disease.'

Gurrado, who battled the challenging disease for three years, is now in a state of complete remission, Salem said.

Petra, a cancer patient who called the treatment to a miracle, said: 'I had a lot of pain in the beginning when I came here, and in the first month it was already gone.'

Salem's oncology center is the only facility that uses the combination of immunotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy in managing advanced cancer, the doctor said.

'We took patients who were told by major cancer centers to go home and die, and we produced 50 to 60 percent complete remission rate.'

'Zero percent against 50 percent, that's an easy choice,' cancer patient Marco Praagman said.

Bianca Gurrado, a patient who traveled from Italy to Houston, shared that she first learned about Dr. Salem around a year ago when her cancer was advancing and spreading

Gurrado, who battled the challenging disease for three years, is now in a state of complete remission, Salem said

Salem's research on ICTriplex was published on the American Society of Clinical Oncology Journal, one of the most influential journals in the field.

He studied 41 patients with multiple types of cancer, including lung, pancreas, colorectal, breast, all of which were at an advanced stage of progression.

The total remission rate, considering patients in both partial remission and complete remission, was an impressive 90 percent.

In contrast, conventional treatments typically achieve a remission rate of less than 30 percent, he said.

He told Houston Chronicle in 2022: 'And, to our surprise, this combination turns out to be very effective in a wide spectrum of cancer diagnoses. It does not limit it to one diagnosis or to one tumor.'

The groundbreaking treatment has been more effective in lung and pancreatic cancer patients, boasting a complete remission rate of 70 percent.

Salem said: 'We recommend the treatment as a front line, as the first line of therapy because it was very effective in the lung and the pancreas.'

'Zero percent against 50 percent, that's an easy choice,' cancer patient Marco Praagman said

Salem studied 41 patients with multiple types of cancer, including lung, pancreas, colorectal, breast, all of which were at an advanced stage of progression

Patients are grateful for Salem, acknowledging him as a beacon of hope as they battled with what is often considered the most difficult disease in the human world.

Ellie Moore, who was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer a decade ago, has been in remission since 2019.

'I knew that I had to do everything I could to fight and Dr. Salem assured me that we would not give up,' she said.

'Since I live in Houston, I was able to leave my office to receive treatment and could then return to work the same day,' she added.

'I love Dr. Salem; he's my hero,' said Gurrado with genuine happiness.
A pedestrian climbs over a downed tree that was blocking all four lanes of Fulton Street at 15th Avenue in San Francisco on Sunday. As an intense atmospheric river-fueled storm swept through California, regions across the state prepared for serious flooding, power outages and street closures. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Extreme winds cause a large tree to fall on 18th and Market streets in San Francisco, causing a road closure. As an intense atmospheric river-fueled storm sweeps through California, regions across the state were preparing for serious flooding, power outages and street closures. Heavy rains were expected along with intense winds. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle Extreme winds cause a trees to fall in on Fillmore Street in San Francisco, downing Muni lines. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle A fallen tree missed a home on Ursuline Road in Santa Rosa on Sunday. Heavy rains and strong winds brought downed trees and flooding to Northern California. Brian Feulner/Special to the Chronicle San Francisco police officers stand behind caution tape on Fillmore Street after a fallen tree forced closure of a portion of Fillmore Street. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle A woman takes a photo of splintered tree branches on Fillmore Street in San Francisco, where a tree fell. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle City workers clear a eucalyptus tree that fell on State Park Drive in Capitola (Santa Cruz County) Patrick Tehan/Special to the Chronicle Waves crash along San Franciscos Ocean Beach amid Sundays extreme winds. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle Extreme winds caused a large tree to fall at 18th and Market streets in San Francisco, forcing the temporary closure of Market Street. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

BAY AREA WEATHER: Heres the forecast in wake of damaging storm

An intense atmospheric river-fueled storm swept through California on Sunday, flooding roads, toppling trees and cutting power with a ferocious mix of wind and rain along the coast from north to south.

With the first-ever hurricane-force wind warning in effect for the California coast, gusts reached 88 mph at Big Sur and 85 mph at Point Reyes, with gusts of over 60 mph expected in San Francisco and San Jose on Sunday afternoon. The Santa Cruz Mountains saw gusts up to 81 mph.

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The wind forecast has been on point, said Roger Gass, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Its the windiest storm that has hit this year.

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A vehicle is stuck in a flooded section of Valley-Ford Road in the Sonoma County community of Bloomfield onb Sunday. Brian Feulner/Special to the Chronicle

Along the bluffs of Pleasure Point in Santa Cruz County, few people ventured into the wind-whipped horizontal rain that smacked the coast and left the area, normally bustling with morning walkers and surfers, nearly empty. Roads and sidewalks remained littered with downed trees and branches as intermittent bouts of wind and rain blew through.

Its the first time since we moved here a year ago that theres been no one in the water, said Helen Chambers, who was walking her labradoodle, Phoebe, with her husband, Ben Beard. He chimed in, Were not here to sight-see, just get some mileage for the dog.

Officials across Northern California reported trees, especially vulnerable because of the saturated soil, striking houses, roads and power lines.

Hundreds of thousands of households lost power Sunday in the Bay Area, according to Pacific Gas & Electric. As of 10 p.m., 321,748 Bay Area customers lacked electricity.

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The South Bay was the hardest hit, with 106,926 households experiencing blackouts as of 10 p.m., followed by 83,797 in the North Bay, 73,772 on the Peninsula, 35,994 in the East Bay, and 21,259 in San Francisco.

If you are out and about in your community and you see a downed power line, please assume its energized, stay away, call 911 and call PG&E and we will come make the area safe, PG&E spokesperson Megan McFarland said in a statement.

UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain estimated that close to a million people statewide were without power Sunday afternoon, with the heaviest outages along the Central Coast and Central Valley.

A man takes a photo of waves from the Great Highway above San Fraciscos Ocean Beach on Sunday. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

Chris Faxon, who lost power at his Pleasure Point-area home Sunday morning, headed out for breakfast with his friend Ashley Gray.

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Its pretty wild out here, he said, looking at the branches of a large palm tree that blocked the sidewalk. Im still awaiting whats to come.

Along the water, breaking waves in Santa Cruz County measured as high as 25 feet, while farther south in Big Sur, which was bearing the brunt of the storm, waves were topping out at 30 feet. Coastal areas in Northern California avoided the widespread and destructive flooding experienced last winter.

The weather service issued a flood watch for many areas throughout the Bay Area until 10 a.m. Monday, meaning conditions are favorable for flooding.

Some locations that will experience flooding include Santa Rosa, Petaluma, San Rafael, Novato, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Mill Valley, San Anselmo, Larkspur, Sonoma, Corte Madera, Tiburon, Fairfax, Sebastopol, Cotati, Sausalito, Boyes Hot Springs, South Santa Rosa Cdp, Black Point-Green Point and Roseland, the weather service said.

Julia Morelli and Sam Jackson battle fierce wind gusts along the Great Highway in San Francisco on Sunday. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

The storm also brought lightning. Global detection networks registered lightning 5 miles west of San Francisco at 9:25 a.m. Sunday, with chances of thunderstorms increasing throughout the Bay Area in the afternoon.

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Transit agencies across the Bay Area were forced to delay or halt service during the storm. In San Francisco, wind-driven tree branches knocked down Muni overhead lines on Fillmore Street between Turk and McAllister streets, forcing the closure of three blocks to vehicle traffic. BART reported several delays and track obstructions due to the storm, and trains were running slower than usual. The San Francisco Bay Ferry suspended service due to strong winds and rough waters.

San Francisco International Airport was temporarily closed to landings Sunday morning, and a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong landed in Oakland instead. According to Planefinder, the Airbus A350 took off from Hong Kong more than 12 hours earlier and circled over the city and bay multiple times. There were at least eight flights circling the area at 10 a.m., including three from Tokyo. In the past, planes that cannot land at SFO have been diverted to Oakland.

All inbound flights to SFO were held at their origin until 5 p.m. Sunday due to high winds, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. The storm delayed travelers to San Francisco by an average of just over four hours on Sunday, the website reported. High winds also caused more than 100 cancellations, with at least one and possibly more flights diverted to Oakland International.

In Sonoma County, a portion of Highway 101 in Santa Rosa was temporarily closed after a tree fell on a vehicle.

Vehicles make their way through a flooded section of Highway 116 in the Sonoma County community of Forestville on Sunday. Brian Feulner/Special to the Chronicle

San Jose officials declared a state of emergency Saturday night, issuing a mandatory evacuation order for the areas on and near the banks of Coyote, Los Gatos, Penitencia and Ross creeks and the Guadalupe River, according to San Jose city officials.

The rain forced organizers to cancel the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in Monterey County.

Parts of Monterey County saw more than 3 inches of rain by midday Sunday, according to the weather service, with another 3 inches expected. The Santa Cruz Mountains saw similar amounts. Higher elevations in the North Bay also reported close to 3 inches of rain overnight. San Francisco had reported about an inch and a half of rain by midday.

A wave hits a boat that washed ashore in Santa Barbara as a powerful long-duration atmospheric river storm, the second in less than a week, impacted California on Sunday. Mario Tama/Getty Images

The most significant rainfall totals from the storm were expected in Southern California. Evacuation warnings and orders were in effect for Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Ventura and Monterey counties. Classes were canceled Monday for schools across Santa Barbara County.

The storm hit the Los Angeles area with downpours, flash floods and high-elevation mountain snow Sunday. It was expected to hammer Orange County and San Diego on Monday. Heavy to moderate rain was expected to stay in Southern California until Tuesday.

The weather service forecast up to 6 inches of rain across Southern Californias coastal and valley areas, with up to 12 inches likely in the foothills and mountains. Forecasters predicted mudslides, debris flows and flooding to occur.

A pedestrian walks through floodwaters in Santa Barbara. Mario Tama/Getty Images

Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency Sunday for the Southern California counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The proclamation includes provisions authorizing a state National Guard response if needed, facilitating unemployment benefits for impacted residents, and making it easier for out-of-state contractors and utilities to repair storm damage. This is a serious storm with dangerous and potentially life-threatening impacts, Newsom said. Please pay attention to any emergency orders or alerts from local officials. Climate expert Swain said in a 3 p.m. update that flood risk, already high because of wildfire damage and saturated soils, had increased for Santa Barbara and San Bernardino counties, which have the highest possible risk rating for flash flooding going into Monday and possibly Tuesday. Freeways and urban areas, including part of the city of Los Angeles, were also at risk, he said. I dont think Ive ever seen a storm quite like this, he said. It is the second time in four days that California has been hit by an atmospheric river, a long band of moisture that forms over the Pacific. The first arrived in the Bay Area on Wednesday, delivering downpours and heavy snowfall before moving down the coast.
Britain has been left red-faced after a multi-billion pound warship was forced to pull out of a huge NATO drill in the twelfth hour after the Royal Navy discovered an issue with its propeller shaft.

The 3.5billion aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth was set to launch in European waters to take part in the largest NATO wargame since the Cold War as fears grow for a wider conflict breaking out with Russia.

Engineers found a 'significant issue with her starboard propeller shaft', meaning the British warship could be docked for 'a couple of months' while it is fixed, according to naval experts.

HMS Prince of Wales will now be readied to replace the faulty ship - a move viewed by some as ironic given the aircraft carrier only went back into service last July after also undergoing repairs that took nearly a year.

Announcing the latest problem, the Royal Navy posted on X: 'Routine pre-sailing checks yesterday identified an issue with a coupling on HMS Queen Elizabeth starboard propeller shaft. As such, the ship will not sail on Sunday.

HMS Queen Elizabeth (pictured in November last year) will no longer take part in the biggest NATO exercise since the Cold War due to issues with its propeller

Instead HMS Prince of Wales (pictured in August last year) will now be readied to replace the faulty ship

'HMS Prince of Wales will take her place on Nato duties and will set sail for Exercise Steadfast Defender as soon as possible.'

It comes as MPs have warned that overstretched British Armed Forces may be unable to fight an all-out war and chronic shortages of troops and equipment are being covered up in a 'veil of secrecy'.

In a damning report released today the Defence Select Committee concluded the Army is the UK's 'weakest service' due to 'significant capability deficiencies'  which included drastic shortages of vehicles, tanks and even ammunition.

MPs involved in compiling the Ready For War report urged military top brass and Ministers to be more transparent about the shortcomings so they can be addressed urgently.

The report further highlights war-readiness issues with the Royal Navy's 3.5billion aircraft carriers, too.

Despite spending about 50billion a year on defence, 'sustained ongoing investment' is needed for the UK to fight a 'high-intensity war'.

It comes just days after an outgoing Army chief said the public would have to be called up to fight if Britain goes to war because the regular Forces are too small.

The warship setback comes just 18 months at the Lizzie's sister ship HMS Prince of Wales broke down off the Isle of Wight after it sailed for the US having suffered a malfunction with a coupling on its starboard propeller.

It broke down as it was heading to a diplomatic mission to carry out exercises with the US Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and the US Marine Corps.

The ship came to a halt off the Isle of Wight in August 2022 due to a broken propeller shaft, before being dry docked and undergoing repairs that cost 25million and took nine months to complete.

Inspections by divers and engineers found the Nato flagship's 33-ton starboard propeller - the same weight as 30 Ford Fiesta cars - had malfunctioned, with a coupling holding it in place breaking.

It was then taken to the Babcock shipyard where it was built in Rosyth, Fife, to undergo repairs to a propeller shaft, which took nine months to complete.

On that occasion, HMS Queen Elizabeth acted as the replacement for its sister ship on the US deployment.

Having HMS Queen Elizabeth out of action could affect the ability of the Navy to deploy an aircraft carrier to the Red Sea amid the continuing threat by Iran-backed Houthi rebels which armed forces minister James Heappey has suggested was being considered.

Engineers found a 'significant issue with her starboard propeller shaft' on the HMS Queen Elizabeth (pictured in July 2023 in Portsmouth)

The 3.5bn aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth was due to undertake a Nato exercise in the Middle East and provide support against Houthi rebels in the Red Sea if needed, but is now grounded due to a 'mechanical fault'

HMS Prince of Wales will now take over the lead of Exercise Steadfast Defender, which will take place of Norway's Arctic coast in March.

Its sister ship had been set to lead a carrier strike of eight ships - four of them British, including frigate HMS Somerset and two Tide-class tankers from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary - supported by US, Spanish and Danish vessels.

It was to be joined by its F-35B Lightning stealth fighters from 617 'Dambusters' Squadron at RAF Marham, submarine hunting and airborne early warning Merlin Mk2 helicopters from RNAS Culdrose, and battlefield Wildcat helicopters of 847 Naval Air Squadron from RNAS Yeovilton.

Announcing the carrier's sailing, Commodore James Blackmore, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group, said: 'Steadfast Defender demonstrates the unity of the alliance, our commitment to it - and that the UK continues to play a leading role in Nato.

'The exercise allows us to train with our neighbours in a truly challenging environment, especially at this time of year - but that is why we have to operate up there; the weather cannot put us off.'

Before heading to the Arctic, the Carrier Strike Group was due to take part in the annual Joint Warrior exercise off northern Scotland before joining Exercise Nordic Response - the maritime part of Steadfast Defender.

Just three days ago, Royal Navy chiefs were celebrating after ministers finally agreed to send an aircraft carrier to the Middle East to support US warships deployed in the Red Sea.

The Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist 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 Israel-Hamas war.

The absence of a UK carrier in the Red Sea region has left the US to conduct almost the entirety of air strikes on Houthi military infrastructure

Aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales will now replace HMS Queen Elizabeth on the exercise

But the absence of a UK carrier in the region has left the US to conduct almost the entirety of air strikes on Houthi military infrastructure.

The situation has become all the more acute amid continuing Houthi terror attacks on international shipping, which have resulted in the United States and Britain carrying out airstrikes in the region to disable the Iran-backed groups.

On Saturday night, the United States and Britain struck 36 Houthi targets in Yemen in a second wave of assaults launched by warships and fighter jets.

The strikes follow an air assault in Iraq and Syria on Friday that targeted other Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for the drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan last weekend.

Navy chiefs are now readying HMS Prince of Wales, with a view to sending the ship out 'as soon as possible'.

In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Royal Navy said: 'Routine pre-sailing checks yesterday identified an issue with a coupling on @HMSQNLZ starboard propeller shaft. As such, the ship will not sail on Sunday.

A fighter jet is seen taking off from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Saturday night, with 36 Iranian-backed targets struck in Yemen

Houthi tribesmen gather to show defiance after US and UK air strikes on Houthi positions near Sanaa, Yemen

A British aircraft engineer checks a missile on a Typhoon ahead of Saturday night's strikes

'@HMSPWLS will take her place on NATO duties and will set sail for Exercise Steadfast Defender as soon as possible.'

The ship has not been affected by the same issue as HMS Prince of Wales and remains 'in class' or seaworthy, navy news and analysis site Navy Lookout reports.

Former Royal Navy frigate captain Commander Tom Sharpe said on X that the damage to the carrier could take potentially a couple of months to fix, with the ship almost certainly needing to go to a dry dock site in Rosyth, Scotland.

He said: 'This is different to what happened to PoW [Prince of Wales]. It is a corrosion issue and not shaft misalignment (although it was probably only spotted due to increased diligence post PoW).

'QE will now most likely have to dock down (which will take time). What this does to her status as the high readiness carrier and her programmed maintenance schedule is tbc.'
A 'diabolically cunning' vigilante posed as a child online to lure a pedophile into a trap, then gunned him down in a drive-by shooting.

James Lewis Spencer, 24, admitted to murdering Sean Connery Showers, 37, after the convicted sex offender's body was found in Houston on May 29.

He was arrested without incident on Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder, facing the Harris County District Court on Thursday.

'To be frank, this is a planned execution,' chief prosecutor Rehman Merchant said.

'I think he targeted an individual, he set up a meet, knew where he was going to be, and then discharged a weapon multiple times and then just went back home like nothing happened.'

Vigilante James Lewis Spencer, 24, posted as a child online to lure a pedophile into a trap, then gunned him down in a drive-by shooting

Surveillance footage showed a car drive up to Showers about 3.50am and stop next to him, before he was shot several times with an automatic weapon.

Police at the time couldn't identify the car or the driver, but found Showers' phone under his body with messages showing he planned to meet someone at a nearby park.

Merchant said Spencer began messaging Showers on Kik, a social media app popular with teenagers, posing as a child, and agreed to have sex with him.

'The communications were sexual in nature. The officers believe that they were meeting up at this park to engage in sexual activity,' he said.

'There are some communications on the phones or between the two about [Showers'] dealings or past interactions with children or underage individuals.'

He was arrested without incident on Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder, facing the Harris County District Court on Thursday

Showers was sent to federal prison for 30 months for child porn possession in 2009, and jailed again for two years in 2019 for not registering as a sex offender.

Spencer was eventually identified through phone records, and his phone was tracked to and from the murder scene that night.

Detectives spoke to Spencer's girlfriend, who told them he was frustrated police weren't doing more to keep pedophiles locked up.

Spencer told her 'he wanted to rob and harm those type of men because they would do bad things to little children and other people and he knew how to track them by an app on the phone', his bail documents read.

'A month later, defendant made the same comment that 'if the cops were not going to do anything, maybe he should kill them himself.''

Spencer is yet to enter a plea, but police said he 'admitted to his role in the incident'.

Sean Connery Showers, 37, was sent to federal prison for 30 months for child porn possession in 2009, and jailed again for two years in 2019 for not registering as a sex offender

Merchant said police were trying to access Spencer's phone to determine if he was connected to any other murders or attacks on sex offenders.

'Based on the conversation he had with the girlfriend, that sort of comment he had made 'pedophiles' in the plural. As of now, we're still investigating that,' he said.

'Look, regardless of the likability of the victim, we're a nation of laws. No one gets to be judge, jury, and executioner depending on how they feel.'

Victim services director of Houston Crime Stoppers, Andy Kahan, called Spencer 'diabolically cunning' and said the case was something you only saw in movies.

Spencer's bail was set at $250,000 ahead of his next court appearance on Monday, but he remained behind bars after failing to post bond.

After prosecutors pointed out he was already out on bail on drug charges, he was ordered on 24-hour house arrest with GPS monitoring, and having no access to firearms, ammunition, or weapons.
Kamala Harris is plotting a path to the White House in 2028, while shoring up Biden's reelection bid this year, according to reports.

Harris is performing well in South Carolina, the Democrats' first recognized presidential primary contest taking place on Saturday.

The Vice President, who is expected to help elevate the Biden ticket among Black and younger voters, has made nine visits to the state with a predominantly African American primary voting base since taking office.

Prominent democrats form in South Carolina are already offering their support to Harris for a future presidential bid.

'I made very clear months ago that I support her,' Representative James E. Clyburn told the New York Times.

Kamala Harris is plotting a path to the White House in 2028, while shoring up Biden's reelection bid this year

Recent national polling shows Harris is still largely unpopular with the rest of the country

'That's why we got to re-elect the ticket. Then you talk about viability after that' he explained.

'There is an unspoken language between the vice president and African American women in this state,' Trav Robertson, a former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party, told the Times.

'She doesn't have to go into a room and say things  because they already know they have a shared experience' he added.

However, recent national polling shows Harris is still largely unpopular with the rest of the country.

As of January 19 53.5 percent of Americans disapprove of the Vice President, and just 37.5 percent approve, a Five Thirty Eight Project poll found.

Polling conducted by the Democratic fundraising giant Emily's List found that Harris had high favorability ratings among key portions of the Democratic coalition, including Black women, younger voters and college graduates.

Harris appears to continue to be playing to her strengths and building on bases where she is already popular, such as in South Carolina

However, the poll conducted last year found she remained fairly unknown to many.

About a third of Democratic and independent voters didn't know her personal story, her background as California's attorney general and junior senator, or what she had done as vice president, the polling found.

Despite this, Harris appears to continue to be playing to her strengths and building on bases where she is already popular, such as in South Carolina.

'In 2020, it was South Carolina that put President Joe Biden and me on the path to the White House,' Harris told a crowd in Orangeburg on Friday.

'It is because of that work that Joe Biden is president of the United States and I am the first woman and first Black woman to be vice president of the United States' she said.

'She's been here building real, connected relationships, specifically in the Black community, but also with women and young people as well,' J.A. Moore, a Democratic state representative in South Carolina told the Times.

'Just her showing up to places goes a long way' she added.
Civil servants working for the UK Space Agency have been advised to avoid looking at their watches while chatting to colleagues because such behaviour could be deemed to be offensive and discriminatory.

The UKSA which was founded in 2010 'to protect the planet and outer space' has warned employees that everyday actions such as checking the time or looking at the phone are 'micro-aggressions' in the workplace.

The advice is contained in documents which the Agency has issued to staff and which have been obtained by this newspaper under freedom of information laws.

One document headed Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination contains a section on 'negative micro-behaviours' and 'micro-aggressions.'

Staff are advised to avoid 'looking at your watch', 'checking your phone' and 'visibly carrying out other tasks on your computer while somebody is speaking.'

The UKSA which was founded in 2010 'to protect the planet and outer space' has warned employees that everyday actions such as checking the time or looking at the phone are 'micro-aggressions' in the workplace (Stock image)

Civil servants working for the UK Space Agency have been advised to avoid looking at their watches while chatting to colleagues because such behaviour could be deemed to be offensive and discriminatory

They are also advised to be mindful of their own 'closed body language.'

The Agency accepts that staff who behave in this way may not be intending to be rude but it warns their actions could be misinterpreted.

The document states: 'These are things we do all the time. It's best to avoid them where we can but remember if somebody shows a non-verbal micro-aggression this does not necessarily mean they are being rude. They could be following notes on a screen, making their own notes, trying to stay alert during a long day, keeping an eye on the time for an appointment.'

The UKSA which is based in Swindon is an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

In addition to protecting the planet and outer space it also has a mission to boost UK prosperity and increase understanding of the universe.

A spokesperson for UKSA said: 'These documents help staff have sensible conversations about decent behaviour at work. They make clear that the examples given of micro-aggressions are 'things we do all the time', and don't necessarily mean people are being rude.'
German farmers blocked roads around the country's biggest airport yesterday in a protest over fuel subsidies.

Hundreds of tractors prevented cars accessing Frankfurt Airport, which told passengers to use public transport instead.

The German government has announced it would cut nearly a billion euros in farm subsidies in response to a domestic budget crisis.

Germany's farmers' union has signalled that it will stop protesting only when the cuts have been reversed.

The demonstration comes days after French farmers blocked roads surrounding French cities to protest against European Union environmental rules and low pay. Some said they planned to use barricades to 'starve Parisians'.

Hundreds of German farmers' tractors blocked roads around Frankfurt Airport in a protest over fuel subsidies

A tractor carries a placard reading 'It's enough! Enough is enough!'

In Greece, farmers have also blocked roads as they demand a reduction to EU red tape and swifter compensation payouts for those affected by the flooding and wildfires.

Last week in the UK the National Farmers Union president Minette Batters said: 'We share European farmers' concerns and frustration.

'Years of unsustainably high production costs and crop losses because of extreme weather are putting farming families under mounting pressure. But the British public have demonstrated invaluable support. It's why blockading public roads should always be a last resort.'
Nursery school children risk missing out on vital learning because their teachers will be grappling with an influx of nappy-wearing two-year-olds from April, experts warned last night.

More than 100,000 parents have signed up to claim 15 hours of free childcare for two-year-olds under a new 8 billion scheme.

But short-staffed nurseries  many of which are based in primary schools  warn they will not be able to cope with soaring demand.

Three-quarters of nurseries in England already have long waiting lists for one- and two-year-olds, and two-thirds would need to extend their premises before they could accept more children.

It is feared that two-year-olds  who still need naps, have limited vocabulary and many are still in nappies  could end up in the same classroom as three and four-year-olds who should be learning basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Three-quarters of nurseries in England already have long waiting lists for one- and two-year-olds, and two-thirds would need to extend their premises before they could accept more children (stock picture)

Education Minister David Johnston said he was 'confident' that 'whatever local authority you are in, there will be the places that are needed for... two-year-olds'

Currently, eligible working parents of three- and four-year-olds can get 30 hours of free childcare per week. The expansion will include youngsters aged between nine months and four years from September 2025. This will be rolled out in stages, with working parents of two-year-olds able to access 15 hours per week from April.

'I question whether the school environment is the best place for the specific needs of two-year-olds,' said Nicola Demetriadi, a lecturer in early childhood. 'Their needs are very different from those of three- and four-year-olds.'

The Government's 'universal childcare' plan, announced last year, was hailed as giving children the 'best start in life'.

But a report has now questioned this claim. In its review of 40 studies on formal childcare in the UK and abroad, Right-wing think-tank Civitas said there was a 'worrying lack of support' for many supposed benefits.

The Government said the free childcare scheme would save working families 6,500 a year and promised a 1,000 'golden handshake' to newly recruited early-years staff in 20 pilot areas.

Education Minister David Johnston said he was 'confident' that 'whatever local authority you are in, there will be the places that are needed for... two-year-olds'.

But a Department of Education pilot scheme in 2013 to provide additional free childcare hours to deprived families found almost all the primary schools involved placed two- and three-year-olds in classrooms together. Schools also struggled to find staff with the right level of training.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan told The Mail on Sunday that the decision to send children to nursery should be down to 'individual parental choice'

Jonathan Broadbery, director of policy at the National Day Nurseries Association, said: 'They say you have to watch toddlers like a hawk, and it's true. Specialist early-years settings are geared up to have the environment and staff to understand that stage of development and provide an environment that is suitable.

'It is not just a case of thinking we will buy some smaller chairs.'

Last night, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan told the MoS that the decision to send children to nursery should be down to 'individual parental choice'.

'You probably develop more in that first preschool than in your whole life,' she added. 'We want to help working parents, and women in particular, to not have to make that choice between a career and a family... because they think the cost of having a child  and childcare particularly  is too prohibitive.'

Tell us what you think  email letters@mailonsunday.co.uk
It's a weekday morning at the nursery where I've worked as an assistant for several years  and it's chaos.

Our premises, in a leafy suburb of London, accommodates more than 50 children under the age of five, but a great many of those in our care have only just turned two.

That means they are still in nappies, cannot feed themselves, and in some instances still resort to crawling as they're unsteady on their feet. It's not unusual for them to cry endlessly for their mothers.

At any one time there's between eight and 12 dedicated nursery nurses, but there are still simply not enough hands between us to give the one-to-one care that many children need.

That's why my heart sank when, last year, the Government unveiled an expansion of the free childcare package, which currently offers eligible parents 30 hours a week for three and four-year-olds.

Last year the Government unveiled an expansion of the free childcare package, which currently offers eligible parents 30 hours a week for three and four-year-olds. From September 2025 that will extend to children aged between nine months and four years (stock photo)

Critics have warned that a staffing crisis and long-term underfunding mean the provision will be impossible to roll out in any meaningful way (stock photo)

From September 2025 that will extend to children aged between nine months and four years.

On paper, this is doubtless music to the ears of working parents, despite the warning from critics that a staffing crisis and long-term underfunding mean the provision will be impossible to roll out in any meaningful way.

Alas, as someone who has long witnessed the reality of what it means to place your children in nursery care day in, day out, I'm afraid I see it differently.

This policy is a disaster  and not because of staffing levels. For the truth is, whatever the rhetoric, there is really only one place a very young child should be looked after. That is at home, with a family member.

This is a highly unfashionable thing to say out loud these days, but I'm afraid it's true.

I understand this is not feasible for many and I have every sympathy for working parents trying to make ends meet. But  unpalatable though it may be  many choose to go to work because raising children is hard  and this Government policy is encouraging them to do so.

Many are reassured in their decision by those marketing the scheme as 'early learning' provision. This is a fallacy. We nursery workers simply don't have time to teach  we are too busy changing nappies or making sure children are not choking on their food.

While many parents may be eagerly waiting to ship their little ones off to nursery, it is doing our children no good at all.
Mocked over the poor result and being kicked out of theater for bad behavior

Debated eight other Republican primary hopefuls and was fifth in poll of viewers

Lauren Boebert is running for Colorado 4th District instead of 3rd she is in now

Disgraced congresswoman Lauren Boebert may face humiliating defeat even before the election after awful behavior got her kicked out of a theater.

Boebert placed fifth out of nine hopefuls in a straw poll after a debate for Colorado's Fourth District, prompting widespread mockery even from Republicans.

Logan County Commissioner Jerry Sonnenberg led the poll of 100 voters and is considered a serious challenge to Boebert despite her name recognition.

Boebert was elected to the Third District in 2020 and became one of Donald Trump's loudest supporters, but in December announced she was shifting to the Fourth.

Plagued by scandal since her debauchery and obnoxiousness at performance of the musical Beetlejuice in September, she faced a tough contest from Democrats and will contest the solid Republican seat instead.

Disgraced congresswoman Lauren Boebert placed fifth out of nine hopefuls in a straw poll after a debate for Colorado 's Fourth District

Boebert looks displeased as Weld County Councilman Trent Leisy (right) answers a question during a debate for GOP candidates running in the 4th Congressional District

She was caught heavy-petting with boyfriend Quinn Gallagher, waving her hands, singing loudly, photographing the show, taking selfies with the flash on, and vaping.

When staff asked the couple to leave, she refused, saying 'don't you know who I am?' bared her teeth, and gave them the finger - all caught on camera.

A tidal wave of criticism followed and Boebert initially lied about her actions and dismissed the scandal, before being forced into an embarrassing apology.

Claiming switching districts was to get 'a fresh start for me and my boy' after her very public divorce and not due to a likely defeat, her backup plan hasn't started well.

Boebert got just 12 votes from the debate viewers, behind Sonnenberg by 22 votes, and former Colorado House Minority Leader Mike Lynch by 20.

Others getting more votes than her were filmmaker and radio host Deborah Flora with 18 and state House Minority Whip Richard Holtorf with 17.

Boebert attended the debate with her grandson Josiah, after becoming a grandmother at age 36 last year.

Her dismal results prompted even her Republican colleagues to mock her for the scandal, and question whether she would even be able to win the primary.

Boebert has been plagued by scandal since her debauchery and obnoxiousness at a performance of the musical Beetlejuice in September

The salacious footage shows Gallagher rubbing Boebert's chest during a performance of Beetlejuice in Denver on Sunday - before she tugged at his crotch

Security personnel are seen speaking to the congresswoman and Gallagher inside the theater before escorting them out

Fellow Trump-supporting Congresswoman Lisa McClain roasted her with a joke at the Washington Press Club Foundation on Wednesday.

'If everyone could, please keep their hands above the table. And I know it's date night for some of you, but no inappropriate touching,' she said in a speech.

'That includes you Lauren Boebert. No vaping, either.'

McClain also mocked George Santos, who was forced to quit Congress after lying extensively about his background, as an 'Oscar winner, an Emmy winner, a two-time Olympian'.

She also warned guests to be careful with the silverware and their gold necklaces around Senator Bob Menendez, who is facing bribery charges, allegedly accepting gold bars as payment.

Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene also warned Boebert she should be 'very concerned' after the straw poll result.

'I saw that she came in fifth place in the straw poll over the weekend which she should be very concerned about,' Greene told The Hill.

'I think that's a serious primary and it seems like there are some good candidates in there.'

Boebert is seen on surveillance camera footage giving ushers the finger on Sunday night at a Denver theatre, after she was kicked out

Surveillance footage shows and angry Boebert being escorted from a Denver theater over the weekend for alleged bad behavior

The two were spotted holding hands as the left the area and walked down the street

Boebert made this sarcastic post after the scandal erupted, but was later forced to make a humiliating apology

Greene said it remained to be seen what happened with the polling in the Colorado district, but she was not looking to get involved in the race just yet.

'I think she's got to earn those people's support,' she said of Boebert.

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a Texas Democrat, also mocked Boebert's poor result on Twitter.

'Before I go to bed, I thought it would only be fitting to send 'thoughts & prayers' to my colleague, Lauren Boebert,' she wrote.

'It's my understanding that she placed 5th in her first straw poll of the election cycle. Now how many of y'all think BoBo gonna try to convince us that polls don't matter[?]'

Former New York assistant attorney general Tristan Snell attributed the poor showing to her having 'abandoned her congressional district because she was going to lose'.

Boebert came under fire from other candidates on this issue during the debate, when Lynch asked her to give him 'the definition of carpetbagger'.

'Is this a Mary Poppins question? So yes, I have moved into the Fourth District. My boys and I needed a fresh start. That's been very public,' she replied.

'The crops may be different in Colorado's 4th District, but the values aren't.'

Boebert was also reminded of when in 2021 she criticized former Democratic state lawmaker Kerry Donovan for running for the Third District when she didn't live there.

'Running for office is a calling, not a career move,' she said at the time.

'Perhaps Ms Donovan should focus on where she lives, works and votes instead of trying to increase her political position by pandering to folks she doesn't even know.'

Boebert insisted her case was different as she had already moved to the Fourth District, with a new home in Windsor.

Logan County Commissioner Jerry Sonnenberg led the poll of 100 voters and is considered a serious challenge to Boebert despite her name recognition

Boebert holds her grandson, Josiah, before the first Republican primary debate for the 4th Congressional district, having become a grandmother aged 36 last year

Boebert (left) joined nine other candidates during a debate for GOP candidates running in the 4th Congressional Districts at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center in Fort Lupton, Colorado

Video from the theater showed Gallagher rubbing her chest, while Boebert tugged at his crotch while both were seated. Neither exposed themselves.

The GOP lawmaker was asked to leave after ushers noticed her vaping and taking photos on her phone.

She was also singing along loudly and taking selfies with the flash on to the annoyance of other theatregoers.

Surveillance footage showed Boebert, wearing a tight, low-cut gold dress and high heels, making a considerable fuss as she and Gallagher left - taking a selfie as she left the auditorium and angrily baring her teeth at staff.

An incident report noted the two received a warning at intermission about their behavior.

But five minutes into the second act, security officials received another complaint about a person being loud and recording the show.

'They told me they would not leave,' an usher said, according to the report.

'I told them that they need to leave the theater and if they do not, they will be trespassing.

'The patrons said they would not leave. I told them I would (be) going to get Denver Police. They said go get them.'

Afterwards, Boebert and her smartly-dressed date were caught on camera walking off through the empty nighttime streets of Denver.

Fellow Trump-supporting Congresswoman Lisa McClain roasted Beobert with a joke at the Washington Press Club Foundation on Wednesday

Boebert took several days to apologize after initially denying most of it, claiming the vape smoke was actually from a fog machine and issuing a sarcastic statement playing down the anger.

'The past few days have been difficult and humbling, and I'm truly sorry,' she wrote in a statement.

'There's no perfect blueprint for going through a public and difficult divorce, which over the past few months has made a challenging personal time for me and my entire family.'

Addressing the lies she initially told about the incident Boebert wrote: 'Whether it was the excitement of seeing a much-anticipated production or the natural anxiety of being in a new environment, I genuinely did not recall vaping that evening'.

Boebert's divorce from Jason, 36, her husband of 18 years and father to her four children, is ongoing after the couple's shock split in May.

At the time Boebert insisted that she had always been faithful throughout her marriage.
The BBC is refusing to release a potentially explosive letter it received from Buckingham Palace just days before it broadcast Martin Bashir's bombshell Panorama interview with Princess Diana.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the document, which has remained hidden in BBC archives for three decades, was sent to the then-director general John Birt four days before the 1995 broadcast.

It was written at a time of extraordinary tension between the Palace and the BBC.

Just days earlier, Diana had confessed to royal aides that she had granted Bashir an exclusive interview about the breakdown of her marriage to Prince Charles.

The existence of the letter  which is understood to have come from the Queen's office  was confirmed in 10,000 pages of heavily redacted documents finally released by the BBC last week.

It followed a long-running freedom of information battle between the corporation and investigative journalist Andy Webb over emails between BBC bosses when the astonishing scale of Bashir's deceit became known in 2020.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the expulsive letter has remained hidden in BBC archives for three decades

Martin Bashir faked bank statements in order to convince the Princess and her family that members of her inner circle were selling details of her private life tot he press

Last night, historians and campaigners called on the corporation to end its 'cover-up' and release the Palace letter and all other documents in full.

The MoS can reveal the document was sent to Lord Birt on November 16, 1995.

It's known that Lord Birt, at the insistence of the Princess, had decided not to tell BBC chairman Marmaduke Hussey about the interview for fear that Hussey would tell his wife who was a senior lady-in-waiting to the Queen.

The newly released files refer to 'Letter from Palace to DG  withheld in full' and the date, but not the document itself.

The timing is intriguing. The Queen was known to have been furious about the Panorama interview.

After it was broadcast in 1995, the monarch removed the BBC's exclusive rights to the production of her annual Christmas broadcast, which was seen as an act of revenge.

The Panorama episode was watched by more than 20 million viewers. Soon afterwards, the Queen wrote to Charles and Diana urging them to divorce.

In 1996, the MoS first revealed claims that Bashir had faked bank statements just weeks before the interview. BBC bosses, including head of news Tony Hall, conducted a 'whitewash' inquiry at the time and cleared Bashir of any wrongdoing.

It took another two decades before the BBC finally ordered an official inquiry by High Court judge Lord Dyson in 2021.

This concluded that Bashir had faked bank statements in order to convince the Princess and her family that members of her inner circle were selling details of her private life and that the BBC covered up what it knew about his activities.

Prince William issued a strongly worded statement saying he believed the Panorama interview had contributed to the breakdown of his parents' marriage.

The BBC has been strongly criticised for obstructing freedom of information requests about the scandal.

Under FoI rules, public bodies can choose to refuse to release communications with the Royal Family under what is known as a Section 37 exemption.

But freedom of information campaigners and even the Information Commissioner's Office last night said the BBC was not obliged to cite the exemptions and could release it in full if it wanted.

The famous Panorama episode was watched by more than 20million people

Last night, historians and campaigners called on the corporation to end its 'cover-up' and release the Palace letter and all other documents in full

Maurice Frankel, of the Campaign for Freedom of Information, said: '[The BBC] are free to disclose this letter from the Palace should they wish, and I think they should. It's a matter of real public interest.'

Royal biographer Hugo Vickers added: 'It could of course be that the letter is perfectly harmless but the BBC's refusal to release it makes one think they have something to hide.'

A spokesman for the Information Commissioner's Office said it was up to public bodies to consider each request they receive and whether they should release that information. Buckingham Palace declined to comment. Lord Birt was unavailable for comment.

A BBC spokesman said: 'We take our responsibilities... under the Freedom of Information Act extremely seriously.

This specific exemption covers correspondence with the Royal Household, recognising the need for all parties to have a 'safe space' to ensure a free and frank exchange of information.'
The BBC's handling of the Bashir scandal is full of unanswered questions. One of the biggest is: 'Who's watching what the BBC bosses are up to?'

When a private company goes off the rails, the shareholders can march in and demand a halt. The closest we have to that with the BBC is the board.

This has 14 members, four of them the corporation's topmost bosses, the rest outsiders. Academics, bankers, lawyers and media bigwigs. Three are knights, one a dame, and their job is to hold the executives to account.

So what do these outsiders make of the fact that board member, BBC director-general Tim Davie, has spent more than 150,000 to keep 3,000 documents linked to Martin Bashir's infamous interview with Princess Diana under wraps?

At an information tribunal last year, Judge Brian Kennedy KC made his judgment of the BBC's conduct clear, registering 'serious concern'. I immediately sent a copy to all ten outsider board members. The response? Absolute silence.

The BBC 's handling of the Bashir scandal is full of unanswered questions. One of the biggest is: 'Who's watching what the BBC bosses are up to?'

At an information tribunal last year, Judge Brian Kennedy KC made his judgment of the BBC's conduct clear, registering 'serious concern'

This is not the first time the board has remained markedly quiet on the subject. On April 25, 1996, the then board of governors were summoned to a meeting at Broadcasting House  days after The Mail on Sunday had reported how Bashir had deployed his forged bank statements to secure his interview with the Princess.

The board knew, then, that something unseemly had happened. They didn't know, however, that four days earlier BBC bosses had reviewed the position in secret and determined a cynical course of action to cover up Bashir's actions.

'The Diana story is probably dead  unless (her brother Charles) Spencer talks', then-BBC executive Anne Sloman wrote in a memo. Briefing the board in that Thursday meeting was Lord Hall, later to become BBC director-general. He knew that Bashir had lied repeatedly about the forgeries, but, told the members that Bashir was 'honest and an honourable man'. The board swallowed his story, whole.

Had just one member raised searching questions, the cover-up might have crumbled. History could have been different.

When the Dyson Report was published in 2021, Sir Richard expressed his deep regret that he and the rest of the board had been lied to

Many who attended that meeting 28 years ago are no longer alive  but one of them certainly is. Sir Richard Eyre, 80, is a film director festooned with honours.

When the Dyson Report was published in 2021, Sir Richard expressed his deep regret that he and the rest of the board had been lied to. He said Lord Hall saw them as nothing more than 'ineffectual, ignorant fools'.

Sir Richard is well informed on the current scandal. He was invited to direct the two episodes of Netflix series The Crown which cover Bashir's activities. And while he doesn't directly criticise the BBC now, he does urge current board members to reflect on what happened all those years ago.

So should they demand an inquiry? If so, the BBC's incoming chairman, the veteran media executive Samir Shah, 72, will at least know his way around the dark corners of New Broadcasting House.

From 1987 to 1998, including that key period when Bashir preyed on Princess Diana, Mr Shah was very close to the top of the BBC. In fact, he was Lord Hall's deputy.
The National Weather Services Bay Area office has issued a high wind warning for Sunday, Feb. 4. National Weather Service

BAY AREA WEATHER: Heres the forecast in wake of damaging storm

The National Weather Service anticipates hazardous weather in the Bay Area on Sunday due to an exceptionally strong storm. Weather service meteorologist Sean Miller said the office has numerous concerns today, including strong damaging wind gusts, flooding, isolated severe storms and extremely hazardous beach and marine conditions.

Wind is likely to be the most damaging of these factors, with gusts over 80 mph possible along the Big Sur coastline and up to 60 mph in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose.

The weather service has issued the first ever hurricane force wind warning for the Big Sur coastline until 3 p.m. for southeast gusts up to 80 mph. This is the first time the California coast has been under a hurricane force wind warning since the weather service began issuing the hazard in the early-mid 2000s.

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Southeasterly gusts are expected to continue through the early afternoon, probably gusting over 50 mph in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose. The weather service says tree damage and power outages are likely due to the strong winds.

A high surf advisory is in effect for the Bay Area and Monterey Bay coastline through early Monday morning for breaking waves of 20 to 25 feet. Baron/Lynx

In the midafternoon, wind is then expected to switch to the southwest, which could cause even more damage.

The fact that the wind is switching directions is really bad for trees, said Sarah McCorkle, a weather service meteorologist.

Southwesterly winds could approach 60 mph in San Francisco and Oakland from 2 to 7 p.m. Half Moon Bay may gust over 65 mph. These speeds could rival the March 21, 2023, windstorm that led to extensive damage throughout the Bay Area.

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Even inland areas can expect strong gusts. The weather service forecasts maximum wind gusts of 52 mph in Concord and 59 mph in Livermore. Gusts of 40 to 50 mph are possible throughout the North Bay.

Weather models predict strong southwest wind gusts of 40 to 65 mph throughout the Bay Area on Sunday afternoon. Baron/Lynx

The strong winds will lead to hazardous coastal conditions. Large breaking waves of 25 to 30 feet, up to 35 feet on the Big Sur coast, are forecast at south and southwest-facing beaches.

Winds and waves are expected to slowly subside Monday morning.
Some Australians have called for a boycott of the country's largest bakery chain after finding out its founder donates money to conservative causes.

On Thursday, it was revealed Bakers Delight founder Roger Gillespie was among the many wealthy people who have supported the Advance Australia (AA) lobby group.

Mr Gillespie told the Australian Financial Review he donated $20,000 to AA and $14,000 to the Liberal Party in 2022 because 'he backed the group due to its position on the (Voice) referendum'.

The Indigenous Voice to Parliament was strongly defeated, losing in every state and winning only in the ACT, last October.

But for some in the minority who backed the Voice, Mr Gillespie's support for the No case is reason enough to boycott his business.

Some progressive Australians have called for a boycott of Australia's largest bakery chain after finding out its founder donates money to conservative causes. A young woman is pictured working in a bakery

'Bakers Delight, it turns out, are not delightful at all. Boycott,' wrote one person on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.

'Will not be buying anything from Bakers Delight again,' said another.

READ MORE: Activists behind wildly successful No campaign are taking on the Prime Minister in new battleground Anthony Albanese (pictured) campaigned extensively for the Voice Advertisement

A third commenter said 'This guy must be super confident his political views won't affect sales'.

But there was also a lot of support for Mr Gillespie and the bakery chain.

'I will continue to support #BakersDelight, great products and sensible management,' wrote one.

'Thank you Bakers Delight, will be making sure to buy more from your stores from today!' said another.

Some personalised their attack, with one saying they had 'Never shopped at #BakersDelight but sure as hell will now. 4 cafes to stock.

'Suck it up leftie losers. #N0 won.'

Another said they will now buy their baked goods from the chain more often.

'Looks like I am shopping #BakersDelight MORE. Well done management for not being afraid of the minority,' they wrote.

Some commenters pointed out that the call for a boycott was not fair as it would hurt the individual shop owners more than Mr Gillespie.

'Bakers Delight stores are franchises. A boycott will achieve nothing. No one thought this through,' one X user posted.

Despite the nasty tone of many of the online comments, some found it to be an opportunity for humour.

'I boycotted this place when it first opened and they told me they don't sell meat pies at a bakery. Now that is un Australian #BakersDelight,' one joker wrote.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Bakers Delight and Mr Gillespie for comment.
Russell Brand has hired Prince Andrew's 'pit bull' lawyer to fight sex charges in the US.

The Mail on Sunday has learned that the 48-year-old, who last week described rape allegations made against him as a 'painful, hurtful attack', has signed up Hollywood powerhouse Andrew Brettler.

Mr Brettler represented the Duke of York in the civil lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was sex-trafficked by paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Her case was settled out of court in 2022 for a reported $12 million with no admission of liability by Prince Andrew, who has consistently and vehemently denied all charges against him.

Mr Brettler, who also represents actor Armie Hammer  who has been accused of rape and having 'cannibalistic fantasies'  reportedly charges clients up to $2,000 an hour for his expertise.

Russell Brand has hired Prince Andrew's 'pit bull' lawyer to fight sex charges in the US - Hollywood powerhouse Andrew Brettler (pictured)

Russell Brand (pictured) has hired lawyer Andrew Brettler who reportedly charges clients up to $2,000 an hour for his expertise

Andrew Brettler previously represented Prince Andrew (pictured) in the civil lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was sex-trafficked by paedophile Jeffrey Epstein

Last night, the lawyer confirmed he is representing Brand, saying: 'I am only aware of one US case against Mr Brand. I am counsel of record in that action.'

The case involves a woman known only as 'Jane Doe' who filed suit in the Supreme Court of the State of New York last November, saying the comedian and actor assaulted her on the set of his movie Arthur, which was released in 2011.

According to her affidavit, Brand 'appeared intoxicated, smelled of alcohol and was carrying a bottle of vodka on set' on July 7, 2010, before he exposed himself 'in full view of the cast and crew'.

Later that day, she alleges, Brand sexually assaulted her in a bathroom while a crew member guarded the door from the outside.

Last week, Brand spoke to ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson in an interview posted to Twitter, in which he referred to claims made by at least five women who accused him of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse

The woman is suing for damages saying she suffers ongoing trauma from the alleged assault and is fearful that if her name becomes public it will jeopardise her acting career.

A lawyer who has worked with Mr Brettler told The Mail on Sunday: 'People call him a pit bull but he's more sophisticated than that. He has a huge brain and will use every weapon in his legal arsenal to defend his clients. Russell Brand is in very good, and very expensive, hands.'

Last week, Brand spoke to ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson in an interview posted to Twitter, in which he referred to claims made by at least five women who accused him of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse in an investigation by The Sunday Times and Channel 4's Dispatches.

There have been no charges brought in the UK and Brand denies any wrongdoing.

He told Carlson: 'I reject the allegations in the strongest possible terms. I am aware I have put myself in an extremely vulnerable position by being very, very promiscuous.'

Brand said: 'I reject the allegations in the strongest possible terms. I am aware I have put myself in an extremely vulnerable position by being very, very promiscuous'

Brand was last night accused of 'bullying and victim shaming' by the lawyer for one of his alleged victims for comments he made this week calling sex charges against him 'painful and hurtful.'

Lawyer Jordan Merson represents a woman who has filed a civil lawsuit in New York against the star claiming he exposed himself to her on the 2010 set of his film 'Arthur' and later sexually assaulted her in a bathroom.

Mr. Merson said Brand's interview with week with former Fox TV host Tucker Carlson, which was posted on X, formerly Twitter, would not deter his client, known only as Jane Doe, from pursuing her case:

'Unfortunately this sort of conduct is not uncommon in individuals who have sexually abused other people.

'It is all part of distraction, bullying and victim shaming.

'Brand's comments were unfortunate but they do not discourage us in the least.

'We feel very confident in this case which is in its infancy. There is good corroboration.

'This is a case about a woman who, as we allege in our court filings, was sexually abused by Mr. Brand.'
She described herself as Boris Johnson's 'nanny' during her time in Downing Street.

But the former Prime Minister's deputy chief of staff now has a real baby to occupy her time  one who appears to be proving less of a handful than Boris.

Cleo Watson, nicknamed 'the Gazelle' in political circles because of her long legs, was spotted pushing a pram around the streets of North London last week after recently having her first child.

The statuesque 35-year-old swapped her glamorous Westminster wardrobe for dressed-down comfort, wearing a black puffer jacket, tracksuit bottoms and trainers, and scraped her hair back in a loose bun.

She smiled and chatted to a friend as they strolled, with no sign that the newborn was giving them any trouble.

Cleo Watson, nicknamed 'the Gazelle' in political circles because of her long legs, was spotted pushing a pram around the streets of North London last week after recently having her first child

A protege of the PM's former chief aide Dominic Cummings, Cleo worked at the heart of Government in 2019 and 2020, as the pandemic was unfolding

She smiled and chatted to a friend as they strolled, with no sign that the newborn was giving them any trouble

That must have felt a world away from her days at No 10. A protege of the PM's former chief aide Dominic Cummings, Cleo worked at the heart of Government in 2019 and 2020, as the pandemic was unfolding.

In an interview with society magazine Tatler in 2022, she lifted the lid on working with Boris, describing him as 'a great unruly golden retriever' who required 'a fair amount of housetraining' over Covid protocols. This included barricading him in an office when he was forced to self-isolate.

She added, witheringly, that her role 'sounds fancy but a lot of the time I was much closer to being Boris's nanny'. That led to attending a No 10 party while Covid restrictions were in place, for which she was fined.

Since leaving the civil service, Cleo has channelled her political experience into a 'bonkbuster' novel, Whips. Described as 'Fifty Shades Of Grey meets Prime Minister's Questions', it tells of the sexual escapades of fictional Westminster politicians.

Celo pictured with her mentor Dominic Cummings in London on November 13, 2020

Boris Johnson reportedly quipped at Cleo's leaving do that 'Government's loss will be erotic literature's gain'

Mr Johnson reportedly quipped at Cleo's leaving do that 'Government's loss will be erotic literature's gain'.

The book, which follows three female friends battling for a foothold in the male-dominated world of politics, is the first in a trilogy.

It was announced last year that it would be made into a TV series by a production company owned by Lord Of The Rings star Andy Serkis, which Cleo said was her 'wildest dream' coming true.

Unlike her fictional protagonists, Cleo is happily married to family law barrister Tom Haggie. And while there may have been no nappies to change in Downing Street, it seems her babysitting duties might today be far less onerous.
Britain's overstretched Armed Forces may be unable to fight an all-out war, and chronic shortages of troops and equipment are being covered up in a 'veil of secrecy', MPs have warned.

In a damning report released today, the Defence Select Committee concluded the Army is the UK's 'weakest service' due to 'significant capability deficiencies'  which included drastic shortages of vehicles, tanks and even ammunition.

After facing a wall of silence while compiling their Ready For War report, the MPs urged military top brass and Ministers to be more transparent about the shortcomings so they can be addressed urgently. The report further highlights war-readiness issues with the Royal Navy's 3.5billion aircraft carriers, too.

Despite spending about 50billion a year on defence, 'sustained ongoing investment' is needed for the UK to fight a 'high-intensity war', today's report concludes.

It comes just days after an outgoing Army chief said the public would have to be called up to fight if Britain goes to war because the regular Forces are too small.

A file photo of a British troops during military training exercise on Salisbury Plain

A report by MPs has raised fears the UK is not ready for a confrontation with Vladimir Putin

Ukrainian troops training in Donetsk last month as they take on Russian forces

In his first major speech as Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps said the West had moved from a post-war to a 'pre-war' world, raising the prospect of conflicts involving Russia, China and North Korea.

Sir Jeremy Quin, chairman of the Defence Select Committee, said: 'A steady, continuous drip of operations and ongoing commitments has meant the military is unable to devote sufficient training and resources to high-intensity war fighting.

'On top of this, the high tempo of operations and unrelenting pressure on our Services has led to a drop in retention, compounded by a period of low recruitment and difficulties introducing and maintaining capabilities, thereby creating a vicious cycle.'

The committee looked into the Armed Forces' ability to respond to a crisis and found that, at the end of 2023, more than 7,000 service personnel were deployed on some 40 operations overseas.

In recent months a Royal Navy task group has been positioned in the Mediterranean after the Hamas attack on Israel and HMS Trent stationed in Guyana after Venezuela tried to claim one of its territories.

But MPs were most concerned by the military's 'war-fighting readiness', saying its ability at a sustained high intensity was 'in doubt'.

Witnesses told the inquiry that the Armed Forces would struggle in a major conflict, claiming the British Army does not have enough new infantry fighting vehicles, Challenger tanks or adequate missile defence capabilities. The Royal Navy is suffering from delays to a new frigate programme and an 'over-tasked' aircraft fleet, while the RAF has a shortfall of combat aircraft, delays to new Chinook helicopters and too few pilots.

The heads of the Forces also raised concerns about stockpiles used by Ukraine reducing the amount available to the UK.

The report warned of 'capacity shortfalls', with the MoD admitting to only recruiting five service personnel for every eight who leave.

The Defence Select Committee concluded the Army is the UK's 'weakest service' due to 'significant capability deficiencies' in a report today

Grant Shapps warned in his first major speech as Defence Secretary that the West had moved to a 'pre-war' world

MPs found that basic staples of national security, such as the number of warships the Royal Navy can muster, are no longer being acknowledged because the situation is so bad.

They also said it was 'unacceptable' that a lack of transparency had compromised their attempts to assess readiness.

Previously the information they needed was in the public domain.

Today it is either graded as classified or simply not recorded.

The MPs said: 'We cannot adequately fulfil our duty to the House of Commons and to the electorate without fuller and more timely access to information about sensitive, but vitally important issues.'

And Former Labour Defence Minister Kevan Jones added: 'The MoD needs to lift the veil of secrecy put in place to hide the truth and be clear with the people about the limitations of our Armed Forces.'

An MoD spokesman said: 'Our Armed Forces are always ready to protect and defend the UK.'
It has been obvious for decades that this countrys humane and civilised rules on giving asylum to refugees are being grotesquely misused.

Laws designed to provide safety for persecuted individuals have been exploited by migrants seeking a better life in the UK. But a large part of Britains privileged elite refuse to see this.

Not merely do they pretend to think that these migrants are all genuine refugees, and to heap bitter scorn on anyone who argues otherwise, many keenly engage in charities, protests, court cases and other activities which frustrate attempts to apply the law.

No doubt many of them are driven by noble motives. It is 170 years since Charles Dickens mocked his character Mrs Jellyby, in Bleak House, for exerting herself very much more about a distant tribe in Africa than in looking after her immediate family.

For sure, there is nothing wrong with compassion for the poor and suffering of the whole world. But it is not an excuse for failing in compassion to those living closer by.

It has been obvious for decades that this countrys humane and civilised rules on giving asylum to refugees are being grotesquely misused (pictured Yaqub Ahmed)

Mary Harper has again and again given evidence in appeals against deportation of Somali citizens. In several cases the men she sought to help had severe and worrying criminal pasts.

The arrival in this country of large numbers of people of whom we know very little has, of course, mostly troubled the poor and weak, who tend to live in the areas where migrants settle. For the better-off, it is different.

Large-scale migration has enabled the metropolitan middle class, for the first time in two generations, to employ domestic servants, though they do not call them that.

Many metropolitan liberals did not like Britain very much as it used to be. They prefer the multicultural nation which is replacing it. But this is only one side of the matter.

What do such fortunate people make of the terrible case in which an asylum seeker stands accused of hurling corrosive fluid into the faces of a woman and her children? The signs are that many well-off liberal-minded persons simply do not get it.

Today we report the extraordinary case of Mary Harper, who has for some time been a senior figure at the BBC World Service. Though it seems they are now to part company, her activities do raise questions about just how impartial the BBC truly is.

Ms Harper has again and again given evidence in appeals against deportation of Somali citizens. In several cases the men she sought to help had severe and worrying criminal pasts.

Why do such people choose to do such things? Why do their opinions so dominate our elite, the courts, the Civil Service and the charities?

For centuries, those nations lucky enough to have secure physical borders have been careful who they allowed in. Many migrants will bring great benefits. But some bring harm. A society which does not protect itself against this danger is irresponsible and weak, and might in the end help to destroy itself, just as a nation which neglected its defences might do.

Now, we know from the extraordinary revelations of the New Labour functionary Andrew Neather that the Blair government had a driving political purpose: that mass immigration was the way that the UK Government was going to make the UK truly multicultural. As we learned from the famous bigoted woman outburst of Gordon Brown against the Labour-supporting Gillian Duffy, contempt for the common-sense view of migration is endemic in Sir Keir Starmers Labour Party.

The Tory Party, by contrast, has at least tried to listen to such concerns.

It is a huge issue, and events of recent days have brought it, very properly, back to the forefront of national debate.
King Charles has appointed his first female equerry Captain Kat Anderson who will act as his eyes and ears on most of his overseas visits and tours.

Captain Anderson, 33, is an officer with the Royal Artillery who has previously worked for the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

She will be the King's new assistant equerry and will help oversee the running of the monarchy's diary of official engagements, while joining members of the royal family on public duties and global tours.

Often described as the Royal 'eyes and ears', equerries are considered to be extremely important figures for the running of the monarchy.

Captain Anderson's job will see her join the King on official engagements as well as help his guests during meetings with dignitaries. She will also help the King with military matters.

Captain Kat Anderson, 33, (pictured) is an officer with the Royal Artillery who has previously worked for the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

Captain Anderson's job will see her join King Charles on official engagements as well as attend to his guests during audiences and meetings with dignitaries

The new assistant equerry became a member of King Charles's team in January on secondment from the Cabinet Office and No 10, where she had a role as an assistant private secretary to the national security advisers, the Sunday Times reported.

She was also Mr Sunak's aide-de-camp or 'military assistant'.

Captain Anderson will work alongside Captain Hugh Scrope, of the Coldstream Guards, the King's other assistant private secretary.

Captain Anderson, who is of mixed Malaysian heritage, is set to be seen next to the King for the first time in next few weeks, it is understood.

She is the first female equerry to serve a monarch, but its not the first female equerry to assist a member of the royal family.

Charles appointed RAF Squadron Leader Jayne Casebury as his equerry in the early 2000s when he was still the Prince of Wales.
A driver wearing revealing leather lingerie has been arrested and charged after she allegedly struck an e-bike rider which put him in hospital.

Emergency services were called to South Dowling Street in Moore Park, Sydney, about 3.45am on Sunday after reports a black Subaru had collided with an e-bike.

The bike rider, a 29-year-old man, was treated by paramedics at the scene before he was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital in a serious condition.

The female driver, 27, allegedly returned a positive breath test at the scene all while only wearing black leather lingerie and glasses.

A lingerie-clad driver (pictured) has been arrested and charged with mid-range drink driving after allegedly colliding with an e-bike rider

The 29-year-old bike rider was treated by paramedics (pictured) at the scene on South Dowling Street in Moore Park, Sydney, before being rushed to hospital in a serious condition

She was arrested and taken to Surry Hills Police Station where a second test allegedly returned a reading of 0.095, almost two times the legal limit.

The Liverpool woman from Sydney's south-west was later taken to St Vincent's Hospital where she underwent mandatory blood and urine testing.

She has been charged with mid-range drink driving and was issued with a court attendance notice to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on March 14.

The woman has not been charged over the collision with the cyclist.

The Crash Investigation Unit established a crime scene and are assessing the cause of the crash.

Anyone who witnessed or has dashcam footage of the incident has been urged to call Crime Stoppers.

The 27-year-old driver (pictured) was similarly taken to St Vincent's Hospital to undergo blood and urine tests and is expected to appear in court on March 14
Prince Andrew's fall from grace is to be turned into a major documentary by a film company working closely with Netflix.

The Mail on Sunday understands the film will explore the Duke of York's 'character arc' from a 'war hero' and the 'Queen's favourite' to the scandal over his close friendship with paedophile sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein which led to his departure from royal duties in 2019.

The programme is being made by the award-winning production company Sandpaper Films, which is known for working with top streaming services Netflix, Apple and Amazon.

Sandpaper has already made several films about the Royal Family including the 2017 film 'Diana, 7 days', which analysed her final days and featured interviews with Prince William and Prince Harry.

Other productions tackled the war crimes trial of genocidal Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko Mladic and, the 2012 Rochdale sex trafficking ring.

The Mail on Sunday understands the film will explore the Duke of York's 'character arc' from a 'war hero' and the 'Queen's favourite' to the scandal over his close friendship with paedophile sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein which led to his departure from royal duties in 2019

The infamous picture of Prince Andrew and Virginia Roberts, aged 17, at Ghislaine Maxwell's townhouse in London

Producers are said to be keen to approach Andrew's former private secretary Alistair Watson, who worked for the Duke between 2003 to 2012

Producers are said to be keen to approach Andrew's former private secretary Alistair Watson, who worked for the Duke between 2003 to 2012. If he cooperated, insiders say this could be 'bad news' for the Duke as Mr Watson 'knows where the bodies are buried'.

Mr Watson was hired to support the Duke in his position as UK trade envoy, where he represented the government around the world after leaving the Royal Navy in 2001.

The Duke faced a series of controversies in the role, including claims he went on holiday with a Libyan gun smuggler. Andrew quit the role in 2011 after stories broke about him visiting convicted peadophile Epstein at his home in New York after he was released from jail.

Respected author Andrew Lownie, who has written best-selling biographies of Lord Mountbatten and the Duke of Windsor, is understood to be acting as a consultant for the documentary.

He is also writing a biography of Prince Andrew and his former wife Sarah Ferguson that will look closely at the Duke of York's time as trade envoy.

Respected author Andrew Lownie, who has written best-selling biographies of Lord Mountbatten and the Duke of Windsor, is understood to be acting as a consultant for the documentary

The palace is already braced for two forthcoming television dramas that will recreate the Newsnight interview. Netflix's film Scoop finished filming last year and Amazon Prime's A Very Royal Scandal is understood to be just a few months behind

Last night, Mr Lownie told the MoS he believes this period is still 'murky' due to government documents being kept secret until 2065.

'I think there are a lot of unanswered questions,' he said.

It is understood that the new documentary will not be 'sensationalist' nor focus solely on the Duke's disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019.

Nevertheless, news of the film will further diminish hopes within the palace that the furore around Prince Andrew, who has always denied any wrongdoing, might fade from public imagination.

The palace is already braced for two forthcoming television dramas that will recreate the Newsnight interview. Netflix's film Scoop finished filming last year and Amazon Prime's A Very Royal Scandal is understood to be just a few months behind.

It follows a difficult start to the year for the Duke after newly-released court documents released in the US alleged that Andrew had an orgy with underage girls and touched a woman's breast while posing with a puppet of himself.

The controversy heaped pressure on King Charles to evict his brother from Royal Lodge in Windsor, the 30-room property where he lives with his ex-wife Sarah, who last week revealed she has skin cancer.

Sandpaper Films did not respond to a request for comment.
Brits eat more biscuits than anywhere else on earth, a study has revealed.

The average Brit munches on three biccies aday, which works out at 204m-a-day across the UK's 68m population.

Over the course of a year, that works out at 1,095 biscuits each, weighing an astonishing 8.5kg.

Taken across the UK as a whole, that works out at us scoffing 74 billion biccies-a-year, a whopping 578 million kilos.

That's the equivalent to just over 96,000 adult male elephants, which can get to around 6,000kg per jumbo.

The average Brit munches on three biscuits a day, which works out at 204m-a-day across the UK's 68m population

The UK as a whole scoffs 74 billion biscuits, a whopping 578 million kilos

We spend a whopping 588m-a-year on biscuits, and spending has been soaring around 5%-a-year over the past three years.

By comparison, the average American wolfs down 8kg of biscuits-a-year, compared to the French, who munch on around 5kg of biccies each per year.

The world biscuit league, in kilos eaten per year, is as follows;

1 - UK - 8.5kg

2 - USA - 8kg

3 - Italy - 7.5kg

4 - Germany - 7kg

5 - Japan - 7kg

6 - France - 5kg

7 - Russia - 4.5kg

8 - Sweden - 2.5kg

9 - India - 2kg

10 - China - 1.5kg

Food historian Lizzie Collingham - author of The Biscuit: The History of a Very British Indulgence - said this week: 'No other nation buys and eats more biscuits.

'They're as embedded in our food culture as fish and chips or the Sunday roast.'

She said the Industrial Revolution, which kicked off in 1760, meant Britain went into overdrive making biscuits - with the first biccie factory, run by Huntley & Palmers, opening in Reading in 1846.

She said: 'Once the Industrial Revolution introduced mass production, Britain took the basic biscuit recipe and ran with it.'

Dr Saira Hameed, a consultant in endocrinology and diabetes at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said biccies gave us a 'dopamine high' - which is even stronger if we dunk them.

She said: 'Dunking a biscuit softens up the texture, making the biscuit literally melt in the mouth.

'The sugar hits the taste receptors and gets into the bloodstream and thus that 'pleasure area' faster.

'They're designed by food engineers to have a perfect bliss point - an ideal ratio of sugar, salt and fat that feels amazing and keeps us coming back for more.', she told the Features supplement in The Daily Telegraph this week.
Former Trump Administration official Mike Gill has died after being shot in front of his wife during a carjacking in Washington DC.

Gill, a married father of three, was shot by Artell Cunningham on K Street NW about 5.45pm last Monday and died in hospital on Saturday.

He was collecting his wife, an education lawyer, when he was shot inside the car by the attacker. He stumbled outside the vehicle and collapsed.

Gill's wife rushed over to him and held his hand as he lay bleeding on the ground with one foot still inside the car, his right hand twitching.

Former Trump Administration official Mike Gill has died after being shot during a carjacking in Washington DC

Gill, seen here with his wife and three children in a photo from just two weeks earlier

He served as chief operating officer of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission during Donald Trump's time in the White House.

Cunningham, 28, was hours later gunned down by two New Carrollton Police officers on the northeast outskirts of DC's Maryland suburbs.

Police cornered him about 4.30am on Tuesday, after his crime spree that also killed Alberto Vasquez Jr, 35, in a separate DC carjacking 90 minutes after Gill was shot.

Gill was the first victim of Cunningham's campaign of terror, and just minutes later at 7.05pm he tried to carjack another motorist on 3rd Street NE, but failed.

Then at 7.17pm he shot Vasquez at 3rd Street and N Street and stole his car, which was later found in Takoma Park.

Cunningham allegedly committed more carjacking around DC and its suburbs, including bashing a taxi driver in the head with his gun and stealing his car in University Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, at 11.23pm.

Then about 2.30am he shot the windscreen of a Maryland State Police trooper's car, and about 3am sprayed the door of a DC Police officer's car bullets as he drove past.

CCTV images show Artell Cunningham, 28, who was hours later gunned down by two New Carrollton Police officers on the northeast outskirts of DC's Maryland suburbs

Alberto Vasquez Jr, 35, (pictured with his family) was killed in a separate DC carjacking by the same shooter 90 minutes after Gill was shot

Gill was collecting his wife, an education lawyer, when he was shot inside the car by the attacker. He stumbled outside the vehicle and collapsed

New Carrollton Police tracked the stolen car to near a laundromat on Annapolis Road, where it was found disabled by the side of the road.

As they surveyed the scene, the Cunningham walked up to them, producing two handguns, after which he was shot and later died in hospital.

Jeffery Carroll, the assistant chief of DC police, said Cunningham had a criminal history and appeared to be going through a mental health crisis at the time.

Gill's wife Kristina thanked family, friend, and the community for their support her husband's sudden death as she confirmed his death.

'His sudden departure has left a void in our lives that can never be filled,' she said in a statement.

'Mike was not only a devoted husband and father but also a cherished son, brother, and friend.

'Over the course of his remarkable life, Mike brought people together and made them feel included, supported, and loved.

'His heart was evident in everything he did, as demonstrated by his mentorship and deep friendships with those who worked with him professionally.

'Above all, Mike spoke with pride and love about his family, especially our children, Sean, Brian, and Annika.'

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

Cops are seen in Carrollton County, Maryland, on Tuesday morning, where the unnamed carjacking suspect was shot dead

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.

J Christopher Giancarlo, who was chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission when Gill worked there, also paid tribute.

'Mike Gill was one of the most wonderful, honest, earnest, and open-hearted persons on this earth,' he said.

'His life reflects everything that is good and right and true. Words cannot express the tragedy of the loss of this fine man, colleague, and cherished friend. He will be sorely missed and long remembered.'

After Trump lost the 2020 election, Gill was senior vice president for capital markets at the Housing Policy Council.

Washington DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb recently told residents concerned by the skyrocketing crime rate that his department could not 'prosecute and arrest our way out' of the problem

Drew Maloney, Gill's friend of 15 years and president of the American Investment Council, said he was like an extended member of their family.

'Our daughters' friendship blossomed into a beautiful bond, and it was a testament to Mike's warmth and kindness that he welcomed us into his life with open arms,' he said.

'Through countless holidays, celebrations, and shared moments, our families became intertwined, and I am so grateful for our enduring friendship.'

Jacob Walker, Vasquez's father, said his son just tuned 35 and now 'his daughters will never get that chance to talk to him again. No weddings, no nothing'.

He said he 'never had expectations that I would be  having to bury my child over something as senseless as a carjacking'.

'What do we do? Where do we go, you know? He didnt have to die. He didnt have to die. He didnt deserve to die. Not like this,' he said.

Washington DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb recently told residents concerned by the skyrocketing crime rate that his department could not 'prosecute and arrest our way out' of the problem.

He was specifically talking about violent crime - including enormous numbers of carjackings - that was plaguing the nation's capital.
by Kazi Anwarul Masud





SHOULD EUROPE BE AFRAID OF THE RISE OF FAR-RIGHT MENACE?





While examining the fear of Europe of the emergence of far-right we may refer to the report by BBCs Katya Adler that the EUs third-largest economy, Italy, is run by Giorgia Meloni, head of a party with neo-fascist roots. After 3 months of debate in Finland, the far-right nationalists The Finns recently joined the coalition government. In Sweden the firmly anti-immigration, anti-multiculturalism Sweden Democrats are the second largest party in parliament, propping up the right-wing coalition government there. In Greece last Sunday three hard-right parties won enough seats to enter parliament, while in Spain, the controversial nationalist Vox Party  the first successful far-right party in Spain since the death of fascist dictator Francisco Franco in 1975  outperformed all expectations in recent regional elections. Spains Vox led by Santiago Abascal sees itself as the kingmaker and is up to 14% in the polls. Besides there are the ultra-conservative, authoritarian-leaning governments in Poland and Hungary.





Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini during Hitler's 1938 state visit to Italy.





The list goes on and on. Including even Germany, still so sensitive about its fascist past. Polls there now put the far-right AfD just ahead of, or neck and neck with, Chancellor Scholzs Social Democrats (SPD). Last weekend an AfD candidate won a local leadership post for the first time. The SPD called it a political dam-breaker. What, she asks, does Europe mean by political parties described as far-right? Germanys far-right AfD is riding high in the polls and scored its first district election victory recently in Eastern Germany. She adds how hardline some mainstream politicians can sound, especially before elections, when it comes to immigration and provides as an example center-right Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, or self-described centrist Emmanuel Macron. Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations says Europe is looking at a huge paradox.





On the one hand, many a mainstream politician has in recent years grabbed slogans or stances from the far-right, hoping to rob them of their supporters. But by doing so they help make the far right seem more mainstream. While at the same time, several far-right parties in Europe have intentionally moved more towards the political center, hoping to entice more centrist voters. If Russia can be taken as an example a large number of parties on the far-right  like The League in Italy, Marine Le Pen of France and Austrias Freedom Party Far had traditionally close ties to Moscow. That became more than awkward following Vladimir Putins full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leading to party leaders to change their rhetoric.





ROOTS OF FASCISM AND NAZISM





If we are to go to the roots of Fascism we have to travel to the days of Benito Mussolini and his aspiration to spread his philosophy throughout the world. Though Adolph Hitler was a great admirer of Mussolini the latter did not share his enthusiasm for the concept of racial superiority which was a central point of Nazism. Fascism was founded on the principle of nationalist unity which opposed the divisionism class war ideologies of Marxist socialism and communism. the majority of the regimes viewed racialism as counterproductive to unity, with Mussolini asserting: that National pride does not need the delirium of race. Nazism differed from Italian fascism in that it had a stronger emphasis on race in terms of social and economic policies. Though both ideologies denied the significance of the individual, Italian fascism saw the individual as subservient to the state whereas Nazism saw the individual as well as the state as ultimately subservient to the race. Should we then travel to decades of European history to reach the architect of the right concept Mussolini- and his mentor Adolf Hitler- as both of them were sponsors of the concepts, albeit with differences, that led to the catastrophe of World War Two? Upon Mussolinis rise to power, the Nazis declared their admiration and emulation.





ADOLF HITLERS ADORATION OF BENITO MUSSOLINI





(I would be amiss if I did not owe help I had taken from WIKIPEDIA on paragraphs relating to Benito Mussolini and Adolph Hitler). Adolf Hitlers admirers believed that what Benito Mussolini did in Italy could be done in Bavaria. Weve also got Italys Mussolini: his name is Adolf Hitler. Hitlers Mein Kampf (The National Socialist Movement, 1926) contains this passage: I conceived the most profound admiration for the great man south of the Alps who, full of ardent love for his people, made no pacts with the enemies of Italy, but strove for their destruction by all ways and means.





What will rank Mussolini among the great men of this earth is his determination not to share Italy with the Markists, but to destroy and save the fatherland from it. In a 1931 interview, Hitler spoke admirably about Mussolini, commending Mussolinis racial origins as being the same as that of Germans and claimed at the time that Mussolini was capable of building an Italian Empire that would outdo the Roman Empire and that he supported Mussolinis endeavors, saying: They know that Benito Mussolini is constructing a colossal empire which will put the Roman Empire in the shade. Mussolini had personal reasons to oppose antisemitism as his longtime mistress and Fascist propaganda director Margherita Sarfatti was Jewish. She had played an important role in establishing the fascist movement in Italy and promoting it to Italians and the world through supporting the arts.





However, within the Italian fascist movement, there was a minority who endorsed Hitlers antisemitism. There were also nationalist reasons why Germany and Italy were not immediate allies. Hapsberg Austria (Hitlers birthplace) had an antagonistic relationship with Italy since it was formed, largely because Austria-Hungary had seized most of the territories once belonging to Italian states such as Venice. Although initially neutral Italy entered World War One on the side of the Allies against Germany and Austria-Hungary when promised several territories. In Germany and Austria, the annexation of some territories was controversial as the province was made up of a large majority of German speakers.





DIFFERENCES IN FASCISM AND NAZISM IDEOLOGY





The most striking difference is the racialist ideology which was the central priority of Nazism, but not a priority of the other ideologies. Fascism was founded on the principle of nationalist unity which opposed the diversionist classs war ideologies of Marxist Socialism and Communism; therefore, the majority of the regimes viewed racialism as counterproductive to unity, with Mussolini asserting: that National pride does not need the delirium of race. Nazism differed from Italian fascism in that it had a stronger emphasis on race in terms of social and economic policies. Though both ideologies denied the significance of the individual, Italian fascism saw the individual as subservient to the state whereas Nazism saw the individual as well as the state as ultimately subservient to the race.





However, subservience to the Nazi state was also a requirement on the population. Mussolinis fascism held that cultural factors existed to serve the state and that it was not necessarily in the states interest to interfere in cultural aspects of society. The only purpose of government in Mussolinis fascism was to uphold the state as supreme above all else. Unlike Hitler, Mussolini repeatedly changed his views on the issue of race according to the circumstances of the time. In 1921, Mussolini promoted the development of the Italian race such as when he said this: The nation is not simply the sum of living individuals, nor the instrument of parties for their own ends, but an organism comprised of the infinite series of generations of which the individuals are only transient elements; it is the supreme synthesis of all the material and immaterial values of the race.





CONCLUSION





The question that arises is whether European countries and the multipolar world enmeshed with Sino-Russian compounded relations should be a lesson for the present-day world. The rise of China and her claim for a seat at the table framing the so-called rule-based world, more breached than honored, along with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, coupled with Israeli genocidal actions in Palestine virtually ruling out a two-state solution by Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing colleagues, should be taken as a European problem or one for the entire world. Perhaps it would be prudent to go back to Europe and the panic rise of the Far Right could enmesh the continent. The Guardian ( London) would not be amiss to highlight EU leaders panic about what Trump 2.0 would mean for war in Ukraine  and beyond.





Could an isolationist US abandon Ukraine and leave the rest of Europe exposed to Kremlin aggression? Viktor Orban, the EUs most pro-Russian leader, caused dismay by unilaterally blocking a crucial 50 billion EU financial aid package for Ukraine. Orbans blocking of the money had dismayed other EU leaders that turned to anger. The context for the new impatience with Orban was a mounting anxiety in Europes capitals throughout the war in Ukraine  and the fate of other European countries bordering Russia  if Donald Trump is returned to the White House later this year. Flushed with victory in early nomination battles, Trump is ramping up his anti-NATO rhetoric. It emerged recently that he said the US should not intervene to help if Europe comes under attack.





That amounts to shredding the famous Article 5, the mutual defense pledge enshrined in the NATO treaty. The US Congress is already refusing to pass President Joe Bidens additional multibillion-dollar package to help Ukraine buy weapons. It is unlikely Trump would release that money if he had any say. Europes security challenges are piling up: the Ukraine counteroffensive against Russia is stuck. There is war in the Middle East and the risk of wider regional escalation is high. The increasingly urgent question is what would happen if a second-term Trump drops Ukraine and tells Europe where to get off militarily? Guardian columnists Nathalie Tocci and Simon Tisdall agree that the risk is not just of an isolationist US, defunding NATO but that Trumps return to power could embolden the Kremlins imperial ambitions.





For some European governments are sleeping at the tiller given the present geopolitical volatility. France has long argued for Europes strategic autonomy but, while EU defense cooperation has quietly been stepped up since 2022, a joint defense capability remains divisive. An EU army remains taboo. Macrons speech in Sweden warned that Europe needed to ramp up its entire defense effort and security architecture to prepare for the possibility of Joe Bidens defeat. Europe, he said must be ready to act to defend and support Ukraine whatever it takes and whatever America decides.





Army and defense chiefs across Europe have also started to talk openly about war and preparedness  or lack of it. Sweden reintroduced compulsory civil defense for the first time since the end of the Cold War on 19 January. A looming sense of potential conflict has descended on the region in recent weeks. In Finland, the presidential election is dominated by discussion of the Russian threat. War talk may sound alarmist to some, but if the function of these warnings is to shake public opinion out of complacency, they are landing at a judicious time. The enmeshed world cannot afford another catastrophe that may engulf not only Europe but the world beyond.





Kazi Anwarul Masud is a retired Bangladeshi diplomat. During his tenure, he worked in several countries as the ambassador of Bangladesh including Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea and Germany
NHS hospitals are spending tens of thousands of pounds battling a surge in rat infestations.

The average number of times NHS trusts have called in pest control services to get rid of rats and mice has risen by 50 per cent since 2018.

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, pest controllers were called in 409 times last year  more than once a day across six hospital buildings.

It has spent nearly 16,000 on pest control at three hospitals alone since 2021, data released under the Freedom of Information Act shows.

Barts Health Trust in London has called out pest control more than 1,000 times in the past five years.

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, pest controllers were called in 409 times last year  more than once a day across six hospital buildings. Above: Trafford General Hospital in Manchester

Barts Health Trust in London has called out pest control more than 1,000 times in the past five years. Above: St Bartholomew's Hospital, London

The average number of times NHS trusts have called in pest control services to get rid of rats and mice has risen by 50 per cent since 2018

Hospitals are reportedly struggling with cleanliness and a shortage of cleaners.

Patients' videos apparently showing rats strolling in hospital corridors have gone viral.

Some hospitals have told nurses to double up as cleaners amid staffing shortages.

Kings College Hospital Trust in South London has called pest control out 958 times since 2018  585 of those since 2022. It put the spike down to improved logging of pest sightings, as well as 'extensive building works being undertaken'.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust said it employs its own in-house pest control team.

Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'Record waiting lists, industrial action and dangerous ambulance delays are not the only things plaguing the NHS'

Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'Record waiting lists, industrial action and dangerous ambulance delays are not the only things plaguing the NHS.

'The least patients expect is to be treated in a safe, clean environment. We will provide the investment and reform to make the NHS fit for the future.'

NHS England said: 'Hospitals must have an effective pest control policy and it is good practice to use experts to quickly deal with any issue so staff and patients aren't affected.'

King's College Hospital Trust added: 'As a large NHS provider with a number of historic buildings, we have effective pest control measures in place.'
Zoning out in front of the TV is nobody's idea of a healthy activity.

But scientists say it could be contributing more to weight gain than simply being part of a sedentary couch-potato lifestyle.

New research suggests that the very act of eating meals in front of a screen makes you more liable to pile on the pounds than sitting around a table, even if you are otherwise healthy.

They say that being distracted by your favourite programme  or by scrolling through your phone  means your brain is less likely to register that certain foods or drinks are high in fat.

Nearly half of British people regularly tuck into meals while watching TV, or glued to their phone or computer.

New research suggests that the very act of eating meals in front of a screen makes you more liable to pile on the pounds

Being distracted by your favourite programme, or scrolling through your phone means your brain is less likely to register that certain foods or drinks are high in fat

It is thought to be a major factor behind the UK's obesity crisis, with 26 per cent of adults falling into that category and another 38 per cent considered overweight.

Scientists at Mersin University in Turkey wanted to pinpoint precisely why eating when the brain is concentrating on something else seems to contribute to weight gain.

They recruited 22 healthy women and ten men  none of whom were obese  and got them to drink either a high-fat or a low-fat chocolate drink while trying to memorise sequences of letters.

They were then also asked to rate how the drinks tasted and whether they thought they were high or low in fat. Those who had more difficult strings of letters to remember were much less likely to identify the drink that was high in fat.

Nearly half of British people regularly tuck into meals while watching TV, or glued to their phone or computer

Writing in the journal Appetite, the researchers said the results suggests that distracting the brain during mealtimes  by watching TV or scrolling through social media  affects its ability to regulate calorie intake.

They said: 'Modern, fast-paced life often includes multitasking during meals, many of which are consumed in front of a television, a computer screen or with a mobile device in hand.

'But this distraction may contribute to the development of obesity.

'Our results show it can reduce perception of high-fat foods and this may pose a particular risk of overeating them.' The results follow a string of similar findings, including previous studies that linked eating in front of the TV to higher body-mass index, possibly because it leads to more 'mindless' munching.

In children, being exposed to more TV adverts for junk food has also been found to be linked to weight gain, with a 'significant' correlation between the number of commercials seen and levels of youngsters being overweight.

One 2021 study found that playing a fast version of Tetris affected people's sense of smell as they concentrated on the video game.
A brave have-a-go hero has recounted how his partner lunged at suspected 'acid' attacker Abdul Ezedi as he tried to harm a three-year-old child, potentially saving the youngster's life.

The eyewitness account has surfaced as the manhunt for the suspect enters a fourth day as police continue to hunt down the 35-year-old following Wednesday's attack in Clapham, south London.

Speaking to The Times about their ordeal, the couple revealed that they ran out of their home after hearing screams coming from outside.

She said she saw a man, thought to be Ezedi, attacking a 'vulnerable' woman, 31, and her two daughters, aged eight and three.

Unaware of any potential harm to themselves, the witness said her partner saw the man try to hurt the young child.

A brave have-a-go hero has recounted how his partner lunged at suspected 'acid' attacker Abdul Ezedi (pictured) as he tried to harm a three-year-old child, potentially saving the youngster's life

Police have shared footage of Ezedi pictured on CCTV in King's Cross (left) and Tesco (right) with significant injuries after the attack

Ezedi, from the Newcastle area, has been named by police as the suspect in a corrosive alkaline substance attack in Clapham, south London

'We had no idea any substance was involved; only that the guy was clearly intent on hurting the [three-year-old],' the witness said. 'He then went to pick the child up off the road to do it [throw the child to the ground] again, which is when my partner lunged in and tackled him, grabbing his leg and falling to the ground in the process like a rugby tackle.'

Both the man and woman have been injured from the attack. He has arm injuries, while his partner has 'burnt both eyeballs' and may have permanent damage.

The witness added: 'I have no doubt that if my partner had not jumped in then the child would no longer be with us, and if our other neighbours hadn't immediately taken the family and washed them down then their injuries would have been far worse.'

Forensics at the scene take picture of the location close to Clapham Common following the incident

Detectives have urged Ezedi - who is from the Newcastle area and described as having very 'significant injuries to the right side of his face' - to hand himself in after going on the run following Wednesday's attack in Clapham, south London.

A 31-year-old mother, believed to be known to Ezedi, was attacked with a corrosive alkaline substance and remains 'very poorly' and sedated in hospital, with her injuries thought to be 'life-changing'.

The injuries to her daughters, aged three and eight, are 'not likely to be life-changing'.

The wanted man was last seen at King's Cross underground station on Wednesday night, where he boarded a southbound Victoria line train.

'Significant and important pieces of evidence' were recovered in raids at two addresses in east London and three in Newcastle, police said.

They include empty containers with corrosive warnings found at one address in Newcastle, which are shown in new footage released by detectives.

Forensic tests to see if the containers held the substance used in the attack are ongoing.

The Metropolitan Police said it has received 'dozens of calls' about the manhunt, including possible sightings of Ezedi.

The force also said it is working 'round the clock' with British Transport Police, Northumbria Police, the National Crime Agency and Transport for London on the manhunt.

Commander Jon Savell said: 'The police investigation to establish his subsequent movements and ultimately locate him is continuing at pace.

'I want to thank everyone who has contacted police to share what they know.

'We have received dozens of calls with information, including possible sightings, and every single piece of information has been recorded and forms part of our ongoing investigation.

'I can assure the public that my colleagues and I are fully committed to using every available tool and tactic for as long as it takes to find Abdul Ezedi.

'I am today urging the public to remain vigilant and to contact police immediately if they may have seen Ezedi or have information about him.

'I would also like to reiterate that if you see Ezedi, you should call 999 immediately. He should not be approached.'

Questions remain over how the suspect, who was granted asylum in the UK after two failed attempts, was able to stay in the country despite being convicted of a sex offence.

Ezedi, who is thought to have arrived in the UK from Afghanistan on the back of a lorry in 2016, claimed to have converted to Christianity, which would have put him at risk following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he was handed a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court on January 9 2018 after pleading guilty to one charge of sexual assault and one of exposure.

He was put on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Prime Minster Rishi Sunak's spokesman said on Friday that the PM does not think 'foreign criminals should be able to stay' in the UK.

It has been reported that the suspect was able to gain asylum after claiming he had converted to Christianity.

The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle said in a statement it had found nothing to suggest he had become a Catholic but checks were continuing.

It said: 'Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with the victims of this appalling attack in south London.'

The diocese confirmed that Ezedi 'visited our diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project, a charitable venture which assists a wide range of people who come to us in need'.

It added: 'After checking local parish records and central records and after consulting with clergy we have no indication that Abdul Ezedi was received into the Catholic faith in this diocese or that a Catholic priest of this diocese gave him a reference.

'We do not know which Christian church received him nor which Christian minister gave him a reference.'

The project says on its website that it gives food, toiletries and clothes to vulnerable people.

It does not get involved with any asylum claims clients may be pursuing, it is understood.

The PA news agency understands that Ezedi visited it recently.

The Church of England said it is currently not aware of any links to its churches, with a spokesperson adding that it is 'the role of the Home Office, and not the church, to vet asylum seekers and judge the merits of their individual cases'.

The case has echoes of that of Iraqi-born Emad Al Swealmeen, 32, who died from a blast and subsequent fire after his homemade bomb detonated in a taxi outside Liverpool Women's Hospital.

He also claimed to be a Christian convert to support his asylum claim.

At a press conference on Friday, Mr Savell urged the suspect to hand himself in.

He said: 'Abdul, you clearly have got some very significant injuries.

'We've seen the images. You need some medical help, so do the right thing and hand yourself in.'

His brother Hassan Ezedi told The Sun newspaper he would hand the suspect in if he knew where he was.

The wanted man left Newcastle in the 'very, very early hours' of Wednesday and travelled south to the capital and was in the Tooting area by around 6.30am, police say.

His vehicle was seen again in Croydon, south London, at around 4.30pm and by around 7pm he was in Streatham.

Ezedi allegedly threw the younger child to the ground during the attack at 7.25pm, before attempting to drive away from the scene, crashing into a stationary vehicle and fleeing on foot.

Minutes later he boarded a tube at Clapham South Underground station, and by 8pm he was at King's Cross tube station.

At 8.42pm, Ezedi was captured on CCTV in Tesco on the Caledonian Road, pictured with a 'fairly significant facial injury' buying a bottle of water, before leaving and heading right.

He got on a Victoria line Tube at 9pm heading south, the last confirmed sighting.

Police say three members of the public who came to the aid of the family during Wednesday's attack, two in their 30s and one in her 50s, have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns.

Five officers who responded to the incident were also treated and have now left hospital.

As well as the 11 people taken to hospital, a man in his 50s, who also helped, declined hospital treatment for minor injuries, police said.
Three more people have been arrested over the mystery disappearance of a Colombian student who had been living in luxury before he vanished.

Sergio Cuesta, 28, was last seen on Jabiru Drive at Chelsea Heights, in Melbourne's south-east, after getting out of his mate's car about 8.15pm on September 16.

Michael Frankland, 49, was arrested and appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Three more people have been arrested including a 25-year-old man who was taken away by police at Melbourne airport after travelling form Queensland on Saturday.

The other two arrests took place in Brisbane.

Mr Cuesta was last seen at Jabiru in Chelsea Heights, 30km south-east of Melbourne's CBD after a friend dropped him off about 8.15pm

The 25-year-old man was charged with murder, and had a quantity of cash seized following his arrest.

He has been remanded in custody and is due to front Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Queensland Police assisted in the arrest of another 25-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman in Brisbane on Saturday.

Police are expected to submit an application in the Brisbane Magistrates' Court on Monday to extradite the pair to Victoria.

Mr Cuesta had spent some time in Queensland before he disappeared.

Detectives believe the student was at a dinner party with friends in Melbourne's CBD when he received a phone call and asked one of his friends to drive him to Chelsea Heights.

Mr Cuesta had been living in luxury in a Melbourne city apartment.

Worried friends reported Mr Cuesta missing to the police on September 21.

Mr Cuesta is a Colombian student who is about 170cm tall with a solid build and dark hair

Police are still analysing CCTV footage from surrounding homes.

A Cranbourne man, 48, was arrested but was later released pending further inquiries.

Mr Cuesta is a Colombian student who is about 170cm tall with a solid build and dark hair.

At the time he was last seen, Mr Cuesta was wearing a black t-shirt, black pants and black sneakers.

Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to submit a confidential crime report.
Outrage flooded a local police department in North Carolina after cops placed an ailing K-9 German Shepherd named Pac-Man into a shelter instead of allowing him to retire with his former handler.

The police K-9 Pac-Man, aged 7, has been sleeping in the kennel at a shelter since November last year, despite his former handler Nathan Ingram offering to buy him.

Ingram worked with Pac-Man for the past three years with the Dunn Police Department in North Carolina, but he had been on light duty, recovering from an injury in October last year.

But during an unexpected phone call, Dunn Police Chief Cary Jackson told Ingram that she's taking his faithful companion to the Dunn Animal Shelter.

Ingram offered to cover the cost for Pac-Man, who has had joint pain and suffered from anxiety, if he was allowed to retire and live with him, but the chief refused.

The police K-9 Pac-Man, aged 7, has been sleeping in the kennel at a shelter since November last year, despite his former handler Nathan Ingram (right) offering to buy him

Ingram worked with Pac-Man for the past three years with the Dunn Police Department in North Carolina, but he had been on light duty, recovering from an injury in October last year

Ingram offered to cover the cost for Pac-Man, who has had joint pain and suffered from anxiety, if he was allowed to retire and live with him, but the chief refused.

'He went to work with me every day I worked, he came home with me, stayed at my house every night, for three years. And then he was suddenly taken,' Ingram told CBS.

'Obviously he doesn't have a voice for himself. I can just imagine just not knowing what's going on, like hey, why am I here this long?' Ingram added.

Ingram, who has since left the department for a new job, claimed that the removal of Pac-Man from his car was an act of retaliation for his absence during a department photo shoot with the dog.

But Jackson disputed, saying Pac-Man was sent to the shelter because Ingram's injury would not allow him to take care of the dog.

Jackson said: 'That is simply not true. We're not going to get into the back-and-forth.'

'Based on the restrictions that were issued on him by his physician, we made the decision to remove the handler from him, so he could make sure that he was receiving appropriate care.'

Ingram rebuffed the claim, saying: 'I was fully able to care for Pac-Man during this time. It was not removed from my home for the reasons being portrayed to the public.'

The police K-9 Pac-Man, aged 7, has been sleeping in the kennel at a shelter since November last year

Ingram, who has since left the department for a new job, claimed that the removal of Pac-Man from his car was an act of retaliation for his absence during a department photo shoot with the dog

But Jackson disputed, saying Pac-Man was sent to the shelter because Ingram's injury would not allow him to take care of the dog

The heartbroken former officer mentioned that his companion is known to have leg issues, suffer from anxiety, and has been in poor medical condition.

But the department has refused to allow Pac-Man to retire, Ingram said, emphasizing that this is not the first time of such incident within the same police department.

'I just want Pac-Man to come home and would be forever grateful if he could enter into retirement and enjoy the last few years that he may have left,' Ingram told local news station WRAL.

The chief insisted that the dog is able to work, describing Pac-Man as 'a healthy, loved, and respected member' of the agency.

'We feel like he's fully capable based on our consultation with our veterinarian and police trainers, canine trainers,' Jackson said.

'It would be an injustice to K-9 Apacs to retire and not be able to do what he lives to do, which is work and provide a service to the City of Dunn,' she said.

The heartbroken former officer mentioned that his companion is known to have leg issues, suffer from anxiety, and has been in poor medical condition

But the department has refused to allow Pac-Man to retire, Ingram said, emphasizing that this is not the first time of such incident within the same police department

In a lengthy statement released last week by the police department, Jackson said Pac-Man has been medically cleared and would start his training soon.

'Appropriate training for this K-9 officer/handler and Apacs has been arranged and will begin next week at no additional cost to the taxpayers of Dunn,' she said.

'All the previously mentioned care for Dunn P.D.'s K-9 Apacs has been necessitated as a result of the former K-9 officer's voluntary separation from Dunn Police Department,' writes Jackson.

'At no time has K-9 Apacs been "abandoned" at the Dunn Animal Shelter. He has been personally cared for and medically cleared to continue his service as a working police dog.'

The agency did not specify who the next handler for Pac-Man will be, leading to conflicting information in local reports.

The police dog was reportedly moved to the custody and care of Dunn's Animal Control Director Courtney Hayter when Ingram was placed on medical leave last year.

He was then moved to a climate-controlled kennel at the shelter when Hayter started a basic law enforcement training in January.

Officer N.A. Blanchard is reported to become his new handler, as mentioned by the Daily Record, but he's still waiting for a kennel to be built at his home.

However, other local media outlets assert that Sgt. Adam Sikorski will become the new handler, as he said it's time to move forward.

Sikorski told WARL: 'This is what he lives for - working, finding drugs, finding bad guys. We start training on Monday, which we are really excited for.'

In a lengthy statement released last week by the police department, Jackson said Pac-Man has been medically cleared and would start his training soon

The agency did not specify who the next handler for Pac-Man will be, leading to conflicting information in local reports

According to a post shared by an account named 'Pac-Man Retire K-9 Officer APAC,' the police dog has been assigned to his third handler for training last week.

The petition to allow Pac-Man has since elicited overwhelming reactions from social media users, including some locals who even attended the city's council meeting to voice their concerns last week.

Johnnie Jackson, who worked with dogs in law enforcement, including with the Dunn police, is one of the people advocating for Pac-Man's retirement.

'The way K-9 Pacman has been treated by Chief Cary Jackson infuriates me. I've lost all respect for the Leadership of Dunn Police department and its council.

'The moves being allowed with this 7-year-old dog lacks any common sense or heart,' he added.

'For this dog to have been in a shelter for two months and now all the sudden in a week, it gets thrown with a handler, and in another week it's in a school, in my opinion, it's too much on an old dog,' he said at the city's council meeting.

'It's like if I stayed in the same profession, or you did, for 49 years, and then all of the sudden, I get thrown out where I got to run like I used to, and jump like I used to, because when they go to school, it's not an easy school.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Dunn Police Department for comments and further information.
A Bay Area Elementary School has spent $250,000 on a 'Woke Kindergarten' program only to see its student's literacy and numeracy rates plunge.

The 'Woke Kindergarten' program states its mission as an 'abolitionist early learning ecosystem' that trains teachers to uproot white supremacy, disrupt racism and oppression which are barriers to learning.

After spending the federal money on the program Glassbrook Elementary in Hayward saw numeracy among its 474 students fall to a new low of just 4 percent and literacy just 12 percent.

The scores, recorded last Spring two years into Woke Kindergarten's three-year contract, represent a 4 percentage decline in each category.

The school also remains on the state's lowest-performing level on the Comprehensive School Improvement list and has a lower rate of attendance than before the program was introduced.

The for-profit company was founded by non-binary early educator Akiea 'Ki' Gross (pictured)

The 'Woke Kindergarten' program states its mission as an 'abolitionist early learning ecosystem' that trains teachers to uproot white supremacy, disrupt racism and oppression which are barriers to learning

Some Glassbrook teachers, including Tiger Craven-Neeley (pictured) have raised concerns about the program and use of the funds designed to help some of the country's lowest performing schools

Woke Kindergarten's philosophy of 'abolitionist education' aimed at elementary school aged kids centers around the idea that the education system as it is, steeped in racism and other oppressive structures, cannot be reformed.

Instead it advocates 'a kind of starting over,' Zeus Leonardo, UC Berkeley education professor told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Woke Kindergarten is flagrant about its political leanings, with its social media pages littered with graphics about abolishing the police, anti-Israel messages and even advocating the abolition of money.

One such lesson the program offers to elementary school children includes the 'wondering' where students are asked to consider 'if the United States defunded the Israeli military, how could this money be used to rebuild Palestine?'

Woke Kindergarten also teaches the kids a 'woke word of the day' such as 'ceasefire' in order to educate them with 'language of the resistance  to introduce children to liberatory vocabulary in a way that they can easily digest, understand and most importantly, use in their critiques of the system.'

The for-profit company was founded by non-binary early educator Akiea 'Ki' Gross, who uses they/them pronouns.

Gross has far-left views that include imagining a world 'free of of the US empire and free of Israel' which they have previously referred to as a 'made-up place'.

In an Instagram post defining the word ceasefire they said: 'One place that people are demanding a permanent ceasefire for is in Palestine because they are being occupied, or controlled, by a made up place called Israel that has settlers called Zionist who are harming and killing the Palestinian people who have always live on the land.'

Glassbrook Elementary in Hayward remains on the state's lowest-performing level on the Comprehensive School Improvement list

Woke Kindergarten is flagrant about its political leanings, with its social media pages littered with graphics about abolishing the police, anti-Israel messages and even advocating the abolition of money

Other information pushed by the company includes trans-affirming information for kids

Gross has far-left views that include imagining a world 'free of of the US empire and free of Israel' which they have previously referred to as a 'made-up place'

One of the recent 'woke words of the day' posted to the company's Instagram was 'ceasefire'

Hayward Superintendent Jason Reimann defended the school's decision to hire Woke Kindergarten

'I am anti-Israel, I am pro-Palestine' Gross posted on the Woke Kindergarten Instagram account on Saturday.

'I believe Israel has no right to exist. I believe the United States has no right to exist' they explained.

'These people keep coming for me. I am pro humanity' they added.

Some Glassbrook teachers, including Tiger Craven-Neeley, have raised concerns about the program and use of the funds designed to help some of the country's lowest performing schools.

Craven-Neeley, a white gay man, told the Chronicle he has been banned from the Woke Kindergarten training sessions for daring to ask an unidentified trainer from the program what 'disrupting whiteness' meant after it was listed as one of the program's primary objectives.

The teacher said he questioned a trainer who used the phrase 'so-called United States,' as well as lessons available on the organization's web site offering 'Lil' Comrade Convos,' or 'wonderings' about a world without police, money or landlords.

'I just want to know, what does that mean for a third-grade classroom?' he told the Chronicle.

Woke Kindergarten 'had a lot of good things. I think race should be addressed. Children should be aware if they are being discriminated against,' Craven-Neely explained.

'But as a teacher of Hayward Unified, I shouldn't have to get on the bandwagon of defunding police or insulting our country' he added.

'It slowly became very apparent if you were a dissenting voice that it's not what they wanted to hear,' another teacher told the publication.

'Our reading scores are low,' they said.

Reimann said Woke Kindergarten wasn't hired to improve literacy and math scores, but that 'helping students feel safe and whole is part and parcel of academic achievement'

The company recently posted a 'Free Palestine' infographic for children to its Instagram

Gross and Woke Kindergarten previously hit headlines when a school district in Virginia posted - and then deleted - information on their website telling students to listen to an audiobook by Gross suggesting they should not feel safe around police

Gross frequently shares her thoughts on topics such as Islamophobia on social media

Craven-Neeley questioned lessons available on the organization's web site offering 'Lil' Comrade Convos,' or 'wonderings' about a world without police, money or landlords

Adding: 'That could have gotten us a reading interventionist.'

Hayward Superintendent Jason Reimann defended the school's decision to hire Woke Kindergarten, telling the Chronicle parents, teachers and staff identified the provider as a means to boost student achievement by improving attendance.

'We are in favor 100% of abolishing systems of oppression where they hold our students back,' he said.

'What I do believe is we should pick providers based on their work and how effective they are.'

Reimann said Woke Kindergarten wasn't hired to improve literacy and math scores, but that 'helping students feel safe and whole is part and parcel of academic achievement.'

'I get that it's more money than we would have liked to have spent' he conceded.

Gross and Woke Kindergarten previously hit headlines when a school district in Virginia posted - and then deleted - information on their website telling students to listen to an audiobook by Gross suggesting they should not feel safe around police.

Among recommended readings, writing goals and school standards on Fairfax Community Public Schools' (FCPS) website, they listed Woke Kindergarten's audiobook Safe as a summer resource for second graders ahead of the 2021-2022 school year.

A video of the audiobook started with Gross's narration saying 'we all deserve to feel safe.'

Towards the end of the video they said: 'I feel safe when there are no police.'
The cause of death surrounding a man who was found unresponsive in his backyard has continued to plague detectives.

Tony Pope was found by his father, who called triple zero, in their Waterford West home, 30kilometres south of Brisbane CBD, at 2.30am on Saturday.

Paramedics rushed to the house and tried to revive the 44-year-old, but were unable to save him and a crime scene was established.

'The circumstances surrounding the death are simply unexplained at the moment,' Detective Inspector Chris Knight told reporters.

'There are aspects of the gentleman's death we are just not quite satisfied with, and while those questions remain, we have a responsibility to him and his family to try and get the best resolution.'

Tony Pope (pictured) was found by his father, who called triple zero, at around 2.30am in their Waterford West home, 30kilometres south of Brisbane CBD

Paramedics rushed to the house and tried to revive the 44-year-old, but were unable to save him and a crime scene was established by police (pictured)

Mr Pope lived at the unit in Kingston Road with his elderly father and two young children, who were there at the time.

His body is expected to remain at scene as the authorities, including homicide, forensic and intelligence teams examine the circumstances surrounding the death.

Inspector Knight said officers had interviewed to Mr Pope's immediate family and neighbours, who gave 'varying reports'.

The police also contacted the deceased man's friends and other family members for any information that may be important to the investigation.

A post mortem examination of Mr Pope's remains will be held after his body is released from the scene to try to determine a cause of death.
A woman has shared an urgent warning after she lost her deposit in a Facebook Marketplace scam.

Susie*, who is deaf, was with her partner looking for a new trailer, when they thought they had found the perfect one.

The couple paid a $150 deposit when they were given an address where they were told the trailer was being kept.

The couple drove over an hour-and-a-half away to inspect it.

When they were around ten minutes away from the address, Susie received a text from the seller saying they would be late.

Susie, who is deaf and whose name has been changed, was with her partner looking for a new trailor on Facebook Marketplace, when they were given a fake address after paying over $150 for a deposit

After making the deposit payment to the alleged scammer, the couple drove over an hour and a half away to inspect the trailer, which turned out to be a fake address

Even though once they arrived Susie believed something felt off, they still decided to park out the front of the house and wait.

After waiting for over an hour, Susie texted them and they failed to respond.

'We felt very confused, tired and frustrated, waiting for them to reply,' she said.

The couple then realised they had been given a fake address.

Susie later discovered the Facebook 'seller' had impersonated other accounts to look legitimate.

Susie told 7News they were devastated that her and her partner had their time wasted as well as their money.

Feeling as though they were preyed upon by the scammer, she hopes her story can help warn others.

'There are people selling items, using different names and then selling the same things over and over,' she said.

Susie said despite contacting her bank first thing the next morning, there wasn't much they could do.

The alleged victim also reported it to Facebook marketplace, but doesn't believe they have taken any action.

Susie later discovered the Facebook 'seller' had impersonated other accounts to look legitimate

'I feel strongly that they should be watching these kinds of people or doing something about it.'

Anyone who thinks they have been scammed should contact their financial institution immediately.

People can report any financial losses to ReportCyber, an online police reporting portal for cyber incidents.

Scam victims can also report an incident to Scamwatch to assist with education and awareness activities.

If you have had any of your personal information compromised, you can access support from IDCARE.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Meta for comment.

* Name changed
Aboriginal rights advocate and trailblazer Lowitja O'Donoghue, who played a pivotal role in native title legislation and was the first Aboriginal person to address the United Nations, has died at home in Adelaide, aged 91.

The Yankunytjatjara woman was the inaugural chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission in 1990 and later lobbied the Keating government to recognise Aboriginal land ownership through the native title laws.

In 1992 Dr O'Donoghue addressed the UN General Assembly as part of its year of indigenous peoples.

She rose to prominence after she became the first Aboriginal person to train as a nurse at Royal Adelaide Hospital in 1954.

She sought the support of then South Australian premier Thomas Playford after initially being denied the opportunity because of her Indigenous heritage.

Aboriginal rights advocate and trailblazer Lowitja O'Donoghue (pictured), who played a pivotal role in native title legislation and was the first Aboriginal person to address the UN, has died at home in Adelaide, aged 91

Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue (in red outfit) is pictured with fellow Indigenous leaders Professor Marcia Langton, Patrick Dodson, Gatjil Djerrukura and Peter Yu outside Buckingham Palace in London

READ MORE: Anthony Albanese addresses rumours about whether an Aboriginal Australian will be his next Governor-General - after Daily Mail Australia revealed Linda Burney is in the mix Insiders said the PM was considering Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney (pictured) for the job Advertisement

Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney paid tribute to Dr O'Donoghue and her 'enormous courage, dignity and grace' on Sunday.

She said Dr O'Donoghue's life was shaped by her childhood experience, including being taken away from her mother in remote South Australia as a two-year-old, put into a mission home and banned from speaking her own language.

'Lowitja's leadership and tenacity has been an inspiration for generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, including myself,' Ms Burney said.

'She was a truly extraordinary leader. Lowitja was not just a giant for those of us who knew her, but a giant for our country.'

The matron of the Colebrook Children's Home in South Australia where Dr O'Donoghue grew up, told her that she wouldn't amount to anything, according to a statement from Ms Burney's office.

'How wrong she was. Dr O'Donoghue grew to become one of the nation's most influential Indigenous women.'

Her niece Deb Edwards said her aunt died peacefully on Sunday on Kauma Country in Adelaide with her immediate family by her side.

'Aunty Lowitja dedicated her entire lifetime of work to the rights, health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,' she said.

'We thank and honour her for all that she has done - for all the pathways she created, for all the doors she opened, for all the issues she tackled head on, for all the tables she sat at and for all the arguments she fought and won.'

Ms O'Donoghue was named Australian of the Year in 1984.

The non-profit Lowitja O'Donoghue Foundation was setup in 2022 to continue her legacy.

Counselling support for First Nations Australians 13YARN 13 92 76

Aboriginal Counselling Services 0410 539 905
The carjacker who shot dead former Trump Administration official Mike Gill during a nightlong crime spree was arrested over a car crash a year earlier.

Artell Cunningham, 28, was gunned down by police about 4.30am last Tuesday after he carjacked numerous vehicles and killed two people.

His first victim was Gill, a married father of three who was shot on K Street NW in Washington DC about 5.45pm last Monday and died in hospital on Saturday.

Gill served as chief operating officer of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission during Donald Trump's time in the White House.

Cunningham just 90 minutes later shot dead father-of-two Alberto Vasquez Jr, 35, in a separate carjacking nearby, then stole more cars at gunpoint.

He was killed by two New Carrollton Police officers who cornered him on the northeast outskirts of DC's Maryland suburbs.

Artell Cunningham, 28, was gunned down by police about 4.30am last Tuesday after he carjacked numerous vehicles and killed two people

Former Trump Administration official Mike Gill died after being shot during a carjacking in Washington DC. He seen here with his wife and three children just two weeks earlier

Alberto Vasquez Jr, 35, (pictured with his family) was killed in a separate DC carjacking by the same shooter 90 minutes after Gill was shot

Cunningham was memorialized by his sister Atia La'Shae, who replied 'yes, very much so' to a friend who wrote 'he will be missed' on her post.

Jeffery Carroll, the assistant chief of DC police, said Cunningham had a criminal history and appeared to be going through a mental health crisis at the time.

Arrest records indicate Cunningham was arrested on April 8, 2021, for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstructing officers, and failing to obey police instructions.

Then on September 24, 2022, he was arrested for driving an uninsured vehicle and fleeing the scene of a car accident he was involved in.

Washington DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb told residents concerned by the skyrocketing crime rate that his department could not 'prosecute and arrest our way out' of the problem.

He was speaking during Understanding Juvenile Carjacking: A Panel Discussion, that discussed a rise in violent crime that was plaguing the nation's capital.

Schwalb said if residents wanted to be 'safer in the long run' they needed to focus on preventing crime, not just arresting after the fact.

'We as a city and a community need to be much more focused on prevention and surrounding young people and their families with resources if we want to be safer in the long run,' he said.

'We cannot prosecute and arrest our way out of it.'

Cunningham was memorialized by his sister Atia La'Shae with this photo. She replied 'yes, very much so' to a friend who wrote 'he will be missed' on her post

Arrest records indicate Cunningham was arrested on April 8, 2021, for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstructing officers, and failing to obey police instructions

CCTV images show Cunningham, 28, who was hours later gunned down by two New Carrollton Police officers on the northeast outskirts of DC's Maryland suburbs

The panel was chaired by Councilman Charles Allen, who is facing a recall effort in his Ward 6 seat due to rising crime in the area, and the city overall.

Schwalb's office hit back at criticism from Republican lawmakers, insisting he was 'laser focused' on making DC safer but believed in a holistic solution.

This includes prosecuting juveniles and holding them accountable when they commit crimes, which we do for every serious offense where there is sufficient evidence to prove a case,' it said.

'Prosecution, however, by definition, takes place after a crime has occurred, and to truly make the District safer, we need to focus on stopping crime before it happens in the first place.

'Prevention efforts cannot replace effective policing and prosecution, but are equally necessary in order to make DC safer now and in the long run.'

Another law and order official, US Attorney for DC Matthew Graves, is facing calls for impeachment from Republicans over the increased crime.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced article of impeachment to the House on May 16 last year, but it has gone nowhere since.

Greene accused him of refusing to prosecute 67 per cent of suspects arrested by DC police, but going hard on the January 6 insurrectionists.

'The time for weaponizing the Department of Justice needs to come to an end. And because you refuse to prosecute real criminals that are violating all the crimes here in Washington DC, and you want to talk about DC residents  they are victims of your abuse of power,' she said.

'And because of that, I am introducing articles of impeachment on you, Mr Graves.'

Washington DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb recently told residents concerned by the skyrocketing crime rate that his department could not 'prosecute and arrest our way out' of the problem

During a panel, DC residents voiced their frustrations and demanded accountability from city leaders in addressing the violent crime epidemic that's plaguing our nations capital.



DC Attorney General Brian Schwalbs response: We cannot prosecute and arrest our way out of it. pic.twitter.com/hEUT8GG7Al  Carrie Severino (@JCNSeverino) January 31, 2024

Graves explained many lower-level cases were not prosecuted, such as gun possession, drug possession, and misdemeanors, due to lack of resources.

The biggest issue was the DC Department of Forensic Sciences losing its accreditation in 2021, forcing DNA and other evidence to be sent elsewhere for processing - an expensive and time consuming effort.

Prosecutors were also ditching more cases because bodycam footage exposed a lack of evidence for the crime, or didn't match police reports.

Graves said the vast majority of violent crime arrests were prosecuted - including 87.9 per cent of homicides, armed carjackings, assaults with intent to kill, and first-degree sexual assault cases in 2022.

Gill was the first victim of Cunningham's campaign of terror, and just minutes later at 7.05pm he tried to carjack another motorist on 3rd Street NE, but failed.

Gill was collecting his wife, an education lawyer, when he was shot inside the car by the attacker. He stumbled outside the vehicle and collapsed.

His wife rushed over to him and held his hand as he lay bleeding on the ground with one foot still inside the car, his right hand twitching.

Then at 7.17pm, Cunningham shot Vasquez at 3rd Street and N Street and stole his car, which was later found in Takoma Park.

Cunningham committed more carjackings around DC and its suburbs, including bashing a taxi driver in the head with his gun and stealing his car in University Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, at 11.23pm.

Then about 2.30am he shot the windscreen of a Maryland State Police trooper's car, and about 3am sprayed the door of a DC Police officer's car bullets as he drove past.

Former Trump Administration official Mike Gill has died after being shot during a carjacking in Washington DC

Gill was collecting his wife, an education lawyer, when he was shot inside the car by the attacker. He stumbled outside the vehicle and collapsed

New Carrollton Police tracked the stolen car to near a laundromat on Annapolis Road, where it was found disabled by the side of the road.

As they surveyed the scene, the Cunningham walked up to them, producing two handguns, after which he was shot and later died in hospital.

Jeffery Carroll, the assistant chief of DC police, said Cunningham had a criminal history and appeared to be going through a mental health crisis at the time.

Gill's wife Kristina thanked family, friend, and the community for their support her husband's sudden death as she confirmed his death.

'His sudden departure has left a void in our lives that can never be filled,' she said in a statement.

'Mike was not only a devoted husband and father but also a cherished son, brother, and friend.

'Over the course of his remarkable life, Mike brought people together and made them feel included, supported, and loved.

'His heart was evident in everything he did, as demonstrated by his mentorship and deep friendships with those who worked with him professionally.

'Above all, Mike spoke with pride and love about his family, especially our children, Sean, Brian, and Annika.'

Cunningham was on September 24, 2022, he was arrested for driving an uninsured vehicle and fleeing the scene of a car accident he was involved in

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.

J Christopher Giancarlo, who was chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission when Gill worked there, also paid tribute.

'Mike Gill was one of the most wonderful, honest, earnest, and open-hearted persons on this earth,' he said.

'His life reflects everything that is good and right and true. Words cannot express the tragedy of the loss of this fine man, colleague, and cherished friend. He will be sorely missed and long remembered.'

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

Cops are seen in Carrollton County, Maryland, on Tuesday morning, where the unnamed carjacking suspect was shot dead

After Trump lost the 2020 election, Gill was senior vice president for capital markets at the Housing Policy Council.

Drew Maloney, Gill's friend of 15 years and president of the American Investment Council, said he was like an extended member of their family.

'Our daughters' friendship blossomed into a beautiful bond, and it was a testament to Mike's warmth and kindness that he welcomed us into his life with open arms,' he said.

'Through countless holidays, celebrations, and shared moments, our families became intertwined, and I am so grateful for our enduring friendship.'

Jacob Walker, Vasquez's father, said his son just tuned 35 and now 'his daughters will never get that chance to talk to him again. No weddings, no nothing'.

He said he 'never had expectations that I would be  having to bury my child over something as senseless as a carjacking'.

'What do we do? Where do we go, you know? He didn't have to die. He didn't have to die. He didn't deserve to die. Not like this,' he said.
Nearly 140 people sickened with gastrointestinal illness on cruise ship: U.S. CDC

Xinhua) 10:22, February 04, 2024

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- A total of 139 people aboard a cruise ship in the United States have fallen sick with gastrointestinal illness, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday.

The "Queen Victoria" cruise ship from Cunard Cruise Line departed from Florida on Jan. 22 and is set to arrive in Hawaii on Feb. 12.

Among the ship's 1,824 passengers, 123 reported feeling sick during the voyage. Meanwhile, 16 among the 967 crew members have also fallen ill.

Their symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting, according to the CDC, while the cause of the illness remains unknown.

In response to the outbreak, Cunard Cruise Line and the crew aboard the ship increased cleaning and disinfection procedures with the sick passengers and crew properly isolated.

The CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program is remotely monitoring the situation, including reviewing the ship's outbreak response and sanitation procedures, according to the agency.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Some waters of the South China Sea have not been calm over the past couple of months, as the Philippines has been stirring up troubles through provocative acts one after another targeting Chinas Renai Jiao and Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea.





On Dec. 10, 2023, Philippine vessels intruded into adjacent waters of Renai Jiao in Chinas Nansha Qundao in an attempt to illegally ship construction materials to its warship deliberately grounded at the reef in 1999. The Philippines has explicitly promised to tow away the military vessel, however, in the 24 years since, the Philippines has sought to repair and reinforce it to permanently occupy Renai Jiao.





Aerial photo taken on July 13, 2020 shows an expedition vessel in the South China Sea. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

On Jan. 28, four Philippine personnel illegally broke into the reef plate of Huangyan Dao, and the China Coast Guard warned and drove them away in a law-based and professional way.





What the Philippine side has done, in collusion with some countries outside the region, has seriously infringed Chinas sovereignty, soured bilateral relations, and raised tensions in the South China Sea. The actions also contravene international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). Such provocations are not only unwise but futile.





Chinas Nanhai Zhudao (the South China Sea Islands) consist of Dongsha Qundao (the Dongsha Islands), Xisha Qundao (the Xisha Islands), Zhongsha Qundao (the Zhongsha Islands) and Nansha Qundao (the Nansha Islands). These Islands include, among others, islands, reefs, shoals and cays of various numbers and sizes.





The activities of the Chinese people in the South China Sea date back to over 2,000 years ago. China is the first to have discovered, named, and explored and exploited Nanhai Zhudao and relevant waters, and the first to have continuously, peacefully and effectively exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over them. Chinas sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea have been established in the long course of history, and are solidly grounded in history and law.





Peace and stability in the South China Sea is vital to the security, development and prosperity of the countries and people of the region. The realization of peace, stability, prosperity and development in the South China Sea region is the shared aspiration and responsibility of China and ASEAN member states.





China adheres to the position of settling disputes through negotiation and consultation and managing differences through rules and mechanisms, and remains committed to making the South China Sea a sea of peace, cooperation and friendship. But China also stands firm in safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.





Historical facts regarding Chinas sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao must be respected. Common understandings should be binding and commitments must be honored. Chinas goodwill, sincerity and restraint cannot be exploited without limits.





To maintain stability in the South China Sea, all parties must follow the dual-track approach, namely, maritime disputes should be handled properly by countries directly concerned through dialogue and consultation, and peace and stability in the South China Sea should be jointly safeguarded by China and ASEAN countries.





Attempts to court external forces or create a small bloc in the region to pressure China will do nothing to manage differences. For peace and stability in the South China Sea, it would be wise for the Philippine side to change track and return to the right path of dialogue and consultation to resolve the maritime differences between the two countries.





- Xinhua
She also fired shots at her opponent former President Trump as he continues to out-do her in the polls

Nikki Haley made a surprise cameo on SNL to jokingly confess that she should have admitted that slavery caused the Civil War as her presidential campaign dies out.

This week's Saturday Night Live episode started with a CNN town hall skit in which Haley is asked 'what would you say was the main cause of the Civil War - and do you think it starts with an "S" and ends with a "lavery"'.

'Yep I probably should have said that the first time,' Haley responded before delivering the iconic 'Live from New York' line.

The joke is referencing controversial answers that the former UN ambassador made when asked at a New Hampshire town hall about the reason for the Civil War.

Haley didn't mention slavery in her response - instead talking about the role of government, replying that it involved 'the freedoms of what people could and couldn't do.'

Nikki Haley made a surprise cameo on SNL to jokingly confess that she should have admitted that slavery caused the Civil War as her presidential campaign dies out

Haley used her SNL appearance to fire shots at her opponent, former President Donald Trump

The Republican presidential candidate then turned the question back to the man who had asked it. He replied that he was not the one running for president and wished instead to know her answer.

After Haley went into a lengthier explanation about the role of government, individual freedom and capitalism.

The questioner seemed to admonish Haley, saying, 'In the year 2023, it's astonishing to me that you answer that question without mentioning the word "slavery"'.

'What do you want me to say about slavery?' Haley retorted before abruptly moving on to the next question.

She backpedaled on her Civil War comments 12 hours later, with her campaign disseminating a Thursday morning radio interview in which she said, 'Of course the Civil War was about slavery,' something she called 'a stain on America.'

She went on to reiterate that 'freedom matters. And individual rights and liberties matter for all people.'

Haley used her SNL appearance to fire shots at her opponent, former President Donald Trump.

'My question is why won't you debate Nikki Haley,' Haley asked Trump, played by James Austin Johnson, as a 'concerned South Carolina voter.'

'Oh my God its the woman who was in charge of security on Jan. 6,' Johnson, as Trump, exclaimed, 'Its Nancy Pelosi.'

Haley followed up by telling Johnson as Trump 'Are you doing ok Donald, you might need a mental competency test?'

Saturday Night Live wrapped this week's episode with a CNN town hall skit in which Haley is asked 'what would you say was the main cause of the Civil War - and do you think it starts with an "S" and ends with a "lavery"'

'Yep I probably should have said that the first time,' Haley responded before delivering the iconic 'Live from New York' line

'I took it ok and I aced the Test,' Johnson said. 'Im 100 percent mental. And Im competent because Im a man. Thats why women shouldnt run the economy, in fact a woman recently asked me for 83.3 million dollars,' he added, referring to the defamation judgement brought against Trump last week.

'And you spent 50 million in your own legal defense do you need to borrow some money?' she said.

'And you spent 50 million in your own legal defense do you need to borrow some money?' she said.

Johnson then went on an incoherent rampage ending with an 'I see dead people' joke, to which Hayley responded: 'Thats what voters will say when they see you and Joe on the ballot.'

He went on to quip 'Im always very nice to you, except when Ive implied you werent born in this country, even though youre from South Carolina, and now Im gonna beat you in your state.'

'And did you win your home state in the last election?' Haley fired back - slamming Trump for losing the vote to Biden in his home state of New York during the 2020 election.

Haley's Presidential campaign has been fading and recent polls show former President Donald Trump leading his rival by 26 points in a poll released Thursday of South Carolina's Republican voters.

Former President Donald Trump still holds a wide lead over rival Nikki Haley in her home state of South Carolina. She's received a 14-point bump since September, while he's increased his share of the vote by 12 points

If she's walloped by the ex-president in the February 24 South Carolina Republican primary it could doom her already struggling campaign.

The Monmouth University/Washington Post survey found that 58 percent of South Carolina Republican primary voters said they'd support Trump, while 32 percent said they'd pick Haley.

A full 60 percent of respondents said the Republican Party should keep Trump on the ticket even if he's convicted of a crime related to trying to overturn the 2020 election.

Both candidates have benefited from a slimmed-down primary field, instead of just Haley, which is why Trump remains so far ahead.
Two young men in their 20s were tragically killed after a car plunged off a cliff near a remote beach in Western Australia's Midwest region.

Emergency services were called to a private property on White Cliffs Road, 10km north of Horrocks Beach, after a Nissan Patrol dropped 20m-30m over the edge of a cliff about 3.45am on Sunday.

It's understood someone on the property called police after waking and realising the men hadn't come back from their drive.

The third occupant of the Patrol, also a man in his 20s, is believed to have climbed out of the wreckage and scaled the cliff for help.

A car plummeted up to 30m from the edge of a cliff on a private property near Horrocks Beach in WA (pictured)

The sole survivor was treated by paramedics at the scene and transported to Geradton Hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

It's understood he was wearing a seatbelt during the crash, which saved his life.

The two other men in their 20s was pronounced dead at the scene.

The RAC rescue helicopter assisted emergency personnel and volunteers from Geraldton, Kalbarri and Northampton at the scene.

The Nissan Patrol remained flipped on its roof at the bottom of the cliff on Sunday afternoon.

Emergency services also remain at the scene trying to work out how to recover the wreckage.

Northampton Police are investigating the incident and will prepare a report for the coroner.
US forces launched a second wave of air and missile strikes on Houthi rebels

American military off the coast of Yemen have destroyed a Houthi cruise missile prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.

US Central Command said the 'self-defense strike' was conducted about 4am local time (8pm EST) before the ordinance was launched.

'US forces identified the cruise missile in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined it presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region,' it said.

'This action will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US Navy vessels and merchant vessels.'

A fighter jet is seen taking off from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Saturday night, with 36 Iranian-backed targets struck in Yemen

A Tomahawk land attack missile is launched from the USS Gravely against Houthi targets on Saturday evening

A view of a truck mounted with weaponry as Houthi tribesmen gather to show defiance after US and British air strikes on Houthi positions near Sanaa, Yemen

Another dramatic photo shows a British RAF Typhoon jet taking part in Saturday's strikes, which were carried out by the United States and its allies

The missile was destroyed hours after US and Britain struck 36 targets Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday in a second wave of assaults intended to further disable Iran-backed proxy militias.

The additional strikes send a clear message to the Iran-backed militia, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.

'These strikes are intended to further disrupt and degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia to conduct their reckless and destabilizing attacks against U.S. and international vessels lawfully transiting the Red Sea' Austin said in a statement on Saturday afternoon.

'Coalition forces targeted 13 locations associated with the Houthis' deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, and radars' he explained.

Adding: 'This collective action sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels.'

A British aircraft engineer checks a missile on a Typhoon ahead of Saturday night's strikes

Images that appear to show the latest strikes on Houthi targets emerged on social media on Saturday

No official images of the strikes have yet been made available

The additional strikes send a clear message to the Iran-backed militia, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said

Officials said cruise missiles were launched in response to movements by an Iranian-backed rebel group preparing to strike more ships in the Red Sea, the day after the US also shot down at least eight drones in the region.

The latest strikes, approved by Biden earlier this week, came the day after an air assault in Iraq and Syria that targeted other Iranian-backed groups and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

It marks an escalation of the conflict, in retaliation for the drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan last weekend.

Officials told The Associated Press that the strikes were targeted on groups that have relentlessly attacked American and international interests in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.

The Houthi targets were in 10 different locations, and were struck by U.S. F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and by American warships firing Tomahawk missiles from the Red Sea, the U.S. officials said.

The latest strikes on Saturday come as the US Military expands its presence in the Middle East, opening up the possibility for further conflict as it now wages wars on two fronts.

A satellite photo of a military base known as Tower 22, a Jordanian base targeted by a bomb-carrying drone that killed three U.S. soldiers. The damage can be seen in the center left of the photo

Houthi tribesmen gather to show defiance after US and UK air strikes on Houthi positions near Sanaa, Yemen

Alongside targeting the Houthis' shipment disruptions in Yemen, military leaders are also focused on Iranian proxies that continue to strike US bases in Iraq, Syria and Jordan

The UK said the latest strikes were about protecting innocent lives.

'The Houthis attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea are illegal and unacceptable and it is our duty to protect innocent lives and preserve freedom of navigation,' UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said Saturday night.

Alongside targeting the Houthis' shipment disruptions in Yemen, military leaders are also focused on Iranian proxies that continue to strike US bases in Iraq, Syria and Jordan.

It comes after an Iraqi militia official on Saturday hinted at a desire to deescalate tensions in the Middle East following the retaliatory strikes launched by the United States.

Hussein al-Mosawi, spokesperson for Harakat al-Nujaba, one of the main Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, told The Associated Press that Washington 'must understand that every action elicits a reaction'.

While condemning the US's actions, the military official added that 'we do not wish to escalate or widen regional tensions.'

Mosawi said the targeted sites in Iraq were mainly 'devoid of fighters and military personnel at the time of the attack.'

Syrian state media reported that there were casualties from the strikes, but did not give a number. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that 23 people, all rank-and-file fighters, were killed.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden greet service members before boarding Air Force One, after attending a casualty return for the three servicemembers killed in the strike

The strikes come in retaliation to the deaths of Spc. Kennedy Sanders, Sgt. William Jerome Rivers (center) and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett (right), who were killed by a drone strike Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, on their base in Jordan near the Syrian border

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (left), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown and Marine Corp. Sgt. Maj. Troy E. Black watch as an Army carry team moves the flag-draped transfer case containing the remains of three servicemembers killed by an Iranian-backed strike

An Army carry team loads the transfer case containing the remains of the three military servicemembers, whose deaths have triggered several waves of retaliatory strikes

Iraqi government spokesperson Bassim al-Awadi said in a statement Saturday that the strikes in Iraq near the Syrian border killed 16, including civilians, and there was 'significant damage' to homes and private properties.

A U.S. official said Saturday that an initial battle damage assessment showed the U.S. had struck each of its planned targets, in addition to a few 'dynamic targets' that popped up as the mission unfolded.

These new targets included a surface-to-air missile site and drone launch sites. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details that were not yet public, did not yet have a casualty assessment.

Iraqs foreign ministry announced Saturday it would summon the U.S. embassys charge daffaires - the ambassador being outside of the country - to deliver a formal protest over U.S. strikes on 'Iraqi military and civilian sites.'

The U.S. said Friday it had informed Iraq of the impending strikes before they started.

The air assault was the opening salvo of U.S. retaliation for a drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan last weekend. The U.S. has blamed that on the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iranian-backed militias.

Iran, meanwhile, has attempted to distance itself from the attack, saying that the militias act independently of its direction.

Iraqi spokesperson al-Awadi condemned the strikes as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty, particularly since some of them targeted facilities of the Population Mobilization Forces.

US officials said they had informed Iraq of the impending strikes before they started Friday. Pictured is US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

The PMF, a coalition of Iranian-backed militias, was officially brought under the umbrella of the Iraqi armed forces after it joined the fight against the Islamic State in 2014, but in practice it continues to operate largely outside of state control.

The Popular Mobilization Forces said in a statement Saturday that one of the sites targeted was an official security headquarters of the group.

In addition to the 16 killed, it said 36 people had been wounded, 'while the search is still ongoing for the bodies of a number of the missing.'

The Iraqi government has been in a delicate position since a group of Iranian-backed Iraqi militias calling itself Islamic Resistance in Iraq - many of whose members are also part of the PMF - began launching attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria on October 18.

The group described the strikes as retaliation for Washington's support for Israel in the war in Gaza.

Behind the scenes, Iraqi officials have attempted to rein in the militias, while also condemning U.S. retaliatory strikes as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and calling for an exit of the 2,500 U.S. troops who are in the country as part of an international coalition to fight IS.

Last month, Iraqi and U.S. military officials launched formal talks to wind down the coalition's presence, a process that will likely take years.

One of the main Iran-backed militias, Kataib Hezbollah, said it was suspending attacks on American troops following Sunday's strike that killed the U.S. troops in Jordan, to avoid "embarrassing" the Iraqi government.

Meanwhile Saturday, the U.S. militarys Central Command acknowledged it had had a series of skirmishes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden with Yemens Houthi rebels. On Friday, the USS Carney shot down a drone over the Gulf of Aden and there were no injuries or damage.

The U.S. also conducted airstrikes on four Houthi drones preparing to launch that it said 'presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the U.S. Navy ships in the region.'

On Saturday, Central Command said it struck six additional anti-ship cruise missiles that it said were prepared to launch and presented an imminent threat.

Overnight, F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, along with the USS Laboon, shot down seven drones in the Red Sea.
Russell Brand and his booking staff have been warned to consider whether it is 'appropriate' for the disgraced comedian to be interviewed about the rape allegations made against him.

Brand, 48, spoke to ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson in an interview posted to X , denying the allegations of rape, sexual assault and abuse and branding the accusations as a 'painful, hurtful attack'.

Home Secretary James Cleverly has since suggested the star should reconsider doing TV interviews, telling The Sun on Sunday: 'I think it's for him and also the people booking him on those programmes to ask themselves whether this is appropriate. These are very, very serious accusations.'

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 and has hired Prince Andrew's 'pit bull' lawyer to fight the sex charges in the US.

Last night he was accused of 'bullying and victim shaming' by the lawyer for one of his alleged victims for the comments he made on Carlson's show.

Russell Brand, pictured during an interview with Tucker Carlson last week, and his booking staff have been warned to consider whether it is 'appropriate' for the disgraced comedian to be interviewed about the rape allegations made against him

Brand, 48, spoke to ex- Fox News host Tucker Carlson in an interview posted to X , denying the allegations of rape, sexual assault and abuse and branding the accusations as a 'painful, hurtful attack'

Home Secretary James Cleverly, pictured during the National Policing Board meeting last Wednesday, has since said that Brand and 'the people booking him on those programmes to ask themselves whether this is appropriate. These are very, very serious accusations'

Brand appeared on Carlson's how last 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.

At least five women have accused him of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse in an investigation by The Sunday Times and Channel 4's Dispatches.

Speaking on Carlson's broadcast, Brand said: 'I reject the allegations in the strongest possible terms. I am aware I have put myself in an extremely vulnerable position by being very, 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.

Brand 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'.

Brand has been questioned by detectives from London's Metropolitan Police over allegations of historical sex offences.

The force said in September it 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 have been no charges brought in the UK.

Brand, pictured in a video shared to his YouTube channel, told Carlson last week: 'I reject the allegations in the strongest possible terms. I am aware I have put myself in an extremely vulnerable position by being very, very promiscuous'

Russell Brand is spotted at motorway services with his wife Laura Gallacher for the first time since he was publicly accused of rape and sexual assault by multiple women on January 7

Brand, pictured with his wife and children on January 7, has always vehemently denied the claims made against him and claimed his relationships were 'always consensual'

Lawyer Jordan Merson - who represents a woman who has filed a civil lawsuit in New York against the star claiming he exposed himself to her on the 2010 set of his film 'Arthur' and later sexually assaulted her in a bathroom - last night accused Brand of 'victim shaming'.

Merson told The Mail on Sunday that Brand's interview with Carlson would not deter his client, known only as Jane Doe, from pursuing her case: 'Unfortunately this sort of conduct is not uncommon in individuals who have sexually abused other people.

'It is all part of distraction, bullying and victim shaming.

'Brand's comments were unfortunate but they do not discourage us in the least.

'We feel very confident in this case which is in its infancy. There is good corroboration.

'This is a case about a woman who, as we allege in our court filings, was sexually abused by Mr Brand.'

The actor and comedian has hired Hollywood powerhouse Andrew Brettler to fight the sex charges in the US.

Brettler represented the Duke of York in the civil lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was sex-trafficked by paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Her case was settled out of court in 2022 for a reported $12 million with no admission of liability by Prince Andrew, who has consistently and vehemently denied all charges against him.

The attorney, who also represents actor Armie Hammer  who has been accused of rape and having 'cannibalistic fantasies'  reportedly charges clients up to $2,000 an hour for his expertise.

Last night, Brettler confirmed he is representing Brand, saying: 'I am only aware of one US case against Mr Brand. I am counsel of record in that action.'

The case involves a woman known only as 'Jane Doe' who filed suit in the Supreme Court of the State of New York last November, saying the comedian and actor assaulted her on the set of his movie Arthur, which was released in 2011.

Carlson joined Brand for an interview in 2023 shortly after the host was fired by Fox News

In recent years Brand has established himself as a health and wellness guru and plugs various health products during his YouTube videos, which he appears to have commercial tie-ins

According to her affidavit, Brand 'appeared intoxicated, smelled of alcohol and was carrying a bottle of vodka on set' on July 7, 2010, before he exposed himself 'in full view of the cast and crew'.

Later that day, she alleges, Brand sexually assaulted her in a bathroom while a crew member guarded the door from the outside.

The woman is suing for damages saying she suffers ongoing trauma from the alleged assault and is fearful that if her name becomes public it will jeopardise her acting career.

A lawyer who has worked with Brettler told The Mail on Sunday: 'People call him a pit bull but he's more sophisticated than that. He has a huge brain and will use every weapon in his legal arsenal to defend his clients. Russell Brand is in very good, and very expensive, hands.'
Even Saturday Night Live is poking fun at the Windy City after the crime-ridden metropolis' progressive mayor passed a controversial resolution this week.

SNL's Weekend Update host Michael Che quipped, 'Chicago became the U.S.' largest city to call for a cease-fire in Gaza.'

He then continued with the punchline, 'And in return, Gaza called for a ceasefire in Chicago.'

The joke came days after Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson used his deciding vote to break the tie in favor of the controversial measure, which called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza without the release of hostages.

The resolution made Chicago the largest US city yet to demand a ceasefire in the four-month war which has cost more than 26,000 Palestinian lives.

Even Saturday Night Live is poking fun at the Windy City after the crime-ridden metropolis' progressive mayor passed a controversial resolution last week

Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson used his deciding vote to break the tie in favor of a controversial measure this week, which called for an immediate ceasefire without the release of hostages

Even "left-leaning" media is laughing at Chicago.



Far too often, Chicago is the punchline to a joke.



Elect clowns, expect a circus.



Do better, Chicago.pic.twitter.com/usOuDiVmk9  16th & 17th District Chicago Police Scanner (@CPD1617Scanner) February 4, 2024

The clip of Che's joke has soon gone viral on social media, as an X user who shared the video said: 'Even "left-leaning" media is laughing at Chicago.'

'Far too often, Chicago is the punchline to a joke. Elect clowns, expect a circus. Do better, Chicago,' the user wrote.

Another user wrote: 'Oh boy, I'm glad I moved. Please be safe.'

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters thronged the building and the public gallery for the knife-edge vote which saw Johnson strong-arm opponents before casting the deciding vote.

Johnson asked two senior aldermen to stay away if they could not support it, the Chicago Sun-Times reported, and was slammed for using his casting vote to inflame tensions.

Alderman Debra Silverstein, the sole Jewish member of the city council pleaded with colleagues not to pass the resolution.

'There's not even a single mention of the dozens of raped women,' Silverstein said to heckles from the crowd, as a police officer stood close by.

'No reference to the brutal depravity that is now seared into the psyche of every Israeli and every Jewish man, woman and child.'

Even Illinois' governor JB Pritzker slammed the vote in a city that is due to hold the Democrat's National Convention in August.

'I was disappointed that no consideration was given to the women who were raped by Hamas fighters who crossed over into Israel, kidnapped people, that the deaths that were caused by those terrorists were not acknowledged,' he said.

'And the City Council, if they're going to talk about the challenge of war in the Middle East, you've got to make sure you include all of the perspectives. They did not do that.'

Chicago's Democrat Mayor was accused of strong-arming opponents and slammed for using his deciding vote to ensure the controversial measure passed

Police struggled to keep order as the corridors were taken over by protesters

As the mayor worked furiously behind the scenes to make the resolution pass, crime has exploded across the city in the past two years

As the mayor worked furiously behind the scenes to make the resolution pass, crime has exploded across the city in the past two years.

Murders are down 13 percent this year and 20 per cent in three years, but all crime is up 17 per cent - particularly car theft and robbery.

Under Johnson's predecessor Lori Lightfoot, crime rose from 46,572 total complaints to 65,421 in 2022 - though this was almost entirely driven by massive increases in car theft, burglary, and robbery.

And the past year did not reverse the city's fortunes as crime was up 64 per cent from two years ago, 68 per cent from three years ago, and 55 per cent from four years ago.

Murders and shootings are on a three-year slide, both falling 13 per cent this year and 20 per cent from 2020, with shootings down 25 per cent in that time.

However, both are up compared to before the Covid pandemic - murders up 24 per cent on 2019 and shootings up 15 per cent.

Robbery is up 23 per cent on last year and 39 per cent from 2019, while theft was stable this year but up 41 per cent since 2019 and 94 per cent since 2020.

By far the biggest jump in crime was thefts related to vehicles, which jumped 38 per cent this year and a staggering 227 per cent on 2019.
Scarlett Jenkinson's psychiatrist has revealed the details of the moment the killer admitted to murdering Brianna Ghey, saying she 'lacked empathy' and had no remorse.

Dr Richard Church - a leading child psychiatrist - built a relationship with Jenkinson, 16, through several meetings.

Reflecting on the moment she confessed to killing Brianna, Dr Church said she was 'very calm' and she may have been copying language used by serial killer Jeffery Dahmer.

Jenkinson and accomplice Eddie Ratcliffe lured the transgender school pupil to Linear Park, Culcheth, where she was stabbed 28 times to the head, neck, chest and back.

The teenager had a fascination with violence, torture, and murder and falsely claimed to have killed two victims already, talking of a desire to take bodily parts as sick souvenirs.

Both Jenkinson and Ratcliffe were found guilty of murder, and the judge permitted for the teenagers to be named publicly for the first time.

The body of 'timid' Brianna was found lying face-down in the mud with 28 stab wounds after the 'frenzied' attack at a popular beauty spot in a Cheshire village on February 11 last year

Scarlett Jenkinson's psychiatrist has revealed the details of the moment the killer admitted to murdering Brianna, saying she 'lacked empathy' and had no remorse

The teenager had a fascination with violence, torture, and murder and falsely claimed to have killed two victims already, talking of a desire to take bodily parts as sick souvenirs

Both Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe (pictured) were found guilty of murder, and the judge permitted for the teenagers to be named publicly for the first time

Dr Church told the Sunday Times: 'For a child going through a murder trial that was noteworthy,' Jenkinson was very calm.

Although Jenkinson repeatedly lied to the jury during the trial, she confessed to Dr Church that she dealt the final blows.

She told the psychiatrist that Ratcliffe stabbed Brianna 'three or four times' but then said he didn't want to kill the teenager.

Jenkinson told Dr Church that she took the knife and stabbed Brianna to death. But later on she changed her story and claimed Ratcliffe had been responsible for most of the injuries.

The child psychiatrist told the Sunday Times he can't dismiss what he was told.

Jenkinson told Dr Church she killed Brianna because she was worried about losing her as a friend. She said she wanted to 'kill her so she would always be with her'.

He noted that the language she used was very similar to that of Dahmer, who she had admitted a keen interest in.

But he said it is 'hard to know' whether she was just copying what the notorious serial killer had said or if she was experiencing the emotions herself.

Dr Church said Jenkinson didn't have autism, despite displaying traits of the disorder.

Although Jenkinson repeatedly lied to the jury during the trial, she confessed to Dr Church that she dealt the final blows. Pictured are Ratcliffe and Jenkinson in a court sketch

Brianna was found with fatal wounds on a path in the park near her home

Forensic officers carrying equipment through Culcheth Linear Park on February 13

He said she understood how she affected others but 'she didnt benefit from the restraining effect empathy provides'.

The psychiatrist went on to say that those with conduct dissocial disorder - which he believes Jenkinson has - are often 'not honest and open'.

He said they often deal with 'deception, deceit and untruths' and when in therapy will often say they now 'understand themselves' and they are 'safe' when it isn't true.

In terms of the person who may treat her, Dr Church said they would have to be 'experienced' and 'not going to be seduced'.

Jenkinson feasted on horror films while scouring the 'dark web' for footage of real-life torture and murder, with experts believing her exposure to depraved online imagery would have desensitised her, 'goading' her into copying what she had seen.

Following her arrest, notes were also found in her bedroom relating to fellow US serial killer Dahmer as well as Harold Shipman, a British doctor convicted of murdering 15 patients but believed to have killed as many as 250.

Other notes referenced John Wayne Gacy, the 'Killer Clown', including the note: 'Serial killer, 33 victims, raped victims.'

A further note listed a series of facts about serial killers and their characteristics including 'hedonistic', 'mutilation', 'sexual predatory behaviour' and 'can be superficially charming'.

Behind the facade lay obsessions with torture and murder, dark fantasies and expert knowledge on serial killers - knowledge Jenkinson would draw on to build up her own 'kill list'

CCTV footage released by police showed the moment Brianna (in white) met Jenkinson (X) and Ratcliffe (Y) on the day of her death

Eddie Ratcliffe, 16, was 'genius' level smart and a 'sociopath', according to his accomplice

The body of 'timid' Brianna was found lying face-down in the mud with 28 stab wounds after the 'frenzied' attack at a popular beauty spot in a Cheshire village on February 11 last year.

READ MORE: Inside the cushy prisons where Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe could be moved to once they turn 18 Advertisement

Her twisted killers, described as a 'danger to society' by their victim's mother, had planned the attack in great detail, with a handwritten note in Jenkinson's room reading: 'Saturday 11th February 2023. Victim: Brianna Ghey'.

They then desperately sought to cover their tracks, with Jenkinson posting a Snapchat tribute that called Brianna 'such an amazing friend' and 'one of the best people I've ever met'.

Brianna was hacked to death with appalling savagery, being left with 'unsurvivable' injuries including wounds penetrating her heart, both lungs and major blood vessels.

She had been stabbed to the head, neck, back and chest with enough force to damage the bones of her ribs, vertebrae and sternum. Her jugular vein had also been severed, causing 'catastrophic blood loss'.

The pair were still only 16 when they stood trial at Manchester Crown Court last November, meaning neither their names nor the schools they had attended could be published. They blamed one another for the brutal killing, but shortly before Christmas jurors took less than five hours to unanimously convict them both.

Eddie Ratcliffe, a former champion kickboxer, was revealed as Boy Y

Police at Culcheth Linear Park in Warrington, Cheshire, after Brianna was found

A notebook belonging to Jenkinson with notes about serial killer Jeffery Dahmer

Photo issued by Cheshire Constabulary of the notebook belonging to Jenkinson with notes on different types of serial killers

The following day, trial judge Mrs Justice Yip ruled that their identities should be revealed to help the public 'understand how children could do something so dreadful'. But after hearing the families of both killers had been subjected to death threats, she ruled that the media could not identify them until the sentencing hearing, enabling measures to be put in place to keep them safe.

Ahead of the judge Mrs Justice Yip deciding what minimum term the killers should spend behind bars, prosecutor Mrs Heer said she would need to consider whether the murder was motivated by 'sadism' and 'hostility' at Brianna's transgender status in determining how many years they must serve.

She highlighted how Ratcliffe  who had never met Brianna before  used 'disparaging' language in his messages with Jenkinson, referring to her as 'it'.

While Jenkinson did not use transphobic language, she said it was the prosecution case that she 'encouraged' Ratcliffe to kill Brianna in the knowledge that his 'attitude' would make it more likely that he would go ahead and stab her.

She admitted in messages to being 'obsessed' with Brianna and told a psychiatrist she had wanted to kill her so they would 'always be together'.

The judge said there was 'evidence' of sadism and transphobia but the issue was whether this was strong enough to lead to an even longer sentence.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Brianna's mother said the 'hardest' thing about her daughter's ordeal was finding out that one of her killers, Jenkinson, was 'someone we believed to be her friend'.

She described Jenkinson as: 'Someone that we trusted. Someone that I was so happy that [Brianna] had, fearing that my child had been lonely. Not knowing that this person had been planning, to not only cause harm, but to take the life of my precious child.'

She continued: 'All I can think about is that she would have been scared and I wasn't there for her. She needed me to protect her, Brianna wasn't a fighter and she must have been so terrified.

'The day of and the days following 11th of February were and always will be the worst days of my life. I felt like someone had killed part of me, like my heart had been ripped out. I have never felt such grief and I would never wish that pain on anyone else.'

A note - headed 'Saturday 11th February 2023. Victim: Brianna Ghey' - was found alongside jottings about serial killers including Jeffrey Dahmer, Richard Ramirez and Harold Shipman

Follow every detail of the case on The Mail's acclaimed podcast The Trial The Trial...takes listeners behind the headlines and into the courtrooms of some of the biggest trials in the world. The first series 'The Trial of Lucy Letby' was a global hit, with more than 13 million downloads, while season two focused on the murder of Ashling Murphy, a 23-year-old teacher from Ireland. Its third season follows the tragic case of Brianna Ghey, a 16-year-old transgender girl killed in Warrington, England. Follow the evidence as the jury hears it, in twice-weekly reports from The Daily Mail's Northern Correspondent Liz Hull and broadcast journalist Caroline Cheetham. Advertisement

Esther Ghey also told the court Brianna had 'plans for her future' she will never be able to fulfill: 'The fact that Brianna was taken from me in such a heinous way causes a pain that I struggle to describe. No parent should ever have to bury their child. She should have been around for the rest of my life.

'Brianna had plans for her future which we will never have the chance to support her with. She wanted to go to college and study beauty therapy; she was looking forward to being old enough to have a little job like her big sister. We had also discussed her learning to drive, and she had even picked out which pink car she would like for her 18th birthday.'

She described Jenkinson and Ratcliffe as a 'danger to society', adding: 'The thought of Scarlett and Eddie being released from prison absolutely horrifies me. I don't believe that someone who is so disturbed and obsessed with murder and torture would ever be able to be rehabilitated.'

Brianna's father Peter Spooner added: 'Being a father of a transgender child was a difficult thing to deal with. Without people accusing me of dead naming my child, most of my memories are with my son Brett. Our memories are engraved on my heart. He was funny, cheeky and would pull faces to make me laugh. He was my baby, my only Son and his decision to transition was such a brave and confident thing to do.

'Even though I grieved the son I lost, I was proud to gain another beautiful daughter. Her appearance changed as she blossomed into a lovely young girl, her eyes were the same, she had my eyes when I looked at her. We were forming a new relationship and these two murderers have stolen that from us both.

'I hate how Brianna's life has been brutally taken away from her and she has been deprived of the life she wanted to live. She never had the chance to sit her exams or go onto further education.

'Now my world has been torn apart, justice may have been done with the guilty verdicts, but no amount of time spent in prison will be enough for these monsters.

'I cannot call them children as that makes them sound naive or vulnerable which they are not, they are pure evil, Brianna was the vulnerable one.

'They were determined to kill and never gave up until they had blood on their hands, my Brianna's blood.

'Not an ounce of remorse has been shown from these murderers, putting myself and my family through this awful trial having to hear the details about how Brianna suffered. It is unforgivable.'

In a statement read to the court, Brianna's stepfather Wesley Powell said: 'Brianna had a large online following but in reality she was lonely, vulnerable and in need of a close friend.

'Both Eddie and Scarlett knew this and preyed upon her vulnerabilities, acting as two predators stalking their prey.'

After the victim personal statements were read to the court, Mrs Justice Yip ordered a short break as she said: 'They were very moving statements. I can feel the emotion in the courtroom.'

Jenkinson had become fascinated by serial killers including Harold Shipman and Californian 'Night Stalker' Richard Ramirez, filling pages of notebooks with jottings about their methods and characters.

Along with Ratcliffe, who was highly-intelligent but socially awkward, she drew up a 'kill list' of five potential targets before settling on slightly-built Brianna  who considered her a friend.

While in real life, Brianna suffered from anxiety, didn't like to go out on her own and only had a small circle of friends, in the virtual world she was on the way to becoming a social media star.

Her TikTok videos showing her styling her hair or lip-synching to pop songs had earned her 30,000 followers, many of them fellow transgender teenagers who saw her as an inspiration.

According to her mother, Brianna was 'larger than life', 'funny and witty' and 'usually fearless'.

Brianna's headteacher described her as 'iconic', adding: 'She was such a huge character in school. Everyone knew who she was and losing her has hit everybody so hard.'

Her brutal and apparently inexplicable killing  on a Saturday afternoon, in a former railway cutting popular with dog walkers  caused waves of outrage and revulsion far beyond her home town of Warrington.

Prosecutors argued Ratcliffe and Jenkinson were 'in it together' from start to finish, right from planning the attack to attempting to cover their tracks afterwards.

In the days that followed, a string of vigils were held across the globe for people to come together and express their grief.
Protesters who climb on war memorials could face prison and a 1,000 fine as part of a crackdown in the wake of pro-Palestine demonstrations.

Home secretary James Cleverly said the new measures including three-month sentences and a fine are intended to punish 'a small minority' of activists who insult 'those who paid the ultimate price for their freedom to protest'.

Mr Cleverly said: 'Peaceful protest is fundamental in our country, but climbing on our war memorials is an insult to these monuments and remembrance and cannot continue.'

It comes after footage of pro-Palestinian demonstrators were seen climbing on the Royal Artillery Memorial in London last November, sparking outrage.

Footage showed a sea of flag-waving protesters chanting 'free Palestine' as they clambered over the memorial

A Met liaison officer in a blue vest was seen appealing for the protesters to come down

Rishi Sunak described it as an 'affront to our Armed Forces'.

Footage showed a mob of flag-waving demonstrators climbing on the Royal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner, which was covered with poppy wreaths from remembrance weekend.

The incident did not result in arrests as Sir Mark Rowley, the commissioner of the Met Police, said his officers were unable to take action as it was not against the law.

A group of officers appeared to simply watch on as the offensive scenes unfolded, despite a dispersal order being in place.

At the time, Home Secretary James Cleverly, who served in the Royal Artillery, called the demonstration 'deeply disrespectful' and suggested laws could be changed to give police powers to prevent protesters from clambering over war memorials.

A video from last November showed activists swarming a couple's car by Trafalgar Square and shouting abuse at them

A group of police officers appeared to simply watch on as pro-Palestinian protesters climbed on the Royal Artillery memorial at Hyde Park Corner

Meanwhile, Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer said: 'There is only one memorial of fallen soldiers in London.

'I will not stand idly by whilst individuals think this is the correct way to treat these memorials.'

But now an amendment is due to be introduced to the Criminal Justice Bill that will make climbing on memorials a specific public order offence in England and Wales.

According to The Times, the change to the law will form part of a wider plan to tackle disorder at protests.

Yesterday, thousands of protesters descended on London for another pro-Palestine march.

Some were pictured holding apparently anti-Semitic signs including one claiming the media and government were controlled by 'Zionists'.

Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) led protesters in London calling for a ceasefire in Gaza on Saturday

Protesters made their feelings known about Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer by creating an effigy of him

Protestors march down Regent Street during the 'Ceasefire Now Stop The Genocide In Gaza' national UK demonstration on Saturday

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn led the protesters in London with 20,000 joining the march despite organisers claiming 'hundreds and thousands' would be demonstrating.

Mr Corbyn said: 'We march because we believe. We march because the Palestinian people want and need our support.

'If we don't get a ceasefire here, the war goes on... we are the voice for peace.'

Meanwhile, protesters brought a large effigy of the current Labour Party leader, Sir Keir Starmer, with the words 'Starmer for genocide' written on its forehead.

Sir Keir was previously called a 'genocide enabler' and accused of having blood on his hands after he and other politicians refused to back calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Met said it made a number of arrests after one marcher was accused of setting off a suspected smoke bomb or flare, while another was handcuffed for allegedly chanting slogans that could incite racial hatred.
The Church of England has insisted the Home Office is responsible for vetting migrants after having come under fire for allegedly 'facilitating industrial-scale bogus asylum claims'.

Former Home Secretaries Suella Braverman and Dame Priti Patel accused church leaders of 'political activism', supporting asylum cases 'without merit' and aiding 'bogus' applications by offering migrants conversions to Christianity.

The clergy began facing questions over whether it is being abused by asylum seekers after an Afghan sex offender attacked woman and her two children, aged three and eight, with an alkaline chemical in Clapham, south London last week.

The Met Police have launched a manhunt for Abdul Ezedi, 35, and have urged him to turn himself in after going on the run. It has been reported that the suspect was able to gain asylum in the UK after claiming he had converted to Christianity.

But the Church of England said it is currently not aware of any links to its churches. A Church spokesperson also added that it is 'the role of the Home Office, and not the church, to vet asylum seekers and judge the merits of their individual cases'.

A nationwide manhunt is underway for Abdul Ezedi, 35, (pictured on January 31) after he doused a woman and two children he knew with an alkaline chemical in Clapham, London

Ezedi had converted to Christianity before his asylum application was approved. Pictured above is an advert from a believed smuggler account claiming that Christian conversion speeds up citizenship

Ezedi's case has echoes of that of Iraqi-born Emad Al Swealmeen, 32, who died from a blast and subsequent fire after his homemade bomb detonated in a taxi outside Liverpool Women's Hospital in 2021. Al Swealmeen is pictured with Bishop Cyril Ashton, an asst bishop in the Diocese of Liverpool, on the day of his confirmation

Ezedi is a former asylum seeker from Afghanistan who was allowed to stay in the UK despite being convicted of a sexual offence, following two failed applications.

He was granted the right to stay in the UK on his third application in either 2020 or 2021, after a priest vouched that he had converted to Christianity. He was handed a suspended sentence for the offence years earlier in 2018.

Officials are now understood to be questioning whether 'it is really possible to credibly substantiate the solidity of a religious conversion,' a Government source told The Sunday Telegraph.

Mrs Braverman, writing for thew newspaper, also claimed that while she was Home Secretary she was made 'aware of churches around the country facilitating industrial-scale bogus asylum claims'.

She argued that the conversion is simple and allows asylum seekers to claim that they fear religious persecution if they were to return to their home countries.

She wrote: 'Attend Mass once a week for a few months, befriend the vicar, get your baptism date in the diary and bingo, you'll be signed by a member of clergy that you're now a God-fearing Christian who will face certain persecution if removed to your Islamic country of origin. It has to stop.'

Dame Priti echoed her claims, highlighting how the case has echoes of that of Iraqi-born Emad Al Swealmeen, 32, who died from a blast and subsequent fire after his homemade bomb detonated in a taxi outside Liverpool Women's Hospital in 2021.

He also claimed to be a Christian convert to support his asylum claim.

The former Home Secretary accused church leaders of having 'political activism' in their approach to asylum seekers and alleged that churches were supported cases 'without merit'.

Dame Priti, writing for The Mail on Sunday, also claimed that the 'current asylum system is collapsing'.

35-year-old Abdul Ezedi, from the Newcastle area, is being hunted after the alkaline attack in Clapham. It has emerged he is a sex offender who was denied asylum but converted to Christianity and then won on appeal

This is the chilling moment a suspected acid attacker rams a car at a mother before taking a child out of a car and slamming her to the floor

Suella Braverman (pictured in June 2023) has now claimed that while she was Home Secretary she was made 'aware of churches around the country facilitating industrial-scale bogus asylum claims'. She alleged the conversion process is simple and allows asylum seekers to claim that they fear religious persecution if they were to return to their home countries

Dame Priti Patel (pictured in October 2022) echoed her claims, accusing church leaders of 'political activism' and supporting asylum cases 'without merit'

Questions remain over Ezedi, who was granted asylum in the UK after two failed attempts, was able to stay in the country despite being convicted of a sex offence.

Ezedi, who is thought to have arrived in the UK from Afghanistan on the back of a lorry in 2016, claimed to have converted to Christianity, which would have put him at risk following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle said in a statement it had found nothing to suggest that Ezedi become a Catholic but checks were continuing.

It said: 'Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with the victims of this appalling attack in south London.'

The diocese confirmed that Ezedi 'visited our diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project, a charitable venture which assists a wide range of people who come to us in need'.

It added: 'After checking local parish records and central records and after consulting with clergy we have no indication that Abdul Ezedi was received into the Catholic faith in this diocese or that a Catholic priest of this diocese gave him a reference.

'We do not know which Christian church received him nor which Christian minister gave him a reference.'

The project says on its website that it gives food, toiletries and clothes to vulnerable people. It does not get involved with any asylum claims clients may be pursuing, it is understood.

The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed Ezedi was handed a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court on January 9, 2018 after pleading guilty to one charge of sexual assault and one of exposure.

He was put on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

A handout CCTV grab released by Britain's Metropolitan Police in London on February 1, 2024 shows Abdul Shokoor Ezedi (pictured), taken in a Tesco, understood to be the branch closest to King's Cross Station

Disturbing CCTV footage shows a man running towards the driver's door and getting inside before driving the white car into a woman as members of the public rush to her aid

CCTV footage obtained by MailOnline showed Ezedi stumbling as he ran away from the scene of the attack

Ezedi, 35, from the Newcastle area, is accused of carrying out a 'targeted' attack on a 31-year-old mother and her two daughters on Wednesday night in Clapham.

The woman, believed to be known to Ezedi, was attacked with a corrosive alkaline substance and remains 'very poorly' and sedated in hospital, with her injuries thought to be 'life-changing'.

The injuries to her daughters, aged three and eight, are 'not likely to be life-changing'.

Ezedi - who is described as having very 'significant injuries to the right side of his face' - was last seen at King's Cross underground station on Wednesday night, where he boarded a southbound Victoria line train.

'Significant and important pieces of evidence' were recovered in raids at two addresses in east London and three in Newcastle, police said.

They include empty containers with corrosive warnings found at one address in Newcastle, which are shown in new footage released by detectives.

Forensic tests to see if the containers held the substance used in the attack are ongoing.

The Metropolitan Police said it has received 'dozens of calls' about the manhunt, including possible sightings of Ezedi.

The force also said it is working 'round the clock' with British Transport Police, Northumbria Police, the National Crime Agency and Transport for London on the manhunt.

At a press conference on Friday, Commander Jon Savell urged the suspect to hand himself in. He said: 'Abdul, you clearly have got some very significant injuries.

'We've seen the images. You need some medical help, so do the right thing and hand yourself in.'

His brother Hassan Ezedi told The Sun newspaper he would hand the suspect in if he knew where he was.

Forensics at the scene take pictures of the location close to Clapham Common on Wednesday

Forensics were seen closely examining a silver thermal carry-cup, which was located next to a bin

Photos show a white Hyundai i20 hatchback with its doors open and windscreen shattered abandoned on the street in Clapham, where homes sell for as much as 3million

Prime Minster Rishi Sunak's spokesman said on Friday that the PM does not think 'foreign criminals should be able to stay' in the UK.

And shadow digital minister Chris Bryant has claimed that Ezedi should not have been granted asylum in the UK.

When asked by Trevor Phillips on his Sky News programme whether there is 'something wrong' with a system that allowed the wanted man to stay in the UK, Mr Bryant said 'yes'.

He added: 'In the main, on the face of it, if everything that we have been told is true, then it seems absolutely extraordinary that the British people should be put at such risk from this person.

'Of course it's something we might need to look at.'

But a Cabinet minister has alleged the focus around the Clapham alkali attack is 'not really about asylum'.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan told Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme 'we need to get to the bottom of' why Ezedi had been able to remain in Britain, indicating his status will be something that is looked into by the Home Office.

Asked how it was possible the suspect had been granted asylum after being found guilty of a sexual offence, Mrs Keegan said: 'I think that is something that more than one person is asking.

'My understanding is the Home Secretary has asked for all the details, but this is not really about asylum,' she added, before going on to talk about the victims and others impacted by the attack.

She continued: 'Clearly, what we say is that anybody who commits crimes is not able to stay in this country. So, if you have a sentence of more than 12 months, you are not allowed to stay if you have a criminal record, etc.

'We don't want to have people in this country who have criminal records.'

Ezedi left Newcastle in the 'very, very early hours' of Wednesday and travelled south to the capital and was in the Tooting area by around 6.30am, police say. Pictured: Police guard a cordon at the scene on Wednesday

The car appeared to have crashed into other parked vehicles as it came to a stop on the residential road

Two scientists could be seen crowding around the mug, which appeared to have an evidence marker

Ezedi left Newcastle in the 'very, very early hours' of Wednesday and travelled south to the capital and was in the Tooting area by around 6.30am, police say.

His vehicle was seen again in Croydon, south London, at around 4.30pm and by around 7pm he was in Streatham.

Ezedi allegedly threw the younger child to the ground during the attack at 7.25pm, before attempting to drive away from the scene, crashing into a stationary vehicle and fleeing on foot.

Minutes later he boarded a tube at Clapham South Underground station, and by 8pm he was at King's Cross tube station.

At 8.42pm, Ezedi was captured on CCTV in Tesco on the Caledonian Road, pictured with a 'fairly significant facial injury' buying a bottle of water, before leaving and heading right.

He got on a Victoria line Tube at 9pm heading south, the last confirmed sighting.

Police say three members of the public who came to the aid of the family during Wednesday's attack, two in their 30s and one in her 50s, have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns.

Five officers who responded to the incident were also treated and have now left hospital.

As well as the 11 people taken to hospital, a man in his 50s, who also helped, declined hospital treatment for minor injuries, police said.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Nottinghamshire Police on 999

Police have assured that they have conducted an 'extensive' search for suspects

Three people were recorded on CCTV wielding machetes on Friday 1 Feb

Police are on the hunt for three machete-wielding youths who were spotted in the early afternoon outside Nottingham art gallery on Friday.

Video footage of the terrifying incident has been posted and shared on social media platforms.

The frightening confrontation resulted in one employee at the art gallery left 'fearing for my life.'

The three individuals seen in the shocking 30-second-long video can be seen brandishing what looks like large blades whilst donning dark clothing and raising their hoods to further hide their identities.

In the recording, one of the three youths can be seen placing their weapon back into its sheath whilst a woman can also be seen attempting to disperse the group.

Eventually, the small gang ran away after running down a flight of steps.

One man wielded a large machete before placing it back into its sleeve

A gang of thugs engaged in a fight in broad daylight outside an art gallery in Nottingham

Three individuals ran off down the steps after a woman was seen trying to break the fight up

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Nottinghamshire Police on 999

Nottingham Police has assured that they have conducted an 'extensive' search of the area in question, however the suspects had vacated the scene.

So far, no injuries have been reported in regards to this incident whilst high-visibility patrols have been put into place as a precaution.

Chief Inspector Karl Thomas, of Nottingham Police, said: 'Detectives are investigating what happened as a matter of urgency and are working at speed to identify all the young people involved.'

He continues: 'Officers have released CCTV images of the people they wish to trace as part of their investigation, and anyone who recognises them is urged to contact Nottinghamshire Police immediately.

'I want to reassure everybody about just how seriously we are treating this incident.'

One worker, who says the brawl started at 12.30pm said they were lucky there were no visitors in the gallery and locked the door as the gang ran away, adding 'I was scared for my life'.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Nottinghamshire Police on 999.
Heartbroken Kate Garraway is keen to keep busy and get back to work, her friends have said, after an 'incredibly rough' four years caring Derek Draper, who died last month.

The GMB star plans to make a TV return tomorrow - just three days after her husband's funeral - where she will give a poignant interview from her home before rejoining her co-host Ben Shepherd on Thursday.

Those close to the mother-of-two said she wants to get back to 'what she knows and loves', presenting for ITV, as she continues to mourn Derek.

'Kate has had an incredibly rough past couple of months, and it has taken its toll mentally and physically,' a friend said. 'But she is a workhorse, and journalism, being on live TV, runs through her blood  it's what she knows and loves.'

They added that 56-year-old 'needs to work to provide for their kids' - Darcey, 17, and William, 14, and 'bring stability back to their lives'.

Kate Garraway is set to make her first TV appearance since the death of her husband tomorrow on GMB

Kate and her children - Darcey, 17, and William, 14 - leaving Derek's funeral at St Mary's Church in Primrose Hill on Friday

New Labour giant Derek was one of the first to fall seriously ill with Covid-19 in March 2020. Kate announced he died on January 3 last month

The source told the Sun that it was the 'perfect time' for Kate to be 'reunited with her GMB family', who have been 'hugely supportive' throughout the family's difficult time.

'After caring for Derek, and her family, for almost four years, Kate needs to get back to some sort of normality. And she wants to throw herself back into work, 3.45am starts and all,' the friend added.

In her first appearance back, Kate is expected to speak about her husband's final days and his funeral - which was attended by politicians and celebrities alike. ITV is expected to release trailers for the interview later today.

Kate had last been seen on GMB on December 8. She is provisionally scheduled to return full-time but ITV said she can take time off as and when needed.

It is understood that the broadcaster is also providing a duty-of-care package, thought to include counselling if needed.

Derek had flown to Mexico for specialist treatment for long Covid on December 8 but while there suffered a cardiac arrest and was forced to fly home.

On Friday, Sir Tony Blair, Sir Keir Starmer and Sir Elton John were amongst those who gathered the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Primrose Hill - where Kate married her partner in 2005 - to bid farewell to the New Labour giant.

Journalist Robert Peston, talent manager Jonathan Shalit, former political editor of GMTV and ex-Labour MP Gloria De Piero and former Sky News political editor Adam Boulton also headed into the church.

Kate will return to presenting duties on Thursday alongside her co-star Ben Shepherd

Kate and Derek in happier times at the National Television Awards in 2007 - two years after they married

Kate leaves the funeral service, holding the hand of her son William, after the funeral service

Kate's past and present Good Morning Britain colleagues were also out in force to support her on a tragic day. Ben Shephard and Susanna Reid were amongst the first to arrive followed by Piers Morgan and Charlotte Hawkins.

Fiona Phillips was seen in public with her ITV exec husband Martin Frizell for the first time since she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

Derek's daughter helped carry her father's coffin into the building while Sir Elton played a 'musical tribute'.

There was also a speech by friend Sir Tony Blair and the congregation sang Lord of the Dance and The Lord is My Shepherd.

His children left notes on wreaths on the coffin, which said: 'I love you with all my heart' and 'I love you dad'.

Derek was amongst the first in the UK to fall seriously ill with Covid-19, being admitted into an intensive care unit as the country entered lockdown in March 2020.

He was one of the country's longest-suffering Covid patients after being in hospital but never fully recovered after the virus left long-lasting damage to his organs and meant he needed round-the-clock care.

Derek had attended few public events over the last few years. But he suffered a heart attack before Christmas and never recovered.

Kate revealed Derek died as she held his hand 'throughout the last long hours and when he passed' on January 3 aged 56 after suffering long-lasting symptoms from coronavirus.
February 3, 2024: The U.S. Army has problems finding enough new recruits to maintain its current strength of 460,000 active duty and 500,000 reserve troops. These recruitment problems are getting worse. The number of troops needed in 2023 was 65.000 but only 55,000 were willing to volunteer. The losses are disproportionately hurting the active-duty combat forces. The army blames the poor quality of many volunteers, who must be rejected because they are overweight, have low test scores or drug use. Not mentioned are the many desirable young people who do not even consider enlisting because they come from rural areas which supply a disproportionate share of military volunteers in general but are put off by the militarys new social justice regulations, lectures and required lifestyles.

The U.S. military has had to cope with a lot of recruiting problems over the last few years. These include financial, suitability, leadership, communications, morale, political and ideological/lifestyle conflicts. Recruiters were increasingly unable to meet their quotas for enough new recruits to replace losses due to retirement, casualties, illness, or not-reenlisting. In 2022 and 2023 the recruiters had their worst time ever. Each Recruiting Location has annual and monthly quotas for each service, as in the army, navy, air force and marines. These quotas were based on past performance. Recruits are easier to find in some parts of the country and this is reflected in the quotas. From 2022 thru 2023 monthly quotas were not being met by a large margin. Its worse for the army, which is attracting less than half the recruits the Department of Defense analysts expected. The senior military leadership proposed offering record-high bonuses of up to $50,000 for eligible recruits. Polls indicate this will not have much impact on the current situation.

Many recruiters already realized that recruits were going to be difficult to find this year, something that was largely ignored inside the Department of Defense. Unlike Pentagon analysts, the recruiters are constantly in touch with potential recruits as well as veterans groups. This provides recruiters with real-time exposure to attitudes of potential recruits. Veterans, especially recent ones, provide personal experience with family and friends about current conditions in the military. Currently the news is bad, and older veterans, including the few still around from World War II, comment that the current military is not the one that fought and won battles in the past. The number of young men who had a parent who served in the military declined from 40 percent in 1995 to 12 percent in 2022.

The major problem is political demands. Congress makes the laws, and the military follows them. The military has been all-volunteer since the 1970s so military service is not mandatory. If potential recruits, especially those influenced by word -of-mouth, are put off by current conditions, they dont volunteer. This applies to officers as well as enlisted troops and the reserves as well. The current situation is worse because the current president and Congress have the lowest approval ratings in history. The approval levels are lowest in regions, like rural America, which usually provide a disproportionate number of volunteers for military service.

In the next two years there will be elections for a new president and members of Congress. That is expected to help with recruiting but only after the word-of-mouth turns around and that will take another year or two, if it happens. In the meantime, recruiters are under increasing pressure to find recruits. As in the past, this is producing more burnout for recruiters. Recruiting is already seen as a hardship assignment and eligible Non-Commissioned Officers or NCOs avoid it any way they can. Some leave the military by not reenlisting. This toxic environment was a seemingly sudden development because over the last few years recruiters have been successful at coming up with new ideas to reach the new Gen Z generation of recruits.

This process began in 2018 as recruiters found that Gen Z recruits were easier to reach via devices like cell phones or PCs than in-person visits from recruiters. In 2018 the army failed, by 7,000 recruits, to meet its recruiting goals. This had not happened since 2005, when recruiters came up 6,000 short. The cause was a failure to communicate.

Army recruiting officials had been warned by their marketing experts and some recruiters that the current generation was difficult to reach using the traditional in-person methods. For the 2019 recruiting year recruiters were given quick training and advice on how best to contact Gen Z men and women. Most of the recruiters were older but knew their way around networked devices and social media. Recruiters were ready in early 2020.

The 2018 goal was 76,500 new recruits. The fiscal year ends on September 30, and after 2017 the army was forced to examine how it was going about its recruiting. Changes were made and the army exceeded its recruiting goal in fiscal 2019. Then came 2020. The recruiting season begins in March, as high school seniors get serious about post-graduation plans. In 2019 recruiters used more remote methods and a lot more apps like TikTok and Zoom. The plan for 2020 was to use even more of the new methods and, when the covid19 quarantines hit, the recruiters were ordered to do all their recruiting remotely with recruits only coming in for physical exams. Covid19 was not a major problem for the army because they recruited only the healthiest. Covid19, unlike the most severe strains of flu, such as the 1918, 1957 and 1968 ones, has little impact on healthy people but is most dangerous for the elderly and those with existing health problems. As a practical matter covid19 is much less dangerous for recruiting aged men and women than any past influenza epidemic. But the army still had to keep the recruits from getting or spreading covid19 to those more vulnerable. All recruits were tested for covid19 and those with it were isolated long enough to stop being infectious.

The turnaround was not miraculous. Upon close examination, the army discovered that the problems in 2018 were largely self-inflicted. There were a lot of other problems with how the army ran its recruiting operation and thats where solutions were found. Another factor was that 2018 was a spike year, in which the need for recruits went up because of the large number of veteran soldiers retiring or not reenlisting. The army fell short by 7,000 recruits in 2018 and even though that boosted the need for 2019, the goal for 2019 was only 68,000. In 2018 the other three services, navy, air force and marines required a total of 100,000 and all met their goal. In 2020 the army only needed 62,150 and, when more acceptable candidates were available than needed, recruiters had to be selective and tell those who didnt make the cut they would have a chance next year and their recruiter would stay in touch electronically.

The army had planned to eventually carry out the entire recruiting process electronically and the 2020 situation forced them to do that right away. The recruiters adapted because, if nothing else, they had more time to be with families because they now often worked at home. Doing the entire process remotely eliminated all the travel time for recruiters and in 2020 they found out how great the travel burden was.

In 2019 the army raised its standards somewhat to take advantage of the fact that more young Americans could meet those standards. In past years there have been complaints that too many potential recruits were turned away for a number of shortcomings. That has changed a bit and 29 percent of potential recruits can now meet the physical, mental, legal, and psychological standards for military service. The problem is that only about a third of these eligible are interested in military service. While obesity continues to be a major problem, more potential recruits have high school diplomas, fewer drug problems and no arrest records. Those are trends that existed in 2018 and earlier accelerated and with it the number of young men and women who qualify to join.

In 2018 recruiters were ordered to work fewer hours, to address problems with recruiter burnout and complaints about higher divorce rates and other family problems because of the pressure put on recruiters to meet their goals. For 2019 those family-friendly rules remained but more NCOs were assigned to recruiting duty and recruiters were redeployed so that more were in areas that required more recruiter effort to meet goals. The army paid more attention to recruiter complaints about methods and made a number of other changes that reduced the workload while increasing the effectiveness of recruiter efforts. Many of these changes were overdue, especially because the other services were already more efficient and, in most recruiting centers recruiters from all services were present, so the army recruiters were finally able to operate as effectively as they had seen the other services doing.

The army also looked back at 2005, the last year goals were not met and found that times had changed and the reasons for shortfalls were different in 2018 compared to 2005, as were economic and political conditions. In 2005 unemployment rates were higher, although headed lower, and there was a lot of combat with lots of casualties. There were other differences. Back in 2005 the problem was getting recruits for non-combat jobs, not the infantry. The 2018 shortfall was mainly for infantry. In 2018 there was little combat, and infantry are more likely to die in an off-duty auto accident than in combat. Back in 2006-7, the recruiting shortfall was quickly turned around, so those annual goals of 80,000 new recruits were met. This was also the goal for 2008 as well as the army expanded to meet the demands of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Back then the army grew from 482,000 to 547,000. In 2018 the expansion was from 476,000 to 500,000 by 2024.

Other differences are that in 2018-19 the army was a lot more selective, both in terms of new recruits and who was allowed to reenlist. Existing troops who fail to meet higher physical and deployability, as in ability to go overseas, standards were not allowed to stay in and replaced with better qualified new recruits. Many of these are for non-combat jobs, which comprise nearly 90 percent of all soldiers. Because there is no longer an active war, a lot fewer qualified young men are enlisting to be in the infantry.

Back in 2005-7 the army recruiting effort was unprecedented for wartime. Never in American history has a war this long been sustained with only volunteers. Party politics and media bias prevented the story behind this from getting out much. There are several reasons for the army recruiting success 2001 - 2007. The principal ones were:

Patriotism. Many of the troops that joined up believed that the nation was at war and must be defended. Those who got to Iraq or Afghanistan saw for themselves why the wars were being fought were the best recruiting aids. That's a story most media didn't want to cover because it contradicted so much else that was reported as news. But for army recruiters, this patriotism and word of mouth were key ingredients in recruiting success. With no war on, it's more difficult to get new recruits for combat jobs which tend to be strenuous and boring, although safer, in peacetime. This is a less attractive proposition for a lot of potential infantry recruits. In 2019 the recruiters put more emphasis on the good pay and benefits, especially the college tuition program for those who complete their four-year enlistment. In the army recruits get to try out career options they would not have had access to if they went straight to college or took whatever job was available. This pitch resonates because many college students right out of high school noted that the slightly older veterans had an easier time of it. This was a phenomenon first noticed after World War II when millions of recent veterans took advantage of the new GI Bill benefits and raised the maturity level of education for a generation of younger college students. The GI Bill was revived in the 1960s and the psychological and financial benefits for veterans in college are still there, even though fewer veterans are in each freshman class.

Low casualties. Although the media gets obsessed with U.S. casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, the reporting tends to ignore the fact that those casualties are the lowest in history, any army's history. Put simply, troops were half as likely to be killed or wounded in Iraq as they would have been in Vietnam or World War II. A combination of better equipment, training, and leadership, along with less effective enemy combatants, made it happen. These are trends that have been going on for decades. The lower casualties make a big difference, especially for troops who have gone back to Iraq or Afghanistan several times. Recruiters know that there's enough real danger there to attract young men looking for some adventure, but not so much that most potential recruits would be put off by it. Extreme, as in very dangerous sports, have become much more popular since the 1980s, and for many young men, modern combat is in that league plus you actually get to kill people. Most reporters have forgotten how teenage males think. Military recruiters haven't, and the U.S. Marine Corps consistently exceeds its recruiting goals by emphasizing the danger and challenges. The end result is that it was more difficult to recruit for support jobs than for the combat ones.

Bonuses. Taking a cue from the corporate world, the army increased its use of cash bonuses for people with key skills. Electronics and intelligence specialists were regularly among the best rewarded. Veteran infantry leaders got lots of bonus money because recruiters for corporate security firms were making outrageous offers. It was and still is much easier to get a civilian security clearance after a military tour of duty. While these bonuses were rarely used to attract new infantry recruits, the bonuses are still needed for recruits qualified to handle highly technical jobs, like those involving maintenance of electronic systems. Bonuses are not an immediate benefit for new recruits, but for those qualified to handle the most difficult jobs, bonuses are an attractive feature even if many of these specialist soldiers do not make a career of it.

Higher Re-enlistment Rates. As important as new recruits are, getting experienced soldiers to stay in is equally important. And in this department, the army has been very successful. Veteran troops in combat zones tend to re-enlist at a higher rate than those in safer areas. Although there's sometimes a tax angle to this, many veterans admit they re-enlist because there is a job to be done, and they are the only ones to do it. With the wars over, more soldiers seek to take advantage of the GI Bill education benefits and get a less stressful civilian job. The army still needs a lot of soldiers who will re-enlist, to provide the NCOs and technical specialists that have become essential.

Better screening. For over half a century, the army has been working on better screening and training techniques for handling substandard recruits. This includes those who have too much fat, not enough education, or a troubled past. Although the army has only been accepting recruits who are considerably healthier, smarter, and better educated than the average for their age since the 1980s, efforts to turn less well-qualified men and women into effective soldiers continued. Now those techniques are being used, although you'd never know it from the performance of the troops. Yet in the long-term lowering standards to meet recruiting goals did not work. Army screening is better at finding those among the seemingly less qualified who will turn out to be stable and productive over the long term. The problem is that this is mainly for non-combat jobs. The army has, since the 1990s, become known as a place for qualified people to learn useful civilian job skills while getting paid for it. Soldiers can get out after four years, get more subsidized education via the GI Bill and be eligible for a lot of good civilian jobs. Thats one reason the army still offers reenlistment bonuses to technically adept troops that are very expensive to train. During the 2018 recruitment crises, the army noted that the percentage of young Americans eligible to enlist was actually going up and is continuing to do so. The army went looking for other problems in the recruiting process, found them and fixed them.

Ongoing Reforms. The army has, since the 1980s, been rolling out more and more reforms. Not just obvious things, like new weapons and uniforms, but new leadership and organizational methods. The result is better performance and morale. Troops are more likely to reenlist if they believe they are serving with the best and being well treated. The army has had some problems with officer quality, particularly senior officers, and those problems are still not solved. But when it comes to the troops, the army is in better shape than it has ever been. It was just that not enough attention was being paid to the problems with how recruiters were used and why.
Britain said it engaged in another wave of 'proportionate and targeted strikes'

The Foreign Secretary has warned that Houthi attacks on international shipping 'must stop' just hours after Britain launched its latest blitz on the Red Sea militants.

Lord David Cameron said the third wave of joint UK and US air strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen last night took place after 'repeated warnings' for the rebel militant group to cease.

At least 36 targets blasted in the third set of attacks to 'protect innocent lives', Grant Shapps said, as fears grow that the Middle East tinderbox could explode.

The UK said yesterday it had engaged in another wave of 'proportionate and targeted strikes' against Iran-linked Houthi militants.

The attacks are meant to further disable Iran-backed groups that have relentlessly assaulted American and international interests with drones and missiles in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.

US Strikes in Yemen as part of ongoing international efforts to respond to increased Iranian-backed Houthi destabilizing and illegal activities

An explosion is seen in the fresh waves of attacks from the UK and US against Houthi targets

New Houthi recruits parade to show support to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in Sanaa, Yemen

Houthi tribesmen gather to show defiance after U.S. and U.K air strikes

Houthi tribesmen gather after U.S. and UK air strikes on Houthi positions near Sanaa, Yemen

Lord Cameron wrote on X this morning: 'The UK and the US have carried out further strikes on Houthi military targets. We have issued repeated warnings to the Houthis.

'Their reckless actions are putting innocent lives at risk, threatening the freedom of navigation and destabilising the region. The Houthi attacks must stop.'

He had earlier written in The Sunday Times: 'I have met with the Iranian foreign minister and had a very robust conversation where I said that these proxies are your proxies, you cannot disclaim your responsibility for them.

'Of course you can claim they have a certain amount of independence but you created them, you backed them, you financed them, you provided them with weapons, and you will ultimately be held accountable for what they do.'

He defended the UK resisting proscribing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terror organisation, insisting the move was not required by police or other security authorities to sanction and prosecute the military might of the Tehran regime.

Lord Cameron said it was better to be able to 'deliver a very direct message to the Iranians' in person rather than rely on allies to issue rebukes.

Yemen's Huthis said today that the US and British air strikes 'will not deter us' and vowed a response after dozens of targets were hit.

The joint air raids in Yemen late Saturday followed a separate wave of unilateral American strikes against Iran-linked targets in Iraq and Syria in response to a drone attack that killed three US soldiers in Jordan.

The United States has also carried out a series of air raids against the Yemeni rebels on its own, but their attacks on the vital Red Sea trade route have persisted.

Saturday's strikes hit '36 Huthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen in response to the Huthis' continued attacks against international and commercial shipping as well as naval vessels transiting the Red Sea', the United States, Britain and other countries that provided support for the operation said in a statement.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes 'are intended to further disrupt and degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Huthi militia to conduct their reckless and destabilising attacks'.

Neither Austin nor the joint statement identified the specific places that were hit, but Huthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the capital Sanaa and other rebel-held areas were targeted.

Saree reported a total of 48 air strikes, and said on social media platform X that 'these attacks will not deter us from our... stance in support of the steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip,' where the Israel-Hamas war has raged since early October.

The latest strikes 'will not pass without response and punishment', Saree said.

Defence Secretary Mr Shapps insisted the bombings are 'not an escalation' of the Red Sea crisis and claimed the latest strikes will have further degraded the Houthis' capabilities.

'The Houthis' attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea are illegal and unacceptable and it is our duty to protect innocent lives and preserve freedom of navigation,' he said.

'That is why the Royal Air Force engaged in a third wave of proportionate and targeted strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen.

'We acted alongside our US allies, with the support of many international partners, in self-defence and in accordance with international law.'

An RAF Typhoon aircraft was seen taking off to conduct further strikes against Houthi targets

A Houthi trooper takes part in a military exercise at a remote area on the outskirts of Sana'a, Yemen on Saturday

An RAF Typhoon FRG4s being prepared to conduct further strikes against Houthi targets

The strikes were meant to further disable Iran-backed groups that have relentlessly attacked American and international interests

Britain said on Saturday it had engaged in another wave of 'proportionate and targeted strikes' against Iran-linked Houthi militants

He added: 'This is not an escalation. We have already successfully targeted launchers and storage sites involved in Houthi attacks, and I am confident that our latest strikes have further degraded the Houthis' capabilities.

'Having recently met those British personnel stationed in the region, I know the dedication and professionalism with which they serve our nation's armed forces and I would like to thank them for ensuring this operation was a success.'

Dramatic footage showed a large explosion rocking parts of Yemen, turning the sky orange and fire raged.

The additional strikes send a clear message to the Iran-backed militia, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.

'These strikes are intended to further disrupt and degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia to conduct their reckless and destabilizing attacks against U.S. and international vessels lawfully transiting the Red Sea' Austin said in a statement on Saturday afternoon.

'Coalition forces targeted 13 locations associated with the Houthis' deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, and radars' he explained.

He added: 'This collective action sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels.'

Officials said cruise missiles were launched in response to movements by an Iranian-backed rebel group preparing to strike more ships in the Red Sea, the day after the US also shot down at least eight drones in the region.

The skyline above Sana'a in Yemen glows orange following a missile strike by US and UK forces

Video footage shows an explosion taking place behind a built-up area in Yemen

An RAF Typhoon launches from Britain's military base on Cyprus

An RAF Typhoon FGR4 gets ready to go to conduct further strikes against Houthi targets

And RAF jet prepares for take off from Britain's military base on Cyprus

The strikes came as news broke that Britain's 3.5billion aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth had suffered a technical fault which is set to put the warship out of action 'for months' - potentially scuppering hopes of it being sent to the Red Sea.

The mighty 65,000-tonne behemoth - Britain's biggest warship - was due to set sail on Sunday to join one of the largest Nato exercises in a decade.

But just hours before departure from her home base of Portsmouth, in Hampshire, the Royal Navy announced that engineers had spotted an issue with a coupling on one of Queen Elizabeth's propeller shafts during 'routine checks'.

'As such, the ship will not sail on Sunday,' the Navy said, adding Britain's second aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, would take her place at the Nato war game.

The development will come as a bitter blow for naval top brass, who have faced political pressure to send one of the UK's two aircraft carriers to the Red Sea in a show of force - and to relieve an American carrier already in the region.

Only last week, Mr Shapps had hinted that the ship could soon head to the Red Sea. Both carriers are purpose built to embark the new F-35 stealth jet.

HMS Queen Elizabeth's woe echoes a similar - but more costly problem - faced by her sister ship the Prince of Wales, which suffered a catastrophic breakdown shortly after departing Portsmouth for America in August 2022.

The bedevilled carrier's propeller was ruined in the incident, putting the ship out of action for the best part of a year while she was fixed in Scotland and leaving the navy with a multi-million pound repair bill.

HMS Queen Elizabeth's fault isn't believed to be as serious. But a former British frigate captain told the MailOnline that it could be severe enough to put the ship out of action for 'a couple of months' as she is fixed in a dry dock in Rosyth, Scotland.

Commander Tom Sharpe said: 'HMS Queen Elizabeth will now most likely have to dock down (which will take time). What this does to her status as the high readiness carrier and her programmed maintenance schedule is to be confirmed.'

If Britain is to send any aircraft carrier to the Red Sea, it is now likely to be the Prince of Wales.

HMS Queen Elizabeth and her sister ship HMS Prince of Wales are seen in Portsmouth

Earlier Houthi rebels were pictured as they practiced manoeuvres from their heavily-armoured vehicles, with Palestinian flags and Yemen flags flying side by side,

One photograph captured the potentially deadly devastation caused by the weapons, with the mock targets bursting into flames

The Houthi rebels practiced their moves in the remote area of Sana'a in Yemen on Saturday

A missile appears to take off during the military exercise targeting mock US and Israeli targets

A fleet of drones take off through the skies while operators watch on from the ground nearby

The latest strikes against the Houthis came the day after an air assault in Iraq and Syria that targeted other Iranian-backed groups and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

It marks an escalation of the conflict, in retaliation for the drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan last weekend.

Officials told The Associated Press that the strikes were targeted on groups that have relentlessly attacked American and international interests in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.

READ MORE: Defiant Houthis launch missiles during military drill in Yemen amid escalating attacks on Red Sea shipping: Middle East crisis reaches boiling point with American threatening MORE airstrikes after bombing Syria and Iraq Advertisement

The Houthi targets were in 10 different locations, and were struck by U.S. F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and by American warships firing Tomahawk missiles from the Red Sea, the U.S. officials said.

Later, Britain's Ministry of Defence confirmed RAF Typhoon FGR4s were supported by Voyager tankers during the joint mission with Washington, with more than 30 sites across 13 locations hit by coalition forces, according to a joint statement by the eight nations involved.

The coalition reiterated its warning to Houthi leadership, saying 'we will not hesitate to continue to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world's most critical waterways'.

In a defiant display, the Iran-backed rebel group last night released a series of pictures showing their fighters carrying out military drills and mock attacks in Yemen.

Last night's attacks come MPs warned Britain's overstretched Armed Forces may be unable to fight an all-out war, and chronic shortages of troops and equipment are being covered up in a 'veil of secrecy'.

In a damning report released today, the Defence Select Committee concluded the Army is the UK's 'weakest service' due to 'significant capability deficiencies'  which included drastic shortages of vehicles, tanks and even ammunition.

After facing a wall of silence while compiling their Ready For War report, the MPs urged military top brass and Ministers to be more transparent about shortcomings so they can be addressed urgently.

The report further highlights war-readiness issues with the Royal Navy's 3.5 billion aircraft carriers.

Despite spending about 50 billion a year on defence, 'sustained ongoing investment' is needed for the UK to fight a 'high-intensity war', today's report concludes.

It comes just days after an outgoing Army chief said the public would have to be called up to fight if Britain goes to war because the regular Forces are too small.

Concerns have been raised by MPs about the state of Britain's military (file picture)

Aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales will now replace HMS Queen Elizabeth on the exercise

The absence of a UK carrier in the Red Sea region has left the US to conduct almost the entirety of air strikes on Houthi military infrastructure

Sir Jeremy Quin, chairman of the Defence Select Committee, said: 'A steady, continuous drip of operations and ongoing commitments has meant the military is unable to devote sufficient training and resources to high-intensity war fighting. On top of this, the high tempo of operations and unrelenting pressure on our Services has led to a drop in retention, compounded by a period of low recruitment and difficulties introducing and maintaining capabilities, thereby creating a vicious cycle.'

MPs were most concerned by the military's 'war-fighting readiness', saying its ability at a sustained high intensity was 'in doubt'.

Witnesses told the inquiry that the Armed Forces would struggle in a major conflict, claiming the British Army does not have enough new infantry fighting vehicles, Challenger tanks or adequate missile defence capabilities. The Royal Navy is suffering from delays to a new frigate programme and an 'over-tasked' aircraft fleet, while the RAF has a shortfall of combat aircraft, delays to new Chinook helicopters and too few pilots.

The heads of the Forces also raised concerns about stockpiles used by Ukraine reducing the amount available to the UK.

MPs found basic staples of national security, such as the number of warships the Royal Navy can muster, are no longer being acknowledged because the situation is so bad. They also said it was 'unacceptable' that a lack of transparency had compromised their attempts to assess readiness. Previously the information they needed was in the public domain. Today it is either graded as classified or simply not recorded.

Former Labour Defence Minister Kevan Jones said: 'The MoD needs to lift the veil of secrecy put in place to hide the truth and be clear with the people about the limitations of our Armed Forces.'

An Mod spokesman said: 'Our Armed Forces are always ready to protect the UK and we continue to meet all operational commitments.'

The dire warning came as the US military expands its presence in the Middle East, opening up the possibility for further conflict as it now wages wars on two fronts.

Alongside targeting the Houthis' shipment disruptions in Yemen, military leaders are also focused on Iranian proxies that continue to strike US bases in Iraq, Syria and Jordan.

It comes after an Iraqi militia official on Saturday hinted at a desire to deescalate tensions in the Middle East following the retaliatory strikes launched by the United States.

A satellite photo of a military base known as Tower 22, a Jordanian base targeted by a bomb-carrying drone that killed three U.S. soldiers. The damage can be seen in the center left of the photo

The strikes come in retaliation to the deaths of Spc. Kennedy Sanders, Sgt. William Jerome Rivers (center) and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett (right), who were killed by a drone strike Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, on their base in Jordan near the Syrian border

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden greet service members before boarding Air Force One, after attending a casualty return for the three servicemembers killed in the strike

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (left), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown and Marine Corp. Sgt. Maj. Troy E. Black watch as an Army carry team moves the flag-draped transfer case containing the remains of three servicemembers killed by an Iranian-backed strike

An Army carry team loads the transfer case containing the remains of the three military servicemembers, whose deaths have triggered several waves of retaliatory strikes

Hussein al-Mosawi, spokesperson for Harakat al-Nujaba, one of the main Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, told The Associated Press that Washington 'must understand that every action elicits a reaction.'

While condemning the US's actions, the military official added that 'we do not wish to escalate or widen regional tensions.'

Mosawi said the targeted sites in Iraq were mainly 'devoid of fighters and military personnel at the time of the attack.'

Syrian state media reported that there were casualties from the strikes, but did not give a number. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that 23 people, all rank-and-file fighters, were killed.

Iraqi government spokesperson Bassim al-Awadi said in a statement Saturday that the strikes in Iraq near the Syrian border killed 16, including civilians, and there was 'significant damage' to homes and private properties.

A U.S. official said Saturday that an initial battle damage assessment showed the U.S. had struck each of its planned targets, in addition to a few 'dynamic targets' that popped up as the mission unfolded.

These new targets included a surface-to-air missile site and drone launch sites. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details that were not yet public, did not yet have a casualty assessment.

Iraqs foreign ministry announced Saturday it would summon the U.S. embassys charge daffaires - the ambassador being outside of the country - to deliver a formal protest over U.S. strikes on 'Iraqi military and civilian sites.'

The U.S. said Friday it had informed Iraq of the impending strikes before they started.

The air assault was the opening salvo of U.S. retaliation for a drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan last weekend. The U.S. has blamed that on the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iranian-backed militias.

Iran, meanwhile, has attempted to distance itself from the attack, saying that the militias act independently of its direction.

Iraqi spokesperson al-Awadi condemned the strikes as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty, particularly since some of them targeted facilities of the Population Mobilization Forces.

US officials said they had informed Iraq of the impending strikes before they started Friday. Pictured is US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

The PMF, a coalition of Iranian-backed militias, was officially brought under the umbrella of the Iraqi armed forces after it joined the fight against the Islamic State in 2014, but in practice it continues to operate largely outside of state control.

The Popular Mobilization Forces said in a statement Saturday that one of the sites targeted was an official security headquarters of the group.

In addition to the 16 killed, it said 36 people had been wounded, 'while the search is still ongoing for the bodies of a number of the missing.'

The Iraqi government has been in a delicate position since a group of Iranian-backed Iraqi militias calling itself Islamic Resistance in Iraq - many of whose members are also part of the PMF - began launching attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria on October 18.

The group described the strikes as retaliation for Washington's support for Israel in the war in Gaza.

Behind the scenes, Iraqi officials have attempted to rein in the militias, while also condemning U.S. retaliatory strikes as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and calling for an exit of the 2,500 U.S. troops who are in the country as part of an international coalition to fight IS.

Last month, Iraqi and U.S. military officials launched formal talks to wind down the coalition's presence, a process that will likely take years.

One of the main Iran-backed militias, Kataib Hezbollah, said it was suspending attacks on American troops following Sunday's strike that killed the U.S. troops in Jordan, to avoid 'embarrassing' the Iraqi government.

Meanwhile Saturday, the U.S. militarys Central Command acknowledged it had had a series of skirmishes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden with Yemens Houthi rebels. On Friday, the USS Carney shot down a drone over the Gulf of Aden and there were no injuries or damage.

The U.S. also conducted airstrikes on four Houthi drones preparing to launch that it said 'presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the U.S. Navy ships in the region.'

On Saturday, Central Command said it struck six additional anti-ship cruise missiles that it said were prepared to launch and presented an imminent threat.

Overnight, F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, along with the USS Laboon, shot down seven drones in the Red Sea.
Sinn Fein has boasted of a referendum on united Ireland within a decade after Michelle O'Neill was installed as First Minister at Stormont.

The republicans have taken the top post in Northern Ireland for the first time following the dramatic deal that restored powersharing.

Ms O'Neill and her new DUP deputy Emma Little-Pengelly hailed the historic moment as the institutions were formally restored yesterday, vowing to work together to improve people's lives.

But the Sinn Fein vice president has risked inflaming tensions again in interviews - saying she will push the case for a referendum when she meets Rishi Sunak.

Asked whether she expected a vote on uniting the island of Ireland within 10 years, Ms O'Neill told Sky News: 'Yes. I believe we're in a decade of opportunity.

'And there are so many things that are changing all the old norms, the nature of the state, the fact that a nationalist republican was never supposed to be First Minister. This all speaks to that change.

'And I think that's that that's in terms of, you know, what's happening here on the side. And so the next decade, I think, is the decade of opportunity.'

Sinn Fein has boasted of a referendum on united Ireland within a decade after Michelle O'Neill was installed as First Minister at Stormont

Ms O'Neill and her new DUP deputy Emma Little-Pengelly hailed the historic moment as the institutions were formally restored yesterday

Ms O'Neill said she would 'absolutely contest' the insistence of UK ministers that a border poll is decades away.

She added on RTE that 'when I meet Chris Heaton-Harris or Rishi Sunak as the British Prime Minister, Ill make sure that message he hears that very loud and clear'.

Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Heaton-Harris - who would need to agree that there was strong support for a referendum for one to be triggered - said last week that he did not expect to see a united Ireland in his lifetime. Mr Heaton-Harris is 56.

The appointment of the Sinn Fein vice president provided a moment of history on the day the powersharing institutions returned after a two-year hiatus.

In her speech to the reconvened Assembly, Ms O'Neill said: 'Today opens the door to the future  a shared future.

'I am honoured to stand here as First Minister.'

Ms Little-Pengelly said she and Ms O'Neill come from 'very different backgrounds', but for her part she will work 'tirelessly to ensure that we can deliver for all in Northern Ireland'.

Mr Heaton-Harris described it as a 'great day for Northern Ireland'. He told the assembled media he is confident that devolved government in Northern Ireland is 'sustainable in the very long term'.

Ms O'Neill (left) and Ms Little-Pengelly (right) now hold the two most powerful posts in NI

The two top jobs in the ministerial executive wield equal power and responsibility, but the elevation of a republican to the office of first minister, by virtue of Sinn Fein becoming the region's largest political party in the 2022 Assembly election, was a symbolic moment.

The DUP agreed to the recall of the political institutions after a deal with Westminster on post-Brexit trading rules.

Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said that package had effectively removed what he previously condemned as a border with the rest of the UK.

On Thursday, the Government fast-tracked two pieces of legislation through the House of Commons that implemented the deal, opening the way for the Assembly to return yesterday.
A top secret Russian electronic weapon allegedly based in Kaliningrad has been jamming GPS technology on flights and ships across the eastern flank of NATO, Western intelligence services fear.

There has been disruption to the GPS guidance of air and sea traffic in Finland, the Baltic states and Poland, according to Estonia's military chief.

'What we have seen is a malfunctioning of GPS for ships and air traffic,' General Martin Harem, commander of the Estonian Defence Forces, told the Telegraph.

'And we really do not know if they [Russia] want to achieve something or just practise and test their equipment.'

The suspected electronic weapon causing these disruptions is likely based in Russia's military site in Kaliningrad, sitting between Lithuania and Poland, according to Western intelligence findings.

The suspected electronic weapon causing these disruptions is likely based in Russia's military site in Kaliningrad (pictured), sitting between Lithuania and Poland, according to Western intelligence findings

The fixed jamming system is called Tobol and it is said to be one of less than ten weapons in use across Russia. It reportedly looks like a large satellite dish, but the images circulating on social media claiming to show the device could not be verified

The fixed jamming system is called Tobol and it is said to be one of less than ten weapons in use across Russia.

It reportedly looks like a large satellite dish, but the images circulating on social media claiming to show the device could not be verified.

An expert in electronic warfare said the satellite dish could be used to disrupt GPS technology in several directions, which could protect Kaliningrad from potential incoming missiles.

Dr Thomas Withington, who works at the Royal United Services Institute think-tank, told the Telegraph the device was likely used as a defensive weapon due to Putin's fears over GPS-led weapons available to other countries.

Causing a GPS disruption in these usually highly accurate missiles could result in them missing their target.

However, if the weapon is used against civilian rather than military targets, it can wreak havoc for commercial airliners.

Recently there have been reports of planes suddenly dropping off tracking sites - likely due to their GPS being disrupted.

Experts warned that if the same happens to ships, they could collide due to not being able to see each other on navigation systems.

While vessels have other means of navigation available, it would be a cause of concern if these systems are down, Dr Withington explained.

Any long-lasting GPS disruption could cause chaos in logistics as delivery drivers rely on them to reach their destinations.

Gen Harem said: 'Whatever they [Russia] do here, one aim is to degrade our stability, self-confidence, our trust to the West, unity and cohesion.'

He added that he doesn't think the GPS-targeting weapons are part of Russia's 'immediate preparations' for a potential NATO clash with Russia in the next decade or two.

This comes as a shelling attack has today killed at least 28 people at a bakery in the Russian-occupied city of Lysychansk, Moscow-installed officials have said.

Dr Thomas Withington, who works at the Royal United Services Institute think-tank, said the device was likely used as a defensive weapon due to Putin's (pictured) fears over GPS-led weapons available to other countries

At least one child is among the dead, local leader Leonid Pasechnik wrote in a statement on Telegram.

He said a further 10 people were rescued from under the rubble by emergency services. He blamed Ukraine for the shelling, but officials in Kyiv did not comment on the incident.

Both Moscow and Kyiv have increasingly relied on longer-range attacks this winter amid largely unchanged positions on the 930-mile front line in the nearly two-year-old war.

The military administration for Ukraine's Sumy region said on Sunday that Russian forces had shelled the region in 16 separate attacks the previous day, firing on the border communities of Yunakivka, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, and Esman.
The Clapham 'acid' attacker Abdul Ezedi could have links to criminal gangs, police fear as the massive manhunt to find the Afghan asylum who doused a mother and two children continues.

The National Crime Agency - the UK's equivalent of the FBI - were drafted in on Saturday night to help the Met find the 35-year-old who is suspected of chucking the corrosive alkaline substance at the family on Wednesday evening.

Officers are investigating concerns that an organised crime group could be helping the fugitive hide from the authorities.

The 31-year-old mother, believed to be known to Ezedi, remains 'very poorly' and sedated in hospital with her injuries thought to be 'life changing'. Her daughters, aged three and eight, remain in hospital with less serious injuries.

The woman was reportedly living in the hotel in Clapham with her two little girls for a fortnight, thought to have been hiding from Ezedi.

Ezedi, from the Newcastle area, has been named by police as the suspect in a corrosive alkaline substance attack in Clapham, south London

Police have shared footage of Ezedi pictured on CCTV in King's Cross (left) and Tesco (right) with significant injuries after the attack

Forensic police at the scene on Wednesday night near Clapham following the attack

It comes as witnesses continue to relive the terrifying ordeal with a brave have-a-go hero recalling how her partner lunged at the suspect as he tried to harm the toddler.

One couple ran out onto Lesser Avenue in the south London suburb when they heard terrifying screams coming from outside.

The pair, who asked to remain anonymous, said they saw a man - thought to be Ezedi - attacking a 'vulnerable woman'.

They told the Sunday Times: 'We had no idea any substance was involved; only that the guy was clearly intent on hurting the [three-year-old].

'He then went to pick the child up off the road to do it [throw the child to the ground] again, which is when my partner lunged in and tackled him, grabbing his leg and falling to the ground in the process like a rugby tackle.

'I have no doubt that if my partner had not jumped in then the child would no longer be with us, and if our other neighbours hadn't immediately taken the family and washed them down then their injuries would have been far worse.'

Both the man and woman have been injured from the attack. He has arm injuries, while his partner has 'burnt both eyeballs' and may have permanent damage.

Ezedi was last seen on Wednesday night at King's Cross Underground station where he boarded a southbound Victoria line train, with what looked like severe burn son his right eye.

A brave have-a-go hero has recounted how his partner lunged at suspected 'acid' attacker Abdul Ezedi (pictured) as he tried to harm a three-year-old child, potentially saving the youngster's life

Forensics at the scene take picture of the location close to Clapham Common following the incident

Over the weekend police said 'significant and important pieces of evidence' were recovered in raids at two addresses in east London and three in Newcastle.

They include empty containers with corrosive warnings found at one address in Newcastle, which are shown in new footage released by detectives.

Forensic tests to see if the containers held the substance used in the attack are ongoing.

Since launching its appeal, the Met said it has received 'dozens of calls' about the manhunt, including possible sightings of Ezedi.

The force said it is working 'round the clock' with British Transport Police, Northumbria Police, the National Crime Agency and Transport for London on the manhunt.

Commander Jon Savell said: 'The police investigation to establish his subsequent movements and ultimately locate him is continuing at pace.

'I want to thank everyone who has contacted police to share what they know.

'We have received dozens of calls with information, including possible sightings, and every single piece of information has been recorded and forms part of our ongoing investigation.

'I can assure the public that my colleagues and I are fully committed to using every available tool and tactic for as long as it takes to find Abdul Ezedi.

The Met Police have released more images of Clapham chemical attack Abdul Ezedi strolling injured through King's Cross station following Wednesday's events

'I am today urging the public to remain vigilant and to contact police immediately if they may have seen Ezedi or have information about him.

'I would also like to reiterate that if you see Ezedi, you should call 999 immediately. He should not be approached.'

Questions remain over how the suspect, who was granted asylum in the UK after two failed attempts, was able to stay in the country despite being convicted of a sex offence.

Ezedi, who is thought to have arrived in the UK from Afghanistan on the back of a lorry in 2016, claimed to have converted to Christianity, which would have put him at risk following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he was handed a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court on January 9 2018 after pleading guilty to one charge of sexual assault and one of exposure.

Ezedi's movements on the day of the attack Police have released a timeline of Abdul Ezedi's movements on the day of the attack. 00:15  Ezedi's vehicle is seen in Newcastle 06:30  His vehicle is then seen traveling into Tooting, London 16:30  A further sighting of his vehicle is confirmed in Croydon 19:00  He is then seen driving in Streatham 19:25  Attack takes place in Lessar Avenue, SW4, before Ezedi makes off in his vehicle which crashes nearby. He leaves the car and runs off. 19:33  Ezedi boards a train at Clapham South Tube Station. 19:59  He is then seen leaving that train at King's Cross Tube Station. 20:42  He is then seen on CCTV leaving Tesco at 21 Caledonian Rd, London N1 9DX. He exits and turns right. 21:00 - Ezedi enters King's Cross Tube Station and boards a Victoria Line tube Southbound. Advertisement

He was put on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Today a shadow minister has suggested that Ezedi should never have been granted asylum into the UK.

When asked by Trevor Phillips on his Sky News programme whether there is 'something wrong' with a system that allowed the wanted man to stay in the UK, Chris Bryant said 'yes'.

He added: 'In the main, on the face of it, if everything that we have been told is true, then it seems absolutely extraordinary that the British people should be put at such risk from this person.

'Of course it's something we might need to look at.'

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said this morning that the alkali attack was 'not really about asylum'.

She told Sky 'we need to get to the bottom' of why Ezedi was allowed to remain in Britain indicating the issue is being investigated by the Home Office.

Asked how it was possible the suspect had been granted asylum after being found guilty of a sexual offence, Mrs Keegan said: 'I think that is something that more than one person is asking.

'My understanding is the Home Secretary has asked for all the details, but this is not really about asylum,' she added, before going on to talk about the victims and others impacted by the attack.

She continued: 'Clearly, what we say is that anybody who commits crimes is not able to stay in this country. So, if you have a sentence of more than 12 months, you are not allowed to stay if you have a criminal record, etc.

'We don't want to have people in this country who have criminal records.'

Prime Minster Rishi Sunak's spokesman said on Friday that the PM does not think 'foreign criminals should be able to stay' in the UK.

It has been reported that the suspect was able to gain asylum after claiming he had converted to Christianity.

The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle said in a statement it had found nothing to suggest he had become a Catholic but checks were continuing.

It said: 'Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with the victims of this appalling attack in south London.'

The diocese confirmed that Ezedi 'visited our diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project, a charitable venture which assists a wide range of people who come to us in need'.

It added: 'After checking local parish records and central records and after consulting with clergy we have no indication that Abdul Ezedi was received into the Catholic faith in this diocese or that a Catholic priest of this diocese gave him a reference.

'We do not know which Christian church received him nor which Christian minister gave him a reference.'

The project says on its website that it gives food, toiletries and clothes to vulnerable people.

It does not get involved with any asylum claims clients may be pursuing, it is understood. It is understood that Ezedi visited it recently.

The Church of England said it is currently not aware of any links to its churches, with a spokesperson adding that it is 'the role of the Home Office, and not the church, to vet asylum seekers and judge the merits of their individual cases'.

The case has echoes of that of Iraqi-born Emad Al Swealmeen, 32, who died from a blast and subsequent fire after his homemade bomb detonated in a taxi outside Liverpool Women's Hospital.

He also claimed to be a Christian convert to support his asylum claim.

Police in hazmat suits raid a home in east London amid the search for Clapham chemical attack fugitive Ezedi

Officers were seen smashing in the doors of the property shortly after 2am on Friday

At a press conference on Friday, Mr Savell urged the suspect to hand himself in. He said: 'Abdul, you clearly have got some very significant injuries. We've seen the images. You need some medical help, so do the right thing and hand yourself in.'

His brother Hassan Ezedi told The Sun he would hand the suspect in if he knew where he was.

The wanted man left Newcastle in the 'very, very early hours' of Wednesday and travelled south to the capital and was in the Tooting area by around 6.30am, police say.

His vehicle was seen again in Croydon, south London, at around 4.30pm and by around 7pm he was in Streatham.

Ezedi allegedly threw the younger child to the ground during the attack at 7.25pm, before attempting to drive away from the scene, crashing into a stationary vehicle and fleeing on foot.

Minutes later he boarded a tube at Clapham South Underground station, and by 8pm he was at King's Cross tube station.

MailOnline revealed that Ezedi has more recently living in the Byker area of Newcastle in a hostel on the city's Wilfred Street

St Vincent's Centre, in Byker, Newcastle, where acid attack suspect Abdul Ezedi visited the Justice and Peace Refugee Project every two weeks for toiletries and food

At 8.42pm, Ezedi was captured on CCTV in Tesco on the Caledonian Road, pictured with a 'fairly significant facial injury' buying a bottle of water, before leaving and heading right.

He got on a Victoria line Tube at 9pm heading south, the last confirmed sighting.

Police say three members of the public who came to the aid of the family during Wednesday's attack, two in their 30s and one in her 50s, have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns.

Five officers who responded to the incident were also treated and have now left hospital.

As well as the 11 people taken to hospital, a man in his 50s, who also helped, declined hospital treatment for minor injuries, police said.
Militant farmers are poised to descend on Rome with their tractors today after German workers blocked Frankfurt airport as part of the anti-Brussels protests sweeping across the EU.

Farmers have expressed anger at what they say are excessively restrictive regulations on agriculture and unfair competition, among other grievances.

The movement erupted in France last month and there have also been protests in Germany, Belgium, Poland, Romania, Greece and the Netherlands. Farmers have blocked motorways and disrupted traffic in key cities with convoys of tractors.

In Italy around 150 tractors massed in Orte, about an hour north of Rome, on Saturday. Protesters there called for better pay and conditions and announced their imminent arrival in the Italian capital, a reporter nearby saw.

'Italian agriculture has woken up,' said protester Felice Antonio Monfeli. 'It's historic and the people here are proving it. For the first time in their history, farmers are united under the same flag, that of Italy.'

In Italy, around 150 tractors massed in Orte (pictured yesterday), about an hour north of Rome this morning. Protesters there called for better pay and conditions and announced their imminent arrival in the Italian capital, a reporter nearby saw

Farmers with their tractors gather near the A1 highway to protest against EU agriculture policies, on February 3, 2024 in Orte, Italy

Italian farmers protest with their tractiors at the Santa Maria Capua Vetere toll booth, in Caserta, Italy, February 3

Manuele Calzoni, centre, drives his tractor to join the protest of other farmers near the highway junction, in Orte, Italy, Saturday, February 3, 2024. Farmers have been protesting in various parts of Italy and Europe against EU agriculture policies

The demonstrators have for days been calling for talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government, without having had a response so far.

'The situation is critical, we cannot be slaves in our own companies,' said another protester, Domenico Chiergi.

In Greece, around 2,000 farmers protested in the country's second-largest city of Thessaloniki on Saturday calling for increases in aid.

Their action came a day after Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced further support measures.

Some farmers from the mountain villages of Thessaly threw chestnuts and apples that had spoiled because of the natural disasters that hit the region.

'We have no food, we cannot put our lives in discount,' said Kostas Tzelas, president of the Rural Associations of Karditsa. We want to stay on our land and not become migrants.'

Mitsotakis has already extended the refund of a special consumption tax on oil and a discount on rural electricity from May to September.

It is among a package of measures whose cost Mitsotakis put at more than one billion euros (855,500).

But Tzelas dismissed these measures as 'peanuts'.

The president of a union of agricultural associations, Rizos Maroudas, told reporters a meeting was scheduled next week 'to decide the escalation of blockades'.

In Germany, hundreds of farmers on tractors disrupted access to Frankfurt airport, the country's busiest, in opposition to a reform of diesel taxation, police said.

Farmers gather with their parked tractors near the highway junction, in Orte, Italy, Saturday, February 3

Farmers started a controlled fire as they parked their tractors near the highway junction in Orte, Italy

Italian farmers stage a protest at the entrance of the highway in Orte, central Italy, yesterday. Hundreds of tractors drove in a noisy convoy through the road leading from the little town of Orte to the square in front of the entrance of the highway leading to Rome where Police was deployed

Italian farmers protest with their tractiors at the Santa Maria Capua Vetere toll booth, in Caserta, Italy, February 3

Farmers gather with their parked tractors near the highway junction, in Orte, Italy, Saturday, February 3

A cow stands next to a tractor as Italian farmers protest against EU agricultural policies, at Melegnano toll booth, near Milan, Italy, February 1

Italian farmers stage a protest against European agricultural policies with their tractors outside Pirelli building, the Lombardy Region Council Building, in central Milan, Italy on February 1

Protesting farmers with their tractors take part in a rally outside the annual Agrotica trade fair in the port city of Thessaloniki, northern Greece, Saturday, February 3

Tractors are parked outside Thessaloniki's International Fair during a Greek farmers' protest against higher energy costs, lower state subsidies as well as demanding compensations from the recent floods, in Thessaloniki, Greece, February 3

Farmers stage a protest at Thessaloniki International Fair, demanding dialogue with the government on electricity, fuel, and other expenses of agricultural production in Thessaloniki, Greece on February 3

Dozens of tractors were parked in Thessaloniki, Greece, on February 3 as part of the protest

A Hesse farmers' association estimated vehicle numbers at around 1,000, while police said 400 tractors took part before the protest ended in the early afternoon.

A protest on the Dutch-Belgian border that had shut down a main motorway was wound down on Saturday evening, the Belga news agency reported.

Farmer discontent has also affected non-EU Switzerland, where around 30 tractors paraded in Geneva on Saturday in the country's first such protest since the movement started elsewhere in Europe.

'As a young person, it scares us a lot not knowing if there is a future in our profession,' said Antonin Ramu, a 19-year-old apprentice winegrower.

He welcomed the transition to a more environmentally friendly agriculture but asked for more help in the face of competition from countries without the same standards.

In Spain, the three main farmers' unions have announced more protests in the coming weeks, with a major demonstration planned for Barcelona on February 13.

In France, security forces cleared the few remaining blockades of motorways a day after the main agricultural union called for them to be lifted following government concessions.

Farmers drive with their tractors on a freeway at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, Saturday, February 3

More than 2000 farmers drove around the airport to protest against the government's measure to scrap tax breaks on the diesel they use, pictured above on February 3

Tractors block a road in Ramin, Germany, Friday February 2. Farmers and entrepreneurs blocked the German-Polish border crossing at Linken in the district of Vorpommern-Greifswald with around a dozen vehicles on Friday morning

Dozens of farmers with tractors attend the farmers protest that shaking Europe on Saturday, drawing attention to the growing issues in the agricultural sector, in Geneva, Switzerland on February 3

A police officer (right) walks past Swiss farmers with tractors, including one with a Swiss flag and a placard reading 'agriculture, we dream of it and then die of it' during a protest over pay, tax and regulations at the Plaine de Plainpalais square, downtown Geneva, on February 3

Two women talk next a pram adorned with a banner reading in French 'Less bananas more farmers' during a Swiss farmers' protest over pay, tax and regulations at the Plaine de Plainpalais square, downtown Geneva, on February 3

Swiss farmers drive tractors, including one with a placard reading 'our end will be your hunger' during a protest over pay, tax and regulations near the Plaine de Plainpalais square, downtown Geneva, on February 3

This aerial photograph taken on February 2, 2024, shows Dutch and Belgian farmers taking part in a road blockade near the border crossing between Belgium and the Netherlands, in Arendonk, as farmers protest across Europe to demand better work conditions to grow, produce and maintain a proper income

Dutch and Belgian farmers with tractors block the border crossing at Arendonk, between the Netherlands and Belgium, February 2

Their mobilisation had forced new Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's government to pause a plan to reduce pesticide and insecticide use and offer an aid package of 400 million euros.

Romanian farmers and hauliers also announced the end of their road-block protest on Saturday following an agreement with the government.

The EU is scrambling to address concerns ahead of European Parliament elections this year.

The European Commission on Thursday promised measures to defend the 'legitimate interests' of EU farmers, notably the much criticised administrative burdens of the bloc's Common Agricultural Policy.
Nigel Farage will fuel fevered rumours of a Tory comeback by attending the launch of Liz Truss's new 'PopCon' group this week.

The Brexit architect is set to be at the event on Tuesday as the former PM and senior figures including Jacob Rees-Mogg lay out their aims.

Although he is at the gathering in his capacity as a GB News presenter, the appearance will revive questions about Mr Farage's intentions.

He has repeatedly refused to rule out a comeback to the political frontline. That could be with Reform UK, which Mr Farage founded and is now led by Richard Tice, but he did not turn up for their New Year launch last month.

And the former MEP was memorably feted by Tory MPs and activists at the party's conference last October.

Nigel Farage (right) will fuel fevered rumours of a Tory comeback by attending the launch of Liz Truss's (left) new 'PopCon' group this week

The new 'PopCon' group will urge Rishi Sunak to go to the country later this year with policies that appeal to traditional Tory voters

Research released today by More in Common raised doubts about whether changing leader would revive Tory fortunes

The new 'PopCon' group will urge Rishi Sunak to go to the country later this year with policies that appeal to traditional Tory voters.

That could include amending the Equality Act, which some Tory MPs blame for watering down transgender guidance to schools.

PopCon is also pushing for reforms to the Human Rights Act, amid claims it cripples the Government's strategy to remove illegal migrants to Rwanda.

Supporters want to see a striking move on tax - which many Tory MPs believe is their only chance of victory at the election later this year.

And there could be opposition voiced to the government's incremental ban on buying cigarettes, which Ms Truss has condemned on civil liberties grounds.

However, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has moved to cool hopes of big cuts in the March Budget.

Former Cabinet minister Simon Clarke was expected to address the PopCon event, but has been sidelined after going public with demands for a change of Tory leader.

Ex-party deputy chairman Lee Anderson is also among the speakers.

Organisers said they were 'bemused' by the focus on Mr Farage attending given he is accredited as part of the media.

Research by Redfield & Wilton Strategies last week suggested Reform UK is picking up significant support in the crucial Red Wall battleground.

Around a fifth of 2019 Conservative backers said they were ready to switch to the insurgents - compared to 15 per cent shifting to Labour.

The findings will fuel concerns that Reform UK could ease Keir Starmer's path to victory by splitting the right-wing vote when the country goes to the ballot boxes.

But research released today by More in Common raised doubts about whether changing leader would revive Tory fortunes.

Only Penny Mordaunt is in positive territory when 2019 Conservatives are asked who would make a good or bad replacement for Mr Sunak.

The Commons Leader was 26 points ahead of Kemi Badenoch, her closest rival. Mr Farage scored minus 27.
Images of four 'persons of interest' in the carjacking death of a 70-year-old retired religion teacher have been released by police in a desperate attempt to track down those responsible for her murder.

Vyleen White, 70, was stabbed to death in the underground carpark of Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre, in southwest Brisbane, about 6.10pm on Saturday.

Her six-year-old granddaughter witnessed the horror attack and screamed for help as the knifeman fled in her grandmother's blue 2009 Hyundai Getz.

Ms White's stolen car was later found in Springfield Lakes and has since been seized by police to be forensically examined.

As harrowing details of Ms White's final conversation with her husband of almost 50 years were revealed, homicide detectives ramped up their major manhunt by releasing CCTV footage of four people they believed could assist with their investigation.

The group is described as possibly a mix of adult and juvenile males who appear to be African. They remained on the run late Sunday night.

Vyleen White (pictured) was stabbed to death in the underground carpark of Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre on Saturday

Police have released CCTV of four males they believe can assist with their inquiries

READ MORE: Man is arrested after woman and baby were allegedly taken hostage for 10 hours Advertisement

'Investigators believe the four people depicted in the vision, captured from a Bruny Street, Springfield Lakes, address yesterday evening, may be able to assist them with their inquiries,' Queensland Police said.

'The vision also depicts a vehicle of interest previously mentioned in an earlier media release, a blue 2009 Hyundai Getz with Queensland registration 432 TYO.'

Investigators appealed to anyone who saw the group in the Redbank Plains and Springfield Lakes areas between 6pm and 7pm on Saturday to contact police.

People with relevant CCTV and dashcam footage were also asked to come forward.

As police ramped up their manhunt, more than 100 people attended a candlelit vigil to pay tribute to Ms White on Sunday night.

It prompted a message from Ms White's shattered family thanking the community for their incredible support.

Ms White was described as one of the most caring and compassionate people in the world.

Her daughter Danice White revealed the grandmother was doing a grocery shop at the centre ahead of plans for a bible study later Saturday night.

Investigators on Sunday released CCTV footage of four 'persons of interest' leaving Ms White's stolen car (pictured, officers at the scene)

'We are all pretty numb and shaken up, we've got high blood pressure at the moment,' Danice told Courier Mail.

'I'm struggling to control my thoughts right now.'

Danice recalled her father had told Ms White to go to a different shopping centre before she was attacked.

'Dad said, 'Why don't you to go to Redbank plaza?'. If only she'd listened that day, it would have not been her,' she said.

The 70-year-old retiree has been remembered as kind-hearted with a devotion to helping others, particularly the homeless.

She was about to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary with her husband, who relied on her help to navigate the world after becoming blind.

Detective Acting Superintendent Heath McQueen described the stabbing as an 'abhorrent, cowardly, violent attack' and called for public assistance in identifying the four people (pictured) seen leaving Ms White's stolen car

Local doctor Ademola Afolabi was the first person to arrive at the confronting scene of the stabbing.

He'd heard Ms White's granddaughter shouting 'my grandma is dead' and followed her from outside Aldi to the carpark.

'I saw a lady in a pool of blood, she was unresponsive, so I called triple-0,' he said.

'Her pants were soaked in blood, probably bleeding from the chest area.'

Mr Afolabi said it was 'too late' to help Ms White by the time paramedics arrived, adding her attacker 'didn't give her chance'.

Detective Acting Superintendent Heath McQueen called for public assistance in identifying the four people who 'dumped the victim's vehicle in the street at Springfield Lakes, exited that vehicle and walked away'.

'I can say, there's believed to be one person involved in the attack on this elderly lady, operating alone,' he said.

'However, we may identify further offenders that are involved who are peripherally linked to this offender who has committed the homicide.'

Supt McQueen earlier described the scene as 'very harrowing' and acknowledge that while Ms White's six-year-old granddaughter was unharmed in the attack, it will 'leave a scar on her'.

Local doctor Ademola Afolabi heard Ms White's granddaughter shouting 'my grandma is dead' and followed her from outside Aldi (pictured) to the carpark

'Let's be clear, this is an abhorrent, cowardly, violent attack on a 70-year-old grandmother in front of her six-year-old granddaughter,' he said.

'This is a very confronting scene we have been faced.'

On Sunday night, a GoFundMe was set up by a friend named Katherine Lameree to raise money for Ms White's funeral and to support the grieving family.

Ms Lameree emphasised 'Vyleen's legacy... [as] a selfless woman - with so much care for her family and absolutely anyone she came into contact with.'

'She would hold prayers for anyone who needed them in the moment of need. She would do this even the day of her passing. This is what they want her to be remembered by and not defined by the act of someone else,' she wrote.

By early Monday morning, the fundraiser had already surpssed its initial target of $5,000.
She helped send paedophile plumber, now in his 70s, to prison

Actress Madeleine West has detailed how she bravely confronted her paedophile neighbour more than 30 years after his sickening sexual abuse sent her into the 'deepest, darkest hole' of depression and self-loathing.

Peter Vincent White, now aged in his seventies, received a 15-year sentence for his cruel abuse of seven young victims aged between four and 14.

His life came crashing down when the star of Neighbours, Underbelly and House Husbands came knocking at his door in July 2022 while wearing a secret recording device.

The recording was crucial in prosecuting White, and was shared publicly for the first time in a 60 Minutes episode that aired on Sunday night.

In the audio, West could be heard exchanging pleasantries with White and his wife, who is profoundly deaf, before confronting him about the abuse.

She was left shocked when White said he could not remember committing any of the crimes - only to then beg her for forgiveness with four damning words: 'I'm very, very sorry.'

Neighbours star Madeleine West has revealed how she landed her childhood neighbour Peter Vincent White behind bars more than 30 years after he sexually abused her and six others

Peter Vincent White (pictured) was a married father-of-two when he abused West and six other children in his home in Woodend, 70km north-west of Melbourne, between 1977 and 1988

'I don't understand,' he was heard saying in the recording.

'I'm not quite sure what you're asking me. I am so sorry. I don't remember doing anything like that. I am sorry. Please, please forgive me.

'If... if I did, I... I don't remember. I'm very, very sorry if I did... it's been washed from my mind.'

READ MORE: Evil paedophile mum and stepdad are jailed for years-long sexual abuse of her daughter - and a sickening doctor's request brought them down The South Australian woman was found to have allowed her partner, the child's stepfather, to abuse the girl between the ages of 12 to 16 before becoming involved in the abuse herself Advertisement

At one point, West could be heard telling her abuser his apology 'meant a lot'.

However, in reality the actress said she wanted to 'claw his eyes out' when he asked to be forgiven for his crimes.

'At the time, you're in acting mode and you go, 'Of course,'' West said.

'What else am I going to say? Punch him in the face? Kick his teeth in? I felt like doing that. I wanted to claw his eyes out.

'Forgive? Give you words to make you feel better so you can go back to your life, and your happy, healthy family and your international travel.

'Meanwhile, I'm in the deepest, darkest hole I've ever been in my life - and you want forgiveness?'

She will never forget seeing the look on White's face when she knocked on his door.

'The door opened. And in that moment, I had my 'gotcha' moment because his face dropped,' West recalled.

'I knew he was waiting. He'd been waiting for this day for 30 or 40 years.'

West was abused by the married father-of-two between the ages of four and 10 in his home in Woodend, 70km north-west of Melbourne.

She said the popular plumber's home was a 'magnet for children' and he used his swimming pool, sandpit and VHS player to lure them inside.

He abused seven children aged between four and 14 in the front room of his home and in a caravan parked on the driveway between 1977 and 1988.

The sexual acts White subjected the children to are too revolting to publish.

West endured the most serious and sustained abuse of all, admitting she did not know how many times White had raped her because it had 'all blurred'.

She required surgery after one incident left her with serious physical injuries.

'My little body had been totally violated,' she said.

West, whose childhood name was Melanie Ann Weston, shared the abuse with her parents who she said 'didn't know what to do'.

West, whose childhood name was Melanie Ann Weston, was abused by the married father-of-two between the ages of four and 10 in his home in Woodend, 70km north-west of Melbourne

Town plumber Peter White - who lured children with lollies and games and then molested them - has now been jailed for his crimes of four decades ago

'No one was there to stand up for me when I was a child,' she said.

'And here I had an opportunity to stand up for myself in a really meaningful way now. And I was terrified, terrified.'

She went to the police in 2017 - decades after the abuse had occurred. Her childhood friend Amanda Lee separately contacted police two years later.

Their testimonies helped police build a case against the paedophile, whose 'brazen' offending shocked even the most hardened sex crime officers.

'It was just abhorrent, disgusting, horrific, calculated, intentional offending,' investigator Scott Tuddenham told 60 Minutes.

'There were some factors you don't come across too often. I was really intrigued to find out what else was there.'

At a Victoria County Court plea hearing last year, West demanded White look her in the eyes while she read out her victim statement.

She later said on Instagram that 'he wept, looked away... Time and again I demanded he meet my gaze.

'For the first time in his miserable life show a shred of integrity by looking at me and listening.

'His legacy will not be as the good bloke, the loving husband, the proud father and grandfather.

'No... the world will remember him as the monster who molested little children. It stops now.'

West told the program: 'The moment of delivering that statement was so powerful, because I got to say every word I ever wanted to say to him.'

'You ruined my life and now I'm handing that back to you. You take it back to that prison cell and may you rot.'

West agreed to wear a recording device when she confronted White at his home in 2022. The recording proved vital to prosecuting the former plumber, who is now behind bars

White pleaded guilty to 33 charges of child sexual abuse against the seven victims including sexual penetration of a child aged under 10 and gross indecency.

He was sentenced last December to 15 years in prison, but will be eligible for release on parole in nine years, by which time he will be 82 years old.

After the sentencing, Madeleine celebrated with other victims, saying the ruling 'took 40 years to be delivered but now it's here'.

'It's just a pittance compared to the life sentence served by victims of childhood sexual assault, but [it] demonstrates that victim survivors are not alone, it was never our fault, we aren't broken and that justice is possible,' she said.

'This is a crime against children. Of the worst possible kind.

'By continuing to pretend it doesn't happen we willfully endanger our kids, just as we were left in danger like so many generations before us.

'Ignorance is no longer an excuse.'

West hopes that opening up about the torrid abuse she suffered from White will allow her to get on with her life.

'He can burn in hell for all I care- he's in the right place,' she said.

I don't want anything from him. I don't despise him. I don't wish him ill. I just wish it had never happened.'

On Saturday, West admitted she was equal parts anxious and relieved that her harrowing story was about to be aired on national television.

She said by sharing her story she was finally being relieved of a 40-year burden.

'Some might say I'm airing dirty laundry, but I know there are so many others out there who also feel dirty, broken, to blame,' she wrote on Instagram.

'I want you to know it was never your fault. You are not alone. You have every right to reclaim your history.

'And the more we speak out, the louder our voices, the more we talk about it across dinner tables, in schools, at work, and shout it from the rooftops, the less places there are for these bastards to hide.'

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Dozens of people - many of them reportedly Russian soldiers - have been killed in an Ukrainian missile strike on a restaurant in the Moscow-held Luhansk region.

Moscow's occupation forces Saturday said Kyiv struck a building that housed a bakery popular with locals on weekends. Ukraine has not yet commented on the strike.

'Search operations continue on the site of the collapsed bakery... 28 people, including a child, have died,' the Russian emergency situations ministry posted on Telegram.

Occupational authorities in Luhansk said there were 18 men, nine women and one child among the dead. They did not give the child's age.

Russia released images of an almost completely destroyed building, with rescuers combing the rubble in the dark, where they found a corpse and a wounded woman who was evacuated on a stretcher.

Moscow's occupation forces Saturday said Kyiv struck a building (pictured) that housed a bakery popular with locals on weekends

Emergency responders retrieve bodies from the rubble of a devastated building following a Ukrainian attack in a location given as Lysychansk, in the occupied eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk

This grab from a handout footage released by the Russian Emergencies Ministry on February 3, 2024, shows rescuers clearing rubble, taking out victims' bodies and searching for survivors inside a destroyed bakehouse hit by recent shelling in the city of Lysychansk

The one-storey building had a large sign on it that read 'Restaurant Adriatic'.

More bodies may be found as searchers reported only 65 per cent of the rubble has been cleared so far. Survivors were shown on footage in a hospital.

One survivor said while in hospital: 'We started unloading food and [...] I heard screams for a second, and something hit me in the back.

'I turned around and I was crushed by the slabs [of concrete]. There were a lot of people shouting "Help", and we were all trapped under the slabs.'

The Russian-installed health minister of the occupational Luhansk government, Natalia Pashchenko, said they were brought to medical facilities in the main city of Luhansk.

She said four of them - three women and one man - are in 'the most critical state' while two others are in a 'severe state'.

Russia alleged Saturday that Ukraine had used Western weapons in the strike and said it expected swift and 'unconditional condemnation' from the international community.

On Saturday, the Ukrainian army's daily report said aviation 'struck 12 areas where enemy personnel were concentrated'. It also said its forces 'struck one area of enemy concentration'.

Rescuers have so far saved 10 people from the wreckage, according to the Russian emergency ministry.

The strike hit almost two years into Russia's grinding offensive in Ukraine, where the front has barely moved in months but attacks have intensified this winter.

Lysychansk is a city in the occupied Luhansk region that fell to Russian forces after one of the most brutal battles during Moscow's long offensive in summer 2022.

Before the Russian army entered Ukraine, it had a population of around 110,000 people.

A handout still image taken from a handout video provided by the Russian Emergencies Ministry shows a rescue worker amidst debris from a bakery following shelling in Lysychansk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, February 3

The one-storey building had a large sign on it that read 'Restaurant Adriatic'. More bodies may be found as searchers reported only 65 per cent of the rubble has been cleared so far. Survivors were shown on footage in a hospital

The Moscow-installed head of Luhansk, Leonid Pasechnik, declared a day of mourning in the Russian-held region and vowed retaliation against Ukraine.

The Ukrainian army, meanwhile, said Sunday that its forces repelled 27 Russian attacks near Avdiivka - which Russia has tried to capture for months - and the nearby village of Novokalynove.

Russia has tried to seize the industrial city - which has been a symbol of Ukrainian resistance after it briefly fell to Moscow-backed separatists in 2014 - since October.

Russian forces control territory to the north, east and south of Avdiivka.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this week that Moscow's forces 'reached the outskirts of Avdiivka'.

Ukraine has said its forces are holding out, with footage from Avdiivka showing a city of ruins.
A woman who was savagely mauled to death by two suspected XL Bully dogs last night was a grandmother visiting her grandson, MailOnline can reveal.

Essex Police officers were called to a property at Jaywick Sands, near Clacton-on-Sea, at around 4pm yesterday, where they found a woman who was seriously injured.

Officers believe she was attacked by two dogs, and the animals were later destroyed.

The police said the breeds are yet to be determined, but the family have claimed they were XL Bully dogs.

The woman died at the scene, and Essex Police said it was trying to establish the circumstances which led to the incident.

MailOnline can reveal the woman who tragically died was Esther Martin, aged 68, who was in the area visiting her eleven-year-old grandson.

The boy came out 'shouting for help' when the attack happened, the family said.

Her daughter told MailOnline that the family found out at 10pm last night, when police visited her Chesterfield home.

She said her mother - from Woodford Green, London - had previously told the dogs' owner that they were dangerous.

Esther Martin, 68 (pictured) from Woodford Green, London - had previously told the dogs' owner that they were dangerous

The scene at Jaywick Sands yesterday evening as emergency services attended

A helicopter joined several police cars and an ambulance following reports yesterday

Sonia Martin, 47, was at the scene this morning along with siblings Paul Martin, 45, and Kelly Fretwell, 46.

She told MailOnline: 'They were XL Bullies. There were eight of them in the house, six puppies and two adults. None of them neutered, not registered.

'The owner's words were "no one is going to tell me what to do with my own f*****g dogs."

'Mum had raised concerns about the dogs, over their breed and their temperament.

'Her grandson was in the house. He came running out shouting for help.

'We would like to thank all the neighbours who tried to help our mum.'

Ms Fretwell said about her mother: 'She was amazing. She was retired and trying to bring her life back on track after the passing of my sister two years ago.

'She came to visit my nephew and now she is dead.'

The boy's mother passed away two years ago and was Ms Martin's daughter.

The family say the attack happened at 4pm but they did not find out what had happened until 10pm when police arrived at their front door.

She said: 'This is a very distressing time for our family. If someone knocked on your door at night to say that your mum had been mauled to death, would you believe them?'

'There could have been two victims - my nephew has not only lost his mum and grandmother but he had to witness all this violence.

'He could have been killed as well.'

A 39-year-old man from Jaywick was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dogs offences and remains in custody, Essex Police said.

Officers added that there was no wider threat to the community and the scene is now safe for members of the public.

In a press conference this afternoon, Chief Superintendent Glen Pavelin said: 'Our officers arrived within minutes but sadly the 68-year-old woman died at the scene.

'I want to express my condolences to her family and friends and there are specialist officers supporting them.

'When Essex Police officers entered the house, their priority was to keep the community safe. Their unflinching bravery and professionalism ensured that there is no ongoing threat to the people of Essex.

Officers added that there was no wider threat to the community and the scene is now safe for members of the public. Pictured is the scene today

Emergency services were pictured at the scene yesterday it was cordoned off

'Both dogs were destroyed inside the house. I would also like to thank the local people who tried to get into the house to help Esther Martin. You should be proud.'

He refused to confirm the breed of the dog and didn't name the owner, but confirmed they had a 'familiar relationship' to Ms Martin.

He continued: 'Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by what has happened. I've seen the flowers laid down for Esther, as have my officers.

'I would like to than all those you have paid tribute to her.'

When asked by reporters about the claims there have been previous complaints about the dogs, he said: 'The investigation will look at all avenues of enquiry and background.'

He said earlier: 'Experienced detectives are leading the investigation to identify exactly what has happened.

'My thoughts, and those of our officers and staff, are with the family of the woman who died yesterday.

'This incident will be a huge shock to the community and I understand their concerns.

'We'll have officers in the area throughout today so please come and speak to them if you have any information or are worried.

'Experienced detectives are leading the investigation to identify exactly what has happened.

'I know there will be speculation about the breed of the dogs involved.

'We're waiting for confirmation from experts about this before releasing further details and I'd ask people not to speculate.

'If anyone has any information about what has happened please contact us.'

Those with CCTV or other footage of the incident should contact the police, quoting incident 723 of February 3.

The woman died at the scene, and Essex Police said it was trying to establish the circumstances which led to the incident. Pictured is the scene last night

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Essex Police officers were called to a property at Jaywick Sands, near Clacton-on-Sea, at around 4pm yesterday, where they found a woman who was seriously injured

Hundreds of wooden chalets were built in Jaywick in the 1930's primarily as cheap holiday homes for working-class Londoners.

But in recent decades it has been described as a 'dumping ground' for social services and ten years ago was described as 'the most deprived area in Britain.'

The local council has in recent years poured millions of pounds into the community, building offices, workshops and cafe in an attempt to improve the area.

READ MORE - Are you breaking the law? Rules on XL bullies and how you get an exemption explained Advertisement

But many of the properties are still run-down or vandalised and the crime-rate is the highest in the area. A three-bedroomed bungalow in Jaywick costs as little as 70,000 but a dilapidated chalet on an unmade road can cost as little as 40,000.

The attack comes just a few days after new rules over the illegal XL Bully breed were put into force.

From the start of this month, police can now seize the dogs if they are not registered or don't comply with the restrictions.

Owners can also face a criminal record and unlimited fine.

The ban was brought in after a string of attacks by members of the breed which have killed and seriously injured both humans and other dogs in recent years.

It has infuriated lovers of the breed, who have held protests against the law, demanded it be scrapped and even said they would consider leaving the country over it.

Since December 31 it has also been a legal requirement to make sure XL Bullies are microchipped, neutered, and muzzled and kept on a lead in public.

Scotland has announced it will attempt to put a similar ban in place by July 31, while Northern Ireland is also set to make a decision on the breed shortly.

Seized dogs will be taken to kennels before a court decides if they should either be destroyed or deemed not a danger to public safety.
February 3, 2024: Economic sanctions have not persuaded North Korea to halt its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs or its continued weapons exports. For a long time, the main reason the sanctions did not work was because China would not participate or, if they did, would not do so effectively. China is notoriously corrupt in these matters, something the Chinese government has been forced to admit because of growing public anger over how Communist Party government officials have long resisted attempts to curb their main sources of obtaining personal wealth. But now China has been forced, again by a growing anger among the Chinese public, to make a serious effort to curb domestic corruption and enforce sanctions against North Korea. The sanctions effort has been crippled by corruption, meaning that North Korea could still get a lot of key items for nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development if they are willing to pay the extra costs of larger bribes. The Chinese public, even with a heavily censored local Internet, made it clear they were not happy with a North Korea armed with nuclear weapons while still ruled by a homicidal and increasingly hostile to China tyrant.

Western and now Chinese sanctions have hurt North Korea and crippled its armed forces. The United States, South Korea and even the UN have managed to obtain details of how North Korea partially overcomes many sanctions and that provides a short list of additional sanctions that would mainly hurt the North Korea military and government officials. Most of these will only work if China, and to a lesser extent Russia. cooperates.

In theory, getting China and Russia to halt oil exports would be catastrophic for North Korea. That has happened in the past and eventually forces North Korea to reconsider policies that offended either Russia or China.

China will sometimes cut the tonnage of its oil exports to North Korea but rarely halts all oil exports because that would eliminate any remaining leverage it has over them. Even the threat of Chinese sanctions persuaded North Korea to prepare effective substitutes. One example was the conversion of thousands of trucks to run on coal gas. This sort of thing was popular in Japan and Germany during World War II because of oil shortages, but largely disappeared after 1945. In North Korea these coal powered trucks are common for the same reason. But coal gas is half as efficient as petroleum fuels and vehicles powered by coal gas are slower, have less range and require more maintenance. Coal gas is not suitable for most military vehicles or combat operations. The sluggish and smoky coal powered trucks remind North Korean that their struggle to cope with sanctions is not over yet. Even though China now prosecutes and punishes some businesses that take bribes to help North Korea evade sanctions, there remain a few sanctions, like no oil at all, that would be much more difficult to evade and very expensive if North Korea persisted.

For example, there can be bans on North Korean commercial and military aircraft using foreign airports as well as bans on North Korean seagoing transports. Rail and road traffic into North Korea can be monitored because those can only enter via a few Chinese and Russian border crossings. Such restrictions do not halt North Korean exports and imports but do make those more expensive and time consuming.

The U.S. has been successful at hunting down and punishing major banks and financial institutions that help North Korea move cash to fuel the illegal trade, though this would be more effective if China cooperated. The banking sanctions could be more thorough and be extended to hundreds of individuals, most of them North Koreans, who make the illegal banking network work. That proved impossible because North Korea resorted to using diplomatic officials at their foreign embassies to establish and maintain smuggling operations. This often led to North Korean diplomats getting caught and forced to return to North Korea.

One of the more lucrative exports for North Korea is slave labor. Most of what North Korean workers overseas are paid is taken by an unofficial agent of the North Korean government and then the cash is transported back to North Korea. These legal North Korean migrant workers are part of what amounts to a slave labor program that became a major source of as much as $2 billion a year in foreign exchange. The export of North Korean workers grew from 60,000 men and women in 2014 to over 100,000 in 2016 and continued to grow more slowly after that. The number of workers outside the country is nearly triple what it was before since Kim Jong Un took over in 2011. The North Korean government takes a percentage of the wages these men and women earn outside the country, mainly in Russia and China, and holds the workers families hostage in case the worker does not return home when ordered. If someone does not come back, their families are sent to prison camps. Some workers sacrifice their families to be free. Many of these men and women will seek jobs where they can make more money and save enough to afford people smugglers who can get people out of North Korea.

North Korea has long used blatantly illegal exports like addictive substances, counterfeit currency, weapons, stolen data, and technology to keep its nuclear, chemical, ballistic missile programs going. These would become more important if all bulk imports and exports were banned and only food and some medicines were allowed in. Even these imports have been abused, with food aid showing up in Chinese markets near the border, along with medical supplies donated to North Korea. So, it was essential to go after the known corrupt North Korean practices when imposing and enforcing additional sanctions.

More effective sanctions were more essential once the North Korean government decided to allow the possibility of another major famine, like the one in the 1990s that killed 5-10 percent of the population, to develop. The North Korean rulers believe having nuclear weapons will enable them to extort sufficient fuel, food, and cash to turn things around. That turned out to be a fantasy and most of the potential North Korean victims are aware of their vulnerability to chaos in North Korea. China does not want a mass rebellion and government collapse in North Korea, especially when there are nuclear weapons and a lot of other dangerous items involved. That meant the Chinese eventually agreed to support more effective sanctions on North Korea.
A family day out to escape a sweltering heatwave has ended in horror after a man drowned in front of horrified relatives at a popular swimming spot in remote bushland.

Emergency services were called to the Kentlyn Basin on the Georges River near Campbelltown in Sydney's south-west on Sunday afternoon after the man, 26, failed to resurface after jumping into the water to retrieve a remote-control boat.

A search was initiated involving local police officers and divers and SES crews.

Police divers retrieved the man's body from the water shortly before 7pm.

Police launched an urgent search for the man who jumped into water at Kentlyn Basin

The tragedy occurred during a family day out in remote bushland on the Georges River

READ MORE: Tragic twist after horrific Australia Day boating accident in Sydney Darcy Davey-Sutherland (pictured) was killed after two boats collided in south Sydney on Australia Day Advertisement

It's understood the man had been using a remote-control boat on the water with a young girl, believed to be his sister when the boat became stuck in rocks.

The man jumped in to retrieve it, despite not being able to swim.

'So the circumstances as I understand them, is he was on a float of some description,' Inspector Paul Kremer told Nine News.

'A remote boat was being used in the vicinity, and that's impacted with the float and caused the float to deflate.

'And then what's happened has happened.'

A shocked witness told the Daily Telegraph: 'He jumped off the rock, went to get a little boat for his sister, but never came up after he went under.'

Distraught relatives were seen comforting each other at the scene during the search and after the man's body was found by police divers.

'It's a terrible thing. It's a very terrible thing,' Inspector Kremer said.

'We've got family here who have witnessed it, you know, so they're in all sorts of distress.'

Paramedics treated a female patient for minor abrasions to her upper and lower torso.

Another person at the scene was treated for shock.

Police divers retrieved the man's body from the water around 7pm on Sunday night. Pictured are police at the scene

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Kentlyn Basin is a popular but unpatrolled swimming spot located at Keith Longhurst Reserve in remote bushland which has no phone signal and takes a 45-minute hike to access.

The latest tragedy occurred eight days after a teenage girl died in a horror boating accident on the Georges River on Australia Day.

Darcy Davey-Sutherland, 16, was in one of two tinnies, both driven by 16-year-old boys, that collided near the Grays Point boat ramp in Sydney's south.

She was thrown into the water and spent up to five minutes floating face down in the water before onlookers started to perform CPR.
The emotional Secretary praised Brianna Ghey's 'Remarkable' mother, Esther as the battled against her tears

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan was left wiping away her tears after watching a BBC interview with Brianna Ghey's brave mother Esther whilst appearing on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, earlier today.

The government minister described how the interview was 'heart-breaking to listen to' and that the strength shown by Esther is 'remarkable.'

When being quizzed by the political journalist about the government's legislation regarding child online safety - the Online Safety Act which was passed in October 2023, the Education secretary outlined how the government plans to prevent another tragic scenario from occurring similar to the death of Brianna Ghey.

Brianna Ghey's mother, Esther is campaigning for a ban on children's access to social media after it was revealed her daughter's killer watched torture videos on the Dark Web after her daughter was killed by two teenagers in an anti-transgender motivated hate crime after they had watched torture videos online via the dark web.

Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe were both 15 when they killed Brianna, 16, with a hunting knife after luring her to Linear Park, Culcheth, a village near Warrington, Cheshire, on February 11 last year.

The emotional Keegan wiped away her tears after watching the poignant interview as Esther explained what she had gone through as well as the campaign she is fighting for.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan reacts while on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg in London

The emotional Keegan wiped away the tears after watching the poignant interview as Esther explains what she has gone through

The Education Secretary outlined what she hoped the Online Safety Act which was passed in October 2023, would to to help prevent under-16s accessing and being influenced by dangerous material

Esther Ghey (pictured) said she wants smartphones to be made available for under-16s without social media apps

The body of 'timid' Brianna was found lying face-down in the mud with 28 stab wounds after the 'frenzied' attack at a popular beauty spot in the Cheshire village

The Education Sectary who was visibly affected by the powerful interview said: 'That was heart-breaking to listen to and the strength that she shows is actually remarkable.

'I'm sure that she'll be a very formidable campaigner on this and other issues - just the whole story is shocking and what they had access to, how it influenced them - it's very sobering for every parent across the country.'

She continues: 'This is something that parents of this generation are grappling with all the time, their children are much more tech-savvy, even if you have some of the controls that Mrs Ghey was talking about, you still know that they could potentially get around them.

'So, this is one of the huge focusses of the legislation of the Online Safety Act which has got a lot of tools in there to try and make this content not be there in the first place, which is what we're trying to do but also for the age verification part of it to really work.'

Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe were both 15 when they killed Brianna, 16, with a hunting knife after luring her to Linear Park, Culcheth, a village near Warrington, Cheshire

The step-mum of two then outlined the government's thinking about the legislation as well as her own desire to ban mobile phones in schools as they are 'Worrying for the development of children as they build their relationships.'

Esther said that she wants smartphones to be made available for under-16s without social media apps.

She is also heavily campaigning for searches for inappropriate material to be flagged to parents.

Jenkinson feasted on horror films while scouring the 'dark web' for footage of real-life torture and murder, with experts believing her exposure to depraved online imagery would have desensitised her, 'goading' her into copying what she had seen.

Speaking on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Ms Ghey said: 'We'd like a law introduced so that there are mobile phones that are only suitable for under-16s.

'So if you're over 16, you can have an adult phone, but then under the age of 16, you can have a children's phone, which will not have all of the social media apps that are out there now.

'Also to have software that is automatically downloaded on the parents' phone which links to the children's phone, that can highlight keywords.

'So if a child is searching the kind of words that Scarlett and Eddie were searching, it will then flag up on the parent's phone.'

Brianna Ghey's mother is calling for a ban on children's access to social media after it was revealed her daughter's killer watched torture videos on the Dark Web

Brianna had messaged her mother on the way to the park to say she was 'scared'

She said if the searches her daughter's killers had made had been flagged, their parents would have been 'able to get some kind of help'.

Ms Ghey said her transgender daughter had accessed pro-anorexia and self-harm material online and been 'very protective' over her phone, which had caused arguments.

'If she couldn't have accessed the sites, she wouldn't have suffered as much,' she said.

Describing the internet as the 'Wild West', she said the focus of technology had been on making money rather than 'how we protect people or how we can necessarily benefit society'.

The body of 'timid' Brianna was found lying face-down in the mud with 28 stab wounds after the 'frenzied' attack at a popular beauty spot in a Cheshire village on February 11 last year.
A 'callous' finance worker who stole 24,000 from her grandmother which she spent on fast food and holidays has been ordered to pay back just 84.

Amanda Farr, 48, was jailed last year for 18 months after a jury found her guilty of committing fraud by siphoning Joyce Hutchings's savings into her own account.

A total of 130 transactions between December 2017 and September 2019 were spent on JustEat, McDonald's, iTunes and the PlayStation store, as well as bets with William Hill and an Amsterdam holiday.

This left Ms Hutchings, then aged 91 and living in Whitstable, owing money to utility companies and debt collection agencies becoming involved.

Amanda Farr, 48, was jailed last year for 18 months after a jury found her guilty of committing fraud by siphoning Joyce Hutchings's savings into her own account

A total of 130 transactions between December 2017 and September 2019 were spent on JustEat, McDonald's, iTunes and the PlayStation store, as well as bets with William Hill and an Amsterdam holiday

When trying to explain at Canterbury Crown Court where the unaccounted money had gone, Farr pointed the finger at Ms Hutchings, claiming she was a 'big eater' of oriental cuisine.

Confiscation proceedings were held at the same court on Wednesday, where it was agreed that Farr's actual financial benefit was in fact 13,910.

Judge Simon Taylor KC was also informed that her available assets amounted to 84.

He therefore ordered that that sum should be paid as compensation within 28 days, with an extra seven days in prison if she failed to do so.

Farr was not required to attend the hearing.

At her trial, jurors heard that for almost two years she deceived the pensioner by intercepting her mail and phone calls, as well as redirecting Ms Hutchings's savings into her own bank account.

She was also found to have a calendar marked with the dates on which the victim's pension was paid.

Farr claimed her grandmother had consented to handing over money while she cared for her, with much of it spent on her.

Trying to explain where unaccounted money had gone, she pointed the finger at Ms Hutchings, claiming she 'liked her food' and was a 'big eater' of oriental cuisine.

At Canterbury Crown Court on Friday, Farr was unanimously convicted by jurors, who saw through her lies about how she used the ill-gotten gains

Farr, formerly of Croydon, said the pensioner could spend up to 20 a week on sugary treats, 180 sending her pet to 'dog school' and would shell out 35 a time for the animal to be walked

Farr, formerly of Croydon, said the pensioner could spend up to 20 a week on sugary treats, 180 sending her pet to 'dog school' and would shell out 35 a time for the animal to be walked.

She also argued the financial agreement was 'above board' and designed to benefit the whole family.

Her scam came to light after Mrs Hutchings suffered a series of falls and while in hospital her son Ronald discovered her bank accounts were overdrawn.

At the time of Farr's sentencing hearing in May, Stewart Ross-Cumming, a financial investigator for the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: 'Farr's offending was simply callous and calculated with no consideration for the impact this was having on her victim.

'Nobody should think they can avoid justice when exploiting members of the public.'

Despite the limited confiscation order made by the court under the Proceeds of Crime Act, offenders can still be pursued if they are found to have further funds at a later date.
Britain's multi-billion pound Big Lizzie warship was seen mooring in Portsmouth this morning after pulling out of a huge NATO drill in the twelfth hour after the Royal Navy discovered an issue with its propeller shaft.

The 3.5billion aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth was set to launch in European waters to take part in the largest NATO wargame since the Cold War as fears grow for a wider conflict breaking out with Russia.

Engineers found a 'significant issue with her starboard propeller shaft', meaning the British warship could be docked for 'a couple of months' while it is fixed, according to naval experts.

This morning the huge aircraft carrier was seen sailing into Portsmouth - hundreds of miles away from the NATO exercise.

HMS Prince of Wales will now be readied to replace the faulty ship - a move viewed by some as ironic given the aircraft carrier only went back into service last July after also undergoing repairs that took nearly a year.

Announcing the latest problem, the Royal Navy posted on X: 'Routine pre-sailing checks yesterday identified an issue with a coupling on HMS Queen Elizabeth starboard propeller shaft. As such, the ship will not sail on Sunday.

The HMS Queen Elizabeth docks in Portsmouth this morning after it was forced to pull out of a huge NATO drill taking place in European waters

HMS Queen Elizabeth moors up against the HMS Prince of Wales in Portsmouth this morning

HMS Queen Elizabeth (pictured in November last year) will no longer take part in the biggest NATO exercise since the Cold War due to issues with its propeller

'HMS Prince of Wales will take her place on Nato duties and will set sail for Exercise Steadfast Defender as soon as possible.'

It comes as MPs have warned that overstretched British Armed Forces may be unable to fight an all-out war and chronic shortages of troops and equipment are being covered up in a 'veil of secrecy'.

In a damning report released today the Defence Select Committee concluded the Army is the UK's 'weakest service' due to 'significant capability deficiencies'  which included drastic shortages of vehicles, tanks and even ammunition.

MPs involved in compiling the Ready For War report urged military top brass and Ministers to be more transparent about the shortcomings so they can be addressed urgently.

The report further highlights war-readiness issues with the Royal Navy's 3.5billion aircraft carriers, too.

Despite spending about 50billion a year on defence, 'sustained ongoing investment' is needed for the UK to fight a 'high-intensity war'.

It comes just days after an outgoing Army chief said the public would have to be called up to fight if Britain goes to war because the regular Forces are too small.

The warship setback comes just 18 months at the Lizzie's sister ship HMS Prince of Wales broke down off the Isle of Wight after it sailed for the US having suffered a malfunction with a coupling on its starboard propeller.

It broke down as it was heading to a diplomatic mission to carry out exercises with the US Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and the US Marine Corps.

The ship came to a halt off the Isle of Wight in August 2022 due to a broken propeller shaft, before being dry docked and undergoing repairs that cost 25million and took nine months to complete.

Inspections by divers and engineers found the Nato flagship's 33-ton starboard propeller - the same weight as 30 Ford Fiesta cars - had malfunctioned, with a coupling holding it in place breaking.

It was then taken to the Babcock shipyard where it was built in Rosyth, Fife, to undergo repairs to a propeller shaft, which took nine months to complete.

On that occasion, HMS Queen Elizabeth acted as the replacement for its sister ship on the US deployment.

Having HMS Queen Elizabeth out of action could affect the ability of the Navy to deploy an aircraft carrier to the Red Sea amid the continuing threat by Iran-backed Houthi rebels which armed forces minister James Heappey has suggested was being considered.

Instead HMS Prince of Wales (pictured in August last year) will now be readied to replace the faulty ship

Engineers found a 'significant issue with her starboard propeller shaft' on the HMS Queen Elizabeth (pictured in July 2023 in Portsmouth)

The 3.5bn aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth was due to undertake a Nato exercise in the Middle East and provide support against Houthi rebels in the Red Sea if needed, but is now grounded due to a 'mechanical fault'

HMS Prince of Wales will now take over the lead of Exercise Steadfast Defender, which will take place of Norway's Arctic coast in March.

Its sister ship had been set to lead a carrier strike of eight ships - four of them British, including frigate HMS Somerset and two Tide-class tankers from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary - supported by US, Spanish and Danish vessels.

It was to be joined by its F-35B Lightning stealth fighters from 617 'Dambusters' Squadron at RAF Marham, submarine hunting and airborne early warning Merlin Mk2 helicopters from RNAS Culdrose, and battlefield Wildcat helicopters of 847 Naval Air Squadron from RNAS Yeovilton.

Announcing the carrier's sailing, Commodore James Blackmore, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group, said: 'Steadfast Defender demonstrates the unity of the alliance, our commitment to it - and that the UK continues to play a leading role in Nato.

'The exercise allows us to train with our neighbours in a truly challenging environment, especially at this time of year - but that is why we have to operate up there; the weather cannot put us off.'

Before heading to the Arctic, the Carrier Strike Group was due to take part in the annual Joint Warrior exercise off northern Scotland before joining Exercise Nordic Response - the maritime part of Steadfast Defender.

Just three days ago, Royal Navy chiefs were celebrating after ministers finally agreed to send an aircraft carrier to the Middle East to support US warships deployed in the Red Sea.

The Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist 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 Israel-Hamas war.

The absence of a UK carrier in the Red Sea region has left the US to conduct almost the entirety of air strikes on Houthi military infrastructure

Aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales will now replace HMS Queen Elizabeth on the exercise

But the absence of a UK carrier in the region has left the US to conduct almost the entirety of air strikes on Houthi military infrastructure.

The situation has become all the more acute amid continuing Houthi terror attacks on international shipping, which have resulted in the United States and Britain carrying out airstrikes in the region to disable the Iran-backed groups.

On Saturday night, the United States and Britain struck 36 Houthi targets in Yemen in a second wave of assaults launched by warships and fighter jets.

The strikes follow an air assault in Iraq and Syria on Friday that targeted other Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for the drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan last weekend.

Navy chiefs are now readying HMS Prince of Wales, with a view to sending the ship out 'as soon as possible'.

In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Royal Navy said: 'Routine pre-sailing checks yesterday identified an issue with a coupling on @HMSQNLZ starboard propeller shaft. As such, the ship will not sail on Sunday.

A fighter jet is seen taking off from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Saturday night, with 36 Iranian-backed targets struck in Yemen

Houthi tribesmen gather to show defiance after US and UK air strikes on Houthi positions near Sanaa, Yemen

A British aircraft engineer checks a missile on a Typhoon ahead of Saturday night's strikes

'@HMSPWLS will take her place on NATO duties and will set sail for Exercise Steadfast Defender as soon as possible.'

The ship has not been affected by the same issue as HMS Prince of Wales and remains 'in class' or seaworthy, navy news and analysis site Navy Lookout reports.

Former Royal Navy frigate captain Commander Tom Sharpe said on X that the damage to the carrier could take potentially a couple of months to fix, with the ship almost certainly needing to go to a dry dock site in Rosyth, Scotland.

He said: 'This is different to what happened to PoW [Prince of Wales]. It is a corrosion issue and not shaft misalignment (although it was probably only spotted due to increased diligence post PoW).

'QE will now most likely have to dock down (which will take time). What this does to her status as the high readiness carrier and her programmed maintenance schedule is tbc.'
Anti-corruption investigators have frozen 75million in assets linked to Baroness Michelle Mone and her husband Douglas Barrowman, a court order revealed.

The assets were frozen or restrained on December 18 last year under the Proceeds of Crime Act following a request by investigators probing allegations of fraud at a PPE firm linked to the pair that was set up during the pandemic.

The order blocks sales of the couple's 10million Glasgow property portfolio, Isle of Man estate and townhouse in Belgravia, London, The Sunday Times reported.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has been investigating Barrowman's company PPE Medpro since May 2021 amid suspicions of criminal activity connected to its procurement of PPE contracts.

PPE Medpro was placed in a VIP pandemic priority lane for government contracts following a recommendation by Tory peer Baroness Mone, 52, who initially denied any links with the firm.

Analysts say the decision to block the sale of the couple's properties suggests that NCA investigators may 'zeroing-in' on assets that they suspect were purchased with profits from the PPE deal.

Anti-corruption investigators have frozen 75M in assets linked to Baroness Michelle Mone and Douglas Barrowman, a court order revealed. The order blocks sales of the couple's 10M Glasgow property portfolio, Isle of Man estate and townhouse in Belgravia, London

Baroness Mone (pictured in 2017) was made a life peer by David Cameron but has been on leave from the House of Lords since 2022

Barrowman and Mone at Cheltenham in March 2019; they initially denied having any links with PPE Medpro before it emerged Barrowman ultimately controlled the company while Mone recommended it to the Government during the pandemic

The order prohibits Barrowman, 58, and the lingerie tycoon from selling their property portfolio in Glasgow's Park Circus neighbourhood.

The nine town houses and flats, worth approximately 10million, were reportedly purchased by three companies based in the Isle of Man during a 20-month spending spree following the PPE contract.

The couple acquired their first Park Circus property for 1.7million through Bagshaw Ltd, Breck Ltd and Preaban Ltd incorporated in December 2020, land registry records show.

Four flats worth nearly 3.4million in total were then purchased in a single day in May 2021 - around the same time the NCA launched its criminal investigation.

The rest of the nine Park Circus properties detailed in the order were acquired in August 2022.

Under the terms of the order, the properties can be rented out but not sold.

The order also retrained the couple's Chester Square townhouse, a six-bedroom home in Belgravia that was acquired for 9.25million in December 2020.

The property was purchased by Chester Ventures Ltd, a company controlled by Barrowman's Manx-based Knox Group.

Chester Square  which Baroness Mone is reportedly trying to sell  can be sold so long as the CPS is notified in advance and the proceeds are held in a UK bank account.

Nine properties in Glasgow's highly sought after Park Circus area (pictured) are also covered by the court order, which Baroness Mone says she did not contest

The couple's 25million Ballakew estate on the Isle of Man is among the assets that fall under the court order requested on behalf of the National Crime Agency

The 25m Belgravia townhouse at 4 Chester Square, which can be sold as long as prosecutors are informed and the proceeds remain within the UK

The couple's Ballakew Estate on the Isle of Man, which was raided by the NCA in April 2022, is also covered by the court order. It is one of the few assets that appears to pre-date the PPE Medpro deal, the newspaper alleged.

The couple have said they did not oppose the Crown Prosecution Service's (CPS) application to place restrictions upon their assets, which include the properties and 15 bank accounts.

An interim order, which is no longer in effect, had listed entities in the British Virgin Islands and the Isle of Man-registered LM Yachts.

LM Yachts owns the 39-metre sailing yacht Lady M, on which Mone and Barrowman holidayed during the pandemic in 2021.

Investigators had originally wanted to freeze all of the couple's assets around the world, a source familiar with the proceedings told the Times.

A spokesperson for Baroness Mone, who made her fortune with the Ultimo lingerie empire, and Barrowman said last week that the final court order came about as the 'result of a consensual process during which negotiations took place with the CPS'.

They told the Financial Times: 'It allows the wider businesses and assets of the Barrowman family to operate normally and free from any restrictions or uncertainties.

'Doug and Michelle did not contest the application and were happy to offer up these assets, which means they can begin the task of proving their innocence more quickly.'

The yacht Lady M became notorious when Baroness Mone shared a picture of herself in the Mediterranean in 2021. It does not form part of the court order

Lady Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman (pictured) in a YouTube documentary

The CPS applied for the court order on behalf of the NCA, which has been investigating the company PPE Medpro since May 2021 amid suspicions of criminal activity connected to its procurement of PPE contracts.

PPE Medpro is owned by a consortium led by Barrowman. The firm has been the subject of an NCA probe for several years after it allegedly delivered faulty personal protective equipment to the government during the Covid pandemic.

It later emerged Baroness Mone, who initially denied any links with the firm, had recommended PPE Medpro for the government's fast-track procurement scheme during the early days of lockdown.

She later admitted she had lied to journalists over her connections with the company, telling the BBC: 'I wasn't trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes.'

When challenged on the fact she had lied to the press, she said: 'That's not a crime.'

PPE Medpro was established in May 2020 and awarded an 81m contract for face masks a month later, followed by a 122m contract for surgical gowns, according to a Public Accounts Committee report.

Baroness Mone was then made the subject of a Lords inquiry into her role in procuring contracts for the company in early 2022; that probe is on hold while the NCA investigation continues.

In the meantime, the Department of Health and Social Care has itself commenced legal proceedings against PPE Medpro, claiming that the gowns were not fit for use.

Throughout, Baroness Mone denied having any involvement with PPE Medpro; her lawyers issued statements to the press stating that she was 'not connected to PPE Medpro in any capacity'.

As reporting on her and her husband's involvement with the firm ramped up in December 2022, she took an indefinite leave of absence from the House of Lords.

A statement from her office, released in December 2022, read: 'With immediate effect, Baroness Mone will be taking a leave of absence...in order to clear her name of the allegations that have been unjustly levelled against her.'

She had last voted in April that year, and had not spoken in the Lords since March 2020. She is no longer a member of the Conservative party.

At the end of 2023, she and her husband admitted that PPE Medpro's contracts led to a 60million profit for the company.

Barrowman also admitted that he was the 'ultimate beneficiary' of the company despite UK Companies House listings failing to mention him at all.

Baroness Mone and Douglas Barrowman at 'Dining With The Stars' charity dinner

She also apologised for previously denying her links to the company, but denied she had been trying to 'pull the wool over anyone's eyes'.

In a defiant BBC interview in December, she said: 'I don't honestly see there is a case to answer. I can't see what we have done wrong.'

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, speaking after the BBC interview, defended the VIP lane process and refuted claims of cronyism.

'The government's intention in respect of that was to make sure that if legitimate claims came forward, we'd process them quickly,' he said.

'There were no favours or special treatment.'
The suspected XL Bully dogs who mauled a beloved grandmother to death during a horrific attack along the Essex seafront are owned by a breeder and wannabe rapper, MailOnline can reveal today.

Esther Martin, 68, was visiting her 11-year-old grandson when she was attacked by the massive animals.

Essex Police officers were called to a property at Jaywick Sands, near Clacton-on-Sea at around 4pm yesterday, where they found a woman seriously wounded who later died.

MailOnline can reveal that the dogs - which were destroyed by police - were owned by breeder Ashley Warren, a wannabe rapper who goes by the name Wyless Man.

Tattooed East London rapper Warren, who features in drill music videos online, posted a Facebook ad selling XL Bully puppies for 500 in November, we can also reveal.

Police said the breeds which attacked Ms Martin are yet to be determined, but the family claimed they were XL Bully dogs. Images show how at least one appears to be an XL Bully-type, while another looks like a Rottweiler. A 39-year-old man from Jaywick was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dogs offences and remains in custody.

Retired Tesco worker Ms Marten, whose grandson is Warren's son, had previously warned that the dogs were dangerous, her devastated family told MailOnline this afternoon.

The dogs were owned by breeder Ashley Warren, a wannabe rapper who goes by the name Wyless Man (pictured)

Tattooed East London rapper Warren, who features in drill music videos online, also posted a Facebook ad selling XL Bully puppies for 500 in November

Esther Martin, 68 (pictured) from Woodford Green, London - had previously told the dogs' owner that they were dangerous

Warren's social media shows XL Bully-type dogs at his home

The large dogs also feature in his rap music videos posted online

Pictured is Warren alongside grabs of his dogs in his music videos

A rap video created in memory of Ms Martin's late daughter - and Warren's partner - shows the grandmother alongside Warren and her other family members

The young boy came out 'shouting for help' when the attack happened, the family said.

His mother, Clare Louise Hayes, passed away two years ago and was Ms Martin's daughter.

Ms Martin's daughter Sonia told MailOnline that the family found out about their mother's death at 10pm last night, when police visited her Chesterfield home.

Sonia Martin, 47, was at the scene this morning along with siblings Paul Martin, 45, and Kelly Fretwell, 46. She said her mother - from Woodford Green, London - had previously told the dogs' owner that they were dangerous.

Sonia told MailOnline: 'They were XL Bullies. There were eight of them in the house, six puppies and two adults. None of them neutered, not registered. The owner's words were 'no one is going to tell me what to do with my own f*****g dogs.'

'Mum had raised concerns about the dogs, over their breed and their temperament. Her grandson was in the house. He came running out shouting for help. We would like to thank all the neighbours who tried to help our mum.'

Ms Fretwell said about her mother: 'She was amazing. She was retired and trying to bring her life back on track after the passing of my sister two years ago. She came to visit my nephew and now she is dead.'

The family say the attack happened at 4pm but they did not find out what had happened until 10pm when police arrived at their front door.

She said: 'This is a very distressing time for our family. If someone knocked on your door at night to say that your mum had been mauled to death, would you believe them?'

In a press conference this afternoon, Chief Superintendent Glen Pavelin said: 'Our officers arrived within minutes but sadly the 68-year-old woman died at the scene.

'I want to express my condolences to her family and friends and there are specialist officers supporting them.

'When Essex Police officers entered the house, their priority was to keep the community safe. Their unflinching bravery and professionalism ensured that there is no ongoing threat to the people of Essex.

'Both dogs were destroyed inside the house. I would also like to thank the local people who tried to get into the house to help Esther Martin. You should be proud.'

He refused to confirm the breed of the dog and didn't name the owner, but confirmed they had a 'familiar relationship' to Ms Martin.

He continued: 'Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by what has happened. I've seen the flowers laid down for Esther, as have my officers.

'I would like to than all those you have paid tribute to her.'

When asked by reporters about the claims there have been previous complaints about the dogs, he said: 'The investigation will look at all avenues of enquiry and background.'

His mother, Clare Louise Hayes, passed away two years ago and was Ms Martin's daughter

Officers added that there was no wider threat to the community and the scene is now safe for members of the public. Pictured is the scene today

The police said the breeds which attacked Ms Martin are yet to be determined, but the family have claimed they were XL Bully dogs

Police said a 39-year-old man from Jaywick was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dogs offences and remains in custody

Warren is seen in his music video rapping in front of a cannon

Warren is a rapper who uses the name Wyless Man and posts music videos online

The two adult dogs feature in Warren's music videos posted online

A helicopter joined several police cars and an ambulance following reports yesterday

'There could have been two victims - my nephew has not only lost his mum and grandmother but he had to witness all this violence. He could have been killed as well.'

Officers added that there was no wider threat to the community and the scene is now safe for members of the public.

Chief Supt Pavelin said earlier: 'Experienced detectives are leading the investigation to identify exactly what has happened. My thoughts, and those of our officers and staff, are with the family of the woman who died yesterday.

'This incident will be a huge shock to the community and I understand their concerns. We'll have officers in the area throughout today so please come and speak to them if you have any information or are worried.

'Experienced detectives are leading the investigation to identify exactly what has happened. I know there will be speculation about the breed of the dogs involved. We're waiting for confirmation from experts about this before releasing further details and I'd ask people not to speculate. If anyone has any information about what has happened please contact us.'

Those with CCTV or other footage of the incident should contact the police, quoting incident 723 of February 3.

The scene at Jaywick Sands yesterday evening as emergency services attended

Emergency services were pictured at the scene yesterday it was cordoned off

The woman died at the scene, and Essex Police said it was trying to establish the circumstances which led to the incident. Pictured is the scene last night

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Essex Police officers were called to a property at Jaywick Sands, near Clacton-on-Sea, at around 4pm yesterday, where they found a woman who was seriously injured

Hundreds of wooden chalets were built in Jaywick in the 1930s primarily as cheap holiday homes for working-class Londoners.

But in recent decades it has been described as a 'dumping ground' for social services and ten years ago was described as 'the most deprived area in Britain.'

The local council has in recent years poured millions of pounds into the community, building offices, workshops and cafe in an attempt to improve the area.

READ MORE - Are you breaking the law? Rules on XL bullies and how you get an exemption explained Advertisement

But many of the properties are still run-down or vandalised and the crime-rate is the highest in the area. A three-bedroomed bungalow in Jaywick costs as little as 70,000 but a dilapidated chalet on an unmade road can cost as little as 40,000.

The attack comes just a few days after new rules over the illegal XL Bully breed were put into force.

From the start of this month, police can now seize the dogs if they are not registered or don't comply with the restrictions.

Owners can also face a criminal record and unlimited fine.

The ban was brought in after a string of attacks by members of the breed which have killed and seriously injured both humans and other dogs in recent years.

It has infuriated lovers of the breed, who have held protests against the law, demanded it be scrapped and even said they would consider leaving the country over it.

Since December 31 it has also been a legal requirement to make sure XL Bullies are microchipped, neutered, and muzzled and kept on a lead in public.

Scotland has announced it will attempt to put a similar ban in place by July 31, while Northern Ireland is also set to make a decision on the breed shortly.

Seized dogs will be taken to kennels before a court decides if they should either be destroyed or deemed not a danger to public safety.
Sydney Olympic Park was the hottest place in town on Sunday as revellers braved a scorching heatwave to attend the St. Jerome's Laneway Festival.

Attendees overran Sydney Showgrounds from midday to midnight as thousands flocked to the popular one-day festival commonly known as Laneway.

The star-studded line-up included performances from Stormzy, Steve Lacey and Dominic Fike.

The festival was open to revellers aged over 16.

St. Jerome's Laneway Festival was held in Sydney on Sunday as temperatures reached 34C

The majority of revellers traded bright colours and glitter for neutrals and cool fabrics this year

The festival was open to revellers over the age of 16

Revellers overran Sydney Showgrounds from midday to midnight on Sunday for the Laneway Festival

A heavy police presence of officers patrolling the venue throughout the festival ensured revellers were on their best behaviour.

Police drug detector dogs ensured illegal substances didn't enter the venue.

Tickets for the event started at $179.90.

One of the biggest highlights of the festival was its four air-conditioned stages as temperatures across Sydney soared into the mid-30s.

Worsening the heat, humidity almost cracked 50 per cent, sending the 'feels-like' temperature closer to 40C.

Attendees were all smiles for the cameras as they headed into the venue for a day of Laneway fun

The star-studded Laneway lineup included performances from Stormzy , Steve Lacey and Dominic Fike

NSW Police brought drug detection dogs to the Sydney Laneway Festival on Sunday

Hats were the top accessory at Sydney Laneway Festival 2024 as temperatures soared into the mid-30s

Despite the heat, attendees were all smiles for the cameras as they headed into the venue for a day of festival fun.

A young and energetic crowd took advantage of the sunny clear blue skies, with short skirts, denim and vibrant outfits dominating the fashion of the day.

Many revellers ditched the usual music festival uniform of bright colours and glitter and chose neutrals in cool fabrics.

One of the most popular accessories was a hat to protect revellers from the hot sun.

But some attendees were left fuming after their sunscreen and makeup were confiscated at the event gates.

Laneway attendees were treated to acts from headliners Stormzy , Steve Lacey and Dominic Fike

Several attendees were left fuming after having their sunscreen confiscated by security at the event gates. Pictured are security officers leading revellers where to go

The Laneway Festival in Sydney on Sunday attracted a high police presence

The festival featured four air-conditioned stages

'When you go to enter the festival you are told you're not allowed sunscreen, stupid,' one reveller fumed online.

In response to organisers asking followers what their 'highlight' of the day was, another said: 'Probably getting my lipgloss, perfume, deodorant and sunscreen confiscated.'

The decision was made by security despite Laneway's website recommending attendees bring sun protection.

The next Laneway Festival will be in Auckland on Tuesday, followed by Adelaide on Friday, Melbourne on Saturday and Perth next Sunday

St. Jerome's Laneway Festival Sydney was preceded by its Brisbane event on Saturday.

The next Laneway Festival will be in Auckland on Tuesday, followed by Adelaide on Friday and Melbourne on Saturday.

The last Laneway Festival event will be held in Perth next Sunday.

Now in its 19th year, the beloved festival returned for the first time in three years in 2023 following the Covid pandemic.

Held for the first time at the Sydney Showgrounds, the festival has been a major event for music lovers since 2006.

Commonly referred to as Laneway, the festival began as a series of weekly gigs at an unassuming bar in Melbourne CBD in 2005.

It has now exploded in popularity and expanded to five Australian citiesMelbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Fremantleas well as Auckland, New Zealand and Singapore.

Humidity in the city almost cracked 50 per cent, sending the 'feels-like' temperature up to 38C
A Michigan suburb with the largest Muslim population in the US has upped its security in fear of hate attacks after it was branded America's 'jihad capital.'

The headline of a Wall Street Journal opinion piece published on Friday read 'Welcome to Dearborn, America's Jihad Capital' - a title given to the city by the publication because of its residents' pro-Palestine stances.

The contentious article was written by Steven Stalinsky, who is a commentator on terrorism and has served as executive director of the Middle East Media Research Institute, based in Washington DC, since 1999.

He warned in the story that Dearborn's majority Arab population ought to be paid 'close attention' by counterterrorism agencies following October 7.

But his words have caused the mayor of the suburb to ramp up police presence outside mosques and other major civil centers because of Islamophobic threats being hurled at its majority-Arab residents.

People demonstrate in support of Palestinians, in Dearborn, Michigan, on October 14, 2023

The contentious article was written by Steven Stalinsky, who is a commentator on terrorism and has served as executive director of the Middle East Media Research Institute, based in Washington DC , since 1999

The WSJ op-ed has allegedly caused an 'alarming increase in bigoted and Islamophobic rhetoric' towards the some 110,000 locals living in Dearborn.

Dearborn's Mayor Abdullah Hammoud wrote on X: 'Effective immediately - Dearborn police will ramp up its presence across all places of worship and major infrastructure points.

'This is a direct result of the inflammatory WSJ opinion piece that has led to an alarming increase in bigoted and Islamophobic rhetoric online targeting the city of Dearborn. Stay vigilant.'

The Arab-American Muslim mayor, 33, added in a statement: 'This is more than irresponsible journalism. Publishing such inflammatory writing puts Dearborn residents at increased risk for harm.

'It's 2024 and the WSJ still pushes out this type of garbage. Reckless. Bigoted. Islamophobic. Dearborn is one of the greatest American cities in our nation.'

According to census figures, Dearborn is roughly 54 percent Arab American, making it one of the most densely populated areas for Middle Eastern people in the US.

It is home to the largest Muslim population in the US per capita as well as the largest mosque in North America.

In the wake of the October 7 attacks on 1,000 Israeli citizens, protests erupted in Dearborn - supporting the Palestinian side. The Palestinian death toll sits at 27,000.

Dearborn's Mayor Abdullah Hammoud wrote on X: 'Effective immediately - Dearborn police will ramp up its presence across all places of worship and major infrastructure points'

The WSJ op-ed has allegedly caused an 'alarming increase in bigoted and Islamophobic rhetoric' towards the some 110,000 locals living in Dearborn

According to census figures, Dearborn is roughly 54 percent Arab American, making it one of the most densely populated areas for Middle Eastern people in the US

The headline by the WSJ also caused outrage by other public figures online. Former Ohio State Senato Nina Turner wrote: 'This is blatant Islamophobia.'

Another person online wrote: 'If this is not considered enticing violence I don't know what is.'

And a third added: 'Jesus. I can't believe WSJ allowed an opinion piece calling a US city the 'Jihad Capitol of America.'

'Did it really not occur to them that maybe that kind of inflammatory rhetoric is irresponsible? It's not Islamic extremism we have to worry about these days, but the far right.'

Another wrote: 'Dearborn residents don't get scared or intimidated. Great and proud community!'

Michigan's Wayne County Commissioner David Knezek wrote: 'Like so many in and around our community, I was deeply disturbed by this morning's The Wall Street Journal and its characterization of the City of Dearborn.

'Rather than uplift the WSJ's divisive and dangerous language, I wanted to remind people of the beautiful and wonderful city that I and countless others know the City of Dearborn to be.

'It's a city that my family made its new home shortly after immigrating from Italy, a city whose children my family educated and fed for decades as teachers and lunch ladies, a city that forever changed the auto industry, and a city whose diversity and inclusion continues to enrich the lives of all who visit it. The list goes on and on.

'I am grateful for Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud, his leadership, and the leadership of all the city's elected officials.

'I am equally grateful to call so many of Dearborn's one hundred thousand plus residents my friends and will always stand strong in my support for our neighbors.'

The opinion piece published by the WSJ read: 'Thousands march in support of Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. Protesters, many with kaffiyehs covering their faces, shout 'Intifada, intifada,' 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,' and 'America is a terrorist state.'

'Local imams give fiery antisemitic sermons. This isn't the Middle East. It's the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Mich.'

People demonstrate in support of Palestinians, in Dearborn, Michigan, on October 14, 2023

After 9/11, he argues, Dearborn was branded a 'recruiting area and potential support base for international terror groups' according to the Department of Justice.

The writer claims that 'many current or onetime Dearborn residents have been convicted of terror-related crimes in recent years.'

Stalinsky then says what is happening in Dearborn is 'potentially a national-security issue affecting all Americans.'

He warns: 'Counterterrorism agencies at all levels should pay close attention.'

On Wednesday night, Arab Americans inside a Dearborn high school were protesting against Joe Biden's scheduled visit to the city next week.

In the 2020 election, 68 percent of voters in Wayne County, where Dearborn is located, voted for Biden. It is expected to be a fierce battleground in November.

Biden is holding an event at the UAW union in Michigan on Thursday.

Rallying cries from residents were urging people not to vote for the President in the next election because of his support for Israel's attacks in Gaza.

Dearborn attorney Amer Zahr said: 'We are not interested in conversations with this campaign and this administration.

'They have to call for a ceasefire. He could make a phone call tomorrow and put an end to all this. He has chosen not to.

'President Biden, we say quite clearly: you are not welcome in our community.'

Zahr said to the crowd: 'Are we going to forget?' To which he received the roaring response: 'No!'

The crowd chanted: 'Biden, Biden, you can't hide, we charge you with genocide,' 'Genocide Joe' and 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.'

Nasser Beydoun, a Dearborn candidate for Senate, told the crowd this week: 'The community has made a decision that Joe Biden is not our nominee.'
The Met Police will hand over 20,000 to anyone who has information about the Clapham 'acid' attacker Abdul Ezedi who doused a mother and her two children in a corrosive chemical.

Investigators who believe there are people who know of the man's whereabouts but have not come forward warned that anyone assisting the Afghan asylum seeker faces arrest.

Releasing the new information about Ezedi's movements, officers confirmed the 35-year-old, suspected of chucking an alkaline substance over the family on Wednesday evening, was last seen exiting Tower Hill Underground station that night at 9.33pm.

After fleeing the scene on Lesser Avenue in the south London suburb, Ezedi visited a Tesco Express store on Caledonian Road, where he bought a bottle of water. He then boarded a southbound Victoria Line train from King's Cross at 9pm.

The suspect arrived to Victoria Station at 9.10pm before switching tube lines, departing on the eastbound District Line at 9.16pm, before exiting the tube station in east London.

New footage released by the force today showed Ezedi strolling through the Tesco store with what appears to be a large burn mark over his right eye. He looks face-down at the floor every time he passes a fellow customer or member of staff.

The man, dressed in a blue t-shirt with a black coat and black jeans, clutches onto a large water bottle as he walks out the door of the store and turns right towards the station.

The huge reward for information comes as the nation-wide manhunt for the fugitive enters its fourth day. Officers re-issued calls for Ezedi to hand himself into the police.

Abdul Ezedi was last seen leaving Tower Hill underground station in east London at 9.33pm on January 31 (pictured leaving the tube station)

Ezedi, from the Newcastle area, has been named by police as the suspect in a corrosive alkaline substance attack in Clapham, south London

Forensic police at the scene on Wednesday night near Clapham following the attack

Providing an update on the chemical that the 35-year-old is suspected of chucking at the mother and her two little girls, age three and eight, police confirmed it an alkaline substance.

Commander Jon Savell said: 'The liquid used in the attack was a very strong concentrated corrosive substance, either liquid sodium hydroxide or liquid sodium carbonate.'

The officer added that further investigations were taking place to compare the liquid to the large containers seized from Ezedi's address in Newcastle.

Commander Savell urged anyone with information to contact police, adding: 'I am hugely grateful to the public for the significant number of calls that we have received.

'Your help is critical. A reward of up to 20,000 is now available for information leading to his arrest.

'I must warn anyone who is helping Ezedi to evade capture - if you are harbouring or assisting him then you will be arrested.'

In a direct appeal to Ezedi, Darius Nasimi of the charity of Afghanistan & Central Asian Association, said: 'Abdul, I am speaking directly to you. I want you to go straight to a police station immediately.

'You have a serious injury that needs to be seen to but, more importantly, you must do the right thing and hand yourself in to police.

'This has gone on for long enough.'

He said the suspect could contact the charity or go to the police immediately to help with the enquiries.

Last night the National Crime Agency - the UK's equivalent of the FBI - were drafted in to help the Met find the 35-year-old who is suspected of chucking the alkaline substance at the family on Wednesday evening.

Officers are investigating concerns that an organised crime group could be helping the fugitive hide from the authorities.

New video footage shows the suspect walking through the Tesco Express on Caledonian Road, nearest to King's Cross train station

Police have shared footage of Ezedi pictured on CCTV in King's Cross (left) and Tesco (right) with significant injuries after the attack

The 31-year-old mother, who was known to Ezedi, remains 'very poorly' and sedated in hospital with her injuries thought to be 'life changing'.

Her daughters, aged three and eight, have now been released from hospital following the attack.

The woman was reportedly living in the hotel in Clapham with her two little girls for a fortnight, thought to have been hiding from Ezedi.

The search for Ezedi is being led by the Met's Specialist Crime Command unit who are working with the Home Office, UK Border Force, UK Visas and Immigration, the National Crime Agency and British Transport Police.

Local police forces are also involved in the massive hunt for the man.

It comes as witnesses continue to relive the terrifying ordeal with a brave have-a-go hero recalling how her partner lunged at the suspect as he tried to harm the toddler.

One couple ran out onto Lesser Avenue in the south London suburb when they heard terrifying screams coming from outside.

The pair, who asked to remain anonymous, said they saw a man - thought to be Ezedi - attacking a 'vulnerable woman'.

They told the Sunday Times: 'We had no idea any substance was involved; only that the guy was clearly intent on hurting the [three-year-old].

'He then went to pick the child up off the road to do it [throw the child to the ground] again, which is when my partner lunged in and tackled him, grabbing his leg and falling to the ground in the process like a rugby tackle.

'I have no doubt that if my partner had not jumped in then the child would no longer be with us, and if our other neighbours hadn't immediately taken the family and washed them down then their injuries would have been far worse.'

Both the man and woman have been injured from the attack. He has arm injuries, while his partner has 'burnt both eyeballs' and may have permanent damage.

Ezedi was last seen on Wednesday night at King's Cross Underground station where he boarded a southbound Victoria line train, with what looked like severe burn son his right eye.

A brave have-a-go hero has recounted how his partner lunged at suspected 'acid' attacker Abdul Ezedi (pictured) as he tried to harm a three-year-old child, potentially saving the youngster's life

Forensics at the scene take picture of the location close to Clapham Common following the incident

Over the weekend police said 'significant and important pieces of evidence' were recovered in raids at two addresses in east London and three in Newcastle.

They include empty containers with corrosive warnings found at one address in Newcastle, which are shown in new footage released by detectives.

Forensic tests to see if the containers held the substance used in the attack are ongoing.

Since launching its appeal, the Met said it has received 'dozens of calls' about the manhunt, including possible sightings of Ezedi.

The force said it is working 'round the clock' with British Transport Police, Northumbria Police, the National Crime Agency and Transport for London on the manhunt.

Commander Jon Savell said: 'The police investigation to establish his subsequent movements and ultimately locate him is continuing at pace.

'I want to thank everyone who has contacted police to share what they know.

'We have received dozens of calls with information, including possible sightings, and every single piece of information has been recorded and forms part of our ongoing investigation.

'I can assure the public that my colleagues and I are fully committed to using every available tool and tactic for as long as it takes to find Abdul Ezedi.

The Met Police have released more images of Clapham chemical attack Abdul Ezedi strolling injured through King's Cross station following Wednesday's events

'I am today urging the public to remain vigilant and to contact police immediately if they may have seen Ezedi or have information about him.

'I would also like to reiterate that if you see Ezedi, you should call 999 immediately. He should not be approached.'

Questions remain over how the suspect, who was granted asylum in the UK after two failed attempts, was able to stay in the country despite being convicted of a sex offence.

Ezedi, who is thought to have arrived in the UK from Afghanistan on the back of a lorry in 2016, claimed to have converted to Christianity, which would have put him at risk following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he was handed a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court on January 9 2018 after pleading guilty to one charge of sexual assault and one of exposure.

Ezedi's movements on the day of the attack Police have released a timeline of Abdul Ezedi's movements on the day of the attack. 00:15  Ezedi's vehicle is seen in Newcastle 06:30  His vehicle is then seen traveling into Tooting, London 16:30  A further sighting of his vehicle is confirmed in Croydon 19:00  He is then seen driving in Streatham 19:25  Attack takes place in Lessar Avenue, SW4, before Ezedi makes off in his vehicle which crashes nearby. He leaves the car and runs off. 19:33  Ezedi boards a train at Clapham South Tube Station. 19:59  He is then seen leaving that train at King's Cross Tube Station. 20:42  He is then seen on CCTV leaving Tesco at 21 Caledonian Rd, London N1 9DX. He exits and turns right. 21:00 - Ezedi enters King's Cross Tube Station and boards a Victoria Line tube Southbound. Advertisement

He was put on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Today a shadow minister has suggested that Ezedi should never have been granted asylum into the UK.

When asked by Trevor Phillips on his Sky News programme whether there is 'something wrong' with a system that allowed the wanted man to stay in the UK, Chris Bryant said 'yes'.

He added: 'In the main, on the face of it, if everything that we have been told is true, then it seems absolutely extraordinary that the British people should be put at such risk from this person.

'Of course it's something we might need to look at.'

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said this morning that the alkali attack was 'not really about asylum'.

She told Sky 'we need to get to the bottom' of why Ezedi was allowed to remain in Britain indicating the issue is being investigated by the Home Office.

Asked how it was possible the suspect had been granted asylum after being found guilty of a sexual offence, Mrs Keegan said: 'I think that is something that more than one person is asking.

'My understanding is the Home Secretary has asked for all the details, but this is not really about asylum,' she added, before going on to talk about the victims and others impacted by the attack.

She continued: 'Clearly, what we say is that anybody who commits crimes is not able to stay in this country. So, if you have a sentence of more than 12 months, you are not allowed to stay if you have a criminal record, etc.

'We don't want to have people in this country who have criminal records.'

Prime Minster Rishi Sunak's spokesman said on Friday that the PM does not think 'foreign criminals should be able to stay' in the UK.

It has been reported that the suspect was able to gain asylum after claiming he had converted to Christianity.

The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle said in a statement it had found nothing to suggest he had become a Catholic but checks were continuing.

It said: 'Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with the victims of this appalling attack in south London.'

The diocese confirmed that Ezedi 'visited our diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project, a charitable venture which assists a wide range of people who come to us in need'.

It added: 'After checking local parish records and central records and after consulting with clergy we have no indication that Abdul Ezedi was received into the Catholic faith in this diocese or that a Catholic priest of this diocese gave him a reference.

'We do not know which Christian church received him nor which Christian minister gave him a reference.'

The project says on its website that it gives food, toiletries and clothes to vulnerable people.

It does not get involved with any asylum claims clients may be pursuing, it is understood. It is understood that Ezedi visited it recently.

The Church of England said it is currently not aware of any links to its churches, with a spokesperson adding that it is 'the role of the Home Office, and not the church, to vet asylum seekers and judge the merits of their individual cases'.

The case has echoes of that of Iraqi-born Emad Al Swealmeen, 32, who died from a blast and subsequent fire after his homemade bomb detonated in a taxi outside Liverpool Women's Hospital.

He also claimed to be a Christian convert to support his asylum claim.

Police in hazmat suits raid a home in east London amid the search for Clapham chemical attack fugitive Ezedi

Officers were seen smashing in the doors of the property shortly after 2am on Friday

At a press conference on Friday, Mr Savell urged the suspect to hand himself in. He said: 'Abdul, you clearly have got some very significant injuries. We've seen the images. You need some medical help, so do the right thing and hand yourself in.'

His brother Hassan Ezedi told The Sun he would hand the suspect in if he knew where he was.

The wanted man left Newcastle in the 'very, very early hours' of Wednesday and travelled south to the capital and was in the Tooting area by around 6.30am, police say.

His vehicle was seen again in Croydon, south London, at around 4.30pm and by around 7pm he was in Streatham.

Ezedi allegedly threw the younger child to the ground during the attack at 7.25pm, before attempting to drive away from the scene, crashing into a stationary vehicle and fleeing on foot.

Minutes later he boarded a tube at Clapham South Underground station, and by 8pm he was at King's Cross tube station.

MailOnline revealed that Ezedi has more recently living in the Byker area of Newcastle in a hostel on the city's Wilfred Street

St Vincent's Centre, in Byker, Newcastle, where acid attack suspect Abdul Ezedi visited the Justice and Peace Refugee Project every two weeks for toiletries and food

At 8.42pm, Ezedi was captured on CCTV in Tesco on the Caledonian Road, pictured with a 'fairly significant facial injury' buying a bottle of water, before leaving and heading right.

He got on a Victoria line Tube at 9pm heading south, the last confirmed sighting.

Police say three members of the public who came to the aid of the family during Wednesday's attack, two in their 30s and one in her 50s, have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns.

Five officers who responded to the incident were also treated and have now left hospital.

As well as the 11 people taken to hospital, a man in his 50s, who also helped, declined hospital treatment for minor injuries, police said.

Anyone with information about Abdul Ezedi is asked to call 020 7175 2784 or for an immediate sighting dial 999. To remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers.
Anderson studied the interview as well as previous episodes of Newsnight with the film set to be available in Spring

Netflix's upcoming drama about the now-infamous interview between The Duke of York and the BBCs Emily Maitlis strikes an uncanny likeness from the actors.

Sex Education star Gillian Anderson and The Holiday's Rufus Sewell star as the well-regarded presenter and disgraced royal, Prince Andrew in the upcoming Netflix film 'Scoop' which recreates the cringe-inducing 2019 interview down to the most meticulous detail.

Sewell reportedly spent up to three hours a day per shoot in the make-up chair to resemble the disgraced Duke of York whilst his co-star Anderson studied the interview as well as previous episodes of Newsnight in preparation for the role as she became no the no-nonsense reporter, down to even the most minute of her mannerisms.

The film is due to hit Netflix screens at some point in the Spring and explores a behind-the-scenes look at how the interview was secured and how events surrounding it unfolded framed as a tribute to the work of the four women responsible.

It is based on Scoops by Sam McAlister who is also known as the 'Booker extraordinaire' on Newsnight having successfully negotiated and secured the interview which quizzed the Duke about his friendship with the late-convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein.

Netflix 's upcoming drama about the now-infamous interview between The Duke of York and the BBCs Emily Maitlis strikes an uncanny likeness from the actors

Sex Education star Gillian Anderson and The Holiday's Rufus Sewell star as the well regarded presenter and disgraced royal, Prince Andrew

Gillian Anderson plays the BBCs Emily Maitlis

The palace is already braced for two forthcoming television dramas that will recreate the Newsnight interview. Netflix's film Scoop finished filming last year and Amazon Prime's A Very Royal Scandal is understood to be just a few months behind

Duke of York , speaking for the first time about his links to Jeffrey Epstein in an interview with BBC Newsnight's Emily Maitlis

McAlister herself is portrayed on screen by former Doctor Who star Billie Piper who joins a star-studded cast featuring Ashes To Ashes Keeley Hawes who plays Amanda Thirsk - the Duke's right-hand woman as well as Romola Garai who portrays Esme Wren, the Newsnight editor.

McAlister said: 'It's rare that you see a representation of women all in their 40s and 50s. This is an opportunity to see hard-working women behind the scenes at every stage', she told the Telegraph.

Having been onset during the filming and described Anderson's likeness to Emily Maitlis as 'astonishing'.

She said: 'It was like being there with Emily, everything about her physically and her performance is on the money.

'They have a similar intellect as well. Emily is very methodical. She worked very hard on every interview she trains, she studies and my impression of Gillian was exactly the same.

'She was studying the material, she was studying Emily, and she was working on that project in an intellectual way as well as a dramatic way.'

Sam McAlister is also known as the 'Booker extraordinaire' on Newsnight having successfully negotiated and secured the interview

Phillip Martin, the director of Scoop added: 'Rufus (Sewell) spent about three hours in the make-up chair. He started earl in the morning and had to go through this strange process of putting a bald wig on before the other stuff went on.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE Prince Andrew faces a third 'downfall' film as firm working closely with Netflix explores Duke of York's 'character arc' from Queen's favourite son to his scandalous friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein Producers are said to be keen to approach Andrew's former private secretary Alistair Watson, who worked for the Duke between 2003 to 2012 Advertisement

'We worked very hard to make all of the prosthetics flexible and light enough so that he could act through it all.

'With Gillian, there are no prosthetics - it's make-up and a wig and mannerisms.

Both actors spent hours watching the interview as part of their preparation and Anderson also studied Maitlis's presenting style on Newsnight.

Martin added: 'Sometimes people can do a really brilliant impersonation but not capture something.

'What Gillian and Rufus had done so brilliantly is get the spirit of the people that they're playing, so that it feels real.'

The room at Buckingham Palace in which the interview was conducted is also recreated in every detail possible, and the camera angles from the original BBC interview are matched frame-to-frame.

The film, with the script written by Steven Moffat, will not be a hatchet job on the Duke, however.

McAlister continued: 'We don't take a side - we're not saying, 'Oh isn't he great' or 'Oh isn't he evil.

'It's for the viewer to draw their own inferences.'

Martin added: 'I think a lot of people would tie themselves up in knots because they didn't want to appear to approve of Andrew, or to disapprove of him. Rufus wasn't afraid of that.

'Andrew was slightly the Harry of his era - he was seen as a great communicator with great people skills in his 20s and 30s, a person who could get things done.

'I think Rufus really understood that side of things, and the sense that Andrew is older now but has a sparkle and a kind of charisma to him.

'It doesn't feel like we're pointing an arrow at him and saying, 'This is a bad guy'... you're seeing a person, and that's a real tribute to Rufus's take on it.'

The Duke was memorably chastised for his answer to Maitlis, which included a bizarre claim that he was physically unable to sweat and an alibi placing him in the Woking branch of Pizza Express - of all places!

This isn't the only on screen adaptation about the Duke either.

The Mail on Sunday understands the film will explore the Duke of York's 'character arc' from a 'war hero' and the 'Queen's favourite' to the scandal over his close friendship with paedophile sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein which led to his departure from royal duties in 2019.

The Mail on Sunday understands the film will explore the Duke of York's 'character arc' from a 'war hero' and the 'Queen's favourite' to the scandal over his close friendship with paedophile sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein which led to his departure from royal duties in 2019

The infamous picture of Prince Andrew and Virginia Roberts, aged 17, at Ghislaine Maxwell's townhouse in London

The programme is being made by the award-winning production company Sandpaper Films, which is known for working with top streaming services Netflix, Apple and Amazon.

Sandpaper has already made several films about the Royal Family including the 2017 film 'Diana, 7 days', which analysed her final days and featured interviews with Prince William and Prince Harry.

Producers are said to be keen to approach Andrew's former private secretary Alistair Watson, who worked for the Duke between 2003 to 2012. If he cooperated, insiders say this could be 'bad news' for the Duke as Mr Watson 'knows where the bodies are buried'.

Mr Watson was hired to support the Duke in his position as UK trade envoy, where he represented the government around the world after leaving the Royal Navy in 2001.

The Duke faced a series of controversies in the role, including claims he went on holiday with a Libyan gun smuggler. Andrew quit the role in 2011 after stories broke about him visiting convicted peadophile Epstein at his home in New York after he was released from jail.

Respected author Andrew Lownie, who has written best-selling biographies of Lord Mountbatten and the Duke of Windsor, is understood to be acting as a consultant for the documentary.

However, It is understood that the new documentary will not be 'sensationalist' nor focus solely on the Duke's disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019, unlike the whole focus of Scoop.
February 4, 2024: Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi recently won reelection for a second term. Tshisekedi had to overcome opposition from his predecessor Joseph Kabila, who resisted being replaced. Diplomatic and local opposition eventually persuaded the incumbent, since 2001, President Joseph Kabila to stop trying to become a president-for-life. Kabila tried to revive the one-party dictatorship based on corruption and exploiting ethnic divisions. Since 2001, President Joseph Kabila and his father Laurent Kabila, who was president from 1997 until his assassination in 2001, had grown up opposing that sort of thing but there it was again. Laurent Kabila was supposed to leave office after the 2016 elections selected a new president. He could not run again and was unable to get the constitution changed. He was forced to allow elections at the end of 2018 but was able to rig the vote to get someone willing to cooperate with the corrupt system Kabila wanted to keep going. Felix Tshisekedi, the new president, would presumably benefit if he went along. Tshisekedi took on Kabila and his powerful parliamentary coalition. Tshisekedi found allies in the UN and among donor countries and blocked Kabilas efforts to hide his corrupt activities while president. By 2021 the mining contracts Kabila agreed to with China were being audited and evidence of extensive wrongdoing by Kabila and China were documented. China is losing those contracts, so Kabila is very much on the defensive, as are his cronies in parliament and the courts.

Kabilas misdeeds were the reason Congo was facing widespread chaos and civil war that is made worse by the ongoing ethnic divisions. Solutions have been sought since the 1960s and in 2013 the UN tried something novel, a special combat brigade of peacemakers. This brigade was given a license to kill, and kill as often as needed, to eliminate the last few rogue militias operating in the east. This solved many of the peacekeeping problems there, at least temporarily. Despite that, multiple tribal and political militias, plus an increasing number of bandits, continue to roam the eastern border area, perpetuating the bloodiest and least reported war of the 21st century with over six million dead. There is similar but less intense unrest in other parts of the country, especially the separatist minded southwest. The Congolese government discovered that it had to cope with the continuing corruption and lack of order in the east and southwest. The reason was always money, the millions of dollars available each year to whoever has gunmen controlling the mines that extract valuable ores and allow the stuff out of the country. Congo is finally emerging from this deadly chaos. Elsewhere in Central Africa, Burundi General Evariste Ndayishimiye has been President of Burundi since 2020 and blames neighbor Rwanda for the continued violence in the region. Rwanda makes similar accusations against Burundi. This hate/hate relationship has been the norm for years and efforts to end the tense relationship have so far failed.

Another neighbor of Congo is the Central African Republic/CAR which remains mired in a civil war that began in 2012 and resists all efforts to stop the fighting. The war began after the overthrow of a corrupt and incompetent dictator and then evolved into another Moslem versus Christian and other non-Moslems conflict. CAR is very poor and has a population of nearly six million people.
The term 'bomb cyclone' denotes a storm that rapidly worsens over 24 hours

Residents in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties were urged to evacuate their homes

The latest in a series of atmospheric river storms is expected to bring heavy flooding to much of the state

The first images have emerged showing California pummeled by potentially deadly rain and wind as about 37 million residents remain under flood alerts.

San Francisco Public Works crews tended to a downed acacia tree in the neighborhood of West Portal, equipped with a chainsaw, as rain pounded the city.

Videos from San Jose showed trees swaying and buckling under the gusts. And in Santa Cruz, water ponded on residential streets and poured out of drainpipes.

Atmospheric rivers began hitting the state last week, toppling trees and dousing roads. With the ground already soaked from the first storm, officials expressed concern about mudslides and flooding.

Weather researcher Ryan Maue said the 'bomb cyclone' - a term denoting a storm that rapidly intensifies over 24 hours - could dump more than 8 trillion gallons of precipitation on the state.

The National Weather Service has expressed concern about the possibility of nonstop moderate to heavy rainfall lasting Sunday into Monday throughout California

High winds and heavy rain fell in the mountains of San Jose on Sunday

Brookwood Drive and Plateau Drive, Santa Cruz were inundated in floodwater

He likened the amount to the volume of Lake Mead - 8.5 trillion gallons.

The Weather Prediction Center issued a Level 4 risk for excessive rainfall in Santa Barbara and Oxnard - an exceedingly rare advisory issued on fewer than 4 percent of days on average.

A Level 3 risk was instated for much of the California coast, including San Francisco down through Los Angeles.

Speaking at a news conference Saturday, Nancy Ward, director of the Governors Office of Emergency Services, said more than 8,500 members of public safety organizations had been mobilized in anticipation of the storm.

The threat of extreme weather was great enough that Governor Gavin Newsom activated the states emergency operation center, which would run 24 hours a day, Ward added.

Officials in Santa Barbara County heightened evacuation advisories to orders on Saturday.

The same day, the Ventura County Sheriffs Office issued evacuation orders for some communities, in place from 5pm local time Saturday to 5pm Sunday.

'While Ventura County remains one of the Safest Counties in America, it is prone to hazardous conditions that often present during severe rainstorms,' read a release from the sheriff's office.

'Residents are asked to stay vigilant to changing conditions and if asked to evacuate, follow the recommendations provided by public safety officials.'

A boat in Santa Cruz washed ashore as tides rose during the 'bomb cyclone' weather event

The term describes a storm that rapidly intensifies over 24 hours. One forecaster predicted Californians could see up to 8 trillion gallons of rain during the weather event

More than 8,500 members of public safety organizations were mobilized in response to the storm threat, according to the Governor's Office of Emergency Services

Totals of three to six inches are expected for Central and Southern California, according to forecasters

A Level 3 flood risk was instated for much of the California coast, including San Francisco (pictured) down through Los Angeles

Rain pummeled Santa Cruz Sunday afternoon, downing trees and ponding on roads

Travelers were urged to change their plans to avoid higher-elevation areas where some of the worst flooding was expected to occur and remain vigilant

A closed roadway was flooded with murky water in the northern city of Sonoma

Flood watches were in place in Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties, as well up the Southern California coast

Crews could be seen laying out sandbags to keep rising sea levels from spilling over, while many beaches were shuttered indefinitely.

Flood watches were in place in Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties, as well up the Southern California coast, with some lasting at least through the weekend.

According to forecasters, flooding across the state is possible through Tuesday. At least six inches of rain are likely to fall from the lower Central Coast to the Los Angeles County coast, with up to 12 inches possible.

The National Weather Service said punishing rain could cause urban flooding, mudslides and flash flooding that necessitate swift water rescues.

The agency added that the Los Angeles River 'will fill quickly and become a raging river and a very dangerous place to be.'

The worst of the storm is anticipated to pummel the state between Sunday and Tuesday.

The WPC predicted at least eight inches of rain in less than 24 hours for portions of the Transverse Ranges in Southern California.

Maximum totals of over 10 inches are possible in areas where storms repeatedly strike in a short period of time.

Totals of three to six inches are expected for Central and Southern California, according to the agency. And in the mountains of Southern California, up to a foot of rain is expected.

Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson cautioned that some parts of the city could see more rain over the weekend than is typical in a year. An anticipated five to seven inches of precipitation leaves the city particularly vulnerable to power outages.

Heavy wind whipped trees in San Jose as the storm intensified

Officials in Santa Barbara County (pictured) heightened evacuation advisories to orders on Saturday

About 37 million people - 94 percent of the state's population - were under flood alerts Sunday

A downed tree on Soquel San Jose Road, north of Olsen Road in Santa Cruz, prompted closures. Crews worked to divert traffic and clear up the mess

Residents in Santa Barbara (pictured) and Ventura Counties were urged to evacuate their homes Saturday

A downed tree partially blocked the southbound lane of Highway 1 in Monterey on Sunday

Public works crews in San Francisco tended to a downed acacia tree as rain pounded the city

Mono County, along the Nevada border, is the target for significant snow totals, including tourist destinations like Yosemite National Park

Totals of three to six inches are expected for Central and Southern California, according to the agency. And in the mountains of Southern California, up to a foot of rain is expected.

Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson cautioned that some parts of the city could see more rain over the weekend than is typical in a year. An anticipated five to seven inches of precipitation leaves the city particularly vulnerable to power outages.

The NWS has expressed concern about the possibility of nonstop moderate to heavy rainfall stretching Sunday into Monday, for a total 48 hours.

High winds remain a threat across much of California, with gusts between 40 to 60 miles per hour - and some as high as 75 to 80 mph - carrying the potential for fallen trees and blackouts.

San Jose and Salinas are under the threat of severe storms Sunday including tornados and ruinous winds.

Snow is also on the horizon for some parts of the state. Mono County, along the Nevada border, is expected to record significant snow totals. This includes popular tourist destinations like Yosemite National Park.

According to the NWS office in Reno, there is a 80 to 90 percent chance through Monday night for four-plus feet of snowfall at elevations above 8,000 feet.

The agency's Los Angeles office provided guidance for travelers from Sunday into Tuesday, describing the atmospheric river as a 'major storm with dangerous, even life-threatening impacts.'

Tips included moving parked cars from flood-prone, low-lying areas and charging batteries and phones in case of power outages.

The NWS also urged Californians to change their travel plans to avoid mountain travel - areas projected to see some of the heaviest precipitation.

The Weather Prediction Center issued a rare Level 4 risk for excessive rainfall in Santa Barbara (pictured) and Oxnard, which is issued on fewer than 4 percent of days on average

At least six inches of rain are likely to fall from the lower Central Coast to the Los Angeles County coast (pictured), with up to 12 inches possible

According to forecasters, statewide flooding is possible through Tuesday

In anticipation of strong winds and rain, the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am was postponed to Monday (pictured: a toppled tree blocks a road in Pebble Beach)

Gusts between 40 to 60 miles per hour - and some as high as 75 to 80 mph - bring with them the potential for fallen trees and blackouts

The Ventura County Sheriffs Office issued evacuation orders for some communities, in place from 5pm local time Saturday to 5pm Sunday

Maximum rainfall totals of over 10 inches are possible in areas where storms repeatedly strike in a short period of time

The NWS office in Los Angeles described the atmospheric river as a 'major storm with dangerous, even life-threatening impacts'

Motorists were encouraged to move their flood-prone, low-lying areas and charge batteries and phones in case of power outages

The NWS also urged Californians to change their travel plans to avoid mountain travel - areas projected to see some of the heaviest precipitation.

Several events were postponed or advanced in anticipation of the weather event.

The NASCAR Cup Series' Busch Light Class, originally scheduled for Sunday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, was moved to Saturday night.

In anticipation of strong gales and punishing rain, the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am was postponed to Monday. All tournament facilities were closed as of Sunday.

As of 4pm local time, 132 outgoing and incoming flights were cancelled at San Francisco International Airport, according to data from FlightAware. A whopping 287 other flights were delayed.
A Sage scientist who was one of the leading advocates of lockdowns has admitted that the economic harm it would inflict was not taken into account.

Professor John Edmunds was a key figure on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) that advised the government during the coronavirus pandemic.

As professor of infectious disease modelling at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, he was one of the most influential voices on Sage and constantly lobbied for stricter lockdowns.

But in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, he said that data from epidemiologists had been given too much weight and more should have been done to understand the practical harm to people's lives.

Professor John Edmunds was a key figure on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage)

Regent Street completely deserted and empty due to the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020

He told the paper: 'I should have put more resources into modelling the macroeconomic effect.

'With the benefit of hindsight, we should have done more.

'I think that this could have helped inform what was quite a simplistic (and bitter) debate about traditing off health and wealth.'

Professor Edmunds also criticised the system for passing scientific advice to senior ministers that took place behind the scenes.

He claimed that Boris Johnson, who was prime minister at the time, and others did not read the minutes.

Also, he said he found it easier to influence policy by speaking directly to the media.

The Sage professor also blasted the government's handling of protecting care home residents, who were particularly hit by the first wave of the pandemic.

He said he had personally raised the alarm during a presentation in which Sir Chris Whitty was 'flicking through' slides.

The professor received a knighthood in the New Year Honours list for services to epidemiology, which caused controversy at the time.

Police patrol Trafalgar square during third national lockdown in London, Britain, 23 January 2021

In the early days of the crisis, the professor publicly suggested that 'herd immunity' was 'the only way to stop this epidemic'.

He then became a convert to lockdowns and irritated some ministers by using frequent media appearances to push for tougher restrictions.

At one point the interventions by Prof Edmunds and others irritated government ministers so much that Boris Johnson considered scrapping the Sage scientific committee.

One former Whitehall official said Prof Edmunds was one of a number of pro-lockdown scientists who used media performances to try to 'bounce' the Government into imposing tougher restrictions.

Prof Edmunds later attacked Rishi Sunak's Eat Out to Help Out initiative, describing it as 'spectacularly stupid'.
A 21-year-old woman has been arrested over the theft of a French Bulldog in downtown LA that saw the owner left clinging to the hood of the getaway car.

Sadie Slater was identified by the LAPD after officers worked through the night to 'locate and arrest the suspect wanted for this crime,' wrote the department on X.

The dog, called Onyx, had not been recovered but detectives said they were continuing to conduct interviews.

The pup's owner Ali Zacharias was seen in terrifying footage sitting on the hood of the car as it made its getaway and was thrown off in the process.

Zacharias' heartbreak began on January 18 at the Whole Foods on Grand Avenue near 8th Street. Slater grabbed the dog from her and walked off.

The owner said she initially thought the situation was a misunderstanding, not believing anyone would attempt to steal Onyx.

She followed the woman to the getaway car, a white Kia Forte that had four people inside, and then stood in front of the vehicle. It was at this point that the car started moving off and she ended up on the hood.

She rode on top of the car for several blocks before it made a turn that threw her off. Fortunately she was not seriously hurt.

Of the video showing Zacharias on the hood, LAPD Officer Jader Chaves said: 'It was very shocking to see, but at the same time it was very helpful in identifying the vehicle and the license plate and the occupants.'

Zacharias said she was 'screaming with joy' when they found out a suspect had been arrested, but are 'waiting for the next piece of news that Onyx is safe and in custody.'

'I love this dog. I miss this dog. I can't wait to see his face. I cant wait to see him. Hell wiggle over sideways when he sees me. He gets so happy. I cant wait to see him,' she said.

The incident occurred around 2.30pm at the Whole Foods on Grand Avenue and 8th Street.

Zacharias said she was sitting with Onyx by her feet under a table when a stranger called out to him, and then grabbed his leash and walked off with him.

She initially thought it was a mistake, adding: 'I didnt think that somebody was stealing my dog.

'I thought it was a misunderstanding, so I said, "Thats my dog. Excuse me," and she wasnt listening.'

The thief jumped into a waiting car, which Zacharias tried to get into as well, but there were four other people inside and they pushed her back out and locked the door.

Zacharias ran to the front of the car and screamed for help but she said 'nobody came.'

'The next thing I know, the cars driving into me and I fell onto the hood.'

The thieves drove for several blocks before making a sharp turn, throwing Zacharias onto the ground. They sped off again with Onyx still inside.

Zacharias said she thought she was going to die as the car went faster and faster

Zacharias said she was sitting with Onyx by her feet under a table when a stranger called out to him, and then grabbed his leash and walked off with him

Oynx is still missing and Zacharias is offering a large reward for his return

Zacharias was thrilled that a suspect had been arrested but is still hoping for the return of her dog

Zacharias reported the theft to the police who are searching the area - she is also offering a large reward for his return.

She said: 'They stole my child away from me. I'm just praying that I can get him back.'

Police described the car as a newer white Kia Forte sedan with a missing hubcap on the driver's front side, according to KTLA.

French Bulldogs are the most popular dog breed in the country and can sell for over $1,000 a puppy.

Witness Harrison Pessy said he was walking down the street when he heard a woman screaming and saw the car go flying past with Zacharias clinging on.

He said: 'If someone tried to steal my dog, Id probably try to kill them myself.'

Anyone with information can call Zacharias at 626-264-7923 or the LAPD at 1-877-275-5273.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has been accused of helping 'evil' gangs by trying to weaken the Rwanda Bill.

Home Secretary James Cleverly insisted the legislation is designed to tackle the scourge of people-smuggling gangs.

Swiping that bishops are fond of talking about 'good and evil', he said critics had no 'alternative plan' of how to address the problems.

Justin Welby has been among the fiercest opponents of the Rwanda proposals, telling the House of Lords last week that the government was 'leading the nation down a damaging path'.

He has suggested that the scheme is the 'opposite of the nature of God', and committed to bringing forward amendments.

However, speaking to The Sun on Sunday, Mr Cleverly said: 'This is evil being done. I'm trying to do something about it.

'Bishops talks about good and evil. We've got to do something about it.

Justin Welby insisted Britain must 'do better' than the government's crucial legislation as it was debated in the House of Lords for the first time last month

Home Secretary James Cleverly insisted the legislation is designed to tackle the scourge of people-smuggling gangs

A file photograph of migrants about to be picked up in the Channel

'For those people who disagree with how I'm going about it, I get that. But where's the alternative plan? These are people smugglers. These are criminals. They are perpetrating an evil.'

Mr Cleverly said the Rwanda Bill was 'far, far too important' to 'entertain wrecking amendments' and challenged his critics to come up with other options ahead of it returning to the House of Lords.

'Unless they are able to put forward some credible alternative as a deterrent, they should let me deploy this alongside the other things we are doing,' he said.

'There is nothing honourable, there is nothing righteous, about removing one of the tools to break criminality.'

The Safety of Rwanda Bill is due back in the House of Lords next week, having passed second reading stage last month despite an attempt to kill it off.

The legislation aims to declare Rwanda a safe country and overcome objections raised by the Supreme Court, which declared the scheme unlawful in November.

The PM warned peers not to 'frustrate the will of the people', urging them to 'do the right thing' and pass the Bill 'as quickly as possible'.

But the Bill was booed as it was formally introduced to the House, and now faces sustained efforts at delay and amendment.
Governor Greg Abbott and 14 other US governors will hold a press conference Sunday to protest the Biden administration's border policies.

Governors from Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Tennessee, South Dakota, and Utah will also be in attendance, to get a briefing on Texas border security initiative.

In a statement to social media, Abbott, 66, proudly proclaimed the meeting would address President Joe Biden's 'reckless open border policies', and revealed how it would be held right on the border at a park in Eagle Pass.

The park - 47.4 acres along the Rio Grande - is a popular crossing point for migrants. Two kids and their mother died there a few weeks ago after feds were kept from the scene.

Currently, the State of Texas forbids federal officials from entering, causing tension between Biden and Abbotts Operation Lone Star - his state-sponsored attempt at stopping immigration. The event will be streamed live, at 2:30pm CT, reps said.

Governor Greg Abbott has announced that he and 14 other US governors will hold a press conference 2:30pm CT Sunday in protest of Joe Biden's border policies

In a statement to social media, Abbott, 66, proudly proclaimed the meeting would address President Joe Biden's 'reckless open border policies', and revealed how it would be held right on the border at a park in Eagle Pass - seen here

'Greg Abbott and 14 of America's Governors will hold a press conference on the unprecedented actions to protect Americans in response to President Joe Biden's reckless open border policies on Sunday, February 4 at Shelby Park,' they said.

Abbott and the governors will be joined by three top officials from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) - the state funded agency responsible for statewide law enforcement and driver license administration.

Along with the Texas Military Department, it oversees Operation Lone Star - a two-year-old task force personally created by Abbott to halt migrants' illegally entry from Mexico.

Since its launch in March 2021, it has come under federal scrutiny for overstepping state bounds, and has cost taxpayers more than $5billion.

'Prior to the press conference, the Governors will receive a briefing on the Operation Lone Star mission to secure the border,' officials said - of their desire to continue deploying groups along the Southern Border.

'The Governors joining Governor Abbott in Eagle Pass,' officials said,

are Arkansas' Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Georgia's Brian Kemp, Idaho's Brad Little, Indiana's Eric Holcomb, Iowa's Kim Reynolds, Louisiana's Jeff Landry, Mississippi's Tate Reeves, Missouri's Mike Parson, Montana's Greg Gianforte, Nebraska's Jim Pillen New Hampshire's Chris Sununu, Tennessee's Bill Lee, and Utah's Spencer Cox.

All are Republicans, and all have expressed some sort of disapproval over Biden's handling of the crisis.

The park - 47.4 acres along the Rio Grande - is a popular crossing point for migrants.

On Saturday, cops in the city of 28,000 blocked off the road outside Shelby Park with police tape and cones - apparently at the state government's behest

Abbott and the governors will be joined by three officials from the Texas Department of Public Safety - the state funded agency that, along with the Texas Military Department, oversees Operation Lone Star - a two-year-old task force personally created by Abbott to halt migrants' illegally entry

The team is presided over by both the Texas Military Department the Texas Department of Public Safety. Since its launch in March 2021, it has come under federal scrutiny for overstepping state bounds, and has cost taxpayers more than $5billion

A recent probe carried out by the Military Times and the Texas Tribune found that at least four of their intelligence officers faced disciplinary action because of alleged illegal behavior

Moreover, their visit will be to the same border park that federal officials are currently prohibited from entering, as Abbott and Operation Lone Star look poised to continue its aggressive operations along the US-Mexico border.

Shelby Park has surfaced as a particularly problematic point along this 1,254 mile span, due to its location on the Rio Grande and in Eagle Pass.

The Texas border makes up about half of the US - and Eagle Pass is one of several towns hit the hardest by the record crossing rates.

On Saturday, cops in the city of 28,000 blocked off the road outside Shelby Park with police tape and cones - apparently at the state government's behest.

The cordoning off coincided with a Take Our Border Back Convoy rally about 20 miles north on Saturday in Quemado, where residents made their disapproval of Biden's border policies known.

Meanwhile, back in Eagle Pass roughly two weeks ago, a migrant woman and her two young children drowned in the same park where politicians are now slated to convene.

At the time, Texas Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar blamed the deaths on the fact the national guard blocked border agents from the scene, preventing them from administering life-saving help.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen delivers his State of the State at the the state Capitol in Lincoln in 2023. He will be in attendance Sunday afternoon

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee speaks during a news conference in Nashville of last year. He will also be present for the event, which will also include a security briefing

Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry speaks during his inauguration ceremony at the State Capitol building in Baton Rouge earlier this month

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb speaks at the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Indianapolis Monday, January 8

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu at a Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley campaign event late last month

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson delivers his state's State of the State address on January 24, 2024, in Jefferson City

Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves answers reporters questions at the Capitol in Jackson, Thursday, January 25

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox at the PBS Utah Governor's Monthly News Conference at the Eccles Broadcast Center in Salt Lake City back in October

South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem during a Sioux tribal flags ceremony in Pierre last month

Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp speaks at a signing ceremony for HB30 adding antisemitism to the state's definition of hate crimes, at the State Capitol in Atlanta last week

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks during a news conference in Des Moines this past week

Idaho Gov. Brad Little gestures during a press conference at the Statehouse in Boise in 2020

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte speaks at a bill signing ceremony on the steps of the State Capitol on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in Helena

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Governor of the State of Arkansas, speaks at the 2023 Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills in May 2023

A Supreme Court filing by the US Department of Justice later claimed the vvictims - Yorlei Rubi, 10, Jonathan Agustin Briones de la Sancha, 8, and mother Sancha Cerros, 33 - died an hour before border patrol arrived.

US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar wrote in the document that Mexico told Border Patrol about 9pm that the three migrants drowned about 8pm, and advised two others were in distress.

The two other migrants were Monica de la Sancha Cerros, 30, and her son, Victor Antonio Briones de la Sancha, 10, both relatives of the drowned trio.

Border Patrol then approached the Texas National Guard perimeter, but were told, through a closed gate, that they were under orders not to let them through.

When the agents tried to explain the seriousness of the situation, they were told they couldn't be let in 'even in emergency situations'.

The Texas National Guard - whose members comprise much of Abbott's Operation Lone Star - then sent its own guardsmen to investigate instead.

'The following day, Mexican officials confirmed to Border Patrol that the two migrants... had attempted to return to Mexico and were rescued by a Mexican Government airboat while suffering from hypothermia,' Prelogar wrote.

Immigrants wade across the Rio Grande while crossing from Mexico into the US in Eagle Pass, Texas

A National Guardsman lets in a truck at a gate of the Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, The Texas Military Department confirmed that the Texas National Guard seized control of the area

The Park is the same site where migrant woman and her two young children drowned in the same park where politicians are now slated to convene. Yorlei Rubi, 10, (left) and Jonathan Agustin Briones de la Sancha, 8, (right) died alongside Sancha Cerros, 33, on January 14

They also told border agents they recovered the bodies of the three asylum-seekers who drowned.

'It is impossible to say what might have happened if Border Patrol had had its former access to the area  including through its surveillance trucks that assisted in monitoring the area,' Prelogar wrote.

'At the very least, however, Border Patrol would have had the opportunity to take any available steps to fulfill its responsibilities and assist its counterparts in the Mexican government with undertaking the rescue mission. Texas made that impossible.'

The Texas Military Department did not deny it blocked the Border Patrol agents from accessing the area, but also claimed the migrants were dead already.

'Mexican authorities were recovering the bodies, and Border Patrol expressed these facts to the TMD personnel on site,' officials said.

The Texas Military Department in a statement added that national guardsmen searched the area after Border Patrol alerted them to the other two migrants, but didn't find anyone.

About 45 minutes later, guardsmen saw Mexican authorities responding to an emergency situation on the other side of the river.

Guardsmen 'reported their observations back to Border Patrol, and they confirmed that the Mexican authorities required no additional assistance',' TMD said.

At the time, Texas Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar blamed the deaths on the fact the national guard blocked border agents from the scene, preventing them from administering life-saving help

Border Patrol agents were then denied access to the park by Abbott's team, after the feds were told by Mexican authorities that a group of migrants crossing was in distress

'At no time did TMD security personnel along the river observe any distressed migrants, nor did TMD turn back any illegal immigrants from the US during this period,' it said.

'Also, at no point was TMD made aware of any bodies in the area of Shelby Park, nor was TMD made aware of any bodies being discovered on the US side of the border regarding this situation.'

A day before the migrants drowned, the Justice Department warned Supreme Court justices that officials in Texas had taken control of Shelby Park and were not letting Border Patrol agents enter.

Cuellar, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee's subcommittee for homeland security, called the deaths 'a tragedy.'

'This is a tragedy, and the State bears responsibility,' he said, accusing Texas of being responsible for the deaths.

The Department of Homeland Security went on to thrust the blame on the incident on Governor Gregg Abbott and his handling of the ongoing migrant crisis.

'In responding to a distress call from the Mexican government, Border Patrol agents were physically barred by Texas officials from entering the park,' it said.

'The Texas governor's policies are cruel, dangerous, and inhumane, and Texas's blatant disregard for federal authority over immigration poses grave risks.'

Texas Department of Public Safety officers work inside a fenced off Shelby Park, Thursday. The park lies in a major corridor for migrants entering illegally from Mexico and is the center of Abbott's aggressive attempts to stop them, known as Operation Lone Star

The park lies in a major corridor for migrants entering illegally from Mexico and is the center of Abbott's aggressive attempts to stop them, known as Operation Lone Star.

The effort was Abbott's state-sponsored attempt at stopping illegal immigration, and had been presided over by both the Texas Military Department the Texas Department of Public Safety.

A recent probe carried out by the Military Times and the Texas Tribune found that at least four of their intelligence officers faced disciplinary action because of alleged illegal behavior - which the publications said was actually uncovered nearly a year ago, in September 2022, but was only set out over the summer.

The TMD - the state's security watchdog - reportedly told the outlets it concluded its investigation in September 2022, but is still waiting to release its report and 'finalize' discipline until leaders receive it.

After announcing the deaths, feds slammed Gov. Greg Abbott's policies that seek to stop illegal immigration, calling them 'cruel, dangerous, and inhumane, and [a] blatant disregard for federal authority'

Texas Department of Public Safety officers guard an entrance to Shelby Park on Thursday, a day before the Texas Military Department and Texas National Guard 'did not grant access to Border Patrol agents to save the migrants', feds said

As problematic stretches of the border remain manned, migrants are periodically swept away to their deaths by the current of the infamous Rio Grande - which, despite its inherent dangers, is a popular crossing point

While only four were said have faced interim discipline from administrators in the meantime, six in total were claimed to have taken part in the debacle - turning over a list of names of prospective migrants at a February 2022 meeting.

Those names, investigators reportedly said, were compiled after the agents secretly infiltrated invite-only WhatsApp groups to spy on asylum seekers and track their movements.

Lt. Col. David Tyler, the leader the intelligence wing from December 2021 to fall 2022 and one of the four said to have already faced internal discipline, told the outlets that 'all the Generals wanted to know about the next mass migration.'

The state has so far spent more than $4.5 billion over two years stationing the groups at the Southern border, and Abbot's office has continued to double-down on its legally questionable practices.

As problematic stretches of the border remain manned, migrants are periodically swept away to their deaths by the current of the infamous Rio Grande - which, despite its inherent dangers, is a popular crossing point.

Abbott's office referred questions about the Friday drownings to the Texas Military Department, which said its security personnel saw Mexican authorities responding to an incident across the river about 45 minutes after Border Patrol made the state aware of the situation.

The department said it maintains water rescue equipment and works with local paramedics to assist migrants needing medical care.

'At no time did TMD security personnel along the river observe any distressed migrants, nor did TMD turn back any illegal immigrants from the US during this period,' the department insisted in the statement.

Cuellar, who represents a Texas border district, reiterated how it was Mexican authorities alerted the Border Patrol to the distressed migrants struggling in the river late Friday.

Aerial view showing migrants queuing at the border fence in an attempt to cross into the US, in Ciudad Juarez Chihuahua, Mexico

Migrants queue at the border fence to try to cross into the US, in Ciudad Juarez Chihuahua, Mexico

He said federal agents attempted to call and relay the information to Texas National Guard members at Shelby Park, without success.

Agents then visited the entrance to the park but were turned away, according to the congressman, who said they were told a Guard member would be sent to investigate the situation.

The 50-acre park is owned by the city, but it is used by the state Department of Public Safety and the Texas Military Department to patrol border crossings.

Although daily crossings diminished from the thousands to about 500, state authorities put up fences and stationed military vehicles by the entry to deny access to the public and Border Patrol agents this week, according to a court filing.

In a Supreme Court filing, Texas challenged claims that Border Patrol agents were denied access. They said the Border Patrol has scaled down its presence since summer, when the state moved its resources and manpower to the park.

Federal agents were also granted access to the area to secure supplies, the state said.

Abbott's office referred questions about the drownings to the Texas Military Department, which said its security personnel saw Mexican authorities responding to an incident across the river 45 minutes after Border Patrol made local officials aware of the situation

Cuellar said there was no immediate information available about the victims' nationalities, relationship and ages. The Mexican government made no public statements.

Members of the public held a ceremony at the park to mark the deaths of migrants in their region.

Julio Vasquez, a pastor, said access was granted after making requests with the city and sharing pictures showing the entry still fenced up and guarded by members of the National Guard and military vehicles.

An investigation into the deaths remains ongoing.
Two of the biggest stars on Loose Women have left the popular lunchtime show in chaos after refusing to appear following a row with ITV over their tax status.

Jane Moore and Janet Street-Porter told bosses they won't join the panel after they were ordered to sign contracts saying they were permanent ITV employees rather than freelance journalists.

Ms Moore hasn't taken part since December 29, while Ms Street-Porter  a MailOnline columnist and ex-editor of the Independent on Sunday  is also in a stand-off.

The row involves ITV's new PAYE-only contracts policy, in response to HMRC's so-called off-payroll working rules, after tax authorities said that TV presenters should not be able to use a 'corporate veil' to claim not to be staff.

Jane Moore hasn't appeared on the show since December 29 after tax authorities said that TV presenters should not be able to use a 'corporate veil' to claim not to be staff

Janet Street-Porter told bosses, her and Ms Moore won't join the panel after they were ordered to sign contracts saying they were permanent ITV employees rather than freelance journalists

HMRC says its off-payroll  or IR35  rules ensure that a freelancer pays broadly the same income tax and National Insurance as an employee.

Ms Moore writes a column in The Sun newspaper and is interviewing Sharon Osbourne on her UK tour. The journalist, who also presents TV documentaries and writes novels, appeared on Loose Women ten times last December.

Sources at the show say its stars, who have been self-employed for more than two decades, insist ITV's contract change is unacceptable.

One said: 'Jane and Janet are furious. They have done such a lot for that show and they love it  but... they do different work across different companies and, as journalists, value their independent status. Things have got pretty tense. If it carries on, there might be a big change to the line-up.'

Sources say the contracts do not offer holiday, sick pay, or pension and forbid some work opportunities. Last year, panellist Carol McGiffin quit after refusing to sign the contract. Writing in Best magazine, she said 'no one in their right mind' would have agreed to it.

Kaye Adams, another Loose Women star, said she felt 'utterly beaten up and gaslit' after winning a ten-year tax battle in court with HMRC over IR35 rules. She even compared the 'hostile' treatment by the taxman with how the Post Office treated sub-postmasters in the Horizon computer scandal.

Former This Morning host Eamonn Holmes lost two HMRC appeals over whether he was freelance or staff at ITV. He reportedly had to pay backdated tax bills of around 250,000 and faced 'hundreds of thousands in legal fees'.

But ITV presenter Lorraine Kelly won her battle against HMRC, as did Adrian Chiles  although he is now fighting an HMRC appeal.

A spokesperson for ITV said: 'We dont comment on individual cases but ITV ensures that it complies with and follows all HMRC guidance and legislation.'

A source added: 'The changes were brought in last year and we are simply following the guidance that has been set out to us by HMRC.'
The principal of an elementary school in Oklahoma who has history performing as a drag queen has resigned following intense backlash.

Dr. Shane Murnan, 52, was named principal of John Glenn Elementary School in June but his controversial past, which includes child pornography charges that were later dropped nearly 20 years ago, came to light.

He reportedly performed as a drag queen named Shantel Mandalay and read story books to children at local libraries while in costume.

Western Heights School District had received threats and was forced to hire extra security and instruct Murnan to mostly work-off site before he was placed on administrative leave.

He resigned this week after months of outrage from parents, according to Fox News Digital. Ryan Walters, superintendent of the State of Oklahoma who had called on Murnan to step down, celebrated the news on social media.

The principal of an elementary school in Oklahoma who has history performing as a drag queen has resigned following intense backlash

Dr. Shane Murnan was named principal of John Glenn Elementary School in June but his controversial past, which includes child pornography charges that were later dropped nearly 20 years ago, came to light

Western Heights School District had received threats and was forced to hire extra security and instruct Murnan to mostly work-off site before he was placed on administrative leave. Pictured: John Glenn Elementary School

Murnan was first linked to the drag queen activities through the Libs of TikTok social media account in September.

It then emerged he faced child pornography charges nearly 20 years ago that were later dropped.

The judge dismissed the case during the preliminary hearing due to a lack of probable cause as it could not be proven the images depicted minors.

'The drag queen is out at Western Heights. I've demanded it from day one,' Oklahoma superintendent Walters said.

'This is not what parents want for their kids. The issues at Western Heights continue.

'What is going on with their hiring practices? It will not be tolerated here in Oklahoma to have drag queens in the classroom.'

The school district previously said it was aware of the previous charges - but defended the hiring, emphasizing the individual's qualifications and outstanding reputation.

'Dr. Murnan has been serving the field of education for more than 25 years and has an outstanding reputation,' it said in a statement.

'He comes highly recommended from previous supervisors, colleagues, and educators.'

'He holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, a Masters of Education in Educational Administration, and a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration,' it added.

'We welcome Dr. Murnan to Western Heights, and we are very excited about his vision for John Glenn and the community.'

Murnan worked as a drag queen at a venue called 'The Boom,' according to a Facebook page.

Murnan reportedly performed as a drag queen named Shantel Mandalay and read story books to children at local libraries while in costume

Western Heights School District had received threats and was forced to hire extra security and instruct Murnan to mostly work-off site before he was placed on administrative leave

He also reportedly visited libraries and reads books to children dressed in drag. Murnan read children's books during a story hour at the Metropolitan Library System in June.

'By day, she's an Assistant Principal, molding young minds, but by night, she's the life of the party,' according to a Facebook post announcing Murnan's participation in the 2023 Pride Benefit Gala.

'As the host of Thirsty Thursday and Sunday Night Karaoke at the Boom in Oklahoma City, she knows how to bring the energy and keep the crowd entertained.'

According to Murnan's bio, he has an 'impressive array of titles,' including Miss Gay Oklahoma America and Miss Gay Oklahoma USA.

Walters previously argued that the decision to hire Murnan was part of a broader agenda by the left to influence children's beliefs and break down family units.

'Their end goal is to absolutely break down a child's mind, break down the classroom, break down the family, and you see the results that have come from this.'

'They want kids to turn on their parents and only listen to their leftist ideology,' he added.

Walters said the choice was part of the left's 'scheme' to control student values.

'And how do you do it?' he said. 'You start. breaking them apart and say, listen, you're gender-fluid. Listen, you can change your pronouns. Look at the sexual material. When the kid takes it home and their parent is outraged by it, the kids turn on their parents.'

Ryan Walters, superintendent of the State of Oklahoma who had called on Murnan to step down, celebrated the news on social media

Walters claimed the agenda is turning children away from the beliefs of their parents.

'This is absolutely trying to break down that family unit, so the kid is more susceptible to the most radical Marxist gender ideology we've ever seen to pit groups of people against each other. And frankly, it's to create Democrat voters.'

'No parent wants to send their kids to school knowing that they could be exposed to this radical gender theory in any capacity. This woke war on our kids has to stop. We will not allow it in Oklahoma. This is the liberal insanity that every parent wants out of the classroom,' Walters added.

'We will not allow our kids to be part of their radical-left game for pushing ideology and furthering their end goal, which is creating social justice warriors instead of students that understand how education is a path for success for them. We will not allow it. This will stop.'

DailyMail.com has contacted Western Heights School District for comment.
Lord Cameron today doubled down on the idea of recognising a Palestinian state despite a Tory backlash.

The Foreign Secretary suggested the West needed to lay out a route to formal recognition as part of the push for peace in the Middle East.

He argued that could help make a package to end the Israel-Palestinian conflict 'irreversible', with a two-state solution.

However, senior Conservatives have sounded alarm at the prospect, with former cabinet minister Theresa Villiers saying it would 'reward Hamas's atrocities'.

Sir Michael Ellis, a former attorney general, said the move could risk equipping 'dangerous actors' with the 'trimmings and capabilities of a state'.

Lord Cameron (pictured with Benjamin Netanyahu) has doubled down on the idea of recognising a Palestinian state despite a Tory backlash

Wreckage in Gaza last week as the fallout from the Hamas massacre of October 7 continue

Speaking to The Sunday Times, the former prime minister said his comments had been about preparing a Palestinian authority to have a 'technically able government' ready in Gaza and the West Bank from 'day one' of any peace deal.

'We need to start setting out the political horizon,' the senior Tory peer told the newspaper.

'We are trying to separate the Palestinian people from the terrorists that have been running their government in Gaza and the way to do that is to say there is a better future if you choose it.

'You have got to make the peace process better than the return-to-war process.'

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who leads a right-wing government, does not support Palestinian statehood.

He used press conference last month to make clear he opposes US calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state when the conflict comes to an end.

His stance  repeated by Tzipi Hotovely, the Israeli ambassador to the UK  have been criticised by Western allies.

Lord Cameron said Mr Netanyahu's rejection should not prevent allies from working on the details of how a Palestinian state could operate in practical terms, in order to create some 'unstoppable momentum' towards a two-state agreement.

'I think if you look at Israeli politics at the moment, I think there is an enormous pressure for a pause in the fighting because people are so rightly concerned about the hostages,' he continued.

'While Bibi (Netanyahu) will tell you all the things he doesn't want a Palestinian state to be, if you turn the question around and say, well, 'OK, I hear that, but what could a Palestinian state be? Let's work on that bit of the picture'.

A display on a Tel Aviv street showing pictures of Israeli hostages held by Hamas

'That, I think, is the way to make some progress. You have to deal with what is in front of you.'

Lord Cameron, who visited Lebanon on Thursday to see first-hand how the UK is working with the country to train Lebanese border regiments, said he thought there was a 'reasonable chance' of securing a pause in the fighting between Hamas and Tel Aviv  a break that he believes can be turned 'into (a) ceasefire'.

The Hamas massacre of civilians in Israel on October 7, in which about 1,300 people were killed and more than 240 kidnapped, sparked a renewed conflict in the Middle East.

Israel has retaliated with months of attacks on the Gaza Strip, killing and wounding thousands.
Gary's new mayor hopes to transform it into the likes of nearby Chicago

It was once an industrial powerhouse and is named after the US Steel founder

The Indiana border city of Gary has undergone a huge decline since the 1960s

An Indiana border city is undergoing a makeover following six decades of decline which earned it the moniker 'Scary Gary'.

The now crime-ravaged metropolis was named after lawyer Elbert Henry Gary, who founded US Steel and built what is still the conglomerate's biggest plant there in the summer of 1908.

Gary grew into a prosperous industrial powerhouse which provided the raw materials for many of America's bridges, tunnels and skyscrapers over the first half of the 20th century.

It's also known for being the birthplace of Michael Jackson in 1958, and where he grew up with his brothers before they became the Jackson Five.

But the once-booming city crumbled into chaos following the decline of the American steel industry in the 1970s, as foreign steel imports outpaced domestic production.

The Indiana border city of Gary is undergoing a makeover following six decades of decline which earned it the moniker 'Scary Gary'. (Pictured: US Steel's Gary Works, which remains the largest integrated mill in North America)

When the steel industry began its decline in the 1970s thanks to foreign imports outpacing the domestic steel economy, Gary began crumbling into chaos. (Pictured: a street in Gary, IN)

Despite decades of decline, the Rust Belt city of Gary has 'the recipe for success' thanks to its strong infrastructure, according to its new Democrat Mayor Eddie Melton. (Pictured: Michael Jackson's childhood home in Gary)

Its overall population plummeted from 180,000 people in 1960 to less than half that number today - and around 10,000 buildings now lay abandoned.

Although Gary has long been a diverse city, the exodus also dramatically changed its racial dynamics.

Much of the steel workers who left were white, meaning the black and Hispanic share of the population rose from 21 percent in 1930 to around 87 percent in 2020.

The dearth of local industry also led to rising rates of poverty and violent crime - as recently chronicled by YouTube blogger Peter Santanello.

A median 49 crimes per square mile are recorded there each year, according to Neighborhood Scout.

This dwarfs the national median of 27 crimes per square mile - and it's also a whopping 149 percent higher than the Indiana median of 20 crimes per square mile.

Residents told Santanello they're terrified to walk down the streets at night out of fear of being robbed - or even shot - amid a sprawl of decaying buildings and abandoned homes.

But the Rust Belt city harbors 'the recipe for success' thanks to its strong infrastructure, according to its new Democrat Mayor Eddie Melton.

'We have to change the narrative and make it clear to the world that Gary is open to business,' Melton told the New York Times.

Gary sits on the banks of Lake Michigan just across the Illinois border from Chicago, and it has easy access to the arterial railroads it once helped build.

It also straddles a shipping port to the north, and Indiana Dunes National Park to the east, which attracts almost three million tourists each year.

Melton's administration has begun tearing down old buildings to make way for new developments, with plans to construct a casino and a minor league ballpark.

'We have to change the narrative and make it clear to the world that Gary is open to business,' said new Gary Mayor Eddie Melton (pictured)

Gary's overall population plummeted from 180,000 people in 1960 to less than half that number today due to job losses. (Pictured: A U.S. Steel plant in the city in 2007)

A fallen sign sits on the sidwalk as a couple walks down Broadway in Gary, Indiana Thursday April 20, 2006

Officials hope Gary will grow into an urban hub which will provide a cheaper alternative to neighboring Chicago, where rents have rocketed in recent years.

The average home in the city currently stands at just $69,725 according to Zillow, a price which pales in comparison with the Chicago average of $279,118.

It's also much lower than the cost of buying a home in the nearby Indiana city of Fort Wayne, which has an average of $215,237 per Zillow.

Nearby transport systems are also in the process of receiving a boost, including a $127 million grant for Interstates 80 and 94, which traverse Gary.

Meanwhile, the South Shore Line, a commuter rail link which connects Chicago with northwest Indiana cities, is set to open a second set of tracks between Gary and Michigan City.

The Gary/Chicago International Airport was also given a $6 million grant from the federal government allowing it to add more cargo capacity, with the aiming of it becoming a logistics hub for the United Parcel Service.

However, officials who want to see improvements from within the city itself will also have to contend with Gary's status as a political outlier and border city which has also historically held it back.

As a smaller, majority Democratic city within a large conservative county within a Republican stronghold state, Gary officials have often been obstructed by more powerful lawmakers.

Gary has elected a succession of Democrat mayors since 1943, while the Indiana State Senate currently has 39 Republican members and 10 Dems.

Officials hope Gary will grow into an urban hub which will provide a cheaper alternative to neighboring Chicago, where rents have rocketed in recent years

The smokestacks of US Steel - which was the source of Gary, Indiana's meteoric rise at the turn of the century and collapse in the 1970's - are seen on November 2, 2011

The assembly has blocked several initiatives which would have allowed the city to expand its tax base - while also offering scarce funding due to concerns over corruption, according to the NYT.

'Gary was held captive to what the other cities in its county wanted to do,' Paul Helmke, the former Republican mayor of Fort Wayne told the newspaper.

The much-contested acquisition of US Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel could also affect yet more American jobs.

US Steel's largest plant, Gary Works, employs around 3,700 people - down from more than 30,000 at its peak.

Previous plans to transform Gary have also been canned, including a multibillion-dollar scheme to construct a theme park based on the city's reputation as the birthplace of the Jackson Five.

'We certainly missed an opportunity to make it like a Dollywood, a Graceland,' said Chuck Hughes, the president of the Gary Chamber of Commerce told the NYT.
The White House could launch additionally retaliatory attacks after an airstrike killed three U.S. troops in Jordan, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan confirmed on Sunday.

Sullivan wouldn't rule out that those strikes could be carried out in Iran for backing those who carried out the suicide drone attack in Jordan last weekend.

It follows President Joe Biden approving a barrage of retaliatory strikes against 85 targets in Iraq and Syria in a 30-minute raid that killed at least 18 people in Syria.

'We intend to take additional strikes and additional action to continue to send a clear message that the United States will respond when our forces are attacked, or people are killed,' Sullivan told NBC News host Kristen Welker.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Sunday morning that the U.S. intends to 'take additional strikes' after three U.S. troops were killed by Iran-backed militants in a suicide strike in Jordan last weekend

'Have you ruled out strikes inside Iran?' Welker asked Sullivan during an interview on Sunday morning on Meet the Press.

'Well sitting here today on a national news program. I'm not going to get into what we've ruled in and ruled out from the point of view of military action,' Sullivan replied.

The White House bombed targets in Syria and Iraq on Friday to avenge the killings of three U.S. soldiers.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said those killed in the U.S. strikes against four sites there were members of 'Iran-backed groups.; There have not yet been updates on Iraqi death totals.

Seven separate facilities - four in Syria and three in Iraq - were struck by the B1 bombers, which flew directly from the United States, refueling mid air.

Iraq was warned in advance, said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, but Iran - which supports and arms the militias - was not.

Douglas Sims, the director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the strikes were ordered because the weather was in their favor and targets could be clearly identified and struck accurately.

He said the U.S. was looking to avoid 'unnecessary casualties' - but they did expect militants in the seven facilities to have been killed.

Footage shared on social media showed a series of explosions in the city of Al-Qaim: the first explosions from the U.S. bombs, and then the secondary explosions from the munitions detonating.

The mayor of Al-Qaim, Turki Al-Mahalawi, said the strikes hit three houses used as weapon warehouses by the PMU - al Hashed al Shabi, also known as the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU).

The PMU is backed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and is believed by Washington to be responsible for many of the 165 attacks launched since October 7 on U.S. sites and personnel in the region.

Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46 (left), Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24 (center) and Specialist Breonna Moffett, 23 (right) all from Georgia died in the drone strike of a U.S. airbase in Jordan last weekend

Yahya Rasool, spokesperson of Iraq's Armed Forces, said the strikes were a 'violation of Iraqi sovereignty.'

'The city of Al-Qaim and the Iraqi border areas are being subjected to airstrikes by U.S. aircraft, at a time when Iraq is striving hard to ensure the stability of the region,' Rasool said, according to CNN.

'These strikes are considered a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and undermine the efforts of the Iraqi government, posing a threat that could drag Iraq and the region into undesirable consequences, the outcomes will be dire for the security and stability in Iraq and the region.'

The U.S. has not commented on the targets.

Mick Mulroy, a former Pentagon official in the Trump administration, told The New York Times that the U.S. strikes appeared to be focused on Iranian supply lines, which pass through Iraq and Syria.

Mulroy said he believed it is unlikely many Iranian soldiers would have been killed because Iran had time to move its personnel out of harm's way - likely a deliberate move by the U.S. to avoid unnecessary escalation.

The New York Times reported that a site in the Iraqi city of Akashat was also hit, describing the target as a command headquarters of the PMU.

The PMU is just part of a coalition of Iran-backed groups which call themselves the 'Axis of Resistance', and claim they are attacking U.S. targets in response to Washington's support for Israel's action in Gaza.

Analysts say Tehran is taking advantage of the chaos, and warn that the U.S. must tread a fine line between responding to the deaths of the three soldiers and plunging into war with Iran.

Joe Biden on Friday said that the airstrikes were just the beginning.

'This past Sunday, three American soldiers were killed in Jordan by a drone launched by militant groups backed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC ),' he said in a statement on the retaliatory action.

'This afternoon, at my direction, U.S. military forces struck targets at facilities in Iraq and Syria that the IRGC and affiliated militia use to attack U.S. forces. Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing.

'The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world. But let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond.'

Sims said the U.S. was 'really confident' in the precision of its strikes, and said they had been a success.

'Initial indications are we hit exactly what we meant to hit, with a number of secondary explosions associated with the ammunition and logistics locations,' he said.

'We know that there are militants that use these locations,' Sims added. 'We made these strikes tonight with an idea that there would likely be casualties associated with people inside those facilities.'

Senator Jack Reed, the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he endorsed the strikes.

'This was a strong, proportional response,' said Reed, a Democrat representing Rhode Island.

'In fact, the 85 targets struck tonight mark a greater number than the prior administration. Iran's proxy forces in Syria and Iraq have been dealt a significant blow, and Iranian-linked militias around the Middle East should understand that they, too, will be held accountable.'
MBABANE  We will not be accomplices to corruption

This bold stance has been taken by the new Public Accounts Committee (PAC) as they prepare to usher in a new era and join hands with all relevant stakeholders in the fight against corruption. Following His Majesty King Mswati III and Prime Minister Russell Dlaminis directive to double down in the fight against corruption, the new PAC Chairperson Madala Mhlanga, who is also the Deputy Speaker in the House of Assembly, said now is the time to be brave in the fight against corruption as a united front. Mhlanga was responding to questions on what the new PAC intended to do to combat corruption in the country as well as mismanagement of public funds by government ministries and departments. Mhlanga said Eswatini was not in a leadership quagmire but in a courage crisis. The country is in a courage crisis in fighting mismanagement of finances. We are in denial and we are afraid to confront corruption in the country because we are so interrelated, he said.

He said government officials were using public funds to achieve personal interests and enrich themselves which led to the nation losing the bigger picture of sharing the available resources equitably to prosper Eswatini. He noted that governments main mandate was advancing public interest. He said currently, statistics show that there was 42 per cent unemployment in the country while 58 per cent of emaSwati live below the poverty line and of that, 20 per cent live in extreme poverty. We need concerted effort to eliminate these threats and we jointly uplift our fellow emaSwati from poverty, he said. The chairperson said the time had come for organs such as the PAC to fear not and said in their courage; lay the prosperity of the nation. He said in order to have the courage, to fight back against corruption, one needed to have integrity which was doing something right when no one was looking.

He said there was a need for all citizens to rebuke their blood brothers and sisters while insisting that the fight against corruption needed true brothers keepers and noble stewardship.

Mhlanga elaborated that the figures that were discovered during audits related to flouting of government procurement procedures were damning and it was upon all emaSwati to put an end to it.

He recalled that during the 11th Parliament, the PAC recovered over E200 million of mismanaged public funds over a period of five years and these equated to funds recovered from 20 audited schools, where hundreds of millions of Emalangeni were unaccounted for by the school principals, misstated government assets among the various government ministries and departments, unaccounted for tour advances as well as scholarships to Eswatini students that were not repaid. He said through the mismanagement of the public funds, service delivery was delayed to the ordinary man in the streets. Mhlanga said as much as the PAC recommendations reports had all the names, positions and employment numbers of all the officials who were found to be using public resources illegally, but there was no legislation in place that brought the culprits to book.

toothless

As long as Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is toothless, we are as good as there is no law to combat corruption and we will continue to bootlick criminals, he said. He said as Parliament and the PAC, they refused to be accomplices to public funds looting and they were determined to fight to bring back confidence in the countrys governance. The chairperson said as legislators, they were aware that corruption fights back and it fights dirty, however, they were prepared to bear the blunt. Corruption first compromises you, then owns your soul and then it destroys your life. Our hope for our citizens lies with my team of honourables to fight back too, vowed Mhlanga. He said in order to fight the scourge, there was a need for an independent Auditor General Office to adequately execute their duties as the public purse protector, an independent Central Bank, to monitor financial flows and red flag especially illicit financial outflows.

Mhlanga also said there was a need for an independent media to be the whistle-blowers and be blunt. Adding, he said there was also a need for an independent and professional ACC to deter and vigilantly fight corruption, an independent and vibrant Parliament to ensure they held the executive accountable as well as a responsive Executive that would ensure effective service delivery. He said to achieve the intended goal; there was a need for legislators, executive and judiciary to ensure these were in place to create a conducive environment and structures to fight corruption from all angles as government. He said this, however, boiled down to political will from all stakeholders as corruption was the greatest threat to the economy and society.

During the last session of the 11th Parliament, PAC reported that they had recovered a total of E234 million unaccounted for funds. The committee accomplished this milestone through recommendations made from the Auditor Generals Office reports including the government financial report as well as the compliance report tabled annually. Part of the recovered funds was from the Poverty Reduction Fund defaulters, schools principals as well as other government ministries and departments.

reasons

The PAC together with the AGs office noted that the recovered funds were only a tip of the iceberg as more public funds slipped through the cracks due to various reasons. In 2022, PAC reported that about E90 million public funds were lost monthly through corruption which was a significant increase from the E40 million estimated by the former Minister of Finance Majozi Sithole several years ago. Poor and outdated accounting systems and policies have been attributed to the loss of public funds by the various controlling officers. The PAC, Auditor General Timothy Matsebula and the then Accounted General Samuel Mbingo observed that there was a slight improvement with regards to compliance with government procurement procedures over the past few years. This was revealed during one of the PAC public hearings where all controlling officers from their respective ministries, departments, parastatals as well as security forces were present.
Volodymyr Zelensky has visited troops on the frontline of the Russia-Ukraine war today while donning combat gear.

The Ukrainian president met soldiers in the village Robotyne, which Kyiv retook from Russian forces last summer but is again under heavy attack and is one of the main hotspots on the southern front.

Kyiv's success in recapturing the small village in the southern Zaporizhzhia region was hailed as a major success in the counter-offensive against Russian forces.

Video posted on Facebook showed the president in uniform meeting soldiers in a dark room that looked like an underground cellar.

'I have the great honour to be here today, to reward you, because you have such a difficult and decisive mission on your shoulders to repel the enemy and win this war,' Zelensky told fighters.

The Ukrainian president met soldiers in the village Robotyne, which Kyiv retook from Russian forces last summer but is again under heavy attack and is one of the main hotspots on the southern front

A handout photo made available by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service shows Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (centre) posing for a photograph with servicemen during a visit to frontline positions near Robotyne village, Zaporizhzhia region, southeastern Ukraine, February 4

Video posted on Facebook showed the president in uniform meeting soldiers in a dark room that looked like an underground cellar

'I wish you victory, I want to reward you and I wish you to do everything to achieve this victory sooner,' he said.

'I hope your close and loved ones support you, and all the civilians of Ukraine. I want you to know that all people of common sense all over the world know that you have the most difficult job, and that all Ukrainians are proud of you. Glory to Ukraine!'

The Ukrainian president said on social media: 'Zaporizhzhia region. Robotyne. The location of the 65th Mechanised Brigade. I spoke with the defenders, thanked them and presented state awards. It is an honour to be here today.'

The 65th brigade led the assault on the village last year.

While the recapture of Robotyne was hailed as a success of Kyiv's counter-offensive, Ukraine's bid to claw back territory lost to Moscow has since slowed.

This comes as Russia said a Ukrainian strike on a bakery in the occupied eastern city of Lysychansk this weekend killed 28 people, including one child.

Moscow's occupation forces Saturday said Kyiv struck a building that housed a bakery popular with locals on weekends. Ukraine has not yet commented on the strike.

Lysychansk is a city in the occupied Luhansk region that fell to Russian forces after one of the most brutal battles during Moscow's long offensive in summer 2022.

Before the Russian army entered Ukraine, it had a population of around 110,000 people.

'Search operations continue on the site of the collapsed bakery... 28 people, including a child, have died,' the Russian emergency situations ministry posted on Telegram.

Occupational authorities in Lugansk said there were 18 men, nine women and one child among the dead. They did not give the child's age.

Russia released images of an almost completely destroyed building, with rescuers combing the rubble in the dark, where they found a corpse and a wounded woman who was evacuated on a stretcher.

The Ukrainian president said on social media: 'Zaporizhzhia region. Robotyne. The location of the 65th Mechanised Brigade. I spoke with the defenders, thanked them and presented state awards. It is an honour to be here today'

A handout photo made available by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service shows Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) meeting servicemen during a visit to frontline positions near Robotyne village

This comes as Russia said a Ukrainian strike on a bakery in the occupied eastern city of Lysychansk this weekend killed 28 people, including one child (pictured: the building said to be destroyed after a 'missile strike'

The one-storey building had a large sign on it that read 'Restaurant Adriatic'.

Russia alleged Saturday that Ukraine had used Western weapons in the strike and said it expected swift and 'unconditional condemnation' from the international community.

On Saturday, the Ukrainian army's daily report said aviation 'struck 12 areas where enemy personnel were concentrated'.

It also said its forces 'struck one area of enemy concentration'.

Rescuers have so far saved 10 people from the wreckage, according to the Russian emergency ministry.

The Russian-installed health minister of the occupational Luhansk government, Natalia Pashchenko, said they were brought to medical facilities in the main city of Luhansk.

She said four of them are in 'the most critical state' while two others are in a 'severe state'.

The Moscow-installed head of Luhansk, Leonid Pasechnik, declared a day of mourning in the Russian-held region and vowed retaliation against Ukraine.

Kyiv's army said Sunday its forces repelled 27 Russian attacks near Avdiivka - which Russia has tried to capture for months - and the nearby village of Novokalynove.

Russia has tried to seize the industrial city - which has been a symbol of Ukrainian resistance after it briefly fell to Moscow-backed separatists in 2014 - since October.

Russian forces control territory to the north, east and south of Avdiivka.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this week that Moscow's forces 'reached the outskirts of Avdiivka'.
The decision was decried as 'hate speech,' with one patron telling Boulet that if a transgender youth committed suicide, 'that's on you'

Director Rich Boulet said he wanted the library to service everyone, not just his 'slice of the community'

Criticism erupted after the Blue Hill Public Library stocked a copy of the controversial book

A Maine library found itself at the center of controversy after stocking a book against 'the transgender craze,' with one local warning it could lead to suicide.

Rich Boulet, the director of the Blue Hill Public Library, was working the front desk when a patron asked to donate a book.

As they handed it over, he saw the title: 'Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters' by journalist Abigail Shrier.

'If Im being totally honest, my heart sank when I saw it,' Boulet told the New York Times.

The book hypothesizes that gender dysphoria is fueled by social media and peer influence, chalking teens' desire to transition up to confusion.

Maine's Blue Hill Public Library was enveloped in controversy after deciding to stock a book decrying the 'transgender craze'

Rich Boulet, the library's director, said he wanted the library to 'be there for everybody, not just people who share my voting record'

The book in question - 'Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters' by Wall Street Journal writer Abigail Shrier - has faced extensive public criticism

'I want the library to be there for everybody, not just people who share my voting record,' Boulet said. So he chose to place the book on the shelves, a decision supported by library staff.

'I felt like it filled a hole in our collection of a lot of materials on that subject matter,' Boulet explained.

The move was meant to service Blue Hill's politically diverse community of nearly 3,000 residents. President Joe Biden won the town by 35 points in 2020, but its constituents do not overwhelmingly lean left.

In 2014, 39.1 percent of voters were registered as Democrats in comparison to the 26.9 percent registered as Republicans.

Boulet later wrote in an open letter to the local newspaper that the library welcomes everyone, 'not just your or my slice of the community.'

His decision to stock the book proved divisive. Less than a week after it went on display, the parent of a transgender adult approached him and said she found it harmful.

The woman, whom Boulet had known for years, calmly expressed her opinion before filling out a reconsideration request asking that the book be kept 'under the desk' and available only by request.

However, the librarys collections committee voted unanimously against her wishes.

Blue Hill is a small town of nearly 3,000. President Joe Biden won by 35 points there in 2020, but the town does not lean overwhelmingly left

Boulet's decision to put 'Irreversible Damage' on the shelves was supported by other members of library staff

Less than a week after the book went on display, a patron requested that it be kept 'under the desk' and only available upon request. The library's collections committee voted against it

In the following weeks, Boulet was continuously confronted - even at the grocery store and post office, beyond the walls of the library.

One person told Boulet that if a transgender youth read the book and committed suicide, 'thats on you.'

Perhaps the most damning criticism came from a former friend of Boulet, who decried the library's decision to carry the book as 'hate speech.'

The library director took to Facebook to defend his decision in a now-deleted post on the library's public page.

He also wrote to the American Library Association to request a public letter of support, which it offers to libraries facing censorship.

'They ghosted me,' he said.

Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom, said the request had sparked debate within the organization.

'Our position on the book is, it should remain in the collection; it is beneath us to adopt the tools of the censors,' she said. Months later, Caldwell-Stone ran into Boulet at a conference and apologized.

Boulet told the New York Times that he began to encounter critics at the grocery store and post office. One patron told him that if a transgender youth committed suicide after reading the book, 'that's on you'

He wrote to the American Library Association asking for a public letter of support, but the organization did not acknowledge his request

Shrier, an opinion columnist for the Wall Street Journal, came under fire after her work was published in 2020.

'A generation of girls is at risk,' an online listing proclaims, adding that the book 'will help you understand what the trans craze is and how you can inoculate your child against it - or how to retrieve her from this dangerous path.'

While the book earned some positive reviews - and currently has a glowing 4.8-star rating on Amazon - critics took issue with the author's use of anecdotes for evidence.

In November 2020, Target halted its sale of the book following online backlash, but made it available for purchase a day later.

The following year, petitioners demanded the Halifax Public Library system remove their two copies of the book from circulation. The library refused, arguing that removal would constitute censorship.

Shrier took to X, formerly Twitter, in response to the New York Times article, condemning 'suppression' of her thesis by mainstream media.

'The NYT is willing to publish this now because it has decided to acknowledge detransitioners and the harms of pediatric gender medicine,' she wrote.

'IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE was published in 2020. Thanks to its suppression by the MSM, tens of thousands of additional families were harmed.'
A South Dakota tribe has banned Governor Kristi Noem from going near its lands after the remarks she made about the ever-growing crisis at the US-Mexico border.

Republican Noem, 52, was 'banished' from the Pine Ridge Reservation after she said she wanted to send razor wire and security personnel to Texas to help deter migrants crossing into the US.

The tribe's President Frank Star Comes Out said on Friday: 'Due to the safety of the Oyate, effective immediately, you are hereby Banished from the homelands of the Oglala Sioux Tribe!'

He accused Noem of using the border crisis to help get Trump get re-elected.

Speaking about the migrants coming into the US, Star Comes Out said: 'They don't need to be put in cages, separated from their children like during the Trump Administration, or be cut up by razor wire furnished by, of all places, South Dakota.'

Republican Noem, 52, was barred from the Pine Ridge Reservation after she said she wanted to send razor wire and security personnel to Texas to help deter migrants

The tribe's President Frank Star Comes Out said on Friday: 'Due to the safety of the Oyate, effective immediately, you are hereby Banished from the homelands of the Oglala Sioux Tribe!'

Noem said on Wednesday that a 'gang' calling itself the Ghost Dancers is murdering people on the Pine Ridge Reservation. But the leader took deep offense to this.

The Gov. previously said: 'Murders are being committed by cartel members on the Pine Ridge reservation and in Rapid City, and a gang called the 'Ghost Dancers' are affiliated with these cartels.

'They have been successful in recruiting tribal members to join their criminal activity.'

However, the tribal leader said Ghost Dance is one of the Oglala Sioux's 'most sacred ceremonies,' in their community - and he said her reference to this 'was used with blatant disrespect and is insulting to our Oyate.'

Oyate is a word for people or nation.

Star made clear in this scathing message to Noem that the Oglala Sioux tribe is a 'sovereign nation that is neither a Democrat nor Republican tribe.'

In response to the ban, Noem said: 'In my first year serving as Governor, I repeatedly visited Pine Ridge to work on relationships between the State of South Dakota and the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

'It is unfortunate that President Sar Comes Out chose to bring politics into a discussion regarding the effects of our federal government's failure to enforce federal laws at the southern border and on tribal lands.

'I have been working for years to build relationships with our tribes.

Pictured: Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota

Star made clear that the Oglala Sioux tribe is a 'sovereign nation that is neither a Democrat nor Republican tribe'

Pictured: Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The tribe has banned Governor Kristi Noem from going near its lands after the remarks she made about the ever-growing crisis at the US-Mexico border

'In my speech to the legislature earlier this week, I told the truth of the devastation that drugs and human trafficking have on our state and our people.

'The Mexican cartels are not only impacting our tribal reservations; they are impacting every community, from our big cities to our small towns.

'But our tribal reservations are bearing the worst of that in South Dakota. Speaking this fact is not meant to blame the tribes in any way  they are the victim here. They are the victim of cartel-driven criminal activity, and they are the victim of inaction by the federal government.

'I thank President Star Comes out for his service in our nation's military. As I told bipartisan Native American legislators earlier this week, 'I am not the one with a stiff arm, here. You can't build relationships if you don't spend time together.'

'I stand ready to work with any of our state's Native American tribes to build such a relationship.'

Star Comes Out declared a state of emergency on the Pine Ridge Reservation last November due to increasing crime.

Meanwhile, an all-time record 302,000 migrants were intercepted crossing the southern border in December - nineteen of them on the FBI's terror watchlist.

The shocking figure was shared with ABC News and is the highest ever recorded. A source who shared the figure said the number is preliminary and could change.

They'll deal a fresh blow to President Joe Biden's re-election campaign, as he struggles to tackle the crisis, which consistently ranks as one of voters' biggest concerns.

In response to the ban, Noem said: 'In my first year serving as Governor, I repeatedly visited Pine Ridge to work on relationships between the State of South Dakota and the Oglala Sioux Tribe'

The provisional numbers were released as Texas National Guard soldiers continued to fortify the border with barbed wire in defiance of the Biden administration's ban on them doing so - with South Dakota's GOP Governor Kristi Noem also getting involved.

It comes just a few days after the SCOTUS ruled against Republican Governor Greg Abbott and said the Biden Administration could remove the barriers.

Federal government officials claim the wire fences endanger safety and gets in the way of rescue efforts, while the state says it stops the flow of migrants.

Making an appearance at Eagle Pass earlier on Friday last week, South Dakota Governor Kristi called out President Biden for refusing to defend the country 'from an invasion'. She also branded the area a 'war zone'.

Earlier, Customs and Border Protection reported 302,034 migrant encounters in December - the highest month ever recorded.

CBP also reported that 19 people on the FBI terror watchlist were arrested in December, bringing the total to 50 arrests for fiscal year 2024 so far.

Speaking to Fox News, Noem told the outlet: 'I'm incredibly proud of Texas and the actions they are taking.

'They're protecting their state sovereignty. This is Texas land. Shelby Park belongs to the state of Texas.

'It's a part of the United States of America and the President is refusing to defend it from an invasion.

'Today was the deadline that president Biden gave Texas that they would start cutting down the razor wire. There's been none of that happening here today.

'I as the governor of South Dakota see the effects of Joe Biden ignoring federal law and allowing this invasion every day in my home state.

'The funneling of the human trafficking and the drugs comes across this border comes in my state through my travel reservations, devastates my people.

'I'm proud to stand with the governor and his people here working to keep America safe.'

Noem and Abbott have both been touted as future presidential candidates - with Noem a possible vice presidential candidate later this year.

Noem had issued a press release detailing her decision to travel to 'the warzone'.

It said: 'This is about our Constitution. This is about us standing united, I'm going to be at the border tomorrow to tell the Texas National Guard that we're not only with them, that we have continued to be with them for the last several years.'
El Salvadorian voters will likely re-elect their current president Nayib Bukele but not before he finishes up a trite internet spat with Squad member Ilhan Omar.

Bukele, who affectionately calls himself the 'world's coolest dictator,' traded barbs with the progressive legislator last week after she posted on X about 'threats to democracy' in El Salvador.

The Central American leader, 42, has spent his time in power cleaning up crime in his country and ensuring that the famously high murder rate plummeted by locking up tens of thousands of violent gang members.

His tenure as nation head will likely continue thanks in large part to an overhaul of the judiciary he conducted, wherein he replaced judges with personal supporters who ruled he could run for a second term despite a prior constitutional ban on doing so.

Omar and others have criticized Bukele for endangering 'democratic values' in his country through his dramatic criminal lock-up effort and grab at re-election, formerly thought to be unconstitutional.

We are HONORED to receive your attacks, just days before OUR election.



I would be very worried if we had your support.



Thank you  https://t.co/7V5a0AdpCV  Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) January 31, 2024

As such, Omar posted to the social media platform that she 'led Members of Congress in sending a letter to @SecBlinken urging action on threats to democracy in El Salvador.

'The State Dept must review its relationship with El Salvador and defend democratic values. The Salvadoran people deserve free and fair elections without fear of repression.'

Omar's full letter was co-signed by a handful of equally progressive legislators, including Texas Reps. Joaquin Castro and Greg Casar, Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal, California Rep. Barbara Lee, Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, and DC shadow-Rep. Elenor Holmes Norton.

Bukele responded to Omar's post with a message that has been viewed at least 8.5million times:

'We are HONORED to receive your attacks, just days before OUR election.

'I would be very worried if we had your support. Thank you (prayer hands emoji),' he wrote.

A community note that appeared below Omar's post read in part that Bukele won the country's most recent election in 2019 with a 54 percent majority and currently holds a 91 percent approval rate due to his radical crackdown on gang violence.

In a video he posted to social media, Bukele told the voters of his country that 'the opposition will be able to achieve its true and only plan, to free the gang members and use them to return to power,' if he is not elected.

After his party came to power in the national congress two years after his election, Bukele instituted changes that essentially allowed him to declare war against the gangs in his country.

El Salvador, once called the 'murder capital' of the world, became significantly safer as Bukele shoved gang members into the country's enormous prison system by the hundreds.

The country, which has declared itself the 'safest in South America,' says its murder rate plunged 94 percent after gang round ups began.

Squad member Ilhan Omar posted on X that she had led a mostly progressive group of lawmakers in reaching out to the State Department regarding the legitimacy of El Salvador's upcoming election

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele responded facetiously to Ilhan Omar's criticism of his country's democratic process

El Salvador now has the largest prison population per head of population in the world

More than 75,000 alleged gangsters have been incarcerated by the Bukele government

Human rights organizations have warned of overcrowding and 'severe conditions' at the Center for the Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT)

Members of the MS-13 and 18 gangs remain in an overcrowded cell at the Quezaltepeque prison, in Quezaltepeque, El Salvador

In September, Bukele told the UN General Assembly: 'We are no longer the world death capital and we achieved it in record time.'

'Today we are a model of security and no one can doubt it. There are the results. They are irrefutable.'

El Salvador's gang problem dates back to the civil war of the 1980s.

As Latin American Refugees fled to America, the MS-13 and Calle 18 gangs formed on the streets of Los Angeles. When the war ended, those from El Salvador returned to their homes country. With them, they brought their gang affiliations, rivalries and violence.

At present, Calle 18 is thought to have around 65,000 global members, while MS-13 has between 50,000 to 70,000. As their numbers grew, their influence spread.

Thousands of members from both groups have fought and died for the crown of Central America's most powerful gang, profiting off crimes such as sex and drug trafficking, racketeering, money laundering, extortion and kidnapping.

Bukele. in attempting to deal with the problem, has little time for his international critics, slamming those who were not saying anything when these criminals killed scores of Salvadoran men and women, but they leaped at attention when we began to arrest them saying that we are violating their rights.'

The energetic leader's methods have been so successful and made him so popular that other South American countries, including Honduras and the Dominican Republic, with gang problems of their own are hoping to replicate the model.
The Israeli army has taken out of group of armed Hamas terrorists who were reportedly trying to 'shoot at' troops and 'plant explosives' nearby.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the terrorists had been targeting soldiers operating in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, when snipers from the Paratroopers Brigade 'eliminated the threat'.

Video posted to X on Sunday afternoon shows how snipers precisely located terrorists walking through the city streets before shooting them from an Israeli Air Force aircraft.

The army also destroyed a cell allegedly used by Hamas to hide weapons. The building appeared to erupt in flames after being struck by the soldiers, spewing debris through the air.

IDF released the video after Israeli strikes across Gaza killed scores overnight and battles raged Sunday in the besieged territory's south as Hamas was said to be reviewing a proposal for a halt in the nearly four-month-long war.

French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne was in Egypt and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expected in the region in the coming days to push for a ceasefire and hostage release.

Israeli army snipers have taken out of group of armed Hamas terrorists who were reportedly trying to 'shoot at' troops and 'plant explosives' in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza

The army said Sunday that its troops had raided 'a compound used by the commander of Hamas's Khan Yunis brigade' and seized weapons, also confirming air and naval strikes on the city

Video posted to X on Sunday afternoon shows how snipers precisely located terrorists walking through the city streets before shooting them from an Israeli Air Force aircraft

The army also destroyed a cell allegedly used by Hamas to hide weapons. The building appeared to erupt in flames after being struck by the soldiers, spewing debris through the air

The army said Sunday that its troops had raided 'a compound used by the commander of Hamas's Khan Yunis brigade' and seized weapons, also confirming air and naval strikes on the city.

It reported several militants had been killed after attempting to attack Israeli troops.

Strikes and tank fire were reported in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza's main city, with some air raids also allegedly hitting nearby Rafah.

Israel has warned its ground forces could advance on Rafah as part of its campaign to eliminate Hamas terrorists.

The health ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory said at least 127 people were killed in Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours in the Gaza Strip, more than 90 of them overnight.

The Hamas government media office said a kindergarten where families were sheltering was hit in the southern border city of Rafah, which is teeming with Palestinians displaced by the war.

'There is no safe place in the Gaza Strip, from north to south,' displaced Mohammed Kloub told reporters in Rafah, which according to United Nations (UN) figures now hosts more than half of Gaza's population.

A view of destroyed car as Israeli attacks destroy the al-Shuheda Mosque following the Israeli attacks in Deir al-Balah, Gaza on February 4, 2024

Israeli soldiers drive a tank on the border with the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Sunday, February 4, 2024. The army is battling Hamas terrorists across Gaza

Israeli soldiers drive in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Sunday, February 4, 2024

With the war set to enter a fifth month on Wednesday, international mediators were pressing to seal a proposed truce deal thrashed out in a Paris meeting of top US, Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari officials.

Sejourne, at the start of his first Middle East tour as foreign minister, said on social media that he told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi of France's desire 'for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and restarting talks for a... two-state solution'.

A top Hamas official in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, said Saturday the group needed more time to 'announce our position'.

Hamdan added that Hamas wanted 'to put an end as quickly as possible to the aggression that our people suffer'.

A Hamas source has said the proposal involves an initial six-week pause that would see more aid delivered into Gaza and the phased release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The war was sparked by Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Terrorists also seized around 250 hostages, and Israel says 132 remain in Gaza including at least 27 believed to have been killed.

Palestinians try to remove the debris of the destroyed al-Shuheda Mosque following the Israeli attacks in Deir al-Balah, Gaza on February 4, 2024

A picture taken from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip shows smoke rising over buildings in Khan Yunis during Israeli bombardment on February 2, 2024

Palestinians return to their homes on February 2, 2024 after the Israeli army withdrew troops from some areas of Khan Yunis, Gaza

Palestinians return to their homes after the Israeli army withdrew from some areas of Khan Yunis, Gaza on February 2, 2024

Vowing to eliminate Hamas, Israel launched a massive military offensive that has killed at least 27,365 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-ruled territory's health ministry.

Gazans have faced dire humanitarian conditions, and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said on social media platform X that 'there is very limited access to clean water and sanitation amid relentless bombardment.'

Experts and rights groups have claimed that Israeli forces have destroyed buildings near the border in an attempt to create a buffer zone inside the Palestinian territory.

Israel has not publicly confirmed the plan, which Nadia Hardman, an expert on refugees at Human Rights Watch, said 'may amount to a war crime'.

'We are seeing mounting evidence that Israel appears to be rendering large parts of Gaza unlivable,' she said.

Concern for hostages still in Gaza and security failures surrounding the October 7 attack - the deadliest in Israel's 75-year history - have led to criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and rallies against the government.

Michal Hadas, protesting in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, told AFP she feared Israel's leaders were dragging out the conflict for political reasons, 'because as long as the war continues there will be no election'.

Israeli soldiers drive a tank on the border with the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, on Sunday, February 4, 2024

Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Sunday, February 4, 2024

The war has also sent regional tensions soaring, with a surge in attacks by Iran-backed groups in solidarity with Gaza triggering counterattacks by key Israel ally the United States.

The United States and its partner Britain said they struck dozens of targets in Yemen late Saturday in response to repeated attacks on shipping by Iran-backed Huthi rebels.

A Huthi spokesman said the latest wave of air strikes 'will not pass without response and punishment'.

Iran said the attacks 'contradicted' US and UK statements on preventing regional escalation, and Hamas warned the strikes would bring 'further turmoil' to the Middle East.
Namibia's President Hage Geingob has died aged 82 while receiving medical treatment at hospital for cancer.

The Namibian presidency confirmed that he died at a hospital in the capital city of Windhoek with his wife, Monica Geingos, and children by his side.

He had been president since 2015 and was set to finish his second and final term in office this year.

Mr Geingob was undergoing treatment for cancer. The 82-year-old had a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy on January 8, followed by a biopsy, his office said last month.

He participated in a two-day trial of 'novel treatment for cancerous cells' in the US last month, according to his office. In 2014, he said he had survived prostate cancer.

The Namibian presidency said Mr Geingob's medical team at the hospital in the capital city of Windhoek did its best to help him, but he died with his wife, Monica Geingos, and children by his side (pictured: Hage Geingob in 2023)

Newly sworn in Namibian acting president Nangolo Mbumba, left, shakes hands with Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwa, his deputy, after taking the oath of office in the capital, Windhoek, on Sunday, February 4

Vice-president Nangolo Mbumba has now been sworn in as acting president to complete the term for Mr Geingob, as allowed by the constitution.

Elections are set for November. A government statement said Mr Mbumba will lead Namibia until March 21 next year, when the election winner takes office.

Mr Geingob was the country's third president since it gained independence in 1990, following more than a century of German and then apartheid South African rule.

After spending nearly three decades in exile in neighbouring Botswana and the US as an anti-apartheid activist, Mr Geingob returned to Namibia as its first prime minister from 1990 to 2002. He also served in the same capacity from 2008 to 2012.

Soft-spoken but firm on advancing Africa's agenda as an important stakeholder in world affairs, Mr Geingob maintained close relations with the US and other Western countries.

Mr Geingob was the country's third president since it gained independence in 1990, following more than a century of German and then apartheid South African rule

In a statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured with Mr Geingob in 2019) said he would 'forever cherish' his memories of meeting Mr Geingob. 'It is difficult to overestimate his personal contribution to developing friendly relations between Namibia and Russia'

But, like many African leaders, he also forged a warm relationship with China, refuting claims that Beijing is aggressively asserting economic influence over countries in Africa as a form of colonialism.

Namibia, which is on the south-western coast of Africa, enjoys political and economic stability in a region ravaged by disputes, violent elections and coups. However, the country's opposition slammed Mr Geingob last year for endorsing disputed elections in Zimbabwe.

Condolences from various leaders around the world poured in on Sunday.

In a statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would 'forever cherish' his memories of meeting Mr Geingob.

'It is difficult to overestimate his personal contribution to developing friendly relations between Namibia and Russia,' the statement added.

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa posted on X, saying Mr Geingob's 'leadership and resilience will be remembered'.

Cyril Ramaphosa, president of neighbouring South Africa and one of Namibia's largest trading partners, described him as a 'close partner in our democratic dispensation' and 'a towering veteran of Namibia's liberation from colonialism and apartheid'.

Kenya's Prime Minister William Ruto said Mr Geingob was a 'distinguished leader who served the people of Namibia with focus and dedication' and 'strongly promoted the continent's voice and visibility at the global arena'.

Namibia, a country of just over 2.5 million people, is rich in minerals such as diamonds, gold and uranium.

Despite being classified as an upper-middle-income country, socioeconomic inequalities are still widespread, according to the World Bank.
A 'boiler tax' could be scrapped by the Energy Secretary due to manufacturers imposing 'indefensible price hikes' on customers.

An incentive, known as the Clean Heat Market Mechanism (CHMM), was introduced to speed up the phasing out of gas boilers - offering customers up to 7,500 to make the switch to heat pumps.

Boiler manufacturers are required to match at least four per cent of all sales with heat pumps and those who missed heat pump installation targets were set to be fined from April this year.

But manufacturers have already responded by raising their prices by up to 120 and there are concerns about companies passing the costs of future fines onto consumers.

The aim of the scheme is to lower the UK's carbon emissions and increase the energy efficiency of households.

Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho (pictured) held discussions with her officials in recent weeks about scrapping the tax, The Times reported

The government has already announced that it is backing down on some Net Zero policies, such as the plan to ban the installation of new gas boilers (stock photo)

A government target is to add 600,000 pumps a year by the year 2028, which they are said to be still committed to.

Although no final decision has been made, a government source quoted by The Times said ministers were 'looking again at the policy' as they accused boiler manufacturers of imposing 'indefensible price hikes'.

Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho held discussions with her officials in recent weeks about scrapping the tax, The Times reported.

Ms Coutinho accused the firms of 'price gouging' and said there was no evidence they would not be able to hit their heat pump targets.

Sources at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said the minister's priority was to help families make environmentally friendly changes instead of forcing them to.

It comes amid a backlash across mainland Europe against draconian net zero policies with farmers taking to the streets in France, Belgium and Germany.

A department source said they did not want to see the same thing happening in the UK.

The government has already announced that it is backing down on some net zero policies, such as the plan to ban the installation of new gas boilers.

When the so-called 'boiler tax' was announced last year, Worcester Bosch said the price of all its gas boilers would increase by 120.

Getting a boiler fitted typically costs between 1,500 and 5,000, depending on the size and type required.

To encourage homeowners to make the switch, the Government offers Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants of up to 7,500 to get a heat pump.

A spokesman for the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero said: 'We remain committed to our ambition of installing 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028.

The aim of the scheme is to lower the UK's carbon emissions and increase the energy efficiency of households by encouraging more heat pump installations (stock photo of a heat pump)

When the so-called 'boiler tax' was announced last year, Worcester Bosch said the price of all its gas boilers would increase by 120 (stock photo)

'We want to do this in a way that does not burden consumers and we've increased our heat pump grants by 50 per cent to 7,500  making it one of the most generous schemes in Europe.

'This pragmatic approach is working, with a nearly 50 per cent increase in people applying in December 2023 compared to the same month in 2022.'

Mel Butler, founder of boiler fitter Boxt, said: 'Whilst the move to cleaner heating in the UK is something we are absolutely supportive of, the people who are ultimately paying with this policy are homeowners.

'Our worry is that this will create a substantial financial barrier for some homeowners and could result in them opting for a less efficient or reliable boiler with a shorter warranty to help reduce the initial outlay, but is likely to ultimately cost them more in the long run in maintenance, repairs, and potentially having to replace it again sooner.'
The Kentucky mom who lost all her limbs to sepsis after a routine kidney stone surgery is set to return to the University of Kentucky hospital for another procedure next week.

Cindy Mullins, 41, went in for kidney stone removal surgery in December but she suffered septic shock following an infection, resulting in her losing both of her legs and arms.

Her family have shared updates on her condition since the operation took a dark turn and she has been adapting to her new life.

Mullins has been going through rehabilitation and has learnt to drive a mobility scooter with her head, 'booty scoot', stretch her muscles and sit upright by herself as she continues to strive for her independence.

The mother-of-two is now scheduled to underdo further surgery on February 7 to amputate her lower arms and she asked for support and prayers.

Kentucky mom Cindy Mullins, who lost all her limbs to sepsis after a routine kidney stone surgery, is set to return to the University of Kentucky hospital for another procedure next week

The 41-year-old went in for kidney stone removal surgery in December but she suffered septic shock following an infection, resulting in her losing both of her legs and arms

Her family have shared updates on her condition since the operation took a dark turn and she has been adapting to her new life

Mullins woke up from sedation just before Christmas to find doctors had amputated all four limbs in a desperate bid to save her life after a kidney stone infection led to blood poisoning.

The nurse had been recovering at the Cardinal Hill rehabilitation hospital in Lexington, but was able to go home with husband DJ, 43, and sons Teegan, 12 and Easton, seven on 12 January.

She has remained overwhelming positive despite her ordeal, as she exclusively told DailyMail.com: 'I just want people to know this is not a sad story.

'This has a happy ending. I'm alive. I get to be with my children and my husband.'

A fundraising page has been set up for Mullins on GoFundMe and it has so far raised more than $287,000 to help pay for her medical costs.

She issued an update on January 31 to her supporters and revealed she was going to undergo surgery again.

'We finally got the updates that we have been waiting for. Surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday at UK to amputate my lower arms,' she said.

'Ok prayer Warriors, its your time to shine.'

The septic shock that kicked in days after Cindy underwent an innocuous elective procedure in December to flush stones from her right kidney meant her legs had to be removed immediately.

Her arms were so badly damaged as her blood pressure dipped perilously low that her hands and forearms also need to be amputated.

'Surprisingly, I wasn't upset, I didn't question it. I wasn't angry,' Cindy says of the harrowing moment that medics informed her she was going to become a quadruple amputee.

'I know there will be hard times ahead but just knowing I could see my kids again and that I had the support of my family, I think that gave me peace to be okay with it.'

Mullins has been going through rehabilitation and has learnt to drive a mobility scooter with her head, 'booty scoot', stretch her muscles and sit upright by herself

The mother-of-two is now scheduled to underdo further surgery in Britain on February 7 to amputate her lower arms and she asked for support and prayers

'I just want people to know this is not a sad story,' Lucinda told DailyMail.com. 'This has a happy ending. I'm alive. I get to be with my children and my husband'. She's pictured with her husband, sons, mother and sister

DailyMail.com visited Cindy's home in Waynesburg, an hour south of Lexington, to see the remarkable progress she's made after six weeks in hospital and grueling daily rehab sessions.

She has learned to 'booty scoot', stretch her muscles and sit upright by herself. She's also able to use her nose to scroll though the countless supportive texts and messages pouring in from all corners of the US.

Cindy can also now eat by herself with a specially adapted fork which is strapped onto her arm.

However the family is still adjusting to the changes, including having to start each day with a two-hour process whereby DJ dresses and wraps his wife's recovering wounds to keep them clean, watertight and free of further infection.

Cindy said she is determined to get back to her job, where she has worked for 17 years as a certified medical assistant at Bates, Miller & Sims, a local family practice, as soon as possible.

When the kidney stone became septic she was first taken to Fort Logan Hospital in Stanford and from there to a University of Kentucky hospital in Lexington on an ambulance.

But doctors made the decision to amputate both of her legs and informed her she would lose both of her arms below her elbows too, otherwise she would die.

Friends and family have remained incredibly supportive and praised Cindy's spirit as she tackles her grueling rehabilitation.

'Cindy had another great day of therapy, she also had a wonderful visitor that brought her some delicious sweets,' friend Heather Beshears, who set up the GoFundMe wrote.

Mullins shared a moving photo of her youngest son helping feed her

'I know things will never be the same and that's okay. But just to be able to have somewhat of a life that I had back before would be great,' she tells DailyMail.com

The determination is clear as Cindy learns to scroll a cellphone with her elbow and her nose

Husband DJ is determined to get the best possible treatment for his wife of 13 years. The pair began dating in their teens after they met riding jet skis at Pulaski County Park and he waited 10 years to propose

'Let's pray that every day gets a little bit better.'

Cindy said she had been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support which has included more than 40 hospital visitors at the same time.

Her GoFundMe page reads: 'Cindy and her family will have to make a few adjustments to their home to accommodate Cindy's needs as well as her prosthetics and adaptive equipment.

'The costs of all of this can be overwhelming. We started this fundraiser because we want to support our hero Cindy, as well as her husband DJ who has been by her side every step of the way.

'Cindy and DJ have two young children who are missing their mom and dad terribly. Sometimes life is hard and there's no way around it.

'Cindy and DJ's world has come to a complete stop, but the world around them continues to move forward. Let's help ease their burden while they heal and get back to their lives. We hope to be able to allow Cindy to focus on her recovery.
Rishi Sunak has arrived in Northern Ireland tonight after powersharing was finally restored.

The PM travelled to Belfast after Stormont resumed work in the wake of the deal struck with the DUP.

He is expected to meet public service workers this evening before talks with leading politicians tomorrow.

Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill has made history as the first republican First Minister, with unionist Emma Little-Pengelly taking the deputy post.

The pair hailed the historic moment as the institutions were formally restored yesterday, vowing to work together to improve people's lives.

But the Sinn Fein vice president has risked inflaming tensions again in interviews - saying she will push the case for an Irish unification referendum when she meets Mr Sunak.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visits Air Ambulance Northern Ireland at their headquarters in Lisburn

Rishi Sunak has arrived in Northern Ireland tonight after powersharing was finally restored

The PM travelled to Belfast after Stormont resumed work in the wake of the deal struck with the DUP

He is expected to meet public service workers this evening before talks with leading politicians tomorrow

Michelle O'Neill (left) and Emma Little-Pengelly (right) now hold the two most powerful posts in NI

Asked whether she expected a vote on uniting the island of Ireland within 10 years, Ms O'Neill told Sky News: 'Yes. I believe we're in a decade of opportunity.

'And there are so many things that are changing all the old norms, the nature of the state, the fact that a nationalist republican was never supposed to be First Minister. This all speaks to that change.

'And I think that's that that's in terms of, you know, what's happening here on the side. And so the next decade, I think, is the decade of opportunity.'

Ms O'Neill said she would 'absolutely contest' the insistence of UK ministers that a border poll is decades away.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris - who would need to agree that there was strong support for a referendum for one to be triggered - said last week that he did not expect to see a united Ireland in his lifetime. Mr Heaton-Harris is 56.

The appointment of the Sinn Fein vice president was confirmed on the day the powersharing institutions returned after a two-year hiatus.

Mr Heaton-Harris described Saturday as a 'great day for Northern Ireland'. He told the assembled media he is confident that devolved government in Northern Ireland is 'sustainable in the very long term'.

Ms O'Neill and her new DUP deputy hailed the historic moment as the institutions were formally restored yesterday

The two top jobs in the ministerial executive wield equal power and responsibility, but the elevation of a republican to the office of first minister, by virtue of Sinn Fein becoming the region's largest political party in the 2022 Assembly election, was a symbolic moment.

The DUP agreed to the recall of the political institutions after a deal with Westminster on post-Brexit trading rules.

Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said that package had effectively removed what he previously condemned as a border with the rest of the UK.

On Thursday, the Government fast-tracked two pieces of legislation through the House of Commons that implemented the deal, opening the way for the Assembly to return yesterday.
A grandmother mauled to death by two 'unregistered XL Bullies' in front of her screaming grandson was afraid of the hounds and warned their owner they were dangerous.

Esther Martin was visiting her 11-year-old grandson when she was attacked yesterday by the massive animals, reportedly named Beauty and Bear.

It is understood the terrified 68-year-old had issued a warning to her tattooed 'son-in-law' Ashley Warren, 39, but it is claimed the East London wannabe rapper fired back with a foul-mouthed rant: 'No one tells me what to do with my f*****g dogs.'

Esther's daughter Sonia Martin, 47, was at the scene this morning along with siblings Paul Martin, 45, and Kelly Fretwell, 46. She said her mother - from Woodford Green, London - had previously told the dogs' owner that they were dangerous.

Sonia told MailOnline there were eight dogs, six puppies and two adults, and all were XL Bullies.

Six Essex Police officers arrived 'within minutes' and shot dead both dogs inside the home.

They and neighbours battled to save Ms Martin's life, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Esther Martin, 68 (pictured) from Woodford Green, London - had previously told the dogs' owner that they were dangerous

The dogs were owned by breeder Ashley Warren, a wannabe rapper who goes by the name Wyless Man (pictured)

Tattooed East London rapper Warren, who features in drill music videos online, also posted a Facebook ad selling XL Bully puppies for 500 in November

Warren's social media shows XL Bully-type dogs at his home

The large dogs also feature in his rap music videos posted online

Pictured is Warren alongside grabs of his dogs in his music videos

A rap video created in memory of Ms Martin's late daughter - and Warren's partner - shows the grandmother alongside Warren and her other family members

Officers were called to a property at Jaywick Sands, near Clacton-on-Sea at around 4pm yesterday, with neighbours hearing screams coming from the property for 10 minutes. They found a seriously wounded Ms Martin. She later died at the scene.

The Sun reported Ms Martin was mauled to death in the back room of the home by the two adult dogs, named Beauty and Bear.

A man threw a brick and smashed a window as he tried to break into the house to help, according to one couple.

Julie Coleman, 62, and Mike Coleman, 74, said: 'It's horrible. I heard them shoot the dogs. It's so upsetting. I was in tears.'

They added: 'There was apparently blood everywhere. Her head was covered in blood.'

MailOnline can reveal that the dogs were owned by breeder Warren, who goes by the name Wyless Man.

Warren, who features in drill music videos online, posted a Facebook ad selling XL Bully puppies for 500 in November, we can also reveal.

Police said the breeds which attacked Ms Martin are yet to be determined, but the family claimed they were XL Bully dogs.

Images show how at least one appears to be an XL Bully-type, while another looks like a Rottweiler.

A 39-year-old man from Jaywick was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dogs offences and remains in custody.

Retired Tesco worker Ms Marten, whose grandson is Warren's son, had previously warned that the dogs were dangerous, her devastated family told MailOnline.

Her heartbroken daughter, Sonia, told MailOnline today that 'none of them [the dogs] neutered, not registered'.

She said: 'The owner's words were "no one is going to tell me what to do with my own f*****g dogs".

'Mum had raised concerns about the dogs, over their breed and their temperament. Her grandson was in the house. He came running out shouting for help. We would like to thank all the neighbours who tried to help our mum.'

Ms Fretwell said about her mother: 'She was amazing. She was retired and trying to bring her life back on track after the passing of my sister two years ago. She came to visit my nephew and now she is dead.'

The young boy came out 'shouting for help' when the attack happened, the family said. Ms Martin was heard by neighbours repeatedly shouting 'get off, get off', according to The Sun.

His mother, Clare Louise Hayes, passed away two years ago and was Ms Martin's daughter.

Ms Martin's daughter Sonia told MailOnline that the family found out about their mother's death at 10pm last night, when police visited her Chesterfield home.

She said: 'This is a very distressing time for our family. If someone knocked on your door at night to say that your mum had been mauled to death, would you believe them?'

In a press conference this afternoon, Chief Superintendent Glen Pavelin said: 'Our officers arrived within minutes but sadly the 68-year-old woman died at the scene.

'I want to express my condolences to her family and friends and there are specialist officers supporting them.

His mother, Clare Louise Hayes, passed away two years ago and was Ms Martin's daughter

Officers added that there was no wider threat to the community and the scene is now safe for members of the public. Pictured is the scene today

The police said the breeds which attacked Ms Martin are yet to be determined, but the family have claimed they were XL Bully dogs

Police said a 39-year-old man from Jaywick was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dogs offences and remains in custody

Warren is seen in his music video rapping in front of a cannon

Warren is a rapper who uses the name Wyless Man and posts music videos online

The two adult dogs feature in Warren's music videos posted online

A helicopter joined several police cars and an ambulance following reports yesterday

'When Essex Police officers entered the house, their priority was to keep the community safe. Their unflinching bravery and professionalism ensured that there is no ongoing threat to the people of Essex.

'Both dogs were destroyed inside the house. I would also like to thank the local people who tried to get into the house to help Esther Martin. You should be proud.'

He refused to confirm the breed of the dog and didn't name the owner, but confirmed they had a 'familiar relationship' to Ms Martin.

He continued: 'Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by what has happened. I've seen the flowers laid down for Esther, as have my officers.

'I would like to than all those you have paid tribute to her.'

When asked by reporters about the claims there have been previous complaints about the dogs, he said: 'The investigation will look at all avenues of enquiry and background.'

'There could have been two victims - my nephew has not only lost his mum and grandmother but he had to witness all this violence. He could have been killed as well.'

Officers added that there was no wider threat to the community and the scene is now safe for members of the public.

Chief Supt Pavelin said earlier: 'Experienced detectives are leading the investigation to identify exactly what has happened. My thoughts, and those of our officers and staff, are with the family of the woman who died yesterday.

'This incident will be a huge shock to the community and I understand their concerns. We'll have officers in the area throughout today so please come and speak to them if you have any information or are worried.

'Experienced detectives are leading the investigation to identify exactly what has happened. I know there will be speculation about the breed of the dogs involved. We're waiting for confirmation from experts about this before releasing further details and I'd ask people not to speculate. If anyone has any information about what has happened please contact us.'

Those with CCTV or other footage of the incident should contact the police, quoting incident 723 of February 3.

The scene at Jaywick Sands yesterday evening as emergency services attended

Emergency services were pictured at the scene yesterday it was cordoned off

The woman died at the scene, and Essex Police said it was trying to establish the circumstances which led to the incident. Pictured is the scene last night

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Essex Police officers were called to a property at Jaywick Sands, near Clacton-on-Sea, at around 4pm yesterday, where they found a woman who was seriously injured

Hundreds of wooden chalets were built in Jaywick in the 1930s primarily as cheap holiday homes for working-class Londoners.

But in recent decades it has been described as a 'dumping ground' for social services and ten years ago was described as 'the most deprived area in Britain.'

The local council has in recent years poured millions of pounds into the community, building offices, workshops and cafe in an attempt to improve the area.

READ MORE - Are you breaking the law? Rules on XL bullies and how you get an exemption explained Advertisement

But many of the properties are still run-down or vandalised and the crime-rate is the highest in the area. A three-bedroomed bungalow in Jaywick costs as little as 70,000 but a dilapidated chalet on an unmade road can cost as little as 40,000.

The attack comes just a few days after new rules over the illegal XL Bully breed were put into force.

From the start of this month, police can now seize the dogs if they are not registered or don't comply with the restrictions.

Owners can also face a criminal record and unlimited fine.

The ban was brought in after a string of attacks by members of the breed which have killed and seriously injured both humans and other dogs in recent years.

It has infuriated lovers of the breed, who have held protests against the law, demanded it be scrapped and even said they would consider leaving the country over it.

Since December 31 it has also been a legal requirement to make sure XL Bullies are microchipped, neutered, and muzzled and kept on a lead in public.

Scotland has announced it will attempt to put a similar ban in place by July 31, while Northern Ireland is also set to make a decision on the breed shortly.

Seized dogs will be taken to kennels before a court decides if they should either be destroyed or deemed not a danger to public safety.
MBABANE  Over 3 000 property owners could face legal action for failure to settle outstanding rates balances amounting to E53.2 million due to the Municipal Council of Mbabane.

This is reflected in minutes of a Council Ordinary Meeting, which was held last Tuesday. Municipal property rates are the financial liabilities that each immovable property owner pays to the municipality, where his/her immovable property (land and buildings) is located. In terms of Section 32 (1) of the Rating Act 1995, the collector of rates is required to render a return to the local authority settling forth the names of all owners of property in default and the amounts of rates owing by each to the local authority. Thereafter, the document states that, the local authority may cause legal proceedings to be instituted for the recovery of the amounts owing and any penalties accruing thereon. A list of the defaulters which is annexed to the minutes includes state-owned enterprises, family trusts, private companies and individuals. While some of the owed rates range between E1 000 and E100 000, some are over E300 000. The highest amount, according to the list, is about E2 281 868.68.

The list is yet to be made public, following that the council has approved that the legal route be taken to recover the money. It is mentioned in the report that the intention is to institute the legal proceedings by the council for the recovery of outstanding rates has been preceded by rates bills, that were sent to property owners in April 2023. Following the issuance and sending of rates bills were letters of final demand as per Section 27 (3) that were sent to ratepayers, whose property rates were not paid in full by September 30, 2023, this being the expiry of two months from when the rates became due and payable. Certified statements were printed and sent to the ratepayers, whose property rates were not paid in full by the end of December 2023, reads part of the report. It was highlighted that the deadline for paying 2023-2024 rates bill was July 31, 2023, unless a ratepayer entered into an installment arrangement with the council to settle over a period of time. The council is, therefore, mandated to commence the legal process towards the recovery of arrear rates after due process had been followed and as such, the councils authority to begin the process is hereby requested, it was mentioned.

The report reflects that the council has approved the institution of legal proceedings for the recovery of outstanding rates balances and penalties accruing thereon. This is not the first time that churches are found to be among the main defaulters of rates payment. In July last year, this publication reported that some churches owed the Municipal Council of Manzini about E1.7 million in rates. In terms of the law that governs local government, the levying of rates on rateable properties is done once a year within the first three months of a new financial year. They become due and payable at the expiry of thirty (30) days from the date of issue of the rates bill (invoice). The ratepayer may pay part or all of it before the due date. They can also approach the council to enter into an installment arrangement effectively spreading the payment over the remainder of the financial year to March 31. It is not enough to only secure the installment agreement, it must also be honoured by paying the agreed amounts on the agreed dates otherwise it counts for nothing. The issue of unpaid rates has always been a concern for the council and ratepayers.

investigate

During an annual general meeting held at the Mountain Inn in September last year, ratepayers urged the council to investigate how the rate payments were made in the city especially when it came to the government. This came after the city reported that the rates arrears had gone up to E106.4 million from E83 million in the previous year with government owing E68 million, while private ratepayers owed E38 million. During the AGM, Mbabane Rates Payers Associations Patrick Bhembe stated that government had been owing rates for a very long time with no plan on repaying. He said it was a terrible decision to have government owe for a long time without any agreement made on how she was planning to repay those rates, which are currently at E68.2 million. Government doesnt even get the penalty or interest like all of us private ratepayers, he said. He also asked the council to clarify the situation on the outstanding rates arrears by the government. Has the government made a submission or agreement on how they will pay? On the private side, we know that we stand to lose our properties but what about government, asked Bhembe.

owing

Section 31(3) of the Rating Act of 1995, stipulates that: If the owner of any property fails to pay the rate or any part thereof, owing in respect of the property, on or before the expiry of one month from the date on which such rate becomes due, a final demand in writing shall be made by the collector of rates and served on the owner requiring him to pay the amount stated the rein within 14 days of the service thereof. The municipality said failure to pay would result in legal proceedings in terms of Section 32(2), at a cost to be borne by the ratepayer, in order to recover the rates owing. Sections 32(2) reads: The proceedings for the recovery of rates shall comply with the following:

(a) the local authority shall file with the clerk of the court a statement certified by the treasurer, on oath, setting forth the amount of rates payable by the owner;

(b) a copy of such statement shall be posted by the treasurer to the owner on the same day as the statement is filed with the clerk of such court;

(c) the statement referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) shall contain a copy of the provisions of this subsection and sections 29, 30 and 31; and

(d) upon receipt of such statement, the clerk of such court shall enter judgment in the records of such court in favour of the local authority against the owner. The ratepayers have also been reminded of the obligation to forward their information to Council as required by Section 37 (4  5) of the Act, which states that the owner of any immovable property shown in the valuation roll shall notify the local authority of his postal address within two weeks of acquiring such property and, hereafter, within two weeks of any change of his postal address. An owner who fails to comply with this shall be found guilty of an offence.
Donald Trump railed against President Joe Biden in his latest interview by claiming his successor's foreign policy is helping lead the country into World War III and that a lot more can go downhill in the last nine months of his term.

The former president also warned that Iran will obtain a nuclear weapon in the next 60 days as Republicans claim Biden that Biden's softness in the Middle East and on terrorist organizations helped lead to the attack in Jordan last week that killed three U.S. troops.

'Our country's a mess, our borders are open and insecure,' Trump told Maria Bartiromo during an interview on Fox's Sunday Morning Futures.

'You know, nine months is a long time,' he added. 'You have a very good chance in that period of time of having World War Three, because we have somebody that is not doing his job properly.'

Donald Trump said Sunday that President Joe Biden is to blame for the world conflicts and said he is leading the U.S. into World War III

'You know, nine months is a long time,' Trump said of Biden's remaining time in his first term in office, adding: 'He's not respected. He's laughed at all over the world. He's not doing a good job'

Trump added: 'He's not respected. He's laughed at all over the world. He's not doing a good job.'

The former president claimed that when he was in office 'Iran had no money to give to Hamas or Hezbollah.'

Now, with President Joe Biden at the helm, Trump lamented on Sunday that Iran-backed militants were emboldened to carry out the suicide strike in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members last weekend.

'He's allowed them to do this,' Trump said of Biden's policies.

President Biden's White House approved a series of counter strikes against 85 Iran-backed targets on Friday in Syria and Iraq, with 18 confirmed dead as of Sunday.

Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24 and Specialist Breonna Moffett, 23 died in the drone strike of a U.S. airbase.

The 30-minute bombardment was retaliation for the Iran-backed attacks leading to their deaths.

Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that more action will be taken, but wouldn't confirm if it would be inside Iran, this time.

'We intend to take additional strikes and additional action to continue to send a clear message that the United States will respond when our forces are attacked, or people are killed,' Sullivan told NBC News host Kristen Welker on Meet the Press Sunday morning.

Biden released a statement on Friday on the strikes: 'This afternoon, at my direction, U.S. military forces struck targets at facilities in Iraq and Syria that the IRGC and affiliated militia use to attack U.S. forces. Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing.'

'The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world. But let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond,' he added.
Donald Trump said that South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) are on the short list to be his running mate in the 2024 general election.

He also dispelled rumors that he is considering Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a vice presidential nominee and said his team never reached out to the independent candidates.

Speaking with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, Trump said he won't announce who he plans to run with in the 2024 ticket for 'a while.'

Former President Donald Trump said he is considering Sen. Tim Scott and Gov. Kristi Noem as running mates in 2024  but said he won't announced for 'a while'

He did, however, revealed some of the criteria he is considering when looking at a new No. 2  including knowing that the person he chooses would make a good president, if needed.

'We have some many good people in the Republican Party,' Trump said in a rare word of praise for other GOP politicians.

'I called Tim Scott and I told him 'you're a much better candidate for me than you are for yourself,' Trump to Bartiromo during an interview aired on Sunday Morning Futures.

He spent a good bit of time propping up Scott, claiming that the South Carolina contender was 'lowkey' during his presidential bid, but became a fierce defender of the former president over the last few weeks.

'Kristi Noem has been incredible fighting for me,' he added of the South Dakota governor. 'She said 'I'd never run against him because I can't beat him.' That was a very nice thing to say.'

Noem confirmed in her own interview With Bartiromo on Sunday that she speaks with Trump frequently, but they have never directly discussed the potential of appearing on the ticket together in 2024.

Trump said Sen. Tim Scott is a better candidates for him than he was for himself. The South Carolina senator dropped out of the 2024 race last in November and endorsed Trump. Pictured: Trump and Scott appear together at a rally the night before the New Hampshire primary election on January 22

He also said on Sunday: 'Kristi Noem has been incredible fighting for me.' Pictured: Trump and Noem appear together on September 7, 2018 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

'Has he contacted you about potentially being his running mate?' Bartiromo asked Noem.

'No, we talk all the time, but we have never had that conversation,' she replied. 'I just talk about ways that we could really help our country during this critical time in history.'

Surveys consistently do show Scott and Noem listed as popular potential running mates for Trump.

But others who make the list are Trump's former Press Secretary and current Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Republican House Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik and former 2024 contender and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
Elon Musk was told to go to rehab by concerned friends amid their fears that his drug use was spiraling after he was seen drinking 'molly water' at parties in Hollywood, a new report suggests.

The Tesla magnate, 52, was asked to go to billionaire Larry Ellison's Hawaiian island to 'dry out' from the drugs around the winter of 2022, when other friends had also expressed their worry.

According to the Wall Street Journal, some friends asked Musk to go to rehab in the months after his $44 billion Twitter acquisition in October 2022.

There were growing concerns that the billionaire's extracurricular activities may negatively affect the six companies he oversees, as well as the $800 billion in assets held by investors.

The Tesla magnate, 52, was asked to go to Larry Ellison's Hawaiian island to 'dry out' from the drugs around the winter of 2022, when other friends had expressed their worry

The help from Ellison - who is the world's fourth richest man and owns the island of Lanai - and his offer came around the same time Musk allegedly attended a party in the Hollywood Hills where he consumed a liquid form of ecstasy from a water bottle.

His security cleared the room before Musk took the drug, the WSJ reports.

Not only were his associates and friends concerned over his consumption of drugs, but they also felt like they had an expectation to also take illegal substances 'because they think refraining could upset the billionaire.'

This follows a report last month from the WSJ that Musk was allegedly taking illegal drugs including ecstasy and cocaine, a lifestyle choice that was concerning his executives and board members at this companies.

In recent years, some executives and board members at his companies and others close to the billionaire have become increasingly concerned that his drug use is fueling his erratic behavior.

Their concern for the tech tycoon's health extends towards the potential consequences for his six businesses, including Tesla and SpaceX, sources told the Journal.

Not only were his associates and friends concerned over his consumption of drugs, but they also felt like they had an expectation to also take illegal substances 'because they think refraining could upset the billionaire'

Musk smoking marijuana on the Joe Rogan podcast

Musk is bound up with and essential to the value of his companies, potentially putting at risk around $1 trillion in assets held by investors, tens of thousands of jobs and big parts of the US space program.

Alex Spiro, an attorney for Musk, said that the CEO told the Journal Musk 'regularly and randomly drug tested at SpaceX and has never failed a test.'

Musk smoked marijuana on the Joe Rogan show and has publicly discussed his prescription for the psychedelic-like ketamine.

However, witnesses told the Journal that the X owner has also used LSD, cocaine, ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms, often at private exclusive parties around the world where guests have to sign NDAs and hand in their phones to avoid photos being taken.

In 2018, for example, he took multiple tabs of acid at a party he hosted in Los Angeles, the Journal reported.

The next year he allegedly consumed magic mushrooms at an event in Mexico and in 2021 took ketamine recreationally with his brother at a house party in Miami.

The billionaire has even taken drugs with current SpaceX and former Tesla board member Steve Jurvetson, according to the Journal.

The help from Ellison - who is the world's fourth richest man and owns the island of Lanai - and his offer to Musk came around the same time he allegedly attended a party in the Hollywood Hills where he consumed a liquid form of ecstasy from a water bottle

Those close to the 52-year-old are now reportedly concerned that the extent of his drug taking could cause of health crisis or a crisis for his businesses.

SpaceX is the only U.S. company now approved to transport NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

However, illegal drug use would likely be a violation of federal policies that could jeopardize SpaceX's billions of dollars in government contracts.

Musk's drug use and the volatile behavior it can exacerbate has already led to resignations at the top of Musk's businesses, the Journal reports.

Linda Johnson Rice, a former Tesla director, allegedly became increasingly concerned with Musk's drug taking and so frustrated with his behavior that she didn't stand for re-election to the company's board in 2019, people familiar with the matter told the publication.

Serious concerns over Musk's drug taking were raised in 2017 when at a SpaceX meeting about the Big Falcon Rocket prototype Musk was slurring his words and rambled somewhat incomprehensibly for fifteen minutes, according the the Journal's sources.

SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell reportedly stepped in and took over the meeting.

After the meeting SpaceX executives reportedly talked privately about their concerns that Musk was on drugs.

One described told the Journal the event was 'nonsensical,' 'unhinged' and 'cringeworthy.'

In 2018 Musk was in hot water with NASA after publically smoking marijuana with Joe Rogan.

This raised concerns among executives and board members as its showed the potential business impact Musk's behavior could have.

Board members were again concerned that Musk may have been under the influence of drugs when he tweeted his intentions to take Tesla private in 2018.

The tweet brought on an SEC investigation and resulted in Musks agreement to step down as Tesla chairman for a time.
A driver was saved from a fiery wreck by a brave Sheriff's Deputy in Georgia last week who reacted fast when he saw what seemed to be a flaming vehicle in the distance.

According to the local Fox 5 Atlanta station, Sergeant Steve Mills arrived at the site of the crash and discovered an SUV in flames.

The Coweta County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the incident occurred after 3am on Thursday in Sharpsburg - a tiny town in western Georgia of just over 300 people.

Astonishing bodycam footage shows Mills shattering the car's windows only to discover a man trapped in the driver's seat of the car.

At least two officers were involved in the save, one of whom cut off the man's seatbelt and removed the man from the back window of the vehicle.

Two members of a western Georgia sheriff's office saved a man from his burning vehicle last Thursday after 3am

The two officers on the scene were able to pull the driver out of the back window of the car

'He's a very hard worker and I'm super proud of him,' Sheriff Lenn Wood said of his deputy Steve Mills

Vehicles on fire 'burn hot and fast' said the sheriff who was commending his men for the save

The totaled car had veered off the road and into a tree

The victim's vehicle had veered off the road and smashed into a tree before catching on fire.

Mills and his partner at the scene managed to extract the driver from the car as the fire continued to grow.

County Sheriff Lenn Wood told the local outlet that his deputy had been humble about the incident.

Mills didn't report the rescue directly to his department, his actions were discovered only when firefighters told the top brass about what had happened.

'He's a very hard worker and I'm super proud of him,' said Wood.

He added that the department recently purchased tools to break car windows and said, 'this incident highlights the critical need for the right tools and training.'

'Thanks to our recent investments, Sergeant Mills was able to save a life.'

According to the Newnan Times-Herald, Coweta County Fire Chief Robby Flanagan congratulated the deputies on their critical fast thinking that resulted in life-saving actions.

'There's great teamwork in public safety and they most certainly saved his life,' he said. 'We're grateful for our law enforcement.'
A charity boss has resigned in disgrace after being caught sending naked photos to what we thought was a 13-year-old girl.

Scott Howie, director of Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland, sent images of his face, naked torso and two sexual pictures to 'Emily' on WhatsApp on April 11, 2023.

However, the social media profile was actually set up by a member of a Welsh online child protection group, who passed on his details to a Scottish vigilante team and called the police.

The 53-year-old, who has spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, resigned from his role at SBH a day after being confronted by the group.

Mr Howie, a married man from Cumbernauld, appeared at Airdrie Sheriff court and admitted communicating indecently with a person he believed to be a child.

Scott Howie (pictured), director of Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland, admitted communicating indecently with a person he believed to be a child on April 11, 2023

Mr Howie, who has spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, resigned a day later as a chief at SBH (picture taken from his Facebook)

The court heard how Mr Howie's shocked wife asked him why he'd become involved with the 'girl', to which he replied: 'I don't know why. Boredom.'

Prosecutor Lauren Cole told the court: 'The decoy identified herself as being a 13-year-old girl. Howie acknowledged her age and said, 'You're very young. I should not be talking to such a young girl. I got excited that you wanted to chat.'

'He asked her to switch the conversation to WhatsApp and provided his phone number. The conversation continued in a sexual manner until 11.15pm that evening. He admitted a male in an online profile photo was him.

'He stated that he knew the person he communicated with was 13 and he should have stopped. The police were then contacted.'

Defence solicitor Ian Smart said Mr Howie had co-operated with the investigation and pleaded guilty at an early stage.

He added: There are catastrophic consequences for him.
Russian media has published photos which appear to show Tucker Carlson in Moscow amid claims he is set to interview Vladimir Putin.

The former Fox News host, 54, reportedly arrived in the capital on February 1 and was spotted at a Spartacus performance in Bolshoi Theatre.

Images shared of Carlson in Moscow have sparked rumors of an upcoming interview with Putin.

Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has defended the prospect of Carlson interviewing Putin and hit out at those criticizing him.

'We have a free press in this country and its people like Tucker Carlson who we depend on to speak the truth,' she wrote on X on Saturday.

Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has defended the prospect of Tucker Carlson interviewing Vladimir Putin as speculation mounts that he is in Moscow

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson (center), 54, was spotted in the Russian capital at a Spartacus performance in Bolshoi Theatre, according to media in Russia

Images of Carlson shared by Russian media led to many believing he could be the first Western journalist to interview Putin since the countrys invasion of Ukraine

Images of Carlson shared by Russian media led to many believing he could be the first Western journalist to interview Putin since the countrys invasion of Ukraine.

'Democrats and their propagandists in the media are spasming at the prospect of Tucker Carlson interviewing Putin,' politician Greene said.

'They feel entitled to the position of gatekeeper and believe they are the ones who tell you what to think and believe.

'They HATE when someone like Tucker goes off script.'

Carlson reportedly arrived in Moscow on February 1 after flying in from Istanbul and it is his first time in the country.

The former news anchor, who has defended Putin in the past, claimed he previously tried to interview the Russian president last year but that he was stopped by the US government.

He has opposed America's support for Ukraine and suggested that the West is to blame for the invasion.

His show Tucker Carlson Tonight was once the most viewed cable news show in the US before it was taken off-air in April 2023.

The former news anchor, who has defended Putin in the past, claimed he previously tried to interview the Russian president last year but that he was stopped by the US government

A picture of Carlson appears to show him at a Spartacus performance at the Bolshoi Theatre

Carlson has now started his own show X where he has interviewed Hungarian prime minister Victor Orban and controversial figure Andrew Tate.

The first rumors about a potential interview with Putin first surfaced in the summer as Russian state television ran adverts of Carlson saying 'Russia, the high-profile American presenter is moving to another level. Here.'

Russia 1 channel anchor Vladimir Solovyov pleaded with Carlson to 'come join us' after his abrupt departure from Fox News.

While Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov said in September that the 'time will come' for a Western media interview with the Russian president.

He added: 'Whether Carlson will be among those who will be considered for an interview, well, lets wait and see.'

Bill Kristol, former chief of staff to the vice president of the United States in the Reagan administration, suggested that Carlson be temporarily banned from reentering the US.

'Perhaps we need a total and complete shutdown of Tucker Carlson re-entering the United States until our countrys representatives can figure out what is going on,' he said.

DailyMail.com has contacted Tucker Carlson for comment.
San Diego cops have shut down a massage parlor they say was used as a front for an illegal prostitution ring.

Mesa City Attorney Mara Elliott announced the closure Tuesday, marking the end of a months-long investigation.

The probe revolved around Ocean Spa in Kearny, which operated out of two units at an office building on Kearny Villa Road.

Over the years, residents have repeatedly complained about the enterprise - with San Diego Police receiving reports of people having sex in cars on the premises, sex noises loud enough to disrupt neighbors, and ads promoting prostitution online.

Among those forced to sit through the sordid scenes were youngsters in a Bible study that for years was set next-door, before it moved out in 2022 due to the alleged activity, cops said. At least four arrests have been made.

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San Diego cops shut down a massage parlor they say was used as a front for an illegal prostitution ring this week, after making at least four arrests

The probe revolved around Ocean Spa in Kearny, which staffers seemingly left in haste following a court order to officially cease business

'The owners of Ocean Spa have been masquerading as a legitimate business for far too long,' said City Attorney Mara Elliott in a statement, after compiling enough evidence to sway a judge to dish out a vacate order.

'Ocean Spa is a sex shop - not a massage parlor,' she continued, as news crews recorded an assortment of trash, lotion, and more left at the scene.

'It has no place in our community or anywhere else.'

In his own statement, David Nisleit - Chief of the SDPD - assured onlookers that the department and city attorney's office 'will not stand idly by while nuisance and criminal establishments violate the law and take advantage of our communities.'

Court documents filed by the city tell the rest of the story - and how the business repeatedly raised red flags as staffers, and customers, allegedly engaged in their misdeeds.

The complaints, the city's civil action says, began in 2018, when locals cited 'traffic at all hours of the day, sexual sounds coming from the premises which are audible to nearby businesses, and female employees wearing sexually explicit clothing.'

A sprawling sting ensued, during which undercover detectives within Nisleit's force spent some 125 hours last year alone compiling potentially damning evidence about the parlor's inner-workings.

This, prosecutors explained, proved enough to make four arrests - all involving spa workers who offered the undercovers sex for purchase.

'Ocean Spa is a sex shop - not a massage parlor,' city officials said Tuesday, as news crews recorded an assortment of trash, lotion, and more left at the scene

'The owners of Ocean Spa have been masquerading as a legitimate business for far too long,' said City Attorney Mara Elliott in a statement, after compiling enough evidence to sway a judge to dish out the vacate order

In his own statement, David Nisleit - Chief of the SDPD - assured onlookers that the department and city attorney's office 'will not stand idly by while nuisance and criminal establishments violate the law and take advantage of our communities'

They both explained how over they years, residents have repeatedly complained about the enterprise - with San Diego Police receiving reports of people having sex in cars on the premises, sex noises loud enough to disrupt neighbors, and ads promoting prostitution online

Among those forced to sit through the sordid scenes were youngsters in a Bible study that for years was set next-door, before it moved out in 2022 due to the alleged activity , cops said. At least four arrests have been made

Court documents filed by the city tell the rest of the story - and how the business repeatedly raised red flags as staffers, and customers, allegedly engaged in their misdeeds

News crews recorded an assortment of trash, lotion, and more left at the scene after the court order to vacate Tuesday

The complaints, the city's civil action says, began in 2018, when locals cited 'traffic at all hours of the day, sexual sounds coming from the premises which are audible to nearby businesses, and female employees wearing sexually explicit clothing'

A sprawling sting ensued, during which undercover detectives within Nisleit's force spent some 125 hours last year alone compiling potentially damning evidence about the parlor's inner-workings. A sheet of unspecified pills is seen on the establishment floor Tuesday

A sprawling sting ensued, during which undercover detectives within Nisleit's force spent some 125 hours last year alone compiling potentially damning evidence about the parlor's inner-workings

This, prosecutors explained, proved enough to make four arrests - all involving spa workers who offered the undercovers sex for purchase. Pictured is an unnamed person who left the scene Tuesday when news crews from CBS-8 showed up

Those spa workers have yet to be named, but two of the arrests came as recently as December, officials said

Those spa workers have yet to be named, but two of the arrests came as recently as December, officials said.

In their civil law enforcement action, staffers from Elliott's office revealed how investigators were 'not convinced' the women voluntarily prostituted themselves - instead alluding that someone had trafficked and forced them beforehand.

The same filing laid bare how more than 1,270 ads soliciting sex had been distributed online by the spa over the past five years - during which the Bible Study, a music school for kids, and a dentist operated on the same floor as the massage hall.

'Neighboring businesses complained the site was the source of foot traffic at odd hours, people having intercourse in parked cars and sexual noises loud enough to disrupt a nearby church service,' officials wrote.

'After receiving numerous community complaints regarding illicit sexual activities at Ocean Spa, including criminal, nuisance and lewd activities, SDPDs Vice Unit began an extensive and thorough investigation into these complaints.'

The complaints, they said, ranged from 'sexual noises' that disturbed the church service, to locals spotting people having sex in cars.

The complaints, they said, ranged from 'sexual noises' that disturbed the church service, to locals spotting people having sex in cars. They were offered to cops over the course of nearly six years

In their civil law enforcement action, staffers from Elliott's office revealed how investigators were 'not convinced' the women voluntarily prostituted themselves - instead alluding that someone had trafficked and forced them beforehand

The same filing laid bare how more than 1,270 ads soliciting sex had been distributed online by the spa over the past five years - during which the Bible Study, a music school for kids, and a dentist operated on the same floor as the massage hall

'Neighboring businesses complained the site was the source of foot traffic at odd hours, people having intercourse in parked cars and sexual noises loud enough to disrupt a nearby church service,' officials wrote.

'After receiving numerous community complaints regarding illicit sexual activities at Ocean Spa, including criminal, nuisance and lewd activities, SDPDs Vice Unit began an extensive and thorough investigation into these complaints.'

'We look forward to holding these perpetrators accountable and to restoring peace in this complex,' she said, asking the city impose a $100,000 against Ocean Spa in civil penalties.

Her office says they are also seeking reimbursement of attorney fees and other costs incurred from 'enforcement-related activities.' No additional details about the bid to permanently shutter the business, as of Sunday, were immediately available

On Tuesday, when camera crews captured an unnamed Asian man painting the inside of the hastily evacuated business before abruptly leaving, Elliott vowed she and other local officials would hold the business 'accountable.'

'We look forward to holding these perpetrators accountable and to restoring peace in this complex,' she said, asking the city impose a $100,000 against Ocean Spa in civil penalties.

Her office says they are also seeking reimbursement of attorney fees and other costs incurred from 'enforcement-related activities.'

No additional details about the bid to permanently shutter the business, as of Sunday, were immediately available. DailyMail.com has reached out to Elliott's office for comment.
Alex Salmond has been criticised for launching a new show on a Turkish TV channel branded a 'propaganda' outlet for the country's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The fervent Scottish nationalist and former first minister appeared for the first time on broadcaster TRT World this week, in a show called Turkish Tea Talk.

Mr Salmond has been accused of cosying up to a regime blamed for human rights abuses - with the Scottish Liberal Democrats calling him an 'embarrassment'.

The move is controversial because Mr Erdogan, who has been labelled an 'authoritarian despot', has branded the West's approach to events in Gaza as 'barbarism' and accused Israel of behaving like a 'war criminal'.

He has also been accused of violent crackdowns on his nation's Kurdish minority.

The fervent Scottish nationalist and former first minister appeared for the first time on broadcaster TRT World this week, in a show called Turkish Tea Talk

He previously starred in The Alex Salmond Show which was broadcast by Vladimir Putin's puppet channel Russia Today between 2017 and 2022

Salmond's show is controversial because President Erdogan, who has been labelled an 'authoritarian despot', has branded the West's approach to events in Gaza as 'barbarism' and accused Israel of behaving like a 'war criminal'

The broadcaster TRT World is seen by the strongman's critics as his own 'propaganda arm' which supports his regime's suppression of free speech.

It is not the first time the Alba Party leader has used a TV channel linked with a controversial foreign leader to promote Scottish independence.

From 2017 he starred in The Alex Salmond Show which was broadcast by Vladimir Putin's puppet channel Russia Today - despite the country invading the Ukranian peninsula of Crimea three years earlier.

But he was eventually forced to give up the presenting job following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Kurdish-born Glasgow SNP councillor Roza Salih called the channel a 'propaganda' outlet, writing on Twitter/X: 'Salmond have you learned nothing? First Putin now Erdogan!'

The councillor also called on Mr Salmond's first guest Succession star and Scottish independence supporter Brian Cox to decline the invitation.

Mr Salmond's first guest was Succession star and Scottish independence supporter Brian Cox. The first episode featured the two men speaking for 26 minutes in a skyscraper overlooking the city of London where they discussed Cox's life and career

Salmond was eventually forced to give up the presenting job on Putin's broadcasting arm Russia Today following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022

Alex Salmond's move to the Turkish broadcaster as seen him criticised for 'only caring about his bank balance, where a lira is as good as a ruble'

The first episode featured the two men speaking for 26 minutes in a skyscraper overlooking the city of London where they discussed Cox's life and career.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: 'The only lesson Alex Salmond seems to have learned from his stint on Putin's propaganda channel is that autocrats pay well.

'He's an embarrassment to the high office that he used to hold.

'I'd urge him to speak out next time President Erdogan has political opponents jailed or journalists beaten but everyone knows it's futile because he only cares about his bank balance, where a lira is as good as a ruble.'

But a press release released described the new series as 'fun' adding it would 'let the guests do the talking over a glass of Turkish Tea and give us all an insight into what makes them tick'.

Mr Salmond said he was 'relishing' the opportunity to host the programme, adding 'This series is a chance to broaden away from narrow politics and chat to fascinating people'.

The series is produced in conjunction with Slainte Media, Mr Salmond's production company.

The row over the decision to broadcast on the Turkish TV channel comes after current Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf was embroiled in his own scandal with Turkish President Erdogan.

He was criticised heavily when it was revealed he invited the strongman to Scotland after the pair met at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai last year.

Mr Yousaf and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan meeting during the Cop28 summit

First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf with his wife Mrs El-Nakla

Attempting to defend his invitation, Mr Yousaf claimed both Scotland and Turkey are on a human rights journey.

Mr Yousafs Cop28 meeting with Mr Erdogan, on December 1, has already caused controversy because he did not ensure that officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) were present.

The latest development comes after the First Ministers wife, Nadia El-Nakla, revealed that her sister-in-law and their four children had escaped from Gaza after the Turkish government intervened.

Details of the conversation between Mr Yousaf and Mr Erdogan were revealed in a readout of the meeting provided to the Herald newspaper following a freedom of information request.

It said: FM mentioned he was last in Turkey during Ramadan in 2022 and invited RTE to visit Scotland during a future visit to the UK. FM noted that their wives had met during the recent First Ladies and spouses of Leaders Summit on Gaza in Turkey.

Ms El-Nakla's parents Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla (pictured) became trapped in Gaza when Hamas launched its bloody cross-border attack

Mr Yousaf has been supporting a ceasefire in the Israel and Hamas war, unlike Prime Minister Rishi Sunak or leader of the opposition Keir Starmer. Picture shows a raging battle in Gaza

Mr Erdogans side of the conversation has been redacted, with the Scottish Government claiming that revealing it could prejudice substantially relations between the UK and any other State.

After the meeting, Mr Yousaf said they discussed the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire  in contrast to the UK position on the issue.

Humanist Society Scotland chief executive Fraser Sutherland said at the time: Erdogan is an authoritarian despot. He should not be welcomed to Bute House.

The failure to ensure that FCDO officials were present angered Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron, who threatened to remove Scottish Government overseas staff from UK embassies if there were further breaches of the rules.

The invitation to Mr Erdogan appears to have also angered the SNPs coalition partners, with Green MSP Ross Greer slamming the move.
Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man, woman and child missing from Sydneys west.

Luke Fry, aged 28, and Veronica Ratcliffe, aged 23, were last seen with their six-month-old daughter at a fast-food restaurant on Hawkesbury Road in Westmead at about 5pm on February 1.

When they could not be located or contacted, officers from Parramatta City Police Area Command were notified and commenced inquiries into their whereabouts.

Police hold concerns for Luke and Veronica and the for the welfare of their child.

Luke is described as being of Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander appearance, about 170-175cm tall, of medium build with short black hair and a full beard.

Luke Fry, 28, (right) and Veronica Ratcliffe, 23, (left) were last seen with their six-month-old daughter at a fast-food restaurant on Hawkesbury Road in Westmead at about 5pm on February 1

Veronica is described as being of Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander appearance, about 170cm tall, of thin build, with blue eyes and blonde hair; however, she was wearing a black wig in a bun when she was last seen.

She was last seen wearing a black t-shirt & long pants

The couple are known to frequent the Parramatta, Harris Park, Westmead, Balmain and Central Coast areas.

Anyone with information into their whereabouts is urged to contact Parramatta Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Unelected judges hold too much power in Britain today, a former Cabinet minister will warn this week.

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg will state that the sovereignty of Parliament has been 'eroded' by an 'activist judiciary', at the launch of a new Tory pressure group tomorrow.

He will highlight the growing influence of the European Court of Human Rights, blamed by many on the right for Britain's inability to deport failed asylum seekers.

Sir Jacob will also take aim at former Supreme Court president Baroness Hale, describing her vote against the latest Rwanda Bill in the Lords as an 'unusual event'. He will claim it reinforces the view that she was a 'politicised judge'.

At the Popular Conservatism event in Westminster, the former business secretary will say: 'These efforts to override Parliament need to be reversed, as the rule of law must not become the rule of lawyers.

Former cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees Mogg has said that unelected judges have too much power

The former business secretary will use a speech at the launch of Popular Conservatism tomorrow to say that 'efforts to override Parliament need to be reversed'

Pictured: The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. Sir Jacob will highlight its increasing influence

Former head of the Supreme Court Baroness Hale

'The British constitution has always been based on the supremacy of Parliament, where sovereignty rests, delegated by the people.'

He will also cite ongoing protests by farmers in France, Germany and Belgium as evidence of a 'global disconnect' between politicians and people and say: 'We have seen power go from the democratic parts of the constitution to the appointed parts.

'This has made the Government less responsive to the needs of the people and closer to those who have a hierarchical, internationalist view of government.

'Popular conservatism is about restoring this balance and returning power to Parliament, while taking it away from quangos and a judiciary that has become more political.'

Other speakers at the launch of the 'Pop Con' movement will include former Prime Minister Liz Truss and red wall MP Lee Anderson, who quit as deputy chairman of the Conservatives last month when the Government refused to strengthen the Rwanda Bill by limiting legal challenges to deportation.

The event will add to concerns in No 10 that Tory MPs are becoming increasingly vocal in their discontent with Rishi Sunak, and will demand more radical policies in the party's manifesto ahead of this year's general election.
MBABANE  In different religions, the name Gomorrah features mostly in the story of two cities destroyed by God for their wickedness.

Together with Sodom, the story of the two cities is usually used to describe Gods anger provoked by mans sin. His Majesty King Mswati III made reference to the story of Gomorrah when he preached during the Year Opening Prayer Service held at the Mandvulo Grand Hall yesterday. The basis of the Kings preaching was that people must stop believing in earthly things and those of the flesh, but on God alone. The King shared with the attendees how Gomorrah became a pitiful place before the eyes of God. God then took a decision and something terrible happened on Gomorrah. We need to stop focusing on matters of the flesh but stay strong in our love for God. Today the world is more focused on things of this earth yet God destroyed Gomorrah, the King said. Elaborating, the King warned that people must not bring Gomorrah into their lives because such will attract curses from God.

peacefully

At the start of the speech, the King said it brought so much joy to see so many emaSwati inside the hall and that God had ushered the nation peacefully into the year 2024. The King said he was happy to see the huge number of attendants at the service, which he said was reflected by the fact that the available seats proved to be not enough. It is all because of the mercy of God. We thank the visitors from Africa and beyond who have come to fellowship with us today. We welcome you all. In jest, the King spoke about how the programme director of the ceremony and Pastor Nhlanhla Hlatjwako had asked how he (The King) felt about the event. According to The King, he was surprised by the question as he had not prepared for it but that in future he will. The King then mentioned that what the programme director did not know was that it had been three months of not being able to address the nation and share the word. However, the King said despite the three months of being away, he could see from the sermons shared earlier that the pastors had kept it going in the churches.

miracles

The King then spoke of how God was a God of miracles and that the theme for the day talked about the miracles and great thing he does, some of which mankind might not be aware of.

In God a lot of amazing things happen. If we serve God with all our hearts he is going to amaze us. Therefore, it is important that we trust God and stay faithful to him. If you imagine the many challenges you have been through, then you will be grateful to God. As emaSwati, we need to stay in the Lord because if we depart from him, we are inviting curses on our lives, His Majesty said. The King also encouraged the congregants to understand that God has mighty powers which no human being has. All that congregants needed to do, the King said, was pray hard and uplift their faith and they will be blessed in many ways.

Also, the King reiterated the words of some of the pastors who rendered sermons earlier, whereby they encouraged Christians to, from time to time, spend some time with God. According to the King, it was important to fast and create a good relationship with God. God might not answer your prayers instantly, but you have to keep the momentum. If we stick with God, he will bless the Kingdom of Eswatini. If you seek something, you need to be busy and fight for it. Likewise, if we need God in our lives, we must get busy. We must go to church, listen to the word and then do as God says. Pastors preach everyday but what is important is that the word must stay in our lives and we must practise what it says. In jest, the King warned that Christians should not go to church just to impress their pastors or to scout for people to date, but should do so to rekindle their relationship with God.

The King reminded the congregants of the children of Israel when they embarked on a journey to the Promised Land, saying there came a point where some of them started losing hope and giving up on God. Due to that they had lost faith in God, the King said they ended up not reaching the Promised Land. Losing hope and faith in God does not end well. It happened with John. God had to remind him in a not so pleasant way, so let us not be like John. In the Kingdom of Eswatini, the word of God is preached all over and this shows that our hope is in God and it should gain momentum every day. God must be happy with us. He is happy that today we have gathered here to pray for a good year and allow him to cleanse us.

reminded

Quoting the Bible, the King said John was reminded of what happened when one lost his faith in God. What I like about John is that when he heard the word of God, he stood up and started to follow the path that he had been mandated to follow. I implore the entire nation to live and respect God. This, we will achieve, by sticking to the Bible as it will always give us direction. His Majesty said all the people who attended the service and those who were following it on television had been cleansed and were feeling the presence of God in their lives.

The same presence of God, The King said, is what they will then promote in their families and workplaces. EmaSwati pray for peace, special well-being and harmony in the communities where they live. That is the life that God wants from us. We are blessed today because there is a renewal of our sins. They have been forgiven and washed away. We feel fresh and no longer the same. Ending his address, the King appreciated the many congregants and attendees who presented gifts (tetfulo) and asked God to bless them.
It may be one of Britain's most iconic landmarks but, for many expectant tourists, Big Ben is a big old letdown.

The beloved clock tower has more than 32,000 reviews on TripAdvisor and, while it has accrued more than 19,000 5-star ratings, the attraction has a legion of haters.

Some 764 people have taken to the travel website to give Big Ben a 'terrible' 1-star review and to give their constructive criticism.

The most recent sceptic, Leo N, visited in September 2023 but spent two months carefully crafting his feedback, finally posting his thoughts in November.

The review read: 'Just a big clock really init...Nothing special really could just go my nan's house and see a clock except Big Ben's 10x bigger (where did Big Ben get its name by the way?)'

It may be one of Britain's most iconic landmarks but, for many expectant tourists, Big Ben is a big old letdown

Disgruntled visitors on Tripadvisor have complained about everything from the architecture to the location to the abundance of pigeons

The big clock has stood proudly by the River Thames since the mid-19th century but even that doesn't make it immune to criticism

Laird Cook had travelled all the way down from Inverness in Scotland to see Big Ben but was left bitterly disappointed by the popular attraction

Viewing the 19th century building as merely a timekeeping tool was a running theme among unsatisfied visitors with Trojan P advising readers in June 2023 to 'just look at your wristwatch' instead.

Striking a similar note, Daniel B boasted that his Apple Watch was far better than Big Ben as it could take his pulse, which the landmark at the Palace of Westminster hopelessly failed in doing.

He added: 'Please upgrade the bell so that a coo coo bird comes out each hour, or change the bell sound to 50 Cent.'

Laird Cook had travelled all the way down from Inverness in Scotland to see Big Ben, or more accurately Elizabeth Tower for Big Ben is the name of the bell inside, but was left bitterly disappointed by the popular attraction.

He said: 'Big Ben, a big clock tower attached to the Houses of Parliament, chimes every now and again...if you want to see Big Ben look it up on Internet looks much better without all the rush of tourists with selfie sticks!

'Could do with a few birds of prey to kill the pigeons!'

And Ferdie G simply dismissed the building's quintessential gothic revival architecture as 'mid', adding that it 'would be better if it was digital as [it is] quite hard to read'.

Some 764 people have taken to the travel website to give Big Ben a 'terrible' 1-star review and to give their constructive criticism

Big Ben underwent an 80million restoration scheme for five years between 2017 and 2022 and the presence of scaffolding and teams of builders ruined the aesthetic for hundreds of visitors to London during this time.

Aimee T visited before the works, back in May 2014, and felt short changed by the clock tower's height.

'So I went last week to the famous "Big Ben",' she said. 'Let me tell you we should rename it Medium Ben. I've seen bigger Lego towers! Will return if they build it higher.'

Big Ben has made many appearances in popular culture, including the futuristic 2005 thriller V for Vendetta, where parliament is destroyed in the film's final act.

Iliya M disliked the landmark so much that he wished the movie's ending was real.

He said: 'Absolutely terrible I would never ever go again I'm glad they blew it up in V for Vendetta.

Big Ben underwent an 80million restoration scheme (pictured) for five years between 2017 and 2022 and the presence of scaffolding and teams of builders ruined the aesthetic for hundreds of visitors to London during this time

Everyone might refer to the iconic structure as Big Ben but it is actually called the Elizabeth Tower - Big Ben is the hidden bell inside the building (pictured: the bell and Lindsay Hoyle, speaker of the House of Commons)

Big Ben has made many appearances in popular culture, including the futuristic 2005 thriller V for Vendetta (pictured), where parliament is destroyed in the film's final act

The building's location, with striking views of the Thames, Westminster Bridge and the London Eye, is one of the main reasons tourists flock from all over the world to look at the large clock but Josh found the banks of the river to be too close for comfort

Daniel B said: 'Please upgrade the bell so that a coo coo bird comes out each hour, or change the bell sound to 50 Cent'

The harsh critic suggested that his smartwatch was a lot better than Big Ben as it could measure its pulse, unlike the old-fashioned tower

'It's just a big clock and the whole experience left me unsettled.'

The building's location, with striking views of the Thames, Westminster Bridge and the London Eye, is one of the main reasons tourists flock from all over the world to look at the large clock but Josh found the banks of the river to be too close for comfort.

'Lovely clock but I fell into the river when I was looking at the tower and I fell over the side into the freezing cold Thames,' he said.
A group of teens and youths have been busted for allegedly being part of a fentanyl ring selling drugs to kids at schools near Jackson, Mississippi.

Five youths aged 17 to 21 are the latest suspects to be arrested in a long-running multi-agency prong following 'numerous' overdoses in the Rankin County area.

It comes as the overdose fatality rate in the US topped 112,000 in a 12 month period last year for the first time, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Meanwhile, federal researchers now say drug overdoses are a leading cause of death among American adults below the age of 45.

Richland Police Department in Mississippi said they have recovered 'a substantial amount' of fentanyl pills during the latest drugs bust which saw four youths arrested.

A group of teens and youths have been busted for allegedly being part of a fentanyl ring selling drugs to kids at schools near Jackson, Mississippi

Five youths aged 17 to 21 are the latest suspects to be arrested in a long-running multi-agency prong following 'numerous' overdoses in the Rankin County area. (Pictured: Mollie McNally)

Ayden Broome

Brooklyn Goss

Haley Dunlap

Pedro Martinez Garcia

Cops added that some of the suspected fentanyl was intercepted only the night before it was due to be distributed to kids at a local school.

Richland PD along with Rankin County Sheriff's Department and Madison PD have arrested eleven suspects so far.

The latest group includes Pedro Martinez Garcia, 17, who has been certified as an adult, who has been charged with selling fentanyl.

He was out on bond over previous charges of selling fentanyl, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and possession of methamphetamine.

Ayden Broome, 18, and Mollie McNally, 19, are each charged with selling fentanyl within 1,500 feet of a school, church or park.

Haley Dunlap, 19, and Brooklyn Goss, 21, have also each been charged with selling fentanyl, while Goss faces the additional charge of possession with intent to distribute.

Several other youths, including some as young as 16 years old, have also been arrested.
A British businessman in Singapore has been named by a judge as the mastermind of a 1.3million Ponzi fraud said to have left victims 'financially ruined'.

But even though three of his associates were convicted last month, James Gillingham is still at large, running investment schemes in the Far East.

Mr Gillingham, who lives in a luxury Singapore waterfront apartment, manages a global cryptocurrency brokerage with thousands of investors.

However, he was the brains behind a 'sophisticated' scam in which a fake trading platform was used to dupe victims into making 'multiple investments' between 2015 and 2016, Southwark Crown Court in south London was told.

He recruited a gang who used the names of TV drama show characters to pose as brokers and cold-call targets, pressuring them to pay into in a scheme promising generous returns.

But every penny went to the fraudsters, often costing victims their life savings and causing marriage breakdowns and destroying retirement plans.

James Gillingham CEO (pictured) is still at large, running investment schemes in the Far East

Mr Gillingham (pictured) manages a global cryptocurrency brokerage with thousands of investors

Mr Gillingham's court listed address is at the six-star luxury apartment block the Sail at Marina Bay, Singapore

The other gang members were finally jailed last month, but the Mail can reveal that before the start of his court proceedings, Gillingham moved to the Far East to run new investment schemes.

The Essex-born father of two has set up two cryptocurrency trading firms out there, targeting investors across the globe. The most recent is Fleamint, an exchange for investors to 'trade crypto assets with trust and security'.

In a press release in October 2023 it announced it had secured 8million from a global investment group, and on its website it claims to have 830,000 users.

While in Singapore, he also set up another crypto trading platform called Finxflo, which he said employed more than 80 financiers in Europe, Asia and the US.

Mr Gillingham was interviewed by CNN and the business channel Bloomberg TV to promote Finxflo, which he said raised 12million in investments in three years.

Its website said it had an 'unwavering commitment to do the right thing' and had a reputation for 'trust and integrity'.

Meanwhile, ex-associates Denis Deegan, 49, Darren Peck, 43, and Sujanthan Sotheeswaran, 35, were convicted last month of tricking investors into paying cash to his former UK firm, Choice Option.

Carolina Bracken, prosecuting, told the court: 'The defendants duped the victims into making 'investments', telling lies about the investment opportunities and their own experience.'

Posing as brokers, they used aliases with prospective clients, including 'Jonathan Hart' from the Seventies show Hart To Hart, 'Miles Richards', 'Alistair Ryle' and 'Harry Villiers' from the 2014 film The Riot Club and 'Harvey Specter' from the drama Suits.

This persuaded a 'large number of victims' to hand over 1,255,220 to be traded on the binary options market, giving a fixed monthly return and annual profits.

But Choice Option was not connected to a banking system and the cash went to staff and on expenses. 'None of the victims' money was invested,' Ms Bracken said. 'This fraud was created by Mr Gillingham. He recruited other people. He made more out of the fraud than anyone else.'

Suspicious investors alerted police in February 2016. By October 2016, clients could not access their accounts, contact staff or withdraw funds. In 2019, he was named by BBC Crimewatch.

One victim said her losses meant her bank called in a loan, her children had to quit private school, her marriage ended and she had significant mental health issues.

Sentencing the three men for fraud by false representation, Judge Martin Griffith said: 'I am in no doubt that James Gillingham was the brains.'

He jailed Sotheeswaran, of Streatham, south London, for three years, and Deegan, of Barnet, north London for two years and eight months, while Peck, of Camden, north London, received a 21-month suspended sentence.

Gillingham refused to comment.
A new homelessness encampment, known by inhabitants as 'Wayside After Hours,' has sprung up in one of Sydney's most affluent suburbs.

Tucked underneath the awnings of the empty Metro Minerva Theatre Building in Potts Point is a burgeoning camp for the area's rough sleepers, with up to eight people taking shelter there every night.

The makeshift Orwell St home boasts two mattresses, a large tent for storage and about 20 sleeping bags, which are lent to fellow rough sleepers as needed.

Propped on a wall is a framed print which reads: 'Home is where the heart is'.

On the right side of the camp, the words: 'Do not do drugs here,' are written into the wall.

Up to eight people a night sleep at an encampment at Potts Point in Sydneys inner city. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Nikki Short

Abdullah Elomar has lived at the encampment since October 2023.

He spiralled into drug use, job loss, and homelessness after his 18-year-old son, Omar, was killed in 2020.

'There were a few rainy days and (another man who lived here) said to me: 'Come stay here,'' Mr Elomar says.

'If you look at my story, four years ago my son was murdered. I was never homeless back then, I was an addict, I was living in and out of accommodation but I was not homeless.

'After I lost my son, I can't even hold a job down for a week. It's no one's fault, it's my fault - but I can't stop drinking, I turned to drugs, I've been to rehab.'

Abdullah Elomar lives at the Orwell St encampment. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Jessica Wang

The former Bankstown resident is one of the two more permanent people who live at the encampment.

While the improvised home makes them vulnerable to theft, the spot protects them from the elements.

The awning blocks the rain and sun, and the narrow street acts like a wind tunnel, which takes the sting out of a 40C day.

Mr Elomar describes the makeshift home as 'Wayside after-hours,' referencing the not-for-profit mission and community centre, just a street over.

'We get all these people who have been out for four, or five days, and they have no where to go,' he says.

'We've got so many sleeping bags, and people will come and ask us for a sleeping bag and we'll give them one.'

While encampments like the one on Orwell St offers protection, it's part of a growing trend of homelessness and housing insecurity spurred on by growing rents, rising cost-of-living, and a crisis in the availability of temporary housing in NSW.

An influx of more people needing help has increased pressure on community programs, which offer food outreach and care co-ordination.

Up to eight people take shelter at the makeshift home every night. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Nikki Short

In the past quarter, Wayside Chapel chief executive and pastor Jon Owen has seen 'almost a doubling' of people seeking food, basic amenities like toiletries, socks and underwear, and emergency support, especially housing.

'We're seeing a lot more people who have been holding it together for 12 to 18 months, and they haven't been able to sustain it,' he says.

In the 12 months to September 2023, the Wayside Chapel recorded a 64 per cent increase in daily visitors, an 88 per cent increase in the amount of food provided, and 53 per cent increase in the pieces of clothes, underwear and socks provided.

They've also reported a 126 per cent increase in the instances of care co-ordination required by visitors.

ROUGH SLEEPERS WEEKEND READ

Rev Owen knows most of the Wayside community on a first-name basis, including those who live at the Orwell St encampment.

He says he's noticed a 'growing small number' of encampments increasing in the affluent suburbs of Potts Point, Darlinghurst, and Kings Cross, as people 'congregate for safety and security'.

With Sydney struggling through a hot and humid summer, the weather poses an extra threat for the area's rough sleepers, says Rev Owen.

'We lose a lot more people in this time of the year, than we do in winter,' he says.

Warm nights, which increases the rates of rats roaming the street, mean people aren't able to get a good, or safe, night's sleep, and instead attempt to nap during the day when the heat and humidity are at its worst.

He says they can resort to using alcohol as a sleep aid, resulting in severe dehydration.

'That's where the body starts to cook itself from within.,' he says.

'It's a really critical time of year, particularly as services like ours have been under sustained pressure.'

According to the most recent data, the number of people rough sleeping in NSW is growing.

Figures from the 2023 NSW street count recorded 1623 people sleeping rough between February 2 to 27 2023 - a 34 per cent year-on-year increase.

The City of Sydney local government area reported the third highest increase in figures, with numbers increasing by 23 per cent from 225 to 227.

However, Homeless NSW chief Dom Rowe says visible homelessness - life rough sleepers - is merely the tip of the iceberg, with NSW facing a 'homelessness tsunami'.

'For every person who sets up camp in a park, there are dozens who are forced to remain in a violent or unsafe home or spend their days looking for the next couch to sleep on,' Ms Rowe says.

However, while frontline providers, like emergency or temporary housing services are already at 'breaking point', many expect the demand will only increase, Ms Rowe says.

'An increasing number of people are just one rent rise away from homelessness because of rising costs, vanishing rental availability.

'If two people walk into a frontline homelessness provider in NSW needing temporary accommodation today - whether it be in inner Sydney or the regions - one of them will be turned away.'
An attorney for the families of two Gilgo Beach victims has questioned whether the wife of accused serial killer Rex Heuermann was actually in town longer than prosecutors believe.

Heuermann, 60, was charged with the murder of four sex workers whose bodies were among 11 found on the desolate stretch of coastline close to their Long Island Home between 2010 and 2011.

His estranged wife Asa Ellerup was out of town during each of the three murders, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, and has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

But attorney John Ray, who represents the families of Shannan Gilbert and Jessica Taylor, has cast doubt about whether she was around, during a St. Johns University event in Queens on Tuesday night.

He questioned whether she was in town and claimed she may have been around during one of the murders.

An attorney for the families of two Gilgo Beach victims has questioned whether Asa Ellerup (pictured), the wife of accused serial killer Rex Heuermann, was actually in town longer than prosecutors believe

Heuermann, 60, was charged with murder of four sex workers whose bodies were among 11 found on the stretch of coastline close to their Long Island Home between 2010 and 2011

The first victim, 24-year-old Melissa Barthelemy, was discovered by Suffolk County Police on December 11, 2010. The body of Megan Waterman, 22, from Maine, was found two days later

Heuermann is also charged with killing Amber Costello (left) and Maureen Brainard-Barnes (right)

Ray has claimed he spoke to a hotel manager in Atlantic City who told him that Ellerup and her two children arrived there later than investigators think.

If true, this would mean they would have been in town during at least one of the murders.

But attorney Bob Macedonio, who represents Ellerup, denied these claims and said if District Attorney Tierney was wrong, the entire case against Heuermann would collapse.

'When, in the course of any investigations on any criminal matters, do they do that up front in a bail application?,' he told Fox News.

'Very, very rarely.  If hes wrong, it creates reasonable doubt in his whole case.'

While former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani, who is not involved in the case, said: 'The DAs statement would be a potential problem if it were wrong.

'But why would the DA argue something they were unsure of?'

Heuermann is currently being held at a Suffolk County prison in connection to four murders.

Heuermann's estranged wife Asa Ellerup was out of town during each of the three murders, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, and has not been accused of any wrongdoing

But attorney John Ray, who represents the families of Shannan Gilbert and Jessica Taylor, has cast doubt about whether Ellerup was around, during a St. Johns University event in Queens on Tuesday night

In July, he was charged with killing Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Lynn Costello, who disappeared in 2009 and 2010.

Authorities later charged him with the murder of fourth victim Maureen Brainard-Barnes in January.

Cops have released a laundry list of 'red flags' that they say led them to Heuermann as a suspect, with the first piece of evidence being a Chevrolet Avalanche owned by him that was linked to the murder of Costello by a witness.

According to documents filed in Suffolk County court, investigators were then able to link that car to Heuermann's cellphone records, which tied him to locations related to the murders, which eventually led them to obtain a DNA sample.

Police say that Heuermann used Melissa Barthelemy's phone to make taunting phone calls to her family from the victim's phone, calls that were made steps from his Manhattan office.

Following the identification of Heuermann as the owner of the Chevrolet, cops issued over 300 subpoenas, search warrants and other legal processes to obtain further evidence.

Ellerup arrived in court in November to hear the evidence presented as her estranged husband faces murder charges over the deaths of four sex workers

Ellerup visited the Manhattan architect in jail for the first time in November, and has been seen attending court to 'see for herself what is presented in court.'

In August, she was previously accused by attorney Ray of being involved in the grisly killings.

Police have not indicated any link involving Ellerup or the couple's children with the murders, however Ray claims to have witnesses who he says can confirm her presence when Heuermann would bring home sex workers.

He said that her alleged presence when he would do so suggests she may have had knowledge of the killings, a claim refused by Macedonio who said his client and her children are not under any suspicion by investigators.

Macedonio said Ellerup was not in the region at the time her husband was allegedly carrying out the killings.

DailyMail.com has contacted Macedonio for comment.
Jeremy Hunt has ordered the Government's economic watchdog to investigate whether the controversial tourist tax costs Britain more than it raises.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will investigate the 'costs and benefits' of Rishi Sunak's 2020 decision to scrap tax-free shopping for tourists.

If the study confirms claims by campaigners that the tax has cost the economy billions of pounds in lost revenue, it could open the door for the decision to be reversed in next month's Budget. The Treasury has insisted that reinstating the tax break would cost the Exchequer around 2 billion a year.

But critics argue the entire economy would benefit from reinstating VAT-free shopping as it would encourage tourists to splash out on restaurants, hotels and transport services, as well as on shopping sprees.

Analysis by the Centre for Economics and Business Research last week suggested the tax was costing the wider economy more than 11 billion as wealthy tourists divert to cities such as Paris, which have retained tax-free shopping. In a letter to campaigners, OBR chairman Richard Hughes has suggested the original Treasury work failed to look at the wider impact of the tax.

Jeremy Hunt has ordered the Government's economic watchdog to investigate whether the controversial tourist tax costs Britain more than it raises

New figures revealed that Britain's regions could earn an additional 5 billion a year just from EU visitors if the Government scrapped the tourist tax (Stock Photo)

If the levy is scrapped, tourists from the EU would be able to access the tax-free market in the UK for the first time

Mr Hughes said the analysis was 'not undertaken by the OBR' and had looked at only 'those impacts directly relating to goods previously eligible for a VAT refund, rather than any wider consequences'. Tory MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said he was 'very encouraged' by the development and hopeful of action in the Budget.

He said: 'I would be very surprised indeed if when they look at it properly, with all the latest trading figures being submitted by shops and hotels, they do not conclude that it would be beneficial for the Treasury and the economy more generally to reinstate tax-free shopping.

'The Treasury have been wedded to this idea that it would cost 2 billion for too long now. It is based on the wrong methodology.'

But a Whitehall source warned that the OBR study would have to demonstrate that scrapping the tax would not cost the Treasury a penny before Mr Hunt would be persuaded to act. The source said current forecasts suggest the Chancellor may have just 14 billion in 'fiscal headroom' at the Budget and is likely to prioritise other areas, such as cuts to income tax.

The British Chambers of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses and Heathrow Airport will today launch a new campaign urging Mr Hunt to look again at the issue.

Shevaun Haviland, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: 'Businesses across our chamber network are feeling the impact of the UK being the only major European country not to offer tax-free shopping. By introducing a tax-free shopping scheme for international visitors, the Government can help foster inward investment and growth across the visitor economy, which will strengthen our supply chains and drive economic activity in all regions and businesses throughout the UK.'

Meanwhile, new figures revealed that Britain's regions could earn an additional 5 billion a year just from EU visitors if the Government scrapped the tourist tax. Scotland could bank 1 billion from extra spending, according to estimates from the Association of International Retail (AIR), while the North West could make an extra 720 million.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will investigate the 'costs and benefits' of Rishi Sunak 's 2020 decision to scrap tax-free shopping for tourists

Tory MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said he was 'very encouraged' by the development and hopeful of action in the Budget

In a letter to campaigners, OBR chairman Richard Hughes has suggested the original Treasury work failed to look at the wider impact of the tax

Marks and Spencer is among more than 400 prominent businesses that have backed the Mail's campaign calling for the Government to scrap the levy

Marks & Spencer, Harrods and Mulberry are among more than 400 prominent businesses that have backed the Mail's campaign calling for the Government to scrap the levy. Ministers have tried to dismiss the concerns of business leaders by arguing tax-free shopping benefits only luxury brands and the most affluent tourists hunting for a bargain.

But the research from the AIR  which represents the likes of Bicester Village and Heathrow Airport, as well as tourism boards  lays bare how ditching the levy would not just benefit the capital.

The pre-Brexit scheme was available only to those outside the EU  such as visitors from the Middle East or the United States. If the levy is scrapped, tourists from the EU would be able to access the tax-free market in the UK for the first time.
The Royal Navy was branded a laughing stock yesterday after its flagship aircraft carrier was pulled out of a Nato exercise due to a faulty propeller shaft.

HMS Queen Elizabeth was due to set sail from Portsmouth to help lead the western military alliance's biggest exercise since the Cold War.

But the 3.5billion, 65,000-ton ship was pulled out at the 11th hour after rust was discovered on the affected part  leaving it at risk of it breaking down at sea.

MPs described the development as 'excruciatingly embarrassing' last night.

The Queen Elizabeth's sister carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, broke down near the Isle of Wight after setting sail for America just 18 months ago  also due to a faulty propeller shaft.

It will take now HMS Queen Elizabeth's place on the Nato exercise, but it was unclear yesterday when it will set sail, and it may miss some of the exercise.

HMS Queen Elizabeth (left) was due to set sail from Portsmouth to help lead the western military alliance's biggest exercise since the Cold War

But the 3.5billion, 65,000-ton ship was pulled out at the 11th hour after rust was discovered on the affected part  leaving it at risk of it breaking down at sea

The blow means a British aircraft carrier may not be deployed to the Red Sea to help US efforts to counter attacks on shipping by Houthi rebels.

The possibility that one might replace a US aircraft carrier was discussed during a recent visit to Washington by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.

It comes after two Royal Navy warships collided in Bahrain last month because one had been rewired incorrectly. The minehunter HMS Chiddingfold reversed into HMS Bangor, which was lying at port, ripping a hole in a cabin above the waterline.

And a damning report by the Commons defence committee released over the weekend concluded that Britain's over-stretched Armed Forces may be unable to fight an all-out war against the likes of Russia.

It said that chronic shortages of troops and equipment were being covered up by a 'veil of secrecy', and highlighted war-readiness issues with the two aircraft carriers. Former Armed Forces minister Mark Francois, who sits on the committee, said: 'To have one 3billion aircraft carrier which breaks down is a mis- fortune, but to have two seems like carelessness.

'The Royal Navy is already in deep trouble due to chronic lack of crews, submarines which can't sail, shortage of ships which can fight and even mine hunters which reverse into each other. Now this is just the icing on the cake.

'It is excruciatingly embarrassing for the Navy. Just imagine if this carrier had actually been sailing off to war?'

The fiasco threatens to affect America's and other key military allies' confidence in Britain's Armed Forces. However, a Royal Navy spokesman said: 'It's not uncommon to have maintenance issues with state-of-the-art ships which contain complex engineering and technology.

The Queen Elizabeth's sister carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, broke down near the Isle of Wight after setting sail for America just 18 months ago  also due to a faulty propeller shaft

The blow means a British aircraft carrier may not be deployed to the Red Sea to help US efforts to counter attacks on shipping by Houthi rebels

Admiral Lord West, former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, said the Queen Elizabeth would now have to go to Rosyth in Scotland for repairs

'Having two aircraft carriers means that HMS Prince of Wales can quickly prepare to deploy in place of HMS Queen Elizabeth.'

Admiral Lord West, former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, said the Queen Elizabeth would now have to go to Rosyth in Scotland for repairs, adding: 'It's extremely embarrassing. It's not good. People will have red faces.

'She will have to go into dock. The only dock is up in Rosyth and she will have to de-ammunition and get rid of her fuel, so I would be very surprised if she was running again before about two months. It's right they checked it before sailing and that they've chosen to be safe rather than potentially sorry.'

Admiral Lord West said it proved the necessity of having a pair of carriers, unlike France, which has one. He added: 'It shows how important it is we have two carriers. If this had been the French they'd have no carrier at all.

'But we have not spent enough on defence, we have got too few ships, the carriers don't have all the aircraft they should have and to be honest that's where we've got a real worry and is the thing we've got to sort out.'

Labour MP John Spellar, who also sits on the committee, said: 'The Ministry of Defence has to come clean quickly. Is this down to problems with manufacture, which they've not properly supervised, or have they got a significant problem with maintenance?

'As our report showed, there are real problems with readiness for war throughout the organisation. Ministers need to get a grip.'

The issue with HMS Queen Elizabeth relates to the propeller shaft coupling, where corrosion to its exterior was found during checks. A big enough single shaft, which has a propeller at the rear, could not be made because of the warship's size, so multiple shaft sections had to be joined together by couplers. This is where rust was found, and engineers are checking to see whether the corrosion has spread, which would prove a bigger problem.

The absence of a UK carrier in the Red Sea region has left the US to conduct almost the entirety of air strikes on Houthi military infrastructure

By contrast, HMS Prince of Wales's shaft was misaligned when it broke down in August 2022 after leaving Portsmouth.

HMS Queen Elizabeth had been due to lead part of Nato's Steadfast Defender exercise off Norway's Arctic coast until the end of May. It would have led a strike force of eight ships  four of them British  including the frigate HMS Somerset and two Tide-class tankers from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary  supported by US, Spanish and Danish vessels.

The carrier was to be joined by its F-35B Lightning stealth fighters from 617 Dambusters Squadron at RAF Marham, Merlin Mk2 helicopters from RNAS Culdrose and battlefield Wildcat helicopters of 847 Naval Air Squadron from RNAS Yeovilton.

More than 90,000 troops from 31 Nato nations and Sweden are set to take part in the exercise. Having the Queen Elizabeth out of action could affect the ability of the Royal Navy to deploy an aircraft carrier to the Red Sea, a move that armed forces minister James Heappey has suggested was being considered.

Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Andrew Burns said: 'Routine pre-sailing checks yesterday identified an issue with a coupling on HMS Queen Elizabeth's starboard propeller shaft.

'HMS Prince of Wales will take her place on Nato duties and will set sail as soon as possible.'
Ministers are considering plans to boost security for MPs to protect them from mob rule.

The Government is looking at introducing a ban on menacing protests outside politicians offices and improving security around Parliament to tackle attempts at intimidation.

The measures have been recommended as part of a review conducted by Lord Walney, an independent adviser on political violence and disruption.

A draft of the review was handed to the Home Office last month.

But it has been given new impetus by the case of justice minister Mike Freer who has faced death threats and an arson attack on his constituency office last year.

MP protection has been given new impetus by the case of justice minister Mike Freer who has faced death threats and an arson attack on his constituency office last year

The burnt out windows at the rear of Conservative MP Mike Freer's office in Ballards Lane in Finchley, north London, on December 24

Mr Freer and his husband's nerves faced a further shredding in December when his constituency office was subjected to a serious 'arson' attack

The Conservative MP revealed in the Daily Mail last week he will step down at the next general election because the threats have taken too great a toll on his family.

Ministers have also become increasingly alarmed over the number of hostile demonstrations outside MPs offices and council buildings  particularly in the wake of the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.

A Whitehall source said that failure to give more protection to MPs risked undermining democracy. No one is talking about ending the right of people to make their point to their elected representatives, the source said.

But the way it is being done in some instances now is akin to mob rule. There is an implicit threat of violence and we are getting to the point where MPs are fearing for their lives and potentially feeling intimidated into voting a certain way.

'That has a really corrosive effect on democracy.

Under the plans, powers to ban certain protests outside schools and vaccination clinics could be extended to cover MPs offices.

The so-called expedited public spaces protection orders can be imposed to prevent harassment and can last for up to six months.

Pro-Palestinian protesters surrounded the Labour constituency office of MP Rushanara Ali after she abstained from a Gaza ceasefire vote in Parliament in November

Labours deputy leader Angela Rayner and shadow Treasury minister Jonathan Reynolds were confronted by screaming pro-Palestine protesters at an event in Stockport last month

Ministers are also examining whether to tighten restrictions on protests outside Parliament during high-profile votes.

This follows a hostile pro-Palestine demonstration last year during a debate on whether to back calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Hundreds of pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered outside the office of Labours Bethnal Green and Bow MP Rushanara Ali after she did not back a vote calling for the ceasefire. Protesters chanted shame on you and vote her out.

Similar demonstrations have been held outside the offices of Labour MPs, including Sir Keir Starmer and Anneliese Dodds. She tried to reason with protesters from a first floor window as they shouted: You dont represent me.

Labours deputy leader Angela Rayner and shadow Treasury minister Jonathan Reynolds were confronted by screaming pro-Palestine protesters at an event in Stockport last month.

Ms Rayner told Sky News: It did affect me and it has affected me since that incident... I was scared and my family are scared for me. And thats why Mike [Freer] has taken the decision hes taken.
Descendants of illegal hippos imported to Colombia by Pablo Escobar in the 1980s have multiplied and started attacking people.

The hippopotamuses, which spread from the kingpin's private zoo into nearby rivers where they flourished, have no natural predators in the country and have been declared an invasive species which threaten the ecosystem.

Hacienda Napoles became a tourist attraction after his death in 1993. Most of the animals live freely in rivers and reproduce without control, leading Colombia's Ministry of Environment to start sterilizing them in November.

'They're very, very dangerous. The hippos have started to attack people,' one local told Fox Nation.

Others branded the species as 'unpredictable' and 'aggressive', saying the best course of action if you come across one is to simply hide.

A handout image from the Colombian government shows the $10,000 sterilization of a male hippo in process

Hippos float in a lagoon in the Hacienda Napoles Park in November 2013. On Thursday, the Colombian government announced a plan aimed at controlling the population, which has grown to 169 and could swell to 1,000 by 2035 unless action is taken

Pablo Escobar set up his own personal zoo at his Hacienda Napoles estate in the 1980s when he went out and purchased 1,900 exotic and wild animals from a zoo in Dallas. The collection included four hippopotamuses, which today have grown to 169

Meanwhile, Colombian environmental minister Susana Muhamad told the New York Times: 'We are in a race against time in terms of permanent environmental and ecosystem impacts'.

Two male hippos and one female underwent surgical sterilization in November, environmental authorities said.

It's part of a larger government effort to control the population of 169 of the mammals that roam around unsupervised in some rivers.

The plan includes the sterilization of 40 hippos a year, transfer some of them to other countries and possibly euthanasia.

Sterilization takes time, because spotting and capturing the territorial, aggressive three-ton animals is complicated, David Echeverry Lopez, chief of the environment office in charge of the plan, said in a video distributed to the press.

Rain events around the area have complicated efforts to capture the animals. More grass means 'they have an oversupply of food, so baiting them to capture them becomes even more complicated,' Echeverry said.

The government estimates there are 169 hippos in Colombia, especially in the Magdalena River basin, and that if no measures are taken, there could be 1,000 by 2035.

When the plan was first announced, the environment ministry said the procedure is expensive - each sterilization costs about $9,800 - and entails risks for the hippopotamus, including allergic reactions to anesthesia or death, as well as risks to the animal health personnel.

Colombian soldiers stand at the entrance of Hacienda Napoles, the estate built by Pablo Escobar which once featured his own personal zoo

Pablo Escobar became interested in having his own zoo at his estate after he noticed the flock of exotic and wild animals that fellow Medellin Cartel leaders Fabio Ochoa, Juan Ochoa and Jorge Ochoa had at their own estate

Nataly Castblanco-Martinez, an ecologist at the University of Quintana Roo in Mexico and who was the lead author of a 2021 group study, told AP at the time that the hippo crisis was 'one of the greatest challenges of invasive species in the world.'

They suggested that some of the animals needed to be killed.

Experts have said that sterilizing the hippopotamuses may not be enough to stop their growth. In March, the government announced a plan to transfer some of the animals to the Philippines, Mexico and India, where 60 would be sent.

'We are working on the protocol for the export of the animals,' Muhammad said. 'We are not going to export a single animal if there is no authorization from the environmental authority of the other country.'

Escobar set up his own zoo at Hacienda Napoles using his fortune from the transnational drug trafficking organization.

Puerto Triunfo local officials had shut down his plans for a city zoo because there was already one in Medellin, according to the book 'Pablo Escobar, my father,' penned by his only son Juan Pablo Escobar.

The feared drug kingpin was also interested in creating his own zoo after noticing that fellow associates and cartel leaders Fabio Ochoa, Juan Ochoa and Jorge Ochoa had a collection of exotic animals at their own estates.

So, the Medellin Cartel boss went out and purchased a collection of 1,900 exotic and wild animals from a zoo in Dallas for $2 million.

The capo became bothered at the fact that there was only one hippo  a male  and told a henchman he needed more.

'You have to buy a hippopotamus because Noah's Ark is wobbling,' Pablo Escobar said. 'Call Miami and ask them to send me a female on a plane now

The zoo's hippo collection grew to four, including three females,

Some of the animals were transferred to zoos following Escobar's death in 1993, while others fled and multiplied.
A navy captain who once crashed a warship into London Bridge is in hot water again  this time over flooding.

Colin Hamiltons ship HMS Jupiter collided with the bridge in 1984, causing significant damage to both the vessel and the landmark  not to mention huge embarrassment for the Royal Navy.

Now hes back in the spotlight having been summonsed to court for failing to pay 4,000 council tax on a 2million Grade II-listed property he owns in West Sussex.

The retired captain and his wife June are battling their local authority, claiming that highway maintenance carried out nearby by the council led to a deluge of floodwater entering the 18th-century manor house.

The couple, who live in a neighbouring barn conversion, say it left the house unfit for habitation.

The retired captain and his wife June are battling their local authority, claiming that highway maintenance carried out nearby by the council led to a deluge of floodwater entering the 18th-century manor house

Colin Hamiltons ship HMS Jupiter collided with the bridge in 1984, causing significant damage to both the vessel and the landmark  not to mention huge embarrassment for the Royal Navy

Colin and his wife, who live in a neighbouring barn conversion, say it left the house unfit for habitation. They have withheld the council tax in protest as they say the house should have been exempt as a result

They have withheld the council tax in protest as they say the house should have been exempt as a result.

But magistrates in Worthing disagreed with the couple this week and hit them with a liability order for 4,060.46 plus 42 costs.

Rachel Hills of Arun District Council told the court several reminders had been issued for the 2022/23 charge and the case had appeared before magistrates many times in the last year.

The order means the couple have to pay their council tax or face further action in the courts. Captain Hamilton and his wife, who sits on Arun District Council as an Independent councillor, did not appear in court.

They are understood to be seeking to overturn the decision at tribunal.

Hamilton was hauled before a court martial after the London Bridge accident and was severely reprimanded.

Tugs try to pull naval frigate HMS Jupiter away after it crashed into London Bridge

HMS Jupiter was mobilised in the Gulf War

HMS Jupiter was a Batch 3 Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She was, like the rest of the class, named after a figure of mythology. Built by Yarrow Shipbuilders of Scotstoun, she was launched on September 4, 1967 and commissioned on August 9, 1969

Ignoring advice from the ships pilot, Hamilton, who was then a Royal Navy commander, failed to ask for assistance from two tug boats, Ionia and Sun Swale, to help navigate the Thames.

As a result the rivers current carried HMS Jupiter, a 113-metre, 3,200-ton naval frigate, causing it to dramatically turn broadside.

Hundreds watched on as the warship drifted at speed down the Thames and collided with the bridge, causing significant damage.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing chunks of granite rock from London Bridge tumble into the Thames.

Pictures taken at the time show how impact with the bridge caused severe damage to the side of the ship, bending the radar and communications tower.

After the 1984 accident, HMS Jupiter had to undergo major repairs before she could be put back into service for the Royal Navy

Eyewitnesses reported seeing chunks of granite rock from London Bridge tumble into the Thames

Pictures taken at the time show how impact with the bridge caused severe damage to the side of the ship, bending the radar and communications tower. Picture shows Jeff Hunter hosing down the missiles to keep them cool

Despite his court martial for his part in the accident, Hamilton was promoted to the rank of captain and went on to command other ships.

His wife, a writer, is a keen sailor herself and formerly chaired the Yachting Journalist Association. She said: Im shocked. I had no idea it was in court again as the matter is at the appeal stage.

A tribunal is meant to be considering our appeal.

Arun District Council has been approached for comment.

After the 1984 accident, HMS Jupiter had to undergo major repairs before she could be put back into service for the Royal Navy. The frigate, which could carry four Exocet missiles, was launched in 1967 and saw service across the world, helping with the evacuation of British subjects in Yemen in 1986.

During the First Gulf War the frigate was deployed to protect British interests at risk from the conflict. Her last deployment came in 1991 in the South Atlantic, returning via Rio de Janeiro and Barbados where she carried out anti-drug patrols.

The ship was decommissioned in 1992 and sold for scrap in 1997.
Egypt to form committee to review restoration project of Giza pyramid

Cairo, Feb 3 (UNI) The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said on Saturday it will establish an international scientific committee to review the architectural restoration project of the Pyramid of Menkaure at Giza Plateau.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa ordered formation of the committee that will be chaired by renowned archaeologist and former Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Zahi Hawass, the ministry said in a statement.

"The committee includes several distinguished experts in engineering and archaeology, especially those specializing in pyramids from Egypt, the United States, the Czech Republic, and Germany," it noted.
The Clapham chemical attack is 'not really about asylum', the education secretary said yesterday - as Labour went on the offensive over the issue.

The revelation that prime suspect Abdul Ezedi was granted asylum at the third attempt, despite having committed two sexual offences in the UK, has triggered fury among Tory MPs.

Home Secretary James Cleverly, who has launched a review of the case, is said to be 'very frustrated' about the decision by a tribunal to grant asylum to Ezedi after a priest backed his claim to have converted to Christianity.

But in a surprise intervention yesterday, Gillian Keegan appeared to play down the significance of the fact that Ezedi was only able to carry out his horrific attack on a mother and her daughters because he was allowed to remain in this country after arriving here illegally in 2016.

The education secretary told Sky News that ministers 'need to get to the bottom of' why Ezedi was granted asylum. But she said the case was 'not really about asylum'. Mrs Keegan suggested it was wrong to 'conflate' the 'horrific' attack with Ezedi's immigration status.

Abdul Ezedi (pictured in Tesco in Caledonian Road) was granted asylum at the third attempt, despite having committed two sexual offences in the UK, has triggered fury among Tory MPs

Ezedi is thought to have arrived in the UK in the back of a lorry in 2016 after travelling from Afghanistan. He was twice refused asylum by the Home Office

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he was handed a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court on January 9 2018 after pleading guilty to one charge of sexual assault and one of exposure

But Sir John Hayes, chairman of the Common Sense Group of Tory MPs, said: 'The two issues are intimately associated. You can't separate the failures of our asylum system with the fact that this bloke was in this country. They are, by their nature, linked - you can't separate them.' The row came as Labour attempted to go on the offensive over the case.

Shadow digital minister Sir Chris Bryant said: 'On the face of it, if everything that we have been told is true, then it seems absolutely extraordinary that the British people should be put at such risk from this person.' A Government source dismissed Labour's intervention, pointing out that Sir Keir Starmer has consistently opposed attempts to tighten Britain's borders.

'If this person had arrived after the Illegal Migration Act then they would not be able to claim asylum full stop. Labour voted against that.

'When we get the Rwanda scheme going then someone like this would be put on a plane and his claim of Christianity would not be a barrier to removal, nor would any spurious claim under the Human Rights Act. Labour would scrap that.'

Ezedi is thought to have arrived in the UK in the back of a lorry in 2016 after travelling from Afghanistan. He was twice refused asylum by the Home Office.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he was handed a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court on January 9 2018 after pleading guilty to one charge of sexual assault and one of exposure. He was put on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Despite this he was later granted asylum by a tribunal.

Former home secretary Suella Braverman said the church had questions to answer about its willingness to 'facilitate bogus asylum claims'.

In a surprise intervention yesterday, Gillian Keegan (pictured on BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg) appeared to play down the significance of the fact that Ezedi was only able to carry out his horrific attack on a mother and her daughters because he was allowed to remain in this country after arriving here illegally in 2016

Home Secretary James Cleverly, who has launched a review of the case, is said to be 'very frustrated' about the decision by a tribunal to grant asylum to Ezedi after a priest backed his claim to have converted to Christianity

Shadow digital minister Sir Chris Bryant said: 'On the face of it, if everything that we have been told is true, then it seems absolutely extraordinary that the British people should be put at such risk from this person'

Former home secretary Suella Braverman said the church had questions to answer about its willingness to 'facilitate bogus asylum claims'

She told GB News that the case 'illustrates major failings' and called for changes to prevent convicted sex offenders ever being granted asylum.

But she said the church should also face questions about its willingness to 'effectively rubber stamp people who turn up to church and say they want to convert to Christianity'.

She added: 'It's a gross insult to those genuine Christians who are devout and take their faith seriously when they see people traipse through the church, getting their certificate of verification or their letter from the priest only to disappear and get asylum granted. I think it's a very, very sad state of affairs.'
Shocking footage has captured the moment demonstrators at a gay pride festival clashed with police hurling abuse and paint bombs at them.

Around 100 officers from Victoria Police were taking part in the Midsumma Pride festival in St Kilda, Melbourne, on Sunday.

Shortly after the officers started marching, some with their children, they were 'confronted' by up to 50 protestors.

'The protesters surrounded the Victoria Police contingent on three sides, attempting to stop members from marching,' a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

The protestors turned violent, and threw items at the police, including paint bombs.

Shortly after the officers started marching, some with their children, they were 'confronted' by up to 50 protestors

Tensions boiled over as several officers pushed and shoved protesters who were blocking their way. One protestor could be heard yelling 'F**k you, you don't deserve to be here.'

The protest group were seen holding a banner that read 'No Pride in Prisons, VicPol + Serco, Queers Hate You'.

Tensions boiled over as several officers pushed and shoved protesters who were blocking their way.

One protestor could be heard yelling 'F**k you, you don't deserve to be here.'

The Public Order Response Team moved in to help remove the unruly mob, and one protestor, a 34-year-old man, was arrested for assaulting a spectator.

He was released pending further investigation.

Victoria Police will be reviewing any footage to see if further action is required.

'Victoria Police is disappointed that there was a small group of people intent on disrupting what is a proud and inclusive day,' a spokesperson said.

'The protesters, who were acting not in the spirit of the event, chose to confront Victoria Police members who were unarmed.'

Victoria Police said many of their officers who were marching are proud to belong to the LGBTQIA+ community.

It was the 22nd year the police officers have marched at the event in uniform to help promote 'inclusion, culture, respect, and pride'.

Midsumma Pride is a peaceful event and this year marked the 22nd year police officers wore their uniform in the march (pictured performer Kitty Obsidian dancing and singing on stage at the celebrations)

Those marching included not just sworn officers but members of the Pipe Band, public servants and protective service officers.

'[It] should be a celebration and not one of hate, we are proud of our members who were able to complete the march in a hostile environment,' a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

Protester Nevo Zisin, who uses they/them pronouns, told ABC the group had not planned anything violent.

'Our intention was literally just to walk in front of them, so that it would be raised awareness that we rejected police in Midsumma,' they said.

'It was quite a surprising escalation.'

The protestor said police tore banners, pushed demonstrators and threw punches.

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton slammed the 'abhorrent' actions of the demonstrators.

'We were subjected as we went along to threats, calling us killers,' he said.

'There was paint thrown at police, there were paint bombs thrown at police, which landed on police officers.

'You don't make those when you're standing in the street at the time. You come premeditated when you do that.'
A 15-year-old boy has been arrested following the stabbing death of a grandmother at a Queensland shopping centre.

Vyleen White, 70, was stabbed to death in front of her young granddaughter in the underground carpark of Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre, in southwest Brisbane, at about 6.10pm on Saturday.

Her blue 2009 Hyundai Getz was stolen and later found in Springfield Lakes by police where it was seized for forensic examination.

Police last night released footage of four 'persons of interest' they wished to speak to over Ms White's death.

Video showed the group exiting Ms White's car and walking calmly down a suburban street.

Vyleen White, 70, was stabbed to death in the underground carpark of Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre, in southwest Brisbane, about 6.10pm on Saturday

Police have released CCTV of four males they believe can assist with their inquiries. One has been arrested

One of these boys, a 15-year-old from Ripley, turned himself into the Ipswich Police Station at about 9.30pm on Sunday.

He has been charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle in relation to the allegedly stolen car.

He is expected to appear at Ipswich Children's Court on Monday.

The three others captured in the footage remain on the run and investigations are continuing.

The group is described as possibly a mix of adult and juvenile males who appear to be of African appearance.

Investigators appealed to anyone who saw the group in the Redbank Plains and Springfield Lakes areas between 6pm and 7pm on Saturday to contact police.

Tributes have since flowed for the 70-year-old retiree, who has been remembered as kind-hearted with a devotion to helping others, particularly the homeless.

Ms White has been remembered as kind-hearted and was about to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary

Floral tributes are seen at the shopping centre where Ms White was killed

VYLEEN WHITE TIMELINE: Saturday evening: Ms White and her six-year-old granddaughter go to the Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre 6.10pm: Emergency services are called to the shopping centre after Ms White is fatally stabbed Ms White's blue 2009 Hyundai Getz is stolen from the centre Sunday morning: The Hyundai Getz is found by police at Springfield Lakes and seized for forensic examination Sunday afternoon: Police release images of four persons of interest Footage shows the group of four boys exiting the Hyundai Getz Monday morning: Boy, 15, is arrested in relation to the investigation into Ms White's death He has been charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle in relation to the alleged stolen car He is expected to appear at Ipswich Children's Court later on Monday Advertisement

She was about to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary with her husband, who relied on her help to navigate the world after becoming blind.

Detective Acting Superintendent Heath McQueen called for public assistance in identifying the four people who 'dumped the victim's vehicle in the street at Springfield Lakes, exited that vehicle and walked away'.

'I can say, there's believed to be one person involved in the attack on this elderly lady, operating alone,' he said.

'However, we may identify further offenders that are involved who are peripherally linked to this offender who has committed the homicide.'

Supt McQueen earlier described the scene as 'very harrowing' and acknowledged that while Ms White's six-year-old granddaughter was unharmed in the attack, it will 'leave a scar on her'.

A candlelit vigil was held for Ms White on Sunday night, with more than 100 people in attendance.

Her daughter Danice White revealed the grandmother was doing a grocery shop at the centre ahead of plans for a bible study later on Saturday night.

'We are all pretty numb and shaken up, we've got high blood pressure at the moment,' Danice told Courier Mail.

'I'm struggling to control my thoughts right now.'

Danice recalled her father had told Ms White to go to a different shopping centre before she was attacked.

'Dad said, 'Why don't you to go to Redbank plaza?'.

'If only she'd listened that day, it would have not been her,' she said.
Less than a mile from where Americans from across the country are rallying on a Texas ranch against what they call President Joe Biden's 'open border' policies, at least two groups of illegal immigrants were caught sneaking into the US, the DailyMail.com witnessed.

A group of seven border crossers who had just waded through the waters of the Rio Grande, the river that separates the US and Mexico and serves as the international boundary, were stopped by US Border Patrol agents Saturday morning.

Cornerstone Children's Ranch, where the 'Take Our Border Back' convoy is rallying Saturday near the city of Eagle Pass, 500 feet away from the border.

Further down the road, a second group of migrants was taken into custody by federal immigration agents.

'It's almost comical, whether the migrants had any kind of notification that this was coming to Eagle Pass, they're going to come no matter what the consequences are,' Terrell County Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland told DailyMail.com.

A group of seven illegal immigrants were stopped from entering the country near Quemado, Texas. The 'Take Our Border Back' trucker convoy rallied Saturday less than a mile away from where the migrants were caught

The migrant entered the US near Quemado, Texas, a small town outside of Eagle Pass where migrants are known to cross

Migrants were caught attempting to enter the southern border despite the massive rally going on nearby

Terrell County Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland made a stop at the trucker convoy rally Saturday morning in Quemado, Texas

Cleveland, the sheriff of a near-by border county and a retired Border Patrol agent, was one of an estimated 300 people, according to organizer Mike Foranzo, who stopped by the convoy gathering Saturday.

Although online rumors had swirled that high-ranking elected officials including former President Donald Trump might make an appearance, the VIPs never showed.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who is entrenched in a political and legal battle over securing the border, the motive for the rally, also stayed away.

The Republican governor has defied orders from the Biden Administration to turn over a city-owned park in Eagle Pass that he seized on Jan. 10 and that he banned Border Patrol agents from.

Instead, Abbott has been making fundraising and campaign stops throughout the Lone Star State this week.

Texas has remained defiant, refusing to give federal immigration officers access to the park where illegal immigrants used to cross into the country illegally

Hard-line Christian groups deemed too extreme were not allowed on to the ranch were the trucker convoy is gathering. Additionally, local law enforcement was called in to help secure the gathering Saturday

Many attendees at the trucker convoy gathering did not want to disclose their names or even show their faces as they believed the FBI was tracking them or using the event as a 'set up' to arrest them

Attendees at the convoy gathering support Texas' stance that it does not have to follow federal orders because the federal government is not doing its job of securing the border

Sunday, he plans to travel to Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, some 30 minutes away from the trucker convoy party, to hold a press conference with 14 GOP governors who are supporting him.

It's possible elected officials are staying away from the ranch after violent threats were made to a Border Patrol migrant center in Eagle Pass.

Extremists planned to set it on fire and kill migrants.

The center, known as the 'Fire Fly' facility, was evacuated Thursday and is surrounded with extra security now.

Abbott's office did not respond to the DailyMail.com's request for comment about the potential for danger because of the rhetoric used by some attendees.

The US Border Patrol's Firefly migrant center outside of Eagle Pass, Texas received threats from people wanting to burn the center down and kill migrants, sources tell the DailyMail.com

Less than 200 migrants were evacuated from the facility Thursday after the threats were made, federal sources tell DailyMail.com

Three Texans who live near the town of Kerrville, Texas drove in to support the convoy in Eagle Pass Thursday night. The woman to the right did not want to be identified as she believes the FBI could be tracking her, but she said, 'I'm sorry, but it's time to start shooing--literally. If they were coming over legally, it would be fine, but no illegally.'

'I'm sorry, but it's time to start shooting - literally,' one woman told DailyMail.com about illegal immigrants. 'If they would come over legally, it would be fine, but not illegally.'

The woman refused to give her name because she believes that anyone associated with the convoy is being tracked by the FBI.

'None of us are happy about it,' she added and described her neighbors in Kerrville, Texas as 'gunned up.'

The state did considerably beef up security at Shelby Park, where the governor will speak Sunday.

All roads leading to the park, a 2.5 mile stretch of land crawling with Texas National guard, Texas state troopers and other law enforcement officers, is now itself being guarded by Eagle Pass police officers.

Texas National Guard soldiers patrol the entrance to Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas. The land, owned by the City of Eagle Pass, was taken over by the state on Jan. 10 and federal agents were kicked out

Eagle Pass police officers sealed off the roads leading to Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas Saturday

Only VIPs and credentialed media may access the park now

There is heightened security in Eagle Pass after threats to a Border Patrol facility lead to migrants being evacuated

Some citizens who traveled to Eagle Pass were shocked to see only Shelby Park was completely sealed off.

Many believed the entire city was impenetrable by migrants.

'It's a great show right here of doing what the border should be-- blocked off, but either way, north and south, it's wide open,' said Ray Howard, a resident of Ingram, Texas.

'This is just a political showdown with the federal government. That's what I see. A waste of resources. Nothing's actually being done.'
An American woman living in London claims Londoners 'aren't nice' and says people look at her like she's 'crazy' for thanking bus drivers.

Aurora Lofton, originally from Virginia, made the move to the UK almost two years ago and is often surprised by the stark differences between the two countries.

The 27-year-old posts candid videos to her TikTok account (@aurora._victoria) about adjusting to life in the UK and has built up quite the fanbase, with 628,000 followers and 2.2million likes to date.

We've previously reported on her thoughts on 'confusing' street signs, UK cinema snacks and her difficulties finding long-lasting bread in supermarkets.

MailOnline Travel spoke to Aurora to find out more about her 'whirlwind' London life and what she loves and hates about the city.

Aurora Lofton, who posts videos on TikTok about her life as an American living in the UK, spoke to MailOnline Travel about what she loves and hates about London

The 27-year-old claims Londoners 'aren't nice' and says people look at her like she's 'crazy' for saying thank you to bus drivers

The content creator and management consultant said: 'Overall, people are not "nice". I would not use that word to describe people down here.'

Her reasoning? She said: 'When I get off the bus, people look at me like I'm crazy for saying thank you to the bus driver.'

Aurora, who lives in East London, said the city is very 'individualistic'. She explained: 'People don't smile back at you, or if you're walking past someone on the street and say good morning. They don't say good morning back. People don't hold doors open for each other.'

She even claimed people are friendlier in New York, having previously lived in Brooklyn where she said 'people will say hello to each other'.

She added: 'Here [London], you stay in your own lane. You don't interact with anybody. You have your specific coworkers, your specific friends and acquaintances and everyone else you do not interact with at all.'

Aurora made the move to London almost two years ago and said she has now 'adapted' to city living

Aurora has become so used to the London way of living that she's found herself stunned when visiting other countries.

When visiting her family in Switzerland, she said: 'Someone said "hello" to me on the street. I was like, "Oh my god". I'm the meanest person on the street now. Because I've adapted to the London way of acting. I just forgot that's what you're supposed to do.'

However, she said: 'All those things aside, I have built such an incredible life here. I love the friends that I have, and have met such incredible people.'

Aurora claims London is the best city 20-somethings can be in. She said: 'Anything you want, London can bring it to you.

'I don't know of any other city that has this amount of diversity, green space and access to the world and Europe. Nothing compares to London.

Aurora said she has built an 'incredible' life in London and loves the 'diversity' and 'green spaces' the city offers. She's pictured left at a cafe in Little Venice and right in Holland Park

Aurora told MailOnline Travel: 'Anything you want, London can bring it to you.' She's shown above at The Standard Hotel in London

'You can meet people from anywhere in the world. It's such a melting pot.'

But she warns those thinking of moving to come in the spring. She said: 'The winter is horrible - it's terrible. There's no denying it.

'But spring and summer is a vibe. So just hold on and come in the springtime.'

When asked if she'd ever move back to the U.S, she said: 'Maybe one day, I love America, so my heart is in two places. I still love being an American.'

But she's not ready to swap her life in the UK anytime soon.

To see more from Aurora visit her on TikTok www.tiktok.com/@aurora._victoria and Instagram www.instagram.com/aurora._victoria/?hl=en.
When you walk down a British high street you are often greeted by the familiar sight of a Wetherspoons or a Sainsbury's.

Some of us love our reliable brands so much so that we are even on the hunt for the tastes of home while abroad.

From the sunny shores of Spain to warm Italian cities, imitations of British classics are dotted throughout the continent.

MailOnline takes a look at the knock-off restaurants and shops abroad - and why Brits are loving them.

Weatherspains - Malaga, Spain

When you journey to Spain you expect to be trying paella, but if you head to the Costa Del Sol you can get the full British experience at Weatherspains

The restaurant boasts amazing reviews on TripAdvisor and Facebook, with a ratings of 4.5 our of 5 and 4.8 out of 5 on each site respectively

Similarly to Wetherspoons, Wetherspains allows customers provides customers with a table service - getting rid of the hassle of going to and fro from the bar

When you venture to to sunny southern Spain, you expect to try tapas, paellas and maybe enjoy a few sangrias.

But a Wetherspoons dupe on the Costa del Sol is offering British punters a far cry from traditional Spanish fare.

Located in Benalmadena, Weatherspains boast all the pub classics of home, including gammon, chips and peas, sausage and mash, as well as an assortment of different flavoured pies.

The British-themed restaurant also dishes up burgers, salads, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, starters - and even desserts for those with a sweet tooth.

Similarly to the UK pub chain, the British-themed bar also allows has table service for their customers - saving them the hassle of going up to the bar.

Another feature eerily similar to its British look alike is the variety of affordable pints and cocktails on offer.

Although it may share a number of commonalities with the quintessentially British pub, there are several aspects of this restaurant that are different.

The British had a myriad of humble dishes found in the UK, such as gammon and chips, sausage and mash and more

But there are a few differences between the two, unlike the British chain, Weatherspains hosts weekend events, such as raffles and karoake

But glistening sunrays aside, the establishment also hosts various events on the weekends including, raffles karaoke and bingo.

The British-owned restaurant has proved to also be hit with customers, bagging a 4.5 out of five rating on TripAdvisor.

The Spanish pub has only received seven 'terrible' reviews, whilst having 137 reviews branded excellent.

One person commented on the review site: 'We popped in here for a drink, and the staff were very friendly and English and we had a nice chat.

'The view is amazing looking out at the ocean. Highly recommend.'

Wotherspoons - Tenerife, Spain

But Weatherpains isn't the only British-inspired pub, with Wotherspoons located just off the Moroccan coast in Tenerife

The pub has proved popular among tourists, bolstering a five out of five TripAdvisor rating

Famous faces have even made a visit to the Tenerife restaurant, namely Scottish comic Kevin Bridges

The trend of look-a-like Wetherspoons does not begin and end on the Costa de Sol, with another British-inspired pub with a similar name just off the coast of Morocco.

Wotherspoons Cafe Bar in Tenerife has not only proved to be a hit with customers, it has also had some famous punters make a surprise visit.

The restaurant, which boasts a stellar TripAdvisor rating of five out of five, has even had comedian, Kevin Bridges pop up for a visit.

Poll Would YOU visit a British restaurant abroad? Yes, I love British food No Maybe if I want fish and chips Would YOU visit a British restaurant abroad? Yes, I love British food 43 votes

No 81 votes

Maybe if I want fish and chips 30 votes Now share your opinion





The Scottish owned pub carries a range of alcoholic drinks which are popular among Brits, including Strongbow, Gordon's Pink Gin and Guinness.

Although they serve a range of British meals, including ham and cheese toasties, tuna baguettes and fish and chips, they also plate up some food you would not expect to find in a traditional Weatherspoons.

From Ariabata pasta to pasta with calamari and butterfly prawns, their menu is mixture of British and Mediterranean inspired cuisine.

One review read: 'Absolutely excellent. Loved every minute of our experience watching rugby. We will be back. Great tempura shrimp.'

Another said: 'Really welcoming service and very homely feeling. Food was fantastic, a good price and tasted delicious. Would highly recommend.'

One more gushed: 'What a find!! This place is a must if you are in Tenerife. Shona and Barry go out of their way to make you welcome and nothing is too much trouble. Food is absolutely outstanding - steak pie is the best I have ever tasted.'

Oh My God! - Padua, Italy

It's not only Spain's British themed hotspots that are leaving people baffled, Oh My God! in Italy has also caused quite the stir on Reddit

The establishment located in Padua, Italy, has a whole host of British dishes and even has dishes dedicated to particular region in the UK

But it's not only Spain's British themed restaurants leaving people baffled.

Based in Padua, Italy, Oh My God! caters to the tastebuds of tourists flocking to the country's northern region.

The restaurant has given it their best go to capture the taste of Britain.

From pork pies, Cornish pasties, to Welsh rarebit, Oh My God! has gone to extreme lengths to embody delicacies from various regions across the Isles.

Reddit users have been amazed by the business, with one person writing: 'Some decent looking attempts there, well done to them!'

'They're trying to cover all of UK with a recipe for each region so fair enough for that.'

Another chimed in: 'I love this, it's a pretty good effort and most of those dishes are traditional and delicious. Especially love the sound of Jack the potato!!'

Some found their menu mishaps particularly amusing, with one user pointing out that they had placed an icon or a bunny rabbit next to Welsh rarebit - and had even misspelt the country's name.

Many were up in arms about what the UK themed restaurant mistakes, including labelling a Lancashire hotpot as a North eastern cuisine

Others saw the brighter side, finding it hilarious that they had spelt Wales incorrectly and had even put an image of a rabbit next to the Welsh rarebit description

However, not everybody was particularly thrilled by some of the restaurant's menu choices.

'North eastLancashire hotpot. I guess that's like our knowledge of Italian region,' one quipped.

Another sternly quipped: 'Salmon in the north east? Cod maybe. Or please pudding. But salmon? F*** no.'

One user was particularly disgruntled about the Cornish Pasty being plated up with a side of beans.

Another was staunchly adamant that Fish and Chips was not a London cuisine despite what the 7.80 dish tried to imply on the menu.

'I think most people associate fish and chips with really any seaside British town,' they stated.

'Best fish and chips I've ever had was in Anstruther, 15 mins from St Andrews. There's a chippy there that won a number of awards for their food. And everything is as fresh as can be.'

Categorising Scotch Eggs as Scottish was also a massive debate - one even Oh My God admitted in the description:

'Classic picnic food, whose original recipe is a point of contention throughout the whole of UK. But if it's called Scotch Egg, there must be a reason?'

Spainsbury's - Malaga, Spain

It's not just British pubs that are inspiring the continent, it is also our supermarkets, as Malaga has its very own 'Spainsbury's'

The corner shop is stocked with British goodies from Quality Streets, Braces Bread to cumberland sausages - the shop has it all

It's not only British pubs popping up around the globe, imitations of classic UK supermarkets are also making an appearance.

A few streets away from Fuengirola beach in Malaga, you will find the British-themed convenient store with a retro red and blue sign - Spainsbury's.

In the heart of Los Boliches, the corner shop is stocked with a wide range of feel-good snacks Brits will recognise.

Among their varied selection includes, Braces bread - both medium and extra large slices - Quality Street and Roses tins, Walkers crisps and Lurpak.

The shop even an English TV channel guide for your favourite soaps for Brits abroad wanting to catch up on Hairy Bikers or the BBC's Death In Paradise.

The British-themed shop goes the extra mile to stock more traditional items including traditional pork and Cumberland sausages as well as Robertson's mincemeat.
Star Trek legend William Shatner is living up to his animal lover reputation after he was seen doting on his two dogs during a trip to the vet last week.

The legendary actor, who will turn 93 in March, turned up early to an animal clinic in Los Angeles for a morning appointment for his two beloved Dobermans, Espresso and Mocha, initially sitting outside as he waited for the facility to open.

At one point he got into a tangle with one of the dogs after the pup looked like it was trying to bolt from its leash.

William Shatner appeared nervous and downcast while taking his two dogs to the vet in Los Angeles last week

The dog lover turned up early to a local animal clinic, taking a seat outside as he waited for the facility to open, exclusive DailyMail.com photos show

At one point the legendary actor got into a tangle with one of the dogs after the pup looked like it was trying to bolt from its leash

Shatner was seen tugging on the leash and shouting at the mischievous fussy pooch

Both pets were eventually taken inside for their appointment, with Shatner opting to wait outside for an hour.

Clad in a checkered shirt, sweatpants and black puffer vest, the TV icon appeared nervous as he waited for his pups, one of which appeared to have undergone a procedure.

He chewed on his glasses while checking his phone and pacing around with his hands in his pockets.

After about an hour the pooches emerged and were given the all clear to go home although one was sporting a protective cone around its neck.

Shatner then doted and fussed on them as nurses helped him lift the animals into the trunk of his SUV.

The film star is known for his deep appreciation for animals, having been a longtime Doberman owner, and a horse breeder and even bonded with his wife Elizabeth over their mutual love of horse-riding.

The Dobermans were eventually taken in to be examined by the veterinarian, with Shatner opting to wait outside

Clad in a checkered shirt, sweatpants and black puffer vest, the TV icon appeared nervous as he waited for his pups. He chewed on his glasses while checking his phone and pacing around with his hands in his pockets

After about an hour the pooches emerged and were given the all clear to go home although one was sporting a protective cone around its neck

Speaking back in January 2021 on X, formerly Twitter, the original Captain Kirk gushed about his beloved pups.

'I currently have two Dobermans. I love that breed. You have to train them early because they take off like a rocket & unless you have them trained to obey you are going to have a difficult time handling them,' he said at the time.

The Canadian-born star remains extremely active despite his advanced years and just last year celebrated the release of the feature-length documentary dedicated to his illustrious career, titled, You Can Call Me Bill.

In the lead up to its debut, Shatner candidly discussed his own mortality, saying he 'doesn't have long to live' but decided to make the movie as a way of being about to 'reach out to his grandchildren' after his death.

Speaking to Variety he said: 'I've turned down a lot of offers to do documentaries before. But I don't have long to live'.

'Whether I keel over as I'm speaking to you or 10 years from now, my time is limited, so that's very much a factor. I've got grandchildren. This documentary is a way of reaching out after I die.'

Shatner then doted and fussed on them as nurses helped him lift the animals into the trunk of his SUV

Speaking back in January 2021 on X, formerly Twitter, the original Captain Kirk gushed about his beloved pups

Shatner divorced his fourth wife Elizabeth (pictured together left) in 2020 but last year confirmed the couple had reconciled. He is pictured right in his most famous role, Captain James T Kirk on Star Trek

William is father to daughters Leslie, Lisabeth, and Melanie from three previous marriages and is a grandfather to five.

He was married to his fourth and most recent wife, Elizabeth Martin from 2001 until their divorce in 2020 - but last year confirmed they had reconciled three years after their $2million split.

The actor got back together with Elizabeth, 64, and attended the Living Legends of Aviation Awards in Beverly Hills last January.

William and Elizabeth reached a divorce settlement in March 2020 following 19 years of marriage.

He also paid Elizabeth a lump sum of $2million for spousal support per their prenuptial agreement, ' TMZ reported.

As part of the settlement, William kept his Studio City home and a ranch in Three Rivers, California (near Sequoia National Park).
Netflix fans have hailed a 'perfect' new action movie as they said the 10/10 film does not have a 'single dull moment'.

Badland Hunter, starring The Roundup's Ma Dong-Seok, is jam-packed with spectacular fight scenes and explosive violence.

The 2024 hit, which also stars K-pop sensation Lee Jun-young, was only released on the streaming platform this week and fans are already dubbing it 10/10.

Heo Myeong Haeng's directorial debut follows a fearless huntsman, Nam San (Ma), who turns to heroism after an earthquake turns Seoul into a lawless badland.

Nam sets out to bravely rescue an endangered teenager, Han Su-na (No Jeong-ee), from a mad and violent doctor, Dr Yang Gi-su (Lee Hee-Joon).

Netflix fans have hailed a 'perfect' new action movie as they said the 10/10 film does not have a 'single dull moment' praising Badland Hunter, starring Ma Dong-Seok (pictured)

Heo Myeong Haeng's directorial debut follows a fearless huntsman, Nam San (Ma), who turns to heroism after an earthquake turns Seoul into a lawless badland (pictured with Don Lee)

Dr Yang holds Han captive in a dangerous camp packed with violent and short-tempered cultists.

She is subjected to medical tests and is indoctrinated into a cult before she makes a friend on her way to Dr Yang's safe haven.

The action movie has seen roaring reviews so far as it has achieved an impressive 89 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, while critics dubbed it 'thrilling from beginning to end'.

One penned: 'Badland Hunters has just enough momentum to string together a series of fisticuffs and close-quarters combat that will elate any action fan.

'But let's get back to the bruising. Because what you've come for is to see Ma Dong-seok in action, and in that sense, Hunters does not disappoint.'

'Chock-full of impressive violence and spectacular fight scenes, Badland Hunters features Ma Dong-seok at his most explosive.'

Netflix fans also flocked to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their surprising delight at the action thriller.

One wrote: 'badland hunters exciting! If it was made into a series it would definitely be more exciting, because there would be more plot (sic).'

Nam sets out to bravely rescue an endangered teenager, Han Su-na (No Jeong-ee) (pictured), from a mad and violent doctor, Dr Yang Gi-su (Lee Hee-Joon)

The action movie has seen roaring reviews so far as it has achieved an impressive 89 percent on Rotten Tomatoes as critics dubbed it 'thrilling from beginning to end'

Netflix fans also flocked to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their surprising delight at the action thriller

'#BadlandHunters 100/10'

'Well-deserved! The Bequeathed and Badland Hunters are masterpiece indeed (sic).'

Badland Hunters amassed 14.3million views in its first week alone and is Netflix's number one non-English speaking movie for the week.

The Korean hit was rated just 6/10 on IMDB, but its popularity is soaring as it sits at 3,788 on the scale.
Susan Lucci does not seem to age. This week the soap opera actress looked sensational at 76 on the red carpet.

The diva lit up the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection Concert in New York City.

She had on a scarlet red strapless gown that came in at the waistline and had a mermaid finish.

'Telling my heart story at yesterday's beautiful GO Red for Women luncheon at Tavern On The Green! Such passionate leaders and survivorsso inspiring to hear their stories!,' she wrote on Instagram on Friday.

She then said it was all about 'women helping women.'

Also at the event were Mira Sorvino and Demi Lovato.

Susan Lucci does not seem to age. This week the soap opera actress looked sensational at 76 on the red carpet

The diva lit up the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection Concert in New York City

One night in January, discomfort was radiating around her rib cage. She was short of breath. Something definitely wasn't right.

But it was late in the evening, and she didn't want to bother her doctor. At first, she didn't even tell her husband. She went to bed.

'I was just going to let it all go,' Lucci said to the AHA. 'Then I felt a sharp pain in the left side of my jaw. I had read that can be a symptom for women having a heart event as well. It really kind of woke me up.'

Urged by her husband, she finally called her cardiologist at home. He didn't hesitate.

'He said, "I'll meet you at the ER. Call me when you're close,"' she said.

By morning she had a stent implanted in a coronary artery that was 80% blocked, potentially avoiding a serious heart attack.

'You can never really tell how quickly it could have happened, but certainly within a year,' said Dr. Richard Shlofmitz, chairman of cardiology at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, New York. He diagnosed the problem and performed the procedure. 'It's like if you have a log in a river and some twigs get attached. It just builds up.'

Years earlier, the actress had her first cardiovascular episode, when doctors discovered that two other arteries were blocked, one 90% and the other 75%.

Lucci had ignored mounting symptoms for a couple of weeks until crushing chest pain finally sent her to the hospital. Two stents  small wire mesh tubes that widen clogged arteries and ensure adequate blood flow to the heart  quickly fixed the problem, and probably saved her life.

'Life returned to normal very quickly,' said the actress who lives on New York's Long Island. 'I was on stage two days after I was discharged, and life continued to be wonderful.'

Here she was seen playing with a small dog while on the red carpet

In December she honored her late husband as she accepted her Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmy Awards in New York.

The actress, best known for her role as Erica Kane on the long-running soap opera All My Children, began her speech by raving that it was 'the icing on the cake' that her and Susan Lucci's son, Andreas, 36, was in the audience.

'It means so much to me to have you here with me,' she said as she accepted the honor,' she said to him from the stage. 'I feel your dad's presence here with us tonight too.

She continued: I thank my husband, Helmet Huber, because he has everything to do with me standing up here tonight and receiving this incredible award.'

She had on a scarlet red strapless gown that came in at the waistline and had a mermaid finish

'Telling my heart story at yesterday's beautiful GO Red for Women luncheon at Tavern On The Green! Such passionate leaders and survivorsso inspiring to hear their stories!,' she wrote on Instagram on Friday. She then said it was all about 'women helping women.' Also at the event were Mira Sorvino and Demi Lovato

Lucci's husband of nearly 53 years passed away in March 2022 at age 84. The two met while they were both working at a hotel and got engaged after three weeks of dating. They tied tied the knot in September 1969.

She and the Austrian-born writer and producer shared two children Andreas, 36, and Liza, 48.

Huber acted as Lucci's manager throughout much of her career and was the CEO of their production company, Pine Valley Productions, named for the fictional town where All My Children took place.

Lucci played Erica Kane beginning in 1970 and continued to portray they spunky character until All My Children ended in 2011.

Erica was popular with the fans, and Lucci was nominated for 19 Best Actress awards until she finally received one in 1999.

Shemar Moore, 53, who opened the envelope when Lucci finally won the long coveted honor, was there Friday, to present her with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

'She's been in TV series as well as film and stage... she's been ranked as one of the 50 greatest television stars of all time and I couldn't agree more,' the S.W.A.T. star said.

When Lucci won in 1999, Moore excitedly announced 'the streak is over,' before calling her name.

Lucci was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in New York City on December 15

Lucci began her run as Erica Kane on All My Children in 1970. She continued to portray' 'naughty girl in town' until the soap opera ended in 2011

The actress met her husband of nearly 53 years, Helmut Huber, when both were working at a hotel. They got engaged after three weeks of dating and married in September 1969 and remained together until his death in 2022 at age 84 (Pictured in New York in November 2017)

The couple had two children, Liza, 48, and Andreas, 36 (seen in Los Angeles in January 2005)

In her acceptance speech, Lucci said 'I thank my husband Helmet Huber because he has everything to do with me standing up here tonight and receiving this incredible award' (Pictured in New York in February 2020)

A tribute video included clips from both of her children, All My Children alums Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, pal Andy Cohen and Carol Burnett, 90, who has appeared on the show several times as different characters.

As she accepted her statuette, the veteran actress, who looked stunning in a strapless orange and silver gown told the audience, 'How lucky am I to dream my dreams of becoming an actress and grow up and have my dreams come true? There were obstacles and there were roadblocks  they were wannabe obstacles and roadblocks  but tonight's a night to celebrate.'

When she received her 1999 award, Lucci recalled she began her speech 'began by thanking God for the many blessings, I begin there again tonight, starting with my parents for their love.'

'I thank them for the example they set for me,' she continued, 'for telling me I could shoot for the moon and the stars, and to never be afraid.

She also expressed her gratitude to her her teachers for 'giving me the tools to be the kind of actress I wanted to be,' and singling out All My Children creator Agnes Nixon, who died in 2016.

Shemar Moore, who opened the envelope when Lucci finally one her only Daytime Emmy in 1999, was there to present the Lifetime Achievement Award Friday

'She was a trailblazer, visionary storyteller who gave me the part of the lifetime, the fabulously flawed Erica Kane,' whom Lucci called the 'naughty girl in town,' saying, 'she had spirit.'

Of course, Erica would not have had that long a life in TV land if it were not for the fans and the beloved actress thanked them for their support.

'I am eternally grateful to the fans for loving Erica Kane, even when she wasn't so lovable,' she continued. 'Thanks to them, I got to continue to play her again and again.'

Fans can stream the Daytime Emmy Awards on CBS.com or Paramount+
Married At First Sight star Hayley Vernon has celebrated a new sobriety milestone.

The adult actress, 37, told her Instagram fans on Sunday that she had gone five weeks without drinking alcohol and 14 weeks without using the illegal drug cocaine.

'Happy Sunday you beautiful people - I'm off to Pilates this morning but reached a drinking milestone. I haven't touched bags since I was in Europe last which was 14 weeks ago,' she proudly wrote.

Hayley went on to share how proud she was of herself for resisting temptation, writing: 'Feeling every bit the woman I know I am.'

'When I don't use socially I'm ten times more effective as [a] human being, oriented and goal set.'

Married At First Sight star Hayley Vernon, 37, (pictured) has celebrated a new sobriety milestone

She then shared a poignant question to any followers who may have used substances over the weekend.

'If you got in it in the weekend, ask yourself "Why?" Was going out and getting p**sed or on the bags worth it? What did you gain?' She asked.

It comes months after Hayley gave another update on her sobriety journey.

The adult actress told her Instagram fans on Sunday that she had gone five weeks without drinking alcohol and 14 weeks without using the illegal drug cocaine

In July, Hayley announced on Instagram that she hadn't taken cocaine or consumed alcohol in 10 weeks.

When contacted for comment, Hayley told Daily Mail Australia that becoming sober was the best decision she's ever made.

'Let's be honest here, most adults recreationally use cocaine - it's more common these days than alcohol. What I realised [is] that it doesn't serve me or what I want from life - it actually steals my happiness,' she said.

'Happy Sunday you beautiful people - I'm off to Pilates this morning but reached a drinking milestone. I haven't touched bags since I was in Europe last which was 14 weeks ago,' she proudly wrote. (Hayley is pictured in Milan in September)

'The best thing I've done in my 36 years is to quit alcohol - let's talk about that for a second. Alcohol in my opinion does more damage than anything,' she added.

Hayley made no secret of her past struggles with alcohol, cannabis, and crystal meth while on on her MAFS journey.

She started dabble in taking drugs when she was just 16, but dropped her bad habits before joining MAFS in 2020.

It appears she decided to quit cocaine around the same time she split with her mystery boyfriend in May.

Hayley announced the pair had split in an emotional Instagram post, writing 'Goodbyes are never easy. I caught up with him last night to get closure and pack away that chapter.'

'Lots of tears but it's something I had to do, I had to say what I felt and this morning I feel lighter for doing so.'

Hayley went on to say she was grateful for the lessons the relationship had taught her.

'He taught me how I should be loved and I'll be forever thankful for that, right person wrong time and that's going to take some time to heal from.'

Hayley explained she has turned to journaling to help deal with the split.
Gaza, Feb 4 (UNI) Hamas has demanded that Israel release 3,000 Palestinian prisoners during their indirect talks on a fresh pause to fighting in the Gaza Strip, Al Arabiya news channel reported on Saturday, citing sources familiar with the talks.

Hamas wants the three-stage truce to include the release of Palestinian prisoners as a fourth stage, the sources told the broadcaster.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said on Friday that Israel had given a positive initial response to the newest truce proposal that would start with a six-week halt to fighting and include the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas.

The truce proposal was agreed in Paris in late January by Israel, the United States, Egypt and Qatar. Hamas said it had received a draft and was reviewing it. Israeli media reported that the Mossad intelligence agency wanted the first stage of the plan to see 35 hostages released in exchange for a 35-day pause to fighting.

On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from Gaza and breached the border, killing 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others. 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 27,000 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.

UNI/SPUTNIK AKS
Australian influencer Vanessa Hammond has welcomed her third child with husband Sean.

The mummy blogger, 29, posted the happy news to Instagram on Friday by sharing a photo of herself tenderly cradling her newborn daughter.

'Our girl is here,' she wrote next to the photo.

She also revealed her babies adorable name - Opal.

Many of Vanessa's celebrity pals quickly took to the comments section to extend their well wishes.

Australian influencer Vanessa Hammond, 29, (pictured) has welcomed her third child with husband Sean

'So beautiful, congratulations! Welcome to the world beautiful Opal,' gushed NRL WAG Kayla Boyd while Aussie DJ Fisher's wife Chloe wrote 'Awww'.

Vanessa married husband Sean in 2019 on the Gold Coast. The couple share daughter Bambi and son Leo.

Vanessa last made headlines in 2020 when she posted an aerial photo of a mysterious alien-like 'hexagon' on her rural Western Australia property to her 60,000 Instagram followers and asked what they thought it was.

The mummy blogger posted the happy news to Instagram on Friday by sharing a photo of her tenderly cradling her newborn

The plot of land, which contains horizontal lines between different buildings, was revealed to be a naval base at Exmouth, on Western Australia's north west cape.

The photo captured an aerial view of Tower Zero at Harold E Holt Naval Communication Station - one of the largest towers in the Southern Hemisphere.

After some speculation, Vanessa's fans got to the bottom of what the puzzling area was.

'Our girl is here,' she wrote next to the photo. Vanessa also revealed her babies adorable name - Opal

'Fun fact, it is one of the biggest in the world. They produce their own power and treat and make their own water too,' a follower wrote to Hammond, who shared their answers on her Instagram stories.

'I've been there. [It's an] old camp ground from the Americans and there's even a mini town that has a pool and a bowling alley,' another shared.

The station provides radio transmission to the Unites States Navy and Royal Australian Navy ships and submarines in the western Pacific Ocean and eastern Indian Ocean.

Vanessa is a popular mummy blogger who frequently shares updates about her daily life to social media.
Alabama Barker gave a happy update on her stolen luxury watches on Wednesday, revealing they have been found.

Travis Barker's 18-year-old daughter took to Instagram on Wednesday to share the good news, posting a direct message from fast food joint Fatburger, where she claimed someone stole her Patek Philippe and Cartier watches on Saturday.

'Hi Alabama, we saw the news on your watches and immediately reached out to our local franchise. They found your watches in the bathroom and put them in the safe as they didn't know who they belonged to,' the message read.

Alabama replied: 'Hey, I can come in tonight or tomorrow, thank you guys so much for keeping it safe,' before adding, 'I'll also post this so they know you gave it back to me.'

Along with the positive update she also shared a sizzling mirror snap, where she wore red bikini bottoms with red boots and a leather jacket.

Alabama Barker, 18, gave a happy update on her stolen luxury watches on Wednesday, revealing they have been found. She also shared a sizzling new mirror selfie in red boots

Travis Barker's 18-year-old daughter took to Instagram on Wednesday to share the good news, posting a direct message from fast food joint Fatburger

Her platinum blonde strands were styled in light locks, and she wore smokey eye makeup for the occasion.

'It's a bikini,' she wrote over the snap, in reference to the red bottoms she was wearing.

Alabama also seemed thrilled about recovering her watches, writing, 'We did it!!!' on her other post.

Last Saturday she revealed that her Patek Philippe and Cartier watches had been stolen in a series of posts that were shared on her Instagram Story.

The social media personality shared a post to let her 2 million followers know that the watches had been stolen from a bathroom of a Fatburger location in Burbank, California.

Alabama - who recently shared a snap featuring her father and her stepmother Kourtney Kardashian - also mentioned that she had 'a reward' waiting for the individual who had committed the theft.

Barker shared another message to let her fans know that she was particularly distraught by the crime.

The social media personality wrote that her heart was 'broken' and pleaded: 'Bring it back to me!!!'

Last Saturday Barker revealed that her Patek Philippe and Cartier watches had been stolen in a series of posts

The social media personality shared a post to let her 2 million followers know that the watches had been stolen from a bathroom of a Fatburger location in Burbank, California

She also mentioned that she had 'a reward' waiting for the individual who had committed the theft

Barker shared another message to let her fans know that she was particularly distraught by the crime

She went on to post close-up images of her stolen watches to give her fans a closer look at the accessories.

The reality television figure illustrated her despair in further detail by adding broken-heart emojis to her photos.

The influencer revealed that she was gifted her Cartier Panthere, which carries a price tag of $4,000, this past December.

At the time, Barker shared an image of the watch on her Instagram Story to thank Kris Jenner for her generous Christmas present.

According to Page Six, the social media figure also received a Birkin 30 in white Togo leather, which can retail for anywhere from $25,000 to $35,000.

The daughter of Shanna Moakler had already been the proud owner of purses from various luxury brands, including Givenchy, Prada and Balenciaga.

Barker, as well as her older brother Landon, were also gifted matching Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons, which are sold at a minimum price of $150,000, this past Christmas.

The influencer showed off her stolen watches in a set of images that were shared on her Instagram account last week.

The influencer completed her photoset with a snap that showed her walking towards her G-Wagon

The social media personality was seen while wearing a tight-fitting lace bodysuit in three of the glammed-up snaps.

Barker accessorized with various pieces of jewelry, including the Patek Philippe and Cartier watches that were stolen, in the snap.

She completed her look with a pair of knee-high leather boots, and her voluminous blonde hair contrasted well with the dark tone of her clothing.

The influencer completed her photoset with a snap that showed her walking towards her G-Wagon.
Tiger King's Joe Exotic made a plea for Kim Kardashian's help getting him out of prison under one of her older sister Kourtney's recent Instagram pictures.

The former zookeeper attempted to reach out to the reality star, who has been studying law since 2018, through social media earlier this week.

'Please have your sister help me get out of this hell hole,' the convicted felon, whose rise and fall was documented on Netflix's documentary Tiger King, asked Kourtney.

Within five days, the comment received more than 10,495 likes, and hundreds of comments.

Tiger King's Joe Exotic made a plea for Kim Kardashian's help to get him out of prison under one of her older sister Kourtney's recent Instagram pictures

In response to to one fan asking if the comment was real, Exotic replied that he was 'ready to film my comeback series' and needed Kim to 'push Biden to sign' his 'pardon.'

The 60-year-old Kansas native also gushed that the photo Kourtney posted with her baby boy, Rocky Thirteen, who was wrapped in his mother's arms.

Exotic - real name Joseph Allen Maldonado was convicted on 17 federal charges of animal abuse and two counts of attempted murder for hire in his plot to kill Big Cat Rescue owner, Carole Baskin, in 2019.

The case was the focus of highly-popular 2020 Netflix series Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness.

Last February, TMZ reported that Exotic's medical team had believed his prostate cancer had spread to his bladder, however he was refusing treatment.

While Kim did not acknowledge Exotic, she previously admitted to binge-watching Netflix documentary series Tiger King.

She even dressed as Baskin for Halloween in 2020 while her BFF, Jonathan Cheban, hilariously coordinated as Exotic, alongside her fours kids in tigers costumes.

While Kim may seem like an odd choice to reach out to for help, she has been become a force in criminal justice and prison reform.

The former zookeeper, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison for trying to hire two different men to kill his nemesis Carole Baskin, attempted to reach out to the reality star, who has been studying law since 2018, through social media earlier this week (Kim and Kourtney Kardashian seen in 2018)

Kim's advocacy work dates back to 2017 when she got involved with fighting for clemency for Alice Johnson.

She first reached out to Ivanka Trump about the case, and later met with former President Donald Trump to campaign on Johnson's behalf.

It led to Trump pardoning Alice for a non-violent drug trafficking offense, and her release from prison in summer 2018.

Since then, Kardashian has gone on to fight for others in similar situations, including Kevin Cooper and Julius Jones.

'Please have your sister help me get out of this hell hole,' the convicted felon, whose rise and fall was documented on Netflix's documentary Tiger King, asked Kourtney

Recently speaking on the Angie Martinez IRL podcast, Kim noted about her first White House trip: 'I hated how I felt when I went into the White House for the first time and I didnt know half of anything that they were saying  like all of the clemency talk, and all the attorney lingo and everything that they were talking about.'

'With Alice, I was really naive to how this all worked,' she said. 'It's a lot of work that goes behind it.'

Kardashian said her late father, attorney Robert Kardashian, would love that she has followed his career path into the legal world, and that they had talked about her pursuing it.

While Kim may seem like an odd choice to reach out to for help, she has been become a force in criminal justice and prison reform

With her continued efforts, the SKIMS founder successfully helped overturn Jones' death sentence.

And last May, on the first season of her family's Hulu's show The Kardashians, Kim documented the moment she learned she had passed the 'baby bar' law exam.

While in her car with friend and publicist Tracy Romulus, the media personality logged into an online account where she learned the results of her third attempt at the test.

'Everyone told me this was the impossible way and there was no way I would ever pass this test, and I did,' she later said in an interview confessional.
Danny Cipriani has reportedly grown close to a stunning yoga teacher, two months on from his split from his wife Victoria Rose.

The former rugby player, 36, who was previously linked to Strictly Jowita Pryztal in the wake of his marriage breakdown, is said to have bonded with yoga teacher Eve Kundalini, 41, during his pilgrimage to India.

But friends are said to be concerned about the athlete's sudden lifestyle change from being 'settled in Kent' with Victoria to roaming the hills of India.

'Danny's on a spiritual journey. He admires Eve and how in touch she is with Mother Earth. But some of his friends are concerned about how drastically his life has changed,' a source told The Sun on Sunday.

'One minute he was with his wife in Kent and looked like he had settled down.

Danny Cipriani has reportedly grown close to a stunning yoga teacher, two months on from his split from wife Victoria Rose

The former rugby player, 36, who was previously linked to Strictly Jowita Pryztal, is said to have bonded with yoga teacher Eve Kundalini during his pilgrimage to India

MailOnline exclusively revealed that Danny and Victoria called time on their relationship in November, following a series of 'difficult' rows over text messages on his phone

'Then the next minute he is in the hills of India with a group of people he hasn't been that close to before.'

In a picture obtained during their travels by The Sun on Sunday, Danny and Eve can be seen at a restaurant in the village of Ooty.

The pair have their arms around each other's shoulders and are beaming from ear to ear.

MailOnline have contacted Danny's representatives for comment.

French-born Eve, has taught yoga at the five-star Blakes Hotel in Chelsea, West London and is friends with Jessica Lemarie-Pires, the wife of ex-Arsenal star Robert Pires.

The brunette beauty's surname, Kundalini, is a form of meditation, linked to tantric sex.

She is a regular traveler and according to her Instagram has visited Bali, France and now India. She regularly posts pictures and videos of her meditating and teaching yoga, whilst also spreading awareness about the ocean and plastic to her 5k followers.

Danny and ex wife Victoria were married for two years but called time on their relationship in November, following a series of 'difficult' rows over text messages on his phone.

A month later he took part in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special and was partnered up with Jowita and sent tongues wagging with several cosy behind-the-scenes photos.

Danny is thought to have formed a 'close bond' with Eve Kundalini with the two of them taking up ice baths

French-born Eve is an avid traveller and friends are thought to be concerned Danny's life has changed drastically from being married and settled to travelling the hills of India

Following the split, Danny took part in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special and was partnered up with Jowita Przystal

Victoria was said to have been 'gutted' to see her ex Danny sharing cosy snaps with his Strictly partner Jowita (pictured) after their break-up

At the time of the split, Danny released a statement to announce the news, telling his Instagram followers that he 'only wished the best' for his ex.

Since then, Victoria announced that shockingly, she was 'made aware of the situation at the same time as the public' in a now deleted post.

The media personality opened up about the difficult time and apologised for her 'emotionally charge response.'

She wrote: 'Danny publicly announced our split without any prior notice or discussion with me. I was made aware of the situation at the same time as the public, and this has caused me a great deal of pain.

'I apologise if my reactions and responses have seemed reactive or emotionally charged.

'The truth is, I am still going through a difficult time, and it is challenging for me to see Danny speaking about our separation publicly while I have not yet found the strength to process it, adjust or heal.

Victoria concluded: 'I really don't want to be caught up in the fanfare. Sorry for any hurt I have caused.'

The couple started dating in June 2020 and Danny proposed to the mother-of-two weeks after they first met.

Victoria last shared a picture with Danny in October as she penned a cryptic caption about life 'having its ups and downs.'
Coronation Street favourite Helen Worth has signed a new one-year contract on the show worth a whopping 250,000, according to repots.

The soap legend, 73, who has played Gail Platt in the show since 1974, has been at the centre of many explosive storylines.

The soap has been suffering a 'rocky patch', a source told The Sun - following a drop in its Christmas viewing figures, which saw it fail to make it into the top 10 most viewed shows.

But 'dedicated' Helen, who is said to receive 2,500 per episode, has reportedly signed a new one-year deal in a boost for the soap.

'Helen is dedicated to the soap and is determined to help steer it through a rocky patch,' the source said.

Coronation Street favourite Helen Worth has signed a new one-year contract on the show, worth a whopping 250,000

One of her more groundbreaking plots came when Gail's teenage daughter Sarah Platt fell pregnant at the age of 13

The source went on to say that Helen is bonded to the character of Gail and is excited about the dramatic storylines to come over the next year.

'She still enjoys her work and seeing her castmates and crew every day,' the source added.

MailOnline has contacted ITV and Helen's representatives for comment.

The Platts have been a staple of the show for a long time, but viewings figures have declined.

The Christmas Day episode was viewed by 2.6million - down almost three quarters from 10 years ago.

In December, it was reported ITV bosses are discussing a major shake-up of its soaps which could see them screened first, or exclusively, through online streaming.

The move has been prompted by declining viewing figures, forcing budget cuts to Coronation Street and Emmerdale, say ITV sources.

Anxious bosses are desperately looking at how they can attract a new audience, as even their older viewers are watching less terrestrial TV in favour of streaming giants such as Netflix.

An ITV insider said: 'Soaps don't make as much advertising money as they used to.

The Ossett-born actress who has played Gail Platt on the soap since 1974, collected her honour from The Prince Of Wales on Wednesday

'There are some chiefs looking enviously at all the consumer-themed documentaries Channel 5 makes and thinking that there could be better commercial opportunities in that kind of programming and using the slots allocated to the soaps for those.

'Corrie and Emmerdale are losing viewers at a drop of around ten per cent on last year.

'Budgets have already been cut on both shows and it is hard to see how they can sustain so many episodes.'

Helen was awarded an MBE for services to drama at Windsor Castle in January 2023, largely down to playing Gail.

Heading to the Castle collect her honour, Helen couldn't contain her delight as she spoke to Prince William.

She said: 'To have had a job and one that I love, and to be able to work in it is quite extraordinary. And then to get an award for it is just the icing on the cake.

'I have a little time off to begin with but I will walk in with my medal the day I do.

'There are quite a few medals scattered around the cast. They've all already been given them. I'm bringing up the rear really.'

Helen made her debut as a young Gail in the 1970s, and was soon followed by her despairing mother Audrey (played by Sue Nicholls).

One of her most iconic moment came when she was nearly drowned by her killer husband Richard Hillman

More recently, Gail has been dealing with the fallout of her grandson Max's grooming at the hands of far-right extremists, to the despair of her son David

In her nearly 50-year stint on the soap, she has been married five times, including Brian Tilsey (Christopher Quinten), who was tragically stabbed to death, and Martin Platt (Sean Wilson), one of the soap's long-serving characters.

While she has been at the centre of numerous hard-hitting storylines, including her daughter Sarah's (Tina O'Brien) teenage pregnancy, and the death of her fourth debt-ridden husband Joe McIntyre (Reece Dinsdale) during a failed life insurance scheme.

One of Gail's most iconic moments came when she featured in a two-hander episode with her husband Richard Hillman (Brian Capron) in 2003, after learning that he was a serial killer.

The famous episode, which featured a slew of one-liners, saw Richard confess he had killed several people on the cobbles, including Maxine Peacock.

It all culminated in a famous 2003 episode when Richard attempted to end his own life, and the Platts, by driving their car into a canal, and he sadly drowned while the rest of them were rescued.
Sofia Vergara opened up about her dating life following her divorce last year.

The actress, 51, revealed she has not ventured onto any dating apps, yet, but she is 'open to having fun' in an exclusive interview with Richard Godwin for DailyMail.com's You Magazine, which was published on Saturday.

On the topic of finding love online via dating apps, the Griselda star said: 'No, I wish!

'I'm bad with technology, so I'm sure I would click on the wrong ones,' she explained as to why. 'I'm open to having fun and meeting people.

'It's only been six months,' she said, referring to her separation from ex-husband Joe Manganiello  whom she divorced because they disagreed on having children.

Sofia Vergara opened up about her dating life following her divorce last year . The actress, 51, revealed she has not ventured onto any dating apps yet but she is 'open to having fun' in an exclusive interview with Richard Godwin for DailyMail.com's You Magazine, which was published on Saturday

Since then, the Modern Family alumna has been spending her time with her friends and cozy evenings with her newest love interest, Justin Saliman.

During her conversation with Richard Godwin, she admitted she is looking for a partner to join her in life.

'It's weird, because I've now lived longer in the United States than I lived in my country [Colombia],' she explained. 'But I'm still very Latin. I work out to Latin music. In my car, it's Latin music.

'My friends, my close friends, are either my cousins or the ones I met at kindergarten,' she said.

'Now I need a husband,' she said before correcting herself. 'No, I don't need a husband. I want one. It doesn't even have to be a husband. A partner.'

It seems her blossoming romance with her new beau could be just that.

In November 2023, a source exclusively told DailyMail.com that Vergara is already 'falling in love' with the orthopedic surgeon.

At the time, it had only been three months since her shocking split from Manganiello after seven years of marriage.

'It's only been six months,' she said, referring to her separation from ex-husband Joe Manganiello  whom she divorced because they disagreed on having children

Since then, the Modern Family alumna has been spending her time with her friends and cozy evenings with her newest love interest, Justin Saliman

In November 2023, a source exclusively told DailyMail.com that Vergara is already 'falling in love' with the orthopedic surgeon. At the time, it had only been three months since her shocking split from Manganiello after seven years of marriage

'Sofia has moved on from Joe and would be happy to never see him again,' an insider revealed.

'Her relationship with Justin has made her never look back.'

Since then, the pair have been spotted on a number of romantic outings and dinner dates.

Most recently, they were seen together, both appearing to be in high spirits, for romantic Thursday night out.
Rebecca Gibney has shared the important lesson she wishes the younger generation would learn to help them navigate through life.

The veteran Australian actress, 59, told The Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday that younger people should focus on the things that really matter over chasing material possessions.

'I wish I could instil this in the younger generation: Don't waste time worrying about trivial cr*p like how you haven't got the car yet,' she began.

'You're not taking the car with you. I make sure there's at least four or five times in the day when I stop and say whatever I'm grateful for. And that always calms me.'

Gibney added she has always loved helping others and if she didn't become an actress she would have likely made a career out of it.

The Stan Original series, Prosper, is now available to watch only on Stan.

Rebecca Gibney, 59, (pictured) has revealed on Sunday the important lesson she wishes the younger generation would learn to help them navigate through life

'If I wasn't an actor, I'd probably be a psychologist or a counsellor because I really love helping people.

'I hate loneliness; my empathy is off the scale. If I see suffering on a large scale, it can make me bedridden for days,' she added.

Rebecca skyrocketed to fame in Australia back in the mid-1980s in The Flying Doctors.

The veteran Australian actress told The Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday that people should focus on the things that really matter over chasing material possessions

She went on to star in television hits like Halifax f.p. and Packed to the Rafters.

Her latest role is playing the wife of a megachurch preacher in the Stan Original series Prosper.

The Sydney-filmed Australian drama is a razor-sharp satire which takes a provocative peek at faith, power and privilege.

Gibney and Roxburgh, 61, play a married couple living in Sydney who work at building a global megachurch with designs on taking over the world.

Stan Chief Content Officer Cailah Scobie revealed the series was made in conjunction with Hollywood studio Lionsgate and said viewers can expect 'a prestige drama that explores the consequences of unbridled power and desire.'

Rebecca lives in New Zealand with her husband Richard Bell and they share son Zac, 19.

'I just wish I could instill this in the younger generation: Don't waste time worrying about trivial crap like how you haven't got the car yet,' she began. 'You're not taking the car with you. I make sure there's at least four or five times in the day when I stop and say whatever I'm grateful for'
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Emily Ratajkowski and Irina Shayk turned up the heat for an outdoor runway show on the slopes of St. Moritz, Switzerland on Saturday.

The supermodels looked every inch the sexy snow bunnies, showcasing chic Moncler Grenoble outfits for the label's Fall/Winter 2024 show in the upscale ski town.

Emily was a vision in white as she wore a shearling-trimmed fuzzy jacket and matching knee-high boots, while Irina - whose romance with Tom Brady is ramping up - appeared ready for a downhill slalom in her chic all-white ski suit.

The stunners led a group of beauties during the show, which included Candice Swanepoel, Joan Smalls, and Barbara Palvin

Leonardo DiCaprio's latest flame Vittoria Ceretti was also part of the gorgeous group of runway stars.

Emily Ratajkowski and Irina Shayk turned up the heat for an outdoor runway show on the slopes of St. Moritz, Switzerland on Saturday.

Emily was a vision in white as she wore a fuzzy jacket and matching knee-high boots

Irina - whose romance with Tom Brady is ramping up - appeared ready for a downhill slalom in her chic all-white ski suit

On the snow-covered catwalk, Emily completed her winter wonderland outfit with an oversized turtleneck sweater and a handbag trimmed with shearling.

Irina, carrying a ski helmet in one hand while strutting her stuff, showcased her natural beauty with minimal makeup.

Looking like a billion bucks, Candice rocked a knitted cardigan jacket that was paired with a matching hooded sweater and sweat pants.

Barbara kept cozy in a knitted jacket and coordinating wide-legged pants, layered beneath a shearling-lined jacket.

Rocking a stylish dark brown button-up jacket paired with matching pants, Joan complemented her ensemble with a spacious bag and ski goggles.

Italian beauty Vittoria - who began dating the Titanic star last year - looked exquisite in a zip-up overcoat and bright white ski pants.

She has become a sought-after face for adverts and has fronted campaigns for the likes of Chanel, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Moschino, among many others.

Vittoria has also walked the runway with big names including Kendall Jenner, Claudia Schiffer, Iris Law and Imaan Hammam.

Looking like a billion bucks, Candice Swanepoel rocked a knitted cardigan jacket that was paired with a matching hooded sweater and sweat pants

Barbara Palvin kept cozy in a knitted jacket and coordinating wide-legged pants, layered beneath a jacket

Joan Smalls and Taylor Marie Hill strutted their stuff on the snow-covered runway

Leonardo DiCaprio's latest flame Vittoria Ceretti was also part of the gorgeous group of runway stars

Before the runway event, Emily took to her Instagram to share a snapshot of the breathtaking Albula Alps and another of a stunning mountain range near the fashion show's main venue.

Later, she provided an exclusive behind-the-scenes look from the dressing room.

In a video clip added to her Instagram Stories, fans got a peek at how Emily navigated the challenging walkway and braved the cold weather, her breath visible in the night air.
Drake is being accused of not being able to 'move on' from ex-girlfriend Rihanna after he refused to sing their song at a recent concert.

The 37-year-old Grammy winner was recorded by a fan as he addressed an audience while his and the 35-year-old billionaire's 2016 collaboration Work blared over the speakers.

He said into a microphone, 'I don't sing this song anymore. You can sing it for me.'

Drake and Rihanna are rumored to have had an on-off romance that lasted for several years before ending for good sometime in 2016.

The jab is the latest from Drake, who also slighted the Bajan songstress on his October 2023 album For The Dogs.

Drake has this unhealthy obsession with Rihanna, he needs to move on once and for all! pic.twitter.com/DIgNzk38CL  alex (@damnrihanna) February 3, 2024

Drake is being accused of not being able to 'move on' from ex-girlfriend Rihanna after he refused to sing their song at a recent concert

The 37-year-old Grammy winner was recorded by a fan as he addressed an audience while his and the 35-year-old billionaire's 2016 collaboration Work blared over the speakers

The concert footage showed the Canadian-raised star dressed in a full white outfit as he stood inside a white box set on the stage.

His dark, curly hair was braided in straight-back cornrows as he fiddled with a black prop.

Fans and critics quickly took to social media app X to weigh in on his behavior, labeling it 'obsessive' and 'weird.'

One user simply stated: 'He is so weird.'

Another added three clown emoji to the thread, and someone else added: 'It's giving "I'm hurt,"' with crying laughing emoji.

One analysis noted: 'He gives desperate towards Rihanna and spiteful towards Nicki. Seems like none of the women on his level want him.'

There was also a reference to his six-year-old son Adonis as a RiRi supporter mused, 'He really thought Rihanna was going to want to be with him after finding out he was hiding a whole baby but still pursuing her.'

'He will never move on,' someone predicted.

The concert footage showed the Canadian-raised star dressed in a full white outfit as he stood inside a white box set on the stage

Fans and critics quickly took to social media app X to weigh in on his behavior, labeling it 'obsessive' and 'weird'

One person wrote on X, 'It's giving "I'm hurt,"' with crying laughing emoji.

One analysis noted: 'He gives desperate towards Rihanna and spiteful towards Nicki. Seems like none of the women on his level want him'

There was also a reference to his six-year-old son Adonis

The jab is the latest from Drake, who also slighted the Bajan songstress on his October 2023 album For The Dogs

'He will never move on,' someone predicted

Drake's refusal to sing Work was also met with some support and empathy

Someone else agreed, 'It's Rihanna, who would be able to move on from Rihanna,' while also laughing

And yet another fan wrote, 'Honestly, I don't blame him'

Drake's refusal to sing Work was also met with some support and empathy.

One X user chimed in, 'Y'all talk like you would be able to move on from Rihanna,' with laughing emoji.

Someone else agreed, 'It's Rihanna, who would be able to move on from Rihanna,' while also laughing.

And yet another fan wrote, 'Honestly, I don't blame him.'

There was also a fan online who gladly accepted Drake's invitation for the crowd to sing the song instead of him.

'*Begins to sing and dance like EVERYBODY'S watching*' the person wrote, adding, 'Like cause he ain't marry her, it's no longer a bop. #ViveRihanna.'

Last fall Drake appeared to take multiple swipes at Rihanna in lyrics from the song Fear of Heights.

In one line he says: 'Why they make it sound like I'm still hung up on you? That could never be.'

A Rihanna fan vowed to 'sing and dance' the tune 'like everybody's watching'

One fan used a meme to describe Drake's behavior

Someone had no words, but used three crying laughing emoji

One person expressed disbelief, writing, 'no way' with a crying laughing face

He added: 'Gyal can't ruin me,' a reference to Rihanna's Caribbean accent.

As the song went on, he rapped 'the sex was average with you'  a callback to her song Sex With Me off the album Anti  and even seemed to take aim at her current relationship with A$AP Rocky.

'Better him than me, better it's not me,' the song goes on to say. 'Yeah, that man, he still with you. He can't leave you. Y'all go on vacation, I bet it's Antilles.'

In May 2018 Rihanna told Vogue: 'We don't have a friendship now, but we're not enemies either.'

Rihanna has not responded publicly to Drake's musical references.
Sarah Jessica Parker was mobbed by fans as she left the Savoy Theatre in London on Saturday following her performance in her play Plaza Suite.

The multi-award-winning actress, 58, smiled as she signed autographs and chatted to fans.

American star Sarah took time to greet her devotees who stood behind a barrier and could be seen flocking down some stairs to where she was standing near the stage door.

The Sex and the City star dressed casually in a black coat and some matching high-heeled boots.

She had on a pair of cream jeans and could be smiling as she chatted to the fans who had waited to meet her.

Sarah Jessica Parker was mobbed by fans as she left the Savoy Theatre in London on Saturday following her performance in her play Plaza Suite

American star Sarah took time to greet her devotees who stood behind a barrier and could be seen flocking down some stairs to where she was standing near the stage door

Sarah's West End debut has been met with a slew of scathing two star reviews following the show's debut in December.

Plaza Suite, in which Sarah features alongside her real life husband Matthew Broderick, was unveiled at the Savoy Theatre in front of a slew of stars 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 gave 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...

Sarah's West End debut has been met with a slew of scathing two star reviews following the show's debut in December alongside her husband Matthew Broderick

Plaza Suite was unveiled at the Savoy Theatre in front of a slew of stars in the wake of uproar over the obscenely priced tickets

'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 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.'

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.

The Daily Mail's Patrick Marmion wrote: 'You want showbiz? You want celebrity? You want reassuringly expensive A-lister stardust?'

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.

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 instalment 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.'
Tehran, Feb 3 (UNI) Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Saturday condemned recent strikes by the United States on targets in Syria and Iraq.

He made the remarks in response to U.S. strikes on Friday which Washington said were carried out in retribution for a recent deadly attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan and were directed towards Iran-backed groups, according to a statement published on the website of the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Kanaani said the U.S. strikes were in violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria, as well as international laws and the United Nations Charter.



"In addition to the U.S. full-fledged support over the past four months for the incessant and brutal Israeli attacks against the citizens of Gaza and the West Bank and its strikes against Yemen, which are in violation of the (Arab) country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, last night's attacks on Syria and Iraq were another adventurous move and strategic mistake by the U.S. government that will lead to nothing but the intensification of tension and instability in the region," he was quoted as saying in the statement.

Kanaani stressed that the U.S. military attacks against Iraq, Syria and Yemen only safeguarded Israel's objectives, adding such strikes would mire the U.S. government in the region more than before.

He warned against the expansion of the conflicts in the region, noting that the peace and security of the region and the rest of the world were at jeopardy if such "adventurism" continued.

He said that the tension and crisis in the region had roots in the Israeli occupation and continued military operations in Gaza and the United States' unlimited support for Israel.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the death toll from U.S. airstrikes in eastern Syria has risen to 23.

The Iraqi government on Saturday put the death toll from the U.S. airstrikes in western Iraq at 16, saying 25 others were injured.

On Jan. 28, three U.S. soldiers were killed at a military base in northeastern Jordan near Syria's border in an attack later blamed by U.S. President Joe Biden on "Iran-backed groups."

Kanaani on Monday denied Iran's involvement in the drone attack targeting the U.S. forces in Jordan, saying the accusation is "baseless and provocative."

UNI/XINHUA ARN
The Boys actress Erin Moriarty made her return to Instagram on Friday - just one week after she quit the platform and promised an 'extensive, if not permanent break.'

Her decision to leave the social media network came after Megyn Kelly scathingly accused Moriarty of being obsessed with plastic surgery.

'She's got the Kim Kardashian lips, she's made her nose so skinny, it looks like a pencil now,' Kelly said. 'I find it like a sign of mental illness.'

Moriarty, 29, retaliated by dramatically announcing her departure from Instagram, explained that she was not deleting her page, but would stop posting as the public had 'lost the privilege of this account.'

However this Friday she relented and posted an Insta Stories message, expressing her gratitude to the 'vulnerable' fans who 'came forward to talk to me' and share 'stories that should be heard FAR more than mine.'

The Boys actress Erin Moriarty made her return to Instagram on Friday - just one week after she quit the platform and promised an 'extensive, if not permanent break'

Her decision to leave the social media network came after Megyn Kelly scathingly accused Moriarty of being obsessed with plastic surgery

The caption was accompanied by a picture of her cradling one of her dogs while shooting a beatific smile at the camera.

She began her message to fans by explaining that she was 'dropping in to say 1) I love you all 2) v grateful to be holding my little dude again.'

Moriarty added: 'and 3) to the those that came forward to talk to me, were vulnerable enough to share: you are f*cking amazing. stories that should be heard FAR more than mine. I do believe we have a long way to go. in the meantime: talk to me.'

The Jessica Jones alumna insisted: 'I wanna hear. safe zones, empathy and/or sympathy, and catharsis: a medicinal combo. trust me.'

Moriarty announced her initial departure from Instagram a week after Kelly sparked backlash with a recent podcast episode in which she took aim at Moriarty's looks.

Moriarty chose not to deactivate her Instagram account altogether so fans could still see her scathing message directed at 53-year-old Megyn Kelly.

She told fans and haters alike they had 'lost the privilege of this account.'

Moriarty, 29, explained in a highly-emotive statement that she was not deleting her social media account - but instead she would be taking an 'extensive, if not permanent' break from being online

Former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly sparked backlash with a recent podcast appearance , where she said of Moriarty: 'She's got the Kim Kardashian lips, she's made her nose so skinny, it looks like a pencil now... I find it like a sign of mental illness'

The actress wrote: 'The only reason I have not deactivated my account is because I will be leaving this here. Otherwise, consider it deactivated.

'I will not have access to it for an extensive if not permanent break.

'Social media is not something that came naturally to me and that was an investment of energy to connect with you guys.

'And I am horrified by the reaction, the reductive assumptions, and the aforementioned video [of Kelly's comments] that is a primary example of such harassment.

'It's broken my heart. You've broken my heart. You've lost the privilege of this account.

'The way that this has been spoken about, the way that I have been spoken to, I will not accept. I have been in a hole and I've been consumed by this personal situation at hand.

'You never know what someone is going through, social media is a platform that is not representative of a whole person, and irregardless there is no excuse for the words that have been spoken directly to me or about me.'

Actress Erin Moriarty recently shared this image to her Instagram, sparking allegations from Megyn Kelly she had 'completely changed her face' with plastic surgery. In response, Moriarty said the image was taken a decade ago, and her changed look was only due to 'contouring'

Moriarty shared the response almost a week after Kelly's controversial podcast remarks, saying she 'had no idea what was going on 'amid social media frenzy because she was going through 'one of the most challenging weeks of my life.'

'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,' she continued.

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.

'You learn to become Teflon and move on - I had NO idea what was going on this time,' she said in the post.

'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.

Moriarty, 29, slammed Kelly's comments on her looks as 'utterly misinformed, inaccurate and clickbait seeking'

Moriarty shared the response almost a week after Kelly's controversial podcast remarks, saying she 'had no idea what was going on' amid social media frenzy because she was going through 'one of the most challenging weeks of my life'

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.

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.

She made the comments in response to Moriarty sharing the allegedly decade-old picture this month, as Kelly continued: 'She's got the Kim Kardashian lips. She's made her nose so skinny it looks like a pencil now.

'She's got, like, what appear[s] to me to be cheek implants.

'More and more young women are doing this.

'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.

'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,'' she said.
Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino shared terrifying Ring camera footage that captured the moment his son, Romeo, began choking on pasta - labeling it the 'scariest moment' of his family's life.

The Jersey Shore star, 41 - who recently revealed the lengths he took to hide his $500,000 drug addiction - took to both Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, to uploaded the video while also bringing awareness to knowing CPR.

In the clip, the TV personality and his loved ones could be seen sitting at the kitchen table enjoying an 'ordinary dinner' on Thursday.

Suddenly, after taking a bite of pasta, the two-year-old began choking on a piece of gnocchi that had become lodged in his throat.

Mike picked up the little one and began patting him on the back, while his wife, Lauren, calmly jumped in to help dislodge the piece of food from his throat using a device she grabbed from the counter.

Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino, 41, shared terrifying Ring camera footage that captured the moment his son, Romeo, began choking on pasta - and labeled it as the 'scariest' moment' of his family's life

The Jersey Shore star took to both Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, to uploaded the video while also bringing awareness to knowing CPR

In the caption of the post, the star penned to his fans and followers, 'THE SCARIEST MOMENT OF OUR LIVES'

'It was an ordinary dinner at the Situations when suddenly without notice Romeo started choking on his favorite pasta pesto gnocchi!! He hunched over and wasn't breathing,' Mike recalled.

'I am so proud of how my wife and I didn't panic, didn't hesitate and eventually dislodged the food which was blocking airway and saved his life.'

Sorrentino added, 'I love my family with all my heart and am so grateful things worked out.'

In conclusion, he revealed that, 'it's safe to say we are now taking CPR lessons and Romeo won't be having gnocchi anytime soon.'

In the comment section of the Instagram video, Mike explained to his followers that the device that his wife had grabbed to help dislodge the pasta from his throat was an item called the Dechoker.

Social media users also jumped to the comment section to applaud the parents for saving their son's life and for also remaining calm during the harrowing incident.

One fan wrote, 'The calmness is top notch. Had you become upset it would've upset him further. Fabulous job!'

In the clip, the TV personality and his loved ones could be seen sitting at the kitchen table enjoying an 'ordinary dinner' on Thursday

Mike picked up the little one and began patting him on the back, while his wife, Lauren, calmly jumped in to help dislodge the piece of food from his throat

'It was an ordinary dinner at the Situations when suddenly without notice Romeo started choking on his favorite pasta pesto gnocchi!! He hunched over and wasnt breathing,' Mike recalled

In conclusion, he revealed that, 'it's safe to say we are now taking CPR lessons and Romeo won't be having gnocchi anytime soon'

In the comment section of the Instagram video, Mike explained to his followers that the device that his wife had grabbed that helped dislodge the pasta from his throat was an item called the Dechoker

Social media users also jumped to the comment section to applaud the parents for saving their son's life and for also remaining calm during the harrowing incident

Another Instagram user added, 'The way Lauren stayed so calm and collected thoughhhhh, great job parents!'

His Jersey Shore co-star, Sammi 'Sweetheart' Giancola wrote, 'Omg my heart, so glad he's okay! .'

Mike and his wife Lauren tied the knot back in November 2018 and currently share their son Romeo as well as daughter Mia Bella, one.

Last year in September 2023, the couple announced that they are expecting baby number three - a baby girl - who is due later this year in March.

In a sweet post, Sorrentino revealed, 'Good things come in threes. Adding another pumpkin to our patch. Baby #3 coming March 2024.'

Mike and his college sweetheart posed for adorable snaps with their two children in a fall themed photo shoot. In one photo, the family posed on a front porch while surrounded by pumpkins and showed a sonogram.

The lovebirds first began dating in 2005, but broke up four years later. However, the pair rekindled their romance in 2013.

In 2015, the duo starred on Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars and Sorrentino popped the big question in February 2018 on Valentine's Day.

Mike and his wife Lauren tied the knot back in November 2018 and currently share their son Romeo as well as daughter Mia Bella, one

Last year in September 2023, the couple announced that they are expecting baby number three - a baby girl - who is due later this year in March

The proposal was shown on Jersey Shore: Family Vacation and Mike could be seen getting down on one knee, per People.

A slideshow also appeared where the reality star had written, 'I fell in love with you because you loved me when I couldn't even love myself.'

'You're my best friend, my college sweetheart, my better half. You make me a better person. Please make me the happiest man on earth. Will you please marry me?'

Late last year in December, Mike celebrated eight years of sobriety by sharing a cute image with his family as they enjoyed a tasty cake.

'I'm 8 Years clean and sober today. The Comeback is always greater than the setback,' he wrote to his followers.

While talking to The Bump in July 2023, both Sorrentino and his wife discussed their relationship as well as parenthood.

The Jersey Shore star said, 'We're very mindful of our story, and what we've built over almost 20 years.'

While talking to The Bump in July 2023, both Sorrentino and his wife discussed their relationship as well as parenthood

'I'm now going on eight years sober. I'm a role model in the communityI had a very wild upbringing, into my 20s. But, for me, to settle down and be so stable and live a beautiful life of family, it's very heartwarming,' he stated

'We're very mindful of making positive decisions to grow for ourselves, our family and our future. So I take it very seriously to be a dad and a husband. It's definitely what I've always wanted.'

When asked what his younger, teenage self would think of his life now, Mike admitted, 'My 19-year-old self would be like, "good job" - because, you know, I've been through a rollercoaster of skyrocketing fame and skyrocketing money...'

He later added, 'But the good news is that we turn our [setbacks] into our lessons, and the comeback was greater than the setback. I put in the work.'

'I'm now going on eight years sober. I'm a role model in the communityI had a very wild upbringing, into my 20s. But, for me, to settle down and be so stable and live a beautiful life of family, it's very heartwarming.'
Jessica Mauboy opened up on Sunday about how her upcoming album draws on her personal experiences, including her near split with husband Themeli Magripilis.

The pop star, 34, told The Daily Telegraph that she and Themelli almost broke up after the pressures of maintaining a long-distance relationship wore them down.

Fortunately, they managed to pull through and one of the songs on her new album called Goodbye is about that difficult time in her life.

'That song is about when we almost broke up. We were eight years in a long distance relationship and we felt really apart,' she began.

'We weren't doing things together, we weren't creating a future. But we would never say goodbye, we couldn't. We still always say see you later.

Jessica Mauboy, 34, (pictured) opened up on Sunday about how her upcoming album draws on her personal experiences, including her near split with husband Themeli Magripilis

'Finally we worked out how to salvage our relationship and made the move together. Eight more years later, we're living this beautiful life together in Sydney.'

Jessica added her husband was her inspiration when writing several tracks for the album, which will be released on Friday.

'He's my muse for songs. He's so easy to write about and to write for.'

The pop star told The Daily Telegraph that she and Themelli (left) almost broke up after the pressures of maintaining a long-distance relationship wore them down

In November, Mauboy revealed she met her husband Themeli through a game of 'truth or dare' at a nightclub.

Speaking to The Sunday Project, the songstress recalled the awkward encounter.

'I was out with my eight girlfriends and we happened to play this game truth or dare and I happened to say 'dare',' she explained.

Mauboy didn't disclose exactly what the dare was, but said she spotted Themeli soon afterwards and revealed she immediately made her way towards him.

Jessica and Themeli tied the knot in July 2022 and she admitted to the Sunday Times last August that it 'took a long time' to get there.

According to the NT News, Jessica exchanged vows at a small church ceremony in Darwin, followed by a reception for more than 300 guests at the Mindil Beach Casino Resort.

The couple, who have been dating since they were 18, got engaged in 2019 while on holiday in Greece.
Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's blended family rallied around the former couple's youngest daughter Tallulah Willis for her 30th birthday.

The proud mom, who shares three children with the Die Hard star, took to Instagram on Saturday to share some of the special moments, one of which showed the two longtime Hollywood stars huddled around the birthday girl.

Flashing a big beaming smile, Moore, 61, looked to be having a grand time in blue jeans and a baggy black cardigan.

Willis  who was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia last year  looked happy and healthy while bundled up in a scarf, a zip-up jacket and sweatpants.

'Showering our #bruuski with love today on her 30th birthday,' Moore gushed in the caption of her two new photos.

Bruce Willis and Demi Moore 's blended family rallied around the former couple's youngest daughter Tallulah Willis for her 30th birthday

For her special day, Tallulah followed her dad's lead and went with a sporty ensemble in red sweatpants, a dark blue sweatshirt with yellow stripes down the sleeves.

It appears as though the actress, who's now forging a career as a fashion designer with the launch of her line Wyllis, had fun and games in store, considering the large ball she was holding while snuggling up with her parents.

A second photo taken at the party during the evening shows the Striptease actress sharing a sweet moment with the birthday girl as well as her sister Scout and her partner Justin Acee.

It's at this point in the festivities that Tallulah had changed into a leopard print ensemble that she partially covered with a gray jacket when she was outside.

Capping off her evening wear, the youngest of the three Willis ladies donned a golden crown on top of her head.

She would make another wardrobe change by the time the family headed out for a birthday dinner and cake, which was showcased in a video of them singing Happy Birthday as her sweet treat was lit up into flames at the restaurant.

This go-around she opted for a white-patterned shirt and black trousers, all while her mother sat a few feet away smiling and a shooting video of all the fun.

The proud mom documented Tallulah's birthday celebration with a photo taken later that night showing her snuggling up with her daughter, her boyfriend Justin Acee, and her sister Scout

Willis and Acee became an item in 2023, which came about a year after she ended her engagement with Dillon Buss, in June 2022

The family would also head out to a restaurant that was capped off with everyone singing Happy Birthday to her as she stared down her sweet treat

After a moment or two, the waiter at the restaurant came over and lit the sweet treat up in flames, which got a stunned reaction from everyone

The actress and fashion designer wore a white-patterned top with black trousers and her red locks pulled into a short ponytail

Tallulah flashed her infectious smile as everyone looked on and shot videos and photos

Older sister Rumer, who only just welcomed her daughter Louetta to the world with the help of partner Derek Richard Thomas this past April, would also shared a birthday tribute.

'I love you more than words. My favorite le scheme, your heart is so big,' the actress and musician wrote, along with some recent photos of the sisters together and a couple of throwbacks.

She added, 'You are the best aunty whimsy. I love the way your brain works. You have been my best friend and teacher and inspiration since you came out. I can't believe you are 30!!! I'm obsessed with you.'

Tallulah's milestone birthday comes just days after Moore urged the families of dementia sufferers to 'let go of' the person they used to be' during an appearance on Andy Cohen's SiriusXM show Radio Andy.

The former Brat Pack star, 61, revealed how she's learned to 'take in the joy and the love' for who Bruce is now, rather than mourn how his condition has changed him.

Rumer Willis, 35, shared a sweet tribute to her younger sister, whom she called her 'best friend'

Rumer previously called her sister the best auntie to her daughter Louetta

Rumer's birthday post also included a couple of throwback snaps of them snuggling together

Bruce's wife Emma Heming Willis, 45, had previous shared about the 'importance' of 'sharing your feelings' and not 'bottling them up' during her husband's health battle.

The blended family first went public in March 2022 to reveal Willis was retiring from acting after being was diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder typically caused by damage to the area of the brain that controls language expression and comprehension.

But then this past February, they revealed that he also had frontotemporal dementia, a rare form of the neurodegenerative disorder which can affect a person's 'personality, behavior, and language.'

Along with Tallulah, the former celebrity couple also share two other daughters: Rumer, 35 and Scout, 32.

The blended family get together for special occasion like this Thanksgiving celebration; pictured are Demi Moore, Emma Heming Willis, Bruce Willis, Mabel and Evelyn Willis, Scout Willis, Tallulah Willis, Derek Richard Thomas and Rumer Willis

Willis and Moore first met at the premiere screening for the comedy film Stakeout in August 1987, and then nearly four months later sealed their union by getting married in November.

Their first daughter, Rumer, arrived one year after their initial meeting, in August 1988, and her two sisters Scout and Tallulah would follows in 1991 and 1994, respectively.

After years of being the poster couple for having a lasting romance in Hollywood, Willis and Moore announced they were separating in June 1998 after nearly 11-years of marriage.

Ultimately they had their divorce finalized just over two years later, in October 2000.

The Die Hard star was diagnosed in 2022 with aphasia, a disorder typically caused by damage to the area of the brain that controls language expression and comprehension; he was then diagnosed last year with frontotemporal dementia, a rare form of the neurodegenerative disorder which can affect a person's 'personality, behavior, and language'

Right from the start the former couple made it a priority to not only remain civil with each for the sake of the family, but to also remain friends with each other.

Their friendly relationship even remained in tact after Willis, 68, married his second wife Emma Heming Willis in 2009, They have since welcomed two daughters of their own Mabel, 11, and Evelyn, nine, who are often showcased on their mom's Instagram page.

They celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary last March, although it's up to Emma and Bruce as to which day they prefer.

They tied-the-knot on March 21, 2009 in the Turks and Caicos Islands, but it wasn't legally binding, so they were married again in a civil ceremony in Beverly Hills, six days later.
The 66th Grammy Awards will kick off in Los Angeles on Sunday night, with many of the music industry's top talent set to be recognized for their work.

Ahead of music's biggest night, Clive Davis and The Recording Academy hosted its Pre-GRAMMY Gala at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday.

Among the A-list stars was 16-time Grammy winner David Foster, who hit the red carpet with his lovely wife, Katharine McPhee on his arm.

Foster and McPhee were dressed to the nines for the annual occasion.

McPhee, 39, showed off her fab figure in a skintight blue gown with jewels along the trim of the strapless bodice.

Katharine McPhee, 39, and husband David Foster, 74, were among the celebrities to attend Clive Davis and The Recording Academy's Pre-GRAMMY Gala on Saturday night

She strutted her stuff in a pair of open-toe heels and she carried a sparkly clutch.

The American Idol alum's silky light brown hair were pulled back in a loose bun with several pieces left out to frame her face.

As for Foster, 74, the acclaimed musician rocked a classic black double-breasted suit with a white dress shirt, matching black tie and dress shoes.

Foster has been a mainstay at the Grammy Award ceremonies and its many pre-Grammy parties over the years, considering has won 16 awards from 47 nominations.

His first three nominations came from his work with Earth, Wind & Fire back in 1980, which included his win for Best Rhythm & Blues Song as the co-writer of their song After The Love Has Gone with Jay Graydon.

Foster has also won Grammys as a producer, such as Best Cast Show Album (1983) for the Dreamgirls: Original Broadway Cast Album, among others, and as an arranger, winning Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) for Barbara Steisand song Somewhere (1987).

McPhee, 39, showed off her fab figure in a skintight blue gown with jewels along the trim of the strapless bodice

Foster and McPhee were dressed to the nines for the annual occasion

She strutted her stuff in a pair of open-toe heels and she carried a sparkly clutch. The American Idol alum's silky light brown hair were pulled back in a loose bun with several pieces left out to frame her face

As for Foster, 74, the acclaimed musician rocked a classic black double-breasted suit with a white dress shirt, matching black tie and dress shoes

Clive Davis has served as the host of the coveted Pre-Grammy Gala since 1976

His most recent Grammy nomination and win was for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album as a producer for Michael Buble's Crazy Love.

The couple met back in 2006, when Foster mentored McPhee on American Idol, for which she placed second to Taylor Hicks, but their friendship didn't turn romantic until they decided to start dating in 2017.

Ultimately, they went on to tie-the-knot at the St. Yeghiche Armenian Apostolic Church in Kensington, London, England in June 2019.

The pair, who will be celebrating five years of marriage this summer, ended up welcoming the birth of their first child together, a son Rennie, who turns three in February.

While Rennie is the first child for McPhee, this is child number six for Foster, but the first son for the music composer and producer.

He is already a father to five adult daughters: Sara, 42, Erin, 41, and Jordan, 37, whom he shared with second wife Rebecca Dyer.

Foster also has daughters Allison, 53, and Amy, 50, from previous relationships.

Foster has won 16 Grammys out of 47 nominations over the years, which dates back to his win for Best Rhythm & Blues Song as the co-writer of the Earth Wind & Fire song After The Love Has Gone with Jay Graydon; the musician is pictured when he won in 1987 as an arranger for Barbara Streisand's Somewhere

Foster also scored two Grammys working with Whitney Houston as a producer for Record Of The Year for I Will Always Love You and Album Of The Year for The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album; they are seen celebrating in March 1994

While Clive Davis, 91, served as the host of his annual Pre-Grammy bash, his special VIP guest list included such musical stars as Kylie Minogue, Green Day's Mike Dirnt, Billie Joe Armstrong and Tre Cool, Dua Lipa, Megan Thee Stallion, Machine Gun Kelly, Cher, Janelle Monae, Bebe Rexha, Lana Del Rey, Charli XCX, Smokey Robinson, Jon Bon Jovi, Flavor Flav, Shania Twain, Lainey Wilson, Desmond Child, Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey and Mark Ronson.

Some of the other high-profile celebs included the likes of Noah Kahan, Tom Hanks, Edgar Barrera, Niecy Nash, Meg Donnelly, Jelly Roll, Bunnie XO, Justin Trante, Keke Palmer, Serena Williams, Julia Lemigova, Martina Navratilova, Keyshia Cole, Coi Leray, Grace Gummer, Meryl Streep, Andra Day, Troye Sivan, Tyla, Nancy Pelosi, Julia Garner, Tyrese Gibson, Jeezy, Michael Rubin, Robert Kraft, Jesse Jo Stark, Gayle King, Journey Montana.

Many of those artists will also be attending Sunday's big night in music that will honor the best recordings, compositions, and artists from October 1, 2022, to September 15, 2023.

The 66th annual Grammy Awards, hosted by comedian Trevor Noah for a fourth time, will be broadcast on CBS and available to stream on Paramount + from the Crypto.com Arena in Downtown Los Angeles.
Dakota Johnson turned heads in a semi-sheer spider web gown as she posed at the Vogue Carnival Ball at the Copacabana Palace in Rio on Saturday.

The actress, 34, showed off her incredible figure in the silver glittering hooded number by Annies Ibiza as she beamed for photos on the red carpet.

She left her long waved brunette tresses loose and elevated her frame in a pair of heels.

The outfit was a nod to Dakota's new Marvel character Madame Web.

On Friday's episode of The Graham Norton Show, the Fifty Shades Of Grey actress discussed her new role, she said: 'She is a new character, and this is a new version of a Marvel movie. It's different and grounded and from an entirely female perspective...

Dakota Johnson turned heads in a semi-sheer spider web gown as she posed at the Vogue Carnival Ball at the Copacabana Palace in Rio on Saturday

The actress, 34, showed off her incredible figure in the silver glittering hooded number from Annie's Ibiza as she beamed for photos on the red carpet

'It's totally stand alone.'

Asked about performing her own stunts, she went on: 'I had a one-day stunt driving course and it was the most fun I have ever had.' When asked if this is the first of many stunts, she coyly stated: 'Maybe'.

Elsewhere on the show, Dakota revealed she received fan letters from men in prison and 'very strange things in the post'.

Dakota revealed her unusual caliber of fandom when actor Sterling K Brown, who was another guest on the show, divulged that he is lauded by fans for 'changing their lives'.

Speaking about his show This is Us, he said: 'People still come up to me to hug and to tell me that the show changed their lives. How it provided them with some form of catharsis. I didn't know it would have such an impact. It was really lovely.'

A stunned Dakota hilariously countered: 'That never happens to me. I just get letters from men in prison and very strange things in the post!'

Her anecdote comes after her Fifty Shades Of Grey co-star Jamie Dornan confessed he had received letters claiming he had fathered a child with Dakota.

Back in 2020, he said: 'Someone saying that it was my kid, and my wife should know that I have this kid who's 7 years old...

'I think they were trying to say that the kid was mine and Dakota Johnson's, and we'd had this baby while we made the first Fifty Shades movie. It piqued our interest, let's say. It was a bit freaky.'

She left her long waved brunette tresses loose and elevated her frame in a pair of heels

The outfit was a nod to Dakota's new Marvel character Madame Web

Discussing the new role, on The Graham Norton Show, she said: 'She is a new character, and this is a new version of a Marvel movie. It's different and grounded and from an entirely female perspective'
Gemma Atkinson has revealed that she always went for 'bad boys' before her relationship with 'nice lad' fiance Gorka Marquez.

The former Hollyoaks actress, 39, and the Strictly Come Dancing star, 33, have been together for six years and share two children Mia, four, and six-month-old Thiago.

And now Gemma has opened up about how he showed her 'what a relationship should be like' after a series of failed romances when they met on Strictly.

She told The Sun: 'If someone had said: 'OK, he's Spanish, a dancer and wears sparkles on a weekend,' I would have gone: 'Oh no, clearly he's not for me.'

'That's where I'd been going wrong  I was always going for the bad boys. As soon as you give a nice lad a chance, you realise you don't have to be constantly wondering where you stand.

Gemma Atkinson has revealed that she always went for 'bad boys' before her relationship with 'nice lad' fiance Gorka Marquez

Gemma has opened up about how he showed her 'what a relationship should be like' after a series of failed romances

'Gorka opened my eyes to what a relationship should be like. I'm past that stage of life where I like the bad boy.'

Gorka is currently away from home a lot, as he is a judge on the Spanish version of Strictly, Bailando con las Estrellas, requiring him to spend a lot of time in Madrid for filming.

As the Spanish dancer jets across Europe for his new role, Gemma has been caring for their kids back home in Manchester.

There has been much speculation that the distance has caused the couple to be going through a 'rough patch', with reports saying they have been struggling with 'tension'.

But Gemma has now responded to the claims saying she would 'get bored' if she was with someone 24/7.

She told the publication: 'Even looking at the back of their head can annoy me! I love my own space, and whenever he's on Strictly, I see it as my time on my own with Mia and Thiago. Mia sleeps in my bed and it's so nice.'

Gemma also told how the famous 'Strictly curse' doesn't bother her at all when Gorka dances with a new partner as she is in the industry herself and knows how things work.

It comes after Gemma denied the reports that her and Gorka's relationship was rocky, insisting the rumours were 'not true'.

The former Hollyoaks actress, 39, and the Strictly Come Dancing star, 33, have been together for six years and share two children Mia, four, and six-month-old Thiago

She told The Sun: 'If someone had said: 'OK, he's Spanish, a dancer and wears sparkles on a weekend,' I would have gone: 'Oh no, clearly he's not for me'

She added: 'That's where I'd been going wrong  I was always going for the bad boys. As soon as you give a nice lad a chance, you realise you don't have to be constantly wondering where you stand'

Taking to her Instagram she joked that she enjoys the 'peace' while her partner is away honouring his work commitments.

When asked if she'd heard about the rumours, Gemma said: 'Yes we did see them stories. There was a few floating around weren't there which is news to us. It is what it is isn't it. Happens all the time dunnit. It's not true.'

She continued: 'I think it's because it was made out he's working away a lot. He goes away Friday afternoon and comes back Sunday mornings.

'He's hardly bloomin' overseas is he. Crikey it's less than 48 hours, if anything it gives me a bit of peace at weekends. No offence Gorks.'

Clarifying her remarks, she added: 'Well he is overseas but you know what I mean.'

Last year, Gemma was said to be 'frustrated' when Gorka was unable to get home during the final six weeks of Strictly, despite being voted out in week three with partner Nikita Kanda.

Earlier this month, a source told The Mirror Gemma is 'effectively raising two kids by herself' leaving her 'frustrated'.

They said: 'Gemma knows how important Gorka's work is to him and goes above and beyond to be supportive but she found it challenging when he wasn't able to travel back to Manchester to spend time with her and the kids, even when he'd been voted off last year's series.

'But then he signed up to Bailando con las Estrellas, and the plan changed. Gemma knows he's just wanting to support his family, but it's disappointing for her.

'It's a really rough patch for them. Gorka has also been frustrated because they haven't had time to travel to Bilbao for Thiago to meet his elderly parents.'

The source added: 'Gemma has been effectively raising two kids by herself. She was focusing on the end of the series as the end point  but the judging role was too good an opportunity to miss. As with any couple, the longer they're apart, the more tension there is between them.'

Gorka confirmed his new job on Instagram this month, sharing: 'I finally can share the news that I will be one of the judges in the Spanish version of Strictly, Bailando con las Estrellas @bailandoest.

'So excited to [be] back in Spain and doing the show that changed my whole life and excited to be sat on the other side of the floor this time even if I am not sure I will be able to hold myself and not dance. First show is this Saturday (13.01.24) and I can't wait.'

Gorka is currently away from home a lot, as he is a judge on the Spanish version of Strictly, Bailando con las Estrellas, requiring him to spend a lot of time in Madrid for filming

It comes after Gemma denied the reports that her and Gorka's relationship was rocky, insisting the rumours were 'not true' and joking that she enjoys the 'peace' while her partner is away

Gemma was quick to show her support in the comments section, writing: 'Woohoo! So proud and so excited to watch (if I can figure out the Spanish tele).'

Last month, Gemma shared her reaction on Instagram after Gorka returned home from Strictly.

She wrote: 'After 3 and a half weeks he's home! I've well and truly handed them over. Bye hun. Mum's off for sit down. @gorka_marquez!'

Gorka had been away preparing for the Strictly final after his appearance on the show was cut short due to his exit in week two.
Married At First Sight's Lauren Dunn is set to feud with 'alpha groom' Jack Dunkley at an upcoming dinner party.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal that the outspoken bride, 32, will lock horns with the Gold Coast personal trainer, 34, in what will be a series of the most chaotic dinner parties to date.

Sources close to production let slip that Lauren will unleash on Dunkley after he makes an inappropriate comment to her husband.

'Lauren wasn't taking any of his bulls**t and didn't believe a word that was coming out his mouth,' one insider revealed, suggesting that the air will be electric with tension.

The conflict reportedly kicks off after Dunkley makes a sexist comment.

Married At First Sight's Lauren Dunn is set to feud with 'alpha groom' Jack Dunkley at an upcoming dinner party

This bold statement will ignited the fuse for an unforgettable chain of events.

'There was something off about Jack from the start,' reveals a source.

'Tori and Lauren had a tight connection but Lauren will be coming for Jack,' they added, hinting at the alliances and fractures forming behind the scenes.

It appears that the fiery bride is not one to back down from a challenge, especially when her partner is the target of controversial jibes.

Sources close to production let slip that Lauren will unleash on Dunkley. Pictured: Lauren and 'husband' Jono

Season 11's dinner parties will be also 'the most explosive viewers have seen in years'.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal this season's dinner parties wrapped up filming in record time, when previous ones didn't finish until the early hours of the morning.

When quizzed about what was so special about this year's cast, MAFS producers said it reflected a cast that is upfront and unreserved.

'This crew get things off their chest very early. They don't hold back,' relationship expert John Aiken observed, while EdemolShine producer Mollie Harwood noted the cast's eagerness to dive into discussions about their relationships.

Season 11's dinner parties will be also 'the most explosive viewers have seen in years'

Daily Mail Australia can reveal this season's dinner parties wrapped up filming in record time, when previous ones didn't finish until the early hours of the morning

Explosive fights and feuds

Addressing initial reports the upcoming series will be 'less screechy, shouty', MAFS boss Tara McWilliams and John Walsh, EP at Nine, assured that while the series is dramatic, it isn't excessively noisy or hard to follow.

'There's no shortage of people calling out bad behaviour,' Walsh said, underlining the show's commitment to authentic interaction.

Fellow producer Alex Spurway added: 'This year will be equally as dramatic, shocking, surprising, and constant bombs go off left, right and centre that you don't expect.'

'It's also from places that you don't expect, from people you don't expect.'

Addressing initial reports the series will be 'less screechy, shouty', McWilliams and John Walsh, EP at Nine, assured that while the series is dramatic, it isn't excessively noisy or hard to follow

Standout stars

Brides Lauren Dunn, Sara Mesa, Eden Harper, and Tori Adams are four names viewers won't be forgetting anytime soon.

Lauren and Sara are the life of the party, driving up the drama factor every week.

'They aren't afraid of confrontation and were often praised by producers for making the show,' dished the spy.

Brides Lauren, Sara Mesa, Eden Harper, and Tori Adams (pictured L-R) are four names viewers won't be forgetting anytime soon

As for the grooms, Timothy Smith, Jack Dunkley, Jayden Eynaud and Jonathan McCullough (pictured L-R) are four major players that will be remembered

Meanwhile, Lauren's not one to shy away from confrontations as personal trainer Jack Dunkley is about to find out.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, MAFS executive producers Alex Spurway and Mollie Harwood acknowledged there would be no show without these big personalities.

'Lauren just said exactly what she was thinking at all times, and that's all we can ask for - genuine reactions and responses,' Harwood explained.
Dove Cameron packed on the PDA with boyfriend Damiano David as they made their red carpet debut together at Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy Gala on Saturday.

The actress, 28, looked more loved-up than ever with the Maneskin frontman, 25, at the event which was held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.

Dove looked nothing short of sensational in a red strapless gown which boasted a stylish corset top.

The former Disney star posed with minimal accessorises and wore a glamorous palette of makeup complete with dramatic dark smokey eye shadow.

Meanwhile Damiano cut a smart figure in a grey waist coat and trousers which he teamed with a white shirt and black tie.

Dove Cameron packed on the PDA with boyfriend Damiano David as they made their red carpet debut together at Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy Gala on Saturday

The actress, 28, looked more loved-up than ever with the Maneskin frontman, 25, at the event which was held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles

In November, the rocker and Descendants star officially confirmed they were dating as they were spotted packing on the PDA at Bondi Beach amid the band's Sydney tour.

In a sweet moment, Damiano could be seen carrying Dove's black shoes for her after they spent several hours kissing and cuddling on the beach.

While this is the first the world is hearing of the romantic pairing, one long-time fan on Twitter suggested the signs were there all along.

Dove dated her Descendants 2 co-star Thomas Doherty for four years before they split in 2020, about a year before she began following Damiano on Instagram.

Later in the year, he revealed during a Maneskin interview that Dove was the most famous person to slide into his DMs.

September of 2022 saw Dove start showing up to Maneskin concerts and posting videos of Damiano to her social media accounts.

The couple were first photographed together at his concert afterparty in October where they were spotted hugging.

Several more pictures in the Twitter posts saw Dove and Damiano having lunch, attending events and going to hotels together since October last year.

Dove looked nothing short of sensational in a red strapless gown which boasted a stylish corset top
ITV have released a trailer ahead of Kate Garraway's return to Good Morning Britain on Monday.

The TV star, 56, will make her TV return tomorrow - just three days after her husband's funeral - where she will give a poignant interview from her home before rejoining her co-host Ben Shepherd on Thursday.

On Sunday ITV released a teaser about her return which showed a series of clips of the pair together.

The voice over read: 'Kate Garraway has shared the story of caring for Derek for the last four years, highlighting the struggle faced by thousands.

'Tomorrow she returns to Good Morning Britain to talk for the first time since the death of her beloved husband. From 6am on Good Morning Britain.'

ITV have released a trailer ahead of Kate Garraway's return to Good Morning Britain on Monday

The TV star, 56, will make her TV return tomorrow - just three days after her husband's funeral - where she will give a poignant interview from her home before rejoining her co-host Ben Shepherd on Thursday

Heartbroken Kate is keen to keep busy and get back to work, her friends have said, after an 'incredibly rough' four years caring Derek who died last month.

Those close to the mother-of-two said she wants to get back to 'what she knows and loves', presenting for ITV, as she continues to mourn Derek.

'Kate has had an incredibly rough past couple of months, and it has taken its toll mentally and physically,' a friend said. 'But she is a workhorse, and journalism, being on live TV, runs through her blood  it's what she knows and loves.'

They added that she 'needs to work to provide for their kids' - Darcey, 17, and William, 14, and 'bring stability back to their lives'.

The source told the Sun that it was the 'perfect time' for Kate to be 'reunited with her GMB family', who have been 'hugely supportive' throughout the family's difficult time.

'After caring for Derek, and her family, for almost four years, Kate needs to get back to some sort of normality. And she wants to throw herself back into work, 3.45am starts and all,' the friend added.

In her first appearance back, Kate is expected to speak about her husband's final days and his funeral - which was attended by politicians and celebrities alike.

On Sunday ITV released a teaser about her return which showed a series of clips of the pair together and of Kate amid her caring journey

The voice over read: 'Kate Garraway has shared the story of caring for Derek for the last four years, highlighting the struggle faced by thousands' (seen on their wedding day)

It continued: 'Tomorrow she returns to Good Morning Britain to talk for the first time since the death of her beloved husband. From 6am on Good Morning Britain'

ITV released the trailer on Sunday as she prepared to return to screens to discuss her grief over Derek

In the trailer there was an old clip of her travelling to the ITV studios in central London

Heartbroken Kate is keen to keep busy and get back to work, her friends have said, after an 'incredibly rough' four years caring Derek who died last month (seen at the funeral)

Kate and her children - Darcey, 17, and William, 14 - leaving Derek's funeral at St Mary's Church in Primrose Hill on Friday

Kate had last been seen on GMB on December 8.

She is provisionally scheduled to return full-time but ITV said she can take time off as and when needed.

It is understood that the broadcaster is also providing a duty-of-care package, thought to include counselling if needed.

Derek had flown to Mexico for specialist treatment for long Covid on December 8 but while there suffered a cardiac arrest and was forced to fly home.

On Friday, Sir Tony Blair, Sir Keir Starmer and Sir Elton John were amongst those who gathered the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Primrose Hill - where Kate married her partner in 2005 - to bid farewell to the New Labour giant.

Journalist Robert Peston, talent manager Jonathan Shalit, former political editor of GMTV and ex-Labour MP Gloria De Piero and former Sky News political editor Adam Boulton also headed into the church.

Kate's past and present Good Morning Britain colleagues were also out in force to support her on a tragic day.

Ben Shephard and Susanna Reid were amongst the first to arrive followed by Piers Morgan and Charlotte Hawkins.

Fiona Phillips was seen in public with her ITV exec husband Martin Frizell for the first time since she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

Derek's daughter helped carry her father's coffin into the building while Sir Elton played a 'musical tribute'.

There was also a speech by friend Sir Tony Blair and the congregation sang Lord of the Dance and The Lord is My Shepherd.

His children left notes on wreaths on the coffin, which said: 'I love you with all my heart' and 'I love you dad'.

Derek was one of the first to fall seriously ill with Covid-19 in March 2020. Kate announced he died on January 3 last month

Kate and Derek in happier times at the National Television Awards in 2007 - two years after they married

Kate leaves the funeral service which was held on Friday afternoon, holding the hand of her son William

Kate had last been seen on GMB on December 8. She is provisionally scheduled to return full-time but ITV said she can take time off as and when needed

Derek was amongst the first in the UK to fall seriously ill with Covid-19, being admitted into an intensive care unit as the country entered lockdown in March 2020.

He was one of the country's longest-suffering Covid patients after being in hospital but never fully recovered after the virus left long-lasting damage to his organs and meant he needed round-the-clock care.

Derek had attended few public events over the last few years. But he suffered a heart attack before Christmas and never recovered.

Kate revealed Derek died as she held his hand 'throughout the last long hours and when he passed' on January 3 aged 56 after suffering long-lasting symptoms from coronavirus.
24 Solar Terms: 9 things you may not know about Start of Spring

Chinadaily.com.cn) 10:37, February 04, 2024

The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Start of Spring (Chinese: ), the first solar term of the year, begins this year on Feb 4 and ends on Feb 18.

Start of Spring lifts the curtain of spring. After that everything turns green and full of vigor; people clearly see that the daytime is becoming longer and the weather is becoming warmer.

Here are nine things you should know about Start of Spring.

Start of Spring and Spring Festival

As a solar term, Start of Spring had already entered people's lives in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). At that time, there were eight solar terms. According to some experts, the 24 solar terms were used for the first time in books during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), when the Start of Spring was set as the Spring Festival. In 1913, the first day of the first month of the lunar year was mandated as the Spring Festival.

Flying a kite

Spring is the best season for kite-flying. A traditional folk activity, it has a history of more than 2,000 years. It can help build one's health and prevent diseases. It also has the effect of promoting blood circulation and speeding up metabolism. A breath of fresh air outside can discharge the foul smell accumulated in winter.

Erecting the egg

In China, it is said that the egg can be set upright on the first day of the Start of Spring, Spring Equinox day and Autumn Equinox day. It is believed that if someone can make the egg stand on the first day of Start of Spring, he will have good luck in the future.

According to astronomers and physicists, setting the egg upright has nothing to do with time, but with mechanics. The most important thing is to shift the egg's center of gravity to the lowest part of the egg. In this way, the trick is holding the egg until the yolk sinks as much as possible. For this, people should choose an egg about 4 or 5 days old, whose yolk is inclined to sink down.

Wearing fabric swallows

Wearing fabric swallows is a custom in some regions in Shaanxi. Every Start of Spring, people like to wear a swallow made of colorful silk on their chests. The custom originated during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The swallow is a harbinger of spring and a symbol of prosperity and happiness.

Biting the spring

In many parts of China, people observe the custom of "biting the spring" on the first day of Start of Spring. They eat spring pancakes, spring rolls, or a few mouthfuls of carrots.

Making a Spring Ox

This custom in Shaanxi is practiced right before the Start of Spring. The local government hires some skilled artisans and gathers them to build the frame of an ox out of bamboo strips and the legs with wood. Then they paste some paper and paint onto itand, voila! The image of an ox is complete. It is said that if more red and yellow paper is used, then there will be a good harvest that year; if black paper is pasted, then the year will be poor. When the paper ox is ready, there is a ritual to paint the eyes. After that, people will set up an altar for it and worship it.

Posting spring calligraphy and paintings

Calligrapghy of Chinese character " chun" (spring). [File photo]

The custom of posting calligraphy and paintings on one's door in the spring first appeared during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). People would do so to welcome spring and pray for good luck on the first day of Start of Spring.

Appreciating plum blossoms

Plums blossom from the 12th lunar month to the second month of the next year. The plum blossom, as it fights against the cold, is the most highly regarded. In China, the plum blossom, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum are praised as the four gentlemen of Chinese flowers.

Welcoming spring

Image of Gou Mang, the god of Spring. [Photo/gmw.cn]

People in China began holding a special ceremony on the first day of Start of Spring about 3,000 years ago. They made sacrifices to Gou Mang, the god of Spring, who is in charge of agriculture. By the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), greeting spring had become an important folk activity. In Beijing, government officials welcomed spring in the wild field near Dongzhimen (the east gate of Beijing).

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
New Delhi, Feb 3 (UNI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday that those involved in maritime piracy and smuggling will not be tolerated under any circumstances, and it is the pledge of New India.

While speaking at the commissioning ceremony of INS Sandhayak, the first Survey Vessel Large (SVL) ship, at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, the Defence Minister lauded the Navy for providing security not only to the Indian ships but also those from friendly countries.

He referred to the recent drone attack on a British ship in the Gulf of Aden, which resulted in the oil tankers catching fire. He commended the Indian Navy for its prompt response in extinguishing the fire, stating that the effort was recognised and appreciated by the world, an official statement said here.

He also praised the Indian Navy for averting five piracy attempts and assisting ships attacked by drones and missiles in the last few days, in addition to rescuing 80 fishermen and marines.

The Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean region is facilitating safe trade while ensuring peace and prosperity. Many defence experts are calling this the rise of a superpower. This is our culture to protect everyone, he said.

Terming the Indian Ocean as a hotspot for global trade, Rajnath Singh said, Many choke points like the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Guinea, etc. are present in the Indian Ocean, through which a large amount of international trade takes place. Many threats remain at these choke points, the biggest being from pirates, referring to the hijack attempts on merchant vessels in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Navys courage and promptness to rescue the ships from the pirates.

He pointed out that post-Independence, despite facing challenges on many fronts, India continued to move forward for its security and protected itself from threats. Today, the country is marching ahead on the path of development, with the more-than-ever strong Navy providing security in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific region as the first responder, he added.

The primary role of INS Sandhayak is to carry out full-scale hydrographic surveys of ports, harbours, navigational channels and routes, coastal areas, and deep seas to enable safe marine navigation. In its secondary role, the ship will be capable of undertaking a range of naval operations.

Rajnath termed the commissioning historic, exuding confidence that INS Sandhayak will further strengthen India's role as a superpower in the Indo-Pacific region and help the Indian Navy maintain peace and security.

He explained the security aspect of a country by drawing parallels with the development of a human being.

He expressed hope that INS Sandhayak will go a long way in obtaining information about the oceans and achieve the twin objective of protecting the country as well as others.

"The ocean is vast and bottomless. The more we are able to explore its elements, the more our knowledge will expand, and we will become stronger. The more we gather information about the ocean, its ecology, and its flora and fauna, the closer we will get to achieving our objectives, he added.

UNI RBE ARN
Tyler Christopher's cause of death has been updated to reveal the very high blood alcohol content discovered in his system four months after he passed away.

The General Hospital star died at age 50 in October 2023 due to 'positional asphyxia' due to acute alcohol intoxication.

E! News reported that the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office stated that his blood alcohol content was an astounding 0.327 percent.

According to the Cleveland Clinic any BAC over 0.3 percent can lead to deadly alcohol poisoning.

His autopsy revealed that he had hardening in his coronary arteries and a fatty liver and no drugs or medications were discovered in his system.

Tyler Christopher's cause of death has been updated to reveal the very high blood alcohol content discovered in his system four months after he passed away. Seen in 2018

The new report said that Tyler's manner of death was an accident 'based on the autopsy findings and the circumstances surrounding the death.'

On the morning of October 31, his friend Maurice Benard discovered the actor in the bedroom of his San Diego apartment and said that Tyler's death was caused by heart-related issues.

A day later, police sources told TMZ that officers visited the home around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday after the friend contacted 911 after finding the actor.

He told authorities that 'it appeared he had been dead for some time.'

Christopher's friend had not been able to reach the actor, and had went to his home to check on him, sources told the outlet.

The home had been locked but the friend was able to enter with a key the actor had past provided, sources said.

Christopher's death was publicly announced by his friend and former costar Benard on Instagram: 'It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Tyler Christopher.

'Tyler passed away this morning following a cardiac event in his San Diego apartment,' Bernard wrote on October 31.

Previously, Christopher was married to Desperate Housewives alum Eva Longoria from 2002 to 2004.

He was also engaged to Vanessa Marcil in the late 1990s and she posted three tributes to her former love.

'Unit we meet again,' she captioned a picture of the hunky Daytime Emmy Award winner, standing behind her, with one of his arms wrapped lovingly around her.

In another tribute post, she wrote: 'Ugh, another loss! Waaaay too young.'

In a third post, she spoke directly to Christopher as she told him: 'Rest in power my love.'

In the morning of October 31, his friend discovered the actor in the bedroom of his San Diego apartment

The actor played the role of Nikolas Cassadine on 1,153 episodes of General Hospital from 1996 to 2016

'Tyler was a truly talented individual that lit up the screen in every scene he performed and relished bringing joy to his loyal fans through his acting,' Benard said on the social media site.

'Tyler was a sweet soul and wonderful friend to all of those who knew him.'

Benard said that his late colleague 'was an advocate for better mental health and substance use treatment who openly spoke about his struggles with bipolar depression and alcohol,' adding, 'We are beyond devastated by the loss of our dear friend and pray for his children and his father.'

Christopher's representative Chi Muoi Lo also confirmed the actor's death in a statement to CNN.

'This news was incredibly shocking, and I am devastated by his loss,' the actor's rep said. 'He was a very gifted actor, and more importantly, an amazing friend. My heart goes out to his friends and family who loved him so much.'

The actor played the role of Nikolas Cassadine on 1,153 episodes of General Hospital from 1996 to 2016. For his work on the series, he earned four daytime Emmy nominations and in 2016, he won the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

In the years following, he portrayed Stefan DiMera on 159 episodes of another stalwart soap in Days of Our Lives, from 2018 to 2019.

In his personal life, Christopher was twice married: to Longoria, and to one-time ESPN personality Brienne Pedigo from 2008 thru 2021. He and Pedigo welcomed two children - a son Greysun James, 14, and daughter, Boheme, eight.

Christopher was pictured in 2018 in Pasadena, California at an event for the NBCUniversal Winter Press Tour

Christopher and ex-wife Eva Longoria were pictured at the 29th annual Daytime Emmy Awards in NYC in May of 2022

The actor had been plagued by legal problems involving alcohol in recent years: He was arrested six months ago after passing out drunk at an LA airport, which marked his second public intoxication arrest in three years.

Christopher was found on the floor fast asleep at Burbank Airport in Los Angeles this past May 26, when police were alerted to the snoozing soap star and woke him, according to TMZ.

Christopher told the authorities he had missed his flight before he was handcuffed and booked for public intoxication.

Authorities said Christopher displayed clear signs of being intoxicated and that he was 'unable to care for himself,' according to the news outlet. He was released shortly after his arrest and given a court date, the news outlet reported.

In November 2019, Christopher was arrested for public intoxication in his hometown of Martinsville, Indiana, TMZ reported.

In an incident on November 11, 2019, an Uber driver had alerted officers to Christopher's behavior after he allegedly passed out and urinated on himself after he'd been dropped off at his home. He had 2 fifths of bourbon on his person at the time, according to the outlet.

Authorities said in legal docs reviews by the outlet that police had taken nine reports in connection with Christopher's drunken behavior in the two-month span beginning September 14.

In one incident November 8, 2019 at a Walgreens, a person reported that Christopher had been trying to get inside of their vehicle. Police who detained the actor said that he had sported possible head injuries as he had been bleeding from his nose and urinated in his pants.

The show's Maurice Benard announced the tragic news on Instagram Tuesday

The former couple was pictured at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, California in 2002

Authorities transported Christopher to a nearby emergency room for an examination and a breathalyzer test, which his BAC showed as .267, more than three times the legal limit to drive.

In 2022, Christopher appeared on Bernard's mental health podcast State of Mind, per Soaps.

During the episode, he spoke openly about his alcohol addiction and having his first drink at age nine.

'At some point, you cannot survive it,' he said. 'At some point, it will kill you  and it has. Three times, I have flatlined. And nobody knows that.'

He continued: 'Three times I have flatlined, and they brought me back. Twice from [alcohol] poisoning, once from withdrawal.'

Christopher in July spoke with Bloomberg about a family issue he was dealing with, after he had been placed in the guardianship of his sister Susan Asmo Baker in 2019 after he was injured in an alcohol-related incident.

Christopher told the outlet that he 'never thought in a million years that I would be taken advantage of by a family member' after he sued his sibling claiming she had spent $40,000 of his toward her own expenses.

She had denied any wrongdoing to the court and the outlet, telling Bloomberg in an email, 'If I hadn't been his Guardian he'd be DEAD!'

Tyler Christopher earned four Daytime Emmy nominations and in 2016 won the award for 'Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series,' after playing the role of Nikolas Cassadine for nearly two decades. Pictured in LA in 2016

Christopher in a 2010 scene with actress Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth) during their days together on the long-running soap General Hospital

Christopher spoke with Maurice Bernard, host of the podcast 'State of Mind,' and his fellow castmate on General Hospital, about his struggles with alcohol addiction in a 2022 episode and how had his first drink at age 9

Tyler in a 2010 scene on General Hospital. He also played the role of Stefan DiMera on the popular daytime show Days of Our Lives

Some of Christopher's other television and film roles included Days of Our Lives, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and the Paul Winfield dramedy Catfish in Black Bean Sauce, earlier in his career.

He also appeared in the crime drama No Turning Back, Face the Music, and The Twilight Zone, as well as the 2014 romantic drama Beyond the Lights.

In recent years, he had been seen in TV films such as 2023's Ice Storm, and the 2022 films 20.0 Megaquake and Super Volcano.

Amid news of Christopher's death, a number of his contemporaries and fans took to social media to pay memorial to the late actor.

Alyssa Milano, who Christopher appeared alongside on a 2000 episode of the series Charmed, posted a memorial Tuesday that read, 'It feels like the world is caving in. Tyler Christopher has passed away.

'He was a wonderful actor and so good in the Charmed episode Pardon My Past. I remember him as being a sweet, sweet, soul. May he rest in peace. My condolences to his friends and family.'

Actor Bryan Craig said, 'Wow so sad,' while actor Doug Davidson said, 'Oh my God. He was such a beautiful person and an amazing actor. I am in total shock. May God bless his soul.'

Actor Sean Kanan said, 'Stunned to hear that Tyler Christopher passed away. I have no words. RIP my friend.'

Amid news of Christopher's death, a number of his contemporaries and fans took to social media to pay memorial to the late actor on the post from Benard announcing his passing

Colleagues and fans of the late entertainer took to Twitter with memorials amid news of his death

Alyssa Milano, who Christopher appeared alongside on a 2000 episode of the series Charmed, posted a memorial Tuesday with an image of them working together

General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini said he was 'heartbroken over the news' and remembered Christopher as 'an incredible actor and a dear friend,' adding, 'Our heartfelt sympathies go out to his loved ones during this difficult time.'

A fan of the actor said, 'I'm stunnedso many people are just leaving this world too soon. RIP Tyler Christopher, wow!! We've lost another talented individual, thinking of his loved ones.'

Another fan said that 'Christopher's eternal talent and charm filled us all with joy,' adding, 'I, like many others, was always rooting for him. I hope he felt that.'

One fan noted a spate of recent untimely celebrity deaths, saying, 'Billy Miller, Matthew Perry and now Tyler Christopher is gone too?!? My heart hurts.'

Another fan said they were 'stunned and absolutely devastated' about Christopher's death, adding that 'losing him and Billy Miller within a month of each other is a double gut punch,' and 'May their souls rest in peace.'
Paul Mescal and All Of Us Strangers co-star Andrew Scott were both honoured for their performances in their new movie at the 44th London Critics' Circle Film Awards 2024 at The Mayfair Hotel on Sunday.

Paul, 28, cut a suave figure as he went shirtless beneath a black suit which teased a glimpse of his glimpse of his toned physique and hairy chest.

Paul's looked boasted a double-breasted blazer with white pocket square, tailored trousers and shiny dress shoes.

Meanwhile Andrew, 47, caught the eye in an olive green suit which he layered over a crisp white shirt and blue tie.

While Paul walked away with Performer of the Year Award, Andrew bagged the coveted Best Actor trophy.

Paul Mescal (R) and All Of Us Strangers co-star Andrew Scott (L) were both honoured for their performances in their new movie at the 44th London Critics' Circle Film Awards 2024 at The Mayfair Hotel on Sunday

Paul, 28, cut a suave figure as he went shirtless beneath a black suit which teased a glimpse of his glimpse of his toned physique and hairy chest

It comes after Paul revealed the one thing 'we all do' that really gives him the 'ick' during a YouTube game with Andrew on Monday.

He admitted that people who act 'chill' when turning off the lights to go to bed and run 'up the stairs because they're scared' is his biggest ick.

The Normal People star said he likes to 'try to impress' someone by 'smoothly' heading back up stairs and acting cool rather than panicking.

Speaking with LADbible, he said: 'Do you know what gives me more of an ick, because I think we all do it, is if you were like, "Oh, I'm just gonna go down and turn off the lights"

'And they're being all chill and then you hear them accelerate up the stairs because they're scared.

'Because I think we'd all do it. But I think if I was trying to impress someone I'd, like, smoothly walk up the stairs, than be dealing with the... yeah'.

The Aftersun star went on to reveal that people who 'slide down [the stairs] on their bum' give him even more of an ick.

He added: 'That gives me more of the ick, cause it's not as funny. That would give me the ick. It's just a bit weird.

While Paul walked away with Performer of the Year Award, Andrew bagged the coveted Best Actor trophy

Paul's looked boasted a double-breasted blazer with white pocket square, tailored trousers and shiny dress shoes

The movie star looked cool as a cucumber as he posed with one hand in his pocket

Andrew caught the eye in an olive green suit which he layered over a crisp white shirt and blue tie

Paul accepted his coveted trophy on stage to applause from the audience

Paul gave a speech as he thanked the critics for the honour

It comes after Paul and Andrew admitted they weren't too keen on their family members watching their steamy new film All Of Us Strangers

The movie stars Andrew as a screenwriter drawn back to his childhood home who enters into a relationship with a mysterious neighbour, played by Paul

Pictured together in All Of Us Strangers

'Yeah, and what you have to sort of laugh along? It's less of a big gesture. You'd be, like, that was your bum. I've broken my coccyx.'

It comes after Paul and Andrew admitted they weren't too keen on their family members watching their new film All Of Us Strangers.

The movie stars Andrew as a screenwriter drawn back to his childhood home who enters into a relationship with a mysterious neighbour, played by Paul.

The film features several intimate scenes between the actors which the pair discussed during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show earlier this month.

Oscar nominee Jeffrey Wright opted for a classic black tuxedo

How To Have Sex star Mia McKenna-Bruce stunned in a dramatic black gown

The End of the F***ing World's Alex Lawther cut a stylish figure

(L-R) Kahleen Crawford and Molly Manning Walker

Asked if their families had seen the flick yet, Paul said: 'With the Irish premiere, trying to allocate tickets to all the aunties and uncles is a tricky business. They have seen my bum before but there is a little more going on in this movie I would say!'

Andrew added: 'I don't want to be there when my parents watch it!'

All Of Us Strangers dominated the competition at the British Independent Film Awards, earning a staggering seven gongs in total.

Among the awards was the top prize for Best Film, beating Femme, How To Have Sex, Rye Lane and Scrapper.
EastEnders actor Max Bowden was caught telling fans he was 'so f***ing excited' to get out as he filmed some of his final scenes for the BBC soap.

The soap star, 29, who was axed from the series after four years, was filmed by a fan who stopped him as he left the set in a clip obtained by the Sun.

Max was spotted by the fan after filming at Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, as he shot his character's exit scenes which will air in the spring.

Speaking on the clip, Max told the Sun: 'Anyone who listens to this audio will clearly hear this is not a foul mouthed rant. I was talking about my excitement for the future and what's to come.'

Max's contract playing Ben Mitchell was not renewed after he reportedly received warnings from bosses about his behaviour.

EastEnders actor Max Bowden was caught telling fans he was 'so f***ing excited' to get out as he filmed some of his final scenes for the BBC soap

Max was spotted by the fan after filming at Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, as he shot his character's exit scenes which will air in the spring

The Sun on Sunday claimed that the decision not to renew Max's contract was made after they had to discipline him.

A source said: 'Max is ready to move on. He is proud of his time on the show and what he has achieved but he is focused on new projects and what he is doing next.'

It was reported that the actor had decisions with bosses for a chat with executives about his drama offscreen in 2022.

A TV source said: 'Max was called in for a chat by executives. He is an extremely talented actor and was always a real pro on set. However, there were concerns that his partying lifestyle away from the set could start to prove a distraction.'

Off-screen, Max had been dating his co-star Shona McGarty, 32, for six months before they decided to call time on their romance. Shona will also leave the soap after 15 years in the coming weeks.

Sources claimed the pair were 'inseparable' following his split from girlfriend Roisin Buckle, and they made their relationship Instagram official in August 2022.

However, Max and Shona split in October 2022, with sources claiming the pair had decided to remain friends after Max welcomed a baby boy with his ex Roisin.

Their relationship began while his ex-girlfriend Roisin, 38, was pregnant with their child.

Last month, Max broke his silence after being 'axed' as he told fans he had been 'surrounded by love' all day and was 'feeling grateful' as he celebrated his birthday, while thanking viewers for their support

In September 2022, Max revealed he was a father for the first time following the birth of his son.

Roisin and Max both shared a sweet black and white photo of their son, who was born on September 19, 2022, as they revealed they had named him Reginald.

They revealed they were expecting their first child in April 2022. The soap star met Roisin at a pub in June 2021. The pair quickly became close, and in July went on holiday to Madeira.

The couple decided to separate in March 2022, while agreeing to co-parent once their son was born, however Roisin claimed in August that they had not been in contact for two months.

The same month, Max was spotted at a country music festival with his EastEnders colleague Shona at London's O2.

Last month, Max broke his silence after being 'axed' as he told fans he had been 'surrounded by love' all day and was 'feeling grateful' as he celebrated his birthday, while thanking viewers for their support.

Alongside an image of the soap star enjoying a meal with family and friends, he wrote: 'Been surrounded by love all day celebrating my birthday.

'Grateful for family and friends. Thanks for all the messages. Big love.'

Max's personal life hit the headlines when his romance with his EastEnders co-star Shona McGarty (left) first came to light in May 2022

Shona is known for her role as Whitney Dean in EastEnders (pictured with Max as Ben on the soap in 2019)

His last scenes will air in the spring but it is understood his character Ben, who has been played by numerous actors in the past, will not be killed off.

An EastEnders spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Max will be leaving EastEnders next year. We wish him all the best for the future.'

A TV insider told The Sun: 'Max has played Ben for the last four years and bosses decided his time on the show was up.

'There has been a lot of noise around him for a bit too long and that can take away from the drama on the show.

'He went in for a meeting as his contract was up for renewal next year, No one knew how it was going to go and following discussions it was decided that he would leave.'

Max, who is the sixth actor to play Ben, was involved in some of the soap's biggest storylines of late.

Ben struggled to cope with the death of Lola Pearce-Brown (Danielle Harold) who was mother to his daughter Lexi.

He then developed eating disorder bulimia as he attempted to work through his grief.

The soap star met ex Roisin Buckle at a pub in June 2021. The pair quickly became close, and in July went on holiday to Madeira. The couple decided to separate in March 2022

In September 2022, Max revealed he was a father for the first time following the birth of his son with ex Roisin

Late last year, it was reported Max had a lucky escape after after being involved in a three-car collision in Surrey.

Max emerged unscathed but appeared to be shaken up following the accident in Sunbury-on-Thames, according to onlookers.

In pictures obtained by The Sun, the soap star emerged from the scene with no injuries, despite the vehicle's bumper completely destroyed.

A source told the publication: 'It was all very fast. We just saw this car was absolutely demolished and then my girlfriend said, "Is that Ben Mitchell?"

'He looked pretty stunned by the whole thing. He must have been pretty badly shaken up.'

A Surrey Police spokeswoman said: 'We were called to a collision involving three vehicles in Sunbury-on-Thames on Friday.

'The collision occurred around 1.10pm just off the Sunbury Cross roundabout and involved a red Mazda, a black Mercedes and a grey Kia.

'There were no injuries or arrests resulting from the incident.'
Dancing On Ice host Holly Willoughby has referenced her 'swearing' gaffe after fans were convinced she dropped the f bomb during last week's show.

The TV presenter, 42, shared her look for this week's show on her Instagram page ahead of the programme and made light of the incident in her caption.

Holly wrote: 'This is Big Brother Please do not swear. See you on Dancing On Ice at 6:20. Tonight we celebrate the best dance styles ever!'

Last Sunday, Holly was forced to apologise to viewers after it sounded like she accidentally dropped an expletive while presenting the show.

Holly apologised in case she accidentally said a 'naughty word' during an interaction with her co-host Stephen Mulhern.

Dancing On Ice host Holly Willoughby has referenced her 'swearing' gaffe after fans were convinced she dropped the f bomb during last week's show

The TV presenter, 42, shared her look for this week's show on her Instagram page ahead of the programme and made light of the incident in her caption

The former This Morning host looked incredible in a form-fitting yellow gown, which featured one statement shoulder

Holly was back alongside her new co-host Stephen Mulhern

She said: 'A little bit earlier on, Stephen may have made me jump and I think it might have sounded like a naughty word slipped out,' she said.

Viewers admitted they were torn over whether Holly did say the f word, or whether it was something that sounded similar.

Holly, who will no doubt be hoping to avoid any on-screen gaffes this week, shared a snap of her latest Dancing On Ice look on Instagram.

The former This Morning host looked incredible in a form-fitting yellow gown, which featured one statement shoulder.

She wore her blonde locks swept up into a chic updo, with some strands left loose framing her pretty features, which had been accentuated with soft make-up.

Fans have been busy debating the blink and you miss it moment, with many insisting they heard the pro presenter 'dropping the f bomb'.

One person wrote on Twitter: 'Swear Holly just called Stephen a f**ker.'

While someone else asked: 'Did Holly just swear on Dancing on Ice?'

'Holly you can deny swearing all you like but that was definitely an f bomb!!!' insisted another.

She wore her blonde locks swept up into a chic updo, with some strands left loose framing her pretty features, which had been accentuated with soft make-up

The duo larked around as they welcomed viewers to the show

Fans have been busy debating the blink and you miss it moment, with many insisting they heard the pro presenter 'dropping the f bomb'

Someone else posted: '*GASPS* Did Holly just swear when @StephenMulhern shouted Boo to her?'

'Looool! Just came on here to see if everyone else had heard what I thought was said! Holly saying f**k!!' laughed another.

Others though were less convinced with one tweeting: 'I don't think Holly said a naughty word, she nearly did. Probably wanted to. But she's a pro. She only lets out the odd naughty word on This Morning. Well, she did.'

Another agreed, insisting 'Holly doesn't swear.' 'Hang on did I miss Holly swearing,' queried another viewer at home.

And someone else commented: 'People saying Holly was swearing but here's me who didn't hear a thing.'

Fans have been busy debating the blink and you miss it moment, with many insisting they heard the pro presenter 'dropping the f bomb'

Holly looked sensational as she returned to screens for the latest instalment of Dancing On Ice on Sunday.

The television presenter, 42, put on a busty display as she wore a 1,800 black velvet maxi dress with white bows and cut out detail by Rasario.

Broadcaster Holly's garment featured a front split which left her legs on show and she wore a pair of black Jimmy Choo heels to complete her look.

Holly took to her Instagram page to share a snap of herself before this weekend's live Movie Week episode aired.

She captioned her post: 'Lets go to the Movies its movie week on @dancingonice You are in for a treat! See you soon. Dress by @rasario, shoes by @jimmychoo, jewellery by @susannahlovisjewellers.'

It comes after it was reported Holly is being eyed-up for presenting roles in the US after making her way back on to UK screens.

Holly apologised in case she accidentally said a 'naughty word' during an interaction with her co-host Stephen Mulhern

Others were less convinced with one tweeting: 'I don't think Holly said a naughty word, she nearly did

The TV host quit her regular job on This Morning last year amid a plot to kidnap and murder her but she returned to the airwaves this month on Dancing On Ice.

It is now claimed she could head over to America for work, with the star hopeful it will also boost her lifestyle brand.

An insider told The Sun: 'Hollys a free agent and for the first time in years shes free to be courted by these huge streaming platforms.

'A number of US networks and production companies have been interested in her for a while and shes caught the attention of some major brands.

'She has true star pulling power and as well as being glamorous she is a polished professional in front of the camera. Its an exciting time in her career.'

It is claimed Holly is hoping to use any boost of exposure in the United States to push her lifestyle brand Wylde Moon, which has been compared to Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop.

The source added: 'Holly has made it no secret that she is following the Gwyneth Paltrow brand model. Launching herself Stateside could make those dreams a reality.'

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Holly for comment.
Hollywood screen siren Stefanie Powers shared a group photo this weekend with some big name actresses.

The 81-year-old Hart To Hart looked thrilled to be in the company of her pals from the 1980s.

Can you name all of them?

With the Hart To Hart star were Donna Mills (of Knot's Landing fame) , Jane Seymour (a former Bond girl), Joan Collins (she was on Dynasty), Alana Stewart (she was wed to Rod Stewart) and Jerry Hall (a model and former partner of Mick Jagger).

'This is from Joan Collins recent book-signing for her memoir, Behind The Shoulder Pads,' wrote Powers.

'It was a great reunion of glamorous ladies in honor of THE MOST glamorous - Joan Collins.

Mills, Seymour, Collins and Hall all posed for Playboy.

Hollywood screen siren Stefanie Powers shared a group photo this weekend with some big name actresses. The 81-year-old Hart To Hart looked thrilled to be in the company of her pals from the 1980s. Can you name all of them?

'I met Joan when I was still in my teens and In 1967 we worked together in a film called Warning Shot."

'She later guest starred on Hart to Hart. She is one of the greatest "survivors" I have ever known and an inspiration to us all.'

This comes after Stefanie appeared radiant and way younger than her years during a very rare public outing ahead of her 81st birthday last year.

The veteran actress, who found fame starring alongside Robert Wagner in ABC television series Hart To Hart, has retreated from the limelight over the years and now lives a low key lifestyle in the Los Angeles.

But the TV star stepped out in October to enjoy the sunshine after emerging from an LA office building by herself.

The reclusive star keeps a low profile these days but occasionally shares photos of herself and other life updates on social media.

With the Hart To Hart star were Donna Mills (of Knot's Landing fame), Jane Seymour (a former Bond girl), Joan Collins (she was on Dynasty), Alana Stewart (she was wed to Rod Stewart) and Jerry Hall (a model and former partner of Mick Jagger)

Powers is best known for her role on TV series Hart To Hart with actor Robert Wagner. The show aired from 1979 until 1984

Powers attends Gloria - Deutscher Kosmetikpreis 2023 at Messe Duesseldorf in April in Dusseldorf, Germany

Earlier this year she shared a photo from a rare public appearance in April when she attended an award show in Germany.

'I had a wonderful time in Germany attending the Gloria Awards and was so warmly welcomed by the hosts and participants all of whom were such great supporters of Hart to Hart. Thank you all so very much,' she said in a caption.

She also showed off her signature red hair as she posed for snaps on the red carpet.

The octogenarian is best known for her role as Jennifer Hart in the mystery TV series that earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards during its run from 1979 to 1984.

The show follows self-made millionaire Jonathan  played by Wagner  and freelance writer Jennifer  Powers  a globetrotting married couple with a talent for finding mysteries wherever they go.

Collins is seen here recently; she is best known for her TV series Dynasty

Joan Collins: Behind the Shoulder Pads: Tales I Tell My Friends

The diva in a 1983 press photo for Dynasty

'And even when they're uncovering thefts, espionage and assorted skullduggery, they still find time for romance,' says a synopsis.

She went on to participate in ITV survival reality game show, I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2011.

In an interview in 2019, Stefanie admitted she was happy to be the first star voted off the show.

She explained that she didn't find many of her fellow camp mates 'terribly interesting' and mocked the show for being far from authentic.

The animal activist said the reason she had signed up for the show in the first place was to raise awareness of the William Holden Wildlife Foundation  she dated Sunset Boulevard star William Holden from 1972 until his death from a fall in 1981.

She said: 'I was raising money for our William Holden Wildlife Foundation. Which, I thank you very much, was considerable and very helpful to our work in Kenya.'

The William Holden Wildlife Foundation is a 501 non-profit organization based in the United States whose principal project is the William Holden Wildlife Education Center located near Nanyuki, Kenya.
An Antiques Roadshow guest was left stunned and emotional to discover the staggering value of her collection of photographs with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The latest episode saw members of the public taking their prized possessions to Roundhay Park, Leeds, to be valued by experts.

One woman brought in a selection of bodybuilder magazines from the 1940s to be valued, but among them expert Clive Farahar discovered something much more special.

He found several old signed photos featuring famous star Arnold Schwarzenegger, now 76, in his youth.

Explaining their origin the guest said: 'My dad was born in India and moved to Kenya and then to England. His passion from being young was weight training.

An Antiques Roadshow guest was left stunned and emotional to discover the staggering value of her collection of photographs with Arnold Schwarzenegger

The latest episode saw one woman bring in a selection of bodybuilder magazines from the 1940s to be valued, but among them expert Clive Farahar discovered something much more special

He found several old signed photos featuring famous star Arnold Schwarzenegger, now 76, in his youth

'He was a builder but he always wanted to open his own gym, which he did in the seventies in Harrogate, the first one. And he first met Arnold at the age of 19 in London.

Clive pointed out one of the photos taken at the time, and said: 'This is the young Arnold Schwarzenegger, gosh yes.'

The woman continued: 'Arnold's inspiration was a Leeds bodybuilder Reg Park, who made a film, Hercules. My dad called Arnold to do some seminars in 1981, to Leeds. He came to our house, Mum cooked.'

She showed one photo of her posing alongside Arnold with her mother and brother and another that the former politician and professional bodybuilder had autographed for her.

Clive showed a playful picture of Arnold and her father, who was clenching his bicep and said: 'Obviously we've got a picture of Arnold here with your dad.'

The woman explained: 'Lifting his arm up. He just thought my dad was so strong.'

Clive quipped: 'And your father's got all his clothes on, for heaven's sake, we can't possibly tell from that!''

He then got to the valuation and gushed: 'That's absolutely wonderful. Quite incredible. Well, how do I value this?

She showed one photo of her posing alongside Arnold with her mother and brother and another that the former politician and professional bodybuilder had autographed for her

Clive showed a playful picture of Arnold and her father, who was clenching his bicep and the woman explained: 'Lifting his arm up. He just thought my dad was so strong'

'You've got about four signed photographs of Arnold Schwarzenegger. What am I going to put on it? Well, I think just this small private section of the collection, I'm going to put 2,000.'

The guest gasped in shock as Clive went on: '2,000 for unknown photographs of Arnold Schwarzenegger. As far as I can see, all absolutely private and early Arnold Schwarzenegger, too.'

The woman became emotional and teary-eyed as she learned the staggering value of her collection and said: 'I'm very proud of my father for what he did and it's good to share it with you. Something for Leeds.'

Clive added: 'Thank you for sharing it with us, we love it.'

It comes after a guest was left stunned to discover the true value of two vases she had picked up in a charity shop during a recent episode from Derry, Northern Ireland.

One woman brought in two floral vases to be looked at, that she had purchased for just 1 each, after negotiating the price down at a charity shop.

She explained she had been about to throw them away, before deciding to bring them along to learn about their history.

Despite the ornaments not being in the best condition, expert John Sandon surprised the guest and the viewers by revealing they were actually very valuable.

Clive then revealed the value of the collection to be 2,000, causing the woman to become emotional and teary-eyed as she learned the staggering value of her collection

She said: 'I'm very proud of my father for what he did and it's good to share it with you. Something for Leeds'

He explained they were from a pottery firm called Belleek, with pieces being 'highly prized' by collectors.

What made the ceramics even more unique was their gold trim and tulip decoration, as John revealed that Belleek didn't make many of that style.

He said that the pieces date all the way back to around 1870 and said one vase could sell for an eye-watering 700 to 1,000.

The guest was stunned and said: 'Wow! I was actually going to dump them when I first brought them home! I didn't like them.' John chimed in to comment: 'That 2 was well spent!'
Dua Lipa was in good company on Sunday evening as she attended the 66th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

The British star was accompanied by her father Dukagjin after joining the early arrivals at Crypto.com Arena, where she is among the nominations for Song of the Year.

Opting for a glittering silver gown with a plunging neckline, Dua ensured she caught the eye while posing for photos before making her way inside.

The Dance The Night Away hitmaker oozed confidence under the spotlight, showcasing her toned physique in the dazzling number.

The incredible garment featured edgy fringes, as well as waist cut-out details and a daring low V-cut on her chest.

Dua Lipa was joined by her father Dukagjin on Sunday evening as she attended the 64th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles

Opting for a glittering silver gown with a plunging gown, Dua ensured she caught the eye while posing for photos before making her way inside

The singer was a vision as the long-sleeve gown which hugged her curves flawlessly.

She didn't spare the glamour for one of the glitziest nights of the year, adding an eye-catching diamond choker necklace.

Dua teamed the stunning jewellery piece with a matching hand-wrap diamond bracelet, which was mostly covered by her flared sleeve.

Her red locks boosted her gorgeous looks, as the songstress rocked a glam but chic palette with a shiny blush, rouge lipstick and sparkling smokey-eyes.

Her doting dad Dukagjin, 54, cut a dapper figure in a classic black suit with papillon, beaming alongside his pop star daughter.

The duo embraced one another for the camera while looking in good spirits, as the supportive dad didn't miss a chance to support the singer.

All eyes were pointed on Dua as she strutted the red carpet of the event, busy to strike a slew of poses under the limelight.

The Physical singer had two nominations for her hit single Dance The Night Away from the Barbie movie including Song Of The Year and Best Song Written for Visual Media and also stunned the star-studded audience with a live performance on stage.

The Dance The Night Away hitmaker oozed confidence under the spotlight, showcasing her toned physique in the dazzling number

The incredible garment featured edgy fringes, as well as waist cut-out details and a daring low V-cut on her chest

The singer was a vision as the long-sleeve gown which hugged her curves flawlessly

She didn't spare the glamour for one of the glitziest nights of the year, adding an eye-catching diamond choker necklace

Dua teamed the stunning jewellery piece with a matching hand-wrap diamond bracelet, which was mostly covered by her flared sleeve

Her red locks boosted her gorgeous looks, as the songstress rocked a glam but chic palette with a shiny blush, rouge lipstick and sparkling smokey-eyes

Her doting dad Dukagjin, 54, cut a dapper figure in a classic black suit with papillon, beaming alongside his pop star daughter

The duo embraced one another for the camera while looking in good spirits, as the supportive dad didn't miss a chance to support the singer

All eyes were pointed on Dua as she strutted the red carpet of the event, busy to strike a slew of poses under the limelight

The Physical singer had two nominations for her hit single Dance The Night Away from the Barbie movie including Song Of The Year and Best Song Written for Visual Media

The pop sensation has often shared her unconditional love for her doting parents Anesa, 51, and Dukagjin on social media, proving to have a very strong bond with both of them.

Dua is the oldest of three children as the couple also shares Rina, born in 2001, and son Gjin, born in 2005.

The New Rules songstress previously admitted to have a 'good relationship' with her parents while speaking to The Guardian, and revealed at 14 she convinced them let her return to London in order to pursue a music career.

Dukagjin's father, Seit Lipa, as a renowned historian who was head of the Kosovo Institute of History in the 1990s - where the family has their original roots.

In the 1980s Dukagjin had already made a name for himself as a musician with the Kosovan rock band Oda.

Later on he first formally trained as a dentist, while Anesa was training as a lawyer in Pristina, Kosovo - and he also studied mass communication at the Kosovo Institute of Journalism and Communication.

Dukagjin is currently founder and CEO of REPUBLIKA Communications Agency, but also embarked on a project alongside his daughter.

The pair share a passion for music which they decided to channel into creating Sunny Hill Festival in Pristina.

Grammy Awards 2024 winners: AT A GLANCE Album Of The Year: Taylor Swift - Midnights Record Of The Year: Miley Cyrus - Flowers Song Of The Year: Billie Eilish - What Was I Made For? Taylor Swift made history as she earned her fourth Album Of The Year award at the Grammy Awards 2024 Best New Artist: Victoria Monet Best Pop Solo Performance: Miley Cyrus - Flowers Best Pop Vocal Album: Taylor Swift - Midnights Best R&B Song: SZA - Snooze Best Country Albim: Lainey Wilson - Bell Bottom Country Best Musica Urbana Album: Karol G - Manana Sera Bonito

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The festival aims to increase tourism and highlight the cultural organisations at work in the capital.

Praising both her parents for supporting her, Dua told The Guardian: 'I've seen my parents work every day of my life.

'A big part of who I am has been watching my parents learn to adapt in different places, in different circumstances. And my dad would always tell me: 'You have to work really, really hard, just to have a tiny bit of luck.''

The Be The One singer added: 'For me, growing up, doing music, watching pop stars on TV  that felt as crazy as cartoons. Totally unbelievable. Not real. What I've learned from my parents is this: Everything comes from hard work. And then, maybe, things align.'

Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus were the biggest winners at the Grammy Awards 2024 on Sunday evening.

Taylor, 34, made history as she earned her fourth Album Of The Year for Midnights at the end of the star-studded night which took place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday evening.

The big win made her the first person to ever win the top prize four times as she was previously tied with Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra, and Paul Simon for the record.

Taylor - who is now a 14-time Grammy winner - thanked her friends and many collaborators during her acceptance speech but one notable name which was missing was boyfriend Travis Kelce who will be playing in the Super Bowl next week.

The pop sensation has often shared her unconditional love for her doting parents Anesa, 51, and Dukagjin on social media, proving to have a very strong bond with both of them

Dua is the oldest of three children as the couple also shares Rina, born in 2001, and son Gjin, born in 2005 (pictured altogether in February 2019 at Brit Awards)

The whole Lipa Family pictured posing together at the YSL New Fragrance UK party at Somerset House in 2019

The New Rules songstress previously admitted to have a 'good relationship' with her parents while speaking to The Guardian, and revealed at 14 she convinced them let her return to London in order to pursue a music career

The father and daughter share a passion for music which they decided to channel into creating the Sunny Hill Festival in Pristina, Kosovo

Dukagjin is currently founder and CEO of REPUBLIKA Communications Agency and also made his name as a rockstar in the 1980s

Praising both her parents for supporting her, Dua told The Guardian: 'I've seen my parents work every day of my life. A big part of who I am has been watching my parents learn to adapt in different places, in different circumstances'

The 2024 Grammy Awards will be honoring music's brightest stars in a celebration held at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles on February 4, hosted by Trevor Noah and airing live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS and its streaming service Paramount+

She beat out an impressive field including: Boygenius - The Record, Janelle Monae - The Age of Pleasure, Jon Batiste - World Music Radio, Lana Del Rey - Did You Know That Theres a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd,Miley Cyrus - Endless Summer Vacation, Olivia Rodrigo - Guts, and SZA - SOS.

Earlier in the night she earned Best Pop Vocal Album as she surprised fans by announcing her new album - titled The Tortured Poets Department - will be released on April 19.



Meanwhile Miley Cyrus was one of the biggest winners of the night as she earned the coveted Record Of The Year and Best Pop Solo Performance for her hit track Flowers.

One of the biggest awards of the night - Song Of The Year- went to Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas for What Was I Made For? which was featured on the soundtrack for top grossing film of 2023 Barbie.

SZA was the most nominated artist coming into the event with nine as she even earned two prior to the gala airing but she hit the stage first when she took home Best R&B Song bringing her total to three.

Victoria Monet beat out an impressive field including Coco Jones, Gracie Abrams, Fred Again.., Ice Spice, Jelly Roll, Noah Kahan, and The War and Treaty for Best New Artist.
Ekin-Su Culculoglu dumped Davide Sanclimenti earlier this week after 'rows' over his friendship with Only Fans star Sylvija Vasilevska.

The model, who has since been branded a 'home wrecker' by Ekin-Su's fans, has now shed light on what really happened between her and Davide, 29.

Sylvija denied of an relationship with Davide, but revealed he had 'liked a few of her stories' on social media.

Branding Ekin-Su, 29, a 'victim', the OF star told The Sun that she has been made out to be 'this evil porn star who has stolen her man'.

She said: 'Im in shock, he's liked a few of my stories. Im so confused as to where this has come from. Shes convinced Im the girl [that broke them up], but I am not.

Ekin-Su Culculoglu dumped Davide Sanclimenti, both 29, earlier this week after 'rows' over his friendship with Only Fans star Sylvija Vasilevska (pictured)

The model, who has since been branded a 'home wrecker' by Ekin-Su's fans, has now shed light on what really happened between her and Davide (Davide and Ekin-Su pictured in 2023)

'All I've done is liked his picture. It was completely innocent. Of course Ekin is upset but its got nothing to do with me.'

'She's liking tweets about me which indicates to her fans that he did cheat with me, which prompted messages [from fans] calling me trash and a homewrecker. Im so angry to have been dragged into this. No offence to them but I couldnt care less about their relationship.'

MailOnline have contacted Sylvija's representatives for a comment.

Ekin-Su made her first public appearance after her shock split from Davide earlier this week.

The Love Island 2022 winner stunned in a busty pinafore in Northern Ireland on Thursday, just a day after Davide flexed his muscles in a shirtless thirst trap.

Fans have even speculated that the couple's break up is just for show, and they will both appear on Love Island: All Stars and dramatically get back together.

Taking to her Instagram Story on Tuesday, the former Dancing On Ice contestant wrote: '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. Unfortunately I have recently made the decision to end our relationship and to go our separate ways..

Sylvija denied of an relationship with Davide, but revealed he had 'liked a few of her stories' on social media

Branding Ekin-Su, 29, a 'victim', the OF star told The Sun that she has been made out to be 'this evil porn star who has stolen her man'

She said: 'Im in shock, he's liked a few of my stories. Im so confused as to where this has come from. Shes convinced Im the girl [that broke them up], but I am not'

Newly-single Ekin-Su stunned in a busty pinafore in Northern Ireland on Thursday, just a day after ex Davide flexed his muscles in a shirtless thirst trap

Davide showed Ekin-Su what she was missing when he flexed his muscles in a shirtless thirst trap on Instagram just two days after she announced their split

Neither Ekin-Su nor the Italian Stallion have removed the other from their respective Instagram pages, so the two may be on good terms (pictured the November image both still have up)

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'

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'



'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.'

Davide released his own statement later that same day also on his Instagram story, and used the same font and colours as Ekin-Su.

He wrote: '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.'

Hinting at foul play from Ekin-Su, he said: 'I don't know why the agreed statement changed last minute, but continued: '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.'
Holly Willoughby was seen enjoying a night out with pal Rylan Clark and The Traitors' Harry Clark on Sunday, after returning to the limelight following her terrifying kidnapping ordeal in October.

The former This Morning host, 42, was all smiles as she posed for snaps with the pair while having a drink.

Holly, who was dressed in a stylish black blazer, shared the image to her Instagram Stories and wrote: '100% Faithful', following Harry's recent win on the BBC show.

Meanwhile, Rylan and Holly posed for a selfie with a fun rabbit filter on and penned: 'Coming soon... #Justice'

It comes after Holly took a three month hiatus after stepping down from This Morning when she learned she was a victim of an alleged 'kidnap and murder plot'.

Holly Willoughby was seen enjoying a night out with pal Rylan Clark and The Traitors ' Harry Clark on Sunday, after returning to the limelight following her terrifying kidnapping ordeal in October

The former This Morning host, 42, was all smiles as she posed for snaps with the pair while having a drink

Holly was the nation's sweetheart set for a long and illustrious career at the forefront of British television.

But following her 'year from hell', which saw her embroiled in Phillip Schofield 's controversial This Morning exit and become the subject of a terrifying kidnap plot, Holly Willoughby could be set to continue her TV career in America.

It's a scenario that seemed highly unlikely just 18 months ago, when in-demand Ms Willoughby, 42, was locked in a contract battle between ITV and the BBC .

Yet for the first time in her career she's now a 'free agent' and is keen to explore opportunities across the pond and draw a line under her domestic troubles.

It's a prospect she's 'excited' about, even though discussions are still at a relatively early stage.

Given her three children are settled at school and her husband Dan Baldwin fronts a highly successful TV production firm, a switch Stateside would be a seismic move for all concerned, which she's only too aware of.

But currently the Dancing On Ice host feels there's no harm in seeing what's out there and discovering whether she can follow in the footsteps of fellow Britons James Corden and Cat Deeley by landing lucrative TV jobs across the pond.

A source said: 'Holly's had an incredibly tough year, it's really taken it out of her.

'She thought long and hard about returning for Dancing On Ice and it's proved to be the correct decision, it's got her back in the groove again.

She was the nation's sweetheart set for a long and illustrious career at the forefront of British television but following her 'year from hell' Holly could be set to continue her TV career in America

Ms Willoughby quit This Morning after 14 years in October following Schofield's sacking from the broadcaster (pictured in May)

'Jobs in America have always been at the back of her mind but due to circumstance, now they've become a genuine reality and she's excited by that.

'Discussions are taking place and she's in no rush to take on any roles, but if there is a presenting gig she feels passionate about Stateside, she has the freedom now to explore it.'

Ms Willoughby quit This Morning after 14 years in October following Schofield's sacking from the broadcaster.

Schofield left the show after admitting to an affair with a younger colleague and lying to his co-star when questioned about the mounting speculation.

After she returned to the ITV programme without him, Ms Willoughby was mocked for the statement she made addressing the nation, asking whether viewers were 'okay' following the revelation.

She then faced a further setback as a man was arrested for an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her, leaving her terrified.

According to reports, she was too afraid to leave her house after Gavin Plumb was charged for the crime, forcing her off-air for months.

She deliberated over whether to present Dancing On Ice with new co-host Stephen Mulhern, finally deciding to return to work in the New Year.

But it could be the last UK show she presents before going to America with sources close to Ms Willoughby saying it is the first time in her career she's a 'free agent' and looking for new prospects.

A source told the Sun on Sunday said that Ms Willoughby is meeting with 'US bigwigs' including bosses at streaming platform Disney+.

She deliberated over whether to present Dancing On Ice with new co-host Stephen Mulhern, finally deciding to return to work in the New Year (pictured in January)

They explained: 'Holly's a free agent and for the first time in years she's free to be courted by these huge streaming platforms.

'A number of US networks and production companies have been interested in her for a while and she's caught the attention of some major brands.'

Ms Willoughby won't be the first British star to crack America.

TV presenter Ms Deeley spent 14 years in Hollywood after becoming an award-winning host for So You Think You Can Dance.

Meanwhile, Corden hosted American talk show The Late Late Show from 2015 until 2023, establishing himself as an A-list star in the States.
T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach were spotted bundled up in winter coats and clutching hands as they shopped at a smoke shop in New York.

The celebrity couple wrapped in matching outfits of hoodies and warm jackets for their outing in downtown Manhattan.

Both of the stars paired their casual clothes with sunglasses to keep a low profile and protect their eyes from the city's sunny weather on Saturday.

After abstaining from alcohol for 'Dry January', the former Good Morning America anchors popped into the smoking paraphernalia store amidst rumors that their relationship might be on the rocks.

Holmes, 46, and Robach, 50, reportedly have a huge fear of being 'trapped' and admittedly want to attend couples therapy as they are 'desperate to make their relationship work'.

T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach were spotted bundled up in winter coats and clutching hands as they shopped at a smoke shop in New York

The celebrity couple wrapped in matching outfits of hoodies and warm jackets for their outing in downtown Manhattan

Both of the stars paired their casual clothes with sunglasses to keep a low profile and protect their eyes from the city's sunny weather on Saturday

A source close to the pair revealed that they are doing all they can to make the relationship work. 'They've actually thought about going to couples therapy. It definitely couldn't hurt,' the source revealed.

'They both desperately want the relationship to work. They'd be humiliated if they broke up now,' they added.

Robach opened up about the dark period of time that Holmes experienced after the scandal began.

Holmes relied on alcohol and weed edibles to cope with the stress when their affair was revealed.

Robach recalled to Holmes, 'You were just splayed out on your bed. I ran to you and said, "T.J.," and you didn't move.

'It was the most awful thing having to touch your body and see if you were warm. I was so afraid. You were just incoherent.'

Holmes revealed 'That day was essentially me getting off work and pounding vodka. I didn't stop for several hours and took who knows how many weed edibles.'

The couple were seen last week strolling around the Big Apple arm-in-arm after confirming they are still together following an intense conversation on their latest podcast episode.

Their exes, Marilee Fiebig and Andrew Shue, were spotted jetting out of John F. Kennedy International Airport last Saturday.

The outing comes as a source close to the pair revealed that they are doing all they can to make the relationship work

The former Good Morning America anchors popped into the smoking paraphernalia store amidst rumors that their relationship might be on the rocks

The couple, who kept it casual for their stroll in hoodies, recently abstained from alcohol for 'Dry January'

DailyMail.com revealed the scandalous romance between the co-stars in 2022.

Holmes and Robach's friendly relationship on air evolved into a full blown secret romance off-screen, in recent months. The two are pictured having flirty post-filming drinks at a New York City bar on Thursday November 10, 2022

Robach and Holmes re-confirmed their relationship status in a video they posted on their Instagram profiles Tuesday after publishing a podcast episode where they couple admitted there was trouble in paradise.

'Despite what you've been hearing, we are still together,' Holmes stated while he and Robach were walking in New York City.

'We're hearing from a lot of you all on our latest episode of the podcast. It was something we really struggled and debated about whether or not we should even put out there - but at this point I'm glad we did,' he added.

Robach and Holmes have not worked since last January when they were axed by ABC over their secret romance but have now launched a podcast called Amy and T.J.

The episode released Tuesday featured an on-air argument that left some wondering if they had split, though that was not the case.

The couple got into a heated discussion about their communication issues and admitted they were not in a good place, and that the filming of the episode was actually a 'surprise' to their team.

The pair looked every inch the lovey-dovey couple once again on November 17, 2022, when Holmes met his co-star at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York after work

Both Holmes and Robach have been married to their respective spouses since 2010. It is not known when or how Holmes's wife, Marilee Fiebig, (pictured together in 2012) and Robach's husband, former Melrose Place actor Andrew Shue (pictured right in March 2022) learned of the romance, but both couples are said to have split up in August this year

They released yet another new episode of their podcast on Thursday, where they opened about why Holmes was hesitant to release the episode at all.

Holmes admitted that he didn't want to be perceived as, 'a Black man beating up on a white woman' in the episode.

DailyMail.com revealed the scandalous romance between the co-stars in 2022.

A series of pictures obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, told the tale of their steamy relationship as the couple enjoyed flirty post-filming sessions at a New York City bar, alone time in each other's apartments, and - two weeks before Thanksgiving - a weekend away in a secluded cottage in Upstate New York.
US, Japan game out military clash with China for 1st time

Washington, Feb 4 (UNI) The United States and Japan are holding a joint military exercise that for the first time identifies China as their hypothetical enemy, Japanese news agency Kyodo reported on Sunday.

This year's edition of bilateral command-post Exercise Keen Edge utilizes unaltered maps of China, in a break with tradition that had the allies use maps with altered topography to avoid backlash in the event the plans were leaked, government sources told the news agency.

The exercise is being held from February 1-8 and will be followed up by live-action Exercise Keen Sword around 2025, which will reportedly factor in the results of the computer-simulated command-post drills to verify their efficacy.
Parents across America are finding themselves in the same bind - the steep cost of childcare is making it nigh on impossible for many to afford.

According to a health department definition, childcare is not 'affordable' in any of the 50 states, but some areas are up against a higher cost burden than others.

New Mexico has the least affordable childcare in the country, fresh data from GOBankingRates shows.

The report found families there must fork out over 15 percent of their income on nursery care for kids. This is almost double the amount that families are spending in the most affordable states.

In South Dakota, the cheapest state, families are typically spending 9 percent of their wages on childcare.

Mother-of-four Paige Turner told DailyMail.com how her and her husband spent a monumental $60,000 on childcare fees in a year

GOBankingRates named New Mexico, California, New Jersey, North Carolina, Washington, Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts, Nevada and Michigan as the ten least affordable states for childcare in the country

The study lays bare the the difficult reality for many Americans, where childcare costs are in many cases the biggest yearly expense for families.

The US Department of Health and Human Services defines 'affordable' as 7 percent of a person's income. Using that criteria, not a single state offers its residents affordable childcare.

Mother-of-four Paige Turner previously told DailyMail.com how her and her husband spent a monumental $60,000 on childcare fees in a year, which was more than double their mortgage payments.

The family live in Massachusetts, which is among the ten least affordable states in the US, according to the latest GOBankingRates data.

To provide a picture of how much parents can expect to pay in every state, the personal finance website analyzed the most recent publicly available data from ChildCare Aware's Child Care Data Center and the US Census.

It looked at both center-based daycare and home-based childcare costs for the first four years of a child's life, and how much each family is putting towards childcare relative to their income.

Each state was ranked based on overall affordability across each of these factors.

It named New Mexico, California, New Jersey, North Carolina, Washington, Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts, Nevada and Michigan as the ten least affordable states for childcare in the country.

In New Mexico, daycare typically costs $9,243 per child per year, while family child care costs $8,101 on average.

Massachusetts was the state with the highest center-based child care costs - at $20,045 a year.

On average, families in the state are spending 17.25 percent of their income on this care for their kids.

In New York, meanwhile, the average household is spending 16.36 percent of their income, and 15.85 percent of their income in Washington.

One of the reasons for spiraling childcare costs across the country is an increase in demand - coupled with a shortage of workers in the sector.

Mother-of-three and licensed attorney Crystal Gamach, who lives in Washington, told DailyMail.com last year how she was unable to find anywhere to take her children when she sought part-time care in Spokane.

Mother-of-three and licensed attorney Crystal Gamache, pictured, was unable to find anywhere to take her children part-time in Spokane, Washington

She said in the past she relied on the help of babysitters but ended up effectively paying to go to work as her childcare costs were higher than her wage.

Crystal now works as a professor at a local university where she teaches law specializing in rights and policies affecting children. The family is supported by her husband who works in real estate private equity.

She told DailyMail.com: 'Women who train to be doctors and attorneys often meet their husbands when studying and they end up in the same high tax brackets.

'It means these women can afford not to work and fall out of the workplace. But we lose our most brilliant female workers this way.'
Budget 2024-25 allocates Rs 1.27 lakh crore to agriculture, aligning with Sanatan Dharma principles

In the Interim Budget, the allocation for the Agriculture Ministry for the fiscal year 202425 has been earmarked at Rs1.27 lakh crore, marking an increase from the revised estimates of Rs1.16 lakh crore in 202324 and the budget estimates of Rs 1.15 lakh crore for the same period. The budget reaffirms a commitment to enhance various initiatives aimed at value addition in the agricultural sector, empowering women, and augmenting the incomes of farmers.

Over the past decade, the government has provided direct financial assistance to 118 million farmers through the PM-Kisan Samman Yojana, a cash handout programme for every landholding agricultural family. These advancements are a result of farmer-centric policies, income support, risk coverage through price and insurance support, and the promotion of technologies and innovations facilitated by start-ups.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the agriculture sector has witnessed nearly 4% growth, reflecting a positive trajectory for inclusive development and increased productivity. The increase in the agricultural budget can be symbolically connected to the principles of Sanatan Dharma, the eternal and universal values inherent in Hinduism. Sanatan Dharma emphasises the interconnectedness of all living beings and the environment, fostering an attitude of reverence and responsibility towards nature. Increasing the allocation for agriculture reflects a commitment to supporting farmers, who are integral to the cycle of life and contribute significantly to the well-being of society. The budgetary focus on agriculture acknowledges the importance of nurturing the land, providing a livelihood for farmers, and fostering a harmonious relationship with the environmentan embodiment of the principles embedded in Sanatan Dharma.

In the vast tapestry of Bharat's cultural heritage, the philosophical connection between Sanatan Dharma and agriculture emerges as a thread that weaves through centuries, nurturing not just crops but a way of life deeply rooted in harmony, sustainability and spiritual understanding. Sanatan Dharma, often referred to as Hinduism, is not just a religious system; it is a way of life that encompasses diverse facets, including the intimate relationship with nature and agriculture. Sanatan Dharma and agriculture share a timeless bond, exploring the spiritual, cultural and ecological dimensions that have shaped this symbiotic relationship.

A Timeless Bond Nurturing Harmony

At the core of Sanatan Dharma lies a deep respect for nature, considering it not merely as a resource but as a manifestation of the divine. The reverence for the Earth as "Bhudevi" and the acknowledgement of plants, animals and natural elements as integral parts of the cosmic order emphasises the spiritual significance attributed to agriculture. The concept of "Yajna," a ritualistic offering with roots in Vedic literature, symbolises the sacred reciprocity between humans and nature. Agriculture, viewed as a form of Yajna, becomes a spiritual act where farmers are considered custodians entrusted with the responsibility of nurturing the earth.

Cultural Festivals Mirroring Agrarian Cycles

The cultural landscape of Bharat is adorned with festivals and rituals intricately tied to agriculture, mirroring the agrarian cycles and seasons. Festivals like Makar Sankranti, Pongal, and Baisakhi mark the harvesting season, celebrating the abundance of nature and expressing gratitude through rituals and festivities. Epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata incorporate narratives of agricultural practices, with Lord Rama cultivating the barren land and Arjuna spending years in disguise as a farmer. These stories not only embed agricultural wisdom but also highlight the humility and dedication associated with the act of farming. Traditional agricultural practices, such as organic farming and crop rotation, align with ecological sustainability principles that were deeply ingrained in ancient agricultural wisdom.

Government Initiatives in Harmony with Sanatan Dharma

In recent years, the Government of India has embarked on a transformative journey to promote organic farming, drawing inspiration from the timeless principles embedded in Sanatan Dharma. This paradigm shift reflects a commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship and a holistic understanding of agriculture deeply rooted in the country's cultural and spiritual heritage.

The government has been promoting organic farming as a priority in the country since 2015-16 through the schemes of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for the North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER). Both schemes stress providing end-to-end support to farmers engaged in organic farming, i.e., from production to processing, certification, and marketing and post-harvest management training and capacity building, which are integral parts of the scheme.

Under PKVY, states and UTs of the country are provided financial assistance of Rs 50,000/ha for 3 years, out of which Rs 31,000/ha for 3 years is provided directly to farmers through DBT for on-farm and off-farm organic inputs. Financial assistance of Rs. 8,800/ha for 3 years is provided for marketing, packaging, branding, value addition and other marketing initiatives. Apart from this, Rs 2,700/ha for 3 years is provided for certification and residual analysis. Under the scheme, assistance is also provided at Rs. 7,500/ha for 3 years for training and capacity building.

Under MOVCDNER, the assistance of Rs 46,575/ha for 3 years is provided for the creation of FPO, support to farmers for organic inputs, quality seeds and planting material, training, handholding, and certification. Financial assistance of Rs 32,500/ha for 3 years is provided to farmers for off-farm or on-farm organic inputs under the scheme. The government has also developed a web portal, www.Jaivikkheti.in/, as an online marketing platform for the direct sale of organic produce by farmers to consumers to help them achieve better price realisation. A total of over 6.09 lakh farmers have been registered under the Jaivik Kheti portal.

The National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming (NCONF), a subordinate office of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), has been organising various training and capacity-building programmes, namely a 30-day certificate course, field demonstration and training, an extension officer training programme, and a 7-day online or offline training course on various aspects of organic farming.

A multidisciplinary team of scientists from the Indian Council of Agriculture (ICAR) is involved in providing need-based training to farmers and extension agents and giving technical support to state agencies for the promotion of organic farming. Scientists at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) organise regular training programmes for farmers and extension personnel on organic agriculture, including the production and use of organic inputs. Under Soil Health Card (SHC) schemes, the government is also promoting Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through the judicious use of chemical fertilisers in conjunction with bio-fertilisers and organic manures for improving soil health, fertility, and productivity.

Prioritising Farmer Welfare

Traditional agricultural practices, often found in ancient texts like the Vedas and Puranas, emphasised the importance of working in harmony with nature. The use of natural fertilisers, crop rotation, and the avoidance of synthetic chemicals were integral to these practices, fostering a sustainable approach that resonates with the principles of organic farming. Farmers are encouraged to view their work as a service to the environment, promoting a sense of responsibility and reverence for the land.

Sanatan Dharma places significant emphasis on the welfare of all individuals, and the government's push for organic farming aligns with this principle by prioritising the well-being of farmers. By integrating cultural and spiritual values into agricultural practices, Bharat aims to not only secure a healthier and more sustainable future but also to honour the timeless wisdom embedded in its cultural heritage.

This timeless bond between Sanatan Dharma and agriculture exemplifies a holistic worldview where spirituality, culture, and ecology converge harmoniously. As we navigate the challenges of modern agriculture and environmental concerns, revisiting the principles embedded in our cultural heritage can offer valuable insights into sustainable and ethical farming practices. In preserving and promoting this profound connection, we not only safeguard our agricultural traditions but also contribute to a more harmonious coexistence with the Eartha timeless legacy that transcends generations.

(The author is a member of Rajya Sabha; views are personal)
The spectre of escalating tensions in West Asia casts a shadow that extends far beyond; if steps are not taken now, it would be a catastrophe on global scale

The recent series of Houthi attacks, ongoing skirmishes between Israel and Hamas, and mounting tensions over the UNRWA's involvement in the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel have reignited concerns about the prospects for peace and negotiation in the volatile region of West Asia. As Israel continues to deny accusations, the coming days are poised to present defining moments for the peace prospects in the area.

Efforts to Resolve the Conflict:

Various initiatives have been undertaken to quell the long-standing regional conflict. The President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Mr. Joan E. Donoghue, called on Israel to halt its strikes across Gaza, offering a glimmer of hope. However, the situation remains dire, with the West Asian Conflict having already claimed over 26,000 lives and caused substantial devastation in recent months.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh has urged an immediate end to Israel's offences and called for an expedited relief operation to save lives. The Houthis' increasing support for the Palestinian cause, coupled with their recent attacks on Israel in the Red Sea, has further heightened tensions. The backing from Hamas and Hezbollah for the Houthis raises concerns about the expanding web of terror and conflict in the Red Sea, affecting trade, commercial interests, and maritime security in the Indian Ocean Area.

India's Stance:

India, expressing concern for regional peace, has consistently called for the de-escalation of violence and emphasized the importance of negotiations. India advocates for peaceful coexistence by respecting Israel's security needs while fostering an international environment for Palestine to exist independently and securely.

The United States is also apprehensive about the rising tensions in the region. However, recent trends indicate the difficulty in persuading Hamas to abandon its plans for further strikes on Israel, considering its history of attacks, including the ruthless assault on October 7, 2023, which claimed over 1,200 Israeli lives.

Challenges Faced by Israel:

Israel's preparedness to counter new and unexpected forms of attacks, such as kidnappings and chemical assaults, relies heavily on gathering comprehensive intelligence daily. Both the U.S. and Israel have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization, complicating the situation further, given Hamas's refusal to recognize Israel's right as a state and its territorial claims.

The Struggle for Peace:

Hamas enjoys a significant advantage due to political, military, and local factors. The Palestinians' desire for Israel's withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, coupled with Hamas's military capabilities and ideological mobilization at the grassroots level, poses a formidable challenge.

The Historical Context:

The conflict between Israel and Palestine has deep historical roots, with both sides gradually realizing the necessity of a two-state solution for survival. While initial agreements, such as the Oslo Peace Accord in 2007, provided a ray of hope, subsequent developments, including ongoing Israeli attacks, have jeopardized the peace process. The existence of separate governments in the West Bank and Gaza Strip has complicated matters.

Challenges to Mediation:

Efforts towards negotiations must address complex issues, including settlement disputes, security concerns, education, water, refugees, and other vital aspects. The international community, especially Islamic nations, must carefully navigate the delicate situation to prevent the region from turning into a battlefield.

Peter T. Coleman's perspective on polarized conflicts suggests that understanding the system as a whole is crucial for finding a resolution. Awareness of the context and detailed considerations of the stakeholders' positions can pave the way for more effective mediation efforts. The current escalation of tensions in West Asia demands careful handling and diplomatic efforts to navigate the intricate landscape. As the world watches these critical developments, the need for comprehensive and nuanced approaches to peace remains paramount. The global community must work towards establishing a permanent link between Israel and Palestine, fostering an environment where negotiations can address underlying issues,

In the face of extreme circumstances and the seeming absence of hope for reconciliation, addressing the root causes of the conflict becomes paramount. The ongoing violence necessitates a comprehensive approach, delving into minute details to understand and resolve the multifaceted challenges at play. As efforts for mediation intensify on a global scale, a nuanced and all-encompassing strategy is required to address the intricacies of the Israel-Palestine crisis.

Key issues such as resolving settlement disputes, ensuring security, providing essential services like food and education, addressing water concerns, handling the refugee problem, and seeking amicable solutions through peaceful negotiations must be central to any diplomatic initiatives. International support, particularly from Islamic countries, can play a pivotal role in guiding the region toward a more stable and secure future. Despite past agreements and hopeful moments, the persistent challenges have made the situation increasingly complex. Yet, as the region grapples with the aftermath of recent events, there is an opportunity for the global community to reevaluate and reinvigorate efforts towards lasting peace in West Asia.

(The writer is a recipient of the Bharat Gaurav award and is a professor and expert on strategic affairs; views are personal)
Accusing the BJP in Karnataka of not doing anything to get drought relief for the state from the Centre, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday took a dig at the saffron party for targeting the Congress government, despite its best efforts to provide relief to the affected, along with implementing the guarantee schemes.

He also invited the BJP and JD(S) leaders to join the state Congress' protest in Delhi in the coming days, against "injustice" to Karnataka by the Union government, with respect to tax devolution and grants-in-aid, in the interests of Karnataka.

"It has been 10 years since the Manmohan Singh government went, they (BJP) should have sense. It is okay to have people without knowledge or education, but people have to be sensible. People have given you the power in the country, you also had a double engine government (BJP governments both at the Centre and in the state), but what did you do is the question," Shivakumar told reporters.

He was responding to a question on the opposition BJP demanding release of records on how much Karnataka got from the Union government towards drought and development works between 2004 and 2014 when Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister and the Congress-led UPA was in power.

Pointing out that despite having 27 MPs (including one independent and one from JD(S)) of the total of 28 from Karnataka, the Deputy CM said the BJP could not get drought relief released to the state by holding a meeting with the Central government run by their party.

"Apart from doing whatever is necessary for drinking water supply, for the first time the Siddaramaiah government has ensured that the affected farmers got Rs 2,000 to their bank accounts as relief. The BJP is unable to digest it," he said.

Claiming that the Centre had done injustice to Karnataka, Shivakumar further said instead of setting that right, by demanding records on funds released to the state during the UPA rule, the BJP seems to be accepting that injustice is happening during NDA rule.

"We, the Congress lost the election, but you (the BJP) won with over 300 seats...Let's leave everything, in the last Union budget, Nirmala Sitharaman had said Rs 5,300 crore will be given to the state's Upper Bhadra irrigation project" and sought to know if even a single rupee had been released for the same. "Let them (BJP) say," the KPCC chief, who is the state's irrigation Minister added.

All Congress lawmakers (also MPs) from the state, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, will protest in New Delhi on February 7, against the "injustice" to Karnataka by the Union government when it comes to tax devolution and grants-in-aid.

"There is no other way, we have to raise our voice in the interest of the state. I will request both the BJP and JD(S) to come and participate in it, in the interest of the state," Shivakumar said.

Responding to BJP state president B Y Vijayendra's recent comments that people will not fall for the "gimmicky guarantees" of the Congress party as they know that the Modi guarantee is the best, Shivakumar said he (Vijayendra) is new to the post and is speaking new things and added that he didn't want to discourage him.

"He (Vijayendra) has won a lottery and has become the state president in seven months (after the BJP's defeat in the Assembly polls), it is like a share from his father's (B S Yediyurappa) earnings...Remember what Modi said about Congress guarantees earlier? But, now taking a cue from Congress' guarantees, terms like Modi guarantees are being used by the BJP for campaign," he added.
The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh Police has arrested an Indian national working at the country's embassy in Moscow for allegedly spying for Pakistan's ISI, an official statement on Sunday said.

Satendra Siwal, a resident of Shahmahiuddinpur village in Hapur, was arrested at the ATS police station station in Lucknow, it said.

He was working as the IBSA (India Based Security Assistant) in the Indian Embassy in Moscow, Russia, from 2021.

The ATS in its probe through electronic and physical surveillance found that he was involved in anti-India activities with the network of the ISI handlers and providing important confidential information regarding the strategic activities of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian military establishments for money, the statement said.

Siwal, who was called by the ATS Meerut field unit and interrogated as per the rules, could not give satisfactory answers and confessed to his crime during the interrogation, it said.

An FIR has been registered against Siwal at ATS police station, Lucknow, under Section 121A of the IPC (waging war against the country) and the Official Secrets Act, 1923, the statement said.
US-led coalition strikes 36 Houthi targets in Yemen

Sanaa, Feb 4 (UNI) The US-led coalition conducted strikes on 36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen on Saturday in response to the movement's continued attacks against international and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the coalition said in a joint statement, issued by the Pentagon.

"Today, at the direction of their respective governments, the militaries of the United States and United Kingdom, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand conducted an additional round of proportionate and necessary strikes against 36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen in response to the Houthis' continued attacks against international and commercial shipping as well as naval vessels transiting the Red Sea," the statement read.

The coalition added that Saturday's strikes "specifically targeted sites associated with the Houthis' deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, and radars" and are intended to "disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade, and the lives of innocent mariners."
Jeremy W. Peters in the New York Times:

For many progressives, it was a big moment. In 2019, Congress was holding its first hearing on whether the United States should pay reparations for slavery.

To support the idea, Democrats invited the influential author Ta-Nehisi Coates, who had revived the reparations issue in an article in The Atlantic, and the actor and activist Danny Glover.

Republicans turned to a virtual unknown: a 23-year-old philosophy major at Columbia University, Coleman Hughes.

In the hearing, Mr. Hughes, looking very much his age, testified to the House subcommittee that not paying reparations after the Civil War was one of the greatest injustices ever perpetrated.

But, he continued, they should not be paid now. Theres a difference between acknowledging history and allowing history to distract us from the problems we face today, he said, pointing to endemic problems that affect Black Americans, such as poor schools, dangerous neighborhoods and a punitive criminal justice system.

More here.
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Deckers Outdoor Corporation, commonly known as Deckers Brands, is a renowned footwear designer and distributor based in Goleta, California. The company was founded in 1973 by Doug Otto and Karl F. Lopker, alums of the University of California, Santa Barbara. Deckers Brands operates with a mission to create innovative and comfortable footwear for a variety of lifestyles.

Deckers Brands is focused on producing high-quality footwear and accessories under several well-known brands. Its portfolio includes UGG, Teva, Sanuk, Hoka One One, and Koolaburra. Each brand caters to different market segments and offers unique styles and functionalities.

The company's flagship brand, UGG, is known for its sheepskin boots and has gained widespread popularity worldwide. UGG products feature a combination of luxury, comfort, and fashion, appealing to both men and women. Teva specializes in sports sandals and footwear designed for outdoor activities, providing durability and functionality. Sanuk offers casual and comfortable sandals, shoes, and boots, focusing on a relaxed and fun lifestyle. Hoka One One is a performance footwear brand specializing in innovative running and walking shoes, known for its exceptional cushioning and support. Koolaburra, positioned under the UGG brand, offers comfortable and stylish footwear with a bohemian flair.

Deckers Brands targets a wide range of consumers, from fashion-conscious individuals seeking luxury and comfort to outdoor enthusiasts needing reliable performance footwear. The company's key customers include men and women across different age groups who value quality, style, and functionality in their footwear choices.

Deckers Brands boasts a leadership team comprising experienced executives who bring a wealth of expertise and knowledge to the company. Led by this dedicated team, the company prioritizes driving innovation, expanding brand presence, and delivering strong financial performance.

David Powers holds key roles at Deckers Brands, including Chief Executive Officer, President, Director, and Interim President of Fashion Lifestyle. With an extensive background in the retail and footwear industry, Powers previously served as the President of Deckers' Direct-to-Consumer business segment. His wealth of experience contributes to the company's strategic direction and growth. As Chief Technology Officer, Brad Willis oversees the company's technological advancements and digital initiatives to enhance the consumer experience. His focus on leveraging technology aligns with Deckers Brands' commitment to innovation and staying at the forefront of the evolving digital landscape.

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Deckers Brands' valuation metrics showcase its strong performance and market positioning compared to its industry peers. Its successful brand portfolio, strong financials, and growth potential drive the company's valuation. Deckers Brands' strong financial performance, innovation-driven strategies, and market recognition contribute to positive investor sentiment, which reflects in its valuation.

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Deckers Brands operates within the highly competitive footwear industry. The industry comprises various players, each targeting different segments and consumer preferences. Deckers Brands differentiates itself by offering a diverse range of brands that cater to various lifestyle needs and preferences.

The company's competitive positioning is strong, driven by its recognized brands, innovative product designs, and customer-centric approach. Deckers Brands has established a loyal customer base by consistently delivering high-quality and stylish footwear options.

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Like any business, Deckers Brands faces risks and challenges that can impact its operations and financial performance. These include factors such as changing consumer preferences, economic downturns, and increased competition.

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Queens University in Belfast has become the second in the UK to be given an award for its work improving gender equality.

The Athena Swan Gold Award recognises how the universitys influence extends beyond higher education, and it has been granted by industry body Advance HE.

Queens has been recognised for improving gender balance across roles and grades, with more than three times (34%) the percentage of women professors today than 25 years ago. The university has ambitions to reach 40% by 2030.

It has also made changes to working practices and patterns, recently enhancing its portfolio of work/life policies with new menopause and fertility treatment schemes.

The university also plans to invest in a new Queens Global Institute for Womens Leadership, which will improve access to higher education for disadvantaged schoolgirls, showcase gender equality research across Queens, and launch international leadership programmes.

Queens vice-chancellor Professor Sir Ian Greer said: We are absolutely thrilled to become the first university on the island of Ireland and the second in the UK to achieve an institutional Athena Swan Gold Award.

The wider equality, diversity and inclusion agenda underpins everything that we do here at Queens.

Many might think of EDI as some modern, contemporary idea but its been a foundation principle at this university for more than 100 years  embedded within our historic charter, and today stands as a cornerstone of Queens Strategy 2030.

As we celebrate this incredible achievement, its important to also reflect on how far weve come  opening in 1845 with men-only enrolment for more than three decades, to today standing as an institution that leads the way in gender equality and with a woman at the helm as chancellor.

I extend my warmest congratulations to all of my colleagues across Queens who have worked hard to deliver what is truly a remarkable feat. This work will of course continue.

Professor Karen McCloskey, director of Queens gender initiative and deputy director of the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, said: Colleagues, both past and present, have worked tirelessly to make these vital improvements to ensure people at Queens can thrive in an inclusive and supportive culture.

I would like to acknowledge the ongoing contribution of committed champions and networks of staff and students who build on the legacy of outstanding women graduates and leaders.

To have come from a men-only university at the outset, through to the pioneering Riddel sisters who established a hall of residence for women students, through to the long list of high achievers in medicine, the arts, engineering and across a full range of disciplines, today feels like the culmination of a long and worthy journey.

But it is not the end.

Advance HEs Athena Swan Charter is a framework which is used across the globe to support and transform gender equality within higher education (HE) and research.
Stormonts Health Minister Robin Swann has said he intends to prioritise pay settlements for staff and to resolve industrial action.

Mr Swann returned as minister following a meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly on Saturday.

He held the same ministry between 2020-22 during which time his profile soared as he led the health service through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Since then pressures within the health service have increased and staff have been involved in long-running industrial action over pay claims.

The UK Government has pledged 3.3 billion in funding for the new powersharing Executive, including 600 million to settle public sector pay claims.

Mr Swann said dealing with pay was his immediate priority.

He added: I want to see pay negotiations being initiated without delay.

Consequently I have written to the trade unions inviting them to early discussions.

Staff are the bedrock of the health service and they are entitled to proper remuneration for the vital work they do.

Mr Swann said he was honoured and humbled to return to the role.

He said: We do not have a minute to waste given the scale of the issues facing services.

The pressures across all parts of the system have built up over many years and cannot be quickly or simply fixed.

However, I am convinced that a way forward is achievable through investment, improved productivity and efficiency, and changing how we organise some services.

I am very conscious of the toll the current pressures and service shortfalls are taking on staff and patients.

We must take the right decisions that will give citizens more timely access to care and treatment.

I intend to see for myself all parts of the health and social care system once again over the coming weeks and this will help inform the policy priorities I will set.

The Ulster Unionist MLA said he would be discussing with Executive colleagues how to support health and social care services.

An ailing health service is not just bad for patients and staff  it also impacts heavily on society as a whole.

Debilitating delays for treatment and care stop people playing their full part in their local community and in the workplace.

Improving access to health and social care has to be an absolute priority for government here.
Twenty-five police officers in Northern Ireland have been injured on duty in a number of separate incidents over a 24-hour period.

Seven officers were assaulted in a single incident in Belfast and two were injured after their vehicle was rammed in Newry.

A senior officer has said that while none of the officers were seriously hurt, the attacks were unacceptable.

Superintendent Nigel Henry said: Between Saturday morning and Sunday morning, 3rd and 4th February, across Northern Ireland, 25 police officers have been injured on duty, resulting in eight arrests for assault on police.

25 police officers injured while on duty over 24 hours in Northern Ireland. Read more: https://t.co/ZN5MTsg8Z9 pic.twitter.com/cWGRI9YkO4  Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) February 4, 2024

While thankfully no officers received any serious injuries and all were able to remain on duty, these assaults on our officers while simply doing their job is not acceptable.

Across Belfast alone, 18 officers were injured, which included seven officers in one incident.

While arresting a woman following a report of criminal damage in north Belfast, one officer was spat at, with six others kicked and punched.

An officer was bitten by a man in Banbridge, who was being arrested following a report of an assault.

Two officers received minor injuries after their vehicle was rammed several times in Newry on Saturday night.

Mr Henry continued: These are just some of the examples to highlight the risks our officers face every day.

We, as a police service, will investigate these attacks rigorously, just as we would were it a member of the public.

Our officers are here to help, and respond to calls assisting people.

Assaults on police are unacceptable, and must not be tolerated as simply being part of the job.

Liam Kelly, the chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, has called for tougher sentences for those who attack officers.

He said: Our officers do not deserve to be spat at, bitten, kicked and punched as they go about performing their lawful duty.

They are there to uphold the law and protect people and are certainly not there to be treated so disgracefully.

He added: These attacks will be fully and rigorously investigated and my hope is that we will see people prosecuted.

When they are before the courts, I hope sentences are handed down that reflect the seriousness of assaulting officers.

Society has to send a clear message to would-be thugs.

Officers are not there to be singled out for attack and only stiffer sentencing will get that message through to those who think they can behave in this manner with minimum consequences.
A fire at a vacant building set for potential refugee accommodation has been contained.

Early this morning at 7 am, firefighters rushed to the scene of a significant fire at vacant buildings in Crooksling, located off the Blessington Road, Co Dublin.

It is said the emergency response included the dispatch of seven fire engines, a turntable ladder, and an emergency tender to combat the blaze.

Operations are ongoing, and the fire has been successfully contained with six fire engines actively engaged at the scene.

Over 40 firefighters are continuously working to bring the situation under control, emphasizing the magnitude and complexity of the operation.

Dublin Fire Brigade has said that traffic restrictions are in place on the N81 as hose lines have been laid to tackle the fire.

The public is urged to stay informed about the ongoing situation and adhere to any safety instructions issued by the authorities, while Dublin Fire Brigade have thanked Wicklow Fire Service for providing additional water tankers, and ESB Networks for assistance.
An engineer is scheduled to conduct a thorough inspection of the Cooksling building in Tallaght that caught fire.

The examination will be conducted on Monday, February 5, to assess its safety.

The building, said to be a vacant nursing home, was rumoured to be used as potential accommodation for refugees. Once feasible, a technical examination is reported to be carried out by the DMR South Scenes of Crime unit, assisted by the Garda Technical Bureau.

These results will then guide the Garda investigation. At approximately 7am on Sunday, February 4 Gardai from Tallaght were alerted by Dublin Fire Brigade to the fire at the complex in Dublin 24.

Throughout the day, Gardai then assisted Dublin Fire Brigade in managing the extensive fire, with the fire brigade retaining primacy at the scene.

Control of the scene has been transferred to An Garda Siochana.

A Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) has now been appointed, based at Tallaght Garda station, to investigate all the circumstances of the fire.

An Garda Siochana appeals to anyone with information about the fire to contact Gardai at Tallaght Garda Station on 01 6666000, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
An Post has issued a striking set of stamps on the feast day of Saint Brigid also marking the pagan festival of Imbolc  both celebrated on 1st February.

The stamps are by Louth based artist Yoko Akino, with design by Oonagh Young of Design HQ. Both saint and goddess are associated with fruitful harvests, and a specially designed First Day Cover envelope includes both stamps and imagery of a fertile meadow and oak sapling, a lovely keepsake this St. Brigids Day. The stamps and First Day Cover envelope are available at anpost.com/shop and in selected Post Offices nationwide.

The N rate St. Brigids stamp (1.40), which covers postage all over the island of Ireland, features the St. Brigid Cross, acknowledging the continuing relevance and influence of St Brigid who led a large monastery in Co. Kildare and became one of Irelands three patron saints. She is said to have used a cross made from rushes in the deathbed conversion of a pagan chieftain.

The W rate stamp (2.00), for worldwide postage, features a fire motif symbolising Brigids divine, creative and healing powers. The Imbolc festival celebrates the goddess Brigids feast day, mirroring the Christian feast day of St. Brigid.

Known as a triple goddess in Celtic Tuatha De Danann mythology, Brigid is one of the few pagan figures to endure after Christianity came to Ireland.

A renewed and growing interest in Brigid both nationally and internationally, a new annual public holiday and numerous festivals nationwide signal her importance both as a symbol of authority within Christianity and as an inspiring figure of womanhood and empowerment.

Brigids qualities of compassion, peace-making and courage, and her active role in modelling equality between genders, underline her revival  speaking to issues of our time.

Aileen Mooney, Irish Stamps Manager, encourages people to get into the spirit of things: February is Springtime, always a good time to renew connections by writing and posting a card or letter to someone in your life who gives you support and strength, builds your resilience, listens, makes you laugh and is your ally in a sometimes challenging world.
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In a celebration of excellence at the 59th Anvil Awards, Home Credit Philippines innovative Home Credit is the Key: Back-to-School (BTS) Campaign secured the prestigious Silver Anvil in the Marketing and Brand Communication sub-category under the Public Relations Programs category.

The awards ceremony, dubbed the Oscars of Public Relations in the Philippines, took place at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Newport City on January 31, drawing representatives from companies and agencies across the country.

Home Credit, a leading consumer finance company, addressed the challenges faced by parents, particularly moms, during the back-to-school season. The campaign aimed to empower mothers as the primary financial decision-makers and budget planners in their families, navigating the rising costs of education and school supplies.

Running from July 1 to September 30, 2023, the Home Credit is the Key campaign provided a backup for moms by offering affordable financing options. Home Credit introduced zero-interest payment plans, easing the financial burden on mothers striving to provide their children with the best education. Flexible payment plans were also made available, ensuring that the cost of education could be spread over manageable installments, thus alleviating financial strain.

We understand the challenges that parents face during the back-to-school season. Our Back-to-School Campaign aimed to provide not just financial assistance but also peace of mind to mothers who work tirelessly to ensure their children receive a quality education. Winning the Silver Anvil is a testament to the campaigns impact and the recognition of our Public Relations efforts to support families in this crucial aspect of their lives, said Ken Lerona, Head of PR, Home Credit Philippines.

The campaign also emphasized maintaining peace of mind for mothers by using Home Credits services, allowing them to preserve their savings as a safety net for emergencies or future investments.

The campaign strategically employed public relations and communication tactics to engage and empower its target audience, specifically mothers and their children. Home Credit Philippines collaborated with its agency-on-record, Dugenia, Marayan and Associates Company (DM&A Co.), to implement this compelling initiative.

A key aspect of the campaigns success was the dissemination of impactful narratives to various media titles, partners, and bloggers. By pitching these powerful stories, the campaign effectively resonated with the intended audience, making their back-to-school shopping experience easier and lighter.

Working with Home Credit Philippines on this campaign was a rewarding experience. We aimed to not only meet the challenges faced by parents but to exceed expectations in providing practical solutions. The Silver Anvil is a validation of the effectiveness and innovation embedded in our approach, said Michael Dugenia, Managing Partner of DM&A Co.

The Anvil Awards, presented by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP), received nearly 500 entries from over 100 companies and agencies, including local government units. The 59th Anvil Awards showcased new categories under PR Programs, such as Best Use of Digital, Best Use of Social Media, and Best PR-led Integrated Campaign.

Home Credit Philippines Back-to-School Campaign stood out among the top entries, securing the Silver Anvil, and reinforcing its commitment to excellence in community support.
A THIRD-generation family business in Midleton is up and running again after suffering extensive damages in the wake of Storm Babet floods last October.

The ODwyer family, who own The Shoe Suite and ODwyers Footwear shop on Midletons Main Street, were in a jubilant mood as they welcomed customers back through the doors on Tuesday, January 23.

I cant describe the wonderful feeling of being back open for business again, says David ODwyer, who took over the business from his mother Florence in 1978. He expanded to open six more shops based across Cork, Waterford, Tipperary, and Kilkenny. Davids son, Mark, now runs the business.

The Midleton store, closed for three months, now has a new modern look with a boutique feel to it.

It is a complete revamp of the original layout it had when it first opened up the road in number 9 in 1960, says David, who worked as an accountant.

I came out of retirement to oversee the refurbishments, he added. I was the gaffer for three weeks!

We were fortunate to have flood cover. But we wont have it again. I think the long-standing effects of the floods for all the businesspeople in Midleton will stay with us for a long time. There is anxiety and a fearfulness for what the future might bring.

The next generation of ODwyers are optimistic that their business will boom again.

Midleton is a great town to do business, says David. My sister, Moira, now deceased, had a very successful boutique, Impulse.

We are one of the few remaining third-generation businesses in the town. And we have total confidence of the future of the town. Midleton is buzzing.

Everyone is back to work. ODwyers shoe store Midleton employs five staff. In all, the six shops in Midleton, Oliver Plunkett Street, Maylor Street, Dungarvan, Kilkenny and Clonmel, employ 35 people.

Mark is busy travelling and buying new stock, recovering from the terrible effects of the storm. We were an obvious casualty at the end of the street. The shop was under one metre of water.

Mark is glad of his fathers expertise as the business bounces back.

Weve sealed all the interior walls with MDF tricoya water-resistant and moisture resistant MDF, says David.

It is extremely durable and will last for years. We had to rebuild first, going back to the shell and core, then re-do the walls and interior of the shop.

Half our stock was wiped out in the floods.

What else faced David the morning after Storm Babet visited?

I couldnt leave my house in Broomfield West until the morning after the floods, says David.

I was worried about the shop in Oliver Plunkett Street that often got flooded. When I got to the Midleton store the morning after the floods, I was met with no shop front  all the windows were gone, as well as half the stock. The boxes of shoes stacked on the shelves in the stock room collapsed under the weight of the water.

David is proud of the family history and regard that ODwyers shoe shop enjoys in Midleton and surrounds.

The shop was my mothers baby, says David. My mother, Florence, and my dad, Jerry, were from Ennis. They came to Midleton for work in the 50s.

Florence had vision. She was an entrepreneur and she saw an opening for shoe shop in Midleton, says David.

First, she rented number 9 until she bought here in 1970. We werent in the EEC [European Economic Community] then, and she stocked and sold all Irish-made products.

When we joined, she expanded her stock, stocking European brands of shoes. She was a brilliant businesswoman considering she had no business background.

David took over the business in 1978.

I was given six months to make the call, says David. I came into business terrified for the first six months! It was different going from being employed to being self-employed.

He soon got on his feet. My training as an accountant was invaluable giving me many business skills apart from finance, he says. He also had people skills.

Here in Midleton, I got to know all my customers on a first-name basis  I even knew their shoe sizes!

People stepped up when Storm Babet hit.

We didnt buy a coffee for three days, he says.

Tea, coffee, lunches and dinners all arrived in the shop for us, for the staff, and for the builders. Mops, sanitary goods, wipes; everything just appeared.

The support from the people of Midleton was phenomenal. Even people who had suffered damage themselves were so supportive. Friends, acquaintances, and totally unknown people arrived with brushes and mops. They spent hours helping with the clean-up. Teams of pupils came to help from the local school. They worked with diligence and great spirit.

Was ODwyers shoe shop in Midleton flooded in the past?

I remember we had to close the shop for three days at the end of December in 2015, says David.

The floods were bad, but not to the same level as last October.

David knows ODwyers shoe shop will continue to do business in the town he loves so well.

There is a lot of positivity about, says David. Since Covid people are shopping local. I think you have to have confidence in where you are.

And I have tremendous confidence about the future of Midleton.The community spirit is very strong and Midleton will continue to thrive.

See shoesuite.ie.
A CORK college is playing its part in what is being described as a maritime me too movement amid efforts to stamp out sexual harassment in the industry.

Student counsellor at The National Maritime College of Ireland, Paul McCarthy spoke about how the facility is escalating preventative measures to protect cadets vulnerable to sexual harassment.

The NMCI campus in Cork recently hosted a group of speakers that included a trustee of SaferWaves which aims to address issues relating to sexual violence at sea. It also featured contributions from MTUs sexual violence and harassment prevention officer Ciara Mulcahy Linehan.

Speakers from the UCC bystanders' intervention programme also attended the event to inform cadets of their initiative. The concept aims to reduce the instances of sexual assault by encouraging students to intervene in high-risk situations. Performance psychologist and endurance adventurer Karen Weekes, who was the first Irish female to row the Atlantic Ocean spoke at the event about coping skills in the face of adversity.

Student counsellor at The National Maritime College of Ireland, Paul McCarthy said that sexual harassment in the maritime industry needs to be addressed.

The industry is 98% male so the majority of sexual harassment and sexual violence is where females are the recipients, he said. There have been times when a minority of the students have experienced inappropriate behaviour. While this is not an NMCI problem we know it is an industry problem and our response to the issue has to reflect that.

He said the National Maritime College of Ireland is one of few facilities raising awareness of the topic.

I am conscious that since around 2022 there is a maritime me too movement starting to rise within the industry. We are very conscious of the need to make people aware that bullying, harassment, and sexual violence can be an issue within the maritime industry.

The college is hoping to send out a strong message in relation to the subject.

Its a courageous message to send out. I think we have to balance our ethical responsibility by making people aware that this can happen and ensuring we dont frighten them at the same time. By doing this we are able to live up to our ethical responsibility by raising awareness of the minority of people who can experience this.

Mr McCarthy reiterated the potentially devastating impact of sexual harassment.

From working professionally in a broad array of environments I am aware of how devastating bullying and sexual harassment and violence can be. It has the potential to psychologically devastate people and thats across the board. We want to put a framework in place that will become the norm. The idea is that people who believe they have been the recipients of improper behaviour can call it out in the knowledge that they will be supported.
A MAN in his 60s has died following a road traffic collision in county Cork on Thursday.

Gardai are now appealing for witnesses come forward as an investigation into the incident continues.

A spokesperson said today: "Gardai and emergency services responded to a road traffic collision involving a car and a pedestrian at Upper Cork Hill, Youghal, Co. Cork, on Thursday, February 1st, 2024, at approximately 6:20 pm.

"The male pedestrian, aged in his 60s, who was seriously injured in the collision, has since passed away at Cork University Hospital. The local Coroner has been notified of the death, and a post-mortem examination will be carried out.

"Although the road was temporarily closed for a technical examination, it has since reopened.

"Gardai are urging any witnesses to this collision to come forward.

"Road users with camera footage (including dash-cam) who were in the area between 6:00 pm and 6:30 pm are asked to provide this footage to Gardai.

"Anyone with information is requested to contact Youghal Garda Station at 024 92200, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, or any Garda station."
NORTHERN Irelands first republican First Minister has been praised for staying true to her Cork roots.

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill made history on Saturday when she was appointed the first nationalist or republican First Minister. She started life in Fermoy.

Ms ONeill was born in Cork in 1977. The daughter of former IRA prisoner and Sinn Fein councillor Brendan Doris, she later moved to the village of Clonoe, Co Tyrone, where she spent the rest of her childhood. Her initiation into politics began in her teens. She later became an adviser to Francie Molloy, current MP for Mid Ulster, before taking her fathers seat in 2005 when he stepped down as councillor for Dungannon.

Ms ONeills subsequent achievements include her appointment as the first female mayor in the borough, followed by a stint as minister for agriculture and rural development in 2011. She was appointed party leader in the North in 2017 and deputy first minister in January 2020.

Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould said he has always been very proud of the First Ministers Cork roots.

Id be reminding them that shes a Cork woman, he said, referring to his party colleagues.

Saturday wasnt just a historic day for Ireland. It was historic for Fermoy as well to know that one of their own has been elected First Minister. Shes such a class act and we are extremely lucky to have two brilliant leaders with Michelle and Mary Lou in place.

"It was very emotional talking to people who were up there, who have been campaigning for Sinn Fein for years when we were quite a small party. Now when they look at how we are doing in the Dail and they see how we are doing in the North its not difficult to see how far the party has come, he said.

The next step now is for us to hopefully come into power and form a new government after the next election.

Michelle doesnt forget her roots. Everyone was waiting for this happen and it ended up being a day full of pride.

He said the level of support for the First Minister was heartening. Even the unionist community want her to get on and do the work, he said. There were no Unionist protests yesterday outside Stormont. If you went back 10 or 20 years ago there would have been thousands but the people of the north see what peace has given them. Now, they just want the assembly to sort out issues like childcare and housing and the cost of living. Ms ONeill will serve alongside DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly.
By Jonathan McCambridge and Patrick Daly, PA

Stormonts focus should be now be on delivering for families and businesses across Northern Ireland, after powersharing was restored, British prime minister Rishi Sunak has said.

Beginning a visit to Northern Ireland to mark the return of devolved government, Mr Sunak said a 3.3 billion funding package for the region would lead to sustainable public services.

The institutions were restored after a deal between Mr Sunaks government and the DUP to allay unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

On Thursday, the British government fast-tracked two pieces of legislation contained in the agreement through the House of Commons, opening the way for Saturdays return of the Assembly.

Rishi Sunak will meet Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly on Monday. Photo: NI Executive/PA.

The British prime minister will be at Stormont on Monday, where he will meet Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly, the leaders of the new executive.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will also be at Stormont for a series of meetings.

Sinn Feins Ms ONeill made history on Saturday when she became Northern Irelands first nationalist First Minister, as the Assembly returned after two years in cold storage.

Mr Sunak will carry out a number of community engagements during his visit, meeting people involved in public services.

On Sunday he visited the headquarters of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland in Co Antrim.

The British prime minister said: It is great to be back in Northern Ireland this evening, a special part of our United Kingdom.

In the last few days we have made significant progress towards a brighter future for people here.

Yesterday the Assembly sat for the first time in two years. Tomorrow the Executive will meet.

Tonight I have been meeting with volunteers and the crew at the Air Ambulance.

It is people and services like this, and many more, that the Executive can now focus on, delivering for families and businesses across Northern Ireland.

And with the new deal that we have agreed, they will have both the funding and the powers to do exactly that.

Stormont party leaders are likely to press the British prime minister for additional funding for public services (Liam McBurney/PA)

Stormont parties have indicated that they will press Mr Sunak for more funding to alleviate the pressure on public services in Northern Ireland.

But the British prime minister said the offer from the UK Government represents a generous and fair settlement.

He added: And crucially, it is sustainable.

It is about ensuring public finances in Northern Ireland are sustainable for the long term. That approach we have taken, I think, will really benefit everyone here.

And now that we have got the Executive back up and running, it is right that people have their local politicians focusing on their priorities, starting with public services.

There has not been devolved government up and running here for far too long. But now we do have it and they can start focusing on delivering for everyone.

Mr Sunak was asked about comments by Ms ONeill predicting there could be a border poll on Irish unity within the next decade.

He said: Obviously, everyone is committed to the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.

But I think everyone also agrees that now is the time to focus on delivering on the day-to-day issues that matter to people, to families, to businesses in Northern Ireland.

It has been without a devolved government here for two years. It is time to focus on things like public services. That is what everyone would expect.

In fact everyone I was talking to this evening was telling me that that is exactly what they want from their government now that it is up and running again.

Our deal ensures that the Executive will have the powers and the funding it needs to deliver for people.

The new Executive will hold its first meeting on Monday.

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill said Northern Ireland had been starved of funding. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA.

Ms ONeill told the PA news agency that it will need to begin work immediately on tackling public sector funding challenges.

She said: I am determined to do our very best.

This place has been starved of public services funding for over a decade because of the Tories in London, we can do much better than that.

Thats a fight I think we have to fight together and I think theres a combined effort across the Executive to have a proper funding model for here so we actually can do better public services and invest in the public sector workers.
IN the 1600s, newspapers began appearing with regularity in European countries.

The first English versions surfaced in London in 1621, and the first daily, the Daily Courant, ran from 1702 to 1735.

Corks earliest surviving newspaper is The Corke Journal, dating to 1753. Copies can be seen in the city library and it was printed on paper of such quality that pulp fiction from the 1960s has deteriorated more.

The Journal was published by Eugene Swiney, and its ornate banner proudly displayed Corks coat-of-arms and motto. It had a mix of international, national and some local news, and that and its ample advertising tells us much about Cork 270 years ago.

Naturally, there are no photos, but the few illustrations give us a glimpse into that era, such as signs for city businesses. The vast majority of people were illiterate and shop or inn signs explained their line of business.

These signs for three establishments feature repeatedly in February and March, 1754.

The Half Moon And Three Stars

A John Coppinger was ensconced here, between St Peters Church and Skiddys Castle on North Main Street - todays Vision Centre and Adelaide Street.

He was what was termed a clothier and announced he had just returned from England with a great range of mens and womens wear. He was also supplied from Dublin with Irish-made goods, and invited those so kind to favour him with their commands to come visit, and rest assured that they would be well served and he would make it his study to give them content.

The Three Nuns

Over at the Three Nuns on Hammonds Marsh was Albert Curry, at a location now occupied by the Mercy Hospital and its vicinity.

A draper, he manufactured some of his own stock and was keen to match the standards in fashionable Dublin in price and quality of goods and service.

Albert was making considerable efforts to achieve this and promised those Cork citizens who gave his shop a Tryal that they would find his dealing no less agreeable than his goods.

The Harp And Crown

Here, we find James Collins, whose premises was as central as could be in 1700s Cork, near the Exchange at the North/South Main Street and Castle Street juncture, focal point for Corks civic and commercial life. It also housed the citys clock.

In his advert, Collins informs the public he has returned from purchasing trips to Dublin and London and his drapery is in a position to supply a bewildering variety of goods. Among them English drabs, superfine Irish rugs, livery cloths, serge denims and barragons (cotton summerwear). Plus, common hair shags (a choice of feathered, flowered and plain), nankeens (cotton cloth) and swanskins.

Banner for The Corke Journal in 1754

Also, clergymens beaver hats, velvet and silk shapes, English bombazines, and rustles and pink stuff for petticoats. How about rock spun poplins (fine fabric), or a choice from a great variety of buttons - gilt plated, livery, cut jet, and deaths head?

Guns for Hire (and Sale)

Venturing newly into business at this time as a gunsmith was William Collins, who opened his shop under the sign of the Cross Blunderbusses, next to John Coppinger in North Main Street, and had a large assortment of gun and pistol work and all the materials for firearms.

He was determined to supply as good work as any in the Kingdom and had taken on the best hands on the best wages.

North and South Main Street was the citys main artery, as it had been since Viking days, the thoroughfares of Patrick Street, Grand Parade and South Mall having not yet been established.

Opposite St Peters Church on North Main Street was the sign of the Unicorn, where Peter Eason was another with new stock in, for hardware.

His advert listed a mixed bag of 92 items, including, silk whip lashes, inkles and bobbins, Dutch needles, Irish garters, sealing wax, tea table bells, bone and buckhorn knives and forks, spring penknives, snuff dishes, shoe buckles, fountain pens, cock spurs, scissors, nut crackers, brass, bone and paper inkpots, nutmeg graters, keyrings, spectacles, wig springs, punch ladles, prayer books, spelling books and history books and several other goods too tedious to insert.

Salmon and Cider

Closing the door behind us and making for Goolds Marsh, we get a whiff of fish at Connor McInerneys Salmon House. Here you could buy pickled salmon for six shillings a keg, or split and salted salmon sides, and no better job to quench the resulting thirst than Cork cider.

William Coppinger, at Barryscourt, Carrigtwohill, produced his own cider at 40 shillings a hogshead - or 408 pints. It could be had from Joseph Coppinger in the city but, when empty, the hogsheads were to be returned. No doubt, Joseph, or his servant, would carry them back to Barryscourt on horse and cart.

Another Cork cider producer, Thomas Beale, suggested empties be sent to him, which he would fill and send back for 30 shillings. He offered to ferment his syder as ruff as required, with choice wildings mixed with the apples.

An alternative to salmon was available from Robert Ross at the Turk Head Tavern, whose Chop House aimed to furnish gentle- men with agreeable eatables. His accompanying porter was nine months bottled and he would sell none that was bottled for less. It cost five pence the bottle.

Carry out cost four shillings sixpence for two six packs, the bottles to be returned.

James Mahon, on Hanover Street, also sold alcohol but dealt in more mixed goods too. Indeed, one can see the beginnings of an iron foundry on a street that would long be associated with it.

James offered choice rum and brandy, along with indigo, rape and linseed oil and iron of all sorts. He also had in fine Cadiz salt and new Alicante wine.

Or, if ones taste was more inclined to French, one could get in on the bidding for 12 hogsheads of Chateau Haut-Brion, which had been sent over from France and were ready for auction in a cellar outside the South Gate (base of Barrack Street) at 1pm on August 23, 1754. The wine could be tasted any time before the sale.

On a Health Kick

It wasnt all alcohol in Cork, folk liked their health kicks too.

There seems to have been a craze for German spa water. William Campbell, an apothecary (predecessor to a pharmacist) near the North Gate, had fresh German Spa Water in small flasks, and medicated candles.

Booksellers Phineas and George Bagnell had stocks of spa water along with their books and stationery. Cornelius Sullivan, bookseller on Castle Street, also sold wallpaper, with the most beautiful London patterns.

Minerals for the body, minerals for the soil, John Connor had right good rock lime at 1s 2d a barrel, and was willing to deliver anywhere within the gates. He would meet customers as far as the lower green in Blackpool, but anyone who would go to his kiln at Gillabbey, where he produced the lime, would benefit from a price reduction. John also had a quantity of well saved hay to sell at Mr Flacks country place at Ballyphehane.

Another lime dealer, Richard Welsh, had bulk quantities at Ballybricken, Ringaskiddy, ready for convenient transport on the waters of Cork Harbour. Price 12d per barrel.

Lost and Found

The Corke Journal of the 1750s also ran notices from people in one spot of bother or another.

John Punch, a farmer in Ballinvuskig, near Donnybrook, in the citys South Liberties, had lately bought a bay horse from one William Devereux, who had since been confined in the gaol at the South Gate for horse stealing.

Mr Punch now suspected his horse may have been stolen and was issuing notice that anyone laying just claim to the animal could have it returned on paying all associated expenses.

A guinea was not to be sneezed at - the equivalent of 21 shillings, or one pound one shilling - and two were on offer from George Morgan, who was trying to find a gold watch lost between Douglas and Cove Lane. Another precious item, a sword mounted with pinchbeck (brass resembling gold) had been lost somewhere between Cork and Kinsale.

The Trouble with Servants

Servants, eh? Cant live with em, nor without em.

John Norcotts man, Thomas Boulton, absconded from his house on Georges Street (now Oliver Plunkett Street) with his brandy and rum in August, 1754, and scaled a 10ft wall to get away.

Mr Norcott put up a guinea reward to anyone who brought him to justice. Be on the look-out for a low, swarthy, ill-featured young man, very much marked with the small pox. With a flat turned up nose, wearing his own hair (no wig) and brass buttons.

Another runaway servant, James Mahony, 18-year-old son of John Mahony, a basketmaker in Macroom, was described as having a down, sullen look and a lubberly idle way of walking.

Cork was a hub of international shipping and indicative of this is a report of a runaway from a ship anchored in the harbour. In this case it was a black servant, the property of Captain Carroll.

Anyone who brought him to Widow Cotter in Cove, or to Silvester Ryan in Cork would be paid four guineas. There was also a reward for the capture of whoever rowed him to shore.

Hell Hath No fury...

Domestic troubles also made it into the newspaper. Wives were the responsibility of the husband, who was obliged to honour any debts if she ran away.

Cork woman Mary Granell placed a notice in the Journal, saying she never had any intention to elope from her husband John, nor run him in debt. It was her in-laws she had received very ill treatment from, which obliged her to seek refuge in her fathers house, and she placed the notice to acquit herself of any unwarranted scandal.

Finally, a bizarre occurrence befell a family one Sunday night at Castlemacauliffe, a townland between Newmarket and Boherbue. Timothy Connell and his wife went out, leaving the door of their cabin ajar. A badger entered and made its way to where the children were asleep. Whatever possessed it, it attacked them, biting one on the back and arm, another on the cheek, another on the finger.

When Timothy returned, he fetched a pike and killed the possibly rabid badger stone dead.
China's coast guard monitors illegal activity of Philippine civilian vessel

10:39, February 04, 2024 By Li Lei ( Chinadaily.com.cn

Ren'ai Reef. [File photo/chinanews.com.cn]

A Chinese coast guard vessel closely monitored and supervised the entire process of a small Philippine civilian vessel which illegally ran aground on China's Ren'ai Reef in South China Sea and delivered supplies to a stranded military ship on Friday, China Coast Guard said in a statement on Saturday.

China unequivocally holds sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, including the Ren'ai Reef and their adjacent waters, it said, adding that it will continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters under Chinese jurisdiction, including Ren'ai Reef, in accordance with law.

Despite repeated warnings from China, the Philippines has repeatedly deployed ships seeking to deliver construction materials to the BRP Sierra Madre, a crumbling World War II-era Philippine navy vessel that the country intentionally stranded on China's Ren'ai Reef in 1999.

Such items are banned from being supplied to the stranded vessel under an agreement reached by China and the Philippines in recent years.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
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Farmers in Scotland are set to meet tomorrow to discuss mounting concerns surrounding the creation of new national parks in the country.

Following a meeting of over 100 farmers on the Isle of Skye, NFU Scotland will tomorrow (5 February) host a national webinar looking at the issue.

It has been 20 years since a national park was established in Scotland, and the nomination process to find a new national park is now open.

However, farming industry groups have repeatedly highlighted their opposition to such a move.

Potential contenders include Ben Nevis/Glen Coe/Black Mount, the Cheviots and Border Hills, Galloway, a Coastal and Marine Park, Glen Affric, Wester Ross and the Isle of Harris.

But industry fears centre on an increase in bureaucracy which could in turn stifle development, as well as a potential rise in access-related issues.

There are also concerns that a new national park would prioritise tourism and visitor access over local farming businesses to the detriment of the rural economy.

These issues are based on the experience of farmers in either the Cairngorms National Park or the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, Scotland's only national parks.

Earlier this week, NFU Scotland chaired a meeting on national park proposals on Skye, attended by 110 farmers, crofters and other local stakeholders.

According to the union, all attendees indicated that they did not support the creation of a national park in their area.

In its recent consultation with farmers, responses indicated that existing parks had failed to make a positive contribution to farming and crofting.

NFU Scotland vice president, Alasdair Macnab said that the nomination process for new national parks was causing 'a lot of concern and confusion' for farmers.

He said that wider community views must be considered when bids go in for the creation of new parks.

"Feedback from members in existing national parks is that there has not been enough focus on local views and where community involvement was present, it was tokenistic. That must not happen this time round.

"Farming and food production are highly important to Scotlands rural economy, this must be a major consideration when assessing nominations for new national parks.

Meaningful involvement of the local community at each stage in the nomination process is key but that is not being delivered by many of the proposed bids," Mr Macnab said.

"This is necessary to avoid polarised views within a community leading to groups feeling disenfranchised and that a national park is imposed on them."

NFU Scotland is holding the webinar on Monday (5 February) at 6.30pm.
King Charles has been seen for the first time since his prostate operation  waving to fans as he walked to church.

King Charles has been seen for the first time since his prostate operation  waving to fans as he walked to church

The 75-year-old monarch was spotted arriving with Queen Camilla, 46, for the Sunday (04.02.24) morning service at the St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, after he left hospital on 29 January.

Reverend Canon Paul Williams joined the royals on their walk to the church, which came after Charles underwent a corrective procedure at the London Clinic off Harley Street.

Buckingham Palace said ahead of his hospital stay Charles would be treated for an enlarged prostate.

The admission of the details of the royals medical condition was highly unusual, but its been reported Charles wanted it revealed so other men would feel encouraged to go for prostate exams.

A spokesperson added Charles will now pause royal duties while he recovers, saying: The King was discharged from hospital following planned medical treatment.

"He has rescheduled forthcoming public engagements to allow for a period of private recuperation.

The King would like to thank the medical team and all those involved in supporting his hospital visit.

He is grateful for all the kind messages he has received in recent days.

NHS England has said the enlarged prostate page on its website received one visit every five seconds on the day Charles diagnosis was announced.

Charles left hospital hours after Catherine, Princess of Wales was also allowed to head home to Windsor after she had underwent successful abdominal surgery at the London Clinic.

Kensington Palace said she is making good progress since her procedure, and Us Weekly reported she is working from bed as she prepares for a return to public royal duties.
Sharon Stone was penniless after her near-fatal stroke.

Sharon Stone has recalled having no money after her near-fatal stroke

The Basic Instinct actress - who has sons Roan, 23, Laird, 18, and Quinn, 17 - suffered a stroke back in 2001, brought on by a brain hemorrhage that resulted in a nine-day brain bleed and saw her die briefly and come back to life, and she has revealed she was extremely hard up and relying on her credit cards to survive.

She told Australia's WHO magazine: "I was down to nothing. I had to pay the kids' school on my credit card and hope for the best. I just got on my knees and I was like, 'I need a sign ... and could you make it big because I'm going to need something that I can't miss because I'm in a coma here. So like, help me out.'"

The 65-year-old actress says going through a near-death experience put a stop to caring what other people think about her.

She said: "While I was recovering from my stroke, I reassessed everything. I decided that I would never not be myself again. And people could love me, hate me, like me, dislike me, judge me, do whatever they wanted. But take it or leave it, man. I feel free pretty much all the time."

Sharon hid her disability for years because she thought no one would accept her.

The movie star  best known for playing femme fatale roles in Hollywood  previously revealed she was snubbed by the industry as the stroke severely impaired her motor skills and ability to remember lines.

The blonde beauty took a two-decade-long hiatus from acting while she was in recovery.

She told Vogue: I bled so much into my subarachnoid pool [head, neck and spine] that the right side of my face fell, my left foot was dragging severely, and I was stuttering very badly.

For the first couple of years, I would also get these weird knuckle-like knots that would come up all over the top of my head that felt like I was getting punched. I cant express how painful it all was.

I hid my disability and was afraid to go out and didnt want people to know.

I just thought no one would accept me.

She was forced to relearn how to walk and talk whilst fighting to regain custody of her eldest son  who was taken away from her after she was accused of having Munchausens syndrome.

Sharon, who doesnt let her illness define her, added: I think many people identify with their illness as I am this thing, and it cannot be your identity.

In my case, so much was taken from me. I lost custody of my child, I lost my career and was not able to work, I was going through a divorce and being put through the ringer, I lost so much, and I could have allowed that to define me. But you have to stand up and say, Okay, that happened, and now what? What am I made of?
Tina Fey struggled with boys at school because she was a "nerd".

Tina Fey had her own 'Mean Girls' moments at school

The 'Mean Girls' creator - who has brought the musical adaptation of the 2004 teen comedy blockbuster to the big screen this year - has admitted she didn't have much luck finding a boyfriend as a kid.

She told Australia's WHO magazine: "I was a total nerd. A theatre nerd. I was all big hair and turtle-neck sweaters. I had no luck with boys whatsoever but I was a pretty good student."

The 53-year-old former 'SNL' writer and cast member also confessed she could be a "mean girl" like Regina George at school and that she faced her fair share of bullies.

She said: "Yeah, there were real "Mean Girls" in my life back in my high school days, for sure.

In hindsight, I was maybe a "Mean Girl" to some degree for a while. I remember being a freshman and an older girl coming up to me. She told me I was pretty and when I thanked her she was like, 'Oh, so you think you're pretty?' It was a trap and I knew it.

But Janis' storyline of being sucked into the whole revenge thing, sitting at the back of the class, talking about everybody else was definitely something I experienced.

Thankfully, I got out of it. I'm 53 now, but I still think about it. I think all women, all people, have a Mean Girls moment to remember. You've either been mean, been a victim of meanness or both."

Tina - who has daughters Alice, 18, and Penelope, 12, with producer husband Jeff Richmond - says it's harder on young people today with social media making it easier to pick on people.

She said: "I have daughters, I know they do. It's a lot and with social media it's all the time now. And it's not just girls and teenagers.

It's everywhere. I actually think women are doing better now, but I think Mean Girls behaviour has kind of spread to everyone. That kind of relational aggression is everywhere."
The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) recently expressed interest in expanding investment in original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for the textile sector in Cambodia.

Yoshihisa Suzuki, chairman of JCCIs Japan-Mekong Business Cooperation Committee, put forward the proposal during a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in Phnom Penh.

The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) is keen to expand investment in original textile equipment manufacturers in Cambodia. Yoshihisa Suzuki, chairman of JCCI's Japan-Mekong Business Cooperation Committee, proposed this at a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. He briefed Manet about existing investment activities in Cambodia.

Suzuki also briefed Manet about existing investment activities in Cambodia in the textile, gas supply and agricultural sectors.

The visit of the delegation will further increase the potential and expansion of Japanese investments in Cambodia, the prime minister was quoted as saying by Cambodian media reports.

Cambodia is ready to coordinate with Japanese investors to turn itself into a major investment destination and a regional hub, he added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
The UK Government has announced the launch of a new small business council set to debut next month, aimed at reinforcing its commitment to the nations 5.5 million small businesses. This initiative will gather SME leaders from across the UK, providing them with a dedicated platform to ensure their voices are heard within the government.

Recognising that small businesses constitute 99.9 per cent of all businesses in the country, supporting 27 million jobs and generating 4.5 trillion in annual turnover, the government has declared 2024 as the year of the SME. This move underscores the critical role small businesses play in the UK economy and the government's focus on supporting their growth and resilience, the UK government said in a press release.

The UK Government has announced the launch of a new small business council next month, supporting the nation's 5.5 million SMEs and marking 2024 as the year of the SME. Enhancements to the Help to Grow campaign include a one-stop website for SME growth resources and a subsidised management programme aiming to assist up to 30,000 businesses.

In addition to the council, the government has revitalised the Help to Grow campaign and its website, transforming it into a comprehensive resource for SMEs seeking guidance on growth and scalability. The revamped site offers a one-stop solution for accessing funding information, webinars, and essential tips for starting a business. It features a step-by-step guide offering practical advice for those looking to establish and expand their business ventures in the UK.

The refreshed Help to Grow campaign includes management courses as part of the Autumn Statement, introducing the Help to Grow: Management scheme. This intensive 12-week programme aims to enhance leadership and management skills within SMEs, with a 90 per cent subsidy from the government. Nearly 8,000 businesses have already benefited, with a goal to assist up to 30,000 businesses throughout the program's duration.

Small businesses are the lifeblood of our local communities and drive the UKs economy, supporting jobs and wages across the country. This new council will mean SMEs have a clear voice at the table and we can deliver on the key needs for business. We are taking action to ensure that they have the support, tools and guidance they need to thrivebecause when small businesses succeed, the UK succeeds, said business and trade secretary Kemi Badenoch.

I know firsthand how important small businesses are, but I also understand some of the barriers they face to start up or grow their existing firm. Which is why Im proud of the work were doing as government to really tackle some of the burning issues SMEs face on a daily basisonly then can we help boost jobs and grow the economy, said small business minister Kevin Hollinrake.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)
Mission Chapter 1 OTT Release: Mission: Chapter 1, also known as Mission: Chapter 1 - Achcham Enbadhu Illaiye, is an upcoming Tamil action thriller directed by A. L. Vijay and produced by Lyca Productions, Shri Shirdi Sai Movies, New March Fast Pictures, and Aspen Film Production (P) Ltd. Featuring Arun Vijay and Amy Jackson in lead roles, the film also includes Nimisha Sajayan, Abi Hassan, Bharat Bopana, and Iyal in its cast.

Mission: Chapter 1 - Achcham Enbadhu Illaiye hit theatres on January 12, 2024, coinciding with Pongal Week.

Mission: Chapter 1 Premise

In London, an Indian man finds himself trapped in a prison during a mission. Determined to reunite with his daughter, he orchestrates a riot for his escape. However, his plans take a sinister turn when a person blackmails him, leveraging his daughter's safety to coerce him into completing another mission.

Mission: Chapter 1 Cast And Crew

The ensemble features Arun Vijay and Amy Jackson portraying Sandra James, along with Nimisha Sajayan, Abi Hassan, Bharat Bopana, Iyal, Viraj, and Jason Shah.

Directed by A. L. Vijay, with screenplay credits to A. L. Vijay and A. Mahadev, the film is produced by Subaskaran Allirajah, M. Rajashekar, S. Swathi, Surya Vamsi Prasad, Kotha, and Jeevan Kotha. Sandeep K. Vijay takes charge of the cinematography, while Anthony handles the editing. G. V. Prakash Kumar is the composer behind the film's music.

Mission Chapter 1 OTT Release Date And Platform

Mission: Chapter 1, the highly anticipated action-packed thriller, is set to make its digital debut on OTT platforms in February 2024, according to the latest reports. This news comes as a delight to fans who have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to experience the gripping narrative and intense action sequences from the comfort of their own homes. Stay tuned for further updates on the exact release date and platform where Mission: Chapter 1 will be available for streaming.

A. L. Vijay And Arun Vijay's Mission Chapter 1 Review

Film reviewer Karthik DP provided an enthusiastic review of "Mission: Chapter 1" after its premiere and emphasised its emotional depth and thrilling narrative. According to him, the film beautifully captures the essence of a father-daughter relationship, tugging at the heartstrings while immersing the audience in a captivating storyline set in London.

Karthik lauded Arun Vijay's compelling performance, noting his commanding presence in daughter-centric scenes and powerful action sequences within the prison, creating a spine-chilling impact. The relentless pace, coupled with unexpected twists, keeps viewers on the edge, building up to a jaw-dropping climax at the interval, leaving them eagerly anticipating the unfolding events.

Continuing into the second half, Karthik DP acknowledges that "Mission: Chapter 1" sustains its excitement with a high-octane interval and a revealing flashback about Guna, portrayed by Arun Vijay. This flashback introduces two intense moments that linger in the audience's memory. As the narrative returns to London, the stage is set for a riveting showdown involving the main villain, prisoners, and Arun Vijay's character.

The film draws inspiration from acclaimed movies like "Kaithi" and "Vishwaroopam" but establishes its own identity through A. L. Vijay's skillful script. Karthik highlights the significance of each character, contributing to the film's momentum, and applauds the remarkable connection between the first-half prison scenes and the climactic moments in the second half. The review concludes by underscoring the gripping, action-packed finale of "Mission: Chapter 1," ensuring an engaging cinematic experience from start to finish.
Vijay's Entry Into Politics: Actor Vijay, known as Thalapathy Vijay to his fans, has taken a significant step in his career by declaring his entry into politics and unveiling the name of his new political party on February 2. Currently filming for 'The Greatest of All Time' (GOAT), directed by Venkat Prabhu, Vijay has confirmed that this movie will be his penultimate film, with 'Thalapathy 69' slated to be his final acting endeavour.

The newly formed political party is named Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam, with Vijay assuming the role of president. He announced the party's formation via an official statement, revealing that they have initiated the process of registering with the Election Commission of India. Contrary to speculation, Vijay clarified that Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam will not participate in the upcoming 2024 parliamentary elections nor align with any existing political parties.

Instead, the party's main goal is to contest and emerge victorious in the 2026 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, as per reports.

Vijay's Gratitude Overflow: A Heartfelt Message To Supporters

Expressing gratitude and acknowledging the support he received, Vijay took to social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) through his party's handle, 'TVK Vijay.' In his post, he extended thanks to various political leaders, members of the film fraternity, citizens of Tamil Nadu, media personnel, and his ardent supporters for their well wishes on his political journey.

His X post read: "Greetings to all, I profusely thank from the bottom of my heart respected leaders of various political parties, beloved film fraternity friends, affectionate brothers, sisters and mothers of Tamilnadu, my dearest and always encouraging media friends, last but not the least, my huge pillar of support "En Nenjil Kudiyirukkum Thozargal" for wishing me on my new political journey for the welfare and victory of TamilNadu. With Love, Vijay"

Earlier, with respect to his decision to retire from acting, Vijay emphasised that politics is not merely a career shift but a profound commitment to serve the people. He underscored his dedication to politics, stating that it is not a hobby but a lifelong aspiration. Additionally, he reassured fans that he would fulfil his remaining film commitments without compromising his political responsibilities.

Fans eagerly await further updates regarding Vijay's final film and the director who will helm it. Meanwhile, Vijay's transition from a celebrated actor to a political figure has sparked discussions about his future contributions to Tamil Nadu's socio-political landscape.
Los Alamitos, California--(Newsfile Corp. - February 3, 2024) - A new addition to the dance world has emerged, promising to transform how dancers practice and refine their moves. Aspiring dance stars have incorporated the Dancing Disc into their routines, thus solidifying its reputation as a vital tool for dancers worldwide. This lovingly crafted turning board is designed to meet the demands of budding dancers and seasoned professionals, offering a portable, professional studio surface on the go.





Trusted By Young Dance Stars Across The Globe, The Dancing Disk Is Revolutionizing Dance Practices For Beginners and Pros

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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The team behind Dancing Disc recognizes that dance is more than just a hobby-it's a transformative lifestyle. With this in mind, they've developed a product that facilitates practice and inspires and nurtures the passion within dancers.

Designed as a dancer's perfect companion, the Dancing Disc provides a professional studio-like surface for practice anytime and anywhere. Its portable design allows dancers to refine their skills on a surface like those found in professional studios. This innovative tool enables dancers to perfect techniques, master turns, and elevate their abilities to a professional level, all within the convenience of their own space.

Acknowledging the vibrant dance community and supportive parents who foster their kids' dreams, the creators express gratitude, "Gratitude is extended to the vibrant dance community and supportive parents who help foster their kids' dreams. The Dancing Disc is a tribute to their dedication and serves as a tool to support dancers worldwide."

Boasting a stylish design with a Marley top, anti-slip rubber bottom, and a tapered edge for a safer exit while turning, the Dancing Disc ensures both durability and the perfect texture for turns, spins, and tapping. Its versatility allows usage on any surface and portability for dancers on the go. Crafted in the USA with a focus on safety and durability, the disc protects hardwood flooring during practice sessions.

The Dancing Disc's versatility caters to dancers across all levels, from beginners exploring their passion to professionals honing their craft. Its variable-size options provide ample space for dancers to execute their moves comfortably in studios or at home.

One of the creators expressed their vision: "We aimed to create a tool that embodies the joy and dedication we see in dancers every day. The Dancing Disc will revolutionize how dancers practice, enabling them to follow their dreams from the comfort of their apartments. The portable size ensures they can be used on the go."

Considered the ultimate gift by the dance community, the Dancing Disc aims to elevate dancers' skills and ignite their passion. As a part of the dance revolution, it emerges as a leading gift choice for dancers, making its mark this holiday season. The company offers free shipping across the US, adding to the allure of the Dancing Disk as a practical gifting option for all dance lovers.

In conclusion, the Dancing Disc is a testament to innovation in the dance industry, offering a safe and reliable platform for dancers to hone their skills. As the dance community embraces this addition to their practice routines, the Dancing Disc illuminates the path for dancers to reach new heights in their craft, just as it does for dance stars.

For more information, please use the details below to contact Dancing Disc.

Contact Info:

Name: Glen Gomez

Email: Glen@dancingdisc.com

Organization: Dancing Disc

Website: https://www.dancingdisc.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196772

SOURCE: Plentisoft
Tampa, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - February 3, 2024) - Quasar Markets has officially launched its financial market research platform, powered by artificial intelligence and Web3. The platform, accessible at quasarmarkets.com, promises to revolutionize financial analysis and investment strategy, setting a new benchmark for innovation in the sector.





Quasar Markets Officially Launches AI-Powered Financial Research Platform

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Steven E. Orr, CEO of Quasar Markets, expressed his enthusiasm for the launch, stating, "After two decades of thoughtful contemplation and seven months of rigorous planning and execution, we are thrilled to unveil quasarmarkets.com to the world. The response to our launch has been overwhelmingly positive, reaffirming our belief that we are on the brink of creating a new future for the marketplace. Through the integration of AI and Web3 technologies, we are disrupting the future of finance. We welcome every aspect of the business world with open arms as we embark on this exciting journey together."

Quasar Markets redefines the financial services landscape as a comprehensive platform and electronic marketplace. Its unique approach centralizes access to a broad spectrum of financial services, including but not limited to trading stocks, options, commodities, metals, futures, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, indices, forex, art, real estate, and funds.

Leveraging data from diverse sources such as EDGAR, FRED, the United Nations, and various stock exchanges, the platform aggregates vast amounts of information in one accessible location. This consolidation saves users countless hours in data search and aggregation, providing both institutional and retail traders with tailored, data-driven financial solutions.

The commitment of Quasar Markets to innovation and excellence is further highlighted by strategic partnerships with leading finance and technology firms, including Seasonx, Dragon List Global, and KiwiTech. These partnerships enhance the platform's capabilities, ensuring that Quasar Markets remains at the cutting edge of financial technology.

About Quasar Markets

Quasar Markets offers innovative solutions for researching financial markets, providing unparalleled insights and personalized client experiences. With a next-gen AI & Web3 platform and strategic partnerships with industry leaders, Quasar Markets is reimagining the future of finance. For more information, visit: https://quasarmarkets.com/.

Contact Info:

Name: Steven E. Orr

Email: steven@quasarmarkets.com

Organization: Quasar Markets

Address: Wesley Chapel, Florida 33543, US

Phone: +1 (202) 841-9009

Website: http://www.quasarmarkets.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196770

SOURCE: Plentisoft
The actress in question participated in the 11th season of the reality show. The police reveal shes also into modelling apart from acting

A report in Free Press Journal reveals a former Bigg Boss contestant has accused her friend of raping her and on the basis of her complaint, the police have registered a FIR. The actress in question participated in the 11th season of the reality show. The police reveal shes also into modelling apart from acting.

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They have also stated the actress claimed that her friend had called her to his house in Delhi, intoxicated her drink which was followed by rape.

About Bigg Boss 11

Even as it was the two popular television faces  Hina Khan and Shilpa Shinde  who competed for the Bigg Boss trophy, one person who also got immense support in the 11th edition of the reality show was second runner-up Vikas Gupta, who entered as a common man but walked out like a celebrity.

When it came to planning, plotting and strategising, former channel head for MTV and &TV, Vikas Gupta aced this quality. He worn the Mastermind tag with pride during the show and had many times proved that he deserved it.

When asked who gave him the toughest time in the Bigg Boss house pat came his reply, Shilpa Shinde gave me a tough time in the first five weeks and then everyone was competing for the spot to be my tormentor because whoever took that spot would get popular (laughs). But I also made many friends and I feel proud about the friendship that I have earned inside the house.
Alzheimers disease isnt transmissible, or is it? A recent study reveals how in the rarest of medical accidents, the brain disorder can spread. But doctors have advised not to panic. All this and more in our roundup of explainers from across the globe

Goodbye January and hello February. This week has been quite eventful.

The Maldives, despite being a small island nation, continues to make big headlines. Its president Mohamed Muizzu, who was sworn in just last November, is clutching to power, as he faces calls of impeachment.

While the United States is gearing up for the 2024 presidential polls, it was the death of Indian-American students that made big news this week. Six desi students have died in the last 30 days, raising questions on safety.

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Away from all this, theres also been big news coming from the health sector. While New York City declared social media as a public health hazard, a study on Alzheimers disease has thrown up fascinating insights.

And capping this week was the news of the Pakistan caretaker government preparing for the imminent sale of the loss-making Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), ahead of next weeks elections.

If you have missed out on this, heres our weekly roundup that covers all the big international news.

1) One of the biggest stories for us this week was the deaths of Indian-American students in the past 30 days. On Thursday, Shreyas Reddy Beniger , a student at the Linder School of Business in Ohio, died, with authorities ruling out foul play. The tragedy comes within weeks of the deaths of five other Indian students  Neel Acharya, Vivek Saini, Akul Dhawan, G Dinesh and Nikesh.

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Of these five, the most horrific death was that of Vivek Saini . A resident of Haryana, he died after he was hammered 50 times in Georgias Lithonia on 16 January.

In our essay , we explore whats happening to the American Dream and how safe are desis in the US.

2) Hes come to power only in November 2023, but his tenure has been far from smooth sailing. Who are we talking about? The president of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu . This week, the president of the Maldives faced calls for impeachment.

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But what led to this situation? On Monday (29 January), trouble began brewing for Muizzu when some of the ruling party MPs expressed interest in working with the opposing Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Democrats to remove him from office.

In our explainer , we take a closer look at the events that led to this situation and what does it take to impeach a president in the Maldives.

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3) For many, 2024 has been called the year of elections, as several countries across the globe will go to the polls. Among the many is Indias neighbour, Pakistan, which is going to elect a new government next week, scheduled for 8 February. And ahead of these polls came the news that the caretaker government has nearly finalised the sale of its national carrier  Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

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But what has led to this situation? How did an airline with the tagline Great People to Fly With reach this point? Our explainer charts the demise of the national carrier and why this sale would be challenging.

4) Alzheimers disease is a big problem for the world. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) in November 2023 had said that every 3.2 seconds, a new person is added to the more than 55 million Alzheimers patients worldwide.

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And this week, more startling information emerged about the brain disorder. UK researchers found that in rare medical cases, Alzheimers could pass on from a person to person. How is that possible? What did the study find out? Read this and more in our extensive explainer on it and why its findings are significant in the world of medicine.

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5) And speaking of mental health and disorders, this week also saw the interesting news of New York City declaring social media as a public health hazard. Mayor Eric Adams called it an environmental toxin, saying young people must be protected from harm online. He further claimed TikTok, YouTube and Facebook are fueling a mental health crisis by designing their platforms with addictive and dangerous features.

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This is the first time that an American state has made such a move, highlighting just how dangerous social media can be, especially for young minds.

In our explainer here , we delve into the hazards of social media and how these apps such as Facebook, Instagram, X, Snapchat and others are making children more depressed, and more prone to suicide.

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This is it for the week. But if this makes you want to read more of our explainers, heres where you can find all of them.

PS: If you have travel planned this year, heres an explainer you cant miss. Turbulence in the skies is quite a regular feature when you fly. But what happens to your body during this period? Read here and find out before you buckle in for your next flight.
With nearly 10 million deaths and nearly 20 million new cases in 2022, cancer remains one of the worlds biggest killers, according to a report by the World Health Organisation. Here are five key facts about the disease

Cancer remains one of the worlds biggest killers, with nearly 10 million deaths and 20 million new cases in 2022. The data was revealed in a World Health Organisation report.

The World Health Organisations cancer agency predicts that the number of new cancer cases will increase by 77 per cent by 2050.

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Cancer cases are expected to exceed 35 million by 2050, up from an estimated 20 million in 2022, says the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Tobacco, alcohol, obesity, and air pollution remain major contributors to the rise.

The rapidly-growing global cancer burden reflects both population ageing and growth, as well as changes to peoples exposure to risk factors, several of which are associated with socioeconomic development, IARCs statement said.

Here are five key facts about the disease on World Cancer Day:

One in five people

Cancer  a disease that causes abnormal cells to multiply and spread  affects humans and virtually all other animal species, with traces found in human skeletons dating from prehistoric times.

There are more than 100 types of cancer, each with its own diagnosis and treatment. Around one in nine men and one in 12 women will die from cancer.

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An estimated 9.74 million people died from cancer in 2022 and 19.96 million new cases were recorded, according to a report by the WHOs International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) published on Thursday.

On average, one person in five will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime, with the number of global cases growing by over 25 per cent between 2009 and 2019, according to the US-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

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The IARC predicted the number of new cases of cancer recorded in the year 2040 would be 50 per cent higher than the 19.96 million recorded in 2022.

In 2050, the number is predicted to be 77 per cent higher than in 2022.

There is a large increase in the cancer burden, said Dr Freddie Bray, head of the IARCs cancer surveillance unit.

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Lung, breast, colon most common

The three most common cancers are lung cancer (12.4 per cent of new cases in 2022), breast cancer (11.6 per cent) and colon cancer (9.6 per cent).

In terms of deaths, lung cancer is by far the deadliest, accounting for 18.7 per cent of deaths, ahead of colon cancer (9.3 per cent), liver cancer (7.8 per cent) and breast cancer (6.9 per cent).

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Poorer countries to see largest increase

The most developed countries are expected to see the greatest increase in case numbers, with an additional 4.8 million new cases predicted in 2050 compared to 2022 estimates, according to the WHO.

However, in terms of percentages, countries at the bottom of the UNs Human Development Index (HDI) will see the greatest proportional increaseup 142 per cent.

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According to the report, countries in the medium range will see a 99 per cent increase.

Likewise, cancer mortality in these countries is projected to almost double in 2050, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.

Freddie Bray, head of the cancer surveillance branch at IARC, said: The impact of this increase will not be felt evenly across countries of different HDI levels.

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Those who have the fewest resources to manage their cancer burdens will bear the brunt of the global cancer burden.

Europe disproportionately hit

Around half of the new cases in 2022 were in Asia, which is home to more than half the worlds population.

What is more surprising is that Europe, including Russia, accounted for a quarter of all the new cases, although it represents under 10 per cent of Earths inhabitants.

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Many countries in Europe have among the highest incidence rates of common cancers worldwide such as prostate and female breast, Bray told AFP.

By contrast, fewer than six per cent of cancer cases in 2022 were in Africa, home to one in five people but which has the youngest population in the world.

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Africas youthfulness can explain the low prevalence of many types of cancer, apart from cervical cancer, where is particularly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa.

Age a big factor

Three-quarters of all the new cancer cases in 2022 were among people aged over 55.

Under-29s accounted for fewer than three per cent of the cases despite accounting for nearly 50 per cent of the worlds population.

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The risk of cancer rises steeply as people age because cells in the body become damaged over time and start to behave differently, leading in some cases to cancer.

Some of the damage happens by chance but some is caused by external factors such as drinking, smoking and exposure to UV radiation.

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Men more at risk

Cancer kills more men than women, with men accounting for 56 out of every 100 cancer deaths, compared to 44 for women.

The fact that men are bigger smokers, which makes them more at risk of lung cancer  the deadliest of all cancer types  is chiefly blamed for the disparity.

But women endure almost the same burden of cancer overall and disproportionately so at younger ages, Bray told AFP.

With inputs from AFP
The decision to confer Bharat Ratna on party patriarch Lal Krishna Advani proves once again that Narendra Modi is the master of political timing. Even as one peels the different layers of Saturdays announcement made by the prime minister, it becomes evident that every move taken by this government is backed by meticulous planning and clear-headed thinking.

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First, just ahead of the general elections, this decision is expected to fire up that section of the partys (and the larger right-wing) base that had felt shortchanged at the treatment meted out to the pioneer of the Ram Mandir movement, under whose aegis BJP rose from two seats in 1984 to 120 in 1991.

BJPs rise under Advani, the perennial organisational man, institution-builder, and mentor to an entire generation of talented young leaders, coincided with the concomitant collapse of the Congress partys vote base from which the grand old party never recovered.

It has been a pet peeve of many within the larger Hindu nationalist fold who credit the veteran leader for shifting Indias political landscape and ushering in an era of cultural resurgence that Advani never got his due from the current dispensation. It wasnt just the way Advani and his peers were superannuated into the Margdarshak mandal, the sense of injury emanating from the idea that the OG Ram Mandir stalwart has been disrespected refused to dissipate despite Advani getting the Padma Vibhushan award in 2015.

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It intensified, for instance, at the recent fiasco that ensued over inviting him to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. One of the partys tallest leaders, the nonagenarian was initially denied invitation owing to his advanced age and later requested to attend, but the 96-year-old eventually gave the consecration ceremony a miss. With the conferring of the states highest civilian honour on him, that feeling of affront may finally be addressed and a message sent to the rank and file that there might be internal differences, but the party remains united, respects and recognises senior leaders even when the sun has set on their political careers.

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Second, the decision, announced just a few days of the consecration ceremony, carries forward the tempo of the Ram Mandir movement via state recognition of the senior ideologue who is responsible for transforming Indian politics through his Rath Yatra that shifted the Overton window and mainstreamed Hindutva as a political ideology.

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It was Advanis yatra, launched from Somnath Temple in Gujarat on 25 September, 1990, that mobilised the masses around the idea of Ram, reinforced Hindutvas centrality in Indian politics and paved BJPs way to power at the Centre. During the yatra, Advani travelled nearly 300 kms per day and held several roadside rallies before then chief minister Lalu Yadav arrested him in Bihar a month later. Advanis chariot didnt get to enter Ayodhya where he had vowed to do kar seva.

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By then, however, Advani had left an indelible mark and laid the foundation for BJPs stunning rise. His clarion call of  Mandir wahin banayenge  (the temple will be built on the site of Ram Janmabhoomi) fired up the imagination of a generation of Ram bhakts and triggered a movement that finally culminated in the Pran Pratishtha ceremony on 22 January, 2024. But for the Ram Mandir movement, the BJP wouldnt have scored a clear ideological victory over the Opposition and dictated the course of Indian politics.

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The wellspring of mass support and positivity generated by the return of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, that has galvanized the Hindu society and has perhaps given the BJP an edge over the Opposition in the upcoming elections, may now find another expression through the recognition bestowed on the man whom the prime minister acknowledged as having made unparalleled efforts towards furthering national unity and cultural resurgence.

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Third, the decision is also an astute political move since it addresses two key constituencies that are of interest to the BJP  social justice and Hindutva. Saturdays announcement must be seen in conjunction with the recent move to confer Bharat Ratna posthumously on socialist leader and former chief minister of Bihar Karpoori Thakur. Still considered as a jan nayak in Bihar, two-time chief minister Thakurs legacy remains strong, and his role to uplift the poor and marginalised, enable equitable representation for backward classes, inspired a generation of young leaders in Bihar such as Lalu and incumbent chief minister Nitish Kumar who has since abandoned the INDI Alliance fold and returned to the NDA. The Bharat Ratna to Advani, similarly, acknowledges the contribution of Advani to the cause of Hindutva.

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Fourth, the move is also an example of the fact that the BJP walks its talk of putting party above self-interests. The personality clash between Prime Minister Modi and his former mentor is not a secret. Despite their much-discussed differences, the fact that Modi heaped fulsome praise on the veteran leader, acknowledged his contribution to the party, nation and the cause of probity in public life, exemplified him as a leader who had unwavering commitment to transparency and integrity, matters to the karyakartas and the larger electorate sympathetic to the BJP.

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As author Vinay Sitapati writes in Indian Express, the contrast with Congress that has tried its utmost to bury the legacy of non-Gandhi leaders. He writes, Modis gesture to honour Advani despite their differences is very much part of this Hindutva Fevicol. It shows that Modi  like Advani  has internalised the importance of a public show of party unity. Others can learn from this gesture.

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Fifth, this is the least the BJP could have done to honour the ideologue who busted the myth that suppression of Hindu pride and civilisational heritage is a necessary condition for nation-building and set the course for Independent Indias biggest ideological triumph.

Call it cultural resurgence or Hindutva, Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya  where Advani vowed to build a glorious Ram Mandir at a time when it was politically suicidal and was met with ferocious hostility by the elite power centres in Delhi  was a signifier for Bharats nationhood that struggled to find expression under the yoke of pseudo-secularism.

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While the Ram Mandir movement established the BJP in the Hindi heartland, in reality, Advani achieved much, much more. He injected new belief among the Hindus, urged them to come out of somnambulism defeatism through his battle cry of garv se kahon hum Hindu hai (announce proudly that you are a Hindu) and instilled the lost realization that Hindus are a repository of a great civilisation and Sanatan Dharma, a faith that is pluralistic, inclusive and sees unity in diversity.

In overcoming that psyche of shame and silence  that one must practice faith in the inner recesses of privacy and curb all outward expressions or risk antagonizing the Nehruvian Idea of India  Advani laid the groundwork for a cultural resurgence.

If Hindus have recovered a semblance of their lost pride, if they have been able to reclaim a fraction of their buried, rewritten history and reconnected with their civilsational identity, then Lal Krishna Advani must get the lions share of the credit.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .
Recently, the pristine land of Ayodhya saw the Pran Pratishtha ceremony and the returning of Ram Lalla to the temple built at the historical site. While the event was rightfully celebrated by all, irrespective of faith and politics, it also led to many sharing the Preamble to the Indian Constitution on social media as a mark of protest to the injustice committed on the Indian soil. The possible connotations ranged from India subverting its Constitution to a nation polarised by communalism against a particular section of the society. This needs to be understood that neither the Preamble nor the Constitution exists in a vacuum, the progressive values embedded in the Constitution are themselves a culmination of thousands of years old tradition of learning and re-learning. The laws and the Constitution are meant for the people and not the vice versa. The truth and reconciliation within any society should always be supreme.

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The Gyanvapi Mosque-Kashi Vishwanath temple issue is another instance where we, as a society, need to move towards better sense and better communal harmony. In a pivotal development in the legal dispute over Varanasis Gyanvapi Masjid, a district court has granted permission for members of a family of priests to offer prayers in one of the cellars within the mosque complex. This particular cellar, known as Vyasji ka Tehkhana, was unsealed last night, and a puja ceremony took place around 3 am.

The Gyanvapi mosque, constructed in the 17th century, features four cellars, with Vyas ji ka Tehkhana being one of them. Situated in the southern area of the mosques fortified complex, it stands opposite a statue of the Nandi bull within the adjacent Kashi Vishwanath temple premises. The cellar, measuring about 7 feet in height and covering an area of 40 square feet, allegedly contains idols that were worshipped before its sealing in 1993, as claimed by petitioner Shailendra Pathak Vyas. The Muslim side refuted this assertion in court, stating that the petitioner failed to provide evidence of prayers being conducted there and denying the presence of any idol in the cellar.

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Following the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, Presidents Rule was imposed in the state, and the following year, a government led by Mulayam Singh Yadav assumed office. Citing concerns about law and order, Yadav prohibited prayers within the cellar temple. The petitioner contends that regular prayers were conducted by Somnath Vyas before the cellar was sealed.

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The mosque committee has expressed its intention to challenge the courts decision in the high court. Lawyer Akhlaq Ahmed asserted that the order overlooked the Advocate Commissioners 2022 report, the ASIs report, and a 1937 decision favouring their stance. He argued that the Hindu side failed to provide evidence of prayers before 1993 and that there is no idol in the designated place.

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Advocate Merajuddin Siddiqui accused district officials of colluding with the district magistrate, suggesting a political agenda. He drew parallels to the Babri Masjid case, claiming that the Commissioners and ASIs reports previously confirmed the absence of any contents inside the cellar.

While it requires nothing more than a pair of eyes to establish that a temple existed at the site where the structure of the mosque today stands, there is ample architectural and textual evidence to back up this claim as well.

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According to Yugeshwar Kaushal, a PhD scholar specialising in South Asian Studies, Maharaja Jayachandra erected an elaborate temple at the site following his coronation around 1170-89 AD. During Maharaja Jai Singh Is reign, Aurangzeb, motivated by religious zealotry, demolished the Kashi Vishweshwar temple in 1669. He then constructed the present-day Gyanvapi mosque on the remains, as stated by Kaushal.

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Subsequently, control of Varanasi shifted to the Nawabs of Awadh, who ensured that the disputed structure was never reconstructed as a temple. Later, control of Varanasi passed to the Nawabs of Awadh. Saadat Khan, the then Nawab of Awadh, appointed a Raja of Benaras and ensured that the disputed structure was never reconstructed as a temple. Subsequently, the British took control of Awadh from the Nawabs and maintained the status quo of the contested structure, explained historian Professor (Retd) RS Khangarot.

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The Varanasi courts recent request for a scientific investigation by the ASI, involving ground-penetrating radar surveys and excavation, faced a temporary pause from the Supreme Court. The ASI initiated the survey in August 2023, with several extensions granted for the final report.

One needs to look no further than the texts as primary as Maasir-i-Alamgiri, a Persian-language chronicle written shortly after Aurangzebs death in 1707. The ASI report refers to historian Jadunath Sarkars 1947 translation of the text. According to the Maasir-i-Alamgiri, His Majesty [Aurangzeb>, eager to establish Islam, issued orders to the governors of all the provinces to demolish the schools and temples of the infidels, and with the utmost urgency put down the teaching and the public practice of the religion of these disbelievers.

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The royal decree issued in Aurangzebs twelfth regnal year on April 9, 1669, resulted in the destruction of both the Vishwanath temple in Kashi and the Keshavdev temple in Mathura. Historian Sarkar interpreted this as part of Aurangzebs broader attack on Hinduism.

SAA Rizvi noted that Aurangzebs reign was marked by a gradual departure from Akbars policy of coexistence. In 1665, he imposed double customs duty on imports by Hindu traders compared to Muslims, and two years later, he entirely abolished customs duty for Muslims.

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In January 1669, the wedding of Prince Azam offered the Emperor a chance to show his orthodoxy by issuing innumerable puritanical ordinances, Rizvi wrote. A general order to demolish temples and Hindu centers of learning was issued. The celebrated Visvanatha Temple of Banaras and the Keshava Rai Temple of Mathura, which had been presented with a stone railing by Dara Shukoh, were reduced to ruins. This policy was implemented even in remote East Bengal, Palamau, Rajasthan, and later in the Deccan, he added.

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However, historian Richard Eaton argued that the 1669 decree was not a general order for the immediate destruction of all temples but rather targeted at those institutions where a certain kind of teaching had been taking place. Eaton pointed to a line from the Maasir-i-Alamgiri stating that Aurangzeb had learned that in certain places, and especially at Benares, the Brahman disbelievers used to teach their false books in their established schools, and that admirers and students, both Hindu and Muslim, used to come from great distances to these misguided men.

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Historian Satish Chandra observed that Aurangzeb began to look upon temples as centres of spreading subversive ideas, that is, ideas which were not acceptable to the orthodox elements.

Even historian Audrey Truschke, known for whitewashing Aurangzeb, could not completely gloss over his acts of desecrating temples. She states, Aurangzeb brought down the bulk of Benares Vishvanatha Temple in 1669. The temple, constructed during Akbars reign by Raja Man Singh, whose great-grandson, Jai Singh, was believed by many to have assisted Shivaji in fleeing from the Mughal court in 1666.

Chandra concurred: In case of conflict with local elements, he (Aurangzeb) now considered it legitimate to destroy even long-standing Hindu temples as a measure of punishment and as a warning.

As can be inferred, the temples in Benares, and elsewhere, were also centres of learning and education benefiting both Hindus and Muslims, which a religious zealot like Aurangzeb could not fathom.

The pressing need of the moment is truth and reconciliation regarding the Gyanvapi Mosque-Kashi Vishwanath Mandir complex. This historical rift requires sincere closure and healing, aiming to prevent future generations of India from enduring inter-community tensions. In this profound civilisational matter, there exists an opportunity for peace and justice-seeking Indians to address issues that have a generational impact on the collective consciousness of entire communities. One needs a comprehensive understanding of the issue, encompassing its origins, complex history, legal avenues, and potential paths forward. Let us hope the children of mother India liberate themselves from the shackles of history, reconcile their challenging past, and forge a remarkable future where they can lead the new world order.

The writer takes special interest in history, culture and geopolitics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .
Ravi Venkatesan is a business leader, author, and social entrepreneur. He is the chairman of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) and founder of the Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (GAME). He is also UNICEFs Special Representative for Young People and Innovation and serves on the Boards of the Rockefeller Foundation and Hitachi Ltd.

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Ravi Venkatesan has previously also served as The Chairman of Microsoft India, Bank of Baroda and Cummins India, and Co-Chairman of Infosys Limited. He has a B Tech from IIT Bombay, an MS from Purdue University and an MBA from Harvard Business School and is the author of two bestselling books, What The Heck Do I Do With My Life: How To Flourish in Our Turbulent Times and Conquering the Chaos: Win in India, Win Everywhere. Ravi Venkatesan has been voted as one of Indias best management thinkers by Thinkers50 and Microsofts Alumni Hero 2020.

Ashutosh Kumar Thakur, a Bangalore-based management professional and literary critic, speaks with Ravi Venkatesan about his latest book What The Heck Do I Do With My Life? How To Flourish In Our Turbulent Times, published by Rupa.

Your books title is quite fascinating. Could you start by sharing the inspiration behind the title and what it signifies in the wider context of your book?

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The title of my book is What The Heck Do I Do With My Life and the reason I chose this title was because I think were living in an extraordinary time. If you see what is happening over the last 10-20 years, we are seeing an extraordinary amount of change and an acceleration of everything, and some people hope that this is just temporary and the world will go back to a more predictable, stable sort of period. But that does not appear to be the case. If anything, were going to see even more change, even more turbulence, even more acceleration. And you know I write in my book that the world is going to change more in this century in these 100 years than in all human history, the last 10 thousand years and there are reasons for this which I talk about in the book. There are many forces which are causing this and the forces include technology and innovation. The forces include climate change and what we are doing to the environment. The forces include extreme polarization of views. You see that in our own country, but you see this in every country and globally and all these factors are working together to create extreme change. And the problem is human beings, and the human mind is not designed to handle so much change and our brains are designed to process linear change. What were seeing today is exponential change. Right, you see what has happened just in the last few years we had COVID, the first pandemic in 100 years.

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You see wars happening in many parts of the world simultaneously. You see this breakthrough in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and what that is and what that is going to mean for every person. Its going to profoundly change our lives, the way we work etc and most human beings. We struggle to adapt to so much change and when you struggle to adapt, the consequences can be very catastrophic, which is why the cover of my book has a small dinosaur in it. And the reason I put the dinosaur is if you remember 65 million years ago when things changed very suddenly.

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Animals were unable to adapt and most of them 95 percent of them became extinct, including the dinosaurs. And so, the risk today is with so much change. Many of us will struggle, we will get hurt and I didnt want that to happen. Therefore I find more and more people saying. Look, how do I make sense of whats going on? What do I do with my life? There is no predictability, or stability anywhere, so how do I navigate these times? And so thats why I picked the book. This was the title here. The title was only a working title I was supposed to, but then I found everybody liked it, so we stayed with it superior.

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With your book, you address the challenge of finding ones purpose in the extraordinary time we live in todays turbulent world. What led you to explore such an existential matter so deeply and with objectivity?

Yeah, so thats another good question. When things are changing so fast all around you then all of us need some anchors. Thatll hold us. So, if you think about a river which is flowing extremely fast. Then for you to not be swept away by the water you need to hold on to something. So, the question is what do we hold on to when things are changing so fast all around us? And I said there are two or three things. One is your closest friends and family, they are anchors, and they will hold you. You saw that during COVID when there was no support, there were no hospital beds, no oxygen, no medicine, nothing. We all came to each others rescue Okay. So, your closest friends and family are one anchor. Another one is your own beliefs, including your own religious or spiritual belief which keeps you strong. And the third one is a sense of purpose. If you have a clear view of why I am here, what am I supposed to do with this life? Then even though there is a lot of fluidity around you, you can stay focused, stay concentrated and be steady. This is why I say knowing or finding some purpose for your life is so important. It was always important, but it is incredibly important when things are changing so much.

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You have had a highly diverse career including leadership roles in both the corporate and social sectors. How has your own experience influenced the rich insights and ideas you share in your book?

See it was very difficult to write this book because how do you answer this question? What do I do with my life when each persons life is so unique? Okay your life, your circumstances, who you are so different from me? How do I do this? Number two, nobody wants Gyan okay. So, nobody wants a book which is preachy and tells you so I said. Look, the only thing I can do is reflect on my own experiences, how I have learned and grown, what mistakes have made, what has challenged me, what has enabled me to be somewhat successful and let me be authentic in putting down those things. And I felt if I simply am open about these things from my own life and experience, some of it may resonate with the reader. And then they can take away what they want.

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So, like the blind man and the elephant each one will feel some different part of somebody, each person will take away something from this that will be useful. So thats how I brought my whole life and experience. And into the book.

Absolutely! My next question about the book is related to the importance of adaptivity and resilience. Could you explain why these qualities are essential for individuals navigating the uncertainties of the modern world?

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Yeah, look as I said, you know during this period of the century theres going to be so much change so many shocks which we cant even predict or imagine who would have predicted COVID. You can be living in a nice city like Bangalore and suddenly something can happen. For instance, weve seen floods in Chennai, and weve seen floods in Bangalore. Were going to see more and more extreme weather events as the planet heats up. Suddenly, a peaceful place could be engulfed by war, so the poor people of Ukraine were going along fine. Nobody would have imagined that they would be at war with Russia and all their cities, their lives, everybody, everything would be destroyed, and this can happen in any place. For instance, after Trump lost the election on 6 January, 2021. I think there was a mob that attacked the US Capitol who would have believed such a thing as possible. So, were going to see more and more shocks, more and more challenges. You can be in a good job working for a good company like Google. Suddenly you could lose your job because theres a reorganization. They eliminated your job. Whatever AI is going to have untold consequences, so the point is that you cant predict these things. What you need to develop is the ability to deal with such shocks, and deal with such change.

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This is the quality of resilience and then to adapt to the new circumstances and find a way to be successful. So, if you saw again during COVID-19, some people came out of COVID-19 strong. Other people had huge distress and mental health problems of economic hardship, Okay. So, they were unable to adapt to this shock. So, this is why these two qualities are so crucial. And in the book, I talk a lot about how you develop that.

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In your book, you mentioned the concept of intentional living. What does this term mean, and how can readers apply it to their lives?

Intentional Living, which means that dont just go through, dont just sleep, walk through life, but think hard about the choices you make. For instance, I say to be intentional about who you spend time with. People dont realise that who you hang out with your friends, colleagues, family, whatever profoundly influences how you think and how you act. So, it shouldnt be an accident that you hang out with these people, it should be a choice. This is in our religion. In Hinduism, theres this idea called Satsang. Satsang means you hang out with good people because that will influence you also. Become that sort of a person, so be intentional about that.

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Today you cant trust even people in positions of power and authority. So, you look at many of the leaders around the world, so-called leaders, and they tell complete lies. So, if you dont apply your mind to say, look, is this person whos telling the truth? Okay, and therefore, should I believe and trust him or her, you can end up in a very wrong place. So, for instance, a good example of this which is non-controversial is former President Trump in the US. He blatantly tells lies Oka, which are proven to be lies again and again and again, but one-third of the US are diehard supporters and followers of Trump. No matter what he says or does they follow.

Hes going to take them down the wrong path. So, like that. I say, be careful about who you trust and who you believe. Where do you live? Where you live has a profound impact on what happens to your life. So, you decided to come live in Bangalore. So have I, and that has certain consequences. If you go live somewhere else, thatll play out differently. So, you have to be intentional about these things and not just drift around by accident.

One of the key themes in your book is the idea of finding your North Star. Could you elaborate on this concept and provide some variance on how readers can discover their North path? It can be very helpful for young minds especially.

Yeah, this goes back to an earlier question. You ask about purpose. What does North Star not star mean? It is something that stays fixed in the sky. Okay, and you can use it to navigate then. This is how sailors 1,000 years ago used to sail their ships. They used to look at the North Star and they knew that was North. So, like that. What is the fixed direction in your life, that is your purpose? Its very important to live your life with purpose. And again, for that, Id say go read the book or see some of my videos. But the challenge is. How do you find your purpose? Okay.

Its not obvious tea care, so somebody is born. They know theres going to be a writer right from an early age. Theyre clear they have to be a writer. Somebody else is very clear right from the early days. Theyre going to be a doctor or a musician. Okay. Bill Gates knew when he was five that he had to write software, but these are exceptions. This is true for maybe five per cent of the population, but the rest of us the 95 per cent. Finding your Northam or purpose or direction is a process of trial and error, trial and error. You try something and then you say no, but I learned something, but its not this. You try something else, and you must experiment your way to finding your purpose. So, in my life, for instance. I spent the first 45 years working for two companies. The second was Microsoft. After that, I began to do many, many, many different things which I write about in my book. Theyre like Gandhis experiments with truth. I intentionally tried this, tried that many things worked, and many things didnt work. But out of that, it became clear that I am here largely to try and make the world a little bit more beautiful through the unique gifts that I have been given. Okay. So, for each of us, God has given us unique gifts. Okay whatever that is, that is your talent, your experiences, your network whatever and we must figure out how to put this to use to make the world better. So, in any case, you cannot sit at a desk and speak. Oh, what is my North Starr? What is my purpose? You must experiment your way.

Your book discusses the importance of lifelong learning. What are some practical steps that individuals can take to continue learning and growing throughout their lives?

Yeah, the big challenge I see is people who finish school or finish college, they say Bus ho Gaya (Its Over) okay. That means Ive arrived, and they think this is the end of learning. Okay, the problem today is things are changing so fast. What you know today is obsolete in five years in a little more time, itll be obsolete in three years, so you have to constantly reinvent yourself, learn new things, and acquire new skills and if you dont do that, youre going to get left behind very badly. So thats why I say learning is lifelong and particularly because, as we all know, people are generally now living much longer, you know, human. The life expectancy in India used to be 70 years now. Its probably north of eight years, at least for middle-class Indians. Okay, we all know people who are living to 95. So, if youre going to live to 95, then you have to be engaged and productive till youre at least 80. So, you have to continue to learn new things. And so, the trick is to remain curious and have an open mind. Okay! And so okay now that last year there was a lot of fuss with AI. About a year ago, chat GPT first showed up. It doesnt matter how old you are. You could be 16 or you could be 75.

When something new comes, its good to go and show some curiosity and say what is this chat? Chat GPT, let me try it, let me use it. Let me see how I can. You take advantage of this. Something is happening in Gaza. Okay, you cant say this doesnt concern me. You should have curiosity. Why is there this conflict in Gaza? Know you should show interest in what is happening. Okay. So, you have to cultivate this quality. The beautiful thing is we all have this quality of curiosity. And in learning when youre a child, you see every baby. Every young person is intensely curious about the world. You want to taste everything, you want to touch everything, you want to break everything. And that curiosity dies over time. For a lot of us, all you have to do is go back to being a child. I like your city, theres a proper term for something exactly. Thats exactly what we have to discover.

In your opinion, whats the role of mentors and role models in helping individuals discover their purpose and flourish in interment times?

So, this idea of a mentor is extremely important. You know, when I look at my own life of 60 years now, I can say right from childhood there was somebody whos like an angel Farishta! You know, who comes into your life and shows you the way? Particularly when youre in a difficult situation, theyre able to give you confidence, theyre able to show you your way, theyre able to open a door that was closed for me. It was some of my teachers growing up. Then over time some of them were among your senior people in the company where I worked. Sometimes it was just some great leader like Narayana Murthy or someone like that. And they were profoundly important and influential in how I began to think about things. Or you know, having opportunities open to me and youre very grateful for that. So, I think its very important to seek out such mentors. Recently I posted a video on LinkedIn which talked about how to find mentors. And then theyre all around and its important, very crucial.

What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to find their person or purpose in life?

Yeah, the first thing I would say to this person is look your situation is not unusual. Its normal. Okay, we all go through points in our lives where we struggle to find inspiration. You struggle to find passion. Okay, Ive been through this multiple times in my life so dont feel bad. Thats the nature of the journey of our life. When you reach that point, what is important to do is again do a lot of micro experiments, which is you try many things, supposing you enter a room where there are ten doors, all of which are locked or closed. Yeah, okay, and you dont know which is the way out. What do you do? You try each door and suddenly one of them opens and you go there like that when youre in this position when you dont like anything. Nothing seems to be working. You have to not give up hope, but at that moment try pushing on different doors and see which one opens because one of them will open.

Can you share your upcoming projects or initiatives related to the themes explored in your book?

Im glad you asked that question. Ive recently started work on my next book. Hopefully, Ill be able to get out in 2024 and its about AI. How can you succeed in AI? First World, okay? Will AI take my job? What can I do to prepare to reduce the risk of AI being made obsolete by AI? So thats my next project.

Excellent project indeed. Something well-timed and relevant. Finally, what do you hope the readers will take away from the What The Heck Do I Do With My Life after reading it.

I sincerely hope that every reader finds at least two or three things that they can apply to their life. Many tens of thousands have bought the book and read it, and many more, probably a million people have seen my videos, including the famous one on happiness. And the feedback is Wow. Im so glad that you also went through this. Now, we all think our lives, our challenges, our struggles, and our failures are unique. Okay, its not. So, I think I just hope readers feel reassured. I hope readers will find clarity in their own lives and find two or three practical useful things that they can apply.

The interviewer is a Bengaluru-based management professional and literary critic. He can be reached at ashutoshbthakur@gmail.com. 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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Geopolitically, India needs the Maldives in its new symbiotic bonding, also because that makes sense to ensure security to India

The Maldives overture towards China for a new identity seems like a miscalculated hara-kiri it has inflicted upon itself. The move, refusing support from India and seeking the same from China, undermines its double-fronted foreign policy concerning India. India needs to help the country correct its miscalculations in geopolitics.

The world should consider two clear aspects in the Maldivian moves: First, it is possible that, like Pakistan, it will procure weapons from China for potential use against India, ostensibly to reduce the Indian influence it complains about. Second, it may evolve into a base for transnational terrorism, similar to Pakistan, potentially reinforcing Chinese anti-India rhetoric. Maldives has already obtained military drones from Turkiye, citing the need to monitor its coastal skies. The next destination for the Maldivian president is likely to be Pakistan.

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By behaving in this manner, Maldives aligns with the Chinese structural realist plan, which aims to encircle India in the Indian hinterland. Simultaneously, it boosts the morale of Pakistani terrorists, currently invisible on the scene. Although Pakistan is now off the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, with Indias consent, it may adopt a low-profile policy for some time, apart from occasional anti-India rhetoric.

Historically, India has consistently supported Maldives in various aspects, from national development to security and economy. India has provided assistance ranging from daily necessities to education, security, and healthcare, including the supply of COVID-19 vaccines. Despite Indias significant soft power contributions, the recent shift in Maldivian preferences towards communal alliances is evident.

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India has always nurtured a symbiotic relationship with the Maldives for economic development and progress. India has never dominated but worked collaboratively, offering technological know-how and training personnel instead of imposing loans. India prioritises participatory exchanges over military-shadowed soft power tools, fostering neo-symbiotic relations.

At a mid-January meeting on the sidelines of the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) in Kampala, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar assured the Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer of the continuation of development projects despite dissent. Indias symbiosis with the Maldives, rooted deeply beyond soft power tools, should withstand the temporary shift in leadership. Indias quest for symbiosis should focus on ruling out terror and ensuring the Maldivian people maintain their dignity and cooperation with India.

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As a secular democratic Republic, India remains committed to supporting the Maldives in its developmental strides through policies like Development Participation, prioritizing the island nation as part of its neighbourhood first approach. All these efforts reflect Indias use of soft power foreign policy tools.

Is Indias soft power losing its strength?

The common ground of anti-India diatribe in Sino-Pak foreign policy has currently embraced Maldives as well. Indias soft power seems to have taken a back seat in the behavioural pattern of the Maldivian policy towards India. This has prompted an afterthought about the efficacies of soft power. Can soft power indeed be equally effective in the post-Cold War era, which worked during the fag-end of the Cold War?

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There are examples of the inefficacies of soft power. Between 1991 and 2005, the world witnessed over 3,238 wars between states, mostly neighbours, over territories. The people-to-people contact and other soft power tools, shadowed by military might, have been at work among these neighbours. The wars took place, albeit all these tools were in place. Soft power proved too soft to stop individual aspiration and communal machination, as exemplified by the policies of Turkiye and Pakistan.

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Despite established intolerance against the communal behaviour of the Uyghur Muslims, China joins the axis only to up its ante against India. The countries that play the Muslim card in international relations ignore the Chinese genocide of the Uyghurs, only to build up a communal axis against India.

China joins them to posit its border claims, a policy move by crook. No amount of soft power could stop China as yet. The Chinese policies about the Uyghurs, who are the second-largest Muslim ethnicity in China, after the Hui, and Sunni Islam being their identity, do not dampen Pakistani and Turkic enthusiasm about China because they have to target India.

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However, as for India, it is for internal assessment to examine what exactly went wrong in the relations with Maldives. India needs to look into its own style of functioning to ensure new symbiotic realistic relations with a partner state so that Maldivian experiences do not recur.

Geopolitically, India needs the Maldives in its new symbiotic bonding, also because that makes sense to ensure security to India. The island state is geographically close to India, about 70 nautical miles off Minicoy in Lakshadweep. The island state is 300 nautical miles away from the Western Coast of India. All this aside, the Maldives is situated on the sea lane of communication of India for entering the Indian Ocean. Allowing it to fall into the Chinese structural trap is a security concern for India, as long as China continues its make-belief claims over Indian territories.

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The writer is an Academic Counsellor, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi. Formerly Senior Consultant (Media), VCO, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Former Editor on Desk The Times of India, New Delhi. He is available for contact at smahalanobis2008@gmail.com. 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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Indias evolving role in the Non-Aligned Movement and its strategic choices at the recent Kampala Summit underscores the challenges and changing dynamics within the organisation

Indias championing of the Global South at the G20, including the induction of the African Union as a member, brought forth the salience of existing institutions in the Global South. One of these is the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). India, though a founder of this movement, has been distancing itself due to the maverick nature of some recent chairmen.

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The External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, represented India at the NAM summit in Kampala, Uganda, fulfilling a promise he had made during his visit to Uganda in April 2023. Besides him, Minister of State RR Singh led the Indian delegation at the ministerial segment. Another Minister of State, V Murleedharan, participated in the meeting of the G77 that followed. Jaishankar could not participate in the G77 meeting as he was committed to a joint commission meeting in Nigeria, where he met with the new leadership.

In some ways, the participation of the EAM is, protocol-wise, the lowest since 2012. That was the last time an Indian prime minister attended a NAM summit when Manmohan Singh went to Iran. In 2016, the summit in Venezuela saw India represented by then vice president Hamid Ansari. In 2019, the chairmanship shifted to Azerbaijan, and India was again represented by then vice president, Venkaiah Naidu. Although the EAM ranks lower in protocol than the vice president, his persona and stature reflect Indias current standing in the Global South more accurately.

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Domestic compulsions made it impossible for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to go, but Modi has never participated in a NAM summit since 2014. Before that, Indian prime ministers always attended NAM summits, except Chaudhary Charan Singh in 1979.

When Cuba assumed the chair of NAM in 1979, eyebrows were raised. India was then requested to take up the chair in 1983 instead of Iraq, which was at war. This move restored the prestige of NAM for several years.

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Since the summit is held once every three years, the sequence of chairs from Iran, Venezuela, to Azerbaijan shows a lack of willingness among major countries to chair NAM. Recent chairs were not mainstream countries that added stature to the movement; instead, they were countries seeking sustenance from the chairmanship.

In Uganda, there is a mix of several factors, but the level of participation and engagement remains largely the same. NAM has 120 members, 20 observers, and 10 international organizations in attendance. It is the largest gathering of countries outside the UN. This marks the seventh time that NAM is hosted in Africa. Egypt hosted twice, and five others have now hosted. Among the previous chairs, South Africa and Zimbabwe had presidents, Algeria at the level of the prime minister, Egypt with the foreign minister, and Zambia through its defence minister. This lacks a pattern of commitment from past African chairs.

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For Uganda, this was the largest diplomatic event since hosting the Commonwealth Summit in 2007. Presently, Uganda is in the crosshairs of Western countries due to its overt anti-gay laws. The summit was held at the Speke Resort Munyonyo on the banks of Lake Victoria. The theme of the summit is Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence. Uganda will hold the leadership until 2027.

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South Asia, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Maldives were all represented by foreign ministers. The Sri Lankan president and the prime minister of Nepal attended. Among the BRICS members, the South African President participated, Brazil as an observer, and China and Russia, though not NAM members, sent senior delegates. Among the new BRICS members, Iran had its first vice president, Ethiopia its prime minister, Egypt its foreign minister, Saudi Arabia its deputy FM, and the UAE its Minister of State.

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Between the last summit in Azerbaijan and now, two major crises emerged in Ukraine and Gaza. Gaza, in particular, adds a new dimension to NAM, as all countries are united in their condemnation of Israel and support for a Palestinian state, including its admission to the United Nations. NAM received full support from the UN Secretary-Generals statement and the chair of the African Union Commission. This was not a summit without a conflict to coalesce around. The Kampala Declarations condemnation of Israel and its activities in Gaza is vehement. Ukraine was deftly avoided because it is part of the big power rivalry with which NAM does not want to get involved again.

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Important issues, like the reform of the multilateral system, including the UN Security Council, and international financial institutions, were discussed. They largely followed the lead provided by the G20 Leaders Declaration because consensus on that already exists. The Kampala Declaration also sought the implementation of the SDGs, food security, dealing with pandemics, terrorism, and the like. The current emphasis on each of them differs because of circumstances, but the issues are consistent in the NAM agenda.

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How much will NAM influence international politics for now and attain the outcomes it desires? Most of the declaration is a reiteration of known positions, even on the Gaza issue. NAM members voted in their own ways in the UNGA. It is unlikely that the declaration is going to make a big difference to individual positions that countries adopt or their engagement with the big powers and China.

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The cohesive demand and voice are clear. India utilized the voice of the Global South, but it had the G20 Summit as a process to articulate those priorities. Where will NAM now place these priorities? Cohesion is often missing when negotiating at the UN, at the WTO, at the Climate Change Conference, and the like.

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The fact that out of 120 countries, only 90 participated, with 30 sending high-level delegations, perhaps speaks for itself. NAM summits are losing their lustre. Like India, many countries are not attending at high levels. Wouldnt it be better for them to start working at the ministerial level and become more functional and cohesive?

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The writer is a former ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia, ASEAN and the African Union. He tweets @AmbGurjitSingh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._

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The Rohingya are persecuted in their mostly Buddhist country of Myanmar; many of them escape to wealthy Malaysia, where Muslims predominate, or to camps for refugees in Bangladesh

Following 131 migrants from Myanmar breaking out of their detention camp, Malaysian police have recovered more than 40 weary and hungry Rohingya refugees, a senior police officer said on Sunday.

Before fleeing the Bidor temporary immigration camp in northern Perak state on Thursday, 115 Rohingya refugees and 16 other peopleall of whom were menrioted in their holding facility.

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The Rohingya are persecuted in their mostly Buddhist country of Myanmar; many of them escape to wealthy Malaysia, where Muslims predominate, or to camps for refugees in Bangladesh.

They sometimes have to undergo terrifying, protracted sea voyages in order to reach Malaysia by boat or enter the nation covertly over its porous border with Thailand.

If caught, they are usually sent to detention centres that rights groups say are typically overcrowded and filthy.

One Rohingya man was confirmed killed on Thursday in a road accident as he tried crossing a highway in darkness.

The 41 Rohingya men were rearrested at a palm oil estate and in the forest surrounding the nearby towns of Tapah and Bidor after a public tip-off, Perak police chief Mohamad Yusri Hassan Basri told AFP.

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We believe many more are hiding in the forest, he said, adding that all those arrested were hungry and exhausted.

Yusri said 136 police and immigration officers are combing the forest, rivers and villages for the escapees from the latest breakout.

This is the second time in two years that such a breakout has occurred.

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In 2022, 528 Rohingya refugees escaped from detention in northern Penang state.

Six were killed while trying to cross a highway, and hundreds of others were rearrested.

Recent months have seen a surge in ethnic Rohingya fleeing Myanmar, with the United Nations recording 1,752 such refugees  mostly women and children  arriving in Indonesia from mid-November to late January.

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The agency said it was the biggest influx into the Muslim-majority country since 2015.

More than 3,500 Rohingya are believed to have attempted the risky journey to Southeast Asian countries in 2022, it said.

Nearly 1,000 Rohingya have died or gone missing since the start of 2022 while attempting the hazardous sea crossings, the agency estimates.

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In Malaysia, more than 100,000 Rohingya live on the margins of society, with many working illegally in construction and other low-paid jobs.
According to Albanese, the administration sought to ensure that all financing was going to the purpose for which it is given and that the claims were fully examined

After Australia stopped financing the UN agency last month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia announced on Sunday that his government was looking into allegations that some UNRWA employees were engaged in the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7.

Australia is one of many nations that have discontinued financing for UNRWA, a crucial source of help in Gaza, amid Israeli charges of UN staff collaboration with Hamas.

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Were examining it, along with other like-minded countries like Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. We want that to be resolved, Albanese told the Australian Broadcasting Corp regarding the allegations, according to a transcript.

According to Albanese, the administration sought to ensure that all financing was going to the purpose for which it is given and that the claims were fully examined.

The prime minister continued by saying that UNRWA was the only organisation that can provide that support there and that he did not want people in Gaza to be literally starving.

Along with the US, Australia, and Canada, the UK, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Finland also halted financing to the relief organisation at the end of last month.

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According to the agency, it has cut links with numerous workers and initiated an inquiry against them.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in January described UNRWA as the backbone of all humanitarian response in Gaza and has appealed to all countries to guarantee the continuity of UNRWAs lifesaving work.

The agency, whose biggest donors in 2022 included the U.S., Germany and the European Union, has repeatedly said its capacity to render humanitarian assistance to people in Gaza is on the verge of collapse.
In a 2022 research, the Australia Institute think group stated that the lack of an efficiency requirement was costing the country billions of dollars in fuel and that automobiles were 30% more polluting than vehicles in the United States

Australia announced plans on Sunday to impose strict fuel economy requirements, mirroring long-standing laws in other modern nations, in an effort to get high-polluting petrol guzzlers off the road.

Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen said that a New Vehicle Efficiency Standard will be implemented by 2025, putting an end to decades of policy delays and discussion.

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The United States has had a similar policy in place for fifty years, Bowen said. Australia still stands alongside Russia as one of the only advanced economies without the Standard.

This is costing families and businesses thousands of dollars at the petrol pump, he said.

Australia presently does not have any obligatory fuel economy criteria for new automobiles.

In a 2022 research, the Australia Institute think group stated that the lack of an efficiency requirement was costing the country billions of dollars in fuel and that automobiles were 30% more polluting than vehicles in the United States.

Advocates have accused climate-sceptic administrations, as well as pressure by oil refiners and vehicle dealerships, for continually stifling reform efforts.

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By giving Australians better choice of cleaner, cheaper-to-run cars, a strong fuel efficiency standard will cut household costs and clean up our air, said Amanda McKenzie, chief executive of the Australian environmental lobby group the Climate Council.

They hope the new fuel standard will make petrol vehicles more efficient but also catalyse slow sales of electric vehicles.

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According to International Energy Agency data, 33,000 electric vehicles were sold in Australia in 2022. That compares to 73,000 in the Netherlands, which has about eight million fewer people.

Australia also has a few thousand electric car charging points, a small fraction of the number in the United States or Europe.

Opponents have alleged the reforms will make it more difficult for Australians to buy large 4x4s or Utes that are needed on farms  threatening a way of life in the countrys rugged Outback.

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Australia is one of the worlds largest producers and exporters of gas and coal, two key fossil fuels that are blamed for global heating.

The incumbent centre-left government has vowed to cut carbon emissions by 43 percent before 2030, when compared to 2005 levels.
After conducting a thorough investigation and collecting intelligence, Satendra Siwal was called to the ATS Field Unit in Meerut to be questioned. He allegedly gave unsatisfactory replies to questions before eventually confessing to his involvement in espionage

According to the ministry of external affairs, Satendra Siwal, an employee of the Indian Embassy in Moscow, was detained for allegedly spying for the ISI, Pakistans intelligence organization.

The MEA said in a statement that the ministry is cooperating with the investigating authorities on the case. Siwal, a resident of the Shahmahiuddinpur hamlet in Hapur, was taken into custody by the Uttar Pradesh Polices Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in Lucknow.

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MEA is aware of the arrest of Satendra Siwal in Uttar Pradesh, who was posted as Security Assistant in Embassy of India, Moscow. MEA continues to work with the investigative authorities in the matter, the MEA statement read.

According to the ATS, Satendra Siwal shared sensitive information with his ISI handlers and engaged in anti-Indian activities.

The ATS was receiving intelligence from various confidential sources that the handlers of the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI, through some persons, were luring the employees of the Ministry of External Affairs with money to obtain strategically and strategically important information related to the Indian Army that is likely to pose a huge threat to the internal and external security of India, the ATS said in a statement.

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After conducting a thorough investigation and collecting intelligence, Satendra Siwal was called to the ATS Field Unit in Meerut to be questioned. He allegedly gave unsatisfactory replies to questions before eventually confessing to his involvement in espionage. Since 2021, Satendra Siwal has been employed by the Indian Embassy in Moscow as an India Based Security Assistant (IBSA).

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Sections of the Official Secrets Act and the charge of waging war against the nation have given rise to a formal complaint against Siwal.
Aliyev described the triumph as an epochal event unparalleled in Azerbaijans history and announced last month that the country will hold presidential elections on all of its territory for the first time

Azerbaijan will conduct swift leadership elections on Wednesday, with President Ilham Aliyev expected to win a fifth term on a wave of popularity fueled by his armys crushing victory against Armenian rebels.

The strongman was praised after his army reclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenian separatists who had held the province for three decades.

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Aliyev described the triumph as an epochal event unparalleled in Azerbaijans history and announced last month that the country will hold presidential elections on all of its territory for the first time.

The elections will mark the beginning of a new era for the country, he said.

During the lightning operation, the entire ethnic-Armenian population of around 100,000 individuals fled to Armenia.

Aliyev responded to Western criticism with harsh words, and last October he cancelled peace negotiations with Armenia that were scheduled to be attended by German and French leaders.

He accused France of adding fuel to the fire in the volatile Caucasus region by pursuing anti-Azerbaijani policy on Thursday.

He also threatened to resign from the European Court of Human Rights, the Council of Europes rights watchdog, for refusing to invite its observers to oversee Wednesdays elections.

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The main opposition parties in the oil-rich nation are boycotting the poll, which Aliyev announced a year ahead of schedule.

There are no conditions in the country for the conduct of free and fair elections, said Ali Kerimli, leader of the opposition National Front party.

Supporters have praised Aliyev for turning a republic once thought of as a Soviet backwater into a flourishing energy supplier to Europe.

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Exercise in futility

But critics say he has crushed the opposition and suffocated independent media.

All fundamental rights are being violated in the country, opposition parties cant function normally, freedom of assembly is restricted, media are under government pressure, and political dissent is being suppressed, Kerimli said.

Independent analyst Najmin Kamilsoy said the electoral climate in Azerbaijan was marked by a colossal asymmetry in favour of Aliyev, coupled with the elimination of all potential opponents by repressions.

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There is a total absence of competition  a sustained standstill, he said.

In recent months, Azerbaijani authorities intensified a crackdown on independent media, arresting several critical journalists who have exposed graft at high levels.

The intention is very clear. They do not want opposition voices, said Giorgi Gogia, the Human Rights Watch associate director for the Caucasus.

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He called the coming elections an exercise in futility with a predictable outcome since there isnt a legitimate or viable opposition challenge to President Aliyevs leadership.

Aliyev, 62, was first elected president in 2003 after the death of his father Heydar Aliyev, a former KGB officer and communist-era leader who had ruled Azerbaijan since 1993.

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He was re-elected in 2008, 2013, and 2018 in elections that were denounced by opposition parties as rigged.

In 2009, Aliyev amended the countrys constitution so he could run for an unlimited number of presidential terms, a move criticised by rights advocates who say he could become a president for life.

In 2016, Azerbaijan adopted controversial constitutional amendments that extended the presidents term in office to seven years from five.

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Cementing his familys decades-long grip on power, the president has appointed his wife Mehriban Aliyeva as first vice president.

Polls monitored by observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) open at 0400 GMT.

Preliminary results are expected to be released several hours after voting ends at 1500 GMT.
The trials concept was put out by Dr. Tony Dhillon, a consultant medical oncologist at the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust. For the past four years, he has collaborated with Professor Tim Price in Australia to create the vaccine

Following a UK-Australian partnership between scientists and medics, a British Indian doctor is the chief investigator of a ground-breaking trial of a vaccine to treat early bowel cancer for patients globally.

The trials concept was put out by Dr. Tony Dhillon, a consultant medical oncologist at the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust. For the past four years, he has collaborated with Professor Tim Price in Australia to create the vaccine.

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The Cancer Research UK Southampton Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Southampton, in partnership with Royal Surrey and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide, Australia, will conduct the recently announced trial.

This is the first treatment vaccine in any gastrointestinal cancer and we have high hopes that it will be very successful. We think that for a lot of patients, the cancer will have gone completely after this treatment, Dr Dhillon told the media.

This is ground-breaking. I feel as if we are on the edge of something really big here. The vaccine makes the immune system go after the cancer. It will be life-changing because it means that potentially, patients may not need to have surgery  they may just have the vaccine, he added.

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Ten patient enrollment sitessix in Australia and four in the UKwill accommodate 44 participants over the course of the 18-month trial.

In the hopes that the vaccination may trigger the body to fight the malignancy, patients will receive treatment prior to surgery. Any operation would then be less intrusive as a result. Additionally, it is hoped that the vaccines potency will help the immune system react in the event of a relapse and subsequent cancer return.

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Following an endoscopy, patients eligibility for the experiment will be determined by testing a tissue sample. If so, they will receive three vaccination doses prior to undergoing surgery to remove the cancer.

Just 44 participants worldwide will be permitted to participate in the trial. The vaccine will either receive a license for usage following the trials conclusion, or if it proves successful, a larger investigation will be conducted.

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Colorectal cancer, another name for bowel cancer, is the third most frequent type of cancer in the world, accounting for roughly 1.2 million cases annually, with a 50% fatality rate.

Imugene Ltd., a clinical-stage immuno-oncology business, created the vaccine.

(With agency inputs)
14 BGP members reportedly crossed the border through the Ghumdhum border in the early hours of the morning, according to officials. A BGB spokeswoman in Dhaka then ordered media to wait for a media briefing on the development

In response to reports of intense gunfights between government forces and rebel resistance fighters, at least 58 members of Myanmars paramilitary Border Guard Police (BGP) fled the junta-run nation and sought refuge in Bangladesh, officials announced here on Sunday.

Early on Sunday morning, the soldiers crossed the Tambru border and sought refuge with the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB).

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The official, who preferred anonymity, said the paramilitary soldiers were kept under their counterpart Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) custody in southeastern Coxs Bazar bordering Myanmars Rakhine state while the weapons they carried were deposited in BGB cache.

The official said many of the soldiers came to Bangladesh territory in combat uniforms and weapons while others were in their plainclothes leaving their arms back home.

The BGB informed the development to their Myanmar counterparts, said the official.

Dhaka, meanwhile, expressing concern over the skirmishes in its border areas with Myanmar, said the violence was affecting Bangladeshs frontlines.

Road Transport Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader sought Chinese intervention to de-escalate the conflict given Beijings close contacts with Burmese authorities.

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The internal war is their (Myanmars) domestic concern. But when the sound of gunfights is heard at the border, naturally it creates panic in the public mind. We, therefore, expect Beijings intervention, Quader told the media after he met with the Chinese envoy.

14 BGP members reportedly crossed the border through the Ghumdhum border in the early hours of the morning, according to officials. A BGB spokeswoman in Dhaka then ordered media to wait for a media briefing on the development.

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However, no formal briefing took place until Sunday night.

Five schools in the problematic border district of Bandarban were closed for security reasons due to concerns that mortar shells or stray gunfire from ongoing gunfights on the other side of the border would find their way into Bangladesh.

The BGB advised locals to stay inside or move around carefully.

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Reports from across the border indicated that rebel fighters were being targeted by army helicopters, raising fears of significant losses, according to officials.

The sounds of gunfire on the Myanmar side of the border on Saturday night and Sunday, according to local Union Parishad members and inhabitants in frontier villages, alarmed the locals.

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(With agency inputs)
Known as the worlds coolest dictator, Bukele has become well-known for his harsh anti-gang policies, which have resulted in the detention of almost 1% of the nations population

On Sunday, Salvadorans will cast ballots in presidential and parliamentary elections that will primarily centre on the balance between democracy and security.

Given his high approval ratings and the lack of opposition, Nayib Bukele is most likely going to seek reelection to a second term as president.

The constitution of El Salvador forbids reelection. However, according to a January University of Central America study, around eight out of ten voters favour Bukele. This is true even though Bukele has taken actions during his first term that opponents and attorneys claim weaken the nations system of checks and balances.

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But El Salvadors traditional parties from the left and right that created the vacuum that Bukele first filled in 2019 remain a shambles. Alternating in power for some three decades, the conservative Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) and leftist Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) were thoroughly discredited by their own corruption and inefficacy. Their presidential candidates this year are polling in the low single digits.

Known as the worlds coolest dictator, Bukele has become well-known for his harsh anti-gang policies, which have resulted in the detention of almost 1% of the nations population.

In a nation that was regarded as one of the most dangerous in the world only a few years ago, violence has also drastically decreased although his administration is accused of perpetrating extensive violations of human rights.

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Voters are therefore ready to overlook worries that Bukele has employed undemocratic measures to consolidate power, such as the 55-year-old entrepreneur Marleny Mena.

Mena, a former street seller in the once-gang-controlled centre of San Salvador, claimed she used to be afraid to go about the city for fear that she might unintentionally enter another gangs domain and face dire repercussions. Since Bukele began his crackdown, that fear has dissipated.

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He just needs a little bit more time, the time he needs to keep improving the country, Mena said.

In the lead-up to Sundays vote, Bukele made no public campaign appearances. Instead, the populist plastered his social media and television screens across the country with a simple message recorded from his couch: If he and his New Ideas party didnt win elections this year, the war with the gangs would be put at risk.

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The opposition will be able to achieve its true and only plan, to free the gang members and use them to return to power, he said.

Still, the 42-year-old Bukele and his party are increasingly looked to as a case study for a wider global rise in authoritarianism.

Theres this growing rejection of the basic principles of democracy and human rights, and support for authoritarian populism among people who feel that, concepts like democracy and human rights and due process have failed them, said Tyler Mattiace, Americas researcher for Human Rights Watch.
On Saturday the US and the UK struck dozens of targets in Yemen over Huthi attacks in the Red Sea, which the rebels say are in solidarity with Palestinians in war-battered Gaza

Iran blasted the latest US and UK strikes on Yemeni targets on Sunday, saying they contradict their stated goal to prevent a larger Middle East confrontation.

These strikes are in clear contradiction with the repeated claims of Washington and London that they do not want the expansion of war and conflict in the region, Irans foreign ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanani, said in a statement.

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He accused the United States and the United Kingdom of fuelling chaos, disorder, insecurity, and instability by assisting Israel in its fight against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

Kanani described more strikes on Yemens Iran-backed Huthi rebels as a threat to international peace and security in reaction to the groups attacks on international ships in the Red Sea.

On Saturday the US and the UK struck dozens of targets in Yemen over Huthi attacks in the Red Sea, which the rebels say are in solidarity with Palestinians in war-battered Gaza.

The previous day, the US military struck targets in Syria and Iraq, in retaliation for a January 28 drone attack on a base in Jordan that killed three US soldiers.

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President Joe Biden has blamed radical Iran-backed militant groups for that attack, but said the United States does not seek a wider conflict in the Middle East.

I dont think we need a wider war in the Middle East. Thats not what Im looking for, Biden said on Tuesday.
Though Israel has not officially acknowledged the proposal, experts and Israels international partners have cautioned against transferring a large portion of the already small region out of the Gaza Strip, which is governed by Hamas

Buildings in Gaza have been methodically demolished by Israeli soldiers in an effort to establish a buffer zone within Palestinian territory, experts and rights organisations told AFP, sparking concerns about the cost to civilians.

Though Israel has not officially acknowledged the proposal, experts and Israels international partners have cautioned against transferring a large portion of the already small region out of the Gaza Strip, which is governed by Hamas.

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According to Adi Ben Nun, a lecturer at Hebrew University of Jerusalem who has studied satellite images, Israeli troops have attacked buildings in Gaza that are within a kilometre (0.6 miles) of the border since Hamas terrorists broke through on October 7.

More than 30 percent of all buildings in that area have been damaged or destroyed during the war, he said.

Last month, the Israeli armys deadliest day since the ground invasion began in late October offered a glimpse of the tactics being used to clear the border area.

Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi said at the time that 21 reservists were killed during a defensive operation in the area separating the Israeli communities from Gaza to allow for residents safe return.

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The troops had laid out explosives to blow up buildings when they were fired upon by militants, the army said.

Displacement of Gazans including from the border area could breach the laws of war, experts said.

We are seeing mounting evidence that Israel appears to be rendering large parts of Gaza unlivable, said Nadia Hardman, a refugee rights expert at Human Rights Watch.

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One very clear example of that may be the buffer zone  this may amount to a war crime.

When contacted by AFP, the military declined to comment on the buffer zone.

No right

Cecilie Hellestveit, of the Norwegian Academy of International Law, warned of the prospect of ethnic cleansing, transfer, or lack of rebuilding, so that the Palestinians will eventually be forced out of the area entirely.

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Scrutiny of Israels actions in Gaza is likely to be heightened by last months International Court of Justice ruling asking Israel to prevent any acts of genocide.

The United States, Israels top ally and provider of military aid, has repeatedly said Gazas territory should not change and that a buffer zone would breach that principle.

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When it comes to the permanent status of Gaza we remain clear about not encroaching on its territory, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Rights experts said Israel could use parts of its own territory to create a security zone.

If the Israeli government wants a buffer zone, it has every right to create one in far larger Israel, but it has no right to seize land in Gaza, human rights expert Ken Roth, a professor at Princeton University, said on social media.

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Border security has become a priority for many Israelis, experts said, and the return to communities near the Gaza border would be seen as a sign that Hamas no longer posed a threat.

In Nahal Oz, a kibbutz barely a kilometre from Gaza that was targeted in the October 7 attack, artillery fire rang out and smoke billowed over the Palestinian territory in the distance.

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Like many Israelis who lived along the border before the attack, nearly all of the kibbutzs 400 residents were evacuated and have yet to return.

It is still not a place to go back to with children, not yet unfortunately, Eran Braverman, a 63-year-old farmer, told AFP.

If there really would be such a (buffer) zone it could help a lot. I hope it happens.

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Back after two decades

Hamass attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of around 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures, with militants also seizing hostages  dozens of whom Israel says remain in Gaza.

In response, Israel launched a withering offensive that has killed at least 27,238 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

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Israel in 2005 unilaterally withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza, ending a presence that began in 1967 but maintaining near complete control over the coastal territorys borders.

A narrow no-go area of varying width was maintained along the full length of the Israel-Gaza border, and the zone immediately beyond it on the Palestinian side has been restricted to cropland.

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A crippling blockade since Hamas took power in 2007 was followed shortly after the October 7 attack with an Israeli siege of Gaza.

Egypt operates a buffer zone on its side of the border with the narrow Palestinian territory.

Although Israel decided against installing a buffer zone in the early 2000s, the idea has been revived two decades later, said Hellestveit.

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With the war and the reoccupation of Gaza, this plan from when Israel last had control over Gaza militarily has come back on the table, she said.
Qureshi, 67, was disqualified five days prior to the general elections on February 8, which Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party is running in spite of a crackdown by the government and without its iconic poll symbol, the bat

Shah Mahmood Qureshi, a close associate of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan, has been barred from running for office by Pakistans electoral commission for a period of five years. This comes after the former foreign minister was given ten years apiece in prison for disclosing state secrets.

Qureshi, 67, was disqualified five days prior to the general elections on February 8, which Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party is running in spite of a crackdown by the government and without its iconic poll symbol, the bat.

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The announcement was made a few days after Qureshi and Khan were given ten years in prison in the well-known cypher case by a special court created under the Official Secrets Act. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stated that any person convicted of a crime is prohibited from participating in elections by the law and the Constitution, citing the special courts January 30, 2024 ruling, as reported by The Express Tribune.

As a consequence, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has become disqualified under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan read with Section 232 of the Elections Act, 2017. Therefore, Mr Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi is disqualified to contest General Elections-2024 and any subsequent elections for a period of five years, the ECP said in a statement.

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The cipher issue concerns a piece of paper that Khan displayed during a public rally on March 27, 2022, allegedly a diplomatic cable, and claimed to be evidence of a international conspiracy to overthrow his government. Khan named the US in his assertion.

The Federal Investigation Agency filed a complaint against Khan, 71, and Qureshi on August 15, 2022, alleging that both individuals broke secrecy regulations when handling a cable that was sent by the Pakistani embassy in Washington in March 2022.

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Khan was already banned from politics for a period of five years.

(With agency inputs)
The victory comes after the president spearheaded a Democratic National Committee effort to have South Carolina go first in the partys primary, citing the states racially diverse population as opposed to the traditional first-in-the-nation states of Iowa and New Hampshire, which are mostly white

The Democratic primary in South Carolina was decisively won by President Joe Biden on Saturday, securing the state he had urged to kick off his partys nomination process after it had rejuvenated his then-fragile White House candidature four years prior.

Biden overcame the other distant Democratic candidates in South Carolina, such as author Marianne Williamson and congressman Dean Phillips of Minnesota. In order to maximise its chances of mobilising Black votersa crucial Democratic group that will be crucial to Bidens chances in a potential rematch with former President Donald Trump in Novemberhis reelection campaign made significant investments on turnout.

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In 2020, it was the voters of South Carolina who proved the pundits wrong, breathed new life into our campaign, and set us on the path to winning the presidency, Biden said in a statement. Now in 2024, the people of South Carolina have spoken again and I have no doubt that you have set us on the path to winning the Presidency again  and making Donald Trump a loser  again.

The Associated Press proclaimed Biden the victor at 7:23 p.m., citing an analysis of early vote returns that showed him with a significant advantage in key places across the state. He got all 55 of the states Democratic delegates.

The victory comes after the president spearheaded a Democratic National Committee effort to have South Carolina go first in the partys primary, citing the states more racially diverse population as opposed to the traditional first-in-the-nation states of Iowa and New Hampshire, which are overwhelmingly white.

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South Carolina is reliably Republican, but 26% of its residents are Black. In the 2020 general election, Black voters made up 11% of the national electorate, and 9 in 10 of them supported Biden, according to AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of that elections voters.

Biden pushed for a revamped primary calendar that will see Nevada go second, holding its primary on Tuesday. The new order also moves the Democratic primary in Michigan, a large and diverse swing state, to Feb. 27, before the expansive field of states voting on March 5, known as Super Tuesday.

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New Hampshire rejected the DNCs plan and held a leadoff primary last month anyway. Biden didnt campaign and his name wasnt on the ballot, but still won by a sizable margin after supporters mounted a write-in campaign on his behalf.

South Carolina, where Biden has long held deep relationships with supporters and donors, also played a pivotal role in his 2020 campaign, where a big win revived a flagging effort in other early-voting states and propelled him to the nomination.

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Biden was aided by longtime South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn whose 2020 endorsement served as a long-awaited signal to the states Black voters that Biden would be the right candidate to advocate for their interests. Clyburn remains a close Biden ally and said Saturday night that he believed New Hampshires delegates should be seated at the partys convention this summer and that Democrats should avoid any further infighting.

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Both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman and Asian American to serve in the role, have consistently thanked South Carolinas Democrats for their support. Biden was traveling this weekend in California and Nevada but called into a series of Black radio stations across South Carolina and told WWDM in Sumter, The only reason Im talking to you today as president of the United States of America is because of South Carolina. That is not hyperbole. Thats a fact.

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Campaigning in the state last week, the president said South Carolina was the reason Donald Trump is a loser. And youre the reason were going to win and beat him again, framing the likely general election matchup with the GOPs current front-runner.

Earlier in the day, Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said, We all know that we, because of the color of this, we, our great grandparents, our grandparents, could not always vote here. Harrison is a South Carolina native who is Black.

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For this president to say, Jaime, for the entirety of your life, we have started this process in Iowa and New Hampshire, and now, were going to start it in South Carolina  no other president before ever decided to touch that issue, he added. But Joe Biden did, and I will always be grateful to the president for giving us a chance, for seeing us, and understanding how much we matter.

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Black voters interviewed during the recent early voting period listed a range of reasons for supporting Biden, from his administrations defense of abortion rights to appointing Black jurists and other minorities to the federal courts. Some echoed Bidens warnings that Trump would threaten democracy as he continues to push lies that the 2020 vote was stolen.

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We cant live with a leader that will make this into a dictatorship. We cant live in a place that is not a democracy. That will be a fall for America, said LaJoia Broughton, a 42-year-old small business owner in Columbia. So my vote is with Biden. It has been with Biden and will continue to be with Biden.

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Some voters said they were concerned about the 81-year-old Bidens age, as many Americans have said they are in public polling. Trump is 77. Both men have had a series of public flubs that have fueled skepticism about their readiness.

Theyre as old as I am and to have these two guys be the only choices, thats kind of difficult, said Charles Trower, a 77-year-old from Blythewood, South Carolina. But I would much rather have President Biden than even consider the other guy.
The ministry released a video showing rescue personnel pulling two wounded victims from the wreckage of a building and placing them on stretchers when it was still dark outside

Following an attack by the Ukrainians on a building including a bakery in the city of Lysychansk in the occupied eastern Ukrainian district of Luhansk on Saturday, the emergencies ministry of Russia said that its personnel had recovered the remains of twenty persons among the debris.

The ministry released a video showing rescue personnel pulling two wounded victims from the wreckage of a building and placing them on stretchers when it was still dark outside.

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The ministry had earlier said that its personnel had saved ten lives and given them to medical professionals.

Reuters was able to confirm the location of a different daylight video that the emergency ministry supplied by analysing the buildings architecture and colour as well as a sign that matched file photos of the region. It corresponds to an address marked as Adriatic Restaurant on Moskovska Street in Lysychansk on Google Maps.

Reuters, however, was unable to independently confirm the date of the clip or any other information originating from a territory that Russia claimed to have conquered in 2022.

Regarding the event, Ukrainian officials have not released a statement.

Dozens of civilians were inside the building when the strike occurred, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, and Western weaponry were employed.

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The Russian-controlled Luhansk Information Centre said Ukraine shelled the bakery using the US-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).

Russias state-run TASS news agency quoted a Russian-installed official in operational services as saying the average age of the victims was 35 years, plus or minus five years.

There are no children among the dead at the moment, but the removal of rubble is still ongoing, it quoted the official as saying.

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Earlier, Leonid Pasechnik, put in charge of Ukraines Luhansk region by Moscow, said dozens of people may be under the rubble.
Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out accused Republican governor Kristi Noem of using the border problem to assist former US President Donald Trump win re-election and increase her prospects of becoming his running mate

Republican governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota has been barred by a tribe from the Pine Ridge Reservation after she stated this week that she wants to send security guards and razor wire to Texas to assist stop immigration at the US-Mexico border and that cartels are infiltrating the states reservations.

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Due to the safety of the Oyate, effective immediately, you are hereby Banished from the homelands of the Oglala Sioux Tribe! Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out said in a Friday statement addressed to Noem. Oyate is a word for people or nation.

Star Comes Out accused Noem of using the border problem to assist former US President Donald Trump win re-election and increase her prospects of becoming his running mate.

Many of individuals coming at the US-Mexico border are Indigenous people from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico who come in search of jobs and a better life, the tribe head explained.

They dont need to be put in cages, separated from their children like during the Trump Administration, or be cut up by razor wire furnished by, of all places, South Dakota, he said.

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Star Comes Out also addressed Noems remarks in the speech to lawmakers Wednesday in which she said a gang calling itself the Ghost Dancers is murdering people on the Pine Ridge Reservation and is affiliated with border-crossing cartels that use South Dakota reservations to spread drugs throughout the Midwest.

Star Comes Out said he took deep offense at her reference, saying the Ghost Dance is one of the Oglala Siouxs most sacred ceremonies, was used with blatant disrespect and is insulting to our Oyate.

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He added that the tribe is a sovereign nation and does not belong to the state of South Dakota.

Noem responded Saturday in a statement, saying, It is unfortunate that President (Star) Comes Out chose to bring politics into a discussion regarding the effects of our federal governments failure to enforce federal laws at the southern border and on tribal lands. My focus continues to be on working together to solve those problems.

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As I told bipartisan Native American legislators earlier this week, I am not the one with a stiff arm, here. You cant build relationships if you dont spend time together, she added. I stand ready to work with any of our states Native American tribes to build such a relationship.

In November, Star Comes Out declared a state of emergency on the Pine Ridge Reservation due to increasing crime. A judge ruled last year that the federal government has a treaty duty to support law enforcement on the reservation, but he declined to rule on the funding level the tribe sought.

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Noem has deployed National Guard troops to the Mexican border three times, as have some other Republican governors.

In 2021 she drew criticism for accepting a $1 million donation from a Republican donor to help cover the cost of a two-month deployment of 48 troops there.
Seouls foreign ministry said on Sunday that Chung had met on Friday with Russias visiting Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko and conveyed Seouls stern stance on the military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow

South Korea has summoned Russian ambassadors to protest Moscows condemnation of President Yoon Suk Yeol for comments he made regarding North Koreas development of a nuclear weapons.

The deputy foreign minister for political affairs of South Korea, Chung Byung-won, called Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev on Saturday and informed him that Moscows outrage at Yoons comments would only worsen ties between the two nations, according to the ministry.

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Deputy Minister Chung said that it was very regrettable that Russia ignored the truth and unconditionally protected North Korea while criticising the leaders remarks in extremely rude language, and emphasised that this would only worsen Korea-Russia relations, South Koreas foreign ministry said in a statement.

Since North Korea invaded Ukraine in 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin has strengthened relations with Seouls adversary, North Korea. The United States and its allies have denounced what they claim are substantial North Korean missile shipments to Russia in support of that countrys military campaign.

Yoon told a meeting on Wednesday of defence and security officials: 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.

The next day Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called Yoons remarks blatantly biased.

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She told reporters the comments look particularly odious, given rising tensions on the Korean peninsula, primarily due to the brazen policy of the United States and its allies, including (South) Korea and Japan.

Seouls foreign ministry said on Sunday that Chung had met on Friday with Russias visiting Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko and conveyed Seouls stern stance on the military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow. Kim Gunn, Seouls nuclear envoy, also met with Rudenko, the ministry said.

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According to the statement, Chung and Rudenko also spoke about other topics, such as Russias conflict in Ukraine.

(With agency inputs)
The Houthis have been conducting almost daily missile or drone attacks against commercial and military ships transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and they have made clear that they have no intention of scaling back their campaign despite pressure from the American and British campaign

In a second round of attacks aimed at further disabling Iran-backed militias that have been attacking American and international objectives since the Israel-Hamas conflict, the United States and Britain hit 36 Houthi sites in Yemen on Saturday. However, Washington again refrained from taking direct aim at Iran in an attempt to strike a balance between escalating the confrontation and responding with force.

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US warships and American and British fighter planes staged the most recent attacks against the Houthis. In response for the drone strike that killed three US troops in Jordan last weekend, additional Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard were the targets of an airstrike on Friday in Iraq and Syria.

The Houthi targets were in 13 different locations and were struck by US F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, by British Typhoon FGR4 fighter aircraft and by the Navy destroyers USS Gravely and the USS Carney firing Tomahawk missiles from the Red Sea, according to US officials and the U.K. Defense Ministry. The US officials were not authorized to publicly discuss the military operation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

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Following the troops fatalities at the Tower 22 facility in Jordan last Sunday, the US issued a warning, saying that its retribution will not be restricted to one night, one target, or one group. The Houthis have been one of the main US antagonists since Hamas struck Israel on October 7, killing over 1,200 people and seizing over 250 captives, even though there has been no indication that they were directly responsible. Since the start of the conflict, more than 26,000 Palestinians have died and over 64,400 have been injured in Israeli military operations, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

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The Houthis have been conducting almost daily missile or drone attacks against commercial and military ships transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and they have made clear that they have no intention of scaling back their campaign despite pressure from the American and British campaign.

Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a Houthi official, said military operations against Israel will continue until the crimes of genocide in Gaza are stopped and the siege on its residents is lifted, no matter the sacrifices it costs us. He wrote online that the American-British aggression against Yemen will not go unanswered, and we will meet escalation with escalation.

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The Biden administration has indicated that this is likely not the last of its strikes. The US has blamed the Jordan attack on the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iranian-backed militias. Iran has tried to distance itself from the drone strike, saying the militias act independently of its direction.

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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the military action, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels.

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He added: We will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the worlds most critical waterways.

The Defense Department said the strikes targeted sites associated with the Houthis deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, radars and helicopters. The British military said it struck a ground control station west of Yemens capital, Sanaa, that has been used to control Houthi drones that have launched against vessels in the Red Sea.

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President Joe Biden was briefed on the strikes before he left Delaware on Saturday for a West Coast campaign trip, according to an administration official.

The latest strikes marked the third time the US and Britain had conducted a large joint operation to strike Houthi weapon launchers, radar sites and drones. The strikes in Yemen are meant to underscore the broader message to Iran that Washington holds Tehran responsible for arming, funding and training the array of militias  from Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen  who are behind attacks across the Mideast against US and international interests.

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Video shared online by people in Sanaa included the sound of explosions and at least one blast was seen lighting up the night sky. Residents described the blasts as happening around buildings associated with the Yemeni presidential compound. The Houthi-controlled state-run news agency, SABA, reported strikes in al-Bayda, Dhamar, Hajjah, Hodeida, Taiz and Sanaa provinces.

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Hours before the latest joint operation, the US took another self-defense strike on a site in Yemen, destroying six anti-ship cruise missiles, as it has repeatedly when it has detected a missile or drone ready to launch. The day before the strikes the US destroyer Laboon and F/A-18s from the Eisenhower shot down seven drones fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Red Sea and the destroyer Carney shot down a drone fired in the Gulf of Aden and US forces took out four more drones that were prepared to launch.

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The Houthis attacks have led shipping companies to reroute their vessels from the Red Sea, sending them around Africa through the Cape of Good Hope  a much longer, costlier and less efficient passage. The threats also have led the US and its allies to set up a joint mission where warships from participating nations provide a protective umbrella of air defense for ships as they travel the critical waterway that runs from the Suez Canal down to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

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During normal operations about 400 commercial vessels transit the southern Red Sea at any given time.

In the wake of the strikes Friday in Iraq and Syria, Hussein al-Mosawi, spokesperson for Harakat al-Nujaba, one of the main Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, said Washington must understand that every action elicits a reaction. But in an AP interview in Baghdad, he also struck a more conciliatory tone. We do not wish to escalate or widen regional tensions, he said.

Iraqi officials have attempted to rein in the militias, while also condemning US retaliatory strikes as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and calling for an exit of the 2,500 US troops who are in the country as part of an international coalition to fight the Islamic State group. Last month, Iraqi and US military officials launched formal talks to wind down the coalitions presence, a process that will likely take years.
Following Chinas objections, the Quad, a diplomatic alliance comprising Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, was placed on hold. Following a ten-year hiatus, it was brought back in 2017 in response to Chinas increasing aggressiveness in international affairs

According to former foreign secretary Shyam Saran, the US urged Manmohan Singh, the prime minister at the time, to ask his Japanese counterpart to not encourage the diplomatic alliance that was centered on the Indo-Pacific area. The US was the one who convinced India to establish the Quad alliance.

Speaking on Saturday at the 17th Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), Saran said that the US had justified its stance on the Quad by stating that neither the Chinese nor the Russians were very happy with the Quad and that it was necessary to have China on its side in the dispute over Iran and North Koreas nuclear programs.

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Following Chinas objections, the Quad, a diplomatic alliance comprising Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, was placed on hold. Following a ten-year hiatus, it was brought back in 2017 in response to Chinas increasing aggressiveness in international affairs.

What happened was before our PM Dr Manmohan Singhs visit to Tokyo for an official visit, I was contacted by our American friends and we were told, Please tell your PM not to encourage Abe (the then Japanese PM) on the Quad. He would like to push this forward. This is not the time we should be doing this, Saran said during his address.

Later on, attempts were made to incorporate it into the Quad alliance, which was headed by the late Shinzo Abe in his first year as Japans prime minister, from 2006 to 2007.

Without a doubt, China is the cement that keeps the Quad alliance together, according to Saran. Beijing, which once referred to the Quad as some fluff on the ocean wave, will no longer use that term because the group has gained substance.

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Maybe it is not against China, but it has certainly been made more crystallised as a result of a common sense amongst all our partners that the balance of power in the - what we call the Indo-Pacific - has been changing against us. And therefore if we do not work together this balance is going to get worse, he said.

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Among the panelists debating the subject was US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, who stated that the present and the history we are writing are more significant to him than historical events, but he did not explicitly address Sarans comments.
Photo by Bob Silbernagel, with permission from the Moab Museum

This Model 1873 Springfield Carbine, a single-shot breech loader, was reportedly recovered during or after the Pinhook Draw Fight and donated to the Moab Museum in the 1950s. Although Museum officials cant prove it was used during the battle, a study of the weapon conducted for the museum in 1922 shows it is old enough to have been used then. It would likely have been used by members of the white posse, since the Indians involved reportedly had repeating rifles.
There is a fundraising page for Mitch Neil's family, which includes his wife, two young children and another on the way in a few weeks.

There were cheers for Mitch, there were toasts to Mitch, there were memories and stories about Mitch and there were tears for Mitch.

In a gathering of family, friends and lots of fellow skateboarders, it was a joyous but sad day to celebrate the life of Michael Mitch Meil.

The skateboarding legend, friend, mentor, husband, dad and someone who touched the lives of so many passed away on Jan. 24.

The stories of how Mitch impacted the community and the lives he touched came gushing out Friday during the gathering where skateboarding, friendship and the agony of a life gone too soon all resonated at West Lake Skate Park.

I just cant believe the outpouring of love I see here today, Mitchs dad Dave Meil said, as he dabbed away tears that leaked out from his wraparound shades.

The agony of the passing of his son was evident with nearly every word, as his voice cracked and went silent at times.

Its absolutely wonderful. People have come from all over the country, he said.

Mitch came to Grand Junction from Huntington Beach, California, in 2007 and his skateboarding talent soon took over. He turned pro, but a broken ankle at 19 derailed those prospects. However, he became a legend here in Grand Junction, Dave said.

A lot of these guys learned from Mitch, he said, then his emotions gripped him too much.

After finding his voice again, he looked around at the large crowd.

Its just overwhelming, it really is overwhelming. Its amazing to see this, he said.

He then wandered off to spend time with his two young grandkids.

The attire of the skateboarding crowd was as varied and eclectic as one can imagine. It ranged from T-shirts and baggy pants, to sport coats, to shorts, to hoodies and sweaters. And of course, nearly everyone brought their board.

There was a giant cutout of Mitch wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers cap to show his devotion to that team. People snapped photos and selfies beside the cutout and held up photos of Mitch that were attached to wooden handles.

The power of friendship transcends time and never fades even when buddies depart for other homes around the country.

Two of Mitchs good friends made the trip to celebrate the special life that Mitch lived.

Austin Shepherd came from Prescott, Arizona, and when Clayton Nein got the horrible news, he immediately hopped on a plane in Seattle to make the trip to pay his respects and share memories of their friendship.

This shows how much of an impact he had on people, Shepherd said, as Dave handed him an extra tissue. He loved everyone, he was just a good guy.

Shepherd first met Mitch in 2002 and was the best man at his wedding.

This whole thing is tragic, he has a family, a loving wife, two kids and another on the way, Shepherd said.

Mitch was 37 when he passed away from sepsis, a condition where the body struggles to handle an infection.

The suddenness of his death left people devastated.

Brett Buescher is a filmmaker who captured Mitchs skateboarding prowess and made it into videos.

Its incredible to see how many people are here to celebrate his life, he said. He was a pillar in the skateboarding community and touched everybodys life he ever met.

All we can do now is give him the best sendoff possible.

Shepherd and Nein reminisced about an amazing time in their lives.

A bunch of 17- and 18-year-old kids, fresh out of high school, moved into an apartment together.

Youngsters ready to take on the real world, ready to have some fun and forge a special friendship.

That friendship and those memories were so special that these friends decided to make sure they had the ink to always have a reminder of those times.

The apartment was in Grand Junction at 18th and Main and they moved into A34, so to hold onto those memories, the former roommates all got the tattoo A34 before departing to the next chapter of their real-world lives.

This is just terrible. Mitch was the kind of guy that no matter what walk of life you came from he would try and befriend you, Nein said. As you can see here, he has touched so many lives.

Shepherd talked about Mitchs positivity and his go-getter mentality.

He always succeeded in whatever he did. He was extremely talented and never gave up. What ever obstacles came up in life he would always overcome, Shepherd said.

Nicholas Costello helped organize the tribute to Mitch, which included a massive procession of skateboarders that rode down First Street, then North Avenue to Martin Mortuary for a visitation.

Mitch was the epitome of what people should aspire to be like, Costello said.

The suddenness of Mitchs death and the passing of someone so young and healthy should really get peoples attention, Costello said.

The fragility of life is why people are here too. We all need to understand that we have one life to live and stop being sacred living it, he said. Mitch wasnt scared and he wasnt doing anything wrong, he was just living, and he was just being super dad.

It was the shock of Mitchs death at 37 that left so many struggling with that reality. Gone so young and so quickly.

We all take life for granted, I know its a cliche, but it couldnt be more true, Shepherd said. No one is promised tomorrow. If I learned anything from this, its live life each day to the fullest.

For Nein, the lessons of a life gone too soon left him emotionally wrecked, but there was another life lesson that he learned too late when it came to his friendship with Mitch.

He was my first roommate and he was my first friend when I moved to Colorado, he said as his voiced caught.

He dropped his head and gave a subtle nod.

Its a life lesson but its also just how life is as people grow older and priorities change.

I wish I would have spoke with him more in the last few years. Living so far away, you kinda lose touch the older you get. That is a big regret for me, he said with that nod.

Even in death, Michael Mitch Meil was making an impact and touching peoples lives.

As a friend, mentor, husband, dad and skateboarder, that was just how he rolled.
Dennis received bachelor's degrees in communication and political science with a TAG degree in Spanish from The University of Akron in Ohio. He grew up in Ohio with 2 sisters and two brothers, one being his fraternal twin. He and his wife have 3 dogs: Duke, Bacio, and Cal. Dennis currently covers natural resource and environmental issues for The Daily Sentinel
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Two Years Into EU Ban, Russia's RT And Sputnik Are Still Accessible Across The EU

By Gjeraqina Tuhina February 03, 2024

BRUSSELS -- Deep within the heart of the European Union, inside the hulking buildings of the "European Quarter" in the Belgian capital, there is glaring evidence of the bloc's weakness.

Without using a VPN or other circumvention tools, a correspondent for RFE/RL's Balkan Service was able to access the websites and streaming services of RT -- previously known as Russia Today -- and Sputnik from the buildings of the EU's executive body, the European Commission, and the European Council, which establishes the general political agenda and direction of the EU but does not negotiate or enact legislation. The websites were accessible in a handful of languages despite the European Council's "urgent suspension" in the early weeks of Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Nearly two years after EU-wide sanctions were imposed to blunt Russian propaganda supporting the Kremlin's war on Ukraine, the websites of the Kremlin-backed RT and Sputnik media outlets are still easily accessible in many countries across the EU, including in the very institutions that drafted the regulations targeting them.

In Brussels, RT and Sputnik videos, text, and other content are available in English, French, German, Serbian, Spanish, and Arabic.

RFE/RL's Balkan Service's digital forensics team also used virtual private networks (VPNs) to impersonate users in 19 other EU member states and in each case it was possible to reach the RT and Sputnik websites without any problem.

The ease of access is a clear blow to unprecedented Western efforts to punish Russia for the invasion and to combat its carefully tracked trail of disinformation to try to justify or spin the conflict.

"The sanctions cover all means for transmission and distribution, such as via cable, satellite, IPTV...websites and apps," Johannes Bahrke, a spokesman for the European Commission responsible for digital economy, research, and innovation, told RFE/RL in a statement. "All relevant licenses, authorizations, and distribution arrangements are suspended."

Bahrke and other EU officials, as well as outside experts, say the problem stems from obstacles to implementation by the 27 EU member states themselves and their relevant bodies or agencies.

To enforce the ban, observers say, authorities in each member state must ask local service providers to eliminate access to the Russian-run websites. They say the safest method is to ban domains and specific website addresses on a national level.

"National authorities designate relevant government bodies or agencies responsible [for] implementing and enforcing EU sanctions, depending on the sector the specific sanctions designation covers," Tinatin Cervadze, an expert on European sanctions at the Open Society Institute, a nongovernmental organization created and funded by billionaire George Soros, and who has extensive experience in the efficacy of EU policies with respect to its near and more distant neighbors, including Russia.

In the media sphere, she suggested, the implementation of sanctions is left to the will of the Internet service providers.

Bahrke said that in RT's case, the European Union sanctioned the media outlet in English, and also in Germany, France, and Spain -- and eventually in Arabic as well as RT Balkan in Serbian.

The Serbian case represents a special challenge to the EU and the West. President Aleksandar Vucic has staunchly refused to lead his EU candidate country into participating with anti-Russian sanctions, making it the only country on the continent besides Turkey and Belarus to avoid at least formally distancing itself from Russia. Sputnik began its operations there in 2019 and has an office in Belgrade, and RT launched its Serbian-language operations at the end of 2022, well into the full-scale war.

"It is up to the relevant providers to block access to websites of outlets covered by the sanctions, including subdomains or newly created domains and up to the relevant national authorities to take any required accompanying regulatory measures," Bahrke said.

RFE/RL's Balkan Service sought explanations from specific service providers in Belgium, where the EU institutions are based, and the Belgian Telecommunications Ministry, but two weeks have passed without a reply.

The bloc has otherwise demonstrated the urgency of its efforts to counter Russian influence operations through the media.

'War Propaganda On A Global Scale'

The EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Josep Borrell, established its flagship EUvsDisinfo project in 2015. It describes RT and Sputnik as "not media organizations, but weapons of deception [by] the Kremlin." EUvsDisinfo's website says the project's main goal is to increase public awareness and understanding of Russian influence and disinformation operations, and to help citizens of Europe and beyond to develop resistance to digital information and media manipulation.

"Russia accompanies its illegal war against the Ukrainian people with information war and aggressive war propaganda on a global scale," Peter Stano, Borrell's spokesman at the EU's diplomatic corps, the European External Action Service (EEAS), said in a January 23 statement, while presenting the report about foreign interference and disinformation.

"The Kremlin regime transformed state-controlled media into instruments of information manipulation and information warfare. That is why the European Union banned [a] number of them, including Russia Today and Sputnik from EU media space."

Yevhen Fedchenko, co-owner and editor of the Kyiv-based website StopFake, which was founded expressly to try to refute alleged Russian propaganda around the time of Russia's occupation and annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, with Moscow's support for armed separatism in eastern Ukraine on the rise, told RFE/RL's Balkan Service that EU restrictions imposed in 2022 "are now almost nonexistent."

"Russia is quickly rebuilding its capacities understanding that there are no serious efforts to prevent it from occupying European information space using all available instruments: rearming traditional media like RT or Sputnik; influencers in every part of the world; owning local media companies; and using [the] growing influence of [the]...Telegram [messaging service] and [the] China-controlled TikTok [social media platform]," Fedchenko said.

Borrell has recently warned of the consequences of failure, as massive U.S. and EU aid packages remain stalled amid talk of a stalemate in the war and so-called Ukraine fatigue in the West.

"We are much more vulnerable to this threat because information circulates at the speed of light," Borrell said in January as he announced new measures to tackle foreign interference and disinformation less than five months ahead of European Parliamentary elections scheduled for June.

'Major Threat To Liberal Democracies'

An EEAS report issued on January 23 suggested that he and other influential Western allies of Kyiv can't expect to be spared from further Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), specifically by Russia and China.

"The targets of FIMI attacks are truly global. In 49 percent of the cases analyzed according to the common framework, countries or their official representatives across the world were directly targeted 480 times [by FIMI]," the report said. "The country most often targeted was Ukraine, with 160 cases recorded."

But Borrell added in the foreword to the report that "FIMI poses a major threat to liberal democracies, which rely on free and open information." He went on to call it "a problem we need to address, inside the EU and together with our partners."

A number of outside experts say that in the absence of more strident action, the system of sanctions is outgunned by authoritarian regimes, including when it comes to media.

"Such a system will provide a proportionate and strictly regulated response to malicious propaganda and disinformation activities by third countries that systematically flout freedom of expression," Julie Mazercak of Reporters Without Borders, the Paris-based media watchdog, told RFE/RL.

Terrestrial, cable, and satellite broadcasting platforms are generally simpler to police and control than the Internet, which can be accessed through a wide range of devices using different operating systems.

RT's broadcasting in national languages was banned in the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania before the EU sanctions that followed the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Experts on behalf of Belgian law firm Simmons & Simmons noted last June that "in light of the war in Ukraine" and an amendment to EU regulation No. 833/2014, the broadcasting licenses of Russian broadcasters had been "invalidated" and "broadcasting licenses or authorization, transmission, and distribution arrangements with certain media outlets, such as Russia Today and Sputnik, are suspended from 1 March 2022 onwards."

They added: "EU member states are not entitled to apply less stringent rules to broadcasters but may impose stricter rules on audiovisual media service providers under their jurisdiction, provided that these do not violate fundamental rights."

Written by Andy Heil based on reporting by RFE/RL Balkan Service correspondent Gjeraqina Tuhina in Brussels.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-rt-sputnik-eu-access- bans-propaganda-ukraine-war/32803929.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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On-the-Record Press Call on U.S. Military Operations in the Middle East

February 02, 2024

National Security Council

Via Teleconference

5:43 P.M. EST

MODERATOR: Good evening, and thank you all for joining the National Security Council press call on U.S. military operations.

As a reminder of the ground rules of this call, it is being held on the record with no embargo.

We will take some questions in a moment and I'll ask everyone to use the "Raise Hand Feature" on Zoom to indicate if you have a question.

I'll turn it over to John Kirby for some opening remarks.

MR. KIRBY: Thanks, everybody. Good evening. Sorry we're a little bit late.

As you all no doubt know, today, in response to the continued attacks on our troops and facilities in Iraq and Syria, and in particular the attack that killed three of our soldiers in Jordan, wounding dozens of others, U.S. military forces struck more than 85 targets at seven facilities utilized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the militant groups that they sponsor. Three of the facilities are in Iraq, four of them are in Syria.

Numerous aircraft, including B-1 bombers, dispatched from the United States were involved in this operation, firing more than 125 precision-guided munitions over the course of about 30 minutes.

Target facilities included command and control centers, as well as headquarters buildings and intelligence centers; rocket, missile, and drone storage facilities; and logistics ammunition supply chain facilities.

These targets were carefully selected to avoid civilian casualties and based on clear, irrefutable evidence that they were connected to attacks on U.S. personnel in the region.

The Department of Defense is in the early stages of battle damage assessment, but we believe that the strikes were successful.

We do not know at this time if or how many militants may have been killed or wounded. All U.S. aircraft are now out of harm's way.

The President has been kept informed throughout the afternoon.

The United States does not seek conflict with Iran or in the broader Middle East. But as President Biden has made clear, we will not hesitate to defend our people and hold responsible all those who harm Americans, at a time and a place of our choosing. That began tonight, but it will not end tonight.

And with that, I'm going to turn it over to Lieutenant General Sims, the Director of the Joint Staff, for a little bit more detail on the operation itself.

General Sims.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIMS: Thank you, sir. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

Just to add quickly to what Mr. Kirby briefed, we did, in fact, strike at seven different facilities. Within each of those facilities, there were a number of targets. All told, as Mr. Kirby mentioned, 85. They were struck with multiple U.S. aircraft  those aircraft from the U.S. Central Command, as well as, as mentioned, the B-1s that flew from the United States.

This has been in the planning since we were asked to look at it. This was designed around the weather, when we had our best opportunity as it related to the weather. That presented  good weather presented itself today. And as a result, this took place.

As mentioned, it was seven different locations. Of those locations, four of them were in Syria and three of them were in Iraq.

And I will  I'm happy to take your questions.

MODERATOR: Thank you, General Sims.

For our first question we'll go to Phil Stewart from Reuters. Phil, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Yes, hi. Could you please explain to us: Why did you feel the need to use bombers that came all the way from the United States? You know, what were the facilities in Iraq? The Iraqis are also condemning this operation. If I could get a political reaction from the U.S. official. Thank you.

MR. KIRBY: I'll let General Sims take the first question, Phil, and then I'm happy to take the second one on Iraq.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIMS: First of all, I would tell you the beauty of the American bomber is we can strike anywhere in the world at a time of our choosing. We're not limited to just the aircraft that are in the Central Command, as was the case in this situation, and we're able to employ those bombers from the United States. It also limits the requirement to have a number of forces forward. We can, again, conduct this from home turf, so to speak.

I'll pass it to Mr. Kirby.

MR. KIRBY: And on Iraq, Phil, we did inform the Iraqi government prior to the strikes occurring.

MODERATOR: Thank you. For our next question we'll go to Kelly O'Donnell from NBC. Kelly, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Are there any components of this initial operation that are from the cyber realm?

MR. KIRBY: Kelly, the operations that we can speak to this evening are the operations that we laid out in the opening statement and what you saw from the President and Secretary of Defense. That's the operation that occurred today and that we can speak to.

As I'm not going to, nor would I ever, preview or get ahead of any future potential operation one way or the other.

Q Understood.

MR. KIRBY: But as I said, these responses began tonight, but they're not going to end tonight.

Q Could I then ask: Do you expect that there will be any video component to these strikes that may be released at a certain point? Or how long would you anticipate the battle assessment about what you've accomplished? How long would that typically take for these kinds of strikes?

MR. KIRBY: I'm going to turn it to the General on the BDA question.

We're still looking at imagery to see what can be made publicly available. We've done it before, as you know. We're certainly going to take a look at the imagery available. And if we can  we'll make whatever public that we can, but we're still working our way through the imagery.

And I'll turn it over to General Sims on the time horizon for the BDA.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIMS: Thanks. I think, again, we'll let the sun come up, and we'll be able to start to make some better determinations in terms of battle damage assessment. We feel pretty confident. As we mentioned, it was 85 individual targets within each of these locations. We feel really confident about the precision of those targets and the fact that those were strong military targets.

We did  as you would imagine, we are able to see a good portion of those through our collection methods. And the initial indications were that we hit exactly what we meant to hit with a number of secondary explosions associated with the ammunition and logistics locations that were mentioned by Mr. Kirby earlier.

Q Thank you for taking my question.

MODERATOR: Thank you, Kelly.

Next question is Aamer Madhani from the AP.

Q Thanks, Sean. Just a follow on the B-1. Was the B-1 meant to send a signal to Iran specifically, reminding Tehran that the U.S. is capable of striking high-value targets inside Iran, including its nuclear facilities? And why was it not  was it decided not to strike targets inside Iran? Thank you.

MR. KIRBY: I'll let General Sims take a crack at that first one. And I'm happy, General, if you want, to take the second.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIMS: Yes, sir.

Sir, we're not trying to send a signal to anybody other than those who mean Americans harm. And in this case, we struck targets that got after exactly that. As we mentioned before, IRGC-related targets, targets that are holding locations for munitions that have been used against our men and women located in the region, as well as locations that have been providing command and control and intelligence collection in those strikes against Americans.

And the B-1 allowed us to do that, again, from the United States. It enables us to do so at a time that we choose and with a significant number of munitions.

I'll pass it back to Mr. Kirby.

MR. KIRBY: Aamer, as I said in my opening statement, we do not seek conflict with Iran. These targets were chosen, as we said, to degrade and disrupt the capabilities of the IRGC and the groups that they sponsor and support.

As the General said, we believe that these targets fell into exactly that criteria. And the goal here is to get these attacks to stop. We are not looking for a war with Iran.

I'll leave it at that.

MODERATOR: Thank you. For our next question we'll go to Mary Bruce with ABC.

Q Hi there. Do you expect the Jordanians to participate in this at all? There's some reports that Jordanian aircraft are also slated to join in the operation as a sign of solidarity.

And just to be clear, are the strikes for today completed? Should we expect any more action tonight?

MR. KIRBY: I'll take the first one and kick it to the General on the second.

I have nothing for you on that one, Mary. We're here to talk about U.S. actions against the IRGC and the groups that they support.

And I'll kick it to the General for the second.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIMS: Ma'am, can I just confirm the second part of your question? I'm sorry.

Q Just wondering if there's  if we should expect any more strikes today and tonight. I mean, I know, obviously, in the coming days we're likely to see something. But are strikes for today completed?

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIMS: Yeah, Mary, I would just say we have  you know, right now, all of our aircraft are out of harm's way. I'm not going to provide any particulars as it relates to timing on future strikes.

MODERATOR: Thank you. For our next question we'll go to Tamara Keith with NPR.

Q Thank you. And, Kirby, you sort of addressed this, but I'm hoping you can expand upon it, which is what the signal you're trying to send with these particular strikes to the IRGC and to Iran more broadly, and why you think this particular targeting avoids a wider Middle East conflict. Like, what about this targeting?

MR. KIRBY: Yeah. The signal is: The attacks have to stop. The attacks have to stop.

And these targets were chosen because, as I said in my opening statement, all these facilities were connected to and being used by the IRGC and their proxy groups to conduct attacks on U.S. personnel in the region. Carefully chosen targets for that purpose.

So the signal is  to the IRGC and to these groups: The attacks have got to stop.

And they're also not just a  it's not just  this wasn't just a message-sending routine tonight. This was about degrading capability; taking away, in a more robust way than we have in the past  taking away capabilities by the IRGC and the militant groups.

And I want to repeat, again, what I said in my opening comments: These responses began tonight; they're not going to end tonight. So there will be additional responses. There will be additional action that we will take, all designed to put an end to these attacks and to take away capability by the IRGC.

And when you ask, "Well, how does this comport with not wanting a broader conflict?"  because if you're taking away capability of an adversary who's trying to kill your troops and act against your interests in the region, if you're trying to take away their capability, then you are by default working to deescalate the tensions. And that's the approach that we're taking.

MODERATOR: Thank you. For our next question we'll go to MJ Lee with CNN. MJ, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Hi, thank you. You were clear that weather was a big factor in the timing. Were there any other significant factors for the decision to start (inaudible) tonight? And is there anything you could say on whether (inaudible)?

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIMS: Ma'am, I heard the first part of your question on weather. You came in garbled there at the end.

Okay. So I understood your question as to be our timing associated with the weather. We  as you would expect, we were hoping to have better weather. Our munitions can, as you know  our munitions are very precise and don't take a lack of cloud cover. We can issue those or conduct those with good cloud cover.

In an interest of ensuring that we're hitting all the right targets and that we're avoiding unnecessary casualties, it's good for us to have clear weather to allow us to see those targets as we develop them. That all came together for us as we were planning this. The weather did turn today to allow us to conduct these strikes. And as a result, we're very confident in the targets that we struck today.

MODERATOR: Thank you. For our next question we'll go with Jennifer Jacobs from Bloomberg.

Q Thank you. I know you can't say when we'll see additional strikes, but are you able to say if they might be seen over days or will it be weeks? And will you tell us when it's over?

And then, two other things. Is there any other details you can share on the ordnance used or anything more on the other aircraft other than the long-range bombers? Anything else you can detail about the aircraft used?

MR. KIRBY: I'll take the first one and then kick it to the General.

Obviously, we're not going to telegraph future operations one way or the other, JJ. As I said, there will be additional response actions taken in coming days. And I think that's about as specific as I want to be about it.

And today, we saw the first set of responses. It will not be the last set of responses that you see.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIMS: Ma'am, I would  in terms of munitions and the B-1, in terms of the flight  I think is what you said there at the beginning  I won't go into the particular munitions used. I would tell you it was more than 125, all of them precision, all of them designed to hit the exact spot that we mean to hit.

In terms of the flights from the United States, a single non-stop flight for the cruise, from the B-1s, all of that enhanced by our transportation command and our ability to gas and go along the way without any issues or incidents from the United States there and where they're at now.

MODERATOR: Thank you. For our next question we'll go with David Sanger from the New York Times.

Q Thanks very much. John, in addition to the signaling that you do by hitting 85 sites, there's the conversations that have always taken place through backchannels with Iran. This week, we saw the Iranians send a few signals of their own. They didn't want to have a direct conflict either. Was there any advanced messaging to them saying, "Look, you're going to get hit because three people got killed, but we don't want to escalate this"  something that would give them enough understanding to get their people out of the way and that they were going to lose some facilities, but that if they calmed it down, this would be the end of it?

MR. KIRBY: No, David.

Q No conversations at all?

MR. KIRBY: There's been no communications with Iran since the attack that killed our three soldiers in Jordan.

MODERATOR: Thank you. For our next question we'll go with Nick Schifrin from PBS.

Q Hey, guys. Thanks very much. I appreciate it. The question that you probably won't be willing to answer, John, but can you say anything more about what you mean or what the administration means when it says "first tier" of multitier? Can you talk at all about any plans or any part of what's happening tonight that might target leadership of these groups separately than what's already happened tonight and perhaps any targeting of Yemen? Thanks.

MR. KIRBY: I'm sorry, I missed the last part there. Any targeting of what?

Q Yemen. Yemen was the last  very last part.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, well, you nailed it, Nick. I'm not going to get into any speculating about future operations and options available to us. I think you can understand  I think, hopefully, everybody can understand why we simply are not going to do that.

MODERATOR: Thank you. For our next question we'll go with Missy Ryan from the Post.

Q Hi. Thank you very much. I just want to follow up on Nick's question, actually, and ask whether or not you were aiming to target any sort of senior figures from IRGC or militia groups in these strikes, you know, like occurred on January 3rd. And if not, can you talk about whether or not there  or either way, can you talk about whether or not there was an impact from this sort of period of anticipation about these strikes and the reports that Iranian  that IRGC and militias were able to move people around? Was that a factor in the decision  if you didn't target leadership  in the decision not to do that in this first wave?

MR. KIRBY: The targets were carefully chosen as facilities that we knew were involved and used by the IRGC and these militant groups in attacks against U.S. personnel. They were all carefully selected for that purpose.

As I said, this is just a first set of responses. I'm not going to talk about any potential future operations one way or the other.

And then, for the second part of your question, I'm happy to defer to General Sims in terms of, you know, whether and what degree, you know, they saw preparatory movements by these groups before these strikes.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIMS: Ma'am, I can't give you any particulars about people moving from any of those locations.

I would say  and, you know, it's (inaudible)  I'm not going to speak for the Iraqi  or the Iranian-aligned militia groups here. But my guess is, based on the fact that they took the shot at us and have taken multiple shots at us now, that they were anticipating a response. And, you know, their defenses were likely to move people around. We're pretty confident that the locations we got, as Mr. Kirby mentioned, were pretty significant in degrading capability. And we will know better, in terms of what that BDA looks like, tomorrow.

MODERATOR: Thank you. For our next question we'll go with Alex Ward from Politico.

Q Thanks for doing this. One question. Was there any  and I know you said that you don't know yet the assessment of militants  but was there an intention to kill militants as part of this operation?

And secondly, understood that there will not be any strikes inside Iran as part of any of this, but were any options presented to the President to strike inside Iran? Thank you.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIMS: Sure. I'll speak to that first part now and then I'll pass to Mr. Kirby.

I would tell you that we know that there are militants that use these locations  IRGC, as well as Iranian-aligned militia group personnel who use these locations. We made these strikes tonight with an idea that there would likely be casualties associated with people inside those facilities.

MR. KIRBY: I'm not going to talk about the details of the options that were presented to the President. I hope you can understand why, Alex.

But I'll just go back to what I said at the top and what the President has made clear: We are not seeking a war or conflict with Iran.

MODERATOR: Thank you. For our next question we'll go to Nadia from Al Arabiya.

Q Hi. Thank you for doing this. Just to add to all the questions that have been asked, can you specify if the militia that ordered the attack, that killed the three U.S. servicemen, were targeted? Or was it just a blanket target against IRGC facilities in that location, either in (inaudible) or Bukamal?

MR. KIRBY: General, you want to answer that?

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIMS: Yes, sir.

So I would tell you, ma'am, that we struck against a number of targets tonight that kind of cross  that move across many different aspects of the Iranian-aligned militia groups in Iraq and Syria. And I would tell you I feel that we confidently struck targets that will impact their ability to conduct future strikes against Americans.

MODERATOR: Thank you. For our next question we'll go with Patsy from VOA.

Q Hi, thank you for taking my question. So, is your understanding that there will be more strikes on various groups? And at this point, can you specify which groups? I know these have been asked before, but which specific groups were targeted?

And then, just to follow up on MJ's question, which I think wasn't really asked: Was the timing, other than the weather, was there any significance to the fact that the President today has just finished participating in the dignified transfer of the remains of the three soldiers? Thank you.

MR. KIRBY: I'll take the second one. And I'll defer to the General, although I think his answer to Nadia seemed to get at your first question, Patsy. But I'll defer to General Sims on that, on the first one.

The timing of the strikes tonight were  for all the reasons that General Sims put forward in terms of all the many factors that go into being able to do this in the most effective way, to include considerations of the weather, it had no connection, none whatsoever, with the timing of the dignified transfer today at Dover Air Force Base.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIMS: And then, ma'am, on that first part: You know, we see all these groups  not all, certainly, but a good portion of these groups now that are working together, communicating together with one another in this Islamic Resistance of Iraq, so to speak. And so, again, we feel confident that the strikes tonight made a good impact or had a good impact on that group of militants.

Q So is that the reason why you did not specifically say it was Kataib Hezbollah that was behind the strikes that killed the American soldiers but the umbrella group instead?

MR. KIRBY: I'll try briefly, General. But please feel free to jump in.

As we said, Patsy, it was the intelligence community's assessment, and that they were most comfortable with, which was that those attacks in Jordan were carried out by the umbrella group, Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a group that is supported by Kataib Hezbollah. Kataib Hezbollah is one of the participants. And that was the intelligence community's best assessment.

MODERATOR: Thank you. For our next question we'll go with Aurelia from AFP.

Q Hi, and thanks for taking my question. You said that you are pretty confident that the strikes have significantly degraded the striking capabilities of these groups. Is it to say that once the whole operation is over, you are also confident that there will be no strikes whatsoever from Syria  in Syria and Iraq against U.S. positions?

MR. KIRBY: We don't want to see a single more attack or strike on U.S. personnel or facilities in the region. We don't want to see a single one.

The response actions that we took tonight, which are only the first of more to come, are meant to degrade and disrupt the capabilities of these groups to conduct these attacks supported by the IRGC.

And I'm not going to get ahead of future targets and what we will or we won't do. We want the attacks to stop. We want them to stop right now. And I think I just need to leave it at that.

MODERATOR: For our next question we'll go to Phil McCausland from BBC.

Q Hi all. Thanks so much for answering these questions. Just curious, is there any evidence or concern that, you know, like, this delay  or not delay, but waiting a few days on the strikes allowed targets to be hardened or moved?

And then secondly, I'm just seeing some Arab news organizations reporting that there's been some retaliation on their side. I'm wondering if you all are seeing anything regarding strikes in eastern Syria from them. Thanks.

MR. KIRBY: I think General Sims already dealt with the question about any pre-strike reactions by the IRGC. But, General, feel free to elaborate if you feel the need to. And I'll defer to you, too, sir, on the second question about any retaliation tonight by the groups.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIMS: I'm not tracking any retaliation in eastern Syria right now.

And as to your first one, I'd agree with Mr. Kirby. I mean, again, I won't speak for the IRGC or the Iranian-aligned militia groups in terms of what orders they gave their people to move around or to harden beforehand.

MODERATOR: Thank you. For our next question we'll go with Kimberly from Al Jazeera.

Q Hi. You said that your targets were selected to avoid civilian casualties and you had clear and irrefutable evidence that the targets were connected to attacks on U.S. personnel in the region. Can you tell us what that clear and irrefutable evidence was?

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIMS: Ma'am, I'm not going to get into our intelligence collection. I would just say we spent a good amount of time discerning the appropriate targets here. And in this case, we're confident that we got after targets that were associated with the continued attacks against Americans.

Q How do you expect, sort of, the American public to trust the intelligence? Do you just expect them to take your word for it?

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIMS: Yes.

Q Do you feel that the American military has a good track record when it comes to 

MR. KIRBY: We're going to move on to the next question. Thank you.

Q Okay. I just  everyone else has had a chance to finish. I just want to double check. Will you be making any of this public in any way? Or will you have a chance for reporters 

MR. KIRBY: Kimberly, that's what we're doing right now. It's what we're doing right now, ma'am. We are sitting here talking to you guys on the record.

Q Excuse me 

MR. KIRBY: We're going to move on.

Q Okay. So you will give reporters 

MR. KIRBY: We're going to move on. Thank you.

Q  the chance to see the evidence?

MR. KIRBY: We are talking to you tonight and we are sharing with you everything we possibly can at this early hour.

And as the General has made clear, we're going to go through the battle damage assessment and we'll learn more. And I have every expectation that the Defense Department will share with you what they can, as appropriate. But we're not going to share anything that's going to prejudice or be  or make our job difficult, because we have additional options here ahead of us and additional responses to take. But we'll be as transparent as we can be. My goodness, that's what we're doing on this call here on a Friday evening. And we need to move on.

MODERATOR: Thank you. For our next question we'll go to Howard Altman with The War Zone.

Q I actually have several questions. One, can you please tell us the additional airframes that took place in this attack? Will there be additional force structure additions to the region given what's going on?

And have there been any attacks against U.S. allies in the region in the wake of these strikes?

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIMS: So, on the first one, I would just say it was a number of U.S. fighter aircraft from the Central Command AOR, in addition to the bombers. I won't get into the particular types and numbers.

In terms of force structure, no conversation now about adjusting forces in the area of operations. And again, as demonstrated by the B-1s, not a reason to have to bring a bunch of extra stuff there when we have the ability to strike from the United States.

And then, on your last one, I have not been provided any information since the strikes on any attacks in any of the region since  or any other nations in the region since the strikes tonight.

MODERATOR: Thank you. This concludes our press call for this evening. Again, as a reminder of the ground rules, this call was held on the record under no embargo.

We appreciate everyone taking the time to join us on this Friday evening. Hope everyone has a good weekend. And if you have any follow-up questions, don't hesitate to reach out.

6:14 P.M. EST

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Clarification of Ballistic Rocket Attack on Al-Assad Airbase Jan. 20

U.S. Central Command

USCENTCOM

Feb. 3, 2024

Release Number 20240203 - 02

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. -- It was previously reported that the Jan 20. attack on al-Asad Airbase was conducted by multiple ballistic missiles. Following an investigation, it is now believed that the Iranian-backed militant attack was conducted with ballistic rockets. The difference being rockets do not contain a guidance system, while missiles do. The investigation indicates the projectiles that impacted al-Asad Airbase did not have guidance systems.





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February 3, 2024

Release

Joint Statement from Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and United States on Additional Strikes Against the Houthis in Yemen

Today, at the direction of their respective governments, the militaries of the United States and United Kingdom, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand conducted an additional round of proportionate and necessary strikes against 36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen in response to the Houthis' continued attacks against international and commercial shipping as well as naval vessels transiting the Red Sea. These precision strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade, and the lives of innocent mariners, and are in response to a series of illegal, dangerous, and destabilizing Houthi actions since previous coalition strikes on January 11 and 22, 2024, including the January 27 attack which struck and set ablaze the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker M/V Marlin Luanda.

Today's strike specifically targeted sites associated with the Houthis' deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, and radars.

The Houthis' now more than 30 attacks on commercial vessels and naval vessels since mid-November constitute an international challenge. Recognizing the broad consensus of the international community, our coalition of likeminded countries committed to upholding the rules-based order has continued to grow. We remain committed to protecting freedom of navigation and international commerce and holding the Houthis accountable for their illegal and unjustifiable attacks on commercial shipping and naval vessels.

Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea but let us reiterate our warning to Houthi leadership: we will not hesitate to continue to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world's most critical waterways in the face of continued threats.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3665864/

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China monitors Philippine vessel delivering supplies at Ren'ai Jiao

Global Times

By Wang Qi and Fan Wei Published: Feb 03, 2024 10:06 PM

The China Coast Guard (CCG) has monitored and tracked the entire progress of a Philippine civilian vessel that delivered supplies to a military vessel illegally "grounded" at China's Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef) on Friday, CCG said on Saturday, as the Philippines has repeatedly provoked China in the South China Sea.

The Philippines' move, which analysts called "irresponsible," came on the same day Chinese diplomats emphasized the importance of sound and stable relations between China and the Philippines and the need to properly handle maritime differences through dialogue and consultation.

Experts said on Saturday that due to China's capacity, the situation in Ren'ai Jiao is completely under control, and Beijing has been exercising restraint to avoid escalating the situation. Manila should bear in mind the overall interests of maintaining bilateral ties and stop provocations and stop wasting China's sincerity and goodwill.

Well in hand

In a short statement released on its official WeChat account Saturday, the CCG stressed that China unequivocally holds sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and adjacent waters, including the Ren'ai Jiao. It noted that the CCG will continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters under China's jurisdiction, in accordance with law.

According to video clips and photos shared by a source to the Global Times, the CCG ship 5203 monitored a Philippine boat which transported supplies to Ren'an Reef where a Philippine warship is illegally grounded.

According to Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, China has full control and law enforcement capabilities over the Ren'ai Jiao and its adjacent waters, keeping the entire situation well in hand.

We are fully aware of the Philippines' real intention and operational strategy, said Chen. "The Philippines has taken the Ren'ai Jiao issue as a tool to gain international attention and support from the US... In addition, Manila has bargained with China using the Ren'ai Jiao issue in an attempt to gain some economic benefits."

China has fully mastered the time and means of the Philippines' "supply" operation, and even the ways it counters CCG and the means of Manila's follow-up hyping via media, Chen told the Global Times.

"At present, as long as Philippine ships depart from base and sail toward the Ren'ai Reef, we will start to monitor the whole process," Chen said, "What kind of ships are involved, what is being carried on board, who is operating on board and what means will be used, we can monitor and analyze the real situation, and then develop a 'customized' response strategy."

Since August 2023, the Philippines has sent several groups of vessels trespassing into the waters off Ren'ai Jiao to send building materials to reinforce its illegally grounded warship there since 1999, attempting to permanently occupy the Chinese reef.

Given the small number of people on board the illegally grounded warship, China has long acted out of a humanitarian spirit and goodwill in greenlighting the Philippines' delivery of subsistence supplies to the ship on the Ren'ai Jiao, with a frequency of once or twice a month, but Manila must inform Beijing in advance and cannot ship construction materials to strengthen the illegally grounded warship, said Yang Xiao, deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Strategy Studies, China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.

The Philippine side is obviously aware of China's firm position on Ren'ai Jiao and diverse and effective countermeasures, which allowed China and the Philippines to reach an agreement during the Duterte tenure, Chen said.

However, the current Philippine government does not quite understand the fact that "the gains are not worth the losses," Chen said.

If the Philippines continues its provocation, China's countermeasures will further escalate, said Yang, "China has absolute sovereignty and governance rights and interests in these waters, and we will not allow the Philippines to abuse our goodwill."

Manila's provocation has only received verbal support from the US, but the cost is losing its stable ties with China, a large number of infrastructure cooperation projects... and the cost of provocations will grow larger, and it will become more likely that Manila also ruins its relations with ASEAN, Chen said.



Calm and restrained

Philippines' National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano stated on January 31 that China's assertion of its sovereign rights over the Huangyan Island lacks basis of international law.

According to the spokesperson Gan Yu, the CCG also expelled four Philippine personnel who intruded into China's Huangyan Island for illegal activities on January 28, and the situation was handled professionally, according to CCG.

On Friday, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian addressed a reception in the Chinese embassy in Manila celebrating the upcoming Chinese New Year with Philippine guests.

He said the good-neighborliness and friendship will always be the basis of China-Philippines relations, which serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and is also the common aspiration of the two peoples.

The two countries' heads of state have repeatedly pointed out that China and the Philippines should properly handle maritime issues through friendly consultation and should not let maritime differences become the sole focus of bilateral relations, Huang said, noting that China-Philippines relations "are at a critical juncture."

The two sides should meet each other halfway, implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, conform to the trend of history and mainstream public opinion, and promote the sound and steady development of China-Philippines relations, Huang said.

On the same day, Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong met with Manuel Mamba, provincial governor of Cagayan in Philippines, on the sidelines of the opening activities of the China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges held in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province.

Nong said that mutually beneficial cooperation and common development serve the fundamental interests of both countries, and China is committed to properly handling differences through dialogue and communication and bringing bilateral relations back to the right track. Mamba said that the Philippines and China are eternal neighbors and must get along well with each other. The two countries should resolve differences through dialogue, jointly safeguard regional peace and stability, and promote Philippine-China friendship and cooperation.

"There is no doubt that China is calm and restrained and is taking measures to avoid an escalation of the situation," a Beijing-based expert told the Global Times on Saturday, requesting anonymity.

Although some actions taken by the Philippine side are irresponsible, communication between Beijing and Manila has been constructive on the whole, he remarked.

During the recent Duterte administration, China and the Philippines were able to face the South China Sea disputes head-on and look at them in the bigger picture of bilateral ties and with a more holistic perspective, said the expert.

For disputes in sensitive areas, the two sides have adopted a "set aside" attitude, while in less sensitive areas, the two sides have chosen to accumulate more consensuses through cooperation, he noted.

"This relatively healthy cooperation dynamic of the past still has great momentum today," said the expert, "As long as the Philippine side can practice what it preaches and return to the right track, concrete and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries can still be expected."

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Regional resistance groups condemn US attacks on Iraq, Syria

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Feb 3, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Resistance groups in the West Asia region have condemned the Friday airstrikes by the United States that hit targets in Iraq and Syria.

Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units, also known as Al-Hashd al-Shaabi and part of the country's armed forces, issued a statement on Saturday, condemning the US strikes as a blatant violation of Iraq's sovereignty and an attempt to weaken the government in Baghdad, according to Al Jazeera.

Palestine's Islamic Jihad Movement also censured the US attacks against resistance forces in Iraq and Syria, saying that the strikes violated the sovereignty of both Arab countries.

The Islamic Jihad also warned that the American aggression would escalate tensions and instability in the region.

Another Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, denounced the US attacks as well, noting that Washington is fueling the flames of war.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said early on Saturday that it carried out attacks in Syria and Iraq in what it said was a retaliation for an attack on a US base in Jordan last Sunday when three American troops were killed.

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US strikes blatant violation of Iraqi sovereignty: Presidency

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Feb 3, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Iraqi presidency has condemned US strikes on the country as a blatant violation of its sovereignty.

In a statement on Saturday, the presidency said the US attacks on the city of Al-Qa'im in Anbar province and the border areas in western Iraq are a blatant violation of Iraq's sovereignty.

The statement came after US Central Command (CENTCOM) said US forces had struck more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria with fighter jets, including long-range bombers flown from the United States.

US President Joe Biden said on Friday that the strikes were in response to a drone attack that killed three American soldiers at a small US outpost in Jordan on Sunday.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, had claimed responsibility for the drone strike.

In its statement, the Iraqi presidency stressed that the US airstrikes will escalate tensions in the region and undermine peace and stability.

Meanwhile, Iraq's Foreign Ministry summoned the US charge d'affaires to Baghdad, David Burger, to hand him a note of protest over the strikes on the country.

The Iraqi prime minister's office said earlier that 16 people, including civilians, were killed in the US airstrikes.

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Iraqi resistance targets US base in northern Iraq

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Feb 3, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Islamic Resistance of Iraq had announced it made a drone attack on the US military base in Erbil, in the north of the country.

In line with the resistance approach against the American occupying forces in Iraq and the region and in response to the Zionist regime genocide in Gaza, the Islamic Resistance of Iraq targeted the US Harir Air Base in Erbil with several drones, the Islamic Resistance of Iraq said in a statement on Saturday.

The Iraqi resistance group emphasized that it would continue to attack and destroy the enemy's strongholds.

Meanwhile, news sources reported the Iraqi Islamic resistance's attack on three US military bases in Iraq and Syria.

The Islamic resistance of Iraq has targeted the US bases in al-Tanf and al-Khadra village in Syria using drones and rockets.

It has also targeted the Ain al-Assad base, which is the headquarters of the US military with several rockets.

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US airstrikes aimed at backing, reviving Daesh: Syria

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Feb 3, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Syrian Defense Ministry has said in a statement that the latest US airstrikes targeting positions in the east of the Arab country were aimed at supporting the Daesh terrorist group as the Syrian army is engaged in fighting with the remnants of the terrorists in the same areas where the strikes happened.

"US occupation forces launched on Saturday a blatant aerial aggression on a number of sites and towns in the eastern region of Syria, near Iraqi borders, leaving many civilian and military martyrs, injuring others and causing huge damage to private and public properties," said the statement issued by the Defense Ministry on Saturday, according to Syria's official SANA news agency.

The region targeted by the US attack is the same area where the Syrian army fights remnants of Daesh, and this affirms that Washington is "involved and allied" with the terrorist group, trying to revive it in Iraq and Syria, the statement added.

The Syrian Defense Ministry stressed that the US aggression has no justification, and is an attempt to "weaken the Syrian army's capability to fight terrorism."

However, it added, the Syrian army has already defeated many terrorist organizations and will continue to deal heavy blows to them despite all the attempts by the leaders and supporters of those organizations.

The US occupation of parts of Syria cannot continue, the Ministry further said, emphasizing that the government in Damascus is "determined to fight terrorism and liberate all Syrian territories from terrorism and occupation."

Earlier on Saturday, US Central Command (CENTCOM), which operates military activities in the West Asia region, announced on its X account that it had struck more than 85 targets in Syria and neighboring Iraq.

The US said that the strikes were the first phase of its response to a fatal drone attack on an American outpost in the Jordanian side of the border with Syria last Sunday. Washington blamed resistance groups operating in Syria and Iraq that are allied to Iran for the attack.

Tehran has vehemently rejected US claims that it had directed the groups and said that they do not take orders from the Islamic Republic in their actions related to the security of the region as well as those in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

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Iraqi source denies PMF commander died in US airstrikes

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Feb 3, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- An Iraqi security source has denied media reports suggesting that the martyrdom of Qasim Mosleh, a commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), has died in airstrikes by the United States.

A Saturday report by the Al-Malouma news website said the source had denied some media reports about the martyrdom of Qasim Mosleh, a notable PMF commander, in US airstrikes on positions in western Anbar province.

The source said that such media reports about targeting of PMF commanders are aimed at disrupting the security situation in Anbar.

The United States carried out airstrikes on dozens of positions in Iraq and Syria early on Saturday in response to an attack last month on one of its outposts in Jordan that killed three US service members and injured dozens more.

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Israeli regime scared of Hezbollah's new game-changing missile: Report

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Feb 3, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanese Resistance Movement Hezbollah, which has been engaged in clashes with the Israeli regime since early October in support of the Palestinians in Gaza, has recently used a new missile that has deeply worried the Israeli military because of its advanced capabilities, a report shows.

According to a Saturday report by Iraq-based Alahad TV, the Almas 1 (Diamond 1) missile has attracted the attention of Israeli media and analysts after it was publicly unveiled by Hezbollah during its last week attack on an Israeli military base at the border between the occupied territories and southern Lebanon.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz has said in a report that the new missile is an anti-tank guided missile with advanced capabilities.

It said that those capabilities enable the missile "to be launched at a target outside the direct line of sight of its operator, even at something behind a ridge or other obstacles."

This is contrary to the Kornet, a laser-guided missile operated by Hezbollah that requires direct line of sight to its target in order to reach it, Haaretz added.

The Almas 1 is programmed to gain altitude after its launch, with its operators tracking the trajectory by a camera in the missile's nose until the target is acquired, it said.

According to the Israeli newspaper, citing missile and drone expert Tal Inbar, it was the first time that "there is unequivocal documentation of this missile's use, but it's not the first time it's been fired."

The expert told Haaretz that the Almas 1 has been built based on several Israeli Spike missiles that Hezbollah captured in 2006.

Several days ago, Beirut-based Al Mayadeen news network, which is close to Hezbollah, said in a report that the resistance movement had unveiled a new advance missile used in an attack on a spying dome of the Israeli regime.

The network said that the missile, which can be used in combat operations, is capable of hitting invisible targets, while the weapon itself may not be detected by drones.

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US planes attack 85 targets in Iraq, Syria, statement says

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Feb 3, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The United States says it has carried out airstrikes in Iraq and Syria in response to a recent drone attack in Jordan that killed three American service members.

US Central Command (CENTCOM), which operates military activities in the West Asia region, said on the X platform early on Saturday that "US military forces struck more than 85 targets, with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from United States. The airstrikes employed more than 125 precision munitions."

CENTCOM said that the strikes had hit facilities of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and "affiliated militia groups".

The US military was referring to the Iraq-based resistance groups that have been hitting US bases in Iraq and Syria with drones and missiles over the past several months in retaliation for Washington's support for the Tel Aviv regime in its brutal war on Gaza, which is now in its fourth month and has killed more than 27,000 people in the besieged Palestinian territory.

The Iraq-based resistance factions, belonging to an umbrella group called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), is also opposed to the US presence in Iraq and has been pushing for the withdrawal of American forces from the Arab country, blaming their presence for instability in the region.

The US has said that IRI was behind the drone strike on the American outpost in Jordan last Sunday which also left nearly 40 US troops injured. Washington has also blamed Iran due to its support of the resistance groups in the region.

Iran has time and again denied directing the groups, saying that they act independently in their decisions and actions including those carried out in support of the Palestinian people.

No IRGC targets involved

Meanwhile, Qatar-based Al Jazeera news network, said that the IRGC Quds Force had no bases in the areas struck by the US on Friday.

Al Jazeera cited informed sources who rejected the US claims of targeting IRGC positions as unfounded and said that those claims were aimed at deceiving the pubic opinion.

The same sources also branded the US airstrikes as a blatant act of aggression against Iraq and Syria and said they would pose harms to the region.

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US, UK conduct fresh airstrikes on northern Yemen

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Feb 3, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Yemeni sources saythat warplanes of the United States and Britain have pounded the city of Sa'ada in northern Yemen.

According to Al Jazeera TV network, a Yemeni official said early on Saturday that a military base belonging to the ruling Ansarullah movement had been hit by US and UK airstrikes in a third airstrike against Yemenis in recent hours.

The Associated Press also quoted an American military official as saying that the attack had been carried out in line with the United States' "self-defense" agenda.

The Ansarullah movement's official website also reported that warplanes of the US-UK alliance had attacked Abs town in Hajjah Governorate of Yemen.

Yemeni security officials warned that they will not leave these aggressions unanswered.

The US and UK kicked off airstrikes on Yemen on January 11. They said these attacks were in response to Yemeni armed forces' attempts to target Israeli-linked ships in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and in the Red Sea which the Yemenis say are aimed at forcing the Israeli regime to halt its onslaught in the Gaza Strip.

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US says it carried out airstrikes inside Iraq and Syria

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Sat / 3 February 2024 / 13:01

The United States says it has carried out airstrikes on 85 targets inside Iraq and Syria.

Tehran-ISNA- The US began what it called "retaliatory strikes" against targets inside Iraq and Syria on Friday, claiming that those who were responsible for a recent deadly attack against American forces in Jordan were targetted.

The US Central Command claimed the targets include depots of rockets, missiles and unmanned drones.

"The airstrikes employed more than 125 precision munitions," US Central Command said on social media.

The US president said the strikes will continue at times and places of Washington's choosing.

Joe Biden said in a statement that the strikes were the first in a series of actions by the US in response to the attack in Jordan.

"Our response began today," he said. "It will continue at times and places of our choosing," he stated.

Reuters news agency carried the report, citing "three US officials."

The report cited "the US military" as saying that the strikes had hit "more than 85 targets with more than 125 munitions."

Citing "security sources," AFP reported taking place of a strike in western Iraq near the border with Syria.

Syrian state media also said an "American aggression" on sites in Syria's desert areas and the Syrian and Iraqi border had resulted in a number of casualties.

The Sunday drone attack, which has prompted the alleged reprisal, targeted a small US outpost in Jordan, leaving three American troops dead and injuring at least 34 others.

On Tuesday, Biden said he had "decided" on how he wanted the country to respond to the attack.

Repeating an earlier claim made by himself and other US officials, Biden purported that he held Iran "responsible in the sense that they're supplying the weapons."

In a statement on Monday, Iran's mission to the United Nations said Tehran had no links to attacks on US forces in the region as they were related to a conflict between regional resistance groups and the US military.

The statement was echoed in a letter that was written by Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's permanent ambassador to the United Nations, to the world body's Security Council.

Iravani categorically rejected accusations leveled by the United States about the Islamic Republic's involvement in anti-American operations in the region.

He 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.

End Item

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Hamas, PIJ chiefs hold talks on Operation Al-Aqsa Storm

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Sat / 3 February 2024 / 12:57

The leaders of the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad movements, Ismail Haniyeh and Ziyad al-Nakhalah held talks on Friday regarding the October 7 operation.

Tehran - ISNA - Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah held talks on Friday to discuss Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, the former's office said in a statement.

The office said Haniyeh and Al-Nakhalah talked about Operation Al-Aqsa Storm and discussed the field and political developments taking place in the Palestinian arena, reviewing the latest developments in occupied Palestine.

Consultations were held on the ongoing initiatives to end the aggression on Gaza and it was stressed that the consideration of the new ceasefire proposal was based on the fact that any negotiations must lead to a complete end to the aggression.

The two leaders underlined that the remainder of the conditions included the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, lifting the siege in place on Gaza since 2007, reconstruction, the entry of all the necessities of life for our people, and the completion of a comprehensive exchange deal.

Moreover, they stressed that the resistance factions would always serve the interests of the Palestinian people and their safety and security.

Haniyeh is scheduled to visit Cairo for discussions on a new ceasefire proposal, while the Israeli occupation continues its aggression against the besieged Gaza Strip.

Regarding the escalations and massacres, including the renewed aggression in the northern Gaza Strip, the leader reaffirmed the international community must live up to its obligations by pressuring the occupation to stop its massacres and crimes.

A leading figure from the Palestinian Resistance factions revealed Thursday that no agreement around a ceasefire deal has been reached yet.

End Item



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New American-British aggression against Saada in northern Yemen

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Sat / 3 February 2024 / 12:57

Reports from Yemeni media indicate a recent American-British aggression involving warplanes targeting the northern city of Saada.

Tehran - ISNA - Warplanes conducted three airstrikes on the eastern part of the city of Saada in northern Yemen at dawn on Saturday, marking a new American-British aggression against Yemen.

The Russian Sputnik news agency cited a source in the local authority of Saada Governorate stating that American and British fighter jets carried out three airstrikes on the Kahlan camp, located east of the city of Saada. The source added that drones were seen hovering in the city's sky before the aggression raids were launched.

The American-British aggression against Yemen follows the launch of seven airstrikes on the al-Jar area in the Abs district of the Hajjah Governorate on Friday, as reported by Al Mayadeen's correspondent.

The coastal city of Hodeidah on the Red Sea in western Yemen was subjected to multiple airstrikes at dawn on Thursday. American and British warplanes carried out the raids targeting various areas within the city.

It is worth noting that the spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announced on Friday that the missile force launched several missiles at Israeli military locations in Umm Al-Rashrash, south of occupied Palestine, with several missiles.

Saree explained that the operation was carried out in support of the Palestinian people being subjected to aggression and blockade until this very moment.

The YAF spokesperson went on to underline the continued commitment of the Yemeni Armed Forces to carrying out their religious, moral, and humanitarian duties toward the Palestinian people.

End Item





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YAF attacked targeted Israeli sites in occupied Palestine: Yemeni Army

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Sat / 3 February 2024 / 12:57

The spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announced that the missile force launched several missiles at Israeli military locations in Umm Al-Rashrash, south of occupied Palestine, with several missiles.

Tehran - ISNA - Saree explained that the operation was carried out in support of the Palestinian people being subjected to aggression and blockade until this very moment.

The YAF spokesperson went on to underline the continued commitment of the Yemeni Armed Forces to carry out their religious, moral, and humanitarian duties toward the Palestinian people.

The operation is "in response to the calls of our free Yemeni people, and the calls of all free people, from the sons of our Arab and Islamic worlds," he said.

He also stressed that the Yemeni Armed Forces "will not hesitate to carry out more military operations" against the Israeli occupation, by land and sea, until the aggression stops and the siege is lifted on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli media previously spoke about the launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward "Eilat", claiming that the Arrow system intercepted it in the Red Sea area.

This operation comes in parallel with the continued targeting of Israeli ships and those heading to the occupation ports by the Yemeni Armed Forces in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and Bab Al-Mandeb.

End Item





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Declining piano sales a sign of shift in focus

10:46, February 04, 2024 By ZHAO YIMENG, DENG RUI and ZHANG XIAOMIN ( China Daily

Born into a family of limited means in a small county in Northeast China's Liaoning province, Zhang Xin was envious of her classmates who had the opportunity to learn to play the piano.

When she became a mother, she did not want her daughter to miss out in the same way. So when her daughter Wang Yuhan started kindergarten, Zhang bought a piano and signed her daughter up for piano classes.

One day Zhang returned home from work to find that Wang had quarreled with her grandmother, who usually supervised her piano practice. Zhang learned that Wang was overwhelmed by schoolwork, but her grandmother was still insisting on an hour of piano practice a day, which led to the quarrel.

Wang, 10, is now in grade four and Zhang plans to stop her piano lessons before she enters grade five later this year, so that she can focus on her schoolwork.

"A friend told me that a large number of children hadn't touched the keyboard after achieving grade 10(the highest level of the piano exam for learners)," Zhang said. "Learning to play the piano has left them with painful memories and is seen as a burden, so I decided to let it go."

Zhang's experience is a poignant note on the declining sales of the piano, once known as the "king of instruments" in China, from its peak a few years ago.

The business fortunes of two major domestic brands reflect a dramatic drop in the sector. In the first three quarters of 2023, the net profit of Hailun Piano, a leading manufacturer, fell 24.7 percent year-on-year. Meanwhile, the net profit of PR Piano Art Studio, a reputable institution that offers piano lessons nationwide, plummeted 93.5 percent year-on-year to 6.47 million yuan ($905,364).

Li Yang, co-owner of a music training institution in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, acknowledges the downturn in the music business. His institution enrolled 15 to 20 piano students a month during the golden era of music education from 2016 through 2020, but now it has only five students.

"The market for arts training is expected to shrink because piano learning is no longer a rigid demand," Li said.

The emphasis parents place on arts training has changed along with the changes in their financial situations and the nation's education policies. Some have shifted their children's focus to schoolwork, or have chosen to invest in instruments less expensive than the piano.

The Ministry of Education has canceled a measure that gave additional marks in high school entrance exams to students specializing in the arts or sports, meaning that high piano grades no longer offer an advantage in high school enrollment.

Liu Yunlong, operator of a piano training institution in Beijing, said he has a dozen regular students.

"I noticed that the number of parents asking about buying a piano dropped last year," Liu said. "Not all families can afford a home spacious enough to accommodate a piano, especially in areas near top schools in Beijing."

Even though piano sales dropped last year, the demand for piano training in big cities such as Beijing remains steady.

About half of the space at Jiangjie Music Group's training center in the Chinese capital is occupied by 12 small piano classrooms, with the other half displaying dozens of pianos. On an afternoon last week, five children practiced for three hours, either by themselves or with a teacher.

Ma Sen, head of the training center in Beijing's Anzhen area, said that more than 200 children ages 4 to 12 take lessons there, with the number having rebounded to a steady level after a drop during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Noting that an hour of piano lessons costs about 300 yuan, Ma said it usually takes parents one to six months to see if their children have an interest in or gift for playing the piano before deciding to buy one. The store sells about 20 pianos a month, with prices ranging from 40,000 to 150,000 yuan.

Although Beijing's piano market is still stable, he said it cannot compare with its heyday in 2015, when his store sold about 40 pianos each month.

"In the past, parents scrambled to buy pianos and cultivate the musical talent of their children, but now their goal is trying to develop their children's hobbies," Ma said.

Some students give up lessons after a few months and their parents, most of whom are burdened with busy work schedules and financial concerns, are more rational, he said.

"They are too busy to accompany their children for piano classes on weekdays, so usually grandparents come to pick up the students," he added.

However, the piano is still the first choice of parents and a basic step for children who are really keen on musical instruments, according to Ma.

"I don't think the interest in learning the piano is cooling down, at least not in my training center," he said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
US strikes in Syria, Iraq to further destabilize region: Hezbollah

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 03 February 2024 6:11 PM

The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has denounced overnight US airstrikes in Iraq and Syria as "a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the two countries," emphasizing that the aggression would further destabilize the region.

Hezbollah made the remarks in a statement on Saturday, after the US carried out what it called "retaliatory strikes" against targets inside Iraq and Syria

"What the United States of America has done is a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the two states, an aggression on their security and territorial integrity, and a breach of all international and humanitarian laws," the resistance group said.

It went on to say that this aggression would lead to destabilizing the region, adding that it would create "pretexts and flimsy excuses" for the continuation of US occupation of various areas in Iraq and Syria.

The resistance movement further noted that US aggression on Iraq and Syria exposes the lies of Washington's claims of not wanting to expand the conflict in the region.

"On the contrary, it contributes to fueling conflict, tension, and escalating wars in the region," it added.

Hezbollah further said it believes that this "criminal aggression" will push the Iraqi and Syrian people to adhere to the path of resistance to liberate their countries from the US occupation and to continue supporting and aiding the besieged Gaza Strip until the Israeli aggression is stopped.

On Saturday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that its forces have struck more than 85 targets "with numerous aircraft" during overnight raids on localities in Iraq and Syria.

It claimed the targets include depots of rockets, missiles and unmanned drones.

In a statement on Friday, US President Joe Biden said the strikes were the first in a series of actions by Washington in response to a drone attack that killed three American soldiers and left about 40 others injured in an occupation base near the Jordan-Syria border on Sunday.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of anti-terror fighters, claimed responsibility for the drone strike.

Iraqi resistance forces have conducted dozens of strikes on the US-run military installations in both Iraq and Syria amid growing anti-US sentiments in the region over Washington's support for the Israeli genocidal campaign in Gaza.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm in response to Tel Aviv's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

Since the start of the aggression, Israel has killed more than 27,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the latest count by the Gaza Health Ministry.

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Iraq's resistance groups slam US airstrikes as 'violation of sovereignty'

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 03 February 2024 6:00 PM

Iraq's anti-terror resistance groups have condemned the latest airstrikes by the United States on several sites used by fellow fighters in the country.

The Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), better known by the Arabic word Hashd al-Sha'abi, said in a statement on Saturday, "The US bombardment constitutes a flagrant violation of the Iraqi sovereignty, as it targeted sites belonging to state security institutions."

"It also struck residential buildings, terrorizing ordinary citizens. Such actions mark a blatant disregard for all international principles and regulations," it added.

The attacks targeted the official security headquarters of the PMU in the town of Qa'im, located nearly 400 kilometers (248 miles) northwest of the capital Baghdad and near the Syrian border.

The statement said the act of aggression resulted in the death of 16 people and injury of 36 others.

"We, hereby, declare our preparedness to carry out any orders from the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces [Prime Minister Mohamed Shia' al-Sudani] to defend national sovereignty, territorial integrity and public security."

Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba also condemned the airstrikes, stating that the attacks violated the sovereignty and dignity of Iraq, resulted in the martyrdom of several PMU fighters and ordinary people, and emboldened Daesh Takfiri terrorists to target security forces.

"With this act of aggression, the evil administration of US President Joe Biden confirmed that it is a sponsor of terrorism and crimes in the world, and that such violations amount to a grave breach of sovereignty."

Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba declared its readiness to launch strikes on US occupation forces, emphasizing that the Islamic Resistance in Iraq - an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters - is now capable of striking far-flung points and delivering befitting responses to the enemy.

"Let American occupation forces and the ominous administration know that the Islamic Resistance will respond as it deems appropriate in time and place. We have surprises that will enrage the enemy and delight our allies," Nujaba stated.

The Iraqi resistance group reiterated it will neither compromise and retreat nor back down from its struggle against US forces.

Hadi al-Amiri, the leader of the Badr Organization and a key resistance figure, also condemned the airstrikes on Qa'im.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its military forces struck more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria "with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from the United States." The attacks "employed more than 125 precision munitions."

US President Joe Biden said in a statement on Friday that the strikes were the first in a series of actions by Washington in response to a recent drone attack that killed a number of soldiers at a remote US base in Jordan. "Our response began today," Biden said.

"It will continue at times and places of our choosing."

Three US soldiers were killed and about 40 others injured in the assault on the military base known as Tower 22 near the Jordan-Syria border on January 28. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for the drone strike.

In retaliation for the latest flurry of US attacks on several locations in Iraq and Syria, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced that it had conducted missile strikes against the Ain al-Asad Airbase, housing US occupation forces in the western Iraqi province of Anbar.

The group also said it had carried out missile and drone strikes against the strategic al-Tanf military base in southeastern Syria near the border with Jordan and Iraq, as well as the village of Khadra in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah.

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No Iranian base or advisors targeted by US strikes in Iraq, Syria: Diplomat

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 03 February 2024 5:46 PM

Iran's Ambassador to Damascus Hossein Akbari says no Iranian bases or military advisors have been targeted in deadly strikes by the US occupation forces on a number of sites in Iraq and Syria.

Akbari said on Saturday that contrary to claims, the attacks aimed to destroy Syria's civil infrastructure amid the pro-Palestine actions undertaken by the resistance front.

He said the US government's terrorist act on Friday night was carried out mainly to make up for Israel's defeats in the Gaza Strip and strengthening armed Takfiri terrorists based on the borders of Iraq and Syria.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on Friday that its forces had struck more than 85 targets "with numerous aircraft" during overnight raids on localities in Iraq and Syria.

The Syrian state media reported that the US aggression targeted positions in Syria's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr and the city of al-Bukamal near the Iraqi border, falling short of providing details on the extent of damage and the exact number of casualties.

Sixteen people were killed, among them civilians, and 25 injured in the US airstrikes in Iraq, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani's office said.

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US strikes designed to drag regional powers into conflict: Russia

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 03 February 2024 5:32 PM

Russia says overnight US airstrikes in Iraq and Syria were deliberately designed to inflame tensions in the region and drag the region's major powers into a new conflict.

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday that US airstrikes on the two countries in West Asia once again demonstrated the aggressive nature of Washington's foreign policy.

"It is obvious that the airstrikes are deliberately designed to further inflame the conflict."

Washington, she said, "is purposefully trying to drive the largest countries in the region into conflict."

Zakharova said Washington's "airstrikes involving strategic bombers across Iraq and Syria, ... once again demonstrated to the world the aggressive nature of US policy in the Middle East."

"Recent events confirm that the United States is not and has never been looking for solutions to problems in the region."

US military forces struck more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria overnight Friday. The air strikes were carried out over 30 minutes and used over 125 precision munitions.

US President Joe Biden said that the strikes were the first in a series of actions in response to a drone attack that killed several soldiers at a remote US base in Jordan.

The Syrian military said the strikes had killed civilians and soldiers and caused "significant damage" to infrastructure. And in Iraq, the airstrikes killed at least 16 people, including civilians, and injured 25 others.

A spokesman for the Iraqi Armed Forces called the strikes "a threat that will drag Iraq and the region into unforeseen consequences."

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the strikes were "the start of our response."

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Hamas: US strikes in Syria, Iraq 'pouring oil on fire' in region

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 03 February 2024 2:46 PM

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has strongly condemned the recent US strikes against several sites in Iraq and Syria, stressing that Washington is pouring "oil on the fire" in the region.

Hamas made the remarks in a statement on Saturday, after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that its forces ha struck more than 85 targets "with numerous aircraft" during overnight raids on localities in Iraq and Syria.

The resistance group went on to say that the US "bears full responsibility for the repercussions of this aggressive attack on Iraq and Syria."

"Those who pour oil on the fire, we assure you that the region will not find stability, nor peace until the Zionist (Israeli) aggression, genocidal crimes and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip ceases," it added.

Hamas further emphasized that the region will not witness stability and peace unless the Israeli regime's attacks, genocide and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip is stopped.

Earlier in the day, US occupation forces targeted positions in Syria's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr and the city of al-Bukamal near the Iraqi border. They also targeted the cities of al-Qa'im and Akashat near the Syrian border in Iraq's western province of al-Anbar.

In a statement on Friday, US President Joe Biden said the strikes were the first in a series of actions by Washington in response to a drone attack that killed three American soldiers and left about 40 others injured in an occupation base near the Jordan-Syria border earlier in the week.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of anti-terror fighters, claimed responsibility for the drone strike in a statement published on its Telegram channel.

Iraqi resistance forces have conducted dozens of strikes on the US-run military installations in both Iraq and Syria amid growing anti-US sentiments in the region over Washington's support for the Israeli genocidal campaign in Gaza.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm in response to Tel Aviv's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

Since the start of the aggression, Israel has killed more than 27,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the latest count by the Gaza Health Ministry.

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China says Philippine vessel 'illegally' entered disputed atoll

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 03 February 2024 11:11 AM

China says a small civilian vessel from the Philippines has illegally anchored at the beach of an atoll in the South China Sea, which is claimed by both countries.

The vessel, which landed on the Spratly Islands atoll on Friday, was there for supply purposes, the China Coast Guard said on the Weixin platform.

The Philippines has deployed a limited contingent of soldiers on a World War Two vessel that was intentionally grounded in 1999.

This strategic move serves as a stronghold to strengthen its territorial assertion over the Second Thomas Shoal, referred to as Ayungin in the Philippines and the Renai Reef in China.

The shoal lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone 200 km west of the archipelago and 1,000 km from the nearest Chinese landmass.

The recently released satellite images by Maxar reveal the extent to which tensions continue to rise in the South China Sea between the Philippines and China over the strategically important reef.

In the images, Chinese coastguard vessels are shown blocking access to the shoal situated on the reef.

Last year, the Philippines rejected China's request to tow the vessel away, which led to the deterioration of diplomatic ties between the two Asian countries.

"We will never abandon (Second Thomas) Shoal. We will continue to resupply troops in the grounded vessel as long as it takes," a spokesman for the Philippines National Security Council said last year in August.

Meanwhile, the Chinese foreign ministry alleged the Philippines had repeatedly broken promises to remove its base from the reef.

"The Chinese side once again urges the Philippines to immediately tow away the "stranded" warship from the Ren'ai Reef and restore the status of no one and no facilities on the reef," it said.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague dismissed China's claims to sovereignty over Philippines waters.

China claims ownership over almost the entire South China Sea, also including areas claimed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

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Yemen's Ansarullah vows to stand by Iraqi, Syrian resistance groups 'in battlefield' after US strikes

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 03 February 2024 7:44 AM

Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement has condemned US airstrikes on Iraq and Syria, expressing firm support for anti-terror resistance groups operating in both countries.

"We declare our support and solidarity with resistance factions in Syria, Iraq, Palestine and elsewhere across the region and emphasize that we will stand by them in the battlefield," Ali al-Qahoum, a member of Ansarullah's political bureau, said on Saturday.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces struck more than 85 targets in the two countries "with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from the United States".

US President Joe Biden said in a statement that the strikes were the first in a series of actions by Washington in response to a drone attack that killed three soldiers at a remote US base in Jordan.

Ansarullah has emerged as a potent force in the fight against Israeli-US invasion of Gaza and regional dynamics, presenting a daunting challenge to the United States.

The resistance group has weathered numerous strikes by the US and Britain on Yemen to target vessels bound for Israeli ports in solidarity with the Palestinians who for the past four months have been subject to one of the most ferocious bombing campaigns in the recent history.

The United States has provided Israel with a steady supply of weapons and intelligence support and blocked UN resolutions calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.

Last month, Ansarullah declared all US and British vessels "legitimate targets" after the two countries launched a series of military strikes on Yemen.

In Iraq, resistance forces have conducted dozens of strikes on the US-run military installations in both Iraq and Syria amid growing anti-US sentiments in the region over Washington's support for the Israeli genocidal campaign in Gaza.

After Friday's strikes in western Iraq near the Syrian border a spokesman for Prime Minister Mohamed Shia' al-Sudani said in a statement that the attacks are a "violation of Iraqi sovereignty" and will bring "disastrous consequences for the security and stability of Iraq and the region".

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Iraqi PM rejects US 'lies', says 16 people killed in 'new aggression'

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 03 February 2024 5:01 AM

Sixteen people were killed, among them civilians, and 25 injured in overnight US airstrikes on on Iraq, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani's office has said.

In a statement, it condemned the strikes as a "new aggression against Iraq's sovereignty" and denied that they were coordinated by the Baghdad government beforehand with Washington, calling such assertions "lies".

The presence of the US troops in the region "has become a reason for threatening security and stability in Iraq and a justification for involving Iraq in regional and international conflicts", the statement added.

"These airstrikes constitute a violation of Iraqi sovereignty," Iraqi military spokesman Yahya Rasool said in a statement earlier.

He noted that the actions taken by Washington will have "disastrous consequences for the security and stability of Iraq and the region".

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its military forces struck more than 85 targets in the two countries "with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from the United States".

"The air strikes employed more than 125 precision munitions," it added in a statement.

US President Joe Biden said in a statement on Friday that the strikes were the first in a series of actions by Washington in response to a drone attack that killed a number of soldiers at a remote US base in Jordan.

"Our response began today," Biden said. "It will continue at times and places of our choosing," he stated.

Three US soldiers were killed and about 40 others injured in the assault on the military base known as Tower 22 near the Jordan-Syria border on Sunday.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, in a statement published on its Telegram channel claimed responsibility for the drone strike.

In retaliation for the latest flurry of US aerial assaults on several locations in Iraq and Syria, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced that it had conducted missile strikes against the Ain al-Asad Airbase, housing US occupation forces in the western Iraqi province of al-Anbar.

The group also said it had staged missile and drone strikes against the strategic al-Tanf military base in southeastern Syria near the border with Jordan and Iraq, as well as the al-Khadra Village in Syria's northeastern province of al-Hasakah.

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U.S., U.K. Launch Fresh Retaliatory Strikes Against Iran-Linked Sites In Yemen

By RFE/RL February 03, 2024

The United States and Britain launched fresh retaliatory strikes against Iran-linked sites late on February 3, hitting 36 Huthi targets in Yemen as they followed through on threats to continue military action against groups that have attacked Western interests in the region.

A U.S. statement said the latest strikes were carried out by ships and warplanes, part of efforts to retaliate following a drone strike in Jordan last month that killed three American service members, an attack Washington blamed on Tehran and its allies operating in Syria and Iraq.

The statement said 13 different locations in Yemen and were hit by U.S. F/A-18 jets from the Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and by U.S. warships in the Red Sea firing Tomahawk missiles.

U.S. officials earlier said they believe air strikes on dozens of Iran-linked sites in Syria and Iraq late on February 2 were successful and U.S. allies expressed support, as Iran, Iraq, and Syria expressed anger amid concerns of widening conflict in the region.

U.S. allies expressed support for the move as Iran, Iraq, and Syria expressed anger amid concerns of widening conflict in the region.

Officials from U.S. allies Britain and Poland issued statements in support of the U.S. actions, citing Washington's right to respond to attacks and warning that Iran proxies were "playing with fire."

Tehran said it "strongly" condemns the air strikes.

Iraq said it summoned the U.S. charge d'affaires in Baghdad to protest.

Reports from Iraq and Syria suggested that around 40 people had been killed in strikes at seven locations, four in Syria and three in Iraq.

Baghdad said earlier that 16 troops of a state security body known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, which includes Iran-backed entities, had been killed. Earlier, it said the dead included civilians.

The head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Andulrahman, said 23 guards at targeted sites had been killed.

U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement released shortly after the attacks that "our response began today," adding: "It will continue at times and places of our choosing."

"The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world. But let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond," he added.

A British government spokesperson on February 3 condemned alleged Iranian actions in the region as "destabilizing" and reiterated London's "steadfast" alliance with Washington.

"The U.K. and U.S. are steadfast allies," the spokesperson, quoted by Reuters, said. "We wouldn't comment on their operations, but we support their right to respond to attacks.

The spokesperson added: "We have long condemned Iran's destabilizing activity throughout the region, including its political, financial, and military support to a number of militant groups."

Another NATO ally, Poland, also condemned Iran and the groups it allegedly sponsors.

"Iran's proxies have played with fire for months and years," Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said as he arrived for an EU meeting in Brussels, "and it's now burning them."

Iran, whose Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) have extensive ties to some militias in the region, accused the United States of undermining stability.

"Last night's attack on Syria and Iraq is an adventurous action and another strategic mistake by the U.S. government, which will have no result other than intensifying tension and instability in the region," Naser Kanani, a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said.

Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani accused the U.S.-led military coalition in the region of threatening security and stability in his country and attacking its sovereignty.

His office said the casualties included some civilians among 16 dead and two dozen injured.

Sudani also rejected any suggestion that Washington had coordinated the air strikes with his government.

After a previous U.S. air strike in Baghdad, Sudani asked for the 2,000 or so U.S. troops in Iraq to be withdrawn -- a sensitive bilateral topic.

The Foreign Ministry of Syria called the U.S. actions a path to further conflict.

"What [the United States] committed has served to fuel conflict in the Middle East in a very dangerous way," the ministry said in a statement, according to Reuters.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the United States "did inform the Iraqi government prior to the strikes" but did not provide details. He said the attacks lasted about 30 minutes and included B-1 bombers that had flown from the United States.

Lieutenant General Douglas Sims of the U.S. Joint Staff was quoted as saying secondary explosions suggested the strikes had successfully hit weaponry. He also said that planners were aware anyone in those facilities was at risk.

"U.S. military forces struck more than 85 targets, with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from United States," U.S. Central Command said, adding that it had struck "command and control operations, centers, intelligence centers, rockets, and missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicle storages, and logistics and munition supply chain facilities of militia groups and their IRGC sponsors who facilitated attacks against U.S. and Coalition forces."

U.S. officials have said that the deadly January 28 attack in Jordan carried the "footprints" of Tehran-sponsored Kataib Hizballah militia in Iraq and vowed to hold those responsible to account at a time and place of Washington's choosing, most likely in Syria or Iraq.

On January 31, Kataib Hizballah extremists in Iraq announced a "suspension" of operations against U.S. forces. The group said the pause was meant to prevent "embarrassing" the Iraqi government and hinted that the drone attack had been linked to the U.S. support of Israel in the war in Gaza.

Biden has been under pressure from opposition Republicans to take a harder line against Iran following the Jordan attack, but said earlier this week that "I don't think we need a wider war in the Middle East. That's not what I'm looking for."

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said Tehran "will not start any war, but if anyone wants to bully us, they will receive a strong response."

The Associated Press quoted a spokesman for the Iran-backed Harakat al-Nujaba militia in Iraq as saying "every action elicits a reaction" but also adding that "we do not wish to escalate or widen regional tensions." He said most of the sites bombed were "devoid of fighters and military personnel" at the time.

The clashes between U.S. forces and Iran-backed militia have come against the background of an intense four-month military campaign in Gaza Strip against the U.S.- and EU-designated terrorist group Hamas after a Hamas attack killed at least 1,200 people in Israel, most of them civilians.

The Iran-backed Huthi rebels hit in Yemen on February 3 have also waged attacks on international shipping in the region in what they call an effort to target Israeli vessels and demonstrate support for Palestinians.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is traveling to his fifth round of crisis talks in the region from February 3-8, with visits reportedly planned to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and the West Bank in an effort to promote a release of hostages taken by Hamas in its brutal October 7 raids.

With reporting by Reuters, the BBC, and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-strikes-iran- targets-syria-iraq-/32803839.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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EU Council Formally Asked To Insert Recent Kosovo Commitments Into Serbia's Accession Talks

By RFE/RL's Balkan Service February 03, 2024

The European Commission and the bloc's diplomatic service have submitted a proposal to the European Council to make commitments by Serbia last year related to neighboring Kosovo part of Belgrade's formal negotiating framework for entry to the European Union, RFE/RL's Balkan Service has learned.

The proposal by the EU's executive arm and the EEAS to the European Council, where leaders of the respective member states set the bloc's political agenda, was delivered on February 2, according to a commission spokesperson.

Serbia does not recognize Kosovo's declaration of sovereignty from 2008, which followed a bloody conflict and UN intervention to help administer the former Serbian province.

Any progress on normalizing Serbian-Kosovar relations has proven difficult as the two Balkan neighbors fall short of commitments, including some made more than a decade ago.

The biggest sticking points have been recognition of Kosovo's sovereignty and the groundwork by Pristina for an association of Serb municipalities that could more adequately represent predominantly ethnic Serb areas in Kosovo.

Early last year near Lake Ohrid, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti each verbally agreed to sets of commitments, followed by a plan for implementation.

But it has mostly stalled, and violent incidents last year in northern Kosovo undermined trust and fueled fears of a dangerous escalation of conflict in a historically vulnerable region.

The European Council in December had asked the European Commission and EU foreign policy head Josep Borrell to prepare by the end of January the insertion of the Ohrid commitments into Chapter 35 of Serbia's framework for reforms.

The European Union formally opened accession negotiations with Serbia in 2014, soon after the so-called Brussels agreement with its road map toward normalized relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

Sources close to the process told RFE/RL's Balkan Service that the office of the European commissioner for enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, has been a brake on inclusion of the obligation as an amendment to Chapter 35 of Serbia's acquis framework for required reforms.

That was among the first of Serbia's reform chapters to be opened, in December 2015.

The same sources said the commission should have begun working on the proposal for amending Chapter 35 to include the new commitments immediately after Ohrid.

Varhelyi, a Hungarian, is regarded as a close associate of that country's prime minister, Viktor Orban, who is among the EU's most vociferous critics.

Brussels has consistently underscored to both Belgrade and Pristina that their normalized relations are essential to progress on accession.

A handful of EU member states do not formally acknowledge Kosovo's independence, and neither do Russia or China.

Around 110 countries, including the United States, recognize Kosovo.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-serbia-kosovo- commitments-ohrid-varhelyi-borell-orban/32804043.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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Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's comment on US strikes on Iraq and Syria

3 February 2024 15:22

186-03-02-2024

The US strategic bomber attack on Iraq and Syria, which destroyed and damaged dozens of facilities and killed numerous civilians, has once again demonstrated to the world the aggressive nature of US policy in the Middle East and Washington's total disregard for international law.

The obedient participation of British Royal Air Force in the US attack should not give anyone the illusion of an "international coalition" taking action. London has yet to answer for its zealous support of the provocations launched by its bosses in Washington.

It is clear that the airstrikes were specifically intended to further escalate the conflict. By relentlessly attacking the facilities of allegedly pro-Iranian groups in Iraq and Syria, the United States has been purposefully attempting to draw the largest countries in the region into the conflict.

Confident of its impunity, Washington continues to sow chaos and destruction in the Middle East. The largest US air operation in the region since 2003, presented by Joe Biden as an "act of retaliation" for an unknown UAV attack on a US base in Jordan, has no justification. The attempts to flex their muscles in order to influence the political situation in the United States, as well as their desperation to salvage the failed international policies of the current US administration in the context of the ongoing election campaign are leading to a further escalation of international tensions and further undermining US credibility in the Arab world.

The recent events have confirmed that the United States is not seeking solutions to the region's problems, nor has it ever sought any. Washington has always been content with a situation where chronic disagreements in the Middle East were only getting worse. It is not even about American strategists' usual indifference towards the regional states' aspirations or interests; rather, it is their obsession with creating hotbeds of tension from Finland to the Suez Canal, from Libya to Afghanistan, far from their own borders, closer to their "adversaries," but also closer to their loyal allies in NATO and the EU.

We strongly condemn this new outrageous act of US-British aggression against sovereign states. We insist on the urgent consideration of this situation by the UN Security Council.

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Russia Seeking Urgent Review of US Strikes on Syria, Iraq at UN Security Council - Moscow

Sputnik News

20240203

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Moscow strongly condemns the US airstrikes on Syria and Iraq and is seeking an immediate review of the attacks at the UN Security Council, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday.

"We strongly condemn the new blatant act of US-UK aggression against sovereign states. We are seeking urgent review of the current situation at the UN Security Council," Zakharova said in a statement.

The United States and the United Kingdom neglected international law by attacking the countries and attempted to drag the major nations of the region into the conflict, the spokeswoman also stated.

On Saturday night, the United States said it had hit over 85 targets linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its affiliated forces in Iraq and Syria in response to the recent attack on a US military base in Jordan.

 Sputnik

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US Airstrikes Over Eastern Syria Kill Civilian, Military Personnel - Defense Ministry

Sputnik News

20240203

CAIRO (Sputnik) - US airstrikes on eastern Syria have resulted in civilian, military personnel casualties and caused great damage to public and private property, the Syrian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

"Today, the US occupation forces committed an undisguised aerial aggression against a number of positions and cities in eastern Syria and near the Syrian-Iraqi borders. As a result, a number of civilians and military personnel were killed and wounded, and great damage was caused to public and private property," the Syrian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The US air strikes "cannot be justified" and are considered as "an attempt to weaken the capabilities of the Syrian army and its allies in the fight against terrorism," the statement read.

Earlier on Saturday, the US Central Command said that the United States had conducted its first retaliatory strikes against 85 targets allegedly linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups in Iraq and Syria by using B1 strategic bombers and 125 precision munitions within about 30 minutes. Joint Chiefs of Staff Director of Operations Douglas Sims said that the US struck three adversary facilities in Iraq and four in Syria.

 Sputnik

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Three Civilians Killed, Six Injured After Israeli Attack in Southern Gaza Strip - Red Crescent

Sputnik News

20240203

Nearly 27,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israeli strikes since the beginning of hostilities, according to local officials.

Three civilians were killed and six others injured, as well as one staff member, as a result of the Israeli military's attack on the Palestinian Red Crescent Society's building and Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported on its website.

"The Palestine Red Crescent Society condemns the direct shelling by the Israeli occupation forces on the society's building in Khan Younis and Al-Amal Hospital ...., which shelters thousands of displaced people, resulting in the death of three displaced people and our colleague," the organization said in a statement.

It is specified that Hedaya Hamad, director of the youth and volunteer department, was killed in the shelling, while six people were injured. As noted by the Red Crescent, the siege of the Al-Amal Hospital and the headquarters of the organization is continuing for the 12th day.

Earlier, the organization reported that Israeli snipers had opened fire on its building in Khan Younis, resulting in deaths and injuries, including at least one female employee of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.

On October 7, the Palestinian Hamas movement launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from Gaza and breached the border, killing 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others. 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.

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 to the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times, but expired on December 1.

 Sputnik

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Secretary Blinken's Call with former Kenyan President Kenyatta

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

February 3, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta about the escalating conflict in eastern DRC and the importance of the Nairobi Process in providing a pathway to reconciliation with armed groups.

The Secretary emphasized the valuable role of regional leaders in assisting the DRC and Rwanda in implementing the confidence-building measures and other commitments made in their discussions with Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and other senior U.S. officials.

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US, Britain Launch Airstrikes Against Houthi Targets

By VOA News February 03, 2024

The U.S. Central Command said it conducted a self-defense strike early Sunday against a Houthi anti-ship cruise missile "prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea."

In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Centcom said U.S. forces had determined that the cruise missile in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen "presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region." Centcom said its action ensures freedom of navigation and makes international waters "safer and more secure for U.S. Navy vessels and merchant vessels."

In a second wave of retaliatory attacks against Iran-backed groups, the United States and Britain struck at least 36 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday.

The joint operation focused on weapon launchers, radar sites and drones.

In a statement Saturday, the Pentagon said the U.S. and Britain hit 36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen using U.S. F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier. The USS Gravely and the USS Carney Navy destroyers also fired Tomahawk missiles from the Red Sea, U.S. officials told The Associated Press.

"These precision strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade, and the lives of innocent mariners, and are in response to a series of illegal, dangerous, and destabilizing Houthi actions since previous coalition strikes on January 11 and 22, 2024, including the January 27 attack which struck and set ablaze the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker M/V Marlin Luanda," the statement said.

U.S. President Joe Biden was briefed on the attacks before he left Saturday for a campaign trip on the West Coast, an administration official said.

The Houthis made it clear Saturday that they aren't backing down.

"Military operations against Israel will continue until the crimes of genocide in Gaza are stopped and the siege on its residents is lifted, no matter the sacrifices it costs us," Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a Houthi official, wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "American-British aggression against Yemen will not go unanswered, and we will meet escalation with escalation."

The U.S. strikes targeted deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, radars and helicopters, the Defense Department said. The British military said it struck a ground control station west of Yemen's capital, Sanaa, that has been used to control Houthi drones that have launched against vessels in the Red Sea.

Hours before the latest joint operation, the U.S. Central Command said it took out six anti-ship cruise missiles that were ready to launch.

The Houthis said there were 14 attacks; 11 targeted the Al-Barah area in the Maqbanah District and areas in the Haifan District, a security source told the Houthi-run Yemeni News Agency (Saba). The other three attacks targeted Jabal Al-Jada' in Al-Lahiya District and the Al-Salif District in Al-Hudaydah Governorate.

The strikes were the second wave of attacks that began Friday when the U.S. hit more than 85 targets linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and its proxies in Iraq and Syria, in retaliation for last Sunday's deadly drone attack on an American military base in Jordan.

White House spokesperson John Kirby said three facilities were hit in Iraq and four in Syria.

Biden said the strikes demonstrate to "all those who might seek to do us harm" that "if you harm an American, we will respond."

According to the U.S. Central Command, the retaliatory strikes reportedly killed nearly 40 people and injured about 23. The operation included long-range B-1 bombers flown from the U.S. that used more than 125 precision munitions, according to U.S. military officials.

A U.S. official said Saturday that an initial battle damage assessment showed the U.S. had struck each of its planned targets.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that 23 people were killed in the Syria strikes, all rank-and-file fighters, while Iraqi government spokesperson Bassim al-Awadi said in a statement Saturday the strikes in Iraq near the Syrian border killed 16, including civilians, and there was "significant damage" to homes and private properties.

Iraq, but not Iran, was informed before the strikes, according to U.S. officials.

"This is the start of our response," U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said after the strikes. "We do not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else, but the president and I will not tolerate attacks on American forces."

Iranian Foreign Ministry Nasser Kanaani contended the airstrikes were "violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of Syria and Iraq, and they represent "another adventurous and strategic mistake by the United States that will result only in increased tension and instability in the region."

In an interview with The Associated Press in Baghdad, Hussein al-Mosawi, spokesperson for Harakat al-Nujaba, one of the main Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, condemned the U.S. strikes, though he struck a more conciliatory tone, saying that "we do not wish to escalate or widen regional tensions."

Mike Johnson, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, was critical of the Biden administration's weeklong delay in launching a retaliatory attack. "The public handwringing and excessive signaling undercuts our ability to put a decisive end to the barrage of attacks endured over the past few months."

Senator Jack Reed, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee disagreed. "These strikes, in concert with wise diplomacy, send a clear signal that the United States will continue to take appropriate action to protect our personnel and our interests."

Russia has requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Monday afternoon, Dmitry Polyansky, Russia's foreign deputy permanent representative to the U.N., said on X.

VOA White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara contributed to this report from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin also contributed.

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Fears of Israeli Push to Rafah, Last Haven for Gaza Refugees

By VOA News February 03, 2024

The European Union expressed deep concern Saturday over reports that the Israeli military intends to push on against Hamas all the way to Rafah.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned the conflict is likely to spread throughout the region unless a cease-fire is agreed upon by Israel and Hamas, after U.S. airstrikes hit dozens of sites in Iraq and Syria used by Iranian-backed militias and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Borrell said that about 1 million Palestinians "have been displaced progressively against the Egyptian border" and will have nowhere to go if Israel takes its ground war there. Borrell spoke of a "very dire situation" in Rafah.

The United Nations said the town is becoming a "pressure cooker of despair."

Airstrikes kill at least 18

Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza cities of Rafah and Deir al-Balah killed at least 18 Palestinians, Hamas-run Gaza officials said Saturday, as fears increase that Israel would be expanding its ground offensive into the enclave's last remaining areas where people have sought shelter.

Health officials in Gaza said an Israeli airstrike hit a house in Rafah, killing 14 people, including women and children.

There was no confirmation from the Israeli military that it carried out the strike.

Rafah, a town on Gaza's southern border, is hosting more than half of the enclave's 2.3 million residents. They found shelter there after fleeing Israel's nearly 4-month-old offensive against Hamas, a designated terrorist organization according to the U.S., U.K, EU and others.

The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reported Saturday that at least 27,131 people have been killed and 66,287 have been wounded in Gaza since the October 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel.

Hamas starts to resurface

Meanwhile, Hamas has begun to resurface in areas where Israel withdrew the bulk of its forces a month ago, deploying police officers and making salary payments to some of its civil servants in Gaza City in recent days, four residents and a senior official in the militant group said Saturday.

Israel says it is determined to crush Hamas and prevent it from returning to power in the enclave it has governed since 2007.

In recent days, Israeli forces renewed strikes in the western and northwestern parts of Gaza City, including in areas where some salary distributions reportedly took place.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson, said Saturday that since the outbreak of the war in Gaza after October 7, Israeli forces have struck more than 50 targets in Syria linked to the Iranian-backed Lebanese movement Hezbollah.

"Everywhere Hezbollah is, we shall be. We will take action everywhere required in the Middle East," Hagari said.

Israeli forces have attacked 34,000 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, including 120 border surveillance outposts, 40 caches of missiles and other weaponry, and more than 40 command centers, Hagari said. He put the number of enemy dead at more than 200.

Hagari said Israel had deployed three army divisions along its side of the Lebanese border in anticipation of Hezbollah getting involved after Palestinian Hamas launched the October 7 cross-border terror attack.

Israel has threatened to escalate the Lebanon fighting unless Hezbollah backs off from the border, and it has sought Western help in finding a diplomatic solution in Beirut.

EU foreign policy chief Borrell said Saturday the Israel-Hamas war has created "a domino effect," with conflict also erupting in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and in the Red Sea area.

Hamas leaders indicated Friday that they have received and will respond soon to a proposal for a cease-fire agreement negotiated by Egyptian, Qatari and U.S. mediators in Paris earlier this week and approved by Israel.

AFP reports the proposal includes a three-stage plan, which would start with an initial six-week halt to the fighting and bring more aid deliveries into Gaza.

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed al-Thani made a brief visit to the United Nations on Friday to meet with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, a day after meetings in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

"This is part of the secretary-general's ongoing consultations with the Qatari leadership," U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters. "The prime minister was here. They, no surprise, discussed the efforts underway to end the fighting, to secure the release of the hostages, and to ensure support for humanitarian operations."

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters Friday that the deal under negotiation is a "strong, compelling proposal," and she urged the U.N. Security Council to increase pressure on Hamas to accept it.

The mediators are trying to negotiate a new cease-fire to halt the fighting to allow the release of more hostages and jailed Palestinians held by Israel. About 100 hostages held by Hamas and 240 Palestinians jailed by Israel were freed in a late November weeklong cease-fire.

Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

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Cambodian Activists and Family Members Arrested in Thailand

By Tommy Walker February 03, 2024

Three Cambodian human right activists, including a former government party member, have been arrested in Thailand, according to human rights groups.

Lem Sokha, Phan Phana and Kung Raiya were arrested Friday, along with their families, the Manushya Foundation and Human Rights Watch told VOA.

The arrests come just days before Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will make an official visit to Thailand on February 7.

Lem Sokha, 45, is the vice president of the Cambodian Refugee Committee and had been in Thailand since 2017. He was arrested in Bangkok. Phan Phana, 41, is a member of the Global Cambodia Youth Network and fled to Thailand in 2022. And Kung Raiya, 32, who fled to Thailand in July, is a former member of Cambodia's opposition Candlelight Party and Cambodia's ruling government party.

All three activists had fled to Thailand to avoid political persecution. The Cambodians are recognized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, also known as UNHCR, as persons of concern.

All three were reportedly planning to arrange a political protest on the day of Hun Manet's arrival in Thailand. A report by VOA's sister network Radio Free Asia shows a photo of Raiya as Thai immigration officials arrive at his home.

Both Phana and Raiya's families were also arrested.

Emilie Palamy Pradichit, the founder of the Manushya Foundation in Bangkok, contacted VOA about the arrests. She described the arrests as unjust and called for the activists' release.

"The unjust arrest of three Cambodian activists, along with their families, including four small children aged between 1 and 5 years, just before PM Hun Manet's upcoming visit to Thailand is deeply concerning. This highlights the harsh reality of transnational repression, where Cambodian and Thai authorities are working hand in hand against these individuals. We, a coalition of human rights organizations, are tirelessly working to secure their release," she told VOA.

Phana, who was arrested at his home in the city of Rayong but was taken into custody in Bangkok, has been charged with crossing the border illegally, according to VOA sources familiar with the matter who chose to remain anonymous. His wife, Seim Kork, 33, and two sons, aged 1 and 2 years old, were also arrested.

Raiya was detained in Bangkok and was charged for overstaying his visa in Thailand, according to VOA sources familiar with the matter. His wife Sok Sreynich, 28, and their son, 1, and daughter, 5 were also arrested but are being held in a different detention facility.

Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division, insists the activists and their families should be sent to a third country.

"Our view is that those people shouldn't be arrested. It shouldn't be a crime to seek protection in a neighboring country when you're on the run for your political or human rights activities in your home country. They should be finding a way to help them go to a third country where they'll be safe instead of persecuting him in this way," he told VOA.

"How traumatic is this for a two-year-old and a four-year-old they see their dad being arrested in Rayong and with his wife and children separated from them. This is the real drama that these decisions by the Thai officials cause for these refugee families," he added.

VOA contacted the Cambodian Embassy in Thailand for comment but has yet to receive a reply.

Leaders promise new era

Cambodia has been ruled by the same political party for 45 years. The Cambodia People's Party has maintained its grip on power by banning opposition parties and cracking down on dissidents. Critics of Cambodia's leadership have been threatened with arrest and targeted either at home or abroad in recent years, including in Thailand.

Thailand and neighboring Cambodia have endured a complicated relationship over the years, mainly over border and cultural conflicts. Now Bangkok and Phnom Penh have new government leaders and both have promised a new era in relations after Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin met Manet in Cambodia last year, vowing to work together on transnational crime.

Arrests seen as transnational repression

Robertson says Friday's arrests are an example of transnational repression.

"This is Thailand's welcome gift to Hun Manet who was supposed to be arriving here next week. Transnational repression rears its ugly head at a time when Hun Manet is consolidating control and making pals in the neighborhood with Prime Minister Srettha and the rest. What is quite clear we've seen a very close relationship between the top leaders of Cambodia and Thailand," Robertson added.

Since 2014, more than 150 individuals in Thailand have been victims of transnational repression, according to a 2022 report by Freedom House.

Pradichit is now concerned the Cambodian refugees may face deportation but warned it would violate Thailand's own laws.

"We, a coalition of human rights organizations, are tirelessly working to secure their release. We urgently call upon Thai authorities not to deport these activists to Cambodia, where they, along with their families, face the grave risk of imprisonment and torture. Such deportation would flagrantly violate Section 13 of the Thai Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act, enacted in February 2023," she said.

Thailand enacted the Act on Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance in 2023, which prohibits sending or deporting a person to another country where that person would be in danger of torture, inhumane treatment or enforced disappearance.

But Thailand has not ratified the United Nation's 1951 Refugee Convention, so it has no specific domestic legal framework for the protection of urban refugees and asylum-seekers, meaning protection for refugees, even if recognized by the UNCHR, is limited.

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Statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Latest House Republican Bill

February 03, 2024

For months the administration has been working with a bipartisan group of Senators on a national security agreement that secures our border and provides support for the people of Ukraine and Israel. Just as legislative text is imminent, the House Republicans come up with their latest cynical political maneuver. The security of Israel should be sacred, not a political game. We strongly oppose this ploy which does nothing to secure the border, does nothing to help the people of Ukraine defend themselves against Putin's aggression, and denies humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, the majority of them women and children, which the Israelis supported by opening the access route. House Republicans should instead work in a bipartisan way, like the administration and Senate are doing, on these pressing national security issues.

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Readout of President Joe Biden's Call with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of Mexico

February 03, 2024

In the spirit of their strong partnership, President Joe Biden spoke to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of Mexico this afternoon. President Biden and President Lopez Obrador discussed challenges at our shared border and committed to continuing their productive partnership. President Biden expressed his appreciation for Mexico's operational support and for taking concrete steps to deter irregular migration while expanding lawful pathways. The two leaders reiterated their shared commitment to bolster our joint efforts to counter transnational criminal organizations involved in the illicit trafficking of drugs, guns, and people. They agreed to continue close cooperation between our two governments in improving the lives of Americans and Mexicans and in advancing opportunities throughout the Western Hemisphere.

###

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Iraq summons U.S. charge d'affaires over U.S. airstrikes

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:51, February 04, 2024

BAGHDAD, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's Foreign Ministry summoned Saturday the U.S. charge d'affaires in Baghdad to protest against the recent U.S. airstrikes in western Iraq, said a statement by the ministry.

The U.S. charge d'affaires received a protest note, in which Iraq expressed its rejection and condemnation of the U.S. airstrikes that targeted Iraqi security forces as well as civilian sites in the Akashat and al-Qaim areas, according to the statement.

The note stressed Iraq's rejection of making its territories an arena for settling scores between conflicting countries, saying "our country is not the appropriate place to send messages and show force between opponents," said the statement.

The ministry's action came after the U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on the paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces in western Iraq, killing 16 people and wounding dozens of others.

The U.S. Central Command said in a statement on Friday that the U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and affiliated militia groups.

The U.S. airstrikes came in response to recent attacks by Iranian-backed militias that caused the first U.S. fatalities since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023.

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Syria condemns U.S. air raids, vows to continue war on terrorism

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:30, February 04, 2024

DAMASCUS, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Syria on Saturday denounced recent U.S. airstrikes on pro-Iran militias in the country, saying it aims to weaken Syria's fight against terrorism.

The U.S. aggression lacked any justification beyond an attempt to weaken the Syrian army and its allies in their fight against terrorism, said the Defense Ministry in a statement.

The targeted area is where the Syrian army is actively combating remnants of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization, it said, charging that the attack highlights the U.S. involvement and collaboration with the terror group.

The U.S. assault resulted in the loss of civilian and military lives, along with injuries and extensive damage to both public and private properties, it added.

The Syrian military affirmed its unwavering determination to defend Syria's land and people, vowing to continue its mission to eradicate terrorism and liberate the entire Syrian territory from any form of occupation.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, reported that 18 militants were killed as the strikes hit strongholds of the Iranian-backed militias in the eastern Syrian province of Deir al-Zour.

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16 killed, 25 injured in U.S. airstrikes in W. Iraq: spokesman

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:23, February 04, 2024

BAGHDAD, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi government said Saturday that the U.S. airstrikes on the paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces in western Iraq killed 16 people, including civilians, and injured 25 others.

Calling the airstrikes "blatant aggression," government spokesman Basim al-Awadi told the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) that "the U.S. administration violated Iraq's sovereignty when its aircraft conducted airstrikes on the positions of our security forces in the Akashat and al-Qaim areas, as well as neighboring civilian places."

Al-Awadi also denied reports that claimed there was coordination between the government and the U.S. administration about the airstrikes, stressing that these reports are "a false claim aimed at misleading international public opinion and evading legal responsibility for this crime," according to the INA.

He also said that the government believes that the presence of the international coalition forces on Iraqi soil has become a threat to security and stability in Iraq and a justification for involving Iraq in regional and international conflicts.

Al-Awadi warned that the recent airstrikes put security in Iraq and the region on the brink of the abyss, adding, "Iraq renews its refusal to make its lands an arena for settling scores."

The U.S. Central Command said in a statement on Friday that the U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and affiliated militia groups.

The U.S. airstrikes came in response to recent attacks by Iranian-backed militias that caused the first U.S. fatalities since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023.

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Operation Poseidon Archer (OPA)

The Pentagon dubbed its campaign of air and missile strikes against the Houthis of Yemen Operation Poseidon Archer, CNN reported on Monday, citing two unnamed officials. The name was applied retroactively to the January 11 attacks carried out by the US and the UK, as well as seven more rounds of strikes since, the officials said.

They also said that Poseidon Archer is being treated as entirely separate from Prosperity Guardian, an operation announced in December that officially involves personnel and ships from 20 countries. he US launched Prosperity Guardian to secure the passage of merchant ships through the Red Sea and the Bab-el-Mandeb, after the Houthis said they would interdict any Israeli-linked ships in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. After the January 11 attacks, the Yemeni group said that British and American vessels would be fair game as well.

The naming suggests a more organized, formal, and potentially long-term approach by the Pentagon to the situation in the Red Sea, according to CNN. The US military has long used names intended to influence international and domestic perceptions about its operations. The practice of using heroes of antiquity and figures from Greek and Roman mythology, was introduced by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in WWII. Poseidon is the Greek god of the sea, known in the Roman pantheon as Neptune.

US President Joe Biden admitted last week that the Anglo-American strikes failed to deter the Houthis, but said they would continue anyway. When you say working, are they stopping the Houthis? No. Are they going to continue? Yes, he told reporters outside the White House.

The US is clear-eyed about who the Houthis are and doesnt expect them to stop their attacks immediately, but hopes to degrade and destroy their capabilities, the Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing anonymous US officials. Rather than invading Yemen, the US wants to hit infrastructure that enables the Yemeni group to fire missiles and drones at merchant vessels, one unnamed diplomat explained.

The Houthis have said they would continue targeting ships until Israel stops its offensive and lifts the blockade of Gaza. West Jerusalem has vowed to eradicate Hamas after the Palestinian groups October 7 raid that claimed the lives of an estimated 1,200 Israelis. The attacks have impacted the global shipping industry more than the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the maritime advisory firm Sea-Intelligence. Roughly 15% of the worlds sea trade uses the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to deliver goods from Asia to Europe and vice versa. Facing skyrocketing insurance premiums, major Western carriers such as Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, and Hapag-Lloyd have chosen to reroute their vessels around Africa, at the cost of time and fuel.

Since at least November 2023, Yemen-based Houthi militants have engaged in a series of attacks against United States military forces, including ships and aircraft, and against maritime commercial shipping, operating in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. These attacks pose a threat to the safety of United States forces and commercial ships and their crews, regional political and economic stability, and navigational rights and freedoms. On January 9, 2024, the Houthi militants perpetrated their largest attack in the Red Sea, with multiple unmanned aerial systems, anti-ship cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles targeting United States and United Kingdom Navy vessels. On January 10, 2024, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution demanding the Houthis immediately cease all attacks. The Houthi militants continue to pose a threat of future attacks against United States forces and military vessels and against other maritime traffic in the region.

11 January - United States forces as part of a multinational operation alongside the United Kingdom, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, conducted discrete strikes against facilities in Yemen that facilitate Houthi militants' attacks in the Red Sea region. These facilities include air and coastal surveillance radar sites, unmanned aerial system launch facilities and launch sites, and cruise and ballistic missile facilities and launch sites. The strikes were taken to deter and degrade Houthi capacity to conduct future attacks and were conducted in a manner designed to limit the risk of escalation and avoid civilian casualties. The spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces said that the "criminal aggression" waged by the United States and the United Kingdom against the country five Yemenis killed and six others injured, emphasizing that Washington and London bear full responsibility for the open act of aggression. The Defense Department is highly confident that yesterday's strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen were effective in degrading the rebel group's ability to carry out further attacks against commercial ships operating in the Red Sea, a senior Pentagon official said. Army Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Sims II, director of operations for the Joint Staff, said joint forces from the U.S. and United Kingdom launched more than 150 munitions from both maritime and air platforms against more than 16 locations controlled by the Iranian-backed militants. 13 January - At 3:45 a.m. Yemen time (UTC+3) the US unilaterally performed an additional strike on a radar site near Sanaa, which Al-Masirah reported was at Al-Dailami Air Base. The US Central Command said the "follow-on action" was conducted by the destroyer USS Carney using Tomahawk missiles. 14 January - The US military said that one of its fighter jets intercepted a Houthi anti-ship cruise missile launched from Hodeida heading towards the direction of the USS Laboon. 16 January - At 4:15 a.m local time, the US conducted new airstrikes in Yemen, targeting four Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles that were being prepared to target ships in the region. 17 January - At approximately 11:59 p.m. local time, the U.S. carried out a series of missile strikes, launched from ships and submarines, against 14 Houthi missiles that were identified as an immediate threat to shipping in the region. The US announced that it carried out, at dawn, a fourth round of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, hours after targeting an American ship in the Gulf of Aden. The US Central Military Command ( Centcom ) said in a statement that 14 ammunition missile platforms that the Houthis had prepared to launch on shipping lines in the Red Sea were bombed. The statement added, "These missiles that were on the launch pads represented an imminent danger to commercial ships and destroyers of the US Navy in the region, and could have been launched at any moment." Al-Masirah TV, affiliated with the Houthi group in Yemen, reported early Thursday morning that an American-British bombing targeted the governorates of Hodeidah, Taiz, Dhamar, Al-Bayda, and Saada. 18 January - At 3:40 p.m. local time, the US conducted pre-emptive strikes on three Houthi anti-ship missiles that were being prepared to target commercial shipping in the region. 19 January - At 6:45 p.m. local time, US Navy F/A-18 aircraft taking off from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower targeted Houthi anti-ship missiles in Yemen that were being prepared for launch. Al-Masirah reported airstrikes in the al-Jabaana neighborhood of Hodeida. 20 January - At 4:00 a.m. local time, the US conducted airstrikes against a Houthi anti-ship missile that was prepared to target shipping in the Gulf of Aden. As part of ongoing efforts to protect freedom of navigation and prevent attacks on maritime vessels, on Jan. 20 at approximately 4 a.m. (Sanna time), U.S. Central Command forces conducted airstrikes against a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed into the Gulf of Aden and was prepared to launch. U.S. forces determined the missile presented a threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region, and subsequently struck and destroyed the missile in self-defense. 22 January - At approximately 11:59 p.m. local time, the US and UK conducted joint air and missile strikes against on 8 Houthi targets across Yemen, including radars and drone and missile sites. Al-Masirah reported airstrikes in Sanaa and al-Dailami Air Base. According to a joint statement published by the Pentagon: "Today, the militaries of the United States and United Kingdom, at the direction of their respective governments with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, conducted an additional round of proportionate and necessary strikes against 8 Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the Houthis' continued attacks against international and commercial shipping as well as naval vessels transiting the Red Sea," the statement said. The new strikes targeted a Houthi underground storage site as well as other locations housing Houthi's missile and air surveillance capabilities, the statement said. 03 February - The United States, in cooperation with Britain, aircraft launched 13 raids on Amanat Al-Asimah and Sanaa Governorate, 9 raids on Hodeidah Governorate, 11 raids on Taiz Governorate, 7 raids on Al-Bayda Governorate, 7 raids on Hajjah Governorate, and a raid on Saada Governorate.. CNN quoted American officials as saying that the United States and Britain launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen from air and surface platforms, including F/A-18 aircraft. Officials told the network that at least 30 targets were struck in at least 10 locations. One official said the targets include command and control, an underground weapons storage facility, as well as other weapons used by the Houthis to target international shipping lanes. Reuters quoted American officials as saying that the United States launched a series of strikes on targets linked to Iran in Yemen, on Saturday, on the second day of its response to the killing of American soldiers in an attack last week on a military base in Jordan. A total of 11 air strikes targeted Houthi sites in the Al-Barah and Haifan districts in Taiz Governorate, southwest of Yemen. Three raids targeted Jabal Al-Jada' in Al-Lahiya District and Al-Salif District in Al-Hudaydah Governorate, western Yemen, on the Red Sea coast. Other air strikes targeted Houthi sites in the neighboring Dhamar and Al-Bayda governorates in central Yemen. Raids also targeted Houthi sites in the Khadir District, east of Taiz Governorate, southwest of Yemen. There were intense overflights and air strikes on sites in the capital, Sana'a, adding that " raids targeted Al-Hafa camp, east of the Yemeni capital, Sana'a." Houthi media reported that raids "targeted the Al-Nahdain and Attan areas, south of the capital." 05 February - American-British aircraft launched a series of raids on the dune in Hodeidah, while on Sunday they launched 8 raids on the Ras Issa area, 3 raids in separate areas of Al-Zaydiyah in Hodeidah Governorate , and 4 raids east of the city of Saada. 07 February - US-British aircraft launched two raids on the Ras Issa area in Al-Salif District in Hodeidah. 08 February - US-British aircraft resumed targeting the Yemeni governorate of Hodeidah with many raids. A Yemeni security source confirmed that the aircraft launched two raids on the Shabaka area south of the port of Salif, hours after targeting the Ras Issa area in the Salif District with three air strikes. The source stressed that "these attacks will not deter us from our moral, religious and humanitarian stance in support of the steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and will not pass without response and punishment.""





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Operation Iron Swords - Day 120 - 03 February 2024

An Israeli military force raided a house in the town of Qarawat Bani Hassan, Salfit Governorate, after spotting a Palestinian child carrying a plastic rifle. An occupation force stormed the house and demanded that the childs family bring him and the plastic toy he had in his possession. They interrogated them and examined the toy, before withdrawing. Local sources reported that the 3-year-old child was playing in front of his house during an occupation forces raid into the town.

Political analyst Andrei Chuprigin confirmed that the situation in the Middle East is so tense that any action, even by mistake, could lead to a major fire. Choprigin said: It is likely that the Biden administration does not want an escalation that would lead to a major war in the Middle East. A strike against Iran would be risky. This does not mean that it will not happen in the future. The situation in the region now is so tense that any action, even if committed "Accidentally, it could cause a major fire."

Chuprigin believes that "the United States, due to leaks to the media and official statements about preparing to respond, has already warned everyone about the strikes in a way that minimizes the consequences." Choprigin added that the situation when the American base in Jordan was struck was different, explaining: A fringe group struck the base without warning, and even the Iranians themselves did not expect it. Chuprigin believes that "the massive strikes on the territories of two countries, such as Syria and Iraq, are the main catalyst that could lead to igniting fire in the region."

In an interview with Israeli news broadcaster Channel 12, Israeli Brig. Gen. Avigdor Kahlani said that the country is presently living through its toughest times since its inception and that every settler is called to have "nerves of steel, for without that we won't last for too long."

War Termination

Former Shin Bet head Carmi Gilon told Channel 12 on Hebrew television The (Hamas) movement will remain in power and rule in the Gaza Strip, as long as the vacuum that exists there remains, and if (the candidates) to rule the Gaza Strip are unacceptable to Israel, the only solution is to remain ( Hamas) is in power, according to his statements. He went on to say: The Turks fled from Gaza, the British also fled this region, the Egyptians also, and we also fled Gaza, he stressed.

According to him, there is not a single religious Zionist who has most likely not read the book (The Kings Torah), which calls for killing Arabs even when they are children, written by Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira and Rabbi Yosef Elitzior, which Gilon describes as a racist book. No public prosecutor in the Israeli occupation entity allowed extremist rabbis to be investigated and prosecuted for the imminent danger their statements entailed and their impact on their students, and he acknowledged that the agency he headed made a mistake in its dealings with those rabbis.

Political researcher Ammar Khader confirmed that the occupying state is trying to win through negotiations what it was unable to achieve through the field, and while it does not have the capabilities to advance in this direction, the resistance still maintains its cards. In an interview with Al-Alam News Channel for the With the Event program, Ammar Khader pointed out that the Israeli conditions stand in the way of Palestinian demands and hinder any progress in this direction.

He pointed out that the occupying state is trying to win through negotiations what it was unable to achieve in the field, and it is trying to achieve a field achievement through negotiations, while on the field and in the battle it is a failure and has been unable to achieve any actual and real achievement. He added: The occupying state is the loser in this round, and does not have the capabilities to advance in this direction, and the resistance is still holding its cards.

He stressed that what was caused by October 7 and the Al-Aqsa flood was a blow to the strategic core of the occupying state and the currently existing government coalition, adding: What was caused by the Al-Aqsa flood was that it restored the issue to its prominence again, and restored to the Palestinians their just demands through the use of force of arms and the logic of force possessed by the resistance.

He concluded by saying that Netanyahu has now collided with the new reality achieved by the resistance and the power it brought through direct targeting, field steadfastness, and not allowing the occupying state to achieve a real achievement.

The spokesman for the Islamic Jihad Movement, Muhammad Hajj Musa, confirmed that it is too early to talk about any deal as long as the basic points are not agreed upon, stressing that the resistance factions dealt with great flexibility in this regard, while the matter clashes with Netanyahus intransigence and the division of the decision in the matter.

In an interview with Al-Alam News Channel for the With Al-Hadath program, Muhammad Al-Haj Musa indicated that it is too early to talk about any deal as long as the issue has not yet been resolved and the basic points have not been agreed upon. He added: As Palestinian resistance factions, we dealt with the mediators with great flexibility because we wanted to ease the burden on our people and stop this genocide, but Netanyahu, who always raised the ceiling, as well as the entity that did not originally agree on a common goal, is the main reason for the continuation of this confrontation.

The spokesman for the Islamic Jihad Movement said : What we, as resistance factions, emphasize is that we are concerned with a ceasefire , but on the basis that we will be victorious for the blood of our people and not waste it. Muhammad Al-Hajj Moussa pointed out: When the brotherly brothers in Egypt presented us with a paper some time ago, the response from the Palestinian factions was a joint response, and from that moment we emphasized the conditions for a ceasefire, the withdrawal of the occupation forces , the whitewashing of prisons, and guarantees for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip .

But he stressed that nothing has changed at the level of these conditions, adding: We assured the brothers in Qatar and Egypt, and they naturally spoke about it, but the occupation is the one that harms and talks about what comes after the Gaza Strip and after the war and how the sector is managed... and this is empty talk. He stressed that: The occupation did not win, and the resistance still has the ability to control and control, and we prove this with the missiles launched and the clashes in all areas of the incursion.

The spokesman for the Islamic Jihad movement concluded: The field gives us, as Palestinians, points of strength to impose our conditions on the occupation, in addition to a very important point and card of strength, which is the issue of the prisoner soldiers .

Efforts and calls have intensified to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, amid cautious optimism towards concluding a prisoner and detainee exchange deal between the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) and Israel. The head of the Hamas political bureau , Ismail Haniyeh, is expected to visit Egypt again in order to discuss a proposal prepared during a meeting in late January in Paris between CIA Director William Burns and Egyptian, Israeli and Qatari officials.

A source in the movement stated that the proposal includes 3 stages, and in the first stage it stipulates a truce lasting 6 weeks during which Israel will release between 200 and 300 Palestinian prisoners, in exchange for the release of 35 to 40 prisoners detained in Gaza, with the possibility of between 200 up to 300 aid trucks entering daily to Gaza.

However, Israel stresses that it will not permanently stop its war on Gaza until it eliminates the Hamas movement, frees all the prisoners, and receives guarantees regarding security in its lands, as it says.

This truce proposal will be at the heart of a new visit by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to the region starting Sunday, which will include stops in Qatar, Egypt, Israel, the occupied West Bank, and Saudi Arabia. Blinken said on that he seeks during this tour to work on a lasting peace in the region, including sustainable security for Israelis and Palestinians alike. This was the fifth time that Blinken has visited the region since the outbreak of the Israeli war in Gaza.

In turn, French Foreign Minister Stephane Segornet began a Middle Eastern tour that will focus on the political prospects for the post-war period in Gaza. This round, which will include Egypt, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and Lebanon, would push forward toward a ceasefire and the liberation of the hostages and open political horizons based on the two-state solution, with an existing Palestinian state alongside Israel, according to what French Foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe LeMoyne said.

Avigdor Lieberman, an Israeli member of the Knesset and head of the "Israel Our Home" party, considered that "the Egyptians must, in the end, control the Gaza Strip with a mandate from the United Nations and the Arab League." In an interview with the Jerusalem Post newspaper, Avigdor Lieberman, while presenting his vision for the issue of what Israels borders would look like without a Palestinian state, said: In the future, Egypt should control Gaza, and Jordan should take responsibility for Area A of the West Bank and part of Small area B.

Lieberman added: We understand that the idea of a two-state solution (to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict) is dead. It does not exist, adding: We need another approach, as he considered it illogical to do the same thing for many years and expect different results. Lieberman explained that he wants to return to the idea of a confederation between Jordan and the Palestinians, noting that Area C in the West Bank is divided into three sections. Areas A and B are under the auspices of the Palestinian Authority, and Area C is where All settlements are located under the military and civilian control of the IDF.

Under Lieberman's plan, "all of Area A and a small part of Area B would be under Jordanian control through a confederation, while Israel would apply sovereignty to the rest of Area B and all of Area C."

Lieberman believed that Israel paid a heavy price in Oslo, adding: Thousands of Israelis were killed and wounded. He added: "Everyone should ask themselves whether your situation now is better than it was before 1993 or not," pointing out that his answer to this issue is negative.

When it comes to Gaza, Lieberman has often been a loud voice calling on the IDF to restore security control, and when he became defense minister in 2016, he presented Netanyahu with a document warning of a possible October 7 attack. He then resigned from his position in 2018 in protest. On the truce reached between Israel and Hamas after an intense barrage of rockets launched by the movement against Israel.

He now believes that Israel should cut all ties with Gaza, an area that he believes should be returned to Egyptian rule. Lieberman explained, "Ultimately, the Egyptians must control the Gaza Strip under a mandate from the United Nations and the Arab League. We have no other choice. All the other proposals I have seen are not realistic. It is an impossible task."

Lieberman particularly opposes any plans by the Palestinian Authority to regain control of the Gaza Strip after the war, adding: To speak today as if the Palestinian Authority is capable of controlling Hamas is unrealistic. Lieberman feels frustrated by the international communitys calls against the Palestinians heading from Gaza to Egypt, considering that anyone who desires this should be able to at least go to Sinai.

Lieberman explained, "The international community and moderate Arab countries should invest in building a new city for the Palestinians on that peninsula, which could also revitalize the region," noting that "this could be accompanied by the establishment of industrial and manufacturing zones." He added that regardless of who controls Gaza, all goods entering the Strip must pass through Egypt and not through Israel.

The international community and the Palestinians have opposed such a move in the past, in order to preserve the link between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, fearing that linking the enclave to Egypt would harm the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state. Lieberman, whose party belongs to the opposition, spoke at a time when Israel is under intense diplomatic pressure to accept the two-state solution, once the war between Israel and Hamas ends.

Lieberman, a centrist diplomat and political dissident, has always had an alternative vision when it comes to a Palestinian state. Some of his ideas were classic for a right-wing politician. He began his prominent political career in 1993 as Director-General of the Likud Party and then in 1996 as Director-General of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office during his first term. From this position, he was an active opponent of the Oslo Accords, which put Israel on the path toward a two-state agreement.

Lieberman resigned from his position in 1997, believing that Netanyahu had made too many concessions to the Palestinians, and only entered the Knesset in 1999 as head of the Yisrael Beytenu party, which he created. Lieberman took his party out of government in 2004 in protest against the disengagement plan that would have led to Israel withdrawing from Gaza a year later. However, the veteran politician made headlines in 2004 by endorsing a two-state solution, based on a regional map focused on retaining a maximum of Jewish citizens and a minimum of Israeli Arab citizens by redrawing border lines.

Now, eighteen years later, in the wake of October 7, he finds that this vision was a mistake, according to the Jerusalem Post.

The Hamas movement said that it had received the general framework proposal issued by the Paris Quartet meeting and that the discussion within the movement was based on a complete end to the aggression against the Palestinian people and a complete withdrawal of the Israeli army.

Hamas leader Osama Hamdan added, in a press statement today, Saturday, that our study of the proposal is also based on lifting the siege that has been ongoing on the Gaza Strip for 17 years, providing shelter for the displaced, rebuilding what the occupation destroyed, completing a serious prisoner exchange deal, and practical international recognition. Our people have the right to self-determination and to establish their independent, fully sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital.

He said that the movement "appreciates the efforts made by the brothers in Egypt and Qatar to reach a sustainable ceasefire agreement in Gaza on the path to ending the Nazi aggression that continues against our Palestinian people."

He stressed that the Hamas movement will be where the interest of our Palestinian people is, and that our priority today is to alleviate the suffering of our steadfast people in the Gaza Strip, by reaching a complete and comprehensive cessation of aggression, lifting the unjust siege, protecting our people in the West Bank, protecting Al-Aqsa and the holy sites, and the rights of our people. The Palestinians are on the path to achieving their hopes and aspirations for return, freedom and independence, and building their free state with Jerusalem as its capital.

It should be noted that Paris hosted a four-way meeting at the end of last month, with the participation of the head of the Israeli Mossad, Dedi Barnea, the head of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, reserve Major General Yeatsan Alon, the head of the US Central Intelligence Agency, the CIA, the Qatari Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, and the head of intelligence. Egyptian Minister Abbas Kamel.

During the meeting, the participants discussed the issue of prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel, and the situation in the Gaza Strip.

Operational Update

The Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip enters its 120th day amid continuing battles and clashes between the Israeli occupation forces and the Palestinian resistance, in various areas of the Strip. Despite the withdrawals carried out by the Israeli occupation army in the areas of the northern Gaza Strip, they are not complete, as military and strategic expert Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi confirms , as battles and sniper operations continue in the western neighborhoods of Gaza City. Al Jazeera's correspondent confirmed that violent clashes were taking place between the Palestinian resistance and the occupation forces in the western areas of Gaza City.

Al-Duwairi believes that the Israeli forces that are now clashing with the Palestinian resistance in Tal al-Hawa and the al-Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City are linked to the forces present in the Gaza Valley, and that they were there for several reasons, the first of which is to occupy al-Zaytoun, Tal al-Hawa, and Sheikh Ajlin in Gaza City, and prevent them from providing support to the central region. He said that the Israeli 36th Division failed and the 99th Division was sent in its place, which was able to separate the camps (Al-Bureij, Al-Maghazi, and Al-Nuseirat), but the Israelis were afraid of the resistance moving from the north of the Gaza Valley to its south, so they kept two brigades in that area.

Commenting on the clashes between the Palestinian resistance and the occupation in the vicinity of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the military expert explained that the southwestern area of Gaza City is still witnessing clashes, and that forces belonging to the occupation army are present there. He added that the Palestinian resistance poses challenges to the occupation army in the southwestern area of ??Gaza City, and it lures it, especially as it tries to achieve its clear goals, which are searching for tunnels, Israeli prisoners, and Palestinian resistance.

A report by the British Middle East Eye website says that Israel expects its devastating war on Gaza to continue for several months, which means that the crisis will worsen, with potentially catastrophic regional consequences. With this summary, the site presented an in-depth discussion between 6 analysts and researchers, trying to analyze the turbulent geopolitics of this war with no end in sight, and to draw lessons from the first 100 days of this conflict, and what things may turn out to be in the end.

The site reviewed the opinions of the six analysts separately, starting with the opinion of Moin Rabbani, editor of the Jadaliyya website, who started from the fact that the first 100 days of Israels war on Gaza changed the face of the Middle East, after it irretrievably shattered Israels claims to absolute power and absolute knowledge. And its army is invincible.

Thus - Moin Rabbani says - the Israeli army was forced, for the first time in 75 years, to wage war within its borders, and Israel launched the most intense campaign in its history, leveling a large part of the small Gaza Strip to the ground, and killing Palestinian civilians on a large scale and with a speed that forced it, within 3 months, to appear before the International Court of Justice on charges of genocide , which has been associated with it since its founding as a victim, and for the rest of time as a perpetrator in Gaza.

This war - according to Moin Rabbani - revealed Israel's absolute dependence on the United States for military, political and diplomatic support, and it also destroyed the image of Israel, which constitutes a strong stronghold of Western interests and influence in the Middle East. Although the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) does not constitute a major military force, Israeli leaders have repeatedly referred to this conflict as the conflict that will determine whether or not Israel can continue to exist.

It is impossible at this stage to predict when, how, or even the likelihood that the weapons will fall silent, and until they do, the renewed talk in Western capitals about a  two-state solution  remains a mere charade to distract attention, because it is not possible to achieve peace and peaceful coexistence in the Middle East in The existence of an irrational, genocidal state that constantly seeks to resolve political challenges unilaterally through a display of overwhelming force.

In turn, Ghassan Al-Kahlot, director of the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies and associate professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, focused on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, and saw that it had left an indelible mark on the region, and raised concerns about the meager support provided by Arab countries. For the Palestinians, it demonstrated the glaring absence of tangible support for the besieged residents of Gaza.

Although the official Arab position is not surprising - as the writer sees it - it has taken a worrying turn, as it has gone beyond insufficient support for the Palestinian cause, and has now turned to refusing to sever relations with the occupying state. Some reports even pointed to a trade corridor provided by Arab countries to Israel to mitigate the effects of the naval blockade imposed by the Houthis in Yemen .

As the war approaches the beginning of its fifth month, there is an urgent need - as Al-Kahlot says - for continued popular pressure, at a time when the Arab regimes are trying to weather the storm without taking any effective action that truly alleviates the suffering of the people of Gaza, which means that The Arab street should not divert its attention from Palestine.

Tamer Qarmout, assistant professor of public policy at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, addressed the failures of the international system , focusing on the failure of this society, to the point of collusion with Israel, to come to the rescue of Gaza in the ongoing tragedy and the brutal reality that the Palestinians face there, a situation that many have described. It is genocide. It is unfortunate that international law , which represents a beacon of hope for achieving justice and equity, has fallen into the crosshairs of global politics, which has undermined its effectiveness and left those who most need its protection without recourse.

Qarmout pointed out that there is a slight change and improvement in the Wests positions towards Gaza due to internal popular pressure, which may help alleviate the burden on the people of Gaza, noting that there are other actors, such as Turkey , Egypt , the Gulf states, and the Islamic world, that can contribute an effective role.

But it is crucial - according to Qarmout - to understand that any discussions and decisions regarding the reality of governance the next day in Gaza must be undertaken exclusively by the Palestinians, regardless of the type of government that may result, because the time has come to realize the mistakes of the Oslo Accords and ensure that Do not repeat it.

Qarmout concluded that the path to peace and justice may be fraught with obstacles, but the collective will of the people, coupled with the strategic engagement of key regional and international players, can pave the way for a lasting solution.

In the context of this discussion, Amina Al-Ashqar, a research assistant at the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, raised the ongoing violent conflict in the West Bank that has not been reported, as the Israeli army has engaged in confrontations, not only with existing organizations such as Hamas and the Islamic Jihad movement , But also with newly formed local armed groups.

The period after October 7 was marked by a worrying escalation in violence in the occupied West Bank, where more than 300 Palestinians were killed, including more than 60 children, and thousands more were injured, without mentioning the 2023 toll, which amounted to 480. Martyrs and about 12 thousand injured. With the apparent calm in the West Bank, there is a profound shift in Palestinian sentiment, as revealed in a recent opinion poll, which showed increasing support for Hamas and considering armed struggle as a means to end the conflict.

In his analysis, Mohammed Al-Hamawi, a research assistant at the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, focused on the reverberations of the war on Gaza throughout the region, and the anger it led to, especially in Jordan , where the streets of Amman and other cities demonstrated that this genocidal war A reminder that the fate of the peoples of Jordan and Palestine are inseparable.

This feeling was embodied in peoples words and actions. Protests erupted in the streets of Amman on a regular basis, and popular chants called for the opening of the Jordanian front, which is unlikely at the present time, but not far-fetched given the growing Israeli hostility to Jordan, especially since the demonstrators have repeatedly tried to... And repeatedly walking towards the border.

This feeling has led people to commit strictly, and at times aggressively, to boycott certain companies that are considered supportive of the occupying state, based on the idea that frequenting any company that supports Israel is tantamount to complicity in genocide in Palestine.

As for Sansom Milton, a senior research fellow at the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies and an assistant professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, he addressed the urgent question about the next step in Gaza, although the future remains uncertain, noting that the first important finding is that The war profoundly changed the political and conflict dynamics of the region.

It is unlikely at the global level - as Sansom Milton believes - that a solution to the situation in Gaza will be reached, especially since the International Court of Justice ruled that there are reasonable reasons to consider Israels actions in the Gaza Strip a case of genocide, but it stopped short of calling for Immediate ceasefire.

While Indonesia and Slovenia will continue to take further measures against Israel through international law, the besieged residents of Gaza will have little hope of legal redress to end the war and lift the blockade when they face an aggressor who has consistently violated international law over decades. Moreover, the recent decision by several countries, led by the United States, to suspend funding to UNRWA in the midst of the world's worst humanitarian crisis; It highlights how Israel's allies are effectively able to dismantle the most effective international tool for achieving peace.

Sansom Milton concluded that even if the war ended today, no one can be certain that Israel would not collapse tomorrow or the day after, because there is little room for certainty about the path the region will take, but what is certain is that it will not return to the situation that existed before October 7th.

A young Palestinian man was injured by bullets from the occupation forces that stormed south of Tulkarm in the occupied West Bank . They also stormed Nablus, Tubas, and the Dheisheh camp in Bethlehem, and two areas in Beit Ummar, north of Hebron. The raids were accompanied by arrest operations that increased the number of detainees since last October 7 to 6500.

The Palestinian News Agency reported that the occupation forces stormed the town of Kafr Jamal in Tulkarm. As a result, confrontations broke out during which gunfire, sound bombs, and tear gas were fired, leading to a young man being wounded by a bullet in his chest. For his part, Al Jazeera's correspondent said that Israeli army forces stormed the city of Tubas, in the northeast of the West Bank, and arrested a number of Palestinians.

The scope of the raids also expanded to the villages of Rujib, Burqa, and Balata camp, in Nablus Governorate, and the village of Jayyus, east of Qalqilya. The occupation forces stormed the Dheisheh camp, in the city of Bethlehem, south of the West Bank, and arrested a number of young men this morning. Local sources reported to Al Jazeera that 18 military vehicles surrounded the camp before storming it, and the occupation forces assaulted the residents and tampered with their property, before arresting those they described as wanted, which led to obstructing students access to their schools.

Lebanese Hezbollah announced that its fighters targeted, with "appropriate" weapons, the Israeli "Khirbet Maar" base off the Lebanese border. Al Jazeera's correspondent reported that two missiles were fired from southern Lebanon towards the Israeli military site of Al-Samaqa in the occupied Lebanese "Kfar Shuba" hills. The Lebanese "Hezbollah" also confirmed on the same day, the targeting of the Israeli Ruwaisat Al-Alam site and the deployment of soldiers around it in the Kfarshouba hills and the Lebanese Shebaa Farms. Occupied with missile weapons.

According to the Israeli army, 3 missiles were detected - today, Saturday - that crossed Lebanese territory into the areas of Baram and Zarait (in the Upper Galilee) and landed in open areas, without causing any casualties. Earlier today, Saturday, Israeli Army Radio announced, Two missiles were launched from Lebanon, landing in an open area in Zarit, and an anti-tank missile on Kibbutz Baram in the Upper Galilee.

In this context, Hezbollah announced that it targeted Israeli soldiers in the Yaroun settlement off southern Lebanon, causing injuries among their ranks. The party said that it bombed the "Even Menachem" settlement with appropriate weapons and achieved direct hits there. Hezbollah had previously announced that its fighters had targeted the Israeli sites of Ramtha and Al-Samaqa in the occupied Shebaa Farms and had achieved direct hits in them.

The Lebanese "Hezbollah" announced that it had targeted the Israeli Pranit barracks with two "Falaq 1" missiles, confirming that it had been hit directly. Who said that we are waiting for you to stop or not to stop? Nasrallahs deputy responds to the statements of the Israeli Defense Minister Hezbollah said in a statement: In support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their valiant and honorable resistance, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance at 9:50 pm today, Saturday, targeted the Pranit barracks with two Falaq 1 missiles. They hit her directly.

Fighter jets attacked a Hezbollah military structure in the A-Taiba area. In addition, the IDF attacked additional areas in southern Lebanon during the day with tank and artillery fire. Also, a number of launches were detected that crossed from Lebanese territory to the areas of Har Dov, Ibn Menachem and Ya'raon, there were no casualties. IDF forces attacked the sources of the fire. IDF spokesman , Brigadier General Daniel Hagari on the scope of the fighting on the northern borders: "Since the beginning of the war, Hezbollah has placed itself in the same line as Hamas. Hezbollah operates on behalf of and with the backing of Iran and carries out acts of terror against Israel. The IDF exacts a price from Hezbollah which is growing and deceiving his capabilities in southern Lebanon.

"We are in a new defense effort on the Lebanese border. We have deployed three divisions along the border. So far we have attacked more than 150 squads and eliminated more than 200 commanders and terrorists. Since the beginning of the war, we have attacked more than 3,400 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah, like Hamas, places infrastructure His terror is in the heart of the population."

"The security reality in the north is already taking shape these days. We will not return to the security reality as it was on October 6 when Hezbollah threatens the residents of the north. Hezbollah was wrong when it decided to side with child kidnappers and rapists, and to attack Israel without any justifiable reason."

"We have the duty to ensure security at the northern border so that you can return to your homes. It is a complex challenge and there is still a way to go until the security situation allows your return. This is our responsibility. We are determined to meet this task and realize it by any means at our disposal."

For its part, Israeli warplanes launched a series of raids on the towns of Aita al-Shaab and Yaroun, and the Jabal Balat area in southern Lebanon , while Israeli artillery bombed the vicinity of the towns of Rashaya al-Fakhar and Dhahira. Meanwhile, the Israeli army announced that its warplanes carried out raids targeting what it said were Hezbollah sites in Lebanese territory.

He pointed out that he bombed two observation sites in the Marwahin and Aita al-Shaab regions, and a military command headquarters in the Yaron region, saying that the targeting took place while members of the party were working at a rocket launch site, and a site from which rockets were launched into Israel The Israeli army spokesman said that Hezbollah, since the beginning of the war on Gaza, has been seeking to "draw our attention away from Gaza, and we are working to form a new security reality in the north."

The spokesman pointed out that the Israeli army has attacked more than 3,200 Hezbollah sites on Lebanese territory since the beginning of the war. He added that 120 Hezbollah watchtowers on the border had been attacked since the beginning of the war, which they were going to use to attack Israel, in addition to 40 weapons depots and more than 40 command headquarters.

Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV said that "hostile drones fired a missile towards Yaroun, and (there was) Zionist artillery shelling targeting the Al-Kharibah area on the outskirts of Rashaya Al-Fakhar." In the same context, the Lebanese Amal Movement announced, at dawn on Saturday, the killing of two of its members in confrontations with the Israeli army in southern Lebanon, bringing its death toll to 3 since the eighth of last October. The movement said that they were killed "while carrying out their national and jihadist duty in defense of Lebanon and the south."

According to the Lebanese National News Agency, The enemy intends to paralyze daily life in the southern villages and towns adjacent to the Blue Line, targeting agricultural workshops, civilian cars, and moving mechanical and human bodies, especially at night, in addition to targeting ambulances, media personnel, and the press. In light of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip , since October 8, the Israeli-Lebanese border has witnessed tension and intermittent exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Palestinian factions on the one hand and the Israeli army on the other, which led to deaths and injuries on both sides, and among Lebanese civilians.

Israeli Channel 12 quoted the former head of the Operations Division of the Israeli military, Reservist Major General Israel Ziv, saying the North takes priority, as he condemned the decision "Israel" has taken in postponing confrontation on the northern front until operations in Gaza are over. He further commented saying, "We previously said the North could wait till the war in Gaza is over, but it keeps spinning like a revolver door," adding, "We won't get to the North, we won't be able to focus our efforts, and we won't be able to solve the problem there."

Ziv also affirmed that the root of all problems is the incompetence and unreadiness of one person to make a call, taking a jab at Benjamin Netanyahu "who refuses to make decisions in advance, despite what all military and security chiefs recommend."

Israeli media reported that the Israeli settler community, especially, is consumed by a general mood of distrust vis a vis the incumbent Israeli government. "The Israeli public doesn't know what this government wants and what it plans for," Israeli media reported. Israeli media quoted the mayor of "Nesher" as saying the "war in the north will be earth-shattering."

A week ago, according to Israeli media, the mayor reportedly left a meeting with the Minister of the "Interior" "extremely concerned." During the meeting, the mayor discussed a horrific scenario in which the battle broke out on the northern front, warning, "We are not ready for war, there is no evacuation plan, we have not attended to the dangerous topic factories, and the public is not told the whole truth."

The Political Bureau of the "Ansar Allah" movement (Houthis) condemned the American attacks on Iraq and Syria, considering them "a barbaric and blatant aggression, a violation of the sovereignty of Iraq and Syria, and a violation of international laws." The Political Bureau said in a statement: We condemn the American aggression against Iraq and Syria and consider it a barbaric and blatant aggression, a violation of Iraqi and Syrian sovereignty, and a violation of international laws, adding, The aggression against Iraq and Syria comes in the context of American support for the Israeli enemy to continue its crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Ansar Allah stressed that "the aggressive American actions will drag the region into a broader conflict, and this threatens international peace and security," and added in its statement, "Washington could have forced Israel to stop its aggression against the Palestinian people and lift its siege of Gaza instead of getting involved in targeting the countries and peoples of the region."

The political office of the "Ansar Allah" group affirmed that "our peoples have the right to defend themselves and protect their security and sovereignty from the repeated criminal American attacks," stressing the rejection of "the American narrative that falsely and falsely claims that its aggression against the countries and peoples of the region is merely a reaction, while it is a blatant aggression."

A group of the world's largest shipping lines - including an Israeli shipping software startup - have begun experimenting with new trade routes through the Middle East bypassing the Red Sea. Hanan Friedman, CEO of Trucknet Enterprise, said that it began sending goods, including food, plastics, chemical and electrical goods , from ports in the Emirates and Bahrain, passing through Saudi Arabia and Jordan, towards the Israeli occupation entity and then Europe. Hapag-Lloyd, the fifth largest container transport company in the world, is looking to connect Jebel Ali in Dubai and two ports in eastern Saudi Arabia with Jeddah on the west coast, and among its other options is linking Jebel Ali to Jordan.

Bloomberg claimed, These routes provide an immediate solution for shipments trying to avoid the tension-filled area controlled by the Ansar Allah movement around the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the southern Red Sea , after missile and drone attacks that lasted for several months forced many commercial ships to shift to... "A longer route around Africa. This subsequently disrupted vital trade flows and increased shipping costs, with negative impacts extending throughout the global economy."

She added that companies were forced to search for viable alternatives. The path proposed by Turknet has not been tried before on a commercial scale due to the tense relations between the Israeli occupation entity and the Arab countries. Although the peace agreement between the UAE, Bahrain and Israel three years ago eased relations between them, attempts to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Tel Aviv faltered after the outbreak of war in Gaza.

Friedman explained that goods from India, Thailand, South Korea and China have been sent by truck in recent weeks. While goods destined for Asia move in the opposite direction, which helps reduce overall costs. However, the long-term viability of this route will depend on stability in the region. Also, the quantities that trucks can carry are much smaller than those transported by ships. Friedman said the proposed land route still provides an acceptable alternative for shipping some goods.

For his part, Hapag-Lloyd spokesman Niels Haupt acknowledged that its planned alternative routes are a short-term solution for shipping companies that transport a limited amount of goods not thousands of containers. He added that the land corridor is neither quick nor easy, but it may help enhance the flow of trade through other ports in the region, such as Jeddah, which is effectively isolated from its usual links to the global economy.

According to research conducted by S&P Global Market Intelligence published this week, a trip from Jebel Ali port to Haifa (Israels first commercial gateway) takes up to four days, compared to a trip of 10 days or more around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. , which increases the attractiveness of this path. Although the land corridor transports significant amounts of goods, it will remain a solution limited to a limited number of shipments, especially those destined for Tel Aviv, said Chris Rogers, head of the organizations shipping and supply chain research group.

Lebanese academic and political researcher Talal Atrissi said: American President Joe Biden accused Iran a few days ago of being behind the groups that attacked his countrys forces, and that was a threat that Iran would pay the price, but Biden, in terms of regional calculations and the war that could break out, does not want or think about directing a direct strike against Iran, nor He wants to open a battle with Iran, for fear that the war will expand in the region.

He added: Within months, American sites were subjected to dozens of operations, and Biden feels that American prestige must be restored, especially since in Yemen, American prestige has also declined, and Yemeni operations against American and British ships and tankers have not stopped despite the bombing and threats.

Atrisi stressed that these strikes will not change anything in the general goals of the axis and the resistance factions, whether in Iraq or Syria, and these operations will continue, whether against American military barracks or directly against the Zionist occupation, and the crossing of tankers into the Zionist entity will continue to be prevented.

He pointed out that the beginning of operations in Iraq, Syria, or Yemen was completely linked to the aggression against Gaza, and the only declared title was Stop the aggression against Gaza so that the operations would stop. If the Americans had taken a decision to stop the war, the other fronts would have stopped, and this escalation and expansion of the circle of engagement would not have occurred at the regional level.

Iraqi political researcher Haider al-Moussawi considered that the axis of resistance is one case, and wherever the threat is, you will find strikes directed from all arenas, and the United States views the countries and components of the axis of resistance as one case, and this is what we witnessed in the case of support for the resistance and the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip when the aggression broke out in the Gaza Strip. . Al-Moussawi added that the Iraqi resistance factions wanted to give room for political action and the Baghdad government, which seeks to remove foreign forces, especially the American ones, from Iraqi territory, and therefore announced the cessation of operations against the American forces, but the United States considered it a retreat and calm, even though the resistances statements confirmed that its hand would remain on the trigger.

He stressed that the response was quick and accurate to the American bases after the recent American targeting of the Popular Mobilization Forces and civilians, describing the resistances response as painful for the United States, especially since it came in conjunction with the electoral season in America and will end Bidens order in the upcoming elections.

The risk of the war between Israel and Hamas expanding to the rest of the region has been a concern for several countries, which hastened the deployment of American military ships in the Mediterranean Sea, a calculated response to provocative strikes carried out for months by Iranian agents in the region, according to an American analyst. After the bloody attack launched by Hamas on Israel on October 7, Washington provided military support to Israel and strengthened its forces in the region, especially through the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and other warships.

Nearly four months after the start of the war, the concern of its expansion remains, as the clashes between the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Israeli army on the border have not stopped, while the Houthi rebels threats to ships in the Red Sea have doubled, in addition to sporadic attacks in Syria and Iraq on American military bases.

Hezbollah is affiliated with the Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements and the Quds Force, which is responsible for external operations in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, in a joint operations room, through which it coordinates its movements. These parties have been coordinating their movements with other anti-Israel groups for years within the framework of the Axis of Resistance led by Iran, which warned of the expansion of the scope of the conflict in the region due to the heavy Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip.

In the face of attacks by pro-Iranian groups, US military forces responded on more than one occasion, but the response remained at the level of the threat, which did not amount to posing a threat to the region or the security of Israel, according to what American analyst Van Chirac said. Washington responded to previous attacks with a series of strikes in Iraq, in particular, targeting groups loyal to Iran.

American forces and international coalition forces in Iraq and Syria have been subjected to more than 165 attacks since October, many of which were claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an alliance of Iranian-backed armed factions that oppose American support for Israel in the war in Gaza and the presence of American forces in the region.

Will these strikes deter militias close to Iran or will they contribute to expanding the war? In an interview with Al-Hurra website, Chirac said that the answer to this question depends on several factors, the first of which is we must know the extent of the damage that these groups have suffered from the recent American strikes. Then he continues, "I think that if these militias feel great pain, they will inevitably reduce their attacks, because they know that they will be facing a major global power... and that there is no room for play," he said.

It is noteworthy that the White House confirmed the success of all air strikes in hitting their targets in Iraq and Syria, as the spokesman for the White House National Security Council, John Kirby, stated that the facilities that were targeted were used by groups affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to target American forces in the Middle East.

On the basis of this, Chirac believes that the statement about the danger of expanding the war as a result of American strikes is contrary to reality, as he puts it. This expert in the Middle East believes that the repeated attacks carried out by almost all of Iran's agents since the start of the new war "were what would have expanded the war to the countries where these groups are present." In contrast, Chirac believes that any decision by Washington other than to strike hard would certainly have allowed the war to expand and to be more daring on the part of Irans proxies.

Then he reiterated that the size and strength of the strikes on the Iranian-affiliated militias is the main indicator for making a judgment regarding whether the American strikes deter the militias close to Iran or not. In this regard, he says, "In fact, it is difficult to predict because we have not seen the extent of the damage that befell those militias, especially the Quds Force." Then he continues, "Therefore, it is not possible to give a clear answer to this question."

As for the expansion of the war, he says, The only factor that can expand the war now is Irans intervention, and I doubt that it will work to confront the United States. It knows that this is a risk to its entire existence. Chirac concluded that curbing the groups loyal to Tehran depends on the strength and continuation of American strikes and even the involvement of other allied countries, ruling out the expansion of the war as a result.

It is noteworthy that the American strikes that targeted the positions of the Houthi rebels in Yemen, and its continuous interception of drones targeting their presence in the Red Sea, did not prevent them from continuing to target commercial ships, especially American and British ships. Does this apply to other groups loyal to Tehran in the region?

Jordanian political analyst, Khaled Shneikat, believes that there are several factors that determine whether American strikes will deter pro-Iranian groups or not, including what is related to those groups and what is related to America itself. In an interview with Al-Hurra website, he explained that the factors associated with these groups boil down to the ideology that drives them. If they see what they are doing as sacrifices, it is difficult to say that the strikes will deter them, pointing to the example of the Taliban movement in Afghanistan.

Then he added that knowing the structure of these organizations and their ability to maintain their sources of funding is also an important indicator of their ability to continue or not in the face of American strikes. As for the factors related to the United States, they are summarized in the strength, continuity, and intensity of the strikes, and together, they give a picture of whether these groups will return or not.

Then he stipulated that there be ground intervention in addition to air strikes, in order to neutralize the work of armed groups, giving an example of the success of the United States in defeating ISIS due to the presence of auxiliary forces on the ground, which are the Iraqi forces. Then, he went back to explaining that the images of demolition in Gaza and the dead and wounded civilians are self-recruitment factors, and said, This is what keeps the battle going.

Maps

All maps are lies. Not only is it easy to lie with maps, it is essential, wrote cartographer Mark Monmoneir in his book How to Lie with Maps. He showed that condensing complex, three-dimensional spaces onto a two-dimensional sheet of paper [in old days] is bound to be reductive. But it is impossible to comprehend the war in Gaza without reference to maps, otherwise the entire conflict is reduced to an endless series of meaningless acts of random violence and the suffering of civilians. The first characteristic of guerrilla warfare is the loss of a front line. Evidently, different mappers have different ideas of how to depict the war in Gaza, notably those that seek to depict Israeli progress in the ground campaign. Part of the problem is latency. The news that forms the basis of the maps takes time to filter out to mappers, and the cartographers take time in crafting their maps, and it takes time to curate them. These processes are uneven among mappers, so their maps may differ in detail. Probably there is some ideological bias, or at least thematic apperception, which is understandable in wartime. It may come as no surprise that al-Jazeera maps depict rather less Israeli territorial progress than other sources. Finally, there remains the epistemological question of just exactly what are the colored in areas depicting. Naively, this might be understood as areas of Israeli control, that are no longer contested by the HAMAS. Or possibly these are areas of Israeli presence, in many of which the possibility of an RPG-wielding HAMAS militant popping out of a tunnel unexpectedly remains a live possibility. With the "zero-range" combat characterized by small unit tactics on both sides, maps may be prey to a fallacy of misplaced concreteness. Indeed, by late January 2024 mappers were rather less exuberant in their depictions of IDF advances. While by the end of 2023 maps suggested that it was "mission accomplished" in North Gaza which was depicted as entirely pacified, by late January 2024 enclaves of IDF elements were depicted at the margins of Gaza City, much of North Gaza was now depticted as either HAMAS-controlled, or "contested". Another noteworthy cartographic ambiguity was found to the south of Khan Yunis in the stretch of Salah Al-Deen avenue running north from Al-Nasr through al-Fukhari to the vicinity of Tawhid Mosque in the environs of Khan Yunis proper. By the end of 2023 some cartographers indicated that a large swath of territory centered on this avenue had been liberated by the IDF, while other cartographers professed no knowlege of an IDF presence in that part of the Strip. By late January 2024 there are suggestions that while the avenue itself was an IDF permissive corridor for nearly the full length of the Strip, much of adjacent territory was not. By 29 January 2024 Al-Jazeera had finally come around to some of the cartographic conventions of other mappers, indicating "occupied areas", and even providing a map of IDF ORBAT in the Strip.

Bystanders

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, warned that Israel's statements - regarding military action towards the city of Rafah - are disturbing and constitute a danger to more than one and a half million Palestinians whom it ordered to go there. Turk wrote, in a blog post on the X platform, that the international organization is concerned about the statements of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant regarding the military move to Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. Gallant said - in a statement - that the Israeli army is achieving its mission in Khan Yunis, south of Gaza, and that it will reach Rafah.

Turk added that these statements raise the alarm about the occurrence of large numbers of casualties and the further displacement to an unknown location of more than 1.5 million Palestinians who were ordered by the Israeli army to go to Rafah. Rafah currently hosts more than half of Gaza's population, who were displaced by the war, and is also the main route for humanitarian aid to about 2,300,000 people in dire need of it.

Since January 22, the Israeli army has launched a series of intense air and artillery raids on Khan Yunis, and in the vicinity of the hospitals there, amid ground advances by its vehicles in the southern and western areas of the city, prompting thousands of Palestinians to flee from them.

Last week, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent its forces from committing acts of genocide, and to take measures to improve the humanitarian situation of Palestinians in Gaza, in a case brought by South Africa.

The French website "Media Part" saw that "the Israeli massacre in the Gaza Strip continues, and nothing is on the horizon to curb it, despite the decision of the International Court of Justice calling on Israel to do everything in its power to prevent any act of genocide." The website wrote that what it called "political negativity" trumped international law in Israel's war on Gaza, and wondered about the fate of international law, and who would protect the weak, whether states or individuals, after this.

According to the Intercept website, the International Court of Justices ruling did not deter Israel from continuing to commit atrocities in Gaza, thanks to American support, noting that since the issuance of the Hague ruling, the Israeli army has killed about 900 Palestinians and wounded 1,490.

Axis of Resistance

Naim Qassem, Deputy Secretary General of Lebanese Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, responded to statements by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant that Israel will not stop its war against the party even if the shooting in Gaza stops. Naim Qassem said at a memorial ceremony: Hezbollah supported Gaza, the people of Gaza, and the people of Palestine through the confrontation taking place in southern Lebanon, and at the same time protected Lebanon, deterred Israel, and put an end to the ideas that arise in the mind of the Israeli leadership of attempting to attack Lebanon or a widespread assault on Lebanon, and they know that Hezbollah is always ready, even when it gives 5% of its capacity or gives 5% of its jihad activity, but reserves the remaining capacity for the necessary time, continuing: The necessary time is when the Israeli expands its aggression so that we can confront this expansion with something greater than it and more influential on it. He knows full well that the strength of Hezbollahs youth is very strong and steadfast in the field.

He added: "No one bets that threats or aggression can discourage us. Rather, we are more emphatic in confrontation and resistance, and we prove that we are superior, God Almighty willing, in success, victory, and achieving goals." Nasrallah's deputy added: "We hear some responsible Israelis saying that they will not stop the war even if it stops in Gaza! And slow down, who said that we are waiting for you to stop or not to stop?! We are in the field. If you attack, we will respond to you, and if you stand aside, we will study how." We deal with this presence in the appropriate way, and if you think about returning the settlers by escalating the war, this means that you are making them lose any hope of returning, because the more the war increases means that the possibility of the settlers return will become more difficult.

the Lebanese Hezbollah issued a statement regarding the recent American strikes on Syria and Iraq, which resulted in the death and injury of a number of people. The party said in its statement: Hezbollah strongly condemns the blatant American aggression against Iraq and Syria, which targeted several areas in the two brotherly countries, which led to a number of martyrs and wounded.

The statement added: What the United States of America has done is a blatant violation of the sovereignty of the two countries, a violation of their security and territorial integrity, and a shameless violation of all international and humanitarian laws, stressing that this new aggression contributes to destabilizing the region and creating false justifications and pretexts. Because of the continued American occupation of several areas in Iraq and Syria against the will of their people who yearn for freedom and independence.

Hezbollah continued: The American aggression against Iraq, Syria and Yemen reveals the falsehood of the American claims that it does not want to expand the conflict in the region. Quite the opposite, it contributes to fueling conflict and tension and escalating wars in the region. The statement continued: "We believe that this criminal aggression pushes the Iraqi and Syrian peoples to adhere to the path of resistance to liberate their countries from the American occupation and to continue supporting and assisting the oppressed Gaza Strip until the Zionist aggression and its crimes stop."

Allied for Democracy

The Channel 13 poll, regarding the management of the war in Gaza, indicated that 40% of Israelis believe the war was not going in the right direction. According to a poll by Israeli Channel 13, only 40% of Israelis polled believe that the Israeli forces have made serious progress in Gaza. The poll, regarding the management of the war in Gaza, indicated that an equal percentage of Israelis believe the war was not going in the right direction.

After 119 days, 58% of respondents to not trust Benjamin Netanyahu's management of the war, compared to 30% who said they do trust Netanyahu, and 12% had no answer about the current prime minister. Regarding Benny Gantz, 49% believe that Benny Gantz should not leave the government, compared to 24% who believe that he should leave it.

A majority of the respondents, 70%, believe that trucks carrying basic aid to Gaza should be prevented from entering Gaza, compared to only 20% who believe they should not be prevented. Only 10% of Israelis were indifferent to the situation. Regarding the return of Palestinians to Gaza, 51% of respondents are against the return of Palestinians to Gaza while 31% do not oppose it.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in an interview with the Israeli Channel 12, Olmert considered that on October 7, 2023, Israel suffered its greatest defeat in its history, at the military and national levels. He added,  The Israeli government has been trying since October 7 to make us forget this defeat, through bragging steps, bragging, and pledges of things that there is no chance of being implemented. In the hope that with the passage of time, the bombing, and the strikes, the strength of the blow we received in the beginning will be forgotten.

Olmert accused the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu , that he does not want to do what is necessary to return the prisoners, saying: We cannot continue to deceive ourselves or that we want to return the prisoners, and then the fighting must stop , otherwise we will not eliminate Hamas and we will not save the prisoners. Olmert pointed out that Netanyahu made a mistake when he set a goal for the war that could not be achieved, and stressed that all the achievements achieved by the army do not come close to the declared goal, which is the complete destruction of the Hamas movement.

The ICJ's scrutiny of rhetorical dehumanization of Palestinians led Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to urge restraint in language once more among members of his extremist cabinet, yet some members continue with provocative remarks, Politico reported. hen the court issued its decision to issue interim orders for the Israeli regime, extremist elements within Netanyahu's government, known for controversial remarks, were explicitly cited. These included Internal Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, among others. Prior to the hearing, Netanyahu cautioned extremists within his coalition to pipe down and "be careful with their words," noting that "every word has meaning when it comes to diplomacy."

Despite calls for caution, Minister Gideon Saar publicly declared that Gaza should be smaller after the war, and those who initiate a war against Israel must inevitably lose territory. Minister of "Heritage" Amihai Eliyahu further sparked international outrage by contemplating the use of a nuclear bomb on Gaza, later claiming it was "metaphorical." After the charges concluded that Israel is indeed engaged in acts of genocide, Ben-Gvir condemned the court's decision as "anti-semitic," while Netanyahu himself called the charges untrue and "outrageous."

Netanyahu is currently faced with serious challenges ahead of the next hearing. A primary issue is his apparent inability to silence genocidal voices within his Cabinet, the Politico report notes. Over the weekend, ministers and lawmakers participated in a pro-settlement conference in occupied Al-Quds, advocating for the building of Israeli settlements in Gaza post-war. This contradicts Netanyahu's claim that "Israel" has "no intention of permanently occupying Gaza or displacing its civilian population." Some observers point out that extremist coalition partners may not want to trigger a coalition collapse but may seek to weaken centrists and force them to leave the war cabinet.

Netanyahu's second challenge involves the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. With "Israel" throttling back its military aggression, this enabled the resistance to regroup its forces in the North of the Strip. This poses a serious dilemma for Netanyahu as resuming airstrikes to weaken the resistance may exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, putting him once again at odds with the ICJ.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has intensified his citations - despite his apparent secularism - to biblical texts in his statements and speeches about the Israeli aggression on Gaza. This is the practice of many leaders who resort to religious texts in times of war, for the purposes of justification and mobilization.

The genocide claim presented by South Africa was based on a large number of evidence and evidence that Israel committed that crime against the people of the Gaza Strip. Among the evidence were statements of a biblical religious nature by senior Israeli officials, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , who intensified his martyrdoms - despite His apparent secularism - using biblical texts in his statements and speeches about the Israeli aggression on Gaza.

The South African indictment document at the International Court of Justice stated that Netanyahu cited a text from the Book of Samuel in the fifteenth chapter, where King Saul is told not to spare anyone in attacking Amalek.

Returning to Netanyahus statements, he said in a press conference on October 28, 2023 the following: Our Holy Book says: Remember what Amalek did to you, and we remember and we fight. He said about the soldiers in and around Gaza that they join a series of Jewish heroes, which began 3,000 years ago with Joshua bin Nun, to the heroes of the 1948 war, the Six-Day War, the October 1973 war, and all the wars that were in this country.

Netanyahu added in a televised speech on October 25, 2023, We are children of light and they are children of darkness, and light will triumph over darkness, and with deep faith in the immortality of Israel, we will fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah. You will no longer hear about the devastation in your land. We will be a reason for honoring your people. We will fight together and we will achieve it. "Victory."

These were Netanyahu's statements, so what about the Jewish religious texts that he relied on?

It says in the Book of Samuel: Now go and smite the Amalekites, and destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, child and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

In the Book of Deuteronomy it was stated: When the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, to possess it, you shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget what Amalek did to you on the way when you left Egypt. In a call to eradicate the Amalekites who They are a nomadic people who lived south of the land of Canaan, the Negev Desert, and northern Sinai. From an Israeli perspective, they are the ancestors of the Palestinians and Arabs.

Here it becomes clear that the official Israeli citation of such religious texts is - in reality - a clear call for the genocide of humans and animals, which came in the form of Strike or strike Amalek with an emphasis on killing every living creature, including man, woman, child, infant, sheep, cow, camel, and donkey, in A scene that goes beyond what has been described in modern international law with the term genocide.

As for Netanyahus talk about the Israeli sons of light and the Palestinian sons of darkness, and his mention of the devastation that will spread to Gaza, it is a reference to the text of Isaiah, The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, and the other text: And injustice will no longer be heard in your land (O Israel). ) And there will be no destruction or devastation within your borders. After that, darkness and devastation will be upon the Palestinians today, as it was upon their ancestors yesterday, according to the religious texts that the Israeli Prime Minister draws from.

In fact, the demonization to which the residents of the Gaza Strip were subjected by Israeli officials and media came to prepare the world to accept the commission of the Israeli crime against them and the justification for targeting them. Moreover, this demonization also has what is rooted in the Jewish Talmudic and biblical heritage, which demonized the Amalek people to justify Exterminate them.

Hence the statements of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant, in which he said: We are fighting human animals, which Human Rights Watch said were an invitation to commit war crimes. These statements rely on a huge religious heritage of demonizing and distorting those whom the Israelis consider to be the ancestors of the Arabs and Palestinians, represented by In the people of the Amalekites, whom the Torah mentioned that - according to the Book of Samuel - they are a people who love war and bloodshed, a barbaric people who love to take women captive and raid peaceful cities, and that they are fighting God Himself because they are fighting the people of God according to the Book of Numbers, and they also put their hand on the Throne Lord, which is interpreted biblically as the people of Israel, and therefore the Lord will wage war with Amalek from generation to generation, according to the texts of the Book of Exodus.

Cori Bush (D-MO), a member of the US Congress, says about Netanyahus aforementioned speech, which is based on a biblical legacy, that it is a speech of ethnic cleansing and that it is a picture of what Israel is doing in Gaza in terms of killing children, women and men, while citing texts that talk about the extermination of the Amalekites, which are the texts that the Jewish rabbi Elhanan says about. Miller, a left-leaning religious researcher, said, What the Torah mentions about the Amalekites can be classified as genocide, from the point of view of international law. This is the opinion of many Jewish writers, clerics, and influencers around the world, as the American Jewish cartoonist repeats that Netanyahus citation of texts The Torah about the Amalekites is an explicit call for genocide, while many of Israels supporters who criticized the speech see it as a speech that gave strong documents against Israel before international justice, and that it was like an indictment that writes itself, according to what Rabbi Miller quoted from correspondence between him. One of the academics supporting Israel stated the same opinion expressed by Bible researcher Anne-Marie Pelletier, who criticized the vulgar reference to the Bible in Netanyahus speech, stressing that the one who walks in darkness in the Book of Isaiah is not the enemy next door. Rather, it is the Jewish people themselves, who are certainly going through a political and spiritual ordeal.

Despite the attempts of the defense team of "Israel" inside and outside the corridors of international justice to justify the statements of Netanyahu and other Israeli officials, by saying that they were taken out of their contexts, the actions of the occupation army on the ground confirm that what Netanyahu and quite a few Israeli officials said are not just statements, but A policy followed, revealing the truth about the extremist tendencies of the rabbis government in Israel, in conformity with historical biblical dreams, which it is no longer useful to say that they fall within the conspiracy theory after Netanyahu himself confirmed that Israel will continue to control the entire region from The River to the Sea in the context of his rejection of the establishment of a Palestinian state, as a response to an American peace plan, based on stopping the war, normalization with the Arabs, and the reconstruction of Gaza, in exchange for an independent Palestinian state.

Egyptian political analyst Yusri Obaid said in an interview with RT that Israeli political and military leaders are deliberately prolonging the war in the Gaza Strip because they know that its end means their end. Commenting on the intention of 3 Israeli security leaders to resign after the end of the war on Gaza, he added that the security leaders know that after the end of this war, a committee will be formed to investigate what happened on the 7th of October and after the 7th of October, and therefore these leaders are guilty of negligence and of allowing what It happened on October 7, and therefore they are vulnerable to dismissal and trial. They are trying to pre-empt these investigations, knowing full well that the war may be approaching its end without achieving any goals.

He said that it is not only the security leaders who will resign, but also the political leaders, pointing out that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knows full well that with the end of this war, he, his government, and the extremists in it will be politically finished, and therefore they are trying to greatly prolong this war in order to continue in power because the end of this war. It is the end of the political future of Netanyahu, the extremist ministers, and the security leaders.

He added that they may be accused of negligence and referred to trials such as the Agranat Committee, which was formed after the 1973 war, and Golda Meir, the Israeli Prime Minister, and the military and security leaders were also dismissed at that time. He stressed that the current Israeli leaders know full well that they are fully responsible for what happened before and on October 7th, as well as for the major failures of the Israeli army after October 7th.

A study published in the British medical journal The Lancet revealed that the entire population of Israel was exposed, in one way or another, to the repercussions of the Al-Aqsa Flood, which was unprecedented in scope and horror of psychological trauma. The study touched on a massive national psychological trauma due to the number of post-traumatic symptoms and cases of depression and distress, which indicates a noticeable impact on the mental health of Israelis.

Since the day Hamas carried out its attack, the calls received by the Eran emergency line have almost doubled, according to what Sheri Daniels, the official in this telephone and electronic platform for psychological aid, revealed. "Very wide circles of vulnerability have been formed," according to Daniels, who touched on the situation of ambulance personnel, police, and the families of the dead and hostages, and "everyone in Israel sympathizes with the victims."

Daniels pointed to the situation of children who do not leave their families at nightfall, or adults who are so anxious and consumed with remorse for their inability to save their relatives that they are unable to concentrate. Director General of the Ministry of Health, Moshe Bar Siman Tov, revealed that out of an estimated population of 9.7 million, 100,000 have been exposed to accidents that could cause psychological trauma since October 7, and about 200,000 people have been displaced.

Health Minister Uriel Busso, for his part, considered that Israel is simply facing the largest mental health crisis in its history, even though the sector was already suffering from a huge gap. Today, the actual assessment of psychological needs is still premature, as they only appear after exposure to the trigger and are not taken into account unless they last more than a month, according to what psychologist Milka Adraee of the One Family Association, which provides assistance to the public in Israel, explained.

Adraee pointed out that Hamas uses intimidation as a weapon of war... by reviving past traumas, such as those associated with successive waves of displacement, wars, and the Holocaust. In light of the worsening needs and the severe shortage of specialists, the Israeli government announced a recruitment campaign and decided in mid-January to grant additional resources to the mental health sector worth 1.4 billion shekels (more than 350 million euros). Civil society is mobilizing to confront this situation. Virtual reality helmets have been used for therapeutic purposes, and Cheri Daniels says, "We are trying to fill the gaps in the system."

The former consul of Israel in New York, Yaki Dayan, confirmed that Washington is currently working to prevent the opening of an additional front in Lebanon, stressing that the Lebanese front is worrying the Americans. In an interview with Israeli Channel 12, he mentioned that even as Washington evaluates its response to Iran, it is carefully considering options to avoid triggering a regional war. This cautious approach is influenced by the upcoming elections, and the potential impact on oil prices is a significant factor in shaping their decisions.

Dayan explained that American voters are likely to base their decisions not solely on President Joe Biden's foreign policy but also on the impact of oil prices. He emphasized that the United States is currently facing a challenging situation, and the window of time it is offering Israel is almost up.

In the same context, the Israeli channels correspondent in northern occupied Palestine, Hadar Ghetsis, said that the Americans are trying to persuade Israeli officials to settle with Hezbollah.

A poll by the Associated Press and the NORC Center found that half of American adults believe that Israel has gone too far in its 15-week military campaign in the Gaza Strip . According to the poll, which was conducted from January 25 to 28, this result is mainly driven by growing dissatisfaction among Republicans and independent politicians.

In general, the poll shows that support for Israel and President Joe Bidens administrations handling of the situation is declining slightly in all areas, as the poll revealed that only 31% of American adults support Bidens handling of the conflict, and this includes only 46% of Democrats, and this is a significant decline. Compared to the support for Biden's approach after the Al- Aqsa Flood operation last October 7.

The poll also shows that 33% of Republicans now say that the Israeli response to the Al-Aqsa Flood operation went too far, a significant increase from 18% among Republicans last November. 52% of independents see the same thing, up from 39%, and 62% of Democrats feel the same way, the same majority as last November.

Overall, the poll found that 50% of American adults now believe that the Israeli military attack on the Gaza Strip went too far, a significant increase from the 40% shown in a similar poll by the Associated Press and the NORC Center conducted last November.

The results of the new poll include more troubling news for President Joe Biden when it comes to support from his political party, and the lines of division in his Democratic base are growing, with some key Democratic blocs that Biden will likely need if he is to win a second term unhappy with his handling of the conflict.

According to the poll, about 6 in 10 non-white Democrats disapprove of the way Biden is handling the conflict, while about half of white Democrats approve of his approach. It is notable that about 7 out of 10 Democrats under the age of 45 do not approve of Biden's handling of the conflict. This is the opposite of older Democrats, where nearly 6 in 10 support Biden's approach.

About 7 in 10 Democrats who do not support Biden's handling of the conflict also say that it is very important for the United States to help conduct negotiations for a final ceasefire. The poll now shows that only 35% of American adults now describe Israel as an ally that shares US interests and values, consistent with views held before October 7, after a brief increase in November to 44%.

36% of American adults say that the United States does not provide sufficient support to the Palestinians, a slight increase from the 31% that was last December. Although about 6 out of 10 Americans describe the recovery of prisoners held by the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) as an important American priority, only 3 out of 10 say that it is very important to provide Israel with military aid to fight Hamas.

Butcher's Bill / Oasis of Martyrs

On 7 October 2023, Hamas and other armed groups present in the Gaza Strip carried out an attack in Israel, killing more than 1,200 persons, injuring thousands and abducting some 240 people, many of whom continue to be held hostage. It was the second largest loss inflicted on the Israeli forces after the 1973 war. Palestinian armed groups launched thousands of missiles at Israel Following this attack, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza, by land, air and sea.

The 1,200 Israelis killed on the first day would be the equivalent of 36,000 Americans killed in an attack, as a proportion to Israels population of 9.3 million people (compared to 332 million in the USA). Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated: Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been killed in one day". PM Netanyahu stated "On October 7th, Hamas murdered 1,400 Israelis. Maybe more. This is in a country of fewer than 10 million people. This would be equivalent to over 50,000 Americans murdered in a single day. Thats twenty 9/11s. That is why October 7th is another day that will live in infamy."

The HAMAS Ministry of Health in the besieged sector announced that the number of victims of the Israeli operation its beginning had risen to 27,131 martyrs, and the killing of nearly 10,000 Palestinian children and 6,600 women killed. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

The number wounded was 66,287. The Palestinian Government Media Office in Gaza had said much earlier that the number of missing people had risen to more than 8,000, including including 4,700 children and women, amid expectations that the toll will be double thi figures.

The IDF intensified its military operations in the West Bank, and increased the pace of incursions and raids into cities, towns, and camps, resulting in the martyrdom of 380 Palestinians, the injury of about 3,950, and the arrest of 5,780, according to official HAMAS sources. As of 17 January 2023, the Israeli escalation in the West Bank led to the death of 360 Palestinians, the injury of nearly 2,200, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, and the arrest of about 6,000, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club.

More than 130 Hezbollah fighters were killed in Lebanon during exchanges of bombing operations with Israel.

Israel revised down the death toll from the October Hamas attacks in southern Israel from 1,400 to 1,200. IDF had said previously it was holding 1,500 bodies of terrorists, a total that now would increas to about 1,700.

The total number of Israeli deaths has risen to 563 [557?] since the start of the war on October 7, including 233 [220?] killed since the ground invasion as a result of the ongoing clashes with the Palestinian resistance. Among them were at least 56 with the rank of platoon commander, 43 with the rank of company commander, 9 with the rank of battalion commander, and 5 with the rank of brigade commander. These officers constitute 23% of the total deaths of the Israeli army in the war on Gaza.

Israeli media reported that 27% of the Israeli military casualties in the war were officers. In detail, the media highlighted that three brigade commanders, four battalion commanders, and other senior officers have been killed in the war so far.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that 29 of the army's deaths were caused by "friendly fire" and operational incidents since the start of the ground war in Gaza, late last October. The Israeli authority explained that "18 army soldiers were killed by friendly fire, two were killed as a result of gunfire (without explanation), and 9 Israeli soldiers were killed in ammunition, weapons, or run-over accidents." The Jerusalem Post newspaper revealed that 15 soldiers were killed in the Strip without their bodies being found.

According to some reports statistics indicate that 20% of the Israeli losses were due to friendly fire. Because the nature of the battle has become completely different from what was expected, and it lacks a front line.

It was announced that soldiers wounded in the Gaza Strip battles numbered to 2,815 since the beginning of the war, including 1,296 who had been wounded since the start of the ground attack on October 27, 2023.

The Israeli army reported that 407 who are still receiving treatment for their injuries in the Gaza battles, and the condition of 48 of them is serious. The number of injured among the Israeli army since the start of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip on October 27 included 602 minor cases, 430 moderate cases, and 264 critical cases.

At least 13,794 Israelis were injured, according to i24 TV.

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper had reported that 5,000 soldiers had been wounded since the beginning of the war on October 7, and that the Ministry of Defense had recognized 2,000 soldiers as disabled so far.

An estimate by the Israeli Ministry of Defense expected that the number of soldiers with disabilities in the war taking place in the Gaza Strip since October 7 of last year would reach 12,500 soldiers. The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said that the Soldiers' Rehabilitation Department of the Ministry of Defense has dealt with 3,400 soldiers who were classified as disabled in the army since last October 7.

The Israeli army revealed that about 9,000 of its soldiers have received psychological assistance since the beginning of the war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, and about a quarter of them have not returned to combat. This came according to a new statement revealed by the Army Medical Corps, according to Channel 12 and the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. According to the statement, nearly 9,000 soldiers have applied for psychological assistance since the beginning of the war, and approximately a quarter of them have not returned to combat.

The statement continued, "In total, about 13,000 regular and reserve soldiers required accompaniment or medical treatment at some level during the fighting, and thousands of them were injured in the battles."

Al Jazeera military and strategic expert Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi expressed his conviction that the numbers of dead and wounded announced by Israel cannot represent the truth, due to a discrepancy between the Israeli armys data and the Walla website, which is close to the army itself.

In an interview with RT, Military strategist retired Tunisian Brigadier General Tawfiq Didi said that the number of Israeli army deaths in the Gaza battles is much greater than what Israel announces. Didi explained in an interview with the Best Saying program on RT channel, The number of people killed in battles can be easily known, as the equation in wars is that for every 3 wounded there is a dead person, and the numbers now in Israel hover around 12,500 wounded and disabled people, and when we divide by Three, we find that the death toll exceeds 4,000, especially after eliminating more than a thousand tanks and armored vehicles, and I know what happens when Kornet missiles hit a tank. Its ammunition explodes and no one is left alive.

He added, "The Israelis announce their dead only of those of Jewish origin and of the first race, meaning all Arabs, Falash, and those who are among them. They are not counted because they are of the second category. So I am sure that the number exceeds 4 thousand dead, and this is a very easy military calculation."

He pointed out, "The Palestinian resistance documented everything it did, unlike the Israelis. The resistance documented shooting at tanks and armored vehicles and destroying the houses in which the Israeli soldiers were holed up, and we saw them being killed... We saw the Kornet hitting the tanks, we saw Al-Yassin 105, so the difference is clear."

Hostages

Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed have been held as hostages in Gaza since 2014 and 2015, respectively. Unlike the roughly 240 people kidnapped in the Hamas October 7 terrorist attacks, the campaign for the release of Mengistu and al-Sayed has received little publicity. Mengistu is known to suffer from what HRW deemed "serious" mental health issues. "Avera crossed one of the safest borders in the world, under the eyes of the security services," recalled Gil Elias, a relative. "We're talking about a mentally ill person who got lost." The calls for the release of Mengistu and al-Sayed have been barely audible during the many years they have been held captive in Gaza.

Israel had previously estimated there were 116 living hostages in Palestinian custody. Israel declared 20 out of 136 people in Gaza captivity dead in absentia, after announcing its forces had recovered the bodies of two hostages. By another count, 132 of them are still being held in Gaza, and 25 of them have been confirmed dead. Israel considers those still held by Hamas to be hostages regardless of whether they are dead or alive.

Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy earlier had told reporters that Hamas still held 137 captives. The resistance released 10 Israeli detainees, 4 Thais and 2 Russian women, who were released outside the agreement. Over the course of 6 days, Israel has received 102 detainees, women and children, including 78 Israelis, in exchange for the release of 234 Palestinian prisoners, women and children.

Eylon Levy, the Israeli government spokesperson, told reporters 01 December 2023:

Hamas still held 137 hostages from the October attacks, in addition to four others who went missing before the war

The hostages include two children aged four and 10 months, who, Hamas now claims, are dead

117 male hostages are still kept in Gaza, including the two children, as well as 20 females

126 hostages are Israelis, and 11 others are foreign nationals

Foreign nationals are eight Thais, one Nepalese, one Tanzanian and one French Mexican citizen

Ten of the remaining hostages are 75 and older.

There are seven missing people since the October 7 attack

Hamas had released 110 hostages so far  86 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals.

Some of the rest are soldiers, seized when Hamas raided military bases in Israel. They may end up being held the longest. The Israeli military had not specified how many soldiers were captured, nor their ranks.

According to some estimates, Hamas was initially holding nearly 210 of the 240 hostages, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad was holding the remaining 30. About 40 Israelis remained missing. More than 40 hostages taken from Israel into Gaza on October 7th are not currently in the custody of Hamas, the group responsible for the attack, according to a CNN report based on a diplomatic source briefed on the negotiations, CNN's prior reports had indicated that an estimated 40 to 50 hostages were held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad or other unidentified groups or individuals.

Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said on Hamas telegram account that 23 bodies of the 60 missing Israel hostages were trapped under the rubble. It seems that we will never be able to reach them due to the continued brutal aggression of the occupation against Gaza, he said.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Club revealed that about 11,000 arrests were carried out by the Israeli army during the year 2023 in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, in addition to arrests from the Gaza Strip before the seventh of last October. The number of people arrested by the Israelis in the West Bank since that date has exceeded 6,500. The total number of prisoners in Israeli prisons is 8,800, as documented by the club until the end of December 2023. Palestinian prisoner institutions said more than 3,290 administrative detainees, which is the highest percentage since the years of the 1987 Intifada, and 661 who were classified as unlawful combatants from Gaza, and this is the number available only as a clear given. The Prisoners' Club stated that cases of arrest among women amounted to (300), and this toll includes women from the occupied interior detained after October 7, while the number of cases of children reached 1,085. The arrest campaigns affected all groups, including women and children, as the number of women who were arrested reached about 200, while the number of arrests among children until the end of last December exceeded 355 children.

Israel said on 14 January 2024 that, since the beginning of the war, over 2,960 wanted persons have been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Valleys Division, over 1,350 of whom are affiliated with Hamas. On 08 January 2024 it was reported that more than 1,350 wanted persons had been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Valleys Division, more than 870 of whom are associated with the terrorist organization Hamas.

The institutions added in the statement that the occupation arrested 210 women during the aforementioned period, and this statistic includes women who were arrested from the territories in 1948, and more than 355 children, pointing out that the outcome of the arrest campaigns includes all those who were arrested from homes, and through military checkpoints, Those who were forced to surrender themselves under pressure, and those who were detained. It explained that "the number of arrests among journalists reached 50, of whom 35 remain in detention, and 20 of them were transferred to administrative detention."

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Operation Iron Swords - Day 121 - 04 February 2024

Israeli War Council member Benny Gantz said, I informed the American envoy that Lebanon is responsible for terrorism emanating from its territory, and that Israel will expand and deepen its military operations. Sam Halpern reported in The Jerusalem Post "Both Benny Gantz and Yoav Gallant met with US envoy Amos Hochstein on Sunday to discuss the situation on Israel's border with Lebanon... Gantz stated that unless Lebanon and the international community acted to remove the threat within Lebanon, Israel would broaden its military activities in the north in order to do so.... The minister-without-portfolio noted that these potential military activities would take place irrespective of the war in Gaza."

"Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also met with Hochstein... "Our commitment to our citizens is greater than any other commitment, Gallant told the American envoy. We are ready to resolve the crisis [in the North] through diplomatic means but are prepared for any other option."... Gallant and Hochstein discussed the need for a change in the security situation on Israels northern border and the need for the displaced residents of the north to return to then their homes".

"Casus belli" is a Latin term that translates to "cause of war" in English. It refers to a justification or reason for initiating a war or conflict. A casus belli can be an action, event, or circumstance that is considered sufficient to warrant a declaration of war. It is often used in the context of international relations and diplomacy to explain why a country or a group of countries believes it is necessary to resort to military force. Historically, casus belli has been invoked to justify military actions, and it plays a crucial role in shaping the narrative and legal justifications for going to war.

IDF spokesman, Brigadier General Daniel Hagari stated: Good evening, today we mark one hundred and twenty days since the beginning of the war. We continue to deepen the operational achievement in Khan Yunis and in the north of the Gaza Strip. We are focused on the war in Gaza, where the abductees are.

At the beginning of the war, Hezbollah aligned itself with Hamas and opened fire on Israel. In the interests of the security of the residents of the north, a decision was made to evacuate them from their homes. For one hundred and twenty days the residents of the north have been in a complex reality, far from their home, under fighting. Tonight I will explain the fighting on the northern border and our actions to continue in the northern sector. Since the beginning of the war, Hezbollah has been trying to divert our attention from the war in Gaza. He does this at the behest and with the backing of Iran.

Hezbollah fires at Israeli territory and tries to carry out more and more acts of terror against the citizens of Israel - at the same time as the war in Gaza, for the past four months we have been waging a very intense battle on the northern front aimed at reshaping the security reality so that the residents of the north can return to their homes safely.

Tonight I will briefly explain the scope of our activities in the northern sector, and the actions to continue. This is the border of Lebanon, and this is the territory of southern Lebanon, where the Litani and Zaharani rivers pass. According to the resolution of the UN Security Council, seventeen zero one, following the Second Lebanon War - the presence of Hezbollah militants south of the Litani River is prohibited.

Despite this, Hezbollah made southern Lebanon its main stronghold. He has built a number of terrorist formations in the area over the years - from military positions through military bases to warehouses of weapons, while deploying rockets in the area that threaten the rear of the State of Israel.

As soon as the war broke out in the south, with the understanding that Hezbollah would try to challenge us, under the leadership of the Northern Command, we deployed many land, air, sea and intelligence forces along the border. Indeed - Hezbollah started fighting against Israel and joined the war, when it attacks the settlements of the north and its residents, directs anti-tank missiles and launches rockets against them.

In response to this and in a proactive manner - the IDF is charging Hezbollah an ever-increasing price and denying its capabilities in southern Lebanon. Since the beginning of the war, the IDF has implemented three main efforts:

The defense effort - in the framework of which we created a new defense at the border; The attack effort - within the framework of which we are harming Hezbollah's deployment and gnawing at its capabilities; and the war readiness effort on the northern border.

Today I will detail these three efforts.

As of the seventh of October, we are in a new defense effort along the Lebanese border, the purpose of which is to protect the residents of the north and thwart Hezbollah's capabilities. As part of it, instead of the usual one division, we deployed three divisions along the border, with tens of thousands of fighters and IDF forces in regular and reserve positions - on land, in the air, and at sea. and settlements and launch rockets to the rear. So far we have attacked more than one hundred and fifty terrorist squads and eliminated more than two hundred terrorists and commanders. Our policy is clear: whoever poses a threat will be attacked. Every terrorist who tries to carry out an activity against us meets the IDF forces.

The second effort is the attack effort. Since the beginning of the war, we have attacked more than three thousand four hundred Hezbollah targets all over southern Lebanon. Look at the territory of southern Lebanon. This is a complex terrain route, in which a number of villages and towns are spread, most of which are identified with the Shia population in Lebanon.

Like Hamas, Hezbollah has also placed its terrorist infrastructure in the heart of the civilian population, in villages and settlements - to make it difficult for us to hit them. That is why our attacks are carried out through precise intelligence targeting, to damage Hezbollah's capabilities and not the population. We will know how to attack every house that is used by Hezbollah as a terrorist infrastructure.

We are attacking many targets for Hezbollah, including three main Hezbollah formations: the first formation is Hezbollah forces on the border line. Observation and attack positions that Hezbollah established, which will be used by it on the day of the order against the State of Israel. In total, we attacked about one hundred and twenty such observation posts along the length of the border.

The second array is its munitions warehouses - where missiles of all ranges, unmanned aerial vehicles, weapons and charges are stored. From the beginning of the war, we attacked and destroyed about forty warehouses that Hezbollah hid along the border. In this video, you can see a Hezbollah weapons depot that we attacked in a civilian house - pay attention to the secondary explosions caused by missiles that hit and explode powerfully. We attacked a large number of such targets.

The third array is Hezbollah's military headquarters, which are the heart of the organization's military activity, from where it manages the organization's activities in routine and emergency situations. So far we have attacked more than forty headquarters staffed by activists. We are also hitting other significant and central Hezbollah formations. For example, the organization's air unit is responsible for launching unmanned aircraft towards the territory of the State of Israel.

Among other things, we attacked an airstrip, warehouses and weapons used by the unit, and we eliminated terrorists and we also eliminated the head of the southern Lebanon sector in the Hezbollah air unit. In this video you can see terrorists unloading unmanned aerial vehicles from a vehicle, installing them in a completely civilian building, in the heart of a Lebanese village, and preparing them for launch. Air Force aircraft attacked the terrorists and thwarted the launch.

Hezbollah endangers the residents of South Lebanon and we will continue to act to thwart Hezbollah's terrorism there as well. The Air Force attacks many of Hezbollah's capabilities, and conducts intelligence gathering together with the Intelligence Division to continue to damage the air defense arrays and other strategic arrays that Hezbollah has built against us for years.

For example, we attacked a storage site for advanced surface-to-air missiles, which Hezbollah hid, which was intended to harm the Air Force's activities. We are also attacking other types of Hezbollah targets, which are more sensitive, some of which I will not detail for information security reasons. We will continue to attack all significant targets in the area.

At the same time as the attacks in Lebanon itself, we are working to stop Hezbollah's supply chain of ammunition and missiles. Most of the time, these are weapons and means of warfare that are smuggled by land and air from the territory of Iran to the territory of Syria. Iran directs and helps the terrorist organizations, it sends weapons to all the couriers in the Middle East.

These means of warfare are used not only against the State of Israel but against the entire Middle East. The Iranian emissaries, as we witness time and time again, pose a threat to the entire Western world.

From there, they are supposed to be secretly smuggled into Lebanon, contrary to UN Security Council resolution seventeen zero one which prohibits the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah - which is exactly what Iran and Syria are doing. Sometimes there are also attempts by Hamas affiliates in Syria to smuggle weapons into Lebanese territory.

We locate these shipments and destroy them, using a variety of methods that I won't go into detail about. They are destroyed before they reach Hezbollah. We attack Hezbollah infrastructure in Syria as well. Since the beginning of the war, we have attacked from the ground and the air more than fifty such targets that were deployed in Syria.

We will continue to act wherever Hezbollah is present, we will continue to act wherever it is required in the Middle East. What is true for Lebanon is true for Syria, and is true for other more distant places. The role of the IDF and the security forces is to protect the security interests of the State of Israel wherever necessary.

For example, about a month ago we eliminated a squad of "Golan Bag" operatives - Hezbollah's branch in Syria. Precise intelligence targeting a vehicle of the squad, an Air Force aircraft arrives in the area, and precisely attacks the squad in Syria. After attacking all the targets I described so far, we are also making sure to preserve the achievement and prevent Hezbollah from restoring them.

The third and last effort is the effort to increase preparedness for war. We do not choose war as our first priority, but we are certainly prepared and will prepare if needed. We have learned a lot, and we are learning, from the ground fighting in the Gaza Strip, the IDF is a better army because of it, and we have implemented the lessons in our attack plans in the north.

For the past four months, the Northern Command in collaboration with the Air Force, the Intelligence Division, the Navy and others, have been preparing and training in a series of exercises for the IDF forces, regular and reserve. To ensure that when given an order - we will be ready to attack immediately.

Our reservists, protecting the northern border, even tonight when the weather conditions are difficult - the quality of the defense combined with their extensive experience alongside the fighting spirit - deserve tremendous appreciation. In addition to protecting the border, they train together with the regular forces in preparation for war.

All the efforts I described resulted in the fact that the security reality in the north is already taking shape these days, and will continue to take shape in the future. We will not return to the security reality as it was on October 6 when Hezbollah threatens the residents of the north and deceives the world. Hezbollah was wrong when it decided to side with Hamas, with child kidnappers and rapists, and to attack Israel without any justifiable reason.

We made a decision to focus on Gaza, this decision is still valid. There are our 136 abductees and abductees. And it is a supreme task to return them home. We know that the current situation is complex in the south and in the north and cities for the tens of thousands of residents who were forced to leave their homes. We are in regular contact with the heads of the local councils, and update them on developments.

I want to appeal to you residents of the north, despite the challenge and the heavy price you have been paying in recent months, you have shown extraordinary patience, long-suffering and fortitude. Your resilience is a source of inspiration for us. We have the duty to ensure security at the northern border so that you can return to your homes. It is a complex challenge and there is still a way to go until the security situation allows your return. This is our responsibility. We are determined to meet this mission and realize it by any means at our disposal.

War Termination

Israeli Channel 13 reported that the administration of US President Joe Biden is pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a truce for a period of 4 months.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said : The settlers are the security belt of the State of Israel, Settlement creates security and the settlers are the security belt of the State of Israel. When there are no settlers, a massacre occurs, as happened last October 7.

Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian said the security of Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Palestine, Gaza and the West Bank is the security of the region.

Egypt and France called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip , and warned that developments in the region threaten to worsen the situation and slide into a broader conflict. This came in statements by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, during a press conference in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, with his French counterpart, Stephane Segournet.

Shukri also called for setting a time frame for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, stressing the rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. Regarding the results of the discussions between the two ministers, Shukri said, We stressed the importance of the ceasefire in Gaza and the entry of aid into the Strip. He added, "We affirm Egypt's rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip." Shukri continued, "The Palestinian issue must be dealt with through a comprehensive political framework, and a time frame must be set for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state."

For his part, Sigourney said that his country rejects any displacement of the residents of the Gaza Strip, stressing that the Strip must be part of the future Palestinian state. The French minister added that the situation in Gaza is tragic and the needs are urgent to increase humanitarian aid. Sigourney expressed his concern about increasing tensions in the Red Sea region .

The French Minister stressed his country's keenness to coordinate visions and efforts with Egypt towards a permanent ceasefire and prisoner exchange, in light of the agreement of the two countries' positions on the necessity of preventing the circle of conflict from expanding, and activating the two-state solution as a basis for a comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue and restoring security and stability in the Middle East.

Later, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the French Foreign Minister discussed the intensified Egyptian efforts with various partners to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and implement humanitarian aid to end the humanitarian tragedy that the people of the Strip are suffering from. In a tweet on the X website, Sigourney said, During my meeting with President Sisi, I renewed our commitment to a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and the relaunch of a two-state political solution.

Operational Update

The 121st day of the Israeli war in Gaza witnessed the intensification of battles in the heart of Gaza City and in Khan Yunis in the south of the Strip, while Palestinian resistance factions directed new strikes at the occupation forces. The Israeli army also continued to bomb and snipe in several areas of the Gaza Strip, especially the eastern neighborhoods of Gaza City, The Israeli army says that it will take a week to complete control of Khan Yunis.

As part of the fighting in the west of Khan Younes, the battle team of the Givati Brigade raided the "Alkadsia" outpost, which serves as the central outpost of the Khan Younes Brigade and contains many compounds. The office of Mohammed Sinwar - the brother of Yahya Sinwar - was located in the outpost. The forces of the combat team of the paratroopers brigade are fighting in the Khan Yunis area. In recent days, the fighters have deepened the fighting in the neighborhood of El Amal in the west of Khan Yunis. The neighborhood is a terrorist stronghold of Hamas. In the neighborhood, the fighters located many weapons, dozens of terrorist infrastructures of Hamas, underground shafts, observation posts and factories for the production of various weapons.

The fighters of the battle team of the Givati Brigade in the Khan Yunis area, eliminated a terrorist who was seen approaching the troops. Also, the brigade's fire complex directed an aircraft that attacked and eliminated two terrorists who were observed approaching the building. In addition, a fighter jet eliminated a sniper of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization, directed by the fire center of the 98th division.

Fighters of the Parachute Brigade Combat Team eliminated terrorists who were near the forces in West Khan Yunis, with short-range fire. In the last day, the fighters raided a building with several floors that was used by the commander of the Khan Younes Brigade for combat management and found many weapons in it, including Kalashnikovs, cartridges, military equipment, and technological means. A terrorist who approached the forces of the brigade armed with a knife and threw two grenades at the fighters, was killed by them in a shooting. In additional raids by the forces, a stockpile of RPG rockets was found inside terrorist houses.

In the north of the Strip, fighters of the 401st Brigade Combat Team eliminated seven Hamas terrorists. During raids on many buildings, the fighters of the brigade located seven Kalashnikov rifles, three pistols, military equipment, a lot of ammunition and grenades.

In the last day's Air Force strikes throughout the Gaza Strip, fighter jets attacked several targets of the terrorist organization Hamas, including terrorist infrastructure and launch sites.

The naval forces continue to assist the ground forces operating in the Gaza Strip with fire and observation from the sea. In the last day, the forces attacked several targets used by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, including terrorist infrastructures and a building where terrorists were identified.

The Israeli forces carried out a series of air strikes on various areas of the Gaza Strip, while clashes continue between the Palestinian resistance and the occupation forces in a number of areas in the Strip. The raids targeted various areas in Deir al-Balah, the center and west of the city of Khan Yunis, and all parts of Gaza City, in addition to the areas south of the Juhr al-Dik area, where huge explosions were heard. The Israeli air and artillery bombardment on Khan Yunis left 10 martyrs since this morning, and 14 martyrs and a number of wounded in Deir al-Balah.

The area separating Khan Yunis and the city of Rafah has been subjected to heavy bombardment for two days by Israeli warplanes and artillery. Al-Aqsa satellite channel said that the Israeli forces launched violent artillery shelling on the Al-Amal neighborhood, Khan Yunis camp, and the city center, and added that engineering units in the army blew up houses near the Austrian neighborhood, west of Khan Yunis, in the south of the Gaza Strip. For its part, the Palestinian Red Crescent said that there are indicators warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in Al-Amal Hospital, which has been besieged for the 14th day in a row, in Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. It added that the hospital is still under heavy fire, and the movement of paramedics and displaced persons has been prevented.

Clashes were taking place with heavy machine guns in different neighborhoods of Gaza City, and other clashes in the center and west of the city of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. The Al-Quds Brigades - the military wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement - announced that its fighters had placed an Israeli force in a tight ambush in Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, killing two soldiers and wounding others. It also targeted, earlier, an occupation forces bulldozer in the Al-Amal neighborhood, and confirmed that its members clashed with the occupation forces, causing deaths and injuries among its ranks. The Al-Quds Brigades broadcast images of an Israeli march, which it said it shot down while carrying out intelligence missions southwest of Khan Yunis.

For its part, the Al-Qassam Brigades - the military wing of the Hamas movement - said that it destroyed with mortar shells a gathering of occupation forces penetrating into the Al-Jami'a area, west of Gaza City. The Brigades confirmed earlier that they had targeted an Israeli Merkava tank west of the city of Khan Yunis with an Al-Yassin 105 shell.

Abu Ubaida, the official spokesman for the Al- Qassam Brigades - the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) - announced that the brigades were able during the past days to destroy 43 military vehicles, kill 15 Israeli soldiers from scratch, control 4 drones, and bomb Tel Aviv. And its surroundings were hit by a missile salvo.

Israeli occupation forces stormed the city of Nablus hours after raids and arrests in a number of areas of the West Bank. The occupation forces raided the Ras al-Ayn and al-Qaryun neighborhoods, erected barriers in them, and arrested a number of young men, searched them and checked their identities. An additional force on foot was seen storming the al-Atout and Bab al-Sahha neighborhoods inside the Old City of the city.

Since Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, and the subsequent Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip , the occupation army has carried out daily raids into West Bank cities, accompanied by arrests of young Palestinians. On Saturday, the occupation forces stormed the towns of Al-Khader and Husan, south and west of Bethlehem in the West Bank, where they launched an arrest campaign in Al-Khader and raided a number of homes. They also fired tear gas bombs and sound bombs in Husan, raided homes there, and conducted their patrols in the town amid confrontations.

The Israeli occupation forces also arrested 3 Palestinian youths in the town of Beita, south of the city of Nablus in the West Bank, and beat them during confrontations that broke out during the storming of the town by Israeli military vehicles. The occupation's incursions targeted the town of Arraba, southwest of the city of Jenin in the West Bank, as well as the town of Salem, east of the city of Nablus. They placed a checkpoint in the middle of the town and arrested a number of young men and interrogated them.

Confrontations also broke out between Palestinians and the occupation forces when they stormed the town of Qaffin, north of Tulkarm, and fired gas and sound bombs before withdrawing from the town.

Fighter jets attacked a launch site where terrorists were and observation posts of the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the areas of Lida and Mis al Jabal in southern Lebanon. In addition, an IDF tank attacked a terrorist cell in the Leyda area. Following the warning in the north of the country, a number of launches were detected that crossed the territory of Lebanon towards the territory of the State of Israel, the IDF attacked the sources of the shooting.

Maps

All maps are lies. Not only is it easy to lie with maps, it is essential, wrote cartographer Mark Monmoneir in his book How to Lie with Maps. He showed that condensing complex, three-dimensional spaces onto a two-dimensional sheet of paper [in old days] is bound to be reductive. But it is impossible to comprehend the war in Gaza without reference to maps, otherwise the entire conflict is reduced to an endless series of meaningless acts of random violence and the suffering of civilians. The first characteristic of guerrilla warfare is the loss of a front line. Evidently, different mappers have different ideas of how to depict the war in Gaza, notably those that seek to depict Israeli progress in the ground campaign. Part of the problem is latency. The news that forms the basis of the maps takes time to filter out to mappers, and the cartographers take time in crafting their maps, and it takes time to curate them. These processes are uneven among mappers, so their maps may differ in detail. Probably there is some ideological bias, or at least thematic apperception, which is understandable in wartime. It may come as no surprise that al-Jazeera maps depict rather less Israeli territorial progress than other sources. Finally, there remains the epistemological question of just exactly what are the colored in areas depicting. Naively, this might be understood as areas of Israeli control, that are no longer contested by the HAMAS. Or possibly these are areas of Israeli presence, in many of which the possibility of an RPG-wielding HAMAS militant popping out of a tunnel unexpectedly remains a live possibility. With the "zero-range" combat characterized by small unit tactics on both sides, maps may be prey to a fallacy of misplaced concreteness. Indeed, by late January 2024 mappers were rather less exuberant in their depictions of IDF advances. While by the end of 2023 maps suggested that it was "mission accomplished" in North Gaza which was depicted as entirely pacified, by late January 2024 enclaves of IDF elements were depicted at the margins of Gaza City, much of North Gaza was now depticted as either HAMAS-controlled, or "contested". Another noteworthy cartographic ambiguity was found to the south of Khan Yunis in the stretch of Salah Al-Deen avenue running north from Al-Nasr through al-Fukhari to the vicinity of Tawhid Mosque in the environs of Khan Yunis proper. By the end of 2023 some cartographers indicated that a large swath of territory centered on this avenue had been liberated by the IDF, while other cartographers professed no knowlege of an IDF presence in that part of the Strip. By late January 2024 there are suggestions that while the avenue itself was an IDF permissive corridor for nearly the full length of the Strip, much of adjacent territory was not. By 29 January 2024 Al-Jazeera had finally come around to some of the cartographic conventions of other mappers, indicating "occupied areas", and even providing a map of IDF ORBAT in the Strip.

Bystanders

Israeli officers in the occupation army made a recommendation to the Chief of Staff to stop the smear campaign against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees ( UNRWA ), while Australia said it was studying the accusations leveled by Israel against the agency, which recently warned that the people of Gaza were dying before the eyes of the world.

Israeli Channel 12 said that senior army officers submitted a recommendation to Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy to stop the widespread smear campaign against UNRWA, at least for the time being. They advised the officers not to expand the scope of distorting the agency at these times, especially before the planned discussion in the US Congress, as well as the political level in Israel, to decide the mechanisms for dealing with UNRWA and finding alternatives to it. They pointed out that the leaks about the agency that prompted countries to stop funding it were not organized Israeli leaks. According to the channel, the officers fear that the process of discrediting UNRWA before finding an alternative will have very negative results in the Gaza Strip.

Israel had accused 12 of the agency's employees of participating in the attacks of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) on Israel on October 7, 2023, on settlements around the Gaza Strip, which prompted 18 countries and the European Union to suspend funding for the agency.

In a related development, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said - today, Sunday - that his government is investigating allegations that some UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7 attacks, after Australia stopped its funding for the agency last month. According to a transcript, Albanese told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation regarding the accusations, "We are looking into the matter along with other like-minded countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. We want to resolve this." Albanese said that his government wants to ensure that the accusations are fully examined so that all funding goes for the purpose for which it was provided, stressing that he does not want people to die of hunger in Gaza and that the only organization that can provide this support there is UNRWA.

Late last month, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Finland joined the United States, Australia, and Canada in stopping funding for the relief agency, while the agency said it had opened an investigation into a number of employees and cut its ties with these people.

For its part, UNRWA warned yesterday, in a tweet on its account on the X platform, that the residents of Gaza are dying before the eyes of the world in a unique disaster of its kind. The agency pointed to the hunger crisis and the humanitarian tragedy that is worsening day after day in the Gaza Strip, in light of the Israeli attacks and siege, and said, An unprecedented catastrophe is happening before our eyes in Gaza, stressing that people are dying before the eyes of the world. The agency, whose largest donors in 2022 were the United States, Germany, and the European Union, has repeatedly confirmed that its ability to provide humanitarian assistance to the residents of Gaza is on the verge of collapse.

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in January described UNRWA as the backbone of all humanitarian relief operations in Gaza and called on all countries to ensure the continuity of UNRWAs life-saving work.

Axis of Resistance

The latest military attacks that the US and the UK have launched against Yemen drew strong condemnation from Iran. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani categorically condemned last nights airstrikes by the US and the UK against Yemen. Denouncing the strikes as a recurrent violation of Yemens sovereignty and territorial integrity and international law, the spokesman warned that the continuation of such arbitrary measures is a blatant act of adventurism that poses a worrying threat to international peace and security. Kanaani noted that the US and UKs wrong policy of military action against regional countries for the fulfillment of their illegitimate objectives is in direct contradiction to Washington and Londons claim that they do not seek the spread of war and tensions in the region. Deploring the US and UKs unflagging support for the Zionist regimes war crimes in Gaza, Kanaani said the British and American military actions in the region are escalating chaos, insecurity and instability with the purpose of giving leeway to the criminal Israeli regime. The international community is undoubtedly responsible to hold the US and the UK accountable, the Iranian diplomat added.

Allied for Democracy

Netanyahu responded to right-wing minister Itamar Ben Gvir's criticism of what he considered insufficient aid provided by Washington to the Hebrew state in its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Ben Gvir's statements came after Washington, in a rare step, imposed sanctions on four settlers amid an escalation in violence targeting Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. US President Joe Biden said when he signed the sanctions last week that the violence there had "reached unbearable levels." The West Bank had witnessed an escalation in violence since the outbreak of war on October 7 between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

National Security Minister Ben Gvir told the Wall Street Journal that US President Joe Biden did not provide sufficient support to Israel. He told the newspaper on Sunday, Instead of offering us his full support, Biden is busy providing humanitarian aid and fuel to (Gaza) that goes to Hamas. The right-wing minister added, "If (former US President Donald) Trump had been in power, the behavior of the United States would have been completely different."

"I don't need help to figure out how to manage our relations with the United States and the international community while standing firmly on our national interests," Netanyahu said ahead of Sunday's cabinet meeting. He added, "We make our own decisions even in cases where there is no agreement with our American friends."

With increasing pressure facing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from his hard-right coalition, Netanyahu is faced with a stark choice, which is either to increase Israels international isolation if he continues the war in Gaza, or to leave power if the hard-right National Security Minister, Itamar, withdraws. Ben Gvir, from the coalition, according to the Wall Street Journal, which conducted an interview with the latter. Ben Gvir enjoys enough support in the ruling coalition to undermine Netanyahus rule, and he says he is ready to exploit that. He also directed harsh criticism of the current US administration, according to what the newspaper reported.

In his first interview with a foreign news organization since joining the government, the Minister of National Security warned that he would oppose any deal with Hamas that would release thousands of Palestinians imprisoned on terrorism-related charges or end the war, before Hamas is completely defeated. Ben Gvir said that Netanyahu "is at a crossroads... and he must choose the direction he will go."

The United States and its regional allies support ongoing negotiations to quickly end the war through an agreement under which Hamas and other armed groups release the remaining hostages and resume decades-long negotiations to establish a Palestinian state. American and Arab officials familiar with the ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip revealed to the Wall Street Journal that the United States is pressing to reach a truce for a period sufficient to halt the momentum of the Israeli military operation in the Strip, which may pave the way for a more sustainable truce.

Israel and Hamas are studying a three-stage agreement, which would end with the release of those kidnapped by the movement, which is listed on US terrorist lists, and a ceasefire for a period of 6 weeks, according to what was stated in the draft agreement discussed by intelligence chiefs of the countries concerned in Paris this week.

American and Arab officials familiar with the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza revealed to the American Wall Street Journal that the United States is pressing to reach a truce for a period sufficient to stop the momentum of the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip, paving the way for a complete end to the war. But while diplomatic efforts are underway, the biggest obstacle may be the presence of a media-savvy lawmaker who has become a magnet for the far right in Israel, according to the newspaper.

The American newspaper says that Ben Gvir has made a name for himself since he became Minister of National Security a year ago, partly due to his declaration that the Jews are the legal owners of the Land of Israel. Most recently, he led a campaign to distribute assault rifles to Israeli settlers in the West Bank to arm themselves to prevent another Hamas attack similar to the October 7 attack in which about 1,200 people were killed and 240 others were kidnapped.

Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, another right-wing minister, threatened in recent weeks to topple the government if military operations against Hamas stopped. The British Financial Times commented at the time by saying that Netanyahu is under increasing and renewed pressure regarding prioritizing reaching a deal to release the hostages, amid political disagreements in this regard. The "Financial Times" said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under increasing and renewed pressure regarding giving priority to the hostages held in the Gaza Strip.

With this difficult situation facing Netanyahu, uncertainty increases regarding the future of the Israeli government, whose fate is linked to the survival of Ben Gvir. Israeli affairs analyst and opinion writer in the newspaper "Israel Hayom", Jalal Banna, believes that "what happened to Netanyahu with Ben Gvir embodies the saying 'the magic has turned against the magician'," noting that "Netanyahu was the one who saved Ben Gvir and pushed him before the elections to enter the list." "Religious Zionism" and competing in the parliamentary elections. Once again, he saved him by bringing him into the government coalition and giving him the most important ministerial portfolios, even though in previous years the Likud had rejected his party, but today Ben Gvir controls Netanyahu and the Likud Party.

Israeli affairs analyst, Jackie Khoury, also confirms in statements to Al-Hurra website that the current government formation confirms the great influence of the extreme right, whether through Ben Gvir or the Minister of Finance, indicating that Netanyahu relies mainly on the ultra-Orthodox Jews, and the general feeling in Israel is that Ben Gvir "Smotrich holds the key to this coalition."

The Wall Street Journal says that a growing percentage of Israelis, especially on the right, view the October 7 attack as an opportunity to chart a new course for Israel by returning settlers to the war-ravaged Strip. Among them is Ben Gvir, who presented his plan to reoccupy Gaza, which would repopulate the Strip with Israeli settlements, while Palestinians would be offered financial incentives to leave.

The Israeli Minister of National Security urged Jewish settlers to return to Gaza, in a mass conference held in Jerusalem, a few days ago, which prompted Palestinians to denounce these statements, which they said amounted to a call for their forced deportation. In his new statements to the Wall Street Journal, Ben Gvir said that he believes that the administration of President Joe Biden is hindering Israeli military operations in Gaza, and he said that he believes that the potential presidential candidate, Donald Trump, will support Israel more in fighting Hamas.

The Wall Street Journal says that Netanyahu "now risks increasing Israel's international isolation if he continues the war, or the possibility of being forced out of power if Ben Gvir withdraws the six lawmakers from his Jewish Power party from the ruling coalition."

Ben Gvir has great influence over Netanyahu, Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based think tank, told the newspaper. The last thing Netanyahu needs is early elections and Ben Gvir knows it. Khoury explains in his statements to Al-Hurra website that the key to the solution is linked to Ben Gvir, even though Netanyahu and most government leaders are trying to find circumventive ways to deal with him.

He explains that Ben Gvir does not have much influence with regard to war decisions, military operations, and maneuvering, but politically he has influence, because he is an essential part of the coalition, and he also has influence in national security because he is directly responsible for the police, and he has media influence, but the least is operational influence.

Ben Gvir has a talent for making headlines, and his critics consider him a dangerous instigator ready to provoke a broader conflict with the Palestinians to increase his electoral base, and some Israeli officials say that his statements calling on Israel to occupy Gaza make it difficult for them to present their case in foreign capitals, according to the Wall Street Journal. In an example of Ben Gvir's violation of traditional political norms, the minister, in his statements to the newspaper, directed direct criticism of Biden, which is rarely issued by a member of the Israeli Cabinet.

Instead of giving us his full support, Biden is busy providing humanitarian aid and fuel (to Gaza), which goes to Hamas, Ben Gvir said, giving voice to popular sentiment among many right-wing Israelis. If Trump were in power, the United States behavior would be completely different. Shortly after the Wall Street Journal article was published, centrist Israeli politicians attacked Ben Gvir and called on Netanyahu to take action against him.

Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz wrote on the X platform that Ben Gvirs statements about Biden harm the strategic relations of the State of Israel, the states security, and the current war effort. Opposition leader Yair Lapid described his comments as a "direct attack on Israel's international standing." In his statements to Al-Hurra website, Lapid said he believed that his statements are primarily directed to the right-wing audience because there is criticism or resentment of the American position...

Lapid believed that there is a direct relationship between Ben Gvirs criticism of the American leadership and the strengthening of his power in the Jewish street, so he declares what he declares, in addition to the fact that he is a member of the government that cannot speak publicly about American pressures, but only about leaks and names or sources. Anonymous, but Ben Gvir takes advantage of his eloquence and impudence to declare what he declared.

Lapid pointed out that this is not the first time that Ben Gvir Siham has directed his criticism at the American administration, as he previously stated that Israel is not a star on the flag of the United States. Lapid said that Netanyahu is unable to do "anything for Ben Gvir. Neither dismissal, nor reprimand, nor even denunciation of his statements, and this is what makes me doubt that Ben Gvir coordinated the matter with him."

Netanyahu said in his first reaction to Ben Gvirs statements, ahead of the government meeting on Sunday: I do not need help to figure out how to manage our relations with the United States and the international community while standing firmly on our national interests. He added, "We make our own decisions even in cases where there is no agreement with our American friends."

The Wall Street Journal says that Ben Gvir is gaining popularity. According to a poll conducted by Tel Aviv University last month, a small majority of Israeli Jews now fully, or to some extent, support the establishment of Jewish settlements inside Gaza. Although Netanyahu said that Israel does not seek to occupy Gaza, and only seeks to maintain full security control over the Strip, there are indications that Ben Gvir enjoys increasing influence in the debate, and that Netanyahu increasingly needs him, according to the newspaper.

Following the Hamas attack on October 7, Ben Gvir's Jewish Power party became the only right-wing party in Netanyahu's coalition that is not losing voter support. Opinion polls show that the party could win eight or nine seats in the Knesset at the present time. Polls do not indicate that his party will replace Netanyahu's Likud Party, which holds 32 seats, but Likud support has declined to between 19 and 27 seats in recent weeks.

Analysts believe that Netanyahu and Ben Gvir are now fighting for right-wing support before any early elections. Bana says: Netanyahu knows that without Ben Gvir, the coalition will collapse, and after the war, the fall of his government, and the going to future elections, he will have no choice but to rely on Ben Gvir.

The analyst believes that Netanyahu is taking advantage of Ben Gvirs statements to say to the American leadership: Perhaps there is a danger to the government coalition, so I cannot approve a prisoner and kidnapped exchange deal, and thus he is trying to transfer pressure from the American leadership to Qatar and then Egypt and Hamas in an attempt to reduce the price of a possible deal. With the Hamas movement.

Khoury believes that Netanyahu will try to disavow Ben Gvirs statements to the newspaper, but there is a feeling that this government cannot continue in such an atmosphere for a long time. Khoury explains: Every day a new challenge is added to the survival of Netanyahus partners in the government. Such statements will lead at some point to the dismantling of the coalition, and the question is when will this happen? No one knows. This may continue for months and even a year, but it is clear that Ben Gvir is strengthening himself. Popularly, it strengthens his electoral base from a certain segment, but I do not think that this method will prolong the life of the government.

In an attempt to restore life to the Gaza Strip settlements, a special Israeli government team held a meeting this evening to develop a plan to gradually return the residents of those settlements. The plan will be presented to the heads of the municipal councils of the Strip towns. Israeli media reported, citing an unnamed informed Israeli official, that the plan stipulates starting by returning residents of towns 4 to 7 kilometers from the borders of the Gaza Strip and residents of other towns whose homes were not demolished or damaged. According to the plan, funding for the hotel accommodation of residents of the Gaza envelope settlements will be stopped until the end of next March and they will be given financial support to encourage them to return.

The Israeli government had taken a decision to evacuate all 25 kibbutzim and settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip, following the Al-Aqsa Flood Battle carried out by the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) on October 7, 2023. Pursuant to the decision taken under emergency regulations, the area located 0 to 7 kilometers from the Gaza Strip border was evacuated, and the number of those evacuated reached 65 thousand people.

Tens of thousands of residents of the Western Negev, Sderot , and Ashkelon were also displaced on their own initiative and without instructions from the Home Front requiring them to do so, as the population of this area close to the enclave is more than 200 thousand.

According to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the cost of a family of 6 staying in a hotel room reached approximately 45,000 shekels ($12,000) per month, while a family with two children received allowances worth 18,000 shekels ($4,800) per month if they were not residents in a hotel.

In an attempt by Benjamin Netanyahu's government to return the residents of the cover settlements, it decided last month to provide a financial grant to the residents who would agree to return, which they called an adaptation grant (the value of which was not mentioned), while those who refuse to return will be able to continue to stay in hotels in central Israel.

This prompted the head of a settlement council in southern Israel to accuse the government of trying to bribe residents with financial grants, in exchange for returning to the settlements surrounding Gaza, which are still being subjected to missile attacks from the Strip. He said that the Israeli government is returning residents to last October 6 (the prevailing situation before the war) and abandoning their personal security, noting that the government was unable to remove the security threat, or provide a major security response to the towns in the region.

This prompted the Israeli army and Ministry of Defense to announce the distribution of weapons and logistical combat equipment in 70 towns around the Gaza Strip, according to what was reported by the Israeli Channel 12.

Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich are expected to ratify this matter after discussion by government staff. On the other hand, the commander of the Israeli armys home front, Rafi Milo, acknowledged the existence of a deep crisis of confidence with the residents of the Gaza envelope, stressing Israels failure on October 7. Milo added that the time will come to conduct an investigation, and without returning the residents to their homes, there will be no victory.

The Israeli government said that it would bring in 65,000 workers from India, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan to resume halted construction work after the government expelled Palestinian workers following the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) attack on Israel on October 7. About 72,000 Palestinian workers were working on construction sites in Israel before the attack, which prompted the government to dismiss and exclude them for security reasons. There are still about 20,000 foreign workers in Israel, but nearly half of the construction sites have closed due to labor shortages. A spokesman for the Israeli Ministry of Housing said that new groups of foreign workers are expected to arrive in the coming weeks, as the government seeks to avoid a shortage in the supply of housing units that would lead to raising real estate prices as interest rates begin to decrease. Before the Hamas attack, 150,000 Palestinians from the West Bank and 18.5,000 others from the Gaza Strip had permits to enter Israel for work, according to the Government Coordination Unit for Actions in the Territories, before their entry was restricted. US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said, "We must use all available tools to hold Iran accountable." He added that President Joe Biden's administration "has shown weakness on the world stage over the course of 3 years, and this has encouraged our opponents." Johnson also elaborated on his criticisms of the Biden administrations retaliation against Iranian proxies following the deaths of three US soldiers in Jordan. We should not be appeasing Iran, he said, claiming that, were projecting weakness on the world stage. We need to act to decimate the Iran Central Bank, the assets that they held there. We need to put big-time pressure, maximum pressure on their oil exports. Theres a lot that we can do to Iran to send a message instead of this appeasement strategy.

Instead of working in a bipartisan way, House Republicans are playing a political game that does nothing to secure the border, nothing to help the people of Ukraine, and denies humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, the White House fired back.

The newspaper "Israel Today" quoted informed sources as confirming that the United States had asked Israel for urgent answers regarding a series of incidents in the West Bank in which the Israeli army may have violated the Leahy Law. According to these sources, if the answers are not satisfactory to the United States, this means, according to the Leahy Law, that Israeli forces operating in the West Bank may not receive American security support. The Leahy Act - passed by the US Congress in 1997 - prohibits the US government from providing financial support or aid to foreign forces involved in serious human rights violations.

Butcher's Bill / Oasis of Martyrs

On 7 October 2023, Hamas and other armed groups present in the Gaza Strip carried out an attack in Israel, killing more than 1,200 persons, injuring thousands and abducting some 240 people, many of whom continue to be held hostage. It was the second largest loss inflicted on the Israeli forces after the 1973 war. Palestinian armed groups launched thousands of missiles at Israel Following this attack, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza, by land, air and sea.

The 1,200 Israelis killed on the first day would be the equivalent of 36,000 Americans killed in an attack, as a proportion to Israels population of 9.3 million people (compared to 332 million in the USA). Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated: Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been killed in one day". PM Netanyahu stated "On October 7th, Hamas murdered 1,400 Israelis. Maybe more. This is in a country of fewer than 10 million people. This would be equivalent to over 50,000 Americans murdered in a single day. Thats twenty 9/11s. That is why October 7th is another day that will live in infamy."

The HAMAS Ministry of Health in the besieged sector announced that the number of victims of the Israeli operation its beginning had risen to 27,365 martyrs, and the killing of nearly 10,000 Palestinian children and 6,600 women killed. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

The number wounded was 66,630. The Palestinian Government Media Office in Gaza had said much earlier that the number of missing people had risen to more than 8,000, including including 4,700 children and women, amid expectations that the toll will be double thi figures.

The IDF intensified its military operations in the West Bank, and increased the pace of incursions and raids into cities, towns, and camps, resulting in the martyrdom of 380 Palestinians, the injury of about 3,950, and the arrest of 5,780, according to official HAMAS sources. As of 17 January 2023, the Israeli escalation in the West Bank led to the death of 360 Palestinians, the injury of nearly 2,200, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, and the arrest of about 6,000, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club.

More than 130 Hezbollah fighters were killed in Lebanon during exchanges of bombing operations with Israel.

Israel revised down the death toll from the October Hamas attacks in southern Israel from 1,400 to 1,200. IDF had said previously it was holding 1,500 bodies of terrorists, a total that now would increas to about 1,700.

The total number of Israeli deaths has risen to 563 [557?] since the start of the war on October 7, including 233 [220?] killed since the ground invasion as a result of the ongoing clashes with the Palestinian resistance. Among them were at least 56 with the rank of platoon commander, 43 with the rank of company commander, 9 with the rank of battalion commander, and 5 with the rank of brigade commander. These officers constitute 23% of the total deaths of the Israeli army in the war on Gaza.

Israeli media reported that 27% of the Israeli military casualties in the war were officers. In detail, the media highlighted that three brigade commanders, four battalion commanders, and other senior officers have been killed in the war so far.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that 29 of the army's deaths were caused by "friendly fire" and operational incidents since the start of the ground war in Gaza, late last October. The Israeli authority explained that "18 army soldiers were killed by friendly fire, two were killed as a result of gunfire (without explanation), and 9 Israeli soldiers were killed in ammunition, weapons, or run-over accidents." The Jerusalem Post newspaper revealed that 15 soldiers were killed in the Strip without their bodies being found.

According to some reports statistics indicate that 20% of the Israeli losses were due to friendly fire. Because the nature of the battle has become completely different from what was expected, and it lacks a front line.

It was announced that soldiers wounded in the Gaza Strip battles numbered to 2,815 since the beginning of the war, including 1,296 who had been wounded since the start of the ground attack on October 27, 2023.

The Israeli army reported that 407 who are still receiving treatment for their injuries in the Gaza battles, and the condition of 48 of them is serious. The number of injured among the Israeli army since the start of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip on October 27 included 602 minor cases, 430 moderate cases, and 264 critical cases.

At least 13,794 Israelis were injured, according to i24 TV.

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper had reported that 5,000 soldiers had been wounded since the beginning of the war on October 7, and that the Ministry of Defense had recognized 2,000 soldiers as disabled so far.

An estimate by the Israeli Ministry of Defense expected that the number of soldiers with disabilities in the war taking place in the Gaza Strip since October 7 of last year would reach 12,500 soldiers. The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said that the Soldiers' Rehabilitation Department of the Ministry of Defense has dealt with 3,400 soldiers who were classified as disabled in the army since last October 7.

The Israeli army revealed that about 9,000 of its soldiers have received psychological assistance since the beginning of the war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, and about a quarter of them have not returned to combat. This came according to a new statement revealed by the Army Medical Corps, according to Channel 12 and the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. According to the statement, nearly 9,000 soldiers have applied for psychological assistance since the beginning of the war, and approximately a quarter of them have not returned to combat.

The statement continued, "In total, about 13,000 regular and reserve soldiers required accompaniment or medical treatment at some level during the fighting, and thousands of them were injured in the battles."

Al Jazeera military and strategic expert Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi expressed his conviction that the numbers of dead and wounded announced by Israel cannot represent the truth, due to a discrepancy between the Israeli armys data and the Walla website, which is close to the army itself.

In an interview with RT, Military strategist retired Tunisian Brigadier General Tawfiq Didi said that the number of Israeli army deaths in the Gaza battles is much greater than what Israel announces. Didi explained in an interview with the Best Saying program on RT channel, The number of people killed in battles can be easily known, as the equation in wars is that for every 3 wounded there is a dead person, and the numbers now in Israel hover around 12,500 wounded and disabled people, and when we divide by Three, we find that the death toll exceeds 4,000, especially after eliminating more than a thousand tanks and armored vehicles, and I know what happens when Kornet missiles hit a tank. Its ammunition explodes and no one is left alive.

He added, "The Israelis announce their dead only of those of Jewish origin and of the first race, meaning all Arabs, Falash, and those who are among them. They are not counted because they are of the second category. So I am sure that the number exceeds 4 thousand dead, and this is a very easy military calculation."

He pointed out, "The Palestinian resistance documented everything it did, unlike the Israelis. The resistance documented shooting at tanks and armored vehicles and destroying the houses in which the Israeli soldiers were holed up, and we saw them being killed... We saw the Kornet hitting the tanks, we saw Al-Yassin 105, so the difference is clear."

Hostages

Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed have been held as hostages in Gaza since 2014 and 2015, respectively. Unlike the roughly 240 people kidnapped in the Hamas October 7 terrorist attacks, the campaign for the release of Mengistu and al-Sayed has received little publicity. Mengistu is known to suffer from what HRW deemed "serious" mental health issues. "Avera crossed one of the safest borders in the world, under the eyes of the security services," recalled Gil Elias, a relative. "We're talking about a mentally ill person who got lost." The calls for the release of Mengistu and al-Sayed have been barely audible during the many years they have been held captive in Gaza.

Israel had previously estimated there were 116 living hostages in Palestinian custody. Israel declared 20 out of 136 people in Gaza captivity dead in absentia, after announcing its forces had recovered the bodies of two hostages. By another count, 132 of them are still being held in Gaza, and 25 of them have been confirmed dead. Israel considers those still held by Hamas to be hostages regardless of whether they are dead or alive.

Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy earlier had told reporters that Hamas still held 137 captives. The resistance released 10 Israeli detainees, 4 Thais and 2 Russian women, who were released outside the agreement. Over the course of 6 days, Israel has received 102 detainees, women and children, including 78 Israelis, in exchange for the release of 234 Palestinian prisoners, women and children.

Eylon Levy, the Israeli government spokesperson, told reporters 01 December 2023:

Hamas still held 137 hostages from the October attacks, in addition to four others who went missing before the war

The hostages include two children aged four and 10 months, who, Hamas now claims, are dead

117 male hostages are still kept in Gaza, including the two children, as well as 20 females

126 hostages are Israelis, and 11 others are foreign nationals

Foreign nationals are eight Thais, one Nepalese, one Tanzanian and one French Mexican citizen

Ten of the remaining hostages are 75 and older.

There are seven missing people since the October 7 attack

Hamas had released 110 hostages so far  86 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals.

Some of the rest are soldiers, seized when Hamas raided military bases in Israel. They may end up being held the longest. The Israeli military had not specified how many soldiers were captured, nor their ranks.

According to some estimates, Hamas was initially holding nearly 210 of the 240 hostages, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad was holding the remaining 30. About 40 Israelis remained missing. More than 40 hostages taken from Israel into Gaza on October 7th are not currently in the custody of Hamas, the group responsible for the attack, according to a CNN report based on a diplomatic source briefed on the negotiations, CNN's prior reports had indicated that an estimated 40 to 50 hostages were held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad or other unidentified groups or individuals.

Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said on Hamas telegram account that 23 bodies of the 60 missing Israel hostages were trapped under the rubble. It seems that we will never be able to reach them due to the continued brutal aggression of the occupation against Gaza, he said.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Club revealed that about 11,000 arrests were carried out by the Israeli army during the year 2023 in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, in addition to arrests from the Gaza Strip before the seventh of last October. The number of people arrested by the Israelis in the West Bank since that date has exceeded 6,500. The total number of prisoners in Israeli prisons is 8,800, as documented by the club until the end of December 2023. Palestinian prisoner institutions said more than 3,290 administrative detainees, which is the highest percentage since the years of the 1987 Intifada, and 661 who were classified as unlawful combatants from Gaza, and this is the number available only as a clear given. The Prisoners' Club stated that cases of arrest among women amounted to (300), and this toll includes women from the occupied interior detained after October 7, while the number of cases of children reached 1,085. The arrest campaigns affected all groups, including women and children, as the number of women who were arrested reached about 200, while the number of arrests among children until the end of last December exceeded 355 children.

Israel said on 14 January 2024 that, since the beginning of the war, over 2,960 wanted persons have been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Valleys Division, over 1,350 of whom are affiliated with Hamas. On 08 January 2024 it was reported that more than 1,350 wanted persons had been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Valleys Division, more than 870 of whom are associated with the terrorist organization Hamas.

The institutions added in the statement that the occupation arrested 210 women during the aforementioned period, and this statistic includes women who were arrested from the territories in 1948, and more than 355 children, pointing out that the outcome of the arrest campaigns includes all those who were arrested from homes, and through military checkpoints, Those who were forced to surrender themselves under pressure, and those who were detained. It explained that "the number of arrests among journalists reached 50, of whom 35 remain in detention, and 20 of them were transferred to administrative detention."

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Russo-Ukraine War - 03 February 2024 - Day 709

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

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that on 30 January 2024 the Ukrainian General Staff reported that a Russian Su-34 FULLBACK combat aircraft had been shot down in eastern Luhansk. The total number of assessed Russian fixed wing tactical aircraft losses since February 2022 stands at 82.

There is a realistic possibility that the tactical aviation formations of the Russian Air Force struggle to provide consistent support to Russian ground troops. The introduction of glide kits onto crude weapon systems is likely indicative of their desire to avoid risk, allowing the aircraft to remain even further away from threats and the troops they are supporting. Overall, it highlights the success of the Ukrainian Air Defence units and underlines the continued inability of the Russian Air Force to gain air superiority.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of February 3, there were 45x combat engagements. The Russian occupiers launched 54x air strikes and carried out 33x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian injuries. Residential private and apartment buildings 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 Budarky, Kolodyazne, Hryorivka (Kharkiv oblast). More than 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Karpovychi (Chernihiv oblast), Stepok, Hrabovske, Popivka, Mohrytsya (Sumy oblast), Kozachz Lopan', Ohirtseve, Mala Vovcha, Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast).

Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 2x assaults near Syn'kivka and Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast). In that area Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The Russian occupiers launched air strikes near Kup'yans'k, Ivanivka, Kyslivka, Tabaivka, Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast). The invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Ivanivka, Kyslivka, Kotlyarivka (Kharkiv oblast).

Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 5x assaults in the vicinities of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), Terny and Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area the adversary, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Vyimka (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3x attacks in the vicinities of Bohdanivka and Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian occupiers made unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical situation. More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Hryhorivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast).

Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 20x attacks near Avdiivka and 3x more attacks near Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Oleksandropil' (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars more than 15x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).

Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian adversary made 6x unsuccessful attempts to improve its tactical situation. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Shakhtars'ke axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 2x attacks south of Zolota Nyva (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Urozhaine, Vuhledar and Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Prechystivka, Staromaiors'ke, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast).

Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. More than 20x settlements, including Poltavka, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Bilohir'ya, Robotyne, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast).

Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Russian forces do not abandon their intention to drive Ukrainian units out of their footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro. Thus, during the day, Russian forces made 4x unsuccessful assaults on positions of Ukrainian troops. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Chervonyi Mayak, Krynky, Zmiivka (Kherson oblast). Russian forces fired artillery at the city of Kherson, the settlements of Chervonyi Mayak, Tokarivka, Sadove, Kizomys (Kherson oblast). On top of that, the invaders launched MLRS strikes at the vicinities of Ivanivka, Krynky, Inzhenerne (Kherson oblast).

During the day of February 3, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 12x concentrations of Russian troops.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x concentration of troops, 1x artillery system of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in the period from 27 January to 3 February 2024, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered 37 group strikes by precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles at AFU decision-making centres, military-industrial complex facilities, military airfield infrastructure, arsenals, and POL bases.

Moreover, temporary deployment areas of AFU formations, Ukrainian nationalists and foreign mercenaries units were struck.

All the assigned targets were successfully engaged.

In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces liberated Tabayevka (Kharkov region) and continued to improve the tactical situation along the front lines in separate areas.

Over the past week, Russian units repelled 41 attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 30th, 32th, 44th, 60th mechanised brigades, 57th motorised rifle brigade, 25th Airborne Brigade, 95th Air Assault Brigade, and 103rd Territorial Defence Brigade near Sinkovka, Tabayevka (Kharkov region), Novoselovskoe (Lugansk People's Republic), and Terni (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 750 Ukrainian troops, one tank, nine armoured fighting vehicles, 21 motor vehicles, and eight field artillery pieces.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery took more advantageous lines and repelled 19 AFU attacks.

Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 60th, 63rd mechanised brigades, 12th Special Operations Brigade, and 13th Ukrainian National Guard Brigade near Kirovsk, Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Chervonaya Dibrova, Kuzmino (Lugansk People's Republic), and Serebryansky forestry.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 1,825 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, six tanks, 13 armoured fighting vehicles, 36 motor vehicles, and six field artillery pieces.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and repelled 22 enemy attacks.

The Group's aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems inflicted losses on AFU and Ukrainian National Guard units near Verkhnekamenskoye, Artyomovskoye, Krasnoye, Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, Andreyevka, Belogorovka, Pereyezdnoye, and Georgiyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 2,245 Ukrainian troops, five tanks, 19 armoured fighting vehicles, 63 motor vehicles, 28 field artillery pieces, and two Grad MLRS combat vehicles.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces repelled nine AFU attacks by cohesive actions.

In addition, units of the AFU 58th, 72nd mechanised brigades, 79th Air Assault Brigade, 127th and 128th territorial defence brigades suffered losses near Novomikhailovka, Konstantinovka, Ugledar, Staromayorskoye, Makarovka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Priuytnoye (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted up to 735 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, six armoured fighting vehicles, 17 motor vehicles, 12 field artillery pieces, and two Grad MLRS combat vehicles.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Groups of Forces repelled one attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 108th Territorial Defence Brigade near Lugovskoye and inflicted losses on AFU manpower and hardware near Rabotino, Nesteryanka, Pyatikhatki, Kamenskoye, Malaya Tokmachka, and Orekhov (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 385 Ukrainian troops, one tank, nine armoured fighting vehicles, 19 motor vehicles, 15 field artillery pieces, and one Grad MLRS combat vehicle.

In Kherson direction, as a result of preemptive strikes of the Russian Groups of Forces supported by aviation and artillery, losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of the AFU 35th, 37th, 38th marines brigades, 121st, 123rd, and 124th territorial defence brigades near Nikolyaevka, Tyaginka, Ivanovka, Tokarevka, Antonovka, Yantarnoye (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to 290 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, four tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, 26 motor vehicles, 11 motorboats, and 12 field artillery pieces.

Over the week, 26 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces wiped out seven air defence systems, including five S-300, one French-made SAMP-T, and one German-made IRIS-T.

Moreover, three Norwegian-made NASAMS air defence system radar stations, two S-300 air defence system radar stations, one German-made IRIS-T air defence system radar station, and six AFU ammunition depots were destroyed.

Aviation and air defence units intercepted 20 aviation guided missiles, including four HARM anti-radiation missiles, one JDAM guided aerial bomb, 53 HIMARS, Uragan, and Olkha MLRS projectiles, as well as 423 unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, 568 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 11,678 unmanned aerial vehicles, 462 air defence missile systems, 14,893 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,215 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,952 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 18,179 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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February 3, 2024

By Jim Garamone , DOD News

Cyber Command Flag Passed to Air Force General at Fort Meade Ceremony

Leaders from the Defense Department and intelligence community gathered at Fort Meade, Maryland, yesterday for the change of command ceremony of U.S. Cyber Command, as Army Gen. Paul M. Nakasone passed the flag to Air Force Gen. Timothy D. Haugh.

Haugh also became the director of the National Security Agency and the chief of the Central Security Service. The change of command took place in the Shannon Kent Conference Center at the command's new headquarters. Kent was a Navy senior chief cryptanalyst killed in Syria in 2019.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks presided at the change of command, and the Director of National Intelligence Avril D. Haines presided as Haugh assumed the NSA/CSS directorship. Navy Adm. Christopher Grady, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, represented the Joint Staff at the event.

Cyber Command is a combatant command that is constantly at war, ensuring the U.S. military has secure communications. Enemies a from nation states to hackers a constantly attack the network as they seek to disrupt military operations worldwide. The command defends the network and nation through full-spectrum offensive and defensive operations. Cyber Command also works with other U.S. government agencies and with allies and partners worldwide.

The National Security Agency and Central Security Service lead the nation in cryptology and signals intelligence and also develops cybersecurity products and services.

The massive campus at Fort Meade is the headquarters for an organization that stretches across the globe and into space.

Nakasone took command in 2018 when Cyber Command was still new, having been established in 2010.

"People at Fort Meade are tackling some of the most important missions in the Department of Defense," said Hicks in remarks at the ceremony. "Day and night, Cybercom keeps the watch in cyberspace."

Every American benefits from the mission as the Internet is vital to U.S. democracy, America's way of life, and the world's economic well-being. "We rely on cyberspace to be free, open and secure; so every day, Cybercom works hard to 'own the domain,'" she said.

The command evolves as the threats evolve, Hicks said, and the people of the command must adapt to outpace adversaries and ensure the safety and reliability of the digital world.

"In the 21st century security environment, you are the front lines," Hicks said. "Our competitors are looking to degrade our military advantage a to threaten our infrastructure, our information systems, and our industrial base."

China is the pacing challenge as the only strategic competitor with the will and, increasingly, the means to remake the international rules-based order that has prevented great power war since 1945. "[China] seeks to spread its brand of autocracy through digital means: like intrusive hardware and software, forcing tech to comply with political ideologies, stealing [intellectual property] and trying to dominate the telecom and cybersecurity industries," Hicks said.

Russia is also an acute threat, the deputy secretary said. "They've launched troubling influence campaigns meant to interfere in our elections and undermine our democracy, while their cyber criminals have launched damaging ransomware attacks," she said. "Russia's cyberattacks have tried to weaken Ukraine's military and damage civilian infrastructure there. And their global online-propaganda campaigns try to justify their unprovoked aggression."

Nakasone worked across an array of threats, which ranged from cyber operations to combating Islamic State terrorists, to position Cyber Command and the NSA for strategic competition with China and Russia.

"His transformational leadership has strengthened our national security, bolstered our deterrence and defended our democracy a including protecting U.S. elections from foreign attacks," Hicks said. "Above all, he understands that cybersecurity is a team sport. That's why he has coordinated closely across the interagency: recognizing that our cyber capabilities must be used alongside other instruments of national power."

In-coming commander Haugh is well-versed in the organizations after having served at Nakasone's deputy. He has had a long history in intelligence and cyber fields since he commissioned into the Air Force in 1991. "Tim, this command, these agencies, and their people are fortunate to have you lead them into their next era," Hicks said. "We look forward to everything you will do here to strengthen these institutions and their teams and to make America even more secure."

Nakasone and Haugh stressed the importance of the people of the command and agencies. Nakasone said that while technology is important, it is the people who make the difference. They are the innovators, and they are the reason the American people respect the organizations, he said.

"Our talent is unmatched in the world," Haugh said in his remarks. "The National Security Agency and Cyber Command create advantages for the nation."

The organizations will continue to create and use new technologies because "that is part of our enduring advantage," the Air Force general said. He said the watchwords of his term will be "people, innovation and partnerships."

Haines said the intelligence community, writ large, is a team sport and that Cyber Command and NSA are essential players. She said Nakasone provided the highest levels of government with the intelligence needed to make informed decisions. Haines also presented Nakasone with the George Washington Spymaster Award, the highest award in the intelligence community.

Nakasone leaves after six years in the positions. Grady praised the Army general for his leadership through the pandemic, for growing cyber operations in all domains of warfare, for the increasing agility of the command and for his outreach efforts to allies, partners and, increasingly, to private entities.

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Raeisi: Latest satellite launches neutralized sanctions, foiled plots to isolate Iran

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 03 February 2024 12:36 PM

President Ebrahim Raeisi of Iran has praised the latest launch of homegrown satellites into space as a major development that neutralized Western sanctions and foiled enemy plots to isolate the nation.

Raeisi made the remarks as he addressed a ceremony in the capital Tehran on Saturday in commemoration of the National Space Technology Day.

Iran is now among the world's top 10 countries in the field of aerospace technology, Raeisi said.

The president said Iran's progress in aerospace was a realization of the "we can" motto, and a definite sign of turning sanctions and threats into opportunities.

He also hailed the launch of homegrown research satellites into low Earth orbits (LEOs) and said Iranian scientists are presenting noteworthy innovations, achievements and products at the same time that enemies are trying to foster a sense of despair by means of their mainstream media.

Raeisi said the Iranian nation is after establishing a strong presence in space and will succeed against all odds.

The president thanked the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) for its steady progress in the aerospace sector.

Raeisi said Iran is utilizing space technologies in various spheres, including agriculture, management of water and natural resources, identifying mineral deposits, and ensuring the security of borders.

He also called for stronger presence of private knowledge-based firms in the aerospace field, stating that those companies must contribute their share more than ever.

Raeisi praised the cooperation among the Iranian Armed Forces, the Defense Ministry, Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and other institutions involved in the aerospace, stating that Iran's Supreme Space Council directs all the related bodies.

Late last month, Iran successfully sent homegrown Mahda research satellite, along with two research cargos, to space onboard the domestically developed and manufactured Simorgh (Phoenix) satellite launch vehicle (SLV).

Mahda reportedly weighs 32 kilograms and its primary task is to test the satellite-related subsystems, verify the function of Simorgh SLV in dispensing space cargos, and evaluate the performance of new designs and the reliability of indigenous technologies in space.

Earlier, the Aerospace Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) had successfully put Soraya satellite into an orbit 750 kilometers above Earth in 11 minutes.

The research satellite, manufactured by the ISA, was launched with a Qaem-100 space launch vehicle (SLV). Qaem-100 is a three-stage SLV with solid fuel developed by the IRGC Aerospace Force.

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Personnel fly back from Nevada

By Flight Lieutenant Claire Burnet

2 February 2024

Exercise Red Flag Nellis 24-1 has concluded after three weeks of high-intensity air combat training at Nevada and airspace in the southwest of the United States.

Working with counterparts from the United States and the United Kingdom, RAAF deployed six F-35A Lightning II aircraft to Red Flag Nellis for the first time, along with an air battle management team to coordinate the missions.

About 3000 personnel (including 150 from RAAF) conducted a simulated fifth-generation air campaign in the challenging environment of a congested training airspace.

Commanding Officer 3 Squadron Wing Commander Adrian Kiely said the exercise helped to ensure RAAF F-35As could meet Defence Strategic Review capability priorities.

"The F-35A is the world's most advanced operational strike fighter, but its full potential is realised when it's integrated within a wider network of sensors and systems like we see at Exercise Red Flag Nellis," Wing Commander Kiely said.

"The mission scenarios require deep planning and coordination to overcome a highly sophisticated air defence network, or precise integration across many domains for us to reach a distant target, all in the face of live and simulated threats.

"Exercise Red Flag Nellis 24-1 provided a challenging environment for the participant nations involved, testing our interoperability and allowing us to better understand what we each bring to the fight."

Commanding Officer 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit Wing Commander Peter Mole led the RAAF Tactical Command and Control Team that coordinated and directed missions during the exercise.

"There are few opportunities for us to work alongside the United States and the United Kingdom in an exercise as sophisticated as Red Flag Nellis, so this is a unique experience for many," Wing Commander Mole said.

"Each mission is recorded and immediately debriefed, which allows participants to better understand how the wider mission played out and the outcome of their decision-making.

"We leave Exercise Red Flag Nellis 24-1 with a better understanding of how our tactics and techniques would work in a modern air campaign, and assuredness that we can easily integrate with other nations in the future."

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Prominent Australians Urge Government to Do More to Defuse US-China Tensions

By Phil Mercer February 03, 2024

A group of prominent Australians including former politicians, diplomats and academics have called on the government to adopt "an activist middle power role" to avert U.S.-China conflict.

A group of high-profile Australians Wednesday called for the government to take action to head off conflict between the United States and China. The group, led by former Australian foreign affairs ministers Bob Carr and Gareth Evans, said in a statement that without a "comprehensive new dAtente," tensions between the United States and China could escalate into a conflict that could involve Australia.

Fifty prominent Australian public figures, including former state government premiers, diplomats, writers and academics have called on the government to act as an intermediary to defuse tensions.

The group said it supports "a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region in which the United States and China respect and recognise each other as equals."

It added that if "neither side demands absolute primacy" the risk to "global peace and prosperity" would be reduced. There has been no official comment so far from Washington or Beijing on the declaration.

China is Australia's biggest trading partner. The center-left government of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stabilized relations with Beijing after years of disagreement and distrust over various geopolitical and trade disputes, including China's ambitions in the Pacific and the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australia also has deep-seated security links to the United States dating back to the early 1950s.

Carr told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.that Australia has the opportunity to act as an honest broker between the United States and China.

"Australia's role is to plant the notion of greater collaboration and less adversarial talk in the relationship," he said. "Taiwan, the most challenging diplomatic question here, provides a perfect opportunity of diplomatic language being an alternative to a descent into conflict and argument that could give rise to war."

The Australian government has previously conceded that there will be differences and difficulties in its bilateral relationship with China.

The government is pushing ahead with plans to acquire nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS accord with the United States and Britain.

Analysts say that China's increasing assertiveness is a key motivation behind the trilateral AUKUS agreement, but China has accused the three countries of a "Cold War mentality," saying the alliance was embarking on a "path of error and danger."

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Iran FM: US military approach destructive to politically resolve regional crises

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Feb 3, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has said that the US government's military approach, especially its joint airstrikes with Britian against Yemen, has complicated the situation and made reaching a political solution more difficult.

Amirabdollahian met and held talks with the United Nations special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg in the Iranian capital city of Tehran on Saturday.

The two sides discussed the latest developments in the region, including the situation in Yemen where the US and the UK have been conducting airstrikes over the past three weeks for what they describe as protecting international shipping amid Yemeni attacks targeting Israeli-linked ships as part of measures to put pressure on the regime to end its war on Gaza.

Amirabdollahian underlined that the US government's military approach, especially its joint airstrikes with Britain against Yemen, and re-designating the Ansarullah Movement as a terror group have complicated the situation and made it more difficult to reach a political solution.

While condemning the recent US aggression against targets in Syria and Iraq, the top Iranian diplomat described such strikes as the continuation of Washington's wrong and failed approach to resolve issues by force and through militarism.

Referring to the Islamic Republic of Iran's continued support for establishing lasting peace and security in Yemen, Amirabdollahian emphasized that efforts to promote stability and security throughout the region will benefit all regional countries.

Grundberg, for his part, thanked the Islamic Republic of Iran for its efforts to secure stability and security in the region, especially in Yemen.

He also briefed Amirabdollahian on the latest UN measures aimed at establishing peace and tranquility in Yemen.

He underscored the necessity of resolving existing regional crises by using intra-regional capacities.

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Iran: US military approach complicates regional situation

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 03 February 2024 3:15 PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says the United States' military approach has complicated the situation in the region and created obstacles in the path toward a political solution to regional conflicts.

In a meeting with Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Yemen Hans Grundberg in Tehran on Saturday, Amir-Abdollahian slammed military attacks of the US and Britain against Yemen and Washington's move to put Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement back on a list of "terrorist" entities.

Back in January, the US re-designated Ansarullah as a "terrorist" group. The designation requires American financial institutions to freeze Ansarullah funds and bars members of the resistance group from traveling to the US.

The top Iranian diplomat reiterated Tehran's support for the establishment of sustainable peace and security in Yemen.

Efforts to improve stability and security across the region would be beneficial to all the countries in the region, Amir-Abdollahian said.

He also condemned the US airstrikes on targets in Iraq and Syria, which, he said, have been emanated from the continuation of its wrong approach to solve regional issues by resorting to bullying and militarism.

At least 16 people were killed, among them civilians, and 25 injured in overnight US airstrikes on targets in Iraq.

The UN envoy, for his part, commended Iran for its efforts to improve security and stability in the West Asia region, particularly in Yemen.

Grundberg briefed the Iranian minister on the UN's work to establish peace and ease tensions in Yemen and underscored the need for the settlement of regional crises by making use of intraregional capacities.

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Iran Army Aviation showcases long-range Shafaq missile, other achievements

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 03 February 2024 10:07 AM

The Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation (IRIAA) has unveiled a new precision strike, smart and long-range missile among several other achievements developed and manufactured domestically by Iranian experts.

The upgraded Shafaq (Dawn) air-to-surface missile, with a range of 20 kilometers, was showcased during a ceremony attended by chief commander of the Iranian's Army Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, head of the Iranian Army's Ground Force Brigadier General Kioumars Haydari and a number of other high-ranking military officials in Tehran on Saturday.

The missile is mounted on attack helicopters, can be launched based on the time required to hit with a high volume of firepower and cause substantial damage to enemy within a short duration.

The Yousef night vision system was also unveiled in the exhibition. The homegrown system is capable of detecting and striking fixed and mobile targets from a long distance away and in adverse weather conditions.

The night vision system reportedly employs two cutting-edge technologies, including stabilization based on optical gyroscopes and tracking algorithm derived from artificial intelligence.

In order to facilitate the application of ultra zoom cameras, the Cascade PID control technology or multiple compensater system has been furnished in the Yousef. The system can be connected to and matched with any autonomous weapon, and could be used in all types of aircraft.

Other indigenous products put on display in the exhibition included combat simulation systems, air-borne self-protection systems, various long-range cruise missiles, anti-tank guided missiles, reconnaissance and suicide Switch Blade and Moharram drones, flight simulation systems, super heavy tank transporters, and artillery equipment.

A new military achievement showcased at the event was the Qadr-29 missile system that can be installed on Bell 206 helicopters.

The homegrown system fires missiles with a warhead weighing four kilograms at a range of 150 kilometers, and can be used in diverse operations.

Moreover, an integrated missile system paired with Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters was unveiled in the exhibition. It allows the pilot to fire air-launched missiles, such as Almas and Qaem, using fire-and-forget missile guidance technology.

Iranian military experts and technicians have in recent years made substantial headways in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient in the arms sphere.

Officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran's defense capabilities will be never subject to negotiations.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has repeatedly called for efforts to maintain and boost Iran's defense capabilities, hitting back at the enemies for disputing the country's missile program

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Iraq summons US chargA d'affaires in protest over airstrikes

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 03 February 2024 2:51 PM

Iraq has summoned the US chargA d'affaires in Baghdad to deliver a formal memorandum of protest over the overnight airstrikes on dozens of sites used by anti-terror resistance groups in the country.

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry announced in a Saturday statement that it is going to call in David Burger "in protest at the US aggression which targeted Iraqi civilian and military sites" due to the absence of Ambassador Alina L. Romanowski, the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported.

The statement said Iraqi officials will deliver an official note of protest regarding the strikes against locations in the towns of Akashat and Al-Qa'im in the western province of Anbar.

The Iraqi government said at least 16 people were killed in the US strikes. It condemned the "new aggression against" Iraq's sovereignty. Civilians were among the fatalities, and 25 people were wounded in the bombings that targeted both civilian and security areas, a government spokesperson said.

"This aggressive strike will put security in Iraq and the region on the brink of the abyss," the Iraqi government said, and denied Washington's claims of coordinating the attacks with Baghdad as "false" and "aimed at misleading international public opinion."

The presence of the US-led military coalition in the region "has become a reason for threatening security and stability in Iraq and a justification for involving Iraq in regional and international conflicts," a statement from Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani's office read.

Syrian official news agency SANA also reported several casualties after the attacks in the desert region and border areas with Iraq.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its military forces struck more than 85 targets in the two countries "with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from the United States."

"The airstrikes employed more than 125 precision munitions," it added in a statement.

US President Joe Biden said in a statement on Friday that the strikes were the first in a series of actions by Washington in response to a recent drone attack that killed a number of soldiers at a remote US base in Jordan.

"Our response began today," Biden said. "It will continue at times and places of our choosing," he stated.

Three US soldiers were killed and about 40 others injured in the assault on the military base known as Tower 22 near the Jordan-Syria border on Sunday.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, claimed responsibility for the drone strike.

In retaliation for the latest flurry of US strikes in Iraq and Syria, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced it had conducted missile strikes against the Ain al-Asad Airbase, housing US occupation forces in the western Iraqi province of Anbar.

The group also said it had staged missile and drone strikes against the strategic al-Tanf military base in southeastern Syria near the border with Jordan and Iraq, as well as the al-Khadra Village in Syria's northeastern province of al-Hasakah.

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Myanmar opposition releases plan for post-junta constitution, governance

Keeping ethnic armies on board remains a key post-war challenge.

A commentary by Zachary Abuza 2024.02.03 -- On the eve of the third anniversary of the Myanmar military's coup d'etat, the opposition National Unity Government and three allied ethnic armies issued a joint statement that outlined six objectives of the Spring Revolution, as the resistance is known, and the principles for establishing a post-junta federal democracy.

Beyond the importance of planning, there is a reason for their bullishness. The military has suffered significant losses, especially since the Three Brotherhood Alliance, which includes the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Arakan Army, launched their offensive on October 27th. Opposition forces have seized over 40 towns in Shan, Chin, Rakhine and Sagaing.

Although the military is preparing to launch a counter-offensive to retake Sagaing's Kawlin town, the military is spread too thinly, across multiple battle fronts, to retake most of what it lost.

Three years after ousting the National League for Democracy, the military's effective control is dwindling. Infighting amongst the senior leadership has escalated amid the economic and military setbacks, while defections are mounting.

The military has lashed out in anger, bombing lost cities and townships, but that's insufficient to retake them.

On the third anniversary of the Feb. 1, 2021 coup, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing vowed to crush the opposition, a pledge the junta chief made for three years, with less and less to show for it.

The National Unity Government (NUG), made up of ousted members of the elected government and other public figures, has held a broad coalition of pre-existing ethnic resistance organizations together through the promise of a federal democracy. The Jan., 2023 statement reinforces that pledge.

New constitution

The statement's six objectives can be summarized: "To overturn the usurpation of state power by the military, and to terminate the involvement of the armed forces in politics," while ensuring full civilian control over the military.

The military-drafted 2008 constitution will be abrogated, and a new charter that "embodies federalism and democratic values, garnering the consensus of all relevant parties" in order to establish a "new federal democratic union" will be drafted. Finally, they seek to institute a transitional justice mechanism.

The joint statement outlines nine positions to address complex wartime and post-conflict challenges.

The first two are on the military's illegal usurpation of power, which violated their own constitution.

The third position makes clear that there is no going back to the status quo ante. Remember, the coup was staged on the eve of the parliament being seated after Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD routed the military-backed United State Development Party in the November 2020 election.

Moving forward, the elected parliamentarians will not be seated. Instead the November 2020 election will be viewed as a "mandate for revolutionary change and the establishment of a new political system."

And as the fifth provision states: "Any election held under the provisions of the constitution of 2008... would merely serve to perpetuate military rule indefinitely."

While the political bodies established after the coup d'etat, the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and the NUG, enjoy popular legitimacy and will play leading roles moving forward, the document is clear about the need for "collective leadership."

Going for broke

The statement says "the stewardship of the nation in the post-revolutionary era shall be entrusted to all relevant parties in the cause of the revolution."

This should be interpreted to mean that all the ethnic resistance organizations and entities that joined the Spring Revolution will be given a seat at the table.

The fourth position makes clear that the NUG and their allies are going for broke, seeking the defeat of the military. They will not negotiate with the military en bloc, though they are pragmatic enough to cut deals with individual leaders.

But they are insistent that there will be no seat at the table for the military in the deliberations over the country's constitutional future. There is every reason for them to fear that if the military is given a seat at the table they will claw back their political and economic rights and prerogatives.

The sixth provision states that "a new federal democratic constitution" has to be "formulated with the consensus of all relevant parties," but does not identify who those are.

The eighth position was a rejection of traditional political and economic elites and a call for a more inclusive democracy.

The final two positions focused on their commitment to "engage constructively" with the Southeast Asian regional bloc ASEAN to resolve the conflict and to peacefully coexist with its neighbors.

To that end, the joint statement outlines six action plans towards the establishment of the federal democracy.

Off-ramp

These include the continuance of military operations. While they accept negotiations with the "responsible leadership of the Myanmar military to terminate military rule and for peaceful transition of power," they emphasize a key precondition: the military leadership's "unconditional acceptance of the six political objectives."

And that is not possible without continued and sustained military pressure against the junta. If there is to be a negotiated off-ramp for the generals, it has to be from a position of their weakness.

Upon the military defeat and surrender, a phased transitional process at both the national and local level is outlined, as is the role of a transitional government and the drafting of a new constitution.

A key task will be the redrawing of state borders. Though it was not stated explicitly, there are calls to break up the large ethnic majority Bamar-dominated states.

It's important that for all of these, they include "all parties and entities that participated in the revolution against the military dictatorship."

It appears that the onus for establishing local governments will fall on the ethnic armies, as we have already seen with the Karenni in eastern Myanmar. It is less clear the role that various ethnic armies who did not participate in the Spring Revolution will have in establishing local governance.

The joint statement concludes with the pledge "to persist in our revolutionary endeavors, maintaining unwavering cooperation and collaboration with our allied revolutionary forces."

Concern about non-signatories

But what causes some concern is who did not sign the document.

The signatories included the Chin National Front, the Karen National Union, and the Karen National Progressive Party. The Kachin Independence Organization and members of the Three Brotherhood Alliance were not signatories, though obviously the door remains open to them.

No reason was given as to why they did not sign. But in the key western state of Rakhine, the Arakan Army does not fully trust the NUG, which they view as being too dominated by ethnic Bamar NLD members. Of all the ethnic armies, they have shown the most desire for independence and are now discussing confederation rather than a federal union.

If the Arakan Army was not on board with this position paper, it's understandable that its allies would be in an awkward position if they signed.

There is some speculation that Chinese pressure also had a role in this, though it's hard to see what would have threatened Beijing's interests.

While some will view the joint statement as premature, it's never a bad time to reinforce the desired end state.

The closer opposition forces come to defeating the military, the more that the ethnic armies may begin to mistrust the Bamar-dominated NUG. The NUG must constantly reinforce its commitment to a new federal charter that enshrines a substantial devolution of political and economic power.

Min Aung Hlaing's vow to crush the opposition is delusional. In three years, the military has not only failed to consolidate power, but it's lost effective control over much of the country, while the opposition has grown in strength, legitimacy, and unity. They offer the only path forward.

Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College, Georgetown University or Radio Free Asia.

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 February 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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Iran will definitely respond to Zionist regime's aggression on Syria: Embassy

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Feb 3, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's embassy in Syria has slammed the Israeli regime's attack on areas in south of the Arab country's capital of Damascus early on Friday that left an Iranian military adviser martyred, noting that Iran will definitely respond to the crime.

In a statement issued late on Friday, the embassy said that the Zionist regime had launched a missile attack on a residential area on the outskirts of Damascus.

It added that the regime had violated international law and Syrian sovereignty by the attack, adding that it had martyred an Iranian military adviser based in the region.

"The measures show the Zionist regime's connection to terrorists," said the statement.

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US aggression aimed to revive Daesh in Syria, Iraq: Syrian Defense Ministry

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 03 February 2024 11:03 AM

The Syrian Defense Ministry has blasted deadly strikes by the US occupation forces against a number of sites in Iraq and Syria, saying Washington's assault is aimed at reviving the Daesh terrorist group in the two neighboring countries.

Syria's state news agency SANA cited the ministry as making the remark in a statement on Saturday, hours after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces had struck more than 85 targets "with numerous aircraft" during overnight raids on localities in Iraq and Syria.

The Syrian state media reported that the US aggression targeted positions in Syria's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr and the city of al-Bukamal near the Iraqi border, falling short of providing details on the extent of damage and the exact number of casualties.

"The American occupation forces launched, at dawn today, a blatant air aggression against a number of sites and towns in the eastern region of Syria and near the Syrian-Iraqi borders, which led to the martyrdom of a number of civilians and soldiers, the wounding of others, and the infliction of great damage on public and private property," the statement said.

The ministry stressed that the targeted sites were located in the same area where the Syrian army forces are fighting the remnants of Daesh, which bespeaks Washington's attempts to deter Damascus from fighting terrorism and to "revive" the terrorist group.

"The area targeted by the American attacks in eastern Syria is the same area where the Syrian Arab Army is fighting the remnants of the terrorist organization Daesh, and this confirms that the United States and its military forces are involved and allied with this organization, and are working to revive it as a field arm for it, whether in Syria or elsewhere in Iraq by all dirty means," the statement said.

"The US aggression today dawn has no justification, but it is an attempt to weaken the Syrian army's capability to fight terrorism," it added.

The Syrian Defense Ministry underlined that the Syrian Army, which has managed to defeat various terrorist groups over the past years, will continue to defend the country's land and people.

"The occupation of parts of Syrian territory by US forces cannot continue," the statement said, affirming the Syrian Army's "determination to liberate all Syrian territory from terrorism and occupation."

Meanwhile, Iraqi media reported early on Saturday that the US occupation forces had targeted the cities of al-Qa'im and Akashat near the Syrian border in Iraq's western province of al-Anbar.

In a statement on Friday, US President Joe Biden said the strikes were the first in a series of actions by Washington in response to a drone attack that killed three American soldiers and left about 40 others injured in an occupation base near the Jordan-Syria border earlier in the week.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of anti-terror fighters, claimed responsibility for the drone strike in a statement published on its Telegram channel.

Iraqi resistance forces have conducted dozens of strikes on the US-run military installations in both Iraq and Syria amid growing anti-US sentiments in the region over Washington's support for the Israeli genocidal campaign in Gaza.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm in response to Tel Aviv's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

The Tel Aviv regime has killed more than 27,000 Palestinians and injured upwards of 66,000 others since the start of the invasion.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Feb. 3, 2024

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2024/02/03



PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

Feb. 3, 2024 09:00iUTC+8i

1.Dateis

6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Friday to Saturday, Feb. 2-3.

2.PLA activitiesis

10 PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities.



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Pentagon, Raytheon Sign Contract Worth $68.4Mln for Delivery of 50 Missiles to Taiwan

Sputnik News

20240203

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The US Department of Defense has signed a contract worth $68.4 million with the Raytheon defense-industrial company for the production and delivery of 50 air-to-ground missiles to Taiwan, the Pentagon said on Saturday.

"Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $68,420,396 modification (P00001) to a firm-fixed-price order (N0001924F2560) ... This modification exercising an option for the production and delivery of 50 Joint Standoff Weapon Air-To-Ground Missiles (AGM-154 Block III C) for the government of Taiwan," Pentagon said in a statement.

The work under the contract is expected to be completed in March 2028, the statement read.

Taiwan has been governed independently of mainland China since 1949. Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan a a territory with its own elected government a 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. In response to visits of high-ranking US delegations to Taiwan in 2022 and 2023, the Chinese military launched large-scale drills near the island, in what it called a warning to Taiwanese separatists and foreign powers.

A Sputnik

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Feb. 4, 2024

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2024/02/04

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

Feb. 4, 2024 09:00iUTC+8i

1.Dateis

6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Saturday to Sunday, Feb. 3-4.



2.PLA activitiesis

7 PLA aircraft and 4 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities.





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PM call with New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon: 2 February 2024

The Prime Minister spoke to New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon yesterday.

3 February 2024

The Prime Minister spoke to New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon yesterday.

The leaders discussed a wide range of international issues, as well as the thriving UK-New Zealand bilateral relationship.

The Prime Minister thanked New Zealand for their contribution to Operation Interflex, which has trained almost 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers in the UK, saying it was an extremely valuable contribution to Ukraine's defence.

He also welcomed Prime Minister Luxon's support for action to deter Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The leaders agreed it was vital to build an international coalition to stand up to aggression and defend freedom of navigation at sea, whether in the Gulf or the Pacific. On the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Prime Minister set out the UK's work to secure the release of hostages, alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and reach a sustainable ceasefire.

Turning to economic issues, Prime Minister Luxon welcomed the UK's accession to the major CPTPP trade bloc and the leaders highlighted the opportunities flowing from the new UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. They agreed it was important for 5 Eyes partners to continue to cooperate on addressing threats to global economic security and stability, including from China.

The Prime Minister welcomed the opportunity to speak to Prime Minister Luxon and looked forward to continuing to deepen the historic alliance between the UK and New Zealand, built on strong security, economic and cultural ties.

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500 Trucks rapidly procured for British Army operations

500 support trucks will be delivered to the British Army, to support operational activity, following a rapid procurement process of just 7 months.

3 February 2024

500 support trucks will be delivered to the British Army in 2024 to support operational activity, following a rapid procurement process.

Collaboration between Defence Equipment & Support, Army Headquarters and the Field Army has helped push the boundaries of Defence procurement, acquiring all the vehicles in just 7 months.

Under a A282 million contract, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles will deliver the multipurpose trucks that will allow personnel to load flat racks onto the platform, which can carry essential logistics such as ammunition, food, water, and support materiel, to operational locations.

The newly procured vehicles will be from the HX family, which are a range of purpose-designed military trucks equipped with a multitude of protection capabilities, keeping our most important asset safe, our people.

The vehicles will be delivered under the Rapid Acquisition Project, expediting the procurement of the trucks with efficiency and precision, meaning these advanced mobility trucks reach operational deployment swiftly, ultimately enhancing our military's agility and responsiveness.

Minister For Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, said:

"The rapid delivery of transport capabilities to the front line is paramount to the lifeblood of British Army logistics and operations.

"This procurement demonstrates our commitment to equipping our Armed Forces with the best tools available, ensuring mobility, agility, and resilience in the face of evolving threats."

The HX family stands as a proven and cost-effective mobility truck class, integrating military off-the-shelf components. Purposefully designed to bolster military operations, these HX vehicles offer high mobility and reliability in challenging terrains. The platforms have several capability improvements compared to those already in service, including an increased payload, a reduced turning circle, an underrun protection safety feature and a more efficient EURO 5 engine.

Major General Darren Crook, Director of the Land Equipment Operating Centre, DE&S said:

"In an ever-changing and demanding operational landscape, it is essential that we can quickly identify what equipment our soldiers need and procure it rapidly.

"This project demonstrates our agility and our commitment to push the boundaries; it shows what we can achieve when we work collaboratively to deliver the equipment our Armed Forces need, when they need it. I'm delighted that together with industry that we have been able to turn around this contract from conception, through approvals to contract award and first delivery, in just seven months."

Colonel Stuart NassA, Assistant Head Military Capability Delivery, Army Headquarters said:

"We are delighted with this project which provides essential reinforcement to the logistic spine of the Army.

"As a collaborative project, it shows that the acquisition process can be responsive to user demands, and more importantly that when the user, delivery agent and industry all work together we can achieve significant outcomes quickly. We are really excited to put this important capability in the hands of the soldiers this year."

The rapid procurement of these vehicles comes at an essential time, as in 2024 the British Army will face increased commitments through Op MOBILISE and its offer to the NATO New Force Model. The procurement contract also delivers on the Chief of General Staff, General Sir Patrick Sanders' objective of increasing logistical lift as a British Army capability.



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OSCE Chair-in-Office Minister Ian Borg completes visit to Ukraine, reaffirms OSCE's steadfast support as country faces dire effects of Russia's war

OSCE | Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

KYIV 3 February 2024

KYIV, 3 February 2024 -- The OSCE Chair-in-Office, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta Ian Borg, completed his visit to Ukraine.

In Kyiv, the Chair-in-Office Minister Borg met with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba.

"My first visit as Chair-in-Office reinforces our unequivocal and unwavering commitment to support Ukraine and to keep Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine at the top of the OSCE agenda. Every death is a tragedy and too many lives have been lost in this senseless war," Borg said.

Throughout the Chairpersonship, Malta will continue to place strong emphasis on the urgent need to bring this war to an end, while at the same time find practical solutions to assist Ukraine and its people. The Chair-in-Office reiterated that the Organization remains engaged and committed to support the government, civil society and people of Ukraine, including through the OSCE's extra-budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU), as the magnitude of the destruction caused by Russia's war against Ukraine continues to worsen.

"The OSCE will continue to support Ukraine in addressing multiple and unprecedented challenges the country is facing due to the ongoing war against it. The OSCE has tools such as the Moscow Mechanism to establish facts on the violation of the OSCE's core principles and can contribute to the accountability of the perpetrators. I am convinced that our Organization has a pivotal role to play in Ukraine. We commend the important work of the Support Programme for Ukraine's team and pledge our support for even more engagement," Minister Borg said.

During his visit, Chair-in-Office Borg was accompanied by the Special Representative of the CiO - Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, Ambassador Marcel PeAko. Minister Borg also met SPU staff to express his appreciation for the dedication and hard work each of them brings to the Organization.

"One issue that weighs heavily on our collective conscience is the unjust and illegal detention of the three staff members of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission. Our thoughts are with them and their families during this challenging time. We are concerned about their health and safety and join the Secretary General in her call on Russia for their immediate release," Minister Borg stressed.

Chair-in-Office Minister Borg underscored the need to continue demonstrating unity as an organization to advocate for their immediate release while standing in absolute solidarity with them and their families.

Above all, Minister Borg emphasised that the OSCE must remain anchored in the principles and commitments to which all the participating States agreed to, with a view to restoring peace and security in our region.

The OSCE's extrabudgetary (ExB) Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU) was launched on 1 November 2022 in order to address the immediate challenges to civilians posed by the war against Ukraine and to support the long-term democratic and social resilience of the country's institutions and civil society.

The Programme comprises projects that build on the OSCE's prior work with its long-standing partners and covers a wide range of areas, such as humanitarian demining, addressing chemical threats, monitoring of environmental damage from the war and supporting the reform efforts of the Ukrainian government.

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Ukraine informs White House of its plan to oust top army chief

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 03 February 2024 8:27 AM

The Ukrainian government has reportedly informed the White House that it is planning to fire the country's top military commander overseeing the war against Russia.

Reuters quoted a source as saying that the White House, upon being informed of the decision to oust General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, did not express a position and was okay with the decision.

"I would emphasize that the White House response was that we did not support or object to their sovereign decision," said the source.

"The White House expressed that it is up to Ukraine to make its own sovereign decisions about its personnel," the source claimed. "The US is okay with Ukraine firing him."

A senior defense official revealed to The Washington Post that it has been five days since Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky told his top general that he would soon be ousted, but a successor still has not been found.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine, the administration has maintained silence after initially denying on Monday that Zaluzhny was being dismissed, as he has not been officially fired yet.

Zaluzhny's relationship with Zelensky had been degrading for months, especially after Zaluzhnyi failed to regain control over significant amounts of Russian-held territory last year.

But tensions boiled over at a meeting on Monday in part because of disagreements over mobilizing new soldiers and about other resources.

Reuters also cited another source close to Zelensky's office as saying there is an ongoing disagreement between the two regarding a recent military mobilization initiative, with Zelensky opposing Zaluzhnyi's suggestion to enlist 500,000 new soldiers.

On Thursday, Zaluzhnyi accused the Ukrainian government of not effectively mobilizing enough troops and called for an immediate enhancement of the nation's advanced warfare capabilities in order to counter Russia's superior and well-equipped military forces "and ensure the existence of statehood."

He even published a column for the CNN website on Thursday, saying that the government had failed to mobilize enough troops.

"We must acknowledge the significant advantage enjoyed by the enemy in mobilizing human resources and how that compares with the inability of state institutions in Ukraine to improve the manpower levels of our armed forces without the use of unpopular measures," Zaluzhny wrote.

"Right now, both sides (the president and the general) have taken a pause in determining what the future will look like, and for now the status quo will remain until further notice," the insider close to Zelensky's office said.

Throughout the war, Zaluzhnyi, also known as "the Iron General", has been extremely popular among Ukrainians. His ousting decision signals Kiev's desire for a fresh approach to the conflict.

His dismissal could also negatively impact the morale of Ukrainian soldiers who are engaged in a fierce battle to maintain their positions along an extensive 1,000 km front against a formidable Russian force equipped with substantial ammunition reserves.

Meanwhile, within the Ukrainian army, there are backlash possibilities expected among commanders on the battlefield, who do not have any indication of whether a new commander-in-chief would be able to deliver any quick improvement given shortages of soldiers and ammunition.

"As for Zaluzhny's successor, on the one hand, it could be one of the young officers who have proven their effectiveness on the battlefield, of which Ukraine has no shortage," the senior defense official said.

"But do such people have enough management experience to be in charge of such a large mechanism?" they added.

The top runners are believed to be Ukraine's head of military intelligence, 38-year-old Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, and Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky, the 58-year-old commander of Ukraine's ground forces.

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Russian Refinery Ablaze After Apparent Ukraine Strike; Moscow Claims Bakery Hit In Lysychansk

By RFE/RL's Russian Service and RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service February 03, 2024

One of the largest oil refineries in the southwestern Russian region of Volgograd caught fire after a drone attack early on February 3 in an apparent continuation of Ukraine's recent targeting of Russian infrastructure to blunt Moscow's ongoing 23-month-old full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Separately, Russia-installed authorities claimed that a Ukrainian drone attack on a bakery in the occupied eastern city of Lysychansk killed at least 20 people and trapped "dozens" of others in the rubble.

"Several dozen more civilians may remain under the rubble," occupation official Leonid Pasechnik said on Telegram.

Kyiv did not immediately comment on the remarks. Battlefield reports often cannot be verified due to the intense violence in the war zones.

The Volgograd blaze was said to have been extinguished within about three hours.

The Volgograd Ministry of Emergency Situations said an area of around 300 square meters had burned.

Regional Governor Andrei Bocharov said debris from a downed drone had ignited the fire.

"The fire has been localized, the open burning has been eliminated. There are no casualties," Bocharov said.

LUKoil's Volgograd oil refinery is one of the largest in Russia. It produces gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel, and fuel for ships.

In Ukraine, the military said it had downed nine of 14 Russian drones overnight in an attack on energy infrastructure in Kryviy Rih, a steel-producing city in southeastern Ukraine dozens of kilometers from the front lines.

It was the second attack in as many days on the city, which is President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's hometown.

Kryviy Rih's mayor, Oleksandr Vilkul, said electricity had been cut off to thousands of people, and some areas lost water and heating.

On the diplomatic front, Polish President Andrzej Duda sought to reiterate his support for Ukraine after coming under criticism for saying he was unsure whether Kyiv would be able to retake Russian-occupied Crimea, held by the Kremlin since 2014.

"I don't know if [Ukraine] will regain Crimea, but I believe it will regain [the occupied eastern regions of] Donetsk and Luhansk," Duda had said in a February 2 interview, angering Ukrainian leaders and opposition figures within Poland.

On February 3, Duda looked to ease the anger over his statements, saying on social media: "My actions and position on Russia's brutal aggression against Ukraine have been unequivocal from day one: Russia is violating international law. It is an aggressor and an occupier."

"Russia's invasion of Ukraine and occupation of the internationally recognized territories of Ukraine, including Crimea, is a crime," he added.

Poland has been a strong ally of Ukraine since Russia's invasion of February 2022.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-refinery-volgograd- russia-infrastructure/32803830.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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Ukraine Attacked Bakery in Lugansk Region, Causing Casualties - LPR Military Command

Sputnik News

20240203

LUHANSK, (Sputnik) - At least two people died and six others were injured in a Ukrainian attack on a bakery in the city of Lisichansk in the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) on Saturday, the LPR military commander's office told Sputnik.

"Two people died, six others are in a hospital following the shelling of Lisichansk," the commander's office said.

The regional military said earlier that some 40 people could have been trapped under the debris of the bakery, which was popular with the locals.

"The Ukrainian armed forces opened fire at a bakery in Lisichansk, which provided bread to civilians. It is always crowded on weekends. Up to 40 people may be trapped under the debris," the military said.

Lisichansk is located close to the frontline. The Ukrainian army has been routinely shelling Lisichansk after losing control of the city in the summer of 2022. Ukrainian troops blew up some of the administrative buildings before they pulled out.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed to the transformation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces into a terrorist organization for attacks on civilian targets. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also said that the Kiev regime, in order to demonstrate to its Western backers at least some success, is constantly carrying out terrorist attacks against civilians in the Russian Federation.

A Sputnik

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Canada to Hand Over 1980s-Designed CRV7 Missiles to Ukraine

Sputnik News

20240203

The countries of the collective West, led by the United States, 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.

Canada may transfer CRV7 air-to-surface missiles to Ukraine that were developed in the 1980s and taken out of service in the early 2000s, according to Canadian broadcaster CBC, citing a representative of the country's Defense Ministry.

"The federal Conservatives are demanding that the Liberal government donate to Ukraine tens of thousands of surplus air-to-ground missiles that were scheduled to be scrapped," the material said.

At the moment, Canada has about 83,300 missiles in its arsenal, part of them already without warheads, according to CBC.

The leader of the opposition Conservative Party of Canada, Pierre Poilievre, also demands that these munitions be sent to Kiev. According to him, it is better to give these weapons to Ukraine than to make Canadians pay millions of dollars to decommission them.

Earlier, on January 1, Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, thanking him in particular for the delivery of additional NASAMS air defense systems and shells. However, later, on January 9, CTV News reported that Kiev had not received the NASAMS air defense missile system that Canada had promised to purchase from the US for the needs of the Ukrainian military.

The CRV7 air-to-surface missile, an outdated weapon from the past, is no longer in use due to advances in technology and the development of more sophisticated missiles. Designed for use during the Cold War, these missiles have been replaced by more accurate, faster, and more versatile ones with greater range, payload capacity, and precision guidance systems.

A Sputnik

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Crucial to maintain consolidation of the free world and do everything to enable Ukraine to inflict defeats on Russia - address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine

3 February 2024 - 18:17

I wish you good health, dear Ukrainians!

Today is another day of our gratitude, our respect for all those who help the state withstand, fight for Ukraine, and emerge victorious.

Today, I awarded the Defence Intelligence warriors with state honors. These are the guys who ensured another success for Ukraine - the sinking of a Russian military ship in Lake Donuzlav in our Crimea. A spectacular action. But not just spectacular, it's extremely effective: the fewer Russian fleets in the Black Sea, the more security we have in the region and globally.

Today, I continued our new tradition of honoring all the Heroes of Ukraine. I presented certificates for apartments to soldiers awarded with the Order of the Golden Star and their families. Another 30 families. Soldiers who fought against the occupiers both after 2014 and in this war. Each story of every Hero deserves Ukrainians to always remember and honor the bravery of our soldiers.

I want to express separate gratitude to all Ukraine's partners who have supported and continue to support our state. Work is ongoing with the teams of European states to strengthen Ukraine, develop new defense packages, and implement new security solutions. This week, we have new decisions on supporting our country from Germany and the Netherlands. Luxembourg has joined our aviation coalition. Lithuania has a new package. We discussed further defense cooperation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada. Critical defense contracts are being fulfilled. There is reinforcement of air defense. Remember: the war started by Russia is on the Ukrainian front, but its target is not only our state, not only our independence. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain as much as possible consolidation of the free world and do everything possible and impossible for Ukraine to inflict defeats on Russia. Moscow understands no other language. We continue to work with partners regarding new sanctions against Russia and blocking Russian schemes to bypass sanctions. We are actively pursuing the confiscation of Russian assets scattered across various jurisdictions. I am grateful to everyone who assists us in the efforts to confiscate Russian assets.

And one more thing.

At the moment, recovery works are underway in some regions of our state where Russian strikes caused power outages. Dnipropetrovsk region, particularly Kryvy Rih - energy workers are striving to restore electricity to all consumers as quickly as possible. We've dispatched the head of Ukrenergo to the region, along with all necessary experts and resources. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal briefed me today on the progress of the works and the protection of energy facilities. I thank every repair brigade and all the involved workers.

Being self-sacrificing at one's level, being efficient, and being bold, means for Ukraine to be a strong state capable of defending itself. I thank everyone who realizes this.

Glory to every Ukrainian warrior! Glory to all those who work to ensure Ukraine can defend itself!

Glory to Ukraine!

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20 Killed in Shelling in Russian-Occupied Eastern Ukraine

By VOA News February 03, 2024

At least 20 people died Saturday in an attack on a popular bakery in a city in occupied eastern Ukraine, Russia's emergency ministry said, blaming Ukrainian shelling.

"In Lysychansk, employees of the Russian emergency ministry recovered the bodies of 20 people from under the rubble," the ministry said on Telegram.

The ministry shared video of emergency workers pulling people and bodies from the rubble.

Reuters was able to find earlier, daytime video of the building identified as the Adriatic Restaurant on Moskovska Street in Lysychansk. But it was unable to verify the date or any of the details of the video released by the ministry Saturday.

Ukrainian officials have not made a statement on the incident, Reuters said.

According to Russia-installed officials, U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) were used in the attack. The officials said that the average age of the victims was 35, according to Russia's state-run TASS news agency.

Lysychansk had a population of about 110,000 before Russia's invasion. It fell to Russia in the summer of 2022 and sits 15 kilometers (9 miles) from Ukrainian controlled territory.

The shelling came as Ukraine's air force said Saturday that it downed nine of 14 Russian drones targeting Ukraine's central and southern regions.

The Iranian-made Shahed drones were mainly aimed at "energy infrastructure facilities" in the Dnipropetrovsk region, according to air force officials.

The town most affected by the attack was Krivy Rig, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

No deaths or injuries were reported, but Agence France-Presse reports that 15,000 people are without electricity.

Meanwhile, the British Defense Ministry said Saturday that Ukraine exported more agricultural products in December than at any other point since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The ministry said the reopening of Ukraine's Black Sea ports has been a critical contribution to international trade and the world's food supply. Ukraine's grain exports have now surpassed the volume it achieved under the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

The ministry also said Russia has been largely prevented from operating in the western Black Sea because of the presence of Ukrainian missiles and uncrewed surface vessels.

The United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown, on Friday condemned a Thursday attack on aid workers in southern Ukraine that left two dead and injured three others.

The Swiss nongovernmental aid group HEKS/EPER reported two of its employees were targeted in an attack late Thursday while conducting a field assessment in southeastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials later reported the two aid workers were French nationals killed in a drone attack in the town of Beryslav in the Kherson region.

The aid workers have not been identified.

In a statement, Brown said she was "profoundly distressed" by the deaths of the two aid workers and that her thoughts were with their families and colleagues "during this absolutely horrific time."

The humanitarian coordinator went on to say she was "shocked to hear the aid workers' vehicles were attacked in a manner similar to a tragic incident in Chasiv Yar, in the east of Ukraine just a week ago, when a humanitarian vehicle was hit, and an aid worker injured."

Brown said international humanitarian law prohibits attacks on humanitarian workers and "the repeated violations should be of grave concern to the world."

French President Emmanuel Macron called the attacks on the French aid workers "a cowardly and outrageous act."

"My solidarity goes out to all the volunteers who are committed to helping people," he wrote on the social media platform X.

French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said on X that Russia "will have to answer for its crimes."

Zelenskyy offered condolences and expressed his gratitude for the service of the French aid workers.

"Russian terror knows no boundaries or victims' nationalities," he said on X. "The brave French aid workers assisted people, and we will always be grateful for their humanity."

Also Friday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly was in Kyiv, Ukraine, where she met for talks with her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba.

At a joint news conference following their talks, the two diplomats announced a new international coalition to bring back Ukrainian children taken illegally to Russia.

Kuleba also said he is continuing to work to use frozen Russian assets to help pay for Ukraine's recovery from the war.

Some information in this report was provided by Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

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At the battle of Stirling Bridge, 11 September 1297, the movie Braveheart has William Wallace provoking the English to battle, saying "Here are Scotland's terms. Lower your flags, and march straight back to England, stopping at every home to beg forgiveness for 100 years of theft, rape, and murder. Do that and your men shall live. Do it not, and every one of you will die today. ... Before we let you leave, your commander must cross that field, present himself before this army, put his head between his legs, and kiss his own ass."

Putin's Nuclear Crisis - January 2024

The self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that all the planned nuclear weapons from Russia have already been delivered to his country. This happened in early October 2023. This was reported 25 December 2023 by the Belarusian publication Zerkalo. Alexander Lukashenko took part in the summit of the Eurasian Economic Union on December 25 in St. Petersburg. There h commented on the question of whether all planned Russian nuclear weapons had been delivered to Belarus. For a long time. I already said when the delivery ended. Back in September, in my opinion, or in October. At the beginning of October, the last one. Everything is in its place in good condition, said the Belarusian leader.

On 18 January 2024 Russias top diplomat rejected a United States proposal to resume a dialogue on nuclear arms control, saying that it is impossible while Washington offers military support to Ukraine. Speaking at a news conference, Sergey Lavrov accused the West of fuelling global security risks by encouraging Ukraine to ramp up strikes on Russian territory and warned that Moscow will achieve its goals in the conflict regardless of Western support for Kyiv.

Commenting on a US proposal to resume contacts in the sphere of nuclear arms control, Lavrov said that Moscow has rejected the offer. He said that for such talks to be held, Washington first needs to revise its current policy towards Russia. Lavrov charged that Washingtons push for the revival of nuclear talks has been driven by a desire to resume inspections of Russias nuclear weapons sites. He described such US demands as indecent in view of Ukraines attacks on Russian nuclear-capable bomber bases during the conflict.

Amid a hybrid war waged by Washington against Russia, we arent seeing any basis, not only for any additional joint measures in the sphere of arms control and reduction of strategic risks, but for any discussion of strategic stability issues with the US, he said. We firmly link such possibility to the West fully renouncing its malicious course aimed at undermining Russias security and interests. The minister said Washingtons push for restarting nuclear arms talks is rooted in a desire to try to establish control over our nuclear arsenal and minimise nuclear risks for itself but added that those risks are emerging as a result of forceful pressure on our country.

"In real life, the United States opted to pursue military dominance long ago, trying to gain a free hand by dismantling the entire arms control framework in a step-by-step process, including the Treaty Between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems, the Treaty Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles, and the Treaty on Open Skies. The same happened to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and the New START since the United States made their implementation impossible.

"Let me remind you that it was the United States who suspended our bilateral strategic dialogue by using an unfavourable military and political environment as a pretext. They cancelled a round of talks in the autumn of 2022 though we were ready to hold it.

"They have recently become aware once again of the importance of nuclear arms control and started sending us signals, including the paper you mentioned, showing their readiness to resume dialogue on these matters. Interestingly, they suggested taking strategic stability talks out of the general military and political context. Every day brings further evidence that we are operating in a hostile environment, which is unacceptable. They denounce us at every corner and call us an aggressor, demanding that we retreat to the 1991 borders and leave the poor democratic Ukraine alone. They did recognise that they were doing all this, but while doing so, they suggested sitting down and focusing on a specific topic: strategic arms limitations and the strategic dialogue in general.

"There was a time when they raised this topic just for the sake of resuming inspections and being able to visit our nuclear facilities. At the same time, they sent weapons to the Ukrainians, and these weapons targeted our military bases where strategic bombers are deployed. These people simply lack common decency. I am not even talking about treating national interests in a comprehensive manner or understanding what is possible in international talks and what is not. In this case, they failed to observe the most rudimentary decency. This did not come as a surprise to us.

"This makes Russia their enemy and they cast us as an enemy, while showing readiness to discuss whether they can look at our strategic nuclear arsenals, as if it were a separate matter. We understand what they are after. They are trying to use the reciprocity motto in order to be able to control our nuclear arsenals and to minimise nuclear risks arising from their efforts to carry out a strong-arm policy towards us. More and more people in the West have been talking about a possible direct confrontation between nuclear powers. There are fewer and fewer constraining factors or deterrents. The Poles and the British have been seriously discussing training NATO units to enter Ukraine and take over specific positions. We are hearing this from people who serve in official positions.

"We believe that the ideas put forward by the United States are unacceptable. When discussing strategic stability, the Americans do not hide that they wanted to leave aside the means of non-nuclear military confrontation, i.e., the non-nuclear forces. Their goal is rather obvious. The collective West enjoys a substantial edge in this regard, quantity-wise, and wants to strengthen it.

"Washington has been waging a hybrid war against Russia. In this context, we do not see any reason not only for taking additional joint measures on arms control or reducing strategic risks, but also for engaging in strategic stability talks with the United States in general.

"We do not reject this idea altogether, just as we do not reject and have never rejected efforts to settle the existing differences by political and diplomatic means. However, before we move forward on these opportunities, we will be firm and unwavering in demanding that the West fully rejects its malicious policy of undermining Russias security and our interests and stops openly neglecting our fundamental interests.

"Any future strategic stability discussions would be predicated on the United States demonstrating its readiness to work on this matter considering all the essential strategic stability factors instead of singling out specific aspects according to Washingtons preferences. The Americans have never been inclined to apply this comprehensive approach to strategic stability matters, and we have even fewer reasons to expect this to change in todays environment."

Russian President Vladimir Putin has never once threatened to use a nuclear bomb, unlike the West, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said 19 January 2024 at his annual news conference devoted to reviewing Moscow's main foreign policy achievements in 2023. Lavrov was asked whether the situation in the world was going the way of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. The minister responded that this topic has recently popped up "on various talk shows and political roundtables."

"I see several players here. If those in charge of policy in the West could each speak out independently, I think the situation would be different, but they are all brought into line. They were brought into line by the Americans, but also to a very large extent by the British. I gave examples about London literally goading Zelensky to bomb any sites in any part of the Russian Federation," he said.

Lavrov also pointed to statements by some former high-ranking US military officials, including Ben Hodges, former commander of the US army in Europe. According to the minister, "they say, 'We have to destroy all conditions for life in Crimea so that there is no Russian fleet there, no one.'"

"This is what they said quite recently," he said. "It would be interesting to poke around in the heads of these people," Lavrov continued. "I would just like to see: Are they rabble rousers, or do they think we will go weak at the knees?" No one has tried to rein them in, Lavrov lamented. "All they say is that Putin is threatening to use a nuclear bomb, even though no such thing has ever been uttered, in contrast to the Europeans or the Americans," he said.

"The Germans said - repeatedly - that Putin should know that we, NATO, also have nuclear weapons. The British used to have a lady prime minister who said: 'I will not hesitate to push the button.' But no one should try to scare us - and many people know that. They should read Churchill more often: He has a quote about the Russian bear and how it should be treated," Lavrov said.

Belarus announced it had adopted a new military doctrine. The deployment of tactical nuclear weapons on Belarus territory is an important component of the preventive deterrence of potential adversaries from unleashing armed aggression against Belarus. This is our forced measure, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said on January 20. The draft doctrine outlines Belaruss stance on the use of tactical nuclear weapons (TNW) stationed on its territory, considering TNW as a crucial part of preventive deterrence. The leadership believes TNW presence will discourage the shift of military operations to Belarusian territory by Ukraine and NATO if the Russian-Ukrainian conflict escalates.

Lukashenk? signed a decree establishing a protocol for using tactical nuclear weapons carriers, specifically the Iskander-M tactical missile system. This application requires Lukashenk?s approval, involving the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff. While Russia maintains direct control over nuclear warheads, Belarus retains control over their delivery vehicles. This distribution allows the regime to participate in decisions regarding the use of tactical nuclear weapons, with Lukashenk? specifying that the condition for use is aggression against Belarus. In such instances, tactical nuclear weapons would target command and control centers, critical infrastructure, logistics hubs, and amassed enemy personnel and equipment.

The United States plans to station nuclear weapons in Britain for the first time in 15 years, ostensibly to counter a possible threat from Russia. The British newspaper The Telegraph reports this with reference to Pentagon documents. The nuclear warheads will be stationed at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk. Their power is three times higher than the power of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, the publication writes.

The disclosure of information occurred against the backdrop of intensifying discussions in the West about a possible conflict with Russia. Thus, on January 18, the head of the NATO military committee, Admiral of the Dutch Navy Rob Bauer, said that the authorities and population of the alliance countries must be prepared for a full-scale clash with Russia, and for this - for a large-scale mobilization of the population and industry in the next 20 years.

Also in January, other foreign media and politicians made similar calls to prepare for a possible military conflict with Russia. In particular, on January 15, the German tabloid Bild, with reference to a secret document of the Bundeswehr, wrote that escalation between NATO and Russia could supposedly begin as early as February 2024. Later, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, in an interview with ZDF television, said that the country needs to be prepared to a possible conflict with Russia.

In addition, discussions about a possible interstate military clash were intensified by information about large-scale NATO exercises. The events will take place in Germany, Poland and the Baltic countries. 90,000 military personnel will take part in the exercises. At the same time, on January 23, the organizations Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO does not observe any threats from Russia against its allies, but the alliance is still strengthening its presence on the eastern flank.

The next day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the state had no need to attack other countries. At the same time, the Russian authorities previously made statements about the conditions under which nuclear weapons could be used.

Russias heavy losses in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine mean that Moscow now sees its battlefield nuclear weapons as increasingly important in deterring and defeating NATO, according to a new report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), which warned 24 January 2024 that the West must wake up to the rising nuclear threat.

The IISS report says fear of escalation with Russia has caused the West to hesitate in supplying arms to Kyiv. But nearly two years on, a declassified U.S. intelligence report last month estimated Russia has lost around 315,000 troops in Ukraine since the outset of the invasion, nearly 90% of its pre-war army  much of it at the hands of weapons donated by the West.

Russia has less confidence now in their conventional capabilities because of everything theyve lost in the Ukraine war, said William Alberque, the report author and Director of Strategy, Technology and Arms Control at IISS. That means Moscows shorter-range atomic weapons, known Non-Strategic Nuclear Weapons or NSNW  designed for use on the battlefield  are becoming increasingly important to the Kremlin, according to Alberque. Russia has basically short range and medium range, air-launched, ground-launched and sea-launched missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads throughout the theater and able to hold all of NATO at risk. NATO itself lacks sort of a countervailing capability to match the Russian capability.

Alberque said, They're constantly thinking about what sort of dosage of nuclear weapons would they need to make us acquiesce, to make us basically sue for peace, without escalating the conflict beyond their control, where we start actually hitting targets deep inside Russia? So, basically, how do they prevent us from striking Moscow? How do they keep the conflict at the theater level?

I think that they believe that smaller uses of nuclear weapons could be contained and could be advantageous for Russia. So, this is what we would consider nuclear warfighting to win the battle, to knock out the U.S., to prevent the U.S. from joining in the war by, for instance, preventing us from being able to reinforce from the continental United States, Alberque told VOA.

Russia believes NATO does not have the resolve to respond with its own nuclear weapons, according to the IISS report, which says it is vital for the West to re-calibrate its own deterrence. Do we have to introduce the same (NSNW) systems? Or do we take the Russian options off the table through better-integrated air and missile defenses? These are the things that we have to figure out. This is a new dilemma - or a dilemma, I should say, that we've ignored for such a long time, Alberque said.

The Telegraph newspaper reported, citing Pentagon documents, that the United States plans to deploy nuclear weapons on British soil for the first time in 15 years in response to the growing threat from Russia. The newspaper talked about the plan, which may involve the deployment of nuclear weapons at the Lakenheath military base in the British Suffolk air base.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned Washington against redeploying tactical nuclear weapons in Britain. Ryabkov told reporters: Regarding the issue of the supposed return of US tactical nuclear weapons to British territory, I would like to warn in the most specific and firm way against this destabilizing step. He added: "The security of the United Kingdom and not even the United States will not be enhanced by this step. There is no intimidating effect on us here."

Ryabkov added: This represents an increase in the general level of escalation and threat in Europe . We assume that despite the rather sad experience, from the point of view of ensuring European security, the hotheads in London and Washington have not learned any lessons from the experience of recent years, so this The scenario is completely plausible.

According to the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Moscow does not pretend to receive any explicit and direct signals from Washington or London in this regard. We have other options to monitor what is happening and draw our own conclusions. He concluded: "We warn NATO, led by the United States, against further escalation, which has become increasingly dangerous."





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Washington, DC, Feb. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Religious Freedom Requires Constant Protection,

Speakers Tell UPF, Washington Times Foundation Event

If a nation disrespects religious freedom, all other rights

surely will be limited, oppressed or violated

Constant and vigorous protection of religious freedom is essential to world peace and democracy, an array of human rights experts and religious freedom leaders told the audience at a recent event hosted by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) and The Washington Times Foundation.

The core value of being able to approach God without interference really underlies all freedom, said former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich during the Jan. 31 luncheon organized by UPF and the Times Foundation, which was part of the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit 2024. A government which can block you from approaching God can block you from anything, Mr. Gingrich said.

The two-day IRF Summit, held in Washington, DC and led by co-chairs Ambassador Sam Brownback and Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, shared testimonies and details about religious persecution from around the world, including Chinas attacks on Uyghur Muslims, Nigerian Muslim herdsmen killing Christians, Hindu and Muslim battles in India, and the recent massacre in Israel.

The UPF and Times Foundation luncheon further highlighted the unjust efforts of the Japanese government to dissolve  and confiscate assets from  the Family Federation of World Peace and Unification in Japan. (The dissolution case is currently before a judge in Tokyo District Court.)

The pretext for attacking the Family Federation in Japan was the July 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe; the shooter reportedly said he felt hate and a grudge toward the church because his mother, a member, made large donations to it some 20 years ago.

Religious freedom serves communities as well as individuals, said Prof. Cole Durham Jr., director of the Brigham Young University's International Center for Law and Religious Studies. So, if there is wrongful conduct by an individual believer (or a believers relative), that individual should be sanctioned, but the entire religious community should not be shut down or crippled, he said.

Several speakers said the true reason the Family Federation in Japan is being targeted is because it publicly opposes communism, and the political opposition wants it neutralized.

The Japanese Communist Party has alleged that the church is engaged in corruption and is a threat to society, former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a video shown at the luncheon. Nothing could be further from the truth. The church, founded by Reverend Moon, has long stood against communism and has always championed stronger ties between Japan, Korea, and the United States. If there is anything the Unification Church undermines, it is communism.

We should see the [Japanese Communist Partys] attack for what it is: an attempt to undermine and weaken the vital U.S.-Japan alliance, Mr. Pompeo added.

It is not OK to engage in collective punishment or use government and media power to marginalize a faith community and make it an easy picking for state abuse, Dr. Lantos Swett said in a panel discussion led by Washington Times Opinion Editor Charles Hurt.

Japan is at the crossroads, said Dr. Jan Figel, a renowned religious freedom advocate and member of the IRF Summit Global Leadership Council. Religious freedom is a litmus test of all human rights, he said, recalling how half his life was spent under the anti-religious communist regime in the former Czechoslovakia. If religious freedom is disrespected in a nation, then all other rights surely will be limited, oppressed or violated, he said.

Religious freedom means we are friends [of every faith], and as friends, governments can help other governments protect it, said Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook, former Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom at the US State Department.

Church lawyer Tatsu Nakayama said his research showed that the Japan Communist Party and its activist lawyers began their Family Federation Japan dissolution campaign in 1987 and are eager now to get it done. After Abes assassination, he said, the leftist lawyers aggressively worked to defame the Family Federation in Japans mass media. They especially promoted testimonies of church apostates (former members who are actively hostile to the former faith). This includes people who, with help from these same leftist lawyers, partnered with professional deprogrammers (faith breakers) who stimulated fear about the faith and convinced them to have their relatives kidnapped, illegally confined and harassed, coerced to recant their beliefs, and then forcedon pain of more confinementto sue the Family Federation in Japan for damages.

In order to dissolve a religious corporation [church], criminal law must be broken, said Mr. Nakayama, whose arguments have been reprinted at length in Bitter Winter, the magazine of Center for Studies on New Religions. However, in the present case of the Family Federation, since its foundation about 60 years ago, no criminal law has been brokenwhich means there is no legal reason to dissolve the Family Federation, Mr. Nakayama said in a video.

If the Family Federation is dissolved, it will not only lose its tax exemption, it will lose its places of worship, assets, everything. It will be a death sentence, Bitter Winter Editor in Chief Dr. Massimo Introvigne told the UPF and Times Foundation panel discussion.

Moreover, the Japanese laws passed to sequester the Family Federation will impact the freedom of all religions in Japan to collect donations and pass their faith to their children, he said, adding that the Jehovahs Witnesses are already under attack.

The UPF and Times Foundation program included personal testimonies on Japans oppression and abuse. Rev. Luke Higuchi, a US Family Federation member who was kidnapped by his family in Japan and sent to a mental hospital to break his faith, recalled the deprogrammers telling him, Unless you give up your faith, you will never be released. He eventually escaped and reconciled with his family, but his repentant father admitted he had paid a lot of cash to the deprogrammers to harm his son.

Moriko Hori, president of the Womens Federation for World Peace International (WFWPI), an NGO that has enjoyed general consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 1997, said their global projects have been impacted by the inexplicable attacks by Japanese government officials, left-wing lawyers and mass media.

For instance, years ago, the Japanese Embassy in Mozambique had recommended that WFWP and Mrs. Akiko Hozan, a school director and WFWP Japan volunteer, receive an award from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo. The foreign minister honored Mrs. Hozan and the WFWP with prestigious national recognition.

But in 2022, Mrs. Hozan received a call from the Japanese Embassy in Mozambique, informing her that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan had decided to revoke the Ministers Award she had received for her outstanding educational work there. This occurred after Member of Parliament Keiji Kokuta, from the Japanese Communist Party, accused the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of having given an award to an organization affiliated with the Unification Church during a parliamentary budget meeting, according to an interview with Mrs. Hori and Dr. Introvigne, editor of Bitter Winter.

Thus, due to the persecution by the Japanese government, the lawyers groups and the newspapers, our service project was crushed, Mrs. Hori told the luncheon.

Dr. Michael Jenkins, president of UPF International and The Washington Times Foundation, founded by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon and her late husband Reverend Sun Myung Moon, stated The protection and promotion of religious freedom is the critical responsibility of all who affirm God. UPF and The Washington Times Foundation are committed to protect, defend and advance religious liberty universally. As we join together at the IRF Summit 2024 which is the global leader in this arena, we will forge our collective commitment to fight religious persecution. Together we will roll back the tyranny of all God-denying ideologies and build a better world.

The UPF and Washington Times Foundation event was covered in a Jan. 31 Washington Times article, under the headline, Japans dispute with church a test of liberty everywhere.

Article link: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/jan/31/key-test-japans-clash-with-church-seen-as-pivotal-/

Media contact:

Larry Moffitt

Secretary General, North America

Universal Peace Federation

3600 New York Avenue, NE

Washington, DC 20002

mobile: 202-669-0387

SanViejo@gmail.com

lmoffit@us.upf.org
Leading chip manufacturers Samsung and TSMC are already drafting plans for their respective 2nm manufacturing. According to a recent report by the SCMP (South China Morning Post) and the Korean Times, Samsung is planning to start 2nm manufacturing in South Korea next year. The company is also investing a total of KRW 500 trillion ($371 billion) by 2047 into a mega-cluster semiconductor plant near Seoul, consisting of 13 chip plants and three research facilities where 2nm manufacturing will take place.

As for TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited), it plans to build 2nm chip fabrication plants and science parks in Hsinchu and Kaohsiung in Taiwan as well as another plant in Taichung, still waiting on government approval.

While neither company has outright abandoned its manufacturing projects in other countries, progress has been slow and plagued with issues. The US famously has the CHIPS and Science Act with $53 billion earmarked for subsidies. Apparently, payouts from said fund have been slow. Plus, both companies have been experiencing local talent shortages. Local unions have also stopped TSMC from importing specialists from Taiwan.

Still, TSMC has two chip plants under construction in Arizona, which are expected to start pumping out 4nm chips in 2024 and 3nm ones by 2026. Barring any further setbacks, of course. Samsung has been building its own $17 billion plant in Texas since 2021, but progress has been slow, and it is expected to handle only 4nm nodes.

Expansion has been slower or even non-progressing for other places like Europe, Japan, and India, which have also revealed plans for semiconductor manufacturing subsidies. So, even though some progress has been made and is underway, diversification of cutting-edge chip manufacturing is expectedly proving to be a very tough challenge.

Source | Via 1 | Via 2 | Via 3 | Via 4
The free storage upgrade for the Galaxy S24 series from last week is no longer available. Amazon and Best Buy are still offering their gift cards, but youre only getting half the storage. Also, the OnePlus 12 and 12R are still on pre-order, nothing has changed there. So, lets look at some tablets this week instead.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ is a relative newcomer. Its an entry-level slate, but it has an 11 IPS LCD, a 1,920 x 1,200px (16:10) panel running at 90Hz. It is powered by the Snapdragon 695, so there is a 5G option, but there is no discount on that one. As for the Wi-Fi only slate, you get a free storage upgrade to 128GB (it normally costs $50 more).

Note that the Tab A9+ has a microSD slot, so you can easily add more storage with cards like this one.

But hold on a second. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (the 2022 re-release) has been around for quite a while. It comes bundled with an S Pen for the 10.4 2,000 x 1,200px LCD (15:9, 60Hz) and supports DeX. This one also has a microSD slot and os powered by a Snapdragon chip. The batteries are effectively the same with 7,040mAh capacity and 15W charging. The Tab A9+ has more speakers, though, four vs. two.

If instead you are on the Apple side of the fence, the Apple iPad (2022) has been discounted too. This one is no spring chicken either, but it does have a USB-C port like current iPhones. It is powered by the Apple A14 and has a 10.9 60Hz IPS LCD.

You could also pick up a version with LTE connectivity, though that is a pricey upgrade, so make sure you really need it (you can always tether the tablet to your phone). Note that the 2022 iPad comes with two free years of AppleCare+.

But if $250 is what you have to spend and you dont like the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, theres always the 2021 Apple iPad. This one has the now-outdated Lightning connector and an older Apple A13 chip. Both this one and the 2022 slate support the original Apple Pencil.

The price of the older Sony WH-1000XM4 varies quite a bit  weve seen it as low as $230. However, right now it is $280 and you may as way pay up a bit and get the newer WH-1000XM5. $330 is about as low as they have ever been.

Finally, some tracking tags. For the Galaxy users among you, the SmartTag2 is your entry into the fast-growing SmartThings Find network. These work with Bluetooth and (if your device supports it) UWB.

For Apple users, the AirTag is the one to get. This one also has Bluetooth and UWB, but Apple has UWB support on more of its devices  iPhone 11 and newer (excluding the SE models) and even the Apple Watches Series 6 and newer. As for Samsung, UWB is available on Galaxy S+ and S Ultra and the Z Fold units, the small S and Z phones are left out.

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The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC recently surfaced with an AnTuTu score of over 3 million. It will likely go official in September or October this year, but before that, Qualcomm could announce a new Snapdragon 8 Gen series SoC, tipped to have model designation SM8635.

The word comes from reliable tipster Digital Chat Station, who said the SM8635 is manufactured on TSMC's 4nm node and includes one Cortex-X4 core clocked at 2.9GHz, with the graphically intensive tasks handled by the Adreno 735 GPU. DCS also claimed that the SM8635 has an AnTuTu score of around 1.7 million.

It's unclear what will be the marketing name of the SM8635 and when it will go official, but it will likely be positioned between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and Gen 3 and could be called the Snapdragon 8s Gen 2 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Lite.

Roland Quandt claims there's another Qualcomm chip identical to the SM8635, having model code SM7675, suggesting it's a Snapdragon 7 Gen series SoC. We'll hopefully have more clarity about the positioning of these two chips when more details about them surface.

Via
Theres no decision yet on whether Amot Tao Tao Tano farm operator and traditional healer Bernice Tudela Nelson can continue to operate her farm on CHamoru Land Trust property.

The 75-year-old healer, or suruhana, appeared before the CHamoru Land Trust Commission last week to inquire about the fate of her farm, but commissioners were not able to render any final opinion on the matter.

Commissioners recommended the suruhana continue seeking documents supporting her eligibility to operate on Land Trust property.

Nelsons eligibility to operate the farm was called into question after her farm and home were damaged by Typhoon Mawar and she applied for a loan guarantee from CLTC to get both repaired.

Land agents were unable to find documentation showing that the suruhana, who was born on Saipan but has family roots on Guam, was eligible to stay on the property.

She has grown medicinal herbs and plants at the farm since 2010, but her family has farmed and occupied the land in Dededo since 1975, the PDN reported.

On Wednesday, Nelson told commissioners that she has tours and educational events coming up at the farm in the next few months, and also wants to fix up her house, which has to be regularly cleaned because it is growing mold.

I want to make sure whether Ill still have the farm or not. If not, then Im wasting my time, she said.

She also told commissioners that while she was born on Saipan, she came to Guam as a baby in 1948 and was here for three or four years before going back to the northern island.

The old CHamoru Land Trust rules, which Nelson got here lease under, allow eligibility for native Chamorros who became U.S. citizens by nature of the Organic Act of Guams passage on Aug. 1, 1950.

But acting CLTC Administrative Director John Burch said that because Nelson did not get citizenship until later, it may present an issue for her eligibility.

Mrs. Nelson said she was naturalized in 1975. So apparently, she was not included in the transaction of the Organic Act, Burch said.

Commission staff recommended that she work with staff to find census records substantiating the presence of her grandfather, Joaquin Sablan Tudela, who was born on Guam in 1895 but later lived and died on Saipan, and had lived on Guam through the old U.S. naval administration.

Documentation proving that the Tudela family had land taken from them by the U.S. government, which Nelson asserts did happen, could also support her case, according to commissioners.

Under CLTCs new rules, any person can get a lease if their land was acquired by the federal government between 1898 and 1968 or if they occupied, used or farmed land that was acquired by the federal government between 1898 and 1968.

We need the documentation to match with what were saying  but you can remain at where youre at now. (Until) we finish our final research, acting CLTC chairman David Herrera told Nelson.

The issue is expected to be picked up at the next commission meeting scheduled for Feb. 15.

It was possible that a solution may have to come from the Legislature, Burch noted.

Nobody wants to see Amot farms go down. But there is the law. And I know were trying to figure a way around it, Burch said. But if not, it might take legislation.
After reading a Pacific Daily News story that shared a parents concern that her kids were sitting on the floor of a crowded bus, Department of Public Works Deputy Director Linda Ibanez said that no reports or complaints were conveyed to DPW, nor to Simon Sanchez High School.

DPW coordinates daily with school leadership to ensure every student is provided a seat. In the event of overcrowding, another bus is called, she said.

Sen. Telo Taitague on Thursday shared complaints from parents, made at a community meeting held Jan. 30 in Yigo.

Education superintendent Kenneth Swanson had not found out yet why a bus was overcrowded. He mentioned that there is a current shortage of bus drivers, but also, a scheduling problem could be to blame.

DPW handles school bus operations for Guams public school students.

A mother shared her childrens experience riding the school bus during a Tuesday night community meeting hosted by education committee chair Sen. Chris Barnett in Yigo.

My kids on the school bus, the ones that ride the school bus to come home, theyre sitting at the edge of the chair. Its a problem. The buses are overcrowded, Maria Martinez, a parent of students at Simon Sanchez High School, said at the Yigo community meeting. (Were) telling the bus drivers that this is not right. (My daughter was) told to sit on the floor of the bus. This is a problem.

An ongoing double session allows students from Simon Sanchez High to attend class in person at John F. Kennedy High School in Tamuning while their Yigo campus is being rebuilt. But the Yigo campus rebuilding would take time.

Public Works Director Vince Arriola in January told senators that some public school students dont get dropped off until 7 p.m. after each school day and DPW incurs $40,000 in additional overtime costs for bus drivers  a result of bus driver shortage made worse by double sessions at the Guam Department of Education.

Besides JFK and Simon Sanchez high schools, Okkodo High School and F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School are in a double session. Double sessions essentially put two schools in one campus.
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The A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authoritys facilities have been designated a support location on Guam for Cope North 2024 U.S. military exercises, which begin Monday.

The exercises will consist of numerous military aircraft and personnel from the U.S. Air Force and other allied forces operating over Guam and throughout the region from Feb. 5 to 23.

GIAAs runways and taxiways are a vital piece of infrastructure supporting not only commercial aviation, but a critical alternate or divert location for Andersen Airfield, GIAA Executive Manager John M. Quinata said. GIAA is proud to support regional military exercises as a support location.

The community may anticipate increased military air activity and associated noise on or around the Guam International Airport facilities over the next two weeks.

No commercial operations are expected to be impacted.

We thank our Guam residents for their patience and understanding as the Airport does its part in support of these joint military training exercises, Quinata said.

Cope North is the U.S. Pacific Air Forces largest annual multilateral exercise.

Approximately 1,700 U.S. airmen, Marines, and sailors will train alongside 700 Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Royal Australian Air Force, French Air and Space Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and Republic of Korea Air Force service members in Cope North 2024, according to an earlier news release from Andersen Air Force Base.

About 85 aircraft from the United States, Australia, Japan, France, and South Korea will fly 1,400 missions across three islands and six airfields.

Cope North is a multinational, U.S. Pacific Air Forces-sponsored, field training exercise focused on airborne integration for large-force employment and agile combat employment.
The tech has been around for decades and now Guam patients can seek the benefits of transcranial magnetic stimulation, also known as TMS.

The only two TMS machines on island are both located at the Todu Guam Foundation clinic in Tamuning. Todu Guam is a non-profit organization with a mission to serve the underserved and uninsured at no cost.

As the name suggests, the machine uses magnetic waves to stimulate certain parts of the brain. It is similar to an MRI machine in that it uses a magnetic field to do its work, but the TMS uses far less energy than an MRI.

The TMS machine is currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat four conditions in the U.S.: Anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and also for smoking cessation.

Treatment for each varies but for insurance purposes such as Medicaid, a patient must first show that traditional treatment  usually a prescription drug regimen  did not work.

The patient is then assessed by a physician to see if theyre eligible. Then a patient will wear a helmet based on the target location of the brain. Once thats set up, the doctor will attempt to induce the activity to be treated with a trigger.

For smokers, that could be the sound of a lighter, or the thought of having finished a meal. Once the patient is in the best state to be treated, the technician will establish a baseline and adjust accordingly.

The session lasts about 20 minutes and then is repeated. For depression treatment as an example, a patient will return for five treatments per week in the first four weeks followed by a continuation phase of 2 treatments per week for 12 weeks.

During treatment, most patients will not feel anything, but they will hear the regular taps created by the machine as it sends magnetic waves to a target.

Patients who wear head or ear implants are not allowed to use the machine. And during a treatment, a patient can do just about anything  walk, read or converse  while the treatment continues in the background. Anything, that is, except sleep.

The treatment is considered non-invasive and non-chemical, and patients typically can return to whatever they were doing before their appointment. Todu Guam Executive Director Dennis Rodriguez, Jr. said patients are divided into cohorts and as each one finishes a treatment, the next patient slips right in to start their program.

And while the FDA approval is for the four conditions, the machine is used to treat 13 conditions in Europe. Already there is documentation of its success in treating drug and alcohol addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, ADD and ADHD, and trauma.

Priceless

One machine can serve 16 patients at any one time, he said. They recently doubled their capacity by purchasing another BrainsWay TMS machine. Rodriguez acknowledges a hefty price tag of more than $200,000 per machine, plus the cost of the doctors and technicians to operate it but says Todu Guam will do everything it can to put the treatment into the hands of the people that need it the most  even if they cant afford to pay.

Rodriguez shared a story about a patient who was so depressed, he refused to engage anyone. Following treatment, that same patient greeted everyone he met at the clinic.

Weve had a stroke patient who was severely depressed because of his being paralyzed, right? And then being able to move certain parts of his body ... thats priceless, he said.

And the improved physical health that often accompanies the success in treating mental health goes further than the patient.

If you look at the family, the caretakers and what sacrifices they have to go through ... and thats why were trying to get this to as many people who need it, so they can not only improve their lives, but the lives of those around them.
Sprigs re-growing from Guams last mature specimen of the critically endangered Serianthes nelsonii tree, or hayun lagu, have died.

There is no conclusive evidence that the whole tree is dead yet, but the death of sprigs is a sign that a tree is not rejuvenating, according to Lauren Gutierrez, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Marianas supervisory conservation specialist for Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz.

The health of the mother tree was already in decline before Camp Blaz, where the tree is located, reported serious damage from Typhoon Mawar last May.

Mawar snapped boughs and left only the leafless trunk of the tree standing.

Mature since the 1960s, the old tree would have weathered Typhoon Karen in 1962, Typhoon Pamela in 1976, and Typhoon Pongsona in 2002.

But conservationists since at least 2017 have been concerned that the tree could be killed by another big storm, the Pacific Daily News reported.

For over 10 years now, the tree has suffered from heart rot, a fungal disease that causes decay of the trunk and branches, Gutierrez told the PDN.

Maintenance and monitoring of the trees health will continue throughout the year, she stated, along with the 98 seedlings growing underneath the mature specimen.

Efforts to try and preserve the genetic line of the tree continue, according to the conservationist.

Some 127 seedlings have been taken from under the tree and are growing at the University of Guams Guam Plant Extinction Prevention Program nursery.

Cuttings of the mature tree were collected; however, they did not root, Gutierrez said.

Some saplings at a UOG nursery have also begun to flower, but so far, they have not produced any seeds, she added.

Should the tree die, the propagation of stored seeds, germination of seeds, and the out planting of saplings will continue under the Joint Region Marianas Natural Resource, according to Gutierrez.

Some 121 saplings have been planted at Camp Blaz, eight at Andersen Air Force Base, and another 50 are expected to be out planted using JRM funding this year.

There are not yet any considerations of cross-pollinating the Guam population with trees from Rota, Gutierrez said.

Cross pollination requires flowers from a Guam tree, she added.

Serianthes nelsonii is the tallest tree species native to the limestone forests of the Mariana Islands.

Fewer than 120 mature trees are in Rota, but the mother tree is Guams last mature specimen, located in a conservation area inside the Multipurpose Machine Gun Range at Camp Blaz.
Dave Lotz is a vocal advocate for protecting Guams unique heritage, a knowledgeable and long-time hiking enthusiast and environmental advocate, and critic of inept government. He has been a resident of Guam since 1970 and retired from the Guam Department of Parks and Recreation, Andersen Air Force Base Environmental Flight and the National Park Service.
Visible mold is shown in various areas of the hospital in these photos taken from an Industrial Hygiene Professionals inspection report.




Haiti - European Union : Contribution of 3 million Euros for the PNH





Thursday February 1st, 2024, Stefano Gatto, the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) in Haiti, signed a contribution agreement of 3 million Euros with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Office of United Nations Against Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to the Joint Support Program for the Haitian National Police (PNH) to support, among other things, the fight against the proliferation of weapons and ammunition in Haiti across border points.



This contribution of 3 million euros responds to the need to strengthen security in the country, in particular by combating arms and ammunition trafficking and improving border controls. This funding will make it possible to intervene specifically at nine essential border points: two airports (Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitien), three ports (APN, Lafiteau and Cap-Haitien), and four border posts (Ouanaminthe, Belladere, Malpasse and Anse -a-Pitre). To do this, mixed teams made up of customs officers and police officers equipped with control equipment will be trained and set up at each of the nine border crossings.



Funding from the European Union will allow the PNH to recruit more women within the police institution, by investing in infrastructure to improve working conditions at the PNH. It will also make it possible to improve police investigations against sexual violence, by strengthening the capacities of the units fighting sexual crimes (ULCS).



The implementation of the Program is already underway and some training has already taken place to strengthen the control teams of the National Port Authority (APN), Lafiteau and Ouanaminthe, responding to the Government's priorities. Over the coming months, control institutions will be equipped with important equipment, such as X-ray scanners, to allow in-depth inspections of containers entering the country.



In his intervention, Ambassador Stefano Gatto launched an appeal calling on all those responsible within the PNH, every police officer, politicians and the government to value service to the State and "to work together for a peaceful future, democratic and prosperous in Haiti. The EU is ready to support you in this work !"



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Haiti - UN : UNICEF and UNESCO alongside the Government to improve the resilience of the educational sector





In recent months, some schools, notably in the Artibonite department and in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, have closed for fear of being trapped by the violence of armed groups. Numerous temporary closures of establishments were also noted due to movements associated with certain demonstrations. Other establishments are closed to sometimes serve as temporary shelters for displaced families. The number of displaced people reached approximately 314,000 in January 2024.



The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is supporting the Government to improve the resilience of the education sector in the face of these repetitive shocks. In 2023, safe spaces for children were put in place in schools to ensure the continuity of learning, in particular through the rehabilitation of 276 classrooms, the distribution of educational materials, and awareness-raising about security at school and the supply of textbooks. The UN Organization supports the Government of Haiti in finalizing the Code of Conduct for harmonious cohabitation in Haitian schools as well as the training of 120 journalists, teachers and U-reporters on the same code of conduct.



To improve quality, nearly 72,000 school kits were distributed in Gonaives, the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area and the Great South, ensuring that children in these regions have the necessary supplies to start school. UNICEF also supported the distribution of nearly 24,000 unique books in Creole in five departments (North, North-West, North-East, Center and Artibonite). 450 teachers also received psychosocial support and acquired knowledge enabling them to deal with students in trauma situations.



Through the Ministry of National Education, UNICEF supported 2,400 teachers in the departments of South, Nippes and Artibonite, as well as displaced and vulnerable families, through a national cash transfer program , in order to promote access to education. Along the same lines, nearly 4,500 children were also supported in the South and Artlbonite.



The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) continues to provide support to the Haitian State via the Ministry of National Education in the seismic and anticyclonic reconstruction of around a hundred of schools in Grand-Anse, South, North and Artibonite, as part of the implementation of the "project adaptation to climate change and reduction of disaster risks in school infrastructures".



UNESCO also continues its support for the ongoing curriculum reform, which occupies a central place in the transformation of education and in the preparation of tomorrow's citizens. Efforts are also being made by the UN Organization to strengthen capacities in the mobilization and analysis of data and information on the education system.



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TWO women from the Henley area are taking on a series of extreme physical challenges to raise money for a friend with terminal cancer.

Renae Busse, 30, and Jade Small, 32, are attempting three endurance events to help support their friend Muiris Shanahan, who discovered he had stage 4 lung cancer in December 2022.

They hope to raise 10,000 for 39-year-old Mr Shanahan, who lives in Ireland with his wife Nessa and their three-year-old son Luke.

The women began their challenges on January 6 when they completed the Fan Dance Winter Series, a 24km march over Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in the Brecon Beacons.

They are now working towards a three peaks challenge and a 100km coastal walk.

Ms Busse is a personal trainer at Henley Practice and lives in Whitchurch while Ms Small is a Waitrose delivery driver who lives in Fawley.

Ms Busse met Mr and Mrs Shanahan while living in her native Australia.

She said: Nessa is a very good friend whom I have known for more than 10 years. They returned to Ireland after nine years in Australia, where they met.

Muiris had a cough for a period of time and when he finally got it looked at, he found out he had stage 4 cancer.

They found a tumour pressing on his pulmonary vein and it was inoperable, so he has to live with it. He is undergoing various treatments  hes had rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy  but they are just managing it.

He has a little boy and when they returned home to Ireland, they wanted to grow their family further but after a year of being home, he was diagnosed.

He had already made it a year longer than predicted.

The Shanahans decided to get married without a formal ceremony or celebration following the diagnosis.

Ms Busse described Mr Shanahan as a kind, wholesome and gentle man who loves deep sea diving and photography.

She said: You dont really know what to do as a friend other than be there to lend an ear.

He is unable to work so I thought if we could help financially, whats a bit of struggle? Jade and I are very close  she is sort of like my sister, really  and has met Nessa a few times and they became friends. I said to her: How do you feel about doing it? and she said: Lets do it.

The Fan Dance march is the worlds oldest Special Forces test and used as the first indicator of whether a candidate has the physical and mental aptitude to complete the selection course.

Ms Busse said: Someone was looking out for us because we got lucky  it was meant to be minus 8C and snowing but we got blue sky with some clouds. The conditions were as good as we could have hoped for.

Coming up Jacobs Ladder was pretty rough. It is the part of the mountain where you still have got a way to go and you just want to pack it all in but having Muiris and Nessa at the forefront of my mind kept me going  its surprising what you can do. We started in the morning and you have a cut-off of seven hours. I did it in four hours and 24 minutes and Jade came in just after me because she had helped a guy having a hard time and walked with him for support, so we got split up.

The views were incredible. You had to just take a moment, remember where you were and what you were doing.

In April the pair will tackle the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge which involves climbing three mountains in 12 hours.

In May, they will walk continuously for 24 hours along the Jurassic Coast in Devon.

Ms Busse said: Were training in cycles and doing lots of strength work. Even though we are not running the 100km, we are getting our runs in, doing hiking and walking.

The Jurassic Coast is up and down, so we are doing plenty of hill running. We might have to pull a few all-nighters to get used to it.

She has already raised 2,605 via her GoFundMe page.

Ms Busse said: I originally thought that if I get 1,000 that would be amazing so I am blown away by the fact that we have managed to raise as much as we have already. We are very grateful.

10,000 is the big target  if we could reach that, it would be amazing, but anything is appreciated.

I didnt tell Nessa and Muiris until we had hit 2,000 and they were blown away. They got quite emotional and are extremely grateful for us putting ourselves through these things to help them. They were lost for words.

To make a donation, visit https://gofund.me/dd4e99d4
Rohingya Muslims are illegally entering India from Bangladesh, taking Aadhaar cards and the identities of deceased persons to live here. Bangladeshi infiltrators are using the IDs of persons who have died in various parts of India to fake their identities.

In a recent investigation, probe agencies including the National Investigation Agency (NIA) found evidence against a human trafficking group that infiltrates and settles Rohingya Muslims in India.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed two charge sheets on Wednesday (31st January), identifying three Bangladeshi nationals in a case involving the trafficking of Rohingya and Bangladeshi people into India as part of an extensive network of traffickers.

The persons accused in the charge sheets are Mohammad Soriful aka Babu Mian., Shahabuddin Hossain, and Munna alias Noor Karim. The NIA said that the accused in the Tamil Nadu Human Trafficking case were actively involved in forging Indian documents to cover up their real identity. Notably, the investigation in this case has been ongoing since 7th November last year.

During the investigation, it was found that Babu, in collusion with other accused, allegedly used to traffic and receive trafficked Bangladeshi citizens. He had knowingly facilitated their unlawful stay in India without proper documentation. Reports say that the accused was also found to have employed and exploited the victims.

Babu S.K. was accused of forging his birth certificate and drivers licence, as well as illegally obtaining numerous other Indian identity documents such as ration cards, Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, PAN cards, fake degrees, marksheets and passports. The accused trio was fabricating these documents for Rohingya Muslims who had been illegally brought into India.

According to a Dainik Bhaskar report, during the interrogation by the probe agencies, these three accused revealed that they used the documents of deceased Indian citizens to provide Rohingya Muslims with Indian identities. The NIA has received information about numerous such people from the accused. The full dataset is being investigated, and such infiltrators are being identified.

Meanwhile, the NIA has received information about Rohingya infiltrators in many states, including Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Assam, West Bengal, and Maharashtra.

Aadhaar card has been made mandatory for obtaining birth and death certificates since October 2023. The information will be forwarded to UADAI as soon as the deceaseds Aadhaar card is submitted for the death certificate. The deceaseds name will be removed from everywhere after his Aadhaar is deactivated.

The Bhaskar report says that Babu Mian and Munna used to provide identity-related documents to Bangladeshi infiltrators, as well as educational documents such as mark sheets, degrees, and other certificates, allowing Rohingyas to settle anywhere in India. However, they used to say that the documents should not be used for jobs.

Accused Shahabuddin Hossain worked in collusion with some government officials to collect the data of deceased persons. Babu Mian and Munna used these Aadhaar numbers and other information to update the records of infiltrators of similar age to themselves. Once the data was updated, they would alter the address. Following that, ration cards, PAN cards, and other documents were produced using the same Aadhar card.

Notably, the influx of illegal immigrants into India via Bangladesh has been ongoing at an alarming scale. Recently, it was reported that Bangladeshi nationals enter India by paying just Rs 15,000 and then use bogus documents to change their identities before settling and doing business here. In one such case in Rajasthans Ajmer, the police apprehended a Bangladeshi brother and sister. The duo had entered India illegally by paying Rs 15,000 to an agent.

On 30th January, three Rohingya men were sentenced to ten years of rigorous imprisonment for trafficking two Rohingya women from Bangladesh to Nuh, Haryana in 2021, and raping them. The three convicts have been identified as Mohammad Ayas, Hafeez Ahmed, and Mohammad Yunus. According to Nuh police, two women in their early 20s illegally sneaked into India from Bangladesh by giving Rs 25,000 to a person.

Source: OpIndia
On January 28, three personnel of the United States Army were killed in Jordan at Tower 22  a US logistics outpost near Jordans borders with Iraq and Syria used to support the larger al-Tanf garrison in Syria and advise the Jordanian military. The United States attributes the drone strike to one of a number of Iran-backed militias in Iraq, particularly the Kataib Hezbollah. In his immediate reaction to the attack which caused the worst loss of US military life in the region in three years , President Joe Biden vowed retaliation and re-asserted Irans liability for supporting these groups, even as he expressed his desire to avoid a wider war.

Iran distanced itself from these attacks but reiterated its criticism of Israels war in Gaza and its general support for acts of resistance groups. The Kataib Hezbollah (KH) itself announced on February 1 that it will suspend all attacks on US forces in the region. Asserting that US installations were subjected to further attacks despite the KHs announcement, Washington responded on February 2 and 3 with a wave of air-strikes against targets in Iraq and Syria.

This exchange of attacks between the United States and Iran-backed militias in Iraq, however, exposes new fault-lines for Washington in the Middle East.

In 2014, as the Islamic State ran over Iraq territory, closing in on Baghdad and the Shia holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, a call for popular armed mobilisation by Ayatollah Sistani, Iraqs powerful senior-most Shia theologian, led to the formation of several armed groups under the umbrella of the Hashd al Shaabi (or Popular Mobilization Forces; PMF).

Economically, politically, and militarily backed by Iran (through its Qassem Soleimani-led Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or IRGC), these militias spear-headed the anti-IS fight on the ground in Iraq. In effect, despite the larger political conflict between the United States and Iran, anti-IS operations by the Hashd were effectively supported by the United States Operation Inherent Resolve (the Washington-led coalition to fight IS).

Post IS capitulation in 2019 however, Iraq (with a weakened army), was faced with a troubling issue: these groups refusing to disarm or demobilise. With Iranian backing, the most powerful of these groups, such as Kataib Hezbollah, eventually acquired an out-sized role in Iraqi politics, extending and withdrawing support to key political blocs to preserve their interests through legislation within the Iraqi government.

With the PMF itself having been granted legal cover in 2016, the new post-IS common feature of all these groups was the opposition to the remainder of US forces in Iraq. Whenever the crisis between Iran and the United States flared up, these groups (with varying degrees of command or control from Irans IRGC-QF) have mounted drone strikes and rocket attacks at US bases in Iraq  about 150 attacks in Iraq (and Syria) during Joe Bidens Presidency.

As Israels war in Gaza deepened, at least four of these groups  Kataib Hezbollah, Asaib ahl al Haq, Kataib Sayyid-ul Shuhada and Harkat Hezbollah al-Nujaba  reconvened under the larger umbrella title of the Islamic Resistance of Iraq (IRI). Using the same logic as the Houthis to increase the costs of supporting Israel, the IRI has mounted over 150 attacks on US forces in Iraq since October 2023. Tower 22 was its latest.

While Washington maintains about 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria, the US presence in Jordan is part of an older Status of Forces Agreement, with US troops aiding Jordan in better border defence as the threat from the IS grew.

There are two new risks posed to the US regional standing in the Middle East.

One, there has always been simmering resentment within the Jordanian population for the government allowing US troops on its soil (freshly evident after a new defence cooperation agreement in 2021). Jordan itself has been vociferously critical of Israels war in Gaza, and has supported South Africas case at the International Court of Justice.

Naturally, continuing US support to Israel is already a sour fact for Amman to reconcile with. The death of US forces on the Jordanian side of the Jordan-Iraq border brings the spillover effects of the Gaza war directly to Jordan as much as to the United States. Even as Jordanian political figures began fresh protests against US military presence, Amman has not officially indicated any desire for the US to leave; calling rather for US Patriot Missile batteries to be stationed for better Jordanian defence. Hence, while the larger US-Jordan bilateral relationship is largely secure, the strains caused due to the Gaza war have increased.

Two, the US-Iraq relationship is arguably facing its greatest test in contemporary times. In the last five years, the Iraqi government has been forced to constantly navigate the interests of Hashd-backed political blocs, its historic theological, cultural, and economic relationship with Iran, as well its security relationship with the United States (with its own economic perks). Naturally, its ties with both Tehran and Washington have been strained, depending on which capital tests Baghdads red-lines more at any given point. At present, Washingtons preferred approach of increasing strikes on Iraqi territory to directly deal with the Hashd/IRI and its complaints with Baghdad for not reining in the Hashd enough, has tilted the needle of strain more towards the Iraq-US relationship than Iraq-Iran.

Two days before the Tower 22 attack, Iraq announced that it considered earlier air-strikes on January 25 by the United States against Hashd targets in Iraq (itself as a response to earlier attacks on US personnel), as acts of aggression. With Washingtons new air-strikes on February 3, the Iraqi government condemned the new aggression against its sovereignty, and warned that it would put security in the region on the brink of abyss.

With Arab states continuing reluctance to join US-led efforts against the Houthis in the Red Sea, the destabilization of the US-Iraq relationship is the latest strategic butterfly effect of the war in Gaza.

Bashir Ali Abbas is a research associate at the Council for Strategic and Defense Research, New Delhi, and a South Asia Visiting Fellow at the Stimson Center, Washington DC. The views expressed are personal
The USD 1.2-billion facility will start operations of the first phase by March-end and full-scale 1 million tonnes capacity by FY29 (March 2029), two sources with knowledge of the matter said. HT Image

India joins China and other nations that are rapidly expanding production of copper, a metal crucial for transition away from fossil fuels. Technologies critical to the energy transition like electric vehicles (EVs), charging infrastructure, solar photovoltaics (PV), wind and batteries, all require copper.

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Kutch Copper Ltd (KCL), a subsidiary of the group's flagship Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL), is setting up a greenfield copper refinery project for the production of refined copper with 1 million tonnes per annum capacity in two phases.

For Phase-1, capacity of 0.5 million tonnes per annum, KCL achieved financial closure through a syndicated club loan in June 2022.

"Adani wants to become a global leader in the copper business, leveraging the Adani Group's strong position in resource trading, logistics, renewable power, and infrastructure," one of the sources said. "Their aim is to be the world's largest copper smelting complex by 2030."

He said India's per capita copper consumption is estimated around 0.6 kg compared to the global average of 3.2 kg.

"India's drive towards clean energy systems, increasing penetration of electric vehicles and a host of associated applications are expected to double the domestic copper demand by 2030."

"The Adani Group is investing heavily in energy transition, in which copper will play a vital role. It is expanding into adjacent areas of its current capabilities, which makes the copper business a strategic fit," he said.

Copper is the third most used industrial metal after steel and aluminium, and its demand is rising on the back of fast-growing renewable energy, telecom and electric vehicle industries.

India's copper production has been unable to meet this demand, and domestic supply disruptions have led to a higher dependency on imported copper.

India's imports have been consistently on the rise for the past five years.

For FY23 (April 2022 to March 2023 fiscal), India imported a record 1,81,000 tonnes of copper, while exports plummeted to a record low of 30,000 tonnes, even lower than the Covid pandemic period, according to the data from the government.

The country is estimated to have consumed 7,50,000 tonnes of copper in FY23 (612 KT in FY22). The number is expected to rise to 1.7 million tonnes by 2027 on the back of huge demand from the green energy industry.

Global demand for copper from solar photovoltaic (PV) installations alone is estimated to double to 2.25 million tonnes in the current decade.

Adani group, which is rapidly growing its renewable portfolio, will be a significant consumer of the red metal.

Sources said Adani Group's foray into copper manufacturing is a natural extension of its trading, mining, logistics, infrastructure, and manufacturing businesses. "We have a strong international presence to import copper concentrate as India does not produce enough."

West coast, they said, provides Adani with an additional competitive advantage to cater seamlessly to domestic as well as international markets.

Kutch Copper will produce copper cathodes and rods as well as valuable byproducts such as gold, silver, selenium and platinum, they said.

Additionally, the integrated complex will produce sulphuric acid, which is a key raw material for manufacturing phosphatic fertilizers, detergents, pharmaceuticals, speciality chemicals, paper and sugar bleaching, and water treatment. India imports roughly two million tonnes of sulphuric acid.

The plant will produce 500,000 tonnes of refined copper per annum in Phase I with byproducts -- nearly 25 tonnes of gold, 250 tonnes of silver, 1.5 million tonnes of sulphuric acid, and 250,000 tonnes of phosphoric acid. The Phase II expansion will increase the refined copper capacity up to 1 million tonnes per annum, sources said.

"The copper complex construction (Phase I) is in the advanced stages, and the plant is expected to be operational in 2024," the second source said.

Adani's copper plant comes at a time when Vedanta Ltd is seeking to reopen a long-shuttered 400,000 tonnes plant at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu. The country's biggest copper smelter is currently operated by Hindalco Industries Ltd, which also has a capacity of 0.5 million tonnes.

"Its waste-to-value strategy envisages tapping into adjacencies and creating markets for copper slag in road construction, cement, and other applications," the second source said.

On impact of the plant on global prices of copper concentrate, sources said more copper concentrate assets would get operational in the future as a result of India's new exploration and auction policy. Also, upcoming mining projects across the globe are likely to boost the supply of copper concentrate in the medium term, leading to a demand-supply balance.

"Kutch Copper will be one of the most efficient copper smelters in India, with lower greenhouse gas emissions. Adani is striving to increase the share of renewables in the overall energy mix in our quest to be a proponent of 'green copper'," a source said.

On the operational front, the company is engaged in long-term supply agreements for the key raw material -- copper concentrate. This, along with strategic location and integrated value chain advantage, will help Kutch Copper to be one of the most sustainable and lowest-cost copper producers in the world.

Keeping in mind the group's ESG priorities, the plant's sustainable solution-based project design will have zero liquid discharge. It will explore using green power and deploying byproducts for cement and other businesses.

Globally, copper production is more concentrated than oil. The two top producers -- Chile and Peru -- account for 38 per cent of world production.

Demand growth during the energy transition -- moving away from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy -- is projected to be pronounced in the US, China and Europe, besides India. By 2035, the US is projected to import up to two-thirds of its copper needs.
(Bloomberg) -- New laws designed to stop Australian bosses from contacting their workers after hours aim to limit the amount of unpaid overtime for staff, Employment Minister Tony Burke said Sunday, adding the government was consulting business groups over the proposed change. HT Image

Burke said the planned legislation, known as the right to disconnect, is scheduled to be debated in parliament this week as part of a package in a broader overhaul of industrial relations changes. Similar rules preventing employers from contacting staff after hours are in place in countries including France and Spain. Businesses worldwide are grappling with the rise in flexible work in wake of the Covid pandemic.

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There are some workplaces where effectively people are working a whole lot of hours unpaid because theyre expected to be permanently on call, Burke told Sky News Australia, while conceding there were challenges to work through. The minister said he was still negotiating cross-bench support.

The Greens had pushed for the right to disconnect amendment as part of negotiations over proposed industrial relations changes. It was also recommended by a Senate committee.

What the Return to Office Looks Like Globally - Bloomberg

We are also very much aware there are reasonable grounds for an employer to want to contact their workers outside of hours, Burke said. We have to make sure thats protected as well. Protections included calling someone when a shift hasnt been filled, or sending emails after hours that did not require an immediate response. You want to make sure youre not suddenly putting a pressure on business thinking, oh, am I going to be fined?

The Business Council previously described the right to disconnect as a surprise change to the governments broader suite of industrial relations reforms.

The Australian Industry Group, which represents employers, said the amendment had come out of nowhere. This cant all be settled within a potentially sort of five days until this legislation is possibly passed, Chief Executive Innes Willox told local broadcaster ABC. Thats just a ridiculous time frame, its going to take time to work it out.

He said if someone was not paid for work out of hours, thats a problem and that shouldnt happen but there must be balance. Does an employee just have a right when the fire alarms going off at work and theyve got the code to not answer the phone?

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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Concerns about money laundering and questionable transactions involving hundreds of crores of rupees between the well-known wallet Paytm and its less-known banking arm prompted the Reserve Bank of India to take action against the entities led by tech entrepreneur Vijay Shekhar Sharma, news agency PTI reported citing sources. Paytm founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma during an event in Mumbai, (PTI)

PTI reported that Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) had numerous non-KYC (Know Your Customer) compliant accounts, with thousands of cases where single PANs were used to open multiple accounts.

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There were occurrences where the cumulative value of transactions reached several crores of rupees, well exceeding the regulatory thresholds for minimum KYC pre-paid instruments, leading to concerns about money laundering, the sources told the news agency.

The RBI has instructed PPBL to suspend various operations, including accepting additional deposits, conducting credit transactions, and performing top-ups on customer accounts, prepaid instruments, wallets, and cards for toll payments after February 29.

This directive implies that customers will retain access to their existing deposits and can use the money stored in their wallets until February 29.

However, if the RBI does not reconsider, top-ups for the Paytm wallet will cease, and transactions through it will no longer be possible. In a significant move against PPBL, the RBI recently mandated the bank to halt the acceptance of deposits or top-ups in various instruments after February 29.

Paytm Payments Bank possesses approximately 35 crore e-wallets. Out of these, around 31 crores are inactive, with only about 4 crores being operational, either with no balance or a minimal balance, an analyst told PTI.

A significantly elevated number of dormant accounts are susceptible to being utilised as mule accounts. Consequently, there were significant irregularities in the KYC process, posing a serious risk to customers, depositors, and wallet holders, PTI reported.

The sources told PTI that in 2021, the RBI identified severe violations of KYC and Anti Money Laundering regulations, instructing the bank to rectify these shortcomings. Despite these directives, the issues persisted, and the bank's submitted compliances were frequently deemed incomplete and inaccurate.

RBI's apprehensions

News agency Reuters reported that the RBI is expressing apprehension that certain accounts might have been utilised for money laundering, according to sources. In addition to notifying the ED, the RBI has shared its findings with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office, the sources added.

A PPBL spokesperson said, We can confirm that neither we nor One97 Communications Ltd's founder-CEO have been the subject matter of investigation by the Enforcement Directorate regarding money laundering.

The spokesperson added, Some merchants using our platforms have been the subject of investigations and we answer authorities on this same as and when asked. We strongly refute money laundering allegations and caution you against speculation

A senior government official told PTI that if necessary, the ED will conduct a more in-depth investigation into the allegations of money laundering.

As a result of the RBI's directive, One97 Communications Ltd, the parent company of the Paytm brand, witnessed a 40 per cent decline in its shares over the past two days. On Friday, the stock plummeted by 20 per cent to 487.05, reaching its daily lower trading limit on the BSE. In this two-day period, the company's market capitalisation (mcap) experienced a reduction of 17,378.41 crore, falling to 30,931.59 crore.
After the announcement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi that senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani will be conferred the nation's top civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he is not opposing it. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah (PTI)

"We have not opposed the centre's decision of conferring LK Advani with Bharat Ratna. Let the award be given to him," said Siddaramaiah.

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He wrote a letter requesting to bestow the Bharat Ratna award to Tumkuru Siddhaganga Swamy.

Also Read - Karnataka Congress to protest in New Delhi on Feb 7 against improper allocation of funds in interim Budget

Meanwhile, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha, while congratulating the veteran BJP leader, took a veiled dig at the ruling party at the Centre.

Speaking to ANI on Saturday, the BRS leader claimed that the announcement of the country's highest civilian honour for the BJP veteran marks the fulfilment of the party's agenda after the opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

"It is good that the Ram Temple finally saw the light of day and Advani-ji would also be conferred with the Bharat Ratna. It marks the fulfilment of the BJP's agenda. I would like to wish heartiest congratulations to Lal Krishna Advani on being picked for the country's highest (civilian) honour," Kavitha told ANI on Saturday.

Taking to the social media platform, PM Modi said the former Union Minister's contribution to the development of India is monumental.

"I am very happy to share that Shri LK Advani Ji will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. I also spoke to him and congratulated him on being conferred this honour. One of the most respected statesmen of our times, his contribution to the development of India is monumental. His is a life that started from working at the grassroots to serving the nation as our Deputy Prime Minister. He distinguished himself as our Home Minister and I&B Minister as well. His Parliamentary interventions have always been exemplary, full of rich insights," PM posted on X.

Born in Karachi, in present-day Pakistan, on November 8, 1927, Advani through the years had served as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party for the longest period since its inception in 1980. Capping a parliamentary career of nearly three decades, he was, first, the Home Minister and, later, the Deputy Prime Minister in the cabinet of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1999-2004).

Advani is widely regarded as an individual of great intellectual ability, strong principles, and unwavering support for the idea of a strong and prosperous India. As confirmed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Advani has 'never compromised on his core belief in nationalism, and yet has displayed flexibility in political responses whenever it was demanded by the situation'.

The veteran leader's celebration of India's independence from the British in 1947 was sadly short-lived as he became one of the millions to be torn from his homeland amidst the terror and bloodshed of the tragedy of India's partition. These events, however, did not turn him bitter or cynical but instead spurred him on in his desire to create a more secular India. With this goal in mind, he journeyed to Rajasthan to continue his work as an RSS Pracharak.

Through the latter half of the 1980s and the 1990s, LK Advani focused on the singular task of building the BJP into a national political force. The results of his efforts were underscored by the 1989 General Election. The Party bounced back from its 1984 tally of 2 to achieve an impressive 86 seats. The Party position moved up to 121 seats in 1992 and 161 in 1996; making the 1996 elections a watershed in Indian democracy. For the first time since independence, the Congress was dethroned from its preeminent position, and the BJP became the single largest party in the Lok Sabha. (ANI)
State Grid's Hunan branch goes all out to safeguard against ice, snow

People's Daily Online) 17:08, February 02, 2024

Employees of State Grid Xiangxi Power Supply Company carry out a patrol on a 10-kV power transmission line to ensure its normal operation during the upcoming Spring Festival on Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo courtesy of State Grid Xiangxi Power Supply Company)

Staff from the State Grid Xiangxi Power Supply Company cleared vegetation and conducted a special patrol on power transmission lines located at an altitude of over 1,200 meters in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province, on January 31.

State Grid Hunan Electric Power Co., Ltd. has been working to clear vegetation in 85,000 locations along transmission and distribution lines since December 2023.

According to the National Meteorological Center, the central and eastern regions of China will experience a significant and prolonged winter rain and snow weather event from January 31 to February 5. Over the next 10 days, Hunan Province will encounter two rounds of rain, snow, and freezing conditions.

State Grid Hunan Electric Power Co., Ltd. is actively implementing measures to efficiently handle rainy, snowy, and icy weather conditions. A dedicated workforce of 3,712 personnel has been deployed for ice-related tasks.

To ensure a swift response to emergencies, the company has deployed 107 mobile power supply vehicles and 1,016 emergency generators in areas severely impacted by adverse weather conditions.

Additionally, 92 dedicated power supply teams are working around the clock to support live-line operations, ice removal, and other repair tasks.

Employees of State Grid Xiangxi Power Supply Company carry out a patrol on a 10-kV power transmission line to ensure its normal operation during the upcoming Spring Festival on Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo courtesy of State Grid Xiangxi Power Supply Company)

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming)
Centuries-old cultural street regains glory in new era

Xinhua) 10:49, February 04, 2024

TIANJIN, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Nestled amid a multitude of ancient-style pavilions and winding alleyways, north China's Tianjin Ancient Culture Street, housing many renowned time-honored brands, is immersed in the lively preparations for the Spring Festival around the corner.

As the Chinese Lunar New Year approaches, the festive atmosphere gradually permeates the air of the street. The historical and cultural block is adorned with an array of Chinese cultural treasures, from traditional paintings to exuberant red lanterns, with the aromas of twisted doughnuts, seasoned flour mush and pear cakes wafting through the air.

Its iconic ancient-style gateway, embellished with the Chinese dragon and phoenix motifs, now glows with a vibrant hue of "Chinese red," captivating visitors from all over the country.

In the new era, Tianjin Ancient Culture Street is regaining its former glory as local government and people rediscover the historical and cultural significance of the former business hub.

The centuries-old block, located outside the eastern gate of Tianjin's old city, proudly carries the title of the birthplace of Tianjinwei, a garrison town and the precursor to the Tianjin Municipality.

Since the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), the block has played a crucial role in the development of the local economy while shaping the lifestyle and mindset of Tianjin residents.

The block's roots can be traced back to its association with the Tianhou Palace, a significant historical landmark constructed under the imperial decree in 1326.

This palace, one of the world's three major Mazu temples, stands at the heart of the block and has been instrumental in shaping the street into Tianjin's earliest center for folk traditions, culture and commerce.

Over the years, this block has evolved from a hub of traditional customs to a modern tourist and commercial district. Flanked by four quaint alleyways, its main street now functions as an open pedestrian commercial thoroughfare, stretching 687 meters and covering an area of 13,000 square meters.

Notably, it hosts a myriad of well-established Chinese and local Tianjin brands, along with businesses recognized at the national and municipal levels as intangible cultural heritage.

Among them is Yangliuqing woodblock painting, one of the most popular forms of New Year decorations in China, which flourished in Tianjin and the surrounding areas during a period between the late Ming Dynasty and the early Qing Dynasty.

"In a unique and innovative approach, we brought the wooden blocks used in creating Yangliuqing paintings to the street," said Su Liyan, an inheritor of Yangliuqing woodblock painting skill.

She added that this was aimed at providing visitors with an immersive experience of this intangible cultural heritage, offering an opportunity to learn the intricate process of producing Yangliuqing woodblock paintings.

After decades of protection efforts, more than 6,000 ancient woodblocks and over 20,000 New Year paintings have been collected to date, according to Su.

"The block is the cornerstone of Yangliuqing woodblock paintings, reflecting China's rich human geography, folk culture and moral philosophy," she said.

The booming block brings an influx of visitors to the Yangliuqing woodblock paintings store. People come to create their own woodblock paintings, taking home a piece of that auspicious moment they had just experienced.

However, the thriving hub and a treasure trove of tradition and Chinese culture once experienced its demise as a commerce center after the 1930s. The local government has made enormous efforts to revive the traditional business block and protect the cultural heritage.

A pivotal moment in the block's history came on New Year's Day in 1986 when it underwent restoration and repurposing, transforming into the Tianjin Ancient Culture Street.

As the 21st century dawned, the street saw further development, evolving into a tourist and commercial district. In 2007, it achieved the prestigious 5A rating, the highest level in the country's tourist sites rating system.

Witness to the contemporary evolution of the block is 66-year-old merchant Li Shuqin. Since 1986, she has ventured into various businesses, ranging from furniture to lamps and porcelain on the cultural street.

In 2020, Li started selling Tianjin's specialty snacks, including the portable and preservable Tanghulu made through innovative freeze-drying technology. In May 2023, she opened a new-style Chinese teahouse in the same locale.

"People come here to savor the traditional cultural atmosphere," she said, adding that her business is riding on the wave and benefits derived from the prosperity of the historical street.

Currently, Tianjin Ancient Culture Street hosts around 1,300 stores, with more than half dedicated to culture and folk customs, said Zhang Hongpeng, director of the Ancient Culture Street administrative committee. "We actively introduce new business formats to assist merchants in generating creative ideas."

In 2023, the cultural street's traffic reached 12.76 million, showing a remarkable increase of 8 percent growth compared to the pre-COVID level in 2019. The sales revenue surged 37 percent from 2019.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Fresh off the success of her hit series Griselda, Sofia Vergara isn't just conquering the world of television - she's also embracing a new chapter in her personal life. Following her recent divorce, the Colombian actress is opening up about her outlook on love but in an old-fashioned way. The 51-year-old actress recently dropped an update on her love life, six months after parting ways with her ex Joe Manganiello. Sofia Vergara in the Netflix series Griselda. (Netflix via AP)

Also read: Taylor Swift has it under control: Likely secured Super Bowl jet parking months ago

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Griselda star Sofia Vergara on finding love after divorce

The Modern Family star sat down with PEOPLE and spilled the beans on her personal and dating life. Sofia was asked if she is active on dating apps now that she has broken up with her ex. Vergara, told the outlet, No, I wish! She added, Im bad with technology, so Im sure I would click on the wrong ones. Im open to having fun and meeting people, she continued, adding, Its only been six months.

Highlighting her bond with her Latin roots, despite spending more time in the US than in her native Colombia, the actress explained, "Its weird because Ive now lived longer in the United States than I lived in my country [Colombia]. But Im still very Latin. I work out to Latin music. In my car, its Latin music. My close friends are either my cousins or the ones I met at kindergarten."

Also read: Justin Timberlake contracts flu amid Selfish promotion and Britney Spears feud

"So now I want a husband!" she added, then clarified, "No, I don't need a husband; I want one." She further extended her clarification, saying, It doesn't even have to be a husband, just a partner.

The reason behind Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello's split

After seven years of marriage, Sofia Vergara recently opened up in a Daily Mail interview about the reasons for her divorce from Joe Manganiello, revealing that they disagreed on expanding their family. She said, Joe was four years younger than me, and hed never had kids. For the unversed, the actress from Bent already has a son, Manolo Gonzalez Vergara (32), whom she had when she was 19 and shares with her ex-husband, Joe Gonzalez.

The actress said, He decided he wanted kids and I didnt want them. It was like: Imagine, when this child would be 10 years old, Ill be 60-something. Thats a grandma!

Emphasizing her commitment to her career and prioritizing it over embracing motherhood in her mid-50s, she stated, "I know the sacrifices you need to make to be a good mother. You have to be present. And my career is important to me. I cannot disappear. A lot of people rely on me."
On Friday, Poonam Pandey's team said  in an Instagram post as well as in interviews to multiple news portals  that the actor-model had died of cervical cancer at the age of 32. In a shocking twist of events, on Saturday, Poonam revealed she had faked her own death to 'raise awareness for cervical cancer'. She has been in the news ever since  and not just in India. Also read: Poonam Pandey's husband Sam Bombay breaks silence on her death stunt Poonam Pandey has been making headlines since Friday for faking her own death.

Cheap publicity stunt

While Indian publications widely reported her death stunt, and many celebs and social media users condemned Poonam Pandey's move, publications from the UK, Pakistan and Bangladesh also reported how 'Indian model Poonam Pandey faked her death'. Heres how the global media reported the Lock Upp contestant faking her own death in the name of cancer awareness.

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The Guardian from the UK reported Poonam's publicity stunt with the headline: Indian model Poonam Pandey fakes death to raise cervical cancer awareness. The article said the 'reality TV star reveals social media stunt, adding she was proud of what her death news has been able to achieve.

Pakistan-based Dawn's headline read, 'In the strangest move ever, Indian actor Poonam Pandey fakes her own death'. The report said, Netizens were surprised at her cheap publicity stunt, with many condemning her move.

Bizarre turn of event

Daily Star from Bangladesh said in its report on Poonam's death stunt, dated February 3, "In a bizarre turn of events, Indian model, actor, and reality TV star Poonam Pandey, who was reported to have died of cervical cancer at the age of 32, has emerged alive, leaving fans and the public puzzled."

Another report by the UK-based Sky News, said, "An Indian model, who faked her own death to raise awareness of cervical cancer, has defended her actions, saying the publicity stunt was 'necessary'."

UAE-based Khaleej Times said in its report, "Netizens have been left enraged, with many saying that the method of creating awareness was distasteful."

UK's Daily Mail also covered Poonam's fake death, saying she 'lied about her death'. The headline read, "Indian Bollywood star, 32, who 'died' is revealed to be still alive after she faked her own death in a publicity stunt to raise awareness for cervical cancer."

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Tiger King star Joe Exotic is reaching out for legal help in the strangest places. He is facing a 21-year prison sentence. Recently, he commented on Kourtney Kardashians post and urged Kim Kardashian to get him released from prison. Also read: Ranveer Singh on the lookout for the fan who turned him into Tiger Kings Joe Exotic Tiger King's star Joe Exotic seeks help from Kim Kardashian via Kourtney Kardashian.

Kourtney Kardashian's post

Kourtney Kardashian took to her Instagram handle and posted a photo with her newborn. In the caption, she wrote, blisssss. Many congratulated her, including Joe. However, he also added a special request that no one on the internet could ignore.

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Joe Exotic to Kourtney

He commented, Awwww cute, also please have your sister help me get out of this hell hole. Neither Kourtney not the Skims founder has responded to the animal abuser's public plea yet.

Joe Exotic controversy and jail time

Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado, is serving a 21-year prison sentence for trying to hire two different men to kill animal welfare activist Carol Baskin. He was initially sentenced to 22 years, but later it was reduced by just a year after a federal appeals court ruled that improper sentencing guidelines were being used, as per a report of Page Six.

Joe had also submitted multiple pleas for leniency as he is suffering for early-stage cancer. He reportedly began his treatment in prison and even shaved his head. As per Page Six, he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He had said via a letter from jail that his doctor feared cancer had spread to his bladder.

Joe Exotic and Kim Kardashian

However, this isn't the first time that the former zookeeper reached out to Kim Kardashian for help. He had previously sought her help in December 2020. He wrote a letter to Kim which read, "I know you have never met me and may never want to however I do believe that you hold the values of our justice system dear to your heart.

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The Delhi Police crime branch arrived at Delhi minister Atishi's residence in Mathura Road on Sunday to serve her notice in connection with the Aam Aadmi Party's claims that the Bharatiya Janata Party attempted to poach seven AAP MLAs. Initial reports indicated that Atishi was not at home when the team reached her residence. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, along with education minister Atishi. (Sanchit Khanna/ Hindustan Times)

A video by news agency ANI showed the crime branch outside Atishi's residence. This comes a day after crime branch officials of the Delhi Police served a notice on chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, after a five-hour drama, asking him to reply within three days in a probe into his claims that the BJP attempted to poach AAP MLAs.

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AAP leader Jasmine Shah says, "Yesterday, a team of the Delhi Police crime branch came to the residence of CM Arvind Kejriwal. They wanted to give a notice. They waited for five hours before giving a notice to an official of the CM office... The notice does not include anything about an FIR, it is not a summon or a preliminary inquiry, and there is no mention of any section of the IPC or CrPC. This is just a letter on a white paper."

A Delhi Police officer told Saturday said, We have served the notice on him (Kejriwal). He can give the reply in three days in a written form.

The crime branch also asked Arvind Kejriwal to reveal the names of AAP MLAs who were claimed to have been approached by the BJP. Earlier, a drama unfolded at Arvind Kejriwal's residence in Civil Lines as a crime branch team arrived again on Saturday to serve him a notice in connection with the investigation.

Sharing a video of some policemen at his residence, Arvind Kejriwal posted on X (formally Twitter) that he sympathised with the police officers sent to serve him notice and added it's their duty to stop crime in Delhi but they are being made to indulge in drama. That is why crime is rising in Delhi.

The Delhi chief minister also said in the post, without naming any party or leader, that the "political bosses" are asking him which AAP MLAs were contacted for switching sides.

In an apparent dig at the BJP, Arvind Kejriwal asked why there was drama on the issue when the party knew who was behind toppling governments of other parties across the country in the last few years by poaching MLAs.

Last week, Arvind Kejriwal had alleged on X that the BJP offered 25 crore each to seven AAP MLAs to quit the party to topple his AAP government.

Shortly after that, Atishi held a press conference and alleged that the BJP had launched Operation Lotus 2.0 in Delhi.

"They had made a similar attempt to poach AAP MLAs last year by offering them money but failed," Atishi alleged.

After the allegations were made, a delegation of the Delhi BJP led by its chief Virender Sachdeva met Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora on January 30, seeking an investigation.

(With inputs from agencies)
Silchar: The Assam Police on Saturday morning detained two US nationals in Assams Sonitpur district for allegedly propagating Christianity, officials aware of the matter said. (Representative Photo)

Police said they were detained following complaints from local residents in the districts Tezpur area.

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Sonitpur superintendent of police (SP) Susanta Biswa Sarma said the duo were fined $500 for their alleged attempt to propagate Christianity without proper permission.

They were on tourist visas, and as per the provisions, they cannot perform religious activities or propagate religious ideologies. Hence, we called them to the police station and imposed fines of $500 each, SP Sarma said.

Police, however, did not reveal their names. No case was registered against them, said police.

In October 2022, seven German nationals and three Swedish nationals were detained from Assams Golaghat and Dibrugarh district for allegedly flouting visa norms by indulging in missionary activities.

The police took them to Guwahati and later deported them to their country.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma last year appealed to the religious communities to restrain themselves from converting Hindus in the name of providing education and health facilities.

Hindu organisations have claimed that Christian missionaries from different countries visit the northeastern states as tourists, and they propagate Christianity by flouting visa norms.
The focus of the budget  this year as well as budgets presented by the NDA government in general  is on 2047, the deadline for Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of a developed India (Viksit Bharat), finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman explained in an interview on Saturday. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman(PTI)

It will not be possible to achieve this by just adopting a narrow sectoral approach, she added. The emphasis needs to be on all sectors, and on everyone, Sitharaman said. On Thursday, she presented an interim budget that continued her governments focus on capital expenditure (11% growth on a number that has already trebled in four years), listed its achievements on various fronts and its measures aimed at helping key constituencies (such as women and young people), exceeded its fiscal deficit target, and refrained from launching any populist schemes aimed at the summers general election. It was a move that many analysts said reflected the governments confidence that it would return to power.

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Referring to the interim budgets statement about her government presenting a road map for Viksit Bharat along with the years budget in July, the finance minister said the budget too would focus on the caste groups she mentioned: the poor, women, the young, and farmers.

In a wide ranging interview with journalists from HT and Mint, Sitharaman spoke of the structural changes in the rural economy, the process of building big banks, and the need to have a larger conversation on whether the targets of the fiscal responsibility act, drafted in another era, were practical  but she kept returning to 2047 even as she reiterated her governments achievements over the past 10 years and referred to the lost decade between 2004 and 2014 when the UPA was in power.

In contrast, her government was steadfast in its commitment to reforms, and even rebooted the economy during Covid-19, embarking on a mission of self-reliance. The pandemic was unlike anything anyone had experienced before, the minister said, and there was no clear direction on the policy response to it. Indeed, given the unexpected disruptions the world has seen in the past four years (she didnt mention it, but her reference was clearly to the geopolitical crises in Europe and West Asia), it is difficult for policymakers, she admitted, which is where a long-term goal, and certitude of top leadership, helps.

In Indias case, that goal is to be a developed country by 2047.

Viksit Bharat is important because the younger generation should not go through what we did when we were growing up, Sitharaman said. Thats already changed significantly, she added.The Modi government has empowered citizens of all strata and implemented Ease of Living through technology in every sphere of life as against the red tape, policy paralysis, nepotism and corruption of the previous government that ruled for a decade till 2014. That one decade was completely wasted.
Bhubaneswar: A top Maoist cadre was shot dead by security personnel in the forests of Odishas Kandhamal district during an exchange of fire on Saturday, officials aware of the matter said. (Representative Photo)

The deceased, whose identity is yet to be known, belonged to Chhattisgarh, said officials. He was a divisional committee member of the Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh (KKBN) division.

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Kandhamal Police said the gunfight took place in the Kamberikia forest area of the district on Saturday.

We had an intelligence input and conducted a search operation in the forest when we came under fire from a group of Maoists, said an officer.

A security personnel was also injured in the gunfight and admitted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur town, said police.
A case has been registered against a professor at the National Institute of Technology-Calicut (NIT) for expressing pride in Nathuram Godse for assassinating Mahatma Gandhi and thus saving India on a Facebook comment. The professor later deleted her comment following a controversy. (Representative Photo)

The Kerala Police registered a case under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with the intent to cause riot) after multiple complaints were lodged against professor A Shaija in several police stations by various student bodies.

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Shaija is a senior faculty member of the department of mechanical engineering at NIT-Calicut. On January 30, she wrote proud of Godse for saving India in the comment section of a Facebook post by a lawyer, who posted Godse's photograph saying Hindu Mahasabha activist Nathuram Vinayak Godse, a hero of many in India.

The professor later deleted her comment following a controversy.

Kozhikode (Calicut) MP MK Raghavan condemned professor Shaija's statement. I am ashamed to hear an inappropriate comment against Mahatma Gandhi and praise of Godses deed by a person holding a responsible post in NIT, a premier institution falls under my constituency. Appropriate exemplary action should be taken by the authorities concerned, he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

The professor defended her comment by saying she never meant to appreciate the killing of Gandhiji. However, she talked about revelations in Gode's book Why I killed Gandhi which the common man does not know.

My comment was not to appreciate the killing of Gandhiji. I never wanted to do so. I had read Godses book, Why I killed Gandhi. Godse was also a freedom fighter. There is a lot of information and revelations in his book, which the common man does not know. Godse has enlightened us in his book. Against this backdrop, I had commented on the advocates Facebook post. When I realised that people have started distorting my comment, I deleted it, she told Indian Express.

The NIT-C, one of the premier engineering institutions in the country, has recently been under the grip of controversies. A section of students celebrated the Ram temple consecration in the past week by drawing a saffron-coloured map of India at the institute's gate. In protest of the incident, students were embroiled in a scuffle.
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested a man, identified as Satyendra Siwal, working in the Indian embassy in Russia for his alleged involvement in anti-national activities with the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI. Satyendra Siwal was arrested from Meerut. Pakistani agent, working at Indian embassy in Russia, arrested from UP(Twitter)

According to officials, Satyendra Siwal was providing the ISI with important confidential information regarding the strategic activities of the ministry of defence, the ministry of external affairs, and the Indian military establishments, reported PTI.

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Satyendra Siwal has been working as an India-based security assistant in the Indian embassy in Moscow since 2021.

The incident came to light after the UP ATS received intelligence from several sources suggesting that ISI handlers were luring employees of the ministry of external affairs with money to obtain confidential information. According to the police, the information is likely to pose a big threat to the internal and external security of India.

Upon the inputs, the police began a probe through electronic and physical surveillance. During the investigation, the police found that Siwal, a resident of Shahmahiuddinpur village, was involved in the anti-India network. Following this, the UP ATS summoned Satyendra Siwal for interrogation.

During questioning, Siwal failed to give satisfactory answers and confessed to the crime, reported PTI.

The police have registered an FIR against Siwal under section 121A of the IPC (waging war against the country) and Official Secrets Act 1923.

Further investigation is underway.

(With inputs from PTI)
New Delhi: Even though the consecration of Sri Ramjanmabhumi temple at Ayodhya has built favorable momentum for the BJP in Hindi heartland and definitely beyond, the ever pragmatic Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told his Cabinet Ministers not to swept by armchair political analysts and put in their best for the forthcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. PM Narendra Modi, HM Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda

Rather than be complacent about the pro-incumbency mood of the public towards the Modi government, PM Modi has told his ministers that nothing is done till it is done as the party is still haunted by the 2004 elections, where the BJP leadership got casual in the final stretch. The Congress under Sonia Gandhi became the largest party in Lok Sabha by being mere seven seats ahead of the BJP and rustled up a UPA alliance to rule for next 10 years with Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister.

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While BJP chorus boys have started believing in abki baar 400 paar (this time BJP will get 400 seats), PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have done serious number crunching and have left nothing to chance with fresh mutually beneficial alliance with JD (U) in caste-dominated Bihar and positive vibes with BJD in Odisha. It is quite evident that Odisha strongman Naveen Patnaik will keep his distance from BJP albeit with a benign eye and away from the Congress as the longest serving Chief Minister abhors the court culture of the oldest party.

Despite the all-round work done by the Modi government with growing economy and global clout, the BJP will have to rely on their pana pramukhs (electoral list organizers) to ensure that its supporters reach the polling booth and vote rather than give it a pass thinking that PM Modi was coming to power for the third time. Even though the INDIA bloc appears to be in disarray, its supporters including the largest minority community will come out in large numbers with a singular desire to vote out the BJP from power. The objective of the Opposition is to vote out the BJP leaving the government formation to a future date based on cobbling of numbers.

Given that the BJP is on a front-foot in Hindi heartland with blessing of Shri Ram Lalla, the party-RSS machinery is being greased up to ensure that the karyakartas (workers) are enthusiastic and motivated in getting Narendra Modi as Prime Minister for the third time in May 2024. However, the party will have to put in a humongous effort to retain its numbers and more in Karnataka and breach the DMK citadel in Tamil Nadu and the Left network in Kerala. The same holds true for West Bengal as Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee will fight tooth and nail against the BJP and try to reduce the LS seat numbers from last time.

As PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah know that election winning requires arithmetic after chemistry, the leadership is pressing hard on its key generals to keep reiterating the work done by the present government to the public by reaching out to themfrom the first time voter to the proverbial fence sitters.
Model and actor Poonam Pandey seems to be in trouble for faking her death, with celebrities, doctors and politicians calling her out for spreading false news to create awareness about cervical cancer. On Saturday, Maharashtra legislator Satyajeet Tambe demanded that the Mumbai Police take action against Poonam Pandey for putting out fake news of her death. Model-actor Poonam Pandey(HT Photo)

Tambe, an independent member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, said a case should be registered against Poonam Pandey to make an example of her for those who opt for such stunts to promote themselves.

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A day after the news of her death from cervical cancer made headlines and led to intense debate on social media, Poonam Pande, 32, announced on Saturday that she was alive, and the fake news was published to spread critical awareness about the disease.

Action should be taken against Poonam Pandey as she made or published false or misleading information, Tambe said in a statement.

Also Read | Channels showing Poonam Pandey stupidity but not Maharashtra gang war: Uddhav Sena MP

"The news of an influencer/model dying of cervical cancer cannot be a means to spread awareness about the disease. The entire episode takes away the serious nature of cervical cancer and diverts the attention entirely to the influencer," Tambe said. The actor pulled a prank on cancer survivors rather than raising awareness, the MLC added.

Cine workers association slams Poonam Pandey

The All Indian Cine Workers Association also slammed Poonam Pandey, demanding an FIR against her.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, the AICWA said "using the guise of cervical cancer for self-promotion is not acceptable".

The fake news of demise of model and actress Poonam Pandey due to cervical cancer sent a shockwave among all in the Indian Film industry. This fake news was created for publicity stunt by model and actress Poonam Pandey which is being confirmed by her manager. This fake news had hurt the sentiments of all Indians who paid tribute to her, it said in statement.

"We request your goodself to please file an FIR against both Poonam Pandey and her manager for spreading fake news merely for their PR publicity. Strict action against them is necessary so that such types of fake news will not be circulated by anyone.Such a cheap publicity is not at all accepted in our Indian Film Industry which has high emotional values for all," the statement read.

On February 2, Poonam Pandey's manager confirmed that the actress had died of cervical cancer.

A statement was also posted on Poonam Pandey's official Instagram which read, "This morning is a tough one for us. Deeply saddened to inform you that we have lost our beloved Poonam to cervical cancer. Every living form that ever came in contact with her was met with pure love and kindness."

However, on Saturday, Poonam Pandey posted a video statement on social media announcing that she is alive and shared that she faked her death as she intended to raise awareness about cervical cancer.
"Insulting and threatening women, a vile and cowardly act, is unfortunately the most common weapon of the weak," Gandhi said in a post on X. HT Image

"The Congress party and I stand firmly beside Y S Sharmilaji and Suneethaji and strongly condemn this disgraceful attack," he added.

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AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said certain elements in Andhra Pradesh are clearly rattled by the huge support Sharmila and the Congress are getting in the southern state with every passing day.

"The death threats and trolling against Sharmilaji and Suneethaji are highly deplorable and the entire party stands firmly with them against these pathetic attempts to tarnish their reputation and the great legacy of Y S Rajashekhar Reddy garu," Venugopal said in a post on X.

Former Union minister M M Pallam Raju said on the microblogging platform: "It is sad to see the ugly online trolling of @realyssharmila, the AP Congress chief, who has adopted the ideology embraced by her late father, Dr YSR, the popular CM of AP. Similarly, Sri YS Vivekananda Reddy's daughter Suneetha has been subjected to this pathetic abuse."

Raju also posted a media report that said Suneetha Narreddy, the daughter of former Andhra Pradesh minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy, has got a complaint lodged at the Gachibowli cyber crime police station in Hyderabad against a man for abusive and threatening Facebook posts.

Sharmila staged a demonstration at the Andhra Bhavan in Delhi on Friday to protest against the non-conferment of special category status to Andhra Pradesh and the failure to fulfil bifurcation promises.

She protested before the B R Ambedkar statue at the Andhra Bhavan and was accompanied by Manickam Tagore and senior Congress leaders from Andhra Pradesh.
If it is Scotch, it has to be from Scotland, the land known for whisky. Annually, over 1.6 billion bottles of Scotch Whisky are shipped from Scotland to around 180 markets around the world. Laid end to end those bottles would stretch about 467,000 kms - that's more than 11 times around the Earth. There are nearly 150 active whisky distilleries spread across Scotland, which are split into five whisky-producing regions: Campbeltown, Highland, Islay, Lowland and Speyside.(Scotch Whisky Association)

Drop the e when you talk of Scotch. For, whisky in Scotland is never spelt whiskey. Malt whisky is the original whisky of Scotland and made only from malted barley, in two (occasionally, three) copper pot stills, by a batch process. Currently, there are 148 operating Scotch Whisky distilleries across the country and some 22 million casks lie maturing in warehouses waiting to be discovered - that is around 12 billion 70cL (centilitre) bottles. (Also read: Meet the new crop of Indias single malt whisky makers)

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Heres all you ever wanted to know about a Scotch Whisky trail in Scotland.

Whisky Regions in Scotland: There are nearly 150 active whisky distilleries spread across Scotland, which are split into five whisky-producing regions: Campbeltown, Highland, Islay, Lowland and Speyside. (Also read: Explore the finest wine experiences in Frances Bordeaux)

Islay: Barely 25 miles long and 15 miles wide, Islay is regarded by many as 'whisky island.

Number of distilleries: 9

Oldest distillery: Bowmore (1779)

Most popular distillery: Ardbeg

Campbeltown: Scotlands smallest whisky producing region.

Number of distilleries: 3

Oldest distillery: Springbank (1828)

Most popular distillery: Springbank

Speyside: Speyside is whisky heaven and accounts for half of Scotland's whisky production.

Number of distilleries: 52

Oldest distillery: Strathisla (1786)

Most popular distillery: Glenfiddich

Lowlands: The area has long, historic associations with whisky, with Friar John Cor producing whisky here in 1494 for King James IV.

Number of distilleries: 22 (+6 grain distilleries)

Oldest distillery: Bladnoch (1817)

Most popular distillery: Glenkinchie

Highlands: The distilleries of the Highland whisky region are spread far and wide and, in terms of geography, this whisky region takes the crown as Scotland's largest.

Number of distilleries: 50+

Oldest Distillery: Glenturret Distillery (Scotlands oldest working distillery)



(Also read: 15 groovy Goan bars that made it to the 30BestBarsIndia shortlist)

Best Whisky Bars of Scotland:

The first whisky bar in Inverness, it is a firm favourite amongst Inverness whisky lovers(themaltroom.co.uk)

1. The Malt Room (Inverness): The first whisky bar in Inverness, it is a firm favourite amongst Inverness whisky lovers, tourists wanting to sample a few local drams and anyone who appreciates a well-served drink.

2. The Curly Coo (Stirling): Just a short walk from the city centre, choose from over 120 Malt Whiskies at Stirling's only Whisky Bar. Theres also Scottish craft beers, a selection of Scottish Gins and more.....

3. The Ardshiel Hotel (Campbeltown): With over 700 malts to choose from many which are rare and exclusive, it has been the winner of Wee Dram Whisky Bar of the Year and Scottish Field Whisky Bar of the Year.

4. Usquabae (Edinburgh): Inspired by Robert Burns poem, Tam O Shanter, Usquabae firmly believes that the pursuit of drinking whisky is a saintly and noble quest. Burns himself claimed that should you meet the devil, youll only survive if youre fortified with usquabae (the former name of whisky).

5. The Whiski Bar (Edinburgh): Whiski Bar & Restaurant is a stunning multi award-winning whisky bar and Scottish restaurant on the Royal Mile. Has over 300 Scotch malt whiskies and a great selection of cocktails, a fantastic whisky selection, wines and local craft beers, and live Scottish music.

A small single-roomed selectively lit bar, has an extensive range of malt whiskies.(Facebook/The Black Cat)

6. The Black Cat (Edinburgh): A small single-roomed selectively lit bar, has an extensive range of malt whiskies.

7. The Mash Tun (Aberlour): Surrounded by the most famous of distilleries viewed as the ultimate trip for the lover of the Uisge Beatha (water of life)

8. The Pot Still (Glasgow): With over 800 whiskies, cracking cask ales, proper pies, The Pot Still is the place for malt whisky in Glasgow.

9. Bon Accord (Glasgow): What began as a pub specialising in real ale and pub grub, it has grown into a specialist whisky bar, even winning the UK Whisky Bar of the Year.

10. CASC (Aberdeen): Focusses on premium cigars, craft beer, scotch whisky and artisan coffee. Has over 500 Scotch and world whiskies.

Best Whisky Tours:

 Malt Whisky & Scottish Wildlife Tour: 9 days. 1,200 per adult. April to October

 Bubble Tour: On a Whisky Trail. 1 day. 55 per adult.

 Speyside Whiskys Tour: 3 days.

 Highland Perthshire Whisky Tour: 1 day.

 Private Whisky Tour of Islay: 1 day

 Speyside Whiskys Tour: 1 day. 83 per adult

 Tour the Scotch Whisky Route: 4 days. 770 per adult

 Edinburghs New Town Whisky Tour: 2 hours. 60 per adult

 Whisky Prestige Blenders Tour: 2 days. 185 per adult

Best Whisky Hotels in Scotland:

11. Isle of Raasay Distillery Whisky Hotel: One of the few places in the world where you can snooze where the whisky is made, Isle of Raasay Distillery Whisky Hotel has been the winner of Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year and Tourism Destination of the Year in the 2022 Scottish Whisky Awards.

12. Glenmorangie House, Scottish Highlands: Barely 20 minutes from the Glenmorangie Distillery, this is part of the modern makeover of The Glenmorangie Company by Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH).

The Craigellachie Hotel: This is the best location to explore whisky in the Speyside region.(The Craigellachie Hotel)

13. The Craigellachie Hotel: Built in 1800s, this is the best location to explore whisky in the Speyside region. Its Quaich Bar has over 700 malts in its collection.

14.The Ardshiel Hotel: Originally built in 1877, this is one of the favourites for whisky lovers. The hotels Usquebaugh Bar and Lounge has over 200 malt whiskies including a selection of Springbank, Cadenhead, and Islay malts.

15. Dornoch Castle Hotel: Currently listed as Whiskybase.coms Number One International Whisky Hotel, this one has one of the best collections of vintage and rare whiskies.

Malt Whisky Trail: Set in the heart of stunning Speyside, Scotland's Malt Whisky Trail is the only trail of its kind in the world. It takes in seven world-famous working distilleries, one historic distillery and the fascinating Speyside Cooperage.

Robert Burns Birthplace Museum (Alloway, 40 minutes from Glasgow): This is a must-see for all poetry lovers. Robert Burns (1759-1796) was the National Poet of Scotland. Visit the humble cottage where Robert Burns was born and spent the first years of his life. The two main sites (Burns Cottage and the museum) are connected by the Poets Path, a 500-metre pedestrian walkway.
I have been at the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) this last week. JLF is the maha kumbh of literature festivals, in India certainly, and perhaps, in the world t. It is certainly the planets largest festival with free entry, where footfalls go into lakhs. For five days, each day has parallel sessions in half a dozen venues on different books and subjects. Each session is packed with enthusiastic audiences running into thousands. A galaxy of the best writers from across the world, and those with books launched recently, are invited. It is literally a feast of words, books and discussions.

I have been participating almost every year since JLF began, first in 2006 as part of the Jaipur Heritage International Festival, and then from 2008 as the autonomous JLF. I remember that first event in 2006, which was, to the best of my recollection, for just one day. There was only one venue at the Diggi Palace, and there were a few hundred people in attendance. I remember that I was speaking in one session on my recently launched book Being Indian. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil, then governor of Rajasthan, and later the President of India, was the chief guest. By evening, the first JLF was over. Namita Gokhale, one of the founder-directors of the event, and I drove back to Delhi.

Since then, with every successive year, JLF has grown exponentially, beyond the wildest expectations of its founders. The numbers who attend the event has become so large that the original venue, Diggi Palace, which had its intimate charm, became too small, and now the JLF has shifted to the more spacious premises of Hotel Clarks Amer. To a great extent, this phenomenal success is due to the three dynamic founders of JLF, William Dalrymple, Sanjoy Roy and Namita.

William and Namita are well-known authors, who have detailed knowledge of contemporary writers worldwide, while Sanjoy and his organisation, Teamwork Arts, is, in my opinion, one of the best event management agencies today, not only in India, but in the world. The scale of the operation, the meticulous planning, the flawless flow of events, the mind-boggling arrangements, including travel, stay, reception and see-off of hundreds of writers and artists, and the army of volunteers marshalled to help, always leaves me dumbfounded, especially since Sanjoy himself, although untiringly ubiquitous, remains seemingly relaxed and cheerful throughout.

JLF is not restricted only to the multiple sessions during the day. There are specially curated events such as evenings of music and dance, and thousands come for these as well. What is noteworthy is the number of the young who participate. You see them as enthusiastic and attentive members of the audience on a variety of subjects that are often esoteric, but expose them to new voices and ideas.

This year, the highlight of my participation was a session with Gulzar Sahab and Rakhshanda Jalil. Rakshanda has come out with a new book Baal-o-Par, which is a commendable translation of six volumes of Gulzars poetry: Chand Pukhraj Ka, Raat Pashmine Ki, Pandrah Paanch Pachattar, Kuch Aur Nazmein, Pluto and Triveni. The voluminous collection of over 1,200 pages, published by Harper Collins, is a labour of love, with the original poem in Hindustani and the English translation on the facing pages. It is a collectors item, not only for Gulzars fans, but for anyone interested in mesmerizing poetry and the difficult art of translation.

Since I have translated four volumes of Gulzars poetry into English myself, and he has translated my own long poem, Yudhishtara and Draupadi, into Hindustani, and written a play, Paansa, on it, he had asked me to be part of the panel and, of course, I readily accepted. The Front Lawns of the venue were packed with not even standing space in the aisles. Even though I have done several sessions with Gulzar at the JLF many times before, I am always surprised at the cult popularity he enjoys. But for the ring of security around him, he would be literally mobbed. What was particularly rewarding was the quality time my wife and I spent with him, over coffee in the Authors Lounge, and later, over breakfast, lunch and dinner together.

I also had the privilege of launching Dr Alka Pandes magnum opus consisting of multiple volumes on different aspects of Indian culture and arts. Alka is arguably one of Indias best art historians, committed to the rediscovery of our great creative heritage. A third session was with senior RSS functionary and intellectual Dr Manmohan Vaidya on his new book, We and the World Around. Professor Badri Narayan, scholar and poet, was also part of the panel. It was an animated discussion, where we agreed on many things, especially the need to reclaim our ancient culture and heritage, but also some constructive differences on what constitutes Bhartiya and being Bhartiya.

I have returned to Delhi for the weekend but will be back in Jaipur on Monday, February 5, to participate in the popular closing debate of JLF. The topic, Free Speech will Survive Surveillance Technology and Privacy Invasions, is provocative, and the debate promises to see fireworks.

Pavan K Varma is author, diplomat, and former Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha). Just Like That is a weekly column where Varma shares nuggets from the world of history, culture, literature, and personal reminiscences with HT Premium readers. The views expressed are personal
As she started her budget speech on a note of nari shakti, Indias longest-serving woman finance minister, Nirmala Sithraman, noted: The empowerment of women through entrepreneurship, ease of living, and dignity has gained momentum in these 10 years. New Delhi, Feb 1 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman calls on President Droupadi Murmu prior to presenting the Union Budget 2024, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI Photo)(President of India-X)

Focusing on the four pillars of the poor, youth, farmers and women, the interim budget of 2024-25 is the last before India goes to the polls.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

With women turning up to vote in increasing numbers, in some states outnumbering men and in others influencing elections (see, for instance, here), it would seem self-evident that the governments slogan of nari shakti would get a boost.

Whats a gender budget?

A separate statement of the Union budget, it provides an estimate of budgetary allocations and expenditure targeted towards women and girls.

This is not a separate budget for women. Rather, it is an accounting statement that clearly shows just how much is allocated under each scheme for women beneficiaries or girls.

The practice of issuing an annual gender budgeting statement (GBS) as part of the Union budget began in 2005-06. A charter on gender budget cells (GBCs) to be set up across various ministries was issued in 2007, and detailed guidelines to establish these calls at the level of the states were issued in 2012-13.

Over the past two decades, Indias GBS has evolved into a comprehensive document that provides item-wise allocation and expenditure details in a clear, predictable format. The number of ministries and departments included in the GBS has more than doubled from 14 to 38.

What does the gender budget for 2024 look like?

Over the last two decades, while the quantum of the gender budget has grown, allocations have averaged between 4% - 5% of the total expenditure. The exception was financial year 2020-21, when social protection schemes during COVID-19 provided for cash transfers and other benefits to women.

Gender Budget Spends (INR crores)

This year, the total allocation under the gender budget stands at three lakh crore, which is almost 6.5% of the total expenditure. This is an increase of almost 40% over the gender budget for the previous year, and the highest increase in the last decade.

Who gets the money?

Nearly 35% of the total gender budget, or one lakh crore, has been allocated towards the Ministry of Rural Development for the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, which provides 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a year, the PM Awas Yojana (rural), which aims to provide affordable housing to all, and the National Rural Livelihood Mission.

The second biggest contribution of nearly 40,000 crore, or close to 13% of the gender budget, comes from the Ministry of Education, with the Samagra Shiksha scheme that aims to improve school effectiveness by providing equal opportunities for schooling and the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN), the former mid-day meal scheme for school children, being leading schemes.

The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitations Jal Jeevan Schemes allocation at 36,000 crore, and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfares schemes at about 35,000 crores make up a further 11%-12% each of the gender budget.

The final spot in the top five ministries is taken by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, where the PM Awas Yojana (Urban)s allocation of about 26,000 crore makes up a further 8.5% of the gender budget.

Interestingly, the Ministry of Women and Child Development does not feature in the top five ministries, receiving 6.6% of the gender budget.

Hits and misses

Certainly, this year records the highest ever gender budget since the beginning of gender budgeting in India.

It has also seen the maximum annual increase in allocations and also an increase in the number of ministries and departments reporting their schemes, with the notable additions of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

There were some small but innovative allocations in the gender budget that reflect the newer aspirations of a new generation of women and girls. For instance, the addition of the Namo Drone Didi scheme trains women members of self-help groups to operate drones that will provide services for irrigation and crop quality management.

The provision of Mahila barracks with separate toilets is another allocation that reflects changing times with the increase in the number of women posted at border outposts. The budget for the the DISHA program for women in science has doubled and there is increased allocation under both the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM), a pension scheme for old age workers, which will now cover older women workers and the PM Vishwakarma scheme for skill training of women entrepreneurs.

However, the gender budget continues to be concentrated in few schemes, and even fewer ministries. This is not a symptom of the lack of intention. Ministries are keen on prioritising initiatives for gender equality and women-led development, especially since this is now a national priority. Yet, low awareness of gender budgeting accounting methods, and gender mainstreaming in fiscal policy continues to constrain the widespread use and application of gender budgeting.

(Mitali Nikore is the founder of Nikore Associates. This article was written with research support by Abhiniti Gupta, Suhruda Dasyam and Divyaanshu Sahrawat.)

In numbers

Just 1.2% of women in India are screened for cervical cancer; even fewer, 0.6% for breast cancer.

Seen and heard

Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on online child sexual exploitation at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, U.S., January 31, 2024. (REUTERS)

Im sorry for everything you have all been throughNo one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered, and this is why we invested so much. - Mark Zuckerberg

During a contentious US Congressional hearing that accused the big five major tech companies of not doing enough to stop online child sexual abuse, Mark Zukerberg, Metas CEO turned to face the families whose kids were harmed to issue an apology. Social media was unimpressed and called the dramatic act a performative apology.

Watch

A documentary on democracy

In anticipation of the record numbers that go to the polls this year, the Financial Times has commissioned short films on whats at stake. Margaret Atwood, Elif Shafak, Lola Shoneyin and Indias very own stand-up comedian Aditi Mittal have a go at it.

Its not perfect and its not going to happen overnight, says Mittal in her short, In That Top. But knowing that that day is coming makes it worth it. On X, she posted, the film is a love letter from an Indian woman to all the democracies that she cherishes/combats in her day.

Watch here.

News you might have missed

Allahabad HC refuses protection for interfaith couples: Eight interfaith couples went to court to ask for protection from their own families for the crime of falling in love.In a country where honour killings continue unabated, justice Saral Srivastava sent the petitioners back, saying he could not comply with their request since they had not married in accordance with Uttar Pradeshs anti-conversion law. The law was brought in to prevent religious conversion by fraud, but includes marriage too. It is under legal challenge in the Supreme Court.

[I wrote about the courts decision in my column here.]

Rape accused former minister Chinmayanand acquitted: A special court to try MPs and MLAs in Shahjahanpur district, acquitted the BJP leader after the victim turned hostile. The case had been lodged in 2011 by a student of the Swami Shukdevanand Law College where Chinmayanand was a director. According to LiveLaw, the court has asked for charges to be framed against the woman student for giving false evidence against the self-proclaimed swami.

Uttarakhands uniform civil code: A five-member committee set up to look at implementing a uniform civil code in Uttarakhand has submitted a draft report to chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Tribals have been left out of the ambit, and news reports suggest an emphasis on equal rights for women in terms of inheritance, adoption and divorce with bans on polygamy, regardless of religion.

And the good news is the leap in the number of women in higher education, reported by the latest All India Survey for Higher Education for 2021-22. Female enrolment in colleges and universities is up by 32% since 2014 with Kerala, Telangana, Haryana, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Meghalaya and Chhattisgarh recording significantly larger numbers.

Around the world

South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol (R) and his wife Kim Keon Hee (L) board their aircraft at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam on December 11, 2023, (AFP)

In South Korea, a luxury Dior bag gifted to Kim Keon Hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-Yeol is one of the reasons being offered to explain the slide in the presidents approval ratings. The country is due to go to the polls in less than three months and the intense political infighting and growing public discontent over the scandal caused by the gift and other suspected wrongdoings tied to the First Lady could cost the president dearly in the high-stakes election.

In France, the national assembly has taken the first step to make abortion a right under the countrys constitution. Although abortion was decriminalised by law back in 1975, there is nothing in the constitution that guarantees it as a right.

And in Cyprus, President Nikos Christodoulides has asked all his ministers to sign a zero tolerance declaration on sexist behaviour and sexual harassment among employees and anyone visiting a government office. The Washington Post has more here.

Namita Bhandare writes on gender. The views expressed are personal.

Note: The following article was originally published in this week's Mind the Gap - a newsletter that adds perspective to the gender developments of the week. You can subscribe to it here.
In the past few years, Neuralink has faced investigation for mistreatment of lab animals and seen the departure of several company executives. Nevertheless, the PRIME trial is a significant milestone for a company less than ten years old. HT Image

However, Neuralinks challenges are far from over. Implanting a device is just the beginning of a decades-long clinical project beset with competitors, financial hurdles and ethical quandaries.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Decades of development

The first reported demonstration of a brain-computer interface occurred in 1963. During a lecture at the University of Oxford, neuroscientist William Grey Walter bewildered his audience by linking one of his patients brains to the projector, where they advanced the slides of his presentation using only their thoughts.

However, the current wave of exploration in using brain-recording techniques to restore movement and communication to patients with severe paralysis began in the early 2000s. It draws on studies from the 1940s which measured the activity of single neurons, and more complex experiments on rats and monkeys in the 1990s.

Neuralinks technology belongs to the next generation of recording devices. These have multiple electrodes, greater precision, and are safer, longer-lasting, and more compatible with the body. The Neuralink implant is thinner, smaller and less obtrusive than the Utah array device, widely used in existing brain-computer interfaces, which has been available since 2005.

Neuralinks device is implanted by a special robot which rapidly inserts polymer threads, each containing dozens of electrodes. In total, the device has 3,072 electrodes  dwarfing the 100 electrodes of the Utah array.

Competitors

Neuralink faces stiff competition in the race to commercialise the first next-generation brain-computer interface.

Arguably its most fierce competitor is an Australian company called Synchron. This Melbourne-based start-up recently used a microelectrode mesh threaded through the blood vessels of the brain. This allowed paralysed patients to use tablets and smartphones, surf the internet, send emails, manage finances (and post on X, formerly Twitter).

The Synchron implant is described as a minimally invasive brain-computer interface. It requires only a minor incision in the neck, rather than the elaborate neurosurgery required by Neuralink and most other brain-computer interfaces.

In 2021, Synchron received a Breakthrough Device Designation in the United States, and is now onto its third clinical trial.

Patient welfare

This competitive landscape raises potential ethical issues concerning the welfare of patients in the PRIME study. For one, it is notoriously difficult to recruit participants to neural implant studies. Patients must meet strict criteria to be eligible, and the trials are inherently risky and ask a lot of participants.

Musks public profile may help Neuralink find and enrol suitable patients. However, the company will need to be prepared to provide long-term support (potentially decades) to patients. If things go wrong, patients may need support to live with the consequences; if things go right, Neuralink may need to make sure the devices dont stop working.

In 2022, a company called Second Sight Medical Product demonstrated the risks. Second Sight made retinal implants to treat blindness. When the company went bankrupt, it left more than 350 patients around the world with obsolete implants and no way to remove them.

If Neuralinks devices are successful, they are likely to transform patients lives. What happens if the company winds up operations because it cant make a profit? A plan for long-term care is essential.

Whats more, the considerable hype surrounding Neuralink may have implications for obtaining informed consent from potential participants.

Musk famously compared the implant to a Fitbit in your skull. The device itself, Musk recently revealed, is misleadingly named Telepathy.

This techno-futurist language may give participants unrealistic expectations about the likelihood and kind of individual benefit. They may also underappreciate the risks, which could include severe brain damage.

The way forward

In this next chapter of the Neuralink odyssey, Musk and his team must maintain a strong commitment to research integrity and patient care. Neuralinks establishment of a patient registry to connect with patient communities is a step in the right direction.

Long-term planning and careful use of language will be necessary to preventing harm to patients and families.

The nightmare scenario for all neurotechnology research would be a repeat of Walter Freemans disastrous pre-frontal lobotomy experiments in the 1940s and 1950s. These had catastrophic consequences for patients and set research back by generations. (The Conversation) NSA NSA
Italian mafia boss Marco Raduano, who fled from a prison in Sardinia using bed sheets in 2023, has been arrested in France. He was on the list of Europes most wanted criminals, maintained by Europol, the law enforcement agency of the European Union. The man climbed down the prison wall using knotted bed sheets. (Representational Image/Unsplash)

According to a report by BBC, the 40-year-old mafia boss was serving a sentence of 24 years for drug trafficking and other crimes when he executed his daring escape from a high-security prison in France.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The act was also caught on camera. In the video, Raduano can be seen climbing down the prison wall using bed sheets before making a swift getaway.

Take a look at the video here:

The man was dining in a restaurant with a young woman when the authorities arrested him in Aleria. The police also arrested his right hand, Gianluigi Troiano, near Granada in southern Spain, reports the BBC.

According to The Guardian, Raduano is the head of the Gargano clan, operating within the fifth mafia, a relatively unknown criminal syndicate based in Foggia, Italy.

The video was shared a few hours ago on Instagram. Since then, it has accumulated over 5.9 million views, and the numbers are still increasing. Many even took to the comments section of the video to share their thoughts.

Check out a few comments here:

Damn he said: Works in the cartoons just might work here and pulled it off, posted an individual.

Another added, I thought they only can do it in movies.

No fence or barbed wire? expressed a third.

A fourth commented, Thats prison break right there. Tell me Im lying.

Just like in movies, expressed a fifth.
The omicron variant of COVID-19 poses enormous challenges for governments. In America, cases are at three times their previous peak in January 2021, hospitals are as busy as they have ever been and deaths have risen by 40% in two weeks to 1,800 per day. Meanwhile, China has recorded just one death from COVID in the past 12 months and fewer than 17,000 cases. Covid In China: Security guards wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) amid the Covid-19 pandemic sit at an entrance of a building in Beijing.(AFP)

Xi Jinping, Chinas president, hails its record on COVID-19 as proof of the superiority of the one-party system. But his strategy has necessitated strict border controls and severe lockdowns for cities that suffer an outbreak. The 13m residents of Xian, a city in western China, have been confined to their homes since December 23rd. Another 10m are subject to lockdowns elsewhere in the country.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

To determine how life has been upended by COVID-19, The Economist devised a global normalcy index. It tracks day-to-day behaviour relating to eight indicators split into three categories: transport, recreation and commercial activity. The index monitors 50 countries, which together account for 75% of the global population and 90% of GDP. Our overall global index is a population-weighted average of the country scores which are, in turn, an average of the eight indicators, where 100 is equivalent to the pre-pandemic norm.

Our overall index stands at 75 points, up from a nadir of 35 points in April 2020. China scores 66 points, placing it 34th in our table, which is topped by Egypt and Pakistanthe only two countries where normalcy is higher than 100, suggesting that activity is above pre-pandemic levels. Normalcy is lowest in the Netherlands, which shut bars, restaurants and many shops in December to reduce infections. America, despite its high infection rate and the pressure on hospitals, scores 70 points, placing it 26th.

Over the past four weeks normalcy has declined in 42 of the countries we track as they reel from the spread of Omicron. But compared with January last year, when few people were vaccinated, it has improved in 47 of the 50 countries, by an average of 22 points. Vaccines have given governments room to loosen restrictions. Britains government hopes to remove most covid rules in England by the end of March, including mandatory self-isolation for those testing positive.

China is one of three countries where normalcy is lower today than it was a year ago. Vietnam imposed stern restrictions last June in response to a surge in cases and is now normalising again. New Zealand had a zero-covid policy in January 2021, under which life continued largely as normal, albeit with strict border controls. It abandoned that approach in October after it was hit by a wave of Delta infections that it could not suppress, and has now adopted a traffic-light system of restrictions. But although 90% of Chinas adults are double-vaccinated, there is no sign that its government plans to follow the same path. That may be because it does not trust the efficacy of its domestically produced vaccines, particularly when faced with a variant that is at least twice as transmissible as the last.

Omicron is likely to expose any gaps in Chinas defences. Cases, still mostly Delta, have spread slowly around the country in recent weeks. Tianjin, a city 110km from Beijing, has recorded 365 infections over the past fortnight. On January 15th an Omicron case was discovered in Beijing. The citys health authorities blamed it on a contaminated parcel from Canada, echoing the central governments anti-Western propaganda. They will hope it is an isolated incident. Beijing can ill afford restrictions as it prepares to host the Winter Olympic Games, beginning on February 4th.

For a look behind the scenes of our data journalism, sign up to Off the Charts, our weekly newsletter.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O'Neill was named first minister in the government that under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday peace accord shares power equally between Northern Ireland's two main communities  British unionists who want to stay in the UK, and Irish nationalists who seek to unite with Ireland. HT Image

Northern Ireland was established as a unionist, Protestant-majority part of the UK in 1921, following independence for the Republic of Ireland, so O'Neill's nomination was seen as a highly symbolic moment for nationalists.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

This is a historic day which represents a new dawn, O'Neill said. That such a day would ever come would have been unimaginable to my parents and grandparents' generation. Because of the Good Friday Agreement that old state that they were born into is gone. A more democratic, more equal society has been created making this a better place for everyone.

O'Neill will share power with deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly from the Democratic Unionist Party. The two will be equals, but O'Neill, whose party captured more seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly in the 2022 elections, will hold the more prestigious title.

Neither side can govern without agreement from the other. Government business ground to a half over the past two years after the DUP walked out to protest trade issues related to Brexit.

O'Neill, 47, who was born in the Republic of Ireland but raised in the north, comes from a family with links to the militant Irish Republican Army. Her father was imprisoned as an IRA member, an uncle raised money for the group and two of her cousins were shot  one fatally  by security forces.

O'Neill has been criticized for attending events commemorating the IRA and told an interviewer there was no alternative to the group's armed campaign during the Troubles, a period of about 30 years of violent conflict over the future of Northern Ireland, which ended with the Good Friday accords.

I don't think any Irish person ever woke up one morning and thought that conflict was a good idea, but the war came to Ireland," she said in 2022. "I think at the time there was no alternative, but now, thankfully, we have an alternative to conflict and that's the Good Friday agreement.

At 15, O'Neill became pregnant and her mother quit work to help raise her granddaughter so O'Neill could stay in school. She said the Catholic school she attended had not been supportive and pregnancy had been a very negative" experience.

You were nearly made to feel girls like you can't be at school, that kind of a thing, she said.

As a member of Sinn Fein, the party affiliated with the IRA, O'Neill was elected in 2005 to the Dungannon Borough Council, replacing her father. She was elected to the Stormont Assembly in 2007.

Both O'Neill and Little-Pengelly, 44, grew up under the shadow of the Troubles and pledged to work together to bridge divides that once seemed insurmountable.

The past with all its horror can never be forgotten, and nor will it be allowed to be rewritten but while we are shaped by the past, we are not defined by it, Little-Pengelly said. The experience of my childhood gave me the drive and desire to make a different future not just for myself, but to do all that I could and can to ensure a better future for all of us."

Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, who helped broker the historic peace agreement, was in the gallery to witness O'Neill's nomination along with her grown up daughter and son.

As an Irish republican, I pledge cooperation and genuine honest effort with those colleagues who are British, of a unionist tradition, and who cherish the Union, O'Neill said. "This is an assembly for all  Catholic, Protestant and dissenter.

Clare Rice, an academic researcher in politics, said O'Neill's new position was hugely symbolic and hugely significant despite there being no difference beyond semantics from her previous role as deputy first minister.

All eyes today will be on that symbolic nomination," Rice told the BBC. That is going to be the story that comes out of today, second only to the fact that we're here at all.

The return to government came exactly two years after a DUP boycott over a dispute about trade restrictions for goods coming into Northern Ireland from Great Britain. Northern Ireland's 1.9 million people were left without a functioning administration as the cost of living soared and public services were strained.

An open border between the north and the republic was a key pillar of the peace process that ended the Troubles, so checks were imposed instead between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

An agreement a year ago between the UK and the EU, known as the Windsor Framework, eased customs checks and other hurdles but didn't go far enough for the DUP, which continued its boycott.

The UK government this week agreed to new changes that would eliminate routine checks and paperwork for most goods entering Northern Ireland, although some checks will remain for illegal goods or disease prevention.

The new changes included legislation affirming Northern Ireland's constitutional status as part of the UK and gives local politicians democratic oversight of any future EU laws that might apply to Northern Ireland.

The UK government also agreed to give Northern Ireland more than 3 billion pounds (USD 3.8 billion) for its battered public services once the Belfast government is back up and running.

I believe that my party has delivered what many said we couldn't," DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said outside the assembly chamber in Stormont. We have brought about change that many said was not possible, and I believe that today is a good day for Northern Ireland, a day when once again our place in the United Kingdom and its internal market is respected and protected in our law and restored for all our people to enjoy the benefits of our membership of the union.

Former DUP leader Edwin Poots was elected as speaker of the chamber. (AP) PY PY
At least 20 journalists from foreign press organisations were detained in central Moscow for hours on Saturday as Russian authorities cracked down at demonstrations outside President Vladimir Putins election headquarters where Russian soldiers' wives demanded that they be returned home from the war in Ukraine, media outlets reported. Wives of Russian soldiers mobilized for fighting in Ukraine talk to each other after laying flowers at the Unknown Soldier's Tomb at the Kremlin wall in Moscow, Russia. (AP/File)

Women have increasingly been demanding that their husbands and sons be asked to return home from fighting in the Ukraine war.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The journalists, including one from Reuters, were filming the protests where women were seen laying red carnations over the tomb of an unknown soldier. Russian police asked about 20 male journalists, several wearing press vests, to board a bus and took them to the Kitay-Gorod station. Some journalists were also taken to the Basmanny station, CNN reported.

However, they were released after a few hours without any charges against them, Reuters reported.

Videos showed journalists being detained near the Red Square in Moscow.

A Reuters spokesperson said in a statement, A Reuters journalist was detained while covering a story in Moscow, Russia today and released after several hours. Journalists should be free to report the news without fear of harassment or harm, wherever they are. We are committed to covering world events in an independent, unbiased, and reliable way, in keeping with the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The 500 days of mobilisation rally, held on Saturday, first began with women gathering near the walls of the Kremlin before moving to Putin's election headquarters.

Independent Russian news outlet SOTAvision reported on their Telegram channel that one of their reporters saw security forces snatching random people from the crowd, and only men.

OVD-info, a group monitoring Russia's repression told CNN that they dispatched a lawyer, who was denied access.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) said one of its video journalists was also detained and later released.

Another Russian independent news outlet said that some of the detained journalists belonged to Kommersant, Agence France Press and Spiegel. OVD-info said that a total of 27 people were detained. Media outlets said it included journalists and human rights activists.

The Moscow prosecutor's office declared that the rally on Saturday had not been coordinated with the authorities, cautioning against organising and participating in unauthorized mass events.
(Bloomberg) -- Northern Irelands government and assembly sat for the first time in two years on Saturday, with an Irish nationalist from the Sinn Fein party appointed as first minister, a milestone moment in the regions turbulent history. HT Image

Michelle ONeill, whose party campaigns to reunite Northern Ireland with the Republic over a century after partition, has been waiting to take on the role since May 2022, when Sinn Fein won the most seats in assembly elections.

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Today opens the door to the future, ONeill said in her first speech as first minister. We mark a moment of equality and progress. A new opportunity to work and grow together.

US President Joe Biden said he welcomes and strongly supports the restoration. This is an important step, he said in a statement.

ONeill, 47, had been prevented from taking up her role by the Democratic Unionist Party, which quit the power-sharing institutions to protest Brexit trading rules it said were weakening Northern Irelands position within the UK.

The DUP this week reached a deal with the British government to end its boycott, including receiving a 3.3 billion ($4.17 billion) funding boost and measures it said would strengthen the union.

The lawmakers gathered at Stormont, Northern Irelands parliament in Belfast, on Saturday appointed former DUP leader Edwin Poots as speaker.

The DUPs Emma Little-Pengelly was appointed as deputy first minister, and said in a speech that the days events confirm the democratic outcome of the 2022 election.

ONeills appointment wouldnt have been possible prior to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of nationalist-unionist conflict by ensuring both would be represented in the power-sharing government. Even then, unionists continued to appoint the first minister, a continuation of their in-built political dominance when Northern Ireland was created in 1921.

But the picture has been gradually changing. Months before the 2022 vote, a census showed that Catholics  who traditionally support Irish nationalism and reunification  made up the biggest religious group for the first time. That raised profound questions for the regions typically Protestant unionists, who insist that Northern Ireland remains firmly a part of the UK. Sinn Feins legacy as the political wing of the IRA adds to unionist unease.

Thats the wider political backdrop to the DUPs protest, which critics said reflected its unwillingness to share power in a government that would reflect the regions shifting dynamics. It also underscores the scale of the challenge to keep the power-sharing government up and running this time.

Even after the DUP agreed to end its boycott, a breakthrough that took five hours of talks in a remote location chosen to try to keep protesters away, the week has seen political parties revert to strident rhetoric.

Northern Irelands electoral majority for unionism has gone, Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald, who is Irelands official opposition leader, said alongside ONeill on Tuesday. With Sinn Fein leading polls in the Republic of Ireland too, it signals a new Ireland emerging. A united Ireland, she said, is within touching distance.

The pushback from unionists was immediate.

Its not helpful when Mary Lou McDonald comes out and goes a United Ireland is within touching distance  I dont think it is, said Emma Shaw, a community activist and founder of the Phoenix Education Centre, which aims to tackle educational under achievement in east Belfast.

The British government, too, was unequivocal. Asked about Sinn Feins rise and the likelihood of a border poll  the mechanism for reunification set out in the Good Friday Agreement, subject to majority support for a united Ireland  the UKs Northern Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris replied: Not in my lifetime.

Despite the unionist opposition, reunification has never been as live a policy issue as it is now, said Muiris MacCarthaigh, head of politics and international relations at Queens University Belfast. It all stems back to Brexit, he said, which put the issue of identity firmly on the agenda.

Brexit also exposed ructions within Northern Ireland unionism, which were laid bare again after the DUP announced it would end its protest.

Its two years to the day since the DUP walked out of the government in protest at the Brexit deal signed between the UK and European Union, which created a de facto border in the Irish Sea to avoid creating a land border on the island of Ireland. It also handed the region hybrid status: still in the EUs single market for goods, even as the rest of the UK departed.

Unionist hardliners have spent months pressuring DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson not to return to government if Brexit rules remained. Protesters gathered outside the partys leadership meeting on Monday, and in the House of Commons some DUP lawmakers took aim at the deal he struck with the UK government.

But Donaldson was adamant that returning to power-sharing was a better option for unionists in Northern Ireland than direct rule from London. He accused his unionist critics of not wanting power-sharing at all. Some of them live in a bygone era, he said. Is this really the time for unionism to turn in on itself?

Graham Walker, a politics professor at Queens, said that while theres a minority of unionists who wont yield ground on the Brexit deal, they dont have the numbers to derail Donaldsons return to power-sharing.

There are also reasons to get Stormont up and running that straddle the political divide, not least the ability to spend the additional UK funding. That will come as a relief to public sector workers who havent received a pay rise during the lengthy cost-of-living crisis and held a mass general strike last month.

There is additional money now, said Gareth Hetherington, director of the Economic Policy Centre at the University of Ulster. Whether it is enough to see off future strikes is yet to be determined.

The DUPs boycott is far from the only time the devolved assembly has been curtailed. Sinn Fein has done it, including over support for the Irish language. Since it was set up in 1999 the body has sat for less than 60% of the time.

When it comes to any kind of contentious issue, its very hard to get agreement between the parties, said MacCarthaigh. The two parties have fundamental differences on where Northern Ireland belongs and its very difficult to park that, he added.

Based on the rhetoric this week, that picture wont change soon. Asked about working with a nationalist first minister, Donaldson told BBC Radio Ulster he sees ONeill as a joint first minister. Though the first and deputy do have joint authority in Northern Ireland, the message was clear.

(Updates with Biden comment in fourth paragraph.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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A report from The Wall Street Journal has said that Elon Musks friends and business associates are being forced to use drugs with him due to peer pressure. Many board members and directors of his companies have to allegedly participate in or enable his substance use in a bid to stay close to him. Elon Musk attends the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre in Paris, France, June 16, 2023 (REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo)(REUTERS)

Musk has allegedly been seen taking ketamine and drinking liquid ecstasy at parties. Others who also used drugs include current and former Tesla and SpaceX directors and board members. They are said to have invested millions of dollars in Musk's companies. Among these people are venture capitalists Gracias and Ira Ehrenpreis, tech mogul Larry Ellison, former media executive James Murdoch, and Musks brother, Kimbal Musk.

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At the upscale Austin Proper Hotel, Musk has attended social gatherings in recent years with Tesla board member Joe Gebbia, the Airbnb co-founder and a friend of his, where Musk took ketamine recreationally through a nasal spray bottle multiple times, according to people familiar with the drug use and the parties, the report states.

Musk and some people close to him, including Kimbal Musk, attend parties at Hotel El Ganzo, a boutique hotel in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, known for its art and music scene as well as drug-fueled events, according to people familiar with the parties, it adds.

The report says that Musks business associates are afraid they will lose their social status and wealth if they refuse drugs and upset the billionaire.

The report also stated that even though some current and former Tesla and SpaceX directors know of Musks illegal drug use, they have refrained from taking public action.

In a January report, The Wall Street Journal said Musk has used drugs like cocaine, ecstasy, LSD and magic mushrooms, besides ketamine. The drugs actually violate anti-drug policies at the billionaire's own companies.
Mike Gill, a member of former president Donald Trumps administration, has reportedly died after a recent carjacking incident in Washington, D.C. Gill, who worked at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, was shot last week while he was sitting in his car. A suspect entered his vehicle and attacked him. Mike Gill, a member of former president Donald Trumps administration, has reportedly died after a recent carjacking incident in Washington, D.C. (Mike Gill/LinkedIn)

GIll's wife, Kristina, confirmed his death to FOX 5 DC. "It is with profound sadness that I wish to inform the community of the passing of my husband, Mike Gill," Kristina wrote. "His sudden departure has left a void in our lives that can never be filled."

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"In this time of grief, we are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from family, friends, and the community, and extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has reached out to offer condolences and assistance, she added.

The suspected gunman who shot Gill was identified by police as 28-year-old Artell Cunningham. He was later shot dead by New Carrollton police officers after he allegedly moved towards them in Lanham, while being armed. He was a Suitland resident with a minor criminal history.

Gill was senior vice president for Capital Markets at the Housing Policy Council at the time of his death. He worked at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission during the Trump administration in the past.

Wonderful, honest, earnest, and open-hearted

Gills friend for 15 years, President and CEO of the American Investment Council, Drew Maloney, said after his death, Mike was not just a close friend; he was an extended member of our family. Our daughters' friendship blossomed into a beautiful bond, and it was a testament to Mike's warmth and kindness that he welcomed us into his life with open arms. Through countless holidays, celebrations, and shared moments, our families became intertwined, and I am so grateful for our enduring friendship."

Former CFTF Chairman J. Christopher Giancarlo said, Mike Gill was one of the most wonderful, honest, earnest, and open-hearted persons on this earth. His life reflects everything that is good and right and true. Words cannot express the tragedy of the loss of this fine man, colleague, and cherished friend. He will be sorely missed and long remembered."
President Joe Biden won the South Carolina Democratic primary on Saturday, January 3. As many as 55 delegates are up for grabs but Biden was expected to win, defeating challengers Marianne Williamson and Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.). U.S. President Joe Biden reacts as he attends the opening of the Biden for President campaign office in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., February 3, 2024 (REUTERS/Joshua Roberts)(REUTERS)

Donald Trump a loser  again

Biden was attending a fundraising event in Los Angeles when his victory was announced. He later said in a statement, In 2020, it was the voters of South Carolina who proved the pundits wrong, breathed new life into our campaign, and set us on the path to winning the Presidency. Now in 2024, the people of South Carolina have spoken again and I have no doubt that you have set us on the path to winning the Presidency again  and making Donald Trump a loser  again.

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Biden visited the Palmetto state twice last month. Youve had my back, and I hope Ive had yours, Biden said last weekend, addressing the Sunday lunch crowd at Brookland Baptist Church in Columbia.

Biden stopped at his reelection campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, before heading to the fundraising event on Saturday, making some brief remarks. This is not just a campaign. This is more of a mission. We cannot, we cannot, we cannot lose this campaign, for the good of the country, he said.

I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Its not about me, Biden continued. Its about the country. And I think everybody knows it and I think its beginning to dawn on people. He added, The American people get it. They understand whats going on.

Republicans dominate South Carolina in the general elections. Jimmy Carter was the last Democratic presidential nominee to win in 1976.

Biden won the New Hampshires Democratic primary on January 23, although he was not listed on the ballot. Supporters reportedly wrote his name in.
A Tesla employee from Minnesota was arrested in Texas for allegedly threatening to kill president Joe Biden and Elon Musk. Justin McCauley, 31, recently posted on X that he was "planning to kill" Biden, Musk, his companies X and Tesla. A Tesla employee from Minnesota was arrested in Texas for allegedly threatening to kill president Joe Biden and Elon Musk (REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File Photo, REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo)

"I will arrive in Texas where the war has begun on many fronts @X @Tesla," he wrote in a post. In a different post, he said, "@JoeBiden @X @Telsa @Elonmusk, I am planning to kill all of you."

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McCauley was charged with felony terroristic threats, Fox9 reported.

Court filings said that McCauley's wife called Rogers Police and informed them he said he was leaving Texas, never to return. He even left his mobile phone at home so that no one could track him.

As per the indictments, Oklahoman law authorities stopped McCauley while he was passing through the state on January 26. He told officers that he wished to speak with the president. "Wouldn't you want to talk to the president if you knew you were going to die tomorrow?" he reportedly said.

Authorities learned the next morning that there was a threat call at the Tesla Gigafactory in Austin. However, it is unclear if McCauley made the call.

Court documents revealed that police also stopped McCauley in Austin, where he said he wanted to visit the Tesla Gigafactory to speak with Musk. Police then arrested him, according to CBS News.

Musk claimed in December 2022 that it was quite significant that something could happen to him, and that he could even be shot. During a lengthy chat on Twitter Spaces, he said he "definitely" would not be taking part in any open-air car parades.

"Frankly the risk of something bad happening to me, or even literally being shot, is quite significant," Musk said. He added, It's not that hard to kill somebody if you wanted to, so hopefully they don't, and fate smiles upon the situation with me and it does not happen ... There's definitely some risk there."
Hangzhou Trade and Tourism Group (HTTG), Zhejiang Dragon Hotel Management Group Co., Ltd (The Dragon Group) and Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced that affiliates of the three parties entered into a strategic cooperation agreement. The cooperation aims to drive the expansion of hotels under Hyatts distinguished Independent Collection and select service brands in China and foster the strategic development of The Dragon Group and its hotel brands. On the same day, it was announced that The Dragon Group was acknowledged by Hyatt as a third-party management company for franchised hotels across Hyatts portfolio under Independent Collection and select service brands within the territory of China.

At the heart of this collaboration is a groundbreaking approach  combining the unique strengths of local giants with the diversified brand portfolio and worldwide loyalty program of an international group. HTTG, a forefront tourism group in China encompassing a broad-spectrum of industrial and commercial ventures, and The Dragon Group, renowned for its Chinese-oriented hospitality expertise, bring a wealth of local experience and market presence to this strategic cooperation agreement.

This cooperation sets the stage for Hyatt to significantly expand its brand footprint throughout China. We are pleased to join hands with HTTG and The Dragon Group and expand our franchise growth in Asia Pacific. Hyatt continues to seek innovative ways to develop our hotel portfolio by collaborating with owners and developers who share our values and commitment to expanding our brands in a country with such significant growth potential, said Stephen Ho, president Greater China and growth, Asia Pacific, Hyatt.

HTTG is a leading player with extensive experience in developing upscale hotels in China and has a striking return on investment. We are confident that Hyatt's expertise in the hotel industry and globally renowned brand reputation can unlock unprecedented business growth. Chen Guohua, general manager, Hangzhou Trade and Tourism Group

The Dragon Group has profound insights into the Chinese hotel market, overseeing a variety of hotels and resorts across the country. With our deep roots in the local market and Hyatts global resources in hospitality, we look forward to offering a diverse range of choices for guests and creating distinguished guest experiences that exceed expectations in the dynamic and highly competitive market. Charles Cheng, chairman, The Dragon Group Hotel Management Co, LTD

Under the strategic cooperation agreement, Hyatt and The Dragon Group intend to develop more than 60 hotels over the coming decade, the first of which is expected to be a Hyatt Place hotel in Hangzhou. Once affiliated, these hotels will be part of Hyatts loyalty program, World of Hyatt, which is one of the fastest growing loyalty programs in the hospitality industry. Guests will be able to earn World of Hyatt points and redeem them for free night awards and access many other benefits at Hyatt locations worldwide, which reflects Hyatts commitment to catering to the evolving preferences of its Chinese guests and to continually offering them diverse and exceptional hospitality experiences.

The term Hyatt is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.
Governor Signs Order Directing State Agencies to Institute Skills-Based Hiring

NEWTON  In her address to the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), Governor Healey announced that she signed an executive order instituting skills-based hiring practices for the state's workforce.

Through this Executive Order, for the vast majority of job postings, the administration will focus primarily on applicants' skills, knowledge, and abilities rather than educational credentials. Job postings will only be allowed to include degree conditions when absolutely necessary to the performance of the job. Additionally, for the first time, hiring managers will receive training and tools to implement this new hiring strategy effectively.

"As the state's largest employer, we rely on a strong, diverse workforce to deliver crucial services and programs for Massachusetts residents, businesses and communities every day. But too many job applicants are being held back by unnecessary degree requirements," said Governor Healey. "This Executive Order directs our administration to focus on applicants' skills and experiences, rather than college credentials. It will expand our applicant pool and help us build a more inclusive and skilled workforce than ever before. Our administration is leading by example, and we encourage the business community to join us by adopting similar skills-based hiring practices."

The Executive Order directs all executive departments and agencies to utilize skills-based employment practices to attract, recruit, hire, retain, and develop workers. The Executive Order also requires the completion of a skills-based hiring training course for all agency managers and support teams and ensure job postings and interview questions promote a candidate's set of skills, knowledge, and abilities. Additionally, as part of the Administration's "Lead by Example" Employer Talent Initiative, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development will collaborate with private, non-profit, and government employers to develop and publish best practices resources for the broader business community to also adopt skills-based hiring strategies.

"Massachusetts has an incredible opportunity to leverage its platform as a major employer, lead by example, and encourage more employers to do the same," said?Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones.?"As employers, including the Commonwealth, embrace a skills-based hiring practice, we will collectively open more opportunities to hire, retain, and develop the diverse, skilled talent employers need to grow and thrive in regions across the state."

The Executive Order also calls for new job postings not to specify a minimum level of education as an entrance requirement unless it is determined that a particular level of education is necessary to perform the job.?While only 7 percent of current positions require an education requirement, the state's Human Resources Division (HRD) will routinely review positions to determine if education requirements are necessary to perform the job.

As part of its guidance to departments and agencies, HRD will develop?tools for skills-based recruiting such as identifying and reducing bias, writing a job description, and creating a recruitment plan. HRD will also provide best practices when screening and interviewing candidates.?As part of a skills-based hiring strategy, the Healey-Driscoll Administration aims to reduce unconscious bias in the workplace by focusing on eliminating biases during the hiring process.?

Residents interested in a career in state government, including roles in health, human services, transportation, IT, finance, housing, economic and workforce development, veterans' services, energy, climate, environmental affairs, public safety, and education, can visit the MassCareers website for job opportunities.
Williams College senior Sean Morrissey shows how a StoryWalk placard could be positioned on a tree on a trail at Margaret Lindley Park in Williamstown.

StoryWalk Planned for Williamstown's Margaret Lindley Park

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The town's swimming hole soon could have a new attraction for youngsters on dry land.

The Conservation Commission, which controls Margaret Lindley Park, recently gave its blessing to a plan to create a StoryWalk on trails within the town-owned park.

Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation Program Director Dana Williams and Sean Morrissey, a Williams College senior doing an internship with Rural Lands, appeared before the commission to present their proposal.

Morrissey explained that they hope to create the StoryWalk on a quarter-mile trail using child-friendly books with themes appropriate to the park and the commission's mission.

"The idea is we're going to choose a children's book, take the pages out, laminate them and put two pages on each panel and put the panels on the trees using this strap," Morrissey said, showing the commissioners an example of the tree-friendly hanging mechanism.

"We looked at a bunch of books with nature themes. They're very digestible for kids."

The pair said they hope to be able to switch out the books a couple of times during the summer, giving returning visitors new stories to explore in the woods. Williams said the Margaret Lindley Park story walk could be the start of an even bigger endeavor.

"We're hoping to include, eventually, community projects from local artists or poets," she said. "In coming years, we would like to work with Williamstown Elementary School students on a classroom unity to make their own story or their own interpretive walk and have that displayed as well."

The commissioners all were supportive of the idea but had a few questions for the applicants, including how the StoryWalk will be maintained and how WRLF planned to deal with copyright issues.

Williams said volunteers from the non-profit will be the ones to maintain the walk and that the commission was encouraged to let WRLF know if there are any issues. She also explained that the StoryWalk project has streamlined the process for groups to create their own versions of the learning tool.

"StoryWalks originated in Vermont as a way to get families out to both experience nature and promote literacy," Williams said in a meeting telecast on the town's community access television station, Willinet. "The copyright part has been worked out in general. You don't have to reach out to a publisher or author to specifically ask for rights."

The pair told the commissioners that they had not finalized the choice of books but offered to show examples of the kinds of books they were considering.

Commissioner Philip McKnight asked whether there was a reason to think anyone would object to the content of the books.

"Given the crazy world we live in, are any of these books likely to cause controversy?" McKnight asked.

"Hopefully not," Williams replied. "We have looked through all the books. They're pretty innocuous  just nature themes. One is about how rocks formed, which hopefully isn't too controversial."

"Run that by Florida," quipped a member of the commission.

The Con Comm gave the go-ahead to proceed with the StoryWalk project on the condition that WRLF submit some more details in writing.

In other business at its Jan. 25 meeting, the commission extended an order of conditions for the control of invasive species in a private pond at 870 Henderson Road.

Homeowner Margot Moomaw told the commission that what began as a one-time treatment has evolved into an ongoing maintenance plan for the 1.5-acre pond.

"I think we've learned a lot the last couple of years," Moomaw said. "We're particularly learning on a microlevel what climate change means to our environment. We had a year of extreme drought, another year of extreme wetness. We've had the introduction of species that were more common in the mid-Atlantic states. Bur-reed, for the first time, was in Williamstown in our pond and several other ponds.

"We now are resigned to the fact that we need ongoing monitoring, and, year-by-year, we need to make an assessment and decide what the treatment priorities will be for the year."

Moomaw said she was fortunate to connect with a responsive pond maintenance firm, The Brookfield, Conn.,-based Pond and Lake Connection, to help manage the pond.

"We pledged, and we believe, we should not use broad spectrum herbicides to get rid of everything," Moomaw said, referring to the original notice of intent she and her husband filed for the pond. "We want to maintain a living ecosystem. And we're happy to say we see the bird species, we see the fish species, we see the frogs, the salamanders, the turtles. None of them have left our pond.

"But we get a different crop of weeds that are predominant each year. And we'd like to be able to treat them as they occur."

The commissioners approved the extension and thanked the Moomaws for their maintenance of the pond.

"There are a lot of ponds in Williamstown with similar issues, and I think we're lucky to have your experience, painful as it may be at times, to help with something that's on other people's minds," Con Comm Chair Lauren Stevens said.




iciHaiti - Politic : Trinidad and Tobago asks Haiti to set an electoral calendar





The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Keith Rowley, who visited the United States earlier this week at the head of a delegation to discuss the "calamity situation" in which Haiti finds itself, he urged the United States to take action and leadership in this crisis, emphasizing that Washington "cannot wash its hands of Haiti."



Friday February 2nd Keith Rowleya asked the Haitian Government to establish a timetable for the holding of free elections recalling "Haiti does not have a single elected official" since 2021, asking the current administration in Haiti to chart a path towards a electoral calendar",



Let's recall that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), an organization of 15 members which includes Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago, is working on mediation between the different Haitian political actors to help organize new elections to put an end to this serious socio, economic, political and security crisis from which Haiti suffers



S/ iciHaiti


















Sunday 4 February 2024, 15:13 - Last updated: 17:22

Kledi Kadiu guest today (Sunday, February 4) together with Emanuel Lo, at Verissimo. The two very close dancers will tell their story in an unprecedented interview. His story is common to many Albanians who, in the mid-90s, fled their homeland in search of fortune. A fortune that for him is called Italy. He is Kledi Kadiu, today a well-known face in the world of dance and TV, but before becoming what he is there were years of passion, dedication, work but also a lot of suffering. Let's find out more about the dancer.

Who is Kledi Kadiu

Born in Tirana, Albania on April 7, 1974 (he is almost 50 years old). He entered the National Dance Academy at a very young age where he graduated in 1992. In the same year, he joined the Corps de Ballet of the Tirana Opera Theater where he immediately took on solo roles in repertoire ballets such as Giselle, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote and Daphnis and Chloe.

The career

He embarked on a "sea cart" and landed in Italy in search of a better life but once he arrived he was sent back. A journey that was also told in the out of competition docu-film titled "La Nave Dolce" by director Daniele Vicari, presented at the 69th Venice International Film Festival. His first television experience came in 1996 and from the following year he became the lead dancer in popular programs such as Buona Domenica, C'e posta per te and Amici di Maria De Filippi.

Emanuel Lo at Verissimo, who is the choreographer partner of Giorgia? Age, career, private life and friendship with Kledi

In 2005 he also had his first cinematic experience with Passo a due (directed by Andrea Barzini and choreography by Mauro Mosconi), followed by the film La cura del gorilla with Claudio Bisio (directed by Carlo Sigon). In 2006 Kledi was the protagonist of the television fiction broadcast on Rai 1 Ma chi l'avrebbe mai detto (directed by Giuliana Gamba, with Ornella Muti and Katia Ricciarelli).In the 2007-2009 theater season he is the protagonist in "Giulietta e Romeo" by Fabrizio Monteverde with the Ballet of Rome. For years he has been involved in the dissemination of the Art of Dance by holding Stages and Workshops all over Italy. A large audience of students and professionals always follow his lessons with passion.

The gossip

After years under the spotlight, Kledi seems to eclipse and this gives rise to some rumors denied not long ago by Kledi himself. The rumor mongers claimed that behind his withdrawal from TV there was a supposed relationship with Maria De Filippi but he laughs it off, denying the flirt and simply calling her his talent scout.

Private life: wife and children

In 2016 he becomes the father of Lea and two years later he marries his young companion Charlotte Lazzari, also a dancer. Then in August 2021 came Gabriel born with a serious illness. Only last year Kledi managed to talk about the illness of the second-born, born in August 2021 on social media.

The son's illness

The former dancer of Amici in a long post revealed that the little one, a few weeks after birth, was diagnosed with "meningo-encephalitis". A very strong story that of the dancer. "After his birth a calvary began that really put us to the test - Kledi told on Instagram -. Gabriel survived and after reopening his eyes, step by step and with the audacity of a hero he put all his strength into play to reclaim what this bad unexpected had taken away from him". Then, he added: "He had to face a month and a half in intensive care and many, many tests. Today we do not want to hide behind words pretending that everything is simple but we believe immensely in neuro plasticity, in the boundless willpower of our little warrior, in constancy and in love as the best stimulus to learning".
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Police have arrested an employee at the Indian embassy in Moscow for allegedly spying for Pakistan's intelligence agency.

Satendra Siwal, who was working for India's foreign ministry in Russia, was arrested in the north Indian city of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.

The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh said the suspect was allegedly involved in anti-India activities, which included sharing confidential information with Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI.

The authorities allegedly received inputs that Pakistan's ISI handlers had lured India's foreign ministry employees with financial incentives to leak secrets regarding the Indian army. Mr Siwal has been working at the Indian embassy in Moscow since 2021.

"The ATS developed this information and through electronic surveillance and evidence collection, and it was found that Satendra Siwal ... was involved in this," the police said in a statement, according to The Indian Express.

Mr Siwal allegedly provided classified information about the army and military activities to Pakistan in exchange for money.

The suspect was arrested after he failed to provide "satisfactory answers about the information sent by him" and later "confessed to his crime" upon further interrogation, police said.

His belongings, including two mobile phones, identity proofs and Rs 600 (5.7) were seized during the operation, the ATS said.

A case has been registered against the suspect under the Officials Secrets Act.

India's foreign ministry said it was aware of the arrest of Mr Siwal and would continue to assist the investigative authorities in the case.

Last year, a man of Pakistani origin who had been living in India as a citizen for 17 years was arrested on espionage charges.

Labhshankar Duryodhan Maheshwari, 53, was arrested for allegedly helping Pakistani agents access an Indian SIM card, which they used to hack the phones of Indian defence personnels children in army schools, according to local media reports.
 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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Detectives hunting for Clapham attack fugitive Abdul Ezedi have offered a 20,000 reward for information leading to his capture and have warned that anyone found helping him will face arrest.

With the sex offender still at large four days after allegedly attacking a woman and her two children with a corrosive alkaline substance in south London  leaving 12 people with injuries  the Metropolitan Police said that they believe there are people who know where he is who have not come forward.

Raising fears that Ezedi  who was granted asylum from his native Afghanistan following a conviction for sexual assault and exposure  could seek to flee the country.

Scotland Yard said the Border Force was among multiple agencies helping to find Ezedi, with detectives in London having alerted all UK police forces and ports.

Police updated their last sighting by just over half an hour on Sunday, having now traced Ezedis movements up until 9.33pm on Wednesday  less than two hours after the attack  when he was seen leaving Tower Hill underground station.

CCTV footage shows Ezedi at Tesco near Kings Cross shortly after the attack (Metropolitan Police/PA)

And investigators revealed new details from laboratory analysis about the chemical used in the attack, which they said was a very strong concentrated corrosive substance, either liquid sodium hydroxide or liquid sodium carbonate, alkalines used to make soap and bleach respectively.

It comes after a witness revealed the three-year-old victim would have died if his partner hadnt intervened in the attack on Lessar Avenue.

My partner lunged in and tackled him, grabbing his leg and falling to the ground in the process like a rugby tackle, he told The Times. I have no doubt that if my partner had not jumped in then the child would no longer be with us.

While the two young girls, aged three and eight, are not thought to have suffered life-changing injuries as initially feared, it is believed that their mother has. She remains in a critical but stable condition.

Commander Jon Savell said: I am hugely grateful to the public for the significant number of calls that we have received. Your help is critical. A reward of up to 20,000 is now available for information leading to his arrest.

Clapham attack: Ezedis movements (PA)

I must warn anyone who is helping Ezedi to evade capture  if you are harbouring or assisting him then you will be arrested.

Our inquiry line is staffed 24/7 by specialist detectives who are progressing enquiries around the clock. If you know where he is or have information that may assist call them now.

In an appeal directly to Ezedi, Darius Nasimi, of the charity the Afghanistan & Central Asian Association said: Abdul, I am speaking directly to you. I want you to go straight to a police station immediately.

You have a serious injury that needs to be seen to but, more importantly, you must do the right thing and hand yourself in to police. This has gone on for long enough.

You can contact the charity if you wish and we can speak to you, and work together so that you can help the police with their enquiries. Abdul, please contact us as soon as you can, call 999, or go to a police station.

As part of their renewed appeal, officers also released new CCTV footage showing Ezedi at a Tesco store in Caledonian Road, after which he travelled on the Tube to Tower Hill station.

Anyone with information about Abdul Ezedi is asked to call 020 7175 2784 or for an immediate sighting dial 999. To remain anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers.
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When Edward and Hazel Short put their life savings into building their fantasy home on the coast, they hoped it would change their lives for the better and give their two children a fabulous childhood.

Instead, more than 10 years on the luxury house is relisted for sale at knockdown price, the couples marriage is over and millionaire Mr Short is still paying off some of the money he borrowed for the ambitious building project.

It was first listed for sale in February last year but despite rumours of celebrities including Harry Styles expressing interest - a buyer failed to emerge.

And now the five-bedroom home is back on the market again, listed by Savills on behalf of Joint Receivers at a knockdown price of 5.25m on Rightmove.

Chesil Cliff House in Croyde, Devon, divides opinion locally to this day. It is certainly a spectacular creation  a clean-lined art deco affair, all white and glass, with a four-storey tower that recalls the lighthouse originally on the site.

Edward Short is still paying off some of the money he borrowed for the ambitious building project (Tom Wren SWNS)

Sitting right on the cliff edge, it has triple-glazed floor-to-ceiling windows that give panoramic sea views and an infinity pool.

In 2019, it was featured on Channel 4s Grand Designs, dubbed by viewers the saddest ever episode, as it showed the family borrowing 500,000 from a hedge fund, then another 2.5m from private investors. This was for a smaller house built first, next to the main development, so that he could secure a larger loan.

The Shorts daughters said they were even holding car boot sales to raise money to put towards their parents dream luxury build.

However, as presenter Kevin McCloud said in the introduction to the episode: If a lighthouse has a single message that it shouts out, it is this: Stay away  or risk destruction.

His warning carried perhaps even more portent than he realised. Not only is Chesil Cliff House, which has never been lived in, up for sale for a second time after a first planned deal failed to go ahead but the build cost the couple their 20-year marriage.

The rooms in the tower have panoramic views (Knight Frank)

Amid rocketing costs, crippling debts, and sleepless nights, Mr Short was put under increasing pressure that he said ultimately contributed to the breakdown of his marriage to Hazel.

While he caveated the build was not the sole reason the couples marriage ended, he told The Sun last July he regrets the stress his messed-up dreams put on his wife and two daughters, Nicole and Lauren.

Theres no doubt what I put Hazel through was horrendous, said the former music industry sales executive. Theres a lot of guilt about that. But there was no way out, once we started. If we didnt finish wed have been in big trouble.

It was awful for the family because I pulled the stability rug from under them, without being able to give answers of how we were going to get out of it, other than that I had to carry on.

The house is pile-driven to save it from falling into the sea when the cliffs erode (Knight Frank)

The ambitious scheme was hugely expensive and as the cost of the work spiralled over the years, Mr Short was reportedly 7m in debt at one point.

There was also scepticism about it locally. When the Shorts first knocked down the 1950s house on the site and the diggers and lorries descended, there was much muttering about the disruption.

Mr Short brushed off concerns about coastal erosion leaving the house at risk of falling into the sea, saying if it hung over the cliff edge, it would be dramatic.

But during the application for planning permission, local objections included that lights shining through the windows would dazzle drivers on the main road above, as well as loss of uninterrupted views of the cliffs.

And then there was the huge cost, which managed to put some local noses out of joint.

Walls of windows are designed to let light in and give an airy feel (Knight Frank)

Any potential buyer would need to fork out an estimated 10m in all for the property  7.5m for the main house, and a sum to be negotiated, but thought to be around 2.5m  for the three-bedroom annexe next door.

Its over the top, said Braunton parish councillor Derrick Spear of the design. You could say its avant-garde  or, more likely, it doesnt blend in with its surroundings, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Here we are trying to get affordable homes  which theres a great need for around here  but this is obviously a home for a very wealthy person, added Mr Spear, who said he was horrified by the estimated price tag.

The house is at Saunton on the coast (Google Maps)

But the television show brought a turnaround in local attitudes, as people saw the human story that unfolded behind the years of building.

After the documentary came out, there was a huge lots of sympathy for Ed, says one north Devon resident. He used to be a parish councillor and I knew him a bit. I cant speak for the people of Croyde, but before the programme people were concerned over the cranes for a long time, the size. For neighbours any building site is difficult.

But what hes done is great. The actual building now is fantastic. It just took a long time.

The infinity pool with views of the sea (Knight Frank)

Even after all these years, the house itself is still not quite ready to live in, with the kitchen still needing work. According to agent Knight Frank, it has been finished as an exciting blank canvas, giving the new owner the opportunity to design their own interior fit-out.

The agents brochure describes Chesil Cliff House as the perfect property to enjoy watching the sunsets, the dramatic storms and the surfers on Down End Point. And privacy at one of the UKs most spectacular newly built coastal homes is paramount, it says.

To this day, opinions in the area are still divided. Its beautiful, wrote one user on Facebook when the episode was aired again. The rotunda looks great, wrote another. Others branded it an eyesore and wondered how permission was ever granted. Too close to the waters edge for my liking, was one comment.

The sea appears to come right up to the house (Knight Frank )

The local MP, Selaine Saxby, said she was frustrated by the high number of empty properties in the area, including holiday homes, but she had not had complaints about Chesil Cliff House.

Everyone recognises the difficulties behind it and wants to see finished, she said. Its so sad when theyre sitting empty  properties need life breathed into them.

A decade on, Mr Short himself is upbeat - about his life and the property. He has a new fiancee, nurse Jalia Nambasa, while he and Hazel, who also has a new partner, are still the best of friends.

Theres a happy ending to the story in that, in my opinion, we managed to get through a divorce and ended up with a bigger family and better relationship, he told TheSun.

Daughter Lauren would appear to agree, saying her parents are much happier now than they were.

What happened between my mum and dad, even without the house, would probably have happened anyway, she said in a follow-up episode of Grand Designs last October.

As for the property - an overseas purchaser had reportedly been close to signing on the dotted line last month, but failed to do so.

Mr Short remains confident the deal will go through, a source close to the sale of the property told MailOnline.

He also hopes the house itself will one day lose its saddest ever tag - something that finally getting a 10m signature would no doubt go a long way to solve.
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The departure of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to lead the largest Nato exercise since the Cold War has been cancelled at the last minute after an issue with a propeller shaft was spotted during final checks.

The setback comes 18 months after sister ship HMS Prince of Wales broke down off the Isle of Wight after it sailed for the US having suffered a malfunction with a coupling on its starboard propeller.

It will now be readied to take the place of the 3bn fleet flagship on the major exercises which will involve more than 40 vessels.

The blow comes as ministers were warned Britain is not sufficiently prepared to fight an all-out war amid stockpile shortages and an armed forces recruitment crisis.

The House of Commons defence committee said the military is consistently overstretched, with the unrelenting pressure on personnel exacerbating the crisis in recruitment and retention which is seeing more people leaving the armed forces than joining.

The cross-party group of MPs said the UKs military has been hollowed out, leaving Britain unprepared for war at a time of worsening global instability. Defence secretary Grant Shapps has said the world is moving from post-war to pre-war.

HMS Queen Elizabeth was supposed to lead the largest Nato exercise since the Cold War (PA)

Announcing the latest problem, the Royal Navy posted on Twitter/X: Routine pre-sailing checks yesterday identified an issue with a coupling on HMS Queen Elizabeth starboard propeller shaft. As such, the ship will not sail on Sunday.

HMS Prince of Wales will take her place on Nato duties and will set sail for exercise Steadfast Defender as soon as possible.

HMS Prince of Wales broke down as it was heading to a diplomatic mission to carry out exercises with the US Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and the US Marine Corps.

The carrier came to a halt off the Isle of Wight and was brought under tow back into harbour for the problem to be identified.

Inspections by divers and engineers found the Nato flagships 33-ton starboard propeller  the same weight as 30 Ford Fiesta cars  had malfunctioned, with a coupling holding it in place breaking.

It was then taken to the Babcock shipyard where it was built in Rosyth, Fife, to undergo repairs to a propeller shaft, which took nine months to complete.

On that occasion, HMS Queen Elizabeth acted as the replacement for its sister ship on the US deployment.

Having HMS Queen Elizabeth out of action could affect the ability of the Royal Navy to deploy an aircraft carrier to the Red Sea amid the continuing threat by Iran-backed Houthi rebels which armed forces minister James Heappey has suggested was being considered.

HMS Prince of Wales will now take over the lead of exercise Steadfast Defender, which will take place off Norways Arctic coast in March.

Its sister ship had been set to lead a carrier strike of eight ships  four of them British, including frigate HMS Somerset and two Tide-class tankers from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary  supported by US, Spanish and Danish vessels.

It was to be joined by its F-35B Lightning stealth fighters from 617 Dambusters Squadron at RAF Marham, submarine hunting and airborne early warning Merlin Mk2 helicopters from RNAS Culdrose, and battlefield Wildcat helicopters of 847 Naval Air Squadron from RNAS Yeovilton.

Announcing the carriers sailing, Commodore James Blackmore, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group, said: Steadfast Defender demonstrates the unity of the alliance, our commitment to it  and that the UK continues to play a leading role in Nato.

The exercise allows us to train with our neighbours in a truly challenging environment, especially at this time of year  but that is why we have to operate up there; the weather cannot put us off.

Before heading to the Arctic, the Carrier Strike Group was due to take part in the annual Joint Warrior exercise off northern Scotland before joining exercise Nordic Response  the maritime part of Steadfast Defender.

The defence committees inquiry heard that the hollowing out of the armed forces since 2010 had undermined the UKs warfighting resilience and that their reduction in size meant they would exhaust their capabilities after the first couple of months of the engagement in a peer-on-peer war.

Readiness is essential to effective deterrence to our adversaries at a time of heightened geopolitical instability, they said.

Jeremy Quins previous roles include defence procurement minister and policing minister (PA)

Sir Jeremy Quin, who recently took over as defence committee chair, said: A steady, continuous drip of operations and ongoing commitments has meant the military is unable to devote sufficient training and resources to high-intensity warfighting.

While able to deploy at short notice and to fulfil commitments, our inquiry found that readiness for all-out, prolonged war has received insufficient attention and needs intense ongoing focus.

On top of this, the high tempo of operations and unrelenting pressure on our services has led to a drop in retention, compounded by a period of low recruitment and difficulties introducing and maintaining capabilities, thereby creating a vicious cycle.
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King Charles has been seen waving and walking with the Queen by his side on his first public outing since leaving hospital following treatment for an enlarged prostate.

The King underwent a corrective procedure for the benign condition last week and it has been reported he could take up to a month off from public duties as he recuperates.

On Sunday, Charles was pictured attending a church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, giving a smile and wave to photographers outside.

The public outing comes nearly one week after he left the London Clinic following the corrective procedure last Monday.

He left with Queen Camilla just hours after the Princess of Wales was discharged from the same hospital after having abdominal surgery nearly two weeks earlier.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive to attend a Sunday church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham (PA)

Charles spent time at his daughter-in-laws bedside before his own treatment. Kate is not expected to return to official duties until after Easter.

The King 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.

The King, who acceded to the throne 16 months ago, was urged to rest by his doctors ahead of the corrective procedure.

NHS England said the enlarged prostate page on the NHS website received one visit every five seconds on the day the Kings diagnosis was announced, with further huge boosts in visits in the days that followed.

Buckingham Palace has said the King was delighted to learn his diagnosis was having a positive impact on public health awareness.

One in three men over the age of 50 will have symptoms of an enlarged prostate, including needing to visit the toilet more often and with more urgency and difficulty emptying the bladder.

An enlarged prostate, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, does not usually pose a serious threat to health and it is not cancer.

But patients may need to have several tests for the condition to rule out the possibility they have another illness with similar symptoms, such as prostate cancer.

Surgery is usually only recommended for moderate to severe symptoms which have not responded to medicine, the NHS website says.
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Tesco has issued a four-week warning to customers to spend their Clubcard vouchers before they expire at the end of the month.

The supermarket giant warned Clubcard shoppers only have until 29 February to use 18m worth of Clubcard vouchers before they expire.

More than 20 million people in the UK hold a Tesco Clubcard, which allows shoppers to receive discounts on selected items as well as rack up points they can redeem later as vouchers for use in-store.

The vouchers were issued in February 2022, and while shoppers are racking up points, many are forgetting to use them before they expire.

The reminder for shoppers to use their old vouchers comes as more than 125m of new ones will be ready to use from 5 February.

Clubcard shoppers are urged to spend more than 18m worth of Clubcard vouchers before they expire on February 29 (PA Media)

Emma Botton, Tesco Group Customer Director, said: Household budgets are still under pressure, and we want to help them stretch further.

With more than 18m worth of vouchers due to expire at the end of the month, were reminding customers to spend them now.

Tesco Clubcard vouchers are issued every three months in February, May, August and November. Customers can use their Clubcard vouchers on their weekly shop or fuel, or to pick up a new deal with Tesco Mobile.

They can also treat themselves by exchanging their Clubcard vouchers for 2x the value with 100+ Reward Partners including PizzaExpress, Alton Towers Resort and Hotels.com.

Earlier this year, Tesco announced that customers can collect double Clubcard points when they shop until February 25.

It is the first time the supermarket has offered a double points event like this in over a decade, with over 20 million Tesco Clubcard members set to benefit.
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Tens of thousands of people in the UK could be being denied their rights to employment, study and benefits because the Home Office is failing to provide them with proper documents.

The treatment of these people, who are foreign nationals living lawfully in the UK, is the subject of a judicial review being brought against the government.

The charity Refugee and Migrant Forum of Essex & London (Ramfel), which has brought the legal action, has estimated that many thousands of people are being wrongly suspended from work or are facing significant detriment while they wait for their visas to be extended.

Foreign nationals who are legally in the UK on leave to remain have to renew their status every few years and, while they wait for a decision, they are put on 3C leave. This is meant to protect the rights they have to work, study or claim benefits but it leaves them without a physical document confirming their status  something many employers insist on seeing.

The government says that they have made it clear to employers that they should not discriminate against people on 3C leave, but the reality is that many people are denied their rights. The Home Office does not publish data on the number of people on 3C leave, and says that leave-to-remain applicants should receive a decision within eight weeks.

Limited leave to remain allows people to live and work in the UK until their visa expires, typically for two-and-a-half years at a time. Foreign nationals who want to permanently settle in the UK often use the 10-year route, which allows someone to apply to stay in the UK permanently after they have lived in the country for 10 years on leave-to-remain visas.

Demonstrators protest against the hostile environment immigration policy outside the Home Office in London (PA)

Charity Ramfel is arguing in court that there is no rational basis for the government not to implement changes to protect those on 3C leave. Since 1 September 2022 the small charity has had to intervene 135 times in cases where people on 3C leave were being denied their rights, putting them at risk of destitution.

Of the people in these 135 cases, at least 10 (around 7.5 per cent) suffered serious detriment, with seven of those wrongly suspended or denied work. If this was replicated for the number of people nationwide with 3C leave status, the charity estimates that at least 27,901 people would have been denied their rights.

The charity said that a lot of people working in the care sector are affected by these problems and many west Africans approach them for help, although this could be because of where they are based in Essex and London.

According to the Migration Observatory, during the years 2016-20, just over half of the main applicants granted status on the 10-year family route to UK resettlement were from Nigeria, Pakistan, India, Ghana and Bangladesh.

One Nigerian mother-of-three told The Independent how she had lost out on a good job while she was on 3C leave, and how her 18-year-old daughter was unable to get student finance.

Ms Ajibola, 43, explained how she got through an interview for a better-paying support worker job in the care sector but was unable to progress as she didnt have a Biometric Residence Card because she was on 3C leave. This meant she was unable to provide the employer with a code that would have allowed them to check her right to work.

She explained: I missed that opportunity and the job had already gone when we finally got our leave-to-remain status renewed in December.

She had submitted an application to renew her and her daughters leave-to-remain visa in March 2023, but it took nine months for the Home Office to approve their extension. Its sad to think about because we have the right to be in this country, but people think that we dont because we didnt have the right paperwork, she said. It made my daughter very stressed, and I had to explain to her that it was not me, it was the Home Office. It was sad, thats the only word that can describe it. Other people are having opportunities, and we couldnt have those opportunities.

Her daughter wanted to study pharmacy but wasnt able to take up her offers from university because student finance refused to give her a loan. Ms Ajibola explained: The student finance wanted a valid BRP card. We went to the charity Ramfel and they gave us a letter to show that we were on section 3C so our rights stayed the same but the student finance still refused.

She didnt end up going to university and she tried to apply for jobs in the meantime at Tesco and other places but she had the same problem. It was so horrible for us then. I was really unhappy and my daughter became depressed because all of her friends are in university right now and shes not.

The Home Office is being challenged in a legal action on the plight of those on 3C leave (Getty Images)

Ms Ajibola is hoping that her daughter will be able to go to university in the next academic year now that their leave-to-remain status has been renewed.

Sairah Javed, a solicitor at the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, said the charity has people constantly coming to it for help with problems faced on 3C leave.

In recent cases, one person had problems with student finance and another with accessing benefits. Ms Javed said: We had a stark case where someone was on 3C leave and had their PIP [Personal Independence Payment] benefits ended by DWP. That was really quite difficult.

There was a lot of back and forth between DWP and our solicitor and it took three to four months to get our clients benefits reinstated.

She added that landlords often find it hard to rent to people with 3C leave status. A person on 3C can undergo right-to-rent checks but it takes a long time. The guidance directs landlords to delay entering into a tenancy agreement until they get confirmation of someones immigration status through the landlord checking service.

This can be very problematic and puts people at a considerable disadvantage. If you couple that with rising rents, which is making it more likely that people will be moving houses, people can end up in very precarious situations.

She explained that it can often take between nine and 12 months for people to have their visas renewed, with an added three to four months if they need to waive the cost of applying.

Nick Beales, at Ramfel, said: The government assured everyone they had learned from the Windrush scandal, but this case shows that those words were hollow and meaningless. They have learned nothing and are more than happy for history to repeat itself.

The hostile environment sees people on 3C leave suspended from work and denied other basic services on a grand scale. Whats worse, the government knows this and is not only doing nothing to protect these people but wasting public money defending its conduct in court.

A Home Office spokesperson said: We do not recognise the figures being quoted.

Our guidance is clear that those who have submitted an application for further leave in the UK before their existing leave has expired have the same entitlements as their original leave. Individuals should be given every opportunity to demonstrate their rights and must not be discriminated against.

There are a range of channels by which a persons entitlement to employment, study and other benefits can be confirmed.
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A member of the Windrush generation who was wrongly denied entry to the UK and sent to Jamaica has been granted a judicial review of his case.

He is set to challenge the Home Offices decision to refuse him compensation under the Windrush Compensation Scheme, The Independent has learned.

Raymond Lee, 67, first came to the UK as a child in 1971 where he lived for nearly 30 years. But he was wrongly denied re-entry at Heathrow airport when he returned from a visit to Jamaica in July 1999.

Raymond Lee first came to the UK as a child in 1971 (Supplied)

Tearing him away from his then-wife and family in in the UK, Mr Lee was detained at the airport, removed and forced to stay in Jamaica.

Though he later returned to the UK months later, the retired builder is seeking compensation for the impact that this had on his life.

Speaking to The Independent from his home in Clarendon, Jamaica, Mr Lee says: I feel disgusted by how Ive been treated by the British government.

Looking at my experience and others, as highlighted in the Windrush scandal, its clear that things have gone right back to the Enoch Powell days.

My generation and people like my parents left the Caribbean and came to England to bring the country out of the gutter after World War II; as soon as that was done, they were turned against, used, abused and discarded by the British government as people who were not needed. Its not nice; I feel screwed by England and rejected.

Whilst I am pleased the High Court will review the compensation decision, it is a pity that I have had to go to these lengths just to get the fair treatment I deserve (Supplied)

Having eventually returned to the UK in 2000, Mr Lee was subsequently granted indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

In 2009, he returned to Jamaica when his father became ill and died. Since then, he has not returned to the UK, initially because he was afraid that he would be detained. In 2018, he was granted a 10-year visit visa through the Windrush Scheme, but he has been unable to afford the airfare to travel to the UK.

When Mr Lee was prevented from re-entering the UK in 1999, he was travelling on a Jamaican passport, as he had done previously without any issues, when he was refused entry and eventually removed.

Under immigration rules at the time, Jamaican citizens did not need a visa to enter the UK and Mr Lee believed that he was entitled to readmission, having first come to the UK in 1971 as a child.

However, because Mr Lee was travelling for the first time on a new passport, immigration officials refused to allow him re-entry, because he did not have any documents with him to show that he had lawful status.

This was despite his Jamaican passport having been issued in London the previous month. He also provided a UK address where he was going to live.

There is no evidence immigration officers made any inquiries as to whether he had ILR status when he was last in the UK or to check this address before deciding to refuse entry, detaining and then removing him to Jamaica.

The fact that I came to England as a child didnt make a difference to immigration; they didnt care about the fact that I went to school here, got married here, worked here and had all of my children, the father of five tells The Independent.

Whilst I am pleased the High Court will review the compensation decision, it is a pity that I have had to go to these lengths just to get the fair treatment I deserve.

Mr Lee, who was wrongly denied entry to the UK and sent to Jamaica, will bring a judicial review of the Home Offices decision to refuse him compensation under the Windrush Compensation Scheme (Supplied)

Mr Lee settled in New Cross, south London, aged 15, and attended Pepys school before embarking on an electrical apprenticeship and going on to work within the building trade.

In 2021, he applied to the Windrush Compensation Scheme seeking compensation for his detention and removal from the UK, loss of access to employment and the impact on his life caused by the failure to admit him to the UK in 1999.

The Home Office rejected his claim on the assessment that his ILR had previously lapsed because he had been out of the country for two years before 1999.

However, Mr Lees lawyers argue that he did not need indefinite leave to remain as a citizen of a Commonwealth country and that he had the right of readmission to the UK as a returning resident.

Solicitor Stephanie Hill of Leigh Day says: Like so many members of the Windrush Generation, my client has experienced ill-treatment from the Home Office for many years. Firstly, he was denied entry to the UK and sent to Jamaica, despite having first arrived in the UK as a child in the 1970s.

A Home Office spokesperson said: The government remains absolutely committed to righting the wrongs of the Windrush scandal (Getty Images)

To compound this unfairness, he has since been denied compensation for the impact this had on his life. Our client will argue that the Home Office has failed to apply its own immigration law correctly and has taken an unreasonable approach to the evidence in this case.

Our client is pleased to have been granted permission for a Judicial Review in the High Court.

On his reasons for speaking out, Mr Lee explains: When I felt like giving up on my case and read articles about other peoples cases, that were similar to mine, it gave me courage that I could get justice.

There are times when I felt like giving up on this fight but Im hoping that if at least one person reads my story and also feels encouraged to pursue their compensation, then it will be worth telling it.

A Home Office spokesperson said: The government remains absolutely committed to righting the wrongs of the Windrush scandal and making sure those affected receive the compensation they rightly deserve.

It is longstanding government policy that we do not routinely comment on individual cases.
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The UKs military is not sufficiently prepared to fight an all-out war, despite such readiness being a vital deterrent to Britains adversaries at a time of worsening global instability, MPs have warned.

Britains military will remain ill-prepared unless the government addresses stockpile shortages and the recruitment crisis currently hampering the armed forces, according to a new report by the House of Commons defence committee.

The military is consistently overstretched, with the unrelenting pressure on personnel exacerbating the crisis in recruitment and retention which is seeing more people leaving the armed forces than joining, MPs warned.

The army chief recently warned his forces are not large enough to defend Britain if war breaks out (Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)

The sheer pace of current operations means that ministers risk being unable to build true warfighting and strategic readiness, which could threaten the security of the UK, cautioned the cross-party group of politicians.

They warned that efforts by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to tackle the problem are not being carried out at the required pace.

The committees inquiry heard that the hollowing out of the armed forces since 2010 had undermined the UKs warfighting resilience and that their reduction in size meant they would exhaust their capabilities after the first couple of months of the engagement in a peer-on-peer war.

It comes after defence secretary Grant Shapps warned that the world is moving from a post-war to pre-war world and the UK must ensure its entire defence ecosystem is ready to defend its homeland.

In another ominous intervention last month, the head of the army General Sir Patrick Sanders said Britain must be prepared to form a citizen army of tens of thousands in the event of war with countries such as Russia.

The UK will not be ready to fight an all-out war unless the government addresses the armed forces capability and stockpile shortages and recruitment crisis, MPs warned (Pepe Hogan/PA Wire)

General Sir Patrick warned that his forces, including all reserves, would not be large enough to defend the UK if there was a war, and said it was essential for Britain to lay the foundations for national mobilisation.

Mr Shapps has insisted the size of the army will not dip below 73,000 under the Conservatives, amid growing concerns about further cuts to troop numbers.

In their new report, MPs urged ministers to ensure that the forces are not deprived of the resources, training and time needed to fight and win a high-intensity prolonged war. Readiness is essential to effective deterrence to our adversaries at a time of heightened geopolitical instability, they said.

Sir Jeremy Quin, who recently took over as defence committee chair, said: A steady, continuous drip of operations and ongoing commitments has meant the military is unable to devote sufficient training and resources to high-intensity warfighting.

While able to deploy at short notice and to fulfil commitments, our inquiry found that readiness for all-out, prolonged war has received insufficient attention and needs intense ongoing focus.

On top of this, the high tempo of operations and unrelenting pressure on our services has led to a drop in retention, compounded by a period of low recruitment and difficulties introducing and maintaining capabilities, thereby creating a vicious cycle.

An inability to build true warfighting and strategic readiness could threaten Britains security, MPs said (AP)

The government must either invest fully in our military or recognise that proper prioritisation of warfighting will mean less availability for other tasks, he said.

We need to be strategic about the resources we have, including how to maintain and replenish stockpiles, and consider how to ensure that equipment  even after retirement  does not go to waste.

The committee also complained that its inquiry was hampered by a lack of government transparency and the unacceptably slow response to its requests for information.

Some 20,000 UK service personnel will take part in Natos Steadfast Defender exercise across Europe, the alliances biggest since the end of the Cold War.

An MoD spokesperson said: Our Armed Forces are always ready to protect and defend the UK, and we continue to meet all operational commitments, including participating in every single Nato mission, supporting Ukraine, and tackling Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

We are spending more than 50bn on defence this this year alone, and have significantly increased our spending on defence equipment to 288.6bn over the next decade, including investing in deepening our stockpiles and bringing in new tanks, fighter jets and warships.

We have been clear that increasing recruitment and improving retention across the services is a top priority, including through ensuring improved career opportunities and making it easier for people to re-join the forces, on top of the largest pay increase in more than 20 years.

Additional reporting by PA
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A cabinet minister has said the issue around the suspect in the Clapham chemical attack is "not really about asylum", despite top Tories blaming the suspects immigration status.

Education secretary Gillian Keegan said "we need to get to the bottom of" why sex offender Abdul Ezedi had been able to remain in Britain, suggesting the Home Office is looking into his status.

Asked how the suspect had been granted asylum after being found guilty of a sexual offence, Ms Keegan said that is something that more than one person is asking. But this is not really about asylum, Ms Keegan added, in comments likely to upset the Tory right.

Her comments come after former home secretary Suella Braverman said the attack showed why Britain needs a fundamental overhaul of human rights laws.

Abdul Ezedi is the suspect in an attack (Metropolitan Police/PA) (PA Media)

We need to leave the ECHR [European Convention on Human Rights], she said. The Refugee Convention, the ECHR & the HRA [Human Rights Act] prevent us from deporting convicted criminals because the privileges these agreements now give them trump the fundamental rights of British people to live in a safe country.

And Ms Bravermans predecessor as home secretary Priti Patel told the Mail on Sunday Britain must find a way to remove those who have no right to be in this country.

Labour said the Ezedi case raises very serious questions about the asylum process  urging home secretary James Cleverly to explain how Ezedi was granted asylum.

Ezedi, 35, has been on the run since the attack in Clapham, south London, on Wednesday night. Detectives have urged the 35-year-old from the Newcastle area  who is described as having very significant injuries to the right side of his face  to hand himself in.

A 31-year-old mother, reported to have been in a relationship with Ezedi, was attacked with a corrosive alkaline substance and remains very poorly and sedated in hospital, with her injuries thought to be life-changing. Her daughters, aged three and eight, were also injured but less seriously.

Ezedi pleaded guilty to sexual assault and exposure in 2018 but was still granted asylum in Britain just a few years later.

Home Office sources said officials were demanding answers over why the suspect was granted asylum by the courts despite being denied the right to stay twice before.

It was reported that Ezedi, who is said to have travelled to the UK on a lorry from Afghanistan in 2016, was allowed to stay in the UK after a priest confirmed he had converted to Christianity.

Ms Patel and Ms Braverman attacked churches allowing asylum seekers to convert to Christianity, claiming they support bogus asylum claims.

And former immigration minister Robert Jenrick said the asylum system was dangerously broken.

Gillian Keegan said the Clapham chemical attack case is not really about asylum (Getty Images)

The right-wing Tory called for the home secretary to review Ezedis asylum case and look at what may have gone seriously wrong.

But Ms Keegan told Sky News Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme: My understanding is the home secretary has asked for all the details, but this is not really about asylum.

Clearly, what we say is that anybody who commits crimes is not able to stay in this country. So, if you have a sentence of more than 12 months, you are not allowed to stay if you have a criminal record, etc.

"We dont want to have people in this country who have criminal records."
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Britain will hold Iran accountable for attacks by Tehrans proxies, foreign secretary David Cameron has said, as the UK launched a third wave of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.

RAF Typhoons joined the United States again on Saturday in bombing Houthi sites believed to have been used to attack shipping in the Red Sea, a day after Washington struck targets in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for the drone strike which killed three American troops in Jordan last weekend.

Defence secretary Grant Shapps insisted the latest strikes  backed by Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand  were not an escalation, but instead were designed to protect innocent lives and preserve freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

RAF Weapon Technicians prepare RAF Typhoon FRG4 aircraft to conduct further strikes against Houthi targets (AS1 Leah Jones/MOD/Crown Copyright/PA Wire)

Speaking in Lebanon on Thursday, Lord Cameron said Britain needed to send the clearest possible signal to Iran that what theyre doing through their proxies is unacceptable.

While Iran has denied any role in the attack for which the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed responsibility, Lord Cameron told the Sunday Times: Ive met with the Iranian foreign minister and had a very robust conversation where I said that these proxies are your proxies, you cannot disclaim your responsibility for them.

Of course you can claim they have a certain amount of independence but you created them, you backed them, you financed them, you provided them with weapons, and you will ultimately be held accountable for what they do.

While Britain last week sanctioned members of Irans Revolutionary Guard over an alleged plot to assassinate two UK-based journalists, the foreign secretary has rejected growing calls to proscribe the group as a terrorist organisation.

The police and intelligence services are not asking for this step to be taken. As frustrating as the relationship [with Iran] can be, at least it is possible with the diplomatic relations we have to deliver a very direct message to the Iranians, he said.

Britains Foreign Secretary David Cameron met with Lebanons prime minister this week (Joseph Eid/AFP via Getty Images)

I dont have to ring up my French or German counterpart and get him or her to do it for me. I can do it myself. And I think that does have a value.

Lord Camerons visit to Lebanon came as he touts a plan for the UK to help de-escalate rising tensions along Lebanons southern border, where Hezbollah has been trading intense fire with Israel ever since Hamass massacre on 7 October sparked the devastating ongoing war in Gaza.

It is clear [Britain] has got assets that it can bring to bear to try and put out these fires, to try and keep Britain safe and try and make sure Britain is having a positive impact as this agile country that is small enough to be nimble but big enough to matter, said the foreign secretary.

And he doubled down on his suggestion that the UK should look at recognising a Palestinian state, which drew a backlash from some fellow Conservatives this week, but was largely welcomed by moderates.

We need to start setting out the political horizon, the former prime minister said, adding: We are trying to separate the Palestinian people from the terrorists that have been running their government in Gaza and the way to do that is to say there is a better future if you choose it.

You have got to make the peace process better than the return-to-war process.

Benjamin Netanyahu has opposed calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state once the war in Gaza is over (EPA)

While Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu has opposed calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state, Lord Cameron this should not prevent allies from working on the details of how a Palestinian state could operate in practical terms, in order to create unstoppable momentum towards a two-state agreement.

He said: While Bibi [Netanyahu] will tell you all the things he doesnt want a Palestinian state to be, if you turn the question around and say, well, OK, I hear that, but what could a Palestinian state be? Lets work on that bit of the picture  That, I think, is the way to make some progress. You have to deal with whats in front of you.

And Lord Cameron said he believed there was a reasonable chance of securing a pause in hostilities to negotiate a 40-day ceasefire which could see the 100 remaining civilian hostages in Gaza being freed.

If we can get that pause, and I think theres a reasonable chance of it, then Im determined we can turn that pause into the ceasefire, into the process, into the solution. We may not get all the way there, but lets make some steps, he said.

And I think the best way to do that is this phrase of creating some unstoppable momentum.
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Labours shadow technology secretary is planning a flurry of meetings with tech giants to discuss artificial intelligence developments during a visit to the United States.

Peter Kyle arrived in Washington DC on Saturday in preparation for a week of discussions with the US government and tech firms, including Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Google and Apple.

He will also meet others involved in developing artificial intelligence (AI), such as Oracle, Open AI and Anthropic.

Party officials said the Opposition frontbencher will use the talks with leading AI labs to discuss the potential for the emerging technology to improve public services, with plans to use it to speed up cancer scans and create personalised lesson plans for children.

UK businesses can benefit hugely from the innovation this latest wave of technology can bring Shadow technology secretary Peter Kyle

Mr Kyle, whose brief also includes science, said he has already seen AI tools that he believes could have detected his mothers lung cancer earlier, making its potential advancements in healthcare personal.

The MP for Hove, in an article for The Daily Telegraph in November, said his mother died 12 years ago, with her illness going undiagnosed for 18 months despite presenting to doctors with pain numerous times.

Speaking after arriving in the US, Mr Kyle said: New technology is the greatest opportunity we have to restore our public services and grow the economy.

I have seen AI tools which I believe would have caught my mums cancer earlier.

It is personal for me to get this technology used in a way which keeps families together for longer.

UK businesses can benefit hugely from the innovation this latest wave of technology can bring.

A Labour government wants to unleash innovation and give companies the certainty needed to invest in our country, boosting wages and getting the economy growing again.

Labour, which is well in front of the Conservatives in opinion polls ahead of a likely general election later this year, has said it will introduce a Regulatory Innovation Office to speed up existing AI regulations and make safety reporting requirements mandatory for labs at the heart of innovation with the technology.

In November, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak chaired the first global AI summit at Bletchley Park as world governments look at regulating the technology, which experts have warned could pose a danger to humanity if not effectively controlled.

Andrew Griffith, the Conservative minister for science, said: Despite attempts to mask their anti-business record and ideas, the reality is Labour cant say how they would support businesses to use AI safely whilst utilising it to grow and thrive, because they do not have a plan.
On the same day thousands of Port Talbot steelworkers were told they would be losing their jobs, with the plants two blast furnaces closing down, Labours 28bn Green Prosperity Plan hit the headlines again.

The latest iteration of a story that has been doing the rounds for months popped up, with reports suggesting Sir Keir Starmer would ditch the hefty spending commitment.

The Port Talbot job losses, which will devastate the South Wales community, offered a visceral warning of the risk of failing to invest in future-proofing British industry.
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Namibia's 82-year-old president Hage Geingob died on Sunday while receiving medical treatment for cancer at a hospital in the capital Windhoek.

The Namibian presidency in a social media post said Geingob's medical team at Lady Pohamba Hospital did its best to help him but could not save the president.

He is survived by his wife, Monica Geingos, and three children, who were by his side during the last hours.

Geingob was undergoing cancer treatment and had a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy on 8 January following a biopsy. His office said he was supposed to travel to the US for treatment and return to Namibia on 2 February.

Acting president Angolo Mbumba on Sunday called for calm, saying that the "cabinet will convene with immediate effect in order to make the necessary state arrangements in this regard".

The Namibian nation has lost a distinguished servant of the people, a liberation struggle icon, the chief architect of our constitution and the pillar of the Namibian house, Mr Mbumba said in a statement on social media.

Geingob took office as the third president of Namibia in 2015 and had earlier been the longest-serving prime minister of the South African nation. He was due to finish his second and final term in office later this year.

Born in 1941, Geingob became the first prime minister of Namibia after it gained independence from South Africa in 1990.

Throughout his political career, Geingob suffered multiple health-related issues.

In 2014, he said he had survived prostate cancer just a year after undergoing brain surgery. In 2023, he reportedly underwent an aortic operation in neighbouring South Africa.

Geingob led Namibia to support South Africa's complaint against Israel's barbarity in Gaza at the International Court of Justice under the Genocide Convention. Namibia also issued a scathing criticism of its former colonial ruler Germany for defending Israel.

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa in a statement said: "Today, South Africa joins the people of our sister state Namibia in mourning the passing of a leader, patriot and friend of South Africa.

"President Geingob was a towering veteran of Namibia's liberation from colonialism and apartheid. He was also greatly influential in the solidarity that the people of Namibia extended to the people of South Africa so that we could be free today."

Kenyas president William Ruto said Geingob was a believer of a unified Africa and strongly promoted the continent's voice and visibility at the global arena.

May God give the people of Namibia strength and courage during this difficult period, he added.

Namibia will hold presidential and assembly elections in November this year.
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Raging wildfires in central Chile have killed at least 51 people with the blaze reaching a popular tourist city as emergency services continue to battle the flames.

President Gabriel Boric in a televised address warned that the death toll could worsen as four large fires were still burning in the Valparaiso region  a densely populated part of the country that is popular with tourists and home to nearly one million people.

Thick smoke was seen billowing into the sky over many parts of Valparaiso, where thousands of people have been asked to evacuate their homes and authorities were using helicopters to douse the flames.

Forest fires in Chile's Vina del Mar region (EPA)

At least 1,100 homes have been destroyed so far in the fires, the authorities said on Saturday.

Areas around the coastal tourist city of Vina del Mar have been some of the hardest hit, where rescue teams were struggling to reach all the affected areas.

"If you are told to evacuate don't hesitate to do it," the president said, requesting Chilians to cooperate with the rescue workers.

"The fires are advancing fast and climatic conditions have made them difficult to control. There are high temperatures, strong winds and low humiditiy.

"The situation is really very difficult," he added.

A fire burns a building in an industrial area during the forest fires affecting Vina del Mar, Valparaiso Region (EPA)

About 92 forest fires were burning in central and southern Chile, according to interior minister Carolina Toha.

"The condition of Valparaiso is the most delicate," Ms Toha said, adding that Chile was facing its worst disaster since a 2010 earthquake that killed about 500.

Three shelters were set up in the region, while 19 helicopters and more than 450 firefighters were pressed into action to tackle the blaze.

The fire destroyed two bus terminals and prompted evacuation of four hospitals and three nursing homes for the elderly in Valparaiso.

Two fires near the town of Quilpue and Villa Alemana have spread across 19,770 acres since Friday. In Villa Independencia, a hillside neighborhood on the eastern edge of the town, several blocks of homes and businesses were destroyed, she said.

A fire burns a hillside during the forest fires affecting Vina del Mar, Valparaiso Region, Chile (EPA)

Burned cars with broken windows lined the streets, which were covered in ash.

"I've been here 32 years, and never imagined this would happen," said Rolando Fernindez, one of the residents who lost his home.

He saw the fire burning on a nearby hill on Friday afternoon and within 15 minutes the area was engulfed in flames and smoke, forcing everyone to run for their lives.

"I've worked my whole life, and now I'm left with nothing," he told the Associated Press.

The area with fires today is much smaller than last year, but the number of hectares affected is multiplying very rapidly, the interior minister said. Between Friday and Saturday, the area affected by the wildfires increased to 110,000 acres.

Last year, on the back of a record heat wave, some 27 people died and more than 990,000 acres were affected.

The El Nino weather pattern has caused droughts and hotter than usual temperatures along the west of South America this year, increasing the risk of forest fires.

Additional reporting by agencies
When El Salvadors populist president Nayib Bukele announced his war against the gangs, Rodrigo*, a young farmer in a remote, gang-controlled part of the country, was hopeful. At last, something might be done to stop the extortion, the threats, the rapes, the deaths that these criminal groups meted out on communities like his, he thought.

Central Americas smallest nation had been terrorised for decades by two main gangs, MS-13 and Barrio 18, which rose to prominence after the end of its civil war in 1992. The poverty and disgruntlement of young Salvadorans made recruitment easy.

With murder rates at staggeringly high levels, successive governments negotiated with the leaders of the gangs to bring about intermittent truces. Bukeles administration was no different. However, an agreement brokered by his ministers collapsed in early 2022. In retaliation for the slight they felt, gang members unleashed a wave of murders in March, killing 87 people in just three days.
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Ghislaine Maxwells brother has accused the US justice system of bias and said his convicted sex trafficker sister did not receive a fair trial, ahead of a crucial appeal hearing next month.

The former socialite, who was found guilty of trafficking underage girls for disgraced billionaire Jeffrey Epstein over the course of a decade, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022.

Now, just weeks before a pivotal appeal which Ian Maxwell hopes could see his sister retried on all five counts and her sentence quashed, he has claimed that three jurors in the trial were unable to make impartial judgements because of their own history of sexual abuse.

Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty of recruiting and grooming four teenage girls for sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein (Getty/Alamy/The Independent)

Speaking exclusively to The Independent, Mr Maxwell said: The American justice system and the court were biased against my sister, and she didnt get a fair trial.

How could they fairly and dispassionately consider evidence in a sex abuse case? On this issue alone, Ghislaine should have her conviction kicked out.

Maxwell behind a wired fence at FCI Tallahassee (Matt Symons / Mirrorpix)

Maxwell was found guilty of recruiting and grooming four teenagers for sexual abuse by Epstein, who was her boyfriend at the time, and who killed himself in prison in 2019 while awaiting his own sex trafficking trial.

Judge Alison Nathan, who presided over the trial, said Maxwells behaviour had been heinous and predatory. The court also heard harrowing testimony from victims who described how Maxwell had lured them to Epsteins homes where they were abused.

Attention now turns to 12 March, when an appellate court of three judges could sensationally overturn Maxwells conviction on the grounds that more than one juror perjured themselves, potentially setting the stage for her release.

Maxwells defence have argued that just days after she was found guilty, her conviction began to unravel when a juror named as Scotty David revealed in an interview with The Independent that he had been a victim of sexual abuse.

In an astonishing revelation, he claimed that his own experiences had helped convince fellow jurors that Maxwells accusers were telling the truth.

The explosive disclosure threatened to sink the entire conviction, but Judge Nathan insisted Mr Davids personal experience would not have disqualified him from the process.

A second juror later disclosed that they too had experienced sexual abuse. And Maxwells defence also believe a third juror also lied about being abused, which Mr Maxwell said deprived the defence of the opportunity to challenge their selection as jurors.

Former socialite Maxwell was found guilty of trafficking underage girls for disgraced billionaire Jeffrey Epstein (PA)

In an April 2022 ruling, four months after Maxwells conviction, Judge Nathan said she would not have excluded Scotty David from the jury had he originally disclosed his abuse.

This was echoed by prosecutors opposing calls for a retrial, who argued that multiple other potential jurors in this case reported having experienced sexual abuse and were nonetheless qualified as jurors.

Meanwhile, Maxwells defence team continue to build her case ahead of the 12 March hearing. They will repeat previous claims that she was entitled to rely on a 2007 non-prosecution agreement (NPA), which saw Epstein plead guilty to Florida state prostitution charges in exchange for immunity  extended to his potential co-conspirators  over allegations of sexual abuse at his Palm Beach mansion.

The prosecution ignores this and shamefully the court condoned it, said Mr Maxwell, claiming: The USA broke its promise.

Judge Nathan ruled twice in 2021 that the agreement 14 years prior with state attorneys in Florida did not bind authorities in New York from bringing charges, concluding that the arguments brought by Maxwells lawyers on the matter were not persuasive.

Urging the appeal court to uphold Maxwells conviction, US government lawyers further argued that she had no right to invoke the protections of the NPA because she was not a signatory or third party to the agreement.

In her appeal, Maxwell also claims she was convicted of crimes with which she was not charged after the court refused to correct the jurys misunderstanding of elements of the charges  which federal prosecutors argued was not the case.

In a final attack on his sisters conviction, Mr Maxwell said this week: The case against her was riddled with serious procedural and other errors of the law and the alleged crimes so old they should not have been prosecuted, according to the US Statute of Limitations.

Judge Nathan also rejected this claim, ruling that a move by the US Congress to remove time limits on prosecuting child sex trafficking offences in 2006 applied to those in the indictment against Maxwell.

While Maxwell has urged the appeal court to give her a more lenient sentence if she is not granted a new trial, prosecutors argue that her sentence is not unfair, dismissing her arguments to the contrary as cursory and undeveloped.

Four victims gave evidence against Maxwell at her trial, recounting her role in facilitating Epsteins abuse.

A victim impact statement was also read at her trial on behalf of Virginia Giuffre, who did not testify. In it, Ms Giuffre, who has subsequently settled a sexual assault case against Prince Andrew, said: I want to be clear about one thing: without question, Jeffrey Epstein was a terrible paedophile. But I never would have met Jeffrey Epstein if not for you. For me, and for so many others, you opened the door to hell.

Maxwell  daughter of the late media tycoon and fraudster Robert Maxwell  is currently housed in Floridas low-security Tallahassee prison. She is said to have lodged hundreds of complaints, including over a lack of vegan food options and access to black hair dye.

In a recent prison report on the state of FCI (Federal Correctional Institution) Tallahassee, black mould was found on walls and ceilings, storage facilities were in a state of disrepair with vegetables found rotting in fridges and mouldy bread served to inmates. A cafeteria was found to contain broken stools with sharp edges which could be used as weapons, leaking windows, and scores of dead insects.

Prison authorities told The Independent they would not discuss complaints filed by inmates, citing privacy, safety and security concerns.

Maxwell is currently eligible for release in July 2037.
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In the parched rolling hills of Tallahassee, Florida, sits a rundown low-security federal womens prison housing one of Americas most infamous convicts, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Black filth smeared on walls, rodent infestations, and sanitary products being used to plug leaks in dilapidated living quarters are a few of the issues recorded at Federal Correctional Institution Tallahassee, according to a Justice Department watchdog report, seen by The Independent.

The former socialite  previously used to a life of opulent luxury  was moved to the squalid jail after being found guilty of recruiting and trafficking underage girls for disgraced billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2021 and later sentenced to 20 years in prison.

A typical cell in FCI Tallahassee, a low-security womens prison in Florida (Supplied)

A closed exercise yard probably used by Maxwell (Supplied)

The grim conditions have been detailed by inspectors as Maxwell gears up to appeal her 20-year sentence (Supplied)

In her trial, victims recounted how Maxwell had lured them to Epsteins homes where they were abused. Judge Alison Nathan, who presided over the trial, said: She [Maxwell] participated in some of the abuse. Her conduct was heinous and predatory. She added that Maxwell had normalised the abuse committed by Epstein, who killed himself in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial.

During a series of harrowing impact statements read out at her sentencing, one victim said Maxwell and Epstein had ruined lives. Another said: For a long time I wanted to erase from my mind the crimes that Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell committed against me  but Ive had to acknowledge the long-lasting effects.

The conditions in the prison holding Maxwell have been detailed by inspectors as she gears up to appeal her 20-year sentence next month.

Ghislaine Maxwells brother claims convicted sex trafficker sister did not receive fair trial

Maxwells appeal will go before a three-judge panel in Manhattan on 12 March, as her lawyers contest her conviction on five charges of recruiting and grooming four underage girls for the late paedophile financier to abuse between 1994 and 2004.

Ahead of the court appearance, Maxwells brother Ian Maxwell told The Independent: The American justice system and the court were biased against my sister and she didnt get a fair trial. Her jury was not impartial: three of them had been sexually abused but did not disclose this, depriving the defence of the opportunity to challenge their selection as jurors. How could they fairly and dispassionately consider evidence in a sex abuse case?

Of particular alarm were the prisons food service and storage facilities (Supplied)

What appeared to be rodent droppings were found on sacks of food (Supplied)

A large hole in a wall could allow rodents into the food warehouse (Supplied)

The US government has urged the appeals court to uphold her conviction, with prosecutors saying: The governments evidence at trial established that over the course of a decade, Maxwell facilitated and participated in the sexual abuse of multiple young girls.

As prisoner 02879-509, Maxwell is understood to have been working in the prison library since arriving at FCI Tallahassee two years ago. She has also hosted etiquette classes for inmates.

Her day is also said to involve yoga classes held in a prison block and sleeping in dormitory-style accommodation that houses around 100 inmates per room in bunk beds.

Maxwell is reported to have earned the nickname Prison Karen after lodging hundreds of complaints since first being moved to the low-security jail, including over a lack of vegan food options.

A recent report by the US Office of the Inspector General revealed the alarming conditions which prisoners are subjected to, with inspectors uncovering serious operational deficiencies in an unannounced visit.

Inmates reported fear of reprisals if they complain to staff, with some accused of using discriminatory language and failing to enforce rules.

A cafeteria was found to contain broken stools with sharp edges which could be used as weapons (Supplied)

Inspectors also found leaking windows and scores of dead insects. (Supplied)

The report highlighted the prisons food service and storage facilities, with vegetables found rotting in fridges and mouldy bread served to inmates. The cafeteria was found to contain broken stools with sharp edges which could be used as weapons, leaking windows, and scores of dead insects.

Food warehouses were found to contain seriously unsanitary conditions, including evidence of droppings by rodents who had chewed through boxes of food, bags of cereal infested with insects, and rusted and warped food containers.

Due to the severity of the issues, we identified and the immediate risks they posed to inmate health, we informed FCI Tallahassee management of our observations, the report said. Within 24 hours of our notification, FCI Tallahassee staff removed large volumes of food from the storage warehouses.

The prison  which was scored as high risk by the inspectorate  also suffers serious issues with inmate search procedures, inspectors warned, enabling contraband to be smuggled inside, including opioids and unpredictable synthetic cannabis substitutes.

Plastic was stuffed into a hole in a ceiling where there was evidence of water leakage (Supplied)

And despite an inmate dying by suicide months earlier, staff reported failures by their colleagues to conduct rounds of the prisons housing units, which the report warned increases the risk that inmates would attempt self-harm, engage in physical violence, or participate in other illicit behaviour such as drug use.

In addition to staff missing checks, the prison was found to lack the number of cameras necessary to sufficiently observe staff and inmate activities, with many blind spots creating opportunities for inmates to engage in inappropriate behaviour without detection.

Inspectors also found that some inmates were reluctant to report wrongdoing by fellow prisoners and staff due to fear of reprisal, as a result of a breakdown of trust between staff and the 746 inmates, 100 short of the jails capacity.

The report included allegations that inconsistencies in searches of prisoners led some inmates to feel staff who searched their property were unfairly retaliating against them, with a previous investigation alleging the use of insulting and derogatory terms by staff.

Rusted inmate lockers in a housing unit at the prison (Supplied)

In particular, the report found that staff repeatedly misgendered transgender inmates despite Tallahassee housing the largest number of any Bureau of Prisons institution, with 119 at the time of inspection.

Management figures expressed fears that delays in staff misconduct investigations rendered the process ineffective at enforcing standards of conduct  with the 191 misconduct investigations open at the time of inspection against the prisons 307 staff found to have been ongoing for an average of more than two years.

Concerns with living conditions in the female housing units were also raised. Roofs covering all five units are in need of replacement, inspectors said, with routine leaks having led to significant water intrusion which has damaged windows and walls.

According to the report, staff have had to be asked to avoid giving inmates beds directly affected by leaks, despite efforts by inmates and staff to patchwork repairs, including jamming sanitary products into the gaps of leaking windows.

Black mould was also found on walls and ceilings, which inmates said staff had attempted to cover with white paint ahead of an earlier visit by the Bureau of Prisons.

The communal bathrooms were also found to be of serious concern and causing a variety of sanitary issues. Inspectors found inoperable showers with clogged shower drains, with a black substance pooling inside one shower, a shower that would flood the bathroom floor with water when in use, and a toilet that was inoperable.

Problems with timely access to medication such as insulin were also identified, with the prisons medical centre missing a third of its staff. Meanwhile, the lift linking the two floors of the health department was out of action  potentially delaying emergency responses  after the safety gate malfunctioned and a nurse fell through the open elevator shaft, sustaining serious injuries.
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President Joe Biden unsurprisingly won the South Carolina Democratic primary on Saturday, taking a majority of the votes and delegates in the Democratic partys first official trip to the ballot box of the 2024 election season.

The Associated Press called the primary in favour of Mr Biden approximately 30 minutes after polls closed at 7pm EST.

He ran as the incumbent against two lesser-known candidates: Representative Dean Phillips and self-help author Marianne Williamson.

The win marks Mr Bidens first official victory in his journey to re-election. Although the president obtained a majority of votes in New Hampshire several weeks ago, no candidate will receive delegates because of a conflict between the state and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) over the timing of the primary.

However, Democratic voters in New Hampshire still wrote in the presidents name, signalling that Mr Biden still resonates strongly with liberal voters.

President Joe Biden speaks at the National Prayer Breakfast at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, 1 February, 2024 (AP)

Four years ago, Mr Biden carried South Carolina in the Democratic primary with approximately 48 per cent of the vote.

With a similar win in South Carolina under his belt, the president can expect to look forward to a relatively easy primary season.

The next primary election will be held in Nevada on Tuesday.
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Nikki Haley has made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live as she hones sharper attacks against former president and 2024 rival Donald Trump ahead of the South Carolina primary.

The former governor and United Nations ambassador has been holding events across her home state ahead of the 2024 Republican primary there later this month.

But on Saturday, she made an unannounced stop in New York for a cameo during SNLs cold open, where she sparred with breakout star James Austin Johnson who was impersonating Donald Trump.

Posing as a concerned voter from South Carolina, Ms Haley questioned Mr Trump over whether he should take a mental competency test then asked if he needed to borrow money following the $83m defamation judgement in the E Jean Carroll case.

She went on to deliver the shows opening line  Live, from New York, its Saturday night!  only after taking a question from host Ayo Edebiri, star of the Emmy-award winning drama, The Bear.

Ms Edibiri questioned Ms Haley over a recent gaffe which had stemmed from a question about the cause of the Civil War. Ms Haley failed to mention slavery in her original explanation.

What was the cause of the Civil War? asked Ms Edebiri. Do you think it starts with an S, and ended with a lavery?

Yep, and I probably should have said that to begin with, Ms Haley replied.

The cameo, while a surprise, was in keeping with the shows tradition of hosting presidential candidates. In 2008, Republican candidate John McCain appeared alongside Tina Fey playing Sarah Palin in a sketch about shopping network QVC - alluding to the dire financial straits his campaign was facing in the final days of the race against former president Barack Obama.

Mr Trump, too, has appeared on the show. The former president was an SNL host in 2015 ahead of his election win, and even danced in a music video set to Drakes song Hotline Bling.

Mr Obama appeared in a sketch in 2013, playing himself, while Hillary Clinton made a visit to the set that same year for a meetup with her own impersonator, Amy Poehler.

Ms Haley remains the only competitive Republican challenging Donald Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. After a better-than-expected showing in the New Hampshire primary, her campaign is aiming for an upset victory in her home state.

The former Trump administration employee has increasingly sharpened her attacks against the former president as the GOP field has narrowed.

South Carolinas primary will take place on 24 February, following a caucus and primary in Nevada where the two Republican candidates are not competing directly.
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Russian police have detained 20 journalists reporting on a rally in central Moscow, in which the wives of soldiers sent to the frontline in Ukraine urged Vladimir Putin to bring their loved ones home.

The relatives of military reservists have been gathering weekly to publicly voice their demands, in a rare but mounting display of dissent which threatens Mr Putins claim to have the full backing of the Russian people in his war against Ukraine, as he seeks a near-certain victory in next months presidential elections.

In the ninth and largest of the demonstrations so far, which marked 500 days since Mr Putins controversial mass mobilisation of reservists, the women were filmed by journalists as they lay red carnations at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in the shadow of the Kremlins walls in central Moscow on Saturday.

The relatives of servicemen gathered to lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Saturday (REUTERS)

But as they filmed the women walking to Moscows Red Square, Russian police ordered some 20 male journalists, many wearing press vests, onto a bus and took them to a police station. They were released a few hours later without charge.

OVD-Info, which reports on freedom of assembly in Russia, said around 27 people were detained in total, along with several others also protesting the mobilisation in various locations in central Moscow.

According to independent Russian news outlet SOTAvision, most were later released, although a male protester, Yaroslav Ryazanov, was still in detention on Saturday evening. Reuters and Agence France-Presse said their journalists were among those detained.

While the womens calls have been stonewalled by Russias tightly-controlled media, with some pro-Kremlin politicians seeking to cast them as Western stooges, the protests have gained the backing of several of Mr Putins higher-profile political opponents.

Allies of jailed Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny and Russian opposition politician Maksim Kats voiced support for the protest on Friday, while Boris Nadezhdin  the only would-be presidential challenger to Mr Putin who opposes the Ukraine war  met with the demonstrators last month.

Protesters were pictured surrounded by police officers during the gathering in central Moscow (REUTERS)

We want our husbands back alive, one of the protesters, who only gave her name as Antonina for fear of reprisals, was heard saying in footage published by SOTAvision.

Antonina insisted she does not want compensation from the Russian government if her husband is killed, and said she would instead either go to a convent or follow him, fighting back tears as she added: I dont want to live alone. And if [Russian authorities] dont understand this ... I dont know. God be their judge.

Saturdays demonstration was organised campaign group The Way Home, which posted on Telegram on Friday to urge wives, mothers, sisters and children of reservists from across Russia to come to Moscow to demonstrate [their] unity.

But the Moscow prosecutors office warned Russians early on Saturday against participating in unauthorised mass events. One popular Russian Telegram news channel estimated that some 200 people took to the streets.

The mass mobilisation in autumn 2022 was widely unpopular, and prompted hundreds of thousands to flee abroad to avoid being drafted.

Aware of the public backlash, the Russian military has increasingly sought to bolster its forces in Ukraine by enlisting more volunteers. Russian authorities claim that around 500,000 signed contracts with Russias defence ministry last year.

In response to the crackdown on Saturday, a Reuters spokesperson said: Journalists should be free to report the news without fear of harassment or harm, wherever they are.

Additional reporting by agencies
The tidal wave of US strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria on Friday night is one of the most significant actions taken by the US against Irans proxies since the height of the Iraq War.

Washington said numerous aircraft, including long range B-1 bombers flown all the way from the States, pounded more than 85 targets linked to Irans revolutionary guards and its affiliates, strikes which may have killed as many as 40 people.

The sorties, which involved the firing of over 125 munitions, were in retaliation for last weekends attack by Iran-backed militants on US forces in Jordan. They will not be the last.
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Facebook is marking its 20th anniversary, having risen from a network for students at a single university to one of the biggest internet platforms in the world today.

Here is a look back at some of the key moments from the last 20 years of the social network.

 The launch

Facebook first launched on February 4, 2004 as a social network known as TheFacebook, initially aimed at students at Harvard College, before gradually expanding to other universities across the US.

In 2005, The was dropped from the name, paving the way for facebook.com -and by September 2006, the site was opened up to anyone aged 13 or over.

 Stolen idea accusations

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg found himself accused of stealing the idea of fellow Harvard students Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss, and Divya Narendra  who claimed that Mr Zuckerberg was meant to help them build a social network called HarvardConnection.

A lawsuit was filed against Mr Zuckerberg, resulting in a settlement in 2008, which was dramatised in the movie The Social Network, starring Jesse Eisenberg.

 Facebook goes public

In May 2012, Facebook went public, marking one of the largest initial public offerings (IPOs) in US history.

The company announced 421,233,615 shares priced at 38 dollars per share, though the first day of trading experienced some technical issues that prevented some orders from going through.

 Instagram buyout

Facebook successfully purchased rival social network Instagram in April 2012 for one billion dollars, bolstering the social networks presence.

Instagram has been kept largely independent, though parts of it have been integrated with Facebook, such as the ability to share photos on Facebook too, as well as Stories.

 WhatsApp acquisition

Facebook continued its acquisition spree in 2014, buying out messaging app WhatsApp for 19 billion dollars.

Like Instagram, the app has remained separate, with some parts able to link up to the main Facebook social network.

 Oculus VR

Facebook made yet another deal in 2014, taking over virtual reality startup Oculus VR, for two billion dollars, as the company looked to expand its tech footprint beyond social media.

 Mood influencing study

One of Facebooks earlier controversies came in 2014, when it emerged that a mood influence study was carried out on the News Feed.

The posts that appeared on the home page of 689,000 users were filtered, though Facebook said the experiment was to understand how people respond to different types of content, whether it is positive or negative in tone.

 Hitting one billion users

In August 2015, Facebook announced that it had hit a new milestone, with one billion users accessing the service in a single day.

 Moving beyond Likes

Facebook added new reactions to accompany its famous Like button in 2016, with emotions showing love, laughter, wow, sadness and anger.

 Cambridge Analytica

The Cambridge Analytica scandal was one of the biggest controversies to hit Facebook, when an investigation claimed that the data analysis firm was passing personal data from Facebook apps without the consent of individuals.

It is believed that the company harvested data of up to 87 million users in 2014, resulting in fines which included a 500,000 penalty issued by the UKs data protection watchdog, the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), to Facebook.

 Data breach of almost 30 million accounts

In September 2018, Facebook revealed that nearly 50 million accounts were compromised by a security breach  though the number was later decreased to 30 million.

At the time, Facebook vice president Guy Rosen said attackers exploited a vulnerability in Facebooks code that impacted View As, a feature that lets people see what their own profile looks like to someone else.

 Fake news

Like many online platforms, Facebook has been hit with fake news issues.

The social network has been criticised for its handling of the spread of misinformation, with bad actors targeting Facebook largely to distribute political messages, particularly around crucial elections.

In response, Facebook has carried out a number of initiatives to combat fake news. Earlier this year, it launched a UK arm to its international fact-checking effort, using Full Fact, a fact-checking charity founded in 2010, to review stories, images and videos which have been flagged by users and rate them based on their accuracy.

 Growing pressure from rival platforms

Facebook has also faced intense pressure from within the social media industry, as new players emerged and tried to compete with the platform for the attention of users.

The most notable and ongoing rival in that sense has been TikTok, which has gained users, particularly among the younger generation and challenged Facebooks status as an online news source for some.

In early 2022, as Facebook reported a drop in its number of daily active users for the first time in its history, Mr Zuckerberg publicly acknowledged the competition from the likes of TikTok and admitted Facebook was in a battle for peoples attention.

Meta has been making a strong fist of that fight too, introducing a shortform video feature, called Reels, similar to TikTok to another of its apps, Instagram, in an effort to take on TikTok at their own game.

 Metaverse gamble

In October 2021, Mr Zuckerberg announced the biggest reshuffle in the companys history as created and rebranded its parent company as Meta and declared it was no longer focused on social media, but building the metaverse.

The Facebook founder pledged to invest billions of dollars into the project, which aimed to make Meta the industry leader in what Mr Zuckerberg said he believed would be the next version of the internet.

More than two years on, there is little sign yet of the metaverse becoming the mainstream internet for the general public.

And with strong economic headwinds for tech firms in 2022 and 2023, post-pandemic, the company was forced to make two rounds of substantial job cuts.

For now, the metaverse gamble from Mr Zuckerberg is yet to pay off.

 Job cuts

In the space of four months between the end of 2022 and March 2023, Meta announced two rounds of major job cuts.

The first saw 11,000 roles go from its 87,000-strong global workforce, with another 10,000 job cuts announced just 16 weeks later  although it was not along in the tech sector in cutting back jobs.

The cuts coincided with the companys profits taking a hit due to a range of factors, including a slump in the online advertising market, wider global economic woes and increased competition from rivals such as TikTok.

The massive investment in building the metaverse was also highlighted as placing additional pressure on the companys finances at a difficult time for the firm.

 Increased scrutiny from regulators

The rise of Facebook and other social media apps has led to increased attention and scrutiny from regulators around the world.

The fast pace of the sector has seen Facebook and other platforms at the centre of debates around user privacy, data collection and broader online safety as more people spend more time online.

As scrutiny has increased during Facebooks two decades in existence, the site has had to react and evolve with it  introducing vast content moderation teams, fact-checking and safety centres to combat misinformation and other harmful content, new rules around advertising, and digital wellbeing tools to allow users to limit their screen time.

Now major internet regulation is coming into force in the EU and UK, with Facebook and others potentially facing billions of dollars in fines, services being blocked and even criminal liability for managers if they are found to be in breach of online safety rules.

The need for effective moderation of Facebooks online empire has never been more vital or high-pressured, and its response to legislation such as the Online Safety Act will dictate the companys success for years to come.

 Returning financial strength

Despite its issues in recent years, Facebook and Meta have had a resurgent start to 2024, with the firm reporting some of its strongest financial results for the final three months of 2023.

Compared to the same period in 2022, revenue rose 25% and net income more than tripled, as user growth returned, advertising sales recovered and the cost-cutting from the substantial job cuts took effect.
Police have praised members of the public who tried to get into a house and help a grandmother who was killed in a dog attack in Jaywick on Saturday, 3 February.

Esther Martin, from Woodford Green in London, was attacked by two dogs at a property in Hillman Avenue.

The 68-year-old, who was visiting her 11-year-old grandson, died at the scene.

Chief Superintendent Glen Pavelin of Essex Police said: [Officers] unflinching bravery and professionalism ensured that there is no ongoing threat to the people of Essex, both dogs were destroyed inside the house.

I would also like to thank local people who tried to get into the house to help Esther Martin, you should be proud.
A dachshund that became trapped in a hole after trying to chase a fox was rescued by Italian firefighters on Wednesday, 31 January.

The pooch and the fox were trapped two metres below ground in San Miniato, according to a report by Il Cuoio in Diretta.

Firefighters managed to free the dog and handed it over to its owner unharmed.

The fox was also able to leave the den and disappeared into the bush after the rescue, Vigili del Fuoco added.
Michelle O'Neill has said that the all-female team leading the new Northern Ireland powersharing executive should show young women that they can achieve anything.

The Sinn Fein vice president has made history as Northern Irelands first-ever nationalist First Minister.

Ms O'Neill spoke of her pride that her family were at Stormont to see her appointment, and her hope that she and DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly will be able to form a close relationship.

"I think that speaks volumes to young women out there that they can achieve anything they set their minds to," she said.
RAF Typhoon aircraft took off to conduct further strikes against Houthi targets on Saturday, 3 February.

The UK has joined the US for a third time in further strikes in a bid to prevent further attacks on international shipping along a major trade route.

Strikes were against Houthi locations in Yemen involved in the campaign targeting the southern Red Sea and the Bab al Mandab, the Ministry of Defence said.

Fresh assaults were not an escalation but were designed to protect innocent lives and preserve freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, defence secretary Grant Shapps said.
Craft beer

The company released a range of craft beers, including The Liberator and The Pioneer. These were contract brewed in Dundalk. Photo: Facebook

Dublin City Brewing, a craft beer company based on Parnell Street, is close to completing its long planned brewery and visitor centre.

The project is not affected by the planned liquidation of one of its trading companies, it is understood.

According to a company notice, Dublin City Brewing Co Limited, a trading company in the group, is scheduled to hold a creditors meeting on Tuesday. The company will nominate Anthony Glennon of Friel Stafford as liquidator.

However, the Sunday Independent understands the unit being liquidated is a trading company that has ceased business, and the parent firm expects to complete construction of the brewery imminently.

Read more Winespark online club hits landmark of shipping 150,000 bottles at 40pc discount for club members

It is understood staff were told of the decision to liquidate the trading company last week.

Dublin City Brewing was founded in 2017.

Two years later Geoff Waddell and Mark Schneider revealed plans to open the brewery in the Parnell Centre, describing it as a 10m project.

Filings for Dublin Beer Factory Holdings Limited show it attracted much investment from the Netherlands, including United Soft Drinks.

The Dutch drinks company took a charge over the city centre premises where the brewery was under construction last October.

Fergal Murray, Dublin City Brewings master brewer, was also in the same role and a global ambassador with Guinness for 33 years.
Pippa OConnor Ormond is an investor and director in the Irish vodka brand, Istil 38

A vodka company that counts Irish celebrity Pippa OConnor Ormond as an investor and director has attracted an investment worth 390,000 as it plots further growth.

According to company filings, the Sugarloaf Beverage Company raised money from several investors, including Michael Stafford of Stafford Bonded and ODriscolls Irish Whiskey. Sugarloaf owns the Istil 38 Irish vodka brand.

Speaking with the Sunday Independent, Shane Davey  managing director of the Sugarloaf Beverage Company  said the new investment would be used to continue growing the Istil 38 brand, which is now stocked in around 300 to 400 Irish pubs.

This money will all be used for growth, he said. And we are in talks with a number of distributors in the UK as well.

Davey said bringing in Stafford as an investor would help drive Istils international growth, given his experience with ODriscolls Irish Whiskey. Stafford is taking a minority stake in the business.

Davey said the Istil brand had generated around 400,000 in revenue before accounting for duty tax.

OConnor Ormond, who also has a clothing company Poco, has taken on a director role at Sugarloaf.

Alongside Davey, other Sugarloaf directors include industry veterans Niall ODwyer and John Reynolds.
I knew a lot of the winemakers, and I knew exactly how much the wines cost to make

Winespark, an Irish subscription wine-buying club, has hit a milestone of having shipped 150,000 bottles and is continuing to grow its customer base, says founder Eamon FitzGerald.

The club now has 1,500 subscribers and delivers about 50,000 bottles a year. Turnover is 1.3m per annum and the firm is at break-even point.

Fitzgerald, former managing director of Naked Wines, a listed UK online seller, said he hopes to increase his subscription base here to 5,000 and would then consider expanding into other markets.

Were less focused on big milestones than proving the model, but if we get to that level Ill feel comfortable that we have the right formula to apply to other markets, he said.

The fastest way to overstretch your business is to go international too early.

"I have those experiences from my past and its definitely about doing it at the right time, without sacrificing the proposition and the service for your existing members who have gotten you this far.

FitzGerald, from Blackrock, Co Dublin, launched Winespark in July 2021 as a subscription model. Customers pay 10 per month for access to wines at member prices, typically saving about 40pc per bottle.

Winemakers make decisions typically based on a 15- or 20-year payback window

We launched off the back end of Covid when people were very keen to try wines at home. The pace of customer acquisition has fallen slightly, but demand is still good.

Of late Naked Wines has had a turbulent time, cutting jobs as sales fell.

Were growing slowly and sustainably, rather than just kind of growth at all costs, Fitzgerald said. Ive been part of that world and sometimes it doesnt end up doing so well.

Since it was founded, Winespark has raised 400,000 in two separate fundraisings from 14 well-known winemakers, including Italian winemaker Federico Cerelli, and Franck Massard, formerly of Torres in Spain.

"The only way to sustain growth is to have patience and the right sort of backers. Probably Ive been unusual in where Ive got my investment  which is from my suppliers rather than traditional sources of investments.

I wanted shareholders that were fully aligned with the long-term growth and aspirations of the business. And for me, the obvious place to go to was either my suppliers or my customers, he said.

I used to love poring over the wine maps and the labels, even eventually having the odd taste

I didnt have a track record in Ireland  so I figured the suppliers who already knew me were a better place to start.

"It has worked out well. They give me great prices on their wines and extended payment terms, which is oxygen in the life of an early stage startup.

Winemakers make decisions typically based on a 15- or 20-year payback window. They are not typically looking for a 10x in five years type of setup.

FitzGerald developed his passion for wine as a teenager, helping his father on wine-buying trips to France.

We would go on holidays and then coming home he would go to the French supermarkets and pack the boot full of wine.

"I used to love poring over the wine maps and the labels, even eventually having the odd taste  and as a 16-year-old he appointed me his wine buyer. I was very lucky to discover my passion early on.

After studying French and business in Trinity, he worked in Accenture before taking a job as a wine buyer with UK online wine retailing giant Naked Wines, where he would rise to become managing director for 10 years, helping to build a network of winemakers around the world.

FitzGerald's interest grew from an early age. Photo: Andres Poveda

FitzGerald returned to Ireland in 2019 with his young family, and it was while walking around Irish supermarkets that he saw a gap for a subscription wine club.

I noticed how expensive wine had become. I knew a lot of the winemakers whose wine was on the shelf, and I knew exactly how much those wines cost to make  from picking the grapes through processing to barrel and bottle.

"I could see the margins were extremely high in Ireland. People only had two options  to go to supermarkets where the prices were good but the quality not as good, or to wine shops where the selections were great, but the prices were high.

I figured that, with my contacts and connections and industry expertise, I could make wines from all these fantastic smaller winemakers more accessible and more affordable.

I just needed to find a way to do it a little bit differently and to build loyalty.
Some 5,000 people have applied for the 620 cost-rental apartments the Land Development Agency put on the market last month in Dublin and Kildare.

Following criticism that the rent set by the agency was too expensive, its chief executive John Coleman has said the level of demand shows that people are voting with their feet for this product.

In an interview for tomorrow's Sunday Independent, he added: If it wasnt attractive, or acceptable to people, you wouldnt have 5,000 applications.

Sinn Fein spokesman Eoin O Broin has said the rents set for some of the properties at Hansfield, Citywest and Kilternan in Dublin, and at Leixlip in Kildare, are too high. He told the Oireachtas housing committee last week that the LDA was doing enormous damage to the very idea of cost rental.

Cost-rental properties are aimed at people whose income is too high to qualify for social housing but who cannot afford to buy or rent on the private market. The rents are designed to be at least 25pc less than the market rate.

Mr O Broin cited the 1,400-a-month rent for a one-bedroom apartment at Citywest, and up to 1,800 for a three-bed, as examples of excessive rent in the new schemes. Under LDA rules, the rent should be no more than a third of a households disposable income, so only those earning 75,000 a year could qualify for the one-bed, and an income of 100,000 would be needed for the three-bed.

However Mr Coleman said that the rents actually start at 1,050 per month for a studio apartment in Hansfield, going to 1,750 for a three-bed, and we have hardly any of those.

We think these are generally affordable to the target market, he said. For this latest release, we put more of an effort into communicating with the public about what cost rental is, and the benefits. People will see what a competitive product we have compared to what else is available.

Mr Coleman also indicated that the LDA has reached agreement with the Central Bank over a 37-acre site in Sandyford, south Dublin, that has been the home of the national mint. The bank decided to sell it in December 2022, but then entered talks with the LDA about its use for affordable houses.

The intention is that it would be made available to us in due course, whenever they can move on, Mr Coleman said. Its a fine site that could accommodate around 800 homes.

It takes a number of years for a site of that size to get planning through so there is nothing stopping us from maybe moving on with the design, public consultation, planning application, and being able to implement construction on that site as soon as they move off.

A spokesman for the Central Bank confirmed it is proactively engaging with the LDA in relation to the disposal of the Sandyford site to facilitate the earliest possible release of lands.

As this engagement is ongoing, we are not in a position to provide further information at this time. It remains the Central Banks expectation that it will be at least seven years before a new cash centre is delivered on a new site. Until such time, operations will remain in Sandyford.
Bank of Ireland could face 160m bill for compensation after UK watchdog review into car loan practices, analysts warn

The UK financial watchdog said it would investigate interest-linked deals offered by motor finance companies following a surge in customer complaints

Analysts said around 3pc of BoIs loan book was UK motor finance in the first half of 2023. Getty Images

Sean Pollock Sun 4 Feb 2024 at 03:30

Bank of Ireland (BoI) may face a redress bill worth up to 160m off the back of a UK watchdog review into motor finance commissions, according to analysts at Barclays.
Partner Content: Dubai plans to consolidate its position among the top three global cities

Dubai plans on doubling in size over the next nine years. Photo: Getty

Over the last number of years, the Middle East and North African (Mena) region has proven to be a dynamic market and destination of opportunity for many Irish companies. Overall, Enterprise Ireland client exports to the India, Middle East and Africa region rose 13pc between 2021 and 2022.

Ireland, often referred to an island of innovation, is well regarded across the Mena region for its innovative and market-focused offerings. With increased direct market accessibility from Dublin via a number of airlines, the region is becoming more attractive for Irish SMEs. Key sectors of growth include engineering and construction, aviation, fintech, life sciences and education.

Last week, Enterprise Ireland led a ministerial trade visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), headed by Dara Calleary, minister of state for trade promotion.

The aim of the visit was to strengthen trade ties between the two countries and explore new opportunities in medtech, aviation, AI and fintech.

Calleary met with UAE ministers, heads of organisations and business leaders to discuss developments and innovations in these sectors. He also highlighted the strengths of Irish firms in these areas and their potential to contribute to UAE economic growth.

In addition to the ministerial meetings, 17 Irish medical and life science companies supported by Enterprise Ireland participated in the Arab Health medical expo. This provided a platform for these companies to showcase products and services to over 50,000 global healthcare decision-makers.

The Mena region is booming, with significant capital projects underway across the region. 

Dubai recently announced the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, a plan to double the size of Dubais economy over the next decade and consolidate its position among the top three global cities with 100 transformational projects planned.

Last week, Enterprise Ireland chief executive Leo Clancy signed an MoU between Enterprise Ireland (EI) and Dubai Chambers.

This pivotal agreement is strategically designed to unlock lucrative opportunities for EI clients, especially in the areas of technology, manufacturing, ESG and clean technologies. It will further strengthen Irish investment, trade and business links with Dubai  which will assist rapidly growing Irish companies to expand into the region.

Locally in the Mena region, Enterprise Ireland has a physical presence in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh. An excellent team of 10 market advisers with local experience of doing business in the region provide key insights on how to operate in the region and help clients understand the most effective route to market.

In addition, EI assists clients with many lead-generation activities by providing introductions to important stakeholders in key sectors.

Most Irish companies launch and scale in the region in partnership with local businesses. To survive and thrive in Mena, its important to conduct in-depth market research, understand cultural nuances and build an in-market professional network.

Enterprise Ireland has had an office in the UAE for 21 years  and the Mena region is increasingly presenting new business opportunities, making it an invaluable market for Irish companies with global ambition.

Stephen Twomey is Mena director at Enterprise Ireland
The most successful non-fiction author on the island of Ireland right now is Nathan Anthony.

Based in Belfast, he shot to social-media fame during Covid with a blog entitled Bored of Lunch. He now has over 2m followers on Instagram, and almost 1m on TikTok.
Responses sent to the unnamed institutions HR department referenced a toxic workplace culture and raised questions about the treatment of women

An internal staff survey at one of the countrys leading colleges paints a picture of allegations of bullying, harassment, bias and unfair treatment by some working there.

It warns of a toxic culture in one department at the institution and raises questions about the treatment of women in academia.

Staff claimed this culture has been allowed to fester for years. Some responses called the work environment dysfunctional and hostile. They also pointed to a lack of transparency, and said microaggressions, bullying and suppression are used by leaders who do not promote good behavioural values.

A gang and outsiders culture was also referenced.

The comments were included in a survey report sent to the colleges human resources department about a year ago.

The report was seen by the Sunday Independent but the third-level institution cannot be identified for legal reasons. Naming the college could expose staff who responded to the anonymous survey.

Junior female staff, but not exclusively, have had particular difficulties, a respondent said.

Another respondent said a poor culture in their department had a detrimental impact on students because it contributed to classes being timetabled at unpopular hours.

Data within the report shows half of staff who responded to the survey claimed they had witnessed bullying and/or harassment in the previous two years. This figure rises to 62.5pc for women.

There are no findings or recommendations in the document but it said 70pc of staff working there participated in the survey.

One response said staff were in an extremely stressful environment

It shows how they addressed questions on their working environment, their reflections on how meetings were conducted, complaints of unfair treatment and the impact work had on them.

I would love to work in a collegial department where equality and diversity were valued and where I and other staff could trust colleagues and feel supported. That is not [this department] and things are so bad now that I am not sure that it is fixable, one response read.

Another response claimed people challenging favouritism or bias were met with swift retribution. This respondent added: There is a small but powerful faction in our department that elevate and support the careers of favoured friends in the clique and suppress and block those who they do not rate, like or want to have any power or visibility in the department.

Some of the language in the report is repetitive, suggesting multiple comments were made by a small group of people, but data on how different people responded to about 100 questions shows there are concerns among a number of staff.

These responses show women were more likely than men to have concerns about work.

Half of the women who responded to questions on unfair treatment and discrimination said they witnessed such behaviour in the previous two years. They were also uncomfortable reporting it and expressed a lack of confidence in such reports being responded to appropriately. Women were more likely than men to feel less represented by those in leadership roles.

Only 20pc of women agreed the colleges public image gave equal weight and visibility to men and women. This number increased to 81pc for men. Two-thirds of women felt their gender negatively influenced promotion prospects. The same number disagreed when asked if the promotions process was fair and transparent.

All the women who answered a question on research opportunities said they did not feel like they had sufficient time to conduct such work. This compared to 62pc of men who addressed the question. People generally expressed a level of happiness with their workloads and pointed to cases where they were able to access support about caring duties and responsibilities they were able to get assistance with. One worker pointed to good supports via training courses. Another said an effort to promote equality and inclusion had a positive effect.

While half of people claimed they witnessed bullying and/or harassment, 8.6pc of staff said they experienced it. Another 8.6pc of people said they would prefer not to say if they had been bullied or harassed.

The report was sent to everyone who participated in the survey, as well as senior figures at the college. One source who is familiar with the report said some people who participated later felt they should have made an effort to contribute a greater number of positive comments in the survey. They said they did not recognise their workplace in some of the comments, but acknowledged some people may feel suppressed and unfairly treated.

A section of the report relating to inappropriate behaviour shows one worker felt gender, age, attractiveness, etc, all impact on how people are treated. They claimed this feeds into biased promotion opportunities.

The atmosphere in the department is toxic, with open hostility in staff meetings, discrimination and exclusion, they said.

However, it was also noted that one worker regularly provides reminders at staff meetings so we are aware of the appropriate contact if bullying or harassment arises.

One response said staff were in an extremely stressful environment. Another said the mental health consequences of this are significant for many who suffered unfair treatment. A comment on the survey process claimed the college was aware of these issues but allowed them to continue.

This weekend the college said 70pc of staff who participated in the survey opted to submit comments. A spokesman said a very small percentage of this group made comments about bullying or harassment and these were taken seriously.

Since the comments were anonymous, human resources was unable to reach out and support specific individuals, he added, but supports were offered to the department in question.

No formal bullying or harassment complaints arose after the survey was carried out.

An environmental review of the department highlighted in the survey is being carried out to explore the experiences of those working there. The spokesman said the human resources department will take action if inappropriate behaviour is identified during the review.
Exclusive poll: Two-thirds of public unsure of Ian Baileys guilt over murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier

Opinion divided over the murder of French woman in West Cork in 1996 Only 20pc say Bailey would have been found guilty if he had gone on trial in Irish courtReassuring to think a substantial number of people believe in his innocence, says solicitor

Ireland Thinks Poll: Only 37% of people think Ian Bailey murdered Sophie Toscan du Plantier

Maeve Sheehan Sun 4 Feb 2024 at 03:30







Almost two-thirds of the public are either unsure of Ian Baileys guilt in the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier or do not believe he killed the French national, according to a new Sunday Independent opinion poll.
Crime

New victim comes forward with claims against Bill Kenneally and says detective advised him to drop allegations
HSE restarts investigation to identify more potential victims of nursing home rapist Emmanuel Adeniji

Former care worker is in jail for raping a 73-year-old woman with dementia  and he is suspected of abusing 21 others

Emmanuel Adeniji worked for 16 years as a healthcare assistant

Maeve Sheehan Sun 4 Feb 2024 at 03:30







The HSE is to resume an investigation into the alleged rape and abuse of nursing home residents by a former health care assistant suspected of being among the countrys most prolific sex offenders.
Was Sophie Toscan du Plantier up and eating breakfast when her killer called?

Bridget Chappuis, a retired forensic officer, talks about about new avenues of possibility that could be explored in the unsolved murder in West Cork

The Murder of Sophie Toscan de Plantier

Maeve Sheehan Sun 4 Feb 2024 at 03:30

Bridget Chappuis, a forensics liaison officer in the UK, was gripped by the unsolved murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. She downloaded the podcasts, read the books and watched the documentaries about the mystery of the French womans murder at her holiday home near Schull in West Cork on December 23, 1996.
New change labelled extreme as public access is restricted

The Finance Minister has agreed to re-examine a measure he introduced to cut almost all public access to a register of company owners after the change was criticised in the Dail as extreme and was said to be masking the real owners of companies that have won massive state contracts to house homeless people, refugees and asylum-seekers.

Last year, in response to a European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling in late 2022, Michael McGrath signed a statutory instrument which severely limited public access to the Register of Beneficial Ownership (RBO), which contains details on who owns Irish companies.

After the ECJ ruled that permitting public access to an RBO was a breach of privacy and data protection rights, EU countries had different reactions.

In Ireland, the new regulation signed by Mr McGrath requires applicants, such as journalists, to show a company is linked to people convicted of money laundering or terrorist financing before they can access the RBO.

In the Business Post last week, Paul Egan SC, a lawyer with Mason Hayes and Curran, said the Irish system was now comical as someone had to prove the people they are investigating had convictions before they could access information on them or companies they are suspected of owning.

The issue was raised in the Dail last week by Catherine Murphy, the Social Democrats TD for North Kildare, who pointed out that other EU countries had not introduced restrictions as draconian as Ireland for accessing its RBO. Ms Murphy raised concerns that journalists would not be able to access information on who really owns companies winning multi-million-euro state contracts to provide emergency accommodation.

Mr McGrath said the restrictions were introduced following advice from the Attorney Generals office on the ECJ judgment.

Its had a very extreme effect in the way it was handled by way of the statutory instrument, said Ms Murphy.

Were aware theres a huge amount of investment funds. Were aware of brass-plate companies in the financial services sector. Certainly, there are huge contracts being allocated by the likes of the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive and by the likes of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

Im certainly well aware of people who I dont believe are the beneficial owners of companies getting some of those contracts. But [the change] is shutting down transparency in the way this has been dealt with by way of the statutory instrument. Its extreme. Its ham-fisted.

You cant have accountability, if you havent got transparency. Theres companies within companies within companies. Its like the Russian doll. And if you cant get to the beneficial owner, well then there are people that are going to be misusing the system because they know theyre being sheltered.

Mr McGrath said the department was waiting to see how the new EU anti-money-laundering directive would address the privacy issues raised by the ECJ. However, Ms Murphy said Ireland could not wait years for transparency on company ownership.

Michael McGrath pictured in his office in Merrion St. Photo: Frank McGrath

Mr McGrath said he was a firm believer in journalism and transparency and there was no policy decision to restrict access to the RBO. He said he acted on legal advice. He said Ms Murphy had made a fair point about other countries taking different approaches.

He gave Ms Murphy a commitment that he would ask his officials to examine the issue again as he thought it was important that we be as transparent as possible within the parameters of the ECJ ruling.

Mr Egan said this weekend that the UK had implemented the most transparent system whereby its Companies House makes company filings and the declaration of a companys beneficial owners available for free on its website. He said the ECJ adopted a privacy-first, blinkered approach to any issue involving personal data.

I, as a citizen, believe that all citizens have a right to know the identities of significant shareholders, with over 25pc, who benefit from the statutory privilege of limited liability, said Mr Egan.

John Devitt, the chief executive of Transparency International Ireland, said he thought it was ironic that Ireland was trying to attract the EUs Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) to be based in Dublin, with its 400 jobs, at a time it had clamped down on transparency on company ownership.

I would be pleasantly surprised, if not shocked, if Ireland wins the competition to host the agency given its track record in this area, said Mr Devitt.

We have been subject to European Commission infringement proceedings for delays in transposing EU money laundering directives in the past. In addition, our lax regulation of companies, limited partnerships, trusts and complex financial instruments, as well as under-resourced law enforcement in this area make Ireland very attractive for money launderers and tax evaders.

Whats more, not only was the Irish Government one of the first to block media and civil society access to the RBO, it has since moved to prevent access to the register unless someone can show that the owner of a company is guilty of money laundering before they can access the information necessary to investigate it. This absurd approach is so out of step with our commitments to detect and recover laundered money that its hard to take Irelands self-promotion as a world leader in this area seriously right now.
A group protesting outside a vacant building in south Dublin being considered for refugee accommodation have said they are "devastated" by a significant fire at the premises.

The blaze broke out early this morning at the former St Brigids Nursing Home on the N81 at Crooksling, close to the village of Brittas.

Some 40 fire fighters attached to seven units from the Dublin Fire Brigade responded to the incident while emergency services remain at the scene this afternoon.

Gardai have said a formal examination of the building will be conducted by an expert engineer on Monday to assess its safety.

A senior investigating officer has been appointed and a garda investigation will get underway to determine the cause of the blaze at the site which has been the subject of protests in recent weeks.

Demonstrators have gathered outside of the property over the last two weeks while on Friday a 24-hour protest began over the potential housing of refugees at the site.

Several protesters remained there today including members of South Dublin Says No, a group which has held numerous anti-immigration demonstrations, as well as residents living in the area.

Asked by the Irish Independent their thoughts on the fire, one local woman protesting said: Devastated. This isnt what were about, we are about peaceful protest. Why would we sit here all night and then burn the place down, it doesnt make sense.

Another woman added: But then people automatically say that the likes of us, the far-right as were called which, lets be honest is a load of shite, we didnt do this

Its unfortunate that has happened because its an old building, it was housing old folks that were turfed out. Why would anyone want to burn it down.

The HSE-run property was first used as a TB sanatorium in 1911 but more recently was operated as a nursing home. In 2020 the remaining residents were moved to another building in Tymon North after HIQA deemed the Crooksling facility as not fit for purpose.

The Department of Health previously said that it had engaged with other Government departments and that the Crooksling site was among 300 properties considered for housing and refugee accommodation.

It's understood that the site was being considered for housing refugees, but it is understood no final decision had been made on it.

Sinn Fein TD Sean Crowe said he raised the possibility of the nursing home being targeted in an arson attack with junior Minister Joe OBrien only last week.

I had spoken to Minister Joe OBrien about this site only last week and highlighted the threat of arson given the attacks we have seen right across the state, said Mr Crowe.

He said it is only a matter of time before a person is caught in a fire or a firefighter is injured.

These attacks cannot be allowed to go on with impunity. It is only a matter of time until someone is caught in the blaze or a firefighter is injured or worse battling the fire. There must be consequences to this dangerous and extreme anti-social behaviour.

People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny said the attack is horrendous.

These people will go beyond arson attacks and the next [thing] will be people getting injured, he said.

He said this is a threat to the migrants seeking shelter, but also to the whole State.

This is a threat to the cohesion of society, he said.

The protesters who remained at the site today, using a gazebo and displaying placards, said they would consider if they will continue their demonstration.

Asked about the reason for their protest, one woman said: We had gotten word they were going to house refugees up here, so theres no amenities in this area. Theres no shop, theres no restaurant, theres no take-aways. Theres absolutely nothing in this area so what are these people going to be doing up here.

Weve no problem with them housing families, Ukrainians, because theyre from war-torn countries.

"However, some of these people are coming from countries that are not war-torn. So that was our problem, and we didnt want them in our area. We wanted to know who was coming into our area.

Another thing is there was no communication from any other official. Nobody spoke to us.

"The Government think they can just do what they want to do without any public consultation, so that was our protest. Really the protest is about what the Government is doing and its not really about the refugees. Im sure some of them are really nice people, no problem with that, but we want to know where they come from, what their background is, and we want the Government to listen to people. 

Local sources say it appears the fire started in the former 22-bed Ruben unit and spread quickly through the former 22-bed Bethany unit and the former Beech unit of the facility.

In an update this afternoon the DFB said that the fire was contained with four engines remaining at the scene. A photograph of the blaze showed a long single storey building engulfed in flames and with the roof collapsed.

Local politicians had been engaged in trying to get the facility turned into a step-down facility for the elderly of the area, in order to free-up hospital beds and provide care for the elderly as they progress from hospital.

Archbishop of Dublin Michael Jackson said the former nursing home, named after St Brigid, has been rendered useless to anyone.

"Nobody wins when such buildings are burned. The resources of hard pressed emergency services have been needlessly and fruitlessly depleted, said Fr Jackson.

"Those seeking International Protection in our country have a right to safety while their application is being examined.

"The total community in which such buildings stand is branded, by such actions, with racism and with anti-immigrant sentiment, and their place becomes a household name. The integrity and the stability of such a community are endangered by these needless actions.

"History shows us that we in Ireland are no strangers to emigration or to the need to be received as graciously and as helpfully as possible wherever we have arrived across the world in order to make a fresh start. Communities throughout our country across the centuries have flourished as a result of the arrival of people from different backgrounds and cultures.

"Our thoughts are very much with the community of Crooksling, Brittas at this time."
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
China pavilion at World Expo breaks ground in Japan's Osaka

Xinhua) 11:21, February 04, 2024

This photo taken on Feb. 2, 2024 shows the groundbreaking ceremony of the China Pavilion at Yumeshima, Japan. (Xinhua/Hu Xiaoge)

OSAKA, Japan, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- The China Pavilion at Expo Osaka, Japan, broke ground here on Friday, marking the commencement of construction for the venue highlighting green development and human-nature harmony.

About 200 people participated in the groundbreaking ceremony at Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka Bay, where the expo site is located.

Noting that Friday's ceremony signified a crucial step forward in China's participation in the expo, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Ren Hongbin said the council will collaborate closely with relevant parties to make the China pavilion a dazzling "business card" for the expo, presenting a vibrant and multi-dimensional image of China to the world and advancing economic and trade exchanges and mutual understanding between China and other nations.

Citing good foundation of bilateral cooperation in terms of the world expo in 2025, Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao said that the China pavilion will present modern Chinese civilization and showcase China's rapid development, its open, inclusive and friendly image, helping build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Hiroyuki Ishige, secretary general of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, said he expected to see the China pavilion, which features harmony between human and nature.

"I look forward to seeing more Chinese friends in Osaka next year who will experience the unique charm of the World Expo," he said.

The China pavilion is one of the largest self-built pavilions at the expo. Its theme, "Building a Shared Community of Humans and Nature -- The Future of Green Development," is reflected in its exterior design inspired by traditional Chinese scrolls.

The exhibition will focus on green development in China, showcasing the development concept of harmonious coexistence between human and nature.

Themed as "Designing Future Society of Our Lives," the Expo Osaka will be held from April 13 to Oct. 13 in 2025.

This photo taken on Feb. 2, 2024 shows the groundbreaking ceremony of the China Pavilion at Yumeshima, Japan. (Xinhua/Hu Xiaoge)

Guests participate in the groundbreaking ceremony of the China Pavilion at Yumeshima, Japan, Feb. 2, 2024. (China Council for the Promotion of International Trade/Handout via Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Parents of children needing complex orthopaedic surgeries are taking legal advice after learning some medical records will be released without their consent to the independent review into consultant Dr Connor Greens work.

The external review into the paediatric orthopaedic surgeons work at Temple Street Childrens Hospital has been hampered by the refusal to engage by parents advocacy groups. It is led by HSE-appointed expert Selvadurai Nayagam.

Green is facing an inquiry over paediatric spinal surgeries he performed and a separate inquiry by health regulator Hiqa for implanting springs not originally designed for medical use in three children. Childrens Health Ireland has referred him to the Irish Medical Council.

Parents involved in two advocacy groups for children on waiting lists in Temple Street and Crumlin hospitals are boycotting the review of his work. The Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group and the Scoliosis Advocacy Network have sought broader terms of reference for the inquiry and a wider task force.

Read more Mother of two-year-old girl with rigid joints pleads for return of Temple Street surgeon Connor Green

Orthokids Ireland, another parent group, is calling for Greens reinstatement and has described the review as a vendetta.

A number of parents received letters last week from the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Cappagh telling them their childs case had been randomly selected for review by Nayagam.

The hospital said it was providing the relevant records as legally required. Separately, chief medical officer of Childrens Health Ireland, Dr Allan Goldman, is understood to have contacted parents urging them to submit their childrens records.

In a follow-up letter, Goldman informed parents that as the records are held by the service, we will be providing the relevant records.

Orthokids Ireland, advocating for Greens reinstatement, said it was outraged at the contact, which it described as a last-ditch attempt by Childrens Health Ireland to salvage what can only now be regarded as a failed external review.

It alleged a number of parents were cold called by Goldman.

They were informed that their childrens records were selected by an orthopaedic consultant for submission to the external review being conducted by Professor Nayagam, the statement said.

We believe this underhand behaviour further demonstrates the lack of governance of the Childrens Health Ireland (CHI), who are attempting to bypass stringent data protection laws. We have sought legal advice on this matter and parents will not be granting consent.

Green stopped performing complex spinal surgeries last year and has been on voluntary leave since the summer after concerns were raised about high infection rates in 17 patients and the number of repeat surgeries many of them had to undergo.

The HSE said 19 children in Temple Street Hospital had suffered serious post-operative complications and one had died.
Tanaiste Micheal Martin said the Government is ready to support the work of the Northern Ireland Executive in partnership with the British government.

Today is a special day for the people of Northern Ireland, he said. Two years after the Assembly and Executive were collapsed, they have been restored. MLAs who were given a mandate by their electorate back in May 2022 can now take up that mandate in full.

I want to congratulate Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly on assuming their roles as First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

I wish them both well in what will be very demanding roles. I look forward to working with them, and with their executive colleagues.

I also want to congratulate Edwin Poots on his election as Speaker of the Assembly.

While the last few weeks and months have focused on restoring the Assembly and Executive, the hard work now begins in earnest. Northern Ireland faces a number of real challenges. An Executive working collectively  and prioritising real, everyday needs over questions of identity  can meet these challenges.

President Michael D Higgins said the reactivation of the Assembly will be welcomed by all those who wish to see an effective system of power-sharing.

May I congratulate Edwin Poots on his election as Speaker of Stormont and wish him every success in the role, he said in a statement.

May I send warmest regards to Michelle ONeill on her nomination as First Minister and to Emma Little-Pengelly on her nomination as Deputy First Minister and convey to both of them every good wish in the responsibilities they are undertaking.

The speeches of both the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister were most impressive in their inclusion, warmth and their wish to get to grips with all of the important practical tasks that they will face.

This obvious shared desire to work together offers the best of prospects for the institutions to serve all of the people and to meet their differing needs.

I wish the First Minister, Deputy First Minister and their ministers well in their new roles in the work that lies ahead of them as we look ahead to the full restoration of all of the institutions of devolved government.

Traoslaim libh uilig agus guidhim gach beannacht don todhchai.
This was about an apology, not about money  family settles High Court action with University Hospital Limerick

Just hours before she collapsed and died, 21-year-old Eve Cleary gave her mother Melanie her 40th birthday present, 11 days early.

It was a beautiful Pandora ring. She said, I love you, Mam. If I feel better in a few days Ill bring you out for lunch, said Melanie. I often hold that ring, but I cant wear it. Maybe someday. It means a lot that she got to give it to me.

Eve gave her mother the early birthday gift on the night of July 20, 2019. She had been discharged from University Hospital Limerick (UHL) just a couple of hours earlier. She had suffered a fall the evening before as she walked in the rain towards her fathers car in Limerick city, accompanied by her boyfriend, Mark.

She slipped, possibly on a fallen ice-cream on the footpath, and fell badly.

Her parents rushed from the car to help and later took their daughter to A&E to be examined. She spent 17 hours on a trolley at the hospital.

She was then briefly admitted to a ward  before being discharged and told to go home and rest. Three hours later, Eve collapsed and died.

The cause of her death was a blood clot in her lung, which led to cardiac arrest and death.

As ambulance crews worked to try save Eves life in the family home in the early hours of July 21, she sought her mothers comfort.

She was trying to take off her oxygen mask. When she did, she looked at me and said, Im so sorry, Mam. I told her, Youre the best girl. You changed my life. Dont leave me, Eve.

She said again, Im so sorry, Mam .

Then she had her second cardiac arrest  and I never got to speak to my daughter again.

The ambulance crew continued to try to resuscitate Eve as the sound of their defibrillator reverberated through the house, frightening some of the couples five younger children with its booming please stand clear alert.

Eve was then rushed back to UHL. So many emergency services personnel were working on her that her parents had to follow in another ambulance. Three in total were lined up outside the familys home in the Limerick suburb of Corbally, such was the scale of the emergency.

Eve was immediately taken to a resuscitation room as medics battled to save her life.

They gave her blood-clot medication and adrenaline, but it was too late, said her mother. Her gorgeous blue eyes, they turned black. That was when I knew she was gone.

When I heard her ribs crack from resuscitation attempts, I said stop. I knew she was gone, that she was never coming home. It was 1.50am on July 21.

Barry, Eves father, said their world was sent into a spin. They couldnt understand how their eldest child was suddenly, inexplicably gone. We were just stunned. We were brought back into the room to say goodbye. We were told we could bring the other children to the hospital to say goodbye. But we decided it was best to go home and talk to them ourselves. That was one of the hardest things weve ever had to do. It was as hard as losing Eve.

Eve Cleary's parents Barry Cleary and Melanie Sheehan Cleary. Photo: Don Moloney

Melanies body went into a state of shock in the minutes following her daughters sudden death.

I had a physical reaction. I ran to the hospital bathroom and I got sick. I just couldnt comprehend it.

Life was a blur for the Clearys over the next few days, as loved ones rallied around to support the family.

Our daughter just fell and hurt her leg. I mean, youre not supposed to die from a fall. We were just numb, said Barry.

Limerick looked the same, but it was as if it had a layer of cling film over it, because Eve wasnt in it.

In the days after her death  including the day of her funeral  phone calls came from UHL. Senior medical staff wanted to discuss her death, but her parents needed space to grieve until after their daughters cremation ceremony.

Barry and Melanie sat down with senior staff from the hospital on July 31, 2019  Melanies 40th birthday  to discuss what had happened to their daughter.

This discussion essentially continued for the next four-and-a-half years, they said.

It finally came to an end last Tuesday, when Eves family settled a High Court action taken over their eldests death.

The HSE and the hospital expressed sincere condolences and deep regret on the untimely death of Eve. The High Court heard that the settlement is without an admission of liability.

The legal action followed an internal investigation into the care Eve received, including why she was discharged, which left her parents unsatisfied and with many unanswered questions. An inquest into her death in 2021 recorded a verdict of medical misadventure.

It was never about money. Id rather live in a cardboard box with Eve back, said her father. It was about trying to find out what happened. It was about accountability and an apology. It was the only way we were going to get justice.

During the High Court case, a medical expert on the Cleary side said if Eve had been given an anti-coagulant it would have prevented her from developing the blood clot in her lung which led to her cardiac arrest and death.

The HSE denied all the claims.

University Hospital Limerick

The familys counsel told the High Court it was their case that if Eve had had a blood clot VTE risk assessment, she would have received an anti-coagulant which would have protected her from the dreadful outcome.

In a statement read to the court last week, University Hospital Limerick said that in the memory of the late Eve Cleary it was introducing a rolling audit programme on recognising, reducing and managing VTE.

Melanie hopes this action will mean her daughters legacy will live on and help save others. But she said she cannot ignore that the HSE stopped short of an actual apology over Eves death.

They spoke of deep regret. We didnt actually get the apology we were looking for. But we hope that Eve is proud of us. When we meet her again, I hope she will say to us: Mam and Dad, I know you fought for me. Ive no doubt that shes up there, looking down on us.

Eve was the eldest of six children, with four younger sisters and a brother.

Because she was the oldest, she was almost a second mother to some of them. She was the go-to girl, said her mother. I always told my children, Even if you never have a friend, you will always have one another.

Eve was very close to them all. She loved making noise, she loved music and dancing. Her family, her friends and her job  that was her life.

Barry remembers his daughter as a whirlwind who left a trail of glitter behind her. Eve worked at Schuh at Bedford Row, Limerick, and had risen to managerial level.

She loved shoes, buying them and selling them. The staff were her second family really. On the day of her funeral, they closed the two Schuh stores in Limerick as a mark of respect. We really appreciated their kindness that day and since, said her mother.

Eve had been growing in confidence with plans for her future. She wanted to see the world but was also a homebird.

She had travelled to the Netherlands and Germany and wanted to continue to travel. She rang me from Germany, put a friend on the phone and said, This is my Mam. Shes my best friend, I miss her so much. She had only been gone a day or two.

Eve had a Jack Russell dog, Teddy, that she adored. Teddy is 11 now and still with us. Teddy was heartbroken when she died. For the two nights after he realised she wasnt coming home, he was devastated, wandering around the house, said her mother.

The late Eve Cleary

The circumstances of Eves accident and her admission to hospital shortly afterwards still replay in her parents minds. Melanie and Barry dropped their daughter and her boyfriend to A&E after examining her leg, before returning home to their younger children.

They stayed in constant contact with Eve and expected she would be released overnight. But morning came with no sign of her, so they returned to hospital.

They found their daughter still on a trolley and awaiting further scans.

Barry couldnt get over how many trolleys were crammed into the space and describes a scene of bedlam in the A&E that Saturday.

Someone had used a nearby sink as a toilet and the smell hung in the air. Eves leg swelling also appeared worse  and her mother was worried.

She was very clingy, and that just wasnt like her, said Melanie. She said: Can you lie down with me a while, Mam? You wont leave me on my own, will you? As I lay down with her I remember rubbing her head. She was sucking her thumb. She was my baby.

After several more hours, Eve was eventually transferred to a ward. But at around 8.30pm that night, doctors decided to discharge her after examining her scan results.

Her father remembers the last few minutes in the hospital. She asked the doctor: Are you sure? The back of my leg feels very sore and numb.

I remember her mother wiping her tears away as she said this, because her pain was nine out of 10. But she was discharged, with a Tubigrip bandage on her leg. Her calf and foot looked the same, the swelling was so bad.

Despite the pain, Eve insisted on stopping in the shops on her way home. It was her sister Emmas 12th birthday, and she wanted to buy the youngster her favourite sweets.

She kept telling her parents that she felt terrible for ruining her sisters celebrations, while they assured her none of what happened was her fault.

Its been hard for Emma to celebrate her birthday ever since, given what happened a few hours later, said her mother.

Eve stayed up for a little while with her family when she got home, before going upstairs to bed with the help of her boyfriend. Her parents were downstairs watching a film when Mark called out to them.

Just the way Mark screamed my name, I knew something was seriously wrong, said Melanie. She was going grey, her lips were blue. Barry was on the phone to the ambulance.

Her father tried to resuscitate Eve and keep her alert as the ambulance crew rushed to their home.

The Clearys are forever grateful to the emergency services who came to their home that night. They also praise their legal team who are now like family after taking on their case against the HSE.

During the three-week legal action, Barry and Melanie felt they were on trial, particularly during cross-examination. The four-hour daily commute from Limerick to Dublin also took its toll and both said they couldnt have continued for another week. But they now feel vindicated by the settlement.

Eve was cremated but weve not yet buried her ashes. Weve bought a plot. We will finally be able to lay her to rest now, her mother said.

After four-and-a-half years, this is over. We want to remember the 21 wonderful years we had with Eve, not her death. We want to celebrate her life.

I think that she knows that we fought for her. In a way, Eve has now been set free.

A spokesman for the HSE confirmed that CEO Bernard Gloster will meet with Eves family once the independent review into her death concludes.

The CEO is aware of the familys very strong views about how they feel the HSE engaged with them at a number of levels. When the independent review concludes, he intends to meet with them to address all these issues, the spokesman said, adding: In conclusion, as he did when he met the family, the CEO wants to again offer his and the HSEs deepest condolence to the family during what continues to be a very difficult time for them.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said Ukrainians living in Ireland should enter the asylum seeker system when international protection comes to an end next year.

The temporary protection directive from the Department of Justice, which was extended by Justice Minister Helen McEntee due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, comes to an end in March 2025.

There is no facility to extend it. Therefore there needs to be clarity for Ukrainians who live here. If there is peace in Ukraine by the time the protection ends, then I imagine lots will go home.

Others will wish to remain. In those circumstances we have to be clear, the way to get their papers and their status is to get work permits, work visas, she said RTE Radios This Week .

However, the Sinn Fein president stressed that if the war is still ongoing by March 2025, then Ukrainians will go into the standard asylum procedures.

I dont believe there is a third way. Too often these issues have been left to the last minute and that has been most unhelpful and very stressful for people seeking status.

It has caused all sorts of social tensions that I believe with intelligent planning and good communications can be relieved or avoided entirely, Ms McDonald added.

Ireland Thinks Poll - State of the Parties

On whether her party would make any changes to Irelands immigration laws if Sinn Fein came to power, Ms McDonald replied: I would make the system more efficient.

I believe what we need is a system that is fair, that is efficient and that is enforced. What it means is that when a person presents and makes an application, that that person is dealt with efficiently.

It means not leaving that person in limbo for months and years on end, she said.

With regards to enforcement, Ms McDonald said: In the event that the person is unsuccessful, well then the person concerned leaves the jurisdiction. That is what the rulebook says.

However she would not confirm if her party being in power would lead to more deportations.

Ms McDonald

Yesterday Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill became the first nationalist First Minister of Northern Ireland and Ms McDonald told the programme a referendum for a United Ireland could happen in this decade.

This is a decade of opportunity. Opportunities afforded to this island in reunification are immense.

She said the Good Friday Agreement rulebook remains that a vote in a referendum with a majority of 51pc either maintains the union or brings that situation to an end.

The conversation is now underway. There is no singular event that will bring it underway bar the referendums.

"Preparation for constitutional transition and change needs to be underway and needs to be led by Dublin, she said.
Survey finds 39pc of those polled want RTE to be funded by the Exchequer

Nearly three-quarters of the public do not think the TV licence represents value for money  with strong support emerging for RTE to be funded directly from the Exchequer.

With coalition ministers at odds over how to fund the national broadcaster, the latest Ireland Thinks poll for the Sunday Independent shows 74pc of people do not believe the 160-a-year TV licence fee represents value for money.

Just 23pc stated that it does, while 3pc said they are not sure. When asked how they think RTE should be funded, 39pc of those polled said it should be directly from the Exchequer, 19pc said from the TV licence fee, while 31pc answered other, and 11pc said they are not sure.

Cabinet ministers are at odds over how to fund RTE into the future. Media Minister Catherine Martin is pushing for the Government to consider exchequer funding as a replacement for the licence fee. But Tanaiste Micheal Martin and Finance Minister Michael McGrath have raised concerns that such a model could see future governments reduce funding for public service broadcasting.

The Sunday Independent revealed last weekend that the Taoiseach favours the abolition of the 160 fee and replacing it with exchequer funding for RTE as part of a tax-cut package in the Coalitions last Budget before the general election.

Leo Varadkar told the Dail this week that the licence fee is an outdated charge that belongs to a different time as he said he wanted a new funding mechanism in place for 2025.

The findings come amid ongoing turmoil at RTE which has been told by the Oireachtas Media Committee to reveal the identities of the 26 people who are referenced in a damning report into severance packages by this Thursday.

The report by the legal firm McCann FitzGerald found that RTEs former chief financial officer Breda OKeeffes severance package was not approved by the broadcasters executive board. The golden handshake is estimated to be in the region of 400,000 but the report published this week did not disclose a figure.

RTEs director general Kevin Bakhurst has also admitted there may be tax implications for the broadcaster arising out of 10 other severance deals, with the statutory redundancy sums paid to these 10 individuals totalling 223,010.

As well as seeking names, the Oireachtas Media Committee has invited Mr Bakhurst and the RTE board, which is chaired by Siun Ni Raghallaigh, to appear at a hearing on February 14.

The committee said it wants to discuss a damning report into the 2.3m loss-making Toy Show The Musical, the report on exit packages and the future funding challenges for RTE.
Joe Duffys 'Liveline' attracted seven complaints, two of which were rejected and five of which are still open

Almost three-quarters of all the official complaints made last year about broadcasting were filed against RTE, with Liveline attracting the most of any of the public service broadcasters shows.

Figures from Coimisiun na Mean detail 68 separate gripes filed by viewers or listeners about programmes last year, with 49 related to shows on RTEs network of TV and radio stations.

Of them, Joe Duffys Liveline attracted seven complaints, two of which were rejected while the other five are still being investigated.

The next most complained about RTE programme was, unusually, the Sunday Game, which accounted for five formal complaints from viewers all linked to a single broadcast in early July of last summer. All remain open cases.

Other high-profile programmes that attracted complaints were Morning Ireland with five, the Claire Byrne Show with three, the Nine OClock News with three, and the News at One, also with three.

Complaints were also made about Operation Transformation and Drive It with The 2 Johnnies.

Adverts from phone provider Eirs Gigglybits television campaign were the subject of two complaints, with one of them upheld and the other case still open.

A formal complaint against TG4 over its controversial programme on the Creeslough explosion tragedy was also partially upheld, as was officially announced by Coimisiun na Mean last week.

Of the 68 complaints about programmes last year, just 23 have been decided upon, according to records provided.

Twenty cases were rejected while one was withdrawn and two were either upheld or upheld in part.

The low number of case closures came about because Coimisiun na Mean was only established last March, replacing what was the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and leaving complaints made since in a temporary limbo.

Outside of the national airwaves, LMFM attracted eight complaints, all of them made about a single show hosted by the well-known campaigning journalist Michael Reade.

Of those eight, five were rejected while three are still to be considered by the new media commission.

Mr Reade said: The onus on broadcasters to disprove allegations that we have breached guidelines is so great that I approach how I respond as if I am guilty until proven innocent.

Disproving complaints can be very complicated as it is rarely black and white.

While I agree with the guidelines that govern what we do, I do believe the system is cumbersome and so time-consuming... that there is a real risk of broadcasters opting out of covering contentious stories.

RTE said it was not surprising that its services made up a large proportion of complaints given its wide audience reach and the thousands of hours of content that it produces each year.

A spokesman said: RTE programming continues to engage audiences across a range of genres on our radio, television and online services and is produced to the highest standards.

However, RTE notes that all of the complaints processed to date were rejected, with the exception of one which related to an ad on RTE television. As Coimisiun na Mean has not yet made decisions on the complaints it has received, it would not be appropriate for RTE to comment [on them].

An information note from Coimisiun na Mean said that of all the complaints last year, around two-thirds had come after March when it replaced what was the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

It said: [These] will come under a new complaints process. This process has yet to be finalised by An Coimisiun.

It is envisaged the new complaints handling process will be in place during the second quarter of 2024.
RTEs Economics Correspondent Robert Shortt has resigned his role in the newsroom and his position as staff representative on the board to take up the position of RTE Company Secretary.

The role was previously filled by Paula Mullooly, RTEs head of legal affairs who left the company last year in the wake of the various controversies and moved to join A&L Goodbody solicitors.

Shortt was previously RTEs Washington correspondent from 2005 to 2008 when he covered the second term of George W Bushs presidency and Barrack Obamas election as his successor.

He was first elected to RTEs board as the staff representative in May 2018 and was reappointed in December 2019 for a five-year term that was due to end this November.

He began his role as RTE Company Secretary on January first after resigning his board position and his journalism role. As Company Secretary, Shortt will be responsible for advising the board on procedures and ensuring that directors at board and sub-committee meetings follow the proper rules and procedures.

RTE said Shortt was appointed to the role after an internal competition for the full-time permanent role. Daniel Coady, its new Director of Legal Affairs will not be following Mullooly in carrying out both roles.

RTE will be holding internal elections to fill his staff position on the RTE board. Shortt was a member of the RTE boards Audit and Risk Committee.

Recent reports on RTE have highlighted how important matters were not brought before its Audit and Risk Committee such as the potential costs of the Toy Show the Musical project which lost the station 2.3m.

Speaking last September at the Oireachtas committee on media, Shortt got into a heated argument with Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin over the Kerry TDs comment that he would rather buy a round of drinks in a pub than pay his TV licence after the revelations of poor governance at the broadcaster.

We did ask a lot of questions as board members about Toy Show The Musical, said Shortt. We did not ask enough questions and  I am speaking for myself now  we did not take enough cognisance of the risks involved in the undertaking. That is a matter of profound regret for me. However, I ask the Deputy to consider the language he uses around the licence fee. As he said himself, it is what we have at the moment and we should take it very seriously. We should take the payment of the licence fee very seriously. I was taken aback by the Deputy's description comparing it to buying a round of drinks in a pub.

Shortt said that he was perfectly willing to own whatever mistakes we made, but I also think that paying the licence fee is an extremely serious matter.

Asked by committee chair Niamh Smyth is he agreed with former RTE chairperson Moya Doherty that the board was prevented from doing its job because of things happening in silos, Shortt said he was not sure it he would agree. He said the board were completely unaware of the deal for RTE to guarantee payments to Ryan Tubridy in a deal involving Renault.

There was absolutely no knowledge whatsoever of the tripartite arrangement, said Shortt. It still makes me feel extremely disappointed, uncomfortable and angry that that is what happened.

He said he saw a a sea change in the board that I am working on now compared with the board that I joined in May 2018.

There is a huge level of detail in how the board does its business in terms of the new checks and balances and processes that have been put in place, he said.

When contacted, a spokesperson for RTE said: The role of Company Secretary RTE was previously a full time position before the former Director of Legal Affairs held the role. The role has been restored to a full time position as one of the measures taken to establish the highest standards of corporate governance in RTE. As Company Secretary, Robert Shortt has left his position in the RTE Newsroom."
Minister talks garda numbers, threats to fellow TDs and how devastating Gaza death toll has affected her

For more than half an hour, Helen McEntee has been rigidly on message. Sitting in her office in Government Buildings, the Justice Minister refuses to be drawn in any meaningful way on her future political ambitions or whether the pressure she has come under in the last six months has exacted a personal toll on her.

But as the interview draws to a close, her voice breaks and she is suddenly close to tears.

Very few things keep me awake at night, Ill be honest, she says. Everyone gets stressed with their work and their life in general but this is something thats kept me awake at night.

The Fine Gael TD is talking about the situation in Gaza, having this time last week said she would like Ireland to join South Africas genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. It was an intervention that went further than any other cabinet minister.

I think its devastating. Nobody wants to see children being blown up every day, nobody wants to see people being starved, nobody wants to see the suffering that were seeing.

I dont, for a second, ignore the fact that you had 1,200 people who were brutally murdered in Israel but at this stage, I just think its gone too far.

It is a rare show of emotion, a human reaction and yet it is fleeting.

McEntee quickly reverts to type when asked whether, given her upset over the scenes in Gaza, she finds it morally difficult to be part of a Government that is maintaining diplomatic ties with Israel.

No, I actually think the approach that Ireland takes is the right approach, she says. For people to call for ambassadors to be expelled, to cut off ties, to not go and visit places, that actually does the people of Palestine and everybody else a disservice.

She says she will press the case for a ceasefire when she is in New York next month for St Patricks Day events.

But for the time being, McEntee is focused on grappling with the growing public concern around immigration.

Obviously if we add more countries to it youre going to start to see more people deported

Last week, she announced the addition of Algeria and Botswana to a list of so-called safe countries.

Arrivals from those countries have their asylum applications expedited and are, in the vast majority of cases, unlikely to be granted international protection, with refusals running at 80pc and decisions upheld in about 80pc of appeals.

Thats a significant number and then obviously if we add more countries to it youre going to start to see more people deported, she says.

In fact, she has said it could see the potential removal of up to 5,000 people from the State.

McEntee also confirmed plans are under way to begin chartering deportation flights with the hope they will begin later this year, carrying around 20 to 30 people per plane.

I think it is important as part of the overall immigration system when we talk about returns, when we talk about deportations, that we have every avenue available to us to make sure that people who shouldnt be here, that they go home, she says.

It is, to all intents and purposes, a crackdown, though when this word is put to her on several occasions by the Sunday Independent, she deflects, insisting the accelerated application process for arrivals from safe countries  now down to 55 days  has been under way for the last two years. It really highlighted the fact that you have had a lot of people coming through the international protection system who actually shouldnt be; that theyre economic migrants, she says.

McEntee believes this year and next we will probably see a lot more deportations.

The International Protection Office in her department is expected to recruit more than 80 new staff and by the end of the year, will be processing 1,400 cases a month  more than triple what it had been doing.

Youll have more deportations, but youll also have people get their applications quicker, she says.

But while she is happy to say more people will be deported, she wont say just how many.

Nor will she be drawn on the contentious issue of how many of the 857 people who were issued with deportation orders last year have actually left the State.

Unless we detain people when they come in, you cant physically keep an eye on every single person the minute they seek protection and thats no different anywhere, she says.

So this view that we are not doing things properly, that were not serious about deportations, that we just let people stay when they shouldnt, its not true.

After much probing, she admits that probably around half of the 857 people are not officially accounted for but insists that the Garda National Immigration Bureau has told her the vast majority of people with deportation orders have left.

They have conducted checks. These people are not in accommodation, theyre not drawing down social welfare, theyre not working, there are no signs of them, where we have checked. In a lot of instances they [gardai] are very clear that they have left, she says.

She says in some instances people still here are taking appeals against their deportation orders.

Its not thousands of people that are living in the shadows, that are on the black market, that are here but not entitled to be here. Its not thousands; were talking about a small number of people, she insists while going no further.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee. Photo: David Conachy

At most, the minister has just over a year left in her portfolio and is anxious to continue efforts to ramp up garda numbers with a recruitment target for 2024 of between 800 and 1,000, while pushing for a further increase in allowances for trainee gardai.

She took considerable heat over garda matters last summer following a number of high-profile violent attacks in Dublin that prompted widespread concern that the streets of the capital were not safe.

Some colleagues privately bemoaned McEntees focus on reforms to hate-crime law and a new domestic and gender-based violence agency to the neglect, they believed, of law and order  the meat and drink of Blueshirts.

To this, McEntee says she will never apologise for focusing on violence against women, or children or anybody else.

The Dublin riots in November precipitated a Sinn Fein motion of no confidence in her that ultimately fell flat.

But none of this appears to have affected her. Instead she talks of how extremely busy her department is and how excited she is about the work ahead.

She is similarly unfazed by the growing hostility from a minority towards politicians both online and in person.

Nobody should have to change the way they work because of a fear of an individual or a group of people

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said last week she had closed her constituency office over safety concerns, while one of McEntees ministerial colleagues predicted in this newspaper recently that 2024 would be the year of the dead TD having encountered hostility in their constituency.

Ill be honest, I dont wake up in the morning, and I dont spend my week thinking about this, she says. I know its a challenge and I know that people have concerns.

What happened to Deputy Cairns, nobody should have to change the way they work because of a fear of an individual or a group of people.

She says TDs, senators and ministers have access to gardai who can advise them on how to make their offices and homes safer, but cautions against being overzealous where everybodys office is highly policed or under lock and key.

Some in Fine Gael believe the last six months have damaged any ambitions McEntee might have to succeed Leo Varadkar as party leader.

For now, she finds herself on the offensive over immigration, promoting policies that will be viewed as a crackdown. What impact all this has on her stock within Fine Gael remains to be seen.

The minister has in the past made no secret of her ambitions for higher office, though true to form, she is typically cautious and non-committal when asked on this occasion.

Im not sitting here plotting anything, she says. I think Leo should be leader as long as he wants to be leader and whatever happens beyond that? Who knows?
The funerals of two of the friends who died in the Carlow crash will take place today.

Friends Katie Graham (19), Daryl Culbert (21) and Michael Kelly (25) all died when the car they were travelling in collided with a tree last Wednesday night.

Ms Graham reposed at her home near Arles, Co Laois, yesterday afternoon before a removal to the nearby Church of the Sacred Heart tomorrow morning for a funeral service this morning.

Her burial will take place later in the adjoining cemetery.

Local councillor Aisling Moran said a sense of shock hangs over the area.

Our hearts are broken for them all. This is all people can think about, she said. It is such a horrific thing to have happened.

A funeral service will also take place this afternoon for Daryl Culbert at Saint Peters Church, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, close to where he is from. He will be laid to rest in the adjoining churchyard.

A funeral notice for Mr Culbert said he will be sadly missed by his heartbroken parents Trevor and Heather, sisters Chloe and Amy and extended family and friends.

Michael Kelly, from Nurney, Co Carlow, will be buried on Tuesday after a funeral service at St Brigids Church, Hacketstown.

Fr Martin Smith, who will officiate at the ceremony, said the community there will find a way to support Mr Kellys family.

The pain and sadness and sorrow are overwhelming, he added.

We will find a way through it by standing with Rita [Mr Kellys mother], Jordan [his brother] and Sasha [his girlfriend].

Hacketstown parish priest Fr Terence McGovern said Mr Kellys family had roots in the area and were very well liked.

The community is terribly saddened, he said. Our hearts go out to the families... our thoughts and prayers are with them.

A fourth person, a man in his 20s, was a passenger in the car on Wednesday night. He has been undergoing treatment for serious but non-life- threatening injuries.

Gardai said there is no indication yet as to what caused the crash and an investigation is ongoing into the circumstances.
Asia Market in Dublin has a full programme of events to celebrate Lunar New Year, see asiamarket.ie

Market in the diary From Saturday, February 10 and running until Sunday, February 25, the Asia Market in Dublin has a full programme of events to celebrate Lunar New Year. Among the highlights are the Dublin Culinary Crawl around the city centre on Saturday, while on Saturday 17, its Ballymount store will host Asian Kitchen Cocktails with mixologist Oisin Davis. SC For info and booking, see asiamarket.ie

Sound Tech mens jacket, RRP 220, regatta.ie

NOTION

Tech that The Regatta Great Outdoors innovative wearable tech range, which features heated coats with built-in lights on sleeves and hoods, has a new style, the Sound Tech (RRP 220) mens jacket. It features waterproof and breathable Isotex 5000 fabric, a head torch and built-in rechargeable bluetooth headphones. LH See regatta.ie

Shiseido LifeDefine Radiance Night Concentrate, 168, Arnotts, selected pharmacies nationwide

NOTION

Skincare night cap Japanese skincare leaders Shiseido have a new serum LiftDefine Radiance Night Concentrate that they say should be the last step in night-time skincare and the first thing you reach for if firmness is your complexion goal. Aimed at the over-40s market, its a light fluid that includes instructions for a quick, four-step face massage and promises to lend a slept-well lift by morning. SC 168, Arnotts; selected pharmacies nationwide

Breakdown by Cathy Sweeney, published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 14.99

NECESSITY

Mother lode Recently published Breakdown, by Cathy Sweeney, is a read-in-one-day book. Its the story of a suburban mother who leaves her family (husband and two children), but more importantly, what happens next. Because she never comes back. It is a fascinating examination of what we expect of women, motherhood, friendship, marriage. LH Breakdown by Cathy Sweeney, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 14.99

Marian fleece cardigan in pistachio, 89, sineadkeary.com

NOTION

Woolly warmers Sinead Keary the label has added two new styles, The Marian fleece cardigan in pistachio, 89 and The Ailbhe crew-neck sweater, a wool and cashmere mix, in ash, 115. LH See sineadkeary.com

'Night Swimmers' by Roisin Maguire, published by Serpents Tail, 18.99

NECESSITY

Lockdown lore Night Swimmers is a debut novel set in lockdown by Roisin Maguire, who previously won the Irish News Short Story Award. Set in small town Northern Ireland during lockdown, it is full of heart and humour, with two wounded souls, Grace and Evan, at its centre and plenty to say about compassion, community and the power of cold water. SC 18.99, published by Serpents Tail

Tom Ford Oud Minerale, 124, Tom Ford counters nationwide

NOTION

Mineral moment The deep woodiness of oud meets a flinty, almost sea-air element in Tom Fords latest launch, Oud Minerale. If the new month has you looking ahead to longer days and spring in the air, this might just be the olfactory assistance required to break the winter. SC Tom Ford Oud Minerale, 124, Tom Ford counters nationwide

Print by Niamh Moran, see niamhmoranartist.com

NECESSITY

Fine prints If you are beginning to consider Valentines Day gifts, Kildare-based visual artist and illustrator Niamh Morans beautiful works, most recently using ink and coloured pencils, all share a magical aesthetic. Perfect for colour lovers in your life. LH See niamhmoranartist.com
Wexford yoga guru Maura Rath on The Apprentice: Im glad I didnt shaft anyone, because that just isnt who I am

Maura Rath is looking for Lord Alan Sugars backing in the latest BBC series to build on her yoga enterprise. Her business approach may be rooted in honesty and well-being, but she says she has a competitive side that may surprise both her followers and her competition

The Apprentice, episode 1 clip

Chrissie Russell Sun 4 Feb 2024 at 03:30

If asked to imagine a typical candidate for The Apprentice, Maura Rath probably wouldnt be the first person to come to mind. Fans of the hit BBC series, now in its 19th year, will be long familiar with the usual type of candidate  egos in flash suits describing themselves as the James Bond or Kim Kardashian of the business world and self-certified, cash-loving alphas who claim that making money is better than sex (Belfast man Ben Clarke in series five). The whole circus is a fairly shameless celebration of capitalism, consumerism and Corporate Barbie dressing.
Colin Murphy: To protect the vulnerable, we need a balanced debate about immigration

Asylum-seekers need to live free of fear they will be sent back to face persecution  and communities who host them should not be automatically tarred as racist

A makeshift refugee camp outside the International Protection Office in Dublin last summer. Photo: Paul Faith/AFP via Getty Images

Colin Murphy Sun 4 Feb 2024 at 03:30

The most frightened man I ever met was from Algeria. He was too scared to let me write his story  even anonymised. A journalist, he had been pressured to write pro-regime stories, and had fled before his refusal would provoke retribution against him and his family. Even in Ireland, he was still scared. Its like going through a long dark tunnel, he told me. I cant see the end.
David Quinn: The State must hold its nerve on vow to return asylum-seekers

Not one flight has been chartered to deport rejected applicants since before Covid

Justice Minister Helen McEntee. Photo: Collins

David Quinn Sun 4 Feb 2024 at 03:30

Social policy should serve the common good; that ought to go without saying. And social policy includes immigration policy, with the asylum system a subset of that. Immigration and asylum policy cannot operate in isolation from everything else the Government is trying to do.
West Belfast rap crew Kneecap have been in the headlines from day one.

Performing mostly in Irish about drugs, the DUP and social exclusion, thats perhaps not surprising.

The band have made a semi-fictionalised film about themselves starring Hollywood A-lister Michael Fassbender. The film Kneecap premiered at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.

Picked up by Sony for world distribution, its coming to a cinema near you. The film has attracted rave reviews, but concerns have been raised over some of the public funding it received.

The biopic was part-funded by the National Lottery via the British Film Institute (BFI)  who provided 810,000  alongside Northern Ireland Screen, who awarded 805,000 in funding. Some victims of republican violence believe that funding was wrong as they perceive the band to be glorifying republicanism.

Is that true?

What are they really singing about? And is it that controversy has got them where they are today?

Niamh Campbell is joined by Belfast Telegraph reporter Liam Tunney and music journalist Dave Hanratty, meanwhile Olivia Peden spoke to ex-PSNI officer Jon Burrows who voiced his concerns.
Our columnist delves into the must-have creams and rituals that are turning back the clock on the dazzlingly cool supermodel

All hail Kween Kate Moss! She has been such an icon for my generation. Some of my friends are desperate to go to the Ritz Paris after seeing Kate celebrate her 50th birthday there a few weeks ago and judging by the pics from the new Charlotte Tilbury campaign where she channelled Marilyn Monroe, Kates new lifestyle has seemingly turned back the clock!

Supermodel Kate Moss sprays beauty columnist Triona MvCarthy with her Cosmoss scent at the brand's launch in Brown Thomas, Dublin

When Kate was in Dublin last year to launch her beauty and wellness line Cosmoss at Brown Thomas, she told me how swapping all-night parties for wellness rituals and meditation is her vibe nowadays.

I should say Ive partied with Kate in the past, we have a mutual friend James Brown but Im happy to report Kate still has that magical aura, and while she is more Zen these days and into crystals, wild swimming, mindfulness and meditation, she is still effortlessly cool.

Cosmoss Dawn Tea, 24, brownthomas.com

Kate insisted I try her Cosmoss Dawn Tea (24, brownthomas.com), which was blended by alchemist and homeopath Victoria Young, and its not bad!

Kate drinks the tea first thing in the morning, she told me, as it contains hibiscus flowers to energise and strengthen the body, crushed bay leaves to support skin, hair and nails, and ginger roots to help maintain immunity. Theres also a Dusk Tea for evening time, which blends herbs and soft spices to aid better sleep and soothe the soul.

Oh, and if you want to smell like Kate, she has a fragrance called Cosmoss Sacred Mist (140, brownthomas.com), which contains the essential oils, bergamot, jasmine and tonka. Kate also swears by Laneige Sleeping Lip Mask in Berry (24, Space NK). Apparently Lila her daughter got her into it. My own daughter Mini had me driven mad looking for it so we bought it and I have to admit, its worth the hype. It contains vitamin C and antioxidants, which work overnight to give you kissable lips by gently sloughing away dead skin cells.

I also read in Vogue that Lila gave out to her for not wearing SPF, so now she wears La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVmune 400 SPF50+ Invisible Fluid (22.20, mccabespharmacy.com). It provides a very high protection that is ultra-resistant to water, sweat and sand.

I feel as a fellow 50-year-old that Erborian Super BB Cream Au Ginseng (42, Space NK) is a great addition as its powered with niacinamide, to visibly reduce imperfections from the inside out by deeply hydrating and smoothing the skin with fermented ginseng flower and ginseng. So its skincare and make-up and it has SPF20.

Right so, I must mention the Marilyn make-up shoot for the NEW Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Beauty Icon Lipsticks (34, Arnotts) featuring five new pinks, five new reds, plus matching Lip Cheat liners, 25. Apparently MUA Sofia Tilbury used Icon Baby, a warm nude-rose on Kate and the beauty of these is one swipe is all you need .

Kate doesnt really do false lashes and instead swears by Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler (20.65, cloud10beauty.com), which I swear by myself.

Finally, Sam McKnight was responsible for the Marilyn hair, so no doubt he spritzed her locks with Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist (32.95, samknight.com).

I think these products sum Kate up at 50  still cool and a little bit rock n roll, but forever fresh-faced.

Three of the best... Foundations

Sculpted by Aimee Second Skin Dewy, 28, sculptedbyaimee.com

1 Sculpted by Aimee Second Skin Dewy, 28, sculptedbyaimee.com I see so much love for this particular foundation from lots of my friends. Aimee cant do anything wrong and this liquid mineral foundation gives medium coverage and creates a dewy, luminous complexion in seconds.

Rimmel Lasting Finish 35 Hour Foundation, 12.99, mccabespharmacy.com

2 Rimmel Lasting Finish 35 Hour Foundation, 12.99, mccabespharmacy.com This new and well-priced Rimmel foundation is full coverage and remains in place from morning to night. It improves skin radiance and has added SPF20. Whats not to love?

Sisley Phyto Teint Perfection, 79, Brown Thomas or Harvey Nichols

3 Sisley Phyto Teint Perfection, 79, Brown Thomas or Harvey Nichols This make-up/skincare hybrid is loved by lots of my beauty editor friends. Excellent for the more mature skin, there are 29 shades with medium-to-full buildable coverage and a luminous matte finish.

Trionas budget friendly beauty buys
Coronation Street star Claire Sweeney has been eliminated from Dancing On Ice, after she lost out in a skate-off with comedian Lou Sanders.

The actress, 52, said she was happy she had got through the day after she suffered a sprained rib in rehearsals.

As a result she had to make a last-minute change to her burlesque-inspired routine to her own rendition of Hey Big Spender with partner Colin Grafton.

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Despite her pain, before the performance Sweeney said: I will definitely be on tonight, nothing is stopping me.

She ended up at the bottom of the leaderboard as she scored 23.5, and told presenters Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern: I was trying to be sexy with a dodgy rib, but the show must go on, get on with it.

She received a muted response from the judges, with Oti Mabuse saying: I love that you were very flirty and demanding, but it felt like you were doing too many lifts.

Jayne Torvill agreed, telling her: Well done for being such a trouper, but the show must go on. I would have liked to see a bit more footwork.

Sanders also ended up near the bottom of the leaderboard after she performed a waltz to Eva Cassidys What A Wonderful World with partner Brendyn Hatfield.

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She scored 24.5, but judge Christopher Dean praised her lovely, slow, lyrical romantic waltz, as her best skate so far.

West End star Amber Davies dazzled when she performed a cha cha cha to Michael Bubles Sway with partner Simon Proulx-Senecal.

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She topped the leaderboard with 34, the highest score of the series, besting Miles Nazaire, who held that record for just a few minutes.

Asked about the risks she took with the bold routine, Davies said: I am a bit of a daredevil, my mum and dad had a nightmare with me when I was younger.

Nazaire scored 31.5 for his ballet-inspired routine with partner Vanessa Bauer.

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Judge Ashley Banjo hailed his massive improvement, while Dean said: Who knew there was a (Rudolf) Nureyev lurking inside you?

Elsewhere there was levity when EastEnders star Ricky Norwood sported a pair of lederhosen to perform a German folk dance to YMCA by the Village People with partner Annette Dytrt.

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He scored 24, as Banjo said he was dressed as a style icon.

Meanwhile Eddie The Eagle Edwards performed a jive on a jungle-themed set, complete with a 10ft chameleon, alongside his professional partner Vicky Ogden.

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Despite losing his footing during the routine to Karma Chameleon by Culture Club, he scored 28.5.

Banjo said: I love watching you, it looks like youre having fun, just keep doing what youre doing.

Jayne Torvill added it was another fun routine to watch. There was a tiny moment there, but we didnt see it.

During the episode Willoughby said there will be a double elimination next week, for musicals week.

She said: I imagine it amplifies the pressure somewhat.

She also said Banjo will be away while he is on the Diversity tour, and he will be replaced by American Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir, who will also be performing.

Dancing On Ice continues next Sunday on ITV.
EU fears Israel will turn focus of assault onto the overcrowded town of Rafah

UN says the town is becoming a  pressure cooker of despair

Family and friends in Rafah mourn another young person killed in the war. Photo: Getty

Lorne Cook Sun 4 Feb 2024 at 03:30







The European Union yesterday expressed deep concern over reports that the Israeli military intends to take its battle against Hamas to the town of Rafah on Gazas border with Egypt  where more than a million people have camped, to escape the fighting.
Hamas officers are seen returning to pay civil service wages in Gaza

Return of police officers marks an attempt to reinstate order in the devastated city

A sign reads Gaza. Photo: PA

Najib Jobain Sun 4 Feb 2024 at 03:30







Hamas has begun to resurface in areas where Israel withdrew the bulk of its forces a month ago, deploying police officers and making partial salary payments to some of its civil servants in Gaza City in recent days, according to residents and a senior official in the militant group.
Photo Courtesy: facebook/Akhilesh Yadav

Barabanki (UP): Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav gave a sharp retort to questions on why the brother-in-law of a woman sarpanch was representing her, media reports said.

Akhilesh Yadav trivialized the issue saying that it was not uncommon for male relatives to take the place of elected women representatives and threw a counter question at the reporters: "Why are all of you (reporters) male?" NDTV reported.

The event was being held at the Belhara panchayat area in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district.

Shabana Khatun, the organizer and local sarpanch, was conspicuous by her absence. Not only that, there was no trace of her name at the event. All the hoardings and posters had her brother-in-law Ayaz Khans name, the man who was present in her place at the event. Whats more his photograph on the posters had "chairman" written next to him, the report said.

Belhara panchayat seat is reserved for women. Shabana Khatun was elected from the seat in the last panchayat elections but local residents say she never attended any official event.

The residents say that all decisions are made by her brother-in-law and Shabana Khatun merely signs the documents, which are sent to her home.

According to the report, when a group of reporters questioned Yadav how a male relative representing a woman sarpanch can reinforce a message of women empowerment. "Is this anything new? So many pradhanpatis (husbands of pradhans) are here. If this even a topic? Now, if I ask, why are all of you (reporters) male?" Yadav replied, which was endorsed by his supporters with cheers.

He then asked a reporter if there was no female reporter in his channel available to attend the event. With a smile, Yadav suggested, "Choose someone else then; I'm just responding to your query."
Photo Courtesy: twitter.com/Uppolice

Meerut (UP): The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested an employee of the Indian Embassy in Moscow from Meerut on allegations of spying for Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI.

The arrested man has been identified as Satendra Siwal. He has been employed as an India Based Security Assistant (IBSA) at the Indian Embassy in Moscow since the year 2021.

The operation was launched after ATS received a tip-off from confidential sources indicating that ISI handlers were insnaring Indian Ministry of External Affairs employees, offering money in return for sensitive information linked to the Indian Army.

Uttar Pradesh ATS arrests four men linked to the Aligarh Module of ISIS: UP Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) pic.twitter.com/RG1OH9zwRY  DD News (@DDNewslive) November 12, 2023

The exchange of information posed a grave threat to India's internal and external security, the agency said.

Satendra Siwal, hailing from Shahmahiuddinpur village in Hapur, has been identified as a main figure in this espionage network. Exploiting his role in the Indian Embassy in Moscow, he is accused of illegally obtaining confidential documents.

Driven by financial greed, the accused purportedly shared crucial information related to the strategic operations of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of External Affairs, and Indian military establishments with ISI handlers.

"The ATS was receiving intelligence from various confidential sources that the handlers of the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI, through some persons, were luring the employees of the Ministry of External Affairs with money to obtain strategically and strategically important information related to the Indian Army that is likely to pose a huge threat to the internal and external security of India," the agency said in a statement.

Following comprehensive intelligence gathering and surveillance, Satendra Siwal was called to the ATS Field Unit in Meerut for questioning.

Under interrogation, he allegedly could not provide satisfactory explanations and eventually admitted to his participation in espionage activities.
Sri Lanka's navy seized two Indian trawlers and apprehended 23 Indian nationals poaching in the territorial waters of Sri Lanka, off the Delft Island in Jaffna, the navy said in a press release on Sunday.

The arrests were made during an operation on Saturday night to drive away a group of Indian fishing vessels poaching in Sri Lankan waters, the navy said.

The arrested fishermen and the seized trawlers were brought to the Kankasanthurai Harbor on Sunday, and they will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for onward legal action, the navy said.

The navy said that they conduct regular patrols in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices by foreign trawlers, taking into account the consequences of these practices on the livelihood of local fishermen and the marine resources of the South Asian country.

The Sri Lankan navy arrested 343 people engaged in illegal activities and confiscated thousands of kg of contraband in 2023.

(With UNI inputs
Photo courtesy: Screengrabs from video posted on twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron

Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron shared a video with special moments of his visit to India as the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi on January 26.

Macron described his trip as "exceptional" and shared visuals of his interactions with people, businessmen and politicians while visiting Jaipurs iconic sites, including the hilltop Amber Palace.

A look back at an exceptional trip in India. pic.twitter.com/ldldTasdOw  Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 4, 2024

Macron spoke to a group of children there holding banners cheering India-France friendship.

Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the sites and tasted the sumptuous spread of Pink City on January 25.

Theyalso sipped some hot roadside masala chai in glasses, the local way to indulge in the hot beverage, and held a grand roadshow with hundreds welcoming the two leaders to the regal city.

Their roadshow started at Jaipur's Jantar Mantar and concluded at the iconic Hawa Mahal.
Photo Courtesy: PIB

A British MP raised concerns in the Parliament over BBC's coverage of India's Ram Temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya last month and termed it 'biased'.

"Last week in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, the Ram Mandir was consecrated. This was of great joy to Hindus across the world as being the birthplace of Lord Ram," Bob Blackman was quoted as saying in a video posted by him where the MP could be seen speaking in the British Parliament.

He was further heard as saying in the video: "Very sadly, the BBC, in their coverage reported, of course, that this was the site of the destruction of a mosque, forgetting the fact that it had been a temple for more than 2,000 years before that happened and that the Muslims had been allocated a five-acre site on which to erect a mosque adjacent to the town."

He urged the MPs to allot time for a 'debate in government time' on the 'impartiality of the BBC'.

He questioned the iconic British media and said it failed to provide a 'decent record of what is actually going on all over the world'.

Bob Blackman also wrote on X: " Constituents have raised concerns surrounding the BBC's biased reporting of the #RamMandir temple. As an avid supporter of the rights of Hindus, this article has caused great disharmony."

Constituents have raised concerns surrounding the BBC's biased reporting of the #RamMandir temple.

 As an avid supporter of the rights of Hindus, this article has caused great disharmony.

The BBC must be able to provide a decent record of what is going across the world. pic.twitter.com/htSzyey2u4  Bob Blackman (@BobBlackman) February 2, 2024

"The BBC must be able to provide a decent record of what is going across the world," he said.

January 22 event in Ayodhya

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22 inaugurated the much-awaited Ram Temple and unveiled the Ram Lalla idol in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya.

Modi was accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagawat, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the rituals, which were performed by the Prime Minister.

From celebrities to politicians and seers, Ayodhya was overwhelmed by people from far and wide to witness a momentous religious event that will mark the course of Indian politics apart in coming days besides being a watershed event in Hinduism. Many of the rich and famous arrived in private jets for the ceremony.

A majority of Hindus claimed that the site was the birthplace of Lord Ram before Muslim Mughals razed a temple at the spot to build the Babri Masjid.

In a landmark verdict in 2019, the Supreme Court handed over the land to the Hindu community and ordered to allot a separate plot to Muslims.
Photo Courtesy: UNI

Conditions are changing in 90 districts of India because of the developmental plans in the minority-majority districts.

These 90 districts were classified as MCD in 2008. It is a regional developmental initiative to remove the developmental deficiencies of minority concentrated areas by building and developing social infrastructure and providing basic amenities.

Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains have been identified as minority communities under section 2 (c) of the National Commission for Minority Act,1992. The actual name of this scheme is 'Multi-Sectoral Development Program for Minorities'.

The scheme is overseen by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India.

The significance of this scheme in the context of Muslims is heightened because of the high poverty rate among Indian Muslims.

While 53% of Dalit men have jobs, however merely 48% of Muslims have jobs. Similarly, 23% of Dalit women are employed while the percentage of Muslim women is only 9.6%.

According to the 2001 census, the literacy rate of the country is 64.80% while among Muslims it is only 59.10%.

Muslims are also becoming more ill on average because only 19% of their homes have plumbing for clean drinking water.

Now that the situation is extremely serious, it is clear that the Government of India will also work to improve their situation.

Today, the multi-sectoral development program has completed 14 years and is beginning to show good consequences in lots of districts.90 districts identified under the Multisectoral Development Program, most are in Uttar Pradesh.

In this plan, 21 districts have been identified here. Assam 13, West Bengal 12, Bihar and Arunachal Pradesh 7-7, Manipur 6, Jharkhand and Maharashtra 4-4, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Mizoram 2-2, Delhi, Meghalaya, Andaman and Nicobar, Orissa 1-1 Districts.

The scheme covers Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Sikkim and Ladakh. Along with this, 338 towns and 1228 blocks of class 1 are also listed in this scheme.

The basis of the scheme is that the minority population in the district or town should be 25% or more.

The advantage of going to town and block level is that many states are not included in the district list but their minority areas have been included at town and block level.

For example, Punjab and Rajasthan are not in the national list of 90 districts but 26 towns of Punjab and 16 towns of Rajasthan are covered on the basis of town list.

But this does not mean that the towns or blocks of the districts of the states which are included in it have been left out. For example, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of 21 districts covered under the MCD scheme, while Uttar Pradesh has 71 additional towns under the scheme in addition to these 21 districts.

It aims to provide better infrastructure for education, skills development, health, sanitation, shelter, roads and drinking water, and to create income opportunities for minorities. This is due to the joint efforts of the Center and the States.

The scheme also seeks to fill the gaps in the existing schemes of the government by providing additional resources and also undertakes new minority welfare projects so that the development gap created during this period can be filled up expeditiously.

In 2017, the Indian Institute of Public Administration presented a detailed report on the MCD scheme. Chapter 4 of the report states that these items appear to be related to three main areas: education, health and drinking water. Given the improved quantity or duration of water supply for better access to healthcare facilities or access to secondary school in this case, the recorded data confirms the impact of MSDP on their daily life.

This may sound ridiculous, even trivial to some, but we see very little satisfaction on the faces of those who felt basically isolated from being ignored for so long. It is true that not everyone has benefited, but with these small actions, MSDP has been able to stem the tide of frustration in the minds of a large segment of the population in minority areas. "

It would appear that these items are essentially related to three sectors: education, health and drinking water.

Staring from improvement in volume or duration of water supply to improved access to health care facilities or access to secondary school for that matter, the recorded data confirms impact of MsDP on their day-to-day life. It may sound mundane, even trivial to some but we noticed little satisfaction on the faces of the people who were until necessarily feeling alienated because of prolonged neglect.

True, everybody has not reaped benefits but with these small gestures, MsDP has been able to arrest the drift from the psyche of a sizeable section of people in minority populated areas.)

Muslims have three needs. Education, employment and health. In the budget for the year 2022-23, Rs. 50.50 crore has been allocated to the Ministry of Minority Welfare. This is Rs 674 crore more than the previous budget.

Obviously, it also aims at the development of minority-populated areas. Minority Welfare Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi described the budget as promoting confidence and development amid the Corona epidemic.

If full dedication and purposeful social workers in all 90 selected districts do with hard work, these districts can become an example for the Muslims of India. It is hoped that with the light of 90 districts, minorities across India will be able to shed light on their development.

(The author is a freelance Journalist and chairman of the Muslim Students' Organization of India)
In image US, UK strike in Yemen/ courtesy: X/US Central Command

Washington DC/IBNS: The United States and Britain Saturday carried out joint air raids in Yemen as a response to repeated attacks on shipping by Iran-backed Houthi rebels that have disrupted global trade.

The joint air raids in Yemen come a day after a wave of unilateral US strikes against Iran-linked targets in Iraq and Syria that were carried out in response to the killing of three US soldiers in Jordan on Jan 28.

The strikes hit "36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen in response to the Huthis' continued attacks against international and commercial shipping as well as naval vessels transiting the Red Sea," both countries said in a statement.

"These precision strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Huthis use to threaten global trade, and the lives of innocent mariners," the statement said.

U.S. Forces, Allies Conduct Joint Strikes in Yemen



As part of ongoing international efforts to respond to increased Iranian-backed Houthi destabilizing and illegal activities in the region, on Feb. 3 at approximately 11:30 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces, pic.twitter.com/hlfLY1QjOd  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 3, 2024

The assault "targeted sites associated with the Huthis' deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, and radars."

"These strikes are intended to degrade Houthi capabilities used to continue their reckless and unlawful attacks on U.S. and U.K. ships as well as international commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. These strikes are separate and distinct from the multinational freedom of navigation actions performed under Operation Prosperity Guardian," the statement added.

On Friday, the US conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against 85 targets linked to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups, officials confirmed.

"U.S. military forces struck more than 85 targets, with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from United States," US Central Command said in a statement.

The airstrikes employed more than 125 precision munitions.

"Our response began today," US President Joe Biden said. "It will continue at times and places of our choosing."

"The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world," he said. "But let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond."

Today, at my direction, U.S. military forces struck targets in Iraq and Syria that the IRGC and affiliated militia use to attack U.S. forces.



We do not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world.



But to all those who seek to do us harm: We will respond.  President Biden (@POTUS) February 2, 2024

Anger over Israel's continuous attacks on Gaza, which began after an unprecedented Hamas attack on Oct 7, has grown across the Middle East, triggering violence involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
Image credit: UNI

Moscow/IBNS/UNI: Twenty bodies were pulled from under the rubble of what used to be a popular bakery in the city of Lysychansk in the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), the Russian Emergencies Ministry told Sputnik.

"The bodies of 20 deceased people have been recovered from under the rubble in Lysychansk after the shelling. Despite a threat of another strike, rescuers continue to remove the rubble and search for people at the risk of their own lives," the ministry's press office said.

Ukraine struck the crowded bakery in the early afternoon on Saturday, collapsing the building and trapping some 40 civilians under the rubble, the LPR military commander's office told Sputnik earlier.

Ten survivors were rushed to a hospital. The search for others continues, as about 20 people are believed to be still trapped under the debris.

"The Ukrainian armed forces opened fire at a bakery in Lysychansk, which provided bread to civilians. It is always crowded on weekends. Up to 40 people may be trapped under the debris," the military said.

The Russian Investigative Committee said the strike was launched using a US-supplied HIMARS rocket system.

Lysychansk is located close to the frontline. The Ukrainian army has been routinely shelling Lysychansk after losing control of the city in the summer of 2022.

Ukrainian troops blew up some of the administrative buildings before they pulled out.
Amid relentless violence, families flee their shattered homes in Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood, seeking refuge in the southern Gaza Strip. Photo Courtesy: UNICEF/Eyad El Baba

Gaza: Hamas has demanded the release of 3,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel during the indirect talks on a fresh pause to fighting in the Gaza Strip, Al Arabiya news channel reported on Saturday, citing sources familiar with the talks.

Hamas wants the three-stage truce to include the release of Palestinian prisoners as a fourth stage, the sources told the broadcaster.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said on Friday that Israel had given a positive initial response to the newest truce proposal that would start with a six-week halt to fighting and include the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas.

The truce proposal was agreed to in Paris in late January by Israel, the United States, Egypt and Qatar.

Hamas said it had received a draft and was reviewing it. Israeli media reported that the Mossad intelligence agency wanted the first stage of the plan to see 35 hostages released in exchange for a 35-day pause from fighting.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from Gaza and breached the border, killing 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others.

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 terrorists and rescuing the hostages. Over 27,000 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.

( With UNI/Sputnik inputs)
Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

"The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to Afghanistan," the advisory said.

"You should not travel to Afghanistan," the travel advisory mentioned.

The British government said terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Afghanistan.

"There is a heightened threat of terrorist attacks in or around religious sites and during religious events and celebrations, such as the month of Ramadan," the advisory said.

"The security situation in Afghanistan is volatile. There is an ongoing and high threat of terrorist attacks throughout Afghanistan, including around airports," the advisory further said.

The advisory warned there is a significant risk of detention of British nationals.

"The British Government may not be notified about such detentions and there are considerable challenges in securing consular contact or access. You may not be able to contact your next of kin and detention may be lengthy without clarity being given to your charge," the advisory said.

The British government warned that the Kabul International Airport does not meet international aviation safety standards.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

The US Embassy in Pakistan has issued a travel advisory where it advised citizens to remain vigilant since the nation is gearing up for the national polls on February 8.

"U.S. citizens should remain vigilant and aware of the locations of political rallies occurring in areas they intend to visit," the advisory said.

"On February 8, election day, areas around polling stations may be crowded, and U.S. citizens not eligible to participate in Pakistans elections should avoid them," the advisory further said.

The embassy warned disruptions to internet and cellular service could occur leading up to and throughout election day and immediately following.

The embassy directed its citizens the following actions to take

Avoid areas of large public gatherings.

Exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of a large gathering and/or demonstration.

Review your personal security plans.

Monitor local media for updates.

Keep a low profile.

Carry identification and cooperate with police.
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A glimpse of Saddar region in Pakistan's Karachi city. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

Pakistani police have registered a case against militants of the outlawed Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) for their alleged involvement in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast close to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in Saddar area of Karachi city.

DIG-South Asad Raza told Dawn News that the case was registered under Sections 3 /4 of the Explosive Substance Act read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act after the SRA claimed responsibility for the attack on social media.

No arrest has been made so far.

No casualty was reported due to Friday's blast.

The blast occurred just days before Pakistan gears up to vote in the polls.
Myanmar authorities have arrested six suspects for illegal possession of rockets in southern Myanmar's Bago region, official media reported on Sunday.

According to the official daily The Mirror, 10 107-mm rockets and 10 detonators were seized near Kamar Natkha Village in Bago township on Friday.

A 40-mm rocket and a handmade bomb were also confiscated in Thanatpin township of the region, the report said.

(With UNI Inputs)
Image courtesy: X/White House

Washington/IBNS: Incumbent US President Joe Biden won the Democratic primary in the US state of South Carolina, the first official nominating contest for the party, on Saturday.

According to reports, Biden is leading with over 96% of the votes, while his Democrat rivals, Congressman Dean Phillips and writer Marianne Williamson, receive 2% of the votes each.

On the results, Biden posted on X: "As I said four years ago, this campaign is for everyone who has been knocked down, counted out and left behind. That is still true today. With more than 14 million new jobs and a record 24 straight monthstwo yearsof the unemployment rate under 4%, including a record low unemployment rate for Black Americans, we are leaving no one behind.

"In 2020, it was the voters of South Carolina who proved the pundits wrong, breathed new life into our campaign, and set us on the path to winning the Presidency.

"Now in 2024, the people of South Carolina have spoken again and I have no doubt that you have set us on the path to winning the Presidency againand making Donald Trump a loseragain."

As I said four years ago, this campaign is for everyone who has been knocked down, counted out and left behind. That is still true today. With more than 14 million new jobs and a record 24 straight monthstwo yearsof the unemployment rate under 4%, including a record low  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) February 4, 2024

The southern US state launched Biden's road to the White House in 2020 when he turned his campaign around after a series of stumbles in earlier primaries.

Biden had only two long-shot challengers in the primary: Minnesota congressman and gelato magnate Dean Phillips, and best-selling self-help author Marianne Williamson.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed stringent measures on Paytm Payments Bank after uncovering significant compliance issues, including hundreds of accounts created without proper identification.

These accounts, lacking adequate Know-Your-Customer (KYC) procedures, conducted transactions worth crores of rupees, raising concerns about potential money laundering.

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More than 1,000 users linked same PAN card

Among the alarming discoveries, more than 1,000 users were found to have linked the same Permanent Account Number (PAN) to their accounts, indicating a systemic failure in compliance measures. The RBI, along with auditors, found discrepancies in the bank's submitted compliance reports during verification processes.

The central bank has expressed concerns that some of these accounts could have been utilized for illicit activities, prompting them to notify authorities such as the Enforcement Directorate, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Prime Minister's Office.

ED to launch a probe into Paytm Payments Bank

Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra has confirmed that the Enforcement Directorate will launch a probe into Paytm Payments Bank if evidence of illegal activity is found. In addition to KYC lapses, reports emerged regarding the non-disclosure of major transactions within the Paytm group and its associated parties, exacerbating regulatory concerns.

The RBI's scrutiny also revealed governance deficiencies, particularly in the linkage between Paytm Payments Bank and its parent company, One97 Communications Ltd. Furthermore, transactions routed through the parent app of Paytm raised data privacy apprehensions, prompting the RBI to halt transactions through Paytm Payments Bank.

While user deposits remain unaffected initially, the company will need to rely on third-party banks for its operations until February 29.

Reuters

Paytm's stock experienced a significant decline

In response to the RBI's actions, Paytm's stock experienced a significant decline, plummeting 36% over two days and erasing $2 billion from its market value.

Despite the regulatory setbacks, Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma downplayed the impact, referring to the situation as a "speed bump" during a conference call with analysts. Sharma aimed to reassure stakeholders amid the ongoing turbulence surrounding the company's regulatory compliance issues.

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Cancer rates worldwide have been on the rise over the years. Recently, the World Health Organization's cancer agency warned that the number of new cancer cases will rise to more than 35 million in 2050  77% higher than the figure in 2022.

More worrisome are the cancers that show no symptoms or less symptoms, also known as asymptomatic or silent cancers, which often go unnoticed until they reach advanced stages.

That is what happened to a 21-year-old boy from Scotland who initially went to hospital for a niggling back ache, but instead got a diagnosis of cancer and passed away within days.

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From simple backache, to coughing up blood

21-year-old Gerald Green is a resident of Paisley, Scotland. He had been complaining of a simple backache, which was thought to be due to the bed he had slept in - thinking a new bed will solve the issue.

Gerald had expressed discomfort from a minor backache, but it had been attributed to the bed he had slept on, believing that getting a new bed would resolve the problem.



It is only when he began to vomit and cough up blood that his mother rushed him to the Royal Alexandra Hospital on January 19.

Family urges those with symptoms to get checked before it's too late

Doctors at the hospital initially diagnosed him with severe anaemia and conducted surgery to drain his kidneys.

In a startling turn of events, Mr. Green ceased breathing during the procedure, necessitating resuscitation efforts leading to an induced coma in a desperate attempt to save his life.

Thankfully, Gerald pulled through. A week later, he got the diagnosis of cancer.

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He was then transferred to St Vincents Hospice on January 30. Sadly, he died just hours after arriving.



"It was so quick, its hard to take in that hes actually gone. Were all in shock," said Mr Greens cousin, Ailley Colquhoun, as quoted by Daily Record.

She added, "When my auntie Paula found out Gerald had been hiding the fact he had blood in his sick, she immediately took him to hospital. He was obviously scared when he hid it so were urging anyone who has any symptoms like his to get checked out immediately, before its too late."

Gerald was the youngest in the family and he was Paula and Gerrys only son. He had also been taking care of his father, Gerry, following his stroke.

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A recent report from The New York Post highlights a unique opportunity for individuals to achieve financial freedom through an unconventional avenue: foot modeling. According to insights shared by sex therapist Melissa Cook with Jam Press, individuals could potentially earn up to $45,000 (approximately Rs 3,736,408) annually with just a few clicks of the camera.

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Peasant, Roman, or Greek-style toe types sell best

In today's era of boundless possibilities, individuals have the opportunity to capitalize on various unconventional talents and attributes. Cook suggests that individuals with Peasant, Roman, or Greek-style toe types are particularly well-positioned to seize this lucrative opportunity and generate substantial income.

Foot fetishes are one of the most common fetishessd, she continued. The rare peasant foot type takes the lead when it comes to earnings  this is when the three largest toes are equal in size.

The demand for foot models has surged in recent years, fueled by various industries such as fashion, beauty, and even social media influencers. With the right approach and marketing strategy, individuals with aesthetically pleasing feet can leverage their unique attribute to secure modeling gigs and lucrative contracts.

The unusual 'peasant' foot type earns the most money | Image: Unsplash

According to a survey conducted by fetish site FunWithFeet, foot models with specific foot shapes have the potential to earn significant sums of money. Individuals with square feet, characterized by a uniform shape and appearance, are reportedly earning up to $45,000 (Rs 37,36,408) annually.

Similarly, models with Greek feet, distinguished by a longer second toe, have the potential to earn approximately $43,000 (Rs 35,70,345). Warning, however  making bank in this game is about more than just pimping out your little piggies, Cook said.

If you want to be successful, there are lots of things to consider, but mainly, you need to think about the quality of your images and understand your audience, she explained.

feet fetish

Here's how you can make real money

Here are some valuable tips from Melissa Cook for individuals aspiring to break into the foot modeling industry:

- Foot modeling involves more than just snapping a quick photo. Take the time to be creative, experiment with props, capture multiple images from different angles, and learn basic editing techniques. Play around with lighting, filters, and poses to create visually appealing and unique content.

- Focus on producing high-quality content that stands out. Pay attention to details, such as image clarity and composition

- Red toenail polish is preferred by the majority of consumers in the foot modeling market.

- A model's personality can significantly impact the overall experience for consumers. Be friendly, approachable, and engaging in your interactions.

- Maintaining clean and well-groomed feet is essential in foot modeling. Keep your nails neatly trimmed and polished, and ensure your feet are clean and free of hair.

By following these tips and investing time and effort into your craft, you can increase your chances of success in the competitive field of foot modeling.

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The police department in Auburn, United States has hailed a dog named Biza as a 'hero' for finding a missing 12-year-old.

The incident, which occurred on 31 January 2024, reveals the hard work and braveness of the K9 dog Biza.

K9 dog Biza/ Facebook

Child goes missing

At approximately 10:30 pm on January 31, 2024, Auburn Police Department was informed of a 12-year-old child who had left their home two hours earlier, at 8:30 pm.

Last seen in the Pakachoag Hill area of Auburn, the whereabouts of the child was unknown.

Despite the freezing temperatures, Auburn Police Officers and Troopers from the Massachusetts State Police, assisted by detectives, began a full-fledged effort to locate the child.

Biza to the rescue

As part of the search efforts, Officer Ljunggren and his K9 partner Biza were deployed.

Biza successfully detected a scent and initiated tracking over a distance exceeding two miles.

Following Biza's lead, officers were directed to a location where evidence indicated the child had been recently.

They converged on this area, ultimately locating the child shortly thereafter. The child was safely reunited with their family.

A Rockstar dog, applaud netizens

Biza's heroic story, shared in a Facebook post by Auburn MA Police Department, has garnered 900 likes and counting.

"What a beautiful girl!," posted a user.

Another said, "Biza and her handler are rockstars!"

One wrote, "We don't know and will not ask what started all this, but we are all so so happy the child was safely found. I hope the child and family are ok. Great, great job, Biza, Officer Ljunggren and all involved officers!"

"Sweet precious pup. Give him a steak dinner!," quipped another.

Yet another wrote, "This is a very beautiful story. Thank you, Biza and your master you did good both of you stay safe."

India's own K9 dog squad

India too has its own K9 dog squad - the anti-poaching dog squad of a leading wildlife NGO named Aaranyak.

Aaranyak

Aaranyak's K9 dog squad, consisting of handlers and Belgian Malinois dogs, actively supports forest and police officials in Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, Manas National Park, Orang National Park, and other rhino-inhabited regions.'



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Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko is poised to make history on Sunday by setting a new world record for the longest cumulative time spent in space, with nearly 2 and a half years under his belt, according to reports from Russian news agencies.

Reuters

Kononenko to log an impressive 1,110 days in space

Expected to surpass his compatriot Gennady Padalka's record, Kononenko, aged 59, will achieve this milestone at 11:30:08 Moscow time. Padalka accumulated a total of 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds over five space flights before retiring in 2017, as reported by the state news agency TASS.

Kononenko, currently serving as the commander of the Russian space agency Roscosmos cosmonaut corps, is embarking on his fifth space flight. Upon completion of the ongoing expedition, slated for Sept. 23, Kononenko will have logged an impressive 1,110 days in space.

Inaugural space flight flew in 2008

At the age of 34, Kononenko began his training as part of the cosmonaut group selected for the International Space Station (ISS) program, as detailed on the European Space Agency's website. His inaugural spaceflight took place on April 8, 2008, as part of the 17th main expedition of the ISS, with a return to Earth on Oct. 24, 2008, according to the Interfax news agency.

Despite geopolitical tensions, the ISS remains a beacon of international cooperation, particularly between the United States and Russia. In December, Roscosmos announced an extension of the joint space program with NASA to the ISS until 2025.

While diplomatic relations between the two nations have soured following Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago, cooperation in space exploration continues, albeit against a backdrop of strained relations.

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Niger Republic has urged Nigeria not to jeopardise the neighbourly and fraternal ties between them.

Recall that in a joint statement, Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The three junta-led West African countries faulted ECOWAS for the sanctions imposed on them as part of efforts to reverse the coups in their countries.

They also cited ECOWAS drift from the spirit of pan-Africanism, and the regional blocs failure to stem the insecurity and terrorism in their nations, as reasons for their withdrawal.

However, Nigeria, on Monday, condemned the exit of the three nations from the bloc .

Backing the regional bloc, Nigeria said ECOWAS has worked to promote peace, prosperity, and democracy in the region for half a century.

Bintou Ouattara, head of division of regional economic communities at the ministry of foreign affairs, Niger Republic said the help it rendered during the Biafran civil war was critical in safeguarding Nigerias territorial integrity and sovereignty.

READ ALSO: Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso Remain Our Members, No Exit Notification  ECOWAS

By deciding irresponsibly to illegally and unjustly sanction Niger and to undertake military intervention against our country, ECOWAS has become a threat to all the people of the Sahel and its member states.

With particular regards to Nigerias responsibility, the government of Niger notes with deep regret that history will record that the unfair, illegal, unjust and inhumane sanctions against Niger were taken under the leadership of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, current president of the ECOWAS conference of heads of state and government.

Then, to the irresponsible ECOWAS sanctions, Nigeria despite our neighbourly and fraternity ties, added its own punitive sanctions, namely; cutting off the supply of electrical energy indiscriminately, blocking the supply to Niger in pharmaceutical and food products, etc.

In any case, Niger has no moral lessons, much less democracy, governance or patriotism, to receive from the current Nigerian authorities.

Also, Niger urges them to exercise restraint and pull themselves together so as not to endanger our age-old bonds of fraternity which fully deserves to be preserved in the best interest of our people, the statement read.
Gunmen, who killed Oba Segun Aremu, Olukoro of Koro-Ekiti in Ekiti Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State, have demanded N100m ransom for the release of the deceaseds wife and another victim who were captured on Thursday.

Reports disclose that suspected kidnappers reached out to the family of the late monarch through a beer parlour operator in the community.

As stated by Leadership, the abductors got the telephone number of the beer parlour operator from his female staff, who was also kidnapped on the same day.

READ ALSO: Insecurity: Its Time For State Police, Constitutional Amendment  Laolu Akande To Tinubu, Governors

The LG Chairman of the Transition Implementation Committee (TIC), Kayode Bayode, confirmed that the kidnappers had placed N100m ransom on the late monarchs wife and one other kidnap victim.

Yes, they have contacted the family demanding for N100m ransom before they will release them. But we are still on the issue for now. That is all I can say for now. Though there is still panic in the community, the heavy presence of security has helped to calm the situation, Bayode stated.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. On the occasion of the International Day of Human Fraternity, H.E. Dr. Nariman Al-Mulla Ambassador of the UAE to Armenia, extends heartfelt congratulations to people around the world, emphasizing that this day holds special significance as it highlights the importance of fostering unity, understanding, and collaboration among diverse communities.

On December 21. 2020, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming February 4 as the International Day of Human Fraternity, inviting all Member States and international organizations to observe the day annually. International Day of Human Fraternity was inspired by the global reaction to the historic signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by two of the world's great religious leaders; His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on February 4, 2019, expressed the ambassador, adding that the day is an annual celebration of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, tolerance and acceptance, and compassion and solidarity; it is also a call to put these values outlined in the Document on Human Fraternity -into action, in order to build a more peaceful world.

We believe the values of the Document on Human Fraternity are key to promoting peace on all levels: between individuals, organizations, nations, and even between humanity and the environment,- said the ambassador, stressing that the UN-recognized International Day of Human Fraternity aims to draw public awareness to human fraternity on the anniversary of the historic signing of the Document on Human Fraternity.

The Ambassador stated that the International Day of Human Fraternity is one of the key initiatives that oversees by the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity (HCHF) to embody the principles of human Fraternity and present them as vivid practical examples, clarifying that the HCHF is an independent international committee instituted to promote human fraternity values in communities around the world and to fulfill the aspirations of the Document on Human Fraternity.

Through our mission, we envisage a world of openhearted communities where people of all walks of life live together in harmony as one human family. We believe that the values of human fraternity are universal. They have the power to create harmony among the people of the world, without requiring uniformity. We are dedicated to promoting and upholding those values across the globe. We believe that these values hold the key to creating peaceful coexistence, between individuals and nations regardless of creed, race, or religion, mentioned H.E. Al-Mulla.

Addressing the Higher Committee of Human Fraternitys initiatives, the Ambassador stated that in addition to the International Day of Human Fraternity initiative, other initiatives were launched by the Committee to spread the values of tolerance and human fraternity, the most prominent of which are the Abrahamic Family House and The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.

The creation of the Abrahamic Family House, an interfaith complex in Abu Dhabi, aims to be a physical manifestation of love your neighbor by bringing together people of different faiths to engage and learn from each other on common ground. The Abrahamic Family House is the first space in history to collectively host a church, mosque, and synagogue. While serving as a community for interreligious dialogue and exchange the Abrahamic Family House preserves the unique character of each religion - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam- with its individual places of worship,- informed H.E. Al-Mulla

As for the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, the ambassador said that the Award honors individuals, organizations, and other entities engaged in work that is making a profound contribution to human fraternity around the world. It is an independent global award that includes a $1 million prize and which hopes to inspire all people to work for human fraternity in their own communities.

Through these initiatives we aspire to contribute to sustainable social harmony for all humanity by:
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of denying its polling agents from Saturdays Ebonyi South by-election.

In a press briefing, made today at Abakaliki, the states capital, a chieftain of the party, Nwaeze Onu, alleged that despite taking all necessary steps ahead of the poll, the commission said there was no identification card for its agents.

He said: We do not have a single agent in all polling units across the senatorial district.

We duly uploaded our agent list on the INEC system for accreditation

and distribution of identification materials to political parties, he said.

We would not relent but it should be noted that we have been disfranchised from participating in the election.

READ MORE: By-Election: INEC Accuses Thugs For Hijacking Election Materials In Kano, Akwa Ibom, Enugu

We cannot be on the booth when not accredited and will continue protesting this unfortunate development.

INEC should realise that when someone is stopped from participating in an election, it is a breach of the electoral act, Daily Post quoted the NNPP chieftain saying.

The uploading the of party agents list was not done in the states; it was done at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
Geraldine Brown, a longtime resident and community leader in Cheltenham Township's La Mott neighborhood, outside the oft-closed La Mott Community Center and library. Read more

Many older suburbs close to Philadelphia are wrangling with builders eager to build and residents determined to protect the architecture, history, and ambience that make their communities so attractive to developers.

Ardmore, Narberth, and Swarthmore have sought to balance the demand for new housing with concerns about proposed building heights, density, and parking.

But in Cheltenham, proposals to dramatically rearrange a well-established landscape of public buildings and services have residents worrying whether doing so will not only disrupt but also diminish quality of life for the townships 38,500 residents.

Four options outlined in a study prepared by KCBA architects and presented to Cheltenhams Board of Commissioners last fall include renovating or relocating much-loved facilities such as the La Mott Community Center and the Cheltenham Center for the Arts; demolishing the popular Glenside and Conklin swimming pools in favor of building a single, larger, centrally located pool; and constructing a central library in place of the freestanding branches in Elkins Park and Glenside.

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Consolidating municipal facilities and services at one or two new centrally located campuses, or renovating and replacing some existing structures, could cost $66.2 million to $92.9 million, according to the study  which, itself, cost Cheltenham $60,000.

We need to find the best or at least a better balance between the efficiencies of centralized [operations] while continuing to recognize the neighborhood character of our township, said Matthew Areman, president of Cheltenhams seven-member board of commissioners.

The study focused mostly on bricks and mortar has raised concerns about potential impact on an important way Cheltenham has long seen itself: as an urbane suburb with a small-town vibe.

Much like its neighbors  Northeast and Northwest Philly  Cheltenham is a densely populated collection of distinct neighborhoods. Well before walkability became a thing, Glenside, Elkins Park, La Mott, and Wyncote have been prized for the ease with which kids could ride bikes and adults could walk to their destinations.

One central pool makes me think of a mob scene, said Melissa Monserrat, a registered nurse who grew up spending summers at Glenside pool and watched her two children learn to swim there.

It cant possibly be more cost-effective to build a monstrosity than it would be to improve upon what we have at Glenside and Conklin, so we can keep the fabric of the communities as they are, she said.

Monserrat and other Cheltenham residents have weighed in at public meetings with more than 300 email comments solicited by the township and through 359 responses to a survey conducted by the Cheltenham Chamber of Citizens.

Most of those who responded are against centralization and against demolition of historic buildings, said Edie Cerebi, who moved to Cheltenham in 1978 and lives in Wyncote. She founded the chamber in 2009 during a battle over a proposed 700-slot parking garage at SEPTAs Wyncote-Jenkintown station.

No one is denying we do need to do something about our fail, Cerebi said. The question is what and how.

History as essential to character

Inhabited by the Lenape and other native peoples and settled by Europeans in 1682, Cheltenham by the late 19th century was fast becoming one of Philadelphias most significant suburbs.

The rolling landscape, proximity to the city, and abundant rail service inspired titans of industry to build great estates in the township. The upper-middle-class area of Wyncote, now on the National Register of Historic Places, also featured grand houses designed by eminent architects.

Other parts of Cheltenham have an abundance of history.

Camp William Penn, where 11,000 Black soldiers were trained to fight with the Union Army during the Civil War, is a block from the La Mott Community Center. The library branch that once operated inside the center is closed, and for several years, the center itself has been periodically shut down and only partially functional  despite being part of the Camptown Historic District on the National Register.

We need that community center to open again, said Joyce Werkman, a 40-year resident of Cheltenham and for nearly two decades the director of the Camp William Penn Museum at 1618 Willow Ave. She also is a founder of Citizens for Restoration of Historical La Mott.

The center always was a safe space for children, she said. And thats a precious thing.

Like the neighborhood, the center is named in honor of the abolitionist Lucretia Mott. Longtime neighborhood resident Geraldine Brown founded La Mott Citizens United to lobby for improvements to the facility.

Public buildings in the township have been deteriorating for years, and its like somebody just put a Band-Aid on them despite how bad they are, Brown said. This building needs to come back to life.

Like the Mott Center, the Cheltenham Center for the Arts operates in a former public school building. Since 1953, it has offered exhibits, classes, and cultural events at the Ashbourne Road facility it rents from the township for $1 annually. The old Joseph Heller School has a 100-seat theater, light-filled studios, and 2,000 square feet of galleries. Its also on the National Register of Historic Places.

People who have been part of the arts center for decades are worried about the facilities proposals, said executive director Margaret Griffen.

We came through the pandemic and have continued to thrive. Im worried this kind of disruption could really affect our ability to serve our community, she said. But we are hoping to continue to find ways forward.

The Cheltenham Township Library System, which describes itself as a place maker in the community, did strategic planning in 2021. Although separate from the townships facilities study, the librarys effort largely came to a similar conclusion.

The CTLS and the board recommend a modern, central library facility as well as at least two, small, satellite libraries [to be] located in township facilities, library director Mary Kay Moran wrote in a letter to the community posted on the systems website.

Where the satellites will be located is completely up to the township, she said in an interview.

Pros and cons

Township resident Rhonda Genzink Isser, whose Cheltenham Infrastructure Solutions page on Facebook has 1,700 followers, said residents are skeptical of the facilities plan because theyre skeptical of the board of commissioners and believe the big decisions already have been made.

They seem to want a central campus, but theres been no discussion about how theyre going to pay for the maintenance, she said. Shutting down the neighborhood facilities would be a mistake. Those buildings are important to our community and our history.

Members of the townships Republican Party organization  which has no representation on the all-Democratic board of commissioners  said they, too, have concerns about the proposal.

I dont believe any of the numbers in the proposal, except the 5% annual increase in the tax rate theyre projecting, said Thom Estilow, chairman of the Cheltenham Township Republican Organization.

John Raisch, a walking and biking advocate, said he hoped the public discussion would renew efforts to connect the Tookany Creek Trail and other trails in the township into the emerging regional system.

Weve had a lot of studies and community support but only a small amount of build, and lots of people asking how do we move these ideas forward, Raisch said.

Areman said he and fellow commissioners are retooling the proposals in light of all the feedback from the public. I anticipate [KCBA] will put out a revised recommendation, which will receive more feedback, in the next few weeks.

Commissioner Mitchell Zygmund-Felt said board members are being prudent and diligent in their deliberation. Were still not ready to make any decisions, he said.
Ronald and Onelia Doughty take many medications for various health conditions. But to get those medications, Ronald, who walks with a cane, had to get a bus to Broad Street or borrow a car from his son who lives in West Philadelphia to get to a different Rite Aid. Read more

Ronald and Onelia Doughty joke that they have their own pharmacy of medications inside their Grays Ferry home.

He takes pills for heart failure, COPD, and asthma. She takes liver, nerve, blood pressure, and antinausea medication and is on oxygen at night.

As for their actual pharmacy, Ronald Doughty, 64, used to walk around the corner to Rite Aid a couple times a week to pick up their medications. Then this fall, a pharmacist there told him news that he said felt like a knife in the heart.

The 30th and Reed Streets store is among dozens of locations that the Philadelphia-based chain has closed in recent months as Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Nationwide, pharmacies have struggled with decreased reimbursements, staffing shortages, and other issues. CVS recently announced it would close dozens of its pharmacies inside Targets early this year.

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In Grays Ferry, a historically working-class neighborhood where about half of residents are Black and many households make less than $44,000 a year, their Rite Aids closure has caused logistical struggles and stirred up what some residents describe as feelings of being abandoned and forgotten. Their stories represent a snapshot of the reverberations that are occurring across the region and the country as more pharmacies close.

 READ MORE: Once-opposing Grays Ferry groups unite to change their neighborhood

Some Grays Ferry residents have cobbled together solutions to get to the South Broad Street and Snyder Avenue Rite Aid, two miles away, where they say their prescriptions were transferred. Some who dont own cars have taken the bus  nearly an hour-long round-trip  while others have spent $20 or more using rideshare services such as Uber or Lyft every time they need to visit the pharmacy. There was talk of arranging a neighborhood car pool, but it never came together.

Ive got heart problems, lung problems.  It was hard enough for me to walk around the corner, said Ronald Doughty, who doesnt own a car.

For weeks this fall, he took the bus or borrowed the car of his grown son, who lives in West Philadelphia and has a family of his own. Doughty, who uses a cane, worried about his safety when he took a bus out of his neighborhood, where he knows almost everyone. The couple recently talked to their doctors at Penn Medicine and arranged to pick up their prescriptions when they go to their regular appointments in University City.

Still, they miss their neighborhood Rite Aid. Its loss feels personal.

Were the ones who always get the short ends of the sticks, he said.

For pharmacies, no moral obligation

Rite Aid has recently closed dozens of stores across the region  some in lower-income areas such as Camden and Grays Ferry, others in more affluent suburbs such as Doylestown and West Chester. More remote areas in central Pennsylvania and New Jersey have also been impacted.

Decisions to close stores are based on several factors, including business strategy, lease and rent considerations, local business conditions and viability, and store performance, Rite Aid spokesperson Alicja Wojczyk said in October.

Rite Aid mails letters to customers and puts signs in stores in the weeks leading up to a closure, spokesperson Catherine Carter said recently, responding to questions about the concerns of Grays Ferry residents.

Prescriptions are automatically transferred to a nearby Rite Aid or other pharmacy, with no disruption of service. If a customer would like to send their prescriptions to a different pharmacy, they must contact that pharmacy themselves to initiate that process, Carter said.

Rite Aid is committed to improving access to critical health services across our markets, Carter said in a statement. In connection with our court-supervised process and ongoing evaluation of our footprint, we have conducted additional research to help ensure we do not create pharmacy deserts in the communities we serve.

After a closure, the company internally tracks what percentage of customers pick up their prescriptions at their new Rite Aid pharmacy, but declined to share that proprietary data.

In Grays Ferry and other neighborhoods where chain pharmacies have closed, other independent pharmacies remain, but experts say customers often get confused about whether their insurance covers prescriptions elsewhere. And the price of medications can vary widely at different pharmacies, for reasons even industry insiders arent privy to, said Patrick Keenan, director of policy and partnerships for the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, a consumer advocacy organization.

 READ MORE: Independent pharmacists fight burnout and industry pressures as Rite Aid and CVS close stores

Even if another area pharmacy can fill a prescription at a similar cost, its hours may be shorter, which can be particularly challenging for working customers, Keenan said.

When a pharmacy closes, that just creates one of the last barriers, said Keenan, noting the top two barriers are medication price and transportation. We often hear just more people give up and theyre not able to get the medications that they need.

Dima Qato, an associate professor at the University of Southern Californias Mann School of Pharmacy and a national expert on pharmacy access, said her research has shown that less access leads to lower adherence to medications, greater likelihood that residents stop taking their medications entirely, and lower vaccination rates. Communities of color and areas that are more reliant on public transportation are disproportionately impacted, she added.

But the pharmacies themselves can only do so much, she said, meaning larger policy solutions are the greatest hope for mitigating some of these issues.

This is kind of the crux of the problem: Pharmacies have no moral obligation to anyone really, Qato said. At the end of the day, theyre businesses, and theyre businesses that stay open if they perform well.

Still, for customers in communities that are already underserved, a pharmacys closure can feel personal.

After Camdens last Rite Aid closed this fall, some customers found their way to Bell Rexall Pharmacy, an independent pharmacy that has been a mainstay in the citys Parkside section for more than 90 years. When they arrived, owner Anthony V. Minniti said they werent in a good mood.

Its a circumstance [in which] theyve just been to their pharmacy to find out their pharmacy has closed. Its more a confusion, abandonment feeling, Minniti said. Clearly people are not happy. There is no question about that, because they just dont know what to do.

For Camden residents, some of whom dont own cars, the nearest Rite Aids are now several miles away in Collingswood or Pennsauken.

For many residents, just getting from the downtown to Parkside, which is less than a mile, thats a challenge, Minniti said Going to Pennsauken? Thats not even an option for them.

In Grays Ferry, Charles Reeves, 65, said he would go to the now-closed Rite Aid around the corner three or four times a week. Hed not only pick up his and his wifes prescriptions, but hed also grab individual grocery items, bandages and other medical supplies, even Christmas decorations and Halloween candy.

When he heard the store was closing, I felt disrespected, first of all, he said. It was like a smack in our face.  I felt like, You all abandoned the whole community. 

Customers make do with fewer options

Grays Ferry residents have had no choice but to adjust in the months since their neighborhood Rite Aid closed.

It leaves people without options, said James Ross, 58. Because of so few choices here, he said he still drives to pick up his prescriptions at a Rite Aid in Southwest Philadelphia, where he lived before moving to Grays Ferry.

Camella Gray, 63, said it takes her an hour round-trip to travel by bus to the Rite Aid at Broad and Snyder  not including any time spent waiting in line  much longer than it used to take her to walk essentially next door to the Grays Ferry Rite Aid.

Twice a month, Reeves, who is recovering from back surgery, said he gets a relative to pick up his and his wifes prescriptions, or his wife pays about $25 round-trip on a Lyft to the pharmacy. Hes been frustrated, too, he said, by struggles to get through to the new Rite Aid over the phone. (Carter, the Rite Aid spokesperson, said their pharmacists are working hard, with customer service among our highest priorities.)

But he said hes optimistic that within a month or so, his doctors and insurers will be able to get his medications mailed to him.

Until then, he said, hell make do.

Ive got grandkids, Ive got people who can get my medicines, Reeves said. But the people that cant,  thats the part I worry about.
When the gnarly, outlaw bikers would roll into the New Orleans tattoo shop looking for some quick ink, theyd look around for anyone but Jacci Gresham.

Wheres the owner? theyd ask.

Youre looking at her, Gresham would shoot back.

Most men would just shrug and sit in Greshams chair, taking off their shirt or their underwear, she said, if they were drunk enough.

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And some people would take a look at me, a woman, a Black woman at that, and just walk right back out the door, she said.

Gresham, now 77, is a pioneer in the tattooing industry, a woman who opened her own shop in the 1970s, decades before female tattooers became more common. Semiretired and living on 40 acres in Picayune, Miss., Gresham drove nearly 1,200 miles last week to set up shop at the Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Festival.

One woman drove up from West Virginia just to get tattooed by her on Saturday afternoon. Some fans wanted selfies and a few wanted her signature tattooed, a permanent reminder that theyd met her. They cost $100.

Many just stopped by to give Miss Jacci her flowers.

Youre my inspiration, tattoo artist Mia Thomas, of Bensalem, told Gresham. Youre the reason I became a tattoo artist.

Born and raised in Flint, Mich., Gresham said she always enjoyed art and drawing and had aspirations to be a fashion designer as a child. At Flint Central High School, she took drafting classes, which sparked an interest in architecture and engineering.

I was the only girl in that class, she said.

After studying at Lawrence Technological University in Michigan, Gresham worked for General Motors, designing auto dealerships. She met a man at GM who knew tattooing, and together, they moved to New Orleans in 1976 and opened Aart Accent Tattoos & Piercing on North Rampart Street, which was the oldest tattoo shop in Louisiana until it closed in 2022 after the building was sold.

Many tattoo websites have said Aart (spelled with an extra a to be first in the phone book) was the first tattoo shop in the United States to be owned by a Black woman, and Gresham said she only knows of one other woman, in Seattle, whos been tattooing as long as she has.

I know Ive been tattooing longer than any Black person in this building, she said Saturday at the tattoo convention.

Villain Arts, the company that runs the Philly tattoo convention and others, said there were 1,500 artists from 12 countries there. The company doesnt break those numbers down by race or gender, but there were hundreds of female and Black tattoo artists up and down the aisles, all of them busy working on someones skin.

She set the path, said Trap Wright, of Black Ink Orlando. There would probably not be that many women tattooers today, if not for her. For her to be a woman, and to be Black, back then, thats for real.

Atlanta tattoo artist Paper Airplane Jane said women customers often prefer female artists, and Gresham, she said, paved the way.

Particularly for Black and Brown women, she said.

Thomas, who owns a private studio called Inktachi, was tattooing at the convention but set aside time to get one of Greshams signature voodoo dolls tattooed on her leg, along with her signature.

I knew she was gonna be here, so I had to be here. I actually wanted to go to New Orleans to meet her, but I didnt get the chance, she said. Im telling you, everyone knows Miss Jacci.

Since her shop closed, Gresham has spent more time at home, where shes building her own tattoo studio. She doesnt get into New Orleans too much, but shes been doing some guest appearances at shops and convention booths.

Ive been pretty lucky with my health, she said, but it can have a toll on your body. I just had cataract surgery.

Gresham has tattoos herself, mostly on her legs, but shes never gotten any on her face or hands, she said, in case she had to work in engineering. She said the first tattoo she did was a spear and theres only one genre of art she doesnt dabble in.

I dont do any of that devil stuff. When I did, in the past, bad things happened, she said.

Tattoo acceptance took leaps forward in the 1990s, Gresham said, but before that, the usual customers were biker types and the occasional woman they brought with them.

It seemed like it was bikers for 20 years, she said. Before the 90s, there werent tattoo shops everywhere and there still werent a lot of women doing it. And it was even harder for Black people to get into the industry, before about 2000.

Annette LaRue, 60, was a biker herself, working on her own motorcycles and tattooing in Daytona Beach, before moving to New Orleans to work with Gresham. LaRue, who tattoos in Virginia today, was in the same booth with Gresham in Philly.

Working for Gresham, LaRue said , was like petting a tiger.

Shes beautiful , shes exciting and charismatic and you want to be around her, but she can bite you at any minute, LaRue said. Shes a strong woman and shes got strong words.

Elisheba Mrozik, who owns Queen Bee Ink, in Nashville, has been tattooed by Gresham. She was also the first woman to tattoo her Auntie Jacci. The two caught up at a tattoo convention in Baltimore last year, and Mrozik is happy Greshams still touring and tattooing and seeing, firsthand, how beloved she is in the industry.

She deserves her respect and her flowers now, Mrozik said.

Gresham was a little wary of driving to Philly, with all the snow the citys seen, but she said Becks Cajun Cafe at Reading Terminal Market had some of the best Cajun food shes ever had. She thinks shell do a few more shows this year, but shes building a tattoo studio in a tree house in Picayune and wants to spend more time there.

I am old and I appreciate the peace of the country life, she said. So maybe people can come see me.
A picture of the downtown business district along Avenue of the States in Chester in December 2022, a month after the city filed for bankruptcy. Read more

In a ruling that is a game changer in Chesters historic bankruptcy  and may have impacts on economically struggling towns elsewhere  the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has affirmed the state-appointed receivers plans to rescue one of the nations most-distressed cities from financial doom.

The sometimes-acerbic majority opinion handed down last Monday, which affirmed a Commonwealth Court decision that the city had appealed, stated that Chester has suffered from a municipal government that is internally dysfunctional.

Among its provisions, the ruling gives receiver Michael Doweary the power to review all hiring decisions in the administration of newly inaugurated Mayor Stefan Roots, who has been working with the receivers office for months. He also helped develop a reorganization plan and has invited the receiver staff to move back to City Hall, from which they had been evicted.

Of potentially broader significance, the justices held that the state has sovereign power over municipal governments in emergency fiscal conditions. ... .

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The City of Chesters local officials must accept the exercise of that power, whether they like it or not, the ruling said.

 READ MORE: Chester's bankruptcy was 70 years in the making

The decision will have a significant impact not only on Chester, but other distressed municipalities as well, said Tiffany Allen, the attorney who argued the receivers case before the justices in May. Mark Pfeiffer, the citys attorney, did not respond to a request for comment.

Justice Kevin M. Dougherty dissented, saying the outcome was tantamount to the total takeover of the elected officials responsibilities to conduct the day-to-day affairs of the City.

Vijay Kapoor, Dowearys chief of staff, pushed back on that reading. The statute gives the receiver significant deference, he said, but a judge can still review his actions. So while the receiver has significant shared control over city government, he does not have absolute control.

He added that focus of the receivers plan was to ensure that qualified professionals were running the city.

Roots said Friday night that council members had shown their willingness to work with the receiver and that I anticipate a streamlined execution of important decisions to move the city forward.

That, the court affirmed, was not happening in the previous administration under former Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland, who had an acrimonious relationship with Doweary and Kapoor.

A troubled relationship

The court devoted several pages recounting issues that occurred during the Kirkland administration after the receiver was appointed in 2020, under the Act 47 distressed cities law, to oversee Chesters finances.

They included:

The city missed $40 million in pension payments. The City Council member in charge of finances lost $400,000 in a phishing scam, but didnt bother to inform the receiver until months later. The city incurred $1 million in IRS fines for late and inaccurate filings. The receivers office discovered that the city continued to pay an incarcerated worker charged with child sexual abuse in excess of the number of hours in a week for a normal payroll amount. Kirkland called Doweary a racial slur and, according to the majority opinion, the mayor told the receiver to watch his back, warning that his days are numbered.

Kapoor said that the opinion clearly recognized the urgency of Chesters dire situation and seemed to be almost outraged as to what had occurred.

He said that although it was eight months in the making, the timing of the decision aligned well with mediation with creditors and the new administration.

This decision requires Chester to be run like every other city in Pennsylvania, he said.

Where is the money?

Roots and the receivers office agree that the first step would be to restore fiscal order to a city with a $71 million 2024 budget and a projected $2 million shortfall. Only about 40% of the budget comes from wage and real estate taxes.

The Covanta incinerator plant and Harrahs Casino are major contributors to the treasury, but ultimately Chester must find ways to attract new businesses  and residents. The population, about 35,400, is half what it was during its postwar peak, and Roots says he sees room to grow.

 READ MORE: For 30 years, she has fought a waste-to-energy plant in Chester City: We dont have a choice

Despite the citys financial needs, Roots and Doweary both oppose the potential siting of a liquefied natural gas plant in Chester, even though it could generate jobs and millions in tax revenue. In a town that already hosts the incinerator and a waste-treatment plant, Doweary feels Chester needs to look at cleaner alternatives.

For the time being, that is moot: President Joe Biden has imposed a pause on approvals for all future LNG facilities.

 READ MORE: Unlike Pa.s senators, Chesters new mayor hailed Bidens decision to pause LNG approvals

As so many industrial towns, Chester went into a precipitous economic decline in the 1950s and 1960s. During World War II, its shipyard alone employed 36,000.

After decades of hemorrhaging people and jobs, the city entered the distressed status in 1995, where its been going on almost 30 years.

Kirkland has maintained that he is being blamed unfairly for the citys woes and that the problems were an unwanted inheritance. He said he had tried to correct the problems.

He also has pointed out that during his administration, the murder rate plunged in what was once the nations per-capita homicide capital.

But it was also under his watch that the city went into bankruptcy in November 2022, a rarity among U.S. cities. Of more than 35,000 municipalities, only about 30 have filed for bankruptcy.

Chesters deep distress

Among the nations cities, Chester ranked in the top 4% for distress  which included poverty rate and median income  according to the Economic Innovation Group, a Washington, D.C.-based bipartisan policy organization.

The median household income in the most recent census calculation was $39,000, a little more than half of the states median. The poverty rate was 28%, compared to just under 12% for Pennsylvanias rate.

The groups analysis found that the home-vacancy rate for the 2016-through-2020 period was double the national average.

In terms of jobs and business growth, things are headed in the wrong direction, said Karen Fikri, the groups research director.

That equates to extreme distress.
A fight outside Franklin Towne Charter High School on Friday afternoon left one teenager injured, according to the school and police.

The altercation took place outside the high school, located in the citys Bridesburg neighborhood, after school was dismissed around 2 p.m. Several students assaulted a 16-year-old, according to police. By the time school officials and security personnel arrived at the scene, most of the people involved had left, a statement released by the school said.

The victim was transported by medics to St. Christophers Hospital for Children to receive treatment for reported bruises, cuts, and a possible concussion, police said. The victim was not a student of the school, Franklin Towne Charter said. No other injuries were reported.

The police investigation into the incident, including a review of a video of the fight, is ongoing. The school said it is cooperating with police to ensure a comprehensive response to the fight.

Steps are being taken in accordance with our code of conduct to address the behavior of any students involved, the schools statement said. We understand the concern this situation has caused our community and appreciate the support of our families and local authorities in ensuring our school remains a safe environment for education.
A flare burns at Venture Global LNG in Cameron, La., in 2022. Louisiana lost more than $82 million worth of natural gas in 2019 due to leaks, venting, or flaring at production sites according to a study released in April by an environmental group and government watchdog organizations. The Environmental Defense Funds report said state fossil fuel producers wasted more than 27 billion cubic feet of gas in 2019. Read more

Youre hearing a lot in this election year about the threats to American democracy  especially from the GOPs Donald Trump and his talk of a kind of dictatorship  but we dont talk enough about the long-term, deeper rot of big money and benign neglect that hits home in a city like Chester, the working-class, mostly Black community on the Delaware River south of Philly.

In November 2022, Chester gave Sen. John Fetterman a healthy chunk of the votes he needed to defeat the GOPs Mehmet Oz in a close race. The Democrat won more than eight of every 10 voters in the city, sweeping some polling places like Ward 2s Precinct 3 with as much as 93% of the tally. Just over a year later, Chester is learning that love isnt a two-way street.

The Delaware County community has been awash in controversy over a proposed $6.4 billion facility to create liquefied natural gas (LNG)  largely the product of fracking in Northern and Western Pennsylvania  and ship the liquefied gas overseas. The proposal played a role in 2023s ouster of an incumbent mayor who supported the scheme, and activists celebrated last weeks unexpected announcement by President Joe Biden of a federal pause in issuing permits for new LNG export facilities like the one sought for Chester, to study their impact on climate change.

Thats why it felt like a stab in the back when Fetterman and Pennsylvanias other Democratic senator, Bob Casey  whos in a tight 2024 reelection battle  issued a statement last week that criticized their own partys president and instead supported the natural gas industry and, in essence, the kind of monstrosity that Chester activists are fighting against.

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While the immediate impacts on Pennsylvania remain to be seen, we have concerns about the long-term impacts that this pause will have on the thousands of jobs in Pennsylvanias natural gas industry, the two Democrats said in their joint statement. If this decision puts Pennsylvania energy jobs at risk, we will push the Biden Administration to reverse this decision.

Zulene Mayfield, a longtime fighter for environmental justice as leader of Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living and a key foe of the proposed LNG export facility, told me on Saturday that the opposition from Fetterman and Casey shows why the community cant let its guard down even after the positive news from the White House.

Were not going to be deceived by the pols or the promise of money, Mayfield said, referring to a pledge of multimillion-dollar civic contributions from the would-be developer. We believe these types of facilities and industries have been an economic hindrance for our community. She said Chesters waterfront  already home to a controversial incinerator that burns trash from Philadelphia and elsewhere  could be an economic jewel instead of officials being lazy and letting any waste-polluting, death-spilling industry into our community.

A self-proclaimed savvy political observer might insist that its smart politics for Casey and Fetterman to claim a pro-jobs stance in an edge-of-the-Rust Belt state like Pennsylvania. The conventional wisdom is that voters here care more about getting new industry over protecting the environment and that its shrewd strategy for these Democrats to shield their right flank from attacks by drill, baby, drill Republicans, even if it alienates a few tree-huggers on the left.

But there are two massive holes in this conventional wisdom, big enough to drive a 100-car bomb train of fossil fuels right through them.

 READ MORE: Does anyone care about the study linking Pa. fracking to cancer in kids? | Will Bunch

The Casey-Fetterman manifesto ignores the reality that a majority of Pennsylvania voters oppose fracking, since so many of us have seen now what pollution and health risks from poorly regulated drilling have done to our rural communities, or because we dont want badly built pipelines or bomb trains passing through our towns, or because, unlike most American politicians, we think we should be doing something about climate change. A September 2021 poll by the Ohio Valley Institute found that 55% of Pennsylvanians want fracking to end now or be phased out.

The other hole in the conventional wisdom is that the jobs promise of Pennsylvanias fracking boom and related gas-powered facilities have been continually overhyped, even as the very real dangers of pollution are ignored. A Food and Water Watch report noted that while 2020 was a record year for oil and gas production in Pennsylvania, jobs in the industry fell sharply that same year and accounted for less than 25,000 of the states five million workers. Another study last year found the counties with the most fracking actually lost overall jobs during the so-called boom years. The real numbers just dont comport with the politicians rah-rah, pro-gas jobs boosterism.

Yet the price on Pennsylvanias public health is excruciating. A major state-funded study released last year showed that children living near fracking sites had a higher risk for lymphoma, a type of cancer, and that gas drilling is also linked to a sharp rise in asthma as well as low-birth-weight babies. The administration of newish Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, which insists that continued fracking can be made safer, essentially responded to these bombshell findings with a shrug emoji. Shapiro has yet to weigh in on Bidens pause on new LNG export plants.

None of this even considers the biggest elephant in the room: climate change. The onslaught of natural disasters seems poised to continue this week. An atmospheric river  packed with extra moisture from an overheated Pacific Ocean  is expected to trigger catastrophic floods and mudslides as it bears down on California. The reality that humankind needs to rapidly phase out fossil fuels weighs on many voters  but doesnt seem to register with our politicians.

Instead, both parties continue to slip on the oil slicks of industry fantasy. The latest Pennsylvania boondoggle is the massive, $6 billion Shell plastics plant in Beaver County, which won the largest tax subsidy in state history based on grossly overstated economic estimates and began violating its mandated pollution limits from the moment it opened in 2022.

But the LNG export racket is arguably worse. The reality at the core of New York-based Penn American Energys plan for a Delaware County plant is that Pennsylvanians would bear all the health risks of fracking and pipelines or rail shipments through our neighborhoods, capped by the pollution from a plant in Chester that would be a monument to environmental racism  all for a product that wouldnt lower U.S. energy prices but would instead be shipped to Asia or other foreign markets, to enrich Wall Street investors.

Opposing U.S. LNG exports ought to be a no-brainer. Casey and Fettermans stance might sway some labor unions who see a brief boost in construction jobs for projects like the Shell facility, but who else? Yet, theres also no alternative. For voters unhappy with Caseys stance on fossil fuels, the other choice in November will be the manufactured GOP candidacy of Dave McCormick, a hedge-fund multimillionaire whos spent most of the last decade in Connecticut and is trying to buy the Senate seat with $18 million from his rich friends like Florida billionaire Ken Griffin.

Who represents the silent majority of Pennsylvanians who have real concerns about climate change and who want fracking to disappear? The same could be asked about a cease-fire in Gaza, which is also backed by a majority of voters, especially young people, yet is ignored by the same politicians  extremely so by Fetterman, who waves Israeli flags at his constituents protesting the deaths of Palestinian women and children. When the choice is between Democrats who offer a kinder, gentler facade while telling a community like Chester to drop dead and a GOP that has openly embraced authoritarianism, is that really a healthy democracy?

Citizen leaders like Chesters Mayfield have good reason to fear that the temporary good news of Bidens election-year pause on new LNG export facilities will be overwhelmed by the cynical inertia epitomized by the Fetterman-Casey doctrine. The chickens that have been feeding at the trough of a decaying democracy  from environmental racism to the surge of billionaire money that invents a fake candidate like McCormick  are coming home to roost in 2024. The climate of alienation and distrust is ideal weather for the lethal cynicism of a strongman like Trump. An unneeded pollution machine dumping on the people of Chester might only be part of the coming stench.

 READ MORE: SIGN UP: The Will Bunch Newsletter
Having known she wanted to act from the time she was in junior infants, Amy De Bhrun is keeping an eye on little Billie, her four-year-old daughter, for similar thespian leanings.

She is extremely good at art and drawing, which she gets from her father, but she loves singing, dancing, acting and make-believe, De Bhrun says.

But a bit like I was, at the moment, shes not interested in doing it for other people. Shes doing it for the enjoyment of it, for herself. Its not a look-at-me thing. So yeah, I wouldnt be at all surprised.

Meanwhile, Billies little brother, River, 2, has already made his acting debut of sorts: when De Bhrun was voicing Cartoon Networks preschool animation Ladybird Lu, some baby sound effects were needed and De Bhrun found herself following her baby son around with a microphone.

When I used to put the little microphone in front of him, he would come alive. Hes really into singing and dancing too, they both are. So I wouldnt be surprised if they wanted to act, but I also definitely wouldnt be pushing them into it. Kids on set is really difficult: I always feel really sorry for the parents.

Amy de Bhrun as Blackshore's Niamh Furlong

Its been a whirlwind few years for De Bhrun, whose acting and choice of roles have gone from strength to strength in the same period of time that motherhood beckoned.

Married to Sean Branigan, who also works in the film industry as a director and illustrator, the couple has welcomed their daughter and son as De Bhrun has found herself in hot demand for film and TV roles at home and abroad.

Her first high-profile international role saw her play a technician in 2016 thriller Jason Bourne, and she also won acclaim as widowed Liverpudlian Steph Corbett in BBC2s The Line of Duty.

I was filming the Irish comedy Apocalypse Clown when River was only four months old, the actor says.

That was really intense because I had a two-year-old and a four-month-old. Youre kind of pulling yourself up by the bootstraps, but I was loving what I was doing and I think that gives you extra energy.

Parenting also gives extra depth to her acting, she believes: the highs and lows, and the depths of emotion, are all things that she can tap into in her acting roles.

I think it also takes the pressure off your work in some ways because if you are an ambitious actor, so much of your mental health and self-worth is wrapped up in your acting, she says.

Having kids has let me let go of the reins a little bit in a funny way, and stop putting a certain kind of pressure on myself.

After a long time of just gigging away, my career has really taken off. Everything has all kind of happened at once, so its been a very busy time, but really exciting. There are lots of things Ive been working on all coming out, so I am enjoying the fruits of my labour a little I guess.

De Bhrun is speaking over the phone from her car; its the evening, and her Irish Examiner interview means shes off the hook for the nightly round of bath and bedtimes, she jokes.

Unlike so many Irish actors for whom London becomes their base, De Bhrun has opted to stay living in Dublin, close to family supports.

Having a partner who understands the pressures of her industry in husband Sean is invaluable, she says: Its great because hes in the industry but were not in the exact same job so theres a huge understanding on both our sides about the realities of this work: we both know that holidays might sometimes have to be postponed or changed, that youre working really intensely for some periods of time and then not for others. But were not in the same job so were not comparing ourselves to each other. Its the perfect balance of understanding and healthy distance.

The couple met on a film set 12 years ago, and have been married for six years.

I was in a commercial he was directing, but he was very professional: he didnt ask me out right away, she says with a laugh. The job was finished, and then he came to see one of my one-woman shows and asked me out afterwards.

In the US, Sanctuary: A Witchs Tale, a series in which De Bhrun plays a bereaved mother leading a modern-day witch hunt, is just hitting viewers screens.

At home, sights are set on a release date for Blackshore, a hotly anticipated new detective drama that will screen this year as part of RTEs new season.

In it, De Bhrun plays driven career woman Niamh Furlong, whose onscreen husband, DI Cian Furlong, is investigating a murder in the fictional lakeside town of Blackwater.

Amy de Bhrun: "After a long time of just gigging away, my career has really taken off. Everything has all kind of happened at once, so its been a very busy time, but really exciting."

Cian Furlongs character is played by Peaky Blinders star Rory Keenan and the lead detective on the case, DI Fia Lucey, is played by Lisa Dwan: in fact, the whole cast is like a whos who of quality Irish acting.

Aidan McArdle, Jade Jordan, Andrew Bennett of An Cailin Ciuin, and Stanley Townsend all dig into the intrigue of an Irish small town brimming with secrets.

Shooting Blackshore saw De Bhrun and her co-stars decamp to the gorgeous surrounds of Killaloe, Co Clare, for a shoot that ended in summer 2023.

It was a beautiful, ragtag group of creatives coming together in Killaloe and kind of taking the place over, she says. A really top quality cast, beautiful actors, and a really fun time.

The collegiality and craic amongst the cast and crew were just one reason why Blackwater was such an enjoyable experience; another was the number of recent new parents amongst the cast, she explains.

Rory Keenan and his wife, former Bond Girl Gemma Arterton, had a six-month-old baby during the shoot and were living in a house near to the set. Lisa Dwan had welcomed her own first baby at around the time that De Brun had her son.

There was a nice support to that, De Brun says. Youre kind of lifting someone up and giving moral support when theyre telling you they didnt get much sleep the night before, that kind of thing.

There was a time when De Bhrun feared that parenthood was going to detract from her acting career, and she admitted in interviews that she had been nervous of mentioning her new-found motherhood too much, for fear of being passed over for roles or perceived as not taking her career seriously.

When I had my daughter Billie, I was reluctant to talk about my child too much when I went back to work. I felt like I dont want to not be taken seriously as an actor if people feel my attention is divided or something silly like that, she says.

Actually, as the years have rolled on and I have two kids now, its really amazing the number of other actors that do have kids, and the support network that is there.

De Bhruns blossoming career is not a case of overnight success, but, as with most actors, one of slogging away for many years, acting in self-penned one-woman shows and gradually building a profile and reputation.

Amy de Bhrun: "...thats the impression I give to people, but I dont know if I have loads of self-belief or if Im just incredibly naive..."

Born in Dublin, she enrolled in Trinity College to read English Literature after school, but barely lasted her first semester before she realised the lure of acting was too strong a pull to resist.

Luckily, I had really supportive parents, she says. So she moved to London: I went to The Bridge theatre training company and did a two-year, full-time professional diploma.

Following her graduation, De Bhrun began writing theatre roles for herself, became involved in small independent film projects, and auditioned for every part she could.

Its an experience that many aspiring actors find crushing: does it take an extraordinary level of self-belief to get through all those early rejections and preserve?

I think thats the impression I give to people, but I dont know if I have loads of self-belief or if Im just incredibly naive, she says with a chuckle.

I always just think, why not? Why not me, why not this project? The thing I do have self-belief in is that I know I will work really, really hard. I will never phone it in. And I always want to improve as an artist.

Cillian Murphys recent Golden Globe for Best Actor for his role in Oppenheimer and Barry Keoghans nomination for Saltburn in the same category, saw the international spotlight fall on Irish actors.

For De Bhrun, the news came as a further boost to the reputation of Irish film and TV.

It just shows what a wealth of talent we have over here, she says. Once were presented out there in the world, people remember that were here. It doesnt matter that were a small country, anyone I work with is always blown away by Irish crews and Irish actors.

Something like Cillians win just reminds people that were here, so it does have a knock-on effect. But there are so many Irish men winning awards that Im like, ok cool, theres space for some Irish women now too, lets get in there.

When it comes to her own future, De Bhrun feels fortunate to be in a stronger and stronger position in terms of the roles she can take, or decide not to.

I would like to stay on the trajectory that Im on, she says. Im moving into a space where I am able to say no to projects and curate my career a little more. For a long time, you would just be so happy to be working, but now Im able to follow roles that really inspire me.

Moving more international with my work would be amazing, and a few more lead roles in films would be nice as well.

Hopefully, even further down the line, Id like to be able to start producing my own films as well, and to get more of an understanding of how that whole process works. I want to basically always keep challenging myself. I dont like to rest on my laurels; I like feeling a little bit of discomfort, to have a new role, a new project. I want to do as much and learn as much and challenge myself as much as possible.

Blackshore begins on RTE One on Sunday, February 4, at 9.35pm

The Look
An Aussie mum's devastating battle with cancer has led her down an unimaginable path after an alleged "chemotherapy overdose" led to paralysis, leaving her bed-bound in "excruciating pain".

Naleeta, who has two "beautiful" boys aged 9 and 7, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in May, 2021. But during treatment, she allegedly suffered permanent damage to her spine and has since been classified as an "incomplete quadriplegic".

According to the Victorian family, rather than the chemotherapy being administered through the spinal cord as it often is, it was inserted into her head above the brain because of where her cancer was. After consulting specialists, the family believe this is what caused the spinal damage and allegedly led to Nalettas paralysis. And while her disease is gone, she's now faced with a whole new challenge.

Naletta and her family (pictured with husband Steven and their two sons) have battled through a painful ordeal. Source: Supplied

'We all thought it was the end'

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, a friend of the family Naomi revealed the "chemo just knocked her around so bad" and said its been devastating to watch her friend's heath decline dramatically.

"It was during her third round of chemotherapy she started to lose the sensation within her fingers and in her legs," the Queensland woman said. "She was unable to speak or communicate for a long time, maybe three to four months. We all thought that was the end for her."

Naletta had chemotherapy treatment administered into her head which they claim is what led to her spinal damage. Source: Supplied

Naletta's husband Steven has now been left to care for the couple's two children, Ezra and Jude, while working full-time and also caring for his wife. He told Yahoo "its been such a wild, depressing and emotional ride and continues to be".

"Whilst Naleeta has come a long way and is making small steps at a time in physical progress, which is very encouraging to see, she is still unable to use her legs," a GoFundMe page set up for the family states.

Story continues

Unlikely mum will ever walk again

Naomi said the family are yet to hear a doctor say theres a chance she could ever walk again. "They have not promised her that and I don't think they will, in all honesty, because she's been bed-bound for so long now, it's been two years".

Thankfully, the once "fun and bright" mum of two continues to "work very hard" supported by her "wonderful" and dedicated team of therapists, doctors and health professionals "as she continues to experience incredible levels of pain daily". She's currently receiving further treatment to help reduce her pain.

The Victorian family are hoping to enjoy life again. Source: Supplied.

Money raised for struggling family

The family is hoping to raise money to purchase a large enough car that can accommodate her wheelchair so she can once again "spend whatever time she can with her boys".

"Simple yet important things like grocery shopping, school drop-offs or pick-ups are some of the things she wishes she could do, but is unable to do due to her situation of being confined to a large electric wheelchair," the fundraiser says.

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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said people carrying out crimes such as arson attacks at accommodation earmarked for asylum seekers are seeking to blame others for their own problems".

He said arson attacks on buildings can carry up to 10 years in prison and it is deeply ironic that those who try to link immigration with crime are engaging in criminal activity.

Mr Varadkar has released a lengthy statement following another fire at a building which the Department had begun assessing to see if it would be suitable to shelter international protection applicants.

Mr Varadkar said the latest fire at the former St Brigid's Nursing Home in Dublin is concerning.

He said: In recent weeks there have been disturbing reports of suspected criminal damage at properties around the country.

There is never any justification for violence, arson or vandalism in our Republic. Garda investigations are underway into the incident in Crooksling.

Arson is a serious crime punishable by up to ten years in prison. It is deeply ironic that some of those who try to link migration with crime engage in serious criminal activity themselves. Mr Varadkar said the response by many communities across the country who have welcomed asylum seekers has been incredible.

He said: Weve seen homes, schools, clubs and communities open up to help those most in need.

The people carrying out crimes are a very small minority who seek to blame others for their own problems.

I believe most people empathise with those fleeing terrible circumstances and recognise the benefits that legal migration brings to Ireland."

The Taoiseach said he wants to assure people that the State has a rules-based immigration system.

He said: Applications for international protection are now being processed in record time.

All applicants are registered, fingerprinted, checked against certain databases, and the circumstances surrounding their request for protection are examined thoroughly. We aim to treat them with dignity and respect while their applications are considered, he added.

He said like much of the world and all of Europe, Ireland is dealing with a major increase in the numbers arriving here irregularly. Many if not most are fleeing conflict, grinding poverty, climate change and human rights abuses in their home countries, he said.

Mr Varadkar added: We have robust border controls, extra checks at airports and faster processing times. In a statement, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said she is appalled at the attack and has said that those responsible will be brought to justice.

A spokesperson said Ms McEntee has been assured by An Garda Siochana they will do everything possible to complete their investigations as quickly as possible.

They said: Arson is a very serious crime which carries heavy prison sentences.

Very significant criminal damage has been caused in this case and An Garda Siochana will relentlessly chase down those responsible for it in the same way as they are pursuing those involved with other recent attacks.

The Gardai, the Minister and the department would encourage anyone with any information in relation to the incident to contact An Garda Siochana, the spokesperson added.

Firefighters have been battling a blaze at vacant buildings in south Dublin since early this morning.

Seven fire engines were called to the scene at 7am of disused buildings in Brittas, near Blessington.

Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Dublin Fire Brigade said its firefighters used a turntable ladder and emergency tender to tackle the fire, as well as seven fire engines.

#Crooksling



The fire near Brittas has now been contained with six fire engines at scene



We've received great support including water tankers from @FireWicklow and assistance from @ESBNetworks



Over 40 firefighters are working at the incident pic.twitter.com/E74vnQyCY0  Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) February 4, 2024

It was recently the scene of public protests after rumours spread that a former nursing home in the Crooksling area was due to be used for accommodating asylum seekers.

The incident unfolded at 7am when emergency services were called to the scene at Crooksling off Blessington Road.

The Department of Integration said it "strongly condemns any alleged attempts to drive division and hostility towards those who come to Ireland seeking asylum."

The department is working to offer shelter to those who are fleeing war and persecution and condemns any violence or intimidation towards International Protection applicants, a spokesperson said.

All those seeking protection have a right to safety while their application is examined.

The Department also strongly condemns any alleged attempts to drive division and hostility towards those who come to Ireland seeking asylum. Acts such as these achieve nothing but endanger people's lives and homes.

The incident in south Dublin is currently under investigation by An Garda Siochana.

An assessment of the property had recently begun by the Department of Integration with the agreement of the HSE, the spokesperson said.

This process is at initial stages and the property has not yet been deemed suitable nor has been contracted by the Department.

'Someone could have been killed'

Local Sinn Fein councillor William Joseph Carey said he never received any official notice that the building was to be used for asylum seekers.

There was a rumour about it, but nothing was ever given to me officially about asylum seekers moving in, he told the Irish Examiner.

That building was a nursing home that has been out of operation for years, its been lying there for a long time.

The first I heard of it being used to house people seeking international protection was when I received an email from some residents during the week, who were calling for a public meeting.

Mr Carey said: Im really disappointed over this; I really hope it was not deliberate. Those buildings are huge and very spread out, someone could have been killed.

I dont know the circumstances, but I would condemn any action like that outright in the strongest possible terms if it was deliberate. But we have to wait and see what happened, but that is very very disappointing that a fire took place there.

Mr Carey added that there is just no need for these fires.

While we dont know what happened, this is one too many fires, and they are beginning to look organised, he said.

But just to say again, no official notice was given to me about this building being used as a home for asylum seekers.
Northern Ireland's new First Minister Michelle ONeillhas said she expects a vote on Irish unity to take place in the next decade.

During an appearance on Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips show, Ms ONeill said her election as First Minister demonstrated the "change that is happening" on the island of Ireland.

That is a good thing, it is a healthy thing, this change can benefit us all. When Mary Lou McDonald talks that it is within touching distance, I believe that we are in the decade of opportunity.

"I believe also equally that we can do two things at once; we can have powersharing, we can make it stable, we can work together every day in terms of public services while we also pursue our equally legitimate aspirations."

Asked if this meant there would be a unity referendum in the next decade, Ms O'Neill said: "Yes. I believe we are in a decade of opportunity and there are so many things that are changing.

"All the old norms, the nature of this estate, the fact that a nationalist/republican was never supposed to be First Minister. This all speaks to that change."

Furthermore, Ms ONeill said she believes there is a sense of cohesion within the new team of Stormont ministers to press the case for an improved funding model for Northern Ireland.

In an interview with the PA news agency, Ms ONeill also said there had not been a formal agreement between the Stormont parties around which ministries would be selected  but she denied her party had been surprised when the DUP unexpectedly took the education portfolio.

Ms ONeill was appointed as Northern Irelands first nationalist First Ministerwhen the Assembly returned from two years of cold storage on Saturday for a historic sitting.

Newly appointed First Minister Michelle ONeill, left, and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly (NI Assembly/PA)

The DUP, Northern Irelands largest unionist party, cleared the way for the restoration of the powersharing institutions when it agreed a deal with the Government to address its concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

The DUPs Emma Little-Pengelly is the new deputy First Minister.

While the symbolic significance of a republican First Minister has been hailed by Sinn Fein, the two top jobs in the ministerial executive wield equal power and responsibility.

Ms ONeill said there are many shared priorities between her and Ms Little-Pengelly.

She said: You heard some of that overlapping in the speeches.

Particularly around issues like childcare, that is one of the biggest issues facing families right now, affordable childcare being an option to them.

There is a big list of things to be done on all of our desks but we are ready to get down to that

I think this is something together, that this Executive wants to do.

That, alongside so many other things, we know there is a big list of things to be done on all of our desks but we are ready to get down to that, and I think that is what is most important.

I am determined to do our very best. This place has been starved of public services funding for over a decade because of the Tories in London, we can do much better than that.

Thats a fight I think we have to fight together and I think theres a combined effort across the Executive to have a proper funding model for here so we actually can do better public services and invest in the public sector workers.

Stormont ministers were allocated using the DHondt process based on party strengths. Sinn Fein asked for a short adjournment during the proceedings after the DUP selected education as its first ministry, rather than finance as had been widely expected.

Ms ONeill said: I think sometimes in previous occasions we would have agreed what everybody was going to take.

That didnt happen. It was just a bit of go and see how it runs.

Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill is now First Minister at Stormont (Liam McBurney/PA)

There was no formal agreement. It fell how it fell.

Sinn Fein appointed Conor Murphy, Caoimhe Archibald and John ODowd as its ministerial team.

Ms ONeill added: I am delighted actually that we have ended up with the department of the economy, the department of finance and the department of infrastructure.

Three crucially important departments and three very complementary departments.

We are really delighted to get stuck in, and the ministerial team that I have appointed.

A strong team, strong departments, ready to get at it, they are away to meet their department officials as we speak.

We are straight into it from Monday.

The new powersharing Executive will hold its first meeting on Monday.
A 42-year-old father of four has appeared before a special sitting of Cork District Court on Sunday charged in connection with the seizure of over 1m worth of cannabis in Co Kerry.

Peter Collins of Knocknagoshel, Co Kerry faces two charges arising from a joint operation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the Kerry Divisional Drugs Unit on February 1. '

He is charged with having the drugs for sale or supply contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Judge Marian O'Leary heard that Mr Collins was arrested in Knocknagoshel village on Thursday. He was detained and questioned at Castleisland Garda Station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.

Det Garda Ger O'Sullivan gave evidence of arrest, caution and charge.

He said that Mr Collins made no reply when the charges were formally put to him at 6pm on Saturday. Det Garda O'Sullivan said that the seizure involved cannabis with an estimated value of over 1m.

There was no objection to bail in the case. Defence solicitor, Padraig O'Connell, said that Mr Collins has agreed to surrender his passport to gardai, to sign on weekly at Tralee Garda Station and to be available for contact around the clock on his mobile phone which is to be kept charged at all times. He also has to reside at his home address.

Mr O'Connell said that his client "had been wholly co-operative with gardai in procedural terms."

Mr Collins was remanded on his own bond of 300 to appear before Tralee District Court on February 7 next. Gardai have indicated that they have as yet to receive the passport of Mr Collins. However, it is understood that the document is at his home address and will be surrendered immediately.
Next Sunday Patrick Nugent will be dead 40 years.

He was 23 when he died of internal injuries, deemed to have been brought about by violence of one sort or another. In the aftermath of his death another man was charged with manslaughter and ultimately acquitted.

An inquest ruled that he had been assaulted prior to his death. And in a highly unusual move, his local town of Sixmilebridge came together, holding a public meeting, with the express intention of seeking out justice for the deceased man and his bereaved family.

Yet there was no conclusive outcome or even an attempt to reach one. The violent death of a young man in highly controversial circumstances was simply ignored by those in power at the time. As far as the government and its agencies were concerned, due process had been followed and there was no more to be done.

Last Monday, the case featured on RTEs Crimecall. An Garda Siochana are investigating the matter again, but is there any real prospect of discovering what happened, even using modern investigative techniques? And why has it taken so long to revisit an obvious case of a blatant injustice?

Pat Nugent was a catering manager in Bunratty Castle in Co Clare. He lived at home in the nearby village of Sixmilebridge with his parents and two brothers. He was reputed to have a serious work ethic and was considered to be going places in terms of his career.

On the night of February 11, 1984 the castle hosted an event to mark the 40th wedding anniversary of a local chef, William Ryan and his wife Chrissie.

Ryan was the executive chef at Shannon airport. Around 60 guests attended the function. It ended at 3am and most of those in attendance left then or soon after. An hour later there was still about a dozen people in the castle complex, including five staff members. Also present were William and Chrissie Ryan and two other guests, Detective Garda Eugene Quinlan and Garda Jim Cummins, both accompanied by their wives.

At around 4am, some of the staff in the kitchen heard a loud noise. One of them, Declan ONeill, went out to see what had occurred. In the reception area, just inside the entrance, he found Pat Nugent on the ground, obviously distressed and seriously injured. ONeill attempted to assist him.

He later said that Pat Nugent said to him, he clocked me. ONeill related that the stricken man said this three times. ONeill looked out through the front door and he could see William and Chrissie Ryan in their car, which had obvious signs of a collision. Pretty soon, the two off-duty gardai were also assisting ONeill in attempting to aid Pat Nugent. An ambulance was called. It arrived and brought Mr Nugent to Barringtons hospital. Soon after admission, he was pronounced dead.

Later, Pats father Joe, told the current affairs programme Today Tonight about how the news was delivered to his family.

Two guards came to tell us. They said it was a heart attack. I said somebody must have hit him and they said no, there was no marks on him.

Whatever happened to Pat Nugent occurred outside in the courtyard. He was then moved to just inside the door of the premises. What is known is that there was some form of a collision between Williams Ryan car and that of Jim Cummins in the courtyard. The two men had agreed they would sort out the matter between themselves.

A court would later hear forensic evidence from an expert employed by the Department of Justice that showed a smear of paint from Ryans car on Pat Nugents jacket and paint associated with Jim Cummins car also on Nugents clothes. The forensic scientist told the court that in her opinion Pat Nugent had been crushed against a wall after Ryans car had hit Cummins car.

Crucially, she was also of the opinion that Pat Nugent was near the ground when he was struck. Nobody gave any evidence as to how he came to be lying on the ground.

There was no clear narrative available from those who were closest to the events. At 5.15am a patrol car arrived on the scene. Garda John Talty asked his two off-duty colleagues what had occurred. Later Talty would say that garda Jim Cummins said something about Pat Nugent getting a heart attack.

He also said that Det Garda Eugene Quinlan told him there wasnt a mark on the body. At one stage, Talty turned to the two men and said, Come on, lads. What the fuck happened here? Do you think were idiots.

Later there was a suggestion that Det Garda Quinlan and another guest Ger OConnor were having a fight outside and Pat Nugent went over to break it up. Both men denied that they had any row that night. William Ryan said he saw a ferocious argument between the two men.

Det Garda Quinlan quickly retained a solicitor and senior counsel Paddy McEntee, the leading criminal defence barrister in the country. He did not give a formal statement until two weeks after the night in question.

Investigations

Within days, the head of the investigation section of the Garda Technical Bureau, Detective Superintendent John Courtney had arrived in Limerick to oversee the investigation.

Courtney was regarded as a top cop but also a controversial figure, who was associated with the heavy gang, a group reputed to frequently have assaulted suspects in custody to extract confessions. Three months after the Nugent investigation Courtney would oversee the Kerry Babies case, where a whole family admitted to complicity in a murder they couldnt have committed.

Deputy garda commissioner John Paul McMahon also came to Bunratty, an indication of how seriously the force considered the case, particularly as two members were present at the incident.

A number of reconstructions of what may or could have occurred in the courtyard that night were staged. Nothing conclusive emerged from it all.

John Courtney in 1985. He was a controversial figure, associated with the heavy gang, a group reputed to frequently have assaulted suspects in custody to extract confessions. Picture: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

A month after the killing a public meeting was held in Sixmilebridge.

A packed hall was told that the community was there to support the Nugent familys efforts to find out what had happened their son and brother. We are here because we want to see the circumstances of what happened, one of the organisers addressed the meeting from a stage.

It is important that the communitys mind as well as the Nugent familys mind be put at rest in respect of all the circumstances relating to Paddys death, she said.

William Ryan was charged with manslaughter, dangerous driving, and failing to remain at the scene of an accident. In June 1985 he was found not guilty of all charges. No charges were pressed against the two gardai who had been present, or anybody else. The trial of William Ryan threw little further light on what had actually occurred.

Later that year a three-day inquest was held. The Nugent family was represented by Sean McBride, Maud Gonnes son and a founder of Amnesty International. The verdict from the jury was that the deceased man had died as result of being hit by a person or persons unknown causing him to fall, when he was then run over by William Ryans car. The eight-man jury also concluded that because of the suppression of evidence the justice minister should reopen the investigation into Pat Nugents death.

Like so many other highly controversial episodes in the 1980s  particularly in the area of criminal justice  this one simply gathered dust. There was initially huge support for the bereaved family, and much media comment and investigation. Yet nothing was done to further the matter. Over time it was forgotten by everybody except the dead mans family and close friends for whom the injustice continued to burn down through the decades.

In 2014, a raft of controversies in An Garda Siochana led to the establishment of the Independent Review Mechanism, an effective review of complaints against the gardai that had not been addressed. A total of around 320 case files were reviewed. Out of those just a handful reached what was considered a threshold for further investigation, one of which was the Nugent case.

Case reopens

In 2017, then justice minister Charlie Flanagan ordered an inquiry under Section 42 of the Garda Siochana Act. Retired district court judge Patrick Clyde was appointed to investigate the case.

William and Chrissie Ryan had both died in the interim, but Jim Cummins and Eugene Quinlan are still alive. The Irish Examiner understands that they and most of the others who were in attendance that night gave evidence to the Clyde inquiry.

Patrick Clyde completed his report and presented it to the minister  by then Helen McEntee  in 2021. Following consultation with the Attorney General a decision was taken not to publish the report. The Nugent family made representations about their right to see the report. Eventually, they were permitted to have sight of it but only if they signed a non disclosure agreement.

The minister subsequently said her decision not to publish was in order to ensure that it would not prejudice any further investigation. In 2022, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris ordered a full cold case review of the investigation. Initially, the Nugents refused to co-operate with the investigation, pointing out it was a case of gardai investigating gardai and they had no confidence in such a process.

In the end, however, they did meet with the cold case team and have been kept appraised of developments. The Irish Examiner understands the team is only now getting around to interviewing witnesses, although some who were there that night are now deceased.

The Crimecall programme last week included an interview with a detective inspector from Shannon Garda Station who is effectively running the investigation. He appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Pat Nugents surviving brothers John and Martin are continuing to hope that they can, as they see it, receive justice for their brother who died at such a young age. Their parents are now deceased, both having ended their days without ever finding out why their oldest sons life was taken so cruelly.

Patrick Nugent was 23 when he died at Bunratty Castle.

Unfortunately, it will take a huge slice of luck for anything conclusive to emerge at this stage, certainly through a criminal investigation. The two major questions around the whole incident is how did Pat Nugent end up on the ground before he was apparently struck by William Ryans car, and who moved his stricken body from the courtyard to the reception area immediately after that incident.

The cold case team began an investigation in early 2022, John Nugent told the Irish Examiner. They are carrying out this investigation as a fresh investigation, rather than carrying on from the one conducted in 1984. We have met with the investigating team on two occasions.

He says he is very hopeful that this investigation will bring about the truth of what happened on the night Pat was killed. I would urge anyone with any information, no matter how insignificant they think it is, to come forward and report it. Looking across the field at my brothers grave is something we should never have had to do. I owe it to Pat and to my late parents to find out the truth and get justice for him. Somebody knows what happened and I am appealing to them to come forward so that my brother, Patrick Nugent can finally rest in peace.

The Pat Nugent case is one of many dating from around that time that raised all sorts of questions about, in particular, how the cases which involved all sorts of individuals who were close to power were handled. The death of Father Niall Molloy in 1985 was in a similar vein. He died in controversial circumstances that were never fully explained and the manner in which the case was handled  right up to judicial decisions in a subsequent criminal trial  was never properly explored.

The Kerry Babies case in the spring of 1984 was another in which a garda investigation was highly controversial and led to a public tribunal of inquiry. In recent years that inquiry has been officially discredited for the conclusions it reached in respect of the evidence heard. In todays Ireland such outcomes would, it might well be posited, be simply unsustainable, but different mores applied back then in what was a very different country.

For those who suffered injustices  such as the Nugent family  there have been efforts to retrospectively apply the standards of today to events that happened 40 years ago. The efforts are commendable but the passage of time has made the task of finding out what happened very difficult indeed.
As she stepped out of the car onto the streets of Nigeria in her floral summer dress, Oona Agbi-Colin couldnt believe her eyes when she saw all the people who gathered to greet her.

Her delighted relatives had lined up on the roadside to hug and cheer her on as she set foot in the small town of Afikpo where her Nigerian father had grown up.

Dressed in their traditional Igbo tribe colours, they danced all around her to welcome her home.

The joyful and public celebration of Oonas heritage was something she never expected.

For most of her adult life, she knew nothing about her father. There are no official figures for the number of mixed-race children born in Irish-religious run institutions to unmarried mothers.

But Oona was possibly one of hundreds born when these institutions were running, and none of her African family knew about her. A Commission of Inquiry into mother and baby home homes which was completed in 2021 detailed how there were 275 mixed race children in Bessborough in Cork and St Patricks home in Dublin  out of the 18 institutions reviewed.

Five years ago, with the help of the Association of Mixed-Race Irish (AMRI) and a DNA test, Oona finally traced her fathers family, only to learn however, that sadly, he had passed away.

However, when his family in Nigeria were told of her existence, they wanted to pay tribute to her for the 55 years they missed out on, by hosting a ceremony in her honour.

On April 18, 2023, the mother of one who grew up in East Cork flew by herself to Enugu in Ebonyi State.

Though nervous, she was determined to meet the relatives of the man who had given her such a distinctive part of her identity, notably her tight curls and brown skin.

We couldnt seem to match up my husbands holidays with my cousins holidays said Oona. And then she was leaving to visit her daughter for six months and I feared another year would slip by, so I made the decision to go on my own. I couldnt wait anymore.

As she arrived at the home of her ancestors, dozens of her family flocked around her. They sang and danced, as they took her by the hand into their home.

It is a scene that will forever be etched in Oonas memory she says.

It was magical, I cant fully describe it, it was all I ever wanted, just to know where Im from, she said.

Some cried when another cousin explained to them all who I was, he said She has come all the way here to find her roots.

They gave me a name Amarachi which means, by the Grace of God. For my family, it was by the Grace of God that we had found each other.

Oona at 9-months-old, at home in East Cork.

Oonas home coming in Nigeria marked the end of her 30-year journey to trace her biological family.

Placed with her adoptive family in Cork as a baby, the older she got, the more she questioned her heritage.

I wanted for nothing with my adoptive family she said. I had four brothers and my mother and father; I was the baby. But I was also a curiosity for people in town, there were no other black people there, so they were fascinated by the little black girl.

My hair was so curly, nobody knew how to handle it. I went to school, I was educated, but I wanted to know where my colour came from, and nobody could answer that, thats a very difficult thing to take as a child.

To date, a small number of mixed-race Irish African survivors of the mother and baby homes have come forward to tell their stories.

Many were born to single mothers after their fathers came from the African Continent to study in medicine, law, government administration, and other subjects.

At the time, African countries who became independent in the 1960s were seeking skills to run their newly independent countries.

This initiative was supported by the Irish government which provided funding to foreign students.

Such students attended a number of colleges including the Royal College of Surgeons, Trinity College, and University College Dublin (UCD).

By 1962, at least 1,100 students in Ireland were from Africa, from countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, and some of them fathered children here with Irish women.

Most of these children were born to single women in mother and baby homes.

The legal status of illegitimacy survived until 1987. It was thus shameful to be a single mother during this time, but a mixed-race baby came with an even bigger stigma.

Even when adopted, the law favoured the privacy of the mother, and adopted children were not legally entitled to their birth records.

If no father was referenced on the birth certificate, it made tracing him all the more challenging, particularly if he was from Africa and returned there after his studies.

UN Human Rights experts have criticised the Irish government for allowing systemic racism to happen to mixed-race people who were in State institutions between the 1940s and 1990s.

Some of us were not even placed for adoption, we were deemed unworthy said Oona, And that was because of our skin colour.

Oona Agbi-Colin was born in 1968 in St Patricks Mother and Baby home on the Navan Road in north Dublin.

She spent three months in the home before being placed with a family from Cork.

It took three years for the adoption to become official, said Oona. My adoptive mother is still alive, but my father passed away four years ago.

They loved me, but they had no guidance about adoption, especially transracial adoption, it wasnt done in those days. There was no understanding of attachment, bond and loss for anyone who was adopting. There was no focus on the child.

In those days, you went into a room and chose a child you wished to adopt, that doesnt happen now, but thats the way it was, unfortunately.

I was treated the same as my brothers, but back then, there was no discussion about adoption, we didnt talk about it, they just saw me as one of them.

But my African roots got lost in that, and I kept it all to myself. I didnt want to speak up about it. I didnt know how without sounding ungrateful.

Oona attended the local Presentation school and later the Loretto Convent secondary school.

She doesnt remember seeing any black people in her white community growing up  only the missionaries who visited the school  and she found it overwhelming at times because she didnt like attracting attention.

Everyone knew my name, and who I was she said. It was obvious I was adopted. People would say things like, do you like living here?.

You walked into a room and people would stare or nudge like I couldnt see.

There was racism, mostly by boys but some adults too, of course I didnt know it was that at the time. I didnt have the vocabulary. I was called names like brillo pad, because of my hair, I was told how lucky I was not to have to wash as often because of my colour too.

There was no integration. There were no Afro hairdressers either. And there still isnt a lot of choice today in 2024.

Identity was not talked about, and I had no role models.

Oonas mother never got the chance to tell her she was adopted, instead, she remembers playing outside her home as a child when one of her friends broke the news.

I was very young and wasnt aware then of my difference. I ran into the house and asked my mother, who was shocked, but said, yes youre adopted.

I remember the news being on in the background showing a war-torn African country and that was all the images that ever came out of Africa and an African man was talking and I thought that could be my father. Thats when I started to really think about it all.

Oona travelled to Nigeria last year to meet her relatives, where they celebrated her arrival in traditional fashion.

As Oona grew into her teens, she felt socially isolated, had no boyfriends, and was never asked out by anyone.

Teenage years are hard anyway, but I was a bit of a rebel she said. I was good at maths, but I never did what I was told in school. I wanted to be a fashion designer and my mother signed me up to do a foundation course at the Grafton Academy in Dublin.

I was very excited, but dad didnt want me to go, he was nervous about me moving to Dublin. They were very protective.

I was around 16 when I made up my mind to leave, I worked at the House of Donegal in Cork City, so I saved up and moved to London.

I came back for a short time, but I went back to the UK again and stayed. The first thing I did when I got there was straighten my hair.

I stayed among the black community and there was no racism. I was accepted and I fitted right in.

When I visited my friends in the Irish communities in London, I did experience racism.

People would ask where are you from? and Id say Im from Cork, they would look at you strangely.

While living in the UK, Oona began to trace her family by writing to St Louises adoption society in Dublin.

She was contacted by a social worker who met with her in London and took a train ride to meet up with her biological mother who was also in the UK at that time.

She had another child after me. I was angry with her at the beginning, upset for leaving me in a home, but it wasnt until I saw the film Philomena that I understood more about her story and what went on back then.

Shed been telling me, but I didnt believe her. I had no idea. It was a difficult period for us.

For five years Oona enjoyed living in London where she met her husband Christophe and later moved to the French Caribbean.

During that time, the couple returned to Cork to marry among family and friends.

My son Benjamin was born there 26 years ago, but I wanted him to be educated and brought up in a safe environment in Ireland, said Oona.

We came back and settled in 2002 and he is part of the reason I went looking for my African roots.

He was very open to my search because he knows Ireland wasnt as diverse as it is now.

A breakthrough in her search for her father happened when Oona saw an interview on RTEs the Late Late Show with Rosemary Adaser, co-founder of the Association of Mixed-Race Irish (AMRI).

Ms Adaser was also born in a mother-and-baby home and had traced her roots.

I couldnt believe there were others out there like me said Oona. I got in touch with Rosemary, and it went from there. I met with a lot of support people along the way, including Conrad Byran who is also mixed race and had traced his family, and he helped with the search.

My biological mother told me my father was Biafran and had been studying in the Royal College of Surgeons.

All my life it was my colour, my difference, that made me want to find him.

Oona contacted the Royal College of Surgeons and discovered that there was only one Biafran man there that fitted the profile.

Earlier this month, Oona detailed her search when she spoke in public for the first time at an event in the Epic Museum in Dublin called The Search for African Identities organised by her friend and advocate for survivors, Conrad Bryan.

Oona with her cousin Ada and her cousins daughter Nkechi when they met in Nigeria last year.

The panel involved mixed race survivors of some of the institutions and examined the journey they undertook to find their biological fathers.

I got a tremendous amount of help along the way, most of it was done online during covid, Oona said.

Through her research she discovered her father was one of the few who returned home during the Biafran war. He set up a clinic there and settled with his family.

However, he was killed in a car crash when he was 55.

Tragically, he never met Oona, who does not believe he knew about her.

I traced my fathers other children, and I talked to them, and they said knowing their father, he wouldnt have left me in the home if hed known, his Nigerian family said that too.

I had a positive meeting with a niece in Dublin a while back, but I havent met up with my siblings as yet.

I kept tracing my fathers family though and I found them online.

One relative in London agreed to do a DNA test which resulted in a match of first cousins.

As soon as the pandemic ended, Oona booked her flight, arriving in Nigeria last year to meet her family for the very first time.

Im so happy that I did it she said. It filled in so many gaps and contact is very much ongoing.

I have seen photos of my father and there is definitely a resemblance. He seems to have been a nice man, but I now have that connection and that means everything to me. I got so much peace by going.

Unless you experience adoption, its very hard for others to comprehend the need to find your biological family, its not about trying to upset anyone, its just about wanting to know who you are and where you come from.

In the words of Marcus Garvey, A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.
The theme of this years World Cancer Day  Close the Care Gap  couldnt be more appropriate. Nothing is as important as care when it comes to cancer and, sadly, the gap couldnt be any wider.

Global cases of cancer are predicted to rise by more than 75% by 2050, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Ireland has the third-highest rate in the world, with around 42,000 people diagnosed each year.

And while, in recent years, massive inroads have been made in treating the disease, leading to more successful treatments and outcomes, the struggling health system means Irish hospitals are failing to maintain the standards of care that cancer patients  all patients  deserve.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer just over 13 years ago. The health system wasnt perfect, but it was a damn sight better than where we are today, with elderly patients languishing on trolleys; operations, tests, and scans being delayed or cancelled; and waiting lists continuing to spiral out of control.

Back in 2011, I was examined at Cork University Hospitals dedicated cancer unit within 10 days of a GP referral, received confirmation of diagnosis a week later, and started treatment almost immediately.

The cancer journey was difficult and debilitating, but the timely care received along the way couldnt be faulted.

Chemotherapy, surgeries, radiation, medications, follow-ups  it all happened like clockwork. And that made a difficult journey a little easier.

Karen Murray.

A few of the cancer nurses gave me their mobile numbers in case of any out-of-hours queries. It was my first rodeo and there were lots of questions. Staff were busy, but found time.

Write everything down, one nurse advised. That way, you can keep track of the questions you have when you see the consultant. My surgeon and one of the nurses shared the first name  Norma  and we joked that I could find both their names together in my phone contacts.

The journey wasnt pleasant, by any stretch, but the standard of care made it all more bearable.

Having never endured any illness other than a common cold in 40 years, it was comforting to know  and to feel  I was being cared for.

Everyone told me how brave I was and the consultant remarked that I was the most pragmatic patient she had ever come across.

But its not about bravery or pragmatism, its about care. I survived cancer because of the care I received from an excellent group of health professionals led by the clinical director of cancer services at CUH, Professor Seamus OReilly.

Without that, I wouldnt be here.

Professor Seamus O'Reilly. Picture: Larry Cummins

Speaking ahead of World Cancer Day, that same oncologist is now saying a national taskforce is urgently needed as cancer patients suffer knock-on effects from overcrowding and outdated infrastructure.

Decades on from then-Taoiseach Jack Lynch laying the foundation stone for CUH in 1973, the situation is dire. The hospital is listed by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation as one of the three most overcrowded in the country. Volumes of patients have spiralled, but capacity has not.

And cancer patients, who are particularly vulnerable to covid-19, flu, and RSV, are bearing the brunt.

Prof OReilly said the infrastructure gap is the single biggest issue for patients in this country.

Speaking of shared wards for seriously ill people, he said: Six people, mixed gender, one toilet  if it was a hostel you wouldnt book in. He talks about dignity, that while its vital to have 21st-century buildings to tackle cancer, we also need 21st-century dignity standards.

Its difficult to have dignity when you have to wear a hospital gown, have lost your hair, and are about to have a cancerous part of your body taken away.

Care is not just about having the best surgeon, its bigger than that. Its about having privacy, space, and dignity in your surroundings as you prepare for a lifechanging operation and then time to heal afterwards.

Its recognising that vulnerable patients need that extra bit of care and dignity, and that the infrastructure needs to be there to facilitate that. Every day I wake up and count my lucky stars that I am healthy.
Israels military has issued its most detailed warning yet to Hezbollah in neighbouring Lebanon that it would be ready to attack immediately if provoked.

The comments came as the military recounted its actions along the northern border during four months of war in Gaza and made a rare acknowledgement of dozens of air strikes inside Syria against the militant group.

We do not choose war as our first priority, but we are certainly prepared, military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said, adding: We will continue to act wherever Hezbollah is present, we will continue to act wherever it is required in the Middle East. What is true for Lebanon is true for Syria, and is true for other more distant places.

The comments followed the defence ministers warning that a ceasefire in Gaza against the militant group Hamas would not mean Israel would not attack Hezbollah as needed.

Israeli soldiers drive in armoured vehicles in southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip during ongoing ground operations (Tsafrir Abayov/AP)

Efforts to close wide gaps between Israel and Hamas in pursuit of a ceasefire continued in the region where concerns about a wider war with Iran-allied groups remain.

A top Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, said they were studying the proposal put forward by the US, Egypt, Qatar and Israel but insist on Israel accepting conditions including a permanent ceasefire.

The war in Hamas-run Gaza has levelled vast swathes of the tiny besieged enclave, displaced 85% of its population and pushed a quarter of residents to starvation.

The Health Ministry in Gaza said on Saturday that 107 people were killed over the past 24 hours, bringing the wartime total to 27,238.

More than 66,000 people have been wounded.

In Gazas southernmost town of Rafah, at least 17 people including women and children were killed in two separate air strikes overnight, according to the registration office at Abu Yousef al-Najjar hospital where the bodies were taken.

The first strike hit a residential building east of Rafah, killing at least 13 people from a single family.

Four women and three children were among the dead, hospital officials said.

Palestinians line up for free food distribution during the ongoing Israeli air and ground offensive in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip (Hatem Ali/AP)

Two children are still under the rubble, and we dont, still we dont know anything about them, relative Ahmad Hijazi said.

The second strike hit a house in Rafahs Jeneina area, killing at least two men and two women.

More than half of Gazas population of 2.3 million has taken refuge in Rafah and surrounding areas.

Israels defence minister warned earlier in the week that Israel might expand combat to Rafah after focusing on Khan Younis, southern Gazas largest city.

While the statement alarmed aid officials and international diplomats, Israel would risk significantly disrupting relationships with the United States and neighbouring Egypt if it sends troops into Rafah, a key entry point for aid.

In Khan Younis, where Israels military said operations would continue for several days, the Palestinian Red Crescent said at least 11 people were injured when Israels military fired smoke bombs at displaced people sheltering at its headquarters.

It followed a siege that Israels military has laid on the Red Crescents facilities for 12 days, the group said, adding that it had documented the killing of 43 people, including three staff members, inside the buildings by Israeli fire during that time.

Israels military did not address the charitys allegations of firing on the buildings, the killings or the blocking of access, and asserted that the al Amal Hospital facilities had adequate fuel and electricity.

Activists protest in Tel Aviv, Israel, against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for new elections (Maya Alleruzzo/AP)

Israel says it is determined to crush Hamas and prevent it from returning to power in Gaza, an enclave it has ruled since 2007, in response to its October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war.

Hamas still holds dozens of the roughly 250 hostages taken in the attack, after more than 100 were released during a one-week truce in November.

Those releases were in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

Thousands of people gathered again in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening for anti-government protests to express growing frustration at how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his administration have handled the war.

If we need to stop the war now and call for a ceasefire in order to bring those people back home to their families, and start to rebuild them and take care of them, thats the most important thing for us to do, said one protester, Karen Levy.

In a sign of Hamass resilience despite Israels deadly air and ground campaign in the past four months, four residents and a senior official in the militant group said it has begun to resurface in areas where Israel withdrew the bulk of its forces a month ago, deploying police officers and making salary payments to some of its civil servants in Gaza City.

Four Gaza City residents told The Associated Press (AP) that in recent days, police officers deployed near police headquarters and other government offices, including near Shifa Hospital, the territorys largest.

The residents said they saw subsequent Israeli air strikes near the makeshift offices.

Smoke rises behind rubble from buildings destroyed in the Israeli armys ground operation in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, adjacent to the Gaza border fence (Tsafrir Abayov/AP)

The return of police marks an attempt to reinstate order in the devastated city, a Hamas official told AP.

The official said the groups leaders had given directions to re-establish order in parts of the north where Israeli forces had withdrawn, including by helping prevent the looting of shops and houses abandoned by residents who heeded Israeli evacuation orders and headed to southern Gaza.

Since seizing control of Gaza nearly 17 years ago, Hamas has operated a government bureaucracy with tens of thousands of civil servants, including teachers and police who operate separately from the groups secretive military wing.

Israeli military leaders had said they had broken up the command structure of Hamas battalions in the north, but that individual fighters were continuing to carry out guerrilla-style attacks.

Israel claims to have killed more than 9,000 Hamas fighters.
The United States and Britain have struck 36 Houthi targets in Yemen in a fresh wave of assaults meant to disable further Iran-backed groups that have relentlessly attacked American and international interests in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, US officials said.

The latest strikes against the Houthis were launched by warships and fighter jets.

The strikes follow an air assault in Iraq and Syria on Friday that targeted other Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for the drone strike that killed three US troops in Jordan last weekend.

The Houthi targets were in 13 different locations and were struck by US F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D Eisenhower aircraft carrier and by the USS Gravely and the USS Carney Navy destroyers firing Tomahawk missiles from the Red Sea, the US officials told The Associated Press (AP).

We will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the worlds most critical waterways

The US warned that its response after the soldiers deaths at the Tower 22 base in Jordan last Sunday would not be limited to one night, one target or one group.

But the Houthis have been conducting almost daily missile or drone attacks against commercial and military ships transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and they have made clear that they have no intention of scaling back their campaign.

It was not immediately clear whether the allied assaults would deter them.

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the military action, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand, sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels.

He added: We will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the worlds most critical waterways.

The US Defence Department said the strikes targeted sites associated with the Houthis deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defence systems and radars.

Saturdays strikes marked the third time the US and Britain had conducted a large joint operation to strike Houthi weapon launchers, radar sites and drones.

The strikes in Yemen are meant to underscore the broader message to Iran that Washington holds Tehran responsible for arming, funding and training the array of militias behind attacks across the Middle East against US and international interests over the past several months, including in Iraq and Syria by the rebels in Yemen.

Video shared online by people in Sanaa, Yemens capital, included the sound of explosions and at least one blast was seen lighting up the night sky.

Residents described the blasts as happening around buildings associated with the Yemeni presidential compound.

The Houthi-controlled state-run news agency, SABA, reported strikes in al-Bayda, Dhamar, Hajjah, Hodeida, Taiz and Sanaa provinces.

On Friday the US destroyer Laboon and F/A-18s from the Eisenhower shot down seven drones fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Red Sea, the destroyer Carney shot down a drone fired in the Gulf of Aden and US forces took out four more drones that were prepared to launch.

Hours before the latest joint operation, the US took another self-defence strike on a site in Yemen, destroying six anti-ship cruise missiles, as it has repeatedly when it has detected a missile or drone ready to launch.

The Houthis attacks have led shipping companies to reroute their vessels from the Red Sea, sending them around Africa through the Cape of Good Hope  a much longer, costlier and less efficient passage.

The threats have also led the US and its allies to set up a joint mission where warships from participating nations provide a protective umbrella of air defence for ships as they travel the critical waterway that runs from the Suez Canal down to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

We do not wish to escalate or widen regional tensions

During normal operations about 400 commercial vessels transit the southern Red Sea at any given time.

The US has blamed the Jordan attack on the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iranian-backed militias.

Iran has tried to distance itself from the drone strike, saying the militias act independently of its direction.

Hussein al-Mosawi, spokesperson for Harakat al-Nujaba, one of the main Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, condemned the earlier US strike in Iraq and said Washington must understand that every action elicits a reaction.

But in the AP interview in Baghdad, he also struck a more conciliatory tone.

We do not wish to escalate or widen regional tensions, he said.

Al-Mosawi said the targeted sites in Iraq were mainly devoid of fighters and military personnel at the time of the attack.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that 23 people, all rank-and-file fighters, were killed.

Iraqi government spokesperson Bassim al-Awadi said in a statement 16 people, including civilians, were killed and there was significant damage to homes and private properties.

The US said it had informed Iraq about the operation before it started.

A US official said an initial battle damage assessment showed the US had struck each of its planned targets in addition to a few dynamic targets that popped up as the mission unfolded, including a surface-to-air missile site and drone launch sites.

The official did not have a casualty assessment.

The Iraqi government has been in a delicate position since a group of Iranian-backed Iraqi militias calling itself Islamic Resistance in Iraq began launching attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria on October 18.

The group described the strikes as retaliation for Washingtons support for Israel in the war in Gaza.

Behind the scenes, Iraqi officials have attempted to rein in the militias, while also condemning US retaliatory strikes as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and calling for an exit of the 2,500 US troops who are in the country as part of an international coalition to fight the so-called Islamic State.

Last month, Iraqi and US military officials launched formal talks to wind down the coalitions presence, a process that is likely to take years.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was the guest of honour at Sri Lankas 76th independence day celebrations on Sunday, as the island nation struggles to emerge from its worst economic crisis.

Mr Srettha joined Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe at a low-key ceremony near the countrys main seaside esplanade that included a military parade and parachute jumps.

The holiday commemorates Sri Lankas independence from British rule in 1948.

Sri Lanka declared bankruptcy in April 2022 with more than 65 billion in debt, more than half of it to foreign creditors.

The economic upheaval led to a political crisis that forced then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign in 2022. The parliament then elected Mr Wickremesinghe as president.

Mr Srettha arrived in Sri Lanka on Saturday and the two countries signed a free trade agreement aiming to boost trade and investment.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, centre, with Sri Lankan counterpart Dinesh Gunawaradane, left, and the First Lady of Sri Lanka Maithree Wickremesinghe during independence day commemorations (Eranga Jayawardena/AP)

Mr Wickremesinghe said on Saturday that Sri Lanka has made significant progress in economic stabilisation and sought the help of Thailand in efforts to transform the battered economy and regain international confidence.

Sri Lanka suspended repayment of its debt in 2022 as it ran short of foreign currency needed to pay for imports of fuel and other essentials. Shortages led to street protests that changed the countrys leadership.

The International Monetary Fund approved a four-year bailout programme last March.

The economic situation has improved under Mr Wickremesinghe, and severe shortages of food, fuel and medicine have largely abated.

But public dissatisfaction has grown over the governments effort to increase revenue by raising electricity bills and imposing heavy new income taxes on professionals and businesses, as part of the efforts to meet the IMF conditions.

Sri Lanka is hoping to restructure 13.5 billion of its outstanding debt and has already reached agreements with some of its external creditors.
Iran has issued a warning to the US over potentially targeting two cargo ships in the Middle East long suspected of serving as forwarding operating bases for Iranian commandos, just after America and Britain launched a massive air strike campaign against Yemens Houthi rebels.

The statement from Iran on the Behshad and Saviz ships appeared to signal Tehrans growing unease over the US strikes in recent days in Iraq, Syria and Yemen targeting militias backed by the Islamic Republic.

Those attacks, themselves a retaliatory campaign for the killing of three US soldiers and wounding of dozens of others in Jordan, all stem back to Israels war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has escalated tensions across the wider Middle East and raised fears about a regional conflict breaking out.

The Yemen strikes overnight into Sunday struck across six provinces of Yemen held by the Houthi rebels, including in the capital Sanaa.

An RAF Typhoon FGR4 aircraft prepares to take-off to conduct further strikes against Houthi targets (Cpl Samantha Drummee/MoD/Crown copyright/PA)

The Houthis gave no assessment of the damage but the US described hitting underground missile arsenals, launch sites and helicopters used by the rebels.

Houthi military spokesman Brig Gen Yahya Saree said: These attacks will not discourage Yemeni forces and the nation from maintaining their support for Palestinians in the face of the Zionist occupation and crimes.

The aggressors air strikes will not go unanswered.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin warned the Houthis after the strikes that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels.

That message was echoed by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who said: The Houthi attacks must stop.

US President Joe Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said: We are prepared to deal with anything that any group or any country tries to come at us with and the president has been clear that we will continue to respond to threats that American forces face as we go forward.

The Behshad and Saviz are registered as commercial cargo ships with a Tehran-based company the US Treasury has sanctioned as a front for the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines.

The Saviz, then later the Behshad, have loitered for years in the Red Sea off Yemen, suspected of serving as spy positions for Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

In 2017, Saudi Arabia described the Saviz as a maritime base and weapons transhipment point for the Guard, staffed by men in military fatigues. Footage aired by Saudi-owned television channels showed the vessel armed with what appeared to be a covered machine gun bolted to the ships deck.

In the video statement on Sunday by the Irans regular army, a narrator for the first time described the vessels as floating armories.

The narrator described the Behshad as aiding an Iranian mission to counteract piracy in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. However, Iran is not publicly known to have taken part in any of the recent campaigns against rising Somali piracy in the region off the back of the Houthi attacks.

Just before the new campaign of US air strikes began, the Behshad travelled south into the Gulf of Aden. It is now docked in Djibouti in East Africa, just off the coast from a Chinese military base in the country.

The statement ends with a warning overlaid with a montage of footage of US warships and an American flag.

Those engaging in terrorist activities against Behshad or similar vessels jeopardise international maritime routes, security and assume global responsibility for potential future international risks, the video said.

The US Navys Middle East-based 5th Fleet did not immediately respond to a request for comment over the threat.

The Saviz, which is now in the Indian Ocean near where the US alleges Iranian drone attacks have recently targeted shipping, has come under attack before. In 2021, a likely limpet mine explosion blew a hole through the hull of the Saviz, forcing Iran to bring the ship home.

That attack, suspected to have been carried out by Israel, is part of a wider shadow war between Tehran and Israel after the collapse of the Iran nuclear deal.
The "distressing" rate at which artificial intelligence has advanced in recent months has prompted fears we'll "soon lose control" over the technology, with many already believing that we already have, particularly when it comes to the use of "photo-realistic" imagery.

While calls mount for legislative changes to combat deep fakes, given its skyrocketing popularity online, especially in pornography and on OnlyFans  as demonstrated in the last week through the Taylor Swift drama on X, which even the White House branded "alarming"  so far few regulations have been implemented in Australia. Though, the Albanese government is now said to be looking into first steps.

This week, the Nine Network even blamed automated AI for an embarrassing Photoshop blunder in which a Victorian MP's breasts and torso were doctored, which was widely criticised and made international headlines.

'Limitless AI' putting 'anyone at risk'

Experts say AI's use is essentially "limitless", and pretty much "anyone" is at risk of becoming a victim of AI porn, whether they have a significant online presence or not. However the more you share of yourself in the digital world, the more content there is to work with.

Gold Coast based adult content creator Bonnie Blue said the rise of AI could be 'disastrous'. Source: Supplied

Those who share quite a lot of themselves online are workers in the adult film industry. Calling for more safeguards when it comes to the use of deep fakes in porn, sex workers and OnlyFans models say that while each content creator produces a "unique experience" for their subscribers, there could come a time where the technology is even able to mimic that. Though most believe "we're not quite there yet".

Aussie sex workers speak about 'concerning' trend

Yahoo News Australia spoke to a range of Australian OnlyFans models to gauge their opinion on the matter, with all agreeing the use of deep-fake pornography is "concerning" and "distressing", though not everyone thought the technology would affect their business models.

Story continues

Annie Knight, one of Australia's most-profitable porn actresses, who, after just two years on OnlyFans generates almost $200,000 per month from her $14.99 subscription fee  excluding additional income from bonus content  said it frightened her to learn "just how advanced" AI is.

"It did shock me," Knight told Yahoo of the Taylor Swift saga. "I guess I didn't really realise how advanced AI had become  and it is really awful. She didn't consent to it, and while yes, it's fake, it's still putting her face and her brand on something that she doesn't agree with. It's like harassment."

Of the deep-fake trend more generally, Knight said she does hold concerns over its rise, given "it would be very easy for someone to create fake pornographic images of me". But, she said, her subscribers come to her platform for an exclusive, personal experience.

OnlyFans creator Annie Knight is one of Australia's most successful internet models. Photo: Instagram.com/anniekknight

"Most of my subscribers  and I think a lot of OnlyFans girls will say this  they're there for your personality as well," Knight explained. "You might be able to watch that and imagine that that's me and that's real, because it looks so realistic, but you won't have the opportunity to chat to me and really connect with me, which I think is a huge aspect of OnlyFans."

'Governments won't prioritise porn industry', adult entertainer says

Fellow model Bonnie Blue likened deep-fakes to content leaks and said AI has advanced so rapidly, "no one really knows how to prevent it and govern it".

"If governments were going to prioritise the effect of deep fakes and AI, I dont think they would look to the porn industry first," she told Yahoo. "I guess porn will change as technology advances and this is just one step towards that. Its not very nice for people to have their faces stolen without their consent and placed into porn, but its not much different to when my content gets leaked online.

"I decided to put myself in the position of shooting porn and therefore I feel I have to take these things as part of life. But I do agree, celebrities and the general public that do fall victim to deep fakes  it must be very distressing and it is wrong for this to be happening."

Blue hypothesised that AI could even "be good for my business model but equally disastrous".

"I think with AI in general, no one really knows if it will be a good thing for any industry, but it is inevitable that it will have a huge effect," she said, while calling for "more legislation to protect people from what is technically fraud and impersonation".

"My brand is making relatable and realistic porn and AI will not be able to replace that aspect of it," she said.

Rebecca and Nathan are "high school sweethearts" who travel the world, earning 500k a year doing OnlyFans videos. Source: Supplied

OnlyFans couple Rebecca McLeod and Nathan Soligoa echoed much of Knight and Blue's sentiment, and repeated calls for regulation and "tools to make images and videos more authentic" through the use of watermarks, "which would help websites identify if its a fake.

"As well as implementing stronger laws and punishments to distributors," they said.

"[While] we dont know anyone affected [locally], we would say our main worry would be the loss of customers and income for all creators, due to fans not knowing whether content is still authentic."

Expert warns it 'may be too late' to control AI

As governments all around the globe ponder over how best to regulate AI, Swinburne University Immersive Media Lecturer James Berrett said "while it may be too late to control it", there might be ways to better manage the way its used.

"Within the space of 12 to 18 months, AI image generation tools [have advanced to the point that they] can now produce photo realistic results that are becoming very difficult to spot as being fake," he told Yahoo.

"They are readily accessible and easy to use. The potential of AI technology is enormous and how it will ultimately impact society is unknown, which makes it both exciting and concerning.

Berrett hopes "there is a quick solution to identifying" fakes that are then "immediately taken down or labelled as misleading".

"Fortunately, we are starting to see this happen on some platforms but there is still a long way to go," he said. "AI is on a rapid trajectory which makes it difficult to keep up. The best thing we can do is to be more critical online and to always check to see if it is from a trusted source."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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People in El Salvador are voting in presidential and legislative elections that are largely about the trade-off between security and democracy.

With soaring approval ratings and virtually no competition, Nayib Bukele  the self-described worlds coolest dictator  is almost certainly heading for a second term as president.

El Salvadors constitution prohibits re-election, but Mr Bukele is standing regardless and about eight out of 10 voters support him, according to a January poll from the University of Central America.

That is despite Mr Bukele taking steps throughout his first term that lawyers and critics say chip away at the countrys system of checks and balances.

Jose Dionisio Serrano, 60, was proud to be the first person in the queue to vote at 6am on Sunday outside a school in the formerly gang-controlled neighbourhood of Zacamil in Mejicanos, just north of San Salvador. The football teacher said he planned to vote for Mr Bukele and his party New Ideas.

Nayib Bukele campaigned from his sofa, shunning any public appearances (Moises Castillo/AP)

We need to keep changing, transforming, Mr Serrano said. Honestly, we have lived through very hard periods in my life. As a citizen I have lived through periods of war, and this situation we had with the gangs. Now we have a big opportunity for our country. I want the generations that are coming up to live in a better world.

He has lived in Mejicanos most of his life, but had to flee for several years after gang members shot him and threatened his life. Asked about concerns that Mr Bukele is seeking re-election despite a constitutional ban, he brushed it aside, saying: What the people want is something else.

Moises Zaldivar, preparing to vote in his first election, said he also supports Mr Bukeles New Ideas party.

This is a change Ive never seen, he said. Im only 19 years old and this is the first time Ive seen such a radical change in the country. So I want to support this great project the party and the president have.

El Salvadors traditional parties from the left and right that created the vacuum that Mr Bukele first filled in 2019 remain a shambles.

Police stand guard outside a polling station as electoral workers deliver ballot papers in the capital San Salvador (Moises Castillo/AP)

Alternating in power for some three decades, the conservative Nationalist Republican Alliance and leftist Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front were thoroughly discredited by their own corruption and inefficacy. Their presidential candidates this year are polling in the low single digits.

Joao Picardo, a researcher at Francisco Gavidia University, said Salvadorans have connected more with the figure of the president.

He added: Theres a disconnect between the people and the political parties as a political structure.

Mr Bukele, 42, has gained fame for his brutal crackdown on gangs, in which more than 1% of the countrys population has been arrested.

While his administration is accused of committing widespread human rights abuses, violence has also plummeted, in a country known just a few years ago as one of the most dangerous in the world.

Because of that, voters like 55-year-old businesswoman Marleny Mena are willing to overlook concerns that Mr Bukele has taken undemocratic steps to concentrate power.

Protesters demand the release of their jailed relatives in Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador  where a crackdown on gangs has seen more than 1% of the countrys population arrested (Moises Castillo/AP)

Formerly a street vendor in San Salvadors once gang-controlled downtown, Ms Mena said she used to be scared to walk around the city, fearful she could accidentally cross from one gangs territory to another, with potentially serious consequences. Since Mr Bukele began his crackdown, that fear has dissipated.

He just needs a little bit more time, the time he needs to keep improving the country, Ms Mena said.

That position was echoed by Jose Salvador Torres, who was waiting to vote outside a school in Santa Tecla, a commuter city south-west of the capital.

I have come to vote for my (president), to not go back to the past with the gangs, he said.

In the lead-up to Sundays vote, Mr Bukele made no public campaign appearances. Instead, the populist plastered social media and television screens across the country with a simple message recorded from his sofa: If he and his New Ideas party does not win the election, the war with the gangs would be put at risk.

The opposition will be able to achieve its true and only plan, to free the gang members and use them to return to power, he said.
A dramatic light phenomenon has baffled Aussies who joked it looked like a crease in the space/time continuum or a glitch in the matrix.

The unusual light formation taken from a mans backyard in NSWs Northern Tablelands, was posted on the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) Radar Fan Club page and attracted hundreds of comments from sky watchers.

Just took this photo from my backyard in Tenterfield, NSW. Hoping someone can shed some light on what it is?, the man wrote.

A NSW man's photo of an unusual light phenomena he photographed in Tenterfield has baffled Aussies. Source: Facebook/Bureau of Meteorology Radar Fan Club

While some were on the money when they stated it was an example of either crepuscular or anti-crepuscular rays, others light-heartedly suggested it could be aliens, the demarcation line between daylight savings time and non-daylight savings time or the crossing over point of an alternate universe.

The man who posted the original image said scenic lookout point Mount Mackenzie, which is almost 1,300 metres above sea level, was located around 7km to the west of where the photo was taken, meaning the sun's rays could have been obscured by its peak.

You see the same thing in the Himalayas but have rarely seen in Oz, one commenter wrote.

However, another said they had also seen the light phenomena 600km away in Bundaberg, Queensland, suggesting it hadn't been caused by partial mountain obscurity.

Others shared their own dramatic photos of the evening skies  mostly taken in NSW and Queensland  which showed off Mother Nature at her very best.

The striking images show the evening sky in all its glory. Source: Facebook/Bureau of Meteorology Radar Fan Club

Dramatic line in sky explained by expert

BoM senior meteorologist Angus Hines told Yahoo News Australia the photos appeared to be a combination of crepuscular rays and anti-crepuscular rays.

The two phenomena are similar, although different in a few ways, he said. Crepuscular rays are seen when the viewer is looking towards the sun.

Story continues

The dramatic photos were of crepuscular and anti-crepuscular rays, according to BoM senior meteorologist Angus Hines. Source: Facebook/Bureau of Meteorology Radar Fan Club

Something will be covering the sun, as well as blocking some or most of the suns rays  either cloud cover, or an uneven horizon, for example mountains or trees, meaning only some of the sun's light gets through.

These rays of light are all parallel, although they appear to diverge from where the sun is. Anti-crepuscular rays are similar, but you'll only see anti-crepuscular rays if you're facing away from the sun.

The beautiful sunset images were taken from backyards and suburban streets across Australia. Source: Facebook/Bureau of Meteorology Radar Fan Club

It is where rays of light and shadow from the sun converge on a point on the opposite horizon.

Again, these lines are parallel despite how they appear to converge  in the same way that train tracks look to converge off in the distance, even though we know they are parallel the entire way, Hines added.

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories.
( RFE/RL )  Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said during a trip to an impoverished southern region that Tehran is not looking for military conflict but would respond forcefully to any country that threatens the Islamic republic.

We will not start any war, but if anyone wants to bully us, they will receive a strong response, Raisi said in a televised speech on February 2 in Hormozgan Province, located along the Gulf of Oman.

Raisis comments were the latest from officials this week that signaled Irans openness to a diplomatic resolution to rising tensions with the United States but which also projected the Islamic republic as a powerful country unafraid to hit back if attacked.

The twinned messaging, including by Irans foreign minister and the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), came before the United States carried out air strikes late on February 2 on dozens of Iranian-linked sites in Syria and Iraq in retaliation for the killing of three U.S. troops stationed at a base in Jordan in a January 28 drone attack, which also wounded more than 40 people.

While the Pentagon did not initially say who was responsible for the attack, Washington later blamed the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iranian-backed militias that includes Kataib Hizbollah. The groups are part of Irans so-called axis of resistance against Israel and the West whose members have attacked Israeli and U.S. targets in opposition to Israels ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

Amid earlier speculation that the U.S. response to the attack on its base in Jordan could include strikes on Iran itself, the U.S. outlet CBS News on February 1 quoted unidentified U.S. officials as saying that Washington had approved plans to strike targets  including Iranian personnel and facilities  in Syria and Iraq. U.S. forces have come under attack by Iranian-backed militants in those countries where IRGC forces are also present.

At the start of his visit to Hormozgan, Raisi attended an exhibition of the naval and technological capabilities of the IRGC, the elite branch of the Iranian military that has launched recent missile strikes that were seen as a warning to Israel and the United States.

The exhibition, held under the slogan We Can, showed enemies that they would never be able to harm Iran, according to the semiofficial Mehr news agency.

The enemy does not have the ability to act against the Islamic republic, Raisi was quoted as saying. Because they know our forces are powerful and capable.

During a later public address in Hormozgan, Raisi said that Irans military might was not a threat to any country but was a powerful security guarantor that its allies in the region could depend on.

Raisi described the weapons he had seen at the IRGC exhibition as evidence of Irans status as a deterrent power.

Global News Video added by IC: Iran condemns US air strikes in region, says Washington needs to act wisely

The United States has repeatedly said that it seeks to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and is not pursuing a war with Iran.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reiterated that message during a press briefing on January 31 in which he also said Washington had obligations to protect U.S. troops and facilities in the region.

We will have to do  we will do what we need to do  to make sure that that those responsible are held properly accountable, Kirby said, repeating that Washington believed the Iran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq planned, resourced, and facilitated the deadly attack on U.S. troops in Jordan.

He also said that Kaitab Hizballah, which this week announced that it was suspending attacks against the United States, was not the only group that has been attacking our troops and our facilities in Iraq and Syria.

When asked whether Iran, which has no official diplomatic ties with the United States, had conveyed a message that Tehran was not interested in escalating tensions, Kirby said: I dont have any private communications with Iran.

On February 2, Raisi said that the United States had first suggested that a military option was on the table but that now they say they have no intention of a conflict with Iran.

The comments echoed those made earlier by high-ranking Iranian officials and military leaders who weighed in on the prospect of an impending U.S. strike.

The messaging came amid reports that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had advised an emergency meeting of the Supreme National Security Council this week to avoid a war with the United States and distance Iran from partners and proxies who killed Americans, but to prepare to strike back if Iran was hit itself.

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who has broadly called for diplomacy to reduce tensions in the Middle East, was quoted by the reformist Shargh daily as telling a government meeting that America should stop the language of threatsand focus on a political solution.

Irans response in the face of threats will be decisive and immediate, he added.

IRGC commander Hossein Salami on January 31 shrugged off what Iranian state media referred to as the threatening rhetoric against Iran, saying the United States and Iran know each other.

We will not let any threat remain unanswered, Salami said at a gathering in Tehran. We are not looking for a war, but are not afraid of war either.

RFE/RL
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  In a new NORC/ AP opinion poll, 50% of Americans say that they believe Israel has gone too far in its war on Gaza. That is up from 40% in November.

Even though the US television news networks steadfastly decline to cover the Israeli war on Gaza in a concerted way or to show many videos of the carnage, the American public is well enough informed of the vast destruction of lives and civilian infrastructure to condemn Israels tactics.

Another way to put it is that if Americans got a vote on Israels war policy, Israel would lose the contest.

This outcome is even more clear among Democrats, 62% of whom say Israel has gone too far. That view is up 4 points from November.

And virtually all Americans (85%) are concerned or somewhat concerned that the current situation could spiral into a wider war. In fact, that fear may underline some of the other opinions they are voicing in this poll.

President Joe Biden is seriously out of step with his own party. Although he has complained about indiscriminate Israeli bombing (a war crime) and his people leak that he is unhappy with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Biden continues to provide Israel on a daily basis with the munitions and ammunition needed to prosecute the war, without which it would cease.

Some 53% of Democrats  a majority  actively disapprove of Bidens handling of the crisis. The poll reports that 67% disapprove over-all, but a lot of the discontent comes from Republicans who wouldnt say Biden was doing something right to save their lives.

Democracy Now! Video: Palestinians Charge Genocide in U.S. Court; Biden & Blinken Sued for Backing Israels War on Gaza

According to APs Ellen Knickmeyer and Linley Sanders, there is a racial division, with 60% of non-white Democrats disapproving of his handling of the crisis, whereas about half of whites agree with the way Biden is losing on the issue. Since Biden needs the African American and Hispanic voters to be enthusiastic about him, this finding is bad news.

Knickmeyer and Sanders report that, even worse, a full 70% of Democrats under 45 disapprove of Bidens performance here. An enthusiasm gap among the youth can be fatal for Democratic presidential campaigns, as John Kerry discovered.

According to the polls topline results, even among Republicans, the percentage who think Israel has gone too far has nearly doubled since November, to a third.

And, about a third of US adults say that Israel has a lot of the responsibility for the outbreak of the war, though twice as many blame Hamas.

81% of Americans say it is important or somewhat important that a ceasefire be negotiated. But a full 90% of Democrats say it is important or somewhat important to have a permanent ceasefire.

Of course, they also want the hostages taken by Hamas released.

Some 66% of Americans say it is important or somewhat important to establish a Palestinian state. That percentage is 78% among Democrats.

The percentage of Democrats favoring the establishment of a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank and who say it is important to the US to carry this out is 40%. (I guess the 78% above are in favor of something more limited or think it is important but not important to the United States per se.) Only 31% of Democrats said this last August.

Some 77% of Americans say they are concerned or somewhat concerned that the Gaza campaign will increase prejudice against Jews.

About 68% say that they are concerned or somewhat concerned that it will increase prejudice against Muslims.

They would be right.

This poll is relatively small, of 1,152 adults, and so it has a plus or minus 4% margin of error. But even so, the movement of public opinion is clear. Most Americans deeply dislike Israels Gaza campaign, believing the Israelis are going to excess, and they are afraid it will draw the US into a wider Middle East conflict. These findings are especially pronounced among non-white minorities and people under 40, both of which a Democratic presidential campaign needs for victory.
The heart-stopping moment that a young boy fell into a swimming pool and was eventually rescued was captured on CCTV, sparking an urgent warning to parents about water safety.

The incident, recorded on a security camera at a popular holiday destination, shows the little boy running from his family to sit alone on a chair beside a large swimming pool. He rocks from side to side in the chair for a few moments before suddenly toppling forward.

The boy lands headfirst in the water and is seen struggling to keep himself afloat before his head goes completely under the surface. After 12 heart-stopping seconds of the boy struggling, someone jumps in to save him.

The heart-stopping moment a young boy fell into a swimming pool. Source: Jam Press

The heroic act was carried out by an employee of No.39 Cafe, in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, which is located by the pool.

The worker then hands him to a man, apparently the boys father. The lucky escape was captured on security camera and shared by the cafe as a stark warning to patrons.

We dont want to see anything like this happen again, a spokesperson said, before describing the scene. The establishment promises to improve and find ways of preventing this from taking place again, they added.

Cafe worker praised for heroic act

The worker who stepped in was praised for their quick thinking in saving the child with one local commenting: The worker who jumped in deserves a lot of credit.

The employee should get a prize, added another.

The staff there are very nice, wrote someone else.

Another argued that the cafe is not in the wrong for the accident: When you take children anywhere, its up to the parents to look after them, they said.

The pool beside the No.39 Cafe, in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. Source: Facebook

Jam Press

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Saturday, February 3, 2024  A woman named Jean has revealed that she found her soulmate after she relocated abroad with her husband and daughter.





She thanked her husband, who is now her ex, for the relocation that helped her to find her soulmate.

She also thanked him for still being responsible for the daughter they share together.







Jean is now dating a white man and is expecting a baby with him.





In other posts, she said her relationship with her African husband was already an unhappy one and her African aunties were encouraging her to stay but she had the courage to leave and has now found love.





Watch the video below.


Sunday, February 4, 2024 - Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Odour has confirmed that Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwales longtime farmhand, Kizito Moi, was killed by a bull.

Addressing the media on Saturday, Oduor said that the injuries inflicted on Kizitos body were caused by a penetrating item that appeared neither sharp nor blunt.

What I found is that the late Kizito had injuries on the right side of his forehead. There was one on the anterior neck and on the inner thigh of the left leg, he said.

Looking at injuries, they were penetrating and had some features that included some blue bruising around them, and to look at them closely, they look like injuries that were caused by something that was penetrating but not very sharp and was a bit blunt, which is in keeping with the horn of an animal, Oduor added.

This was after a second autopsy was conducted to reveal the cause of death, following allegations that the senator did it.

A word from the streets stated that it is Khalwale who 'sent the man to his maker' after realising he was having a romantic relationship with one of his many wives.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Sunday, February 4, 2024 - Caliph Kirui went viral last year after he went to the streets with a placard to look for a job.

Kirui was armed with a BSc in Microbiology & Biotech from the University of Nairobi and an MSc in Public Health from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

He graduated in December 2022 and embarked on an intense job search.

After tarmacking for long, he decided to try his luck by raising a placard in the streets, hoping to catch the attention for potential employers.

Kirui is now working as an early career researcher in the Chronic Diseases Management Unit (CDM) at the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC).

Kirui said a call from Catherine Kyobutungi, the Executive Director of APHRC, changed his life.

She asked me if I would be interested in an internship opportunity at the Center since there was no open position then. I expressed my interest in the position, he said.

After an interview, he commenced his three-month internship.

After his internship, he worked as a field interviewer and a temporary research officer before securing a job as an employee of APHRC.

At the end of the internship, I worked as a field interviewer in one of the Centers projects for a month, and after that, I got a new contract as a temporary research officer for three months.

"A month into the new contract, after an assessment and recommendation from my supervisors, I finally got the chance to serve as a regular employee at the Center.

"Looking back, I am grateful that I made the right choice to take up the APHRC opportunity, he said.

Adding, The work environment is amazing, full of mentorship, supportive colleagues, and innumerable opportunities for learning and growth. It is impossible for a determined and disciplined person to fail at APHRC.

"I am grateful for the chance that APHRC gave me to prove myself and contribute to the Centers goals,.

He encouraged jobless graduates who are searching for jobs to keep hope alive.

How it started.





How it is going.


















Sunday, February 4, 2024  Deputy President Rigathi Gachaguas wife, Pastor Dorcas, has hailed former President Uhuru Kenyattas mother, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, for the good job she did to rid Mt. Kenya of alcohol.

Dorcas, awakened the memories of Githeri man when she visited the Alcohol Recovery Centre in Wangunyu, Kiambaa Constituency.

Martin Kamotho alias Githeri man, who was one of the highlights of the 2017 presidential election, was once admitted for rehabilitation at the facility launched by former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta.

Uhuru awarded Githeri Man the Head of State Commendation (HSC) at Kasarani Stadium during the 54th Jamhuri Day celebrations for queueing for long hours to vote.

After receiving the award, Githeri man wallowed into alcoholism necessitating his admission to the facility.

Pastor Dorcas' visit reawakened these memories, as she paid tribute to the First Lady of Kenya, Mama Ngina Kenyatta who commissioned the facility.

"The story of Githeri Man captured the nation during the 2017 elections.

"This was Martin Kamotho who queued for hours to participate in the highly contested national elections carrying a polythene bag with the delicacy, githeri, a mix of beans and maize.

"Githeri Man was brought to the rehabilitation centre by the (now) Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba during her term as Kiambu Woman Representative," a statement by Pastor Dorcas team read.

She added that the facility termed NGAAF Multipurpose Centre, was officially commissioned on July 31, 2017, by the Founding Mother, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, whose name is engraved on the plaque.

Dorcas also lauded Anne Nyokabi, Kiambu's first woman representative and Uhuru Kenyatta's cousin, for initiating the construction of the centre.

This comes even as President William Ruto and Gachagua continue to torment Uhurus mother, having withdrawn her security last year.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.
Sunday, February 4, 2024 - Zari Hassans boyfriend, Shakib Cham, is embroiled in a public drama with his 22-year-old baby mama, Jalia Cremy after she accused him of being a deadbeat dad.

The jilted lady took to her Facebook account and washed Shakibs dirty linen in public.

She claims that Shakib abandoned her when she was pregnant and would always come back whenever he saw her doing well financially.

She further revealed that the flashy Ugandan hunk had a habit of borrowing her money and whenever she refused to lend him the money, he would call their son ugly.

She described him as a narcissist, a liar, and a great manipulator, who would do anything for clout.

She wondered why he was always posting photos helping the less fortunate kids, yet he had never bought anything for their kid.

"I was damaged by Shakib emotionally, mentally and financially. I hope you won't be the next victim,'' she warned Zari.

Check out her latest post.





The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Sunday, February 4, 2024 - Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has exposed the mess that is Pumwani Maternity Hospital.

Speaking when he toured the facility yesterday, Sifuna revealed major issues derailing operations at Pumwani Maternity Hospital.

He faulted Governor Sakaja for failing to intervene and curb an impending crisis at the largest maternity hospital in East and Central Africa.

Sifuna claimed that the management was forced to shut down several wards due to understaffing.

The ODM party Secretary General added that employment contracts for half the facility workers were due to expire by next week.

For a facility that delivers hundreds of babies a day, we cannot afford the problem to persist even a day, he stated.

He further called out the Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for failing to deliver a clearance report for one of the hospital facilities, which is crucial to the operations of the hospital.

According to Sifuna, the facility - which was razed by fire in February last year - was declared a crime scene, barring the management from renovating it. A section of the building was used to house pharmaceuticals and other commodities.

We need that report concluded and the building handed back to the facility for repairs. The people of Nairobi need it, Sifuna urged.

Nairobi County hospitals have been in the spotlight for the past few months forcing Governor Johnson Sakaja to appoint a task force to review and propose reforms for the health sector.

According to the task force, major issues affecting the health scene in Kenya include the lack of funds, poor sanitation, and an unclear referral system.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
A British womans warning not to come to Bali has backfired with the young woman being told to shut up and do her research after she complained about the holiday hotspots traffic and dirty beaches.

Everyone says, come to Bali, its an amazing place to come, traveller Corrin told her followers from the streets of Kuta. Honestly I absolutely hate it. Look at this.

Turning the camera around, the young woman captured the cars and motorbikes passing in front of her. Traffic is everywhere, she said. Look how built up it is. It is awful. You cant even move. You cant even cross the road. You stand at a zebra crossing, everyone still goes by.. The traffic is unbearable and Ive never seen something like this in my life. Honestly its changed my perspective completely.

TikTok traveller Corrin was horrified at the level of traffic in Kuta saying it had changed her perspective of Bali completely. Source: TikTok/cor_89

A day later Corrin filmed herself at Kuta beach, acknowledging that she had been a little bit negative in her last post. But unfortunately, Id done so much research in terms of TikToking and Googling before I came out here, in terms of where to go, and this place came up so I really wanted to try it.

I am so, so disappointed with the outcome, just look at this, she said, before revealing piles of rubbish scattered along the sand. There is literally rubbish all along the waterfront... What the actual f**k. Why dont people show you this?

Im so sorry to be the person to explain or tell it but when I'm looking for something and I want to make sure theres good reviews, that theres good places to go, why doesn't any influencer or anybody tell me on TikTok or anything that the beaches are like this? Because this is not what I want... The beaches are absolutely awful. What the f**k is this?

But Corrins comments didnt go down well on social media, with many people commenting that she went to one of the regions busiest tourist spots. Go to the other side of Bali if you want the real deal, one person wrote on Facebook. Go to the secret Gili islands, go to the unspoilt islands... Do proper research before you start b****ing.

Story continues

While someone else commented that its all part of the experience. Winging bloody pom, go back to the UK if you dont like it, another added. Go home and shut up then, a fourth said.

A little bit of naivety

Unfortunately, Corrins comments are nothing new, with tourists regularly taking to social media to reveal the side of Bali that the brochures dont show.

I did not expect to see all this junk lying here, Scottish YouTuber Dale Phillip told his followers on TikTok recently, while filming piles of rubbish at the bottom of Pengempu waterfall near Ubud. Id seen this place looking amazing in many flashy, glamorous Instagram photos but when I arrived here myself I found out that it was covered in garbage.

And there lies the problem, according to Gareth Butler, a Senior Lecturer in International Tourism and Events at Flinders University, when tourists are getting their reference points from photos on social media which are largely inaccurate, crazy snapshots in time that are not really representative of everyday life there.

If you go back 20 odd years, people's knowledge and awareness of destinations came from a really narrow range of sources, like tourist information websites, he told Yahoo News Australia. But because of how we now distribute images, and with people modifying and filtering their images, I think it's given us an increasingly unrealistic understanding or perspective of what these places really are like.

I look at some of the pictures and I've been to the same destination and I think, wow, if that is your reference point, you're in for a bit of a shock.

Along with a little bit of naivety of what a developing country is actually like, Butler added that Corrin and Dales perspectives are also probably a bit down to geographical proximity.

Most Australians grow up with a more acute awareness of Bali and what Indonesia is like as well, and a lot of Australians do grow up going to Bali, he explained. Europeans, I think, probably have a more romanticised notion of what Bali is as a destination.

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Sunday, February 4, 2024 - Cooking gas dealers have warned Kenyans using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) accessories across the country to be careful because they are sitting on a ticking time bomb.

This follows the Embakasi gas explosion that claimed 3 lives and left over 300 people seriously injured.

While attending a safety sensitization engagement in Thika Town, the dealers, mostly drawn from the Mt Kenya region, expressed concern over the rampant sale of substandard LPG accessories across the country.

The accessories they highlighted were burners, regulators, and pipes.

Consequently, the business owners called on the government to go after unscrupulous individuals who were bringing the products into the county.

The business owners also lamented that the accessories were easily accessible to Kenyans and sold at throw-away prices.

"We are seeing customers purchasing these gadgets for as low as Ksh100. They are not even questioning who is selling these products to them.

"They do not want to buy original accessories," one of the officials stated.

On her part, Thika Town MP Alice Ng'ang'a, who organized the meeting called on the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) to enhance their engagements across the country to sensitize Kenyans to cooking gas safety tips.

Kenyans conduct various tests to detect gas leaks in cylinders and pipes.

For starters, one can apply soapy water along the pipe or on the fabricated joints of a cylinder. Should there be bubbles, that is an indication that there is a leak.

One should replace the cylinder and gas in such a scenario.

Alternatively, should one hear a hissing sound when the gas is turned off, remedies should be undertaken to correct the leakage.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Saturday, February 3, 2024  An Italian mafia boss who escaped from a Sardinian prison using bed sheets has been recaptured in France.

Marco Raduano, who was on Europol's list of Europe's most wanted criminals, was arrested Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, in Corsica, officials in France and Italy confirmed.

He had been serving a 24-year sentence for drug trafficking and other crimes, according to Europol.

Raduano fled the high-security jail in February 2023 using knotted bed sheets to scale down the walls.





Footage from the time of his escape showed Raduano gripping sheets that were dangling against the wall before he quickly plunged to the ground and ran away.

Also apprehended was his right-hand man, Gianluigi Troiano, who fled house arrest in 2021 after detaching his electronic bracelet. He was arrested on Thursday, Feb. 1, in Granada, Spain while picking up a parcel from a service point.





"The carabinieri's (police's) capture abroad of two dangerous fugitives, Marco Raduano, and his right-hand man, Gianluigi Troiano, represents another major blow to organised crime," Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said.

Raduano, 40, is said to be a boss of the Foggia crime syndicate, which is sometimes described as Italy's fourth mafia - after the more famous organisations in Sicily, Calabria and Naples.





He was arrested on Thursday in Aleria while he was dining in a restaurant with a young woman, a source told AFP news agency.

Watch the video of his escape below.


Sunday, February 4, 2024 - President William Ruto has said the government will sack head teachers and other heads of schools who are sending students home because of school fees.

Speaking in Kakamega on Saturday, Ruto said no child should be sent home as the government already disbursed Sh7.5 billion to schools.

"Our children especially those in the Junior Secondary Schools, there are some fishy happenings going on in these schools.

"Some children go to school and are told mambo ni mawili, there is JSS money that has not been sent, go home and bring your fees.

The Head of State made it clear that no one has the authority to send JSS learners home.

"I want to announce here that my administration has disbursed Sh7.5 billion to go towards the JSS learning fees," Ruto added.

Last month, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu announced he was sending teams across the country to investigate JSS that were charging parents fees.

The CS said JSS ought to be free, adding that no parent should pay even a shilling to have their learner in a JSS public institution.

Machogu said he gave a warning and a circular was released with instructions to County Directors of Education on JSS being free.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.
Saturday, February 3, 2024 - Renowned Kenyan artist Millicent Jepkorir popularly known as Marakwet Daughter, who is celebrated for her hit song Mali Safi Chito, ignited a social media storm after she trashed her followers.

Marakwet Daughter in a viral video warned and threatened to block those who engaged in harmful behavior on her social media accounts.

You are used to using bad language in my comment section.

"Mumezoea sanaa kupupuu inbox yangu pale TikTok, pupuu sasa hapa. Nkt! she lashed out at her followers.

The video prompted mixed reactions, with some expressing their discontent while others saying it was right.

She lost some followers on YouTube after the video went viral.

Music Copyright Society of Kenya CEO Ezekiel Mutua even urged her to stay humble and warned that she was damaging her brand.

A popular Kalenjin musician tried to reach out to her on WhatsApp with a piece of advice after a video of her trashing her followers went viral.

She went berserk and responded with insults.

Check out the conversation.





















The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Sunday, February 4, 2024 - United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has confirmed that he had a telephone conversation with former President Uhuru Kenyatta, during which they discussed various issues affecting Eastern and Southern Africa.

According to Blinkens spokesman, Mathew Miller, Blinken and Uhuru discussed the ongoing negotiation between armed groups in Congo and the Congolese government.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta about the escalating conflict in eastern DRC and the importance of the Nairobi Process in providing a pathway to reconciliation with armed groups, Miller stated.

The Secretary emphasized the valuable role of regional leaders in assisting the DRC and Rwanda in implementing the confidence-building measures and other commitments made in their discussions with Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and other senior U.S. officials, Miller added.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Saturday, February 3, 2024  The United States Bureau of Prisons said it will probe convicted internet fraudster, Ramon Hushpuppi Abbas, after a video purportedly showing him holding a feast in jail went viral.

Hushpuuppi, who is currently serving an 11-year sentence, is alleged to have held a feast with others at his detention facility at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The feast was alleged to be in honour of his friend, social media influencer, Tunde Adekunle, a.k.a Tunde Ednut, who celebrated his birthday on January 22, 2024.

We take these matters seriously, the prison said on Thursday night, Feb. 1, adding that the investigative department would take charge of the inquiry to ascertain the facts or lack thereof about the viral video.





The viral video of the feast purportedly shows a lavish spread of different foods, including jollof rice, pasta and soda drinks, in what appeared to be a prison facility.

Tunde Ednut, you can see that we are celebrating you in our own little way o, said a voice alleged to be Hushpuppi's.

Fried rice is ready, Tunde Ednut birthday celebration. Jollof loading, pasta is here as you can see, the voice continued as the person, who hid his face behind the camera, displayed a variety of delicacies on a white table.

The video also shows a grey double bunk and a bed covered in white sheets, furthering the speculations that the feast was held in a US jail.

Hushpuppi, 41, was convicted for his role in a multimillion-dollar international fraud scheme in 2022. He was arrested in Dubai and extradited to the US to answer for his crimes.





In the first few years of his incarceration, Abbas reportedly enrolled in prison educational courses and also took an active role in cleaning prison facilities in a bid to earn a lighter sentence.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Los Angeles on January 19 dismissed Abbass appeal to review and reduce his 11-year sentence on the grounds of his good behaviour during his stay so far in jail.

Watch the video of the feast below.
Kim Downey:

Each year, almost 400 physicians die by suicide. That sentence stopped me in my tracks.

Id been reading all the articles here on KevinMD for almost a year when I came across one written by Dr. Avellino, with the opening line above.

One of my amazing doctors had died several months prior. I was, and in some ways still am, struggling with his death from over a year ago.

I clicked on Dr. Avellinos website, immediately ordered his book, Finding Purpose: A Neurosurgeons Journey of Hope and Healing, read it cover to cover as soon as it arrived, and sent him an e-mail thanking him for writing it. I shared a brief summary of my recent medical trials, telling him I was devastated by the death of my phenomenal radiologist. I commented that I had already been concerned about physician well-being, and I so appreciated his willingness to be honest and vulnerable in sharing his story, it undoubtedly helps others, and chips away at reducing the stigma. I mentioned that Id recently had struggles of my own in regards to acceptance, finding peace, and moving forward, and found that I too needed to be vulnerable and talk with trusted listeners for my own well-being. I sincerely wished him all the best.

Dr. Avellino sent a very kind reply and offered to chat! I felt incredibly honored and privileged that as busy as he is, he took the time to have a meaningful conversation with me. Among other things, we discovered that we attended college, different schools, in the same town, at the same time! He offered to support my efforts in addressing physician well-being within my local health are system in any way that he could.

Dr. Tony Avellino:

During our one-hour conversation, I was inspired by Kims compassion and commitment to help physicians heal. We discussed that physician well-being and their finding meaning in their work are essential to achieve the triple aim of providing improved quality care, improved patient experience, and lower costs!

Being a physician is an incredible responsibility that brings an enormous amount of joy, happiness, and self-worth. It also has a burden of incredible guilt when explaining the daunting task of moving on when a patients outcome is grim or terminal. The compounding trauma of dealing with uncertainty and not being able to do anything takes its toll over time when one has not developed healthy self-coping mechanisms. Thus, having healthy patient relationships is essential to my overall well-being. Ive become a more compassionate and caring physician today having learned so much from my own patients. They have helped me heal more than they could ever realize. Kim is an exceptional patient who continually helps others listen to discover their purpose in life, to learn from their failures to overcome personal struggles and difficulties, and to heal to achieve a healthier and more purposeful life and find happiness. No one should ever hit rock bottom and be at the brink as we must remove the stigma so that those with mental health concerns seek help.

Kim Downey:

At the close of our conversation, I told Dr. Avellino I was so glad that he is okay; I felt it in my whole heart.

Over the following months, I periodically updated him on the things I was doing to promote physician well-being; he always responded with kindness, enthusiasm, and encouragement.

Dr. Avellino graciously agreed to be a recent guest on my new podcast supporting physicians. We talked about the power of true listening, being able to stay in the present moment, the importance of being a continuous learner and of pausing, and connecting at the heart. We need more compassion and love in medicine, including for ourselves!

Feedback from Dr. Diana Londono and Dr. Robert Kornfeld included an appreciation for surgeons speaking out and sharing ways to stay healthy not only in mind and body but in spirit as well. Also, gratitude for great doctors who share their story that will help and comfort many who feel alone and hopeless. Even the highly intelligent, highly trained among us are vulnerable to the challenges of being human!

Kim Downey and Dr. Tony Avellino:

Sometimes beautiful things can rise from the ashes of the saddest of things. We must all listen, learn, and heal with each other to achieve a healthier, peaceful, and purposeful life. We must remember we are never alone. And we must find hope, even in the darkest moments, for the lessons learned can give us insights on how to bring light to others.

We include the blessing of getting to know each other as one of those gifts. Thank you, as we appreciate each other!

Kim Downey is a physical therapist. Anthony Avellino is a pediatric neurosurgeon and the author of Finding Purpose: A Neurosurgeons Journey of Hope and Healing.
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khaskhabar.com : , 04  2024 12:59 PM
Commentary: Provocations by the Philippines in South China Sea unwise, futile

Xinhua) 11:23, February 04, 2024

BEIJING, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Some waters of the South China Sea have not been calm over the past couple of months, as the Philippines has been stirring up troubles through provocative acts one after another targeting China's Ren'ai Jiao and Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea.

On Dec. 10, 2023, Philippine vessels intruded into adjacent waters of Ren'ai Jiao in China's Nansha Qundao in an attempt to illegally ship construction materials to its warship deliberately "grounded" at the reef in 1999. The Philippines has explicitly promised to tow away the military vessel, however, in the 24 years since, the Philippines has sought to repair and reinforce it to permanently occupy Ren'ai Jiao.

On Jan. 28, four Philippine personnel illegally broke into the reef plate of Huangyan Dao, and the China Coast Guard warned and drove them away in a law-based and professional way.

What the Philippine side has done, in collusion with some countries outside the region, has seriously infringed China's sovereignty, soured bilateral relations, and raised tensions in the South China Sea. The actions also contravene international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). Such provocations are not only unwise but futile.

China's Nanhai Zhudao (the South China Sea Islands) consist of Dongsha Qundao (the Dongsha Islands), Xisha Qundao (the Xisha Islands), Zhongsha Qundao (the Zhongsha Islands) and Nansha Qundao (the Nansha Islands). These Islands include, among others, islands, reefs, shoals and cays of various numbers and sizes.

The activities of the Chinese people in the South China Sea date back to over 2,000 years ago. China is the first to have discovered, named, and explored and exploited Nanhai Zhudao and relevant waters, and the first to have continuously, peacefully and effectively exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over them. China's sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea have been established in the long course of history, and are solidly grounded in history and law.

Peace and stability in the South China Sea is vital to the security, development and prosperity of the countries and people of the region. The realization of peace, stability, prosperity and development in the South China Sea region is the shared aspiration and responsibility of China and ASEAN member states.

China adheres to the position of settling disputes through negotiation and consultation and managing differences through rules and mechanisms, and remains committed to making the South China Sea a sea of peace, cooperation and friendship. But China also stands firm in safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Historical facts regarding China's sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao must be respected. Common understandings should be binding and commitments must be honored. China's goodwill, sincerity and restraint cannot be exploited without limits.

To maintain stability in the South China Sea, all parties must follow the "dual-track approach," namely, maritime disputes should be handled properly by countries directly concerned through dialogue and consultation, and peace and stability in the South China Sea should be jointly safeguarded by China and ASEAN countries.

Attempts to court external forces or create a small bloc in the region to pressure China will do nothing to manage differences. For peace and stability in the South China Sea, it would be wise for the Philippine side to change track and return to the right path of dialogue and consultation to resolve the maritime differences between the two countries.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Ward W. OHara was a founder of the Agricultural & Country Living Museum that bears his name, located at Emerson Park in Owasco.

Ward wrote articles for The Citizen for a number of years, and was known as The Storyteller. Starting this month, some of his most enduring articles will be published again monthly in The Citizen.

The following article originally appeared in The Citizen on Sunday, March 30, 1997. (Editor's note: Aside from minor edits for style and grammar, the column has been reprinted as submitted.)

We tore down part of the old house on Chamberlain Road in the town of Aurelius in 1942 when we moved there. Since we have no use for the giant baby grand piano that was in the house we toppled it into the cellar and covered it with rocks. Fifty-five years later OHara Farms Shop stands over that cellar and we wonder if the baby grand plays rock and roll when we drive a tractor.

It does seem like destroying pianos runs in our family and every 50 years or so we have to get rid of one. This time its the third generation (Kelly and Dusty OHara) who are renovating another farm house for their respective families.

Oh my goodness its a Wegman upright made right here in Auburn. Thereby begins this tale.

The Wegman pianos were first made in Ithaca by Ithaca Organ and Piano Co. some time between 1877 and 1884. Business failures caused the company to move to Auburn after that.

It came to my mind what a valuable asset a Wegman piano was in Ithaca when the Dewitt Clinton Historical Society was overjoyed to receive a grant of $3,000 from the Council on the Arts for the restoration of a Wegman piano in 1986. There was never any dearth of Wegman pianos around Auburn. The Cayuga Museum of History & Art has one in Auburn and so does the Frontenac Museum in Union Springs. We did know where there were several others available for free.

When Wegmans first started manufacturing pianos in Auburn around 1887 they began their operations in the three-story red brick building in the rear of 24-26 E. Genesee St. The front part of that address is the present Wayne Electrical Store. We were surprised to find this building. Because of its many past uses we had a hard time identifying it. It was their original plant in Auburn. They made very few pianos while they were in Ithaca although they turned out many organs.

On Feb. 11, 1891, a local news item tells us that the Wegman Piano Co. on 24-26 E. Genesee St. is negotiating for a lease at the former Logan Silk Mills at 5-7-9-11 Logan St. in Auburn. They did not move there, but fate was not about to leave that as their final address.

The upright Wegman pianos were unusual in that they had two sets of strings, one in front of the case, struck by hammers and one in the back that reverberated. A patent tuning pin guaranteed it to stay in tune longer than any other piano. The six-year guarantee that went with the total piano is hardly necessary a century later.

In 1891 when Wegmans moved to Logan Street, Mrs. Julia Wegman was president of the piano company. She lived in a fine house at 100 South St. The writer has been invited to visit the Julia Wegman home and regrets he has not taken that offer up as yet. Henry Wegman was the male member of the piano company bearing the Wegman name. Warren Crocker was vice president around 1900.

As the secretary-treasurer and general manager, the name William Burgess seems to take the limelight for the piano company in 1894 when the Wegman Piano Co. was incorporated.

The address most often given for the piano company's showroom in Auburn is 133 Genesee St. As late as 1917 we find William C. Burgess advertising Wegman pianos after the company declared bankruptcy. We also find in 1917 that Wegman pianos were sold at 12 Exchange St. in Auburn.

On the 2nd of May in 1914 a fire swept through the upper story of Wegmans plant at 5-11 Logan St. We would like to mention this was part of the building raised in 1878-80 for the Auburn Button Co. and the Logan Silk Mills. Two show models of Wegman pianos were lost in the fire. They were valued at $2,000 apiece. One-thousand dollars of that was the value of the carvings, which took a man one year to complete. These pianos were shown at the Worlds Fair in Chicago and we have pictures of them.

The Wegman fire report may have been exaggerated when they said nothing but a shell was left. One story of the former Logan Silk Mill was removed at 5 Logan St. but the building pretty much remains the same as it did in 1914.

Oct. 11, 1889: Found Wegman putting in electric lights throughout their building. The piano company was far behind with its orders, although getting out two pianos a day with hopes to increase that.

Jan. 11, 1915: The Wegman Piano Co. has been thrown into bankruptcy. They were allowed to continue in business under the supervision of receiver James M. Knapp. One-hundred forty employees were working for Wegmans at the time.

Feb. 19, 1915: A plan by the creditors committee of Wegman Piano Co. is hoped to place it on its feet and start the wheels of the factory at the foot of McMaster Street running.

June 22, 1915: Another echo of the failure of the Wegman Piano Co. came yesterday when the deed was filed transferring the Wegman home at 100 South St. to George H. Nye for the consideration of $8.000. It was sacrificed with the rest of the Wegman fortunes.

Jan. 12, 1916: Work at the Wegman piano plant at the foot of McMaster Street has been resumed partially. L and F.C. Hollerbuch of Toledo, Ohio, who recently purchased, it expected that fully 50 men would be employed.

It was a sad day for Auburn when the new owners were unsuccessful in rejuvenating the Wegman Piano Co. and we lost it forever around 1917.

The Wegman piano at the OHara farms is to far gone to save in 1997. The cover has the Elks Club insignia with, of course, the Wegman logo on the keyboard cover. It is interesting to find that this particular model was made for the Elks. We shall frame it and the Wegman logo to hang on the wall at the Cayuga County Agricultural Museum. It shall be a memorial to one great piano company contributing to our glorious heritage.

Strange as it seems, there are three red brick factories at various locations in Auburn, standing over a century later, that the Wegman Piano Co. called home at one time or another.

A Wegman piano is currently on display at the Ward. W. OHara Agricultural and Country Living Museum at Emerson Park in Owasco.
Youth radio station Beat 102 103 has launched its first-ever Digital Media Literacy Tour for students in the South-East region, supported by Comisiun na Mean.

The tour aims to showcase vital digital information for students in secondary schools over the coming months. Digital literacy is important for many reasons, especially for younger people in Ireland as they integrate with rapidly growing platforms and technologies.





This roadshow strives to help students identify misinformation and disinformation online and enables them to have the skills, knowledge, and understanding of how to process content on and offline. The roadshow brings to life a media literacy short course that is currently being taught as part of the Junior Cycle curriculum. The course for first year students is devised by Beat in consultation with teachers, the radio sectors training network Learning Waves and Media Literacy Ireland.

The roadshow is hosted by a variety of well-known voices on the popular radio station including Beat Breakfasts Niall and Sho, Beat Throwbacks Cillian Doyle, Bring the Beats Michelle Heffernan, The Takeovers presenting duo Megan ORegan Byrne, and Kirsten Mate Maher. Over the coming months, Beat will travel to 20 secondary schools, reaching thousands of teenagers encouraging them to Stop, Think and Check that the information that they are getting, from whatever source, is accurate and reliable.

On Thursday, February 1, Beat began their roadshow at St Angela's Ursuline Secondary School in Waterford City. Six sessions were delivered throughout the day to almost 200 first-year students.

Speaking after the inaugural presentation, Beat Breakfast Presenter and Head of Station Sound Niall Power said: With a reach of 163,000 listeners weekly and an online following of over 850,000 the Beat team is well placed to talk about the positive and negative aspects of digital life. Our listeners often reach out to us when they encounter a problem or scam online. Last year, a few Beat presenters, including myself, had our social media accounts cloned which was a real wake-up call for us. Its great that we can share our experiences with young people trying to navigate a confusing digital world added the Waterford native.

Beat Breakfast co-host Shonagh Lyons says the tour aims to help students feel more secure when online. Shonagh who hails from Wexford highlighted that the opportunity to engage with young people in schools about their digital lives is so important to Beat as a youth station. Considering so many of us are heavily reliant on our phones as a source of news, maintaining connections, and as a social outlet, we feel its important to share our knowledge and skills. Its also a chance for them to open up to us about their online habits, any worries they might have and provide resources to help them feel secure as they encounter the changing landscape of the digital world.

CEO of Beat 102 103 Gabrielle Cummins says ensuring an engaging experience for students in the region was paramount when planning the tour.

The Beat 102 103 Digital Media Literacy Roadshow will visit secondary schools across the South East from February to May 2024. One of the twenty schools will win 1,000 in cash while one lucky student will win an iPad.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor (GWM) recently inked a strategic cooperation agreement with renowned Qatari automotive dealer Teyseer Motors, reinforcing its commitment to the "ONE GWM" brand strategy.

Signing ceremony; photo credit: Great Wall Motor

As part of the plan, the grand opening of the GWM Qatar showroom is imminent, poised to grace Doha's bustling Old Airport Road with an attractive addition. The new showroom will showcase GWM's robust product lineup, featuring standout models from such brands as TANK, Haval, and the GWM Pickup.

This collaboration signifies GWM's dedication to providing an exceptional driving experience and a more diverse, personalized travel selection for local users in Qatar. It also marks GWM's comprehensive coverage of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) six-country market, commencing a new chapter in the GCC market.

Photo credit: Great Wall Motor

In early 2022, GWM established its regional headquarters in Dubai, intensifying localized operations in the region. By early 2023, GWM inaugurated a parts center warehouse in Dubai, radiating support to the Middle East and North Africa regional market.

Over the past year, GWM has accelerated its footprint in the GCC market. Presently, the companys service network spans all six GCC countries, boasting over 50 dealerships. In 2023, the TANK 500, as GWM's flagship model for overseas markets, successfully hit the markets in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, and Kuwait, achieving market presence in all six Middle Eastern countries.
Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at a campaign event in Conway, South Carolina, on January 28.
Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings data on Friday. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.15, MarketWatch Earnings reports. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 51.59% and a net margin of 18.44%. The firm had revenue of $11.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.19 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.82 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. Bristol-Myers Squibb updated its FY 2024 guidance to 7.100-7.400 EPS and its FY24 guidance to $7.10-7.40 EPS.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of BMY traded up $0.04 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $48.71. 27,991,627 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 14,600,083. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $50.56 and a 200 day simple moving average of $55.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.18 and a quick ratio of 1.07. The company has a market cap of $99.11 billion, a PE ratio of 12.62, a P/E/G ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 0.38. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 52 week low of $48.08 and a 52 week high of $75.18.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 5th were issued a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.93%. This is a positive change from Bristol-Myers Squibbs previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 4th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is 62.18%.

Insider Buying and Selling

Bristol-Myers Squibb declared that its board has authorized a share repurchase program on Thursday, December 7th that permits the company to buyback $3.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the biopharmaceutical company to buy up to 2.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are generally an indication that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, CEO Christopher S. Boerner purchased 3,071 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $48.86 per share, with a total value of $150,049.06. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 79,384 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,878,702.24. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Christopher S. Boerner acquired 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 5th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $49.78 per share, for a total transaction of $99,560.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 82,672 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,115,412.16. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Christopher S. Boerner purchased 3,071 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $48.86 per share, with a total value of $150,049.06. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 79,384 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,878,702.24. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders acquired 13,571 shares of company stock worth $672,994. 0.09% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bristol-Myers Squibb

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BMY. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 8.5% during the third quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 1,252,735 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $72,709,000 after acquiring an additional 98,243 shares during the period. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 168.2% during the second quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 80,849 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $5,170,000 after buying an additional 50,708 shares in the last quarter. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the second quarter valued at about $85,000. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. raised its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 9.6% in the second quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 6,793 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $434,000 after buying an additional 595 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.98% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. StockNews.com raised Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, October 27th. Barclays lowered their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $51.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $81.00 to $69.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 30th. William Blair downgraded shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Friday, October 27th. Finally, HSBC raised shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a reduce rating to a hold rating and lowered their price target for the company from $55.00 to $53.00 in a report on Friday, October 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have given a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Bristol-Myers Squibb has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $62.41.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Bristol-Myers Squibb

About Bristol-Myers Squibb

(Get Free Report)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

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Minerals Technologies (NYSE:MTX  Get Free Report) released its earnings results on Friday. The basic materials company reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.25 by $0.03, Briefing.com reports. The firm had revenue of $524.50 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $506.67 million. Minerals Technologies had a net margin of 3.88% and a return on equity of 10.32%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 3.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.67 EPS.

Minerals Technologies Trading Up 2.8 %

Shares of Minerals Technologies stock opened at $68.46 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.43 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a quick ratio of 1.60, a current ratio of 2.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $66.48 and a 200 day simple moving average of $60.09. Minerals Technologies has a 12-month low of $48.61 and a 12-month high of $72.10.

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Minerals Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 7th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 15th will be given a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 14th. Minerals Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 15.44%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently commented on MTX. TheStreet cut shares of Minerals Technologies from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Sidoti upgraded shares of Minerals Technologies from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $65.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 19th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Minerals Technologies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on MTX

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Jonathan J. Hastings sold 8,960 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.44, for a total transaction of $559,462.40. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 49,131 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,067,739.64. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, insider Dj Monagle III sold 14,598 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.08, for a total transaction of $993,831.84. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 76,720 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,223,097.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Jonathan J. Hastings sold 8,960 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.44, for a total transaction of $559,462.40. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 49,131 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,067,739.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 26,213 shares of company stock worth $1,730,754 in the last quarter. 3.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Minerals Technologies

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its holdings in Minerals Technologies by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 12,898 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $744,000 after acquiring an additional 174 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in Minerals Technologies by 3.3% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 6,827 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $423,000 after acquiring an additional 219 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its holdings in Minerals Technologies by 4.6% during the 2nd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 5,582 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $322,000 after acquiring an additional 246 shares during the last quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Minerals Technologies by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 17,936 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,186,000 after acquiring an additional 295 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Republic Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Minerals Technologies by 7.3% during the 4th quarter. First Republic Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,512 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $274,000 after acquiring an additional 307 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.24% of the companys stock.

Minerals Technologies Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Minerals Technologies Inc develops, produces, and markets various specialty mineral, mineral-based, and synthetic mineral products, and supporting systems and services. The company operates through three segments: Performance Materials, Specialty Minerals and Refractories. The Performance Materials segment supplies bentonite and bentonite-related products, as well as leonardite.

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WestRock (NYSE:WRK  Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The basic materials company reported $0.20 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.35 by ($0.15), RTT News reports. The company had revenue of $4.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.79 billion. WestRock had a positive return on equity of 6.87% and a negative net margin of 8.58%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.55 earnings per share.

WestRock Stock Down 1.0 %

Shares of NYSE WRK opened at $38.83 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $41.34 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $37.12. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. WestRock has a 1 year low of $26.84 and a 1 year high of $43.58.

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WestRock Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.3025 per share. This represents a $1.21 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.12%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 8th. WestRocks payout ratio is currently -18.01%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On WestRock

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WRK. Natixis Advisors L.P. boosted its stake in WestRock by 14.7% during the 1st quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 39,928 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,878,000 after purchasing an additional 5,108 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of WestRock by 21.3% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 71,551 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $3,365,000 after acquiring an additional 12,559 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its stake in shares of WestRock by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 35,219 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,656,000 after acquiring an additional 1,705 shares in the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can boosted its stake in shares of WestRock by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 208,790 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $10,379,000 after acquiring an additional 1,762 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of WestRock by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 53,133 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $2,499,000 after acquiring an additional 340 shares in the last quarter. 85.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on WRK shares. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $42.00 price objective on shares of WestRock in a report on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an equal weight rating and issued a $45.00 price objective (up from $42.00) on shares of WestRock in a report on Thursday, January 11th. Argus raised WestRock from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 17th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on WestRock from $40.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, Seaport Res Ptn lowered WestRock from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $39.43.

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WestRock Company Profile

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WestRock Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides fiber-based paper and packaging solutions in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Corrugated Packaging, Consumer Packaging, Global Paper, and Distribution. The Corrugated Packaging segment produces containerboards, corrugated sheets, corrugated packaging, and preprinted linerboards to consumer and industrial products manufacturers, and corrugated box manufacturers.

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With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information

China-made 2024 Tesla Model Y hits market

The 2024 Model Y manufactured by Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory recently hit the market. Coming with three trim levels, it features a price range of 258,900 yuan to 363,900 yuan.

2024 Model Y; photo credit: Tesla China

BYD releases interior images of Yuan UP model

Recently, the official interior images of the BYD Yuan UP model were officially released by the carmaker. Positioned as a small-sized all-electric SUV, the BYD Yuan UP is slated for sales on the BYD Dynasty website. The new vehicle is expected to be launched in March this year, offering three different variants, with a range exceeding 400 kilometers.

Photo credit: BYD

Yueda Kia's auto sales in Jan. 2024 shoot up 86% YoY

In Jan. 2024, Yueda Kia, the joint venture between Kia Corporation and China's Yueda Automobile Group, sold 16,300 vehicles, representing a remarkable year-on-year surge of 86%, according to a post on the WeChat account of Yueda Automobile Group. In the same month, its monthly auto output and export volume rocketed 241% and 178% over a year earlier to 13,300 units and 9,300 units, respectively.

Geespace launches eleven low-orbit satellites, expanding Geely Future Mobility Constellation

At 7:37 am on February 3, 2024, Geespace, the satellite technology and commercial services company invested by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, successfully launched its second orbital plane of the Geely Future Mobility Constellation satellite network from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, deploying 11 satellites in a single launch.

Great Wall Motor forms strategic partnership with Qatar's Teyseer Motors

Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor (GWM) recently inked a strategic cooperation agreement with renowned Qatari automotive dealer Teyseer Motors, reinforcing its commitment to the "ONE GWM" brand strategy.

Xiaomi SU7 electric vehicle starts nationwide road test: Lei Jun

On February 3, Xiaomi Group's founder, Lei Jun, took to his personal Weibo account to announce the commencement of nationwide road testing for the Xiaomi SU7 vehicle model.

Changan Auto releases official images of UNI-Z plug-in hybrid electric SUV

Changan Auto officially revealed the official images of its latest addition to the UNI series, the UNI-Z. According to previous filings with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the UNI-Z is positioned as a compact plug-in hybrid electric SUV.

GAC Group, OnTime to jointly launch advanced intelligent driving mobility service in 2024

In December 2023, GAC Group became one of the pioneer automotive companies to obtain the L3 autonomous driving road testing license. Through its smart mobility service platform, OnTime, GAC Group collaboratively established a test fleet equipped with the ADiGO PILOT intelligent driving system, conducting L3 autonomous driving road tests.

Dongfeng Motor Corporation boasts 120% YoY soar in January 2024

Dongfeng Motor Corporation marked an impressive start to the year with a total of 274,000 new vehicles sold in January 2024, registering a remarkable year-on-year soar of 120%.

IM Motors records monthly sales of 5,305 vehicles in Jan. 2024

On Feb. 1, IM Motors, the premium electric vehicle brand co-owned by SAIC Motor, Alibaba Group, and Zhangjiang High-Tech, unveiled its latest sales figures for January 2024, showcasing a remarkable performance.

Faurecia inaugurates new hydrogen business entity in Shanghai

FORVIA, the world's 7th-largest automotive technology supplier that operate both Faurecia and HELLA, held the opening ceremony for Faurecia (Shanghai) Hydrogen Solutions Holding Co., Ltd. in the Jiading District of Shanghai on February 3.

FAW Group, BYD's battery joint venture starts operations at facility in Changchun city

On February 2, the FAW FinDreams New Energy Power Battery ("FAW FinDreams"), a joint venture between FAW Group and BYD Company Limited, officially started production for the first phase of its new energy power battery project in Changchun, Jilin Province.

Tongyu Automobile, Neomor ally on development of chassis-by-wire tech for commercial vehicles

On February 3rd, Chinese auto parts supplier Tongyu Automotive and new energy commercial vehicle startup Neomor officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement, joining forces to collaborate on key chassis-by-wire technologies for commercial vehicles.

CATL steps up strategic cooperation with Sichuan provincial government

The People's Government of Sichuan Province and CATL recently signed an agreement in Chengdu city to comprehensively cement their strategic cooperation, according to a post on CATL's WeChat account.

BYD launches BYD SEAL model in Nepal in partnership with Cimex Inc.

In a recent collaboration with the local distributor Cimex Inc, BYD officially launched the BYD SEAL in Nepal with a starting price of NPR 10.5 million (approximately 562,000 yuan). This marks BYD's third electric vehicle introduced in the Nepalese market, following the BYD ATTO 3 (known as the Yuan PLUS in China) and the BYD DOLPHIN.
Cole Sprouse and Dylan Sprouse once had a fist fight in a dressing room before shooting 'The Suite Life of Zack and Cody'.

The 31-year-old actor and his twin brother starred on the Disney Channel series between 2005 and 2008, and Cole has now admitted that their off-camera relationship has been tense at times.

He told E! News: "We had a vicious fist fight one time. This is puberty. Brothers fight. We were like, scrapping in the back, we were taking it through the hallways, like wrestling and fighting."

Cole admitted that their fight featured "WWE moves".

He recalled: "We got a knock on the dressing room door, and the door opens and it's a fan. She was like, 'Hey, would you mind if I took a picture with you?'

"And Cole goes, 'Do you want to come back in five minutes?' And she's like, 'Yeah, sure'. She shuts the door and we both busted out laughing so hard, we didn't even know why we were fighting. But that's brothers for you."

Meanwhile, Cole previously described himself as being "violently defensive" of other child stars.

The actor played the part of Jughead Jones on the hit TV series 'Riverdale', and Cole admitted that the show reminded him of his own childhood experiences.

He told the New York Times newspaper: "When we talk about child stars going nuts, what we're not actually talking about is how fame is a trauma.

"So I'm violently defensive against people who mock some of the young women who were on the channel when I was younger because I don't feel like it adequately comprehends the humanity of that experience and what it takes to recover.

"And, to be quite honest, as I have now gone through a second big round of this fame game as an adult, I've noticed the same psychological effects that fame yields upon a group of young adults as I did when I was a child."
Chandigarh [India], January 4 (ANI): Chandigarh Police detained Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and supporters who were demonstrating against the BJP related to the accusations of rigging in the Chandigarh Mayor elections on Sunday.

Chandigarh unit of the AAP workers was protesting against the BJP with playcards in their hands.

Also Read | Noida Shocker: 24-Year-Old Meerut Man Stoned to Death by Three Men Following Clash During Cricket Match at Noida Extension.

Earlier, AAP workers and leaders protested in Delhi against the BJP over allegations of rigging in the Chandigarh mayor election.

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal, along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and other party leaders, also protested in Delhi against the BJP over the Chandigarh mayoral elections.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: TMC MP Dipak Adhikary Resigns From Panels of Three West Bengal Government Bodies Ahead of General Polls.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress have moved to the Supreme Court regarding the Chandigarh Mayoral poll results. A hearing was also held on January 31 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, the Punjab Haryana High Court gave Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and Chandigarh Administration three weeks' time to file their replies in this matter. The next hearing on 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)

(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], February 4 (ANI): In a significant move to bolster the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), AIIMS New Delhi announced the opening of 'Ayushman Suvidha Kendras' (ASK) across all blocks and centres by March 31, this year.

Dr M. Srinivas, director, AIIMS, New Delhi said, "AIIMS New Delhi has been unwavering in its commitment to the promotion of AB-PMJAY, and the establishment of 'Ayushman Suvidha Kendras' marks a pivotal step towards further facilitating the services under this flagship healthcare scheme."

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The 'Ayushman Suvidha Kendras' will be strategically located at easily accessible points within each block and centre of AIIMS, serving as the centralized hub for patients and their attendants to avail benefits under the AB-PMJAY scheme.

These Kendras will operate on a 24x7 basis, providing a single point of contact for beneficiaries.

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Manned by dedicated 'Ayushman Mitras,' the ASK will offer comprehensive services, including verification of AB-PMJAY coverage status for patients visiting the respective block or centre. The aim is to streamline and expedite the process of extending all services under AB-PMJAY to scheme beneficiaries.

Dr. Rima Dada, the professor in charge of the Media Cell, AIIMS, New Delhi, said, "These Kendras will play a pivotal role in providing timely assistance and support, contributing to the success of this transformative healthcare programme."

AIIMS New Delhi invites the public, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders to join hands in supporting the successful implementation of the 'Ayushman Suvidha Kendras' and contributing to the overall enhancement of healthcare services under AB-PMJAY. (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], February 4 (ANI): Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh here on Sunday and invited him to the foundation stone laying ceremony of Shri Kalki Dham in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal on February 19.

However, speaking to the reporters, the Congress' senior leader clarified that the meeting of both leaders should not be seen as a 'political meet'.

Also Read | Gangotri Dham Covered in Snow: Watch Video of Uttarakhands Gangotri Temple Premises After Receiving Heavy Snowfall.

"On February 19 foundation stone of Shri Kalki Dham will be laid. I had come here to invite Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for the ceremony...This meeting should not be seen as a political meet..." Acharya Pramod Krishnam said.

Earlier, Pramod Krishnam met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday and invited him for the same.

Also Read | Landslide Hits Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban District, Halts Traffic for Nearly Four Hours (Watch Video).

In a post on X after the meeting, Krishnam said, "I had the privilege of inviting Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the foundation stone laying ceremony of Shri Kalki Dham to be held on February 19. Heartfelt gratitude and thanks to the honourable prime minister for accepting this."

Replying to his post, Modi said, "It is a privilege for me to be a part of this sacred occasion associated with faith and devotion. Heartfelt gratitude to you Acharya Pramod ji for the invitation."

Krishnam had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Lucknow on a Congress ticket but lost.

Krishnam has been criticising some decisions of the Congress leadership, including that of not participating in the Ram Temple Pran Pratihistha ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22 and the party's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

Recently, taking a dig at Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Krishanam said that while all other political parties are gearing up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, it seems Congress is preparing for the 2029 elections.

"Congress has some very great and intelligent leaders. On one hand, all political parties are gearing up for the 2024 elections, while on the other hand, the whole Congress party is doing political tourism; they are travelling. Actually, we will figure out how to win the 2024 elections after 2024. It seems we are preparing ourselves for the 2029 elections. Had we been preparing for 2024, this would not have happened," said Acharya Pramod. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Patna (Bihar) [India], February 4 (ANI): Ahead of the crucial floor test of the newly elected NDA government in Bihar on February 12, Bihar Congress MLA Siddharth Saurav on Sunday said that he was unable to join 16 MLA heading to Hyderabad as he was preoccupied with some work in his constituency.

Amid the poaching fear in Bihar, the Congress relocated 16 MLAs out of 19 MLAs to Siri Nature's Valley Resort in Kagazghat village in Rangareddy on Sunday.

Also Read | Gangotri Dham Covered in Snow: Watch Video of Uttarakhands Gangotri Temple Premises After Receiving Heavy Snowfall.

"I have not gone to Hyderabad as there is a lot of work going on in my constituency. I was asked to go with them (MLAs gone to Hyderabad) but I refused to go due to the work here in the constituency," Saurav told ANI on Sunday.

He further said that Congress MLAs from Bihar made their way to Hyderabad ostensibly to "greet" Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who recently assumed office.

Also Read | Landslide Hits Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban District, Halts Traffic for Nearly Four Hours (Watch Video).

"They have gone there as Congress has formed a new government there (Telangana)... Definitely, I will go if I am called (for any party event). We will surely participate if there is any party event," he added.

The three MLAs who preferred to stay in Bihar are Manohar Prasad, Manihari Assembly Constituency, Siddharth Saurav, Bikram (Patna) Assembly and Abidur Rahman, Araria District Assembly.

The floor test of the newly elected NDA government in Bihar is likely to happen on February 12.

Nitish Kumar took the oath as Chief Minister of Bihar for the ninth time in Raj Bhawan, 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. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Jaipur, Feb 4 (PTI) The number of domestic tourists visiting Rajasthan has increased about 12 times in the last four years, with the footfall of foreign tourists also witnessing a sharp uptick since the Covid-induced slump.

According to the Tourism Department, in 2020, more than 1.51 crore domestic tourists visited the state. The number shot up to over 17.90 crore in 2023.

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A total of 32.44 crore domestic tourists visited Rajasthan from January 2020 to December 2023. On the other hand, over 22.20 lakh foreign tourists visited the desert state to witness its historical heritage during the same period.

"Rajasthan has been a major tourist attraction among the tourists. After the corona pandemic, a large number of domestic tourists have started visiting the state. The number of foreign tourists have also significantly risen," Deputy Director of Tourism Department, Daleep Singh Rathore, said.

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The freshly elected BJP government's focus is to make the state a leader in the tourism sector in the country.

Recent visits of Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala and French President Emmanuel Macron to the state have helped Rajasthan present its image as a foreign destination of choice for overseas elites.

Erstwhile Jaipur royal family member and deputy chief minister Diya Kumari, who holds the tourism department portfolio, is actively holding meetings with foreign delegations to that purpose.

"The government is determined to transform Rajasthan into a premier tourism destination. A 100-day action agenda has been given to the department officials. A comprehensive strategy needs to be formulated and implemented," Diya Kumari said.

She said that her plan involves collaborating with various departments to enhance the rail, road, and air connectivity to the state.

Establishing quality basic infrastructure, improving hospitality services also is essential for the aim, she said.

Diya Kumari revealed the tourism numbers recently when she was asked for them by BJP MLA Kalicharan Saraf in the Rajasthan Assembly.

According to her reply, nearly 18 crore domestic and 17 lakh foreign tourists came to Rajasthan in 2023.

A total of 1.51 crore domestic tourists and 4.46 lakh foreign tourists visited Rajasthan in 2020.

In 2021, 2.19 crore domestic and 34,806 foreign tourists visited the state, while in 2022, it played host to 10.83 crore domestic and 39,684 foreign tourists.

Saraf had asked for year-wise details of domestic and foreign tourist visits made in the state from January 2020 to December 2023.

The hotel association in the state has been upbeat since the French President's visit to Jaipur, as it thinks the visit will open new doors of opportunity.

"During the corona pandemic, the number of foreign tourists dropped, while domestic tourists still came in large numbers. After the French President's visit, new opportunities will come as French tourists used to come in large numbers before the corona pandemic," said Jaipur hotels association President M Hussain.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Beijing (Gasgoo)- In December 2023, GAC Group became one of the pioneer automotive companies to obtain the L3 autonomous driving road testing license. Through its smart mobility service platform, OnTime, GAC Group collaboratively established a test fleet equipped with the ADiGO PILOT intelligent driving system, conducting L3 autonomous driving road tests.

Photo credit: OnTime

In 2024, OnTime will launch GAC's L3 autonomous driving vehicles in Guangzhou, providing users with advanced ride-share services, accelerating the commercialization of L3 autonomous driving technology to meet the growing demand for high-level intelligent driving in the transportation market.

The extensive intelligent driving test, conducted during the morning rush hour in Guangzhou, spanned three administrative districts, covering over 50 km round trip. The route included highways, urban expressways, and city roads.

ADiGO PILOT's intelligent driving capability excels in "City + Highway" NDA intelligent navigation assistance. In urban settings, City NDA adeptly handles complex scenarios, seamlessly switching to Highway NDA on highways and urban expressways. It autonomously navigates ramps, changes lanes, switches between high-speed and curved roads, showcasing versatile capabilities.

Moreover, ADiGO PILOT achieved a groundbreaking dual-direction seamless switch from L3 autonomous driving to L2++ navigation-assisted driving. When road conditions allow, the system activates L3 autonomous driving with the TJP function (Traffic Jam Pilot). Under the TJP feature, the vehicle autonomously centers within lanes, maintains speed and distance, allowing the driver to completely relinquish the steering wheel without monitoring the road. When conditions exceed L3 usage, the system seamlessly transitions to L2++ navigation-assisted driving, ensuring a safe and flexible driving experience.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 4 (ANI): Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad on Sunday detained Islamic preacher Mufti Salman Azhari in Mumbai, accused in an alleged hate speech case.

The action by Junagadh Police was taken after a video of an inflammatory speech allegedly delivered by the preacher went viral on social media.

Also Read | Noida Shocker: 24-Year-Old Meerut Man Stoned to Death by Three Men Following Clash During Cricket Match at Noida Extension.

Mufti Salman is currently at Ghatkopar police station where hundreds of supporters of the Mufti gathered outside the police station demanding his immediate release, bringing traffic to a standstill in the area.

Meanwhile, addressing his supporters, Salman Azhari requested them not to protest.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: TMC MP Dipak Adhikary Resigns From Panels of Three West Bengal Government Bodies Ahead of General Polls.

"...Neither am I a criminal, nor have I been brought here for committing a crime. They are doing the required investigation and I am also cooperating with them. I am ready to be arrested if it is in my destiny..." he said.

Wahid Sheikh, lawyer of Maulana Mufti Salman Azhari alleged that Maulana Mufti Salman Azhari is ready to cooperate in connection with the case but the police are not giving any reply.

"35-40 policemen in civil dress were present at Maulana Mufti Salman Azhari's house in the morning hours. We asked them about their purpose for coming, but nothing was informed. After coordinating with Maulana Mufti Salman Azhari they (police) said that a case has been lodged under 153 B (promoting enmity between different religious groups), in Gujarat. Maulana Mufti Salman Azhari came to the police station with them and also cooperated but there is no reply yet...Maulana Mufti Salman Azhari is ready to cooperate but the police are not giving any reply..." Sheikh said.

The alleged speech was delivered at an event held on an open ground near the 'B' division police station in Junagadh on the night of January 31. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Pudukkottai, February 4: A Jallikattu event began at Kulathur Village in Tamil Nadu's Pudukkottai district. According to the organisers, 700 bulls and 350 tamers are participating in this event. Police personnel were deployed in the village for security. In the first round of the event, 15 people were injured.

In Tamil Nadu, the year's first Jallikattu was held at Thatchankurichi village in Pudukkottai district on January 6, 2024. The bull-taming sport began at Avaniyapuram in Madurai district on January 15, followed by the event held at Palamedu in Madurai district on January 16, 2024. Pointing out the risk of injury, both to the participants and the bull, the animal rights organisations called for a ban on the sport. However, the Supreme Court, in May 2023, upheld the Tamil Nadu government's law allowing the bull-taming sport Jallikattu in the state. Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu: Traditional Bull-Taming Sport Festival Commences in Madurai, Pudukottai, Tiruchirapalli and Tanjavur (Watch Videos).

The Tamil Nadu government had defended the event of Jallikattu, telling the apex court that sporting events can also be cultural events and there is no cruelty on the bulls. Jallikattu is an age-old event celebrated mostly in Tamil Nadu as part of Pongal celebrations. Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu: 45 Injured, Including Two Police Officers in Avaniapurams Traditional Bull-Taming Sport (Watch Video).

In Jallikattu, a bull is released into a crowd of people, and participants in the event try to grab the large hump on the bull's back, attempting to bring the bull to a stop. The history of Jallikattu dates back to 400-100 BCE, when the Ayars, an ethnic group in India, played it. The name is coined from two words: Jalli (silver and gold coins) and Kattu (tied).

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], February 4 (ANI): Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for announcing that veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani will be conferred the country's highest civilian award--Bharat Ratna--, BJP MP, KS Laxman on Sunday said that Advani brought value-based politics to the party and the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced that BJP veteran Advani will be conferred Bharat Ratna.

Also Read | Gangotri Dham Covered in Snow: Watch Video of Uttarakhands Gangotri Temple Premises After Receiving Heavy Snowfall.

"He (Advani) brought value-based politics to the party and the country as well... His 'Rath Yatra' during the Ram Janmbhoomi movement created the wave of Hindutva... I thank PM Modi for honouring such a great leader," said Laxman.

When asked about AIMIM's chief Asaduddin Owaisi's recent statement over the Ram Temple inauguration, the MP said, "I pray to God to give him good sense, and he stops doing politics in the name of religion."

Also Read | Landslide Hits Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban District, Halts Traffic for Nearly Four Hours (Watch Video).

Earlier, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha also congratulated LK Advani. Saha also thanked the President and the Prime Minister for this decision.

"On behalf of all the people of Tripura and myself, I want to congratulate Lal Krishna Advani ji on being conferred the Bharat Ratna Award. I am also thankful to the Honourable President Droupadi Murmu ji and our PM Narendra Modi for choosing Advaniji for Bharat Ratna," Tripura CM said.

Advani said on Saturday that Bharat Ratna is not only an honour for him but for the ideals and principles he strove in his life to the best of his abilities. In a statement, Advani said he accepts the 'Bharat Ratna' with utmost humility.

LK Advani said he has been inspired by the motto 'Idam-na-mama" and expressed his gratitude to BJP workers, RSS Swayamsevaks, and those with whom he worked in his long journey in public life.

"With utmost humility and gratitude, I accept the 'Bharat Ratna' that has been conferred on me today. It is not only an honour for me as a person, but also for the ideals and principles that I strove to serve throughout my life to the best of my ability," he said in the statement. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Nagpur, Feb 4 (PTI) The police on Sunday arrested Maharashtra Youth Congress president Kunal Raut for allegedly defacing a poster of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Nagpur, an official said.

The incident took place near the Zilla Parishad office here on Saturday, said the official from Sadar police station. Kunal Raut is also the son of former state energy minister and Congress leader Nitin Raut.

Also Read | Gangotri Dham Covered in Snow: Watch Video of Uttarakhands Gangotri Temple Premises After Receiving Heavy Snowfall.

The Youth Congress leader and a few others allegedly defaced a poster of PM Modi with black paint, erased Modi Sarkar on it and wrote Bharat Sarkar, he said.

Raut was arrested from Kuhi town, about 40 km from Nagpur, on Sunday afternoon, the official said.

Also Read | Landslide Hits Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban District, Halts Traffic for Nearly Four Hours (Watch Video).

However, a Congress leader claimed that Raut was arrested abruptly.

He said a notice was issued to the Youth Congress leader, via WhatsApp, under Section 41-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) on Sunday, instructing Raut to appear before police at noon on Monday. But he was taken into custody on Sunday itself, he added.

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New Delhi [India], February 4 (ANI): A police complaint has been lodged against Suranya Aiyar, daughter of Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, for allegedly posting an 'objectionable statement on social media.'

The complainant, Ajay Agrawal, a Supreme Court advocate and a BJP leader, alleged that Suranya Aiyar made objectionable remarks on different social media platforms on January 20, 2024, and other dates.

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He also provided link of the video clip posted on January 20.

"Ms. Suranya Aiyar has posted a seriously objectionable statement on Facebook, YouTube, and other social media platforms on January 20, 2024, and other dates," Ajay Agrawal said in his complaint to the Delhi Cyber Crime Police on Saturday.

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Adding the link to Suranya Aiyar's video, BJP leader Ajay Agrawal requested the Delhi Police crime branch register a case in this regard.

"Please go through this entire clip and register an FIR under Section 153-A (for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion) and other sections of IPC and also under other relevant sections of IPC and other acts as you deem appropriate after watching the entire 36-minute video," he wrote.

Meanwhile, the Residents' Welfare Association (RWA) of Delhi's Jangpura Extension on Wednesday asked Suranya Aiyar to move out after she condemned the 'Pran Pratishtha' of Shri Ram Lalla at Ayodhya's Ram Temple in a social media post.

The notice issued by the RWA stated, "A hate speech and act by a resident like you, Ms. Aiyar, for announcing a 3-day fast in a peace-loving locality where most residents inhabiting here came from Pakistan after losing all their wealth and fortune is highly unfortunate."

"In case you are unhappy with the consecration of Ram Mandir, which is a matter of pride for every citizen, you may go to the court and challenge its own verdict. But once again, don't delve into such activities that create hatred and tension around the colony," it added.

The notice went on to read, "In case you still think what you have done in protesting against the consecration of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, we would suggest you kindly move out to another colony, where people and RWA's can turn a blind eye to such hatred."

The 'Pran Pratishtha' of Shri Ram Lalla at Ayodhya's historic temple was held on January 22, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing the Vedic rituals, led by a group of priests. (ANI)

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Dhanbad (Jharkhand) [India], February 4 (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which is currently in its Jharkhand leg, reached Dhanbad on Sunday.

"The youth of Jharkhand, fed up with unemployment, are saying that jobs are being eliminated from every sector. People have become dependent on food. Modi government completely became Adani's government. The only option for the country is Rahul Gandhi," the official handle of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra posted on X ahead of Rahul's visit to the state earlier.

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Accusing the BJP of spreading hatred and inciting violence, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday, said the grand old party and its allies will open 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' (shops dealing in love) across the country.

The Wayanad MP, after resuming the ongoing Jharkhand leg of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, from Sarkanda Chowk here, said the Congress's fight was against the hatred in the hearts of the 'BJP people'.

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"The BJP is spreading hate. We undertook a 4000-km Bharat Jodo Yatra against this hatred and violence, coining the slogan 'Nafrat Ke Bazaar Me Mohabbat Ki Dukkan'. No matter how much hatred they (BJP) spread or the violence they orchestrate, the Congress and its allies will open 'Mohabbat Ki Dukan' all over the country. Our fight is against the hatred in the hearts of the BJP people," Rahul said while addressing a gathering here.

The Congress leader claimed further that injustice is being meted out to the poor, youth, women, and farmers across the country.

"Our objective is not only to fight their hatred but also to unite people across communities. We have arrived in Jharkhand to spread the message and love and oneness. Grave injustice is being meted out to the poor, youth, women and farmers across the country," the Congress MP said.

He alleged further that the policies of the BJP government at the Centre were against the interests and welfare of tribals.

"If the name 'Adan' (billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani) comes up in a discourse, people understand where the conversation is going. He has been flourishing with the blessings of Narendra Modi. We brought a land Bill during our term at the Centre. However, it was withdrawn after Modi-ji became Prime Minister. It's injustice for everyone and justice for Adani," the Congress MP said, in a no-holds-barred rant against the BJP.

Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra rolled out from Manipur's Thoubal on January 14. The yatra will cover over 6,700 kilometres over 67 days, traversing through 110 districts. It will cover a distance of 6,713 km, straddling 100 Lok Sabha constituencies and 337 assembly segments and covering 110 districts.

The yatra will conclude in Mumbai on March 20, after 67 days.

A follow-up to the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' which saw Rahul Gandhi cover more than 3,000 kilometres on foot--from Kanya Kumari to Srinagar--the Yatra 2.0 is following a hybrid format. (ANI)

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Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu) [India], February 4 (ANI): In a decisive move aimed at drawing attention to their longstanding grievances, Rameswaram fishermen have announced a symbolic strike and outlined a series of demands to address the challenges they face.

The fishermen also declared their intent to return their voter ID cards to the central government and boycott the elections if their demands remain unmet.

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The decision was made during a consultative meeting of the Rameswaram All Boats Fishermen's Association held at the fishing port, presided over by Meenavan Meenavar Association President Emarit on Sunday.

The meeting primarily focused on the recurrent issue of boat captures by the Sri Lankan Navy.

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Highlighting the plight of fishermen, it was revealed that over 150 mechanised boats from Tamil Nadu, seized by the Sri Lankan Navy between 2018 and 2024, remain in the possession of the Sri Lankan government.

The fishermen demanded immediate intervention from both the central and state governments to secure the release and restoration of seized boats in good condition.

They emphasised the need for adequate compensation for damaged vessels and permission for rescue teams to retrieve boats held by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Also, the meeting urged the central government to immediately grant permission to the rescue team to go to Sri Lanka to rescue the 10 boats freed by the Sri Lankan Navy and give appropriate compensation to the boats sunk by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Furthermore, the meeting addressed the capture of fisherman Nambumurugan by the Sri Lankan Navy on October 28, 2023, and was sentenced to two years imprisonment, appealing for his release on compassionate grounds and urging government support for his family.

A unanimous resolution was passed in this meeting that he should be released on compassionate grounds immediately and that the central and state governments should help the family who are suffering from his loss till now.

In response to the perceived lack of progress in resolving these critical issues, the fishermen announced a one-day symbolic strike scheduled for Monday, February 5, 2024. This strike aims to compel authorities to address their demands before the upcoming parliamentary elections.

It was also decided to return the voter ID card issued by the Election Commission of India to the central government over any delay in resolution of the grievances and, furthermore, boycott the parliamentary election. (ANI)

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Charaideo (Assam) [India], February 4 (ANI): The three-day Poy-Lang festival, organised under the initiative of Shyam Gaon Buddhist Monastery, began in the fields near the Buddhist Monastery of Chalapathar in Charaideo district on Saturday.

The three-day Poy-Leng festival, organised in accordance with the customs and traditions of Buddhism, is being celebrated in honour of the late Shasanbansh Mahathera Vante.

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For more than 40 years, Shasanbansh Mahathera Vante had been a Buddhist monk in Shyam Gaon Buddhist Monastery.

Shasanbansh Mahathera died on August 23, 2023, at the Buddhist Monastery in Chalapatha.

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The festival is celebrated mainly by pulling specially designed chariots in which the bodies of outgoing Buddhist monks are kept. At the end of the three-day festival, the chariot will be set on fire, which will put an end to the rath yatra of the late monk.

It is to be noted that when a Buddhist monk who has spent more than 40 years in a holy Buddhist monastery dies, his body is not immediately cremated or buried. The body of the monk is stuffed in a coffin for seven to eight months in a traditional and scientific manner and stored in a house called 'Nick Paan Kong'. After this, the festival of 'Poy Lang' is organised, and the said coffin is installed in the chariot.

After paying their last respects to the monk in that chariot, the people present pulled the chariot from both sides like ropes. This act is considered to be an act of virtue and is believed to bring satisfaction to the dead monk.

It is worth mentioning that thousands of people have gathered at the festival venue to participate in this rathotsav of the renowned religious leader of North East India and recipient of the Anandaram Baruah Award, Palibhasha, Buddhist-religion scholar, litterateur, and educationist Dharmaratna Shasavansh Mahather Bhante.

Piycheng Chawlo, one of the organisers of the festival, told ANI that the Poy Lang festival is being celebrated due to the death of Dr. Sasavansh Mahathera. On the first day this morning, the Buddhist flag was hoisted, and the body of Mahathar Vante was placed in the chariot.

The organising committee expressed hope that the festival will be held today for three days, irrespective of the Buddhist people of North East India as well as caste and religion. Guests from South Korea, Thailand, Myanmar, and China will attend the event. (ANI)

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Dehradun, Feb 4 (PTI) The Uttarakhand cabinet has approved the final draft of the Uniform Civil Code, paving the way for its tabling in the state Assembly during a special four-day session that begins on Monday. The state cabinet passed the UCC draft at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at his official residence on Sunday. The special session of the Assembly has been convened especially to pass the legislation on the UCC and make it an Act. The cabinet approval of the draft was needed for its introduction in the Assembly. If UCC is implemented, BJP-ruled Uttarakhand will become the first state in the country after Independence to adopt it. A UCC has been operational in Goa since the days of the Portuguese rule.

A Uniform Civil Code for Uttarakhand was a major election promise by Dhami in the 2022 assembly polls.

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The final draft of the UCC running into 740 pages in four volumes was submitted to Chief Minister Dhami here recently by a five-member panel headed by retired judge of the Supreme Court Ranjana Prakash Desai. The special session of the Assembly, starting on Monday, will go on till February 8. The BJP's landslide victory for a second consecutive term in power in Uttarakhand has been attributed on many occasions by the chief minister to the pre-poll promise of a UCC.

After becoming chief minister for a second consecutive term, Dhami accorded top priority to fulfilling his pre-poll commitment, announcing the constitution of a committee to prepare the draft of the UCC at the first meeting of the state cabinet after assuming office. The Committee formed in May 2022 took nearly two years and four extensions to prepare the draft and submit it to the chief minister here on Friday. Implementation of the UCC will provide a legal framework for uniform marriage, divorce, land, property and inheritance laws for all citizens across all faiths in the state. The panel received 2.33 lakh written suggestions online and held more than 70 meetings in which the members interacted with around 60,000 people in the course of preparing the draft. On the day the final draft was submitted to the chief minister, he expressed hope that many states would follow the example of Uttarakhand and use the template provided by the state to implement the UCC.

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Jaipur, Feb 4 (PTI) Former foreign secretary Shyam Saran said the US, which first persuaded India on the formation of the Quad, had later wanted the then prime minister Manmohan Singh to "not encourage" his Japanese counterpart on the diplomatic alliance.

Speaking here at the 17th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) on Saturday, Saran said the US explained its position on the Quad saying it needed to have China on its side on the issue of Iran and North Korea's nuclear programmes and had argued that "neither the Chinese nor the Russians were very happy with the Quad.

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The Quad, a diplomatic partnership between four countries  Australia, India, Japan, and the United States  went into cold storage after protests from China. It was reinstated in 2017, after a gap of 10 years, in the face of China's growing assertiveness in world affairs.

"What happened was before our PM Dr Manmohan Singh's visit to Tokyo for an official visit, I was contacted by our American friends and we were told, 'Please tell your PM not to encourage Abe (the then Japanese PM) on the Quad. He would like to push this forward. This is not the time we should be doing this'," Saran said.

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Saran, who was the foreign secretary between 2004 and 2006, made the remarks during a session titled 'Heart of the Matter: Quad and the new Indo-Pacific Vision' at the JLF on Saturday.

Surprised by the US stance, Saran said he asked two things to the US official: Japan is your ally, why don't you talk to them yourself?' and You are the ones who persuaded us that this was a great platform to be on, why are you now trying to step back'.

Saran said the US official replied: We need the Chinese today because we have the Iran nuclear issue before the UNSC. We also have the North Korea six-party talks that we are trying to revive... It is not that we are stepping back but for the time being let us wait.

To which Saran said he replied, It was your (US) initiative. You don't think it is convenient at this point of time, so be it.

The origins of the Quad lie in the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, when the four countries formed the Tsunami Core Group' to coordinate the emergency response and humanitarian assistance.

In subsequent years, there were efforts to institutionalise it into the Quad alliance, which was led by late Shinzo Abe during his first term as prime minister of Japan from 2006 to 2007.

The US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, who was among the panellists discussing the topic, did not directly respond to Saran's remarks but said the present and the history we are writing is more important to him than past events.

"My president whose first engagement of all the countries, of all the institutions  bilateral, trilateral, quadrilateral  he engaged in was the Quad in Washington D.C. where he hosted the three national leaders (from India, Japan, Australia). And that was a very powerful turn for us. So history is interesting to me but not that interesting to me... the history we are writing is not only fascinating, it is deep," he added.

Saran said he had no doubt that China was the "cement which holds the Quad alliance together, and added that Beijing, which first called the Quad "some fluff on the ocean wave", won't call it the same anymore as the group today has acquired "substance".

"Maybe it is not against China, but it has certainly been made more crystallised as a result of a common sense amongst all our partners that the balance of power in the - what we call the Indo-Pacific - has been changing against us. And therefore if we do not work together this balance is going to get worse," the 78-year-old career diplomat said.

Former Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Japan's Ambassador to India Hiroshi Suzuki and Australia's Ambassador to India Philip Green were the other panellists taking part in the discussion.

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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- The People's Government of Sichuan Province and CATL recently signed an agreement in Chengdu city to comprehensively cement their strategic cooperation, according to a post on CATL's WeChat account.

Photo credit: CATL

According to the agreement, both parties will broaden the scope of collaboration, deepen cooperation models, and enhance collaboration mechanisms. The focus will be on strengthening cooperation in green energy development, innovative energy storage, and the construction of "zero-carbon industrial parks." The collaboration aims to advance lithium mining resource utilization, propel the construction of CATL's Southwest regional headquarters, and use projects as catalysts to drive the high-quality development of Sichuan's power battery industry, establishing a world-class comprehensive base for new energy industries.

Since the establishment of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sichuan Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited ("CATL-SC"), in 2019, CATL has invested in and implemented various significant new energy projects in locations such as Yibin, Chengdu, and Ganzi. These projects have played a pivotal role in attracting and establishing supply chain enterprises across multiple cities and prefectures in Sichuan.
New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) After Ayodhya, SpiceJet plans to expand its business over the next two years and increase connectivity between various tourist and religious destinations including Lakshadweep, the airline's chief Ajay Singh said.

The domestic carrier has also plans to operate seaplanes and is awaiting infrastructure development for water ports, the CMD told PTI in an interaction.

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"I think this is the time to expand. SpiceJet will do its utmost to expand its business over the next two years. We want to connect many tourist destinations, religious tourism, medical tourism, places like Lakshadweep," Singh said in reply to a question on company's expansion plan.

According to Sing, the airline already has the licence to operate seaplanes and plans are in the works to connect several locations through seaplane services.

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On February 1, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Minister of State V K Singh jointly inaugurated SpiceJet's direct flight service connecting Ayodhya with eight cities.

Asked about the company's plan to connect Ayodhya with more locations through its network, Singh said every large and small city today wants connectivity with Ayodhya. So the plans are in the works.

"I think every airline wants to connect with Ayodhya today with more and more flights. I think soon enough the government will have to expand the airport at Ayodhya.

"There is no doubt that Ayodhya will be one of the leading tourism destination in the world. Just like you hear Vatican or Mecca, I have no doubt that Ayodhya will become the largest tourist destination in the world," he said.

Singh further said the air cargo segment sees growth in a very big way and SpiceJet hopes to start air cargo services using wide-body aircraft not just within the country but also overseas, including large commercial centres across the globe.

The company also aims to complete the listing process on NSE soon, he said.

"We have applied already. We are pushing to just as soon as possible. We have a few meetings over the next two-three days to ensure we shorten the process of listing as soon as possible," Singh said.

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Lucknow, February 4: Seeking to connect with voters of the minority community in Muslim-dominated Lok Sabha constituencies of western Uttar Pradesh, the minority front of the BJP is all set to organise 'Quami Chaupal' in more than 4,100 villages and discuss issues concerning them. The campaign will start on February 10 from Kaserwa village of Muzaffarnagar district.

The BJP's Minority Morcha will depute Lok Sabha constituency-wise in-charge for the 'Qaumi Chaupal' programme to be organised in 23 Lok Sabha constituencies of Western Uttar Pradesh BJP Minority Morcha's Uttar Pradesh unit president Kunwar Basit Ali told PTI that the Morcha has selected 23 Muslim dominated Lok Sabha constituencies, including Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Kairana, Meerut, Baghpat, Bulandshahr, Bijnor, Amroha, Rampur, Bareilly, Agra and Aligarh, for the programme. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP To Set Agenda for General Polls in Two-Day National Convention on February 17-18

Leaders of the Morcha will visit the Muslim-dominated villages and discuss various schemes of the government and the work done by the government for the minorities. The Morcha will also seek to understand the various issues and problems faced by the community. Ali said the main objective is to connect more and more Muslims with the BJP. These chaupals will be organised in the homes of eminent persons of the village or in madrassas.

He said the Morcha's effort is to connect with that section of Muslims who are looking for a party that will work for their welfare. When this section of Muslims joins the BJP, they will vote in favour of the BJP for their respect and also to remain associated with the party. He said in order to organise Qaumi Chaupals in all the 23 Lok Sabha constituencies, one in-charge of the Morcha will be appointed who will stay in the area under his charge for at least 10 days and will communicate with the Muslim villagers and try to know their problems. Alok Sharma Urges Muslim Voters, Says 'If Not for BJP, Do Not Vote'; Minority Commission Seeks MP Govt's Response on Former Bhopal Mayor's Controversial Remark

Ali said the Morcha's 'Shukriya Modi Bhai Jaan' programme is also going on, but it is especially focused on Muslim women. Qaumi Chaupal is an exercise to reach out to the predominantly male voters and connect them with the BJP. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had won 19 out of 26 Lok Sabha seats in Western Uttar Pradesh, while the alliance of Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party got seven seats. This time the BJP is working on a strategy of winning all the 80 Lok Sabha seats of Uttar Pradesh.

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New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) Tata Steel has proposed an additional financial 'support package' of around 130 million pounds for the workers who would be affected as part of its transition plan in the UK, the company's CFO Koushik Chatterjee said.

To reduce carbon emissions and save energy costs, the company drafted a decarbonisation plan for Tata Steel UK which includes installing new plant machinery with low-emission technologies.

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Accordingly, the company would close both the high-emission blast furnaces and coke ovens in a phased manner in 2024 and shift to an (electric arc furnace) EAF-based steel making at a cost of about 1.25 billion pounds, with 500 million pounds support from the UK government, Chatterjee said in an earnings call.

"Tata Steel is acutely aware of the impact of its proposal to wind down the heavy end of Port Talbot on the individuals and on the local community associated with our steel works, and we will meaningfully consult with our employees and work to provide them a fair, dignified, and considerate outcome," he said.

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Tata Steel proposes to commit in excess of 130 million pounds to a comprehensive support package for the affected employees, the CFO said.

This is in addition to the 100 million pounds funding for the Transition Board set up by the company along with the UK and the Welsh government, in which the company has contributed GBP 20 million, he said.

Tata Steel CEO & MD T. V. Narendran said, "We have tried very hard for the last 15 years to support this (UK) business. But I think we have reached a stage where continuing as we did, is no longer an option." "It is a difficult situation for our employees. We fully empathise with that," he said.

Tata Steel UK will be closing its first blast furnace by mid-this year while the second furnace is planned to be shut down in the second half of 2024, he said.

The transition to EAF-based steel-making will save 50 million tons of CO2 emissions over a decade, Narendran said.

India-headquartered Tata Steel owns the UK's largest steelworks at Port Talbot in South Wales and employs around 8,000 people across all its operations in the country.

In September 2023, Tata Steel and the UK government agreed on a joint investment plan of 1.25 billion pounds to execute decarbonisation plans at the Port Talbot steel-making facility in Britain.

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Actor Sterling K Brown talked about his nomination for the Oscar 2024 and said that he might lose it to Robert Downey Jr, while praising him for his acting skills, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Sterling K Brown, Robert Downey Jr. along with Robert De Niro, Ryan Gosling and Mark Ruffalo, are competing for best supporting actor at the 2024 Academy Awards."Robert Downey Jr. is going to win, and he's incredibly deserving," Brown said of the Oppenheimer star and his fellow nominee. "He's an incredible actor. You should give him love. And the fact that I get a chance to be nominated along with him and Mr. [Robert] De Niro and Ryan Gosling and [Mark] Ruffalo, I'm just happy to be in the room."The actor, who is up for best-supporting actor for his performance in American Fiction, recently said on The Graham Norton Show, "There's no losing yet -- it'll happen in its own due time." Oscars 2024: Ryan Gosling REACTS to Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig Being Left Out in Nominations, Declares 'No Ken without Barbie.

Brown went on to suggest that "Colman [Domingo] will probably win," and added, "I know I'm not going to win." Domingo was also a guest on the BBC show, as well as scored a Best Leading Actor Oscar nomination for Rustin. Though Graham Norton and the other guests pushed back, reminding Brown that he still has a decent chance of winning, the This Is Us actor acknowledged he is "totally fine" if he does not win the trophy. Brown told last month that he thought the Cord Jefferson-directed movie, adapted from Percival Everett's 2001 novel Erasure, "was one of the best scripts I'd ever read." Oscars 2024 Nominations Out! Oppenheimer, Barbie, Poor Things Lead Nominees for 96th Academy Awards - See Full List.

Sterling K Brown Predicts Robert Downey Jr's Win for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars 2024

Sterling K. Brown Predicts He Will Lose To Robert Downey Jr. At The Oscars: "He's Incredibly Deserving" https://t.co/o4jV8VlhzH  Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) February 4, 2024

"It was able to make fun of an industry and also challenge it to say there are ways in which you could be better," he said of American Fiction. "You are narrow in terms of Black life that you are willing to portray for mass consumption. I'm going to tell you that, and at the same time, I'm going to give you an idea of other stories that would be viable for mass consumption," reported The Hollywood Reporter.
Jerusalem, Feb 4 (AP) Iran issued a warning on Sunday to the US over potentially targeting two cargo ships in the Mideast long suspected of serving as forwarding operating base for Iranian commandos, just after America and the United Kingdom launched a massive airstrike campaign against Yemen's Houthi rebels.

The statement from Iran on the Behshad and Saviz ships appeared to signal Tehran's growing unease over the US strikes in recent days in Iraq, Syria and Yemen targeting militias backed by the Islamic Republic.

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Those attacks, themselves a retaliatory campaign for the killing of three US soldiers and wounding of dozens of others in Jordan, all stem back to Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has escalated tensions across the wider Middle East and raised fears about a regional conflict breaking out.

The Yemen strikes overnight on Sunday struck across six provinces of Yemen held by the Houthi rebels, including in Sanaa, the capital. The Houthis gave no assessment of the damage but the US described hitting underground missile arsenals, launch sites and helicopters used by the rebels.

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These attacks will not discourage Yemeni forces and the nation from maintaining their support for Palestinians in the face of the Zionist occupation and crimes, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said. The aggressors' airstrikes will not go unanswered.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin warned the Houthis after the strikes that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels.

That message was echoed by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who said: The Houthi attacks must stop.

The Behshad and Saviz are registered as commercial cargo ships with a Tehran-based company the US Treasury has sanctioned as a front for the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. The Saviz, then later the Behshad, have loitered for years in the Red Sea off Yemen, suspected of serving as spy positions for Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

In 2017, Saudi Arabia described the Saviz as a maritime base and weapons transshipment point for the Guard, staffed by men in military fatigues. Footage aired by Saudi-owned television channels showed the vessel armed with what appeared to be a covered machine gun bolted to the ship's deck.

In the video statement on Sunday by the Iran's regular army, a narrator for the first time describes the vessels as floating armories".

The narrator describes the Behshad as aiding an Iranian mission to counteract piracy in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

However, Iran is not publicly known to have taken part in any of the recent campaigns against rising Somali piracy in the region off the back of the Houthi attacks.

Just before the new campaign of US airstrikes began, the Behshad travelled south into the Gulf of Aden. It's now docked in Djibouti in East Africa just off the coast from a Chinese military base in the country.

The statement ends with a warning overlaid with a montage of footage of US warships and an American flag.

Those engaging in terrorist activities against Behshad or similar vessels jeopardise international maritime routes, security and assume global responsibility for potential future international risks, the video said.

The US Navy's Mideast-based 5th Fleet did not immediately respond to a request for comment over the threat.

The Saviz, which is now in the Indian Ocean near where the US alleges Iranian drone attacks recently have targeted shipping, has come under attack before. In 2021, a likely limpet mine explosion blew a hole through the hull of the Saviz, forcing Iran to bring the ship home. That attack, suspected to have been carried out by Israel, is part of a wider shadow war between Tehran and Israel after the collapse of the Iran nuclear deal. (AP)

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Canberra [Australia], February 4 (ANI): Advocating a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, a group of prominent Australians, including former politicians, diplomats and academics, have called on the Australian government to adopt "an activist middle power role" to avert the US-China conflict, Voice of America (VOA) reported.

The group, led by former Australian Foreign Affairs ministers Bob Carr and Gareth Evans, said in a statement that without a "comprehensive new detente," tensions between the US and China could escalate into a conflict that could involve Australia.

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A total of 50 prominent Australian public figures, including former state government premiers, diplomats, writers and academics, have called on the government to act as an intermediary to defuse tensions.

The group said it supports "a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region in which the United States and China respect and recognise each other as equals."

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It added that if "neither side demands absolute primacy," the risk to "global peace and prosperity" would be reduced.

However, there has been no official comment so far from Washington or Beijing on the declaration.

Notably, China is Australia's biggest trading partner.

According to VOA, the center-left government of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stabilized relations with Beijing after years of disagreement and distrust over various geopolitical and trade disputes, including China's ambitions in the Pacific and the origins of the Covid pandemic.

But Australia also has deep-seated security links to the United States dating back to the early 1950s.

Carr told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that Australia has the opportunity to act as an honest broker between the United States and China.

"Australia's role is to plant the notion of greater collaboration and less adversarial talk in the relationship," he said. "Taiwan, the most challenging diplomatic question here, provides a perfect opportunity of diplomatic language being an alternative to a descent into conflict and argument that could give rise to war".

Earlier, the Australian government conceded that there would be differences and difficulties in its bilateral relationship with China.

The government is still pushing ahead with plans to acquire nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS accord with the United States and the United Kingdom.

VOA further reported, citing analysts, that China's increasing 'assertiveness' is a key motivation behind the trilateral AUKUS agreement, but China has accused the three countries of a "Cold War mentality," saying the alliance was embarking on a "path of error and danger." (ANI)

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London, Feb 4 (PTI) The UK government has proposed plans to criminalise the act of climbing war memorials and remembrance sites, as witnessed during a series of widespread protests in the country against the Israel-Gaza conflict.

UK Home Secretary James Cleverly has issued guidance this weekend which will lead to a three-month prison sentence for anyone who mounts a memorial during a protest march because he said that ascending memorials was "an insult".

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The senior Cabinet minister reiterated his support for peaceful protest as he unveiled the new public order offence powers for Britain's police force.

"Recent protests have seen a small minority dedicated to causing damage and insulting those who paid the ultimate price for their freedom to protest, said Cleverly.

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"Peaceful protest is fundamental in our county, but climbing on our war memorials is an insult to these monuments of remembrance and cannot continue. That is why I am giving police the powers they need to ensure they have the tools to keep order and peace on our streets."

The measure, designed to apply across England and Wales, is scheduled to be introduced as an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill in the House of Commons. The UK Home Office said the proposal will form part of a wider plan set to be revealed next week to tackle disorder at protests.

Under the new plans, climbing on war memorials will become a specific public order offence which could lead to a prison term for up to three months and a GBP 1,000 fine. The Home Office said the measure would "stop protesters disrespecting those who have given their lives for our country".

The announcement comes soon after 10,000 pro-Palestine protesters marched in central London on Saturday calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

The Metropolitan Police has so far said that protesters' actions may have been inflammatory but not illegal.

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Tel Aviv, February 4: In a rare admission, Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari acknowledged on Saturday that Israel has hit more than 50 targets belonging to Hezbollah and other Iran-backed militias in Syria since October 7. Israel has been hitting targets belonging to Iran and its proxy militias in Syria for years, though only acknowledging them infrequently and in general ways.

Overall, the IDF has struck more than 3,400 Hezbollah targets in Southern Lebanon since October 7, Hagari said. According to Hagari, this includes 40 weapons depots, 40 command and control centers, 120 observation posts, and 150 Hezbollah terror cells. Israel Attacks Hezbollah: Israeli Defence Forces Carry Out Airstrike on Hezbollah Site in Southern Lebanon (Watch Video).

Hagari said around 200 members of the Iran-backed Hezbollah have been killed in the airstrikes. "Everywhere Hezbollah is, we shall be. We will take action everywhere required in the Middle East," Hagari said. Since October 7, Hezbollah has fired more than 2,000 rockets and anti-tank missiles and launched dozens of aerial drones, killing 18 Israelis and forcing over 80,000 living near the Lebanese border to evacuate. Israel-Hamas War: 'Hezbollah Is Aggressive, It Is Dragging Lebanese Into the War', Says IDF Spokesperson Jonathan Conricus (Watch Video).

Hagari disclosed that Israel has deployed three army divisions to the Lebanese border. The presence of armed Hezbollah forces in Southern Lebanon violates UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the Second War in Lebanon in 2006. Under that agreement, the Lebanese Armed Forces are supposed to be the only armed group south of the Litani River.

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Colombo [Sri Lanka], February 4 (ANI): Indian Navy's submarine INS Karanj is in Colombo for a two-day visit from February 3-5 for Operational Turn Around (OTA) with the purpose of replenishing soil and provisions, the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka said in a statement on Sunday.

INS Karanj arrived in Colombo on Saturday and was received in a ceremonial manner by the Officer of the guard of Sri Lanka Navy

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Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, visited the submarine on Saturday and interacted with the commanding officer, Commander Arunabh and his crew.

https://x.com/IndiainSL/status/1754073564154937840?s=20

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Later in the day, around 100 nominated personnel from the Sri Lanka Navy were briefed about the submarine onboard. The Commanding Officer is scheduled to call on the Commander of the Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral Saman Perera, at Western Naval Headquarters during the stay, the statement read.

Notably, INS Karanj is the third of the Kalveri class submarines commissioned into the Indian Navy on March 10, 2021.

This is the first foreign port call for INS Karanj since its commissioning. Previously, another Kalveri class submarine, INS Vagir, visited Colombo in relation to the International Day of Yoga in June 2023.

"The visit is an Operational Turn Around (OTR), wherein the submarine will replenish fuel and provisions. The crew will recuperate and have the opportunity of visiting places of interest in Colombo and Galle. The submarine will depart the island on February 5 2024," the Indian High Commission added.

Earlier on Friday, the Indian Navy foiled another piracy attempt along the east coast of Somalia and saved Pakistani and Iranian crew members.

This incident came on the heels of similar operations, where the Indian Navy carried out two major rescue operations within 36 hours and rescued two hijacked fishing vessels and crew members, including 17 Iranian and 19 Pakistani nationals.

Earlier, in a rapid and effective response, the Indian Navy's mission-deployed guided missile destroyer, INS Visakhapatnam, on January 18 addressed a distress call from the Marshall Island-flagged MV Genco Picardy following a drone attack on the night of January 17.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that maritime piracy and smuggling will not be tolerated under any circumstances. He also said that the central government is committed to fulfilling the needs of the Indian Army

Meanwhile, the INS Sandhayak, the first Survey Vessel Large (SVL) ship was commissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam on Friday. (ANI)

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Tel Aviv, February 4: Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) launched an airstrike on a Hezbollah building in the southern Lebanese village of Taybeh on Saturday, according to The Times of Israel. Throughout the day, the army fired artillery shells into different parts of Lebanon. The strikes came in retaliation, as Hezbollah launched rockets from Lebanon towards Mount Dov and the settlements of Even Menahem and Yir'on in Israel in the early hours of Saturday, The Times of Israel reported. Israel-Hamas War: 'Hezbollah Is Aggressive, It Is Dragging Lebanese Into the War', Says IDF Spokesperson Jonathan Conricus (Watch Video)

They, however, did not result in any casualties. The IDF has stated that it is targeting the launch sites of Hezbollah. Since the October 7 attack by Hamas terrorists on Israel from Gaza, Hezbollah has been operating freely against Israel along Lebanon's border with Israel, firing rockets and anti-tank missiles at Israeli towns and army positions and opening fire at troops on a near-daily basis. Hezbollah Commander Eliminated: Israeli Strike Kills Wissam Al-Tamil in the Latest Escalation Linked to the War in Gaza

Israel Attacks Hezbollah

The IDF releases footage showing a recent strike on a Hezbollah cell in the southern Lebanese village of Bint Jbeil, whose members were preparing to launch drones at Israel. pic.twitter.com/edStFhrVzd  Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) February 3, 2024

Hezbollah has been repeatedly cautioned to remain on the sidelines. Meanwhile, the IDF has time and again responded by striking the terror group's cells and posts in southern Lebanon. In the raging Israel-Hams war, at least 27,019 people have been killed and 66,139 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The revised death toll in Israel from the October 7 Hamas attacks stands at 1,139, Al Jazeera reported.

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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On February 3rd, Chinese auto parts supplier Tongyu Automotive and new energy commercial vehicle startup Neomor officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement, joining forces to collaborate on key chassis-by-wire technologies for commercial vehicles.

Photo credit: Tongyu Automotive

Neomor, the brainchild of Henan Derry New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd. ("Derry New Energy"), has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the new energy logistics vehicle sector, leveraging its accumulated technological and resource advantages. Qian Dezhu, Chairman and CEO of Derry New Energy, proudly announced the company's five-year journey, culminating in the entry into the new energy logistics vehicle market with the launch of the Neomor D01 platform-based models (including the D01 and the D02 models) in 2022. In early 2024, the first batch of exported D01 vehicles was officially shipped to Southeast Asia, marking the brand's foray into the international market.

Neomor D01 model; photo credit: Neomor

It's noteworthy that the Neomor D01 platform-based model is equipped with Tongyu Automotive's controlled-by-wire electronic hydraulic braking system (EHB) and electronic stability control system (ESC). Both EHB and ESC integrate an electronic parking brake system (EPB), establishing a redundant dual-control solution. The Neomor D01 model upon its release, quickly found applications in end-to-end delivery, express transportation, mobile sales, and other scenarios.
Islamabad [Pakistan], February 4 (ANI): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi was disqualified for five years by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday, as reported by ARY News.

The disqualification comes five days before the February 8 general elections, which the PTI is contesting despite a state crackdown and without its famous electoral symbol, the bat.

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According to an official order of the ECP, the former foreign minister has been disqualified as a result of the Special Court judge's decision in the case of 'The State versus Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi and Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi' on January 30."

"Shah Mehmood Qureshi has been held guilty u/s 5(3)(a), 5(1)(c) punishable u/s 5(3)(b) of OSA, 5(1)(d) Punishable u/s 5(3)(b) of OSA and Section 9 of the OSA read with 34 PPC and has been held guilty in light of charge u/s 5(3)(a) of the OSA, 1923 read with section 34 PPC and convicted and sentenced u/s 5(3)(a) read with section 34 PPC and convicted and sentenced u/s 5(3)(a) read with section 34 PPC and punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term of 10 years, guilty in light of charge u/s 9 read with section 5(3)(a) of OSA, 1923 and is convicted and sentenced u/s 5(3)(a) of OSA, 1923 with rigorous imprisonment for a term of 10 years," ARY News reported while quoting the ECP order.

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The order stated that Qureshi has been disqualified under Article 63(1)(h) of the Pakistan Constitution, as read with Section 232 of the Elections Act, 2017. As a result, the PTI vice chairman is barred from contesting the General Elections of 2024 and any later elections for a term of five years, as reported by ARY News.

On January 30, a special court constituted under the Official Secrets Act sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and ex-Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to ten years in prison in the cypher case.

The cypher issue involves a diplomatic document that Imran is accused of failing to return, according to the Federal Investigation Agency's charge sheet. The PTI said the paper included a threat from the United States to depose Imran as prime minister.

Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi have been on trial at Adiala Jail since last year for 'distorting' the facts of the diplomatic cypher case. Both PTI leaders were accused of conspiring to misuse the cypher's contents for illicit purposes." (ANI)

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Islamabad, Feb 4 (PTI) Pakistan's election commission has disqualified Shah Mahmood Qureshi, a close aide of jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan, from contesting elections for five years after the former foreign minister was sentenced to 10 years each in prison for leaking state secrets.

The disqualification of Qureshi, 67, comes five days before the February 8 general elections, which Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party is contesting despite a state crackdown and without its famous election symbol, the bat.

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The announcement comes days after a special court, established under the Official Secrets Act, awarded Qureshi 10 years imprisonment in the high-profile cypher case along with Khan.

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Citing the special court's judgement dated January 30, 2024, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that any convicted individual, in accordance with the Constitution and the law, cannot participate in elections, The Express Tribune reported.

As a consequence, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has become disqualified under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan read with Section 232 of the Elections Act, 2017. Therefore, Mr Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi is disqualified to contest General Elections-2024 and any subsequent elections for a period of five years," the ECP said on Saturday.

The cipher case pertains to a piece of paper, purported to be a diplomatic cable -- the cipher -- that Khan had waved at a public rally on March 27, 2022, and naming the US, had claimed that it was evidence' of an international conspiracy to topple his government.

The case was filed against Khan, 71, and Qureshi on August 15 last year by the Federal Investigation Agency, which accused both of violating the secrecy laws while handling the cable sent by the Pakistan embassy in Washington in March 2022.

Earlier, Khan has also been barred from politics for five years. PTI

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Punjab [Pakistan], February 4 (ANI): The police in Pakistan's Punjab province are set to acquire 29000 CCTV cameras worth Pakistani rupees (PKR) 1.35 billion for monitoring of general elections 2024, ARY News reported on Sunday.

According to the report, the agreement between Safe City Authority, Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), and National Radio Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) was signed in the presence of Punjab IG on the directions of caretaker CM, Mohsin Naqvi.

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Punjab IG Usman Anwar said the cameras will be the property of the provincial government after the elections.

The top cop said the cameras are equipped with night vision technology which will help smooth monitoring of the whole electoral process.

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Earlier on Saturday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) conducted another mock test of the Election Management System (EMS) to be used for the upcoming February 8 general elections, Dawn reported.

The ECP described the trial as successful.

The election body said the system designed for the tabulation and compilation of election results successfully completed all the required steps and goals.

According to ECP spokesman Syed Nadeem Haider, returning officers from 859 constituencies across the country participated in the experimental exercise of EMS, and the system's eligibility was tested both online and offline and was found to be satisfactory in all respects.

He added that the main purpose of EMS was the tabulation and compilation of election results and it would be used on polling day, according to Dawn.

The ECP recently concluded the training of nearly 1.49 million election staff to guarantee the smooth conduct of the forthcoming general elections, which are slated to take place on February 8, according to ARY News.

In a statement, the ECP spokesperson stated that the training sessions ensured that all electoral staff could carry out their obligations competently and professionally in the future general elections in 2024.

According to the commission's spokeswoman, a total of 27,676 sessions were held in distant places around the country over 87 days, with 3,821 master trainers involved in thorough election worker training, reported ARY News.

The training sessions began on November 19, 2023, and ended on the evening of February 3, 2024.

The participants in these courses were 144 District Returning Officers (DROs), 859 Returning Officers (ROs), and polling personnel. (ANI)

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Islamabad [Pakistan], February 4 (ANI): Ahead of the February 8 general elections, the Pakistan police stopped the electoral rally of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and seized their sound system along with the vehicles, as reported by The Express Tribune.

The incident took place at the Central Election and Liaison Office in Latifabad during the ongoing rally for National Assembly candidate Mustansar Billah.

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As soon as they got the information, the police contingent reached the site and instructed the participants of the rally to halt immediately, according to The Express Tribune.

Later, the police intervention led to a heated argument between a police officer and the PTI candidate.

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However, police mobile units were stationed at the liaison office to prevent any kind of rally by the party ahead of the elections.

Earlier this week, Pakistan police intensified the crackdown on PTI leaders and workers and have picked up over three dozen more party workers for being allegedly involved in violence during a rally at Teen Talwar over the weekend, Dawn reported.

They have been arrested on charges of rioting and attacking policemen, among other crimes.

Apart from the dozens of PTI leaders and workers named in the arson and terrorism FIR registered on behalf of the state after the Teen Talwar rally and violence, the police have also booked around 5000 unnamed workers of the party and have continued to carry out raids across the city to arrest them.

Moreover, on Friday, PTI intra-party elections, which were due to be held on February 5, were postponed.

PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said that the decision was announced on the directives of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan-based Geo News reported.

Gohar Khan said, "Intra-party elections can divert the attention of candidates and voters from the general elections." PTI appears to remain in limbo, mainly after the party was not given its electoral symbol "bat" after months of a legal battle with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Notably, Pakistan is gearing up to hold elections on February 8. (ANI)

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Santiago, February 4: As many as 46 people have been killed in forest fires raging in Chile, President Gabriel Boric said on Saturday. He added that the number of victims is likely to rise, NBC News reported. Chilean Interior Minister Carolina Toha, in a press conference, said 92 active fires are burning in Chile, affecting more than 43,000 hectares. Toha added that more than 1,100 homes have already been impacted.

Boric, in his virtual address, acknowledged the loss of lives and homes and promised Chileans that the government was actively working to provide resources. The president said, "I know that it is a very difficult time to lose the house that was built with so many years of sacrifice. Losing a family member, a loved one, is a heartbreak impossible to measure, but rest assured that our government is deployed with all the human, technical and budgetary resources." Chile Wildfire: At Least 46 Killed and Over 1,000 Homes Destroyed As Forest Fires Move Into Densely Populated Central Areas (Watch Videos)

The fires triggered evacuations in several regions of central Chile. In February 2023, fires in the country swept through more than 400,000 hectares and killed more than 22 people. Though this year's fires have not spread as widely, Toha said they are "multiplying rapidly" and are spreading closer to urban areas, so the potential to affect more people and structures is "very high", as per NBC News. The fires broke out as Chile faces a heat wave that has affected other Latin American countries as well.

Boric declared a state of emergency, and red alerts were issued for at-risk areas. Chile's Education Ministry has established 20 shelters in the regions of Valparaiso, O'Higgins and Los Lagos. Boric also flew over the region to assess the impacted areas. "We have worked to have the greatest resources in our history to face the wildfire season and deploy them from day one to prevent (forest fires) and help people," he said, as per NBC News. Chile Wildfire: At Least 19 Dead as Forest Fires Approach Densely Populated Areas, State of Emergency Declared

Chile Wildfire

The wildfires that are happening in Chile right now have a very eerie similarity to what happened in Hawaii last year. Thousands of homes have been destroyed. State of emergencyhas been declared. Death toll is expected to rise. pic.twitter.com/9Z4hOFQ9au  Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) February 4, 2024

The wildfires that are happening in Chile right now have a very eerie similarity to what happened in Hawaii last year. Thousands of homes have been destroyed. State of emergencyhas been declared. Death toll is expected to rise. pic.twitter.com/9Z4hOFQ9au  Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) February 4, 2024

Nineteen helicopters and more than 450 firefighters have been brought into the area to combat the blazes. Additionally, all mass commercial events in Valparaiso were suspended--including sporting, recreational and cultural events--to focus efforts on the fires.

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Moscow [Russia], February 4 (ANI): Several people, including journalists from foreign press organisations, were detained in Moscow after authorities cracked down on protesters at Russian President Vladimir Putin's election headquarters, independent media outlets reported, according to CNN.

The protests at the election headquarters were organised by the wives of mobilised men amid a growing movement of women who are demanding that their husbands and sons be returned home from fighting in Ukraine.

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A video seen by CNN shows Russian authorities detaining several people wearing 'Press' vests near the iconic Red Square.

It was reported that the "500 days of mobilisation" brought women to the walls of the Kremlin before moving to Putin's nearby election headquarters.

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The independent Russian news outlet SOTAvision posted on their Telegram channel that a correspondent saw security forces "snatching random people from the crowd, and only men."

As many as 27 people, only one of them a protester, were driven in a police van to Kitay-Gorod station where they are currently being held, according to OVD-info, a group that monitors Russian repression.

OVD-info said they dispatched a lawyer to visit the detainees but were denied access, CNN reported.

Independent Russian media group Mediazona reported on Saturday that among those held are journalists working for Kommersant, France Press and Spiegel, as well as human rights activists.

Another seven journalists covering the rally were taken to the Basmanny police station, OVD-info said. Among them is the representative of the Japanese television company 'Fuji' Andrei Zaiko. (ANI)

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Abu Dhabi [UAE], February 4 (ANI/WAM): Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region & Chairman of the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) has met with Sigrid Kaag, United Nations Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, at Al Nakheel Palace.

The meeting discussed the latest developments of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and ways of cooperation and coordination between the UAE and the UN to deliver relief aid, in light of the deteriorating humanitarian conditions of the civilians there.

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The two sides focused on areas of joint cooperation between the UAE, represented by its humanitarian arm, the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), and the UN, as well as areas of partnership in the humanitarian field, including the best ways to deliver humanitarian aid to those affected in the Gaza Strip and support the needy and affected areas.

Sheikh Hamdan welcomed the UN official's visit, stressing that the UAE, under the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is keen to extend all forms of support, including humanitarian aid, for all those in need around the world.

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He added that the UAE supports international efforts aimed to find solutions to humanitarian issues, based on its authentic approach and firm principles based on the values of humanitarian giving and helping the needy.

In this context, Sheikh Hamdan stressed the need to secure urgent humanitarian corridors to enable regional and international organisations to play their role in providing aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip.

"The Emirates Red Crescent is proud of its cooperation and distinguished relations with various United Nations organisations concerned with humanitarian aspects, which enabled it to make several achievements that contributed to alleviating the suffering of people in many areas where the ERC has been present in," Sheikh Hamdan said.

For her part, Sigrid Kaag praised the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to allocate USD 5 million in support of UN efforts in the Gaza Strip.

She expressed her thanks and appreciation for the role played by the UAE on the international humanitarian scene, which, she said, faces many challenges due to the escalation of events and crises in a number of countries around the world.

The international official also hailed the relief and food aid provided by the ERC in the Gaza Strip as part of the Gallant Knight 3 humanitarian operation.

The UAE is a global leader in humanitarian work, consistently ranking among the top donors of aid, she said, commending the country's unwavering commitment to humanitarian principles as evident in its strong support for UN efforts.

The meeting was attended by Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, Hamdan Musallam Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Red Crescent, Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs and Permanent Representative to the UN, and Ahmed Matar Al Dhaheri, Director of the Office of the Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region. (ANI/WAM)

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Dubai [UAE], February 4 (ANI/WAM): Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, today affirmed that extending the 'Year of Sustainability' into 2024, as announced by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reflects the nation's commitment to embedding sustainability across all sectors and instil these practices in the behaviour of society and future generations.

The goal is to build on the UAE's achievements in this field and increase its contribution to confronting global climate challenges and protecting the planet. This initiative builds on the success of COP28 and the historic UAE Consensus.

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Dr. Al Dahak emphasised that His Highness's statement serves as a powerful incentive for the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, which led national efforts for COP28, to continue working with relevant authorities and engaging the community towards achieving Net Zero by 2050.

On the 27th National Environment Day, held under the theme "Together for a Sustainable Local Product," Dr. Al Dahak urged collaboration among various stakeholders from the public, private sectors and the community to continue to protect the environment and conserve resources. She also reiterated the importance of supporting local products and raising awareness about transforming our food systems to become more sustainable, resilient, and locally sourced.

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On National Environment Day, the UAE renews its commitment to confronting the challenges facing our planet and reaffirms its determination to build on the legacy and environmental stewardship of the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Achieving a sustainable food supply requires innovation, collaboration, and dialogue with crop and livestock farmers, as well as fisheries. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment is helping drive these conversations and is supporting individuals spearheading the development and sustainability of the nation's local produce.

Dr. Al Dahak praised the work of these groups, saying, "On National Environment Day, let's enhance collaboration, and engage in meaningful dialogues with farmers, livestock farmers, and fishermen, who are the backbone of the security of food we have established in the UAE. We must eliminate obstacles, enabling them to contribute effectively to boosting our local products."

She added, "From the food we consume to the products we purchase and the water we use, every choice influences our environment. While our food systems address humanity's fundamental needs, they also contribute to one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions."

Dr. Al Dahak urged all stakeholders, including public and governmental bodies, relevant organizations, and the community, to unite in championing local products in the UAE, empowering those leading us towards this goal.

This year's theme will focus on engaging with local producers, and the community to shed light on the importance of bringing together all stakeholders and the community to increase domestic food production and consumption.

Sustainable local produce plays a crucial role in promoting community and environmental health. Opting for local products not only ensures sustainable access to quality and nutritious food for people in the UAE, but it also reduces emissions and actively contributes to the growth of local businesses and the community's economic prosperity.

This year's National Environment Day builds on the success of COP28, held in the UAE last year, where food systems sat at the heart of negotiations and climate progress.

During COP28, over 159 Heads of State and Government, representing a combined population of over 6.2 billion people, endorsed the 'COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action'. The Declaration recognizes the potential of agriculture and food systems to drive innovative responses to climate change, and ensure safe, sufficient, affordable, and nutritious food for all.

The nation's Net Zero by 2050 Strategy was launched prior to the start of COP28. It set out a plan for how the country will build on the momentum created by its Third Update to the Second Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), moving from 40 percent emission reduction by 2030, to Net Zero by 2050.

MOCCAE considers it imperative that alongside the integration of innovation and technology into our food systems, the entire supply chain works collaboratively to ensure we produce, source, consume, and dispose of food sustainably.

National Environment Day activities beginning today will continue through to World Environment Day on 5th June.(ANI/WAM)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, DC [US], February 4 (ANI): The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, a social movement for Pashtun human rights, organised a sit-in at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 3, demanding the release of activist Manzoor Pashteen.

PTM-United States' official account on X said: "Mazoor Pashteen has been subjected to relentless torture by Punjabi police in jail. The international community cannot ignore this. Urgently calling for solidarity to denounce these severe human rights violations and demand Pashteen's immediate release. Silence is complicity."

Also Read | 'I Am Planning To Kill Elon Musk, Joe Biden': Tesla Worker Justin McCauley, Arrested for Threatening To Kill US President and Tech Billionaire.

An X user and supporter of Pashteen, Faiz Baloch, wrote, "Detaining Manzoor Pashteen on baseless charges may confine his body but it cannot shackle the indomitable spirit of his mind."

"In solidarity with the Pashtun people in their struggle against Pakistani state oppression," the user wrote.

Also Read | Hage Geingob Dies: Namibian President Passes Away at 82 Weeks After Cancer Diagnosis.

Manzoor Pashteen was reportedly abducted by Pakistan's intelligence agencies on his way to Turbat town in Balochistan on December 4 last year.

Pashteen, who founded PTM in 2014, advocates for the rights of Pashtuns, who are affected by Pakistan's so-called war against the Taliban and its local affiliate, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The PTM has also been raising its voice for the Baloch, who have been facing similar atrocities at the hands of the security agencies. Supporters of Pashteen opine that the human rights defender speaks of the rule of law, constitutionalism, equality, and justice. Yet he is being persecuted on bogus charges.

In the beginning of January this year, Mazoor was granted post-arrest bail by the Sessions Court in Islamabad. The federal capital police, after completing the judicial remand, had presented the PTM chief before the senior civil judge Shabbir Bhatti's court, where the court, after hearing the argument, approved the post-arrest bail of Pashteen.

But the Pashtun leader was once again re-arrested by the police merely days after getting a bail order, reportedly being taken to an undisclosed location. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, Feb 4 (PTI) Militaries from the United States and the United Kingdom conducted additional strikes against the Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen on Saturday, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has said.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Austin said that the US and the UK also received support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand in conducting the additional strikes. "Militaries from the United States and United Kingdom conducted additional strikes against the Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. This collective action sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels. We will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world's most critical waterways, Austin said.

Also Read | Earthquake in US: Quake of Magnitude 5.1 on Richter Scale Hits Oklahoma, No Casualty Reported.

These strikes, he said, are intended to disrupt further and degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia to conduct their reckless and destabilising attacks against US and international vessels lawfully transiting the Red Sea.

Austin said that the coalition forces targeted 13 locations associated with the Houthis' deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defence systems, and radars, Austin said.

Also Read | Chile Wildfire: At Least 19 Dead as Forest Fires Approach Densely Populated Areas, State of Emergency Declared.

A joint statement issued by the US, the UK and its other coalition partners said that the militaries of the United States and United Kingdom, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand conducted an additional round of proportionate and necessary strikes against 36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen.

This was in response to the Houthis' continued attacks against international and commercial shipping as well as naval vessels transiting the Red Sea.

These precision strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade, and the lives of innocent mariners, and are in response to a series of illegal, dangerous, and destabilising Houthi actions since previous coalition strikes on January 11 and 22, 2024, including the January 27 attack which struck and set ablaze the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker M/V Marlin Luanda, the statement added.

Today's strike specifically targeted sites associated with the Houthis' deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defence systems, and radars, it said.

The Houthis' now more than 30 attacks on commercial vessels and naval vessels since mid-November constitute an international challenge.

Recognising the broad consensus of the international community, our coalition of like-minded countries committed to upholding the rules-based order has continued to grow. We remain committed to protecting freedom of navigation and international commerce and holding the Houthis accountable for their illegal and unjustifiable attacks on commercial shipping and naval vessels, the statement said.

Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea but let us reiterate our warning to Houthi leadership: we will not hesitate to continue to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world's most critical waterways in the face of continued threats, said the statement issued by these countries.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- FORVIA, the world's 7th-largest automotive technology supplier that operate both Faurecia and HELLA, held the opening ceremony for Faurecia (Shanghai) Hydrogen Solutions Holding Co., Ltd. in the Jiading District of Shanghai on February 3.

With the establishment of this new entity, Faurecia aims to further expand its hydrogen energy business in China, driving R&D as well as production of cutting-edge hydrogen storage system products. The company also seeks to strengthen collaboration with domestic hydrogen energy industry partners across the entire value chain.

Photo credit: FORVIA Faurecia

As the world faces increasingly severe global climate issues, FORVIA Group has set a goal to achieve net-zero emissions across all scopes by 2045. Based on the maxim to "use less, use better, and use longer", the group's carbon-neutral strategy spans operational aspects, product development, and carbon offsetting throughout the industrial value chain. As China intensifies its investments and support for renewable energy, Faurecia is reinforcing its commitment to hydrogen energy business development in the Chinese market, aligning its advanced hydrogen storage solutions with market demands to contribute to emissions-free transportation.

Photo credit: FORVIA Faurecia

Shanghai, as a trailblazer in hydrogen energy industry development in China, actively promotes the continuous growth of fuel cell vehicles, aiming to become a world-class hub for hydrogen energy technology innovation, industrial development, and diverse demonstration applications by 2035.

Capitalizing on favorable policy environments and the robust business foundation established by Faurecia in Shanghai and Jiading District, the group has decided to set up Faurecia (Shanghai) Hydrogen Solutions Holding Co., Ltd. This new entity, with approximately 35 employees, has established a hydrogen system assembly line with an annual output of 1,000 sets, continuously providing the market with high-performance and cost-effective hydrogen energy products.

FORVIA said it has invested over 400 million euros in the R&D of hydrogen energy technologies since 2018. Through its joint venture, Symbio, with Stellantis and Michelin, the group has developed and manufactured hydrogen storage systems and fuel cells, covering 75% of the hydrogen energy transportation value chain.

Faurecia is actively strategizing in the hydrogen energy industry, aiming to develop hydrogen storage solutions tailored for various applications, including passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, logistics, and industrial settings, over the next decade.

Faurecia, strategically aligning with China's goals, initiated its hydrogen energy business in the country by acquiring Faurecia Silinda Safety Technology (Shenyang) Co., Ltd. in 2021. In China, Faurecia Silinda has already delivered over 15,000 automotive Type III hydrogen gas cylinders and secured China's first production qualification and product type certification for Type IV hydrogen cylinders.

Furthermore, Faurecia continues to increase its investments in hydrogen energy business in China, establishing R&D centers in Shanghai and Shenyang cities, and holding controlling stakes in two hydrogen cylinder production bases.
The CBI has filed a charge sheet against a self-styled investigator, alleging that she cited 'forged' letters from high dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, in a YouTube video to support her claims about the death of actor Sridevi, officials said on Sunday. Boney Kapoor With Late Wife Sridevi in Pictures is Immensely Beautiful but Heartbreaking.

Last year (specify the year), the CBI registered a case against Deepti R Pinniti and her lawyer Bharath Suresh Kamath following a complaint from Mumbai-based lawyer Chandni Shah. The complaint, referred to the agency by the Prime Minister's Office, accused Pinniti of producing several forged documents, including letters from the prime minister and defence minister, as well as documents related to the Supreme Court and records from the UAE government.

Pinniti, an active participant in social media discussions on the deaths of Bollywood actors like Sridevi and Sushant Singh Rajput, made sensational claims regarding Sridevi's death, including a 'coverup between the two governments.' Sridevi (Shree Amma Yanger Ayyappan) Birth Anniversary: Boney Kapoor Shares Throwback Pic, Reminisces Old Times With Late Wife on Insta.

In response to a PTI query, Pinniti expressed disbelief, stating, 'It's kind of hard to believe that the CBI has filed a charge sheet against me without recording my statement... Moreover, the evidence will be given to court when charges are framed.' She added, 'When the letters in question are incriminating against the very authorities under whom the CBI comes, CBI becomes a party of conflict to be the entity to collect evidence.'

After filing an FIR against her last year (specify the year), the CBI searched her residence in Bhubaneswar on December 2, seizing digital devices, including phones and laptops. According to the CBI's report submitted to a special court, the investigation revealed that the documents she presented during YouTube discussions of the prime minister and the defence minister were 'forged.'

The agency has filed a charge sheet against her and Kamath under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 465, 469, and 471. Mumbai-based lawyer Shah, in her complaint, alleged, 'The suspect Deepti Rani Pinniti has time and again maligned the image of the present government by bizarrely accusing the government as the sponsor of the death of Sridevi.
Sri Lanka National Day is celebrated annually on February 4 to commemorate the countrys political independence from British rule in 1948. The day is celebrated all over Sri Lanka through a flag-hoisting ceremony, dances, parades, and performances. The main celebration takes place in Colombo, where the President of Sri Lanka raises the national flag and delivers a nationally televised speech. The day holds significant historical and cultural importance, and various events and festivities take place across the nation. As Sri Lanka National Day 2024 nears, lets learn more about Sri Lanka National Day 2024 date, the history and significance of the day and more. 360-degree Campaign, Diving Destination Launch: Sri Lanka Lays Recovery Roadmap for Tourism.

Sri Lanka National Day 2024 Date

Sri Lanka National Day will be celebrated on Sunday, February 4.

Sri Lanka National Day History

Sri Lanka, known as Ceylon during its colonial period, was under European rule for centuries. The Portuguese, Dutch, and the British held control over the region at different times. The British colonial administration implemented policies that favoured the interests of the colonial powers. The imposition of heavy taxes, the introduction of cash-crop agriculture, and the displacement of traditional industries contributed to economic hardships for the local population. Several leaders like DS Senanayake, SWRD Bandaranaike, and Don Stephen Senanayake played pivotal roles in articulating the demands for self-governance, gathered public support, and finally gained independence on February 4, 1948.

Sri Lanka National Day Significance

Sri Lanka National Day is a significant day for the people of Sri Lanka as it is a time for reflection, national pride, and celebration of the country's achievements. It brings together people from diverse backgrounds to commemorate the shared history and cultural identity of the nation. The celebrations include vibrant fireworks displays, parades and several other events as part of the National Day festivities. Volunteer activities, community service projects, and charitable initiatives are organized on this day to promote unity and social responsibility.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 04, 2024 10:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
The Bihar Education Department has made it mandatory for contractual teachers in the state to clear the competency examination conducted by it.
Elon Musk's friends and business acquaintances are reportedly under social pressure to consume drugs alongside him, according to a Wall Street Journal report. It is supposedly necessary for many of his company's directors and board members to support or partake in his drug usage in order to remain close to him. According to reports, Musk has been observed using liquid ecstasy and ketamine at parties. Directors and board members of SpaceX and Tesla, both present and past, have also taken narcotics. They allegedly put millions of dollars into Musk's businesses. Elon Musk Drug Use: World's Richest Person Allegedly Consumes LSD, Cocaine, Ecstasy and Psychedelic Mushrooms; Leaves Tesla and SpaceX Members Worried, Says Report.

Elon Musk Took Drugs, Prompted His Associates to Do Same: Report

Multiple directors of Elon Musks companiessome who have used drugs with himhave profited enormously from their deep ties to the billionaire, raising questions among shareholders about the boards independence. https://t.co/Ay8mr8AEuX https://t.co/Ay8mr8AEuX  The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) February 4, 2024

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
San Francisco, February 4: A Tesla employee, who threatened to kill US President Joe Biden and tech billionaire Elon Musk, was arrested in Texas, the media reported. As per court documents, 31-year-old Justin McCauley was charged on Tuesday with felony terroristic threats after tweeting, "@JoeBiden @X @Telsa @Elonmusk, I am planning to kill all of you", reports Fox News. "I will arrive in Texas, where the war has began on many fronts @X, @Tesla," McCauley wrote in another post.

McCauley's wife contacted Rogers police after he told her he was going to Texas and would never return, according to charges. She also informed police that McCauley had left his cell phone behind, making it impossible to track him down. According to the charges, McCauley was stopped by police in Oklahoma on January 26 while travelling through the state. McCauley told law enforcement that he wanted to speak with the president, the report mentioned. X Outperforms Facebook, Instagram in Driving Traffic Via Google Again, Elon Musk Reacts

When asked why, he allegedly replied, "wouldn't you want to talk to the president if you knew you were going to die tomorrow." The next morning, authorities were notified of a threat call at the Tesla Gigafactory in Austin. However, it remains unclear whether the 31-year-old employee initiated the call. According to court documents, law enforcement stopped McCauley in Austin. He allegedly told authorities that he planned to visit the Tesla Gigafactory to speak with Musk. US Presidential Election 2024: President Joe Biden Wins South Carolinas Democratic Primary As He Gears Up for His Reelection Bid

McCauley was then arrested. Meanwhile, Musk has announced that Tesla will move immediately to hold a shareholder vote to change its legal home from the US state of Delaware to Texas. This comes after a judge in Delaware ruled that Musk's $56 billion pay package is unfair and the Tesla board will need to come up with a new pay proposal.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 04, 2024 01:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
The owner of McCarthys Red Stag Pub & Whiskey Bar said a laundry snafu led to a fire that has temporarily shuttered the popular Bethlehem eatery.

Flames ignited around 4 a.m. Saturday at the building at 534 Main St. The restaurant is known for its authentic Irish and British Isles food made from scratch; full bar with an extensive Irish and Scottish whisky menu; and a family-friendly atmosphere. Owner Neville Gardner is a native of Northern Ireland.
More and more Easton Area School District children need help learning English to keep up in school, according to school district officials.

Coordinator of Multilingual Services Katie Sames shared some eye-opening numbers at the request of lehighvalleylive.com. She runs the school districts English Language Development program.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On Feb. 1, IM Motors, the premium electric vehicle brand co-owned by SAIC Motor, Alibaba Group, and Zhangjiang High-Tech, unveiled its latest sales figures for January 2024, showcasing a remarkable performance.

In January, IM Motors achieved a total sales figure of 5,305 units, with the IM LS6 accounting for nearly 90% of the total sales, reaching 4,766 units. The LS6 has maintained its position as the best-selling "mid-to-large pure electric SUV" for three consecutive months, surpassing 20,000 units in its cumulative deliveries.

IM LS6; photo credit: IM Motors

Comparatively, in December of the previous year, IM Motors delivered 10,412 vehicles, including 9,878 units of the LS6. The total sales for the entire year of 2023 reached 38,253 units.

Building on its sales success, IM Motors continues to make strides in intelligent driving technology. Following the nationwide launch of the High-Speed Expressway NOA (Navigate on Autopilot) at the end of last year, January witnessed the introduction of City NOA in the Shanghai area.

As part of its planned initiatives for the first quarter of this year, IM Motors will initiate a nationwide public test of the "Commute Mode Pilot Version." By June, the Map-free City NOA will officially debut, accelerating the expansion of its coverage to more cities nationwide, reaching 100 cities by the end of the year.

In the realm of technology development, IM Motors secured the 5 Level 3 Autonomous Driving Road-test Licenses in December 2023.
Editors Note: This story first appeared on Armchair Lehigh Valley and is being published on lehighvalleylive.com as part of a partnership with the website, which aims to give voters factual information in a nonpartisan way to help them make informed decisions at the polls. Armchair Lehigh Valley is run by publisher Katherine Reinhard and editor Robert H. Orenstein, two longtime journalists who formerly worked at The Morning Call in Allentown. Learn more about Armchair Lehigh Valley and subscribe here.

Kevin Dellicker began 2024 with the most money among Republican congressional candidates seeking their partys nomination for the 7th Congressional District, according to campaign finance reports filed this week with the Federal Election Commission.

However, the GOP candidates, who are in four-way contest in the April 23 primary, are far behind the incumbent, Democrat Susan Wild, who is seeking her fourth term representing the Lehigh Valley area.

Wilds campaign committee raised $2.15 million last year and, after expenses, ended with nearly $1.6 million. Her cash on hand is more than three times larger than the combined coffers of the four GOP candidates  a financial advantage that her eventual GOP competitor will have to surmount.

Dellickers campaign raised $241,827 and, after expenses, had $205,692 to start the primary season. The other candidates are state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, who raised $203,832 and, after expenses, had $137,615; Maria Montero, who brought in $147,783 and, after expenses, was left with $59,887, and Allen Issa, who raised $23,080 and had $15,993 after expenses.

Two years ago, Dellicker, making his first run for political office, lost the primary to veteran candidate Lisa Scheller, who outspent him 10-1 and grabbed 51% of the vote. Scheller, a former Lehigh County commissioner and the partys congressional nominee also in 2020, lost for the second time to Wild in 2022.

Scheller, who is not running a third time for Congress, is backing Montero this year. She gave Monteros campaign $3,330 and is one of three hosts for a campaign fundraiser Feb. 7 in Jim Thorpe.

November election outlook

The Nov. 5 election for the 7th District, comprising Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties and a small portion of Monroe County, once again is expected to be a close race, political observers say, particularly if President Bidens approval ratings dont improve by fall.

The 538 political data site, in its average of major polls, pegs Bidens approval rating at 39.3%, with 54.5% disapproving of the job he has done.

The Cook Political Report classified the 7th as a toss up, meaning either party could win.

But Democrats could have a tough time defending [Rep.] Susan Wild (PA-07)  if President Joe Bidens approval ratings remain mired around 40% and Donald Trump energizes more white non-college graduate voters to the polls in 2024, the Cook Political Report noted recently.

Another election analysis from Sabatos Crystal Ball, affiliated with the University of Virginias Center for Politics, also rated the November contest a toss-up.

The 2022 race in the 7th was also considered a toss-up and ended up being the most costly House race in Pennsylvania, closing in on $14 million.

Chris Borick, director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, credited Wilds 2022 win to her campaigning skills, which saw her crisscrossing the 7th, explaining how President Joe Bidens infrastructure bill, CHIPS Act and other policies were helping businesses and families.

Wild stayed away from culture war issues but put abortion rights front and center, he said, noting she benefited from the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision in June 2022, which gave states the right to decide on abortion. The ruling motivated Democrats to vote.

She got a big break with the Dobbs decision, Borick said. He said abortion will again play a large role in this years election.

Looming large, however, will be the presidential race, which, as of now, looks like it will be a repeat contest between Biden, a Democrat, and Trump, a Republican.

The dynamics of Trump and Biden will impact down ballot races, Borick said.

A Muhlenberg poll taken last year between Nov. 20 and Dec. 13 found the likely presidential contenders in a statistical dead heat (Biden 42%,Trump 41%) among registered voters in Pennsylvania if the election were held at that time. The poll was based on a telephone survey of 421 registered voters in Pennsylvania.

Because of the expectation of another close race in 2024, regardless of the GOP candidate, congressional campaign organizations for both major political parties again identified the 7th District as a key race.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee last March included Wild in its effort to provide additional money and resources in the fall campaigns in two dozen-plus races.

Three days later, the National Republican Congressional Committee listed Wilds 7th District among 27 Democratic seats it is targeting to flip to the GOP.

This year, Wild may have a primary opponent. Jenna Alwalah of Allentown, who declared her candidacy last month, has not made a formal announcement and did not raise any money in 2023. And Lewis Shupe of Allentown filed paperwork with the FEC to indicate his candidacy as an independent in November; he did not raise any money in 2023, either.

The Republican field

Kevin Dellicker

Dellicker of Heidelberg Township is a veteran who served a total of four tours in Afghanistan and Iraq in the years after 9/11 as an intelligence officer with the National Guard. He is now a commander of his National Guard unit. He owns Dellicker Strategies, which helps businesses and organizations, including school districts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with broadband internet access and cybersecurity.

In his 2020 primary campaign, he raised $233,027. Hes already exceeded that with $241,827 as of Jan. 1, with nearly four months before the primary.

One of his large donations, $3,300, came from William Bachenberg, who owns Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays and is president of Camp Freedom. In 2020, Bachenberg served as chairperson of the so-called alternate Pennsylvania Electoral College members who stood ready to cast their votes for Donald Trump had he prevailed in his lawsuits claiming he, not Joe Biden, had won the state. Last year, Bachenberg was sued in federal court in Michigan by a New York cybersecurity company for allegedly failing to pay for a forensic analysis of voting machines in Pennsylvanias Fulton County. Bachenberg, in a response to the lawsuit, denies the allegations.

Dellicker loaned his campaign $36,000, according to his campaign finance report. Additionally, Nazareth area race-car driving legend Mario Andretti contributed $1,000 to the campaign.

Ryan Mackenzie

A state representative since winning a special election from the 134th District in April 2012, Mackenzie was reelected to his seventh two-year term last November. Because of redistricting, Mackenzie last year was shifted into the 187th District, resulting in a primary contest against fellow Republican incumbent Gary Day. Mackenzie won the May 2022 primary with 61% of the vote and was unopposed in the general election.

Mackenzie, who lives in Lower Macungie Township, twice before was a candidate to represent the Lehigh Valley in Congress  in 2018 from the former 15th District and in 2022 from the 7th. Each time he withdrew before the primary, focusing instead on being reelected to the state House. When he announced his congressional candidacy last year, he said he would not seek reelection to the state House.

Mackenzie received more than $97,000 from WinRed, an online conservative fundraising operation for candidates.

Among his donors were the Associated Builders & Contractors Inc. PAC ($5,000), and nearly $18,000 from present and past colleagues in the state Legislature, including $1,000 each from the campaign committees of Lehigh Valley House members Ann Flood, Joe Emrick and Zach Mako.

Mackenzies mother, Milou, who also serves in the state House from the 131st District, personally gave $3,300 to the congressional campaign. Her election campaign committee also donated $1,000.

Lee Butz, chairman of the board of the Butz Family Companies in the Lehigh Valley, contributed $1,000 to Mackenzies campaign. (He also gave $500 to the Dellicker campaign.)

Maria Montero

Montero grew up in Allentown and Summit Hill, graduating from Marian Catholic High School in Rush Township, where she serves on the board of directors. As a single mother of a son, Montero earned a bachelors degree from St. Josephs University in Philadelphia and a law degree from Widener University. After law school, she practiced workers compensation law.

In 2001, Montero, who lives in Easton, was named to the Governors Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs by former Gov. Tom Ridge. Ten years later, former Gov. Tom Corbett appointed her as the executive director of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women. Montero co-founded the Lehigh Valleys Power of Women Networking Initiative.

In addition receiving money from Scheller, Monteros campaign got contributions from the Florida congressional campaign for John Quinones, $2,000; Duane Morris Government Committee, $4,000; Lehigh Valley developer Lou Pektor, $3,300; Frank Schoeneman, CEO for the Empire Education Group based in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, $3,300; the Meuser for Congress campaign committee, $2,000, and Team Montero, an affiliated committee, $4,000.

Allen Issa

Issa is a law student at Penn State who lives in Allentown. He graduated in 2019 from the University of California, Riverside with a bachelors degree in physics with a concentration in biophysics, according to his LinkedIn page.

On his campaign website, he says his first name comes from the city of Allentown, the city to which my parents immigrated from Syria.  Allentown is where the American Dream began for my family  where we learned the core Lehigh Valley values of hard work and service to community. He has served as a congressional aide and as a legal fellow last summer.

He raised the least amount of money in the GOP field  $23,080  with most of that coming from people in California.

Democratic candidate

Susan Wild

The year-end campaign finance report shows Wild of South Whitehall Township received $1,614,166 in individual contributions, $1,788 from political party committees and $542,771 from political action committees. She ended the year with $1,578,261.

Wilds $752,326 in spending went to salaries, administrative costs, political consulting fees, travel and technical services, among other costs.

Large donors included $3,300 each from Thomas Marchozzi, EVO and CFO of LVHN; Monica Isaacman of Easton, CEO of Rook Holdings LLC; David Goodrich of Schnecksville; Les Canney of Massachusetts; Erica Lawson, a San Francisco physician; Katy Jo Stewart, an attorney from Washington state; Michael Bills of Virginia, a founder of BlueStem Asset Management; Yaron Minsky of New York, a Jane Street Capital programmer; Christopher Pappo of Philadelphia; Molly Gochman of Texas; Sankey Williams of Haverford; Lisa Minsky-Primus, a New York physician and philanthropist; Corning Painter of Texas, CEO of Orion S.A.; David Trone of Maryland, owner of Total Wine & More; Lester Crown of Chicago, president of Henry Crown & Co.; Marsha Laufer of Florida; Kathy Kwan, a grantmaker from California, and Karla Jurvetson, a California physician.

Act Blue funneled $324,554 to Wild in 2023 while $35,462 flowed from JStreet PAC. Both act as clearinghouses for donors.

PAC donors included: $10,000 each from Tri-State Maxed Out Women PAC and California Leadership United for Victory PAC; $6,000 from the MA 4 Dems PAC in Massachusetts, and Jobs and Innovation Matter PAC; $5,000 each from National Air Traffic Controllers Association PAC, International Association of Firefighters Interested In Registration and Education PAC, and House Majority PAC; $4,000 each from National Roofing Contractors Association PAC and Blue Majority PAC; $3,500 each from the PAC of Credit Union National Association and American Council of Engineering Companies PAC; $3,300 from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmers Fight Like Hell PAC; and $3,000 each from Shore PAC, Houla PAC and Bridge the Gap PAC

Health care-related donations included $1,000 each from the American College of OB-GYNs PAC and Federation of American Hospitals PAC.
Another Groundhog Day-year in Pennsylvania, with property-tax-increase season right around the corner. Just like in the movie, theres always another day where everything is exactly the same but different. For decades, Pennsylvania legislators have known that funding schools through regressive property taxes was spiraling out of control, and leaving a huge disparity in public school funding.

Early in 2023, the Commonwealth Court deemed our education funding system unconstitutional, and directed lawmakers to develop a remedy with attention to adequacy, equity and timeliness. In response, the commission hosted 11 hearings across the state to gather input from public school finance experts, education advocates and others.

But the funding recommendations fail students and taxpayers, as the estimated cost if enacted by the legislature, would require more than $8 billion in recurring revenue each year, leading to big tax increases.

In 2017, Pennsylvania voters sent a clear mandate to eliminate property taxes by passing the 100% homestead exclusion referendum. Complete elimination of property tax is the only solution to this re-occurring nightmare scenario of annual property tax increases. Call and write your state representative and senator, keep the pressure on them and demand this get done.

Ed Kihm

Quakertown
A 'solid' year of business was experienced by People First Credit Union (PFCU), according to its CEO who, while optimistic about the future has, nevertheless, highlighted costs facing the operation.

Sean Dunne commented on 2023 operations in his CEO's report contained in the Annual Report presented to the AGM on January 30 last.

The financials show it was a solid year for PFCU with a modest surplus achieved being 443,195 for the year ending 30th September 2023. All key indicators are pointing in the right direction with both loan interest and investment returns growing.

However, as many small businesses will be keenly aware, the cost of doing business in Ireland is quite high. We have seen rises in employment costs, Central Bank levies, and repairs (once off due to the facade issue).

PFCU will continue to focus on unnecessary costs reduction.

I would like to reassure members that your credit union is strong and viable with Reserves of 20,530,161 and total assets of 156,177,900, said his report.

He said the Financial Advisory Service has been well received by members borrowing and he is looking forward to offering home and car insurance in 2024.

He said 2022/23 saw PFCU make upgrades to its IT hardware to future-proof its operating system. He added that discussions are underway on the development of an updated mobile app and online platform and the fruits of this work should be seen in early 2025.

While there are challenges, Mr Dunne concluded his report with an emphasis on opportunities

PFCU remains a strong credit union committed to the financial wellbeing of its members. We face into 2024 in a strong position to build on our success. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: People First CU staff at the AGM. Pic: Michael Scully

We will continue to improve and develop with the aim of stepping into the financial services gap left by the Banks and helping our members when they need it most, he wrote.

The annual report shows total loans granted for 2022/23 was 21,163,401 which represents an additional 1,517,742 on the previous 12 months.

The Loan Book at year-end was 38,995,526, an increase of over 11% from 2022.

The value of loans in arrears increased from 5.72% in 2022 to 6.28% in 2023. The value of Bad Debt recovered has decreased by 7.78%. The value of Bad Debt charged off increased by 77.5%. More below picture.

Pictured are People First CU members at the AGM in Portlaoise.

PCFU add that some 86% of loan applications were approved in the past year.

The Membership Committee reported that, of the 1289 new members welcomed during the past year, 205 have availed of lending facilities and currently hold loans to the value of 1.4 million and 93 have opened current accounts. A total of 322 new members were minors.

Throughout 2023 PCFU reported a steady increase on its Cultivate Agri loan which it's claimed is popular among farmers.

The PFCU Common Common bond consists of a radius of 11.26 km from Athy, 9.6 km from Abbeyleix, 9.6 km from Portlaoise and Stradbally.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is to visit Northern Ireland to meet the leaders of the new powersharing Executive.

Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will also be at Stormont for meetings on Monday.

The Assembly returned on Saturday following a two-year political deadlock, with Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill making history as Northern Irelands first nationalist First Minister.

The institutions were restored following a deal between Mr Sunaks government and the DUP to allay unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

The Prime Minister will be welcomed to Stormont Castle on Monday by Ms ONeill and deputy First Minister, the DUPs Emma Little-Pengelly.

During his visit, his seventh to Northern Ireland, he will also carry out a number of community engagements, meeting people involved in public services.

The Government has pledged 3.3 billion for the new Executive to stabilise finances, including 600 million to settle public sector pay claims.

On Thursday, the Government fast-tracked two pieces of legislation contained in the agreement through the House of Commons as part of its agreement with the DUP, opening the way for Saturdays return of the Assembly.

The new Executive is due to hold its first meeting on Monday.

Ms ONeill told the PA news agency that it will need to begin work immediately on tackling public sector funding challenges.

She said: I am determined to do our very best.

This place has been starved of public services funding for over a decade because of the Tories in London, we can do much better than that.

Thats a fight I think we have to fight together and I think theres a combined effort across the Executive to have a proper funding model for here so we actually can do better public services and invest in the public sector workers.
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This week is an important week as it is not only St. Brigids Day on February 1, but on February 2 it is World Wetlands Day.

Wetlands are considered any land saturated or flooded with water either permanently or seasonally. These include lakes, rivers, floodplains, peatland, estuaries and fish ponds to name a few.

Both geology and a high annual rainfall has resulted in Ireland having 20% of our island covered in wetlands. Why are they important?

According to Teagasc 40% of Irelands biodiversity either lives or breeds in wetlands. They store 30% of landbased carbon which is vital for climate change mitigation. They remove pollutants from circulation, they provide protection from flooding, they absorb and store water, they provide employment, food and energy and are a recreation source.

In Ireland, wetlands are protected through the Irish Wildlife Act as Natural Heritage Areas, at a European level through the Habitats Directive as Special Areas of Conservation, and at an International level through Ramsar.

Ramsar also known as The Convention on Wetlands is an international environmental treaty signed on February 2 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.

Today Ireland has 45 wetland sites designated as Ramsar sites. While we are very familiar with plants that live on land, there are many that live submerged in water and to live in these conditions the plants must adapt.

They have adapted by having spongy tissue in stems and leaves which helps the plant move oxygen in the air down to their roots. These air channels are known as aerenchyma.

They also still need sunlight to allow them produce energy through the process of photosynthesis. They achieve this by adapting their leaves.

Some are emergent floating on the surface, while others have horizontal leaves that also float on the surface of the water exposing as much as the leaf as possible to sun. Similarly wetland fauna must adapt.

Examples included webbed feet, second clear eyelids that can act like goggles when swimming underwater, and camouflage colouring.

This week take a walk by your local wetland and see what you can observe.
Northern Irelands new powersharing Executive will need to begin work immediately on tackling public sector funding challenges, First Minister Michelle ONeill has said.

In an interview with the PA news agency, Sinn Feins Ms ONeill said she believes there is a sense of cohesion within the new team of Stormont ministers to press the case for an improved funding model for Northern Ireland.

Ms ONeill also said there had not been a formal agreement between the Stormont parties around which ministries would be selected  but she denied her party had been surprised when the DUP unexpectedly took the education portfolio.

Ms ONeill was appointed as Northern Irelands first nationalist First Minister when the Assembly returned from two years of cold storage on Saturday for a historic sitting.

The DUP, Northern Irelands largest unionist party, cleared the way for the restoration of the powersharing institutions when it agreed a deal with the Government to address its concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

The DUPs Emma Little-Pengelly is the new deputy First Minister.

While the symbolic significance of a republican First Minister has been hailed by Sinn Fein, the two top jobs in the ministerial executive wield equal power and responsibility.

Ms ONeill said there are many shared priorities between her and Ms Little-Pengelly.

She said: You heard some of that overlapping in the speeches.

Particularly around issues like childcare, that is one of the biggest issues facing families right now, affordable childcare being an option to them.

I think this is something together, that this Executive wants to do.

That, alongside so many other things, we know there is a big list of things to be done on all of our desks but we are ready to get down to that, and I think that is what is most important.

I am determined to do our very best. This place has been starved of public services funding for over a decade because of the Tories in London, we can do much better than that.

Thats a fight I think we have to fight together and I think theres a combined effort across the Executive to have a proper funding model for here so we actually can do better public services and invest in the public sector workers.

Stormont ministers were allocated using the DHondt process based on party strengths. Sinn Fein asked for a short adjournment during the proceedings after the DUP selected education as its first ministry, rather than finance as had been widely expected.

Ms ONeill said: I think sometimes in previous occasions we would have agreed what everybody was going to take.

That didnt happen. It was just a bit of go and see how it runs.

There was no formal agreement. It fell how it fell.

Sinn Fein appointed Conor Murphy, Caoimhe Archibald and John ODowd as its ministerial team.

Ms ONeill added: I am delighted actually that we have ended up with the department of the economy, the department of finance and the department of infrastructure.

Three crucially important departments and three very complementary departments.

We are really delighted to get stuck in, and the ministerial team that I have appointed.

A strong team, strong departments, ready to get at it, they are away to meet their department officials as we speak.

We are straight into it from Monday.

The new powersharing Executive will hold its first meeting on Monday.
Carrick-on-Shannon native and actor Darragh Gilhooly stars as Jake Bolt in the USAs Sundance Now and AMC+, new 7 part original series Sanctuary: A Witchs Tale which was released in January 2024.

The series is based on author V.V. James novel Sanctuary and set in a contemporary world where witchcraft is real.

For hundreds of years, witches have lived peacefully in the idyllic town of Sanctuary, valued as important members of society until now

This is Darraghs first appearance Stateside. Having graduated from The Gaiety School of Acting in 2020 Darragh has featured in a number of screen productions most recently in the film The Feature, a comedy which in November won best film at the Dublin Underground Cinema Film Awards 2023.

Darragh has also been busy with theatre productions in 2023 having played Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet in the Mill Theatre, Dundrum and also part of the cast of Hamlet, the Gaiety in Schools production in recent months.

Darragh and his co-creator Gwenaelle Gillets production company Naming Cows Theatre Company, is returning to the stage with their new play yellowing.

The play, based on real events, is written and directed by Gwenelle with Darragh as the lead actor and will be coming to the Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin in February 2024.
Aerial view of the forest fire that affects the hills of the city of Vina del Mar, in Chile, on February 3, 2024. JAVIER TORRES / AFP

Wildfires blazing across Chile have killed at least 46 people, officials said on Saturday, February 3, leaving bodies in the street and homes gutted as flames continued to spread.

President Gabriel Boric has decreed a state of emergency in the central and southern parts of the country "due to catastrophe," as dry conditions and temperatures soaring to 40C exacerbated the crisis.

"There are 40 people who were killed in the fire, and another six [who died] as a result of burns," Boric said, after he surveyed the affected region via helicopter Saturday afternoon. "We know that these [numbers] will increase," he added. After the flight he promised, "We will be there as a government to help them get back up [on their feet]."

Dense gray smoke blanketed the Vina del Mar area of the Valparaiso tourist region, along central Chile's coastline, forcing residents to flee their homes.

Curfews and evacuation orders

Authorities imposed a curfew beginning at 9 pm local time Saturday, to allow emergency supplies  especially fuel  into the affected areas. New evacuation orders were issued, though it remained unclear exactly how many people have been told to leave.

Earlier Saturday, Interior Minister Carolina Toha said there had been 92 fires as of noon, with 43,000 hectares burned across the country. Firefighters were still battling 29 of the blazes by the afternoon, while 40 had been brought under control.

In the hillsides around the coastal city of Vina del Mar, entire blocks of houses were burned out overnight, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reporters saw Saturday morning, as thousands of people who had previously evacuated returned to find their homes destroyed. Some of the dead were seen lying in the road, covered by sheets.

The area, about 1.5 hours northwest of the capital Santiago, is a popular tourist destination during the summer months. The coastal region is also important for the country's wine, agricultural and logging industries.

Animals walk around the remains of burnt houses following the spread of wildfires in Vina del Mar, Chile, on February 3, 2024. SOFIA YANJARI / REUTERS

In the towns of Estrella and Navidad, southwest of the capital, the fires burned nearly 30 homes and forced evacuations near the surfing resort of Pichilemu.

"I've never seen anything like it," 63-year-old Yvonne Guzman told AFP. When the flames started to close in on her home in Quilpue, she fled with her elderly mother, only to be trapped in traffic for hours. She added, "It's very distressing because we've evacuated the house but we can't move forward. There are all these people trying to get out and who can't move."

Vina del Mar Mayor Macarena Ripamonti said, "We're facing an unprecedented catastrophe, a situation of this magnitude has never happened in the Valparaiso region."

Popular tourist destination devastated by flames

Several thousand hectares have burned in Valparaiso alone, according to CONAF, the Chilean national forest authority. Images from trapped motorists have gone viral online, showing mountains in flames at the end of the famous "Route 68," a road traveled by thousands of tourists to reach the Pacific coast.

In addition to Valparaiso, firefighters and emergency services personnel were battling blazes in the center and south of Chile, including O'Higgins, Maule, Biobio, La Araucania and Los Lagos.

"This was an inferno," Rodrigo Pulgar, who lost his home in the inland town of El Olivar, told AFP. "I tried to help my neighbor (...) my house was starting to burn behind us. It was raining ash."

On Friday, authorities closed the road linking Valparaiso to the capital Santiago, as a huge mushroom cloud of smoke "reduced visibility."

A man helps a fellow resident cool down with bottled water as forest fires burn nearby, in Vina del Mar, Chile, on February 3, 2024. ESTEBAN FELIX / AP

The fires are being driven by a summer heatwave and drought affecting the southern part of South America caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon, as scientists warn that a warming planet has increased the risk of natural disasters such as intense heat and fires.

As Chile and Colombia battle rising temperatures, the heat wave is also threatening to sweep over Paraguay and Brazil. In Argentina, brigades from several provinces have been fighting a fire that has consumed more than 3,000 hectares in Los Alerces National Park, famed for its beauty and biodiversity, since January 25.
An Afghan unaccompanied minor is housed in a hotel in Neuilly-Plaisance (Seine-Saint-Denis) in January 2019, while waiting to be placed with a host family. LAURENCE GEAI / MYOP

Patrice, 17, is proud to present the apartment where he has been placed, in Paris's 19th arrondissement: "Here's the room of a Malian, that one belongs to an Ivorian and here is my room." The Cameroonian teenager, who, like all the other minors interviewed, decided not to give his full name, showed an orderly room with basic decoration. On his uncluttered desk was a burgundy folder. Inside was a packet of antidepressants. "The psychiatrist prescribed them for me."

Training to be a carpenter, Patrice made many stops before arriving in Paris. When he left Cameroon, it was for one person: his ailing mother. "She was selling doughnuts on the street, and she was being poisoned by the fumes," recounted this unaccompanied minor (MNA) who arrived in France in May 2022. In Douala, Cameroon's economic capital, his father used to run the household at arm's length. "He died three years ago due to a stomach illness." Patrice had been earning a little money to feed his mother and twin brother: He carried customers' bags to supermarkets for a handful of CFA francs. Insufficient funds encouraged him to cross the border without telling his family.

"My mother would never have accepted my leaving," said Patrice. He had first considered staying in Nigeria, but he left after two days and started walking to Europe: through Niger, Algeria and then Libya. Sitting on his bed, the young man recounted his ordeal in Tripoli: there he was made a slave and imprisoned twice. "These things are too painful, I can't tell my mother. It would kill her." The day before, Patrice had sent her money again: "My teacher advises me to keep it all, but I don't want to. It doesn't matter if I don't eat." He is determined his mother will know nothing about the vulnerability he's experiencing in Paris. "Here, it's worse than Libya. When you arrive in France, you think the nightmare is over, but it isn't."

Arriving in the French capital, Patrice was assessed by the local administration, which refused to take him into care on the grounds that they decided the young man was not a minor. Destitute, Patrice lived for several months in the Bois de Vincennes public park, while appealing to the juvenile court. In October 2022, he was placed in the care of the child welfare agency (ASE). First in a hotel in Chatillon, a suburb of Paris, then in this apartment, in September 2023.

Shrouded in silence

It's a journey similar to that of the vast majority of unaccompanied minors. While waiting for a date for a hearing to recognize their minority, and therefore be taken into care by the ASE, they're subject to vulnerability and rough sleeping. "I lied to my family because the truth was too hard. I used to say that I had enough to eat and that I was sleeping in a bed," recalled Thierno (first name changed), 17, now placed in an ASE home in Yvelines.

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ROSE of Tralee, Roisin Wiley is preparing for a very special humanitarian aid trip to Poland.

Roisin, who has roots in Kilmallock and Templeglantine represented New York last August in the competition, will be travelling alongside Wexford Rose Bronagh Hogan, Arizona Rose Ashley Jackson and Carlow Rose Caoimhe Deering and seven escorts.

The roses will be heading to support not only the work of the Happy Kids Foundation and their safe houses in Poland, but also in support of Chernobyl Children International's work in war-torn Ukraine in the Ivankiv district from February 14 to 18.

Roisin said: I am a bit nervous about the journey. To see the conditions these kids are in will be eye-opening. I think it is an important perspective for me to have. We are raising money for kids to have shampoo and conditioner and this is something we take for granted.

"I am lucky to be surrounded by so much love the past year and it is an amazing opportunity to go and raise awareness. I have this platform and following to raise awareness about charities such as these and I am so thankful. It is the most important time for me to give back.

The Rose of Tralee Festival shared a post of the news to their Instagram saying: At the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine War, the Polish 'Happy Kids Foundation' prioritised evacuating 1500 children along with their caregivers from Ukrainian orphanages and obtaining places for them to stay in their family homes in different parts of Poland.

The donations received through the 2023 Rose Group will be allocated to the immediate needs of the affected children such as transport, food, cleaning products, clothes, as well as specialist medical treatment, psychological therapy and legal care.

Our Roses and Rose Escorts will aim to raise 1000 each.

All monies raised after the expense of transport of the humanitarian aid will be divided between these two charities.

You can donate on www.idonate.ie/event/roseoftraleehumanitariantriptopoland.
A MAN was accused of damaging his then partners phone by squeezing it in pliers and leaving it in a dog bowl.

The defendant, who denies one count of criminal damage, said he was only pretending to squeeze it and did it because she was cheating behind my back.

The Limerick Leader has not named the parties to protect the identity of the children.

The complainant, who took the stand in Newcastle West Court, said she was getting children ready for school on the date in question.

I was upstairs putting on my sons shoes. My daughter was downstairs - he told her your mum doesnt give a s*** about you. He entered the bedroom, pinned me to the bed and put me in a headlock to get my phone. I said, Please, can I get my phone back. It was the only thing keeping me sane, said the woman. She told the court she went downstairs and asked the accused for the phone back.

He wouldnt give it back. He squeezed the phone in pliers. He made faces at me. I found the phone in the dog bowl, she said.

Inspector Barry Manton, prosecuting, asked what condition the phone was in. She said it was broken, crushed, cracked, the colours weren't normal and she could barely enter her password.

Michael ODonnell, solicitor for the defendant, asked the woman if she had the phone. She said she lost it.

Mr ODonnell said his client denies he broke it and asked her if she is in the habit of breaking phones? He then showed three broken phones belonging to the complainant.

Mr ODonnell said he had a witness who will say the phone at the centre of proceedings was broken two days prior to the incident.

It might have been damaged. Im not sure. When I got the phone in the dog bowl it was worse, she said.

Insp Manton asked the woman about the functionality of the phone prior to it being put in the pliers? Grand, she said. The garda inspector asked how the functionality was after it was put in the pliers? No colour and I could barely put in my password, she said.

The accused man entered the witness box. He said he pretended to squeeze the phone in pliers because she was cheating behind my back.

The phone was already broken. It was totally cracked, said the defendant.

Insp Manton put it to him that he put the phone in the teeth of pliers. Yes, but I didnt close it, he said.

Insp Manton said liquid crystal display (LCD) is very fragile. Yes, said the accused.

Insp Manton asked was he absolutely confident he hadnt squeezed the pliers? Yes, he said. The defendant agreed with the inspector that he was angry at the time.

Mr ODonnell called the father of the accused as a witness. He said he saw the phone in question two days earlier at a birthday party. He said the complainant was on the phone and the screen was cracked.

Insp Manton queried how he saw the phone was cracked when it was up to the persons ear and said it showed the phone was working.

Mr ODonnell asked Judge Carol Anne Coolican to dismiss the criminal damage offence.

There must be a doubt. The phone has been lost. Evidence was given that the phone was cracked two days before, said Mr ODonnell.

In response, Insp Manton said the complainant said the functionality of the phone was fine before it was put in the teeth of pliers which was reckless.

There is no denial that the event occurred, said Insp Manton.

Judge Coolican said there seems to be a conflict of evidence regarding the functionality of the phone prior to the accused putting the phone in a pair of pliers and whether he squeezed it or not.

The phone is lost. I have to give the defendant the benefit of the doubt. Dismiss, said Judge Coolican.
Sinn Fein spokesperson on Finance and TD for Donegal, Pearse Doherty, has said Stormonts first nationalist First Minister provides a historic moment of change.

Michelle ONeill has pledged to work with unionists to build a better future for Northern Ireland. The appointment of the Sinn Fein vice president provided a moment of history on the day the powersharing institutions returned after a two-year hiatus.

This is a historic moment of change, Doherty posted. For the first time we have a Sinn Fein First Minister. In Michelle ONeill we have an opportunity to deliver for workers and families across our society and we are determined to deliver.

DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly was nominated as deputy First Minister. Taking up the post, she said she and Ms ONeill come from very different backgrounds, but for her part, she will work tirelessly to ensure that we can deliver for all in Northern Ireland.

The two top jobs in the ministerial executive wield equal power and responsibility, but the elevation of a republican to the office of first minister, by virtue of Sinn Fein becoming the regions largest political party in the 2022 Assembly election, is undoubtedly a significant symbolic moment for Northern Ireland.

The DUP, the largest unionist party in the region, has agreed to the recall of the political institutions on the back of its deal on post-Brexit trade with the UK Government, which party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says has effectively removed the so-called Irish Sea trading border on goods remaining within the UK.

On Thursday, the Government fast-tracked two pieces of legislation contained in the agreement through the House of Commons, opening the way for the Assembly to return on Saturday.

The proceedings commenced with the process of nominating a speaker, with former DUP leader Edwin Poots elected to the role. Addressing the chamber after her appointment was confirmed and she affirmed the pledge of office, Ms ONeill said the restoration of the institutions marked a moment of equality and progress.

A new opportunity to work and grow together, she said. Confident that wherever we come from, whatever our aspirations, we can and must build our future together.

Ms ONeill said the public were relying on each of us to act in their best interests and to serve our whole community in good faith.

We must make powersharing work because collectively, we are charged with leading and delivering for all our people, for every community, she said. In common cause we must make life better for workers, families, communities. To create hope and opportunity.

Ms ONeill urged all MLAs to be respectful of each other.

The days of second-class citizenship are long gone, she said. Today confirms that they are never coming back. As an Irish republican I pledge co-operation and genuine honest effort with those colleagues who are British, of a unionist tradition and who cherish the Union.

This is an assembly for all  Catholic, Protestant and dissenter. Despite our different outlooks and views on the future constitutional position, the public rightly demands that we co-operate, deliver and work together. We must build trust and confidence in our ability to do that. That will require courage and ambition not just from us who are elected but from the public. We can all invest in this and the more of us that do the better the chance it has.
BENGALURU : Embattled edtech company Byjus co-founder and CEO Byju Raveendran on Sunday told employees that the company had credited their salaries for January earlier than promised.

For a company fighting fires on several frontsincluding delayed loan repayments, mounting losses, and key investors seeking Raveendrans oustersigning off on routine monthly salaries has merited an announcement considering Byjus is scrambling to meet its operational costs.

I know you were told that you will get your salaries by Monday But you did not have to wait even till Monday. I have been moving mountains for months to make payroll, and this time, the struggle was even bigger to ensure that you receive what you rightfully deserve," Raveendran said in a letter to employees on Sunday.

For Byjus, salaries add up to 70 crore a month, according to a Moneycontrol report. Its total expenses stood at 13,668 crore in FY22. The company is looking to raise $200 million from its investors through a rights issue at a valuation of $200-225 million, about 99% lower than its peak valuation of $22 billion.

Byjus has been laying off employees and has delayed full and final settlements of those employees on multiple occasions. The company reportedly undertook an exercise to reduce its workforce by 3,000-3,500 in October.

Raveendran also wrote in detail about his personal challenges in the letter.

I am not implying that these challenges have not shaken me. Entrepreneurs are supposed to be stoic and steadfast. They indeed have an irrational capacity to suffer and the ability to eventually prevail over all that pain. But they, too, laugh, cry, work, weep and bleed the same way as any other person navigating the joys and complexities of life. They, too, hope and worry about what tomorrow might bring. They, too, hug their kids when they get scared," he wrote.

Last week, some investors of the company, including General Atlantic, Prosus Ventures, Peak XV and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, called for an extraordinary general meeting to propose a change in the beleaguered companys leadership, including the removal of Raveendran. They also called for a reconstitution of the companys board.

Raveendran, however, has said the investors did not have the right to change the companys chief executive or management under their shareholders agreement. Raveendran wrote about it in the letter saying this fight is only against a few vested interests who were trying to sabotage the company by impeding the rights issue. Nothing has galvanized our team more than their effort to destabilize our company," he said.

In the latest development for the company, the American arm of Byjus last week filed for bankruptcy after defaulting on debt of $1.2 billion.

The world reads regularly about my daily struggles. But I will someday tell you about my monthly miracles. Over time, I believe that a hidden miracle accompanies every struggle; one has to keep moving forward," Raveendran wrote in the letter.

During good times and bad, it comes down to people. It always comes down to people," he further added.

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Kutch Copper Ltd (KCL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL), the world's largest single-location copper manufacturing plant at Mundra in Gujarat, will start operations of the first phase by March-end and full-scale 1 million tonnes capacity by FY29 (March 2029), news agency PTI reported citing sources.

The $1.2-billion facility will help cut India's dependence on imports of the third most used industrial metal after steel and aluminium whose demand is rising on the back of fast-growing renewable energy, telecom and electric vehicle industries.

It is important to note that technologies critical to the energy transition like electric vehicles (EVs), charging infrastructure, solar photovoltaics (PV), wind and batteries, all require copper.

Kutch Copper, a greenfield copper refinery with a capacity to produce refined copper with 1 million tonnes per annum, is scheduled to be completed in two phases. For Phase 1, capacity of 0.5 million tonnes per annum, the Adani Enterprises subsidiary achieved financial closure through a syndicated club loan in June 2022.

"Adani wants to become a global leader in the copper business, leveraging the Adani Group's strong position in resource trading, logistics, renewable power, and infrastructure," PTI reported quoting one of the sources as saying.

"They aim to be the world's largest copper smelting complex by 2030," the report added.

The report said India's per capita copper consumption is estimated at around 0.6 kg compared to the global average of 3.2 kg.

"India's drive towards clean energy systems, increasing penetration of electric vehicles and a host of associated applications are expected to double the domestic copper demand by 2030."

"The Adani Group is investing heavily in energy transition, in which copper will play a vital role. It is expanding into adjacent areas of its current capabilities, which makes the copper business a strategic fit," the report said.

It is important to note that India's imports have been consistently on the rise for the past five years however, domestic production has been unable to meet the demand. For FY23 (April 2022 to March 2023 fiscal), the country imported a record 1,81,000 tonnes of copper, while exports plummeted to a record low of 30,000 tonnes, even lower than the Covid pandemic period, according to the data from the government.

The country is estimated to have consumed 7,50,000 tonnes of copper in FY23 (612 KT in FY22). The number is expected to rise to 1.7 million tonnes by 2027 on the back of huge demand from the green energy industry. Global demand for copper from solar photovoltaic (PV) installations alone is estimated to double to 2.25 million tonnes in the current decade.

The report said the Kutch Copper is likely to produce copper cathodes and rods as well as valuable byproducts such as gold, silver, selenium and platinum.

Additionally, the integrated complex will produce sulphuric acid, which is a key raw material for manufacturing phosphatic fertilizers, detergents, pharmaceuticals, speciality chemicals, paper and sugar bleaching, and water treatment. India imports roughly two million tonnes of sulphuric acid.

The plant will produce 500,000 tonnes of refined copper per annum in Phase I with byproducts -- nearly 25 tonnes of gold, 250 tonnes of silver, 1.5 million tonnes of sulphuric acid, and 250,000 tonnes of phosphoric acid. The Phase II expansion will increase the refined copper capacity up to 1 million tonnes per annum, the report said.

"Kutch Copper will be one of the most efficient copper smelters in India, with lower greenhouse gas emissions. Adani is striving to increase the share of renewables in the overall energy mix in our quest to be a proponent of 'green copper'," the report said quoting the source.

ADANI ENTERPRISES More Information

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New Delhi: The Centre will make a push for selling its shares in Air Indias erstwhile subsidiaries in FY25, said a top official, but the privatization of Container Corporation of India is unlikely to see any traction soon.

The Air India subsidiaries can be taken up for disinvestment, theyre part of the ongoing (pipeline)," Tuhin Kanta Pandey, secretary of the department of investment and public asset management, said in an interaction on Sunday.

Air India subsidiaries include Air India Air Transport Services Ltd (AIATSL), Airline Allied Services Ltd (AASL) or Alliance Air, Air India Engineering Services Ltd (AIESL) and Hotel Corporation of India Ltd (HCI).

These are held by Air India Assets Holding Ltd, a special purpose vehicle set up in 2019 for holding the non-core assets and debt of Air India. The government has held road shows for divestment of AIESL, the countrys biggest maintenance, repair and overhaul company, and last year received the approval from a group of ministers start the process. The divestment of Alliance Air has also been in the works, but the government is yet to seek expressions of interest for any of the companies.

Divestment of all the subsidiaries got the Cabinet nod back in 2017, with expectations of about 3,000 crore being raised from sale of the engineering and ground handling companies. However, the process of seeking interest is yet to begin for any of the companies, despite Air India being fully sold to the Tata Group for about 18,000 crore in 2021.

In case of Container Corporation of India or Concor, no clarity has been provided on whether the process will begin in the coming financial year. The Union Cabinet in 2019 cleared the sale of 31% out of the governments total shareholding of 54.8%, along with the transfer of management control.

Im not too sure whether we can start the process in FY25. It certainly cant be concluded (within the same financial year)," Pandey said, when asked about the governments plan for seeking expressions of interest.

Concors management has told analysts in recent investor calls that they do not see further movement" of the disinvestment plan, even though it has not been rolled back by the government.

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Hundreds of thousands of accounts at Paytm Payments Bank were found to be created without proper identification, Reuters reported. The Reserve Bank of India has informed the Enforcement Directorate and other government agencies about the irregularities in Paytm Payments Bank accounts.

Thousands of 'Paytm Payments Bank' accounts created improperly: Report

There were instances where the total value of transactions - running into crores of rupees, much beyond regulatory limits in minimum KYC pre-paid instruments raising money laundering concerns, PTI reported quoting sources.

In one instance, an account linked to one Permanent Account Number (PAN) was found to be operating more than 1,000 wallets, as per a report in Economic Times.

There were major irregularities in KYC, which exposed the customers, depositors, and wallet holders to serious risk.

Earlier Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra told Reuters that ED will probe Paytm Payments Bank if any evidence of illegal activity is found.

"One 97 Communications Ltd and Paytm Payments Bank operate with the highest ethical standards. We can confirm that neither we nor OCL's founder-CEO have been the subject matter of investigation by the Enforcement Directorate regarding money laundering," a spokesperson for Paytm Payments Bank said, PTI reported.

RBI's Paytm crackdown

In a major action against PPBL, the Reserve Bank of India earlier this week directed the lender to stop accepting deposits or top-ups in customer accounts, wallets, FASTags, and other instruments after February 29.

KYC irregularities in Paytm Payments Bank exposed customers to serious risk, leading to a sharp drop in One97 Communications Ltd shares. Following the RBI's direction, shares of One97 Communications Ltd, which owns the Paytm brand, saw a sharp drop of 36% from January 31st to February 2nd, 2024.

Paytm's founder and CEO, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, also posted about the functioning of the Paytm app and appreciated the support the company is getting.
In light of recent discussions surrounding inquiries by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Paytm Payments Bank clarified that no probe against Bank or One97 Communications Ltd by the probe agency. " One 97 Communications Ltd and Paytm Payments Bank operate with the highest ethical standards. We can confirm that neither we nor OCL's founder-CEO have been the subject matter of investigation by the Enforcement Directorate regarding money laundering," a spokesperson for Paytm Payments Bank said, news agency ANI reported.

ED to probe Paytm Payments Bank

On Saturday, Reuters reported that ED will probe Paytm Payments Bank if any fresh charges of fund siphoning are found.

"If there are any fresh charges of money laundering against Paytm by RBI, those will be investigated by Directorate of Enforcement as per the law of the land," Reuters quoted Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra.

The clarification comes amidst reports suggesting otherwise. "Occasionally, some merchants on our platforms have been the subject of inquiries, and we cooperate fully with authorities in such instances. We categorically deny any involvement in money laundering activities and believe fair and responsible journalism is crucial for accurate information dissemination," the spokesperson added.

Further emphasizing the importance of accurate reporting, the statement continued, "We categorically deny any allegations suggesting our involvement in money laundering activities. We advocate for responsible reporting and stress the importance of relying on verified information for public dissemination."

What led to a ban on Paytm Bank by RBI?

In a major action against Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL), the central bank earlier this week directed the lender to stop accepting deposits or top-ups in customer accounts, wallets, FASTags, and other instruments after February 29.

According to various media reports, money laundering concerns and questionable dealings of hundreds of crores of rupees between popular wallet Paytm and its lesser-known banking arm had led the Reserve Bank of India to clamp down on Vijay Shekhar Sharma-run entities

The central bank has ordered PPBL to halt most of its business including taking further deposits, and conducting credit transactions after February 29.

-With agency inputs

ONE 97 COMMUNICATIONS More Information

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Mumbai: When warnings from the regulator and steep losses for clients failed to curb the retail frenzy for derivatives, Chenayappillil John George took matters into his hands.

Five months ago, the founder and MD of Geojit Financial Services put up hoardings at 180 spots across the broking companys home state of Kerala, flagging the pitfalls of derivatives trading in which most retail traders lose money.

By his own admission, George wasnt guided by altruism" but sound logic" that a business which resulted in big-ticket losses" for his clients wouldnt be sustainable in the long term. The funds for the campaign, came from the listed companys corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds of nearly 3 crore.

Geojits hoardings cite points from a Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) study highlighting the steep losses in derivatives trading and urge investors not to fall for fake claims of super-riches. The campaign will run till the end of March.

The Sebi study, which was released last January, showed that nine out of 10 individual traders lost an average of 1.1 lakh in FY22, and that the average loss of a loss-maker was over 15 times the average profit of a profit-maker. The regulator asked brokers in May 2023 to alert investors about the risks in derivatives on their websites, as well as every time they place a derivatives order. At its December board meeting, Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch expressed concern about retail investors in equity derivatives trading, saying it was the regulators responsibility to caution investors.

All that hasnt helped: Driven by retail and proprietary traders, volumes in futures and options in India surged 77% in FY24 to 64,789 trillion from a year ago, and a steep tenfold from 6,436 trillion in FY21. Cash volumes on the NSE stood at 158 trillion so far this fiscal, a minuscule 2.6% growth since FY21.

I have no way to measure its (the campaigns) success," George admitted. And it looks like the campaign hasnt struck the chord it intended to, going by the surge in derivatives trading volumes."

While the pressing need for such an exercise existed long before the campaign actually started, I got the courage to launch it after the Sebi study and an experience of a surgeon who happens to be close friend," George said in an interview. The surgeon narrated how her assistant surgeon left a surgery midway to check what he confessed later to be an F&O trade on his mobile app.

Despite the campaign ending in March, George has received accolades for it from retired chief additional secretary (revenue) P. H. Kurian, who now chairs the Kerala Real Estate Regulatory Authority.

His mission is indeed credible and praiseworthy as F&O is a money-spinner for most of Georges ilk, who would never dream of uttering anything against such a business," Kurian said. He believes the campaign would have succeeded if the hoardings had displayed the benefits of systematic investment plans (SIPs) along with the warnings on F&O.

In addition to the hoardings, George has over the past few years doubled the variable pay for staff who get more clients for the SIP businessGeojit also acts as a mutual fund distributor, thanks to its 500 pan India branchesand halved the incentive for those who get more retail client business for derivatives.

Consequently, Geojits SIP book assets have jumped to 12,000 crore currently from 500 crore in 2017 and the share delivery component of the broking income mix has increased to 75% from 60% in FY16, with F&O and intraday trading contributing only 25% to broking income.

George said he is committed to growing the companys SIP book and feels that loss-making derivatives clients will one day shift to SIP investing in due course.

The sliver of that hope might just be showing. The share of retail investors as a percentage of gross equity derivatives turnover on NSE, the worlds largest derivatives exchange, fell to a five-year low of 25.7% in December. Retail share trails only proprietary traders whose share stood at 59.1%, followed by 6.1% for FPIs, 4.6% for corporates, 0.1% for DIIs and 4.4% for others.

However, In terms of index options open interest, a measure of money flowing into the market, retail share stood at 4.2 trillion, or 40% of total open interest in FY24 (April-December 2023), way ahead of proprietary traders ( 2.27 trillion) and corporates ( 1.3 trillion). Index optionsNifty and Bank Niftyaccount for 99% of notional derivatives turnover on NSE.
Over the past six months, Quant Mutual Fund (MF) has built up an outsized bet on Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), the conglomerate led by billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani. Of its 45,963 crore assets under management (AUM), Quant MFs exposure to RIL stands at 4,512 crore, or 9.8%. If you add its roughly 4.4% exposure to Jio Financial Services, this goes up to 14.2%. Since Jio also has a stake in RIL, the combined exposure of the fund house is actually a bet on the same entity.

Quant MF also has a smaller exposure to other Ambani companies like Just Dial, Network 18 and TV 18. All this collectively takes its exposure to the group to about 16%.

View Full Image Graphic: Paras Jain

In 2022, Quant MF built a similar concentrated exposure to the Adani Group but pared it down after October 2022 following a negative report by Hindenburg on the company. After cutting its exposure to the group to nil post the Hindenburg report, the asset management company (AMC) has bought back into the group . It now has a 3-7% exposure in Adani Power across several schemes, but financial experts say this could be a short-term tactical play than a multi-decadal bet.

The bet

According to Sandeep Tandon, founder and chief investment officer of Quant Mutual Fund, RIL is not getting the desired valuation it should despite the groups presence in sunrise sectors, which commands much higher valuation multiples.

The group has presence in sectors such as solar, hydrogen, telecom, data analytics, hydrocarbon, retail. The same businesses in other groups are getting rich valuations. There is also potential unlocking as and when other businesses such as Jio Infocomm and Reliance Retail get listed on the exchanges," Tandon said.

This bet on RIl seems to have worked well. Over the last six months, the RIL stock has delivered returns of 13%. Over the one-year period, it has delivered 34% returns.

The bet on Jio Financial Services, according to Tandon, is a multi-decadal opportunity. Reliance group has shown its ability to create disruption in the industry it enters. We also expect financial services industry to go through major changes in the coming years and relevance of traditional banking will decline since leverage economy as a concept will lose its relevance," Tandon says.

In fact, Quant MF has exited other non-bank financial companies (NBFCs) as it expects the entry of Jio Financial Services to increase competitive intensity for other players. Jio, though, has yet to show any significant up-move. Since its listing in August last year, the stock has largely been trending flat with negative 0.3% returns.

What if these large bets dont work out? Tandon says due to Quant MFs highly data-driven approach, there is never any attachment or bias toward any particular stock or sectors. If our internal investment framework suggests an exit call or any unknown risks emerge, we can exit quickly."

Among other bets, the fund house is also building up its position on Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). It has exposure to LIC in 14 schemes with an average allocation of 4.9%. Tandon says this bet is more tactical in nature, as the valuation of the stock is attractive and the asset management firm is bullish on public sector units (PSUs).

Hits and misses

While Quant MF is still a fairly new entrant in the 50-trillion MF industry with just six years of track-record, some of its funds are already topping the return charts in their respective categories.

The fund house has a different investment approach than others in the industry. Instead of the buy-and-hold approach that fund managers typically follow, Quant MF can quickly enter and exit a stock position to make most of short- and medium-term investment opportunities.

This unique approach often leads to the fund house taking investment calls that are different than others in the MF industry, but it seems to be working so far as can be seen in its schemes performance.

For example, the fund house had exited HDFC Bank across all its funds, another index heavyweight (11.6% in Nifty 50 index) in September 2023. Tandon says this was due to decline in the liquidity indicators and risk-appetite indicators of the private banking sector and HDFC bank in particular.

This call seems to have worked well for the fund house as the stock has corrected steeply in recent months, which has impacted the performance of several equity funds. HDFC Bank had higher weightage in the portfolios of several equity funds due to its large weight in the benchmark index Nifty 50. The stock is down 14.9% in year-to-date and 11.2% down over the last six months.

However, all exits have not worked so well for the fund house. For example although the fund house has begun to trim down its Adani stake from October 2022, it had a substantial residual stake (about 6% of AUM) in the Adani Group in Jan 2023 when the Hindenburg saga broke out. At that point, the AMC sold its stake entirely but Adani group stocks started to rally again after Quant MFs exit and have bounced back sharply since February 2023. The fund re-entered Adani group stocks meaningfully in August 2023 with exposure to Adani Power and Adani Enterprises in some of its schemes.

Similarly, the fund house had partially pruned its PSU exposure after Adani groups debt concerns had raised concerns for PSU banks and financial services companies. PSU stocks have since seen sharp rally over the last year.

The Adani exposure was only 6% of the portfolio but collateral damage was bigger in PSUs as, at that time, we had 21-27% PSUs exposure in most of the equity schemes," Tandon says.

The fund house has rebuilt its PSU exposure over past few months.

Risk of big bets

Large exposure to select business groups or select stocks can deliver strong outperformance if everything works as the fund manager expects it to. But concentrated bets can also hurt returns when there are negative surprises.

Back in January last year, several of Quant MFs schemes had seen their net asset values (NAVs) decline 2.5-9% after the Hindenburg report came out. But the fund quickly exited all the group stocks of Adani within a matter of days. By February 2023, the fund had nil exposure to Adani stocks.

The Adani group stocks were a big driver of the fund houses outperformance till then, with the stocks delivering staggering returns. Most other mutual funds steered clear of the group due to its rich valuations.

Analysts tracking the fund house say it has so far able to manage risks with its nimble-footedness.

Quant MF deploys thorough research and analytical capabilities and once there is conviction, it seems to size the bet accordingly. Clearly, the fund house does not shy away from taking bold calls, be it about investing in out-of-favour companies, completely excluding an index heavyweight across portfolios, or allocating sizeable amounts to single companies. Such a strategy makes it vulnerable to steep declines if the bet goes south. However, it has been observed across instances that the fund house has been relatively agile to acknowledge and course-correct," said Nirav Karkera, head of research at Fisdom.

It would be interesting to observe how the fund house maintains current agility with so much more assets under management," he added.
I first learned of a secretive Pentagon-funded study about rogue nuclear entrepreneurs more than five years ago from Stephen Lukasik, a former head of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

We were talking about the Office of Net Assessment, the long-term analysis division of the Pentagon, famous in Washington policy circles for its predictions about the Soviet Unions military capabilities and then later Chinas rise. Lukasik mentioned that he had led several studies for the office, including one that looked at whether a private company or wealthy entrepreneur could produce nuclear weapons.

We worked out what a private organization would do if it wanted to build and sell nuclear weapons," Lukasik told me. It turned out to be a fairly profitable business."

Intrigued, I asked if he would share a copy. A few days later Lukasik, whom I had known for two decades, sent me all four volumes of the study, which was completed in 2013. The report laid out in exquisite detail, including staffing levels and cash flow projections, how such an enterprise could operate.

It would take as little as a billion dollars investment and five years to produce the first bomb, the study concluded.

The report read like background notes for an airport thriller: A Bond-villain-like corporation would set up shop as a legitimate business, managing a series of nominally independent subsidiaries responsible for different parts of weapons production in locations around the world.

One company, for example, would be responsible for designing the centrifuges; another would produce the highly enriched uranium; a third would do the chemical processing. A company could even work directly with a rogue nuclear power. Would our hypothesized enterprise ever go into partnership with North Korea? Or perhaps with Iran?" the report asks.

When I first read the study in 2018, it struck me as a fascinating premise, but implausible. Nuclear weapons are the domain of nations for a reason: They require huge facilities, big budgets and technical expertise you cant exactly advertise for on LinkedIn.

But now, just five years laterand more than a decade after the study was completedmuch has changed in the world. Private companies have long been involved in building weapons, including nuclear weapons, but the federal government has traditionally been the one funding and controlling the technologies. Now, even the Pentagon acknowledges that private capital is the dominant source of funding for key technologies.

Billionaires like Elon Musk control technologies theyve developed outside of federal contracting, like Musks network of Starlink satellites, that can change the course of wars. Venture capitalists are flocking to the defense sector with the Pentagons encouragement.

Abroad, the Wagner Group, the Russian mercenary firm whose global empire stretches from Europe to Africa, has shown the ability to threaten regimes.

Today, the idea of entrepreneurs and privately funded companies changing the military balance sounds less fanciful, and I wondered what the participants in this study would now make of its conclusions.

Lukasik died in 2019, and two of the othersFritz Ermarth, a former chairman of the National Intelligence Council, and Barry Wessler, regarded as one of the godfathers of the Internethave also died. But most of the other contributors were eager to talk about it, even if they sometimes disagreed with the conclusions.

Theres no mention of Musk or any other U.S.-based entrepreneurthe study specifically excludes American citizens in its tracking of billionaires who could finance such an operationbut Brian Michael Jenkins, a contributor to the study and a senior adviser to the president of Rand Corp., said that a Musk-like figure was precisely the type of scenario the contributors had in mind.

Military development has changed dramatically since the Manhattan Project, the secret World War II-era effort to develop the first nuclear bomb. Building nuclear weapons no longer requires the scope and cost depicted in last summers blockbuster Oppenheimer."

Entrepreneurs like Musk are able to build on the massive government investments in rockets and nuclear technology, rather than starting from scratch. The study, Jenkins said, was intended to see what might happen when the barrier to entry to developing military systems is so much lower.

What could you achieve with a billion? What could you achieve with $10 billion? And is that really beyond the reach of some individuals?" he said. Well, in the case of an Elon Musk, it means you can put rockets into space without NASA. And thats the point of this."

Miles Townes, who left graduate school to work on the study, told me he still thinks about it every day. He said the study was sparked by the way gas centrifuges had lowered the bar to entry when it came to nuclear weapons.

In the movies, spies turn over detailed designs for a nuclear weapon. But nuclear experts argue that what is truly secret is not necessarily how to design the weaponmuch of that exists on the Internet or in the public domainbut the processes necessary to make the critical materials, like highly enriched uranium.

Countries seeking to enrich uranium, whether for nuclear energy or weapons, are increasingly turning toward gas centrifuges, and those basic centrifuges appear to be rather easy to makeperhaps so simple that they are within the reach of nearly any developing country," wrote Scott Kemp, then a graduate student at Princeton, in a dissertation that caught Lukasiks eye.

Kemps thesis led Lukasik to question whether such centrifuges were also within reach of a private company, or perhaps a Silicon Valley billionaire. (Kemp, now a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told me in an email that he was not aware his thesis sparked a Pentagon-funded study.)

The actual study consisted of monthly meetings at Lukasiks suburban Washington, D.C., home. Approximately 10 participants took on the parts of two opposing forcesa red team made up of nuclear entrepreneurs and a blue team representing governments trying to detect and stop them.

In between meetings, members were assigned to research the technical and political issues that might allow a private nuclear proliferator. My best friend was the Alibaba website, because I can find anything on it(like) mass quantities of nitric acid," recalled Katie Leach, a chemist whom Lukasik recruited into the project.

When the study was done, Lukasik relayed the findings to its sponsor, Andrew Marshall, a legendary figure in the Pentagon, who headed the Office of Net Assessment for decades. The study was never released, or even discussed publicly, in part because those who contributed believed the final report was classified.

Two of the participants I interviewed said they were told to remove any copies from their computers. I knew that Andy treated it as classified," Lukasik said of Marshall back in 2018. Marshall died in 2019.

A Pentagon spokesman said the report itself was unclassified, but contains sensitive material" that confined its distribution to a limited audience of senior national security officials within the Department of Defense."

The office commissioned the study as part of analyzing key trends and dynamics impacting the international system," the spokesman added. The pursuit of nuclear weapons and the proliferation of technology enabling that pursuit has been one such trend."

Not everyone I spoke with about the study agreed that billionaires couldor would want tooperate a nuclear weapons business. After all, Musks grandiosity led him to buy Twitter, not a uranium mine in Kazakhstan, and the Wagner Group, whose ultimate fate remains unclear, doesnt appear to be pursuing nukes.

Jeffrey Lewis, a nuclear expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, Calif., who wasnt involved in the study, questioned its premise, arguing that private companies wouldnt want the risk of exposure that bomb-making entails. The business case would not be for buying finished weapons, right? The business case would be for buying the production capabilities."

Lewis pointed to the Pakistan-based A.Q. Khan network of the 1980s and 90s, which used a series of shell companies to sell the equipment and know-how needed for nuclear enrichment, sort of like a starter kit for a nuclear bomb. Thats a much safer, more reasonable line of business," Lewis said.

But in a sense, thats precisely the business case the study examines: Building bombs exposes you to detection because its difficult to hide the facilities. The same fear of exposure that might make a private company hesitate to build and sell bombs also could give countries a powerful incentive to buy finished bombs rather than produce their own. The question is really about who wants to shoulder the risk, and the reward.

The report hypothesized that the potential customer might want to avoid the international pressure that comes with having those production capabilities, and a private company would be motivated to take on the risk for profit. It posits a scenario involving Saudi Arabia responding to a suspected Iranian weapons program.

Not wanting to risk the exposure of the large facilities involved in nuclear weapons production, Riyadh might, the study suggests, find the idea of buying the finished product more attractive. The project would remain deniable," the report states.

Ultimately, the studys worth shouldnt be measured by how well it meshes with current events, Jenkins told me. It wasnt intended to be a prediction," he said.

The point, he said, was to get national security institutions thinking about potential threats that come from the commercial availability of technology, and not just those linked to nuclear weapons. Jenkins suggested that biological weapons could be privatized more easily than nukes because fewer facilities are involved and theyre harder to detect.

I think in the 10 years since, theres certainly nothing that has occurred that I would say that makes what we were thinking about less likely," Jenkins said. If anything, if were talking about the privatization of war-making and waging wars through deniable proxies and private parties, I think the trajectory supports that thinking."
Google Doodle celebrates Sri Lanka Independence Day 2024 today. Independence Day of Sri Lanka is a national holiday in the South Asian island country that commemorates Sri Lanka's 76th political independence from British rule on February 4, 1948.

Google released the doodle marking this occasion that spans the region of Sri Lanka over its visibility. The doodle depicts Sri Lankan flag with Google written at the bottom.

Significance

This day holds immense significance for the people of the country as it marks the culmination of decades of struggle and aspirations for self-determination.

History

Sri Lankans led a number of movements and legislative actions to achieve freedom from colonial rule. The Sri Lanka Independence Movement was a political initiative. The movement for self-governance educated the middle-class and encouraged a peaceful transfer of power. In 1942, State Council passed a resolution demanding complete independence.

The Soulbury Commission was formed in 1944, to create a variety of new constitutional and legal reforms. Other significant events in Sri Lankan history include the formation of Ceylon National Congress in 1884 which is the first major political party that advocated for self-governance. Donoughmore Commission that granted limited self-government was formed in 1931. Early 20th century was marked by boycotts, strikes, and other forms of non-violent resistance that gained momentum during this period.

Celebrations

Independence Day is marked by flag hoisting ceremony by the President in Colombo. The day begins with flag raising ceremony followed by President's speech that is nationally televised. A military parade marks an integral part of the celebrations with aircraft flyover and tank display.

Cultural performances including traditional dances and music are performed throughout the country. Citizens of the country celebrate with fireworks, picnics and family gatherings.

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The consumer sector saw over $2.5 billion worth of private equity funding and acquisitions in the last three years, data sourced from investment bank Avendus showed. The trend is likely to continue as large companies snap up smaller entities to enter newer categories.

Even companies that have acquired in the last two yearsnone of them is saying that we are going to pause and integrate and then do more M&A. All of them, as we speak, are open to opening their wallets and acquiring more," said Abha Agarwal, managing director, Avendus Capital.

Over an earnings call Wednesday, Sudhir Sitapati, managing director and CEO, Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL) said the company continues to look for opportunities in the health and beauty segment while building its core portfolio. Last year, GCPL acquired the fast moving consumer goods business of Raymond Consumer Care Ltd for 2,825 crore.

Our number one priority is to master our existing categories. As and when we find genuine ways to solve a problem in health and beautyour vision is to bring the focus on health and beauty in emerging markets. Particularly, in India, as and when we find opportunities in health and beauty we will evaluate it. Our thesis is based very much on developing categories that we are present in including liquid detergents," Sitapati said.

Tata Consumer Products Ltd will continue to pursue opportunities as it builds a large fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) business in India and overseas, MD and CEO Sunil DSouza, said, a day after acquiring Capital Foods for 5,100 crore and Organic India for 1,900 crore.

Our big focus is India; the growth is in India, we aim to be a large player here, but the icing on the cake is if we acquire something in India and it has international legs, that would be a fantastic opportunity," DSouza said.

The covid pandemic pushed more consumers to buy branded foods and wellness products. The entry of direct-to-consumer brands has also prompted the likes of Hindustan Unilever Ltd and Marico to take note.

Companies chasing growth will buy into businesses that plug gaps in their portfolio, said Agarwal of Avendus.

Each of them is sitting at high double-digit market shares in their core segments. All the M&As which have happened are largely to expand and get into a newer segment," she said. Companies, she said, are sitting on a lot of capital and have existing distribution muscle, so if some of these M&As can give you adjacent categories to grow in, it helps," said Agarwal, who also co-heads the investment banks consumer, financial institutions group (FIG) & business services unit.

Dipanjan Basu, co-founder of Fireside Ventures, a venture capital (VC) firm that backs early-stage consumer startups, expects more M&As as consumer companies look to expand and build their product portfolio. We will see more deals in the space of consumer health and wellness, Gen-Z focused brands in fashion and beauty led by innovation, regional foods brands building for packaged food for regional India and home," Basu said.

Anand Ramanathan, partner, consumer products & retail sector leader, Deloitte India said acquisitions are a cheap way for companies to buy into innovation. However, companies could be looking at more niche spaces, than just the mass categories. Companies will always be on the lookout for small brands which will help them position themselves in some small gaps that they identify," he said.

One of the key drivers for M&A for a buyer is to plug key gaps in their product portfolio. Even globally, bulk of the M&As for most indie brands has happened when they reach $50-$75 million in revenue," Sakshi Chopra, Peak XV Partners managing director. Indie brands start to become attractive acquisition targets when they get to the $50 million revenue mark, are profitable and are generating free cash flows. Acquirers view them value accretive to their overall business," Chopra added.

In 2022, Indias largest consumer goods maker Hindustan Unilever acquired makers of Oziva and Wellbeing Nutrition health and wellness products in line with its strategic priority" of entering fast-growing demand spaces.

FMCG company Dabur India will continue looking for strategic fits in healthcare, home and personal care and value-added foods, chief executive Mohit Malhotra said in an interview in August. Weve got 6,000 crore lying on our balance sheet; its meant for acquisition purposes. We keep scouting for strategic fits. That said, we have a guard rail of profitability. So, anything which is margin accretive to us is what we will acquire," he added. In 2022, Dabur acquired a majority stake in spice maker Badshah Masala for 587.52 crore.
Kapil Sibal, Rajya Sabha member and senior advocate at Supreme Court has said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will now 'create' evidence against former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren following his arrest in a money laundering case, English daily Hindustan Times reported on Sunday. Sibal is representing the former Jharkhand chief minister in the Supreme Court.

"Now, what will happen is that 10 more cases will be slapped on Hemant Soren while in custody. All of them are made-up cases. They will make sure Hemant Soren does not come out of jail soon and can't campaign for Lok Sabha. BJP will benefit from his absence," Kapil Sibal said.

The senior advocate said now the federal agency will take the remand of Bhanu Pratap Prasad, a sub-inspector of the Jharkhand revenue department, on February 5 and make him give a statement against the former Jharkhand chief minister.

It is important to note that Bhanu Pratap Prasada sub-inspector of the Jharkhand revenue departmentwas already in jail in a different land scam case, and was arrested on Saturday by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with Hemant Soren case. According to the agency, Bhanu Pratap was Hemant Soren's trusted aide in land deals.

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"Bhanu Pratap is already a criminal but ED will make him corroborate against Hemant. They could have arrested Bhanu Pratap earlier, but they are working to destabilise the government in every state where the CM is an opposition leader," the English daily quoted Sibal as saying.

Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said he was confident that the INDIA bloc parties would win the floor test in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly.

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"We have a majority in the 81-seat Assembly...Even Hemant Soren has been permitted by the special court (to cast his vote). This is a conspiracy by the ED. We will win the floor test. It has been clear from the start that the Modi government has been misusing the ED, CBI and Income Tax departments against the INDIA members. They are no longer independent institutions," Ramesh said.

Jharkhand floor test: 5 points

1. ED arrested Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on January 31 in a money laundering case. Before his arrest, the Jharkhand chief minister resigned and JMM senior leader Champai Soren's name was announced as the next chief minister.

2. Champai Soren will prove his majority in the Assembly on February 5. In an 81-member Assembly, Champai has the support of 42 members.

3. Former Chief Minister Soren will also be present during the floor test as a court has allowed him to take part in the process.

4. Sibal said his client Hemant Soren does not even know Bhanu Pratap Prasad while ED said chats from Bhanu Pratap's phone indicate that Hemant Soren received illicit benefits from land acquisition.

5. Bhanu Pratap verified some parcels of lands which were illegally acquired by Hemant Soren, ED said.

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New Delhi: India will play an important role in Czech carmaker Skoda Autos ambition to expand into South-east Asian markets, as the European automotive group Skoda Auto Volkswagen India (SAVW), which operates five major automobile brands in the countrySkoda, Volkswagen, Audi, Lamborghini, and Porschelooks to tap into India as a major source of and enabler for exports into other South-east Asian economies, a top company official said.

Skoda Auto will supply completely knocked down (CKD) kits to Vietnam, for local assembly of cars such as Kushaq and Slavia, from a new logistics hub in Pune. Already, the company exports 30% of its entire production overseas, Piyush Arora, managing director & chief executive officer, SAVW India Ltd, told reporters. In 2023, of nearly 150,000 cars that the group manufactured here, over 42,000 units were exported.

Additionally, India could serve as a source market for exports into geographies which are behind" in their electrification journey, according to Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Volkswagen India.

Theres a lot of interest from markets like South America and Africa in markets such as ours (in India), where cars from India have very high acceptability now. Many neighbouring markets like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bhutan, too, want to import our cars," Gupta said.

The Indian automotive industry is today exporting 15% of its overall production. Globally, the expectation of the government from the industry is to take it up to 25% by 2030. We (the Skoda group) are already at 30% plus, and we are not slowing down," Arora said, adding that the legacy of parent Volkswagens Vento and Polo are helping the group push new cars such as the (Volkswagen) Virtus and Taigun into other markets, and the group now plans to leverage the Skoda brand to export Kushaq and Slavia to Southeast Asia.

We have seen a substantial 30% growth in our exports since we started exports of these models last year," Arora said. Our effort is to add on more export markets. As part of Skodas internationalization strategy, India is a very significant corner piece that will support this plan. Volkswagen has been present in Southeast Asia for a while now."

Skoda Auto, which leads the SAVW groups affairs and brands in India since it formulated the India 2.0 strategy in 2018, is looking to launch its Enyaq EV (electric vehicle) this year. Arora said the EV will be imported into the country as a fully built car as the car volumes being low will not justify investments in localization the platform in the country.

The Enyaq, which is an electric SUV, was launched in 2020 in Prague, and is likely to be imported into India.

iD.4, the groups electric SUV from the Volkswagen badge, on the other hand, is being tested for the Indian market and may only be made commercially available at the end of 2024 or in 2025.

The Group is also considering introducing an entry-level electric car in India that will be much smaller than the Enyaq EV. The vehicle, which will likely belong to the lowest or A0 category, will be manufactured in Spain starting 2025, Mint had reported earlier.

If realized, the EV will make Skoda the first European automaker to tap into Indias mass-market electric vehicle segment. Its unclear if the entry-level car will be made in India as well.

The EV may be launched in several markets under the Skoda, Cupra, and Volkswagen brands as part of Volkswagens Accelerate strategy to become the top brand in sustainable mobility.

According to Gupta, the Volkswagen brand will attempt to strike a balance in India between attaining leadership of a niche segment (VWs Virtus and Skodas Slavia comprise nearly 50% of the compact sedan segment), and playing into a large segment like SUVs, where the groups brands are smaller players.

On the groups wider plans to switch to clean mobility technologies in India, Arora shared that the SAVW group will align with the Volkswagen Groups global vision to be an all-electric brand.

Right now, the government push is also electric, and we are seeing all upstream to downstream benefits for that segment. There is no benefit on hybrids from the government side, so we are focusing on EVs," Arora said, weighing in on the ongoing discussion on potential tax rationalization on hybrid technologies, which has split the automotive industry.

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A woman on board a SpiceJet flight alleged inappropriate behaviour by a co-passenger, a spokesperson for the airline said on Sunday. The flight was en route to Bagdogra from Kolkata. The spokesperson for the carrier said the cabin crew relocated the seat of the male passenger after the complaint by the woman.

ALSO READ: Gaya, Bhopal to Indore: SpiceJet secures Haj flight rights from these seven Indian cities

"On January 31, while SpiceJet flight SG 592 was en route from Kolkata to Bagdogra, an incident occurred involving a female passenger, who alleged inappropriate behaviour by her co-passenger. The cabin crew promptly intervened to address the situation," the spokesperson was quoted by ANI as saying.

However, he said the accused co-passenger denied any wrongdoing.

ALSO READ: SpiceJet passenger clicks improper photos of air hostess on Delhi-Mumbai flight; DCW takes action

Upon arrival in Bagdogra, the airline spokesperson informed that the woman passenger left the airport without filing any written complaint after the accused co-passenger apologised in the presence of the CISF staff.

Upon arrival at Bagdogra airport, both passengers were assisted and escorted by SpiceJet security staff to CISF officials in the arrival area. The female passenger demanded action against the co-passenger," the spokesperson said.

ALSO READ: Delhi Police: Deboarded passenger arrested after misbehaving with SpiceJet crew

"At this, the accused co-passenger tendered an apology in the presence of CISF staff. The female passenger left the airport without filing any written complaint, hindering further investigation by SpiceJet," he added.

He said that the cabin crew actively assisted the woman throughout the incident, and ensured her comfort and safety.

ALSO READ: After passenger complaint over dirty seats, SpiceJet flight grounded

This incident was reported days after a call was received at the SpiceJet reservation office about a bomb in the aircraft operating flight SG 8496 from Darbhanga to Delhi. The incident had happened on January 24.

"The flight landed safely at Delhi airport at 6 pm and the aircraft was moved to an isolated bay," SpiceJet Spokesperson had then said in a statement.

(With inputs from ANI)

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A Pune University professor and five students were arrested for their involvement in a play based on Ramleela, accused of allegedly offending religious sentiments.

As reported by PTI, the police noted that objectionable dialogues and scenes in the play, lead to the arrest of the individuals on Saturday. The play depicted the behind-the-scenes conversations of actors involved in portraying various roles in Ramleela.

A clash erupted between members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and students from Pune University's Lalit Kala Kendra. The altercation stemmed from a play presented on Friday evening by Lalit Kala Kendra, the official Center for Performing Arts at the university.

The official added that Dr Pravin Bhole, head of the department of the Lalit Kala Kendra, and students Bhavesh Patil, Jay Pednekar, Prathamesh Sawant, Rishikesh Dalvi and Yash Chikhle were produced in court and later released.

Also Read: Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit appointed as the first woman Vice-Chancellor of JNU

On a complaint lodged by ABVP functionary Harshvardhan Harpude, a case was registered under section 295 (A) (deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code," inspector Ankush Chintaman of Chaturshringi police station said.

According to the initial information provided in the FIR, the play featured a male actor depicting the character of Sita shown in activities such as smoking a cigarette and using offensive language. The FIR further reported that members of the ABVP raised objections during the performance, leading to the play being stopped.

Meanwhile, a confrontation ensued, with the artists allegedly heckling and assaulting the members of ABVP.

In a statement, the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) administration said it did not support the mockery of icons and said it apologises if sentiments were hurt.

Also Read: Mumbai news: Maratha quota protest march to cause traffic snarls

The SPPU has formed a fact-finding committee headed by a retired district judge to inquire into the incident and action will be taken once its report is received, the statement added.

The play was a part of a classroom exercise, which was kept at the open theatre at the centre," the SPPU statement informed.

Members associated with the Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reportedly splattered ink and vandalized a board at the Lalit Kala Kendra.

(With inputs from PTI)

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The Uttarakhand Cabinet approved the report on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) during a cabinet meeting held at the Chief Minister's residence under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, news agency ANI reported. With the cabinet's approval to the UCC draft report the government likely to present the UCC Bill during the Uttarakhand Assembly session on February 6. A special four-day session of the Uttarakhand Assembly has already been convened from February 5-8. ALSO READ: Ban on halal, fixed marriage age? Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code draft in 10 points Once implemented, Uttarakhand will become the first Indian state after independence to adopt the UCC. It has been operational in Goa since the days of the Portugese rule. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Sunday, In today's cabinet meeting, a proposal has been approved to present a Uniform Civil Code in the upcoming legislative Assembly session and to complete the formalities to introduce it in the form of legislation." The UCC drafting committee, led by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, submitted the draft to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday. Dhami had earlier informed that 2,33,000 people gave suggestions on the UCC draft. "The draft report is about 740 pages long and is in 4 volumes...," he had said earlier this week.

The UCC proposes uniform civil laws for all communities in the state, irrespective of caste and religion. It will provide a legal framework for uniform marriage, divorce, land, property and inheritance laws for all citizens.

The passage of the UCC Bill in Uttarakhand will mark the fulfillment of a major promise made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to the people of the state during the 2022 assembly polls.

ALSO READ: Income tax: How Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in India will impact HUF (Hindu Undivided Families) tax outgo

While speaking at an event organised at the Mukhya Sevak Sadan at the Chief Minister's Camp Office, Dhami said on Friday, "We promised our people to bring the UCC in Uttarakhand before the Assembly goes into session. The rollout of the UCC will be in line with a resolution adopted by the BJP."

(With inputs from agencies)

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Hungary expects to enhance cooperation with China

Xinhua) 13:06, February 04, 2024

BUDAPEST, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Minister for National Economy Marton Nagy said here on Thursday that he expects the Hungary-China cooperation to "skyrocket" in the coming year.

Nagy made the remarks when addressing a reception organized by the Chinese Embassy in Hungary to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Budapest and Beijing, Nagy said, "The Hungary-China ties are at their historic best, and the Eastern Opening Policy of the Hungarian government is a success."

Nagy highlighted the key role of Chinese investments in bolstering Hungary's economic competitiveness, saying the flourishing Hungary-China economic relations was a testament to Hungary's successful Eastern Opening Policy.

The presence of Chinese companies in Hungary is growing, influenced by positive feedback from established firms like Huawei and the Bank of China, he added.

Gong Tao, the Chinese ambassador to Hungary, said that in line with the Chinese lunar calendar, 2024 heralds the Year of the Dragon, a symbol representing luck, strength and wisdom in Chinese culture.

Outlining the objectives for 2024, the ambassador emphasized the enhancement of collaboration between the two nations in advancing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), along with fostering subnational and cultural exchanges.

Referring to the flourishing electric vehicle (EV) industry, Nagy expressed optimism about the forthcoming investment by BYD in Szeged, the third largest city in Hungary, foreseeing Hungary's ascent to a leading position in the European electric vehicle market.

"On the Western side, we have the automative industry with Germany, and on the other side, the Chinese battery producer," he said, speaking of the construction of a battery plant by China's leading automotive lithium-ion battery manufacturer CATL, in Debrecen, eastern Hungary.

As EV car manufacturing represented the future, Hungary eagerly anticipated the arrival of BYD in Szeged to produce one of the finest, possibly the best electric vehicles in the world, said Nagy. It was part of Hungary's broader strategy to transition towards a greener economy, leveraging high-tech partnerships to create a sustainable future, he added.

Nagy also hailed the dynamic expansion of Hungary-China cooperation, particularly within the framework of the BRI. He cited the Budapest-Belgrade railway project, one of flagship BRI projects, saying it aligned with the historical Silk Road and enhanced Hungary's role as a key logistical hub in Europe.

The development of the infrastructure not only underscores Hungary's strategic geographic position but also increases its appeal to both Chinese and Western investments, he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
(Bloomberg) -- Senegal, in an unprecedented move, postponed presidential elections following an outcry against the disqualification of opposition candidates.

Lawmakers ordered a probe this week into how the contenders were validated after the independence of two judges at the Constitutional Council, which decided on the final list of 20 who could run on Feb. 25, was cast into doubt. President Macky Sall announced the delay in an address to the nation, without setting a new date.

For several days, our country has been confronted with a dispute between the National Assembly and the Constitutional Council, an open conflict in the form of an alleged corruption affair of the councils judges," Sall said. With the scars of the violence in March 2021 and June 2023 still fresh in mind, our country cannot lose itself to a new crisis."

The political upheaval  the delay is the first for the West African nation, which has seen four largely peaceful transitions of power since independence from France in 1960  may deter investment in an economy thats forecast to expand at the fastest pace in almost five decades.

Its a democratic setback for Senegal. The president has just confiscated power," Maurice Soudieck Dione, associate professor in political science at the Gaston Berger University, said by phone from Saint-Louis in the north of the country. Its worse than a third mandate. If Macky Sall is still in power after April 2 when his mandate ends he will be a president thats neither legitimate or legal. At that point we can in fact talk about a constitutional coup."

Ousmane Sonko, the politician who posed the biggest threat to the ruling coalition, and Karim Wade, the son of Salls predecessor Abdoulaye Wade, were among those omitted from the list of candidates challenging the ruling partys aspirant, Prime Minister Amadou Ba.

The US State Departments Bureau of African Affairs, in a post on X, urged participants in Senegals electoral process to engage peacefully in the important effort to swiftly set a new date and the conditions for a timely, free and fair election."

Government Secretary Abdou Latif Coulibaly resigned on Saturday after the elections were postponed. Following the events at the National Assembly and the presidents address to the Senegalese people, Ive decided to leave my post," he said in a statement on his official Facebook page. The prime ministers office confirmed Coulibalys resignation.

In a report issued last month, Human Rights Watch raised concerns over the credibility of the vote, saying it had been undermined by a crackdown on dissent and the targeting of Sonkos supporters.

Bassirou Faye, the secretary-general of Sonkos dissolved Pastef party, was expected to pose the biggest challenge to Ba. Sonko was disqualified from the race last month after he was convicted of libel for insulting the tourism minister and handed a six-months suspended prison sentence, and he has thrown his weight behind Fayes campaign.

Sonko was also arrested on rape charges in 2021, sparking deadly protests, and more demonstrations followed after he was sentenced two years later. That case is still being appealed.

Late Entrants

Both Ba and Faye were late entrants to the race  Sall endorsed Ba as his chosen successor in September last year after he ruled out running for a third term, while Faye was only designated the opposition candidate last month.

Sall reiterated that he will step down after the election.

Wades Senegalese Democratic Party asked for six months postponement of the vote based on irregularities in the validation process, according to an emailed statement.

The International Monetary Fund forecasts Senegals economy will expand 8.3% this year as a $4.8 billion gas project comes online. The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim development, which straddles the border between Senegal and Mauritania and is being developed by BP Plc and Kosmos Energy Ltd., was supposed to start production last year.

(Updates with US response in seventh paragraph.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

2024 Bloomberg L.P.

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Elon Musk s use of illegal drugs was common knowledge among several current and former Tesla Inc . and SpaceX directors, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

There was concern about the volume of Musks illegal drug use and that he consumed drugs with some of his board members, the newspaper reported, citing people who have witnessed the drug use or were briefed on it. The board didnt hold investigations on the issue, nor did it document any concerns, the paper said.

Also Read | Singapore arbitrator quashes Sony's request to stop Zee approaching NCLT

The relationship between Musk and his directors was slammed by a Delaware judge this week, who cited the boards conflicts of interest in her ruling that Musks $55 billion pay package was excessive.

Musk and his lawyer, Alex Spiro, didnt respond to the WSJs requests for comment. The paper previously reported that Musk has used LSD, cocaine, ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms, often at private parties. Spiro told the WSJ in that report that Musk was regularly and randomly drug tested at SpaceX and had never failed a test.

Also Read | Adani's Kutch Copper to start operations from March end

Some friends and directors felt they had to take illegal drugs with Musk as it could otherwise upset him, the paper reported Saturday, citing some of the people. They also didnt want to risk losing the social capital" of being in his circle, the paper said.

Musk responded on X to the WSJ story last month about his alleged drug use.

Whatever Im doing, I should obviously keep doing it!" Musk posted on X, citing Tesla and SpaceX as being the worlds most valuable car and space companies. If drugs actually helped improve my net productivity over time, I would definitely take them!"
Satyendra Siwal, employed as Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) at the Ministry of External Affairs, has been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (UP ATS) on allegations of cooperating with Pakistan's ISI.

ANI further reported that Siwal's posting was at the Indian Embassy in Moscow.

In an official release, the UP ATS was receiving information from various confidential sources that handlers of the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI were trying to manipulate and entice certain individuals with hidden identities in the MEA of the Indian government.

Also Read: UP ATS arrests suspected ISI agent for Lucknow, search on for two others

They were attempting to manipulate and lure employees associated with the Indian military by offering money. Through these covert means, crucial, confidential, and restricted information related to India's military, strategic, and tactical matters was being obtained, posing a significant threat to India's internal and external security," the release said.

Also Read: Honey-trapped DRDO scientist with ISI contacts: Who is Pradeep Kurulkar?

The release further noted that the officials collected evidence through electronic and physical surveillance and found that Satendra Sival, son of Jayveer Singh, residing in Shahmahiuddinpur village, Haapur district, Haapur, who is appointed as MTS in the MEA and currently stationed at the Indian Embassy in Moscow, Russia, is involved in anti-India activities under the influence of ISI handlers.

Also Read: 'ISIS terrorist' Wajihuddin from UP arrested in Chhattisgarh after 24-hour long search

He is implicated in the network of ISI handlers, providing crucial confidential information related to the diplomatic and military activities of India, in exchange for monetary incentives," it added.

Satendra Sival was summoned to the ATS field unit in Meerut as per regulations and interrogated, during which he admitted to his involvement in the offence after thorough questioning.

Satyendra Siwal has been arrested under Section 121A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

Items seized during the operation include 2 mobile phones, 1 Aadhar card, 1 PAN card, 1 identification document, and INR 600 in cash.

(With inputs from ANI)

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The United States carried out airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, targeting over 85 locations associated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard in response to an attack on US troops, Reuters reported.

Earlier, President Joe Biden, along with other top US leaders, had issued warnings, emphasizing that the United States would retaliate against the militias. They explicitly stated that it wouldn't be a singular strike but rather a "tiered response" unfolding over time. In an official statement after the Friday strikes, Biden said, The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or elsewhere in the world. But let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond."

This afternoon, at my direction, US military forces struck targets at facilities in Iraq and Syria that the IRGC and affiliated militia use to attack US forces. Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing," Biden added.

The CENTCOM said facilities that were struck included command and control operations centers, intelligence centers, rockets, and missiles, unmanned aerial vehicle storages, and logistics and munition supply chain facilities of militia groups and their IRGC sponsors who facilitated attacks against US and Coalition forces.

As reported by Reuters, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, expressed in a statement that the attacks in Iraq and Syria represented "another adventurous and strategic mistake by the United States that will result only in increased tension and instability".

Also Read: US: Umbrella group Islamic Resistance in Iraq responsible for strike that killed 3 troops in Jordan

In response to the strikes in Iraq, Iraq summoned the U.S. charge d'affaires in Baghdad to deliver a formal protest. Meanwhile, the Houthi-run Yemeni News Agency (Saba) reported that the US and Britain conducted 14 raids on Saturday in the governorates of Taiz and Hodeidah in Yemen.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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My latest credit card bill is less than 2,000. Even at the height of covid, my spend was never this low. I have not become poor. I have been reducing my credit card purchases ever since I discovered Paytm , which was so smooth and efficient that it felt as though finance had liberated itself from government clerks. (How wrong I was, but that later.)

Like most people, I started with small purchases and with the launch of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), I started using the app for big online transactions. In recent times, I have used my credit card only when I was left with no practical choice, like when I was booking a hotel outside India, for which I would be fleeced 3.5% of the transaction amount and an unfair currency exchange rate. If it were not for global financial bureaucracy, I have no need for a credit card at all. I never needed the credit part of the card. Most people dont. And I wonder everyday why e-wallets and the UPI have not already killed credit cards. But the fact is that credit card customers and card usage continue to rise in India, and it is Paytms payments bank that has been dealt a grave blow by the gatekeepers of Indian finance.

In any case, as far as I am concerned, credit cards are dead. There is a newspaper in my head that is entirely dedicated to the events in my life. On its front page is the headline: Credit Cards: End of an Era.

I first saw a credit card when I was 19, when Citibank somehow gave it to a close relative who should have been the last person to hold such a card. On the day of the cards activation, he took his wife and daughter to the market and bought utensils and innerwear. They marvelled at procuring goods without the feeling of having spent any money. The man defaulted on the very first bill and has since evaded all kinds of people whom the bank sent to collect the money. But, in that house, even today, Citibank" is a discreet code for underwear.

I would be 28 when I would get my own card, but I would almost never use it because I was then suspicious of everything I did not need but was given to me. But eventually I accepted its convenience. Sometimes when I would forget to pay the bill, I would be charged a huge interest, which was more than what villainous moneylenders in art cinema charged. Money-lenders across the world lived in social guilt and the suspicion that all bad things that happened to them were because of curses of the indebted; but not credit card executives. The credit card, of course, was once a marvel of technology. But not anymore. Without the marvel, it is just a temptation offered by a sly money-lender.

I particularly dislike credit cards because two layers of banking middlemen take protection money on every international transaction just for having a monopoly over the gateways. They make me see the point of cryptos; and also why governments and banks would have never let them survive. I have stopped using my credit card domestically in vengeance against the companies that made 3.5% of every foreign transaction. Sometimes, it was 7%like when a hotel used my card to block a deposit, and later when it released the money back to me, the banking system charged me 3.5% on each transaction along with a comical interpretation of exchange rates. So I deny them revenue on my home turf where I suddenly have options. I dont think my transactions at home are entirely free, because the merchant at the point of sale does pay a fee and it is all passed on to me. Yes, for using the card my bank does give me reward points," which I can encash for many useless goods and some useful coupons, but the rewards" only remind me that I am paying extra for it all in some form when I use the card. I agree that zero-interest" equated monthly instalments (EMIs) are helpful for those who wish to buy an expensive good they may or may not need, and that a zero-interest EMI is truly zero. Even so, such schemes are funded by merchants to attract customers, which means one way or another I pay a price for the zero-interest-EMI," even though I have no need for it.

In my toxic relationship with the credit card, a decisive moment came in December last year. I was in a restaurant and did not have my phone, so I had to use my card. Maybe someone saw the number on it and passed it on. That evening a person used my card to make online purchases worth more than 5,000. My bank eventually resolved the issue and I got all my money back, but I was done with the credit card.

As I feel armed with good modern options, I feel sorry for Paytm, which was how many of us discovered fintech. Paytm had seeded a bank that the Reserve Bank of India has crippled for non-compliance." It will affect millions of users; not in a serious financial way, but in a behavioural way because they are habituated to Paytms interface. One would expect RBI to give clear reasons for the harsh blow. But the problem is not clearly defined. All we have are problems cited by unnamed sources. The venerated central bank has had problems with Paytm for some time over know-your-customer processes, fake compliance and for not setting up enough safeguards against sharing data with foreign companies.

There is a general feeling that RBI has a point, but I cannot help but feel that the countrys banking bureaucracy dislikes all that can replace conventional banking. It reminds me of how much of the telephony clergy despised the internet and then mobile phones when they first appeared.
Chhagan Bhujbal, who belongs to the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the NCP, has disclosed that he tendered his resignation from the Maharashtra cabinet in November 2023 because of the Maratha OBC quota issue.

Addressing a rally on Saturday, Bhujbal said that he is not opposed to Marathas getting the reservation but is against sharing the existing quota for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

NCP's Chhagan Bhujbal, OBCs declares Maharashtra yatra against Maratha Quota

Speaking about his resignation, Bhujbal disclosed, "Many leaders from the opposition, even leaders from my government say that I should resign. Someone said Bhujbal should be sacked from the cabinet...I want to tell leaders from the opposition, government, and my party that ahead of the OBC Elgar rally held in Ambad on November 17, I resigned from the cabinet on November 16 and then went to attend that event".

He did not reveal about his resignation earlier because the chief minister and the Dy CM asked him not to speak about it. "There is no need for sacking. I have tendered my resignation. I will fight for the OBCs till the end," Bhujbal added.

Ajit Pawar's NCP slams ally Shinde's 'eyewash' response to Maratha quota demand

Bhujbal slammed the Maharashtra government for its handling of the Maratha quota demand. He has accused the government of pandering to the demands of Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange.

Bhujbal claimed the process of gathering data to determine the Maratha community's backwardness through a survey by the state backward classes commission is flawed. "While OBCs constitute 54-60% of the state population, SC/STs 20 % and Brahmins 3%, yet all MLAs and MPs are scared of losing Maratha votes," he said.

Maratha reservation in Maharashtra: Why are OBC leaders protesting?

Recently Bhujbal told the media that Marathas are being included in OBC "through the backdoor entry".

".. I have been working for the OBCs for the last 35 years... Today Marathas are included in OBC, tomorrow Patels, Jaats, and Gurjars will also be included. Strong communities will enter the OBC category this way... We will fight in every manner which can be expected in a democracy... Supreme Court said that Marathas are not backward," Bhujbal said.
Congress MLAs are relocating to Hyderabad this week amid a brewing political crisis in Bihar. The development comes on the heels of a similar commute undertaken by members of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha following a Chief Ministerial change. Both states will be facing floor tests in the coming week and political parties remain wary about poaching attempts.

16 Congress MLAs are reaching Hyderabad and the rest will also join them soon," Bihar Congress President Akhilesh Singh told news agency ANI. The move is being viewed as a precautionary measure to prevent any poaching attempts as the newly formed NDA government seeks a trust vote on February 12. The MLAs are likely to stay in Hyderabad till February 11.

The move has also sparked sharp criticism from political leaders in the southern state. Bharat Rashtra Samiti leader K Kavitha Telangana government was 'sponsoring' the entire Congress at the expense of the public.

The INDIA bloc suffered a massive blow last month after key Opposition leader Nitish Kumar returned to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. The JD(U) chief took oath as Chief Minister for a record ninth time last Sunday. Seat sharing talks within the mega alliance have also faced hurdles with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann announced that they would go solo in their respective states in the Lok Sabha polls.

Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party announced the names of 16 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The SP has offered 11 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh to the Congress.

Top Congress leaders also held a meeting to review political developments in Bihar on Saturday. Reports quoting sources indicate that they discussed the future course of action with Kumar no longer part of the opposition INDIA bloc.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Congress leader Shashi Tharoor asked on Sunday, "How is this possible that there are no other criminals anywhere but only in opposition?" His statement came amid actions taken by central agencies against former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Speaking at a press conference in Jaipur on Sunday, Tharoor said, "Let the ED (Enforcement Directorate), Income Tax Department, and CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) do their job, but how come all of their targets are in opposition (parties)?" Taking a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Tharoor added, Are members of the Opposition criminals, they have many things to hide...but when those leaders having criminal charges and investigations going on against them join the BJP...no one listens about it...many such cases are even shut."

Shashi Tharoor also accused the Centre of destroying India's democratic institutions and said the country is turning into an "electoral dictatorship". He made the remarks at the 17th Jaipur Literature Festival on Sunday, PTI reported.

Tharoor's statement came days after Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case related to the alleged land scam case. The fomer Jharkhand chief minister was sent to five-day custody on Friday.

Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal has been summoned by the financial probe agency five times for questioning in the Delhi Excise Policy case. He was recently served a notice by the CBI in connection with the allegations levelled by him that the BJP was attempting to "poach" AAP MLAs.

Opposition leaders have been launching attacks on the BJP over the actions of the central probe agencies against Opposition leaders.

In November last year, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had called that the three central agencies  the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Income Tax Department  "jawans" (soldiers) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

ARVIND More Information

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The floor test of the new Jharkhand government is likely to be held on Monday. The Champai Soren-led coalition government in Jharkhand is all set to seek a vote of trust on February 5 during a special two-day assembly session, news agency PTI reported.

A day ahead of the trust vote, the MLAs of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance returned to Ranchi. They had stayed at a resort in Hyderabad for the last three days to "thwart any attempt of" poaching by opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Champai Soren, who took oath as the new Jharkhand Chief Minister on Friday, claimed support of 47 MLAs of the ruling JMM-Congress-Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) alliance. Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted on X, saying that Champai Soren has the support of 48 MLA.

What numbers in Jharkhand Assembly really reveal?

The Jharkhand Assembly has 81 members. A political party needs support of 41 MLAs (majority, half-way mark) to form a government in Jharkhand. So, can the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance win the floor test on Monday by gathering the support of more than 41 MLAs?

ALSO READ: Hemant Soren sent to one-day judicial custody, process to form new Jharkhand govt to 'begin soon': 10 points

Here's a party-wise breakup of number of MLAs in Jharkhand Assembly:

Political party No. of MLAs Jharkhand Mukti Morcha 29 Bharatiya Janata Party 25 Indian National Congress 16 Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Democratic) 2 AJSU party 3 Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)(Liberation) 1 Nationalist Congress Party 1 Rashtriya Janata Dal 1 independent 2

(Data source: jharkhandvidhansabha.nic.in)

Analysis: These numbers show that JMM, Congress and RJD MLAs make up a total of 46 MLAs  conformably crossing the half-way mark of 41 needed to for the state government.

Champai Soren is most likely to win the trust votes on Monday, if nothing goes wrong. Simply put, if the MLAs currently backing Champai Soren remain committed to him, he will have no problem proving his majority in the assembly.

Meanwhile, the BJP and allies have 29 MLAs, NDTV reported. In the 2014 Jharkhand Assembly election, the BJP had formed the Jharkhand government with help from All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU).

In the next Jharkhand Assembly Election, in 2019, the JMM-led 3-party alliance had attained a majority in the 81-member assembly, with JMM leader Hemant Soren returning to power in the state.

However, Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31 in connection with a land fraud case. He was sent to five-day ED custody on February 2. Meanwhile, Champai Soren took over as the new Chief Minister of Jharkhand.

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In a veiled attack at Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday urged his supporters to listen to him "like they listened to a senior" earlier and vote for his Lok Sabha candidate.

Ajit Pawar also alluded to Sharad Pawars age with a "last election" comment.

"You listened to a senior for so many years. Now listen to me and vote for the Lok Sabha candidate I am going to field. I can then tell Prime Minister Narendra Modi that people have voted for my candidate. Do not forget who came to help when you were in trouble," the deputy chief minister said at a gathering in Baramati in Pune district.

Attacking Sharad Pawar without taking his name, the deputy CM said, "I do not know when some people are going to stop. There might be a sentimental appeal that this would be the last election. Do not know which will be the last election."

Sharad Pawar has remained undefeated in Assembly and Lok Sabha polls since the late 1960s and is currently a Rajya Sabha member.

In July last year, Ajit Pawar split the NCP and joined the Eknath Shinde government along with eight MLAs. Since then, he has routinely justified his revolt by saying elders, a reference to octogenarian Sharad Pawar, should have given way to the next generation.

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar is hearing cross-petitions linked to the split filed by the NCP's rival factions, seeking disqualification of those owing allegiance to the other camp.

On February 1, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut dubbed as a "farce" the on-going hearing on disqualification petitions filed by rival NCP factions before Narwekar, and claimed the Sharad Pawar-founded party will meet the same fate as his outfit.

Last month, Narwekar, delivering his much-awaited verdict, had recognised chief minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena as the "real political party", but did not disqualify any MLA from the two rival camps.

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The terrorist threat from al-Qaida, the Islamic State group and their affiliates remains high in conflict zones in Africa and in Afghanistan  and threat levels have risen in some regions including Europe, U.N. experts said in a new report.

The panel of experts said in the 23-page report that the relationship between Afghanistans Taliban rulers and al-Qaida remains close, and unnamed member states report that the high concentration of terrorist groups in the country are undermining the security situation in the region.

The greatest threat within Afghanistan still comes from the Islamic State with its ability to project into the region and beyond, the experts said in the report to the U.N. Security Council covering the period until Dec. 16, which was circulated Wednesday. Regionally, they pointed to a succession of attacks in neighboring Iran and Pakistan and threats in Central Asian nations.

The panel said, however, that while none of the al-Qaida affiliated groups have recovered the capability to launch long-range operations, they harbor global ambitions. And it said covert and calibrated efforts to rebuild capability have been reported.

The Islamic State group broke away from al-Qaida over a decade ago and attracted supporters from around the world. Despite its defeat in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria two years later. The panel said the combined IS strength in the two countries is still between 3,000 and 5,000 fighters. In Iraq, they are carrying out a low-intensity insurgency with covert terrorist cells while in Syria attacks have intensified since November, the experts said.

The panel said the three-month delay in naming the current IS leader, Abu Hafs al-Hashemi al-Qurayshi, following the death in fighting of his little-known predecessor is judged indicative of internal difficulties and security challenges

Some unnamed U.N. member nations have assessed that serious pressure from counter-terrorism operations in Syria and Iraq raise the possibility that the Islamic State could move its leadership and center of gravity to Africa or Afghanistan, with Africa more likely, the experts said.

In West Africa and the Sahel, the panel said, violence and threat have escalated again in conflict zones, raising concerns among U.N. member nations. The experts point to a deficit in counterterrorism capabilities, which Islamic State and al-Qaida affiliated groups are continuing to exploit.

The situation is becoming ever more complex with the conflation of ethnic and regional disputes with the agenda and operations of these groups, they said.

In east Africa, the experts said, the Somali government is continuing its military offensive against al-Shabab, an al-Qaida affiliate, but they said U.N. member nations assess that despite significant losses from air strikes and military operations, al-Shabab remains resilient. It has an estimated 7,000 to 12,000 fighters, and an estimated $100 million annual income, mostly from illegal taxation in the capital Mogadishu and southern Somalia, they said.

The panel said al-Qaida has improved its media productions which appeared aimed at restoring the extremist groups credibility, attracting recruits, and filling the void over its inability to announce a new leader.

But that messaging changed after Hamas Oct. 7 attacks in southern Israel, the experts said.

The attack killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and Hamas and other extremists took about 250 people hostage, according to Israeli authorities. In Israels ongoing offensive in response in Gaza aimed at destroying Hamas, more than 27,000 people have been killed, according to the territorys health ministry which doesnt distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths.

The experts said Al-Qaida has focused on the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam which is in a compound in Jerusalem sacred to Jews and Muslims, with some communications stressing an obligation for individuals to take action to the limits of their own ability.

Member States are concerned that it (al-Qaida) could exploit the situation to recover relevance and tap into popular dissent about the extent of civilian casualties, providing direction to those keen to act, the panel said, and they are concerned that the renewed narrative could inspire self-initiated attacks globally.

Across Europe, the experts said, formal terrorist threat levels have risen  following fatal attacks in late 2023 in France and Belgium, in addition to numerous non-lethal terrorist incidents and arrests in several European countries.

Why some countries are happier than others Why some countries are happier than others National happiness is strongly correlated with income Social connections and public health matter too
Sharing relationship advice with party workers in Hyderabad, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief AsaduddinOwaisi Sunday said that true manhood lies in tolerating a wife's anger rather than responding with anger.

The AIMIM chief stressed that women are not obligated to handle all household chores, and such expectations are not mandatory or explicitly stated in the Quran. Also Read | Budget 2024 Key Highlights LIVE Updates: India to cut aid to the Maldives by 22% In a viral video (Islam mein khawateen ka maqaam) shared on AIMIM's official account, Owaisi said, There is no manhood in unnecessarily venting your anger on your wife or taking swipes at her. Manhood is tolerating her anger."

The viral video has amassed 8,882 views, 528 likes and 121 retweets since posted at 1.30 pm on Sunday.

The AIMIM chief said some men unjustly criticise their wives for various reasons, such as not cooking well or finding faults in their culinary skills.

My brothers, this goes against the principles of Islam. It is not prescribed anywhere."

Slamming those who mistreat their wives, resorting to physical violence, Owaisi said, If you are true followers of the Prophet, show me an instance where he laid hands on a woman."

In fact, it specifies that the husband has no entitlement to his wife's earnings. Conversely, the wife has the right to the husband's earnings as she is responsible for managing the household," the AIMIM chief asserted.

Sharing an incident where a person named Rasul approached Farooq e Azam, an influential caliph, complaining about his wife's anger, the AIMIM leader said, Upon reaching Farooq-e-Azam's home, Rasul discovered that his own wife was admonishing him. Later, when he reported the same complaint to Farooq-e-Azam, he responded, 'She is my wife; she safeguards my home's honour, gave birth to my children, and takes care of them. She is human, and if she expresses something to me (in anger), I listen. Brothers, cultivate this mindset.'"

The AIMIM chief also said, Men spend time chatting with friends outside, while their wives and mothers patiently await their return at home."

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Night after night, for almost a week, sources around the Middle East said the strikes were imminent. At around midnight on February 3rd they finally happened: B-1 bombers flew from America and hit more than 85 targets at seven locations in western Iraq and eastern Syria. The sorties had been expected ever since a drone attack on January 28th, carried out by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, killed three American soldiers and injured dozens more at a remote outpost in north-eastern Jordan, near the border with Syria.

The Pentagon said it had targeted both Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and its proxy militias. Over the past two decades Iran has built an axis of resistance"a network of armed forces and affiliates across the region that have become a huge menace. There are reports of casualties, although numbers remain fuzzy. Among the locations America bombed were al-Qaim, an Iraqi border town often used to smuggle weapons and drugs, and al-Bukamal, a Syrian city where Iranian-backed militias have a big presence. Both have been the target of previous American attacks.

Joe Biden, the American president, suggested that more strikes would follow. Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing," he said in a statement. The administration is simultaneously engaged in an intense bout of diplomacy over the conflict in Gaza. Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, is expected to visit Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and the West Bank in the coming days.

The strikes are intended to show Americas resolve without provoking direct war against Iran. There are plenty of worries about escalation, however. Iraq complained that the strikes against militias on its territory violated its sovereignty" and warned that the region was on the brink of an abyss". Josep Borrell, the EUs foreign-policy chief, compared the Middle East to a boiler that can explode".

These were perhaps the biggest raids America has ever carried out against the IRGC and its allies, both in the number of bombs dropped and the number of locations hit. Thus far America had done very little in response to the 160-plus attacks on its troops in Syria and Iraq by Iran-backed proxies since the start of the Gaza war on October 7th. But this time it was forced to retaliate because its soldiers had been killed.

Still, the Biden administration has so far ignored calls from Republican lawmakers to hit Iranian territory directly, something America has not done since the 1980s (even then, it attacked only warships and oil platforms in the Persian Gulf). By flying bombers halfway around the world, rather than from an air base in a nearby country, it also deprived Iran of justification to lash out at its neighbours in the Gulf.

Before the strikes the Wall Street Journal reported that Jordanian aircraft were expected to participate. American and Jordanian officials refused to comment on the claim. Jordan has its own problems with Iran-backed militias: they traffic drugs across the border from Syria and use the kingdom as a transit route for smuggling weapons into the occupied West Bank. Last month Jordans air force bombed suspected drug-smugglers in southern Syria.

American officials say it is too early to assess the damage from their sorties. They had been telegraphed for almost a week, and it is unlikely that the IRGC left any high-level members at locations that were probable targets. There have been reports that the guards have withdrawn many officers from Syria, where they have been targeted in recent weeks by Israeli attacks.

In a briefing with reporters American officials made no mention of trying to deter Iran: too late for that. Instead they talked of trying to degrade" its ability to attack American troops through proxies. One social-media video from al-Qaim shows a series of secondary explosions after an American strike, which suggests that it hit an ammunition depot full of ordnance. But it is doubtful that one round of bombing could have done much damage to the military capabilities of a constellation of well-armed militias.

America is trying to do much the same in Yemen, where on February 1st it carried out another round of air strikes against the Houthis, a Shia militia. But despite three weeks of American and British attacks the Houthis are still launching drones and ballistic missiles at commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Trying to stop such groups through air raids can turn into a long game of whack-a-mole.

Three questions loom. The first is when and how America will carry out subsequent attacks, and how Iran and its allies will respond. Iran has long hoped that fighting with American troops in Syria and Iraq would eventually drive them out. There are now signs, however, that the regime is worried that militias could drag it into direct conflict with America. On January 30th Kataib Hizbullah, the strongest Iran-backed group in Iraq, said that it would suspend its attacks against American targets. Yet other factions have vowed to continue their attacks. Militias in Iraq compete with one another for power and popularity. Iran has influence over them, but cannot dictate their every move.

Second is whether the strikes will affect the ongoing diplomacy over a ceasefire and release of hostages in Gaza. Optimists in the administration hope they could lay a path for a new grand bargain in the Middle East that would include the establishment of a Palestinian state, Saudi recognition of Israel and an American defence treaty for Saudi Arabia that could help create a new security architecture in the region. The strikes show America is prepared to use muscle against Iran in some circumstances. But for Israel, Saudi Arabia and others who are threatened by Iran, they fall far short of a coherent long-term strategy to contain the regime in Tehran. And in the short-term, any further escalation in fighting could complicate negotiations.

Third, and most worrisome, is whether any of these back-and-forth attacks will have unintended consequences. The drone that struck the American base in Jordan may have been mistakenly identified as friendly, which meant air defences were not activated and soldiers were not rushed to bunkers. That error has pushed America and Iran one step further into conflict. Neither side may want a war, but wars are messy things.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Each fall, millions of hunters across North America make their way into forests and grasslands to kill deer. Over the winter, people chow down on the venison steaks, sausage, and burgers made from the animals.

These hunters, however, are not just on the front lines of an American tradition. Infectious disease researchers say they are also on the front lines of what could be a serious threat to public health: chronic wasting disease.

The neurological disease, which is contagious, rapidly spreading, and always fatal, is caused by misfolded proteins called prions. It currently is known to infect only members of the cervid family  elk, deer, reindeer, caribou, and moose.

Animal disease scientists are alarmed about the rapid spread of CWD in deer. Recent research shows that the barrier to a spillover into humans is less formidable than previously believed and that the prions causing the disease may be evolving to become more able to infect humans.

A response to the threat is ramping up. In 2023, a coalition of researchers began working on a major initiative, bringing together 68 different global experts on various aspects of CWD to really look at what are the challenges ahead should we see a spillover into humans and food production, said Michael Osterholm, an expert in infectious disease at the University of Minnesota and a leading authority on CWD.

The bottom-line message is we are quite unprepared, Osterholm said. If we saw a spillover right now, we would be in free fall. There are no contingency plans for what to do or how to follow up.

The team of experts is planning for a potential outbreak, focusing on public health surveillance, lab capacity, prion disease diagnostics, surveillance of livestock and wildlife, risk communication, and education and outreach.

Despite the concern, tens of thousands of infected animals have been eaten by people in recent years, yet there have been no known human cases of the disease.

Many hunters have wrestled with how seriously to take the threat of CWD. The predominant opinion I encounter is that no human being has gotten this disease, said Steve Rinella, a writer and the founder of MeatEater, a media and lifestyle company focused on hunting and cooking wild game.

They think, I am not going to worry about it because it hasnt jumped the species barrier, Rinella said. That would change dramatically if a hunter got CWD.

Other prion diseases, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, have affected humans. Mad cow claimed the lives of more than 200 people, mostly in the United Kingdom and France. Some experts believe Parkinsons and Alzheimers also may be caused by prions.

First discovered in Colorado in captive deer in 1967, CWD has since spread widely. It has been found in animals in at least 32 states, four Canadian provinces, and four other foreign countries. It was recently found for the first time in Yellowstone National Park.

Prions behave very differently than viruses and bacteria and are virtually impossible to eradicate. Matthew Dunfee, director of the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance, said experts call it a disease from outer space.

Symptoms are gruesome. The brain deteriorates to a spongy consistency. Sometimes nicknamed zombie deer disease, the condition makes infected animals stumble, drool, and stare blankly before they die. There is no treatment or vaccine. And it is extremely difficult to eradicate, whether with disinfectants or with high heat  it even survives autoclaving, or medical sterilization.

Cooking doesnt kill prions, said Osterholm. Unfortunately, he said, cooking concentrates the prions. It makes it even more likely people will consume them, he said.

Though CWD is not known to have passed to humans or domestic animals, experts are very concerned about both possibilities, which Osterholms group just received more than $1.5 million in funding to study. CWD can infect more parts of an animals body than other prion diseases like mad cow, which could make it more likely to spread to people who eat venison  if it can jump to humans.

Researchers estimate that between 7,000 and 15,000 infected animals are unknowingly consumed by hunter families annually, a number that increases every year as the disease spreads across the continent. While testing of wild game for CWD is available, its cumbersome and the tests are not widely used in many places.

A major problem with determining whether CWD has affected humans is that it has a long latency. People who consume prions may not contract the resulting disease until many years later  so, if someone fell sick, there might not be an apparent connection to having eaten deer.

Prions are extremely persistent in the environment. They can remain in the ground for many years and even be taken up by plants.

Because the most likely route for spillover is through people who eat venison, quick testing of deer and other cervid carcasses is where prevention is focused. Right now, a hunter may drive a deer to a check station and have a lymph node sample sent to a lab. It can be a week or more before results come in, so most hunters skip it.

Montana, for example, is famous for its deer hunting. CWD was first detected in the wild there in 2017 and now has spread across much of the state. Despite warnings and free testing, Montana wildlife officials have not seen much concern among hunters. We have not seen a decrease in deer hunting because of this, said Brian Wakeling, game management bureau chief for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks. In 2022 Montana hunters killed nearly 88,000 deer. Just 5,941 samples were taken, and 253 of those tested positive.

Experts believe a rapid test would greatly increase the number of animals tested and help prevent spillover.

Because of the importance of deer to Indigenous people, several tribal nations in Minnesota are working with experts at the University of Minnesota to come up with ways to monitor and manage the disease. The threat and potential for the spread of CWD on any of our three reservations has the ability to negatively impact Ojibwe culture and traditions of deer hunting providing venison for our membership, said Doug McArthur, a tribal biologist for the White Earth Nation, in a statement announcing the program. (The other groups referenced are the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and Red Lake Band of Chippewa.) Tribes must be ready with a plan to manage and mitigate the effects of CWD  to ensure that the time-honored and culturally significant practice of harvesting deer is maintained for future generations.

Peter Larsen is an assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota and co-director of the Minnesota Center for Prion Research and Outreach. The center was formed to study numerous aspects of prions as part of the push to get ahead of possible spillover. Our mission is to learn everything we can about not just CWD but other prionlike diseases, including Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease, he said. We are studying the biology and ecology of the misfolded protein, he said. How do prions move within the environment? How can we help mitigate risk and improve animal health and welfare?

Part of that mission is new technology to make testing faster and easier. Researchers have developed a way for hunters to do their own testing, though it can take weeks for results. Theres hope for, within the next two years, a test that will reduce the wait time to three to four hours.

With all the doom and gloom around CWD, we have real solutions that can help us fight this disease in new ways, said Larsen. Theres some optimism.
UPDATE: Lanes have been cleared near the multivehicle crash reported on I24 WB
Longford County Council will write to the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine to ensure entrants to the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) are not penalised by changes to the cow indexes. SCEP is a five year programme, running up to the end of 2027.

At the time of application farmers with suckler cows prior to 2021 were given a three year average reference value and selected their best three years. Crucial to the reference is the farmer's Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF)index. The Index is overseen by the ICBF, a non-profit organisation charged with providing cattle breeding information services to the Irish dairy and beef industries.



Cllr Paul Ross said it is essential those who entered the scheme in good faith prior to the ICBF changes to the replacement and terminal cow index are allowed keep the cow indexes their animals had when entering the scheme.



This will ensure that all those who entered the five year scheme will be able toremain in this important scheme which was designed to improve the environmental sustainability of the national herd, the Fine Gael elected representative said.

Cllr Ross has called on Agriculture Minister, Charlie McConalogue, to ensure suckler farmers who entered the SCEP scheme early last year are penalised by ICBF changes in the beef cow indexes announced in November 2023. He said those changes are skewed towards dairy animal rather than the more common continental breeding suckler cow. The scheme is designed to improve farmers' carbon footprint and improve efficiency on suckler farms.



Cllr Ross stated that farmers entered this five year scheme in good faith and change in cow ratings introduced six months after farmers entry have left farmers upset and worried about meeting future targets.



At the Longford County Council meeting, Cllr Ross said: If a farmer had five star cows when he entered the scheme, this rating should last the duration of the scheme. Many farmers breeding top quality animals find their cowherd is downgraded by the changes. They find it unfair that the rules of the scheme have effectively been changed.



Cllr Ross said the scheme is designed to ensure that farmers are doing their bit to prevent climate change and take a responsible approach to farming their land: With over 15,000 farmers in the scheme it has been a huge success, but common sense will have to prevail to ensure that all those who entered the scheme are allowed to stay in it, he concluded. The motion was unanimously passed and a letter will be sent to the Minister.
Local News, Crime

By Long Island Published: February 04 2024

Juan Miguitama-Aguilar was riding a bicycle, crossing eastbound from the sidewalk in front of 1320 5th Ave., when he was struck

Suffolk County Police Third Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that killed a bicyclist in Bay Shore last night.

Juan Miguitama-Aguilar was riding a bicycle, crossing eastbound from the sidewalk in front of 1320 5th Ave., when he was struck by a southbound 2007 Toyota Camry in the right lane of 5th Avenue, at approximately 9:10 p.m.

Miguitama-Aguilar, 67, of Bay Shore, was transported to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the Toyota, Cynthia Rumplick, 66, of Central Islip, was not injured.

The Toyota was impounded for a safety check.
Arts & Culture

By Lon Cohen Published: February 04 2024

We dug into the archives for this historical photo.

The image of Montauk lighthouse is from a book called Unique Long Island Camera Sketches" created by the Long Island Railroad published around the turn of the 20th Century. The book was compliments of the LIRR and encouraged people to travel east to explore the beauty of Long Island.

An inscription in the books says that The Long Island Railroad Company in the belief that the sun pictures will describe better than words Long Island's many charms. The photo caption simply reads, Montauk Point.
Jose Maria Manso, chief inspector of the National Police's immigration brigade in the Balearics, is retiring after 44 years of service.

He transferred from Bilbao to Mallorca in 1991 and in 2000 set up the UCRIF, the unit for immigration networks and documentation falsification. Few have the experience and knowledge of Chief Inspector Manso when it comes to the issues surrounding immigration and the challenges it poses.

In 2000, he recalls, the main focus was on Romanians. "There were many problems with them - prostitution, white slavery and crimes against property. Now, and on a daily basis, it is the problem of the boats that come from Algeria and everything that surrounds those who arrive and stay. It's a big problem that involves the entire police leadership."

Key factors, he points out, have been the pandemic and the breakdown of relations between Spain and Algeria. "Due to Covid, people couldn't be returned to any country. As to the relations with Algeria, this prevents repatriation. Before this conflict, one hundred per cent of the people who arrived in boats were returned to their country of origin. Now, a good number of those who stay in Mallorca are committing crimes and it is a very serious problem. Furthermore, it is currently absolutely impossible to expel an Algerian from the country."

He explains that a direct route from Algeria to the Balearics was created some time ago. It is fully established. But the police had warned that this was only part of Africa. "Much of the sub-Saharan part of the continent has also opened routes to the islands; also from Morocco and Asian countries."

The chief inspector says that there was a time when all migrants were sent back to their countries of origin. "They arrived and a few days later they were back in their country." It was also the case that migrants who weren't returned tended to use Mallorca and the Balearics as a transit station for moving to the mainland or to various European countries. There are now more who stay in Mallorca, and "the vast majority who stay here are committing crimes and are repeat offenders". "They can commit up to 30 crimes in a short time."

Why aren't they sent to prison? "They start with minor crimes like theft. No one goes to prison for this. Robberies with violence; yes, they should go, but these can be difficult to prove."

Irregular registration, he notes, supports illegal immigration. "They arrive in Spain, register at an address and generate a series of rights, a health card and aid. In addition, they get on a waiting list to obtain a residence permit. There are people who register in a municipality and then go back to their country. When the two years pass, they return with the certificate that they have been residing in Spain.

"How do they register so easily? It can depend on the official on duty, who sees how 25 people are living in a house of 80 square metres. But it's also become a business, with registrations being sold from 200 euros. We've come across cases in which owners of apartments have no idea that people are being registered at their properties."
Yellowstone National Park has bustled with construction activity in recent years, and not just because the record-breaking flood of 2022 wiped out roads, bridges, buildings and other infrastructure.

The Great American Outdoors Act, passed by Congress in a bipartisan vote in 2020, is funneling millions of dollars into deferred maintenance at Yellowstone and other national parks, in addition to funding projects on Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service trails and facilities.

"It's been critical in giving us a substantial infusion of resources to invest in infrastructure that wasn't in great shape," said Cam Sholly, superintendent of Yellowstone National Park.

In Montana, more than 100 other federal land projects will improve rental cabins, trails, campsites and roads. So far, about $112.7 million has been earmarked. Wyoming is receiving $363.6 million for similar projects.

The Great American Outdoors Act is proving a huge success for Montana and at parks and other public lands throughout the country in nearly every state in the union, said John Garder, senior director for budget and appropriations at the National Parks Conservation Association.

The Park Service alone has already obligated nearly $5 billion dollars to improve more than 2,200 assets, he added. In Montana, that means significant repairs to utilities and roads at Glacier National Park, not to mention a number of important projects to repair roads and facilities at Yellowstone and even down south into Grand Teton.

Legacy properties

When the Great American Outdoors Act was passed, legislation created the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund that provides up to $1.3 billion a year for five years just for national parks. The funding runs through 2025 with the National Park Service getting 75% of the total GAOA funding.

The Department of Interior, which oversees national parks, called the income collected from energy development revenues the largest investment in public lands infrastructure in the nations history. Prior to the funding, many large projects were out of reach, the agency noted.

"A lot of our infrastructure was built in the '80s when there were only 1 million visitors," Sholly said of Yellowstone.

From 2018 to 2022 visitation to Yellowstone averaged more than 4 million a year.

There are several other sources of income for parks, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Line Item Construction funds, Federal Lands Transportation Program, entrance fees and Facility Operations & Maintenance Funding through annual discretionary appropriations. But none of these have the one-time impact provided by the Great American Outdoors Act.

At the end of fiscal year 2022, Yellowstone had an estimated $1 billion in deferred maintenance and repairs. The park also has annual routine maintenance that costs an estimated $48 million.

Project list

Some of the projects the act is funding in Yellowstone include $50.2 million to rebuild 22 miles of the Grand Loop Road between Old Faithful and West Thumb and $52.6 million to replace the wastewater treatment plants at Canyon and Grant Village.

Separate from the Great American Outdoors Act, in 2021 Yellowstone National Park reported the completion of $80 million in infrastructure repairs, including $40 million to improve the Pelican Creek Bridge and $30 million on road repairs between Norris and the parks Golden Gate, just outside Mammoth Hot Springs.

As those projects were concluding, the park was investing $28 million in roadwork between Tower and Mount Washburn, as well as a $12 million restoration of the gate facilities at the North Entrance near Gardiner.

Now in the pipeline are additional expensive investments, including $28 million to finish rebuilding the Lewis River Bridge near the South Entrance and $22.3 million to upgrade old structures that were part of the U.S. Armys Fort Yellowstone facilities.

In Glacier National Park, $17.1 million is being invested in rehabilitating nine miles of the Going-to-the-Sun Road and to replace a bridge over McDonald Creek.

The Park Service estimated the Great American Outdoors Act investments are supporting $3.9 billion in labor income and $12.3 billion in economic output.

Improved housing

One of the most notable improvements that wasn't funded by GAOA, yet is probably the most appreciated by park employees, is housing upgrades that began in Yellowstone in 2020. Five locations in the park were identified for a $39 million investment that used modular homes to replace 65 aging trailers  some of which were 40 to 60 years old.

That was just phase one for housing upgrades. Phase two will remove another 31 outdated trailer houses, replacing them with modular homes, at a cost of $20 million.

Garder, of the National Parks Conservation Association, said attracting and retaining employees is one of the biggest problems national parks face. Between 2012 and 2022, he said the Park Service lost 13% of its workforce as there was a concurrent 10% rise in visitation. As workers had to take on additional duties, morale fell.

Ensuring there is adequate housing and that its affordable is a huge focus for superintendents, said Jeff Mow, who worked for the National Park Service for 34 years, retiring in 2021 after 10 years as superintendent of Glacier National Park. Especially here in Montana, theres very little housing to absorb seasonal workers.

At the same time, Park Service assessments have estimated the economic benefits of national parks to surrounding states and communities. In 2022, the agency calculated park gateway communities saw $23.9 billion in spending by visitors and support for 314,600 jobs. For Yellowstone alone, visitor spending was determined to be more than $452 million.

Looking ahead

Although the Great American Outdoors Act will make a sizable dent in deferred maintenance on federal lands, to ensure more work is completed groups like the National Park Conservation Association are lobbying Congress to extend the funding.

The Montana delegation was hugely supportive and important in securing funding to address the floods at Yellowstone and other natural disasters at parks around the country, Garder said. They were also critical in ensuring passage of the Great American Outdoors Act. Where their support is needed now is pushing for an appropriations bill that does not cut national park funding, as the House bill seeks to do, and support a new bill that will provide for another five years of the Legacy Restoration Fund.

Its clear that five years of funding is not going to be enough to take care of all of the deferred maintenance, Mow said.

Sholly said Yellowstone could never get to zero in maintenance needs just because of the numerous facilities. The key, he said, is ensuring the repairs most needed are completed.

Looking forward, Mow said one of the biggest issues the Park Service faces is adapting to climate change and the extreme conditions that accompany it, such as Yellowstones ferocious 2022 flooding.

Having this legacy restoration fund will really help the park look at infrastructure and adapt to those changes and try to find designs and materials that can withstand greater extremes, or relocate facilities so theyre not subject to flooding as much, or erosion, those kinds of issues.

Extreme landscape

Subzero winters and heavy snow make Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks some of the harshest places when it comes to maintaining infrastructure like buildings and bridges.

Even roads have a lot of wear and tear that comes with being buried under winter, especially with these freeze-thaw cycles that we seem to be seeing more of these days, Mow said.

The short summers  sometimes complicated by wildland fires  also create a fleeting window for repairing such facilities, not to mention the difficulty of moving manpower and materials into a remote, mountainous region clogged with sometimes grouchy tourists driving narrow roads.

Honestly, what I find fascinating about Glacier is that the visiting season is almost shorter than most of the visitor seasons in Alaska where I worked for 24 years, Mow said. The Going to the Sun Road is a very short season. Were lucky to get it open in the middle of June. Oftentimes its early October when snow shuts it down. For Glacier in particular, that is the focal point for so much of its visitation.

Considering these challenges, its extraordinary the gains national parks have seen in funding and completing several high-dollar projects in recent years.
Every year, history could be made at musics biggest night and this year is no different.

Dozens of artists  including Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish and Jack Antonoff  could break several records at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards if they walk away with trophies.

For starters, Swift could become the first artist to win Album of the Year four times if she takes home the award for her album Midnights. She has won the award for her albums Fearless, 1989, and Folklore.

Swift could also win her first Song of the Year trophy for Anti-Hero after receiving the most nominations of anyone else in the category (seven nominations).

Billie Eilish could become one of only three artists to win three Record of the Year trophies and would also be the first female and solo artist to do so if she wins for What Was I Made For?, which was featured in the Barbie movie. Eilish won Record of the Year in 2020 for Bad Guy, and in 2021 for Everything I Wanted.

Read More: Billy Joel latest act slated to perform at the 2024 Grammy Awards

Meanwhile if Miley Cyrus wins Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for Thousand Miles (featuring Brandi Carlile), her and her father Billy Ray Cyrus would make history as the first father/daughter to win in the category on separate occasions.

Additionally, if Jack Antonoff wins Record of the Year as a producer on Swifts song Anti-Hero, he would join Adele, Billie Eilish and Christopher Cross as the only artists that have won all four major awards.

Below is a full list of records that could be broken at the 66th annual Grammy Awards, courtesy of VegasInsider.com.

Record of the Year

Billie Eilish could join Paul Simon and Bruno Mars as the only artist with three Record of the Year trophies if she wins for What Was I Made For?

If Jack Antonoff wins Record of the Year as a producer on Taylor Swifts Anti-Hero, he will achieve a rare feat of winning all four major awards at the Grammys. The other three major categories are Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Best New Artist.

Boygenius could become only the second all-female group to ever win Record of the Year for Not Strong Enough after The Chicks won for Not Ready To Make Nice in 2007.

Song of the Year

Taylor Swift could win her first Song of the Year trophy after a record-breaking seventh nomination for Anti-Hero, which makes her the most-nominated songwriter in the category ever and most-nominated songwriter without a win.

Jack Antonoff (A&W or Anti-Hero) and Billie Eilish and Finneas (What Was I Made For?) have a chance to join only 12 songwriters who have won two Song of the Year trophies.

Album of the Year

Taylor Swift could break her tie with Stevie Wonder and Frank Sinatra (three wins) to become artist with the most wins for Album of the Year.

Lana Del Reys Did You Know That Theres a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd could be the album with the longest title to ever win the trophy.

Boygenius could become the second all-female group to ever win Album of the Year with the record after The Chicks won it for Taking The Long Way in 2007.

Jon Batiste could join only six artists who have won Album of the Year if he takes home the trophy for World Music Radio. Batiste could also join Adele and Stevie Wonder as the only artists to win for two consecutive studio albums.

Best New Artist

The War and Treaty could become the first husband and wife duo to win Best New Artist.

Number Achievements

Victoria Monet, who has seven nominations, and SZA, who has nine, could break the record for the most Grammys won in one night by a female solo artist, which is held with Adele and Beyonce with six wins. SZA, who is the most nominated artist this year, could also become the most-awarded artist in one night of all time, surpassing Michael Jackson and Santana who both won eight awards in one night.

Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo and Brandy Clark  who all have six nominations  have the potential to equal the record.

If Hazel Monet, Victoria Monets daughter, wins Best Traditional R&B Performance for featuring on her mothers song Hollywood, she would become the youngest Grammy winner ever at 3 years old.

Best Pop Solo Performance

Taylor Swift could win her first Best Pop Solo Performance trophy after a record-breaking fifth nomination for Anti-Hero. She is also the most-nominated artist in the category ever and the most-nominated artist without a win.

Olivia Rodrigo could join Ed Sheeran (two wins) and Adele (four wins) as the only artists who have won twice or more in the Best Pop Solo Performance category if she wins for Vampire.

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Miley Cyrus and Billy Ray Cyrus could become the first father/daughter to win on separate occasions in the Best Pop/Duo performance category.

SZA could join Lady Gaga as the only artist that has won twice in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category if she wins for Ghost In The Machine with Phoebe Bridgers.

Best Pop Vocal Album

Kelly Clarkson could break her tie with Adele and become the only artist with the most wins for Best Pop Vocal Album if she wins her third trophy for Chemistry.

Ed Sheeran (Subtract), Olivia Rodrigo (Guts) or Taylor Swift (Midnights) could join Kelly Clarkson and Adele as the most-awarded artists in the Best Pop Vocal Album category with two wins.

Best Rap Performance

Kendrick Lamar could extend his record in the Best Rap Performance category if he wins for The Hillbillies (with Baby Keem), which would make it his seventh trophy in the category.

Best Music Video

Billie Eilish could join Taylor Swift as the only artist to win as a sole director of her own music video if she wins for What Was I Made For?

Kendrick Lamar could become the first artist to ever Best Music Video three times if he wins for Count Me Out.

The Beatles could become one of only seven other artists that have won Best Music Video more than once if they win for Im Only Sleeping.

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media

John Williams could extend his record in the Best Score Soundtrack category if he secures his 12th trophy for scoring The Fabelmans. Williams could do the same in the Best Instrumental Composition category if he wins for Helenas Theme.

Best Country Solo Performance/Country Song

Chris Stapleton could extend his record for the most amount of wins in the Best Country Solo Performance if he wins his fourth trophy for White Horse.

Chris Stapleton (White Horse) or Kacey Musgraves (I Remember Everything / In Your Love) could tie Lori McKenna and Josh Kear as the songwriters with three awards for Best Country Song.

Best Tropical Latin Album

Ruben Blades could extend his record as the most-awarded artist in the Best Tropical Latin Album if he wins his eighth trophy for Siembra.

Best Musica Urbana Album

Karol G could become the first female artist to ever win Best Musica Urbana Album category if she wins for Manana Sera Bonito.

Rock and Metal Categories

Foo Fighters could extend their record in the Best Rock Album category if they win their sixth trophy for But Here We Are.

Dave Grohl and Pat Smear could extend their record of four wins in the Best Rock Song category if they win their fifth trophy for Rescued. Also if Rescued wins Best Rock Performance, Foo Fighters will also extend their record in that category with three total wins.

Metallica could extend their record in the Best Metal Performance category if they win for 72 seasons, which would be the bands seventh trophy in the category.

Dance/Electronic Categories

Skrillex could extend his record as the artist with the most wins for Best Dance/Electronic Recording if he wins his fourth trophy for Rumble. He could also break his tie with The Chemical Brothers (three wins) in the Best Dance/Electronic Album category if he wins fourth trophy for Quest for Fire. If The Chemical Brothers win for For That Beautiful Feeling, they will break their tie with Skrillex and will have the most wins for Best Dance/Electronic Album.

Best American Roots Performance/Song

Jon Batiste could become the first artist to win Best American Roots Performance twice if he wins for Butterfly.

Jason Isbell could become the first artist to win the Best American Roots Song category three times if he takes home the trophy for Cast Iron Skillet.

Best Americana Album

Jason Isbell could become the first artist to win Best Americana Album three times if he wins for Weathervanes.

Best Gospel Performance/Song

Kirk Franklin could extend his record as the most-awarded artist in the Best Gospel Performance / Song category if he wins his fifth trophy for All Things.

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

For KING & COUNTRY could break their tie with Dolly Parton and if they win their third trophy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance / Song category if they win for Love Me Like I am with Jordin Sparks.

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

Lauren Daigle could become the first female artist to win twice for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album category if she wins for Lauren Daigle. She would also join for KING & COUNTRY, Maverick City Music and TobyMac as the most awarded artist in the category.

Best Arrangement Instrumental and Vocals

Jacob Collier could tie Vince Mendoza and David Foster as the artist with four, and the most, wins for Best Arrangement Instrumental and Vocals category if he wins for In the wee small hours of the morning.

Production

Jack Antonoff could tie Babyface as the producer with the most consecutive wins for Producer of the Year, Non-classical with three wins. Antonoff would also tie Pharell Williams, David Foster and Quincy Jones as the producer with the second most wins in the category. First is Babyface with four wins.

David Frost could break his tie with Steven Epstein, Robert Woods and Judith Sherman if he wins his eighth trophy for Producer of the Year, Classical. He would also have the most wins in the category.

The 66th Annual Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, Feb. 4 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. The show will air live on CBS and Paramount+ at 8 p.m. EST. You can also watch the Grammys on DirectTV and Fubo. Click here for the full list of nominations.
Yes, Greater Good Imperial Brewing Company focuses on brewing only imperial beers (8% ABV and above). But the goal isnt just to make a boozier beer.

No, the objective is to make a beer that tastes like more than just beer. Its the sort of alcoholic alchemy that can bamboozle you when you try to guess the alcohol content of what you just drank.

Its one thing to take an IPA and say that its hoppy  or grab a stout and say that its malty. But if you drink something like a pilsner or conventional lager, a lot of times its just going to taste like any old beer youve had in the past.

Thats where Greater Goods specialization in imperial styles comes in. Yes, their alcohol by volume (ABV) is higher. But that also means that theres more definition and flavor in that beer to make the little things stand out.

A look around Greater Good Imperial Brewing Company in Worcester. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

Its a lot like getting a really nice pair of headphones and listening to a song youve heard a bunch of times before. All of a sudden, you realize theres a killer bass line, and that the rhythm guitar was doing something awesome in the main riff.

Thats what happened to me when I tried Greater Goods Los Imperiales, an imperial Mexican lager. That type of beer has a tendency to simply taste like a Corona. But this? It had these nice notes of sweetness  making it so you could tell it was brewed with flaked maize. There was also a nice tart zing of lime.

Greater Good makes big beers. Theyve always been impressive, as showcased by their flagship Pulp Daddy IPA. But in recent years, the company has become far more diverse in its offerings.

Even just two years ago, I want to say like 85 or 90% of our portfolio was IPAs, Greater Good CEO Colleen Quinn said.

On a given night, Quinn can look around the brewery and see customers who only drink dark beers or people who are always drinking something thats funky colors (AKA one of their rotating sour beers).

Its crazy to think about, Quinn said.

A look around Greater Good Imperial Brewing Company in Worcester. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

The beers

Even with the brewerys recent growth, Greater Goods most popular beer by far is Pulp Daddy. Its a lush, New England-style IPA that leans more smooth and sweet than abrasive and hoppy. Its squarely in the trendy hazy category, but pulls it off with surprising panache. Pulp Daddy is a beer that walks the high-ABV and comes off as smooth and sweet without crossing over into boozy and syrupy.

On the other end of the spectrum, you have the Java Mocha Chip, an 8% imperial stout that carries big waves of chocolate and coffee flavors to support the beers innate maltiness. Youve also got Good Night Moon, a porter that clocks in at 11% ABV and aims for maximum dark flavors with the roasty malt notes and chocolate.

IPA and stouts/porters are by far the most common types of beers youll see enter imperial territory. Heck, for some styles, aiming for an ABV north of 8% is nigh unheard of. However, Greater Good bucks that trend with their imperial Mexican lager and their dangerously drinkable Oktoberfest.

Theyve got a pumpkin ale as well. Greater Goods Giant Pumpkin has a strong, malty body and is brewed with actual pumpkin in it  plus the expected spice elements in the allspice/clove/nutmeg area.

Theres also the rotating line of colorful sours, hard seltzers and their lower-ABV line of beers under the label of Soul Purpose Brewing Company. The Crush Groove session IPA clocks in at 5% and is perfect if youre looking for something lighter. You can check out the current tap list at the brewery here.

The food

The kitchen at Greater Goods Worcester taproom has also grown in depth and variety. The pretzel bites and sandwiches have been around for years. But the tacos, salads and brownie dessert? Those are new additions.

The Nashville-style hot chicken sandwich and French dip sandwich are standouts from the lineup of handhelds. Also keep an eye on the rotating Burger of the Week.

Theres a solid roster of sharable options, including fries, onion rings and mozzarella sticks. Be warned: The Buffalo chicken dip is good enough that you might want to keep it all for yourself.

The menu is continually being updated, with new items being introduced about once per quarter. You can check out the menu here.

A look around Greater Good Imperial Brewing Company in Worcester. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

The space

Greater Good is rich in one resource that is frustratingly lacking for some other spots in Worcester: free, easy parking.

The brewerys space on Millbrook Street is quickly accessible from I-290 and features a variety of spots to grab some beers with friends  and maybe catch a game on TV. If the weather is nice, there are ample picnic tables available in their outdoor space.

The tap list thrives with a rotating cast of characters coming in and out, offering a variety of choices for pints or flights.

Keep an eye out for the different spins on Pulp Daddy. Every two or three months, theyll put out a different varietal of their flagship beer, like their Double Dry-Hopped version.

Quinn says that Greater Good will soon have even more variety in their tap room as they prepare to launch a pilot system later in 2024. The new system will allow the brewery to try out more small-batch projects, granting more freedom and experimentation.

If people thought that every time they step in here, they were like, Oh my gosh, you always have a few new beers on, Itll be even crazier coming when weve got that up and running, Quinn said.

The Pulp Daddy IPA from Greater Good Imperials in Worcester (MassLive Photo)

What is an imperial beer?

The staff at Greater Good is used to hearing that question. Basically, its a beer with at least 8% ABV. Thats the textbook definition (and even that is up for interpretation).

Youll also see terms like double IPA or triple IPA. Those are also high-ABV beers. What another brewery might call its 8% double IPA is similar to what Greater Good calls its 8% imperial IPA.

The real question is what difference it makes for a beer to simply be boozier  and what happens when a beer is designed from recipe to draft with a high ABV in mind?

For Greater Good, the objective is a beer that carries a ton of flavor and is just as smooth as their lower-ABV competition. With that said, theyre aware that imperial beers come with a stigma.

J.T. Ethier, Greater Goods brand activation manager, says that hell approach people who are hesitant to high-ABV beers. A lot of times, its for good reason.

A lot of them are boozy, syrupy, kind of have a little bit of burn to them, and you can really feel the ABV in there, Ethier said. Its typically because theyre adding sugar and just to get that ABV and theyre not building a specifically high-ABV recipe.

He says that some brewers will simply take the recipe for the 6% IPA and add more sugar to it. More sugar equals more food for the yeast, which produces more alcohol in the final product, which can then be dubbed imperial.

Instead, Greater Good tasks head brewer Pat Fahey with building a high-ABV recipe from the ground up so that it drinks like a 5-6% beer when its actually 8-9%.

Its not just a gimmick

The lowest ABV youll see for a beer at Greater Good is 8%. Thats their floor for imperial. The highest youll see is 12% in their Greylock NEIPA. Thats the highest they can go with their current license.

For every beer that comes out of Greater Good, the high ABV isnt a gimmick or a stunt. Its there because that makes a good beer.

Our highest-ABV beer is Greylock, and its our No. 2 beer also, Ethier says. I think that proves our point of view that its not just a gimmick for us. Its not just being like, Oh, were going to make the highest ABV beer that we can. It sells and consistently has been our No. 2 offering.

Dont miss their non-imperial spinoff brewery: Soul Purpose

Greater Good has made a point to plant its flag in the imperial space. Thats where theyve established their identity and built their brand. But even they acknowledge that folks are going to need a break from boozy beers.

Thats where Soul Purpose Brewing Company comes in. Outside of its usual line of imperial beers, Greater Good also produces beers that clock in at 5% ABV and sells them under the Soul Purpose label.

Theres the Brew Sky Lager, a clean and crisp drinkable lager. Theres also the Crush Groove Session IPA, which has the trademark citrus notes of an NEIPA with staying light and crushable.

Quinn and Ethier say they spent about 1% of their time talking about Soul Purpose. Its a useful tool to provide lower-ABV options at their brewery. Theyll distribute a little of it. But theyve gone all-in on imperial.

More stuff you should know about Greater Good Imperial Brewing

Check them out: Website | Facebook | Instagram

Whats the address? - 55 Millbrook St., Worcester, MA 01606

Whats the parking situation? - The brewery has its own parking lot where patrons can park for free.

Do they serve food? - Yes, theres a full kitchen. You can check out the menu here.

Is there outdoor seating? - There are picnic tables outside for when the weather is nice.

When are they open? - Here are the listed business hours at the time of writing:
A former Massachusetts man will be arraigned on charges of lying to and hiding evidence from federal authorities after the Swedish Supreme Court ordered his extradition.

Alexander Giannakakis, 36, formerly from Quincy, landed at Logan Airport Friday following his release from a Swedish prison.

Giannakakis is accused of lying to federal investigators looking into the arson attempts at three different Jewish-related institutions in the greater Boston area during May of 2019. His brother was later identified as a suspect in those arson attempts. He is also accused of taking evidence, including electronic devices and documents, that implicated his brother in the crimes to his home in Sweden.
A former Quincy resident will face federal charges in connection with fires at Jewish institutions in Massachusetts after being extradited from Sweden.

Alexander Giannakakis, 37, arrived in Massachusetts from Stockholm, Sweden, on Friday after federal authorities sought his extradition. Federal authorities allege he obstructed an investigation into fires at Jewish institutions in Arlington, Needham and Chelsea in May 2019.

According to his indictment, Giannakakiss younger brother became the prime suspect around February 2020 in an investigation into the four fires around the Boston area.

The fires occurred on May 11, 2019, at Chabad Center in Arlington, and a second time there on May 16, 2019. A third fire happened at a Chabad Center in Needham and a fourth on May 26, 2019, at a Jewish-affiliated business in Chelsea, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office of Massachusetts.

Giannakakiss younger brother was hospitalized in a coma when he was identified as a suspect and remained in a coma until he died later in 2020.

Giannakakis is accused by federal authorities of leaving the United States with his younger brothers electronic devices and papers and bringing them to Sweden. He later returned to the U.S. in March 2020 and was questioned by authorities but Giannakakis alleged removed and concealed evidence sought by investigators.

He later returned to Sweden before his arrest in February 2022 by Swedish authorities at the request of U.S. prosecutors.

Swedish authorities, however, discovered Giannakakis unlawfully possessed a gun and other weapons. He was charged and convicted of those crimes and served a sentence that ended in December 2023, and at the same time, the Supreme Court of Sweden granted the extradition request by the U.S. for Giannakakis.

Giannakakis is scheduled to appear in federal court on Monday. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in 2019 for making false statements in a matter involving domestic terrorism; falsifying, concealing and covering up a material fact in a matter involving domestic terrorism; concealing records in a federal investigation; tampering with documents and objects; and tampering with an official proceeding.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills called Tuesday evening for strengthening the states yellow flag law, boosting background checks for private sales of weapons and bolstering mental crisis care, telling lawmakers that theres broad support for action to prevent future tragedies following the deadliest mass shooting in state history.

The Democratic governor delivered her State of the State address to a joint session of the Maine Legislature three months after Army reservist Robert Card killed 18 people and wounded 13 others in Lewiston, the states second-largest city. Mills read aloud the name of each victim and recognized law enforcement officers in the gallery.

She wants to allow police officers to be able to go directly to a judge to start the process of removing guns from someone in a psychiatric crisis, addressing a problem that arose when a deputy was stymied by Cards refusal to answer the door for a required face-to-face meeting thats necessary under current law. The rampage happened little more than a month later.

Read more: Transcripts of 911 calls from Lewiston shooting released by Maine authorities

Mills also wants to require background checks for advertised private gun sales, increase penalties for reckless private sales to prohibited people, and create a statewide network of crisis centers for people experiencing mental health emergencies.

Citing wide-ranging support for action, Mills urged lawmakers not to wait any longer or give in to the cynical attitude that its pointless to try to change gun laws because they will be broken.

For the sake of the communities, individuals and families now suffering immeasurable pain, for the sake of our state, doing nothing is not an option, the governor said, prompting a standing ovation.

In addition to gun violence and mental health, the governor used her annual speech to address extreme weather events following storms that hit Maine in recent weeks, causing millions of dollars of damage. She proposed funding for community resiliency efforts and infrastructure upgrades.

She also proposed the creation of a new violence and injury prevention program requiring the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to serve as a clearinghouse for data from law enforcement, hospitals, schools and other sources to inform public policy decisions.

Her proposal for a network of crisis centers, meanwhile, would build upon the first such facility already in operation in Portland and a second one thats being created in central Maine. A third center would be built in Lewiston as part of a statewide expansion overseen by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

The gun control proposals could face some pushback in a state known for its hunting traditions.

Senate GOP Leader Trey Stewart and House GOP Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, delivering the formal Republican response, didnt address the governors gun control proposals but emphasized reining in government and putting faith in people to make decisions.

Maine already has a yellow flag law that differs from other states so-called red flag laws, which allow family members to go directly to a judge. The yellow flag law requires police to initiate the process.

The proposed expansion would allow police to go directly to a judge for a warrant to take someone into protective custody, allowing a warrant to be issued for the temporary removal of guns from someone in a mental health crisis without first meeting to assess whether protective custody is necessary as required by current law.

Mills also proposed that sellers utilizing an advertised private gun sale  a sale posted on Craigslist, for example  must conduct a background check utilizing commercially licensed businesses like L.L. Bean or Cabelas, while legal standards for prosecution and penalties would be strengthened to deter other people from transferring weapons to prohibited buyers.

Violence is not a simple problem. And the remedy is not a simple, single measure, the governor told lawmakers. And these proposals represent progress, and they do not trample on anybodys rights,

The speech was delivered to the Maine Legislature in the second part of Mills annual address. Hours earlier, she released a letter to lawmakers to address her upcoming supplemental budget and other proposals.

In her letter, Mills urged fiscal restraint after several years of budget surpluses as the state bounced back from the COVID-19 pandemic, and she said she intends to set aside $100 million for the next two-year budget when state revenues are anticipated to level off.

I recognize there are many needs across the state, and I know, in the past, we have been able to say yes to a lot of things. However, this year is, and must be, different, Mills wrote. If we do not budget responsibly now, the Legislature will be forced to make painful cuts in the future  just like other states are having to do now.

Nonetheless, she did propose some modest spending to address the states housing crunch, opioid epidemic, child welfare and education.

Mills cited individual income growth, low unemployment and business openings among reasons for being optimistic about the future. She said that despite recent changes including the shootings and storms, our state is getting stronger every day.
JetBlue flights out of Boston Logan International Airport will soon start flying nonstop to two European cities.

Tickets are now selling on the airlines website for nonstop flights from Boston to Dublin starting in March and nonstop flights from Boston to Paris in April.

The new flights represent the expansion of JetBlues transatlantic flights out of Boston, as the airline currently offers nonstop flights to London and Amsterdam from Boston.

Flights from Boston to Dublin start March 13; flights to Paris start April 3.

Meanwhile, JetBlue and Spirit Airlines are appealing a judges ruling that blocked their $3.8 billion merger, according to Reuters.

The U.S. Department of Justice sued to prevent the merger, arguing that it would lead to fewer flights and increase prices for millions of Americans, Reuters reported.
BRUSSELS -- Indonesia and Sri Lanka's foreign ministers called on the European Union to be consistent in its approach to the conflict in Gaza as it has with Ukraine, as ministers from Europe, the Indo-Pacific and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations gathered for meetings in Brussels on Friday.

"ASEAN and the EU should be at the front line in respecting values and principles of international law, the respect should also be applied to Palestine, to Gaza," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told a forum of Indo-Pacific and European ministers.

"I do believe that the EU and all of us, as firm supporters of upholding international law, will also have a consistent position when it comes to Gaza," she added.

Ali Sabry, Sri Lanka's foreign minister, echoed the sentiment, telling reporters, "We represent the sentiment of the Global South, that there's double standards when it comes to the Middle East."

"There is this ongoing debate when it comes to Palestinian people's plight and the plight of Ukrainians. People are asking, 'you have to be true to your heart and do the right thing by everybody because all human beings matter,'" Sabry said.

He noted younger European politicians understand that "the credibility of the Western world is at stake unless you treat all of them equally."

Ministers from over 70 countries and regional bodies of the Indo-Pacific and Europe gathered for the 3rd EU-Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in the morning, followed by the 24th EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in the afternoon.

Foreign ministers from the EU, Indo-Pacific and ASEAN countries meet in Brussels on Feb. 2.  Reuters Foreign ministers from the EU, Indo-Pacific and ASEAN countries meet in Brussels on Feb. 2.  Reuters

Although the agenda of both meetings ranged from collaboration and sustainability to security, Israel's continuing offensive in Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and kidnappings in Israel overshadowed the events.

In a news conference, European High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell acknowledged that "every time we have a meeting with our international partners... this is a permanent issue."

Some countries in the 27-member bloc strongly support a cease-fire while others do not, meaning the EU is only able to have a "minimum common position" to support humanitarian pauses in fighting and the release of hostages, Borrell said.

Meanwhile, ASEAN has been calling for an immediate cease-fire.

"My role is to try to put together different approaches, there is no double standard but there are different positions," Borrell said.

He said he had told a recent European Council meeting that "the perception around the world is, in some cases, different from ours," and said he will raise the issue again.

A joint statement following the EU-ASEAN meeting sought to emphasize common ground.

"We agreed to condemn all attacks against civilians and we noted the call of some of us for a durable cease-fire," it said.

There were common positions on "rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all those in need," for all parties to protect civilians and abide by international law, and "the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages."

"We took note, and some of us underlined the importance of, the order on provisional measures issued by interim ruling by the International Court of Justice," it stated, referring to the Jan. 26 orders for Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza and take immediate steps to ensure humanitarian assistance reaches civilians.

The EU is seeking to deepen engagement with the fast-growing economies of the Indo-Pacific in a multitude of areas, including environment, security and international rule of law.

Dharmendra Kanani, chief spokesperson of Brussels-based think tank Friends of Europe, said "more political clout and measurable actions" need to come out of the Indo-Pacific forum, "if we're not to be too late in addressing an increasingly fragile and unstable region with far-reaching global security issues."

While he welcomed some "important outcomes" such as coordinated maritime presence in the Indian Ocean, including joint naval exercises and strengthening the safety of port infrastructures in South and Southeast Asia, most of the outcomes "have been about reaching agreements but not practical measures," he said.

China and the U.S. did not take part in the Indo-Pacific forum, though the U.S. attended last year's forum.

"There is still no strategy to link [the EU's Indo-Pacific strategy] more forcefully to the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy and of course no connection to the Quad, it's just very much in the air," said Alicia Garcia Herrero, senior research fellow at Brussels-based think tank Bruegel. The Quad refers to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, made up of the U.S., Japan, India and Australia.

"Unless there is a triangular approach with [the U.S. and India], Europe can't go anywhere with this," she said.

An EU spokesperson declined to comment on whether Beijing was invited, but told reporters on Tuesday that there are other events, such as the EU-China summit in December, where the EU engages with China "fully and completely."

"You haven't heard China talk about the Indo-Pacific as a concept they would like to engage with," the spokesperson said.
A fatal shooting on Interstate 95 in Foxborough on Saturday night is under investigation, according to Massachusetts State Police.

Police patrols responded to the shooting at about 10 p.m. and found a shooting victim in a car stopped in the southbound lane of the highway, state police spokesperson David Procopio said in a news release.

The man was brought to Sturdy Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead, Procopio said. Police did not release identifying information about the man who was shot.

A preliminary investigation suggests that the shooting incident involved two cars headed southbound and one car stopped after shots were fired.

Procopio described the investigation as ongoing and in a very early stage. No arrests were announced as of Sunday at 8 a.m.
Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia came out swinging Saturday after state Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Jeffrey C. Riley refused to end the receivership of Holyokes public school system.

The decision should have been a resounding yes with a commitment to confer in a reasonable time frame to transition, Garcia wrote in response to the commissioners Friday afternoon letter. Instead, a different message was sent with no plan, no benchmarks, no firm commitment but just, We are not saying no, but lets talk more.

Garcia continued, I have no other thought but to think that at this time the Board of Education and the Commissioner of Education representing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have no idea what is going on or what it wants to do with the receivership situation.
American tourists are being warned about travel to Jamaica with 65 murders recorded in January.

The U.S. State Department recently issued a reconsider travel warning due to high crimes and lack of medical services.

The warning noted that all-inclusive hotels are not considered safe.

Violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common. Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts, the warning from the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica stated.

Officials from Jamaica, however, responded to the statement by the United States government.

The Jamaica Tourist Board stated that crimes against visitors to Jamaica remain extremely low at about 0.01%, according to Travel Weekly.

The island consistently ranks among the top destinations for international travel, welcoming 4.1 million visitors in 2023, including 2.1 million from the United States, the tourist board told Travel Weekly. Visitors can continue to come with confidence to enjoy all that Jamaica has to offer.

Read more: Provincetown and Boston recognized as top 2024 travel destinations by Tripadvisor

The U.S. embassy highlighted what it perceives as a lack of adequate response to serious crimes on the island.

Local police often do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents. When arrests are made, cases are infrequently prosecuted to a conclusive sentence, the embassys warning states.

At least 65 people were killed from Jan. 1 to 27, according to the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

The Jamaica travel advisory follows a recent warning about The Bahamas due to an influx of crime, including 18 murders that happened last month.

The advisory said the majority of crimes occur in popular travel destinations like New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) islands. In addition, the Over the Hill area of Nassau has seen more gang-on-gang violence that has resulted in a high homicide rate primarily affecting the local population.
WEST SPRINGFIELD  Charles Mokrzecki, 77, and his wife Frances, of West Springfield, have been married for over 60 years.

Last July, Frances tripped and fell at the couples home, fracturing her hip. In the months that followed, Charles Mokrzecki claims Baystate Health, Frances medical care provider, blocked his ability to visit his wife and violated their civil rights.

The claim is detailed in a lawsuit filed Jan. 22 in Hampden County Superior Court.

Mokrzecki also alleges the hospital did not confer with him about medical procedures performed on his wife, including a surgery, and that the hospital initiated a guardianship/conservatorship action through its staff in probate court, despite Mokrzeckis role as his wifes healthcare proxy, the lawsuit said.

A spokesperson for Baystate Health said the hospital does not comment on pending litigation.

Mokrzeckis attorney, William Pudlo of Longmeadow, said Friday his client is waiting to hear whether the court will grant an injunction in the case.

Mokrzecki claims Baystate Health now prevents him from visiting his wife, alleging safety as the basis of their actions, the lawsuit said.

Mokrzecki is requesting the court order Baystate Health to allow him to schedule in-person visits to see his wife while she is at the hospital. He wants the hospital to provide him with updates on his wifes condition and that he be told about any plans to move her to a nursing facility.

The complaint seeks jury trial.

Lawsuits claims

When Mokrzecki first took his wife to the hospital for the fractured hip, he said he informed emergency room staff that she was in the early stages of dementia. He asked for an x-ray of her injury.

Mokrzecki claims in his lawsuit the hospital did not take an x-ray or perform any further examinations on his wife for four hours, as his wife became increasingly agitated. So the couple left.

A few days after her fall, Mokrzecki said his wife was unable to walk, due to her injuries, and was taken by ambulance to Baystate Health again. She was kept there for over a month, until Aug. 16. She was then taken to a skilled nursing facility, Quaboag Rehabilitation, where, during a visit, Mokrzecki claims he was informed for the first time that his wife had fallen during her stay.

In September, Frances was returned to Baystate Health to be treated for pneumonia. At some point during that month, Mokrzecki claims he was informed that his wife had undergone a surgical procedure. The suit says he had not been consulted or advised of the actions at Baystate Hospital, her transfer to Quaboag, or the surgery she underwent despite being her healthcare proxy  the person in charge of her medical-related needs.

The following month, Mokrzecki claims Baystate Health started the process of gaining guardianship over his wife without his knowledge or approval.

Mokrzecki had been visiting his wife almost daily during her hospitalizations, he said in the lawsuit.

Mokrzecki claims he lacks access to a computer and for that reason did not participate in a court-ordered online Zoom meeting regarding the guardianship issue. The hospital was allowed to move forward on the guardianship, the lawsuit states.

Mokrzecki claims he did not receive a copy of court paperwork that would have allowed him to object to the guardianship.

Despite this, Mokrzecki continued to visit his wife until Christmas Eve, where he grew more concerned about her care, the lawsuit said.

(Frances) was restrained in her bed with a strap across her midsection and restraints on her wrists, the lawsuit said. On several occasions, (Mokrzecki) found that his wifes meals were left in her room in a place she could not access due to her restraints.

As a result, Mokrzecki believed his wifes health was declining.

On Dec. 24., Mokrzecki went to visit his wife, the lawsuit claims. She was still restrained, and her food was across the room  cold  and no staff had attempted to feed her, the complaint states.

That led to a verbal outburst by Mokrzecki, the lawsuit says.

Upon returning home, Mokrzecki said he was visited by the West Springfield police. Two days later, at his next hospital visit, Mokrzecki said Baystate Health served him with a no-trespass order, which he says he has not violated.

Mokrzecki claims that in ordering him to stay away from the hospital, Baystate Health deprived him companionship and his ability to be with (his wife) in (a) time of emotional need and inflicted emotional distress.
People like myself are constantly pulling out what little hair we have left every time Donald Trump and his sickophants do or say something utterly pathological. We cannot wrap our heads around the fact that human beings, who walk on two feet, can actually believe the things they say they believe, or can excuse the behavior they excuse from the former president.

Trumps list of dastardly deeds would take up an entire issue of this newspaper, but even his most recent stuff is alarmingly disqualifying. Yet his comments and actions get virtually no blowback from his MAGA base.

Why?

He owes E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million for defamation, but he gets a collective meh from his people. He wants the stock market to crash and the economy to go into free fall because he thinks it will help his electoral chances.

He, as well as Republican U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, refer to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrectionists as hostages. He faces a multi-million fine in New York for what prosecutors term fraud, and he still has three criminal trials to deal with, one for the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, one in the classified documents case and the third for his alleged election interference in Georgia.

The cherry on the cake is he is now preventing Republicans in Congress from reaching a deal with Democrats on border security because he doesnt want to give President Biden a victory, according to Republican senators.

He continues to brag about overturning Roe v. Wade as the Christian Coalition kisses his ring. And none of this registers with his voters, as witnessed recently in Iowa, New Hampshire, and probably this month in South Carolina.

The two things that bind Trumps followers to him, in my view, are fear and racism. As long as Trump can appeal to the raw emotion of fear, and tie it to the historical theme of racism in America, he can do just about anything.

This isnt to say that all of Trumps supporters are racists, but supporting a racist candidate hardly keeps ones own hands clean.

Racism is alive and well in America. It started in 1619 when slaves were first brought to America from Africa. Racism was codified in the U.S Constitution when it was determined that only the equivalent of three out every five slaves were to be counted in the population. The Dred Scott decision was decided by the Supreme Court in 1857. Almost 620,000 people died in the Civil War, which was about slavery (sorry, Nikki Haley).

Jim Crow laws were introduced in the late 19th century in the South to enforce racial segregation. Black soldiers fought in World War II in segregated units, only to face more segregation at home.

Gov. George Wallace stood on the steps of the University of Alabama in 1963 to block the admission of Black students.

Gov. George Wallace blocks integration at the University of Alabama in June 1963. (Photo by Warren K. Leffler, courtesy of the Library of Congress)Staff

The Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965, but the Supreme Court gutted it in 2013. Black marchers were beaten on the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma in 1965. Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965 and the Rev. Martin Luther King in 1968.

Rodney King was beaten in 1991, which led to the L.A. riots. Court-ordered busing created a crisis in Boston in 1974. More recently, a rash of killings of Black people by police officers and armed citizens spawned the Black Lives Matter movement. The Supreme Court overturned affirmative action as a tool for college admissions.

The teaching of Critical Race Theory has been vilified. AP Black History has been attacked in many educational jurisdictions.

The goal of diversity, equity and inclusion is in retreat at the corporate level.

Trump has been found guilty of discriminating against Black families in real estate. He has called Mexicans rapists. He questioned President Obamas birth certificate, and is now doing the same with Nikki Haley. He tried to ban Muslims from entering the United States. He attacked a Gold Star family from Pakistan. He threw rolls of paper towels at Puerto Ricans suffering the aftermath of a hurricane.

He separated Hispanic families at the border. He wanted Black members of Congress to go back to where they came from. He referred to certain nations as s---hole countries. He believes that there are good people amongst the white supremacists who marched with Nazi flags in Charlottesville, and brought Confederate flags into the Capitol.

He blamed Black LIves Matter for the insurrection.

Causing people to be afraid of the other is what racists do to gain control and authoritarian power. It is what Trump is doing.

He doesnt want to build a wall. He wants you to be afraid of what is on the other side of the wall. Hitler made the German people afraid of Jews. Hitler learned how to deal with the Jewish problem from the U.S. legal system, which had twisted itself into knots in order to discriminate against minorities. (Rachel Maddow lays it out in her new book, Prequel.)

Trump is tapping into a long history of American racism to sow fear amongst the U.S. population, and, to a certain extent, it is working.

Paul Chiampa of East Longmeadow writes a regular column.
Communities across Derry are in states of shock as detectives from the Police Service's Major Investigation Team investigating the murder of a boy in Limavady have confirmed the victim was Blake Newland.

Blake, who was 17, was from the Limavady area.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Gibson said: "Police received a report at around 9:35pm last night, Friday February 2, that a man in his 50s had been stabbed. Officers attended and while carrying out enquiries they located Blake who was also seriously injured with stab wounds in a nearby house.

"Blake was taken to hospital where he subsequently died from his injuries.

"The second injured man was taken to hospital, where he remains for treatment to injuries which are not believed to be life threatening at this time.

"Six males have now been arrested and are currently in police custody assisting with enquiries."

Detective Chief Inspector Gibson continued: "We are at an early stage of this murder investigation and officers remain in the area conducting enquiries. We are appealing to witnesses or anyone with information to contact detectives on 101 quoting 1924 02/02/24.

Information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

SDLP Limavady councillor Ashleen Schenning said: The entire community in Limavady is in a state of shock following this fatal stabbing last night that took the life of a teenage boy and left others injured.

"This is a quiet and close-knit community where nobody expects something like this to happen on their doorstep."


Cancer cure rates have notably risen with advancements in chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormonal treatmentsmany unavailable 5 or 10 years ago. #worldcancerday #cancer #cancerinIndia

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Indian Cancer Society: Spreading awareness about cancer



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Striving for Cancer-Free India

Indian Cancer Society: Spreading awareness about cancer - (https://www.indiancancersociety.org/)

While cancer incidence continues to rise in India, experts on World Cancer Day emphasized that early detection and diagnosis significantly enhance the chances of a cure.World Cancer Day is observed on February 4 each year. The theme this year is 'Close the Care Gap'. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Cancer Registry Programme,"To win over cancer in India first step is educating people to get screened for cancer () before they have any symptoms, which helps to find cancer early. If found early in stages I or II, most cancers are curable in more than 80 percent of patients," Ashish Gupta, Chief Oncologist, Unique Hospital Cancer Center, Delhi, told IANS."By the time symptoms develop many cancers are in Stage three or four, when cure rates falls down to less than 25 percent. Population-based initiative should be adopted for prevention, control and screening for three common cancers -- oral breast and cervical cancer which are most commonly found cancers in India," added Gupta, who is heading Cancer Mukt Bharat Campaign in the country.The campaign on cancer awareness aims to reach 1 million people across India. According to Rahul Bhargava, Principal Director of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests -- a type of liquid biopsy -- can help catch early-stage cancer cells long before symptoms appear."By utilizing machine-learning algorithms, these tests identify the likely origin of tumors based on DNA and protein profiles. MCED tests hold immense promise for revolutionizing cancer detection," Bhargava told IANS. Detecting disease earlier also reduces the need for costly advance-stage treatments, benefiting health care systems and patients alike."Most cancers become deadly by keeping a low profile, causing no symptoms until theyre too advanced to treat. Ovarian and gastroesophageal cancers are among the most notorious for this sly disease progression, often leading to late-stage diagnoses," Vineet Nakra, Radiation Oncologist at Max Super Speciality Hospital New Delhi, told IANS.The experts further noted that after the diagnosis of cancer, right treatment plan starting on day one is most important. Modern medicines have helped improve the clinical outcomes in a big way.Source-IANS
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Risk of cancer for patients with rheumatoid arthritis



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Link Between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Cancer Risk Factors



Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis may face a slightly elevated risk of specific types of cancer in comparison to the general population. #cancer #worldcancerday #rheumatoidarthritis 

Risk of cancer for patients with rheumatoid arthritis - (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(23)00187-4/fulltext)

While the effects of rheumatoid arthritis on joint health are extensively documented, recent research has illuminated a potential association between rheumatoid arthritis and cancer, introducing a new aspect to comprehending this intricate disease. (Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune condition that primarily affects the joints, causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and potential deformity over time. It occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues, primarily targeting the synovium, the lining of the joints. This chronic inflammation leads to joint damage and, if left untreated, can result in disability."While the exact reasons for this association are not fully understood, several factors chronic inflammation, immune Dysfunction, common risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, and genetic predisposition," Dr Vijay Ramanan, Sr. Consultant Clinical Haematologist, Bone Marrow & Stem Cell Transplant, Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune told IANS. Types of cancer associated with rheumatoid arthritis include Lymphoma, particularly non-Hodgkin lymphoma, lung and skin cancer According to a recent study published in thecompared to the general population,Dr Ramanan said that while the risk is relatively modest, proactive measures can help mitigate.He suggested regular screening tests like mammograms, pap smears, colonoscopies, and skin exams to detect cancer at an early, more treatable stage.Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including maintaining a balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoiding tobacco use, can also help reduce the risk of cancer and improve overall well-being.Source-IANS
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World Cancer Day



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Oncologists highlight the revolutionary progress in cancer care technology and guidelines in metropolitan areas, underscoring the crucial need to streamline care at the district and village levels. #cancer #cancercare #oncologist 

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District and Village-Level Oncology Streamlining

World Cancer Day - (https://www.worldcancerday.org/our-story)

While cancer care experiences a revolution with technological advancements in metropolitan areas, oncologists stress the imperative to streamline care at the district and village levels on the occasion of World Cancer Day ().Every year, Cancer Day is observed to bring awareness to the public about cancer, its risks, and early diagnosis facilities, and to educate people about the various types of cancer.The theme for this year is "Closing the Care Gap" which focuses on reducing the cancer burden and improving the care facilities. Cancer is a deadly disease where any tissues or body parts can be affected and cells grow uncontrollably and abnormally and spread to other parts of the body.It is theAlthough it is possible to live long with cancer, it is important to be diagnosed first and determine the suitable treatment patterns that can help reduce the growth of cancer cells, say oncologists.The year 2022 recorded 20 million new cancer cases and 10 million deaths. Cancer can be prevented and controlled by implementing evidence-based strategies for cancer prevention Cancer treatments have a high impact on the patient's economic and social constraints. The cancer burden can increase by 60 percent in the next two decades if the healthcare system strains people and communities.It is estimated that by 2040, there will be a 57 percent increase in cancer and approximately 6.23 million new cases if no further action is taken.Dr. Madhu Devarasetty, Sr. Consultant - Surgical Oncologist & Minimal Invasive Surgeon, KIMS Hospitals stressed the need for establishing more cancer care centers at the district level and recruiting more specialists."It's very important to know that most cancers are curable if they are detected early in breast cancer colorectal cancer , etc. Awareness in society and standardization of treatment will enable us to close the care gap. Prevention plays a vital role in cancer care, that is modification of risk factors. One third of total cancers can be prevented and this will save thousands of lives," he said.The oncologist believes that access to correct and concise information and knowledge about cancer can empower communities to conquer the social stigma."Palliative care is essential for comfort in advanced cancers and it's a crucial part of integrated cancer care services. Last but not least is psychological counseling which builds the mental strength of the patient to develop a positive attitude and helps the patient to take treatment completely," Dr. B. Kishore Reddy, Chief Ortho Oncologist, Amor Hospitals says that it is important to have equal access to quality care."It is one of the goals for World Cancer Day where research and efforts are made to support the development of new treatments, increasing the accessibility of the treatments, and encouraging research on a global scale.This can involve teamwork fromIt is a complex disease with various risks and challenges. To tackle this, healthcare organizations, policymakers, researchers, and communities must work together.With a focus on"Early detection of cancer can save a patient's life. In India, many hospitals specialize in cancer screening and diagnosis. Most of the time, cancer is detected at the later stages and sometimes, it is identified at the early stages. The patients who identify cancer in the later stages have to take actionable steps to receive treatment and have to attend regular hospital appointments. Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and eating healthy people can maintain a healthy lifestyle whilst overcoming cancer. Cancer cannot be completely cured, but with time and successful treatment, cancer can be gone into remission," Dr. Kishore Reddy added.Dr. C. Mallikarjuna, Chief Urologist and Managing Director, of the Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology (AINU), who spoke about kidney cancers said: "Due to new treatments and innovative technology, the patient life span has increased and living until 80 has become common nowadays, 75 percent of people who cross 70 are prone to prostate cancer, they would not come to the hospital because their symptoms would not be identified.For people who cross 80, the bones will also get affected and the patients come to the hospital. This means it is easy to help patients who are diagnosed in the early stages and save their life."Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) is a blood test that everyone needs to get once every two years. This can track prostate cancer, and improve the blood flow and the condition of the person. People who have problems with urination, urinary infection, or pain, need to take proper treatment to have results. Also, it immensely helps people who cross 65 years of age or senior citizens who have such symptoms. It is not correct to use antibiotics as soon as there is a urinary infection. Right treatment plan is advised to help track prostate cancer every year."Source-IANS
Over the past few decades we have seen Shahid Kapoor evolve from a chocolate boy in Ishq Vishk to an actor with serious mettle in Jab We Met and eventually deliver a kickass performance in Kabir Singh. Taking on every role beautifully and delivering it the right way, Shahid Kapoor has always shown a diverse range in his acting.

On that note, when news about him joining hands with OMG 2 director Amit Rai came about, we knew something interesting was cooking.

The Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya actor will be seen working with Amit Rai on an upcoming project that will be about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. On top of that, the film will be produced by Ashwin Varde under his banner Wakaoo Films as per reports.

A source close to the project revealed to Pinkvilla, Shahid and Ashwin have been in talks for a film based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for a while now, and things are slowly falling in place. Back in the day, the duo wasnt able to find the right director, but following multiple discussions with Amit Rai, Shahid feels that the director is the perfect fit for his epic on the legend of Indian History.

While all the details have not yet been ironed out, it has been disclosed that the film will be about depicting one of Chhatrapati Maharajs bravest moments. The source further added, While Shahid has agreed in principle to spearhead the film, all the paperwork and announcements will happen once a studio comes on board the project. The makers are in talks with several top studios/financers to associate themselves with the film.

On the work front, Shahid is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya on 9th February. The film also stars actors like Kriti Sanon, Dharmendra and Dimple Kapadia.

Source :
JERUSALEM (AP)  Iran issued a warning Sunday to the U.S. over potentially targeting two cargo ships in the Mideast long suspected of serving as forwarding operating base for Iranian commandos, just after America and the United Kingdom launched a massive airstrike campaign against Yemen's Houthi rebels.

The statement from Iran on the Behshad and Saviz ships appeared to signal Tehran's growing unease over the U.S. strikes in recent days in Iraq, Syria and Yemen targeting militias backed by the Islamic Republic.

Those attacks, themselves a retaliatory campaign for the killing of three U.S. soldiers and wounding of dozens of others in Jordan, all stem back to Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has escalated tensions across the wider Middle East and raised fears about a regional conflict breaking out.

The Yemen strikes overnight Sunday struck across six provinces of Yemen held by the Houthi rebels, including in Sanaa, the capital. The Houthis gave no assessment of the damage but the U.S. described hitting underground missile arsenals, launch sites and helicopters used by the rebels.

These attacks will not discourage Yemeni forces and the nation from maintaining their support for Palestinians in the face of the Zionist occupation and crimes, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said. The aggressors airstrikes will not go unanswered.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned the Houthis after the strikes that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels. That message was echoed by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who said: The Houthi attacks must stop.

The Behshad and Saviz are registered as commercial cargo ships with a Tehran-based company the U.S. Treasury has sanctioned as a front for the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. The Saviz, then later the Behshad, have loitered for years in the Red Sea off Yemen, suspected of serving as spy positions for Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

In 2017, Saudi Arabia described the Saviz as a maritime base and weapons transshipment point for the Guard, staffed by men in military fatigues. Footage aired by Saudi-owned television channels showed the vessel armed with what appeared to be a covered machine gun bolted to the ships deck.

In the video statement Sunday by the Iran's regular army, a narrator for the first time describes the vessels as floating armories." The narrator describes the Behshad as aiding an Iranian mission to counteract piracy in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. However, Iran is not publicly known to have taken part in any of the recent campaigns against rising Somali piracy in the region off the back of the Houthi attacks.

Just before the new campaign of U.S. airstrikes began, the Behshad traveled south into the Gulf of Aden. It's now docked in Djibouti in East Africa just off the coast from a Chinese military base in the country.

The statement ends with a warning overlaid with a montage of footage of U.S. warships and an American flag.

Those engaging in terrorist activities against Behshad or similar vessels jeopardize international maritime routes, security and assume global responsibility for potential future international risks, the video said.

The U.S. Navy's Mideast-based 5th Fleet did not immediately respond to a request for comment over the threat.

The Saviz, which is now in the Indian Ocean near where the U.S. alleges Iranian drone attacks recently have targeted shipping, has come under attack before. In 2021, a likely limpet mine explosion blew a hole through the hull of the Saviz, forcing Iran to bring the ship home. That attack, suspected to have been carried out by Israel, is part of a wider shadow war between Tehran and Israel after the collapse of the Iran nuclear deal.

___

Baldor and Copp reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, and Brian Melley in London contributed to this report.
Police have identified the 36-year-old Jamestown woman who was killed in a bathroom struggle with a Town of Hamburg police officer Friday morning, not long after she allegedly stabbed a passenger in a van on the Thruway and was involved in break-ins at two homes.

But officials are not saying anything more about Lisa Haight or the case before a press conference scheduled for Tuesday, and information about Haight remained limited on Sunday.

In the meantime, the New York State Attorney Generals Office of Special Investigation has already opened a probe into the shooting, in accordance with state law governing any death that involves a police officer.

Police said on Facebook that Haight was responsible for a burglary at a home on Willet Road, and then broke into the second home on McKinley Parkway, where she died after being shot by the officer. An emergency medical services call was made at 11:17 a.m. Friday for a McKinley Parkway address for a shooting with police on scene, according to a scanner report.

Hamburg police said that early in their investigation they were made aware of the incident on the Thruway in a private transport van.

We now know that Lisa Haight, a short time before the Willet Road burglary, repeatedly and without provocation stabbed a passenger in that van, causing extensive serious physical injuries to the victim, the statement said.

At some point after the stabbing, Haight left the van near Willet Road a short time before the first burglary.

The victim of the stabbing was rushed to a hospital to receive treatment for extensive injuries to the face, shoulder and head, according to police.

At about 10:30 a.m. Friday, officers responded to a 911 call about a burglary in progress on Willet Road, which connects to the northern tip of McKinley and veers east before it becomes Berg Road. Responding to the call, Hamburg police officers got a description of a suspect from the homeowner and tracked the person to a home a short distance away on McKinley, Hamburg Police Capt. Todd Ehret said during a news conference Friday.

In a press release, the Attorney Generals Office said that officers followed the potential suspect to another home nearby and encountered her in the bathroom. After a struggle, an officer shot the woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers recovered a knife at the home.

The Office of Special Investigations is required to assess any incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person by an act or omission.

Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If the office determines that an officer may have caused the death, it moves ahead with a full investigation of the incident.
The Angels have signed right-hander Jose Cisnero to a one-year deal, per a club announcement. To make room for Cisnero on the 40-man roster, the club has designated Livan Soto for assignment. MLB.coms Rhett Bollinger reports that the deal guarantees the veteran righty $1.75MM.

Cisnero, 35 in April, made his big league debut with the Astros back in 2013. Over two seasons in Houston, the righty struggled to a 4.66 ERA across 48 1/3 innings of work before elbow issues brought his 2014 campaign (and his Astros tenure) to an end. After a brief 5 1/3 inning stay in the Reds minor league system, Cisnero stepped away from affiliated ball for several years, pitching in independent leagues across North and South America until he signed on with the Tigers during the 2018-19 offseason.

Upon joining Detroits roster in June on 2019, Cisnero found his home for the next half decade. In 35 1/3 innings of work during his return to the majors that year, the right-hander posted a solid 4.33 ERA (111 ERA+) with a 4.66 FIP. Those respectable numbers earned Cisnero a shot at a larger role headed into the 2020 season, and he made the most of it during the shortened campaign as he posted a sterling 3.03 ERA and 2.65 FIP in 29 appearances. The righty continued to put up strong numbers while covering the middle innings for the Tigers over the next couple of years, and entered the 2023 season with a 3.26 ERA and 3.89 FIP across 151 2/3 innings of work during his time in Detroit.

Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse last season. The veteran righty saw his ERA balloon to 5.31 despite posting a 26.2% strikeout rate and a 9.4% walk rate, both of which were career bests outside of the shortened 2020 campaign. Some of that drop in quality of performance can be explained by Cisneros inflated .338 BABIP and a 68.4% strand rate that came in somewhat below his usual norms. With that being said, the biggest red flag in Cisneros profile last year was clearly his issues with the long ball. Cisnero allowed ten homers in his 59 1/3 innings of work last year as a whopping 15.6% of his fly balls left the yard for home runs.

Despite those blemishes, taking a flier on Cisnero is a sensible move for the Angels. At a guarantee of just $1.75MM, Cisnero joins the likes of Adam Cimber and Luis Garcia as veterans looking to rebound after a difficult 2023 season who can cover the middle innings for a bullpen that has already added the likes of Robert Stephenson and Matt Moore to handle late-inning duties. On the other hand, the addition of Cisnero sees the Halos double down on their strategy of focusing their offseason additions primarily on the clubs bullpen. While the clubs relief corps posted a lackluster 4.88 ERA last season, its fair to wonder why the club has yet to make significant moves targeted at improving the clubs lineup and rotation mix following the departure of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, instead making complementary additions in those areas such as Aaron Hicks and Zach Plesac.

The addition of Cisnero may spell the end of Sotos time in the Angels organization. The 23-year-old infielder made his MLB debut with the club back in 2022 and impressed over the course of a brief, 18-game cup of coffee. In 59 plate appearances that year, Soto slashed a strong .400/.414/.582 with seven extra base hits in just 55 at-bats. Unfortunately, Sotos strong performance in his first taste of the big leagues didnt carry over to the 2023 season. The youngster hit a mediocre .237/.342/.358 in 110 games split between the Double- and Triple-A levels last year, and his four games in the majors last year saw him go just two-for-nine with zero extra base hits, though he continued to flash solid on-base ability by drawing three walks during that time. Going forward, the Angels will have seven days to trade Soto or attempt to pass him through waivers. If Soto clears waivers, the Angels will have the opportunity to retain him as non-roster depth headed into the 2024 campaign.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Maybe youre looking for a new dungeon master, a safe place to geek out about classic Nintendo games or a way to add to your collection of Spider-Man comics.

Chances are, youre not alone. Theres plenty of places in Ann Arbor to embrace your inner nerd. Here are five great options to check out.

Vault of Midnight

You can find it all in the vault.

The Ann Arbor comic shop that opened in 1996 is the dream of two childhood best friends. Its been a staple downtown for well over a decade. Bright, tidy and well-organized, the store is chockfull of comics, role-playing games and an underrated selection of sweet treats.

Board game enthusiasts shouldnt miss the basement, filled with enough tabletop diversions to keep you busy for a long time.

Vault of Midnight, 219 S. Main St., is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Its got an online store and sister locations in Detroit and Grand Rapids. The Ann Arbor shop and can be reached at 734- 998-1413.

This 2017 file photo shows the UM Computer and Video Game Archive in its former location in the basement of the Duderstadt Center. The archive, with thousands of video games and dozens of gaming systems dating back to the 1970s, is now on the fourth floor of Shapiro Library. Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor NewsMelanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News

University of Michigan Computer and Video Game Archive

From 1970s Atari systems to multiple generations of modern PlayStations, a vast archive of decades of video game history is tucked away at the University of Michigan.

The universitys Computer and Video Game Archive, now located on the fourth floor of Shapiro Library at 919 S. University Ave., boasts nearly 10,000 titles and about 80 different gaming systems.

While it serves an educational and research purpose, the library encompassing everything form old school Mario Bros. titles to World of Warcraft is open to all.

Members of the university community can reserve game stations online, and the archive considers reservations from those not affiliated with the university on a case-by-case basis.

The archive is open noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to 5 p.m. on Friday. Find it online or call 734-763-6533.

Pinball Pete's arcade in the Galleria building on South University Avenue in Ann Arbor on Nov. 17, 2023. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com)Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Pinball Petes

If arcade games like Space Invaders, PAC-MAN or Street Fighter are your thing, look no further than Pinball Petes.

Fans of the popular and longstanding arcade got a scare last year after developers proposed to demolish the building that houses it at 1214 S. University Ave., to make way for a 17-story high-rise. It may not be the end, however, as its owners are in talks about relocating somewhere else downtown.

Pinball Petes is open noon to midnight Sunday through Thursday and noon to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Find it online or call 734-213-2502.

This file photo shows 826michigan's Liberty Street Robot Supply and Repair at 115 E. Liberty St. in Ann Arbor.MLive file photo

Liberty Street Robot Supply and Repair

There are few places in Ann Arbor that sell robot larynxes and multiple varieties of grasping appendages. Liberty Street Robot Supply and Repair, at 115 E. Liberty St., is one of them.

The shop offers all manner of clockwork mechanisms and robotic kits. The store is a retail space in front of 826michigan, a nonprofit writing and tutoring center for young people. Proceeds from the store, also known as Ann Arbor Robot Supply Co., benefit the educational programs.

The store is open for in-person shopping from 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, as well as 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. It also has an online store at onwardrobots.com and is available by phone at 734-761-3463.

The inside of Sylvan Factory, 2459 W Stadium Blvd, on June 23.

Sylvan Factory

The owners of Sylvan Factory want hobbies, like collectible card games, anime and cosplaying, to be open to the whole family.

Tucked away in the Westgate Shopping Center at 2459 W. Stadium Blvd., Sylvan Factory aims to provide an inclusive space for gaming, welcoming children and putting on monthly educational workshops in its Dragons Lair.

From Magic The Gathering to Pokemon and Dungeons and Dragons, the shop also offers regular weekly opportunities for fantasy and role-playing enthusiasts of all ages to come together.

The store is open noon to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Find it online and by phone at 734-929-5877.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.

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FENTON, MI  More than 300 brave bodies leapt into the frigid waters of Lake Fenton in the name of charity.

The annual Fenton Polar Plunge, one of multiple plunges in the state, raises funds and awareness for Special Olympics Michigan. These plunges are the biggest fundraiser for Special Olympics Michigan. This year, the Fenton Polar Plunge raised more than $151,000.

The initial goal for the event was $60,000.

Genesee County comes through every year  and I am so proud of this community, said Pat Peter, the area director of Special Olympics Michigan, whos on the Fenton Polar Plunge committee.

From the Fenton Moose Lodge pier, teams of participants lined up to take the jump in groups of two or three.

A large hole was cut into the ice of frozen Lake Fenton and a team of rescue divers were in the water to assist swimmers.

As participants waited in line, they were pumped up by the crowd. Many participants added to the flair of the event by coming in costume

One man dressed as Superman, another as Black Panther. A group of Vikings took the plunge, and one man wielded his own sledgehammer. A few groups wore matching tutus.

Multiple participants were dressed in animal one-piece pajamas, but even they were not as chicken the people who stood on the beach, as teased by some Polar Plunge event T-shirts. Organizers allow people to register without taking the plunge, and they are recognized with a Too Chicken to Plunge shirt.

People participate for all kinds of reasons. Some do it because its for a good cause, some participate as a bucket-list item.

Jason Pruneau, who plunged for his 10th year, does it for family.

My niece is actually special needs, so its kind of in my heart to do it for her, said Pruneau.

Berthas Tribe, a fundraising team of five, all took the plunge for their first time.

Sheila Tucker, of Flint, who put together Berthas Tribe, explained the experience as shocking and breathtaking.

She plans to participate again next year with even a bigger tribe.

After the last person braves the water and everyone is dried off, an After-Splash Bash began in the Fenton Moose Lodge.

Food, drinks and smiles filled the lodge, and award winners are announced.

Dan Chapman raised the most money at $6,250.

The most money raised by a community team was Livonia Moose Lodge 1317, with $9,373. That group also had the oldest plunger at 79 years old.

The school that raised the most money was Grand Blanc Community Schools Unified at $26,500. The last award went to Team UAW Local 598 for raising $38,216.

The funds go a long way to help Special Olympics Michigan, which just concluded its state winter games in Traverse City on Feb. 2.

I just think its amazing how it always comes together, Peter said. We are always worried. It always comes together, and it always works out.
FLINT, MI -- Inside the University of Michigan-Flint Pavilion, about 60 gamers showed up for a Super Smash Bros. tournament on Saturday, Feb. 3.

The idea came from Eric Tinnin, operations manager of Media Reload, and Armando Vasquez, owner and operator of Smoke, Rattle and Roll, a BBQ joint located inside the pavilion. Theyve been friends since kindergarten.

Tinnin and Vasquez had an idea about a year ago to put on an event to promote business and community in the schools pavilion.

A lot of people dont realize that the pavilion is open to the public, Vasquez said. He wants to bring more awareness to the vendors and businesses in the pavilion.

Then they met Luke Rimarcik, esports program manager with University of Michigan-Flint, who was a recent graduate who played on the schools varsity esports team.

Weve been growing the (esports) program every year, Rimarcik said. Its never just flatlining. There are always things that are new and are developing for the program.

There are about 80 students who compete for the University of Michigan-Flints esports program across nine video games, as well as a casual gaming club at the school.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is one of them.

There is a (Super Smash Bros.) tournament in Ohio that has, like, over 1,000 people attend, said Rimarcik. So, I know that bringing that here to Flint would definitely kind of create a new image for Flint.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a fighting game that uses players from different Nintendo franchises, such as Kirby, Legend of Zelda, Super Mario and many others.

Gamers compete in one-on-one battle with a their player of choice in a best-of-three, tournament-style bracket.

The losers can battle back to the finals through a one-and-done-style tournament bracket.

With 10 different stations, twenty gamers could compete at a time.

Local businesses donated gift cards to the winners of the tournament.

In addition to the main tournament, there was a large inflatable screen to plays games on and a Dance Dance Revolution area.

We just want to bring awareness to the area, Tinnin said. We want to help with the all the local businesses, their student population here  and we want to drive people to our community.

The trio that put together this event, which was the first of its kind at the school pavilion, has high hopes for what comes next. They hope to host events on a more regular basis in the future.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Canal Park on Monroe Avenue in downtown Grand Rapids is expected to get a significant makeover with a $7.5 million renovation that includes a new playground, all-season park pavilion and river overlook deck.

Renderings of the planned improvements, released last week, provide a glimpse of the transformation that city leaders hope to bring to the riverside park. Construction is expected to start within two years, officials said.

We believe that the redesign and reconstruction of this park space is so vitally important because it plays a larger role in the visitor ship of Grand Rapids, the tourism to Grand Rapids, but also the day-to-day life of residents, said Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Director David Marquardt.

Canal Park is located just north of Sixth Street Bridge on Monroe Avenue.

The renovations are part of the citys vision for creating a stronger connection with the Grand River.

A 16-year push is still underway to remove four low-head dams, located between Bridge Street and Fulton Street, and create a more natural waterway with an improved aquatic habitat. Those improvements are set to be complemented by a host of park and trail renovations along the banks of the Grand.

Some of those projects, such as renovations at Lyon Square, the Grand Rapids Public Museum and a new 12,000-capacity riverfront amphitheater at 201 Market Ave. SW, are either underway or set to begin this year.

Marquardt described the improvements at Canal Park as transformational.

The improvement include:

An older playground that has been in place for a couple decades will be replaced with a universally accessible play space that is based more in nature-based play elements, Marquardt said.

A river overlook deck will provide more space to view the river.

An all-season park pavilion that can be rented by residents or used for public functions. That is dramatically different than the standalone open-air pavilion that weve got out there right now, Marquardt said.

A completely redesigned bike trial that runs along the Grand River. That will make the space more accessible and create a better and stronger connection to the regional trails that run through downtown and connect to the White Pine Trail north of Grand Rapids, Marquardt said.

A river landing and seating terrace on the north end of the park will build in an accessible kayak launch and boat launch at that location, making it far easier than it is today to get into and out of the river with small watercraft, Marquardt said.

It will feel very different from what it is today, Marquardt said.

A new all-season pavilion is among the improvements included in a planned $7.5 million renovation at Canal Park.Courtesy

An exact date on which construction will begin has not been set, but work is expected to begin in the next two years, Marquardt said. The timeframe is flexible and still a ways out because the city is wrapping up the final stages of funding, and the project still has to be sent out to construction contractors for bids, he said.

All of that takes time, he said.

Once construction starts, the project is expected to take between 18 months and two years to complete.

The projects overall price tag is about $7.5 million, with funding expected to come through the citys parks millage, a grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and tax dollars collected by the North Monroe North Tax Increment Finance Authority.

Most of that is all secured, Marquardt said of the $7.5 million. Weve got about $1.5 million to $2 million were looking for finalization on.

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A former business manager at one of the regions largest Catholic churches is under investigation in connection with the disappearance of $465,000 in church funds.

The ongoing investigation at St. Amelia Church in the Town of Tonawanda is the latest in a long line of thefts from local churches and religious organizations, going back decades.

In this case, the woman who is under investigation worked at St. Amelia for only a few months before the money was discovered missing, church officials said.

There is an investigation at St. Amelia, and it is continuing, Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn told The Buffalo News on Friday. I can confirm that the information came to our office after it was uncovered by the church and the diocese. A substantial amount of money is missing. Other than that, I cant comment further at this time.

The investigation at St. Amelia was also confirmed Friday by a Buffalo Diocese spokesman, and another source with close knowledge of the investigation. The investigation into fraud and misuse of church funds was also discussed in the official St. Amelia church bulletin on Jan. 28.

Two sources with close knowledge of the investigation said approximately $465,000 is missing. Flynn declined to confirm or deny the amount of missing money beyond describing the amount as substantial.

The item in the church bulletin, titled St. Amelia Fraud Case Update, identifies Lisa Noble, a former church business manager, as the person who is under investigation. Flynn declined to identify by name the suspect who is under investigation.

This past Tuesday there was a grand jury hearing to help bring formal charges against Lisa Noble, the church bulletin item stated. Lisa was hired in March  and broke protocol following her training which led to her being able to misuse funds at St. Amelias.

In the bulletin item, church officials said they are trying to recover as much of the funds as possible through fraud claims and insurance.

The probe was mentioned Sept. 29 in the Western New York Catholic, official newspaper of the Buffalo Diocese.

As a result of a review by church and diocesan officials, an employee of St. Amelia Parish in the Town of Tonawanda was placed on administrative leave from the parish on Friday, Sept. 15, the item read. Following further review from the Internal Audit Department of the diocese, the employee was relieved of her duties on Thursday, Sept. 21. Parish and diocesan officials have turned over evidence to the Erie County District Attorneys Office for investigation of potential financial improprieties.

The News was unable to reach Noble for comment. Two sources familiar with the case told a reporter she is no longer working at the church or living in Western New York.

St. Amelia, on Eggert Road, has 2,500 families registered, making it one of the largest churches among the 160 churches in the eight-county Buffalo Diocese, diocese spokesman Joseph Martone said.

A former assistant district attorney who prosecuted embezzlement cases in Erie County for more than 25 years said he was saddened, but not surprised, to see another local church hit hard by financial crime.

It does not shock me, but it bothers me  that is my parish, said John C. Doscher, who retired in 2015 as the chief of the DAs Financial Crimes Bureau. Over the years, Doscher said, he prosecuted 24 people who embezzled money from churches and religious organizations.

Doscher recalled that the largest such case ended in the imprisonment of the man who oversaw finances for the entire Buffalo Diocese. That was former diocesan comptroller Anthony Franjoine, who pleaded guilty in 1991 to stealing $1.5 million from the diocese over an eight-year period. Franjoine returned $1 million of the stolen money and a judge sentenced him to prison for 32 months to eight years.

My theory is that many people who work for churches or charity organizations are not money-driven. Most of them work there because they are trying to do some good in the world, Doscher said. They tend to ascribe those same motives to other people who work there, and some of them turn out to be thieves.

Similar comments came from Candace Vogel, another retired Erie County prosecutor who specialized in financial crimes.

They tend to assume these people they hire are honest, and they fail to do a deep dive when they decide who to hire, and also in the day-to-day oversight of their employees, Vogel said. We trust people, thats why we have embezzlers.

Among the past embezzlement cases involving local churches and religious organizations:

In 2004, a former employee was sentenced to five years of probation after she pleaded guilty to grand larceny and agreed to repay $40,000 she stole from St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church on Grand Island. She had run the churchs child care center.

In 2005, a former church secretary from St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Hamburg was sentenced to five years of probation after admitting she stole $230,000 in church funds. She pleaded guilty to grand larceny and agreed to repay the stolen money.

The former secretary and office manager of St. Christopher Catholic Church in the Town of Tonawanda was sentenced in 2007 to six months in jail and ordered to repay partial restitution for the $488,000 she stole from the church. Prosecutors said she spent the money on lavish vacations and family expenses between 1998 and 2005.

The former business manager of Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Cheektowaga was arrested in 2008 on charges he stole more than $378,000 from the church to pay off gambling debts. He pleaded guilty to grand larceny, agreed to pay back part of the money and was sentenced to no more than a year in prison.

A former business office employee at St. Andrew Church in the Town of Tonawanda admitted in 2009 to embezzling $280,000 over six years. A judge sentenced her to five years on probation after she told him she stole the money to pay for a family members medical treatment.

A nun with a casino gambling addiction admitted in 2012 that she stole $128,000 from two Orleans County churches. A judge sent her to jail for 90 days and put her on probation for five years. Her attorney said she struggled for years trying to beat her addiction.

Doscher said that quite a few of the people who were caught stealing from churches and other charity groups had previously been caught stealing from other workplaces, but managed to get hired anyway.

Most of the people we prosecuted in these cases spent the money on high living, or on gambling, Doscher said. I saw very few cases where people stole the money out of genuine need.
Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM  Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings results on Friday. The oil and gas company reported $2.48 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.20 by $0.28, MarketWatch Earnings reports. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 20.72% and a net margin of 11.56%. The company had revenue of $84.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $90.03 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $3.40 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year.

Exxon Mobil Trading Down 0.4 %

Exxon Mobil stock traded down $0.42 during trading on Friday, reaching $101.97. 21,973,405 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 18,303,250. Exxon Mobil has a 52-week low of $95.77 and a 52-week high of $120.70. The company has a market capitalization of $404.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.47, a PEG ratio of 3.66 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 1.42 and a quick ratio of 1.08. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $100.83 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $106.41.

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Exxon Mobil Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 14th will be given a $0.95 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 13th. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.73%. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 42.74%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

XOM has been the topic of a number of research reports. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Exxon Mobil from $140.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, October 12th. Sanford C. Bernstein initiated coverage on Exxon Mobil in a report on Tuesday, October 17th. They issued an outperform rating and a $140.00 price objective on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $120.00 price objective on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Thursday, December 7th. Truist Financial raised Exxon Mobil from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $110.00 to $131.00 in a report on Thursday, October 12th. Finally, Erste Group Bank reissued a hold rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Friday, December 22nd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Exxon Mobil currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $127.53.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on XOM

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben sold 2,077,000 shares of Exxon Mobil stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.06, for a total transaction of $216,132,620.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 13,000 shares in the company, valued at $1,352,780. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben sold 2,077,000 shares of Exxon Mobil stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.06, for a total value of $216,132,620.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 13,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,352,780. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben acquired 250,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 6th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $105.97 per share, with a total value of $26,492,500.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 2,077,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $220,099,690. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.06% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Exxon Mobil

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. KB Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in Exxon Mobil during the 1st quarter worth $27,000. IMA Wealth Inc. grew its stake in Exxon Mobil by 720.0% during the 2nd quarter. IMA Wealth Inc. now owns 369 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 324 shares in the last quarter. FWL Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Exxon Mobil during the 4th quarter worth $43,000. Turim 21 Investimentos Ltda. grew its stake in Exxon Mobil by 222.5% during the 1st quarter. Turim 21 Investimentos Ltda. now owns 574 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 396 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Studio Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Exxon Mobil during the 4th quarter worth $49,000. 58.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Exxon Mobil Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas.

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This is the first of four columns observing Black History Month.

Jennie Carter wrote for the California African American newspaper the Elevator from her home in Nevada County, Calif., during the Reconstruction era. She wrote under two pen names, Anna J. Trask and Semper Fidelis. She was born a free person of color about 1830. Census records differ on her origin.

She began writing stories for children. Carters work was ignored by historians and literary critics because of her race and gender. However, due to a scholar and author named Eric Gardner, her work was introduced to the general public in a book titled Jennie Carter, A Black Journalist of the Early West, published in 2007. He noted that Carters work should have been discovered long ago because of her contributions to the literature of the Black West. There were countless other voices in the early West that were heard quietly or not at all.

Carter was a prolific writer and her topics included the politics of the time: womens suffrage, gender, race, civil rights, slavery and the daily struggles of African Americans. She wrote about the importance of the passage of the 15th Amendment, which was ratified in 1870. It stated that the right to vote could not be denied based on race, color or previous condition of servitude. Carter had a powerful voice and spoke on issues of racial prejudice. Many of her topics were related to Blacks on the American frontier. She challenged her readers to see California and the West and, ultimately, America as having a space for Blacks.

Carter stated in her writings that she was not a supporter of womens suffrage before Black male suffrage. Her commentary included remarks on Republicans as well as Democrats. A study of the life of Carter will reveal that some of her topics are reminiscent of todays issues. She tackled immigration in her articles. She stood with Chinese immigrants, which was a huge topic of the times in California. She supported the Chinese immigrants in opposition to both Blacks and whites and even Native Americans who were trying to prevent them from entering the United States. Chinese immigration began during the gold rush in California, with 40,000 Chinese arriving between 1851 and 1869.

The growing population of the Chinese was an issue in the election of 1867 for governor of California. In an interesting section of Gardners book, he refers to an article by Carter where she expresses her regrets about the election. Union State Ticket candidate George Congden Gorham, who had significant ties to the National Republican Party, lost to Democrat Henry Haight. In a letter to the Elevator, Carter wrote the following on Sept. 20, 1867:

I cant see how politicians could expect to succeed when so divided. I dont see how a man could expect to be elected when one half of his party is against him at the beginning of a campaign, and the other two-thirds against him at the end. Signed by Semper Fidelis.

The history of Blacks in the West has focused on cowboys, frontiersmen and the Buffalo soldiers. However, the life of Carter points to Black communities. Churches were established in major cities like San Francisco. African Americans in the West were more diverse. Black newspapers such as the Elevator had a close relationship with many of the churches, which helped to raise funds for the newspaper.

Carter is not mentioned in American textbooks. However, her work as a journalist is beginning to take a place in the history of America. The Nevada County Historical Society included her work in its exhibit of the late 19th century of Black pioneers in that state. Carter and her husband lived in Nevada City, a small town northeast of San Francisco. Carter died suddenly from what was called a dropsy of the heart at age 51. She is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in Nevada City.

Gardner noted in his book that, We should have found Jennie Carter long ago. We should have discovered the Black literary West, because we should have known that where there were active Black communities, there were most probably also Black literature.

Eva M. Doyle is a columnist for the Criterion. She is celebrating 45 years of writing the Eye On History column.
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Gayatri is a mind body spirit therapist and author of Elas Unfinished Business (Harper Collins, July 2023), among other books. Views expressed are personal.
Housing is an urgent need in New York. Some might say it is at crisis point. As part of the 2023 state budget, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed an ambitious plan that would have brought 800,000 new units online, but the package, which included mandatory overrides of zoning laws if housing quotas were not reached, was rejected by the Legislature. The quotas and mandates were a bit hard to swallow for many of Hochuls fellow Democrats, especially those with suburban constituencies.

As the state begins another year with no comprehensive housing initiative in place  or likely to be  regional solutions make sense. State Sen. Sean Ryan has a four-part housing plan for Western New York thats well worth considering.

It will take a combination of legislative and budgetary action to implement Ryans ideas; both are strongly encouraged.

Ryans thoughtful four-component strategy is crafted with Buffalo in mind; its not focused, as so much of New Yorks housing policy is, on downstate models that tend to call for large, multi-unit developments. It pursues infill housing throughout neighborhoods studded with vacant lots, includes eviction prevention, helps landlords fix up their apartments and directs resources toward energy efficiency  bringing down costs and forwarding New Yorks climate goals.

Human-scaled housing

Many people dont want to live in high-rises or even three- or four-story-high blocks of apartments. They like single or double-unit houses and these can be unaffordable for both buyers and renters. In Western New York, affordable starter homes are a species headed for extinction. Ryans plan suggests directing New York State Housing and Community Renewal funds toward single and double infill housing to fill in some of the 13,000 vacant lots throughout Buffalo. The program would build 2,000 homes in five years, market them to low- and moderate-income buyers and generate as much as $12 million in property tax per year. Unlike many big mixed-use projects that include apartments, these homes would not be tax-exempt.

Forestalling homelessness

With 90% of evictions arising from the inability to pay rent, Ryan has a solution that would keep families in their apartments, and its money that is meant for this purpose. The states Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) fund already has $1.3 billion in surplus that can be used for eviction prevention; its a much better use of government funds than paying for the newly homeless to stay in hotels.

Upgrading rental properties

Ryan notes that many rental units remain empty because they fall short of the standards required for subsidized housing. Hed get these units back online by providing grants to landlords, who would, in turn, be required to keep the units affordable. This could help upgrade as many as 1,500 Buffalo units.

Reducing energy costs

Utility companies National Fuel, National Grid and Noco are open to helping with the fourth pillar of this housing plan, according to Ryan. It would improve insulation at no cost to owners and could even expand to more ambitious green energy upgrades.

Ryan is correct in asserting that the market will not solve Buffalos housing problem. The market has gotten us to where we are: unaffordable homes and high rents  a situation that punishes low-income families.

Hochul hasnt given up on her aspirations for building New Yorks affordable housing stock. Through executive actions, she plans to give $650 million to certified Pro-Housing Communities; in Western New York that would mean localities that can prove their housing supply has increased by 0.33% over the past year or by 1% over the past three years. Hochul also is proceeding with an initiative to build housing on state property.

Its called pivoting. And its encouraging.

Both Hochul and Ryan understand that even without a statewide grand bargain, strong, decisive action on housing cant wait another year.
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Christin Mathew Philip is an Assistant editor at moneycontrol.com. Based in Bengaluru, he writes on mobility, infrastructure and start-ups. He is a Ramnath Goenka excellence in journalism awardee. You can find him on Twitter here: twitter.com/ChristinMP_
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Danish Khan is a London-based independent journalist and author of 'Escaped: True Stories of Indian fugitives in London'. He is researching Indian capitalism at University of Oxford.
China sends 9 satellites from sea

Ecns.cn) 13:06, February 04, 2024

A Smart Dragon-3 carrier rocket carrying nine satellites blasts off from waters off the coast of Yangjiang, in south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 3, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/An Di)

This marks the third mission for the Smart Dragon-3 rocket.

A Smart Dragon-3 carrier rocket carrying nine satellites blasts off from waters off the coast of Yangjiang, in south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 3, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/An Di)

A Smart Dragon-3 carrier rocket carrying nine satellites blasts off from waters off the coast of Yangjiang, in south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 3, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/An Di)

A Smart Dragon-3 carrier rocket carrying nine satellites blasts off from waters off the coast of Yangjiang, in south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 3, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/An Di)

A Smart Dragon-3 carrier rocket carrying nine satellites blasts off from waters off the coast of Yangjiang, in south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 3, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/An Di)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Kavya Mukhija is a Jaipur-based organisational psychologist, wheelchair-user, and freelance writer. Views expressed are personal.
Sandipan Deb is former managing editor of Outlook, former editor of The Financial Express, and founding editor of Outlook Money, Open, and Swarajya magazines. He has authored books such as 'The IITians: The Story of an Extraordinary Indian Institution and How its Alumni Are Reshaping the World', 'Fallen Angel: The Making and Unmaking of Rajat Gupta', and 'The Last War'. The views expressed in his column are personal, and do not reflect those of Moneycontrol. You can follow Sandipan on Twitter @sandipanthedeb
Take That has announced their return down under as part of their huge live tour! Take Thats This Life On Tour will see the trio  Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald  take in seven dates across Australia and New Zealand, visiting a series of arenas and spectacular a day on the green wineries along the way. Our very own Aotearoa will farewell Take That on their final antipodean show at Aucklands Spark Arena on Thursday 14 November.
Punxsutawney Phil's handler A.J. Dereume holds the famous groundhog during the 136th Groundhog Day, at Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Feb. 2, 2022.
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Andrew Roberto was raised his whole life on Saipan. He graduated from Saipan Southern High School, holds a degree from Northern Marianas College, and a BA in English from the University of Guam. He once worked for KUAM, UNO Magazine, and the Guam Daily Post.
Israeli soldiers maneuver a tank near the border with the North Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, Israel January 31, 2024.
A general view shows the oil refinery of the Lukoil company in Volgograd, Russia April 22, 2022. Picture taken April 22, 2022.
BCs Tales of the Pacific  A Chamorro fights in the Second World War (part 3)
Tree Hazard on Saratoga Road View Photo

Update at 11:25 am: Providing an update to the earlier report, the downed trees have been removed from both Saratoga Road in Sonora, and Hunt Road in Calaveras County. Traffic is moving freely in those areas. Be prepared for the potential for more storm impacts throughout the day. Click here to find the latest information from the National Weather Service.

Original story posted at 10:57 am: Sonora, CA  If you need to travel on this Sunday, be prepared for the potential of traffic impacts due to the storm system passing through the region.

The Sonora Police Department reports that a tree is completely blocking Saratoga Road as of the 10 oclock hour between Shaws Flat Road and Banner Drive. City crews are working to remove the tree, but the closure of Saratoga Road is anticipated to last several hours.

In Calaveras County, there is a tree completely blocking Hunt Road near Highway 4. It was located at 9:30 am and county crews are working to move the tree off the roadway.

The most notable power outage as of 10:30 am is 144 customers without electricity near the Calaveras and Alpine County line. It is not clear when the customers will be restored. There are also smaller outages impacting just a handful of customers in places like East Sonora and Twain Harte.

For the latest information from the National Weather Service, click here.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa wielded the axe on War Veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa following questions about the Zanu PF spokespersons dealings with foreign investors and political manoeuvring, it has emerged.

Mutsvangwas sacking was announced through a statement signed by Mnangagwas spokesperson George Charamba yesterday where he also revealed the appointment of three new deputy ministers.

Former ZBC employee Omphile Marupi was appointed Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services deputy minister, Sheilla Chikomo will deputise Fredrick Shava in the Foreign Affairs and International Trade portfolio and Benjamin Kubikira is Winston Chitandos deputy in the Local and Public Works ministry.

The announcement of Mutsvangwas sacking was a footnote in the brief statement, but government sources said Mnangagwa wielded the axe primarily because of the war veterans leaders business deals.

Besides the politics, there are primarily two reasons why he was dismissed, said the senior government official.

There were questions about his deals with Chinese businesses that are setting up shop in Zimbabwe.

The other reason has to do with deals by one of his sons, who is running some questionable businesses.

It was not immediately clear, which of Mutsvangwas sons is being linked to his fathers troubles, but recently there were allegations that Neville had advertised that he was selling Starlink internet kits in Zimbabwe.

Starlink is yet to be given permission to operate in Zimbabwe and the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe said selling the American companys internet kits was illegal.

Mutsvangwa is a former ambassador to China and has been at the forefront of promoting Chinese investments in Zimbabwe.

He is always at the airport to receive Chinese delegations and has a hand in most of the deals by companies from that country. There has been growing discomfort about his influence, the source said.

There were also revelations that war veterans were up in arms with Mutsvangwa over the way he was handling a business deal with a big Chinese investor and the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA).

A war veterans leader said they had not seen any documentation to prove that the association was part of the deal and they believed that Mutsvangwa personalised it.

Mutsvangwa also raised eyebrows last week when he seemed to challenge the changing of board members at the state-controlled Zimpapers and ZBC.

Mnangagwa approves the appointment and dismissal of boards in parastatals and companies such as Zimpapers. Mutsvangwa claimed that the fired board members had delivered victory for Zanu PF in the disputed 2023 harmonised elections.

His wife Monica appointed the board members when she was Information minster before she was shunted to the Womens Affairs ministry after Mnangagwa publicly complained about the ministrys poor performance.

Meanwhile, some Zanu PF insiders believe Mutsvangwas sacking had, to some extent, to do with his alleged plot to be appointed into the Zanu PF presidium as one of the vice-presidents.

He has allegedly been canvassing for support especially in the Midlands province for him to replace Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga.

Sources said Mutsvangwa had managed to solicit support from some diplomats in the country as he did in 2017 where he became the face of the military coup that ousted the late president Robert Mugabe.

Mutsvangwa became the face of the coup representing a constituency of disgruntled ex-combatants, former and serving officers tired of Mugabes misrule and his attempt to make his wife, Grace, his successor.

Mutsvangwa was not picking calls when he was contacted for comment yesterday.

He was engineering purges within the Zanu PF ranks to weaken the faction aligned to Chiwenga as he regarded himself as the rightful candidate to deputise Mnangagwa, a source said

Good at gossip and rumour mongering to Mnangagwa, Mutsvangwa has fallen by his own sword.

His relationship with Chiwenga had gone so sour so much that Mnangagwa had to fire him to douse the fire.

Mutsvangwa is not new to controversy over his ambitions to become a member of the presidency.

He played a pivotal role in the purges of former vice-president Joice Mujuru and her perceived allies on allegations of plotting to oust the late Mugabe.

After Mujurus removal, he was made War Veterans minister, a ministerial post where he served for a few months before he was fired in 2016.

Mutsvangwa was fired for gross indiscipline after he convened a so-called illegal meeting of war veterans said to have been centred on Mugabes succession.

At the time, Mutsvangwa and his colleagues were believed to be linked to a Zanu PF faction that wanted Mnangagwa to take over from Mugabe.

He was later expelled from Zanu PF over the same allegations.

Mutsvangwa later became the face of war veterans behind the military coup that ousted Mugabe. In 2017, war veterans circulated a document titled Blue Ocean, criticising Mugabes misrule.

Mugabe reacted angrily to the document. The document said Zanu PF had three options with Mnangagwa representing path 1 (where the party and government must go), Mugabe (path 2  where the president wants the party to go) and Grace (path 3  the path to self-destruction).

The Blue Ocean strategy also alleged that Mugabe was the real force behind G40, adding that there was bad blood between the veteran ruler and Mnangagwa.

He became Mnangagwas advisor after the coup, but he was dropped after a short period. The Standard.

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By Jim Robbins, a journalist based in Montana. Cross posted from KFF Health News.

Each fall, millions of hunters across North America make their way into forests and grasslands to kill deer. Over the winter, people chow down on the venison steaks, sausage, and burgers made from the animals.

These hunters, however, are not just on the front lines of an American tradition. Infectious disease researchers say they are also on the front lines of what could be a serious threat to public health: chronic wasting disease.

The neurological disease, which is contagious, rapidly spreading, and always fatal, is caused by misfolded proteins called prions. It currently is known to infect only members of the cervid family  elk, deer, reindeer, caribou, and moose.

Animal disease scientists are alarmed about the rapid spread of CWD in deer. Recent research shows that the barrier to a spillover into humans is less formidable than previously believed and that the prions causing the disease may be evolving to become more able to infect humans.

A response to the threat is ramping up. In 2023, a coalition of researchers began working on a major initiative, bringing together 68 different global experts on various aspects of CWD to really look at what are the challenges ahead should we see a spillover into humans and food production, said Michael Osterholm, an expert in infectious disease at the University of Minnesota and a leading authority on CWD.

The bottom-line message is we are quite unprepared, Osterholm said. If we saw a spillover right now, we would be in free fall. There are no contingency plans for what to do or how to follow up.

The team of experts is planning for a potential outbreak, focusing on public health surveillance, lab capacity, prion disease diagnostics, surveillance of livestock and wildlife, risk communication, and education and outreach.

Despite the concern, tens of thousands of infected animals have been eaten by people in recent years, yet there have been no known human cases of the disease.

Many hunters have wrestled with how seriously to take the threat of CWD. The predominant opinion I encounter is that no human being has gotten this disease, said Steve Rinella, a writer and the founder of MeatEater, a media and lifestyle company focused on hunting and cooking wild game.

They think, I am not going to worry about it because it hasnt jumped the species barrier, Rinella said. That would change dramatically if a hunter got CWD.

Other prion diseases, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, have affected humans. Mad cow claimed the lives of more than 200 people, mostly in the United Kingdom and France. Some experts believe Parkinsons and Alzheimers also may be caused by prions.

First discovered in Colorado in captive deer in 1967, CWD has since spread widely. It has been found in animals in at least 32 states, four Canadian provinces, and four other foreign countries. It was recently found for the first time in Yellowstone National Park.

Prions behave very differently than viruses and bacteria and are virtually impossible to eradicate. Matthew Dunfee, director of the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance, said experts call it a disease from outer space.

Symptoms are gruesome. The brain deteriorates to a spongy consistency. Sometimes nicknamed zombie deer disease, the condition makes infected animals stumble, drool, and stare blankly before they die. There is no treatment or vaccine. And it is extremely difficult to eradicate, whether with disinfectants or with high heat  it even survives autoclaving, or medical sterilization.

Cooking doesnt kill prions, said Osterholm. Unfortunately, he said, cooking concentrates the prions. It makes it even more likely people will consume them, he said.

Though CWD is not known to have passed to humans or domestic animals, experts are very concerned about both possibilities, which Osterholms group just received more than $1.5 million in funding to study. CWD can infect more parts of an animals body than other prion diseases like mad cow, which could make it more likely to spread to people who eat venison  if it can jump to humans.

Researchers estimate that between 7,000 and 15,000 infected animals are unknowingly consumed by hunter families annually, a number that increases every year as the disease spreads across the continent. While testing of wild game for CWD is available, its cumbersome and the tests are not widely used in many places.

A major problem with determining whether CWD has affected humans is that it has a long latency. People who consume prions may not contract the resulting disease until many years later  so, if someone fell sick, there might not be an apparent connection to having eaten deer.

Prions are extremely persistent in the environment. They can remain in the ground for many years and even be taken up by plants.

Because the most likely route for spillover is through people who eat venison, quick testing of deer and other cervid carcasses is where prevention is focused. Right now, a hunter may drive a deer to a check station and have a lymph node sample sent to a lab. It can be a week or more before results come in, so most hunters skip it.

Montana, for example, is famous for its deer hunting. CWD was first detected in the wild there in 2017 and now has spread across much of the state. Despite warnings and free testing, Montana wildlife officials have not seen much concern among hunters. We have not seen a decrease in deer hunting because of this, said Brian Wakeling, game management bureau chief for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks. In 2022 Montana hunters killed nearly 88,000 deer. Just 5,941 samples were taken, and 253 of those tested positive.

Experts believe a rapid test would greatly increase the number of animals tested and help prevent spillover.

Because of the importance of deer to Indigenous people, several tribal nations in Minnesota are working with experts at the University of Minnesota to come up with ways to monitor and manage the disease. The threat and potential for the spread of CWD on any of our three reservations has the ability to negatively impact Ojibwe culture and traditions of deer hunting providing venison for our membership, said Doug McArthur, a tribal biologist for the White Earth Nation, in a statement announcing the program. (The other groups referenced are the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and Red Lake Band of Chippewa.) Tribes must be ready with a plan to manage and mitigate the effects of CWD  to ensure that the time-honored and culturally significant practice of harvesting deer is maintained for future generations.

Peter Larsen is an assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota and co-director of the Minnesota Center for Prion Research and Outreach. The center was formed to study numerous aspects of prions as part of the push to get ahead of possible spillover. Our mission is to learn everything we can about not just CWD but other prionlike diseases, including Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease, he said. We are studying the biology and ecology of the misfolded protein, he said. How do prions move within the environment? How can we help mitigate risk and improve animal health and welfare?

Part of that mission is new technology to make testing faster and easier. Researchers have developed a way for hunters to do their own testing, though it can take weeks for results. Theres hope for, within the next two years, a test that will reduce the wait time to three to four hours.

With all the doom and gloom around CWD, we have real solutions that can help us fight this disease in new ways, said Larsen. Theres some optimism.
Honest with us

Jean Carnahan played an important role as U.S. senator in voting her conscience to oppose the nomination of fellow Missourian John Ashcroft for U.S. attorney general in 2001.

She was not only a successful first lady for Missouri, but also managed to reach across the political aisle with Republicans on key issues. She died Jan. 30.

Her husbands popularity propelled him to run for the Senate, only for him to die in a plane crash that sent her to the Senate by appointment in 2000. But in a special election to retain the seat, she lost to Jim Talent, who was not as a good a senator as either Jean Carnahan or Claire McCaskill.

One last thing: She voted to send America to war with al-Qaida after they attacked New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

This was her legacy, because while her time in the Senate was short, she showed that being a senator can be a good thing for a public official.

Public service can indeed be an honest job for an honest person. Thats who her husband, Mel Carnahan, was, and thats who Jean was, too. They were honest with Missourians.

- John Huerta, Merced, California

Another choice

A simple question: Why cant the Republican Party find a better presidential candidate than one who has been found liable by a jury of sexual abuse and liable by a judge for fraud in business transactions?

- Richard Robison, Overland Park

The same, right?

If some on the right are worried about Taylor Swifts influence on the presidential election, they need to remember that they have Ted Nugent.

- Jack Myers, Overland Park

Another apology

Kudos to Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley for confronting Facebook leader and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and asking him to apologize to families whose children were victimized by his social media company. It was the right thing to do.

Now I would ask the senator to issue his own apology to the public servants and others injured and killed in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, which he encouraged through his announcement that he would challenge the election results and his legendary fist pump.

Story continues

- Mark Fitzpatrick, Kansas City

Situational crisis

GOP legislators have been complaining for months about how bad our southern border crisis supposedly is. They told us people on the terrorist watch list were coming across the border. They told us fentanyl was coming across the border and killing our children. They told us the border needed to be closed and a massive immigration policy change was needed, immediately!

Well, a bipartisan bill is on the table, and now a bloc of congressional Republicans say the problem is not so bad that it cant wait for 14 months (until Donald Trump is reelected?).

Seems they dont really want to do anything about the border  they just want to campaign on it.

- Michael Cunningham, Kansas City

Trumps hijacking

Donald Trumps attempt to strong-arm Republicans into scuttling the proposed bipartisan immigration bill (and consequently the planned military aid to Israel and Ukraine that are linked to it) because A Border Deal now would be another Gift to the Radical Left Democrats, as he said on social media, is dangerously self-serving. America has already suffered the terrible consequences of having simultaneous presidents not so long ago.

In 1968, candidate Richard Nixon, fearing successful peace talks in Vietnam would give his Democratic opponent an advantage, sent an envoy to South Vietnamese leaders promising a better deal if they would drag their feet until after the election. It became clear how little knowledge Nixon had of Vietnams complexities, as the war expanded over the next four years, bleeding America of lives and treasure but certainly not providing the better deal he promised South Vietnam.

Trump, like Nixon, is making his political future his priority. American government cant function without bipartisanship. Nor can it function without fully informed legislative and executive branches. Others without the exclusive knowledge and weight of responsibility for the decisions they make shouldnt attempt to usurp their leadership roles.

Immigration, Israel and Ukraine demand immediate action by those elected to do so, not partisan foot-dragging.

- John McDonald, Ferguson, Missouri

Electric realities

David Mastios intemperate hit job on electric cars cherry-picked partial truths from the negative column while ignoring demonstrable truths about gasoline cars. (Jan. 25, 10A, An inconvenient truth: Electric cars are real garbage) My husband and I have been electric-car owners since 2012 and know dozens of people whove made the switch from gasoline cars. None would go back.

We recently visited Norway, where 80%-plus of new cars are electric. The very practical Norwegians love electric cars because they work better  even in winter. They pollute much less, dont stink, are wonderfully quiet and enable home charging for all but the longest trips.

Imagine not having to queue up at a gas station every week or so  especially in winter. Electric cars can be powered by multiple renewable sources (wind, hydro, solar). They can provide power back to the electric grid, making the grid more resilient and minimizing the cost of deploying emergency gas-powered generators.

Many countries still offer electric-car subsidies, but there have always been immense direct and indirect subsidies and tax loopholes for the petroleum industry  which dont include the costs of oil spills and the geopolitical costs, including wars, of supporting oil production  and of propping up vile petro-states.

- Donna Oberstein, Overland Park
Agenda 2030: A power-mad document

The United Nations Agenda 2030, Section 18 of 91 sections , begins with the following words:

(Article by E Jeffrey Ludwig republished from AmericanThinker.com)

We are announcing today 17 Sustainable Development Goals with 169 associated targets which are integrated and indivisible. Never before have world leaders pledged common action and endeavor across such a broad and universal policy agenda.

Putting aside the amateurish opening four words, which sound more like a press release than a serious policy statement, the drafters of the statement are actually telling the truth. There has never been such a global policy statement as this. It really is not about policy, but about an intended power-grab of unprecedented proportions.

This writer is proposing that the common action is to eliminate nation-state sovereignties throughout the world. The sinister nature of this purpose is deflected by the words universal policy. Policy would be, for example, to double the daily consumption of about half the worlds population, living on $2 a day per person, to $4 a day. That would be a policy. But this agenda has no specific policies. It is couched throughout in vapid, non-specific terms, being specific only when referring to various U.N.-sponsored conferences held before 2015, the year that Agenda 2030 was written. Not one specific economic or social policy implementation  and successful implementation  is referred to in the entire Agenda 2030 document!

The above is only scratching the surface of Agenda 2030s attempt to obfuscate and deceive while claiming a wholesome and positive goal for the entire world. Section 33 states, We are determined to conserve and sustainably use oceans and seas, freshwater resources, as well as forests, mountains and drylands and to protect biodiversity, ecosystems and wildlife. My question to the U.N.: How is it that oceans, rivers, lakes, forests, arable land, and wildlife have existed since the beginning of the planet Earth until the formation of the U.N., with its vision of a viable planet (sic)? Their language of sustainability is pure hubris. The U.N. will do a better job of maintaining, sustaining, and improving all of nature than what nature has been able to do without the U.N.s all-caring intervention?

This writer grew up thinking that the oceans and the air belonged to everyone in the world. Then there were vast, sparsely inhabited regions of mountains, deserts, and forests within nations that were to be managed by those nations. Now the U.N. is claiming management rights over the oceans and the air, and even vast areas within countries. That in effect gives the U.N. authority over all governments regarding nature and of all of nature that is presently not under any specific government. This is communism without a takeover by the proletariat. The danger to nature warrants a new world order, and a collective authority that takes precedence over business rights, civil rights, and claims to individual rights. Natures needs and requirements trump the individuals rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Behind their assumption is a dark, communist vision: capitalism with its greedy, self-interested propensities and institutional manipulations, has raped and distorted nature. The balance and life-producing principles of nature (Mother Nature, if one loves that idiom) have been superseded by a profiteering motive. That motive is exploiting the people of the world. Those who understand the extent and danger of this exploitation, whether they be rich or poor, young or old, brown, black, or white, must join with the visionary U.N. to correct this distortion of nature and of mans relation to it. The U.N. thus has the idea and the wisdom to meet true human needs and sustainability.

Under the distortions of an unjust world order, the long-term as well as the short-term meeting of needs and the balance needed for natures survival are threatened. Profits are taking precedence over people and nature throughout planet Earth. This is the false narrative and leftist dream that is driving this so-called agenda. (In reality, it is a shift from the original U.N. agenda of world cooperation of sovereign nation-states based on the enhancement of rights  see the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights  to being the world governing power.)

In the midst of Section 31 about sustainability goals, Agenda 2030 states, We are also determined to promote sustainable tourism, tackle water scarcity and water pollution and strengthen cooperation on desertification. We know that there is a lot of water scarcity and desertification in the Sahara and Mohave Deserts. However, here Agenda 2030 writes about these things without naming one specific piece of geography. This is an insult to any intelligent reader, who would automatically wish to know what parts of the world they are interested in improving. For example, Phoenix is connected to the Sonoran Desert. Would Agenda 2030 determine that it could tell Phoenix about various civic decisions on the grounds that those decisions are promoting desertification? Many, many metropolitan centers throughout the world are located in or adjacent to desert areas. Any reasonable person would thus understand sentences like the one above as providing for U.N. control over governmental urban planning decisions wherever desertification might even remotely might be a legitimate claim.

And what about the surprise insertion of the term tourism? As we saw above, that single word is inserted in Section 31 with a long list of environmental concepts. The drafters of this document reveal with this one word that they want control over the movement of all people  large and small movements  to and from all locations. The average person might have thought sustainability might mean something about air quality or global warming. But the sudden inclusion of tourism shows that even the short-term movements of people may impact the sustainability of the planet and will need to be controlled.

Read more at: AmericanThinker.com
MEDICIDE: How American hospitals and doctors methodically murdered COVID patients

NEVER FORGET

(Article republished from StateOfTheNation.co)

IT WASNT COVID OR IATROGENIC DEATH AND DISEASE THAT KILLED SO MANY AMERICANS IN HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES AND ALFS ACROSS THE USA; IT WAS MEDICIDE* VIA THE DELIBERATE WITHHOLDING OF EFFECTIVE COVID-19 TREATMENTS AS WELL AS THE ADMINISTRATION OF LETHAL AND/OR DEBILITATING PROTOCOLS INCLUDING COVID SHOTS

*MEDICIDE = Premeditated Murder of Patients via Medical Means to Include the Concealment of Effective Treatments, Use of Injurious Protocols,

Criminal Neglect in Hospitals, and the Systematic Administration of Fatal Injections Misrepresented as COVID-19 Vaccines

Which means that virtually the entire medical profession, that routinely services Americas healthcare needs, broke the most basic law of doctoring to a powerless patientDO NO HARM

Not only did these cowardly physicians NOT do no harm, they inflicted untold pain and suffering on the most vulnerable patients in their care.

This national stain on the medical profession will never be washed away. How can such Intentional Mass Murder, Planned Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity ever be forgiven, ever be forgotten?

What all of those doctors, who are stone-cold guilty of medicide, could have done is listen to the very few physicians and scientists who courageously spoke the quite obvious truth about how to successfully treat COVID-19. For example: Romanian Lung Doctor Formulates Covid Protocol That Cures 100% of Patients.

Much more importantly, the countless genocidal doctors who are rushing and pushing to jab every patient in sight with an extremely dangerous and deadly Covid injection could be paying close attention to those physicians who are writing and speaking truthfully about the untested shots.

This completely avoidable tragedy could have been easily averted had Americas doctors stood up to Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the primary ringleaders of this ongoing genocide.

But instead these spineless cowards went along because of the financial incentives they received to basically kill and/or injure people on a grand scale. Or, they chose to murder their patients in order to avoid being blackballed by their hospital, physician group or professional association.

In other words, these Doctors Without Conscience would rather commit genocide than heal their patients in the safest and quickest manner. WOW!

Had a critical mass of physicians across the USA followed the chilling facts and transparent truths they could have swiftly formed a bloc that would have easily faced down Americas Dr. Josef MengeleDr. Fauci.

By the way, this righteous approach can still be done, and with great effect, should docs in all 5o states speak truth to power like never before. If youre a physician reading this, please pass this link along to every fellow doctor post-haste; the continuity of this Republic greatly depends upon it.

BOTTOM LINE :

The Entire American Medical Establishment Is Guilty of Intentional Mass Murder, Planned Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity

Conclusion

Corruptocrats such a Dr. Anthony Fauci must be held accountable for the mass death that they all conspired to bring about during this wholly manufactured Plandemic and pervasive criminal cover-up The best way to make a glaring example of them is to hold Nuremberg-style trials that are televised globally as a lesson to every other medical professional who is tempted violate their Hippocratic Oath.

Read more at: StateOfTheNation.co
Hungarian PM Viktor Orban accuses EU of resorting to BLACKMAIL to force his support to Ukraine

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has strongly rebuked the European Union (EU), accusing it of resorting to blackmail in response to a leaked report suggesting a suspension of funding to Hungary if Orban persists in opposing the allocation of the bloc's funds to support Ukraine's war efforts.

Orban's comments came during an interview with the French magazine Le Point, where he reiterated Hungary's steadfast stance against a military solution to the ongoing conflict. (Related: EU threatening to SABOTAGE Hungary's economy if Viktor Orban continues to block military aid for Ukraine.)

Orban expressed concern over the proposed EU plan to provide 50 billion euros ($54 billion) over four years directly to Ukraine, emphasizing Hungary's reluctance to support such a measure.

He underscored Hungary's commitment to a diplomatic resolution and underscored the importance of respecting the sovereignty of independent nations.

The Hungarian leader argued that the EU's attempt to pressure and coerce Hungary into compliance amounted to a violation of the country's autonomy.

Despite Hungary's opposition to utilizing the EU budget for direct payments to Ukraine, Orban presented an alternative compromise during the interview.

He suggested that Hungary could be open to participating in a solution if the EU would guarantee an annual review, allowing Hungary to decide whether to continue providing the allocated funds.

According to Orban, this proposed approach aims to restore and maintain the unity of the European Union while respecting the principles of individual member states.

In the expansive interview, Orban also weighed in on the potential return of former U.S. President Donald Trump to the White House.

Orban emphasized the need for Trump's presence in Europe, interpreting Trump's slogan, "Make America Great Again," as legitimizing a similar aspiration for Europe.

Praising Trump as one of the most successful foreign policy presidents, Orban pointed to the Abraham Accords as a significant achievement for peace in the Middle East.

The Hungarian leader speculated that if Trump had been in office in February 2022, the war in Europe might not have transpired, expressing doubt about finding another strong leader capable of ending the conflict.

Hungary already browbeaten into agreeing to Ukraine aid

Last month, European Union leaders convened in Brussels for a crucial summit aimed at urging Orban to lift his veto on the 50 billion euro special fund for Ukraine.

Despite pleas from Ukraine, Orban's opposition has blocked fresh financial aid, leaving the war-torn nation in urgent need of 34.45 billion euros ($37.22 billion) to fund essential services and keep its economy afloat through 2024.

The situation escalated in mid-December when Orban blocked the proposed fund, leading to a legislative impasse.

The unanimity rule requires all leaders' endorsement, providing Orban with leverage to derail decisions and extract concessions.

The summit was seen as a make-or-break moment, with leaders under pressure to find a solution and break the impasse. The proposed Ukraine Facility, tied to a wider review of the EU budget, requires unanimous approval.

The urgency of providing financial support to Ukraine has become more critical due to Orban's persistent veto, compounded by the legislative impasse in Washington.

The proposed fund was crucial for Ukraine's economic stability, including healthcare, education, social protection, and pensions.

The unanimity rule, a key element of EU democracy, is being exploited by Orban, leading to criticism from other leaders who see it as an infringement on sovereignty.

The summit was marked by tensions and frustration, with leaders expressing the need to defend the unanimity principle while dealing with Orban's opposition.

Efforts to understand Hungary's demands for lifting the veto have been challenging, with signals from Budapest considered irritating or unpalatable.

Orban's demands include an annual review of the entire facility, potentially providing opportunities for repeated vetoes.

Watch Prime Minister Viktor Orban declaring that Hungary will not be blackmailed into submission.

This video is from the HaloRock channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Hungary BLOCKS EU military aid for Ukraine after Kyiv blacklisted Hungarian bank for keeping Russian branches open.

Hungary says no to EUs Russian oil embargo sanction.

Leaked CIA docs: Hungary considers US among its top adversaries.

EU trying to bribe Hungary with 13 BILLION EUROS to prevent veto on more military aid to Ukraine.

Sources include:

RMX.news

Euronews.com

Brighteon.com
Iran declares RED LINE: If U.S. strikes Iranian soil over three soldier deaths, Iran will strike numerous American targets throughout Middle East

If even one United States-linked bomb hits Iranian soil in the coming days, Tehran is promising to retaliate against American military targets all throughout the Middle East.

As the world waits to see how President Biden responds to the killing of three U.S. soldiers by Iranian-backed militias in Jordan, Iran is drawing a red line that it is ordering the West not to cross, or else.

Biden says he has already decided what Iran's punishment will be, but has not yet publicly disclosed what it is. This came after numerous meetings between Biden and military and national security advisers who presented him with a range of potential options that include:

 Striking Iranian assets in the Persian Gulf

 Targeting Iran-backed militias in Syria and Iraq

 Launching a cyberattack

 Launching strikes on Iranian territory to take out commanders and key military sites

It is that last option that Iran is promising not to let occur unpunished. If the U.S. crosses that red line, Iran says it will absolutely strike back on American assets throughout the Middle East.

(Related: To kill even more Palestinian civilians, Israeli soldiers dressed up in Palestinian disguises to raid and shoot up Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin, West Bank.)

Concerns about Biden triggering WWIII

The Biden regime claims it is doing everything possible to avoid escalating the situation any further, especially since this is an election year that Democrats are already going to have a difficult time winning.

"I don't think we need a wider war in the Middle East," Biden said at the White House. "That's not what I'm looking for."

When asked by reporters about concerns raised by his own regime about the risks of escalation with any retaliatory decision against Iran, Biden's only words were, "we'll see."

We know that whatever Biden plans to do, it will be incremental over time. In other words, there will more than likely be a series of retaliatory strikes rather than one big strike all at once.

"We will respond decisively to any aggression, and we will hold responsible the people who attacked our troops," said Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the plan. "That response could be multileveled, come in stages and be sustained over time."

Blinken did not clarify in his statement whether this response will occur within our outside of Iran proper, though he did delineate that "these are going to be very deliberate targets  deliberate strikes on facilities that enabled these attacks."

Since October 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, there have been more than 160 attacks launched by Iran-backed militias on U.S. targets in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan.

Known as the "Axis of Resistance," these Iranian militia groups say their goal is to stop the U.S. from continuing to support Israel's war on Gaza. And according to Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran's foreign minister, Tehran is winning a lot of people over to its way of thinking.

Amir-Abdollahian says the White House knows full well that "a political solution" is required to end the horrors occurring in the Gaza Strip, which are quickly spreading beyond the borders of Palestine and Israel into the greater Middle East.

"Diplomacy is moving forward on this path," he said, adding that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "is nearing the end of his criminal political cycle."

Iran seems to think that the most likely path the U.S. will take in response to the incident involving the three dead U.S. soldiers is to target Iran-backed militias in Syria, a response for which Tehran is now actively preparing.

Tensions in the Middle East continue to rise. Find out more at Prophecy.news.

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Defense.gov

NaturalNews.com
Israels war on Gaza turning Republicans into pro-censorship zealots

The tables have turned as Republicans, once opponents of censorship when it involved silencing right-wing viewpoints, complain about too much free speech as it pertains to public criticism of Israel's war on Gaza.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham stated at a recent hearing that "TikTok is being used to destroy the Jewish state. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said much the same to TikTok CEO Shou Chew, arguing that his platform is promoting "self-harm videos and anti-Israel propaganda."

Ted Cruz to TikTok CEO: "If you look at what is on TikTok in China, you are promoting to kids: Science and math videos, educational videos ... In the United States, you are promoting to kids: Self-harm videos and anti-Israel propaganda." pic.twitter.com/io3jYe6CKf  Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) January 31, 2024

Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton asked Chew if he has ever been a member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), to which Chew responded that he is Singaporean. Cotton asked Chew a second time the same question, to which Chew reiterated that he is from Singapore, not China.

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/5Wa72aJIr9  Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) January 31, 2024

(Related: Israel's war crimes continue to mount after IDF soldiers were caught dressing up as fake Palestinian medics in order to KILL civilian patients at Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin, West Bank.)

Supporting Israel is D.C.'s number-one priority

Graham, Cruz and Cotton are all notorious Republicans, albeit of the RINO (Republican in Name Only) variety, according to many. Still, they represent the face of modern-day conservatism, which is behaving unbelievably hypocritically now that Israel is the subject of free speech they do not like.

For years, these very same conservatives have been whining and complaining about how their own viewpoints are being censored across the Big Tech spectrum, calling for social media platforms like Facebook to be punished for silencing Americans' free speech. Their tone has completely shifted, though, now that some people are saying "mean" things about Israel.

During his spiel, Cruz presented a so-called "intelligence report" from the "Network Contagion Research Institute" claiming that TikTok is censoring other content critical of China while allowing content critical of Israel to remain. It turns out that the so-called Network Contagion Research Institute is funded by the "Israel on Campus Coalition" and the so-called "Combat Hate Foundation," the latter of which especially is something that Cruz would have criticized prior to October 7.

Naturally, the "Intelligence Report" whose calculations Cruz cited here is a methodological joke, produced by a Serious-sounding outfit called "Network Contagion Research Institute," funded by the "Israel on Campus Coalition" and "Combat Hate Foundation" https://t.co/gnwomrOczj  Michael Tracey (@mtracey) January 31, 2024

Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley also deserves a mention as he made an absolute fool of himself in trying to argue that Mark Zuckerberg, head of Facebook (Meta), is responsible for "killing" children with what he allows to be shared on the social media platform.

Josh Hawley just accused Mark Zuckerberg of being personally responsible for "killing" kids who purportedly committed suicide because of social media. Again, this isn't rational oversight of powerful corporations -- which could be productive -- it's blinkered emotional blackmail pic.twitter.com/KP75P6ghbU  Michael Tracey (@mtracey) January 31, 2024

These so-called conservatives could not care less about protecting the First Amendment. All they care about protecting is Israel, Americans' free speech rights be damned.

"These senators are complicit in the genocide of Gaza," one incensed commenter wrote.

"You need to pledge allegiance to Israel before having a contract with your own State," wrote another, referencing stories like this one that tell the ugly truth about American politics.

The latest news about the conservative effort to silence Israel's critics can be found at Fascism.news.

Sources for this article include:

InformationLiberation.com

NaturalNews.com
Jewish supremacist organization receives $105 million of United States taxpayer dollars to import large amounts of non-White immigrants

According to research from identitarian media company Red Ice, the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society received $105 million in United States taxpayer dollars alone.

(Article by Jose Nino republished from BigLeaguePolitics.com)

In a post that the Red Ice published on Telegram on January 23, 2024, they stated the following:

HIAS received $105 million of US tax payer money in 2023 alone. This is how they are funding the invasion that is turning European-American children into a minority in their own country.

HIAS is a Jewish American non-profit organization that offers humanitarian aid and assistance to refugees worldwide. The organization was first founded on November 27, 1881 with the original goal of helping resettle large numbers of Russian Jewish immigrants to the United States who had fled the Old Continent to escape anti-Semitic persecution and violence.

Since then, HIAS has broadened its mission to help out refugees of all ethnic, national, and religious backgrounds. HIAS has offices in Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and the US. From the time of its founding up until the present, HIAS has resettled over 4.5 million people worldwide.

HIAS is just one of many globalist NGOs that labors diligently to expedite the Great Replacement and the election of a new people. In a proper nationalist polity, such NGOs must have their power and influence greatly reduced. There very presence allows for the political class to continue to import millions of foreigners to the West and predominantly European polities on an annual basis.

Read more at: BigLeaguePolitics.com
TREASON: Rep. Ilhan Omars SOMALIA FIRST speech reveals how she has ABANDONED her constituents to prioritize interests of foreign nation

Representative Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat born in Somalia, sparked controversy after being recorded addressing a Somali audience.

In her speech, Omar emphasized a shared identity, stating that they are "people of the same blood" who prioritize being Somalians first and Muslims second. She expressed her role in protecting Somalia's interests within the U.S. system.

The context of Omar's speech stems from a growing tension within Somalia and the global Somali diaspora concerning an agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland.

Somaliland, an officially unrecognized but self-governing region in northern Somalia, has been a source of contention.

During her address, Omar highlighted the unity of the Somali people, asserting that Somalia should remain undivided and expressing solidarity with those opposing Somaliland's independence.

She went further to suggest that the Somali community in the U.S. could influence the country's stance on Somaliland and hinted at the possibility of addressing historical territorial claims, including regions in modern-day Kenya and Ethiopia.

Omar has faced criticism for her statements, with some interpreting them as supporting irredentist claims and challenging the sovereignty of neighboring nations. (Related: Ilhan Omar accused of being an asset for Qatar and accessing sensitive information for Iranian government.)

The representative has defended her remarks, claiming that outsiders' interpretations are "completely off" and reiterating her commitment to standing in "solidarity" with those opposed to Somaliland's independence.

The controversial statements elicited an angry response.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ignited a political firestorm by urging the expulsion of Omar from both Congress and the United States. "Expel from Congress, denaturalize and deport!" the DeSantis wrote on X next to a clip of Omar's remarks.

The controversy erupted after Omar delivered a speech in Somali to community leaders in Minneapolis, criticizing the Ethiopian government's plans for a sea access deal with Somaliland. According to a translated video shared by DeSantis, Omar suggested that the U.S. government should heed the orders of Somalis in the U.S. and prioritize Somalia's interests.

Omar: U.S. government must do what Somalians want and nothing else

Omar said that "the U.S. government will only do what Somalians in the U.S. tell them to do. They must do what we want and nothing else. They must follow our orders and that is how we will safeguard the interest of Somalia."

"The U.S. is a country where one of your daughters is in Congress to represent your interest," added Omar, referring to herself. "For as long as I am in the U.S. Congress, Somalia will never be in danger, its waters will not be stolen by Ethiopia or others. Sleep in comfort, knowing I am here to protect the interests of Somalia from inside the U.S. system."

Omar defended her remarks, claiming they were misinterpreted and accusing critics of engaging in propaganda. She emphasized the unity of Somalis in Somalia and the diaspora, asserting their right as taxpayers in the U.S. to influence the government.

Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, Omar became a U.S. citizen in 2000 and is the first Somali American in Congress.

The congresswoman's comments also targeted Ethiopia and Kenya, accusing them of stealing territory from Somalia and expressing a desire to liberate occupied territories.

Somaliland declared independence in 1991 but lacks recognition from any UN member state or international organization.

Omar's statements drew strong condemnation, with House Majority Whip Tom Emmer calling for her resignation, describing her comments as "appalling" and a violation of her oath of office. DeSantis joined the chorus of critics, prompting Omar to respond with a jab, accusing him of preparing for future failures.

As this controversy unfolds, Omar remains a polarizing figure, navigating criticism and defending her stance on Somali interests within the broader context of U.S. politics.

Watch Rep. Ilhan Omar telling her audience that Somalia calls the shots.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Rep. Ilhan Omar retweets false photo of Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces.

Ilhan Omar is the mastermind behind cash-for-ballots scheme, source says.

Ilhan Omar's daughter comes out as a communist after supporting riots, calling for insurrection.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

NYPost.com

Brighteon.com
U.S. aggressively pushing ESCALATION in its ongoing SHADOW WAR with Iran

For decades, a covert conflict has unfolded between the United States and Iran throughout the Middle East, guided by an unspoken rule: reciprocate any attack in equal or greater measure.

However, in the aftermath of a drone strike by Iranian-backed militias that claimed the lives of three American soldiers, the dynamics have shifted. Both Washington and Tehran seem reluctant to engage in direct military confrontation.

The recent drone strike targeted a Jordanian outpost near its borders with Iraq and Syria, marking the first attack by Iran-backed proxies causing U.S. fatalities since October. (Related: Iran denies involvement in deadly attack on U.S. military base in Jordan.)

This event has led to calls in Congress for the Biden administration to respond militarily against Tehran. Yet, for the Biden administration, striking Iran's paramilitary forces carries the risk of retaliation against American troops or bases in the Middle East.

This could escalate the conflict, drawing in other regional players and complicating the situation.

On the Iranian side, the calculus is equally intricate. Restraining the proxy forces it supports across Iraq, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon may undermine its claim to lead the "axis of resistance" against the U.S. and Israel.

However, confronting the more powerful U.S. directly could result in a significant military setback for Iran.

Both sides are carefully calibrating the use of force to influence the other's behavior without crossing critical red lines.

President Joe Biden has held Iran accountable for the drone attack, blaming Iranian-backed militias. Plans for multi-day strikes in Iraq and Syria, targeting Iranian personnel and facilities, have been approved.

The response is expected to be tiered, combining military actions with other measures to avoid further escalation.

The objective is to pressure Iran and its proxies to reduce attacks across the region while pursuing cease-fire talks between Hamas and Israel.

Iran has signaled restraint, denying responsibility for the attack and cautioning against reprisals on its territory or personnel.

The Biden administration's advance notice of its intentions may provide Iran with the opportunity to reposition personnel and equipment, potentially limiting the impact of U.S. strikes. However, it also serves as a diplomatic effort to manage tensions behind the scenes and prevent further escalation.

Retired U.S. Army General Joseph Votel emphasized the need for an unambiguous message to Iran, holding them responsible for militia actions.

Target selection, he said, should convey value to Iran without provoking a broader conflict.

While both sides may seek to avoid escalation, the complex regional dynamics and the influence of various proxy groups make it uncertain whether a wider conflict can be averted this time.

Preventing escalation a top U.S. priority

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has the potential to escalate further, involving actors from the wider region, such as the Lebanese group Hezbollah, Iran and the United States. Preventing this escalation is a top priority for Washington.

While Hamas is not directly controlled by Iran, it receives support from Tehran to exert pressure on Israel and the United States. This conflict is intertwined with the broader shadow war between Israel and Iran, along with the involvement of nonstate and quasi-state actors acting as Iranian proxies.

Washington aims to deter escalation and has deployed military forces, including two aircraft carrier strike groups, as a warning. However, the risk of intervention by Iran and its allies remains, potentially turning the conflict into a more extensive regional crisis.

The challenge for the U.S. is to prevent a Middle East meltdown, which would divert American resources needed elsewhere.

Despite the deterrent measures, the potential for escalation exists, with concerns that the longer a war in Gaza continues, the greater the temptation for Hezbollah to intervene.

Watch this video discussing how Iran may already have nuclear weapons.

This video is from the Paul Davis UnCancelled channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Iran claims missile strikes targeting Iraq and Syria destroyed Israeli spy base.

Iran just proved it can hit Israel with "Kheibar Shekan" ballistic missiles.

Iranian Foreign Minister warns U.S. "will not be spared" if the Israel-Hamas war escalates.

Sources include:

WSJ.com

JapanTimes.co.jp

Brighteon.com
Christian veteran who destroyed SATANIC display in Iowa Capitol charged with hate crime

A Christian military veteran who destroyed a satanic display at the Iowa State Capitol has been charged with a "hate crime."

According to an InfoWars report, Michael Cassidy beheaded the figure of satanic icon Baphomet and destroyed the altar it was resting on. He then threw the goat skull used in the display in a trash can. Cassidy, a retired Navy pilot turned flight instructor, then turned himself in to law enforcement officers present at the building.

But instead of celebrating Cassidy's brave act against evil, authorities punished him. "Instead of simply charging him with misdemeanor damage to property or vandalism, Polk County prosecutors charged the veteran with felony third-degree criminal mischief," the outlet wrote. "[Prosecutors argued] that the act was 'in violation of individual rights' under Iowa's hate crime statute."

Polk County Attorney's Office spokesman Lynn Hicks said: "Evidence shows the defendant made statements to law enforcement and the public indicating he destroyed the property because of the victim's religion." This, in turn, fell under the Hawkeye State's hate crime laws.

He also added that based on information from The Satanic Temple (TST), it would cost between $750 and $1,500 to replace or repair the statue. While its destruction fell under an aggravated misdemeanor, the state's hate crime statute elevated it to a felony. TST had installed the display in the state capitol with the support of both Democratic and Republican state lawmakers. (Related: Moral decline: Satanic symbols now appearing at government buildings all across America.)

In response, the Sentinel created a GiveSendGo page for Cassidy to fund his legal bills. From the campaign's original goal of $20,000, donors have given more than $100,000 as of writing. Davis Younts, an attorney and retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who served in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, will represent Cassidy in court.

Cassidy a "man of courage in a world of cowardice"

For his part, Cassidy had no regrets doing what he did. He reportedly stated that his reason for destroying TST's Baphomet display in the Iowa Capitol was to "awaken Christians to the anti-Christian acts promoted by our government."

"I saw this blasphemous statue and was outraged," he told the Sentinel. "My conscience is held captive to the Word of God, not to bureaucratic degree  and so I acted."

"The world may tell Christians to submissively accept the legitimization of Satan, but none of the Founders would have considered government sanction of satanic altars inside protected buildings as protected by the First Amendment. Anti-Christian values have steadily been mainstreamed more and more in recent decades, and Christians have largely acted like the proverbial frog in the boiling pot of water."

Cassidy also cited the first letter of St. John the Evangelist, which stated: "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil." He ultimately noted that "Scripture exhorts us to think and act like Jesus Christ."

According to him, displays of Baphomet and other satanic idols are not protected by the First Amendment. This is because they are not symbols of religion, but mockeries of it.

"Out of the millions of Christians in this nation, Cassidy was the first to act in bravery and conviction. He was not willing to see God reviled, especially in a building where lawmakers are supposed to honor Jesus Christ as King and look to His law for wisdom as they legislate with justice and righteousness," the GiveSendGo for Cassidy's legal funds said.

"Help this conservative Christian, a man of courage in an age of cowardice, defend himself in court."

Head over to Satanism.news for more stories like this.

Watch this video about TST mocking the Nativity by replacing Baby Jesus with Baphomet.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

THE SUMMONING: 72 nations PUBLICLY worship satanic idols in televised luciferian ritual while celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay creepily stalks frightened lambs.

Kansas High School approves establishment of "High School Satan Club" despite strong opposition from students and parents.

Satanists admit that legalized abortion is how they perform ritual child sacrifices at the Satanic Temple.

Demon worshipping BAAL ritual OBVIOUS at British Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

Dr. Scott Lively reveals the truth about the Satanic Temple and abortions  Brighteon.TV.

Sources include:

Modernity.news

InfoWars.com

GiveSendGo.com

RepublicSentinel.com

BibleGateway.com

Brighteon.com
Experts said that an earthquake that struck 350 million years ago had toppled trees, and this later preserved plant fossils in the southern portion of Canada.

They pointed out that these ancient trees could likely be examples of evolutionary experimentation.

Fossilized Tree Unearthed In Quarry

Geologists had discovered the first fossilized tree while excavating a quarry that was located in New Brunswick in 2017. Later on, more fossils of trees have been unearthed by scientists.

In the study, scientists explained that the evolution of arborescence in Devonian plants, followed by their architectural radiation in the Carboniferous, was a transition fundamental to Earth-system processes and ecological development.

However, this evolutionary transition in trees is based on preserved trunks, of which only a few known specimens possess crowns.

The scientists described Mississippian-aged (Tournaisian) trees with a unique three-dimensional crown morphology from New Brunswick, Canada. The trees were preserved by earthquake-induced, catastrophic burial of lake-margin vegetation.

They explained that the tree architecture was consists of an unbranched, 16-cm-diameter trunk with compound leaves arranged in spirals of 13 and compressed into 14 cm of vertical trunk length.

Further, compound leaves in the upper 0.75 m of the trunk measure >1.75 m in length and have been preserved alternately arranged secondary laterals beginning at 0.5 m from the trunk.

Read Also: Boreal Forests and Climate: 3 Trillion Trees in World

Leaf Bases

Scientists said that the area below the trunk bears only persistent leaf bases. The principal specimen lacks either apical or basal sections, although an apex is preserved in another.

They found out that apically, the leaves become less relaxed toward horizontal and are borne straight at an acute angle at the crown.

The compact leaf organization and leaf length created a crown volume of >20-30 m3. This growth strategy likely maximized light interception and reduced resource competition from groundcover.

''From their growth morphology, canopy size, and volume, we propose that these fossils represent the earliest evidence of arborescent subcanopy-tiering,'' the experts said.

Moreover, they said that although systematically unresolved, this specimen shows that Early Carboniferous vegetation was more complex than realized, signaling that it was a time of experimental, possibly transitional and varied, growth architectures.

Experts said that these plants assembled in systematically diverse communities, unlike today.

The growth architectures of several groups are well-established from adpressions, whereas other organization-and-growth habits are reconstructed solely from anatomically preserved, often small and fragmentary, permineralized specimens attributed to trees or shrubs and vines.

The study stressed that the discovery of three-dimensionally preserved Tournaisian trees provides evidence of subcanopy plant heights in the Early Mississippian and evidences a greater variation in both stem-and-leaf architectures earlier than realized.

The plant's exceptional and environmentally atypical preservation resulted from an uncommon set of geological circumstances where earthquake-induced slumping of marginal rift-lake soils transferred whole trees, leaf litters, and sediments to lake depths where they were buried, entombed, and preserved.

Plants greatly diversified during the Devonian period, or hundreds of millions years ago.

The fossils may be an example of an evolutionary experiment done by scientists.

Related Article: Forest Management Entails More Than Planting Trees
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels vowed Sunday that a wave of joint U.S.-British retaliatory airstrikes "will not pass without response and punishment" as the Israeli-Hamas war teetered on the brink of a far broader and more deadly regional conflict.

"These attacks will not deter us from our moral, religious and humanitarian stance in support of the steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip," Houthis spokesman Ameen Hayyan said in a statement.

U.S. and British forces struck 36 rebel targets in Yemen on Saturday, one day after targeting 85 sites linked to other Iran-backed militant groups in Syria and Iraq. The airstrikes Friday were in response to months of attacks on U.S. bases, including a drone strike on a U.S. base in Jordan near the Syrian border that killed three Americans.

The Houthis were targeted in response to scores of strikes on commercial ships in the Red Sea area since November. It was the third time that British and American forces have jointly targeted the Houthis, who say their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians in war-battered Gaza, which has been bombarded since the Oct. 7 Hamas assault on Israeli border communities.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the latest U.S.-British response was "intended to degrade Houthi capabilities used to continue their reckless and unlawful attacks."

US strikes Iran-backed groups: New sites in Yemen targeted

Developments:

 The Palestinian death toll has risen to 27,365, and the majority of the victims are women and children, the Ministry of Health in Gaza announced Sunday. More than 66,000 people were wounded and about 8,000 remain unaccounted for, the ministry said.

 Iran warned the U.S. not to target two cargo ships suspected of serving as an operating base for Iranian commandos. The Behshad and Saviz are registered as commercial ships with a Tehran-based company the U.S. Treasury has sanctioned for aiding Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard

 Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that at least two children were killed in an Israeli attack on kindergarten in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of using schools and other public spaces as cover and civilians as human shields.

Story continues

People shop at the old market in Sanaa on Feb. 4, 2024, a day after U.S. and British forces struck dozens of targets in Yemen.

Trump says he could stop deadly attacks on U.S. bases

The attack by Iran-backed militants on a U.S. base in Jordan that killed three American soldiers a week ago would not have happened if Donald Trump was president, the GOP presidential hopeful said Sunday.

"I had Iran in check," Trump said on Sunday Morning Futures. He related a story from his presidency when he said the U.S. "hit them very hard" for something Iran did. Iran was compelled to hit back, Trump said.

"They feel they have to do that and I understand that," Trump said. "They called me to tell me were going to hit a certain location, but were not gonna hit it, its gonna be outside of the perimeter. So they aimed those missiles and they said, please dont attack us, were not going to hit you. That was respect, we had respect.

Trump was apparently referring to the Iranian strike at an air base in Iraq housing U.S. troops. The January 2020 attack was in retaliation for the U.S. assassination of an Iranian general. The Pentagon, however, has said that multiple Iranian missiles hit the base that day. Scores of U.S. soldiers suffered traumatic brain injuries.

The lethal drone attack a week ago near the Syrian border was third attack in six months targeting the base known as Tower 22. The three U.S. deaths were the first from enemy fire in the region since the war began almost three months ago. Iran denied involvement in the attack, saying militants in the region do not take orders from Tehran

Israel raids outpost where Hamas trained for Oct. 7 attack

An Israeli raid in southern Gaza uncovered headquarters for the Khan Yunes Brigade that included the office of Mohammed Sinwar, the brother of Hamas political leader Yahya Sinwar, the Israeli military said in a statement. The Alqadsia outpost was used to train militants who carried out the stunning Oct. 7 attack on border Israeli communities, the statement said. The attackers killed more than 1,200 people and took about 240 hostages, more than 100 of whom remain captives in Gaza.

The outpost included models simulating the entrance gates of kibbutzim and other areas that were raided. Militants defending the outpost were "eliminated" by sniper fire, tank shell fire and air force strikes, the statement said.

Hamas considers framework for hostage deal, but sides appear far apart

Hamas leaders need more time to study the proposed framework for a cease-fire, but there is "no deal yet," a senior Hamas official said. Osama Hamdan said Hamas is reviewing the framework hammered out by Qatar, Egypt and the U.S. But Hamdan said his militant organization has not backed down from demands that include the Israeli military's withdrawal from Gaza, lifting of the blockade imposed on the enclave, rebuilding the war-battered cities and towns, providing humanitarian aid, a prisoner-for-hostage deal and a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Several of those demands have been repeatedly rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hamdan, at a briefing in Lebanon, credited Egypt and Qatar for attempting to broker a deal but blamed Israel's "obstinacy" for the apparent failure to reach an agreement.

"We value the efforts made by the brothers in Egypt and Qatar in order to reach a sustainable cease-fire agreement in Gaza," Hamdan said.

Israeli national security chief says Biden hampering Israeli war effort

The Biden administration is hindering Israels war effort and Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump would provide Tel Aviv the freedom to crush Hamas, Israel's national security minister says. Itamar Ben-Gvir, who leads a far-right political party crucial to Netanyahu's ruling coalition, has repeatedly chastised Netanyahu in recent weeks for being too willing to cut a deal with Hamas to free more than 100 hostages. Ben-Gvir also has sharp worlds for President Joe Biden, despite his firm support for Israel in the face of global discontent at the withering destruction and death fueled by Israel's invasion.

Instead of giving us his full backing, Biden is busy with giving humanitarian aid and fuel (to Gaza), which goes to Hamas, Ben-Gvir told the Wall Street Journal. If Trump was in power, the U.S. conduct would be completely different.

Iran condemns U.S.-British airstrikes

Iran also condemned the U.S.-British airstrikes  which took place with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand  as as breach of Yemens territorial integrity and of international law. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani urged the global community to hold the nations involved accountable.

The United States and Britains military adventurism marked by their military strikes on the regional countries is a follow-up to these two countries wrong approach and policy of resorting to militarism to advance their illegitimate objectives in the region," Kanaani said, adding that the strikes were "in stark contrast to Washington and London repeatedly claiming that they wouldnt like to see war and conflict spread in the region."

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel Hamas war updates: Houthi rebels vow revenge after airstrikes
Black eggs shrouded in mystery were found by scientists thousands of feet in an abyss of the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the researchers describing the cocoons as "flatworm egg capsules." This is according to a new study by biologists at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan. The mysterious oozing black spheres were located using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV).

The discovery of the black eggs almost 4 miles below the ocean's surface somehow re-confirms the evidence that shallow-water flatworms may have started to colonize deeper ocean habitats over time. Almost a decade ago, a similar finding was reported after marine scientists observed worms living in the deep sea, mainly at a high-temperature hydrothermal vent in the Pacific Ocean.

The new research paper sheds light to marine animals living in the depths of the world's oceans. It also visits previous evidence of conducive underwater environments, instead of the deep ocean being a lifeless marine habitat. Despite the breakthrough discovery, scientists are still uncertain how and why the flatworms moved from their shallow water habitat to the ocean's abyss.

Black Eggs in the Pacific Ocean

According to the study published in the journal Biology Letters on January 24, researchers in Japan confirmed the existence of black eggs or flatworm cocoons on underwater rocks collected at depths of approximately 6,000 meters on the abyssal slope of the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The egg capsules were spherical and around 3 millimeters in diameter.

Each flatworm egg contained three to seven individuals at the same developmental stage, which shows evidence that soft-bodied invertebrates can survive in such environments, just like other abyssal animals. The research paper shows the deepest record of "free-living flatworms" and data on their early life stages in the abyssal zone, which resembles their counterparts in shallow water.

The mentioned Pacific Ocean worms particularly involves flatworms belonging to the suborder Maricola under the order Tricladida, with the latter consisting of small turbellarian worms such as planarians; these include freshwater, marine, and terrestrial forms with hundreds of species. The January 2024 report highlights that the flatworms with black eggs are amongst the abyssal animals.

Also Read: Giant Squid Mom Spotted Carrying String of Eggs 4,500 Feet Below the Pacific Ocean Off the California Coast

Abyssal Zone

The Hokkaido University biologists acknowledged, in their study, that the life cycles of the majority of abyssal animals remains largely unknown. This uncertainty is despite their ability to how they have successfully colonized and adapted to the extreme environmental conditions of the abyssal zone, which is from 3,500 to 6,500 meters.

One of the struggles in marine research is the fact that collecting samples from abyssal animals or deep-sea animals to be further studies in the laboratory is exceedingly challenging, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). The mystery of these deepwater animals is also related to the reality that an estimated 30% to 60% of marine life has not yet been described by scientists, MBARI says.

Related Article: Golden Egg Found At the Bottom of the Pacific Ocean: What Does This Mysterious Orb Contain?
We couldn't have made Predator without him: Arnold Schwarzenegger remembers Carl Weathers

Washington DC, February 3

Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger paid heartfelt tribute to the late actor and his 'Predator' co-star Carl Weathers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C23GiR6S-0G/

In Predator, Schwarzenegger played a soldier named Dutch opposite Weathers as Dillon in a story about a team of commandos fighting for their life in a jungle when an alien warrior lands on Earth and begins to hunt them. The film launched a franchise with several sequels and spinoffs, most recently the 2022 film titled Prey, as per PEOPLE.

Apart from 'Predator', Weathers also appeared in the 'Rocky' franchise opposite Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone.

Weathers died on Thursday, his family announced in a statement.

"We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Carl Weathers," his family said in a statement. "He died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, February 1st, 2024. ... Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life. Through his contributions to film, television, the arts and sports, he has left an indelible mark and is recognized worldwide and across generations. He was a beloved brother, father, grandfather, partner and friend," as per Deadline.

(ANI - Posted on 04 February 2024)

We couldn't have made Predator without him: Arnold Schwarzenegger remembers Carl Weathers

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How have the courts ruled on the constitutionality of similar bans? What's the next gun-reform step Illinois should take? Will Illinois' neighbors ever take similar steps? Answering those questions and others: a panel that includes Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts, Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman, Brady: United Against Gun Violence president Kris Brown, former Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon and many others.
"As collections coordinator, I have the exciting task of taking care of the many historic and storied collections here at the Musuem of the Grand Prairie," Jessica Smith says.
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A large multicenter clinical trial co-led by University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers large multicenter clinical trial co-led by University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers found that an antiseptic containing iodine resulted in about one-quarter fewer post-surgical infections in patients with limb fractures compared to another frequently used skin antiseptic. The results of the study of nearly 8,500 patients across the United States and Canada were published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The study  which compared the two most commonly used alcohol-based solutions, one with iodine povacrylex, and the other with chlorhexidine gluconate  may prompt changes in the type of antiseptic orthopaedic surgeons use to prepare the skin to repair fractures. Researchers saw the benefit in patients with closed, or simple fractures, where the skin remains intact, but not in compound fractures with open wounds, although they noted that using the iodine preparation was not harmful to these open-fracture patients.

Our results suggest that the use of iodine povacrylex in alcohol as a preoperative skin antiseptic could prevent surgical-site infections in thousands of patients with closed fractures each year." Gerard Slobogean, MD, MPH, Co-Principal Investigator, Associate Professor of Orthopaedics and Director of Clinical Research, Department of Orthopaedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM)

He is also an orthopaedic trauma surgeon at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC).

Each year, more than a million Americans suffer a broken bone in the arm, leg, or pelvis that requires surgery, and about 3 percent of these patients develop a surgical-site infection. The source of bacteria could be the patient's skin, the injury environment, or from the hospital. Although some guidelines have favored using chlorhexidine gluconate over other iodine products, there has not been a consensus on the most effective agent.

Dr. Slobogean and his colleagues believe that the trial, which included 8,485 patients treated at 25 trauma centers, is the largest randomized clinical trial ever conducted to compare the two antiseptics, which allowed them to detect important differences in infection. They said that the findings may also be relevant to other surgical specialties.

More than 6,700 patients who had surgery to treat a closed lower extremity or pelvic fracture and 1,700 patients who had surgery to treat an open fracture participated in the study.

The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center and University of Maryland Capital Region Health's (UM Capital) trauma center in Largo, Md., were among more than two dozen trauma centers to enroll patients. UMMC and UM Capital are part of the 11-hospital University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS).

"The results of this well-designed study provide some long overdue clarity to orthopaedic trauma surgeons with respect to which commonly used antiseptic skin preparation is more effective when preparing for fracture surgery," said study co-author Todd Jaeblon, DO, an Associate Professor of Orthopaedics at UMSOM who treats patients at UM Capital.

Of the 3,205 closed-fracture patients who received 0.7% iodine povacrylex in 74% isopropyl alcohol, 77, or 2.4 percent, developed a surgical-site infection. That compares with 108, or 3.3 percent of the 3,272 patients who received 2% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% isopropyl alcohol. In patients with open fractures, the number of patients who developed infections was similar between the two antiseptics  54 patients, or 6.5 percent of 825 patients in the iodine group, and 60 patients, or 7.3% of the 826 patients in the chlorhexidine group.

"Extremity fractures and the challenging surgical-site infections that result from them pose a significant health care burden on our nation," said Mark T. Gladwin, MD, who is the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean, UMSOM, and Vice President for Medical Affairs, University of Maryland, Baltimore. "This pragmatic trial tested two widely used antiseptics, and its crossover design minimized selection bias. It also enrolled patients from 25 diverse hospitals in the U.S. and Canada, which improved the generalizability of the results; the strength of the study design could serve as a model for other researchers."

The PREPARE (Pragmatic Randomized Trial Evaluating Preoperative Alcohol Skin Solutions in Fractured Extremities) trial was jointly led by UMSOM and McMaster University of Hamilton, Ontario. It was funded with $11.2 million from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), with additional support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

"This trial represents a highly successful collaboration between McMaster University, the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and 25 trauma centers across Canada and the United States," said co-principal investigator Sheila Sprague, PhD, an Associate Professor and Research Director at McMaster University. "This multidisciplinary approach allowed us to quickly and efficiently address an important clinical research question that will lead to the prevention of thousands of infections each year. Importantly, our collaborations will continue to grow to address other unanswered questions in orthopaedic trauma surgery."

This is the second clinical study co-led by Dr. Slobogean and Dr. Sprague aimed at closing the gaps in the medical literature on the most effective infection-control techniques in orthopaedic surgery. In October 2022, they published the results of the Aqueous-PREP trial in The Lancet. They concluded that the choice of an aqueous antiseptic solution  either 10% povidone-iodine or 4% chlorhexidine gluconate  does not alter the risk of surgical-site infection for patients with an open fracture.

Both Aqueous-PREP and PREPARE follow a master protocol called PREP-IT (Program of Randomized Trials to Evaluate Preoperative Antiseptic Skin Solutions in Orthopaedic Trauma) to test infection prevention techniques in trials that will provide crucial evidence to help guide surgical practices.

This research was supported by the PREP-IT investigators, which includes a network of over 200 physicians, allied health care professionals, trauma patients, and clinical researchers.
In a recent modeling and meta-analysis study published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers evaluated if maternal immunization against pertussis, a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection, experienced reduced efficacy (blunting) due to prolonged use. They reviewed four studies with up to six years of follow-up and designed a novel mathematical model to evaluate immunizations short- and long-term effects on disease transmission dynamics. While incapable of ruling out minor reductions in vaccine effectiveness (VE), their findings highlight that maternal immunizations are (and will continue to be) essential in preventing pertussis transmission and, more importantly, saving the lives of unvaccinated newborns.

Study: Maternal pertussis immunization and the blunting of routine vaccine effectiveness: a meta-analysis and modeling study. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock

Pertussis and the results of global immunization efforts

Pertussis, colloquially called whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. Its symptoms included chronic or severe cough, general fatigue and fever, nausea, and difficulty breathing. It is characterized by its severe hacking cough from which the name whooping is obtained. Pertussis infections are most severe in children, especially newborns, and were a significant cause of childhood mortality before the 1940s.

Thankfully, pertussis is easily preventable via vaccines. Global large-scale immunization efforts in the 1940s reduced transmission rates by 90% in most countries. Unfortunately, for reasons hitherto unknown, pertussis has been staging a comeback over the past two decades. This has prompted a resurgence into pertussis-centric research aimed at evaluating the mechanisms underpinning rising transmission rates.

Infants, especially newborns, are the cohort most vulnerable to the disease, given their suboptimal immune development and lack of immunization. To counter this, numerous nations (since 2012) and the World Health Organization (since 2015) have recommended and initiated maternal immunization programs. Vaccinating women during the gestation period has been clinically revealed to transfer its protective effects to their unborn infants, resulting in an estimated 70% reduction in newborn mortality.

However, the downstream consequences of maternal immunization, when infants receive their routine pertussis vaccines, are poorly understood. Specifically, there has been long-standing concern regarding potential immunological blunting, i.e., the interference of maternally transferred antibodies with the infant immune response.

Understanding if current vaccination protocols are resulting in immunization blunting, and if so, to what extent, will allow for the revision of present immunization policies and may require an overhaul of the vaccines used or the process itself.

About the study

In the present study, researchers conducted a meta-analysis to investigate if prolonged (2012 to 2023) maternal immunization has reduced vaccine effectiveness (VE). The study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Data collection was initiated by collating relevant publications from three online databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) from database initiation till August 25, 2023. This search revealed 374 articles across databases, 146 of which were duplicate records. Of the 228 remaining publications, abstract screening revealed 69 potential articles, which full-text screening further narrowed down to the final sample set  four.

To be included in our review, studies had to provide an estimate of the relative risk (RR) of pertussis in infants having received at least one dose of their primary immunization from vaccinated vs. unvaccinated mothers. We selected only those studies that used laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of pertussis.

Each of the four included studies reported at least five pertussis relative risk estimates in comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated mothers. Study analyses were carried out using two steps  Firstly, to account for different metrics used in the included studies, standard relative risks were calculated and applied to each included metric. Secondly, the meta-analyses were carried out. The meta-regression used herein was corrected to account for population as a random intercept.

Finally, researchers devised a novel mathematical model based on the Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovery (SEIR) model, explicitly testing for VE accounting for immunization blunting. The model had two outcome measures  1. failure in take (if the primary vaccine failed), and 2. failure in duration (loss or reduction of vaccine protection). The model works in a hierarchical compartmentalization framework comprising three levels, each with their own paths.

Level 1: These three possible paths or compartments start from their mothers immunization status during pregnancy, followed by an infant immunization schedule that resembles that of the empirical studies. Level 2: newborns can be born in three possible compartments: from vaccinated mothers whose immunization succeeded, mothers whose immunization failed (i.e., who received the vaccine but whose infant remained unprotected), or unvaccinated mothers. Level 3: Each of the three compartments is followed by a compartment for successful primary infant immunization and a compartment for failed primary infant immunization, thereby becoming susceptible, or no immunization thereby also becoming susceptible.

Study findings

Exploring the historical landscape of VE in infant pertussis via the novel model revealed that infant (maternal) immunization substantially decreased disease incidence. However, consistent with global reports, this was followed by a gradual rebound in pertussis persistence. This is consistent with the previously described end-of-honeymoon effect and is expected in most diseases managed using imperfect yet highly efficient vaccines. These results validate model reliability.

Analyzing the sample dataset using this model revealed that the first vaccine dose in infants following maternal immunization is highly effective against pertussis contraction, but the second and third doses are much more uncertain, consistent with previous uncertainty regarding blunting effects. The model demonstrated the presence of a decade-long lag phase following the introduction of maternal immunization, during which time blunting effects are liable to be underestimated in trial studies.

Encouragingly, quantifying the blunting effects suggests that they are minor and pale compared to the infant mortality-saving that maternal immunization provides. These findings support the public health decisions of many countries (55 as of 2021) to continue maternal immunization efforts and recommend that other nations follow suit.

Conclusions

The present study conducted a meta-regression analysis of four epidemiological publications to investigate the potential blunting effect of decade-long maternal immunization efforts. They further devised and implemented a mathematical model to interpret pertussis relative risk while explicitly accounting for vaccine efficacy blunting.

Their findings reveal the presence of a transient decade-long lag phase following maternal immunization, characterized by the masking and underestimation of blunting effects, thereby explaining previous inconsistencies in the literature. More importantly, the study highlights that while moderate levels of VE loss via blunting do exist, they are far outweighed by the infant mortality savings that maternal vaccination provides.
On the very first day, two examinees were caught red-handed carrying mobile phones in the exam. They had also taken a photo of the question paper and circulated it on social media. The first incident happened at Vedarabad High School of Vaishnabnagar Police Station, Kaliachak-3 Block, Malda, and the second one at Raigram High School in Engrezbazar, Malda.

The examination center for the students of Nogharia High School, Englishbazar, Malda is Raigram High School, Englishbazar. It is alleged that a secondary examinee took a picture of the secondary Bengali question paper in the bathroom and circulated it on social media. The matter was caught through advanced technology. As soon as the incident came to light, Pankaj Tamang, Sub-Divisional Governor of Malda, reached the school for investigation. The examinees mobile phone was confiscated. As per the instructions of the board, the examination of the student was canceled after which the students guardian was called and he was released.

On the other hand, the exam candidates of Chamagram High School of Vaishnabnagar police station in Kaliachak-3 block of Malda were arranged to take the exam in Bedarabad High School of the same block. There too, an examinee was caught taking a picture of the question paper.

In another incident, a student was caught photocopying another admit card for the WBBSE secondary exam at Uttarpara Bhadrakali High School. According to school sources, the student of Uttarpara Amarendranath Vidyapeeth did not pass the 10th class test so his admit card was not issued. The student did not go to school regularly. But today he went to take the secondary examination.

On that day, when he went to the examination center with the admit card, it was seen that the roll number was written in ink on it. As a result, the matter came to the notice of the examiners while checking the admission. The school authorities informed the students school Amarendra Vidyapeeth.

The officials in charge of the board were also informed about the matter. They come to Bhadrakali school to talk to the student and check the admit card. The student was not allowed to appear for the examination.

Sushant Roy, acting headmaster of Amarendra Vidyapeeth, said that the student was irregular in school. The admit card is not original. Naturally, he was not supposed to take the exam, so he was not allowed to take the exam. Hooghly District School Inspector Mrinmoy Ghosh said that the student did not pass the test and was not allowed to enter the exam center.
The restraint, and some would say, the meek response to TMC boss Mamata Banerjees relentless attacks, some personal, on the Congress is making many wonder why the grand old party is not hitting back?

Till senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was in West Bengal, it made sense as it was clear that the party did not want trouble with the TMC with hopes that it will join them.

This is also the reason why when Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury called TMC leader Derek OBrien, he was asked to apologise. He was also asked to go slow on his attacks as much as possible while the yatra was in its Bengal leg.

The party, however, has baffled many in its cadre as to why and how long it will gulp down its pride. Not many are happy with Mamatas charge that the Congress will not win more than 40 seats, and that Rahul Gandhi is a seasonal player. This has upset the cadre, but there could be a plan.

There is no denying that this is a do-or-die battle for the opposition, even more so for the Congress. If the BJP returns to power, it is quite possible that the Congress stares at more exodus and near-extinction. This is why no one would want to upset the apple cart.

Heres an explanation. Just before the INDIA bloc was formally constituted, the plan and chatter was that every CM can be PM. And the plan was that every constituent party will look at performing its best on their turf. In Bengal, this is where this theory is put to test the most.

If the Congress-Left-TMC contest together, it could mean that anti-Mamata votes will go to the BJP. But, with three warring parties, it means that the anti-Mamata vote may go to the Left or the Congress alliance  this helps the TMC as well as the alliance, and not so much the BJP.

The BJP will most likely hold onto its strongholds like north Bengal and pockets like Srirampur in Hooghly district. So, is Mamata attacking the Congress-Left to ensure that they, and not the BJP, benefits? Because for Mamata, the bigger danger is the BJP as it has clearly emerged as the number 2 party in the state.

For the Congress, this silence helps as it will now want to fight on its own on a number of seats in Bengal, as many of its strategists feel that the Left vote share has gone up and this could work for the alliance.

But, while this could be a plausible strategy, it hurts the INDIA bloc as a whole. And, now with the yatra likely to enter UP at the end of February, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadavs comment that he has not been invited has sent shudders down the oppositions spine.

It certainly does not want a repeat of the Bengal scene, where Mamata, too, had accused the Congress of not inviting her party for the yatra. The Congress has often been accused of being a spoilsport and unlucky for any coalition attempts. It now wants to look gracious, be a sport, and yet hope to take advantage of the attacks it is facing from some of its potential allies. Is the Congress being penny wise, pound foolish?
Shock, grief and frustration hung heavy in the air Friday as staff from the L.E. Phillips-Libertas Treatment Center for substance abuse in Chippewa Falls said last goodbyes.

The medical facility is the first in what is expected to be a series of closures affecting up to 22 locations in western Wisconsin over the next few months, including HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, HSHS St. Josephs Hospital in Chippewa Falls and all Prevea Health locations in the Chippewa Valley.

Despite the hardship, hugs and laughter echoed through the halls of Libertas Treatment Center as staff gathered for the final time.

Workers gathered on the back lawn to say the serenity prayer together before a number of people spoke about their shared experiences and photographers took photos of the staff. Once that was done, staff took part in a Nerf gun fight in the empty halls of the center as they prepared to exit Libertas Treatment Center for good.

Pioneering treatment

L.E. Phillips-Libertas Treatment Center can trace its origins back to the accomplishments of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, pioneers in the treatment of alcoholism since the 1940s. Opened in 1977, the Libertas Treatment Center's programs were services of HSHS. It prided itself on supportive coordination of patient care and treatment of the physical, emotional and special aspects of the disease of addiction.

Former patient Mike Decker said he has been a member of the recovery community since 2007. He was an outpatient at Libertas when trying to get clean and sober. He then went on to participate in a vibrant recovery community at the center until its closing.

I was at the first Narcotics Anonymous meeting here, and I was at the last, he said. I attended more than 700 meetings here and probably spoke at 130 to 140 of them.

Decker said hes concerned about the centers closing. Hes worried about those in recovery who relapse and now dont have a location to get help.

It used to be when someone relapsed Id say, Well lets go over to L.E. Phillips. Now, what it means is there's nowhere for people to go as far as detox treatment facilities, he said. Thats a big deal for people on opiates or hard-core alcoholics. Hospitals aren't going to be equipped for them, especially now.

Safety net for patients

Substance abuse nurse Annie Ippel said her father, Paul Ippel, was a doctor at Libertas for many years, so working there was a family affair.

My dad is just a gentle, kind, loving, wonderful person who taught me all about how to be nice to people through everything even when it's hard. It's still important to be gentle and kind to people, she said.

Annie said her dad worked as a doctor there throughout her time in nursing school. Then she joined Libertas. She also said she had a sister who struggled with addiction.

And she was doing really well, but she ended up overdosing just before Christmas this year, she said. Through my sister I have seen people, you know, look down on her, not want to help her, be really short with her when she was trying to get better. And that was just super unfair. I thought that nobody deserves to feel like this, especially if they are trying to get better.

She said Libertas operated as a well-oiled machine. She and other staff regularly had nights where they would take more than 50 phone calls from people seeking information on detox and hope in their recovery journey.

People dont have this safety net anymore, she said. On average in our facility theres at least 12 people in active detox. And were medically treating them to get off whatever they are addicted to. The cool thing about our community is that we not only get them through active detox, but we have a full counseling staff. We always tell them, Youre not leaving here without a plan.

Statewide service region

Libertas served patients from all of Wisconsin.

The recovery community is really devastated. This saves lives, Annie said.

Substance abuse nurse David Peterson said he found out Monday his last shift would be Thursday night.

There was chatter through social media and then a shock. I thought I would probably work till the 22nd. And then I was told (Feb. 2), Peterson said. The last couple of weeks, its just so blurry. You just run around. How do you put your life back together? What do you do with this now?

Peterson worked at Libertas for eight years. He said its been a vital part of the recovery community since its start in 1977.

Employees 'devastated'

We use humor, but were covering our pain. Devastated. I am devastated. You know thats my family, said Peterson. Were family, and were family for life.

Annie said the center was incredible and the staff was awesome.

We had a really, really good thing going, Annie said.

Her message to those trying to get clean and sober is if youre really sick you have to go to the hospital. It is possible to get sober. But the resources are going to be extra limited right now.

She said those seeking help should start making phone calls.

You may have to make 106 calls, but do it. Go to meetings. Keep fighting for it. It is possible to recover, she said. It will be harder now, but it is possible.

Hope for future

Annie said though shes concerned about the closures of so many medical facilities, she always has hope. OakLeaf Medical Network recently announced it is working to acquire HSHS hospitals as it seeks to build an independent community hospital.

I am not hopeless. I am hopeful. I don't care who buys it, she said. I just want them to, No. 1, take BadgerCare and No. 2, youre probably not going to make trillions of dollars but it'll save you a lot in the long run as far as caring for stuff when it gets really bad. So I am totally hopeful.

Decker recalled a memory from where he spoke at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting in his hometown of Cadott.

A new member came up to me and said, What you said helped me stay clean and sober, and I broke down in tears, Decker said. That's happened a few times since, but that was the first time I heard that and just knowing something that I said, something I went through, helped that individual stay clean another day meant a lot. That person is still clean today.

Scenes from the last day at L.E. Phillips-Libertas Treatment Center for substance abuse
Gujarat Police probing a hate speech case on Sunday detained Islamic preacher Mufti Salman Azhari in Mumbai, an official said.

Mufti Salman is currently at Ghatkopar police station, the official said.

Hundreds of supporters of the Mufti gathered outside the police station demanding his immediate release, bringing traffic to a standstill in the area, the official said, adding that police have strengthened security.

Junagadh Police arrested two persons on Saturday after a video of an inflammatory speech allegedly delivered by the preacher went viral on social media, a police officer has said.

The speech was delivered at an event held on an open ground near the B division police station in Junagadh on the night of January 31, he said.

After the video went viral, a First Information Report was registered against Azhari and local organizers Mohammad Yousuf Malek and Azim Habib Odedara under Indian Penal Code sections 153B (promoting enmity between different religious groups) and 505 (2) (making statements conducive to public mischief).
Braving the cold, massive protest rallies surged in Ladakhs Leh district on Saturday as locals organised a complete shutdown, pressing for their demands, including the statehood of Ladakh.

Thousands took to the streets and called for the territorys inclusion in the sixth schedule of the Constitution for tribal status, job reservations for locals, and parliamentary seats for both Leh and Kargil. Videos circulating on social media showcased a huge crow, armed with placards, shouting slogans.

#WATCH | Leh, Ladakh: Thousands brave the freezing cold as they march demanding statehood for Ladakh and protections under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution for the Union Territory. (03.02) pic.twitter.com/gwsiGZBxXc ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2024

Four-point agenda

Ladakh was turned into a Union territory without a legislature following the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, and remains a focal point since Jammu and Kashmirs bifurcation into two Union territories on August 5, 2019. The shutdown was organised by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), who submitted a memorandum to the Union Home Ministry on January 23, urging statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh.

Ever since Ladakh has become a UT, Apex body and KDA have had a demand on the four-point agenda. All our powers which were people-centric have weakened. When we were a part of J&K, we had 4 members in the assembly and 2 in the legislative council. Now we have no representation in the assembly. This has always been our demand that the people of Ladakh should have representation in the assembly and that we should get statehood, Haji Ghulam Mustafa, legal adviser of Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance, told ANI.

#WATCH | Ladakh: Legal Adviser of Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance Haji Ghulam Mustafa says, Ever since Ladakh has become a UT, Apex body and KDA have had a demand on the four-point agenda. All our powers which were people-centric have weakened. When we were a part pic.twitter.com/op0x6Oablo ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2024

Representatives also submitted a draft bill, proposing amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act of 2019 to grant statehood to Ladakh, India Today reported, citing sources. A high-level committee, led by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, has been engaging with representatives from Leh and Kargil to address their concerns. The Supreme Courts recent judgment restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir prompted the memorandum, highlighting the disparity as Ladakh remains a Union territory.

Citing precedents in states like Mizoram, Tripura, Sikkim, and other northeastern states, the memorandum argued that Ladakh should be protected under the Sixth Schedule and Article 371 of the Constitution. The reason is, that Ladakh is a strategically very important place. This is a tribal majority area and has all the features north-eastern states have Along lines of the northeastern states, it is our demand that the provisions of the 6th schedule be implemented in Ladakh to protect its culture, Mustafa told ANI.

Additional demands include the establishment of a Ladakh Public Service Commission to address limited opportunities for gazetted posts for Ladakhi students. The memorandum also presented a draft bill amending the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019, proposing provisions for two MPsone each from Leh and Kargiland expressing hope for a Rajya Sabha seat.
The first phase of the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Mumbai coastal road project is scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 19, following which it will be opened for public from February 20.

This phase of the Mumbai coastal road project will also include the twin tunnels under Malabar Hill.

What is the Mumbai Coastal Road Project?

The first phase of the project will connect Worli and Marine Drive and will be the south-bound stretch.

Speaking to The Times of India, BMC Commissioner I S Chahal said that the entire project of the road connecting Marine Drive and Bandra-Worli Sea Link will be open for the public by May 15.

The 10.58-km coastal road that connects south Mumbai to Worli has 8 lanes on the surface, and in the tunnel, it has 6. There will be a dedicated lane for buses. The two tunnels of this coastal road, each measuring 2.072 kilometres in length with an internal diameter of 11 metres, are being constructed between Priyadarshini Park and Girgaon Chowpatty. The project also includes a 4.35 km road on reclamation and 2.19 km of bridges. The excavation of the southbound tunnel commenced in January 2021 and concluded in January 2022. Subsequently, the boring of the northbound tunnel began in April 2022 and ended in May 2023. The tunnels are fortified with a 375-mm-thick concrete cover, featuring fire protection boards.

Estimated to cost approximately Rs 12,700 crore, after completion this his will be Indias first undersea road tunnel.

Started in 2018, this project has been also regarded as one of the most expensive projects of the BMC.

How will the Project Help Mumbai Traffic?

The main aim of the coastal road project is to ease the traffic of south Mumbai during the morning and evening peak hours. Thus, it has been designed to make connectivity better between the southern and northern parts of the city.

Authorities expect that with this mega project, Mumbaikars will certainly save at least 70 per cent of their commute time and it will also help lower fuel consumption by 30-34 per cent. Currently, due to traffic congestion during morning and evening peak hours, it takes 30-40 minutes to travel between Worli and Marine Drive. But authorities are confident that with the help of the coastal road project, the travel time will significantly be reduced to 10-12 minutes.

With an eye on safety, the speed limit on the coastal road has been kept at 80 kmph. The BMC is confident that a reduction in traffic will help reduce noise and air pollution, which will further contribute to improving the air quality in the city. The civic body also expects a significant reduction in carbon footprint because of the project.
An 11-year-old girl was choked to death in a village in UPs Firozabad district on Saturday, according to police reports.

According to an official statement, the minor girls death is believed to have been caused by her female neighbour. The victim, Tulsi, was strangled during a confrontation with the neighbor in Raipura village.

Superintendent of Police (City) Sarvesh Kumar Mishra said that Tulsi fought with Ruby, the wife of one Manish, who lives in the neighbourhood, over some issue.

During the fight, Ruby grabbed Tulsi by her neck so hard that she became unconscious.

Her family members and police rushed the girl to the district hospital, where the doctors declared her dead. Mishra said Ruby has been booked and taken into custody.

The girls body has been sent for post-mortem.
In a joint operation with the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) arrested Satendra Siwal, who was employed as a Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on accusations of working for Pakistani intelligence agency ISI, the agency said on Sunday.

Satendra is accused of giving important classified information about the Indian Embassy, Defense Ministry, External Affairs Ministry and Indian military establishments to the ISI handlers.

Satendra Siwal working as MTS (Multi-Tasking, Staff) at the Ministry of External Affairs, has been arrested by UP ATS. He is accused of working for ISI. Satendra was posted at the Indian Embassy in Moscow. He is originally a resident of Hapur, UP ATS said in a statement.

Satendra Siwal, son of Jaiveer Singh, a resident of Shahmahiuddinpur village in the police station area of Hapur district, was arrested from Meerut.

Sources said the MEA is aware of the arrest and continues to work with the investigative authorities on the matter.

According to reports, Satendra confessed to working for the ISI during questioning by the Meerut unit of ATS. Two mobile phones and several identification documents were recovered from the accused.

The ATS received intelligence inputs from various confidential sources that ISI handlers, with the help of some people, were luring MEA employees with money to obtain strategically important information related to the Indian Army, which is likely to pose a huge threat to the internal and external security of India, a statement by the agency said.

In its probe through electronic and physical surveillance, the ATS found that Satendra was involved in anti-India activities with the network of the ISI handlers and provided them with important confidential information regarding the strategic activities of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian military establishments in exchange for money, the statement added.

Upon being questioned by the Meerut unit of ATS, the accused could not give satisfactory answers and confessed to his crime during the interrogation.

According to top Intelligence sources, Satendra sent almost 10-12 sensitive documents to ISI handlers. He is also accused of sharing details of crucial meetings and deals from Moscow.

An FIR has been registered against Satendra, who has been working as the IBSA (India-Based Security Assistant) in the Indian Embassy in Moscow, Russia, since 2021, at ATS police station, Lucknow, under Section 121A of the IPC (waging war against the country) and official secrets Act 1923, the statement noted.

He will be produced before a court soon. Teams of ATS and IB will question the accused in a joint interrogation.

According to sources, more names of his handlers are expected to be revealed in the interrogation who are possibly Indians.
Former foreign secretary Shyam Saran said the US, which persuaded India on the formation of the Quad alliance, had wanted the then prime minister Manmohan Singh to ask his Japanese counterpart to not encourage the diplomatic alliance focussed on the Indo-Pacific region.

Speaking here at the 17th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) on Saturday, Saran said the US explained its position on the Quad saying it needed to have China on its side on the issue of Iran and North Koreas nuclear programmes and had argued that neither the Chinese nor the Russians were very happy with the Quad.

The Quad, a diplomatic partnership between four countries Australia, India, Japan, and the United States went into cold storage after protests from China. It was reinstated in 2017, after a gap of 10 years, in the face of Chinas growing assertiveness in world affairs.

What happened was before our PM Dr Manmohan Singhs visit to Tokyo for an official visit, I was contacted by our American friends and we were told, Please tell your PM not to encourage Abe (the then Japanese PM) on the Quad. He would like to push this forward. This is not the time we should be doing this, Saran said.

Saran, who was the foreign secretary between 2004 and 2006, made the remarks during a session titled Heart of the Matter: Quad and the new Indo-Pacific Vision at the JLF on Saturday.

Surprised by the US stance, Saran said he asked two things to the US official: Japan is your ally, why dont you talk to them yourself? and You are the ones who persuaded us that this was a great platform to be on, why are you now trying to step back.

Saran said the US official replied: We need the Chinese today because we have the Iran nuclear issue before the UNSC. We also have the North Korea six-party talks that we are trying to revive It is not that we are stepping back but for the time being let us wait. To which Saran said he replied, It was your (US) initiative. You dont think it is convenient at this point of time, so be it.

The origins of the Quad lie in the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, when the four countries formed the Tsunami Core Group to coordinate the emergency response and humanitarian assistance. In subsequent years, there were efforts to institutionalise it into the Quad alliance, which was led by late Shinzo Abe during his first term as prime minister of Japan from 2006 to 2007.

The US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, who was among the panellists discussing the topic, did not directly respond to Sarans remarks but said the present and the history we are writing is more important to him than past events.

My president whose first engagement of all the countries, of all the institutions bilateral, trilateral, quadrilateral he engaged in was the Quad in Washington D.C. where he hosted the three national leaders (from India, Japan, Australia). And that was a very powerful turn for us. So history is interesting to me but not that interesting to me the history we are writing is not only fascinating, it is deep, he added.

Saran said he had no doubt that China was the cement which holds the Quad alliance together, and added that Beijing, which first called the Quad some fluff on the ocean wave, wont call it the same anymore as the group today has acquired substance.

Maybe it is not against China, but it has certainly been made more crystallised as a result of a common sense amongst all our partners that the balance of power in the  what we call the Indo-Pacific  has been changing against us. And therefore if we do not work together this balance is going to get worse, the 78-year-old career diplomat said.
London, the capital of the United Kingdom, was officially named the slowest city to navigate through in 2023, according to a report by Amsterdam-based location specialist. During rush hour, the average driving speed in London was a mere 14 kmph.

TomTom (TOM2), the Netherlands-based geolocation technology company last month unveiled its latest report which offered insights into traffic trends across 387 cities in 55 countries throughout 2023. The traffic index is based on data from over 600 million in-car navigation systems and smartphones. For each city (both the city center and the wider metropolitan area), TomTom calculates the average travel time per kilometer from the time it took to cover the millions of kilometers driven across the entire network in the year 2023.

Two Indian cities in the top 10

TomToms analysis involved calculating the average travel time per kilometer for each city based on the extensive data gathered from millions of kilometers covered across their road networks in 2023. Joining the ranks of cities with the worst traffic, two Indian cities, Bengaluru and Pune, also featured prominently in TomToms findings. Bengaluru secured the sixth spot on the list, with an average travel time of 28 minutes and 10 seconds for every 10 kilometers.

Meanwhile, Pune claimed the seventh position, with a recorded travel time of 27 minutes and 50 seconds for the same distance. The report highlighted that September 27 was the worst day for travel in Bengaluru, with an average travel time of 32 minutes for a 10-kilometer journey. Pune faced its peak congestion on September 8, requiring approximately 34 minutes to cover the same distance.

Decline in average speeds

The trend over 2023 confirms the general decline in average speeds in most cities: of the 387 cities analysed in the traffic index, 82 saw their average speed remain unchanged, and 77 had a higher average speed (and therefore shorter journey times) than the previous year. In the remaining 228 cities, average speeds decreased. In London and Dublin, the two cities with the lowest average speed, travel times for a 6-mile journey increased by +1 minute compared to 2022  only 7 cities in the world have reached a 1 minute or higher raise in average travel time for a 6-mile trip.

Cost of petrol and fuel consumption

The increase in both the cost of petrol and fuel consumption, due to longer journey times, has a clear impact on the budget of motorists who have to use their car every day to get to work. In more than 60% of 351 cities where TomTom aggregates fuel prices, the average budget in fuel increased by 15% or more between 2021 and 2023. This increase in consumption naturally has a direct impact on average CO2 emissions per vehicle.

With more than half of the worlds population living in urban areas, traffic congestion and its economic, ecological and health consequences have become a problem that needs to be urgently addressed, said Ralf-Peter Schafer, Vice President of Traffic at TomTom. Planning the future of urban areas is essential to ongoing traffic management. Large urban areas are harnessing Big Data to plan infrastructure and development that will alleviate traffic congestion.
A charge sheet has been filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against a self-styled investigator for citing that she forged letters from high dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh n a YouTube video, in order to support her claims regarding the death of actor Sridevi.

Last year, the CBI registered a case against Deepti R Pinniti, based in Bhubaneswar, and her lawyer Bharath Suresh Kamath following a complaint from Mumbai-based lawyer Chandni Shah, which was referred to the agency by the Prime Ministers Office.

The Mumbai-based lawyer had alleged that Pinniti had produced several documents which appeared to be forged. This included letters from the prime minister and the defence minister, along with documents related to the Supreme Court and records from the UAE government.

The accused woman from Bhubaneswar has been an active participant in social media discussions on the death of Bollywood actors such as Sridevi and Sushant Singh Rajput.

In response to a PTI query, Pinniti expressed disbelief, stating, Its kind of hard to believe that the CBI has filed a charge sheet against me without recording my statement Moreover, the evidence will be given to court when charges are framed. When the letters in question are incriminating against the very authorities under whom the CBI comes, CBI becomes a party of conflict to be the entity to collect evidence, she said.

Sridevi died in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in February 2018.

With regard to Sridevis death, she made sensational claims, including a coverup between the two governments in one interview, based on her investigations.

After filing an FIR against her last year, the CBI had conducted searches at her residence in Bhubaneswar on December 2, seizing digital devices, including phones and laptops.

According to the CBIs report submitted to a special court, the investigation revealed that the documents presented by her during YouTube discussions, pertaining to the prime minister and the defence minister, were forged. The agency has filed a charge sheet against her and Kamath under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 465, 469, and 471.

The suspect Deepti Rani Pinniti has time and again maligned the image of the present government by bizarrely accusing the government as the sponsor of the death of Sridevi, Mumbai-based lawyer Shah had alleged in her complaint.

(with PTI inputs)
Poonam Pandey has been getting a lot of backlash for faking her death, in a bid to spread awareness for cervical cancer. The actress and social media sensation had taken the country by storm, a couple of days ago, when her team announced her death. Amid this, Schbang, the company behind Poonam Pandays gimmick has issued a public apology, however claiming that the stunt resulted in a surge in dialogue around cervical cancer.

The official handle of Schbang shared the apology post on LinkedIn. It read, Yes, we were involved in the initiative for Poonam Pandey to spread awareness about Cervical Cancer in collaboration with Hauterfly. To start off, we would like to extend a heartfelt apology  especially towards those who have been triggered as a result of having faced/ having a loved one face the hardships of any kind of Cancer."

The post indicated that the controversial move was in lieu of the mission to spread awareness about Cervical cancer, Our actions were driven by a singular mission  to elevate awareness about Cervical Cancer. In 2022, India registered 123,907 Cervical Cancer cases and 77,348 deaths. After Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer is the second-most frequent malignancy affecting middle aged women in India," the post read further.

The company also shared that Poonam Pandeys mother had battled cancer and hence, she knows the emphasis of this disease. The apology post stated, Many of you may be unaware but Poonams own mother has bravely battled Cancer. Having been through the challenges of battling a disease like this at such close personal quarters, she understands the importance of prevention and the criticality of awareness, especially when a vaccine is available. There was no change in peoples curiosity regarding Cervical Cancer when our Honourable Finance Minister mentioned it no less than a few days ago during the Union Budget. This act by Poonam has now resulted in making Cervical Cancer and its related terms the most searched topic(s) on Google. This is the first time in the history of this country that the word Cervical Cancer has been on 1000+ Headlines."

Nevertheless we are deeply apologetic to those who may have been hurt due to this initiative. We understand that our methods may have sparked debate about the approach. While we regret any distress caused, if the move results in spreading much needed awareness and preventing deaths, that would be its real impact.

We want to clarify that this is a pro-bono activity and not commercially linked to any client. This is a Cancer for which 93% of cases are preventable according to the USCDC via a vaccine and everything we do is in service of this being prevented. We hope that the start of this conversation serves as a catalyst for raising life saving awareness about not only Cervical Cancer, but all preventable diseases," concluded the apology statment.

For the unversed, Poonam Pandeys death news was announced in a post shared on her official Instagram handle on Friday, February 2. This morning is a tough one for us. Deeply saddened to inform you that we have lost our beloved Poonam to cervical cancer. Every living form that ever came in contact with her was met with pure love and kindness. In this time of grief, we would request for privacy while we remember her fondly for all that we shared," the post read.

However, on Saturday afternoon, the actress came out in a video statement and revealed that she is alive. She argued that the motive of her death news was to create awareness regarding cervical cancer. It did not go down well with everyone and several celebrities including Kangana Ranaut and Karan Kundrra among others lashed out at the actress.
Don 3 is undoubtedly one of the most awaited movies. Everyone is eagerly waiting to see Ranveer Singhs performance in the film as he replaces Shah Rukh Khan. Amid all this, it has now been revealed that the actor will begin shooting for Farhan Akhtar directorial in August this year. Reportedly, the pre-production work of the film will begin in March which will ensure surprises for fans in the upcoming Don movie.

The film is currently in the casting stage. Its 100% true that the pre-production of Don 3 will commence next month. The team will then start shooting the film from August this year. There were surprising twists in the first two Don movies. Similarly, it is said that Don 3 too will have some surprises in store for the audience, a source cited by Bollywood Hungama claimed.

Last year, Farhan Akhtar shocked everyone after he dropped a teaser of Don 3 confirming that Ranveer Singh is playing the new Don. The teaser opened in an apartment against a breathtaking skyline of a city, with Ranveer Singhs voiceover going, Sher jo so raha hain woh jagega kab, puchte hai yeh sab. Unse keh do phir jaag utha hoon main, aur phir samne jald aane ko

Later in an interview with BBC Asian Network, Farhan broke his silence on the backlash he received for replacing SRK in Don 3. Im just really looking forward to get it going. I mean Ranveer is amazing. Hes great for the part. Hes also as you can imagine, really excited and really nervous, about the thing youre filling some big shoes before you. But we went through the same emotional process when Shah Rukh did it and everyone was like Oh my God, how can you replace Mr. Bachchan?. That whole thing happened then, he said.

Meanwhile, Kiara Advani is also likely to replace Priyanka Chopra in Don 3 but there is no official announcement regarding this as of now.

Don 3 will hit theatres in 2025.
PHILADELPHIA  Of the nearly 3,500 people exonerated of serious crimes in the U.S. since 1989, more than half had their cases marred by alleged misconduct by police or prosecutors, according to a national database.

But experts say its rare for anyone to be held accountable for the harm  for the coerced confessions, hidden evidence, false testimony and other dubious work that contributes to flawed convictions.

The pending perjury trial of three retired Philadelphia police detectives could prove an exception, if they themselves are not cleared by alleged mistakes by District Attorney Larry Krasners office. Former detectives Martin Devlin, Manuel Santiago and Frank Jastrzembski have asked a judge to dismiss the case. The judge plans to rule by April.

An unusual confluence of factors allowed Krasner to charge the three in the case of exoneree Anthony Wright, who in 1993 was convicted of the 1991 rape and murder of an elderly widow. The detectives had testified at his retrial in 2016, reopening a five-year window to file perjury charges.

Wright, who left school in seventh grade, was arrested at age 20. He spent two decades in prison before DNA testing seemingly cleared him of the crime. Nonetheless, Krasners predecessor chose to retry him, and called the detectives out of retirement.

Besides the DNA, the other key piece of evidence in the retrial was Wrights confession. His lawyers argued that it was coerced. The detectives denied it.

In a dramatic courtroom showdown, lawyer Sam Silver, representing Wright, asked Devlin to write down the nine-page confession in real time, as Devlin said he had done word for word in 1991. The once-famed detective  who helped nab a New Jersey rabbi in his wifes murder-for-hire  jotted down only six words before giving up.

Wright told jurors that police had made him sign the confession without reading it. They deliberated just a few minutes before acquitting him, and the forewoman hugged Wright before sending him home.

That trial testimony was still fair game when Krasner, a civil rights lawyer focused on criminal justice reform, took office in 2018. He has championed 40 exonerations to date, and pursued a small number of police perjury cases, often over active investigations.

He charged the Wright detectives in 2021, days before the five-year deadline expired.

Santiago and Devlin are accused of lying about the confession. Santiago and Jastrzembski are accused of lying when they testified they didnt know about the DNA problem. Jastrzembski is accused of lying about finding the victims clothes in Wrights bedroom. They are all now in their mid- to late 70s and maintain their innocence.

Experts in the exoneration community can cite just a handful of similar efforts to charge police or prosecutors in their cases. Meanwhile, public agencies across the country have paid out $4 billion to compensate people for the nine years, on average, they wrongly spent in prison, according to the National Registry of Exonerations.

Were willing to accept remediation of the harm, but were not prepared to accept accountability of the culpable, said Alan J. Tauber, a Philadelphia defense lawyer who has helped free three men from prison after wrongful convictions.

Theres also a high legal bar for proving perjury. Marissa Bluestine, the former director of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, said testimony needs to be intentionally deceitful, not just mistakenly so, to convict someone of perjury.

Its an incredibly hard burden to meet, said Bluestine, now assistant director of the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice at the University of Pennsylvania.

Last year, a mistake by prosecutors sank a police perjury case in Manhattan, when a judge halted the trial over their failure to turn over evidence to the defense. And an FBI racketeering case against Philadelphias narcotics unit, which alleged members routinely robbed drug dealers and lied about it, ended with a 2015 jury acquittal. The only officer sent to prison had testified against his colleagues.

Wright, 53, settled a lawsuit against the city for nearly $10 million. He spent 25 years in prison.

That case was remarkable. There was a DNA exclusion, and they said they were going to try it anyway, said Maurice Possley, a senior researcher at the exonerations registry.

The groups data show the disproportionate harm that botched prosecutions cause Black defendants like Wright. Black people make up 13.6% of the U.S. population but 54% of the 3,433 exonerations studied. (The total is now 3,464.) And they lose more years of their lives  10.1 years vs. 7.7 years for white people and 8.3 years for Hispanic people  before being cleared.

The detectives trial was set to start in January, but is on hold while a judge reviews defense objections to grand jury testimony that suggested Devlin had a history of coercing confessions and that a jury in another case had found him evil. Common Pleas Judge Lucretia Clemons agreed the jury note was inflammatory, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Its unclear if thats enough to taint the case.

Defense lawyer Brian McMonagle accused Krasners office of trying to smear the detectives reputations. He declined to comment on their behalf outside the courtroom.

Wright has been outspoken since leaving prison, but declined an interview while the case is in limbo. However, he once told the Inquirer that it would mean everything to me if those guys individually can be held accountable for what they did to me.

As part of Wrights lawsuit, the detectives had to give videotaped depositions. At one point, his lawyers ask Santiago which is worse: to put an innocent man in prison or let a guilty man go free. The retired sleuth said each would be a terrible thing, but settled on the latter.

When the guilty man walks away, only those responsible for his walking away  have to live with it. So yeah, its worse, Santiago said.

Tauber, who served as the citys top public defender, said the statement shows the values that our system is founded on have been turned on their head.

And not only turned on their head, but adopted and internalized by the people largely responsible for investigating and administering justice.
Aamir Khans daughter Ira Khan is enjoying the exciting new phase of her life with her husband, Nupur Shikhare. The couple officially registered their marriage on January 3 and celebrated their union with a lively destination ceremony in Udaipur. A star-studded reception hosted by Aamir Khan in Mumbai followed the grand event. After wrapping up the festivities, the couple jetted off to Indonesia for their honeymoon.

Now, Ira took to her social media handle to share a bundle of happy moments with Nupur. Sharing the photos, she wrote, How was your honeymoon? I love you @nupur_popeye, One month, 4 years, underwater, at 3am, upside down, in a squat, anti-climatic, highly-climatic doesnt matter. As long as its with you.

Have a look at the photos:

Previously while jetting off to Bali, Ira Khan shared a heartwarming moment on her Instagram Stories and expressed her joy as she and her husband, Nupur Shikhare, navigated the immigration line together. Her caption read, We go through the immigration line together now. She also provided a sneak peek of their journey during the flight.

Ira Khan and Nupur Shikares wedding was truly a dreamy affair. Earlier, Ira provided a glimpse into their magical wedding by sharing a teaser on her Instagram. The video beautifully captures poignant moments, from Aamir Khan getting emotional to Ira delivering her heartfelt vows. In her caption, Ira said, This is only a teaser but neither Ethereal nor us could wait. We wanted to celebrate in the mountains, with the people we love. And we did. It was stunning when we were there but we didnt realised we were getting married in Rivendell. Nupur, now we have to watch the third Lord of the Rings) It is difficult to put all the love and feelings of that day into words. Thankfully, we have this video instead.

Ira Khan and Nupur Shikhare got engaged in 2023. Notably, Nupur Shikhare is a renowned professional trainer known for his expertise. He has collaborated with celebrities, including Aamir Khan, Sushmita Sen, and others.
Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoors baby girl, Raha, was recently captured at the airport. The little munchkin was cradled by her father with all the love and affection. Ranbir stepped out of his car and headed to the gates, while mommy Alia Bhatt accompanied them. The family was spotted at a private airport in Mumbai, while the shutterbugs captured them.

Have a look at the video:

Back in 2023, during the annual Kapoor Christmas lunch, Ranbir and Alia surprised fans by giving them the first look at Raha. The actors, who welcomed their daughter in November 2022, introduced their daughter to the media and shutterbugs. The blue-eyed Kapoor daughter joined her parents at the annual Christmas lunch, wearing the perfect Christmas dress.

In videos shared by the paparazzi, Raha was seen wearing a pink and white dress with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer work on her dress. She was also seen wearing a pair of red shoes. Raha was welcomed with a loud cheer. However, Ranbir calmed the paparazzi down in an attempt to not scare her.

Ranbir and Alia had decided to wait a while before they introduced Raha to the world. Explaining her reason at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit earlier this year, Alia said, I dont want it to seem like I am hiding my daughter. I am proud of her. If the cameras were not rolling right now, I would put a giant image of her on the screen. I love her. I am proud of our baby. But we are new parents. We dont know how we feel about her face splashed out all over the internet; shes barely a year old.

Although they chose to keep her away from the limelight, Ranbir has often spoken about her. In the past, the actor said he doesnt shy away from showing pictures of Raha to people he meets frequently. Ranbir also recently revealed that he has his daughter Rahas name inked on his collar bone.
Shahid Kapoor is currently gearing up for his next romantic drama Teri Bataon Mein Uljha Jiya with Kriti Sanon. Fans are already eager to watch the fresh pair on screen. Amid this, a report has come up that the actor is in talks with OMG 2 director Amit Rai for his next film titled Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Pinkvilla in its exclusive reports has mentioned that Shahid has been approached for the role.

Pinkvilla quoted a close source, Shahid is in advanced talks with OMG 2 director, Amit Rai for a historic based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The film will be produced by Vipul D Shah, Ashwin Varde and Rajesh Bahl of Wakaoo Films. Shivaji is Amits passion project, and when he pitched the idea to Ashwin, he was blown away by its vision and writing. The duo wasted no time and quickly zeroed in on Shahid Kapoor as according to them he is the best fit for the lead role. The film is written and directed by Amit Rai. Also, given their past collaborations including OMG, discussions between Ashwin and Amit about the films production were swift. Shahid was equally enthusiastic about the idea and eagerly came on board, revealed a source close to the development.

The film will retell the story of one of the bravest chapters from the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the makers are looking to partner with a top studio before proceeding with the pre-production process. While Shahid has agreed in principle to spearhead the film, all the paperwork and announcements will happen once a studio comes on board the project. The makers are in talks with several top studios/financers to associate themselves with the film, the source added.

Well, we are still waiting for the official announcement in this regard.

Talking about Teri Bataon Mein Uljha Jiya, the film is all set to hit the theatres on February 9.
As the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress party-led coalition MLAs left Hyderabad on Sunday evening after spending the weekend there amid poaching fears, Bihar Congress MLAs arrived in the city for the same reason ahead of the floor test for the new government in Bihar on February 12.

According to reports, the Bihar Congress MLAs flew to Hyderabad to greet the newly appointed Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who assumed office following the partys victory in the December 2023 Assembly elections.

It has been learnt that the arrival of the Congress MLAs in Hyderabad is part of a precautionary measure taken by the party to prevent any poaching attempts as the newly formed NDA government in Bihar, headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, seeks a trust vote next week.

The Congress MLAs from Bihar, who have come to greet the Telangana Chief Minister, are likely to stay in Hyderabad till February 11.

#WATCH | Congress MLAs from Bihar gather at the Hyderabad airport, Telangana.The floor test of the newly elected NDA government in Bihar is likely to happen on February 12. (Source: MLA) pic.twitter.com/t0f58SDkZP  ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2024

AICC Bihar in-charge Mohan Prakash neither confirmed nor denied the development, but asserted that rumours are being spread that Congress MLAs will break away, when the truth is that JD(U) legislators are under pressure due to voters anger against them, after their partys switch to the NDA. They (JDU) should worry about keeping their flock together, he added.

Party leaders from Bihar had met AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi, who took stock of the situation in the state, where the latest volte-face of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the JD(U) president, has sent shockwaves in the Mahagathbandhan as well as the opposition INDIA bloc.

Congress has 19 MLAs in the state Assembly out of whom 16 had turned up at the meeting, which was also attended by state Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh and MLCs Prem Chandra Mishra and Madan Mohan Jha.

Jharkhand MLAs Leave Hyderabad

Meanwhile, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha coalition MLAs, who were sent to Hyderabad hours after Champai Soren took oath as the new Chief Minister, arrived in Ranchi on Sunday night ahead of the floor test in the state Assembly, scheduled to take place on Monday.

The alliance, between the JMM, Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has 47 MLAs in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly and is supported from outside by the lone CPIML (L) legislator, while the BJP and its allies have 29 MLAs.

(With inputs from PTI)
A team of the Delhi Police Crime Branch arrived at the Delhi Minister of Education, PWD, Culture and Tourism, Atishi Marlenas house over AAPs MLA poaching claim case. According to AAP sources, the minister was not present at her residence. She, however, directed her camp office to receive the notice.

The team will go again to serve notice to Atishi. This morning she was not present at her residence, a senior officer of the Delhi Police Crime Branch was quoted by PTI as saying.

#WATCH | A team of Delhi Police Crime Branch officials present at the residence of Delhi Minister and AAP leader AtishiPolice officials are here to serve notice in connection with Aam Aadmi Partys allegation against BJP of trying to buy AAP MLAs. https://t.co/M0HQgPOzpD pic.twitter.com/VU9QozNKAF  ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2024

We Pity Crime Branch People: Atishi

Speaking about the notice served to her by the Delhi Police Crime branch earlier today, AAP leader Atishi said, They gave notice to CM Kejriwal and me. This notice is neither FIR nor summons. No IPC, CRPC, and PMLA sections are mentioned in it.

The Delhi further stated that police said the notice will be handed over to me only. We pity the Crime Branch people, she added.

The development comes after a team of the Delhi Police crime branch visited Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals residence on Saturday morning again to serve him a notice in connection with a probe over his claim that the BJP was trying to poach AAP MLA.

On Friday evening too, Crime Branch teams visited the residences of Kejriwal and Delhi Minister Atishi.

Poaching Allegations by AAP

Last week, CM Arvind Kejriwal had alleged in an X post that the BJP offered Rs 25 crore each to seven AAP MLAs to quit the party while also threatening to topple the government in Delhi.

Atishi had also accused the BJP of launching Operation Lotus 2.0 in Delhi.

They had made a similar attempt to poach AAP MLAs last year by offering them money but failed, she said at a press conference.

Following the allegations, a delegation of the Delhi BJP on January 30 met the city police chief, seeking a probe into Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals allegations.

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said, We had said Kejriwal is levelling false allegations to create a sensation. The truth behind Kejriwals lie is about to be exposed now. He cannot lie and then run away from the probe. He will have to face the investigation.
The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal on Sunday took on the BJP-led government at the Centre, alleging that it was indulging in fiscal federal terrorism.

Addressing a press conference here, TMC MP Derek OBrien rejected the claims that the West Bengal government did not provide utilisation certificates for central funds and alleged that the Centre was targeting the state as it was ruled by a party opposed to the BJP.

This is fiscal federal terrorism it is nothing but another attempt by the BJP to target West Bengal as they are failing to take on TMC politically, he alleged.

The statements in the CAG report are being twisted deliberately by the opposition to engage in malicious propaganda. The Trinamool Congress will not take responsibility for the Lefts lack of accountability during their regime as we have followed all protocols while in power, OBrien said.

He said MGNREGA guidelines clearly state that workers should be paid within 15 days of completion of work, but as the BJP cannot politically defeat Mamata Banerjee, it is now attacking the poor people of West Bengal out of sheer anger.

Another senior leader, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, claimed that in BJP-ruled states such as Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Uttarakhand, utilisation certificates for thousands of crores of rupees have not been submitted.

But only in West Bengal, opposition parties are spreading misinformation on the issue, she said.

They think that if they block peoples money, people will switch sides. But this will not happen because Mamata Banerjee keeps her promises. That is why 21 lakh MGNREGA workers will receive their rightful due by February 21, Ghosh Dastidar said.

She said that since May 2022, the TMC has been making futile requests to the Centre over the release of wages.

Another senior TMC leader, Kunal Ghosh, claimed that there has been no lack or deficit in the submission of utilisation certificates after the TMC came to power in the state in 2011.

We cannot take responsibility for the period 2002-03 to 2010-11 when the Left Front government was in power, he added.

Amid a war of words with the BJP over the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on usage of government funds, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier said it was full of lies and also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue.

The BJP has seized upon the findings of the CAG report, alleging a staggering mother of all scams totalling approximately Rs 2 lakh crore in the Trinamool Congress-governed state.

Banerjee, who staged a 48-hour dharna demanding the release of West Bengals dues from the Centre, has announced that her government would transfer funds directly to the bank accounts of 21 lakh MGNREGA workers in the state by February 21.

West Bengal BJP leader Sajal Ghosh questioned why the state government has not moved the court over the Centre allegedly not releasing its dues.

CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said the government must respond to the CAGs concerns, stating it has not released a white paper on this.

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, alleged that TMC-run panchayats have prepared false bills with regard to MGNREGA expenditure.

The TMC is flogging the MGNREGA issue to use the ill-gotten money for elections, he said.

If a committee is formed by the Calcutta High Court, it would be able to unearth this scandal, Adhikari said.

Senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha alleged that the TMC government plundered central allocation for West Bengal for years and could not give any figure-wise break-up.

Faced with queries now, Mamata Banerjee and her party are resorting to diversionary tactics which will not work anymore, he added.

The CAG report definitely proved TMCs complicity in the misutilisation of central funds for the poor and they cannot pass the buck on the previous Left regime which was dislodged by the people of West Bengal with the hope that TMC will usher in changes. TMC has proved to be far worse, Sinha added.
The state president of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) state President Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal landed in a controversy on Sunday over his recent statement on protests against the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya. Thangal said that there was no need for such protests as both the new temple and the proposed mosque would strengthen secularism in the country.

A major ally of the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala, the IUML is an influential political party among the Muslim community.

The video of Thangals statement that went viral today was from an event on January 24 at Manjeri near Malappuram.

Addressing the event at Manjeri, Thangal had said that the Ram temple which is worshipped and revered by the majority of the people in the country is a reality.

We cannot go back from that. There is no need for us to protest against it. The temple came up based on a court order and the Babri Masjid is about to be constructed. These two are now part of India. The Ram temple and the proposed Babri Masjid are two best examples that strengthen the secularism of our country, Thangal said in the video.

We know that Babri Masjid was destroyed by the karsevaks and we had protested against it at that time. when the masjid was demolished, the entire country and its political leadership looked down south to Kerala. They were keen to know whether peace was prevailing in Kerala. Then the Muslims in Kerala could show a model for the country. We never fall to provocations and temptations, he added.

IUML, from the seven districts north of Kochi, compared to a meagre seven of Congress, its big brother in UDF has 15 Assembly seats and the Panakkad Thangals, who as a family headed the party in the state for more than seven decades remain highly respected as religious and political leaders amongst the Muslims of Kerala.

It may be noted that IUML was led by Panakkad Syed Muhammedali Shihab Thangal, the eldest brother of Sadiq Ali when Babri Masjid was demolished. Not a single stone should fall on a Hindu house. Muslims should stand guard for Hindu temples if required, the senior Thangal, who was also a spiritual lead of the community, had then appealed.

While the Indian National League (INL), a coalition partner of the ruling CPI(M) led LDF government in Kerala lashed out at the IUML leader, the Congress party and the IUML defended Thangal and said he was trying to prevent any campaign of hatred and attempts to divide society. Political rivals in the Muslim community went on to say that the IUML head had echoed the RSS language.

We cannot go back from that. There is no need for us to protest against it. The temple came up based on a court order and the Babri Masjid is about to be constructed. These two are now part of India. The Ram temple and the proposed Babri Masjid are two best examples that strengthen secularism of our country, Thangal was heard saying in the video.

We know that it (Babri Masjid) was destroyed by the karsevaks and we had protested against it at that time, he said, adding that Indian Muslims dealt with it in a mature manner.

Indian National League (INL) Kerala State Secretariat Member N K Abdul Azeez in a Facebook post said that political leaders are not ignorant of the fact that Gandhis Ram Rajya is different from the Ram Rajya of the RSS.

The spiritual Hindu religion of a believer is different from the political Hindutva of the RSS and the political leaders are not ignorant of this fact. Yet they are making a fool of its ranks. Its not possible to believe that the ordinary party workers of IUML will accept this position, Azeez said.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan and senior IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty came out in support of Thangal and said his words were misinterpreted.

Kunhalikutty said BJP is trying to politicise the Ayodhya issue and Thangal was trying to warn people not to fall into that trap. But it was misinterpreted, he said.

Satheesan said while many were trying to ignite tensions needlessly, Thangal was trying to douse it.

One should understand why he said so. When some are trying to set fire to water, Thangal is trying to douse it. He was speaking against the campaign of hatred and division, Satheesan said.

(with PTI inputs)
Around 40 MLAs of the ruling JMM-led coalition Mahagathbandhan in Jharkhand, who were camping in Hyderabad, returned to the state on Sunday (February 4) to attend the crucial trust vote on February 5. After landing at Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi, legislators exuded confidence to win the trust vote in the assembly on Monday.

Our MLAs are united We have the support of 48 to 50 legislators, Minister Alamgir Alam said.

JMM lawmaker Mithilesh Thakur also asserted that the JMM-led coalition will sail through the trust vote. Many BJP legislators are also in support of the alliance in the state, he claimed.

The MLAs were sent to a private resort in Shamirpet, on the outskirts of Hyderabad, amid poaching fears after Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Champai Soren took over as the chief minister following Hemant Sorens arrest.

#WATCH | Telangana: JMM and Congress MLAs arrive at Shamshabad airport from the resort in HyderabadFloor Test of the new government of Jharkhand is likely to be held in the Assembly tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/mw30d2QlVf  ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2024

The alliance, between the JMM, Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has 47 MLAs in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly and is supported from outside by the lone CPIML (L) legislator. The BJP and its allies have 29 MLAs.

While staking claim to form the government, Champai Soren had the support of 43 MLAs. We expect that the number will reach 46-47 so there is no problem. Our gathbandhan is very strong, he said at the time.

Unless something drastic happens, the JMM government is expected to meet the majority mark of 41.

Alls Not Well In JMM

With just a day to trust vote, the JMM is busy keeping its flock together. As per media reports, one of the legislators of the party is off the grid and is to skip the floor test on Monday.

Another MLA, Lobin Hembrom, on Sunday agreed to conditionally support CM Champai Soren-led government. After a thorough discussion with JMM chief Shibu Soren, Hembrom outlined several demands, including prohibition of liquor sales and stricter laws for the protection of forests and water conservation, that must be met for his backing of the government.

Hembrom, who is known for his rebel remarks against Hemant Soren and his party, also called for the strict enforcement of the Chota Nagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act and the Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Act among other things.

#WATCH | Ranchi: On Jharkhand ruling party MLAs shifted to Hyderabad ahead of the floor test, JMM MLA Lobin Hembrom says, What was the need to go there (Hyderabad). If we are united then we should stay here pic.twitter.com/BbDsfyjZk7 ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2024

The MLA from Borio seat in Sahibganj district, Hembrom, also questioned the partys decision of resorting to the resort politics and said, What was the need to go there (Hyderabad)? If we are united then we should stay here.

He also claimed that wrong advice led to Hemant Sorens arrest by the ED. Hemant Soren repeatedly ignored my advice and eventually landed in jail he has always been surrounded by wrong advisors, Hembrom told reporters.

He squarely blamed Hemant Sorens personal and media advisors, besides advisors from Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for his plight.

Hemant Soren Allowed To Take Part In Floor Test

A special court in Ranchi has allowed former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren to participate in the trust vote in the state assembly on February 5.

Jharkhand was plunged into uncertainty after Hemant Soren resigned as chief minister on Wednesday night, shortly before he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case linked to an alleged land fraud.

Despite Champai being immediately elected as JMM legislative party leader and staking claim after Hemants resignation, governor CP Radhakrishnan did not invite him to form the new government till late Thursday night. This led to speculation to swirl about possible poaching by the BJP.

Soren was remanded to ED custody for five days by the court on Friday.

BJP Framed Hemant

CM Champai Soren on Sunday accused the BJP of framing his predecessor Hemant Soren in false cases to continue the loot of minerals from the state.

Addressing a party workers rally on the occasion of the 52nd foundation day of the JMM at the Golf Ground in Dhanbad, Champai Soren also alleged that the BJP and outsiders were engaged in looting minerals of the state for 19 years in the state.

When Hemant Soren came to power (in 2019) and stopped them from doing so, they framed him in false cases, the CM claimed.

Hemant Soren had initiated steps to ensure the rights of tribal through 1932 Khatiyan based domicile policy and 75 per cent job reservation for local youths in private companies. The BJP could not digest these and they used central agencies against him, he alleged.

Making 1932 the cut-off year for the domicile policy will help descendants of those, who were living in present-day Jharkhand before that year, avail benefits in various schemes and get government jobs.
AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday talked about the status of women in Islam and taught men that there is no manhood in venting out their anger on their wives but there is in tolerating her anger.

In a video message shared by his party on social media, Owaisi can be seen addressing a gathering where he emphasises the status and role of women in Islam and urges men to be respectable towards their wives.

I have said this several times and many people dont like me for saying this but the Quran does not command your wife to wash your clothes or cook for you or give you a head massage. It says the husband has no right to his wifes earnings. But, the wife has the right to the husbands earnings because she has to run the household, Owaisi can be heard saying in the video.

The Hyderabad leader also said that some men criticize their wives for not cooking standard food or find faults in food but none of this is a part of Islam.

My brothers, this is Islam. It is not (written anywhere). And then some are cruel to their wives, who hit them. If you are true followers of the Prophet, tell me where he has laid his hands on a woman, Owaisi added.

There is no manhood in unnecessarily venting your anger on your wife or taking swipes at her. Manhood is tolerating her anger, he said.

To explain the importance of respect in marital bonds, the AIMIM leader also narrated the story of Rasul, who approached the influential caliph, Farooq e Azam, seeking advice on dealing with his angry wife.

According to the anecdote, Rasul visited Farooq e Azams home and was surprised to witness his own complaint being directed at the caliph by his own wife. In response, the wise caliph emphasized the significance of his wifes role in safeguarding their homes honour, nurturing their children, and being a human being with emotions. He encouraged Rasul and others to develop a mindset of listening and understanding in such situations.
Several members of the BJP gathered outside the residence of Congress MP DK Suresh here on Sunday to protest his recent statement that southern states would be forced to demand a separate nation if the injustice in the distribution of funds is not rectified by the Centre.

Protesters were heard shouting slogans Vande Mataram, Bharat Mata Ki Jai, and down D K Suresh outside his residence in Sadashivanagar here. However, the protesters were soon removed from the spot by the police and shifted into a bus, police said.

#WATCH | Karnataka: BJP Yuva Morcha workers stage protest outside Congress MP DK Sureshs residence in Bengaluru over his separate country remark. The protestors were later detained by Police. pic.twitter.com/WmR3FS0MmO ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2024

Suresh is the brother of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President D K Shivakumar. A group of members from the BJP had gathered outside the residence of the Congress MP.

They tried to stage a protest there against his statement over the demand for a separate nation for southern states. But, our officials immediately removed them from the spot and took them into custody. The situation is under control, a senior police officer said.

Suresh, who represents the Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha constituency, had also alleged that Hindi was being imposed on South India in every aspect.
When, with barely a day to go before the federal government was to shut down last Oct. 1, Congress finally agreed on a 45-day reprieve, Del. David Bulova, D-Fairfax, remembered how the leaves were turning in the Shenandoah Valley and how shutting the gates on Skyline Drive would affect the dozens of small communities along the parkway.

I dont like being in the position of having to clean up after other peoples messes, Bulova told a House of Delegates natural resources panel Wednesday.

But this affects the Virginia economy.

Hes proposing House Bill 420, that would let Gov. Glenn Youngkin negotiate an agreement with the U.S. Department of Interior for the state to step in to keep national parks in Virginia open during a shutdown.

Utah and Arizona already have such agreements, which is why the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon national parks dont have to turn visitors away when Congress cant agree on paying the federal governments bills.

Generally, these involve the state covering national park employees pay during a federal shutdown. Since federal employees are typically reimbursed for their missed federal paychecks once Congress finally does pass a temporary funding resolution, the state payments have so far been returned.

The impact of Virginias many national parks on the state economy is large, Bulova said.

Some 22.5 million people a year visit the parks. They spend something more than $1.2 billion while doing that. The jobs of some 17,600 people depend on Virginias national parks.

And there are more than many Virginians might realize. Besides Shenandoah National Park, these include the Colonial National Historic Park, which stretches from Jamestown to Yorktown on the Virginia Peninsula, the Richmond and Petersburg battlefield parks, the Maggie Walker historic site in Richmond, Civil War battlefield sites around Fredericksburg, as well as lesser known sites such as Louisa Countys Green Springs National Historic Landmark District, with more than 14,000 acres of privately owned land and building that offer a glimpse back in time at rural life.

On Jan. 18, Congress sent the White House another short-term funding measure meant to avoid a partial shutdown and fund agencies into March.

While Virginias national parks have an unusually large impact on the state economy, a federal shutdown has still larger effects on the state.

Shutdowns put more than 170,000 federal civil employees living in the state  primarily in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads  on furlough, though some have been required work without pay.

Tens of thousands of active duty and reserve military personnel could miss their paychecks.

More than 855,000 Virginians who depend on food stamps could lose access to that benefit, along with the more than 127,000 who receive supplemental food assistance benefits.

The Small Business Administration would stop processing small business loans, halting a program that provides $512.5 million a year in funding for Virginia businesses, while the U.S. Department of Agriculture would stop the farm loans which provide $67.5 million in funding for Virginia farmers.
Iran issued a warning Sunday to the U.S. over potentially targeting two cargo ships in the Mideast long suspected of serving as forwarding operating bases for Iranian commandos. The warning came just after the U.S. and the United Kingdom launched a massive airstrike campaign against Yemens Houthi rebels.

The statement from Iran on the Behshad and Saviz ships appeared to signal Tehrans growing unease over U.S. strikes in recent days in Iraq, Syria and Yemen targeting militias backed by the Islamic Republic.

Those strikes were in retaliation for the killing of three U.S. soldiers and wounding of dozens of others in Jordan, attacks that stem back to Israels war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has escalated tensions across the wider Middle East and raised fears about a regional conflict breaking out.

The U.S. strikes overnight Sunday struck across six provinces of Yemen held by the Houthi rebels, including in Sanaa, the capital. The Houthis gave no assessment of the damage but the U.S. described hitting underground missile arsenals, launch sites and helicopters used by the rebels.

These attacks will not discourage Yemeni forces and the nation from maintaining their support for Palestinians in the face of the Zionist occupation and crimes, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said. The aggressors airstrikes will not go unanswered.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned the Houthis after the strikes that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels. That message was echoed by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who said: The Houthi attacks must stop.

Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, also warned the strikes may continue.

We are prepared to deal with anything that any group or any country tries to come at us with, Sullivan told CBS Face the Nation. And the president has been clear that we will continue to respond to threats that American forces face as we go forward.

The Behshad and Saviz are registered as commercial cargo ships with a Tehran-based company the U.S. Treasury has sanctioned as a front for the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. The Saviz, then later the Behshad, have loitered for years in the Red Sea off Yemen, suspected of serving as spy positions for Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

In 2017, Saudi Arabia described the Saviz as a maritime base and weapons transfer point for the Guard, staffed by men in military fatigues. Footage aired by Saudi-owned television channels showed the vessel armed with what appeared to be a covered machine gun bolted to the ships deck.

In the video statement Sunday by Irans regular army, a narrator for the first time describes the vessels as floating armories. The narrator describes the Behshad as aiding an Iranian mission to counteract piracy in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. However, Iran is not publicly known to have taken part in any of the recent campaigns against rising Somali piracy in the region off the back of the Houthi attacks.

Just before the new campaign of U.S. airstrikes began, the Behshad traveled south into the Gulf of Aden. Its now docked in Djibouti in East Africa just off the coast from a Chinese military base in the country.

The statement ends with a warning overlaid with a montage of footage of U.S. warships and an American flag.

Those engaging in terrorist activities against Behshad or similar vessels jeopardize international maritime routes, security and assume global responsibility for potential future international risks, the video said.

The U.S. Navys Mideast-based 5th Fleet declined to comment over the threat.

The Saviz, which is now in the Indian Ocean near where the U.S. alleges Iranian drone attacks recently have targeted shipping, has come under attack before. In 2021, a likely mine explosion blew a hole through the hull of the Saviz, forcing Iran to bring the ship home. That attack, suspected to have been carried out by Israel, is part of a wider shadow war between Tehran and Israel after the collapse of the Iran nuclear deal.
Looking back at his exceptional trip to India recently, French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said he was extremely honoured to be a part of the 75th Republic Day celebrations in Delhi. In a video showing glimpses of his recent visit, Macron said that India is going to be on the front row in the worlds transformation.

We have got everything to say to a country like India, a democratic power, a demographic, economic and a technological as well, which is going to be front row at the worlds transformation, the French President can be heard saying in the video posted on X.

He posted the video with the caption A look back at an exceptional trip in India.

A look back at an exceptional trip in India. pic.twitter.com/ldldTasdOw Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 4, 2024

Macron said he was extremely honoured to be part important and unique Republic Day celebration.

This is in our memories forever, he said adding France wants to have more and more investments in India.

Further boasting of a good relationship between the two countries, the French President stated that even if the relations between India and France are good, both nations can still do much more.

We developed during the past few years a series of cooperations and partnerships in different sectors with your country. And clearly, we want to make more and more investments. Even if the relationship is very good, we can do much more. Everythings good so far, he said in the video.

Furthermore, he emphasised that they want to have 30,000 students in France coming from India by 2030.

PM Modi Replies

Replying to Macrons post, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the French Presidents recent India visit and participation in the Republic Day celebrations will surely boost India-France friendship.

Tagging his post, Prime Minister Modi said, It was an honour to have you in India, President Emmanuel Macron.

It was an honour to have you in India, President @EmmanuelMacron. Your visit and participation in the Republic Day celebrations will surely boost India-France friendship. https://t.co/77BMb0Ye4G Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 4, 2024

Your visit and participation in the Republic Day celebrations will surely boost India-France friendship, Modi added.

Macrons India Visit

The French president was on a two-day visit to India last month and was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations here on January 26.

At the outset of his address during a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, Macron expressed heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome extended to his delegation.

Macron shared his appreciation for the unique bond that transcends time and shared values.

The French President acknowledged the exceptional welcome and recounted his visit to Jaipur with Prime Minister Modi, showcasing the symbolic moments that resonated with historical significance.

Moreover, India and France adopted a roadmap for the defence-industrial partnership during French President Emmanuel Macrons state visit for Republic Day celebrations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron also reaffirmed their vision that the India-France Strategic Partnership can help build prosperity and resilience in their economies, advance their countries security, and create a more sustainable and healthier future for the planet.
Several UK patients have received a revolutionary cancer vaccine as part of a global trial. Scientists are using the mRNA technology used to make the Covid vaccine to create new vaccines that can treat and even cure cancer.

The early-phase Mobilize trial led by scientists at Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust and Imperial College, London, is part of the British governments partnership with Moderna to develop mRNA cancer vaccines in the UK.

These vaccines highlight specific protein markers on the cells of a cancerous tumour to the immune system of a patient. The patients own immune system then builds up a defence and attacks the cancer, which was previously undetected.

The patients at the Hammersmith Hospital, in west London are the first in the UK to be tested with these jabs. The study will focus on the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine against lung cancer, skin cancer and other solid tumours, researchers told UK-based news media outlets.

The first man to receive the vaccine, dubbed mRNA-4359, is an 81-year-old man from Surrey with skin cancer. He saw limited success with other treatments and then decided to take part in the trial.

The vaccine has the potential to save even more lives while revolutionising the way in which we treat this terrible disease with therapies that are more effective and less toxic. It underlines our position as a life sciences superpower and our commitment to research and development, Victoria Atkins, the health secretary, was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

She said the ground-breaking development could make a difference to countless lives.

Scientists are excited about mRNA therapy because they believe it could revolutionise cancer treatment.

There are two main types of cancer vaccine which are being developed globally by scientists. The other form of the cancer vaccine that is in the works is a personalised one and will require taking genetic material from a persons tumour to create a vaccine specifically for them.

The Telegraph said experts are hoping that the mRNA cancer vaccines will serve as ready made and off-the-shelf vaccines that can be administered to multiple cancer patients with a specific type of cancer rather than having to be personalised for individuals. But, unlike traditional vaccine which are preemptive in nature, like vaccines to prevent illness from contagious viruses such as measles and smallpox, these vaccines will be given to those patients who are suffering from cancer.

Creating a universal cancer vaccine is challenging due to the unique nature of each tumour and individual. However, scientists are developing vaccines that target common markers on cancer cells and eradicate tumours and prevent recurrence. This approach offers hope for the evolving cancer treatment to turn into a potential cure.

We desperately need these to turn the tide against cancer. New mRNA-based cancer immunotherapies offer a new avenue for recruiting the patients own immune system to fight their cancer. This research is still in the early stages and may be a number of years from being available to patients, but this trial is laying crucial groundwork that is moving us closer towards new therapies that are potentially less toxic and more precise, Dr David Pinato, consultant oncologist and scientist at Imperial College was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

The NHS is at the vanguard of trials of cancer vaccines, which could be revolutionary if we are successful in vaccinating people against their own cancers to prevent them growing back after treatment, professor Peter Johnson, the NHS national clinical director for cancer, was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.
Israel pressed its blistering Gaza assault on Saturday as fears grew over a push into a southern area teeming with displaced Palestinians and Hamas said a truce deal was not yet within reach.

As fighting raged, mediation efforts to halt the nearly four-month war have gathered pace, though a Hamas official in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, said a proposed framework was missing some details.

Hamas needed more time to announce our position, Hamdan said, based on our desire to put an end as quickly as possible to the aggression that our people suffer.

An AFP journalist said air strikes and tank fire rocked Khan Yunis, southern Gazas main city that has been the focus of Israels offensive.

Hamas officials and the Israeli army reported battles across the besieged territory, and AFPTV footage showed smoke billowing after strikes on Rafah, in the far south.

Hundreds of thousands of Gazas 2.4 million people displaced by the fierce fighting have fled to Rafah during the war, with their tents crammed along streets and in parks.

The city that had been home to 200,000 people now hosts more than half of Gazas population, the United Nations said.

Civilians who fled to Rafah have been pushed up against the border with Egypt, trying to avoid parts of the city exposed to bombardment and fighting in nearby Khan Yunis.

We are exhausted, said displaced Gazan Mahmud Abu al-Shaar, urging a ceasefire so that we can return to our homes.

Diaa Bakroun, who shares a tent with his extended family in Rafah, said we cant survive.

Hamas remained defiant, with an official from the Palestinian group saying it was holding its ground in Khan Yunis.

Pressure cooker of despair

The United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA said it was deeply concerned about the escalation of hostilities in Khan Yunis, which has pushed more and more people south.

Rafah is a pressure cooker of despair, and we fear for what comes next, said OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned on Thursday that the military  which began its ground invasion in the territorys north and has gradually advanced south  will also reach Rafah.

The war was sparked by Hamass unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Militants also seized around 250 hostages, and Israel says 132 remain in Gaza, including at least 27 believed to have been killed.

Vowing to eliminate Hamas, Israel launched a massive military offensive that has killed at least 27,238 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-ruled territorys health ministry.

The fighting has devastated the narrow coastal strip, while an Israeli siege has resulted in dire shortages of food, water, fuel and medicines.

The soaring civilian death toll in Gaza, as well as fears among Israelis over the fate of the hostages, have fuelled calls for a ceasefire.

In Tel Aviv, hundreds of protesters rallied for early elections and to demand action to free the remaining hostages.

Demonstrations were also held in the northern Israeli port of Haifa and near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Jerusalem residence.

Strikes on Lebanon

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to the Middle East in the coming days to press a new proposal involving the release of Israeli hostages and a pause in the fighting, the State Department said.

Blinken will visit mediators Qatar and Egypt as well as Israel, the occupied West Bank and Saudi Arabia starting Sunday, it added.

His fifth trip since the war broke out comes after Qatar said there were hopes of good news soon about the negotiations.

A Hamas source said the group had been presented with a plan involving an initial six-week pause that would see more aid delivered into Gaza and exchanges of some Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

Hamass Qatar-based leader Ismail Haniyeh said any ceasefire must lead to a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

The war has sent regional tensions soaring, with a surge in attacks by Iran-backed groups in solidarity with Gaza triggering a wave of US air strikes in Iraq and Syria.

US warplanes struck more than 85 targets overnight, said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, killing dozens in western Iraq and eastern Syria.

The Israeli army, which has traded near-daily fire with Lebanons Hezbollah group since October, said it had struck over 3,400 Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon since the start of the war.

The violence has killed at least 218 people in south Lebanon, mostly Hezbollah fighters but also at least 26 civilians, according to an AFP tally, and displaced tens of thousands.

In northern Israel, nine soldiers and six civilians have been killed, Israeli officials have said.

Since the start of the war, Israel has also attacked from the ground and air more than 50 such targets of Hezbollah spread throughout Syria, said military spokesman Daniel Hagari.

US forces on Saturday also struck six anti-ship missiles belonging to Yemens Iran-backed Huthi rebels, in response to repeated attacks on Red Sea shipping vessels in solidarity with Gaza.
The US military carried out strikes on Saturday (local time) against six anti-ship missiles belonging to Yemens Iran-backed Houthis. The US Central Command said that the missiles the US forces struck were ready to be launched against ships transiting the Red Sea.

On Feb. 3, at approximately 7:20 p.m. (Sanaa time), US Central Command forces conducted strikes in self-defence against six Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea. US forces identified the cruise missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region. This action will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US Navy and merchant vessels, the US CENTCOM said.

USCENTCOM Destroys Six Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles in YemenOn Feb. 3, at approximately 7:20 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces conducted strikes in self-defense against six Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea. U.S. forces pic.twitter.com/W9BVxiYedU  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 3, 2024

The CENTCOM also said that US forces shot down eight drones near Yemen the day before and destroyed four more before they could be launched.

The spokesman for the Iran-backed group, Nasr al-Din Amer, said that escalation will be met with escalation. Either there is peace for us, Palestine and Gaza, or there is no peace and no safety for you in our region. We will meet the escalation with escalation, Nasr al-Din Amer said, in a social media post.

U.S. Forces, Allies Conduct Joint Strikes in YemenAs part of ongoing international efforts to respond to increased Iranian-backed Houthi destabilizing and illegal activities in the region, on Feb. 3 at approximately 11:30 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces, pic.twitter.com/hlfLY1QjOd  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 3, 2024

The CENTCOM said the drones that were struck before they could be launched belonged to the Houthis but did not reveal the country or group owned the drones that were shot out of the air.

It also said that the UK Armed Forces and with the support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand also took part in a separate set of strikes along with the US forces which targeted 36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen.

The strikes were in response to the Houthis continued attacks against international and commercial shipping as well as naval vessels transiting the Red Sea, the coalition said.

Coalition forces targeted 13 locations associated with the Huthis deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, and radars, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. (These) are intended to further disrupt and degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia to conduct their reckless and destabilising attacks, he further added.

Neither the US defence secretary nor the joint statement identified the specific places that were hit, but the Houthi-run Al-Masirah television said Sanaa and other locations were targeted.

The British defence ministry said the Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon warplanes struck several targets including two ground control stations used to operate both attack and reconnaissance drones.
British member of parliament Bob Blackman while addressing the British parliament this week called for a debate on UK-based public broadcaster BBCs coverage of the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22.

Constituents have raised concerns surrounding the BBC's biased reporting of the #RamMandir temple. As an avid supporter of the rights of Hindus, this article has caused great disharmony.The BBC must be able to provide a decent record of what is going across the world. pic.twitter.com/htSzyey2u4 Bob Blackman (@BobBlackman) February 2, 2024

He said the coverage of the consecration ceremony was biased. Last week in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, the Ram Mandir was consecrated. This was of great joy to Hindus across the world as being the birthplace of Lord Ram, Blackman said during a parliament session.

Very sadly, the BBC, in their coverage reported, of course, that this was the site of the destruction of a mosque, forgetting the fact that it had been a temple for more than 2,000 years before that happened and that the Muslims had been allocated a five-acre site on which to erect a mosque adjacent to the town, the Conservative MP for Harrow East said.

So, will my Rt. Hon. Friend allow time for a debate in government time on the impartiality of the BBC and its failure to provide a decent record of what is actually going on all over the world, he further added.

He also took to social media site X to air his grievances over the coverage. Constituents have raised concerns surrounding the BBCs biased reporting of the Ram Mandir temple. As an avid supporter of the rights of Hindus, this article has caused great disharmony. The BBC must be able to provide a decent record of what is going across the world, Blackman said.

The grand consecration of the mega temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, took place on January 22, with thousands of attendees, including foreign delegates. Fiji deputy prime minister Biman Prasad will visit Ram Temple in Ayodhya next week as well.

On the consecration day, several states announced a school holiday and government offices, both central and state, along with other establishments and public sector banks observed a half-day closure.
Burundi commends China's support at "China and Me" story contest

Xinhua) 13:28, February 04, 2024

BUJUMBURA, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Burundi has highly thanked China for its multiple support towards Burundi during the last 60 years of fruitful cooperation, a senior official at Burundi's Foreign Ministry said here on Thursday evening during the "China and Me" story writing competition.

"Burundi highly appreciates China's support not only in the sector of culture and art, but also in other sectors," said Ernest Niyokindi, director general of Bilateral Relations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation.

According to him, written articles of candidates to the competition "will immortalize excellent relations of friendship" between Burundi and China.

He added that the contest winners will undoubtedly contribute to further understanding Sino-African relations in general and Sino-Burundian relations in particular in all sectors.

Niyokindi indicated that the event happened after Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye's visit to China where he participated at the launch of the World University Games in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

He specified that all candidates to the writing contest understood that China is "a reliable partner and full of attention" for Burundi's development.

He requested the Chinese embassy to continue supporting the sectors of culture through competitions in writing, sketches, songs and dance countrywide.

In her remarks, Chinese Ambassador to Burundi Zhao Jiangping said the fourth "China and Me" story competition happened in a particular context where China will celebrate in ten days the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year which falls on Feb. 10 this year.

She indicated that in Chinese traditional culture, it's a period of harvest at the end of the year, a period of hope with the new year and a period of joy in families.

"This competition not only testifies 60 years of strong and precious friendship between China and Burundi, but also represents ties that strengthen day after day between China and Burundi, and between Burundi and the entire world," said Zhao.

According to her, what is interesting in this "China and Me" story is mutual communication and understanding between Burundi and China.

She recalled that the year 2023 that marked 60 years of anniversary of cooperation between China and Burundi was "rich and brilliant" in terms of furthering diplomatic relations between both countries.

She pointed the accelerated resumption of personnel exchanges and cooperation at various levels and various sectors, including the meeting between both heads of state during Chengdu Games, the participation of the Burundian first lady in the China-Africa forum on the development of women and the sending of 350 Burundian people to China for university and professional training.

On the other hand, Zhao indicated that Chinese health experts were deployed to Burundi to concretize commitments of both heads of state.

"We're confident that the personnel exchange proves pragmatic cooperation in the sectors of public security, agriculture, trade and social affairs, but also communication and understanding for the good future of our two peoples," said Zhao.

She specified that the increased participation of the Burundian youth is encouraging, adding that these recent years, several Burundian youths registered at the Confucius Institute at the University of Burundi to learn the Chinese language and culture, philosophy and music as well as Kungfu.

"Many of them went to China to continue their studies and came back home to contribute to their country's development," said Zhao.

According to her, laureates' articles in the health and farming sectors show that they are devoted to contributing to furthering relations between Burundi and China.

She specified, "seeds are already sowed in youths to contribute to a good future of Sino-Burundian relations."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Namibia's President Hage Geingob has died at the age of 82 while receiving medical treatment at a hospital in the capital, Windhoek.

A veteran of the country's independence struggle, Mr Geingob had been diagnosed with cancer and revealed the details to the public last month.

He died early on Sunday with his wife and children by his side, Vice-President Nangolo Mbumba announced.

Namibia "has lost... a distinguished servant of the people", he said.

According to the constitution, Mr Mbumba will now act as president as there was less than a year left of Mr Geingob's second term in office. Presidential and parliamentary elections had already been scheduled for November.

The exact cause of the president's death was not given but last month he underwent "a two-day novel treatment for cancerous cells" in the US before flying back home on 31 January, his office had said.

Leaders from around the world have been sending condolence messages.

Among them is Cyril Ramaphosa, president of neighbouring South Africa, who described him as "a towering veteran of Namibia's liberation from colonialism and apartheid".

Mr Geinbob, a tall man with a deep, gravelly voice and a commanding presence was a long-serving member of the Swapo party. It led the movement against apartheid South Africa, which had effectively annexed the country then known as South West Africa.

He lived in exile for 27 years, spending time in Botswana, the US and the UK, where he studied for a PhD in politics. Mr Geingob came back to Namibia in 1989, a year before the country gained independence.

"Looking back, the journey of building a new Namibia has been worthwhile," he wrote on social media in 2020 while sharing a picture of him kissing the ground on his return.

"Even though we have made a lot of progress in developing our country, more work lies ahead to build an inclusive society."

Mr Geingob became president in 2015 and was in his second and final term in office. BBC
VOTING went on smoothly in six constituencies that were having by-elections in various parts of the country yesterday with officials happy with the peaceful atmosphere.

Speaking to Sunday News in Bulawayo at the close of polling stations, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Chief Elections Officer Mr Utoile Silaigwana commended voters for voting peacefully saying all polling stations opened on time.

He, however, said there was a need for civic education to ensure the public understands the importance of registering to vote and also exercising their constitutional right to vote.

The polling processes for today the 3rd of February 2024 took place in all the provinces where there were by-elections. We had six constituencies and several wards throughout the country, mainly in Bulawayo, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East and Midlands. There has been a low turnout, yes, by-elections by their nature attract a low turnout but this time our assessment shows that turnout was actually lower than what we expected but, there could be several factors. We are still going to make a proper assessment, said Mr Silaigwana.

Cde Joseph Tshuma after casting his vote

He said ZEC managed to do all its groundwork to ensure the process was conducted in a proper way across the country.

As ZEC we did all that we were supposed to do in terms of preparations, I can confirm that all the polling stations opened at 7am. By then there were very few people trickling in, there was a bit of an increase around 10am, mid-morning as I have already indicated, the percentages remained low. In some of the polling stations that I visited, the turnout was between 10 and 15 percent, he said.
The US government sold off the Federal Helium Reserve this week to a private buyer, a worrying move to doctors and scientists who rely on the finite gas for everything from research to operating MRI machines. The deal is still being finalized with the highest bidder, industrial gas company Messer, NBC News reports, and it includes a 1 billion cubic foot underground stockpile in Amarillo, Texas, along with 425 miles of pipelines that span several states. And while the government has been looking to offload the stockpile since the '90s, professionals who rely on helium fear that red tape following the sale will slow down access to the high-demand element.

Along with Russia and Qatar, the US is one of the top producers of helium, and the Amarillo stockpile supplies 30% of the nation's helium. Per Science.org, the federal stockpile began in 1925 to ensure supplies were available to military airships. Helium produced close to home is the cheapest option, and also comes with less risk in shipment delays (liquid helium evaporates after 35 to 48 days). Frosty trade relations with Russia and conflict in the Red Sea make foreign reliance on helium riskier. "Given the ongoing geopolitical concerns and tensions in those regions and shipping delays, it would increase concerns around potential shortages on US soil," said Soumi Saha of Premier Inc, which brokers contracts with suppliers to thousands of hospitals.

Trade associations had urged the government to delay the sale as they identified complications that could make the helium produced stateside unavailable. One concern is how a private buyer would manage the different state-specific rules regarding the pipelines, which span through Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma (something the federal government bypassed). Another is how contracts may shift with an enrichment system owned by four private companies (including Messer). "A new owner will need to create some sort of lease to use the enrichment unit, or build their own unit to enrich the helium," said Rich Gottwald, CEO of the Compressed Gas Association. "There's a whole host of issues that need to be resolved and the concern is, until they're resolved, the system will need to shut down."

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A spokesperson from the US Department of Interior said in a statement that it's not worth sweating over supply issues. "Sale of the reserve to a private party, as Congressionally mandated by law, is not expected to meaningfully change the availability of helium." Helium, the coldest element on the planet, is lighter than air and is unreactive, making it safer to use than elements like hydrogen. Helium is essential to computer chip production, cooling quantum computers, and MRI imaging. (Party City has closed stores over the years due to helium shortages.)
When Northern Ireland's lawmakers returned to their jobs Saturday for the first time in two years, only one politician received applause: Michelle O'Neill. The Cork-born official, whose father was imprisoned for being an IRA member and whose party wants Ireland and Northern Ireland to be one nation, became the historic choice for first minister. Until now, the government's highest political office has always been held by a unionist politician who supported staying in the United Kingdom, the New York Times reports. "That such a day would ever come would have been unimaginable to my parents' and grandparents' generation," O'Neill said.

O'Neill had to wait through what one non-boycotting lawmaker called "two years of nonsense" for this moment, per the Washington Post. Her party, Sinn Fein, won the largest share of assembly seats in the May 2022 election, as well as the right to the first minister position under the 1998 power-sharing agreement. O'Neill will have the bigger title but share power equally with deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly of the Democratic Unionist Party, per the AP. During the 730-day boycott, Northern Ireland had no executive or legislature. Civil servants remained at Stormont in Belfast but couldn't make major decisions. Lawmakers nevertheless collected two-thirds of their salaries. And the gift shop and cafeteria were open for business.

Unionists decided to return this week after reaching a deal with the UK government on trade issues. Sinn Fein won't have the power to implement unification; any such change would require voter approval on both sides of the border, per the Post. The Sinn Fein politician expressed her commitment to continuing efforts at reconciliation. "To all of you who are British and unionist: Your national identity, culture and traditions are important to me," O'Neill, 47, said in her initial address. "None of us are being asked or expected to surrender who we are. Our allegiances are equally legitimate. Let's walk this two-way street and meet one another halfway." (More Northern Ireland stories.)
After criticism from Ukraine's government, HBO has cut a Serbian actor who has supported Russia's invasion from the cast of the next season of The White Lotus. "The role will be recast," a network spokesperson told Politico on Saturday. Milos Bikovic blamed a campaign being directed against him. "External circumstances are beginning to influence creative decisions," he posted on Facebook, "which create a disturbing precedent that displaces the essence of creative freedom." The actor added that he couldn't remain with the project because "I am not ready to change my principles."

Bikoviche has expressed support for the Russian occupation of Crimea, as well, and made a film there in 2018. His career ascent began in Russia, and he holds Russian citizenship. President Vladimir Putin presented him with the Pushkin Medal for his contributions to Russian arts and culture the same year, per the New York Times. In his post, Bikoviche referred to his childhood in a war-torn region. "There are more and more active conflicts in the entire world," he wrote. "Each one is different. Each one is heartbreaking. I wish all of them to stop and principles of love to prevail."

The addition of the 36-year-old actor to the cast of the hit series, which begins filming this month, was announced on Jan. 12. A post on X by the foreign ministry on Jan. 24 asked, "HBO, is it all right for you to work with a person who supports genocide & violates international law?" The Ukrainian government did not immediately comment on HBO's announcement. (More Russia-Ukraine war stories.)
Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko has broken the world record for the most cumulative time spent in space, Russia's space agency Roscosmos reported Sunday. The 59-year-old has now spent more than 878 days and 12 hours in space, surpassing fellow Russian Gennady Padalka, who set the previous record of 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, 48 seconds in 2015. Kononenko has made five journeys to the International Space Station , dating to 2008, per the AP . Speaking with Russian state news agency TASS, the engineer said that each trip to the ISS required careful preparation due to the station's constant upgradesbut that life as a cosmonaut was a childhood dream come true.

"I fly into space to do what I love, not to set records. I've dreamt of and aspired to become a cosmonaut since I was a child. That interestthe opportunity to fly into space, to live and work in orbitmotivates me to continue flying," he said. Kononenko's current trip to the ISS began on Sept. 15, 2023, when he launched alongside NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara and Roscosmos compatriot Nikolai Chub. By the end of this expedition, the cosmonaut is expected to become the first person to accumulate 1,000 days in space. The International Space Station is one of the few areas in which the US and Russia still cooperate closely following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Roscosmos announced in December that its cross-flight program with NASA transporting astronauts to the ISS had been extended until 2025.

(More Oleg Kononenko stories.)
Namibia's president and founding prime minister Hage Geingob died Sunday at 82 while receiving treatment for cancer, and the southern African nation quickly swore in his deputy to complete the remaining time in office. Geingob played a central role in what has become one of Africa's most stable democracies after returning from a long exile in Botswana and the US as an anti-apartheid activist. He was the country's third president, the AP reports, since it gained independence in 1990 following more than a century of German and then apartheid South African rule.

Geingob had been president since 2015 and was to finish his second and final term in office this year. His deputy, Vice President Nangolo Mbumba, was sworn in as acting president in the capital, Windhoek, to complete the term as allowed by the constitution. Elections are set for November. A government statement said Mbumba will lead Namibia until March 2025, when the winner takes office. The presidential office said Geingob died in a hospital with his family by his side. He had returned last month from the US, where he underwent a trial two-day "novel treatment for cancerous cells," according to his office. In 2014, he said he had survived prostate cancer.

Soft-spoken but firm on advancing Africa's agenda in world affairs, Geingob maintained close relations with Western countries including the US but also, like many African leaders, forged a warm relationship with China and other powers. Russian President Vladimir Putin was among those who sent condolences, per the AP. "It is difficult to overestimate his personal contribution to developing friendly relations between Namibia and Russia," a statement said. Geingob was Namibia's first prime minister from 1990 to 2002 and served again from 2008 to 2012. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday described Geingob as "a towering veteran of Namibia's liberation from colonialism and apartheid."

(More Namibia stories.)
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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

JEO Capital Management recently hosted a special ceremony to celebrate its partnership with SEK Education Group, a prestigious international educational institution, which will result in the management of Beacon Private School by the SEK Education Group.

The ceremony took place at the campus of Beacon Private School, located in Hidd, Muharraq, under the patronage of Miguel Jose Moro Aguilar, the Ambassador of Spain to Kuwait and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

It was attended by several distinguished guests, including Nieves Segovia, President of SEK Education Group and Lulwa Ghassan Al Muhanna, Director of Directorate of Licensing Department at the Ministry of Education, as well as representatives from the local media.

The ceremony included various segments, highlighting the significance of this partnership, which will further bolster the prominent status of Beacon Private School as a leading private educational institution in the Kingdom.

Furthermore, this partnership aligns with the Kingdoms educational goals, supported by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

The Spanish Ambassador conveyed his delight regarding this partnership, emphasising the ever-increasing cooperation and the significant value it brings to the relations between both countries.
At 65, Sultan Ibrahim of Malaysia is known for his lavish lifestyle and philanthropy, backed by a family fortune estimated at $5.7 billion, as reported by Bloomberg.

The 17th King of Malaysia, the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, salutes the guard of honor at National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024. Photo by AP

Business Insider details Sultan Ibrahims wealth display, which includes a collection of 300 luxury vintage cars, ranging from a Bugatti Veyron to a cartoon-inspired replica. This collection also notably features a 1980s Ferrari Testarossa and a unique bright-pink Rolls Royce.

His penchant for luxury extends beyond automobiles to aviation, as he also owns three Gulfstreams and a gold-and-blue Boeing 737, adding private jets to his collection.

The Times of India additionally highlights his ownership of exotic animals, including tigers, lions, and crocodiles.

Bloomberg remarks on Sultan Ibrahims investments in various sectors, including palm oil, real estate, and telecommunications. He holds a significant stake in U Mobile, a leading Malaysian cell phone provider, and Maharani Energy Gateway, a key player in his home state of Johors oil and gas industry.

His investments reportedly extend to Singapore, where he owns $4 billion worth of land, including the Forest City project.

With his wealthy status, The Straits Times reports his recent initiative to revive the high-speed railway project between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, previously shelved in 2021 due to its substantial cost.

The Guardian also emphasizes his charitable efforts, including tours around Johor on a Harley-Davidson, where he distributed money to the needy, showcasing his dedication to welfare beyond his wealth.

Sultan Ibrahim was officially sworn into office during a ceremony held on Jan. 31, which was attended by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Cabinet members, as reported by AP. This ceremony, which included signing the proclamation of office, will be followed by a coronation ceremony.

His wife, 64-year-old Raja Zarith Sofiah of the Perak Royal Family, is an Oxford-educated author known for her childrens books. They share five sons and a daughter.

His rise to the throne is the latest iteration of Malaysias rotating monarchy system, in which the crown passed among the heads of the countrys nine royal families every five years.




The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared two members of the Young Progressives Party, Peter Uzokwe of Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo federal constituency and Chinwe Nnabuife of Orumba North and South federal constituency, winners of the rerun election held in Anambra State on Saturday.

The INEC returning officer, Prof. Charles Nweke, declared both candidates winners of their respective Constituencies at the INEC office in Nnewi North Local Government Secretariat on Sunday.

Declaring the winners, Nweke announced that the YPP candidate, Uzokwe, polled 25,518 votes to emerge the winner, while the current member representing the Federal Constituency and the All Progressives Grand Alliance candidate, Uchenna Elodimuo, scored 25,412 votes.

The breakdown of the results collated after the rerun showed that the YPP candidate won in Otolo Ward 1, Otolo Ward 2, Otolo Ward 3, Uruagu Ward 1, Uruagu Ward 2, Umudim Ward 1, Umudim Ward 2, as well as in Nnewichi Ward 1 and Nnewichi Ward 2, while the APGA candidate won only in Uruagu Ward 3.

A further breakdown of the results in the three local government areas of the Federal Constituency showed that the YPP candidate won the election after defeating the APGA candidate in Nnewi North Local Government Area by polling 17,112 votes, while APGA polled 8,750 votes in the local government.

However, the APGA candidate won in Nnewi South and Ekwusigo Local Government Areas, but the votes from the two local government areas were unable to override the YPP candidates votes in Nnewi North and, consequently, failed to retain the seat for the APGA candidate at the green chamber.

Speaking to journalists after the declaration, the winners, Uzokwe and Elodimuo, appreciated the senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, for his support.

On his part, Ubah thanked President Bola Tinubu and INEC for the peaceful conduct of the election, describing it as fierce and fair.

He also appreciated the security agencies for the conducive atmosphere during the rerun.

Meanwhile, Nnabuife of YPP, who had officially been re-affirmed the winner by INEC as a member representing Orumba North and South Federal Constituency at the INEC office in Orumba on Saturday, lauded the peaceful conduct of the poll and also thanked members of her constituency for the support she received.

She declared the victory a New Dawn and turning Around of the fortunes of Orumba in for good representation.

The rerun election was held in five polling units in Nnewi North, Nnewi South, and Ekwusigo Federal Constituencies to determine the winner of Nnewi North, Nnewi South, and Ekwusigo federal constituencies.

The rerun election also took place in 16 polling units at Nanka in Orumba North Local Government Area to determine the winner of the Orumba North and Orumba South federal constituency.

The total number of registered voters at the affected polling units in Nnewi North is 97,438, while that of Orumba North is 161,914 voters.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it has developed a handbook for its proposed "Progressive Institute" in an effort to promote good governance.

Over the years, the ruling party has considered creating its own institute.

Speaking at an event in Abuja on Saturday, Abdullahi Ganduje, APC national chairman, said the handbook was put together as part of efforts to establish a resource centre.

Ganduje said the ruling party is determined to leverage on science and technology to deepen democracy in the country.

"Our leadership is conscious of its historical responsibility to promote these ideals," the former governor of Kano said.

"The Progressive Institute will play a dual role for the APC. It will function as a Think Tank as well as an intellectual Resource Centre. As a think tank, it will undertake research either on its own or under the directives of the party, focusing on policies and programmes of governments under the APC platform.

"This will enhance the capacity to effectively play its role. It will also undertake capacity building activities for our members.

"In both roles, the centre will carry out research on progressive ideals and their programmatic implications while also developing the curriculum for ideological training en for members of the APC including those in government.

"It is important to emphasize the determination of our party to raise the quality of political discourse in the country through very well defined ideological prisms."

On his part, Ajibola Basiru, APC national secretary, said the handbook will distinguish the party from others.

"Our secretariat is open to all," Basiru said.

"Our bureaucracy and policies are designed to help politicians who are ready to serve the people and not just to get to public office."
Former Governor of Yobe State, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim is dead.

It was gathered that the former governor died on Sunday while receiving treatment for a protracted illness in Saudi Arabia.

It was equally gathered that Ibrahim will be buried in Saudi Arabia.

Ibrahim, who was equally a former Senator representing Yobe East, died at the age of 75 years.




A member representing Yagba Federal Constituency of Kogi State in the National Assembly, Leke Abejide, has called on Nigerians irrespective of political and religious inclination, to bear with the administration of President Bola Tinubu for at least two years to enable its policies to manifest and benefit from their good results.

Abejide made the call on Saturday during a grand reception organised in his honour by the Yoruba community in Kano State.

The event also featured his conferment of the title of Asiwaju of Yoruba Kano by His Royal Highness, the Oba Yoruba of Kano, Dr. Murtala Otisese.

I have the confidence that the Tinubu administration will make the economy better for the country. I have said it before, it is like when a woman is in labour there is a lot of pain pending when she delivers.

If You are looking at the policies the government is making, you will know that we should give at least two years, I know it is a long time for people who are in hardships, but in less than two years you will see the impact, the economy is going to be transformed. I have that belief, he said.

Abejide who is also the Chairman of the Customs and Excise Committee of the House of Representatives, said, My advice to the people is that we remain patient and the result will be good for all of us.

The Asiwaju Yoruba Kano then promised the 4.5 million Yorubas in Kano that he would complete the building of the palace of Oba Yoruba of Kano.

In his remarks, the Oba Yoruba of Kano, Dr. Alimi Otisese, while conferring the title on Elder Abejide, lauded the celebrant for his immense contributions to the Yorubas resident in Kano through the empowerment of widows and orphans, which he said were part of the reasons he conferred on him the title of Asiwaju of Yoruba Kano.

Speaking on behalf of the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, his Special Adviser on Yoruba Affairs, Alhaji Abdussalam Abdullatif, said the present administration in the state would continue to run an all-inclusive government in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

Abejide grew up in Kano before he went to his native Kogi State and contested and won elections into the House of Representatives on the platform of the African Democratic Congress in 2019 and 2023.




The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has asked Senegal to "expedite the various processes" and fix a new date for its presidential poll.

The West African bloc said this on Saturday following the decision by Senegal President Macky Sall to postpone the country's presidential poll indefinitely.

Sall said he postponed the election over "controversies" surrounding some of the 20 candidates seeking to replace him as president.

In a statement, ECOWAS said all stakeholders should engage in dialogue to ensure "transparent, inclusive and credible elections".

"The ECOWAS Commission expresses concern over the circumstances that have led to the postponement of the elections and appeals to the competent authorities to expedite the various processes in order to set a new date for the elections," the statement reads.

"The Commission further urges the entire political class to prioritize dialogue and collaboration for transparent, inclusive and credible elections.

"The ECOWAS Commission salutes President Macky Sall for upholding his earlier decision not to run for another term, and encourages him to continue to defend and protect Senegal's long-standing democratic tradition."

The commission said it would continue to monitor the situation in Senegal.
Niger Republic says Nigeria is endangering the neighbourly and fraternal ties between both nations.

In a joint statement on January 28, Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The three junta-led West African countries faulted ECOWAS for the sanctions imposed on them as part of efforts to reverse the coups in their countries.

They also cited ECOWAS' drift from the spirit of pan-Africanism, and the regional bloc's failure to stem the insecurity and terrorism in their nations, as reasons for their withdrawal.

On Monday, Nigeria condemned the exit of the three nations from ECOWAS.

ECOWAS said it was shocked by the development, saying it received no prior notification of the countries' position.

Backing the regional bloc, Nigeria said ECOWAS has worked to promote peace, prosperity, and democracy in the region for half a century.

In a statement by Bintou Ouattara, head of division of regional economic communities at the ministry of foreign affairs, Niger Republic said the help it rendered during the Biafran civil war was critical in safeguarding Nigeria's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

"By deciding irresponsibly to illegally and unjustly sanction Niger and to undertake military intervention against our country, ECOWAS has become a threat to all the people of the Sahel and its member states," the statement reads.

"With particular regards to Nigeria's responsibility, the government of Niger notes with deep regret that history will record that the unfair, illegal, unjust and inhumane sanctions against Niger were taken under the leadership of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, current president of the ECOWAS conference of heads of state and government.

"Then, to the irresponsible ECOWAS sanctions, Nigeria despite our neighbourly and fraternity ties, added its own punitive sanctions, namely; cutting off the supply of electrical energy indiscriminately, blocking the supply to Niger in pharmaceutical and food products, etc.

"In any case, Niger has no moral lessons, much less democracy, governance or patriotism, to receive from the current Nigerian authorities.

"Also, Niger urges them to exercise restraint and pull themselves together so as not to endanger our age-old bonds of fraternity which fully deserves to be preserved in the best interest of our people."
A five-year-old girl lost her life after being left unattended in a parked car for approximately four hours by her mother.

Malaysian news site The Star reported that the tragedy unfolded on Jan. 30, when the childs mother, a staff member at Hospital Shah Alam in Selangor, forgot her daughter in the back seat after picking her up from a daycare center around 2 p.m.

The oversight occurred as the child was asleep, and the mother, upon arriving at the hospital, exited the vehicle with the engine turned off, not realizing her daughter was still inside. The mistake was discovered only after the mother received a call from her husband around 6 p.m.

The young girl was found unconscious inside the car and rushed to the hospitals emergency department. However, she was eventually declared dead, despite the medical teams best efforts.

The Straits Times reported that a post-mortem examination was conducted the following day, with the exact cause of death awaiting further laboratory results. Authorities stated that the preliminary investigation revealed no signs of external or internal injuries on the child, and the case is being examined under the Child Act.

This incident marks the latest in a series of similar tragedies across Malaysia. In November last year, a two-year-old girl died after being left in a car for over seven hours in Selangor. The mother, distracted by work, forgot her child in the vehicle after planning to drop her off at a daycare center.

Before this, two devastating incidents occurred in October last year. A 16-month-old girl perished in Terengganu after her father left her in his car at a public university, and an eight-month-old girl died in Kuala Lumpur after her doctor mother forgot to drop her at the nursery before heading to work.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Ife Ehindero, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the by-election winner for the Akoko north-east/north-west seat in the House of Representatives.

Ehindero will replace Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, appointed minister of interior by President Bola Tinubu, in the green chamber.

Johnson Fasinmirin, the returning officer, declared Ehindero winner after he polled 35,504 votes to defeat Olalekan Bada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 15,328 votes.

The returning officer said the total votes cast were 51,896, with 51,341 valid votes, while 555 votes were rejected.

"I, Fasinmirin Johnson, hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer for the 2024 Akoko North-East and Akoko North-West Federal Constituency By-election held on Feb. 3. The election was contested and Ehindero Ifeoluwa Babajide of APC polled 35,504 while Bada Olalekan Oladapo scored 15,328," he said. "That Ehindero Ifeoluwa Babajide of APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected."

Speaking shortly after the election on Saturday, Ehindero decried the low turnout of voters.

"Usually, during by-elections, the turnout is always low, compared to the general elections. So, we expected that it won't be as much as that of the general election but the turnout is not as high as we expect," he said.

"But from what I'm hearing from other polling units, we are hoping that our people will still come out to vote. We still have enough time since it is between 8 am and 2 pm.

"The security agencies have been of good conduct so far. At my polling unit, security men have been professional and there hasn't been any report of security breaches across the wards."




Biodun Oyebanji, governor of Ekiti, has commended security agencies for the "collaborative efforts" that led to the release of kidnapped pupils and a staff member of Apostolic Faith School in the state.

The school children regained their freedom early Sunday morning.

The pupils, a driver, and a teacher, were abducted on Monday, January 29, from their school bus in Ekiti state.

They were heading to Emure-Ekiti when the assailants intercepted their bus at Eporo- Ekiti.

In a statement, Olayinka Oyebode, Oyebanji's special adviser on media, said the governor expressed "profound appreciation" to President Bola Tinubu for "giving specific directives that put the search and rescue mission on top gear".

"He also thanks the security agencies for their collaborative efforts during the search for the students, just as he extends appreciation to Ekitikete home and abroad for their support during the security situation experienced last week," the statement reads.

"The Governor, who kept vigil with Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele till 3.00 am to ensure the release of the children, acknowledges the solidarity shown by his colleagues governors, former governors of the state as well as religious leaders and traditional rulers.

"He also thanks members of the Ekiti State Caucus in the National Assembly and members of the state House of Assembly for their support.

"And more importantly, we thank God for everything."

The governor directed Oyebanji Filani, commissioner for health and human services, to take the children to the state's teaching hospital for "proper medical treatment and post trauma therapy".

Oyebanji said his administration is determined to "stamp out crime and criminality from the state by making the environment unbearable for criminals operating under whatever guise".

The governor said the killers of the two Ekiti monarchs would be "fished out" and made to "face the maximum weight of the law".
Mike Ejiofor, a former director of the Department of State Services (DSS), says he used to oppose the payment of ransom until he was kidnapped.

In an interview with Vanguard, the former DSS director said there has been an uptick in the rate of kidnappings in many parts of the country in recent weeks.

Despite the government and security agencies consistently discouraging ransom payments, families of kidnapped victims often secure the release of their loved ones by paying ransom.

Ejiofor said he used to discourage the payment of ramson but changed the notion when he was a victim.

He said kidnappers see the illegal act as a "lucrative industry" because people no longer keep money at home.

"Everybody is getting involved because of economic hardship. The economy is partly responsible for the escalation of criminality. People are suffering. You can't attack people's houses and see cash. You can't break into a shop to collect things because you will be arrested. The quickest way to make money now is through payment of ransom," Ejiofor said.

"Before I became a victim, I had often said people shouldn't pay ransom. But that notion changed after I became a victim.

"Unless you are not involved, you will do everything possible including payment of ransom to release your relative. Of course, the government will always discourage people from paying the ransom.

"For me, I believe in the saying that he who fights and runs away lives to fight another day. If you secure yourself, if the government cannot secure you, that's fine."

The former DSS director said to tackle kidnappings, the government should supervise the payment of ransom, saying useful information can be obtained during the process.

"For example, when the wife of former central bank governor, Emefiele, was kidnapped, money used for ransom was marked and the suspects were later arrested," he said.

"But victims' families are always impatient. You don't blame them because they want their loved ones safe. If the police or government is telling you not to pay ransom, it is expected.

"But until you are affected, you will know whether to pay ransom or not."




Macky Sall, president of Senegal, has announced a postponement of the February 25 presidential election.

Sall made the announcement on Saturday during a national broadcast wherein he also called for dialogue with stakeholders.

I will initiate an open national dialogue to bring together the conditions for a free, transparent and inclusive election in a peaceful and reconciled Senegal, Sall said.

Sall has been president of Senegal since 2012 and recently announced that he would not be seeking a third term.





The Senegalese 2021 constitution only allows a president to serve for five years and is limited to two terms.

The president, who had previously hinted at a third term as granted by the constitutional council, recently decided to step down and announced Amadou Ba, prime minister, as his preferred successor.

He reiterated on Saturday that he would not be seeking a third term.

As for me, my solemn commitment not to run for the presidential election remains unchanged, Sall said.

Some civil society organisations had expressed concerns on issues relating to the electoral process.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL

The constitutional council is the body that screens candidates for the presidency of the republic.

The council also compiles the list of candidates and manages disagreements arising from the election of the president, and members of the national assembly. It also declares the results of the votes.

The council had earlier released the list of valid candidates for the 2024 presidential election.

Of the over 200 candidates, only 20 were approved, among whom are two women  Rose Wardini, a gynaecologist, and Anta Babacar Ngom, an entrepreneur.

It is the first time that Senegal would have such a high number of interested candidates for the presidential position.

OPPOSITION CANDIDATE IN DETENTION

The council approved Amadou Ba, Idrissa Seck who came second in the 2019 election, Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dionne, and Khalifa Sall, former mayor of the countrys capital Dakar.

The council rejected Ousmane Sanko of the African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics, Fraternity (PASTEF) party.

Sanko, who is said to be popular among the youths, was rejected over multiple convictions.

He contested in 2019 and polled third, but was later arrested over alleged sexual assault, and sentenced to two years imprisonment.

This followed protests by youths who opposed his arrest, amid speculations of a possible third-term race by Sall.

The protest reportedly resulted in the killing of many youths, while many members of the opposition party, including journalists, were detained.

Sanko was then charged with inciting insurrections, conspiracy, and terrorism, and is currently in detention.

Also rejected by the council is Karim Wade, the son of former President Abdoulaye Wade, who served as the countrys head of state from 2000-2012.

Karim Wade was declared ineligible due to his dual nationality.

ELECTION PROCESS ISSUES

On January 31, Senegals parliament constituted a panel of inquiry into the activities of two judges in the constitution council.

During an interaction with TheCable on Friday, some civil society organisations said the judges were being probed over corruption allegations.

The organisations said the process of sponsorship, and lack of access to voter register lists, have posed doubts on the transparency of the election process.

On Friday, Wades Democratic Party (PDS) demanded a postponement of the election over a lack of transparency.




The kidnapped pupils and a staff member of Apostolic Faith School in Ekiti have regained their freedom.

The school children were said to have been rescued in the wee hours of Sunday.

The pupils, a driver, and a teacher, were abducted on Monday, January 29, from their school bus in Ekiti state.

They were heading to Emure-Ekiti when the assailants intercepted their bus at Eporo-Ekiti.

Abutu Sunday, police spokesperson in Ekiti, who confirmed the development to TheCable, also disclosed that the driver of the bus was found dead.

In the early hours of today around 1:30 am, the abducted children and their teacher were rescued by the team of police and other security agencies, including the locals, Sunday said.

Unfortunately, we lost the driver who is suspected of having been killed by the abductors.

There has been a spike in kidnapping for ransom, and killings orchestrated by unknown gunmen, across Nigeria in recent times.

Gunmen have killed traditional rulers in Ekiti and Kwara states in the last fortnight.

Abuja, Nigerias capital city, has not been spared either, with authorities and law enforcement grappling to contain a spate of abductions by bandits in border communities.




President Bola Tinubu has extended deep condolences to the government and people of Namibia over the passing of His Excellency, President Hage Geingob.

The President, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Sunday, said on behalf of Nigerians he joins in mourning the painful loss of a veteran in the struggle for democracy.

Tinubu described Geingob as a proponent of good governance and advocate of economic, social, and political solidarity among African people.

He noted that the tragedy came at a time when Africa needs more visionary leaders who believe in the common destiny of the continent, and who can strengthen bonds across borders and spread the tendrils of cooperation across all fields of human endeavour.

As Namibia mourns, I assure the Republic that his thoughts and prayers, and indeed those of Nigerians, are with them, Ajuri noted in the condolence message.
A man was hospitalized early Sunday after being stabbed outside of a Bergen County bar, according to authorities.

The 31-year-old man was attacked outside of JoJos Bar & Grill on Monroe Street in Garfield, the Bergen County Prosecutors Office said. Police were called to the scene in the 100 block of Monroe Street about 12:45 a.m.

Police said the man was stabbed in his torso. He was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center, but an update on his condition was not provided.

It was unclear if the stabbing was tied to patrons at the bar.

The case was being investigated by Garfield police and the prosecutors office.

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.
It was deja vu all over again for Kavya Jakasania of Jersey City on Saturday as she outlasted scores of top young spellers to be named champion of the 2024 Hudson County Spelling Bee.

The 14-year-old eighth-grader at Middle School 4 was the winner of last years 2023 county bee and will now make a return trip to represent Hudson at the Scripps National Spelling Bee outside of Washington, D.C., this spring.
The head of New Jerseys largest teachers union is making noises about running for governor in 2025, testing the waters with a dark money group funding digital ads and a vow to fight for working class people.

But right at the starting gate, Sean Spiller needs to address the many legitimate concerns about his ethics, both as mayor of Montclair, and president of the New Jersey Education Association.
Some wise guy once said that the United States is the only country to have passed directly from barbarism to decadence.

In that regard, New Jersey may be the only state to go directly from corruption to nepotism.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (second from left) at IPMF-3 (Photo: VNA)

As the keynote speaker at the round-table discussion themed Green Transition: Partnering for a Sustainable Future, as part of the third EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum (IPMF-3) in Brussels, Belgium on February 2, Son also affirmed Vietnam's commitment to climate change mitigation and strong green transformation, highlighting its journey from the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) to its recent distinction as one of the first three countries to establish the Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP).

Turning his attention to the EU's new regulations on green transformation, particularly the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Son stressed that developed countries' policies and regulations should create opportunities for growth rather than erecting new barriers to trade - a fundamental driver for the growth of many developing countries.

He urged EU countries to assist Vietnam and other developing nations in adapting by sharing experiences and best practices, and coordinate in building policies and mechanisms on carbon trading and pricing.

Participating ministers engaged in a comprehensive exploration of solutions to integrate economic recovery and climate change response into green transformation, ensure energy security and social fairness, and the role of the EU-Indo-Pacific partnership.

They emphasised that with the EU's expertise and experience in greening economic models, along with its financial resources, cooperation in green transformation would become a cornerstone of the EU's partnership with countries in the region.

As an EU initiative since 2022, the IPMF is held annually for foreign ministers from EU and Indo-Pacific countries to share cooperation prospects between the two regions. Priority cooperation areas have so far focused on inclusive and sustainable prosperity, green transformation, ocean governance, partnership relations and digital governance, connectivity, national security, and human security./.
Getting around parts of Warren County got a little easier with a bridge reopening Friday.

Harmony Brass Castle Road had been closed between Hartmans Corner Road and Spring Lane since flooding rains washed out a bridge there last July 15.

The road, County Route 647, reopened Friday following repairs to the bridge and road in the area of Brass Castle Creek in Washington Township, county officials said in a news release.

The Warren County Administration would like to thank all parties involved in the project, including the county Public Works Department and county Engineers Office, the release states.

Disastrous flooding that weekend closed roads, damaged homes and cut power to thousands, and led to President Joe Biden approving a federal Major Disaster Declaration for the damage in Warren County.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Snow this morning will transition to snow showers this afternoon. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 100%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this evening. Low 26F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%.
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Among the most sought-after reminders of the Golden Age of Carnival are parade bulletins  beautiful presentations of each years themes and float designs. Parade papers or bulletins, with images of each float and notes describing the parade theme and float titles, helped the public anticipate and enjoy each parade, and preserved memories of those parades long after their brief time on the parade route and their return to the den. Much of what we know of early Rex parades, themes, and float designs we learn from parade bulletins.

Early versions of parade papers consisted of black and white engravings of float designs printed in newspapers along with descriptions of each parade, but these quickly evolved into more elaborate presentations. According to Carnival historian Henri Schindler, larger broadside sheets soon appeared with float sketches on one side and advertisements and float descriptions on the reverse. By 1886, these large-scale masterpieces of chromolithography were popular keepsakes of Carnival parades.

Newspapers competed for contracts to print each organizations parade bulletin. According to Schindler, These ten-cent bulletins have assumed an importance that could not have been imagined when they were produced. Because so few collections of original float and costume designs have survived, these lithographs became the visual record of the great processions, picturing every float from 1877 until the bulletins were discontinued in 1941.

For all of those reasons, the Rex organization brought back the parade bulletin beginning with its 2003 Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial parade. The project combined contemporary artwork  float sketches and drawings prepared each year to illustrate a new theme  with elements of bulletins printed more than a century ago. The final product relied on the latest computer technology to bring the old and the new together.

That work was done by Matthew Hales, a computer artist and the School of Designs Royal Lithographer. For almost two decades Rex parade bulletins have been a popular souvenir of modern Rex parades. They have also played an important role in the Rex in the Classroom program, allowing students to explore the theme of each Rex parade during the weeks before Mardi Gras.

This years bulletin illustrates the 2024 Rex Parade, The Two Worlds of Lafcadio Hearn  New Orleans and Japan. Few writers have better understood and described the unique culture of New Orleans than Lafcadio Hearn. When he left New Orleans to live and write in Japan, he opened a window into another rich and colorful culture. His writing about both of his worlds is filled with unforgettable images, many of which are captured in the 2024 Rex Procession

dedicated to this remarkable writer. In 1989, Rex honored Hearn with the procession entitled Lafcadio Hearns Fantastics, which featured mainly New Orleans-themed floats. This years procession is weighted toward Hearns Japanese writings, many of which were based on local ghost stories and folklore.

Todays parade bulletins do not match the heroic size of the old broadside versions, but they accomplish the same goal, preserving in a unique art form images of beautiful parades that are on public display for just one day.
At a gathering in Laos (Photo: VNA)

In Vientiane, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Ba Hung said as a cherished tradition, each year the Vietnamese community and three Vietnamese Consulate Generals in Laos join hands in hosting a vibrant year-end party for their closest friends in Laos.

Building on the achievements of the past year, he expressed confidence that the arrival of the Lunar New Year in 2024 would usher in a renewed spirit, bringing invigorated energy to both Vietnam and Laos.

Lao Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Chansamone Chanyalath conveyed his belief in the enduring strength of the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the Parties, States, and people of Laos and Vietnam. He believed in continued elevation of these ties, ensuring tangible benefits for the citizens of both nations.

Participants were treated to traditional dishes from Vietnam's Tet holiday and songs extolling the bonds of solidarity and friendship between the two countries.

A similar event also took place in the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt the same day./.
An article on Vietnam's attraction of semiconductor investors on Grupo Multimedio (Photo: VNA)

In an article, author Leonardo Perez Pina, affirmed the leadership role of the CPV which led the Vietnamese working class and nation in the struggle against imperialism and feudalism. Only 15 years after its foundation, the Party successfully led the August Revolution to topple colonial and feudal regimes and establish the first State of workers and farmers in Southeast Asia, opening up a new era in Vietnams history.

The Party then led the Vietnamese people to conduct resistance wars against aggressive French colonialists from 1946-1954 and against the US for national salvation from 1954-1975.

The article also highlighted the sound policy of the CPV in launching the Doi Moi (renewal) in 1986, which brought about admirable economic accomplishments after nearly 40 years. In external relations, Vietnam has set up diplomatic relations with nearly 200 countries and partnerships at difference levels with dozens of states.

Another article in the series highlighted Vietnams attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) over the past 35 years. Perez Pina assessed that Vietnams flexible and sound policy had successfully attracted nearly 439 billion USD worth of investment from 129 economies by the end of 2023, with 274 billion USD disbursed.

An article praises CPV on its 94th founding anniversary (Photo: VNA)

According to the article, the expansion of economic diplomacy by the CPV and the Vietnamese Government has created greater opportunities in drawing quality investment capital in new industries.

Yet another article of Perez Pina underlined Vietnams policy considering the semiconductor industry a spearhead industry in the future, noting that many US companies had inked deals on investment in Vietnam in this area./.
There are different methods I use to raise awareness of North Devons concerns in Westminster; they range from asking Parliamentary Questions in the Chamber (OPQs) to meeting directly with ministers. Written Parliamentary Questions (WPQs) are another such way of making representations.

After a recent hustings event at Petroc with their politics students, it was raised by one of the panellists that their manifesto commitment was for a mental health specialist in each school, with the suggestion that schools were not currently equipped for dealing with their students mental health challenges.

I am sure they would welcome further help, but I am aware of how much support is already available in schools for students, having taught briefly myself, and as a Government, we have committed to helping students overcome barriers in school by improving mental health support.

Given this, I submitted a WPQ to check how many schools were taking advantage of the funding and support I knew was already available.

The increased grants for senior mental health leads in school, which my WPQ referred to, have enabled targeted support for students and their needs, with over 14,000 schools claiming this grant.

I received a response from the Education Minister, David Johnston OBE MP and there have been, in fact, a total of 23 grant applications made by schools in North Devon to date.

You can read the complete response to the WPQ on my website here: https://www.selainesaxby.org.uk/education-0

It was wrong to suggest there is no support for mental health in schools and is vital to get these facts correct, especially when speaking to students because I know that colleges such as Petroc take the wellbeing of students and staff incredibly seriously.

The college's website states a number of options available for support, including Petroc's Wellbeing and Support Team, which provides a safe and confidential service that offers one to one support and guidance to help learners overcome any barriers they face whilst studying.

Alongside the Senior Mental Health Grant Scheme, there has also been an increase in Mental Health Support Teams. These offer support in schools and colleges for common mental wellbeing issues such as anxiety and low mood.

By March 2025, this support will be available to at least 50 per cent of students in England, with more than 3.4 million pupils currently covered by these support teams.

We need to ensure that children and families feel supported enough to attend school so students do not suffer from the impacts of low attendance.

As well as the mental health support teams, the Government has published guidance for schools titled 'Working together to improve school attendance.

I supported Flick Drummond MP for Meon Valleys, 'Children not in school (register)' 10 Minute Rule Bill back last May to place a duty on local authorities to maintain a register of children not in school to address safeguarding concerns and make suitable arrangements.

Flick will be presenting this bill again in the Chamber the same day as my own Private Members Bill and I look forward to speaking in support again.

There is far more going on at Westminster than some of the click bait graphics on social media would have you believe and I hope as the General Election comes closer residents will challenge what is on leaflets for its factual accuracy.

One part of my six point plan when I was elected was to 'Support the Next Generation' and ensure that students in North Devon have the support they need to remove the barriers to fulfil their full potential and I will continue my work on that going forward.

If you have any questions or issues, you can always reach to my office at selaine.saxby.mp@parliament.uk
The former Brumm's Bloomin' Barn, one of the Region's oldest gift shops and florists, will stay in Highland after nearly being forced out by its landlord and announcing a move to St. John.

Bloomin' Barn, which it's been known as since the Brumm family retired and sold the business to longtime customer David Gerlach, will remain at its longtime location at 2540 45th St. in Highland. Gerlach is selling to new owners who plan to rebrand it as Willow Blooms after a renovation.

45th Street Partners LLC bought the shopping center from the Brumm family in 2021, modernizing the interior after doing $325,000 in renovations. It was looking to replace Bloomin' Barn with a restaurant.

But the landlord changed its mind and is now looking at locating the restaurant on the side of the strip mall, where it would only occupy part of the back of Bloomin' Barn's space, Gerlach said. Bloomin' Barn will shrink from about 5,000 square feet to about 3,800 square feet as a result.

"The restaurant will take up some of the backspace where we have the designers, so we'll have to put in a new design room," he said. "The landlord decided to take a whole different route with the space and asked if we'd want it if it was available. A lot of people were upset that we were moving. They're used to Brumm's being here. It was a better fit to stay."

The move to a new spot on U.S. 41 in St. John has been called off.

"I just wanted to continue the business and relocate so the staff would continue to have jobs," he said.

Gerlach is selling the business to Northwest Indiana residents Jeff and Stephanie Dorsey after running it for three years. The store's roughly 10 employees will mostly stay on.

"It's going to do all the same events: weddings and funerals," he said. "The gift shop will continue. Everything's going to continue. It will have the same floral designers and even a few new people. It will just be a little smaller."

The Brumms founded it more than 50 years ago. It nearly went out of business when no buyers stepped up initially, but then Gerlach came in to take it over and continue their legacy.

"I have so many memories of shopping there as a kid," he said. "It's a staple and it was sad that it was going to close down. I didn't want to see that happen."

It's still possible the florist and gift shop could expand to a second location in St. John one day.

"The Brumms asked me to drop the Brumm's name so it became Bloomin' Barn," he said. "It was big shoes to fill when Jerry and Nancy retired, but the employees are a great group of people and there are very loyal customers."

Bloomin' Barn will stay open through the busy Valentine's Day season and then close temporarily for a makeover. Gerlach plans to help out as a consultant while the gift shop and florist becomes Willow Blooms.

"I hope the new generation of ownership continues and goes above and beyond what I was able to do," Gerlach said. "I hope it continues and thrives and remains in the community for many years to come"

For more information, visit bloominbarn.com or find the business on Facebook.
Great Harvest Bakery & Cafe in Crown Point launched a King Cake fundraiser this Mardi Gras season to benefit the Mercy Fund of the Catholic Foundation for Northwest Indiana.

The bakery and cafe at 10420 Broadway in Crown Point is raising money for the nonprofit that works to "providing care for the poor and marginalized, bringing hope to the hopeless, and protecting those too young or too old to advocate for themselves."

Great Harvest Bakery & Cafe will donate $3 from each large King Cake sold through Feb. 13 to the charity, which serves the needy in Lake, Porter, LaPorte, and Starke counties.

We are so happy to be able to partner with our local business, the Great Harvest Bakery to support an important work like the Mercy Fund," said Judy Holicky, coordinator of development and stewardship for the Catholic Foundation for Northwest Indiana. "They have a big heart for giving back to the community. Mercy grants are awarded every November and grant applications are available on-line from April 1 through August 1. We are so appreciative to Great Harvest for supporting this community ministry.

Great Harvest Bakery & Cafe, which mills its own wheat from scratch every morning to bake fresh bread daily, makes authentic Southwest Louisiana King Cakes during Mardi Gras season.

"We're not just offering a taste of Mardi Gras; we're inviting our community to be part of something meaningful," said Katie Smith, one of the owners. "This partnership with the Mercy Fund allows us to give back and make a positive impact right here in Northwest Indiana."

King Cakes, which are oval shaped and covered in carnival colors like purple, green and goldl are extremely popular in New Orleans from Three Kings Day through Fat Tuesday. They contain hidden surprises, which were originally beans, pecans or coins but are now almost always plastic babies. The person who finds the baby is named "King of the Party" and obligated to buy a King Cake next year.

More than half a million King Cakes are consumed in New Orleans every Mardi Gras season.

For more information, visit www.greatharvestnwi.com.
Hitachi Global Air Power, formerly Sullair, is donating a purple Mardi Gras-themed air compressor to benefit the ARA Foundation and Alzheimers Association.

The Michigan City-based manufacturer, a major employer in LaPorte County since 1965, is auctioning off a Sullair 185 Series Tier 4 Final Portable Air Compressor at the ARA Foundation Charity Auction.

It will also give the Alzheimers Association $10,000 to fund Alzheimers and dementia research, awareness and assistance.

Over the past several years, Hitachi Global Air Power has proudly stood by the ARA Foundation, championing their invaluable work supporting the rental industry, said John Randall, Hitachi Global Air Power President and CEO. We have also taken the opportunity in recent years to tie this support to other deserving charities close to our hearts. This year, were honored to contribute to the Alzheimers Association, an organization renowned for its research, advocacy work and unwavering support of families facing the challenges of this disease. Our dedication to these causes is more than a gesture  its a reflection of our values, a belief in shared responsibility and a strong commitment to our community.

The air compressor will be auctioned off from 5-6:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at the American Rental Associations trade show at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. It's valued at $25,000 and includes hand-written notes from employees.

"We are so grateful to Hitachi Global Air Power for their commitment to the fight against Alzheimer's and all other dementia," said Natalie Sutton, executive director, Alzheimer's Association Greater Indiana Chapter. "This disease affects everyone, including the business community, and partnerships like this are crucial to our mission. Their generosity will help us raise awareness, fund critical research and continue to provide free programs and services for all those affected."

It's the sixth year Hitachi Global Air Power has given away a compressor for charity. The American Rental Association has been able to raise $110,000 as a result of the donations. The company also contributed another $30,000 to charity.

The air compressor it's donating is the most popular one on the market for rental companies. It delivers 185 cfm of air at 100 psi and is used by industries like construction, mining and landscaping.
"Ninety percent of the food Hoosiers eat is imported, that's 98% for fruits and vegetables," Anne Massie, co-executive director of the Northwest Indiana Food Council, said. "We're consistently listed in the top 10 agriculture producing states, but we can't even feed ourselves."

For the past nine years, the NWI Food Council has been working to change these statistics by establishing a strong, local food system that supports area farmers while reducing food insecurity rates. Now the organization wants to create a comprehensive food system plan that spans seven counties, but they can't do it alone.

Over the next few months, the council will be traveling throughout Northwest Indiana, asking residents a somewhat complex question.

"What should our future food system should look like?" Massie said.

Years in the making

Twelve years ago, Massie sat on a steering committee for the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission's, or NIRPC's, 2012 Local Food Study. The study grew out of NIRPC's first Comprehensive Regional Plan, which was adopted in 2011. The 2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan lays out ideas for sustainable growth, urban reinvestment, environmental conservation and improved transportation. While crafting the plan, NIRPC held a number of community input sessions. During these meetings, residents frequently brought up the importance of local food.

NIRPC convened a Food Study Advisory Committee and got to work mapping the state of agriculture and local food in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties. The report found that the vast majority of the three counties' farmlands was dedicated to commodity crops like corn and soybeans, which are sold on the world market. The report also detailed the potential economic and environmental benefits of eating local, the Region's rapid loss of farmland and barriers consumers face when trying to access local food.

One of the 2012 study's main findings was that Northwest Indiana needed a group to act as the leader of the local food movement. Just three years later, the NWI Food Council was born.

There really hasnt been an update (on the study) since 2012," Massie said the Food Council plans on providing an update with the "NWI Community Food System Plan."

Completed through a partnership with NIRPC and the Northwest Indiana Forum, the updated plan will look at Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Starke, Pulaski, Newton and Jasper counties. The NWI Food Council will hold a series of listening sessions in each county beginning in March.

Virginia Pleasant, the other co-executive director of the NWI Food Council, said the group wants to hear from farmers, entrepreneurs, people working in tourism, restaurant workers and food service directors.

"We want to hear from just general eaters too," Massie added. "Anyone who would like to see a different landscape where food security is prioritized and considered more of a public good than it is right now."

The Food System Plan will outline what Northwest Indiana's current local food strengths are and where potential barriers lie. The plan will complement NIRPC's NWI 2050 plan, which was finalized in July of this year.

Similar to NIRPC's 2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan, the 2050 plan lays out strategies for improving transportation, environmental sustainability and economic development. Making sure the Food System Plan and the 2050 plan are in tune is important because reliable public transportation is inextricably linked to food access, Massie explained.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies low-income areas where at least 33% of residents are more than a half mile from the nearest supermarket, as having a "low access" to healthy food. In rural places, low-income residents greater than 10 miles from a supermarket are considered low access.

Almost all of East Chicago, Gary, Lake Station and Hammond are considered low access.

Massie said the plan will identify opportunities to improve local food distribution. The plan will also look at policy changes that could make local food more affordable and could make it easier for residents to grow their own food.

According to data from the last USDA Census, NWI's seven-county region spends almost $2.3 billion on food each year. Less that 2% of that money goes towards local farmers and producers.

Since the 2012 study, Massie said NWI's network of local farmers and producers has grown immensely.

The Food Council hopes to publish the study at the start of 2025.

"A lot has changed since 2012," Massie said. "The major difference is before there wasn't a Food Council. Now there's actually an organization that can champion the implementation of this work."

A statewide sustainable food system

Northwest Indiana isn't the only part of the state looking to "re-regionalize" food systems. For the past five years, the NWI Food Council has been working with other food councils across Indiana to develop a food charter that would provide a long-term vision for a statewide sustainable food system.

The partner groups, which include other food councils, Indiana University, the Indianapolis Community Food Access Coalition and more, recently obtained funding through the Indiana Department of Health to create a charter. Pleasant said the groups were inspired by Michigan, which completed its first statewide food charter in 2010 and has since published an updated charter. Michigan's 2022 "Good Food Charter" highlighted the importance of ensuring nutritious food is accessible, the state's food system is equitable, the food production process is fair to workers, the food system is diverse, that food production and distribution processes are environmentally sustainable and that residents have healthy food options.

Statewide listening sessions will be held throughout this spring and summer and an online survey will be circulated. Pleasant said the charter will be drafted this fall and may be published as soon as the start of 2025.

There really hasnt been the intentionality for creating a food system that is just and serves community members," Massie said.

Over the next few years, millions of dollars will be flooding into the Midwest's local and sustainable food movement.

On Feb. 1, grant applications opened for the Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub, a program that will fund distribute $16 million to farm to school initiatives in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana over the next five years. The application will remain open through April 30; more information is available at innovateschoolfood.org.

Also over the next five years, the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center will distribute funding to small and mid-sized farmers and historically marginalized food and farm businesses throughout Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.

With regional partners, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems is one of twelve organizations selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a Regional Food Business Center. These centers will help more farm and food businesses access new markets and navigate federal, state, and local resources. In September 2022, USDA announced $400 million available to fund this initiative.

Over the next five years, the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center will receive $20 million to launch and coordinate this center with key partners in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The USDA will allocated $20 million to this initiative. More information is available at canr.msu.edu/GLM-RFBC/.

PHOTOS: Faith Farms tour
The Indiana Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether a police officer can explicitly drag out a traffic stop until another officer with a drug-sniffing dog is able to arrive at the scene.

The state's high court has scheduled oral arguments on the question for Feb. 22 after it last month set aside a 2-1 Indiana Court of Appeals ruling issued Sept. 25, 2023, overlooking an extended delay by Avon Police that led to the arrest of an Indianapolis man on four drug-related charges.

Police officers generally are prohibited from prolonging a traffic stop to bring in a K-9 unit and conduct a dog sniff for drugs or other contraband under the protections against unlawful seizure guaranteed by the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

However, if the dog sniff is conducted during the limited amount of time an officer reasonably needs to address the traffic violation, and attend to related safety concerns, the K-9 search typically will pass constitutional muster.

In this case, court records show Officer Kevin Roach of the Avon Police Department pulled over Theodore Canonge Jr. and his two passengers on April 22, 2021, after allegedly observing Canonge commit multiple traffic violations, including changing lanes without signaling.

According to Roach, Canonge and the other occupants were moving around in the vehicle after pulling over, reaching for backpacks in the floorboard area, and acting strangely when he approached the vehicle, such as Canonge handing his driver's license and other documents to Roach before he even spoke to him, a passenger smoking a cigarette nervously and not making eye contact, and another passenger sitting completely still in the back seat.

Records show Roach requested a K-9 unit after returning to his police car to verify Canonge's documents. But Roach was told the K-9 unit on duty was addressing a roadside hazard and was not immediately available.

As a result, records show Roach began composing a written warning for Canonge's traffic violations, even though his usual practice was to issue a verbal warning.

Roach said: "I was waiting for an officer...the K-9 officer to arrive to conduct the sniff. So, in the meantime I was occupying my time by writing the warning," according to court records.

Records show the K-9 unit arrived 13 minutes later, which was about 21 minutes into the traffic stop. The dog sniff alerted to the presence of drugs, and Roach's subsequent search of Canonge's vehicle allegedly located cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana.

In his appeal, Canonge argued the results of the dog sniff and police search of his vehicle should have been suppressed because the lengthy stop he was subjected to for mere traffic infractions violated his constitutional rights.

Appeals Judge Peter Foley, joined by Judge Robert Altice Jr., rejected that claim. Foley said even if the stop was unnecessarily prolonged, the unusual behavior of Canonge and his passengers at the start of the traffic stop gave Roach a sufficient basis to suspect criminal activity was afoot.

"Viewing those collective observations in light of Officer Roach's professional experience  as we must  it was reasonable for Officer Roach to seize the occupants of the vehicle for a short time longer to conduct the minimally intrusive investigatory dog sniff," Foley said.

"Thus, we conclude that the totality of the circumstances  the whole picture  provided reasonable suspicion to prolong the traffic stop to conduct the dog sniff."

Judge Melissa May dissented from the appellate court ruling. She said Roach unreasonably prolonged the traffic stop so the dog sniff could occur.

"Officer Roach held Canonge for approximately 20 minutes before a K-9 officer arrived, a longer period than the approximately 10 to 15 minutes Officer Roach testified a traffic stop typically takes. In addition, while Officer Roach ultimately did not issue any ticket to Canonge, Officer Roach testified that he only began writing a warning ticket 'to fill time until (the K-9 unit) got there,'" May said.

"Where an officer explicitly admits the writing of a ticket was pretextual, I would explicitly hold that officer unreasonably prolonged the traffic stop beyond the time necessary to address the reason for the stop."

May also disagreed with the court's majority that Roach nevertheless had sufficient suspicion to prolong the traffic stop to conduct the dog sniff.

She said nervous behavior isn't enough. She also noted Roach said he observed no one using drugs in the vehicle, didn't smell any illegal substances or see any threatening movements, and May said there's nothing suspicious about a motorist having ready the documents every motorist knows an officer is about to request.

"As our Indiana Supreme Court observed in State v. Quirk (2006), 'A combination of irrelevant conduct and innocent conduct, without more, cannot be transformed into a suspicious conglomeration.' That, I fear, is what the majority does here, and therefore, I would hold that Officer Roach did not have the requisite reasonable suspicion to prolong the traffic stop of Canonge, and I would reverse the trial court," May said.

A Supreme Court ruling is expected in the second half of the year.

Gallery: Get to know the state symbols of Indiana State Aircraft: Republic Aviation P-47 Thunderbolt State Bird: Cardinal State Flag State Flower: Peony State Fossil: Mastodon State Gun: Grouseland Rifle State Insect: Say's Firefly State Language: English State Motto: "Crossroads of America" State Nickname: The Hoosier State State Pie: Sugar Cream Pie (unofficial) State Poem: "Indiana" State River: Wabash State Seal State Snack: Indiana-Grown Popcorn State Song: "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" State Stone: Limestone State Tree: Tulip tree
On Jan. 25, Turkey at last approved membership for Sweden in NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). This is an historic step, in several important respects.

Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the resulting bloody war, have provided incentive for previously neutral Finland and Sweden to join this alliance. Ankaras strong objections to Sweden, related to providing haven for Turkish extremists, were finally overcome.

Last July, President Joe Biden attended the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. The last stop on the itinerary was new NATO member Finland. In World War II, Finlands military fought much larger Soviet forces to a draw.

NATO is a remarkably durable alliance. Nations led by the United States and Britain signed the NATO treaty in Washington D.C. in April 1949. By contrast, alliances lasted on average only five years during the long Napoleonic wars of two centuries ago.

Our present alliance began in direct response to Soviet expansionism during and after World War II. By 1949, the Cold War was on. Today, the organization pursues various diverse missions, including humanitarian relief.

The collapse of East Europe communist regimes, followed by the Soviet Union, ended the Cold War but not conflict in Europe. In 2008, Russian troops invaded a portion of Georgia, following an attack by Georgian troops on South Ossetia. Russia encouraged and fostered these breakaway efforts. In 2014, Russia intervened in eastern Ukraine and annexed the territory of Crimea.

Conclusion of the Cold War was a great victory for the policy of restrained deterrence termed Containment. Every United States president from Harry Truman, when the Cold War commenced, to George H.W. Bush when that conflict ended, supported this foundational security policy.

NATO has endured for various reasons. Bureaucracies seek self-perpetuation, and modern militaries represent potent political lobbies. However, the strategic realities of a now dangerously aggressive, expansionist Russia under President Vladimir Putin is the most important incentive and has reenergized the alliance.

Putin continually probes for ways to separate allies from the U.S. Also present is the danger of renewed violence among ethnic groups in Southeastern Europe.

NATO today has a range of missions including but going beyond self-defense narrowly defined. Forces have operated well beyond the North Atlantic region, including notably in Afghanistan. Humanitarian work has included transport and other support missions during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This in turn opens the door to a range of positive and productive activities beyond traditional military defense and security. With further expansion of economic development in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and more widely, demand for better education, health care and related humanitarian activities also will grow.

This could lead to further development of the alliances capacities and involvement beyond purely military dimensions.

Article 5 of the NATO treaty states that an attack on one member nation is an attack on all. The 9/11 terrorist strikes on New York and Washington D.C., and in the sky over Pennsylvania, triggered this clause, for the first time.

After final defeat of Napoleon, Britain spearheaded cooperation among Europes nations to keep the peace. This encouraged stability on the continent for a century. Today, NATO performs roughly the same strategic role.

Britains sustained support for NATO, and special rapport with the United States, provide interesting leadership opportunities. This could counterbalance the political acrimony resulting from the nations departure from the European Union. Britains intelligence and military experience and capabilities are durable, effective.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), delivers an important speech in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 2, 2024. Xi on Friday inspected troops stationed in north China's Tianjin Municipality ahead of the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year.

Xi extended festive greetings to service personnel of the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force, civilian personnel posted in the military, and members of militia and reserve forces, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

TIANJIN, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday inspected troops stationed in north China's Tianjin Municipality ahead of the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), extended festive greetings to service personnel of the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force, civilian personnel posted in the military, and members of militia and reserve forces, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC.

On Friday morning, Xi met with representatives of the Tianjin garrison command and posed for group photos with them.

Xi said that troops stationed in Tianjin have resolutely implemented the decisions and instructions of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC over the past year, made concrete advancement in various areas of work and excelled in completing major tasks.

Commending the troops' performance in supporting Tianjin in its flood relief efforts, Xi said their contributions have been significant to the protection of people's lives and property.

For the new year, Xi urged the full implementation of the Party's thinking on strengthening the military and military strategy for the new era, and efforts to achieve the goals set for the centenary of the People's Liberation Army in 2027.

Xi also stressed that as the 2024 Spring Festival approaches, the country's armed forces should strengthen combat readiness, safeguard national security, and maintain social stability to ensure people have a joyful and peaceful Spring Festival.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), meets with representatives of troops stationed in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 2, 2024. Xi on Friday inspected troops stationed in north China's Tianjin Municipality ahead of the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year.

Xi extended festive greetings to service personnel of the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force, civilian personnel posted in the military, and members of militia and reserve forces, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Editor: WXL
More than a dozen people broke into the Oceanwide Plaza skyscraper development in Los Angeles, covering the windows of the glossy, unfinished buildings with spray-painted colorful block letters that read, Crave, Dank and Amen, among other phrases, the police said on Thursday.

The spray-painters made their way up multiple floors in the 40-story buildings, which were once set to be the tallest residential towers in the city, according to Forbes. It was not immediately clear how long the people were inside the buildings, or how they had entered, but the police were called about the graffiti on Tuesday.

The buildings, which have been unoccupied since 2019, are across from Crypto.com Arena at L.A. Live, where the Grammy Awards are set to take place on Sunday.

The Oceanwide Plaza project was intended to be a mixed-use space with retail shops, a hotel and luxury apartments, but the project was halted in 2019 after the developer, Oceanwide Holdings, ran out of money, The Los Angeles Times reported.
Rich Boulet, the director of the Blue Hill Public Library, was working in his office when a regular patron stopped by to ask how to donate a book to the library. You just hand it over, Mr. Boulet said.

The book was Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters, by the journalist Abigail Shrier. The book posits that gender dysphoria is a diagnostic craze fueled by adolescent confusion, social media and peer influence, and that teenagers are too young to undergo potentially irreversible gender transition surgery.

Many transgender people and their advocates say the book is harmful to trans youth, and some have tried to suppress its distribution.

If Im being totally honest, my heart sank when I saw it, Mr. Boulet recalled.

Founded in 1796, the library has a $7.9 million endowment in a coastal enclave popular among affluent summer residents. Blue Hill delivered a 35-point victory for Joseph R. Biden Jr. in the 2020 presidential race. The communities around it are a blend of liberal, conservative and none-of-your-business, all of which helped its library resist political proxy battles like those roiling the nations libraries.
President Biden won the South Carolina primary on Saturday, giving him the kind of emphatic result he no doubt envisioned when he made the state the first contest on the Democrats presidential nominating calendar.

The election, called by The Associated Press shortly after polls closed, gives Mr. Biden the first set of delegates required to claim the Democratic nomination at the partys convention in August.

Mr. Biden vowed that South Carolina would once again send him to the White House.

The people of South Carolina have spoken again, and I have no doubt that you have set us on the path to winning the presidency again  and making Donald Trump a loser again, the president said in a statement released by his campaign.

Mr. Biden won an overwhelming majority of South Carolina Democrats, more than 96 percent with 80 percent of the vote counted  dominating every county with more than 95 percent of the vote, including in heavily Black areas.
The United States and Britain carried out large-scale military strikes on Saturday against multiple sites in Yemen controlled by Houthi militants, according to a statement from the two countries and six allies, as the Biden administration continued its reprisal campaign in the Middle East targeting Iran-backed militias.

The attacks against 36 Houthi targets at 13 sites in northern Yemen came barely 24 hours after the United States carried out a series of military strikes against Iranian forces and the militias they support at seven sites in Syria and Iraq.

American and British warplanes, as well as Navy Tomahawk cruise missiles, hit deeply buried weapons storage facilities; missile systems and launchers; air defense systems; and radars in Yemen, the statement said. Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand provided support, which officials said included intelligence and logistics assistance.

These precision strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of innocent mariners, and are in response to a series of illegal, dangerous and destabilizing Houthi actions since previous coalition strikes, the statement said, referring to major attacks by the United States and Britain last month.
A line of trucks and campers, cars and vans  from South Dakota and North Carolina, Washington and Pennsylvania  snaked over farm roads before gathering on the winter-brown grass of a ranch, steps from the Rio Grande, in the rural community of Quemado, Texas.

The gathering on Saturday marked the final stop of a days-long journey: a convoy of conservative Americans who drove to the border to demonstrate their frustration, fear and anger over what they saw as a broken immigration system.

The location in Quemado had been chosen for its proximity to the city of Eagle Pass, a flashpoint in the pitched confrontation over border security and immigration between the Biden administration and Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas. Other convoys this week reached the border in Yuma, Ariz., and San Ysidro, Calif., all with the goal of spurring tighter controls on migrants crossing the border.

Concerns over potential violence followed the convoys as the federal government and Republican state leaders appeared to be on an increasingly imminent collision course. In December, the federal government recorded 302,000 encounters with unauthorized migrants, the record for a month.
I was scrolling through Instagram recently when I found a new page slipped into my feed through a suggested post: @tinyhouseperfect. It seemed designed to poke at my frustrated longings for a space of my own. I want to own a house; I cannot currently buy a house. But what if the house were very small? Very small, and also perfect?

Soon I was navigating the reading nooks and chefs kitchens of an elfin cottage, a gothic coastal A-frame, a cozy loch house in the Scottish Highlands. I had projected my future self to the Scottish seaside, wondering how much the house might cost to rent for a weekend, when I realized that price was no object because the house did not exist. Each of these teensy homes had been rendered by A.I. software and smoothed with an assist from more A.I. software. I had been fantasizing about a fantasy.

The nature of these homes was, in retrospect, obvious. Their interiors appeared improbably expansive, offering room after room of curated delights. Its not hard to imagine why Instagram might boost @tinyhouseperfects computer visions into my sightline. I have not hidden my obsession with homeownership and renovation from the internets all-seeing eye. At night I wander between Zillow and D.I.Y. Instagram accounts, stalking the hallways of homes I will never visit, assessing the work of contractor-influencers I will never employ, weighing aesthetic choices I will never make. Now artificial intelligence has breached my domestic fantasy, reshaping my desires to fit inside its phantom walls.

In recent years, a whole A.I. dream-house economy has materialized. Search Pinterest for decor inspiration, and youll find it clogged with artificial bedrooms that lead off to websites hawking cheap home accessories. House porn accounts on TikTok and X churn out antiseptic loft renderings and impossible views from nonexistent Parisian apartments. The website This House Does Not Exist generates random new homes upon command. And dozens of A.I.-powered design services and apps  among them SofaBrain and RoomGPT  churn out slick images tuned to your specifications.
As artistic inspiration goes, public toilets dont usually stir the spirit.

Then again, most toilets arent like the public bathrooms in Tokyo.

So when Wim Wenders, the German film director of art-house favorites like Paris, Texas and Wings of Desire, first toured more than a dozen public toilet buildings around the Japanese capital city in the spring of 2022, he was enchanted by what he described as little jewels designed by Pritzker Prize winners including Tadao Ando, Shigeru Ban and Kengo Kuma. Those stylish commodes provided the creative sparks for his latest movie, Perfect Days, which has been nominated in the international feature category for an Academy Award and opens in theaters in the United States on Feb. 7.

The movie  a poignant character study of a public-toilet cleaner with a mysterious past who lives a spartan existence and works with the care of a master craftsman  actually had its roots in a bit of propaganda. Wenders had been invited to Japan as the guest of a prominent Japanese businessman who hoped that the director might want to make a series of short films featuring the toilets, which had been conceived as showcases for Japanese artistry and hygienic mastery.

Koji Yanai, the son of the founder of Fast Retailing (the sprawling clothing giant best known for its Uniqlo brand) and a senior executive officer there, had spearheaded the public toilet project to be an architectural display of Japanese pride.
The migrant family rescue mission began with a simple but unusual request right before Christmas.

It popped up on a WhatsApp chat group for the parents of children attending the second-grade dual-language class at Public School 139 in Brooklyn.

Hello, everyone, the message began in Spanish. Sorry. Who could give me two large suitcases? The woman making the request, Suerkis Polanco, explained that her family was flat broke and facing eviction from their chete in early January.

A Spanish-speaking parent wrote that he had a suitcase he could donate, but first he wanted to know what chete meant. Other parents chimed in with an explanation: It was a phonetic Spanish rendering of shelter.

What happened next underscores the many unseen and unheralded gestures that average New Yorkers are making every day to help ease the migrant crisis that has roiled the city budget and its politics over the past year.
To the Editor:

Re Covid Vaccine Hesitancy Is Getting Worse, by Danielle Ofri (Opinion guest essay, Jan. 31):

Unfortunately, Dr. Ofris language here embodies the misguided approach that too many in the medical community have taken during and after the pandemic, severely eroding our patients trust in public health.

Reasonable people can disagree about the utility of Covid vaccine boosters in otherwise healthy adults. Indeed the World Health Organization is not recommending updated Covid boosters for otherwise healthy adults or children.

Thus, the almost 80 percent of American adults who chose not to get boosted this winter are not suffering from the heebie-jeebies. They are making a rational decision that is in line with that made by European health agencies that likewise dont support universal Covid boosters (a policy that, in my mind, is strongly supported by the current scientific evidence).

To suggest otherwise is harmful to the trust we physicians are trying to restore with our patients after the pandemic.
What if museums give back so much art that they have nothing left to display? As a scholar of the debates about returning cultural objects to the countries from which they were stolen, I have, over the years, heard many variations of that question. Museums have lots and lots of stuff, I usually answer, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. Its not like theyre just going to shut down.

But in December, the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced it would return a substantial proportion of its Khmer-era works to Cambodia, which is claiming still more, including nearly all the museums major Cambodian pieces. Last month, the American Museum of Natural History indefinitely closed two of its halls in response to new federal regulations about the display of Native American sacred and burial artifacts. Now Manhattans Rubin Museum of Art, which features art from the Himalayas, has announced that it will close later this year. The museum says the decision is unrelated to issues of cultural repatriation, but it comes after the museum faced many accusations of cultural theft and returned some prized pieces.

Clearly, I need to change my answer.

When stolen artifacts go back to their rightful owners, it is now clear, some display cases will indeed empty out, some galleries will shut their doors, and entire museums may even close. But its worth it. Repatriating these precious items is still the right thing to do, no matter the cost.

Why? Museums are supposed to educate us about other ways of being in the world. But looted artifacts alone  removed from their original context, quarantined in an antiseptic display case  cannot do this. Unlike, say, Impressionist paintings or Pop Art sculptures, ritual objects were not meant to be seen in a gallery at a time of the viewers choosing. Used alongside music, scents and tastes, these holy relics are tools to help participants in rituals achieve a transcendent experience. Imagine looking at a glow stick necklace and thinking it could teach you what its like to greet the sunrise dancing ecstatically with hundreds of strangers.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 4. Azerbaijan, as one of the countries adhering to democratic principles, ensures the democratic conduct of the presidential election by creating favorable conditions for media activities, thereby ensuring media participation in the electoral process following international standards, a columnist and media consultant of Kuwaiti Al Seyassah newspaper Abdulrahman Al-Ajmi told "Election 2024 Independent Media Center, Trend reports.

The Kuwaiti reporter emphasized that the aspect of media activity regulation is particularly intriguing for him in the context of the presidential election in Azerbaijan.

"Azerbaijan's approach is highly commendable. In the election campaign, the media allocates space for candidates on both a free and paid basis, ensuring an ideal approach and promoting equality among candidates. Furthermore, the openness of the Central Election Commission (CEC) to the media helps prevent issues in disseminating information to the public. Allowing reporters to observe the voting process on election day and even participate in the counting of votes serves as a noteworthy international example," he emphasized.

Abdulrahman Al-Ajmi also highlighted that, when objectively assessed from an external perspective, it is evident that Azerbaijan possesses democratic traditions.

"I believe that the upcoming presidential election in the country on February 7 will once again exemplify the tradition of democratic election" he added.

On December 7, 2023, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on holding an extraordinary presidential election in the country on February 7, 2024.



The Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan (CEC) on Dec. 19 approved the candidacy of Ilham Aliyev, nominated by the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP), for participation in the extraordinary presidential election.



Azerbaijan has registered 7 candidates to run in the extraordinary presidential election.

"Election 2024 Independent Media Center was launched by the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Most people know by now about the border war between Texas and the United States playing out along the banks of the Rio Grande. Less obvious but no less consequential is an emerging border war inside the Supreme Court.

At the physical border are 29 miles of coiled razor wire on the United States side, put in place by the Texas National Guard on orders from Gov. Greg Abbott. Its ostensible purpose is to stop what Mr. Abbott, a Republican, calls an unchecked invasion of undocumented migrants.

It has had the added and hardly unpredictable effect of barring access to the border by the federal Border Patrol agents. The agents responded by cutting some of the wire. Texas in turn sued the federal government for, of all things, trespass.

The state lost in Federal District Court on the grounds that the United States is immune from suits of this type. But the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit gave Texas what it wanted: an injunction to bar Border Patrol agents from tampering with the razor wire, except for rescue operations, until the appeals court decides the legal merits of the states case.
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Of all the dozens of suspected thieves questioned by the detectives of the Train Burglary Task Force at the Los Angeles Police Department during the months they spent investigating the rise in theft from the citys freight trains, one man stood out. What made him memorable wasnt his criminality so much as his giddy enthusiasm for trespassing. That man, Victor Llamas, was a self-taught expert of the supply chain, a connoisseur of shipping containers. Even in custody, as the detectives interrogated him numerous times, after multiple arrests, in a windowless room in a police station in spring 2022, a kind of nostalgia would sweep over the man. He said that was the best feeling hed ever had, jumping on the train while it was moving, Joe Chavez, who supervised the task forces detectives, said. It was euphoric for him.

Some 20 million containers move through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach every year, including about 35 percent of all the imports into the United States from Asia. Once these steel boxes leave the relative security of a ship at port, they are loaded onto trains and trucks  and then things start disappearing. The Los Angeles basin is the countrys undisputed capital of cargo theft, the region with the most reported incidents of stuff stolen from trains and trucks and those interstitial spaces in the supply chain, like rail yards, warehouses, truck stops and parking lots.

In the era of e-commerce, freight train robberies are going through a strange revival.
When Nikki Haley conceded her deflating third-place defeat in the Iowa caucuses this month, the first person she thanked was nearly 8,000 miles away.

I want to say to my husband, who is deployed, who I know may or may not be watching this right now  Michael, I love you, she said, standing in front of a row of American flags. What keeps me going at night is that we sleep under the same stars.

It was an unusually personal and almost saccharine note for a politician known for her tough exterior. But it was hardly out of place.

Even in his absence, Maj. Michael Haley, a National Guardsman serving a voluntary, yearlong deployment in Africa, has played an outsize role in his wifes increasingly lonely attempt to snatch the Republican nomination from former President Donald J. Trump.
Former President Donald J. Trump, in an interview that aired on Fox News on Sunday, suggested falsely that Latin American governments were picking the citizens they didnt want and shipping them to the U.S. border, resurrecting a claim that was central to his 2016 campaign.

He also accused the Chinese Communist Party  without providing any evidence  of orchestrating illegal immigration into the United States, and said he believed China would try to interfere in the presidential election, adding that he liked President Xi Jinping a lot.

Asked on Sunday Morning Futures by the interviewer, Maria Bartiromo, whether he thought military-aged men from China were being directed by the Communist Party to come here, Mr. Trump said: I believe so.

Referring to a recent incident in New York City in which a group of men identified by police officials as migrants from Latin America attacked police officers, Mr. Trump said: The heads of these countries are smart. Theyre not sending the people that are doing a great job and that they love in the country. Theyre sending people, for the most part, that they dont want, and theyre putting them into caravans.
Nayib Bukele, the millennial president who reshaped his country by cracking down on both gangs and civil liberties, claimed a resounding victory in El Salvadors election on Sunday that would extend his dominion over every lever of government for years.

Official results have not yet been announced, but polls had telegraphed Mr. Bukeles landslide win for weeks, showing that voters were almost certain to hand him another five-year term and extend his partys supermajority in the legislature.

Delivering a speech to thousands of supporters who gathered in the central square of San Salvador, the capital, on Sunday night, the president claimed that he won more than 85 percent of the vote and that his New Ideas party had captured almost every seat in the legislature, brushing aside concerns about repressive practices and the deterioration of democratic norms under his watch.

This will be the first time where one party rules a country in a completely democratic system, Mr. Bukele told the crowd. The entire opposition has been pulverized.
Tucked away on a patch of dying grass on the outskirts of Islamabad, the gathering hardly looked like a political rally at the height of an election season. Two dozen men sat on plastic chairs in silence. There were no posters to promote a campaign, no microphones to deliver speeches, no sound system to amp up the crowd.

Even the candidate, Aamir Mughal, was missing: He had gone into hiding months earlier, at the first signs of a military-led crackdown on his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or P.T.I. The authorities had already raided his home, arrested two of his sons and lodged a case against him in connection with anti-military protests.

They are putting pressure on us to quit the party and to quit politics, Mr. Mughal said in an interview from a safe house where he stayed before emerging for gatherings this weekend. Its all part of an effort to weaken and eliminate the party.

As Pakistan heads to the polls on Thursday, its powerful military is using a familiar playbook to sideline its nemesis of the hour, crippling P.T.I. in the first national election since the partys leader, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, ran afoul of the generals and was ousted by Parliament in 2022.
The United States has led a major wave of retaliatory strikes in the Middle East, hitting scores of targets belonging to Iranian-backed armed groups since Friday. The strikes are a sharp escalation of hostilities in the region, one that President Biden had sought to avoid since the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza began in October.

Here is how the latest strikes have unfolded.

Jan. 28: Three U.S. service members were killed and dozens of others were injured in a drone attack on their remote military outpost in Jordan, the Pentagon said. They were the first known American military fatalities from hostile fire in the Middle East since October, when regional tensions rose with the start of Israels war against Hamas in Gaza.

The Biden administration said the drone had been launched by an Iran-backed militia from Iraq, and Mr. Biden pledged to respond. The U.S. has blamed Iranian-backed armed groups for launching more than 150 attacks since October on U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East.

Jan. 30: Mr. Biden said he had decided on a response to the attack in Jordan, but did not say what it would be. Some Republican lawmakers called for a direct strike against Iran, but Mr. Bidens advisers said he was determined to avoid a wider regional conflict.
Finally, 106 days after the ambulances rushed their battered bodies to the hospital, the couple were cleared to leave.

Ibrahim Karapirli hobbled back from physical therapy on crutches to protect his aching leg. His wife, Pinar, wrangled their twin toddlers, unsure how she would care for them with her one remaining arm.

The couple were still mourning their two sons who were killed when a powerful earthquake pancaked their six-story apartment building in southern Turkey before dawn last February.

Ibrahim and Pinar piled about a dozen plastic bags holding their possessions atop a wheelchair, bade the nurses goodbye and went to their car.
Tullamore Credit Union held the Face the Phoenix live final on Wednesday, January 24, in the Esker Arts Centre Tullamore.

This is the credit unions version of Dragons Den. Every year, they invite students from the Transition Year classes of the local secondary schools in the area to go head to head and showcase their mini company ideas.

This years competition saw entries from Tullamore College, Mercy Secondary School Kilbeggan and Killina Secondary School.

The live final had three schools represented Killina Presentation Secondary School, Mercy Secondary School Kilbeggan & Tullamore College. `Rudai Deasa`, ` Concept` & `Resin Workshop` represented Mercy Secondary School Kilbeggan. `Buzz n Bliss`, `Franks Fantastic Feasts`, ` Eternal Blooms` &` Lees Leabhar` represented Tullamore College. `Ti Nadur` represented Killina Presentation Secondary School. Each group appeared onstage, made their presentation, and answered questions from the judges.

The judges on the day were Matt Worgan, Risk Manager, Damian McIntyre, Compliance Manager, and Peter Hensey, Board Director, all of Tullamore Credit Union.

One of the judges quoted that it was very difficult to pick a winner as all the students showed very high standards and all the products were of an excellent quality.

1st place went to Marie Claire Marshall, representing Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan, with her business Rudai Deasa  handmade luxury make up & tote bags.

2nd place went to Julia Medrek, with her business `Eternal Blooms` -representing Tullamore College  handmade crochet items.

3rd place went to Maria Finlay, Bella Corble, Ellarose Bairead and Alisha Colsh with their business `Ti Nadur` representing Killina Presentation Secondary School- sustainable bird houses.

A big congratulations to all the students who took part and their teachers who assisted with the competition this year. The credit union looks forward to another contest in 2025.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 5. The head of the federal state of Hesse, which is one of the major economic centers of Germany, Boris Rein proposed that Europe create its own military alliance without the participation of the United States, Trend reports.

He noted that the nuclear arsenal can be used to deter and intimidate Russia.

"That's why we want a strong European security union - with common defence, a European nuclear umbrella, secure borders and protection of our critical infrastructure," he said.
Commentary: Making America alone again

13:37, February 04, 2024 By Jin Bowen ( Xinhua

BEIJING, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- The United States has always tried to paint itself as a champion of openness and inclusiveness. Yet in practice, it is increasingly inclined to erect all kinds of barriers, turning itself further away from the global community.

In recent months, some Chinese scholars and students, who held valid visas to enter the United States, were interrogated and even deported at airports. In the meantime, related U.S. authorities raided Chinese businesses in the United States, and confiscated the cellphones, computers and other personal devices of the Chinese individuals working in the companies.

Along the U.S.-Mexican border, the state of Texas has put up barbed wire fences to deter migrants. The Lone Star state is locked in a stand-off with the Federal government over a fermenting immigration crisis, which may well define the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, and reflects the growing anti-immigration and xenophobic sentiments in a country that is always touted as a nation of immigrants.

These seemingly separate incidents, along with many other protectionist approaches by Washington, such as the Biden administration's keeping punitive trade barriers put in place by the Trump White House against the Europeans, have sent out an unmistakable signal: the United States is turning ever inward-looking and only interested in looking after its own interests.

The United States, still the sole superpower of the world, is losing self-confidence, and has become what U.S. political commentator Fareed Zakaria called a "self-doubting superpower."

The general mood in the United States is pessimistic. According to a Pew Research Center survey done in April last year, Americans held a dim view about the current state of the country, with large majorities expressing dissatisfaction with the economy and overall national conditions. And they see the country will be in decline in many respects in the not-too-distant future.

For ordinary Americans, even as U.S. stocks hit record highs and the economy appears to have delivered a strong performance, they say they are still struggling to pay their bills and fend for their families.

Facing the frustrated majority of Americans, politicians of both Democrats and Republicans in Washington have consistently failed to rise up to those real problems chronically plaguing the country, like the widening wealth gap, prevalent drug problems, inflating national debts, stagnated immigration reforms and entitlement program crisis.

Instead of working together to fix those problems, they are busy blaming almost anything they can think of, including political opponents in the country, rising economies far away from America's shores, plus European allies Washington claims it will protect, among others.

An utterly vicious cycle has taken shape: those unfixed domestic problems lead to politicians' preposterous blame game, which would in turn feed political polarization, tear social fabrics part, and spur racism, populism and xenophobism in the country, further complicating the political, economic and social conditions to solve those problems.

America's manufacturing industries are where those contradictions and chaos converge. The Biden administration seeks to reindustrialize America. Yet it also tries to pander to the United Auto Workers, an American labor union, for election support by backing the union's call for record high salary increase, which will greatly cost the competitiveness of carmakers like Ford and General Motors in the global market.

For the Republicans, they blame America's faltering manufacturing on immigrants and foreign competitors for taking away the jobs of those impoverished "rednecks" in the south and struggling "blue collars" along the Rust Belt. This is also an election tactic.

In the meantime, a manufacturing renaissance depends in a large part on a huge skill labor force. People born outside the United States made up 18.1 percent of the overall labor force, the highest level in data back to 1996, according to data published by the U.S. Labor Department in May last year. However, America's rising anti-immigrant atmosphere and chaotic policies, while making migrants hard to come to the United States, could well deny the revival of those labor-intensive industries to actually make a comeback.

More worryingly, extreme conservatism has already poisoned public opinions. That is evidenced by the surge of hate crimes against Asians in the United States in recent years, and the airport harassment cases against the Chinese students.

Openness and tolerance for diversity are some of the important reasons that make America the strongest country in the world. What is regrettable is that the country now even does not recognize itself as a nation of immigrants as the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services removed the phrase from the agency's new mission statement back in 2018. It should do better than that.

Times have changed. It is neither possible nor realistic to win by adopting isolationism, as the United States once did, remaining complacent and uninvolved in global affairs.

In the era of globalization, everyone is closely interconnected, and no one can thrive in isolation. The United States turning people away serves no benefit to either the world or itself.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The announcement of the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 was postponed due to a massive failure in the Diia app, which was supposed to be used for the audience voting. Although Suspilne has the opportunity to announce the winner based on the jury's assessment, the hosts said they would wait until Diia and the audience favorite are fully restored.

ADVERTISIMENT

The voting will last all night and day on February 4 until 19:05 via Diia. This was announced on the air of the National Selection. The method of choosing the audience favorite has not changed. OBOZ.UA explains how to vote through the app.

In order to choose your favorite in Diia, you need to go to the Services - Polls - Active Polls section and vote for your favorite. The voting will end when the live broadcast starts at 19:05.

Earlier, it became known that the reason for the failure in the Diia app was too much user traffic. Immediately after the voting started at 20:30, the service stopped working. Thousands of fans could not access the Services tab, and some even had to re-authorize themselves through the banking system.

ADVERTISIMENT

"Today was a record number of users in Diia in the history of the project. Instead of 800 requests per second, as it was during the voting last year, there were 15,000 requests," the Ministry of Digital Transformation explained the failure.

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!


Special Report: Retaliatory strikes are underway in Syria The U.S. on Friday began retaliatory strikes in the Middle East, likely against Iran-backed militants for a drone strike on an ...

(Image by YouTube, Channel: ABC15 Arizona) Details DMCA



US retaliation of Iranian affiliated groups in Iraq and Syria that killed 3 US troops in Jordan

As we now know President Biden authorized the US bombing of some 85 targets in Iraq and Syria yesterday in retaliation against suspected Iran backed militants that killed 3 US troops last week in a base in Jordan near the Iraq Syrian border.

Biden issued the following statement after the bombing, "The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world".

As I read that statement I couldn't believe he actually said what he did.

First of all Iraq and Syria are sovereign countries. The US is not at war with those countries. Congress didn't declare war on those countries-the only entity in the Constitution authorized to do so. Yes I realize Congress hasn't declared war since after the the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Ever since Congress has evaded that responsibility essentially ceding it to the President although he hasn't actually declared war on any country.

To wit:

In Korea in 1950 after North Korea invaded South Korea President Truman along with other UN countries sent the US military to help defend South Korea. The war was referred to as a "Police Action".

In Vietnam the US military was there to help the South Vietnamese government against Communist North Vietnam. Also to avoid the "Domino Theory" to prevent a Communist country from invading a neighboring country.

Afghanistan in October 2001 President "Dubya" Bush sent US troops in pursuit of Osama bin Laden the alleged perpetrator of the 9/11 attacks.

Iraq in March 2003 "Dubya" bombed Baghdad accusing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein of having WMD along with him being allied with bin Laden in the 9/11 attacks.

The point here being there have been various methods the US president has used to go to war without declaring it.

Currently the US is fighting a proxy war in Ukraine using Kiev government troops against Russia that invaded the country in February 2022. The US government conveniently ignores the US State Department's involvement in the overthrow of Viktor Yanukovych the legitimately elected president of Ukraine in February 2014.

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"As a Board Member, my priority would be the health and safety of students and staff."



-- - BD1 candidate John Brasfield



Photo by Oliver Hale on Unsplash

(Image by Oliver Hale) Details DMCA



In the wake of George Floyd's murder at the hands of the police, there was widespread questioning over how law enforcement is handled in this country. The resulting "Defund the Police" movement called for some of the money used for policing to be transferred to programs like mental health services to help address the causes of crime. Following this lead, the block of LAUSD School Board members backed by the charter school industry cut $25 million from the District's policing budget. This move was criticized by Gilbert Gamez, President of the Los Angeles School Police Association (LASPA). The candidates were asked:

In non-emergency situations, should uniformed police officers be operating on LAUSD campuses?

There was a series of highly publicized traffic incidents during the last year that drew attention to the dangers students face as they travel to and from school. This included an accident where "a mother was killed, and her 6-year-old daughter was injured when they were hit by a driver in a truck near Hancock Park Elementary School." While providing safe passage to school, including the hiring of crossing guards, is the only responsibility that the Los Angeles City government has in educating students, the District's policies and the actions of the LAUSD School Police play a part in keeping students safe. The candidates were asked:

The Superintendent has commented "that unacceptable and preventable frequency of vehicular incidents are impacting the health, well-being and safety of our children." Is the District doing enough to prevent these incidents?

School principals have the ultimate responsibility of keeping their campuses safe. However, when a charter school successfully takes space on a public school campus using PROP-39, the LAUSD principal on that school site has no control over the administrators, teachers, or staff members of that organization. The candidates were asked:

Last year an LAUSD student overdosed on fentanyl that was provided to her by a student at a co-located charter school. Do multiple schools that do not share a common leadership structure increase the possibility that hazards will not be fully mitigated?

An inspection by the LAUSD of the Granada Hills Charter High School campus found numerous violations for the modifications that the charter school had made to the campus without authorization. As a result, a detailed Notice of Violation was sent to Granada. Even though many of these violations had still not been fixed, the LAUSD Board voted unanimously to renew Granada's charter. The candidates were asked:"

While charter schools are required by policy to notify parents when the district issues a Notice of Violation, families at Granada Hills Charter High School were not specifically told that construction projects had endangered "the health and safety of students, staff, and other individuals." Should the refusal of a charter school to keep parents informed of these types of hazards result in the revocation of the charter?

"When I visited an LAUSD campus for a CAC meeting last year I noticed the following sign above one of the sinks:

"Similar signs were seen in past years at one of my daughter's schools. The candidates were asked:"

After a 2008 NBC 4 report exposed the existence of lead In LAUSD Facilities, the District instituted a "stop-gap measure" "requiring schools to run "every fountain 'a minimum of 30 seconds' before school each day.'" Fifteen years later, the district still warns users of these fixtures to "flush cold water for 30 Seconds prior to use." As a Board Member would you prioritize removing old fixtures containing lead from all school facilities?

The candidates were asked to reply with a "Yes" or a "No." The following charts summarize their answers:

The candidates were also allowed to clarify their answers. These are available in the following articles:

Board District 1:

Board District 3:
Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

US President Joe Biden is set to lose American military presence in both Iraq and Syria because of his unconditional support of the Israeli genocide committed against the Palestinians in Gaza.

After a long series of US attacks on targets in Iraq, the Iraqi government had asked the US military to leave. Yesterday, US Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski handed a letter to Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein which set forth a plan for the two nations to discuss the end of a US-led military coalition in Iraq.

150 attacks have been launched against US troops in Iraq and Syria since the Gaza war began by militants who are aligned with Iran. The attacks are designed to show solidarity with Palestinians, and disgust with the US support of the genocide in Gaza.

Four US personnel suffered injuries after the Ain al-Asad air base was hit by multiple ballistic missiles and rockets in Iraq on Saturday. The Americans have since returned to duty.

"US military forces conducted necessary and proportionate strikes on three facilities used by the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia group and other Iran-affiliated groups in Iraq," US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack. The group emerged in late 2023 and comprised of various groups in Iraq that have attacked US forces.

The US opposes Iran because Israel sees Iran as their biggest enemy. Iran is committed to the freedom of the Palestinian people who have suffered 75 years of brutal Israeli military occupation and denial of all human rights.

The majority of Iraq is Shite, and the US insisted on overthrowing Saddam Hussein, a Sunni, in favor of installing a US-leaning Shite regime in Baghdad. There were no WMD, and the 2003 US invasion, attack, destruction and occupation of Iraq was carried out for the sole purpose of regime change, a precursor to Libya, Egypt, and Syria.

The US set up a sectarian form of government in Iraq. The Prime Minister must be Shite and the seats in the Parliament are allocated by sects. Iraq has been an ally of both Iran and the US.

The western media, and the US military, refer to the militant groups in Iraq as "Iran-backed militias". A group targeting the US troops is part of the Iraqi national army, and is neither a militia, nor a paramilitary.

The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) is under the command of the Iraqi army and was instrumental in the defeat of ISIS. The US media would have you to believe the US military and its allies defeated ISIS, and in a scene right out of a Hollywood movie like "Rambo". The fact is, ISIS was defeated by Iraq, Syria, Russia, Iran, and the US-led coalition. The PMF killed their share of ISIS terrorists.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said the US attacks in Iraq "blatantly" violated his country's sovereignty.

Major General Yehia Rasool, a spokesman for Sudani, said that the US action was "contributing to a reckless escalation".

"This unacceptable act undermines years of co-operation... at a time when the region is already grappling with the danger of expanding conflict, the repercussions of the aggression on Gaza," Rasool added.

He added that Iraq would treat the US operations "as acts of aggression" against its people on their land, and urged the international community to help restore peace.

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[please continue to share and speak out and act- and look for my next message in a few days with good news and reflections]

This post is also available on my blog where you can leave comments: click here

First thank you to the many of you who wrote to us about the annual report (and many who decided to donate or contacted us about helping in other ways). Many in the world were surprised that we do such great environmental work in very difficult circumstances to say the least (plus the genocide in Gaza). But we Palestinians are resilient, we do resist oppression on the one hand and build for a better future on the other (even when Zionists keep destroying). We have and cherish our life. For those who did not have a chance, please do read this and do contact us: click here

Many people in the west were surprised at events and news. This week I highlight eleven:

1) That there is an American base in Northern Jordan and that sadly 3 black soldiers were killed (usually the rich get richer and the poor poorer or killed). But the US has over 1400 bases in 80 countries to control and subjugate and act against the will of people in those countries. While spending hundreds of billions annually on this military and enriching less than 1% of ts people, infrastructure and education and healthcare in the US suffers and the 99% suffer. The US then bombed (illegally) many targets in Yemen, Syria and Iraq in supposed "retaliation" (but really to sustain the genocide ongoing against the Palestinians.

2) That 1.5 million of its 2.3 million people are now squeezed into the area around Rafah which is less than 15% (about 50 square kilometers) of the enclave. Famine and death is everywhere.

3) That the Israeli leadership is losing the war against resistance fighters 120 days/4 months after 7 October and the onslaught in Gaza, the resistance fighters are winning against tanks, airplanes, navy ships etc. All Israel can do is destroy more civilians and civilian infrastructure with US weapons and US cover.

4) That genocide and mass graves are allowed to continue for months and ethnic cleansing for decades as if we humans learn nothing from history. Some of us who are awake watch videos like this .facebook.com/reel/2076517426040497 and are stunned by the horrors.

5) Yemen while bombed illegally by the US and the UK continues to defend itself and abide by its obligation to do something to stop the genocide of Palestinians

6) Dozens of US cities passed resolutions in support of cease fire (the Zionist lobby having spent millions is losing in its strongest hold the US. Here is Chicago just after San Francisco .youtube.com/shorts/nni9vyTKrkE

7) Within a week of of the ICJ ruling, not only did the axis of evil led by the US/UK/Israel shut off funding to UN refugee and work agency and started threatening other agencies like the Red Cross and Red Crescent to exacerbate the genocide but continue to do (or fund and arm) the genocide. See click here and And after the ICJ ruling bodies of torture victims found at Gaza school. The killing of dozens of people whose bodies were found at a Gaza school was a clear war crime, according to a Palestinian human rights lawyer who spoke to Al Jazeera. click here

8) The US government placed mild sanctions on 4 colonial settlers terrorizing Palestinians and asked Israel to look into its own army violations of human rights in the West Bank. And the UK government says it is considering recognizing a "Palestinian state". These hypocritical and cynical statements intended for public relations are not working anymore. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis engaged in racist attacks against Palestinians before 7 Oct 2023. Recognition of a Palestinian state could have been done in 1948, 1967, 1988, 1993 etc. But more important implementing peace could have been done based on human rights and equality any day in the past 76 years by simply stopping the support of the apartheid genocidal regime (the Israeli regime cannot maintain its colonization and oppression one day without that western support)

9) That social media is 95% supportive of Palestine/human rights while corporate mainstream media (CNN, BBC, AP, Reuters, FoxNews, New York times etc) is 95% supportive of genocide. See how mainstream media kills the truth click here and Western coverage of Gaza: A textbook case of colonisers journalism click here. Some western media under pressure (which must be increased) are starting to do some marginal stories, e.g. CNN CATCHES IDF Cemetery Atrocity Lie .youtube.com/watch?v=5UoNCuwc5eU But they are still not coming close to telling the truth about the resistance, what happened 7 October etc (see ongaza.org and links therein of sites where you can get real information)

10) that free speech in supposedly democratic Western Countries does not exist when it comes to Palestine. Someone once quipped tat if you want to know who really has control in any country, watch who you cannot criticize. You cannot criticize Zionism (the racist idea of a Jewish state created by ethnic cleansing of indigenous people). Here is just one of millions of examples: How Power Creates and Entrenches Health Inequities click here

11) that colonial regimes lie incessantly. See ongaza.org item #9 and siyeh.org/liesandtruths/

I do not know why the surprises. What is happening here in Palestine has a cause and has effects that are easily predictable. You find one of my lectures where I explain this .youtube.com/watch?v=UHUgFIEWr1g and ere are links to cause and effect:

CAUSE .facebook.com/mazin.qumsiyeh.9/posts/10160919216451181 (Netanyahu long before this genocidal action) .facebook.com/reel/308177298660625 .facebook.com/reel/344969104608291 .facebook.com/reel/1011580826776519 .facebook.com/639657926/videos/278246188002507 .facebook.com/reel/1064433681228536 .facebook.com/reel/878806363683585 .facebook.com/reel/1251209615555565 .facebook.com/reel/352778063985760 .facebook.com/reel/301757522765342 .facebook.com/reel/247973378257499 .facebook.com/reel/680580910501209 .facebook.com/reel/1366276930991636 click here click here wire.in/world/northern-gaza-israel-palestine-conflict

EFFECT see this visual impact of numbers from the UN click here Then view some of these videos for personal impact .facebook.com/reel/1347070282669691 .facebook.com/reel/1005924534038932 .facebook.com/reel/1028640151677022 .facebook.com/reel/1036127130871914 .facebook.com/reel/1064396378055298 .facebook.com/reel/1064433681228536 .facebook.com/reel/1140383236935021 .facebook.com/reel/1409846396240215 .facebook.com/reel/1446631016070266 .facebook.com/reel/1498305100905240 .facebook.com/reel/171654876013486 .facebook.com/reel/193003723844677 .facebook.com/reel/219322117715756 .facebook.com/reel/2492508067598176 .facebook.com/reel/267515342935773 .facebook.com/reel/295754560044998 .facebook.com/reel/342182358463855 .facebook.com/reel/342910481573714 .facebook.com/reel/343736248313472 .facebook.com/reel/354972273758525 .facebook.com/reel/358677136723546 .facebook.com/reel/616704703797190 .facebook.com/reel/622474083189011 .facebook.com/reel/821410706397348 .facebook.com/reel/848844680040608 .facebook.com/reel/858262825800295 .facebook.com/reel/865675955015882 .facebook.com/watch?v=235642535962085 tter.com/jacksonhinklle/status/1722049139465154862

Stay Human and keep Palestine alive

Mazin Qumsiyeh A Bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director Palestine Museum of Natural History Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability Bethlehem University Occupied Palestine siyeh.org estinenature.org facebook pages Personal .facebook.com/mazin.qumsiyeh.9 Institute .facebook.com/PIBS.PMNH
Portland police say a man was fatally shot Saturday evening in the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood.

Police released few details about the shooting, saying only they were called to the 3700 block of Northeast Milton Street about 6:45 p.m. and found a man dead in the street.
Canadian-American researcher, writer, and presenter Latif Nasser discovered a strange space object called Zoozve on his 2-year-old son's astronomy poster depicting the solar system and was forced to investigate to uncover its mystery. It turned out that this was not the author's imagination at all.

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Nasser told about his investigation in a thread on the social network X (formerly known as Twitter). He even had to involve his friends from NASA in solving the cosmic mystery.

The researcher said that he happened to look at an astronomy poster in his son's room and discovered that there was a satellite called Zoozve next to Venus. He was very surprised because he had never heard of Venus having its own moon before.

So, first of all, he went to Google and tried to find out whether such a space object exists, and whether science knows anything about Venus having a satellite. The answer to both questions was negative.

Nasser then asked his friend at NASA, Liz Landau, similar questions. But the answer was again negative. Of course, this did not satisfy the researcher, as he could not understand whether he was dealing with mere fiction or whether there was a significant gap in his knowledge of space.

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Nasser then turned to the source of his problem, so to speak. He found the contacts of the illustrator who had drawn the poster and contacted him. The artist assured him that he was not an amateur and that he had taken all the names and objects depicted on the posters from a scientifically approved list of satellites in the solar system.

It seemed that all ends were tied up and that the researcher would never be able to solve this mystery, but Landau returned with an answer, and eventually realized what had happened.

It turned out that the space object was not actually called Zoozve. It was an object under the temporary name 2002 VE 68, which, as the name implies, was discovered in 2002.

Temporary names of objects usually include the year of the object's discovery, as well as letters indicating the month and day of discovery. Thus, according to the explanation of the European Space Agency, the objects opened between January 1 and January 15 are designated in the order of their opening: AA, AB, AC, and so on. Objects opened from January 16 to January 31 are designated by the letters BA, BB, BC, and so on. The letter J is not used in the designations. The last discoveries of the year, from December 16 to December 31, will be designated in the YA, YB, YC series.

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Further research revealed that the so-called Zoozve is much more interesting than most space rocks.

According to IFL Science, it is known that it, like all asteroids, orbits the Sun. Depending on how close the asteroid is to our star, it has a higher or lower rotation speed, as well as a shorter or longer "year".

VE68 goes through its year in 225 days. Almost as fast as the planet Venus. So they move around the Sun with a synchronization that would be the envy of professional synchronized athletes.

It was by tracking the orbit of 2002 VE that scientists discovered the first quasi-moon, or quasi-satellite, in the solar system. As the name implies, it is not exactly a satellite, but it is an object that is dependent on the Sun and also on a particular planet. For 2002 VE, this planet is Venus.

After the discovery of 2002 VE, other quasi-satellites were discovered. It is known that they can appear and disappear over time, and the Earth also has two officially recognized satellites.

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The researchers who discovered 2002 VE believe that it has been close to Venus for about 7,000 years and will remain close for about the next five centuries. Earlier, scientists had speculated that 2002 VE could be a near-Earth asteroid.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
A Yamhill County judge found last month that four current and former members of the Newberg School District board violated Oregon public meetings law by privately communicating as a quorum in order to hire an outside attorney they believed would support their views on running the district.

The finding springs from a 2021 lawsuit brought by seven parents against the Newberg district and four conservative members of the board following controversy over a district policy  since found unconstitutional  that tried to ban teachers and other employees from displaying signs such as pride flags and Black Lives Matter banners. The board members communicated outside of a public meeting in summer 2021 in order to hire Canby lawyer Tyler Smith, who argued the flag policy could be deemed constitutional, according to the judges finding.
In her candlelit living room in inner Southeast Portland, Sefana Wilde scrolls through the pictures and videos of her son Isa growing up, trying to forget for a moment that hes gone.

There he is, mugging for the camera at age 9, the director and star of a special-effects laden video, making a beloved stuffy appear out of thin air. And at 10, wearing an apron and making muffins with a buddy, goofily enumerating each ingredient before pulling the fresh-baked treats out of the oven with a flourish. Theres Isa on his 13th birthday trip to Seattle, holding his phone at arms length, recording himself making silly, dad-level jokes as he travelogues his way around the city.

Isa Wildes cherished stuffed animal, Appa, left, remains with Isas mother, Sefana. Her son formed an attachment to the animal when he received it around age 3 or 4, according to his mother. Even as a teen, when he would run away from home, he wanted Appa with him, she said. At right, Isa holds Appa while napping. I sleep with him every night knowing that it's infused with years and years of Isas love and snuggles, said Sefana Wilde. Photo at right courtesy Sefana Wilde. Beth Nakamura

And then, another, this one from December 2022.

Isa at 15, in a bed at the OHSU Hospital emergency room, eyes glassy and unfocused, his curly hair wild, his mouth listing open.

What happened? he croaks.

You almost fell down the stairs, his mother answers, off camera. Youre not talking straight and youre having trouble standing. And you tried to run out the door. Do you remember that? So I called 911.

A pause. Isas eyes still vacant, he asks again, and then again, five times in all: What happened?

It was the first time he landed in the hospital and just the beginning of the worst months of their familys life.

In the coming year, Isas mom would discover more and more about her sons experimentation with drugs to cope with his anxiety. Unbeknownst to him, some were laced with fentanyl, the cheap and potent synthetic opioid at least 50 times more powerful than heroin. Its cut into counterfeit pills that are readily for sale on the citys streets and online.

Nationally, the rates at which teens and young adults die from opioid overdoses have skyrocketed, and Oregons growth has far outpaced that. Provisional 2022 data from the Oregon Health Authority shows that fentanyl was linked to 27 of the states 29 teen drug overdose deaths.

Isa Wildes mother said she searched for anyone  a doctor, social worker, therapist  to help her 15-year-old get the care he needed. Each time, she ran into a wall: her sons absolute right under Oregon lawto refuse treatment, which he did, over and over.

Oregons medical autonomy laws say once a child turns 15, all health care decisions are theirs to make. Just over the border, in Washington, Sefana Wilde would have been able to compel her son into treatment for substance abuse. Oregon reserves that power solely for those with mental health disorders, despite the fact that chemical dependencies and mental health issues often go hand in hand. And even if he had agreed to treatment, the states inpatient options for teens are lacking.

To Sefana Wilde, none of it made sense when it came to her child, whose still-developing brain was rattled by his drug use.

Mamas boy

One of Sefana Wilde's favorite pictures with her son, taken in the parking lot of the Enchanted Forest near Salem. For years, on Isa Wilde's birthday, her mother would gift them a trip to the old-timey amusement park and they would go down for a visit, often with a friend or two in tow. Courtesy of Sefana Wilde

When she had her first ultrasound, Wilde swears that in the fuzzy picture, he was waving at her.

A wellness practitioner, Wilde says her precocious son who learned to walk at nine months was her sidekick on a bazillion adventures. From an early age, he had considerable musical gifts and a preternatural gift for sly wordplay: Mama, why do you keep buying groceries if they are sooo gross?

Once Isa reached school age, finding a school that would meet his needs took time, his mother said. He spent a year at K-5 arts magnet Buckman Elementary, did a stint at a Montessori charter school and spent some time being home-schooled.

He had sensory issues, she said. If the sunlight was on him, he would cry. I had to cut off tags [on his clothes].

He was emotionally sensitive too, Sefana Wilde said, coming home with items in his pockets that others had thrown away, saying he felt sad for the stuff nobody wanted. And I think a lot of times, the ones that are the most sensitive to the world are the ones that are going to be drawn to numb out.

Middle school at da Vinci, another arts magnet, brought a few years of stability. Isa joined the jazz band and made friends. But the pandemic hit at the worst possible time, right when he was hitting puberty, swallowing his eighth-grade year. Instead of developing independence, he was in isolation, the screen a lifeline to the outside world. His mother now sees that as his first measurable addiction.

The change was clear, Sefana Wilde said: He went from being bright and full of life and this sensitive being to disconnected and apathetic. Im very spiritual. I would always try to bring meaning and specialness and magic to things, and suddenly, he began saying, I dont believe in all that stuff. Nothing matters.

Russian roulette

She was practical about what Isa would encounter when he finally went back to school full time, as a Cleveland High freshman in fall 2021. Wilde figured there would be pot and alcohol, and she warned him about the dangers of pills and powders. But she didnt realize how deep and prevalent the drug culture hed found would be.

After so much pandemic-era isolation, Isa seemed ready to abandon himself to high school and the freedom and independence it offered. He rode his bike everywhere, and his mother was thrilled that he was off his computer and getting outside.

Sammy Bernstein-Sheehan, now a Cleveland High School junior, first met Isa on Halloween night their freshman year. Both were out in the streets on one of the most awkward nights of the year to be in your early teens, unsure of the reception youll get when you ring the doorbell to trick or treat. The two kept bumping into each other and it wasnt long until they became best friends, Bernstein-Sheehan said.

The first day we really hung out, we walked around for a couple of hours and then we went into my basement and just wrote 10 really short songs, Bernstein-Sheehan said. He was incredibly talented, at the piano, the guitar, the drums, the saxophone. Any instrument he touched, he could figure it out.

On Christmas Day of 2021, Bernstein-Sheehan remembered, Isa called him once all the presents were opened and proposed that theyd go for one of their meandering neighborhood walks, sometimes talking, sometimes streaming tinny music through their phones.

It was cool because it was completely empty, because it was Christmas, Bernstein-Sheehan said. We were listening to music, and we danced in the middle of Division Street, because there was no one there.

But by Isas sophomore year, things had begun to change. On the autumn equinox of 2022, he was out long past when he should have been home. Looking for clues, Sefana Wilde landed on her sons Instagram DMs and learned hed begun experimenting with drugs.

Social media like Instagram, Snapchat and Telegram make it so easy to find drugs, and most parents dont know that, she says now. It takes less clicks to find a drug dealer than it does to log out.

Wilde had never been a helicopter parent. She wanted to leave space for her son to make his own choices, as she had done growing up.

But spooked by what shed seen in her sons social media profile, she sought help from high school administrators, counselors and their family doctor. She grounded Isa, told him she expected him to show up for class, dove deep into research on the nature of substance use disorder, insisted on searching his friends for drugs and alcohol when they came over and signed him up for a mentorship program and drug and alcohol counseling. She and the other parents from his social circle started a text chain and they messaged daily, trying to figure out how to keep their kids safe.

The more she tried to get the situation under control, the more he rebelled, she said.

He quit going to class, missing enough school that the district called to say he was being dropped from their rolls. Isa began running away, staying with people she didnt know. Wilde filed a missing child report and eventually, she said, I stopped working and began driving through the streets looking for him, constantly calling his friends and their parents, trying to find him.

She even called state child protective services, she said, out of desperation, hoping that state intervention could force him into rehab. I told them, I cant keep my child safe. I need help.

That was a dead end, though she says the caseworker offered to pay for a video camera so Wilde could catch sight of Isa if he ever came home.

Online messaging boards turned up information about secure transport to take him out of state to drug treatment programs for troubled teens in Utah or Idaho  an expensive option that shed read could be severely traumatizing and ruin their relationship for good.

Oregons laws left her with few choices, she felt.

It felt like every potential solution was playing Russian roulette, she said. One of the most terrifying things as a parent is not knowing where your child is and not having the support of the system to help you find or help him. As a low-income, full-time single mother, there was only so much I could do on my own. It all unraveled so fast.

A lack of options

Over the months, doctors and social workers offered her pamphlets listing resources. Some tried to convince Isa to seek help. But because he wasnt actively suicidal, his mother was told, the best they could do without his consent was to hold him at the hospital until he sobered up, then release him into her care.

Oregon is one of only 16 states that bars family members or guardians from placing a loved one of any age deemed a danger to themselves or others into treatment for substance use disorder without their consent, according to a database from the Center for Health Policy and Law at Northeastern University.

The state allows involuntary commitments for those struggling with severe mental health disorders who are suicidal or pose serious harm to others. But substance use disorder on its own is not enough to clear that bar, though the National Institutes of Health classifies substance use disorder as a treatable mental disorder.

Isas refusal to seek treatment is typical, said Nora Volkow, director of the National Institutes on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health, whose research has focused on the effects of drugs on the brain.

The willingness to engage in treatment is one of the biggest barriers to care faced by people of all ages with a substance use disorder, Volkow said.

Sefana Wilde contends that allowing teens the right to ignore a health professionals advice about what would decrease their likelihood of dying fails to account for research on substance use disorder and the developing adolescent brain.

A law meant to protect our childrens ability to access health care should not also give them the right to refuse needed treatment when substance abuse disorder has taken hold, she said. Isa did not have the sound mind or judgment to decide whether to accept the treatment which could ultimately have saved his life.

The prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that governs rational decision-making and impulse control, develops rapidly during adolescence but isnt fully formed until about age 25, decades of brain research has shown.

Teenage drug and alcohol use during this period of rapid brain development can change how their brains process risk and reward, said Todd Korthuis, who heads Oregon Health & Science Universitys addiction medicine unit.

A link between adolescent brain development science and the ability  or lack thereof  to make clear-eyed decisions about entering a treatment program may feel intuitive, but the realities of decades of research on the topic are less clear-cut, experts say.

Emily Einstein, the chief of the science policy branch at the National Institutes on Drug Abuse, said Oregon and the rest of the country need far more treatment options to help teens like Isa, including more doctors willing to prescribe addiction treatment medicine to young adults and Narcan available everywhere. But suggesting that those who are addicted  even teens  are not capable of making their own decisions is a slippery slope, she said.

Oregons laws are intended both to protect minors from institutionalization against their will and guard their privacy, said Chelsea Holcomb, the child and family behavioral health director at the Oregon Health Authority.

Even if state law allowed a parent to force their child to undergo treatment, Oregon-based clinics that work with youth would balk at taking a patient not there of their own free will, said Jennifer Worth, medication-assisted treatment operations director at Great Circle Recovery, an outpatient clinic run by the Grand Ronde tribe.

In that situation, we would do everything we could to engage that youth, to work with them, to make sure they had Narcan if they needed it, to make sure they knew to never use alone, to give them any kind of resources for relapse prevention. But if they were refusing to come in and engage in services, we cant force them, Worth said.

And theres no guarantee that Isa Wilde would have been able to get a spot in either an inpatient residential program or at an intensive services outpatient clinic. Oregon has just four youth residential treatment facilities licensed to provide substance abuse disorder treatment services  one each in Douglas, Washington, Multnomah and Crook counties. Between them, they offer just 42 beds.

5 1 / 5 A Cut-Short Life

I would say that our system (needs) a lot of growth and effort to get more community-based services into home and schools, to meet children and families where they are, said Holcomb, the health authority child and family specialist.

Sefana Wilde said Isas friends who agreed to seek treatment were forced to wait more than a month before a spot opened up  and by that time, theyd lost interest.

There is only this small moment in time when people who are struggling with substance abuse are willing to receive help, she said. You have to be able to have it available.

A midnight call

In January 2023, Isa Wilde overdosed at a friends house. His mother woke to a panicked phone call at midnight, to hear that he was not breathing, that the paramedics were on their way, that hed been given Narcan after taking a counterfeit Percocet pill laced with fentanyl and CPR was being performed on him. She raced over immediately. When he arrived at the emergency room, he was so perilously close to death that he was put on a Narcan drip.

Again, she says, she pleaded with a hospital social worker for help, looking for any loophole to get him into treatment. She said the social worker told her, Maam, we cant keep your son in the emergency room indefinitely. I said, Do not patronize me when I am a mother who is watching her son struggle to breathe all night.

But then on his own, Isa Wilde said he wanted a fresh start. He went on Zoloft to try to manage his anxiety, and it seemed to help, she said.

Last days

About two weeks before fentanyl poisoning would kill Isa Wilde, he overdosed at home, the first time in six months. It left his mother shaken and scared.

After a dose of Narcan, he came to, weeping and apologetic. Hed had a tough week. A bike accident led to a panic attack; hed sought relief in a blue M30 counterfeit Percocet, which are almost always laced with fentanyl. It was an accident, he said. He promised it wouldnt happen again. His mother called 911 and help came, but he refused to go to the hospital, she said.

They told me that Narcan wears off after 30 to 90 minutes, but fentanyl can last for six to nine hours, Sefana Wilde said. So I had to run to the pharmacy, so he didnt overdose again.

After that, she said she struggled to sleep, waking up in the middle of every night. Shed go into his bedroom to check if he was breathing, the same way shed done when he was a baby and she a nervous new parent.

Each night he seemed to be fine and she wanted, badly, to put her faith in her son and believe that hed made a one-time mistake.

The day before he died, Isa Wilde called Sammy Bernstein-Sheehan, to see if he wanted to hang out and reconnect.

He seemed better that night, more like himself, more hopeful and energetic. He seemed like the Isa I knew freshman year, Bernstein-Sheehan remembered. He said he was going to keep his job at Portland Parks & Rec, that he was going to go to Portland Community College, that he wanted to get back into music.

But that same night, his mother woke up with an uncontrollable urge to check on him. When she crept upstairs to his room, she found him face down, his face tinged bluish-gray.

The memorial to her son is adorned with flowers from his service alongside other candles, poems and figurines that summon his memory for her. Beth Nakamura

This time, Narcan and CPR couldnt save him. Neither could the EMTs or the police.

I want his death to mean something

In the days of shock that immediately followed her sons death on the eve of his 16th birthday, Sefana Wilde poured herself into his funeral arrangements, helped by a GoFundMe started by Isas friends.

As she said goodbye to his body, she made him a promise: Shed tell his story, to try to save other lives and try to change the law that prevented her from helping him.

While wandering through the Goodwill bins in Portland, Sefana Wilde said she became wracked by grief. At that moment, she looked down into a bin of objects and found these three items stacked together. Beneath the notebook and the tin, a heart-shaped quartz. It was an angel aura quartz. It felt like it was Isa sending me that message, Wilde said of her son. Beth Nakamura

On Sept. 21, a year since his mother had first found out that he was experimenting with drugs and about six weeks after Isas death, she hosted a memorial gathering on the shores of a river where the two of them used to go for light-filled days floating in the water and playing in the sand.

Friends of Isas wrote messages of love and remembrance on prayer flags that they then strung up in the trees. Months later, they are still there  for a lifetime, his mother hopes.

The first time I ever met Isa, he immediately made an impact on me, one friend wrote. His kind and genuine nature was unmatched. He was one of the few people in my life who never judged my stutter.

The image and words are loving, but inside, Sefana Wilde still feels betrayed by the system that let her child choose to refuse the help that might have saved him.

Wilde lived through the pandemic and knows that the world can turn on a dime when it sees an epidemic. Why, shes left wondering, isnt the opioid epidemic  a leading cause of death for Americans under 50  treated with the same urgency?

Sorry, the system is broken. Thats what I got told over and over again by everyone I sought help from, she said. I had to sit and watch while my only child got eaten alive, while my worst nightmare came true before my eyes. This is wrong. He didnt have to die.

 Julia Silverman, @jrlsilverman, jsilverman@oregonian.com

Find help

If you know a child or teen who may be at risk due to dangerous drug use, call 1-800-662-HELP (4357), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services hotline, which provides free, confidential treatment referrals and information, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. If you or anyone you know is in crisis, call 988, Oregons Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which connects callers to trained crisis counselors in their area.

Pharmacists in Oregon prescribe and dispense naloxone, the opioid reversal medication. Anyone can request naloxone at their local retail pharmacy. Most insurance will cover the cost of naloxone for people requesting a prescription. The website GoodRx offers discount coupons for people that need to pay out-of-pocket for naloxone.

Editors Note: Friends of Sefana Wilde have set up a GoFundMe to support her as she copes with loss and grief.
Kevin Barton and Max Williams

Barton is the district attorney for Washington County. Williams, who served as president of the Oregon Community Foundation from 2012 to 2022, is a former state legislator and former state corrections director. They lead the Coalition to Fix and Improve Measure 110.

In 2020, out-of-state interests spent millions of dollars to convince Oregonians to pass Measure 110. Encouragingly titled the Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act, Measure 110 and its backers promised a better way to address addiction. They claimed it would save lives, increase treatment and reduce overdose deaths. Voters passed the new law and Oregon became the first state in the nation to decriminalize possession of deadly drugs like fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine.

Three years later, it is clear that Measure 110 failed to deliver on that promise. Our state is plagued by skyrocketing drug overdoses, our cities are struggling to maintain public safety, and our teenagers are facing the fastest growing drug death rate in the nation. Measure 110 may not have singlehandedly caused all these problems, but it is making them all dramatically worse.

Democratic lawmakers appear to recognize this and are pursuing a bill in the upcoming session aimed at shoring up Measure 110. But their proposal, while a step in the right direction, includes many of the same fatal flaws undermining Measure 110. Oregonians need lawmakers to act boldly to save lives and communities.

Our group, the Coalition to Fix and Improve Measure 110, has set forth a proposal to remove the parts of Measure 110 that are fundamentally flawed and fix the parts that can be repaired. We recognize that Oregon voters passed Measure 110 because they believe there is a better path toward treatment and recovery. We agree and want to deliver on that goal.

Our proposal offers a blueprint for success. It includes mandatory treatment for drug users and those who steal to support their addiction; requires prison sentences for repeat drug dealers; and establishes a new crime for dealers who cause overdose deaths. Equally important, it preserves the funding stream created by Measure 110 for evidence-based treatment and prevention programs.

This is not a return to the war on drugs, as Measure 110 backers contend. Our goal is to use the incentives and consequences of the criminal justice system to motivate users to engage in treatment and recovery, not to put people in jail. To that end, our initiative creates multiple off ramps from the traditional criminal justice process, including pre-booking diversion programs, court diversion programs and automatic expungement  erasure  of convictions.

Our proposal is built on decades of positive results from thousands of successful drug court programs around the nation, including here in Oregon. These highly structured programs have a proven record of success. While no approach guarantees results for everyone, this offers the best opportunity to provide more treatment, for more people, more quickly.

An essential aspect of our plan is to return the possession of deadly drugs to a Class A misdemeanor crime. This level of crime provides the justice system with the necessary tools to steer people into treatment. The built-in rewards and consequences of the criminal justice system, including the potential penalty of up to a year in jail that comes with a class A misdemeanor, offer a powerful incentive to combat the powerful addiction of deadly drugs.

The bill proposed by Democratic lawmakers recriminalizes drug possession, but it is woefully inadequate and will not produce the results Oregonians desperately need. It makes drug possession a Class C misdemeanor, the lowest level of crime, equivalent to petty theft and subject to a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail. Additionally, it imposes a complicated set of conditions that must occur for the criminal justice process to even begin. Others, including the League of Oregon Cities and Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police have raised these same critiques. Sadly, the bill offers recriminalization in name only and represents a lesson not learned from the failures of Measure 110.

Despite the obvious challenges facing Oregon, the backers of Measure 110 insist on maintaining the failed status quo. They argue Measure 110 needs more time to work, even though people are dying and communities are struggling. They claim that recriminalization harms communities of color, even as those very populations suffer disproportionately higher rates of overdose deaths under Measure 110. Simply put, they refuse to acknowledge what Oregonians overwhelmingly knowMeasure 110 has failed.

We urge lawmakers to reject insufficient solutions and half-measures. They should act without delay to address the addiction crisis and enact our proposal. Oregonians supported Measure 110 because they were convinced by the promise of treatment and recovery. But now, they justifiably feel betrayed. The only remaining question is whether lawmakers will do what is necessary in February or will voters need to do it in November?

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Julia Pinsky

Pinsky is executive director of Maxs Mission, a Southern Oregon behavioral health services provider supported by Measure 110 dollars.

Our son, Max, was 25 when he died of a heroin overdose in 2013. Possession of a controlled substance was a felony. Max was a chef for many years of his young life and a creative, caring beloved son and brother. Max had not been using for long but like many people addicted to opioids, he experienced a rapid downhill escalation. He was one of four local young men who all died of an overdose within six months of each other.

Families like ours across Oregon know that criminalizing addiction is not the answer to our current situation. We did not see law enforcement or the criminal justice system as a partner in getting our son the help he needed. Having talked with so many families in a similar situation, I know many feel strongly that recriminalizing addiction is not going to give us a different outcome this time.

My familys story played out over and over again during the time of criminalization. In spring 2020, when drug possession was a Class C misdemeanor crime, overdose deaths in Oregon skyrocketed 70% over the previous year driven by the arrival of fentanyl to our state. I n 2003, when drug possession was a felony, meth-related deaths increased 53% over two years. In 2010 when drug possession was still a felony, heroin overdose deaths skyrocketed.

Last month there was a day-long symposium in Salem where independent researchers from around the country gathered to present their findings on the first few years of Measure 110 implementation that showed what really drives addiction and overdose rates: the supply and type of drugs in the market. Local laws regarding possession do not increase access to treatment, and, in fact, after Washington recriminalized possession in 2021, overdose deaths increased.

When Oregon passed Measure 110, we were responding to the failure of the criminal system to address addiction. But the state and local governments still need to implement Measure 110 or help law enforcement understand and enforce the new policy.

The public is understandably angry and calling for change. Sons and daughters are dying, waiting to get into detox and treatment. Every day, desperate people looking for help with their addiction are told they will have to wait many months to get the treatment they need. Getting arrested should not be the quickest route to access this.

Addiction is not a crime. Lawmakers should have as a goal reducing preventable deaths like Maxs, getting more people connected to care and improving public safety. House Bill 4002, which would recriminalize possession of small amounts of drugs, will not do that. It will divert untold tens of millions of dollars into the already-failed criminal approach to addiction while overloading already overburdened public defenders. HB 4002 will lead to the prioritization of people who are arrested for treatment when there are daily lines out the door for detox in Oregon and providers already have long waitlists.

Instead of following the data, the Legislature is proposing jail time and fines via misdemeanor charges for people who decline treatment. But only half of the addiction services needed for our state is available. And as The Oregonian/OregonLive reported last week, the state has an acute shortage of treatment for substance use disorders and withdrawal management, with a projected need of almost 2,200 new beds. They are setting up a punitive system where individuals will pay the price for a problem the state has created by failing for decades to invest in detox, housing, treatment services, treatment beds, medication-assisted treatment and other services.

The complicated proposal claims to provide ways to avoid jail. But we know from history that putting law enforcement instead of providers at the center is not a successful model. Police officers are not social workers and should never be put in that position. While the proposal does have some investments in local service expansion, untold tens of millions will likely also be wasted on the criminal system that could go directly to treatment services.

Everyone in Oregon who wants treatment should be able to get it without going through the criminal system. Over the past year new detox services, recovery housing programs, treatment programs and harm reduction services have exponentially increased across the state in both cities and rural areas saving thousands of lives in the process. With more support from lawmakers, local communities can do more and do it faster. Instead of proposing taking us back to the failures of the past, the Legislature must keep pushing forward with treatment expansion and take the addiction crisis more seriously. Families like ours are counting on them.

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The Oregon Legislature will convene this week for a five-week long session that is expected to focus on shortcomings in the states behavioral health system. Among the biggest issues that legislators are expected to tackle: whether additional changes are needed for Measure 110, the voter-passed initiative that decriminalized possession of small amounts of hard drugs. Key lawmakers have put forward a proposal that would, among other things, make possession a Class C misdemeanor.

Last month, we ran an op-ed by former House Republican leader Christine Drazan calling on the Legislature to repeal Measure 110. Today, we are publishing an op-ed by Julia Pinsky, a Measure 110 supporter arguing against recriminalization; and another by Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton and former legislator and corrections head Max Williams arguing for a stronger recriminalization component.

-Helen Jung, Oregonian/OregonLive opinion editor
Another mild day is in store for the Portland area.

The forecast for Sunday from the National Weather Service calls for cloudy skies and a high temperature of 55 degrees. It should be dry, too.
The European Union is likely to create a fund to help Ukraine within the European Peace Fund in the near future. The fund of 20 billion euros will be designed for the next four years.

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This was stated by EU diplomat Josep Borrell. The statement was made in Brussels at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers.

"Regarding the military support fund for Ukraine. Ministers will have to continue discussing this issue. The European Council has instructed us to continue searching for an agreement. There was an agreement on the civilian side, 50 billion euros is very good news. However, we still have to decide how to implement our military support, both bilaterally and through the European Peace Fund," Borrell said.

According to him, it is proposed to create a separate fund of 20 billion euros within the European Peace Fund specifically for military support to Ukraine. Borrell emphasized that this assistance to our country "must come now".

"Our position remains firm: Ukraine needs more and faster support. This assistance must come now. Ukraine's victory is critically important not only for Ukraine but also for peace and stability in Europe," the diplomat emphasized.

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Tennessee has recently declared its intention to participate for a mere one year in the Federal Child Nutrition Program, causing ripples of concern among advocacy groups.

The program, inclusive of vital initiatives like Summer EBT, has been a reliable source of sustenance for low-income families, particularly during the summer break.

The governor's office's decision to restrict the state's involvement in this federal child nutrition initiative has prompted questions regarding the future stability of essential food aid for children.

Tennessee's Limited Engagement in the Federal Child Nutrition Program

Among the 35 states actively opting into the Federal Child Nutrition Program, Tennessee's announcement of a one-year commitment raises eyebrows.

The comprehensive program, which encompasses Summer EBT, extends financial support of $40 per child per month to low-income families throughout the summer months.

While the temporary assistance provides immediate relief to struggling families, there is growing concern that reverting to pre-existing programs after a year may disrupt the continuity of vital food aid for children.

Various advocacy groups, including the Tennessee Justice Center, have voiced their disappointment regarding the state's decision.

While acknowledging the importance of the one-year commitment, these groups emphasize the ongoing necessity for consistent food aid for children.

The potential risk to the Summer EBT initiative, specifically tailored to bridge gaps in existing food programs during school breaks, amplifies concerns among advocates striving for a sustained support system for child nutrition.

Tennessee Federal Summer Food Aid Solidifies

In a significant development, Congress solidified the Summer EBT program's permanence, effective from 2024.

The objective is to overcome the limitations of existing programs and extend crucial support to a larger demographic of children during the summer hiatus.

For states opting out in 2024, there remains an opportunity to join the program for the summer of 2025, contingent upon securing funding for half of their administrative costs.

Tennessee's decision to partake for only one year aligns with its recent trend of exercising caution in its approach to federal aid programs.

Read Also: Crucial $78B Tax Victory: House Paves the Way for Child Tax Credit Lifeline to Low-Income Families

Recent Federal Aid Stance Raises Observational Concerns

The state of Tennessee has been under the spotlight due to its recent proclivity to limit participation in federal aid programs.

An illustrative example unfolded in January 2023 when the state declined approximately $9 million in federal HIV funding, citing objections to supporting Planned Parenthood.

Moreover, the state faced disqualification from receiving over $7 million under the Title X family planning program due to its stringent policies. In both instances, the federal government intervened to directly fund organizations like Planned Parenthood.

This discernible trend of selective participation in federal aid programs provokes concerns about the state's commitment to broader child welfare initiatives.

As Tennessee embarks on a one-year engagement in the Federal Child Nutrition Program, advocacy groups intensify their endeavors to secure a more enduring commitment to the Kids' Food Aid Program.

The Summer EBT initiative, an integral facet of this broader program, now faces an uncertain future, leaving low-income families in a state of suspense regarding the continued availability of essential food aid for their children during the summer break.

Related Article: Arby's Foundation's $1 Million Donation Erases Student Lunch Debts for 7,000+ Georgia Students
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The Newton teachers' strike now ends after an 11-day strike.

The Newton teachers strike in a Boston suburb concluded their 11-day strike on Friday night, announcing a tentative school district agreement between the union and the schools.

The resolution, marking the longest teachers' strike in the state since 2022, brings relief to 2,000 instructors and 12,000 students in about two dozen schools.

Newton Public Schools Tentative Contract

The union's announcement of the breakthrough on social media sparked optimism as schools were set to reopen on Monday.

Key negotiator Ryan Normandin proclaimed victory at a nighttime news conference, expressing the importance of unity in standing against challenges to educators' rights.

This victory holds significant weight, not just for Newton teachers but for the broader implications it carries across the state.

While the agreement awaits approval from both the school committee and union members, the 11-day strike has incurred substantial costs for both parties involved.

Teachers, in addition to salary losses, faced fines exceeding $600,000 for violating the state's ban on strikes by public workers.

A judge had even threatened to double daily fines to $100,000 if no agreement was reached by Sunday.

Simultaneously, the school district is expected to allocate an additional $53 million over four years to cover the cost of the new agreement.

This tentative contract includes a cost-of-living increase of about 13% for teachers over the specified period, pay hikes for classroom aides, and an unprecedented 40 days of fully paid family leave time.

District negotiators, outlining their perspective, revealed that they had accumulated more than $1 million in court and other costs since the commencement of the walkout.

The financial repercussions underscore the gravity of the issues at stake during this prolonged negotiation process.

Read Also: California Teen Behind Nationwide Swatting Spree Arrested for Targeting FBI, Florida Mosque

While the resolution brings relief, frustration among parents was evident throughout the strike. Some initiated legal actions, such as the lawsuit filed by parent Lital Asher-Dotan in Middlesex District Court, aiming to compel the teachers' union to end the walkout.

Tensions peaked on the eighth day when parents highlighted the strike's impact on high school students' critical years, extracurricular activities, and those with special needs.

This public outcry emphasizes the pressing need for normalcy in the lives of students and families affected by the strike.

Rebuilding Trust: A Step Towards Future Stability

As the Newton School Committee plans a public vote and union members prepare to vote Sunday evening, the community looks towards the future with a mixture of relief and apprehension.

The school committee expressed in a statement that the contract reflects their values, including respect for educators, while acknowledging the painful toll the strike has taken on Newton Public School families and the city as a whole.

The hope now is to rebuild trust, learn from this challenging experience, and work towards ensuring that such disruptions never happen again.

In summary, the historic victory in Newton not only puts an end to the 11-day strike but also serves as a significant milestone in the ongoing discussions about the rights and well-being of educators across the state.

The Newton Public Schools tentative contract deal opens a new chapter, one that holds promise for the return of normalcy in the lives of students and families while posing important questions about the financial and emotional costs of such prolonged labor disputes in the field of education.

Related Article: AI Breakthrough: Unveiling a Surprising Link Between Artificial Intelligence and Babies' Language Development
Photo: (Photo : Brandon Bell / Getty Images)

Target product recall was swiftly mandated after finding out about a faulty Civil Rights learning activity from a TikTok viral video.

In a now-viral TikTok video that has brought significant historical inaccuracies to light, Target, a retail giant, has swiftly taken action, announcing the immediate discontinuation of a product designed to educate on Civil Rights icons.

The recall, occurring during Black History Month, has ignited discussions around the importance of accuracy in educational materials and the role of scrutiny in product development.

Swift Target Product Recall and Decisive Response to TikTok Revelations

The unfolding controversy was propelled into the public eye when Tierra Espy, a dedicated Las Vegas high school teacher using the TikTok handle @issatete, posted a video meticulously scrutinizing the "Civil Rights Magnetic Learning Activity" available at Target.

@issatete Idk who needs to correct it but it needs to be pulled off the shelves nonetheless. Any person could have missed the mistake but it just takes one person to point it out and ask for corrections #blackhistory #blackhistorymonth #blacktiktok  original sound - Issa tete

The video exposed misidentifications of pivotal figures like Carter G. Woodson, W.E.B. DuBois, and Booker T. Washington, prompting Target to respond promptly.

Acknowledging the severity of the issue, Target released a statement confirming the removal of the flawed product from both physical shelves and online platforms.

The retail giant also assured that the product's publisher, Bendon, is now aware of the historical inaccuracies.

However, Target refrained from providing details on how long the product had been available for sale, leaving consumers curious about the extent of the oversight.

Tierra Espy, an educator passionate about historical accuracy, purchased the learning activity in late January with the intent of incorporating it into her U.S. history curriculum.

To her dismay, upon opening the product at home, she discovered glaring mistakes that questioned the integrity of the educational tool. The product, bearing a Bendon manufacturing label, has yet to elicit a response from the Ohio-based children's publisher.

The incident has raised questions not only about the specifics of the misidentifications but also about the product development and quality control processes employed by Bendon.

As consumers express concerns about the accuracy of educational materials, the situation underscores the importance of thorough vetting and fact-checking in the creation of learning resources.

Teacher's Call for Accountability and Recognition

While the retail giant's swift response is commendable, Tierra Espy expressed disappointment at the absence of personal communication from either Target or Bendon.

The removal of the flawed learning activity is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, but Espy is fervently advocating for public acknowledgment and apologies from the companies involved.

Espy's passion extends beyond the immediate recall. She emphasizes the need for companies to institute more rigorous review processes before educational products reach consumers, underscoring the pivotal role they play in ensuring historical accuracy.

This incident serves as a poignant reminder of the profound impact historical inaccuracies can have, not only in an educational context but also in shaping societal perceptions.

Read Also: Tennessee's One-Year Federal Child Nutrition Stint Sparks Advocacy Concerns: Kids' Food Aid Program at Risk

The Broader Implications and Lessons Learned

As conversations surrounding the incident continue, the educational product recall becomes a cautionary tale for companies, highlighting the imperatives of accuracy and accountability in the creation and distribution of educational materials.

In an age where information is easily disseminated through social media, the consequences of oversight can be swift and far-reaching.

The incident also prompts reflection on the broader implications for retailers and publishers during Black History Month, a time when commemorating and respecting the narratives of Black historical figures is paramount.

The scrutiny placed on educational materials during this period reinforces the need for heightened diligence to avoid perpetuating historical inaccuracies.

In conclusion, Target's decisive action in halting the sale of the Civil Rights learning activity reflects the evolving landscape where social media acts as a powerful tool in shaping consumer decisions.

Espy's TikTok video, serving as an agent of change, compelled Target to address the issue head-on, ultimately leading to the recall of the flawed educational product.

The incident serves as a wake-up call for the industry, emphasizing the necessity of stringent quality control measures to uphold accuracy and integrity in educational materials.

Related Article: Justice for Brianna Ghey: Teen Killers' Life Sentences Revealed After Gruesome Stabbing
"Cometary organic matter" was found in samples brought to Earth from the near-Earth asteroid Ryugu. This confirms the theory that life on Earth could have originated as a result of a collision with one of the ancient asteroids.

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This is stated in a study published in Science Advances. The Futurism publication provided details of the discovery, which could rewrite history.

Japan's Hayabusa 2 spacecraft visited Ryugu in 2018 and returned samples to Earth in December 2020, providing scientists with potentially invaluable information about the origin of life on Earth.

Since then, the researchers have been studying the samples and have concluded that the surface of these samples likely contains organic molecules.

They suggest that when one of these asteroids collided with the Earth in the past, volatile substances such as nitrogen and oxygen could have evaporated from the heated cometary organic matter, which subsequently contributed to the formation of carbonaceous materials on the planet.

Megumi Matsumoto, associate professor and co-author of the study, believes that the organic matter found could be the "little seeds of life that once came from space to Earth."

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As described in the study, Matsumoto's team found "molten splashes" in the Ryugu samples, ranging in width from 5 to 20 micrometers. They could have been formed when cometary dust fell onto the airless space rock. It was in these splashes that the researchers found "carbonaceous materials" that resemble primitive organics.

"The chemical composition of the molten splashes indicates that Ryugu's hydrosilicates have mixed with cometary dust," Matsumoto said.

The discovery of Japanese scientists echoes the first research conducted by NASA scientists studying samples delivered by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft from the asteroid Bennu.

In October, NASA said that they had discovered the "building blocks of life" in preliminary samples that were outside the capsule of the spacecraft's sample collection tool. At the time, the agency was unable to open the main capsule due to mounting problems.

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In order to make a final conclusion that life on Earth was formed from organic matter that accidentally came to the planet from space, scientists will need to conduct further and rather lengthy research. But the first results should inspire them.

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The standard view of the origins of the Polynesians, and specifically of the Maori of New Zealand, is that they derive from the Lapita civilization of Melanesia and Micronesia. Here is a passage from Maori History: A Captivating Guide to the History of the Indigenous Polynesian People of New Zealand (2022), apparently written by Matt Clayton, that I found particularly interesting:

It seems that for roughly one thousand years, the Lapita people consolidated some of the basic Polynesian cultural characteristics, like the language and religious beliefs and concepts like, for example, mana, as well as the pantheon of gods. They also formed the roots of a social system with kinship and ranks, which are today linked with the Polynesian civilization. It could also be theorized that, over time, they also improved and advanced their maritime technology and techniques. Around 700 CE, they resumed their eastward explorations, reaching the Cook Islands, Tahiti, and the rest of what is today French Polynesia. By then, the Lapita were transformed into the Polynesians, a change that is marked by the loss of their distinctive pottery.

Over the next several hundred years, the Polynesian people spread across what is today known as Polynesia, which roughly stretches from Samoa in the west to Easter Island in the east and Hawaii in the north to New Zealand in the south. This is a rather wide area that covers large chunks of open waters in the Pacific Ocean. The astonishing feat of covering such large distances and treacherous seas has made some modern scholars doubt if these Polynesian voyages were deliberate. For Western historians, it seemed inexplicable that a culture that seemed far inferior to any in Europe or around the Mediterranean Sea could travel so far, especially considering their Western contemporaries barely managed to leave their coasts. However, modern researchers have almost undoubtedly proved that the Polynesians, like their Austronesian ancestors, sailed with full intent and the knowledge of how to do so with minimal risks. . . .

Coupled with their planning techniques were their well-crafted outrigger canoes. They sometimes used the double outrigger design. Here, it is important to note that our minds often link canoes with small vessels, like a rowboat carrying a few people. However, the Polynesians, like other branches of the Austronesian people, built large ships capable of carrying dozens of people, with the boats powered by sails and the wind. It is also worth noting that the Polynesian sailors were capable navigators. They knew how to navigate with the help of the sun and the stars, and they used various methods, like spotting birds and cloud formations, to deduce if there was land beyond the visible horizon. They would pass this information on to other navigators and make repeated voyages, further reinforcing the notion that their trips were deliberate.

If that wasnt enough to prove the maritime quality and capability of the Polynesian explorers, then there is the fact that, according to some research, they reached as far east as the western coasts of South America. There is some evidence to support such claims. The Polynesians cultivated sweet potatoes before the arrival of Europeans to the region. The sweet potato or batata, often mistakenly referred to as yams, originated in Central or South America. Thus, the Polynesians managed to reach the American continent before Christopher Columbus. On the Cook Islands, archaeologists found traces of this vegetable as early as the 11th century CE, prompting some scholars to deduce that Polynesian trips to the Americas must predate this century. Some bolder claims date Polynesian contact with the Americas to possibly the 8th century, though there is no evidence to support these claims. Another interesting facet of this implied contact is the fact that in various Polynesian languages, sweet potato is called kumara (also known as kumala or umala), while Bolivian and Peruvian Quechua sometimes refer to the plants as kumara or kumar, which is strikingly similar.

Apart from the sweet potato, some genetic studies of both chicken and human remains infer possible contact. In the case of human remains, several DNA markers found on certain Polynesian remains showed some mixture with the genes of the natives on the Columbian coast. Some scholars proposed this was a result of a single contact that took place in the late 12th or early 13th century. Also, some chicken remains found on the Chilean coast were dated to the early 14th century, with some of its genes sharing similarities to the

domesticated chickens raised by the Polynesians. This has led some scholars to theorize that the Polynesians brought domesticated poultry to the Americas. However, these theories are still relatively new, and there is no conclusive scholarly agreement on them. Similarly, even less conclusive are the linguistic similarities found in a few words. Nevertheless, even if the linguistic and genetic similarities are completely disregarded, the unwavering evidence in the form of the kumara proves that the Polynesians reached South America most likely more than once. (5-9)
The Chosen Season 4: Episodes 1-3 is now in theatres, and fans are already reacting to some of the big (and occasionally shocking) plot twists. I had a chance to talk to series creator Dallas Jenkins and some of the shows actors about this  and other aspects of the new season  just before the world premiere in Los Angeles a couple weeks ago.

Here is my interview with Jenkins; in the last two minutes, we talk about the Episode 3 climax:

I also spoke to Yasmine Al-Bustami (Ramah) and Brandon Potter (Quintus) 

 and Jonathan Roumie (Jesus) 

 and Abe Bueno-Jallad (Big James) and Vanessa Benavente (Mother Mary):

Benavente, incidentally, is the only actor I spoke to on this junket that I had interviewed before; you can watch that interview, which was done over Zoom in November 2022, here.

I also spoke briefly to co-stars Reza Diako (Philip), Alaa Safi (Simon the Zealot), and Elijah Alexander (Atticus) on the shows teal carpet. You can listen to those soundbites here.

The Chosen Season 4: Episodes 1-3 is playing in theatres for the next two weeks. Episodes 4-6 will come to theatres February 15, and Episodes 7-8 on February 29.



The Chosen interviews:

The Chosen recaps:



The Chosen can be streamed via Angel Studios or the shows app (Android | Apple).
The National Executive Council (NEC) of Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy (GNCoP) has appointed Pharm. Audrey Serwaa Bonsu as Chief Executive Officer of GNCoP



The appointment took effect from January 23, 2024.



By this, she becomes the first female CEO for GNCoP to lead the Chambers operations in Ghana.



Pharm. Audrey, a seasoned pharmacist with a wealth of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, brings a unique blend of expertise and leadership to her new role. With a strong commitment to advancing the pharmacy profession and improving access to quality healthcare, Pharm. Audrey is well positioned to lead the Chamber in its mission to promote excellence, innovation, and collaboration within the pharmaceutical sector.



We are thrilled to welcome Pharm. Audrey Serwaa Bonsu as the new CEO of the Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy, said Pharm Harrison Abutiate, Chairman of the NEC. Her extensive experience, coupled with her passion for the pharmacy profession, makes her the ideal candidate to lead our organization into the future. As CEO, Pharm. Audrey will be responsible for providing strategic direction and leadership to the Chamber, representing the interests of its members, and fostering partnerships with key stakeholders in the public and private sectors. Her appointment marks a significant milestone for the Chamber as it seeks to address the evolving needs and challenges facing the pharmacy industry in Ghana.



I am honored to have been chosen to lead the Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy, said Pharm. Audrey. I am committed to building on the Chambers legacy of excellence and working collaboratively with our members and stakeholders to drive positive change and innovation in the pharmacy sector.



The Chambers Administrative Assistant and Digital Marketing Lead, Samuel Kwame Boadu, added; Pharm. Serwaa Bonsu has significantly contributed to the growth of Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy and brings a wealth of experience in stakeholder engagement, membersmanagement and a culture of performance. I have no doubt that she will take Chamber to new heights of growth and performance.



Samuel reiterated the Chambers promise, adding that Pharm. Audrey Serwaa Bonsu, being the First Female Pharmacist, further confirms our commitment to gender equality.



Pharm. Audrey holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science, an Mphil in Pharmacology from the University of Ghana, Legon and has held various leadership positions within the pharmaceutical industry. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new role and is poised to make a meaningful impact on the future of pharmacy in Ghana.



Please join us in congratulating Pharm. Audrey Serwaa Bonsu on her appointment as CEO of the Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy. We are confident that under her leadership, the Chamber will continue to thrive and make a significant contribution to the advancement of the pharmacy profession in Ghana.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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In an effort to eliminate ghost names from the public sector, Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, the Controller and Accountant General of Ghana, has issued a strong warning to workers who have not linked their Ghana cards to the payroll system.



Speaking at the annual conference of the Controller and Accountant-Generals Department in Kumasi, Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem emphasized the importance of innovative financial management practices to ensure a reliable payroll system.



The process of linking the National Identification Authority (NIA) number to the payroll database began two years ago, and its implementation is now being enforced.



Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem made it clear that those without a Ghana card will soon have their pay disconnected.



He also stated that if an individuals NIA card is missing, their number will still be present in the database, allowing for cross-checking and validation through physical verification.



Additionally, at the conference, COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, the Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), highlighted the importance of a collaborative effort to combat corruption.



She expressed concern over the stagnant Corruption Perception Index for the past four years and called for increased interventions to improve the perception of corruption.



COP Addo-Danquah urged everyone to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities, emphasizing that the fight against corruption should not be left solely to institutions but should involve every citizen.



The conference was attended by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, who represented Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Osei-Mensah commended the Controller and Accountant-Generals Department for its significant advancements and stressed the importance of technology and innovation in the accounting and finance sector.



This move by the Controller and Accountant General of Ghana reflects the countrys commitment to enhancing transparency and accountability in the public sector, and it is expected to have a positive impact on Ghanas financial management practices.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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GHANA COCOA BOARD ADDRESSES MISINTERPRETATION OF OFFICIAL LETTER TO AFROTROPIC COCOA PROCESSING COMPANY LIMITED



Management of Ghana Cocoa Board has noted the widespread circulation of an official letter from the regulator to Afrotropic Cocoa Processing Company Limited.



This letter, in response to the company's request to import cocoa beans to process in Ghana has been a subject of misinterpretation on social media leading to misinformation.



We would like to clarify as follows;



1) All processing companies in Ghana established post November 2001 are permitted by law to import cocoa beans for processing in Ghana.



2) The practice is to help the companies meet their desired recipes for chocolate production and other uses.



3) Ghana's cocoa is a premium cocoa and as part of cost management and operational strategy, companies often blend premium Ghana Cocoa with less premium cocoa beans from other producing countries.



4) It is an industry practice that has existed for over 20 years to allow factories to import from other countries including, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, Nigeria and Ecuador.



The public is therefore urged to disregard the false claim deduced from the leaked letter.





PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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South African cuisine is rich and diverse, and there's something for everyone to enjoy.



From sweet treats like koeksisters and malva pudding to savoury dishes like boboties and boerewors, you will surely find something tantalising your taste buds.



You, however, need to travel to South Africa to have a taste of these cuisines just like the others.



Visa Free



Travellers between Ghana and South Africa will no longer need visas. The two countries announced a visa-waiver scheme on 1 November, allowing citizens to travel freely between them.



The visa waiver allows for travel for periods of up to 90 days within a calendar year, for purposes of business or tourism.



The 90 days may be used in one block, or in incremental amounts until the 90-day total within a calendar year is reached.



The two countries hope the agreement will boost tourism and will help to deepen economic cooperation between the two nations.



It is also part of a growing trend of African nations moving towards free travel for citizens of the continent.



About South Africa Tourism West Africa



South African Tourism West Africa is the national tourism agency responsible for marketing South Africa as a destination across Nigeria and Ghana.



The Agency's objectives are to develop and implement marketing strategies efficiently in the specific market segments, promote South Africa's scenic beauty, diverse wildlife, ecotourism, and variety of cultures and heritage, realise South Africa's potential as a big event destination; engender a travel and tourism culture among Africans; use the more focused, cost-effective and customer-driven approach taken to its international marketing operations in a quest to play smarter' in the increasingly competitive global tourism market; continue including initiatives such as ongoing segmentation research into key spend and volume markets abroad, which highlight international growth areas where South African Tourism's marketing efforts will reap the greatest returns; continue with its aggressive e-Business Tourism Growth Strategy, which incorporates fully-fledged research and a website; create market access by participating in major travel shows, coordinate advertising, public relations and direct mailing campaigns, and conduct familiarising trips with media, tour operators and travel agents to enhance understanding of South Africa as a leisure and business events destination.

Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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Henry Nana Boakye, the National Organizer of the New Patriotic Party, has implored the government to, with immediate effect, withdraw the emission levy imposed on vehicles.



The government announced the imposition of a levy on carbon dioxide equivalent emissions on internal combustion engine vehicles in accordance with the Emissions Levy Act, 2023 (Act 1112).



The Emissions Levy is in line with the governments efforts aimed at tackling greenhouse gas emissions, promoting the use of eco-friendly technology, and ensuring a safe environment.



But many Ghanaians, particularly car owners, drivers, and motorists, have complained bitterly about this emission levy, citing the economic burdens it adds to their plight.



Nonetheless, the government, through the Ghana Revenue Authority, has effected the levy.



The implementation of the emission levy came into force yesterday, February 1.



Addressing this levy during a panel discussion on Peace FMs Kokrokoo show, Henry Nana Boakye, affectionately called Nana B, asked the government to pay attention to the cries of the masses.



He told the host, Nana Yaw Kesseh, that the government must stop the implementation of the levy.



The government must withdraw with immediate effect. It is unnecessary...What is Emission Levy?" he slammed the government.



He emphasized, "We all admit that the COVID and Russia-Ukraine war brought economic pressure. We don't have to further burden Ghanaians...For me, that emissions levy must be withdrawn ASAP. Lets listen to what the grassroots are saying. Im the National Organizer of my party; I listen to my people.



He also cautioned the government against the imposition of VAT on electricity consumption.



This must be withdrawn in addition to the VAT on electricity," he exclaimed.



He noted that his call for the withdrawal of these taxes is supported by the ruling New Patriotic Party.



"I am not stating my individual position. That is the position of the party."





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The NPP Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, says the whole of the Ashanti region, including its eminent chiefs, would be disappointed if Energy Minister Matthew Opoku Prempeh is not picked as the running mate to NPP Flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the upcoming 2024 general elections.



He told NEAT FMs morning show, 'Ghana Montie' in an interview that Asanteman would be happy to see a Bawumia-Napo ticket to break the 8 for the NPP.



The people of the Ashanti region said they want to see Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the President of the Republic of Ghana, and they also said that the ticket that is going to give us that victory is a ticket that includes Matthew Opoku Prempeh," he said.



Vincent Ekow Assafuah further said Matthew Opoku Prempehs experience in politics is unmatched and perfect for the position.



"People doubted him [Matthew Opoku Prempeh] when he was appointed as Education Minister with a background in medicine, but he proved people wrong. Today, he is an icon in the education sector, he noted.



Listen to the interview below...





Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









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The Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has rubbished the proposal for Ghana's election date to be changed from December 7.



The Seventh Day Adventist Church has impressed upon the Electoral Commission (EC) to reschedule the December 7 polls to a Tuesday in the month of November.



They argue that the December 7 date, which falls on Saturday this year, will interrupt their Sabbath day, which they hold sacred.



Most of the political parties have supported the petition for the election date change, but the largest opposition, the National Democratic Congress, has asked the EC to effect the change in the year 2028.



Touching on the topic on "Kokrokoo" panel discussion programme on Peace FM, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. stated emphatically that, since 1992, the transition of power with the current date has been without any issues; therefore, he sees no relevance in shifting the date.



"I don't see the relevance of this reform to voting in November, which the parties have admitted should come into force in 2024," he said.



Watch video below





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Strikes are now a regular occurrence in Europe as workers in various industries fight for better working conditions. Usually, such rallies are planned in advance, but sometimes things can go wrong.

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EuroNews has gathered all the information about the strikes planned for February. They will take place in countries popular with tourists.

UK: train drivers announce another strike

Members of the Aslef union have announced a strike and a ban on overtime from January 30 to February 5. This will affect various tour operators, including Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Trains, GTR, LNER, Southeastern, SWR, and TransPennine Trains.

The workers have been in a long-running dispute over wages, which have not been raised in five years. According to the RMT union, strikes will also take place in London on February 19-20 and March 4-5.

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Germany: airport security strikes

Germany was preparing for a strike on February 1, which led to flight cancellations and delays at major airports. More than a third of the flights were jeopardized.

Hamburg Airport and Berlin-Brandenburg Airport reported that all flights were canceled on Thursday. Arrivals may also be affected. Cologne-Bonn advised passengers to check the status of their flight before traveling to the airport.

Nationwide strike of transport workers in Germany

On February2, buses, trams, and subways in Germany came to a standstill as members of the Verdi union took to the streets due to a lack of staff. The strike took place just a few days after the drivers ended a week-long walkout. "Indefinite strikes" could hit Germany's rail network in the coming months if a deal is not reached by the March 3 deadline.

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Finland: airports to be affected by strikes

Members of the Finnish JHL trade union, which includes about 12,000 airport workers, announced a 48-hour strike on February 1-2.

National carrier Finnair said the protest would have a significant impact on flights. If you have a flight booked for the period from January 31 to February 3, the airline will allow you to depart earlier or postpone your trip until March 15. It is not yet known which flights will be canceled or delayed. Other services such as ground handling are also expected to be affected, causing additional delays for passengers.

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France: seven-month strike could affect the Olympics in Paris

Disruptions are expected in the Ile-de-France bus and metro networks as the CGT-RATP has announced a seven-month strike from February 5 to September 9. Employees of the state-owned transportation company say they are protesting over wages. Strikes may take place during the 2024 Paris Olympics if no agreement is reached.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has stressed the need for the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) to return to its time-honoured tradition of building consensus on crucial electoral reforms.



This was contained in a statement signed and issued by the General Secretary of the NDC, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, after last Mondays IPAC meeting to deliberate on the change of date for the 2024 general election from the traditional December 7 to November 7, this year.



It said the majority of the political parties at the meeting agreed that any major electoral reforms should become effective from November 2028.



Consensus Whereas there was a clear consensus on 2028 as the year of effectiveness, it is untrue that the majority of the political parties at the IPAC agreed to the November 2024 date, it said.



It is important to clarify that out of the 10 political parties at the IPAC meeting, at least five spoke eloquently against changing the date for elections to November 2024, it stated.



The party, in the statement, also reiterated its earlier position not to support the Electoral Commission (EC) in its quest to hold the general election in November 2024.



We urge the Electoral Commission to concentrate on germane and urgent matters, including immediately releasing the calendar for the 2024 elections as we strive for transparent, free and fair elections in December 2024, it said.



Recall

The NDC last Sunday announced its return to the IPAC after nearly four years of absence for enhanced consensus building with the EC.



The party, in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, last Sunday, decided to return to the IPAC, an advisory body made up of political parties that offered nonbinding advice to the EC in the hope of positive changes.



"The NDC is optimistic about the revitalisation of the IPAC, drawing inspiration from the robust consensus building platform established during the tenures of Dr Kwadwo Afari-Djan and Charlotte Osei as chairpersons of the Electoral Commission of Ghana," it

said.



It noted that the party was looking forward to a collaboration between political parties and the Jean Mensa-led EC to strengthen the democratic credentials of the country.



"The party anticipates collaborative endeavours that will strengthen Ghana's electoral system, benefiting not only individual political parties but also upholding the democratic values of the nation," the statement said.

Source: graphiconline









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Four years after Shane Gillis was fired by Saturday Night Live before he could even make his debut, the comedian will now get his chance to appear on the show, but this time as a host.

Gillis, a Mechanicsburg native and Trinity High School graduate, will host the long-running sketch show on Feb. 24, with musical guest 21 Savage. The move for SNL to name Gillis a host is a surprise, as it fired him in 2019 after videos resurfaced of him making racist and homophobic jokes on podcasts and social media.

Those videos went viral shortly after Gillis was named a new cast member of the show in September 2019. Just days after he was announced to be joining, SNL pulled the plug and removed him from the show before he ever appeared.

We were not aware of his prior remarks that have surfaced over the past few days, an SNL spokesperson said at the time. The language he used is offensive, hurtful and unacceptable. We are sorry that we did not see these clips earlier, and that our vetting process was not up to our standard.

Gillis also released a statement at the time, saying It feels ridiculous for comedians to be making serious public statements but here we are. Im a comedian who was funny enough to get SNL. That cant be taken away. Of course I wanted an opportunity to prove myself at SNL, but I understand it would be too much of a distraction. I respect the decision they made. Im honestly grateful for the opportunity.

He added that he was always a Mad TV guy anyway.

MORE: Saturday Night Live fires Shane Gillis: Father of central Pa. comedian reacts

Gillis has been successful in his own right since he departed from SNL. A standup special from 2021 in Texas has more than 23 million views on his YouTube channel with more than 719,000 subscribers. In September, he made his Netflix debut with a special called Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs.

He appeared alongside former SNL star Pete Davidson in his TV series Bupkis.

Just last week, Gillis signed on with Bud Light, who will sponsor his 2024 tour.
By Melanie Lidman and Samy Magdy, The Associated Press

JERUSALEM  Criticism of President Joe Biden by a far-right minister in Israels government sparked outrage on Sunday, underscoring the sensitivity of U.S. relations as Washington provides key support for the offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

The Biden administration has expressed unwavering support for Israel since Hamas Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war, skirting Congress to rush weapons to Israel and shielding its ally from international calls for a cease-fire.

But the White House has also urged Israel to take greater measures to avoid harming civilians and to facilitate the delivery of more humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israels national security minister, criticized that approach in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, saying Biden was hindering Israels war effort and that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump would give Israel greater latitude in fighting Hamas.

Instead of giving us his full backing, Biden is busy with giving humanitarian aid and fuel [to Gaza], which goes to Hamas, Ben-Gvir said. If Trump was in power, the U.S. conduct would be completely different.

His remarks drew fire from Benny Gantz, a retired general and member of Netanyahus three-man War Cabinet, who said Ben-Gvir was causing tremendous damage to American-Israeli relations. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Gantz said any disputes must be conducted in relevant forums and not in irresponsible statements in the media.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid, also posting on X, said Ben-Gvirs remarks prove that he does not understand foreign relations and that Netanyahu had lost control over extremists in his governing coalition.

Netanyahu, without mentioning Ben-Gvir by name, appeared to refer to his remarks when addressing a weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday. The prime minister thanked Biden for his support while highlighting his own experience of dealing with multiple U.S. administrations, describing a give-and-take approach to Israels most important alliance.

There are those who say no to everything, receiving applause at home, but theyre also endangering vital interests, he said.

Ben-Gvir, along with other far-right figures, has called for voluntary mass emigration of Palestinians from Gaza and for the return of Jewish settlements, which Israel dismantled when it withdrew troops from the territory in 2005. The Biden administration is opposed to any such scenario.

The dispute came at a sensitive time, as Netanyahu faces pressure from the U.S. and the international community to scale back the offensive even as Ben-Gvir and other key members of his governing coalition have threatened to bring down the government if they believe he is too soft on Hamas.

Israel is also involved in tense negotiations mediated by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt aimed at freeing more than 100 captives held by Hamas in return for a cease-fire and the release of Palestinians jailed in Israel.

The war in Gaza has leveled vast swaths of the tiny besieged enclave, displaced 85% of its population and pushed a quarter of residents to starvation. The Health Ministry in Gaza said Sunday that 127 bodies have been brought to hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll from nearly four months of fighting to 27,365.

The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count but says most of those killed were women and children. The real toll is likely higher as the ministry says many casualties are buried under the rubble from airstrikes or cannot be reached by first responders.

In the Oct. 7 attack, Hamas and other militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250. More than 100 captives, mostly women and children, were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Israeli soldiers drive in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024. The army is battling Palestinian militants across Gaza in the war ignited by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack into Israel. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)AP

Thousands of people gathered again in Tel Aviv late Saturday for protests criticizing Netanyahus handling of the war and the plight of the hostages.

Family members of the hostages, with wide public support, are calling on Israel to reach an agreement with Hamas to bring them home. Hamas has said it wont release any more hostages until Israel ends its offensive. The militant group is also demanding the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners.

Netanyahu has publicly ruled out both demands. Hamas is expected to respond to the latest cease-fire offer in the coming days.

Magdy reported from Cairo.

Follow APs coverage of the Israel-Hamas war at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
When two Native American boys from Nebraska died after being taken to a notorious boarding school hundreds of miles away in Pennsylvania, they were buried there without notice. Nearly 130 years later, the tribe wants the boys remains back home.

So far, the Army has refused to return to the Winnebago Tribe the remains of Samuel Gilbert and Edward Hensley. A federal lawsuit filed on behalf of the tribe accuses the Army of ignoring a law passed more than three decades ago aimed at expediting the return of the deceased to Native American lands.
For the past four months, the world has been witness to what could well be the worlds first ever televised genocide committed by Israel in Gaza with the Biden administrations near total complicity and support. Israels massacres in Gaza, which have caused tens of thousands of casualties, have involved attacks on civilian targets on a massive scale.

The U.S. funded and armed Israeli military has been responsible for the carpet bombing of entire civilian neighborhoods in Gaza with the indiscriminate destruction of houses, hospitals, schools and places of worship of both Christians and Muslims.

As a child growing up during the 90s, I still remember the horrors of the war crimes the Milosevic dictatorship inflicted on Bosnians and Kosovans. The massacres in Gaza are horrifically reminiscent of the siege of Sarajevo where Serb forces routinely massacred and bombed civilian targets in the city.
Ihsan Abdul Salam (right) of Vancouver is seen in a handout photo on a trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Salam is out $2,280 after falling prey to an online travel scam. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Sam Abdul Salam **MANDATORY CREDIT**
The statement by the director of the Italian Galleria dell'Accademia, Cecilia Hollberg, has caused anger and calls for her resignation. According to the German art critic, mass tourism has turned the city of Florence, Italy, into a "whore".

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This was reported by CNN Travel. Although the head of the Gallery apologized, Italian politicians criticized her comments, calling them offensive to Florentines.

"When a city becomes a prostitute, it is difficult for it to become a virgin again," Hollberg told reporters at a press conference where she spoke about the museum's success. "We no longer see shops, normal shops, but only things exclusively for tourists with gadgets and souvenirs, and this has to stop," she added.

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Hollberg's comments provoked a negative reaction from the Italian Minister of Culture and the mayor of Florence, both of whom have in the past actively advocated for Italians to head Italian museums. Hollberg's mandate at the museum expires in June, and even before this scandal, there were calls not to extend her contract but to appoint an Italian instead.

Florence Mayor Dario Nardella said that the city deserves respect, and tourism provides jobs for thousands of people. "Tourism is a resource, it needs to be managed, but there is not a single issue that the administration has not considered: from protecting the historic center with the help of UNESCO, to protecting typical products, to stopping certain activities," Nardella said.

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Matteo Renzi, former prime minister and former mayor of Florence, said he would raise the issue of Hollberg's tenure at the Ministry of Culture. "Defining Florence as a prostitute is unacceptable. Hollberg should apologize or resign," he said in a statement.

The museum director took back her words, saying that she loves Florence and did not mean to offend the city or its residents. Hollberg clarified that she only meant that Florence, like Venice and other cities, is being "crushed" by tourism. "I'm sorry I used the wrong words. I wanted to say that Florence should witness more conscious tourism. With the Academy, for example, we have tried to improve every extraordinary part of it," she said in a statement sent to CNN.

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Democratic presidential candidate Dean Phillips is under criminal investigation by state police in Indiana for potential election fraud involving fake ballot petition signatures.

ABC57 reported:

Indiana State Police and several other organizations are investigating potential election fraud in St. Joseph County involving Presidential candidate Dean Phillips.

St. Joseph County Clerk Amy Rolfes held a press conference Friday morning laying out the details. According to Rolfes, the St. Joseph County Clerks office allegedly found a number of fake signatures on petition forms for Phillips candidacy in the May primary. These signatures did not match records in the Statewide Voter Registration System, Rolfes said.

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So, we had 530 voters who had signed petitions, 530, Rolfes said. And of those 530, according to our due diligence, or protocols, or following the process, we found 19 that were valid.

The Phillips campaign said that they hired a small business to collect the signatures and that they were exploring legal action. The Phillips campaign had an FEC complaint filed against them last week that alleges that the campaign was illegally coordinating with a super PAC.

Phillips has had a rough go of it as a Democratic presidential candidate. He got blown out by President Biden in New Hampshire, even though Biden wasnt on the ballot and never campaigned in the state,

In South Carolina, where Phillips wasnt campaigning, he finished third in the states official Democratic primary behind self-help author and perpetual Democratic presidential primary candidate Marianne Williamson.

Democratic voters have sent the message that they arent interested in primary challenge to Joe Biden.

If Dean Phillips stays in the race, he may end up with more investigations into his campaign than delegates.
After Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) suggested that Trump has the power to defy the Supreme Court, ABCs This Week host George Stephanopoulos cut his mic and ended the interview.

What Happened In The JD Vance Interview With George Stephanopoulos?

After JD Vance insisted that Donald Trump had the power to defy the Supreme Court, then lied about his previous comments, ABCs George Stephanopoulos cut off his mic and ended the interview.

Transcript via ABCs This Week:

STEPHANOPOULOS: The Constitution also says the president must abide by legitimate Supreme Court rulings, doesnt it?

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VANCE: The Constitution says that the Supreme Court can make rulings, but if the Supreme Court  and, look, I hope that they would not do this, but if the Supreme Court said the president of the United States cant fire a general, that would be an illegitimate ruling, and the president has to have Article II prerogative under the Constitution to actually run the military as he sees fit.

This is just basic constitutional legitimacy. Youre talking about a hypothetical where the Supreme Court tries to run the military. I dont think thats going to happen, George. But of course, if it did, the president would have to respond to it. There are multiple examples throughout American history of the president doing just that.

STEPHANOPOULOS: You didnt say military in your answer, and youve made it very clear you believe the president can defy the Supreme Court.

Senator, thanks for your time this morning.

VANCE: No, no  no, no, George.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Roundtables up next. Well be right back.

Video:

JD Vance Was Suggesting That Trump Could Break Democracy

Stephanopoulos was especially offended by this idea because he worked in the White House many decades ago, and he knew what Vance was suggesting and what defying the Supreme Court would mean for democracy.

Vance was suggesting that Donald Trump could shatter the backbone of our democracy by defying the Supreme Court. The suggestion that Trump could fire civil servants and replace them with his loyalists is illegal, which is why we have laws against patronage.

After Vance tried to dance around his own words that are on tape, Stephanopoulos wasnt going to give an anti-democracy fascist any more airtime, so he cut his mic and ended the interview.

It would be shocking if JD Vance is ever interviewed by Stephanopoulos again on The Week.

The ABC News host showed how a pro-Trump fascist should be handed by the media.

Vances ideas werent normalized. They were cut off and sent back to the dark corner where they belonged.

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Speaker of the House Mike Johnson twisted and turned in every direction as he humiliated himself to cover for Trump telling him to block the border bill.

Speaker Johnson claimed that President Biden has the executive authority to close the border right now, The president has the authority right now. He doesnt need another act of Congress. He could do it right now. But hes unwilling to do it.

Kristen Welker responded, As you know, the White House has completely dismissed the allegation that in any way the migrants and surge of migrants have been intentional on the part of the president. In terms of him being able to take action right now, Mr. Speaker, you know as well as I do that an executive order would only be met by legal challenges. You have a chance to do something right now. The details we laid out are not rumors. That is based on negotiators who were in the room.

Johnson said that Biden has executive authority to act on the border he is also demanding that the Senate pass and Biden sign H.R. 2, And I have been absolutely clear from day one, since literally the next morning after being handed the gavel in late October, what the functional equivalence of H.R. 2, what those are, and why that was necessary to solve the problem. I took 64 House Republicans to the border in January. We heard from the people in charge, the border patrol agents, the people there. And they said, These are the things that you must do to stem the flow. And the reason we have the biggest immigration catastrophe, border catastrophe in U.S. history is because President Biden took these actions. I can name them for you.

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Welker asked Johnson if Trump was calling the shots on the border deal, and he responded, Of course not. Hes not calling the shot. I am calling the shots for the House. Thats our responsibility. And I have been saying this far longer than President Trump has. I have been saying what the requirements are to fix the problem. I dont care if they call the legislation H.R. 2 or not. What were saying is you have to stem the flow. The president has executive authority right now. As Congress does this negotiation and the debate and the discussion, the president could stop it. Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Supreme Court has already acknowledged gives the president broad executive authority 

Video:

Trump isnt calling the shots. It is a coincidence that Speaker Johnson changed his position to everything that Trump wants. Mitch McConnell is apparently also lying when he said that Trump is directing Republicans to block the border bill because he wants to use the issue in the election.

Mike Johnson is Donald Trumps puppet in the House. Johnson is willing to lose the House majority if thinks that doing so will get Trump back into the White House.

The whole interview was full of Johnson contradicting and humiliating himself to please Boss Trump.

The speakership has fallen so far since the Republican takeover of the House that one of Hakeem Jeffriess important duties will be restoring dignity and authority to the position if he becomes speaker next year.

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Ukrainian defense forces confirmed an offensive near Bakhmut amid ongoing positional fighting along the front line. They have regained positions near Klishchiivka.

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The situation was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). They pointed to the contradictory statements of the occupiers, who claimed to have captured new heights but at the same time recognized the advance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

It is noted that Ukrainian soldiers have recently advanced slightly southwest of Bakhmut. The analysts refer to footage published by the occupiers on February 3, in which elements of the 85th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade (2nd Army Corps of the "LPR") strike at Ukrainian forces operating in the forest area east of Klishchiivka (southwest of Bakhmut).

According to the ISW, this area was under control of the Russian Armed Forces, so what the invaders said suggests that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have recently regained their positions there.

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Russian sources reported that the occupiers had advanced along an unspecified road towards Ivanivske (west of Bakhmut) and "seized" new heights north and northwest of Klishchiivka. They also claimed that Ukrainian troops had retaken several positions north of Bohdanivka (northwest of Bakhmut).

"ISW has not found visual evidence to support these claims. Positional fighting continued in the area of Bohdanivka and Klishchiivka, as well as in the direction of Ivanivske," analysts said in response to the Russians' unfounded claims.

Earlier, Captain Iliia Yevlash, spokesman for the Eastern Group of Ukrainian troops, said that the Russian military command was moving reserves to the Bakhmut direction to break through Ukrainian defenses west of Bakhmut in the direction of Chasovyi Yar.

According to Russian propagandists, units of the Russian so-called Siberia Cossack Brigade are operating in the area of Soledar (northeast of Bakhmut).

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Scottie Scheffler has become the first player in the 50 years of The Players Championship to win back-to-back. This was the hardest. Not only was he dealing with neck pain all week, he started the final round five shots behind. Scheffler closed with a 64. That matches the lowest final round by a winner. He also tied a Players Championship record with a five-shot comeback. U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, British Open champion Brian Harman and Xander Schauffele all finished one shot behind. All of them had their chances over the final three holes to force a playoff. Read moreScheffler goes back-to-back in Players Championship in Sunday thriller at Sawgrass
In case you didnt know, your digital calendar will probably remind you that this past Friday was Groundhog Day. The outdated day gained modern fame from the 1993 movie Groundhog Day, where Bill Murray wakes up to repeat the same day over and over.

Why in the world do I need a reminder of this useless day? I dont own a groundhog. I dont personally know anyone who does. Still, perhaps I can use this day to recall and repeat a few things that Ive occasionally mentioned at the end of my previous columns.

So, with a little indulgence from my editors, this column serves as that moment in the small-church service where the pastor asks, Are there any announcements today?

Oh," says the pastor, "I see the chaplain has a few things to share."

First, join Chispa Project on its annual volunteer trip to establish a library in Honduran elementary schools. Chispa Project has enjoyed eight years of this repeated fun, creating over 80 libraries.

Theres a saying in Honduras: If you drink the water, you'll keep coming back. I can't think of anything more Groundhog Day than that. Time after time, I find myself returning to Honduras. Maybe it's the water, but most likely it's the warmth of the people or the thrill of seeing children open their first book. Join my daughter, Sara, and me this year from June 16-23 and help install a new children's library. Details are at chispaproject.org/volunteerproject.

Can't travel this time? Consider donating, and if you really want to stay on theme, keep repeating it. Become a monthly donor like me.

Join my email list. I promise I wont share your info with anyone, and you can easily opt out at any time.

Why get the column by email when you can read it in your local paper? I want you to do both, but I also want you to forward the email column to friends. I also want to stay in touch when I finally retire this column. Join the list by emailing me at comment@thechaplain.net or on the website at thechaplain.net/newsletter.
The prospective national anthem singers worked in a dental office, sold mattresses, sang in their church or served in the military. But, they all shared a love for singing  one song in particular. Read moreOh say can you sing? Look who's auditioning for national anthem at RiverDogs
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
The artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is currently experiencing a severe shortage of shells. While in the summer of 2023 it was a question of equality or even superiority of Ukrainian artillery over Russian artillery, now it's the other way around - as of today, the troops of the aggressor country, Russia, have a fivefold advantage. While Ukrainian batteries are currently firing about 2,000 shells a day, Russian batteries are firing 10,000.

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This is stated in a Forbes article by David Axe. He reminded that US aid to Ukraine ended at the end of December last year. Meanwhile, Republicans in the U.S. Congress refuse to support President Joe Biden's request for funding for our country.

"Ukraine's artillery batteries were the first to feel this betrayal," Aks writes.

The consequence is that Russian artillerymen are now becoming increasingly bold. They are not worried about the risk of Ukrainian artillery opening fire on them, and are concentrating their biggest guns and launchers to devastatingly hit Ukrainian positions in frontline cities.

"A year ago, the Russians probably would not have dared to concentrate so many heavy weapons in the open in such a small area, so close to the front line. Ukraine's M777 and HIMARS howitzers, which have a range of 24 and 90 kilometers, respectively, could have put the Russians into oblivion," the article says.

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With ammunition being scarce, the Ukrainian military is saving what shells and missiles it has for emergencies, in particular, to strike at Russian troops and their equipment when they try to break through the defense and capture Ukrainian positions.

"Unfortunately, this situation gives Russia the opportunity to apply a well-known approach. This is the systematic destruction of the territories of settlements, which makes them unprotected," Frontelligence Insight analysts say.

In particular, such a situation occurred in Mariinka, Donetsk region, where the Ukrainian military held the line for almost two years of full-scale war. However, when the shelling started, Russian artillery systematically destroyed the entire city. Our defenders had to withdraw because they could not continue to defend themselves among the ruins, and the occupiers announced the "liberation" of Mariinka and presented it as a victory.

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Closer to the front line, Ukrainian units are compensating for the lack of ammunition with FPV drones that drop explosives on the occupiers who are trying to attack our positions. The Ukrainian Defense Forces use tens of thousands of such UAVs per month. However, for the most part, FPV drones have a range of about 3 km, while Russian artillery is usually out of their reach - at a distance of 15 to 24 km from the front line.

David Axe emphasizes that GLSDB bombs, which are already on their way to the front, could reduce Russia's firepower advantage. However, it is not yet known how many of these bombs will be received by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and how they can be used at the front.

"The most reliable way for Ukraine to restore artillery parity and prevent the destruction of new cities is the most obvious. Somehow we need to buy more shells and missiles for howitzers and launchers. Just don't count on the Americans. Although Biden has broad authority to donate surplus U.S. weapons without prior congressional approval, it is unclear whether this authority extends to ammunition," the article says.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA, Ukraine is suffering from a shortage of ammunition, which prevents it from conducting an effective counter-battery fight. If the situation does not change, and partners do not help the Ukrainian army to eliminate the deficit, the military command may have to make difficult decisions, ISW believes.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
And while there are still criminal charges pending against Murdaugh and three defendants linked to him, prosecutors havent taken steps publicly to call them to trial.

Here is whats on the horizon:

Distributing Murdaughs money

The next question set to be resolved is who will get the last assets Murdaugh had to his name.

For more than two years, two court-appointed receivers  Peter McCoy and John T. Lay  have been tasked with liquidating Murdaughs belongings and safeguarding the money for the myriad people who say they were harmed by his actions.

They sold his beach house and the uninhabited islands he owned, cut the timber on his land, emptied his 401(k), and found buyers for his boat and farm equipment. After legal fees, they marshalled an estimated $1.8 million.

It wont come close to covering all the 15 claims  totaling more than $100 million in all  filed against his assets. They include, among others, the family of 19-year-old Mallory Beach, who died after his son Paul allegedly crashed his boat in 2019; several former legal clients who said he mishandled their cases; and his law firm, which repaid much of the money he stole.

Judge Daniel Hall appointed Greenville attorney Walt Tollison in September to sort through the claims, giving him until Feb. 5 to decide who will get what. Tollison said he is on track to meet the judges deadline.

Setting sentences and resolving charges

State prosecutors next court date related to the Murdaugh investigation will not feature Murdaugh himself.

Instead, a smaller player in the saga, Jerry K. Rivers of Walterboro, will be sentenced after pleading guilty in August to several charges, including money laundering, obstruction of justice and distribution of a controlled substance. Prosecutors alleged, among other things, that he sold opioid pills to Murdaughs drug dealer.
Some people who are arrested are not guilty, and we have a moral obligation to get those people out of jail and back to their lives quickly; we cant do that until we get their cases before a prosecutor and (usually) a public defender and a judge and sometimes even a jury.

That means the tougher we make our bail law and the tougher we make other criminal laws that petty criminals might otherwise quickly plead guilty to, the more judges and prosecutors and public defenders we have to hire.

Although legislators appropriated $40 million last year to staff up local solicitor and public defender offices and increase the number of judges, thats won't tamp down that backlog soon enough. So on Wednesday, Attorney General Alan Wilson joined House Speaker Murrell Smith and a raft of legislators and victims advocates to unveil what he called the final part of a plan to reduce South Carolinas growing court backlog.

As The Post and Couriers Nick Reynolds reports, Mr. Wilson is asking the Legislature for $1.6 million to hire four prosecutors, two paralegals, two investigators and two support staff to help reduce the number of pending criminal cases in targeted judicial circuits. Mr. Wilson envisions taking over old cases while the solicitor handles new cases  a plan he predicted would be particularly helpful in rural areas where solicitors have a hard time hiring prosecutors.

Anything that allows experienced prosecutors to focus on working down the criminal backlog is worth exploring, and we think Mr. Wilsons approach makes sense, but it raises numerous questions that need to be answered  preferably in state law  before he starts hiring.

For instance, how will he avoid hiring prosecutors away from solicitors, who already have a hard time keeping them? How will he keep his new prosecutors if they have to essentially move to poor, rural communities for months or years? How many cases will they be expected to handle? Who will decide which cases his team handles and which the elected solicitor handles  and how his teams handle particularly sensitive cases?
FLORENCE  Teachers with alternative certifications fill classrooms in Florence 1 Schools.

The district welcomes at least 20 teachers each year who are seeking teacher certification through an alternative pathway. Some of those teachers have real-world experience in the subjects theyre teaching, others found their passion after getting a bachelors degree in another discipline.

Florence 1 Schools made room for more opportunity with its new district-embedded alternative certification, TeachFlorence1. The program is one of four of its kind in South Carolina and will increase access to training and support in the district.

Its very exciting, said district Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Dr. Courtney Clayton. We really feel like this is a way to retention for our teachers.

The district has long used the Program of Alternative Certification for Educators, Teachers of Tomorrow and the American Board for alternative certifications. All three have different rules, requirements, coursework and offer varying grade-level certifications.

Though the district holds information sessions for the programs, most of the processes happen outside of the district. Online applications, third-party support and courses can leave prospective teachers feeling overwhelmed and discouraged, Director of Marketing and Talent Ashley Watson said.

Watson recruits and helps those hoping to teach in the district while pursuing an alternative certification find which program is right for them. The districts new program is a game-changer for recruiting, she said.

We don't have to send them somewhere else, we don't have to have them apply through somewhere else, Watson said. We have the resource right here in front of them.
Nikki Haley made a surprise appearance on the "Saturday Night Live" opening sketch hours after President Joe Biden won the South Carolina Democratic primary.

She even got to deliver the show's iconic "Live from New York ..." tag line.

In a political sendup of the upcoming South Carolina Republican primary, Haley was a surprise guest in a mock CNN town hall Feb. 3 where she bantered with cast member James Austin Johnsons version of Donald Trump.

Speaking from the audience halfway into the spoof, Haley addressed the Trump character asking, My question is: Why wont you debate Nikki Haley?

Oh, my God. Its her, the woman who was in charge of security on Jan. 6. Its Nancy Pelosi, Trump answers back.

Haley responds Are you doing OK, Donald? You might need a mental competency test.

The gag follows two themes in Haley's campaign: that Trump has refused to debate her (or any of the opponents in the GOP contest) and her call that politicians over 75 years of age take such tests.

You know what, I did, the TV Trump version says. I took the test and I aced it, OK. Perfect score. They said Im 100 percent mental and, you know, Im confident because Im a man. Thats why a woman should never run our economy. Women are terrible with money.

Haley got zinged too.

Host actress Ayo Edebiri entered the exchange to ask Haley, I was just curious, what would you say was the main cause of the Civil War? And do you think it starts with an S and ends with a lavery?

Haley was confronted by a voter in New Hampshire in December about the cause of the Civil War where she answered it was basically how government was going to run, the freedoms and what people could and couldnt do.

She later corrected her answer to identify the cause as slavery.

Yep, I probably should have said that the first time, Haley says before delivering her "Live from New York" lead-in.
HAMPTON  Lawmakers have asked Gov. Henry McMaster to order an investigation into Hampton Countys precarious financial situation, saying county government is too broke to hire someone to find out how millions of dollars vanished from its coffers.

Members of the Hampton County legislative delegation told the governor in a letter dated Nov. 15 they were exceedingly concerned about the countys financial situation. They cited pleas for help from concerned residents, increasingly dire warnings from county leaders and recent reporting by The Post and Couriers Uncovered initiative about the countys struggle to determine what happened to its money.

The county has acknowledged misspending at least $3.1 million from a penny-per-dollar sales tax intended for construction projects and $1.5 million from a fund restricted to fire expenses. Its former finance director said the money appeared to cover everyday expenses, papering over mounting deficits. But no one can say for sure how the funds were spent.

There appears to be a lot more to this issue than misspent funds. However, the county has no resources to determine culpability, wrote state Rep. Bill Hager and Sens. Margie Bright Matthews and Brad Hutto.

The trouble is that South Carolina subjects its local governments to minimal oversight, Uncovered previously reported. The states watchdog agencies say they dont have the jurisdiction to investigate counties and municipalities. And while the state employs forensic accountants for law enforcement, they only deal with suspected criminal acts.
Ukraine's Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk said that the West should make more diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The diplomat, in particular, suggested the idea of holding talks with Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin.

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Melnyk believes that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz can meet with the main war criminal of the Russian Federation. He said this in an interview with the German NTV.

According to him, Western politicians should support Ukraine more. He also noted that it is not only about the military component, but also about the diplomatic one.

"I still hope that our allies will come to the realization that Ukraine needs to be supported much more. Not only in military terms, but also in diplomatic terms," Melnyk said.

He emphasized that over the past two years, any diplomatic efforts have been "practically absent." However, Melnyk explained that he could not say for what specific purpose negotiations with Russia should be pursued.

"No one in Ukraine wants to fight this war to the last soldier. For us, it is about preserving our statehood. This is the whole point," the diplomat emphasized.

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At the same time, the ambassador said that holding talks does not mean listening to the lies of the Kremlin leader. It is, in particular, a strategic diplomatic initiative that should try to challenge Putin.

"Of course, it's not enough for Olaf Scholz to call Putin, listen to his tales and lies, and then say: I at least tried, it doesn't make any sense, I'd rather not do this to myself anymore. Goodbye. Why doesn't Mr. Scholz meet with Putin? He doesn't need to invite him to Germany for a beer or fly to Moscow himself. There have been meetings, for example, in Iceland, where people talked about Taheles behind closed doors," the diplomat explained.

Melnyk said that the diplomatic initiative may not be limited to the United States, the United Kingdom, and European countries. He is confident that countries such as China and Brazil can be involved in the negotiation process so that they do not wait for the big battle to end, but take action on their own.

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Earlier it was reported that dictator Vladimir Putin is checking whether the United States is ready to participate in negotiations to end Russia's war in Ukraine. However, his interlocutors do not believe in his intentions.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Russian Foreign Ministry again started talking about peace talks with Ukraine and its readiness to "listen to all those interested in justice." They said that the Kremlin is allegedly ready to discuss any serious proposal that would guarantee the national interests of the Russian Federation in the first place.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-04 12:01:54

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 4, 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 Nathanson 332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz and Grossman, LLC
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 4, 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 Nathanson332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for increased bilateral relations between Nigeria and Angola.

Mr Obasanjo made the call at the Angola-Nigeria Diplomatic-Business Investment meeting on Saturday in Lagos.

Mr Obasanjo, who was a special guest of honour at the event, said the meeting focused on the potential for enhanced collaboration between the two countries.

According to him, the meeting also emphasises the need to boost trade volume within Africa, which reflects a commitment to advancing economic partnerships on the continent.

Mr Obasanjo advised that attention should be on African countries benefits from their own products, as it aligns with the goal of promoting intra-African trade and economic self-sufficiency.

He expressed concerns about infrastructural deficits, particularly in transportation and highlighted the challenges that needed to be addressed to facilitate seamless trade between nations.

We are still battling with high deficit in transportation. For instance, moving goods from two countries  Congo DR and Congo Brazzaville  is still a problem. We need to solve these challenges of moving goods around.

One of the things the leaders of the post-independence achieved is to promote African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA), he said.

Also, the Secretary of the National Action Committee of AFCFTA, Nigeria, Olusegun Awolowo, said the lack of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) between Nigeria and Angola underscored the untapped potential for economic engagement between the two largest oil exporters in Africa.

Sadly, there is no Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) between Nigeria and Angola. This means trade between the two biggest oil exporters is zero, and this is not good enough.

Angola is importing from the rest of the world what it can actually get from Nigeria and Nigeria doing likewise, we should trade between ourselves.

Comparatively, we supply what they dont have and they also supply what we dont have. Former President Obasanjo has mentioned some areas that need more collaboration.

Its true we have some infrastructural deficits which both government and the private organisations can also latch on to invest, he said.

Speaking on the efforts to address trade barriers and streamline visa processes, the President of the Angola-Nigeria Business Council, Fifi Ejindu, called for a positive step toward fostering smoother trade ties between Nigeria and Angola.

According to her, the support from Angolan government authorities further reinforces the potential for progress in this regard.

Mrs Ejindu said that the engagement of Nigerian investors and the anticipated business activations in Angola indicated growing interest and participation in the trade initiatives discussed.

Armando Manuel, a former Minister of Finance in Angola, said that a positive assessment of the recent diplomatic-business investment meeting signalled the fruitful nature of the discussions and the potential for tangible outcomes in the near future.

We are awaiting Nigerian investors to come to Angola because we already have the expertise in various sectors.

We are talking about opportunities in pharmaceutical sector, agriculture and others because our population is growing, while food security is a sort of concern.

Angola has interesting policies to nurture investment in agriculture in terms of poultry, feed mill, soya beans, sorghum, maize and some cash crops such as cotton.

In his closing remarks, former Senate President Bukola Saraki said he looked forward to the outcome of the Angola-Nigeria business meeting.

NAN reports that part of the business investment discussed is the construction of a Free Trade Zone by the Angolan government, tourism, energy, and air travel.

(NAN)

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The lions share of a state-backed solid minerals company, currently in the works, will go to private investors and the public who will be able to own not less than three-quarters of its shareholding.

While the government will hold up to 25 per cent in the so-called Nigerian Solid Minerals Corporation, the public will hold the same proportion of stake, while the rest is planned to be owned by private investors, Minister Dele Alake told a conference arranged by BusinessDay in Abuja on Tuesday.

The idea is to make the entity private-sector-driven as part of the strategies to make it appealing to the big multinationals the government is targeting as investors to get the largely comatose mining sector off the ground.

The share capital of the corporation will be N1 billion, Mr Alake said.

Allowing the government to take only a quarter of the ownership, while the remainder of the shareholding and its control is to avoid the error of the past, whereby state control of two mining enterprises  National Iron-Ore Company and Bitumen Concessioning Programme  caused both enterprises to run aground.

The two companies will be merged with the proposed corporation, which will develop metals like gold, baryte, lead iron ore, bitumen, limestone and coal.

Africas biggest economy wants to end its fixation on oil and gas, which accounts for about 65 per cent of the governments revenue and more than 85 per cent of exports, making it a mono-economy.

Rampant resource theft, a backlog of unpaid royalties running into trillions of naira and a contribution as meagre as less than 1 per cent to GDP are grim indicators of how little Nigeria is earning from a sector analysts say holds the key the shifting the economy away from oil.

But the sector is getting increased attention from the government.

A wave of new reforms

The government is upping efforts to establish mining police to man mines, curb illegal mining and combat insecurity, one of the biggest bugbears that have scared investors away.

A technical committee made up of representatives of the armed forces, the Nigerian Police Force and related government agencies converged in Abuja on Tuesday at the behest of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to dialogue on ways to address illegal mining in the country.

Mr Alake said his ministry is working with the legislature to establish the legal and legitimate foundation for the institution (Nigerian Solid Minerals Corporation).

The Solid Minerals Committee of the House of Representatives is to meet from 12 to 13 February to hold the first policy dialogue on the proposed law that will set the company up.

In the pipeline is the digitalisation of mining application processes to improve the ease of doing business in the sector, Mr Alake said in a Twitter post.

The development of big data on the seven priority minerals and their deposits is also part of the line-up of policies of the ministry.

Mr Alake said that mining firms will be made to comply with the revised Community Development Agreements (CDAs), failing which sanctions will result.

If there is any major factor that has caused the Nigerian extractive industry to suffer arrested development over the years, it is because the sector is big on policies but small in implementation, a national business and human rights roundtable, organised by the UN Global Compact Network Nigeria said last August.

Ignoring CDAs is commonplace among holders of mining licenses, most of whom go about the mining business with little or no plan to give anything in return to the communities that host them.

Its there in the Mining Act. So its not a new development. It is compliance that is the issue, Kelechukwu Okezie, a steering committee member of the Federation of Mining Host Community told PREMIUM TIMES.

Oftentimes there are loopholes in the implementation. Oftentimes due to inefficient monitoring, they dont do what they are supposed to do. As a result of this, the host communities also, they are sabotaged. The problem there is lack of effective and efficient monitoring by the regulatory agencies, he added.

There should be a law that should stipulate that the host community should be part-owners of the resources in their land.

Environmental pollution and degradation remain big issues and have stoked resource conflict in host communities, with mining operators having little or no regard for environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards.

Like many countries in Africa, that has made Nigeria a poster child for the resource curse.

PwC found that mining companies with higher ESG ratings outperformed the overall market during the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, consultancy Pricewaterhouse Coopers said while making a case for adhering to ESG principles by Nigerian mining operators in its report, Nigerian Mining  Progress but Still a Long Way to Go, issued last July.

These companies achieved an average total shareholder return of 34% over the previous three years, surpassing the general market index by 10%. This demonstrates the positive correlation between strong ESG practices and financial success, it added.

Missed opportunities

Nigeria has overabundant mineral resources, which have been valued at over $700 billion.

Its neglect of solid minerals in the past has robbed it of the much-needed revenue required to drive development and fund provision of key infrastructures after an oil boom in the 1970s forced past administrations to shift away from minerals, an opportunity resource-rich South Africa has leveraged to transform its economy to the most industrialised on the continent.

Mining accounted for roughly 60 per cent of South Africas exports equivalent to $30 billion in the first half of 2023 alone, according to the South African Revenue Service, and contributed over 7.5 per cent to the economy in 2021.

In neighbouring Ghana, mining generates 5.7 per cent of GDP and accounts for about 40 per cent of gross foreign exchange earnings, while the sector contributes 12 per cent to the Zambian economy.

Before oil became the new gold, solid mineral contribution to GDP was between 4 and 5 per cent, according to PriceWaterhouseCoopers. That fell to as low as 0.17 per cent between 2018 and 2022.

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No doubt, a good number of Nigerian men seem unfamiliar with the part they play in promoting breast health.

For many, the act of breastfeeding is perceived as solely the concern of the woman and the child.

However, this common belief might not hold upon closer examination.

In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, a medical doctor with expertise in sexual & reproductive health, Damian Avar, also known as Sabi Doctor, speaks on the medical and health implications of breastfeeding and the role of a man in this noble business.

Excerpt:

PT: Breastfeeding is an integral part of family life; as a medical practitioner, what will be your advice to women on breastfeeding?

Sabi Doctor: Well, when it comes to breastfeeding, there is a guideline by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that prescribes the modalities of breastfeeding a newborn.

According to WHO, immediately after a woman gives birth, breastfeeding should be initiated within one hour. That is, once a woman gives birth, within an hour of her delivery, she should commence breastfeeding.

Secondly, new mums are expected to introduce exclusive breastfeeding to their children for six months.

Exclusive breastfeeding involves only breastmilk for six months. Then, after six months, they can introduce complimentary food and continue breastfeeding the child for two years or beyond. That is as stipulated by the WHO.

PT: What is the health benefit of breastfeeding to the mother and the child?

Sabi Doctor: This question has been over-emphasised over the years; it is the basis for why there have been numerous breastfeeding campaigns in recent times.

Of course, some benefits accrue to the baby and then some to the mother, but specifically, the emphasis is always on the baby.

So we know that because of the richness of breast milk, a baby that is breastfed exclusively tends to enjoy protection against infections. Their immune system is robust to a large extent, which helps them fight infections better.

PT: What are the health benefits of exclusive breastfeeding?

Sabi Doctor: Specifically, exclusively breastfed babies enjoy protection against gastrointestinal infections. These are infections that often cause diarrhoea, and diarrhoea is one of the serious causes of a substantial amount of mortality in the newborn. But if they are breastfed exclusively they tend to do better in fighting these infections.

Also, it is an essential source of energy needed by the babys growth, and dont forget that the early stages of the babys growth and development are critical.

Hence, they need a sufficient supply of nutrients and energy to sustain growth and development, and breast milk is a very natural and primary source of those nutrients and energy.

Another important fact is that exclusively breastfed babies tend to do well in weight control as they grow into adulthood and adolescence. Overall, they tend to have a lower rate of developing obesity. And by inclusion, that also spirals into conditions like diabetics.

PT: Some people often say breast milk helps the child become more brilliant. Is that true?

Sabi Doctor: It is a controversial standpoint that exclusively breastfed babies are doing better in terms of intelligence quotient (IQ) performance.

There are several arguments and different schools of thought but the point has been that exclusively breastfed children tend to do better in intelligence.

PT: You have spoken about the health benefits for the child; what are some of the health benefits of breastfeeding for the mother?

Sabi Doctor: The almost immediate benefit for her is that she does well with weight control. Exclusively breastfeeding a baby can help the mother lose some of the weight that she gained during the pregnancy.

Another one is that, although it does not apply to all women, a good number of women can prevent pregnancy for six months when they are exclusively breastfeeding their baby. We call that the Lactational Amenorrhea method of pregnancy control. It can be a temporary method of contraception, but there are limitations to this method, so nobody should depend solely on it as a method of preventing pregnancy.

Another very important one is that women who breastfeed exclusively have a lower incidence of ovarian and breast cancer.

PT: Speaking about breast cancer, some people say that men should suck their wifes breasts to reduce cases of breast cancer?

Sabi Doctor: Well, at least in theory one may reason that if during the sucking action, the man notices a lump, that would increase the indices of the suspicion of breast cancer.

There is that aspect of the argument, at least in theory, that in the sucking action, the man would quickly notice early signs of a lump or maybe an unusual discharge, which may prompt them to seek better evaluation and early detection in early treatment.

If not for anything, it can help increase the likelihood of a tumour being detected and adequately addressed.

This would imply that the man would have to feel the breast while sucking. When a man is sucking his wifes breast, he should take a minute or two to touch the breast, just in case he could notice anything usual; also, look out for discharges that may point to disease. It offers a lot of benefits that come with the pleasure of breastfeeding.

Also, some studies have shown that the overall risk of breast cancer is drastically reduced when the breast is vigorously sucked over time. But this is not a general medical doctrine.

PT: You said that the breast should be vigorously sucked over time, how often should a man suck his wifes breast?

Sabi Doctor: Well, there is no clinical recommendation that a man should suck his wifes breast, lets say, three times a day; there is nothing like that; we dont have that; it is not a prescription.

So there is no amount of time that a man should suck his wifes breast. If you want, you can suck your wifes breast as many times as you want, as long as she is not feeling any discomfort; it is possible that if the breasts are over-sucked, the nipples may get sharped or irritated, and that might cause the woman pain.

As long as the woman is not having any pain or discomfort from the sucking action, they can go at it as many times as possible.

PT: What common practices can lead to breast cancer?

Sabi Doctor: Some of the risk factors associated with breast cancer some of these risk factors are behaviours; number one is smoking; whether you are smoking actively or passively increases your overall rate of having breast cancer.

When I say smoking, I am referring to Tobacco, cigarette specifically. So, women who smoke cigarettes have an increased rate of developing breast cancer.

Another one is not being physically active, which is associated with being overweight and obese. And if you are not physically active, there is a corresponding risk of being obese, and that is where the risk of breast cancer ties in.

The idea is that women who are obese or on the thick or big side tend to have denser breast tissue compared to slimmer ladies. But there is another dimension to that: women who are on the big side tend to have more estrogen receptors, which play out in the development of breast cancer.

Another is the abuse of oral contraceptive pills or hormonal contraceptives; a woman who is abusing or using oral contraceptives heavily is at risk of developing breast cancer, which is one of the reasons women whose mum had a case of breast cancer or genital cancer are advised not to use oral contraceptive.

These are some of the medical inclusion why some contraceptive pills may not be ideal for some specific group of women.

There are also factors like when a woman has a first-degree family member, maybe the sister or the mother, who has cancer, it increases her risk of having breast cancer as well.

Also, women who have never given birth before tend to have more risk of breast cancer as compared to women who have given birth; because breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer.

PT: Is breast cancer limited to only women?

Sabi Doctor: It is important to note that men have breast cancer, but the risk is high in women, so if you are a woman, you already stand the chance of having breast cancer because you already have a well-formed breast.

PT: Some women are deterred from breastfeeding because they fear that breastfeeding would cause their breasts to sag or fall. Is that true?

Sabi Doctor: That is a misconception; it is not breastfeeding that causes sagging breasts or fallen breasts; it is pregnancy itself that brings about breast sagging, not breastfeeding action.

The fact that you are pregnant already puts you at risk of breast sagging. Hence, physical fitness is essential during and after pregnancy to save your breast from sagging.

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Jasmine Okekeagwu, John Mr Ibu Okafors adopted daughter, has opened up on her unique relationship with the actor and his family.

Mr Ibu and Jasmine Okafor share a unique relationship that many people find confusing.

Although she has been a part of the actors family since 2020, she became a household name in February 2023 after Mr Ibus second wife, Stella Maris, accused her of having an affair with her husband.

Months later, she would reveal that Mr Ibu was battling with a life-threatening illness. She shared videos of the actor and solicited financial assistance for his medical condition.

After several pleas for assistance, many people donated for the ailing actor, including the Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Foundation, which paid all of Mr Ibus medical expenses.

But on 6 November 2023, she also announced that one of the actors legs was amputated after undergoing seven surgeries.

Since Mr Ibus health crisis surfaced, his wife and adopted daughter have been at the forefront, tackling the situation head-on, soliciting aid, and keeping fans abreast of the surgeries and treatments the actor has undergone.

However, it seems things went south in the actors family, as the actors wife and daughter have been at loggerheads online over funds donated for Mr Ibus treatment, with the actors wife alleging that Jasmine hijacked his treatment funds

It led to several allegations, as the actors wife and adopted daughter took turns to accuse themselves on social media.

The police would later arrest Jasmine and Mr Ibus son, Daniel Onyeabuchi, in Lagos for allegedly defrauding the actor of N55 million.

Jasmine, in her latest video, disclosed that Mr Ibu adopted her as his daughter after the loss of her biological father many years ago.

She said her deeper involvement in the Okafor family began in 2020 when Mr Ibu sought financial assistance from her while she was studying in Cyprus.

In the viral video she posted on Sunday on her YouTube, she said, I want to thank everybody, especially those who had faith in me, believed in me, and patiently waited till this day for me to speak out.

The past three months, I cant say it has been hell, but I want to thank God in every situation. I said I wouldnt talk about this issue until Daddy (Mr Ibu) gets back on his feet, and glory to God, he has been discharged and recuperating. A lot has happened, and I would like to shed more light on how I got involved and how things got to this point.

I am not talking because I need people to sympathise with me. I am talking because I feel like I have been abused and used, and I hope you guys are patient enough to listen to the entire story because it means a lot to me.

Why now?

Jasmine said the essence of telling the story was to let the world know her side of the story.

The first and most important question I get most of the time from people is, does she not have a family? Does she not have a parent? Leave this family alone.

So many years ago, my dad passed on. He was in the Nigerian army. He was a perfect friend to Mr Ibu, who is now a father figure in my life. My dad passed on. Mr Ibu himself was at the burial. Since then, he has played the role of father in my life. Not for once have I ever needed someone as a father figure, and he was not there for me.

Fast forward to 2018, I left Nigeria for greener pastures. Things were working out for me. I was doing good and fine. Later on, I relocated to Cyprus to study law. In 2020, Mr Ibu started writing to me on WhatsApp requesting financial assistance. I was shocked because he was doing very well before I left, if not at the peak of his career. He was doing well. He has exotic cars. Everything was okay for him.

Jasmine said she had started aiding the ailing actor before returning to Lagos because Mr Ibu had not lived with his wife for two years.

I asked why he asked for such money as N50,000 and N10,000. That was the first time he told me he was sick and was in Abuja. I asked his wife, but he said she was in Lagos while he was in Abuja. He didnt say much then.

Jasmine described how she brought the actors wife to Lagos and said their relationship was initially cordial.

See the full video here:

Mr Ibus Adopted Daughter, Jasmine, breaks silence  YouTube.

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On Saturday, Nigerian veteran actress Taiwo Ajai-Lycett appreciated God for turning 83 and advised the youth to imbibe the African culture of respect.

Ajai-Lycett, a trained cosmetologist, said this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

She said the youth are fond of referring to older people as Old School, which she described as a lack of respect for older people, urging them to make conscious efforts to learn from their wealth of experience in all life issues.

Yes, I am 83 years old today, and I give glory to God. I begin to see 80 as 60, and we have a lot of work to do; it is a stage of life that one needs to continue to give back to society, share and help others. I will say Aluta Continua, the struggle continues.

I hear many of our youths calling the aged old school; this is wrong; the youth should always be ready to respect and learn from the elderly. The experiences and life lessons older people have garnered over the years should be relayed to the youth to make them better individuals. So, today, I will advise the youth to learn from and respect us; there is a lot to be tapped from the elderly, she said.

More Gratitude

Ajai-Lycett also took to her Instagram page @taiwoajailycett to thank God.

This is 83. I give God so much thanks for keeping me healthy and wealthy. Since Time Flies is a true and humbling statement, I have learned to accept my age and cherish every second over the years.

As you get older, you encounter individuals from many walks of life, have life-altering experiences, cherish your loved ones more, and develop patience and understanding.

Beautiful people, experience life, be present, let go of things you cannot control, spend time with the people you love and never stop telling them you love them.

Dont wait until you are old to realise this. Theres nothing significant to consider in life except the joy of life. So live. Happy Birthday to me .

Acting credits

Ajai-Lycett is an acclaimed international actress with over 50 years of experience in film, stage and television.

She debuted in 1967 at the UKs Avant Garde, Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, London.

She subsequently trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the City Literary Institute, The Dance Centre, and the Actors Studio London.

Ajai-Lycetts credits include the BBCs Some Mothers Do Av Em; Crown Court; notable Nigerian TV productions, including Winds Against My Soul, Africa Magics Tinsel and stage productions such as Conor Cruise O Briens MURDEROUS ANGELS at the Gaiety Theatre in 1971 at Dublin Theatre Festival.

Her film credits include: A Warm December, starring and directed by the first Black-American Academy Award winner, Sidney Poitier; Dazzling Mirage, by Tunde Kelani, Rogers Ofimes Oloibiri, and Madame President by Patrick Doyle among others

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The President of Namibia, Hage Geingob, is dead, a presidential release said on Sunday.

It is with utmost sadness and regret that I inform you that our beloved Dr. Hage G. Geingob, the President of the Republic of Namibia has passed on today, a statement signed off by the acting president, Nangolo Mbumba, said.

Mr Geingob had been in the US briefly for treatment therapy for cancerous cells but died late Saturday, a few days after his return to continue receiving treatment in Namibia.

He died at Lady Pohamba Hospital with his wife and his children by his side.

His medical team, as I informed the nation only yesterday, has been trying its utmost best to ensure that our President recovers. Regrettably, notwithstanding the teams spirited effort to save his life, sadly, fellow Namibians, President Geingob passed on, Mr Mbumba said.

He described the presidents passing as the loss of a distinguished servant of the people, a liberation struggle icon, the chief architect of our constitution and the pillar of the Namibian house.

He urged Namibians to remain calm and collected while the government attends to all necessary state arrangements, preparations and other protocols.

Before his demise, the 82-year-old president who also served for 12 years as prime minister, had a history of health problems that preceded his election as Namibias third president in 2014.

In 2013, he underwent brain surgery, and the following year he revealed that he had survived prostate cancer.

Last year, Mr Geingob announced he had undergone aortic surgery in neighbouring South Africa.

Namibia, a former German colony that gained independence from South Africa in 1990, is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in November.

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, spent almost N1.5 billion in violation of financial regulations between January 2019 and December 2020, the latest audit report of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAuGF) has shown.

The 2020 report, released in December 2023, demands explanations from the Chief Registrar of the court, Hadiza Dodo.

Although the infractions preceded Ms Dodos appointment to the office of the Chief Registrar in November 2021, the current occupier of the office was directed in the report to recover and return the funds to the national treasury.

Husseini Baba-Yusuf, the courts chief judge, appointed Ms Dodo as the accounting officer of the court following the elevation of Muhammed Mustapha Adamu to the FCT High Court bench.

Mr Adamu, who was only appointed a judge of the FCT High Court in November 2021, was the chief registrar of the court at the time of the flagged transactions.

Ishaq Bello was the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court at the time. He retired on 5 January 2021.

The issues raised concerning the transactions totalling about N1.479 billion took place during Mr Adamus tenure as Chief Registrar from 2018 to 2021.

The infractions include misapplication, diversion, waste and misappropriation of public funds, non-remittance of taxes, and payment of contractors without supporting documents or for jobs not executed.

Suspicious purchase of vehicles

In one of the expenditures, the report referenced the payment of N2 billion (N2,088,716,000 in total) to six firms for the supply of 77 vehicles. While 38 vehicles costing N1 billion (N1,034,800,000) were seen by auditors in the course of the auditing exercise for the year under review, 39 vehicles costing N1,053,916,000 were not presented for audit.

Payment of contractors without documents, others

Citing relevant provisions of the Financial Regulations, stipulating that on no account should payment be made for services not yet performed or goods not yet supplied, the report revealed that the sum of N322.7 million was paid to two contractors for the supply of diesel and general cleaning services, but relevant documents such as store receipts vouchers, store issue vouchers, job completion certificates and the schedule of cleaners paid were not presented for audit.

In another case, the report said, the payment of N42.8 million to a contractor for the supply of diesel in payment vouchers dated 20 and 28 February 2018 respectively, was without evidence of delivery and issuance of diesel to end users.

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Also, the report faulted what it termed irregular engagement of insurance broker. It disclosed that N60.4 million was paid to an insurance broker to provide indemnity for loss or damage to the FCT High Court landed property for the year 2019.

However, relevant documents like the insurance policy to show the period of the insurance cover, receipt from the insurance company, terms of agreement and certificate of registration with the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) were not produced.

It attributed the anomalies to weaknesses in the internal control system at the court, adding that the infractions pose loss of government assets, funds and payment for non-executed jobs and items not supplied.

Courts response

In its response to the infractions, the court admitted that it had no policy documents for the contract it had with the insurance company.

We have written several letters to the insurance company asking them to bring the policy documents, but have proved abortive, the court explained.

But responding to issues of payments to contractors without job execution, the court denied the allegations.

The evidence of utilisation of the diesel is hereby attached via different locations of the court across the FCT and Honourable Judges residences for your onward confirmation.

On the issue of car purchases, the court said it attached necessary documents of the transactions and presented the vehicles for inspection to audit officers.

Recommendations

Despite the courts denials, the audit report recommended the recovery of sums of money and justification of other sundry transactions.

It specifically asked the Chief Registrar to remit to the treasury the sum of N1,053,916,000 and forward evidence of remittance to the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly.

It added that sanctions relating to irregular payment and payment for jobs not executed as stipulated in the Financial Regulations should be applied.

Similarly, Ms Dodo was asked to account for the sum of N322.74 million being payments without relevant supporting documents.

Chief Registrar should be requested to account to the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly, the sum of N60,416,609.49 being payment for irregular engagement of insurance brokers.

Judiciarys lack of accountability

Issues raised in the latest audit report are only snippets of the broader transparency and accountability questions Nigerians have asked the Nigerian judiciary over its handling of its funds over the years.

The FCT High Court, like other federal courts and judiciary institutions, including the National Judicial Council (NJC), has persistently run its annual budgets hidden from the public.

Suggesting deliberate efforts at maintaining secrecy, the NJC has resisted repeated Freedom of Information requests for disclosure of the details of its annual budgets, which cover the annual spending estimates of all federal courts and institutions, including the FCT High Courts.

Top government officials are also in the dark and as concerned as other Nigerians, with then Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, in January 2022, challenging the Nigerian judiciary to be transparent and accountable in the spending of the funds allocated to it in its annual budgets.

Alleging widespread corruption in the Nigerian Supreme Court and down the hierarchy of the judiciary, a retiring justice of the Supreme Court, Dattijo Muhammad, made scathing remarks about the handling of the funds allocated to the judiciary.

He said despite the phenomenal increase in the judiciarys budgets over the years, there had been no commensurate improvement in the welfare of judges, putting the judges of the Supreme Court in a situation where the Chief Registrar of the court earned more than them.

Calling for a probe of the judiciarys handling of its funds, Mr Muhammad said unrelenting searchlight need to be beamed to unravel how the sums are expended.

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has said it is unable to complete the acquisition of OVH Energy Marketing Limiteds downstream assets.

The declaration is contained in a letter dated 17 January, addressed to the chief executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and signed by the managing director of NNPC Retail Limited, Huub Stokman.

The letter is titled, Notification of inability to complete OVH Energy Marketing Limited terminal, plants and depot takeover and intent to apply for operating licenses.

The NNPC Ltd had in its latest financial statements said it paid cash amounting to $325.09 million (N140.559 billion) for the acquisition of Oando-branded retail stations and a reception jetty in Apapa, among other facilities.

However, in its letter, the NNPC Ltd said it has become evident that it cannot complete the merger deal.

The company said it intends to apply for operating licenses for the facilities under OVH Energy Marketing Limited.

We appreciate the ongoing collaboration and support from the National Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in facilitating the acquisition of OVH Energy Marketing Limited.

After careful review, it has become evident that we cannot complete the legal merger of NNPC Retail Limited and OVH Energy Energy Marketing Limited within the expected timeframe.

Consequently, we regret to inform the NMDPRA that we cannot proceed with the takeover of OVH Energy Marketing Limited Terminals, Plants and Depots now, the letter read in part.

It said to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, it intends to apply for operating licenses for the facilities under OVH Energy Marketing Limited.

Additionally, we understand the importance of fulfilling our obligations promptly, it added.

As such, we commit to paying the required takeover fees as part of our commitment to completing the takeover process when the legal merger has been successfully executed.

We appreciate your understanding and assure the NMDPRA that we remain dedicated to complying with all regulatory processes and requirements. We will inform the NMDPRA of any developments and promptly submit the necessary documentation for the takeover process once the legal merger is completed.

The OVH team have already taken over the management of NNPC Retail and have transferred virtually all the officials of the NNPC Retail headquarters in Abuja to the OVH office in Lagos. There are no indications that such decisions will be reversed despite the latest announcement.

Background

The NNPC Ltd had in October 2022, announced the acquisition of OVH Energy Marketing Limiteds downstream assets. By this acquisition, OVH Energy would be merged with NNPC Retail, a subsidiary of NNPC Ltd.

The assets acquired from the company, which operates Oando filling stations, also include a reception jetty with 240,000 metric tonnes monthly capacity and eight liquefied petroleum gas plants, three lube blending plants, three aviation depots, and 12 warehouses.

But in June 2023, PREMIUM TIMES investigation on the acquisition exposed the secret deals and the complicated ownership structure that left managerial control of NNPC Retail in the hands of OVH Energy Marketing.

The report also exposed how OVH Energy Marketing only had about 94 stations and how over 100 stations were leased.

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In addition, the report highlighted how Mr Stokman, an expatriate and former Chief Executive Officer of OVH Energy, emerged as the new Managing Director of NNPC Retail, a development that further compounded the structure of NNPC Retail.

This newspaper also found out that the acquisition of OVH Energy had turned NNPC Retail into a toxic workspace, with officials of the former taking over the latters running.

In July 2023, the House of Representatives, following the adoption of a motion moved by Miriam Onuoha (APC, Imo), directed NNPC Ltd to suspend the acquisition pending an investigation by its committee.

Following Ms Onuohas presentation, the House resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the allegations raised in the motion.

The House, however, commenced an investigation into the controversial deal in September 2023.

The ad-hoc committee requested the NNPC Ltd to furnish it with information about registration documents/history from CAC for OVH, Nueoil, and NNPC Retail Limited (NRL), Board Resolution of NNPC Ltd on purchase of OVH, Audited Financial Statement and Management Accounts from 2015 to Date OVH, Nueoil, NRL and NNPC Ltd and the payroll from 2015 to date for NRL and OVH, Board Resolution of NRL/CHQ for movement of head office to Lagos and evidence of Tax Payments for NRL and OVH from 2015 to date.

The committee also requested documents on all financial transactions associated with the acquisition, including payment records and fund transfers.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari, had said the acquisition of OVH Energy Marketing Limited, was done in compliance with the CAMA Act which provides the process for merger and acquisition of equity.

Last September, Mr Kyari, while appearing before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the acquisition, said the NNPC Ltd now operates like a private limited liability company and entered the commercial relationship with OVH to take over market shares in the downstream petroleum market shares.

Meanwhile, the NNPC Retail concerned staff, in their letter dated 25 September 2023, addressed to the chairman of the House Committee, and signed on their behalf by Mohammed Muazuo, noted that the request by the committee was not met.

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On February 3, a Russian subversive group broke through in the area of Hlukhiv community in Sumy region. Ukrainian soldiers engaged the saboteurs.

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As a result of an hour and a half battle, the enemy was pushed back to the territory of the Russian Federation, and the occupiers suffered losses. This was reported by the Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev.

According to the commander, a group of ten Russian saboteurs attempted to cross the state border of Ukraine in the evening of February 3. However, Ukrainian soldiers at one of the strongholds near Hlukhiv community noticed the movement of an armed enemy group around 18:20.

"Immediately, Ukrainian soldiers started a small arms battle and called in anti-sabotage reserves from their battalion. In a few minutes mortar launchers joined the battle, covering the place of enemy forces concentration with fire," noted Nayev.

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Having suffered losses in the battle with Ukrainian soldiers, the enemy subversive reconnaissance group split into two parts. The occupants of the first one evacuated their wounded and the bodies of the eliminated invaders under the cover of Russian artillery. The rest of the surviving saboteurs tried to bypass the stronghold from the side flank. However, the plans of the invaders were thwarted by a counter-sabotage group that arrived at the scene of the battle.

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"The valiant battle lasted for an hour and a half. Thanks to the skillful actions of the defenders of the Northern direction, the enemy was pushed far beyond the Ukrainian border. I bow low to every Ukrainian soldier who stands in defense of our independence and does everything possible to bring our glorious victory closer," Nayev summarized.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA reported that new footage of the 72nd Brigade's stunning success near Novomykhailivka had appeared. The soldiers defeated a Russian convoy of 11 vehicles there.

It was also reported that on February 3, the SBU launched drone strikes on an oil refinery in Volgograd. A massive fire broke out there, and it will take months to repair the damage.

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won all four state constituencies rerun election in Bauchi State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officers for the election, announced the results on Sunday in the affected constituencies.

Ahmed Abdulkadir, the INEC Returning Officer for Madara Chinade Constituency, said that Ala Ahmed of the PDP won the election with 13,920 votes to defeat Dantali Ali of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 9,710 votes.

In Bauchi Central, the INEC returning officer, Ismail Shehu, declared Jamilu Dahiru of the PDP as the winner with 1,857 votes, while Aliyu Abdullahi of the APC came second with 858 votes.

In the Ningi constituency, the INEC returning officer, Ahmed Abdulhamid, said that Abubakar Suleiman of the PDP scored 11,785 votes to defeat Khalid Ningi of the APC who polled 339 votes.

In the Zungur Galambi state constituency, the INEC returning officer, Adamu Samaila, declared Yusuf Ahmed of the PDP as a winner with 2,233 votes, while Ibrahim Yuguda of the APC came second with 1,928 votes.

PDP wins Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency in Sokoto

Also, INEC declared the PDP Candidate, Umar Yusuf-Yabo, the winner of Saturdays Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency re-run election in Sokoto State.

The Chief Returning Officer, Abdullahi Bagudo, declared Yusuf-Yabo the winner after he polled the highest majority of the lawful votes.

Mr Bagudo said that the PDP candidate scored 27,041 votes to defeat his closest rival, Abubakar Dan-Bukari of APC, who polled 26,213 votes.

He also said that the winning candidate scored fewer votes, totalling 2,249, in the re-run election, compared to the APC candidate, Dan-Bukari, who scored 3,741 votes.

He further said that the rerun election was conducted in the 26 polling units of the constituency and the result added to the configured results of the 2023 National Assembly elections in the constituency.

The PDP candidate had led in the substantive election with a total of 24,792 votes against 22,472 votes scored by the APC candidate.

The 2023 result was added to the outcome of the rerun election results to determine the eventual winner.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Mr Yusuf-Yabo was declared the winner by INEC in the 2023 National Assembly elections to represent the constituency.

However, his declaration by INEC was challenged by Mr Dan-Bukari of the APC at the tribunal and the Appeal Court ordered for a rerun in the 26 polling units.

PDP wins Mayobelwa constituency rerun in Adamawa

Musa Kallamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won Saturdays Mayobelwa 2 constituency rerun election for the Adamawa House of Assembly.

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Mohammed Baba-Ardo, the INEC Returning Officer for the election said this on Sunday in Mayobelwa.

Mr Baba-Ardo said that Mr Kallamu scored 13,06 votes to beat Ibrahim Italiya of the All Progressives Congress APC who polled 874 votes.

He said Kallamu won in six out of the seven polling units where the rerun election was conducted.

He said the number of registered in the area was 5,024 out of which 2,252 voters were accredited. A total of 2,192 valid votes were recorded with six invalid votes and the total votes cast was 2,252.

The election followed the decision of the election petitions tribunal which ordered a rerun in seven polling units of the constituency.

APC wins Chawai/Kauru House of Assembly in Kaduna

Also, INEC declared Barnabas Haruna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the rerun election for Chawai/kauru State assembly in Kaduna State, held on Saturday.

The Returning Officer, Abdullahi Idris, who announced the result in Kauru on Sunday, said Mr Haruna polled 24,170 votes to defeat his closest rival, Yohanna Gandu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 23, 591 votes.

Mr Idris said that Labour Partys Adamu Bala came third with 6,158 votes, while Adamu Maiwada of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) scored 4,443 to come fourth.

He said that a total of 61,193 voters were accredited out of the over 126,000 registered voters in the constituency.

The Returning Officer said that of the accredited voters, 59,358 cast their votes.

Barnabas Haruna of the APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law by scoring the highest votes, is hereby declared the winner, he said.

(NAN)

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The former Governor of Yobe State, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, has died at the age of 75.

Mr Ibrahim, who governed Yobe from 1999 to 2007 before serving several terms in the Senate, passed away on 4th February while receiving treatment for a long-term illness in Saudi Arabia, where he will also be laid to rest.

The current Governor of Yobe State, Mala Buni, has expressed deep sorrow over the loss and has taken steps to ensure that the late senator is honoured with a ceremonial state burial.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Governor Buni spoke of the impact Mr Ibrahim had on the state and its people, describing his passing as a huge loss.

He called on the citizens of Yobe and friends of the state to offer prayers for the eternal repose of the senators soul.

The late senators death is not only a loss to Yobe but to Nigeria as a whole, as he was a key figure in the countrys political landscape for many years. His tenure as governor and senator was marked by efforts to improve the lives of his constituents and to foster stability and growth in the region, Mr Bunis spokesperson, Mamman Mohamed, wrote

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Shittu Ibrahim, has been declared winner of the State House of Assembly re-run election for Saki West State Constituency in Oyo State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the result of the poll on Saturday evening at the INEC Collation Centre in Saki West Local Government Area.

The Returning Officer for Saki West State Constituency, Olusola Oyewo, a professor, announced the results.

Mr Oyewo said that Ibrahim scored 13,850 votes to beat his closest opponent, Julius Okedoyin of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who got 13,670 votes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Court of Appeal had sacked Ibrahim, who was declared winner of the election held on 18 March 2023.

NAN also reports that Mr Okedoyin approached the court having not satisfied with the declaration of Ibrahim as winner by INEC.

The Saturday re-run election was conducted in accordance with the court order.

The exercise was held in polling units at Odo Osun PU 007 Odo Osun area with 750 registered voters and 019 Ogbalanja area with 554 registered voters.

(NAN)

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The nine abducted Ekiti schoolchildren and their teachers have been released by their captors on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the children were released at about 2 a.m. on Sunday after spending six days in captivity.

It was however learnt that of the nine persons kidnapped, only eight came back alive, as the driver of the school bus, Taye Rasaki, was reportedly killed in captivity.

Video evidence of the children and their teachers after their release was made available to NAN by dependable sources in the community.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti, Sunday Abutu, also confirmed the release of the children and the death of the driver.

All victims were rescued today in the early hours of today, Sunday, but unfortunately, we lost the driver who was suspected to have been killed by the abductors, he added.

Mr Abutu did not, however, say whether the victims were rescued by the police and if the families paid ransom for their freedom as demanded by the kidnappers.

READ ALSO:

The spokesman said that the police would continue to hunt for the kidnappers.

Though some arrests have been made in recent past, our operations shall continue as we want to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law, he said.

NAN recalls that six pupils, two teachers and a driver of Apostolic Faith Church Primary and Secondary School, Emure were abducted in Eporo while being transported home after school hours.

The abductors had on Wednesday demanded N100 million ransom, but the amount was reportedly reduced to N15 million.

A source, however, said the families of the abducted victims were able to raise N7 million, which the abductors turned down.

It is not clear if the families eventually paid the N15 million ransom as demanded by the kidnappers.

(NAN)

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Chinwe Nnabuife of the Young Progressives Party(YPP) as the winner of the rerun election for Orumba North and Orumba South Federal Constituency in Anambra.

INECs Returning Officer for Orumba North and Orumba South Federal Constituency, Gabriel Anene, declared Ms Nnabuife winner having polled the highest number of votes.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the declaration was made on Saturday night at about 10:15 p.m. after the collation of the results from the 16 polling units of Nanka Ward 1.

Mr Anene, a professor, said that Ms Nnabuife scored 14416, while the closest candidate, Okwudili Ezenwankwo of PDP, scored 13087.

He said Kanayo Eze of APGA scored 10479 votes.

Reacting, Ms Nnabuife said the victory was a call for more transformative legislative businesses in the constituency.

Ms Nnabuife commended INEC for its transparency.

She assured the constituents of quality representation and urged other candidates to see the Orumba North/South constituency above their personal interests.

Calistus Nwosu, the YPP agent, said the outcome of the rerun election was a testament to the will of the electorate.

Mr Nwosu enjoined the representative to discharge her duties without bias while ensuring that the constituency was effectively represented.

The rerun election was scheduled by INEC after a court of competent jurisdiction ordered a rerun to determine the actual winner of the election.

Mr Ezenwankwo had challenged INECs declaration of Ms Nnabuife as the winner of the 25 Feb 2023, National Assembly election to represent the Orumba North and Orumba South Federal Constituency.

(NAN)

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the Electoral Officer for Jos North Local Government Area, Fred Ogboji, over missing ballot papers in Saturdays rerun election.

This was contained in a statement by Isah Idakwo, the states Head of the Department of Electoral Operations, on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) on Sunday in Jos.

He directed the electoral officer to step aside to give room for a proper investigation.

You are directed to step aside from office to enable the commission to carry out a proper investigation into the circumstances that led to the missing House of Representatives ballot papers in 16 polling units in your local government area

You are further directed to hand over to Elekwa Onyemauche, the local government supervisor, and the two registration area supervisors of Tudun Wada Kabong and Naraguta B to coordinate and complete the remaining process, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC on Saturday rescheduled the election in 16 polling units of Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency following the discovery that some ballot papers were missing.

Oliver Agundu, the state INEC REC said in a statement that the election had been rescheduled for Sunday, 4 February

Mr Agundu said that voting would commence at 9:30 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m.

The REC stated that the commission discovered on the eve of the rerun that the ballot papers for 16 polling units in Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency had gone missing.

He said the matter had been referred to the security agencies for investigation. (NAN)

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Nigerias electricity grid on Sunday collapsed yet again, throwing several cities including the nations capital Abuja, into darkness.

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) announced Sunday that the collapse occurred at around 11 a.m.

The Management of Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC) wishes to inform its valued customers that the power outage being experienced is a result of a system failure from the national grid at 11:21 hours today, 4th February 2024 which has led to a nationwide power outage, the company said.

Be rest assured that we are working with the relevant stakeholders to restore power as soon as the grid is stabilized. We appeal for your patience, it said.

The latest collapse occurred less than two months after the national grid system collapsed in December and Nigerians were thrown into darkness.

In recent years, Nigerias power sector has experienced broad challenges such as electricity policy enforcement, regulatory uncertainty, gas supply, transmission system constraints, and major power sector planning shortfalls.

Last Friday, the Nigerian government attributed the main cause of poor power supply in the country to the low supply of gas to generating companies (GenCos).

Nigerias Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who disclosed this in a statement, said Power supply during the yuletide improved, but unfortunately, weve experienced setbacks in the new year. After investigations, its clear that the main cause of poor power supply is the low supply of gas to GenCos.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) had in January said that there was a gradual decrease in available generation into the grid due to gas constraints.

The company said this impacted the quantum of bulk power available on the transmission grid for onward transmission to the distribution load centres nationwide.

The TCN has yet to officially speak on the issue as of press time Sunday afternoon. When contacted Sunday evening, an official told PREMIUM TIMES that the agency would soon speak on the new development.

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Officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Saturday, arrested three persons suspected of vote buying in Sokoto State during the by-elections monitoring exercise.

The suspects  three males aged 48, 37 and 38  were caught at Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency in Sokoto State with the sum of N3,105,400 within the voting premises, according to a tweet via ICPCs X handle on Saturday.

Bye-Elections Monitoring : ICPC Arrests 3 Suspected Vote Buyers in Sokoto Officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have today arrested 3 persons suspected to be vote buyers in Sokoto State during the bye-elections monitoring pic.twitter.com/fyRke2JrYa  ICPC Nigeria (@icpcnigeria) February 3, 2024

In a related development, the ICPC Adamawa State Election monitoring team arrested two suspects within the vicinity of Yelwa Primary School in Mayo Belwa Local Government Area with the sum of N500,000 suspected to be for vote buying during the bye  elections.

Update: ICPC Bye-Elections Monitoring In a related development, the ICPC Adamawa State Election monitoring team arrested two suspects within the vicinity of Yelwa Primary School in Mayo Belwa Local Government Area with the sum of N500,000 suspected to be for vote buying during pic.twitter.com/lEBY5LKONs  ICPC Nigeria (@icpcnigeria) February 3, 2024

The tweet did not provide the names of the suspects.

ICPC also shared the pictures of the suspects with their faces blurred and the wads of cash they were allegedly arrested with.

All the suspects have been taken into the custody of the commission and investigations have commenced, ICPC will work with INEC in the prosecution of the cases, the tweet added.

INEC had last year declared Umar Yusuf Yabo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the main election, defeating Abubakar Umaru of the All Progressives Congress (APC)

But the Court of Appeal had declared the Yabo/Shagari federal constituency inconclusive and ordered a re-run in 26 polling units in the constituency.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Ifeoluwa Ehindero, winner of the Akoko North-East and Akoko North-West Federal constituency by-election in Ondo State.

Johnson Fasinmirin, a professor, of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), the Returning Officer of the election, declared Mr Ehindero winner after the counting of votes at the collation centre at Victory College, Ikare-Akoko on Saturday.

Mr Fasinmirin said that the APC candidate polled 35,504 votes to defeat his closest rival, Olalekan Bada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who had 15,328 votes.

The returning officer said that total votes cast were 51,896 with valid votes cast being 51,341 while 555 votes were rejected.

I, Fasinmirin Johnson, hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer for the 2024 Akoko North-East and Akoko North-West Federal Constituency By-election held on Feb. 3.

The election was contested and Ehindero Ifeoluwa Babajide of APC polled 35,504 while Bada Olalekan Oladapo scored 15,328.

That Ehindero Ifeoluwa Babajide of APC having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declared the winner and return elected, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Ehindero defeated Bada with 20,176 votes to emerge winner while African Democratic Congress candidate, Ishmail Adeshina with 213 votes came third.

NAN reports that the Akoko North-East and Akoko North-West Federal constituency seat became vacant following the resignation of Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who was appointed Minister of Interior by President Bola Tinubu.

Candidates of eight political parties contested for the vacant seat to represet the federal constituency in the House of Representatives. The parties are: ADC, APC, APGA, PDP, NNPP, APP, SDP and LP

(NAN)

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Senegals outgoing president, Macky Sall, has postponed the countrys presidential election scheduled to take place this month, BBC is reporting.

He said holding the election as scheduled could gravely hurt the ballot. He, however, did not set a new date.

According to the BBC, Mr Sall said he would start an open national dialogue to create the conditions for a free, transparent and inclusive election in a peaceful and reconciled Senegal.

There had been several complaints after dozens of candidates were barred from standing in the election.

Amid controversy, a constitutional council had prevented several hopefuls including some high-profile politicians from running.

Mr Sall stated earlier that he would not be seeking re-election, after serving for two terms.

An opposition candidate called the presidents decision to postpone the election a constitutional coup.

Khalifa Sall, former mayor of the capital, Dakar, urged people to protest against the move and his political coalition has pledged to go to court.

An organisation of influential Islamic clerics had warned against postponing the vote, saying it risked destabilising the nation.

Twenty candidates had made the final list, but among the most prominent of those who had been excluded from the original vote, scheduled for 25 February, was opposition politician Ousmane Sonko.

He was barred because of a libel conviction. He claimed he had been the victim of a campaign to stop him standing for president.

Karim Wade, the son of a former president, was also prevented from taking part because he is allegedly a French citizen as well as being Senegalese. He has described the accusation as scandalous, the AFP news agency reports.

READ ALSO: Tinubu congratulates Dangote on Senegalese award

Mr Wades backers in parliament questioned the neutrality of two of the judges on the panel that decided on the final list of candidates.

Some politicians have argued that the rules for candidacy were not applied fairly, something the authorities have denied.

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Chinese businesses in Zambia laud establishment of minerals regulation body

Xinhua) 13:47, February 04, 2024

LUSAKA, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese businesses in Zambia on Friday welcomed the government's decision to establish the Minerals Regulation Commission, an independent mining regulator, saying it will go a long way in improving operations in the mining industry.

Li Tie, the president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Zambia (CCCZ), said the establishment of the commission was welcome as it will address many issues such as production reporting, mineral content analysis, illegal mining and illicit trade on minerals.

In remarks delivered at a national symposium on the 2023 economic performance, the 2024 budget as well as economic outlook, Li said it was the hope of Chinese businesses in Zambia that the commission will also ensure the speedy processing of mining licensing.

"Government may also consider intervening by making sure that this important institution is set up and becomes operation in the first quarter of the year," he said.

The Zambian has decided to establish the commission as part of reforms in the mining sector and to bolster regulation of the sector.

Li further welcomed the government's decision to conduct mineral aerial surveys to ascertain the availability of minerals in the country, saying it will reduce cost on would-be investors on exploration expenses.

According to him, the decision was a positive development which will have a positive impact in the mining sector.

He however expressed concern over the government's directives that exploration or mining licenses will not be transferred or sold to foreign entities.

"We suggest that government may intervene by finding a workable solution where both foreign and local investors may co-exist," he added.

Meanwhile, the Chinese businesses have welcomed the government's plans to introduce various incentives in multifacility economic zones in the country.

Li said the introduction of various incentives in multi facility economic zones were important and progressive precursors to economic development.

The government has decided to introduce various incentives in multi facility economic zones in order to attract more investors.

Among the incentives include harmonizing and reducing land rates levied by local authorities, introduction of automatically guaranteed quotas for expatriate employees at whatever level, provide for the extension of the validity period for the customs duty incentives accessible by a developer of a multifacility economic zone for five years, among others.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Russian propagandists are spreading a new fake that medical workers of Kyiv hospitals were allegedly forcibly mobilized and sent to a training ground to undergo combat training. The Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security denied this information and clarified the situation.

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This was reported on the SPRAVDI Telegram channel. Russian Telegram channels write about the "forced mobilization" of women, supplementing the text with a photo of a woman in military clothing being handed packages with camouflage.

It is noted that the information of Russian propaganda that medical workers of Kyiv hospitals were allegedly forcibly mobilized and sent to a training ground to undergo combat training courses is a lie.

"It is true that women with medical or pharmaceutical education have to register, but this does not mean mobilization. It is still done voluntary," the Center explained.

They recalled that on December 19, 2023, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy assured that he would not sign the law on women's mobilization.

And the photo, according to SPRAVDI, shows servicewomen of the 112th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, to whom volunteers from Arm Women Now are handing over sets of modern winter women's uniforms.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mohammed Omadefu of All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of Saturdays rerun election into the Keana constituency seat in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja had in November 2023, declared the 18 March 2023 state assembly election in the Keana constituency inconclusive, and ordered a rerun election in five polling units in the Agaza electoral ward to determine the winner of the election.

Declaring the result of the rerun election in Keana, the constituencys returning officer, Hassan Imam, from the Federal University of Lafia, said that Mr Omadefu of APC polled 557 votes, while Basil Osheka of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 470 votes.

He explained that votes garnered by each candidate at the rerun election would be added to the votes scored by the candidates during the March 18 2023 elections to declare the winner of the state constituency seat at the Assembly.

Mr Imam, therefore, said that Mr Omadefu of APC scored 8,069 votes to defeat his closest rival, Osheka of PDP who polled 7, 917 votes.

Consequently, Mohammed Omadefu of APC having scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected, he said.

Reacting to his victory, Mr Omadefu expressed gratitude to the people of the Agaza electoral ward and the entire Keana for their love and support.

He promised to consolidate his previous achievements with the renewed mandate given by the people.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that with Mr Omadefus victory, the APC had regained its majority in the Nasarawa Assembly with 10 members, followed by the PDP with nine members.

(NAN)

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The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun, has assured of a China-Nigeria collaboration for Nigerian products and commodities to be made available in the Chinese market within the next five years.

The ambassador made this known in an interview on Saturday during a temple fair organized to mark the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year on Saturday in Abuja.

The Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on 10 February, is the year of the Dragon after the 12-year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac.

According to Mr Jiachun, China is the largest economy in Asia while Nigeria is a leading economy in Africa with a lot of similarities in culture and strategic knowledge about the international situation and economy.

He said the volume of trade between China and Nigeria had grown in the past few years.

China has demonstrated its willingness to give Nigeria and other African countries opportunities to supply their products to its markets.

This is to support the developing countries to make substantial profits in the spirit of the South-South Cooperation which is an essential component of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Nigeria is a pilot country for China and Africa to build the joint BRI, he said.

Mr Jiachun noted that over his past few years in Nigeria, the 5GIST Nigeria-China GDP Strategy had gradually become a reality.

He said: The 5GIST Nigeria-China GDP Strategy consists of 4 parts, which are 5G, 5l, 5S and 5T.

5G refers to the 5 Goals of the Strategy, which are political consonance, economic cooperation, military & security collaboration, international coordination and peoples communication.

China and Nigeria have been cooperating a lot from infrastructure, ICT, agriculture, mining sector, oil and gas, insurance of banking sectors and also the industry.

We have done a lot of industrial work here and the most important thing that I would like to let you know is that we are encouraging Nigerians to have more product commodities to be in the Chinese market in the coming five years.

The Ambassador also noted that with adequate arrangements, large products from Nigeria would enter the Chinese market, which would also encourage innovation.

Also speaking, Jaafaru Yakubu, chairman of the House Committee on Nigeria-China Relations, expressed his appreciation to the Chinese government for their continuous support to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

He said that Nigeria would be hosting a spectacular event to celebrate this important cultural festival, the Chinese New Year temple fair to reciprocate the friendship received from China.

This year, we are thrilled to bring vibrant and colourful celebrations to Nigeria, as a symbol of the strong and growing relationship between our two nations.

The fair will be a celebration of unity and friendship as we continue to straighten our ties with China.

We believe that events like the Chinese temple fair will serve as a reminder of cultural exchange and mutual respect that underpins our relationship.

It is my hope that this event will foster greater understanding and appreciation between our two nations and that will be a stepping stone toward even closer cooperation in future.

We also look forward to seeing Nigerias products in the Chinese market, Mr Yakubu said.

(NAN)

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Troops of 114 Battalion (Rear) of 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army, in conjunction with other security forces, on Saturday destroyed multiple bandits hideouts and rescued four kidnap victims in Yorro Local Government Area of Taraba.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Acting Assistant Director, 6 Brigade Army Public Relations, Olabodunde Oni, and made available to journalists in Jalingo on Sunday.

It stated that the swift and decisive operation to flush out bandits and kidnappers disturbing the peace in Yorro and its environs commenced on 2 February.

It said that troops came in contact with bandits at Gampu Hills and Ban Yorro area and exerted superior firepower which made the bandits flee the location, leaving behind their four abducted victims.

READ ALSO:

The operation is still ongoing to ensure that other kidnapped victims who fled the area during the exchange of fire are found and reunited with their loved ones.

The rescued victims are Genesis Samuel, 24, from Ganku village; Benard Denis, 28, from Fulfualgon village; Esther Titus, 35, from Kosanai village and the Emir of Pupulles son, Ismail Umar, 25, who was abducted at his residence on Jan. 18.

The Brigade is committed to ensuring the safety of citizens and dismantling all criminal infrastructure in the state.

Members of the public are urged to continue to support the military by giving credible and timely information on suspicious movements, to aid in improving security within the state.

(NAN)

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Nigerias President Bola Tinubu has extended condolences to Namibia over the demise of its president, Hage Geingob.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Geingob passed in the early hours of Sunday in Namibia while receiving cancer treatment. He died a few days after returning from a therapy treatment in the US.

President Tinubu mourns the painful loss of this veteran in the struggle for democracy; a proponent of good governance, and an advocate of economic, social, and political solidarity among African peoples, presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale said in a statement.

According to Mr Tinubu, Mr Geingobs death is a tragedy that comes at a time when Africa needs more visionary leaders who believe in the common destiny of the continent, and who can strengthen bonds across borders and spread the tendrils of cooperation across all fields of human endeavour.

As Namibia mourns, President Tinubu assures the Republic that his thoughts and prayers, and indeed those of Nigerians, are with them, the statement read.

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Nigerian security forces have rescued four kidnap victims and destroyed many hideouts of the kidnappers in Yorro and Zing local government areas of Taraba State.

The spokesperson of the 6 Brigade, Oni Olobodunde, said this in a statement he issued in Jalingo on Saturday.

Mr Olobodunde, a lieutenant, said the operation was done in conjunction with other security forces.

He said the operation to flush out bandits and kidnappers disturbing the peace in Yorro LGA and its environs began on Friday.

Troops came in contact with bandits at Gampu hills and Ban Yorro area and exerted superior fire power which made the bandits flee the location leaving behind their abducted victims.

The operation is still ongoing to ensure that other kidnapped victims who fled the area during the exchange of fire are found and reunited with their loved ones.

The rescued kidnapped victims are Genesis Samuel age 24 from Ganku village, Benard Denis age 28 from Fulfualgon village, Esther Titus age 35 from Kosanai village and the Emir of Pupulles son who was abducted at his residence on 18 January 2024, Ismail Umar age 25.

The Brigade is committed to ensuring the safety of citizens and dismantling all criminal infrastructure in Taraba State.

Members of the public are urged to continue to support the military by giving credible and timely information on suspicious movements to aid in improving security within the state, the statement read.

Yorro and Zing LGAs have been in the news since late last year for reported cases of organised crimes like kidnapping, cattle rustling, mass abduction, arson and even armed robbery.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that within a month, over 100 persons were kidnapped, including the paramount ruler of Yorro and many religious leaders.

Security sources and relatives of some of the rescued victims told our reporter that ransoms were paid to the bandits before they released the victims.

A resident, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES on condition of anonymity, said family members of some of the victims contributed over N20 million to secure the release of 28 people from the bandits.

The activities of bandits have forced hundreds of people to flee the villages in search of safety in towns.

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The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has clarified the controversy surrounding its latest policy on the validity of the Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) for teachers.

The TRCN Registrar, Josiah Ajiboye, a professor, said the agency recently limited the waiting period allowed between passing the PQE exams and the collection of certificates.

The PQE is a mandatory test to qualify for a teaching job in Nigeria. It is taken by graduates with Bachelor of Education degrees or the National Certificate of Education (NCE).

He said the clarifications became necessary due to certain claims by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), accusing the agency of creating bottlenecks for teacher registration.

NANS opposes policy

A statement by NANS Senate President, Akinteye Babatunde, claimed that the new policy would further impoverish Nigerian teachers and lead to a shortage of teachers as many may fail to renew their certificates.

Mr Babatunde said the policy failed to take into account the status of an average Nigerian student and the realities of Nigerias present economy.

He added that the new policy is not student-friendly and is totally unacceptable.

Clarifications

TRCN Registrar, Mr Adeboye, however, clarified that the TRCN certificate is obtained once in a lifetime and renewed every three years just like other professions.

He said the claims made by NANS are untrue and that the new policy has been misinterpreted.

Mr Ajiboye said the new policy means that teachers who have passed the PQE must apply for their certificates within a year otherwise they would have to rewrite the PQE.

We have noticed that many people who passed the TRCN exam fail to register after collecting their certificates. Some who passed the exam hold on to the results for several years and refuse to register. So the reason we bring the new policy is that every person with their certificates must register within a year, he said.

Mr Ajiboye further explained that the management of the council met late last year and directed the State Coordinators to inform all institutions and other stakeholders that the TRCN results will now be valid for 1 year.

For clarity, the new policy is that the TRCN PQE result is only valid for 1 year for anyone to obtain a TRCN certificate, he added.

NANS responds, threatens protests

In response to Mr Josiahs clarifications, NANS doubled down on its earlier stance.

NANS insisted the policy was not in the best interest of the education sector in Nigeria.

The student body also threatened a demonstration should the TRCN not rescind the policy in five days.

The Director is given five days to retract his statements and re-address the issue, or face the wrath of the Nigerian students, who will be forced to take to the streets in protest, parts of a statement shared with this newspaper by the NANS President, Mr Babatunde, read.

The claim that the TRCN examination will expire after one year is not only inhumane but also impractical and unreasonable.

He said it is unreasonable to expect teachers to constantly retake their TRCN examinations when they fail to request their certificates within a year, as this would put an undue financial burden on them and would take time away from their teaching duties.

He said: We, the students of Nigeria, stand in solidarity with our teachers and will not tolerate the implementation of such a policy. If the Director does not retract his statements within the next five days, we will be forced to take to the streets in protest. We will not stand by and watch while our teachers are treated unfairly and their hard-earned certificates are rendered useless. It is our right to receive quality education, and this can only be achieved if our teachers are treated with dignity and respect. We will not stand for anything less.

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The Court of Appeal, in Abuja, has ordered First City Monument Bank (FCMB) to pay N540 million awarded as compensation by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court to a cleric, Emmanuel Omale, over defamation.

In October 2022, a judge of the FCT High Court at Maitama, Abuja, Yusuf Halilu, ordered the bank to pay the compensation to Mr Omale of the Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministry and his wife, Deborah, over a false claim that they laundered N573 million for former chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.

The false claim against Mr Omale, and other unproven allegations of wrongdoings were reported without proof in the lead-up to Mr Magus turbulent exit from office as head of Nigerias anti-corruption agency, EFCC.

Ruling on 1 February, on FCMBs application for a stay of execution of the earlier verdict, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal led by Muhammed Shuaibu, rejected the request.

But the appellate court granted a conditional stay of execution of the judgement by ordering FCMB to deposit the judgment sum of 540 Million into an interest-yielding account in the name of the FCT High Courts chief registrar.

The application is granted as prayed in terms of the first prayer in the appellants motion filed on 3/11/2022.

Consequently, conditional stay of execution of the judgment is hereby granted to the appellant (FCMB).

The condition being that the judgment sum shall be deposited into an interest-yielding bank account of the court to be opened by the Chief Registrar of this court within 48 hours of the grant of this order, the Court of Appeal said in an enrolled copy of its ruling seen on Sunday by PREMIUM TIMES.

Subsequently, the court adjourned further hearings in the suit until a date to be communicated to parties by the courts registry.

Background

During the investigation of Magu by a Presidential Investigation Committee on the EFCC Federal Government Recovered Assets and Finances from May 2015 to May 2020, it was alleged that an investigation by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) revealed that Mr Magu, who is now retired from the police, paid N573 million into Mr Omales churchs account.

It further alleged that the funds were used to purchase property for him in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

About the time the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported the report of the panel, Mr Magu was facing a barrage of similar allegations from a presidential investigative panel led by a former President of the Court of Appeal, Ayo Salami.

President Muhammad Buhari has refused to release the report of any of the panels to enable the public to have first-hand information about Mr Magus culpability or otherwise in the charge and many others levelled against him.

The Mr Salami-led panel, which conducted its months-long hearing in secrecy, is believed to have been engineered by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to get Mr Magu out of office over wide differences they shared on diverse issues.

Mr Magu, who was suspended as Acting Chairman of the EFCC in the wake of the probe by Mr Salamis panel, was never recalled or held accountable for any infraction after the panel submitted its report to Mr Buhari.

The other panel, titled, Final Report of the Presidential Investigation Committee on the EFCC Federal Government Recovered Assets and Finances from May 2015 to May 2020, was said to be headed by Abdullahi Ibrahim, a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

It stated that Mr Magu, through a pastor named Omale, had been laundering public funds to foreign countries.

As an unknown pastor, the NFIUs report showed the huge movement of funds ranging from N573, 228,040.41, the report claimed.

The report, published by NAN, delved into other allegations against Mr Magu including- failing to cooperate with foreign authorities over probe on former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke, and circulation of disproportionate figures on recovered loot.

The report accused Mr Magu of allegedly failing to properly account for a recovered N551 billion by the EFCC while he was its acting chairman.

The report featured prominently in the course of the defamation hearing filed by the Omales to clear their names.

But in the judgement delivered by Mr Halilu, FCMB admitted an error in its report to the NFIU about entries into the Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministrys account.

The judge said the bank breached its duty of care to the claimants, the Omales and their church.

Consequently, the award of N200 million as aggravated damages; N140,500,000 as specific damages and N200m as general damages against FCMB in favour of the Omales.

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We say we love the Lord but, in truth, we do not like Him.

The Bible is a book of prophecies. God says in the Scriptures:

Dont forget the many times I clearly told you what was going to happen in the future. For I am God  I only  and there is no other like Me who can tell you what is going to happen. All I say will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. (Isaiah 46:9-10).

Even some of the historical situations presented in the Scriptures are prophetic. Therefore, they are fulfilled again and again. For example, the persecution of Isaac by his brother, Ishmael, is re-enacted in the persecution of Joseph by his brothers, repeated in the persecution of David by his brothers, and again replicated in the persecution of Jesus by His brothers.

The process continues today in the persecution of true believers by pretender Christians.

Prophetic Christians

Since the believer is created in the image and likeness of Christ, our identity is in the word of God. All we need to do is search the Scriptures to determine what manner of men we are and what the future holds. This is because the Bible does not merely predict the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It also foretells the birth, growth, and development of believers and the church of Christ.

It is the prophetic revelation about Christians that is of particular interest here. The Scriptures indicate that Christians will not like Christ. The church in the wilderness rejected Moses. The Israelites rejected the prophets. The Jews rejected Jesus. Christians will reject the word of God.

God says to Ezekiel:

I am sending you to the people of Israel with My messages. I am not sending you to some far-off foreign land where you cant understand the language  no, not to tribes with strange, difficult tongues. (If I did, they would listen!). I am sending you to the people of Israel, and they wont listen to you any more than they listen to Me! For the whole lot of them are hard, impudent, and stubborn. (Ezekiel 3:4-7).

Indeed, the Scriptures detail not so much how Jesus is hated by men, as how He is hated by His people.

John says: (Jesus) came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. (John 1:11).

That statement is prophetic. Today, Christians are supposedly the people of God; so, the scripture now applies to us. It means Christians will not receive Christ.

Jesus Himself observes that:

A prophet is not without honour except in his own country and in his own house. (Matthew 13:57).

Christian animosity

Most Christians do not like the Jesus of the Bible. We may say we love the Lord because He is our Saviour, but the truth is we do not like Him.

Why dont you like Me? asks God. What did I do to drive you away?

What iniquity did you find in Me that turned you against Me? (Jeremiah 2:5).

Hear, O you mountains, the LORDS complaint, and you strong foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a complaint against His people, and He will contend with Israel. O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me. (Micah 6:2-3).

Moses says God created man in His image. However, George Bernard Shaw was right when he said: We have decided to return the favour. We have created God in our image.

Christians do not like the God that is revealed in Jesus Christ. Therefore, we contradict Him at every turn.

We do not want the God who insists we should love our enemies. (Matthew 5:44-45). We prefer a God who sends the fire of the Holy Ghost to destroy them. We do not want the God who says those who use the sword will be killed by the sword. (Matthew 26:52). We prefer a God who provides us with AK47 rifles.

We do not like the God who says we should turn the other cheek. (Luke 6:29). We prefer the God who gives an eye for an eye. We do not want the God who desires mercy. (Matthew 9:13). We prefer a God who exacts eternal punishment on sinners.

The God revealed in Christ is far too demanding for us. He wants everything we have. (Luke 14:33). But Christians prefer a God that only requires a tithe. We do not like the God in Christ who regards men and women as equals. We prefer the God who legislates that women must be servants of men. We do not like the God in Christ who says we should bless those who curse us. (Matthew 5:44). We prefer the God who allows us to abuse our opponents.

Christians do not like the Jesus who was born in poor and humble circumstances. We prefer the Jesus of our mega-pastors who fly around in airplanes and even establish their own private airlines. We do not like the Jesus who did not go to school and get a formal education. (John 7:15-16). We prefer the fictional Jesus who boasts of his Ph.D degree. We prefer the God who establishes church schools and universities, where much money is made by charging high school fees.

New improved Jesus

Indeed, the real Jesus of Nazareth has become so offensive to Christians that we have created a new improved Jesus more to our liking. This new Jesus is no longer poor, meek, and lowly. But according to some, He is a rich man who wears designer clothes. Some Christians even claim the donkey Jesus rode in humility into Jerusalem was a brand-new Continental Donkey; thereby ascribing to it the same status as todays Cadillac.

Christians have given Jesus a spiritual makeover. He is no longer physically ugly, according to prophecy:

He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. (Isaiah 53:2).

The modern-day Jesus preferred by Christians is very handsome. He is not even Middle Eastern any longer: He is European and blue-eyed.

In effect, we have fulfilled the prophecy which says of the true Jesus:

He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. (Isaiah 53:3).

But even more than the fact that we do not like Jesus personally, we certainly do not like His doctrine. We do not like His insistence that we must deny ourselves and take up our cross to follow Him. (Matthew 16:24). We do not like His requirement that we have to lose our life to save our life. (Mark 8:35).

We do not heed His warning that we should not be worldly but should be hated by the world.

(John 15:18-20). We do not obey His injunction not to have any other father but God.

(Matthew 23:9). We do not agree with Him that a rich man cannot enter the kingdom of God. (Matthew 19:24).

We are then confronted with this dire prophetic decree:

Therefore, God will deal with them and burn them. They will disappear like straw on fire. Their roots will rot and their flowers wither, for they have thrown away the laws of God and despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel. That is why the anger of the Lord is hot against His people; that is why He has reached out His hand to smash them. (Isaiah 5:24-25).

Faribisala@yahoo.com; www.femiaribisala.com

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Those kings killed like ordinary rodents in Ekiti and Kwara states were like many other Yoruba kings who climbed to the stools of elders but did not have the wherewithal of elders. A king is no king if he has no mystical power, both to protect himself and his people from assailants. Such kings are not porcupines with inbuilt weaponry to attack their assailants but ordinary hapless rodents. They lack the gallantry and bravery that Obaship requires.

The porcupine is a large rodent that is clothed with a thick coat of sharp quills. These spines protect it from rampaging predators. When it feels threatened, the porcupine shoots the arrows of its spines at its assailants. These deadly quills pierce the intending attacker, thereby allowing the animal to escape harm. As such, in their confidence about the mystical powers at the beck and call of their kings, the Yoruba say that when hunters talk about pursuing, capturing and gripping an animal to death with bare hands, that animal can never be a porcupine. Most likely premising their conviction on history and ancient practices, the people liken their traditional rulers to the porcupine and believe that the monarchy approximates its gallantry.

In the same way, wherever they expect gallantry and bravery but find cowardice, the Yoruba respond with disgust. One of their responses is captured in a saying that goes, A Save Our Soul shout of help! Help! is a belittling cry that should never be heard from the mouth of the elderly; a hunter must never be found lamenting his pursuit by an animal. In Yorubaland, age and hunting valour go hand-in-hand with bravery. So, they say, when you attain adulthood but are bereft of the paraphernalia of your age, you are as vulnerable and open to attacks and insults as a toddler. This, they express as, ba o ni nkan agba, bi ewe laa ri.

In Ekiti State last week, ferocious hunters laying siege to their own kind of games pounced on hapless porcupine victims, regardless of their assumed sharp quills. They consequently roasted the animals for supper. As a clear marker of the resurgence of kidnapping in South-West Nigeria, on Monday last week, a group of daredevil gunmen ambushed and killed two traditional rulers  the Onimojo of Imojo, Oba Olatunde Olusola and the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin. The third king, the Alara of Ara-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, narrowly escaped with his life. He had been ambushed alongside the deceased monarchs. When the rodent  pardon me, the Alara  found an opening from the ferocious attacks of the kidnappers, he ran like a common grass-cutter fleeing a bloodthirsty trap. Providence helped him escape.

Try to draw a mental image of that scene. You will have a sketched picture of Kabiyesi doing a Tobi Amusan in a 100 metre dash. His agbada flying hither thither, with the unroyal apparel dancing a spirited Kiss Daniels Buga track on his body, while Kabiyesi was probably reciting verses of the Psalm, The Lord is my Shepherd, as he sped towards the embrace of the forest, his ears fluffing like those of a hare. Just imagine how the insignia of his monarchy, the beaded crown, must have spun off his head in sissy surrender as Kabiyesi sprinted towards an escape route.

This  no doubt  dramatic scene was followed, a few days after, by the killing of a retired senior military officer, the Olukoro of Ikoro, in Kwara State, Oba Aremu-Cole. He was shot dead last Thursday night by assailants. They had invaded his palace and whisked away his wife and two others.

Scholarly articles have tried to articulate why Yorubas revere their monarchs and probably why those monarchs have lost those regards and respect today. Reverence for royalty is centuries old. Not only were monarchs likened to deputies of the gods, also mystical and spiritual prowesses were attributed to them. It was believed that no matter how genteel and meek you may have been, prior to ascent to the stool of your forefathers, the moment you enter the monarchical coven called Ipebi for spiritual invigoration, you transcended the ordinariness of a mortal. Even if the Kabiyesi is as jogolob  brief in stature  as the soup of the Tapa, apologies to the Ilorin musician, Odolaye Aremu, he is immediately invested with the prowess of a giant. God bless his soul, those days when I entered the ancient palace in Oyo to confer with Iku Baba Yeye, the Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, a sudden fearfulness took hold of me, irrespective of our father-son relationship. If Oba Adeyemi then chose to meet one in a section of the palace that brimmed with age, mystique and power, you tended to hear ghosts and principalities whispering some unfamiliar conversations in a spiritual tete-a-tete with God-knows-who. When Kabiyesi eventually appeared in his jogolo stature, you did not see Lamidi. His face almost like the clone of a lions, you saw the dominance of the stature of his imperial powers.

The powers of kings were so venerated that their subjects feared them. That is why it was counseled that, you may maintain closeness with an Oba Alaye  the king who owns this world  but if that affinity spans the length of seven metres, in another breath, be far away from him by a six-metre breadth  Sun mOba niwon egbeje, jinna sOba niwon egbefa. This is because whoever is close to the king is easily the subject of his anger.

Perhaps the greatest lifter of the veil of veneration and myths surrounding the stool of Yoruba kings was modernity itself. All attempts to civilise a traditional institution like that of the Yoruba kingship peeled off its coats of pride, respect and myths. Alakowe (educated) Obas who attempted to throw away all the traditional appurtenances of their ancient monarchies were responsible for this. In their modern appearances, conducts and co-mingling with their subjects, the Obas of post-colonial Nigeria showed that they were not any different from anyone else.

So much hoopla that spans centuries has been made about the rituals of the Yoruba kingship. Obas were seen as representatives of their peoples religion. Those religions have pantheon of deities and ancient cults. The Obas were representatives of Sango, Obatala, Orunmila and other gods. They must propitiate at the Sanponna (god of small pox) shrines and were de-facto priests of Oro cult. Myths were woven around the Yoruba kingship so as to concretise and underscore its true answering of the cognomen of second in command to the gods. One of those myths was that kings do not eat in public and, second, they do not see corpses. In Oyo, for instance, you must remove your shoes before entering the palace. These myths all helped to carve out the king as, though sharing a perishable human body with mortal man, miles apart from the errant association with the flesh. Today, kings drink beer in public glare and eat like gluttons.

The ease with which Obas open calabashes  i.e. commit what is called honorific suicides  in traditional Yoruba societies also added verve to their perception as men of honour. In the old Oyo kingdom, according to Samuel Johnson, Obas were forced to open calabash whenever they were perceived as having sunk into ignominy. The Oyomesi (chiefs) could reject a ruling Alaafin if he was seen to be tyrannical, wicked, or was embroiled in political intrigues or power struggles that unsettled the kingdom. The Basorun (head of the chiefs) communicated the rejection to him by presenting the Alaafin with an empty calabash. In some other cases, the calabash is stuffed with parrot eggs, followed by the pronouncements, the gods reject you, the earth rejects you, the people reject you.

In Olufunke Adeboyes Iku Ya Jesin: Politically Motivated Suicide, Social Honor, and Chieftaincy Politics in Early Colonial Ibadan, (Canadian Journal of African Studies, 2007, Vol. 41, No. 2 (2007), pp. 189-225) we are informed that politically motivated suicide was a common occurrence too in early colonial Ibadan. Furthermore, we get to know that the practice of political suicide, unlike the general perception, was not a later development. It had antecedents in twentieth-century Ibadan politics. This was politics marked by military intrigues, machinations, and intense competition for public office and social advancement. According to the author, within the space of a decade, three principal chiefs committed suicide in Ibadanland. They were Baale Dada Opadere (1907), Baale Irefin (1915), and Balogun Ola (1917). These suicides were committed because the Baales tottered on the brink of ignominy. Even in their deaths, such chiefs and monarchs were still revered.

All these acts of veneration and reverence have died natural deaths in the current times. At what point did Yoruba kings lose their esteemed statuses? Some scholars claim this began as a result of continuous inter-tribal wars, as well as the spread of Islam in the nineteenth century. The myths surrounding the traditional offices were finally and forcefully destroyed with the advent of colonial administration and Christianity in the late 19th and early twentieth centuries. Stripped of all their myths and powers, Obas who were rarely seen, and appeared to their people only on a few ceremonial occasions, began to assert themselves and could no longer hide themselves within their palaces. The human rituals that they did without any blowback then attracted murder charges in colonial courts. One of such cases was that of Oba Samuel Adeniran Asusumasa, Atewogboye II, the 43rd Alaaye of Efon Alaaye in present day Ekiti State. He was sentenced to death in 1949 for the killing, on 10 January of the same year, of a 15-month old girl named Adediwura. A British judge, Justice NS Pollad, consequently sentenced him and his accomplices to death by hanging.

Perhaps the greatest lifter of the veil of veneration and myths surrounding the stool of Yoruba kings was modernity itself. All attempts to civilise a traditional institution like that of the Yoruba kingship peeled off its coats of pride, respect and myths. Alakowe (educated) Obas who attempted to throw away all the traditional appurtenances of their ancient monarchies were responsible for this. In their modern appearances, conducts and co-mingling with their subjects, the Obas of post-colonial Nigeria showed that they were not any different from anyone else. Today, revered Kabiyesis even go to private parties in private homes and dance to disco music.

The greatest blow to traditional rulership comes from the method of their selection today. For fees, we are told that those who crown them bypass the sacred rituals necessary before their ascension to the stools. Christianity and Islam have also played pivotal roles in destroying the ancient practices, one of which was that intending Obas ate the hearts of their deceased predecessors.

Alien predators and destroyers are today stalking Yorubaland like a pestilence. They pluck the ripe and unripe fruits of the land; they murder kings and abduct the people, killing us for their sport. The kings are helpless, and wailing. The kings have no idea of what to do because most of them are usurpers who ascended the throne due to warped political influences. They have no knowledge or ideas of who their people are, their past and history.

In an interview in 2018, Araba Awo of Osogbo and prominent Ifa High Priest, Ifayemi Elebuibon, underscored the danger in neglecting traditional ritual processes in the coronation of kings: (It) is the most important aspect of coronation, he said. Any Oba who does not allow such rites to be performed for him is not different from an ordinary citizen. Such person is not an Oba in the real sense of it. The rituals of coronation are what make them superior to the ordinary people in the town. They must go into seclusion, learn so many things, communicate with their ancestors and they will be taught so many things. Even the crown is sacred; it is not an ordinary cap. These rituals are very important and they differ from town to town But it is important for anyone who wants to ascend the throne to go through them. He should communicate with his ancestors; the owners of the land. His safety is attached to these rites; his life is protected by Olodumare (Supreme creator), who ordained it. These rituals are what make an Oba to become a real Oba; otherwise, he is no more than an ordinary citizen. After the rituals, the Oba himself will know that he is no longer an ordinary human being but someone that has been transformed.

Syncretism is the reason for the collapse of the Yoruba obaship today. The infiltration of traditional institutions by those who worship foreign gods has fouled up the Yoruba monarchy. Obas want to worship Allah more than the Arabs, worship Jesus more than the West, and consign the worship of their forefathers to the dustbin. The other day, one Oba, at a The Redeemed Christian Church of God service, introduced himself as Oba, Assistant Pastor whatever. Dont they say that the ogberi (non-initiates) should never dive into the river or else the flow will drown them? If you cannot stand the ancestral worship of traditional kingship, why dont you stick to the pulpit and allow those who can, do it? The greed in coveting the majesty, clout and powers of traditional stools has ensured the infiltration of adherents of foreign gods. They lobby to become kings but today, they have almost totally discredited and destroyed the aura and verve of that stool.

The truth is that Yoruba have a centuries old ancient monarchical system, whose practices need to be sustained for the good of the land. In the early 1970s when cholera hit Egbaland, leading to intermittent deaths, aside medical helps administered to stem the tide, Oba Oyebade Lipede, the Alake, caused rituals, the kind administered by his forefathers, to be made in all the four corners of Egbaland, and the scourge abated immediately. When Obas die, there are rites administered on them. In the Arabas voice, The rites are very important. Yoruba have a way of burying their Obas and even ordinary people. These rituals they perform are not usually for the dead Obas, they are for the safety of the family and the next so that there wont be deaths in quick succession. They are done so that the successors of the late monarch wont be dying prematurely, one after the one.

Yoruba were thus scandalised when, in 2018, one of the oldest Yoruba monarchs, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, asked that monarchs in Ijebuland should be buried according to their religious beliefs. The state legislature also abetted this boldfaced traditional anomaly by passing it into law. The legislative assent given to this huge sacrilege was a stab in the back of traditions and institutions that brought Obas unto their stools. If you want to be buried as a Christian or Muslim, dont veer towards the traditional stools. It is one of the causal factors of the worthlessness of traditional stools today. I remember taking up Oba Adeyemi on this before his departure and he was furious with the Awujale. The Oyomesi know what to do with my body when I die, he replied me.

Alien predators and destroyers are today stalking Yorubaland like a pestilence. They pluck the ripe and unripe fruits of the land; they murder kings and abduct the people, killing us for their sport. The kings are helpless, and wailing. The kings have no idea of what to do because most of them are usurpers who ascended the throne due to warped political influences. They have no knowledge or ideas of who their people are, their past and history. What did their forefathers do when devilish immigrants  atohunrinwa  inflicted similar pains on them decades ago? These ones have no single clue because they are disconnected from their roots and their forefathers.

Those kings killed like ordinary rodents in Ekiti and Kwara states were like many other Yoruba kings who climbed to the stools of elders but did not have the wherewithal of elders. A king is no king if he has no mystical power, both to protect himself and his people from assailants. Such kings are not porcupines with inbuilt weaponry to attack their assailants but ordinary hapless rodents. They lack the gallantry and bravery that Obaship requires. They may be old in age and occupy the stools of elders, but they are bereft of the paraphernalia of the position they occupy. It is why they are vulnerable and open to attacks, with their assailants harvesting them like game for supper.

Festus Adedayo is an Ibadan-based journalist.

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It seemed clear, even on the face of the judgment, that the case was a joint enterprise between the plaintiffs, the judge and INEC officials in Abakaliki. In the course of his judgment, Nganjiwa felt called upon to justify why he had to accept everything INEC said as gospel. He described the Commission as an unbiased Empire (sic), proclaiming that as the reason why he had no doubt in my mind to doubt whatever information(s) supplied by the (INEC) (sic).

There is hardly any jurisdiction in the common law world in which a man with his current record could possibly still sit as a judge of a superior court of record. In Nigeria, however, Hyeladzira Nganjiwa proudly sits on the bench of the Federal High Court and currently serves in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, in South-East Nigeria. From this perch, he advertises everything squalid about the current state of Nigerias judiciary.

Nganjiwa went to Government Secondary School, Damaturu, when it used to be part of Borno State, finishing in 1978. In 1979, University of Lagos admitted him to read law. In 1984, he enrolled to become a lawyer in Nigeria. Nganjiwa did his compulsory national service with the Ajaokuta Steel Company, before finishing it in 1985 in the Ministry of Justice in Ilorin, when both were part of old Kwara State.

Thereafter, Nganjiwa returned to his native Borno State, from where he compiled a career as a public prosecutor, rising to the rank of chief legal officer at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) until 1995, when he became deputy director of Public Prosecutions in the Borno State Ministry of Justice. Nganjiwa thereafter returned to private practice, from where President Goodluck Jonathan appointed him a judge, and he was sworn in to the bench of the Federal High Court on 28 May 2012.

Less than a few years into his judicial career, Nganjiwa was rolling in incredible money. According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in two years between 2013 and 2015, Nganjiwa, the judge, received extra-judicial payments totaling over $260,000 into his bank accounts from unknown sources. Over the same period, he similarly received over N8.2 million also from undisclosed sources. He was neither the beneficiary of a trust fund nor did he inherit money.

Persuaded that the judge was transacting in the shady judicial business, the EFCC arraigned Nganjiwa a mere five years into his judicial career on 23 June, 2017 on 14 counts of unlawful enrichment. This was a charge of judicial graft.

A judge who takes their office seriously will be affronted by such a charge and will make it a priority to clear their name. This was the least of Nganjiwas concerns, however. Instead, he asserted impunity, claiming that the court could not try him when he had not yet been disciplined by the National Judicial Council (NJC). This was worse than an odd argument to make for three reasons.

First, the NJC polices judicial mis-conduct alright but is neither the police nor a public prosecutor. Second, the NJC lacks the wherewithal by itself to investigate unlawful enrichment. Third, it was akin to saying judges are lawless. Rule 1(1)of Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, which the NJC enforces, requires all judges to respect and comply with the laws of the land. That would include the laws on unlawful enrichment.

Last November, the latest postings by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court took Nganjiwa to Abakaliki. As if by divine synch, one month later on 20 December, Godswill Akpabio, president of the Senate, formally declared vacancies in respect of certain seats in the upper chamber, including that for Ebonyi South, formerly represented by David Umahi, who now serves as a minister in the federal cabinet.

At the High Court of Lagos, Justice Adeola Akintoye was not much persuaded by this objection and threw it out. Nganjiwa appealed at the Court of Appeal, which agreed with him. On 11 December 2017, the Court of Appeal ruled that he could not be prosecuted, unless the NJC had disciplined him on the matter.

Interestingly, in the same judgment, the Court observed that: If a judicial officer commits theft, fraud, murder or manslaughter, arson and the likes, which are crimes committed outside the scope of the performance of his official functions, he may be arrested, interrogated and prosecuted accordingly by the State directly without recourse to the NJC. The Court of Appeal was able to see that theft, fraud, murder or manslaughter were not part of the job specification for a judge. But they seemed to believe that judicial corruption could be, but we digress.

A dissatisfied EFCC appealed to the Supreme Court, which at the end of May 2022, threw out the appeal and discharged Nganjiwa. It did not acquit him though. So, the Supreme Court set him free but fully blemished with the whiff of judicial corruption.

In any other jurisdiction, this would have been the end of Nganjiwas judicial career but in the weird logic of the NJC, however, it was its rejuvenation instead. On the 10th anniversary of his appointment as a judge of the Federal High Court, Nganjiwa, who had been on suspension all these years while the proceedings went on, returned to the bench, with a license once more to go judging.

Last November, the latest postings by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court took Nganjiwa to Abakaliki. As if by divine synch, one month later on 20 December, Godswill Akpabio, president of the Senate, formally declared vacancies in respect of certain seats in the upper chamber, including that for Ebonyi South, formerly represented by David Umahi, who now serves as a minister in the federal cabinet.

Two days thereafter, on 22 December, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued a notice of by-elections covering the seats which the Senate president had declared vacant. It required the parties to conduct their primaries for purposes of selecting their candidates between 5-9 January and to complete candidate nomination formalities by 13 January. In all, the parties had 17 days (including weekends) to complete candidate selection and another four days to complete all filings with INEC. The Commission fixed actual voting in the by-elections for 3 February.

On 9 January, five persons claiming to be intending delegates in the primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), initiated proceedings in Nganjiwas court in suit no. FHC/AI/CS/6/2024 between Chief Stanley Okochie Nkaa & 4 Others v. PDP, INEC & 2 Others, asking the judge to exclude the party from the by-election because the selection of its candidate, Silas Onu, four days earlier was not preceded by a 21-day notice. The law actually only allows aspirants to sue.

23 days after the case was filed, on 1 February, Nganjiwa issued a 57-page judgment granting the claimants everything they asked for. He specifically issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from recognising the PDP candidate in the by-election, and his name shall not be included in the election.

In the course of the proceedings, one of the named plaintiffs told the court that he had not instructed anyone to initiate the case in his name. His name was removed from the list of parties. That should have told most judges that something was not right. But not this one.

23 days after the case was filed, on 1 February, Nganjiwa issued a 57-page judgment granting the claimants everything they asked for. He specifically issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from recognising the PDP candidate in the by-election, and his name shall not be included in the election.

This was exactly two days before the by-election. As a practical matter, this was not an order that the INEC could have complied with without postponing the ballot in Ebonyi South because it had printed all the ballot papers and deployed significant electoral capability ahead of the date. As most sensible lawyers know, injunctions are equitable remedies and equity does not act in vain.

Having made these serious orders against INEC (a defendant) in the proceedings, however, Nganjiwa very curiously also awarded costs of one million naira in its favour to be paid by the PDP and its candidate whom he had just directed the Commission to exclude.

It seemed clear, even on the face of the judgment, that the case was a joint enterprise between the plaintiffs, the judge and INEC officials in Abakaliki. In the course of his judgment, Nganjiwa felt called upon to justify why he had to accept everything INEC said as gospel. He described the Commission as an unbiased Empire (sic), proclaiming that as the reason why he had no doubt in my mind to doubt whatever information(s) supplied by the (INEC) (sic).

When you end up with a court judgment that induces moral and jurisprudential indigestion on this scale, there is a word for it: you have been Nganjiwad.

Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a lawyer, teaches at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and can be reached through chidi.odinkalu@tufts.edu.

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Ukraine and Germany may sign security guarantees agreement this month. The draft document is almost ready.

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This statement was made by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna. This was reported by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

According to preliminary data, the signing of the agreement is scheduled for February 16. The intergovernmental agreement may be finalized and signed during the Munich Security Conference.

It is noted that the planned agreement is to become part of a network of bilateral security agreements designed to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression while the country is not a NATO member yet.

Stefanishyna noted that from a Ukrainian perspective, Germany's role as an ally, especially in the European Union, has recently changed "significantly" for the better. People "may not always be happy" with Berlin, but in the end, "Germany's role has become much stronger."

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In late January, it was reported that Ukraine and Germany may soon agree on security guarantees in line with the Group of Seven Framework Declaration adopted at the NATO Summit in July 2023. At the time, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz agreed to conclude negotiations on this issue in the near future.

Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
It is becoming increasingly dangerous to be poor. Dont believe the yarn that all men are equal. Is the man eking out a living on a tired patch of earth on the desert fringes of Katsina equal to his compatriot luxuriating in the cosy embrace of Abuja without a visible means of livelihood?

The law behaves like society, too. There is one law for the rich and another set for the poor. Nowhere is this more apparent than in contemporary Nigeria where people are being made to feel that it is a crime to be poor. If being poor is a crime, imagine what now happens to a poor man found committing an offence.

One can argue that there are poor people all over the world and that no human society has yet succeeded in getting rid of relative poverty among its populace. But what would be the justification for having different scales for measuring the same infractions from the rich as against the poor?

Poor Mans Burden

Look at the case of 30-year-old Citizen Mande Zaki of Kuta, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, who was recently sentenced to a two-year jail term for stealing a tuber of yam. He was, in addition, ordered to pay a fine of N1,000 for trespass. Zaki had spent some time in prison awaiting trial. It seemed luck was finally on his side when the Niger State Chief Judge, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik embarked on a prison decongestion visit to correctional centres in the state.

When asked if he actually stole the yam, he confessed that hunger had driven him to do it: It is true that I stole a tuber of yam because I was very hungry. I was in search of my goat and I entered the farm. This is the first time I am getting involved in this kind of problem. I have never stolen anything before. I was hungry and this pushed me to steal the yam, please have mercy on me.

The mercy that the law would have on him was a sentence of two years in the slammer. On the instruction of the chief judge, the chief magistrate summarily tried and convicted him.

In a society where all men are supposedly equal before the law, it is difficult to reconcile the fate of Citizen Zaki with that of his fellow countryman, John Yakubu Yusuf, a former assistant director in the federal civil service, who was tried on a 20-count charge alongside his Permanent Secretary, Atiku Abubakar Kigo; a director, Ahmed Inuwa Wada; a cashier, Veronica Onyegbula; and an ICT officer, Sani Habila Zira.

Mr Yusuf had pleaded guilty to counts 19 and 20 involving betrayal of trust and the conversion of N1 billion on each count, to personal use. In a country where a man could be sentenced to jail for two years on account of stealing a tuber of yam, the maximum penalty for the offence of stealing N2 billion pensioners funds is two years!

After the theatrics of appearing stern, the judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Gudu, Abubakar Talba, pronounced the two-year jail sentence with a N250,000 option of fine. The convict is to forfeit a property valued at N325 million traced to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

One Country, Two Laws

So, there you have it: One Nigerian goes to jail for two years for stealing a tuber of yam while another convicted of stealing N2 billion pays a fine of N250,000, forfeits a property of N325 million and goes home a free man to enjoy the rest of his loot. Most Nigerians cant wrap their heads around such one-handed notion of justice where everything is loaded against the poor.

It cant be a coincidence that the elite of the society constitute the legislature at every level of governance. So, they make laws that favour the rich or the politically connected. In addition, it is increasingly becoming obvious that many of the judges currently in service are spouses, children or close relatives of politically exposed persons. Between these two, the eminent thief is assured of soft landing whenever the law decides to use him as a token sacrifice to assure the public that a slap on the rich mans wrist is the very equivalent of justice.

The morale? Before you decide to steal, ensure that the sum is big enough to enable you hire a senior advocate, grease the judicial path and still have enough to live happily ever after. The gallows and swords of amputation are reserved for petty thieves. Remember the case of Bello Buba Jangebe of Sharia-compliant Zamfara State whose hand was amputated in 2000 for stealing a cow?

It is as if we are a society of one day, one trouble. When there seems to be no trouble, or when everywhere seems at peace, some demons are activated to rouse us from our complacent reverie. Kidnapping for ransom was becoming so commonplace that it wasnt really making the front pages again unless some touch of bestiality or savagery is involved. Then we are all roused. Dr Tai Solarin warned us decades ago that we must always decry and rise against every crime and that every death mattered. According to him, one of the worst things that could happen to the society was unshockability  when frequency of occurrence numbs your sensibility.

Beyond Shock

So, kidnappers roused us from our sleep with the recent killing of Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar to force the family to pay ransom. Then news came from Ekiti State that kidnappers had killed two traditional rulers in a failed kidnap attempt. The Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin, and the Onimojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olushola, were killed by the gunmen while the Alara of Ara-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, escaped. It has since been revealed that Oba Olatunde Olusola of Imojo-Ekiti was on track to becoming a professor within a year before his untimely death.

And perchance we still were not bestirred enough by the sacrilege of spilling royal blood in such gruesome circumstances, another band of kidnappers on the same day abducted five school children of Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, Emure Ekiti, from their school bus together with some staff of the school.

The principal of the school related how the bandits were playing psychological games with the family of the hostages: The kidnappers have started to maltreat the abductees  They called the parents of the pupils who were abducted and the husband of one of the women. We were told that during their calls, they heard how they were flogging the children and the way they were crying to call the attention of the parents

Imagine torturing children to force their parents to find, by whatever means, millions of Naira to satiate the satanic lust for money by common criminals!

And in neighbouring Kwara State, the police command confirmed the gruesome killing of a traditional ruler in the state, Oba Peter Aremu, the Onikoro of Koro-Ekiti in Ekiti Local Government Area. The police disclosed that, The gunmen invaded the residence of the traditional ruler in the evening and killed him and went away with his wife.

It seems that criminals are finally levelling the field of victimhood. No matter the status, tribe, age, and gender of the abductee, we are all potential hostages under enforced equality and foreboding hopelessness in this vast forest of a thousand demons.

Until we establish state and local government constabulary to augment this unitary police force pretending to be on top of the security situation, it is clear that this will not be the last report on the scourge of kidnappings ravaging the 36 states of Nigeria. The choice is ours.

Wole Olaoye is a Public Relations consultant and veteran journalist. He can be reached on wole.olaoye@gmail.com, Twitter: @wole_olaoye; Instagram: woleola2021

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The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has restated its commitment to accelerated approval of requests and documents submitted to it by operating oil and gas companies. The goal is to ensure speedy development of oil and gas projects and contribute to increased oil production and improved national economy.

The Executive Secretary NCDMB, Mr Felix Omatsola Ogbe gave the assurance on Friday at the Nigerian Content Tower, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State when he received senior officials from Chevron Nigeria Limited led by the Deputy Managing Director, Mr Cosmas Iwueze.

The Executive Secretary conveyed the Boards willingness to improve on the timelines set by the Service Level Agreement (SLA) instituted by the Board, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC Ltd) and international oil companies for shortening the contracting cycle for oil and gas projects.

He reiterated his proposal for the setting up of technical working groups (TWGs) between the representatives of the NCDMB and respective international oil firms. The working groups could meet monthly or quarterly to evaluate the companies expectations from the NCDMB on their projects. The intent, he explained is to resolve contentious issues, close all the gaps and come to an agreement before the official correspondences are received. That will ensure quick turn-around and approvals will be dealt with quickly and that will help to cut downtime.

Emphasising the need for all oil and gas companies to comply with the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, the Executive Secretary promised that the Board will accede to cogent urgent requests from companies to avoid delays that could cause costs overruns, impact negatively on oil and gas operations and the economy at large.

He encouraged the companies to see NCDMB as partners in progress, adding: we want to create the enabling environment that will minimize conflicts with international oil companies (IOCs) and attract investments into the sector. We want to create employment opportunities for our youths and help achieve the economic objectives of President Bola Tinubu. We want to make international oil companies comfortable and reverse the exit of foreign investors because they create jobs, and we need all hands on deck.

Ogbe revealed that he had a long and successful career with Chevron Nigeria and remarked that the hallmark of the company is teamwork. He noted that NCDMB operates with the same core value, hence the Board is determined to support oil companies to accomplish their operational goals. We have to make sure that you succeed otherwise we will not be successful, he added.

The Executive Secretary confirmed that NCDMB under his watch will not emphasise the use of sanctions, rather will seek to dialogue with companies to achieve win-win situations. We will be flexible regarding your requests, but we all need to have open minds and look at the critical paths that will ensure that we make progress and produce effectively, he said.

Contributing, the Director, Planning Research and Statistics, NCDMB, Mr Isaac Yalah, commended Chevron Nigeria for supporting the Boards development of the Nigerian Content Research Centre of Excellence at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), in Ondo State. He affirmed that the Board will continue to collaborate with Chevron on other projects and would address any issues relating to requests for expatriate quota approvals.

Responding, the Deputy Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria, Mr Iwunze commended the Executive Secretary for adopting the mantra of collaboration and pushing to increase crude oil production in Nigeria. He highlighted the importance of producing crude oil at competitive costs, noting that the primary aspiration of oil companies and the Federal Government is to ramp up Nigerias crude oil production volumes and shore up the revenue accruing to the national coffers.

The Deputy Managing Director emphasised the need to incentivise investments in the oil and gas sector. He explained that international oil and gas companies in Nigeria compete for capital with their sister operations in other oil producing nations. He said: The capital we need for big oil and gas investments is domiciled with global investors. We need to always present Nigeria as an investor friendly destination where people can come and do business.

He also confirmed that the company was working on some major projects, relating to deepwater and Escravos gas-to liquids (EGTL) and he looked forward to receiving the Boards support and collaboration when the projects come for consideration and approvals.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Rabiu Garba-Kamba as the winner of the rerun election for Dandi/Arewa Federal Constituency in Kebbi, held on Saturday.

The Returning Officer, Aliyu Abdullahi-Turaki, made the declaration in Kamba, Dandi Local Government Area, on Sunday.

He said Garba-Kamba of the All Progressive Congress (APC) polled 32,432 votes to defeat his closest rival, Abdullahi Umar-Kamba of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 31,858 votes.

READ ALSO:

I, Prof. Aliyu Abdullahi-Turaki, hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer of the 2024 Dandi/Arewa Federal Constituency rerun election held on the 3rd of February 2024.

The election was contested and Rabiu Garba-Kamba of APC having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected, he said.

(NAN)

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Mushin Ibrahim, a 14 year-old-boy, lost his life when a J5 Peugeot bus being chased by officials of the Nigerian Customs Service in Jibia rammed into bystanders on Saturday.

Witnesses told PREMIUM TIMES that the bus was being chased by officials of the Federal Operating Unit, Zone B of the Nigeria Customs Service when it crushed the boy around 11 a.m. in Jibia town.

The accident occurred around Tudun Wada Primary School, Tashar Huraira in the town.

We were sitting in front of Mai Masara filling station when the accident occurred. The J5 driver was at high speed trying to run away from the customs officials when he lost control of the steering wheel and ran into a crowd but only the boy got crushed, an eyewitness, who gave his name as Buhari, told PREMIUM TIMES. We were lucky too. Other people were lucky to escape.

He said the customs van reversed and drove back to their checkpoint after the accident.

Jibia is on the Nigerian border with Niger Republic and many of its residents engage in cross-border trades.

Though Nigerias border with Niger Republic has been shut down following the military coup against President Mohamed Bazoum last July, smugglers continue to bring in goods, including contraband into the country through unofficial routes.

I was on the farm around 11 a.m. when my nephew rushed to inform me of the incident, Ibrahim Musa, the teenagers father told PREMIUM TIMES over the phone. When I reached the scene, he was already dead. His body was severely damaged by the vehicle.

Mr Musa, a peasant farmer, said onlookers and other family members took the corpse to the Divisional Police Office in Jibia from where they were referred to the hospital where the boy was confirmed dead.

The DPO asked us to make a statement and handed the dead body to us. He asked us to go and bury it since they had already taken our statement. I want the government to do justice to us, the Customs officials caused this because they were chasing a vehicle in a populated place like Jibia.

He said appropriate sanctions must be taken to serve as a deterrent.

The Chairman of the Jibia Peoples Forum, Gide Dahiru, said the driver of the J5 informed them that the soybeans in his vehicle were brought from Batsari and not the Niger Republic.

The situation in Jibia is becoming confusing because we dont know what the customs officials are supposed to stop. Even if you bring in goods from Katsina or Kano, they stop and ask you for a bribe. If you refuse to give them they will seize the goods and say its contrabands, he lamented.

Jibia and other border towns in the state are no strangers to accidents involving Nigeria Customs Service officials.

In August 2021, six people were killed and several others injured when a customs official vehicle rammed into onlookers while chasing rice smugglers.

The Federal Operations Unit Zone B Kaduna spokesperson, Isa Sulaiman, said the accident was not caused by Customs officials.

I am aware that we have a team along the Jibiya Border that is within a 40km radius. The officials of the NCS didnt cause the incident you are referring to as alleged; it was caused by the reckless driving of the driver of that J5 bus you are referring to. But some unscrupulous elements are hell-bent on twisting the narration, he said in an SMS sent to this reporter.

Mr Sulaiman said Smugglers are unhappy with our resolve to ensure that illicit items do not find their way into the country but the service would continue to enforce the directives of the federal government despite efforts to smear its name.

We are a Service of repute and we sympathise with the families of the victims and an investigation is ongoing to unravel the cause of the incident in collaboration with relevant agencies. Whoever is found guilty will face the consequences of his actions, he said.

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Leaders Mark Historic Milestone as LanzaJet Launches Next-Gen SAF Technology

SOPERTON, Ga., Feb. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LanzaJet, a leading sustainable fuels technology company and sustainable fuels producer, joined government officials, industry leaders, partners, and supporters to open LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels, the world's first ethanol to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility on January 24, 2024.

LanzaJet's ethanol-based technology is the world's first next-generation SAF technology capable of scaling production to the levels needed to decarbonize aviation.

LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels From left: U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk, LanzaTech CEO and LanzaJet Board Chair Jennifer Holmgren, LanzaJet CEO Jimmy Samartzis, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack

Located in Georgia, USA, LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels will produce 10 million gallons of SAF and renewable diesel per year from low carbon and certified ethanol, meeting U.S. and global standards. LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels serves as a blueprint for utilizing first-of-its-kind innovation to scale SAF production and enables LanzaJet's aspiration for 1 billion gallons of SAF production by 2030.

"This historic milestone is testament to the conviction required by industry, government, and funders to advance innovation and stretch the boundaries of what is achievable to tackle climate change," said LanzaJet CEO Jimmy Samartzis. "Between feedstock versatility, efficiency, and economics that enable scale globally, we stand ready to meet aviation's decarbonization goals."

LanzaJet was joined at the event by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk, climate leaders, industry executives, and state and local officials in Georgia.

"The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to harnessing the full potential of SAF as we continue to build a strong economy that is sustainable, resilient, competitive, and keeps rural places thriving," said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "LanzaJet's facility will help accelerate the SAF industry and provide new economic opportunities for producers for a more sustainable future."

The opening of Freedom Pines Fuels also featured LanzaJet shareholders British Airways, LanzaTech, Mitsui & Co, Shell, and Suncor Energy and funders such as Microsoft's Climate Innovation Fund, Breakthrough Energy, and All Nippon Airways (ANA).

ABOUT LANZAJET

LanzaJet is a leading sustainable fuels technology company dedicated to accelerating the clean energy transition. As a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) technology provider and producer with patented ethanol-based alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) technology, LanzaJet is creating an opportunity for future generations by accelerating the deployment of SAF and other clean technologies critical to addressing the climate crisis and transforming the global economy. Further information is available at https://www.lanzajet.com/

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2333501/LanzaJet_Freedom_Pines_Fuels.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2333502/LanzaJet_JimmyTurkJenniferVilsack.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2326089/LANZAJET_LOGO_RED_Logo_Logo.jpg
QUZHOU, China, Feb. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from China.org.cn:

Miaoyuan village in Quzhou city, Zhejiang province, held a ritual ceremony on Sunday to mark the arrival of spring based on the traditional Chinese calendar.

Children stand on either side of the temple's doorstep in a ritual to mark the beginning of spring in Miaoyuan village, Zhejiang province, on Feb. 4, 2024. [Photo/China.org.cn]

The ceremony marked Lichun, the first of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar. Lichun signifies the beginning of spring and a new year for farmers.

The ceremony started at 9 a.m. at a local temple where participants offered flower baskets and sacrificial offerings to the God of Spring of ancient China. They prayed for a bumper harvest and prosperity in the year ahead.

One of the highlights of the ceremony was the Whip the Spring Ox ritual. An elder villager led an ox-pulled plow to till the field, while a child whipped the ox and sang a folk song.

The village also held other activities, such as hosting an open-air market, a food exhibition with spring-themed food dishes (such as spring cakes, spring rolls, and spring pancakes), and an exhibition of photos, paintings, and poems.

Village in eastern China celebrates spring with ancient rituals

http://www.china.org.cn/china/2024-02/04/content_116985769.htm

SOURCE China SCIO
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
4 IS militants killed in airstrike in Iraq. Image Source: IANS News

Sanaa, Feb 4 : Houthi camps in Yemen's capital Sanaa have been reportedly hit by airstrikes.

The airstrikes on Saturday night hit camps around Sanaa, and the sound of many fighter jets could be heard in downtown Sanaa, Xinhua news agency reported, citing local residents.

The explosions occurred in the northern and southern mountains surrounding the capital, added the residents.

Meanwhile, the Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said "US-British aggression" launched airstrikes on targets in the capital city on Saturday night.

The US-British maritime coalition did not comment on the strikes. However, US media quoted unnamed military officials who said the US army hit over 30 Houthis on Saturday in various locations in Yemen, including the capital Sanaa.

The officials claimed the airstrikes were part of the response to the drone attack that killed three US soldiers in Jordan last week.
The European Union has admitted its inability to supply Ukraine with one million rounds of ammunition by March 2024. Against the backdrop of the failure to deliver the promised supplies, the possibility of purchasing shells is increasingly being discussed.

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However, this seemingly simple solution is facing serious obstacles in practice, which are largely political in nature. The problem was explained by the Defense Express military portal.

The portal's analysts mentioned the Czech Republic's unofficial offer to purchase a batch of 450,000 shells in addition to the 524,000 produced as part of the promised million of ammunition that the EU will be able to transfer by March. This proposal was reported by Politico, citing information from its own sources.

"In particular, South Korea, South Africa and Turkey have already been named as sources of ammunition. Regarding the production capabilities of the latter, a separate publication is devoted to the possibilities of Turkey's assistance. But it is also possible to add to it the existing stocks, which are designed for more than a thousand 155-mm artillery systems in the Turkish army," Defense Express notes.

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However, experts emphasize that not all of these sources are realistic.

There is no doubt about the ability to supply ammunition in the case of South Korea. This country can supply shells both from its own stockpiles and from production. Proof of this can be seen, for example, in Seoul's agreement to organize "circular supplies" of hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition to replace US stocks while the United States was strengthening the Ukrainian army.

The main producer of artillery ammunition in South Africa is Denel Munition, a company owned by German Rheinmetall. So, hypothetically, South Africa could transfer the ammunition it has in its warehouses. Analysts do not estimate how many, noting that while in the early 1990s this country had about a hundred 155 mm artillery systems in service, it currently has only eight working units.

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However, the realism of supplying Ukraine with ammunition is also significantly affected by the political component. For example, South Korea needs to revise its current policy in order to send its shells to Ukraine through the European Union.

Similarly, Turkey also needs political decisions on the transfer of shells from its own stockpiles. Ankara has no objection to selling shells to Ukraine under commercial contracts, but the transfer of its own stockpiles is a completely different matter.

The situation is similar in the case of South Africa.

"And the issue of availability, capabilities and political will in the supplying countries is also superimposed by a political decision within the European Union. For example, France agreed to a plan to produce ammunition for Ukraine on the condition that it be produced in Europe. That is, the money had to be invested in its own European production capabilities. That is why, due to such a multilayered nature of the seemingly simple "take and buy" problem, the question arises as to the realism of its solution," Defense Express experts summarized.

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Earlier today, the European Union announced a large-scale supply of shells for Ukraine in February. The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said that the EU could supply 524,000 shells out of the promised one million, which is 52% of the planned amount. These shells can be delivered by early March.
Imphal, Feb 4 : Champu Khangpok -- the floating village on Manipur's internationally famed Loktak Lake -- and classified as a wetland of international significance by the Ramsar Convention has always taken a center stage in the Manipuri society.

The village assumes significance in preserving age-old traditions associated with Loktak Lake.

Champu Khangpok village in Loktak Lake is said to be the only natural floating village on earth with 500 huts and home to around 2,000 people.

The village is one of the floating biomasses called 'phumdis' in the middle of the Loktak Lake.

Its unique cultural and ecological importance came into focus during the World Wetland Day observation on Friday, emphasising the need for collective efforts to ensure its sustainable future.

The Loktak Development Authority (LDA) and the fishing community commemorated World Wetlands Day on the theme 'Wetlands and Human Wellbeings', underscoring the critical role wetlands play in enhancing human lives.

LDA Chairman M. Asnikumar Singh, a local of the lake area, along with renowned bamboo expert Kamesh Salam and state government officials, stressed on the collective commitment to preserve the Loktak Lake.

Famous for its floating islands and picturesque landscape, Loktak Lake in Manipur's Bishnupur District is one of the largest freshwater bodies in northeast India.

Solar lamps, water filters, generator set, and a fiber canoe were recently distributed among the villagers generously funded by the Minorities and Other Backward Class Department.

This initiative, tailored for Champu Khangpok, aimed to enhance the community's living conditions and promote sustainable practices in the heart of Loktak.

Acknowledging Champu Khangpok's deep roots in history, LDA Chairman M. Asnikumar Singh said: "The cultural and ecological importance of this floating village is crucial for Loktak's sustainable future, making collective efforts imperative."

The LDA director pledged support for the construction of a special floating school for Champu Khangpok, with funding allocated by the government of India through the state education department.

Plans also include the installation of Bio-digester toilets for each khangpok shang (hut), contributing to improved sanitation facilities tailored for the unique lifestyle of Champu Khangpok.

LDA Chairman reiterated his appeal directly to the fishing community, urging responsible practices and a halt to illegal fishing and hunting of water birds in Loktak Lake, particularly through the use of electric current and lights.

This call aligns with ongoing efforts to protect the diverse ecosystem of the lake and uphold the sustainable practices championed by Champu Khangpok.

As Loktak Lake faces an imminent threat of extinction with its natural life cycle disrupted by the Ithai barrage, the hydroelectric project, Champu, with its population of around two thousand settling on 500 circular floating huts comprising the village, is central to the collective commitment towards sustainable development, conservation, and the overall well-being of Loktak Lake and its associated wetlands.

This year's theme on the occasion of the World Wetlands Day was 'Wetlands and Human Wellbeing' highlights how wetlands contribute to flood protection, clean water, biodiversity, and recreational opportunities, all of which are essential for human health and prosperity.

The Loktak Lake covering an area of 287 sq km is considered the lifeline of the people of Manipur due to its importance in their socio-economic and cultural life.

The lake is oval-shaped with a maximum length and width of 32 km and 13 km respectively. The depth of the lake varies between 0.5 and 4.6 meters with an average recorded at 2.7 meter.

There are 14 hills located in the Lake varying in size and elevation and appear as islands in the southern part of the lake. The most prominent among these are Sendra, Ithing, and Thanga islands.

Three of northeast India's most important ecosystems - Rudrasagar Lake in Tripura, Deepor Beel in Assam and Loktak Lake in Manipur are categorised as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

Held in February 1971 at Ramsar in Iran, the Ramsar Convention provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and their resources.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in)
Kolkata, Feb 4 : As the West Bengal Minister of State for Finance (Independent charge), Chandrima Bhattacharya, is all set to present the state budget for the financial year 2024-25 this week, economists and the people of the state are caught between expectations of a welfare budget and apprehensions over revenue generation.

The Assembly's Budget Session is scheduled to start from February 5 and the state Budget will be presented on February 8. There will be discussions on the state budget on February 9 and 10.

At a recent public meeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had hinted at additional doles and welfare schemes for the people in the state budget.

She said while the Interim Budget of the Union Government has limited scope for announcing welfare schemes because of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, there are no such bindings in the state budget.

So, going by those indications, there are expectations of higher subsidies and grants under the existing welfare schemes and hopes for new ones, especially for the underprivileged in the state.

Economists wonder whether the Government will be able to strike a balance between welfarism and revenue generation.

They are also deliberating whether the state budget will make provisions to ease West Bengal's huge debt burden.

West Bengal's accumulated debt, as per the state government's budget papers for 2024-25, is slated to rise to Rs 6,47,825.52 crore by March 31, 2024, a ten per cent rise over the figure of Rs 5,86,124.63 crore as on March 31, 2023.

What is equally alarming is that the state's per capita debt for the same period is slated to rise to Rs 59,000.

Both, the projected accumulated debt and per capita debt figures are extremely high compared to the corresponding figures as on March 31, 2011, which was the last year of the 34-year Left Front rule in West Bengal. As on March 31, 2011, the accumulated debt figure was Rs 1,97,000 crore and the per capita debt figure was just Rs 20,300.

Economists project a higher accumulated debt figure in the budget estimates for 2024-25. They also fear that unless urgent fiscal measures are adopted to arrest this upward trend, the state will slowly inch towards a debt trap situation, which is a point where the state has to go for fresh borrowings just to service older debts. That situation comes when the debt to Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) ratio reaches 50 per cent.

A scrutiny of the budget documents of the last 10 fiscals reveals that the two factors that fuelled this accumulated debt were rising non-Plan expenditure and the lack of adequate avenues for improving the generation of the state's tax revenue which is purely excise dominated.

During the financial year 2023-24, while the projected growth in the state's revenue generation was just 12.69 per cent, the same for state excise collection was 19.41 per cent.

Another worrisome trend is the state government's increasing focus on recurring expenditure rather than on capital expenditure.

Industry observer and Professor of Economics, Santanu Basu, says that the only way to arrest the looming financial disaster is to attract big ticket investment by revising the land and special economic zone policies.

"In a state like West Bengal with extremely fragmented land holdings, the state government has to have some role in land procurement for the industry. Industrialists will not be willing to invest in the state if they have to approach all the land owners to get the land for setting up industry here," Basu added.
By dismantling PTI, Pak army has made it clear no one messes with it. Image Source: IANS News

Islamabad, Feb 4 : In Pakistan, the political discourse has been heavily influenced by the powerful military establishment, which has maintained its control over the country through direct and indirect takeovers.

This makes it the most critical quarter for the leadership of any political party to seek consent from in order to gain power. And the forthcoming polls on February 8 are no different.

What was talked about in whispers earlier, was confirmed in November 2022 when then army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa conceded that Pakistan's military had interfered in politics for decades and promised that the institution would keep itself away from the democratic functioning of the country.

That promise seems to have been forgotten in a few months as the military establishment under the leadership of the current army chief General Syed Asim Munir, seems to have gained more control over the process.

The May 9, 2023 riots by former premier Imran Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have resulted in a complete dismantling of the PTI as its top leadership either got arrested or was allegedly forced to announce the parting of ways.

Thousands of PTI supporters remain in custody while its leader Imran Khan faces at least 10 years' imprisonment in the cipher leak case and 14 years in the Toshakhana case.

Observers say that the way PTI has been treated and dismantled clearly indicates that Imran Khan is no more in the good books of the military establishment, despite being the most popular leader of Pakistan.

"The ouster of PTI and Imran Khan from elections has raised serious concerns regarding the fairness of the polls, with the party denied its symbol, Khan in jail, its other leaders in hiding or behind bars.

"The censorship imposed by the military, especially on reporting about Imran Khan and PTI, coupled with the subdued atmosphere, doesn't reflect an election campaign season," said senior journalist Abid Hussain.

While there is uncertainty on the political discourse and outcomes, the signals from the military establishment seem clear.

"The military believes it is central to Pakistan's existence and remains the most dominant institution of the state with influence across the non-military spheres, thanks in large part to its years of direct rule", said Badar Alam, a journalist.

In the current scenario, where polls are to be held on February 8, the military establishment seems to have given the go ahead for conducting them on schedule.

One reason behind this is that the army has now taken the responsibility of getting Pakistan out of the current economic crisis it is in; reaching out to friendly neighbouring countries and global lenders with guarantees on their own behalf.

General Munir established a special forum called the SIFC (Special Investment Facilitation Council) with an aim to attract at least $100bn in investments from other countries, assuring them of smooth sailing in the process through the SIFC.

It is also believed that the military establishment is the more reliable guarantee authority for the IMF, China and other countries than any ruling political force in Pakistan.

"The prime reason that elections would be held on time is because the army has said it, and because the IMF wants to see the political transition process and talk with an elected government with a five-year tenure for a long-term financial plan," said political analyst Javed Siddique.

Despite the serious challenges of security and terrorism, the army has given a positive signal for the elections, a nod pivotal and vital for any major decision the country takes for its future.
New Delhi: The turn of events involving Iran's cross-border missile attack on January 16 on the camps of Jaish-al Adl, a Sunni extremist organisation working out of Baluchistan demanding an independent Baluch nation and a retaliatory action of the same kind carried out by Pakistan on January 18 in the adjoining area of Iran - on the ground that supporters of the Salafi outfit operated from Iran as well - have more than anything else, unravelled the rapidly rising militancy attributable to the growth of extremism in the Muslim world on one hand and the inevitable outbreak of sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shiites resulting from it, on the other.

This has to be seen in the historical background of the basic divide within the faith that was traceable to the Kharijite revolt against Ali, the fourth Caliph - Kharijites were the precursors of Sunnism and their criticism of Caliph Ali was that the latter had started following his own Sharia practices in violation of Quran and the Hadis. What Sunnis found totally unacceptable was that Ali claimed to be the Imam of Muslims who had inherited adivine powera too in addition to the temporal authority of the Caliph - this was in the eyes of the Kharijites the biggest aShirka that atruea Muslims could imagine. Those who stood by Ali were called Shiites.

It is not a surprise that aradicalisationa pushed extremism further in the direction of advocacy of a return to athe golden perioda of Islam as it existed in its first fifty years with rigorous compliance with the fundamentals of the religion and even called for Jehad to restore the apolitical glory of Islama. This has rekindled the hatred for Shiites - who were looked at by Sunni extremists as the adeviantsa of the faith.

In Islam, there is no distinction between religion and politics and it is therefore not difficult to understand that the recent political developments in the Middle East are impelled substantially by dictates of faith.

Sunni extremists, particularly the Islamic radicals, have been targeting Shiites in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Syria - further destabilising the entire West Asia region that had already been in the midst of an ongoing conflict between the US-led West and the radical Islamic outfits like Taliban, Al Qaeda, Tehrik-e- Taliban Pakistan and Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) - not to forget West Africaas Boko Haram.

In the US-led awar on terrora that followed 9/11, the first target of Americans was Afghanistan and then Iraq was attacked in 2003.

The first ultimately resulted in the expansion of Taliban and Al Qaeda while the attack on Iraq contributed to the emergence of ISIS and its competitive rise in the Iraq-Syria region. ISIS earned notoriety for its determined attacks on Shiites who commanded a good hold in the region.

In Pakistan, meanwhile, the ISI had lost no time in reaching out to the radical outfits on the quiet and manoeuvring them in order to get them to join in the cross-border terror offensive against India in Kashmir and elsewhere.

Pakistan knew it well that Islamic radicals looked upon the US as their first enemy - because of the historical legacy of the anti-British Wahhabi revolt of the 19th century - but in all likelihood, it drew strength from the fact that the US had given full credit to Pakistan for the success of the anti-Soviet armed campaign in Afghanistan and would therefore not mind Pak links with the radical outfits so long as this did not harm American interests. The US had also raised no opposition to the India-specific terror outfits like Hizbul Mujahideen(HuM), Saudi-funded Lashkare Toiba (LeT) and Jaishe Mohammad (JeM) - all fostered and controlled by Pak ISI.

In the context of Iran-Pakistan relations, it is a fact that Iran accused Pak ISI as well as Saudi Arabia of supporting Jaish al Adlas terror attacks on Iranas security forces for their own vested political interests.

As India is fully aware of Pakistan using terror outfits as instruments of state policy, its response of aloofness towards the Iran-Pakistan conflict was rightly based on an understanding that a country like Iran had to adefenda itself against any terror attack from across its borders.

Crosscurrents within the Islamic world are affecting the entire geopolitics of the present times. They feature the rise of radical Islam in the Muslim world, political alignments enjoyed by the US there, the resurgence of the sectarian divide between Sunnis and Shiites, the Chinese interactions with Islamic countries and the impact of the developing new Cold War between the US and China on the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).

The US-led awar on terrora resulted in the Taliban and Al-Qaeda carving out the Pak-Afghan belt as their home ground and ISIS doing the same in the Iraq-Syria region. There was a competitive militancy between the two with ISIS getting known more for its determined attacks on Shiites in general and the Alawite regimes in Syria and Iraq in particular - the Alawite sect being an offshoot of Shiism.

Sunni radicals and fundamentalist Shiites like the Ayatollahs of Iran are totally inimical to each other but both are ideologically hostile to the US-led West as well and therefore prone to drifting towards China politically.

In the wake of the Iranian revolution, Iran severed all diplomatic and commercial relations with Israel reversing the situation that existed in the earlier pro-West Pahalavi regime.

Israel-Hamas conflict, sparked off by the terrorist attack of Hamas on Israel on October 7, has further queered the pitch for divisions in West Asia. Iran funded Hezbollah of Lebanon and supported Houthis of Yemen - both joining on the Hamas side in this conflict possibly because Israel was completely identified with the US and also because there was a history of Israelas support for Baluchistan-based Zundallah that was known to be indulging in covert attacks on Iran-Jaish al Adl is Zundullahas successor.

Further, Iran supports the Syrian government while Israel is backing the opposition in Syria. In Yemen also, Israel supports the Saudi-led coalition fighting the rebel Houthis.

The drone attack said to have been launched by Shiite militants from Syria on Jordon-based US troops on January 28, resulting in the death of three American soldiers and injuries to many others, would further draw in the US in the Israel-Hamas conflict and particularly intensify the Iran-US confrontation because of the involvement of Iran-sponsored Shiite outfits in favour of Hamas.

A nuclear Israel and Iran with its aenrichmenta programme and the potential for going nuclear, are the two major players in West Asia and the discord between them affects the geopolitical scene in the region and beyond - particularly in a situation where the rival influences of the US and China were beginning to create a new Cold War on the horizon.

Indo-Pak relations have an important bearing on the geopolitics revolving around the Muslim world and even on the developments taking place elsewhere.

Pakistan, though in acute economic difficulty, has politically managed to gain from the spread of aradicalisationa in the Muslim world and the consequent rise of anti-US voices there - Pakistan knows that this leaves it as a key country besides Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrein to be considered an ally by the Americans notwithstanding its dubious role in reinstalling the Taliban Emirate in Kabul in 2021 and providing shelter to radical outfits that regarded the US as their first adversary.

Pakistan, however, has also dextrously developed a strategic partnership with China for political and financial support and also for countering the influence of India - which was a growing world power enjoying a very close friendship with the US.

Pakistan presently distrusts Iran as the latter was under the sway of Shiite fundamentalists but would not like to precipitate a conflict with it - the reconciliatory stand taken by Pakistan after its half-hearted aretaliationa of the Iranian air attack on Jaish al Adl bases in Baluchistan, seemed to suggest that.

Pakistan is also quiet on the conflict between Israel and the radicalised Hamas as it would like to be on the right side of the US on this issue.

Islamic radicals are against the closest of the allies of the US in the Muslim world - Saudi Arabia and UAE - who were in turn, inclined, because of the American initiative, to reach an understanding with Israel for dealing with the radicalised forces.

China on its part has used Pakistan to reach an adjustment with Taliban in Afghanistan on one hand and has advised Iran and Pakistan not to precipitate a crisis on Jaish al Adl matter, on the other. In a sense, it is the US-China rivalry that was playing out in West Asia too.

India is playing its cards on the developments in the Islamic world with a deep understanding of what lies behind them. The Pak-Afghan belt remains a prime source of the threat of faith-based terror for India and the Sino-Pak axis adds to that.

Pakistan is cleverly trying to be with countries like Turkey and Malaysia which chose not to condemn the radical forces just because the latter were against the US and is at the same time keeping up its traditional friendship with Saudi Arabia - a country that chaired the OIC and remained in firm alliance with the US.

India is rightly following the line that its deep friendship with Saudi Arabia and UAE should continue without necessarily opposing Iran, that the threat of terrorism emanating from Wahhabi Islamic radicals including the radicalised Hamas must be denounced and that in the US-China conflict at the global level, India will remain with the US to enable the two largest democracies to uphold the democratic order against Marxist and fundamentalist dictatorships coming together in the form of Sino-Pak axis.

India housing the second largest Muslim population in the world, will overcome the machinations of Pakistan by creating an arch of friendship in the Islamic world from Saudi Arabia and Egypt to Bangladesh and playing its rightful role as a rising world power.

On the Palestinian issue, the leadership of the Muslim minority in India was not condemning the terror attack of Hamas on Israel and only finding fault with the Israeli retaliation. The credentials of India as an emerging global counsel on issues of war and peace have however, been strengthened by Prime Minister Narendra Modias principled stand on both the Ukraine-Russia military confrontation and the Israel- Hamas conflict.

India had called for the halting of military confrontation between Ukraine and Russia and on the Israel-Hamas conflict, supported the Egypt-sponsored resolution in UNGA calling for an immediate ceasefire and unconditional release of all hostages - the Indian representative acknowledging the enormous humanitarian crisis and a large-scale loss of civilian lives in Gaza and reiterating Indiaas support for a two-state solution in Palestine.

(The writer is a former Director of the Intelligence Bureau. Views are personal)
Patna, Feb 4 : RJD boss and Bihar's former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav may be hugely popular in his state, but he carries the indelible taint of corruption that continues to be his biggest political liability.

As probe agencies step up the heat on him and members of his family in the IRCTC land-for-jobs cases, and challenge his bail in the fodder scam, which earned him the tag of 'chara chor' ever since it was unearthed in 1996, an ailing and aging Lalu Prasad finds himself at a loss on two counts -- his party is no longer a part of the ruling coalition in Bihar, and he's stuck inside a sputtering INDIA bloc of Opposition parties.

A lifelong opponent of the RSS-BJP brand of politics -- he was Bihar's Chief Minister when he got L.K. Advani, who's now in the news for his Bharat Ratna, placed under preventive detention to halt his Ram Rath Yatra in 1990 -- Lalu Prasad, his family and close aides are back in the firing line of probe agencies.

So much so that his son and political heir, and Bihar's just-deposed Deputy Chief Minister, Tejashwi Yadav, had once jokingly remarked that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) could open their local offices in his official residence.

Lalu Prasad, in fact, stands convicted in the fodder scam and faces a jail term of five years. He is now out on bail after spending 42 months behind bars.

So, how did the fodder scam erupt into the public domain and made Lalu Prasad so much synonymous with corruption that his party, despite being the single largest formation in the present Bihar Assembly, and enjoying the unstinted support of the Yadavs and Muslims in the state, has never been voted to power on its own since 2005.

The fodder scam was unearthed by Bindu Bhushan Dubey, a police inspector of special anti-corruption vigilance unit, in 1992.

Dubey had made detailed reports on the financial irregularities in the animal husbandry department of Bihar government in which a number of top officials were involved. At that time, the mafias involved with the animal husbandry department had threatened him with dire consequences and even lobbed a bomb on his house.

Dubey was transferred from the vigilance department as well.

On January 19, 1996, state finance secretary V.S. Dibey ordered the district magistrates of all the 54 districts of united Bihar to find out withdrawal of money in high amounts from the state government treasury.

On January 27, 1996, the district magistrate of Singhbhum district (now in Jharkhand) conducted a raid at the animal husbandry department in Chaibasa town and seized a number of documents, which indicated large-scale of embezzlement by the organised mafia of officials and business people.

As there was fear that the state police, which come under the home department, would not work in a transparent manner, the cases were transferred to CBI, which came under federal jurisdictions, on the direction of the Patna High Court in March 1996.

As the CBI investigation proceeded, it linked the massive financial irregularities with serving Chief Minister of Bihar, Lalu Prasad, on May 10, 1997.

The CBI approached the Governor to prosecute Lalu. On the same day, a businessman, Harish Khandelwal, was found dead on the railway tracks who left a suicide note levelling charges against the CBI for pressuring him to become witness in the case.

The CBI, however, rejected the allegation. The Income Tax department also blamed Lalu for the scam.

On June 17, 1997, then Governor A.R. Kidwai gave permission to the CBI to prosecute Lalu Prasad and others.

The CBI immediately arrested Mahesh Prasad, science and technology secretary in Bihar government, K. Arumugam, labour secretary, Beck Julius, secretary in the animal husbandry department, Phoolchand Singh, former finance secretary, and Ramraj Ram, former director of animal husbandry department, on the same day.

On June 23, 1997, CBI filed a charge sheet against Lalu Prasad and 55 others, including Chandradeo Prasad Verma, former Union minister, and Jagannath Mishra, former Chief Minister of Bihar.

After the name of Lalu Prasad appeared in the charge sheet, his political opponents applied pressure on him to handover power to others.

Lalu Prasad then broke the Janata Dal and formed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Later, he handed over the charge of Chief Minister to his wife Rabri Devi on July 28, 1997. Rabri Devi won the vote of confidence with the help of Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).

Lalu Prasad was first convicted by a special CBI court on October 3, 2013. The court of Pravas Kumar Singh announced the quantum of punishment of five years. Due to the conviction, Lalu Prasad lost the membership of Lok Sabha and was also banned from contesting elections for the next six years due to Supreme Court directives.

He was facing charges of corruption in four cases.

As per the CBI charge sheet, he was involved in Rs 139.5 crore illegal withdrawal from the Doranda treasury in Jharkhand.

In another case, his involvement was established in the Chaibasa treasury from which Rs 39 crore was withdrawn. He was first convicted in 2013 in this case.

Lalu Prasad was also convicted in the illegal withdrawal of Rs 3.13 crore from the Dumka treasury.

He was convicted in the illegal withdrawal of money to the tune of Rs 89 lakh from the Deoghar treasury as well in 2017.

On May 8, 2017, The Supreme Court ordered separate trials against Lalu Prasad in all four cases in an overall Rs 950 crore fodder scam. The top court also asked the agency to complete the trial in nine months.

IRCTC Scam

While the fodder scam was related only to Lalu Prasad, the IRCTC land-for-jobs cases impacted his entire family.

Many people feel the children of Lalu Prasad were not directly involved in the case. They may be the beneficiaries, but not the scamsters.

The IRCTC scam appeared between 2004 and 2009 when Lalu Prasad Yadav was Railway Minister in the UPA government.

During his tenure, two hotels were given on lease without following the norms. One of the hotels was allotted to Sarla Gupta, wife of Prem Gupta, a close friend of Lalu Prasad. He was also a Rajya Sabha MP at that time.

Besides Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav, Prem Gupta, Sarla Gupta, railway officials Rakesh Saksena and P.K. Goyal were also accused in this case.

The IRCTC land-for-jobs case is basically a scam where Lalu Prasad had allegedly misused his post and given jobs to people in fourth grade after registering their lands in the name of his family members. Many of them 'gifted' the lands to the Lalu family.

First Case

Sanjay Rai, a resident of Patna, had sold his 3,375 sq ft land to Rabri Devi for Rs 3.75 lakh. Rai and two other members of the family got jobs in Indian Railways.

Second Case

Hajari Rai had sold his 9,527 sq ft land to A.K. Infosystem Pvt Ltd, and Rabri Devi became the owner of the company in 2014. For this, Hajarias two nephews -- Dilchand Kumar and Premchand Kumar -- got jobs in the railways.

Third Case

Lal Babu Rai sold his 1,360 gudge land to Rabri Devi for Rs 13 lakh. His son Lalchand Kumar got a job in railways.

Fourth Case

Vishindev Rai sold his 3,375 sq ft land to Lalan Chaudhary who later gifted the same land to Hema Yadav, the daughter of Lalu Prasad. Pintu Kumar, Lalan Chaudhary's son, got the job in railways.

Impact on Family, Party

The impact of these two scams was felt immensely by the family members as well as his party. The fodder scam and the IRCTC cases have given a huge issue to the opposition parties to target him during elections.

These are scams which are raised in every election by the opposition parties to create a perception that Lalu Prasad is a convicted person and corruption will take place where he stays.

This is one of the reasons why the RJD, after 2005, has not come to power on its own strength in Bihar. The party of Lalu Prasad came to power only once in this period -- in 2015, when Lalu Prasad made an alliance with Nitish Kumar and formed the Mahagathbandhan.

Lalu Prasad has a sizable vote bank from his own caste Yadav while Muslims also favour him in the elections. People from backward and extremely backward castes also vote for RJD, but those are not good enough to win elections on its own or through old alliance partners like the Congress and the Left parties.

The RJD leaders always claimed that leaders like Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav are not carrying the baggage of corruption, but the background of Lalu Prasad hurt them.

Tejashwi Yadav, in the absence of his father, campaigned in the 2020 Assembly elections and almost reached the victory line.

These two scams were registered during the tenure of the Congress government and even Lalu Prasad was convicted in 2013 in the Chaibasa treasury case during the second tenure of the Manmohan Singh government.

Still, Lalu Prasad has not left the Congress as he needs one national party for the politics of the centre.

Lalu Prasad has also fought against the BJP and RSS his entire life and has not changed the ideology to go with the saffron colours. This is another reason why the alliance between the RJD and the Congress is strong here.
New Delhi, Feb 4 : Even as cancer incidence is continuing to increase in India, experts on World Cancer Day on Sunday suggested that if cancer is detected and diagnosed at an initial stage, then cure rate is very high.

World Cancer Day is observed on February 4 each year. The theme this year is 'Close the Care Gap'.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Cancer Registry Programme, the number of cancer cases in the country is projected to go up from 14.6 lakh in 2022 to 15.7 lakh in 2025.

"To win over cancer in India first step is educating people to get screened for cancer before they have any symptoms, which helps to find cancer early. If found early in stages I or II, most cancers are curable in more than 80 per cent of patients," Ashish Gupta, Chief Oncologist, Unique Hospital Cancer Center, Delhi, told IANS.

"By the time symptoms develop many cancers are in Stage three or four, when cure rates falls down to less than 25 per cent. Population-based initiative should be adopted for prevention, control and screening for three common cancers -- oral, breast and cervical cancer which are most commonly found cancers in India," added Gupta, who is heading Cancer Mukt Bharat Campaign in the country.

The campaign on cancer awareness aims to reach 1 million people across India.

According to Rahul Bhargava, Principal Director of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests -- a type of liquid biopsy -- can help catch early-stage cancer cells long before symptoms appear.

"By utilising machine-learning algorithms, these tests identify the likely origin of tumours based on DNA and protein profiles. MCED tests hold immense promise for revolutionising cancer detection," Bhargava told IANS.

Detecting disease earlier also reduces the need for costly advance-stage treatments, benefiting health care systems and patients alike.

"Most cancers become deadly by keeping a low profile, causing no symptoms until theyare too advanced to treat. Ovarian and gastroesophageal cancers are among the most notorious for this sly disease progression, often leading to late-stage diagnoses," Vineet Nakra, Radiation Oncologist at Max Super Speciality Hospital New Delhi, told IANS.

The experts further noted that after the diagnosis of cancer, right treatment plan starting on day one is most important. Modern medicines have helped improve the clinical outcomes in a big way.

"Not only chemotherapy but also immunotherapy, targeted therapy and hormonal therapies many of which were not available even 5 or 10 years ago, have drastically improved cancer cure rates," Gupta said.
Patna, Feb 4 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar formed the new government with the help of BJP and Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular (HAMS), but challenges are mounting for him as his new allies have stepped up their pressure.

An instance of what lies in store for Nitish became evident on Saturday when BJP's Samrat Choudhary, Deputy Chief Minister, set out to woo the Koiri (Kushwaha) community in Biharsharif on the birth anniversary of backward caste leader, Jagdev Prasad.

Choudhary said that no one would touch the people of the Kushwaha community as long as he was standing with them. He said he was "prepared to lose his last drop of blood to protect the community's interests". He also said that Koiri Raj would come to Bihar.

Nitish Kumar, who is known for the politics of Lav-Kush in Bihar where Lav belongs to Kurmi and Kush stands for Kushwaha.

With this statement, Samrat Choudhary has given a loud and clear message to Nitish Kumar that BJP is going to intrude into the vote bank of Kushwaha community, which has 4.21 per cent population in the state as per the caste-based survey report published by the Bihar government. The Kurmi community constitutes 2.87 per cent population in Bihar.

When analyzing the Lok Sabha and Assembly election of Bihar since 2014, it is found that Nitish Kumar led JD(U) has a vote share of above 15 per cent in the state. The BJP has a higher percentage of vote share but it has not crossed the 30 per cent mark even in the 2014 Modi wave. JD(U) had 15 to 22 per cent vote share in these elections.

The statement of Samrat Choudhary has given an indication that BJP might penetrate the vote share of Nitish Kumar.

BJP had given its post of state president to Samrat Choudhary last year with the clear message to intrude into the vote bank of Kushwaha community and when the situation arose here to form the government in Bihar, the saffron party gave the important post of deputy chief minister to him only. The idea was to give a message to the Kushwaha community that Nitish Kumar is no longer the leader of it.

The Nitish Kumar government was formed in Bihar on January 28 this year with the help of 78 MLAs of BJP, 45 MLAs of JD(U), four of HAMS and one independent which totals 128 MLAs in Bihar Vidhan Sabha. The majic figure in Rajasthan Assembly to form a government is 122 MLAs.

Here, HAMS led by former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi is in the position of kingmaker in this government. He got the offer from RJD for the post of CM of Bihar keeping in view that those four MLAs may turn crucial to destabilise the NDA government.

The plus point of HAMS is that three out of four MLAs are the family members of Jitan Ram Manjhi and hence there is no chance to split the party.

At present, the NDA government is just six seats above from the magical figure of 122 and if four MLAs of HAMS and one independent withdraw support from the government, the Nitish Kumar government stands on the edge. In case one or two MLAs of JD(U) become absent during the vote of trust, the Nitish Kumar government would lose the majority.

This was the reason why Jitan Ram Manjhi was demanding two cabinet ministers in the NDA government but Nitish Kumar gave him one.

Jitan Ram Manjhi got the support of LJPR national president Chirag Paswan.

"There is no doubt that the number of MLAs of Jitan Ram Manjhi's party is lower but they have huge importance in the current situation and if he has discussed within the alliance, he should give adequate respect in this government," Paswan said.

Mukesh Sahani, the national president of VIP also advocated for the appropriate respect to Jitan Ram Manjhi.

"Jitan Ram Manjhi should become the chief minister of Bihar. Why the leader of an extremely backward caste or Dalit would not become the chief minister of Bihar," Sahani asked.

VIP may not have any MLA or MP in the party but its leader Mukesh Sahani established himself as a leader of Nishad community. His party had won four seats in the 2020 Assembly election and three of them later merged into BJP and one passed away.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav's statement of "Khel To Abhi Baki Hai" may not be all that rhetoric and just portrays the political quagmire in the state
Chennai, Feb 4 : At least 13 men, including a local AIADMK functionary, were arrested in the murder of a local DMK leader, said officials on Sunday.

Thirumugam (45), a local leader of DMK was hacked to death on January 27 in the MK Puram area in Tamil Nadu's Madurai district.

He was the DMK's secretary in ward 77 of the district.

Police said that a five member gang hacked Thirumugam to death while he was sitting in front of his house in MK Puram,Madurai.

The police arrested Thavakumar, a local AIADMK leader who is also a close relative of the deceased Thirumugam.

While business rivalry is slated to be the motive behind the killing of Thirumugam, a senior officer of the Madurai police told IANS that they were not ruling out a political angle in the murder.

It is to be noted that the south Tamil Nadu districts of Madurai, Theni, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari are very sensitive areas and killings are followed by counter killings.

Madurai district police are on a high alert and a strong contingent of police was posted in the area following the arrest of Thavakumar and other accused.
Bengaluru, Feb 4 : The coastal region of Karnataka has long been referred to as the Hindutva laboratory by progressive thinkers and Congress leaders.

Now, with the BJP gaining ground in south Karnataka following an alliance with JD(S), there is ongoing debate in political circles about the BJP making Mandya district, considered the heartland of Vokkaligas, the new laboratory for Hindutva.

The discussion was triggered by a statement from Minister for RDPR and IT and BT, Priyank Kharge. He mentioned that the BJP and Sangh Parivar, having made the coastal region its Hindutva laboratory, are now active in Mandya district, conducting Hindutva experiments.

Kharge's statement was followed by the BJP's strong opposition to the removal of the flag of Lord Hanuman from a 108-feet-tall flag post on government land and the subsequent hoisting of the national tricolour.

Mandya district, along with other south Karnataka districts like Mysuru, Tumakuru, Kolar, Hassan, Ramanagara, Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru Urban, Chikkaballapura, Chikkamagaluru, and Chamarajanagar, has a concentrated Vokkaliga population. The region traditionally supported former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, JD(S), and Congress parties. Even after Operation Lotus, the BJP struggled to make inroads.

The BJP's Rath Yatra movement, opposition to Tipu Sultan Jayanthi, a series of communal incidents in the region, and attempts to glorify Vokkaliga warriors Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda as the slayers of Tipu Sultan did not yield results. Even controversies like the Hijab issue and the boycott of Muslim traders did not significantly help the BJP in this region.

As Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga, gained prominence in the Congress party, the Vokkaliga vote bank tilted towards the grand old party in the 2019 assembly elections. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Dy CM Shivakumar's challenge to the survival of JD(S) in the region compelled former PM Deve Gowda to forge an alliance with the BJP.

Amid internal strife within the Congress, the BJP, along with JD(S), has resolved its internal issues and presented a united front. The Hindutva forces and the BJP quickly capitalised on the Hanuman flag removal issue.

Hindu organisations have managed to hoist saffron flags atop every house in Keragodu village, where the Hanuman flag was removed, and they are on a mission to hoist saffron flags across the state, especially in Mandya and other south districts.

In response, the visibly upset Congress government has issued an order warning of legal action against any social media posts related to the flag removal incident that could trigger social unrest.

Priyank Kharge stated, "It seems the BJP won't be at peace if society is peaceful. The BJP leaders have stooped to the low level of igniting fire in Mandya district for political gains."

However, sources within the BJP and Hindutva forces explain that former CM and JD(S) State President H.D. Kumaraswamy, flaunting a saffron shawl at a programme, has sent a clear message to the Vokkaliga community.

Vivek Subbareddy, State Advocate Association President and BJP State Executive Member, explained to IANS that Congress Minister Priyank Kharge is unable to digest the fact that the people of Mandya possess spiritual feelings. After seeing the backlash, he is feared.

Hindu assertion is emerging like a volcano in the region where the Congress believed it would never happen. Regardless of the Congress' attempts to suppress the feelings of the people, they are coming out in full force, according to Vivek Subbareddy.

The Congress should avoid playing politics with people's feelings, religious flags, and their spirituality. When the Congress imposes prohibitions, the people tend to lean towards the BJP. In fact, the Congress has opened the doors for the BJP in the region, he stated.

Referring to Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which gives absolute freedom for people to practise their religion, Vivek Subbareddy said if Congress resorts to taking down a flag that has been there for three decades, pressuring people, and imposing restrictions, it should remember the Shah Bano case during the late PM Rajiv Gandhi's tenure, which paved the way for the rise of the BJP at the national level.

Speaking to IANS, Congress' national spokesperson and media and communications in charge, Kerala, Lavanya Ballal Jain, who hails from the coastal region of Karnataka, stated, "It's election time, and there will be disruption by the BJP."

She added, 'It's not surprising; what's saddening is that the BJP believes in distracting people with bigotry. They have failed to deliver on the election promises of 2014 and 2019, and they are aware that all 25 MPs have failed to protect the interests of Karnataka."

Lavanya further stated, "Hence, the BJP is resorting to their time-tested divisive politics. The politics of religion has worked for them in coastal Karnataka, at the cost of dropping in health and education indexes. Now they are planning on using the same methodology in Mandya, but, as seen here, their attempt is not a success."

The Congress government has curtailed the BJP's plans. Lavanya criticised the BJP for relying on history. According to her, people in coastal Karnataka are waking up to the downsides of bigotry, and it won't be long before the BJP is shown the door in coastal Karnataka."
New Delhi: Media persons at the Supreme Court complex on the day of the court's verdict. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Feb 4 : The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday the plea filed by INDIA bloc's mayoral candidate Kuldeep Kumar against the Punjab and Haryana High Court's refusal to stay the results of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (CMC).

New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday the plea filed by INDIA blocas mayoral candidate Kuldeep Kumar against the Punjab and Haryana High Courtas refusal to stay the results of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (CMC).

As per the causelist published on the website of the apex court, a bench headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra will hear the matter on February 5.

Last week, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing on Kumaras behalf, had sought directions from the top court for urgent listing of the matter.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor, Kuldeep Kumar has petitioned the Supreme Court after the Punjab and Haryana High Court refused to pass an interim order on staying the election results held on January 30 for the post of mayor.

Hearing a plea filed by Kumar -- AAP and Congress Partyas joint candidate -- who had accused the Presiding Officer of resorting to fraud and forgery in the counting process, the Punjab and Haryana High Court did not pass any interim relief but issued a notice in the matter and sought response from the Chandigarh administration and CMC within a period of three weeks.

In his petition before the high court, the AAP-Congress joint candidate alleged complete departure of the practice and rules saying that the presiding officer refused to allow the nominees of parties to monitor the counting of votes.

Kumar prayed for fresh elections in a free and fair manner under the supervision of a retired High Court judge.
For the first time, the People's Republic of China was explicitly named as a hypothetical enemy in a joint command and control exercise between the United States, Japan, and Australia called Keen Edge. The military is practicing joint actions in a computer simulation in the event of an emergency in Taiwan.

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This was reported by Kyodo News, citing government sources. The exercise is being conducted amid growing concerns about Beijing's potential invasion of Taiwan.

The computer simulation began on February 1 and will last until the 8th.

Previously, the exercise used a conditional name for the enemy. Maps that differed slightly from the topography of real countries were also used to avoid a negative reaction in the event of a data leak. However, Keen Edge now uses real maps, Kyodo News reported.

The Japanese Ministry of Defense has classified the exercise scenario as top secret, the journalists noted.

America and Japan have several plans for joint operations involving emergencies, and the project involving Taiwan was completed at the end of 2023.

After Keen Edge, the military wants to draw up a final scenario by the end of this year. A live demonstration of the exercise is expected to take place around 2025.

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As OBOZ.UA previously reported:

- Large-scale purges among China's military command are due to the fact that the country has discovered numerous corruption schemes in the armed forces. This casts doubt on Beijing's ambitions for Taiwan, Bloomberg reported.

- In his New Year's address, Chinese President Xi Jinping promised to "take back" Taiwan. He called "reunification" with the island nation a "historical necessity."

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during the inauguration of a the 'Control Room' of Bihar State Disaster Management Authority at Patel Bhawan. Image Source: IANS News

Patna, Feb 4 : Political history repeated itself in Bihar with JD(U) president Nitish Kumar returning to the NDA, forming the government and taking oath as Chief Minister, but this time 'Sushasan Babu' faces the herculean task of managing his political foes in the BJP-led alliance.

There is no doubt in the fact that this time, the BJP government in the state is the strongest ever.

However, the NDA's allies include Nitish's political opponent LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan. In the new government in the state, BJP's Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha have been made Deputy Chief Ministers, and both of them are also considered as political opponents of Nitish.

Chaudhary used to say that he will remove his turban only when Nitish is dethroned as chief minister.

Both deputy chief ministers have a hardliner image in the party, and under such circumstances, Nitish is facing a challenge to mange them in the alliance.

Meanwhile, Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAM(S), which has just four members in the state Assembly, has demanded two ministerial berths.

Manjhi said that if his demand is not accepted, then it would be injustice with his party.

He also made it clear that in the Mahagathbandhan in the state, he was being considered for the post of chief minister.

After Manjhi's statement, Bihar Congress chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh has invited HAM(S) founder to join the Mahgathbandhan, saying "will make CM if you return to Grand Alliance".

However, even if Manjhi parts his ways with the NDA, it wouldn't have any impact on the BJP-led alliance, so the chances of fulfillment of his demands are minimal.

LJP(Ram Vilas) State President Raju Tiwari said we do not have any personal enmity with Nitish, if he runs the government well, we are with him.

One week has passed since the formation of the NDA government in the state, and former union minister Upendra Kushwaha has met Manjhi and Nitish, but how much of their differences were sorted out will be revealed in the near future.
Windhoek, Feb 4 : Namibian President Hage G. Geingob passed away early Sunday after battling cancer in a hospital in the capital city of Windhoek.

The announcement of his death was made by the Namibain presidential office, Xinhua news agency reported.

In a statement on the official social media account of the Namibian Presidency, Acting president Nangolo Mbumba said: "It is with utmost sadness and regret that I inform you that our beloved Dr. Hage G. Geingob, the President of the Republic of Namibia, has passed on today, Sunday 4 February 2024 at around 00h04 at Lady Pohamba Hospital where he was receiving medical treatment from his medical team."

Geingob had served as Namibia's third president since March 21, 2015, and was re-elected for another five-year term in 2019. He served as prime minister in 1990-2002 and 2012-2015, in addition to other key ministerial and leadership roles.

"His medical team... has been trying its utmost best to ensure that our President recovers," the statement said. "Regrettably, notwithstanding the team's spirited effort to save his life, sadly, fellow Namibians, President Geingob passed on."

"The Namibian nation has lost a distinguished servant of the people, a liberation struggle icon, the chief architect of our constitution and the pillar of the Namibian house," the statement said.

The statement called upon Namibians to "remain calm and collected while the government attends to all necessary state arrangements, preparations and other protocols."

On January 19, the Namibian presidency said Geingob's medical team discovered cancerous cells following a biopsy examination of Geingob.
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 4 : No leader in Kerala in the recent past has reached a high like Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and none either has had such a bad fall like him, as the once indomitable tough Vijayan is finding the going tough in the wake of allegations of corruption which are now reaching dangerous propositions.

Even though Vijayan in his first term came under massive attack from Swapna Suresh, who is alleged to have been in the good books of Vijayan, his wife and daughter. She went hammer and tongs making grave allegations, including smuggling of gold and foreign currency. Amid all this Vijayan managed to win a second term in 2021 and that too with an increased margin.

Since then, though initially his stock rose like never before, the sailing now appears to be not that smooth as the opposition is going all out against him. First time Congress legislator Mathew Kuzhalnaden has attacked Vijayan's daughter Veena Vijayan and her 'Exalogic' IT firm.

For the past few months, the issue with regards to Veena surfaced after a media report, quoting an Income Tax Department office claimed that her firm had received Rs 1.72 crore from a Kochi-based mining company CMRL, where the state-owned Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) has a stake. Kuzhalnadan went hammer and tongs both inside and outside the Assembly, which left Vijayan running for cover.

On Friday, a TV channel came out with Vijayan's 2022 statement in the Assembly over the allegations against his company wherein he totally denied Kuzhalnadan's attack against Veena. However, hours before this old footage came out, the Congress led a massive onslaught against Vijayan, and Speaker A.N. Shamsheer instantly disallowed it without even the Opposition able to present a notice for seeking an adjournment motion to discuss this.

Shamsheer said the rules do not permit taking up an issue which is sub judice. The entire opposition were up on their feet, shouted slogans and came before the Speaker's dais. With an adamant Speaker, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan led the entire opposition legislators out of the House.

"Two statutory agencies are now probing the affairs of the company of Vijayan's daughter and this is a serious one. What is to be noted is that the probe by SFIO is very grave and Vijayan's daughter's firm is being probed. It's high time that Vijayan quits," said Satheesan while speaking to the media outside the assembly.

"Vijayan is scared and on Friday, he was not even present in the Assembly. All along he maintained after this scam first surfaced, that the Income Tax department never gave an opportunity to her company to explain. Now the Registrar of Companies says that despite asking for the erring company's response, they never gave any clear response," added Satheesan.

The fresh onslaught by the opposition came when the news spread that the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) has commenced its probe into the affairs of Veena's firm and also of CMRL and KSIDC.

Though Vijayan broke his silence that his hands are clean, he has come under strong attack from Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan.

"Pinarayi Vijayan should stop saying comedy as he cannot wash his hands off. Merely saying that his hands are clean is of no use. There is nothing new to add in the case connected to Veena Vijayan's IT firm. All wish to know what services were rendered by her IT firm to CMRL to get Rs 1.72 crore," said Muraleedharan.

"Even the CMRL could not give a satisfactory answer for that. Vijayan cannot get away by saying that his wife was haunted in the past and now his daughter is being targeted. The stage has come that even the comrades in Kannur (the home district of Vijayan) will not believe what Vijayan says," added Muraleedharan.

The one big advantage for Vijayan so far is that he has got a huge support from his party.

After a meeting of top Kerala CPI(M) leaders on Friday where the issue was discussed, state party secretary M.V. Govindan told the media that the entire case was politically motivated and hence they will deal with it politically and legally.

"All know that the real target in this case is none other than Vijayan. This case is nothing if it is minus Vijayan. This case is now in the news after Shaun George (son of seven-time former legislator P.C.George -- both of whom joined the BJP ) went forward with the case," said Govindan.

The veteran George said things will be tough for both Vijayan and Veena as the probe will catch up with both of them. "I have studied the entire case and things do not augur well for the father and the son," said George.

With the Assembly in session and the Congress determined to take on Vijayan, the coming days will be eagerly watched as the SFIO will soon be serving a notice to Veena and this could place Vijayan in a tighter spot, a position which he has never been in.
New Delhi, Feb 4 : In 2022, the Supreme Court, under the leadership of Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, broadened the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) powers, allowing searches and seizures in Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases without a formal complaint, effectively presuming the accused person guilty.

This decision has sparked concerns about the agency's autonomy, especially as it has been targeting opposition leaders, notably during election campaigns.

As the political climate intensifies ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, central investigating agencies are expected to intensify scrutiny on key opposition figures.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) have now been focusing on prominent leaders such as the Gandhi family, Lalu Prasad, Tejashwi Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal, and Abhishek Banerjee.

Media reports highlight a significant surge in ED cases since 2014, with 95 per cent involving opposition leaders.

Two senior AAP leaders, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, are already in custody for their alleged involvement in the excise policy.

Now, the investigative agencies are zeroing in on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and despite facing CBI questioning in April, Kejriwal has received five summons from the ED.

Kejriwal has dismissed them as "politically motivated and illegal."

Further complications for AAP legislators may arise if probe agencies decide to implicate the political party itself in the case.

The counsel for the central government, representing CBI and ED, has indicated they are "contemplating" making AAP an accused.

In February, a local court took cognisance of the supplementary charge sheet filed by ED related to the money laundering probe into now-scrapped Delhi's liquor policy.

The charge sheet alleges AAP used funds from the policy to finance the Goa election campaign. It mentions an alleged conversation between Kejriwal and Sameer Mahendru, owner of Indospirits, an accused in the case.

Notably, the FIR in the alleged Delhi excise policy scam was registered in August 2017.

The CBI filed its charge sheet in November 2022 and Manish Sisodia was arrested in February 2023 and has remained in custody since then. To date, the CBI has filed 5 supplementary charge sheets.

Speaking to IANS, Advocate Shiv Chopra said that the 2018 amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act (PC Act) have increased the severity of the punishments for the commission of offences punishable by the acts.

"Corruption must be nipped in the bud. The intention of the legislature is therefore clear, and it meets the needs of modern India," Chopra said.

However, he added, modern India also needs its criminal laws to be far more progressive and the liberty of an individual needs to be given the utmost importance.

The only authority that can decide whether an offence has taken place is the court of the Special Judge under the PC Act.

Chopra said: "The CBI has not been able to complete its investigation. Numerous documents have been collected and witnesses examined by the CBI and yet the first step in proceeding for a trial has not even begun."

On continued incarceration of leaders, Chopra said: "Whether politically motivated or not, his continued incarceration in my opinion is uncalled for. He is a public figure and chances of him fleeing from justice are absent."

Talking about the norm in such cases, he said that to ensure that leaders do not tamper with the evidence or influence any witness, stringent conditions can be imposed.

The entire purpose of bail is to ensure that a person will be present to face his accusations and defend himself during trial. Pre-trial incarceration is patently unfair because if the under-trial is found innocent nothing can be done to return the time spent inside jail.

"The presumption of innocence is the bedrock of the criminal justice system in India," Chopra said, adding that every accused, no matter how heinous the offence, is innocent until proven guilty.

This has been reiterated by the Supreme Court time and time again in famous precedents of bail jurisprudence such as Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and P. Chidambaram v. CBI.

Bail is the rule and jail is the exception.

"Allowing Sisodia to continue to languish in jail has far-reaching consequences. For example, he is an elected representative, and the members of his constituency are without their elected representative for no fault of their own. Who will tend to their civic needs and demands?" Chopra said.

Reportedly, the ED registered 5,906 cases until March 2023 but completed the probe and filed a chargesheet in only 1,142 cases a" out of which it has disposed of only 25 cases, a mere 0.42 of the total number of cases. Of those 25 cases, the ED has managed convictions in 24 cases, which is around 96 per cent conviction rate as claimed by the agency.

Leveraging these raids, the BJP has skillfully employed them as platforms to propel its anti-corruption political narrative, often targeting opposition parties in the lead-up to elections.
San Francisco, Feb 4 : A Tesla employee, who threatened to kill US President Joe Biden and tech billionaire Elon Musk, was arrested in Texas, the media reported.

As per court documents, 31-year-old Justin McCauley was charged on Tuesday with felony terroristic threats after tweeting, "@JoeBiden @X @Telsa @Elonmusk, I am planning to kill all of you", reports Fox News.

"I will arrive in Texas, where the war has began on many fronts @X, @Tesla," McCauley wrote in another post.

McCauley's wife contacted Rogers police after he told her he was going to Texas and would never return, according to charges. She also informed police that McCauley had left his cell phone behind, making it impossible to track him down.

According to the charges, McCauley was stopped by police in Oklahoma on January 26 while travelling through the state. McCauley told law enforcement that he wanted to speak with the president, the report mentioned.

When asked why, he allegedly replied, "wouldn't you want to talk to the president if you knew you were going to die tomorrow."

The next morning, authorities were notified of a threat call at the Tesla Gigafactory in Austin. However, it remains unclear whether the 31-year-old employee initiated the call.

According to court documents, law enforcement stopped McCauley in Austin. He allegedly told authorities that he planned to visit the Tesla Gigafactory to speak with Musk.

McCauley was then arrested.

Meanwhile, Musk has announced that Tesla will move immediately to hold a shareholder vote to change its legal home from the US state of Delaware to Texas.

This comes after a judge in Delaware ruled that Musk's $56 billion pay package is unfair and the Tesla board will need to come up with a new pay proposal.
Stalin to reach Ramanathapuram on August 18, to discuss issues faced by fishers. Image Source: IANS News

Chennai, Feb 4 : The DMK election manifesto committee will tour Tamil Nadu from Monday till February 23.

The yatra is to elicit the views of the general public before finalising on the party manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who is also the president of the DMK, in a statement on Sunday said the manifesto committee will meet people from all sections of the state.

He also said that this would include educationists, fishermen, agriculturists, small entrepreneurs, migrant workers, industrialists, students, doctors,engineers, Chartered Accounts, lawyers and people from all walks of life.

The 11-member committee will tour Thoothukudi on Monday.

The statement from the DMK presidentas office said the committee will tour Tuticorin on February 5 and Kanniyakumari on February 6.

The statement said that before the panel arrives in these cities, their campaign will be advertised in local newspapers and the respective district secretaries will make arrangements of the venue for people to submit petitions.

It may be noted that DMK has put pressure on its cadres to win all the 39 seats in Tamil Nadu and the lone seat in Puducherry.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) won 38 of the 39 seats. The lone seat it lost was in Theni where senior Congress leader and former minister EVKS Elangovan lost to O.P. Raveendranathan of the AIADMK.
New Delhi, Feb 04 : Facial peeling can be a disconcerting experience, leaving individuals searching for answers and effective solutions. While there are various reasons for skin peeling, understanding the underlying causes is crucial for finding the right remedies. Let us understand the reasons for peeling skin and look into practical tips for addressing each issue.

Sunburn

One of the primary culprits behind facial peeling is prolonged exposure to the sun. Sunburn damages the skin, causing it to peel as it attempts to shed the damaged outer layer. To alleviate sunburn peeling, applying aloe vera gel can provide soothing relief. Aloe vera's natural properties promote healing, allowing the skin to recover. Additionally, using a moisturizer with SPF 60 during the day helps prevent further sun damage. Face packs can aid in cooling the skin, and staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water is essential for overall skin health.

Elaborating on sun protection, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of sunscreens containing broad-spectrum protection. These sunscreens shield the skin from both UVA and UVB rays, preventing sunburn and reducing the likelihood of peeling. Consistent sun protection is not only vital for treating sunburn but also for maintaining long-term skin health.

Medications

Certain medications, particularly those used for acne or containing retinoids, can lead to skin peeling as a side effect. If you suspect your medications are causing this issue, consulting with a dermatologist is crucial. They can provide alternative solutions or adjust your medication regimen to minimize peeling. An interesting alternative to retinol is Bakuchiol, a natural substitute with similar benefits but fewer side effects. Discussing such alternatives with your healthcare professional ensures a balanced approach to skincare.

Moreover, it is essential for individuals to be proactive in communicating with their healthcare providers about any skin-related side effects they experience. Open dialogue facilitates a collaborative effort in finding the most suitable solutions for individual needs.

Dry Skin

Especially prevalent during the winter months, dry skin can lead to peeling. Combatting dry skin involves a two-step process: exfoliation and moisturization. Gentle exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells, allowing moisturizing products to penetrate better. Choosing dry skin body lotions, body massage oils, or ayurvedic skincare products provides the necessary hydration to replenish the skin's moisture barrier. Glycerine, a humectant, can be particularly beneficial when applied at night, preventing further moisture loss. Daytime care involves using quality face moisturizers or body butter lotions to maintain skin hydration throughout the day.

Incorporating natural remedies, such as honey masks or oatmeal-based exfoliants, can further enhance the skin's ability to retain moisture. These alternatives not only provide hydration but also offer additional nutrients that contribute to skin health.

Medical Skin Conditions

Skin conditions like eczema can contribute to peeling and require a specialized approach. Consulting a doctor or dermatologist is essential for obtaining an accurate diagnosis and developing a tailored treatment plan. Medical conditions may necessitate prescription medications, and professional guidance ensures proper management.

Furthermore, understanding the triggers and aggravating factors of specific skin conditions is crucial. This knowledge empowers individuals to make informed lifestyle choices and adopt preventive measures to minimize the recurrence of peeling episodes.

Allergies

Allergic reactions can manifest as skin peeling, emphasizing the importance of identifying and addressing allergens. Seeking medical advice is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment. Maintaining a journal of potential allergens can assist in pinpointing triggers and avoiding future reactions. Before introducing new skincare products, conducting patch tests helps identify potential allergens and prevents adverse reactions.

Facial peeling is a common concern with various underlying causes. By understanding these causes and adopting targeted skincare practices, individuals can effectively manage and prevent skin peeling. Whether it's protecting against sunburn, addressing medication side effects, combating dry skin, managing medical conditions, or dealing with allergies, a proactive and informed approach to skincare is key for maintaining healthy, radiant skin.

(Devji Hathiyani, Co-Founder at Dr. Rashel)

IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in

--IANS

Devji Hathiyani/ os/ lh
Guwahati, Feb 4 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that no country could become a developed nation without giving importance to preserving its culture and tradition, and unlike the previous governments, the BJP has given a simultaneous thrust to development and preserving traditions.

Speaking at a public programme in Guwahati, PM Modi said the previous governments could not understand the power of pilgrimages of our country, and they forgot to preserve the traditions.

The Prime Minister said that no country could become a developed nation without giving importance to preserving its culture and tradition.

"The BJP has been doing the politics of 'Vikas' (development) and 'Virasat' (tradition). On one hand, we have brought back the pride of our pilgrimages which was forgotten in earlier regimes. The current government has also given immense importance towards development," he said.

According to Modi, his government has constructed a record number of colleges and universities across the nation.

"The number of medical colleges in the country has doubled post 2014. Earlier, IITs and IIMs were built only in the big cities, but we have built a network of these premier institutions across the country," he mentioned.

The Prime Minister took the example of Assam and said the state earlier had only six medical colleges. In the last 10 years, another six medical colleges were constructed.

He stated that the announcements were made in the latest Union budget to invest at least Rs 11 lakh crore in infrastructure development in the next one year.

"I want to mention that, prior to 2014, the central government used to spend Rs 12 lakh crore in infrastructure in 10 years. We have set a target to invest almost the equal amount of money in just one year," Modi said.

He also mentioned that the steps taken for preserving the pilgrimages have given a boost to the tourism sector as well.

"After building the Kashi corridor, at least 8.5 crore devotees went there. It has been hardly 12 days that the Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla was done and in these few days 24 lakh devotees visited Ayodhya," the Prime Minister said.

He asserted that once the proposed Kamakhya temple corridor project gets completed in Guwahati, it will mesmerize the devotees coming from different parts of the globe and eventually the northeast will also become a hub of tourism.

The Prime Minister launched several key development projects in Assam on Sunday from the Veterinary College Playground in Khanapara in Guwahati.

The Assam government has planned to build the Kamakhya temple corridor in line with the Kashi Vishwanath temple corridor project. Modi inaugurated this project along with the other key projects like a six-lane road from the new airport terminal in Guwahati and the upgradation of Nehru Stadium to FIFA standards.

PM Modi also launched the second edition of Asom Mala roads as well. This phase will cost Rs 3,444 crore in total and include 38 concrete bridges and 43 new roads.

He laid foundation stones for the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital's new, integrated facility, which would cost Rs 3,250 crore to build and the proposed Rs 297-crore Unity Mall in Guwahati and the Rs 578-crore Karimganj Medical College and Hospital.

The Prime Minister has inaugurated two recently built four-lane roads: one from Dolabari to Jamuguri, which cost Rs 592 crore, and the other from Biswanath Chariali to Gohpur, which cost Rs 1,451 crore.

In total, the Prime Minister has laid foundation stones or inaugurated projects worth more than Rs 11,000 crore in Assam.
Mumbai : Actors Hrithik Roshan,Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor during an promotional event of upcoming film 'Fighter'. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Feb 4 : Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan praised his 'Fighter' co-star Sanjeeda Sheikh and called her a 'brilliant actor', who made him emote easy for him in an emotional scene of the film.

A fan had praised Sanjeeda's performance in 'Fighter' on X. The user wrote: "Dear @iamsanjeeda . This is an appreciation tweet for you. You looked flawless in the movie #Fighter . Your emotional scene with @iHrithik is one of the best scenes in the movie. It was beautifully executed."

Mincing no words, Hrithik replied to the fan and wrote: "I absolutely agree with you Sandeep. @iamsanjeeda is a brilliant actor! She made emoting in the scene so easy for me."

Sanjeeda called Hrithik "most honest" actor and thanked him.

Replying to Hrithik, she wrote: "Thankyou for getting out the best from me

Most honest and giving actor @iHrithik."

Fighter is directed by Siddharth Anand, based on a story he wrote with Ramon Chibb. It also stars Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor. The film serves as the first installment in a planned aerial action franchise.

Apart from the actors, real life Indian Air Force cadets worked for the film. 'Fighter' has references to the 2019 Pulwama attack, 2019 Balakot airstrike and 2019 IndiaPakistan border skirmishes.
Ankara, Feb 4 : At least 34 foreign nationals have been arrested over their suspected links to the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in an operation across seven provinces in Turkey, official sources said.

Taking to X, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said that the suspects, including some wanted with an Interpol red notice, were arrested in "Cage-35" anti-terror operations carried out simultaneously in the provinces of Istanbul, Kocaeli, Yalova, Kayseri, Bursa, Duzce, and Yozgat,

During operations, unauthorised firearms, a significant amount of foreign currency, and digital materials were also seized, Yerlikaya was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

The operations came after two masked gunmen, one from Tajikistan and the other from Russia, opened fire last Sunday on worshippers at the Santa Maria Church in Istanbul's Sariyer district, killing one person.

The two foreign nationals arrested were believed to be IS members, Yerlikaya said a day later.

Turkey listed IS as a terrorist group in 2013.
On Saturday, February 3, the families of the dead passengers of Flight PS752 held a rally in the Iranian capital Tehran but were dispersed by security forces. As a reminder, the UIA plane with passengers on board was shot down near the airport in Tehran by Iranian anti-aircraft missiles on January 8, 2020.

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The relatives of the dead passengers of the plane gathered in front of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights with placards in their hands. This was reported on the official page of the Association of Families of the Victims of Flight PS752 on X.

They opposed the visit of Deputy High Commissioner Nada Al-Nashif to Iran. Earlier, the families signed a statement demanding that her trip be canceled.

In addition, the protesters put forward their own demands. In particular, according to the Voice of America's Persian Service, people demanded justice from the Iranian government. They accuse the country's authorities of obstructing the investigation into the crash of Flight PS752.

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Plainclothes security agents, as well as Iranian regime security forces, were present at the site and began to disperse the families of the victims with threats.

"The behavior of the security forces was offensive and brutal, and they were ready for any harsh reaction," the statement said.

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The relatives of the victims believe that Iran is covering up for criminals who committed "premeditated murder, intentional attack on civilians or civilian objects, outrages on personal dignity and robbery, as well as crimes against humanity in the form of murder and other inhuman acts."

Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
New Delhi: Former Deputy Prime Minister and BJP veteran leader Lal Krishna Advani at his residence. Image Source: IANS News

Chennai, Feb 4 : Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy hailed the announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi bestowing the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna on former Deputy Prime Minister and senior BJP leader LK Advani.

In a statement on Sunday, the Puducherry Chief Minister said that he was really happy at the decision by the Government of India conferring Bharat Ratna to the veteran BJP leader LK Advani.

Rangasamy said that the contributions of LK Advani for the development of the nation are monumental and historic.

In the statement, Rangasamy said, "Advani had demonstrated his simplicity, cleanliness and probity in public life."

The Chief Minister also said that Advani's patriotism and dedication were monumental and historic.

It may be noted that N. Rangasamy's party All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) is in a political alliance with BJP in the Union Territory of Puducherry.

IANS

aal/uk
Los Angeles, Feb 4 : Actress Sharon Stone, who suffered a stroke back in 2001 brought on by a brain hemorrhage that resulted in a nine-day brain bleed and saw her die briefly and come back to life, shared that she was extremely hard up and relying on her credit cards to survive.

She told Australia's WHO magazine: "I was down to nothing. I had to pay the kids' school on my credit card and hope for the best. I just got on my knees and I was like, 'I need a sign ... and could you make it big because I'm going to need something that I can't miss because I'm in a coma here. So like, help me out.'"

The 65-year-old actress says going through a near-death experience put a stop to caring what other people think about her, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

She said: "While I was recovering from my stroke, I reassessed everything. I decided that I would never not be myself again. And people could love me, hate me, like me, dislike me, judge me, do whatever they wanted. But take it or leave it, man. I feel free pretty much all the time."

Stone hid her disability for years because she thought "no one would accept" her.

The movie star, best known for playing femme fatale roles in Hollywood previously said that she was snubbed by the industry as the stroke severely impaired her motor skills and ability to remember lines.

The actress took a two-decade-long hiatus from acting while she was in recovery.
Amman, Feb 4 : Jordan has denied any involvement in the airstrikes carried out by the US Air Force targeting Iraq, the state media reported.

"There is not truth in news reports regarding involvement of Jordanian aircraft in the operations conducted by US planes inside Iraq," source at the General Command of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army, Petra news agency reported.

Emphasising on the depth of relations between Jordan and all Arab countries, the Jordanian Armed Forces said it respects the sovereignty of Iraq, Xinhua news agency reported.

It appealed to the citizens not to indulge in rumours and to obtain information from official sources.
Kolkata, Feb 4 : The Indian Navy will commemorate the centenary of Lascars or merchant sailors who were killed during World War I on February 4 in Kolkata.

The function will take place at the Lascar Memorial which stands next to INS Netaji Subhas -- the naval headquarters of West Bengal -- along the banks of the Hooghly.

A Navy Spokesperson said that the West Bengal Governor will grace the occasion as Chief Guest.

"There will be a Talk on Maritime History as well as an Art and Philately Exhibition," he said.

He said that the cultural events will include an Odissi recital and the Hornpipe Dance.

The British East India Company started recruiting Lascars in the 1600s for ships returning to England as most of the ships would be short-staffed on the start of their voyage back home.

Many seafarers simply deserted after the ships docked in India while others were killed due to disease during the long voyage.

The Lascars were cheap labour and readily acceded to perform the most menial of jobs on board.

The demand for Lascars grew after the opening of the Suez Canal and increase in the number of ships calling on India. The advent of steamships also required crew who could handle jobs such as stoking coal.

It is estimated that by the 1850s, there were 12,000 Lascars working on English merchant vessels.

Once the ships docked in England, trouble would start for the Lascars. They would run out of their meager earnings soon and end up on the streets, cold and hungry. It would be a long wait before they got jobs on ships starting for India.

During World War I, several merchantmen were targeted and sunk while hundreds of Lascars went down with them.

It was nearly six years after the end of the War that the British decided to pay homage to these brave men by building a memorial.

A contest was held to select the best design and William Keir, an architect, was the winner. The design is unique. There are prows projecting on both sides to signify an ancient ship. The lines in front symbolise waves. The plaque on the Memorial states that it was built by the Shipping Companies and Mercantile Community of Calcutta in memory of 896 seamen of Bengal, Assam and Upper India who lost their lives in the War.

The Lascar Memorial underwent repairs and restoration a few years ago and the Navy is in charge of its upkeep.
Hyderabad, Feb 4 : Former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu has called for agricultural innovation for global leadership.

He commended the Union Government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for its commitment to the agricultural sector through various farmer-centric schemes.

He was addressing the golden Jubilee celebrations of Nuziveedu Seeds Limited (NSL) here.

Naidu highlighted the global recognition of India, emphasising the need for the country to become a 'Viswaguru'.

He praised NSL's Chairman and Managing Director Mandava Prabhakar Rao's approach to serve the nation and urged companies to invest in Research and Development (R&D) for sustainable growth.

Naidu said that the companies should work with passion, focusing on the betterment of the nation rather than mere profit generation. He expressed pride in India's progress, referencing its 32% contribution to the world's GDP and urged companies to uphold dignity in their success.

The former Vice President underscored the importance of cultural heritage, urging the younger generation to cherish and share the values passed down by their ancestors for true satisfaction and greater success in their lives.

Recognising NSL's pivotal role in India's green revolution, Naidu extended congratulations to all companies contributing to this transformative period. He stressed the significance of research in agriculture, specifically advocating for advancements in seed technology to enhance crop yield and farmer satisfaction.

Prabhakar Rao outlined the company's ambitious plans for expansion, aiming to reach farmers not only across different states in India but also globally. NSL, with 13 processing plants and 29 cold storage units in 10 states, boasts over 150 scientists dedicated to seed research. The company's seeds, distributed through an extensive network of 7,500 distributors and 20,000 retailers, play a vital role in supporting farmers across the country.

Rao announced NSL's commitment to outpace the international seed market's growth rate by setting an ambitious target of 20%. The company plans to release 33 new seeds in the next 12 months, including varieties in cotton, corn, hybrid paddy, and oil seeds.

NSL Founder Chairman Mandava Venkatramaiah Chowdary expressed his joy at witnessing his son's growth and the realisation of NSL's mission. He recounted the challenges faced by farmers in his childhood, particularly the lack of quality seeds leading to poor crop yields. This emotional experience motivated him to establish NSL with a sole focus on providing high-quality seeds to farmers. Chowdary expressed immense satisfaction in seeing the company fulfill its mission by serving farmers globally.
Three members of a family killed in fire in Vietnam. Image Source: IANS News

Tokyo, Feb 4 : A man was injured in a fire that broke out in the vicinity of a railway station in Tokyo on Sunday, after which train services were affected and 800 persons were evacuated, local media reported.

Tokyo, Feb 4 (IANS) A man was injured in a fire that broke out in the vicinity of a railway station in Tokyo on Sunday, after which train services were affected and 800 persons were evacuated, local media reported.

The fire broke out at a restaurant in Yamao, Ota Ward, Tokyo, near JR Oimori Station after which Fire Department pressed 24 firefighting vehicles into service, national broadcaster NHK reported.

Train operations were suspended on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line between Shinagawa Station and Kamata Station in both directions, Xinhua news agency reported quoting JR East.

Meanwhile, after a 10-car train on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line came to a halt between Oimori Station and Kamata Station, approximately 800 passengers on the stationary trains were evacuated onto the tracks and guided on foot as a precautionary measure.
Kolkata, Feb 4 : A fresh political slugfest erupted in West Bengal on Sunday as Trinamool Congress (TMC) has now started targeting the Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) over the latter's findings regarding non-submission of 'utilisation certificates' by the state government regarding fund utilisation under various centrally-sponsored schemes.

Previously, the party had charged that central agencies like CBI and ED were targetting it.

The opposition has countered the allegations of the ruling party claiming that whenever any entity makes progress in revealing the financial irregularities in the state involving the ruling party and the state government, Trinamool Congress starts questioning the integrity of those entities.

While, the the ruling party has alleged that ED and CBI are working at the behest of BJP by selectively targeting Trinamool Congress leaders, it has claimed that CAG is playing a role in preparing documents for a negative political narrative against the TMC.

While speaking to media persons on Sunday, Trinamool Congress spokesman Kunal Ghosh said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also made it clear that the state government had been diligently forwarding the utilisation certificates to the Union ministries concerned.

"Even after that CAG is making certain observations, which are being used by the opposition in creating a negative narrative against the state government. This is extremely unfortunate. I hope that in future CAG will refrain from such efforts of preparing documents for a negative political narrative," said Ghosh.

State BJP President and party's Lok Sabha MP Sukanta Majumdar said that the ruling party leadership is trying to hoodwink people by unnecessarily blaming the CAG authorities.

"Trinamool Congress leadership, including the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has claimed, the CAG report had held the current Trinamool Congress regime responsible for the irregularities took place during the previous Left Front regime. But the reality is that the report of CAG reflects figures till 2020-21 and the Left Front regime ended 10 years before that. What will the Trinamool Congress leadership say about the irregularities during the period after the end of the Left Front rule?" questioned Majumdar.
Tamil star Vijay talks to students, dishes out electoral advice for parents. Image Source: IANS News

Chennai, Feb 4 : Tamil superstar Vijay alias 'Thalapathy' Vijay on Sunday thanked people who wished him on his entry into politics after he launched his political outfit Thamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam.

Chennai, Feb 4 (IANS) Tamil superstar Vijay alias aThalapathya Vijay on Sunday thanked people who wished him on his entry into politics after he launched his political outfit Thamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam.

Several senior leaders -- MDMK Chief Vaiko, Tamil Nadu Minister Udayanidhi Stalin, BJP State President K. Annamalai and senior leaders of the AIADMK -- have welcomed Vijay on his political entry.

Vijay had launched his political outfit on Friday and announced that his party will focus on eradicating corruption and work for the upliftment of the downtrodden.

The Tamil super star has said that his party will not support any party or individuals during the upcoming 2024 general elections.

Earlier, Vijay has said that his partyas focus will be on 2026 state legislative assembly elections.
Chandigarh, Feb 4 : The Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), in a joint operation with central agencies, have solved the sensational Chandigarh firing case with the arrest of three operatives of foreign-based gangster Goldy Brar from UP's Gorakhpur, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said here on Sunday.

Those arrested have been identified as Amritpal Singh, Kamalpreet Singh and Prem Singh. All accused have a criminal history with several criminal cases against them.

As per the information, unidentified assailants had opened fire at the house of a businessman located in Sector 5 of Chandigarh on January 19.

DGP Yadav said acting on the input of the AGTF Punjab headed by ADGP Promod Ban, police teams under the supervision of AIG Sandeep Goel, jointly with Chandigarh Police, tracked them on their way from Bihar to Uttar Pradesh, and nabbed them at the Gorakhpur railway station.
Patna, Feb 4 : A 17-year-old youth, who disappeared from the house 10 days ago, was found brutally murdered near a village on the outskirts of Patna on Sunday, police said.

The body of the deceased, identified as Monu Kumar of Kahari Tola village under Maner police station, was found in a canal. Both his eyes had been gouged out.

Police said that Monu disappeared from home on January 23. As per the CCTV footage, a person named Kariman accompanied him on that day.

"We have arrested Kariman, a native of the same village. Kariman has some dispute over money with Monu. Questioning of the accused is currently underway," said an officer of Maner police station.

An FIR has been registered in Maner police station and the dead body was sent for the post-mortem examination.
Hyderabad, Feb 4 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Sunday alleged that it was the previous BRS government headed by K. Chandrasekhar Rao which surrendered irrigation projects on Krishna and Godavari rivers to the Centre but now running a false propaganda against the Congress government.

Addressing a press conference, he slammed KCR for his allegation that the Congress government handed over the project.

He said KCR was trying to blame the Congress government for all the wrongs done by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government. He dared the former chief minister to participate in the debate on irrigation projects in the State Assembly during the coming session. Revanth Reddy said the government will release white papers on irrigation projects during the session and there will be a debate for two days.

"Let KCR, his son, daughter and nephew come to the session and participate in the debate. They can speak as long as they want," he said.

"They should come to the Assembly and participate in debates if they have honesty. Let the facts come out. Let the people know who betrayed Telangana and who did injustice to the state," he added. The Chief Minister said that if necessary, the debate will be extended beyond two days.

Alleging that BRS was trying to derive political mileage through false propaganda, he said the seed for handing over projects to the Centre was sown when KCR was Member of Parliament.

He claimed that the issue of handing over projects to the Centre was included in Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. TRS (now BRS) raised no objection and KCR cast his vote to support the Reorganisation Act.

He claimed that at the meeting of Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) on June 18, 2015, the issue of distributing 811 TMC water was discussed with the chief ministers of both the states. "KCR who was chief minister and Harish Rao who was irrigation minister signed on the agreement allocating 511 TMC to Andhra Pradesh and 299 TMC to Telangana. They did injustice to Telangana by not demanding 50 per cent share for Telangana." Revanth Reddy said that 68 per cent of Krishna river is in Telangana and only 32 per cent is in Andhra Pradesh.

As per the international water policies, Telangana should get over 500 TMC but by signing the agreement, KCR and Harish Rao permanently handed over Telangana's due share to Andhra Pradesh.

He alleged that in the KRMB meeting held in 2022 and again on May 19, 2023, KCR agreed to hand over 15 projects.

He alleged that when Krishna water was diverted to Andhra Pradesh through the Pothireddypadu project during YSR's regime, KCR and Harish Rao had supported it.

He recalled that TRS was part of the Congress-led government formed in 2004 in united Andhra Pradesh.

KCR was minister at the Centre and Harish Rao and N. Narasimha Reddy were ministers in the state Revanth Reddy said Congress leaders in Telangana fought against injustice to Telangana through diversion of water but KCR did not help them and surrendered to YSR.

He also claimed that present Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy discussed Krishna water issue with KCR for six hours during the meeting at Pragati Bhavan on January 14, 2020 and KCR gave green signal to Jagan to divert daily 8 TMC water through Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation project.

He said when Jagan Mohan Reddy sent the police force to occupy Nagarjuna Sagar project, KCR failed to respond.

He alleged that KCR also cooperated with Andhra Pradesh when N. Chandrababu Naidu was chief minister and the Muchumarri project was constructed.

"In the past, Telangana had the upper hand on Krishna projects in the past but KCR surrendered to the pressure from YSR, Chandrababu and Jagan," he said.

He alleged that for the sake of positions and commissions, KCR cooperated in water theft and neglected SLBC and Kalwakurthy lift irrigation projects.

Revanth Reddy alleged that Telangana suffered more under KCR rule than under the united Andhra Pradesh.

He asked why KCR did not stop illegal projects of Andhra Pradesh for 10 years.

The Chief Minister clarified that the minutes of the recent meeting of KRMB were written wrongly and the officials have written a letter about this to the Centre on January 27.

He claimed that the Congress government is fighting for the water rights of Telangana.

Irrigation minister Uttam Kumar Reddy clarified that projects have not been handed over to KRMB. He alleged that the previous government spent thousands of crores on projects but failed to irrigate even one acre.

Alleging that KCR destroyed irrigation projects, he said the BRS leader has no right to speak on the issue.

--IANS

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Amaravati, Feb 4 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena party chief Pawan Kalyan on Sunday held talks on seat-sharing for forthcoming elections to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and the Lok Sabha.

The two leaders had a detailed discussion for nearly three hours at Naiduas residence at Undavalli here and are reported to have reached a broad understanding over the seats to be contested by the two parties.

Both the TDP and the Jana Sena have not released any statement about the outcome of the meeting.

However, Pawan Kalyan reportedly told a meeting of Jana Sena leaders that there will be issues in alliance but they were determined to overcome them to get rid of YSR Congress Party government.

Both the leaders are understood to have discussed the joint manifesto and the issues to be raised during the election campaign.

The Jana Sena is looking for a good chunk of seats in undivided Godavari and Krishna districts as the party is believed to have a strong presence there.

On January 26, Pawan Kalyan announced that Jana Sena will contest Razole and Rajanagaram Assembly seats. His action came after the TDP announced candidates for Mandapeta and Araku seats.

The actor politician found fault with the TDP for unilaterally announcing candidates for two seats even before the seat-sharing agreement and remarked that the TDP violated the principles of alliance.

He hinted that his Jana Sena will contest one-third of the seats as part of the alliance.

Elections to the 175-member Assembly are slated to be held along with Lok Sabha polls in April-May.

Razole was the only Assembly seat won by Jana Sena in the 2019 elections. However, its MLA R. Vara Prasada Rao had later defected to the YSRCP.

It was in September last year that Pawan Kalyan after meeting Chandrababu Naidu in Rajahmundry Jail had announced that Jana Sena will have an electoral alliance with the TDP for the forthcoming elections to throw YSR Congress Party out of power.

Meanwhile, Machilipatnam MP Vallabhaneni Balashwory joined Jana Sena in the presence of Pawan Kalyan on Sunday. Balashowry resigned from the YSRCP last month after it became clear that he will not get a ticket to contest Lok Sabha or Assembly elections. In 2019, YSRCP had bagged 151 seats in the 175-member Assembly and won 22 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats.
Guwahati/Imphal, Feb 4 : At least seven Manipur Police trainees, undergoing training at Lachit Borphukan Police Academy in Assam's Golaghat district, were injured when a clash broke out between cadets of two ethnic groups, police said on Sunday.

Police said that of the seven injured, three were admitted to Jorhat medical college and the remaining four were discharged after treatment.

The seven Manipur Police trainees, belonging to different ethnic groups, engaged in verbal abuse over some petty matter during dinner time on Saturday night and this snowballed in a physical scuffle. Trainees of other northeastern states intervened and dispersed the two warring groups, a police official said.

Three senior police officials of Assam and Manipur have visited the academy on Sunday and warned the trainees.

Assam Director General of Police G.P. Singh stated on X: "Reference scuffle at Police Academy at Dergaon Assam amongst young trainees from Manipur - Theyave been briefed in no uncertain terms to follow instructions and protocols of training institute from drill to discipline to decorum. No scope would be presented to anyone to deviate from the principles that guide training in our Academy. Any aberrant Behaviour would be corrected through tough training measures".

"...... there was a scuffle between the trainees from Manipur at Lachit Barphukan Police Academy over distribution of dinner. The matter is now resolved. The Range IGP and DIG Training are with the boys," he added.

Manipur Police sources said that senior IPS officer M. Pradip Singh also arrived in the academy to take stock of the situation.

"Matter is being monitored by Manipur Police on a real time basis and the situation is under control," the source said.

Manipur Police trainees are provided training in Assam police training academies. Last month, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh met his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati and discussed the training of new recruits of the state police.

Sarma had said: "As there is no environment for training of police battalions in Manipur, a battalion of Manipur will be trained in Dergaon. The Chief Minister of Manipur has requested me for the training of the battalion. It was purely an official discussion and not political."

There are four training institutions in Assam, all located at Dergaon, in Golaghat to train the Assam Police personnel.

A senior officer in Manipur said that the state was not able to provide training following the ethnic strife which broke out in the state on May 3 last year. There was new recruitment in state police but they were not given training facilities as the state was battling ethnic conflict.

--IANS

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Panaji, Feb 4 : A 77-year-old man, owner of a villa, was found dead under suspicious conditions on Sunday in Goa, the police said.

Superintendent of Police (North Goa) Nidhin Valsan said the deceased, identified as N.S. Dhillon, was from Punjab. He was involved in the hospitality sector business in the coastal state.

He said that the police were informed about Dhillion's death by Seema Singh, his manager.

Dhillon used to reside at villa Horizon Azura at Marra, Pilerne, North Goa

"We found the dead body of deceased NS Dhillon in his room. During investigation, minor injuries were observed on the dead body. The deceased was reportedly living alone but would receive guests quite often," Valsan said.

"Last night (Saturday), there were some guests. The detailed examination revealed that the jewellery worn on his body, the mobile phone and a rent-a-car possessed by the deceased were found missing. On further investigation, the missing rent-a-car was tracked in Maharashtra and the occupants of the car have been detained by Crime Branch Navi-Mumbai, Maharashtra," the police officer said.

He said that a Goa Police team would be leaving for Mumbai to take custody of the suspects.

"On the basis of facts and circumstances, a case of murder and robbery under section 302 and 392 of IPC, 1860 has been registered," he said.
Chennai, Feb 4 : Former Union Minister and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Anbumani Ramadoss has called upon the Central and state law enforcement agencies to work together to return the money to the people in the Rs 60,000 crore scam in which Pearl Agrotech Corporation Ltd (PACL) is allegedly involved.

PACL had collected money from the public, offering them huge returns, including landed property against their investment. However, more than Rs 60,000 crore was collected by the PACL under various ponzi schemes.

Ramadoss, a former Union Cabinet Minister for Health and Family Welfare, in a statement on Sunday said that around 1 crore people in Tamil Nadu and 6 crore people in other states have lost money in the PACL scam.

He said that the central and state governments must safeguard those affected in this scam from being financially ruined.

Anbumani also said that close to one crore people from Tamil Nadu have invested anywhere from Rs 2,500 to Rs 10 lakh in PACL.

He said that even after more than eight years, they are yet to get their money back and struggling to raise money for marriage and medical expenses of family members.
Hyderabad, Feb 4 : The Telangana government on Sunday decided to change the state's abbreviation to 'TG' from present 'TS'.

Hyderabad, Feb 4 (IANS) The Telangana government on Sunday decided to change the stateas abbreviation to 'TG' from present 'TS'.

The decision was taken at the state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.

Following the Cabinet decision, 'TG' will replace 'TS' in the gazette of the Union government.

After formation of Telangana in 2014, then TRS government had opted 'TS' as the state abbreviation.

Briefing media persons about the decisions taken by the Cabinet, minister D. Sridhar Babu said the previous government did not follow any rule and rhyme and decided to go with 'TS' as per its whims.

Following this decision, vehicle registration numbers will now have 'TG' as prefix.

The Cabinet decision was taken to implement an announcement made by Revanth Reddy during the election campaign. He had said 'TG' was replaced by 'TS' only to suit the TRS party. No other state in the country has astatea in the alphabet component in the vehicle registration number, he had pointed out.

The Cabinet also decided to change Telangana Talli statue to reflect the sentiments of Telangana people. It decided to adopt Andesrias "Jai Jai Ho Telangana" as the state song. It was also decided to design a new state emblem in consultation with all stakeholders.

The Cabinet decided to conduct state Assembly session from February 8. It approved the Governor's speech. It was also decided to implement two more guarantees after discussion in the Assembly.

These guarantees are gas cylinders for Rs.500 and free power up to 200 units to households.

The Cabinet also decided to take up caste census in the state. Notifying Kodangal Area Development Authority, upgradation of 65 Government ITIs as advanced technology centres, allocation of 100 acres of land for constructing High Court, and formulating guidelines to award remission to convicts were the other key decisions taken.
Yangon, Feb 5 : Myanmar authorities have arrested six suspects for illegal possession of rockets in southern Myanmar's Bago region, official media reported on Sunday.

Ten 107-mm rockets and 10 detonators were seized near Kamar Natkha Village in Bago township on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported, citing official daily The Mirror.

A 40-mm rocket and a handmade bomb were also confiscated in Thanatpin township of the region, the report said.
Gaza, Feb 5 : Hamas has condemned the US-British airstrikes on Yemen, considering it "an escalation that will drag the region into more turmoil".

"We strongly condemn the US-British airstrikes of the Republic of Yemen and consider it a blatant attack on the sovereignty of an Arab country," Hamas was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying on Sunday.

Hamas in a press statement said that the airstrikes represented "an escalation that will drag the region into more turmoil and instability, for the repercussions of which Washington and Israel bear full responsibility".

US and British forces launched joint strikes Saturday against targets in the Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, said the Pentagon.

Yemen's Houthi group said on Sunday morning it would launch retaliatory attacks for the US-British airstrikes overnight on six provinces under Houthis' control in northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa.

Since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on October 7, 2023, the Houthis have carried out more than 40 missile attacks against commercial vessels and US naval ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The Houthis said they aimed to press Israel to end the offensive and siege of Gaza.
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Only a fifth of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) in breach of the market regulator-specified thresholds may need to provide enhanced disclosure on ultimate beneficiaries, thanks to exemptions being provided, according to people in the know.

Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

The ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO) disclosures, for FPIs with over 50 per cent holding in a single corporate group or over Rs 25,000 crore exposure to Indian assets, will be required from February 1.

But, depending on their category, FPIs will have 10-30 working days to submit these granular details.

FPIs affected by this will have a further six months, after the 30-day window, to exit holdings or rebalance their portfolio.

In effect, overseas funds will have seven months to comply with the new disclosure norms.

As a result, the sources said, no panic selling is expected, as feared by some market participants.

Initial estimates by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) suggest that the assets held by FPIs with holdings above the thresholds were around Rs 2.6 trillion.

The sources said that with the exemptions given in the standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by custodians, the net impact would be significantly less.

Exemptions from enhanced disclosures have been provided to FPIs that are sovereign wealth funds, listed companies on certain global exchanges, public retail funds, and other regulated pooled investment vehicles with diversified global holdings, said a person with direct knowledge of the matter.

Currently, the value of FPIs equity holding is over Rs 60 trillion.

Industry insiders said between Rs 40,000 crore and Rs 60,000 crore worth of FPI assets may need liquidation if additional disclosures of UBOs are not provided.

Over the past week, FPIs have withdrawn nearly Rs 30,000 crore from the domestic markets, which some feared was in anticipation of the enhanced disclosure norms coming into effect.

However, the sources said a large part of this selling is from banking stocks, mainly HDFC Bank, where there are no concerns about high single-group exposure by FPIs.

Most of the FPIs with holdings above Rs 25,000 crore in the Indian markets fall within the exemption list.

People in the know said that in the case of certain FPIs with over 50 per cent exposure in a single corporate group, there is no risk of minimum public shareholding violation in companies that do not have an identified promoter.

Such FPIs can also benefit from the exemptions from enhanced disclosures.

According to the SOP to custodians, government and government-related investors registered as Category 1 FPIs or those with at least 75 per cent direct or indirect ownership by such government and government-related investors are excluded from the granular disclosures.

Further, public retail funds like pension funds, insurance, and reinsurance entities or those structured like mutual funds are also exempted, provided that the custodians follow the specified verification.

Similarly, pooled investment vehicles either registered with the regulatory authority of the respective jurisdiction or regulated by the government also fall on the exemption list.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) traded on the exchanges of eight jurisdictions are also exempted but they must have less than 50 per cent exposure in India-listed equities.

These jurisdictions are the US, Japan, South Korea, France, the UK (excluding British Overseas Territories), Germany, Canada, and the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in India.

The Sebi board in June 2023 approved changes in the FPI regulation seeking granular details on economic interest from FPIs to address circumvention of the minimum public shareholding norms following the allegations by Hindenburg Research against the Adani group.
A day before the Champai Soren government in Jharkhand is scheduled to face a floor test, senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Lobin Hembrom on Sunday claimed that wrong advice led to Hemant Soren's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate.

IMAGE: Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren during the 52nd Foundation Day of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), in Dhanbad on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Hemant Soren, the former chief minister, has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.

"Hemant Soren repeatedly ignored my advice and eventually landed in jail... he has always been surrounded by wrong advisors," Hembrom, a lawmaker from Borio seat in Sahibganj district, told reporters.

Hembrom squarely blamed Hemant Soren's personal and media advisors, besides advisors from JMM for his plight.

He also objected to the move by the JMM-led alliance to shift MLAs to Hyderabad.

Hembrom expressed displeasure over 'such expenditure at a time when Jharkhand's majority populace struggled to meet both ends'.

He also demanded the implementation of the Chota Nagpur Tenancy Act and Santhal Parganas Tenancy Act. Both the Acts prohibit the sale of tribal land to non-tribals.

Hembrom also demanded a ban on liquor sale in the state.

On his participation in the floor test on Monday, Hembrom said he would support the Champai Soren government.

The Champai Soren-led coalition government in Jharkhand will seek a vote of trust on February 5 during a special two-day assembly session.

JMM legislature party leader Champai Soren took oath as the chief minister on Friday after Hemant Soren was arrested by the ED on Wednesday in a money laundering case.

A special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court has allowed him to participate in the trust vote sought by the new government.

He was remanded to ED custody for five days by the court on Friday.

The alliance, between the JMM, Congress and RJD, has 47 MLAs in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly and is supported from outside by the lone Communist Party if India-Marxist Leninist (Liberation) legislator.
A team of Delhi Police Crime Branch on Sunday visited Finance Minister Atishi's residence and served her a notice in connection with allegations that the Bharatiya Janata Party was attempting to 'poach' Aam Aadmi Party MLAs.

IMAGE: A team of Delhi Police Crime Branch officials arrives at the residence of Delhi Minister Atishi to serve her a notice in connection with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) 's allegation against the BJP attempting to poach AAP MLAs, in New Delhi on Sunday. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo

Sources said that the Delhi minister's staff have received the notice, after the Crime Branch team visited the AAP leader's residence for a second time at 12.55 pm on Sunday.

According to the notice, the Crime Branch has asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi to give information on the allegations of poaching levelled against the BJP, given statements by them suggest they were 'privy to certain information regarding commission of a cognisable offence'.

They have been asked to respond to the notice by February 5.

This comes a day after Crime Branch officials served a notice to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, asking him to reply within three days in a probe into his claims that the BJP attempted to poach seven AAP MLAs.

Atishi was not present at her residence when the notice was handed over, sources said.

Earlier in the day too, police officials had arrived at the minister's residence but she was not present.

"The team visited again to serve notice to Atishi. The team first visited her house in the morning when she was not present at her residence," a senior police officer of the Crime Branch said.

According to AAP sources, Atishi had given directions to her office staff to receive the notice.

Responding to the notice, AAP leader Jasmine Shah said the notice does not include anything about a summon or an first information report (FIR) or any section of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) or Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

"This is just a letter on a white paper," Shah said.

"Crime Branch officials also reached the residence of Delhi minister Atishi today to serve her a notice. They wanted to give it only to her personally and not to her officials. Should the Delhi ministers always stay at their homes to personally receive each and every delivery?" Shah said, adding that police officers had waited five hours before giving the notice to an official of the CMO.

On January 27, Kejriwal and Atishi had claimed that the BJP was trying to poach AAP MLAs by offering Rs 25 crore each and a ticket to contest next year's assembly poll to topple the AAP government.

The BJP had rubbished the allegations, terming them 'false' and 'baseless', and dared the chief minister to furnish evidence to back his claims.

Police have approached senior AAP leaders seeking assistance with the names of the MLAs who were approached by the BJP.

According to the notice seen by PTI, the Crime Branch has asked Kejriwal and Atishi to respond to the notice by February 5.

'An enquiry is being conducted by Crime Branch, Delhi Police, on a complaint received in respect of the allegations made by you that BJP has offered Rs 25 crore each to sitting MLAs of Aam Aadmi Party for leaving AAP and to join the BJP. These allegations were posted by you on X (formerly Twitter) on January 27,' read the notice.

'The plain reading of the said tweet indicates that you are privy to certain information regarding commission of a cognisable offence. Therefore, you are hereby requested to provide answers to the questionnaire enclosed herewith by February 5,' the notice read.

'Any additional/supplementary information that you may wish to share or which may be deemed by you to be of any assistance for the enquiry, may either be tendered in writing or can be got recorded by the undersigned on the date and venue mentioned above,' it added.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party had been trying to compel him and other Aam Aadmi Party leaders to join the party and asserted they would not do so as they had done no wrong.

IMAGE: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal addresses during a protest against the BJP over the Chandigarh Mayor election issue, near the AAP office, in New Delhi on February 2, 2024. Photograph: Ishant/ANI Photo

The BJP dismissed his claim as an attempt to 'distract and trick' the people of Delhi.

Kejriwal's remarks come at a time he has been asked to join the Delhi Police probe into his allegations that the BJP attempted to 'poach' AAP MLAs and is facing summons from the Enforcement Directorate in an excise policy linked money laundering case.

Addressing an event where he laid the foundation of two schools in Kirari, the AAP chief claimed that the BJP wanted them to join the party but he was firm on not doing so.

"They can hatch any conspiracy against us but nothing is going to happen. I am standing firm against them and I am not going to bow down. They say, 'come and join BJP and we will leave you alone'. But I will never join BJP. Why should we join BJP? If you join BJP, all sins are forgiven," Kejriwal said.

The chief minister said they were working to improve schools and hospitals in the national capital and asked what was wrong in that.

Later in a post on X, Kejriwal asserted that all cases against AAP leaders were false.

'If we had done something wrong, we would have joined BJP like others who got their cases closed. When we have not done anything wrong, why should we join BJP? All the cases filed against us are false. If not today, tomorrow, all the cases will end,' he said in the post in Hindi.

He also said development works will not stop in Delhi, and 'as long as are alive, we will continue to serve the country and society'.

Responding to Kejriwal's remarks, the BJP's Delhi unit chief Virendra Sachdeva said, "Arvind Kejriwal is afraid of investigation by probe agencies, that's why he is lying. He wants to distract and trick the people of Delhi and that's why he is dreaming about the things that will never happen."

Kejriwal and cabinet minister Atishi have been served notices by the Delhi Police Crime Branch in connection with the allegations levelled by them that the BJP was attempting to 'poach' AAP MLAs.

Kejriwal has skipped five summonses issued by the Enforcement Directorate for questioning him in the excise policy linked money laundering case.

The BJP has questioned his decision to skip the notices while the AAP has alleged that it is a conspiracy to arrest Kejriwal ahead of the Lok Sabha elections to stop him from campaigning.
The disclosure by Chhagan Bhujbal that he resigned as a minister last November has put a focus on the Maratha quota tightrope the Eknath Shinde-led government is walking amid restlessness in OBCs, with Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray claiming Bhujbal and the Bharatiya Janata Party are hand in glove.

IMAGE: NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal. Photograph: Sahil Salvi

Hours after the dramatic announcement was made by Bhujbal, who belongs to the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party, at a public rally on Saturday, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said his resignation has not been accepted.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will be able to clarify, Fadnavis told reporters.

Shiv Sena-UBT MP Sanjay Raut dubbed Bhujbal's disclosure about his resignation a 'hogwash'.

The Shiv Sena led by Shinde, BJP, and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) are the constituents of the Mahayuti government.

Bhujbal claims he resigned from the Cabinet last year but he attended subsequent meetings of the council of ministers, Raut told reporters in Mumbai on Sunday.

"It is said that Devendra Fadnavis is behind Bhujbal's outbursts against the handling of the Maratha quota agitation led by (activist) Manoj Jarange. Both are hand in glove. I will resign but you will not accept it or you resign and we will not accept it," Raut claimed.

Bhujbal's bete noire and the face of Maratha protests, Manoj Jarange, on Sunday, said the OBC leader was trying to 'damage' Deputy CMs Fadnavis (BJP) and Ajit Pawar (NCP) with his statements about the Maratha reservation.

Bhujbal has accused the state government of facilitating 'backdoor entry' of the Maratha community into the OBC quota by pandering to the demands made by Jarange.

He has sharpened his attack against the government after it issued a draft notification accepting Jarange's demand that blood relatives of Marathas with Kunbi (OBC sub-caste) records, will be given the Kunbi certificates.

Addressing a rally of OBCs in Ahmednagar on Saturday, Bhujbal referred to the demands being raised by some leaders from the state government and the Opposition for sacking him as a minister in view of his public outbursts against the handling of the Maratha reservation issue.

"I want to tell leaders from the opposition, government, and my party that ahead of the OBC Elgar rally held in Ambad on November 17, I resigned from the cabinet on November 16 and then went to attend that event.

"There is no need for sacking. I have tendered my resignation. I will fight for the OBCs till the end," Bhujbal added.

He also said he kept quiet for more than two months because the chief minister and the Dy CM asked him not to speak about the resignation.

Bhujbal reiterated that he was not opposed to Marathas getting the reservation but is against sharing the existing quota for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

Talking to reporters, Fadnavis said, "The chief minister will be able to clarify, but I can only say as of now that Bhujbal's resignation has not been accepted by the chief minister or me."

Meanwhile, Sanjay Raut sought to know who has the authority to accept Bhujbal's resignation - Chief Minister Eknath Shinde or Deputy CM Fadnavis.

It has been a precedent that those who oppose the chief minister or the government have no right to be a part of it, he claimed.

"We are of the view that all communities should get their rights but not at the cost of encroaching on others' rights," Raut said, adding that even Bhujbal says the same.

Speaking to reporters at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, Jarange rubbished Bhujbal's allegations that fake and overwritten records were being used to get the reservation for the Maratha community.

"He (Bhujbal) doesn't understand anything. There is a law, a government, a committee and scholars working on this issue, but Bhujbal doubts his own government. He is trying to damage Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar," the activist said.

He further claimed that it has become Bhujbal's business to damage every party he joins.

"If he (Bhujbal) wants to resign, he should do it, but should not talk against Maratha reservation," Jarange added.
Gujarat Police probing a hate speech case on Sunday detained Islamic preacher Mufti Salman Azhari in Mumbai, an official said.

Image only for representation. Photograph: PTI Photo/Rediff Archives

Mufti Salman is currently at Ghatkopar police station, the official said.

Hundreds of supporters of the Mufti gathered outside the police station demanding his immediate release, bringing traffic to a standstill in the area, the official said, adding that police have strengthened security.

Junagadh Police arrested two persons on Saturday after a video of an inflammatory speech allegedly delivered by the preacher went viral on social media, a police officer has said.

The speech was delivered at an event held on an open ground near the 'B' division police station in Junagadh on the night of January 31, he said.

After the video went viral, a First Information Report was registered against Azhari and local organizers Mohammad Yousuf Malek and Azim Habib Odedara under Indian Penal Code sections 153B (promoting enmity between different religious groups) and 505 (2) (making statements conducive to public mischief).
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) Kerala president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal on Sunday landed in a controversy over his recent statement that there is no need to protest against the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya as both the new temple and the proposed mosque would strengthen secularism in the country.

Photograph: ANI on X

The IUML is a major ally of the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala and an influential political party among the Muslim community.

Thangal made the statement during an event on January 24 at Manjeri near Malappuram, but a video of it went viral on Sunday.

While the Indian National League (INL), a coalition partner of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Federation government in Kerala lashed out at the IUML leader, the Congress party and the IUML defended Thangal and said he was trying to prevent any campaign of hatred and attempts to divide society.

Addressing the event at Manjeri, Thangal had said that the Ram temple which is 'worshipped and revered by the majority of the people' in the country 'is a reality'.

"We cannot go back from that. There is no need for us to protest against it. The temple came up based on a court order and the Babri Masjid is about to be constructed. These two are now part of India. The Ram temple and the proposed Babri Masjid are two best examples that strengthen secularism of our country," Thangal was seen saying in the video.

"We know that it (Babri Masjid) was destroyed by the karsevaks and we had protested against it at that time," he said, adding that Indian Muslims dealt with it in a mature manner.

Indian National League (INL) Kerala State Secretariat Member N K Abdul Azeez in a Facebook post said that political leaders are not ignorant of the fact that Gandhi's Ram Rajya is different from the Ram Rajya of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

"The spiritual Hindu religion of a believer is different from the political Hindutva of the RSS and the political leaders are not ignorant of this fact. Yet they are making a fool of its ranks. It's not possible to believe that the ordinary party workers of IUML will accept this position," Azeez said.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan and senior IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty came out in support of Thangal and said his words were misinterpreted.

Kunhalikutty said the Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to politicise the Ayodhya issue and Thangal was trying to warn people not to fall into that trap. "But it was misinterpreted," he said.

Satheesan said while many were trying to ignite tensions needlessly, Thangal was trying to douse it.

"One should understand why he said so. When some are trying to set fire to water, Thangal is trying to douse it. He was speaking against the campaign of hatred and division," Satheesan said.
The MLAs of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led alliance exuded confidence to win the trust vote in the assembly on Monday, soon after their return to Ranchi from Hyderabad on Sunday evening.

IMAGE: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress MLAs arrive at the Ranchi airport for the floor test of the new government of Jharkhand that is likely to be held in the State Assembly on February 5, on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Photo

The legislators landed at the Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi in a chartered flight and were taken to the Circuit House in the city in two buses.

"Our MLAs are united... We have the support of 48 to 50 legislators," minister Alamgir Alam said.

JMM lawmaker Mithilesh Thakur also asserted that the JMM-led coalition will sail through the trust vote.

"Many BJP legislators are also in support of the alliance in the state," he claimed.

However, Biranchi Narain, Chief Whip of the BJP, said the coalition was set to lose the vote of confidence on Monday.

He said the MLAs in Hyderabad were kept under strict surveillance, which indicates that they were not confident of winning.

The Champai Soren-led coalition government in Jharkhand will seek a vote of confidence on Monday, the first day of the two-day assembly session.

Soren was administered the oath of office by Governor C P Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan on February 2.

Along with him, senior Congress leader Alamgir Alam and RJD leader Satyanand Bhokta took oath as ministers.

JMM legislature party leader Champai Soren took oath as the chief minister on Friday, after his predecessor Hemant Soren was arrested by the ED on Wednesday in a money laundering case.

A special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court has allowed him to participate in the trust vote.

Hemant Soren was remanded to ED custody for five days by the court on Friday.

The alliance between the JMM, Congress and RJD has 47 MLAs in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, and it is supported from outside by a lone CPIML(L) legislator.
The Kerala police on Saturday registered a case against a woman professor of the National Institute of Technology-Calicut for her Facebook comment "expressing pride" in Nathuram Godse for assassinating Mahatma Gandhi and thus "saving India".

IMAGE: A view of the NIT-Calicut campus in Kerala. Photograph: Courtesy NIT-Calicut on X

Multiple complaints were lodged against Professor A Shaija in several police stations in the city by various student organisations, including Students Federation of India, Kerala Students Union, and Muslim Students Federation, following which an FIR was registered against her.

IPC Section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with the intent to cause riot) was invoked against the professor.

Kunnamangalam and Nadakkavu police stations were among the stations where complaints were filed against her.

Shaija, a senior faculty member of the department of mechanical engineering at NIT in Kozhikode on January 30 posted a comment on Facebook saying "Proud of Godse for saving India".

She had commented on a post by a lawyer, Krishna Raj, who posted Godse's photograph saying Hindu Mahasabha activist Nathuram Vinayak Godse, a hero of many in India.

A senior police official of the district told PTI that a case has been registered against the professor and the investigation has begun.

However, as the matter became a controversy, the professor deleted her comment.

The NIT has been marred by controversy for the past few weeks after a section of students celebrated the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22.

A student named Vyshakh, who reportedly protested against the celebration was suspended by the college following a brawl between two sections of the students.

Meanwhile, the Kunnamangalam police on Friday registered a case against 10 students for allegedly assaulting Kailas on January 22.

The action against Vyshakh was freezed on February 2 after he approached the appellate authority in the institution.
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.
RUTLAND  The horrific early-morning crash that took the life of 18-year-old Kianna Peters Mason of Pownal in the summer of 2020 became a cautionary tale to young drivers. The man who was at the wheel was sentenced on Friday.

Powerful impact statements filled with heartache, grief, and still-raw anger directed at defendant Gage Capen  sitting just 6 feet away  seemed to visually move Judge Cortland Corsones as he weighed whether to accept a plea deal or reject it at the request of the family.

I dont wish this pain or suffering on anyone, Peters' mother, Candie LeBarron, said in a statement to the court. The job of a parent is to keep your baby safe. We did that. Gage Capen's job that night was to keep Kianna safe. He did not do that. Kiannas life is worth more than a slap on the wrist.

Corsones faced a decision of whether or not to accept a deal that allowed the young defendant  21 at the time of the accident  to plead guilty to a misdemeanor count of negligent operation of a vehicle with a fatality and two counts of misdemeanor negligent operation with serious injury. The alternative was moving ahead with the original charges, including three counts of felony gross negligence carrying a 15-year sentence for each count.

The plea deal called for a combined nine-month to four-year sentence to serve, and an extended supervised parole afterward. It also included suspended sentences for several probation violations and other minor charges before and after Capen's arrest in the vehicle case.

After hearing the impact statements, a written statement from Capen, and oral arguments from both attorneys, Corsones asked for some time to decide. What he said when he came back 40 minutes later seemed to move the gathered participants, on both sides in the courtroom, in the hope that the tragedy of what happened four years ago could do some good.

I have been on the bench for 17 years now, Corsones told both Peters' and Capens families  sitting on opposite sides of the courtroom. These are, by far, the hardest cases to hear and pass sentence on. There is little I can do to ease your pain. There is nothing I can do to bring your loved one back. To the extent that some goodwill can come from this horrible tragedy, I dont think it will come from the length of any sentence, but rather from the publicity the case may garner, particularly with young people.

Corsones was speaking directly to the families, but his words seemingly tried to reach beyond the courtroom, out to young people about how carelessly and dangerously operating a motor vehicle can have such horrific and permanent consequences that will impact so many people for the rest of their lives.

Our lives can change in an instant, Corsones said. Even if you survive, you will have to live with what youve done for the rest of your life. If people remember this, then perhaps we can start reversing this death spiral of so many of our young people.

Capen was just 21 when the 2000 Saab convertible he was driving flipped over on a curved section of West Street in Rutland.

Police reports estimate Capen was traveling at around 40 mph in a 25-mph zone at the time of the crash. Surviving witnesses claim Capen was driving erratically just before the car flipped over, swerving back and forth, starting and stopping, and spinning the tires. Capen was the only individual wearing a seatbelt.

Peters, sitting in the front seat with no seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene. The two other passengers were both ejected from the back seat and suffered serious injuries. Capen was extracted from the vehicle and rushed to a local hospital with non-life-sustaining injuries. All three women were said to be drinking, with Peters allegedly standing up in the front seat of the convertible at times along the route.

LeBarron tragically lost her son Jonathan just five months prior to Peters' death in another single-vehicle car crash at the border of New York and Pownal in February 2020.

Kianna and Jonathan were Irish twins, only ten months and nine days apart, Lebarron said in an interview last fall. It was like they fed off of each other and needed each other. Kianna didn't feel whole after Jonathan died. She said that a thousand times. We had lost Jonathan. She took a dive down. She was trying to push through after just losing Jonathan, and she told me, I don't know if I'm going to be able to make it.' I told her, 'You have to, that we're all in this together,' to just try and be strong. She pushed herself through it but was just lost, like a lost puppy. Something was missing. And then the accident happened.

In the end, Corsones accepted the plea deal over the objections of Peters' gathered family. Immediately after the decision, the anger of Peters' family exploded. They were led out of the courtroom by a sheriff. Soon after, Capen was led away, too, to begin his sentence. A family member sitting behind yelled out, We love you  Keep your head up. Capen turned for a second and half-smiled before he was removed.

Im very angry, LeBarron said after the hearing. Theres no justice at all. I feel like they didnt even care about my daughters life. He was laughing, sitting there, with no remorse at all. That was the last thing I could do for my daughter. I couldnt even do that for her. I dont know where to go from here. Its not fair  not fair at all.
A former Chinese Communist Party theorist says true democracy can only be achieved through democratic means.

University students stage a hunger strike for freedom and democracy in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, on May 13, 1989.

The principle of nonviolence is rooted in the idea that justice can only be achieved through just means. Since Mahatma Gandhi founded his nonviolent resistance movement that eventually won India her independence, the idea has become accepted around the world, and the United Nations has designated Oct. 2 "International Nonviolence Day."

The nonviolent resistance theory of the late American scholar Gene Sharp, a lifelong advocate for this form of resistance, has been credited with inspiring color revolutions in former Soviet bloc countries, the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia, and the Arab Spring.

Nonviolent resistance is also emerging as the fundamental mode of protest against authoritarian rule for Chinese citizens, and sthe one that has the most impact.

From the fearless action of Peng Lifa on Beijing's Sitong Bridge in October 2022, to Nanjing University of Media and Communications student Li Kangmeng, who was the first to silently raise a blank sheet of A4, kicking off the "white paper" protests that were to spread across China and make global headlines a few weeks later, there are plenty of examples.

In my view, nonviolent resistance isn't just the main practical way to oppose authoritarian states today. It also holds significant implications for China's future ability to achieve a peaceful political transition and establish a democratic government. We need to uphold this fundamental concept.

Protesters hold up blank pieces of paper and chant slogans as they march to protest strict COVID-19 measures in Beijing, Nov. 27, 2022. (Ng Han Guan/AP)

It's a practical, feasible approach that ordinary people can incorporate into their daily lives. Its various forms, 198 of which were set out by Gene Sharp, are easily adopted, applied, and disseminated by the general public, making it unpredictable, and hard for authoritarian regimes to counter preemptively.

And it's gaining traction among the people.

The goal in engaging in such tactics today is to end the totalitarian rule of the Chinese Communist Party and secure human rights and civil liberties for China's people. To achieve this, we must build unity among various civil forces.

Nonviolent resistance is our only option today, not just because we lack firearms or because it aligns with our moral principles, but because it's a necessity for the future  for pushing ahead towards a constitutional democracy, and eventually achieving democracy through peaceful means.

Because the collapse of authoritarian tyranny doesn't automatically lead to constitutional democracy. Following the collapse of any authoritarian regime, there is the daunting task of clearing away the rubble and constructing a new political community, something that may prove much harder than overthrowing totalitarian rule in the first place.

When China enters its post-Chinese Communist Party era, people from different regions and ethnicities will have diverse ideas and demands. The complexity of addressing these contradictions and disputes may well surpass that of any other country in the world. Peaceful, rational communication, negotiation, and cooperation will become urgently necessary.

Violence could emerge

Commitment to nonviolent resistance means that we must consider our interests, but also those of our children and future generations to come, and we must continue to adhere to the principle of nonviolence throughout the whole process: in standing up to the tyranny of an authoritarian government today, but also in opposing the tyranny of the majority and protecting everyone's human rights and civil liberties tomorrow.

Only then can we lay a solid foundation on which to build our future democracy, and prevent our progress towards democracy from being interrupted by a series of crises, as it was a century ago.

What's more, violence may emerge at any stage of China's political transition, and we must prepare to deal with it.

Plenty of those killed by the Chinese Communist Party, including Lin Zhao, Yu Luoke, Liu Xiaobo, and the students on Tiananmen Square in 1989, didn't engage in violence, yet they still lost their lives at the hands of the authoritarian regime.

So we know that we're facing an authoritarian regime that has no regard for the basic principles of humanity and no moral boundaries. Yet nonviolent resistance doesn't mean people can't defend themselves when the sword of authoritarian tyranny is raised against them.

Under such circumstances, keeping to the path of nonviolent resistance becomes even more challenging, requiring unwavering conviction, courage, wisdom, and long-term resilience.

We need to unite more people in this effort, because violence may be part of the reality of China's political transition. Many in China and overseas worry about potential chaos in China if Communist Party rule were to suddenly collapse, leaving a power vacuum and societal breakdown.

Security guards stop journalists from entering the apartment house where Liu Xia, wife of Liu Xiaobo, stays in Beijing, Oct. 8, 2010. Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo won the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize for "his long and nonviolent struggle for fundamental human rights." (Andy Wong/AP)

In such a scenario, Chinese refugees might overwhelm neighboring Asian countries or even Europe and America, disrupting global peace and stability.

Back home, long-suppressed hatred could erupt into acts of violence.

Such fears are not unreasonable. China lacks a universally respected leader, a law-abiding culture, or any kind of guiding force transcending the political realm.

But that risk doesn't justify continued authoritarian rule in any way.

On the contrary, it underscores the need for us to oppose violence and use the power of the law to hold criminal elements of the authoritarian regime to account for their crimes against the people, to ensure justice is done.

Complex and arduous transition

To achieve this, we will need to work together to maintain normal economic and social life, minimize acts of violence, reduce social unrest, and lessen the social cost of China's political transition.

Only then can we gain genuine support from the international community and help the Chinese people to achieve effective political change.

Later, there may also be dissenting opinions and conflicts among the various forces that previously united against authoritarian rule. We must respond to this in a reasonable manner, and engage in democratic negotiations using nonviolent principles at all times, and never resort to violence to resolve disputes.

We will all need to better ourselves, if we're to do this. China's political transition will be complex and arduous, and will demand a high level of cultural literacy.

The process of political transition is also one of self-education, self-reflection, and self-improvement.

Above all, we must guard against falling into authoritarian thinking as a way to counter authoritarianism.

Chinese people have been steeped in authoritarian ideology from kindergarten to university, and every one of us has been marked by this kind of thinking.

Anyone advocating nonviolent resistance, anyone who aspires to freedom, democracy, and constitutional governance, must first purge themselves of the "wolf's milk" they were raised on.

That includes, but isn't limited to extremist forms of thinking, a belief in our own infallibility, insistence on ideological uniformity, intolerance of dissenting opinions, a zero-sum mentality, a black-and-white worldview and a general willingness to employ any means necessary to achieve our goals.

A group of Christians sing hymns in a peaceful protest against a plan to allow extraditions to the mainland, in Hong Kong on June 11, 2019. (Anthony Walace/AFP)

From an early age, the Chinese Communist Party has poisoned our hearts with hatred, which can make individuals exceptionally ruthless, hindering the development of kindness, empathy, and compassion, making them cruel and inhumane.

Once hatred takes hold, individuals become quick to anger and hostile, resorting to foul language, verbal abuse and personal attacks against those with differing opinions, something we often see on social media platforms.

Many people have also been influenced by the Chinese Communist Party's insistence on "unity," which could prove challenging as we try in future to deal rationally and peacefully with the diverse wishes, cultural traditions, religious beliefs and regional interests of different ethnic groups and populations in China.

Only by consciously rejecting the ideology of "unity," and respecting and protecting the rights of every individual, particularly the right to choose one's fate freely, can we avoid imposing our own desires on others and prevent the authoritarian regime from using us to harm different [non-Han Chinese] ethnic groups.

We must expose their crimes and lies, perpetrated under the guise of "safeguarding national unity."

We must broaden our horizons and embrace any valuable ideas, knowledge, and theories that will further China's political transition. We need to join forces with like-minded individuals, while also learning to compromise, accept and include.

Only then can we pave the way for a brighter future where democracy is firmly established, and the lessons of the past are not forgotten.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie.

Cai Xia, a retired professor of the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party, was expelled from the party and had her pension stripped in August 2020 for serious violations of political discipline following her criticism of the increasingly authoritarian policies of Xi Jinping, party chief and state president. She is currently based in the United States. The views expressed here are Cai's own and do not reflect the position of Radio Free Asia.
To anyone watching Kyrgyzstan these last three years, the revelation that President Sadyr Japarov intends to run for a second presidential term will not be surprising.

More striking for most observers is the extent to which he and his ally -- national-security chief Kamchybek Tashiev -- have managed to tame the countrys once chaotic political landscape without, so far, coming unstuck in the process.

The deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Edil Baisalov, said on January 29 that the people themselves will not allow the 55-year-old Japarov to quit the presidency after just one term.

Our president will participate in the next elections, Baisalov said in response to a question on Ekspertter Taldait (Expert Analysis), a talk show produced by RFE/RLs Kyrgyz Service.

The constitution allows it, so he won't leave halfway. The people themselves will not allow it. The people have hope and will witness great achievements in the next three years, Baisalov said.

Baisalovs words were quickly confirmed by Japarovs official spokesman, who said the Kyrgyz leader will take part in the next presidential election, which would officially be held in 2026.

Japarovs de facto co-ruler, Tashiev, gave his endorsement to the idea of a second Japarov term in December, quieting speculation that he was seeking the job for himself.

The president's long-time ally moreover asserted that the head of state was in his rights to serve out a six-year term, because he was elected in January 2021 under the old constitution. That constitution did not allow presidents to seek reelection. But since the new constitution passed just months after that vote does permit two-term presidencies, Japarov will still be able to run for a second, five-year stint under the new constitution in 2027, Tashiev explained on Facebook.

After clarifying this curious legality, Tashiev then added: I believe that in eight years time another person will appear in the country, who will root for the people, just like Sadyr Japarov.

This all seems to point to a long-term plan for a regime in a country where politics has often been a short-term affair, with three presidents forced from office during three decades of independence.

Then again, Kyrgyzstan is looking rather different these days.

Gone, seemingly, are the notorious backroom powerbrokers who seemed to enjoy the same power and privileges as presidents.

Also gone is the carousel of politicians and business magnates who bounced between the government and the opposition and who could always be relied upon to throw their hats into the ring at election time.

Hushed, if not silenced, is Kyrgyzstan's once noisy civil society, amid a steady stream of imprisonments that have taken in activists and journalists as well as political opponents.

In the intermediate period, the current leadership seems to be in a better position to centralize power than previous leaders, said Johan Engvall, an analyst at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs. But if Kyrgyzstans history teaches us anything, it is that things can change quickly if the government goes too far."

Capturing 'Income Streams'

For the decade prior to Japarov's and Tashievs arrival in power, Kyrgyzstan operated under a constitution that had been specifically designed to reign in the ability of presidents to concentrate power in their hands.

It didnt always work out like that, of course, but Almazbek Atambaev, the first popularly elected president under that older version of the basic law, at least accepted that he could not run again.

The logic for passing the country's 2010 constitution was the behavior of the countrys first two presidents, Askar Akaev and Kurmanbek Bakiev, who were overthrown in revolutions as they took steps to consolidate and expand their power, with notable help from family members.

This political turbulence marked an obvious difference with neighbors like Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, where regimes have been able to see off challenges.

According to Engvall, who authored a book on Kyrgyzstan titled The State As Investment Market, the difference partly lies in Kyrgyzstans style of political economy.

Political power and economic wealth are intimately connected in Kyrgyzstan, but the countrys economic resources have been relatively dispersed among various businessmen and parliamentarians, with presidents unable to fully centralize control over the most lucrative income streams, Engvall told RFE/RL in e-mailed comments.

For the moment, it seems that Japarov and Tashiev are learning from the mistakes of authoritarian Bakiev, under whose reign both men served as top officials.

Capturing income streams emerged as an early priority as government forces seized control over the then-foreign-run Kumtor gold mine in 2021, with Canadian company Centerra Gold later settling with the government out of court.

The move, taking place in the duos first full year after taking power, boosted government revenues, enabling hikes in state salaries that have helped to keep their approval ratings high -- always a problem for the notoriously venal Bakievs.

At the same time as the mine takeover, authorities began detaining high-profile politicians in a criminal investigation related to historic corruption at Kumtor. They were released, but not without first coughing up considerable sums of money.

Former Prime Minister and one-time presidential candidate Omurbek Babanov, for instance, gave 1 billion soms (more than $11 million) in assistance to the state, Tashiev said.

Lesser cash cows have also been expropriated.

Last year, authorities announced the nationalization of the countrys largest vodka producer, Ayu. The companys main beneficiary, reportedly in ill health and living abroad, had in the past helped finance a party that competed in parliamentary elections in 2015 and 2020.

And Then There Were Two

But what of the two men who, for many Kyrgyz, served as embodiments of a corrupt and broken system, even as governments came and went?

Sources who spoke to RFE/RLs Kyrgyz Service and other media outlets across multiple investigations into smuggling and money laundering portrayed crime kingpin Kamchybek Kolbaev and former customs official Raimbek Matraimov as actors in an underground empire worth billions of dollars.

Both men were slapped with sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department, which described Kolbaev as a crowned thief-in-law involved in transnational drug and human trafficking and Matraimov as someone who made hundreds of millions of dollars as a result of his involvement in a corrupt customs scheme. "Thief-in-law" is the highest title in the criminal hierarchy traditionally given to kingpins among criminal groups in former Soviet republics.

Yet in Kyrgyzstan, Kolbaev and Matraimov both enjoyed impunity, a fact underscored by the highly symbolic stints that both men spent in jail at the beginning of Japarovs time in office before walking free and seemingly returning to lives of power.

Not any more, though.

In October, Kolbaev was gunned down by officers of Tashievs State Committee for National Security in a dramatic daytime raid on a restaurant in central Bishkek that marked the beginning of a nationwide operation targeting alleged gangsters.

Many of these reputed criminals have since issued video confessions disavowing their lives of crime.

For a long time, Japarov said very little about the killing of Kolbaev, who hailed from his native Issyk-Kul Province.

But on January 25, Japarov used an interview with the state information agency to distance himself from long-standing allegations that Kolbaev had assisted his rise to power during unrest that broke out over parliamentary elections at a time when Japarov was an opposition figure still serving a prison sentence.

As for Matraimov, he is now officially the subject of an arrest warrant, although his whereabouts are unknown.

Speaking in the former officials home region of Osh, Tashiev said on January 27 that authorities had begun confiscating all of Matraimov's properties and joked that if the former powerbroker ever wanted to live in Kyrgyzstan in the future, he would have to drive around in a humble Chevrolet Matiz.

Aijan Sharshenova, an independent political scientist, told RFE/RL that the Kyrgyz public would most likely welcome the pairs downfall, even if Kolbaev had been somewhat successful in creating the image of a strong man with a romanticized criminal code of honor.

But even without the powerbrokers, Kyrgyzstans new decisively authoritarian political system remains unstructured, with few signs of institutional development, Sharshenova argued.

The main issue with the current operation of all branches of state power is that they are personality-oriented and seem to revolve around the two leaders -- President Japarov and the head of security services Tashiev, Sharshenova told RFE/RL.
On January 29-30, Brussels hosted an Investors Forum for European Union-Central Asia Transport Connectivity. At the forum, EU officials announced that European and international investors would commit 10 billion euros ($10.8 billion) in support and investments toward transport connectivity between Europe and Central Asia, as part of the EUs Global Gateway trade network. The money will go toward a wide assortment of projects -- from roads and railways to renewable energy resources. Joining host Bruce Pannier to discuss what is in this 10-billion-euro package are guests Samuel Doveri Vesterbye, director of the European Neighborhood Council, and Kestutis Jankauskas, the European Unions ambassador to Kazakhstan.
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.
Washington vowed additional military action against Iran-backed groups in the Middle East following two days of attacks in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen in retaliation for months of assaults on U.S. assets in the region, including a drone attack that killed three American service members in Jordan last month.

White House national-security spokesman John Kirby said in a series of TV interviews on February 4 that U.S. strikes on February 2-3 were just the first round of military action and that more will follow.

It began with strikes on Friday night [February 2], but that is not the end of it, he told NBC TV.

We intend to take additional strikes and additional action to continue to send a clear message that the United States will respond when our forces are attacked or people are killed.



He told CBS there will be "more steps -- some seen, some perhaps unseen," adding, though, that "I would not describe it as some open-ended military campaign."

Earlier on February 4, U.S. forces said they hit an additional Huthi target in Yemen, destroying what they said was an anti-ship cruise missile site that had threatened Red Sea shipping traffic.

The statement by U.S. Central Command, released early on February 4, came hours after the United States and Britain stuck more than three dozen targets in Yemen that officials identified as sites operated by the Iran-backed Huthi rebel group.

The U.S. statement did not identify where the anti-ship cruise missile site was located, and said only that U.S. forces acted in self-defense.

A spokesman for Huthi fighters, who have fired dozens missiles at commercial ship traffic passing through the Red Sea, earlier said the attacks "will not deter us" and vowed a response.

In the strikes on February 3, U.S. officials said 36 targets in 13 different locations in Yemen had been hit by U.S. F/A-18 jets launched from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and by Tomahawk missiles fired by warships in the Red Sea.

They were the latest in a widening campaign by U.S. forces and its allies hitting locations not only Yemen, but also, on February 2, in Syria and Iraq. All the targets are where Iranian-linked proxy groups are believed to be operating, U.S. officials say.

Iran, whose Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps have extensive ties to militias throughout the Middle East, accused the United States of undermining regional stability.

The attack on Syria and Iraq is an adventurous action and another strategic mistake by the U.S. government, which will have no result other than intensifying tension and instability in the region," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Naser Kanani said.

Iraqi officials have also reacted angrily.

The U.S. response followed an incident on January 28 in Jordan, when a drone hit a U.S. base, killing three American service members. Washington blamed Tehran and its allies operating in Syria and Iraq.

The wider Middle East continues to grapple with the Israeli military operation in Gaza that is aimed at rooting out the U.S. and EU-designated terror group Hamas. Gaza has been devastated by the Israeli onslaught, with outside observers saying tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed.

Officials in the Middle East, and also some in Washington, D.C., have warned that the expanding U.S. strikes risk sparking a broader war in the region.

With reporting by AP
Michelle O'Neil has become the first Nationalist First Minister as Stormont returned for the first time in two years after it was collapsed by the DUP.

MLAs took their seats in the Assembly chamber on Saturday in a historical day for Northern Ireland.

Follow our updates here as Ministers are announced.

The final ministers to be announced at the Northern Ireland Assembly were Aisling Reilly (Sinn Fein) and Pam Cameron (DUP), who will serve as junior ministers in the Executive Office.

Meanwhile, SDLP MLA Matthew OToole will be leader of the Opposition.

The nomination of ministers has resumed at the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Sinn Fein nominated Caoimhe Archibald as Minister for Finance before the DUP nominated Gordon Lyons as Minister for Communities.

The UUP nominated Robin Swann to return as Health Minister.

Sinn Fein then nominated John ODowd as Minister for Infrastructure, and the Alliance Party nominated Andrew Muir as Minister for Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Affairs.

Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy was nominated as minister for the economy, with DUP MLA Paul Givan nominated as education minister.

Alliance leader Naomi Long has been appointed as Justice Minister for Northern Ireland.

The Assembly has now adjourned.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has described a great day for Northern Ireland.

He addressed media in the Great Hall in Stormont following the nomination of First Minister Michelle ONeill, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Speaker Edwin Poots.

Its a great day for Northern Ireland, its a great day for everyone here, a great day for businesses across this place and public services here, he said.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin has hailed a special day for the people of Northern Ireland as devolved government is revived.

The Tanaiste also congratulated the First Minister Michelle ONeill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly on their appointments.

I wish them both well in what will be very demanding roles. I look forward to working with them, and with their Executive colleagues, he said.

I also want to congratulate Edwin Poots on his election as Speaker of the Assembly.

Mr Martin said Northern Ireland faces a number of real challenges.

While the last few weeks and months have focused on restoring the Assembly and Executive, the hard work now begins in earnest.

Northern Ireland faces a number of real challenges, he said.

An Executive working collectively  and prioritising real, everyday needs over questions of identity  can meet these challenges.

The Government stands ready to support the work of the Executive and to work in partnership with the British Government in this.

Ms Little-Pengelly said there must be no dominating from any side to another, calling for a new approach of recognising the concerns of each other and finding solutions together.

We are all born equal and the people who look on this sitting today demand us to work together, she said.

Michelle is an Irish Republican, and I am a very proud unionist. We will never agree on those issues but what we can agree on is that cancer doesnt discriminate on our hospitals need fixed.

Let us be a source of hope to those young people watching today, not one of despair.

Let us prove that difference is something that can be a strength through recognition and respect. That difference need not to be a barrier to progress and delivering.

This is my pledge. I love this place we call home. I will work tirelessly for delivery for all the people of Northern Ireland from every background. I will do so with the best of my abilities honoured by the privilege and opportunity to do so.

Lets do it side by side and lets keep Northern Ireland moving forward.

Ms Little-Pengelly said she grew up with conflict.

She told Stormont she is thankful that young people today do not have to face that terror that so many of us hear that but as a child, adding she will never forget the fear, the hurt and the anger.

The past with all its horror can never be forgotten, and nor will it be allowed to be rewritten but while we are shaped by the past, we are not defined by it, she said.

The experience of my childhood gave me the drive and desire to make a different future not just for myself, but to do all that I could and can to ensure a better future for all of us.

Across this chamber we have different political viewpoints and experiences but what we also know is that the mummy waiting on her cancer diagnosis is not defined as being republican or unionist.

She is defined by the sleepless nights and worry that she may never see her children grow up.

Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said she and First Minister Michelle ONeill come from very different backgrounds, but said she will work tirelessly to ensure that together they can deliver for all in Northern Ireland.

I recognise that for many today it is a historic moment with the nomination of Michelle ONeill and myself as first ministers, she said.

It is a day that confirms the democratic outcome of the election.

Serving people in this House in any role is an honour and a privilege. It is an opportunity to shape Northern Ireland for the better and to make a meaningful difference.

I love Northern Ireland. I am deeply proud to be from this place we call home despite our often troubled history and divisions of the past, I know that we have incredible potential.

Ms ONeill pledged she will serve everyone equally and be a first minister for all.

To all of you who are British and unionist; your national identity, culture and traditions are important to me, she said.

I will be both inclusive and respectful to you.

None of us are being asked or expected to surrender who we are. Our allegiances are equally legitimate.

Lets walk this two-way street and meet one another halfway.

I will be doing so with both an open hand and with heart.

Ms ONeill reflected that she was a 20-year-old mother when the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement was signed and said she remembers vividly the sense of hope and optimism.

She said she stands proud as First Minister, and someone who represents that Good Friday Agreement-generation and someone who will lead us into the next 45 years.

She also described herself as an Ulster woman, Tyrone woman, a proud Irish and European citizen.

This is a historic day which represents a new dawn, she said.

For the first time ever, a nationalist takes up the position of first minister.

That such a day would ever come would have been unimaginable to my parents and grandparents generation.

Because of the Good Friday Agreement that old state that they were born into is gone. A more democratic, more equal society has been created making this a better place for everyone.

This place we call home, this place we love, North of Ireland or Northern Ireland, where you can be British, Irish, both or none is a changing portrait.

Yesterday is gone. My appointment reflects that change.

Ms ONeill said devolved government will face great challenges, and she described the rising cost of living as being a heavy burden on households and businesses.

She said the public sector workers who have taken industrial action and been on strikes over pay is a situation that demands urgent action.

Tory austerity has badly damaged our public services. They have presided over more than a decade of shame. They have caused real suffering, she said.

I wish to lead an Executive which has the freedom to make our own policy and spending choices.

We cannot continue to be hamstrung by Tories in London.

Together, we must unite and fight with one voice the corner of every citizen, to ensure that public services are funded properly.

Ms ONeill said it is an Assembly for all.

The days of second-class citizenship are long gone, she said. Today confirms that they are never coming back.

As an Irish republican I pledge co-operation and genuine honest effort with those colleagues who are British, of a unionist tradition, and who cherish the Union.

This is an assembly for all  Catholic, Protestant and dissenter.

Despite our different outlooks and views on the future constitutional position, the public rightly demands that we co-operate, deliver and work together.

We must build trust and confidence in our ability to do that. That will require courage and ambition not just from us who are elected, but from the public.

We can all invest in this and the more of us that do, the better the chance it has.

First Minister Michelle ONeill told MLAs: I look forward to a plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council shortly.

The power-sharing coalition formed by the parties here today must now dedicate itself to delivering an ambitious Agenda for Change.

I wish incoming ministers well and pledge to work and collaborate with each of you.

The public are relying on each of us to act in their best interests and to serve our whole community in good faith.

We must make powersharing work because collectively, we are charged with leading and delivering for all our people, for every community.

Northern Irelands first First Minister from a nationalist or republican tradition Michelle ONeill has pledged to be a leader for all.

She described the return of the Assembly and Executive as a day that opens the door to the future  a shared future.

I am honoured to stand here as First Minister, Ms ONeill told MLAs.

We mark a moment of equality and progress, a new opportunity to work and to grow together, confident that wherever we come from, whatever our aspirations, we can and must build our future together.

She told the Assembly chamber that she was delighted to see every MLA back in this chamber.

I welcome the fact that the DUP has decided to re-enter the democratic institutions and that the outcome of the Assembly election is now being respected, she said.

Sinn Fein MLA Caral Ni Chuilin, Alliance Party MLA John Blair and UUP MLA Steve Aiken have been elected as Deputy Speakers of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill is set to become the first nationalist first minister as Stormont returns after two years without powersharing.

MLAs took their seats in the Assembly chamber at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, on Saturday for a sitting where ministers will be appointed to a powersharing executive, bringing an end to the impasse.

The early proceedings focused on the process of nominating a speaker, with former DUP leader Edwin Poots elected to the role.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said it has been a challenging journey to the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive over the last two years.

I believe that my party has delivered what many said we couldnt.

We have brought about change that many said was not possible, and I believe that today is a good day for Northern Ireland, a day when once again our place in the United Kingdom and its internal market is respected and protected in our law and restored for all our people to enjoy the benefits of our membership of the union, he told media in the Great Hall.

Its a day when we come together and we take on the responsibility of providing good government for the people of Northern Ireland, for addressing the many issues that confront us at this time.

My party is determined to play its part working with others to make Northern Ireland work, to make this place the best that it can be, to realise our potential to invest in our people, to ensure that our public services have the resources that they need to provide the best health care, a great education system, prosperity in our economy, housing and jobs for all.

TUV MLA Jim Allister has criticised a DUP climbdown as the Northern Ireland Assembly prepares to elect a new Speaker and ministers after two years suspended.

He claimed that not one word of the Northern Ireland Protocol has changed, and that the region remains under EU customs rules, and ruled in a significant part by foreign laws.

Mr Allister also claimed that many on the DUP benches are unhappy with the partys course of action.
Damage was caused to a business premises in Castlerea town on Saturday afternoon.

The Roscommon Herald understands that the damage was caused just before noon on Saturday.

Gardai confirmed that they are investigating an incident of criminal damage at a business premises that occurred on Saturday afternoon".

Investigations are ongoing at this time, say Gardai.
Sloinne, a new seven-part series on TG4, will this evening, Sunday, visit County Roscommon.

This series delves into the fascinating stories behind Ireland's most common surnames, bringing history to life in a way that's accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Sloinne paints a colourful picture of how our local areas and surnames are deeply intertwined.

Each episode features a special guest exploring their family surname, taking viewers on a journey back in time.

In the this Sunday's episode of Sloinne, the programme follows Aodan O Ceallaigh, a Dublin-based primary school teacher, originally from An Rinn, County Waterford, as he goes on a journey back in time to trace the history of his surname and to find out about others with the same surname.

Along the way he traces the O Ceallaigh name in Old Irish Manuscripts and maps with Dr. Micheal Hoyne (Trinity College, Dublin) and Paul MacCotter (series geneologist). His journey takes him to Helvick Harbour (Waterford) as he learns about his grandfather, well-known fisherman Tomas O Ceallaigh and also to the Kilconnell Fransiscan Friary, County Galway where he meets historian Gerry Burke. He stops off at Galley Castle (Lough Ree, County Roscommon) to chat with Dr. Daniel Curley archaeologist and historian- (Taughmaconnell) about the background of the Failte Ui Cheallaigh saying.

Episode 3 will be screened this evening Sunday, February 4th on TG4 at 8.30 p.m..
While Ioniq 5 and Kona Electric are already available, upcoming Creta EV and Exter EV will be Hyundais first mass market EVs for India

Earlier this month, Hyundai had launched the new 2024 Creta facelift at a starting price of Rs 10.99 lakh. Hyundai is also working on the electric version of Creta, which is expected to be launched later this year. New spy shots reveal that Creta EV will be based on the 2024 facelift model.

Creta EV  design and features

Recently spotted Creta EV test mule closely matches the 2024 Creta facelift model in most parts. It gets the quad-beam LED headlamps, horizon LED positioning lamps and DRLs, LED sequential turn signals at front and rear and connecting LED tail lamps.

Of course, Creta EV will have EV-specific changes such as the closed-off grille. Front and rear bumper could be refreshed slightly, in line with the SUVs electric underpinnings. Some EV-specific branding elements are likely across the front, side and rear.

One can also notice that Creta EV has a new set of alloy wheels. They have grooved surfaces, something similar to that of alloy wheels with aero inserts used with the new Nexon EV facelift. The alloys not only complement Cretas sporty profile, but are also likely to have aerodynamic properties. In terms of size, the alloys for Creta EV could be 17-inch or 18-inch units.

Creta EV interiors

On the inside, Hyundai Creta EV will have most of the features available with the new Creta facelift. Some of the key highlights include seamlessly integrated infotainment and instrument cluster screen, front row ventilated seats, voice enabled smart panoramic sunroof, 8-way power adjustable driver seat, dual-zone automatic temperature control and Bose premium sound system with 8 speakers. Some premium features could be borrowed from Ioniq 5 as well.

An extensive range of Level-2 ADAS features are available. Safety kit also includes 6-airbags, electronic stability control, vehicle stability management, hill start assist control, burglar alarm, rear and front parking sensors, rear camera with dynamic guidelines and tyre pressure monitoring system.

Borrowing heavily from the ICE sibling will help reduce development and production cost. Creta EV will be facing tough competition from upcoming Curvv EV and Maruti eVX. A competitive price point is necessary for Creta EV to emerge as the preferred option in the compact electric SUV segment.

Creta EV performance, range

Creta EV will be equipped with a 45-kWh battery pack. Hyundai will be sourcing the battery packs from LG Chem. Some of the rivals have larger battery packs such as a 50.3 kWh unit in use with MG ZS EV. Upcoming Maruti eVX is expected to have a 48 to 60 kWh battery pack. Nexon EV long range variant has a smaller 40.5 kWh battery pack. While the certified range of Creta EV could be around 450 km, real-world range could be approximately 250-300 km.

Hyundai Creta EV will be borrowing the electric motor from the new-gen Kona EV sold in international markets. To be mounted on the front axle, the motor will generate 138 hp of max power and 255 Nm of peak torque. More details such as the top speed, acceleration, charging time, etc. are yet to be revealed.
Ben Vesely taught math at Valhalla High School for decades. He was known as BV2 or BV squared, and his students loved him.

Some of the comments on ratemyteachers.com explained his appeal: Mr. Vesely is a CALCULUS GOD. Try and stump him with anything. He can calculate square roots by hand!! He is the joy in my morning with his math jokes.

A guy started shaving in class w/shaving cream and everything. BV^2 did nothing, he just laughed.

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This esteemed teacher who came alive in the classroom was also described as a bit of a recluse who rarely came out of his home on Sawgrass Street in El Cajon, or had visitors in.

It was when a neighbor noticed Veselys trash cans still on the street, very uncharacteristically, that authorities made a check on the home June 27.

Ben Vesely had died, at the age 64 of heart disease.

His death has left some former students and colleagues recounting their memories.

One of his colleagues at the school, math teacher Sheila Medin, said Vesely had a wonderful, compassionate way with students and rare sense of humor that drew them to him.

Medin said Vesely was a kind man with a huge heart who would listen to classical music in the morning before his first class.

He had unquenchable thirst for knowledge and was well regarded among his peers in the teaching profession, for his leadership skills as well as his knowledge of AP Calculus, Medin recalled. He also loved reading about history.

Vesely, born Dec. 6, 1952, retired from teaching seven years ago. He was the math department chair for 15 years at Valhalla.

Ben was a very good man, said Nicki Summers, a colleague for 16 years. He was a bit of a recluse but was an outstanding math teacher.

Summers said two of her daughters took Veselys AP Calculus and they appreciated his patience.

He was well loved and well admired, both with the students and with his colleagues as well, Summers said. He was a kind soul with a good sense of humor.

Vesely hired Cherie Douma as a math teacher in 1993 and she taught next door to him until he retired. She said she would be surprised if he had missed more than one day of school during his teaching career.

She said he dressed akin to Mister Rogers and brown bagged his same lunch every day.

He was certainly a creature of habit, and that made him happy and content, she said.

When he cracked the occasional joke, it made his entire face light up, and put smiles galore on all the faces around him.

Douma said Vesely had an incredible mathematical mind, but he was also a deep thinker and problem solver.

As department chairman, he took incredibly good care of his members, she said. If any one of us approached him with a problem, he would not rest until it was solved for us. He always made sure we were taken care of.

Michael Gardiner, an attorney and writer based in San Diego, attended Valhalla in the late 1970s.

What I remember most about Mr. Vesely is his genuine enthusiasm for the topic  infectious, even, Gardiner said. I caught it, which is probably why I got an A. And when I went to Amherst and took Calculus there well, I didnt get an A. Then again, my professor at Amherst didnt have Mr. Veselys enthusiasm, did he?

Also, while he was a bit of an odd duck in some ways, there was also a casualness to his style, Gardiner said. He wanted you to like him, and his subject. He really did. And he seemed incapable of comprehending why anyone wouldnt think calculus was the coolest thing.

Neighbor Paul Sandauer remembered Vesely as kind, but said he didnt see him leave the house very often.

Sandauer said Veselys brother Dan told him Ben had back surgery 20 years ago, but had not been to a doctor since.

He said (Ben) had been known to have a few instances of fainting, Sandauer said.

Colleague Medin said she last saw Vesely in February.

He looked thin, but very happy, and a smile never left his face, she said. I am glad he left me with that memory in my heart.

As former Valhalla students said on ratemyteachers.com: Best math teacher ever!

Vesely is the man! Who knew Calculus could be so fun? He does everything in such a logical way that everyone gets it. Awesome teacher.

Valhalla High School will never be the same without him. His brilliant teaching skills and his math jokes brought a smile to everyones otherwise boring day that will be missed forever.
Iraq summons U.S. charge d'affaires over U.S. airstrikes

Xinhua) 13:51, February 04, 2024

BAGHDAD, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's Foreign Ministry summoned Saturday the U.S. charge d'affaires in Baghdad to protest against the recent U.S. airstrikes in western Iraq, said a statement by the ministry.

The U.S. charge d'affaires received a protest note, in which Iraq expressed its rejection and condemnation of the U.S. airstrikes that targeted Iraqi security forces as well as civilian sites in the Akashat and al-Qaim areas, according to the statement.

The note stressed Iraq's rejection of making its territories an arena for settling scores between conflicting countries, saying "our country is not the appropriate place to send messages and show force between opponents," said the statement.

The ministry's action came after the U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on the paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces in western Iraq, killing 16 people and wounding dozens of others.

The U.S. Central Command said in a statement on Friday that the U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and affiliated militia groups.

The U.S. airstrikes came in response to recent attacks by Iranian-backed militias that caused the first U.S. fatalities since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Investors' focus over the coming week would be on the world's central banks and the global services sector.

In particular, multiple top officials at the U.S. Federal Reserve were scheduled to take to the podium, including its chairman, Jerome Powell, on Monday.

Also of key interest would be the results of a raft of purchasing managers' surveys covering activity in the U.K., U.S. and euro area services sectors during the month of January.

All of those were due out on Monday.

Chinese consumer and producer price data for January were also scheduled to be published, but on Thursday, followed by readings on money supply growth in the Asian giant the next day.

Officials at the Reserve Bank of Australia meanwhile would to meet to decide on policy on Tursday.

Monday 5 February

FINALS

Porvair

TRADINIG ANNOUNCEMENTS

Vodafone Group

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

JPMorgan Japanese Inv Trust, Henderson European Focus Trust

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

JPMorgan European Discovery Trust, XPS Pensions Group

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Composite (09:30)

PMI Services (09:30)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (GER) (07:00)

PMI Composite (GER) (08:55)

PMI Services (GER) (08:55)

PMI Services (EU) (09:00)

PMI Composite (EU) (09:00)

Producer Price Index (EU) (10:00)

PMI Composite (US) (14:45)

PMI Services (US) (14:45)

ISM Prices Paid (US) (15:00)

Tuesday 6 February

FINALS

React Group

INTERIMS

Renishaw, Alumasc Group, Mattioli Woods

Q4

BP

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Discoverie Group

AGMs

Ten Lifestyle Group, Blackrock Frontiers Investment Trust

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Johnson Matthey, Ferguson

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

BRC Shop Price Index (00:01)

PMI Construction (09:30)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Factory Orders (GER) (07:00)

Retail Sales (EU) (10:00)

Wednesday 7 February

FINALS

Smurfit Kappa Group (CDI)

INTERIMS

Ashmore Group, Barratt Developments, PZ Cussons

AGMs

Future, Premier Miton Group, Victorian Plumbing Group,

ASOS, Unicorn AIM VCT

EGMs

Mosman Oil and Gas Limited (DI)

GMs

eEnergy Group

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Barings Emerging Emea Opportunities, Britvic

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Halifax House Price Index (07:00)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Industrial Production (GER) (07:00)

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

Balance of Trade (US) (13:30)

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)

Consumer Credit (US) (20:00)

Thursday 8 February

FINALS

Unilever, AstraZeneca, British American Tobacco

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Compass Group, International Distributions Services, Tate & Lyle

INTERIMS

Redrow

Q4

Unilever, AstraZeneca

AGMs

Compass Group, Agronomics Limited, Polar Capital Global Healthcare Trust, Hargreave Hale AIM VCT, easyJet, Benchmark Holdings

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Blackrock Income And Growth Investment Trust, Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust, Avon Protection, Victorian Plumbing Group, Baronsmead Venture Trust, Impax Asset Management Group, Renew Holdings, AB Dynamics, Baronsmead Second Venture Trust

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Keystone Positive Change Investment Trust, Smiths News, Cerillion

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

CVC Income & Growth Limited NPV Euro, Henderson Smaller Companies Inv Trust, Bluefield Solar Income Fund Limited, Taylor Maritime Investments Limited NPV, Abrdn Property Income Trust Limited, Taylor Maritime Investments Limited NPV, LXI Reit, GCP Infrastructure Investments Ltd, Impact Healthcare Reit, Atrato Onsite Energy, Target Healthcare Reit Ltd, EJF Investments Ltd NPV, Aberforth Split Level Income Trust, CVC Income & Growth Limited NPV GBP, Residential Secure Income

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Ashtead Group

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust, Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV, Picton Property Income Ltd

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

RICS Housing Market Survey (00:01)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Wholesales Inventories (US) (15:00)

Friday 9 February

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Bellway, S&U

AGMs

Victrex plc, Catenae Innovation

EGMs

Kibo Energy (CDI)

GMs

Tata Steel Ltd GDR (Reg S)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Netcall, AJ Bell, Schroder Asia Pacific Fund,Origin Enterprises (CDI), Tracsis, Sage Group, Braemar

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Montanaro UK Smaller Companies Inv Trust, JPMorgan Multi-Asset Growth & Income

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI)

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

I3 Energy, BlackRock Latin American Inv Trust, Tufton Oceanic Assets Limited NPV

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Price Index (GER) (07:00)
Zuber Issa, one of the two billionaire brothers at the helm of Asda , has been sounding out potential buyers for his 22.5% stake in the grocer. Instead, Zuber wishes to focus on EG Group, their petrol station empire. Meanwhile, Asda's next phase may include a bid for Boots. According to City sources, it was also possible that Zuber might use the funds raised through a sale to fund the purchase of his brother's stake in EG Group. - The Sunday Telegraph

Barclays is the High Street lender that is planning to close the most branches in 2024, 68 out of 312, and a further six in 2025. That will mean that over the past decade it had closed 83% of its branches. An analysis of figures from Which? by The Mail on Sunday shows that over 60% of the 10,000 bank branches that were open in 2015 will have been shut by the end of 2024. For its part, Lloyds was planning to close 56 branches this year, Halifax some 42 and NatWest 21. - The Financial Mail on Sunday

Mumtalakat, Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund, last week invested 30m into McLaren to support the development of new products. That sum was on top of the 80m that it injected into the supercar-maker two months before. Over the past year investors have put 500m into the company. However, McLaren has taken on financial advisers from Teneo to work out how to avoid having to rely on top-ups from Mumtalakat. - The Sunday Times

America's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration pushed Tesla on Friday into a recall of almost all of the 2.2m vehicles that it has sold in the US as some warning lights on the instrument panel are too small. However, for owners that will likely just entail software patch downloads at home. The same agency also upgraded its 2023 investigation into steering problems with Teslas to an engineering analysis, marking a move closer to a recall. - Guardian
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Its good news! A Staten Island family has finally been reunited with their son and brother, eight months after his deployment aboard the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier, which assisted the region of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea affected by the Israel-Hamas War.

My son, Michael Mario Bryant, 23, joined the Navy in January 2021, as a Machinist Mate, said Susan Bryant, noting he has since been promoted to Petty Officer 3rd Class. He left on May 2, 2023, for what was supposed to be an easy six-month deployment aboard the USS Gerald R Ford. But fate had other plans.

The aircraft carrier got extended twice with the Hamas attack in Israel. It traveled to several countries along the Mediterranean Sea after its maiden deployment to Oslo, Norway, where the crew engaged in training exercises with NATO allies, fostering international cooperation.

Right before their last stop to Marseilles, France, Hamas struck in Israel, and they were deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean to deter other countries from getting involved. Their deployment was extended 30 days shortly thereafter and then again for another 30 days.

Naturally, the Bryant family grew concerned, disappointed that Michael would not be home for Christmas. saddened it would be their first Christmas spent apart in 23 years.

He was originally supposed to be home by Nov. 4, in time for the holidays. But with the extensions, they spent the holidays on deployment, she added. We kept the Christmas tree up. I do not have to tell you the anxiety of having a son in the military and on deployment in or near a war zone.

We are told to watch the news as a rule of thumb. But how can you ignore it, knowing where he is and what is going on there? It is stressful knowing the dangers they faced.

MM3 Petty Officer Michael Mario Bryant, was aboard the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier which assisted with the Israel/Hamas conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. (Courtesy Susan Bryant)Courtesy Susan Bryant

Despite efforts to follow news reports, the stress was palpable for the Bryants. Friends and family frequently inquired about Michaels well-being, but it only intensified anxiety.

Michael would try to keep in contact with me when they had Wi-Fi, said Bryant. It helped, but then again he would never tell me if he was in danger.

Finally, just after New Years, the great news came that Michael was coming home. Plans for the return were set into motion, including the retrieval of Michaels car left behind before deployment. A road trip was organized, with the homecoming scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 17.

My daughter Emily and I left on Tuesday, Jan. 16, and as luck would have it during a snowstorm, said Bryant, whose other son could not join the road trip to take care of his grandmother and their dog. Nothing was holding us back from this homecoming.

Although I have to admit I was a bit nervous about driving in that. But as we drove it got better. Then the big day arrived and my boy was home. We waited in a heated tent as preparations for them to come off were underway.

MM3 Petty Officer Michael Mario Bryant, was aboard the USS Gerald R Ford air craft carrier which assisted with the Isreal/Hamas conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. (Courtesy Susan Bryant)Courtesy Susan Bryant

Admittedly, Bryant was beyond excited and couldnt put into words the excitement surrounding the reunion with Michael in Virginia.

The ships return was a huge celebration, with families waiting for their sailors to come off, said Bryant. You can watch it on television and I can tell you whenever I watch the military homecomings on television or in social media, I have cried.

But to be there and have your son, your brother come off that ship, you have no idea. All the pride the excitement, the relief and joy all rolled into one.
Hi Neighbor,

It was a long, long time ago  the mid-1950s  when the state announced it would build a sprawling 3,000-bed psychiatric center off Seaview Avenue and whats now Capodanno Boulevard.

The problem? This wasnt all vacant land. It was two beach communities  Ocean Breeze and Warren Manor, spread over 232 acres  much of it marshland, but also dotted with bungalows, many winterized, making them year round residences for families like mine.

The plan? Through eminent domain, the state would simply buy your house out from under you  at a price set by the state. There was a lone state representative tasked with determining the value of each home in our neighborhood. His name was Mr. Malcom.

Today, its all ancient history. But it tells a story of how our community has had a change in attitude over the past 75 years.

The Advance covered the plan in great detail. But I dont recall mass protests in the neighborhoods by people about to lose their homes, or staunch political opposition to housing 3,000 psychiatric patients just a short walk from Midland Beach, South Beach or Dongan Hills.

Oh, there was grumbling. But for most, instead of protesting, moms cleaned the house till it sparkled, and dads fixed up the outdoors in a quest to get as much money as possible when the mysterious Mr. Malcom appeared.

It reached the point where homeowners learned a flagpole on the property would fetch another hundred bucks. So dads scrounged up 15 or 20 feet of half-inch water pipe, attached Old Glory, stuck it in the ground and voila -- a flagpole.

The South Beach Psychiatric Center never achieved the state goal of 3,000 beds. It opened in the 70s with 752. That had nothing to do with community opposition, but everything to do with the state being forced to acknowledge that warehousing people with disabilities, as in Willowbrook State School just a few miles from Ocean Breeze, was inhumane.

Oh have times changed on Staten Island when it comes to how we deal with projects deemed controversial.

When a Black family chose New Dorp as the neighborhood they would live in 1975, the home was torched. When a small homeless shelter was announced in the Mid-Island area in the 1980s, it too was torched. When another homeless shelter was the subject of a public hearing, also in the 80s, the homeless agency CEOs car was rocked by protesters as she tried to drive from the meeting. When a state senator, at a raucous public meeting in 2006, spoke out against a NASCAR plan to build a race track near the Goethals Bridge, a NASCAR supporter put him in a headlock while wrestling the microphone away.

And now, the nations border crisis hit home when City Hall decided several locations on Staten Island were good to house hundreds of migrants out of the 150,000-plus arriving in New York.

Staten Islands fiery right-leaning populace would have none of it, backed by political leadership, of course. A thousand or more showed up at the shuttered St. Johns Villa in Arrochar, hurling invectives and making threats.

But the latest brouhaha should raise some eyebrows. It was directed not at City Hall, but at a member of our clergy.

Frankly, I have wondered why Cardinal Dolan has not yet offered to house migrants in any of the shuttered Staten Island Catholic churches or schools. The cardinal terms it a humanitarian crisis and called on Catholics to practice their faith to welcome, and to aid and defend the immigrant.

A local Episcopalian, the Rev. Hank Tuell of St. Johns Episcopal Church in Rosebank, decided hed do it. The pastor offered space in a senior residence on the grounds of his Bay Street church for a 57-bed migrant shelter.

Perhaps Cardinal Dolan is more savvy in the way of todays protests.

Not on our watch, said our elected leadership and our right-leaning populace.

The exteriors of St. John's Episcopal Church and the Canterbury House. (Staten Island Advance/Paul Liotta)Paul Liotta

Rev. Tuell put it this way:

God has called us to a ministry of hospitality to the stranger in our midst. While some on Staten Island are opposed to this Christian vocation . . . our ministry [has] a moral and ethical obligation that we must defend for the sake of those in crisis whom we have been called to comfort and care for until they have exhausted their legal options under U.S. Law.

In a letter, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, Borough President Vito Fossella, District Attorney Michael McMahon, State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo and Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks, put it this way:

The proposed plan to house over 50 migrants between the ages of 22 and 25 is a slap in the face to your senior residents and the community which is entitled to a shared elderly daycare center that is open to all residents. We will use all legal measures at our disposal to ensure that you uphold the contractual agreement and moral obligation made to these seniors and to our community.

Good enough. They make good points. The seniors living there didnt sign up to have a shelter in the midst. I get it. As long as all legal measures were used to halt the plan.

Unfortunately, it was not legal measures that killed it.

Threats did.

Rev. Tuell did not get into detail over who threatened what. But he did say this:

While we were working to fulfill our duty to feed the hungry, care for the sick, and welcome the stranger, I received disturbing threats from anti-immigrant groups, who were sadly encouraged by several of our officials.

And with that, the offer to house 57 migrants was no more.

This is great news for the community, but most importantly for the senior citizens who deserve to have their space and residence preserved, said our representative in Washington, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis.

Well, yes . . . no.

While scuttling a shelter in the same building as vulnerable senior citizens might be good news, threatening a clergyman trying to fulfill his moral obligation is not.

And that should be condemned loudly by every politician who signed the letter of opposition.

Its said that leadership is the ability to influence and guide a society. Perhaps stopping another migrant shelter was a win for Staten Island society.

The way it was done? Not so much.

Brian

Oh by the way: So now some of our nations more conservative neighbors, like former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy -- some speculate Vivek might be Donald Trumps VP -- are suggesting that if you bet on the Super Bowl, youd be wise to put it all down on Kansas City. Why? The Super Bowl is rigged, they theorize. So when the Chiefs win and wildly popular Taylor Swift endorses Joe Biden, itll seal the deal and hell be elected. Taylor, who has 278 million Swifties following her on Instagram and 94.8 million on Twitter (sorry, on X), has been canoodling of late with NFL star and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Could you imagine the MAGA meltdown if this all plays out?
Twenty Broadway shows will be more accessible to high school students this spring, thanks to The Broadway League, which is in partnership with the New York City Department of Education to help New York City tenth graders in public schools attend a Broadway show.

Broadway Bridges, which provides $10 Broadway tickets to a massive batch of high school students, has announced its return Jan. 31, with 20 shows participating in this spring 2024 cycle.

Broadway Bridges provides the significant opportunity for New York City high school students to attend Broadway shows right in their own hometown, said Charlotte St. Martin, President of The Broadway League. Its a vital part of arts education to ensure that students have access to experiencing live theatre as early and as often as possible.

We are most thankful to our partners at NYC Public Schools, the United Federation of Teachers, and the New York City Council who help make Broadway Bridges possible.

As the largest theatre education partnership in the history of New York City, a total of 436 New York City public high schools have been served by the program, with representation from each of the 51 city council districts.

To date, more than 2,000 teachers have registered for Broadway Bridges. The tickets purchased are based on availability and are timed to coincide with the demands of the school calendar.

MJ The Musical is a now smash-hit on Broadway. (Dr. Gracelyn Santos/Staten Island Advance)Dr. Gracelyn Santos/Staten Island Advance

Broadway Bridges creates opportunity for students to experience live theatre, many for the very first time, which can leave a positive impression for future generation of Broadway audiences, as well as those interested in pursuing a career in the performing arts.

Broadway Bridges opens the door to the stellar arts and culture scene in New York City for our students, showing these young artists what they can achieve with hard work and a dream, said Chancellor David C. Banks. I cant wait for more of our young people to experience the magic of Broadway and am grateful to our partners for their continued support in making this program possible.

Last year, 20,157 students and chaperones participated in Broadway Bridges. Since launching in 2017, the program has introduced more than 100,000 New York City public school sophomores and chaperones to Broadway.

SPRING 2024 PARTICIPATING SHOWS

The Broadway shows participating this spring are: & Juliet, A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical, Aladdin, Back to the Future: The Musical, Chicago, Hadestown, Harmony, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, How to Dance in Ohio, Kimberly Akimbo, Merrily We Roll Along, MJ, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, SIX, Spamalot, Sweeney Todd, The Lion King, The Outsiders, Water for Elephants, and Wicked.

As educators, we know this program has empowered countless students to see the arts as a career, said Michael Mulgrew, President of the United Federation of Teachers. We deeply appreciate our partnership with The Broadway League and the citys Department of Education. We cant wait for this next season to start.

The Broadway League, founded in 1930, is the national trade association for the Broadway industry representing more than 700 members from nearly 200 national and international markets including theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers as well as suppliers of goods and services to the commercial theatre industry.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  It seems as though later sunsets are on the horizon!

Daylight Saving Time (DST) 2024 will start on Sunday, March 10, at 2 a.m., bringing an extra hour of sunlight as weather warms in the spring and summer months.

Most newer electronics, like cell phones, smart watches, laptops and cable boxes, will automatically adjust to the correct time.

However, things like wall clocks, bedside alarm clocks and mechanical watches will need to change on March 10 at 2 a.m., pushing the time ahead to 3 a.m. Many kitchen appliances will also need a nudge, as will clocks in cars, medical equipment and security alarm systems.

For millions of Americans, Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins on the second Sunday of March each year, giving us more natural light to enjoy in warmer months.

Many hope for a day when DST becomes permanent, and a bill even passed the Senate March 2022, but was never signed into law. State Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, author of the bill, has been pushing the Sunshine Protection Act since 2018.

He reintroduced the bill in March 2023 with bi-partisan support. But the House never voted on it, citing more pressing matters at hand. So, we switched our clocks back again in fall 2023.

Rubio argues that the clock change practice is antiquated, and supporters say locking the clock, in DST will result in better sleep for young parents  because babies clocks dont change.

Others say falling back robs us of sunlight during the darkest time of the year, when depression and anxiety peak.

Advantages to Daylight Saving Time

The change will help those in the agriculture business and tourism will benefit, too, since more shopping and dining out happens during the longer days of DST.

Opponents argue that a permanent change to Standard Time aligns better with the natural circadian cycle, promoting health and safety.

For now, anyway, be prepared to step out of Standard Time into DST in March.

DST is observed uniformly across the nation except in American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Hawaii and most of Arizona.

When did Daylight Saving Time start?

The system of uniform DST throughout the United States was established by the Uniform Time Act of 1966.

On March 9, the sun will set at around 6 p.m. on Staten Island.

The following day, after the time shift and the end of standard time, sunset is at 7 p.m. Thats one full hour of extra evening sunshine to enjoy.

The sun will, however, rise nearly an hour later  at about 7:16 a.m. on Sunday, March 10, after coming up at 6:18 a.m. on Saturday, March 9.

More than 40 countries worldwide observe Daylight Saving Time, including most of Canada, though the majority of Saskatchewan and parts of northeastern British Columbia dont participate, according to the Farmers Almanac.

According to U.S. law, each state can choose whether or not to observe Daylight Saving Time. Currently, Arizona and Hawaii are the only states that do not observe, choosing to stay on standard time year-round.

Indiana didnt observe Daylight Savings Time until 2006. Prior to that, some counties within the state did, while others didnt  causing a lot of confusion in a state thats already split into two time zones, the Farmers Almanac said.

Spring officially arrives at 11:06 p.m. on March 19.

Daylight Saving Time will end on Nov. 5 at 2 a.m., at which point residents will set their devices back to 1 a.m., giving more light in the morning, but less in the evening.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Linda Dianto, executive director of the National Lighthouse Museum, knows no bounds.

Originally born in Brooklyn, Dianto and her family moved to Staten Island in 1963 when she was 13 years old. Though not a Staten Island native, Diantos Staten Island roots run deep. As a child, Dianto frequently visited her grandparents in South Beach, and her father and uncle worked on the construction of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.

Upon moving to Staten Island, Dianto attended New Dorp High School and later went on to obtain her Bachelor of Arts in Education and Master of Education from the former Staten Island Community College and Richmond College. These institutions later merged to form the College of Staten Island (CSI).

Dianto began her professional career teaching third and fourth grade at St. Marys School, where she taught for three years. During her summers, Dianto worked at the vacation day camp at PS 26, a program that eventually became United Activities Unlimited (UAU).

Working with children on a recreational basis served as the perfect catalyst for Diantos next steps in her career. Dianto was then offered a position at Golden Gate Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, a 200-bed facility, as the director of therapeutic recreation and volunteers.

In 1974, no one knew what recreation was, and no one really knew what nursing homes were either, reminisces Dianto. I was hired because of my experience working with kids, and I thought that skill would easily transfer to elderly people as well.

Following many years at Golden Gate, Dianto went on to become the director of recreation at New York City Health + Hospitals Corp. on Roosevelt Island. Dianto began working at Coler, a 1,000-bed facility, which consisted of a wide range of individuals, including Alzheimers and dementia, HIV/AIDS, incarcerated, and disabled patients. Ultimately, her job was expanded to handle an additional 1,000 residents at Goldwater Hospital on the south side of Roosevelt Island. While working on Roosevelt Island, Dianto obtained certificates in Recreation Management and Administration and Philanthropy and Fundraising from New York University.

I worked with absolutely everyone while doing therapeutic recreation, said Dianto. At the time, Roosevelt Island was called Welfare Island because it was an island of hospitals, an insane asylum, and at one point, a prison. Ive seen everything.

However, following the 9/11 attacks, Dianto made the decision to return to work on Staten Island, and she transitioned to St. Elizabeth Anns Health Care & Rehabilitation Center at St. Vincents Medical Center, currently known as Richmond University Medical Center. At St. Elizabeth Anns, Dianto led the HIV adult day program, which served individuals with triple diagnoses: HIV infection, mental illness, and substance abuse.

Upon returning to Staten Island, Dianto also began teaching therapeutic recreation at Kingsborough Community College. Through Kingsborough, Dianto became involved with the College of Staten Island in the development department, grant writing and private consulting with various organizations across the Island.

In 2010, while I was working at CSI, I saw in the Advance that the National Lighthouse Museum was dead in the water, says Dianto. The site that were currently at was selected out of 16 other sites across the country to be the United States National Lighthouse Museum, and the board of directors had given up after 10 years of trying to get it off the ground. I couldnt let all of that work go to waste, so it instantly became a passion project for me.

Dianto quickly picked up where the previous board left off, convincing the American Lighthouse Coordinating Committee to keep the museum on Staten Island, reviving the museum charter, and eventually reconstituting the board of directors. Dianto built the museum entirely from the ground up. Following years of organizing and fundraising, the National Lighthouse Museum officially opened to the public on Aug. 7, 2014, exactly 225 years after George Washington signed the Lighthouses Act of 1789.

Located on the grounds of the former United States Lighthouse Service General Depot, today the National Lighthouse Museum is a haven for maritime learning. Upon entrance, visitors are greeted with the Wall of Lights, miniature lighthouse models from around the world, dating back to the worlds first lighthouse built in 280 BC in Egypt. Dianto has worked tirelessly to preserve and maintain the essence of the navigational history of lighthouses, which are now endangered across the United States.

Ive learned a lot throughout this process, and I never stop learning, says Dianto. When we first acquired the building, it was completely empty. As we fundraised, we purchased exhibit by exhibit until the museum finally came together, but even now, were constantly evolving.

Since opening in 2014, the National Lighthouse Museum has served over 150,000 visitors, both locally and from around the world, and hosted more than 1,200 programs, boat tours, presentations, exhibits and special events. However, the museums facility can only support 75 visitors at a time, and the museum has outgrown its space. Dianto is currently working with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), which manages the property for the city of New York, to expand into the adjacent building, which has three floors. The additional space will allow for much-needed visitor amenities, including a cafe, gallery, museum shop, expanded exhibits, a research library, and a classroom space.

For her accomplishments, Linda Dianto is being honored with a Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Award, which she will receive in the Not-for-Profit Businessperson category. The awards, which are presented by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and the Staten Island Advance, honor the memory of Louis R. Miller, a businessman and West Brighton resident who was also a community leader.

For Dianto, receiving the Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Award is especially meaningful, as she considered Miller to be a mentor. While attending college, Dianto worked as a bank teller at Chase Manhattan Bank and the former Community National Bank. During her time at Community National Bank, she frequently interacted with Miller, who would take the time to sit down with the younger staff and guide them toward their goals.

Dianto is entirely immersed in the Staten Island community, which she has called home for the majority of her life. In addition to her work with the National Lighthouse Museum, Dianto is also a member of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation. Dianto currently serves on the Board of Directors for Nonprofit Staten Island, as the vice president of the Grasmere Civic Association, as secretary of the Grasmere & Cameron Lakes Blue Belt Conservancy, and as treasurer of the Soroptimist International of Manhattan (SIM).

Dianto led SIM and the Soroptimist International of Staten Island in developing a key domestic violence bookmark project, Loves Me, Loves Me Not!, which has been internationally recognized. In 2017, Dianto was a recipient of the Staten Island Advances Woman of Achievement Award.

Questionnaire

Current occupation and title: Executive Director of the National Lighthouse Museum.

Hometown: Grasmere.

Past occupations and titles: Third and fourth grade teacher at St. Marys School, Director of Therapeutic Recreation & Volunteers at Golden Gate Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, Director of Recreation at New York City Health + Hospitals on Roosevelt Island, Grant Writer, and Adjunct Professor of Recreation Management & Administration.

Community involvement: Member of the Deborah League of Staten Island, New York State Recreation & Parks Society, NYS Therapeutic Recreation Association-Advocacy, Soroptimist International Manhattan (SIM), Metropolitan New York Recreation & Parks Society, Nonprofit Staten Island, the CSI Alumni Association Board, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation, the American Alliance of Museums, the Museum Association of New York, and the Council of American Maritime Museums. I also serve as president of the NYS Chiropractic Education Foundation.

Some of my life goals include: To enjoy life to its fullest and to see the National Lighthouse Museum complete its expansion plans.

The best part of my job: Meeting the incredible people Ive met along the way, most importantly our interesting worldwide visitors, as well as the many contacts Ive made in the maritime world.

The most difficult part of my job: Getting people to understand my job of raising money to expand the National Lighthouse Museum is challenging, and convincing everyone we are creating a legacy for our Staten Island community as hosts to a national museum for generations to come!

My life philosophy: All the skills you gain as you walk through the twists and turns of lifes road are transferable  use them well and cherish all the people and experiences you gain on that journey, and you will have no regrets at the end!
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The holidays may be all but forgotten, but about 50 of the boroughs bird aficionados didnt forget to participate in Staten Islands annual Christmas Bird Count, held as part of a nationwide effort to identify and count the species in their area.

Cliff Hagen, president of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods and the present compiler of the Christmas Bird Count, told the Advance/SILive that this years Staten Island count yielded a total of 24,694 birds throughout 13 different territories in the borough, while 120 different species were spotted.

Hagen said that this years count was remarkable in that several different species of birds broke count number records.

Weve been doing this for over 100 years so its pretty extraordinary to still get high count totals for a lot of these birds, Hagen said.

Hagen theorized that the record-setting numbers were due to the unseasonably warmer weather which led a lot of the smaller birds that usually fly south to stick around the area a little longer.

More commonly known birds like ravens set a record, while birds known more formally by enthusiasts such as the Virginia rail, the northern pintail, the surf scoter, the greater scaup, the winter wren, the marsh wren and the golden crowned kinglet also outnumbered previous years.

Another such example is the yellow warbler, which is a bird that has never been spotted during an annual count, although it can be found nesting throughout the borough from Great Kills to as far as Mount Loretto in Pleasant Plains and the vicinity of the Amazon warehouse in Bloomfield, Hagen said.

The yellow warbler is fairly common for the summer on Staten Island, but weve never had one in the winter before. So, it was a treat, Hagen said.

Hagen also thought that residents may be interested in knowing that there was a particularly high count of wild turkeys, with 160. And, that pigeons are well represented with a new record of 1,584.

Friends and foes of the borough's infamous wild turkeys may be interested in knowing that this year's count yielded a particularly high number of the beloved and reviled birds, with 160. (Photo courtesy of Sara Jacobson)Sarah Jacobson

Twelve bald eagles were also spotted, which makes for another particularly high amount for the endangered species.

As the count lasted for several days, urban park rangers helped conduct a part of it throughout the Greenbelt, which Hagen called a big asset. The rangers also allowed the group to gather at Blue Heron Park in Annadale to compile their data.

The data collected during the Christmas Bird Count is collated by the National Audubon Society for use by researchers, conservation biologists and wildlife organizations. When combined with data from other surveys taken at other times of year, researchers can get a handle on the changes in the size and range of bird populations in North America.

As were thinking of these numbers, this data also helps protectors, Hagen said. When we are looking to advocate for the preservation of open space, we look at these records and see which birds utilize open space. So, theres meaningful, purposeful local need for this data as well.

Born from a proposal by Frank M. Chapman in 1900 and sponsored by the National Audubon Society, this annual event has grown significantly over the past century and now includes birders in just about every corner of the country.

Although the first nationwide Christmas Bird Counts were held in 1900, there were only 27 participants across the entire United States. It wasnt until 1908 that Staten Island was included in the count.

From left: Jack Bolembach, John Taranu, David Rodberg, Sarah Jacobson and Cliff Hagen, president of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods. (Photo Courtesy of Cliff Hagen)Cliff Hagen

I would say the Christmas Bird Count, like many Christmas traditions, brings joy and community to Staten Island, Hagen said. It lets us gather as a group to celebrate the birds of Staten Island and our accomplishments of creating this Borough of Parks and preserving this Borough of Parks for the birds.

Theres a particular enjoyment in being outdoors, on the beach, or in the woods on a crisp winter day, he added. To connect with the wildlife of Staten Island and to see fox and deer while counting these birds, its the whole package.

You really get a sense of the marvel of nature right here on the doorstep of New York City.
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Chinas top intelligence agency issued an ominous warning in December about an emerging threat to the countrys national security: Chinese people who criticise 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.

An Evergrande residential development in Nanjing, Chinas Jiangsu province. Credit: Getty

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 per cent 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 more than $US300 billion in debt, was recently ordered into liquidation.
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Dr Lowitja ODonoghue AC CBE DSG, daughter of a liaison between a white stockman and an Aboriginal woman in the Australian outback, seemed at birth to have no prospects. She was one of thousands of children coming from such relationships, many destined to live out their lives on the fringes of Australian society. But ODonoghue had the intelligence and vision to make the most of the few opportunities presented to her.

She grew up to become one of the most powerful advocates for her people, to hold senior bureaucratic positions, to become a professorial fellow, to address the United Nations and to be seriously considered for appointment as governor-general of Australia.

Her father, Tom ODonoghue, of Irish descent, was to have six children during a long-term relationship with his Aboriginal partner, Lily (no known surname). ODonoghue was removed from her parents by missionaries acting on behalf of the South Australian Aboriginal Protection Board, but it is understood to have been with the consent of her parents. ODonoghue never again saw her father, who had one more child by Lily and then departed, and she did not see her mother again for more than 30 years. When they did reunite, ODonoghue, who had used the name a missionary had chosen to baptise her with, was South Australian director of the Commonwealth Department of Aboriginal Affairs, and Lily was living in a tin shanty in Oodnadatta. The emotion was intense but they could only converse with the aid of an interpreter because ODonoghue had been too young to learn the Pitjantjatjara language, and Lily, a member of the Yankunytjatjara tribe, had never learnt English.

Dr Lowitja ODonoghue on her wedding day to Gordon Smart in 1979. Credit: Lowitja ODonoghue Collection

Lowitja ODonoghue was born on about August 1, 1932 (she had no birth certificate and had to estimate the date) at Agnes Creek, on Granite Downs station, leased by Tom ODonoghue and his brother, in an area which was known by the Aboriginal people as Indulkana, 320 kilometres north of Coober Pedy. She was the fifth child and like her four elder siblings initially went to the United Aborigines Missions receiving station for Aboriginal children at Oodnadatta. From there ODonoghue and her sisters went to the missions Coledale Childrens Home at Quorn, in the Flinders Ranges.

The community at Quorn was tolerant and encouraged children from the home to participate in local events. In 1944 Colebrook Home was relocated to Eden Hills in the south of Adelaide.

ODonoghue got her intermediate certificate at Unley General Technical High School in Adelaide and was taught up to leaving certificate level. At the age of 16, she became a nanny. At the age of 18, she got a job as a nursing aide at the local hospital. Three years later, encouraged by the matron, she applied to become a student nurse at Royal Adelaide Hospital, but was told she would not be accepted because she was Aboriginal. I suppose that was when I first really got my blood up, she said later. It was completely unjust. I was deeply resentful and determined I wouldnt accept the decision.
The motivation behind a group of pigeon fanciers involved in a protracted legal battle over membership of the Rooty Hill Pigeon Racing Club has left a Supreme Court judge mystified.

There was no persuasive evidence that their real motivation was to engage in regular pigeon racing, concluded Justice Stephen Robb in dismissing all but one of the claims.

Seventeen would-be members claimed the election of three committee members of the pigeon racing club was invalid. Credit: Artwork  Marija Ercegovac

The court heard there were between eight and 11 members of Rooty Hill Pigeon Racing Club when the annual general meeting (AGM) was held in early 2017.

Seventeen would-be members then sued, claiming that the election of three committee members of the pigeon racing club was invalid because they had not been given notice of the annual general meeting.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following story contains an image of a deceased person.

When Aunty Donnis Kerrs uncle died as an Aboriginal man in custody in the 1970s, she never imagined she would later bury her own son in similar circumstances.

Donnis Kerr hopes an inquest into her son Joshuas death can provide her family with answers. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui

Joshua Kerr, 32, was found dead in his cell at Port Phillip Prison on August 10, 2022. Aunty Donnis has been told her sons body was covered with bruises consistent with him being left to roll on the floor for hours before he died.

Were going through hell, this has emotionally destroyed us, Aunty Donnis said.
The US has urged Papua New Guinea to turn down Chinas offer of a security pact, increasing pressure on the prime minister of Australias nearest neighbour as he prepares to address parliament in Canberra this week.

The Chinese government last year tried to encompass 10 Pacific Island nations in a single, region-wide security treaty but was rebuffed and now seeks one-on-one deals with individual capitals.

US official Richard Verma was in Sydney last week. Credit: Janie Barrett

A senior US official, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma, during a visit to Australia urged PNG to turn down the offer from Beijing. That sort of security guarantee comes with consequences. It comes with costs. And weve seen that the Chinese commitment in defence or investment comes with a high cost. Thats what wed say to PNG, he told this masthead in an interview.

He stated openly that it is a competition for influence in the region between the Peoples Republic of China on one hand and the US and its allies including Australia on the other, and that we have to compete aggressively.
Todays warning by NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey that Sydney risks descending to the disastrous depths of San Francisco unless we move to turn around our own housing crisis may be seen by some as an alarmist prediction. But the Herald believes it is a warning our city must treat as an urgent wake-up call.

San Francisco and Sydney share many attributes, including beautiful architecture and natural harbours spanned by impressive bridges. Regrettably, both cities also share a housing crisis. While San Francisco teeters on what some claim is failed-city status, Sydney still has a chance to avoid a similar fate. But the window of opportunity to act is closing.

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey. Credit: James Brickwood

One of the state governments few big thinkers, Mookhey tells the Heralds chief reporter Jordan Baker that Sydney has five to 10 years to avert a landed gentry situation, in which only those with family money could afford property and education was no longer an equaliser.

He will deliver the warning today in a keynote address at the Sydney Summit, an important annual gathering convened by the Committee for Sydney and proudly supported by the Herald.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On the night of February 3rd, 2024, at approximately 11:00 pm, the Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) received several calls reporting a suspected kidnapping of a female at the parking lot of Port de Plaisance. The victim, an employee of a local establishment, was allegedly abducted by individuals driving a white Hyundai Accent, with a provided license plate number.

In response to the urgent situation, multiple officers were dispatched to the scene and initiated a search for the mentioned vehicle. During the early morning hours, the victim arrived at the police station, detailing the events surrounding her abduction. It was revealed that the victim and one of the perpetrators were acquainted, suggesting a disturbing history of mistreatment.

Further developments emerged around 8:00 am on February 4th, 2024, when the police received information indicating the presence of the suspect vehicle near a hotel in the Cay Hill area. Subsequent investigations led to the identification of suspects J.R.A and V.M.R, who were located in one of the hotel rooms.

With the permission of the prosecutor, a search was conducted in the room, resulting in the arrest of both suspects. They are currently being held at the Philipsburg police station pending further investigation. The vehicle used in this incident was also confiscated and brought to the police station.

The Sint Maarten Police Force urges anyone with additional information pertaining to this case to come forward. Please contact the police at 5422222 or, you can always contact the anonymous Tip line at 9300 to provide any relevant details that may aid in the ongoing investigation.

The Sint Maarten Police Force appreciates the cooperation of the community and remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its residents.

Click here for the video of the two of three suspects being arrested.

KPSM Press Release.
PHILIPSBURG:--- In the early hours of Saturday, February 03, 2024, at approximately 4:00 a.m., Central Police Dispatch received several calls reporting a serious accident on Oyster Pond Road. The incident involved a black Yamaha Mio scooter, without a license plate, and a white Nissan Almera.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the Yamaha Mio rider was descending Oyster Pond Road from the direction of Border Bar going towards the French Border. Simultaneously, the driver of the Nissan Almera, with license plate M 13587, was ascending Oyster Pond Road from French Border heading towards Border Bar.

Tragically, just before reaching the aforementioned Bar, the rider of Yamaha Mio rider lost control of the scooter, resulting in a head-on collision with the Nissan Almera. The impact of the collision left the scooter rider with injuries.

The police force of Sint Maarten received several calls concerning this incident, emphasizing the community's concern and responsiveness to such emergencies.

Personnel of the ambulance arrived at the scene, providing crucial first aid to the injured rider before rushing him to the St. Maarten Medical Center for further medical attention. The victim sustained a head injury and abrasions to the body, subsequently being admitted to the hospital.

This unfortunate incident marks the second serious scooter accident within the past few days. In light of these events, the police urge everyone to adhere strictly to road safety protocols to prevent such accidents in the future.

KPSM Press Release.
North Korean leader's sister slams South's Moon as US 'parrot'



Seoul, March 30 (AFP) Mar 30, 2021



North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's influential sister slammed the South's president Tuesday as "a parrot raised by America" after he criticised a missile test by Pyongyang.

The nuclear-armed North has a long history of using weapons tests to ramp up tensions, and last week carried out its first substantive provocation since US President Joe Biden's inauguration.

The US and Japan said the weapons fired were ballistic missiles -- banned under a UN Security Council resolution -- while Pyongyang insisted they were tactical guided weapons.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who has long backed engagement with Pyongyang, made a carefully measured speech on Friday -- when the South marked three deadly attacks by the North since 1999 -- that did not specifically refer to the missile test.

Actions that stand in the way of resuming dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington were "undesirable", he said.

His speech prompted denunciation from Pyongyang, with Kim Yo Jong, a key adviser to her brother, calling it the "height of effrontery".

She had been "struck speechless", she said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency, referring to Moon only as the South's "chief executive" and not by his name or title.

Calling him "a parrot raised by America", she said he was employing "the gangster-like logic of the US".

It is a far cry from the diplomacy of 2018, when Moon visited Pyongyang and gave a speech to a vast crowd in the May Day Stadium, where at one point an image of him and Kim Jong Un was displayed across a grandstand.

The Biden administration is in the final stages of a review on policy towards the North, and the new US president has repeatedly said he will look to rebuild the alliances with partners such as South Korea that suffered under his predecessor Donald Trump.

Biden has warned the North that "there will be responses if they choose to escalate" testing.

He left the door open for further diplomacy, but the White House said Monday a summit between him and Kim was "not his intention".

European members of the UN Security Council have asked for a meeting Tuesday to discuss the launch.
Security Council meets on North Korea tests without action



United Nations, United States, March 30 (AFP) Mar 30, 2021



The UN Security Council on Tuesday met to discuss North Korea's latest missile launches but did not take any immediate action, although the United States said the world body was considering new measures.

No statement came from the Security Council or from the European nations after the half-hour, closed-door meeting, a contrast with a year ago when five European nations condemned earlier tests as "provocative."

A diplomat said there were "concerns expressed by a majority of members" during Tuesday's meeting and renewed calls for denuclearization, although no statement was planned.

North Korea had already denounced the meeting, which was called by Britain, Estonia, France, Ireland and Norway.

In a statement carried by the North's official KCNA news agency, senior foreign ministry official Jo Chol Su accused the Security Council of a "double standard" and said that countries around the world "are firing all kinds of projectiles."

North Korea last week launched two weapons assessed by the United States and others to be short-range ballistic missiles, which it is banned from under Security Council resolutions.

The United States has been careful in its statements on North Korea, with President Joe Biden warning of consequences but also saying that Pyongyang can choose diplomacy.

Instead of seeking a Security Council meeting, Washington referred the launches to its sanctions committee for assessment.

"We held a committee meeting on sanctions and we're looking at additional actions that we might take here in New York," Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters on Monday.

She did not specify any measures. North Korea has demanded the lifting of earlier UN sanctions, a sticking point that scuttled the second summit between Kim Jong Un and former US president Donald Trump, who made the landmark decision to meet the North Korean strongman.

Biden sharply criticized Trump's made-for-television summits with Kim and is expected to favor lower-level dialogue.

Russia, which along with China enjoys cordial relations with Pyongyang, warned against any new sanctions on North Korea.

"It's a time of assessment, not action," deputy Russian ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy told reporters.

"We welcome any kind of dialogue -- bilateral or multilateral."

"We hope that there will be no tensions in the Korean Peninsula and that all sides will refrain from provocative acts and provocative rhetoric which doesn't help," he said.
UN report points to Huthis for December attack on Aden airport



United Nations, United States, March 31 (AFP) Mar 31, 2021



A deadly attack on December 30, 2020 on Aden airport in Yemen was carried out with missiles similar to those possessed by Huthi rebels and fired from locations under their control, according to a report submitted to the UN Security Council.

The attack killed about 20 people, including the deputy minister of public works, and injured more than 100 people.

"Three explosions occurred... minutes after a plane carrying Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed, members of his 'unity' cabinet and other senior government officials had landed," the report said.

"The airport was hit by three precision-guided, short-distance, surface-to-surface ballistic missiles carrying fragmentation warheads, likely an extended-range version of the Badr-1P missile, which has been part of the Huthi arsenal since 2018."

The missiles were an attempt to hit the plane carrying government officials, as well as the VIP lounge, where a press conference had been planned.

They were fired from "facilities were under the control of the Huthi forces at the time of the attacks," said a summary of the confidential investigative report obtained on Tuesday by AFP.

A last-minute decision to park the plane further away from the terminal building, as well as a delay in passengers disembarking, prevented further casualties, it said.

The southern port city of Aden is Yemen's de facto capital, where the internationally recognised government is based after being routed from Sanaa in the north by Huthi rebels.
UN points to Yemen's Huthis for December attack on Aden airport



United Nations, United States, March 31 (AFP) Mar 31, 2021



A deadly attack on December 30, 2020 on Aden airport in Yemen was carried out with missiles similar to those possessed by Huthi rebels and fired from locations under their control, according to a report submitted to the UN Security Council.

The attack killed about 20 people, including the deputy minister of public works, and injured more than 100 people.

"Three explosions occurred... minutes after a plane carrying Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed, members of his 'unity' cabinet and other senior government officials had landed," the report said.

"The airport was hit by three precision-guided, short-distance, surface-to-surface ballistic missiles carrying fragmentation warheads, likely an extended-range version of the Badr-1P missile, which has been part of the Huthi arsenal since 2018."

The Huthis on Wednesday rejected the report.

"Any report on Yemen... issued without an independent committee is rejected," Huthi political commander Mohammed Ali al-Huthi said Wednesday.

He added it "is unrealistic, biased, and lacks credibility".

The missiles were an attempt to hit the plane carrying government officials, as well as the VIP lounge, where a press conference had been planned.

They were fired from "facilities were under the control of the Huthi forces at the time of the attacks," said a summary of the confidential investigative report obtained on Tuesday by AFP.

A last-minute decision to park the plane further away from the terminal building, as well as a delay in passengers disembarking, prevented further casualties, it said.

The southern port city of Aden is Yemen's de facto capital, where the internationally recognised government is based after being routed from Sanaa in the north by Huthi rebels.
US, Japan, S.Korea show united front on N.Korea



Washington, April 2 (AFP) Apr 02, 2021



The United States, Japan and South Korea showed a united front Friday on concerns about North Korea's nuclear and missile programs as President Joe Biden completes a review on the way forward.

Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security advisor, held a rare in-person meeting jointly with his counterparts from South Korea and Japan, Suh Hoon and Shigeru Kitamura, at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

The three officials said in a joint statement that they "shared their concerns about North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs" and promised "concerted trilateral cooperation towards denuclearization."

"They agreed on the imperative for full implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions by the international community, including North Korea, preventing proliferation and cooperating to strengthen deterrence and maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," the statement said.

Addressing other key priorities for Biden, the security officials also discussed the fights against Covid-19 and climate change, and ways to restore democracy in Myanmar.

The meeting came as a review by the Biden administration on how to deal with North Korea is in its final stages, following Donald Trump's unusually personal diplomacy with strongman Kim Jong Un.

The former president held three meetings with Kim, with whom Trump said he "fell in love," in a diplomatic overture that eased tensions but did not lead to a permanent agreement.

Biden has sharply criticized Trump's meetings, saying he legitimized one of the world's most ruthless leaders, but has also said he is open to diplomacy.

Biden administration officials are widely expected to support a resumption of lower-level talks rather than high-stakes, high-drama summits.

Biden has also warned North Korea of consequences for violations of UN Security Council resolutions after Pyongyang recently tested what US officials judged to be ballistic missiles.

A US official said Sullivan was also speaking to Japan and South Korea about the global shortage of semiconductors, as supply chains have been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The lack of semiconductors has forced some automakers to curtail production and appears to be spreading to a wide range of electronic items.

The Annapolis talks mark rare in-person diplomacy for the Biden administration amid the pandemic and Sullivan's first trilateral since taking office.

On a range of issues such as facing a rising China, Biden has put a priority on rallying allies including Japan and South Korea -- which, despite their respective treaties with Washington, have historically tense ties with each other.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin last month jointly visited both Tokyo and Seoul on their first foreign trips.
Huthi missile debris sparks fire at Saudi university



Riyadh, April 15 (AFP) Apr 15, 2021



Debris from missiles fired by Yemen's Huthi rebels into Saudi Arabia caused a small fire on a university campus in the kingdom's south, the Riyadh-led military coalition operating in Yemen said.

Saudi air defence intercepted five ballistic missiles and four drones deployed by Yemeni rebels on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, according to the coalition.

The missiles were fired and drones sent from Yemen's Sa'ada province, a rebel stronghold in the north of the country, toward the Saudi city of Jizan, said coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki.

"Debris fell on the campus of Jizan University, causing a small fire which was brought under control and there were no casualties," the spokesman said, according to the official Saudi news agency SPA.

Maliki condemned the escalating Huthi air campaign against "civilian targets", warning that these "hostile acts constitute war crimes".

A Huthi spokesman in the northern capital of Sanaa said that 11 missiles and drones had targeted facilities belonging to the Saudi oil giant Aramco.

Patriot anti-missile batteries and other "sensitive facilities" were also targeted by the Huthis in Jizan, a rebel military spokesman said according to the Huthis' Al-Masirah television.

On Monday, the Huthis claimed to have carried out other attacks against Saudi Arabia, saying they had launched 17 drones and missiles at various targets including Aramco facilities.

Saudi authorities did not confirm any attacks on oil facilities at the time. However, the coalition indicated that six drones launched from Yemen had been intercepted, without mentioning any casualties.

Saudi Arabia leads a military coalition that intervened in the Yemen conflict in 2015, to support the the internationally recognised government.

It has reported numerous attacks by the rebels on Aramco facilities, airports and other civilian targets in recent months.

bur/sls/fz
Greece to lend Patriot battery to Saudi as Huthi attacks spike



Riyadh, April 20 (AFP) Apr 20, 2021



Greece will lend a Patriot missile battery to Saudi Arabia to protect its critical energy infrastructure, Greek officials said Tuesday, as the Gulf kingdom grapples with growing attacks by Yemen's Huthi rebels.

Saudi Arabia, the top crude exporter which leads a military coalition against the Huthis, relies heavily on US-made Patriots to intercept missiles and drones fired at the kingdom on a near daily basis by the Iran-aligned rebels.

"We signed the agreement to transfer a Patriot battery here in Saudi Arabia," Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said in a statement during a visit to Riyadh with Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos.

In a separate statement, Panagiotopoulos said the Patriot would be "deployed in the coming period and operate on Saudi Arabian soil... to protect critical energy infrastructure from terrorist threats".

There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities, who have not disclosed how many Patriots the kingdom currently has.

The announcement comes after the United States announced in May last year that it was pulling out four of its Patriots from Saudi Arabia.

Two of those anti-missile batteries were deployed following September 2019 attacks on two Saudi oil installations, strikes that caused turmoil on global energy markets after they temporarily halved the kingdom's crude output.

Although the Huthi rebels claimed responsibility, Riyadh and Washington held Iran responsible, a charge Tehran denied.

In recent months, the Huthis, who are battling the Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen's war in 2015, have stepped up drone and missile strikes on Saudi targets, including its oil facilities.

burs-ac/jj
Israel strikes Syria after 'missile' targets southern Israel: army



Jerusalem, April 22 (AFP) Apr 22, 2021



The Israeli military struck multiple Syrian targets after a missile targeted southern Israel near a secretive nuclear site, the army said early Thursday.

"A surface-to-air missile was fired from Syria to Israel's southern Negev," the Israeli Defence Force tweeted.

"In response, we struck the battery from which the missile was launched and additional surface-to-air batteries in Syria," they added.

Syrian state media outlet Sana said the Israeli fire came from the Golan Heights and was targeted "towards positions in the vicinity of Damascus".

While there were no immediate reports of any Israeli wounded or physical damage, sirens sounded earlier near Abu Qrenat village, in the vicinity of the Dimona nuclear site.

Israel has never disclosed its nuclear arsenal, but foreign experts claim the Jewish state has between 100 to 300 nuclear warheads.

Sana said Syrian air defence batteries successfully intercepted most of the missiles.

Quoting a military source, the news outlet said that four soldiers were wounded, adding there were "some material losses".

Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Israel has routinely carried out raids in Syria, mostly targeting Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah forces as well as government troops.

Israel rarely confirms strikes in Syria, but its army has said it hit about 50 targets in the war-torn country last year, without providing details.

In late February, Israeli air strikes targeted the area of Sayyida Zeinab south of Damascus, where Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Lebanese Hezbollah are present, the Observatory said, without reporting any casualties.
The office of Delphine Jelk, Guerlains nose, is located on the penultimate floor of a historic building next to the La Samaritaine department store. Above, on the top floor, is her laboratory, a space with large windows overlooking the four cardinal points of Paris: Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur... Curiously, the workshop where Maison Guerlains fragrances are created has no particular smell. My team and I dont wear perfumes when we work, as they can interfere with our creative process. It is better to have no outside smells, explains Jelk, one of Frances great perfumers, who in 2021 received the Order of Arts and Letters granted by the Ministry of Culture for her extraordinary olfactory knowledge.

Although using perfumes is forbidden here, Jelk makes an exception to let us try Neroli Plein Sud, her latest creation for LArt et La Matiere, Guerlains haute perfumery collection. In an instant, a vibrant burst of neroli  the essence of the orange blossom  sweeps through the laboratory. The fresh aroma of orange is shaken by the spicy heat of cinnamon, turmeric and ginger. Finally, the trail delivers the powerful, woody hints of vetiver. Its like traveling to the Sahara. Thats the magic of a perfume, says Jelk, who always dreamed of being an alchemist: As a child, I fantasized about creating magic potions.

After finishing high school in Freiburg, she considered studying pharmacy, but finally opted for fashion design at the Higher School of Fashion Arts and Techniques in Paris, the same where designers like Olivier Rousteing and Simon Porte Jacquemus were trained. However, the world of fragrances never ceased to spark Jelks curiosity. For her graduation project, a mens ready-to-wear line based on cashmere and linen, she created a multisensory show in which each garment was associated with a scent. Her proposal did not go unnoticed. After graduating, she received two job offers: one to design clothes at Martin Margielas atelier, and another to be a researcher of olfactory trends at Firmenich, the Swiss giant that dominates the perfume and flavor business. I took the second one. Every morning, a senior perfumer had me smell raw materials. One day he gave me a bottle of triplal, a herbaceous, green leafy aroma, very similar to that of pine or freshly cut grass. It carried me... I dont know where, but it carried me. Thats when I thought: I want to dedicate myself to this, to creating fragrances that carry people.

Delphine Jelks travel journal. The Guerlain perfumer traveled to Morocco to create her new perfume, Neroli Plein Sud. Lea Crespi

She spent a year training at the Grasse Institute of Perfumery, where they only accept seven students per course, surrounded by master perfumers and lavender fields. Philippe Romano, one of the most prominent figures in the sector, sponsored her, and a few years later she began to collaborate with Guerlain. Her first creation for the house was La Petite Robe Noire, which became a bestseller  and Jelks golden ticket to the maison.

Since then, the Swiss-born perfumer has been working with Thierry Wasser on the creation of new fragrances capable of linking the legacy and tradition of the Parisian house with modernity. Jelk considers her mission to be reinterpreting the style of the brand, founded in 1828. I am always looking for inspiration in the archives. But I have a lot of freedom, she explains. She also resorts to art and literature: she came up with the idea for her new perfume, Neroli Plein Sud, after reading Southern Mail, Antoine de Saint-Exuperys 1929 novel in which the aviator and writer recounts his epic first airmail deliveries to the southern hemisphere, passing through Spain, Morocco and Mauritania. I wanted to recreate the experience of a Saint-Exupery flight, flying over the Moroccan orange groves and the desert. It seemed like a nice tribute to Vol de Nuit, the perfume that Jacques Guerlain created 90 years ago, also inspired by the flights of Saint-Exupery, she explains.

It took Jelk eight months to create Neroli Plein Sud. The creative journey that began with a copy of Southern Mail continued in Khemisset, Morocco, where she toured the orange groves that Saint-Exupery once flew over. A singularly powerful orange blossom grows there, bursting with sunlight and whipped by the winds of the Atlas Mountains. Grown organically and harvested by hand, it emits a vapor that produces a very valuable neroli essence. The perfumer keeps her travel journal in her office. It is full of doodles, notes and inspirations. On one page, the formula of her new perfume is written down. I cannot show it; it is secret, she excuses herself.

Advertising for Vol de Nuit, from 1933. Archivo de Guerlain

The Neroli Plein Sud Saint Exupery Edition is a limited edition. There are only 1,000 bottles available worldwide and each one costs $590. The Antoine de Saint-Exupery Youth Foundation, chaired by Olivier dAgay, the aviators great-nephew, participated in the creative process. It was conceived as a travel diary: the case is decorated with original sketches by Saint-Exupery, taken from personal documents and manuscripts, and the bottle is adorned with a collectors plate. But this is not the most unique creation Jelk has been involved with: in her laboratory, custom-made perfumes are also designed and sold from 125,000 (around $136,000). More and more people want to have their own personal olfactory signature, just for them, she explains.

Each custom creation is delivered in a personalized trunk made by the Moynat house. Inside, there is a one-liter bottle decorated with the brands iconic honeycomb, hand-painted with fine gold. This legendary bottle, manufactured for 170 years by the Pochet du Courval glassworks, was designed in 1853 to contain the Imperiale Eau de Cologne created for the Empress Eugenie. Six 100 milliliter spray bottles and four 30 milliliter travel spray bottles, all refillable, complete the luxurious set.

Each assignment is a new challenge for Jelk and Thierry Wasser. A few years ago, a wealthy client commissioned them to create a custom-made fragrance that not only she would like, but also her six daughters. She wanted all her daughters to wear the same fragrance after her death, recalls the perfumer. That is, for her, the essence of her job. A perfume, unlike a piece of clothing, is not for a single season. Ideally, it is for life.

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IDF strikes Syria after 'missile' targets southern Israel



Jerusalem, April 22 (AFP) Apr 22, 2021



Multiple defence batteries in Syria were struck by Israeli forces, the military said Thursday, after a missile targeted a village near a secretive nuclear site in southern Israel.

"A surface-to-air missile was fired from Syria to Israel's southern Negev," the Israel Defense Forces tweeted.

"In response, we struck the battery from which the missile was launched and additional surface-to-air batteries in Syria."

Syrian state media outlet Sana said the Israeli fire came from the Golan Heights and was targeted "towards positions in the vicinity of Damascus" in the early hours of Thursday.

According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), Israeli missiles hit the air defence base of the Syrian government in the town of Dmeir -- roughly 40 kilometres (25 miles) northeast of Damascus.

The strikes destroyed air defence batteries, the Observatory said, with some casualties.

The Dmeir area is believed to be home to weapons depots belonging to militias loyal to Iran, it added.

Sana said Syrian air defence batteries successfully intercepted most of the missiles.

Quoting a military source, the news outlet said four soldiers were wounded and there were "some material losses".



- Nuclear facilities -



While there were no immediate reports of any Israeli wounded or physical damage, sirens sounded near Abu Qrenat village, in the vicinity of the Dimona nuclear site.

Israel has never disclosed its atomic arsenal, but foreign experts say the Jewish state has between 100 to 300 nuclear warheads.

Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Israel has routinely carried out raids in Syria, mostly targeting Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah forces as well as government troops.

Israel has long sought to prevent bitter foe Iran from establishing itself in the war-torn nation.

And while the IDF has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria, it has rarely publicly acknowledged them.

The latest missile launch comes as tensions run high between Israel and Iran with Tehran promising "revenge" after the sabotage of its Natanz uranium enrichment plant.

Iran said it believes Israel was behind the incident -- when a small explosion hit the plant's electricity distribution earlier this month.

Israel did not claim responsibility for the incident, but unsourced media reports in the country attributed it to the Israeli security services carrying out a "cyber operation".

The New York Times, quoting unnamed US and Israeli intelligence officials, also said there had been "an Israeli role" in the attack.

gl/rbu/qan
Israel strikes Syria after attack near secretive nuclear site



Jerusalem, April 22 (AFP) Apr 22, 2021



A Syrian officer was killed and three soldiers wounded Thursday in strikes launched by Israel after a missile was fired towards a secretive nuclear site in the Jewish state, a monitor said.

Since the outbreak of Syria's civil war in 2011, Israel has routinely carried out aerial raids on the country, mostly targeting Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah forces as well as government troops.

Its latest salvo was launched in the early hours of Thursday after a missile was fired from Syria towards southern Israel, where the Dimona nuclear reactor is located.

Sirens sounded in Abu Qrenat, a Bedouin village not far from the nuclear site, the Israeli military said, before it responded by striking multiple defence batteries across the border.

The exchange of fire comes less than two weeks after Iran accused its arch-foe Israel of "terrorism" following an explosion at the Islamic republic's Natanz nuclear facility.

"A surface-to-air missile was fired from Syria to Israel's southern Negev," the Israel Defense Forces tweeted.

"In response, we struck the battery from which the missile was launched and additional surface-to-air batteries in Syria."

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said the Israeli retaliatory strikes killed a Syrian officer and seriously wounded three soldiers.

"An officer with the rank of a lieutenant in the regime's forces was killed in the Israeli bombardments... targeting an air defence base in the Dmeir region east of the capital," it said.

Syrian state news agency SANA said the Israeli fire came from the Golan Heights and was targeted "towards positions in the vicinity of Damascus".

The strikes destroyed air defence batteries, the Observatory said.

The Dmeir area, roughly 40 kilometres (25 miles) northeast of the Syrian capital, is believed to be home to weapons depots belonging to militias loyal to Iran, it added.

SANA reported "some material losses" but said Syrian air defence batteries intercepted most of the missiles.

Israel is considered the leading military power in the Middle East and is widely believed to possess its sole nuclear arsenal.

It has never disclosed its atomic arsenal, but foreign experts say the Jewish state has between 100 to 300 nuclear warheads.

There were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage on the Israeli side.



- Nuclear facility -



Israel is investigating its response to the incoming projectile.

The army said an initial probe showed it did not intercept the surface-to-air missile.

Israeli troops examined fragments of an exploded missile that reached the community of Ashalim, some 40 kilometres (45 miles) from Dimona.

Soldiers were still searching for more pieces of the projectile in the late morning.

Israel has long sought to prevent bitter foe Iran from establishing itself in war-torn Syria.

Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system has thwarted hundreds of attacks from Syria and the Gaza Strip in the past decade.

The Israeli army has carried out hundreds of strikes in on its war-battered northern neighbour, but it has rarely publicly acknowledged them.

The missile launch comes as tensions run high between Israel and Iran, which had vowed to avenge the April 11 attack of its Natanz uranium enrichment plant.

Iran accused Israel of being behind the explosion that hit Natanz's electricity distribution.

Israel did not claim responsibility for the incident, but unsourced media reports in the country attributed it to the Israeli security services carrying out a "cyber operation".

The New York Times, quoting unnamed US and Israeli intelligence officials, said there had been "an Israeli role" in the attack.

Israel strongly opposes a landmark 2015 agreement that gave Iran relief from sanctions in return for curbs on its suspect nuclear programme.

US President Joe Biden's administration is trying to revive the accord, which has been in tatters since his predecessor Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018.

Israel says Iran is trying to build an atomic bomb, though the Islamic republic says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.

gl/dac/dv
China, North Korea vice foreign ministers meet in Pyongyang



Seoul, Jan 26 (AFP) Jan 26, 2024



China's vice foreign minister met his North Korean counterpart in Pyongyang on Friday, with the nuclear-armed state accelerating its weapons testing and threats toward Seoul in recent months.

Beijing is North Korea's biggest economic benefactor and a traditional ally, and leader Kim Jong Un has sought to shore up his country's relationship with China while intensifying his aggressive rhetoric toward the South.

The weapons tests and Kim's designation of Seoul earlier this month as the North's "principal enemy" have raised tensions in the region and led South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to pull closer to long-standing ally Washington.

The United States has also warned of "growing and dangerous" military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow and called on Beijing to restrain the North.

On Friday, the North's official Korean Central News Agency said "the Foreign Ministry delegation of the People's Republic of China, headed by Comrade Sun Weidong, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, arrived in Pyongyang on the 25th."

AFP photos showed Sun and his delegation meeting with North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong Ho and others at the People's Palace of Culture in the capital.

Pak greeted Sun with a smile as the Chinese vice foreign minister entered a room in the venue in the North Korean capital.

While the two were shaking hands, photographers at the scene captured the moment, causing the sound of camera flashes to fill the air, AFP videos showed.

The members of the Chinese delegation were seen taking notes during the meeting, the footage showed, as they sat across from their North Korean counterparts in a spacious room adorned with a large painting of a wooded valley, with each participant provided a water bottle and a glass.

Sun's visit comes as US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was set to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday and Saturday in Thailand, as the two powers seek to improve relations after years of tensions.

Earlier this month, Kim said Pyongyang and Beijing had designated 2024 as the "year of DPRK-China friendship," using the acronym of the North's official name.

The two countries "will further promote exchange and visits in all fields, including politics, economy and culture" this year, and add "a new page to the history of the DPRK-China relations," Kim said in his message to Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to KCNA.

His rhetoric toward the South has been a stark contrast with Kim declaring Seoul his country's "principal enemy", and jettisoning agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach.

He also threatened war over "even 0.001 mm" of territorial infringement.

Seoul, Tokyo and Washington have held joint military exercises against the growing North Korean threats, while Beijing last year sent senior officials to attend Pyongyang's military parades.

As permanent members of the UN Security Council, both China and Russia have been obstructing the efforts led by Washington to impose stricter sanctions on North Korea in response to its increased weapons testing activities in recent months.

Kim also successfully put a spy satellite into orbit late last year, after receiving what Seoul said was Russian help, in exchange for arms transfers for Moscow's war in Ukraine.
Putin gives go-ahead to new nuclear icebreaker



Moscow, Jan 26 (AFP) Jan 26, 2024



Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday gave the green light for a new nuclear-powered icebreaker, as Moscow seeks to step up commercial trade across its Arctic north.

Under Western sanctions for its Ukraine offensive, Russia is hoping to rely on the Northern Sea Route -- a shipping lane that traverses the Arctic Ocean -- to enable more trade with Asia by cutting distances and costs.

The new icebreaker, dubbed the "Leningrad", will "take part in the most important exploration and research programmes in the Arctic" as well as facilitate trade, Putin said in a speech at a shipyard in Saint Petersburg.

Leningrad is the old name of the city, which is also Putin's home town.

Russia has pivoted much of its trade -- particularly crucial oil and gas sales -- to Asia since it was hit with sanctions for sending troops into Ukraine.

The 170-metre ship, being built by the state nuclear agency Rosatom, is designed to carve through ice to allow trailing cargo ships easier passage through the frozen northern seas.

Russia is the only country in the world that builds and operates nuclear-powered icebreakers.
China, N.Korea key officials meet in Pyongyang



Seoul, Jan 26 (AFP) Jan 26, 2024



China's vice foreign minister met with North Korea's top diplomats in Pyongyang on Friday, state media said, as the nuclear-armed state has accelerated its weapons testing and threats toward Seoul in recent months.

Beijing is North Korea's biggest economic benefactor and a traditional ally, and leader Kim Jong Un has sought to shore up his country's relationship with China while intensifying his aggressive rhetoric toward the South.

The weapons tests and Kim's designation of Seoul earlier this month as the North's "principal enemy" have raised tensions in the region and led South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to pull closer to long-standing ally Washington.

The United States has also warned of "growing and dangerous" military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow and called on Beijing to restrain the North.

AFP photos showed China's Sun Weidong and his delegation meeting with North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong Ho and others at the People's Palace of Culture in the capital.

Pak greeted Sun with a smile as the Chinese vice foreign minister entered a room in the venue in the North Korean capital.

While the two shook hands, photographers at the scene captured the moment, AFP videos showed.

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui was present, the North's official Korean Central News Agency said early Saturday in a brief readout of the meeting.

The members of the Chinese delegation were seen taking notes during the meeting, AFP footage showed, as they sat across from their North Korean counterparts in a spacious room adorned with a large painting of a wooded valley, with each participant provided a water bottle and a glass.

The two sides agreed to "continue to strengthen tactical cooperation and keep pace with each other to defend the common core interests", KCNA said in its report.



- 'A new page' -



Sun's visit comes as US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was set to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Thailand, as the two powers seek to improve relations after years of tensions.

Earlier this month, Kim said Pyongyang and Beijing had designated 2024 as the "year of DPRK-China friendship," using the acronym of the North's official name.

The two countries "will further promote exchange and visits in all fields, including politics, economy and culture" this year, and add "a new page to the history of the DPRK-China relations," Kim said in his message to Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to KCNA.

His rhetoric toward the South has been in stark contrast to the friendly relations with Beijing -- Kim has declared Seoul his country's "principal enemy", and jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach.

He also threatened war over "even 0.001 mm" of territorial infringement.

Seoul, Tokyo and Washington have held joint military exercises against the growing North Korean threats, while Beijing last year sent senior officials to attend Pyongyang's military parades.

As permanent members of the UN Security Council, both China and Russia have been obstructing efforts led by Washington to impose stricter sanctions on North Korea in response to its increased weapons testing activities in recent months.

Kim also successfully put a spy satellite into orbit late last year, after receiving what Seoul said was Russian help, in exchange for arms transfers for Moscow's war in Ukraine.
CORRECTED: N. Korea fires several cruise missiles: Seoul military



Seoul, Jan 28 (AFP) Jan 28, 2024



North Korea fired several cruise missiles on Sunday, Seoul's military said, the latest in a series of tension-raising moves by the nuclear-armed state.

"Our military detected several unidentified cruise missiles fired near waters around North Korea's Sinpo area at 8:00 am today," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
N. Korea fires several cruise missiles: Seoul military



Seoul, Jan 28 (AFP) Jan 28, 2024



North Korea fired several cruise missiles on Sunday, Seoul's military said, the latest in a series of tension-raising moves by the nuclear-armed state.

The launch comes just days after Pyongyang fired multiple cruise missiles toward the Yellow Sea, which it said was a first test of a new generation of strategic cruise missiles.

Pyongyang has accelerated weapons testing in the new year, including tests of what it called an "underwater nuclear weapon system" and a solid-fuelled hypersonic ballistic missile.

"Our military detected several unidentified cruise missiles fired near waters around North Korea's Sinpo area at 8:00 am (2300 GMT) today," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

The JCS said the launch was under analysis by South Korean and US intelligence authorities, adding it was "closely monitoring North Korea's additional movements and activities."

Unlike their ballistic counterparts, the testing of cruise missiles is not banned under current UN sanctions against Pyongyang.

Cruise missiles tend to be jet-propelled and fly at a lower altitude than more sophisticated ballistic missiles, making them harder to detect and intercept.

On Thursday, North Korea said it had carried out its first test of a new generation of strategic cruise missiles it is developing, the Pulhwasal-3-31 a day earlier.

The test was "a process of constant updating of the weapon system and a regular and obligatory activity," the state news agency KCNA said. It did not specify how many missiles were fired.

"The test-fire had no impact on the security of neighboring countries and has nothing to do with the regional situation," the agency said.



- Deteriorating ties -



Recent months have seen a sharp deterioration in ties between the two Koreas, with both sides jettisoning key tension-reducing agreements, ramping up frontier security, and conducting live-fire drills along the border.

Earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared the South his country's "principal enemy", jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach and threatened war over "even 0.001 mm" of territorial infringement.

In Seoul, President Yoon Suk Yeol told his cabinet that should the nuclear-armed North carry out a provocation, South Korea would hit back with a response "multiple times stronger", pointing to his military's "overwhelming response capabilities".

At Pyongyang's year-end policy meetings, Kim threatened a nuclear attack on the South and called for a build-up of his country's military arsenal ahead of armed conflict he warned could "break out any time".

In January, the North launched a solid-fuel hypersonic missile, just days after Pyongyang staged live-fire exercises near the country's tense maritime border with South Korea, which prompted counter-exercises and evacuation orders for some border islands belonging to the South.

Kim also successfully put a spy satellite into orbit late last year, after receiving what Seoul said was Russian help, in exchange for arms transfers for Moscow's war in Ukraine.
NKorea's Kim oversaw test of cruise missiles launched from submarine: state media



Seoul, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2024



North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test launch of a new strategic cruise missile from a submarine, state media said Monday, the latest tension-raising move by the nuclear-armed state.

Pyongyang has accelerated weapons testing in the new year, including tests of what it called an "underwater nuclear weapon system" and a solid-fuelled hypersonic ballistic missile.

The two Pulhwasal-3-31 missiles "flew in the sky above the East Sea ... to hit the island target" on Sunday, state-run news agency KCNA reported, adding that Kim had "guided" the launch.

The Pulhwasal-3-31 is a new generation of strategic cruise missiles that Pyongyang said it had only tested for the first time on Wednesday, firing multiple missiles toward the Yellow Sea.

Unlike their ballistic counterparts, the testing of cruise missiles is not banned under current UN sanctions against Pyongyang.

Cruise missiles tend to be jet-propelled and fly at a lower altitude than more sophisticated ballistic missiles, making them harder to detect and intercept.

KCNA reported the "submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles" (SLCM) were in the air for 7,421 seconds and 7,445 seconds -- approximately two hours -- but did not say how far they flew or whether they had been launched from above or below the water.

North Korea's exact sea-based launch capabilities remain unclear, and previous tests were carried out from older vessels, including from a submerged platform, rather than an actual submarine.

Photos carried by state media showed a missile soaring up into the sky from the water leaving a huge trail of white smoke, making it unclear the type of platform it was being fired from.

In March last year, North Korea launched two SLCMs that flew 1,500 kilometres (930 miles), according to Pyongyang, putting all of South Korea and much of Japan within range.

But analysts said it appeared they had been launched from above water level, thereby removing the stealth benefit of the weapon.

Kim expressed "great satisfaction" over Sunday's test, KCNA said, "which is of strategic significance in carrying out the plan... for modernizing the army which aims at building a powerful naval force."

The North Korean leader separately inspected "the building of a nuclear submarine" and discussed issues related to the construction of other new warships, the report added without giving details.

- 'New threat' -

Improving the country's naval power was one of the key decisions reached at the year-end party meeting, and given Sunday's launch was personally overseen by Kim, analysts say it signals the direction of Pyongyang's defence policy this year.

"They will focus on improving naval power in the East Sea and test weapons systems that can be mounted on submarines, with the first attempt being this strategic cruise missile," said Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies.

"In the future, it will lead to the development of submarine-launched ballistic missiles and nuclear-powered submarines, which will have a much higher impact than SLCMs," he added.

North Korea already has an operational submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) called the Pukguksong-3, with an estimated range of 1,900 kilometres.

Proven SLBM capability would take North Korea's arsenal to a new level, allowing deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula and a second-strike capability in the event of an attack.

Choi Il, a retired South Korean Navy submarine captain, said once a nuclear-tipped SLCM becomes operational, it will pose a "new threat" to South Korea.

"North Korea will be equipped with a two-track nuclear attack means, with the capabilities of mass destruction of a SLBM and precision strike of a SLCM," he said.

North Korea last year launched what it called its first "tactical nuclear attack submarine", which the South Korean military at the time said did not look to be operational.

Analysts said the vessel appeared to be modified from an existing diesel-electric submarine originally designed in the 1950s, and have posed questions about its limitations and vulnerabilities as a platform.
Ukraine to build 4 nuclear reactors as war hits power supply



Kyiv, Ukraine, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2024



Ukraine's energy ministry said Monday that it will begin building four new nuclear reactors this year to compensate for Russia's seizure of the country's largest nuclear plant.

Energy Minister German Galushchenko said in televised comments that all four new reactors would be at the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant in western Ukraine, eventually making it the largest in Europe.

Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, currently Europe's largest, has been under Russian control since March 2022 and its six reactors have been shut down.

Fierce fighting in the area and power cuts have raised international concerns since the plant still needs electricity and water to cool its systems.

The Khmelnytskyi plant will receive two reactors built to a US design, the minister said.

The plant, which dates back to the 1980s, currently has two reactors. Two others have long been planned but their construction delayed.

"With the power that six reactors at Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant will be able to produce, it will be the largest in Europe and even more powerful than Zaporizhzhia," Galushchenko said.

He said that the construction would take many years, with the third reactor expected to be ready in around two and a half years, followed by the others.

The Khmelnytskyi plant's construction began in 1981 and it went into operation the year after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

The original plan was to build four reactors but construction of reactors three and four was halted due to a moratorium on new nuclear projects.

Later, Ukraine sealed a deal with Russia to build the reactors which was cancelled in 2015.

The plan is for the station to have two new AP1000 reactors designed by US company Westinghouse. The earlier-planned reactors three and four will be of Soviet VVER-1000 design.

Since Russia's invasion, Khmelnytskyi power plant has suffered power outages and smashed windows from nearby explosions, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The IAEA reported this month that the Zaporizhzhia plant is surrounded by land mines in a breach of its safety standards.
Slovenians to vote this year on second nuclear reactor



Ljubljana, Jan 30 (AFP) Jan 30, 2024



Slovenians will decide in a referendum this year on whether the EU state of two million will build a second nuclear reactor, Prime Minister Robert Golob said Tuesday.

Slovenia is eyeing the construction of a second reactor in Krsko, near the country's sole nuclear power plant.

The Krsko plant was built in 1983 and is expected to stop production in 2043.

"We have all agreed that the path towards a carbon-free society must be paved with renewable energy sources, on one side, and with nuclear power, on the other," Golob told a news conference after a meeting attended by all parliamentary parties' leaders, the country's president and other top officials.

"For a project as relevant as this -- both considering its value and the country's future -- a consensus must be reached. We will look for common solutions," he added.

The referendum is expected to be held in the second half of the year.

Janez Jansa, leader of the main conservative opposition party SDS and former premier, welcomed the agreement saying "it will speed up the process towards the construction of a second reactor".

The Krsko nuclear power plant's 700-megawatt reactor -- equipped by US energy group Westinghouse -- was jointly built with neighbouring Croatia while the two countries were still part of Yugoslavia.

It supplies around 20 percent of Slovenia's electricity needs and 17 percent of Croatia's.
An Irish nationalist made history Saturday by becoming Northern Irelands first minister as the government returned to work after a two-year boycott by unionists.

Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle ONeill was named first minister in the government that under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday peace accord shares power equally 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.

Northern Ireland was established as a unionist, Protestant-majority part of the U.K. in 1921, following independence for the Republic of Ireland, so ONeills nomination was seen as a highly symbolic moment for nationalists.

This is a historic day which represents a new dawn, ONeill said. That such a day would ever come would have been unimaginable to my parents and grandparents generation. Because of the Good Friday Agreement that old state that they were born into is gone. A more democratic, more equal society has been created making this a better place for everyone.

ONeill will share power with deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly from the Democratic Unionist Party. The two will be equals, but ONeill, whose party captured more seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly in the 2022 elections, will hold the more prestigious title.

Neither side can govern without agreement from the other. Government business ground to a half over the past two years after the DUP walked out to protest trade issues related to Brexit.

ONeill, 47, who was born in the Republic of Ireland but raised in the north, comes from a family with links to the militant Irish Republican Army. Her father was imprisoned as an IRA member, an uncle raised money for the group and two of her cousins were shot  one fatally  by security forces.

ONeill has been criticized for attending events commemorating the IRA and told an interviewer there was no alternative to the groups armed campaign during the Troubles, a period of about 30 years of violent conflict over the future of Northern Ireland, which ended with the Good Friday accords.

I dont think any Irish person ever woke up one morning and thought that conflict was a good idea, but the war came to Ireland, she said in 2022. I think at the time there was no alternative, but now, thankfully, we have an alternative to conflict and thats the Good Friday agreement.

At 15, ONeill became pregnant and her mother quit work to help raise her granddaughter so ONeill could stay in school. She said the Catholic school she attended had not been supportive and pregnancy had been a very negative experience.

You were nearly made to feel girls like you cant be at school, that kind of a thing, she said.

As a member of Sinn Fein, the party affiliated with the IRA, ONeill was elected in 2005 to the Dungannon Borough Council, replacing her father. She was elected to the Stormont Assembly in 2007.

Both ONeill and Little-Pengelly, 44, grew up under the shadow of the Troubles and pledged to work together to bridge divides that once seemed insurmountable.

The past with all its horror can never be forgotten, and nor will it be allowed to be rewritten but while we are shaped by the past, we are not defined by it, Little-Pengelly said. The experience of my childhood gave me the drive and desire to make a different future not just for myself, but to do all that I could and can to ensure a better future for all of us.

Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, who helped broker the historic peace agreement, was in the gallery to witness ONeills nomination along with her grown up daughter and son.

As an Irish republican, I pledge cooperation and genuine honest effort with those colleagues who are British, of a unionist tradition, and who cherish the Union, ONeill said. This is an assembly for all  Catholic, Protestant and dissenter.

U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed the restoration of the Northern Ireland executive and assembly. In a statement from the White House, he said, I look forward to seeing the renewed stability of a power-sharing government that strengthens the peace dividend, restores public services, and continues building on the immense progress of the last decades.

Clare Rice, an academic researcher in politics, said ONeills new position was hugely symbolic and hugely significant despite there being no difference beyond semantics from her previous role as deputy first minister.

All eyes today will be on that symbolic nomination, Rice told the BBC. That is going to be the story that comes out of today, second only to the fact that were here at all.

The return to government came exactly two years after a DUP boycott over a dispute about trade restrictions for goods coming into Northern Ireland from Great Britain. Northern Irelands 1.9 million people were left without a functioning administration as the cost of living soared and public services were strained.

An open border between the north and the republic was a key pillar of the peace process that ended the Troubles, so checks were imposed instead between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K.

An agreement a year ago between the U.K. and the EU, known as the Windsor Framework, eased customs checks and other hurdles but didnt go far enough for the DUP, which continued its boycott.

The U.K. government this week agreed to new changes that would eliminate routine checks and paperwork for most goods entering Northern Ireland, although some checks will remain for illegal goods or disease prevention.

The new changes included 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.

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.

I believe that my party has delivered what many said we couldnt, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said outside the assembly chamber in Stormont. We have brought about change that many said was not possible, and I believe that today is a good day for Northern Ireland, a day when once again our place in the United Kingdom and its internal market is respected and protected in our law and restored for all our people to enjoy the benefits of our membership of the union.

Former DUP leader Edwin Poots was elected as speaker of the chamber.

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Czechs snub Westinghouse bid for nuclear reactor



Prague, Jan 31 (AFP) Jan 31, 2024



The Czech government on Wednesday said it had eliminated US-based Westinghouse from a nuclear tender worth billions of dollars, leaving France's EDF and South Korea's KHNP in contention.

Prague launched the tender in 2022 for one new reactor but the government has since said it wanted binding bids for four new units at the Soviet-built Temelin and Dukovany power stations.

"The situation on the energy market has changed since the government declared the tender and we know one new unit won't be enough," said Prime Minister Petr Fiala.

The government expects the bids in April. The contract with the selected supplier is due to be signed at the turn of the year, with the first reactor to be launched in 2036, Fiala added.

"The bid submitted by (Westinghouse)... failed to meet the conditions as it was not binding. We will continue with KHNP and EDF," Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Sikela told reporters.

The government originally wanted a binding bid for one reactor for Dukovany and non-binding bids for a Dukovany unit and two Temelin reactors.

The state-run power group CEZ currently runs six nuclear units at the two plants located in the south of the country, which last year produced about 40 percent of the country's total electricity output.

Sikela said Czech energy output would grow quickly in the coming years and that the EU member of 10.8 million people needs to replace high-emission and obsolete resources.

"Our power consumption could grow by... 66 percent by 2050. Nuclear energy as a low-carbon resource... will cover a considerable part of the growth but we need more than one new reactor for that," he added.

Russia's Rosatom and China's CGN had also previously expressed an interest in the bidding but Czech authorities said their proposals would not be considered "for security reasons".

In 2022, Westinghouse won a bid to build the first nuclear power station in neighbouring Poland for around $20 billion, seeing off bids from EDF and KHNP.

frj/mmp/bc
Ukrainian nuclear staff barred from Russia-held plant: IAEA



Vienna, Feb 1 (AFP) Feb 01, 2024



The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Thursday that workers from Ukraine's atomic energy operator Energoatom have been barred from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant was taken over by Russian forces in March 2022, one month after Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, and its six reactors have been shut down.

As the plant is now manned by staff who have taken Russian nationality, it was not clear how many people are affected by the new order.

But fierce fighting in the area and power cuts have raised international concerns as the plant still needs electricity and water to cool its systems.

IAEA head Rafael Grossi is to visit the site next week after holding high-level talks on Tuesday in Kyiv, the agency said in a statement.

During his visit, Grossi will "raise the crucial issue of staffing" at the plant to seek "further information" on the latest announcement.

"It is of crucial importance that the plant has the qualified and skilled staff that it needs for nuclear safety and security," Grossi said in the statement.

"The number of staff has already been reduced significantly since the war began," he added.

A source in Energoatom told AFP that Russia had been "imposing" citizenship on the plant's employees and forcing them to sign contracts with Russian-installed operator Rosatom.

"The Russians have set several deadlines. If someone does not take a Russian passport and sign contracts, they will no longer come to work," the source said.

The latest deadline was 1 January 2024, it said.

Before the war, there were 11,500 staff at the plant. At present 4,500 people are employed by the Russian operator at the plant and 940 applications were "under consideration".

Staff working at the site consist of former Energoatom employees who have "adopted Russian citizenship and signed employment contracts with the Russian operating entity", the IAEA statement specified.

Besides that "staff who have been sent to the ZNPP from the Russian Federation" work there.

The IAEA has repeatedly warned of persistent nuclear safety and security risks at the site.

IAEA officials have been on the ground monitoring the plant since September 2022.

The six reactor units, which before the war produced around a fifth of Ukraine's electricity, have been shut down.
US retaliatory strikes hit Iran-linked targets in Syria, Iraq



Washington, Feb 3 (AFP) Feb 03, 2024



The United States launched air strikes against Iranian forces and allied militias in Iraq and Syria on Friday, with President Joe Biden vowing more to come in retaliation for a deadly drone attack on an American base in Jordan.

The United States blamed Sunday's drone attack on forces backed by Iran, but did not strike inside the country's territory on Friday, with both Washington and Tehran seemingly keen to avoid all-out war.

"Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing," Biden said in a statement.

"The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world. But let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond," he added.

The strikes targeted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and "affiliated militia groups," with American forces -- including long-range bombers flown from the United States -- hitting "more than 85 targets," the US Central Command said in a statement.

"The airstrikes employed more than 125 precision munitions," it added. Targets included command and control and intelligence centers, as well as rocket, missile and drone storage facilities belonging to "militia groups and their IRGC sponsors who facilitated attacks against US and coalition forces."

The strikes killed at least 18 pro-Iran fighters in Syria's east, according to war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

General Yehia Rasool, a spokesman for Iraq's prime minister, called the strikes a "violation" of his country's sovereignty and said they would bring "disastrous consequences for the security and stability of Iraq and the region."

Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani has recently called for the departure of international troops from Iraq after a previous US strike in Baghdad.

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Washington "did inform the Iraqi government prior to the strikes," but did not elaborate on Baghdad's response.

Kirby told journalists the strikes lasted about 30 minutes, though they involved a lengthy trip for the B-1 bombers that flew from the United States.

He said the Defense Department was still assessing damage from the strikes, but added the United States believed they were successful and made clear that more would follow.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights chief Rami Abdel Rahman said that at least 26 major sites housing pro-Iranian groups were destroyed in Syria, including weapons depots.

A weapons warehouse and a command center belonging to pro-Iranian groups were also targeted in western Iraq, along the Syrian border, two Iraq security sources told AFP, resulting in at least "some injuries."

The strikes represent a "significant escalation," according to Allison McManus, managing director for national security and international policy at the Center for American Progress.

But she was skeptical about the impact, adding: "We have not seen that similar tit-for-tat strikes have had a deterrent effect."



- 'Dignified transfer' -



Biden earlier Friday attended a solemn military ritual at a Delaware air base for the return of the three soldiers killed in the drone attack in Jordan.

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles "CQ" Brown, also attended what is known as the "dignified transfer" -- their presence highlighting the relative rarity of returning dead US service members in the wake of the exit from Afghanistan in 2021.

The soldiers killed Sunday were the first American military deaths from hostile fire in the Middle East since the start of a spike in attacks on US and allied forces in the wake of Hamas's surprise October 7 assault on Israel.

That attack sparked a devastating Israeli campaign in Gaza, which has stoked tensions and violence across the Middle East and dragged it ever closer to a full-on regional conflict.

US and coalition troops have been attacked more than 165 times in Iraq, Syria and Jordan since mid-October with weapons including drones, rockets and short-range ballistic missiles.

Dozens of American personnel have been wounded in previous attacks, many of which have been claimed by a loose alliance of Iran-linked armed groups that oppose US support for Israel in the Gaza conflict and want American troops out of the region.

With Biden running for reelection this year, Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson criticized his operation as too little, too late.

"Unfortunately, the administration waited for a week and telegraphed to the world, including to Iran, the nature of our response," he said in a statement Friday.

"The public handwringing and excessive signaling undercuts our ability to put a decisive end to the barrage of attacks endured over the past few months."

Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels, meanwhile, began targeting international shipping in the Red Sea in November, sparking US and British air strikes aimed at curbing the aggression which in turn have led to attempted attacks on US naval vessels.
Damascus says US occupation of Syrian territory 'cannot continue'



Damascus, Feb 3 (AFP) Feb 03, 2024



Damascus said Saturday that US occupation of Syrian territory "cannot continue" after Washington carried out deadly strikes in retaliation for a drone attack that killed three US soldiers in Jordan.

The overnight strikes killed "a number of civilians and soldiers, wounded others and caused significant damage to public and private property", the Syrian military said in a statement.

"The occupation of parts of Syrian territory by US forces cannot continue," it added, affirming the army's "determination to liberate all Syrian territory from terrorism and occupation".

The United States blamed Sunday's drone attack in Jordan on Iran-backed groups, but did not strike inside Iranian territory, with both Washington and Tehran seemingly keen to avoid all-out war.

The United States has some 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in neighbouring Iraq as part of an international coalition against the Islamic State group, a jihadist organisation that once controlled swathes of both countries.

The Syrian foreign ministry said the strikes served to "inflame the conflict in the Middle East in an extremely dangerous way" and added "to the (US) record of violations of Syrian sovereignty" and territorial integrity.

Syria "condemns this blatant American violation and categorically rejects all the pretexts and lies used by the American administration to justify this attack", the ministry said in a statement.
Civilians among 16 dead in US strikes in Iraq: government



Baghdad, Feb 3 (AFP) Feb 03, 2024



US strikes in the west of Iraq against armed pro-Iran groups killed at least 16 people, including civilians, and wounded 23, Iraqi government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi said on Saturday.

The strikes hit "locations in the Akashat and Al-Qaim regions, including areas where our security forces are stationed", Awadi said in a statement.

The United States carried out the strikes on Friday in retaliation for the killing of three US military personnel in a drone attack on a base close to Jordan's border with Syria and Iraq.

Washington blamed the unclaimed attack on the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose alliance of pro-Iran fighters opposed to US support for Israel in Gaza.

Tehran has denied any links to the attack.

On Friday, a White House spokesperson said the United States had "warned the Iraqi government before the strikes".

But Baghdad denied there had been any coordination with Washington prior to the bombings.

Awadi accused the United States of "deception and distortion of facts" and called the suggestion "an unfounded claim crafted to mislead international public opinion and evade legal responsibility" for what he said was a breach of international law.

"This aggressive air strike will push the security situation in Iraq and the region to the brink of the abyss," the spokesman said.

Awadi condemned the use of Iraq's territory as a "battleground for settling scores" and repeated his government's call for the withdrawal of the US-led international anti-jihadist coalition in Iraq.

The coalition had "deviated from its assigned tasks and granted mandate," he said, and was "endangering security and stability in Iraq".

There are roughly 2,500 US troops deployed in Iraq and about 900 in Syria as part of the coalition formed in 2014 to fight the Islamic State group -- the year the jihadist group overran around a third of Iraq.

Since mid-October, there have been more than 165 drone and rocket attacks against coalition troops in Iraq and Syria, with most being claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.
Iran 'strongly' condemns US attacks on Iraq, Syria



Tehran, Feb 3 (AFP) Feb 03, 2024



Tehran on Saturday condemned US air strikes on Iraq and Syria as a "strategic mistake" by its arch-foe, without saying whether or not any of them caused any Iranian casualties.

"Last night's attack on Syria and Iraq is an adventurous action and another strategic mistake by the US government, which will have no result other than intensifying tensions and instability in the region," Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in a statement.

"The US military attacks on Iraq, Syria and Yemen merely provide for the goals of the Zionist regime," he said, referring to US ally Israel.

The American strikes were "a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria, of international law and a flagrant violation of the United Nations charter", Kanani added.

The United States launched air strikes against Iran-allied militias in Iraq and Syria on Friday, with President Joe Biden vowing more to come, in retaliation for a drone attack that killed three US soldiers in Jordan.

The US military said it attacked a total of 85 targets at seven different sites in Syria and Iraq.

The strikes killed at least 18 pro-Iranian fighters in Syria, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor. In Iraq, they killed 16 people, including civilians, the Baghdad government said.

The US military has also been carrying out air strikes on Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels over attacks on international shipping.

The Huthis began targeting Red Sea shipping in November, saying they were hitting Israel-linked vessels as a way to support Palestinians in Gaza, which has been ravaged by the Israel-Hamas war.
Hamas says US strikes on Iraq, Syria 'pour oil on fire'



Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, Feb 3 (AFP) Feb 03, 2024



Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday condemned overnight US strikes in Iraq and Syria, saying Washington had poured "oil on the fire" in the Middle East.

The US "bears responsibility for the consequences of this brutal aggression against both Iraq and Syria, which pour oil on the fire," the group said in a statement issued in English.

"We confirm that the region will not witness stability or peace except by stopping the Zionist (Israeli) aggression and the crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing against our people in the Gaza Strip."

The United States launched air strikes against Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq and Syria and promised more to come, in retaliation for a drone attack that killed three US soldiers in Jordan on Sunday.

The US military said it attacked a total of 85 targets at seven different sites in Syria and Iraq.

The strikes killed at least 23 pro-Iranian fighters in Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said. In Iraq, they killed 16 people, including civilians, the Baghdad government said.

US and allied troops have been attacked more than 165 times in Iraq, Syria and Jordan since mid-October in a campaign waged by Iran-backed armed groups angered by US support for Israel in the war in Gaza.

The war broke out following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,160 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

In response Israel launched a blistering air, land and sea offensive in Gaza that has killed at least 27,238 people, most of them women, children and adolescents, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.
Syria culture ministry slams US strikes near historic site



Damascus, Feb 3 (AFP) Feb 03, 2024



Syria's culture ministry on Saturday condemned overnight US strikes that local media said damaged a historic site in Deir Ezzor province in the country's east.

The United States launched the air strikes against Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for a recent drone attack on an American base in Jordan that killed three US soldiers.

Syria's culture ministry condemned "in the strongest terms the barbaric US bombardment of the Al-Rahba fortress" in eastern Syria's Mayadeen area.

In a statement on social media, it said the citadel, located along the Euphrates River, dates to the ninth century, without elaborating on the damage the site sustained.

The "blatant" attack violated "all international norms and charters that call for the protection and respect for cultural property," the ministry added.

Pro-government daily Al-Watan reported antiquities chief Nazir Awad as saying the bombardment late Friday caused cracks and fissures in the fortress walls.

The full extent of the damage had not yet been assessed, Al-Watan cited Awad as saying.

Damascus said earlier Saturday that the overnight strikes killed "a number of civilians and soldiers, wounded others and caused significant damage to public and private property".

With tensions in the Middle East already running high over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Damascus, Baghdad and Tehran on Saturday accused Washington of undermining the stability of the region.
US reprisals against Iran-linked groups anger Iraq, Syria



Damascus, Feb 3 (AFP) Feb 03, 2024



Deadly US strikes on Iran-backed forces in Syria and Iraq drew sharp condemnation from the region Saturday, after President Joe Biden vowed further action in retaliation for a deadly attack on American troops.

The United States, whose late Friday strikes killed 45 people, blamed Sunday's drone attack that hit a US base in Jordan on militants backed by Tehran.

US forces however did not strike inside Iranian territory, with both Washington and Tehran seemingly keen to avoid all-out war.

But with tensions already running high in the face of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, both the Syrian and Iraqi governments joined Tehran in accusing Washington of undermining regional stability.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said US warplanes struck "more than 85 targets at seven facilities", four in Syria and three in Iraq.

"These targets were carefully selected to avoid civilian casualties," he added.

But the Iraqi government said civilians were among at least 16 people killed in the country's west, and Damascus also reported civilian deaths, but a war monitor said all 29 killed in the US strikes on Syria were fighters.

"This aggressive air strike will push the security situation in Iraq and the region to the brink of the abyss," said Iraqi government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani declared three days of mourning, while the foreign ministry said Washington's charge d'affaires in Baghdad was handed a formal protest over the strikes.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said the overnight strikes would "have no result other than intensifying tension and instability".

Hamas, whose unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel sparked the current spiral of violence in the region, accused Washington of pouring "oil on the fire".

Meanwhile, diplomatic sources said the UN Security Council would convene Monday, after Russia called for a meeting "over the threat to peace and safety created by US strikes on Syria and Iraq".

The Syrian foreign ministry said the strikes served to "inflame the conflict in the Middle East".



- Flurry of attacks -



The Syrian army said "a number of civilians and soldiers" were killed in eastern Syria, but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor reported no civilian deaths.

The Britain-based Observatory said the strikes killed 29 pro-Iran fighters, including at least six from Lebanese Hezbollah.

The Lebanese group condemned the US operation, saying it "contributes to heightening conflict, tensions and escalation" across the region.

The Observatory earlier said some militant groups had begun evacuating their positions and civilians in the towns of Deir Ezzor and Mayadeen had fled their homes in fear of more US strikes.

Syria's culture ministry condemned a "barbaric" strike on Deir Ezzor province that local media said had damaged a ninth-century citadel.

Biden said the overnight strikes were only a beginning. "Our response... will continue at times and places of our choosing," the US president said.

Washington said it had informed Baghdad "prior to the strikes," drawing an angry denial from the Iraqi government spokesman who called it an "unfounded claim crafted to mislead international public opinion".

Tensions between the two governments have deepened in recent months after Washington carried out previous air strikes in response to a flurry of attacks on US-led troops since the Gaza war began in October.

Washington and Baghdad opened talks on the future of the US-led troop presence late last month after repeated demands from Sudani for a timetable for their withdrawal.



- 'Significant escalation' -



The United States has some 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq as part of an international coalition against the Islamic State group.

Its troops in Iraq are deployed at the invitation of Baghdad, but those in Syria are deployed in areas outside government control.

The Syrian military demanded on Saturday that Washington withdraw its troops.

"The occupation of parts of Syrian territory by US forces cannot continue," it said.

Analysts said the US strikes were unlikely to stem the flurry of attacks on US targets sparked by American support for Israel in its war on Hamas.

The strikes represent a "significant escalation," said Allison McManus, of the Center for American Progress think tank, but "we have not seen that similar tit-for-tat strikes have had a deterrent effect."

Al-Nujaba, an Iraqi group part of a pro-Iran alliance blamed by Washington for numerous attacks on its forces, vowed a response.

In a statement, the group warned "the US occupation... that the Islamic resistance will respond in the manner it deems appropriate, at the time and place of its choosing, and that this is not the end".

US and coalition troops have been attacked more than 165 times in Iraq, Syria and Jordan since mid-October.

The soldiers killed Sunday were the first American military deaths from hostile fire in the upsurge of violence.

burs-jsa/ami
US strikes in Yemen hit six Huthi anti-ship missiles: military



Washington, Feb 3 (AFP) Feb 03, 2024



American forces carried out strikes on Saturday against six anti-ship missiles belonging to Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels, the US military said.

The missiles were "prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea. US forces identified the cruise missiles in Huthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships and merchant vessels," Central Command (CENTCOM) said on social media.

Earlier Saturday, CENTCOM said its forces shot down eight drones near Yemen the day before and destroyed four more before they could be launched.

CENTCOM said the four drones hit on the ground belonged to the Huthis, but did not identify a country or group linked to those that were shot out of the air.

The Huthis began targeting Red Sea shipping in November, saying they were hitting Israel-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza, which has been ravaged by the Israel-Hamas war.

US and British forces have responded with strikes against the Huthis, who have since declared American and British interests to be legitimate targets as well.

In addition to strikes against the Huthis, the United States set up a multinational naval task force aimed at protecting shipping on the transit route, which carries up to 12 percent of global trade.

Anger over Israel's devastating campaign in Gaza -- which began after an unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7 -- has grown across the Middle East, stoking violence involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

On January 28, a drone slammed into a base in Jordan, killing three US soldiers and wounding more than 40 -- an attack Washington blamed on Iran-backed forces.

The United States responded Friday with strikes against dozens of targets at seven Tehran-linked facilities in Iraq and Syria, but did not hit Iranian territory.
Pakistani people hold placards during a protest against Israeli airstrikes and to show solidarity with Palestinian people in Gaza, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.

Hamas has begun to resurface in areas where Israel withdrew the bulk of its forces a month ago, deploying police officers and making salary payments to some of its civil servants in Gaza City in recent days, four residents and a senior official in the militant group said Saturday.

Signs of a Hamas resurgence in Gazas largest city underscore the groups resilience despite Israels deadly air and ground campaign in the four months since the deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war. Israel says its determined to crush Hamas and prevent it from returning to power in Gaza, an enclave it has ruled since 2007.

In recent days, Israeli forces renewed strikes in the western and northwestern parts of Gaza City, including in areas where some of the salary distributions reportedly took place.

Four Gaza City residents told The Associated Press that in recent days, uniformed and plainclothes police officers deployed near police headquarters and other government offices, including near Shifa Hospital, the territorys largest. The residents said they saw the return of civil servants and subsequent Israeli airstrikes near the makeshift offices.

The return of police marks an attempt to reinstate order in the devastated city after Israel withdrew a significant number of troops from northern Gaza last month, a Hamas official told AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

The official said the groups leaders had given directions to reestablish order in parts of the north where Israeli forces had withdrawn, including by helping prevent the looting of shops and houses abandoned by residents who had heeded repeated Israeli evacuation orders and headed to southern Gaza.

During Israels ground offensive, many homes and buildings were left half-standing or reduced to piles of rubble and dust.

Saeed Abdel-Bar, a resident of Gaza City, said a cousin received funds from a makeshift Hamas office that was set up to distribute $200 payouts to government employees, including police officers and municipal workers.

Since seizing control of Gaza nearly 17 years ago, Hamas has been operating a government bureaucracy with tens of thousands of civil servants, including teachers and police who operate separately from the groups secretive military wing.

The partial salary payments for at least some government employees signal that Israel has not delivered a knockout blow to Hamas, even as it claims to have killed more than 9,000 Hamas fighters.

Ahmed Abu Hadrous, a Gaza City resident, said Israeli warplanes struck the area where the makeshift office is located multiple times earlier this week, including Saturday.

The strikes come roughly a month after Israeli military leaders said they had broken up the command structure of Hamas battalions in the north, but that individual fighters were continuing to carry out guerrilla-style attacks.

Meanwhile, combat continued in southern Gaza.

At least 11 people were injured when Israels military fired smoke bombs at displaced people sheltering at the headquarters of the Palestinian Red Crescent in the southern city of Khan Younis, the organization said. It followed a siege that Israels military has laid on the Red Crescents facilities for 12 days, the organization said.

The charity said it had documented the killing of 43 people, including three staff members, inside the buildings by Israeli fire in those 12 days, with another 153 injured.

Israels military didnt address the charitys allegations of firing on the buildings, the killings or the blocking of access, and asserted that the Al-Amal Hospital facilities had adequate fuel and electricity and that the military helped to replenish two oxygen tanks.

The military said operations in Khan Younis would continue for several days.

At least 17 people, including women and children, were killed in two separate airstrikes overnight in Gazas southernmost town of Rafah on the border with Egypt, according to the registration office at Abu Yousef al-Najjar hospital, where the bodies were taken.

The first strike hit a residential building east of Rafah, killing at least 13 people from the Hijazi family. The dead included four women and three children, hospital officials said.

Two children are still under the rubble, and we dont, still we dont know anything about them, relative Ahmad Hijazi said.

The second struck a house in Rafahs Jeneina area, killing at least two men and two women from the Hams family.

The Health Ministry in Gaza said Saturday that 107 people were killed over the past 24 hours, bringing the wartime total to 27,238. More than 66,000 people have been wounded.

The conflict has leveled vast swaths of the tiny coastal enclave, displaced 85% of its population and pushed a quarter of residents to starvation.

More than half of Gazas population of 2.3 million has taken refuge in Rafah and surrounding areas. A United Nations official on Friday said Rafah was becoming a pressure cooker of despair.

Israels defense minister warned earlier in the week that Israel might expand combat to Rafah after focusing on Khan Younis, the largest city in southern Gaza. While the statement alarmed aid officials and international diplomats, Israel would risk significantly disrupting strategic relationships with the United States and Egypt if it were to send troops into Rafah, a key entry point for aid.

International mediators continued to work to close wide gaps between Israel and Hamas over a proposed cease-fire deal.

Hamas continues to hold dozens of the roughly 250 hostages taken in the Oct. 7 attack, after more than 100 were released during a one-week truce in November. Those releases were in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

Meanwhile, the United States  which has negotiated tenants of the deal along with Israel, Egypt and Qatar  launched an air assault on dozens of sites in Iraq and Syria used by Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard late Friday, in the opening salvo of retaliation for the drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan last weekend.

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'Not the end' of US strikes: White House



Washington, Feb 4 (AFP) Feb 04, 2024



The United States will press on with its retaliation against Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Sunday, declining to say if he ruled out strikes against Iran itself.

The United States and Britain on Saturday struck dozens of targets in Yemen in response to repeated attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden by Iran-backed Huthi rebels.

Those strikes came the day after a separate wave of unilateral American strikes against Iran-linked targets in Iraq and Syria that were carried out in response to the killing of three US soldiers in Jordan on January 28.

"That is not the end of it. We intend to take additional strikes and additional action to continue to send a clear message that the United States will respond when our forces are attacked," Sullivan told NBC news Sunday morning.

He also told ABC that the strikes have had a "good effect" in "reducing" and "degrading" such groups' abilities to carry out further attacks.

The United States has carried out a total of 85 strikes on seven separate sites in Iraq and Syria, including on command and training centers and on weapons stocks, according to the Pentagon.

Sullivan said Sunday he was unable to confirm whether the strikes had left any civilian casualties, but said the targets were "absolutely valid."

Asked whether the United States would rule out the possibility of striking Iran directly, Sullivan told NBC, "Sitting here on television, it would not be wise for me to talk about what we're ruling in and ruling out."

"If (Iran) chose to respond directly to the United States, they would be met with a swift and forceful response from us," he told ABC.

The Iran-backed Huthis began targeting Red Sea shipping in November, saying they were hitting Israel-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza, which has been ravaged by the Israel-Hamas war.
A member of Hamas' bomb squad collects undetonated rockets during the temporary ceasefire in the village of Khuza'a, near Gaza's southern border with Israel; November 23, 2023.

The October 7 attack in southern Israel by Hamas armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, stunned the world with its scale and sophistication. The group displayed surprising offensive capabilities, catching almost everyone off guard. Especially astonishing was the variety of weapons used by the militants to kill a staggering 1,200 people.

The densely populated and resource-poor Gaza Strip has been under a tight blockade by Israel and Egypt for over 16 years. It has endured multiple Israeli military operations and intense bombings with devastating effect. But all along, Hamas has been assembling a significantly larger and more advanced arsenal than everyone expected, including a wide range of rockets and light weapons.

Senior Hamas political and military officials claim that the majority of its weapons, including small arms, ammunition, rockets and other explosive devices are locally produced. Abu Obaida, the elusive spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, said in early January in a speech broadcast on Al Jazeera that all weapons used in combat are manufactured in Gaza, from bullets to rocket-propelled grenades and anti-tank systems.

The way Hamas makes its weapons is somewhat of a mystery, said a researcher from Calibre Obscura, a website about arms in the hands of non-state groups in the Middle East and North Africa. However, this researcher believes that the group has the capability to produce improvised explosive devices (IED), rockets, suicide drones and rocket launchers at the very least.

Al-Qassam weapons factories in Gaza are believed to rely heavily on repurposing materials salvaged from Israeli attacks on the regions infrastructure, including homes and roads. A significant number of Israeli bombs and artillery shells dropped in Gaza do not detonate, enabling the group to extract explosive components and repurpose materials for their own rockets.

Some [Hamas] weapons are smuggled in, but many have been locally manufactured, said Gaza-based writer and analyst Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, who has studied the groups weapon-making capabilities. Sometimes, thats the only way they can get them.

An Israeli soldier displays a seized Hamas weapons cache; October 20, 2023. The Washington Post (The Washington Post via Getty Im)

The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) army has also revealed Hamas local weapons-making capability several times during its ongoing military operation in Gaza. In mid-October, they shared a video on social media showing what they claimed to be homemade weapons used by the Al-Qassam Brigades in their October 7 attack. Everything is homemade, they said. In November, the IDF announced that it had killed a major Hamas weapons manufacturer. And in January, the IDF took journalists to see what it described as the largest weapons manufacturing complex discovered since the beginning of its war with Hamas. The IDF declined our request for information on similar findings.

Contraband and experience

A significant number of weapons used by Hamas, including bullets, pistols and grenades, are stolen from Israeli military bases and smuggled into Gaza or the West Bank, according to a recent IDF report obtained by The New York Times.

High-ranking Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as some experts and research institutes, claim that a significant portion of Hamas weapons are smuggled into Gaza through tunnels from Egypts Sinai Peninsula. This is the only Gaza Strip border that Israel does not directly control. Analysts like Alkhatib say this smuggling is small in scale and only used to bring in precursor materials. Egypt denies this and claims to have completely sealed the border over the past 10 years after discovering a significant number of weapons crossing that border from 2011-2013.

Its basically a political ploy by Israel, another attempt to cover up their resounding failure against Hamas, said Mohannad Sabry, an Egyptian researcher specializing in the Sinai region. In recent years, Israel hasnt been able to adequately assess Hamas evolution and increased military capabilities.

The Gaza-Egypt border situation is sensitive as Netanyahu wants more control over the narrow passage between Sinai and the Gaza Strip, known as the Philadelphi or Salah al-Din corridor. However, Diaa Rashwan, the head of the Egyptian Information Service, dismissed claims of smuggling in a statement issued in late January. Rashwan accused the people making these claims of blaming external factors for their own mistakes.

Rashwan stated that as part of Egypts extensive anti-terrorism campaign in the northern Sinai over the past decade, 1,500 tunnels were destroyed, a five-kilometer buffer zone was established on the border, and the border wall separating Egypt from Gaza was reinforced. The Egyptian official also noted that many weapons in Gaza are smuggled in from Israel.

Iran acknowledges funding Hamas and training it to manufacture its own weapons. While Tehran also supplies arms to Hamas, the delivery channels are not well known. Egypt claims most smuggling occurs by sea, with clandestine shipments dropped miles off the coast of Israel-controlled Gaza. In recent years, Hamas has relied on the technical expertise and manufacturing capabilities provided by Hezbollah and Iran to enhance their local production and employ different combat strategies, said Alkhatib.

Recent investigations into the weapons used by Hamas in Gaza and Israel have identified that some were made in Iran, China, Russia, North Korea and Bulgaria. However, its unclear whether the governments of these countries actively supply Hamas with weapons, or if they were acquired on the black market.

Although Hamas has demonstrated greater military and arms manufacturing capabilities than previously estimated, the IDF is immensely more powerful. The Israeli army has killed over 27,000 Palestinians during the ongoing offensive in Gaza, as reported by the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in Gaza, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. In contrast, the armed Palestinian factions have killed 222 Israeli soldiers, according to the Israeli army.

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Blank Street boss Issam Freiha told the Standard: Blank Street opened its first store in the UK in June 2022, and so the published financial statements reflect our first six months of trading in the UK. As is true of many young businesses, the first few months are a key time to set up systems and processes, including those that track and manage our inventory to perfect certainty.
Families see Stockbridge as a great place to give kids an old fashioned country childhood  they can attend the towns primary school, rated good by Ofsted. Test Valley School, for seniors, has been criticised by the schools watchdog but, since a new management team was installed improvements have been made and it is on track to be upgraded by 2024 according to an inspection carried out last year.
My husband and I are lucky enough to get a seat (there are only four available at a time) to experience the fourteen course Omakase menu. Each plate seems to out-do the one before, our cries of 'ooh' and 'ahh' hitting peak crescendo at a plate of toro (luxuriously fatty tuna belly) with salmon roe. True, the decibels could have something to do with the third round of Mai Tais (whoever is making the cocktails deserves a prize). But more than just a good meal, this is a feast for all the senses and a rare opportunity to experience and taste such skill.
The King was discharged from the London Clinic last Monday after three nights receiving medical care at the hospital where the Princess of Wales had also been recovering from abdominal surgery, before being allowed home the same day.
Of course you can claim they have a certain amount of independence but you created them, you backed them, you financed them, you provided them with weapons, and you will ultimately be held accountable for what they do.
Reception to mark celebrations for Chinese new year held in Zambia

Xinhua) 13:57, February 04, 2024

Chipoka Mulenga, the Zambian minister of Commence, Trade and Industry, speaks during a reception to mark celebrations for the upcoming Chinese New Year in Lusaka, Zambia, Feb. 2, 2024. The reception, organized by the Chinese embassy on Friday, also saw the launch of activities of the Year of China-Zambia Business Cooperation 2024. (Xinhua/Peng Lijun)

LUSAKA, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- A reception to mark celebrations for the upcoming Chinese New Year was held in Lusaka, the Zambian capital.

Organized by the Chinese embassy on Friday, the event also saw the launch of activities of the Year of China-Zambia Business Cooperation 2024.

It was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Du Xiaohui and Chipoka Mulenga, the Zambian minister of Commence, Trade and Industry, the Chinese community as well as officials from both governments.

A display of fireworks characterized the event which was also attended by officials from Zambia's investment agency, the Zambia Development Agency and officials from the Maina Soko Military Medical Center.

Du said by combining the two events, the two countries hope to celebrate the upcoming year with hard work in the hope of enhancing relations and business cooperation.

He said that for the past 60 years, institutions, businesses and citizens from both sides have contributed greatly to the friendship between the two countries and seized opportunities presented by the cooperation.

The Chinese ambassador said a number of activities will be held this year to mark 60 years of diplomatic ties and in line with the designation of the year of business cooperation.

According to him, the goal of the China-Zambia business cooperation was to establish open, inclusive and pragmatic cooperation for businesses from both sides, adding that the first activity to be held will be the China-Zambia High-Quality Development Forum in May where nearly 200 businesses from China will attend.

"The purpose of the forum is to enhance cooperation in key areas such as infrastructure, agriculture, mining, green energy with view of enhancing Zambia's capacity of self-development," he said.

China, he added, will also hold an exhibition to showcase the achievements of 60 years of diplomatic ties, while some Chinese provinces will collaborate with some Zambian provinces to organize trade and economic expos for investment promotion activities.

In a speech read for him by the minister of commerce, trade and industry, President Hakainde Hichilema wished the Chinese people a happy and prosperous new year, saying that the year of the dragon symbolizes growth, prosperity and good fortune.

He said the two countries have achieved remarkable results and brought tangible benefits to the people during the past 60 years.

"In this era, the China-Zambia friendship has continued to flourish, teaming with new vitality. Mutual respect, equality and a win-win attitude have always been important principles guiding China-Zambia relations," he said.

He encouraged Chinese businesses to expand their investment in Zambia as part of efforts to deepen economic and trade cooperation as well as promote people-to-people exchanges.

Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Du Xiaohui speaks during a reception to mark celebrations for the upcoming Chinese New Year in Lusaka, Zambia, Feb. 2, 2024. The reception, organized by the Chinese embassy on Friday, also saw the launch of activities of the Year of China-Zambia Business Cooperation 2024. (Xinhua/Peng Lijun)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Senegalese President Macky Sall on Saturday postponed presidential elections scheduled for Feb. 25, citing controversies over the disqualification of some candidates and allegations of corruption in election-related cases.

Sall  who is not seeking another term in office  said he signed a decree repealing the law that convened the electoral body just as campaigning was set to begin in one of Africas most stable democracies at a time the region is grappling with a wave of coups.

The controversies over the candidates could seriously harm the credibility of the election by creating the seeds of pre- and post-electoral litigation, Sall said without announcing a new date for the vote.

He also said some of the 20 candidates cleared to run were discovered to have dual nationality, which would disqualify them under the Senegalese constitution.

The announcement came as federal lawmakers were set to deliberate on a bill on the postponement as requested by the opposition Senegalese Democratic Party, whose candidate was disqualified from the election.

Critics of the postponement included former Prime Minister Aminata Toure, who called it sabotage.

For a long time, they have sabotaged the process. This is the first time that a presidential election has been postponed in Senegal, Toure said.

The crucial vote has been dogged by controversies, from deadly clashes that resulted in Sall announcing that he would not seek a third term to the disqualification of two opposition leaders by the highest election authority.

Among those disqualified was Ousmane Sonko, who finished third in the 2019 presidential election and is seen as a favorite among young people. He has alleged a clampdown on the opposition, which Salls government denies.

After the Constitutional Council published a final list of candidates two weeks ago, federal lawmakers set up a panel to investigate two judges on the council who were accused of corruption. The allegation was rejected by the association of Senegals judges, who called for respect for the separation of powers.

Sall described the aftermath of the accusations as a sufficiently serious and confusing situation, adding: Our country cannot afford a new crisis.

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Retaliation was not only expected. It was announced by U.S. President Joe Biden, who stated last Tuesday that he had already decided how Washington would react to the drone attack against a U.S. base in Jordan two days earlier, in which three military personnel were killed. However, its materialization on Friday, with strikes against more than 85 targets linked to Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, has raised concerns about a possible escalation in the Middle East. Fridays strikes killed 23 people guarding the facilities in Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, and 16 in Iraq, including civilians near the targeted sites, the government in Baghdad said. On Saturday, further strikes by the U.S. and U.K. air forces targeted 36 sites operated by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, including weapons dumps and missile systems. Russias deputy representative to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyansky, called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council following the attacks on Iraq and Syria.

As was also to be expected, the countries targeted, and Iran, have criticized the retaliation. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani  who has been combining conciliatory statements toward Washington with calls for the anti-ISIS coalition forces it leads to leave the country  said the strikes have placed the security of Iraq and the wider region on the brink of the abyss. The Syrian government, supported by Russia and Iran in its 13-year civil war, called the United States the main source of global instability, while Tehran spoke of Washingtons strategic error. Such attacks increasingly involve the U.S. government in the region and overshadow the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Nasser Kanaani was reported as saying.

The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, has warned that the Middle East is a cauldron that could explode and has asked all actors in the region to avoid an escalation. Washington has been targeting Houthi militias, which are also backed by Iran, mainly around the strategic Red Sea port of Al Hodeida, since January 12 in an attempt to destroy their ability to strike international shipping heading toward the Suez Canal with missiles and drones.

Despite the warning signs, the manner of the U.S. retaliation, at least in this first phase, does not seem to be designed to risk expanding the conflict. Washington  which in 2020 killed General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the elite Revolutionary Guard Al Quds force, in a drone strike in Baghdad in response to several deadly attacks against U.S troops in Iraq  could have opted for the selective assassination of a militia leader or for targeting Tehran more directly.

The targets instead were limited to command and control operations centers, intelligence centers, rockets, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicle storage, and logistics and munition supply chain facilities, according to the U.S. Central Command. The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world. But let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond, Biden said on February 2.

According to analysts and experts, the attacks were prudent and limited in their objectives in order not to further stoke tension in the region. CNN analyst Nick Paton Walsh defines the initial strikes as a comparatively limited response to the deaths of the three military personnel, the worst loss of U.S. lives in the region in almost three years. The Biden administration, the expert explained, faced a near-impossible task: Hit hard enough to show you mean it, but also ensure your opponent can absorb the blow without lashing out in return.

Added to this is the speed with which Iran disassociated itself from the attack on the base in Jordan, which left Washington in a delicate position: interpreting it as a mere ploy to throw the stone and hide the hand would have meant raising the tension several notches. Additionally, there is the assumption that the announcement by the group that claimed responsibility, Kataib Hezbollah, that it was suspending all its operations against U.S. troops would not have materialized without pressure from Tehran, which is similarly eager to avoid an open conflict.

A difficult balance

Preventing further attacks on its forces deployed in the region, without provoking an escalation, has been the mantra of the few public reactions to the U.S. strikes. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin corroborated that the operation was only the opening salvo in an offensive whose scope and timetable is being kept secret. The strikes are only the beginning of our response, Austin said, echoing Bidens statement that it will continue at times and places of our choosing.

The barrage of attacks lasted just 30 minutes, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Friday. This was designed around the weather, when we had our best opportunity as it related to the weather [] good weather presented itself today. And as a result, this took place, added Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Washington is analyzing satellite images to assess the extent of the damage, i.e. the number of casualties among pro-Iranian fighters, but the White House believes it was successful, Kirby said. The spokesman also stated that the authorities in Baghdad were warned of the strikes in advance  something they deny  and that there has been no contact with Iran since the drone attack carried out by Kataib Hezbollah, which forms part of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a generic name that groups together different armed factions supported by Tehran.

The attack against the U.S. Tower 22 base in Jordan, in which at least 25 soldiers were also wounded, was not unusual (hundreds have been recorded in recent years, particularly since the beginning of the war in Gaza), but it was the only one that managed to penetrate air defenses. The drone was mistaken by U.S. troops for one of its own that was due to return to base, according to U.S. commanders.

Since October 7, when the Hamas attacks in Israel triggered the Gaza war and other skirmishes in the region, from Lebanon to Yemen, Syria and Iraq, U.S. forces deployed in the Middle East have been targeted by over 160 attacks by militias linked to Iran, according to the Pentagons count.

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Here are some key retail and business openings and closings for the St. Louis area in January:

Openings

RESTAURANTS:

360 Westport, 111 West Port Plaza Drive #1200, St. Louis, MO 63146

Enjoy lunch, dinner and drinks twelve stories above the city and atop the the Gold Tower at Westport Plaza.

7Brew, 1540 Wentzville Parkway, Wentzville, MO 63385

Half coffee stand, half drive-thru, 7Brew opened its fourth location in Wentzville.

El Guatal, 5885 Suemandy Drive, St. Peters, MO 63376

Owner Jason Sosa celebrated the grand opening of his Mexican eatery with a ribbon cutting.

Marcos Pizza, 10464 St. Charles Rock Road, St. Ann, MO 63074

Marcos Pizza offers classic and specialty pizzas in addition to subs, desserts, chicken wings and breadsticks. It becomes the 7th brand location in the St. Louis area.

Rush Bowls, 1350 Clarkson Clayton Center, Ellisville, MO 63011

After success in the Central West End and Kirkwood, this smoothie bowl chain opened its third St. Louis location in one of Ellisvilles shopping center.

Soda Fountain Express, 147 West Port Plaza Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146

After months of construction, the first of Westport Plazas additions opened after a slight delay. Similar to the Union Station location, the retro-style Soda Fountain serves diner food and creative milkshakes.

Sugarfire Smokehouse, 1290 North Highway 67, Florissant, MO 63031

The local barbeque chain opened its first North County location in Florissant this month. Like other Sugarfires, the menu offers brisket, baby back ribs, turkey, salmon, pulled pork, a rotation of changing side options and homemade pies.

Telva at The Ridge, 60 North Gore Avenue, Webster Groves, MO 63119

From the family behind Balkan Treat Box comes a new restaurant/coffee shop. The eatery offers open-faced sandwiches, salads and Balkan-inspired baked goods.

Uhuru Foods & Pies, 3719 West Florissant Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63107

The African Peoples Education & Defense Fund has partnered with Black Star Industries to bring Uhuru Foods & Pies to St. Louis North City.

RETAIL:

American Freight, 2409 North Highway 67, Florissant, MO 63033

American Freight offers furniture, mattresses and appliances for sale. The Florissant store becomes the fourth American Freight in the St. Louis area.

Katy Trail Collections, 117 South Main Street, St. Charles, MO 63301

This boutique celebrated its grand re-opening in a new location on Main Street. Find womens, kids and baby clothing along with accessories and gifts in the new shop.

Metal Supermarkets, 1402 Frontage Road, OFallon, IL 62269

The St. Louis area now has two Metal Supermarkets locations. The retailer offer over 8,000 types, shapes and grades of metal and is open Monday through Friday.

Series Six, 3719 Watson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63109

After years in Richmond Heights, Series Six, owned by Sami Baldridge, moved its retail space and headquarters to the Lindenwood Park neighborhood in January.

Closings

RESTAURANTS:

Benedettos On Main, 16721 Main Street, Wildwood, MO 63040

After eight years in business, this family-owned Italian eatery shut its doors. In a social media post announcing the decision, the restaurant cited rising food costs, an unsettling economic climate and continued staffing challenges.

California Pizza Kitchen, 1493 Saint Louis Galleria St. Louis, Richmond Heights, MO 63117

The Gallerias California Pizza Kitchen restaurant has closed, leaving only two of the chains locations in St. Louis. One eatery is in Des Peres while the other is Creve Coeur.

Cinder House, 999 North 2nd Street, St. Louis, MO 63102

As previously announced, the Brazilian-inspired Cinder House at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis closed as its five-year contract expired last month.

Southern, 3108 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63103

Known for its Nashville-style hot chicken, this Midtown restaurant announced its closure on social media.

RETAIL:

Abigails Apparel, 124 South Main Street, St. Charles, MO 63301

After over 12 years in business, Abigails Apparel closed at the end of January.

Jones Typewriter Co., 3530 Greenwood Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63143

One of the few typewriter repair businesses in the state, Jones Typewriter Co. of Maplewood closed its doors after 59 years of operation.

Vera Bradley, 1493 Saint Louis Galleria St. Louis, Richmond Heights, MO 63117

After over 12 years at the Galleria mall, a Vera Bradley spokesperson said that increasing occupancy costs deterred the company from renewing its store lease.

Zee Bee Market, 3211 South Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63118

Zee Bee Market announced the closure of its South Grand location in a social media post in December. The brand continues to operate at 7270 Manchester Road in Maplewood and online.

If you know of business openings or closings, please email Post-Dispatch retail reporter Hannah Wyman at hwyman@post-dispatch.com.

Correction: This post has been updated to reflect the accurate location of Uhuru.
I no longer have resources, and there are no resources, says Jacinto Galan, leader of the Association of Shipowners and Artisanal Fishermen of San Jose, a cove located in the city of Lambayeque, more than 700 kilometers (435 miles) north of Lima. The worry in his voice seems to get lost in the windy breeze, which whips across a very long dock that extends for nearly a kilometer.

Galan owns three artisanal fishing boats, which can carry up to 30 tons of fish or shellfish. He has just returned from a 15-day shift on one of them, several miles from the coast, and barely brought back two tons of catch. It didnt even cover my expenses, he says, as the rough seas waves seem to try to flood the conversation.

Maritime labyrinth

The drama of this weathered man, who has been lost twice in the high seas, is shared by many of the fishermen in this country, where the fruits of the ocean constitute the most precious ingredients of its culinary art.

Artisanal boats under construction, in La Tortuga, northern Peru. Sebastian Castaneda

It has its origins in a very serious problem: artisanal boats are multitudinous, and biomass is shrinking. Its necessary to go further and further out to sea to fish, sometimes to sparse results.

Even worse: despite Peruvian authorities announcing in 2015 that construction of artisanal boats (which have no mechanized gear) should be stopped so that species like the giant squid (dosidicus giga) do not disappear, illegal shipyards have popped up like so many wooden schools of fish along parts of the coastline.

EL PAIS toured the coves of La Tortuga, Parachique and La Islilla, located in the north of the country, and found that ships are built in patios, yards and dusty pampas. There are towns that look almost like shipyards with houses built around them.

Fishermen unload catch from an artisanal boat in Paita, the largest fishing port in the north of the country. Sebastian Castaneda

In 2015, the Peruvian state established the cessation of the construction of artisanal boats. There were already too many of them, and fishing ran the risk of becoming bad business that could not be passed on to future generations. However, in the more than seven years that have since passed, unauthorized vessels are still being built, and even sailing out onto the waves.

Today, the Peruvian artisanal fleet is estimated at more than 18,000 vessels. In 2018, informed of abundant illegality and informality, the countrys Ministry of Production created the Artisanal Fishing Formalization System (SIFORPA), to which 4,854 vessels applied.

By the deadline in July 2023, only 2,490 had passed the verification process. More than 2,000 submitted applications remained, which reveals the level of informality that navigates these waters. Add to this other issues, such as the covert registration of large ships as smaller vessels. In short, supreme disorder.

Fish at the Aguas Verdes fishing terminal, in Tumbes. Sebastian Castaneda

What the waves hide

Before, we would go out to fish at 4 a.m. and be back by midnight, with 12 or 13 tons of catch. Now, it takes days. Or we have to move to other parts of the coast, because heres its become difficult, says Carlos Yenque, manager of the National Society of Artisanal Fishing and owner of boats.

His story seems to sink amid the waves at the port of Paita, as he navigates between numerous anchored artisanal boats. That one, for example, has a registration starting with BM, which corresponds to a small ship, carrying up to seven tons, but you can see that its much bigger. It should say CM, he says, with some indignation.

This is an old trick, typical of extralegal fishing chicanery. Not only are new boats being built, which will increase pressure on the marine species caught by these vessels, which in addition to the giant squid include the perico (Coryphaena hippurus) fish, but also, the registration of existing boats is being shamelessly altered.

Workers build an artisanal boat in La Tortuga. Sebastian Castaneda

A small boat, according to Yenque, has a length of 29.5 feet, a width of 10.5 feet and can carry some seven tons. These metrics correspond to a BM registration. A large boat is about 46 feet long, has a width of 16.4 feet and can carry up to 32 tons. As we watch, however, several large vessels sail in front of us, decidedly not BM, even though that is what is proclaimed by their registration plates.

The unfortunate consequence of this is that, although a boat may be registered, its stated size may not be accurate. As such, it overfishes by passing itself off as a smaller boat. As if that were not enough, some license plates are cloned. Galan says a friend of his told him that, while he was unloading his catch in Paita, he found out that another vessel with an identical registration was doing the same in Chimbote, some 600 kilometers to the south.

Of course, this flotilla of tactics to evade registration does not float atop a clear sea. Widespread corrupt practices and a lack of ethical supervision are rife. In the Paita area, according to Yenque, two Ministry of Production supervisors are in charge of monitoring 14 unloading docks. Elsewhere on the coast, the backup is similar.

A man works with the day's catch at the Piura Market. Sebastian Castaneda

Goodbye biomass?

Great regulations, but little compliance; lack of state control on land and at sea; many boats, little catch. All this, despite the fact that the Peruvian Institute of the Sea (IMARPE) reported last November that the total harvest of squid decreased in recent years. It had previously warned that climate change would alter the seas productivity.

Even so, since 2022, member of Congress Jose Pazo  who is a fishing boat owner  has been promoting a law that would extend the deadline for the registration of vessels by one year, and would authorize some 1,000 more boats, as if the sea could withstand them. The proposal has not yet been approved.

Elsewhere, a law that has been proposed by legislator Norma Yarrow that would criminalize the construction of illegal boats in the countrys penal code has already been approved by Congress. But it remains to be seen what the effects of this law will be, and other problems associated with illegal fishing continue. For example: authorities have yet to clarify the regulation associated with Law 31749, which recognizes traditional ancestral fishing and traditional artisanal fishing, and which has set aside five miles of ocean closest to the coastline for these activities. It is meant to avoid, among other dangers, trawling carried out by industrial ships in this area.

Artisanal fishing boats in Santa Rosa, in Lambayeque. Sebastian Castaneda

This would favor fishermen like Felix Panta, who in the same town of Paita fishes near the coast for species like cachema (Cynoscion analis) and suco (Palonchorus peruanus), which go directly to local markets, while squid typically goes to processing centers for exportation. In Peru, fishing regulation is like a ship adrift at sea.

A 2020 study titled Growing Into Poverty: Reconstructing Peruvian Small-Scale Fishing Effort Between 1950 and 2018 concluded that the Peruvian seas are so exploited by the growth of the fishing fleet that it has dragged many fishermen into poverty. Its getting worse all the time. The giant squid is going far away, getting scarcer, or diving deeper due to the climate; fish are no longer readily available by fishing from an island or a cliff. The supply of ceviche could even be affected, one day.

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ST. LOUIS  Wayne Long starts the tour of his home in the basement.

Its a unique place. Long and his wife, Joan, live in an old warehouse building in the riverfront area near Soulard.

The Longs came to St. Louis from Georgia. Joan was a flight attendant for TWA. When the flight attendants went on strike in 1986, Joan and a friend started a catering company, Patty Long Catering.

The company grew over time, with contracts to cater at many revered local institutions, such as the Missouri History Museum. Wayne quit his job to help run it. They eventually needed a larger location, and they found it in the three-story, red-brick warehouse that would become their home for 24 years and counting.

Built in 1847, the building once housed a pool-table manufacturing company. When the Longs bought it, their son was 10. They turned the top floor into their living area and remodeled the first floor into a banquet hall. They sold the catering business a few years ago. Now its just them in the building.

Back to the basement. On the east side of the building, outside the stone foundation, is a concrete wall. Thats one of the citys first flood walls, Wayne says. In later years, after the river was channelized and moved farther east, the wall was incorporated into the building.

Thats the thing about old buildings in St. Louis. They often tell the long, winding story of the city.

So it is for 112 Sidney Street. That particular story took a turn two weeks ago, during the deep freeze that brought below-zero temperatures.

The Longs had been talking for a while with Peter & Paul Community Services about selling their building to the nonprofit. Peter & Paul is one of the largest providers of services to unhoused people in St. Louis. It has been looking for a larger space to replace its current site in the basement of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

The Longs think their building would be perfect. As happens in these cases, neighbors  in this instance business owners  have urged the city not to allow a shelter there. But in mid-January, when the winter freeze turned deadly, the building briefly became one.

The city and various nonprofits each year come up with a winter plan for pop-up shelters to help save folks who live on the streets. As Januarys temperatures dropped, even those additional shelters were full. But volunteers identified 40 or so people who were still in danger of freezing to death.

Anthony DAgostino, the CEO of Peter and Paul, called the Longs and asked if they would open their building. The couple agreed, as long as it was staffed, and the city approved the emergency arrangement. Adam Pearson, the citys director of Human Services, gave the OK. Another nonprofit, House Everyone STL, helped provide funding for staff members, and the Longs banquet room became an emergency shelter for four days.

It was so cold, Joan remembers. They were so compassionate about getting the people off the street.

She hopes the experience can renew the conversation with neighbors and city leaders about the building becoming a permanent shelter  and not just with cots on the first floor, but with use of the buildings industrial kitchen and other spaces. The Longs plan to keep living in the building even if it becomes a shelter.

Frankly, I think it would add some vibrancy to this corner of the world, Joan says. Sometimes, people are just fearful of the unknown.

DAgostino, who has had three different locations for an expanded shelter opposed by neighbors, hopes the trial run at the Longs building can rekindle discussions with the city.

Without Joan and Wayne, we would have had more than 50 people out in the cold, DAgostino says. We saved lives. Its hard to say that we want to improve the homeless situation in the city and then say no every time a shelter is proposed.
ST. LOUIS  Police on Tuesday identified the 40-year-old man who was shot and killed Saturday night in the city's Dutchtown neighborhood.

Officers responded shortly before 9 p.m. to the 3300 block of Gasconade Street where they found Shanchez Jordan with a gunshot wound to the head.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police have not identified a suspect in the killing.

Jordan lived in the 4100 block of Lafayette Avenue in the city's Botanical Heights neighborhood, police said.
NEW HAVEN  The police department here was dissolved on Friday after the police chief resigned just weeks after taking office, citing concerns with the handling of evidence in the department.

Police Chief John Hallquist, who was sworn in as chief on Jan. 11, announced his resignation Wednesday in a scathing letter addressed to New Havens aldermen, mayor and city administrator.

The letter read, in part: Circumstances surrounding the department, and the information I have discovered that (was) unknown to me prior to my appointment, have brought me to this decision.

Because of what I now know, I have no further desire to be associated with the New Haven Police Department in any capacity.

The chief also wrote that some of the information he discovered required alerting the proper authorities.

He also noted that the residents and city administration in New Haven had been kind and supportive.

After the chiefs resignation, the New Haven Board of Aldermen held a special meeting on Friday evening and voted unanimously to dissolve the department, according to the Franklin County Sheriffs Office.

The sheriffs office will take over law enforcement responsibilities in the town of about 2,400 residents.

Hallquist retired after working 30 years with the St. Louis County Police Department. He previously came out of retirement to work in Ellisville before taking over as chief in New Haven, according to The Missourian.

When he was hired, he said one of his main priorities was fixing the broken relationship between residents and police in the small town.

Franklin County Sheriff Steve Pelton said his office will audit and inventory the evidence held by the citys police department and ensure crime reporting continues without interruption.
JERUSALEM  A far-right minister in Israels government has criticized President Joe Biden and said that having Donald Trump in power would allow more freedom to fight Hamas. The comments sparked outrage among other Israeli officials on Sunday and highlighted the sensitivity of relations as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the region again this week.

The Biden administration has skirted Congress to rush weapons to Israel and shielded it from international calls for a cease-fire in the four months since Hamas Oct. 7 attack. But the White House has urged Israel to take greater measures to avoid harming civilians and allow more aid to besieged Gaza.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israels national security minister, said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that Biden was hindering Israels war effort.

Instead of giving us his full backing, Biden is busy with giving humanitarian aid and fuel (to Gaza), which goes to Hamas, Ben-Gvir said. If Trump was in power, the U.S. conduct would be completely different.

His remarks drew fire from Benny Gantz, a retired general and member of Netanyahus three-man War Cabinet, who said Ben-Gvir was causing tremendous damage to U.S.-Israeli relations. Opposition leader Yair Lapid, also posting on X, said Ben-Gvirs remarks prove that he does not understand foreign relations.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned Ben-Gvirs comments as racist and called for international sanctions against him, saying he threatens the regions stability.

Netanyahu, without mentioning Ben-Gvir by name, appeared to refer to his remarks during a weekly Cabinet meeting. I am not in need of any assistance in navigating our relations with the U.S. and the international community, he said.

Ben-Gvir, along with other far-right figures, has called for voluntary mass emigration of Palestinians from Gaza and the return of Jewish settlements, which Israel dismantled when it withdrew troops from the territory in 2005. The Biden administration opposes any such scenario.

Ben-Gvir and other key members of Netanyahus governing coalition have threatened to bring down the government if they believe he is too soft on Hamas. Netanyahu said the military was carrying out very aggressive raids in northern and central Gaza while dealing with remaining Hamas battalions around Gazas southernmost city of Rafah.

Israels military said Sunday it had raided the headquarters of Hamas brigade in Khan Younis in the south and found what it called training materials for the Oct. 7 attack including models simulating entrance gates of Israeli kibbutzim, military bases and IDF armored vehicles.

The war in Gaza has leveled vast swaths of the tiny enclave, displaced 85% of its population and pushed a quarter of residents to starvation. The Health Ministry in Gaza said 127 bodies had been brought to hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll to 27,365. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but says most of those killed are women and children.

In central Gaza, Israeli airstrikes hit two houses and a mosque in Deir al-Balah and killed 22 people and wounded at least 60 others including children, according to an Associated Press journalist at the scene. At Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, a nurse cleaned the head injuries of a boy who sat between two other children, one trembling, the other in tears.

Other Palestinians found shelter at the hospital but little relief. Someone like me has been here for three months or two-and-a-half months, and I havent had a shower. What can we do? We want to go back to our home, said Basemah Al-Haddad, displaced from Gaza City.

Two children were killed in separate airstrikes in Rafah, according to the registration office at the hospital where the bodies were taken. The first hit a house in the Jeneina refugee camp and killed a 12-year-old. The second hit a room west of the Rafah border crossing, killing a 2-year-old.

The bodies lay on the hospital floor. A female relative bent down to gently touch one childs face.

More humanitarian aid to Gaza will be a top priority as Blinken visits the region, Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told CBS. Blinken is set to begin Monday in Saudi Arabia and will stop in Egypt, Qatar, Israel and the West Bank.

Another focus is Israels tense negotiations mediated by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt aimed at freeing more than 100 remaining captives taken in the Oct. 7 attack in return for a cease-fire and the release of Palestinians jailed in Israel.

Its up to Hamas to come forward and respond to what is a serious proposal, Sullivan told NBC, adding theres no clear idea how many hostages remain alive.

Hamas and other militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack and abducted around 250. More than 100 captives, mostly women and children, were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Hamas has said it wont release more hostages until Israel ends its offensive. It also demands the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners. Netanyahu has publicly ruled out both demands.

Hamas is expected to respond to the latest cease-fire offer in the coming days.

Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press journalist Wafaa Shurafa in Deir-al-Balah contributed.

Updated at 2:23 p.m.
JERUSALEM  Satellite photos show new demolition along a narrow path on the Gaza Strips border with Israel, according an analysis by The Associated Press and expert reports. The destruction comes as Israel has said it wants to establish a buffer zone there, over international objections, further tearing away at land the Palestinians want for a state.

The demolition along the path represents only a sliver of the wider damage from the Israel-Hamas war seen in Gaza, which one assessment suggests has damaged or destroyed half of all the buildings within the coastal enclave.

Israeli leaders have signaled that they would like to establish a buffer zone as a defensive measure, which they contend could prevent a repeat of the Oct. 7 cross-border attack by Hamas that triggered the nearly four-month-old war. Thats despite U.S. warnings not to shrink Gazas territory.

Israels military declined to answer whether it is carving out a buffer zone when asked by the AP, only saying it takes various imperative actions that are needed in order to implement a defense plan that will provide improved security in southern Israel. However, the military has acknowledged it has demolished buildings throughout the area.

An Israeli government official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing internal deliberations, said a temporary security buffer zone is under construction.

But the scope of the demolitions calls into question how temporary the possible buffer zone will be.

Gaza has a nearly 37-mile border with Israel, with its back up against the Mediterranean Sea. Creating that buffer zone would take some 23 square miles out of the Gaza Strip, which has a total landmass of about 139 square miles.

Toward the southern part of the Gaza Strip, much of the land in the imagined buffer zone is farmland that abuts the vast $1 billion border barrier constructed on Israeli land that separates it from the enclave. But near the town of Khirbet Khuzaa, where the border turns to the northwest, its a different story.

Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC analyzed by the AP show significant destruction of buildings and lands bulldozed in a roughly 2.3-square-mile area. Just over 2.5 miles north, farmland has been torn up into bare dirt along where the potential buffer zone would sit.

Further north is an area in central Gazas Maghazi refugee camp. There, Israeli reservists preparing explosives to demolish two buildings near the Israeli border were killed in January when a militant fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a tank nearby. The blast triggered the explosives, collapsing both two-story buildings onto the soldiers, killing 21.

A large complex of warehouses sits destroyed just southeast of Gaza City, also within the potential buffer zone.

The APs visual analysis corresponds with data from scientists studying satellite data to make sense of the wars damage.

Adi Ben-Nun, the manager of the Hebrew University of Jerusalems Geographic Information System Center, has surveyed damage along the potential buffer zone up until Jan. 17. Of some 2,850 buildings that could potentially face demolition, 1,100 already have been damaged, he told the AP. Across the Gaza Strip, he estimates 80,000 structures have been damaged during the war.

Corey Scher of City University of New York and Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State University put the damage even higher. They estimate at least half of all buildings in Gaza, some 143,900 structures, have been damaged or destroyed during the war. The most intense damage has been around Gaza City  the first city targeted in the ground offensive  though damage has increased in the southern city of Khan Younis.

In the area where the buffer would be, at least 1,329 buildings have been damaged or destroyed since the war began, the U.S. analysts told the AP.

Gazas border with Egypt already has a narrow buffer zone known as Philadelphi Corridor, which was created as part of Cairos 1979 peace deal with Israel.

In December, Israel informed Western allies and regional Arab nations about its plans to create a buffer zone between the Gaza Strip and Israeli territory, Egyptian and Western diplomats told the AP. The discussions then did not include specifics.

News of the buffer zone sparked worries from the international community about eating further into Palestinian territory, particularly in the U.S., which has been Israels main backer during the war.

We do not support any diminution of the territory of Gaza, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Jan. 25.

The State Department did not respond to questions from the AP on the analysis of the demolition in the possible buffer zone. However, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Wednesday told journalists that officials had raised with (Israel) the issue of the establishment of a buffer zone.

I will say we have made clear to them the same thing that we have said publicly, which is we are opposed to any reduction in the size of the territory of Gaza, Miller said.

Meanwhile, there has been a continued growth of Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the far-right government of Benjamin Netanyahu.

That further undermines the prospects for an independent Palestinian state in the long-sought two-state solution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian crisis. The Palestinians want the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip  areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war  for their future state.

Palestinians flee Gaza Strip as Israeli tanks advance
A South Dakota tribe has banned Republican Gov. Kristi Noem from the Pine Ridge Reservation after she spoke this week about wanting to send razor wire and security personnel to Texas to help deter immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border and also said cartels are infiltrating the states reservations.

Due to the safety of the Oyate, effective immediately, you are hereby Banished from the homelands of the Oglala Sioux Tribe! Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out said in a Friday statement addressed to Noem. Oyate is a word for people or nation.

Star Comes Out accused Noem of trying to use the border issue to help get former U.S. President Donald Trump reelected and boost her chances of becoming his running mate.

Many of those arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border are Indigenous people from places like El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico who come in search of jobs and a better life, the tribal leader added.

They dont need to be put in cages, separated from their children like during the Trump Administration, or be cut up by razor wire furnished by, of all places, South Dakota, he said.

Star Comes Out also addressed Noems remarks in the speech to lawmakers Wednesday in which she said a gang calling itself the Ghost Dancers is murdering people on the Pine Ridge Reservation and is affiliated with border-crossing cartels that use South Dakota reservations to spread drugs throughout the Midwest.

Star Comes Out said he took deep offense at her reference, saying the Ghost Dance is one of the Oglala Siouxs most sacred ceremonies and was used with blatant disrespect and is insulting to our Oyate.

He added that the tribe is a sovereign nation and does not belong to the state of South Dakota.

Noem responded Saturday in a statement, saying, It is unfortunate that President (Star) Comes Out chose to bring politics into a discussion regarding the effects of our federal governments failure to enforce federal laws at the southern border and on tribal lands. My focus continues to be on working together to solve those problems.

As I told bipartisan Native American legislators earlier this week, I am not the one with a stiff arm, here. You cant build relationships if you dont spend time together, she added. I stand ready to work with any of our states Native American tribes to build such a relationship.

In November, Star Comes Out declared a state of emergency on the Pine Ridge Reservation due to increasing crime. A judge ruled last year that the federal government has a treaty duty to support law enforcement on the reservation, but he declined to rule on the funding level the tribe sought.

Noem has deployed National Guard troops to the Mexican border three times, as have some other Republican governors.

In 2021 she drew criticism for accepting a $1 million donation from a Republican donor to help cover the cost of a two-month deployment of 48 troops there.
For someone who has been writing about politics for the past several years in this current political environment, it came as a surprise when I heard a politician say something that shocked me. Yet that was my exact reaction when I heard U.S. Rep. Cori Bushs speech at her reelection campaign kickoff Jan. 27.

Bush, the Missouri Democrat from St. Louis, spoke in front of the crowd of approximately 200 of her supporters at a rally in north St. Louis County. About 20 minutes in, she started talking about U.S. aid to Israel.

For context, at the end of October, President Joe Biden requested from Congress at least $14.3 billion in additional assistance to Israel, which would include money for the Iron Dome and other air and missile defense systems.

Bush, like many others on the political left, has been a vocal critic of Israels military response in Gaza and U.S. support of it. In Bushs speech to her supporters, she referenced money being used to help drop bombs on kids.

A few minutes later she added: [T]his is not about antisemitism. Its not about whether I hate Jewish people or not, because I absolutely dont. What it is about is white supremacy.

You read that right: Bush called the act of Israel defending its very existence white supremacy. Her comments are so absurd that I find it difficult to even square that circle.

White supremacy is an ideology that believes the white race is superior to nonwhite people. Jewish people are generally not considered white in this context. According to the American Jewish Committees website, Jews are a primary target of the white supremacist movement.

Look no further than the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh as an example. The antisemitic terrorist attack by Robert Gregory Bowers killed 11 people and wounded six, including several Holocaust survivors.

I wonder how many Jewish Americans, specifically those living in the St. Louis region, know that Bush is lumping them together with white supremacists  the very same groups that have tried to eliminate Jews from the face of the Earth?

Bush uttered those words on the day before International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Joining Bush at the campaign kickoff event was fellow Squad member Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., the first Palestinian-American elected to the U.S. House, as well as three members of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen.

Bush has been vocal in her support of Palestinian rights and an outspoken critic of Israel, especially following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, in which approximately 1,200 Israeli men, women, children and babies were killed. Some 240 others were kidnapped and many were raped.

Bush seemingly glosses over the fact that Hamas mission charter states their goal of destroying the state of Israel through Jihad, or Islamic Holy War.

Israel has every right to defend itself and attempt to rescue its hostages. One can certainly be critical of Israels response or of the leadership of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and grieve for the thousands of innocent Palestinians killed during the retaliation. It is also Bushs prerogative and duty as a member of Congress to question the amount of U.S. aid to Israel.

But calling Israels conduct white supremacy is incorrect, not helpful, and shows a profound lack of understanding of the very complex situation taking place in the Middle East.

Bush doesnt appear to care that her comments make no sense whatsoever, nor is she apparently concerned about historical correctness. She also seemingly holds no empathy for the Israeli people killed at the hands of Hamas nor worries about the St. Louis Jewish community that is at risk of antisemitic attacks here.

Instead, she is tapping into her previous role as an ordained minister, riling up her fervent supporters.

Bushs speech, like those of other politicians like her from both sides of the aisle, is protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution. In fact, political speech has the greatest protection.

Still, it is the job of institutions like the press to highlight inaccuracies and ridiculousness in such speech, as well as to attempt to break through the constant barrage of misinformation and disinformation.

It is then up to Bushs voters, constituents and political party to decide if she is speaking and acting with their best interest and benefitting the district.
Last weeks made-for-TV Senate grilling of several of Americas top tech moguls drove home the serious issue of harm that social media platforms can do to children. It also demonstrated yet again  with performative and at times outright clownish grandstanding by senators  why a political solution has been so elusive.

But that doesnt mean theres nothing Congress can do.

What came through all the sound and fury of Wednesdays Senate Judiciary Committee hearing is that these companies biggest fear is being exposed to lawsuits holding them accountable for their negligence regarding content. They currently enjoy almost complete legal protection from such suits, courtesy of Congress.

That can and should change. Washington is predictably polarized on how it should change, with the left and the right targeting completely different issues.

But the hearing showed how much bipartisan agreement there is on the particular urgency of combating online child sexual exploitation, revenge porn, social media harassment and other scourges that have made childhood a more treacherous landscape than it was before the digital age.

The top-line moment for most of the country was the gratuitous takedown of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg by Sen. Josh Hawley. The Missouri Republican pressed Zuckerberg to apologize to the audience of families of young online exploitation and harassment victims.

Would you like to do so now? asked Hawley, bringing more heat than light to the conversation as usual. Theyre here, youre on national television. Would you like now to apologize to the victims?

Zuckerberg did, sort of, standing and turning toward the audience and saying he was sorry for anything you have gone through. One audience member, the father of a teenage suicide victim, later told CNN the viral moment was meaningless and awkward.

It should be noted that Hawleys apparent belief in the cleansing power of apology hasnt prompted him, to this day, to acknowledge his own culpability in stoking the populist rage that helped fuel the Jan. 6, 2021, mob assault on the U.S. Capitol.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., displayed a similar lack of self-awareness by telling Zuckerberg: You have blood on your hands.  You have a product thats killing people. This from a prominent leader of a political party that continues to block any attempt to address the gun carnage that kills tens of thousands of Americans annually.

Then there was Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., channeling Joseph McCarthy with his ridiculous and arguably racist questioning of whether TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has ever been a member of the Chinese communist party  forcing Chew to patiently, repeatedly explain that he is Singaporean, not Chinese, and has never been a communist.

If the hearing displayed the hypocrisy and dysfunction of todays political right, though, it also highlighted the bipartisan overlap on the issue of online danger to kids.

Unlike much of the overblown hysteria about, for example, the supposed censorship of conservative opinion on the internet, child sexual exploitation and related threats are real. And both political parties are increasingly insisting that the tech platforms have an obligation to deal with them.

Transforming that broad agreement into action is difficult because of Section 230 of the Communications Act. The 1990s-era federal provision gives online platforms legal protection from being sued over content that users post to their sites.

Traditional media dont have such protection; newspapers, for example, can be successfully sued for libel for publishing letters to the editor that are false and defamatory.

But Congress reserved special protection against such litigation for online media in the early days of the internet in recognition of the technical difficulties companies would have in policing the mass amounts of data that users put on their sites. The thinking  which is still valid today, to a point  is that old-media standards of content control would be effectively impossible for online sites to adhere to, and would stymie the growth of the internet.

That principle is still reason enough not to repeal Section 230 completely, as some critics have suggested doing. Social media is so hardwired into society today that opening internet content to unfettered litigation would invite political, economic and cultural paralysis. And thats before even getting into the politically fraught question of what, exactly, should constitute legally actionable content.

But a more targeted loosening of Section 230, removing the companies lawsuit protection regarding online exploitation and other offenses related specifically to children, is an idea worth exploring. Graham has sponsored such legislation, as have Democrats.

To the argument that fully filtering out even just dangers to kids would be an impossibly huge order for the platforms, we would counter by noting the amazing things social media companies can do today.

Advanced algorithms, artificial intelligence and other mind-blowing developments indicate theres virtually no technological goal these tech titans cant achieve when properly motivated. And now, as before there even was an internet, nothing motivates entrepreneurs like a threat to their bottom line.
SAN DIEGO , Feb. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - QMB, a provider of road safety products and movable barriers in Canada for over 30 years, is excited to announce the launch of its US division under the name MOOVOP. This launch marks a significant step forward as the company expands its presence and offerings in the United States .

Embracing Progress and Change

On January 7th 2024 , the company introduced a complete new line of MASH TL-3 crash-tested products: the QUASH water-filled non-redirective crash attenuator, the TALL42 Movable Barrier, and the HP-LOCK Portable Concrete Barrier.

Aligned with these new and innovative products, MOOVOP brand was selected to reflect the company's strategic evolution and future goals. MOOVOP, derived from "MOOV" evoking movement and progress, and "OP" symbolizing opportunity and operations, embodies the company's commitment to bringing innovation and hands-on operational expertise to the market. Visit www.moovop.com for more information on the company's new products and offerings.

Calling for Differentiation

MOOVOP stands as an independent provider of movable barrier solutions, offering a compelling alternative for future contracts and projects.

"MOOVOP is committed to delivering reliable, cost-effective solutions and services tailored to client's needs," added VP Marc Seguin. "With our launch of MOOVOP, we look forward to forging new partnerships and driving positive change."

The MOOVOP management team will be present at the ATSSA Convention & Traffic Expo to connect with clients and distributors. The company is inviting attendees to visit their Booth #520, where the QUASH attenuator, up for Innovation of the Year, will be showcased. For more information, follow the new MOOVOP LinkedIn page.

About MOOVOP

Originating as a movable barrier operator, MOOVOP's Canadian parent has continuously refined operational expertise. As an owner-operator of movable barriers since 1993, the Canadian company has executed over 31,000 consecutive on-time barrier shifts, showcasing its enduring commitment to service excellence and reliability, and handles 10 to 15 turnkey movable barrier construction contracts annually, emphasizing the trust Agencies and Contractors have in the company. Through its Versilis division, the company revolutionized repetitive lane closures across North America with the SwiftGate automated lane closure system. Leveraging manufacturing and operational expertise, as well as a robust industry network, these assets will be pivotal in the group's forthcoming endeavors.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/moovop-a-fresh-chapter-in-road-safety-products-and-movable-barrier-solutions-302052541.html

SOURCE Moovop
A Tomahawk land attack missile (TLAM) is launched from the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer 'USS Gravely' against what the U.S. military describe as Houthi military targets in Yemen, February 3, 2024.

British forces on Saturday joined their American allies in new attacks against militia in Yemen. The U.S. military earlier launched strikes on dozens of sites manned by Iran-backed fighters in western Iraq and eastern Syria in retaliation for a drone strike in Jordan in late January that killed three U.S. service members and wounded dozens.

Tensions have been rising in the region since the Israel-Hamas war started on October 7. A week later, Iran-backed fighters, who are loosely allied with Hamas, began carrying out drone and rocket attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria. A deadly strike on the desert outpost known as Tower 22 in Jordan near the Syrian border further increased tensions.

What happened in Yemen?

The United States and Britain on Saturday launched a barrage of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen from fighter jets and warships in the Red Sea, U.S. officials told The Associated Press.

The strikes hit 36 Houthi targets in 13 locations, the officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the military operation. It is the third time in two weeks that the U.S. and Britain have conducted a large joint operation to strike Houthi weapon launchers, radar sites and drones.

The strikes came in response to almost daily missile or drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand supported the latest wave of strikes intended to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the worlds most critical waterways.

The Houthi targets were struck by U.S. F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, by British Typhoon FGR4 fighter aircraft and by the Navy destroyers USS Gravely and the USS Carney firing Tomahawk missiles from the Red Sea, according to U.S. officials and the U.K. Defense Ministry.

Houthi tribesmen gather to show defiance after U.S. and UK air strikes on Houthi positions near Sana'a, Yemen, February 4, 2024. KHALED ABDULLAH (REUTERS)

Who was targeted in Syria and Iraq?

The strikes on Friday came in retaliation for the drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan on Jan. 28.

U.S. forces struck 85 targets in seven locations in a strategic region where thousands of Iran-backed fighters are deployed to help expand Irans influence from Tehran to the Mediterranean coast.

U.S. bases in Syrias eastern province of Deir el-Zour and the northeastern province of Hassakeh have come under attack for years. The Euphrates River cuts through Syria into Iraq, with U.S. troops and American-backed Kurdish-led fighters on the east bank and Iran-backed fighters and Syrian government forces to the west.

Bases for U.S. troops in Iraq have come under attack too.

Iran-backed militias control the Iraqi side of the border and move freely in and out of Syria, where they man posts with their allies from Lebanons powerful Hezbollah and other Shiite armed groups.

What was hit in Iraq and Syria?

The U.S. military said the barrage of strikes hit command and control headquarters; intelligence centers; rockets and missiles, drone and ammunition storage sites; and other facilities connected to the militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, which handles Tehrans relationship with, and arming of, regional militias.

Syrian opposition activists said the strikes hit the Imam Ali base near the border Syrian town of Boukamal, the Ein Ali base in Quriya, just south of the strategic town of Mayadeen, and a radar center on a mountain near the provincial capital that is also called Deir el-Zour.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said 29 rank-and-file fighters were killed in those strikes.

The attacks also hit a border crossing known as Humaydiya, where militia cross back and forth between Iraq and Syria, according to Omar Abu Layla, a Europe-based activist who heads the Deir Ezzor 24 media outlet. He said the strikes also hit an area inside the town of Mayadeen known as the security quarter.

Iraqi government spokesperson Bassim al-Awadi said the border strikes killed 16 people and caused significant damage to homes and private properties.

The Popular Mobilization Force, a coalition of Iran-backed militia that is nominally under the control of the Iraqi military, said the strikes in western Iraq hit a logistical support post, a tanks battalion, an artillery post and a hospital. The PMF said 16 people were killed and 36 wounded, and that authorities were searching for other missing people.

Will Iran-backed fighters retaliate?

Iran and groups it backs in the region aim to put pressure on Washington to force Israel to end its crushing offensive in Gaza, but do not appear to want all-out war. The defeat of Hamas would be a major setback for Tehran, which considers itself and its allies the main defenders of the Palestinian cause.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group for Iran-backed groups, said it carried out two explosive drone attacks Saturday on bases housing U.S. troops in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil and a post in northeast Syria near the Iraqi border.

The only Iran-backed faction that has been escalating are the Houthi rebels in Yemen, and they have made clear that they have no intention of scaling back their campaign.

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QUZHOU, China , Feb. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from China.org.cn:

Miaoyuan village in Quzhou city, Zhejiang province, held a ritual ceremony on Sunday to mark the arrival of spring based on the traditional Chinese calendar.

The ceremony marked Lichun, the first of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar. Lichun signifies the beginning of spring and a new year for farmers.

The ceremony started at 9 a.m. at a local temple where participants offered flower baskets and sacrificial offerings to the God of Spring of ancient China . They prayed for a bumper harvest and prosperity in the year ahead.

One of the highlights of the ceremony was the Whip the Spring Ox ritual. An elder villager led an ox-pulled plow to till the field, while a child whipped the ox and sang a folk song.

The village also held other activities, such as hosting an open-air market, a food exhibition with spring-themed food dishes (such as spring cakes, spring rolls, and spring pancakes), and an exhibition of photos, paintings, and poems.

Village in eastern China celebrates spring with ancient rituals

http://www.china.org.cn/china/2024-02/04/content_116985769.htm

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/village-in-eastern-china-celebrates-spring-with-ancient-rituals-302052634.html

SOURCE China SCIO
FILE PHOTO: The logos of Nippon Steel Corp. are didplayed at the company headquarters in Tokyo, Japan March 18, 2019. Picture taken March 18, 2019. REUTERS/Yuka Obayashi/File Photo

By Anton Bridge, John Geddie and Daniel Leussink

TOKYO (Reuters) - Donald Trump's pledge to block Nippon Steel's planned purchase of U.S. Steel if he retakes the White House compounds political troubles for the $15 billion deal whose failure could reverberate across Japan Inc.

For Japan, the biggest foreign investor in the U.S., a collapse of the deal could give companies pause about acquisitions in other strategic sectors and force them to be more risk averse when sizing up deals, say former officials, lawyers, analysts and executives.

The planned purchase by the world's fourth-largest steelmaker of the storied American firm underlines the limits of "friendshoring", a term coined by U.S. officials to describe deeper economic cooperation between allies, an effort partly aimed at de-risking supply chains from rival power China.

Nippon Steel's acquisition already faces high hurdles, drawing criticism from Democratic and Republican lawmakers and the powerful United Steelworkers union.

Failure could be "a warning sign to some segments of Japanese investors", said Kenichiro Sasae, who was Japan's ambassador to the U.S. at the start of Trump's 2017-2021 term as president.

While the fallout might be limited to specific sensitive industries, it would show that even with more focus on economic cooperation between allies, countries will always decide based on their own core interests, said Sasae, president of the Japan Institute of International Affairs think tank.

Opposition to the deal appears at odds with U.S. efforts in recent years to encourage Japanese companies to boost their presence there. It is reminiscent of the 1980s, when Japanese acquisitions of trophy assets like Rockefeller Center ignited sharp criticism from the American public.

COSTS COULD RISE

In 2015, U.S. regulators, citing competition concerns, scuttled a merger between Japan's Tokyo Electron and U.S.-based Applied Materials, two of the world's largest manufacturers of semiconductor-making machinery.

Trump, whose protectionist "America First" policies were a hallmark of his tenure, said on Wednesday he would "instantaneously" block the deal if he wins the Nov. 5 vote. The Republican is set for a likely rematch with President Joe Biden, a Democrat.

Nippon Steel responded that the purchase would provide great benefit to U.S. Steel, the U.S. steel industry, its customers, employees, local communities and the United States more broadly.

"Failure to strike a deal has the potential to damage investment ties and set back friendshoring initiatives," said Stefan Angrick, senior economist at Moody's Analytics in Tokyo.

"The long-term consequences would be higher costs for businesses and consumers," said Angrick, who expects the deal to pass eventually.

Japan's direct investment in the U.S. hit 27 trillion yen ($180 billion) in 2022, according to the latest finance ministry data, compared with just 1.4 trillion yen ($10 billion) in Japan's other top trading partner, China.

Japanese firms are under increasing pressure to expand abroad to find new revenue sources as the population in their ageing home market shrinks.

Half of Japanese companies operating in the U.S. planned to expand their business there in coming years while fewer than a third of those in China planned to do so, according to a November survey by government-backed trade promotion agency JETRO.

'WE THOUGHT WE WERE ALIGNED'

Concerns over Nippon Steel's attempt to buy a company that helped build the Empire State Building and arm allied forces in World War Two have arisen since its December announcement.

Biden's White House says the deal deserves "serious scrutiny" given its potential impact on national security and supply chain reliability. It said it supported a review of the transaction by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a process that could take months.

Japan's industry minister declined to comment on Trump's remark about the deal on Friday but said the U.S.-Japan alliance was stronger than ever.

Chuck Rocha, a Democratic strategist and former political director for the steelworkers' union, said it would be hard for the Biden administration to approve the deal.

"I think there's certain core industries that you just don't outsource," said Rocha. "It's not called ABC Steel. It ain't called Your Mama's Steel. It's called U.S. Steel."

The steelworkers, criticising both companies for not consulting with them on the acquisition, have urged regulators to scrutinise whether the deal benefits workers.

Biden and Trump have been competing to win the support of unions, which could prove crucial in the battleground states expected to decide the election.

Nick Wall, a Tokyo-based partner at law firm Allen & Overy who advises on M&A deals, said the blowback from the Nippon-U.S. Steel deal shows Japanese firms will have to be more thorough when examining transactions, especially in unionised industries.

"You'd spend a lot more time thinking through other stakeholders - how they're going to respond, what engagement you should have with them before you announce the deal, bringing along PR experts to help you refine and polish the message," he said.

A former senior Japanese government official who now works for a Japanese conglomerate said the deal was a stark reminder that firms must be more mindful about studying the political implications of deals in the United States.

"It should be of big interest for all internationalizing Japanese companies, especially when thinking about future investment in U.S. companies," he said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to media.

"We thought we're completely aligned countries."

(Reporting by Anton Bridge, John Geddie, Daniel Leussink, Nobuhiro Kubo and Kantaro Komiya in Tokyo, and Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington; Editing by William Mallard)
FILE PHOTO: A general view shows the buildings of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China, April 21, 2021. Picture taken through a window. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

BEIJING (Reuters) - Many Chinese are venting their frustration at the slowing economy and the weak stock market in an unconventional place: the social media account of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

A post on Friday on protecting wild giraffes by the U.S. embassy on Weibo, a Chinese platform similar to X, has attracted 130,000 comments and 15,000 reposts as of Sunday, many of them unrelated to wildlife conservation.

"Could you spare us some missiles to bomb away the Shanghai Stock Exchange?" one user wrote in an repost of the article.

The Weibo account of the U.S. embassy in China "has become the Wailing Wall of Chinese retail equity investors", another user wrote.

The U.S. embassy did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

While Weibo users can publish individual posts about the market and the economy, Chinese authorities regularly block what they view as "negative" online comments when they gain traction.

The comments function on posts related to the economy or the markets on social media platforms can also be turned off, or only show selected comments, restricting channels in which people can express their opinions.

China's blue-chip CSI300 Index tumbled 6.3% last month, plumbing five-year lows, after a raft of government support measures failed to prop up confidence dented by multiple economic headwinds, including a multi-year property slump, tepid domestic consumption and deflationary pressures.

In late January, state media reported that China will take more "forceful" measures to support market confidence after a cabinet meeting chaired by Premier Li Qiang.

Chinese authorities have since ramped up efforts to calm investors, sending out positive messages that sometimes produce the opposite effect.

On Friday, the official People's Daily published an article with the headline: "The entire country is filled with optimism".

The headline was soon mocked on Chinese social media.

A Weibo user, in an repost of the U.S. embassy's giraffe protection article, wrote: "The entire giraffe community is filled with optimism."

(Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; editing by Miral Fahmy)
By Amanda Ferguson

BELFAST (Reuters) - Northern Ireland faces a "brighter future" with the restoration of devolved government after two years of deadlock, Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on a visit to Belfast on Sunday.

Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill was appointed first minister on Saturday, a first for an Irish nationalist in a historical milestone for the British region.

Sunak's government brokered a deal with the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to allow the return of power sharing by easing post-Brexit trade frictions.

"In the last few days we've made significant progress towards a brighter future for people here," Sunak told broadcasters.

"Everyone has worked really hard to bring this moment about, everyone is committed to making it work and delivering for people in Northern Ireland who had been without their devolved government for far too long," he said.

Power sharing government in the region was a key part of a 1998 peace deal that ended decades of political and sectarian violence.

Sinn Fein is the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), which campaigns on both sides of the Irish border for an end to British rule in Northern Ireland and the creation of a united Ireland.

O'Neill told Sky News on Sunday that it was a "decade of opportunity" for Northern Ireland.

"We can have power-sharing, we can make it stable, we can work together every day in terms of public services, and whilst we also pursue our equally legitimate aspirations," she said.

Sunak, however, said the focus should be on public service.

"Everyone is committed to the Belfast Good Friday agreement, but I think everyone also agrees that now is the time to focus on delivering on the day-to-day issues that matter to people, to families, to businesses in Northern Ireland."

Sunak is due to meet O'Neill and the Deputy First Minister, the DUP's Emma Little-Pengally, on Monday, according to his office.

Under the power-sharing agreement, the post of deputy has equal power but less symbolic weight than the First Minister.

(Writing by Paul Sandle; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
FILE PHOTO: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures as he delivers his 6th State of the Nation Address (SONA), at the House of Representative in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, July 26, 2021. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David/File Photo

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippine government is ready to use "authority and forces" against attempts to divide the nation, a security official said Sunday, after former President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to separate some southern islands from the rest of the archipelago.

Duterte has called for the independence of his hometown Mindanao from the Philippines as his alliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr disintegrated this week over disagreements around efforts to amend the constitution.

Marcos said amending the 1987 constitution was meant to ease foreign investments, but Duterte accused him of using constitutional change to stay in power.

National security adviser Eduardo Ano said in a statement any attempt to secede "will be met by the government with resolute force", citing "recent calls to separate Mindanao" but without specifically naming Duterte.

"The national government will not hesitate to use its authority and forces to quell and stop any and all attempts to dismember the Republic," Ano said.

Ano said calls for secession could reverse the gains of government's peace deal with former separatist groups.

Violence and conflict had plagued Mindanao for decades as the government battled insurgents and extremists, which has discouraged investments and left many villages in poverty.

The region's largest rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), had signed a peace agreement with the Philippine government in 2014, withdrawing their fight for independence in exchange for enhanced autonomy in a Muslim region called the Bangsamoro.

Bangsamoro chief minister Ahod Ebrahim said in a statement on Friday he remains committed to the peace agreement while government peace process adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. called on Filipinos to "turn away from any call...to destabilize" the country.

Philippine armed forces chief Romeo Brawner told soldiers on Saturday "to remain united and loyal to the constitution and the chain of command".

(Reporting by Mikhail Flores; editing by Miral Fahmy)
Texas National Guard troops watch for illegal activity along the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, Texas, in May 2022. The Alaska Army National Guard said it has begun preparing for a potential deployment early next year in support of the federal governments U.S.- Mexico border control efforts. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes )

(Tribune News Service)  The Alaska Army National Guard said it has begun preparing for a potential deployment early next year in support of the federal governments U.S.- Mexico border control efforts.

In a prepared statement, the Alaska National Guard on Friday said that a memorandum from the federal government had been issued, directing Alaska forces to prepare two LUH-72 Lakota helicopters and 20 guardsmen to potentially be deployed in early 2025. The units would help provide aviation support to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said Alaska National Guard spokesperson Alan Brown.

Maj. Ryan Wierzbicki, a spokesman for the U.S. Armys Joint Task Force North, said in a phone interview that Alaska guard members could be sent to any of four states along the border, including Texas and Arizona. Federal requests for states to provide border assistance are issued regularly and have become routine, he said.

National Guard units can be mobilized in two distinct ways. Fridays request was to deploy in a Title 10 duty status, meaning the federal government would pay, and Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy would have little leeway to refuse. Activation by Alaskas governor means the state would foot the bill.

Jeff Turner, a spokesman for Dunleavys office, said on Friday that the planned mobilization had nothing to do with Operation Lone Star  the Texas governments long-running border control effort that has escalated into a heated dispute between Republican-led states and the U.S. government.

Brown said there are currently no plans for Alaska National Guard soldiers to be deployed in support of Operation Lone Star.

Ten Alaska National Guard soldiers were last deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border by Dunleavy in 2019 after former President Donald Trump, a fellow Republican, requested assistance with border security efforts. Brown said the 2019 deployment was the most recent request from the federal government to send Alaska guard members to the southern border.

Dunleavy, though, has harshly criticized the Biden administrations border policies. Last week he joined 24 other GOP governors in support of Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts choice to ignore a U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing federal agents to remove razor wire installed by Abbotts administration along the U.S.- Mexico border.

In Juneau, multiple members of the Republican-led House majority caucus attended a closed-door briefing Thursday evening with Maj. Gen. Torrence Saxe, commander of the Alaska National Guard, and Attorney General Treg Taylor, and left believing Alaska guardsmen would be sent in support of Abbotts escalating dispute with the Biden administration over enforcement of immigration controls.

House Speaker Cathy Tilton, R- Wasilla, said the Texas governor had requested National Guard volunteers from all 50 states, and Thursday evenings briefing focused on what that deployment could look like.

Theres some complications with how its funded, she said. Theres a federal funding issue, theres a state funding issue. Its still kind of unclear what thats going to look like.

More than a dozen Republican governors have sent National Guard units to Texas, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who announced on Thursday that hundreds of additional guard members would be sent to assist Abbott.

Several Republican state legislators were enthusiastic about what they understood were the plans for a National Guard deployment to Texas.

Fairbanks Rep. Frank Tomaszewski said Alaska should send Guard members south because there is obviously an invasion occurring at the border with Mexico. Anchorage GOP Rep. Tom McKay said the U.S.- Mexico border should be closed after imported fentanyl had killed tens of thousands of Americans.

(c)2024 the Alaska Dispatch News (Anchorage, Alaska)

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USS Farragut moors at U.S. Naval Station Mayport, Fla., on Feb. 3, 2024, following a deployment to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility supporting Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF)-Souths counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean Sea. (Steven Khor/U.S. Navy)

The USS Farragut returned to its homeport at U.S. Naval Station Mayport, Fla., on Saturday after nearly five months at sea running down drug traffickers.

The Farragut, an Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer  along with the Valkyries of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 50  deployed in September 2023 to support Joint Interagency Task Force-Souths counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean Sea, according to a Navy news release.

Every sailor and Coast Guardsmen had a role in this team effort, Farragut commanding officer Cmdr. Tom Roberts said. We, alongside allies and partners, seized the opportunity to advance regional and strategic objectives in the area of operations, supporting our nation and our Navy. I could not be more proud of our team and their accomplishments.

Family and friends were there to welcome the sailors home.

USS Farragut moors at U.S. Naval Station Mayport, Fla., on Feb. 3, 2024, following a deployment to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility supporting Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF)-Souths counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean Sea. (Steven Khor/U.S. Navy) Family and friends were on hand at U.S. Naval Station Mayport, Fla., on Feb. 3, 2024, to welcome home the USS Farragut. (Screen capture from video/WJXT News 4 Jacksonville) Family and friends were on hand at U.S. Naval Station Mayport, Fla., on Feb. 3, 2024, to welcome home the USS Farragut. (Screen capture from video/WJXT News 4 Jacksonville) Family and friends were on hand at U.S. Naval Station Mayport, Fla., on Feb. 3, 2024, to welcome home the USS Farragut. (Screen capture from video/WJXT News 4 Jacksonville)

During the deployment, Farragut, with her embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment, apprehended or disrupted an estimated 3,900 pounds of cocaine  worth an estimated street value of $44 million  and the detention of 18 suspected illicit drug runners.

Farragut also:

Conducted operations with the Dominican Navy and British Royal Navy to assist with the apprehension and transfer of personnel and cargo.

Conducted deck landing qualifications with Joint Task Force Bravo soldiers, qualifying 18 UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter pilots for maritime operations.

Farraguts port visits included Willemstad, Curacao, where the ship hosted local students and military personnel to showcase the capabilities of Farragut and discuss the daily lives of sailors onboard a U.S. naval warship.

The crew of USS Farragut demonstrated tremendous proficiency and professionalism while executing theater security cooperation events and counter illicit trafficking operations throughout their extended 4-month deployment. said Capt. Bryan Gallo, commodore of Task Force 45.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet is the trusted maritime partner for Caribbean, Central and South America maritime forces leading to improved unity, security and stability.

Also returning to Mayport on Saturday was the USS The Sullivans, which had been deployed to the Mediterranean Sea to provide missile defense for carrier strike groups.
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

To the two wars already underway, in Ukraine and Gaza, and the threat of a third in Taiwan, have been added the ominous clouds that herald the possibility of a fourth. For added drama, a common ingredient in all these scenarios is added to the mass killings unfolding. The civilian-killing weapon par excellence, the nuclear bomb, is in the hands of one of the actors in each of the potential or ongoing conflicts. Notable historians and political scientists have also pointed out the danger of connection between simultaneous conflicts and threats, and recall that this is how the apocalyptic plot of the two world wars of the 20th century was woven.

The alarm has been triggered by the growing bellicosity of North Korea, which has just abandoned its traditional policy of peaceful reunification of the peninsula in favor of the military conquest of South Korea. Dictator Kim Jong-un has singled out his neighbor and brother to the South, the Republic of Korea, as his main enemy. At the same time, he has torn down the monument built in 2001 in honor of a future reunification and removed the achievement of such a historic goal from the Constitution. This is taking place amid the heat of the Norths artillery maneuvers, nuclear threats and ballistic missile tests over South Korean waters, one of the favored pastimes of the plump and bellicose communist autocrat. Not since 1950 has the regime presented such a dangerous face, according to leading experts. So much so that they believe the decision to go to war again has already been taken.

The aggressive path of Russia  and to varying degrees China  could not be left without emulation. Kim Jong-un is inspired by the invasion of Ukraine and the growing threats against Taiwan, but also by Israels response to the Hamas attacks of October 7. When the politics of force prevails over the force of international legality, nothing could be more normal than for the most rogue regimes to try to exceed the bad example of the most powerful. In partnership with each other, they shun sanctions, associate their destructive industries, and even garner commercial returns. Pyongyang has become a major supplier of missiles, artillery shells, and probably nuclear material, first to Russia and then to forces fighting against the United States and Israel by proxy in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.

Russia and China were engaged in nuclear disarmament talks with Pyongyang between 2003 and 2007, and in the agreement signed with Iran in 2015. Something has gone badly awry in the past two decades for the worst dictatorships to be lining up in a menacing conglomerate, much like the 1940 Tripartite Pact between Germany, Italy, and Japan that ruined Europe and the world with the most devastating war in history.

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Displaced Palestinians flee from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Jan. 30, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. (Mahmud Hams, AFP via Getty Images/TNS)

KHAN YUNIS, Gaza Strip (Tribune News Service)  By the 100-day mark of Israels offensive in Gaza, Abu Ahmad Al-Gharabli and his 13 family members had been displaced four times before settling in Rafah, at the besieged enclaves southern end.

Forced to sell cigarettes on the street to get by, the 56-year-old blacksmith is angry. At his inability to provide food and shelter for his family. At the scant humanitarian aid hes received.

And, most of all, at Hamas.

Before they launched Oct. 7, they should have secured food, drink and money so that we wouldnt suffer like this, Al-Gharabli said of the militant groups assault on Israel that triggered the war.

It seems Hamas didnt consider the consequences, added Al-Gharablis wife, Umm Ahmad, who, like most people interviewed for this story, gave only her nickname for safety reasons. They believe they planned for everything, but when it came to us, they didnt. The poverty, the displacement  all this Hamas didnt think about.

More than three months into the most devastating assault Gaza has ever experienced, many residents  85% of whom are displaced and almost all of whom are at risk of starvation are growing exasperated with Hamas amid a war that has left no one in the enclave unaffected.

Although the majority of the 2.3 million population hold Israel principally responsible for their suffering, and Hamas retains the support of a significant portion of society, many Gazans feel caught between fealty to the resistance against Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and a war strategy by their militant rulers that seemed to overlook them.

Any organization or state that plans for a military attack should have a feasibility study, if you will, said Abu Tawfiq, 35, speaking with the clear diction of the voiceover artist he was before the war. Weve started to ask, You go on a military adventure  did you fortify the home front? Did you prepare the simplest means of life for citizens in Gaza?

On Oct. 7  when Hamas commandos killed at least 1,200 people and kidnapped about 240 others, Israeli authorities say  most Gazans celebrated, Abu Tawfiq said, seeing it as a moment of fighting back against Israel and its long siege of the coastal strip.

But since then, its been a nightmare from which we cant wake up, Abu Tawfiq said. Were angry. And Hamas neglecting citizens is compounding that anger.

Examples of that neglect abound, he said. With Israel restricting the number of aid trucks going into the Gaza Strip, price gouging was to be expected, which is why, in past confrontations with Israel, Hamas officials or police would be out in marketplaces penalizing offending merchants. This time, with Israeli drones and armor a constant threat, Hamas authorities barely have a presence in the streets  and an ineffectual one at that.

Sugar, at almost $3 a pound, costs seven times more than it did before the war; onions, 13 times; canned goods, six times. Diapers for Al-Gharablis two grandsons surged to a staggering $38 a pack  and he has to walk two miles to find them.

Theres no supervision. You just dont get a sense theres a government, said Abu Amir Tafesh, 42, who was searching for bottled water for his family.

Palestinians check the destruction following Israeli bombardment in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip on Dec. 12, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. (Mahmud Hams, AFP via Getty Images/TNS)

Problems also riddle the distribution of what few supplies make it into Gaza, some say. During other wars, aid organizations linked to Hamas or Islamic Jihad, another militant group, would give out packages or cash not just to members but also supporters. Thats not happening this time.

Even if youre sitting inside the mosque, you get nothing, Abu Tawfiq said.

The sense of abandonment by Hamas is exacerbated, many say, by the fact that the only gain from the Oct. 7 operation has accrued to the occupied West Bank, where hundreds of imprisoned Palestinians were freed from Israeli prisons in November during a weeklong truce in Gaza.

All the martyrs, the houses destroyed, the fear ... were paying the price, Tafesh said.

Hes happy that the Palestinian detainees were released. But with more than 26,000 people reported killed by the Israeli bombardment, entire families wiped out and much of the enclave destroyed, Gaza as he knew it is gone.

People want a way to live in dignity. Thats it, Tafesh said. Theyre silent now because theyre too aggrieved. Even if they want to shout at the government, what use would it be?

With little sense of Hamas endgame, many Palestinians are torn over what has happened since Oct. 7. A December poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research  which involved 1,231 respondents, including 480 in Gaza  showed 37% of Gazans labeling Hamas decision to attack as incorrect, given the consequences so far.

A majority of Palestinians also say the killing of civilians is not permissible, but they do not believe the Israeli governments allegations or evidence of atrocities by Hamas.

If the 7th of October didnt happen, we would have stayed humiliated, under the mercy of the occupation all our lives, said 57-year-old Umm Mahmoud Zreik. For us, the exchange of hostages is not much of an achievement. We need them to do more, like break the siege.

Perhaps in response to such sentiments, Hamas last Sunday issued its first public report about its multipronged cross-border assault, a 16-page document titled Our Narrative, in which it cited a list of reasons for its attack, including the Israeli governments right-wing policies, the expansion of illegal settlements, the increase in Palestinian detainees and the failure of negotiations over a Palestinian state.

The report also insists that, although maybe some faults happened during the rapid collapse of the Israeli security and military system during the assault and the chaos caused along the border areas with Gaza, Hamas fighters did not intentionally target civilians.

About 60% of the Israelis killed Oct. 7 were civilians. Israel accuses Hamas of wanton slaughter and says it has compiled abundant visual evidence and witness testimony that the militants engaged in torture and sexual violence against civilian victims. Hamas blames Israel, pointing to reports in Israeli media that the army was responsible for killing a number of civilians during the engagement with the groups fighters.

Although there are growing signs in Gaza of disillusionment with Hamas, which has ruled the strip since 2007, it can still count on a loyal base. The December poll found that support for the group rose slightly, to 42% from 38% in Gaza; in the West Bank, it almost quadrupled to 44%.

Inside Gaza, researcher Abdalhadi Alijla sees two trends at work: skepticism of Hamas amid minimal improvements to life after 17 years of its rule and no moves to ease the enclaves isolation, yet also the increasingly dominant belief among Palestinians that armed struggle is the only way to end Israeli occupation.

The consensus in Gaza is that the resistance is a red line  that it will remain, with or without Hamas, Alijla said, adding that Hamas has never resolved whether it is a governing authority able to provide order, stability and jobs or a liberation movement.

The popularity of Hamas is greater in the West Bank than in Gaza because those in Gaza tried their rule. They know it, Alijla said.

Hamas maintains that the chief aim of its Oct. 7 incursion was to kidnap Israeli soldiers in order to force a prisoner exchange. But its report makes clear that another goal was to refocus world attention on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The report repeatedly castigates Israels allies and the United Nations for ignoring Palestinians plight.

As the war grinds on and the question of who will govern Gaza becomes more urgent, anger among some Gazans at Hamas has not translated into greater support for the rival Palestinian Authority, the much-reviled administration that exercises limited control over the West Bank and was violently ousted from the Gaza Strip by Hamas in 2007.

The authority doesnt have the trust of the people. Even its own officials dont trust it, Alijla said.

Whatever arises as an alternative, said Umm Ahmad, the wife of blacksmith Al-Gharabli, the priority should be providing stability for civilians.

This living on the streets, this famine, our kids getting sick or injured with nowhere to be treated  for me, I wont accept it, she said. I need a government that takes care of its people.

The Times special correspondent in Gaza cannot be named for security reasons. Staff writer Bulos reported from Beirut.

2024 Los Angeles Times.

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Peter Collins (42) appeared before Judge Marian O'Leary at a special sitting of Cork District Court

A FATHER of four appeared before a special district court sitting arising from the seizure by Gardai of over 1m worth of cannabis in Kerry.

Peter Collins (42) appeared before Judge Marian O'Leary at a special sitting of Cork District Court on two charges arising from a joint operation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) and the Kerry Divisional Drugs Unit on February 1 last.

Judge O'Leary was told that Collins was arrested by Gardai at an address in Knocknagoshel village, Co Kerry on February 1 and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.

He was taken to Castleisland Garda Station and questioned under drugs regulations.

Det Garda Ger O'Sullivan gave the court evidence of arrest, caution and charge.

He said that when the charges were formally put to Collins at 6pm on Saturday (February 3) the defendant made no reply.

Collins is charged with having the drugs for sale or supply contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Defence solicitor Padraig O'Connell told the court that Gardai had no objection to him being granted bail on the basis a number of conditions had been agreed to by his client.

These include that he reside at a specified address, surrender his passport to Gardai, undertake not to apply for any future travel documents, sign on weekly at Tralee Garda Station and be available for contact at all times on a specified mobile phone number.

The phone is to be kept charged and in credit at all times.

Mr O'Connell noted that his client "had been wholly co-operative with Gardai in procedural terms."

Judge O'Leary confirmed bail on Collins' own bond of 300.

The court was told that Gardai do not, as yet, have Collins' passport but the document is believed to be at his home address and will be surrendered immediately.

Judge O'Leary remanded Collins on bail to appear again before Tralee District Court on February 7 next.

Mr O'Connell asked the court to rule on jurisdiction in the matter.

Det Garda O'Sullivan noted to the court that the seizure by Gardai involved cannabis with an estimated value of 1.11m.

The haul was reported as involving 55kgs of cannabis which was seized at a location on the Kerry-Limerick border.

Revenue Commissioner's Customs & Excise unit was also assisted with the Garda operation.

Judge O'Leary was informed further charges may be levelled by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in relation to the matter.

The State are still awaiting final instructions from the DPP.

Gardai asked that a jurisdictional ruling in the case be left for Judge Dave Waters as it was a Kerry case.

"If it was here in Cork I would certainly decline jurisdiction," Judge O'Leary said.

"But it is a Kerry case and I will leave it to Judge Waters to decide."

Collins - who did not speak during the brief hearing - was remanded on bail to appear again before Tralee District Court on Wednesday.

Judge O'Leary assigned Mr O'Connell in the matter after being told the defendant was a father of four with no major source of income.
David Patterson was wearing a blue windbreaker-style jacket adorned with a poppy pin-badge, navy shorts and walking boots

This is the self-styled protector of the neighbourhood who was given a dressing down by a judge after turning up to court in short trousers.

David Patterson (55), from east Belfast, was given short shrift by a miffed magistrate shortly before pleading guilty to assault on police and disorderly behaviour over an incident where he shouted paedophile outside an east Belfast house.

As Patterson entered the public gallery at the back of Court Seven at Laganside Magistrates Court, an irate District Judge McCafferty remarked: Has he turned up to court wearing shorts?

Patterson was wearing a blue windbreaker-style jacket adorned with a poppy pin-badge, navy shorts and walking boots.

Following an awkward silence the judge told his solicitor: Tell him to attend court dressed appropriately next time.

Prosecutors told the court police received a report of a disturbance on Elmgrove Court, Belfast, at around 2am on July 29 last year.

A male later identified as Patterson and a female co-accused were observed screaming the word paedophile outside a property, the court heard.

David Patterson

As PSNI officers attempted to deal with the situation an enraged Patterson advanced towards them while drunk and ignored police attempts to make him leave the area.

He later tried to headbutt a police officer before being arrested, prosecutors said.

Pattersons defence solicitor admitted his client was intoxicated, telling the court: Far too much drink had been taken but he accepts that is no excuse for his behaviour.

Some people in the neighbourhood have expressed discontent with an occupant of a house in the area.

Reacting to the submissions on Pattersons behalf, Judge McCafferty was aghast at the explanation provided for Pattersons conduct.

He thundered: So this man set himself up as a protector of the neighbourhood by going out drunk at two in the morning and guldering in the street?

The custodial threshold has been passed and I am strongly considering it as an option.

Alongside the assault on police and disorderly behaviour charges, Patterson had also been charged with criminal damage and resisting police. He pleaded not guilty to the criminal damage charge which was dismissed by the court while the charge of resisting police was withdrawn.

The matter was adjourned until March pending the compilation of pre-sentence reports as a sheepish, shorts-clad Patterson left the courtroom.
Drunken sex beast phones Arbour Hill from bar while hes on temporary release

Mark Lawlor was sentenced to life in 1995 for the murder and sexual assault of 57-year-old Rose Farrelly

One of Irelands longest-serving life prisoners cut short a taste a freedom after phoning a prison to get collected from a pub.

Mark Lawlor got a life sentence in 1995 for the horrific murder and sexual assault of 57-year-old Rose Farrelly at her Harolds Cross home two years earlier.

He recently went drinking in a pub after being allowed temporary release from Arbour Hill in Dublins north inner city, according to sources.

He later called the prison asking to be brought back.

As a trusted prisoner, Lawlor has been working as a cleaner in Arbour Hill, where he is continuing to serve his time.

However, after his recent pub escapade he is also a suspect over hiding empty wine bottles found in an area at the prison where he worked, according to Sunday World sources.

Drinking alcohol behind bars is strictly forbidden and in Arbour Hill would be regarded as unusual where inmates are regarded as being settled and co-operative with staff.

Now aged 50, Lawlor has been in prison most of his life, gathering criminal convictions since he was just 14 years old.

People who get a life sentence remain under licence if they are released from prison and can be re-called if they break any conditions or get into trouble again.

Despite his relatively young age, Lawlor is now one of Irelands longest-serving prisoners and has been in custody since 1993.

At the time his 44-day trial set a record for the length it took and was the first murder trial where DNA evidence was admitted.

The following year he got another nine-year sentence for burglary and five years for sexual assault committed during the murder of Ms Farrelly.

He had been out of prison for just two weeks when he carried out the horrific murder of the disabled woman.

The trial was told Ms Farrelly was a deeply religious woman who did not marry and lived alone.

She had suffered a stroke some years before her death and was severely disabled as a result.

State Pathologist Dr John Harbison said she had died from asphyxia due to a combination of strangulation and suffocation.

Det Insp Anthony Brislane, who was in charge of the investigation, gave evidence that Lawlor had convictions dating back to 1987, when he was 14.

He absconded to England, where he was jailed for burglary and was extradited back to Ireland in 1991.

The officer explained Lawlor was jailed for three years in 1992 but was then freed on bail pending a review of his sentence when he killed Ms Farrelly

Lawlors defence counsel said he had abused drugs and alcohol and that the real tragedy is that when he came into the prison system there was nowhere he could be taken and he was just put back on the streets.

The trial judge told Lawlor he had heard with sadness of his background but none of that could excuse the brazen decision to commit violent crime within a short period of his release.

He said that had there been a suitable facility to detain Lawlor when he committed his previous crimes the unfortunate Ms Rose Farrelly might well be alive yesterday.

Lawlor lost an appeal against his conviction in 2001.
British travel platform Holidu sought out to find the best sober holiday destinations across the globe

Dublin has been named one of the worlds "booziest" cities in a new travel study.

British travel platform Holidu sought out to find the best sober holiday destinations across the globe by identifying the booziest cities for people to avoid in order to go alcohol free on their vacations.

It analysed cities based on the number of late-night activities per capita and the percentage of local drinkers that have had a "heavy session" in the past few months.

Dublin ranked second in the list of booziest cities in the world and is described by the company as being "well regarded as a boozy destination".

It found that a whopping 81.3pc of Ireland's population drink alcohol  the highest percentage of any country in the study.

Almost half of the countrys alcohol drinkers have admitted to having a heavy drinking session in the last 30 days too, while one of Dublins top attractions, the Guinness Storehouse, raked in more than 1.1 million visitors in 2022.

The only city to beat Dublin was Prague in the Czech Republic, with residents consuming the most booze per capita in the world at 14.45 litres of alcohol per year  around 481 beers a year per person.

Prague also has a staggering amount of nightlife establishments per capita too, being beaten by only Las Vegas and New Orleans.

And according to Holidu, almost 19pc of all Tripadvisor things to do in the city are late-night activities involving alcohol.

Placing third is Berlin, the home to more than 630 buzzing nightlife establishments. As many as four in five Germans drink alcohol, with booze prices averaging at just 4.52.

The study also compiled a separate list of best cities in the world for a sober holiday.

Fronting the list is Muscat in Oman, followed by Abu Dhabi (UAE), Moroccan capital Marrakesh, Jakarta in Indonesia, and Dubai (UAE) in fifth.

Canadian destinations Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, and Ottawa also make the cut, making it the most mentioned country on the list.

Consultant Counselling Psychologist, Dr Ritz, spoke about the rise in sobriety amongst young holidaymakers.

She said: "I think that there has been a rise in people adopting a more sober-curious lifestyle as people educate themselves more on the impact of alcohol on the brain and body.

They are becoming more self-reflective and thinking about the consequences of alcohol cognitively, emotionally and behaviorally. For example, a theme that often comes up with my clients is the potential for a wasted day and how pointless a person can feel from consuming alcohol."
Harry James shaves his head in a video posted on his TikTok account, 'Bald Cafe'. Harry James (Bald Cafe)

Harry James was 25 years old when he first noticed a bald spot. He saw it in the mirror, and his first reaction was to just ignore it. It was not long before the hair loss became evident, and with it came the crisis. He started sitting at the back of the classroom so nobody would see him, avoided making eye contact with the girls and isolated himself from the world. He was ashamed. Today, however, he is 32 and hundreds of thousands of people follow his Instagram and YouTube channel, Bald Cafe, to see his advice on dealing with baldness. Not to hide it, but to accept it with dignity. He is but one example of a new generation of influencers who want to prove that a man does not need a single hair on his head to be attractive and confident.

If you search for keywords related to male pattern baldness on Instagram, YouTube or TikTok, most of the results will have to do with learning to counteract or stop hair loss. Content creators like Harry are a niche  but one that is gaining presence with their aesthetic routines, tutorials and photos where they flaunt their heads. Facing baldness without hiding allows you to see that you really can handle it, that you dont need to be afraid, says Harry via video call.

A recent study by the World Population Review shows that the two countries with the highest percentage of bald men are the Czech Republic and Spain. In the US, according to research from the National Institute of Health, approximately 16% of men between 18 and 29 years old, and 53% of those between 30 and 49, experience some degree of hair loss. Many figures from popular culture proudly sport a fully shaved head, from actors like Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) to personalities like Prince William.

On Bald Cafes YouTube channel (218,000 subscribers), as well as on the profiles of other bald influencers like Zeph Sanders (151,000 followers on Instagram), there are thousands of comments from men who express their gratitude for seeing the stigma surrounding androgenetic alopecia being broken. According to a post on the specialized website Medical News Today, this condition is associated with psychological conditions such as anxiety, anger, depression, shame, decreased confidence, reduced work and sexual performance and even suicidal tendencies.

Realization is a creeping process of denial eroded by moments of shock and, later, resignation. Denial was believing that what wasnt in the mirror (namely a birds-eye view of my head) didnt exist. Shock was encountering a photo of myself, taken from above, and wondering, Whos that balding guy standing exactly where I was? writes journalist Oscar Holland in an article for CNN.

Since he launched the Bald Cafe project, James started receiving messages from guys who felt tormented by their baldness and wanted someone to talk to. Many wondered what they had done wrong, when we already know that this is purely genetic, explains the influencer. Others simply listened to Harrys experience and shared their own. Now, a significant part of his channel is devoted to sharing these stories of men who, like him, overcame the crisis and embraced their baldness. Some may spend decades hiding from the world, behind a hat. My goal is simply to do everything possible to help pull men out of their hiding place, where they restrict themselves and dont reach their true potential out of fear and anxiety about hair loss, concludes James.

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After an initial police investigation, the 21-year-olds death was put down to suicide.

A woman who admitted washing the clothes of a murder suspect in a case initially treated as suicide made a public donation to a suicide charity in the alleged victims name weeks after she died.

Jill Robinson posted on her Facebook page her boastful financial contribution to the fundraiser started by the sister of alleged murder victim Katie Simpson.

Katie died in August 2020 and 36-year-old Jonathan Creswell is due to stand trial later this year for her murder and for also raping her.

After an initial police investigation, the 21-year-olds death was put down to suicide.

However, it was reopened following a lengthy campaign, and within weeks of a new police team starting a review, Creswell, the partner of Katies sister Christina, was charged with her murder.

Three women, all connected to Creswell through the equestrian industry, are charged with offences relating to the cover-up of Katies murder.

After one of the women, 30-year-old Hayley Robb, from Weavers Meadow, Banbridge, admitted her role in December and agreed to offer help to prosecutors in the murder case, the other two women have also admitted their role in the cover-up.

Robinson (42), of Blackfort Road, Omagh, and Rose de Montmorency-Wright (22), of Craigantlet Road, Newtownards, accepted the charges against them.

Robinson admitted perverting the course of justice by washing Creswells clothes on August 3, 2020.

Montmorency-Wright admitted withholding information between October 9, 2020, and October 13, 2021, knowing Creswell had allegedly assaulted Katie and an investigation was underway into her death.

The plea

It is contended that Creswell (pictured below) attacked Katie, who was the younger sister of his partner.

It is alleged that he did it in a jealous rage and then staged a scene to make it appear that she had attempted to take her own life.

We can reveal that weeks after Robinson washed the clothes of Creswell, knowing he had allegedly assaulted Katie, she made a brazen donation to a suicide campaign set up by Katies sister Christina.

Jonathan Creswell

On September 30, 2020, cold-hearted Robinson even posted her donation to her social media page along with an advert for the charitys Crisis Helpline with the now ironic slogan, Know Suicide, Know The Signs emblazoned across it.

By that stage, the campaign had raised 1,384.

Meanwhile, Montmorency-Wright continued her equestrian career and posted about her successes even while knowing she was facing a Crown Court trial for covering up the murder of the talented showjumper.

All three women will be sentenced for their crimes at the end of proceedings against Creswell.

In December, Robb broke down in tears as she replied guilty to withholding information between August 2, 2020, and June 26, 2021, while knowing Katie had sustained injuries and believing she may have been murdered. She further admitted perverting the course of justice by cleaning blood in Creswells home on August 3, 2020, as well as washing his clothes at a laundrette.

Her barrister advised the court she has made an offer to assist with the prosecution and that is being actively considered.

Katie Simpson

Robinson was a long-term friend of Creswell and both were heavily involved in the equestrian industry.

De Montmorency-Wright resided with Creswell and his partner Christina, with both women making up two of the group of four to carry her coffin into and from St Vindics Church in Tynan at her funeral.

Creswell also carried her coffin, including the last short walk from the church to the grave.

The trial, which is scheduled for April, will take place without the women in the dock. They will remain on bail and are not required to attend court until the trial concludes.

An initial police investigation declined to pursue any criminal inquiries, repeatedly dismissing concerns brought directly to them over Katies death.

It would be seven months before Creswell was finally arrested after sustained efforts by Katies friends prompted a high-level review into the original PSNI decision.

A new team took over in January 2021 and a murder inquiry was launched.

When Creswell first appeared in court in March 2021, investigating officer Detective Sergeant James Brannigan said police believe he controlled and coerced Katie since she was a child of nine or ten, encountering her through his long-term relationship with Christina.

He denies all charges.
I know that everyone that knew her feels blessed to have called her a friend, and I am forever grateful for the precious time we spent together. I will cherish those memories forever.

Tragic Lisa Murphys TV co-star Virginia Macari has paid a touching tribute to her late pal, saying: Heaven has received a beautiful light this week.

Lisa (51), who died from a cancer-related illness on Thursday, will be laid to rest after a Funeral Mass on Tuesday morning in St John the Evangelist church in Ballinteer.

Virginia has followed her fellow Dublin Wives co-stars in paying tribute to the former model and TV star who died in St Vincents Hospital after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Lisa was such a kind and gentle and gorgeous lady, Virginia said.

I know that everyone that knew her feels blessed to have called her a friend, and I am forever grateful for the precious time we spent together. I will cherish those memories forever.

Wishing her family peace, comfort, courage, and lots of love at this time of sorrow, she added.

Back in 2012 and 2013, Virginia starred alongside Lisa, Jo Jordan, Danielle Meagher and Roz Flanagan in the fly-on-the-wall reality TV series Dublin Wives.

Devastating news  Tributes paid following death of former model and TV star Lisa Murphy

Fellow Dublin Wives co-star Danielle told the Sunday World she is still shocked at Lisas death.

I would love to be able to fly home for it, but Im stuck with work commitments in California, including being down to the last three for a new position on the Real Housewives of LA, she explains.

Danielle, who used to be a Botox doctor in Dublin and earned the nickname Dr Botox as a result, now works as a comedian and actress in Los Angeles.

Danielle has also become a social media star on Tik Tok with her comedy sketches.

Lisa was loyal and calming and such a lady, she told us.

She was a class act. She had magnificent etiquette and manners. She was beautifully spoken and gracious.

Lisa was very much a big sister and she would say stop it, youre bold and yet she would not judge or encourage nor discourage the mischief.

She adds: Id be filming in ripped jeans, and Lisa was always in a beautiful dress and heels. She was an icon and national treasure, and doesnt need to be defined by any man.

Lisa, who owned a beauty salon in her later years, was engaged initially to Michael Flatley during the 1990s and was later engaged to Gerald Kean, with whom she enjoyed a 10-year relationship until they parted ways in 2016.

Her funeral is also likely to be attended by many of her celebrity and socialite friends.

Her death notice on RIP.ie read as follows: Lisa late of Ballinteer, passed away peacefully on the 1st of February 2024 after bravely fighting a long illness. Beloved daughter of Des and Eileen and loving sister of Noel, Kira and the late Paul.

Lisa will be sadly missed by her heartbroken parents, brother, sister, her cherished nieces Sophia, Alanna, Megan and nephews Charlie, Josh and Louis, brother-in-law Gavin, sister-in-law Shiona, her aunties, uncles, cousins and all extended family, and her wide circle of friends.

Lisas family would like to offer their sincere gratitude to all the staff at St Vincents Hospital for all their care and support over the years especially all the staff in the Oncology Department.
Western Bay Museum is inviting the community to commemorate Waitangi Day in fine fashion this year with funding from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage.

Our diverse community is coming together to commemorate this special agreement between Maori and Crown, says Pou Matauranga Maori, Hone Winder Murray.

We will share what Te Tiriti means from an array of cultures and ages. It is a day of togetherness, unity and commemoration.

At 6.30am on the museum forecourt for the Flag Ceremony where the Tino Rangatiratanga National Maori flag and the flag of Aotearoa will be raised and honoured.

The National Anthem will be played by the Tongan Brass Band.

Attendees will then move to the marque and seating area where a service will be held. An array of speakers have been asked to share what Te Tiriti and The Treaty mean to them today.

The Tongan Band will be playing as a free barbecue breakfast will be served.

There will be two free movies showing at The Arts Junction Theatre, intended for those who are part of this festive occasion and ultimately the power of unity  a showing of Whina at 9am and a showing of Boy at 12 noon.

People can pick up their free movie tickets from The Arts Junction, Katikati. For more information, phone Paula Gaelic on: 027 440 1005.
After the 2022 Waitangi Day event was cancelled due to Covid-19, and following the devastation caused by weather events last year, the Royal New Zealand Navy is looking forward to once again playing a full and active role at commemorations in the Bay of Islands in 2024.

Every year on February 6, New Zealanders and visitors gather at Waitangi to mark the 1840 signing of Aotearoa New Zealands founding document - Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi.

The RNZN is invited annually by the people of Te Tai Tokerau to attend Waitangi Day and perform a range of ceremonial duties.

Representing the RNZN this year will be Chief of Navy Rear Admiral David Proctor and Deputy Chief of Navy Commodore Andrew Brown, along with a large number of Navy personnel.

Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro is escorted onto the Waitangi Treat Grounds in 2023 by Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Proctor.

Attending Waitangi Day is the ceremonial highlight of the year for our Navy and always an absolute privilege to be part of, says Rear Admiral Proctor.

Our relationship with the people of Te Tai Tokerau is long-standing and built on mutual trust and respect.

This day is a taonga for our nation and were grateful we can once again share it with the people of this region, other Kiwis and visitors alike.

This year the RNZNs dive, hydrographic and salvage vessel HMNZS Manawanui will be anchored off Waitangi from Sunday, February 4, to Tuesday, February 6.

On Monday, February 5, the ship will be taking to sea 20 senior secondary students from high schools throughout Te Tai Tokerau, giving them an idea of what a career in the Navy could look like.

RNZN involvement in the annual commemorations will include the RNZN Band performing at the Village Green in Paihia on Sunday, February 4, with a Beat Retreat and Ceremonial Sunset Ceremony at the Treaty Ground flagpole on the evening of Monday, February 5.

A 100-person Royal Guard of Honour will conduct the ceremonial lowering of the New Zealand White Ensign, signifying the end of the day.

This will be reviewed by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO, Governor-General of New Zealand.

The New Zealand Defence Force Maori Cultural Group performs on the Treaty Grounds during the 2023 Waitangi Day commemorations.

At midday on Waitangi Day, Tuesday, February 6, HMNZS Manawanui will fire a 21-gun salute to observe the 184th Anniversary of the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The New Zealand Defence Force Maori Cultural Group will also give a series of performances on the Treaty Grounds.

From the outset, Waitangi Day commemorations have included naval involvement.

It was Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand Captain William Hobson, Royal Navy, who, along with Maori rangatira (chiefs), signed Te Tiriti on 6 February 1840 as an agreement between the British Crown and Maori.

Aside from the years interrupted by war, pandemic and weather events, the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy - and from 1941 the RNZN - have paraded at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.

In 1990, the RNZN was presented with a Charter recognising the strength of the relationship between the RNZN and the community in the region. The charter allows the RNZN to parade on Te Tai Tokerau land and on the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
Police urging care ahead of Waitangi Day travel amidst the disappointing number of road deaths to begin 2024.

Police is strongly urging all road users to consider their safety and of others when travelling, as many are expected to take the opportunity for a long Waitangi weekend.

Having sadly lost 34 lives on our roads over the month of January, Director of Road Policing, Superintendent Steve Greally is calling on all motorists to prioritise safety as a number of holidays and events approach.

The number of road deaths this past month has been disheartening and our thoughts remain with those families who have and are still coming to terms with the loss of a loved one.

Police are doing their best to prevent and protect people from road trauma, but we need drivers and riders to accept responsibility for their driving behaviours.

As Waitangi Day approaches, there are also many across New Zealand travelling to celebrating Lunar New Year, while thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts are expected to embark on Invercargill for the Burt Munro Challenge.

Superintendent Greally anticipates an increased number of motorists looking to capitalise on upcoming occasions, although road users can expect to see our patrols anywhere and at any time to deter everyone from any risky behaviours.

Staff across the country will have their respective operations in place, all with the intent keeping our road safe, and Police will be taking enforcement action where necessary  there are no excuses for any unsafe behaviours on our roads, he says.

We simply want everyone to drive with care, stay patient in the event there are roadworks along your journey, and keep alert on our roads.

Further advice for travellers includes planning for your journey.

NZTA Waka Kotahis Journey Planner is an online tool which provides travel time information and updates on any delays, roadworks, and road closures
A close-knit community in the central North Island is divided over an iwi bid to change its name.

The iwi collective Te Korowai o Wainuiarua wants National Park Village and National Park Railway Station renamed Waimarino, the original name of the station and - according to iwi researchers - the village.

But the 180 or so permanent residents are divided, some saying there was no evidence that Waimarino was the original name of the village.

Owhango-National Park Community Board chairman Anthony Gurr says he was fully behind the name change but there were strongly differing positions among residents.

"The community is somewhat split. I'd say 60-40 in favour, but there is a large proportion of people in the village who are against it."

Nga Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa New Zealand Geographic Board opened a three-month public consultation on the proposal in November. The consultation period ends on Thursday.

The chairperson of the National Park Village Business Association, lodge owner Andrea Messenger, said the proposal was a thorny issue for locals.

"It's a really, really tough subject. Everyone's got a personal opinion. We've got a group of people wanting to change the name to Waimarino even though our identity has been National Park Village for 100 years."

Andrea says business owners were concerned about the proposed change and the implications and costs of rebranding.

The proposal was being driven by "indigenous New Zealanders" who did not live there, as opposed to those who had "set up their lives in the community", she says.

"I don't think there's any right or wrong answer and we'll always be an amazing village that works really well together, no matter what we're called," says Andrea.

"A beautiful name": Residents Anthony and Alex Gurr support the name change for both the village and the station. Photo: LDR / Moana Ellis.

Te Korowai o Wainuiarua was established in 2014 to represent hapu affiliated to the three iwi Uenuku, Tamahaki and Tamakana in Treaty Settlement negotiations. In July it signed a $28.5m Treaty Settlement with the Crown which included cash, cultural redress and property.

Anthony anticipated the Treaty Settlement would bring significant change to the tourist village.

"Uenuku's just become one of the largest landholders in the village," says Anthony.

"While some of them do not live here, they will eventually be coming back home, right, because they've now got the land to build houses and to enable their community and mokopuna or tamariki to live here. They've got the opportunity to now come back and make this place vibrant."

Anthony's wife Alex said she was excited about the potential name change.

"Waimarino is such a beautiful name it seems a shame not to use it. It was the original name for this area and it got changed for a silly reason."

Waimarino - meaning calm waters - was the name of the railway station from 1908 until 1926 when it was renamed National Park Station by NZ Railways following complaints that mail destined for Raetihi, in Waimarino County, was going missing.

'Waimarino Township' or 'Town of Waimarino' has been used on cadastral maps since 1910. Cadastral maps record property information such as location and land area, and the Geographic Board said the names were a legal appellation and not a populated place name.

"Legal appellations do not change even if the populated place name does (whether officially by the Board or in popular use)," the Geographic Board says. "Most of the parcels in National Park remain to this day 'Town of Waimarino'."

In their proposal, iwi researchers said Waimarino Pa was located on the site of today's National Park Village, and that Waimarino was the historic and traditional name for the village.

But long-term resident Murray Wilson believes there is no historical basis for the claim.

"It's our precious baby": Long-term residents Jenny and Murray Wilson. Photo: LDR / Moana Ellis.

The former lodge owner, who served nine years as a Ruapehu councillor and is a Community Board member, says although the village was built on part of the vast Waimarino Block surveyed in the late 1800s, the village itself was never called Waimarino.

"The name Waimarino derives from the survey block called the Waimarino Block. The name Waimarino may have been used by people travelling to Waimarino Station and by default to the area, but there was never a populated place named Waimarino where we are today.

"It was the railway station that was named Waimarino and the first inhabitants here were the station master and the station master's assistant."

A Geographic Board report on the proposal, released under the Official Information Act, says early maps and survey plans name Waimarino for the plains, the stream and the land block. The report says there was no evidence in the name-change proposal that a pa existed on the site of the contemporary National Park Village.

"Some plans name a Waimarino village and pa approximately 3.8km south of the current National Park at Waikune. The pa name is correctly Ngatokoerua and it's unclear if 'Waimarino' is colloquial, i.e. 'the village at Waimarino Plains'."

The Geographic Board report says today's National Park Village was surveyed and sections opened for sale in 1910.

"If there was also an original settlement at the location of the current National Park, there's no information in the proposal material or otherwise noted from old maps and plans and other documentary records," the report says.

Wilson's wife Jenny, a former Community Board member, says they have lived in the village for 33 years.

"A lot of hard work's gone into building this village as you see it today. It's kind of our precious baby that we've taken great care of to grow it into an adult. I think it's time for us to start gathering our historical facts so people are aware of our history and so we can tell our story."

"An opportunity for a fresh start": Volunteer fire fighter and lodge owner Louis van Wyk. The fire brigade's truck has recognised both names for years. Photo: LDR / Moana Ellis.

Louis van Wyk, senior firefighter at National Park Volunteer Fire Brigade and owner-operator of Tongariro Crossing Lodge in National Park Village, believes reinstating the name Waimarino would be a positive move.

"I believe it's the right thing to do. It's the historic name, it's the original name and records show that.

"National Park has always been a very odd and at times confusing name for people. People see the sign National Park and think they're in the National Park or that we're not even an actual village.

"It's an opportunity for a fresh start and a fresh direction, especially with Uenuku coming in and making their presence felt, and wanting to do things in the area."

Te Korowai o Wainuiarua chair Aiden Gilbert confirmed that the name of the historic pa referred to as Waimarino Pa on some maps was known by iwi as Ngatokoerua, and was situated several kilometres south of today's National Park Village.

"Waimarino Block is where it was. We know that the whole area was Maori land and all part of the Waimarino Block."

"The whole area was Maori land": Te Korowai o Wainuiarua chair Aiden Gilbert. Photo: LDR / Moana Ellis.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Francisco Grinan Malaga Sunday, 4 February 2024 | Updated 05/02/2024 18:54h. Compartir Copiar enlace

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Choose any TV streaming platform  Netflix, HBO, Disney, Movistar, Filmin, Orange, Prime Video, SkyShowtime  and you will find more than one series filmed in Malaga. The province, which includes the Costa del Sol, has been all the rage since the platforms have become the big producers of television series and films.

Last year's data for Malaga city corroborates this as it saw an investment of 18.6 million euros in filming, of which most, 14 million came from series production. The Malaga Film Office (MFO) has been instrumental in this golden age of production  2023 is the second best year ever  and it highlights the value of Malagas locations with the prominent settings of the Malaga city hall and the former Cruz de Humilladero prison.

El Ayuntamiento convertido en un hotel de la Costa Azul para el rodaje de 'Los Farad'. Francis Silva

These are the jewels from the sets in Malaga city that, in recent years, have multiplied their appearance on the screen, as is the case in the Los Farad series, released last year and which turned the splendid city hall building into a luxurious Monaco hotel. The prison has featured in a string of hits, including the Holocaust-era We Were the Lucky Ones (Disney) and Urban: Life is Ours (Prime).

The old prison has seen the filming and arrival of dozens of productions since 2013, although the paradox is that the city can lose this great asset if it is not preserved in the municipal property rehabilitation project. For this year we have already received three requests to shoot in the prison, said the MFO coordinator, Belen Carirector, Juan Antonio Vigar.

Vigor said: The series, due to the dynamism they have in production, have become the engine of the entire audiovisual sector at the Spanish level and in Malaga. Vigar also spoke at the presentation of other highly-sought after city filming locations, such as the city centre andardin Botanico-Historico La Concepcion, where films have been shot since the 1940s with classics from Spanish cinema such as La Mies es Mucha (The Harvest is Great).

Filmacion de 'Devocion' en la antigua carcel de Cruz de Humilladero. SUR

This year has started with the filming of the sequel to the series based on the novel, La Chica de la Nieve, by Javier Castillo that was number one in the world, Snow Girl 2: The Soul Game (Netflix). The figures for 2023 show that there was an investment of 18.6 million euros, the second best in the last two decades and only behind the historic year 2019 when there was an investment of 23 million euros.

Vigar said: We are experiencing a rapid recovery and we are in figures that are getting closer to what we had in 2019. The director of the Malaga Film Office highlighted the increase of almost 31% of productions last year compared to 2022.

The series that invested the most in 2023 were international titles like Kaos (Netflix), We Were the Lucky Ones (Hulu / Disney) and 'Rivals' (Disney), in addition to the national titles Marbella (Movistar, which opens in April); Machos Alfa (which arrives in February on Netflix) and Urban: Life is Ours (Prime Video).

Broken down by types of recordings, advertising appears at the forefront (including corporate videos, video clips and still photos) with 101 productions, followed by TV and online programmes, with 52, and short films, with 45. By country, Spain is once again the one that produced the most in Malaga with 229 productions, followed by the United Kingdom with 10 and Germany with 8.

Vigar, who is also director of the city councils Malaga Procultura, said: The economic injection not only benefits the city, but also the province by hiring professionals and companies from the audiovisual industry. He added that in the MFOs 22 years of existence it has generated a global investment in Malaga of 130 million euros.
Chus Heredia Malaga Sunday, 4 February 2024, 08:57 Compartir Copiar enlace

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The conversion of the Bobadilla-Ronda-Algeciras train line into a high-performance railway to meet the exacting standards demanded by todays freight traffic is moving apace as the Spanish government is preparing the compulsory purchase of 230 properties in advance of upgrade works, which will also benefit passenger traffic.

The works will see huge improvements to the important freight corridor which runs between the Port of Algeciras and the new 'Puerto Seco' (dry port) in Antequera, and onwards to the rest of Spain and Europe.

The latest land to be expropriated for the renovation of 43 kilometres of track between Bobadilla and Ronda are in the Malaga province municipalities of Canete La Real where 83 properties are to be snapped up by the state, Ronda (91), Campillos (5), Teba (8), Almargen (29) and the 14 in Setenil de las Bodegas (Cadiz province).

The compulsory purchases in question relate to the railway route between kilometres 26 and 69. The work plans to incorporate a third rail, so that the track can be used by Iberian and conventional gauge trains. Between kilometres 0 to 20 and 20 and 26 there are still environmental procedures, SUR has learned. All the information, affected farms and characteristics, was published in the Official Gazette of the Province (BOP) on Monday 29 January.

45-million-euro contract

The works will be awarded in the near future to Acciona, with an execution period of 19 months and a cost of 45 million euros. As well as the electrification of the line, the works will increase its gauge so that trains can carry containers, cutting the expensive on-road lorry journeys between Algeciras and Zaragoza.

The project in general can be summarised in three areas: electrification, installation of the third rail and expansion of the sidings (with extra works in stations).

The renovation of the trackbed between Bobadilla-Ronda joins the work already under way on this section of the line: the installation of a GSM-R mobile telecommunications system and the automatic lock, a system that guarantees the safety distance between trains, which has already been implemented on the line between Ronda and Algeciras.

Recently Adif also contracted the modernisation of the signalling between Ronda and Algeciras with the implementation in this section of the protection system for the digital ASFA train, fixed telecommunications, fixed and LED signalling and power system upgrade.

The entire Bobadilla-Ronda-Algeciras route covers 176 kilometres and all the works have received European funding through the FEDER initiative. Around 70% of those planned have been completed with a spend of 331 million euros out of a total of 472 million euros.
Miren Elizondo Sunday, 4 February 2024, 08:03 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Spain will soon start financing glasses and contact lenses so that they are free for those who need them. This announcement was made by the minister of Health, Monica Garcia, in a congressional committee. Her promise is that within this legislature, glasses and contact lenses will be free for certain groups, as they will be financed by the Social Security system.

The idea is to set up a mechanism similar to that for dental care, which "will also be extended", according to Garcia. The details still have to be developed and will be communicated within the Health Commission.

The aim is to incorporate "optical health" into the common portfolio of social security benefits, something that is common in some European Union countries, such as France and Germany. France even has a plan to renew glasses free of charge every two years at a price limited by the state and valid for everyone over the age of 16.

In Germany, glasses and contact lenses are free for children under 18 and also for adults who have a visual impairment that is qualified as "severe". In the UK there are vouchers to pay for these items for children and students and also for citizens on low incomes.

In Spain, 70% of the population wears glasses or contact lenses, according to data from the White Paper on Vision, so this measure could affect a maximum of 30 million people depending on which model the government chooses for this funding. Furthermore, one in three teenagers is short-sighted and their vision is worsening year by year, according to a recent report by Vision y Vida, Mapfre and Correos, based on thousands of specific questionnaires and ophthalmological examinations of children between the ages of 12 and 18.
The difference with this app is that it uses AI (artificial intelligence) to monitor the images [the teenager] consumers, the texts they read and what they write, psychologist Alicia Gonzalez, an influencer with a half million followers, says on Instagram in a video paid for by Bosco, a parental control app. But you dont have access to all their communications and internet history, youre only going to receive an alarm if they receive offensive messages or see images with inappropriate content, she adds.

Bosco promises to send a nightly report with a summary of kids online activity, but without parents seeing the content. What the app sees and does with that data is another matter. EL PAIS asked Gonzalez if she took this factor into account when she agreed to the collaboration with Bosco, but did not receive a response before the publication of this article. A standard fee for a promotional video like the one she made, given her number of followers, can be around $5,400, although this number can vary.

Parental control apps allow remote monitoring of what is happening on a teenagers cell phone. There are all kinds, more or less intrusive, both in their regard for minors privacy and that of their data. Millions of parents around the world use these applications. Experts believe that their usefulness decreases as kids get older, and that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. But right now, with authorities taking action against minors use of the internet, they are a resource that is growing in popularity. We are seeing more offerings when it comes to these apps because there is a greater demand in the market, driven by the fact that cell phones are being used earlier, and in more diverse ways, says Jorge Flores, founder of the organization Pantallas Amigas (Friendly Screens), which promotes a healthy use of technology.

The variety in these apps is huge. There are certainly a lot of parental control apps being developed to help keep kids safe online. The concern is over how they are designed and sold, says Karla Badillo-Uquiola, a professor at the University of Notre Dame.

The most popular program is Googles Family Link, which, for example, allows the programming of schedules of permitted use and hands the controls to parents when it comes to which apps kids can download. There are details that make it less of an invasion, Flores says. The kid receives information about their own screen time: Today I spent three hours on Instagram, lets see if I can lower that. Some scheduling can help to manage, even prioritize, screen time. An automatic system that reduces screen time, even if you know your parents are behind it, helps to reduce daily clashes, which can wear down communication in a relationship, he says.

Spying on minors

But a range of control options means that there are tools that come close to spying  without their consent  on minors. In response, teenagers have developed a range of methods and alternatives to evade such surveillance, from creating parallel account, using uncontrolled browsers or speaking in code. Young peoples savvy when it comes to circumventing digital monitoring can be impressive. One parent describes how his son overcame Family Link surveillance in an App Store review: I was able to verify that by using the Duolingo app, my son was able to open a Chrome browser, without any control, logging into his Facebook account, they say.

These methods dont really contribute to the development of resilience and skills among kids and families  Jun Zhao, University of Oxford

Today, our primary objective is limiting mobile phone usage among adolescents. But experts agree that focusing on control is not a good long-term solution. The market trend of focusing on solutions that are based on control and monitoring has proven to be of little use when it comes to guaranteeing kids online security, and doesnt help them to learn about risks, warns Jun Zhao, senior researcher in the department of computer science at the University of Oxford. These methods dont really contribute to the development of resilience and skills among kids and families, she adds.

Families sometimes try to achieve via parental control a thing that parents themselves are unable to practice: reasonable cell phone usage. Minors see that that their parents controlling method of preference is restrictive, based on orders, and that they themselves are not providing a good example, says Beatriz Feijoo, professor at the International University of La Rioja (UNIR). The first people who should be reflecting on their use of cell phones and social media are the adults, including the example we are setting for kids. The most appropriate mediation technique is active, which can be much more complex. Installing apps is short-term, which active mediation has a more long-term perspective, because it encourages work at a critical and ethical level, and requires a lot of inter-connection with kids.

No miracles, but lots of mess

Without such agreement, problems can multiply, and not only between family members. These are sensitive issues, with highly complex ethical implications. Spying without consent is not the way to go, says Flores. It doesnt build trust. I came across the case of a mother who, by spying on her daughter, had discovered a critical situation for one of her daughters friends. She was getting into big problems, and the mother was faced with the dilemma of keeping quiet and taking on that guilt, or intervening and telling on her. I told her, it was her problem. This is not technology, its a different kind of dilemma.

Using apps, coupled with regular familial communication, works better than simply decreeing screen time limits  Tiffany Ge Wang, University of Oxford

There are parents who think that AI apps can work miracles: Does [BoscoApp] know how to tell when teens are speaking in code to try to trick it? a mother asks Gonzalez on Instagram. Hmmmm, it can probably tell sometimes, Gonzalez responds, optimistically.

Artificial intelligence can do more and more things, but in the realm of parental control apps, it can be a problem. AI is seen as a potential solution to detecting risks on the internet, says Badillo-Urquiola. Many of these apps use AI to detect inappropriate language or images, but the inaccuracy and bias of these algorithms can be harmful. The concern is that AI needs reams of data to train itself well, with its accuracy dependent on collecting intimate data from teens. At that point, the concern becomes who has access to that data and what they do with it.

Invasion of privacy

The invasion of their privacy can mean that young people become the victims of data-collecting platforms. It is important to keep in mind that the vast majority of apps seek to generate profit by collecting user data in order to show them personalized ads, says Alvaro Feal, a researcher at Bostons Northeastern University and co-author of a study on the privacy policies of 46 parental control apps, which have collectively been downloaded more than 20 million times. Therefore, the use of these apps, which by definition need to have access to a large amount of personal data, carries risks. In our study, we found that the majority (72%) of the apps we analyzed shared data with third-party companies. Fewer apps (11%) sent unencrypted data. In some cases, this data can be as sensitive as the childs location, he says.

It is a curious contradiction that parents looking to protect their children from the evils of the internet end up making them more vulnerable. Some parental control apps are merely a channel to obtaining information from minors and future consumers: When children are connected, whether its through their mobile phones, tablets or voice assistants, their data is constantly being collected, analyzed and processed by many companies. This allows these companies to send them personalized game promotions or ads. People dont realize how data is handled across all platforms, allowing these digital companies to have a much more complete picture of our children than we could even imagine. This knowledge is often abused in order to prolong the time children spend online, and to expose them to less appropriate content, says Zhao.

Children are becoming increasingly aware of the use of their data by these companies, according to scientists at the University of Oxford. Our research has shown that children in the UK, from the age of 10, are already starting to take control of their data, and are even showing signs of something like data activism, demanding more transparency and access. This demand for autonomy over their data is even stronger in the older kids we have worked with, says researcher Tiffany Ge Wang.

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Montague, N.Y. -- A 33-year-old man died early Saturday morning in a snowmobile crash in Lewis County, troopers said.

The man killed in the crash was Richard M. Mangiardi Jr., of Pittsfield, MA.
At 8:54 p.m. on February 3, 2023, William Hugar was at his home just outside of East Palestine, Ohio, doing what he loves most: watching videos on YouTube. He heard a very loud noise, but continued doing his thing. His years as a waiter in a very stressful bar taught him to behave like a master of calm in the middle of chaos. Only the insistent sound of sirens made him go out into the street. That was when he learned that, a few feet from his backyard, a train loaded with toxic substances had derailed. He also quickly learned that nothing would ever be the same in the town of 4,700 inhabitants on the border with Pennsylvania. One year later, residents are still divided between those who want to turn the page and those who are still looking for answers.

A year later, theres still noise outside of Hugars house. Its made by the cleaning crews, who are paid by Norfolk Southern Railway, the company responsible for the accident. The workers are on the job 24 hours a day, seven days a week to clean up a huge portion of contaminated land. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 177,000 tons of solid waste and 166 million tons of wastewater have been removed. There are people who have left town, Hugar tells EL PAIS. Would I have followed them if I had the money? Its possible. Will I get cancer in a few years as a result of [staying]? Theres no way of knowing.

On the frigid night of the derailment, Zsuzsia Gyenes followed authorities orders to stay at her home, located about a mile from ground zero. At around 3 a.m., she smelled a penetrating chemical smell, like a nail salon. Soon, she recalls, her nine-year-old son became violently ill.

We only knew that there had been an accident not that the train was loaded with those substances, she explained this past Friday in a phone interview. Even though she wasnt in the area where evacuation orders were immediately given, Gyenes took her child, who suffers from asthma, and went to a hotel only with what she was wearing. A year and several hotel changes later, they live in Pennsylvania, an hours drive away from East Palestine. They still havent returned home.

William Hugar, a resident of the area where the train derailed. I. SEISDEDOS

In the 38 cars of the convoy of 150 (almost two miles long) that left the track after one of them caught fire due to a bearing becoming overheated, carcinogenic chemicals and combustible materials were being transported. One of these substances was vinyl chloride, which is used to manufacture PVC. It appeared two months later in a urine test taken by Gyenes son. There were also substances that, in the past, were used in the manufacturing of chemical weapons, such as phosgene. This was one of the products that was released into the air, soil and surface waters with the controlled burn that the authorities decided to carry out to avoid even worse effects on the following Monday after the crash.

That controversial measure is still under scrutiny. According to those who criticize the management of the disaster and who belong to an organization called the Unity Council, the decision was taken in haste. Norfolk Southern also hid the complete list of what the train was transporting for too long, despite the fact that protocol considers it essential that the emergency services immediately have all the information about what theyre facing.

Gyenes says that, in the past 12 months, her son has had periodic rashes and other health issues that have affected his education. She hasnt been able to work: whenever she sets foot in East Palestine, the smell of that night makes her dizzy and nauseated. She has had to throw away almost all of her furniture and souvenirs, because the plague doesnt go away, no matter how much she washes things. She also says that Norfolk Southern told her that on February 9, 2024, they would turn off the tap on the aid they provide her. However, calls from reporters to verify that information led to an extension.

For her, its obvious that the company downplayed the harmful effects of the derailment and that the spill caused mixtures of substances whose effects havent been properly studied. As for the local doctors  who, she recalls, were instructed in a public Webinar not to subject their patients to toxicology tests because they werent necessary  she believes they simply dont know how to help. I need a permanent solution.

East Palestine is one of those forgotten places in the United States where nothing ever happens until, suddenly, it does and a legion of reporters come to turn everything upside down. In the town, several residents and business owners told a very different story from what Gyenes told EL PAIS. The most common feeling was the desire to turn the page. The EPA continues to reassure the public that the levels of toxicity in the water and air are normal, although officials have also warned residents that it may take years or even decades before knowing the real consequences of what happened that day. Meanwhile, the Ohio Department of Health is preparing a new study on the symptoms experienced by residents in the area.

A controlled burn of the substances that were being carried by the train, on February 6, 2023. Gene J. Puskar (AP)

An older man, accompanied by his wife, who is using a respirator, tells EL PAIS that he doesnt know of any sick people, but he does know of people who claimed to be sick. In front of a sign that declares We are East Palestine: prepare for the greatest recovery in the history of the United States, another resident blames the media for always looking for the same bearers of bad news and not the people who have overcome the accident. A third resident affirms that he has never felt as safe as he does now and that theres great scrutiny over the water we use.

Keep in mind, he adds, this was always a polluted place: just outside [the town], theres a stream called the sulfur stream. And Kat Smith, who opened a gem store on Main Street three months after the derailment, says that, in her opinion, the town is pretty polarized about the best way to confront collective trauma.

The mayoral elections held last November may have helped a bit. Trent Conaway obtained 792 votes, which allowed him to win another term, compared to 605 votes for his rival, Misti Allison. Back in March, she testified before the U.S. Senate about the dangers of releasing petrochemicals into playgrounds, schools, ballparks and towns across the country. On Saturday, Conaway returned to the national media spotlight for the anniversary of the train derailment but also because he endorsed Donald Trump for president. Trump visited East Palestine just days after the disaster. Residents are still waiting for President Joe Biden, who announced that he will finally come in February. That absence has had consequences. In this town, hes not a very well-liked person, explains Chad Edwards, who holds a non-political position as city manager.

My neighbors are in a state of denial, because theyve gone through trauma. They fear the truth  I dont blame them for it, Gyenes sighs. They accuse us of scaring people, but this is a horror story. She also believes that their spirit is influenced by the fact that the railway has showered East Palestine with over $1.1 billion dollars: $836 million in costs related to the environment and $381 million in legal aid and community assistance. Alan Shaw, CEO of the Atlanta-based railroad giant, spoke to the local press in January: I want a response from Norfolk Southern [so] that we can look back five years from now, 10 years from now [and] we can be proud. The company doesnt seem to have been greatly affected by the derailment and explosion: its stock market value has fallen by a negligible 0.4% and stands at $56.6 billion.

The generosity of the company has meant that in this story of two cities, Don Elzer, owner of a plant nursery that only had one client on Valentines Day in 2023, less than two weeks after the accident, is aiming for the best year ever. I think Norfolk Southern was right to pay up quickly rather than embark on endless lawsuits and end up having to [pay] in a few years, he affirms. His business has recovered to 80%. He remembers that one of the residents biggest fears during the weeks following the crash  apart from health concerns  was that the price of their homes would fall, due to the image that the town was projecting to the world that (for once) had turned to look at them. But real estate reports indicate that the market remains stable. One of the reasons for this is that hundreds of government and railroad workers have moved to East Palestine for the clean-up.

Don Elzer, owner of a nursery in East Palestine (Ohio), pictured last Wednesday in one of the greenhouses. I. SEISDEDOS

Despite this positive data, last Wednesday, city manager Chad Edwards confirmed that the idea of commemorating the anniversary had been discarded. It didnt seem like a cause for celebration, he explained. One group that called for an evening of testimonies and a ritual of remembrance was the Unity Council, which represents those who Elzer defines as the angry ones. They remember that, one year ago, a chemical bomb exploded over the town and for miles all around.

Among the groups objectives is to ensure that the derailment serves to change something in the petrochemical industry and in the regulation of enormous freight trains that connect a vast country. At the moment, theyre not having much success. After the accident, legislators from both parties pushed a law to prevent something like this from happening again. Not only did this legislation never get passed (thanks to the tenacious work of lobbyists in Washington), but the number of accidents recorded in the first 10 months of 2023 by the five large freight railroad companies increased by 11% (although Norfolk Southern, which reduced the number of accidents, isnt one of them).

It is estimated that an average of three trains leave the tracks on any given day in the United States. Many of these accidents dont have major consequences. Others, however, can derail the life of a town forever.

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Re: The Indian Navy - Combat Fleet Quote: shortbread Originally Posted by



https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/shap...oogle_vignette On the topic of the UK navy, there's news going around that the UK is looking to retire early their Albion class amphibious ships due to staff and budget shortages. These ships have atleast 10-15 years of life in them. Considering the Indian Navy is looking to plug its amphibious capability, wont these ships be an ideal stop gap measure. Among the three forces the Indian navy has been the most pragmatic, I hope they look into the possibilities.



Coming back to the Brits, think I saw rumour that one of their frigates or similar such surface combatants are also on the chopping block early due to fiscal and manning constraints. Losing the amphibs will make the Royal Marines redundant in their foundational role unless they pad out any USMC Task Group because who are we kidding, when is the UK going to stage any amphibious operation by itself? Their diminished but rationalised posture Should be policing the North Sea against Russian incursion/misadventure and alleviating NATO workload in the Mediterranean, that's it. It's a hard pill to take clearly for the older members of the admiralty. This reminds me of when the RN flogged it's erstwhile LPD, HMS Ocean to the Brazilians. That was another capability I'm sure we've had stuck in a tender for yonks now. If the Brits are serious about culling these amphibs then I don't see why not in terms of making a bid for them. The Tories are pretty much on the way out and they're selling the family jewellery so might as well capitalise. That being said I feel there's a reticence towards any second hand kit from our side, even if it's fairly low mileage capital ships. I can't see them changing hands to India, fortuitous though it may be to get a pair of them too! I'm sure they'd fit right in, in terms of the whole Andamans scope of operations.Coming back to the Brits, think I saw rumour that one of their frigates or similar such surface combatants are also on the chopping block early due to fiscal and manning constraints. Losing the amphibs will make the Royal Marines redundant in their foundational role unless they pad out any USMC Task Group because who are we kidding, when is the UK going to stage any amphibious operation by itself? Their diminished but rationalised posture Should be policing the North Sea against Russian incursion/misadventure and alleviating NATO workload in the Mediterranean, that's it. It's a hard pill to take clearly for the older members of the admiralty.
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re: Ola CEO: Our scooters lifespan is double that of petrol scooters Quote: anjan_c2007 Originally Posted by The Ola Electric CEO Bhavish Aggrawal is again in the news- now says Ola scooters have double the lifespan as compared to petrol scooters. He has also announced his new 8-year/ 80,000 kms warranty package.



While addressing concerns about electric vehicle longevity, Aggarwal assured that Ola scooters would outlast internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, with double the lifespan. Ola scooters will last twice the life of ICE vehicles, the CEO said.



Going by the CEO's statement, the Ola scooters of today (2024) need to survive till 2144 AD to fully justify his utterance or assurance - that's 120 years, after taking the particular case of my 60 plus year old Lambretta, which will live on and on.



The way one interprets things makes a lot of difference, The average lifespan of a petrol scooter in terms of kilometers covered is what is assumed here (60,000 km) and OLA promises upto 125,000 km (if you go for the additional km on the warranty package by paying 12,999 + GST), so in this sense, he is correct, moreover the average user doesn't hold on to a scooter for 8 years.



I feel this battery warranty provides great assurance to many prospective e-scooter buyers as the battery is the major cost component of these scooters and being assured for 8 years makes a world of difference (as compared to other players offering 3 years standard and just upto 5 years extended warranties). For example, the cost of a 4kwh battery from Ola is Rs.87,298/- and when comparing that to the costs of the OLA S1 4kwh of Rs.1,09,999/-, It is a substantial 79% of the total costs. as for the 3kwh battery, it costs Rs,66,549 and an Ola S1X 3kwh costs Rs.89,999/-, almost 74% of the total cost. However, These costs are in today's terms but battery technology is fast improving and these costs are likely to fall in the future, but still, the assurance has a great role to play here. The way one interprets things makes a lot of difference, The average lifespan of a petrol scooter in terms of kilometers covered is what is assumed here (60,000 km) and OLA promises upto 125,000 km (if you go for the additional km on the warranty package by paying 12,999 + GST), so in this sense, he is correct, moreover the average user doesn't hold on to a scooter for 8 years.I feel this battery warranty provides great assurance to many prospective e-scooter buyers as the battery is the major cost component of these scooters and being assured for 8 years makes a world of difference (as compared to other players offering 3 years standard and just upto 5 years extended warranties). For example, the cost of a 4kwh battery from Ola is Rs.87,298/- and when comparing that to the costs of the OLA S1 4kwh of Rs.1,09,999/-, It is a substantial 79% of the total costs. as for the 3kwh battery, it costs Rs,66,549 and an Ola S1X 3kwh costs Rs.89,999/-, almost 74% of the total cost. However, These costs are in today's terms but battery technology is fast improving and these costs are likely to fall in the future, but still, the assurance has a great role to play here. Last edited by bijims : 3rd February 2024 at 18:18 .
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Re: Emigrating to a Foreign Land! Quote: poloman Originally Posted by .



We may be the only country in the world where promising youngsters take their life due to exam pressure?



Personally, I dont think it is the exam as such. It is their environment that piles on the pressure e.g. parents, family, friends, society at large. Research shows that in many cases parents are, by far, the most influential factor.



To some extent it is understandable, parents want their kids to succeed and do better than they did. In quite a number of societies studying, getting the best possible degree is a way up in the social ladder and financial succes. In societies where parents rely on their kids to support them in old age, this is likely to be amplified.



Never the less, these suicides do show a very dark side of this approach.



I dont think you can see these sort of suicides separate from cultural aspects. The most important aspect of parenting, my opinion is ensuring your kids can be independent and live a happy life without you. That doesnt necessarily mean getting the best/ highest degree possible.



Losing a child through suicide most be one of the most awful things that can happen to any parent. I imagine no matter what the circumstances, it will always be devastating. My youngest sister, Annemarie, took her own life, whilst studying at the age of 20. She had multiple mental issues. Even so. Few saw it coming. It left my parents absolutely devastated. I was away from home, in the merchant navy. I did not hear about it after the funeral. My company did repatriate me at the first available instance. There is absolutely nothing you can do. Everybody blames themselves. Rightly or wrongly.



Even so, I still think you need to encourage your kids to see as much of the world as they possibly can. Raising kids is about protecting them from mishaps, but also allowing them to experience and explore the world at large by themselves. You never ever will get any real world experience staying under the wings of your parents. Not at 18 years of age, or at 30.



Jeroen Unfortunately that is not the case. China is worse I believe. Finland and Korea are pretty bad too. But in just about any country there will be cases where young folks kill themselves due to exam pressure.Personally, I dont think it is the exam as such. It is their environment that piles on the pressure e.g. parents, family, friends, society at large. Research shows that in many cases parents are, by far, the most influential factor.To some extent it is understandable, parents want their kids to succeed and do better than they did. In quite a number of societies studying, getting the best possible degree is a way up in the social ladder and financial succes. In societies where parents rely on their kids to support them in old age, this is likely to be amplified.Never the less, these suicides do show a very dark side of this approach.I dont think you can see these sort of suicides separate from cultural aspects. The most important aspect of parenting, my opinion is ensuring your kids can be independent and live a happy life without you. That doesnt necessarily mean getting the best/ highest degree possible.Losing a child through suicide most be one of the most awful things that can happen to any parent. I imagine no matter what the circumstances, it will always be devastating. My youngest sister, Annemarie, took her own life, whilst studying at the age of 20. She had multiple mental issues. Even so. Few saw it coming. It left my parents absolutely devastated. I was away from home, in the merchant navy. I did not hear about it after the funeral. My company did repatriate me at the first available instance. There is absolutely nothing you can do. Everybody blames themselves. Rightly or wrongly.Even so, I still think you need to encourage your kids to see as much of the world as they possibly can. Raising kids is about protecting them from mishaps, but also allowing them to experience and explore the world at large by themselves. You never ever will get any real world experience staying under the wings of your parents. Not at 18 years of age, or at 30.Jeroen Last edited by Jeroen : 4th February 2024 at 02:01 .
KYODO NEWS - Feb 4, 2024 - 20:42 | All, Japan, World

The Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military named China as a hypothetical enemy for the first time in their joint command post exercise, government sources said Sunday, amid rising concerns over a potential invasion of Taiwan by Beijing in the future.

The computer simulation exercise, which began on Feb. 1 and is slated to be held through Thursday, envisions an emergency in Taiwan. A provisional name was previously used when referring to an enemy.

Japan's Defense Ministry is believed to have classified the scenario as a specially designated secret under the country's secrecy law.

The move reflects a heightened sense of urgency as concerns grow that China could act on Taiwan in several years amid increasing geopolitical tensions.

U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns said in February last year that Chinese President Xi Jinping had instructed his country's military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027.

The United States and Japan have multiple joint operation plans envisioning emergencies, with a draft regarding Taiwan completed at the end of last year.

The results of the current "Keen Edge" exercise will be reflected in the final plans to be compiled by the end of this year, while troops are expected to perform a live-action demonstration of the "Keen Sword" drill around 2025 to verify its efficacy.

The countries had previously utilized maps that slightly differed from the topography of actual countries to avoid backlash in the event the plans were leaked, although the current exercise utilized unaltered versions.

Japan and the United States began conducting joint drills in 1986, with the two countries holding "Keen Edge" and "Keen Sword" exercises roughly every other year.

Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, chief of the Japanese Defense Ministry's Joint Staff, said at a press conference on Jan. 25 that the exercise "did not envision a particular country or region."

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Arun_V Newbie

Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3 Thanked: 136 Times

Re: Yet another jetta owner struggling to upgrade! What Car?



The car was handed over to Code6 in the last week of September. The restoration process was done in 4 parts.



1. Tinkering and Bodyworks

2. Repainting process

3. Upgrades

4. Remapping



The step 1 didn't go as per schedule after they found a considerable amount of rust inside the right side running board. We decided not to take a chance and replaced the running board on both sides. The sourcing however, was a completely different story. It took us around 2 weeks to get the perfect set of running boards from a connect in Mumbai.



Into the step 2, and we were busy figuring out the right shade. I wanted to stick to white and the paint shop guys at Code6 put together a wonderful shade of Pearl white mixed with gold and blue.



Once the painting was completed and the car was put back together, we decided on the following upgrades:



1. Custom headlights with Hello projector lamps

2. Audi styled smoked tail lamps

3. New front/ rear bumpers

4. GLI kit minus the side skirts, spoiler and the "GLI" badging

5. Bilstein B4's with Eibach lowering springs

6. New Benson windsheild

7. 17 inch Lenso Jager Dyna alloys with Pirelli's P Zero 225 45 17

8. Amaron battery

9. Swapped infotainment system with RCD 360

10. Custom straight pipe exhaust



The remap was done on the delivery date by Sajan and team. Overall, a very professionally managed restoration and i would like to call out Sarath, Hamraz, Babu, Nisanth, Kalyan and Sajan for their excellent work!



Sharing a few pics here.













Quote: Arun_V Originally Posted by I am in the exact same situation right now.



I drive a White 2012 VW Jetta MK6 TDI Highline. It has done around 130K kms and has gifted me some memorable drives across the country (and in a pretty good condition). So, when I got this idea of an upgrade earlier this year; it left me completely confused.



The 2 options that I have:



Option 1: Replace the car. Checked the following options.



a. Used Skoda Superb 2018/2019 (not really a fan as it felt more like a car for the chauffeur driven folks)

b. Used BMW 530D from Delhi (Would love this option if I get a well-maintained machine. There is an added cost of re-registering the car in Bangalore though.)

c. A friend suggested I try the new XUV 700. While the interiors feel v premium with tons of features (compared to the Jetta); the drive feels no where close.

d. VW Virtus : Felt like a downgrade and the build quality is nothing to write home about.

e. Used Skoda Octavia (2018/19): This could work. Add to it a stage 2 remap and its a convincing pitch.



Option 2: Restore my current car



These are the upgrades that I have in mind.



a. Complete repainting (sticking to white, but a glossier shade)

b. New Audi inspired headlights and tail lamps.

c. GLI body kit

d. New wind shield/ car door rubber readings etc

e. 18-inch alloys with Bilsteins

f. ICE upgrade to RCD340g from the current 510.

g. Stage 2 remap

h. Change the interiors to all black from the current beige complete with new PU leather carpets.



The idea of giving a new lease of life to the Jetta really appeals to me, but everyone that I spoke to thinks otherwise as its 11 years old and there could be a ban on 10+ years old diesel vehicles in the metros in 2-3 years.



So, that brings me to the million-dollar question. Which option do I go with? So i figured out the answer for my dilemma. I went ahead and restored my 2012 Jetta MK6 TDI AT. After discussing with 3 well known garages in Bangalore, i decided to go ahead with Code6 Bangalore (Carmed).The car was handed over to Code6 in the last week of September. The restoration process was done in 4 parts.1. Tinkering and Bodyworks2. Repainting process3. Upgrades4. RemappingThe step 1 didn't go as per schedule after they found a considerable amount of rust inside the right side running board. We decided not to take a chance and replaced the running board on both sides. The sourcing however, was a completely different story. It took us around 2 weeks to get the perfect set of running boards from a connect in Mumbai.Into the step 2, and we were busy figuring out the right shade. I wanted to stick to white and the paint shop guys at Code6 put together a wonderful shade of Pearl white mixed with gold and blue.Once the painting was completed and the car was put back together, we decided on the following upgrades:1. Custom headlights with Hello projector lamps2. Audi styled smoked tail lamps3. New front/ rear bumpers4. GLI kit minus the side skirts, spoiler and the "GLI" badging5. Bilstein B4's with Eibach lowering springs6. New Benson windsheild7. 17 inch Lenso Jager Dyna alloys with Pirelli's P Zero 225 45 178. Amaron battery9. Swapped infotainment system with RCD 36010. Custom straight pipe exhaustThe remap was done on the delivery date by Sajan and team. Overall, a very professionally managed restoration and i would like to call out Sarath, Hamraz, Babu, Nisanth, Kalyan and Sajan for their excellent work!Sharing a few pics here. Attached Thumbnails




















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TL;DR: Spotify has inked a fresh multi-year partnership with Joe Rogan, the podcaster whose blockbuster show will soon expand its reach to other platforms like YouTube and Apple Podcasts. The deal is a gamble for Spotify, as it risks alienating some of its users and advertisers who disagree with Rogan's views and content. But the platform seems confident that Rogan's loyal fan base and massive reach will pay off.

"The Joe Rogan Experience" has been exclusive to Spotify since 2020 under a lucrative multimillion-dollar deal. But the new contract is even more eye-popping, with the Wall Street Journal estimating it could be worth as much as $250 million over its multi-year term.

The WSJ report says that the agreement includes a hefty upfront guarantee for Rogan as well as a revenue-sharing model based on ad sales. It allows Spotify to handle ad distribution for the wildly popular podcast while broadening its availability to competing platforms.

The prospect of Rogan's loyal fanbase generating more streams and ad dollars for the Swedish audio platform drove Spotify's stock up around 2% on Friday.

Rogan himself took to Spotify's blog to celebrate the partnership renewal. "The conversations have changed the way I think about life immeasurably," he gushed, highlighting the freeform, long-form nature of the interviews as "a kind of mental nourishment."

The Joe Rogan Experience has over 2,200 episodes so far, covering an eclectic range of guests from comedians to conspiracy theorists. And while it's consistently been a top draw for Spotify, it's also courted major controversy along the way.

Most notably, pressure mounted in 2022 for the platform to drop Rogan over his anti-vaccine stance which produced claims ranging from mRNA vaccines being a form of "gene therapy" and that healthy young people simply don't need Covid-19 vaccines. Artists like Neil Young pulled their music in protest, but Spotify stood firm, simply adding "content advisories" to flagged episodes.

Around the same time, people dug up older episodes where Rogan was recorded using racial slurs in various contexts. Spotify chose to scrub these archival instalments off the platform.

Even so, his most talked-about interviews continue to pull in millions of monthly listeners despite the periodic firestorms. It seems Spotify is willing to weather backlash to keep Rogan's massive yet divisive platform in their stable.
KYODO NEWS - Feb 4, 2024 - 11:04 | All, Japan

Factions within Japan's Liberal Democratic Party have been financially struggling since the LDP stopped offering donations to them in 2010, their balance reports showed, apparently prodding them to rely on fundraising events to procure money.

As the LDP, headed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, has decided to ban its intraparty groups from holding fundraising parties as part of efforts to reform its faction-oriented politics, their financial situations are set to deteriorate further, political experts said.

The ruling party has come under intense scrutiny amid allegations that some of its factions failed to report part of revenue from fundraising parties and accumulated hundreds of millions of yen in slush funds to reimburse their members.

With criticism of the LDP growing, the party has promised to move away from factions as vehicles for securing funds and allocating key government and party posts for lawmakers. But it has allowed them to continue as "policy groups."

Kishida has decided to disband the fourth-biggest faction that he led until December and some other groups have followed suit. On the other hand, former Prime Minister Taro Aso and Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi have voiced willingness to maintain their groups.

The income of the factions within the LDP has stayed low after the party, which has been in power for most of the period since 1955, refrained from providing them with donations.

In 2010, the revenue of the largest faction formerly headed by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, stood at 160 million yen ($1 million) excluding carryover, down from 480 million yen in the previous year, its political funds reports showed.

The income of Kishida's group decreased from 360 million yen in 2009 to 150 million yen the following year, while that of the Motegi faction dropped to 80 million yen from 320 million yen during the same period, according to their reports.

Meanwhile, the proportion of fundraising party revenue in their finances has remained high for more than a decade since 2010, with that of the Kishida faction up sharply from a year earlier to 72 percent from 48 percent in 2009.

The LDP leadership has been cautious about resuming donations to its factions, as political parties, except for the Japanese Communist Party, have received subsidies from the national coffers. The LDP obtained around 16 billion yen in 2023 alone.

Rank-and-file members of the LDP's factions have long been frustrated with the insufficient financial support from their groups.

A lawmaker from the Abe faction said its members had sales quotas for faction party tickets and they were required to make donations to the group, claiming that there is "hardly any financial benefit" to be part of it.

The LDP has urged factions to abolish their tradition of providing their members with contributions. Another lawmaker who belongs to the group led by former Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai said the new rule seems to be convenient for money-strapped factions.

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Xi inspects troops stationed in Tianjin, extends festival greetings to all servicemen

Xinhua) 08:08, February 04, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), delivers an important speech in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 2, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

TIANJIN, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday inspected troops stationed in north China's Tianjin Municipality ahead of the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), extended festive greetings to service personnel of the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force, civilian personnel posted in the military, and members of militia and reserve forces, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC.

On Friday morning, Xi met with representatives of the Tianjin garrison command and posed for group photos with them.

Xi said that troops stationed in Tianjin have resolutely implemented the decisions and instructions of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC over the past year, made concrete advancement in various areas of work and excelled in completing major tasks.

Commending the troops' performance in supporting Tianjin in its flood relief efforts, Xi said their contributions have been significant to the protection of people's lives and property.

For the new year, Xi urged the full implementation of the Party's thinking on strengthening the military and military strategy for the new era, and efforts to achieve the goals set for the centenary of the People's Liberation Army in 2027.

Xi also stressed that as the 2024 Spring Festival approaches, the country's armed forces should strengthen combat readiness, safeguard national security, and maintain social stability to ensure people have a joyful and peaceful Spring Festival.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), meets with representatives of troops stationed in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 2, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
U.S.-British warplanes hit Yemen's Houthi camps

Xinhua) 13:59, February 04, 2024

SANAA, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Houthi camps in Yemen's capital Sanaa were hit by airstrikes on Saturday night, residents told Xinhua.

The airstrikes hit camps around Sanaa, and the sound of many fighter jets could be heard in downtown Sanaa, residents said.

The explosions occurred in the northern and southern mountains surrounding the capital, added the residents.

According to the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, the airstrikes hit the mountain of al-Nahdain and Attan, both military camps controlled by the Houthi group.

Residents near those mountains told Xinhua the explosions were very powerful, shaking the ground and smashing windows of many nearby buildings.

Meanwhile, al-Masirah TV said "U.S.-British aggression" launched airstrikes on targets in the capital city.

The U.S.-British maritime coalition did not comment on the strikes. However, U.S. media quoted unnamed U.S. military officials who said the U.S. army hit over 30 Houthis on Saturday in various locations in Yemen, including the capital Sanaa. The officials claimed the airstrikes were part of the response to the drone attack that killed three U.S. soldiers in Jordan last week.

This was the fourth operation by the U.S.-led coalition against Houthi targets in under 24 hours.

Hours before the latest airstrikes on Sanaa, the U.S. Central Command briefed on previous strikes on the same day on social media platform X, saying that "at 7:20 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces conducted strikes in self-defense against six Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea."

"U.S. forces identified the cruise missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region," it added.

The Houthi group on Saturday evening reported several strikes on the western province of Hodeidah on the Red Sea.

The group said the strikes targeted sites in the northern district of Alluheyah and the southern district of Durayhimi.

The Houthis usually do not report casualties.

The previous strikes targeted Houthi sites in the northern province of Saada and the northwestern province of Hajjah during the early morning of Saturday.

On Friday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for launching a long-range missile toward Israel's city of Eilat, which Israeli defense forces said they intercepted and destroyed the missile before it reached its target.

The Houthis have launched more than 40 attacks against Israel and Israeli-linked commercial ships in the Red Sea since the Israel-Hamas war broke out on Oct. 7, 2023.

The Houthis said their attacks came in support of the Palestinian people, demanding Israel to end war and siege on Gaza.

The Houthi group, which controls the Yemeni strategic province of Hodeidah on the Red Sea, has vowed to launch more attacks against Israel, U.S. and British commercial vessels and navy ships in the Red Sea.

Houthi leaders have said the U.S.-British airstrikes on the group's sites in northern Yemen will not deter them from launching more attacks on the shipping lines.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
KYODO NEWS - Feb 4, 2024 - 14:17 | Arts, All, Japan, Travel/Tourism

The annual Sapporo Snow Festival opened in the capital of Hokkaido on Sunday without any novel coronavirus-related restrictions for the first time in four years.

The 74th festival, one of the country's biggest winter events, is being held at three venues in the city through Feb. 11, with about 190 snow and ice sculptures including some created by local residents.

The main venue, Odori Park in the center of the city, features a 12-meter-tall snow sculpture featuring characters from the popular Golden Kamuy anime series that depicts the Ainu indigenous ethnic group of northern Japan. Food stands have returned at this year's festival following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.

"I'm coming to see this for the first time in four years. The sculptures are overwhelming not just because of their sheer size but their intricately carved details," said Sana Tsukamoto, 26, visiting from Kyoto.

The event attracted over 2 million people every year before the coronavirus pandemic, which forced organizers to hold the festival virtually in 2021 and 2022. It was held on a reduced scale last year.

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 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

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Energy transition: The experts say so, the Court of Auditors says so

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Guangxi's 15 cultural tourism projects plan to attract investment in Guangdong with a total investment of more than 80.7 billion yuan

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Without unnecessary risks: the ruble has risen in price on the Moscow Exchange following the results of the presidential elections in Russia

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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.

War in Sudan: community kitchens to help each other during Ramadan

 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

The Spanish Society of Allergology predicts an intense Spring for those allergic to grass pollen in the center and southwest of the peninsula

The "egg-beating" trend brings new opportunities to the traditional poker industry in small towns in Zhejiang

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

Defeat in the FA Cup: Klopp breaks off interview  I have no nerves for you

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.

The PS5 finally sees its price drop thanks to this new offer

We completed the task and returned home successfully: the crews of Su-34 fighter-bombers hit the command post of the Ukrainian Armed Forces

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The head of the European Council, Michel, called for putting the EU economy on a war footing.

The father of the commander of "the sparrow", even involved in 'Delcygate': "If we find out what he's up to, we'll beat him up"

The new Galician Parliament is formed, with a majority of the PP and the first BNG-PSOE pact

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

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?

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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

The Police open an investigation in Andorra after the Investigative Team's report on OnlyFans: "If they are minors, the better"

The Spanish Society of Allergology predicts an intense Spring for those allergic to grass pollen in the center and southwest of the peninsula

The "egg-beating" trend brings new opportunities to the traditional poker industry in small towns in Zhejiang

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

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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.

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We completed the task and returned home successfully: the crews of Su-34 fighter-bombers hit the command post of the Ukrainian Armed Forces

Serukanov: the non-systemic opposition admitted the futility of attempts to disrupt the elections in Russia

The head of the European Council, Michel, called for putting the EU economy on a war footing.

The father of the commander of "the sparrow", even involved in 'Delcygate': "If we find out what he's up to, we'll beat him up"

The new Galician Parliament is formed, with a majority of the PP and the first BNG-PSOE pact

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

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?

War in Sudan: community kitchens to help each other during Ramadan

 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.
Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), speaks with residents in Xibaipo, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 3, 2024. Li made an inspection tour in north China's Hebei Province from Thursday to Saturday. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

SHIJIAZHUANG, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Li Xi, China's top anti-graft official, has urged further efforts to promote the high-quality development of discipline inspection and supervision work on the country's new journey.

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), made the remarks during an inspection tour in north China's Hebei Province from Thursday to Saturday.

Li said that a strong sense of responsibility and an enterprising spirit should be fostered to translate the guiding principles of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC CCDI into concrete action.

Political oversight should be strengthened to ensure that the CPC Central Committee's major decisions and plans are implemented faithfully. As the Spring Festival approaches, efforts should be made to improve Party conduct, enforce Party discipline and tackle violations of discipline rules rigorously during the holiday, Li said.

He also called for efforts to consolidate the achievements of education and rectification campaigns, as well as efforts to cultivate high-caliber personnel for discipline inspection and supervision work. 

Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), inspects the command center of an inter-city railway station in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 1, 2024. Li made an inspection tour in north China's Hebei Province from Thursday to Saturday. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)
Floods and landslides leave six dead in Philippines



Manila, Feb 1 (AFP) Feb 01, 2024



Floods and landslides triggered by torrential rain have killed six people in the Philippines, with one other person missing, rescuers said Thursday.

Rain began pounding wide areas of Mindanao, the country's second-largest island, last weekend, causing floods and landslides that officials said sent thousands fleeing to emergency shelters.

The hardest-hit areas were the mountainous municipality of Maragusan, which recorded 23 landslides since Sunday, and the adjacent town of New Bataan where more than 10,000 people were evacuated from flooded homes.

Three people were killed and a fourth was missing in the Maragusan landslides, its municipal disaster officer Romeo Tublag told AFP.

"Our town is surrounded by mountains so landslides are an ever-present threat. It's been raining almost daily here," Tublag said.

In New Bataan, a landslide killed a man while a woman was swept away and killed by floodwaters and another man electrocuted outside his flooded house, disaster official Aeona Armocilla told AFP.

Swollen rivers flooded three villages, forcing the evacuation of 10,100 residents, Armocilla said, adding that it was still raining in the area late Thursday.

Floods also hit the municipalities of Bunawan and Veruela in nearby Agusan del Sur province, with more than 5,000 people sheltering in evacuation centres, provincial disaster official Alexis Cabardo told AFP.
Nearly 60,000 killed in 2023 Turkey, Syria quake: new toll



Ankara, Feb 2 (AFP) Feb 02, 2024



Last year's massive earthquake in southeastern Turkey killed 53,537 people in the country, the interior minister said Friday, bringing the overall death toll to nearly 60,000.

The government in neighbouring Syria has said 1,414 people died in areas under its control in the predawn disaster on February 6, 2023.

Turkish-backed officials in northern Syria have put the toll in rebel-held regions at 4,537.

The combined official death toll of 59,488 people makes last year's quake the deadliest since 67,000 people died in Peru in 1970.

Turkey's previous official toll, released in the first weeks after the quake, put the number of deaths at 50,783 people.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya released the updated figures on the eve of the anniversary of the disaster, which affected 11 provinces across Turkey's southeast.

Yerlikaya said the quake affected 14 million people in Turkey.

Around 38,901 buildings were destroyed by the first 7.8-magnitude tremor and initial aftershocks, which included one with a 7.5-magnitude later that day.

Turkey has set up 215,224 metal containers to house 691,000 survivors who have lost their homes and been unable to find new accommodations on their own, Yerlikaya said.
UK judge dismisses Greta Thunberg protest case



London, Feb 2 (AFP) Feb 02, 2024



A London court threw out a public order case on Friday against climate activist Greta Thunberg and four other protesters, with the judge criticising "unlawful" conditions imposed by police when they were arrested.

District judge John Law dismissed the cases against the 21-year-old Swedish campaigner and the four other activists on the second day of their trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

He ruled that police deployed in the British capital in October at an environmental protest had attempted to impose "unlawful" conditions before officers arrested dozens of demonstrators.

Thunberg, a global figure in the fight against climate change, was among dozens held for disrupting access to the Energy Intelligence Forum, a major oil and gas conference attended by companies at a luxury hotel.

She had pleaded not guilty in November to breaching a public order law, alongside two protesters from the Fossil Free London (FFL) campaign group and two Greenpeace activists.

In his ruling, Law said the conditions imposed on the demonstrators were "so unclear that it is unlawful", which meant "anyone failing to comply were actually committing no offence".

Thunberg and the other defendants had faced a maximum fine of pound2,500 ($3,177) if convicted.

Her lawyer, Raj Chada, said the case against them had been "rightly dismissed", arguing that the police stipulations "disproportionately interfered with our client's rights to free speech".

He added: "The government should stop prosecuting peaceful protesters and instead find ways to tackle the climate crisis."



- 'Ridiculous' -



Christofer Kebbon, one of the other defendants from FFL, told reporters that the five "shouldn't be here in court".

He condemned "the climate criminals who are continuing their business as usual and destroying this planet".

Thunberg, who came to worldwide attention as a 15-year-old by staging school strikes in her native Sweden, regularly takes part in climate change-related demonstrations.

She was fined in October for blocking the port of Malmo in Sweden, a few months after police forcibly removed her during a demonstration against the use of coal in Germany.

She also joined a march last weekend in southern England to protest against the expansion of Farnborough airport, which is mainly used by private jets.

Demonstrators had greeted the October forum participants with cries of "shame on you!".

Some carried placards reading "Stop Rosebank", a reference to a controversial new North Sea oil field the British government authorised in September.

Police said officers had arrested Thunberg for failing to adhere to an order not to block the street where the rally was taking place.

Greenpeace UK campaigner Maja Darlington hailed Friday's verdict as "a victory for the right to protest".

She added: "It is ridiculous that more and more climate activists are finding themselves in court for peacefully exercising their right to protest, while fossil fuel giants like Shell are allowed to reap billions in profits from selling climate-wrecking fossil fuels."

jj/phz/gil
Ice and fire: Antarctic volcano may hold clues to life on Mars



Deception Island, Antarctica, Feb 2 (AFP) Feb 02, 2024



On Deception Island in Antarctica, steam rises from the beaches, and glaciers dot the black slopes of what is actually an active volcano -- a rare clash of ice and fire that provides clues to scientists about what life could look like on Mars.

The horseshoe-shaped isle in the South Shetland Islands is the only place in the world where ships can sail into the caldera of an active volcano.

In the waters here, some 420 kilometers (260 miles) from Chile's Port Williams, fish, krill, anemones and sea sponges survive, while unique species of lichen and moss grow on the surface in an ecosystem of extreme contrasts.

The island, uninhabited by people, is home to perhaps the world's largest colony of chinstrap penguins, seabirds, seals and sea lions.

The volcano has been active for thousands of years, with the most recent eruptions -- in 1967, 1969 and 1970 -- devastating British and Chilean bases and forcing the evacuation of an Argentine base.

Yet life always returns and thrives on an island where water temperatures in steam vents, or fumaroles, have been measured at around 70 degrees Celsius (158 degrees Fahrenheit), even as air temperatures can plummet to -28 degrees.

It is "similar to Mars because there what we have is a planet with (a past of) immense volcanic activity ... where currently there are very cold conditions," Spanish planetary geologist Miguel de Pablo told AFP.

"It is the best possible approximation that we can make to understand Mars without stepping on" that planet, added de Pablo.



- A rich history -



The analysis of rocks on Deception Island complements the work of engineers, scientists and astronomers who study Mars from afar.

In 2023, researchers with the US space agency NASA concluded that Mars once had a climate with cyclical seasons, conducive to the development of life, according to evidence found on the red planet by the Curiosity rover.

Scientists believe an immense volcanic eruption changed the planet's atmosphere and led to the appearance of oceans and rivers that later evaporated.

Even though temperatures on Mars are far lower now -- estimated by NASA at about -153 degrees Celsius -- "Antarctic conditions can help us understand if the conditions for the development of life could, or could have, existed on Mars," said de Pablo.

Another Mars rover, Perseverance, landed on the planet in February 2021 to look for signs of past microbial life.

The multitasking rover will collect 30 rock and soil samples in sealed tubes to be sent back to Earth sometime in the 2030s for lab analysis.

The South Shetlands are claimed by Britain, Chile and Argentina but are not administered by any one country. The 1959 Antarctic Treaty states they shall be used "for peaceful purposes" and guarantees "freedom of scientific investigation."

Deception Island, first visited by British sealers in 1820, has a rich history, with abandoned scientific bases and an old whaling station rusting in the icy air.

Wilson Andres Rios, a researcher and captain of a Colombian navy frigate conducting a scientific expedition in Antarctica, said the hunting of seals and whales from the island in the early 20th century was "indiscriminate."

In 1931, a Norwegian whaling station on the island closed when the price of whale oil slumped.

Then, in 1944, Britain established a base there as part of a secret wartime mission to occupy Antarctic territories.

After several evictions and eruptions, the island is now dedicated to scientific research.

And, under the scientists' wary eyes, thousands of tourists now arrive on cruises.

That phenomenon, said Natalia Jaramillo, scientific coordinator of the Colombian expedition, is "worryingly increasing."
Brazil's Lula, environmentalist... and oil champion



Sao Paulo, Feb 3 (AFP) Feb 03, 2024



President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has cast himself as a champion of the fight against climate change, but faces criticism from environmentalists for Brazil's booming oil production.

Since returning to office for a third term in January 2023, the veteran leftist has made solid progress on his pledge to end illegal deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, which fell by half last year compared to 2022.

But climate campaigners were outraged in December when, just as the COP28 UN climate talks were being held in Dubai, Brazil announced it would join the OPEC+ group of oil-producing countries.

The timing earned Brazil, the world's ninth-biggest crude producer, the "Fossil of the Day" award from the Climate Action Network, which said the country's leaders "appear to have mistaken oil production for climate leadership."

"Brazil can't be a climate leader and petro-state. The two things are incompatible," Suely Araujo, policy coordinator at environmental group the Climate Observatory, told AFP.



- Record oil production -



Lula came to office vowing "Brazil is back" in the climate fight after four years of surging destruction under far-right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022) in the Amazon, whose hundreds of billions of carbon-absorbing trees are a key buffer against global warming.

In keeping with that message, Brazil is due to host the 2025 edition of the UN climate talks in the Amazon city of Belem.

But even as the Lula government fought to protect the Amazon, Latin America's top oil producer also racked up several monthly crude output records last year -- most recently in November, when it produced nearly 3.7 million barrels a day.

The energy ministry hopes to hit 5.4 million barrels a day in 2029, which could make Brazil the world's fourth-biggest oil producer.

"The world should be thankful to Brazil for being a reliable supplier" of oil, the head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, said this week during a visit to the country.

Brazil provides about three percent of global crude supply, he said.

Lula has pushed to expand further, and even wants to explore for oil near the mouth of the Amazon river -- a plan opposed by environmentalists, including his own environment minister, Marina Silva.



- 'Looking to the past' -



Oil accounts for around 13 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in Latin America's biggest economy, according to economist Igor Barenboim.

Brazil exports about one-third of its oil output, which is "key to drive growth," Barenboim said.

Sales from oil and oil derivatives were $42.5 billion last year.

That money provides revenue for the state, including for Lula's cherished social programs.

Lula also argues oil money will be used to fund the transition to clean energy.

But "it's a mistake to want to generate revenue from (oil) exports, looking to the past and ignoring the severity of the climate crisis," said Araujo.

Enrico Marone, a spokesman for Greenpeace Brasil, said the country does not need any new oil.

"The oil fields currently in operation will provide enough resources to support the energy transition," he said.

Brazil currently relies on renewables for 47 percent of its energy mix, more than triple the world average of 15 percent, according to government figures.

mls/app/jhb/st
Quake trauma haunts children in Turkey's container city



Kahramanmaras, Turkey, Feb 3 (AFP) Feb 03, 2024



Cansu Gol lost her baby in the rubble of Turkey's massive earthquake a year ago. Now she spends her time trying to heal the mental scars of her two surviving children.

One suffers from trauma-related attention deficit disorder and the other from speech problems which emerged after last year's February 6 disaster in which 50,000 died across Turkey's southeast.

For the 33-year-old mother, the improvised schools in a container city near the quake's epicentre in the province of Kahramanmaras offer a glimmer of hope.

"My seven-year-old daughter was pulled out alive from the rubble hours after the earthquake. Now she is suffering from attention deficit disorder," Gol told AFP.

"She didn't cry or scream at all, instead storing all the stress inside," she said.

Her four-and-a-half-year-old son began to speak after joining a nursery set up in one of the containers housing hundreds of thousands of survivors of Turkey's deadliest disaster of modern times.

"He keeps asking about his brother (who died). He says he flew away like a bird," the mother said.



- Bouts of violence -



Teachers try to create an atmosphere of normality for the kids, each one of whom has lost homes, family and friends. All have varied levels of understanding what actually occurred.

A bust of post-Ottoman Turkey's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, stands in the courtyard, just as it would at any other school.

The 20-student classrooms are decorated with balloons, adding colour to a camp comprised of hundreds of identical white metal containers arranged in even rows.

Just a 10-minute walk away, empty spaces recall the apartment towers that stood in this Mediterranean city, once most famous for its ice cream.

"It is just as painful for the students as it is for the teachers," said the school's principal, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity because civil servants are barred from speaking to the media without authorisation.

"Many things evoke the quake: aftershocks, the month of February or simply the snowfall," which was heavy that fatal night, he said.

His school takes care of 850 children from diverse backgrounds.

They live in a container city housing 10,000 survivors, creating a tense atmosphere that breeds occasional bouts of violence.

"Cursing, offensive gestures, kicking -- things won't go well until these families are settled in apartments," he said.



- 'Ghost city' -



The principal said the state was doing its best, even housing teachers in the container cities so they can be near the kids.

"In which disaster is everything perfect?" he asked. "Life goes on."

But that life, said Sara Resitoglu, 24, is a constant struggle.

"There's no space. All our lives are in one room," the young mother sighed.

Elif Yavuz and her husband tried to rebuild their lives in the nearby city of Mersin, following the path taken by more than three million people who left immediately after the quake.

But like many others, the couple eventually moved back because their seven-year-old, who has heart problems, struggled to adapt.

"I resigned myself to returning and living in a container just so that she would not be upset," the mother said.

Her daughter was now doing well in school. Yavuz plans to buy her a new pair of shoes as a reward for another excellent report card.

Away from the container camp, Fatih Yilanci joined the multitudes who spend days scouring city ruins for scrap metal they can sell to feed their families.

His apartment was only lightly damaged, meaning that his family did not automatically qualify for a container home.

But his neighbourhood is gone, as are most of his friends, who died in the ruins.

"Kahramanmaras has turned into a ghost city," Yilanci said.
Death toll from Philippine landslides, floods rises to 14



Manila, Feb 3 (AFP) Feb 03, 2024



The death toll from landslides and floods triggered by torrential rain in the southern Philippines in the past week has risen to 14, official tallies showed Saturday.

Rain has pounded parts of Mindanao, the country's second-largest island, on and off for weeks and forced tens of thousands of people into emergency shelters.

At least 10 people died in recent days in the mountainous gold mining province of Davao de Oro as it endured relentless downpours.

"I haven't experienced that kind of heavy and continuous rain before," provincial information officer Fe Maestre told AFP.

Of the 10 deaths in Davao de Oro, three were recorded in New Bataan municipality and another four people were killed in landslides in Maragusan and Monkayo municipalities, disaster officials told AFP.

Another three people drowned in separate incidents in Pantukan and Maco municipalities in Davao de Oro.

In the neighbouring province of Davao del Norte, a landslide buried four people inside a house in Kapalong municipality, rescue officer Jaiasent Cabactulan told AFP.

Widespread flooding in the adjacent province of Agusan del Sur has inundated villages and crops.

Provincial disaster agency spokesman Alexis Cabardo told local radio on Saturday it could take five or six days for the floodwaters to recede as more flows down from Davao de Oro.

"We still have to be alert," he said.

The Philippines is ranked among the most vulnerable nations to the impacts of climate change.

Because a warmer atmosphere holds more water, climate change increases the risk and intensity of flooding from extreme rainfall.
Turkey commemorates its worst disaster of modern times



Istanbul, Feb 3 (AFP) Feb 03, 2024



Turkey on Tuesday holds pre-dawn vigils for the loss of more than 50,000 people -- and parts of entire cities -- in the earthquake-prone country's deadliest disaster of modern times.

Grieving Turks are still coming to terms with how a 7.8-magnitude tremor could upturn the lives of millions of people in a matter of seconds while they were still asleep.

An updated toll released Friday showed that 53,537 people had died across 11 southeaster provinces officially designated as the disaster zone.

The confirmed loss of 5,951 more lives in neighbouring Syria makes last year's February 6 earthquake one of the 10 deadliest in the world in the past 100 years.

Ancient cities such as Antakya have been effectively wiped off the map.

Others have gaping holes in place of apartment towers that toppled like houses of cards when the ground began to move at 4:17 am.

Shellshocked survivors stood outside in the freezing cold in their pyjamas and listened to those trapped under concrete slabs of debris scream in agonising pain.

"It's been a year, but it doesn't leave our minds," housewife Cagla Demirel told AFP in one of the container camps set up for hundreds of thousands of survivors in Antakya.

"Life has lost its spark," the 31-year-old said. "I have no family left to visit, no door to knock on, no pleasant place to be. Nothing remains."



- 'Can you hear us?' -



Antakya's remaining residents plan to gather on Tuesday at 4:17 am for a vigil that will see everyone cry out: "Can you hear us?"

The call became ubiquitous across the disaster zone as people searched for loved ones in the rubble.

But it also appears to be a nuanced reminder for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government that many in the quake zone feel left behind.

Analysts at the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV) point out that the disaster struck an area already weighted down by unemployment and underinvestment.

"Some districts in the region have the highest poverty rate in Turkey," TEPAV said in a report.

Erdogan pushed back hard against complaints that government rescuers were unprepared and slow to respond.

He has branded the quake "the catastrophe of the century" that no nation could have averted or quickly overcome.

He crisscrossed the nation in the first weeks of the disaster and promised to deliver 650,000 new housing units within a year.



- 'No return to normal' -



He began to hand out keys in Antakya on Saturday for the first 7,000 apartments of the 46,000 ready to be delivered across the quake zone this month.

He said up to 20,000 units would be delivered monthly and 200,000 by the end of the year -- short of his initial promise but still impressive for a region hit by post-quake chaos.

"Of course, we cannot bring back the lives we lost, but we can compensate all the other losses," Erdogan told Antakya residents on Saturday.

"We made promises to do so."

But Erdogan's words offer little solace to people such as ice cream vendor Kadir Yeniceli.

The 70-year-old native of Kahramanmaras -- a hard-hit city where Erdogan's Islamic-rooted party enjoys overwhelming support -- said people feel "confused" about what happens next.

"There has been no return to normal," Yeniceli told AFP. "It remains the same, there is no progress. There is a lack of employment, there is a lack of money, there is a lack of income."



- 'Much to be done' -



Erdogan's housing pledges came in the runup to a May 2023 general election that turned into the toughest of his two-decade rule.

He prevailed in a runoff presidential ballot thanks to consistent support across much of the disaster zone.

Many voters expressed a lack of trust in the opposition and thought Erdogan's government was doing the best anyone could do under the circumstances.

But many voters and analysts point out that Turkey is no better prepared for another big shake than it was one year ago.

The country straddles two of the world's most active fault lines and is rattled almost daily by more minor quakes.

And hundreds of contractors are currently facing prosecution for allegedly skirting the building safety standards already in place.

"The country urgently needs to transition from crisis management to risk management," said Istanbul Technical University disaster management professor Mikdat Kadioglu.

"There is still much to be done."
Dutch climate protest ends with 1,000 arrests



The Hague, Feb 3 (AFP) Feb 03, 2024



The Dutch police said Saturday that they arrested 1,000 people at a civil disobedience action by the environmental group Extinction Rebellion to protest the country's fossil fuel subsidies.

The protesters had blocked around midday the A12 highway in the centre of The Hague, close to parliament and several key ministries.

Police moved in after about 45 minutes, announcing on X that they made about a thousand arrests for violating laws on public demonstrations.

Traffic soon resumed on the highway, and police later told Dutch media that no charges would be brought.

It was the ninth similar action in The Hague since July 2022.

The Dutch parliament at the time asked the government to come up with a plan to progressively eliminate subsidies to fossil fuel industries, estimated at 39.7 billion to 46.4 billion euros ($44 billion to $51 billion).

The plan was never presented, and the Netherlands has been without a working government ever since the party of far-right leader Geert Wilders won the most votes in last November's elections but has been unable to form a coalition.
Biden aims for South Carolina landslide to boost 2024 hopes



Charleston, United States, Feb 3 (AFP) Feb 03, 2024



US President Joe Biden looked set for an easy win Saturday in the Democratic primary in South Carolina, but there were signs of low turnout in this key test of support among Black voters for his reelection bid.

The southern US state launched Biden's road to the White House in 2020, and he is seeking some of the same magic four years later for a boost ahead of a likely rematch with Republican Donald Trump.

Voters were slow to arrive at a number of polling booths visited by AFP in the historic city of Charleston, with many people apparently viewing Biden's victory in South Carolina as a foregone conclusion.

"Who are the other two people on the ballot? I didn't even look," joked retiree Jane Douglas, 69, as she left a voting station at an elementary school in Charleston.

The 81-year-old incumbent has only two long-shot challengers in the poll: Minnesota congressman and gelato magnate Dean Phillips, and best-selling self-help author Marianne Williamson.

Several voters said Biden's record as president was mostly satisfactory, while admitting there was a lack of enthusiasm for his second term bid -- but that they did not want to see Trump win.

"It's the lesser of two evils," said Noelle Paris, 63. "Biden, let's just say I'm not against him, but there were other people who should have been put in the position of being the nominee."



- 'Feeling good' -



Biden has made a string of campaign visits to South Carolina but is staying away on Saturday, the day after US retaliatory strikes hit Iran-linked targets in Syria and Iraq following the deaths of three US troops in Jordan.

"I am feeling good about where we are. I really am," Biden said during a visit to his campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, alongside Vice President Kamala Harris.

"The guy we're running against, he's not for anything. He's against everything."

Biden has made it clear he views South Carolina as a proving ground for his ability to woo the Black voters who played such a large role in getting him to the Oval Office in 2020.

A number of recent polls have shown support for Biden slipping among Black voters, especially youth, amid frustration that he has not addressed their priorities despite them backing him four years ago.

But other polls recently have showed him edging ahead of Trump or neck-and-neck, even if his personal approval ratings remain at low levels not seen by a sitting president for decades.

Biden also pointed to his victory in an unofficial primary in New Hampshire, despite the fact that he was not on the ballot and voters had to write him in.

Biden pushed for South Carolina to be at the front of the Democratic primary this year, above New Hampshire, whose population is almost entirely white.



- 'Counting on you' -



Turnout will be closely watched in South Carolina, particularly among Black voters -- and if they stay away then Democrats will need to worry.

One polling station visited by AFP had received less than 100 people by noon 1700 GMT), five hours after the polls opened. Another in a large gymnasium was empty some three hours after opening.

Despite South Carolina being likely to remain in Republican hands in November, as it has done since 1980, Biden regards it as a proving ground for his support among Black voters.

Democrats have made major campaigning efforts, with Biden visiting twice this year, including to a Charleston church where a racist gunman killed nine parishioners in 2015.

On Friday, Harris urged supporters to come out and vote in a fired-up speech at a historically Black university.

"South Carolina, you are the first primary in the nation and President Biden and I are counting on you," she the first Black and female vice president in US history told the rally in Orangeburg, South Carolina.

The Republican primary on February 24 promises to be more dramatic than the Democratic, with Trump trying to deal a knock-out blow to former South Carolina governor and UN ambassador Nikki Haley on her home turf.
A man holds the reins of a bull during a bovine beauty pageant in Yangon, Myanmar, Feb. 4, 2024.

The third Myanmar bovine beauty pageant was held to mark the 77th anniversary of the Union Day in Yangon, according to the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department on Saturday.

The two-day competition was held under four categories including Myanmar native cattle, beef cattle, dairy cattle and goats, Min Nyunt Oo, deputy head of the department, told Xinhua. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

YANGON, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- The third Myanmar bovine beauty pageant was held to mark the 77th anniversary of the Union Day in Yangon, according to the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department on Saturday.

The two-day competition was held under four categories including Myanmar native cattle, beef cattle, dairy cattle and goats, Min Nyunt Oo, deputy head of the department, told Xinhua.

A total of 106 various cattle and 38 goats were on display at this year's competition, he said.

The aim of holding the competition is to educate the public about livestock breeding, to obtain high quality Myanmar native cattle and goats, and to expand network among breeders, he said.

The competition helps in the production of quality cattle and increases farmers' knowledge of livestock farming, he said.

In addition, breeders will be able to exchange breeding experiences through the competition, he said. 

A man holds the reins of a bull during a bovine beauty pageant in Yangon, Myanmar, Feb. 4, 2024.

The third Myanmar bovine beauty pageant was held to mark the 77th anniversary of the Union Day in Yangon, according to the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department on Saturday.

The two-day competition was held under four categories including Myanmar native cattle, beef cattle, dairy cattle and goats, Min Nyunt Oo, deputy head of the department, told Xinhua. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)
Australia to set fuel efficiency standards after decades of debate



Sydney, Feb 4 (AFP) Feb 04, 2024



Australia unveiled plans on Sunday to set mandatory fuel efficiency standards, matching long-existing rules in other advanced economies in a bid to get high-polluting gas guzzlers off the road.

Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen said a "New Vehicle Efficiency Standard" would be introduced by 2025, ending decades of footdragging and debate about the policy.

"The United States has had a similar policy in place for fifty years," Bowen said. "Australia still stands alongside Russia as one of the only advanced economies without the Standard."

"This is costing families and businesses thousands of dollars at the petrol pump," he said.

Australia currently has no mandatory fuel efficiency standards for new vehicles.

In a 2022 study, the Australia Institute think tank suggested that the lack of an efficiency standard was costing the country billions of dollars on fuel, and meant vehicles were 30 percent more polluting than vehicles in the United States.

Advocates have blamed climate-sceptic governments, as well as lobbying from oil refiners and car dealerships for repeatedly scuppering reforms.

"By giving Australians better choice of cleaner, cheaper-to-run cars, a strong fuel efficiency standard will cut household costs and clean up our air," said Amanda McKenzie, chief executive of the Australian environmental lobby group the Climate Council.

They hope the new fuel standard will make petrol vehicles more efficient but also catalyse slow sales of electric vehicles.

According to International Energy Agency data, 33,000 electric vehicles were sold in Australia in 2022. That compares to 73,000 in the Netherlands, which has about eight million fewer people.

Australia also has a few thousand electric car charging points, a small fraction of the number in the United States or Europe.

Opponents have alleged the reforms will make it more difficult for Australians to buy large 4x4s or "Utes" that are needed on farms -- threatening a way of life in the country's rugged Outback.

Australia is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of gas and coal, two key fossil fuels that are blamed for global heating.

The incumbent centre-left government has vowed to cut carbon emissions by 43 percent before 2030, when compared to 2005 levels.
FUZHOU, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin has urged efforts to advance the high-quality development of work for women and children during her inspection tour in east China's Fujian Province.

From Friday to Saturday, Shen inspected local service centers for women and children in the provincial capital city of Fuzhou and visited rural areas and urban communities to learn about relevant work.

Shen, also president of the All-China Women's Federation, called for efforts to ensure the Party's leadership over the work of women's federations, focus on the most practical and tangible matters for women and their families, and promote gender equality and all-around development of women and children.

Shen also underlined the need to improve the work of women's federations, thus delivering more effective results at the primary level. 
Krewe of Tucumcari rocks out at 76th annual ball and tableau on Saturday
U.S. President Joe Biden is pictured at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, Jan. 22, 2024.

Multiple U.S. media organizations on Saturday night projected President Joe Biden has won the 2024 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary, the first official primary for the party. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Multiple U.S. media organizations on Saturday night projected President Joe Biden has won the 2024 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary, the first official primary for the party.

The Associated Press, NBC News and others made the projection less than half an hour after the polls were closed.

Biden's easy victory follows his support for an unprecedented decision by the Democratic National Committee to prioritize South Carolina as the initial voting state over New Hampshire in the presidential primary.

Biden resurrected his 2020 presidential campaign after a strong primary performance in South Carolina, where African American voters play an outsized role in Democratic politics. That victory set him on the path to the Democratic nomination and the White House.

The president's campaign had dedicated significant resources to boosting voter turnout for Biden, seeking to mobilize Black voters, who are crucial to the Democratic vote in South Carolina.

Biden, who entered the South Carolina contest as the overwhelming front-runner, defeated the other long-shot Democrats on South Carolina's ballot, including U.S. Representative Dean Phillips and author Marianne Williamson.

According to a vote tally by CNN, Biden has secured 96.8 percent of the votes already counted, while Williamson and Phillips received 1.8 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively.

A combined 55 delegates were in play in South Carolina, and they will be distributed proportionally according to the results. To secure the Democratic nomination, a candidate must accumulate close to 2,000 delegates in total.

According to a recent Emerson College Polling survey, the economy is the "most important issue" facing South Carolina, at 40 percent, followed by immigration, education, threats to democracy, healthcare, crime, housing affordability, and abortion access.

"In 2020, it was the voters of South Carolina who proved the pundits wrong, breathed new life into our campaign, and set us on the path to winning the Presidency," Biden said on X, formerly Twitter.

"Now in 2024, the people of South Carolina have spoken again and I have no doubt that you have set us on the path to winning the Presidency again -- and making Donald Trump a loser again," he said.

Republicans kicked off their voting season with the Iowa caucus in January, followed by the primary in New Hampshire. Former U.S. President Donald Trump won both contests, leaving Nikki Haley, the former United Nations ambassador and onetime South Carolina governor, as his lone challenger in the GOP race.

The U.S. presidential primaries will last through June. The Republican National Convention, in which delegates will officially select the party's presidential nominee, will be held in July, while the Democratic National Convention will take place in August. The 2024 Election Day falls on Nov. 5. 

U.S. President Joe Biden is pictured at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, Jan. 22, 2024.

Multiple U.S. media organizations on Saturday night projected President Joe Biden has won the 2024 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary, the first official primary for the party. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)
The sign in Jessica Hemingway's office in the Bossier Chamber of Commerce tells the story: "Plain Dealing, Louisiana: The Only Town with the Golden Rule Name."

"It really does tell the story of Plain Dealing," the chamber's vice president said.

In a way, the sign answers the question posed by reader Megan Smith, who asks, "How did Plain Dealing get its name?"

The Alexandria resident remembers passing a sign pointing to the town while traveling through Bossier Parish. She's been curious about the name ever since.

As indicated by the Chamber of Commerce's sign, the town's name is based on honesty and integrity.

"As the story goes, Plain Dealing originally got its name from Plain Dealing Plantation, which was settled in 1839 by George Gilmer," Hemingway said. "A newspaper article in this area said the name Plain Dealing is typical of the character of the owner of the plantation. And really, the people of the town felt the name was also typical of the character of the people who lived there. So, the name stuck obviously. And I would say, in general, it's a sentiment that has carried over."
Louisiana Inspired

A scholar of American religion explains how a new phenomenon of Jesus images on TikTok is tapping into the prosperity gospel, a Christian belief that God will reward faith with this-worldly comforts.
Hundreds of pilots working for a Qantas subsidiary could strike over stalled wage negotiations and cause flight disruptions and cancellations for regional travellers and FIFO workers.

The Australian Federation of Air Pilots has given notice to Qantas Group that its members working for Network Aviation and QantasLink in Western Australia have voted to stop work on Thursday for 24 hours.

Network Aviation, which is wholly owned by Qantas, is WAs premier charter company for the mining industry. Credit: Wolter Peeters

The pilot group has been negotiating an enterprise agreement with Qantas to replace their previous pay deal, which expired in 2020.

Senior industrial officer Chris Aikens said the union had tried to reach an agreement with Qantas management, but the company remains unwilling to revisit its inflexible wages policy.

A spokeswoman for Network Aviation said the company was disappointed with the decision but was working on plans to minimise disruption to our customers.

The airline, which is wholly owned by Qantas, is WAs premier charter company for the mining industry and also employs local pilots for the carriers regional arm QantasLink.

AAP
Including Roberts-Smiths own costs, the total costs of the litigation are estimated at more than $30 million. This excludes the costs of the appeal. Should Roberts-Smith win the appeal, Stokes company will no longer be on the hook for the newspapers costs. Besankos findings that Roberts-Smith committed war crimes while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012 were made to the civil standard  on the balance of probabilities  rather than the higher criminal standard of beyond reasonable doubt. Bret Walker SC is acting for Ben Roberts-Smith in his defamation appeal. Credit: AAP Presumption of innocence But his lawyers, led by top appeal advocate Walker, say in a notice of appeal filed in court that Roberts-Smith was entitled to the presumption of innocence and argue Besanko failed to properly take into account matters including the gravity of the allegations when he made his findings.

The so-called Briginshaw principle applies in civil cases involving serious allegations and requires courts to proceed cautiously in making grave findings. Walker has appeared in a number of high-profile appeals, including for the late cardinal George Pell in his successful High Court challenge to his conviction for historical child sexual abuse offences. He is also acting for former premier Gladys Berejiklian in her NSW Court of Appeal challenge to a damaging finding made by the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Berejiklian has always maintained her innocence. Nines silk returns Sydney barrister Nicholas Owens, SC, who led Nines team in its successful defence of the lawsuit, returns to court for the appeal. Award-winning investigative journalists Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters authored the stories and were awarded the Walkley Honour for Media Freedom last year in recognition of their reporting.

Nicholas Owens, SC, acted for Nine in its defamation fight with former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith. Credit: Edwina Pickles In a centrepiece allegation in the case, the newspapers alleged Roberts-Smith kicked an unarmed and handcuffed Afghan villager named Ali Jan off a small cliff in Darwan on September 11, 2012, before procuring a soldier under his command to shoot him. Besanko found the murder allegation was proven. Under the rules of engagement that bound the SAS, killing unarmed prisoners is a war crime. In a second key allegation, the newspapers said Roberts-Smith was involved in two murders during an earlier mission on Easter Sunday, 2009, after two Afghan men were discovered in a tunnel in a compound dubbed Whiskey 108. They alleged Roberts-Smith killed one of the men himself and directed a rookie soldier, Person 4, to kill the second man as a form of blooding or initiation.

Besanko found this allegation was proven. The judge also found a fourth murder allegation, which did not appear in the news reports but was part of their defence, had been proven, relating to directions Roberts-Smith gave via an interpreter for an unarmed Afghan man to be shot by a member of the Afghan Partner Force in 2012. Chris Masters (left) and Nick McKenzie after Ben Roberts-Smith lost his defamation case. Credit: James Brickwood

Roberts-Smiths notice of appeal sets out the legal points that will be raised by his team during the 10-day hearing. His lawyers say none of the murder findings should have been made, and the judge failed to adequately deal with the improbability that there was a widespread conspiracy to conceal the truth concerning the deaths of [two men] in the official reporting of the mission at Whiskey 108. They also say the evidence of three Afghan villagers, given remotely via audiovisual link from Kabul, should not have been accepted in relation to the alleged murder of Ali Jan. Roberts-Smith has consistently denied wrongdoing and said any killings were lawful and involved insurgents or a suspected Taliban spotter reporting on the movement of coalition forces. War crimes investigation under way
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 One day, Michael Koziol will wake up and notice hes old (Why boring places like Balmain must be saved from themselves, February 3). He wont feel old. Hell still enjoy the things he always loved. But sometimes when you age, you might welcome a bit of peace, a coffee, a walk with the dog or a takeaway with the kids in a park. Not every suburb should be defined exclusively by nightlife and age, just like not every old or young person should be defined by stereotypes. Life is profound and stimulating. Lets embrace its complexity. Alison Stewart, Riverview Balmains iconic Unity Hall Hotel Credit: Rhett Wyman As another recent retiree to Balmain I can assure Michael Koziol that having 19 pubs immediately qualifies it as a lively source of infinite gossip and yarns. The occasional under-40-year-old who strays into the bar is not only welcomed but counselled by us elders in defined superannuation, negative gearing and rental-gouging strategies. Change is therefore generously bestowed on the young. Tim Hand, Balmain Typically, Michael Koziols articles are on the money, but his comments about Balmain suggest he hasnt been there. Balmain is alive with restaurants, pubs, music, cafes, late-trading bookshops and more. True, it lacks raucous nightclubs, testosterone, drug-fuelled and aggressive men and shrill, staggering, inebriated young women, but that only contributes to its desirability as a nighttime destination. Wayne Duncombe, Lilyfield I have lived in Balmain for 37 years and beg to differ with his view that Balmain residents want young people to move further afield. Im a Baby Boomer and would love to see it thrive once more and would be happy for more high-density, high-rise dwellings and more public transport options. We are a suburb with many public housing developments and that in itself helps to make Balmain diverse. Linda Holmes, Balmain I lived in Balmain for nearly 30 years and when I left nearly four years ago it was not the vibrant suburb I knew. As Michael Koziol writes, back in the day, wharfies, garbos, alleged crime figures all rubbed shoulders with notable playwrights, actors, musicians and new arrivals of white-collar workers and academics.

One thing that bound the community together was music. On a Friday and Saturday night, most pubs featured jazz greats like Dick Hughes or blues bands like the Foreday Riders or the Hippos. Most recent arrivals are young families mortgaged to the hilt plus downsizers. As their newly purchased terraces are within 100m of a pub, despite the fact it had been there for more than a century, both groups have pressured council to curtail nighttime activity. The result was the slow decline of Balmain. Michael Kenneally, Manly Im a 60-year-old who has recently moved to the Balmain area and is loving it, but I cant disagree with Michael Koziol. Long-term locals tell me about how lively a place it was in the 80s and 90s. These days the main street is deserted not long after 9 on a Saturday night. As someone who was young in the golden years of Sydneys live music scene in the 1980s, I suggest that more live music is key to bringing more life into our boring suburbs. Bring back the bands and the people will come! Michael Jones, Birchgrove

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Michael Koziol says the median age of people living in Potts Point increased in the past decade from 36 to 39. He might want to check those stats since a casual glance around the local cafes and restaurants in my neighbourhood clearly suggests the median age is closer to 60; more a hip replacement than hip suburb these days. Ross Duncan, Potts Point Strata pain hurts unit owners Congratulations on your excellent article about the looming (and existing) problems with strata systems in relation to residential housing (Strata pain adds strain to density, February 3). I believe the fundamental issue lies in the non-mandated capital works sinking fund. Many strata owners do not want to make financial provision for future expenditures, although such provisions simply reflect the wearing out, over time, of all capital aspects of any building. There is a way to fix this, and that is a mandated sinking fund obtained from annual levies of 2 per cent of the capital value of the complex (this assumes a 50-year complex life). Such a mandate would ensure all owners share equally in the preservation of the capital value of their individual lots. And such a levy will properly reflect the current owners use of the asset during their term of ownership. Chris Rivers, Port Macquarie NSW property services commissioner John Minns is pushing for reforms to the strata laws. Credit: Edwina Pickles In 2015 I bought a strata apartment. Being in a small block (eight apartments) means the requirement that all owners share the cost of building repairs is greatly more onerous than in a large building where costs would be more widely spread. Encouraging reluctant or absentee owners to participate in a committee to oversee the buildings administration and ensure adequate funds can prove an insurmountable barrier. Finding an effective paid strata manager can present a whole other problem area. The whole system needs reform. Ideally, this should include a way of ensuring strata owners understand their rights and responsibilities. Gillian Appleton, Paddington One of the major problems with strata properties is where the builder subsequently goes bust and the strata body corporate has to chase the developer to rectify defects to common property. This can take years, the defects are not fixed and building insurance becomes more difficult to obtain on an annual basis. Unit holders beware: costs then falls directly on their shoulders. Michael Blissenden, Dural I am sorry for the owners, but this is what you get from more than 40 years of neo-liberal small government, under-regulation and sheer market-driven greed. Time and time again our governments have failed to protect our society from the worst aspects of an unbridled free market economy. When billions of dollars are at stake we need our governments to legislate/regulate to ensure that markets act in the best interests of the consumer and not the super profits of companies and avarice of investors and developers. Until this happens the markets will continue to fail individuals and our society will suffer the consequences. Tony Heathwood, Kiama Downs

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Where is long-term housing plan? Talking of another 18,000 dwellings at four north shore railway stations does make you wonder about long-term planning (North Shore Confronts Housing Plan, February 2). Having ruined the liveability forever of numerous suburbs throughout Sydney for a short-term crisis, what happens then? With immigration down from 518,000 last year to 250,000 or less from next year, the crisis will be largely resolved. Then do we return to normal construction rates and say why on earth did we do that? Mr Minns, where are the supply and demand estimates for the next 20 years so there can be some honest discussion and planning? Peter Mayman, Avalon David Knox is concerned about heritage properties in the Ku-ring-gai municipality. Credit: Michael Koziol The reforms were announced quietly (via ministerial media release) a week before Christmas, there appears to have been minimal (if any) advertising and the consultation process closes in just three weeks (Sydneysiders back need for new builds in older suburbs, February 3). Apart from a miniscule 1035 survey respondents, most Sydney residents are being denied essential information and the right to have a say on the future of their city. Peter Mahoney, Oatley Boys own idiocy Daring is a childish behaviour that seems to manifest most commonly among teenage boys (Swastikas, schoolboys and social media: teachers face growing problem, February 3). Perhaps this and other pseudo-machoisms is the reason so many boys schools want to transition to co-ed. While boys will be boys, we are fortunate that one day most girls will be women.

Meredith Williams, Baulkham Hills

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Age against machine The present discussion regarding age and competence is an interesting one regarding Joe Bidens bid for re-election (Biden must Swiftly shift focus from age, February 3). Having lived in Rome for more than a decade, I noticed that age is less of an issue there; many people continue to work into their 70s and 80s. Look at Italys long-serving and oldest president, Giorgio Napolitano, who retired at 95 in 2015. He continued because apart from being an icon, there was no-one deemed competent enough to replace him until the incumbent, Sergio Mattarella (now 82) was chosen. Lets not even start on that other close neighbour in Vatican City. Are expertise and wisdom the sole domain of the young? Surely, competence rather than age should be the criterion lest we be accused of ageism. Diane Dennis, Epping Joe, as a fellow octogenarian, I can vouch for the uncanny ability to go in seconds from awake and ostensibly alert to dozing off with a half-full mug precariously balanced on ones lap. No amount of jogging onto the spot where a press conference is set makes up for an image of a slack-jawed old man nodding off. Joan Brown, Orange Donations no guarantee Concern about federal political donations generates more heat than light; an assumption that contributors exercise undue influence on the party they support is not easily validated (Rage against the money machine, February 3). Access to the PM, ministers and MPs has always been a selective process and prominent individuals will have access whether or not they provide financial support. It is absurd to suggest that all donations over $1000 be disclosed. A more sensible approach is for much larger amounts to be subject to disclosure. Fears about rich people buying election results are discounted by Clive Palmers dismal electoral record. Rather than a blanket assumption that political donors contribute only to gain some distinct advantage, it is far preferable that our political parties act with integrity and make it known that they will form policies and act based on a wide range of views and not based on donations. Ross Butler, Rodd Point

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Rage against the money machine. Credit: John Shakespeare It is enlightening to read Peter Hartchers article about so many wealthy people whose expectation is to influence elections. So much negativism, so little intention to improve national well-being except for the rich. So much effort to maintain disadvantage and inequality. The Voice, for example, was a disappointing reality check. It would be interesting to know just how much influence political advertising has on the electorate because eventually the answer is up to us. One person, one vote. Can we discriminate? Do we?

Nola Tucker, Kiama If a political donation from a listed corporate entity affects political decision-making, it is blatant corruption. If the donation doesnt buy influence, it is not in the interests of the shareholders and illegal under the Corporations Act. Simple. Richard Lake, Maleny (QLD) Egan a blessing Michael Egan was one half of a political marriage that dominated government in NSW for more than 10 years. Premier Bob Carr: passionately focused on his fitness and health, always on time, just back from the gym offering raw broccoli and carrots while sipping hot water and lemon in his office. Egan: often a little late having stubbed out his last cigarette, a little unkempt, ready to interrogate some proposal from a minister requiring funds. Both men took their jobs extremely seriously. Late nights for Michael as Leader of the House in Legislative Council; early mornings for the Premier monitoring the body politic by flitting between all the radio stations. It was only when I left in 2004 to work in Tony Blairs policy directorate that I realised how blessed the NSW government was by this relationship. Blair and his Chancellor Gordon Brown barely spoke, and when they did Brown donned a permanent scowl. Certain policy agendas were Tonys or Gordons: as an advisor, crossing into Gordons territory was more than unwise. Michael was a hardworking, clear-thinking administrator who managed both the NSW budget and ministerial relationships in a positive and open fashion. A true public servant, he was always willing to hear the case. Vale Michael Egan, I am glad to have known you: sometimes too intense, occasionally rude, often hysterically funny and with a twinkle in your eye cast across a room full of ego. It said more than words ever could. Nick Rowley, Birchgrove

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Sydney apartment owners are moving to ban or restrict electric bicycles and scooters in their buildings after a growing spate of battery blazes, undermining the states sustainability policies to encourage active transport.

Some buildings, including one large tower in North Sydney, have banned e-bikes and e-scooters outright, while the peak body representing owners of strata properties has drafted a model bylaw for how to best manage the devices.

But discouraging e-bikes is at odds with the NSW governments push to double the number of walking and cycling trips in NSW across the next two decades, while legal experts warn outright bans would be open to challenge and may be invalid.

James McKinnon outside his North Sydney apartment. Credit: Dean Sewell

North Sydney resident James McKinnon successfully urged his owners corporation to ban e-bikes and e-scooters from the building at the annual general meeting last year. There will be a new vote in the coming weeks to endorse an amended version based on legal advice to make it less susceptible to challenge.
These VicPol members and staff showed up to be part of Pride alongside thousands of others and their courage in being proudly and openly themselves while serving others deserves recognition and respect. Shing also phoned Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton to offer support and said she hoped the police contingent would march next year. Being an openly queer person is something that often requires a lot of practice and courage ... I hope that next year, at the 30th Pride March, we can walk with a shared determination to making and keeping all LGBTIQA+ people safe and respected, she said. And I hope that queer members of Victoria Police and their families will again march right alongside us. Patton said officers did nothing to escalate the clash with protesters, and rejected the festival organisers claim that both sides contributed to the disruption.

After the march, Patton called the protesters an ugly rabble for throwing paint, calling police killers and blocking the officers path. He said protesters came with intent to confront, and if not to attack police, to threaten them. Police were trying to push them away and unfortunately, there will be footage that shows that occurring, and it looks confrontational and that shouldnt be the case, he said. Protesters confront police on Sunday. Credit: Nine News Midsumma Festival chief executive Karen Bryant said on Sunday organisers were highly disappointed by the disruption of the march and the escalation of events from both sides, and maintained that position on Monday. Midsumma expresses profound distress over the disruption and escalation that occurred at Pride March ... We express our deep disappointment in people from both sides of this situation who actively escalated the situation, Bryant said on Monday.

Loading On ABC Radio Melbourne on Monday, Patton said he had seen Bryants comments, but maintained police did the opposite of escalating the situation. Its not for me to comment on the views of Karen. But from my point of view, we responded, and I was really actually pleased with [the] restraint that was shown under the amount of pressure that the public order response team was placed under, Patton said. He said officers were marching to celebrate diversity and show support for the LGBTQIA+ community and were encircled by a group that launched threats and tried to intimidate them. We certainly didnt escalate it, he said.

A protester named Max, who declined to share his surname due to safety concerns, said the chief commissioners accusation that protesters intended to threaten officers was baseless. We intended to simply stand in front of the Victoria Police contingent, holding space and making it clear to the public why police should not be welcome in our community, he said, citing police discrimination at the first Sydney Mardi Gras in 1978 as the very reason Pride exists. This escalation originated entirely with Victoria Police, who then became increasingly violent towards protesters, Max said. An Instagram account called Queer Killjoys, which invited people to attend the Pride March protest, and another account called Trans Queer Solidarity posted that for police to march in the parade was pink-washing.

This is pink-washing: the practice of falsely projecting a pro-LGBTQIA+ image to disguise an institutions complicity in oppression, the post said. Police Minister Anthony Carbines labelled the protest distressing and planned to discuss the matter with Patton on Monday. Police and protesters clash. Credit: Nine News Nobody gets to parade their views, whatever they may be, off the back of assaulting people and attacking people, Carbines said. Thats not acceptable. You dont get to bring your views to the table to discuss them, or promote them, when youre acting like a thug. If you assault and attack police, therell be consequences.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto said on ABC Radio on Monday the scenes were ugly and unacceptable. [Police] were there for the right reasons and to be maligned in [such a] terrible and appalling manner, its just unfortunate, he said. Whatever other issues there are  and there are issues to discuss, I think the chief commissioner acknowledged that  there is no justification whatsoever for the treatment of people like that. When asked about historical police mistreatment of LGBTQIA+ community, which the force apologised for in 2019, Patton said: Well, weve certainly owned our issues in the past, and we admit, and Ive openly said it, as have many others, that weve had a lot to learn. We had a lot to improve on. And thats what weve been intent on doing over the years.
Australians are being promised more choice for fuel-efficient cars and electric vehicles under the Albanese governments mandatory pollution caps, which it claims will save drivers $1000 in fuel a year, triggering a political fight over the future of utes and the cost of climate action to households.

The long-awaited fuel efficiency standard applies only to new car sales and limits the average emissions of a carmakers overall fleet of vehicles sold each year, measured in grams of CO per kilometre.

The Coalition claims Labors heavy-handed approach will drive utes off Australian roads. Credit: Shutterstock

It is designed to encourage them to sell either more efficient petrol cars or electric vehicles, and companies must pay a penalty of $100 for each gram per kilometre they exceed the caps.

The government says the fuel efficiency standard will encourage carmakers to bring more fuel-efficient petrol vehicles to sell in Australia, which are currently sold in other markets that already have fuel efficiency limits in place. It says manufacturers will also bring more electric vehicles (EVs) to Australia for the same reason.
PHNOM PENH, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Culture Festival was organized here to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival, enabling the Cambodians to gain insights into China and its culture.

Featuring Chinese traditional arts performances, culture exhibitions and food, among others, the two-day fest at the Olympia Mall started on Saturday with free admission and attracted scores of visitors.

Visitors said that the festival not only allowed Cambodians to gain insights into Chinese culture, customs and tradition, but also contributed to further deepening people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

"These arts performances and exhibitions have definitely helped further promote the bond of friendship between Cambodia and China because both Cambodians and Chinese have come to see this festival, and Chinese are friendly to our Cambodians," Vet Reaksa, a 17-year-old Cambodian festival-goer, told Xinhua on Sunday.

Reaksa said the festival has created a pleasant atmosphere for Cambodian people ahead of the Chinese New Year, which is widely celebrated in the Southeast Asian country.

"I always celebrate the Chinese New Year because I'm a Cambodian of Chinese descent," she said. "Moreover, the Chinese New Year has created a joyful atmosphere and is an occasion for a family gathering."

"The Chinese New Year is very popular in Cambodia, particularly in urban areas," she said.

Nguon Sokvang, a 63-year-old Cambodian festival-goer, said she was pleased to see close ties between Cambodia and China, adding that she is a Cambodian of Chinese ancestors.

"My parents and grandparents are of Chinese ancestry, so I also celebrate the Chinese New Year," she told Xinhua.

"It's good that Chinese and Cambodian people communicate and cooperate with each other well in businesses," she added. 
South Carolina: Joe Biden has won the first Democratic presidential primary race in a landslide despite low voter turnout, polling centre problems, and signs that his traditional support base is fraying.

After Donald Trump edged closer to winning the Republican presidential nomination last month with victories in Iowa and New Hampshire, Biden is a step closer to locking in his candidacy with 95 per cent of the vote in South Carolina on Sunday (AEDT).

Voters cast their ballots at a polling station in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Credit: Bloomberg

The president was always expected to dominate the race against his two long-shot challengers: self-help author Marianne Williamson and Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips.

But South Carolina was also an early test of his support among black voters who helped propel him to victory in 2020, and of how challenging it would be to win another term in November.
The awards are set to take place this weekend, but will the actor still show up if he's in legal trouble? I guess well have to wait and see.  
BHARAT RATNAfor Advani





NEW DELHI :

Very emotional moment for me, says PM Modi

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday that BJP stalwart and former deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani will be conferred the Bharat Ratna, the countrys highest civilian award, and described it as a very emotional moment for me. One of the most respected statesmen of our times, his contribution to the development of India is monumental. His is a life that started from working at the grassroots to serving the nation as our Deputy Prime Minister, Modi said on X. His decades-long service in public life has been marked by an unwavering commitment to transparency and integrity, setting an exemplary standard in political ethics, the Prime Minister said. Advani has made unparalleled efforts towards furthering national unity and cultural resurgence, he said.

The conferring of the Bharat Ratna on him is a very emotional moment for me. I will always consider it my privilege that I got countless opportunities to interact with him and learn from him, he said. Modi spoke to the BJPs longest serving President, who is credited with crafting the partys rise through the 90s when it came to power for the first time with Atal Behari Vajpayee heading coalition Governments, and congratulated him. Advanis parliamentary interventions have always been exemplary and full of rich insights, Modi said. Soon after the Prime Ministers announcement, a communication from the Rashtrapati Bhawan said President Droupadi Murmu has been pleased to award the Bharat Ratna to Advani. After the announcement, the 96-year-old leader greeted media persons from a distanceathis residence and his daughter Pratibha Advani told journalists that he is very happy at being given the countrys highest state honour.He thanked PM Modi and the people of the country, she said.

Dada, she said in an affectionate reference to her father,noted thathehas dedicated his entire life to the country. Last month, the Government had named the late Karpoori Thakur,asocialist stalwart and former Bihar CM, for the highest honour. If the recognition for Thakur years afterhepassed away in 1988 was seen by many political experts as part of the BJPs push to deepen its roots among the economically backward classes (EBC),acategoryfrom which he came from,the honour for Advani is being seen as a node to his instrumental role in shaping the partys core ideology which has come to dominate the countrys polity under Modi. The Bharat Ratna will be bestowed on Advani in a year of the Ram temples consecration,which marks a triumphant closure forthe BJP of an issue which was thrust into popular consciousness by the veteran leader through hisRamRath Yatra in 1990. The yatra and the mass appeal it drew boosted the partys votes hare and made it the key challenger to the Congress, then the biggest national party
Dharma Vs Religion





By DR BHUSHAN KUMAR UPADHYAYA :

The word Dharma is often translated as religion and both are treated as synonyms. Dharma is a Sanskrit word derived from the root Dhri meaning to hold and sustain. Religion is derived from the Latin word Religare meaning to bind. Dharma has multidimensional meaning. It encompasses a set of beliefs about God, soul, hell, heaven, salvation, righteous conduct, eternal values, etc.

Asfar as eternal values are concerned, Dharma never changes. Truth, non-violence, compassion, contentment, etc, are the values which remain the same through ages. The second type of Dharma is related to a particular time or era. With the passing of time, this type of Dharma changes. The third type of Dharma relates to some specific area or place.This type of Dharma also undergoes changes with the change of places. The fourth type of Dharma is associated with particular individuals. So this Dharma is also changeable. On the other hand religion is a fixed and non changeable set of beliefs in God, scriptures and practices. Indian tradition believes that except eternal values which have nothing to do with religious beliefs,all ideologies or sets of beliefs whether secular or religious are bound to change with the passage of time. Hence, there cannot be a watertight ideological framework in the Dharmic scheme of things. Secondly,there is a spirit of inquiry in the framework of Dharma. As a result diverse and multifaceted opinions and views are found here. Freedom of speech is the sine qua non of the Dharmic traditions.

Therefore, a multitude of literature is produced here. The four Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads, Vedangas, Dharma Shastras, epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, Bhakti literature, etc are the epitome of multidimensional expression. In addition to the Vedic tradition of literature, we find huge Buddhist and Jain literature in Pali and Prakrit languages. Literature in local languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannad, Malayalam , Marathi , Gujarati, Bengali etc, is another huge treasure of knowledge. India has got a very rich tradition of philosophy. Astik or Vedic branches of philosophy have interpreted the truth in different ways. Mimansa, Sankhya, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Yoga and Vedanta are the different expressions of the same truth. Ekam Sadma Vipra Bahudha Vadanti is the declaration of Indian tradition. The truth is the same and the scholars describe it in various ways. It is only in the Dharmic tradition that Aham Brahmasmi - I am God is declared.

This is the ultimate realisation any human being may have. But, this is a blasphemous statement in the opinion of some other religions. And those who declared like that had been persecuted also. But there is no concept of blasphemy in Dharmic tradition because Dharma allows freedom of speech and views the Ultimate Truth being expressed in different ways. Dharma sees all in one and one in all. Hence tolerance and mutualrespect are the soul of Dharma. There is no evidence of theocracy in Indian history. There were end numbers of Dharmic beliefs, but no ruler declared that all citizens had to follow a particular set of religious beliefs. We find even such philosophy which has denied the existence of God also. Charvaka and Lokayatanas were materialists. It is only in the Indian tradition that we find the great tools and techniques developed over ages from ancient times to elevate consciousness. Yoga and allied disciplines are the best and time tested techniques of mind management. All this has become possible because Dharma acceptslife as a dynamic flow.





(The writer is Former DG Police & CG, Homeguards, Maharashtra) 
COLOMBO, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Colombo Port has achieved a 27.7 percent increase in transshipment volumes in January compared to the same period in 2023, local media reported on Sunday quoting a senior official.

The Colombo Port is receiving increased transshipment container volumes as major shipping lines are rerouting their ships following the recent attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, Chairman of Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) Keith D. Bernard said.

Transshipment traffic has increased by 89,778 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to reach 236,571 at the Jaya Container Terminal, he said.

There has also been a 13,437 TEU increase, leading to 141,971 TEUs at the South Asia Gateway Terminal (SAGT) and a 45,545 TEU increase to 306,664 TEUs at Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT), Bernard added.

The total volumes at the Colombo Port have reached 685,206 TEUs in January which is a 27.7-percent increase compared to last year, with about 203 vessels calling at the port, he said.

Earlier, the SLPA said the Colombo Port is targeting around 7 million TEUs of containers in 2024. 
Find it, fight it...





By Avinash Iyer :

THE thought of cancer itself sends shivers down the spine of even the most positive and optimistic persons. Today being World Cancer Day, this writer shares his own experience in battling and coming out successfully from lung cancer. Although happy-go-lucky nature went a long way in recovering from this trauma, the same is not the case for many who even take the recourse of suicide to permanently put a full stop to the suffering. Cancer has always triggered a wave of fear among a majority of victims. In the olden times, cancer meant death. But now, with advanced research in medical science, the disease is not as life-threatening as it was in the past.

Yes, the disease does burn a hole in the pocket of unfortunate patients but the gift of life presented to the victim is invaluable. Initial warning signals are major indicators. They should never be ignored and treatment must start immediately. There are cases where it is too late as diagnosis is at the terminal stage. But it is the initial warning which is a sure-fire solution to beat cancer. In the case of yours truly, it all started with intermittent bouts of acidity which brought relentless trouble. The best of doctors failed to provide a permanent cure to this irritant. Finally, a physician with a leading hospital directed this scribe to undergo a series of tests to get to the root of the ailment. One such test unravelled cancer in the lungs. What followed was hospitalisation and several rounds of chemotherapy followed by radiation. A very painful and traumatic experience to say the least but by the grace of God and well-wishes of near and dear ones, one was able to defeat this deadly disease and come out triumphant in the battle with death. On this World Cancer Day, let us take a pledge to resolutely fight this disease and come out in flying colours.

The world has been through the pandemic called COVID-19. The horrors inflicted by this deadly epidemic are still fresh not only in the minds of the victims but also in their relatives and friends. Though this experience is still a work in progress in many countries, India emerged as a shining example of fortitude and forbearance. It not only successfully developed vaccines for its huge populace, but also became a saviour of many a suffering soul across the world. Cancer was once no less than a terrorist - dealing in death. But medical science has made path-breaking strides in saving many precious lives. Cancer is not the end game when it comes to early diagnosis but just a bridge to cross and embrace life in its myriad colours.
ISSUE OF TRUST





THE Reserve Bank of India (RBI) action against digital payment and services app Paytm barring its Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) from accepting deposits or top-ups is a stern warning to the banking sector to get its house in order when it comes to compliances. By stopping Paytm from accepting top-ups in any customer accounts, prepaid instruments, wallets and FASTags after February 29, the apex bank has drawn a clear line for fintech companies and related start-ups that it would not dither on adopting harsh measures if it is concerned with custody of public wealth. This is not the first time Paytm has found itself in the RBIs firing line. In fact, the digital payment app has remained controversys favourite child. In March 2022, the central bank had asked Paytm Payments Bank not to onboard any new clients which still remains in force.

The latest action confirms that the app service was still found wanting on its corporate governance standards.Without adhering to the compliance standards, legitimately raised by the RBI after major setbacks to the Indian banking sector, Paytm was always chasing an elusive banking licence dream. The RBI has effectively put paid to the dream despite company CEO Mr. Vijay Shekhar Sharmas optimism of overcoming this speed bump. After the RBI action, a lot of issues have come to the fore regarding Paytm Payments Bank Ltds working. The central bank has acted only after it found several violations of regulatory norms including rules related to money-laundering and transactions to related parties. There was repeated failure on part of the PPBL in heeding to warnings by the RBI. High-level of interdependence between PPBL and other group entities had also raised red-flags over some time as the company kept floundering on the issue of potential conflict of interest.Then there is the China angle. Mr. Sharma had bought a 10 per cent stake from Chinas Ant Group Company a few months ago.

The Chinese group was among the initial backers of the start-up. Taking into consideration the tense relations between Beijing and New Delhi, the connection kept lurking out as a sore thumb. It seems, the company was not able to satisfy RBIs concerns on the matter of taking countrys wealth to entities having questionable connections. The Paytm saga has multiple signals for the fintech industry in India. Many of these are still growing start-ups aiming to enter the payments bank industry through Unified Payment Interface services. As the backbone of the fintech sector in India is huge venture money coming from different entities, it becomes doubly important for the sector to scrutinise its private investors given the raised levels of regulatory scrutiny by the RBI in fintech as well as banking sectors. The RBI order against Paytm needs to be seen in the context of the larger ecosystem. Noting that banks are the custodians of huge public wealth, the central bank has the moral responsibility of keeping the ecosystem absolutely safe. It entails regular and strict scrutiny of the fintech and banks and stringent action to correct anomalies. The RBIs order on Paytm shows that even one of the oldest and most established fintechs can face regulatory action if it does not adhere to the highest compliance standards. After all, it is an issue of trust.
Midnight horror Armed dacoits hold family hostage, loot Rs 8 lakh cash





Staff Reporter :

In a terrifying incident, a family was held hostage by six dacoits late in the night and looted of Rs eight lakh cash at knife-point in Hudkeshwar area after stabbing a man. The incident, which took place in the Rotkar Layout area near New Om Nagar, has sent shockwaves across the city. The police are yet to find the culprits involved till late Saturday night. According to police, the victim, Amit Chandrakant Durugkar (34), who operates a flower business, resides in a two-storey house in Rotkar Layout with his family.

The armed dacoits struck at around 2 am on Saturday. They gained entry to the first-floor where Amits elder brother Swapnil resides with his wife and children. The dacoits locked Swapnils room from outside and strategically snapped electricity supply to the house by tampering with the external meter, said police. The sudden darkness alerted the family. Amits mother went out to check on the situation. When she attempted to open Swapnils door, the dacoits, brandishing swords, crowbars, and sticks, forcefully held the elderly woman.

They held a weapon to her neck and threatened to harm if any noise was made. Later, Amit was escorted to the bedroom, where the dacoits checked the cupboards. Amit had stored Rs eight lakh cash in a bag for his business transactions, which became the prime target of the dacoits. Meanwhile, Swapnil grew suspicious and dialed emergency services (112) and also awakened neighbours by making noise. As Swapnil raised the alarm, the dacoits, fearing arrest, hastily fled the scene, the police said. Deputy Commissioner of Police for Zone 4 Vijaykant Sagar, and Senior Police Inspector of Hudkeshwar Police Station Shubhangi Deshmukh and staff of police station and Crime Branch arrived at the crime scene. A case of robbery was registered by the police.

Dacoits were aware about the cash A police official suspects that the perpetrators had prior knowledge of Amits business transactions. The dacoits were talking about the cash in Amits possession during the discussion. The police are investigating possible connections between the dacoits and persons associated with Amits business.
Police notice to Kejriwal over claims of poaching AAP MLAs





NEW DELHI :

AFTER a five-hour drama, Crime Branch officials of the Delhi Police on Saturday served a notice on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, asking him to reply within three days in a probe into his claims that the BJP attempted to poach seven AAP MLAs. A Delhi Police officer said, We have served the notice on him(Kejriwal).He cangive the reply in three days in a written form.

The Crime Branch has asked Kejriwal to reveal the names of AAP MLAs who were claimed to have been approached by the BJP. Earlier, a drama unfolded at Kejriwals residence in Civil Lines as a Crime Branch team arrived again on Saturday to serve him a notice in connection with the probe. Last week,Kejriwal,ina post on X, had alleged that the BJP offered Rs 25 crore eachtoseven AAP MLAs to quit the party in order to topple his Govt. Shortly after Kejriwal, Delhi Minister Atishi held a press conference and alleged that the BJP had launched Operation Lotus 2.0 in Delhi.
Punjab GovernorPurohit resigns citingpersonal reasons





CHANDIGARH :

PUNJAB Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Banwarilal Purohit submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday, citing personal reasons. Due to my personal reasons and certain other commitments, I tender my resignation from the post of Governor of Punjab and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh. Please accept the same and oblige, Purohit (84) wrote in his resignation letter. Purohits resignation came a day after he met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. Before being appointed as the Governor Punjab and administrator of Chandigarh, Purohit hadalso been the Governor of Assam from 2016 to 2017 and the Governor of Tamil Nadu from 2017 to 2021. Purohit had also been a three-time Lok Sabha member from Nagpur in 1984, 1989 and 1996.

He had also won the Assemblyelections from Nagpur East in 1978 and from Nagpur South in1980. In his more than two-year eventful term as the Governor, Purohit had been at logger heads with Punjab Chief MinisterBhagwant Mann over several issues, including holding the Assembly sessions and appointments of Vice-Chancellors. They had not been on the best of terms as squabble between the Raj Bhawan and the AAP Government surfaced over many issues. Their relationship nose-dived when the Governor thwarted the Mann-led regimes plan to summonaspecial Assembly session in September 2022 to bring a confidence motion after he withdrew his order of summoning it. AAP had alleged that the BJP offered money to its 10 MLAs.

The row between the Raj Bhawan and the AAP Government escalated when Purohit declined appointment of a cardiologist as Vice Chancellor of the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences and also sought removal of Punjab Agricultural University Vice Chancellor. Purohit, during his tourto border villages in February last year, put the AAP Government in the dock over drug and other issues. Purohit emphasised on setting up village-level defence committees to check drugs and arms smuggling from Pakistan. A row erupted once again between the AAP Government and the Raj Bhawan after Purohit questioned Chief Minister Mann on various issues, including the selection of school principals for a foreign trip, with Mann saying his Government is only answerable to Punjabis and not a Centre appointed Governor. While the Governor claimed that Mann never cared to reply to his official letters, the Chief Minister while calling them love letters had said his Governmentis accountable onlytothreecrore Punjabis. InAugustlastyear,Purohit said he could recommend the Presidents Rule in the State and also initiate criminal proceedings ifhis letters were not answered.
Sena man shot by BJP MLA CRITICAL





THANE / MUMBAI :

A SHIV Sena leader suffered multiple gunshot wounds and is in critical condition after a BJP MLA fired upon him over a land dispute in Maharashtras Thane district, prompting the Opposition to demand Chief Minister Eknath Shindes resignation, citing deteriorating law and order in the state. Deputy CM and State Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he has ordered a high-level probe to find out what made the MLA open fire and under what circumstances. Kalyan MLA Ganpat Gaikwad of BJP opened fire on Mahesh Gaikwad, the Shindeled Senas Kalyan chief, insidethe chamber of the senior inspector of Hill Line police station in Ulhasnagar area onFriday night, Additional Commissioner of Police Dattatrya Shinde told themedia. Talking to the news channel Zee 24 taas over the phone before his arrest, Ganpat Gaikwad said that he used the fire arm as his son was beingbeaten at the police station. Chief Minister Eknath Shindeis trying to establish a kingdom of criminals in Maharashtra, he alleged.

Ulhasnagar falls in the Kalyan parliamentary constituency,represented by CM Shindes son Shrikant Shinde. BJP and Shinde-led Sena belong to the ruling coalition in Maharashtra. Mahesh Gaikwadwas taken to a local hospital before being shifted to a private medical facility in Thane city. He under went an emergency life-saving surgery and is on a ventilator, said the hospital,addingthat hiscondition is currently critical. A team of doctors is monitoring his vitals. According to Additional CP Shinde, Ganpat Gaikwads son had come to the police station to lodge a complaint in connection with a land dispute when Mahesh Gaikwad arrived with his men. Later, Ganpat Gaikwad also reached the police station. During an altercation between the MLA and the Senaleader,GanpatGaikwad allegedly fired shots at Mahesh Gaikwad inside the seniorinspectors chamber, injuring him and his associate Rahul Patil,theofficial said. Yes,Ishot (him) myself. I have no regrets. If my son is being beaten in front of the police inside the police station, what will I do, asked Ganpat Gaikwad while talking to a news channel.

The BJP MLA alleged that ChiefMinisterEknathShinde istrying to createa kingdom of criminals in Maharashtra. Besides Ganpat Gaikwad, the police have also arrested two others. They have been booked under Indian Penal Codesections,including 307 (attempt to murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy), said an official. CM SHINDE VISITS HOSPITAL: MAHARASHTRA Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday termed as very unfortunate the firing on a ShivSenaleaderallegedlyby aBJP MLA inside a police station in Thane district. Eknath Shinde on Saturday visited the hospital to enquire about the health of Mahesh Gaikwad. He was apprised by doctors about Gaikwads health condition. He wished speedy recovery for Gaikwad, an official release said. Meanwhile, a court in Thane district remanded BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad to police custody till February 14.
Yashwant Panchayat Raj Abhiyan awardsKatol Panchayat Samiti takes top honours





Staff Reporter ;

Katol Panchayat Samiti has achieved first position at the departmental-level and second position at the state-level under the Yashwant Panchayat Raj Abhiyan Award for the year 2022-23. This recognition is announced by the State Government for the outstanding contributions of Katol Panchayat Samiti in administrative management and development initiatives. Similarly, Bhandara Panchayat Samiti has secured first position at the state-level and third position overall for the year 2020-21. The awards will be given by Divisional Commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari during a function at Vanamati at 11 am on February 5. The Yashwant Panchayat Raj Campaign Awards for the years 2020-21 and 2022-23 have been declared for a total of 63 panchayat committees in the Nagpur division. In the state-level award for the year 2022-23, Katol Panchayat Samiti has secured second position. The samiti will receive a cash prize of Rs 17 lakh.

At the divisional-level, for the same year, Katol Panchayat Samiti clinched the first position, while Kamptee Panchayat Samiti secured the second position, bagging the cash awards of Rs 11 lakh and Rs 8 lakh, respectively. The third position is jointly shared by Chandrapur Panchayat Samiti and Kurkheda Panchayat Samiti of Gadchiroli district, with each receiving a cash prize of Rs three lakh. For the 2020-21 awards, Bhandara Panchayat Samiti emerged as the divisional leader and secured the third position at the state-level.

The respective cash awards for these achievements are Rs 11 lakh and Rs 15 lakh. Porbhuna Panchayat Samiti of Chandrapur district claimed the second position at the divisional level, while Kamptee Panchayat Samiti secured the third position, bagging cash awards of Rs eight lakh and Rs six lakh, respectively. Since 2005-06, the State Rural Development Department has been honouring Zilla Parishads, Panchayat Samitis, and meritorious officers and employees associated with Panchayat Raj institutions who have made exemplary contributions to administrative management and development work on the occasion of Yashwantrao Chavans birthday, the first Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
BEIJING, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- From January to November 2023, 42,000 people were prosecuted in China for committing telecom and online fraud, an official with China's top procuratorate said Sunday.

Zhang Xiaojin, an official with the Supreme People's Procuratorate, said that the number is 63.5 percent higher than the figure from the same time in 2022.

During this period, more than 129,000 people were prosecuted in assisting information network criminal activities, a 13.2 percent increase from the same period in 2022.

The increase resulted from Chinese procuratorial organs' intensifying crackdown on such criminal activities, said Zhang.

Procuratorial departments in the country have made all-out efforts to destroy criminal rings, networks and chains, Zhang said, adding that they also focused on recovering the victims' losses and detecting management loopholes. 
XICHANG, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's Xichang space launch site, the inland launch site of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, located in the southwestern Sichuan Province, on Saturday achieved a milestone with its 200th launch mission.

Carried by a Long March-2C carrier rocket, the 11 Geely-02 constellation satellites took off at 7:37 a.m. (Beijing Time) from the launch site, and entered the preset orbit.

This site conducted its first launch mission in 1984, which means it took 40 years to reach 200 -- currently the fastest of all launch sites in China to reach this milestone.

On April 8, 1984, a Long March carrier rocket carrying a Dongfanghong-2 experiment communications satellite blasted off at this site and successfully deployed the satellite in space, marking the first launch mission at this venue.

This launch site has since then been consistently contributing to China's aerospace industry with multiple landmark launch missions involving carrier rockets, satellites and other spacecraft, such as the Chang'e-1 lunar probe and the first BeiDou satellite.

China has three inland launch sites, namely the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the north, and the Xichang launch site of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwest.

In addition, one coastal launch site, the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, under the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, is located in south China's Hainan Province.

Established in 1970, the Xichang Satellite Launch Center is mainly responsible for launching geosynchronous-orbit satellites and other space launch missions from both its inland Xichang launch site and its coastal Wenchang launch site.

The Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site has also carried out multiple major space launch missions, such as the maiden flight of China's new-generation high-thrust carrier rocket, the country's first planetary exploration mission, and the construction of China's space station.

Both Xichang and Wenchang launch sites under the Xichang Satellite Launch Center are capable of carrying out intensive space launch missions thanks to the center's determined efforts in pursuit of tech-innovation and capability enhancement, according to the center. 
WINDHOEK, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Namibian President Hage G. Geingob passed away early Sunday in a hospital in the capital city of Windhoek, the presidential office announced.

"It is with utmost sadness and regret that I inform you that our beloved Dr. Hage G. Geingob, the President of the Republic of Namibia, has passed on today, Sunday 4 February 2024 at around 00h04 at Lady Pohamba Hospital where he was receiving medical treatment from his medical team," acting president Nangolo Mbumba said in a statement on the official social media account of the Namibian Presidency.

"His medical team... has been trying its utmost best to ensure that our President recovers," the statement said. "Regrettably, notwithstanding the team's spirited effort to save his life, sadly, fellow Namibians, President Geingob passed on."

"The Namibian nation has lost a distinguished servant of the people, a liberation struggle icon, the chief architect of our constitution and the pillar of the Namibian house," the statement said.

It called on Namibians to "remain calm and collected while the government attends to all necessary state arrangements, preparations and other protocols."

On Saturday, vice president Mbumba told the nation Geingob was in a critical but stable condition after undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer at Lady Pohamba Hospital in Windhoek, the capital city.

On Jan. 19, the Namibian presidency said Geingob's medical team discovered cancerous cells following a biopsy examination. 
Feature: Chinese New Year celebration in Auckland a fusion of cultures and joy

Xinhua) 14:57, February 04, 2024

A customer (L) asks about the Year of the Dragon stamps for sale on the Chinese New Year Festival and Market Day in Auckland, New Zealand, Feb. 3, 2024. The Auckland Showgrounds burst forth with color and festivity on Saturday with the opening of the Chinese New Year Festival and Market Day, a signature event that has become a long-cherished tradition for various communities in New Zealand. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Auckland Showgrounds burst forth with color and festivity here on Saturday with the opening of the Chinese New Year Festival and Market Day, a signature event that has become a long-cherished tradition for various communities in New Zealand.

The crowd erupted in applause when New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Chinese Ambassador Wang Xiaolong dotted the lion's eyes together, an important ritual to start the celebrations.

The lion was then awakened and danced imminently. It leapt, twisted, and blessed the market stalls, scattering fortune and laughter.

In his speech, Luxon wished everyone a happy Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10.

"Every Lunar New Year is a great hope and great promise. It is time for families and friends to get together. This new year is even more exciting when it passes from the year of Rabbit to the year of Dragon. The year of Dragon is associated with positive energy, leadership, honor, luck and success," said Luxon.

"It is great to be here today celebrating not only the New Year but also the vibrant Chinese community. They have contributed so much to this great city of Auckland but also to wider New Zealand," the prime minister said.

Chinese Ambassador Wang said close people-to-people relations have been a unique asset of China-New Zealand ties.

"People of Chinese descent is one of the largest expat communities in New Zealand. Having contributed to economic and social development as well as ethnic and cultural diversity here, they also serve as an important bridge for China-New Zealand friendship," Wang said.

The ambassador also noted that 2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of comprehensive strategic partnership between China and New Zealand, which is yet another major milestone in bilateral relations.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown's multilingual blessing won applause from the audience. "I am proud to be the mayor of Auckland. Wishing everyone a happy New Year and a joyful Year of the Dragon," said the mayor in Mandarin.

The indoor market featured cultural performances by artists from home and abroad and stalls supported by government agencies, non-government organizations (NGO)s, community groups and commercial entities. Peking Opera, Wudang Kungfu and Hubei folk songs, dances and musical instruments attracted hundreds of spectators. It is also the first year the Chinese embassy set up stalls promoting information about bilateral economic cooperation, culture and tourism, education and cultural exchanges.

Kiwi girl Maylee Cordelle, in Chinese traditional costumes, learnt paper cutting onsite. She finally succeeded in cutting a bunny under the guidance of Cao Xiaoqin, a paper-cutting expert from China.

Maylee and her three friends were all dressed in China's traditional Han clothing. She said they bought these costumes from China a couple of years ago, and they've always dressed in Chinese costumes during each year's Chinese New Year activities as their own way of celebration.

Agencies such as the New Zealand Police, New Zealand Post, Tertiary Education Commission, and the Te Whetu Ora Te Toka Yumai (Health New Zealand-Auckland) actively participated in the market day, promoting public services information.

The outdoor is a bustling food street with mouthwatering traditional and modern street foods. People are indulging themselves in a sea of delicacies such as bubble teas and candy floss, dumplings and buns, lamb kebabs, and fried seafood, as well as Malaysian cuisine, Thai food and Korean food.

A staff member of New Zeland Post shows Year of the Dragon stamps on the Chinese New Year Festival and Market Day in Auckland, New Zealand, Feb. 3, 2024. The Auckland Showgrounds burst forth with color and festivity on Saturday with the opening of the Chinese New Year Festival and Market Day, a signature event that has become a long-cherished tradition for various communities in New Zealand. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)

Children walk past a panda figure on the Chinese New Year Festival and Market Day in Auckland, New Zealand, Feb. 3, 2024. The Auckland Showgrounds burst forth with color and festivity on Saturday with the opening of the Chinese New Year Festival and Market Day, a signature event that has become a long-cherished tradition for various communities in New Zealand. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)

A resident (R) receives a paper-cutting work showing the Chinese character "Fu (fortune)" on the Chinese New Year Festival and Market Day in Auckland, New Zealand, Feb. 3, 2024. The Auckland Showgrounds burst forth with color and festivity on Saturday with the opening of the Chinese New Year Festival and Market Day, a signature event that has become a long-cherished tradition for various communities in New Zealand. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A drone photo taken on Feb. 5, 2024 shows a staff member removing ice from the cable in Tandu Township of Linxiang, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

BEIJING, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Emergency Management has upgraded the emergency response for disasters induced by low temperatures, rain, snow and freezing conditions in central China's Hunan Province from level-IV to level-III on Sunday.

The ministry has also activated a level-IV emergency response for the same reason in east China's Jiangxi Province.

The ministry maintained the level-III emergency response in Anhui and Hubei, as well as the level-IV emergency response in Hebei, Shanxi, Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan, Chongqing, Guizhou and Shaanxi.

Since Saturday, the ministry and two other government departments have dispatched 60,000 disaster relief supplies to Anhui, Hubei and Guizhou, including cotton-padded coats and quilts. 

An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 5, 2024 shows a staff member removing ice and fallen branches from a road in Tandu Township of Linxiang, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Staff members remove ice and fallen branches from a road in Tandu Township of Linxiang, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 5, 2024 shows staff members removing ice on a road in Taojiang County of Yiyang, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

Volunteers use carts to deliver vegetables to community residents in Taoyuan County of Changde, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 5, 2024. (Photo by Huang Qun/Xinhua)

A drone photo taken on Feb. 5, 2024 shows staff members spreading salt to melt ice on a road in Taojiang County of Yiyang, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)
This photo taken on Jan. 29, 2024 shows a zebra (front) and wildebeests in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Arusha, Tanzania. (Xinhua/Hua Hongli)

China is a strategic market for Tanzania's tourism, Thereza Mugobi, director of tourism in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, told Xinhua via phone, noting that the number of Chinese tourists visiting Tanzania increased by 32.4 percent from 33,541 in 2019 to 44,438 in 2023.

by Hua Hongli, Lucas Liganga

KILIMANJARO, Tanzania, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- As the Chinese Spring Festival approaches, more Chinese are heading to Tanzania to celebrate this traditional festival of paramount importance for the Chinese people.

Wang Shupeng, a 40-year-old father of twin daughters from Beijing, said his trip to the African country with his wife and twin daughters has left an indelible mark in their memories.

"My family and I decided to visit Tanzania for relaxation and to see animals. It is our first time here and we are enjoying it," said Wang, referring to Serval Wildlife, a wildlife sanctuary located in the Siha district of the Kilimanjaro region at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain.

The sanctuary is home to a diverse range of animals, including African lions, colobus monkeys, wildebeests, and giraffes.

This photo taken on Jan. 29, 2024 shows flamingos (front) in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Arusha, Tanzania. (Xinhua/Hua Hongli)

"We have already visited Mwanza, the Serengeti National Park and we are now at the sanctuary where we are enjoying seeing a variety of animals in the wild," said Xiao Xuan, Wang's wife, adding that the trip is of great significance for her 12-year-old little daughter Wang Yuxin who has dreamed of becoming a zoologist since she was very young.

"The place has satisfied all the imagination I used to have about the animal world because I have seen so many varieties of animals that we can't see in China, including herbivores and carnivores such as leopards and lions," Yuxin said, noting that her passion about animals will be stronger and stronger.

Wang Yutang, Yuxin's twin sister, expressed her longing for spending the Chinese Spring Festival in Tanzania as the country is excellent in terms of tourism, and it will be an experience she has never had before.

Fahad Nassor Hamud, director of Serval Wildlife, said the Chinese are among the leading visitors to the sanctuary, especially during the Chinese Spring Festival. "Most of our visitors from overseas are Chinese who make up to 80 percent of the visitors," said Hamud.

As a nation with rich tourism resources, Tanzania attracts many tourists from across China to see stunning attractions every year, including Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Zanzibar with its glorious white beaches and historic sites, including the Stone Town.

A 62-year-old Chinese man surnamed Yang was also excited after he arrived in Zanzibar with his wife.

"Tanzania is a magical country we have been looking forward to traveling to," said Yang, laughing when describing the trip as a new honeymoon for him and his wife.

This photo taken on Dec. 28, 2023 shows a city view in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

Tanzania has taken measures to promote its tourism industry, which contributes 25 percent of the country's foreign exchange earnings and 17.5 percent of its gross domestic product, said Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism Angellah Kairuki.

Thereza Mugobi, director of tourism in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, said the number of Chinese tourists visiting Tanzania increased by 32.4 percent from 33,541 in 2019 to 44,438 in 2023.

China is a strategic market for Tanzania's tourism, Mugobi told Xinhua in an interview via phone.

"We appointed Chinese actor Jin Dong to be our tourism goodwill ambassador," she said, adding that Tanzania has been organizing familiarization trips for the Chinese travel agents to visit the country to bolster business relations.
Despite the use of technology by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE), candidates have continued to make question papers viral. The WBBSE has placed a QR code on question papers with serial numbers to identify and punish alleged rogue candidates for allegedly making question papers viral. But on the second successive day of the Madyamik Pariksha today, 12 students were barred from writing this years examination, claimed the Board president Ramanuj Gangopadhyay.

Every examinee has to write the question paper code in the answer sheets and sign his name alongside, which makes the tracing process easier for the authorities. After yesterdays fiasco, the same trend of making question papers viral on social media continued as 12 students belonging to three schools of Malda and Jalpaiguri, respectively, were detected to be the culprits and appropriately barred from appearing in this years examination.

Ramanuj Gangopadhyay told news persons that the new technology was bearing results as 12 more candidates were tracked in quick time. Bratya Basu, the state education minister, asked to comment on the continued trend of the question papers being leaked, said, It appeared to me a clear act of sabotage, which is underway to vilify the state government in public. We will take stern action against the perpetrators.

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South Koreas Hyundai Motor and its smaller affiliate Kia on Sunday said their combined electric vehicle sales exceeded 1.5 million units as of December, 12 years after Hyundai debuted its first EV model.

Hyundai launched its first EV model, the BlueOn, which was based on the i10 mini car, in the domestic market in July 2011.

Hyundai and Kia sold 516,441 EVs in 2023, bringing their accumulated EV sales to 1.53 million units at the end of last year, the companies data showed, reports Yonhap news agency.

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Eight out of 10 Hyundai and Kia EVs were sold overseas last year. Best-selling models include Hyundais Kona Electric and IONIQ 5, and Kias Niro and EV6.

Despite a slowdown in EV sales, Hyundai plans to launch the electrified version of the Casper mini car later this year, and Kia will start production of the EV3 compact EV model at its domestic plant in the second quarter.

In 2024, Hyundai aims to sell 4.24 million autos, slightly higher than the 4.21 million last year, and Kia aims to sell 3.2 million units, up 3.6 percent from 3.08 million.

The two together form the worlds third-largest carmaker by sales after Toyota Motor Corp. and Volkswagen Group.
As the West Bengal Minister of State for Finance (Independent charge), Chandrima Bhattacharya, is all set to present the state budget for the financial year 2024-25 this week, economists and the people of the state are caught between expectations of a welfare budget and apprehensions over revenue generation.

The Assemblys Budget Session is scheduled to start from February 5 and the state Budget will be presented on February 8. There will be discussions on the state budget on February 9 and 10.

At a recent public meeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had hinted at additional doles and welfare schemes for the people in the state budget.

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She said while the Interim Budget of the Union Government has limited scope for announcing welfare schemes because of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, there are no such bindings in the state budget.

So, going by those indications, there are expectations of higher subsidies and grants under the existing welfare schemes and hopes for new ones, especially for the underprivileged in the state.

Economists wonder whether the Government will be able to strike a balance between welfarism and revenue generation.

They are also deliberating whether the state budget will make provisions to ease West Bengals huge debt burden.

West Bengals accumulated debt, as per the state governments budget papers for 2024-25, is slated to rise to Rs 6,47,825.52 crore by March 31, 2024, a ten per cent rise over the figure of Rs 5,86,124.63 crore as on March 31, 2023.

What is equally alarming is that the states per capita debt for the same period is slated to rise to Rs 59,000.

Both, the projected accumulated debt and per capita debt figures are extremely high compared to the corresponding figures as on March 31, 2011, which was the last year of the 34-year Left Front rule in West Bengal. As on March 31, 2011, the accumulated debt figure was Rs 1,97,000 crore and the per capita debt figure was just Rs 20,300.

Economists project a higher accumulated debt figure in the budget estimates for 2024-25. They also fear that unless urgent fiscal measures are adopted to arrest this upward trend, the state will slowly inch towards a debt trap situation, which is a point where the state has to go for fresh borrowings just to service older debts. That situation comes when the debt to Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) ratio reaches 50 per cent.

A scrutiny of the budget documents of the last 10 fiscals reveals that the two factors that fuelled this accumulated debt were rising non-Plan expenditure and the lack of adequate avenues for improving the generation of the states tax revenue which is purely excise dominated.

During the financial year 2023-24, while the projected growth in the states revenue generation was just 12.69 per cent, the same for state excise collection was 19.41 per cent.

Another worrisome trend is the state governments increasing focus on recurring expenditure rather than on capital expenditure.

Industry observer and Professor of Economics, Santanu Basu, says that the only way to arrest the looming financial disaster is to attract big ticket investment by revising the land and special economic zone policies.

In a state like West Bengal with extremely fragmented land holdings, the state government has to have some role in land procurement for the industry. Industrialists will not be willing to invest in the state if they have to approach all the land owners to get the land for setting up industry here, Basu added.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday wrote a letter to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, urging him to replace Health and Finance Secretaries at the earliest.

The request of the Chief Minister came a day after the LG wrote a letter to him in which he expressed disappointment and concern with regards to the pathetic state of hospitals under the Health Department of GNCTD.

In response to the LGs letter, Kejriwal said he had asked the Delhi Health minister for a report on the same.

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However, I wish to state that I have written to you earlier also to replace Health Secretary Deepak Kumar, who is not only inefficient but openly defies the oral and written orders of his minister. How can an elected government function if the senior-most bureaucrat in that department refuses to follow orders of his Minister? he wrote.

Likewise, Finance Secretary Ashish Verma had in the past stopped the payments of medicines, lab tests, doctors salaries, farishtey scheme, DAK scheme, thus paralysing the entire health system, Kejriwal said.

I have requested you several times in the past, both in my personal meetings with you and in writing, to replace the Finance Secretary. He also openly defies orders of his Finance minister, he said.

Noting that it is extremely important that the bureaucrats follow the orders of their ministers, the Chief Minister further said, The Constitution Bench of Supreme Court has also laid down in its order dated 11th May, 2023 about triple chain of accountability in our parliamentary democracy- bureaucracy is accountable to Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers is accountable to the Legislature and Legislature is accountable to the people. If any one component of this triple chain breaks, the entire governance system would collapse.

Kejriwal said the insubordination and refusal of the Finance Secretary and Health Secretary to obey the orders of their ministers has brought Delhis Health system to this state.

I have repeatedly requested you to replace these two bureaucrats with better officers as these are very critical departments. I am sure that there must be some compulsion at your end because of which you are unable to do that despite promising me many times that you would replace them. In the interest of the people of Delhi, I again urge you to kindly replace them at the earliest, he said.
Legendary actor Don Murray, celebrated for his Oscar-nominated role opposite Marilyn Monroe in the 1956 film Bus Stop, has passed away at the age of 94. The news was confirmed by his son Christopher to the New York Times.

Murrays career spanned decades, showcasing his versatile talents in various genres. In the 2017 reboot of Twin Peaks, he portrayed Bushnell Mullins, the chief executive of Lucky 7 Insurance. He also left his mark on the Planet of the Apes franchise, featuring in Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. Additionally, Murray played significant roles in films like Endless Love and contributed to the drama in the prime-time soap Knots Landing as Sid Fairgate.

One of Murrays notable performances was in The Bachelor Party (1957), where he played a young husband navigating the complexities of impending fatherhood. The New York Times praised Murrays portrayal, noting his ability to convey genuine sensitivity beneath the surface of his character.

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In the dramatic film A Hatful of Rain (1957), Murray tackled the issue of drug addiction, portraying a Korean War veteran dealing with personal struggles. His performances were consistently praised, with Variety highlighting his likable portrayal of a character attempting to hide a dark secret.

Murray continued to diversify his career, starring in Westerns such as From Hell to Texas and These Thousand Hills in 1958. He also showcased his acting prowess in the political drama Shake Hands With the Devil (1959), opposite James Cagney.

In 1961, Murray took on the role of actor and co-scriptwriter in the melodrama The Hoodlum Priest, based on a true story of a priest ministering to street gangs. The following year, he played a pivotal role in Otto Premingers political drama Advise and Consent.

Murrays contributions extended to television, where he starred in the single-season Western The Outcast (1968-69) and made appearances in various series. He remained active in the industry, with notable roles in TV movies and the 1981 melodrama Endless Love.

Born in Hollywood, California, Don Murray initially gained recognition in the 1951 Broadway production of Tennessee Williams The Rose Tattoo. He took a hiatus from acting during the Korean War to assist orphans and war casualties. Throughout his career, Murray demonstrated his dedication to the craft, leaving an indelible mark on both stage and screen.
The world's first four-seat hydrogen-powered aircraft prototype soared into the sky for its maiden flight. Its destination? A greener tomorrow! Join us in Shenyang, NE China, to find out why this is a big deal for the country's development in green aviation.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Australian actor Jacob Elordi is currently under police investigation for an alleged assault on Joshua Fox, an employee at KISS FM. The incident took place outside the Clovelly Hotel in Sydneys Eastern Suburbs, where Elordi is staying ahead of the AACTA Awards scheduled for February 10.

Elordi, best known for his roles in The Kissing Booth trilogy on Netflix and as Nate Jacobs in HBOs Euphoria, recently returned to his home country for the awards ceremony. The altercation with Fox occurred when the actor, visibly frustrated with Foxs line of questioning, became involved in a confrontation.

A spokesperson for the New South Wales Police confirmed the ongoing investigation, stating, Officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command are investigating after a man was allegedly assaulted outside a hotel in Sydneys Eastern Suburbs. Police were told about 3.30pm on Saturday 3 February 2024, a 32-year-old man was allegedly assaulted by a 26-year-old man. The man did not sustain any injuries.

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Despite the legal turmoil, Elordi is nominated for the Best Supporting Actor award at the AACTAs for his outstanding performance in the Amazon hit, Saltburn. The Brisbane native, who moved to Los Angeles in 2017 to pursue his acting career, has gained recognition for his roles in various successful projects.

Recently, Elordi showcased his versatility as he hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live alongside musical guest Renee Rapp. However, with the ongoing police investigation, it remains uncertain whether the actor will be present at the upcoming AACTA Awards.

Elordis career has seen significant growth, with his portrayal of Noah Flynn in The Kissing Booth trilogy and his compelling performance as Nate Jacobs in Euphoria. In 2023, his supporting roles in the biopic Priscilla as Elvis Presley and as a wealthy university student in Saltburn earned him critical acclaim, culminating in a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for the latter.

As the investigation unfolds, the actors future participation in the AACTA Awards and his career trajectory remain uncertain. Fans and industry observers eagerly await further developments in this unexpected turn of events involving Jacob Elordi.
Snow and bad weather on Sunday forced the authorities to cancel all flights to Srinagar.

The snowfall that began on Saturday night intensified before inbound flights from New Delhi, Jammu, and other parts of the country could operate after a brief pause early this morning enabling clearance of the runway.

The snowfall across Jammu and Kashmir and also Ladakh threw normal life out of gear. The Jammu-Srinagar and other highways were closed to traffic due to snow and landslides. Several roads across the district of the Kashmir Valley and upper areas of Jammu were covered under snow.

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Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar highway due to a landslide at Sherbibi in the Ramban district. Efforts were being made to clear the debris for movement of traffic.

Men and machines of the Border Roads Organization (BRO), Army, and PWD were engaged in clearing snow from the roads.

The plains of Jammu had rain, whereas heavy snowfall has been reported in Kishtwar, Doda, Reading, Ramban, Poonch, Rajouri, and Kathua districts of Jammu.

The authorities have issued avalanche warnings in Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, and Ramban districts in the next 24 hours.

People living in these areas have been advised to take precautions and avoid venturing into the avalanche prone areas.

Electric supply in certain areas of the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu division was snapped, but the engineers promptly restored it.

Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar Dr. Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din undertook a whirlwind tour of the city areas to oversee snow clearance measures for hassle-free vehicular movement. He inspected major roads including Poloview, Residency Road, Lal Chowk, Batamaloo, and Bemina.

Because of heavy snowfall in Kishtwar, Deputy Commissioner Devansh Yadav hosted a snow mela at the Chowgan Ground and has invited tourists to participate in lots of snow activities.

To meet the situation, the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu, issued a district-wise list of nodal officers of control rooms with contact numbers for medical assistance.

The mercury in Gulmarg ski resort in north Kashmir was minus 7 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam in south Kashmir, which serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra, recorded a low of minus 3.5 degrees Celsius.

Snowfall occurred at all places in the Kargil district in Ladakh and at many places in the Leh district.
Delhi police crime branch officials on Sunday visited minister Atishis residence in connection with their investigation into her allegations that BJP is trying to buy Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs.

However, the Delhi minister was not present at her residence when the police officials arrived but he reportedly asked her team to recieve their notice.

This comes a day after a team of Delhi Police Crime Branch officers visited Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals residence to collect the evidence regarding the AAPs poaching allegations against the BJP.

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This is the second time cops have knocked on their doors. Earlier on Friday, the police had visited the respective houses of the two leaders.

The police action came after the Aam Aadmi Party accused the BJP of trying to topple the elected Delhi government through a campaign dubbed Operation Lotus 2.0. The AAP claimed that seven of the MLAs have been offered Rs 25 crore to switch their loyalties.

BJP has started Operation Lotus 2.0, and is trying to topple the democratically elected AAP government in Delhi. 7 MLAs of the AAP have been contacted by the BJP, and have been told, that Arvind Kejriwal will be arrested soon, after which AAP MLAs will be rifted apart. They are in touch with 21 of our MLAs, using whom they aim to topple the Delhi government. Those 7 MLAs have been offered Rs 25 crores each Operation Lotus is the tactic used by the BJP to come into power in states, where they are not democratically elected Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh are examples, AAP leader Atishi had said.in a press conference last week.

She further claimed that the AAP also possesses a recording of one such conversations related to the poaching attempt by the BJP and said that it will be released if the need arises.

The BJP has dismissed the allegations, saying it is a tactic to divert the attention from Kejriwals alleged corruption in the liquor policy case.
President Droupadi Murmu said here on Sunday that India has emerged as a key stakeholder in the global discourse.

India, she said, has much to offer when it comes to international issues in justice delivery. India is not only the biggest democracy, but history shows that it is also the oldest democracy. With that rich and long democratic heritage, we can offer our learning in justice delivery in modern times, she added.

The President was addressing the valedictory function of the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA)  Commonwealth Attorneys and Solicitors General Conference (CASGC) 2024 in New Delhi. Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke at the function.

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President Murmu said what is right and just is also logically sound. These three qualities combine to define the moral order of a society. That is why the representatives of the legal profession and the judiciary, are the ones who help in upholding the order. If that order is challenged, they are the ones who, as lawyers or judges, law students or teachers, strive most to set it right again, she added.

The President said that the Preamble to the Constitution speaks of Justice, social, economic and political. Therefore, when we speak of justice delivery, we should keep in mind all aspects of it, including social justice.

She stated that in recent times, as the world faces the threat of climate change, environmental justice should also be added to these varied aspects of the concept of justice. As it happens, the issues of environmental justice often pose cross-border challenges.

They form the key area of what this conference is about, namely, Cross-Border Challenges in Justice Delivery. She was happy to note that CLEA has taken the responsibility to chart a roadmap to a common future that transcends borders and underlines the fundamental principles of natural justice based on equality and dignity.

She expressed confidence that the Commonwealth, with its diversity and legacy, can show the rest of the world the way to address the common concerns in a spirit of cooperation.

Noting that Access to Justice: Bridging the Divide was one of the sub-themes of the conference, the President expressed confidence that the discussions in the conference must have been enriched by the participation of deans and vice-chancellors as well as senior students and scholars of various institutions and universities.

She said that young minds are flexible and can offer innovative and out-of-the-box solutions to the problems that have challenged the most experienced professionals.

The conference was aimed to deliberate on important issues pertaining to law and justice like judicial transition and the ethical dimensions of legal practice; executive accountability; and revisiting modern-day legal education, among others.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that India needed to take the lead in making Vipassana more acceptable.

The prime minister was addressing the concluding ceremony of the year-long celebrations of Vipassana meditation teacher Acharya S N Goenkas 100th birth anniversary via video message.

Highlighting the benefits of Vipassana, he said practicing Vipassana has become even more important in todays challenging times when the youth have become victims of stress due to work-life balance, prevailing lifestyle, and other issues.

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Modi emphasised it is a solution not just for them but also for the members of micro and nuclear families where elderly parents remain under a lot of stress. He also urged everyone to connect elderly people with such initiatives.

Even though it was Indias ancestors who researched the processes of Vipassana yoga, the prime minister pointed out the irony that the next generations forgot its importance. Vipassana, Meditation, and Dharana are often considered only as matters of renunciation and people but its role was forgotten, he added.

On the occasion, Modi praised eminent personalities like Acharya SN Goenka for their leadership. Quoting Guru ji, the prime minister remarked, A healthy life is a big responsibility of all of us towards ourselves.

The prime minister lauded Acharya Goenkas efforts to make everyones life peaceful, happy and harmonious through his campaigns. He also wanted the future generations to avail the benefits of these campaigns and that is why he expanded his knowledge. He did not stop there but also created skilled teachers, he said.

The prime minister once again explained about Vipassana, saying that it is a journey into the soul and a way to dive deep within yourself. However, it is not just a genre but a science.

He said, As we are familiar with the results of this science, we now need to present its evidence to the world according to the standards of modern science.

While a lot is already being done all over the world in this direction, Bharat needs to take the lead in making it more acceptable using new research for bringing greater welfare to the world, the prime minister added.

Recalling the beginning of the birth centenary celebrations of the Vipassana meditation teacher, Acharya S N Goenka a year ago, the prime minister underlined that the nation celebrated Amrit Mahotsav and also remembering the ideals of Kalyan Mitra Goenka at the same time.

He reaffirmed that when these celebrations are coming to an end today, the country is moving rapidly towards fulfilling the resolutions of a Viksit Bharat.

Quoting Lord Buddhas mantra which was often used by Guruji, Prime Minister Modi said, Meditating together gives effective results. This feeling of solidarity and power of unity is a major basis of Viksit Bharat. He extended his warm wishes to all for propagating the same mantra throughout the year.

The prime minister recalled his connections with Goenka and said they met multiple times in Gujarat after the first meeting at the World Religion Conference at the United Nations.

Modi called himself fortunate enough to see him during his final stages and having the privilege of knowing and understanding Acharya closely. He spoke highly about Goenkas absorbing Vipassana deeply along with his calm and serious personality which created an atmosphere of virtuousness wherever he went.

A perfect example of One Life, One Mission, Shri Goenka had only one mission  Vipassana! He imparted the knowledge of Vipassana to everyone, Modi said as he hailed the huge contribution to humanity and the world.
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested an Indian embassy worker for alleged anti-national activities. The accused, identified as Satendra Siwal, was arrested from UPs Meerut.

Siwal worked at Indian embassy in Moscow and he is accused of spying for Pakistani intelligence agency ISI.

He has been posted at Moscow embassy since 2021 and worked as Multi-Tasking staff at the ministry of external affairs.

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According to the UP ATS, Siwal has been sending strategically crucial information on Indian Army to Pakistan.

The ATS was receiving intelligence from various confidential sources that the handlers of the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI, through some persons, were luring the employees of the Ministry of External Affairs with money to obtain strategically and strategically important information related to the Indian Army that is likely to pose a huge threat to the internal and external security of India, the agency said in a statement.

The agency said it had called Siwal for interrogation at its Meerut office and he failed to provide satisfactory answers to their questions. When pressed further, he reportedly confessed spying for the Pakistani intelligence agency.

He allegedly shared documents of Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Defence and gave details of military establishment to his ISI handlers.
The MLAs of Jharkhands ruling JMM-Congress-RJD alliance, who have camping at a Telangana resort since Thursday, have returned to Ranchi ahead of Mondays crucial floor test of the Champai Soren government.

The MLAs were shifted to the Congress-ruled state amid fears of poaching by the principal Opposition BJP after former Chief Minister Hemant Sorens resignation and subsequent arrest.

The ruling JMM-Congress-RJD alliance has 47 MLAs in the 81-member Jharkhand legislative assembly where the majority mark is 41. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has 29 seats, its ally Congress has 17 and the RJD and the CPI (ML) have 1 seat.

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However, the Champai Soren government has given the Governor a lettre of support from 43 MLAs.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Pranav Jha has alleged that BJP was still trying to break the party in Jharkhand.

CM has been allowed to vote. We have sufficient numbers quite in fact more than the majority. We came because the BJP was still trying to break usThe threat of ED, CBI, and IT was there. Theyre trying to break every opposition state, Pranav Jha told reporters in Hyderabad.

The floor test of the new government of Jharkhand will be held in the Assembly on Monday.

The move is seen as an attempt by the ruling combine to keep its flock together and pre-empt poaching attempts by the principal Opposition playerBJP.

The Assembly will convene for a two-day session on February 5.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav said here on Sunday that regular training and orientation of ministers is necessary to ensure good governance as the decisions of the ministers and the cabinet directly affect the people of the state.

The chief minister was addressing the two-day Madhya Pradesh Leadership Summit organised for the training and orientation of the cabinet ministers at the Atal Behari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis in Bhopal.

Yadav said that the training from the summit would provide an opportunity to learn the nuances of governance, which would strengthen administration, and its direct benefits would be available to the people of the state through the decisions of the cabinet.

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Chief Minister Dr Yadav further said the training would provide an opportunity for the members of the cabinet to learn harmony and coordination with the ministries of the government of India and the departments of the state government. Speeches of senior public representatives and experts of NITI Aayog would boost their confidence.

He said the programme would not only assist in making the ministers experts in governance but also would help in making their personal lives disciplined and successful.

The two-day orientation programme for public representatives was held by the Atal Behari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis, Madhya Pradesh, in collaboration with Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhani Institute. On the first day of the summit, various sessions of speeches by Chief Minister Dr Yadav, senior public representatives and experts from NITI Aayog were organized for the orientation of the public representatives.

Dr Jayant Kulkarni, Executive Director of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhani Sansthan, threw light on the outline and requirements of the training. Members of parliament Vishnu Dutt Sharma, Shivprakash and V Satish expressed their views on leadership and efficiency in governance.

In the session on Aspirations and Resolves-Important Initiatives of Government of India, Anand Shekhar of NITI Aayog, Government of India of Aspirational Block Programme, said the NITI Aayog is working in collaboration with Madhya Pradesh in 4 distinct areas. Progress is being made in collaboration with Madhya Pradesh towards achieving the goals of sustainable development.

Dr Vikrant Tomar addressed the gathering on Stress Management.
In an attempt to maintain transparency in candidate selection and ticket distribution for the upcoming twin polls, the Congress on Sunday launched a new initiative Project Pragaman for the upcoming twin polls in Odisha.

The new initiative is designed for transparent candidate selection and ticket distribution. It will also make way for new talent to emerge as leaders in the party, said AICC General Secretary and in-charge of Odisha Dr Ajoy Kumar.

The project also intends to recruit new leaders to the Congress party. This online portal launched in this regard will remain open from 4 to 11 February 2024 .

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Dr Kumar unveiled the official website for Pragaman for online application for tickets in the 2024 general election for Lok Sabha and State Assembly Election.

The AICC launched for the first time the Pragaman APP in odisha for transparent ticket distribution to the aspiring Congress candidates, Kumar told reporters here on Sunday.

Any congress worker or leader can apply if he or she feels she or he has the potential to win the election. Now onwards only the honest and dedicated Congress worker will get the chance to get a ticket without any references and family lineage, Kumar said.

Pointing out towards the bonhomie between the ruling party and the principal Opposition, Kumar charged that the focus of BJD and BJP is now on seat sharing.

Their friendly relationship is now crystal clear after Modis visit to Sambalpur yesterday. He did not utter a single word against BJDs misrule and maladministration in Odisha, Kumar added.

Congress is the first and only party which gives the opportunity to every Congress worker to be an MLA or MP, if he has the desire to serve the people. Our leader Rahul Gandhi desires that a real Congress leader with a pool of talent should come forward and apply for tickets, senior leader Prasad Harichandan said.
Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University Prof Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit on Sunday said that a special centre for Odia studies at JNU would play a pivotal role in promoting Odia language, literature, and culture.

Pandit called on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence on Sunday to finalise the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the state government for the establishment of the Biju Patnaik Special Centre for Odia Studies at JNU.

The state government will provide a one-time assistance of Rs 10 crore towards the establishment of the centre.

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The Biju Patnaik Special Centre for Odia Studies will launch a masters programme on Odia Studies. Additionally, the centre will delve into the study of Biju Patnaiks leadership and governance, explore Jagannath culture, and pursue the manuscriptology of ancient Odia literature. These details were shared by Higher Education Secretary Arvind Agrawal, who was also present on the occasion.

During the discussion, Prof Pandit admired Patnaiks transformational initiatives in Odisha that have brought visible changes in every sector of the state.

Describing Chief Minister Patnaik as the finest example of cooperative federalism, she appreciated his efforts to promote the Odia language and culture and expand its scope beyond Odisha.

Praising Biju Patnaiks role in the Indonesian freedom struggle, she said that Biju Babu single-handedly raised the glory of Odisha to the global level.

She also appreciated the efforts of the Chief Minister in promoting regional languages and culture, fostering a pan-India identity for them.
Attracted by its abundant wildlife and rich cultural heritage, more and more Chinese are traveling to Tanzania during holidays.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




Shortly after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadavs not invited to Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra remark, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said that a detailed route and programme of Rahul Gandhis yatra in Uttar Pradesh is being prepared and it will soon be shared with INDIA alliance partners in the state.

The detailed route and programme of Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra in Uttar Pradesh is being prepared. It will be finalised in a day or two. After this it will be shared with the constituent parties of INDIA alliance in the state, Ramesh said in a post replying to Yadavs statement.

The Congress leader further said the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will enter Uttar Pradesh on February 16 and that Yadavs participation will further strengthen the INDIA alliance.

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His participation in the Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra will further strengthen the INDIA alliance. The Yatra is expected to enter UP on the afternoon of February 16, Ramesh said.

The Oppositions INDIA alliance is going through a rough phase after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees public announcement of going solo in Lok Sabha polls. She refused to share any seats with the Congress and the Left in Bengal for the Lok Sabha elections.

After this, JD(U) chief and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar broke away from the INDIA alliance and joined the BJP-led NDA. The AAP has also refused to give up any seats for Congress in Punjab.

The alliance is said to be facing disagreements in Uttar Pradesh as well and Congress had objected to Samajwadi Partys unilateral decision to release a list of Lok Sabha candidates.

Earlier, Akhilesh Yadav had announced seat-sharing talks with the Congress on 11 seats. The Congress party, however, didnt confirm this.
Congress on Sunday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for visiting northeastern state of Assam but ignoring the ethnic violence-hit Manipur.

In a social media post on X, senior Congress leader Pawan Khera shared a screenshot of flights from Guwahati to Imphal. He also offered to book a flight ticket to Manipur to facilitate the prime ministers visit to the violence-hit state.

Dear PMO India. If Himanta (Assam Chief Minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma) can book a chopper for you then it is fne, otherwise here is the list of lights between Guwahati and Imphal tomorrow. Please let us know if we need to make the booking, Pawan Khera wrote in his post.

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Manipur has been battling with ethnic violence between people from Meteies and Kuki-Zomi community since May last year.

More than 250 people have been killed and scores others rendered homeless after a series of violence. Women were raped and paraded naked, and people looted weapons form police stations as law and order took a massive hit in the state.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also targeted the prime minister for not visiting Manipur and called it a horrific ANYAY (injustice) on the people of the state.

Nine months to the day and yet no meeting with the PM who continues to maintain total silence on Manipur. The PM goes to Guwahati for a road show but cannot and will not go to Imphal. A horrific ANYAY by the PM on the people of Manipur, Jairam Ramesh said.
While India is celebrating an upward trajectory of economic growth combined with ecstatic euphoria through the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya it would be foolish to remain oblivious to the upheavals of a tottering civilization. We are just 90 seconds from a global catastrophe as per the latest announcement of the Security Board of Bulletin of Atomic Scientists for the second consecutive year.

Let me, therefore, focus on the theme of United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week, 1-7 February which is Uniting for peace, and the positive role that religious communities can play to save our planet. In this age of interdependence and interconnectedness at every level of human existence followers of religions or dharma or mazhab, whatever term is used, have to accept that no spiritual system or cultural milieu can thrive in isolation or compartments. Believers and even non-believers must transcend petty differences and conflicting doctrines to create a peoples movement of interfaith harmony. This is, indeed, an important goal of all interfaith conferences and seminars. The legacy of the interfaith movement may be traced to the 1893 Parliament of the Worlds Religions held in Chicago. Leaders of religions and the laity have shown that harmonious relationships can be forged to live side by side and peacefully for tackling other major crises such poverty alleviation, gender imbalances, climate emergencies, conflicts and wars fueled by a range of causes by building capacity through educational institutions and selfless services for the welfare of all.

The spiritual luminaries described variously as the avatara, the tathagatha, the tirthankara, the prophet or messenger, and manifestation of God, have come periodically to guide the people and provide for the progress of an ever-advancing civilization. From an unprejudiced point of view their message may be taken as a chapter of a Divine Book; each time a Message was given it gave rise to a new path for humankinds growth and spiritual development. We should also remember that differences among peoples due to culture or whatever other reasons should not breed hostility but should lead to deepening and enriching our thoughts and enable us to live in mutual harmony and peace. Just as unity is a fundamental truth diversity is also intrinsic in creation. Differences test our capacity to tolerate.

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While recognizing differences we should understand the commonalities and it is this tension between differences and commonalities which enrich our lives. There are practical steps and universal principles that all can follow to remove the causes for hatred, misunderstandings and conflicts. We need to take two steps  first, forging the unity of all the worlds leaders and officials in leading us to peace, stopping wars, setting national boundaries, ending civil, religious, or ideological differences, and facilitating fairness and justice. They can only do that by signing an inviolable Pact. In this context, there are a host of Declarations and practical educational curricula that have been endorsed repeatedly by leaders or representatives of all faiths and belief systems, the most recent one was at the Parliament of the Worlds Religions held in Chicago in August 2023.

Second, the worlds peoples must also set aside prejudices and differences, and begin to cooperate, support each other and their governments, and be well-wishers of humankind  the ancient and renewed Golden Rule commemorated every year on 5 April was put into worldwide motion and action at the Centenary of the Parliament of the Worlds Religions held in September 1993. Words will not save us  only action can. Viewed from the lens of positivity, without doubt, history shows that we are making progress towards these cooperative ends and new beginnings. This is not to suggest that everything is hunky-dory because one must realise that there is a great deal of lawlessness, rampant corruption, and widespread unbelief that together are eating away at the vitals of present-day society. It is necessary to assert that all of humanity is responsible for reversing these negative tendencies.

Those in authority and the decision-makers have the chief responsibility. They must gather their peers in a single great assemblage empowered to stop religiously motivated violence and bring a lasting peace to all. The interfaith movement has abundantly reiterated that the sacred scriptures belong to all. In the past due to lack of means of communication and limited education of the vast majority of humanity it was confined to particular sections of the religious community but today access to knowledge by all peoples has made it possible to read any Scripture in ones mother-tongue. Through independent search after truth and the study of the holy Books of different religions one can easily dispel blind faith and nip distortions in the bud. We can help each other to build bridges of understanding among peoples, regardless of their spiritual background.

Not only this, such a dispassionate study strengthens the belief in the common set of core values found in the teachings of every extant religion, and these form the basis of a global ethic, the Golden Rule  a powerful guideline for human behaviour that instils courage to reject prejudices of every kind. Indeed, the rising fires of religious prejudice call for decisive action against fanaticism and intolerance.

The crisis demands of religious leadership for a break with the past as decisive as that which opened the way for society to address equally corrosive prejudices of caste, race, gender and nation. Ruling elites, be they religious or secular, can make no more serious error than to imagine that the power they have managed to arrogate to themselves provides an enduring bulwark against the relentless tides of historical change. May World Interfaith Harmony Week this year become a turning point in the history of civilization and unite the world for peace.

(The writer is a social worker, independent researcher and an active promoter of interfaith harmony. Views expressed are personal.)
Jharkhand welcomed its 12th Chief Minister, Champai Soren. The State faced a political crisis when its former Chief Minister, Hemant Soren, resigned before being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on money laundering charges. After being interrogated for seven hours at his official residence, Soren was forced to resign, leading to political instability in the state.

It was not surprising when he was arrested, as he knew it was only a matter of time. Many previous Chief Ministers of Jharkhand had resigned due to corruption charges before him. Corruption and defection have often been the reasons for instability in the State. The current crisis has resulted in several problems, including the uncertainty surrounding the newly formed INDIA grouping. Additionally, it may impact the outcome of the 2024 elections, which will take place in less than two months.

Moreover, there are concerns about whether small states are facing political instability. Jharkhand has experienced political instability and Maoist violence since its formation in 2000. In contrast, Chattisgarh, created simultaneously, has been more politically stable. Jharkhand is a state blessed with abundant natural resources, but unfortunately, its people have been struggling with poverty and underdevelopment. This could be attributed to frequent changes in governance and political instability. Jharkhand has had 11 Chief Ministers since it was formed in 2000. Most chief ministers have had brief tenures. Only Raghubar Das from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could complete his five-year term from 2014 to 2019.

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Currently, Jharkhand faces a political crisis because of Hemant Sorens resignation. In addition, the governor, C.P. Radhakrishnan, delayed Champai Sorens swearing-in ceremony. The State was without a Chief Minister for over 48 hours, but they eventually held the oath-taking ceremony on Friday. Sorens successor is a loyal party member and State Transport Minister. The Jharkhand Assembly has 81 members, and a government can be formed with 41 members. At present, the JMM-CongressRJD alliance holds a total of 47 members in the legislative assembly. JMM has 29 members, while the Congress has 17 members, and the RJD has only one member.

On the other hand, the BJP has 25 members, and the AJSU has three members. The remaining seats are shared by the NCP and a Left party, each with one member. There are three independent members. The JMM-led alliance was concerned that the opposition BJP try to lure their members away and destabilize their government. The MLAs were quickly taken to a safe place until the new chief minister took the oath. Resort politics is another notorious thing that should be dealt with. The INDIA has also encountered a setback due to the Jharkhand crisis. Hemant Soren played an active role in the situation only two months before the Lok Sabha elections. The cracks developed and became increasingly apparent due to the lack of unity among the INDIA bloc.

Nitish Kumars departure, Mamata Banerjees announcement that her TMC party will contest all seats in West Bengal, and AAPs decision to run solo in Punjab all pose a danger to the blocs unity. Moreover, a strained relationship between the Congress and Akhilesh Yadavs SP in Uttar Pradesh further compound the issue. The Opposition accuses the Modi government of targeting several leaders from different parties. These include Delhis CM Arvind Kejriwal, Keralas Pinarayi Vijayan, NCPs Sharad Pawar, and Hemant Soren. There is a concern about whether the creation of smaller states has achieved its intended purpose.

During the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, three small states were formed by dividing larger states  Madhya Pradesh (into Chhattisgarh), Bihar (into Jharkhand), and Uttar Pradesh (into Uttarakhand). The aim of this was to promote development in those regions. However, even after two decades, these states continue to face instability, raising questions about the efficacy of this policy. Sometimes, smaller states may not be better for the people they aim to serve.

This is because smaller assemblies can cause instability as people switch sides. Initially, elections in smaller states tend to focus on local issues, which divides representation among smaller parties and regional leaders who act independently. Although this may seem like a good idea, it can have unintended consequences that negatively affect peoples lives. The stability of smaller states depends on various factors.

Chhattisgarh has direct contests between B.J.P. and Congress. Jharkhand has a multi-party system with national parties relying on regional parties, leading to instability and defections. When no political party wins a clear majority in an election, it can lead to political instability in small and large states. The Anti-Defection Law was created to prevent legislators from switching parties, but it often fails because some lawmakers are tempted by money and power. Political parties need to find a solution to this problem.
Karl Marx (1818-83) and Friedrich Engels (1820-95) viewed the 1789 French Revolution as a symbol of the demise of feudalism and inauguration of a bourgeois society which eventually would be dislodged by the socialist revolution. The idea of apocalyptic change, central to Marxism, came from it.

After Marxs death in 1883, Engels, as the most important theoretician raised doubts about whether armed rebellion was a suitable mechanism for realizing socialism in view of the huge standing armies maintained by the modern nation states and because the SPD in Germany, the largest and oldest socialist party in Europe, through its 1891 Erfurt Programme stressed on reforms while reiterating theoretically its commitment to revolutionary socialism.

Engels comment History has proved us and those who thought like us wrong was seen as paving the way for the revisionist debate within the SPD. Eduard Bernstein (1850-1932) was the first to realise an open cleavage between the Marxist theory and the social, economic and political realities within late 19th century capitalism. He conceded Marx was a genius but stressed on the need to critically assess the development and elaboration of Marxism. In his Evolutionary Socialism (1899), he pointed out that the working class had started to live better and because of the right to vote the workers settled for economism and parliamentarism as opposed to revolution.

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Alarmed at these observations, Vladimir Lenin (2 April1850  21 January 1924) felt it was important to prove Marxs prophecy right and because of the passion he had for making a revolution, the other being chess which he gave up as it intruded with his commitment to revolution, fused Marxs majoritarianism with Nikolai Chernyshevskys (1828-89) elite revolutionism in What is to be done? (1901-2). The title was taken from Chernyshevskys novel which was written in 1862-64.

Lenin proposed a highly disciplined and organized vanguard party of professional revolutionaries based on the principles of secrecy, centralisation, specialisation and exclusivity to make the revolution on behalf of the working class. His prescription of an all-encompassing and powerful role for the party, the most important post-Marx development within Marxism, led to a split within the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP) into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks meaning majority and minority respectively in Russian.

Both groups were committed to revolution but the Mensheviks were for open and majoritarian socialist revolution and wanted to prepare for it while Lenin was a man in a hurry. In the aftermath of the 1905 revolution which was spontaneous, Lenin in his State and Revolution (1916) shifted his emphasis from the vanguard party to the dictatorship of the proletariat which Marx mentioned in passing. He claimed the 1917 Kerensky February revolution as a bourgeois democratic one and his own Bolshevik October revolution as the socialist one justifying that he was following Marxs theory of the two-stage revolution.

The Bolshevik Revolution and the Leninist experiment were severely criticised both within and outside Russia. Most of Lenins critics unanimously concurred that it amounted to an absence of democracy and lacked sufficient institutional checks against abuse of power. Georgii Plekhanov (1856-1918), the father of Russian Marxism, warned against Lenins minority revolution and accused Bolshevism of displaying Jacobin tendencies which were at variance with the Marxist conception of class struggle. In a similar vein, Julius Martov (1873- 1923), a Menshevik, feared institutionalization of dictatorship or commissarocracy because of Russias general backwardness and its unreadiness for a socialist revolution. He pointed out that Lenin made the unconscious majority passive objects of social experimentation and dubbed the October revolution as a coup detat. Lenins suspension of the Constituent Assembly in 1918 provoked the Pope of Marxism, Karl Kautsky (1854-1938), and the Eagle of the Revolution, Rosa Luxemburg (1871-1919), to virulently denounce Leninism for disregarding democratic norms and procedures. Both feared intensification of militarisation and bureaucratisation.

Luxemburg was sanguine that the abandonment of spontaneity would only encourage centralization and personal dictatorship. The restrictions on the press, on suffrage and the right of assembly led her to express in these memorable words freedom is always and exclusively freedom for the one who thinks differently. Peter Kropotkin (1842-1921), an anarchist, like Luxemburg, feared the deadening of spontaneous creativity and local initiative because of party dictatorship. Bernstein dubbed the revolution as a counter-revolution and regarded Bolshevism as a brutalized version of Marxism as it relied on terror and violence.

Lenin could never comprehend as Bernstein did that any dictatorship whether of the proletariat or the bourgeois could ever be the vehicle of what Marx projected from the realm of necessity to realm of freedom. The new dawn that Lenins revolution promised was structurally defective from the very inception as it had no detailed account of administering a modern state. The brutal repression of the Kronstadt rebellion in 1921 attenuated centralising and repressive elements within the regime.

Lenin attempted half-heartedly to liberalize the Soviet system with his new economic policy (NEP) in 1921 but the failure to liberalize politically eventually led to the rise of Stalinism. If the latter was a malignant form of Leninism, then Leninism itself was an authoritarian offshoot of Marxism. Lenins insurrectionist politics, conspiratorial tactics and strategy set aside the entire thrust of Marxs concept of a majoritarian and democratic revolutionary transformation.

The Leninist revolution in reality was a minority revolution. It is a cruel fact of history that Lenin, like the Tsar who threw away a golden opportunity of transforming Russia into a constitutional state had he cooperated with the moderate liberal opinion after the 1905 revolution, did not attempt to create a constitutional state. The establishment of a repressive and an authoritarian state and the subjugation of civil society logically followed this failure.

Under the Tsar, one was condemned for ones own action whereas under communism, any deviating thought was dubbed as counter-revolutionary and had dire consequences culminating in the show trials of 1938 that killed Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky. All three were rehabilitated in 1988 after relentless efforts by many like the Bertrand Russell foundation, Noam Chomsky, de Beauvior and Sweezy.

For the collapse of communism, the originators themselves have to be blamed as they never produced a blueprint for actualizing true democracy and full freedom. A well-developed Marxist theory of the state based on equity, just reward, rule of law and freedom as an alternative to liberal democratic theory eluded all important Marxists including Lenin.

(The writers are, respectively, a retired Professor of Political Science, University of Delhi and Professor of Political Science, Jesus and Mary College, New Delhi)
In a strategic move echoing its growing capability and commitment to global stability, India has deployed an unprecedented naval force east of the Red Sea to counter the resurgence of piracy. This robust response, with at least a dozen warships, marks Indias most extensive deployment in the region to date, emphasising its role as a key player in maintaining global maritime security. While refraining from joining the US-led task force for the Red Sea, Indias decision to independently position warships in the Gulf of Aden and the northern and western Arabian Sea showcases a nuanced approach to regional challenges.

The move is not just about protecting Indian interests. It reflects a broader responsibility that India believes it must shoulder in times of crisis. External affairs minister S. Jaishankar encapsulated this sentiment at a recent public event, stating, We will not be considered a responsible country when bad things are happening in the surrounding country and we say I have got nothing to do with this. His words resonate with a vision of India as a proactive regional actor, willing to intervene and contribute to stability beyond its immediate borders. The decision to focus on countering piracy, a threat that has returned after a six-year lull, underscores Indias commitment to classic police work at sea.

The Indian Navys meticulous investigation of over 250 vessels and small boats, coupled with the boarding of more than 40, reflects a hands-on approach to addressing the resurgence of piracy in the region. At least 17 incidents, ranging from hijackings to suspicious approaches, have been recorded since December 1, underscoring the gravity of the situation. The complexity of the regions challenges becomes apparent when juxtaposing the piracy issue with Yemens Iran-backed Houthis, who have been launching attacks in the Red Sea. While not directly connected, the surge in piracy incidents seems to be taking advantage of the Wests concentrated efforts on the Houthi conflict. The Indian Navys ability to navigate these distinct challenges showcases a multifaceted approach to regional security, acknowledging the interconnected nature of crises in the area. Indias regional security role is not limited to safeguarding its own interests.

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Recent actions, such as rescuing Iranian and Sri Lankan vessels, highlight the Indian Navys commitment to being a regional security provider. The use of Iranian-made Shahed 136 drones in Decembers attacks, without direct attribution to Tehran, emphasises the delicate diplomatic balancing act India is undertaking in the region. Experts aptly say that as a regional security provider, the Indian Navy is increasingly showcasing the ability to be able to protect not only the countrys interests but also give confidence to nations in the region that it is willing and able to shoulder regional responsibility. This encapsulates Indias evolving role on the global stage ~ a nation willing to step up and actively contribute to regional stability, setting the stage for a paradigm shift in how nations approach shared security concerns.
A robust economy, safety and security of citizens, fixing the southern border crisis, and thriving relations with India are some of the demands put forth by the nearly four-million-strong Indian-American community as the US rolls up its sleeves for Ballot 2024.

Surprising many political voters, the community emerged as the most coveted bloc in the 2020 election with a record 71 per cent rate of voting among Asian Americans and ensuring President Joe Bidens victory.

At least 10 Indian-Americans, mostly Democrats, won local and state-level elections held in several parts of the country last year, reflecting the growing political prowess of the ethnic community.

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For the first time in the history of the country, two Indian-American candidates  Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy  locked horns on the Republican presidential debate stage, giving a tough fight to former president and GOP frontrunner Donald Trump.

Yet, as aptly put by a Carnegie Endowment study, despite the rising political profile of Indian Americans, their political attitudes are woefully under-studied.

Many Indian-Americans support fundraisers and personal affiliations to advance their concerns, yet, when the contestants get elected and take office, most promises fall on the sidelines, especially issues affecting the Indian American community, Nilima Madan, Vice President of The Association of Indians In America, told IANS.

President Joe Bidens major fundraisers included Indian-Americans, who helped raise at least $100,000 for his campaign in 2020.

Topping the list of 800 major donors were community leaders like Swadesh Chatterjee, Ramesh Kapoor, Shekar N. Narasimhan, R. Rangaswami, Ajay Jain Bhutoria, Frank Islam, Neil Makhija and Bela Bajaria.

What hits an American citizen is primarily the economy, their pride and disappointment, and how their life will be run by Republicans or Democrats, Madan said.

Comprising nearly 1 per cent of all registered voters in the US and representing 16 per cent of Asian-American voters, Indian-Americans are considered to be key players in battleground states like Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Nevada.

In general, Indian-American voters, while supporting candidates for various positions, dont articulate their concerns, they dont candidly put their demands for the consideration of political representatives, Ashok Vyas, a programme director with New Jersey-based ITV Gold channel, told IANS.

But for some time, general Indian-American voters are taking a lot of interest in Indian affairs and there is increased sensitivity towards Bharat, he said, adding that the electorate wants a fair portrayal of Indian culture and dharma for students.

In addition to wanting a stronger government, the immediate concern of Indian-American voters, according to Vyas, is stability, safety, and law and order.

While the economy and healthcare are largely seen to influence the vote choice of Indian Americans, this time the community also wants the US to develop robust relations with India.

Parveen Chopra, founder of New York-based spirituality website, ALotusInTheMud.com, was at a fundraiser in Hicksville where prominent Indian-Americans mentioned better India-US relations and safety as their top concerns, in addition to hordes of migrants poring through the southern border.

The crisis at the southern border has become a sore point in the 2024 US Presidential elections with a spike in the number of migrants entering the country through its Mexico border in recent years.

The US Customs and Border Protection released more than 2.3 million migrants into the country at the southern border under the Biden administration, allowing in the vast majority of migrant families and some adult groups, according to a recent Department of Homeland Security report.

An NYT report mentioned that there are now around 11 million undocumented immigrants inside the US  three times the number that lived here in 1990  straining the resources of cities like Denver, New York, and Chicago.

One Democrat who even ran unsuccessfully for a county legislative seat said he is ready to vote Donald Trump this time, unhappy with open borders and migrant tent cities under Joe Biden, Chopra, former editor of New York-based daily, The South Asian Times, told IANS.

Vyas said that the chances of Trump returning as president cannot be ruled out.

Donald Trump talked about building a wall and putting America first. These ideas are making him a popular choice. Will we have Trump as President again? This cant be ruled out, he said.

While Indian Americans have largely sided with the Democrats, Madan told IANS that it is more about choosing a reliable American administration.

Democrats or Republicans, no one votes for four years of unpredictability but chooses a reliable American administration.

While there was an initial wave of excitement among the community with the entry of Ramaswamy and Haley in the presidential race, Madan said that an individuals race or ethnicity itself is not a defining factor.

Every election becomes another chance to participate and hope for a favorable outcome amid political polarisation. Although their diverse attitudes and attributes are dividing Indian American voters for the 2024 US Presidential elections, an individuals race or ethnicity itself is not a defining factor, Madan told IANS.

Haley, who continues to be in the Republican presidential race, launched her campaign by calling herself a daughter of immigrants but has not garnered much support from the community.

About Nikki Haley, Indians dont consider her a viable candidate  her being of Indian origin is not much in their equation, Chopra told IANS on being asked about the former South Carolina governors chances against Trump.

Vyas said that at this point, she doesnt seem to be holding any ground against former president Trump.

According to a Monmouth University-Washington Post poll released this week, Haley is trailing Trump by 26 points in her home state of South Carolina.

With the former president winning the two primary contests held so far, the 2024 presidential campaign appears to be inexorably heading towards a Trump-Biden rematch, with most voters wishing there were better candidates in the race.

Close to 74 per cent of Indian-American voters are thought to have backed Biden in 2020, according to a 2022 survey by AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) data, compared to just 15 per cent supporting Trump.

Political experts believe that in 2024, much of those 74 per cent of the votes  comprising businessmen, corporate or tech professionals  are more likely to swing to the right as they favor lower tax rates.

The Affirmative Action at Harvard, anti-caste legislation in California, Khalistan meace, growing attacks on Hindu temples, and fallout of the Israel-Hamas conflict on college campuses do not paint a pretty picture for the Hindus and other minorities.

Says Madan, How all turns out is fluid until all know who is next, yet hopes for the best prevail.
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

Cloudy with a mixture of rain and snow this evening. Low 26F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 50%.


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KIGALI, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- A cultural event to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Spring Festival of the Year of the Dragon was held Friday in the Rwandan capital of Kigali.

The event at the Confucius Institute of the University of Rwanda was mainly attended by students learning the Chinese language at the institute. Activities included a lecture on the introduction of the Spring Festival, paper cutting, and writing Chinese characters representing luck and happiness.

Zeng Guangyu, the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute, said the event was used to teach students about Chinese culture and let them feel the atmosphere of the Chinese Spring Festival.

Hidaya Ikirezi Uwase, a mechanical engineering student at the University of Rwanda, said she was impressed by the paper cutting and Chinese character writing.

"Participating in these activities motivates me to learn more about Chinese culture. If I know more about Chinese culture, it will help me live harmoniously with Chinese people," she said.

The 2024 Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, will fall on Feb. 10, kicking off the Year of the Dragon. 
The child follows the moving object with its eyes. The girl sashays on the catwalk, smiles, then pouts. The child and girl are not human. They are robots made in Japan and they demonstrate the nations way of innovating out of crises.

Japan has the worlds fastest ageing societyone-third of its population are over 65 years old. Simultaneously, decreasing birth rate is creating massive labour shortages. Japans solution to this double whammy is evident in a statistic: it has the worlds highest number of robots. The void caused by ageing and unborn Japanese is being filled by AI, robots and avatars. Japan already has robots, androids and humanoids in hospitals, factories, schools, security services, and even outer space. It employs 2.5 lakh industrial robotic workers, set to increase to 10 lakh in a decade. All Japanese corporate giants manufacture robots and they dominate the international market.

In 2008, Japans population peaked at 129 million. It is projected to decrease by 10 million a decade, plummeting to 77 million in 50 years40 per cent less than today. Warns economist Masakazu Toyoda, Japans GDP will shrink, economy will decline and we will be bankrupted by the caring costs for the ageing population. Geopolitically, Japan would have to survive as a middle power in a tough neighbourhood. It could also lead to a security crisis. Pax America is in decline, no one can stop the crisis in Ukraine or Gaza. Everyone must defend themselves. But Japans self-defence service is unable to recruit sufficient numbers.

Imaging: Bhaskaran

Efforts to increase birth rate by providing child allowances and free college education for the third child have not succeeded in Japan or elsewhere. Migration has improved birthrates in the US and the UK, but migration is taboo in Japan. Most Japanese find the invasion of foreign residents with their alien tongues and loud behaviour into their orderly, polite, silent cocoon, disagreeable. Regarding themselves as a pure race, many Japanese shun intercultural marriages, pejoratively referring to children born of such wedlock as halfu (half). Besides, migration in most western countries is hardly inspiring.

Avoiding immigration, the Japanese prefer the robot route to fill the labour gap. Innovative Japan has a history of skilled craftsmanship. Mechanical dolls, a precursor to todays robots, were invented 300 years ago. In 1972, Japan invented the worlds first humanoid intelligent robot. To disarm public fear of robots, manufacturers also make adorable seals, dogs and cute, comic book manga-style female robots with big eyes and girly fringes.

But in construction, farming and retail, labour shortage extracts a price. The construction of the prestigious Osaka World Expo, scheduled to open in 2025, is facing delays and cost overrunsthe bill has doubled to $1.6 billion. Despite raising wages, enticing women into the work force and designing stylish uniforms, construction workers declined 30 per cent in 25 years. Many 20th century inventions are fading out. Food trolleys in trains have disappeared and vending machines are not refilled for days. Farms are abandoned and whole villages depopulated because 43 per cent of farmers are over 75.

Japanese innovators experiment to mitigate, if not solve the problem. The solar-powered robot duck churns weeds to help rice cultivation. Human hours involved in this process fell from 529 to 29. Omnipresent convenience stores provide everything from rice balls to hangover cures to grateful Japanese commuters. In a new trend, a smiling attendant greets customersfrom a four-foot screen. Like the living attendants of yore, the avatars eyes unobtrusively follow the moving human objectsscanning for shoplifting.

Pratap is an author and journalist.
Many feared in the 1960s that Hindi was going to divide India. Not the language, but its imposition on non-Hindi states. Luckily, saner Nehruvian counsel prevailed, and India survived. With the result, India has two official languages for the Union, 22 recognised languages in the eighth schedule, 15 on currency notes, yet no national language.

Now again, language is threatening to divide INDIA. Not the country India that is fast becoming Bharat, but the political alliance INDIA.

INDIA, if you recall, was born at a conclave in Patna, midwifed or accoucheured by Nitish Kumar in June. Its naming ceremony was held in Bengaluru in July. This column had warned against the name then itself, pleading that we scribes wouldnt like to give headlines as INDIA loses against our patriotic sentiments. No INDIAn listened.

Imaging: Bhaskaran

Last week, the midwife walked away from INDIA to the more Bharatiya camp called NDA, leaving the babys many wet nurses bewildered. Some say, Nitish has fallen for Narendra Modis Jai Shri Ram chants which he thinks would get more votes than all the caste census figures. Others say, he has as much fear of retribution from voters as from the sleuths in the ED. Still others say, he had wanted to be the primo uomo of the INDIAlliance, but seeing so many warlords seeking to be ek din ka sultans in Delhi, he knew he stood no chance. Naturally, the honour of being the INDIA head went to Mallikarjun Kharge, a neta with a thick voice but with the thinnest dossier in EDs and taxmens vaults.

My hunch is that it was English that got Nitishs goat. Look at the INDIA crowd. Save for an Akhilesh Yadav here or an Arvind Kejriwal there, INDIA is essentially a motley crowd of southern, eastern and western leaders. Nitish had been feeling like a fish out of the Kosi in the largely English-speaking, rather non-Hindi-speaking, alliance.

Nitish had been showing his aversion for English for some time. Last February he slammed a farmer for speaking in English at a ploughmens conclave, telling him, You are in Bihar, and this is Bharat. Next month, he was upset with the upper house chairman after he spotted a house display board in English. In September, he lost his cool on seeing the signboard of a newly built digital library in English, and asked the officials to change it to Hindi.

His last straw perhaps was a sheepish request from T.R. Baalu of the DMK for a translation of his speech at an INDIA conclave in Delhi on December 19. To the surprise of all, Nitish, who was known for his composure even in the company of a Lalu Prasad, lost his temper, and gave him a haranguing in Hindi for not knowing the national language.

Many would have wanted to tell Nitish that Hindi is not yet the national language but only the official language of the Union, a status it enjoys along with English, but held their English tongues in the interest of pax-INDIAca.

Then came Narendra Modi, offering a Bharat Ratna to Karpoori Thakur, whom Nitish reveres for two reasons. One, Thakur was the pioneer social justice icon of north India, having implemented a Mandal-type quota in Bihar long before Mandal himself had thought of it. Two, Thakur was also the one who had banished English from Bihars schools.

Now, a word in Baalus defence. There he was, attending a high-powered conclave which he thought had been called to discuss seat-sharing formulas for the upcoming polls. If he didnt know whether Tamil Nadus seat tally is unchalis or eiktalis (most southerners dont), how on earth could he have offered a few of them to the allies?

prasannan@theweek.in
In his famous 1946 essay Politics and the English Language, George Orwell wrote about how language was being corrupted in the defence of the indefensible. When people were driven out of their homes, he wrote, it was euphemistically called transfer of population; the killings of people by totalitarian regimes was described as elimination of unreliable elements. Orwell developed this idea further in his dystopian novel 1984, when he wrote about how, in his fictional tyranny of the future, Oceania would have a new language called Newspeak, in which the Ministry of Love was responsible for brainwashing the citizens, the Ministry of Truth rewrote history to suit the Party, and the Thought Police arrested those charged with thoughtcrime. This brilliant and chilling novel gave the English language several new words, including doublethinksimultaneous belief in two contradictory ideas, which, in 1984, made critical thinking impossible.Newspeak seems to be back in todays world.

A recent piece in The Economist deplored Harvard students in October writing about the unfolding violence in Israel without blaming Hamas October 7 attack and the killings and kidnappings of Israelis. It was equally critical of those using the term collateral damage for the innocent civilians, including large numbers of women and children, slaughtered in the Israeli bombing of Gaza. When Israeli soldiers actually shot some of their own citizens fleeing captivity, it was referred to as friendly fireis fire ever friendly to those at the receiving end of the firing?

REUTERS

The issue became even more complicated, however, when South Africa brought a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of committing a genocide in Gaza. Israel vehemently denied committing genocide and accused Hamas of that very crime instead. So is this a case of misusing language? As with all geopolitical conflicts, it rather depends on which side you are on. But first, the basics: the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide defines it as acts intended to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. The definition amplifies the meaning of genocide as also including, among other things, Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction, and inflicting serious bodily or mental harm. So which examples of recent history meet this definition?

There is universal agreement on only two casesthe murder by Hitlers Nazis of six million Jews in the Holocaust, which led to the adoption of the Genocide Convention, and the wholesale massacre of perhaps a million ethnic Tutsis by Hutu militias in Rwanda in 1994. Indians and Bangladeshis describe the elimination of a million Bengalis by the Pakistani Army in 1971 as a genocide (and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman used the neologism gonocide, since gono means people in his native Bangla), but few others concur. US president Donald Trump described the Chinese oppression of its Muslim Uyghur minority as a genocide, but again found few supporters. Opinion is similarly divided on whether the term genocide can be applied to Israels attacks on civilians in Gaza. Sympathisers of Israel argue that its actions do not meet the acid test: Israel does not intend to destroy an ethnic group (the Palestinians), they say, but only the Hamas. Critics of Israel point to the words in whole or in part and stress that Israelis are in fact exterminating all the Palestinian civilians in Gaza, which meets the definition.

It would be hard for Israel to deny that it is deliberately inflicting conditions of life leading to its physical destruction, and inflicting serious bodily or mental harmthe conditions of life in Gaza are inhuman, and continued bombing clearly does cause serious damage to both bodies and minds. But the ICJ is divided on whether what Israel is doing in Gaza meets the definition of genocide. There is obviously no simple formula to apply. The Economist warned writers to avoid both the evasions of euphemism and the temptations of exaggeration. Crimes against language, it observed, make it harder to describe crimes against humanity. Whether you call what is happening a genocide or not hardly makes the suffering of non-combatants any more bearable.

editor@theweek.in
Employees of beleaguered edtech company Byjus have received their salaries for the month of January after a delay of a few days.

In a letter to the employees, Byju Raveendran, founder and CEO of the company, said he had been moving mountains for months to make payroll.

According to Moneycontrol, the letter from Raveendran read: I know you were told that you will get your salaries by Monday. You did not have to wait even till Monday. I have been moving mountains for months to make payroll, and this time, the struggle was even bigger to ensure that you receive what you rightfully deserve."

The salary was delayed despite Raveendran's assurance in December that the employees would receive their salaries on the first of every month.

Senior management of the company had said there was "slight delay in salary disbursements" because of an "artificially induced crisis by select investors."

Byju's had accused investors of conspiring to oust Raveendran at the time of crisis.

A few days ago, at least six BYJU's investors called for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to address issues at the edtech major and oust founders from having control over the firm. The investors, led by Dutch investment firm Prosus, in the EGM notice requested the resolution of the outstanding governance, financial mismanagement and compliance issues, and the reconstitution of the Board of Directors.

"Think & Learn Pvt Ltd has noted with sorrow, statements from a select few investors calling for an EGM to replace founder and group CEO Byju Raveendran. Under these unfortunate circumstances, we would emphasise that the shareholder's agreement does not give them the right to vote on CEO or management change," the company said in a statement, hitting out at the investors.

"The company is gladdened by the support received by a wide section of its shareholders. The criticality of the rights issue has been shared with all shareholders, with capital being pivotal for a successful turnaround. Unfortunately, the company and our employees are paying the price for a stand-off triggered by some investors," Byju's said.
A worker uses heated deicing fluid to remove ice and snow from an aircraft at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 5, 2024.

In central China's Hubei Province, freezing rain and snow over the past few days have disrupted flights and railway traffic in several cities, including the provincial capital Wuhan, which is an important transportation hub.

According to the Hubei Airports Group Company, both runways at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport were once closed on Saturday evening due to adverse weather, with 385 flights canceled by 7 p.m. Sunday.

The airport initiated an emergency response for snow and ice removal early on Saturday morning, successfully reopening two runways on Sunday noon and Monday morning, respectively. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

WUHAN, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Heavy snowfall has enveloped some areas of central and eastern China since Wednesday, leading to transport disruption in Hubei, Hunan and Anhui provinces amid the ongoing Spring Festival travel rush.

In east China's Anhui Province, over 95 highway toll stations have refused entry to vehicles as of Sunday morning, due to snowy and freezing conditions, causing inconvenience for many travelers during the travel surge, also known as "chunyun," which started on Jan. 26 and will end on March 5.

According to the Hubei Airports Group Company, both runways at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport were closed from Saturday evening due to adverse weather conditions. The airport initiated an emergency response for snow and ice removal early on Saturday morning, with the runways expected to resume operations on Sunday. Additionally, the airport in the province's city of Jingzhou has also been closed since Saturday.

China Railway Wuhan Bureau Group Co., Ltd. said on Sunday that it plans to suspend the operation of 141 round trips due to the widespread snowfall and freezing weather.

Meanwhile, the railway authority has organized nearly 3,000 employees to conduct snow removal at nearly 4,000 sets of railroad switches to ensure the smooth functioning of railway tracks.

In the neighboring Hunan Province, the railway authority imposed speed restrictions on the Chongqing-Xiamen and Zhangjiajie-Jishou-Huaihua high-speed railways, leading to delays for some trains. From Sunday to Monday, China Railway Guangzhou Group Co., Ltd. suspended 20 high-speed train services passing through the province. 

A worker uses heated deicing fluid to remove ice and snow from an aircraft at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 5, 2024.

In central China's Hubei Province, freezing rain and snow over the past few days have disrupted flights and railway traffic in several cities, including the provincial capital Wuhan, which is an important transportation hub.

According to the Hubei Airports Group Company, both runways at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport were once closed on Saturday evening due to adverse weather, with 385 flights canceled by 7 p.m. Sunday.

The airport initiated an emergency response for snow and ice removal early on Saturday morning, successfully reopening two runways on Sunday noon and Monday morning, respectively. (Xinhua/Du Zixuan)

A worker uses heated deicing fluid to remove ice and snow from an aircraft at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 5, 2024.

In central China's Hubei Province, freezing rain and snow over the past few days have disrupted flights and railway traffic in several cities, including the provincial capital Wuhan, which is an important transportation hub.

According to the Hubei Airports Group Company, both runways at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport were once closed on Saturday evening due to adverse weather, with 385 flights canceled by 7 p.m. Sunday.

The airport initiated an emergency response for snow and ice removal early on Saturday morning, successfully reopening two runways on Sunday noon and Monday morning, respectively. (Xinhua/Du Zixuan)

A worker uses heated deicing fluid to remove ice and snow from an aircraft at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 5, 2024.

In central China's Hubei Province, freezing rain and snow over the past few days have disrupted flights and railway traffic in several cities, including the provincial capital Wuhan, which is an important transportation hub.

According to the Hubei Airports Group Company, both runways at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport were once closed on Saturday evening due to adverse weather, with 385 flights canceled by 7 p.m. Sunday.

The airport initiated an emergency response for snow and ice removal early on Saturday morning, successfully reopening two runways on Sunday noon and Monday morning, respectively. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

A worker uses heated deicing fluid to remove ice and snow from an aircraft at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 5, 2024.

In central China's Hubei Province, freezing rain and snow over the past few days have disrupted flights and railway traffic in several cities, including the provincial capital Wuhan, which is an important transportation hub.

According to the Hubei Airports Group Company, both runways at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport were once closed on Saturday evening due to adverse weather, with 385 flights canceled by 7 p.m. Sunday.

The airport initiated an emergency response for snow and ice removal early on Saturday morning, successfully reopening two runways on Sunday noon and Monday morning, respectively. (Xinhua/Du Zixuan)

A worker uses heated deicing fluid to remove ice and snow from an aircraft at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 5, 2024.

In central China's Hubei Province, freezing rain and snow over the past few days have disrupted flights and railway traffic in several cities, including the provincial capital Wuhan, which is an important transportation hub.

According to the Hubei Airports Group Company, both runways at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport were once closed on Saturday evening due to adverse weather, with 385 flights canceled by 7 p.m. Sunday.

The airport initiated an emergency response for snow and ice removal early on Saturday morning, successfully reopening two runways on Sunday noon and Monday morning, respectively. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)
YouTuber Deepti R. Pinniti has been accused of forging letters from high authorities to support her claims over actor Sridevi's death. CBI filed a charge sheet against Pinniti saying she forged letters from high authorities to support her claims over Sridevis death.

According to CBI, Pinniti's YouTube video revealed forged letters from dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

CBI had registered a case against the YouTuber last year following a complaint from Mumbai-based lawyer Chandni Shah.

Shah alleged that Pinniti had produced several forged documents, including letters from the prime minister and the defence minister, along with documents related to the Supreme Court and records from the UAE government.

Pinniti has been an active participant in social media regarding the discussions on the death of famous Bollywood actors including Sridevi and Sushant Singh Rajput.

Sridevi died in Dubai in February 2018.

Pinniti made several sensational claims regarding Sridevi's death including a "coverup between the two governments".

However, Pinniti said that the CBI becomes a party of conflict as the letters in question are against the very authorities under whom the CBI comes. "It's kind of hard to believe that the CBI has filed a charge sheet against me without recording my statement... Moreover, the evidence will be given to court when charges are framed," she told PTI.

CBI had conducted searches at her residence in Bhubaneswar on December 2, seizing digital devices, including phones and laptops.

According to the CBI's report submitted to a special court, the investigation revealed that the documents presented by her during YouTube discussions, pertaining to the prime minister and the defence minister, were "forged."

The agency has filed a charge sheet against her and Kamath under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 465, 469, and 471.

(With PTI inputs)
Several Congress MLAs from Bihar arrived in Hyderabad on Sunday, ostensibly to 'greet' Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who assumed office recently following the party's victory in the December 2023 Assembly elections.

Media reports claimed that the arrival of the Congress MLAs is part of a precautionary measure taken by the party to prevent any poaching attempts as the newly formed NDA government in Bihar, headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, seeks a trust vote on February 12.

The Congress MLAs from Bihar have come to greet the Telangana chief minister, sources in Telangana Congress told PTI. The MLAs are likely to stay in Hyderabad till February 11, the sources said.
A team of Delhi Police Crime Branch officials arrived at the residence of Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi on Sunday over her "BJP trying to buy AAP MLAs" remarks. This came a day after the Crime Branch team arrived at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence to serve him a notice in connection with the MLA poaching allegations made by him.

Atishi has directed her camp office officials to receive notice from Delhi Police Crime Branch officials, who are present at her residence, ANI quoted sources.



#WATCH | A team of Delhi Police Crime Branch officials present at the residence of Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi



Police officials are here to serve notice in connection with Aam Aadmi Party's allegation against BJP "of trying to buy AAP MLAs". https://t.co/M0HQgPOzpD pic.twitter.com/VU9QozNKAF  ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2024

Last week, Kejriwal, in a post on X, had alleged that the BJP offered Rs 25 crore each to seven AAP MLAs to quit the party to topple his government. Soon after, Atishi held a press conference and alleged that the BJP had launched "Operation Lotus 2.0" in Delhi. "They had made a similar attempt to poach AAP MLAs last year by offering them money but failed," she alleged.



Following this, a delegation of the Delhi BJP, led by its chief Virender Sachdeva, met Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora on January 30, seeking a probe.



A team of Delhi Police officials reached Kejriwal's residence on Friday to serve notice but failed as the men at his home refused to accept it. The team then reached the chief minister's residence again on Saturday with the notice. The notice was finally handed over to the officials present at the CM residence.



The Delhi Police also instructed Kejriwal to reply to the notice in writing in three days, revealing the names of AAP MLAs who were claimed to have been approached by the BJP.



To the notice, Kejriwal reacted that he sympathised with the police who were being made to indulge in "drama" by their "political bosses".



The chief minister shared the video of some policemen at his residence, stating that "it's their duty to stop crime in Delhi but they are being made to indulge in drama. That is why crime is rising in Delhi."

He asked why there was drama on the issue when the party knew who was behind toppling governments of other parties across the country in the last few years by poaching MLAs.


Congress leader Jairam Ramesh slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting Manipur yet and said the prime minister is committing horrific injustice to the state.



The Congress general secretary (Communications) criticism comes following Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singhs visit with Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday. Ramesh tweeted, 9 months to the day and yet no meeting with the PM who continues to maintain total silence on Manipur. The PM goes to Guwahati for a road show but cannot and will not go to Imphal. A horrific ANYAY by the PM on the people of Manipur!

The Manipur chief minister met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday amidst fresh violence in the state. Tweeting about the visit, Singh said, We discussed matters of paramount importance concerning our state. Rest assured, the Government of India is set to take some important decisions in the interests of the people of Manipur.

The Congress has been criticising the prime minister for not visiting Manipur ever since ethnic violence broke out in the state.

Ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023, after a tribal solidarity march was organised in the hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. Since then over 200 people have been killed in the continuing violence.

- With PTI inputs.
A staffer with the Indian Embassy in Moscow has been arrested by the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh allegedly for spying for the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI. A statement by the UP ATS identified the accused as Satendra Siwal, a resident of Shahmahiuddinpur village in UP's Hapur district.

Siwal allegedly provided the ISI important confidential information regarding the strategic activities of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian military establishments, an official statement issued on Sunday said.



According to the statement, the ATS received intelligence from various confidential sources that the handlers of the ISI, through some persons, were luring the employees of the MEA with money. In return, they wanted strategically important information related to the Indian Army, the statement said.



Subsequently, the ATS conducted an electronic and physical surveillance which revealed that Siwal was involved in anti-India activities with the network of the ISI handlers. Siwal was called to the ATS field unit Meerut and interrogated as per rules, the statement said.



He could not give satisfactory answers and confessed to his crime during the interrogation, it added.



Satyendra Siwal working as MTS (Multi-Tasking, Staff) at the Ministry of External Affairs, has been arrested by UP ATS. He is accused of working for ISI. Satyendra was posted at the Indian Embassy in Moscow. He is originally a resident of Hapur: UP ATS pic.twitter.com/BY4ueim0KU  ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2024

An FIR has been registered against Siwal, who is working as the IBSA (India Based Security Assistant) in the Indian Embassy in Moscow, Russia, from 2021, at ATS police station, Lucknow, under Section 121A of the IPC (waging war against the country) and official secrets Act 1923, the statement said.


Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) state President Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal on Sunday landed in a controversy over his recent statement that there is no need to protest against the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya as both the new temple and the proposed mosque would strengthen secularism in the country.

IUML is a major ally of the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala and an influential political party among the Muslim community. Thangal made the statement during an event on January 24 at Manjeri near here, but a video of it went viral today.

While the Indian National League (INL), a coalition partner of the ruling CPI(M) led-LDF government in Kerala lashed out at the IUML leader, the Congress party and the IUML defended Thangal and said he was trying to stop the campaign of hatred and attempts to divide society.

Addressing the event at Manjeri, Thangal had said that the Ram temple which is "worshipped and revered by the majority of the people" in the country "is a reality".

"We cannot go back from that. There is no need for us to protest against it. The temple came up based on a court order and the Babri Masjid is about to be constructed. These two are now part of India. The Ram temple and the proposed Babri Masjid are two best examples that strengthen secularism of our country," Thangal was seen saying in the video.

We know that it (Babri Masjid) was destroyed by the karsevaks and we had protested against it at that time, he said, adding that Indian Muslims dealt with it in a mature manner.

Indian National League (INL) Kerala State Secretariat Member N.K. Abdul Azeez in a Facebook post said that political leaders are not ignorant of the fact that Gandhi's Ram Rajya is different from the Ram Rajya of the RSS.

"The spiritual Hindu religion of a believer is different from the political Hindutva of the RSS and the political leaders are not ignorant of this fact. Yet they are making a fool of its ranks. It's not possible to believe that the ordinary party workers of IUML will accept this position," Azeez said.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan and senior IUML leader P.K. Kunhalikutty came out in support of Thangal and said his words were misinterpreted. Kunhalikutty said BJP is trying to politicise the Ayodhya issue and Thangal was trying to warn people not to fall into that trap. "But it was misinterpreted," he said.

Satheesan said while many were trying to set fire to water, Thangal was trying to douse it. "One should understand why he said so. When some are trying to set fire to water, Thangal is trying to douse it. He was speaking against the campaign of hatred and division," Satheesan said.
The newly formed Champai Soren government in Jharkhand will seek trust vote in the state assembly on Monday with the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance exuding confidence in winning the number game.

Soren took over as the chief minister on Friday after his party leader Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case.

At least 40 MLAs of the ruling alliance, who were shifted to Hyderabad amid concerns over possible poaching attempts by the BJP, have arrived back in Ranchi ahead of the floor test.

The legislators landed at the Birsa Munda Airport in a chartered flight in the evening and were taken to the Circuit House in the city in two buses.

In the 81-member assembly, the majority mark is 41. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has 28 seats while its ally Congress has 16. The RJD and the CPI(ML) have one seat each.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with the newly sworn-in Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren during the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra', in Pakur | PTI

On the other side, the BJP and its allies have 29 seats.

A video released by the JMM-led coalition on Thursday showed the support of 43 legislators in the assembly.

As per an NDTV report, there is a buzz that two JMM MLAs may skip the voting which will bring down the majority mark.

"We have submitted the report (to the Governor) with 43 MLAs in our support. We expect the number will reach 46-47... so there is no problem. Our 'gathbandhan', or alliance, is very strong," CM Soren said.

The Congress has also exuded confidence in winning the floor test as it accused the Centre of misusing the probe agencies against the INDIA bloc members.

"We have a majority in the 81-seat Assembly...Even Hemant Soren has been permitted by the special court (to cast his vote). This is a conspiracy by the ED. We will win the floor test. It has been clear from the start that the Modi government has been misusing the ED, CBI and Income Tax departments against the INDIA members. They are no longer independent institutions," Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said.

Jharkhend plunged into a political crisis after Hemant Soren was arrested by the ED following nearly seven-hour long interrogation in a land scam related money laundering case on Wednesday. A Ranchi court has sent him to five-day ED custody.

The court, however, has granted him permission to cast his vote during the floor test on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Jharkhand High Court will hear a petition filed by Hemant Soren against his arrest, on February 5.
The Uttarakhand cabinet has approved the final draft of the Uniform Civil Code, paving the way for its tabling in the state Assembly during a special four-day session that begins on Monday.

"Today in the Cabinet meeting, we passed the proposal to bring the legislation on the Uniform Civil Code in the upcoming Assembly session," Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said after chairing the meeting at his official residence on Sunday.

The session of the Assembly has been convened especially to pass the legislation on the UCC and make it an Act. The cabinet approval of the draft was needed for its introduction in the Assembly.

If UCC is implemented, BJP-ruled Uttarakhand will become the first state in the country after Independence to adopt it. A UCC has been operational in Goa since the days of the Portuguese rule.

The final draft of the UCC, running into 740 pages in four volumes, was submitted to Chief Minister Dhami here recently by a five-member panel headed by retired judge of the Supreme Court Ranjana Prakash Desai.

Security has been stepped up around the Assembly premises for the special session which will go on till February 8.

"Uttarakhand Assembly's special session has been called. As in the past, we have placed barricades at entry points around the Assembly to stop any protests... More than 200 constables and 100 inspectors have been placed in the periphery of the Assembly.

"We have also deployed mobile patrol parties at sensitive locations in the city, Senior Superintendent of Police, Dehradun, Ajai Singh said.

The BJP's landslide victory for a second consecutive term in power in Uttarakhand in 2022 has been attributed on many occasions by the chief minister to the pre-poll promise of a UCC.

After becoming chief minister for a second consecutive term, Dhami accorded top priority to fulfilling his pre-poll commitment, announcing the constitution of a committee to prepare the draft of the UCC at the first meeting of the state cabinet after assuming office.

The Committee formed in May 2022 took nearly two years and four extensions to prepare the draft and submit it to the chief minister here on Friday.

The implementation of the UCC will provide a legal framework for uniform marriage, divorce, land, property and inheritance laws for all citizens across all faiths in the state.

The panel received 2.33 lakh written suggestions online and held more than 70 meetings in which the members interacted with around 60,000 people in the course of preparing the draft.

On the day the final draft was submitted to the chief minister, he expressed hope that many states would follow the example of Uttarakhand and use the template provided by the state to implement the UCC.

There has been much debate on the issue of UCC, with political parties and religious organisations divided on the issue.
I had suspected there was something fishy, says Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Ketki Singh as the government forms a three-member committee to probe into the mass wedding scam that came to light recently. Over 500 couples reportedly got married in the event allegedly for government benefits.



The Uttar Pradesh police has arrested 15 persons including two government officials for their involvement in the scam. The wedding fraud came to light after a video showed several brides, without grooms, garlanding themselves. According to reports, the wedding happened in Balia, Uttar Pradesh on January 25.

As many as 568 couples got married in the event. However, it was found later that several were paid to pose as brides and grooms, NDTV reported. One of the villagers told NDTV that boys and girls were paid 500 to 2,000 to pose as brides and grooms in the event. Some women had no one. They were wearing the varmala (garland) themselves, a villager told the publication. A 19-year-old told NDTV that he was offered money for posing as groom.

"They informed me just two days before the event. I had suspected there was something fishy. But now a complete investigation is being done," Singh told the publication.

According to reports, the government pays Rs 35,000 to the girl, Rs 10,000 for buying matrimonial materials and Rs 6,000 for the event under the scheme. Authorities said funds would be transferred to the beneficiaries only after completion of investigation.
Braving the extreme cold, thousands took out a protest march in Ladakh demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status on Saturday. The protests were jointly organised by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).

Besides the two demands, the outfits have also demanded a dedicated Public Services Commission (PSC), and two Parliamentary seats for Ladakh. Following their demand, the Union Home Ministry called a meeting of the Ladakh High Powered Committee (HPC), chaired by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, in New Delhi on February 19.



Videos from Ladakh showed thousands holding banners and placards taking part in the march, stating that only a full statehood where they elect their representatives to govern the region could fulfil their demand.



According to the legal adviser of LAB and KDA Haji Ghulam Mustafa, the four-point agenda has been raised by these outfits ever since Ladakh has become a UT.



#WATCH | Leh, Ladakh: Thousands brave the freezing cold as they march demanding statehood for Ladakh and protections under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution for the Union Territory. (03.02) pic.twitter.com/gwsiGZBxXc  ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2024

"All our powers, which were people-centric, have weakened. When we were a part of J&K, we had four members in the Assembly and two in the legislative council. Now, we have no representation in the Assembly. Our demand has always been that the people of Ladakh should have representation in the Assembly and that we should get statehood," Mustafa told ANI. He added that Ladakh was a strategically-important place and a tribal majority area with the features of north-eastern states.



"Along lines of the northeastern states, we demand that the provisions of the 6th schedule be implemented in Ladakh to protect its culture. Ever since Ladakh became a UT, there have been no gazetted job openings in the region, while in J&K, two batches have already been commissioned, and the third batch is going to get commissioned soon. Ladakh immediately needs to have a Public Service Commission of its own," he added, stating that the people of Ladakh demand that the region be empowered."



The HPC is likely to consider the written points submitted by LAB and KDA in the February 19 meeting, along with other issues raised by committee members. Though statehood is unlikely, an announcement addressing some Ladakh issues is expected. These could include safeguards for land, culture, and identity.


Dancers perform during the launching ceremony of ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges, in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, on Feb. 2, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

The success of China-ASEAN cooperation is due to not only their geographical proximity and cultural affinity, but also their shared aspirations for equality, harmony, and prosperity.

HONG KONG, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Linked by mountains and rivers, China and countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) enjoy cultural affinity and time-honored friendly exchanges, and together they have created a rich and diverse Asian culture.

As the two sides are celebrating the China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges, the deepening connection promises to solidify the China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

The cordial relations between China and ASEAN have long preceded the contemporary times. Over 1,000 years ago, Chinese merchants traveled to Southeast Asia for trade in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), a large number of merchants and artisans boarded the fleet of legendary Chinese navigator Zheng He on his voyages to Southeast Asia, and some of them stayed and intermarried with the locals, forming a unique Peranakan culture.

Following the establishment of ASEAN, China started dialogue relations with ASEAN in 1991, and in 2003, China officially joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, setting the precedent for other non-ASEAN nations.

Exhibitors display fruits from Thailand during the 20th China-ASEAN Expo at Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

Over the past 30 years, the two sides have joined hands to push for economic globalization, responded together to the ever-changing international landscape, and forged a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The success of China-ASEAN cooperation is due to not only their geographical proximity and cultural affinity, but also their shared aspirations for equality, harmony, and prosperity.

To be more specific, China and ASEAN address each other's major concerns, respect their respective development paths, improve understanding and trust through genuine communication, seek common ground while resolving differences and issues, and jointly uphold and promote Asian values centered on peace, cooperation, inclusiveness, and integration.

In 2013, China proposed building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future and the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past decade, multiple landmark Belt and Road projects, such as the China-Laos Railway and the Indonesia Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, have been completed, delivering concrete benefits to the locals and winning public support from ASEAN peoples of a community of shared future.

For any great cause to succeed, it must take root in the people, gain strength from the people, and be accomplished by the people. Fruitful results of friendly exchanges between the peoples play an essential role in facilitating China-ASEAN cooperation.

Since 2014, the two sides have jointly held respective years of cultural exchange, education exchange, tourism cooperation, innovation, and media exchange, and formed 225 pairs of sister cities. Two-way personnel exchanges have increased from 18.2 million people in 2013 to 65 million people in 2019, with nearly 4,500 flights per week.

It is believed that with China-Singapore and China-Thailand visa free policies to be in place soon, a series of measures under the China-ASEAN Year of People-to-people Exchanges will undoubtedly accelerate the recovery of cultural exchanges between China and ASEAN countries after the pandemic.

Workers load freshly harvested durians at an orchard in Chumphon, Thailand, Sept. 18, 2023. According to data from Thailand's Ministry of Commerce, China was the largest export market for Thai durians in 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

China and ASEAN are respectively the second and fifth largest economies in the world. The sum of their economic output exceeds one-fifth of the global total, making them important engines for global economic recovery.

As good neighbors, friends, and partners, the deepening China-ASEAN relations are set to contribute more to regional and global peace and prosperity.

In contrast to such concepts as "hegemony" and "clash of civilizations" advocated by some Western powers, China has, as always, upheld the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness in its neighborhood diplomacy. By cooperating with regional partners, China endeavors to uphold regional peace, stability, unity, and cooperation, thereby garnering broad support from countries in the region.

Asian people are also increasingly aware that only by jointly practicing and promoting the Asian values and implementing the Global Civilization Initiative can the foundation for harmonious coexistence and win-win cooperation among countries be consolidated, and the Asian region be more deeply integrated into the trend of peace, development and progress.

All told, the China-ASEAN Year of People-to-people Exchanges, as a new starting point, is bound to renew the traditional China-ASEAN friendship and help a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future take a deeper root among people of the two sides. 
President Joe Biden won South Carolina's Democratic primary on Saturday, kicking off the party's nominating process, the first step towards a rematch against Republican front-runner and former president Donald Trump.

Biden won 85,635 votes or 96 per cent of the expected vote counted, pushing behind his weaker opponents Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn, who won 2 per cent and author Marianne Williamson who took the remaining 2 per cent.



In a victory statement, the Biden campaign said: "In 2020, it was the voters of South Carolina who proved the pundits wrong, breathed new life into our campaign, and set us on the path to winning the presidency. The people of South Carolina have spoken again and I have no doubt that you have set us on the path to winning the presidency again  and making Donald Trump a loser  again."



Biden chose North Carolina to embark on his second bid investing heavily in the state's Black voters, a key support base of Democrats. Though he won the New Hampshire primary last month as a write-in candidate - a symbolic victory - Biden opted not to campaign in the state to honour South Carolinas official first-in-the-nation status.



A woman casts her ballot at Ladson Elementary during the Democratic primary on February 3, 2024 in Ladson, South Carolina | AFP

In his efforts to energise his candidacy which is said to be struggling due to concerns about his age and other issues, including his handling of the economy, the President made repeated visits to South Carolina in the run-up to the election.



Over 26% of the state's residents are Black and account for a majority of South Carolinas Democratic electorate. Biden, hoping to repeat his 2020 show in the state, had put the spotlight on his administration's efforts to improve Black lives, like his aid to historically Black colleges and programs to erase student loan debt.



"People underestimated the strength of diverse and Black voters. Black people are tuned into this election," Bakari Sellers, a former South Carolina state representative, told US-based Politico.



After the Democrats reshuffled the presidential nominating calendar last year, next would be Nevada which will hold its primary on Tuesday. The new order also moves the Democratic primary in Michigan, a large and diverse swing state, to Feb. 27, before the expansive field of states voting on March 5, known as Super Tuesday.


Namibian President Hage Geingob died Sunday while receiving medical treatment, his office announced.

In a post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, the Namibian presidency said Geingob's medical team at Lady Pohamba Hospital did its best to help him, but Geingob died with his wife, Monica Geingos, and children by his side.



Geingob was undergoing treatment for cancer. The 82-year-old had a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy on Jan. 8, followed by a biopsy, his office said last month.



Angolo Mbumba, Namibia's acting president, called for calm, saying in the same post that the Cabinet will convene with immediate effect in order to make the necessary state arrangements in this regard.



Geingob, who was president of the southern African nation since 2015, was set to finish his second and final term in office this year. In 2014, he said he had survived prostate cancer.



Namibia is set to hold elections to choose a new leader in November.


A new political party named Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, believed to be a new face of the banned groups of incarcerated Hafiz Saeed, will participate in the February 8 general elections, according to a media report.



A BBC Urdu report on Saturday said some of the candidates nominated by this organisation from different cities of Pakistan are those who are either relatives of Hafiz Saeed or have been associated with banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamaat-ud-Dawa or Milli Muslim League in the past.



Saeed, whom India considers the alleged mastermind of the Mumbai attacks, has been sentenced to a total of 31 years by Pakistan's anti-terrorism courts in several cases of financing terrorism and has been imprisoned in Lahore.



He was on December 10, 2008, included in the list of 'global terrorists' by the UN.



Pakistan also listed LeT, JuD and its affiliated parties and institutions, including Khair Naas International Trust, Falah Insaniyat Foundation, Al-Anfal Trust, Khamtab Khalq Institution, Al-Dawwat Al-Arshad, Al-Hamad Trust, Al-Madinah Foundation and Mu'az bin Jabal Educational Trust, in the list of banned organisations.



Quoting analysts, who monitor religious parties in Pakistan, the report claimed the Markazi Muslim League is the 'new political face' of Saeed's JuD.



A spokesman of the party however denied any affiliation with Saeed's organisations.



The report said Saeed's son Hafiz Talha Saeed is participating in the elections from the Markazi Muslim League party and contesting from National Assembly Constituency NA-122 in Lahore -- the same constituency from which Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader and former federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique is also contesting.



Similarly, Saeed's son-in-law Hafiz Nek Gujjar is contesting the election from the Provincial Assembly constituency PP 162 on the ticket of the Markazi Muslim League.



In the past, a few people associated with Jamaat-ud-Dawa tried to participate in the elections in 2018 from the 'Milli Muslim League' party, but the Election Commission of Pakistan banned the organisation and rejected its application for registration after opposition from the then government.



After the application was rejected, the candidates of the party had to participate in the elections from an unknown party called 'Allahu Akbar' Tehreek which could not get any major success in the elections.



The name of 'Milli Muslim League' is not included in the list of banned parties in Pakistan, but in 2018, the US Treasury Department, with the approval of the State Department, declared this party banned and seven people associated with it were included in the list of "global terrorists".



The persons who were declared "international terrorists" by the US included Saifullah Khalid, Muzamil Iqbal Hashmi, Muhammad Haris Dar, Tabish Qayyum, Fayyaz Ahmed, Faisal Nadeem and Muhammad Ehsan. They were accused of being part of the outlawed LeT.



Out of the seven members of the Milli Muslim League who were banned by the US, four of them are the nominees of the Makazi Muslim League for seats in the Punjab and Sindh assemblies.



Muhammad Fayyaz Ahmed and Faisal Nadeem Shaikh are contesting elections from Sindh province on the provincial assembly seats PS 43 and PS 64, while Muhammad Haris Dar and Muzmal Iqbal Hashmi are contesting from the National Assembly constituencies NA-129 and NA-77 in Punjab province.



Tabish Qayyum, included in the same list, is currently the main spokesman of the Markazi Muslim League, while Saifullah Khalid is also a part of the same party, but he does not hold any position.



Hanzala Imad, another spokesperson of the Markazi Muslim League, said: "None of our candidates is involved in any illegal activity and is not a part of any banned party."



Concerning the United States declaring some members of the Jamaat as terrorists in the past, he said: "No country has the right to declare people as terrorists without proof or legal procedures."



Pakistan's caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi, in response to the BBC's question about the participation of people who were part of JuD in the past in parliamentary politics, said it was not the mandate of the caretaker government to make major policy decisions, especially regarding general elections.



He also said the Election Commission of Pakistan allowed registered parties to contest elections and the caretaker government had no role in allowing or preventing any party from contesting elections.



The BBC sent questions to the spokesperson of the Election Commission in this regard, but no response was received from him.



Nadeem Ahmad Awan, a candidate for a provincial assembly seat from Karachi, told the BBC that his party had no connection with Hafiz Saeed, but said that since 2003, he had supported many charities in Pakistan and had been a member of political organisations including Saeed's JuD and Falah-i-Insaniya Foundation.



He told BBC that the Pakistan Markazi Central Muslim League is participating in the general elections of Pakistan for the first time and we have also released our manifesto before the elections".



In response to the questions sent by the BBC, Hanzala Imad, the Press Secretary of the Markazi Muslim League, said there was no truth in the allegations that the party was supported by Saeed.



Pakistan Markazi Central Muslim League is led by Khalid Masood Sindhu and it is a party registered in the Election Commission of Pakistan, whose election symbol is the chair, he said.



Imad also said that his party was not related to any banned party or person and he had fielded more than 500 people, including women and youth, who belonged to different schools of thought across the country.



BBC quoted journalist and analyst Majid Nizami, who has a close eye on religious and political parties in Pakistan, as saying that the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League is the 'new political face' of Hafiz Saeed's JuD.



A few years ago, the state decided to bring jihadist organizations into the national mainstream and use them in the welfare and political sectors, he said.



In response to a question, Nizami said that he did not think that the party would get much acceptance in parliamentary politics.



Dr Ayesha Siddiqa, senior fellow at King's College London and author, also agreed with Nizami and claimed that in the past, the policy of bringing such parties into the national mainstream was adopted by the army.



It was imperative to take such steps because we wanted to show the world that we are not taking action against these people because they are coming into the mainstream, she said.



"The JuD people have historically been ideologically opposed to the democratic system, but they were brought into politics to justify their presence," she said.
Sixteen days before the Portuguese snap elections and 82 days before the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April (the end of dictatorship in Portugal), a xenophobic and racist procession unfolded in the old part of the capital city, Lisbon. The event was organised by Portuguese nationalist movement 1143 , and led by Mario Machado, a Portuguese neo-Nazi, featuring chants in support of Antonio de Oliveira Salazar (former prime minister and dictator of Portugal) and repeated renditions of the national anthem. Torches were brandished against the perceived threat of Islamization, reminiscent of the Ku Klux Klan's style. The protesters asserted that their opposition is rooted in what they perceive as the Islamization of Europe.

The far-right assembly commenced at the sidewalk of Largo de Camoes, in proximity to Bairro Alto (a major tourist location in Lisbon). Gradually, the gathering swelled in numbers. Machado made efforts to greet and engage with the arriving protestors. Eventually, approximately 100 individuals chose to assemble behind two banners bearing the messages: 'Portugal to the Portuguese' and 'Stop Islam'.

After the group gathered, the torches were lit and Machado delivered his speech, recounting historical battles and critiquing Lisbon's mayor, Carlos Moedas, and emphasizing Portugal's 900-year history: "We have always been here and we will continue to be here." His followers chanted back: "Take it easy; the demonstrations won't stop here." Following another address, this time directed at the media and fellow citizens, Machado simplified his stance, stating, "The solutions are very simple, three words: Portugal aos Portuguese (Portugal to the Portuguese)" Before proceeding with the march, participants lit numerous red torches, resembling the rioters from the movie The Dark Knight Rises; and all united in singing the Portuguese anthem.

The initial plan was to begin the parade from Rua do Benformoso, linking Martim Moniz to Largo do Intendente (the main streets of commerce of the South Asian merchants, mostly Muslims). This area is nicknamed Banglatown. The street was chosen intentionally by far-right groups for the march against the Islamization of Europe. Despite the Lisbon City Council's refusal to grant authorization, the event later proceeded to an alternative location, as indicated by Mario Machado, who specified Largo Camoes at 6:00 pm GMT.

The extreme right-wing demonstration scheduled on Saturday in Lisbon lacked authorisation from both the Lisbon City Council and the Court. Despite the absence of official approval, the organisers insisted that the protest would proceed as planned. This had heightened tension within the local community, prompting numerous (Muslim) merchants to acknowledge plans to close their stores.

Even though the news of the protests spread like wildfire nobody came forward to speak about it. I just want to believe that this never happened. Salazar died in 1975, Im not making him famous again said Maria Mandeiro, a retired Portuguese teacher living near Intendente.

Naheed Iqbal, one of the few individuals willing to speak about the march, immigrated to Portugal in 2005 and runs a mini-market in Martim Moniz. He asserts that in the last 19 years since his arrival, he has never witnessed such a thing as there being a group against Muslims. Expressing concern, he said, "Now, I heard that a march against Muslims is going to take place here. I do not know, let us see. We don't hurt anyone. I work, my friends (from Bangladesh) are working to live at their own expense, and we even help the government. I still dont know why target us now?"

Simultaneously, in Intendente, a counter-demonstration was organised, characterized as a multicultural festival against racism and xenophobia. Approximately 500 people, mostly from Portugal, participated in the event, marked by dancing, celebrations, and music. As the extremists advanced, they were met with these counter-protestors who, undeterred by potential risks, vociferously opposed their xenophobic and fascist protesters. Slogans like "racists, fascists, will not pass" and "Down with Mario Machado" resonated in the air. Placards and banners conveyed messages such as 'Facho, you are the only foreigner in the neighbourhoods' and '"All immigrants are welcome'. One of the most echoed phrases on Saturday evening was, "April 25 always, fascism never again"

Post the Israel-Hamas conflict, Anti-racism officials throughout Europe have issued a call to law enforcement agencies, urging heightened vigilance against hate crimes targeting Muslims. They emphasize the need to "spare no effort" in safeguarding this community, addressing the surge in Islamophobia in recent times. Signed by representatives from 10 European countries and EU officials, the statement highlights the escalating incidents of hate crimes, hate speech, and threats to civil liberties directed at Muslim communities across Europe in recent months. It observes that Muslim minorities have experienced physical and verbal attacks, fostering an atmosphere where individuals feel "more and more unsafe and threatened, online and offline."
In a new wave of attacks, the US, UK and allies launched airstrikes at multiple locations linked to Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Saturday.

"The U.S. and U.K. struck 36 Houthi targets in 13 locations in Yemen using missiles launched from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower," Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement. He added that the US and the UK received support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand in conducting the additional strikes.



"Militaries from the United States and United Kingdom conducted additional strikes against the Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. This collective action sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels. We will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world's most critical waterways," Austin said.



"These strikes are intended to disrupt further and degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia to conduct their reckless and destabilising attacks against US and international vessels lawfully transiting the Red Sea."



The targets include Houthis' deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defence systems, and radars. Over 24 aircraft took part in the raid, carrying 2,000-pound bombs, sidewinder air-to-air missiles and other precision-guided missiles. There is no word yet on any casualties.



"The strikes are in response to a series of illegal, dangerous, and destabilising Houthi actions since previous coalition strikes on January 11 and 22, 2024, including the January 27 attack which struck and set ablaze the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker M/V Marlin Luanda," the statement said.



The Houthis have so far attacked over 30 commercial vessels and naval vessels since the Israel-Hamas broke out.



RAF Typhoon FRG4s being prepared to conduct further strikes against Houthi targets | AP

The U.K. Ministry of Defense also released a statement, identifying the locations and targets of three strikes. One of the targets was As Salif, due west of Sanaa on the Red Sea coast where a ground control station was hit. The station was allegedly used to control Houthi drones that are launched further inland and carry out attacks over the sea against international shipping vessels.



"This is not an escalation," said British Defence Minister Grant Shapps. "We have already successfully targeted launchers and storage sites involved in Houthi attacks, and I am confident that our latest strikes have further degraded the Houthis capabilities."



Eleven of the attacks targeted the Al-Barah area in the Maqbanah district and areas in the Haifan district, reported Reuters. The other target was Jabal Al-Jada' in Al-Lahiya district.



The Yemen strikes come as the U.S. retaliated against the killings of three American soldiers in a drone strike by Iran-backed militants on an outpost in Jordan. On Friday, it carried out strikes in Iraq and Syria against more than 85 targets linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and militias it backs. Over 40 people were killed in the attacks.



This is also the latest in the series of more than a dozen strikes against Houthi targets in the past several weeks. However, these could not stop attacks on ships by Houthis. Meanwhile, the Houthi-run Yemeni News Agency (Saba) confirmed the attacks on Saturday.
After the United States and United Kingdom's new wave of strikes in Yemen, the Houthis vowed a response. The US-UK airstrikes "will not deter us", said Houthis after the strikes hit dozens of Iran-backed rebels' targets over the Red Sea attacks.

The Yemen airstrike comes after the US retaliatory strikes targeting Iran-backed stations in Iraq in Syria. The retaliatory strikes on Friday was a response to the drone attack in Jordan by militias in Iran, that killed 3 US soldiers.

The strikes hit "36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen in response to the Houthis continued attacks against international and commercial shipping as well as naval vessels transiting the Red Sea, the United States, Britain and other countries that provided support for the operation said in a statement.

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes are intended to further disrupt and degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia to conduct their reckless and destabilising attacks.

Meanwhile, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said a total of 48 strikes were launched. "These attacks will not deter us from our  stance in support of the steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip," Saree said on X.

Hamas has condemned the Yemen strikes and said it will bring "further turmoil" to the Middle East. Hamas called the strikes as "a blatant assault on the sovereignty of a sister Arab country, and an escalation that will drag the region into further turmoil.

However, Iran said that the strikes "contradict" the US-UK policy of wanting to avoid a wide conflict in the Middle East. "These attacks are in clear contradiction with the repeated claims of Washington and London that they do not want the expansion of war and conflict in the region, Irans foreign ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanani, said in a statement.

Kanani accused the US and Britain of "fuelling chaos, disorder, insecurity and instability by supporting Israel in its war in Gaza.

Meanwhile, UK's foreign secretary, David Cameron, demanded the Houthis to stop its attacks on international shipping.

"We have issued repeated warnings to the Houthis. Their reckless actions are putting innocent lives at risk, threatening the freedom of navigation and destabilising the region. The Houthi attacks must stop," Cameron wrote on X.

Meanwhile, the US on Sunday said that it intends further strikes on Iran-backed groups. "We intend to take additional strikes," said the White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told NBC news.
Virginia House no longer smells of tobacco. Rather, it smells of fragrant agarbattis. What once housed the cigarettes of W.D. & H.O. Wills is now the home of milled atta, baked cookies, incense sticks and more.

We started thinking, what are the strengths that hotels bring? That distribution brings? The knowledge of tobacco and farming and agri? And we put all of that together.  Hemant Malik, executive director in charge of food business The choice of FMCG was very clear because with cigarettes we had established a distribution network across the country in the most remote of places. B. Sumant, executive director ITCs ace up the sleeve could well be its huge capital reserves, massive and expanding distribution network, and a leadership team that is in it for the long term.

The big daddy on the cigarette block, ITC realised it was but just a wanna-be kid when it entered categories like biscuits and atta (wheat flour) in 2002. It was surrounded by well-entrenched top guns of the FMCG sector (fast-moving consumer goods, a term used to describe products ranging from soaps and snacks to flour and floor cleaners)

from global giants like Unilever, Nestle and P&G to homegrown players like Dabur and Parle. The writing on the wall was clear. The company had to do something drastic and dramatic if it had any hopes of surviving, let alone dominating, the segment.

In a globalising marketplace, you cannot compete unless you bring something unique to the table, said Sanjiv Puri, chairman and managing director of ITC Ltd. While planning its ambitious foray into biscuits, strategy sessions at Virginia House, the colonial building on Kolkatas Chowringhee Road (now officially Jawaharlal Nehru Road) that housed its corporate headquarters, were clear: in a market dominated by household names like Parle and Britannia, you need to break the clutter. But how?

Hemant Malik | Bhanu Prakash Chandra

We started innovating from the beginning. Our first Marie (tea biscuit) was an orange one! said B. Sumant, currently ITCs executive director and back then part of the team that launched snacks. We had an orange Marie, a regular Marie, and then we came up with an oats Marie. We were the only ones I knew till date having an orange Marie and an oats Marie!

The orange Marie might not have taken off, but it sure garnered enough attention to get ITC its toehold in the hypercompetitive biscuit business. It soon followed it up with the first-ever centre-filled cream biscuit with its Sunfeast Dark Fantasy line. While cream biscuits in India until then were sandwich cream between two pieces of biscuit, ITC brought in technology from Denmark to fill cream within the cookie. The result? Dark Fantasy shot to leadership in the premium cookie space, and has stayed put there since then.

The aspiration has always been about leadership, said Puri. Not merely by size or profitability, but also about leadership in the quality of the service or the product that we deliver. That is what we have worked on in the past few years. And, of course, that has seen us define what we call ITC Next.

FUTURE IS CALLING

ITC Next is Puris next-gen transformation philosophy to make the gargantuan company agile and future-ready. That may sound surprising considering the fruits of success it has just about started enjoying after years of patient, often painful, transformation by diversifying from its core cigarette business to snacks, soaps and shampoos.

It was the kind of success most corporate giants can only dream about. ITC is now the third most valuable tobacco seller in the world, and its stock now consistently beats the Nifty average, growing nearly double that of the index which grew 20 per cent. In its latest quarter results announced earlier this week, ITC reported a standalone net profit at Rs5,572 crore, registering a growth of 11 per cent from the same quarter of the previous financial year. The results beat street estimates. The hotels segment witnessed its best-ever quarter, with revenue increasing by 18 per cent and profit before interest and tax increasing by 57 per cent.

B. Sumant | Salil Bera

What is reassuring, particularly to the executives at Virginia House, is that the push to diversify beyond the sin business of tobacco has worked out pretty decently. Non-cigarette business now makes up about 67 per cent of the total revenue, and is way more than revenue from tobacco products that used to be the top category for the longest time.

Even better, ITC has not only managed to turn profits in many of these forays, but also raced to the top of the pile. Aashirvaad, its atta brand, is probably the largest selling in the worldit is exported to some 65 countries. ITC also holds pole position in categories as disparate as cream biscuits (Sunfeast), snacks (Bingo!), notebooks and stationery (Classmate) and incense sticks (Mangaldeep).

Green revolution: Lakhs of farmers benefit from ITCs agribusiness platforms | Courtesy ITC

ITC has undergone humongous change, said Harish Bijoor, FMCG veteran & brand and business strategy specialist. I dont call it a non-cigarette company, but a more than cigarette company. FMCG is a big, big play. You are talking turnovers upwards of a hundred thousand crores eventually. And if Sanjiv Puri has his way, he will do it.

But how did a company that focused on cigarettes and tobacco for nearly a century make that pivot into areas as disparate as biscuits, packaging and hotels? What is the logic behind going in for these seemingly unconnected areas?

METHOD IN THE MADNESS

For long ITC was content with its hugely successful cigarette and tobacco business and its iconic brands like Wills Navy Cut and Gold Flake. The only other forays during the licence raj era were into hotels, agriculture and paper & packaging, which, in more ways than one, complemented the cigarette business.

However, as liberalisation flung the market wide open, it brought in two big worries to Virginia Houses doorstepsone, international biggies flooding the cigarette market, and two, more important, the decelerating cigarette consumption owing to heavy taxation and public campaigns against smoking. Clearly the objective was to create multiple drivers of growth that leveraged our strengths, said Sumant. We needed an alternative engine of revenue and profitability to cigarettes.

That was when the decision was made to diversify into areas like FMCG as well as into fashion (Wills Lifestyle and John Players, which was a short-lived experiment), personal care (Fiama and Vivel) and more.

As Bijoor put it, there is a method to the madness at ITC. While paperboard or agriculture or even the Kitchens of India brand which sold tinned supermarket version of the famous Dal Bukhara from ITC Hotels may seem they have no connection with each other, they, in reality, do.

To be successful, you have to be able to leverage the synergy of a diversified organisation, explained Hemant Malik, executive director in charge of ITCs food business. We started thinking, what are the strengths that hotels bring? What are the strengths that paper and packaging bring? That distribution brings? The knowledge of tobacco and farming and agri? And we put all of that together.

ITCs strong presence in the agri business and the e-Choupal network, which linked thousands of farmers and helped it scale up sourcing for its packaged foods venture, significantly contributed to its biggest success in the non-cigarette portfolioAashirvaad atta. The experience of the chefs at its popular hotel restaurants came in handy when it developed biscuits, chips, chocolates and frozen foods.

For instance, when Bingo! introduced Mad Angles, ITC hotel chefs tested 32 different gravies to dip the potato chip into, to see which masala will work. Mad Angles stood out not just for its triangle shape, but also its flavours. There were two options even for the tomato flavoura (continental) ketchup flavour and another one leaning towards (desi) chutney.

We had to differentiate ourselves to get attention and to break through; so that became part of our DNA, that is how we grew business in every category, said Sumant. Our rule was to have a better and differentiated product than what is there. Many of these have gone on to become blockbusters.

Behind the scenes, the vast network of distributors ITCs cigarette business had developed across the country played a crucial role. The choice of FMCG was very clear because with cigarettes we had established a distribution network across the country in the most remote of places, said Sumant. It was a great way to distribute fast moving consumer goods as well.

Today, ITCs brand building spree is unmatched. It launches around 100 new products (including sub-categories) every year, a pace maintained even during the lockdown. Such rollout is enabled by its research and innovation centre in Peenya in Bengaluru, where every category of product has its own mini factory, helping the company come up with new products based on market research and insights from its Sixth Sense data centre that monitors online chatter.

BYTING INTO THE FUTURE

Getting bigger and bigger might be good for your bottomline, but it comes with its own baggagecoordinating disparate divisions and a workforce of nearly 50,000 people, and still remaining agile and nimble to take on future challenges. Puri believes ITC Next, with its emphasis on embracing digital and going sustainable, is the answer. We see digital and sustainability becoming mega trends in the next decade, he said. Therefore, in our whole philosophy of growth, anything that is aligned to them is a priority for investment.

While most other big businesses look at digital more as an avenue for sale or cost cutting, ITC has seamlessly incorporated it into its chain of operationsright from a farmer in a remote village using the new version of e-Chaupal called MAARS (Metamarket for Advanced Agriculture and Rural Services), Zen for supply chain planning, and Pace for the salesforce and UNNATI, an app for retailers to place orders.

For instance, an artificial intelligence engine crunches data of a kirana store to see what the retailer is ordering to anticipate future demand. We subscribe to a lot of other data as well on socioeconomic indicators, said Sumant. Are there ATMs in that small village? What is the average income? What are the rental values? We use our own transaction data and other data feeds to decide what is the potential of an outlet.

For the consumer, there is the itcstore.in, even though ITCs distribution muscle means its products are available across the spectrum, from corner stores to hypermarkets to quick commerce platforms. As the skew of digital sales increases, ITC could well be that super app that finally clicks with Indians. If there is one company in this space which has the ability to make a killing out of a super app, it is ITC, said Bijoor.

THANK U, NEXT

The big news at ITC in 2024 will be its much-awaited hiving off of the hotels division into a separate company. However, inside Virginia House, the work will be equally frenetic on other growth areas.

Categories of the future I have in two buckets, said Puri. One is which I am scaling up and the other one I am incubating. Scaling up categories like frozen snacks, beverages and Nimyle floor cleaner. What I am incubating are segments like chocolates and Dermafique, our premium skincare brand.

But that is all he would say, as he would like to keep the cards close to his chest. Of course, ITC is intent on expanding beyond the bordersbesides an existing joint venture in Nepal and a hotel set to open in Sri Lanka in March (its first outside India), the conglomerate is opening subsidiaries in what Puri calls adjacent markets.

Bijoor believes the home supplies category itself presents immense scope for expansion. Within the kitchen, there are 46 terrainsthese numbers are exact because I have done a kitchen audit in terms of FMCG to determine how many different brand spaces exist. And they have got into just eight so far, he said. There are drawing room needs, from a mosquito coil to a bulb; there are bedroom needs; there is a puja room they are already in, with their match boxes and agarbattis. The kitchen is only a toehold into the house. Once the toe is in, the foot will be in, and once the foot is in, the leg will be in. The ITC body obviously aspires to occupy the entire home.

ENDURING VALUE

For all his companys shining successes in the present and sweeping ambitions for the future, Puri knows well enough not to lower his guard. Hiving off hotels will free the parent company of a cash-guzzler that is slow in giving back, but challenges remain for divisions like paperboards and packaging that are facing the onslaught of Chinese products, and the agri business that often gets caught in regulatory headwinds during procurement.

Then there is FMCG. Aashirvaad and Sunfeast were runaway successes, and Savlon did well during the pandemic, but ITC still needs to cover a lot of ground when it comes to other categories where rivals like Unilever (Lux, Surf), Reckitt Benckiser (Dettol), and Procter & Gamble (Head & Shoulders, Gillette) have a strong presence in. If you want to build profitability for the FMCG business, you will have to build strong brands in the personal care and home care space, too, said Jeevan J. Arakal, professor and chairperson of branding & PR at T.A. Pai Management Institute, Manipal.

Like every other FMCG player, ITC is targetting the booming beauty market as well with its Dermafique brand. Taking on specialised players like LOreal and Nivea, however, is not easy. It is a profitable category, but distribution challenges are different and the branding support that you will have to give is different. So this is a long-term play, said Arakal.

As it gets bigger, ITC will come in the crosshairs of not just rival FMCG companies, but also fellow desi players backed by a conglomerate like Tata Consumer and Reliance Retail, who are also hungry for growth. ITCs ace up the sleeve here could well be its huge capital reserves, massive and expanding distribution network, and perhaps more important, a leadership team that is in it for the long term. Said Arakal: As they make these big corrections and big changes, I would say that this is a company with a very strong long-term orientation, which is reflected in the kind of investments they are making.
Kolkata, Feb 4 (PTI) The operation of temperature-controlled warehouses for potatoes in West Bengal may be affected during the 2024-25 season as owners are mulling a strike due to unaddressed rent revisions.

The West Bengal Cold Storage Association officials said its members are likely to discuss the issue at a meeting on Monday.

Association officials cite the government's "neglect" of rent revisions for several years as the primary reason for this proposed drastic measure.

A total of 65 lakh tonnes of potatoes stored in the facilities across the state may perish if a strike is called. An estimated 110 lakh tonnes of tuber is expected to be produced this year.

"Despite repeated appeals and justified recommendations, the government has failed to address the widening gap between recommended and approved rents," said a Cold Storage Association official, declining to be quoted before the official outcome of the crucial meeting.

"This leads to substantial financial losses for operators, with cumulative losses exceeding Rs 31.30 per quintal over the past two years, severely hindering operational efficiency and modernisation efforts," the official told PTI.

Compared to the neighbouring states where rents range from Rs 230 to Rs 270 per quintal, West Bengal cold storage units operate at significantly lower rates of Rs 168 to Rs 172 per quintal.

Sources suggest a possible strike could be averted if the government revises the tariff to at least Rs 190-194 per quintal.

The association warns that inaction could irreparably damage the cold storage sector, exacerbate existing economic challenges, and jeopardise livelihoods in potato-growing districts like Hooghly, Burdwan, Bankura, and Medinipur.

Operators urge the government to intervene promptly to avert a crisis and safeguard the interests of all stakeholders.
New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate is neither investigating One97 Communications, owner of Paytm brand, nor its Founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma for money laundering, the company said on Sunday.

The ED had visited premises of the company and some other fintech firms like Razorpay in September 2022 for money laundering investigations against some of the merchants that were using their platforms.

"Neither the Company nor its founder and CEO are being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate regarding inter alia money laundering. In the past, certain merchants/users on our platforms have been subject to enquiries and on those occasions, we have always cooperated with the authorities," Paytm said in a regulatory filing.

The company said it has cooperated with the agencies during any investigations by the authorities on any set of merchants or users in the past.

"We would like to set the record straight and deny any involvement in anti-money laundering activities. We have and continue to abide by Indian laws and take regulatory orders with utmost seriousness," the filing said.

The company is mired into controversy following a recent RBI order that barred Paytm Payments Bank Ltd to not take any further deposits or conduct credit transactions or carry out top-ups on any customers accounts, prepaid instruments, wallets, cards for paying road tolls after February 29.

Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) is an associate of One97 Communications Limited (OCL), which holds 49 per cent of the paid-up share capital (directly and through its subsidiary) of PPBL. Sharma has a 51 per cent stake in the bank.
New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) Edtech major Think and Learn released January's salary of the staff with company's Founder and CEO Raveendran Byju reaching out to employees for their support during the firm's challenging phase, a source said.

BYJU's founders and family members had earlier pledged their house to pay the salary of the employees as the firm continues to face a liquidity crunch.

"I have been moving mountains for months to make payroll, and this time, the struggle was even bigger to ensure that you receive what you rightfully deserve. Everybody has made sacrifices, everybody has grappled with decisions they never desired to make, and everybody is a little bit weary in this battle, but nobody has chosen to give up," Byju said in a letter to employees on Sunday.

BYJU'S has floated rights issue to raise USD 200 million at over 99 per cent lower valuation compared to its peak valuation of USD 22 billion in March 2022.

"Nothing matters to me more than your belief in my ability to deliver. I fight for you. You fight alongside me. This is the sacred relationship that has helped me weather every storm," Byju said.

He said that his father broke down after seeing the news against the company.

"My father is my role model; I am a teacher because he once was; I am an entrepreneur because he always taught me to follow my dreams. That he, my rock-solid support, was moved to tears made me feel a sudden pain," he said.

The company has cleared all dues of existing employees a day before the committed timeline.

On Friday, Byju had written to employees sharing that the company is less than a quarter away from achieving operational profitability.

"Yes, we still have old liabilities to settle and short-term growth to secure.The success of this rights issue will ensure that we adequately address these challenges," he had said.
YANGON, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities have arrested six suspects for illegal possession of rockets in southern Myanmar's Bago region, official media reported on Sunday.

According to the official daily The Mirror, 10 107-mm rockets and 10 detonators were seized near Kamar Natkha Village in Bago township on Friday.

A 40-mm rocket and a handmade bomb were also confiscated in Thanatpin township of the region, the report said. 
New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) will focus on concluding the ongoing privatisation transactions, like IDBI Bank and BEML, and may not look at any new CPSE for a strategic sale in the next fiscal, a senior official said.

DIPAM Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey in an interview to PTI said that no specific company is there in the list for Initial Public Offering (IPO) for next fiscal, but there would be share sale offers from subsidiaries of listed CPSEs.

Pandey said the combined market capitalisation of central public sector enterprises (CPSEs), banks and insurance companies has grown 500 per cent in past three years from Rs 15 lakh crore to Rs 58 lakh crore.

Also, Government of India's equity holding has risen 4 times to Rs 38 lakh crore, from Rs 9.5 lakh crore in January 2021.

"There has been a huge value creation in public sector enterprises which has been due to robust performance, growth prospects, capital restructuring, consistent dividend policy as well as a calibrated disinvestment strategy, amid a positive Indian economy context," Pandey said.

DIPAM, which manages government equity in public sector companies, is also working on privatisation of CPSEs where preliminary Expressions of Interest (EoIs) has been received from prospective bidders.

Pandey said the companies where EoIs have been issued and where initial bidder interest has already come in, those will be pursued in next fiscal.

"We are not looking at any further things at the moment. We are focusing on conclusion which we initially thought would be completed in this financial year but there is a spillover for some of the reason which is extraneous to us, we would like to follow up more effectively and go for culmination of those transactions," Pandey said.

Strategic sale of a host of CPSEs, including Shipping Corporation, NMDC Steel, BEML and HLL Lifecare, besides IDBI Bank are in the pipeline and were targeted for completion this fiscal.

With regard to government stake dilution in Hindustan Zinc (HZL), Pandey said the plans for selling stake in tranches are facing uncertainties with respect to demerger plans of the management.

Last year too, Anil Agarwal-owned Vedanta had planned to sell its global zinc assets to HZL, a move which analysts saw as an attempt to tap into the erstwhile state owned firm's huge cash pile. The government, which has a directorial position on HZL board, opposed the move over valuation concerns.

Agarwal-owned HZL now plans to demerge the company into three separate entities.

"We had setbacks there. Initially our intent was to exit in tranches and going to the market as per order of Supreme Court, but subsequently we had setbacks because of the certain decisions taken by the promoter and management which was not consistent with our objective, like related party transaction. Now there are more uncertainties around demerger. The Ministry of Mines is closely examining all those issues and until these uncertainties are resolved, investors are not going to be interested in the stock and forthcoming in our share sale," Pandey said.

Promoter Vedanta group owns 64.92 per cent equity in HZL, while the government holds 29.54 per cent. The remaining around 5 per cent stake is with public shareholders.

In the interim budget 2024-25, the government has targeted to raise Rs 50,000 crore from other capital receipts which include proceeds from disinvestment and asset monetisation.
Lucknow, Feb 4 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna on Sunday that the state budget for 2024-25 will be based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making India a developed nation by 2047.

The minister finalised and signed the budget document on Sunday. The state budget for 2024-25 will be presented in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Monday.

Khanna, in a statement, said that the "third all-inclusive, all-embracing budget of the second term of the Yogi (Adityanath) government of Uttar Pradesh is based on the resolution of Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) to make India a developed nation by the year 2047.".

"Under the able leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, this budget will become a strong pillar of making the state a 1 trillion dollar economy. This budget is dedicated to the overall development of the state as well as to rebuilding the infrastructure and bringing the poor, the underprivileged, the youth, women and farmers into the mainstream of development along with them leading a respectable life," he said.

The UP Finance minister said that this budget is a document of restoration of ancient cultural glory in the state as well as following all the modern parameters of development.

All such arrangements have been ensured in this budget of the state so that all the citizens will be able to contribute fully to the overall development of the state with full energy, he said.

Khanna said, "In the interim budget 2024-25 presented in the Parliament by the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1 under the leadership of the Honourable Prime Minister, Uttar Pradesh is expected to get Rs 2,18,816 crore as the state's share in central taxes.".

Special attention has been given to the poor, women, youth and annadata farmers in the Union Budget and it has been made keeping in mind the goal of making India a developed nation by the year 2047.

In the Union Budget, more emphasis has been laid on infrastructure development with a view to achieving the goal of building a developed nation along with taking care of the weaker sections of society. Uttar Pradesh will get the maximum benefit from it, he said.
Colombo, Feb 4 (PTI) A delegation of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a MarxistLeninist communist party which led an anti-India campaign in 1987-90 against the Indo-Lanka Accord, will on Monday start on an official visit to India.

The delegation of JVP, the largest party under the broad entity National Peoples Power (NPP), is to leave Colombo tomorrow (Monday) for India on an official invitation of the Indian government," a statement from the party said.

The delegation to India comprises JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, senior legislator Vijitha Herath, Secretary Nihal Abeysinghe and executive committee member Prof Anil Jayantha, the statement said.

The Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord, signed in Colombo on July 29, 1987, between Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President J. R. Jayewardene, was expected to resolve the Sri Lankan Civil War by enabling the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

Under the terms of the agreement, Colombo agreed to a devolution of power to the provinces, the Sri Lankan troops were to be withdrawn to their barracks in the north and the Tamil rebels were to surrender their arms.

The JVP has continuously led in at least one public opinion poll while the NPP broader front has led in surveys, leaving the island nation's main parties trailing.

The surveys claim that in the post-economic crisis phase since 2022, the NPP has gained significantly in public support, particularly in anti-corruption perceptions.

Dissanayake has already declared his candidacy for the next presidential election to be held later this year.

Analysts however remain sceptical if the party could raise its current three per cent vote base to 50 per cent plus one vote required to win the presidency.

The JVP has a checkered record having led two bloody rebellions in 1971 and 1987-90.
Islamabad, Feb 4 (PTI) Pakistan's election commission has disqualified Shah Mahmood Qureshi, a close aide of jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan, from contesting elections for five years after the former foreign minister was sentenced to 10 years each in prison for leaking state secrets.

The disqualification of Qureshi, 67, comes five days before the February 8 general elections, which Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party is contesting despite a state crackdown and without its famous election symbol, the bat.

The announcement comes days after a special court, established under the Official Secrets Act, awarded Qureshi 10 years imprisonment in the high-profile cypher case along with Khan.

Citing the special court's judgement dated January 30, 2024, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that any convicted individual, in accordance with the Constitution and the law, cannot participate in elections, The Express Tribune reported.

As a consequence, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has become disqualified under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan read with Section 232 of the Elections Act, 2017. Therefore, Mr Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi is disqualified to contest General Elections-2024 and any subsequent elections for a period of five years," the ECP said on Saturday.

The cipher case pertains to a piece of paper, purported to be a diplomatic cable -- the cipher -- that Khan had waved at a public rally on March 27, 2022, and naming the US, had claimed that it was evidence of an international conspiracy to topple his government.

The case was filed against Khan, 71, and Qureshi on August 15 last year by the Federal Investigation Agency, which accused both of violating the secrecy laws while handling the cable sent by the Pakistan embassy in Washington in March 2022.

Earlier, Khan has also been barred from politics for five years.
Jerusalem, Feb 4 (AP) Iran issued a warning on Sunday to the US over potentially targeting two cargo ships in the Mideast long suspected of serving as forwarding operating base for Iranian commandos, just after America and the United Kingdom launched a massive airstrike campaign against Yemen's Houthi rebels.

The statement from Iran on the Behshad and Saviz ships appeared to signal Tehran's growing unease over the US strikes in recent days in Iraq, Syria and Yemen targeting militias backed by the Islamic Republic.

Those attacks, themselves a retaliatory campaign for the killing of three US soldiers and wounding of dozens of others in Jordan, all stem back to Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has escalated tensions across the wider Middle East and raised fears about a regional conflict breaking out.

The Yemen strikes overnight on Sunday struck across six provinces of Yemen held by the Houthi rebels, including in Sanaa, the capital. The Houthis gave no assessment of the damage but the US described hitting underground missile arsenals, launch sites and helicopters used by the rebels.

These attacks will not discourage Yemeni forces and the nation from maintaining their support for Palestinians in the face of the Zionist occupation and crimes, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said. The aggressors' airstrikes will not go unanswered.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin warned the Houthis after the strikes that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels.

That message was echoed by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who said: The Houthi attacks must stop.

The Behshad and Saviz are registered as commercial cargo ships with a Tehran-based company the US Treasury has sanctioned as a front for the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. The Saviz, then later the Behshad, have loitered for years in the Red Sea off Yemen, suspected of serving as spy positions for Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

In 2017, Saudi Arabia described the Saviz as a maritime base and weapons transshipment point for the Guard, staffed by men in military fatigues. Footage aired by Saudi-owned television channels showed the vessel armed with what appeared to be a covered machine gun bolted to the ship's deck.

In the video statement on Sunday by the Iran's regular army, a narrator for the first time describes the vessels as floating armories".

The narrator describes the Behshad as aiding an Iranian mission to counteract piracy in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

However, Iran is not publicly known to have taken part in any of the recent campaigns against rising Somali piracy in the region off the back of the Houthi attacks.

Just before the new campaign of US airstrikes began, the Behshad travelled south into the Gulf of Aden. It's now docked in Djibouti in East Africa just off the coast from a Chinese military base in the country.

The statement ends with a warning overlaid with a montage of footage of US warships and an American flag.

Those engaging in terrorist activities against Behshad or similar vessels jeopardise international maritime routes, security and assume global responsibility for potential future international risks, the video said.

The US Navy's Mideast-based 5th Fleet did not immediately respond to a request for comment over the threat.

The Saviz, which is now in the Indian Ocean near where the US alleges Iranian drone attacks recently have targeted shipping, has come under attack before. In 2021, a likely limpet mine explosion blew a hole through the hull of the Saviz, forcing Iran to bring the ship home. That attack, suspected to have been carried out by Israel, is part of a wider shadow war between Tehran and Israel after the collapse of the Iran nuclear deal. (AP) PY

PY
Dhaka, Feb 4 (PTI) At least 58 soldiers of Myanmars paramilitary Border Guard Police (BGP) escaping the junta-run country took shelter in Bangladesh amid reports of heavy gunfights between the government troops and the rebel resistance fighters, officials said here on Sunday.

The soldiers entered through the Tambru border in predawn hours on Sunday and sought shelter from the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB).

Fifty-eight BGP personnel took shelter in Bangladesh throughout the day since the predawn hours. Fourteen of them crossed the border with bullet wounds and are being treated at different hospitals, including health facilities in Rohingya camps, said an official familiar with the development.

The official, who preferred anonymity, said the paramilitary soldiers were kept under their counterpart Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) custody in southeastern Coxs Bazar bordering Myanmars Rakhine state while the weapons they carried were deposited in BGB cache.

The official said many of the soldiers came to Bangladesh territory in combat uniforms and weapons while others were in their plainclothes leaving their arms back home.

The BGB informed the development to their Myanmar counterparts, said the official.

Dhaka, meanwhile, expressing concern over the skirmishes in its border areas with Myanmar, said the violence was affecting Bangladesh's frontlines.

Road Transport Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader sought Chinese intervention to de-escalate the conflict given Beijings close contacts with Burmese authorities.

The internal war is their (Myanmars) domestic concern. But when the sound of gunfights is heard at the border, naturally it creates panic in the public mind. We, therefore, expect Beijings intervention, Quader told the media after he met with the Chinese envoy.

Officials earlier said 14 BGP personnel crossed the border in predawn hours through the Ghumdhum border while a BGB spokesman in Dhaka thereafter asked journalists to await a media briefing on the development.

No official briefing was however done until Sunday evening.

District administration of Bandarban, where the troubled frontier is located, closed five schools for security reasons fearing mortar shells or stray bullets will slide into the Bangladesh territory as the gunfights are underway on the other side of the border.

The BGB asked residents to stay indoors or move cautiously.

Officials said reports from the other side of the border suggested army helicopters were strafing on rebel fighters, escalating concerns of massive casualties.

Residents in frontier villages, including local Union Parishad members, said sounds of gunfights on the Myanmar side of the border on Saturday night and Sunday panicked residents in villages in the frontier.

A BSS report said the skirmishes between the government troops and the rebel Arakan Army frightened residents in several frontier Bangladesh villages as many mortar shells and bullets landed at the Bangladeshi side in the past few days though no casualty was reported so far.

In two such latest incidents on Saturday night a bullet smashed the windshield of a battery-run three-wheeler and a mortar shell hit a village house at Tombru area of Ghumdhum but no one was wounded, a member of the local union council, the lowest local government-tier, told reporters.

Bangladesh earlier ordered an extra security vigil on the border with Myanmar given the gunfights between the military and the insurgent Arakan Army, which is active in the bordering Rakhine region of the country.

International media reports suggested several more insurgent groups, some forming alliances among themselves, are confronting the military in several parts of Myanmar.

According to reports and analysts, the resistance movement in Myanmar gained momentum three years after a coup ended a short-lived experiment with democracy.

Bangladeshs border with Myanmar stretches 271.0 kilometres (168.4 miles) from the tri-point with India in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south.

Bangladesh played a critical role in sheltering over a million Muslim minority Rohingyas who fled their home in Rakhine and took refuge in Bangladesh to evade persecution, particularly after a 2017 army crackdown but the current crisis has little to do with the Rohingyas.

Bangladesh won praises for the handling of the worlds biggest refugee crisis while Dhaka repeatedly sought their repatriation to their homeland in Rakhine saying the Rohingyas were causing economic, social, security and environmental problems.

The issue is now the subject of a United Nations genocide investigation at the International Court of Justice.
London, Feb 4 (PTI) Britains former home secretary Suella Braverman has lashed out at many churches around the country who facilitate bogus asylum claims at an industrial scale by wrongly certifying non-Christians.

The Indian-origin Conservative Party MP, who shifted to the Parliament backbenches after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sacked her from his Cabinet last year, writes in The Daily Telegraph this weekend that she is angry that the UK is far from taking back control of its borders despite the landmark restoration of sovereignty after Brexit.

The immigration hardliner took particular aim at churches which certify that asylum seekers face certain persecution if returned to their Islamic country of origin after befriending the vicar.

Take the church as an example. While at the Home Office, I became aware of churches around the country facilitating industrial-scale bogus asylum claims, she said in an opinion piece in the newspaper.

They are well-known within the migrant communities and, upon arrival in the UK, migrants are directed to these churches as a one-stop shop to bolster their asylum case. Attend mass once a week for a few months, befriend the vicar, get your baptism date in the diary and, bingo, youll be signed off by a member of the clergy that youre now a God-fearing Christian who will face certain persecution if removed to your Islamic country of origin. It has to stop. We must get wise to the problem, she said.

The barrister, who fought many such cases for the Home Office in the past, said she discovered that the racketeering of bogus asylum seekers had not only continued but expanded in myriad ways.

She notes: Today, it is adults claiming to be children, Muslims pretending to be Christians, heterosexuals feigning homosexuality, healthy people alleging mental illness, economic migrants impersonating refugees fleeing persecution, those who have chosen to come here arguing that they have been trafficked as slaves, or those masquerading as political dissidents."

Many asylum seekers are genuine and its right that we offer help when their cause is just. But far too many are bogus and using our laws against us.

In a clear challenge to Sunak, who is under pressure to bring down illegal migration figures in a general election, Braverman demanded that the answer lies in Britain withdrawing from the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR).

She claimed the jurisprudence of the Strasbourg-based court, which is binding in the UK, has taken a ever-expansive approach to the human rights set out in the original text.

Weve tried working within its boundaries for decades but that approach has failed, she declared.

Using her own migrant roots as the daughter of a Goan-origin father and Tamil mother as a reference point, the former minister insisted that her intent is not to demonise those who seek a better life abroad.

My own parents had that same deep longing when they emigrated  lawfully  to the UK from Kenya and Mauritius in the 1960s. People may come here lawfully, in an orderly manner. But what we are talking about with illegal immigration is the deception, criminality and playing of the system that so defines our asylum policy in the 21st century, she said.

We can dance around the issue for years to come, but the truth is that our government will always be limited in what it can do unless it withdraws from the European Convention on Human Rights, she added.
Washington, Feb 4 (AP) Senators on Sunday raced to release a highly-anticipated bill that pairs border enforcement policy with wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel and other US allies as part of a long-shot effort to push the package through heavy scepticism from Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson.

The proposal is the best chance for President Joe Biden to resupply Ukraine with wartime aid  a major foreign policy goal that is shared with both the Senate's top Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer, and top Republican, Sen. Mitch McConnell. The Senate was expected this week to hold a key test vote on the legislation, but it has already run into a wall of opposition from conservatives.

With Congress stalled on approving tens of billions of dollars in Ukraine aid, the US has halted shipments of ammunition and missiles to Kyiv, leaving Ukrainian soldiers outgunned as they try to beat back Russia's invasion.

In a bid to overcome opposition from House Republicans, McConnell had insisted last year that border policy changes be included in the national security funding package. The bill would overhaul the asylum system at the border with faster and tougher enforcement, as well as give presidents new powers to immediately expel migrants if authorities become overwhelmed with the number of people applying for asylum.

However, in an election-year shift on immigration, Biden and many Democrats have embraced the idea of strict border enforcement, while Donald Trump and his allies have both criticised the proposed measures as insufficient.

They have also argued that presidents already have enough authority to curb illegal border crossings  a stance that would ensure immigration remains a major issue in the presidential election.

Johnson, a Republican of Louisiana, in an interview on Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press said he was unaware of the bill's details, but pointed to a House proposal of hardline immigration measures.

What we're saying is you have to stem the flow, Johnson said. He also made it clear that he  not Trump  would decide whether to bring the bill to the floor if it passes the Senate. But in a further sign that Johnson is resistant to the Senate package, he indicated Saturday that the House will vote on a separate package of USD 17.6 billion of military aid for Israel  a move that allows House Republicans to show support for Israel apart from the Senate deal.

I feel confident that when our bill passes the Senate and gets to the House, members of the House, including Speaker Johnson, will have had ample opportunity to read, understand the bill and ask questions," said Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent who negotiated the border proposal, on CBS' Face the Nation.

The border proposal, which took months to negotiate, is aimed at gaining control of an asylum system that has been overwhelmed by historic numbers of migrants coming to the border. The bill proposes an overhaul to the system with tougher and quicker enforcement measures. If the number of illegal border crossings reaches above 5,000 daily for a five-day average, an expulsion authority would automatically kick in so that migrants are sent back to Mexico without an opportunity to make an asylum claim. If the number reaches 4,000, presidential administrations would have the option of using the expulsion authority.

Biden, referencing the authority, has said he would use it to shut down the border as soon as the bill is signed into law.

The bill would allot USD 18.5 billion to immigration enforcement, including the hiring of thousands of new officers to evaluate asylum claims, as well as hundreds of Border Patrol agents, according to a person briefed on the package who spoke anonymously to discuss the bill. USD 1.4 billion of that would go to shelters and services in cities across the US that have struggled to keep up with the influx of migrants in recent months.

Migrants who seek asylum, which provides protection for people facing persecution in their home countries, would face a tougher and faster process to having their claim evaluated. The standard in initial interviews, known as credible fear screenings, would be raised, and many would receive those interviews within days of arriving at the border. Final decisions on their asylum claims would happen within months, rather than the often years-long wait that happens now.

Among Democrats, the tougher asylum standards have raised concern, especially from progressive and Hispanic lawmakers. While the wings of both parties have been openly critical of the policies under discussion, many have withheld final judgment until they can review the text of the bill, which has been a closely guarded secret in the Capitol.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries suggested in an interview on ABC's This Week that he would be supportive if it gets to the House.

"It should not be dead on arrival," he said. We need more common sense in Washington, D.C., less conflict and less chaos. We're in a period of divided government. That means we should be trying to find bipartisan common ground.

Senators finalised the border proposal on Friday, but other portions of the package, including aid for US allies, investments in defense manufacturing capabilities and humanitarian assistance for people caught up in conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, were still being negotiated by Senate appropriators. (AP) PY

PY
Mumbai, Feb 4 (PTI) A 35-year-old man, who went missing from his hometown Alwar in Rajasthan two years back, was found in Mumbai and reunited with his family on Sunday, a police official here said.



The man, Amit Kumar Saini, who has mental health issues, was spotted roaming on the streets in Bandra and Khar areas here, assistant police inspector Gokul Bhoi said.

When a police officer enquired with him and checked his belongings, some torn documents were found wherein there was a phone number based on which his family was contacted.



"A police team during patrolling found him in a dishevelled condition and roaming on the Linking Road in Khar area. He had been roaming around the Bandra station, Khar station areas for the last two years," the official said.

"As he was not talking, his bag was searched and a copy of an old driving license was found in the torn documents which had a phone number on it," Bhoi said.



"When we contacted on the number, a person informed that Saini was missing since the last two years from Alwar. We kept Saini at the Khar police station here until his family members arrived, and provided him food and clothes," the official said.



On Sunday, his brother Ajay along with a friend reached Mumbai.

"We handed Amit Saini over to them. They told us that he was driver and suddenly disappeared two years back," the official said.
Akola, Feb 4 (PTI) Three persons have been arrested in connection with the recovery of two pistols in Maharashtras Akola district, and one of the accused was allegedly in touch with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, police said on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, the police had recovered two pistols and nine rounds from a well in Akot on January 16, a police release said.



A case was registered under the Arms Act, and the police zeroed in on the accused, Praful Vinayak Chavan (25) and Ajay Tularam Dethe (27), and apprehended them on January 17, it said.

During a probe, it was found that Shubham Rameshvar Lonkar (25), a resident of Pune, had directed an unidentified supplier to deliver the weapons to Chavan, the release said.

Lonkar, who was the mastermind, was arrested on January 30, it said.

Investigations revealed that Lonkar had allegedly done WhatsApp video calls with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi twice in 2022 and 2023, and he had also received WhatsApp audio calls from three international numbers, including from the gangsters brother Anmol Bishnoi, the release stated.

"The investigation is focused on tracing middlemen, ascertaining the motive behind the parcel drop in Akola. The police are also further verifying alleged audio and video WhatsApp calls with Lawrence Bishnoi and others, Superintendent of Police Bachchan Singh said.
SANAA, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Houthi camps in Yemen's capital Sanaa were hit by airstrikes on Saturday night, residents told Xinhua.

The airstrikes hit camps around Sanaa, and the sound of many fighter jets could be heard in downtown Sanaa, residents said.

The explosions occurred in the northern and southern mountains surrounding the capital, added the residents.

Meanwhile, the Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said "U.S.-British aggression" launched airstrikes on targets in the capital city on Saturday night. 
Kolkata, Feb 4 (PTI) Actor-turned-TMC MP Dipak Adhikary has resigned from committees of three state-run bodies in his constituency, ahead of the announcement of the dates of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, triggering speculation on whether he will be in the fray or not this time.Officials in Paschim Medinipur district said, Adhikary, the Ghatal MP, who goes by the screen name Dev, stepped down from the posts without citing any reason.

On Saturday, DEV resigned from the posts of Ghatal Super Speciality Hospital Patient Welfare Committee, Birsingha Unnayan Parishad and the Ghatal Rabindra Centenary College governing committee, all state-run organisations in the district.

While the Bengali film hero did not issue any statement, his resignation triggered speculation regarding his future move.

Senior TMC leader and minister Firhad Hakim told reporters that Dev very much remains within the party fold and will do whatever the top leadership asks him to do in the upcoming general elections.

TMC youth wing state president Sayani Ghosh said, "So far we know, Dev has resigned from the three committees so that the office for profit issue does not pop up when he contests the polls. He is not the type of a person who will leave the political battlefield.

BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said Dev has realised he should be distancing himself from a scam-tainted party like TMC, and "this is the first move on the part of the actor-producer and MP who is a nice person being misfit in a party like the Trinamool Congress".

Echoing him, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari told reporters, "This is the trailer. You will see how the events will keep unfolding in the coming days before the Lok Sabha polls.

Dev debuted in Lok Sabha polls in 2014 when he defeated CPI candidate Santosh Rana from Ghatal. He won for the second time from the same seat in 2019 by defeating BJP's Bharati Ghosh.
New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) Cash seizures made by the Income-tax department during successive assembly elections have shown a substantial increase, CBDT Chairman Nitin Gupta has said.

He said the tax department is investigating these cases apart from other such instances where huge unaccounted currency and jewellery was unearthed during raids and other enforcement action by tax personnel.

"In relation to cash seizures if we speak about the assembly elections, then it has been found that cash seizures have been quite substantial vis-a-vis cash seizure in the similar point of time five years back for the same time period of assembly elections.

"We have seen that cash seizures have been quite large and high (every assembly election). These seizures are quite significant," the chief of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) told PTI.

The Election Commission has also spoken about the surge in the seizure of cash and illegal inducements during various state polls.

The poll panel, in an official statement issued in November last year, had declared that there has been a "significant and exponential increase" in seizures during polls in five states of Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana.

More than Rs 1,760 crore worth of freebies that includes cash, jewellery, narcotics, liquor and some other items were seized in these five states, which is more than seven times (Rs 239.15 crore) the seizures made in previous assembly elections in these states in 2018, the EC had said.

According to Income-tax department sources, the tax personnel found that seizure of cash during all the assembly polls held in 2023 was more than two times higher than the corresponding period of 2018.

Similarly, cash seizures made during assembly elections held in 2022 was six times higher than the comparative period of 2017.

If jewellery is added to this cash amount recorded by the tax department, then the seizures for 2023 are three-times higher than 2018 and similarly seven times higher during the 2022 vs 2017 comparative period, the sources said.

According to official data, assembly polls were held in Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Telangana in 2023.

In 2022, assembly elections were held in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.
Dehradun, Feb 4 (PTI) The Uttarakhand cabinet has approved the final draft of the Uniform Civil Code, paving the way for its tabling in the state Assembly during a special four-day session that begins on Monday.

The state cabinet passed the UCC draft at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at his official residence on Sunday.

The special session of the Assembly has been convened especially to pass the legislation on the UCC and make it an Act. The cabinet approval of the draft was needed for its introduction in the Assembly.

If UCC is implemented, BJP-ruled Uttarakhand will become the first state in the country after Independence to adopt it. A UCC has been operational in Goa since the days of the Portuguese rule.

A Uniform Civil Code for Uttarakhand was a major election promise by Dhami in the 2022 assembly polls.

The final draft of the UCC running into 740 pages in four volumes was submitted to Chief Minister Dhami here recently by a five-member panel headed by retired judge of the Supreme Court Ranjana Prakash Desai.

The special session of the Assembly, starting on Monday, will go on till February 8.

The BJP's landslide victory for a second consecutive term in power in Uttarakhand has been attributed on many occasions by the chief minister to the pre-poll promise of a UCC.

After becoming chief minister for a second consecutive term, Dhami accorded top priority to fulfilling his pre-poll commitment, announcing the constitution of a committee to prepare the draft of the UCC at the first meeting of the state cabinet after assuming office.

The Committee formed in May 2022 took nearly two years and four extensions to prepare the draft and submit it to the chief minister here on Friday.

Implementation of the UCC will provide a legal framework for uniform marriage, divorce, land, property and inheritance laws for all citizens across all faiths in the state.

The panel received 2.33 lakh written suggestions online and held more than 70 meetings in which the members interacted with around 60,000 people in the course of preparing the draft.

On the day the final draft was submitted to the chief minister, he expressed hope that many states would follow the example of Uttarakhand and use the template provided by the state to implement the UCC.
New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday slammed the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh after the body of a woman civil judge was found hanging in her quarters, saying she wonders what kind of fear an ordinary girl must feel living there.

A murder case has been registered against unidentified people in the death of the judge in UP's Budaun district, following a complaint filed by her father, a police officer said on Sunday.

In a post in X on Hindi, Priyanka Gandhi said a few weeks ago in Banda, a woman judge asked for euthanasia and now the body of another woman judge has been found in her house in Budaun.

The family of the deceased judge has raised serious questions on the probe into her death, the Congress general secretary said.

"If this is the condition of security of women judges under the BJP rule, then imagine with what fear an ordinary girl must be living through everyday," Priyanka Gandhi said.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Uttar Pradesh is number one in crimes against women, she said.

"Every hour, eight women become victims of crime. Uttar Pradesh has become completely unsafe for women, because all the big claims of safety are only in advertisements. The statistics of increasing crimes against women show how serious the government actually is about women's safety," the Congress general secretary said.

"Now only the awareness of women and society will bring them out of this whirlpool of oppression and violence," she said.

The body of Civil Judge (Junior Division) Jyotsna Rai, 27, was recovered on Saturday. It was suspected that she had killed herself. She reportedly left behind a suicide note.

Her father, who reached Budaun Saturday evening, however, claimed his daughter was killed and her killers hanged her body from the ceiling fan in her bedroom to make it look like a suicide, a police officer said.

Ashok Kumar Rai said his daughter was very brave and ensured everyone got justice. She could never commit suicide, he added.
New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday condemned the threats to his party colleague from Andhra Pradesh, Y S Sharmila, and termed it a disgraceful act.

"Insulting and threatening women, a vile and cowardly act, is unfortunately the most common weapon of the weak," Gandhi said in a post on X.

"The Congress party and I stand firmly beside Y S Sharmilaji and Suneethaji and strongly condemn this disgraceful attack," he added.

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said certain elements in Andhra Pradesh are clearly rattled by the huge support Sharmila and the Congress are getting in the southern state with every passing day.

"The death threats and trolling against Sharmilaji and Suneethaji are highly deplorable and the entire party stands firmly with them against these pathetic attempts to tarnish their reputation and the great legacy of Y S Rajashekhar Reddy garu," Venugopal said in a post on X.

Former Union minister M M Pallam Raju said on the microblogging platform: "It is sad to see the ugly online trolling of @realyssharmila, the AP Congress chief, who has adopted the ideology embraced by her late father, Dr YSR, the popular CM of AP. Similarly, Sri YS Vivekananda Reddy's daughter Suneetha has been subjected to this pathetic abuse."

Raju also posted a media report that said Suneetha Narreddy, the daughter of former Andhra Pradesh minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy, has got a complaint lodged at the Gachibowli cyber crime police station in Hyderabad against a man for abusive and threatening Facebook posts.

Sharmila staged a demonstration at the Andhra Bhavan in Delhi on Friday to protest against the non-conferment of special category status to Andhra Pradesh and the failure to fulfil bifurcation promises.

She protested before the B R Ambedkar statue at the Andhra Bhavan and was accompanied by Manickam Tagore and senior Congress leaders from Andhra Pradesh.
President Joe Biden is looking for an easy victory Saturday in South Carolinas Democratic primary that officially kicks off his partys nominating process, validating a new lineup he championed to better empower Black voters who helped revive his 2020 campaign.

Biden is overwhelmingly favored against Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips and self-help author Marianne Williamson. Yet the long and sometimes contentious process that saw the Democratic National Committee officially replace Iowa with South Carolina in its presidential primarys leadoff spot has made whats unfolding noteworthy.

The GOPs South Carolina primary is Feb. 24.

Arguing that voters of color should play a larger role in determining the Democratic presidential nominee, Biden championed a calendar beginning in South Carolina. The state is reliably Republican, but 26% of its residents are Black.

South Carolina, you are the first primary in the nation and President Biden and I are counting on you, Vice President Kamala Harris said Friday during a campaign stop at historically Black South Carolina State in Orangeburg. The president and first lady Jill Biden also recently campaigned in the state.

In the 2020 general election, Black voters made up 11% of the national electorate, and 9 in 10 of them supported Biden, according to AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of that elections voters.

Biden attended an open house Saturday at his campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, and told supporters, Im feeling good about where we are. He said voters around the country are beginning to focus on the election and the polling data is picking up across the board.

We cannot, we cannot, we cannot lose this campaign, for the good of the country, Biden said before leaving on a weekend trip to California and Nevada. He appeared with first lady Jill Biden, Harris and her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff.

Earlier in the day, in South Carolinas capital, Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said Bidens push on behalf of the state showed the presidents commitment to Black voters.

We all know that we, because of the color of this, we, our great grandparents, our grandparents, could not always vote here, said Harrison, a South Carolina native who is Black, as he pointed to his own skin. For this president to say, Jaime, for the entirety of your life, we have started this process in Iowa and New Hampshire, and now, were going to start it in South Carolina  no other president before ever decided to touch that issue. But Joe Biden did, and I will always be grateful to the president for giving us a chance, for seeing us, and understanding how much we matter.

Biden pushed for South Carolina to go first followed three days later by Nevada. The new calendar also moves the Democratic primary of Michigan, a large and diverse swing state, to Feb. 27, before the expansive field of states voting on March 5, known as Super Tuesday.

South Carolina was also where Biden reversed his fortunes with a resounding victory during the 2020 Democratic primary after defeats in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

Many Black Democrats in South Carolina are still loyal to Biden after he was vice president to the nations first Black president, Barack Obama. The states senior member of the U.S. House, Democrat Jim Clyburn, long one of Congress most powerful Black leaders, remains a close Biden friend and ally.

I wouldnt be here without the Democratic voters of South Carolina, and thats a fact, Biden said at the states Democratic Partys First-in-the-Nation celebration dinner last weekend. Youre the reason I am president.

The DNC sponsored a six-figure ad campaign across the state and Nevada to boost enthusiasm for the president among Black and Latino voters. Nevadas population is 30% Latino.

Black voters interviewed during the recent early voting period listed a range of reasons for supporting Biden, from his administrations defense of abortion rights to appointing Black jurists and other minorities to the federal courts. Some echoed Bidens warnings that former President Donald Trump, the heavy front-runner for the Republican nomination, would threaten democracy as he continues to push lies that the 2020 vote was stolen.

We cant live with a leader that will make this into a dictatorship. We cant live in a place that is not a democracy. That will be a fall for America, said LaJoia Broughton, a 42-year-old small business owner in Columbia. So my vote is with Biden. It has been with Biden and will continue to be with Biden.

Some voters said they were concerned about the 81-year-old Bidens age, as many Americans have said they are in public polling. Trump is 77. Both men have had a series of public flubs that have fueled skepticism about their readiness.

Theyre as old as I am and to have these two guys be the only choices, thats kind of difficult, said Charles Trower, a 77-year-old from Blythewood, South Carolina. But I would much rather have President Biden than even consider the other guy.

New Hampshire held a primary last week that defied the new calendar and wasnt sanctioned by the DNC. Still, Biden won the state via write-in and a big South Carolina victory could begin to allay the concerns of a majority of voters, as even most Democrats dont want him seeking a second term.

In the meantime, the Democratic establishment  and even potential presidential hopefuls who could have competed against the president from the left or middle  have lined up behind Biden. The DNC also isnt planning primary debates, while Phillips has challenged his name not appearing on primary ballots in Florida and North Carolina.

The presidents reelection campaign says its already focusing on Novembers general election, and Harris used her Friday appearance, saying of Trump it is on us then to recognize the profound threat he poses to our democracy and to our freedoms.

Across our nation, our fundamental freedoms are at stake, Harris said. It does not have to be this way.

Trump has in turn accused Biden of threatening democracy, while downplaying his role in promoting falsehoods about election fraud embraced by the rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Bidens campaign, the DNC and its other fundraising arms announced raising $97-plus million in the final three months of last year and entered 2024 with $117.4 million in cash on hand. Trump amassed about $130 million in 2023s final quarter and had $42-plus million to start the election year.

(AP)
Facing a cash crunch and harsh criticism from a faction of far-right conservatives, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel on Friday called for the party to unite behind the goal of defeating President Joe Biden.

McDaniel spoke at the RNCs winter meeting in Las Vegas behind closed doors on Friday, addressing a gathering of state chairmen and other top party members in whats expected to be a critical swing state in the November election.

We Republicans will stick together, as united as the union our party long ago fought to preserve, McDaniel said, quoting Ronald Reagan, according to people who were in the room and disclosed her remarks on condition of anonymity to discuss a private gathering. Well have our battles ahead of us, but theyre good battles, and theyre worth fighting for.

McDaniels appeal for unity comes as former President Donald Trump and his allies push the party to get behind him and effectively end the primary even though he still faces a final major rival, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. While McDaniel has fought off opponents before, winning a competitive race for a fourth term as chairwoman last year, shes now facing Trump supporters on the far right who are creating parallel efforts that could conflict with the national party.

Campaign finance disclosures released this week show the RNC had just $8 million in the bank and $1 million in debt. While the Trump campaign heads into 2024 with $42 million cash on hand, Bidens political operation reported raising $97.1 million across the various committees it uses to fundraise and ended the year with $117.4 million on hand.

Biden is already working with the Democratic National Committee, which partners automatically with the incumbent president. An effort by Trump allies to have the RNC this week declare Trump the presumptive nominee was withdrawn after it drew criticism because Haley is still running.

Trump has previously backed McDaniel, though his campaign and the RNC have disagreed at times. Trump declined to participate in party-sponsored primary debates before this years Iowa caucuses.

But theres long been tension between the party establishment and some people who consider themselves Trumps strongest supporters.

McDaniel faced a week of withering attacks launched by far-right figures spearheaded by the group Turning Point, a glitzy and well-funded organization founded by 30-year-old media figure Charlie Kirk, who was part of an unsuccessful effort to oust McDaniel last year.

Days before the partys winter meeting convened, Turning Point hosted a counterprogramming event and grassroots training session at a casino across Las Vegas Boulevard dubbed Restoring National Confidence, a play on the RNCs initials. The invite-only event drew nearly 400 attendees aligned with the group, including some RNC members, as well as state and local Republican Party chairs.

Kirk, who hosts a popular radio show, is part of a faction of conservatives whove openly stoked a feud with the RNC, which they have blasted for spending lavishly and being out of touch with the partys grassroots base. That, they argue, led to losses in 2018 and 2020 as well as underwhelming results in 2022.

Some Turning Point supporters have become RNC members, while the group is actively recruiting others, an effort that, if successful, would give the group more sway over the direction of the party and perhaps a stronger say in the partys chair.

We know a pack of losers when we see it: top to bottom, the entire RNC staff in its current form, Kirk said Thursday on his radio show.

They dont even know what winning is, he added.

Inside the RNC meeting, some members, including those who have been critical of McDaniel, said the Turning Point effort was ill-advised.

Attacking the brand and the chair doesnt advance our fundamental goal of winning elections, said Mississippi national committeeman Henry Barbour, who has at times criticized McDaniel.

And McDaniels allies note that the Democratic National Committee was in debt to the tune of $5 million in the early days of the 2020 race, when the party was trying to return a Democrat to the White House.

Turning Point is looking to expand its influence and reach beyond the youth movement, with mixed results. The group has struggled in its adopted home state of Arizona, where many of its preferred candidates failed to win in statewide races that many saw as winnable.

Its leaders have also come under scrutiny over their own spending practices, including charter jet travel, offering lucrative salaries and paying to host Kirks wedding reception in 2021. Turning Point is currently trying to raise $108 million for a three-state get-out-the-vote campaign in Wisconsin, Arizona and Georgia that would operate parallel to efforts that are already underway.

RNC spokeswoman Emma Vaughn dismissed the challenges as coming from people complaining online.

Outside noise might be what keyboard warriors and the Democrats are focused on, she said. Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and the entire Republican National Committee are laser-focused on beating Biden this fall.

(AP)
The federal death penalty trial for a white supremacist who killed 10 Black people at a Buffalo supermarket likely wont start for at least 18 months to give lawyers time to tackle a host of legal and logistical issues, a judge said Friday.

U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo set a date of Sept. 8, 2025, for the start of Payton Gendrons trial on hate crimes and weapons charges. The date is realistic, Vilardo said at a hearing, but it could change.

Prosecutors had sought an April 2025 start.

Why do you need so much time? Zeneta Everhart, whose son, Zaire, was shot in the neck but survived, asked after the hearing. To me its just annoying to keep hearing them push for more time  Just get on it with already.

Gendron, 20, is already serving a sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole after he pleaded guilty to state charges of murder and hate-motivated domestic terrorism in the 2022 attack.

New York does not have capital punishment, but the Justice Department announced in January that it would seek the death penalty in the separate federal case.

Vilardo set a series of filing and hearing dates between now and the trials start for preliminary legal challenges, including any defense challenges to the constitutionality of the death penalty.

Prosecutors estimated they will need three to four months to select a jury for the capital punishment case. The trial itself is expected to last five to six weeks.

(AP)
by Chaim Weber

We find that chazal forbade us from performing certain mitzvos on shabbos due to concerns that shabbos might be violated.

For example, reading Megillah, taking lulav or blowing shofar on shabbos are all forbidden due to concerns that one may want to consult an expert and come to carry in a public domain  thereby violating the prohibition against carrying. This decree is called gzeira dRabbah (Rabbahs decree).

The Tosfos Yom Tov (Megillah 1:2) asks why doesnt Rabbahs decree apply to laining on shabbos?

True, the Gemara in Bava Kamma (82a) says that the neviim instituted that we should lain every Monday, Thursday and shabbos. But similar to Megillah, shofar and lulav, why didnt chazal subsequently forbid laining due to Rabbahs decree?

The Tosfos Yom Tov answers that by laining, the baal korei is supposed to practice a few times beforehand to prepare the laining. Therefore, theres no concern of him needing to consult with an expert.

However, other acharonim are unsure about this answer, as gezeira dRabbah applies to Megillah as well! There also, the baal korei undoubtedly prepares!

The Pri Megadim (Orach Chaim 282:1) quotes the Tosfos Shabbos that chazal didnt enact Rabbahs decree by laining on shabbos, as doing so would cause the entire mitzvah of laining on shabbos to fall away.

The Tosfos Shabbos compares this to a Taz (Orach Chaim 588:5) who uses this idea to answer a different question: why didnt chazal forbid blowing shofar on yom tov due to concerns that one would fix musical instruments? We find that other musical activities are forbidden for this exact reason!

The Taz answers that forbidding the blowing of shofar on yom tov (even if it doesnt fall out on a shabbos) would annul the mitzvah of shofar entirely. In such a case, chazal would not institute such a decree.

The Pri Megadim is unsure if its fair to apply the Tazs answer to laining, as perhaps only by an explicit mitzvah in the Torah were chazal hesitant to remove the mitzvah entirely. Perhaps not by laining, which is a takanas neviim. He leaves the matter as tzarich iyun  a matter needing further thought. (It should be noted that according to the Rambam, laining is a takana from Moshe Rabbeinu, though its still not an explicit mitzvah in the Torah.)

Other explanations are also given to answer the Tosfos Yom Tovs question.

The Daas Torah answers that as we arent allowed to bring a sefer torah out of a shul except for an adam chashuv, theres no concern that one would bring a sefer torah to an expert.

The Vilna Gaon (Maaseh Rav 175, Hagahos Peulas Sachir) answers that since laining is a communal mitzvah and cant be done with less than ten people, theres no concern that someone will come to carry the sefer torah, as people will remind each other not to violate shabbos.

What About Bris Mila?

The halacha is that we may perform a bris mila on shabbos.

Why doesnt Rabbahs decree apply to bris mila? Shouldnt we be afraid that the mohel will have a question and want to consult with an expert  thereby carrying the mila knife?

Some Rishonim ask further that we should also be concerned about the potential to carry the baby himself! Although carrying a person is not a Torah violation, as theres a principal chai nosei es atzmo  a living being carries himself, theres still a Rabbinic prohibition!

Tosfos in Megillah (4b) gives two answers:

Firstly, bris mila is such an important mitzvah that 13 covenants were made because of it. As such, though were concerned about chilul shabbos, chazal didnt want to push off the mitzvah of bris mila.

Secondly, Tosfos answers that since every mohel is assumed to be an expert in the craft of mila, theres no concern of him needing to consult others.

The Ritva (Sukkah 43a and Megillah 4b) provides two additional answers.

Firstly, he notes that chazal only instituted Rabbahs decree to uproot Megilla, which is a mitzvah drabbanan, or shofar and lulav, where theres some uncertainty related to the mitzvah, as were no longer experts in establishing the calendar. However, by a clear Torah mitzvah, chazal would not uproot the mitzvah solely because of Rabbahs decree.

Additionally, the Ritva notes that since the Torah permitted bris mila on shabbos despite the act of mila being an automatic melacha violation, chazal wouldnt forbid bris mila for concerns one may violate a different melacha (ie. carrying).

The Ran answers that by mila, only the father and mohel are commanded so if they would have a lapse in judgment and forget about the prohibition against carrying, they would be reminded by others. By Megillah, shofar and lulav, everyone is equally absorbed in trying to fulfill their own obligation and will be too distracted to remind others. Therefore, Rabbahs decree applies.

The Chiddush of the Taz and the Meiri!

The Taz (Orach Chaim 588:5 and Choshen Mishpat 2:1) provides an additional answer.

He notes that chazal will never make a decree that goes against an explicit verse in the Torah. As the Torah explicitly says that we perform mila uvayom hashemini  on the eighth day and chazal learn that this includes shabbos, chazal wouldnt decree to forbid mila.

The Taz brings an interesting proof to this idea: The Gemara (Sanhedrin 46a and Yevamos 90b) says that chachamim have the power to enact punishments even when the Torah doesnt demand punishment, not to violate the Torah rather to protect the Torah. The Rambam and Tur quote this language as halacha.

The Taz wonders why the phrase not to violate the Torah is necessary? Of course chazal cant violate the Torah?

The Taz answers that built into the power of chachamim to make a decree is also the limitation that their decree cant go against an explicit verse in the Torah.

Amazingly, although the Taz didnt have access to the Meiri (whose monumental work Beis Habechira was only discovered in the twentieth century), the Meiri (Megilla 4a) gives the exact same answer, noting that chazal wouldnt forbid mila on shabbos, as its explicitly permitted in the Torah from the verse uvayom hashemini.
COLOMBO, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's navy seized two Indian trawlers and apprehended 23 Indian nationals poaching in the territorial waters of Sri Lanka, off the Delft Island in Jaffna, the navy said in a press release on Sunday.

The arrests were made during an operation on Saturday night to drive away a group of Indian fishing vessels poaching in Sri Lankan waters, the navy said.

The arrested fishermen and the seized trawlers were brought to the Kankasanthurai Harbor on Sunday, and they will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for onward legal action, the navy said.

The navy said that they conduct regular patrols in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices by foreign trawlers, taking into account the consequences of these practices on the livelihood of local fishermen and the marine resources of the South Asian country.

The Sri Lankan navy arrested 343 people engaged in illegal activities and confiscated thousands of kg of contraband in 2023. 
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(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The Houthi terror group in Yemen released a video on Saturday showing its military training to conquer IDF bases in an Israeli town.

The video show the terrorists approaching the town and opening fire at its perimeter security cameras.

The terrorists then take over the yishuv, shooting any Israelis they encounter with machine gun fire and entering IDF bases and taking soldiers hostage.

They then leave the town with the hostages and once safely out of the way, they detonate the town with explosives.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari announced that three IDF divisions have been deployed to northern Israel to counter Hezbollahs still-ongoing attacks. In addition, Hagari revealed that the IDF has already targeted over 150 Hezbollah cells and eliminating approximately 200 terrorists, predominantly members of Hezbollah.

Hagari provided a comprehensive breakdown of the IDFs military efforts since the onset of hostilities in Gaza, highlighting the targeting of over 3,400 Hezbollah-related sites. These operations have encompassed the destruction of around 120 observation posts, 40 weapons depots, and 40 command centers, all purportedly operated by Hezbollah. Additionally, the IDF has taken action against more strategic assets, including an airstrip utilized for drone launches and a depot housing anti-aircraft missiles.

Hagari also shared footage from a recent operation targeting a Hezbollah cell in southern Syria.

The IDFs overarching aim is to reshape the security reality along Israels northern border so that 80,000+ residents of northern Israel who have been displaced from their homes can return.

We do not choose war as our first option but are certainly ready, and preparing for it all the time, if need be, he added.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Hamas officials are still deliberating on a proposed agreement aimed at resolving the hostage situation, a complex negotiation involving representatives from Israel, Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. The detailed framework, conceived during high-level discussions in Paris, seeks to establish a ceasefire and facilitate an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas representative in Lebanon, said at a press conference that although the proposal is under consideration, the terrorist organization requires additional time to formalize its stance. Hamdan emphasized Hamass openness to initiatives aimed at halting what he described as barbaric aggression against Palestinians. However, he noted that the current proposal, while under review, lacks critical details and has not yet led to a formal agreement.

We will announce our position soon, Hamdan said..

The proposed truce outlines a three-phase plan starting with a six-week halt in hostilities. This initial phase would facilitate the exchange of some hostages for Palestinian prisoners, with the possibility of extending the ceasefire.

Despite the ongoing discussions, Hamdan criticized what he perceives as an Israeli effort to misrepresent Hamass stance through a disinformation campaign. Hamdan also highlighted Israels rejection of all previous ceasefire initiatives, accusing it of prolonging the conflict.

Amid these tense negotiations, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to visit the Middle East to advocate for the agreement, signaling continued international efforts to mediate the crisis.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
IDF intelligence implicating 12 UNRWA staff members in the October 7 terror attack was reportedly shared with US officials without the knowledge or approval of senior Israeli military leaders.

According to The New York Times, Amir Weissbrod, a deputy director general at the Israeli Foreign Ministry, presented the intelligence to UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini during a meeting on January 18. Lazzarini deemed the intelligence credible and promptly fired several of the implicated staff members. On January 24, UNRWA briefed US officials on the situation, leading Washington to request additional information from Jerusalem.

However, the IDF was caught off guard by the request, unaware of how the intelligence had been leaked. An internal inquiry has been launched to investigate the breach.

Meanwhile, many military and government officials, including those in the Foreign Ministry, were also surprised by UNRWAs announcement and subsequent funding suspensions by the US and other countries.

Israel has long criticized UNRWA, alleging ties to Hamas and terror activity, but a senior Israeli official clarified that Jerusalem does not support the agencys immediate dissolution due to its role in providing humanitarian aid in Gaza, which helps prevent a humanitarian crisis that could hinder IDF operations against Hamas.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir told the Wall Street Journal that he thinks the Biden administration is hampering Israels war effort and that Donald Trump would give Israel a freer hand to quash Hamas.

The WSJ article, published on Sunday, was Ben-Gvirs first interview with a foreign media outlet since joining the government.

Instead of giving us his full backing, Biden is busy with giving humanitarian aid and fuel [to Gaza], which goes to Hamas, Ben-Gvir said. If Trump was in power, the U.S. conduct would be completely different.

Ben-Gvir said that his plan is to encourage Gazans to voluntarily emigrate to places around the world by offering them cash incentives, saying that it is the real humanitarian thing to do.

Following the publication of the interview, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu responded by saying: I dont need help to navigate our relations with the US.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting at the Kiryah in Tel Aviv on Sunday morning, Netanyahu said: Israel is a sovereign country. We greatly appreciate the support we received from the Biden administration since the outbreak of the war: support for arms, for international institutions, for sending troops to the region, and more. This does not mean that we dont have differences of opinion, but until today we have managed to overcome them with determined and considered decisions.

I want to share something from my experience: there are those who say yes to everything at times when they should say no. They receive applause from the international community but endanger our national security. And there are those who say no to everything and receive applause at home but jeopardize our national security. I would like to tell you something from my experience: the wisdom is to know how to navigate  to say yes when possible, and to say no when necessary.

I dont need help to navigate our relations with the US and the international community while standing firm on our national interests. Baruch Hashem, Ive been doing it for several years. As a sovereign country fighting for its existence and future, we make our own decisions, even in those cases where there is no agreement with our American friends.

Minister Benny Gantz and opposition leader Yair Lapid slammed Ben-Gvir for his statements. The interview Ben-Gvir gave to the Wall Street Journal causes direct harm to Israels international standing, direct harm to the war effort, damages Israels security of Israel, and mainly proves that he doesnt understand anything in foreign policy Lapid stated. But Netanyahu has no control over the extremists in his government.

Gantz stated that disputes are permissible, even with our biggest and most important ally, but they must be held in relevant forums and not via irresponsible comments to the media, which harm the strategic interests of the State of Israel, the security of the country and the war efforts at this time.

The prime minister should call the national security minister to order, who instead of dealing with domestic security issues is causing enormous damage to Israels foreign relations.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
In an interview with Army Radio, former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen called on the Israeli government to make a one-time deal for all remaining hostages in Gaza, and to cease public criticism of mediator Qatar.

Cohen said that Israel will ultimately have to pay a high price for any deal, so lets pay it today from the start for everyone, and cut down the inhumane time the hostages are spending in Gaza.

Cohen, a close confidant of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, also cautioned against publicly criticizing Qatar, which he believes is currently the only country capable of facilitating a deal. He stressed that Israel should act wisely and refrain from public quarreling with Qatar, as this could jeopardize the potential for a deal.

This is the only country which can bring a deal at the moment. Publicly quarrelling with it is wrong, and we need to act wisely. Any criticism of Qatar at this point in time needs to be stopped, he said.

Cohens comments come amidst recent criticism of Qatar from both Netanyahu and several of his ministers.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A 30-year-old Jewish student was hospitalized in Berlin after being beaten up by a 23-year-old pro-Palestinian student.

According to a report in a Jewish-German newspaper, an argument broke out between the two students on Friday, during which the pro-Palestinian student hit the Jewish student in the face several times, causing him to fall to the floor. Witnesses to the scene said that the perpetrator kicked the Jewish student after he fell to the ground and then fled the scene.

The Jewish student was hospitalized with facial fractures. According to the report, his injuries are not life-threatening.

The German police launched an investigation into the incident which comes amid a surge of antisemitic incidents in the country since October 7th.

Last month, two Israelis were attacked on a Berlin street after the perpetrator heard them speaking Hebrew.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Iran issued a warning Sunday to the U.S. over potentially targeting two cargo ships in the Mideast long suspected of serving as forwarding operating base for Iranian commandos, just after America and the United Kingdom launched a massive airstrike campaign against Yemens Houthi rebels.

The statement from Iran on the Behshad and Saviz ships appeared to signal Tehrans growing unease over the U.S. strikes in recent days in Iraq, Syria and Yemen targeting militias backed by the Islamic Republic.

Those attacks, themselves a retaliatory campaign for the killing of three U.S. soldiers and wounding of dozens of others in Jordan, all stem back to Israels war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has escalated tensions across the wider Middle East and raised fears about a regional conflict breaking out.

The Yemen strikes overnight Sunday struck across six provinces of Yemen held by the Houthi rebels, including in Sanaa, the capital. The Houthis gave no assessment of the damage but the U.S. described hitting underground missile arsenals, launch sites and helicopters used by the rebels.

These attacks will not discourage Yemeni forces and the nation from maintaining their support for Palestinians in the face of the Zionist occupation and crimes, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said. The aggressors airstrikes will not go unanswered.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned the Houthis after the strikes that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels. That message was echoed by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who said: The Houthi attacks must stop.

Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, also warned the strikes may continue.

We are prepared to deal with anything that any group or any country tries to come at us with, Sullivan told CBS Face the Nation. And the president has been clear that we will continue to respond to threats that American forces face as we go forward.

The Behshad and Saviz are registered as commercial cargo ships with a Tehran-based company the U.S. Treasury has sanctioned as a front for the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. The Saviz, then later the Behshad, have loitered for years in the Red Sea off Yemen, suspected of serving as spy positions for Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

In 2017, Saudi Arabia described the Saviz as a maritime base and weapons transshipment point for the Guard, staffed by men in military fatigues. Footage aired by Saudi-owned television channels showed the vessel armed with what appeared to be a covered machine gun bolted to the ships deck.

In the video statement Sunday by the Irans regular army, a narrator for the first time describes the vessels as floating armories. The narrator describes the Behshad as aiding an Iranian mission to counteract piracy in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. However, Iran is not publicly known to have taken part in any of the recent campaigns against rising Somali piracy in the region off the back of the Houthi attacks.

Just before the new campaign of U.S. airstrikes began, the Behshad traveled south into the Gulf of Aden. Its now docked in Djibouti in East Africa just off the coast from a Chinese military base in the country.

The statement ends with a warning overlaid with a montage of footage of U.S. warships and an American flag.

Those engaging in terrorist activities against Behshad or similar vessels jeopardize international maritime routes, security and assume global responsibility for potential future international risks, the video said.

The U.S. Navys Mideast-based 5th Fleet declined to comment over the threat.

The Saviz, which is now in the Indian Ocean near where the U.S. alleges Iranian drone attacks recently have targeted shipping, has come under attack before. In 2021, a likely limpet mine explosion blew a hole through the hull of the Saviz, forcing Iran to bring the ship home. That attack, suspected to have been carried out by Israel, is part of a wider shadow war between Tehran and Israel after the collapse of the Iran nuclear deal.

(AP)
Unlock reading readiness secrets and impact struggling readers! Join our free webinar, Diagnose and Treat Reading Readiness Like a Pro, led by legendary Rabbi Zvi Zobin with 40+ years of experience. Dont miss this opportunity!

Are you ready to unlock the secrets of reading readiness and make a lasting impact on struggling readers?

We are thrilled to present our upcoming free webinar, Diagnose and Treat Reading Readiness Like a Pro, led by none other than the legendary Rabbi Zvi Zobin with over 40 years of experience in the field.



Reading readiness or visual maturation is the foundation upon which successful reading skills are built. It encompasses the essential skills that children need to become proficient readers.

Unlike a camera, the eye doesnt scan a complete image. Instead, your eyes send the information to the brain in separate pieces. If the brain is not yet fully developed, it will not put the picture together accurately.

See the sample below  The reader should be able to copy the drawing on the left, if not it means he does not see it right

and when he reads the same thing will happen Individual letters that do not combine to form a full,

meaningful word.!!!!

In this dynamic webinar, you will gain a deep understanding of reading readiness and learn how to diagnose and treat it like a pro.

Led by the renowned Rabbi Zvi Zobin, Kriah Maestro extraordinaire, this webinar is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn from a true expert in the field. With decades of experience, Rabbi Zobin has transformed the lives of countless struggling readers, turning them into confident and proficient bookworms.

During the webinar, Rabbi Zobin will share his wealth of knowledge, proven strategies, and inspirational success stories. He has dedicated his life to understanding the intricacies of reading and has developed innovative techniques to diagnose, address, and overcome the challenges faced by struggling readers.

By attending this webinar, you will:

1. Gain Insights into Reading Readiness:

 Understand the key components and indicators of reading readiness.

 Explore the critical skills and knowledge required for proficient reading.

 Learn how to assess reading readiness effectively.

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 Uncover the secrets behind Rabbi Zobins transformative methods in treating reading unreadiness.

 Learn how to tailor instruction to individual student needs.

 Gain practical techniques to engage, motivate, and empower struggling readers.

3. Be Inspired by Success Stories:

 Hear heartwarming stories of students who have overcome reading difficulties.

 Learn from real-life examples of how reading readiness can be effectively diagnosed and treated.

 Be motivated to make a difference in the lives of your students.

Date: February 4

Time: 3.00 PM EST, 10.00 PM IST 8:00 BST

Duration: approximately hour and half

Location: Online

This free webinar is an opportunity you dont want to miss. Spaces are limited, so secure your spot now by registering using the link below:

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Join us as we delve into the world of reading readiness with the legendary Rabbi.

Youll also discover a little-known gem  Kriah specialist Academy, Rabbi Zobins own 20-session kriah program thatll teach you how to evaluate kids like for 58 different reading problems and the crucial series of fun, easy remediation exercises you can implement to get him readingFAST.

Sign up here: https://lp.kriah.com/rabbi-zobin-live

I went a little crazy from the kriah programs Ive been using, Raitzy said. I just felt so bad for the kids! They want to read so badly and they feel so bad about themselves that theyre so behind.

I wanted to tell them, If you do this youll be able to read  but I couldnt even do that!

Because who knows! We could work and work and not get anywhere. It was hard for me to motivate them to put in the effort because there were no visible results.

Any good kriah course is going to have some similarities  theyre made by people who work with kids  and they teach what works!

But kriah Specialist Academy is so much more specific! It targets certain issues much better. Other courses are pretty standard phonics courses, they tell you to practice in multi-sensory ways, etcetera. But this course gets results much faster and helps them remember it better and apply it right away in class.

The kids are reading these long pages! Other methods involve a lot of decoding. Heres a beis, heres a komatz, put them together. Its meaningless and boring  figuring out a bunch of puzzles.

My boys love this way of doing things  they think its amazing! It turns them on, gets them motivated to do something challenging and theyll do it a bunch of times to improve.

I have very difficult fifth graders and I use the whole approach. It works so effectively and quickly! Raitzy concluded.

Sign up here: https://lp.kriah.com/rabbi-zobin-live

(Cant make it? Sign up anyway to get the recording!)

Zevi was 15  spent more time at the local Seven-Eleven than in yeshivah due to his reading disability. Learning was torture, and he hated every moment in yeshivah. His father suggested he leave yeshivah and learn a trade.

 Someone suggested to Zevi to meet with Rabbi Zvi Zobin, Zevi had tried every expert that America had to offer and was reluctant to go through the pain of submitting himself to another maven. Yet on a whim, he decided to go. To his amazement, he felt that the wise rabbi actually understood him.

Three months later, Reb Sholom saw his wife crying. She said she had just gotten off the phone with Zevi. Choked with emotion, she explained that Zevi had told her that he thought of the same question that the Ritva asks on the Gemara. But that wasnt why she was crying. Her tears came when Zevi added that he had found his question in the Ritva. On his own. Zevi could read.

He stayed in the Mir for five years and then, at age 22, went back to the States and met his zivug. Zevi returned to the Mir and shteiged for another five years. He then joined an outreach kollel in America

[excerpt from mishpacha article: BY THE WARMTH OF THE SUN

By Rabbi Menachem Nissel | DECEMBER 19, 2023]

has already assisted many students who would never have been able to achieve their full potential

 Rabbi Mattisyahu Salomon shlita (Mashgiach, Bais Medrash Govoha, Lakewood)

I know personally of many who have been helped and therefore laud the time, effort, and system which Rabbi Zobin has established. May his efforts lead to success for many.

 Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Horowitz zl (The Bostoner Rebbe)

Sign up here: https://lp.kriah.com/rabbi-zobin-live
Passing drivers rescue people trapped in overturned car

(People's Daily App) 16:02, February 04, 2024

After a car rolled over on the highway in Shandong Province, passing drivers banded together to rescue the people trapped in it.

(Compiled by Zou Yun)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
On Feb. 2, the China Coast Guard monitored and tracked a Philippine civilian vessel that delivered supplies to the country's warship, which is illegally grounded on Ren'ai Jiao, in China's Nansha Qundao (the Nansha Islands) 
Stereotyping: Neeraj Kanwar is managing director of Indian firm Apollo Tyres

The boss of a multinational tyre-making giant said he would not build a factory in the UK because British workers 'hardly work  they go to the pub'.

London-based Neeraj Kanwar is managing director of Indian firm Apollo Tyres, which has seven factories across the world  including a European base in Hungary  but none in the UK.

Kanwar, 52, who also owns an Italian restaurant in London called Scalini, blamed the welfare state for making it less important for people to have to hold down jobs. But an employment expert branded Kanwar's remarks as 'crude national stereotyping'.

Apollo, which enjoyed revenues of 2.3billion in the latest financial year to the end of March 2023, employs more than 18,000 staff globally and is a long-term sponsor of Manchester United.

In the UK, the company has a 'thin' team of around 30 working on its corporate brand, finance and some HR operations. It also has one of two innovation hubs in the UK  with the other in Hyderabad in India  and has a tie-up with Glasgow University, working in areas such as artificial intelligence to boost productivity at its factories.

But Kanwar dismissed the idea of manufacturing in the UK given the scarcity of workers.

'There's no incentive to go into the UK,' he said.

'Hungary gave us incentives, the cost of labour is much more competitive and then the cost of production becomes much more easy. And you know how the workforce in the UK is. They hardly work  they go to the pub.'

Kanwar said the remark was a quip but added: 'I think because of government policies, people can sit home and get pensions and they don't need to work, and that's a big policy issue.'

Apollo was founded in the 1970s by Kanwar's grandfather Raunaq Singh. Kanwar's London base is also a 'semi-HQ' for Apollo's global operations outside India. The remarks come as London faces a battle to re-establish itself as a hub for international business chiefs, many of whom have chosen to base themselves in the UK or list their businesses here even when their main operations are overseas.

Kanwar's views were criticised by labour market economist John Philpott. He said: 'This strikes me as crude national stereotyping that would be condemned if made by a British employer about workers overseas.

'Workers in all developed countries tend to get more choosy about job choices as income levels and education improves, which is one reason why migrant labour is used to fill lower paid roles.

'But there is little evidence to suggest that able-bodied people with few other options can reject jobs because of the availability of benefits. Indeed, one can see from the fact that so many young educated British people end up in less skilled and insecure work in the so-called gig economy that an easy life on benefits spent down the pub is not a widespread preference.'
A Long March-2C carrier rocket carrying 11 Geely-02 constellation satellites blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Feb. 3, 2024. (Photo by Xiao Xinjiang/Xinhua)

XICHANG, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- China's Xichang space launch site, the inland launch site of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, located in the southwestern Sichuan Province, on Saturday achieved a milestone with its 200th launch mission.

Carried by a Long March-2C carrier rocket, the 11 Geely-02 constellation satellites took off at 7:37 a.m. (Beijing Time) from the launch site, and entered the preset orbit.

This site conducted its first launch mission in 1984, which means it took 40 years to reach 200 -- currently the fastest of all launch sites in China to reach this milestone.

On April 8, 1984, a Long March carrier rocket carrying a Dongfanghong-2 experiment communications satellite blasted off at this site and successfully deployed the satellite in space, marking the first launch mission at this venue.

This launch site has since then been consistently contributing to China's aerospace industry with multiple landmark launch missions involving carrier rockets, satellites and other spacecraft, such as the Chang'e-1 lunar probe and the first BeiDou satellite.

A Long March-3B carrier rocket and the Yuanzheng-1 (Expedition-1) upper stage attached to the carrier rocket, carrying two new satellites for the BeiDou-3 Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3), blast off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 26, 2023. (Photo by Qiu Lijun/Xinhua)

China has three inland launch sites, namely the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the north, and the Xichang launch site of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwest.

In addition, one coastal launch site, the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, under the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, is located in south China's Hainan Province.

Established in 1970, the Xichang Satellite Launch Center is mainly responsible for launching geosynchronous-orbit satellites and other space launch missions from both its inland Xichang launch site and its coastal Wenchang launch site.

The Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site has also carried out multiple major space launch missions, such as the maiden flight of China's new-generation high-thrust carrier rocket, the country's first planetary exploration mission, and the construction of China's space station.

Both Xichang and Wenchang launch sites under the Xichang Satellite Launch Center are capable of carrying out intensive space launch missions thanks to the center's determined efforts in pursuit of tech-innovation and capability enhancement, according to the center. 
PHNOM PENH, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Ministry of Health warned on Sunday that e-cigarettes, shisha and heated tobacco products (HTPs) have caused serious effects on users' health, urging people, especially youth, not to try these products.

"The Ministry of Health is very concerned that most e-cigarettes, shisha and HTPs are beautifully designed, attractive to young people to try," the ministry said in a statement.

Although the country has banned the import, trade and use of e-cigarettes, shisha and HTPs since 2014, some opportunists still sell these products on social media platforms with exaggerated content claiming that they are a tool to quit smoking and safer than cigarettes, the statement said.

"In fact, e-cigarettes, shisha and HTPs have really caused hazards to health and society," it said.

E-cigarettes and HTPs highly contain nicotine that could have a more serious impact on health than cigarettes and these products are used with marijuana and other drugs, while shisha contains high levels of toxins, the statement said.

These products could cause serious lung disease, lung cancer, heart disease, damage to brain development, premature birth, infertility, stomach cancer and bladder cancer, it added.

"The Ministry of Health calls on young people not to try these products even once, and do not believe any ads that claim e-cigarettes, shisha and HTPs are a tool to quit smoking," the statement said. 
BEIJING, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- In 2023, Chinese police investigated 40,000 cases involving the violation of intellectual property rights (IPRs) or the manufacturing and selling of substandard goods, according to police authority.

Police authorities nationwide have taken tough actions against IPR violations related to scientific and technological innovation as well as trade secret violations, investigating over 150 technology-related cases last year, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement Saturday.

In order to maintain the order of the copyright market, more than 1,300 cases involving criminal violations of copyright of textbooks and reference books, films and software have been investigated, the statement said. 
TUNIS, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian authorities detained nine people in a joint counter-terrorism operation in the northeast Msaken region, the Directorate General of the National Guard said on Saturday.

According to the Directorate General of the National Guard, the nine people wanted by various security and judicial agencies had been convicted to sentences from two to 13 years, on charges of being involved in a terrorist organization.

No further details are available so far. 
SANTIAGO, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chilean President Gabriel Boric said Saturday that at least 46 people were killed after forest fires in the Valparaiso region in the country's central area. 
Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds a symposium with the 2023 Chinese Government Friendship Award winners and the representatives of foreign experts that work in China ahead of China's Lunar New Year at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 4, 2024. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang also attended the symposium. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- China's development is open, and the country welcomes talents from all over the world, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said in Beijing on Sunday.

Li made the remarks when meeting with the 2023 Chinese Government Friendship Award winners and the representatives of foreign experts that work in China ahead of China's Lunar New Year.

Li extended New Year wishes and sincere greetings to the foreign experts and their relatives, and thanked them for their long-term care and support for China's development.

He also listened carefully to the experts' opinions and suggestions on China's development and government work.

Experts from Switzerland, Germany, Brazil, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Russia and other countries made speeches on scientific and technological innovation cooperation, green development and personnel training.

Li commended the important role of foreign experts in promoting China's economic and social development and people-to-people exchanges.

Noting that China is advancing its modernization drive with high-quality development in an all-round way, Li said China is a vibrant land of development full of opportunities, which will provide broad space for foreign experts and other talents for their own development.

He expressed the hope that foreign experts would continue to participate deeply in China's development, give full play to their talents on the big stage of Chinese-style modernization, and continue to serve as a bridge of communication between China and the rest of the world.

The Chinese government will continue to improve relevant policies, further facilitate personnel exchanges, strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights and other rights and interests, and create a better environment for foreign talents to work and live in China, Li said.

Prior to the meeting, Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin presented the Friendship Award to the honorees and delivered a speech at the awarding ceremony, which was held at the Great Hall of the People.

The Friendship Award is an award to commend foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China's reform and development. Fifty foreign experts received the 2023 Chinese Government Friendship Award. 

Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin presents the Chinese Government Friendship Award to the honorees and delivers a speech at the awarding ceremony in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 4, 2024. A ceremony was held for the 2023 Chinese Government Friendship Award winners on Sunday. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin presents the Chinese Government Friendship Award to Kazakh ophthalmologist Saulebek Kabilbekov at the awarding ceremony in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 4, 2024. A ceremony was held for the 2023 Chinese Government Friendship Award winners on Sunday. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. and British forces launched joint strikes on Saturday against targets in the Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, aiming at degrading the militant group's capabilities to attack international shipping, said the U.S. Pentagon.

Carried out with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, the strikes targeted 13 locations associated with the Houthis' deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, and radars, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.

He said the operation "sends a clear message to the Houthis."

During the strikes, the U.S. military deployed F/A-18 fighter jets on board USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and fired Tomahawk cruise missiles from American warships deployed to the Red Sea, according to U.S. media reports citing U.S. officials.

It was the third time in recent days that the U.S. and British coalition launched strikes against Houthi targets, which also followed the U.S. retaliatory airstrikes in Iraq and Syria on Friday in response to a drone attack by regional militia groups that killed three American service members and injured over 40 others.

Also on Saturday, the U.S. military conducted strikes against six Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles to be launched against ships in the Red Sea.

On Friday, U.S. forces shot down several Houthi drones over the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. 
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he is very concerned following a blaze at vacant buildings in Brittas in Co Dublin.

Demonstrations have been staged in the area recently by people who believed the buildings at Crooksling off the Blessington Road were to be used to accommodate refugees.

Mr Varadkar said investigations are under way into the incident, but added that there is never any justification for violence, arson or vandalism.

Gardai said a formal examination of the building will be carried out on Monday.

The Dublin Fire Brigade said emergency services were called to the vacant buildings which were alight at 7am.

Firefighters were called at 7am to vacant buildings alight at Crooksling off the Blessington Road 7 Seven fire engines including a turntable ladder and emergency tender were sent to the scene  Traffic restrictions on the #N81 due to hose lines  Operations are continuing pic.twitter.com/4srFwgqocc  Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) February 4, 2024

Seven fire engines including a turntable ladder and emergency tender were sent to the scene.

The Taoiseach said: I am very concerned to learn about the fire at a former nursing home in Crooksling.

In recent weeks there have been disturbing reports of suspected criminal damage at properties around the country.

There is never any justification for violence, arson or vandalism in our Republic.

Garda investigations are underway into the incident in Crooksling.

Mr Varadkar added that arson is a serious crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

He said: It is deeply ironic that some of those who try to link migration with crime engage in serious criminal activity themselves.

I want to assure people that we have a rules-based system immigration system.

Applications for international protection are now being processed in record time.

All applicants are registered, fingerprinted, checked against certain databases, and the circumstances surrounding their request for protection are examined thoroughly.

We aim to treat them with dignity and respect while their applications are considered.

He continued: Like much of the world and all of Europe we are dealing with a major increase in the numbers arriving here.

Many if not most are fleeing conflict, grinding poverty, climate change and human rights abuses in their home countries.

We have robust border controls, extra checks at airports and faster processing times.

The response from many communities has been incredible.

Weve seen homes, schools, clubs and communities open up to help those most in need.

The people carrying out crimes are a very small minority who seek to blame others for their own problems.

I believe most people empathise with those fleeing terrible circumstances and recognise the benefits that legal migration brings to Ireland.

The Taoiseach concluded: The Government will continue to listen to communities, recognising the effort they are making and helping them as they manage an unprecedented situation together.

A gardai spokesperson said: A Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) has been appointed, based at Tallaght Garda station, to investigate all the circumstances of the fire.

Tomorrow morning a formal examination of the building will be conducted by an expert engineer to assess its safety.

Once feasible, a technical examination will be carried out by the DMR South Scenes of Crime unit, assisted by the Garda Technical Bureau.

The results will guide the Garda investigation.

In recent months, there has been a series of suspected arson attempts at properties earmarked for housing asylum seekers or refugees, or properties that were rumoured for such use.
Behind the scenes it has been a busy week but as long as we're still updating this blog . . . We'll strive to share this kind of worthwhile Kansas City local life news story with our blog community.

For more than sh*ts & giggle but to document a more realistic look at cowtown life beyond pop diva conspiracies and baller glory.

And so, we check this harrowing tale of a culture clash & EPIC mess in the aftermath:



"The porta-potty could be seen sitting on the highway for nearly an hour on Kansas City Scout Cameras. At one point, a person walking along the highway could be seen pushing the porta-potty to the shoulder of the road before Missouri Department of Transportation road crews showed up, cleared the scene and drove away.



"But, just a few minutes later, an SUV pulled up to the porta-potty. Two men then strapped it to their car and started driving away. Then, the straps came loose, and the porta-potty was again left to sit in the middle of the highway once again.



"At least two cars could be seen almost hitting the porta-potty on the dark road before one unlucky driver collided with the debris. No injuries have been reported as a result of the crash. "



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Greek Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kostas Fragogiannis on Friday concluded a two-day visit to Istanbul, where he was escorted by high-ranking officials from approximately 100 companies and institutional representatives, ANA reports.

The positive atmosphere in Greek-Turkish relations was further affirmed during the 6th session of the Joint Economic Committee of Greece and Turkiye. Co-chaired by Fragogiannis and Turkish Deputy Minister of Trade Mustafa Tuzcu, the meeting concluded with the inking of the final document after extensive discussions involving delegations from both sides.

Fragogiannis stressed the positive trajectory observed in Greek-Turkish economic relations, particularly in tourism. Notably, he highlighted the Turkish side's favorable response to expedited visas for Greek islands. He said that the objective was to double annual trade volume, aiming for 10 billion dollars annually.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: M.Minderhoud
Chilean President Gabriel Boric (L), aboard a helicopter, views damages inflicted by forest fires in the Valparaiso region, Chile, Feb. 3, 2024. At least 46 people were killed after fires engulfed the Valparaiso region in central Chile, Chilean President Gabriel Boric said Saturday. (Chilean Presidential Palace/Handout via Xinhua)

SANTIAGO, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least 46 people were killed after fires engulfed the Valparaiso region in central Chile, Chilean President Gabriel Boric said Saturday.

"So far, 40 people have been killed in the fires, and six others have died from burns at medical centers," the president told a news conference, adding that the figure will increase.

The Chilean government imposed a curfew on the Quilpue, Villa Alemana, Vina del Mar and Limache communes in the Valparaiso region from 9 p.m. Saturday (0000 GMT on Sunday) to 10 a.m. Sunday (1300 GMT) to combat the fires.

Local authorities have confirmed that more than 1,200 houses have been destroyed in Quilpue and Villa Alemana, some 120 km northwest of the capital, while at least 9,000 hectares throughout the Valparaiso region have been consumed by fires.

Boric declared on Friday night a state of emergency for the catastrophe in the Valparaiso region to deploy extra resources and allow the intervention of the military.

The fires are the deadliest in recent decades in the South American nation. 

Residents check the rubble of houses damaged by fires in Vina Del Mar, Chile, Feb. 3, 2024. At least 46 people were killed after fires engulfed the Valparaiso region in central Chile, Chilean President Gabriel Boric said Saturday. (Xinhua)

Residents clear the rubble of houses damaged by fires in Vina Del Mar, Chile, Feb. 3, 2024. At least 46 people were killed after fires engulfed the Valparaiso region in central Chile, Chilean President Gabriel Boric said Saturday. (Xinhua)

This photo taken on Feb. 3, 2024 shows houses damaged by fires in Vina Del Mar, Chile. At least 46 people were killed after fires engulfed the Valparaiso region in central Chile, Chilean President Gabriel Boric said Saturday. (Xinhua)

A resident clears debris of a house damaged by fires in Vina Del Mar, Chile, Feb. 3, 2024. At least 46 people were killed after fires engulfed the Valparaiso region in central Chile, Chilean President Gabriel Boric said Saturday. (Xinhua)

This photo taken on Feb. 3, 2024 shows houses and a car damaged in fires in Vina Del Mar, Chile. At least 46 people were killed after fires engulfed the Valparaiso region in central Chile, Chilean President Gabriel Boric said Saturday. (Xinhua)

Rescuers check a car damaged in fires in Vina Del Mar, Chile, Feb. 3, 2024. At least 46 people were killed after fires engulfed the Valparaiso region in central Chile, Chilean President Gabriel Boric said Saturday. (Xinhua)

This photo taken from a helicopter on Feb. 3, 2024 shows forest fires in the Valparaiso region, Chile. At least 46 people were killed after fires engulfed the Valparaiso region in central Chile, Chilean President Gabriel Boric said Saturday. (Chilean Presidential Palace/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken from a helicopter on Feb. 3, 2024 shows forest fires in the Valparaiso region, Chile. At least 46 people were killed after fires engulfed the Valparaiso region in central Chile, Chilean President Gabriel Boric said Saturday. (Chilean Presidential Palace/Handout via Xinhua)
TV Programm heute

Wer heute Fernsehen sehen will, greift entweder zur Programmzeitschrift oder  vor allem bei jungeren TV-Zuschauern gang und gabe  nutzt den Programmguide seines Vertrauens im Internet. Bei TV SPIELFILM gibt es mit der "TV Programm von heute"-Ubersicht eine praktische Zusammenstellung aller Sendungen des Tages. Von den Hauptprogrammen Das Erste, ZDF, RTL, Sat.1, ProSieben und kabel eins bis hin zu den Spartenkanalen, Dritten Programmen und Sport- oder Infokanalen: Wer das Programm heute kennen will, kann sich kinderleicht durch die Ansicht navigieren.

TV heute: Vielseitig aber auch unubersichtlich

Im Laufe der Jahre bevolkern immer mehr Sender die deutsche Fernsehlandschaft. Wer das Fernsehprogramm heute im Auge behalten will, muss uber einen breiten Blick verfugen. Der durchschnittliche deutsche TV-Haushalt empfangt mehr als 70 vollwertige Programme uber seinen Fernseher, insgesamt gibt es mehr als 400 Programme im deutschen TV. Landesweite, regionale und lokale Fernsehangebote dominieren das Programm heute. Mit dem Aufkommen von Streamingdiensten wie Netflix und Amazon oder der wachsenden Bedeutung des Pay-TV wird die Auswahl fur Fernsehen heute immer groer.

Mit dem TV Programm von heute wahrt der Programmguide Ubersicht in Zeiten der Unubersichtlichkeit. Auch bei der Auswahl einer geeigneten Sendung hilft TV SPIELFILM: Wir geben Programm-Tipps fur jeden Tag, zeigen mit dem bestens bekannten Daumen, ob sich das Programm heute lohnt oder nicht. Die Kritiken und Tipps stammen aus der Redaktion und werden taglich gewissenhaft und mit geubtem Auge ausgewahlt und verfasst. Informationen bezuglich des Genres, der Schauspieler und der Altersfreigabe im TV sind ebenfalls ersichtlich. Die ubersichtliche Darstellung in Tabellenform gliedert die einzelnen Sendungen zeitlich und liefert einen schnellen Uberblick uber das tagliche TV-Programm.

Fernsehen heute: Webseiten und Apps

Eine weitere Moglichkeit sich nicht nur uber das TV Programm zu informieren, sondern auch direkt einzuschalten, besteht uber die digitalen Angebote von TV SPIELFILM. Mit den Apps oder uber die Internetseite kann direkt ins tagliche Programm geschaltet werden.

Auch eine Verbindung zu den Streamingangeboten findet sich unter jeder Sendung: Wenn eine Serie auch uber Netflix, Amazon, Maxdome und Co. streambar ist, erfahrt ihr es im EPG von TV SPIELFILM.

Der mobile Zugriff, aktuelle Informationen nach einem Programmwechsel und die Funktion, Sender nach eigenem Belieben zu sortieren, stellen weitere Vorteile fur das Fernsehen von heute dar. Hilfreiche Features sind auerdem die integrierte Suchleiste sowie eine Erinnerungsfunktion. Durch diese Funktion erhalt der Zuschauer die Moglichkeit, von ihm favorisierte Filme, Serien oder Dokumentationen fur das Programm heute auszuwahlen und auf eine Merkliste zu setzen. Kurz vor der Ausstrahlung wird der Nutzer uber das gewunschte Programm im TV heute informiert.
Russias Ivanovets missile corvette was destroyed by Ukrainian-made MAGURA V5 naval drones.

This was reported by the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraines Defense Ministry, Kyrylo Budanov, in a comment to The War Zone outlet, Ukrinform reports with reference to the Ministry of Defense.

As a result of the mission designed and executed by operators of defense intelligence agencys Group 13 special drone unit, the Russian Black Sea Fleet vessel was sunk by Ukrainian-made MAGURA V5 attack systems. There were six direct hits to the hull," Budanov said.

According to the top intelligence official, as a result of the damage incurred, the ship rolled astern and sank.

MAGURA (Marine Autonomous Security Unmanned Robotic Apparatus) is a multi-purpose system that is capable of performing surveillance, reconnaissance, anti-mine, search and rescue, and combat missions, the GUR noted.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, in the night hours of February 1, the Group 13 special operations unit of the GUR defense intelligence destroyed Russias Ivanovets missile corvette in occupied Crimea.

MAGURA V5 drones are capable of carrying an explosive payload of up to 300 kg at a distance of up to 800 kilometers.
The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces has warned of a possible intensification of military aviation in the east of the country, near the borders with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, between February 5 and March 5.

This was reported by the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces on the social network X, Ukrinform reported.

As noted, in coordination with the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces, the Polish Air Navigation Service Agency on February 2 warned civilian airspace users of possible activation of military aircraft in the eastern direction in response to the threatening situation on the eastern border.

Navigation warnings - unplanned military actions related to ensuring national security - NOTAM are a routine message in cases where it is necessary to ensure traffic safety in the Polish airspace.

As reported, over the past few weeks, Poland has repeatedly launched F-16 fighter jets in response to missile attacks on Ukraine.
NAIROBI, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The growing burden of cancer in Africa should serve as a wake-up call for governments to roll out high-impact interventions that seek to reduce caseload and fatalities, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Sunday during World Cancer Day.

Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said the continent is grappling with a cancer crisis that is devastating livelihoods and shortening life spans, necessitating investments in robust prevention and control measures.

"The cancer situation in Africa is disheartening. In the year 2022, approximately 882,000 new cancer cases occurred in the WHO African region with around 573,000 deaths," Moeti said in a statement issued in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

According to Moeti, about 50 percent of new cancer cases detected among adults in Africa are due to breast, cervical, prostate, colorectal, and liver cancers.

Cancer-related deaths in the continent are projected to reach one million annually by 2030, Moeti noted, adding that in two decades, cancer death rates in Africa are expected to overtake the global average of 30 percent.

"This is more so because cancer survival rates in the WHO African region currently average 12 percent, much lower than the average of over 80 percent in high-income countries," Moeti observed.

She hailed the substantial progress African countries are making in the fight against cancer, noting that 17 countries have already introduced high-performance-based screening tests in line with WHO recommendations.

In addition, 28 WHO African member states have introduced nationwide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to reach about 60 percent of the targeted population, including adolescent girls, Moeti said.

The theme of 2024 World Cancer Day, "Together, we challenge those in power," underscores the need for visionary leadership and partnership in order to contain the threat of cancer in Africa, Moeti noted.

She added that equal access to cancer screening, treatment, and palliative care in the continent is key to prolonging the lives of patients, lessening their suffering, and averting deaths. 
Fighter jets get ready for flight training

China Military Online) 16:10, February 04, 2024

Fighter jets attached to an aviation brigade with the air force under the PLA Eastern Theater Command taxi on the runway in formation during a flight training exercise in mid January, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Gao Chao)

A fighter jet attached to an aviation brigade with the air force under the PLA Eastern Theater Command takes off for a flight training exercise in mid January, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Gao Chao)

A fighter jet attached to an aviation brigade with the air force under the PLA Eastern Theater Command pops a drag parachute to slow down after landing on the runway during a flight training exercise in mid January, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Gao Chao)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
ULAN BATOR, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- A series of cultural events entitled "Happy Chinese New Year" to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Spring Festival and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Mongolia were officially launched here on Sunday.

China-Mongolia relations have flourished and gained momentum in recent years. The two heads of state and prime ministers of the two countries have maintained close contact, Chinese Ambassador to Mongolia Shen Minjuan said at the launching event.

The launching event was co-organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, the Ministry of Culture of Mongolia, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia, the Chinese Embassy in Mongolia, and the Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism.

Professional skiers performed a traditional Chinese dragon dance, and Chinese artists performed Chinese songs, dances and magic shows at the event. 
Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, has opened a science building designed to help researchers address some of the worlds most pressing health concerns. Rheumatoid arthritis, lung cancer and womens health issues are just some of the medical conditions being tackled by more than 500 scientists at the 110m facility at Edinburgh BioQuarter. The new building  known as the Institute for Regenerative Repair (IRR) South  will be home to flagship centres carrying out research in inflammation, reproductive health and regenerative medicine, as well as a dedicated pandemic science hub. Experts at the Institute believe that close proximity to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh hospital will allow for better shared learning between molecular and cell scientists and clinical researchers.

At the opening event, the Chancellor met with students and staff, including Centre for Reproductive Health scientists who gave an overview of their inspiring work on fertility preservation after cancer, and efforts to tackle heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain caused by endometriosis. Teams from the Centre for Inflammation Research outlined their research on shared biological processes behind conditions like arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and chronic lung disease. The Chancellor and guests at the event also heard from Centre for Regenerative Medicine scientists who showcased their key work on stem cells and how the body repairs cell damage from ageing and injury.

The Princess Royal toured the IRRs extensive open plan laboratories, including the innovative Chemistry Hub, designed to speed-up chemistry to medicine research that translates laboratory findings to drug treatments more quickly. The event highlighted the Institutes commitment to nurturing the next generation of scientists and its important work with the local community, including a long-standing partnership with Castlebrae Community High School. Castlebrae students took the opportunity to show a one-off wooden table that was designed and crafted by pupils, and takes pride of place in the new buildings boardroom.

The Chancellor closed the event by unveiling a dedicated plaque to commemorate the buildings opening. Funding for IRR South  which was designed by global integrated design firm Stantec and built over six years by Balfour Beatty  came from the Medical Research Council, UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF) and substantial philanthropy from foundations, companies and private donors.
TOKYO, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- A fire broke out in the vicinity of a Japan Railway (JR) station in Tokyo on Sunday, affecting train services on part of the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, with 800 passengers evacuated, according to local media reports.

At around 10:10 a.m. local time, a fire was reported at a restaurant in Yamao, Ota Ward, Tokyo, near JR Oimori Station and one has been reported injured so far.

Video footage by the national broadcaster NHK showed flames coming out of the restaurant and an adjacent building. In response to the emergency, the Tokyo Fire Department dispatched 24 firefighting vehicles to the scene.

According to JR East, Train operations were suspended on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line between Shinagawa Station and Kamata Station in both directions.

Meanwhile, after a 10-car train on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line came to a halt between Oimori Station and Kamata Station, approximately 800 passengers on the stationary trains were evacuated onto the tracks and guided on foot as a precautionary measure.

Due to the impact of the incident, JR Tokaido Line services have also been temporarily halted between Shinagawa Station and Yokohama Station in both directions.

Reports from the scene suggested that there were explosive sounds, and authorities, including the fire department, are conducting further investigations. 
(@FahadShabbir)

RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Feb, 2024) All is set to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day here on Monday in a befitting manner, said a district administration spokesman.

He said that Kashmir Solidarity Day would be observed on Feb 5 to express wholehearted support of the Pakistani nation to the just struggle of Kashmiri people for their inalienable right to self-determination.

He informed that like other parts of the country, all arrangements had been finalized to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day here to reiterate complete solidarity with the brethren of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K).

India was keeping a major part of the internationally acknowledged disputed Himalayan Jammu Kashmir state in her illegal and forced occupation at the might of her occupational military power since October 27, 1947, against the aspirations of the people of the State.

The spokesman said that it would be a public holiday and preparations were in full swing to observe the Day to highlight the plight of the oppressed Kashmiri people and remind the world community of its obligations towards the resolution of the longstanding dispute.

He informed that rallies, public meetings, and seminars would be held on Monday to draw attention of the world community towards grave human rights violations and brutalities against innocent Kashmiris by the Indian security forces.

The banners highlighting the plight of innocent Kashmiris had been put on display at all important points and roads, he said adding that the education Department was also organizing special programmes in educational institutions to draw attention towards the Kashmir issue which could not be settled down despite the clear-cut resolutions in favour of innocent people of the IIOJK.

Like other parts of Pakistan, the preparations had begun in Rawalpindi division including Rawalpindi city to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5 to reiterate complete solidarity with the brethren of IIOJ&K state.

The bleeding Occupied Valley has been turned into the worlds largest prison following the imprisonment of the people protesting against the nefarious Indian action under the shadow of guns of occupying forces.

The people and the government of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir observe Solidarity Day every year not only to renew their love and affection with the people of IIOJK but also to reiterate their commitment and dedication to the liberation of the occupied valley from the Indian subjugation, he added.

According to Kashmir Kashmir Solidarity program, Solidarity walks will also be organized in Islamabad, Muzaffarabad, Gilgit and four provincial capitals.

Human chains will be formed at Kohala and other important points linking Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.

Radio Pakistan will also broadcast special programmes to express solidarity with the oppressed Kashmiris.

The Punjab Arts Council (PAC) has organised a photo exhibition and walk to commemorate Kashmir Solidarity Day.

The event was marked by a flag hoisting ceremony in which the flags of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir were raised as a demonstration of Kashmiris' strength and resilience.

This was then followed by observing a minutes silence to honour the oppressed Kashmiris living in occupied territory.

The exhibition also featured performances such as tableaus, speeches and Kashmiri song competitions which were organised with the support of the All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association.

The General Secretary of All Party Hurriyat Conference Azad Kashmir Pakistan Chapter, Sheikh Abdul Mateen, was present at the event alongside the chapters Information Secretary, Imtiaz Wani.

Sheikh Abdul Mateen said on the occasion, The worst kind of atrocities in Occupied Kashmir have exposed the real face of India in front of the whole world. Such atrocities are rarely found in human history. The anti-Kashmir cruel policies of the Hindutva government of India, however, have not changed the reality of Kashmir.

He further said that the dream of world peace can never be fulfilled without the freedom of Occupied Kashmir.

Till today millions of Kashmiris have sacrificed their lives for freedom and the only demand of Kashmiris is that they should be given the right of self-determination, he said.

Imtiaz Wani reinforced his companions points by adding, The entire humanity is ashamed of Indian atrocities against the Kashmiri people, and it is a disgraceful stain on human history and conscience, so every Pakistani and every peaceful person in the world should raise their voice for the Kashmiri peoples right of self-determination. The Muslim Ummah and the United Nations should play their role in resolving the Kashmir issue.

Director of Arts Council Waqar Ahmed, who was also present at the exhibition, said that Pakistan has always strongly supported the right of self-determination of Kashmiris at the political, moral and diplomatic level.

It is Pakistan's principled position that the Kashmir issue should be resolved according to the wishes of the Kashmiri people under the UN resolutions, he said.

The exhibition displayed photos related to Kashmiri history and culture and the performances celebrated the people of Kashmir.

The song competition allowed young students a chance to learn about Kashmir and express their solidarity with its people.

Among the winners of the competitions, Eagle Public school won first position in the tableau performances, Ames School System got second position, Alfarooq Public School got third position and Green Valley School came fourth place.

As for the speech competition, Masooma, Tahnia Abid, Sahar Fatima and Sair secured first, second, third and fourth positions respectively.

In the Kashmiri song competition, Miva came first, Shayan came second, Ayesha came third and Iman Fatima came fourth.

A large number of people from the twin cities participated in the Kashmir Solidarity Day rally.

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ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Feb, 2024) YFK International Kashmir Lobby Group hosted "Pedal for Peace: Kashmir Solidarity Day Cycle Rally" to show solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

The rally, commencing at D Chowk and culminating at the Islamabad Press Club, was organized in commemoration of Kashmir Solidarity Day, seeking to raise awareness and highlight the urgency for international support in addressing the challenges faced by the Kashmiri population.

The event provided a platform for community leaders, activists, and organizers to address the participants, sharing insightful perspectives on the current situation of IIOJK.

All the participants gathered at the Islamabad Press Club where speeches were featured that underscored the broader context of Kashmir Solidarity Day.

The participants of the rally collectively conveyed a message that the people of Pakistan stand with the people of IIOJK.

More than 100 cyclists holding placards in support with people of IIOJK participated in this event.

The Youth Forum for Kashmir (YFK) is an international non-governmental organization committed to addressing human rights issues and advocating for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir conflict in accordance with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions.
(@FahadShabbir)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Feb, 2024) Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf on Sunday said the resolution of the Kashmir issue according to aspirations of the Kashmiri people and the United Nations Security Councils resolution is indispensable for lasting peace and stability in the region.

He said, Freedom movement cannot be suppressed by using force on innocent Kashmiris. Expressing complete solidarity with the Kashmiri people, he reiterated Pakistan's principle stand on the Kashmir issue and expressed determination to continue diplomatic, political and moral support to the Kashmiri people.

He expressed these views on the eve of Kashmir Solidarity Day which is celebrated every year on 5th February, said a news release.

The speaker said that the Kashmiri people have been resisting India's usurpation of Kashmir for more than seven decades and sacrificing their lives for noble cause of freedom.

He said, The atrocities committed by India to crush the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people in Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir shall go down in the annals of history.

Raja Pervez reiterated that Pakistan has always strongly supported the right of self-determination of Kashmiris at all available forums and want a peaceful settlement of all Regional & International disputes, especially Kashmir & Palestine.

The speaker condemned the ongoing serious violations of human rights by Indian forces in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and urged international community to take notice of them and play an effective role in ending them.

He reiterated, Permanent solution to the Kashmir issue is possible only through referendum in IIOJK as per the resolution of United Nations.
FAISALABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Feb, 2024) The Kashmir Solidarity Day will be observed throughout the district, here on Monday (February 5, 2024) with the renewal of commitment of continuing support to the Kashmiri brethren till liberation of occupied Kashmir.

The day will start with special prayers in almost all mosques of the city for early freedom of occupied Kashmir.

Quran Khawani sittings will also be arranged after Fajar prayers where the participants will also offer Fateha for the martyrs of Kashmir struggle.

The religious, political as well as social organisations will also arrange a number of functions, meetings, seminars and walks to highlight the Kashmir Solidarity Day.
LARKANA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Feb, 2024) The People's'sarty will hold a power show in Larkana on February 6, and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will address a large public meeting in connection with the election campaign at Municipal Stadium Larkana.

In this regard, a meeting of party leaders was held at Khor House Larkana under the chairmanship of People's Party Sindh President Nisar Khor, including candidate of P.S. 11 Jamil Ahmed Soomro, candidate of N.A. Khurshid Junejo, Nazir Baghio, ex-MNA, Nida Khuro, ex-MPA, and the leaders women's wing. It was decided to ensure full public participation in the meeting on February 6.

Speaking on this occasion, People's Party Sindh President Nisar Khuro said that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will give a roadmap for the future in the Larkana rally, and the Prime Minister of the country will not be from Lahore but from Larkana.

He said that the People's Party will not blackmail MQM Pakistan or anyone else, and there will be an option to get the support of independent candidates to form the government in the federation.

He said that people will not accept Nawaz Sharif as Prime Minister for the fourth time after fleeing the country after apologizing to dictators Pervez Musharraf and Imran Khan. He said that the deal leader wants to come to power once again by making a deal in which the people will fail, so the decision of the people's vote in the country should be given importance.

He said that the way of dealing with and coming to power on someone's shoulders should be stopped because undemocratic attitudes and conspiracies will weaken democracy and the country.

For this, the people will support Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's new thinking slogan that we will end the tradition of hatred, revenge, greed, and division in politics.

He said that the anti-PPP GDA has not had the efficiency to win the election. He said more: GDA candidates have only 17 Constituencies in Sindh, and they are claiming to form the Sindh government, so GDA will have more than 130 general seats in Sindh. He should stop talking and first show his 17 successful candidates and then claim to form the government of Sindh.

He said that the people should recognize such a fake alliance, which has no candidates in all constituencies and is keeping the people in trouble. He said that MQM Pakistan wants a new province in Sindh, and PML-N is against provincial autonomy, the 18th Amendment, and parts of provinces in the NFC, while GDA is in favor of Kalabagh Dam, anti-Sinh, and JUI. All these anti-people parties are allies, so that the people know the truth and lie and make a better decision.

He said that these opposition parties want the People's Party to be out of power so that they can easily play the role of anti-Sindh and the people, but the people will not allow these anti-Sindh parties and conspiracy characters to succeed in their nefarious intentions.

He said that a new province will never be formed in Sindh, and MQM Pakistan will not succeed in such conspiracies. He further said that the People's Party will sweep Sindh and form the government for the fourth time, and the Prime Minister will also be of the Pakistan People's Party.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Feb, 2024) Pakistan has dispatched the 5th tranche of humanitarian assistance for Gaza, consisting of winterized tents, tarpaulins, and blankets via PAF C-130.

The flight will land in Al-Arish, Egypt, where the Pakistani Ambassador will receive the aid for onward delivery," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on its official X handle on Sunday.

This ongoing support underscored Pakistan's continued commitment to addressing the urgent humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza.
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Feb, 2024) Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi said on Sunday that minorities play an important role in the nation-building process and Pakistan will become strong and prosperous only when the minorities are given equal rights as envisaged by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Constitution.

Delivering his speech at a seminar organized by the Press Information Department (PID) regarding elections 2024 he said only those nations that have made rapid strides towards development and prosperity believed in diversity.

"Pakistan will be strong only when we give equal civil rights to minorities," Murtaza Solangi said.

He remarked that the creation of Pakistan in itself was the negation of the concept of majoritarian rule as All India Congress leadership wanted to impose the will of a certain group over the other people on the basis of the majority.

He said that minorities had played a significant part in the achievements of Pakistan, especially as they were playing an active role in the health and education system.

The minister said that the present caretaker government was a constitutional and legal set-up which would ensure the conduct of free and fair elections in the country on February 8.

In the preamble of the Constitution of Pakistan, it is written that this country will be run by its elected representatives who come to power through elections, he maintained.

He said despite all the speculations, the government stood its ground on holding elections on the schedule given by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Murtaza Solangi said that the caretaker regime would hand over the country to the elected government in a better condition than it was given on August 17 last year.

He expressed the hope that the government coming to power after February 8 elections would focus on the basic problems of the country including the economy.

"No country can become strong and prosperous without economic security and strength," he said.

He hoped that the new government would vigorously take up the agenda of economic reforms, take steps for increasing the tax base and improve governance.

He said that in the age of social and digital media, artificial intelligence, deepfakes, voice cloning, misinformation etc had become a challenge which were needed to be tackled.

He said the time had come to work collectively for the promotion of unity, rather than spreading hate and disharmony.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Feb, 2024) The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), following the government's directive, in coordination with Al-Khidmat Foundation dispatched fifth tranche of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.

The tranche, transported by a Pakistan Airforce C-130 aircraft, marks Pakistan's ongoing commitment to supporting the people of Gaza, a news release said.

The officials of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), NDMA, Pakistan Air Force and representatives of Al Khidmat Foundation attended the send-off ceremony at Nur Khan Airbase on Sunday.

The humanitarian assistance flight destined for Gaza will land in Al-Arish, Egypt, where the Pakistans Ambassador will take charge of the supplies and oversee their transportation to the Palestinian people.

This fifth relief consignment comprises family tents, tarpaulins, and blankets. NDMA has also coordinated a sixth flight scheduled to depart from Karachi on 06 February 2024 with 100 tons of load.

Pakistan's unwavering support continues with fifth aid delivery for Gaza, totaling 230 tons of essential supplies. More assistance is also planned, demonstrating Pakistan's commitment to solidarity and seeking a peaceful resolution.
(@FahadShabbir)

Vina del Mar, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Feb, 2024) Wildfires blazing across central and southern Chile have left at least 19 people dead, officials said Saturday, warning the toll was likely to climb as responders comb through burnt-out homes and the flames continue to spread.

President Gabriel Boric has decreed a state of emergency "due to catastrophe" over the fires, as dry conditions in the area and temperatures soaring to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) exacerbate the crisis.

The blazes are concentrated in the Valparaiso tourist region, along central Chile's coastline, where they have ravaged thousands of hectares of forest, cloaked coastal cities in a dense fog of gray smoke and forced people to flee their homes.

Authorities declared a curfew for Saturday morning in the two regions until noon (1500 GMT) to facilitate the movement of evacuees and emergency responders.

"There are 19 people dead," Interior Minister Carolina Toha said Saturday, noting that the toll is "very provisional" because responders have not yet been able to enter some affected areas.

She said there were 92 active fires, with 43,000 hectares (106,000 acres) burned across the country.

"The priority is on the fires in the Valparaiso region because of their proximity to urban areas, where we have several fires," said Toha.

She said more firefighting vehicles were not required at the moment because the area "is not very large. It is very dense, but not very extensive."

In the hillsides around the coastal city of Vina del Mar, entire blocks of homes were burned out overnight, AFP reporters saw Saturday morning.

Some dead victims could be seen lying in the road covered in sheets.

The area, about 1.5 hours northwest of the capital Santiago, is a popular tourist destination during the hot summer months.

In the towns of Estrella and Navidad, southwest of the capital, the fires have burned nearly 30 homes, and forced evacuations near the surfing resort of Pichilemu.

"I've never seen anything like it," 63-year-old Yvonne Guzman told AFP. When the flames started to close in on her home in Quilpue, she fled with her elderly mother, only to be trapped in traffic for hours.

"It's very distressing, because we've evacuated the house but we can't move forward. There are all these people trying to get out and who can't move," she said.

- 'Extreme' -

"All forces are deployed in the fight against the forest fires," Boric said Friday in a message posted to social media platform X.

Around 7,000 hectares have been burned in Valparaiso alone, according to CONAF, the Chilean national forest authority, which called the blazes "extreme."

Images filmed by trapped motorists have gone viral online, showing mountains in flames at the end of the famous "Route 68," a road used by thousands of tourists to get to the Pacific coast beaches.

In addition to Valparaiso, firefighters and emergency services personnel are battling 10 outbreaks affecting regions in the center and south of the country, including O'Higgins, Maule, Biobio, La Araucania and Los Lagos.

On Friday, authorities closed the road linking Valparaiso to the capital Santiago, as a huge mushroom cloud of smoke "reduced visibility."

The fires are being driven by a summer heatwave and drought affecting the southern part of South America caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon, as scientists warn that a warming planet has increased the risk of natural disasters such as intense heat and fires.

As Chile and Colombia battle rising temperatures, the heatwave is also threatening to sweep over Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil in the coming days.
(@FahadShabbir)

ISTANBUL, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Feb, 2024) Lewis Hamilton said Saturday he is excited to fulfill a childhood dream when he moves to Ferrari in 2025.

"I feel incredibly fortunate, after achieving things with Mercedes that I could only have dreamed of as a kid, that I now have the chance to fulfil another childhood dream. Driving in Ferrari red," Hamilton wrote on X.

The British driver said Mercedes has been a huge part of his life since he was 13, so the decision has been the hardest he have had to make.

"Together we have won titles, broken records and become the most successful Driver-Team partnership in F1 history. And of course I cannot forget Niki who was a huge supporter and who I still miss everyday," he said.

Hamilton said he is excited for the opportunity to fulfill his dream of driving for Ferrari.

"Im excited to see what I can bring to this new opportunity and what we can do together, he said. "I must also share my huge appreciation to the whole of the Mercedes-Benz board and everyone at the company in Germany and around the world for supporting me over these 26 years.

Hamilton, 39, has raced for the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team since the 2013 season, winning six of his seven Formula titles.

He last clinched the F1 world title in 2020.

Ferrari confirmed Thursday that Lewis Hamilton would join the Italian racing team in 2025, on a multi-year contract.
An actor interacts with children during a party at a bookstore in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024.

A unique party was held on Saturday at a bookstore for children in Lhasa City where teachers introduced the traditional customs of the Tibetan New Year. During the event, children wearing traditional Tibetan costumes enjoyed musical performance, puppet show and handicraft making, as well as a feast of "gutu", a traditional soup dish made of flour. (Photo by Tenzin Nyida/Xinhua)

Actors play a local six-string instrument during a party at a bookstore in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024.

A unique party was held on Saturday at a bookstore for children in Lhasa City where teachers introduced the traditional customs of the Tibetan New Year. During the event, children wearing traditional Tibetan costumes enjoyed musical performance, puppet show and handicraft making, as well as a feast of "gutu", a traditional soup dish made of flour. (Photo by Tenzin Nyida/Xinhua)

Children dance during a party at a bookstore in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024.

A unique party was held on Saturday at a bookstore for children in Lhasa City where teachers introduced the traditional customs of the Tibetan New Year. During the event, children wearing traditional Tibetan costumes enjoyed musical performance, puppet show and handicraft making, as well as a feast of "gutu", a traditional soup dish made of flour. (Photo by Tenzin Nyida/Xinhua)

Children watch a puppet show during a party at a bookstore in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024.

A unique party was held on Saturday at a bookstore for children in Lhasa City where teachers introduced the traditional customs of the Tibetan New Year. During the event, children wearing traditional Tibetan costumes enjoyed musical performance, puppet show and handicraft making, as well as a feast of "gutu", a traditional soup dish made of flour. (Photo by Tenzin Nyida/Xinhua)

Children make necklaces with plasticine during a party at a bookstore in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024.

A unique party was held on Saturday at a bookstore for children in Lhasa City where teachers introduced the traditional customs of the Tibetan New Year. During the event, children wearing traditional Tibetan costumes enjoyed musical performance, puppet show and handicraft making, as well as a feast of "gutu", a traditional soup dish made of flour. (Photo by Tenzin Nyida/Xinhua)
Windhoek, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Feb, 2024) Namibia's President Hage Geingob, a veteran of the country's liberation struggle and its first post-independence prime minister, died on Sunday, his office announced.

Tributes to the 82-year-old statesman poured in from African leaders who saw him as a hero of the anti-apartheid struggle.

Recently, he supported South Africa's complaint against Israel under the Genocide Convention and condemned Namibia's former colonial ruler Germany for opposing the case.

Geingob, who was serving his second term as president, revealed last month that he was being treated for cancer.

Namibia's acting president Nangolo Mbumba announced the death, saying "our beloved Dr. Hage G. Geingob, the President of the Republic of Namibia, has passed on today."

"At his side, was his dear wife Madame Monica Geingos and his children."

This triggered an outpouring of tributes from around the continent, including from leaders who worked alongside him in the struggle to free southern Africa from apartheid rule.

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa said: "Today, South Africa joins the people of our sister state Namibia in mourning the passing of a leader, patriot and friend of South Africa.

"President Geingob was a towering veteran of Namibia's liberation from colonialism and apartheid.

"He was also greatly influential in the solidarity that the people of Namibia extended to the people of South Africa so that we could be free today."

- 'Visionary leader' -

President William Ruto of Kenya echoed this praise.

"He was a believer of a unified Africa and strongly promoted the continent's voice and visibility at the global arena," he said.

And the director of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, hailed Geingob's work to improve healthcare for Namibians, dubbing him a "visionary leader".

First elected president in 2014, Geingob was Namibia's longest-serving prime minister and third president.

In 2013, Geingob underwent brain surgery, and last year he had an aortic operation in neighbouring South Africa.

He had been receiving treatment at Lady Pohamba Hospital in Windhoek.

"The Namibian nation has lost a distinguished servant of the people, a liberation struggle icon, the chief architect of our constitution and the pillar of the Namibian house," said Mbumba.

"At this moment of deepest sorrow, I appeal to the nation to remain calm and collected while the government attends to all necessary state arrangements, preparations and other protocols."

He said the cabinet would convene immediately to make the necessary state arrangements.

Last month, Geingob threw his weight behind South Africa's challenge against Israel's military campaign in Gaza, under the Genocide Convention in the UN's top court.

In particular he singled out for criticism Germany, Namibia's former colonial ruler and an outspoken critic of South Africa's case alleging Israel has breached the convention.

Lamenting "Germany's inability to draw lessons from its horrific history", the Namibian leader accused Berlin of defending "genocidal and gruesome acts".

Germany massacred more than 70,000 Indigenous Herero and Nama people in Namibia between 1904 and 1908, in what many historians consider the first genocide of the 20th century.

In May 2021, after more than five years of negotiations, Germany said it recognised it committed a genocide in the territory it had colonised from 1884 to 1915.

- Independence struggle -

Born in a village in northern Namibia in 1941, Geingob was the southern African country's first president outside the Ovambo people, which makes up more than half the country's population.

In his early years he took up activism against South Africa's apartheid regime, which at the time ruled over Namibia.

In 1964 he was appointed representative for the SWAPO liberation movement at the United Nations.

He spent almost three decades in Botswana and the United States, returning to Namibia in 1989 to lead SWAPO's election campaign in his now independent homeland.

Namibia is to hold presidential and national assembly elections towards the end of the year.
U.S. President Joe Biden easily won South Carolina's Democratic primary on Saturday, clinching a state he pushed to lead off his party's nominating process after it revived his then-struggling White House bid four years ago.

Biden defeated the other long-shot Democrats on South Carolina's ballot, including Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips and author Marianne Williamson. With 74% of the votes counted, Biden had 108,123 votes, or 96.4% of the votes.

His reelection campaign invested heavily in driving up turnout in what it saw as a test drive of its efforts to mobilize Black voters, a key Democratic bloc central to Biden's chances in a likely November rematch against former President Donald Trump.

"In 2020, it was the voters of South Carolina who proved the pundits wrong, breathed new life into our campaign, and set us on the path to winning the presidency," Biden said in a statement. "Now in 2024, the people of South Carolina have spoken again and I have no doubt that you have set us on the path to winning the Presidency again  and making Donald Trump a loser  again."

The Associated Press declared Biden the winner at 7:23 p.m. based on an analysis of initial vote results showing him with a decisive lead in key locations throughout the state. He won all 55 of the state's Democratic delegates.

The president was behind a Democratic National Committee effort to have South Carolina be the party's first primary, citing the state's more racially diverse population compared to the traditional first-in-the-nation states of Iowa and New Hampshire, which are overwhelmingly white.

South Carolina is reliably Republican, but 26% of its residents are Black. In the 2020 general election, Black voters made up 11% of the national electorate, and 9 in 10 of them supported Biden, according to AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of that election's voters.

Biden pushed for a revamped primary calendar that will see Nevada go second, holding its primary on Tuesday. The new order also moves the Democratic primary in Michigan, a large and diverse swing state, to February 27, before a large field of states vote on March 5, known as Super Tuesday.

New Hampshire rejected the DNC's plan and held a leadoff primary last month anyway. Biden didn't campaign and his name wasn't on the ballot, but still won by a sizable margin after supporters mounted a write-in campaign on his behalf.

South Carolina, where Biden has long held deep relationships with supporters and donors, also played a pivotal role in his 2020 campaign, where a big win revived a flagging effort in other early-voting states and propelled him to the nomination.

Biden was aided by longtime South Carolina Representative Jim Clyburn whose 2020 endorsement served as a long-awaited signal to the state's Black voters that Biden would be the right candidate to advocate for their interests. Clyburn remains a close Biden ally and said on Saturday night that he believed New Hampshire's delegates should be seated at the party's convention this summer and that Democrats should avoid any further infighting.

Both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman and Asian American to serve in the role, have consistently thanked South Carolina's Democrats for their support.

Biden was traveling this weekend in California and Nevada but called into a series of Black radio stations across South Carolina and told WWDM in Sumter, "The only reason I'm talking to you today as president of the United States of America is because of South Carolina. That is not hyperbole. That's a fact."

Campaigning in the state last week, the president said South Carolina was "the reason Donald Trump is a loser. And you're the reason we're going to win and beat him again," framing the likely general election matchup with the GOP's current front-runner.

Black voters interviewed during the recent early voting period listed a range of reasons for supporting Biden, from his administration's defense of abortion rights to appointing Black jurists and other minorities to the federal courts. Some echoed Biden's warnings that Trump would threaten democracy as he continues to push lies that the 2020 vote was stolen.

"We can't live with a leader that will make this into a dictatorship. We can't live in a place that is not a democracy. That will be a fall for America," said LaJoia Broughton, a 42-year-old small business owner in Columbia. "So my vote is with Biden. It has been with Biden and will continue to be with Biden."

Some voters said they were concerned about the 81-year-old Biden's age, as many Americans have said they are in public polling. Trump is 77. Both men have had a series of public flubs that have fueled skepticism about their readiness.

"They're as old as I am and to have these two guys be the only choices, that's kind of difficult," said Charles Trower, a 77-year-old from Blythewood, South Carolina. "But I would much rather have President Biden than even consider the other guy."
More than two dozen people, mostly journalists, were detained Saturday at a protest in central Moscow, as wives and other relatives of Russian servicemen mobilized to fight in Ukraine called for their return, according to independent Russian news reports.

The relatives gathered to lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, just outside the Kremlin walls. They marked 500 days since Russian President Vladimir Putin in September 2022 ordered a "partial mobilization" of up to 300,000 reservists following battlefield setbacks in Moscows full-scale war against Ukraine.

The call-up was widely unpopular and prompted hundreds of thousands to flee abroad to avoid being drafted.

Wives and relatives of some of the reservists called up in 2022 have campaigned for them to be discharged and replaced with contract soldiers. Saturdays demonstration was organized by one such campaign group, The Way Home, that Friday posted on Telegram calling on "wives, mothers, sisters and children" of reservists from across Russia to come to Moscow to "demonstrate (their) unity."

"We want our husbands back alive," one of the protesters, who only gave her name as Antonina for fear of reprisals, is heard saying in a video published by independent Russian news outlet SOTA.vision.

Antonina insisted she does not want compensation from the Russian government if her husband is killed, and said she would instead "either go to a convent or follow him."

"I dont want to live alone! And if (Russian authorities) dont understand this  I dont know. God be their judge," she told a SOTA.vision reporter, struggling to hold back tears.

Saturdays demonstration was the ninth and largest of similar weekly gatherings organized by The Way Home. One popular Russian Telegram news channel estimated that some 200 people turned out.

Allies of jailed Kremlin foe Alexey Navalny and Russian opposition politician Maksim Kats voiced support for the protest Friday, while the Moscow prosecutors office early on Saturday warned Russians not to participate in "unauthorized mass events."

According to OVD-Info, an independent website that monitors political arrests in Russia, police detained 27 people during the protest, mostly journalists. According to SOTA, most were later released, although a male protester, Yaroslav Ryazanov, was still in detention Saturday evening.

Aware of the public backlash, the Russian military has since late 2022 increasingly sought to bolster the forces in Ukraine by enlisting more volunteers. The authorities claimed that about 500,000 signed contracts with the Defense Ministry last year.

Still, the wives and relatives calls to bring mobilized reservists home have been stonewalled by Russias government-controlled media, and some pro-Kremlin politicians have sought to cast them as Western stooges. Protesters on Saturday angrily rejected the accusation.

Maria Andreyeva, whose husband and brother are fighting in Ukraine, told SOTA.vision that she saw the fighting in Ukraine as "a great tragedy that happened between two brotherly peoples."

"Almost every Russian has relatives in Ukraine, close and distant, so this is a situation that has struck us to the core. After the Second World War, it seemed to us that our grandfathers died so that there would never be another (conflict)," Andreyeva said.

The protest came just weeks before the Russian presidential election, scheduled to take place over three days on March 15-17, that Putin is all but assured to win. After Andreyeva and others laid flowers at the monument, they headed to Putins campaign headquarters to present their demands to him.

Last month, another Russian presidential hopeful met with Andreyeva and other soldiers relatives campaigning for their return. Former local legislator Boris Nadezhdin, who openly opposes the war in Ukraine, criticized the Kremlins decision to keep them in the ranks as long as the fighting continues.

"We want (the authorities) to treat people who are doing their duty in a decent way," Nadezhdin said.
A convoy of tractors was poised Saturday to descend on Rome as farmers' protests caused disruptions across Europe, though they wound down in France following government concessions.

Farmers have expressed anger at what they say are excessively restrictive regulations on agriculture and unfair competition, among other grievances.

The movement erupted in France last month and there have also been protests in Germany, Belgium, Poland, Romania, Greece and the Netherlands.

Farmers have blocked motorways and disrupted traffic in key cities with convoys of tractors.

In Italy on Saturday, around 150 tractors massed in Orte, about an hour north of Rome.

Protesters there called for better pay and conditions and announced their imminent arrival in the Italian capital, an Agence France-Presse reporter saw.

"Italian agriculture has woken up," said protester Felice Antonio Monfeli.

"It's historic and the people here are proving it. For the first time in their history, farmers are united under the same flag, that of Italy."

The demonstrators have for days been calling for talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government, without having had a response so far.

"The situation is critical, we cannot be slaves in our own companies," said another protester, Domenico Chiergi.

Greek farmers consider escalation

In Greece, around 2,000 farmers protested in the country's second-largest city of Thessaloniki on Saturday calling for increases in aid.

Their action came a day after Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced further support measures.

Some farmers from the mountain villages of Thessaly threw chestnuts and apples that had spoiled because of the natural disasters that hit the region.

"We have no food, we cannot put our lives in discount," Kostas Tzelas, president of the Rural Associations of Karditsa, told AFP. "We want to stay on our land and not become migrants."

Mitsotakis has already extended the refund of a special consumption tax on oil and a discount on rural electricity from May to September.

It is among a package of measures that Mitsotakis estimated cost more than 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion).

But Tzelas dismissed these measures as "peanuts."

The president of a union of agricultural associations, Rizos Maroudas, told reporters a meeting was scheduled next week "to decide the escalation of blockades."

German, Belgium, the Netherlands

In Germany, hundreds of farmers on tractors disrupted access to Frankfurt airport, the country's busiest, in opposition to a reform of diesel taxation, police said.

A Hesse farmers' association estimated vehicle numbers at around 1,000, while police said 400 tractors took part before the protest ended in the early afternoon.

A protest on the Dutch-Belgian border that had shut down a main motorway was wound down Saturday evening, the Belga news agency reported.

Farmer discontent has also affected non-EU Switzerland, where around 30 tractors paraded in Geneva on Saturday in the country's first such protest since the movement started elsewhere in Europe.

"As a young person, it scares us a lot not knowing if there is a future in our profession," Antonin Ramu, a 19-year-old apprentice winegrower, told AFP.

He welcomed the transition to a more environmentally friendly agriculture but asked for more help in the face of competition from countries without the same standards.

In Spain, the three main farmers' unions have announced more protests in the coming weeks, with a major demonstration planned for Barcelona on February 13.

In France, security forces cleared the few remaining blockades of motorways a day after the main agricultural union called for them to be lifted following government concessions.

Their mobilization had forced new Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's government to pause a plan to reduce pesticide and insecticide use and offer an aid package of 400 million euros.

Romanian farmers and haulers also announced the end of their road-block protest Saturday following an agreement with the government.

The EU is scrambling to address concerns ahead of European Parliament elections this year.

The European Commission on Thursday promised measures to defend the "legitimate interests" of EU farmers, notably the much criticized administrative burdens of the bloc's Common Agricultural Policy.
A woman with a lengthy criminal history including theft, assault and prostitution got into a truck with a man who had picked her up for a date near downtown Anchorage. When he left her alone in the vehicle, she stole a digital memory card from the center console.

Now, more than four years later, what she found on that card is key to a double murder trial set to begin this week: gruesome photos and videos of a woman being beaten and strangled at a Marriott hotel, her attacker speaking in a strong accent as he urged her to die, her blanket-covered body being snuck outside on a luggage cart.

In my movies, everybody always dies, the voice says on one video. "What are my followers going to think of me? People need to know when they are being serial-killed.

About a week after she took the SD card, the woman turned it over to police, who said they recognized the voice as that of Brian Steven Smith, now 52, a South Africa native they knew from a prior investigation, court documents say.

Smith has pleaded not guilty to 14 charges, including first- and second-degree murder, sexual assault and tampering with evidence, in the deaths of Kathleen Henry, 30, and Veronica Abouchuk, who was 52 when her family reported her missing in February 2019, seven months after they last saw her.

Henry and Abouchuk were both Alaska Native women who had experienced homelessness. They were from small villages in western Alaska, Henry from Eek and Abouchuk from Stebbins.

Authorities say Henry was the victim whose death was recorded at the TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a hotel in midtown Anchorage. Smith was registered to stay there from Sept. 2 to Sept. 4, 2019; the first images showing her body were time-stamped at about 1 a.m. on Sept. 4, police said.

The last images on the card were taken early on Sept. 6 and showed Henry's body in the back of a black pickup, according to charging documents. Location data showed that at the time the photo was taken, Smith's phone was in the area of Rainbow Valley Road, along the Seward Highway south of Anchorage, the same area where Henry's body was found several weeks later, police said.

As detectives interrogated Smith about the Marriott case, authorities said, he offered up more information to police who escorted him to a bathroom: He had killed another woman, and he went on to identify her  Abouchuk  from a photo and to provide the location of her remains, along the Old Glenn Highway north of Anchorage.

With no prompting, he tells the troopers in the bathroom, Im going to make you famous, District Attorney Brittany Dunlop said during a court hearing last week. He comes back in and says ... You guys got some more time? You want to keep talking? And then discloses this other murder.

Alaska State Troopers in 2018 incorrectly identified another body as that of Abouchuk, because Abouchuk's ID had been discovered with it, for reasons that remain unclear. But with the information Smith provided, investigators re-examined the case and used dental records to confirm a skull with a bullet wound found in the area Smith identified was Abouchuk's, authorities have said.

Smith's attorney, Timothy Ayer, unsuccessfully sought to have the digital memory card's evidence  or even mention of it  excluded at trial. The woman who turned in the card initially claimed she had simply found it on the street, and it wasn't until a second interview that she confessed she had stolen the card from Smith's truck while he tried to get money from an ATM and she had it for a week before giving it to police, he said.

For that reason, he argued, prosecutors would not be able to demonstrate the provenance of the 39 photos and 12 videos, establish whether they were originals or duplicates, or say for sure whether they had been tampered with.

The state cannot produce a witness to testify that the video fairly and accurately depicts any act that actually happened, Ayer wrote.

However, Third Judicial District Judge Kevin Saxby ruled late Friday that the woman can testify about her possession of the card until she handed it over to police and that the recordings can be properly authenticated.

Henrys family has not spoken publicly about her death and efforts to reach relatives have not been successful. Abouchuks family has not returned messages from The Associated Press.

These were two Alaska Native women, Dunlop, then the assistant district attorney, said in 2019 after Smith was charged. And I know that hits home here in Alaska, and were cognizant of that. We treat them with dignity and respect.

Authorities said Smith, who is in custody at the Anchorage Correctional Facility, came to Alaska in 2014 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen the same month Henry was killed.

In a 2019 letter to the AP, he declined to discuss the case. He added that he was doing well: "I have lost weight, I have much less stress and I am sober.

His wife, Stephanie Bissland of Anchorage, and a sister acting as a family spokesperson in South Africa, both declined to comment until after the trial.

The trial, expected to last three to four weeks, was scheduled to begin Monday with jury selection.

Prosecutors had suggested the possibility of closing the courtroom to prevent the gruesome videos from being seen by the public. The Associated Press, the Anchorage Daily News, Alaskas News Source and Alaska Public Media objected to any such move in a letter to the court's presiding judge.

Afterward, Saxby said he has no intention of keeping the public from the courtroom, but safeguards will be in place to prevent those in the gallery or watching the trial's livestream from seeing them.
Iranian civil society organizations and professionals say suicide rates have reached crisis levels among school students and recent medical school graduates in the past month, with no sign of solutions from the government.

Iranian state news agency IRNA acknowledged the worsening of the Islamic republic's suicide problem generally in a January 6 article. It cited Hamid Parvih, the vice president of Iran's Suicide Prevention Scientific Society, as saying about 120,000 people attempted suicide in the Persian year ending March 2023, a 51% increase from the seven years prior. He said more than 6,000 of those attempts ended in death.

In a January 26 Telegram post, Irans largest teachers union said at least eight primary and secondary school students committed suicide in various parts of the country during the Persian month of Dey that ended January 20.

The labor union, the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teacher Trade Associations, described the situation of student suicides as a "tsunami" in another Telegram post on the same date. It said the problem was particularly acute in the predominantly ethnic Kurdish region of western Iran, where it said student suicides have been increasing "in a frightening manner" in recent years.

"The government and responsible institutions have been silent with indifference," the labor union wrote, adding that "authorities apparently have no plan to control or prevent the problem."

The suicide rate also has risen to a crisis level among resident doctors who recently graduated from medical school in Iran, according to an interview with an emergency medicine specialist published by state-approved news site Khabar Online on January 20.

The news site quoted Nima Shahriarpour, a doctor at Tehrans Baharloo Hospital, as saying a recent survey of resident doctors in the country indicates that an average of 13 commit suicide in Iran each year. Shahriarpour was citing a survey by the Islamic Republic of Iran Medical Council, a trade union for health care professionals.

"Today, the suicide of resident doctors has become more of a crisis," Shahriarpour told the news site. "Although the request to deal with this problem has been sent to higher authorities ... it seems that until an issue in our country turns into a crisis, it will not be heard," he added.

Marjan Keypour, founder of Iran-focused group Alliance for Rights of All Minorities, discussed the factors behind Iran's rising suicide rates in the latest edition of VOAs Flashpoint Iran podcast.

The following transcript of Keypours January 28 interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

VOA: What are the most concerning suicide trends that you have observed in Iran?

Marjan Keypour, Alliance for Rights of All Minorities (ARAM): What we notice today is an increased rate of suicides in Iran, especially among young people who have issues that seem to be solvable and preventable in most parts of the world, such as problems with relationships, poverty, depression, lack of access to mental health care, social disputes, and even addiction.

People are taking their lives because the country is covered by this heavy layer of hopelessness and misery that is really affecting people  not just in the minority populations, but around the country. And it is particularly tragic when you see this level of despair consume children as young as 12 years old, who are taking their lives because they cannot find resources to give them hope to live another day.

VOA: What else have you noticed as you track this disturbing trend in Iran?

Keypour: We have seen unprecedented reports of physicians in the country committing suicide. Yes, there are problems of burnout, lack of resources and inadequate compensation, meaning they have to take second or third jobs. But also, some are not able to fulfill their duties as physicians.

After Iran's Woman Life Freedom movement began in September 2022, authorities engaged in a ruthless crackdown on protesters, beating and blinding them with bullets. We saw that doctors went to help the innocent victims who were injured but ended up getting arrested themselves, put in solitary confinement and tortured in detention. So one of the reasons why physicians have committed suicide in the past 12 months could be their inability to do their duties as physicians.

VOA: Iranian state media have been reporting about the rising suicide rates, so the government is aware of them. Why is it not taking stronger action to mitigate the problem?

Keypour: In Iran, many suicide cases are linked to poverty. But you can see that in the past decades, the government has not really taken any meaningful measures to alleviate the root causes of poverty or ameliorate the tremendous level of suffering that is taking place.

VOA: Is the Iranian government insensitive to the problem, or is it incapable of solving it because of corruption and incompetence?

Keypour: I think there is corruption and insensitivity. We see people dying in Iran from a variety of causes on a regular basis, and we see very little effort by the government to eliminate those causes, whether they are the coronavirus or a bomb that is expected to explode at the memorial of a general. These causes either are preventable, or the casualties resulting from them could be curbed. But they do not care about the lives of Iranian civilians.

Combined with that, there is a lack of competence in handling deep societal problems, like providing mental health resources. And, most importantly, the government could mitigate the sense of hopelessness by providing some level of freedom and autonomy to civilians. However, with their repression of the population, the opportunity to blow off steam is taken away from people.

We see that rather than improving schools by employing more psychologists and trained mental health professionals, authorities are replacing those professionals with thousands of clergy members who have no training whatsoever to make decisions about the academic and emotional welfare of students. Unless systematic solutions are adopted in the country, unfortunately we are going to see more of such tragedies unfolding.
Iran on Sunday denounced the latest U.S. and U.K. strikes on targets in Yemen saying they "contradict" their declared intention of avoiding a wider Middle East conflict.

These attacks are "in clear contradiction with the repeated claims of Washington and London that they do not want the expansion of war and conflict in the region," Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani, said in a statement.

He accused the United States and Britain of "fueling chaos, disorder, insecurity and instability" by supporting Israel in its war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

Further strikes on Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels in response to the group's attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea is "a threat to international peace and security," Kanaani said.

On Saturday the U.S. and the U.K. struck dozens of targets in Yemen over Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, which the rebels say are in solidarity with Palestinians in war-battered Gaza.

The previous day, the U.S. military struck targets in Syria and Iraq, in retaliation for a January 28 drone attack on a base in Jordan that killed three U.S. soldiers.

President Joe Biden has blamed "radical Iran-backed militant groups" for that attack but said the United States does not seek a wider conflict in the Middle East.

"I don't think we need a wider war in the Middle East. That's not what I'm looking for," Biden said on Tuesday.
A vehicle is on fire after an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Feb. 4, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 27,365, while 66,630 others were wounded, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said Sunday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

GAZA, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 27,365, while 66,630 others were wounded, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said Sunday.

During the past 24 hours, the Israeli army killed 127 Palestinians and wounded 178 others in Gaza, the ministry spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qedra said in a press statement.

According to Palestinian security sources, Israel's air and artillery strikes continued in most parts of the strip, with its aircraft targeting dozens of homes in Khan Younis and a vehicle in Rafah in the south of the enclave.

Eyewitnesses said clashes between the Palestinian armed factions and the Israeli forces continued, especially in Gaza City and areas of northern Gaza.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has been launching a large-scale military campaign against Hamas in Gaza to retaliate against a surprise Hamas attack on southern Israel, which claimed the lives of about 1,200 Israelis, according to the Israeli authorities. 

People look at a vehicle destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Feb. 4, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 27,365, while 66,630 others were wounded, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People look at a vehicle destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Feb. 4, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 27,365, while 66,630 others were wounded, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People look at a vehicle destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Feb. 4, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 27,365, while 66,630 others were wounded, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A vehicle is on fire after an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Feb. 4, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 27,365, while 66,630 others were wounded, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said Sunday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

Firefighters extinguish fire after an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Feb. 4, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 27,365, while 66,630 others were wounded, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said Sunday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)
Iraq has banned eight local commercial banks from engaging in U.S. dollar transactions, taking action to reduce fraud, money laundering and other illegal uses of U.S. currency days after a visit by a top U.S. Treasury official.

The banks are banned from accessing the Iraqi central bank's daily dollar auction, a main source of hard currency in the import-dependent country that has become a focal point of a U.S. crackdown on currency smuggling to neighboring Iran.

A rare ally of both the United States and Iran with more than $100 billion in reserves held in the U.S., Iraq relies heavily on Washington's goodwill to ensure that its access to oil revenues and finances are not blocked.

A central bank document verified by an official at the bank listed the banned banks.

They are: Ahsur International Bank for Investment; Investment Bank of Iraq; Union Bank of Iraq; Kurdistan International Islamic Bank for Investment and Development; Al Huda Bank; Al Janoob Islamic Bank for Investment and Finance; Arabia Islamic Bank and Hammurabi Commercial Bank.

The head of Iraq's private bank association, which represents the banks involved, and Ashur and Hammurabi did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reuters is contacting the other banks.

A Treasury spokesperson said: "We commend the continued steps taken by the Central Bank of Iraq to protect the Iraqi financial system from abuse, which has led to legitimate Iraqi banks achieving international connectivity through correspondent banking relationships.

In July 2023, Iraq banned 14 banks from conducting dollar transactions as part of a wider crackdown on dollar smuggling to Iran via the Iraqi banking system. The decision came after a request from Washington, according to Iraqi and U.S. officials.

Banks banned from dollar transactions can continue operating and can engage in transactions in other currencies, the central bank says.

The U.S. Treasury Department's top sanctions official, Brian Nelson, last week met top Iraqi officials in Baghdad, discussing how to protect the Iraqi and international financial systems from criminal, corrupt and terrorist actors.

Treasury announced action against Al-Huda Bank during the visit, saying it was involved in diverting billions of U.S. dollars to Iranian-backed groups.

A senior Treasury official told Reuters that Washington expected Iraq to do more to help counter Iran-backed armed groups operating out of Iraq after the killing of three U.S. soldiers that has been blamed on hard-line Iraqi factions.

The current Iraqi government came to power with the support of powerful, Iran-backed parties and armed groups with interests in Iraq's highly informal economy, including the financial sector long seen as a money-laundering hotspot.

Still, Western officials have lauded cooperation with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani toward carrying out economic and financial reforms meant to curb the ability of Iran and its allies to access U.S. dollars, and to bring the Iraqi economy into line with international standards.
U.S. military retaliatory strikes on pro-Iranian militia forces inside both Syria and Iraq early Saturday have prompted condemnation from both the Syrian and Iraqi governments, as well as several countries that are allies of both Damascus and Baghdad.

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad said in a statement the U.S. attacks "will seriously increase tensions in the region." Syrian state TV quoted the Syrian defense ministry, which claimed the U.S. "attacked Syrian government forces which are fighting the Islamic State terrorist group," alleging the U.S. is trying to help the terrorists "regroup."

Rami Abdul Rahman, with the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told Arab media the U.S. attacks targeted pro-Iranian militia and Syrian government forces along the border with Iraq in the area between al-Bukamal and Deir el-Zour, in addition to the Iraqi border post of al-Qaim.

He said that Iranian al Quds Forces, as well as Iranian Revolutionary Guard Forces and pro-Iranian militia forces, were hit in the U.S. strikes on the Syrian border region between al-Bukamal, Al-Mayadeen and Deir el-Zour.

Rahman argues, though, that the militiamen had been alerted to the strikes and were hiding in underground tunnels for the most part.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani declared an official period of mourning for the victims of the U.S. attacks on the pro-Iranian Hashd al-Shaabi militia headquarters in al Qaim and the town of Al Kashat. At least 18 people were killed, according to an Iraqi government spokesperson. The Hashd also claimed to have struck the al Harir U.S. base in the Kurdistan capital of Irbil. That was not confirmed.

Iraqi state TV reported that government spokesperson Bassem al Awadi denied U.S. reports it had consulted with the Iraqi government before the U.S. strikes, claiming the U.S. was "trying to mislead world opinion," adding that the U.S. attacks "put Iraq on the brink of a precipice."

The Iraqi parliament convened an urgent session to discuss the "repercussions of the U.S. strikes," and the "presence of foreign forces on Iraqi soil."

The Iraqi foreign ministry said it would summon U.S. Charge A'affaires David Baker to express its consternation.

Iran, which supports the militia forces targeted by the U.S., called the attacks "a violation of Syrian and Iraqi sovereignty and their territorial integrity." Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani termed the U.S. attacks "a serious strategic mistake."

Russia, which is an ally of both Syria and Iran, accused the U.S. of "sowing chaos and destruction in the Middle East."

London-based Iran analyst Ali Nourizadeh tells VOA that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was extremely concerned about a possible U.S. strike against Iranian territory and dispatched his Quds Forces commander Ismail Ka'ani to Baghdad several days ago to warn them "not to kill Americans and provoke them to retaliate."

"(Ka'ani's) advice was you shouldn't go to kill Americans, Nourizadeh said. A strike should be limited just to show to the people that we are in action, and we do something, but not killing Americans, because on that basis the Americans are not going to tolerate it."

U.S. Senator Jack Reed, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, had harsh words for Iran, however, saying that "Iran's proxy forces in Syria and Iraq have been dealt a significant blow, and Iranian-linked militias around the Middle East should understand that they, too, will be held accountable."

In Cairo, top political leaders of the Palestinian Hamas group, which controls Gaza, have been meeting with Egyptian intelligence chief Gen. Abbas Kamel to discuss a prisoner exchange and cease-fire with Israel to bring a halt to the nearly 4-month-old conflict.

Egyptian government sources have been tight-lipped about the talks, but Arab media claims that Israel has agreed to a six-month cease-fire and that Hamas is ready to trade over a hundred Israeli captives in return for around 300 Palestinian prisoners. VOA could not independently confirm the report.
At least 20 people died Saturday in an attack on a popular bakery in a city in occupied eastern Ukraine, Russias emergency ministry said, blaming Ukrainian shelling.

"In Lysychansk, employees of the Russian emergency ministry recovered the bodies of 20 people from under the rubble," the ministry said on Telegram.

The ministry shared video of emergency workers pulling people and bodies from the rubble.

This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing. Click to reveal This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing - Click to reveal This grab from footage released by the Russian Emergencies Ministry on Feb. 3, 2024, shows rescuers removing victims and searching for survivors inside a bakehouse hit by shelling in Lysychansk. AFP PHOTO / Russian Emergencies Ministry

Reuters was able to find earlier, daytime video of the building identified as the Adriatic Restaurant on Moskovska Street in Lysychansk. But it was unable to verify the date or any of the details of the video released by the ministry Saturday.

Ukrainian officials have not made a statement on the incident, Reuters said.

According to Russia-installed officials, U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) were used in the attack. The officials said that the average age of the victims was 35, according to Russias state-run TASS news agency.

Lysychansk had a population of about 110,000 before Russias invasion. It fell to Russia in the summer of 2022 and sits 15 kilometers (9 miles) from Ukrainian controlled territory.

The shelling came as Ukraines air force said Saturday that it downed nine of 14 Russian drones targeting Ukraines central and southern regions.

The Iranian-made Shahed drones were mainly aimed at energy infrastructure facilities in the Dnipropetrovsk region, according to air force officials.

The town most affected by the attack was Krivy Rig, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

No deaths or injuries were reported, but Agence France-Presse reports that 15,000 people are without electricity.

Meanwhile, the British Defense Ministry said Saturday that Ukraine exported more agricultural products in December than at any other point since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The ministry said the reopening of Ukraines Black Sea ports has been a critical contribution to international trade and the worlds food supply. Ukraines grain exports have now surpassed the volume it achieved under the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

The ministry also said Russia has been largely prevented from operating in the western Black Sea because of the presence of Ukrainian missiles and uncrewed surface vessels.

The United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown, on Friday condemned a Thursday attack on aid workers in southern Ukraine that left two dead and injured three others.

The Swiss nongovernmental aid group HEKS/EPER reported two of its employees were targeted in an attack late Thursday while conducting a field assessment in southeastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials later reported the two aid workers were French nationals killed in a drone attack in the town of Beryslav in the Kherson region.

The aid workers have not been identified.

In a statement, Brown said she was profoundly distressed by the deaths of the two aid workers and that her thoughts were with their families and colleagues during this absolutely horrific time.

The humanitarian coordinator went on to say she was shocked to hear the aid workers vehicles were attacked in a manner similar to a tragic incident in Chasiv Yar, in the east of Ukraine just a week ago, when a humanitarian vehicle was hit, and an aid worker injured.

Brown said international humanitarian law prohibits attacks on humanitarian workers and the repeated violations should be of grave concern to the world.

French President Emmanuel Macron called the attacks on the French aid workers a cowardly and outrageous act.

My solidarity goes out to all the volunteers who are committed to helping people, he wrote on the social media platform X.

French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said on X that Russia will have to answer for its crimes.

Zelenskyy offered condolences and expressed his gratitude for the service of the French aid workers.

Russian terror knows no boundaries or victims nationalities, he said on X. The brave French aid workers assisted people, and we will always be grateful for their humanity.

Also Friday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly was in Kyiv, Ukraine, where she met for talks with her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba.



At a joint news conference following their talks, the two diplomats announced a new international coalition to bring back Ukrainian children taken illegally to Russia.

Kuleba also said he is continuing to work to use frozen Russian assets to help pay for Ukraines recovery from the war.



Some information in this report was provided by Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
More than 150,000 people gathered in front of the German national parliament Saturday afternoon to protest the far right, the latest in a string of large weekend demonstrations across Germany.

The pro-democracy demonstrations started three weeks ago after the investigative journalists' group Correctiv published an article saying right-wing extremists had recently met to discuss deporting millions of immigrants, including some with German citizenship. Some members of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, or AfD, were present at the meeting.

Saturday's protest drew more participants than organizers expected, despite intermittent rain showers in the German capital. Police said that about 150,000 people were there by mid-afternoon Saturday. Similar protests of the far right in other German cities, including the southern city of Freiburg and the western city of Hannover, also drew thousands of attendees Saturday.

Under the slogan "We are the Firewall"  a reference to the longstanding taboo against collaborating with the far right in German politics  protesters turned the space next to the Bundestag, or national parliament, into a sea of signs, flags and umbrellas.

People traveled from across Germany to attend Saturday's protest, saying they felt it was important to be there to show their opposition to racism and caution against repeating history.

"We absolutely must not allow the stories that we experienced in 1930 or even back in the 1920s to happen again ... We must do everything we can to prevent that," said Jonas Schmidt, who came from the western port city of Bremen. "That's why I'm here."

Kathrin Zauter, another protester, called the strong attendance "really encouraging."

"This encourages everyone and shows that we are more  we are many," she said.

The AfD was founded as a euroskeptic party in 2013 and first entered the Bundestag in 2017. Recent polling put the party in second place nationally with support above 20%, far above the 10.3% of the vote it won during the last federal election in 2021.

Polls show AfD is the top party in eastern Germany, including in the states of Brandenburg, Saxony and Thuringia, which are scheduled to hold elections this fall.

The demonstration Saturday was the latest in a string of similar gatherings across the country, many of which have drawn far more participants than organizers expected. In both Hamburg and Munich late last month, protests had to be ended early due to safety concerns with packing too many people into small spaces.

Although Germany has seen other protests of the far right in past years, the size and scope of the recent demonstrations  not just in major cities, but also in dozens of smaller cities across the country  are notable.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz praised the protests, writing in a Saturday post on the social media platform X that citizens' presence at the gatherings is "a strong sign for democracy and our constitution."

"In small and big cities across the country, citizens are coming together to demonstrate against forgetting, against hate and incitement," he said.
Northern Ireland has begun a "decade of opportunity" during which it will hold a vote on unification with Ireland, the UK territory's first nationalist leader said in an interview aired Sunday.

Pro-Irish unity politician Michelle O'Neill made history on Saturday becoming Northern Ireland's first minister, in a return of power-sharing after the biggest pro-UK party ended a two-year boycott.

Speaking shortly after the landmark for the UK region, Sinn Fein's O'Neill said she expected a referendum on reunifying with the Republic of Ireland in the next 10 years.

"Yes. I believe we're in a decade of opportunity," she told Sky News when asked if she anticipated a so-called border poll within that timeframe.

"There are so many things that are changing all the old norms, the nature of the state, the fact that a nationalist republican was never supposed to be first minister. This all speaks to that change."

Northern Ireland was carved from Ireland in 1921 with an in-built Protestant majority, after pro-UK unionists had threatened civil war as the island sought self-rule from Britain.

Instead, three decades of sectarian conflict erupted within the UK territory in the late 1960s.

A 1998 peace deal largely ended the violence and provides for the possibility of an all-Ireland vote on unification, often referred to as a border poll.

Under the terms of the accord, the British and Irish governments should organize a vote if it becomes apparent that "a majority of those voting would express a wish" for Northern Ireland to split from the UK.

The mechanism for triggering such a referendum was never spelt out, but the trigger is seen as consistent reliable polling on the issue.

O'Neill has been first minister-designate since May 2022, when Sinn Fein became the largest party in elections for the 90-seat assembly amid shifting demographics towards the old Catholic minority.

But until this week, a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) boycott of the Northern Ireland Assembly had prevented her from taking up the role.

Following two years of protracted negotiations, the DUP returned to power-sharing after this week agreeing a deal with London over post-Brexit trade rules it opposed.

DUP lawmaker Emma Little-Pengelly has become deputy first minister, a post which has equal weight with O'Neill's.

As part of the agreement with the DUP, the UK government released a paper stating that it "sees no realistic prospect of a border poll leading to a united Ireland," citing recent polling.

"We believe that... Northern Ireland's future in the UK will be secure for decades to come and as such the conditions for a border poll are unlikely to be objectively met," it added.

O'Neill said she disagrees with the assessment.

"I would absolutely contest what the British government have said in that document, insofar as my election to the post of first minister demonstrates the change that's happening on this island, and that's a good thing."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was considering replacing several senior officials, and not just in the military, in order to appoint the best people leading Ukraine.

In an interview broadcast with Italian state RAI television Sunday, Zelenskyy said a reset is necessary, as he considers who would be the best people to lead various sectors in Ukraine. I am talking about a replacement of a number of state leaders, not only in the army sector. I am reflecting on this replacement... Is a question for the entire leadership of the country."

Rumors are swirling that the Ukrainian president is about to dismiss his top military chief, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi. According to Reuters, the two men have been reportedly at odds over the direction of the war in Ukraine.

"If we want to win, we must all push in the same direction, we cannot be discouraged, we must have the right and positive energy, negativity must be left at home. We can't take on giving-up attitudes," Zelenskyy said.

Last November, Zelenskyy rebuked Zaluzhnyi for telling a Western media outlet that the war in Ukraine had entered a new phase of attrition.

However, the removal of "the Iron General," as the extremely popular Zaluzhnyi is nicknamed, could hurt morale among Ukrainian troops battling to hold positions along more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) of front lines against a vast Russian force armed with large munitions stockpiles, according to Reuters.

Earlier Sunday, Zelenskyy visited Ukrainian troops on the southeastern front.

During his working visit, Zelenskyy awarded medals to pilots and was briefed on a series of Russian attacks on targets in the Dnipropetrovsk region and on how to use Western and hybrid air defense systems to protect Ukraines skies.

In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy praised the countrys troops for fighting so valiantly on the front lines and said that Ukraine is working to enhance the ability to shoot down missiles and drones.

Our air force servicemen, mobile firing groups, everyone who is combating Russian aerial terror specifically deserve our gratitude and further reinforcement. We are preparing new talks with our partners to this end, he said.

Dozens killed; drones downed



At least 28 people died Saturday in an attack on a popular bakery in a city in occupied eastern Ukraine, Russias emergency ministry said, blaming Ukrainian shelling.



The Russian emergency ministry said on the messaging app Telegram that the bodies, including that of a child, were recovered from the rubble in Lysychansk.



According to Russian-installed officials, U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) were used in the attack. The officials said that the average age of the victims was 35, according to Russias state-run Tass news agency.



Lysychansk had a population of about 110,000 before Russias invasion. It fell to Russia in the summer of 2022 and is 15 kilometers (9 miles) from Ukrainian-controlled territory.



Also Saturday, Ukraines air force said that it downed nine of 14 Russian drones targeting Ukraines central and southern regions.



The Iranian-made Shahed drones were mainly aimed at "energy infrastructure facilities" in the Dnipropetrovsk region, according to air force officials.



The town most affected by the attack was Krivy Rig, Zelenskyys hometown. Zelenskyy said energy workers "are striving to restore electricity to all consumers as quickly as possible."



No deaths or injuries were reported, but Agence France-Presse reported that 15,000 people were without electricity.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
A group of prominent Australians including former politicians, diplomats and academics have called on the government to adopt "an activist middle power role" to avert U.S.-China conflict.

A group of high-profile Australians Wednesday called for the government to take action to head off conflict between the United States and China. The group, led by former Australian foreign affairs ministers Bob Carr and Gareth Evans, said in a statement that without a "comprehensive new detente," tensions between the United States and China could escalate into a conflict that could involve Australia.

Fifty prominent Australian public figures, including former state government premiers, diplomats, writers and academics have called on the government to act as an intermediary to defuse tensions.

The group said it supports "a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region in which the United States and China respect and recognise each other as equals."

It added that if "neither side demands absolute primacy" the risk to "global peace and prosperity" would be reduced. There has been no official comment so far from Washington or Beijing on the declaration.

China is Australias biggest trading partner. The center-left government of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stabilized relations with Beijing after years of disagreement and distrust over various geopolitical and trade disputes, including Chinas ambitions in the Pacific and the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australia also has deep-seated security links to the United States dating back to the early 1950s.

Carr told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.that Australia has the opportunity to act as an honest broker between the United States and China.

"Australias role is to plant the notion of greater collaboration and less adversarial talk in the relationship, he said. Taiwan, the most challenging diplomatic question here, provides a perfect opportunity of diplomatic language being an alternative to a descent into conflict and argument that could give rise to war."

The Australian government has previously conceded that there will be differences and difficulties in its bilateral relationship with China.

The government is pushing ahead with plans to acquire nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS accord with the United States and Britain.

Analysts say that Chinas increasing assertiveness is a key motivation behind the trilateral AUKUS agreement, but China has accused the three countries of a "Cold War mentality," saying the alliance was embarking on a "path of error and danger."
As Republicans cheer on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's escalating feud with the Biden administration over immigration enforcement, some governors are considering deploying National Guard members to the border  again.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday was among the first to commit more personnel to Texas, announcing he would send hundreds of additional guard members as tensions grow between state authorities and the U.S. government over who has the power to enforce immigration policies, where and how.

Republicans say tougher actions along the border are needed in response to record levels of illegal crossings, but sending guard members to the border is not new.

DeSantis is one of more than a dozen Republican governors who have sent state National Guard units to the southern border since 2021. His latest deployment comes as Texas continues to deny U.S. Border Patrol agents entry to a popular crossing spot for migrants in the border city of Eagle Pass.

Here's what to know about National Guard on the border to date:

What is happening at the Texas border?

At the center of the clash between Texas officials and the federal government is Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, which has become one of the busiest locations for people attempting to cross into the U.S. illegally from Mexico. Earlier this month, troops from the Texas National Guard seized the park and began turning away federal immigration authorities despite pleas from U.S. government officials.

Immigration enforcement is typically a federal responsibility.

Abbott has said he will continue implementing new immigration measures, calling it a "constitutional right to self-defense." Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal agents were allowed to remove razor wire placed by Texas officers along the border with Mexico, including in Shelby Park.

Texas has since installed more razor wire in Eagle Pass, which was not prohibited under the Supreme Court's order. The Biden administration has argued that the wiring makes it difficult and dangerous for federal agents to perform their duties.

Other measures taken by Abbott as part of his border security initiative include a floating barrier installed in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, which has also been challenged by federal officials.

Who is sending guard members?

Florida has already sent more than 1,000 guard members, troopers and other officers to the Texas border since last May, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

At least a dozen governors have sent deployments ranging in size from a few dozen guard members to more than 100, including those of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Virginia and West Virginia.

South Dakota GOP Gov. Kristi Noem was the first to send 50 guard members to Texas in 2021, which were paid for by a private Republican donor who offered $1 million to make the mission possible. Two years later, she deployed at least 50 more.

Some governors have also looked beyond the National Guard, including Idaho Gov. Brad Little, who said last week he would send additional members of the state police to Texas.

What do they do?

The most recent guard deployments have been in support of Abbott's border mission known as Operation Lone Star, which began shortly after President Joe Biden took office.

Many have been used for surveillance, such as spotting illegal crossings. Migrants are then turned over to federal immigration authorities, although Abbott has also empowered Texas National Guard members to arrest migrants on misdemeanor trespassing charges in some areas. National Guard members have also installed barricades and razor wire.

After Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds sent more than 100 Guard members and more than 30 state police to Texas last year, she credited the deployments with being directly involved in dozens of human smuggling cases and arrests.

But South Dakota records show that some days troops had little to do. During a rushed deployment of Texas National Guard members at the start of the mission, some also complained of low morale and uneventful patrols.

Trespassing arrests have been a key part of Abbott's nearly $10 billion border mission, but may soon be phased out under a new state law, set to take effect in March, which allows police anywhere in Texas to arrest migrants who are suspected of entering the U.S. illegally.

How else is the National Guard used?

Not all National Guard members are helping Texas.

In Massachusetts, Democratic Gov. Maura Healey activated hundreds of guard members last August to aid with an influx of migrants. The members helped coordinate food, transportation, medical care and other basic needs at shelters and hotels.

National Guard members from across the country are also in Texas helping with the border security operations under the command of federal authorities, including from states that have not deployed soldiers to help with Operation Lone Star.
Two Rohingya refugees in India have filed a public interest litigation [PIL] case with the Delhi High Court seeking its intervention in curbing anti-Rohingya hate content on Facebook, and now members of the community have said that Indias social media users have called them "terrorists," "jihadists" and "illegal immigrants," among other derogatory terms, and sought their expulsion from the country.

The petition became public last week, and it calls for Indias regulators to monitor Facebook and remove "hate speech and harmful content that originates in India from its platform and is directed toward the Rohingya community."

"Both the internal documents from Facebook and external reports available have repeatedly shown that misinformation, fake news, hate speech and politically divisive content [on the platform, directed against the Rohingya community] have resulted in real-world violence, both in India and abroad," the petition reads.

On Tuesday, as the case came up for hearing, Colin Gonsalves, a counsel representing the Rohingya petitioners, said that an "ecosystem" of the platform "magnified hate speech through its algorithm" to enhance its business.

"The platform was a propagator of hateful content targeting the Rohingya community, he said  Hate speech is active propaganda," Gonsalves said.

Arvind Datar, appearing before the court for Facebook, opposed the petition and asserted the platform already had done a substantial amount of work to prevent its abuse, following consultations with the federal government.

"The offending posts that the PIL mentions have already been taken down [by the Facebook authority]," Datar said.

"They are saying we are propagating hate. This is not true."

Fleeing violence and persecution in Buddhist majority Myanmar, the Muslim Rohingya for decades had been crossing over to neighboring Bangladesh and other countries, including India.

Although India views all Rohingya refugees as "illegal immigrants"  having not signed the 1951 U.N. Refugee Convention  the community mostly lived peacefully in the country for decades.

Hindu nationalist threats

The refugees began facing resistance in India after Prime Minister Narendra Modis Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, came to power in 2014. Over the past six years, a few hundred Rohingya have been arrested for illegal entry into India and dozens of them also have been deported to Myanmar.

According to a factsheet released by the U.N. refugee agency the UNHCR in November 2022, more than 21,000 Rohingya refugees are living in India.

The refugees and rights activists say that anti-Rohingya sentiment in Indian society has shot up and members of the community have been violently targeted in the past few years, mostly because of hate posts and misinformation about the community increasingly surfacing on social media. Activists also note that the anti-Rohingya hate campaign in India is largely driven by activists and supporters of Hindu right-wing groups.

"The social media hate campaign using Facebook, X [formerly Twitter] and other online platforms have criminalized the community in the eyes of many Indians, resulting in an increased number of violent threats for us. Unfortunately, the Facebook authority has failed to take down the hate content that promoted misinformation about our community," Sabber Kaw Min, an India-based Rohingya refugee and founder-director of Rohingya Human Rights Initiative, told VOA.

"Some years ago, an anti-Rohingya hate campaign by extremist Buddhists and the government in Myanmar led to a brutal military crackdown against the community, forcing over 700,000 Rohingya to flee the country in 2017," Min said. "We fear being hounded out of India again because of this ongoing social media hate campaign."

Activists point out that at least some of the outbreaks of fire in Rohingya colonies in India in recent years apparently were hate attacks.

After a blaze gutted a Rohingya colony in Delhi in 2018, a leader of the youth wing of the BJP boastfully said that his group was behind the arson. "Yes, we burnt the houses of Rohingya terrorists," the BJP youth leader tweeted.

In the petition, the two refugees filed in the High Court, 39 anti-Rohingya posts and comments were cited. Originating in India, they were in English, Hindi and Bengali.

Threats of violence

In one post, the Indian Army was requested to "wipe out all Bangladeshis and Rohingya from the Indian soil." The petition also made note of a video in which T. Raja Singh, one politician from Modis BJP, said that "Rohingya Muslims should be shot dead."

Legal experts and activists say the petition is especially relevant because the abhorrent posts on Facebook have perpetuated hate against not only the Rohingya, but also other minorities in the country.

Delhi-based lawyer Kawalpreet Kaur, representing the Rohingya petitioners, said that the petition was filed "keeping in view the role Facebook has been playing in India promoting divisive content against minorities, especially the Rohingya community."

"These posts are originating in India and have tremendous potential for causing real-time violence," Kaur told VOA.

"We aim to hold entities like Facebook responsible so that they don't selectively apply their community standards and not omit their responsibility when it comes to the protection of minority communities."

Executive Director of Australia-based Victim Advocates International Eva Buzo, supporting the Rohingya communitys legal fight against Facebook, said certain features of Facebook like feed ranking and "virality" promote "misinformation and harmful content, by Facebooks own admission."

"The petitioners are bravely standing up to a powerful American company that has caused immeasurable damage around the world " Buzo said, citing the virulent content proliferating online against the Rohingya leading up to the 2017 violence.

"The petitioners have seen what Facebook is capable of when it is left unchecked," she said.

"This petition is not seeking protection only for the Rohingya, but asking the court to order Facebook to cease using these features that are harmful to all minorities," Buzo said.
An Apache group that has fought to protect land it considers sacred from a copper mining project in central Arizona suffered a significant blow Friday when a divided federal court panel voted 6-5 to uphold a lower court's denial of a preliminary injunction to halt the transfer of land for the project.

The Apache Stronghold organization has hoped to halt the mining project by preventing the U.S. government from transferring the land called Oak Flat to Resolution Copper.

Wendsler Nosie, who has led Apache Stronghold's fight, vowed to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court the decision by the rare 11-member "en banc" panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

"Oak Flat is like Mount Sinai to us  our most sacred site, where we connect with our Creator, our faith, our families and our land," Nosie said. "Today's ruling targets the spiritual lifeblood of my people, but it will not stop our struggle to save Oak Flat."

Apache Stronghold represents the interests of certain members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. The Western Apaches consider Oak Flat, which is dotted with ancient oak groves and traditional plants, essential to their religion.

Oak Flat also sits atop the world's third-largest deposit of copper ore, and there is significant support in nearby Superior and other traditional mining towns in the area for a new copper mine and the income and jobs it could generate.

An environmental impact survey for the project was pulled back while the U.S. Department of Agriculture consulted for months with Native American tribes and others about their concerns.

Apache Stronghold had sued the government to stop the land transfer, saying it would violate its members' rights under the free exercise clause of the First Amendment, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and an 1852 treaty between the United States and the Apaches.

The majority opinion of the appeals panel said that "Apache Stronghold was unlikely to succeed on the merits on any of its three claims before the court, and consequently was not entitled" to a preliminary injunction.

The dissenting five judges said the majority had "tragically" erred and will allow the government to "obliterate Oak Flat."

Apache Stronghold, represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, has 90 days to appeal to the Supreme Court.

"Blasting a Native American sacred site into oblivion is one of the most egregious violations of religious freedom imaginable," said Luke Goodrich, vice president and senior counsel at Becket. "The Supreme Court has a strong track record of protecting religious freedom for people of other faiths, and we fully expect the Court to uphold that same freedom for Native Americans who simply want to continue core religious practices at a sacred site that has belonged to them since before the United States existed."

Vicky Peacey, Resolution Copper president and general manager, welcomed the ruling, saying there was significant local support for the project, which has the potential to supply up to one quarter of U.S. copper demand.

Peacey said it could bring as much as $1 billion a year to Arizona's economy and create thousands of local jobs in a traditional mining region.

"As we deliver these benefits to Arizona and the nation, our dialogue with local communities and tribes will continue to shape the project as we seek to understand and address the concerns that have been raised, building on more than a decade of government consultation and review," Peacey said.

U.S. Representative Raul M. Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat, called the court's decision "wrong."

"Tribal communities deserve the same religious freedom protections for their sacred sites that are respected for every other American," Grijalva said. "The court acknowledges that foreign-owned Resolution Copper will completely and irreversibly desecrate Oak Flat, but they're giving them the green light anyways.

"It's a slap in the face to tribal sovereignty and the many tribes, including the San Carlos Apache, who have been fighting to protect a site they have visited and prayed at since time immemorial," he said.
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad on Sunday called for wider efforts to tackle the rising number of cancer cases in the Southeast Asian country.

Dzulkefly said in a speech marking World Cancer Day that improving the population's access to health services is essential, citing the recorded cases in 2020 -- 48,639 new cancer cases and 29,530 cancer-related deaths with the numbers expected to double by 2040.

"Outside of advancements in cancer treatment, we must also look at improving the overall population's access to essential health services as most cancer specialists and treatment facilities are usually only available in cities or major hospitals," he said.

He also noted that liver cancer in particular was among the five most common types of cancers in the country, which was caused by the ever-growing rate of obesity.

"Obesity increases the risk of fatty liver disease or Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease, which is one of the primary causes of liver cancer," the minister said.

"The latest National Health and Morbidity Survey has reported that around 50 percent of adults and 30 percent of children in Malaysia are already overweight or obese and this figure is predicted to continue increasing annually," he cautioned. 
The U.S. Central Command said it conducted a self-defense strike early Sunday against a Houthi anti-ship cruise missile "prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea."

In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, CENTCOM said U.S. forces had determined that the cruise missile in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen "presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region." CENTCOM said its action ensures freedom of navigation and makes international waters "safer and more secure for U.S. Navy vessels and merchant vessels."

In a second wave of retaliatory attacks against Iran-backed groups, the United States and Britain struck at least 36 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday.

The joint operation focused on weapon launchers, radar sites and drones.

In a statement Saturday, the Pentagon said the U.S. and Britain hit 36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen using U.S. F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier. The USS Gravely and the USS Carney Navy destroyers also fired Tomahawk missiles from the Red Sea, U.S. officials told The Associated Press.

"These precision strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade, and the lives of innocent mariners, and are in response to a series of illegal, dangerous, and destabilizing Houthi actions since previous coalition strikes on January 11 and 22, 2024, including the January 27 attack which struck and set ablaze the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker M/V Marlin Luanda," the statement said.

U.S. President Joe Biden was briefed on the attacks before he left Saturday for a campaign trip on the West Coast, an administration official said.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to the Middle East Sunday, his fifth trip to the region in the continuing effort to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

The Houthis made it clear Saturday that they aren't backing down.

"Military operations against Israel will continue until the crimes of genocide in Gaza are stopped and the siege on its residents is lifted, no matter the sacrifices it costs us," Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a Houthi official, wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "American-British aggression against Yemen will not go unanswered, and we will meet escalation with escalation."

The U.S. strikes targeted deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, radars and helicopters, the Defense Department said. The British military said it struck a ground control station west of Yemen's capital, Sanaa, that has been used to control Houthi drones that have launched against vessels in the Red Sea.

Hours before the latest joint operation, the U.S. Central Command said it took out six anti-ship cruise missiles that were ready to launch.

The Houthis said there were 14 attacks; 11 targeted the Al-Barah area in the Maqbanah District and areas in the Haifan District, a security source told the Houthi-run Yemeni News Agency (Saba). The other three attacks targeted Jabal Al-Jada' in Al-Lahiya District and the Al-Salif District in Al-Hudaydah Governorate.

The strikes were the second wave of attacks that began Friday when the U.S. hit more than 85 targets linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and its proxies in Iraq and Syria, in retaliation for last Sunday's deadly drone attack on an American military base in Jordan.

White House spokesperson John Kirby said three facilities were hit in Iraq and four in Syria.

Biden said the strikes demonstrate to "all those who might seek to do us harm" that "if you harm an American, we will respond."

According to the U.S. Central Command, the retaliatory strikes reportedly killed nearly 40 people and injured about 23. The operation included long-range B-1 bombers flown from the U.S. that used more than 125 precision munitions, according to U.S. military officials.

A U.S. official said Saturday that an initial battle damage assessment showed the U.S. had struck each of its planned targets.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that 23 people were killed in the Syria strikes, all rank-and-file fighters, while Iraqi government spokesperson Bassim al-Awadi said in a statement Saturday the strikes in Iraq near the Syrian border killed 16, including civilians, and there was "significant damage" to homes and private properties.

Iraq, but not Iran, was informed before the strikes, according to U.S. officials.

"This is the start of our response," U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said after the strikes. "We do not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else, but the president and I will not tolerate attacks on American forces."

Iranian Foreign Ministry Nasser Kanaani contended the airstrikes were "violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of Syria and Iraq, and they represent "another adventurous and strategic mistake by the United States that will result only in increased tension and instability in the region."

In an interview with The Associated Press in Baghdad, Hussein al-Mosawi, spokesperson for Harakat al-Nujaba, one of the main Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, condemned the U.S. strikes, though he struck a more conciliatory tone, saying that "we do not wish to escalate or widen regional tensions."

Mike Johnson, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, was critical of the Biden administration's weeklong delay in launching a retaliatory attack. "The public handwringing and excessive signaling undercuts our ability to put a decisive end to the barrage of attacks endured over the past few months."

Senator Jack Reed, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee disagreed. "These strikes, in concert with wise diplomacy, send a clear signal that the United States will continue to take appropriate action to protect our personnel and our interests."

Russia has requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Monday afternoon, Dmitry Polyansky, Russia's foreign deputy permanent representative to the U.N., said on X.

VOA White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara contributed to this report from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin also contributed.
The U.S. military said it carried out a self-defense strike late Sunday against cruise missiles in an area of Yemen controlled by Houthi militants.

U.S. Central Command said the strike hit four anti-ship missiles that were being readied to launch at ships in the Red Sea.

A CENTCOM statement said the missiles presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region.

The strike was the latest move by the U.S. military against the Iran-backed militants to counter a series of Houthi attacks targeting vessels in the important shipping lanes of the Red Sea.

Earlier Sunday, White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan told CNNs State of the Union show that U.S. President Joe Biden will do what he thinks needs to be done if there were more attacks against U.S. troops stationed in the Mideast or American naval vessels and merchant ships in the Red Sea.

Even so, Sullivan said the U.S. will try to keep from (an) expanded war in the Middle East even as U.S. and British forces have joined to hit Iranian-backed militants, again.

On Friday, the U.S. struck more than 85 targets linked to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its proxies in Iraq and Syria in response to the killing of three U.S. service members at a Jordanian outpost where they were stationed.

Then, the U.S. and Britain hit at least 36 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday while the U.S. on Sunday launched what it described as a self-defense strike against a Houthi anti-ship cruise missile prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.

Sullivan said the U.S. is still assessing the battle damage from the attack on the Iran-backed militants in Iraq and Syria.

Asked how the U.S. would define success in the attacks, Sullivan said, Each attack we undertake helps degrade capabilities of the Iranian-backed militias in the region. The U.S. will step up when its attacked, but at the same time make sure the U.S. is not pulled into a war in the Middle East. We will defend our troops.

While the U.S. in recent days has said it was not looking to attack Iran directly, Sullivan said, Im not going to rule in or out any attack inside Iran.

The Houthis made it clear Saturday that they are not backing down.

Military operations against Israel will continue until the crimes of genocide in Gaza are stopped and the siege on its residents is lifted, no matter the sacrifices it costs us, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a Houthi official, wrote on X. American-British aggression against Yemen will not go unanswered, and we will meet escalation with escalation.

Russia has requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Monday afternoon to discuss the U.S. attacks in the Middle East.



VOA White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara contributed to this report from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. National Security correspondent Jeff Seldin also contributed.
This New York love story begins with a criminal act of sabotage.

Under cover of darkness a year ago Friday, someone breached a waist-high fence and slipped into the Central Park Zoo. Once inside, they cut a hole through a steel mesh cage, freeing a majestic Eurasian eagle-owl named Flaco who had arrived at the zoo as a fledgling 13 years earlier.

Immediately, Flaco fled the park, blinking his big orange eyes at pedestrians and police on Fifth Avenue before flying off into the night.

In the year since his dramatic escape, Flaco has become one of the city's most beloved characters. By day he lounges in Manhattan's courtyards and parks or perches on fire escapes. He spends his nights hooting atop water towers and preying on the city's abundant rats.

To the surprise of many experts, Flaco is thriving in the urban wilds. An apex predator with a nearly 6-foot (2-meter) wingspan, he has called on abilities some feared he hadn't developed during a lifetime in captivity, gamely exploring new neighborhoods and turning up unexpectedly at the windows of New Yorkers.

"He was the underdog from the start. People did not expect him to survive," said Jacqueline Emery, one of several birders who document the owl's daily movements and share them online with his legions of admirers. "New Yorkers especially connect to him because of his resilience."

But as Flaco enters his second year in the spotlight, it can be easy to forget that his freedom is the result of a crime, one that has improbably remained unsolved.

'This was a crime'

The break-in happened steps from the shared headquarters of the New York City Parks Department and the Central Park Zoo, in the vicinity of at least one surveillance camera.

But if they have collected any evidence on a potential suspect, police and zoo authorities have declined to share it. Since the zoo suspended efforts to re-capture Flaco in February 2023, there has been no public information about the crime.

Privately, the zoo has sought to soften descriptions of Flaco's former living conditions, in a minivan-sized structure decorated with a painted mountain vista, barely twice the width of Flaco's extended wings.

In internal emails obtained through a Freedom of Information request, zoo officials urged the Parks Department not to publicly describe Flaco as "raised in captivity." Likewise, the term "escape" should be avoided.

"That puts the blame on the animal rather than the perpetrator," the zoo's then-communications director, Max Pulsinelli, wrote in one email. "This was a crime."

In the absence of official information, theories of the crime abound  a youthful prank, perhaps, or an attempted owl heist gone awry? For many invested in Flaco's fate, the most plausible explanation is that he was freed for ideological reasons.

Proponents of the animal liberation theory point to the seemingly targeted nature of the crime, as well as the limitations of the owl's modest enclosure.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it was someone who loved Flaco and wanted him free," said Nicole Barrantes, a wildlife campaign manager with World Animal Protection, who started a petition against Flaco being returned to the zoo. "His habitat was ridiculous. It was the saddest thing ever."

Break-ins and vandalism have long been tactics some activists have used to free animals. Such actions are often made public by the North American Animal Liberation Press Office, an anonymous online database.

The group's spokesperson, Jerry Vlasak, said no one had come forward to claim responsibility for Flaco's escape. "We never received a communique," he said. "But we're certainly glad it happened."

A spokesperson for the Wildlife Conservation Society, which has operated the zoo since 1988, did not respond to the claims that Flaco's zoo habitat was inadequate.

"This was a criminal act that jeopardized the safety of the bird," the zoo said in a statement, adding that they are continuing to monitor reports of Flaco's activity and wellbeing and are "prepared to resume recovery efforts if he shows any sign of difficulty or distress."

Threats in the city

Even with his proficient hunting skills, Flaco faces many threats in the city, including a grave risk of consuming rodenticide through a poisoned rat. In 2021, another beloved Central Park owl, Barry, was fatally struck by a truck after ingesting a lethal dose of rat poison that may have impaired her flying.

"All the hazards are still there," cautioned Suzanne Shoemaker, the director of the Owl Moon Raptor Center in Maryland. "He's shown some good instincts to be able to make it this far. He's also lucky."

Flaco spent his initial months of freedom mostly in Central Park, which is loaded with wildlife, but has lately preferred more urban sections of Manhattan. There has been some speculation that he has been looking for a mate, though he most certainly won't find one. Eurasian eagle owls aren't native to North America.

Stories of zoo animals breaking loose in the middle of the country's densest city have long captured the public imagination, while often ushering in calls for reforms.

Following a series of bird thefts and "senseless" animal beatings in the 1970s, administrators ordered immediate security upgrades and the redesign of some pens at the zoo, which the city's parks commissioner at the time described as "Rikers Island for animals" because of poor living conditions.

A few years later, when a group of vandals made off with a boa constrictor and a parrot named "Peanuts," officials accused the perpetrators of stealing the animals for "voodoo rites."

Since those days the zoo has been substantially redesigned.

Wildlife groups have long warned that owls can be used as sacrifices in certain religious ceremonies  particularly birds like Flaco, who boasts prominent ear tufts. The Eurasian eagle-owl is also commonly used in falconry, selling for as much as $3,000.

But while some have suggested Flaco was targeted for either financial or spiritual purposes, such speculation would seem undermined by the fact that he emerged from his damaged cage and into the bustling cityscape unscathed.

On a recent night on Manhattan's Upper West Side, one of the Flaco's most dedicated observers, David Barrett, struck an ambivalent tone when asked how New Yorkers should think about the crime that made him an avian celebrity.

"To me, the folk hero is Flaco," said Barrett, who runs the X account Manhattan Bird Alert, documenting the bird's whereabouts in real time. "It's an amazing thing: He lives his whole life in captivity and in a matter of days he taught himself to fly and to hunt rats."

Tuning his ears skyward, Barrett listened for the signature hoot that had echoed across Broadway on so many recent nights.

"It's not our business to try to solve crimes," he said. "We're just glad he's here."
Bryce Dallas Howard as Elly Conway. Photo: Apple TV+

Spoilers follow for the identity of author Elly Conway. There are no spoilers for the film Argylles plot.

The real Elly Conway, author of Argylle, has been uncovered by The Telegraph, and its two people (not stacked on top of each other in a trench coat.) The authors, I Am Pilgrims Terry Hayes and When She Was Bads Tammy Cohen, are behind the spy comedy that reunited Barbie stars Dua Lipa and John Cena. Vulture has reached out to Apple Original Films for comment. Elly Conway was previously described as a New Yorker who works at a diner and loves brunch, but that couldve been anyone! There have been several conspiracy theories as to who wrote the book that is supposed to have inspired the film, like JK Rowling and Taylor Swift Swift wrote a book in the All Too Well (Ten Minute Version) short film so that it couldve been an Easter Egg! God, I hope all the people that pre-ordered on the basis that Taylor wrote it arent disappointed, said Cohen to The Telegraph on the theories. Director Matthew Vaughn originally claimed an unreleased book written by Conway inspired the movie, and it would be released in conjunction with the film.

Heres what actually happened: Vaughn wanted to make a movie adaptation of Hayess I Am Pilgrim; however, MGM had the rights, and they could not do a deal with Matthew for their own bizarre reasons, explained Hayes. But Vaughn decided that instead of adapting an existing book he couldnt get his hands on, hed ask Hayes to write an accompanying book inspired by a movie in development, Argylle, a book that would be like what Conway wouldve written in the context of the movie. Hayes asked Cohen to co-author the book with him, as he was still working on The Year of the Locust, and Argylle was born.

Just two days ago, before their identity was uncovered, Elly Conway posted a photo of Hayess book, foreshadowing the end of the mystery while getting some free promo in. Going back to read Terry Hayes debut novel, so Im fully booked for tonight, wrote Conway, as the comments section was filled with Swifties fixated on the debut of it all. Alas, there were no screen doors to slam at all. But there were Scottish Folds.
BEIJING, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- China is expected to experience a surge in inbound and outbound trips during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday, returning to the pre-pandemic levels in 2019, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) said on Sunday.

It is estimated that the Chinese mainland will see a daily average of 1.8 million inbound and outbound passenger trips during the holiday period from Feb. 10 to 17 this year, an increase of approximately 3.3 times compared to last year, according to the NIA.

The NIA estimates that the peak of passenger flow at major international airport ports will occur between Feb. 8 and 11, as well as Feb. 16 and 17, while the land ports adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao are expected to peak from Feb. 11 to 15. 
Counter-terrorism police arrested an autistic 14-year-old boy fixated on the Islamic State after they posed as extremists online, following a plea from the teenagers parents for help.

An undercover agent fed the boys fixation during frequent discussions that occurred day and night, including during a break at school, a Melbourne magistrate has found.

Victoria Police arrested the teenager while he was undertaking a rehabilitation program. Credit: Paul Rovere

Thomas Carrick, a pseudonym and whose real name has not been disclosed, was 13 years old and had an IQ of 71  well below the average persons IQ  when the agent initiated extremist discussions with him.

The boys parents had sought help from police less than four months earlier and Thomas had been participating in a rehabilitation program.
The widening gulf between the cost of healthcare in regional Western Australia and Perth has been laid bare, with a new report showing the disparity is the largest of any state in the nation.

The report, published by online healthcare directory Cleanbill on Sunday, found the average out-of-pocket cost for Perth patients unable to see a bulk-billing doctor sits at $39.75.

The gap between the cost of healthcare for those in regional WA compared to Perth has been laid bare by a new report. Credit: Australian Community Media

But those outside the capital city were paying almost $5.50 more for a standard 15-minute consultation, with the average appointment costing $45.17  eclipsing the national standard and the Medicare rebate.

Regional WA remains one of the most expensive places in the country to see a doctor, second only to Tasmania.
The most fundamental contrast in politics  one which seems barely to have occurred to Labor until this year  is between government and opposition. Governments can do things, oppositions cant.

Political attacks always work best when based on contrasts. When Dutton accuses Albanese of trying to please everybody, it works because it highlights the fact that Dutton is unconcerned about opinions. Labors attack on Duttons health record works far better when there is a sense Labor is actually doing something on health.

The attack didnt really register, and quite possibly wont, but it gained something when, three weeks later, data suggested incentives introduced by the Albanese government had led to a small improvement in the bulk-billing rate .

Most people probably dont remember that Peter Dutton was once health minister. So it was interesting when, three weeks ago, announcing his candidate for the Dunkley byelection, Anthony Albanese reminded reporters that Dutton had been labelled Australias worst health minister by doctors, and that he had tried to introduce fees for GP visits.

This year has seen a series of political reversals. Late last year, I listed three ways Dutton was besting Albanese. The first: he was willing to pick fights, where Albanese ducked. Already this year, Albanese has picked two fights, with the supermarkets and on tax cuts. The second was speed: Dutton was nimble, Albanese lumbered. This year, Albanese struck first on supermarkets; when Dutton sought to hit back, Labor responded fast. Just two weeks later, Labor switched topics to tax cuts, and now it was the Coalitions turn to lumber clumsily: it would reverse Labors changes, no it wouldnt, wait and see, well wave them through.

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Together, these two enabled the third reversal. Last year, Dutton drove debate. Now, with the tax cuts, Albanese has got the nation talking about what he wants, on his terms  something he had largely failed to do both as opposition leader and prime minister. Not skilled at sharp attacks or witty lines, he has two options. One is to avoid topics, as he did in the 2022 campaign, which has shaped his governing style since. As one old Labor colleague remarked to me, it has been a prime ministership marked by omission.

Until January, when he used the other option: dominating debate by making a splash. Last week I put this in political terms, saying Albanese had discovered the way to win an election was by doing things. But as my old colleague reminded me, it is more substantive than that. Prime ministers can take a little while to understand the immense forces at their disposal: the fact that they can act and intervene in millions of lives.

This is part of what Paul Keating meant with his old suggestion that governments should act like the Road Runner: If you run fast enough, you burn the road up behind you  there is no road for anyone else. When oppositions struggle, it is not because they dont have access to the same size soapbox: it is because they literally cant do anything. What we have seen in recent weeks is a prime minister beginning to grasp the opportunities and satisfactions of governing  and an opposition leader discovering the frustrations of opposition.
Data collected by the Financial Services Council over six months in 2021 found that, of 846 applications for cover that involved genetic testing, 77 per cent of cases were not affected. Nine per cent were adversely affected by their genetic test results when seeking cover above the threshold, 13 per cent received a lower premium than they otherwise would have, and 1 per cent fell below the financial threshold. Loading Dr Jane Tiller, an adviser in public health genomics at Monash University, said that fear of higher premiums or being denied cover was a barrier to people taking genetic tests. We know there is a huge appetite [for tests], she said. When people dont sign up, and we ask why, theyve read the consent materials and discovered this insurance issue exists. Tiller said she expected whole-population DNA screening to become part of Australias screening framework in the next 10 years, particularly for breast cancer genes, bowel cancer genes and genetic high cholesterol that can cause early heart attacks.

As the research intensifies, costs decrease and tests become more available, this question of who has access to data and how its used is coming to the fore, and becoming much more relevant to more people, she said. Theyll then have to consider: what are the implications for their insurance, and is their genetic data protected or not? If insurers can use that information with granularity to discriminate, we end up in that situation where insurance loses its value as a risk-pooling exercise. As costs decrease and tests become more available, this question of who has access to data and how its used is coming to the fore. Dr Jane Tiller, public health genomics adviser at Monash University Tiller is advocating an all-out ban on insurers using genetic testing information, which is already in place in Canada. In the UK, there is a ban on insurers using predictive genetic tests for all conditions except Huntingtons disease. The federal Treasury departments consultation on the issue, which closed last week, will probe four options: no change, a full ban, a partial ban, or financial limits.

Its consultation paper acknowledged the current regime is deterring people from life-saving testing and participating in genetic research, for fear that it might impact their ability to obtain affordable life insurance. It said those concerns would intensify as testing became more accessible and affordable. But an all-out ban in line with Canadas approach also risked adverse selection, where a consumer who was aware of their test results sought out a higher level of cover than they would have otherwise. Insurers would be unable to accurately assess the risk of a claim by that consumer. There are concerns that this may impact the viability of the life insurance industry  At its most extreme, [this] has the potential to threaten the viability of a market, or lead to insurers amending product offerings to moderate any impacts, the paper said. However, there is limited evidence that such concerns have eventuated in jurisdictions with similar restrictions. A partial ban that had exemptions would be an alternative, but it could fail to address the problem of disincentives.

Another option would be retaining the financial limits  below which insurers cannot request or use genetic testing in their underwriting  and legislating to enforce them. Loading This approach would ensure that consumers could obtain a certain level of cover, while limiting the scope for additional adverse selection, it said. The Actuaries Institute in its submission supported doubling the current thresholds, while the government consultation paper said death cover could be raised to $1.5 million. Both said the amounts should be regularly reviewed to ensure they remained appropriate. Christine Cupitt, chief executive of the Council of Australian Life Insurers, said she welcomed government regulation.
CAIRO, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi stressed on Sunday the need to reinvigorate the two-state solution as a basis for the comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue and the restoration of security and stability in the Middle East.

Sisi made the remarks during a meeting here with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Stephane Sejourne, the Egyptian Presidency said in a statement.

The meeting focused on Egypt's efforts with various actors to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and provide access to humanitarian aid and relief to end the severe humanitarian catastrophe the people of Gaza have been enduring, the statement said.

The talks also emphasized the necessity for the international community to assume responsibility with regard to the implementation of the relevant international resolutions.

The French minister affirmed his country's commitment to coordinate with Egypt toward a permanent ceasefire and the exchange of detainees as the two countries believed it was important to prevent an expansion of the conflict.

Both sides also reiterated their categorical and unequivocal rejection of any measures or policies that aim to displace the Palestinians from their lands, according to the statement.

They also underscored the pivotal and irreplaceable role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in providing aid and relief to the people of the Gaza Strip.

The talks also touched on other political issues, such as the situation in Sudan, Libya, and the Red Sea.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has been launching a large-scale military campaign against Hamas in Gaza to retaliate against a surprise attack by the Palestinian group on southern Israel, which claimed the lives of about 1,200 Israelis, according to the Israeli authorities.

The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 27,365, while 66,630 others were wounded, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said Sunday. 
Taylor Swift, poet laureate of girls, has a new boyfriend. Anyone who has an internet connection and eyes will have clocked this. She is in a relationship with Travis Kelce, an American football hero who was already quite famous as tight-end for the Kansas City Chiefs. When Swift started turning up at his games, he got much, much more famous.

Footage of the pop star delightedly hugging and kissing Kelce as he won a recent match, catapulting him to the Super Bowl in a fortnights time, went viral last week. So did right-wing conspiracy theories, aired breezily on Fox News, about Swift being a Pentagon-planted asset infiltrating Americas beloved game.

Images and footage of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce kissing have gone viral. Credit: AP

Cue a new wave of nasty right-wing trolling of Swift  yet another dire measure of the bogusness of the MAGA Republicans. They fear Swift because she is enormously popular and has endorsed Democrat Party candidates. Polling shows nearly 20 per cent of voters would be influenced by which candidate she endorses. Shes an incredible songwriter; she also has the power to impact elections.

The political weaponisation of Swifts private life is indicative of the increasing ideological polarisation of the United States; polarisation which is radiating outwards to the rest of the globe (with some eager encouragement from self-interested politicians).
BEIJING, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The economy on the Chinese mainland will provide a broader stage for businesspeople and enterprises from Taiwan to grow on the mainland, said a senior official.

Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks on Thursday when meeting with a delegation led by Lee Tsu-chin, chairman of the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association.

Song cited the sound momentum the economy is expected to enjoy in the long run, the solid progress it has made in its high-quality development as well as the improvements to its structure and quality.

With the one-China principle as the basis, there would be no problems for any political party or organizations from Taiwan to exchange and consult with the mainland, said Song.

Lee, for his part, said that the business community in Taiwan has great expectation for industrial cooperation to be further strengthened across the Strait and supports the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Strait relations.

The delegation paid a visit to Beijing from Jan. 30 to Feb. 4. 
GAZA, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) condemned on Sunday the U.S.-British airstrikes on Yemen, considering it "an escalation that will drag the region into more turmoil."

"We strongly condemn the U.S.-British airstrikes of the Republic of Yemen and consider it a blatant attack on the sovereignty of an Arab country," the movement said in a press statement.

Hamas said the airstrikes represented "an escalation that will drag the region into more turmoil and instability, for the repercussions of which Washington and Israel bear full responsibility."

U.S. and British forces launched joint strikes Saturday against targets in the Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, said the U.S. Pentagon.

Yemen's Houthi group said on Sunday morning it would launch retaliatory attacks for the U.S.-British airstrikes overnight on six provinces under Houthis' control in northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa.

Since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, the Houthis have carried out more than 40 missile attacks against commercial vessels and U.S. naval ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The Houthis said they aimed to press Israel to end the offensive and siege of Gaza. 
Councillors in the Ballina Municipal District have demanded that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) implement traffic safety measures outside Hiney's Funeral Home on the Ballina Road near Crossmolina.

The call was made in light of an incident on January 6th last when a vehicle leaving Hiney's after a funeral was in collision with another vehicle travelling at high speed on the N59. Crossmolina-based Cllr Michael Loftus told last week's municipal district meeting that, fortunately, nobody was injured in the incident.

Cllr Loftus submitted a notice of motion calling on Mayo Co Council to extend the public lights on the Ballina Road and to put footpaths on both sides of the funeral home for the safety of people attending funerals there.

Responding, the council's senior executive engineer Orla Bourke said it is not current TII policy to provide footpaths or lighting along high-speed roads such as the N59 and it would not provide funding for these works. However, the engineer said she would refer the councillors' request to TII but suggested the owner of the funeral home may wish to consider the management of the on-site car park for 'efficient queuing' and the introduction of a shuttle bus service.

Cllr Loftus said he was not happy with the response.

"I don't accept this answer, it is not good enough. It is so lucky that no one was injured in the recent accident," he said.

"You can't tell me that public lighting doesn't go beyond the town, there are already two lampposts outside the town boundary."

Cllr Jarlath Munnelly said the funeral home will always be located where it is, so the council needs to deal with the issue.

"We have to deal with it, there will always be crowds of people there. We should make the case to the TII about this, we can't sit back and accept them saying no."

Cllr Mark Duffy likened the area to a "runway" and said the TII has to be urged to take action.

"It is so wide and so dangerous and we need to press TII for an adequate response."
More than 3,700 Mayo farmers are still waiting for payments from the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES).

A total of 3,744 farmers in the county are still waiting for payments. It is the highest in the country when compared to the other counties.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charle McConalogue told the Dail that overall there are currently 28,084 farmers who still have not received an ACRES payment.

Minister McConalogue said a total of 17,145 farmers had received a payment from the scheme. The average payment that each farmer received was almost 4,500.

ACRES payments commenced on December 15, 2023, with a total of 76.5 million issued to 17,145 participants in the ACRES General stream. ACRES General payments will continue over the coming weeks as applications are processed, the Minister added.

However, because of what he described as additional complexity associated with the Co-operation Project (CP) stream", payments to farmers in the CP stream will only start in February.

The figures supplied to the Dail also show the counties where the highest number of ACRES participants have been paid. These include Mayo with 1,939 farmers who have received payments, Galway with 1,893 farmers paid, Roscommon with 1,662 and Donegal with 1,186 farmers paid.

The other counties with the highest number of farmers who are still waiting on ACRES payments include Donegal (3,670), Galway (3,562), Kerry (3,130) and Cork (2,660). There are also 1,984 farmers in Co Clare who have not received their ACRES payments, 1,562 in Co Leitrim and 1,062 in Co Sligo.

This 1.5 billion scheme is intended to be a farmer-friendly scheme to help address biodiversity decline while delivering income support for up to 50,000 farm families.

The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) is now calling on Minister McConalogue to ensure that all farmers receive their full ACRES payment in February.

"We are also calling for full 100% payment to be issued in February as farmers have waited long enough," said INHFA vice-president John Joe Fitzgerald.
Castlebar Rotary Club would like to thank all the members of the public who supported the Rotary Tree of Remembrance which was located on Hopkins Road, Castlebar during the week leading up to Christmas. Once again, despite the inclement weather, it proved to be a great success and was very well supported by the public. Charity partners, Mayo Cancer Support Association and Castlebar Social Services Centre, will benefit from the funds which were donated.

The Rotary Club would like to thank the following businesses for their support: Dunnes Stores, Sheridan Electrics, Thornbrook Construction and Mayo Leisure Point.

Deirdre Waldron from Castlebar Social Services was presented with a cheque for 2,350 by Rotarian Peter Glynn, Castlebar Rotary Club President Finian Joyce and Rotarian Breda Gilvarry.

At the recent presentation of cheques to the two charities, Rotary Club President Finian Joyce, said: The members of Castlebar Rotary Club were delighted to organise this unique event in association with Mayo Cancer Support Association and Castlebar Social Services Centre. The support of the public is much appreciated and the funds raised will assist these two deserving local charities in the great work they undertake in the community."

He also thanked all the volunteers who gave of their time to man the tree during the busy Christmas period.
A historic farm in Berks County looks back at the once-common trade of ice harvesting.

The Dreibelbis Farm in Richmond Township hosted a presentation about Pennsylvania German ice harvesting.

The presentation demonstrated techniques used to harvest ice from the pond and preserve the ice throughout the year for shipments.

"Ice was actually an important commodity through the 1800s. Hotels demanded it, the meat packing industry, milk of course, and also for shipping beer were commercial applications. But little by little, people began to regard it as a necessity, rather than a luxury. They needed it for their ice boxes in their house, for cooling food, for drinks," said Mark Dreibelbis.

Ice harvesting started to become obsolete in the early 1900s with the rise of modern refrigeration.

The farm hosts events year-round highlighting the historic and environmental features of the property.
CATASAUQUA, Pa. - The Innovative Arts Academy Charter School Foundation has purchased the school's Catasauqua building for $8 million, according to Lehigh County property records.

The seller is identified as Catty School LLC, which has the same address as developer Abe Atiyeh's Whitehall Manor, a nursing home. Atiyeh purchased the school building in 2007 for $900,000, county records say.

The school's address is 330 Howertown Road, but while property records list the name of the new owner as Innovative Arts Academy, the address of the owner is given as 2901 S. 15th St. in Philadelphia.

The Pennsylvania Department of State lists a business known as Charter School Choice at that Philadelphia address. A phone number given for that operation was not in service.

Innovative Arts is for students in grades six through 12, according to the school's website. Its programs include graphics design, culinary arts, journalism and fashion design.

Charter schools are publicly funded but privately run. Advocates of such schools say they offer options not available in public schools. Opponents say the operate without sufficient oversight and drain dollars from the public school system.

The sale of the property was recorded by Lehigh County in December.
A new mini-series is shedding light on American Bomber Pilots in World War II, and much of the show is based on the interviews and research of a man from Easton.

"Masters of the Air" tells the story of the pilots of America's 8th Air Force Hundredth Bomber group, which suffered tremendous losses fighting the Germans, especially in the three months leading up to D-Day in 1944.

"Masters of the Air" premiered last month on Apple TV and is executive-produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. The series is based on Donald Miller's book of the same name.

"My father served in World War II. All my uncles served and were in the military," said Miller. "The neighborhood I grew up in Reading, everybody was involved in the war. My mother was a Rosie the Riveter."

Miller is a famous historian who joined Lafayette College in 1978. We spoke with him at his home in Easton. He says bomber warfare had never been attempted from three or four miles high, and it hasn't been done since.

Miller wants people to know about the casualty rates in the 8th Air Force. He says pilots had a one in three chance of surviving  less than a round of Russian roulette.

"Everything is experimental. and in a sense, the guys are like guinea pigs," said Miller. "The Damoclean sword coming down on him. They all thought they were going to die."

It took more than a decade to bring "Masters of the Air" to Television. It is the first series to be produced by Apple Studios, in cooperation with Playtone, and Amblin Television.

Kirk Saduski is with Playtone Productions and met Miller while shooting The Pacific on HBO.

"Don (Miller) is a great historian as well as a great story teller, so he's really an asset for us," Saduski said. "It's just an enormous, enormous project and I think it shows on the screen."

"You got to feel a good movie," said Miller. "It's got to move you. And Kirk understood that from the very beginning."

Don and Kirk are friends who co-host a podcast about the making of the "Masters of the Air," through the World War II museum in New Orleans, home of the 8th Air Force.
MIDDLETOWN TWP., Pa. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District remembered their own in a statement issued Saturday.

The statement says, "Mike Mohn was a gifted innovator, a consummate professional, an invaluable mentor, and a dear friend. We miss him already and he will always hold a place in our hearts."

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers statement, Mike Mohn was an active employee who worked in the District's Geo-Environmental section, taking on many complex environmental remediation projects. He was well suited to the job, having worked with Betz Industrial, Inc., an environmental firm, where he held five patents. In 2019, Mike was honored with the Outstanding Achievement Award, highest among the District's annual employee recognition awards.

Civil engineer Mike Mohn's headless body was found by his wife Denice in the first-floor bathroom of their Bucks County home on Tuesday.

Mohn's son, 32-year-old Justin Mohn, is accused of shooting and beheading his father and posting a video in which he delivers a delusional rant and holds up his father's severed head, investigators say.

In the video, which has been taken down, Mohn claims he was the acting president, said his father Mike was a federal employee and a traitor, and calls for violence against federal employees.

Police arrested Justin Mohn in Ft. Indiantown Gap, Lebanon County, a few hours after the video was posted.

Mohn is being held without bond, a preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 8.
TEHRAN, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Sunday strongly condemned fresh strikes by the United States and Britain against the Houthi targets in Yemen.

He made the remarks after the U.S. and British forces on Saturday launched joint strikes against the Houthis in different Yemeni cities, which the Pentagon said were aimed at "degrading the group's capabilities to attack international shipping," according to a statement published on the website of the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Kanaani said the attacks violated Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as international law, and represented "flagrant adventurism and a worrying threat to international peace and security."

He said the military attacks of the United States and Britain on regional countries were a continuation of their "wrong approach of resorting to militarism to achieve their illegitimate objectives in the region."

Since last month, the United States and Britain have launched several rounds of strikes on the Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the group's attacks on ships with links to Israel in the Red Sea.

The Houthis said their attacks were aimed at stopping the ongoing Israeli strikes against the Gaza Strip and showing solidarity with Palestinians. 
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - A Truist branch in Bethlehem Township will close as banks continue to shut traditional offices in the face of digital finance.

The 3201 Emrick Boulevard branch, just off William Penn Highway and west of Route 33, will close March 19.

Customers are advised to go to the Truist office at Palmer Town Center, 741 S. 25th St. in Palmer Township, starting March 20. That branch is about 3.4 miles from the Emrick Boulevard office.

The bank also suggests customers seek service online.

"We're always open at Truist.com," according to the bank but what Truist calls its Crown Pointe branch is down to six weeks.

The office is in the Crown Pointe Corporate Center along Emrick Boulevard. The owner of the property is a limited liability corporation based on Cedar Crest Boulevard in Salisbury Township.

Truist Financial Corp. is a bank holding company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was formed by the 2019 merger of SunTrust and BB&T banks. Over the years, what is now Truist has taken over many smaller banks.

Locally, predecessor banks included KNBT, which was acquired by Penn National. BB&T acquired Penn National in 2018.

Shares in Truist Financial are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TFC.

The closing share price Friday was $36.79, giving the company a market capitalization of $49.1 billion.
Former ICBC discipline chief arrested for suspected bribery

Xinhua) 16:48, February 04, 2024

BEIJING, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Liu Lixian, former member of the Communist Party of China committee of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and former head of its discipline inspection commission, has been arrested on suspicion of accepting bribes, the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said on Sunday.

The arrest decision was made by the Shandong Provincial People's Procuratorate, as designated by the SPP, following the conclusion of an investigation by the National Commission of Supervision.

Further handling of the case is underway.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
BEIRUT, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Two Hezbollah fighters were killed and two civilians injured over the past 24 hours as a result of Israeli airstrikes on civilian buildings in the southeastern Lebanese village of al-Taybeh, Lebanese sources said on Sunday.

Official sources in the Civil Defense and the Muslim Scout Association said the airstrikes also destroyed four houses and partially damaged another nine in the village.

Lebanese military sources said Israeli warplanes had carried out 21 raids on targets in the border region in the past 24 hours, and fired heavy artillery shells toward 25 towns and villages in southern Lebanon.

Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee announced on social media platform X that Israeli warplanes destroyed a Hezbollah military building in al-Taybeh and a storage site for advanced surface-to-air missiles.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said its fighters had attacked the Israeli settlements of Yir'on and Avivim and several other Israeli sites.

The Lebanon-Israel border witnessed increased tension since Oct. 8 after Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward Israel in support of the Hamas attacks on Israel the previous day, prompting Israel to respond by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon.

The confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel have killed 244 on the Lebanese side, including 176 Hezbollah members and 39 civilians, according to Lebanese security sources. 
Saudi Hawks, the Royal Saudi Air Force aerobatic team, presents an air show during the second edition of the World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

RIYADH, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- An air show is staged during the second edition of the World Defense Show, which kicked off in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Sunday.

The Saudi Hawks, the aerobatic team of the Royal Saudi Air Force, presented the stunning air show that was attended by participants of the five-day World Defense Show.

The World Defense Show is being held in Riyadh for the second time after its debut in 2022, showcasing the latest innovations in the defense industry. It was attended by more than 750 exhibitors from over 65 countries, Al Arabiya's English News Channel reported.

Saudi Hawks, the Royal Saudi Air Force aerobatic team, presents an air show during the second edition of the World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Saudi Hawks, the Royal Saudi Air Force aerobatic team, presents an air show during the second edition of the World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Saudi Hawks, the Royal Saudi Air Force aerobatic team, presents an air show during the second edition of the World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Saudi Hawks, the Royal Saudi Air Force aerobatic team, presents an air show during the second edition of the World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
WINDHOEK, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Namibian President Hage Geingob is in a critical but stable condition after undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer at a local hospital in the capital city of Windhoek, announced Vice President Nangolo Mbumba Saturday evening.

In an update, Mbumba said Geingob has been responding positively to the chemotherapy treatment since his return from the United States, where he received specialized medical care for cancer.

Geingob arrived back in Namibia on Wednesday after a two-day treatment and is currently at a local hospital.

On Jan. 19, the Namibian presidency informed the public that Geingob's medical team had discovered cancerous cells following a biopsy examination. 
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home and chats with the family in a village of Xinkou Town in Xiqing District of north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi]

BEIJING, Feb. 3 (Xinhua)  Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, visited a village affected by floods last summer during his inspection tour in north China's Tianjin Municipality from Feb. 1 to 2, spending time in this region just ahead of the 2024 Spring Festival.

Since assuming the Party's top post in November 2012, Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has always spent time with ordinary people, especially those in disaster-affected regions, ahead of the Spring Festival, which is the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar.

In late July and early August last year, extreme heavy rain in north China caused floods in the Haihe River Basin that inundated much of the Dongdian flood storage and detention area in Tianjin.

At the home of villager Du Honggang, Xi chatted with this big family consisting of four generations living together, inquiring about the family's losses during the disaster, their post-disaster production and income, and carefully tallying the numbers mentioned during the conversation.

Du told the general secretary that the family's more than 10 mu (about 0.67 hectares) of corn fields and vegetable patches were damaged by the flood, but with the help of the Party and the government, they managed to recover quickly, and their vegetable greenhouses were able to produce a good harvest.

Xi told villagers upon his leaving that he was delighted to see that their production and life had mostly recovered, and they have a warm home through the cold winter.

Xi has always been concerned about those affected by natural disasters, and made important instructions on disaster prevention and relief work on multiple occasions, requiring relevant authorities to ensure the safety of people's lives and property, as well as to urgently and effectively restore work and life order in disaster-hit regions.

In early September last year, Xi visited flood-affected villagers in the city of Shangzhi, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. As winter approached in northern China, Xi traveled to the severely flood-stricken areas of Beijing and Hebei to visit affected people, and inspect and guide post-disaster reconstruction work.

"I have always been concerned about people in disaster-affected areas," he said, when leaving a village impacted by floods during the inspection tour to Beijing and Hebei in November 2023. "The CPC is a party that serves the people wholeheartedly and always puts the people above everything else."

(Source: Xinhua)
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.
by Hua Hongli, Lucas Liganga

KILIMANJARO, Tanzania, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- As the Chinese Spring Festival approaches, more Chinese are heading to Tanzania to celebrate this traditional festival of paramount importance for the Chinese people.

Wang Shupeng, a 40-year-old father of twin daughters from Beijing, said his trip to the African country with his wife and twin daughters has left an indelible mark in their memories.

"My family and I decided to visit Tanzania for relaxation and to see animals. It is our first time here and we are enjoying it," said Wang, referring to Serval Wildlife, a wildlife sanctuary located in the Siha district of the Kilimanjaro region at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain.

The sanctuary is home to a diverse range of animals, including African lions, colobus monkeys, wildebeests, and giraffes.

"We have already visited Mwanza, the Serengeti National Park and we are now at the sanctuary where we are enjoying seeing a variety of animals in the wild," said Xiao Xuan, Wang's wife, adding that the trip is of great significance for her 12-year-old little daughter Wang Yuxin who has dreamed of becoming a zoologist since she was very young.

"The place has satisfied all the imagination I used to have about the animal world because I have seen so many varieties of animals that we can't see in China, including herbivores and carnivores such as leopards and lions," Yuxin said, noting that her passion about animals will be stronger and stronger.

Wang Yutang, Yuxin's twin sister, expressed her longing for spending the Chinese Spring Festival in Tanzania as the country is excellent in terms of tourism, and it will be an experience she has never had before.

Fahad Nassor Hamud, director of Serval Wildlife, said the Chinese are among the leading visitors to the sanctuary, especially during the Chinese Spring Festival. "Most of our visitors from overseas are Chinese who make up to 80 percent of the visitors," said Hamud.

As a nation with rich tourism resources, Tanzania attracts many tourists from across China to see stunning attractions every year, including Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Zanzibar with its glorious white beaches and historic sites, including the Stone Town.

A 62-year-old Chinese man surnamed Yang was also excited after he arrived in Zanzibar with his wife.

"Tanzania is a magical country we have been looking forward to traveling to," said Yang, laughing when describing the trip as a new honeymoon for him and his wife.

Tanzania has taken measures to promote its tourism industry, which contributes 25 percent of the country's foreign exchange earnings and 17.5 percent of its gross domestic product, said Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism Angellah Kairuki.

Thereza Mugobi, director of tourism in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, said the number of Chinese tourists visiting Tanzania increased by 32.4 percent from 33,541 in 2019 to 44,438 in 2023.

China is a strategic market for Tanzania's tourism, Mugobi told Xinhua in an interview via phone.

"We appointed Chinese actor Jin Dong to be our tourism goodwill ambassador," she said, adding that Tanzania has been organizing familiarization trips for the Chinese travel agents to visit the country to bolster business relations. 
Aston Barrett, bassist for Bob Marley and the Wailers, died on Saturday at 77 years old. Barretts death was shared by Jamaicas minister of culture on X (formerly Twitter) in a series of tweets. Olivia Grange began, I share with you my deep regret at the passing of Aston Francis Barrett, CD, popularly known as Family Man or Fams.'

(1) I share with you my deep regret at the passing of Aston Francis Barrett, CD, popularly known as Family Man or Fams. pic.twitter.com/kZciiqkvi6  Hon. Olivia Babsy Grange (@Babsy_grange) February 3, 2024

As a bass player, keyboardist and guitarist, he was one of the two famed Barrett brothers, Aston and Carlton, who were part of Bob Marley and the Wailers, Grange continued, and Lee Scratch Perry and the Upsetters in the early years of Reggae Music.

He died at the University of Miami Hospital in Florida in the United States early this morning. This pioneer of Jamaican music was also a mentor to many Jamaican artistes and musicians including the Riddim Twins, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare.

As we commemorate Reggae Month 2024, I wish to express my sincere condolences to his wife, his children, his relatives and to members of the local and international Reggae Music fraternity. May the Angels welcome home Aston Family Man Barrett to Mount Zion.

Barrett was born on Nov. 22, 1946, in Kingston, Jamaica. He built his first guitar on his own out of plywood and a curtain rod, working as a bike mechanic before he made it as a musician.

He played with several bands before he was introduced to Marley. He would go on to write most of the bass lines for the reggae legend. Barrett later described their first meeting in an interview with No Treble.

The first time I met Bob, it was music that brought us together. He was in the U.S. hanging out for a while with his mom in Delaware, Barrett said. He heard a different concept of music coming out of Jamaica. So he decided to return to Jamaica and get himself tuned up back in action.

He asked a guitar friend of mine named Alva Reggie Lewis if he knew the bass player and drummer [from the songs he heard]. He said yes, so Bob said, Get them for me. I want to talk to them for a session. We met at a bar and he said, Is it really you that is named Family Man that plays those bass lines? I said yes.'

He was surprised because he thought they were coming from an elder player and didnt know it was [someone] who was one year younger than him [laughs]. He looked at me and said, If its really you, then youre all right man,' Barrett concluded.

Barretts nickname Family Man preceded his impressive foray into fatherhood. As he told the BBC in 2013 of his large brood, Ah, its only 23 daughters and 18 sons. Its 41. In the court battle, they do that to me, say Ive got 52. I am the family man. Im gifted with 41.

And 23 grandchildren. And two great-grand, he added.

After Marley died in 1981, Barrett helped steer the band that had been left behind. His work included co-producing albums for the group. In 2014, while on a tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the album Legend, he told No Treble, Its good to get out there again for [those who missed] out on it. Theyve got a chance to get back at it.

Its reggae music, which is the heartbeat of the people, the universal language that carries the messages of roots, cultures and reality, he continued. We focus mostly on the young people to keep them in line so they dont walk on the wild side.

In 2006, Barrett sued Island Records and the Marley family for royalties he claimed he was owed. His lawsuit was dismissed by the judge with the support of Marleys family.

Barrett said that, before Marley died, he promised several members of the band royalties from three albums: Babylon by Bus, Natty Dread and Rastaman Vibration. But Marleys widow, Rita, dismissed the suggestion and told the court that Barrett and his brother were simply viewed as backing session musicians.

This was the third suit Barrett had filed against the family. In 1986, he filed a lawsuit in New York, and in 1989 a suit in both New York and Jamaica. In one case he was awarded $500,000 and legal costs from Island Records.

The post Aston Family Man Barrett, Bob Marley and the Wailers Bassist, Dies at 77 appeared first on TheWrap.
MOSCOW, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The number of fatalities following the Ukrainian strike on a bakery in the Lugansk region has risen to 28 people, Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations said Sunday.

"Employees of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations have rescued 10 people. Unfortunately, 28 people, including one child, died," it said in a Telegram post.

According to the ministry, the search-and-rescue operation at the collapsed bakery was still underway.

A bakery in the city of Lysychansk in the Lugansk region was reportedly shelled Saturday by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As a result, the two-story bakery building collapsed. 
Live in a home governed by a condominium, co-op or homeowner's association? Have questions about what they can and cannot do? Ryan Poliakoff, an attorney and author based in Boca Raton, has answers.

Question: Recently our association fees went from $1,400.00 quarterly to $2,600.00. My question is, what is the worst that can happen to me if I am unable to pay? I will have difficulties coming up with that fee being a disabled Vietnam veteran. Signed, M.B.

Dear M.B.,

First, thank you for your service, and I am sorry that you are in this position.

Fees in community associations across Florida have gone up significantly. A large portion of that increase relates to insurance, as the market has changed substantially due to the Surfside tragedy, as well as storms that have hit the state. A lot of our expenses have gone up, even outside of community associations.

What happens when military veteran can no longer afford home association fees?

Condominiums, cooperatives and HOAs in Florida have a lien on homes that dates back to the recording of the governing documents. The only exception in terms of lien priority would be first mortgages  in that instance the lien dates back to the recording of a claim of lien in the public records.

If you do not pay your assessments, the association must first send you a Notice of Late Assessment, a statutory form reminding you that you are delinquent. If you do not pay within 30 days of that letter, the association can then send your delinquent account to their collections attorney. The attorney will send a Notice of Intent to Lien, wait 45 days, and then record a lien and send a letter informing you that they intend to foreclose that lien. After another 45 days they will file a lien foreclosure action in state court, serve you with that lawsuit, and then proceed in foreclosure until the judge orders that your home should be sold at a foreclosure auction, so that the debt can be paid. Either a third party will buy your home at that auction, or the association will take title (subject to any first mortgage that may be on the home).

Thats the technical explanation. The simple answer is that the worst that can happen to you is that youll lose your home.

That can and does regularly happen. Even if your home is homesteaded, it would not protect you from losing your home to an association lien. There are foreclosure protections for active service members, but unfortunately they would not apply to you as a veteran.

The sad reality is that it has become very difficult for a lot of Floridians to afford their homes. Ultimately though, and assuming that the association budget represents valid common expenses that are necessary to maintain the community, if you dont pay, it means your neighbors effectively are paying your share. Thats not fair either, and thats why the laws concerning foreclosure are so aggressive.

I would suggest contacting veteran affairs organizations to see if there are options that would help you afford your increased fees. And if you get behind on an assessment, contact management or the board and see if they would be willing to let you enter a payment plan to catch up.

Question: We live in a condominium building with 16 units. We have one owner who is a hoarder and extremely dirty. We have called every agency possible, and they have responded and tried to help him. He has refused and never let them or anyone in.

At this point, we are starting to get vermin, and he does not let the exterminator in. His door is filled with black mold, and he is creating a health hazard. He has said he will clean but he never does.

We would like to sue him for specific performance and have a judge order him to get rid of the garbage which is from floor to ceiling in his unit, allow exterminators in and deal with the mold.

The police wanted to know if he needed to be Baker Acted as this is very much out of the normal. We would not like to do that, but what are our options? Signed, L.S.

Dear L.S.,

The situation that you describe is unfortunately extremely common. Ultimately, its not for you to decide if he should be detained under the Baker Act, and in any event, such detention is temporary and he doesnt appear to be a danger to himself in the way that might lead to a longer detention.

Your declaration of condominium almost certainly contains language that can be used to force him to clean up his apartment, including that hes obligated to maintain the apartment, cannot create a nuisance for other owners and cannot do anything that might affect your insurance. Plus, you have an irrevocable right to enter units in order to maintain the common elements and prevent damage to other units (and exterminating would arguably fit that description). I would act sooner rather than later, as it can be a long process.

Ryan Poliakoff, a partner at Poliakoff Backer, LLP, is a Board Certified specialist in condominium and planned development law. This column is dedicated to the memory of Gary Poliakoff. Ryan Poliakoff and Gary Poliakoff are co-authors of "New Neighborhoods  The Consumers Guide to Condominium, Co-Op and HOA Living." Email your questions to condocolumn@gmail.com. Please be sure to include your location.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: What happens when you can't afford increasing homeowner fees?
February is what Id not-so-scientifically describe to be a blobby month. By that I mean, it hints at spring, if youre lucky, and then quickly scorns you with a few cold, wet days just when you think you can flirt with the less wooly corner of your wardrobe. Each year of college, some friends and I used to celebrate making it through the Blobbiest Month with a party on February 28. My bedtime these days is earlier now, so I go ahead and keep up the tradition in my own way by loading up on Trader Joes groceries (I swear, Im really fun!).



Thankfully, TJs got the memo this month. The shelves are stocked with new snacks, toiletries, and pantry items that will bring the party to the kitchen again. Even if youre looking for a reliable weeknight dinner shortcut or a treat to make Tuesday a bit brighter, I think youll agree that all of these will make you feel like spring isnt too far away (and perhaps scare a shadow-sighting out of Punxsutawney Phil).

Credit: Mackenzie Filson Credit: Mackenzie Filson

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Which new Trader Joes items are you adding to your cart? Tell us in the comments below.
If smoking jerky is meant to preserve meat, then bak kwa is a preservation of a culinary art form. This pork jerky is incredibly popular in Singapore during the Lunar New Year, a time of good luck and renewal. But it's actually an ancient dish that dates back centuries. Bak kwa is strips of pork jerky that are marinated and cooked in charcoal ovens. Traditionally, the meat is left to bake and dry in the hot sun. However, although modern convenience has helped speed up the production of bak kwa, many shops still struggle to keep up with demand, especially during the Lunar New Year.

Competition between bak kwa shops is fierce, with many vendors refusing to share details of their marinades or how much they sell. However, common marinades are made up of fish sauce, sugar, soy sauce, and sesame oil, with a little seasoning. Traditionally, bak kwa is sold by street vendors as thin square sheets. But in recent years, shops have begun experimenting with the shapes of their pork jerky, selling it as small golden coins, shaped like pigs, and even heart-shaped. Additionally, bak kwa has begun to appear in other snacks, such as donuts or on top of pizza.

As a staple of Singaporean Lunar New Year celebrations, the lines to buy bak kwa are notoriously long, with customers waiting six hours or more for the treat. Likewise, some shops impose limits on how much can be purchased so that demand doesn't outstrip supply.

Read more: What These Imitation Foods Are Actually Made Of

The Origin Of Bak Kwa

chefs cooking Bak Kwa - Bloomberg/Getty Images

Evidence of bak kwa has been found dating back 2,000 years. The origins of the jerky stem from ancient China, in the Fujian province, as a preservation method of the time. The practice of making bak kwa was spread thanks to immigration. During the 15th century, immigrants left Fujian for modern-day Malaysia, hoping to start a better life. The popularity of bak kwa spread to the region, with both countries cooking the meat in charcoal ovens.

The reason bak kwa is so popular at Lunar New Year is baked into its origins. In ancient Singapore, widespread poverty meant many people were unable to afford meats like pork. For some, this was considered a once-a-year treat reserved for the Lunar New Year, so many chose to buy bak kwa during this period, causing the pork jerky to become a yearly tradition. Singapore's first bak kwa store, Kim Hock Guan, opened in 1905. It was followed by several other shops, including Lim Chee Guan, Fragrance, and Kim Joo Guan among the most popular. As mentioned, many of these shops are fierce rivals competing against each other. Over the years, variations of the treat have evolved as retailers fought to attract customers.

Variations On Bak Kwa

Bak Kwa stacked on a counter in a market stall - Bloomberg/Getty Images

Traditionally, bak kwa was made with marinated pork. However, over the centuries, variations of bak kwa have popped up. Similar to jerky in the United States, other meats have been subbed in for pork, such as chicken, beef, and even mutton. These are particularly popular among those who don't eat beef. Likewise, shops have begun serving new flavors, such as a spicier chili pork bak kwa variant.

Bak kwa is served in two ways in Singapore: minced and sliced. The sliced bak kwa is typically leaner and slightly chewier of the two. Minced bak kwa is softer and more tender due to having a higher percentage of fat in its meat. While it doesn't fall under traditions, bak kwa cooks constantly seek ways to innovate the dish. For instance, some cooks have made bak kwa from duck and crocodile meat. Others have turned to the oceans and tried lobster and shrimp for a seafood take on the jerky.

Walking through Singapore, you might come across bak kwa spiced with ginseng or mixed with cheese. Some have even pioneered a leaner version made with turkey for those put off by pork's fat content. However, it's unlikely that these variants will displace the original, which has stood the test of time.

Read the original article on Daily Meal.
Pursuant to a lawsuit filed by US Foods over unpaid bills, a U.S. District Court judge has rendered a default judgment of $11.9 million against Boston Market, the fast casual restaurant chain known for its rotisserie chicken. The plaintiff's case, filed in July 2023, revolves around unmet financial obligations dating back to 2022, for which Boston Market negotiated a promissory payment agreement that was subsequently unfulfilled. After the owner, Jay Pandya, failed to respond to the filed lawsuit in a timely manner, US Foods petitioned the court to enter the summary judgment.

Presiding Judge Manish Shah granted the motion for summary judgment, citing "bad faith" and "willful disregard" of court obligations by Boston Market. Shah acknowledged that there had been compliance with court scheduling orders since November 2023 but called it "too little, too late," noting delay tactics and no genuine litigation participation interest by Boston Market owner Pandya.

Unfortunately for Pandya, the legal turmoil continues. His personal bankruptcy filing in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Court, submitted just days after missing the response deadline for the summary judgment filing, was dismissed for failure to provide requested information. Reportedly included in the now-dismissed bankruptcy claim were the millions of dollars owed to US Foods. However, Pandya has vowed to appeal the summary judgment, according to Restaurant Business, claiming that Boston Market filed a counterclaim and had been participating in discovery on the case. He also alleges overcharging and under-supplying on the part of US Foods.

Read more: 19 Popular Pizza Chains, Ranked From Worst To Best

A Snowballing String Of Trouble For Boston Market

Boston Market restaurant - Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The lawsuit by US Foods and its subsequent summary judgment of $11.9 million are only the latest developments in an ongoing saga of legal and financial troubles for Boston Market. The company launched in 1985 and grew to at least 1200 locations before it began shuttering at dozens of them. The shutdowns continued in 2023, coinciding with the US Foods lawsuit in July.

Meanwhile, Boston Market is drowning in legal quagmires, including additional lawsuits by suppliers, vendors, or distributors, as well as legal conflicts with its landlords and employees. In May of 2023, the company headquarters in Colorado were seized by the state's Department of Revenue for not paying taxes, and judgment was rendered to its landlord for lease default. Troubles haven't been confined to its home state of Colorado, but have spread into a tangled web across multiple states.

In New Jersey, all but four of the state's 31 Boston Market restaurants shut down amidst alleged employee-based violations, including unpaid wages and non-adherence to minimum wage and sick leave ordinances. Similar allegations have risen in Massachusetts and New York. Evictions have forced store closures in at least Connecticut and South Florida. The company has even been sued twice by McDonald's, which previously owned Boston Market and still holds reportedly unpaid leases on several of the properties. Whether Boston survives under the US Foods summary judgment or drags it out through an appeal has yet to be seen.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
When it comes to indulging in sweet, buttery desserts, we are blessed to have several different delectable options: cakes, cookies, donuts, pastries -- the list goes on and on. And they come in so many different sizes, colors, and glazes, with a plethora of toppings or fillings. Cream, custard, chocolate, jam, fresh fruit, toasted nuts, and seeds are all utilized.

For those who lack a sweet tooth, savory pastries also exist. That's the beauty of butter and flour. And these savory pastries go with just about everything! From warm slices of ham and melted cheese to roasted tomatoes and herbs to various fruits or jams, many different things can be paired with the flaky layers of a croissant or danish.

Croissants and danishes are two of the most popular pastries in the United States. There are many similarities between them. Whether prepared sweet or savory, either pastry can be enjoyed as a quick breakfast, light lunch, snack, or dessert. But what exactly is the difference between a croissant and a danish? Read on to find out.

Read more: US Foods You Surprisingly Can't Find In Canada

The Pastries Have A Shared Background

Kipfel dusted in sugar and nuts - From my point of view/Shutterstock

Many people may believe that croissants are from France and danishes are from Denmark. While each pasty is beloved in their respective countries, the treats may have come from a different country altogether. Both treats are actually tied to Austrian pastries.

The croissant descends from the Austrian kipfel, another crescent-shaped pastry made from lard or butter. A kipfel also might also be topped with almonds or sugar, just like a croissant. While a popular legend maintains that the kipfel was invented by a Viennese baker to celebrate the critical defeat of the Ottoman Empire by the Austrians in 1683, this turns out to not be the baked goods' origin. The kipfel was mentioned in a poem written way back in 1227. When the pastry finally arrived in France, however, French bakers made it all their own, and the croissant was born.

The danish -- called "Vienna bread" or "wienerbrd" in Denmark -- also has a connection to the kipfel. In 1850, Danish bakers went on strike. To keep the bakeries open, Austrian bakers were brought in. Being unfamiliar with Danish baked goods, they made Austrian pastries, including a treat called the Plundergeback. When Danish bakers began making these Austrian recipes, they tweaked them and made them their own. Thus, the danish came from the Plundergeback.

Lamination Techniques Vary

Hands folding dough to laminate - Cbradder/Shutterstock

In baking, lamination refers to the process of creating thin layers of dough separated by butter. This is achieved by rolling the dough, placing butter on it, folding it over itself, and repeating these steps. Laminated dough is used in many pastries, including croissants and danishes. However, the processes of lamination used for these pastries differ.

There are multiple ways of folding prepared dough over chilled butter. When making croissants, most bakers use what is called a letter-fold. For this type of fold, the dough is rolled into a rectangle and the butter is rolled into a shorter rectangle. The rectangle is divided into three sections of dough while the dough is folded over itself -- and the butter -- twice. The process is similar to how a letter is folded before it goes into an envelope.

When making danishes, bakers tend to prefer what is called the book-fold. The dough and butter are rolled out the same as above, except with this fold, the butter is placed in the middle, and the two sides are folded over it to join in the middle. The idea is that it looks like an open book. You then "close the book" by folding the dough in half.

Croissants Are Crispy, While Danishes Are Flaky

Hands breaking apart a croissant - Max kegfire/Shutterstock

There may not seem to be a big difference between the terms "crispy" and "flaky," but to anyone who has sunk their teeth into these two pastries, the difference is immediately clear. There is a distinct crunching sound that you hear when biting into -- or even just pulling apart -- a well-made, golden-brown croissant.

It is the thin, even layers of butter between dough that allow the outside of a croissant to become crispy in the oven, while the insides come out soft and buttery. Although danishes are also laminated -- giving them very similar layers to croissants -- they are softer and less brittle. Their flakiness makes them chewier than croissants, and thus less light, airy, and (of course) crispy.

The fresher the croissant, the crispier it should be. As the pastry sits, humidity gets in and ruins the crunch. Danishes are more moist by design and sometimes made more so when toppings or fillings are added. Luckily, because the crunch isn't important in a danish, they can last another day on the bakery shelf.

Traditional Croissants Are Made Without Eggs

Unbaked croissants on metal table - Aj_watt/Getty Images

To anyone with an allergy to eggs, this is very good news! A traditional croissant is egg-free. Just be sure to ask the baker to make certain that the croissants are really free of eggs before indulging. An egg wash may well have been used to make the exterior of the croissant extra golden and crispy. But when making croissants at home, it's easy to leave that step out of the process, for a fully egg-free experience.

The lack of eggs in the dough is one of the key things that sets croissants apart from danishes. Remember, it was supposedly Danish bakers who, after the bakers' strike in the 1850s, took the recipes of the interloping Austrian bakers and added eggs to their pastry dough. This upped the fat content, making danishes more tender and bringing out more of the flavor of the all-important butter.

Both Treats Come In Different Shapes

curved croissants on cooling rack - Lauripatterson/Getty Images

You may not know that the word "croissant" means "crescent." However emblematic the shape is, many have argued that it's a bad shape for croissants. Straight croissants, they say, are the superior shape for the pastry. A straight croissant is easier to pull apart to dunk in coffee.

Croissants are, of course, commonly found in both shapes. Sometimes, the shape can indicate whether the croissant was made with butter (if it's straight) or margarine (if it's crescent-shaped). Chocolate-filled croissants (also known as pain au chocolat) are often shaped more straight, flat, and square than croissants made without fillings.

Danishes, on the other hand, come in quite a variety of shapes. These shapes work to best suit different kinds of danish toppings, from those filled with jam to those topped with solid pieces of fruit. Danishes are often shaped like windmills, envelopes, braids, diamonds, squares, circles, and more.

Danishes Have A Wider Variety Of Toppings

blueberry danishes and blueberries - Ezume Images/Shutterstock

Don't get us wrong, there is variety in the world of croissants. You commonly find croissants filled with chocolate, almond paste, dulce de leche, and apricots (on the sweet side), and ham or salmon (on the savory side). These are all delicious options. Croissants are also sometimes used to make sandwiches, such as ham and cheese sandwiches, egg and cheese sandwiches, chicken salad sandwiches, and more. However, some may view cutting up a sandwich and using it for sandwich bread as an insult to the pastry itself.

However, part of the reason that danishes have so many different shapes is that each shape has a different use. A pastry that is filled is different from one that has toppings, or a cinnamon danish might be swirled or braided. Just about anything you can think of has probably been paired with a danish. Fresh fruit, pureed fruit, jam, custard, cream, cheese chocolate, icing, powdered sugar, toasted nuts, toasted seeds, and the list goes on and on. Turnovers, folded and stuffed pastries, are also considered a type of danish.

Danishes Are Baked At A Lower Temperature

danish tray going into oven - Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock

One of the reasons that croissants are so much crispier than danishes is that croissants are generally baked at a higher temperature. The oven is initially set to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing the golden brown crust to form and giving the croissant its signature crunch. But, so as not to over-brown the pastry, you then lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, which leaves the inside of the croissant soft and buttery.

When baking danishes, the oven maintains a regular 375 degrees Fahrenheit. At the lower temperature, the pastry rises more slowly. The result of this is the crust of the danish is more flaky and less crispy than that of a croissant. This is a texture that you can really sink your teeth into. Additionally, the toppings are also less likely to burn at this lower temperature. This is ideal because no one wants a danish topped with burned jam.

Croissants And Danishes Have Different Nutritional Makeups

Croissants with butter - Anthiacumming/Getty Images

The differences between croissants and danishes don't end with technique, oven temperature, fillings, toppings, or lack thereof. As similar as the recipes for the laminated dough are, these two pastries are higher in different types of fat. Croissants are higher in saturated fat than danishes, which are higher in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats than croissants. What does that mean for your health? Let us explain.

With a croissant, the saturated fat comes from all that butter that goes into the dough. But it's hard to imagine a croissant without it. Butter is what creates those beautiful layers and is a large contributor to a croissant's flavor. Danishes also have saturated fat from the butter used in the lamination process. However, unlike croissants, danishes also contain eggs, which are higher in monounsaturated fat (about 38%) than saturated fat (around 28%). Approximately 16% of the average egg's fat content is also composed of polyunsaturated fat.

Saturated fat is thought to raise LDL cholesterol (the "bad" one), which has been linked to higher risks of stroke and heart disease. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are the opposite. Consuming more of these two fats can help to lower LDL cholesterol.

We aren't trying to argue that danishes are healthier than croissants, but it is interesting to see the differences. As the saying goes, all things in moderation. But if you are concerned about your cholesterol levels, maybe think of croissants as an occasional treat rather than a daily indulgence.

They Should Be Stored Differently

Frozen croissants in package - Alpaksoy/Getty Images

Croissants are best enjoyed fresh, preferably only 30 minutes to an hour after they have been removed from the oven. Humidity is the enemy of crunchiness. If you need to keep your croissant fresh for longer, the best approach is to let it cool, wrap it in aluminum foil, place it inside a bag (paper or plastic is fine), and then put it in a cool, dry, and dark place. If you wrap a cooled, fresh croissant in plastic wrap and then place it inside a bag or airtight container, it can stay good in the refrigerator for about two to four days. For freezer storage for up to one month, you want to wrap the cooled croissants in both plastic wrap and aluminum foil before placing them inside an airtight container. Bring the croissants back to life by popping them in the oven for a few minutes at 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

With danishes, you want to avoid aluminum foil and plastic wrap, both of which could make the danish mushy. Instead, simply store them inside an airtight container. However, when storing them in the refrigerator, use plastic wrap before placing them in an airtight container. Like the croissant, you don't want to keep danishes in the fridge for more than a few days. When freezing danishes, you can follow the same advice as for freezing croissants.

Read the original article on Mashed.
In January, Fabio Wibmer released his iconic Streif edit in which he took on the World Famous ski race course in Kitzbuhel Austria.

The amount of effort that went into that production was immense. Watch Fabios behind-the-scenes video about the project below.

In this video, Fabio detailed the work that went into the production of the Streif. Wibmer employed a huge team to build the jumps, set up film shots, and edit the piece.

Related: Fabio Wibmer Bikes Down World's Gnarliest Ski Race Course In New Edit

To attempt the biggest drop ever hit in Austria, Wibmer even employed a mathematician to calculate the run in speed! Modern mountain bikers use all the gadgets!

In order to be able to quickly film the edit before the ski race, the Crew even employed a helicopter to move set pieces.

Perhaps the best moments in this video are when recreational skiers look in disbelief at what Fabio is attempting. Us too, buddy, us too!

Related: Rampage Rider Reflects On Helping Build Jumps For Fabio Wibmer's "The Streif" Edit

The Streif may just have been Fabios most ambitious project yet, but with the help of his large team, it was a success. In just 2 weeks, the edit already has over 3 million views. It just might be the case that Fabio Wibmer is not capable of putting out a bad edit.

Don't miss another headline from Bike Mag! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of bike riding.

We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting, and engaging bike-related videos to feature on our channels. Whether you're a professional rider or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on Bike Mag and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality bike videos.
An at-times controversial Google feature designed for placing food orders is undergoing a big change, according to Restaurant Business. That feature is Order with Google, an application that integrates restaurant menus and food delivery company links into Google search results for restaurants. This makes placing a food order easy to do right from the search results or map page with no need to click out to other sites, including the restaurant's webpage. Google doesn't charge restaurants or delivery services for this listing; for the search engine company, it's a way to provide more service to keep customers coming back to Google.

Currently, when searching for a restaurant, the results page provides information like hours, directions, and reviews. It also has an "Order" button that has been generated by Google. However, on June 30, Order with Google will begin sending users to the restaurant's ordering page or a third-party option such as Grubhub or Toast. A poll by PYMTS found that 62% of respondents named Google as their first choice for online restaurant searches. That makes an ordering feature a powerful way to drive business for both restaurants and delivery companies.

Read more: 19 Popular Pizza Chains, Ranked From Worst To Best

The Controversy Behind The Change

phone with food delivery app - Edwin Tan/Getty Images

Order with Google has been controversial with smaller delivery services who say they've been denied access to the feature. Some restaurants also object to the automatically generated listings that drive online orders to third-party ordering sites rather than directly to the restaurant. Delivery companies cut deeply into the profit of food orders, sometimes charging as much as 30% of the food order to make the drop-off.

However, Google's decision to allow customers to bypass restaurant websites to place orders has rubbed some businesses the wrong way. A class action lawsuit was filed in 2022 alleging that the system was designed purposely to make customers think they were ordering directly from the restaurant, which Google has denied. A judge ultimately dismissed the case.

The removal of the direct ordering option on Google will mean a few more clicks for those ordering food after searching for a restaurant. Rather than viewing the menu on the search page directly, patrons will be redirected to the ordering sites of delivery companies or the restaurant itself, making the transaction more transparent.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Hormel Foods, a well-known food company based in Minnesota, has issued a recall for almost 1,000 pounds of processed meat, specifically a ready-to-eat spiced deli ham labeled as "Hormel Spiced Ham With Natural Juices." The recall comes after the discovery of misbranding and the potential for exposure to an unlisted dairy product. The ham product was distributed to retailers in Pennsylvania and subsequently sliced for sale in deli departments, according to a January 3, 2024 announcement by the Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Labeling requirements include listing the presence of milk since it's a known allergen, but the sliced deli ham doesn't directly include milk  so the declaration was absent from the label. However, retail deli workers who sliced the ham noticed cheese. Since cheese is made with milk, the potential for an allergic reaction exists. Among the possible symptoms are abdominal cramps, wheezing, and vomiting, per the Mayo Clinic. Extreme reactions can be fatal.

The affected lot of Hormel ready-to-eat spiced deli ham is no longer being distributed, but it may still be present in cold-storage facilities of grocery retailers, deli outlets, and food service providers. Though no known allergic reactions have been reported to date, consumers are cautioned to dispose of the ham or return it to the place of purchase. This recall applies only to the product packaged on November 27, 2023, identified by specific lot codes, dates, and labels.

Read more: 14 Popular Chain Grocery Stores For Meat, Ranked Worst To Best

Identifying The Recalled Hormel Spiced Deli Ham

Hormel Spiced Ham product - Hormel

The recalled Hormel ready-to-eat spiced hams were packaged in plastic casing holding five pounds of the meat, though varying package weights could have resulted from retail delis re-slicing the product for sale. The original, individual 5-pound packaging indicates a fully cooked product bearing the label of "Hormel Spiced Ham With Natural Juices," and carries a lot code of 051424. In case quantities, the box label is assigned with a separate case code of 04472, labeled as "HML SPCD HAM-D SHAPE 9/5LB." The pertinent stamped date reads as PREPARE/FRZ BY 05/14/24-07. Furthermore, the recalled product bears a USDA mark of inspection with an establishment code of "EST. 199."

The current recall for Hormel spiced ham follows a separate recall from the company approximately five months earlier. The September 2023 recall involved metal cans of SPAM Classic that had potentially been under-processed for commercial sterility. No adverse reactions had been reported when the product went into recall status.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
A video screenshot released by Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations shows rescuers working at the site of shelling in the city of Lysychansk in the Lugansk region, Feb. 3, 2024. Seven people were killed after a bakery in the city of Lysychansk in the Lugansk region was reportedly shelled Saturday by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to Russia's TASS news agency. (Xinhua)

MOSCOW, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were killed after a bakery in the city of Lysychansk in the Lugansk region was reportedly shelled Saturday by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to Russia's TASS news agency.

As a result, the two-story bakery building collapsed, said TASS, citing Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations.

About 23 people remain under the rubble of the bakery, according to the news agency RIA Novosti. 

A video screenshot released by Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations shows rescuers working at the site of shelling in the city of Lysychansk in the Lugansk region, Feb. 3, 2024. Seven people were killed after a bakery in the city of Lysychansk in the Lugansk region was reportedly shelled Saturday by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to Russia's TASS news agency. (Xinhua)

A video screenshot released by Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations shows a building damaged in shelling in the city of Lysychansk in the Lugansk region, Feb. 3, 2024. Seven people were killed after a bakery in the city of Lysychansk in the Lugansk region was reportedly shelled Saturday by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to Russia's TASS news agency. (Xinhua)

A video screenshot released by Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations shows a building damaged in shelling in the city of Lysychansk in the Lugansk region, Feb. 3, 2024. Seven people were killed after a bakery in the city of Lysychansk in the Lugansk region was reportedly shelled Saturday by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to Russia's TASS news agency. (Xinhua)
Britain and the United States launched a fresh wave of strikes against the Houthi in Yemen on Saturday night, in a bid to further disable Iran-backed groups in the region.

The new strikes hit 36 targets across 13 locations following attacks by the Iran-backed groups against international and commercial shipping, as well as naval vessels travelling through the Red Sea.

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s, supported by Voyager tankers, flew from Cyprus to join US forces in a further strike against Houthi locations involved in targeting shipping in the Bab al Mandab and southern Red Sea.

The Typhoons employed Paveway IV precision guided bombs against multiple military targets identified by careful intelligence analysis at three locations.

British aircraft targeted a ground control station inside a defensive position. This had been used to control Houthi drones, both attack and reconnaissance types, launched from further inland, operating over the sea against international shipping. The Typhoons also hit a number of targets at Bani.

A picture, which emerged on social media, appears to show the latest strikes on Houthi targets

Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, said: The Houthis attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea are illegal and unacceptable and it is our duty to protect innocent lives and preserve freedom of navigation.

That is why the RAF engaged in a third wave of proportionate and targeted strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen. We acted alongside our US allies, with the support of many international partners, in self-defence and in accordance with international law.

This is not an escalation. We have already successfully targeted launchers and storage sites involved in Houthi attacks, and I am confident that our latest strikes have further degraded the Houthis capabilities.

Having recently met those British personnel stationed in the region, I know the dedication and professionalism with which they serve our nations Armed Forces and I would like to thank them for ensuring this operation was a success.

It is the third time that the round of joint strikes have been carried out by the US and UK, which were launched by ships and fighter jets.

A RAF Typhoon aircraft taking off to conduct further strikes - RAF

A joint statement from Britain and the US on Saturday night said they said they targeted buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defence systems and radars.

The strikes were proportionate and necessary to disrupt and degrade the Houthis abilities to strike international trade, the governments said.

They were in response to a series of illegal, dangerous, and destabilising Houthi actions since previous coalition strikes on Jan 11 and 22, 2024, including the Jan 27 attack which set ablaze the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker M/V Marlin Luanda.

Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand also supported the action.

The strikes follow an air assault in Iraq and Syria on Friday that targeted other Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for the drone strike that killed three US troops in Jordan last weekend.

A fighter jet is launched from the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower - US Navy

The Houthi targets were in 13 different locations and were struck by US F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D Eisenhower aircraft carrier and by the USS Gravely and the USS Carney Navy destroyers firing Tomahawk missiles from the Red Sea, the US officials told the Associated Press.

Democratic Senator Jack Reed praised US President Joe Biden for his action and said: I support President Bidens robust action. I am confident the Biden Administration will continue to respond and safeguard the American people.

Lloyd Austin III, the US Secretary of Defence, said there would be further action and added: This collective action sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels.

We will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the worlds most critical waterways.

These precision strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade, and the lives of innocent mariners, and are in response to a series of illegal, dangerous, and destabilising Houthi actions, the statement added.

Todays strike specifically targeted sites associated with the Houthis deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defence systems, and radars.

The Houthis now more than 30 attacks on commercial vessels and naval vessels since mid-November constitute an international challenge. Recognising the broad consensus of the international community, our coalition of like-minded countries committed to upholding the rules-based order has continued to grow.

01:09 AM GMT

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12:25 AM GMT

US Central Command's statement on strikes

U.S. Forces, Allies Conduct Joint Strikes in Yemen



As part of ongoing international efforts to respond to increased Iranian-backed Houthi destabilizing and illegal activities in the region, on Feb. 3 at approximately 11:30 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces, pic.twitter.com/hlfLY1QjOd  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 3, 2024

11:30 PM GMT

Yemen residents hear explosions

Video shared online by people in Sanaa, Yemens capital, included the sound of explosions and at least one blast was seen lighting up the night sky.

Residents said the blasts seemed to occur around buildings associated with the Yemeni presidential compound. The Houthi-controlled state-run news agency, SABA, reported strikes in al-Bayda, Dhamar, Hajjah, Hodeida, Taiz and Sanaa provinces.

Another image, which has emerged on social media, that appears to show the new strikes on Houthi targets

10:55 PM GMT

Pictured: RAF Typhoon FGR4s take off to conduct strikes

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s and Voyager tankers flew from Cyprus to join US forces in the deliberate strike against Houthi locations in Yemen.

The Typhoons employed Paveway IV precision guided bombs against multiple military targets identified by careful intelligence analysis at three locations.

British aircraft targeted a ground control station inside a defensive position. This station had been used to control Houthi drones, both attack and reconnaissance types, launched from further inland, operating over the sea against international shipping.

The Typhoons also attacked a significant number of targets at Bani.

A RAF Typhoon aircraft taking off to conduct further strikes against Houthi targets - RAF

RAF Typhoon FRG4s being prepared for the strikes - RAF

10:51 PM GMT

'We will not hesitate to defend lives and commerce'

In an additional joint statement on the strikes, the UK, US, Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand said the precision strikes were intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of innocent mariners.

(They) are in response to a series of illegal, dangerous, and destabilising Houthi actions since previous coalition strikes on January 11 and 22 2024, including the January 27 attack which struck and set ablaze the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker M/V Marlin Luanda, the statement read. Todays strike specifically targeted sites associated with the Houthis deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defence systems, and radars. The Houthis now more than 30 attacks on commercial vessels and naval vessels since mid-November constitute an international challenge. Recognising the broad consensus of the international community, our coalition of like-minded countries committed to upholding the rules-based order has continued to grow. We remain committed to protecting freedom of navigation and international commerce and holding the Houthis accountable for their illegal and unjustifiable attacks on commercial shipping and naval vessels. Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea but let us reiterate our warning to Houthi leadership: we will not hesitate to continue to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the worlds most critical waterways in the face of continued threats.

10:44 PM GMT

Lloyd Austin: Strikes send 'clear message' to Houthis

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes also had support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

This collective action sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels, Mr Austin said in a statement.

We will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the worlds most critical waterways.

10:41 PM GMT

Grant Shapps 'confident' strikes degraded Houthis' capabilities

UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said he was confident the latest strikes had further degraded Houthis capabilities.

He called Houthis attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea illegal and unacceptable.

It is our duty to protect innocent lives and preserve freedom of navigation, he said.

That is why the Royal Air Force engaged in a third wave of proportionate and targeted strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen. We acted alongside our US allies, with the support of many international partners, in self-defence and in accordance with international law.

Mr Shapps said the strikes were not an escalation.

We have already successfully targeted launchers and storage sites involved in Houthi attacks, he said.

Having recently met those British personnel stationed in the region, I know the dedication and professionalism with which they serve our nations armed forces and I would like to thank them for ensuring this operation was a success.

A RAF Typhoon FGR4 aircraft ahead of the strikes - RAF

10:32 PM GMT

Joint statement: 'Necessary strikes' launched against 36 Houthi targets

A joint statement has been released from Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States on the fresh wave of strikes.

Today, at the direction of their respective governments, the militaries of the United States and United Kingdom, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand conducted an additional round of proportionate and necessary strikes against 36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen in response to the Houthis continued attacks against international and commercial shipping as well as naval vessels transiting the Red Sea.

10:17 PM GMT

Britain and US confirm 36 Houthi targets hit

According to a joint statement, Britain and the US carried out strikes on Saturday against 36 targets linked to Houthis in Yemen.

The strikes hit buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems, launchers and other capabilities.

Image that appears to show the latest strikes on Houthi targets has emerged on social media

10:07 PM GMT

Breaking: Britain and US begin new strikes on Houthis

Britain and the United States have struck multiple Houthi sites in Yemen in a second wave of assaults meant to further disable Iran-backed groups in the region.

This is breaking news and more will follow.

03:54 PM GMT

Eighteen Palestinians killed in airstrikes on two cities

Israeli airstrikes have killed 18 Palestinians in the Gaza cities of Rafah and Deir al Balah today, the Hamas-run Gaza ministry has said.

There was no confirmation from the Israeli military that it carried out the strike.

03:39 PM GMT

10,000 pro-Palestinian protesters march in London

More than 10,000 pro-Palestine protesters have marched in Central London to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, according to estimates from Scotland Yard.

Hundreds of officers from the Metropolitan Police were on duty with additional dispersal powers as the march started at Portland Place and continued to Whitehall.

People set off from Portland Place in central London during the National March for Palestine - Peter Macdiarmid/LNP/London News Pictures Ltd

03:33 PM GMT

US ships destroy 12 drones

The US has destroyed 12 drones in the last 24 hours, the US Central Command has said.

One drone was shot down by the destroyer USS Carney over the Gulf of Aden at around 7.30am UK time on Friday, the US military announced today.

An additional seven drones were shot down over the Red Sea by the USS Laboon at 6.30pm UK time, while American forces also destroyed four more before they could be launched.

CENTCOM said that the four drones destroyed on the ground belonged to Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels, but did not identify a group linked to those that were shot down.

No injuries or damage have been reported.

03:21 PM GMT

Northern Ireland's new first minister calls for immediate ceasefire

Michelle ONeill, Northern Irelands first minister, has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza in a historic acceptance speech.

As Northern Irelands first nationalist prime minister, ONeill remarked that we know the value of peace

03:12 PM GMT

Iraqi militants claim to launch drone attack on base hosting US troops

Islamic Resistance in Iraq fighters claimed to have launched a drone attack on the al-Harir airbase hosting American forces in northern Iraq on Saturday, the group said.

However, security sources soon told Reuters that no attack was detected.

According to reports, attacks were also carried out by Iran-aligned groups on the Tanf military base in Syria, and on the Ain al-Assad base in western Iraq, which host US and coalition troops.

It comes as Joe Biden warned that the US air strikes on Iraq and Syria on Friday night were just the beginning of Washingtons response to the deadly drone attack on American troops in Jordan last week.

The US carried out airstrikes on 85 targets in Iraq and Syria, targeting command and control headquarters, intelligence centres and storage facilities.

02:11 PM GMT

IDF hits Hezbollah sites in Lebanon amid continued rocket fire towards northern Israel

The IDF says it carried out airstrikes against several Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon today, in response to continued attacks on northern Israel.

A Hezbollah command centre, where operatives were gathered, and a nearby rocket launch site used in a recent attack, were hit in the southern Lebanese village of Yaroun, the IDF says, as well as two Hezbollah observation posts in Marwahin and Ayta ash-Shab.

The IDF also reported that rockets and missiles were fired by Hezbollah in the northern communities of Baram and Zarit, causing no injuries.

01:57 PM GMT

Russia condemns US airstrikes

Russia has condemned US airstrikes in Iraq and Syria and called for the situation to be examined by the UN Security Council.

Russias foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said the strikes were deliberately designed to further inflame tensions in the Middle East.

01:47 PM GMT

Pictured: The aftermath of US airstrikes in Iraq

Destruction after US airstrike in Al-Qa'im, Iraq - Anadolu/Anadolu

Damaged car at the site of strike - STRINGER/REUTERS

Shell casing at the site of a strike - STRINGER/REUTERS

12:52 PM GMT

US strikes were inevitable but will not put an end to Iran-backed militia attacks, says former ambassador

Sir Richard Dalton, former British ambassador to Libya and Iran, has said on Sky News that strikes on Iraq and Syria were inevitable.

He said the US is like a boxer with an extremely strong left but a very weak right hand, due to the fact that the US has not proven to be strong in getting aid into Gaza or dealing with the increasing evidence of war crimes being committed, meaning it cant advance the essentials for a more stable region.

The former ambassador said that he does not believe Americas actions will put an end to the Iran-backed militia attacks.

12:16 PM GMT

Hamas says Washington has poured 'oil on the fire'

Hamas has condemned the US strikes in Iraq and Syria, saying Washington has poured oil on the fire in the Middle East.

The Palestinian terrorist organisation went on to say that the region would remain at war until the Zionist (Israeli) aggression, genocidal crimes and ethnic cleansing in Gaza ends.

US air strikes killed at least 23 pro-Iranian fighters in Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said. In Iraq, strikes killed 16 people, including civilians, the Baghdad government said.

11:46 AM GMT

Iranian foreign ministry urge UN Security Council to prevent US strikes

A Reuters report has added more detail to the Iranian ministrys statement on the US strikes on Iran-linked targets in Iraq and Syria.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said that the US attacks were designed to overshadow the Zionist regimes crime in Gaza. He did not say if Iran would take any action in response to the strikes.

He also urged the UN Security Council to prevent illegal and unilateral US attacks in the region.

Prior to the US retaliatory strikes on Friday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said Iran would not start a war but would respond strongly to anyone who tries to bully it.

11:21 AM GMT

Iraq to summon US envoy over strikes

The Iraqi foreign ministry is to summon the US envoy to deliver a formal memorandum of protest in response to overnight US strikes.

The US has said it notified Iraq of the strikes before they took place, but Iraq has claimed that this was not the case.

The US struck 85 targets in seven locations across Syria and Iraq in response to the Iran-backed drone attack in Jordan that killed three American soldiers.

10:51 AM GMT

Signs of Hamas resurgence in Gaza areas Israeli troops have left

Hamas has begun deploying police forces and making partial salary payments to some of its civil servants in Gaza City in recent days, resurfacing in areas from which Israel had withdrawn the bulk of its troops a month ago, according to four residents and a senior Hamas official.

Gaza city residents told AP that uniformed and plain clothed police officers were deployed near police headquarters and other government offices, including near Shifa Hospital, the territorys largest.

In addition, reports of partial salary payments of $200 for at least some civil servants signal that Israel has not crushed Hamas yet, despite it saying it has killed more than 9,000 fighters in the region over the last four months.

10:31 AM GMT

Gaza civilian death toll rises to 27,238

The number of civilians killed in Gaza has risen to 27,238 after 107 people were killed in the past 24 hours, Gazas Hamas-run health ministry has said.

It added 165 people have also been wounded in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of people injured to 66,452 since October 7.

10:21 AM GMT

Iran condemns US airstrikes as violations of Iraqi and Syrian sovereignties

Irans foreign ministry has condemned overnight US airstrikes in Iraq and Syria as violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the two countries.

Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani, in a statement, said the attacks symbolised another adventurous and strategic mistake by the United States that will result only in increased tension in instability in the region.

The US military launched airstrikes against more than 85 targets linked to Irans Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) and the militias it backs, in response to last weekends drone attack in Jordan that killed three US troops.

10:07 AM GMT

US airstrikes in Iraq killed 16 including civilians, says Iraqi PMs office

Sixteen people were killed, among them civilians, and 25 injured in overnight US airstrikes on pro-Iran targets in Iraq, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudanis office said on Saturday.

In a statement, it condemned the strikes as a new aggression against Iraqs sovereignty and denied they were coordinated by the Baghdad government beforehand with Washington.

09:58 AM GMT

Israel strikes Gaza as fears grow of push into Rafah

Israel continued its strikes in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, as fears grow of a push into Rafah, the southern city packed with civilians displaced by the nearly four-month war.

Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have fled south to Rafah since the outbreak of the war, with the former city of 200,000 now housing more than half of Gazas two million-plus population, according to the United Nations.

According to reports, air strikes and tank fire rocked Khan Yunis overnight, with the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza saying that more than 100 people died. The IDF has said its forces have killed dozens of terrorists in northern and central Gaza over the past 24 hours.

09:45 AM GMT

Biden says US strikes on Iraq and Syria are just the beginning

The US air strikes on Iraq and Syria on Friday night are just the beginning of Washingtons response to the deadly drone attack on American troops, Joe Biden has said.

The US carried out airstrikes on 85 targets in Iraq and Syria, targeting command and control headquarters, intelligence centres and storage facilities.

The US president had vowed to deliver a decisive response, but insisted the US did not want a wider war with Iran. However, Mr Biden warned that those who harm Americans will be punished.

This afternoon, at my direction, US military forces struck targets at facilities in Iraq and Syria that the IRGC and affiliated militia use to attack US forces.

Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing.

The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world. But let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond.

Senior White House sources stressed on Friday that US action would not include any strikes on targets within Iran itself.

09:38 AM GMT

Top Hamas leaders split on ceasefire deal proposal, says WSJ

Senior Hamas leaders are currently split on the US-backed ceasefire and hostage-release proposal, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

The report claims US officials state that Hamas top leader, Yahya Sinwar, amongst others, are looking to accept a six-week pause in fighting that will enable Hamas to regroup and allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians in Gaza.

Egyptian officials say that Hamas is asking for approximately 3,000 Palestinian prisoners to be freed, including some who participated in the October 7 massacre, in exchange for 36 Israeli civilian hostages, according to the report. Meanwhile, Israel is demanding the return of all hostages across a multiphase deal. The Egyptian sources told the WSJ that Hamas has said it requires more time to locate all the hostages.

09:10 AM GMT

US airstrikes fuelling conflict in 'very dangerous way,' says Syrian foreign ministry

Syrias foreign ministry has condemned overnight retaliatory US airstrikes against more than 85 targets in Syria and Iraq linked to Irans Revolutionary Guards and the militias it backs.

What (the US) committed has served to fuel conflict in the Middle East in a very dangerous way, Damascus foreign ministry said in a statement.

08:48 AM GMT

UK calls US a 'steadfast' ally

Britain has called the US its steadfast ally and said it supports Washingtons right to respond to attacks, after the US military launched airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against Iran-linked targets.

The UK and US are steadfast allies. We wouldnt comment on their operations, but we support their right to respond to attacks, a British government spokesperson said in a statement.

We have long condemned Irans destabilising activity throughout the region, including its political, financial and military support to a number of militant groups.

08:43 AM GMT

Everybody must 'avoid escalation' in Middle East, says top EU diplomat

Josep Borrell, the European Union foreign policy chief, has called on all parties to avoid further escalation in the Middle East after US strikes on Iran-linked groups in Syria and Iraq.

Everybody should try to avoid that the situation becomes explosive, Mr Borrell said at a meeting on EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

The United States launched air strikes against Iranian forces and allied militias in Iraq and Syria on Friday, with Joe Biden vowing more to come in retaliation for a deadly drone attack on an American base in Jordan.

Mr Borrell did not address the US strikes directly, but repeated a warning that the Middle East is a boiler that can explode.

He pointed to the war in Gaza, violence along the Lebanese border, bombings in Iraq and Syria and attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

Thats why we call everybody to try to avoid an escalation, Mr Borrell said.

08:36 AM GMT

UAE allocates $5 mln to support UNRWA's Gaza efforts

The United Arab Emirates has allocated $5 million in support of efforts of chief United Nations Coordinator for the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), Sigrid Kaag, towards the reconstruction of the Gaza strip, state news agency WAM reported.

Major donors to UNRWA earlier suspended funding after allegations emerged that around 12 of its tens of thousands of Palestinian employees were suspected of involvement in the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel by Hamas.

08:33 AM GMT

US strikes result of Iranian proxies 'playing with fire'

Poland said that US retaliatory strikes on Iran-linked targets in Iraq and Syria were the result of Iranian proxies playing with fire.

Irans proxies have played with fire for months and years, and its now burning them, Radek Sikorski, the Polish foreign minister told reporters as he arrived for a meeting with his EU counterparts in Brussels.

08:20 AM GMT

Strikes came 'far too late, ' says Republican senator

Roger Wicker, a Republican Senator, has said the strikes are welcome but far too late for the three brave Americans who died and the nearly 50 wounded.

He added: Iran and its proxies have tried to kill American soldiers and sink our warships 165 times while the Biden administration congratulates itself for doing the bare minimum.

Instead of giving the Ayatollah the bloody nose that he deserves, we continue to give him a slap on the wrist.

07:52 AM GMT

Syrian defence ministry condemns 'air aggression'

The Syrian defence ministry said that US forces blatant air aggression led to a number of civilians and soldiers being killed and others being wounded and some significant damage to public and private property.

Occupying parts of Syrian lands by American forces cannot continue ... the Syrian army affirms continuing its war against terrorism until it is eliminated and is determined to liberate the entire Syrian territories from terrorism and occupation, the ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

The Iraqi military said the strikes were in the Iraqi border area and warned they could ignite instability in the region.

07:23 AM GMT

Republican Senator reacts to strikes

Finally.



Iran needs to know the price for American lives. https://t.co/RNH8iYyZ6c  Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) February 2, 2024

07:01 AM GMT

Who are the Iranian targets?

06:48 AM GMT

Iraq fury at US strikes

Iraq has angrily denounced US air strikes in its territory on Friday night.

American forces hit at least two Iranian militia targets in Iraq, including the headquarters of the Axis of Resistance in Al-Qaim and the base of the Popular Mobilisation Forces in Akashat.

But Gen Yehia Rasool, a spokesman for Iraqs prime minister, called the strikes a violation of his countrys sovereignty and said they would bring disastrous consequences for the security and stability of Iraq and the region.

Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani has recently called for the departure of American troops from Iraq after a previous US strike in Baghdad.

John Kirby, the US National Security Council spokesman, said the Biden administration did inform the Iraqi government prior to the strikes, but did not elaborate on Baghdads response.

06:17 AM GMT

Revealed: Israels new Gaza border

Israel is accused of clearing a 1km buffer zone inside the Gaza Strip as part of a new security border that could shrink the overall size of the Palestinian territory.

Satellite images analysed by The Telegraph show more than 1,000 buildings destroyed around the land perimeter of Gaza since the Oct 7 Hamas terror attacks.

Read more: Homes razed, orchards and schools destroyed  we reveal the truth behind Gazas new border

06:06 AM GMT

US House Speaker criticises Biden for delaying strikes

Mike Johnson, the Republican Speaker of the House, has criticised the White House for delaying its retaliation against Iranian militia groups after the killing of US troops in Jordan last week.

Mr Johnson said: The public handwringing and excessive signaling undercuts our ability to put a decisive end to the barrage of attacks endured over the past few months.

My statement regarding the U.S. strikes in Syria and Iraq. pic.twitter.com/ILO93cf0kS  Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) February 3, 2024

05:35 AM GMT

Where the strikes took place

Here are five of the seven locations targeted by US forces on Friday night. The other two sites have not yet been confirmed.

Syria

Deir al-Zour  Media in Lebanon are reporting videos of large explosions in the eastern city

Mayadin  There were reports of explosions in the ancient town, which lies on the Euphrates

Bukamal  There were also reports of strikes in Bukamal, on the border with Iraq

Iraq

Al-Qaim  US forces struck weapons depots and targeted the headquarters of the Axis of Resistance

Akashat  The base of the Popular Mobilisation Forces was reported to have been struck by a missile

04:49 AM GMT

Deadly attacks in Rafah

Deadly strikes were reported on Saturday morning in the overcrowded Gaza border town of Rafah.

Witnesses in the city heard powerful explosions shortly after midnight on Saturday, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting 14 people killed in two strikes there.

Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have fled south to Rafah since the outbreak of the war, with the former city of 200,000 now housing more than half of Gazas two million-plus population, according to the United Nations.

The UN humanitarian agency Ocha said it was deeply concerned about the escalation of hostilities in nearby Khan Yunis, which have pushed more and more people south in recent days.

Most are living in makeshift structures, tents or out in the open, Ocha spokesman Jens Laerke said.

Rafah is a pressure cooker of despair, and we fear for what comes next.

Palestinians are issued food rations at a camp in Rafah on Friday - GETTY IMAGES

04:13 AM GMT

Watch: US fighter jet takes off during Friday's operation

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups continue to represent a direct threat to the stability of Iraq, the region, and the safety of Americans. We will continue to take action, do whatever is necessary to protect our people, and pic.twitter.com/Y53nvRfjjx  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 3, 2024

03:35 AM GMT

Iran escaping with a slap on the wrist, say Republicans

Democrats and Republicans are divided over Joe Bidens strikes against Iranian targets in the Middle East on Friday night.

Jack Reed, the Democratic senator and chairman of the Senate Armed Service Committee, welcomed the attack and said Iran had to be held accountable for the deaths of US troops in Jordan.

Irans proxy forces in Syria and Iraq have been dealt a significant blow, and Iranian-linked militias around the Middle East should understand that they, too, will be held accountable, Mr Reed said.

I salute the brave US military members who carried out todays strikes, and I support President Bidens robust action.

These strikes, in concert with wise diplomacy, send a clear signal that the United States will continue to take appropriate action to protect our personnel and our interests.

Across the House floor, Republicans have been highly critical of the White Houses soft stance on Tehran and Senator Roger Wicker, also a member of the Armed Services Committee, said Fridays strikes will do little to frighten the Iranian regime.

These military strikes are welcome, but come far too late for the three brave Americans who died and the nearly 50 wounded, Mr Wicker said.

Iran and its proxies have tried to kill American soldiers and sink our warships 165 times while the Biden administration congratulates itself for doing the bare minimum.

Instead of giving the Ayatollah the bloody nose that he deserves, we continue to give him a slap on the wrist.

03:20 AM GMT

Analysis: Biden is entering political peril

Joe Bidens reprisal strikes on Iranian military targets in Iraq and Syria on Friday night posed one of the riskiest tests of his presidency to date.

The presidents actions were carefully aimed at treading a delicate balance: refuting charges of weak leadership while avoiding dragging the US into a wider regional conflict.

Mr Biden faced pressure at home and abroad to respond to the killing of three US troops in Jordan last weekend in a manner that would unequivocally signal he will not let American deaths go unpunished.

But in the tinderbox of the Middle East conflicts, even the most carefully planned military action can have unforeseen consequences.

Read more: Biden is entering the most dangerous days of his presidency

02:40 AM GMT

Militia deaths not yet known

It is unclear whether militia members were killed in the US attacks on Friday night.

Lt Gen Douglas Sims, the director of the Joint Staff, said: We know that there are militants that use these locations, IRGC as well as Iranian-aligned militia group personnel.

He added: We made these strikes tonight with an idea that there there would likely be casualties associated with people inside those facilities.

Syrian state media reported that there were casualties but did not give a number.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 18 militants were killed in the Syria strikes.

02:29 AM GMT

Today's top stories

The United States dropped more than 125 bombs on Irans military and its allies in Iraq and Syria on Friday night as it began retaliation for attacks on American troops

US bombers hit more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria, including sites held by the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Joe Biden, the US president, vowed to retaliate for the attacks against its soldiers, saying: If you harm an American, we will respond

An Israeli minister has compared Lord Cameron to Neville Chamberlain after the foreign secretary suggested the UK may formally recognise Palestinian statehood

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.
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)Physicians to Women (PTWO) provided notice to some of its clients of a security breach involving personal information.

PTOW says they were notified about suspicious activity within its network on April 4, 2023. In response, immediate steps were taken to secure its systems and an investigation began into the nature and scope of the incident with assistance from a third-party computer forensic specialist.

The investigation found that an unauthorized account gained access to certain systems in PTWOs network and acquired specific files from these systems. The office identified the affected files and worked with a data review vendor to examine the files affected and find the types of information contained and whom the breach relates.

Nursing shortage hitting southwest Virginia local university hopes to provide relief

After the data review, the results showed that the files contained patients names, social security numbers, and personal medical/health information. Although they were never able to confirm whether information was viewed by the unauthorized account, PTWO does not want to rule out the possibility.

As a precaution, PTWO says they will be providing credit monitoring for a year and have implemented additional security measures to further protect against future incidents. It has also notified Federal Law enforcement and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services about the security breach.

PTWO is taking this incident very seriously. It states that the confidentiality, privacy, and security of patients are among their highest priorities, and strict security measures are in place to protect private information.

For more information on this, visit this link.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jimmie Gilbert plays Taps at the base of the launch platform Jan. 27 during a ceremony memorializing the anniversary of the Apollo 1 fire at Launch Complex 34.

Dark shadows lengthened amid a fading orange sunset at long-abandoned Launch Complex 34, where the rust-streaked launch pedestal looms like a memorial to one of NASA's most haunting tragedies.

On Jan. 27, 1967, pioneering Apollo 1 astronauts Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Edward White and Roger Chafee died here in their spacesuits while sealed inside their command module atop a massive Saturn IB rocket. Flames and toxic fumes unexpectedly erupted during a pre-launch testing session, stunning the nation.

Lowell Grissom still wonders whether his big brother would have later become the first man to walk on the moon.

"It's always kind of an eerie feeling. I really have mixed emotions, a lot of different feelings," Grissom reflected, gazing up from his chair at the monolithic 27-foot-tall concrete structure.

"Sadness. You think about what happened here, and how tragic that was," Grissom said.

"A little anger. Because I really feel like  had some people done their job  there wouldn't have been an accident or a fire," he said.

"And a sense of pride, in what he accomplished in a short period of time," he said.

Grissom returned to the remaining ruins of LC-34 on Jan. 27 for a 57th-anniversary memorial marking one of NASA's grimmest days. Purple LED lights bathed the stark, shadowy pedestal during the somber evening ceremony, which marked the time of the 6:31 p.m. fatal fire at today's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Officials mothballed LC-34 in November 1971. Today, the few surviving structures bear the strange geometric symmetry of a lost civilization, including the domed blockhouse measuring 120 feet in diameter.

Astronauts Memorial Foundation officials hope to expand the annual Apollo 1 memorial service  traditionally limited to invitation-only small groups  to include more people at this site considered hallowed ground by many NASA supporters.

Indeed, Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum Director James Draper considers the remnants of LC-34 "one of the most powerful places on the Cape" and a tangible connection with the early days of the Space Age.

Space Memorial Mirror: Fallen astronauts honored during NASA Day of Remembrance event at KSC Visitor Complex

Had the Apollo 1 disaster not triggered NASA investigation and safety reforms, America may not have met President John F. Kennedy's national goal of reaching the moon by the end of the 1960s, said Thad Altman, Astronauts Memorial Foundation CEO and executive director.

As we look at what this year has in store  111 planned launches, including more crewed missions, at least a dozen new rockets being developed and planned for an opportunity to launch  all made possible today because of the legacy built by those who came before us, Space Force Col. Jessica Wedington told the crowd during the memorial service.

The Apollo 1 crew came here with a promise: to push the boundaries of exploration and further our understanding of space," Wedington said.

"They not only achieved this, but they paved the way for future generations to continue the same promise," she said.

Astronauts viewed as Cold War 'superstars'

Blue skies and fluffy white clouds are visible, looking skyward beneath the launch pedestal at Launch Complex 34.

Built off ICBM Road from 1959 to 1962 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, LC-34 was the world's biggest, most advanced launch complex. It was also the first constructed for the peaceful exploration of space, per a Library of Congress historical engineering record.

NASA launched seven rockets here from 1961 to 1968: four Saturn I test flights, two Saturn IB flights, and Apollo 7  the program's first crewed spaceflight, which lifted off 20 months after the deadly capsule fire.

Decades later, roaring surf is steadily audible at otherwise quiet LC-34, which stands sentinel about -mile from the deserted beach via an asphalt-gravel-dirt lane. Watch for rattlesnakes, memorial-service attendees were warned.

On the dune line, a ramshackle doorless hut-like structure stands partially filled with wind-driven sand and green viny plants. Ocean debris and decaying ropes that wash onto the beach remain in place as property of the federal government. A possible bobcat pawprint was imprinted in the sand.

The sun sets beyond the lone remaining concrete wall of a support structure before the Jan. 27 Apollo 1 memorial ceremony begins at Launch Complex 34.

Inhabited by scraggly weeds, crossed with rusty-red railroad tracks leading to nowhere, the circular reinforced-concrete rocket launch pad measures 430 feet in diameter and eight inches thick, the Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum reports. Even the stenciled "Abandon in Place" painted on the pedestal by military personnel has nearly faded away.

"When you look at the photos of this (launch complex) active, you'll see this pedestal is so shrouded in piping and wiring. It's almost completely obscured and hidden by all the machinery around it," Draper said, standing near the edge of the launch pad.

"It's just the bare skeleton of what existed. It's an incredible sight. I'm in awe every time I'm out here," Draper said.

Titusville resident Mark Poff worked on the space shuttle program from 1978 to 2017, primarily as a software engineer for McDonnell Douglas and The Boeing Co. Today, he serves as a NASA docent.

"I grew up here. And I was a space nerd since I was a kid. I was in sixth grade when Apollo 1 happened. And I remember the news breaking into whatever I was watching on TV," Poff recalled, standing at LC-34 alongside two dilapidated 43-foot-long flame deflectors.

"People remember Challenger. People remember Columbia. I've got to tell you, Apollo 1 was much more dramatic, I think. Certainly for me, but probably for the nation at large because it was the first time we lost astronauts," Poff said.

"And back then, these guys were superstars. They were our troops against the Soviet Union, if you will," he said.

'It would have been nice to have met him'

The Patrick Space Force Base Honor Guard conducts a flag-folding ceremony during the Jan. 27 Apollo 1 memorial event.

To Draper, LC-34 "epitomizes power of place for the Cape." The Apollo 1 memorial ceremony featured prayer, remarks from NASA and military leaders, Taps, a moment of silence and flag folding by the Patrick Space Force Base Honor Guard as darkness fell.

Justin Purvenas, the grandson of Roger Chafee, helped close the event by darkening a trio of white candles at the base of the launch pedestal. Cmdr. Sammy Green, Naval Ordnance Test Unit executive officer, hailed Chaffee as a hero.

"Roger Chaffee would prove himself most worthy of the title of astronaut  not by flying in space, but by choosing to remain strapped in his couch attempting to transmit emergency messages to the blockhouse while fire raged mercilessly through the Apollo 1 spacecraft," Green told the audience.

"He continued to relay data back to the blockhouse, though. The mission came first," he said.

Memorial items adorn the base of the concrete pedestal at Launch Complex 34.

Born in 1979, Purvenas, a 44-year-old St. Pete Beach resident, never got the chance to meet his grandfather.

"He was brave. He was smart. He was an inspiration to me," Purvenas said, minutes after the ceremony concluded.

"It would have been nice to have met him. But obviously, he made the greatest sacrifice.

Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Hallowed ground: Apollo 1 astronauts honored at site of tragic fire
Youve heard of cleanup crews, but what about  cleanup crows?

As part of a new anti-litter initiative, the Swedish city of Sodertalje is using some fine-feathered friends to help clean cigarette butts off of its streets.

The startup behind the mass crow-bilization is called Corvid Cleaning, in honor of the crow familys scientific name, corvidae. The companys business model is simple: It employs crows (voluntarily, of course) to pick up cigarette butts and drop them into a special machine. For each cigarette butt a crow places into the machine, the crow will get a small piece of food.

The Keep Sweden Tidy Foundation estimates that cigarette butts alone make up a whopping 62% of all street litter in Sweden. And these butts can be expensive to clean up.

The estimation for the cost of picking up cigarette butts today is around 80 ore [Swedish change] or more per cigarette butt, some say two kronor [around $0.20], Christian Gunther-Hanssen, the founder of Corvid Cleaning, told The Guardian. If the crows pick up cigarette butts, this would maybe be 20 ore per cigarette butt.

According to The Guardian, the savings could amount to 75% of the nearly $2 million that Sodertalje spends on street cleaning each year.

So, why crows? The biggest reason is that theyre incredibly smart. Their brain-to-body ratio is the largest among bird species, and studies have shown that New Caledonian Crows  the breed employed by Corvid Cleaning  perform as well on certain reasoning tasks as five to seven-year-old children.

Theyve also been observed making compound tools, a talent only previously displayed by humans and great apes. With these special skills, they may be able to do more than just clean cigarette butts.

Corvid Cleaning is not the only company training these amazingly advanced avians to pick up litter. French startup Birds for Change has created its own BirdBox machine to encourage crow cleaning.

Other bird species are getting in on the act, too. In February 2022, a Swedish father and son team built a bird feeder that encourages wild magpies to pick up trash in their neighborhood.

Though birds may not be ready to replace garbage trucks anytime soon, their progress has been encouraging, which is certainly something to crow about.

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PARIS/NANCHANG, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Under the radiant sunlight, a 3D-printed blue and white twin lotus graces a down jacket, evoking the elegance of fine blue and white porcelain.

This China-chic down jacket is a collaborative creation by tutors and students from the Textile and Garment Industrial Research Institute at Wuhan Textile University in Gongqingcheng City, East China's Jiangxi Province -- the birthplace of China's inaugural down jacket.

The design is crafted for the upcoming 2024 China-France Week scheduled to take place in Paris this autumn.

"Our objective is to infuse additional traditional Chinese cultural elements into our creations, including the exquisite blue and white porcelain from Jingdezhen. By showcasing the rich tapestry of Chinese ceramic culture and classical patterns to a global audience, we aim to breathe new life into ancient eastern civilization through contemporary and stylish clothing," said Wang Qiuhan, head of the institute.

These "China-chic" down jackets blend traditional Chinese elements seamlessly into modern design. Designers incorporate traditional textile techniques, embroidery, and clothing decorations like Chinese buttons, collars, while integrating abstract patterns of ink, mountains, and rivers with mosaics. The result is a fashionable and distinctly eastern charm.

"We are also promoting cooperation with inheritors of Xiabu embroidery, an intangible cultural heritage, to embroider our down jackets," Wang added.

In 2024, China and France not only celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties, but also observe it as the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism. This milestone year promises a plethora of bilateral cultural exchange activities.

Adorned with captivating images of waterfalls and ridges on the collar and belt, this down jacket resembles a renowned Chinese landscape painting, blending abstract ink patterns with the serenity of mountains and rivers. Making its debut on the fashion runway during China-France Week in Paris last autumn, this China-chic masterpiece, along with over 30 other captivating down jackets, took center stage and captivated the audience's attention.

Recalling that particular show, French girl Lea fondly remembers. "Those clothes are very pretty. It would be great to see more traditional Chinese elements in fashion, because it's a change from the type of fashion we have in France," she remarked.

"The down jackets gained attention from major European media and fashion magazines, sparking numerous order inquiries after their international debut. This highlights the rarity and uniqueness of Chinese traditional culture, with clothing serving as a powerful medium to share it with the world," noted Wang.

"I really like this show, especially the cut and fabric of these designs, and some design elements from nature, such as birds and mountains, are classic Chinese artistic conceptions. The mixing and stitching of fabric materials are amazing," said Isabelle Lawson, executive director of the French International Art Salon, as she reminisced about the show.

One of the designers, Wang Ran, aged 27, shared that in the 1970s, down jackets made their way into China and were humorously dubbed "bread suits" because of their coarse fabric, minimal down content, unexciting styles, and drab colors. Over the years, they have evolved to embrace qualities of lightness, fashion, and diversification.

"Nowadays, these China-chic down jackets not only bring us visual feast, but also carry Chinese traditional culture," she added.

High-end quality and superior design have invested made-in-China products with confidence and strength. The connection between China and France in the fashion industry is becoming increasingly close.

French design entities are keen on collaborating with China, acknowledging its leading position globally in garment production and processing. With strengths in both design and cost-effectiveness, the fashion industry sees significant potential for cooperation between China and France.

"In recent years, China has made great progress in the fashion industry, we are very willing to expand cooperation with China," said Xavier Romatet, dean of the French Fashion Institute, a leading fashion institute in France. 
KEARNEY  The University of Nebraska Board of Regents will finalize a series of cuts to academic programs and faculty members at the University of Nebraska at Kearney when it meets next week.

Weeks after faculty and students made a pitch to save bachelors programs in geography, theater and recreation management, regents will consider terminating those degrees, according to an agenda for the Feb. 9 meeting.

Regents will meet at 9 a.m. in the Varner Hall Boardroom at 3835 Holdrege St. It will be the boards first meeting of 2024.

The reductions are part of an effort to trim $5 million from UNKs budget, including $3 million from academic programs, to close a budget shortfall created by declining enrollments, limited revenue growth and increased costs of operations.

If approved, the cuts are expected to generate approximately $1.2 million in savings for UNK.

But they will also affect a total of 69 students still enrolled in those programs or emphasis areas, though the university said each of those students will be allowed to finish their degrees.

Faculty will also be given a runway to find new positions within NU or another institution. UNKs faculty have a collective bargaining agreement that extends through May 2025, according to the agenda.

Other items on the regents agenda:

* Chris Kabourek will be installed as interim president for the NU system. Kabourek, the vice president for business and finance, was appointed as the interim system leader after Ted Carter left NU to become president of the Ohio State University on Jan. 1.

* Regent Rob Schafer of Beatrice will succeed Lincoln Regent Tim Clare as chair of the board for the 2024 calendar year, marking his second time in that position.

Regents will then hold elections for the position of vice chair, who will become chair in 2025.

* Sen. John Arch of La Vista, the speaker of the Legislature, will provide an update on the legislative session to the board.
  2024-02-04 21:18

Lingnan: Beauty Beyond Borders | On Yide Road in Yuexiu District, #Guangzhou City, the rich flavor of the Lunar New Year hits you as soon as you arrive, with the entire street decked out in red. A variety of merchandise selling Spring Festival purchases such as #seafood, dried #fruits, couplets, paper cuttings, #toys, and #snacks extends from one end of the #street to the other, with crowds gathering in front of each #shop, contributing to an exceptionally vibrant festive atmosphere. #SplendidLingnan




New Delhi: Fans are eagerly awaiting Yami soon-to-release 'Article 370'. With the teaser of the film getting a roaring response from the masses, the recently released song 'Dua' that has already started making headlines.

The song crooned by Jubin Nautiyal has music from Shashwat Sachdev, and this beautiful song is a tribute to all the heroes of the nation who served the country selflessly in which Yami Gautam plays the character of an intelligence officer. Since the song was released, netizens have been highly praised for the theme, composition, and character of Yami Gautam.

An excited fan said, "Super excited to watch Yami as an intelligence officer once again". Another netizen wrote, "Yami Gautam perfectly pulls the role of an intelligence officer. No one better to play the role"

Hailing the dedication of Yami, a user wrote, "Cannot think of anyone to play the role of an officer like Yami Gautam!The dedication that she shows towards the character is totally amazing." A social media user praised Yami's look in the uniform and wrote, "You look absolutely stunning in the uniform Yami. Counting down the days till we can witness you in the theaters."

A social media user lauded the actress's script selection by writing, "After giving 'A Thursday' "Lost' and many more, Yami Gautam, we can not wait to see you in Article 370." Another user wrote, "Yami, your role in Article 370's Teaser as an intelligence officer is absolutely phenomenal! Your portayal is authentic and gripping. Can not wait to watch it on big screen"

'Article 370' is said to be another exciting film from the leading actress, and the teaser promises another solid performance combined with adrenaline rush, thrills, and powerful content. The actor will be seen in the action-packed avatar in the political-action-thriller film, which is inspired by true events. The film will be released in cinemas on February 23, 2024.

Talking about the film 'Article 370', the film is produced by Jio Studios and B62 Production, Produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Aditya Dhar, and Lokesh Dhar. The film, directed by Aaditya Suhas and Jambhale, features an ensemble cast alongside Yami Gautam in the lead role. Meanwhile, Yami Gautam will be also seen in 'Dhoom Dhaam'
New Delhi: City taxis and app-based aggregators such as Uber and Ola are required to follow the recently announced fare structure by the Karnataka Transport Department. The department issued a new directive on Saturday, mandating a uniform fare for both app-based cab aggregators and city taxis. According to news agency PTI, the revised fares would be applicable across the state with immediate effect.

Previously, the two categories of taxis had different fare structures. The updated fare system now classifies cabs into three categories based on the vehicle's cost. (Also Read: Indian Startups Raised $732 Mn Across 107 Deals In January 2024 Amid Layoffs)

New Fare Structure

-For vehicles whose purchase cost is Rs 10 lakh or below, the minimum fare has been fixed at Rs 100 for up to four km with a charge of Rs 24 for every additional km.

-For those costing between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 15 lakh, the minimum fare is Rs 115, and per km cost Rs 28.

-For those costing above 15 lakh, the minimum fare is set at Rs 130 with Rs 32 charged for each additional kilometre.

Waiting, Toll Charges and GST

-As for waiting charges, the first five minutes are free, after which passengers would be charged Re 1 for every minute.

-the app-based aggregators can collect five per cent GST and toll charges from the passengers.

-For cabs booked between 12 am and 6 am, operators can charge an extra 10 per cent. (Also Read: RBI Likely To Continue Status-Quo On Short-Term Lending Rate, Say Experts)

Notably, the order clearly states that no cab aggregators will be allowed to collect extra charges.

(With Inputs From PTI)
NEW DELHI: In a significant development, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Uttar Pradesh has unearthed a complex espionage network involving an individual named Satenra Siwal. Acting on intelligence gathered from various confidential sources, ATS received information indicating that handlers linked to Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI were exploiting employees of the Indian Army to obtain strategically vital and classified information.

The Ministry of External Affairs said that it is aware of the arrest of Satendra Siwal in Uttar Pradesh, who was posted as Security Assistant at the Embassy of India, Moscow. It said that the ministry has been working with the investigative authorities on the matter.

The intelligence suggested a severe threat to India's internal and external security. Upon investigation, Satendra Siwal, an MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff) posted in the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and currently stationed at the Indian Embassy in Moscow, Russia, was identified as a key player in the espionage network connected to the ISI.

Satendra was allegedly involved in anti-India activities, providing critical and confidential information about strategic activities of the Ministry and Indian Military Establishments to ISI handlers in exchange for financial gains. Following the development of this intelligence, Satendra was brought in for interrogation by the ATS Field Unit in Meerut, where he confessed to his involvement in the espionage activities and was subsequently arrested.
Voters cast their ballots at a polling station during the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary in Charleston, South Carolina, the United States, Feb. 3, 2024. Multiple U.S. media organizations on Saturday night projected that President Joe Biden has won the 2024 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary, the first official primary for the party. (Photo by Andrew Whitaker/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Multiple U.S. media organizations on Saturday night projected President Joe Biden has won the 2024 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary, the first official primary for the party.

The Associated Press, NBC News and others made the projection less than half an hour after the polls were closed.

Biden's easy victory follows his support for an unprecedented decision by the Democratic National Committee to prioritize South Carolina as the initial voting state over New Hampshire in the presidential primary.

Biden resurrected his 2020 presidential campaign after a strong primary performance in South Carolina, where African American voters play an outsized role in Democratic politics. That victory set him on the path to the Democratic nomination and the White House. 

Voters walk up the stairs to vote at a polling station during the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary in Charleston, South Carolina, the United States, Feb. 3, 2024. Multiple U.S. media organizations on Saturday night projected that President Joe Biden has won the 2024 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary, the first official primary for the party. (Photo by Andrew Whitaker/Xinhua)

Voting souvenir stickers are seen at a polling station during the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary in Charleston, South Carolina, the United States, Feb. 3, 2024. Multiple U.S. media organizations on Saturday night projected that President Joe Biden has won the 2024 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary, the first official primary for the party. (Photo by Andrew Whitaker/Xinhua)

Voters cast their ballots at a polling station during the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary in Charleston, South Carolina, the United States, Feb. 3, 2024. Multiple U.S. media organizations on Saturday night projected that President Joe Biden has won the 2024 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary, the first official primary for the party. (Photo by Andrew Whitaker/Xinhua)
Islamic cleric Maulana Mufti Salman Azhari was today arrested by Gujarat ATS from Mumbai's Ghatkopar area in a hate speech case and was taken to the police station where proceeding for his custody was underway. Meanwhile, hundreds of his suppporters gheraoed the Ghatkopar police station and raised slogans in his support. Azhari was booked for his hate speech delived in Gujarat's Junagadh. An FIR was filed after a video of an alleged inflammatory speech delivered by him went viral on social media.

Rapid Action Force personnel have been deployed outside police station to control the mob.

Junagadh Superintendent of Police Harshad Mehta had said that they were searching for Azhari. The hate speech took place during an occasion held in an open field near the 'B' division police station in Junagadh on Wednesday night.

Following the widespread circulation of the video, Azhari, along with local organizers Mohammad Yousuf Malek and Azim Habib Odedara, were charged under sections 153B (promoting enmity between different religious groups) and 505 (2) (making statements conducive to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

According to the police, two organisers of the event, Malek and Habib have already been arrested. The police said that the men had taken permission from the police for the gathering stating that Azhari would speak about religion and spread awareness about de-addiction but he delivered an inflammatory speech.
New Delhi: Champai Soren, who was made Chief Minister of Jharkhand in the absence of Hemant Soren, will face a crucial floor test in the state assembly today. This will be yet another test of unity among INDIA bloc partnerts ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and impending state assembly elections. The majority mark in the state 81-member assembly is 41. One seat is currently vacant in the assembly following the resignation of a JMM MLA. The MLAs of the ruling coalition - JMM-Congress-RJD - were kept in a Hyderabad resort amid fears of poaching and they have now reached Ranchi tonight ahead of today's floor test.

Speaking in the assembly, Former CM Hemant Soren said that a conspiracy was hatched in collaboration with the Raj Bhawan to get a sitting CM arrested. He termed January 31 as a black day in the history of India. Soren said, "Today I have been arrested on charges of 8.5 acre land scam. If they have the courage, then show the documents of the land registered in my name. If it is proved, I will quit politics." He warned that the BJP won't return to power in Jharkhand.

The combined strength of the JMM (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha), Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI(ML)) stands at 46 Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs)  comprising 28 from JMM, 16 from Congress, 1 from RJD, and 1 from CPI(ML). On the other hand, the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and its allies hold 29 MLAs.

Political analysts believe that barring any unforeseen events or significant developments, the JMM government is expected to successfully pass the floor test with its current majority in the Legislative Assembly. Another MLA Chamra Linda from the Bishunpur constituency could not be contacted by the party. Despite this, even if these two MLAs did not support Soren, the ruling coalition would survive the floor test with the support of 44 MLAs. Former CM Hemant Soren, who is in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate, will be present in the assembly to vote in the floor test.

However, a bit of scare for CM Soren came from Lobin Hembrom, JMM MLA from the Borio seat in the Sahibganj district who said that if the ruling party fails to fulfil its promises related to tribals, then he would severe all ties with the party and form a forum - Jharkhand Bachao Morcha.

Champai Soren, the present Chief Minister, played a prominent role in the Jharkhand movement during the late 90s, alongside Shibu Soren. Previously serving as the Transport Minister in the Hemant Soren government, Champai Soren not only brings experience to his current role but also enjoys the support of the influential Soren family.
New Delhi: The challenges for the INDI alliance continue to mount, and internal conflicts among its constituent parties are becoming increasingly apparent. In a recent development, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized the Congress, expressing doubts about the party securing even 40 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Adding to the alliance's internal tensions, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav now appears displeased with the Congress.

In a media interaction, when asked about the possibility of joining Rahul Gandhi in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Akhilesh Yadav stated that he cannot join if not invited. "Some significant events are organized, but we are not invited," remarked Akhilesh Yadav, highlighting his disappointment with the Congress party. This statement not only reflects Yadav's dissatisfaction but also suggests underlying tensions within the INDI alliance.

#WATCH | On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav says, "Many big events are organised, but we are not invited." pic.twitter.com/6avLMXouZk  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) February 4, 2024

Yadav's statement coincides with the I.N.D.I.A. bloc grappling with a delicate balance among its alliance parties. Mamata Banerjee in Bengal and Bhagwant Mann have already announced their decision to go solo in the Lok Sabha Election 2024 in their respective states. Additionally, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, a crucial architect of the bloc, has parted ways and aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party. It appears that the alliance parties are gradually drifting apart as the Lok Sabha Elections draw near.
Kupwara: In a heroic rescue operation, Vilgam Army Camp, located in North Kashmir's Kupwara District, successfully saved the life of a pregnant woman amidst heavy snowfall. The incident unfolded when the Army Camp received a distress call at 10:40 PM from SHO Vilgam and Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed Gagi, husband of the pregnant woman, Mrs. Safoora Begum. The situation was critical, and an urgent rescue and medical evacuation were requested.

Due to the severe snowfall over the past two days, the road from Khanbal to PHC Vilgam was impassable, making vehicle movement extremely difficult. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the rescue team and medics from Army Camp Kakrosa promptly responded to the distress call. They braved the challenging conditions, hiking for 7-8 km in 2 to 3 feet of snow in the middle of the night.

Despite the heavy snow blocking the road, the dedicated rescue team reached the location in time. The pregnant woman was carefully and safely evacuated to PHC Vilgam. The Vilgam police, already on standby at PHC Vilgam, received the patient, and a team of doctors immediately attended to ensure her safety.

The family and medical team expressed deep gratitude to the Indian Army and Vilgam police for their swift and selfless action. Their timely assistance not only saved the life of the pregnant woman but also ensured the well-being of both mother and child. This heroic effort showcases the commitment and bravery of the rescue team and medics who risked their own safety to help those in need.
Kerala Lottery Results Sunday 04-02-2024 Live: The Kerala lottery "AKSHAYA AK-637" Result, on behalf of the Kerala government, will be announced today, February 04, 2024, at Gorky Bhavan Near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala State Lotteries department, which releases the lottery in 12 series (subject to change), will draw the result. Each week, 108 lakh tickets are made available for purchase, and the series may vary. The first-place winner stands to receive a substantial 70 Lakh Rupees as the bumper prize. For those eagerly awaiting today's draw, the AKSHAYA AK-637 outcome for February 04, 2024, can be checked on this website. Stay tuned to ensure you don't miss the live results of Kerala Lottery AKSHAYA AK-637.

Kerala Lottery Result 04-02-2024 Feb: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR AKSHAYA AK-637 LOTTERY

LUCKY NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 70 LAKHS IS: AB 350822

LUCKY NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 5 LAKHS IS: AC 105932

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 Lakh ARE: AA 901596 AB 379355 AC 437028 AD 130888 AE 769743 AF 457107 AG 247888 AH 240530 AJ 284404 AK 201765 AL 235025 AM 936349

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: AA 350822 AC 350822 AD 350822 AE 350822 AF 350822 AG 350822 AH 350822 AJ 350822 AK 350822 AL 350822 AM 350822

(For The Tickets Ending with The Following Numbers below)

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: 8798 8926 1550 9235 3759 1125 5880 5058 3295 8220 0398 3807 8466 2097 6121 3777 1785 7113

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 2,000 ARE: 2260 3895 5069 6329 8318 8604 8947

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: 0378 0727 0751 1077 1080 1083 2160 2397 2673 3821 4017 4729 4915 5054 5702 6213 7120 7440 7743 8429 9542 9584 9754 9848 9946 9996

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: 0031 0277 0405 0459 0574 0651 0713 0814 0966 1222 1252 1518 1690 1771 1932 2006 2126 2978 2991 3151 3249 3267 3311 3411 3449 3814 4285 4373 4528 5003 5353 5561 5603 5657 5758 5813 5920 6098 6146 6219 6263 6281 6287 6602 6723 6794 6839 6873 6925 6938 6962 7501 7801 7815 7929 7987 8102 8108 8404 8532 8670 8835 8912 9090 9183 9237 9247 9346 9429 9454 9816 9834

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 8TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: 0074 0217 0226 0239 0343 0346 0397 0432 0624 0654 0678 0883 0960 1004 1052 1101 1137 1173 1177 1311 1322 1467 1519 1545 1569 1900 1956 1996 2059 2115 2148 2298 2360 2658 2719 2755 2792 2830 2836 3094 3098 3180 3419 3628 3770 3803 3944 3966 4114 4261 4272 4342 4542 4662 4700 4725 4778 4886 4901 5000 5013 5125 5159 5167 5264 5325 5514 5627 5682 5945 6006 6067 6068 6141 6284 6317 6406 6556 6589 6609 6697 6752 6969 7024 7057 7074 7176 7190 7192 7258 7276 7315 7399 7405 7453 7650 7654 7685 7789 7790 7823 7863 7879 8122 8162 8205 8249 8432 8468 8500 8706 8830 9011 9192 9314 9359 9421 9434 9528 9605 9639 9954 9987

KERALA LOTTERY RESULT 04-02-2024 February TODAY: AKSHAYA AK-637 LOTTERY PRIZE DETAILS

1st Prize: Rs 70 Lakhs

2nd Prize: Rs. 5 lakhs

3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh

4th Prize: Rs. 5,000

5th Prize: Rs. 2,000

6th Prize: Rs. 1,000

7th Prize: Rs. 500

8th Prize: Rs. 100

Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000

(NOTE: Lottery can be addictive and should be played responsibly. The data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice or encouragement. Zee News does not promote lottery in anyway.)
New Delhi: Ahead of the Uttarakhand Assembly session commencing on February 5, Section 144 has been enforced by the district administration, covering a radius of 300 meters around the Assembly premises.

Dehradun District Magistrate Sonika stated that, during the assembly session starting Monday, activities such as demonstrations by organizations and communities within the designated area will be prohibited.

This assembly session gains particular importance as it will deliberate on the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

In a preceding development on Saturday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami convened a cabinet meeting at the State Secretariat to discuss the draft report on the Uniform Civil Code. During this crucial state-level meeting, the Cabinet is expected to approve the draft report of the Uniform Civil Code. Following approval, the government will present the UCC Bill in the Assembly on February 6.

The UCC drafting committee, led by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, submitted the draft to Chief Minister Dhami on Friday.

The UCC proposes uniform civil laws for all communities in the state.

At an event organised at the Mukhya Sevak Sadan at the Chief Minister's Camp Office, Dhami on Friday said, "We promised our people to bring the UCC in Uttarakhand before the Assembly goes into session. The rollout of the UCC will be in line with a resolution adopted by the BJP."

Taking to his social media handle on Friday, CM Dhami said it was an important day for the people of the state as the UCC will help realise the vision of 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat'.

The UCC will provide a legal framework for uniform marriage, divorce, land, property and inheritance laws for all citizens, irrespective of their religion.

The passage of the UCC Bill will mark the fulfilment of a major promise made by the BJP to the people of the state in the run-up to the 2022 Assembly polls.
In a turn of events, the Uttar Pradesh ATS arrested Satendra Siwal, a resident of the Hapur district, for his alleged involvement in anti-India activities and spying for Pakistan. Siwal was posted in the Indian Embassy in Moscow and was put under surveillance and was arrested upon his return to India. The case reminds of the 2010 incident when a woman official posted in the Indian Embassy in Islamabad was arrested on similar charges and was later convicted for three years in 2018. She was Madhuri Gupta.

Who Was Madhuri Gupta?

Madhuri Gupta was an Indian Foreign Service officer. She was arrested in 2010 and was charged under the Official Secrets Act of 1923. She was found guilty of supplying sensitive information to a Pakistani official through a journalist. She died in 2021.

What Is The Case?

Just one and half years after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack that was carried out by Pakistan, the Intelligence Bureau and Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) received the news about a spy in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. The government was informed and the spy - Madhuri Gupta - a mid-ranking official with a secretary post was put under surveillance. She was fed false information and the flow of the data was tracked. It confirmed that Gupta was leaking info to a Pakistani official and was spying for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency.

Secret Investigation, Planned Arrest

Since the matter was sensitive, the investigation was kept secret and only three to four top officials of the RAW and IB were aware of the issue. After confirmation, Gupta was called to Delhi on the pretext of handling media relations for a SAARC summit to be held in Bhutan later in 2010.

Unaware of the ongoing investigation, Gupta landed in Delhi on 21 April and spent the night at her home in West Delhi. When she arrived at the MEA office in South Block the next day, she was arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police.

While Pakistan's ISI has honey-trapped many Indians including soldiers and officials in the past, the issue highlights the fact that how intelligence officials remain on their toes to keep the country safe.
The Pushkar Singh Dhami cabinet in Uttarakhand today approved the Uniform Civil Court draft after a meeting this evening. The Dhami cabinet approved the draft and now it will be taken up in the assembly in form of a bill. According to reports, the Cabinet meeting was held at CM Dhami's residence this evening. The UCC drafting committee, led by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, has submitted the draft to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday.

During a vital Cabinet meeting chaired by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Dhami, the draft report for the Uniform Civil Code received final approval. Following this, the government is set to introduce the UCC Bill in the Assembly on February 6. The Uniform Civil Code aims to establish consistent civil laws for all communities in the state.

Once implemented, Uttarakhand will become the first Indian state after independence to adopt the UCC. Following its liberation in 1961, Goa, which had a population of just six lakh at that time, chose to keep the Portuguese Civil Code. This decision made it the only state with a uniform civil code applicable to all religions.

The UCC will provide a legal framework for uniform marriage, divorce, land, property and inheritance laws for all citizens, irrespective of their religion. The passage of the UCC Bill will mark the fulfilment of a major promise made by the BJP to the people of the state in the run-up to the 2022 Assembly polls.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has already said on various platforms that the Uniform Civil Code will be implement across India after legal consideration.
New Delhi: Delhi-NCR experienced light rainfall early on Saturday morning. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts intermittent light rain accompanied by thundershowers in the national capital and surrounding areas on February 4. Additionally, expect cloudy skies with fog persisting for the next 2-3 days.

#WATCH | Delhi: Parts of national capital receive light drizzle; visuals from Red Fort area pic.twitter.com/USizU1AZdC February 3, 2024

Dense Fog To Engulf Delhi

IMD forecasts dense to very dense fog in isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi during the morning hours on February 5 and 6.

Fresh Rain Spell Over Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan

A new Western disturbance is expected to bring light to moderate scattered to fairly widespread rainfall, along with thunderstorms, gusty winds, and isolated hailstorms over Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh on February 4 and 5.

IMD Predicts Snowfall Over Jammu And Kashmir

As per the IMD's weather bulletin, there's a high likelihood of light to moderate, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall and snowfall in Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand over the next two days. Thunderstorms, gusty winds, and isolated hailstorms are also anticipated in these regions.

The Met Department has issued a warning for cold day conditions in Himachal Pradesh.

According to the IMD forecast, several areas in Northwest India are anticipated to experience a rise in minimum temperatures by 2-3C over the next two days, followed by a subsequent decrease of 2-3C.
New Delhi: In a unique twist to modern romance, a 23-year-old Russian software developer, Alexander Zhadan, claims that artificial intelligence (AI) played a significant role in helping him meet and connect with his now-wife. According to reports from Russian news agency RIA Novosti, Zhadan utilized AI, including ChatGPT and other bots, to streamline his search for love on the popular dating app Tinder.

AI Filtering And Matchmaking

Zhadan provided ChatGPT with information on his communication style, allowing the AI to filter potential matches and engage in conversations on his behalf. (Also Read: India's Stock Exchanges Cut Paytm Daily Trading Limits To 10% After Rout)

After encountering around 5,000 women in a year, the AI-assisted approach helped him identify his "AI-endorsed soulmate," Karina Imranovna. "I trained it to such an extent that it began to interact with girls like me," shared Zhadan about his AI companion. (Also Read: Chennai Metro Joins ONDC, First To Do So; Check What New It Brings)

AI's Role In Relationship Progression

The AI not only filtered out undesirable matches but also engaged in small talk, arranged dates, and eventually assisted Zhadan in proposing to Karina. He installed specific filters to prioritize women with whom he should continue communicating in real life.

When Zhadan met Karina in person, he continued to use the AI platform to guide their correspondence. The neural network even provided suggestions on where to go and what to say in different situations.

AI's Proposal Recommendation

At the end of 2023, ChatGPT recommended that Zhadan propose to Karina, highlighting the strength and balance in their relationship.

Karina's Reaction

Karina was reportedly unaware of the AI's role in their relationship until after they submitted their applications to the registry office. Zhadan mentioned that she reacted calmly upon discovering the truth.

Zhadan believes it is possible to create a program to help others find their "ideal partner" by understanding the economic and integration aspects. He considers his AI-assisted matchmaking as a personal project.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Former Trump official Mike Gill died on Saturday, a few days after being shot during a deadly carjacking rampage in the U.S. capital of Washington, D.C., Fox News reported.

Gill, who previously served as chief of staff at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission during former President Donald Trump's administration, was senior vice president for Capital Markets at the Housing Policy Council when he died.

Gill was attacked on Monday afternoon, the first of many reported in a carjacking rampage.

Police said the suspected gunman, identified as 28-year-old Artell Cunningham, entered Gill's car that was parked in the 900 block of K. Street in northwest Washington and shot Gill inside.

There were two shootings by the same suspect, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told a press conference, calling the events an "unthinkable tragedy."

Early Tuesday morning, Cunningham was fatally shot by New Carrollton police officers after he allegedly moved toward them while armed at an intersection in Lanham, Maryland.

Police said they believe the suspect suffered from mental health issues. The investigation is still underway. 
TEL AVIV: In a rare admission, Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari acknowledged on Saturday that Israel has hit more than 50 targets belonging to Hezbollah and other Iran-backed militias in Syria since October 7. Israel has been hitting targets belonging to Iran and its proxy militias in Syria for years, though only acknowledging them infrequently and in general ways.

Overall, the IDF has struck more than 3,400 Hezbollah targets in Southern Lebanon since October 7, Hagari said. According to Hagari, this includes 40 weapons depots, 40 command and control centers, 120 observation posts, and 150 Hezbollah terror cells. Hagari said around 200 members of the Iran-backed Hezbollah have been killed in the airstrikes.

"Everywhere Hezbollah is, we shall be. We will take action everywhere required in the Middle East," Hagari said. Since October 7, Hezbollah has fired more than 2,000 rockets and anti-tank missiles and launched dozens of aerial drones, killing 18 Israelis and forcing over 80,000 living near the Lebanese border to evacuate.

Hagari disclosed that Israel has deployed three army divisions to the Lebanese border. The presence of armed Hezbollah forces in Southern Lebanon violates UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the Second War in Lebanon in 2006. Under that agreement, the Lebanese Armed Forces are supposed to be the only armed group south of the Litani River.
Buying dividend stocks that have seen better days can be a great way to ensure you're exposed to the possibility of gain from a turnaround. It's also a great way to get a higher yield on your shares than you would otherwise, and that can add up to make for a big benefit over time.

But not every recently tarnished dividend stock is a smart purchase. In fact, many will burn your money and dash your hopes for passive income. So here's one example of a dangerous dividend stock to avoid, and one that's a solid choice for a long-term hold.

Avoid Medical Properties Trust

Shares of Medical Properties Trust (NYSE: MPW), a healthcare real estate investment trust (REIT), are down by 76% in the last three years. That's a big part of the reason its forward dividend yield is upwards of 27%. Critically, this isn't a stock to buy on the dip to capture its outsized yield. It's one to examine as a lesson for what to look out for and avoid.

In a nutshell, Medical Properties Trust buys and rents out healthcare facilities to its tenants, some of whom it invests in. There are many things that can go wrong with that process.

If it uses too much debt while buying properties, the costs of servicing the interest payments can become unsustainably high relative to its income. Its debt load is currently in excess of $10 billion, or 122% of its equity. In 2026, it'll need to repay close to $3 billion in debt; it has only $340 million in cash on hand now, and its trailing-12-month net losses are $33 million.

If its tenants encounter problems, they may struggle to pay rent on time. One of its largest tenants, Steward Healthcare, which is responsible for approximately 20% of the REIT's revenue as of Q3, is chronically unable to pay its full monthly rent, and is behind on its payments to the tune of $50 million. The company plans to write off hundreds of millions of its rent receivables in its Q4 earnings report. That's a bad sign.

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Finally, if it can't generate enough cash to pay out to investors, it'll need to slash the dividend again. In 2023, it cut its payment considerably, but more could be on the way. There isn't any hope in sight, either. With tightly constrained resources and little in the way of surging demand for hospital floor space, this business may not recover from its downward spiral. Don't buy this stock.

Consider buying Pfizer

Pfizer's (NYSE: PFE) story is somewhat the opposite of Medical Properties Trust. Its stock soared due to its development and sale of the Comirnaty vaccination and Paxlovid antiviral pill for preventing and treating coronavirus infections. But the company's temporarily-bloated top line is deflating from its peak of just over $100 billion in 2022.

In essence, Pfizer became a victim of its own success, and when the scramble for tools to fight the pandemic became less intense, it was all but guaranteed to struggle growing.

Pfizer's forward yield is now 6.1%, and its coronavirus windfall is eroding rapidly. Nonetheless, its trailing-12-month sales of $68.5 billion are still much higher than its pre-pandemic haul of $40.9 billion in 2019. Management has a plan to increase that sum by quite a bit by scaling up its competition in oncology over the next six years and beyond.

The first stage of the plan is already in motion. Pfizer recently purchased Seagen, a biotech developing antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) medicines for various cancers, and it aims to acquire additional companies while also upscaling the output of its pipeline by spending more on research and development.

Scaling up will mean increasing its opportunities to grow in the long term. It already has a whopping 31 programs in phase 3 clinical trials, with another 34 in phase 2, so investors can have confidence that the company has a strong roadmap to deliver its dividend for at least the next six to eight years, and likely beyond.

Though its payout ratio is relatively high at the moment, at 89% of its annual earnings, returning to growth will ameliorate the situation and give Pfizer more headroom to hike its payment once again. Especially for investors who are willing to buy the stock now when it's down and hold it for a long time (during which it'll be able to deliver a steady stream of cash), Pfizer's shares are an opportunity that's ripe for the taking.

Should you invest $1,000 in Medical Properties Trust right now?

Before you buy stock in Medical Properties Trust, 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 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 16, 2024

Alex Carchidi has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Pfizer. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

1 Beaten-Down Dividend Stock to Avoid in 2024, and 1 to Consider Buying and Holding Forever was originally published by The Motley Fool
Dividend stocks are a great way to add value to your portfolio. Not only will a company pay you to have skin in the game, they help mitigate risk of a slumping stock price -- and studies have shown that over time dividend stocks outperform non-dividend stocks.

When you find a cheap dividend stock with lots of potential upside, the results can be fantastic. Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is certainly an ultra-cheap dividend stock with upside you can buy today.

The long road

Make no mistake, the folks at Ford have some work to do. The company disappointed investors with its financial performance over the past year, and it's embarking on a massive task to cut warranty costs, reduce vehicle design and complexity, and improve scale. Throw in a massive restructuring program mostly aimed at Europe, and you have a potential turnaround story in the making.

Ford is also doing a few things that bode well for investors. The company has exited or downsized unprofitable businesses -- looking at you Brazil and India -- and turned its focus to more profitable opportunities such as its commercial business and popular trucks, SUVs, and off-road vehicles, such as the Bronco.

The Detroit icon is also scaling up its Model e business unit, which is focused on electric vehicles. This is also a story that requires patience from investors, as a big part of its scaling may come from the BlueOval City Battery Electric Vehicle plant that opens in Tennessee next year. That said, Ford is aiming to turn a profit on its Model e unit by the end of 2026, which would be a huge boost to a company anticipating EV losses to reach a staggering $4.5 billion in 2023.

Image source: Ford Motor Company presentation.

In the meantime, Ford is using its manufacturing flexibility to step on the gas where appropriate. One recent example was Ford announcing it would cut two-thirds of jobs at the Michigan plant that produces the F-150 Lightning as EV demand softens. Some of those workers will transfer to a nearby plant where Ford is adding a third crew to increase production of the more profitable Bronco and Ranger.

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Ultra-cheap dividend

While Ford embarks on its turnaround projects, and forges ahead with its EV strategy, investors have sold the stock in droves. Investors have a chance to scoop up the Detroit icon at a paltry price-to-earnings ratio of seven -- and at a current dividend yield of 5.2%, it's tempting for income investors.

To put the power of dividends being reinvested into perspective, look at the difference between Ford's price return alone compared to its total return with dividends included.

F Chart

There's no question Ford has struggled among its peers lately, and the company has much work to do improving its manufacturing and design complexity, reducing warranty costs, and gauging when to accelerate its EV program.

But Ford is one ultra-cheap dividend stock yielding 5% that you can scoop up today while waiting for its turnaround to gain traction.

Should you invest $1,000 in Ford Motor Company right now?

Before you buy stock in Ford Motor Company, 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 Ford Motor Company wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks

*Stock Advisor returns as of January 22, 2024

Daniel Miller has positions in Ford Motor Company. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

1 Ultra-Cheap Dividend Stock Yielding 5% That You Can Buy Today was originally published by The Motley Fool
Liz Leyden / Getty Images

Buying a car is an enormous purchase that can not only provide sticker shock, but also put a strain on budgets.

Discover: 5 Japanese Cars To Stay Away From Buying

Learn: Pocket an Extra $400 a Month With This Simple Hack

Indeed, Consumer Reports noted that the average cost of new cars is now more than $48,000  up a whopping $6,000 from two years ago and $10,000 from September 2020, according to Kelley Blue Book.

So in-depth research and doing your homework are crucial when it comes to making that big a purchase.

For instance, the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study reports an industry average of 186 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). The study examined how vehicles are performing in terms of quality, component replacement and appeal  including those vehicles with new technology  and helps automotive manufacturers design and build better vehicles to stand the test of time and promote higher resale value.

In 2022, the industry average was 192, suggesting that the quality of the average car has improved. Yet, some models fared worse than others.

As J.D. Power noted, mass market brands had the fewest issues, with 182 PP100, which represents 8 PP100 lower than a year ago and 23 PP100 lower than for premium brands (205 PP100). The main factor for the dependability disparity between the two segments is new technology introduced in vehicles, according to J.D. Power, as premium brands usually have more technology, increasing complexity and the likelihood of additional problems.

Find Out: These 10 Cars Could Drain Your Savings Through Constant Repairs

Here are the brands with the most issues and hence, the least dependable, according to J.D. Power, as reported by Kelley Blue Book.

Land Rover  Problems Per 100 Vehicles: 273

Lincoln  Problems Per 100 Vehicles: 259

Audi  Problems Per 100 Vehicles: 252

Ford  Problems Per 100 Vehicles: 249

Tesla  Problems Per 100 Vehicles: 242

Mercedes-Benz  Problems Per 100 Vehicles: 240

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Jaguar  Problems Per 100 Vehicles: 229

Chrysler  Problems Per 100 Vehicles: 226

Volkswagen  Problems Per 100 Vehicles: 216

Volvo  Problems Per 100 Vehicles: 215

Subaru  Problems Per 100 Vehicles: 214

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 New Cars to Avoid Buying in 2024
In this article, we will look into the 10 most innovative economies in Central and South America. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to the 5 Most Innovative Economies in Central and South America.

The Tech Sector in Latin America

The economic growth in Latin America presents a contrasting picture, providing both hurdles and opportunities for innovation. According to a report by McKinsey and Company, Latin America faces many challenges to truly excel as an innovative region. Equitable access to technology and lack of skill development are some of the factors hindering innovation and technological advancements in the region. In 2010, Latin America showed significant progress, as the number of internet users in the region doubled. However, the region still lags behind others. The lack of digital adoption in the region is evident by the gap in fixed and mobile broadband subscriptions, compared to developed economies. Additionally, there are many gaps and disparities across Central and South American countries, in terms of use and access. For instance, internet use in Uruguay is close to the OECD average. On the other hand, the usage is nearly 50% lower in El Salvador compared to the OECD average. Moreover, in Peru, nearly 75% of top quintile earners use the internet regularly, compared to the bottom quintile.

Latin America has been a latecomer and slow adopter of technologies. This can be observed in areas such as mechanized farming. The region exhibited a lower adoption rate compared to other regions. Similarly, when the adoption of mobile money swelled in Africa, it remained significantly lower in Latin America. However, a surge in technology adoption was observed during the pandemic, exemplified by initiatives such as Brazil's Pix digital payment system. Over 50% of the total population in Brazil adopted the system in less than a year. This represents the region's potential to quickly adopt technology.

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The technology adoption in Latin America has been strengthened by the surge of innovative companies. Over 80% of start-up unicorns in Latin America are focused on fintech and e-commerce. Nonetheless, the concerns remain the same. The research and development investment in the region is 0.6% of its GDP, which is 25% less than the OECD average and China. Latin America only represents 2% of the global patent applications, with less than 20% filed by Latin Americans. The region also lags in terms of adopting advanced technologies such as AI. The report cites an estimate that suggests the impact of AI on Latin America, stating that its impact will be 3-5 times lower in Latin America, compared to North America and China. The region must invest in research and development and technology integration to emerge as an innovative region.

Despite these challenges, Latin America is exhibiting resilience and trying to adopt new technologies. For instance, according to an article by Bloomberg, published on January 5, Argentina is set to update its old patenting rules which hinders the farmers from accessing modern technology, allowing it to compete with agricultural leaders such as Brazil and the US. This will help major seed companies such as Syngenta, Corteva, Inc. (NYSE:CTVA), and Bayer AG (OTC:BAYRY), who would be able to charge royalties. This reform can result in higher yields and also boost Argentina's competitiveness in the global market.

Business in Latin America

Some of the top companies contributing to the technological advancements in the Americas include Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NU), Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras (NYSE:PBR), and Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE).

Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NU) is a leading fintech company in Latin America. As of February 2, the company has a market cap of $44.55 billion. On January 24, the company announced that it had introduced new features to provide users with more control over their financial decisions. The new feature allows customers to add funds to accounts using their credit card limits. The users can access the new update in the Nu Holdings Ltd.'s (NYSE:NU) bank app by selecting "Charge it all to the credit card," and then selecting "Add funds to account."

Talking about the new updates, Livia Chanes, CEO of Nubank in Brazil, said:

This product also promotes flexibility, as it offers another option for those who do not have access to loans. The goal is to provide more security to our customers when their account balance is low and in establishments that do not accept credit card payments. It is an additional alternative and expanding financial possibilities. Since the funds added to the account come from the credit card limit, the feature helps provide another form of liquidity for the customer."

Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) is a Brazilian petroleum company. The company leads the petroleum market in the region with a market cap of $110.31 billion, as of February 2. On December 29, 2023, the company announced that it had signed a contract with UNIGEL to produce fertilizers at the Sergipe and Bahia plants. This agreement is a result of the company's strategic planning for fertilizer production.

On December 15, 2023, Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) Petrobras announced that it had signed a new natural gas contract with Companhia Distribuidora de Gas do Rio de Janeiro (CEG) and CEG RIO S.A. (CEG RIO). The new contract aims to provide natural gas to the companies to regulate supply of natural gas. The contract will expire after December 2034. The estimated value for the entire period is R$51.6 billion.

Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE) is a top metals and mining company, headquartered in Brazil. The company boasts a market cap of $57.14 billion, as of February 2. On November 12, 2023, the company announced that it had opened the first-ever iron ore briquette plant in the world. The new facility will revolutionize the steel industry by providing a GHG emissions reduction of up to 10%. Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE) intends to produce 6 million tonnes of briquettes yearly. The company has caught the attention of over 30 companies worldwide. This innovation by the company will play a significant role in decarbonizing the steel industry.

With this context, let's have a look at the 10 most innovative economies in Central and South America.

10 Most Innovative Economies in Central and South America

10 Most Innovative Economies in Central and South America

Methodology

We have ranked the most innovative economies in Central and South America by utilizing metrics including R&D Expenditure, High Technology Exports in US$, and Digital Adoption Index (DAI). These metrics serve as a concrete framework to rank the most innovative countries in the region, providing us with detailed insights about their technological and research advancements.

To compile our list, we first sorted the countries on the basis of their R&D expenditure. We then sourced their DAI and high-technology exports. We allotted ranks to the countries on our list based on each metric. Finally, we assigned weights as 40% to R&D Expenditure, 40% to High Technology Exports, and 20% to DAI to our metrics. Our list ranks the countries in descending order of the weighted average calculated across our metrics.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

10 Most Innovative Economies in Central and South America

10. Paraguay

R&D Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP (2020): 0.16

High Technology Exports (2021): $103 million

Digital Adoption Index (2016): 0.542

Insider Monkey Score: 9.4

Paraguay is ranked among the most innovative economies in Central and South America. In 2021, the country reported high-technology exports of $103 million. The country spent 0.16% of its GDP on research and development in 2020.

9. Guatemala

R&D Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP (2021): 0.05

High Technology Exports (2021): $332 million

Digital Adoption Index (2016): o.524

Insider Monkey Score: 9.2

Guatemala is one of the most innovative countries in Central and South America. In 2016, the country reported a DAI of 0.524. The country reported an R&D expenditure of 0.05% in 2021. The high technology exports in the country were reported to be $332 million in 2021.

8. El Salvador

R&D Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP (2020): 0.16

High Technology Exports (2021): $358 million

Digital Adoption Index (2016): 0.503

Insider Monkey Score: 7.8

El Salvador is ranked among the most innovative economies in Central and South America. The country reported high-technology exports of $358 million in 2021. The country spent 0.16% of its GDP on research and development in 2020.

7. Peru

R&D Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP (2020): 0.17

High Technology Exports (2020): $173 million

Digital Adoption Index (2016): 0.553

Insider Monkey Score: 7.6

Peru ranks 7th on our list. In 2021, the country spent 0.17% of its GDP on research and development. The country reported high technology exports of $173 million in 2020. In 2016, the country reported a DAI of 0.553.

6. Uruguay

R&D Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP (2020): 0.44

High Technology Exports (2020): $113 million

Digital Adoption Index (2016): 0.758

Insider Monkey Score: 5

Uruguay is ranked 6th among the most innovative economies in Central and South America. The country reported high technology exports of $113 million in 2020. The country spent 0.44% of its GDP on research and development in 2020. In 2015, the country reported a Digital Adoption Index of 0.758.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Most Innovative Economies in Central and South America.

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Disclosure: None. 10 Most Innovative Economies in Central and South America is originally published on Insider Monkey.
In this article, we are going to discuss the 15 top rated Bourbon whiskeys under $100. You can skip our detailed analysis of the Bourbon industry in Kentucky, the new positive development for Bourbon distillers, and the recent acquisitions in the Bourbon industry, and go directly to 5 Top Rated Bourbon Whiskeys Under $100.

Bourbon  Its about as American a drink as apple pie is a food. For the popular spirit to earn its name, it must be composed of at least 51% corn, aged in new charred oak barrels, bottled at 80 proof or higher, and  this part is important  produced in the United States.

The country of origin distinction came from a 1964 congressional resolution that declared Bourbon whiskey as a distinctive product of the United States that is unlike other types of alcoholic beverages, whether foreign or domestic. Ever since, it must be made on American soil in order to legally bear the name Bourbon.

The Bourbon Industry in Kentucky:

Although the popularity of Bourbon, Americas only native spirit, has risen and fallen throughout the past 100 years, it is experiencing a resurgence today like never before in history. Major distilleries have been expanding operations at a feverish pace to keep up with demand, and new craft distilleries are popping up all over the United States. Experts and industry insiders agree that this so-called Bourbon Boom is here to stay, and whiskey lovers around the world wouldnt have it any other way.

Kentucky is the birthplace of Bourbon, crafting 95% of the worlds supply. Only the Bluegrass State has the perfect natural mix of climate, corn, and pure limestone water necessary for producing the worlds greatest Bourbon.

As we mentioned in our article  20 Highest Quality Bourbon Brands in the US  Bourbon is a $9 billion signature industry in Kentucky that generates more than 22,500 jobs. And if were looking at production and consumption, the state receives more than $286 million in tax revenue each year from its signature whiskey.

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Since 2000, Bourbon production has skyrocketed more than 360% thanks, in part, to the premium brands driving the Bourbon boom. Also making history last year, the number of Bourbon barrels aging in Kentucky reached a record 11.4 million  thats around two barrels per every Kentucky resident.

Good News for Bourbon Distillers:

The Kentucky legislature voted last year to completely phase out the barrel tax, marking a big relief to the Bluegrass States booming Bourbon industry. The barrel tax is a property tax on whiskey aging in rick houses. The state rate is small at just 5 cents per $100 in value, but for an industry that is rapidly growing and counties that have hundreds of barrels of Bourbon aging in warehouses, that amount adds up. It's a tax that distillers say might slow the future growth of the industry and threaten to chip away at the state's status as the Bourbon industry epicenter. The phaseout is expected to begin in 2026 and should be completed by 2039.

However, the industrys victory has come at a potential cost  leaders from some of the top Bourbon-producing counties argue that the barrel tax phase out will take away an important source of revenue for local governments. Over 25 counties in Kentucky stand to lose an estimated $30 million in annual revenue that goes to fund county libraries, schools, and emergency services from property taxes generated on the value of barrels of aging spirits. A fiscal note included in the bill shows that local governments could potentially lose more than $232 million in tax revenue by 2039.

Recent Acquisitions in the Bourbon Industry:

In August last year, the brewing giant Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) made its first spirits acquisition with the purchase of Bourbon and rye whiskey producer Blue Run Spirits. The Chicago-based brewer said that the deal marked another step in its evolution into a total beverage company. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The addition of Blue Run expands the Blue Moon makers footprint in spirits as it seeks to premiumise its portfolio. Furthermore, Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) has established Coors Spirits Co. to house its existing spirits business, which includes Five Trail Blended American Whiskey, Barmen 1873 Bourbon, and future innovation.

The Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) ranks among the Largest Alcohol Companies in the World in 2023.

Similarly, MGP Ingredients, Inc. (NASDAQ:MGPI) announced in June that it had acquired Penelope Bourbon in a deal worth $215.8 million, including incentives. The acquisition will add to the Indiana-based companys extensive portfolio of award-winning Bourbon, whiskey and coarse rye, giving it control over one of the most recognizable new brands in the industry. Penelope Bourbon will continue to operate independently from MGP Ingredients, Inc. (NASDAQ:MGPI) and will maintain its existing team, structure, and production standards. This ensures that the brands iconic products can still be enjoyed by whiskey enthusiasts around the world.

MGP Ingredients, Inc. (NASDAQ:MGPI) is one of the Best Alcohol Stocks to Own According to Hedge Funds.

With that said, here are the Top Bourbons Under $100 in 2024.

15 Top Rated Bourbon Whiskeys Under $100

Pixabay/Public Domain

Methodology:

To collect data for this article, we referred to a number of sources, such as Liquor, VinePair, Mens Journal, Reddit etc., looking for the Best Bourbons You Can Buy Under $100. We picked whiskeys that appeared multiple times in the aforementioned sources, assigned them a score based on their number of appearances, and ranked them accordingly. When two Bourbons had the same score, we ranked them by the price of their 750 ml bottles.

Note: Prices have been sourced from multiple sources, including Wine-Searcher, Total Wine & More etc. As liquor prices can vary greatly across the United States, we cannot guarantee their accuracy.

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.

15. Evan Williams Single Barrel

Insider Monkey Score: 4

Price: $53

Evan Williams Single Barrel is the only vintage dated single barrel Bourbon on the market. Similar to the way vintage wines are selected, the companys distillers hand-select individual barrels that meet the specifications they've established. Then each bottle is marked with the vintage date it was put into oak, along with the year it was bottled, and the exact barrel number of the single barrel that the Bourbon was drawn from. The Even Williams brand is also owned by the family-owned Heaven Hill Distillery

14. Larceny Barrel Proof

Insider Monkey Score: 5

Price: $88

Larceny Barrel Proof offers a new opportunity to experience the brands acclaimed wheated Bourbon mash bill in its purest form  non-chill filtered and bottled at full barrel proof. Released three times per year, each offering is a bold yet balanced special Small Batch Bourbon rich with depth and distinction.

Larceny is the heir to the wheated Bourbons that make up the historic Old Fitzgerald franchise that Heaven Hill acquired in 1999. In fact, it is the somewhat controversial history of John E. Fitzgerald and his eponymous Bourbon brand that provides the story, and name, to Larceny Bourbon.

13. 1792 Full Proof

Insider Monkey Score: 5

Price: $70

Bottled at its original 125 barrel entry proof, this Bourbon underwent a distinct filtering process, forgoing the typical chill filtration and passing only through a plate and frame filter. This allowed the High Quality Bourbon to maintain a robust proof for bottling, as well as a full, rich, and bold flavor.

1792 is a premium Bourbon owned by the Sazerac Company, a global beverage alcohol giant that took over the brand and its distillery in 2009.

12. W. L. Weller Special Reserve

Insider Monkey Score: 6

Price: $89

The original wheated Bourbon whiskey features an exceptionally smooth taste, substituting wheat for rye in the mash bill. Bottled at 90 proof, this expression stands out with its burnt orange color. Its softer flavor notes make this Bourbon great for sipping or making cocktails.

Produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY, the W. L. Weller brand has been owned by the Sazerac Company since 1999. The Frankfort facility is the oldest continuously operating distillery in America, and even became a National Historic Landmark in 2013.

Weller Special Reserve is counted among the Best Bourbons Under $150.

11. Eagle Rare 10 Year Kentucky Straight

Insider Monkey Score: 6

Price: $69

Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is masterfully crafted and carefully aged for no less than ten years. The rareness of this great breed of Bourbon is evident in its complex aroma, as well as the smooth and lingering taste. The 10 Year Old Eagle Rare is one of the Best Bourbons for An Old Fashioned.

The Eagle Rare brand was acquired by The Sazerac Company in 1989, and is distilled and distributed by the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky.

10. Makers Mark 46

Insider Monkey Score: 6

Price: $43

Originally released in 2010, Maker's Mark 46 starts off as standard Makers Mark, which is a wheated Bourbon made in batches of less than 1,000 gallons. Then, ten heavily seared French oak staves are placed in just-emptied standard Maker's Mark barrels, which are then refilled and returned to the warehouses to finish aging for an undisclosed amount of time (estimated to be 2-3 additional months).

The Maker's Mark Distillery is the sixth-largest Bourbon distillery in the world. Located in Loretto, Kentucky, the distillery produces 16 brands, labels, and variations of Bourbon. The Maker's Mark brand is owned by Beam Suntory, Inc.

At $43 a bottle, Makers 46 is one of the Best Bourbons for the Money.

9. Elijah Craig Small Batch

Insider Monkey Score: 6

Price: $33

Ranked among the Best Bourbon Whiskeys Under $50, Elijah Craig Small Batch is distilled, aged, and bottled in Kentucky from a traditional Bourbon mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley, and then aged for 8 to 12 years in Level 3 charred oak barrels.

8. Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Insider Monkey Score: 7

Price: $58

The true, bold spirit of Wild Turkey has been captured in this authentic barrel proof whiskey, creating one of the Best Value Bourbons in the World. Uncut with water, this whiskey is a blend of Wild Turkeys finest selection of 6-, 8-, and 12-year old Bourbons.

In 1980, Wild Turkeys original owner, Austin Nichols & Co., was sold to the French spirits conglomerate Pernod Ricard for a reported $100 million. In 2009, the distillery changed hands again, when Italys Gruppo Campari acquired it for a staggering $575 million.

7. Michters US1 Small Batch

Insider Monkey Score: 7

Price: $48

Michters US1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon is made from a carefully selected mashbill that features the highest quality American corn. It is then matured to the peak of perfection. Truly small batch, each batch of this iconic whiskey is batched in a holding tank sized to fit a maximum of twenty full barrels, leaving no margin for blending out imperfection and thus necessitating excellence from every barrel.

6. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked

Insider Monkey Score: 8

Price: $58

An innovative approach to the twice-barreled Bourbon creates the rich and colorful flavor of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. During the first aging process, the Bourbon is matured in new charred oak barrels. It is then transferred to a second barrel that has been heavily toasted and lightly charred, which imparts additional flavors of caramel, vanilla, and toasted oak.

Woodford Reserve is a product of the Brown-Forman Corporation.

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked ranks 6th in our List of Best Bourbon Whiskeys Under $100.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Top Rated Bourbon Whiskeys Under $100.

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Disclosure: 15 Top Rated Bourbon Whiskeys Under $100 is originally published on Insider Monkey.
In this article, we delve into the 20 best places to retire in Italy for US citizens. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis on retiring in Italy, you may go to 5 Best Places to Retire in Italy for US Citizens.

Navigating retirement planning involves strategic decision-making, and for numerous US citizens, Italy has emerged as an enchanting destination to retire to. These American retirees are attracted to the richness of the Mediterranean lifestyle, the beauty of stunning landscapes, and the flavor of renowned culinary delicacies. From the enchanting hills of Tuscany to the sun-kissed shores of Sicily, this article navigates the intricate intersection of personal preferences and financial needs, offering a roadmap for a prosperous and fulfilling retirement in the heart of Italy.

Retiring in Italy: A Mediterranean Escape

Retiring in the US poses significant challenges, rooted in a complex interplay of socioeconomic uncertainties and political issues. The Fed Survey of Consumer Finances indicates that the complexity of these challenges contributes to a sense of failure in the retirement planning landscape of America. A few of these key factors include inadequate savings, increasing life expectancy, a shift from traditional pension plans to individual responsibility through 401(k)s, volatile markets affecting investment returns, and rising healthcare costs. Additionally, economic uncertainties, stagnant wage growth for many Americans, and the evolving nature of work has contributed to the overall fragility of the retirement planning system. Aon Consulting Group calculated in a 2018 survey that people nearing retirement need eight times their annual income in their accounts. By age 67, that rises to 11.1 times in order to maintain living standards in retirement. This means the median American household needs at least $470,000 more in their retirement account for a comfortable retirement life in the US. They also indicated a risk in pension transfer of US citizens from the year 2023 to 2024, indicating a lesser retirement budget.

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To cope with the lack of savings, many US residents are now considering planning their retirement elsewhere and Italy appears to be a popular choice among many. The dynamic history and culture of Italy, coupled with scenic views and an affordable cost of living attracts non-natives to plan their retirement here. Depending on where in Italy you choose to settle, the cost of living over there is noted to be drastically lesser than that in the US. According to Numbeo, for instance, the living expenses in the country are 21.8% lower than the USA. Obviously, if you opt for a living space in the fashion hub of Italy, i.e. Milan, your cost of living is likely to spike. In contrast, opting for a residence slightly away from the metropolitan area can result in a considerable reduction in the cost of living.

Italy has a wide selection of properties, from city apartments to country houses and coastal villas. However, renting a home before you buy one is a good way to assess the area. This could avoid an expensive mistake if youre not sure where you want to retire to. A typical 200-square-meter house in Italy commands an average price of 368,000 ($400,369), equating to 1,840 ($2,000) per square meter. Another important factor in choosing the perfect place to settle in Italy, is the weather. The weather here is a critical factor for many people. Italy has different climates from north to south. The mild Mediterranean climate offers warm temperatures year-round in the west and south, while the north has a continental climate with warm summers and cold winters.

In Italy, nationwide insurance for a couple costs around 748 ($898) per year - with some out-of-pocket prescription costs, costing about 600 a year or $720. So, the total cost of medical care for a retired couple in Italy is roughly 1348 a year or $1618 or $135 a month. This cost covers an intimate knowledge of both the public and the private care system, covering operations, treatment, and ongoing care. So a couple who chooses to retire in Italy instead of the US, ends up saving $100,000 in medical costs. In order to retire to this country, individuals must apply for and obtain an Italian elective residence visa. Issued by the Italian consulate, the elective residency visa is issued to foreign nationals seeking to live and retire in Italy provided certain conditions are met. Non EU-nationals holding a legal residence permit for more than three months can register for Italian healthcare and avail public health services.

With that said, let's now move to the list of best places to retire in Italy for Americans.

20 Best Places to Retire in Italy for US Citizens

Elena Korn/Shutterstock.com

Methodology

To compile the list of 20 best places in Italy for US citizens to retire, we have used sources such as International Living, iadOverseas, Nomad Lists, The Italian Way of Life, and Global Citizen Solutions, amongst others. We also relied on forums such as Quora and Reddit to analyze the best places suggested by expat retirees living in Italy.

A consensus approach was used to rank the places. A point was awarded to a place each time a source recommended it. Scores were summed up, and places were then ranked in ascending order from the lowest to the highest scores. Recognizing that retirement is not only a personal milestone but a financial venture, we have also discussed the cost of living, climatic implications, and healthcare amenities in the places discussed. The compiled list should help retiring citizens of the US to weigh the pros and cons of choosing to retire in Italy.

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 one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

20 Best Places to Retire in Italy for US Citizens

20. Bergamo

Insider Monkey Score: 1

Bergamo is celebrated for its medieval architecture, including the Citta Alta (Upper Town) and the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The city offers cultural events and festivals throughout the year. Bergamo generally has a moderate cost of living compared to larger Italian cities, making it relatively affordable. This place is said to enchant with its storied past and architectural elegance. According to Expatistian, the cost of living in Bergamo is 21% cheaper than Milan.

19. Parma

Insider Monkey Score: 1

Parma is famous for its exquisite food, including Parmesan cheese and prosciutto. It boasts historical landmarks such as the Parma Cathedral and the Teatro Regio. Parma's cost of living is typically reasonable, contributing to its attractiveness as a retirement destination. Rentals in the city cost around $800 on average, and a couple can manage a comfortable lifestyle on $1,650 on average.

18. Modena

Insider Monkey Score: 1

One of the best places to retire in Italy, Modena is renowned for its balsamic vinegar and has a thriving culinary scene. The city features UNESCO-listed sites like the Modena Cathedral and the Ghirlandina Tower. Modena tends to have a moderate cost of living, offering a balance between cultural richness and affordability. A budget of $1,748 per month for a retired individual should allow a cheap retirement stay in Modena, barring any additional leisure expenses.

17. Trento

Insider Monkey Score: 1

Nestled in the Trentino region, Trento is surrounded by the stunning Dolomite mountains. The city is known for its high quality of life, combining a rich cultural heritage with a relaxed lifestyle. Trento generally has a moderate cost of living, and its appeal lies in the balance of nature, culture, and affordability. Retired expats tend to enjoy such places for their post retirement stay due to the scenic value it offers. The cost of living for an individual expat is around $2,900.

16. Perugia

Insider Monkey Score: 1

Perugia is an artistic city, hosting the renowned Umbria Jazz Festival and boasting numerous museums and galleries. The presence of the University of Perugia contributes to a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere. Perugia typically has a reasonable cost of living, making it an attractive option for retirees seeking cultural enrichment without excessive expenses. The average cost of living for an expat is estimated to be around $1,500 per month.

15. Bologna

Insider Monkey Score: 2

Bologna is located in northern Italy and is celebrated for its gastronomy, with a vibrant food scene and numerous traditional markets. The city boasts historic architecture, including the iconic Two Towers and the University of Bologna. Bologna generally has a moderate cost of living, making it an appealing destination for retirees. A retirement income of approximately $36,700 ($3,058 monthly) annually would allow you to savor all the flavors Bologna has to offer.

14. Verona

Insider Monkey Score: 2

Verona is famous for being the setting of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," with a charming medieval old town. The city features well-preserved Roman architecture, including the Verona Arena. Verona typically has a moderate cost of living, combining cultural richness with a relatively affordable lifestyle.

13. Siena

Insider Monkey Score: 2

Siena, often ranked as one of the cheapest places to retire in Italy, is known for its medieval streets, the Piazza del Campo, and the stunning Siena Cathedral. The city hosts the Palio, a historic horse race, showcasing its cultural heritage. Siena generally has a moderate cost of living, providing a blend of history and affordability.

12. Cagliari

Insider Monkey Score: 2

Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, offers a Mediterranean lifestyle with beautiful beaches and historical sites. The city has a diverse cultural scene and hosts various events throughout the year. Cagliari typically has a moderate cost of living compared to larger Italian cities, contributing to its appeal. The cost of living for an individual expat is $2,142 per month.

11. Lucca

Insider Monkey Score: 2

Lucca is known for its well-preserved Renaissance walls, providing a unique and picturesque atmosphere. It hosts events like the Lucca Summer Festival, attracting music and art enthusiasts. Lucca generally has a moderate cost of living, offering a tranquil setting for retirees.

10. Genoa

Insider Monkey Score: 3

Genoa is a historic port city with a rich maritime history and impressive architecture. The city features museums, historic palaces, and the UNESCO-listed Strade Nuove. Genoa tends to have a moderate cost of living, making it an appealing destination for those interested in maritime history and culture.

9. Catania

Insider Monkey Score: 3

Catania is known for its baroque architecture, including the iconic Cathedral of Saint Agatha. It offers a Mediterranean lifestyle with markets, festivals, and historic sites. Catania typically has a moderate cost of living, providing a blend of cultural richness and affordability.

8.Turin

Insider Monkey Score: 3

Turin is a cultural hub with museums, historic cafes, and the beautiful Royal Palace of Turin. The city's proximity to the Alps offers outdoor and recreational opportunities.Turin generally has a moderate cost of living, making it an attractive destination for retirees interested in both culture and outdoor activities. The average cost of living is $1,900 per month for an individual retiree.

7. Naples

Insider Monkey Score: 4

Naples is known for its historic city center, art museums, and proximity to Pompeii and Herculaneum. The city is famous for its pizza and vibrant street food culture. Naples typically has a moderate cost of living, offering a rich cultural experience with a relatively affordable lifestyle. A retirement budget of $2,378 per month can allow a comfortable time in Naples. It offers a feast for the senses, from its world-famous pizza to its rich historical sites.

6. Milan

Insider Monkey Score: 4

Milan, ranked 6th on our list, is Italy's financial and fashion capital that offers a cosmopolitan and dynamic atmosphere to retirees. The city hosts major cultural events, fashion weeks, and boasts iconic landmarks like the Cathedral of Milan. Milan tends to have a higher cost of living compared to other Italian cities, reflecting its status as a global economic hub. An individual retiree can live comfortably in the capital for a monthly average of $2,000.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Best Places to Retire in Italy for US Citizens. Suggested Articles:

Disclosure: none. 20 Best Places to Retire in Italy for US Citizens is originally published on Insider Monkey.
In this article, we look at the 24 most powerful militaries in the world in 2024. You can skip our detailed analysis on the impact countries racking up their defense capabilities has on the armaments industry and head over directly to the 10 Most Powerful Militaries in the World in 2024.

The world has been marred with conflict over the last few years. The Ukraine-Russia war has been ongoing for over 700 days with no end in sight. Afghanistan has fallen to the Taliban. Azerbaijan and Armenia continue to engage in regular conflict, after the former seized territory in the Nagorno-Karabakh region from Armenian control in 2020. If that was not it, the Middle East is up in flames  in what probably is its worst crisis since the 1973 Arab-Israeli War  after Israel invaded the Gaza strip in response to a deadly attack launched by Hamas in different parts of Israel last October.

While we await final defense expenditure figures for 2023, global defense spending hit a record-high of $2.2 trillion in 2022, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), with Europe seeing its steepest rise in three decades. The upward trend in military expenditure has meant a boom for the armaments industry.

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) reported net sales of $67.6 billion in 2023, a 2.4% increase compared to 2022. The companys net earnings were also $1.2 billion higher than the previous year. RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX)s revenue was also 3% higher than in 2022 to total a whopping $68.9 billion in 2023. General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) on the other hand posted the highest revenue in its history  $42.3 billion  which was 7.3% higher YoY. Net income for Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII) in 2023 was also 18% up from FY22.

The United States, which accounts for 40% of all defense expenditure worldwide, continues to maintain military superiority over its rivals, especially when it comes to aerial and naval power. The trend is likely to stay given the level of research and development being carried out in the US on defense technology.

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In 2014, the United States Air Force (USAF) launched a highly classified Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Program aimed at developing a sixth-generation fighter jet to replace Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)s F-22 Raptor by 2030. The NGAD program is projected to cost $16 billion between 2023-2028, with the USAF requesting $1.7 billion in its FY24 budget for the program.

Five companies, Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT), Pratt & Whitney  a subsidiary of RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX), General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA), and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), received contracts worth $975 million each in 2022 to work on NGAD for a period of ten years.

On the naval side, the United States has the most number of aircraft carriers, including a $13.3 billion warship. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII) is developing the nuclear-powered Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carriers to replace the Nimitz class design. The Ford class is expected to reduce 50-year operating costs for each ship by an estimated $4 billion, and its design will also allow greater deployment and higher electric power for ship systems.

When it comes to submarines, the US Navy operates the Virginia-class built by General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD), which is nuclear-powered and offers capabilities such as reconnaissance, anti-shipping, land attacks, and special operations. According to a report, each unit of the Virginia-class costs between $2.8 to $3.2 billion. Work is also underway on the development of the Columbia-class of submarines, which is scheduled to enter service in 2031. General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) is the primary contractor for the project, while Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII) is the subcontractor.

With that said, let's head over to the list of the most powerful militaries in the world in 2024.

24 Most Powerful Militaries in the World in 2024

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Methodology

Twelve weighted metrics were considered to rank the most powerful militaries in the world in 2024. These were GDP (15%), defense spending (10%), nuclear weapons (5%), tanks (5%), manpower (5%), air force fleet inclusive of fighter jets (20%), aircraft carriers (15%), submarines (5%), military satellites in orbit (5%), overseas military bases (5%), cybersecurity capabilities (5%), and technological advancement (5%).

We observed where every country ranked on each metric and then calculated its weighted score for that metric. Then all weighted metric scores were aggregated to get an overall score. Battle-hardened militaries received additional 0.5 points to their tally.

Countries are ranked in ascending order of their overall scores. Data on GDP was sourced from the IMF. These are 2023s numbers. For defense spending, we referred to the article on 20 Countries With Highest Military Spending In The World, where the data is from 2022  the latest year for which data is available.

For tanks, fighter jets, aircraft carriers, submarines, military satellites, overseas bases, and cybersecurity capabilities, we referred to our recent articles: 15 Countries with the Most Battle Tanks in the World, 20 Largest Air Forces in the World Heading into 2024, 12 Countries With Most Aircraft Carriers, 15 Navies with the Most Submarines in the World, 15 Countries with the Highest Number of Military Satellites in Orbit, 13 Countries With The Most Overseas Military Bases, and 12 Most Advanced Countries in Cybersecurity.

Power Atlas was considered for information on nuclear weapons, Global Firepower Index 2024 for manpower, while the Global Innovation Index 2023 was consulted for technological capabilities.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

Lets now head over to the list of the most powerful militaries in the world in 2024.

24. United Arab Emirates

GDP (2023): $509 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $22.7 billion

Nuclear Weapons: None

Manpower: 65,000

Tanks: 354

Aircraft including Fighter Jets: 335

Aircraft Carriers: None

Submarines: None

Military Satellites in Orbit: 3

Overseas Bases: 3

Cybersecurity Ranking: N/A

Technological Advancement Ranking: 32

Overall Score: 0.245

We begin our list with the United Arab Emirates, which is one of the most powerful countries in the Middle East. The Emirati rulers have leveraged their nations economic strength to build a strong military, which is now being seen playing an active role in conflicts in the Middle East  most notably in Yemen.

23. Algeria

GDP (2023): $224 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $9.14 billion

Nuclear Weapons: None

Manpower: 325,000

Tanks: 1,632

Aircraft including Fighter Jets: 541

Aircraft Carriers: None

Submarines: 6

Military Satellites in Orbit: None

Overseas Bases: None

Cybersecurity Ranking: N/A

Technological Advancement Ranking: 119

Overall Score: 0.256

Algeria has the third most powerful military in Africa. It had the highest defense expenditure in the continent in 2022 in its quest for advanced equipment and defense systems, which stems from its strained relations with Morocco, and the threat of terrorism spilling over into the country from Libya. The country relies on Russia for much of its military equipment. You can read more about Algerias military strength in our article, 15 Most Powerful Militaries in Africa.

22. Iran

GDP (2023): $366 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $6.84 billion

Nuclear Weapons: None

Manpower: 610,000

Tanks: 1,996

Aircraft including Fighter Jets: 343

Aircraft Carriers: None

Submarines: 19

Military Satellites in Orbit: 1

Overseas Bases: None

Cybersecurity Ranking: 10

Technological Advancement Ranking: 62

Overall Score: 0.273

Despite being under sanctions for decades, Iran boasts one of the most powerful militaries in the world, made possible by its large fleet of tanks and a sizable number of active troops. Iran ranks as the tenth most advanced country in cybersecurity capabilities, according to Belfer Centers National Cyber Power Index 2022.

21. Taiwan

GDP (2023): $752 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $12.51 billion

Nuclear Weapons: None

Manpower: 215,000

Tanks: 1,010

Aircraft including Fighter Jets: 518

Aircraft Carriers: None

Submarines: 4

Military Satellites in Orbit: None

Overseas Bases: None

Cybersecurity Ranking: N/A

Technological Advancement Ranking: N/A

Overall Score: 0.292

Taiwan finds itself in the list of the most powerful militaries in the world. The country has focused on raising a strong force right since independence, due to the perceived threat from China. In August last year, Taipei announced to increase its defense expenditure to $19.1 billion, which would be equivalent to 2.6% of their GDP.

20. Canada

GDP (2023): $2.12 trillion

Defense Spending (2022): $26.89 billion

Nuclear Weapons: None

Manpower: 68,000

Tanks: 74

Aircraft including Fighter Jets: 395

Aircraft Carriers: None

Submarines: 4

Military Satellites in Orbit: 1

Overseas Bases: None

Cybersecurity Ranking: 13

Technological Advancement Ranking: 15

Overall Score: 0.329

The Canadian government has vowed to increase its defense spending in order to meet NATOs 2% spending expectation. In January 2023, the country announced to purchase 88 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) to further boost its aerial capabilities. Canada is among the most advanced countries in cybersecurity and technological capabilities.

19. Australia

GDP (2023): $1.69 trillion

Defense Spending (2022): $32.29 billion

Nuclear Weapons: None

Manpower: 57,350

Tanks: 59

Aircraft including Fighter Jets: 296

Aircraft Carriers: None

Submarines: 6

Military Satellites in Orbit: 4

Overseas Bases: 2

Cybersecurity Ranking: 5

Technological Advancement Ranking: 24

Overall Score: 0.333

Australia has one of the most powerful militaries in the world, with its major strength being its fleet of military aircraft and fighter jets, which include 37 F-35 fighter jets. The country has an order for another 72 of these fighters placed with Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT), according to a report in February 2023. On the naval side, Australia has six submarines and is set to be the second country in the world to possess the Virginia-class of nuclear submarines, with delivery expected from the US in 2032 and 2035 under the AUKUS pact.

18. Spain

GDP (2023): $1.58 trillion

Defense Spending (2022): $20.31 billion

Nuclear Weapons: None

Manpower: 133,282

Tanks: 327

Aircraft including Fighter Jets: 393

Aircraft Carriers: 1

Submarines: 3

Military Satellites in Orbit: 4

Overseas Bases: None

Cybersecurity Ranking: 15

Technological Advancement Ranking: 29

Overall Score: 0.341

Next up is Spain, which is one of Europes most powerful militaries. The country, which spends about 1% of its GDP on defense, announced to raise its military spending after Russias invasion of Ukraine, and double its spending from current levels by 2029. Spain is among only twelve countries to have an aircraft carrier.

17. North Korea

GDP (2023): $21.24 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $1.6 billion

Nuclear Weapons: 40

Manpower: 1,320,000

Tanks: 5,845

Aircraft including Fighter Jets: 951

Aircraft Carriers: None

Submarines: 35

Military Satellites in Orbit: None

Overseas Bases: None

Cybersecurity Ranking: 14

Technological Advancement Ranking: N/A

Overall Score: 0.347

There is little information that comes out of North Korea. According to Trading Economics, the countrys economy was projected to touch $21.24 billion by the end of 2023. Despite being sanctioned, the country has a strong military, and boasts a large fleet of tanks, fighter jets, and submarines. North Korea also has one of the largest standing armies in the world with a manpower of over 1.3 million troops.

16. Brazil

GDP (2023): $2.13 trillion

Defense Spending (2022): $20.21 billion

Nuclear Weapons: None

Manpower: 360,000

Tanks: 469

Aircraft including Fighter Jets: 527

Aircraft Carriers: 1

Submarines: 4

Military Satellites in Orbit: 1

Overseas Bases: None

Cybersecurity Ranking: 30

Technological Advancement Ranking: 49

Overall Score: 0.396

The size of the Brazilian economy has surpassed the $2 trillion dollar. The country is actively leveraging its economic strength to upgrade its military which is already sizable and has a large fleet of fighter jets. In 2014, Brazil placed an order for 36 Gripen fighters from Sweden. The final shipment of these jets is expected to be delivered by 2027. Brazils navy is equipped with four submarines and an aircraft carrier. The country also uses one of its satellites in orbit for military purposes.

15. Egypt

GDP (2023): $398 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $4.65 billion

Nuclear Weapons: None

Manpower: 440,000

Tanks: 5,340

Aircraft including Fighter Jets: 1,122

Aircraft Carriers: None

Submarines: 8

Military Satellites in Orbit: 1

Overseas Bases: None

Cybersecurity Ranking: 24

Technological Advancement Ranking: 86

Overall Score: 0.398

Egypt boasts the most powerful military in Africa, with the country outranking all African nations when it comes to manpower, tanks, fighter jets, and naval vessels. Its fleet of 1,122 military aircraft and fighter jets include 168 active F-18s, which is testament to the countrys aerial strength. Egypt also finds itself among the top 30 most advanced countries in cybersecurity.

14. Saudi Arabia

GDP (2023): $1.07 trillion

Defense Spending (2022): $75 billion

Nuclear Weapons: None

Manpower: 257,000

Tanks: 1,485

Aircraft including Fighter Jets: 702

Aircraft Carriers: None

Submarines: None

Military Satellites in Orbit: None

Overseas Bases: 21

Cybersecurity Ranking: 21

Technological Advancement Ranking: 48

Overall Score: 0.404

Saudi Arabia is among the most powerful militaries in the world. In 2022, the kingdom spent over $75 billion on defense expenditure, which made it the fifth top spender on military equipment in the world during that year. The amount represented over 40% of all military spending in the Middle East in 2022, and nearly 8% of Saudi Arabias GDP. Riyadh boasts a large fleet of battle tanks and fighter jets. It has a significant number of overseas military bases in the region that provide it with the capability to strike enemy targets at will in the MENA region.

13. Pakistan

GDP (2023): $340 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $10.33 billion

Nuclear Weapons: 165

Manpower: 654,000

Tanks: 3,742

Aircraft including Fighter Jets: 818

Aircraft Carriers: None

Submarines: 8

Military Satellites in Orbit: None

Overseas Bases: None

Cybersecurity Ranking: N/A

Technological Advancement Ranking: 88

Overall Score: 0.425

Pakistan continues to have one of the most powerful militaries in the world. Despite a volatile economic situation over the last decade, the country spends heavily on defense due to the threat it faces from India on its east and instability along the bordering region with Afghanistan on the west. Pakistan has leapfrogged ahead of India in the nuclear arms race, with 165 weapons according to Power Atlas. Its fighter jets include 135 F-7, 109 JF-17, and 44 F-16 among others.

12. Israel

GDP (2023): $522 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $23.41 billion

Nuclear Weapons: 90

Manpower: 170,000

Tanks: 1,370

Aircraft including Fighter Jets: 581

Aircraft Carriers: None

Submarines: 5

Military Satellites in Orbit: 8

Overseas Bases: 1

Cybersecurity Ranking: 19

Technological Advancement Ranking: 14

Overall Score: 0.430

Israel has one of the most powerful militaries in the world. A key strength of the countrys armed forces is that 40% of its military aircraft consist of fighter jets, which include 175 F-16s and 27 F-35s. Israel is also a highly advanced country when it comes to technological capabilities, and has leveraged this to its advantage in its defense industry as well. Israels Iron Dome is one of the worlds most effective air defense systems with a very high success rate of striking down incoming projectiles.

11. Germany

GDP (2023): $4.43 trillion

Defense Spending (2022): $55.76 billion

Nuclear Weapons: None

Manpower: 181,600

Tanks: 295

Aircraft including Fighter Jets: 394

Aircraft Carriers: None

Submarines: 6

Military Satellites in Orbit: 7

Overseas Bases: None

Cybersecurity Ranking: 11

Technological Advancement Ranking: 8

Overall Score: 0.437

Germany is the third largest economy in the world in nominal terms after the United States and China. Having an economy worth nearly $4.5 trillion allows it to spend heavily on defense. The country incurred over $55 billion in military spending in 2022. It maintains significant space presence and is among the top ranked countries for cybersecurity as well.

Click to continue reading and see the 10 Most Powerful Militaries in the World in 2024.

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Disclosure: None. 24 Most Powerful Militaries in the World in 2024 is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Any time is a good time to buy solid dividend stocks. But this month is a special time to do so for one simple reason: There's an extra day for investors to buy stocks because it's a leap year.

Three Motley Fool contributors have picked what they believe are fabulous dividend stocks to buy in February. Here's why they chose AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), Novartis (NYSE: NVS), and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE).

Don't give up on this Dividend King yet

Prosper Junior Bakiny (AbbVie): Drugmaker AbbVie was hardly a hot commodity last year. The company lost patent exclusivity in the U.S. for the most important growth driver in its arsenal in the past decade: immunology medicine Humira. AbbVie's revenue dropped as a result.

However, this ordeal didn't stop management from raising the company's dividend. AbbVie is currently in its 52nd straight year of payout increases, and despite the Humira-associated sales decline, there are good reasons to be optimistic about the company's future.

For one, AbbVie plans to fill the hole left by its former crown jewel with several medicines, including Skyrizi and Rinvoq, a pair of immunology therapies whose indications substantially overlap with those of Humira. The company's pipeline, bolstered by acquisitions, will also help it move on from Humira.

It isn't rare for drugmakers to run into patent cliffs for key drugs, and when they do, their sales often decline for a while. Developing newer medicines is the cure for this disease, and that's exactly what AbbVie is doing. The company expects to get back to top-line growth in 2025. And in several more years, Humira's effect on its financial results will completely disappear.

In the meantime, given the strength of AbbVie's underlying business and its track record, investors should continue to expect regular dividend increases. The drugmaker offers a competitive yield of 3.76% and a cash payout ratio of 42%.

AbbVie is more than capable of boosting its dividends even more, an excellent sign for income-seeking investors. The bottom line: Though AbbVie has had its share of troubles over the past year, it's far too early to give up on this excellent dividend stock.

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A high-yielding stock with strong prospects

David Jagielski (Novartis): Swiss pharma giant Novartis gives investors a great mix of value, dividends, and growth. The stock yields 3.3%, which is an above-average payout. The company also has an impressive dividend growth streak going back to 1996, which suggests that long-term investors could see their dividend income rise in the future.

Novartis is now focused more on growth after spinning off its generics and biosimilars business last year. By having a leaner operation, it can focus more on innovative medicines, which should pave the way to better growth opportunities, higher profits, and potentially higher dividend payments as well. Novartis projects that until 2027, its sales will be able to grow at an average of 5% per year, which is an upgrade over an earlier forecast that called for just 4% annual growth.

In 2023, the company had multiple drugs that generated at least 30% revenue growth while bringing in more than $1 billion in sales: Entresto, Kesimpta, and Kisqali. Its top 20 brands brought in just under $35 billion in revenue, and when excluding the impact of foreign exchange, grew at a rate of 12% year over year.

Novartis has a promising business, and with the stock trading at just 15 times its estimated future profits, it's a relatively cheap buy as well; the average healthcare stock trades at multiple of 21. For long-term investors, Novartis is an excellent buy today.

An underrated high-yield dividend stock

Keith Speights (Pfizer): At face value, the only thing going for Pfizer these days is its dividend. The big drugmaker's dividend yield stands at nearly 6.2%. CFO Dave Denton stated in the recent fourth-quarter conference call that Pfizer's first capital allocation priority is "growing our dividend."

I like Pfizer's dividend -- and so should most income investors. However, I don't think that it's the only good thing going for the company. My view is that Pfizer is arguably one of the most underrated high-yield dividend stocks on the market.

Exhibit A in my argument is valuation. Pfizer's shares trade at below 12.2 times expected earnings. That's well below the average forward earnings multiple of 18.7 for the healthcare sector and cheaper than most of its big pharma peers.

Exhibit B is Pfizer's growth prospects. Sure, the company's COVID-19 revenue is sinking. And yes, Pfizer faces patent expirations for multiple top-selling drugs over the next few years. But the company also projects roughly $45 billion in new annual revenue by 2030 from new product launches, new indications for existing drugs, and business development deals.

I think that Pfizer's new revenue target is realistic. The big drugmaker has already launched several new products with huge commercial potential. Pfizer received the most U.S. Food and Drug Administration approvals last year for new drugs in its history. It has also closed on several major acquisitions, notably including Seagen.

It could take some time before Pfizer convinces the majority of investors that its future is brighter than the COVID sales and patent losses reflect. In the meantime, though, those who already recognize that the company is underrated can sit back and enjoy those fantastic dividends.

Should you invest $1,000 in Pfizer right now?

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David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Keith Speights has positions in AbbVie and Pfizer. Prosper Junior Bakiny has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Pfizer. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

3 Fabulous Dividend Stocks to Buy in February was originally published by The Motley Fool
It is usually uneventful when a single insider buys stock. However, When quite a few insiders buy shares, as it happened in AdAlta Limited's (ASX:1AD) case, it's fantastic news for shareholders.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

Check out our latest analysis for AdAlta

AdAlta Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when insider Stuart Morris bought AU$530k worth of shares at a price of AU$0.11 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being AU$0.022). It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price. Notably Stuart Morris was also the biggest seller.

Over the last year, we can see that insiders have bought 21.15m shares worth AU$850k. On the other hand they divested 557.90k shares, for AU$11k. In total, AdAlta insiders bought more than they sold over the last year. They paid about AU$0.04 on average. This is nice to see since it implies that insiders might see value around current prices. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

AdAlta is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

AdAlta Insiders Bought Stock Recently

Over the last quarter, AdAlta insiders have spent a meaningful amount on shares. insider Stuart Morris spent AU$530k on stock, and there wasn't any selling. This makes one think the business has some good points.

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Does AdAlta Boast High Insider Ownership?

I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Insiders own 19% of AdAlta shares, worth about AU$2.3m. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders.

So What Does This Data Suggest About AdAlta Insiders?

It is good to see the recent insider purchase. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. But we don't feel the same about the fact the company is making losses. When combined with notable insider ownership, these factors suggest AdAlta insiders are well aligned, and that they may think the share price is too low. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. When we did our research, we found 4 warning signs for AdAlta (3 are concerning!) that we believe deserve your full attention.

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.
Hay supplies may be better than last year, but they remain extremely tight as costs for winter feeding continue to mount for Texas ranchers, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts.

Jason Cleere, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension statewide beef cattle specialist and professor in the Texas A&M Department of Animal Science, Bryan-College Station, said hay supplies have improved but stocks are still below pre-drought averages. Back-to-back years have led to deeper culling and difficult decision making for some producers about their herds even as cow/calf prices remain historically strong.

Cleere said spotty rains delivered moisture to some parts of the state early and other areas late in the hay season last year. That provided decent early or late-season cuttings for those areas, but forage production was held back by hot, dry conditions overall.

Texas had two rough summers, and producers can absorb a miss one year with reserves from the previous haying season, but two years in a row becomes more challenging, he said.

David Anderson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension economist and professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Bryan-College Station, said tight supplies and higher demand is driving prices upward. Anderson said Dec. 1 hay stocks were the third lowest on record behind 2022 and 2012, respectively.

Hay production was better during the 2023 hay season, but back-to-back years of impacts from drought have left Texas hay supplies tight as cattle producers feed herds through winter.

Texas hay yields averaged 1.87 tons per acre in 2023 compared to 1.56 tons per acre in 2022, but tonnage was still below historic averages, he said. Producers had yielded 1.95 tons per acre on average since 2012. The national price for round bales is $102, but Cleere said grass hay bales in Texas have been selling for $100-$140, or $200-$280 per ton based on quality.

Some ranchers are shipping in hay and alfalfa from out of state due to low availability locally, Cleere said. Anderson said Oklahoma hay stocks were up 97% compared to last year, while New Mexico, which produces mostly alfalfa, was up 25% and Kansas was down 12%.

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Prices are not as high as a year ago, but they are indicative of the tighter supplies and higher input costs, Anderson said. There are fewer cows to feed, but the costs to keep herds fed through winter after poor hay and grazing production has translated into tough decisions for some producers.

Vanessa Corriher-Olson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension forage specialist and professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Overton, said recent rainfall could alleviate some producer concerns. Storm systems that delivered moisture to much of the state could improve conditions in established cool-season forages, like winter wheat or annual ryegrass. The rain should also improve conditions as warm-season perennial grasses begin breaking dormancy this spring.

In parts of the state like the Panhandle and South Plains, sporadic soil moisture led to decent winter wheat establishment, but little production for some and failure for others. Some dry-sown fields had yet to emerge, and AgriLife Extension experts said the recent moisture may be too late to help grazing.

The producers who planted in mid-October are having success, but I think fewer people planted this year because of drought and doubts about rainfall, Corriher-Olson said. But now were in February, and Ive gotten calls from people wanting to plant because they are out of hay and dont have anything to graze. The moisture will help what is up, but unfortunately, its too late to plant.

The key now, she said, is to focus on what can be done to optimize hay output in 2024.

In 2011, grain prices were more economical and that helped stretch hay supplies during that drought, but both are so expensive now that it makes producers walk a fine line, Cleere said. But we need to stay on top of forage management and pasture recovery because ryegrasses and legumes can really take off and change things dramatically with moisture.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: AgriLife report: Hay supplies remain tight for Texas cattle producers
Key Insights

The considerable ownership by individual investors in Allurion Technologies indicates that they collectively have a greater say in management and business strategy

The top 25 shareholders own 45% of the company

Ownership research, combined with past performance data can help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock

Every investor in Allurion Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ALUR) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 55% to be precise, is individual investors. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Meanwhile, hedge funds make up 13% of the companys shareholders.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Allurion Technologies.

See our latest analysis for Allurion Technologies

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Allurion Technologies?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

Allurion Technologies already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Allurion Technologies, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

It looks like hedge funds own 13% of Allurion Technologies shares. That's interesting, because hedge funds can be quite active and activist. Many look for medium term catalysts that will drive the share price higher. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Romulus Capital Management, LLC with 8.6% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 7.3% and 6.9%, of the shares outstanding, respectively. Additionally, the company's CEO Shantanu Gaur directly holds 3.3% of the total shares outstanding.

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On studying our ownership data, we found that 25 of the top shareholders collectively own less than 50% of the share register, implying that no single individual has a majority interest.

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. Our information suggests that there isn't any analyst coverage of the stock, so it is probably little known.

Insider Ownership Of Allurion Technologies

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

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.

We can report that insiders do own shares in Allurion Technologies Inc.. As individuals, the insiders collectively own US$7.4m worth of the US$140m company. It is good to see some investment by insiders, but we usually like to see higher insider holdings. It might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a substantial 55% stake in Allurion Technologies, suggesting it is a fairly popular stock. This level of ownership gives investors from the wider public some power to sway key policy decisions such as board composition, executive compensation, and the dividend payout ratio.

Private Equity Ownership

With a stake of 8.6%, private equity firms could influence the Allurion Technologies board. Sometimes we see private equity stick around for the long term, but generally speaking they have a shorter investment horizon and -- as the name suggests -- don't invest in public companies much. After some time they may look to sell and redeploy capital elsewhere.

Private Company Ownership

It seems that Private Companies own 12%, of the Allurion Technologies stock. 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:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Allurion Technologies better, we need to consider many other factors. Take risks for example - Allurion Technologies has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

Of course this may not be the best stock to buy. Therefore, you may wish to see our free collection of interesting prospects boasting favorable financials.

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.
Many American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) insiders ditched their stock over the past year, which may be of interest to the company's shareholders. When analyzing insider transactions, it is usually more valuable to know whether insiders are buying versus knowing if they are selling, as the latter sends an ambiguous message. However, shareholders should take a deeper look if several insiders are selling stock over a specific time period.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

Check out our latest analysis for American Express

American Express Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

The insider, Monique Herena, made the biggest insider sale in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$2.6m worth of shares at a price of US$173 each. So it's clear an insider wanted to take some cash off the table, even below the current price of US$206. As a general rule we consider it to be discouraging when insiders are selling below the current price, because it suggests they were happy with a lower valuation. While insider selling is not a positive sign, we can't be sure if it does mean insiders think the shares are fully valued, so it's only a weak sign. This single sale was 53% of Monique Herena's stake.

Over the last year we saw more insider selling of American Express shares, than buying. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Insiders At American Express Have Sold Stock Recently

The last three months saw significant insider selling at American Express. Specifically, insiders ditched US$3.4m worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any purchases whatsoever. In light of this it's hard to argue that all the insiders think that the shares are a bargain.

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Insider Ownership Of American Express

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. American Express insiders own 0.2% of the company, currently worth about US$235m based on the recent share price. This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders.

What Might The Insider Transactions At American Express Tell Us?

Insiders sold stock recently, but they haven't been buying. And our longer term analysis of insider transactions didn't bring confidence, either. On the plus side, American Express makes money, and is growing profits. The company boasts high insider ownership, but we're a little hesitant, given the history of share sales. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. Case in point: We've spotted 1 warning sign for American Express you should be aware of.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Column Graphic 2/4

Hello A-J readers!

The biggest article from this week's business news was the January business roundup. Through the month, there were 20 openings, four closures and four announcements. This was nearly double from January 2023, which had 16 entries.

More: Comings and goings: Lubbock's openings, closings, confirmed rumors from January 2024

A new director for the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Lubbock was announced earlier in the week. Todd Baughman, Ph.D., will begin his director duties on April 1. He indicated that his priorities include development of research and extension programs, water, cotton and new crop integration.

SkyRite Sign Co., a full-service sign company in Lubbock and Amarillo, earned the Frank Page Award. The award is given for "the most innovative and creative sign in the entire state of Texas."

Going into next week, I'm looking forward to meeting with a company that will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year. Stay tuned for any other interesting business tidbits that are sure to pop up.

As always, thank you for reading and supporting the A-J.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock business news includes AgriLife, signs, openings, more
The former Boys Club on Ionic Avenue.

$10M

The Creative Hub Worcester community arts center will soon launch its renovation of the former Ionic Avenue Boys Club building for its new home. Groundbreaking is planned for late spring, commencing the $10 million project, the funds for which Creative Hub has gathered since its formation, including a $500,000 loan from UMass Memorial Healthcare. The arts center will include a 200-person event space, studio areas and collaborative workspaces, a gallery and an artisans market with capacity for over 100 vendors. Renovation is planned to take about a year, opening in late spring to early summer of 2025.

580 Main St. in Bolton.

233

A developer has bought 26 acres of land off Main Street in Bolton to erect a 233-unit residential apartment complex. Wood Partners, an Atlanta-rooted company, purchased the property off 580 Main St. for $3,091,500 Jan. 17, according to broker OBrien Commercial Properties. Following the purchase, the developer will look to break ground for its development called Alta Nashoba Project, which was approved by the town in 2022. The development is set to feature three residential buildings with 229 rental units and four townhomes spreading across 13 acres within the new purchase.

Maker to Main owner Lynn Cheney.

162

Farm-to-table grocery store Maker to Main at 162 Harding St. permanently closed Jan. 27, with owner Lynn Cheney citing issues with foot traffic and debt. Originally on Main Street, the store reopened in a bigger space on Harding Street in September. Cheney started out in 2012 as a delivery service for farm products, connecting local farmers to grocery stores. In February 2020, she opened Maker to Main, a brick-and-mortar store at 328 Main St., to directly bring the products of local farms to the city. The Harding Street location had previously been home to Harding Glass Co. Inc., which closed in 2022.

Amazon warehouse on site of former Greendale Mall.

121,212

An Amazon spokesperson said Monday that the warehouse at the former location of the Greendale Mall is slated to open near the end of this year. Amazon purchased the mall location in 2019, later building an expansive warehouse. But since then the property has been quiet, with the opening date a mystery. Property records show the city has seen a total of $1,073,367.72 in net real estate tax payments for 2020 through 2023 for 7 and 12 Neponset St., where the 121,212-square-foot Amazon warehouse is found. The company hopes the facility will be operational in time for the holiday season.

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Smoke & Talk 2 at 834 Main St.

834

Smoke & Talk 2 at 834 Main St. had its license revoked to sell tobacco products after allegations of repeat violations. The Worcester Board of Health voted 4-0 to revoke the license. Its the second time the board took such a step in as many months. Last month, it voted 3-1 to terminate the license of Hedros Smoke Shop at 319 Grafton St. for allegedly selling a stun gun to an undercover police officer. Details of the latest alleged violations include a store clerk who sold menthol cigarettes, a flavored nicotine vape, and marijuana to an undercover officer on Jan. 17, according to police.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Telegram & Gazette Business Matters: Central Mass. by the Numbers
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, City Chic Collective fair value estimate is AU$1.05

City Chic Collective's AU$0.56 share price signals that it might be 46% undervalued

Analyst price target for CCX is AU$0.56 which is 46% below our fair value estimate

How far off is City Chic Collective Limited (ASX:CCX) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward.

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.

See our latest analysis for City Chic Collective

The Calculation

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

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10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) -AU$1.67m AU$13.3m AU$17.8m AU$17.9m AU$18.1m AU$18.3m AU$18.6m AU$18.9m AU$19.2m AU$19.6m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x2 Est @ 0.49% Est @ 0.97% Est @ 1.30% Est @ 1.54% Est @ 1.70% Est @ 1.81% Est @ 1.89% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 8.2% -AU$1.5 AU$11.3 AU$14.1 AU$13.1 AU$12.2 AU$11.4 AU$10.7 AU$10.1 AU$9.5 AU$9.0

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$100m

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.1%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 8.2%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = AU$20m (1 + 2.1%)  (8.2% 2.1%) = AU$329m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$329m ( 1 + 8.2%)10= AU$150m

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is AU$250m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$0.6, the company appears quite undervalued at a 46% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

Important Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. 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 City Chic Collective 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 8.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.215. 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 City Chic Collective

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Weakness

No major weaknesses identified for CCX.

Opportunity

Forecast to reduce losses next year.

Has sufficient cash runway for more than 3 years based on current free cash flows.

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Significant insider buying over the past 3 months.

Threat

Revenue is forecast to decrease over the next 2 years.

Next Steps:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For City Chic Collective, there are three essential elements you should consider:

Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with City Chic Collective . Future Earnings: How does CCX'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 Australian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Midway through another earnings season, the free-fall in C-suite mentions of the movement for environment, social, and governance (ESG) strategies is on pace to plumb new depths.

There have been just nine direct mentions among S&P 500 companies of the politically controversial term amid the sea of hundreds of earnings calls in recent weeks, according to data from financial data company FactSet through Friday afternoon.

That is a far cry from the 156 mentions among S&P 500 companies during the fourth quarter of 2021, when usage of the term peaked according to the company.

And citations this year are either very brief or reflect a more charged political landscape, according to a Yahoo Finance analysis.

"Clients are taking a more measured approach to how they integrate ESG," noted Andy Wiechmann, the chief financial officer of finance company MSCI (MSCI) on his company's earnings call, in just one example.

The term has come up in a handful of other places, including on recent calls for stock market index operator NASDAQ (NDAQ), drug wholesaler Cencora (COR), and elevator maker Otis Worldwide (OTIS). But nearly all household names have moved away from the term entirely.

That doesn't mean that a conversation around the issues underlying ESG has been absent. Through the use of different buzzwords  or simply a straight-ahead discussion of how companies factor climate change into business decisions  the topic appears to be alive and well.

New terms like 'green economy' and 'energy transition'

Recent earnings from some of the top companies on Wall Street are perhaps the best example of the divergent trends.

While no major bank brought up ESG directly, according to FactSet, climate and other issues remained a topic of much interest.

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon made sure his investors were aware of "an ongoing need for increased spending due to the green economy," adding that climate change was one of a few "significant and somewhat unprecedented forces [that] cause us to remain cautious."

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Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, during an appearance alongside other banking CEOs in Washington last December. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) (Win McNamee via Getty Images)

Another example came on an earnings call for BlackRock (BLK), the world's largest money manager.

CEO Larry Fink has been among the faces of the ESG movement in recent years thanks to his annual letters urging companies and long-term investors to do more to prepare for climate change. But he recently grew disenchanted with the term and announced last June that he would stop saying it at all.

He stayed true to that pledge on BlackRock's Jan. 12 earnings call. The company unveiled plans to buy private equity firm Global Infrastructure Partners but  without ever saying ESG  Fink made clear that a changing climate and "the energy transition" were key factors driving the $12.5 billion deal.

Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) (Sean Gallup via Getty Images)

"If we are going to decarbonize the world ... capital and infrastructure is going to be very necessary," Fink told investors, adding "that supply/demand imbalance creates compelling investment opportunities for our clients."

The same trend held in the past week as Big Tech companies took center stage. There was little mention of ESG, but plenty of discussion of things like the climate.

"In recent months, we've also taken significant strides in our environmental work," Apple (AAPL) CEO Tim Cook noted on his call.

Apple CEO Tim Cook in New York City on Friday as the Apple Vision Pro headset began to go on sale. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) (Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images)

In addition, terms like "sustainable investing," "responsible business," and "transition investing" have also been floated by business leaders and corporate advisers in recent months as other ways to talk about the issues raised by ESG without using the term itself.

'Woke capitalism'

A recent Global Strategy Group poll found overwhelming bipartisan support when Americans are asked whether they support companies "that try to have a positive impact on their communities." That support falls dramatically among Republicans once the term ESG is introduced.

Anti-ESG advocates are quick to claim that the declining prominence of the term is a win for their side as they work to stop what they call "woke capitalism," which they say prioritizes a political agenda over maximizing returns for investors.

The push against ESG has also scored some high-profile victories in recent years, such as when money management giant Vanguard withdrew from a climate-focused consortium called the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative. Some ESG funds are also closing as investor interest moves elsewhere.

But ESG advocates say there could be a silver lining for their side if the controversial term is largely taken off the table.

"Obviously the word ESG has been polarized," said Randell Leach, the CEO of a community bank called Beneficial State Bank largely devoted to social responsibility, in a recent interview.

But he's OK with that, saying he sees the change as a way to stop companies from pushing ESG as a cover for "greenwashing" and instead forcing a more direct case for the underlying principles.

"The market has evolved," he added.

Dimon's recent comments, Leach says, show the most powerful banker in the world can more directly make an affirmative case that taking climate into account "is just smart business."

Ben Werschkul is Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance.

Click here for politics news related to business and money

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
Youre completely chaotic: This young Kansas couple makes $112,000 and has low debt  but still managed to hit bottom. Dave Ramsey says theres only one explanation

Financial problems often stem from low income or high debt. However, some people simply suffer from bad planning.

Kansas-based Cole says he and his wife make a combined income of $112,000 but are struggling to get by. He says he forgot some bills, and an unexpected medical emergency for his son put his account into overdraft.

Dont miss

After that Im just trying to play catch-up, he said on an episode of The Ramsey Show. Its just been one thing after another.

However, after digging into his finances, Dave Ramsey became convinced Coles problem wasn't debt but bad planning.

Youre completely chaotic and disorganized to the point that youre out of control, he told Cole. Thats the only explanation because theres nothing glaring in these numbers.

Heres why the finance guru believes a simple budget is all the couple needs to change their situation.

Safe on paper

Cole and his wife have borrowed money in a few ways, but none of their debts are extreme.

The hospital payment plan is a $222 monthly payment. Their outstanding credit card balances total $14,000. They owe $10,700 in auto loans on two cars, one of which was due to be sold. Coles wife has $30,000 in student loan debt, while their house has a mortgage of $102,000.

None of these amounts is above average. As of the third quarter of 2023, the average loan amount for a new vehicle is $40,184, while a used car has an average loan of $27,167, according to Experian.

The average mortgage balance per household was $241,815 in the second quarter, while the average federal student loan balance is $37,718, according to the most recent figures from the Education Data Initiative.

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Meanwhile, Cole and his wife earn a solid income, with Ramsey pointing out $112,000 is no slouch in Wichita, Kansas, dude.

On paper, the couples debt should be easily manageable. However, Cole claimed theyre falling behind on payments at a rate that going into overdraft seemed inevitable at this point.

You guys must be some of the most disorganized, completely chaotic people that I've run into in a while, Ramsey said. Fortunately, he saw an easy path out of this mess.

Read more: Don't miss out: Jeff Bezos reveals the secret to prime real estate profits  say goodbye to landlord headaches

Four strong walls

Ramsey encouraged Cole to prioritize spending on essential items first. The couple need to spend on food, utilities, housing, cars and fuel before they consider anything else. Its a budgeting strategy Ramsey calls the four walls.

You take care of the four walls of your house, he said. The necessities of life: food, shelter, clothing, transportation, utilities, gas in the car, and everything else can wait.

Based on these priorities, creating a robust budget shouldnt take longer than an hour and a half, Ramsey estimated.

Youre going to turn around so fast! he said.

The simple takeaway from Coles predicament is that budgeting is a powerful tool thats too often overlooked. A survey by Credit.com found that 27% of Americans dont think a budget is necessary, while 24% believe they wont stick to a budget even if they had one.

Fundamentally, a budget requires people to actually be aware of what they make, what they spend, and have a plan to reconcile the two. For something as important as a familys finances, playing fast and loose can land you in trouble for no good reason.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Credit Corp Group Limited (ASX:CCP) shareholders will doubtless be very grateful to see the share price up 44% in the last quarter. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last three years have been less than pleasing. In fact, the share price is down 46% in the last three years, falling well short of the market return.

So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

Check out our latest analysis for Credit Corp Group

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

Although the share price is down over three years, Credit Corp Group actually managed to grow EPS by 34% per year in that time. This is quite a puzzle, and suggests there might be something temporarily buoying the share price. Alternatively, growth expectations may have been unreasonable in the past.

Since the change in EPS doesn't seem to correlate with the change in share price, it's worth taking a look at other metrics.

We note that, in three years, revenue has actually grown at a 8.4% annual rate, so that doesn't seem to be a reason to sell shares. This analysis is just perfunctory, but it might be worth researching Credit Corp Group more closely, as sometimes stocks fall unfairly. This could present an opportunity.

You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. So it makes a lot of sense to check out what analysts think Credit Corp Group will earn in the future (free profit forecasts).

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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 Credit Corp Group the TSR over the last 3 years was -41%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market gained around 6.4% in the last year, Credit Corp Group shareholders lost 20% (even including dividends). Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 1.3% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. 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. Take risks, for example - Credit Corp Group has 3 warning signs (and 1 which is concerning) we think you should know about.

Credit Corp Group is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Australian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
QUITO, Ecuador (AP)  A diplomatic rift between Ecuador and Russia appeared to intensify over the weekend after the European nation decided to ban some imports of bananas from Ecuador.

The two countries have been at loggerheads recently after Ecuador decided to transfer some of its old Russian military equipment to the United States, in exchange for $200 million in new military gear.

On Saturday, Russias federal agency for veterinary and phytosanitary controls announced it was banning imports from five Ecuadorian banana companies, claiming that a disease had been found in previous shipments of their fruits.

Ecuador is the worlds leading banana exporter, with sales worth around $3.5 billion in 2022. Around a fifth of its annual sales goes to Russia.

Russias decision to ban some banana imports came after President Daniel Noboa announced in January that Ecuador would transfer several tons of old Russian-made military equipment to the United States.

Noboa said the equipment was no longer usable, and described it as scrap metal that would be replaced with new equipment needed to fight the drug gangs which have been terrorizing the country.

Russias foreign ministry protested Noboas decision, saying that it violated a contract which stipulated that Ecuador could not sell the equipment to third parties without Russias consent.

Carlos Estarellas a former Ecuadorian vice minister for foreign affairs said that Russias decision to ban some banana imports could be in retaliation for the decision to send the old military equipement to the U.S.

One would hope that this impasse can be solved through diplomatic talks, Estarellas said.

Richard Salazar, the director of ACORBANEC, one of Ecuadors main associations of banana exporters, said that he was surprised by Russias drastic decision, though he added that at least 15 companies continue to export bananas to Russia.

Its a very important market for us, he said, and a market that would be difficult to replace.

Salazar said his association hadnt been officially notified of the ban, but was seeking a meeting with authorities in Russia to address the problem and try to get the ban overturned.
Fireworks dinners, lucky draws, high deposit rates, air tickets and donations to charities are among the major incentives Hong Kong banks are dangling to attract wealthy customers and depositors ahead of the Lunar New Year.

HSBC, Bank of China (Hong Kong) (BOCHK), Standard Chartered, Bank of East Asia (BEA), OCBC and ICBC Asia have launched marketing campaigns to lock in new clients and entertain wealthy customers to kick off the Year of the Dragon, which starts on February 10.

With hundreds of thousands of mainland Chinese travelling to Hong Kong during the week-long holiday, banks are keen to seize the once-a-year opportunity to satisfy clients by lavishing them with attractive giveaways.

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.

HSBC, Hong Kong's largest bank, is organising a fireworks dinner for select customers on the second day of the Lunar New Year at its wealth centre in Hysan Place, Causeway Bay. Another dinner at the Happy Valley Racecourse is planned for February 15. A feng shui master will be present on both days to make predictions for the new year.

The Lunar New Year fireworks display over Victoria Harbour in February 2019. Photo: Nora Tam alt=The Lunar New Year fireworks display over Victoria Harbour in February 2019. Photo: Nora Tam>

New clients will receive lucky gift bags with shopping and dining coupons.

"As Lunar New Year is one of the most important festivals in Chinese culture, we would like to celebrate it with our customers through unique experiences," said Winnie Ng, head of distribution sales management, wealth and personal banking at HSBC Hong Kong.

High deposit rates are the most popular ploy lenders use to attract customers, as many tend to deposit the lai see - red paper packets filled with "lucky money" handed out during the new year - into their bank accounts.

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It is a Chinese tradition for married couples to hand out lai see to unmarried friends and family members, including children, during the first seven days of the new year.

BOCHK is offering 3 per cent on savings accounts and up to HK$27,000 (US$3,450) worth of awards to customers between the ages of 18 and 35 who open accounts using mobile phones, while children under 10 years of age get a 3.5 per cent savings rate and HK$100.

BOCHK is offering 3 per cent on savings accounts and up to HK$27,000 (US$3,450) worth of awards to customers between the ages of 18 and 35 who open accounts. Photo: Reuters alt=BOCHK is offering 3 per cent on savings accounts and up to HK$27,000 (US$3,450) worth of awards to customers between the ages of 18 and 35 who open accounts. Photo: Reuters>

Virtual lender Mox has increased its savings deposit rate to 1.5 per cent, which rises to 3 per cent for deposits of HK$3 million or more. The bank's normal savings rate is 0.875 per cent for savings of more than HK$5,000.

Standard Chartered is offering 40,000 Asia Miles or a HK$4,000 cash rebate to new priority banking customers with deposits of at least HK$1 million. Customers can earn 30,000 Asia Miles per HK$1 million of deposits thereafter, subject to a maximum cash rebate of HK$20,000 or 220,000 Asia Miles - enough for a business class return ticket from Hong Kong to destinations such as Chicago, London or Paris.

OCBC's rate for Hong Kong dollar time deposits range from 3.8 per cent to 4.5 per cent for more than HK$100,000.

ICBC Asia, the local unit of mainland China's largest lender, is offering up to HK$22,000 in free credit card spending for new customers, subject to certain conditions.

Lucky draws are another popular tool. Citibank and BOCHK are offering cash lucky draws to clients who use mobile apps to send e-lai see during the first two weeks of the Year of the Dragon. The top prize at both lenders is HK$8,888 - an auspicious number associated with wealth in Chinese culture.

Hang Seng Bank, a subsidiary of HSBC, said it has joined hands with the local trendy brand, TinBot the Collectibles, to give customers "TinBot God of Wealth Family" collectibles as well as lucky bags filled with gifts. It will also extend the opening hours of certain branches and promises new account openings for mainland Chinese visitors in 10 minutes.

This year, BEA, instead of sending its traditional Lunar New Year gift for corporate clients, will donate money to Unicef. The bank said this would be a better use of the funds and avoid creating waste.

"At BEA, we strongly believe that as a responsible business and responsible citizen, we have our part to play for both the community and the environment," a BEA spokesman said.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Investors in Brunswick Corporation (NYSE:BC) had a good week, as its shares rose 3.3% to close at US$85.60 following the release of its annual results. It was not a great result overall. While revenues of US$6.4b were in line with analyst predictions, earnings were less than expected, missing statutory estimates by 11% to hit US$5.96 per share. Following the result, the analysts have updated their earnings model, and it would be good to know whether they think there's been a strong change in the company's prospects, or if it's business as usual. Readers will be glad to know we've aggregated the latest statutory forecasts to see whether the analysts have changed their mind on Brunswick after the latest results.

See our latest analysis for Brunswick

Following the recent earnings report, the consensus from 17 analysts covering Brunswick is for revenues of US$6.09b in 2024. This implies a noticeable 4.9% decline in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to ascend 13% to US$7.09. In the lead-up to this report, the analysts had been modelling revenues of US$6.35b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$8.26 in 2024. From this we can that sentiment has definitely become more bearish after the latest results, leading to lower revenue forecasts and a substantial drop in earnings per share estimates.

Despite the cuts to forecast earnings, there was no real change to the US$95.00 price target, showing that the analysts don't think the changes have a meaningful impact on its intrinsic value. The consensus price target is just an average of individual analyst targets, so - it could be handy to see how wide the range of underlying estimates is. Currently, the most bullish analyst values Brunswick at US$107 per share, while the most bearish prices it at US$74.00. As you can see, analysts are not all in agreement on the stock's future, but the range of estimates is still reasonably narrow, which could suggest that the outcome is not totally unpredictable.

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Of course, another way to look at these forecasts is to place them into context against the industry itself. These estimates imply that revenue is expected to slow, with a forecast annualised decline of 4.9% by the end of 2024. This indicates a significant reduction from annual growth of 13% over the last five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in the same industry are forecast to see their revenue grow 2.3% annually for the foreseeable future. It's pretty clear that Brunswick's revenues are expected to perform substantially worse than the wider industry.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that the analysts downgraded their earnings per share estimates, showing that there has been a clear decline in sentiment following these results. On the negative side, they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and forecasts imply they will perform worse than the wider industry. The consensus price target held steady at US$95.00, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price targets.

Keeping that in mind, we still think that the longer term trajectory of the business is much more important for investors to consider. At Simply Wall St, we have a full range of analyst estimates for Brunswick going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here..

That said, it's still necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Brunswick , 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.
These five recently-filed class action suits could be of interest to investors. Read on to learn about investors concerns about the alleged activities of the following companies: MBLY, BNTX, DADA, INSP, ON.

Class Action Filed Against Mobileye Global Inc.

Mobileye Global (MBLY) manufactures computer chip components for autonomous driving vehicles. On January 4, 2024, the company issued a press release that sent the stock spiraling. According to Mobileyes statement, the company had a build-up of excess inventory in its customer channels of approximately 6 million to 7 million units of its EyeQ System-on-Chip. This means that these customers will not be ordering new chips any time soon and a temporary impact on [ ] profitability was likely. Mobileyes stock price plummeted by about 25% in response to the announcement.

Mobileyes announcement said that the build-up of inventory was due to concerns over supply chain constraints in 2021 and 2022. This raises several questions, including whether and how long Mobileye has been aware of the inventory glut and if the companys customers have already refrained from placing new orders. In short, Mobileyes revenue and growth prospects have been drawn into question and may not be recovering too quickly.

On January 16, 2024, a class action complaint was filed, alleging that the company failed to disclose to investors that (1) to avoid the shortages experienced amid supply chain constraints in 2021 and 2022, the companys Tier 1 customers had purchased inventory in excess of demand during fiscal 2023; (2) as a result, the companys customers had excess inventory on hand, including approximately 6-7 million units of EyeQ SoCs; and (3) due to the build-up of inventory, there was a significant risk that the Tier 1 customers would buy less product, thus adversely impacting the companys fiscal 2024 financial results.

Class Action filed Against BioNTech SE

BioNTech (BNTX) is a biotechnology company that develops and commercializes immunotherapies for cancer and other infectious diseases. In collaboration with Pfizer Inc., (PFE) the company developed a COVID-19 vaccine called Comirnaty. During the period between March 30, 2022 and October 13, 2023, as the overall number of COVID-19 cases began to decline and the Omicron subvariant began to account for most of the reported cases, BioNTech represented to the market and investors that Comirnaty remained in-demand, despite not yet having a version of Comirnaty approved for the Omicron subvariant. After a series of announcements in late 2023 disclosing inventory write-downs and other charges relating to Comirnaty, BioNTech shares closed at $96.97, down from a close of $183.11 per share on August 5, 2022.

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On January 12, 2024, a class action complaint was filed, alleging that the company failed to disclose to investors that BioNTech overstated demand for Comirnaty and its commercial prospects and the company accumulated excess inventory of raw materials for Comirnaty, placing the company at an increased risk of recording significant inventory write-offs and other charges related to Comirnaty.

Class Action Filed Against Dada Nexus Limited

Dada (DADA) is a platform for local on-demand retail and delivery in China. The company operates JD-Daojia, one of Chinas largest local on demand retail platforms for retailers and brand owners, and Dada Now, a leading local on-demand delivery platform open to merchants and individual senders across various industries and product categories. On January 8, 2024, Dada issued a press release in which it announced that in the course of its routine internal audit, certain suspicious practices were identified that may cast doubt on certain revenues from the companys online advertising and marketing services in 2023. In response, Dada ADRs plummeted 45.87%, closing at $17.12 per share.

On January 10, 2024, a class action complaint was filed alleging that the company failed to disclose that Dada revenues from online advertising, marketing services, and operations and support costs were materially overstated, and, as a result, Dada would need to conduct an independent review to determine the scope and of the suspicious practices that led to overstated revenues and costs.

Class Action Filed Against Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.

Inspire Medical (INSP) is a medical technology company that offers the only device that has been approved by the FDA for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). At a conference in early 2023, the chief executive officer said that the biggest challenge in generating revenue for companys OSA device was patients getting an appointment with a doctor to be evaluated and receive prior authorization. To meet that challenge and increase demand for the device, the company introduced a pilot program under which company employees coordinated with customers to directly access doctors electronic schedules and schedule doctor appointments online, without the need for phone calls. The company made repeated public statements as to the effectiveness of the pilot program and that it achieved a 30% improvement in physician appointments.

When these statements were made, however, Inspire Medical was already tracking problems with the program, including a decrease in the number of prior authorization submissions for Inspire therapy. Public shareholders first learned the truth after the close of markets on November 7, 2023, when the company announced disappointing earnings results for the third quarter of 2023 and disclosing a decline in prior authorization submissions for patients seeking Inspire therapy. On this news, Inspire Medicals stock price fell $31.79 per share, from a closing price of $161.74 per share on November 7, 2023, to a closing price of $129.65 per share on November 8, 2023. On December 22, 2023, a class action complaint was filed on behalf of shareholders that suffered a loss.

Class Action Filed Against ON Semiconductor Corporation

ON Semiconductor Corporation (ON) manufactures and sells semiconductor components for various electronic devices worldwide, including power and sensing solutions, and technologies for the electrification of the automotive industry. Critical to the companys long-term growth and success are the development, manufacture, and sale of a variety of products incorporating silicon carbide (SiC) that are necessary components used in electric vehicles production. The company made repeated public statements to investors regarding the stability and visibility of the demand for the companys SiC and other products, and the sustainability of the companys revenue growth, including that the company had over $17 billion of long-term supply agreements  $9 billion of which were for SiC products.

However, during the investor earnings call on October 30, 2023, the companys chief executive officer publicly disclosed that the company was taking a very cautious approach with its SiC products due to signs of a weakening demand in the companys automotive business segment (which generates between 75% and 90% of the companys SiC revenues), while also revealing that the company would miss its $1 billion 2023 SiC revenue target by approximately $200 million. In reaction to this news, On Semiconductor stock plummeted $18.18 per share, from a close of $83.52 per share on October 27, 2023, to close at $65.34 per share on October 30, 2023. On December 13, 2023, a class action complaint was filed on behalf of shareholders that suffered a loss.

TipRanks Risk Factors Tool

To learn more about the Risk Factors of publicly traded companies, navigate to any stock page on TipRanks, and click More  Risk Analysis to see a graphical representation of all the companys reported risk factors.
ZURICH (Reuters) - A temporary nationalisation was never a realistic option for embattled Swiss lender Credit Suisse, former finance minister Ueli Maurer told Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung, defending his response to the Swiss banking crisis.

"The state would suddenly have to run a globally active bank that is dirty everywhere and involved in legal cases. How would that work?" Maurer said of an option reported to be favoured by the central bank.

Maurer has faced criticism for his hands-off handling of Credit Suisse in the lead up to the Swiss bank's downfall and for saying in December 2022 that it simply needed to be left alone for a year or two.

Credit Suisse was taken over by UBS last June to forge a Swiss banking and wealth management giant with a $1.6 trillion balance sheet.

"There was a chance that Credit Suisse could have solved this on its own," Maurer said of the troubled bank's problems, adding that responsibility for a bank first lies with management, then the board of directors, the auditors, the financial regulator and the Swiss National Bank.

Maurer, who was finance minister until his retirement at the end of 2022, said it was unlikely that a bankruptcy would have occurred and that "UBS got a good deal".

"The bank (Credit Suisse) had so much equity that it was clear there was interest from third parties," he said.

Maurer also said he would still like Switzerland to have two large banks, but that the ultimate solution, the takeover by UBS, was the best option.

"I doubt whether it would have been better to keep Credit Suisse as an independent bank in this situation and with this history," he said.

(Reporting by Noele Illien; Editing by David Goodman)
Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in Harmony Gold Mining implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

The top 6 shareholders own 53% of the company

Insiders have sold recently

To get a sense of who is truly in control of Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (JSE:HAR), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. With 55% stake, institutions possess the maximum shares in the company. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Harmony Gold Mining.

View our latest analysis for Harmony Gold Mining

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Harmony Gold Mining?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Harmony Gold Mining. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Harmony Gold Mining, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

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Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. It would appear that 5.0% of Harmony Gold Mining shares are controlled by hedge funds. That catches my attention because hedge funds sometimes try to influence management, or bring about changes that will create near term value for shareholders. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Public Investment Corporation Limited with 13% of shares outstanding. The second and third largest shareholders are African Rainbow Minerals Limited and Van Eck Associates Corporation, with an equal amount of shares to their name at 12%.

On further inspection, we found that more than half the company's shares are owned by the top 6 shareholders, suggesting that the interests of the larger shareholders are balanced out to an extent by the smaller ones.

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. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.

Insider Ownership Of Harmony Gold Mining

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.

Our information suggests that Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited insiders own under 1% of the company. Keep in mind that it's a big company, and the insiders own R131m worth of shares. The absolute value might be more important than the proportional share. Arguably, recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 15% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Harmony Gold Mining. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Public Company Ownership

Public companies currently own 12% of Harmony Gold Mining stock. This may be a strategic interest and the two companies may have related business interests. It could be that they have de-merged. This holding is probably worth investigating further.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Harmony Gold Mining better, we need to consider many other factors. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Harmony Gold Mining that you should be aware of before investing here.

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.
For most of us, the typical phishing scam starts with an urgent text or email from what looks like your bank. Or con artists hide behind a fake FedEx notice that says there's a delivery problem. We're not getting texts, yet, from celebrities.

So, who could imagine being tricked by a text from Drake?

The Drake in this scam, though, isn't the iconic rapper. Instead, it's a tax software company, and scammers are impersonating Drake to typically target tax professionals and CPAs, not ordinary taxpayers.

Tax season, which kicked off Jan. 29 when the Internal Revenue Service started accepting and processing 2023 federal income tax returns, is prime time for scammers to hit us with phony emails and texts. The IRS expects more than 146 million individual tax returns to be filed this tax season, which has an April 15 deadline.

We're into a time of the year when a great deal of personal information is being moved around. Con artists want to gain access to Social Security numbers and other information that can be used, the IRS warns, "to prepare authentic looking tax returns to collect a refund  or use it to commit other types of fraud."

Tax-related phishing scams and unsolicited texts even grabbed a top spot on the annual IRS "Dirty Dozen" list for scams in 2023. Some scammers, according to an IRS warning, will use the IRS logo in phishing attempts and claim something like "Action Required: Your account has now been put on hold."

Bottom line: "The IRS initiates most contacts through regular mail and will never initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text or social media regarding a bill or tax refund," the IRS says.

The frightening part is that scammers are going after lots of data when they target a tax pro.

Data breaches, ID theft hit new highs: Here's how to protect yourself

How hackers target tax professionals

"Intricate email scams pose a real risk to tax professionals and the taxpayers they represent," according to an alert issued in early January by IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel.

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Cybercriminals can be "masquerading as real taxpayers looking for help," according to the IRS. Or they're impersonating the IRS, state tax agencies, software providers, and banks and credit unions.

The text relating to Drake asks the target to provide a copy of their electronic filing identification number account summary from IRS e-Services, with a status of completed, to Drake for verification. The identification number is used by tax professionals for the electronic filing of tax returns  and it's not something you'd want to hand over to scammers.

Increasingly, though, scammers are trying to steal a tax professional's e-Service account passwords and electronic filing identification number. Sometimes, the IRS notes in an alert, the scammers will pose as the IRS or e-Services.

The IRS said it continuously reviews electronic filing identification numbers and will inactivate numbers that are found to be compromised. But tax professionals are told to take steps, including using strong passwords and not opening links or attachments from suspicious emails. "Most data thefts begin with a phishing email," the IRS says.

Now, even an email from a "new client" needs to be treated suspiciously.

One scam that is targeting tax professionals, the IRS warns, involves emails that pretend to be a "potential new client" who might say "I am searching for another CPA to help handle my taxes."

One email noted: "Is it safe to say that you are accepting new clients for the 2024 tax season? Do you additionally assist with IRS representation?"

The IRS said the agency received hundreds of reports at phishing@irs.gov about these emails that pretended to be from new clients.

Tax professionals are frequently targeted by phishing scams to gain more data to file fake tax returns and claim refund cash. Both taxpayers and professionals are being warned to never click on attachments in emails that arrive out of the blue.

"The new client scam made up roughly two-thirds of the 400 reports of business email compromise or business email spoofing complaints that came in to phishing@irs.gov," the IRS says.

The actual number of such scam attacks is far larger, of course, given the mass production of such messages.

Tax professionals say they're being inundated with such phishing scams.

"Scammers are always tweaking their scams. They're trying to come up with new ways for people to take the bait," said April Walker, lead manager for tax practice and ethics with the American Institute of CPAs.

She has received emails that pretend to be from potential new clients, which often include a link. Sometimes, the email will include an attachment of a W-2 or last year's tax return.

Walker knows they are a scam; she doesn't even prepare taxes any longer as part of her job.

Walker warned that it used to be fairly obvious that an out-of-the-blue email or a text was the initial step as part of a broader scam. But often scammers are trying very hard to make their emails seem more believable, such as trying to impersonate a friend.

The new phishing email might appear to be from a name you recognize, maybe a friend, colleague or recognized name in the community. That's often because your friend, colleague, or other well-known name had their email account credentials stolen.

How to handle scams

Tax professionals, Walker said, must have an action plan ready to respond to any data breach. Moving quickly is essential.

Fake emails present a great risk, especially if a tax professional downloads a potential client's tax information or accessing a site with the potential client's tax information.

When that happens, the IRS says, cybercriminals could collect the preparer's email address, password and possibly other information  or load malware onto the tax pro's computer to gain access to the system.

The IRS recommends that tax professionals reach out to report data theft immediately to the local IRS stakeholder liaison. The liaison will notify IRS Criminal Investigation and others with the agency. "If reported quickly, the IRS can take steps to block fraudulent returns in clients' names and take other steps to protect the tax professional their clients," the IRS says in its alert.

We're also being warned about fake emails involving a request for an e-signature, which allow you to sign a document digitally. You might be asked to provide a password or other personal information. Or there might be a malicious attachment that could lead to downloading malware. You want to be extremely skeptical about such e-mails and be on alert for fake notifications if you arent expecting one.

Impostors have been known to use forged documents, which you're asked to sign and then add some of your confidential information.

Amber Gray-Fenner, an enrolled agent who regularly prepares tax returns for individuals and small businesses in Albuquerque, New Mexico, said she has received several phishing emails, and some requesting e-signatures "almost look legitimate."

In one case, she paused to step back and realize that she had given a different email to a contact regarding a conversation on e-signatures than the email address where she received the phishing email.

One email where the sender's name and email looked like a real person, she told me, had the subject line: "Review 8879," which is an e-filing authorization form.

"Those forms do not go through e-mail in my office, and I don't accept e-mailed 8879s from clients," she said. "They have to use my secure portal."

Gray-Fenner added that she has approved channels for "accepting client information and e-mail is not one of them and my clients know it."

By not accepting information from clients via e-mail, she said, phishing attempts stand out from the legitimate e-mail that's hitting her inbox.

Some red flags to consider, she said, include: any hand-drawn squiggles on the graphic; and a notice that "E-signature sent you a document." Though that could happen when a user hasn't set up their e-signature account properly, she said, it's still a red flag. Also: any indication that the email was "sent with high importance."

Gray-Fenner noted that most e-signature requests she receives are from people she is working with directly, such as real estate agents. And they don't come high importance.

Also, pay attention to your own email account. If something is being sent to an email address you've given out often, it's more likely that you could be dealing with a scammer.

What taxpayers should watch out for

Some weeks, your head can spin with all the potential scams lurking around every phone call and text. Scammers are impersonating all sorts of government agencies, not just the IRS.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a warning in January about scammers who are using the names of employees at the federal consumer watchdog agency to try to sound more legitimate in their efforts to steal money.

"Weve heard from people, specifically older adults, who received phone or video calls," the alert said. Some scammers are claiming that the consumer could participate in a class-action lawsuit, or that they've won a lawsuit but must pay a fee or taxes upfront to collect some claims. Consumers can phone the consumer protection bureau call center at 855-411-2372 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, if they want to confirm that a call is a scam. The bureau doesn't make such calls.

Hackers also want more personally identifiable information about you so they can open credit cards, take out bank loans, and file fake tax returns to falsely claim inflated tax refunds.

Unfortunately, all of this means we need to be more on guard  even when we're swamped with work or other challenges.

Verify the identity of the sender by calling a phone number obtained elsewhere. You do not want to call the number provided in the email or text.

Don't rush if you receive a request to update anything. Scammers impersonate everyone  health care insurers, 401(k) plan providers, your mortgage company and more.

Tax season is an extremely busy time for taxpayers and tax preparers, so scammers also try to strike when someone could be exhausted or under a great deal of stress.

Contact personal finance columnist Susan Tompor: stompor@freepress.com. Follow her on X (Twitter) @tompor.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Hackers are targeting tax pros: How that hurts taxpayers like you
If you've heard about recent earthquakes near Prague, Oklahoma, you may be wondering about the option of earthquake insurance.

You should know that homeowner's insurance policies do not cover damage from earthquakes without a rider, or a separate earthquake policy. Coverage is expensive and deductibles are high.

Here are some basics of earthquake insurance from the Oklahoma Insurance Department.

How much earthquake insurance should I buy and how much does it cost?

"The right coverage value will depend on how much of the repair and replacement costs can be paid out-of-pocket should the consumer suffer a total loss."

"Earthquake policies vary in cost depending on multiple factors, including the desired level of coverage and deductible amount. They are also determined by the propertys location, age and construction."

"Insuring a home for just its appraisal or loan value will likely mean that in the event of an earthquake, there will only be enough coverage to repay the mortgage lender and not enough to repair the home."

Be aware of insurance policy limits of coverage. "Often within these limits are sub-limits on specific items, such as a $50,000 limit on personal property replacement with a $5,000 sub-limit on computers and peripherals."

RELATED: Earthquakes rattled central Oklahoma Friday night. How bad were they?

What is the deductible and how is it calculated?

"Earthquake insurance carries a separate and substantial deductible. The deductibles work differently than those of standard homeowners policies, including separate deductibles for the home, outside structures such as a detached garage or a fence, and for personal contents."

"The deductible is calculated as a percentage of the insured propertys value  commonly 5% to 10%. For instance, a $100,000 home would require a deductible of $5,000 to $10,000."

RELATED: Oil and gas regulators investigating swarm of earthquakes near OKC; largest a 4.3 magnitude

What does earthquake insurance cover?

"An earthquake insurance policy covers home repairs needed due to earthquake damage and personal property directly damaged by an earthquake."

'It might cover increased costs of repair to meet current building codes and costs to stabilize the land beneath structures."

"It pays extra living expenses while the home is under repair and covers the cost of debris removal."

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FROM FEMA: How to "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" during an earthquake.

What does earthquake insurance not cover?

"An earthquake policy typically does not cover damage to lot or land, such as sinkholes."

"Earthquake insurance also does not protect vehicles and wont cover the cost of external water damage."

"Some insurance companies do not cover the replacement of masonry veneer  brick, rock or stone that covers the outside of the home."

Why should homeowners or renters buy earthquake insurance?

"Earthquakes are not covered under a typical homeowner's or renter's policy and can cause significant damage to property."'

"Its important for consumers to consider how they would manage the costs of recovering from an earthquake should they be impacted. For example, can they afford to repair or rebuild and how likely is the home or business to be seriously damaged?"

"Brick homes, wood-frame homes with crawl spaces and multistory homes are the most likely to suffer serious damage from an earthquake."

Note: "Most companies wont sell new earthquake insurance policies for 30-60 days after a quake due to the expectation of aftershocks."

How can I buy earthquake coverage?

An earthquake endorsement can be added to home insurance policies, although not every insurance company offers earthquake coverage."

"Earthquake insurance is also available as a stand-alone policy independent of homeowner's insurance."

For more information, go to the Oklahoma Department of Insurance's earthquake page, at www.oid.ok.gov/consumers/insurance-basics/disasters/earthquakes/. Or call the agency's Consumer Hotline toll-free at (800) 522-0071.

Possible earthquake damage is seen at a home near Meeker, Okla., on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.

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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: What to know about earthquake insurance in Oklahoma
One thing we could say about the analysts on Imperial Oil Limited (TSE:IMO) - they aren't optimistic, having just made a major negative revision to their near-term (statutory) forecasts for the organization. This report focused on revenue estimates, and it looks as though the consensus view of the business has become substantially more conservative.

After the downgrade, the consensus from Imperial Oil's five analysts is for revenues of CA$50b in 2024, which would reflect a discernible 2.3% decline in sales compared to the last year of performance. Statutory earnings per share are forecast to be CA$8.97, approximately in line with the last 12 months. Previously, the analysts had been modelling revenues of CA$62b and earnings per share (EPS) of CA$8.88 in 2024. Indeed we can see that the consensus opinion has undergone some fundamental changes following the recent consensus updates, with a pretty serious reduction to revenues and some minor tweaks to earnings numbers.

See our latest analysis for Imperial Oil

The average price target was steady at CA$85.44 even though revenue estimates declined; likely suggesting the analysts place a higher value on earnings.

These estimates are interesting, but it can be useful to paint some more broad strokes when seeing how forecasts compare, both to the Imperial Oil's past performance and to peers in the same industry. We would highlight that sales are expected to reverse, with a forecast 2.3% annualised revenue decline to the end of 2024. That is a notable change from historical growth of 15% over the last five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in the same industry are forecast to see their revenue grow 5.6% annually for the foreseeable future. So although its revenues are forecast to shrink, this cloud does not come with a silver lining - Imperial Oil is expected to lag the wider industry.

The Bottom Line

The most obvious conclusion from this consensus update is that there's been no major change in the business' prospects in recent times, with analysts holding earnings per share steady, in line with previous estimates. Regrettably, they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and the latest forecasts imply the business will grow sales slower than the wider market. Overall, given the drastic downgrade to this year's forecasts, we'd be feeling a little more wary of Imperial Oil going forwards.

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With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. We have estimates - from multiple Imperial Oil analysts - going out to 2025, and you can see them free on our platform here.

Of course, seeing company management invest large sums of money in a stock can be just as useful as knowing whether analysts are downgrading their estimates. So you may also wish to search this free list of stocks that insiders are buying.

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.
What are the early trends we should look for to identify a stock that could multiply in value over the long term? Firstly, we'd want to identify a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and then alongside that, an ever-increasing base of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. Having said that, from a first glance at Nanofilm Technologies International (SGX:MZH) we aren't jumping out of our chairs at how returns are trending, but let's have a deeper look.

What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

For those who don't know, ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. The formula for this calculation on Nanofilm Technologies International is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.042 = S$22m  (S$557m - S$41m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2023).

So, Nanofilm Technologies International has an ROCE of 4.2%. On its own that's a low return, but compared to the average of 1.8% generated by the Chemicals industry, it's much better.

Check out our latest analysis for Nanofilm Technologies International

roce

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Nanofilm Technologies International compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering Nanofilm Technologies International here for free.

How Are Returns Trending?

When we looked at the ROCE trend at Nanofilm Technologies International, we didn't gain much confidence. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 27% over the last five years. Given the business is employing more capital while revenue has slipped, this is a bit concerning. This could mean that the business is losing its competitive advantage or market share, because while more money is being put into ventures, it's actually producing a lower return - "less bang for their buck" per se.

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On a related note, Nanofilm Technologies International has decreased its current liabilities to 7.4% of total assets. So we could link some of this to the decrease in ROCE. What's more, this can reduce some aspects of risk to the business because now the company's suppliers or short-term creditors are funding less of its operations. Since the business is basically funding more of its operations with it's own money, you could argue this has made the business less efficient at generating ROCE.

The Bottom Line On Nanofilm Technologies International's ROCE

In summary, we're somewhat concerned by Nanofilm Technologies International's diminishing returns on increasing amounts of capital. We expect this has contributed to the stock plummeting 86% during the last three years. With underlying trends that aren't great in these areas, we'd consider looking elsewhere.

Nanofilm Technologies International does have some risks though, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Nanofilm Technologies International that you might be interested in.

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.
Finding a business that has the potential to grow substantially is not easy, but it is possible if we look at a few key financial metrics. 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. If you see this, it typically means it's a company with a great business model and plenty of profitable reinvestment opportunities. Speaking of which, we noticed some great changes in Brisbane Broncos' (ASX:BBL) returns on capital, so let's have a look.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It?

For those who don't know, ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. The formula for this calculation on Brisbane Broncos is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.14 = AU$6.1m  (AU$58m - AU$13m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2023).

Therefore, Brisbane Broncos has an ROCE of 14%. On its own, that's a standard return, however it's much better than the 8.1% generated by the Entertainment industry.

Check out our latest analysis for Brisbane Broncos

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Historical performance is a great place to start when researching a stock so above you can see the gauge for Brisbane Broncos' ROCE against it's prior returns. If you're interested in investigating Brisbane Broncos' past further, check out this free graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What Does the ROCE Trend For Brisbane Broncos Tell Us?

Brisbane Broncos' ROCE growth is quite impressive. More specifically, while the company has kept capital employed relatively flat over the last five years, the ROCE has climbed 63% in that same time. Basically the business is generating higher returns from the same amount of capital and that is proof that there are improvements in the company's efficiencies. On that front, things are looking good so it's worth exploring what management has said about growth plans going forward.

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The Bottom Line

In summary, we're delighted to see that Brisbane Broncos has been able to increase efficiencies and earn higher rates of return on the same amount of capital. Since the stock has returned a staggering 118% to shareholders over the last five years, it looks like investors are recognizing these changes. Therefore, we think it would be worth your time to check if these trends are going to continue.

One more thing to note, we've identified 1 warning sign with Brisbane Broncos and understanding this should be part of your investment process.

While Brisbane Broncos isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are 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.
What are the early trends we should look for to identify a stock that could multiply in value over the long term? 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. In light of that, when we looked at China Sunsine Chemical Holdings (SGX:QES) and its ROCE trend, we weren't exactly thrilled.

Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)

Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. The formula for this calculation on China Sunsine Chemical Holdings is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.11 = CN419m  (CN4.2b - CN434m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2023).

Therefore, China Sunsine Chemical Holdings has an ROCE of 11%. On its own, that's a standard return, however it's much better than the 1.8% generated by the Chemicals industry.

View our latest analysis for China Sunsine Chemical Holdings

roce

In the above chart we have measured China Sunsine Chemical Holdings' 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 China Sunsine Chemical Holdings here for free.

So How Is China Sunsine Chemical Holdings' ROCE Trending?

On the surface, the trend of ROCE at China Sunsine Chemical Holdings doesn't inspire confidence. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 33% over the last five years. And considering revenue has dropped while employing more capital, we'd be cautious. This could mean that the business is losing its competitive advantage or market share, because while more money is being put into ventures, it's actually producing a lower return - "less bang for their buck" per se.

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In Conclusion...

We're a bit apprehensive about China Sunsine Chemical Holdings because despite more capital being deployed in the business, returns on that capital and sales have both fallen. Investors haven't taken kindly to these developments, since the stock has declined 24% from where it was five years ago. Unless there is a shift to a more positive trajectory in these metrics, we would look elsewhere.

If you want to continue researching China Sunsine Chemical Holdings, you might be interested to know about the 2 warning signs that our analysis has discovered.

For those who like to invest in solid companies, check out this free list of companies with solid balance sheets and high 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.
What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding base of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think Dr. Honle (ETR:HNL) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be.

What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. The formula for this calculation on Dr. Honle is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.043 = 6.2m  (176m - 32m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

Thus, Dr. Honle has an ROCE of 4.3%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Electrical industry average of 13%.

View our latest analysis for Dr. Honle

roce

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Dr. Honle 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 Dr. Honle's ROCE Trending?

On the surface, the trend of ROCE at Dr. Honle doesn't inspire confidence. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 31% over the last five years. On the other hand, the company has been employing more capital without a corresponding improvement in sales in the last year, which could suggest these investments are longer term plays. It may take some time before the company starts to see any change in earnings from these investments.

The Bottom Line

Bringing it all together, while we're somewhat encouraged by Dr. Honle's reinvestment in its own business, we're aware that returns are shrinking. And investors appear hesitant that the trends will pick up because the stock has fallen 65% in the last five years. All in all, the inherent trends aren't typical of multi-baggers, so if that's what you're after, we think you might have more luck elsewhere.

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One more thing to note, we've identified 1 warning sign with Dr. Honle and understanding this should be part of your investment process.

While Dr. Honle isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are 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.
This article was first published by The Korea Times in a partnership with the South China Morning Post.

Samsung Electronics' move to integrate its latest flagship smartphones with artificial intelligence (AI) technology from Chinese search giant Baidu has drawn lukewarm interest from consumers in mainland China.

The South Korean firm's China division and Baidu AI Cloud in late January announced a strategic partnership, which will see Samsung's Galaxy S24 series - released in China on January 25, a week after debuting in the US - deploy Baidu's Ernie large language model (LLM) and search engine to support the handsets' AI search functions.

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.

Many of those functions, tailored for the Chinese market, mirror features provided by Google's Gemini AI, which supports the global version of the Galaxy S24 series but is unavailable in China.

But many Chinese consumers have taken to social media to express concerns that the search features on the local version of the Galaxy S24 series may not be as good as those on the international version.

Baidu's AI technology supports the Chinese version of Samsung's latest flagship smartphone series, the Galaxy S24. Photo: Bloomberg alt=Baidu's AI technology supports the Chinese version of Samsung's latest flagship smartphone series, the Galaxy S24. Photo: Bloomberg>

"The overseas version is a completely different world than the mainland version," said Weibo user "Sun Weilun". He said he had visited a Samsung store in Hong Kong to test various models and found that the "Circle to Search" feature powered by Baidu provided much fewer results than the overseas version supported by Google.

Richard Zhang, a 30-year-old Beijing resident, said he was planning to buy an overseas version of the Galaxy S24 to get the best AI services. "I started considering this after I saw that the [mainland] system recognises Samsung's own phones as other brands."

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Baidu is considered one of the top AI players in China, being the first major tech firm in the country to launch its own ChatGPT alternative when its Ernie Bot debuted in March 2023.

Last September, the company unveiled the latest version of its LLM, Ernie 4.0, which Baidu said was "by no means inferior compared to OpenAI's GPT-4" in general capabilities.

Still, the Baidu-Samsung partnership is not expected to significantly boost the South Korean firm's standing in the Chinese smartphone market, where its share has slumped to less than 1 per cent from 20 per cent over the past decade.

One major challenge faced by Samsung is the rise of Chinese vendors from Huawei Technologies to Oppo and Vivo, which are also releasing their own LLMs or integrating generative AI features in their latest handsets.

"Within the Chinese market, AI alone is unlikely to trigger immediate changes," said Ivan Lam, a senior analyst at Counterpoint Research. However, he added that the partnership with Baidu "signifies Samsung's dedication to long-term, consistent operations in China".

In China, Samsung has set prices for the S24 and S24+ at between 500 yuan to 800 yuan (US$70 to US$112) more than the previous S23 and S23+ models, according to a recent analysis by Peng Peng, wireless smartphone strategies analyst at TechInsights. By comparison, Samsung kept the same price tags in the US and reduced prices in Europe.

"It seems that Samsung is not intensively competing with domestic vendors in terms of value for money in the world's largest smartphone market," Peng said.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX:S68) came out with its half-year results last week, and we wanted to see how the business is performing and what industry forecasters think of the company following this report. It was a credible result overall, with revenues of S$592m and statutory earnings per share of S$0.26 both in line with analyst estimates, showing that Singapore Exchange is executing in line with expectations. This is an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance in its report, look at what experts are forecasting for next year, and see if there has been any change to expectations for the business. We've gathered the most recent statutory forecasts to see whether the analysts have changed their earnings models, following these results.

Check out our latest analysis for Singapore Exchange

After the latest results, the twelve analysts covering Singapore Exchange are now predicting revenues of S$1.24b in 2024. If met, this would reflect a modest 2.4% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are expected to reduce 6.6% to S$0.50 in the same period. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of S$1.27b and earnings per share (EPS) of S$0.50 in 2024. So it looks like the analysts have become a bit less optimistic after the latest results announcement, with revenues expected to fall even as the company is supposed to maintain EPS.

The consensus has reconfirmed its price target of S$10.10, showing that the analysts don't expect weaker revenue expectations next year to have a material impact on Singapore Exchange's market value. There's another way to think about price targets though, and that's to look at the range of price targets put forward by analysts, because a wide range of estimates could suggest a diverse view on possible outcomes for the business. Currently, the most bullish analyst values Singapore Exchange at S$12.40 per share, while the most bearish prices it at S$8.97. This shows there is still a bit of diversity in estimates, but analysts don't appear to be totally split on the stock as though it might be a success or failure situation.

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One way to get more context on these forecasts is to look at how they compare to both past performance, and how other companies in the same industry are performing. We can infer from the latest estimates that forecasts expect a continuation of Singapore Exchange'shistorical trends, as the 4.8% annualised revenue growth to the end of 2024 is roughly in line with the 5.9% annual growth over the past five years. Compare this with the broader industry (in aggregate), which analyst estimates suggest will see revenues grow 10% annually. So it's pretty clear that Singapore Exchange is expected to grow slower than similar companies in the same industry.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that there's been no major change in sentiment, with the analysts reconfirming that the business is performing in line with their previous earnings per share estimates. Unfortunately, they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and our data indicates underperformance compared to the wider industry. Even so, earnings per share are more important to the intrinsic value of the business. Yet - earnings are more important to the intrinsic value of the business. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates.

Following on from that line of thought, we think that the long-term prospects of the business are much more relevant than next year's earnings. We have forecasts for Singapore Exchange going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here.

We also provide an overview of the Singapore Exchange Board and CEO remuneration and length of tenure at the company, and whether insiders have been buying the stock, 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.
Beijing has ramped up efforts to use pinyin - the romanisation of Mandarin script - when referring to disputed islands and reefs in the South China Sea in English, seeking to bolster its territorial claims to the waterway.

It comes amid worsening relations between China and its Southeast Asian neighbours, particularly the Philippines, following a run-in between the Chinese coastguard and four Filipino nationals on a fishing boat last week.

In statements and articles, the Chinese foreign ministry and state media have dramatically increased their use of pinyin. For instance, they have replaced "Nansha Islands" with "Nansha Qundao" to refer to the Spratly Islands.

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.

Similarly, throughout 2023, Second Thomas Shoal, which has been the focal point of the tensions between China and the Philippines, was increasingly called "Renai Jiao" instead of "Renai Reef". The reef is referred to as Ayungin Shoal by the Philippines.

The term "Nansha Qundao" appeared nine times in 2023 out of 29 times in total. Before 2023, it was used intermittently, mostly in July 2016 when Beijing strongly rejected The Hague's ruling that China had no historical rights to obtain resources in the South China Sea within the "nine-dash line".

Searches on the foreign ministry website showed more than 700 results for Nansha Islands. However, the frequency of its use in its statements has been falling each year. It was only used nine times in 2023 - and has been all but abandoned since August.

Meanwhile, "Renai Jiao" showed up in a total of almost 30 entries on the website, with 14 of those appearing last year, while "Renai Reef" had almost 50 results but only appeared four times in 2023.

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On the English website of People's Daily, the Communist Party's mouthpiece, "Nansha Qundao" and "Nansha Islands" were used interchangeably in 2023, but the use of "Nansha Qundao" rose sharply, with 16 appearances on its search results out of 30.

English websites of state news outlets Xinhua and China Daily have followed a similar line to People's Daily in recent months.

Back in 2016 after The Hague ruling, China used "Nansha Qundao" in a white paper to reassert its claims over the resource-rich waterway. The foreign ministry has used the term since then but opted for "Nansha Islands" more often in recent years.

A PLA Navy on patrol in the Spratly Islands, known in pinyin as Nansha Qundao. Tensions between Beijing and Manila have worsened after a year of flare-ups between the two in the South China Sea. Photo: Reuters/Stringer alt=A PLA Navy on patrol in the Spratly Islands, known in pinyin as Nansha Qundao. Tensions between Beijing and Manila have worsened after a year of flare-ups between the two in the South China Sea. Photo: Reuters/Stringer>

Last year, though, heightened tensions between Beijing and Manila saw the two countries engaged in several stand-offs - involving lasers, water cannons and collisions. And the latest flare-up between the two came on January 28, when the Chinese coastguard said it drove off four Filipinos who "illegally intruded into" Scarborough Shoal, around 200km (124 miles) off the Philippines' northwest coast.

The growing number of disputes has attracted international scrutiny, and, according to experts, has also seen Beijing's territorial claims reflected in the adjustments to its English translations. They added this would have the practical implication of standardising how these islands and reefs were called in English among government lines.

Ding Duo, an associate research fellow at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies in Hainan, said the change in English names was "a technical adjustment" by Beijing to further assert its claims over the South China Sea.

He said the practice of using words such as "islands" and "reef" for English translations had been followed for decades, and it is only in recent years that Beijing had started using the pinyin transliteration instead.

"The 2016 white paper already started using pinyin to refer to the Spratly Islands, but the past few years have seen a mixture of using various translations, which has caused confusion," Ding said, adding that the mixed usage had also attracted criticism from Chinese scholars.

"More recently, the growing use of pinyin for the English translation when addressing islands and reefs can help reinforce China's sovereign right in the South China Sea more cohesively."

He said the term "Nansha Islands" failed to indicate the legal status of the Spratly Islands "as a single unit", which is considered by China as an offshore archipelago of its own. Therefore, using "Nansha Qundao" helped to justify China's maritime entitlements of the archipelago.

Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a Stanford University project focused on grey zone activities in the South China Sea, said the growing use of the pinyin terms fitted into Beijing's long-term strategy of normalising the idea of Chinese sovereignty over its maritime claims. But, he added, it was unlikely to make any difference to its South China Sea rivals.

"At present, China's neighbours have resisted adopting Beijing's terms, and perhaps even more assiduously have kept to their own local terms as a means of countering China's expansionism," Powell said.

Since territorial tensions between the Philippines and China flared up more than a decade ago, Manila has almost entirely stopped referring to the waterway as the South China Sea. Instead, it regularly refers to it as the West Philippine Sea. Meanwhile, Vietnam and Indonesia have also adopted their own terms. Vietnam calls it the East Sea while Indonesia refers to it as the North Natuna Sea.

However, Ding said Beijing might want to guard itself against accepting the traditional Western names of islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

"To hedge against how the Western world has named these features, China has to use and advocate its own customary names in the field of international public opinion," he said.

In the past, Beijing has had several instances of naming a number of geographical features in the South China Sea to assert its claims. The last exercise came in 2020, when it gave names to features in the Paracel and Spratly islands, including 25 islands, shoals and reefs and 55 oceanic mountains and ridges, which drew protests from Vietnam and the Philippines.

This is not the first time that Beijing has increased its use of pinyin for English names of controversial geographical regions.

Last year, Chinese official media stopped using the term "Tibet" when referring to the autonomous region in western China in English articles, opting instead to use "Xizang" to emphasise its sovereignty.

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.
Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) has announced that it will pay a dividend of $0.18 per share on the 27th of March. This means that the annual payment will be 2.4% of the current stock price, which is in line with the average for the industry.

Check out our latest analysis for Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines' Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings

We like to see a healthy dividend yield, but that is only helpful to us if the payment can continue. Prior to this announcement, Southwest Airlines' dividend was making up a very large proportion of earnings, and the company was also not generating any cash flow to offset this. This is a pretty unsustainable practice, and could be risky if continued for the long term.

Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 191.5%. Assuming the dividend continues along the course it has been charting recently, our estimates show the payout ratio being 32% which brings it into quite a comfortable range.

Dividend Volatility

The company has a long dividend track record, but it doesn't look great with cuts in the past. Since 2014, the dividend has gone from $0.16 total annually to $0.72. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 16% a year over that time. It is great to see strong growth in the dividend payments, but cuts are concerning as it may indicate the payout policy is too ambitious.

Dividend Growth Potential Is Shaky

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share is growing. Southwest Airlines' EPS has fallen by approximately 28% per year during the past five years. A sharp decline in earnings per share is not great from from a dividend perspective. Even conservative payout ratios can come under pressure if earnings fall far enough. On the bright side, earnings are predicted to gain some ground over the next year, but until this turns into a pattern we wouldn't be feeling too comfortable.

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Southwest Airlines' Dividend Doesn't Look Sustainable

Overall, we don't think this company makes a great dividend stock, even though the dividend wasn't cut this year. The payments are bit high to be considered sustainable, and the track record isn't the best. We don't think Southwest Airlines is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus.

Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. For example, we've picked out 1 warning sign for Southwest Airlines that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.

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.
Automakers like Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley and Rolls-Royce have been doing well as, regardless of whatever is happening in the wider worlds economy, the ranks of the ultra-wealthy grow and become richer. Lamborghini sold more than 10,000 vehicles last year for the first time ever and Ferrari had a more than 17% increase in revenue. But making money selling a relative handful of cars to a small group of people requires ever-increasing creativity.

As a result, extreme levels of personal customization have become the norm in this niche of the auto industry. Instead of just picking interior and exterior colors from a menu, each buyer can ensure his or her supercar or ultra-luxury SUV looks like no other anywhere on earth. In some cases, the wealthiest buyers can even have cars that are built in small  even single digit  numbers only for them.

Beyond the raw count, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce and Bentley achieved record sales of individually customized cars that can cost, in some cases, double the already high base price of one of these vehicles.

We are limited in terms of [market] size and in terms of [market] segments, said Lamborghini chief executive Stephan Winkelmann in an interview with CNN. So we have to get the most out of every single car.

Ferraris earnings boom announced Thursday was thanks in part to the companys vehicle personalization program. Ferrari announced revenues of $6.46 billion and profit of $1.36 billion in 2023. The company is expecting more growth in 2024 with its recently launched Purosangue SUV as it continues catering to the wealthiest car enthusiasts. The companys stock reached a 52-week high Thursday morning at $380 a share. (Seven-time champion Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton joining Ferraris racing team may also have contributed to the price run.)

Carmakers like these sell to a thin sliver of the global population, those with at least $30 million in potential spending money. Thats around 400,000 people globally, according to Altrata, a company that studies wealth trends. By 2028, Altrata expects 528,000 of the worlds 8 billion people to be in that wealth category.

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Mother-of-pearl inlay on a folding tray table inside a customized Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV. - Courtesy Rolls-Royce

This is a market thats growing in terms of population but these wealthy people are also getting even wealthier, said Javier Gonzalez Lastra, investment partner with Tema ETFs, which operates a luxury goods investment fund.

Tapping into a deep well

Global auto sales rose about 9% last year, according S&P. And the most expensive brands are, with some exceptions, growing, too. But, for brands like these, numbers that would be insignificant to a big automaker  like 10,000 Lamborghinis or 13,000 Ferraris  can mean cork-popping success.

With such small numbers of cars  and they dont want to sell too many more or they wont be exclusive anymore  these automakers are expanding the ways they can upsell features, options and extras to this wealthiest groups of buyers.

Personalizations, customizations, have actually been the key driver behind the better than expected earnings throughout the year, Gonzalez Lastra said.

He was speaking of Ferrari, specifically, which had strong earnings growth this year, but the same concept applies to other ultra-luxury automakers, as well. To grow revenues, they have to justify charging their wealthy clients more.

The Lamborghini Revuelto Opera Unica, a Lamborghini Revuelto plug-in hybrid supercar with a special hand-applied paint job that took 435 hours to complete, according to the automaker. - Courtesy Lamborghini

The customer is rich, but hes not stupid. You have to earn your price increase, he said, and to do that you have to bring something new, i.e. a new model, some innovation, something different, or you are customizing things for your client.

Selling options certainly isnt new in the auto industry. Even mainstream cars from brands like Volkswagen and Ford can be sold with lots of options, a trend thats been increasing in recent years. But customers purchasing Lamborghinis, Rolls-Royces and Bentleys have an even wider array of infinitely customizable paint colors and interior materials, to start with, than carmakers offer for less expensive brands. Automakers rarely disclose specific prices for these very personalized cars.

At the most extreme, carmakers will even create entire cars costing millions of dollars each for just a few customers.

Growing custom options

But the sorts of customization available to customers of Lamborghinis Ad Personum program, available on the brands supercar models, go beyond just picking from those long lists. Customers can request a paint-to-sample color, for instance, in which a car can be painted to match a fabric, leather or paint sample.

If the customer has a favorite shirt, for example, the car paint could be matched to the fabric color. But the ideas go way beyond a simple piece of clothing to be matched.

You have what I call it micro metallic and you can even go all the way to throw crushed Swarovski diamond dust into the paint, Pietro Frigerio, a former Lamborghini executive who now runs a Lamborghini dealership in Newport Beach, California, said.

One reason the trend is increasing in popularity is simply because the technology has advanced, he added. New paints mean new possibilities.

Bugatti Chirons customized for a married couple. - Courtesy Bugatti

So besides just colors, the paints can have myriad effects and subtle tones. Buyers can even mix different effects of the same color to present subtle patterns and designs.

At last years Art Basel Miami Beach event, Lamborghini unveiled a Revuelto supercar that looked like it had been driven through streams of fluorescent paint. The car, which was sold to a customer after the show, was created to show off the automakers custom paint capabilities.

Nearly three quarters of Bentley customers last year requested custom options that go beyond the brands already lengthy options list, an increase of 43% from the year before. These more extravagant choices can add around $75,000 to the price of a Bentley car, executives have said.

Of course, the more expensive the car, the more extravagant  and potentially expensive  the choices. Rolls-Royce has created a number of Phantom sedans that likely cost multiples of the cars roughly $500,000 base price. These cars were made with features such as custom embroidery, intricate wood in-lays, etched glass and even hand-painted designs in their interiors.

Kellyn Dixon, manager of a Rolls-Royce dealership in Irvine, California, won an award two years ago for selling the most cars worldwide from the brands customization program, known as Rolls-Royce Bespoke. These are highly customized cars, so much so that Dixon sometimes takes her clients to Rolls Royce headquarters in Goodwood, UK, to meet directly with designers to pick to make their final selections of unique colors, trim pieces and even embroidery and etching.

At Dixons Rolls-Royce dealership three quarters of the roughly 90 cars sold each year include some degree of custom options, she said. That includes off-menu paint colors and specific objects sealed inside The Gallery, a glass case built into the dashboard of the Phantom, and intricate personalized engravings.

While she and Rolls-Royces design team can provide guidance, in the end, the choices have to be the customers.

What is appealing to you may not be appealing to me, she said, And at the end of the day, its your car. Youre going to take delivery. But there have been some very specific, unique builds that, you know, we pray a little bit when the car gets built that the client loves it as much as they loved the rendering.

The Bugatti Chiron Golden Era, a custom-decorated Bugatti Chiron. - Courtesy Bugatti

Bugatti sells cars starting at $3 million, so you might think just having one of these cars would be distinctive enough. But some customers still want something more. For one customer last year, Bugatti created a gold-painted Chiron on which the brands designers hand-drew historical scenes with classic Bugattis. In response to another request, Bugatti designers created contrasting striped paint jobs  one car in blue, one in orange  for a husband and wife.

This degree of customization is possible, in part, because these cars are largely hand-made, anyway. Even without lots of customization, it can take months between the time someone orders a Lamborghini or Rolls-Royce and when they actually get the car.

Still, said Lamborghinis Winkelmann, an automaker has to balance production considerations to some degree.

It takes longer for sure, he said, therefore, its important that we have a balance between the complexity and, at the same time, the opportunity to deliver this to our customers. Its a continuous discussion, internally, of where we invest in having more opportunities for our customers to buy an individualized car.

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Smoking used to be the leading cause of death in the US. Now, its poor diet, according to Anand Parekh, chief medical adviser at the think tank Bipartisan Policy Center.

He and others spoke about the growing trend of treating food with the same level of importance as medicine in a persons health outcomes at a recent summit in Washington, D.C., hosted by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The idea, known as "food as medicine," has been pushed into focus by the Biden administration since 2022, with the hopes of incentivizing the private sector to do more.

That includes everything from public-private partnerships for food delivery and health screenings, to encouraging food companies to locate in food deserts. It's all in an effort to reduce costly hospital visits, improve Americans health, and provide a better quality of life for all Americans, regardless of their socioeconomic status.

Such strategies could potentially avert 1.6 million hospitalizations and provide net cost savings of $13.6 billion annually for insurance, according to a Tufts University study.

Companies like Instacart (CART) and Uber (UBER) are ahead of the game, launching health-focused initiatives for food delivery that can earn them a share of the more than $4 trillion healthcare economy. But neither has revealed the level of success (or failure) of their respective efforts to date, and they declined to do so to Yahoo Finance in separate interviews.

Food as medicine

The idea that healthier food and food consumption habits can impact a persons health is not new and has been part of what are known as social determinants of health  the idea that a persons housing, food, job, and transportation directly impact and predict their health.

"If someone is food insecure, they likely also have other social determinants of health affecting them. If that other determinant is not having transportation, then Uber is solving that problem simultaneously," said Uber Health global head Caitlin Donovan.

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But the governments efforts have helped create more awareness. The conversation first began during President Barack Obama's administration and continued through several pilot programs by insurers and hospital organizations over the years.

And data continues to mount in the space proving the benefit.

Instacart recently announced results from a one-year partnership with digital health platform Good Measures, which coordinates with employers and commercial Medicare and Medicaid plans.

After one year, 68% of participants who received groceries that were medically tailored  or recommended by a healthcare professional to suit a persons health needs  showed level or improved blood pressure readings.

The duo found, from members in six health plans, that after a year of supporting healthy food and cooking habits as well as recommending and delivering health foods, 72% of members lost or maintained weight. The average weight loss was 4.5% of body weight. The companies also found improvements for patients with high blood pressure.

Despite similar positive results and data over the years, programs that address food insecurity or food as medicine have languished as pilots or been the burden of small non-profit providers, over the years.

But the current administrations strategy isnt any better. It is susceptible to the ongoing temporary use of taxpayer funding and philanthropy, as well as any changes in priority that occur with a new administration in the future.

US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra speaks during a visit to Grubb's Pharmacy to tout the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program under the Inflation Reduction Act, in Washington Jan. 12, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (REUTERS / Reuters)

The Walmart effect

To date, any food-related health efforts have put the burden on local community organizations, like Meals on Wheels and food pantries. They rely on donations, grant funding or self-pay in order to survive, and have operated this way for decades.

One of the biggest barriers to growing and scaling beyond local impact has been funding but also the lack of a coordinated national network.

Thats where tech companies like Uber and Instacart, who rely on gig workers to create that network, have come in.

"One company, one organization, one non-profit is not going to singularly be able to address it all. The reality is that the pandemic did present a lot of opportunities for new companies, especially those who were focused on that quick transition from business to consumer direct, and to-the-door deliveries. Tech companies were especially able to capitalize on that, much more quickly than bigger (legacy) organizations (in the space)," said Ipyana Spencer, chief health officer at Meals on Wheels America.

The companies that are able to provide a uniform distribution of product do have a leg up on community-based organizations, she told Yahoo Finance.

Its why Meals on Wheels decided to band together all the separate efforts across the country, in order to be a player in the ongoing programs with the government and health insurers.

No health plan wants to coordinate with 50 community-based organizations on the ground, go through that contracting process. And so by creating Meals on Wheels Health, what weve done is create a single point of contact to access the broader member network, Spencer said.

Instacart, for example, told Yahoo Finance it reaches more than 95% of US households, including 93% in food deserts, through its network of more than 80,000 stores.

The question is, will it and other startups, like FreshRx  which has partnered with local food organizations to increase healthy food access with government grant money  be able to survive in a world if and when the federal governments interest wanes?

Uber had been solving the transportation problem for years before entering the food and medicine space, partnering with hospitals and health systems to provide rides to patients in need in order to increase adherence to appointments and health checkups. It has also recently added a prescription delivery and a grocery delivery service, as both Medicare and Medicaid cover these services, as part of the Uber Eats program  which had been struggling to find profits for years.

"We were originally built for providers and care coordinators to request things on behalf of patients," Uber's Donovan told Yahoo Finance in an interview.

She added that "scaled companies like Uber Health that are playing in this space that make it much easier to make something work, not just one city with one food bank which is noble workbut isnt national, so (Uber) can take learnings and scale them much faster."

Meanwhile, Instacart is, by its own admission, a new player in the space. A grocery shopping and delivery platform like Uber, Instacart relies on gig workers to go to grocery retailers and shop for the customer as well as deliver the items. It became popular during the pandemic like many other such companies. But, unlike Uber, its health initiative was launched directly with the help of the federal government.

"We launched Instacart Health with the support of the White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health in late 2022. Since then, weve formalized partnerships with numerous payers, providers, nonprofits and local governments to launch nutrition access and food as medicine programs using our technology," Instacarts vice president and general manager of health Sarah Mastrorocco told Yahoo Finance.

It has now launched a new public-private partnership with HHS to help the agency learn more about the needs of individuals who are food insecure and how to best serve them.

The challenge the government will have is in incentivizing the private sector to launch more partnerships and to stay in a market with little or no guarantee of profit.

Health Secretary Xavier Becerra told Yahoo Finance he is confident the industry will follow the governments lead.

"I know the folks at Instacart are interested in helping us reach the industry and get further partners, and I know theyre interested because who doesn't want more customers?" Becerra said.

"We want to make sure that we encourage the food industry to locate in what are currently food deserts," he added.

But companies will have to contend with going into areas where "oftentimes, you just decide you're not going to make it in the black," Becerra said, referring to the industry term for profits.

Meals on Wheelss Spencer echoed Becerra, warning the profit margins could narrow down or become non-existent. Simultaneously, the tech platforms swooping in need to be cognizant of the local efforts, and not in the way Walmart was feared to have done in rural America by erasing the existing infrastructure.

"I would only hope that in the process of supporting innovation, that policymakers, that regulators are not decimating the infrastructure that needs to continue to exist, that supports programs like Meals on Wheels, like other community-based organizations," she said.

"For-profits have a purpose,  and when they leave because ethos market is no longer profitable, at the end of the day there will still be seniors and families in need and who need help," Spencer added.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack speaks about a possible government shutdown during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., Sept. 25, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis (REUTERS / Reuters)

Funding and food

To date, no company or organization has been able to scale up the solution to a nationwide, long-term program. How to continue funding efforts that show promise and benefit remains a quandary.

In part, its because food insecurity and food as medicine have many different definitions. Ubers Donovan and Meals on Wheelss Spencer explained it as three different buckets. The first is not having food for a long period of time. Another is not having the right type of food per a persons health conditions. And the last is a temporary situation like in a post-surgery phase or, in the case of veterans, in the transition phase out of the military  often the most vulnerable time for them.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is working with the Rockefeller Foundation on a two-year pilot to provide $100 debit cards and cooking training to veterans who are eligible when screened. The VA has already signed up about 200 veterans in six months, with a goal of 500.

Unlike other programs, the VA has the authority to ensure the benefit becomes permanent if the evidence it collects during the pilot informs it to do so. Thats because it serves as a health system but also as a payer of the health system.

We can decide as a healthcare system to invest in something that has good outcomes for veterans, so were not in the mindset here of having pilots that last forever, said Undersecretary of Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal.

The Secretary has substantial regulatory authority over what we define as needed care in  our medical benefits package. So we can determine, as an agency, based on the recommendation from our clinicians, the evidence, and the research, what should belong in a medical benefits package.

"And we rarely see any Secretary take things away, Elnahal told Yahoo Finance about the potential of a change in administration.

HHS, meanwhile, is advocating for the expansion of Medicaid in states that have not already done so  which requires the states to commit more federally matched taxpayer dollars  in order to use 1115 waivers, which provide flexibility to spend dollars on pilot programs, in order to stand up more food efforts that target behavior change and access needs, unlike the existing food and nutrition programs known as SNAP and WIC. The recent partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation is another avenue for ongoing funding.

But there is another compounding problem. The reason why food insecurity exists is also because of food deserts in the US. In 2021, the US Department of Agriculture determined that 12.8% of Americans, or more than 39 million people, live in food deserts.

The food problem is a result of how Americans expect to grow and pay for food. Something US Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack says needs to change.

"We've lost 437,000 farms in the last 40 years in this country. We've lost 141 million acres of farmland. And I think we need to start asking the question of the country whether we are ok with that. Whether we are ok with the societal price we pay when we reduce rural communities and small town opportunities," Vilsack said.

"The discussion of food as medicine is a really good opportunity for us to begin a shift away from the production model of agriculture, where the focus has been ... to produce more, to a focus that now recognizes that so many small and mid-sized producers need different sources of income and different streams of income in order to survive, in order to thrive," Vilsack added.

And ensuring that the new programs continue is something both the public and private sectors are focused on.

"What health plans are trying to figure out is how to try and get it reimbursed," Meals on Wheelss Spencer said. "I think thats what the government is also trying to figure out.  I dont think anyone wants to take on the expenditure of providing food for every meal for every individual who has some sort of food insecurity."

"Theyre not trying to be the default food provider for all of their members. Its not economically feasible, its just not realistic, and the government hasnt figured out, broadly, how to address non-medical, non-clinical benefits that are going to be offered to those individuals that are in Medicaid, that are in Medicare and even commercial insurance  which is probably the most robust and innovative set of benefits that youll see out there, she added.

Or, as Becerra put it, at the event: "We know we've got to get away, at HHS, from thinking of healthcare as what happens between the walls of a doctor's office or in a hospital. We don't want to be constricted, and we don't want our dollars to be constricted to just paying for  through Medicaid, Medicare, ACA  a visit to the doctor or a stay in the hospital."

Anjalee Khemlani is the senior health reporter at Yahoo Finance, covering all things pharma, insurance, care services, digital health, PBMs, and health policy and politics. Follow Anjalee on all social media platforms @AnjKhem.

Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest health industry news and events impacting stock prices
Out of touch: Dave Ramsey slams Philadelphia couple for paying $80K/year on child care  and some parents on TikTok now think Ramsey owes them an apology. Are they right?

Outspoken finance personality Dave Ramsey kicked up a fiery debate on TikTok recently when he described a caller to his show as dumber than crap for paying too much in child care.

Are they going to Harvard? he asked, aghast at the astronomical costs. Theyre not even in school and youre already paying $25,000 a head?

Dont miss

Altogether, the caller, Dave from Philadelphia, pays a total of $80,000 a year for his kids daycare and to hire a nanny in the summer, admitting, it is a pretty fancy daycare.

Theres cheaper routes, said co-host Jade Warshaw. You can downgrade.

However, viewers watching a short clip of the original interview from last year, posted on TikTok in January, were unconvinced, calling Ramsey out of touch.

Heres why younger parents believe older generations are likely unaware of the rapidly escalating costs of child care.

Child-care payments have surged

Child-care payments have surged 32% since pre-pandemic levels, reports the Bank of America Institute.

As of September 2023, the average household spent over $700 a month on child care, but this figure can vary widely depending on where the family lives. In New York City, for instance, sending an infant to daycare full-time could cost as much as $2,854, according to child-care platform Care.com.

To keep up with the rising costs, some parents are taking up additional jobs and side hustles, while others have left the workforce entirely. A 2023 report by ReadyNation even says the countrys child care crisis costs the economy $122 billion in lost earnings, productivity and revenue every year.

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In this context, Ramseys caller doesnt seem unreasonable. Dave owes this guy an apology, says one commenter.

Parenting and career influencer Paige Turner reacted to Ramseys video in her own TikTok video.

It never ceases to amaze me how out of touch some people are with the lived experiences of parents here in the United States, Turner says.Dave is supposed to be an expert in his field so you would think he would know that child care is the number one rising cost for families here in our country.

Turner goes as far as saying Ramsey shouldnt be giving financial advice if he doesnt recognize this key piece of the current financial reality for many Americans. She believes the government needs to step in and help subsidize the cost.

Read more: Unlocking financial prosperity: Jeff Bezos shares the path to prime earnings through hassle-free real estate investment  don't miss out on this opportunity to revolutionize your financial future

Subsidized child care could be the answer

American child care costs are substantially higher than the rest of the developed world.

Net child care costs are about 32% of the average wage in the U.S., while countries that belong to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average out closer to 11%, according to the latest data.

Canada is working toward lowering child-care costs to CA$10 ($7.44) a day, while in some parts of Europe early child care is free.

The 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) directed nearly $40 billion to child care centers across the U.S., but that program ended in September 2023. Experts warned the country was headed for a child care cliff and recommended another subsidy program to ease the burden on parents and the economy.

There may be other options

While many Americans must make the difficult choice between expensive daycare centers or unpaid labor at home, there may be a few other options that parents can look into as well.

Some employers may include child care subsidies as part of their benefits package, or offer discounted on-site daycare centers. They could also offer a flexible spending account (FSA) to help cover services like preschool, daycare and before or after school programs.

Depending on your income, you could be eligible for certain tax credits as well. The child and dependent care tax credit helps parents cover care for children under 13 while they work, or look for work. You could also qualify for the child tax credit even if you havent paid for care services.

Or, consider reaching out to people in your community. You can talk to other parents about sharing a nanny or starting a child care co-op, in which parents take turns watching each others children.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
The body of a young Stafford County man who had been missing since Jan. 24 was found Saturday afternoon in a Fredericksburg stream.

Darius Joshua Appiah, 22, was found in Hazel Run at the intersection of Lafayette Boulevard and the Blue and Grey Parkway. Hazel Run is a tributary to the Rappahannock River that flows through Spotsylvania and the city.

City police spokeswoman Sarah Morris said Appiahs body has been taken to a medical examiners office to determine the cause of death. She said city police are actively investigating his death.

The Stafford Sheriffs Office began posting flyers on its social media pages on Jan. 25, the day after Appiah was last seen. Virginia State Police issued a critically missing adult alert the next day.

Last weekend, emergency workers and volunteers conducted a two-day search in the area of Alum Springs Park in the city, where Appiahs car had been found. Authorities said the intensive search covered 400 acres but Appiah was not found.

Volunteers gathered Saturday for another search, and this time the tragic discovery was made.

Appiah left work the afternoon of Jan. 24 and picked up food he had ordered from a business on Mine Road in Spotsylvania, but hadnt been seen since. His father, Maxwell Appiah, is the senior pastor at Revelation City Church in Stafford. He and the victims mother, Eunice Appiah, said it was out of character for their son not to come home on time, and police were unable to get a signal from his phone.

A GoFundMe account with a goal of $50,000 had been set up for the purpose of hiring a private investigator and to set up a reward for information about Appiahs whereabouts, among other things. Just over $22,600 had been raised at the time the body was found.

Traffic was backed up considerably Saturday as police shut down the area to recover the body and begin a death investigation.

The Fredericksburg Police Department sends its condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Appiah, who have remained dedicated to finding him since he went missing, Morris said.

Anyone with information about what transpired with Appiah leading up to his disappearance is asked to call city police at 540-373-3122. To make an anonymous tip, send a text to 847-411 and text FPDtip followed by the tip.
As a small team from the Army National Guard based in Colorado Springs expect to deploy this week to the tense region.

Army Space Support Team 17 of the 117th Space Battalion is planning to work across the Middle East for nine months as part of Operation Inherent Resolve focused on regional stability. As part of their work, they will travel to sites where ground satellite infrastructure is in place to help with mission research and planning among other tasks.

Maj. Larry Hazeltine explained during a ceremony at Fort Carson Saturday that when the team learned they would be deploying the Middle East was relatively quiet.

"We thought we would be watching Russia and Ukraine from a distance," said Hazeltine, who will be leading the team.

Since then, Hamas started a war with Israel, Houthi rebels have attacked ships in the Red Sea and terrorists supported by Iran struck an American base in Jordan with a drone.

On Friday, the U.S. hit 85 targets with missiles at seven locations in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for the attack in Jordan that killed three Americans and injured more than 40 others, according to the Department of Defense.

"Our forces need space support to help locate these terrorists to bring them to justice. Our team is well trained to do that," Hazeltine said.

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The team has been assembled over the last year and all are experienced professionals that performed well in training recently, he said.

At the same ceremony, Army Space Support Team 20 was celebrated for their work in the Middle East in 2023.

Capt. Josh Chandler, with Team 20, said it was a consistently busy deployment, but offered great learning opportunities as the team worked to help commanders make informed decisions through intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The team also maintains information flow via satellite links.

"It was overall a fantastic deployment," he said.

Hazeltine described the upcoming mission as an opportunity for National Guardsmen to show their love for their country and families.

"We are ready to fight over there to prevent them from bringing terror over here," he said.
A boy and a man were killed and four others were injured in a shooting early Sunday morning in Denver.

At approximately 1:23 a.m., Denver police responded to a shooting in the 5000 block of North Orleans Court, in the Green Valley Ranch neighborhood.

The Denver Police Department announced in a news release that six victims were taken to the hospital following the shooting. One juvenile male and a 26-year-old man were pronounced dead at the hospital.

Four victims were transported to the hospital via an ambulance, while the other two self-transported, police said. Four individuals remain hospitalized and one of them is in critical condition, officials said.

At this stage of DPD's investigation, it appears there was a party at a residence on Saturday evening, according to officials. After a group of uninvited individuals arrived at the location, there was a confrontation that escalated into gunfire.

Evidence shows that multiple shots were fired from multiple firearms, officials said.

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The deceased juvenile did not appear to be part of the conflict, and the involvement, if any, of the deceased 26-year-old man is still under investigation, according to police.

Officials said three of the surviving victims are adults males while the age of the fourth surviving male victim has not been confirmed.

No arrests have been made at this time and investigators are working to gather information as well as process the scene.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-7867(STOP)  tips can be submitted anonymously.

Denver police arrest 13-year-old accused of killing bus passenger for blocking aisle
Carl Bourgeois, a scion of one of the citys first Black families who was known for restoring historical properties in Colorado Springs and Denver, died Sunday after a lengthy battle with heart disease, according to his family. He was 71.

The grandson of Kimbal D. Stroud  who settled in Colorado Springs in the early 20th century and put down roots that continue to bear fruit today  Bourgeois leaves a legacy of civic pride and selflessness, said his sister, April Nelson.

His heart was as big as the developments and projects that he ran, Nelson said. He really cared about the community and environment that he was part of. In Colorado Springs and in Denver, he did so much to build up the communities in a positive way. 

The fourth of seven children born to Alfred Bourgeois and Bobby Stroud, Carl was born and raised in a small house Colorado Springs. He helped raise his younger siblings after his mother died at age 47, and in the 1970s he moved with his then-wife and family to Denver, where he worked as a banker.

When he arrived in Denver, Bourgeois was disheartened to see that the historically Black Five Points neighborhood, whose cultural significance was on par with Harlems in New York City, had fallen upon hard times.

By the time I got there, it was in that downward spiral, Bourgeois told The Gazette last year. But I was still really impressed there were so many remnants of Black business people, and I wanted to be one.

When he came to Denver he saw that the Five Points neighborhood was going economically downhill, said Wellington Webb, Denvers first Black mayor and a longtime friend. He looked at it and saw something worth investing in.

With the skills of an experienced banker and the impassioned heart of a community advocate, Bourgeois began to invest in and help revitalize a once-proud neighborhood that appeared destined for the wrecking ball, Webb said. In 1983, he and two partners bought their first property in the neighborhood  the Triangle Building on Washington Street. They bought and renovated a second building three years later, and the rebirth of the Five Points had begun, according to Webb.

He had a sense of history and wanted to provide opportunities by saving part of that history that might be torn down, Webb said.

In 1989, Bourgeois founded Civil Technology, a firm specializing in construction management and real estate development. The company has lent its management and development expertise to many Denver projects, including Denver International Airport, Stapleton Redevelopment Project, the Webb Municipal Office Building, Denver Art Museum, and downtown Denvers 14th Street Streetscape, according to the firms website.

Where other people might have seen a community in disrepair, Bourgeois saw opportunity, Nelson said.

He could look at a property that no one else wanted to take on, and he would turn it into something that was beneficial to the community, she said.

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Bourgeois also had a passion for African history, Webb said. He visited the continent several times, bought a farm in South Africa and developed a friendship with South African musician Hugh Masekela.

He thought it was important for Black Americans to maintain a connection with the Motherland, Webb said.

After more than three decades in Denver, Bourgeois returned to the Colorado Springs neighborhood where he was raised and saw another property he could revitalize. He purchased a condemned home and the surrounding 10 acres at 944 N. Walnut St. and began to restore the two-story Victorian to its former glory.

He decorated it with South African art and artifacts from his familys history, and breathed life into the crumbling acreage surrounding the home that was once an apple orchard.

Bourgeois grandfather, Stroud, settled in this neighborhood west of what's now Interstate 25 in the early 1900s, patriarch of one of the citys first Black families. Strouds youngest child was Bourgeois mother, Bobby. Carl would be born in the same little house. And like the generation before him, he and his siblings would work at the neighboring country estate of the pioneer Hagermans  the regal property surrounded by cobblestone.

Its almost like a big, huge circle of history," Nelson said last year.

Bourgeois in recent times began throwing an annual July 3 celebration at the Walnut Street home, inviting hundreds of people to eat and listen to live music.

Webb and his wife went to this years party and sat with Bourgeois, whose once-robust frame had been weakened by cardiac amyloidosis, a condition that reduces the hearts ability to pump blood. Bourgeois watched most of the festivities from a window inside the home, but remained in good spirits, Webb said.

I was struck by the fact that even in his unhealthy condition, even though he was in palliative care, he still thought it was important to carry through with this annual event  even though he knew it was the last one he would see.

Bee Harris, a Denver publisher who knew Bourgeois for more than 30 years, said he was a rare entity  a kindhearted man with the grit to succeed in the business world.

He was a successful businessman, but he used his success to help people, Harris said. Youd have a hard time finding anyone with anything negative to say about Carl Bourgeois.

He loved his family, and he really cared about Denver and Colorado Springs, and the people who lived in those communities, Nelson said. He was a truly good man.

No funeral or memorial service, according to Bourgeois' wishes, is planned, family said.
An agreement is nearly finalized that will provide more water for Colorado Springs and increase water storage on Colorado's Western Slope.

If approved by all seven subject parties, the agreement will settle about nine years of debate and allow Colorado Springs Utilities to expand its Montgomery Reservoir in Park County, between Alma and Hoosier Pass, to increase Colorado Springs' water supply, officials with the city-owned utility told its board of directors in mid-January.

"The agreement gives more certainty in our Blue River water supply. For the general customer, it brings more reliability for how we go forward and what our future looks like" as Colorado Springs continues to grow, said Abby Ortega, Colorado Springs Utilities' general manager of infrastructure resources and planning.

The deal too will advance plans to build a new water reservoir at the southern base of Quandary Peak for use by Summit County and the town of Breckenridge.

All six Western Slope entities have approved the agreement  Breckenridge, Summit County, the Colorado River Water Conservation District, the Ute Water Conservancy District, the Orchard Mesa Irrigation District and the Grand Valley Water Users Association.

The Colorado Springs City Council, which acts as the Utilities Board of Directors, will vote on the proposal Feb. 13.

At the crux of the arrangement are conditional water rights Utilities holds in the Blue River, a Colorado River tributary that flows some 65 miles from southern Summit County through the Dillon Reservoir. The Blue River transmountain system takes water from the Colorado River and South Platte River basins and moves it to the Arkansas River Basin for use in Colorado Springs.

Since Colorado Springs lacks an adequate natural water source it supplies 70% of its water from the Western Slope, about 100 miles away.

The city-owned utility has held conditional water rights on the Blue River since 1948. Conditional water rights are those a water user holds but hasn't yet "put to beneficial use," Utilities Senior Water Resources Project Manager Maria Pastore told the Utilities Board last month.

Owners can lose water rights if they do not use them.

To keep conditional water rights, the user must prove it is taking steps to use the water. Utilities has submitted applications with the state water court to maintain its conditional rights on the Blue River every six years for the past 50 years, officials said.

The agency could use those rights to build three new reservoirs in Summit County that would store water from the Colorado River Basin and flow from the Hoosier Tunnel to the Arkansas River Basin, where it will eventually be used by Colorado Springs.

When Utilities filed its application in 2015, the six Western Slope parties objected.

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"It's the same concerns any municipality or water rights holder has when an entity files and it may or may not impact your water rights," said Eric Mamula, a Summit County commissioner and Breckenridge's former mayor. "Especially in a place like Colorado, where water is so valuable, it's really important that all these entities on the West Slope protect water rights that we've worked for hundreds of years to protect."

Pastore recently told the Utilities Board the three proposed reservoir sites in Summit County are challenging to build and permit. The sites are remote, located at high elevations on rugged, steep terrain, and drainages above the reservoirs are small and often limited with water.

Expanding the Montgomery Reservoir will "capture the full yield of the system and eliminate the need to build these conditional sites," she said.

Under the agreement, Colorado Springs Utilities will abandon conditional storage rights and plans to build two of its undeveloped reservoirs: the Spruce Lake Reservoir with storage capacity of 1,542 acre-feet and the Mayflower Reservoir with storage capacity of 618 acre-feet.

In return, the six Western Slope entities won't object to enlarging the Montgomery Reservoir, which currently has a storage capacity of 5,699 acre-feet.

Expanding it would raise the total storage limit to around 13,800 acre-feet and allow Colorado Springs Utilities to capture an additional 4,000 acre-feet of water a year, on average, during typical and wet years, Utilities spokeswoman Jennifer Jordan said.

An acre-foot of water can serve about four families for a year in Colorado Springs. An extra 4,000 acre-feet of water a year can serve almost 16,000 households in the community, Ortega said.

"Storage serves as a buffer against the variability of what Mother Nature provides from year to year. When we have good, wet years, we need to be able to store that additional water for our customers to use in drier years," Ortega said. "... It's a significant amount of water that is legally available to us but that we don't currently have the capacity to hold. And, because they are transbasin supplies, their value to our community increases when you consider the water can be reused."

Utilities will also convey a portion of its storage in the undeveloped Lower Blue Lake Reservoir to Summit County and Breckenridge.

Colorado Springs agrees to share half the cost  around $7.5 million  to design, construct and permit a future reservoir with a capacity up to 600 acre-feet near Quandary Peak, to be owned and operated by Summit County and Breckenridge. Colorado Springs will give up to 300 acre-feet of water in dry years and up to 475 acre-feet of water in wet years for their use. The rest of the water in this reservoir would come from existing water rights held by Summit County and Breckenridge.

At the same time, the Colorado River Water Conservation District is trying to acquire water rights related to the Shoshone Hydro Plant in Glenwood Springs, "which will substantially benefit the health of the entire Colorado River and provide substantial economic and environmental benefits to the West Slope," district General Manager Andy Mueller said in an emailed statement.

As part of the agreement, Colorado Springs Utilities won't oppose the conservation district's efforts.

The agency will also limit how much water it diverts each year from the Hoosier Tunnel.

Once the agreement is executed by all parties, they will start the permit application process to build or expand the proposed reservoirs. Colorado Springs could begin expanding the Montgomery Reservoir in 2028.
Xi extends Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese

Xinhua) 08:16, February 04, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, extends Spring Festival greetings to Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese while visiting an ancient cultural street in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

TIANJIN, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his inspection tour in north China's Tianjin Municipality from Thursday to Friday.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, wished Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese good health and happiness in the Year of the Dragon, and the motherland prosperity.

On Thursday morning, Xi visited a village in Xinkou Town in the municipality's Xiqing District.

From late July to early August last year, extreme rainfall hit northern China, causing anomalous floods in the Haihe River Basin, and a large area of land in the flood storage and detention basins in Tianjin was inundated.

Briefed about the impact of floods on the city and district, Xi walked into greenhouses to check the growth of vegetables. He asked the farmers in detail about the restoration of greenhouses and the reseeding and sales of vegetables.

Xi then visited a villager's home, where he chatted with four generations of the family. He inquired about the family's losses during the disaster, their post-disaster production and income, and carefully tallied the numbers during the talk.

Stressing the importance of ensuring the people's livelihoods, Xi said the issue is always on the mind of the CPC Central Committee as well as Party committees and governments at all levels. He also expressed the hope that villagers would make their own efforts to rebuild their beautiful homes.

Before Xi left the village, the villagers gathered around and greeted him. Xi said he was happy to see the successful restoration of life and production and that winter heating had been ensured for the residents.

Since last year, the country has been hit by natural disasters such as floods, typhoons, earthquakes, landslides and snowstorms, Xi said, adding that he is keeping a close eye on them.

As the Spring Festival approaches, Xi, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, extended his sincere regards to all those affected by disasters and those at the forefront of post-disaster recovery and reconstruction.

On Thursday afternoon, Xi went to an ancient cultural street and visited local distinctive shops, learning about the products, their sales, and the development of traditional culture.

Speaking of the importance of carrying forward fine traditional Chinese culture in realizing Chinese modernization, Xi asked Tianjin to better preserve and utilize blocks with historical and cultural interest.

In Chinese culture, the upcoming lunar year will be the Year of the Dragon, and the dragon symbolizes bravery, progress, boundless vitality, and auspiciousness, conveying optimistic aspirations for the future, Xi said, encouraging the residents to embrace the new year with confidence and strive toward an even better life.

On Friday morning, Xi visited the Peking-Tianjin Campaign Memorial Museum, where he underscored the necessity of studying and frequently reviewing the history of China's revolutionary war. The revolutionary traditions should be carried on and the fighting spirit should be strengthened, he said.

On Friday afternoon, Xi was briefed by the Party committee and the government of Tianjin about their work, and affirmed the achievements that Tianjin has made in various areas.

Xi urged Tianjin to focus on the central work of economic development and the primary task of high-quality development, and write its own chapter in advancing Chinese modernization.

As a base of research and development for advanced manufacturing, Tianjin should be a pioneer in developing new productive forces, Xi said. He called for sci-tech and industrial innovation and the development of high-end, smart and green manufacturing.

Tianjin should coordinate with Beijing to promote sci-tech innovation and the integration of the two cities' industrial systems, Xi said.

Reform and opening up is the fundamental force that propels the development of all causes, Xi stressed.

He called on Tianjin to make further progress in improving the basic systems underpinning the market economy, developing a new system for a higher-standard open economy, and promoting regional integration and innovation in mechanisms and institutions that support Beijing-Tianjin urban integration.

Tianjin should also make an in-depth exploration into its historical and cultural resources, and strengthen the protection of its historical and cultural legacies as well as cultural resources related to the Party's heritage, Xi said.

Tianjin should act on the principle that a city should be built by the people and for the people, said Xi, adding that efforts are needed to expand basic public services, safeguard people's well-being and boost the sense of fulfillment among the people.

Stressing the importance of ensuring people's security and livelihood needs, supply of goods and energy, as well as social harmony and stability, Xi said that efforts should be made to ensure a joyful and peaceful Spring Festival.

Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, accompanied Xi on the inspection tour.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, learns about the recovery of farming activities after last year's floods when visiting a village in Xinkou Town in Xiqing District of north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with a farmer in a greenhouse when learning about the recovery of farming activities after last year's floods in a village of Xinkou Town in Xiqing District of north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, walks into a greenhouse to check the growth of vegetables when learning about the recovery of farming activities after last year's floods in a village of Xinkou Town in Xiqing District of north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, walks into a greenhouse to check the growth of vegetables when learning about the recovery of farming activities after last year's floods in a village of Xinkou Town in Xiqing District of north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, learns about the recovery of farming activities after last year's floods when visiting a village of Xinkou Town in Xiqing District of north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home and chats with the family in a village of Xinkou Town in Xiqing District of north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in a village of Xinkou Town in Xiqing District of north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home and chats with the family in a village of Xinkou Town in Xiqing District of north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home and chats with the family in a village of Xinkou Town in Xiqing District of north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers while visiting a village in Xinkou Town in Xiqing District of north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, waves to villagers while visiting a village in Xinkou Town in Xiqing District of north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with the crowd while visiting a shop at an ancient cultural street in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with the crowd while visiting a shop at an ancient cultural street in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with the crowd while visiting an ancient cultural street in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with the crowd while visiting an ancient cultural street in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with the crowd while visiting an ancient cultural street in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, waves to the crowd while visiting an ancient cultural street in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, extends Spring Festival greetings to Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese while visiting an ancient cultural street in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, extends Spring Festival greetings to Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese while visiting an ancient cultural street in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, extends Spring Festival greetings to Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese while visiting an ancient cultural street in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, extends Spring Festival greetings to Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese while visiting an ancient cultural street in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, extends Spring Festival greetings to Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese while visiting an ancient cultural street in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 1, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the Peking-Tianjin Campaign Memorial Museum in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 2, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the Peking-Tianjin Campaign Memorial Museum in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 2, 2024. Xi visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival and made an inspection tour in Tianjin from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
"The evening gala was directed and scripted by ourselves, and the performers were also our villagers. Such a 'village gala' is enjoyable and full of New Year's flavor!" On January 30th, the 2024 Spring Season "Village Gala" in Dawan village, Huashi Township, Jinzhai County was staged lively. Songs, dances, and traditional operas performed in turn brought warmth and a strong flavor of the New Year to the remote rural areas. For six consecutive years, the villagers of Dawan Village have scripted, directed, and performed their own village galas. These events have become deeply loved by both local villagers and tourists from other places due to their down-to-earth nature and strong familial affection, forming a distinctive local rural cultural activity. In 2024, the Dawan Spring Season "Village Gala" saw participation from over 60 people, with ages ranging from 5 to 70 years old, including some families spanning three generations taking the stage together. Chen Zeshen, a villager over 70 who has been lifted out of poverty, also took part in this year's "village gala." On that day, performances such as "Happy Dawan Village" and "Sentiments of Dawan" showcased the positive spirit and beautiful, happy life of the Dawan villagers; the original program "Agricultural Show" presented traditional farming tools in a dramatic fashion through a trendy catwalk style; the children's dance "Lanterns Bright, Celebrating the Chinese New Year" used lively music and dance to depict the vibrant and hopeful Dawan Village... The Dawan Village "Village Gala," centered around the theme "A Joyous Land Welcomes the Chinese New Year with Bountiful Harvests," featured songs, dances and traditional operas, portraying a new vision of rural revitalization where the people of Dawan Village live and work in peace and contentment, enjoying happiness, health, and thriving industries. As a national-level "Village Gala" demonstration base for the 2024 Spring Festival, the Dawan "Village Gala" was presented both online and offline, attracting nearly 200,000 people to "gather around" online and experience the rich New Year atmosphere of Dawan Village. These "Village Galas" bring a cultural feast to the countryside, and waves of songs and dances express the joy and happiness of the farmers, showcasing the new look of the countryside in the new era. The Dawan Village "Village Gala" is a microcosm of Jinzhai County's farmer "Village Galas." According to statistics, up to now, Jinzhai County has held 130 "Village Galas" across 218 administrative villages, further meeting the cultural needs of rural residents and effectively revitalizing the cultural life of the countryside.

Source: anhuinews.com




Pius Kamau, M.D., a retired general surgeon, is president of the Aurora-based Africa America Higher Education Partnerships (AAHEP); co-founder of the Africa Enterprise Group, and an activist for minority students STEM education. He is a National Public Radio commentator, a Huffington Post blogger, a past columnist for Denver dailies, and is featured on the podcast, Never Again.
Mayor Yemi Mobolade said Colorado Springs is not a designated sanctuary city and reassured residents there is not a local migrant crisis during an address on Facebook Live on Friday.
Republican Sen. Cory Gardner speaks at a town hall as guests hold red disagree and green agree cards in 2017 at Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs.
Joseph Billots man cave is cozy but overwhelming, a former two-car garage now stacked-to-the-rafters maze through history chronicling one veterans long arc from gung-ho to bitter enlightenment.

The sound system is tuned to movie themes on this cold January afternoon, and the soaring pulse of the "Star Wars" intro has appropriately just begun as Billot settles in to share the story of his year in Vietnam.

Thats how he felt at first: proud, compelled, eager even. He was ROTC at Purdue University, studying forestry but with his eye on a career in the military. He could have served stateside after college  in fact, the orders sending him to Vietnam were canceled while he was completing six months of mandatory training at The Presidio in San Francisco.

Billot told his superiors he wanted to go. Strings were pulled, and the 24-year-old junior officer was soon heading to war. Or, what was left of it.

My Vietnam was a lot different than a lot of other peoples Vietnam, because of when I got there, said Billot.

He arrived at his post in South Vietnam in July 1971, at a time when American troops were being quickly drawn down after a long and bitterly divisive war and a policy shift toward pacification and Vietnamification, ahead of a promised vote that was billed as setting the country on a democratic track. Those elections would never happen.

What Billot, his fellow U.S. service members and the South Vietnamese compatriots with whom they served side by side were told then  and the story being sold to America and the world by political power brokers  was all a lie, Billot said he later learned.

This hurts my heart, how 58,000 of my brothers and sisters got their name on a wall in Washington, for trusting and believing our government, like I did, he said.

Thanks to Associated Press photographer Nick Ut, the world got a window into part of the truth in the late spring of 1972.

Uts image, of a naked and sobbing 9-year-old girl, frozen in time as she fled the napalm bomb blast that ignited her clothes and terribly burned most of her body, was an unfiltered glimpse into the true cost of war: humanity itself.

Billot, of Colorado Springs, was an Army first lieutenant serving as an adviser in the village of Trang Bang when the Napalm Girl photo was taken, on June 8, 1972, then quickly published around the world. He was stationed about 300 yards from where the napalm exploded, sending up the columns of black smoke that can be seen in the background of Uts image.

The global impact of that captured moment didnt hit Billot until days later.

We were unaware of Trang Bangs international notoriety until we saw the pictures a few days later in Stars & Stripes," Billot wrote in a journal of thoughts and recollections about his time overseas, encouraged by the VA after he sought treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

For him and the others serving there, at that time, it was more of the bombs and death, gut-wrenching smells and heart-wrenching sights, of every day at war.

Billot was assigned to the village of Trang Bang, district headquarters known then as a hotbed of Viet Cong guerrilla activity. When he first arrived in the summer of 1971, he was one of about 20 U.S. advisers, and originally assigned to join a mobile advisory team  five-man units that lived and worked alongside their Vietnamese compatriots on military operations.

Within six months, Billot said he was one of just three advisers remaining in the district.

During that transition period, somebody was hauling somebody to Saigon every day to fly out and be done with Vietnam, Billot said. By early 1972, our team was really small.

The bonds fellow service members forged with one another, and the South Vietnamese allies with whom they worked and lived, ran deep.

I loved those guys, said Billot, who still carries in his wallet the note his Vietnamese counterpart, the leader of the regional force, gave him when Billot left Trang Bang, half a century ago.

As part of a smaller Military Assistance Command Vietnam team, Billot and his unit continued to offer training in civil operations and rural development  and coordinate medical, dental and other aid for civilians  while also gathering intelligence on and disrupting enemy activity in the area.

It was obvious that the American war was over. There were still compounds being attacked around the borders, but generally it was a peaceful time, he said. That sounds weird to say it that way, but it was.

Any sense of detente changed in late March 1972, with the launch of the Easter Offensive, a massive push by North Vietnamese forces into southern territory and the vacuum left by exiting U.S. troops.

A major battle  with a tank offensive by the North Vietnamese Army  had been raging in the village of An Loc, north of Saigon, since the start of renewed aggression. In early April, the NVA pushed farther south, occupying a village to the east of Trang Bang and sending forces to attack Loc Giang Village, less than 6 miles from Trang Bang.

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That day was my baptism by fire, Billot said.

He recalls piling into a Jeep with two colleagues on May 11, 1972, heading south against the flow of refugees to defend Loc Giang Village.

The trio found a village soon overrun by the enemy, and joined allied local militia forces in fierce (NVA) attack.

At one point, enemy fire struck the top of the embankment where hed taken cover, to return fire. He thought hed been shot  My face was hurting. I couldnt see. My eyes were stinging  but it was just dirt and debris launched into his face when the bullet hit the berm. Realizing he was dazed but uninjured, Billot pushed on, firing, narrowly avoiding a bomb dropped by the allied South Vietnamese air force. He dove into a bunker, which thankfully didnt collapse and bury him alive.

I was almost one of those 58,000 names on the wall in Washington, said Billot, who spent the last two months of service in Vietnam under heavy combat.

The sea change in his feelings about the war and Americas role began after he returned to the states in July 1972, with a reading of the Pentagon Papers. That explosive tome of government communiques, published in 1971, documented how President Richard Nixon and his top advisers knew Vietnam couldn't be won, but chose to send troops and spin the reasoning, and hope, for an American audience.

The 1967 book Vietnam: Lotus in a Sea of Fire-A Buddhist Proposal for Peace, said Billot, left him questioning many of his old truths.

That book opened my eyes to how we offended the Vietnamese people with our presence, he said.

These days, when someone asks him to smile for the camera, Billot also raises his hand. Two fingers. A peace sign.

Im an angry, disgruntled veteran  whos proud of his service and what he did for his country, even if his country was lying, Billot said.

Sharing that message is part of his mission now, and the heart of his man-cave museum.

In the history of news photography, a handful of images have been credited with changing the world. Nick Uts photo of 9-year-old Phan Thi Kim Phuc is one of them.

Billot points toward a glass case, a display containing an open magazine with a commentary on the photo, and images, that opened the worlds eyes to the horrors service members saw on a daily basis.

After taking the picture, Ut quickly took Kim Phuc to the hospital, where doctors initially thought she would die from her burns, according to Associated Press reports.

Her injuries would require lifelong care and numerous subsequent surgeries, but she survived, later immigrating to Canada, where she still lives and, according to AP stories, maintains a friendship with Ut, who retired from the AP in 2017.

Billots plans for a long-term career in the military, as well as his first marriage, came to an end in the years after Vietnam, while he was stationed at Fort Carson.

It was a dark time, but then he met Suzanne, who became his wife and the mother of their two sons.

Forty-one years later, shes still the best thing that ever happened to me, said Billot, who after the military worked until retirement as a forester with the city of Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation Department.

In October 2022, he and Suzanne joined a three-week tour with the group Vets with a Mission, for a return trip to the country Billot had left more than a half-century before.

It was sobering and confirming to return, said Billot. Confirming how time goes on, and things change, and they were a beautiful people, a beautiful culture  and its still that way.

Though he and Nick Ut were in and around Trang Bang at the same time in 1972, Billot said he never met the then 21-year-old photographer.

Though Billots work in Trang Bang connected him with villagers during the Vietnam War, he never met the child, Kim Phuc.

Fifty years later, though, Billot did meet the woman who said she was Kim Phuc's older sister. She was operating a food stand set up near the temple the villagers had been fleeing when they were accidentally napalmed by friendly fire.

Very little of Trang Bang was still recognizable to Billot from 50 years ago  his compound was long gone, replaced by a beautiful plaza in a modern, busy city  but he knew that photo, framed and hanging on the wall of the womans food stand.

We were standing there, and I was kind of in shock that this is happening, Billot said, ... and it was just pure luck that we ran into her, because we had pulled over trying to find the Cao Dai Temple.

Billot spoke with the woman for a few minutes, through his guide and interpreter, explaining how hed been there on that day, as an American adviser in the village.

He cant remember everything that was said, the moment was so surreal and his emotions running so high.

But, he said, I probably told her I was sorry.
"We gotta get out of this place if it's the last thing we ever do "

From his Colorado Springs home on a recent Monday afternoon, Vietnam veteran Tom Dowell softly croons the lyrics from The Animals' 1965 song, "We Gotta Get out of This Place."

"That spoke to us. We would sing it and think about getting out of Vietnam," the retired Air Force master sergeant said. He recounted the year he spent as a young man in Vietnam to help mark the 50th anniversary of United States combat troops leaving the war in 1973.

Other popular songs of the time helped Dowell, now 77, and the men in his squadron get through the days there, like The Box Tops' 1967 hit "The Letter" and The Temptations' "My Girl," released in 1965.

So now, when he volunteers two days a year to teach high schoolers at The Vanguard School about the war, one day each in the first and second semesters, he lets music do most of the talking. Many of them don't know anything about the conflict, he said, so he teaches by meshing music with history.

"The kids, I tell them, 'When you're sad, angry, or excited about something, or you're depressed, you bring in your favorite song to make you feel better. This is how we existed in a war zone in Vietnam.'"

Dowell, who grew up in North Carolina, was 18 years old when he received his draft card in 1966, about a year after the first wave of U.S. combat troops landed in South Vietnam.

He wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father and five uncles who served in the military, most of them World War II veterans who served in the Army. In his hometown, job options were limited to mostly factory work. Schools still weren't fully integrated and Dowell, who is Black, saw opportunity in the military to learn marketable skills and get a higher-paying job.

But he wanted some control over his fate, he said.

"I didn't want to go into the Army because I thought I might get killed in Vietnam," he said.

An uncle who was serving in the Air Force encouraged him to join the branch. After an unsuccessful attempt to join the service in North Carolina  there was a quota the recruiting office there had hit  he got on a Greyhound bus with a shoe box full of fried chicken his mother cooked for him, and traveled for six days to Texas to enlist.

He entered the Air Force on April 21, 1966. After basic training Dowell spent 30 months as a heavy equipment operator working in Europe and Libya.

While there, Dowell heard stories from airmen who'd served and returned from Vietnam and were volunteering to go back for a second tour. He decided he would volunteer to go, too.

"I said to myself, this is where I need to be and I need to get it over with early in my life, before I get married," Dowell said.

Two months before he left for Vietnam in September 1969 he proposed to his wife Mary, an Englishwoman he met while in Europe. Right before his tour, he spent 20 days leave visiting his parents in North Carolina.

For three weeks, no one acknowledged the elephant in the room.

"We never ever talked about me going to Vietnam. Never mentioned it," he said. Before he left, he'd "sort of felt invincible," but as the reality of going to war set in, Dowell was too afraid to discuss it.

Dowell, his mother and his father drove in silence 58 miles from their home to the Smith Reynolds Airport in Winston-Salem, N.C., where they bid him goodbye. He gave his mother a kiss, his father a hug, his mom told him to behave himself and Dowell got on the plane.

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Later, on the flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Travis Air Force Base in Solano County, Calif., he knew there was no turning back.

"I realized I'm going to Vietnam and I didn't even say much to my mother. I started bawling and I could not stop. I mean, sobbing like a baby," Dowell said.

A flight attendant soothed him through it. Once he got to Travis Air Force Base, he called his mother collect.

"I explained to her that I loved her, and I was sorry I couldn't talk about (going to Vietnam)," he said.

He was stationed in Saigon, now known as Ho Chi Minh City. As a heavy equipment operator, he drove more than 12,000 miles all over Vietnam, building military bases, dormitories, hospitals and roads; cleaning up debris from aircraft crashes; barricading the base every night; and clearing dense vegetation by spraying Agent Orange, among other duties.

In the mornings when he reported for work he'd walk past the morgue near the 8th Aerial Port and count the caskets.

"Every day we were fixated on that  I never thought it was my time coming up or anything like that, but it was worrisome, how many of those caskets were stacked up in a day," Dowell said. "It was always over 60."

He and his squadron leaned into music to get through the days  The Animals, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye and The Box Tops  dreaming of their girls and getting back home.

Then and now, Dowell said, he's thankful he was able to enlist in the Air Force and didn't see hand-to-hand combat in the jungles of Vietnam.

"It was a blessing from God and still continues to be," he said.

When he left Vietnam, he flew to England and married Mary in September 1970, then brought her home to meet his family in North Carolina. He spent 18 years of his 26 year Air Force career stationed all over Europe. He and Mary had two sons, Zachary and Jason.

His last military assignment was in Colorado Springs at Air Force Space Command, now U.S. Space Force, where he worked for two years from 1990-1992 before he retired. He then spent 14 years in civil service as a resources flight chief.

He reflects on his 12 months of service in Vietnam without regret, a sacrifice he made for his country.

In a way, the fight isn't fully over. Dowell developed Type 2 diabetes, which has been linked by the Institutes of Health to Agent Orange; he is currently in remission after fighting prostate cancer, and has had a double-heart bypass. He's also fighting third stage kidney disease and working to stave off stage four kidney disease, which requires dialysis. In early January, he will learn whether he needs surgery to remove four parathyroid glands pumping calcium into his kidneys.

As the president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1075 in Colorado Springs for the last five years, as second vice president of the Vietnam Veterans Colorado State Council and through his volunteer work teaching students about the war at Vanguard, Dowell wants to send the message that he and other Vietnam veterans served their country honorably.

The Vietnam Veterans of America refers Vietnam veterans and Vietnam-era veterans to service officers to file claims with Veterans Affairs, supports legislation to benefit veterans, advocates for veterans and conducts outreach programs, among other services.

Many vets coming home from Vietnam were subject to anti-war sentiment, Dowell recalled. He sees that attitude changing among recent generations and he finds a military town like Colorado Springs generally supportive of veterans and service members.

"I think the majority of Vietnam vets are very resilient," he said.
China now enjoys comprehensive mutual visa exemption with 23 countries after reaching an agreement on mutual visa exemption with Thailand on Jan 28.

The agreement, which allows the holders of ordinary passports for both side and passports for public affairs for Chinese side stays of up to 30 days, will take effect on March 1.

Also, China has reached deals on mutual visa exemptions covering different passports with 157 countries and agreements on simplifying visa procedures with 44 countries. In addition, more than 60 countries and regions have granted visa-free access or visa-on-arrival services for Chinese citizens.

Recently, the French government has announced that Chinese master's degree holders who have studied in France will be granted a five-year visa; the Swiss government will provide more visa facilitations for Chinese citizens and enterprises investing in Switzerland; and the Irish government is actively considering providing more convenience for Chinese tourists and endorsements for Chinese enterprises investing in Ireland.

According to the World Tourism Barometer recently released by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (now UNWTO), the number of international tourists will return to the level before the COVID-19 epidemic in 2024. The report predicts that the Chinese outbound and inbound tourism market will develop rapidly in 2024.

China's border authorities handled over 424 million entries and exits by individuals in 2023, a significant increase of 266.5 percent year-on-year, according to the National Immigration Administration.

Of the 424 million entries and exits, 206 million crossings were made by mainland residents, an increase of 218.7 percent year-on-year, and 183 million were made by residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, up 292.8 percent from 2022.

In addition, nearly 35.48 million crossings were made by foreign nationals, a year-on-year increase of 693.1 percent.
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Premillennialism - a type of eschatology (the study of the last things) based on a literal and rigid interpretation of the Bible - and the corresponding global events were the major reasons of the rise of American fundamentalism in the early 1900s. It also played an important part in the fall of Hitler and in the rise of America as a superpower. Premillennialists, most of them fundamentalists, then generally believed that the teachings of the Bible, especially when overlaid with some of Jesus and Pauls New Testament statements, reveal a hidden plan of the ages according to which the current age will climax with the restoration of the land of birth of Jesus, the emergence of powerful empires in Rome, Russia, and the Far East, and then war. The plan further stated that out of this chaos, a new leader will appear, promising peace and security, and most political and religious leaders, unwilling or unable to recognize that this leader is actually the prophesied antichrist, will cede their sovereignty and independence to him. But just before this tyrant is revealed for the threat that he is, all true Christians will join the resurrected Jesus, battle the forces of evil at Armageddon, and establish a millennial kingdom of peace and prosperity on earth.



This belief, malleable enough to fit the many crises and changing geopolitical contexts of the twentieth century, especially World War II, proved stable enough to provide fundamentalists with a secure sense of their place in this world. Along with the rebirth of the Roman Empire, the rise of Hitler and the corresponding growth of anti-Semitism around the globe emerged as signs seized by fundamentalists as evidence of the looming rupture and the plan of ages coming true. After completing a 1933 tour of Germany, the Boston minister Harold Ockenga, a fundamentalist, called Hitler, the Nazi leader, an instrument in the hand of God for the restoring the birth place of Jesus. Many fundamentalists and other conservatives, already predisposed to see evidence of impending doom and extremely motivated to end Hitlers reign, were convinced by F.D. Roosevelts utopian promises that he might be laying the foundations for a revolution against Hitler. They supported him even though they had initially greeted Roosevelts campaign for president with skepticism. As a result, upon being elected as president, Roosevelt appointed several fundamentalists on the cabinet. This reciprocal action led to help spread the fundamentalist movement to new geographies almost spanning the entire country.



Show Spoiler D

1. In the light of the information provided in the passage, it may be inferred that the fundamentalists considered themselves to play the role of



A. Forces of the new leader who will appear out of chaos promising peace and prosperity.

B. Citizens of the newly resurrected Roman or Russian empires.

C. Leaders of the world who cede control to the tyrant.

D. True Christians who battle the forces of the evil at Armageddon.

E. People who restore the place of birth of Jesus





Show Spoiler A

2. It may be inferred from the authors statement in the beginning of paragraph 2 this belief, malleable enough to fit the many crises,  ( Highlighted ) that.



A. The Premillennialism belief was so generic that it might have fit some other geopolitical crisis had World War II not taken place.

B. The Premillennialism belief fit World War II perfectly, much better than it fit any other crisis.

C. The Premillennialism belief lacked any historical credibility or solid grounds for its existence.

D. Premillennialists had twisted the belief on purpose to the extent that it fit World War II perfectly.

E. The unique formulation of the belief not only allowed it to be specific enough to fit World War II but also stable enough to last throughout the war.





Show Spoiler E

3. The main purpose of the passage is to



A. Illustrate that Premillennialism and World War 2 were the reasons of Roosevelts election as president.

B. Disprove the belief that fundamentalists had little relationship with world politics.

C. Renew the interest in eschatology by illustrating its contribution to World War 2.

D. Provide a correlation between beliefs of Premillennialists and rise of Hitler.

E. Illustrate how Premillennialism and World War 2 led to the rise of American Fundamentalism A. Forces of the new leader who will appear out of chaos promising peace and prosperity.B. Citizens of the newly resurrected Roman or Russian empires.C. Leaders of the world who cede control to the tyrant.D. True Christians who battle the forces of the evil at Armageddon.E. People who restore the place of birth of JesusA. The Premillennialism belief was so generic that it might have fit some other geopolitical crisis had World War II not taken place.B. The Premillennialism belief fit World War II perfectly, much better than it fit any other crisis.C. The Premillennialism belief lacked any historical credibility or solid grounds for its existence.D. Premillennialists had twisted the belief on purpose to the extent that it fit World War II perfectly.E. The unique formulation of the belief not only allowed it to be specific enough to fit World War II but also stable enough to last throughout the war.A. Illustrate that Premillennialism and World War 2 were the reasons of Roosevelts election as president.B. Disprove the belief that fundamentalists had little relationship with world politics.C. Renew the interest in eschatology by illustrating its contribution to World War 2.D. Provide a correlation between beliefs of Premillennialists and rise of Hitler.E. Illustrate how Premillennialism and World War 2 led to the rise of American Fundamentalism
The Danville School Board on Thursday evening officially signed off its support for using casino revenue for educational opportunities.

The board meeting room was packed  somewhat of a rarity  with school employees and members of the Danville City Council including Sherman Saunders, Larry Campbell Jr., Dr. Gary Miller and Mayor Alonzo Jones.

It was in 2020 that Danville voters approved a casino development in the Schoolfield area of the city. Knowing the city would receive a windfall upward of $39 million a year from casino revenue, a committee was established to examine how that money should be spend.

Education emerged as the top priority from the Citizen Advisory Committee.

Im really proud to say I live in a city where our city manager, our mayor and City Council didnt just say we are going to collect these dollars, Danville Public Schools Superintendent Angela Hairston said. But they said we are going to collect these dollars and get the feedback of community members about the use of some of these dollars.

Thats not how every community handles investment and dollars, she said addressing the council members specifically.

With a hotel part now clearly visible from multiple vantage points through Danville, the full Caesars Virginia casino is expected to open by the end of the year. A temporary version is currently in operation out of giant tent-like structure.

This was a very transparent process, she said. We certainly honor the fact that it acknowledges the investment in education and the desire to invest in our youth.

The plan, known as Investing in Danville, outlines how casino revenue should be doled out.

Although the exact dollar figures havent emerged, the plan calls for promise of an education at Danville Community College for all high school graduates.

When people hear promise, they just think everything is free, DCC President Jerry Wallace said Thursday night.

Instead, its what Wallace calls the last dollar in. That means other avenues of financial aid are explored first.

For Danville Public Schools, money would go toward things like a pay per performance teacher program, growing the pre-K program and providing support for literacy.

By unanimous vote, the board adopted the resolution that supports the initiatives in the Investing in Danville plan.

On behalf of City Council, we are very excited, Jones said.

He then asked the employees of Danville Public Schools to stand and issued a thank-you to each of them.

We know what you go through, he said, urging them to stay the course.

We have your front, we have your side, he said, explaining that young people often use the term Ive got your back.

Sometimes you need folks to get in front, he said.

Other resolutions and celebrations followed including one for the school board itself for Virginia School Board Appreciation Month.

Rhonda Wright-Simmers, principal of Northside and Grove Park preschools, rallied  with the excitement only a pre-K principal could deliver  for the school board members.

Wright-Simmers orchestrated pre-K students in handing gifts to each board members while explaining notes of appreciate adorning the room were created by the students.

Resolutions also were presented highlighting School Board Clerk Appreciation Week, Black History Month, regional art contest judges and school counselors.
 UNIGE

To determine the number of people identified by contact tracing, we first need to determine the number of people who infect each other. To do this, we looked at how many people living at the same address tested positive for Sars-Cov-2 within a ten-day period, explains Denis Mongin, research fellow in the Department of Medicine at the UNIGE Faculty of Medicine, statistician at the HUG, and expert delegated to data processing.

Then, to remove the element of chance, we carried out a permutation test by randomly assigning an address to people. The difference between the number of people testing positive within a ten-day interval at the same address before and after permutation indicates the number of people infected at home, which is then compared with the people who had been declared as contacts. In this way, we were able to estimate the overall rate of reporting of contacts, as well as its evolution over time and its dependence on the socio-economic profile of neighbourhoods, the type of buildings, and population density.

On average, around 40% of infected people could be identified by contact tracing, with variations ranging from 25% at the height of epidemic waves to 60% during calmer periods. Socio-economic factors also play a major role. For example, the larger the building and the more communal areas (ground-floor shops, for example), the more likely people were not to report their contacts. This is probably due to unintentional omissions: people bump into each other without thinking about it, they dont necessarily know their neighbours, or the virus remains suspended in the air, for instance in the lift, explains Denis Mongin. Whats more, this effect disappears during the phases of restricted gatherings and compulsory masking, which also enables us to assess the effectiveness of these measures.
A young Helena woman on Saturday became the first member of the all-girl Boy Scout Troop 217 to attain the rank of Eagle Scout.

During a ceremony involving members of the local Scouting communities, family and friends held at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, 18-year-old Capital High School student Aidan Weber was honored for her remarkable achievement, one only about 4% of all Scouts have accomplished in the more than 110-year history of The Boy Scouts of America.

"It means a lot to me," Weber said just prior to the ceremony. "I found something that I felt was worth doing, and I was able to commit to it."

Children begin their Scouting careers as young as age 7. They have until their 18th birthday to accrue at least 21 merit badges and complete other requirements, including a lengthy community service project, to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest in the organization.

Girls were allowed to participate officially in Boy Scouts of America activities only five years ago, and Troop 217 was formed shortly thereafter.

Meaning Weber had to cram a childhood's worth of Scouting into less than five years.

"I turned in the paperwork a week before I turned 18; it was really close to the deadline," Weber said, adding that she would not have been able to accomplish the feat without the help of her Scout Masters, family and fellow Scouts.

Weber's mother, Kandice Morse, said her daughter has "grown into a mentor to some of the younger girls, and it's wonderful to see."

"To see her be an active part of this community and stay committed to helping other girls know they can also achieve this is really special," Morse said.

She said her daughter's love for the outdoors comes from her father's side of the family.

"I'm not an outdoorsy person," she said. "I tip my hat to all these parents who have stepped up to provide these children with this opportunity."

She said her husband, Joe Weber, and his three brothers are all Eagle Scouts.

"It's important to our family," Morse said.

Weber's grandmother Marjory Morse was also in attendance for the ceremony. The 95-year-old said she has seen her granddaughter mature in the years as a Scout.

Marjory Morse said it is most apparent when Weber is "working with other people."

"The is very good for her," she said. "And she's an honor student too."

Weber is set to graduate from Capital High this spring and said she is still deciding on which university to attend. She plans to study kinesiology and hopes to do so at the University of Michigan.

She also volunteers in the community. She is active in Our Lady of the Valley youth group activities. And she works a part-time job after school in Montana City.

"I just try to take it day by day," Weber said. "I have to keep a calendar so I don't get double booked."

Tina Bellows has served as the troop's scout master for the past year and called Saturday's ceremony "very special."

"It's a neat experience to see Aidan attain her goal," Bellows said. "All of our girls have gumption. They all have their eyes set on (the rank of Eagle Scout). And for us adults involved, we take a lot of pride seeing the effort they put into it and the citizens they are becoming."

She said three of the younger troop members are also en route toward the rank of Eagle Scout.

"Aidan has a remarkable ability to mentor; she's a great role model for the other girls," Bellows said.

When asked if she believes Weber will maintain a presence with the troop, Bellows said, "I'm sure she will."

"She has great relationships with the other girls. We still have a lot we need her around for," she said.

Prior to Bellows' tenure, Beth Mazanec served as the troop's scout master.

Mazanec recalled one of her first outings with the troop as scout master, a camping trip at Deep Dale Campgrounds east of Townsend where they worked on rank advancement skills.

"Aidan really stepped up to help the younger girls," Mazanec said. "We saw that leadership in her right away."

Beth's husband, Tom Mazanec, is a pillar of the scouting community, having participated as a boy for 10 years and an adult for more than 40 years.

Kandice Morse credited those two in particular for helping nudge her daughter toward the achievement.

"When a young person says 'this is my goal,' we adults do everything to help them achieve it," Tom Mazanec said. "That also requires some pull from the young person, and Aidan was committed."

Beth Mazanec also referred to Weber as a role model.

"It's important for girls in the troop, those who will join down the road to see the Eagle Scout rank is very attainable if you don't mind putting in the work," she said. "Aidan sets an example others can look up to."

Weber presented both Bellows and Beth Mazanec with a pin in recognition of their mentorship over the years.

In order for the local review board to promote a scout to the rank of Eagle, that scout must complete a lengthy service project.

Weber's was the construction and installation of three book boxes around her neighborhood, allowing passersby to take or leave a book.

She organized donations of materials from Power Townsend and Rock Hand Hardware. She herded volunteers and tracked hours.

She decided the book boxes needed shingled roofs, so she did some online research on how to shingle a roof and did it herself.

Fellow Troop 217 Scouts also helped her build and install the boxes, which Weber said was nice.

"I had a support system," she said of her troop-mates. "It felt great to know I had those people behind me in all of this."

Helena residents and sisters Hailey and Ashley Carpenter achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in 2020 through an independent sponsorship with American Legion Post 2.

During the ceremony, American Legion Post 2 Cmdr. Ken Rosenbaum presented Weber with the organization's Citizenship Award.

"One of our pillars at the American Legion is the youth; they're the future of our country," Rosenbaum said. "It's all about community service, and the Scouts and Aidan truly embody that."
CAROL STREAM  Suburban Chicago police fatally shot a man Saturday morning while responding to a domestic violence incident, but the circumstances leading to the shooting remain unclear.

The Carol Stream Police Department said on its Facebook page that officers "encountered a tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving situation, which resulted in officers discharging their weapons at the alleged domestic violence suspect."

Authorities said the suspect was shot and critically injured. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

No other details about the circumstances leading to the shooting were provided. Police did not say whether the man was armed.

No officers were injured.

The incident occurred around 4:15 a.m. at the Village Brook Apartments, the posting said.

The man was 30, news outlets reported.

The Public Integrity Team of the DuPage Metropolitan Emergency Response and Investigative Team Task Force and the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office are investigating the shooting.
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.
The Adrian L. Shuford, Jr. YMCA, a cornerstone of the Conover community for more than five decades, celebrated the completion of its extensive renovations with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 30.

More than 125 people attended the event.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was a celebration of not only the physical transformation of the facility but also the legacy that began over 50 years ago, said Executive Director Kara Cloninger Jones.

Many of the speakers were individuals whose family members were essential to the founding of the YMCA of Catawba Valley, offering a unique perspective on the associations rich history, she said.

Renovations, made possible through community support and fundraising efforts, have revitalized the Adrian L. Shuford, Jr. YMCA into a state-of-the-art facility designed to meet the evolving needs of the community. The upgrades include modernized fitness areas, enhanced recreational spaces, and improved facilities for youth programs.

This moment is not just about bricks and mortar; its about the people who make this YMCA a home for so many, Jones said. The legacy of community service and support that began over half a century ago is alive and well in every corner of this newly renovated facility.

The event was attended by community leaders, donors, local officials, and YMCA members. The ceremony was followed by guided tours of the renovated facility.

As the Adrian L. Shuford, Jr. YMCA looks ahead to the future, the renovations remind us of the commitment to continuing its mission of fostering youth development, promoting healthy living, and ensuring social responsibility within the community, Jones said.

The Adrian L. Shuford, Jr. YMCA is at 1104 Conover Blvd. E, Conover.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:16)

When I was saved in 1991, one of the first outward and visible signs of my salvation was found in the Bible. Shortly after my salvation experience, my pastor encouraged me to read my Bible and begin with the Book of John. I was stunned when I opened the scriptures. The verses jumped off the page. The Holy Spirit had removed the blinders. My Bible now had real meaning. Jesus hit the nail on the head when he said of the lost, He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God. (John 8:47)

When I started writing this column over 28 years ago, I targeted a Christian audience. I knew how much I struggled with everyday living. I wanted to have a column that would honestly and boldly address contemporary problems through a Christian perspective. I use Bible verses repeatedly through my column to demonstrate that Gods Word has not lost its effectiveness. The truth is no problem is too difficult for the Christian who is willing to reach out in faith and trust Christ. In fact, Ive found that reliance upon scripture can make all the difference.

I feel sorry for the Christian who does not believe everything the Bible says. Sadly, they sit right next to us on the pew sometimes. However, we often dont recognize them.

They are the ones who will promptly tell you that the Old Testament is not for todays Christian. They say that in spite of the fact that Jesus once said, Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (Matthew 5:17) Some of them dont even know that the Law and the Prophets comprise 22 of the 39 books of the Old Testament.

There are also Christians who think the Bible is full of scientific errors. Unbelievers have convinced some Christians that the Bible is a book of religion, not a book of science. Obviously, the Bible was not written to teach us about science, but to teach us about God. The former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, the late Dr. Adrian Rogers, warned us to be careful about such views. He reminded us that, The God of salvation and the God of creation are the same. Science doesnt take God by surprise.

He is right! The ancients believed Atlas held up the earth. But today we know the earth is suspended in space. The Word of God records in Job 26:7, He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.

Isnt it interesting that God revealed facts about the universe long before man had the capacity to understand it?

When Ptolemy charted the heavens, he counted 1,026 stars in the sky. But with the invention of the telescope, it was proved there are an infinite number of stars. Jeremiah told us the same thing 3,000 years ago. The host of heaven cannot be numbered, he prophesied. (Jeremiah 33:22)

Every now and then, science may disagree with the Bible. But as Dr. Rogers so aptly put it, Science just needs time to catch up. For example, in 1861 a French scientific academy printed a brochure offering 51 incontrovertible facts that proved the Bible in error. Today, there is not a single reputable scientist who would support those supposed facts because modern science has disproved them all.

Dont let a believer or unbeliever take away any of the truth that Gods Word offers. It will rob you of the freedom that comes from a faithful relationship with Christ. Isnt that what Jesus meant when he said, Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free? (John 8:32)
The 10th Annual Jiggy with the Piggy festival is set for May 2-5 in downtown Kannapolis.

To help celebrate the event, country music superstar Craig Morgan will perform a free concert Friday, May 3, on the North Carolina Research Campus Horseshoe.

A multi-faceted entertainer, Morgan has made a name for himself as a country music icon, TV personality, author, celebrated outdoorsman and patriotic Army veteran. One of country musics best-loved artists, Morgan has amassed more than 1.5 billion career streams and charted over 25 songs on Billboard, thrilling massive crowds with signature hits including Bonfire, Almost Home, Redneck Yacht Club, International Harvester, This Ole Boy, Soldier, Thats What I Love About Sunday and his faith-filled tribute to his son Jerry, The Father, My Son and The Holy Ghost.

In 2023, Morgan released his highly anticipated EP Enlisted, a six-song collection of reimagined hits and brand-new songs featuring collaborations with Trace Adkins, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Gary LeVox, Blake Shelton, and Lainey Wilson. He received one of country musics highest honors when he was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. A crowd favorite, he regularly performs at the Grand Ole Opry.

Prior to becoming a country music star and TV sensation, Morgan served 17 years in the Army and, in 2023, he reenlisted in the Army Reserve, continuing his military career. Morgan remains an avid supporter of Americas military personnel and has made more than 16 overseas trips to perform for American troops. He is a member of the U.S. Field Artillery Hall of Fame and recipient of the USO Merit Award. In 2018, he was awarded the Armys Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, one of the highest awards the Department of the Army can bestow upon a civilian, in recognition of his significant dedication to American military men and women around the world. He remains committed to supporting active duty and veteran members of the military through work with Operation Finally Home, and the USO.

A sanctioned event

Jiggy is one of the largest sanctioned events by the Kansas City Barbeque Society, and once again Kannapolis will host over 50 barbecue competition teams who compete for top bragging rights and prize money. The presenting sponsor of Jiggy is Visit RowanRowan County Tourism.

Each year, you can taste the competing teams cooking expertise by purchasing a $10 ticket for the Peoples Choice Pork Tasting Contest. You will receive 10 samples of pork and then cast your vote for the best one.

The Jiggy with the Piggy Festival, which has earned the recognition of being a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society, has more than 100 arts and crafts vendors, a free concert, the Jiggy 5K walk/run, and an exciting kids zone.

Members of the Kannapolis Firefighters Association will once again bring their cooking skills to the festival while selling barbecue to the public. Event organizers also added more barbecue and food vendors so participants can fill up on many varieties of festival food. As always, this festival is free to the public. No pets or smoking allowed.
100 years ago,

Feb. 4, 1924

CHARLESTON  Everett Foster of Mattoon, who a few weeks ago was sentenced to serve one year in the county jail, by County Judge Lane on a charge of failure to support his family, was taken today to the state penal farm near Vandalia, where he will serve the sentence to date from January 8. The form of sentence was charged late Saturday by Judge Lane...GRANITE CITY  Fire of undetermined origin, discovered at 4 a.m. this morning, destroyed the Coudy Lumber Company property here. A number of families living nearby were driven from their homes.

50 years ago, 1974

MATTOON  Albert Orr, 55, of 418 Kelly doesn't like being shot at, but he says he plans to keep trucking anyway. Orr, a trucker for 26 years, was injured early Saturday by a shotgun blast from a passing vehicle as he was driving his rig west of Plymouth, Ind. The incident occurred on U.S. 30 about five miles west of Plymouth at about 4:30 a.m. According to state police, the shotgun pellets punched two holes in the door on the driver's side of the vehicle. Fragments of glass struck Orr on his right wrist. He was treated for the injury in Knox, Ind. Orr completed his run to Chicago with a new tractor and returned to Mattoon Sunday. He is a driver for Transport Motor Service, Inc, (TMX). The JG asked Orr if the shooting would deter him from driving his rig. "No," he replied. "They (TMX) won't let you. You can't turn down a load or you automatically quit." Orr said he wouldn't be going out today, but added, "I will go out later."

25 years ago, 1999

CHARLESTON  The latest student to complain about the content of a music class at EIU apparently resolved her concerns in a meeting with administrators Wednesday. In a letter sent to administrators Monday, Nancy Craig of Sullivan requested that she either be transferred out of Doug DiBianco's music encounters class or be given a tuition refund. Craig's concerns apparently have been resolved. She was not available for comment Tuesday, and the University declined to release details about the situation. April Hixon, whose Jan. 20 letter to university officials outlined details of sexually explicit class material, has not resolved the matter with the university, she said Wednesday, but she is open to meeting with administrators. EIU is investigating these complaints and will wake appropriate action if wrongdoing is found, an administrator said...MATTOON  What began as one man's side project has slowly evolved into perhaps the largest computer business in Coles County. Advantage Information Technologies is owned by three area men: Dick Jones, Norman Garrett and Jim Bruehler. Garrett started the company five years ago as a computer repair and Internet service. He has seen his part-time business grow from a 600-square-foot office with four employees to a company currently taking up 6000 square feet in a new building at the Coles Business Park with 14 employees.
Yes to both

Regarding the letter Yes to vouchers (Feb 2):

Yes, people who choose the privilege of enrolling their kids in private schools or who continue their kids education in private schools also earn the right to pay taxes that support public schools for all students.

The N.C. Constitution clearly demands that our community support for public education for all students:

Article 9. Sec. 2. Uniform system of schools.

(1) General and uniform system: ... The General Assembly shall provide by taxation and otherwise for a general and uniform system of free public schools, which shall be maintained at least nine months every year, and wherein equal opportunities shall be provided for all students.

It is our honor to support the education for all students in North Carolina. We have the privilege to choose private schools for our own kids and we have the civic and economic responsibility to guarantee a public education to all students in North Carolina.

Kirsten Russ

Clemmons

Taxes vs. tuition

In response to the "Yes to vouchers" letter (Feb. 2), taxpayer-supported public education in the U.S. grew from the belief that an educated population was necessary to maintain a democracy. It's the belief that an educated populace produces civic and economic benefits for society as a whole.

Taxes spent on public education are not for private-school tuition. As tax dollars are siphoned out of public education into private and religious schools, the strength of the country to educate the populace as a whole is diminished and therefore our democracy is diminished. Our founders did not think democratic principles were so stupid.

And as for aid to Ukraine, as stated Feb. 2 by Jonah Goldberg in his column on NATO, 90% of the military dollars for Ukraine stay in America. They are being paid to those manufacturing the weapons.

Teresa Katis

Clemmons

A known quantity

Democrats in Winston-Salem's South Ward will choose in the March 5 primary whether to hold onto John Larson's knowledge and experience on City Council or roll the dice on someone who has never done the job before.

It can be frustratingly difficult to tell exactly what a candidate might try to do if elected. Candidates naturally proclaim their interest in "community," "safety," "responsiveness" and so on. Who would say otherwise? But there are countless ways to pursue those feel-good ends. Some might work and others could just focus on boneheaded nonsense. How's a voter to choose?

Answer: Look at the record. Larson actually has one. It shows him to be a dedicated public servant who, in his time on the council, has been non-ideological, pragmatic and fair.

The other candidates might well have those qualities too. But the City Council gig is a job you only really learn by doing. Learning takes time. All real solutions for the future are shaped by current realities. A hard knowledge of what will fly and what won't, who will help you and who will put up roadblocks, or even which office does what, is key to moving things forward with minimal wheel-spinning. Would we throw away that knowledge?

Electing a trainee might make sense if there's no other option or the incumbent has clearly failed us. Thankfully, in 2024, I don't need to wonder whether John Larson will make a good city councilman. I already know. Let's keep him!

John Steinbergeer

Winston Sale

Wilson for commissioner

The primary season is upon us. Early voting begins soon with the primary scheduled for March 5. Be sure to vote. Voters is District B should give strong consideration to Gray Wilson, a Republican candidate. Wilson has practiced law in Winston-Salem for more than 47 years. During that time he has earned the respect of other lawyers and judges for his legal ability and character.

A proven leader, Wilson served as president of the North Carolina Bar Association and the North Carolina State Bar  the only lawyer to ever do so. He has served as president of the local Boy Scout council and as board chair of several churches.

Growing up in Boone, Wilson was first taught community service by his father, a busy physician who found time to serve for eight years as mayor. Wilson is a graduate of Davidson College and Duke Law School and a veteran of the U.S. Army. He and his wife Cheryl have six grown children, all brought up and educated in Winston-Salem.

Wilson knows the importance of quality schools with good teachers who are paid fairly. He also will support well-funded law enforcement to make the county a safer place to live.

Since I am a Democrat, I cant vote for Gray Wilson in the primary. I certainly will do so in the general election in November. He is the most qualified candidate for the job. We need leaders like him on the Board of Commissioners to keep Forsyth County moving forward.

Tom Comerford

Winston Salem
From a warehouse near the Minnesota state fairgrounds, Sara and Andy Kubiak loaded the world's first and only regenerative organic certified crop of vanilla beans into the back of their Honda.

After driving the cargo east to a small facility near the St. Croix River in Lakeland, Minnesota, the pair transformed the beans into another first and only, a batch of regenerative organic certified (ROC) vanilla extract.

And while the beans and batch will always remain a No. 1, they won't be an only for long.

Last year, Vanilla Bean Project joined a small but growing group of brands to achieve the certification, seen as the pinnacle of sustainable agriculture. That meant partnering with a supplier in Indonesia, Aliet Green, that met stringent standards of soil management and farmer well-being.

"Vanilla can be a flagship product, an example of how regenerative organics work," Sara Kubiak said. "It comes in small bottles, we only use a teaspoon at a time, but people have an immediate and close connection with it."

More than 20 years after the U.S. Department of Agriculture began the National Organic Program and started issuing those green USDA Organic seals to certified growers and manufacturers, the regenerative organic movement now seeks to build on the commercial success of low-impact agriculture.

Regenerative organic uses USDA Organic (no synthetic fertilizers or genetic modification) as the baseline but adds in fair trade, carbon concerns and an emphasis on human and animal welfare.

"There are so many provisions to take into account," said Andy Kubiak, "and to provide an audited pathway for reaching the highest standards of renewable agriculture."

So far, the label has attracted consumers at a rapid rate. ROC sales rose 39% last year based on the number of products sold, according to SPINS data. At the same time, sales of organic, non-GMO- or fair trade-labeled products shrank.

An Ernst & Young survey found that while it is a "growing minority" of consumers who are paying higher prices for sustainable products, many shoppers and companies acknowledge adaptation is necessary to deal with a changing climate.

"Overall, consumers are planning to buy less and buy better," wrote Kristina Rogers, EY global consumer leader. "Many want to switch to products that align with their new values, priorities and lifestyles, and some will pay extra for that if necessary. This is especially true for younger consumers."

Kubiak said as a result of that pent-up demand, Vanilla Bean Project has been fielding phone calls from food companies who want to use ROC vanilla in their products.

"It's a canvas to create change," he said. "This is the coolest thing in the world for us."

Unlike USDA Organic labels, a private group  rather than a government agency  administers the regenerative organic certification with the help of third-party auditors.

The Regenerative Organic Alliance, which Patagonia, Dr. Bronner and the Rodale Institute helped establish in 2017, has certified about 6 million acres, a thousand products, 350 crops and 150 brands as ROC.

"Climate change is happening before our eyes, but if you do what I do all day, you don't stop to think about all the frightening aspects," said the group's executive director, Elizabeth Whitlow. "Something I keep encountering is hope. I'm so full of hope because of the people I'm surrounded by."

Vanilla Bean Project has the capacity to produce tanker trunks full of vanilla extract, which it sells to retailers and food makers in various packaged sizes, though the company didn't give a specific annual production figure. If demand from other food companies materializes, the company might call those tanker trucks in, however.

"Sara and Andy came into a sector we hadn't yet seen and at a sizeable scale," Whitlow said. "That's going to have a huge impact."

Andy Kubiak spent decades in the organics industry and sees ROC as a natural and needed evolution to build on what organic has done.

"We want to revalue the supply chain for commodities that are always imported," Andy Kubiak said, including not just vanilla but black pepper, coffee and chocolate.

For Vanilla Bean Project, which started five years ago and today employs five people, the goal is not simply to sell more vanilla at a premium. It's to change how crops grow around the world and ultimately reach our plates.

"Because we're pioneers and leaders in ROC vanilla, we get to set the rules for how this gets traded," Kubiak said. "There is a premium we have negotiated with Aliet Green, and that goes right to the growers.

"Our small company changed the world."

Business email compromise attacks are on the rise. Here's how to avoid getting duped. Business email compromise attacks are on the rise. Here's how to avoid getting duped. BEC complaints grew by 13% in recent years BEC attacks open the door for more than just malware How to avoid becoming the victim of a social engineering attack like BEC Recovering from a BEC attack
BEATRICE  Aaron and Kylee Schoen, owners of Wicked Good Foods in Beatrice, were recently awarded a History Nebraska grant for the restoration of the historic building on Ella Street.

The brick building was originally built in 1904 and was the site of the original Dole Floral Company.

The couple shares the building with Bagby Travel.

Aaron said he enjoys history.

I did some research and wanted to do this right, he said. There were three awards across the state, but we were the only one in Beatrice."

He noted the grant was to assist with the roof. He estimated it would cost about $80,000 to do the roof correctly. The grant will cover approximately $30,000.

I want to restore the building to its original look, he said. Eventually I hope to put some of the spheres up on the corner of the building and bring it back to the way it looked.

The couple also owns the historic Burwood Hotel building on the Southwest corner of Fifth and Court.

It has the oldest original walls in the city, he said. It was limestone, and we wont be able to replace that, but some of the windows and shutters. I just want to show pride in our community.

They hope to restore the upper level of both buildings and add apartments.

The Schoens will meet with History Nebraska early in February. They expect to complete the roof project in 2025.

Wicked Good Foods ships its freeze-dried foods throughout the United States and to some areas internationally.

The store also showcases products from small businesses throughout Nebraska including honey, dips and other handmade items.

We want to support our community, Kylee said. Our community has been supportive of our business.

Aaron said they wanted to open a business at the beginning that didnt compete with other businesses in town.

The Schoens are also helping organize a benefit for Chris, Heidi and Justin Bell on Feb. 24 at 19 Pinz Fun Center.

Justin was involved in an accident around Thanksgiving and is struggling with a traumatic brain injury. On New Year's Eve, Heidi suffered a stroke and is also involved in rehabilitation.

Aaron said they really wanted to help the family locally.

Chris is one of those guys that would give the shirt off his back to help anyone, he said.
RANDOLPH  Rufus is staying put.

The dog's owner, Kandice Cooke, has settled her federal lawsuit with the city of Randolph, allowing her to keep the emotional support dog within city limits.

"He's licensed with the city now, which is what I wanted in the first place," Cooke said.

The city had previously ordered Cooke to remove the dog because it was believed to be a pit bull and was thus prohibited from living within city limits under Randolph's dangerous dog ordinance.

Cooke sued the city in June, saying the Randolph City Council was denying her right to reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and also was violating the Fair Housing Act. Cooke, who moved to Randolph in March, said she'd been harassed by police about Rufus and had been ticketed four times totaling $400 for violating the city ordinance. The city dismissed those tickets as part of the settlement.

The city was pleased with the quick resolution of the dispute, city administrator Benjamin Benton said.

"It all started with her wanting to keep her dog, and that's the outcome," Benton said.

A federal judge had granted an injunction to allow Cooke to keep Rufus in her home while the lawsuit proceeded, but said the only viable claim she had against the city was under the Fair Housing Act.

The injunction was dissolved in a dismissal order signed on Jan. 26 in U.S. District Court in Omaha. Cooke has dismissed a complaint she filed with the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission.

Cooke said Rufus, who she's had for four years, is a licensed and certified emotional support dog which she said is a boxer-pit bull mix, mostly boxer. The city's dangerous dog ordinance prohibits American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers within city limits but says the breeds are permissible if the dog is a certified service animal. The city had argued that Cooke's documentation filed with her city pet registration didn't make it clear Rufus is a service animal.

Cooke said she supplied documents from two psychologists and her treating physician supporting her need for a support animal.

Cooke also registered him with the city as a pit bull, but said she did so because that's what his previous owners who surrendered him to the Humane Society called him. She said the Humane Society and her veterinarian were required to list Rufus as a pit bull because of the previous owners' statement.

According to the settlement, the city will rewrite its dangerous dog ordinance, action the city had been considering before the lawsuit, Benton said.

Cooke said she hoped the new ordinance would make it easier for future dog owners to register their animals with the city.

"The next person who has a service dog as an emotional support animal won't have to go through the hassles I went through," she said.

Top Journal Star photos for January 2024
HARTINGTON  Potential Cedar County jurors who could be seated in the trials of a husband and wife charged in a quadruple homicide will soon receive questionnaires that may help determine if the trials are moved to another county.

District Judge Bryan Meismer on Thursday granted a defense request to send the supplemental questionnaires to the jury pool. The questionnaires, which have been agreed upon by the defense and prosecution, are a precursor to an expected defense filing for a change of venue for both Jason Jones and Carrie Jones, who are charged in connection with the shooting deaths of four people in Laurel.

Defense attorneys said in a recent hearing they plan to request the change of venue in order to have their clients, who are charged and will stand trial separately, tried in a county where they have a better chance of finding impartial juries. Media coverage of the cases in Cedar County has been extensive, and defense attorneys likely would argue it would be hard to find jurors who could set aside what they've heard about the case and remain impartial.

Evidence in change of venue motions, which have not yet been filed, could be heard in both cases at a March 28 hearing in Cedar County District Court.

Jason Jones, 43, has pleaded not guilty to four counts each of first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony and two counts of first-degree arson. He is charged with the Aug. 4, 2022, deaths of Michele Ebeling, 53, in her home and Gene Twiford, 86, his wife, Janet Twiford, 85, and their daughter Dana Twiford, 55, in their home and setting both houses on fire.

Carrie Jones, 44, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and being an accessory to a felony. She is accused of aiding and abetting the death of Gene Twiford, whom she told investigators had verbally harassed her for several years.

Trial dates have not been set. Prosecutors have filed notice they would seek the death penalty if Jason Jones is found guilty of first-degree murder.

Authorities responded to a fire in the early morning hours of Aug. 4 at 209 Elm St., where they found Ebelings body with two gunshot wounds. A second fire at the Twiford home at 503 Elm St. was reported soon after, and responders found the family members' bodies, all with gunshot wounds.

Jones, who lived across the street from Ebeling, was arrested at his home about 24 hours after the bodies were found and airlifted to a Lincoln hospital for treatment of serious burns. Hes being held without bond at the Nebraska Department of Corrections Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln.

Investigators found empty .44-caliber shell casings near Ebelings body and a Ruger handgun registered to Jones, plus credit card receipts for gas and gas cans, in the Twiford home.

Carrie Jones, who was arrested in December 2022 and remains in custody in the Antelope County Jail, told investigators she had arrived home from work minutes before seeing her badly burned husband emerge from Ebelings home after the fire was spotted. She helped him into their home and put away his .44-caliber handgun, which he had been carrying.

What is the actual cost of crime in America's largest citiesand which spend the most and least per capita? What is the actual cost of crime in America's largest citiesand which spend the most and least per capita? Key findings The safest cities in America Are larger cities safer or more dangerous? The most dangerous cities in America
As Nebraska casinos take off, the low-profile state commission that regulates them is getting more scrutiny.

In the Legislature, a state lawmaker wants to give the governor more oversight of the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission. Meanwhile, the state auditor raised concerns this month about whether the commission has properly audited the new casinos, and the commissions purchase of $30,000 in semi-automatic rifles drew public attention and questions.

Denny Lee, the commissions chair, said its reasonable for state officials to look more closely at how the agency operates. He said the proposed legislation that would involve Nebraskas governor in selecting the commissions executive director just makes sense.

I think anybody can look at that job and say its just growing in importance, Lee said.

For years, the commission drew relatively little attention with its focus on horse racing. But voters in 2020 approved casino gambling at licensed racetracks, and lawmakers subsequently charged the commission with regulating the new industry.

The commissions budget and workforce have grown dramatically since then, according to the Legislatures fiscal office.

Total expenditures for the commission increased 381% in three years, growing from $540,661 in fiscal 2019-20 to $2.06 million in 2022-23, records show. Over that period, the agency grew from 2.85 full-time equivalent employees to 11.9.

Commission leaders have had to build an agency that was not even dreamed of five years ago, Lee said.

Three years ago, we had a staff of two people, Lee said. We had racing, and we did a good job with two people ... and now I think our total is 26 people.

Now, its time for Nebraskas governor to have more authority over the agency, state Sen. John Lowe of Kearney said.

Lowe introduced LB839, calling it the most important gaming-related bill that we will see this session.

Under the bill, the racing and gaming commission would continue to hire the agencys executive director, but the choice would be subject to the governors approval.

The bill also would prohibit the executive director from engaging in any other profession or working in any other business. That provision, Lowe said, is to ensure the director is focused on the commissions mission.

In addition, the measure would allow the governor to remove a commissioner for misconduct or other reasons.

The governor has similar authority when it comes to the Liquor Control Commission, Lowe said.

These are both important commissions with oversight of industries that bring in significant tax revenue and are areas that do deal with vices that the state heavily regulates, Lowe said. He said it makes sense that they would operate in similar fashion.

Laura Strimple, communication director for Gov. Jim Pillen, said that he supports the bill but that the governor also would like the Legislature to approve the commissions choice for executive director.

Lee said commissioners have not yet had the opportunity to discuss whether to initiate a search for a new director. Executive Director Tom Sage, who is on medical leave, is retiring March 12. Commissioners appointed Casey Ricketts, the agencys director of compliance, as interim executive director.

We are going to have an executive session at the February meeting in Grand Island, and I anticipate that we will be talking about that topic.Its not clear if the bill expanding the governors oversight would pass and be in effect when a new director is hired.

Earlier this month, State Auditor Mike Foley questioned whether the commission was properly verifying the revenue from the new casinos.

His office found that the commission did not complete timely audits of the three gambling operators in the state for fiscal 2023 or perform an integrity and security assessment on one of the operators as required.

The commission collected $17.8 million in gambling tax revenue during calendar year 2023, a figure that will grow as more casinos open.

When the citizens voted for casino gambling, a lot of promises were made about the influx of tax dollars, Foley said. Now we need to be assured that the monies generated by casino gambling are verified by an independent licensed CPA firm which thus far that has not happened.

Lee said commissioners welcome the auditors help and are working to comply with the deficiencies. The auditor didnt find wrongdoing, only missing audits. The commission has been receiving quarterly independent audits from all three operators, he said.

Lee said staff have been advised to be proactive with the operators to ensure regulatory requirements are met on a timely basis.

We just dont want to repeat this deficiency again, he said.

As for the controversial purchase of semi-automatic rifles, Lee said those are locked up for now in a safe in the commissions Lincoln headquarters office.

They are not leaving there until the commission develops rules, regulations, policies and procedures on their storage, use and certification, until we approve those at a public hearing and allow members of the public to question, he said.

Top Journal Star photos for January 2024
A new bill in the Nebraska Legislature seeks to ban civil asset forfeiture, a controversial practice that allows the government to seize a person's property without criminal charges.

Sponsored by Sen. Tom Brewer, a Republican from Gordon, the bill comes months after a Flatwater Free Press investigation found the Seward County Sheriff's Office uses civil asset forfeiture more than any other county in the state, hauling in millions after seizing cash from motorists on a 24-mile stretch of Interstate 80.

If passed, the bill would force the legal change that legislators thought they accomplished in 2016.

"We wanted to make sure that things were being done correctly when it comes to the issue of stops and seizures," Brewer said. "We don't want to make it harder for law enforcement. What we want to do is make sure that what they do is perceived in a positive light."

Many in law enforcement point to civil forfeiture as an important tool to take money, drugs and weapons out of the hands of drug dealers. The proceeds then go to law enforcement and school funds, helping save taxpayer dollars, they say. Current Seward County Sheriff Mike Vance and his predecessor Joe Yocum, have both spoken of the benefits of forfeiture, and initial attempts at changing the law drew pushback from the Nebraska Attorney Generals office and law enforcement agencies.

The best way to hurt these organizations is to take their money, said Chief Deputy Ben Houchin of the Lancaster County Sheriffs Department. That slows them down even more than just getting their drugs.

Defense attorneys and civil liberties advocates criticize it as a money grab. It's a practice, they say, that takes away individual rights and presumes guilt  the opposite of the presumed innocence in criminal court. Both the Platte Institute, a free market advocacy group, and the Nebraska chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union helped craft the new bill. Sen. Danielle Conrad, a Lincoln Democrat, also signed on as a co-sponsor.

A June Flatwater Free Press investigation found that in the past decade, one out of every three civil forfeiture cases in Nebraska's state courts happened in Seward County. That's 90 cases in one decade on a small sliver of I-80 just west of Lincoln.

The Seward County Sheriffs Office seized $2.3 million in 2021 alone, when state and federal civil forfeiture cases are factored in, according to a report to the state auditor. Many of those cases fall under Sewards federal task force with Homeland Security, overseen by Blake Swicord, a fired Georgia state trooper barred from becoming a Nebraska police officer.

Brewers bill would eliminate civil asset forfeiture in state court and replace it with criminal forfeiture. Law enforcement and prosecutors could still seize money, but only after a criminal conviction.

"Criminal forfeiture is still there, but you have to prove it," said former Sen. Laura Ebke, now a senior fellow at the Platte Institute. "And that's as it should be. You're innocent until proven guilty. That's up to the state and county to prove."

Moving forfeitures into criminal court would ensure due process, Ebke said. Unlike in civil court, an individual would have the right to legal counsel.

"If you've got enough to grab that money, you should have enough to convict somebody of a criminal charge with the drugs," said Joe Jeanette, a former Bellevue narcotics officer who now teaches at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. "You're not arbitrarily having somebody walk away from the money  You're telling the mule, 'Hey, it's not as easy to walk away from this stuff now. We're going to hit you with a criminal charge.'"

The bill would allow a person to give up their rights to seized money, but that waiver could only come from a prosecuting attorney, not a law enforcement officer.

From 2013 to 2023, 75% of Seward County's state civil forfeiture cases happened after a driver signed a form abandoning money on the side of the interstate, according to a Flatwater Free Press analysis of court records.

These forms, sometimes called disclaimers or on-the-spot waivers, have become controversial. Critics of the practice say they're constitutionally questionable. In the Omaha metro area, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office no longer uses them. Five states, including Wyoming, have banned them.

The bill would also require a law enforcement officer to give a person an itemized receipt of whatever was seized.

In July, three drivers who had been stopped in Seward County alleged that some of their cash disappeared during those traffic stops.

Seward County Sheriff Mike Vance said missing money was impossible, citing the body cams and dash cams that run throughout a traffic stop. He denied a Flatwater Free Press records request to release the camera footage from the traffic stops in question. One of the drivers was denied footage from his own traffic stop.

Civil forfeitures would still be possible through federal court, but only for cases involving more than $25,000. That limitation already exists in state law.

Forfeiting money through federal court is common practice nationally. Agencies often form task forces with the Drug Enforcement Agency or Department of Homeland Security, and can receive a bigger slice of the forfeited cash.

From 2018 to 2022, Seward County brought in $7.1 million in criminal and civil forfeitures through its federal partnerships. Lancaster County brought in $9.2 million. Statewide, Nebraska law enforcement agencies raked in $31.7 million in federal adoption over those five years.

Brewers bill mirrors what legislators thought they had passed in 2016, Ebke said. In 2016, former Sen. Tommy Garrett sponsored legislation intending to get rid of civil asset forfeiture in Nebraska.

The end result, though, still allows law enforcement to seize assets in civil court if they can connect the cash to drugs, even if there are no drugs in the vehicle.

The new bills text is "the gold standard of forfeiture reform," said Lee McGrath, senior legislative counsel for the Virginia-based Institute for Justice, which helped write the bill.

Three states  Maine, New Mexico and North Carolina  have passed similar laws eliminating civil asset forfeiture, McGrath said. In New Mexico, an Institute for Justice analysis found that getting rid of civil forfeiture did not lead to an increase in crime or a drop in arrest rates.

In June, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee unanimously voted to advance a bill with bipartisan support that would limit civil asset forfeiture at the federal level.

Brewer and his bipartisan allies will now attempt to pass the bill banning the practice at the state level, though Ebke, the former lawmaker, said she also expects stiff opposition.

There will be some who will think that its taking away from rightful authority. Some will see it as a monetary loss for the counties, Ebke said. "It's designed to protect folks, it's not designed to be so-called soft on crime.

But the bill as written fails to capture the complicated nature of forfeiture and seizures, said Houchin with the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office.

The bill allows agencies to partner with the Department of Justice, but does not mention the Department of the Treasury, which oversees Homeland Security, he said. Both Lancaster and Seward do the bulk of their federal drug interdiction work with Homeland Security.

And while the bill outlines a criminal forfeiture process for drug crimes and sex trafficking, it doesn't state a clear way for the state to seize proceeds tied to crimes like credit card theft or stolen catalytic converters.

For small amounts of cash, Lancaster County already handles most forfeitures through criminal court, Houchin said.

"Is this bill going to affect us horribly? No," Houchin said. "But I think it needs to be looked at, needs to be expanded and needs to be thought about a little better before it gets voted on."

Brewer said he's open to the discussion, and thinks a Judiciary Committee hearing will help the Legislature understand the ways in which law enforcement seize money during I-80 traffic stops.

"We want to make sure that we help law enforcement, not hurt law enforcement, Brewer said. But we also have to hold law enforcement to a very high standard."

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

Close Letter: On a path to destruction? As we know, rainbow defines the seven universally accepted colors. The black, brown and white are the different shades of the rainbow. However, we continue to use these shades to discriminate explicitly or implicitly against human beings even today. This is just one (commonly known as racial discrimination) of the many forms of discrimination used around the world against minorities determined by their characteristic traits, which are different from those of the majority. This is against the moral principles enshrined in the 10 commandments of all major religions of the world. Many professional politicians, who are supposed to be the guardians of our democracy, appeal to the worst individual instincts to get elected, as is currently going on in the Republican primaries. I hope and pray that my fellow citizens can see through this charade when it is time to vote. I am scared sick of the possibility of electing a mean, bad-mouthing, arrogant, deceitful Julius Caesar-like bully as our next president, because Caesar led the famous Roman Empire on a path to its destruction. Sitaram Jaswal, Lincoln Letter: Anti-Trump side distorts truth I am glad the Journal Star printed only anti-Trump letters on Jan. 28 with an anti-Trump editorial cartoon. I read all the letters in their entirety to be an informed voter, but I ended up laughing. First, there was no insurrection. There was plenty of mayhem on Jan. 6, 2021, because of the ineptitude of numerous law enforcement agencies and other authorities. The only person shot and killed was pro-Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt. There are nearly 400 people who still are awaiting trial. Second, the allegations of racism against Donald Trump are false. Trump has condemned white supremacists at every turn. But partisan attackers have taken his words out of context to make it look like he is a racist. Much of the legacy media regurgitates this, which is forcing people to find other sources of information. Third, all the lawsuits against Trump are by extreme partisans who hate Trump and are trying to garner money for their own causes. Fourth, Joe Biden is president, not Trump. So why all the focus on Trump? If Trump is so bad, let the Republicans nominate him and watch him lose in the general election. Why should Democrats and liberals worry? Oh, because Biden is a catastrophe! Now I understand the hatred for Trump. Andrew L. Sullivan, Omaha Letter: Let voters decide divisive issue Do women have a right to life? If you believe this is true, sign the petition for a ballot initiative on the divisive issue of enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution. There are plenty of polls that say a majority of Americans support a woman's right to seek an abortion, and there have been votes in other states backing that up. And yet a minority viewpoint has taken the upper hand in this battle. Let's put this issue on the ballot and let the people of Nebraska take a stand and protect women's rights. This ballot initiative needs 150,000 signatures by July. Then we can see the question put to the voters of Nebraska. Jack McGann, Lincoln Letter: Don't forget Biden's wins Ive been interested to read recently about the many ways that our state is talking about using funds from the Inflation Reduction Act, the American Rescue Plan Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. Among the items mentioned in recent news accounts are the Rural Health Education Complex, a collaboration between UNK and UNMC to help bring more health care workers to Nebraskas rural areas. The American Rescue Act also is providing funds for a consultant to help Lancaster County build a convention center in Lincoln. The benefits and uses of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Inflation Reduction Act are many. The money has been used in too many ways to list here but includes: Providing help to families with child care, helping businesses with mortgage and rental, helping provide broadband to rural areas, helping improve water in rural areas, replacing dangerous lead pipes, helping with the Wildlife Crossings Program, and lowering drug prices for some seniors. ARPA was passed by Congress without a single Republican vote, and the infrastructure act was a bipartisan effort that Sen. Deb Fischer and Rep. Don Bacon voted for, while all the other representatives of Nebraska opposed it. In all 19 Republican senators and 13 Republican representatives supported the infrastructure bill. President Joe Biden worked tirelessly to get these bills passed. He had some reluctant members from his own party that he had to find common ground with, and he reached across the aisle to get our ailing infrastructure the long-delayed help that it needs. When people say that Biden hasnt done anything for the American people, these are just a few of the things that he has done that we all should remember. Terrence Keefe, Lincoln Letter: Is Trump best GOP can do? Donald Trump? Seriously? I ask all who support his reelection, is this the best the GOP can do? Is Joe Biden the perfect answer for another term? Maybe not. But given the choice between him and Trump, it's simple. I am not racist. I also am not of the opinion the president of the United States is above the law. Trump, however, he believes he is above the law, and he is, arguably, racist. He repeatedly displays this with his behavior in a court of law. A witch hunt? OK. Trump is a witch. The Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, which he seemingly encouraged, is just one example of how the world revolves around just one person: Donald Trump. We all know his famous quote during a presidential debate prior to the insurrection. When asked if he would condemn white supremacists and militia groups his response, to the Proud Boys was, "Stand back and stand by." Those were directions. And recently he made reference to those convicted of crimes for their involvement in the insurrection as "hostages." So, in other words, their behavior was fine and a U.S. court of law is wrongfully holding them accountable for their behavior. And try to say, "Trump is law-enforcement friendly," when he watched officers being targeted on Jan. 6. Now he is saying that those people are hostages? Where has the common sense gone? Randy Clark, Lincoln Southeast Nebraska speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Feb. 2, 2024 Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Lincoln Journal Star. Letter: On a path to destruction? As we know, rainbow defines the seven universally accepted colors. The black, brown and white are the different shades of the rainbow. However, we continue to use these shades to discriminate explicitly or implicitly against human beings even today. This is just one (commonly known as racial discrimination) of the many forms of discrimination used around the world against minorities determined by their characteristic traits, which are different from those of the majority. This is against the moral principles enshrined in the 10 commandments of all major religions of the world. Many professional politicians, who are supposed to be the guardians of our democracy, appeal to the worst individual instincts to get elected, as is currently going on in the Republican primaries. I hope and pray that my fellow citizens can see through this charade when it is time to vote. I am scared sick of the possibility of electing a mean, bad-mouthing, arrogant, deceitful Julius Caesar-like bully as our next president, because Caesar led the famous Roman Empire on a path to its destruction. Sitaram Jaswal, Lincoln Letter: Anti-Trump side distorts truth I am glad the Journal Star printed only anti-Trump letters on Jan. 28 with an anti-Trump editorial cartoon. I read all the letters in their entirety to be an informed voter, but I ended up laughing. First, there was no insurrection. There was plenty of mayhem on Jan. 6, 2021, because of the ineptitude of numerous law enforcement agencies and other authorities. The only person shot and killed was pro-Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt. There are nearly 400 people who still are awaiting trial. Second, the allegations of racism against Donald Trump are false. Trump has condemned white supremacists at every turn. But partisan attackers have taken his words out of context to make it look like he is a racist. Much of the legacy media regurgitates this, which is forcing people to find other sources of information. Third, all the lawsuits against Trump are by extreme partisans who hate Trump and are trying to garner money for their own causes. Fourth, Joe Biden is president, not Trump. So why all the focus on Trump? If Trump is so bad, let the Republicans nominate him and watch him lose in the general election. Why should Democrats and liberals worry? Oh, because Biden is a catastrophe! Now I understand the hatred for Trump. Andrew L. Sullivan, Omaha Letter: Let voters decide divisive issue Do women have a right to life? If you believe this is true, sign the petition for a ballot initiative on the divisive issue of enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution. There are plenty of polls that say a majority of Americans support a woman's right to seek an abortion, and there have been votes in other states backing that up. And yet a minority viewpoint has taken the upper hand in this battle. Let's put this issue on the ballot and let the people of Nebraska take a stand and protect women's rights. This ballot initiative needs 150,000 signatures by July. Then we can see the question put to the voters of Nebraska. Jack McGann, Lincoln Letter: Don't forget Biden's wins Ive been interested to read recently about the many ways that our state is talking about using funds from the Inflation Reduction Act, the American Rescue Plan Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. Among the items mentioned in recent news accounts are the Rural Health Education Complex, a collaboration between UNK and UNMC to help bring more health care workers to Nebraskas rural areas. The American Rescue Act also is providing funds for a consultant to help Lancaster County build a convention center in Lincoln. The benefits and uses of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Inflation Reduction Act are many. The money has been used in too many ways to list here but includes: Providing help to families with child care, helping businesses with mortgage and rental, helping provide broadband to rural areas, helping improve water in rural areas, replacing dangerous lead pipes, helping with the Wildlife Crossings Program, and lowering drug prices for some seniors. ARPA was passed by Congress without a single Republican vote, and the infrastructure act was a bipartisan effort that Sen. Deb Fischer and Rep. Don Bacon voted for, while all the other representatives of Nebraska opposed it. In all 19 Republican senators and 13 Republican representatives supported the infrastructure bill. President Joe Biden worked tirelessly to get these bills passed. He had some reluctant members from his own party that he had to find common ground with, and he reached across the aisle to get our ailing infrastructure the long-delayed help that it needs. When people say that Biden hasnt done anything for the American people, these are just a few of the things that he has done that we all should remember. Terrence Keefe, Lincoln Letter: Is Trump best GOP can do? Donald Trump? Seriously? I ask all who support his reelection, is this the best the GOP can do? Is Joe Biden the perfect answer for another term? Maybe not. But given the choice between him and Trump, it's simple. I am not racist. I also am not of the opinion the president of the United States is above the law. Trump, however, he believes he is above the law, and he is, arguably, racist. He repeatedly displays this with his behavior in a court of law. A witch hunt? OK. Trump is a witch. The Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, which he seemingly encouraged, is just one example of how the world revolves around just one person: Donald Trump. We all know his famous quote during a presidential debate prior to the insurrection. When asked if he would condemn white supremacists and militia groups his response, to the Proud Boys was, "Stand back and stand by." Those were directions. And recently he made reference to those convicted of crimes for their involvement in the insurrection as "hostages." So, in other words, their behavior was fine and a U.S. court of law is wrongfully holding them accountable for their behavior. And try to say, "Trump is law-enforcement friendly," when he watched officers being targeted on Jan. 6. Now he is saying that those people are hostages? Where has the common sense gone? Randy Clark, Lincoln
An academic report released this week examining Nebraska's overcrowded prison system came to some of the same conclusions offered by previous assessments of the state's Department of Correctional Services.

The root cause of overcrowding within Nebraska's prison system is "legislative changes" brought by state lawmakers in the last 15-20 years that have extended the average sentence duration of inmates in state custody, according to the state-commissioned report from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

And researchers made clear that expansions of prison capacity will "only provide a short-term fix," according to the report drafted by researchers at UNO's Nebraska Center for Justice Research who warned that without sentencing reform and other legislative solutions, "additional, expensive prison expansions will be required routinely."

The 139-page report  which the Legislature set aside money for in 2021, two years before lawmakers approved the construction of a new $350 million, 1,500-bed prison last year  only reinforced the beliefs of Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha, who has been the Legislature's leading opponent of the prison's construction and an advocate for substantive criminal justice reform.

"I think it highlighted what many of us have been saying for the past three years  that we cant build our way out of the situation," McKinney said last week. "We have to make some policy changes.

The average daily population within Nebraska's prisons climbed from around 5,300 inmates in early 2017 to a peak of around 5,700 inmates by March 2020, when the pandemic momentarily slowed the state's justice system to a crawl, according to data laid out in the report.

The decrease in arrivals at state prisons coupled with the normal churn of departures saw the department's average daily inmate population drop to around 5,300 again by March 2021.

But in the years since, the population has rebounded  nearing the same pre-pandemic peak and leaving the Department of Correctional Services with roughly 1,500 more inmates in its custody than the state's prisons are designed to house.

Meanwhile, admissions into Nebraska's prisons have remained relatively stable, according to the report, indicating the culprit for the state's mounting prison overcrowding crisis is not over-policing.

Instead, researchers attributed much of the crowding to a slow growth of incarcerated individuals "average days to release"  the product of increased sentence lengths for those entering state custody.

The average time remaining on Nebraska inmates' prison sentences increased by nearly 400 days between September 2017 and March 2022, according to the report.

In 2017, the average inmate in Nebraska's prisons was three years and four months away from release. By March 2022, that average had ballooned by a full year.

The report makes clear who is at fault for such a sharp increase in such a short time frame: Nebraska lawmakers, who, both broadly and incrementally, have increased minimum sentence lengths for a host of crimes over the last two decades, manufacturing the overcrowding crisis the state faces now.

Part of the prison population's increase can be traced to tougher penalties for gun crimes passed by the Legislature in 2009 in response to an epidemic of gang violence in Omahas inner city.

In the decade after lawmakers increased penalties for gun and assault convictions, the number of inmates whose most serious offense was a gun crime leapt from 85 to 777  an increase of more than 800%, an Omaha World-Herald investigation revealed in 2022.

Researchers, too, pointed to a handful of incremental sentencing enhancements that lawmakers have passed over the last decade that, the report suggests, have undermined the efficacy of LB605, a criminal justice reform bill the Legislature passed in 2015 in an effort to reduce overcrowding.

Researchers highlighted seven laws passed between 2015 and 2018 that brought increased penalties for pandering, prostitution, human or labor trafficking, assaulting police officers and sexually assaulting or sexually contacting students, in some cases making felonies out of former misdemeanors.

And Legislators created new offenses for threatening someone via text or email, distributing a private image of another person and grooming while defining health care officials as peace officers, making it a felony to strike them, too.

The demonstrable increase in inmates' average sentences  attributed in part also to judges ordering defendants convicted of multiple crimes to serve their sentences consecutively  has created a "cascading effect" within the state's prison system, according to the report.

That effect has ensured fewer individuals are eligible for parole, which has in turn reduced departures from state prisons, which causes crowding and system "bottlenecks" that have left some inmates incarcerated in housing units with a higher security level than necessary, where there is "greater potential for serious and violent infraction behavior," researchers said.

I think the problem was a generation of lawmakers running on the premise that they were going to be tough on crime," said former Sen. Steve Lathrop, who chaired the Legislature's Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2022 after a prior stint as a senator from 2007 to 2014.

Lathrop, who was in the Legislature when lawmakers passed 2009's consequential gun bill, largely blamed conservative politics and fear-mongering prosecutors for the state of the state's prisons.

He pointed to the testimony of law enforcement officials who have routinely opposed substantive sentencing reform as an underlying cause of the Legislature's unwillingness to address the root of the overcrowding problem.

Prosecutors in 2015 held multiple news conferences to lodge opposition to a provision of LB605 that would have lowered minimum sentences in certain felony convictions to one-third of the maximum sentence, incentivizing inmates to participate in programming to seek parole.

Thats the problem. That's the difficulty," Lathrop said. "The people that oppose any kind of reform efforts are the prosecutors and law enforcement. And they come from Omaha and ... and they come from the county attorneys (offices) and they come down to Lincoln and tell people that this is gonna be the end of the world.

"But none of the counties where these prosecutors work or the law enforcement agencies have to pay for the incarceration for these individuals. They don't have a stake in this problem."

One suggestion offered by UNO's researchers would change that.

Their report notes that "short timers," or inmates who enter state custody with less than a year before their release date, account for 10% of Nebraska's prison population and are more likely to have been convicted of drug crimes or other nonviolent offenses than other inmates.

While their time in state custody is relatively brief  often because they are in custody on a parole violation or were sent to prison with a short initial sentence combined with credit for time they served while incarcerated in a county jail prior to their conviction  short timers now represent more than half of new admissions to Nebraska prisons, according to the report.

And a "substantial portion" of short timers often spend their entire sentence at the prison system's reception facility in Lincoln, where they aren't able to engage in work release and have limited access to programming.

Short timers also disrupt the designed flow of transfers and promotions to lower custody units for inmates with longer terms, preventing effective transitions back into society, according to the report.

Researchers recommended lawmakers consider allowing short timers to serve at least a portion of their sentence in their local county jail or in other alternative housing solutions, reducing the bottleneck and crowding problems they bring to state prisons while allowing inmates greater access to services.

The report suggests that such a policy change  which was recommended to lawmakers nearly a decade ago  would reduce the state's prison population to around 5,000 and allow the state to avoid building a second new prison that the corrections officials have suggested might be necessary.

It's unclear if lawmakers will heed the researchers' advice.

UNO's report, which the state paid $200,000 to commission, marks the fifth time in the last decade that the state has sought reports on Nebraska's prison system from external agencies.

"And they have ignored all of them," quipped McKinney, who passed out copies of UNO's research brief to his colleagues in the Legislature last week with hopes that they read it and take it seriously, he said.

But McKinney  who along with his colleagues on the Judiciary Committee will consider a handful of bills this legislative session that would add new substances to the list of prohibited drugs in Nebraska and one that would enhance penalties for fatal car crashes  is clear-eyed about the route to reform.

"Any effort to do anything gets pushback," he said. "And it doesnt matter, in my opinion, who comes in and studies the system. Until we get politics out of the conversation, were never gonna do anything because you have those individuals who, because of politics, dont want to do much.

"And you could have conversations with these people off the record and theyll tell you its a problem and we need to do something about it, but when it comes to taking those votes, it doesnt happen.

Photos: 2015 Tecumseh State Prison riot
Opponents derailed a bill Friday that would have required freight trains crossing Nebraska to have at least two crew members on board.

LB31 died after a motion to end the filibuster against it fell short. The motion needed 33 votes to succeed. The vote was 24 in support and 19 against, with six senators absent.

State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte, who introduced the bill, said opponents resorted to a filibuster to stop the bill because he had enough votes to advance the bill otherwise. It takes 25 of the 49 senators to advance and ultimately pass a bill.

Jacobson said he felt good that he got LB31 farther down the tracks than any previous train crew bill. Similar measures have been introduced at least six times before but none of the others even got out of committee.

This year, the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee voted 6-1, with one abstention, to send the bill to the full Legislature. The bill was introduced last year, but the committee chairwoman held off on a vote in hopes that the federal government would take action in the meantime.

The Federal Railroad Administration proposed a regulation in 2022 that would require at least two crew members on trains. The agency has yet to make a final decision on the regulation. Nor has Congress acted on the proposed Railway Safety Act of 2023.

Jacobson, whose legislative district is home to the Union Pacific Railroads Bailey Yard, the largest railroad classification yard in the world, cast the issue as one of safety for the public and for railroad workers. He said 11 states have passed similar laws, including Colorado and Kansas.

He cited last year's derailment of a Norfolk Southern train near East Palestine, Ohio, as an example of the hazards that train derailments pose for Nebraska communities. That derailment spewed vinyl chloride and other toxic chemicals into the air, killing fish in nearby streams and prompting an evacuation.

Jacobson contended that having only one employee, an engineer, on a train is inherently dangerous. The conductor, who would be the second crew member, acts as a second set of eyes and ears and can help out if the engineer has an emergency.

He pointed to a case a few years ago near Hershey when the conductor saw something on the tracks that turned out to be a 4-year-old girl and was able to get the train stopped in time.

He also said that conductors can get off the train to decouple cars, make repairs and help with emergency response in case of a derailment or accident, while federal regulations require engineers to remain in the train cabin.

But opponents said the issue should be handled through collective bargaining between railroad companies and employee unions, rather than through a government mandate. The current Union Pacific contract requires two-person crews.

They also noted that the federal government preempts state laws when it comes to regulating railroads and that the Federal Railroad Administration has promised to rule on the two-person crew issue in March.

Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area cited the long history that Union Pacific has had in Nebraska, noting that it is one of the state's most important businesses and one of the state's largest taxpayers.

The other main railroad in the state, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, is owned by Berkshire Hathaway, the Omaha-based investment firm founded by Warren Buffett. Both companies opposed LB31 and have lobbied against it.

Others questioned the safety claims, saying there have been similar rates of derailments and accidents for trains with two-person crews and those without.

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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A Kearney Police Department officer injured in a shooting at Good Samaritan Hospital is at home recovering.

The department said Saturday the officer was released from the hospital. The Buffalo County Sheriffs Office continues an investigation into the incident.

Police said officers were called to Richard Young Hospital at 1755 Prairie View Place in Kearney around 5:50 p.m. on Friday to assist with a 32 year-old woman possibly suffering from a mental health crisis. Officers located the woman walking around 43rd Street and 17th Avenue a few minutes later.

Officers requested an ambulance, which took the woman to the CHI Good Samaritan Hospital Emergency Department, police said.

Police said while in the emergency department with two officers the woman allegedly became combative. As they tried gain control of the woman, she was able to access an officer's gun and fired a single gunshot into the officers right leg, the department said.

In the update on Saturday, the police department said investigators are working to determine how the suspect accessed the officers firearm while the firearm was holstered on the officers belt. No officers fired their weapon and there no other weapons in the room.

The injured officer is an 18-year veteran with the force, Kearney police said. The second officer has been with KPD for two and a half years. Police did not release their names.

The suspect remains in custody and charges are pending.

In a statement, Police Chief Bryan Waugh said, "This incident serves as a reminder of the sacrifices and dangers police officers make and face every day and night to keep our community safe. I am incredibly thankful our officers and the suspect werent more seriously injured. Please keep this officer and his family in your thoughts and prayers for a swift and full recovery."

"We cant thank our partners at Good Samaritan Hospital enough for the immediate medical care provided to our officer while also being faced with a traumatic event themselves," he said.

PHOTOS: Bald eagles near Lexington Check out a collection of photos by Lori Potter of bald eagles near the J-2 hydropower plant southeast of Lexington. Canal eagle, calling Most of the 30-plus bald eagles near the J-2 hydropower plant southeast of Lexington Sunday morning were perched in trees along the canal that Eagles, north trees A dozen or so bald eagles sit in trees on the north side of the canal, while two dozen more were on the south side. Eagles gather along the wa Canal eagle, calling LEFT: Mark Peyton of Gothenburg, a former CNPPID biologist who is a volunteer host at the J-2 public eagle viewing site each winter, advises v River road eagle LEFT: Eagle viewing visitors should watch for bald eagles and other birds while coming to and leaving the J-2 hydropower plant. This eagle was Sunrise - Platte River, Overton A beautiful sunrise paints the sky and Platte River south of Overton in pink and orange Sunday morning. The cold, calm weather was nearly perf Kearney News Winter Storm Warning may bring over half of foot of snow, Meteorologist Kirsten Lang has the forecast Winter Storm Warning may bring over half of foot of snow, Meteorologist Kirsten Lang has the forecast
KEARNEY  Last summer, Stephanie Evans was one of seven members of New Life Church who served at a soup kitchen and partnered with a mobile social outreach ministry in New York City.

She wanted to give back because she was once homeless and hungry herself.

Now happily married and an administrative assistant at New Life Church, she knows that Jesus saved her.

"I was in situations where I should have been in a lot of trouble, but God was speaking to me without my realizing it. Little did I know it was the Holy Spirit," she said.

Parties and drugs

Born and raised in Norfolk, I was always searching for love, something to fill me, Evans said.

She thought she found it in boys and parties. By the time she was 14, she was doing drugs, but nobody suspected it because she excelled in class. By her senior year of high school, she had multiple scholarship officers. One was from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, but she turned it down because she wanted to go to college with her friends.

Instead, she accepted a scholarship to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to study psychology, but she focused on drugs instead. The week of spring finals her freshman year, she and her boyfriend were robbed. She couldnt take finals or pay her bills.

She lost her scholarship, dropped out of school and moved with her boyfriend into his van. She was working two jobs and dealing drugs on the side.

Her boyfriend was jealous and controlling and abusive both emotionally and physically. He told me, Nobodys ever going to love you. I was trapped," she said.

I thought Id be free in college, but I was empty and low. I didnt feel appreciated. I needed to be surrounded by people who loved me, but I didnt know that then, she said.

That winter, two days before her 21st birthday, the van broke down, so they began sleeping on friends couches.

For her 21st birthday, they scraped some money together and spent the night in a motel. Meanwhile, sensing that something was wrong with my body she took a pregnancy test. It was positive.

She panicked. She fell to the ground, crying. I cried out, Jesus, if you exist, then come, she said. Right then, I felt the burden lifted. I felt hugged and lifted up. I felt like everything was going to be OK."

A new job

Two weeks later, she was promoted at her job. Two weeks after that, she leased an apartment. She stopped drinking and using hard drugs. She considered leaving her abusive boyfriend, but I didnt want my child raised without a father, so I stayed with him, she said.

She also started diving into Gods word, especially Proverbs 31, which details the attributes of an ideal woman. Every time her boyfriend came after her, I would cycle that power verse in my heart, she said.

Her boyfriend had accepted her encounter with Jesus, but he continued drinking and lost his driving privileges. Normally, Evans picked him up from work, but one night she didnt because she slept through the alarm. Seven months pregnant by then, she was awakened by his furious banging on the door.

He came at me, berating me and yelling at me. His mother had given us a puppy, and the puppy ran into the corner. He killed the dog right in front of me, she said.

If he did that to the dog, what would he do to my baby? But I didnt see a way out, she said.

More trauma

The abuse continued. Evans often arrived at work in tears and dreaded going home. Her friends and coworkers worried about her. Her obstetrician did, too.

When Evans went into labor, her boyfriend never showed up at the hospital. As she labored, the babys heart rate dropped, and she was rushed into an emergency C-section. She named her son Leon. After the birth (the baby was beautiful) she called the babys father, but he didnt come. He showed up the next day and hollered at her so violently that the hospital kicked him out.

Evans had had enough. When she was discharged, her parents helped her collect her belongings and turn in the apartment keys. They took her to their home in Norfolk.

She grew closer to her mother. The two made up for some rough patches in earlier years. Six months later, her mother suddenly died from an undiagnosed arrhythmia. Evans grieved, but God gave me so much peace. I had apologized to her for some old issues. We had some good times together in those six months, she said.

Evans supported her grieving father, too. She got an associates degree at a community college, moved back to Lincoln and returned to UNL. I loved entrepreneurship and business psychology, so I decided to do that. I wanted to make my own way, she said.

Trouble in Lincoln

Back in Lincoln, Evans reconnected with Leons father because she wanted her son to know his father. He was still drinking, so she prayed for him.

Along with raising her son, Evans went to school full time and worked 45 hours a week. She read the Bible and prayed regularly.

But theirs was a hand-to-mouth existence. One night when the cupboards were literally bare, I prayed all night. I said, God, youve shown me you exist. I need some food, she said.

The next day, a box of food was sitting at her apartment door. She realized neighbors probably brought it, but she thanked Jesus.

She earned her degree and became an assistant manager at a Walmart in Lincoln. While she worked, her boyfriend watched his own son and Leon. One afternoon, she got home and found the children gone.

Frantic, Evans found them at a neighbors suite. The neighbor had heard them crying and banging on the apartment door. She went in and found the boyfriend passed out drunk on the couch, so she took them.

Evans was furious. Pretending not to know where the children were, she woke up her boyfriend and asked him about them. He jumped up, searched in vain for the children and became enraged. He came at Evans and tried to strangle her. She fell. Kicking him off, she ran out the front door. Her neighbors had called 911. They had heard everything, she said. The police took the boyfriend away.

This wasnt the life I wanted. God said, Go home, so I called my dad. He took Leon and me home with him, she said.

An altar call

Evans began going to her fathers church. At one abrupt unexpected moment, she responded to an altar call. I heard the message. It said, Come up. Come on up. I felt it in my spirit, she said. At last, life began to turn around.

In 2016, she and Leon moved with her father to Kearney, where he had purchased Culvers Frozen Custard. She worked at Culvers 60 hours a week and began attending New Life Church. There she joined a 12-step life group. There, she also met Ossie Evans, the man she would marry.

I got to know him without any pressure. We knew each others stories from that group. I had aired all my dirty laundry, she said.

Eighteen months after they met, she asked Ossie out for coffee. He said, Ill do you one better. Lets go to dinner at Applebees, she said.

They talked over dinner for three hours. Unbeknownst to them, a couple sitting nearby bought their dinner. That was a God thing, Evans chuckled. That was like a confirmation to me. The Holy Spirit wasnt lying to me.

They began dating. The relationship deepened. Her father loved him, too. Stephanie then asked him to marry her. I didnt know it, but he had already asked my dad if he could marry me, she said.

They were married at New Life in May 2022. With regrets, she resigned from the job at Culvers, but I knew I had done what I could do at Culvers. I was being called to a vocational ministry, she said.

She wrestled with her future for two months before being hired as a receptionist at New Life, where Ossie, 44, is the head custodian.

Last summer, she went to New York City with seven New Life members not to sightsee, but to serve the homeless. I wanted to serve the people who are like I was. I know what its like to be on the receiving side, she said.

God can find you wherever you are, she said, He has given me dreams and visions. I know He has something big for me. Wherever he calls me, Im going to say yes.
A major cancer hospital and research center recently announced it is asking for withdrawals or corrections to at least 37 research papers.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston is taking action after its research included false images.

The cancer hospital is connected with Harvard Universitys medical school. Harvards last president, Claudine Gay, recently left her position after being accused of plagiarism. Plagiarism is when a person claims someone elses work as their own.

In the Dana-Farber case, a blogger from Wales in Britain, said the cancer center published documents that had manipulated images. Sholto David is a 32-year-old blogger who investigates scientific reports in his free time.

On January 2, David wrote on his blog that he found suspicious images in 30 papers published by four Dana-Farber scientists, including top leaders Laurie Glimcher and William Hahn. He said some of the images made the research look stronger. The papers discussed how cells work. Another documented samples of bone marrow from human volunteers.

When did the problem surface?

Similar investigators found problems with some of the Dana-Farber papers and pointed them out on a website called PubPeer. Reporters from Harvards student newspaper started writing about the problems on January 12.

Dana-Farber answered the news coverage by saying it had already been looking into the problems. On January 22, the center said it asked for six of the papers to be retracted, or withdrawn from publication, because of problems. It also asked for corrections in 31 other papers.

Dr. Barrett Rollins is the research integrity officer at Dana-Farber. He said the center and its scientists took prompt and decisive action in (most) cases that David pointed out.

Community of sleuths

David is not the only person who studies scientific research and looks for errors. Elisabeth Bik is a microbiologist in California. She has been looking at journals and papers for 10 years. Based on her work over 1,000 articles have been pulled back. Over 1,000 have been corrected and 153 times journals have printed their concerns about previously published work.

She has seen manipulated images of bacteria, cells and more.

Bik wrote about her work in a paper published by the American Society for Microbiology in 2016. Science should be about finding the truth, she said.

Bik does get some money for her work. Some people who like her work subscribe to a journal she writes. She earns about $2,300 per month for the work she does. David said he earns just over $200 a month for his work.

Why do they do it?

Ivan Oransky is an expert on the science sleuths. He teaches medical journalism at Columbia University in New York City. He said some of the detectives use software tools to look for problems in scientific writing. Many do not use their names when they write about their findings.

Oransky said the sleuths want science to do and be better. He said they are upset that people in publishing and at universities do not seem interested in correcting mistakes. Some of the bloggers are worried that the number of people who trust science is falling.

Bik said the problem that leads to false research is that many doctors and scientists feel pressure to get published. And they make mistakes because they are in a hurry.

Oransky, the journalism teacher at Columbia, said pressure to publish means: if the images do not match the story the paper is trying to tell, you beautify them.

What next?

Scientific journals look at errors brought to their attention but do not often do a public investigation. They keep the process quiet and then release their decision. Usually, they will ask for a correction or withdraw the paper.

Some journals told The Associated Press they were looking into the issues that David raised.

Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press.

_________________________________________

Words in This Story

manipulate v. to change in a way that is meant to affect people in a certain way or to deceive people

suspicious adj. causing concern that there is something wrong

sample n. a small amount of a substance that is taken for study or research

integrity n. the quality of being honest, fair, complete or good

prompt adj. quick, done in a timely way

sleuth n. someone who looks for clues to solve crimes or problems

journalism n. the job of finding, writing and editing news stories for newspapers, magazines, TV and radio

beautify v. to make something beautiful or to increase its beauty

We want to hear from you. Are you concerned about the publics trust in science?
Air sampling in Dane County schools is helping health officials track flu and COVID-19, similar to how wastewater is increasingly monitored around the country for the coronavirus to gauge activity as fewer people get tested for COVID-19.

Since the beginning of the school year, flu and COVID-19 data from 16 air monitors at 15 schools in or near the county has been reported on Public Health Madison and Dane County's respiratory illness dashboard. The devices, roughly the size of microwave ovens, are placed in communal spaces such as cafeterias. They suck air, including airborne viruses, into spongy material that is analyzed for viral genetic material.

It can tell us about the virus without us needing to stick anything up anyones noses or even know who was in a space," said Dave O'Connor, a UW-Madison researcher involved in the surveillance. Air sampling should be something that lots of schools bring on board to understand what the respiratory virus transmission risk is."

Monitors have been at seven schools in the Oregon School District for two years, where air sampling last school year tracked flu and COVID-19 activity as reliably as student absences, rapid tests at school and regular tests from samples collected at home, UW-Madison researchers recently reported.

That research was part of a UW study, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that has analyzed respiratory illness at Oregon schools since 2015.

O'Connor and his UW research collaborator and wife, Shelby O'Connor, who helped with the Oregon air sampling, got a National Institutes of Health grant to expand the testing to other schools. The testing now involves nine area elementary schools, four middle schools and three high schools  with one school counted twice, as a middle school and an elementary school, because it has two air samplers in different areas.

O'Connor and the city-county health department declined to name the schools or all of the districts involved, but said the Deerfield and Lodi districts agreed to be named. We dont want there to be any stigma associated with a positive result," said O'Connor, a pathology professor.

One of the schools is Eagle School, a private school in Fitchburg, school director Andy Wright said. The Madison School District is not involved, spokesperson Ian Folger said.

O'Connor said air sampling in congregate areas is emerging as an alternative to widespread testing of individuals for viruses such as COVID-19 and as a complement to wastewater monitoring. Local school air sampling data for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is expected to be added to the dashboard next year, he said.

"When people cough or sneeze, or just breathe, all the material theyre exhaling can get sucked up into the sampler," he said. Then we have a sense for whats going on in that space, and we can do it in a way thats truly anonymous.

Oregon study

The long-running UW study in Oregon  called Oregon Child Absenteeism due to Respiratory Disease Study, or ORCHARDS  asks parents to report symptoms of children who are sick at home. Scientists have made home visits, swabbing the noses and throats of the students and family members to test for flu and other viruses.

Last school year, virus particles trapped in air monitor filters at the seven schools were checked twice weekly for flu and COVID-19. The sampling showed a flu outbreak that peaked in December 2022 and dropped after winter break, according to findings recently published in JAMA Network Open.

The monitors also detected low to moderate levels of COVID-19 in at least some school buildings from September 2022 to January 2023.

The air sampling results were similar to those from long-used monitoring methods: daily counts of student absenteeism; rapid antigen tests of students at school; and home-based specimen collection by students for more thorough tests, using a technique called reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene.

Rapid tests at school didn't pick up COVID-19 after winter break, but the other methods did.

Dr. Jonathan Temte, who leads the UW study, said air sampling can assess viral activity in focused areas, while wastewater monitoring comes from multiple sources. Wastewater contains more COVID-19 than it does flu or RSV, making it less suitable to track flu or RSV, he said.

As widespread community testing for the coronavirus wanes, it appears that air sampling can provide a good awareness of the presence of both the influenza A virus and the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, Temte, a professor of family medicine and community health and an associate dean at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, said in a statement.

In 2021, the same study yielded a surprising discovery: An 11-year-old Oregon student and her parents, in March 2020, were the first known cases of household transmission of COVID-19 in Wisconsin, Temte and other researchers reported in 2021 in the Wisconsin Medical Journal.

A few years earlier, when study results showed time off curbs the spread of flu, the Oregon district extended three-day weekend breaks in October, February and April to four-day weekends to try to prevent outbreaks.
The community will be able to hear from the three finalists for Madison School District superintendent in a series of public interviews this week.

Yvonne Stokes, Mohammed Choudhury and Joe Gothard will be interviewed in person by two panels on Tuesday. The public can watch the interviews through a livestream. The livestream can be found via go.madison.com/finalists. The district said one panel will be made up of students and the other will be made up of parents and caregivers. Public feedback is welcome.

The candidates will be interviewed again Wednesday, but those discussions will not be livestreamed, recorded or open to the public. The interviews will involve teachers, district leaders, students and selected community members.

The School Board has a long, specific list of characteristics it wants to see in a new superintendent, including familiarity with Madison, experience managing budgets and a commitment to closing achievement gaps. A survey that elicited 3,250 responses allowed the public to weigh in.

The Madison district has 25,000 students and 5,000 employees across 52 schools.

The next superintendent will have to ensure the district meets the standards outlined in Wisconsins Act 20, which made sweeping changes to how reading is taught in the state. With declining enrollment and state aid, and pandemic relief funds going away, the Madison School Board is considering adding both facilities and operating referendums to the November 2024 ballot.

Mohammed Choudhury

Although Mohammed Choudhury does not have close ties to Madison, the husband and new dad said he is looking to put down long-term roots, in a video interview released online by the Madison School District.

Choudhury, 40, most recently served as the state superintendent in Maryland, which is home to almost 900,000 students in more than 1,400 public schools.

According to Maryland media reports, last July he told the State Board of Education that he would like to extend his contract, set to expire in June 2024. But he withdrew his request, and in September he and the board announced that Choudhury would step down and transition into a role as adviser to the Board of Education.

Choudhury declined to talk with the State Journal.

Choudhury stepped in as Marylands school superintendent as the state was implementing a historic $3.8 billion program to transform the public education system. Called the Blueprint for Marylands Future Act, the law makes comprehensive changes to early childhood and public schools and prioritizes pockets of poverty.

In an investigation by the Washington Post published in July, current and former Education Department employees accused Choudhury of creating a toxic work environment and said he verbally berated and micromanaged employees.

In a letter to Maryland legislative leaders the Washington Post published as part of its report, Choudhury acknowledged missteps in communicating, but blanket assertions about our work remain untrue.

The changes mandated by the Blueprint are significant  they require a shift from the status quo and existing systems, he wrote. Change is never easy; its often uncomfortable, and not everyone is going to like it.

As a district administrator in Texas, Choudhury created a model to integrate schools in San Antonio according to socioeconomic factors. He aimed to attract families who might otherwise send their kids to outside school districts or private schools by offering popular education programs, such as dual language or Montessori.

My goal is to establish a school system that not only sets exceptional high standards, but consistently surpasses them, Choudhury said in the video interview.

Choudhury has a masters degree in urban schooling from the University of California, Los Angeles, and bachelors degrees in English literature and Chicano/a studies from California State University, Northridge.

Patti Radle, a former school board member in San Antonio who worked with Choudhury, said the board got along well with him. She said he showed creativity and integrity as a district administrator.

I could see sometimes when there was that area of controversy ... he could be solid about making something happen that was agreed upon by the board, Radle said.

One of those controversial decisions, made alongside the superintendent at the time, was closing an elementary school in San Antonio and reopening it as a charter school run by a New York-based company called Democracy Prep. The campus faced closure because it had failed to meet accountability standards for nearly five years.

Alejandra Lopez, the president of the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel union, taught at the school at the time.

Our main concern was that these decisions, like many that characterized his tenure here, were decided without any meaningful input or engagement with staff, students, parents or community members, Lopez said.

Joe Gothard

Joe Gothard, 52, is the only finalist with strong ties to Madison.

Growing up in Madison, Gothard attended Elvehjem Elementary School, Sennett Middle School and La Follette High School. He graduated from Edgewood College with a doctorate in education and started his career in the Madison School District, eventually becoming a principal at Toki Middle School and La Follette, according to the district website.

Gothard declined to talk to the State Journal but said in an email he looked forward to engaging with the Madison community in the interview process.

He spent two years as an assistant superintendent of secondary schools and was a semifinalist in the Madison School Districts search for a new superintendent in 2013. Jennifer Cheatham was ultimately hired for the job, and Gothard left for a superintendent job in suburban Minneapolis that same year.

I have a well-rounded view of this district, all its challenges, but more importantly all of its opportunities, Gothard said in a video interview published online by the Madison School District.

Since 2017, Gothard has been superintendent of St. Paul Public Schools and lives there with his wife, Mary. They have three children.

The school district in St. Paul has more than 33,000 students and 5,500 employees across 69 schools, according to the district website. Its budget is more than $1 billion.

The district had to dip into its reserve funds to cover a $34 million revenue shortfall in its 2023-24 budget, according to reporting by the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Gothard is one of four finalists for the 2024 National Superintendent of the Year award.

Gothard said in his video interview being a listener is important as superintendent and cited his experience working on literacy development in St. Paul. In 2018, the district launched SPPS Achieves, a districtwide strategic plan that put special emphasis on decreasing disparities and increasing achievement for English learners.

In November 2023, the district launched SPPS Reads to align literacy instruction with science of reading research, using phonics and teaching students to read unfamiliar words by sounding them out, according to the district website.

In response to criticism about community engagement, the district in October established a new finance advisory committee with four of the 10 seats filled by members of the public. That committee will help determine how well COVID-19 relief money was invested and which efforts to fund next. The district also has an online dashboard that tracks how pandemic money is spent.

Teacher contract negotiations have been tough during Gothards time as St. Paul superintendent: Teachers went on strike in 2020 when they couldnt reach a deal and were within minutes of striking in 2022 when an agreement was reached. In December, the school district and the St. Paul Federation of Educators decided to bring in a third-party mediator to help negotiate the next two-year contract.

Union President Leah VanDassor said using a state mediator is normal and said the union and Gothard have worked well together. She described Gothard as not hard to work with but not easy to work with.

VanDassor said Gothards new focus on literacy has been a positive, but she wants to see more community input around decisions made by the superintendent and his cabinet.

Sometimes it feels like a lot of words and not a lot of follow through, VanDassor said.

Yvonne Stokes

Yvonne Stokes potential move to Madison to be the next superintendent would be her second appointment as a school districts top leader. She most recently worked in Indiana at the Hamilton Southeastern School District as the districts first Black superintendent.

On the northeastern edge of the Indianapolis suburbs, the district is the fourth-largest in the state, with about 21,000 students.

Stokes, 57, came to Hamilton Southeastern School District from the School Town of Munster, a public school district in Northwest Indiana, where she served as assistant superintendent. She also worked for three years as an academic improvement officer at Indianapolis Public Schools. With a doctorate in educational leadership from Purdue University and a masters degree in special education from the University of Saint Francis in Indiana, she began her career in Fort Worth, Texas, and has held various positions in school districts around Indiana.

In 2020, Stokes received the Governors Award in Indiana for her achievements in education.

Stokes did not respond to interview requests from the State Journal.

Stokes resigned from her role as superintendent of the Hamilton Southeastern School District in September, just over two years into her three-year contract. She did not cite a reason for her departure in her resignation letter.

Her three-year contract was approved 5-2 by the School Board, with a small group protesting her appointment at the time with signs like education not indoctrination, according to the Indianapolis Star. Some criticized her inclusion and diversity efforts.

The 2022 elections brought on a shift in the school board when four conservative candidates, who campaigned on fiscal responsibility and increased parental involvement in schools, won a majority of the school board seats.

When Stokes resignation was announced, three people spoke at the board meeting about their disappointment that Stokes would be leaving. Some raised concerns about what would come of the diversity, equity and inclusion work she championed.

Stephanie Hunt is one parent who spoke at the meeting. Hunt has four children in the school district and is president of Fishers PRIDE Inc.

I think that we got a new school board who wanted to go in a different direction than maybe the direction that she was going, Hunt said to the State Journal this week.

Hunt described Fishers, the community where the school district is located, as a changing environment.

Youve got people who think two different ways, and I think right now the city is finding the balance on how to work together, Hunt said.

In a video interview with the district, Stokes described herself as the lover of the arts and of music in particular. She has three children.

As superintendent in Indiana, Stokes saw the percentage of students who passed the English and math portions of the states standardized test known as ILEARN increase between 2021 and 2022, while many schools around the country saw a decline in student achievement as a result of the pandemic.

Stokes said in her video that efforts in Madison to dismantle inequities in the city and school system attracted her to the position.

Stokes said she plans to meet with teachers and students regularly in listening and learning sessions to get input on morale and needs. She also said she would regularly use surveys to get feedback from the district and Madison as a whole.
Dooley didn't have a full grasp of the English language until third grade, when she learned to read it. Growing up in New Mexico, her first language was Navajo. Going to an English-speaking school meant a lot of observation and mirroring.

"I remember just mimicking and then observing what are the other kids doing in the classroom and then you just kind of follow along," she said.

English didn't come naturally, but stories did.

The Navajo word for "story" is hane'. Stories are a central part of many native communities. They're a way to make sense of the world, to confront big questions and bridge gaps between generations and even species. The ability to tell stories, Dooley said, is intrinsic, similar to swallowing or blinking, and just as vital.

"We were raised with a tremendous amount of stories," she said. "'Storyteller' is a limiting word, because it's my role in my community and in my family and in my clan family."

Stories are also a means of discipline and education.

"If I did a wacky thing, I was told a story, and in the story, the main character took on my wackiness. So then when that main character was disciplined similar to what I did incorrectly, I was like, 'Oh, I'm not supposed to do that."

She surmises her behavior may have warranted more than a few disciplinary tales. "Maybe I misbehaved a lot and I got saturated with a lot of stories."
Bird watchers in Prairie du Sac and the surrounding area can enjoy their favorite activity while learning at the same time next weekend at the villages Overlook and other facilities.

Bald Eagle Watching Days, hosted by the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council, returns for the 38th time throughout the day Saturday. The event will last from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will include art exhibits and indoor raptor shows at Sauk Prairie High Schools River Arts Center, and a presentation about animals that live in the same habitats as bald eagles, along with watching bald eagles soar over the Wisconsin River.

The Overlook, River Arts Center and Tripp Museum in Prairie du Sac will host events for Bald Eagle Watching Days. Bird watchers can also see eagles at the Sauk City River Walk, Veterans of Foreign Wars Park and the Alliant Energy Hydro dam north of Prairie du Sac on Highway 78.

These events offer unique opportunities for people to come together to celebrate the success of bald eagle recovery and conservation in Wisconsin, Sumner Matteson, an avian ecologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, said in a statement.

The Ferry Bluff Eagle Council, a Sauk Prairie nonprofit that works to maintain and enhance bald eagle habitat in the area through education and research, will provide information about the states bald eagle population and the challenges the birds face, organization president Jeb Barzen said. He said the event increases awareness through community engagement.

Volunteers from the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council and throughout the Sauk Prairie area will be available to answer questions and supply spotting scopes to help visitors find birds. The event is free, and visitors can get tickets for the River Arts Center events starting at 9 a.m. There also will be activities for children at the center, including drawing and temporary tattoos.

Marge Gibson, a co-founder of Raptor Education Group Inc., an Antigo-based nonprofit involved with native bird rehabilitation and wildlife education, will present a video of her releasing eagles into the wild at 10 a.m. at the center. She will host a question and answer session about eagles after the video.

Bald Eagle Watching Days had initially been scheduled for Jan. 13, but cold temperatures and deep snow led to the event being postponed.
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Outbound Filipino airline passengers may soon demand from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to shoulder the costs of their travel expenses should they miss their flights due to prolonged questioning by its officers, Makati City Rep. Luis Campos, Jr. said Sunday, Feb. 4.

Campos cited a special provision in the 2024 national budget, which stated that the travel expenses incurred by passengers, who were denied boarding without a court order, shall be charged from the BI special trust fund of immigration fees and other collections.

The special provision strikes a balance between the right of every Filipino to travel, and the BIs obligation to enforce immigration laws, said Campos, vice chairperson of the House committee on appropriations.

The measure aims to address the frustrations experienced by many Filipino international travelers in the past, who missed their flights on account of extended immigration secondary interviews. Some of them aired their grievances on social media, which went viral.

Right now, we are still awaiting the guidelines to be issued by the BI, the Department of Budget and Management, and the Commission on Audit with respect to the implementation of the special provision, Campos said.

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Sen. Francis Escudero pushed for the reimbursement of the travel expenses of Filipino passengers who were offloaded from their flights due to lengthy interrogation by immigration officers in the guise of fighting human trafficking.

Citing BI records, Escudero said a total of 32,404 Filipino passengers were not allowed to proceed with their flights in 2022 alone, and only 472 of them were found to be victims of human trafficking or illegal recruitment.

Campos noted that Filipinos reserve the right to travel under Article III, Section 6 of the 1987 Constitution except in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health, as may be provided by law.

In his budget message, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. agreed to the conditional implementation of the special provision, as long as it would not affect the mandate of the BI to administer and enforce immigration laws, including the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

At present, express lane fees and charges collected by the BI are deposited in a special trust fund account with a government bank to be used exclusively for the following purposes:

-64 percent to augment the salaries of the BIs organic personnel working beyond regular office hours;

-25 percent for the salaries of the BIs contractual personnel; and

-The remaining 11 percent is remitted to the national treasury as income of the general fund.
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Yemens Huthis said Sunday US and British air strikes will not deter us and vowed a response after dozens of targets were hit in retaliation for the Iran-backed rebels repeated Red Sea attacks.

The joint air raids in Yemen late Saturday followed a separate wave of unilateral American strikes against Iran-linked targets in Iraq and Syria in response to a drone attack that killed three US soldiers in Jordan.

It is the third time that British and American forces have jointly targeted the Huthis, whose attacks in solidarity with Palestinians in war-battered Gaza have disrupted global trade.

The United States has also carried out a series of air raids against the Yemeni rebels on its own, but their attacks on the vital Red Sea trade route have persisted.

Saturdays strikes hit 36 Huthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen in response to the Huthis continued attacks against international and commercial shipping as well as naval vessels transiting the Red Sea, the United States, Britain and other countries that provided support for the operation said in a statement.

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US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes are intended to further disrupt and degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Huthi militia to conduct their reckless and destabilising attacks.

Neither Austin nor the joint statement identified the specific places that were hit, but Huthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the capital Sanaa and other rebel-held areas were targeted.

Saree reported a total of 48 air strikes, and said on social media platform X that these attacks will not deter us from our stance in support of the steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, where the Israel-Hamas war has raged since early October.

The latest strikes will not pass without response and punishment, Saree said.

 Meeting escalation with escalation 

Britains defence ministry said Royal Air Force Typhoon warplanes struck targets including two ground control stations used to operate attack and reconnaissance drones.

Austin said that coalition forces targeted 13 locations associated with the Huthis deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defence systems, and radars.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Separately, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces carried out a strike against a Huthi anti-ship missile that prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea early Sunday.

CENTCOM had earlier launched strikes against six other Huthi anti-ship missiles, and on Friday the US military said its forces had shot down eight drones in and near Yemen.

The Huthis began targeting Red Sea shipping in November, saying they were hitting Israel-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza, ruled by another Iran-backed armed group, Hamas.

US and UK forces responded with strikes against the Huthis, who have since declared American and British interests to be legitimate targets as well.

Huthi spokesman Nasr al-Din Amer said following the Saturday strikes: We will meet the escalation with escalation.

 Unacceptable 

Anger over Israels devastating campaign in Gaza  which began after an unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7  has grown across the Middle East, stoking violence involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

On January 28, a drone slammed into a base in Jordan, killing three US soldiers and wounding more than 40  an attack Washington blamed on Tehran-aligned forces.

US and allied troops in the region have been attacked more than 165 times since mid-October, mostly in Iraq and Syria, but the Jordan deaths were the first from hostile fire during that period.

The United States responded Friday with strikes against dozens of targets at seven Tehran-linked facilities in Iraq and Syria, but did not hit Iranian territory.

Both the Iraqi and Syrian governments condemned the Friday strikes, while Tehran said they would have no result other than intensifying tension and instability.

Diplomatic sources have said the UN Security Council would convene Monday, after Russia called for a meeting over the threat to peace and safety created by US strikes on Syria and Iraq.

But British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Tehran is ultimately responsible for the violence, telling the Sunday Times we need to send the clearest possible signal to Iran that what theyre doing through their proxies is unacceptable.

You created them, you backed them, you financed them, you provided them with weapons, and you will ultimately be held accountable for what they do, Cameron said.
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Palestinian TerritoriesScores were reported killed in overnight strikes across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, after Hamas said it needed more time to consider a proposal that would halt its war with Israel in the besieged Palestinian territory.

Gazas Hamas-run health ministry said early Sunday that at least 92 people had been killed overnight, including in what the groups media office said was an Israeli bombardment of a kindergarten in Rafah where displaced people were sheltering.

Concerns over a potential Israeli ground incursion into the southern border city have mounted in recent days, with hundreds of thousands of displaced seeking refuge from the fighting there in makeshift shelters and encampments.

Many made the journey from even harder-hit areas after being told the city was a safe zone, but strikes have continued there as well, with mourners gathering outside a local hospital Saturday to pray for the dead after another bombardment.

The children were just sleeping and suddenly the bombardment happened. The bedroom fell on my children. God took one of my children and three escaped death, Ahmad Bassam al-Jamal told AFP, his voice breaking. My child now is a martyr in heaven.

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The city that had been home to 200,000 people now hosts more than half of Gazas population, the United Nations said.

A representative of the UN humanitarian agency OCHA has called Rafah a pressure cooker of despair, expressing concern for what might happen next.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned on Thursday that the military  which began its ground invasion in the territorys north and has gradually advanced south  will also reach Rafah.

Civilians who fled to the city have been pushed up against the border with Egypt, trying to avoid areas exposed to bombardment and fighting in nearby Khan Yunis. AFP

We are exhausted, said displaced Gazan Mahmud Abu al-Shaar, urging a ceasefire so that we can return to our homes.

International mediators are making a full-court press to seal a proposed truce deal thrashed out last week in Paris.

But a top Hamas official in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, said on Saturday that the proposed framework was missing some details.

Hamas needed more time to announce our position, Hamdan said, based on our desire to put an end as quickly as possible to the aggression that our people suffer.

The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamass unprecedented Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Militants also seized around 250 hostages, and Israel says 132 remain in Gaza, including at least 27 believed to have been killed.

Vowing to eliminate Hamas, Israel launched a massive military offensive that has killed at least 27,238 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-ruled territorys health ministry.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will make his fifth crisis visit to the Middle East in the coming days to push for the truce proposal, the State Department has said, and French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne is also making a pass through the region, according to a spokesman.

A Hamas source has said the proposal involves an initial six-week pause that would see more aid delivered into Gaza and exchanges of some Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

Hamass Qatar-based leader Ismail Haniyeh has said any ceasefire must lead to a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

The Israeli governments inability to secure the hostages release, as well as the intelligence failures that allowed the Oct. 7 attacks to happen in the first place, have led to harsh criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government.

Hundreds rallied on Saturday night in Tel Aviv at protests calling for early elections and to demand action to free the remaining hostages.

Demonstrations were also held in the northern Israeli port of Haifa and near Netanyahus Jerusalem residence.

In Tel Aviv, anti-government protester Michal Hadas told AFP that dragging out the conflict only served the interests of government officials, because as long as the war continues there will be no election.

At the rally for hostages families, Carmit Palty Katzir, sister of captive Elad Katzir, called for swifter action.

Every second a deal is not closed, the price goes up. The number of hostages who wont return alive goes up. The number of soldiers risking their lives without a clear plan for the day after goes up, she said.

The war has sent regional tensions soaring, with a surge in attacks by Iran-backed groups in solidarity with Gaza triggering counterattacks by key Israel ally the United States.

The United States and its coalition partner Britain said they struck dozens of targets in Yemen on Saturday night in response to repeated attacks on shipping by Iran-backed Huthi rebels.

US forces also struck an additional anti-ship missile in Yemen on Sunday morning that the US Central Command said was ready to be launched towards the Red Sea.

The joint air raids came after a separate wave of unilateral American strikes against Iran-linked targets in Iraq and Syria that were carried out in response to the killing of three US soldiers in Jordan on Jan. 28.

The Israeli army, meanwhile, said on Saturday that it had struck more than 3,400 Hezbollah militant targets across southern Lebanon since the start of the war, as well as more than 50 targets linked to the Iran-backed Hamas allies in Syria. AFP
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Washington, DCThe United States and Britain struck dozens of targets in Yemen last weekend in response to repeated attacks on shipping by Iran-backed Huthi rebels that have disrupted global trade and put lives at risk.

The joint air raids in Yemen come a day after a separate wave of unilateral American strikes against Iran-linked targets in Iraq and Syria that were carried out in response to the killing of three US soldiers in Jordan on Jan. 28.

It is the third time that British and American forces have jointly targeted the Huthis and the United States has also carried out a series of air raids against them on its own, but the rebels attacks have persisted.

Saturdays strikes hit 36 Huthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen in response to the Huthis continued attacks against international and commercial shipping as well as naval vessels transiting the Red Sea, the United States, Britain and other countries that provided support for the operation said in a statement.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes are intended to further disrupt and degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Huthi militia to conduct their reckless and destabilizing attacks.

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Coalition forces targeted 13 locations associated with the Huthis deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, and radars, he said in a statement.

Neither Austin nor the joint statement identified the specific places that were hit, but the Huthis Al-Massirah television said Sanaa and other locations were targeted.

Britains Defense Ministry said Royal Air Force Typhoon warplanes struck targets including two ground control stations used to operate both attack and reconnaissance drones.

Separately, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces carried out a strike against a Huthi anti-ship missile prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea early Sunday morning after deeming it presented an imminent threat against military and commercial vessels in the area.

That strike came after CENTCOM said they had earlier Saturday also launched strikes against six other Huthi anti-ship missiles and that on Friday US forces had shot down eight drones in and near Yemen, and destroyed four more before they could be launched.

The Huthis began targeting Red Sea shipping in November, saying they were hitting Israel-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza, which has been ravaged by the Israel-Hamas war.

US and UK forces responded with strikes against the Huthis, who have since declared American and British interests to be legitimate targets as well.

Huthi spokesman Nasr al-Din Amer said following the Saturday strikes that either there is peace for us, Palestine and Gaza, or there is no peace and no safety for you in our region.

We will meet the escalation with escalation, he wrote on social media.

Anger over Israels devastating campaign in Gaza  which began after an unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7  has grown across the Middle East, stoking violence involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

Last weekend, a drone slammed into a base in Jordan, killing three US soldiers and wounding more than 40  an attack Washington blamed on Iran-backed forces.

US and allied troops have been attacked more than 165 times in Iraq, Syria and Jordan since mid-October, but the soldiers killed on Jan. 28 were the first to die from hostile fire in the Middle East during that period.

The United States responded Friday with strikes against dozens of targets at seven Tehran-linked facilities in Iraq and Syria, but did not hit Iranian territory.

Both the Iraqi and Syrian governments condemned the Friday strikes, while Tehran said they would have no result other than intensifying tension and instability.

Diplomatic sources meanwhile said the UN Security Council would convene Monday, after Russia called for a meeting over the threat to peace and safety created by US strikes on Syria and Iraq.

But British Foreign Secretary David Cameron has said Tehran is ultimately responsible for the violence, telling the Sunday Times in an interview that we need to send the clearest possible signal to Iran that what theyre doing through their proxies is unacceptable.

You created them, you backed them, you financed them, you provided them with weapons, and you will ultimately be held accountable for what they do, Cameron said. AFP
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The administration has vowed to turn Mindanao from a land of promises into a land of promises fulfilled, Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said over the weekend.

Pangandaman, the only Filipina Muslim member of the Cabinet under President Marcos, said the efforts at developing Mindanao under the Bagong Pilipinas program are bearing fruit.

Along with our leaders in BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), we have been working very hard to maintain and sustain peace in Mindanao while developing the region into a land of prosperity, she said.

As a matter of fact, as co-chairman of the Intergovernmental Relations Body for the National Government, with Minister Mohaqher Iqbal for the side of BARMM, I am happy to report that for the first time, all seven mechanisms of the IGRB have been activated in less than a year, including holding for the first time the Philippine Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum, Pangandaman said.

The DBM chiefs statement came after former president Rodrigo Duterte pushed for Mindanao to secede from the country.

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She added that the government also established the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) regional/satellite office in BARMM, as well as the recognition of the Bangsamoro Land Transportation Office (BLTO).

We are even commemorating the establishment of Islam in the Philippines, to emphasize the importance of our Muslim heritage in Philippine history. All these efforts are directed at making Mindanao a shining example of peace and development in the Philippines, Pangandaman said.

The future of Mindanao is bright and as long as we stay focused and united, I am confident that our dreams for the economic transformation and upliftment of this region will be fulfilled, she added.
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BARMM, regional leaders also call for PH to protect gains

National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano joined the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and political leaders over the weekend in denouncing attempts to dismember the country, after former President Rodrigo Duterte hinted last week of a signature campaign for the island-region to secede from the republic.

Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim of BARMMa region formed after peace talks with secessionist Moro Islamic rebelshas called on the public to protect the gains of the peace process.

Let us continue to support the current administration and allow peace and civility to reign over the affairs of our land, Ebrahim said.

Ano emphasized on Sunday that the government will do everything to prevent any attempt to break the country apart, as many Cabinet and Mindanao leaders have already rejected the call made by Duterte to separate the southern region through a peoples initiative campaign.

The National Government will not hesitate to use its authority and forces to quell and stop any and all attempts to dismember the Republic, said Ano, who also heads the National Security Council.

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Any attempt to secede any part of the Philippines will be met by the government with resolute force, as it remains steadfast in securing the sovereignty and integrity of the national territory, added the NSC chief, who served as the Interior secretary and Armed Forces chief of staff during the Duterte administration.

He urged the public to remain vigilant against those who would attempt to sow discord, which, he added, would undermine the countrys hard-won gains in pursuing peace and development, particularly in Mindanao.

The strength of our country lies in our unity and any attempt to sow division must be rejected by all sectors unequivocally. It is imperative for all Filipinos to uphold the principles enshrined in our Constitution which espouses the unity and territorial integrity of our nation, Ano said.

Similarly, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier urged Filipinos to reject any movement calling for an independent Mindanao.

Like Ano, Galvez was also an AFP chief of staff during Dutertes presidency.

Governors Yshmael Sali of Tawi-Tawi, Hajiman Hatama-Salliman of Basilan, Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. of Lanao del Sur, and Abdul Raof Macacua of Maguindanao del Norte emphasized that the Bangsamoro people are resolved not to regress but to forge ahead together as one indomitable force.

The governors of Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao del Sur likewise rejected secession calls.

Mindanaos concerns should be resolved without pursuing secession It would disrupt the interconnected productivity of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao that has long sustained our national stability, Sultan Kudarat Gov. Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu said.

Preserving peace, heritage, and progress in Mindanao compels the Philippines to remain united, he added.

For her part, Maguindanao del Sur Gov. Bai Mariam Mangudadatu pointed out that secession will not address the concerns of residents of Mindanao.

It denies our people the rights embodied by the Constitution, including the destruction of our territorial integrity compromising our efforts to build a stronger nation, Mangudadatu said.

We are for one and united Philippines, she added.

Meanwhile, the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines on Sunday underscored the importance of maintaining the integrity of the Philippines national territory while recognizing and celebrating diverse local and regional identities.

We believe that the entire nation, including Mindanao, with its abundant resources and untapped potential, can flourish through cooperative and collective efforts, ULAP said in a statement.

Camiguin Governor Xavier Jesus Romualdo and Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo also opposed the proposal for Mindanao to separate from the rest of the Philippines.

The Romualdos said the proposal and subsequent actions by Duterte and Davao Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez are seditious insofar as it calls for the separation of Mindanao from the Philippine Republic in violation of the 1987 Constitution.

The Charter explicitly protects the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Philippines, prohibiting any form of secession or division, the statement said.
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The National Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Saturday said United Nations Special Rapporteur Irene Khans visit to the country is counterproductive to the governments anti-terrorism and peace initiatives.

We strongly reject UNSR Irene Khans call for the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC. We take offense in her pronouncements against the Philippine government and the NTF-ELCAC, NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres said.

The official also said Khans visit to the Philippines is counterproductive. We felt betrayed. She blindsided the Filipino people, Torres said.

Torres remarks came following a day after Khan called for the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC, citing the initiative as outdated.

Despite Khans engagements with various government agencies to understand freedom of expression and opinion issues in the country, Torres lamented her failure to comprehend the established and institutionalized mechanisms for anti-terrorism and peace efforts.

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The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) aimed to showcase to Khan the governments achievements in press freedom and human rights during Khan 10-day visit.

However, Torres said Khans visit and subsequent actions hindered rather than facilitated ongoing efforts to address local armed conflict in the Philippines.

Torres accused Khan of coming with an agenda to undermine and demolish the NTF-ELCAC without understanding its essence.

He criticized her obvious partiality, stating that the government was hijacked because Khan allowed herself to be used by those wanting the government and the NTF-ELCAC to fail.

The NTF-ELCAC is, and will always be relevant. This is something that Khan failed to comprehend, Torres emphasized.

On Friday, the National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said that the NTF-ELCAC would be open to reforms.

NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Joel Egco meanwhile said the NTF-ELCAC may reorganize when New Peoples Army guerrilla fronts are dismantled, NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Joel Egco said.

Egco, in a radio interview, rejected the recommendation by UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan to abolish the agency.

There is already a shift to a Task Force on Unity, Peace and Development, so that will really evolve. This is a task force. Once the mission gets accomplished, you either end it or transform it into another entity. Those were the options that were explained to her, Egco said.

The official also said the task force is disappointed with Khans recommendation, but the task force respects her recommendations.

In a meeting NTF-ELCAC officials earlier, Khan pointed out the continuing red-tagging, adding that the groups usefulness is outdated.

They seem to believe that the problem is still there although their own statement shows that it has gone down tremendously, the whole threat of communism, insurgency has gone down tremendously, and they boast about this as their success, Khan said in a press conference on Friday.

Last year, UN Special Rapporteur Ian Fry also recommended disbanding NTF-ELCAC for alleged red-tagging activities against groups or individuals critical of the government.

Groups are meanwhile calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to respond to Khans recommendation to abolish the NTF-ELCAC.

According to Raymund Villanueva of AlterMidya, President Marcos should personally address the recommendations, rather than allowing other government officials to speak on his behalf.

Villanueva, quoted by GMA News, said: The president as chief executive must not let people like [Jonathan] Malaya, [Eduardo] Ano, and others like them to speak for his policies and his government.

Another group, the Concerned Artists of the Philippines, represented by Lisa Ito, also encouraged the President to consider the special rapporteurs recommendations.

The best way of engaging is to act in the recommendations of the special rapporteur. [Former president Rodrigo] Duterte was quite offensive and loud but in the other hand the total or polar opposite na spineless and silent, that is not a good thing either, said Ito.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano previously expressed disagreement with the abolition of NTF-ELCAC.

We respectfully disagree with UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khans recommendation made this morning to abolish the NTF-ELCAC, Ano said in a statement.
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Senator Imee Marcos on Saturday scored United Nations Special Rapporteur Irene Khan for meddling in Philippine affairs by calling for the dismantling of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Meanwhile, NTF-ELCAC chief Ernesto Torres Jr. asserted that the task force remains relevant in the on-going peace efforts of the government.

After a mere 10 days in the Philippines, during which she never visited the NTF barangays but only met a chosen few witnesses, she has the knowledge and the right to tell the Philippine government what to do? GMA News quoted Marcos as saying.

Not only are these foreigners meddlesome and out of their depth, she has also threatened that the Philippines ambitious plan to lead the UN Commission on the Status of Women and obtain a seat on the UN Security Council depends on conforming with her findings. Why exactly did we invite her anyway? the senator added.

During here exit press conference in Mandaluyong City on Feb. 2, Khan recommended the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC, saying its bases for creation were outdated.

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It does not take into account the ongoing prospects for peace negotiations. I, therefore, recommend that the task force should be abolished, Khan said at a press conference on Thursday in Mandaluyong City.

Marcos also said Khans proposal was hardly surprising, given her long-standing Amnesty International bias.

To Marcos, dismantling the NTF-ELCAC would be counter-productive, even dangerous as thousands of rebels have peacefully returned to the fold of the law.

According to her, the government has practically won against the communist insurgency, with only about 1,800 rebels left as reported by the military and the police.

She underscored that it was important not only to retain the NTF-ELCAC, but also to strengthen its mandate to pursue the peaceful rehabilitation of rebel returnees.

Torres lamented that the NTF-ELCAC felt betrayed by Khans recommendation, saying she failed to recognized the governments established and institutionalized mechanisms for anti-terrorism and peace efforts.

We strongly reject UNSR Irene Khans call for the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC. We take offense in her pronouncements against the Philippine government and the NTF-ELCAC, Torres said in a statement.

During her 10-day intensive visit to the country, Khan met with multiple stakeholders and government officials, including those from the NTF-ELCAC.

Torres argued that the NTF-ELCAC remains as the single most relevant task force in the Philippines in addressing the local communist armed conflict.

We will not allow any outsider to dictate us how to fight our wars and to dictate upon us the means to win the peace for our people. We have managed to succeed in our fight against insurgency and terrorism as a nation and as a people, he said.

This is something that cannot be hijacked nor be undermined by anyone. The NTF-ELCAC will continue to work for peace, unity, and development within the framework of justice and the rule of law, Torres stressed.
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The Taiwan Tourism Administration has held the second day of its Taiwan Tourism Workshop at Seda Manila Bay, Paranaque City.

The two-day workshop in Clark City and Manila is part of the countrys efforts to boost its tourism industry.

We see a great potential in the Philippine tourism market, said Wallace Minn-Gaw Chow, the deputy representative of the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines, during the event.

Marketing Manager Rick Yu presents the Panahon sa Taiwan campaign

Chow noted that it had been a year since the country opened its borders to international travelers, with its Filipino visitors reaching an increase of nearly 550 percent from the numbers seen in 2022.

This not only proves the robust tourism recovery in [the] post-pandemic era but also shows that Taiwan is an attractive destination for Filipino friends, said Chow.

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According to Marketing Manager Rick Yu, Taiwan received over 300,000 Filipino tourists in 2023 and the country is set to grow the numbers further through the Panahon sa Taiwan campaign.

Several booths at the travel mart feature product offerings from Taiwan

In his presentation during the event, Yu explained that the visa-free initiative introduced on Nov. 1, 2017 will continue until July 31, 2024 and will be reviewed by the Taiwanese government regarding its further extension. The initiative notably allowed eligible Filipinos to travel to Taiwan completely visa-free for a period of 14 days.

Yu further said that incentives were being given to travel agencies who will be handling multiple group tours, which will be valid from May 2023 to June 2025. Transit or transfer passengers who have 7 to 24-hour layovers before their next connecting flight will also be given a chance to avail of a free half-day tour in Taiwan.

The event also featured a travel mart which had booths showcasing different products and services from the different Taiwanese firms.

Attendees visit the booths to know about the products and services of Taiwanese firms

The travel mart was followed by a welcome speech from the Taiwan Tourism Administration Bangkok Office Director Yi-Ting Chen. In her speech, she unveiled the plans for a Taiwan Tourism Information Center (TTIC) in Manila within the second half of 2024, which will have a team that will coordinate and assist local travel agencies regarding tourism plans in the country.

Sarah Chen, the division chief of Taiwan Tourism Administration, also gave her remarks at the event where she stated that the country was aiming to receive 700,000 Filipino travelers this year.

The event also featured two performances from Fun to Art, a Taiwanese dance group.

The first day of the workshop was held at the SMX Convention Center Clark in Pampanga on Jan. 31.
The Support Group for Moroccos Territorial Integrity in Geneva hailed the strong development momentum underway in the Kingdoms southern provinces.

In statements to the press following their talks Friday in Rabat with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, the Groups delegation welcomed the economic development in the southern provinces under the far-sighted leadership of King Mohammed VI.

In this regard, Comoros Ambassador Permanent Representative in Geneva, Sultan Chouzour, said that he had the great chance to witness first-hand the great progress made in such a short time in these regions, reiterating the Groups support for Moroccos sovereignty over its Sahara.

He also highlighted the royal commitment to improving the living standards of the inhabitants of the southern provinces, as well as the kingdoms will to establish itself as a bridge between the North and the South.

For his part, Bahrains Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office, Hasan Moosa Ghulam Shafaei, recalled that a delegation of ambassadors accredited to the United Nations in Geneva visited the southern cities of Dakhla and Laayoune, and held meetings with local officials, representatives of civil society, human rights organizations and citizens.

This visit allowed us to witness first-hand the significant progress in the southern provinces, thanks to the extraordinary efforts and the ambitious development projects in the region, he pointed out.

Gambias Ambassador Permanent Representative in Geneva, Muhammadou M.O.Kah, underlined that the ongoing progress in the southern provinces testifies to the foresight of the vision of King Mohammed VI for the development of this part of the Moroccan territory.

The kingdoms southern region is no different from other regions of Morocco, he stressed, adding that it is a region experiencing significant development and enjoying stability and high living standards that meet the aspirations of citizens.

Moroccos southern provinces are also a gateway to the African continent, he pointed out, noting that this region is predestined for a very promising future.
With the prospect of Donald Trump returning to the White House in November, African policy makers should brace themselves for the possibly stricter migration policies and the return for a purely transactional relationship that would mean less cooperation with the continent, according to experts.

Opinion polls indicate and political pundits concur that former US President Donald Trump has a real chance of winning back the White House after he has emerged as the Republican front-runner for Novembers 2024 US presidential election.

Africa should be concerned about the possible return of Donald Trump to the presidency, says Etse Sikanku, a senior lecturer at Accras University of Media, Arts and Communication. Above all, because of the fundamental ideology at the heart of Donald Trumps policies, Sikanku added. Because this is someone who believes in isolationism in every respect. He looks more inwards, in contrast to Biden who is more global and stands more for cooperation and partnership.

If Trump won the next election, we would see a kind of reversion back to that earlier period of US foreign policy under Trump, and that is weakening the global multilateral system, Priyal Singh, an analyst from the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria, echoes the general sentiment among experts and observers. Trumps ascendency to the White House is dispiriting news for Africa, writes David Thomas, an editor in African Business. According to Thomas, Trumps disengagement went beyond tactless comments. While Trump saw Africa as an arena for US competition with China, key diplomatic posts in Africa went unfilled and he failed to visit the continent. His attempts to limit Muslim immigration into the US discriminated against several African nations.
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Those pandemic puppies are growing up to be a public health concern. The latest California data shows increased rates of emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths from dog bites, with new records set after COVID lockdowns.

In 2022, there were 48,596 ER visits for dog bites in California, or 125 visits per 100,000 residents, a 70% increase in the rate of visits from 2005, according to the state Department of Health Care Access and Information.

The rate of hospitalizations roughly doubled from 2006 through 2022. And although deaths from dog bites are extremely rare, the death rate in California rose about 70% during roughly the same period, with 28 deaths in the state from 2018 through 2022.

Nationally, dog bites were the underlying cause of 96 deaths in 2022, while the death rate more than doubled from 2005 to 2022, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Even before the pandemic, more Americans were welcoming dogs into their homes. The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that households nationwide owned about 86 million dogs in 2020, up from about 62 million in 2001. The pandemic accelerated that trend as millions more people adopted puppies to provide companionship during a period of isolation.

But lockdowns kept puppies from being socialized, said Elizabeth Stelow, chief of the Behavior Service at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. For healthy development, she said, puppies need to learn acceptable behavior between their first three weeks and 16 weeks of life.

"You're supposed to socialize that puppy to new kinds of people, new kinds of animals, new kinds of places, new kinds of everything," Stelow said. "Nobody was able to do that. So we're seeing the effects of that all the time right now."

As poorly socialized puppies turn into adults, their bites can do more harm. From 2021 to 2022, the number of ER visits in California for dog bites grew 12%, marking the highest yearly total to date. Though a recent study did not show a nationwide increase in the rate of ER visits for dog bites from 2005 through 2018, several national studies did show a rise in the proportion of ER visits due to dog bites during the pandemic.

Another potential explanation is the popularity of breeds some people say are aggressive. Kenneth Phillips, one of the nation's most prominent lawyers specializing in dog bite litigation, pinned much of the blame on pit bulls, which have become one of the most popular breeds in America. "Every study always comes up with the same conclusions, which is that this is the dog that does the most damage," he said.

Some studies show pit bull bites are often associated with serious injury, while other studies assert that they are not a disproportionate threat. Stelow said a socialized and trained pit bull is not more dangerous than dogs of other breeds.

"Why is the No. 1 dog demographic for dog bites pit bulls? Because they're a huge percentage of the canine population in California," she said.

Phillips said animal shelters are increasingly under pressure to euthanize fewer dogs, meaning people wind up adopting more aggressive dogs without knowing it. The number of "no-kill" animal shelters has increased sharply in the last several years, according to Best Friends Animal Society. However, even no-kill shelters may euthanize aggressive dogs that cannot safely be adopted.

A 2019 California law requires animal shelters and rescue groups to disclose a dog's bite history to anyone adopting it.

A few years ago, a German shepherd was sitting next to a garage as Sacramento, California, postal worker Jacob Studer approached the driveway to make a delivery. The dog crept toward Studer as its owner called the dog. Studer said the dog attacked when he began to pull up his mail bag.

"The dog jumped up, grabbed my arm, bit my arm, and then pretty much ripped my sleeve up and knocked me to the ground," he said. "I fell backwards and did almost like a little somersault."

Studer was not seriously injured and didn't go to the hospital. However, he said the dog's owner decided not to keep it.

State figures and a recent study by public health researchers show that, in California, children and young adults are the age groups most likely to make ER visits for dog bites. Nationwide, children under five were more than twice as likely to die from dog bites as members of other age groups, according to CDC data from 2018 to 2022.

Randall T. Loder, professor emeritus of orthopedic surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine, said the most serious injuries from dog bites often involve the head and neck, making little children especially vulnerable.

"Younger people, they don't understand the risks of a dog," said Loder, who authored a recent study of tens of thousands of dog bite injuries. "They're vulnerable."

His study estimated the annual health care cost of treating dog bites is at least $400 million nationwide. Dog bites can lead to infections or transmit serious diseases like rabies.

In California, serious dog bite injuries are more common in rural areas. The rate of ER encounters for dog bites in 2022 was almost 50% higher in counties with fewer than 200,000 people. Modoc, Inyo, Lake, and Siskiyou counties had the highest rates of ER encounters.

Stelow said dogs in rural areas are often not as socialized as their urban cousins. Rural residents also tend to have more dogs.

Stelow said owners of aggressive dogs should reach out early to a veterinarian, particularly one specializing in animal behavior. She said owners should learn to recognize anxiety in dogs and understand their body language. For instance, dogs that are frightened may attempt to flee, fight, fret and fidget, or freeze.

"For the dogs that are already in that situation where they are biting people," Stelow said, "they need to come see someone who can work with the emotional damage that's been done and try to correct it."

2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Even today, in a world increasingly powered by renewable energy and clean technologies, air pollution poses a real risk to human health. In the UK alone, it is estimated to be responsible for 28,000 to 36,000 deaths every year, and can vastly increase the risk of developing many lung and heart-related diseases, such as asthma or lung cancer.

Polluted air forms a complex mixture that changes depending on where the pollution is coming from, and what the local weather is doing at the time. People in towns and cities are more at risk since they live closer to most cars, factories and other sources of emissions.

Although there are many different types of pollutants within the air we breathe, two in particular are detrimental to our health: the gas nitrogen dioxide (NO) and particulate matter (specifically, PM 2.5 ), formed of floating, microscopic solid or liquid particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (for reference, a human hair is about 70 micrometers in diameter).

In 2017, a report found that all areas of London exceeded World Health Organization recommended levels for PM., with many areas being more than double the recommended levels. Scenarios like these have allowed researchers to investigate the dangers of breathing in really polluted air.

One study found that, across the world, 86% of people who live in urban areas are exposed to PM. at levels higher than even the World Health Organization's more lenient 2005 guidelines, resulting in 1.8 million excess deaths in 2019. Another found NO to be responsible for 1.85 million cases of childhood asthma worldwide in 2019.

These figures come from studies on large populations of people, which take public health data and compare it to pollution data to look for correlations between pollution and disease. These are known as epidemiological studies. Although these studies can provide great insight into the risks associated with air pollution exposure, they do have their limitations.

For example, NO 2 and PM 2.5 are emitted from the same sources, so you'd expect that when levels of one pollutant are high, levels of the other are high too. Therefore, without some very complicated math, it's sometimes hard to use epidemiological data to fully tease out the health effects of one pollutant compared to another.

For this reason, research needs to take place in a more controlled environment. This can be achieved in a laboratory setting either by using invasive animal testing strategies, or by implementing cell-based systems of human cells that represent the organ in a dish.

Lungs in a lab

In our lab at Swansea University Medical School, we are trying to replicate the layer of cells known as the alveolar epithelium, which lines the deepest part of your lungs where oxygen enters your bloodstream and carbon dioxide leaves as you breathe in and out. This means it's also a key area that air pollution can target and damage. We therefore want to understand how pollution affects this specific and very delicate body part.

The alveolar epithelium is made up of several different types of cells, each with a specific job. Some allow movement of gases into and out of the blood, some produce surfactant (a biological fluid that maintains the structure of the lower lung as one breathes in and out) and some help remove inhaled microbes and particles.

By mixing all these cells together at specific ratios, we can produce single layers of cells that look very much like the alveolar epithelium of healthy humans. Then, once we've grown these anatomically relevant alveolar models, we can expose them to various pollutants to investigate what effect they may have.

We use "standardized" urban or indoor dust particles, which allows us to compare results with those from other labs who might also be using these particles (although realistic particles taken straight from the air around us are also sometimes used). We then put them in an aerosol cloud that deposits the particles onto the cells in a way that mimics the inhalation of particles in real life.

We've also devised a state-of-the-art NO 2 chamber that we can put the cells into. This allows us to see what happens to the cells when grown in differing NO 2 concentrations.

By investigating the effects of NO 2 and PM 2.5 separately, we can fill in the gaps left by epidemiological studies to find out how individually hazardous each particle isand whether being exposed to both at once is worse than being exposed separately.

Initially, we are finding that NO 2 and PM may work in tandem to damage important cells within the lower lung.

Our results will hopefully improve our knowledge of how air pollution may damage the important cell types within the human (lower) lung, contributing to the onset or exacerbation of disease. Such findings would contribute to the human health assessment of exposure to air pollution, helping to develop future, relevant guidelines.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
WASHINGTON  The United Nations climate summit in Dubai was wrapping up last month when John Kerry went to a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua only to find a surprise waiting for him. Xies 8-year-old grandson had brought Kerry a card for his 80th birthday.

The lanky American, who had signed the landmark Paris climate accord with his own granddaughter on his knee almost a decade earlier, bent down to thank the boy and praise his grandfather, according to someone who described the private encounter on the condition of anonymity.

Just how overheated a planet those two grandchildren half a world apart will inherit has hinged in part on the unusually warm bond between Kerry and Xie, whose relationship for the past decade and a half helped forge the globes stutter-step progress in curbing climate change. Xie, 74, retired in December, and Kerry recently announced that hes stepping down soon.

It was a partnership that defined one generations hopes of saving a future one.

At a glance, the two men make an odd pairing. Xie is balding and bespectacled, with a face as round as Kerrys is narrow and angular. Xie got his start in the Chinese countryside during Mao Zedongs Cultural Revolution before climbing the ranks of the Communist Party in environmental and economic agencies. Kerry is a son of New England privilege and boarding schools who fought in the Vietnam War and later protested against it. He became a politician and a diplomat, marrying into fabulous wealth along the way.

But over the years, Kerry and Xie forged a remarkable level of trust and respect in the world of international climate negotiations. The result was a series of bilateral and multilateral agreements despite rising tensions between the U.S. and China that have even raised fears of war.

Christiana Figueres, a former United Nations climate chief who oversaw the Paris agreement in 2015, said she struggled to think of any parallel in recent history for the rapport between Kerry and Xie in terms of length and impact. She said they trusted each other, trusted each others sincerity, trusted each others attempts, each others promises."

Before the Paris deal, Earth was on a trajectory for about 6.3 degrees Fahrenheit of warming over pre-industrial levels, scientists projected. Now Climate Action Tracker projects warming of 3.8 degrees Fahrenheit  if world leaders follow through on their promises, that is.

However, even that level of warming may be catastrophic, and the departures of Kerry and Xie are reshuffling climate diplomacy at a moment when scientists warn that the move toward clean energy is still happening too slowly. Xies successor has been named, but its unclear what will happen with Kerrys position.

Collaboration between the U.S. and China was critical leading up to the Paris summit, when Kerry was secretary of state and Todd Stern was the top U.S. negotiator.

Xie represented China during climate talks, and Stern found him to be a tough yet amenable interlocutor.

He laughs, he finds things funny, he jokes back at you, Stern said. He also gets mad and indignant and all of that.

In 2014, President Barack Obama traveled to Beijing to announce a surprise bilateral agreement with President Xi Jinping. The U.S. set a more ambitious target for reducing emissions by 2025, while China promised to peak emissions by 2030.

The importance of the deal became evident one month later. International negotiators were in Lima, Peru, to lay the groundwork for Paris, but they kept getting stuck. Figueres said Xie came to her office at 3 a.m. and asked, can we talk?

Xie urged Figueres to use the earlier agreement between the U.S. and China to help break the gridlock. She spent the next two hours shuttling between the two countries delegations until a deal was reached.

The next year, the Paris summit produced a milestone agreement by obligating all countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It was the relationship with China, Kerry said afterward, that helped change the paradigm.

But Donald Trump was elected president in 2016, and he promptly withdrew the U.S. from the Paris agreement after taking office. Kerry and Xie stepped away from government service.

When Joe Biden defeated Trump in 2020, he asked Kerry to serve as special envoy for climate negotiations. China responded by calling Xie out of retirement, which was viewed as a clear signal that Beijing was ready to work together again.

Even with Trump gone, tensions remained. Biden described China as a top foreign policy challenge, and disputes piled up over intellectual property, maritime access in the South China Sea and the future of Taiwan.

They obviously didnt agree a lot of the time, said John Podesta, a climate policy veteran who works in the White House. You could only take a personal relationship so far.

However, Podesta said, having that level of trust and dialogue was important.

Their work culminated in November, when Kerry and Xie met at the Sunnylands resort in California. China agreed to include methane, a particularly potent greenhouse gas, as part of its emissions target.

The next month was their final U.N. summit in Dubai, which ended with a global agreement to transition away from fossil fuels. When the negotiations were over, Kerry and Xie held a joint news conference.

Mentioning his grandson, Xie said he hoped this cause will be carried forward, generation after generation.

It was the last public moment for the two grandfathers together.

How climate change may impact your auto insurance How climate change may impact your auto insurance
Theres only so much we can learn about the structure of the Milky Way from our vantage point inside of it, so astronomers must study other galaxies to better understand our own.

As part of that effort, researchers from the University of Arizona and elsewhere have released hundreds of new images from 19 similar spiral galaxies, captured in unprecedented detail by NASAs James Webb Space Telescope.

The images reveal never-before-seen structures and tantalizing clues about how such galaxies form.

These same galaxies have been studied previously by other telescopes on the ground and in space, but Webbs powerful infrared cameras can peer through the dust to see what lurks between the stars.

"If you compare that with, for example, the Hubble (Space Telescope) image that we have for the same galaxy, you'll see that they don't look exactly the same, said Jimena Rodriguez, a postdoctoral fellow at the U of A's Steward Observatory. In a way, you could say we are seeing the skeleton of the galaxy, with all the structure of gas and filaments that we missed before."

Webb shows that interstellar gas and dust as glowing wisps of red and orange, dotted in places by the bright red seeds of still forming stars.

The images were collected as part of a long-running collaboration known as the Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby Galaxies program  or PHANGS for short  which includes more than 150 astronomers worldwide.

By releasing the data from Webb to the astronomy community at large, researchers hope to spur new discoveries about galactic structure and behavior.

"In spite of the fact that we are such a large collaboration, I feel there is so much more science here than we can do," Rodriguez said in a news release from the university. "It is important to open it up to others, so the entire community can explore the current thinking about what we think goes into building a galaxy. It advances our field and astronomy as a whole."

The newly released trove includes 481 images from spiral galaxies located between 50 million to 65 million light-years from Earth and conveniently positioned with their flat disks facing our way. All of the images can be viewed and downloaded at webbtelescope.org/images.

The 19 galaxies were observed with Webb's primary Near-Infrared Camera and the telescopes Mid-Infrared Instrument, two advanced scientific tools developed in large part by a married pair of U of A Regents Professors, George and Marcia Rieke.

Among the previously unseen details teased out by the worlds most powerful space telescope are large, spherical shells carved out of the gas and dust here and there. Astronomers think those holes could have been created by exploding stars.
The American Canyon Community & Parks Foundation hosts educational programming on Saturday, Feb. 10, in anticipation of the return of the California king tides, a tidal phenomenon that causes unusually high water levels along the Napa River.

ACCPF and the Sierra Club Napa Group will host Discovery Days: King Tides, a free community nature exploration workshop, at the Outdoor Connection Trailside Learning Center at American Canyon Wetlands Trail, 2 Eucalyptus Drive, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Residents interested in learning more about these tidal patterns are invited to participate in hands-on water sciences activities, as well as a guided observation walk along the shores of the American Canyon wetlands and a presentation by the Sierra Club Napa Group about how king tides prepare communities for anticipated sea level rise.

Discovery Days workshops are appropriate for all ages. Participants are encouraged to dress in layers and bring a camera or cellphone to record their observations for uploading to the California Coastal Commissions King Tides Project website.

For more information about Discovery Days, visit acparks.org.

How sea levels in 40 cities will change by 2050 How sea levels in 40 cities will change by 2050 Anchorage, Alaska Annapolis, Maryland Astoria, Oregon Atlantic City, New Jersey Bar Harbor, Maine Bay St. Louis, Mississippi Boston Bridgeport, Connecticut Charleston, Cooper River Entrance, South Carolina Corpus Christi, Texas Dauphin Island, Alabama Fernandina Beach, Florida Freeport, Texas Galveston Pleasure Pier, Texas Grand Isle, Louisiana Honolulu Juneau, Alaska Key West, Florida Lewes, Delaware Los Angeles Monterey, California Nantucket Island, Massachusetts New York City Newport, Rhode Island Pensacola, Florida Philadelphia Port Angeles, Washington Port Orford, Oregon Portland, Maine Providence, Rhode Island San Diego San Francisco Santa Barbara, California Santa Monica, California Seattle St. Petersburg, Tampa Bay, Florida Unalaska, Alaska Washington D.C. Wilmington, North Carolina
Dimapur: The Khiamniungan Tribal Council (KTC) in Nagaland said scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and border fencing at the India-Myanmar border is unacceptable.

The council said it will be compelled to counter if the government of India jeopardizes the oneness of the Khiamniungan people by scrapping the FMR and fencing the border.

In a release, the KTC sought to point out that there are 46 Khiamniungan Naga villages in India, and more than 182 of their villages are under Myanmar.

Saying that there are instances of people holding land on both sides of the border, it said: This imposition is going to impact our daily activities. It added that the people who are predominantly dependent on agriculture will lose major parts of their traditionally owned jhum land and fields if the zero line becomes a reality.

Also Read: Assam: 2 US nationals questioned, fined for alleged religious activity

The council said the arbitrary imaginary line that demarcated our soil from BP139 Thongsonyu to BP146 ITC (DAN) Pangsha was neither consented to nor accepted by the Khiamniungan people.

The oneness, peaceful coexistence and mutual respect for social, and cultural ties and brotherhood of the people living in Khiamniungan land in the two countries of India and Myanmar for generations should not be jeopardized by the restriction of the free movement and erection of fencing, it stressed.

Also Read: Mango diplomacy: Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina sends mango to Assam CM

Further, it said the Khiamniungans are living under one flag, motto and emblem irrespective of the artificial Indo-Myanmar border and never lived as a divided tribe since time immemorial.

Appealing to the government of India not to make a comparison with the Manipur issue, the KTC said the Khiamniungan people are a peace-loving tribe living on both sides of the border and are safeguarding the region from anti-social elements. It added that the pretence of controlling the smuggling of illegal substances is unjustifiable.

The KTC urged the governments at the Centre and in Nagaland to expedite the infrastructure and developmental programmes at the designated ITC Dan at Pangsha in the Noklak district of Nagaland and realise the Act East Policy of bringing the people from both sides of the border together for peace and development instead of dividing the Naga citizens.
The January 7 parliamentary election in Bangladesh was not only significant for the country but also for several foreign nations, including neighbouring India. The international observers of Bangladeshs political unrest leading up to the election expressed deep concern over the countrys fragile democracy. The foreign media has termed the election controversial with a low voter turnout. The ruling Awami League (AL) and its allies won 222 out of 300 Jatiya Sangsad seats. In the opinion of the Western media, the AL won a disputed landslide victory in an election that was boycotted by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina secured a fourth consecutive term in power and has become the worlds longest-serving female head of government. In the eyes of several Western countries, Bangladesh has turned into a virtual one-party state with the AL winning 75% of the parliamentary seats. The low voter turnout with 40% participation has raised many eyebrows particularly as more than 80% turnout was recorded in the 2018 general election. The unofficial sources, however, estimate that the actual turnout was around 28%. The Election Commissioner of Bangladesh Kazi Habibul Awal also noted that the election lacked competiveness as the major opposition party did not take part in it.

The 12th parliamentary poll in Bangladesh was a highly watched election in South Asia. Several international bodies, including United Nations Organisation (UNO) and Western countries said the poll process had numerous irregularities and was not inclusive. Therefore, many questions have been raised over the election process and result. The UNO flagged concern over the arbitrary detention of opposition leaders and activists and urged the Hasina government to renew its commitment towards democracy. Reports say the UN Secretary Generals office too closely monitored the election. On January 8, the UN Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk condemned the violence and repression during the contentious election in Bangladesh, adding that such tactics are not conducive to truly genuine process and the future of Bangladesh is at stake.

Moreover, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association called the election climate in Bangladesh repressive and disturbing. Reports suggest that the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) also conveyed serious concern over the political turbulence ahead of the election. The ANFREL raised pertinent questions about its adherence to democratic principles and international election standards that assess the legitimacy of the electoral process. The Bangladesh Election Commission permitted 127 foreign observers, including 73 journalists to monitor and cover the election.

While most of the Western countries did not send poll observers, India deputed three senior officials from the countrys Election Commission and China sent three officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Russia was represented by four election observers. Though the United States (US) government did not engage any poll observer, representatives of two American think tanksthe International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute-sent one each observer who kept a close watch on pre- and post-poll violence. Interestingly, they said the election was free and fair.

The US government voiced concern over the political violence that took place before the election and highlighted the non-participation of the opposition. Reports suggest that the EU sent a four-member technical team to monitor the election and they were not at all impressed with the way it was conducted even though their findings were not reflected in the official statement. Three key countries, namely, India, China and Russia congratulated Prime Minister Hasina on her electoral victory. A US-based expert on South Asia noted that the non-Western countries appear to be happy working with the AL government. All South Asian neighbours except Pakistan and other developing countries are also likely to follow suit. They are not concerned with the election and how it turned out.

India, China and Russia wanted Hasina to return to power through a free and fair election. India remained silent over the one-sided election insisting that it was a domestic issue of Bangladesh. This encouraged China to adopt a similar approach. However, the US, EU and other Western countries had been exerting pressure on the Hasina government to hold a free, fair and inclusive election. The US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas in late October 2023 called upon the Hasina regime to negotiate with the opposition and make some concessions to pave the way for fair and peaceful election to restore Bangladeshs fledgling democracy.

As per reports, the US ambassador also met Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and said to have informed him of likely tough measures, including a range of sanctions for failing to organise a fair and violence-free and participatory election. Prime Minister Hasina, however, completely ruled out the question of a dialogue over the conduct of polls and slammed the Islamist opposition and their global patrons. The AL leaders described the move as increasing interference in Bangladeshs domestic affairs. Hasina categorically said that the caretaker system was abolished by the parliament in 2011 due to its misuse during 2007-08, and there is no possibility of restoring the same.

The January 7 election was viewed as a litmus paper test for democracy in Bangladesh. The Indian media highlighted that the US State Departments assertion of a free and fair election was more pronounced this time. The US said in May 2023 that it would impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi officials who undermine the democratic election process in the country. Geo-political rivalries have undoubtedly added a new twist to Bangladeshs volatile politics with Russia and the US engaged in bitter war of words after Moscow accused Washington of plotting an Arab-Spring like post-election mass movement to overthrow the Hasina government.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during his Dhaka visit said that the US goal is clearly both to counter China and to isolate Russia in the region. Russia has been assisting Bangladesh to build its first nuclear power plant. In December 2023, Russia made strong remarks against the US, especially targeting its ambassador to Dhaka for trying to meddle in Bangladeshs election.

The political turmoil in Bangladesh ahead of the election attracted global attention. The major opposition BNP not only boycotted the January 7 election but also tried to enforce a non-cooperation movement, urging the electorate to abstain from voting. In late October 2023, the AL government cracked down on the BNP imprisoning about 20,000 of its activists and 11 of them were killed by the security forces during violent street protests, raising concerns over a credible election in Bangladesh.

A New York Times report said about 1 million BNP activists are facing court cases. The AL government justified the crackdown by asserting that the opposition activists had gone violent, indulging in the burning of public transport and hurling crude bombs at police and officials. However, Human Rights Watch called the governments response to the opposition an autocratic crackdown before the election.
15:56

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday claimed that those in power after Independence could not understand the significance of places of worship and set a trend of being ashamed of their own culture for political reasons.





Addressing a massive rally in Guwahati after unveiling projects worth Rs 11,600 crore, Modi said that no country can progress by erasing its past.





On the Kamakhya temple corridor project, to be developed by the Centre at a cost of Rs 498 crore, he said a huge number of devotees will come to visit the 'Shakti Peeth' once it is ready and it will boost the tourism sector of the entire Northeast.





"It will become the gateway to the Northeast. Despite thousands of years of challenges, these are the symbols of our culture and how we have kept ourselves conserved. Many of these symbols, which are part of our strong culture, have become ruins nowadays," Modi said.





The 'Kamakhya Divyalok Pariyojana' will ensure a complete turnaround in the pilgrimage experience to the Shakti shrine, he said.





The PM claimed that those who ran the government for a long time after the Independence could not understand the value and significance of such places of belief and neglected them.





"Due to political benefits, they started a trend of becoming ashamed of their own culture and past. No country can develop by forgetting and wiping out its past, and cutting its roots," he stressed.





"However, the situation has changed in the last 10 years," Modi said, adding the BJP-led 'double-engine' government's policy is that of development and protection of heritage.





He cited Assam as an example and said it was a place where beliefs, spirituality and history are connected with modernity.





Modi said that the projects he unveiled will strengthen connectivity not only in the Northeast, but also the rest of South Asia.





"Today, the youth want to see that Assam and Northeast are developed at par with South Asia. Your dream is Modi's resolution. Modi will leave no stone unturned to fulfill your dream. This is Modi's guarantee," he added.





The PM also said that peace has returned to Assam in the last 10 years, and over 7,000 people have put down arms and returned to the mainstream.





"More than 10 major peace accords have been signed. At one point of time, I worked in Assam for the party. I have seen with my eyes incidents like road blockages and bomb blasts in Guwahati. It is a matter of past now," he said.





Modi said that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) has been withdrawn from many areas in the state as well as the region.





"A record number of tourists have visited the Northeast in the past decade. We will launch a new scheme for uplifting historical places and that is why we have focussed on tourism in this year's budget. There is a huge opportunity in Assam and Northeast for that," he said.





The prime minister claimed that expenditure for developmental activities in the region has been ramped up by four times in the last 10 years.





"This was not done earlier even when the prime minister was elected from Assam," Modi said without mentioning former PM Manmohan Singh by name who was a Rajya Sabha member from the state. -- PTI





IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to the crowd as he arrives to lay the foundation stone for multiple projects worth Rs 11,600 crore during a public rally, in Guwahati on Sunday. Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma also seen. Photograph: ANI Photo


American TV personality Michael Sorrentino shared a scary moment when his 2-year-old started choking on his dinner, according to People. The 41-year-old 'Jersey Shore' star posted camera footage from inside his home, showing the moment he saved his 2-year-old son Romeo Reign after the kid began choking on his dinner. Romeo was shown eating his dinner while his parents and an unidentified loved one conversed in the video that was posted to Instagram. According to People, suddenly, Romeo began to choke and someone said, "It's hot. It's too hot?" Sorrentino swiftly but calmly got up to help his son. "What happened? It's just stuck?" someone said, and then they realized Romeo was choking. "Oh, he's choking, he's choking," the person added as Sorrentino attempted to assist his son in removing a piece of gnocchi from his throat In the video, Sorrentino can be seen taking his son away from the table and continuing to pat Romeo on his back until he begins to cough and cry. Sorrentino's wife Lauren then consoled Romeo, hugging him and calmly explaining to the little boy what happened. In the caption of his Instagram post, Sorrentino described what happened as "THE SCARIEST MOMENT OF OUR LIVES!![?]" He clarified the video and informed his supporters that Romeo was "hunched over and wasn't breathing." "I am so proud of how my wife and I didn't panic, didn't hesitate and eventually dislodged the food which was blocking the airway and saved his life." he continued. "I love my family with all my heart and am so grateful things worked out. It's safe to say we are now taking CPR lessons and Romeo won't be having gnocchi anytime soon." https://www.instagram.com/p/C25L81nOifS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Sorrentino and Lauren also have a daughter named Mia Bella, who turned 1 on Jan. 24. In September 2023, the couple announced they were expecting their third baby and in November they shared that their new edition is a girl, reported People. (ANI)
Actor Karan Singh Grover, who plays Squadron Leader Sartaj Gill in Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone's film 'Fighter,' said it was a proud moment for him to wear a uniform and portray the life of an Air Force officer on screen. "First and foremost, the opportunity to wear the uniform is quite honourable; I consider myself very fortunate. Furthermore, through the film's characters, we see how these Air Force pilots give their lives for the country. Indeed, it was a great experience to get the opportunity to live among the officers, wear the uniform, and be around the actual Sukhoi," Grover told ANI. The 'Alone' actor shared how he prepared himself to play the role in the film and added, "It was not an easy decision to be part of the film. This uniform comes with a responsibility. I asked myself if 'I am worthy to play this role and wear this uniform'. I was numb initially." Grover recounted shooting around the Sukhois and said. "I recall how it felt when a Sukhoi took off near me. I experienced a sensation in my body that I will never forget. So everything was memorable." On sharing how it was to work with Deepika and Hrithik, he added, "They are just amazing actors and give their hundred per cent and thus forcing me to give my best for the role." The film, directed by Siddharth Anand also stars Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover and Akshay Oberoi. It marks Hrithik and Deepika's first-ever on-screen collaboration. Speaking about the film, Siddharth said earlier, "Mamta (Siddharth's wife) and I started our film company MARFLIX with #FIGHTER. A film that is ambitious in more ways than one. It's more than just a film for us. And we have given it all to this one. 2024 starts with the same feeling again of nervousness and anxiety. Here's hoping that you guys give the same love to FIGHTER that you showered on PATHAAN. Happy new year guys! See at the movies!!" Talking about Karan, on the work front, he is known for his performances in shows including 'Dill Mill Gayye' and 'Qubool Hai'. He has also starred in films such as 'Alone' and 'Hate Story 3'. (ANI)
Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday said, that Jammu and Kashmir has also become a role model for the rest of India, which was exemplified by the depiction of lavender farms of Bhaderwah town of district Doda, through a tableau on Kartavya Path in the national capital on the occasion of the Republic Day. Singh said the youth of Jammu and Kashmir associated with the Aroma StartUps ecosystem have emerged as brand ambassadors of Purple Revolution across the country. "The Union Minister was speaking after chairing the first-of-its-kind meeting with PRIs, including members from DDCs. The meeting, aimed at fostering connections with society for StartUp promotion in the region, was held at the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, today," as per a Ministry of Science and Technology press release. Describing Jammu and Kashmir's Aroma Mission as a success story, Jitendra Singh called for investing time and efforts to harness the hitherto unexplored or under-explored areas, contending that these areas hold the key to propelling India's economy. Jitendra Singh said agri-startups are fast becoming avenues of self-employment for youth of the Union Territory. "Pitching for more public-private partnerships in agri-startups, Jitendra Singh said the era of silos is over, hence collaboration should be fostered among the two sectors. Underlining the importance of generating awareness about the cultivation of Himalayan resources like lavender, he called upon the DDC members to play their part in this endeavour so that a large number of youth in their areas can join agri-start-ups, earn their livelihoods in a sustainable manner and contribute to India's GDP," the release stated. The Minister also called upon CSIR-IIIM to conduct research and find out which new crops are feasible for cultivation based on the topography of different regions of Jammu and Kashmir. "Jitendra Singh stressed that more and more people need to be engaged in the agri-startup ecosystem. The Minister informed that in the last ten years under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the number of start-ups in the country has crossed the one-and-a-half lakh mark," the release stated. Singh further informed that India's bio-economy is currently valued at over 140 billion from 10 billion a decade ago. "The Minister expressed happiness at India being known as a leader in preventive healthcare in the world, thanks to its much-recognized vaccine programme, which helped save lakhs of lives across the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic," as per the release. In the space sector, Jitendra Singh informed that investments worth more than one thousand crore rupees has come in the area in just eight months last year. "Singh said the government has set a target of attracting more than 40 billion dollars investment by 2040 in space. But India is expected to exceed the target, according to the recent ADL (Arthur D Little) Report, which said the country is projected to reach 100 billion dollars by 2040," the release stated. Jitendra Singh said India has notched up the number of space sector startups since Prime Minister Modi undertook reforms in this sector. (ANI)
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the country's highest civilian award--Bharat Ratna--would be conferred on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalwart Lal Krishna Advani, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday recalled two separate incidents involving the two leaders of the BJP and said that LK Advani referred to PM Modi as a brilliant event manager in 2014. "Back in 2002 (at the time of the Godhra incident), the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee reminded Narendra Modi, the then Gujarat Chief Minister of 'Raj Dharma'. He was about to remove him from the post of CM, but at that time, it was Lal Krishna Advani who stood by him," Ramesh said while addressing the media. "Fast forward to 2014. On April 5, 2014, when Narendra Modi was going to file his nomination in Gandhinagar, LK Advaniji delivered a statement that is very popular nowadays. It will be written in golden letters in the history of India. What he said is that Narendra Modi is not his disciple; rather, he is a brilliant event manager," he said. On being conferred with the Bharat Ratna, the veteran BJP leader said that the Bharat Ratna is not only an honour for him but also for the ideals and principles he strove for in his life to the best of his abilities. In a statement, LK Advani said he accepts the 'Bharat Ratna' with utmost humility. LK Advani said he has been inspired by the motto 'idam-na-mama" and expressed his gratitude to BJP workers, RSS swayamsevaks and those with whom he worked in his long journey in public life. "With utmost humility and gratitude, I accept the 'Bharat Ratna' that has been conferred on me today. It is not only an honour for me as a person, but also for the ideals and principles that I strove to serve throughout my life to the best of my ability," he said in the statement. (ANI)
A day after the massive fire incident at a factory in Himachal Pradesh's Solan district that left five people dead, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri visited the spot on Saturday to take stock of the situation and assess the relief measures. Speaking to the media, DyCM Agnihotri said that a special investigation team has been formed to probe the matter. The treatment of the injured is ongoing, and four people are still missing. "The police have detained the factory manager, and his interrogation is in progress. All the police officers are present at the site. Once the situation normalises, our team will go inside again, and the owners will also be brought in. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the matter," he said. The fierce fire broke out at a perfume-making factory near Jharmajri, Nalagarh in Solan district on Friday. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed grief over deaths of five people. "The incident of fire in a private factory located at Jharmajri of Baddi in Nalagarh sub-division of Solan district is sad. My deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. I pray to God that the injured get a speedy recovery. I have issued directions to the district administration to investigate the incident and provide all possible assistance to the affected families," Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said in a post on X. DGP Sanjay Kundu said that the fire is under control and that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is currently examining the building. "The fire seems to be under control now. The NDRF team is externally examining the building, and after that, it will examine the building internally. After this, the forensic science team will go inside and collect the evidence. We have formed an SIT to conduct a detailed inspection. The SIT team will then investigate the incident," the DGP told ANI on Saturday. (ANI)
Around 1,020 grams of MD drugs was seized from them, they said.

According to Mumbai Crime Branch officials, a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered against the duo.

We are further looking into the case, they said.

Earlier, the Ghatkopar Unit of the Anti-Narcotics Cell made a significant arrest by apprehending two Nigerian drug peddlers in the Goregaon area.

The suspects were found in possession of MD drugs with an estimated value exceeding Rs 17 lakh in the international market.

Following the seizure, a case was registered against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Both individuals were presented in court, where they were remanded to police custody until February 6th. The arrested drug peddlers were reportedly involved in supplying drugs in Mumbai and Palghar districts, officials said. (ANI)
The ASI breathed his last on February 2, they said.

According to officials, ASI Girish Babu belonged to Killi village in Uttar Pradesh's Etawah district.

On February 1, he was injured in a landmine blast triggered by Naxals in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh.

He was airlifted to Delhi and brought to AIIMS as he needed enhanced medical care.

After receiving information about the ASI's demise, the district administration and Etawah Police administrative officers visited his house in Killi village.

"Girish Babu had recently shifted from Jammu and Kashmir to Chhattisgarh's Dantewada. He sustained injuries in the explosion and succumbed on February 2," Etawah SSP Sanjay Kumar Verma told ANI. (ANI)
Dr M. Srinivas, director, AIIMS, New Delhi said, "AIIMS New Delhi has been unwavering in its commitment to the promotion of AB-PMJAY, and the establishment of 'Ayushman Suvidha Kendras' marks a pivotal step towards further facilitating the services under this flagship healthcare scheme."

The 'Ayushman Suvidha Kendras' will be strategically located at easily accessible points within each block and centre of AIIMS, serving as the centralized hub for patients and their attendants to avail benefits under the AB-PMJAY scheme.

These Kendras will operate on a 24x7 basis, providing a single point of contact for beneficiaries.

Manned by dedicated 'Ayushman Mitras,' the ASK will offer comprehensive services, including verification of AB-PMJAY coverage status for patients visiting the respective block or centre. The aim is to streamline and expedite the process of extending all services under AB-PMJAY to scheme beneficiaries.

Dr. Rima Dada, the professor in charge of the Media Cell, AIIMS, New Delhi, said, "These Kendras will play a pivotal role in providing timely assistance and support, contributing to the success of this transformative healthcare programme."

AIIMS New Delhi invites the public, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders to join hands in supporting the successful implementation of the 'Ayushman Suvidha Kendras' and contributing to the overall enhancement of healthcare services under AB-PMJAY. (ANI)
Former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu congratulated veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani on being picked for the country's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna. Coming out in wholesome praise of the saffron stalwart, Naidu said Advani redefined secularism in the truest sense and galvanised public opinion for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Speaking to ANI on Sunday, the former Rajya Sabha chairman said, "He (LK Advani) redefined secularism in the truest sense, which is to appease none and ensure justice for all. He galvanised and mobilised public opinion for the construction of the Ram Temple at the birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. I would like to thank Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and the government for this decision to confer the country's highest honour on him." Naidu said he was especially happy with the naming of Advani for the Bharat Ratna than being conferred with Padma Vibhushan, the country's second-highest civilian honour. "I am overjoyed that Advani-ji will be conferred with the Bharat Ratna. He embodies the Indian culture and the highest traditions of politics. He is also globally renowned for his unimpeachable personal integrity and has been a life-long practitioner of valued-based politics," he said. Earlier, on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Advani would be conferred with the Bharat Ratna. Taking to his official 'X' handle, PM Modi wrote, "I am very happy to share that Shri LK Advani Ji will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. I also spoke to him and congratulated him on being conferred this honour. One of the most respected statesmen of our time, his contribution to the development of India is monumental. His is a life that started from working at the grassroots to serving the nation as our Deputy Prime Minister. He distinguished himself as our home minister and I&B minister as well. His parliamentary interventions have always been exemplary, full of rich insights." "Advani Ji's decades-long service in public life has been marked by an unwavering commitment to transparency and integrity, setting an exemplary standard in political ethics. He has made unparalleled efforts towards furthering national unity and cultural resurgence. The conferring of the Bharat Ratna on him is a very emotional moment for me. I will always consider it my privilege that I got countless opportunities to interact with him and learn from him," Prime Minister Modi added. Born in Karachi, in present-day Pakistan, on November 8, 1927, Advani has served as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party for the longest period since its inception in 1980. Capping a parliamentary career of nearly three decades, he was, first, the Home Minister and, later, the Deputy Prime Minister in the cabinet of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1999-2004). Advani is widely regarded as an individual of great intellectual ability, strong principles, and unwavering support for the idea of a strong and prosperous India. As confirmed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Advani has 'never compromised on his core belief in nationalism, and yet has displayed flexibility in political responses whenever it was demanded by the situation'. The veteran leader's celebration of India's independence from the British in 1947 was sadly short-lived, as he became one of the millions to be torn from his homeland amidst the terror and bloodshed of the tragedy of India's partition. These events, however, did not turn him bitter or cynical but instead spurred him on in his desire to create a more secular India. With this goal in mind, he journeyed to Rajasthan to continue his work as an RSS Pracharak. (ANI)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which is currently in its Jharkhand leg, reached Dhanbad on Sunday. "The youth of Jharkhand, fed up with unemployment, are saying that jobs are being eliminated from every sector. People have become dependent on food. Modi government completely became Adani's government. The only option for the country is Rahul Gandhi," the official handle of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra posted on X ahead of Rahul's visit to the state earlier. Accusing the BJP of spreading hatred and inciting violence, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday, said the grand old party and its allies will open 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' (shops dealing in love) across the country. The Wayanad MP, after resuming the ongoing Jharkhand leg of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, from Sarkanda Chowk here, said the Congress's fight was against the hatred in the hearts of the 'BJP people'. "The BJP is spreading hate. We undertook a 4000-km Bharat Jodo Yatra against this hatred and violence, coining the slogan 'Nafrat Ke Bazaar Me Mohabbat Ki Dukkan'. No matter how much hatred they (BJP) spread or the violence they orchestrate, the Congress and its allies will open 'Mohabbat Ki Dukan' all over the country. Our fight is against the hatred in the hearts of the BJP people," Rahul said while addressing a gathering here. The Congress leader claimed further that injustice is being meted out to the poor, youth, women, and farmers across the country. "Our objective is not only to fight their hatred but also to unite people across communities. We have arrived in Jharkhand to spread the message and love and oneness. Grave injustice is being meted out to the poor, youth, women and farmers across the country," the Congress MP said. He alleged further that the policies of the BJP government at the Centre were against the interests and welfare of tribals. "If the name 'Adan' (billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani) comes up in a discourse, people understand where the conversation is going. He has been flourishing with the blessings of Narendra Modi. We brought a land Bill during our term at the Centre. However, it was withdrawn after Modi-ji became Prime Minister. It's injustice for everyone and justice for Adani," the Congress MP said, in a no-holds-barred rant against the BJP. Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra rolled out from Manipur's Thoubal on January 14. The yatra will cover over 6,700 kilometres over 67 days, traversing through 110 districts. It will cover a distance of 6,713 km, straddling 100 Lok Sabha constituencies and 337 assembly segments and covering 110 districts. The yatra will conclude in Mumbai on March 20, after 67 days. A follow-up to the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' which saw Rahul Gandhi cover more than 3,000 kilometres on foot--from Kanya Kumari to Srinagar--the Yatra 2.0 is following a hybrid format. (ANI)
The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bestowing the country's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, on India's former Deputy Prime Minister, LK Advani. He said that Advani devoted his whole life to the welfare of the nation. "He has served the nation selflessly and devoted his whole life to the welfare of the people. On behalf of the people of the country, I thank and congratulate PM Narendra Modi for bestowing the highest honour upon LK Advani," Nityanand Rai told ANI. Meanwhile, former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu congratulated the veteran BJP leader on being picked for the Bharat Ratna. Coming out in wholesome praise of the saffron stalwart, Naidu said Advani redefined secularism in the truest sense and galvanised public opinion for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Speaking to ANI on Sunday, the former Rajya Sabha chairman said, "He (LK Advani) redefined secularism in the truest sense, which is to appease none and ensure justice for all. He galvanised and mobilised public opinion for the construction of the Ram Temple at the birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. I would like to thank Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and the government for this decision to confer the country's highest honour on him." Naidu said he was especially happy with the naming of Advani for the Bharat Ratna than being conferred with Padma Vibhushan, the country's second-highest civilian honour. "I am overjoyed that Advani-ji will be conferred with the Bharat Ratna. He embodies the Indian culture and the highest traditions of politics. He is also globally renowned for his unimpeachable personal integrity and has been a life-long practitioner of valued-based politics," he said. Earlier, on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Advani would be conferred with the Bharat Ratna. Taking to his official 'X' handle, PM Modi wrote, "I am very happy to share that Shri LK Advani Ji will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. I also spoke to him and congratulated him on being conferred this honour. One of the most respected statesmen of our time, his contribution to the development of India is monumental. His is a life that started from working at the grassroots to serving the nation as our Deputy Prime Minister. He distinguished himself as our home minister and I&B minister as well. His parliamentary interventions have always been exemplary, full of rich insights." "Advani Ji's decades-long service in public life has been marked by an unwavering commitment to transparency and integrity, setting an exemplary standard in political ethics. He has made unparalleled efforts towards furthering national unity and cultural resurgence. The conferring of the Bharat Ratna on him is a very emotional moment for me. I will always consider it my privilege that I got countless opportunities to interact with him and learn from him," Prime Minister Modi added. Born in Karachi, in present-day Pakistan, on November 8, 1927, Advani has served as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party for the longest period since its inception in 1980. Capping a parliamentary career of nearly three decades, he was, first, the Home Minister and, later, the Deputy Prime Minister in the cabinet of Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1999-2004). Advani is widely regarded as an individual of great intellectual ability, strong principles, and unwavering support for the idea of a strong and prosperous India. As confirmed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Advani has 'never compromised on his core belief in nationalism, and yet has displayed flexibility in political responses whenever it was demanded by the situation'. The veteran leader's celebration of India's independence from the British in 1947 was sadly short-lived, as he became one of the millions to be torn from his homeland amidst the terror and bloodshed of the tragedy of India's partition. These events, however, did not turn him bitter or cynical but instead spurred him on in his desire to create a more secular India. With this goal in mind, he journeyed to Rajasthan to continue his work as an RSS Pracharak. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauded Acharya SN Goenka's efforts to make everyone's life peaceful, happy and harmonious through his campaigns. The Prime Minister addressed the concluding ceremony of the year-long celebrations of SN Goenka's 100th birth anniversary via video message on Sunday. "While a lot is already being done all over the world in this direction, Bharat needs to take the lead in making it more acceptable using new research for bringing greater welfare to the world," PM Modi said. He also wanted the future generations to avail the benefits of these campaigns and that is why he expanded his knowledge. He did not stop there but also created skilled teachers, the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister once again explained about Vipassana, saying that it is a journey into the soul and a way to dive deep within yourself. However, it is not just a genre but a science. He said as we are familiar with the results of this science, we now need to present its evidence to the world according to the standards of modern science. Concluding his address, the Prime Minister called this year of the birth centenary celebrations of Acharya SN Goenka an inspiring time for all and expressed confidence that his efforts be carried forward for human service. PM Modi highlighted the benefits of Vipassana, he said that practising Vipassana has become even more important in today's challenging times when the youth have become victims of stress due to work-life balance, prevailing lifestyle and other issues. He emphasized Vipassana is a solution not just for them but also for the members of micro and nuclear families where elderly parents remain under a lot of stress. (ANI)
The newly appointed Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Sunday said that his government's biggest concern is that youth of the Bihar should get work in their native state adding that establishing law and order will also be a priority of his government. "Bihar is an important state in the country. We will try to fulfil the commitments made by NDA to the people in 2020. Our priority is to increase employment and establish law and order. Our biggest concern is that the youth of Bihar should get work in Bihar," Samrat Choudhary told ANI. After a dramatic volte-face, ditching the Mahagathbandhan and the opposition bloc INDIA and forming a new government with the BJP, JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, along with eight ministers--three each from the BJP and the JD-U, one from HAM and one independent--took oath last week. Two Deputy CMs from the BJP, Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, and six other ministers, including Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Santosh Kumar Suman, Shrawan Kumar, and others, also took the oath. Earlier, Samrat Choudhary said that the National Democratic Alliance, which is now the ruling bloc in the state, will work to realise the unfulfilled dreams of the people under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CM Nitish Kumar. Deputy chief minister said that the state will move further towards the path of development due to the 'double engine' government. Nitish Kumar cited the state of affairs being "not right" under the Mahagathbandhan alliance as his reason for quitting. He said that he has been receiving suggestions from everywhere, including his party workers, and he listened to all of them to come to this decision. Tearing into the BJP in the Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday got the ball rolling by pointing out the delay of the oath-taking of JMM leader Champai Soren and questioned why Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar took the oath and became the Chief Minister of Bihar in less than 12 hours of resigning. "Nitish Kumarji gave his resignation with one hand and, with the other, took his oath within 12 hours. Why wasn't this done? Why wasn't this done in Jharkhand? The Constitution is being flouted. This is shameful," Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said, raking up the recent political turmoil in Bihar and Jharkhand. (ANI)
Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi expressed skepticism regarding the nature of the notice served by the crime branch in connection with the poaching claim case on Sunday, highlighting that it lacked clarity. Atishi stated, "This morning around six officials from the Crime Branch came to my house, waited for 2-3 hours, and repeatedly went in and out. They had come to give a crime branch notice and wanted to hand it to me directly." "This notice is very interesting. It is neither an FIR nor summons. It does not have sections of IPC, CrPC, PMLA, or the Prevention of Corruption Act," Atishi added. She mocked that the Delhi Police gave her and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal a "letter". "Overall, after almost 48 hours of drama, CM Arvind Kejriwal and I were given letters, and that's all," she said. The minister further reiterated her 'MLA poaching' remark and claimed that Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and 11 other MLAs are the 'same people' who break away AAP MLAs. "The people who came to take break Eknath Shinde and 11 other MLAs are the same people who came to break away AAP MLAs," Atishi said. "I want to tell the heads of the Crime Branch that you already know the people who have been trying to break the Opposition governments (in states) for the past 7-8 years. These are the same people contacting AAP MLAs," Atishi asserted. Earlier in the day, a Crime Branch team arrived at the door of AAP leader Atishi to serve a notice in connection with her claim that the BJP was trying to prise away the party's MLAs through cash inducements and topple the government as part of 'Operation Lotus 2.0'. The Crime Branch served a notice on AAP leader and minister Atishi in the poaching claim case, asking her to respond within three days. Meanwhile, Delhi Police Crime Branch served a fresh notice on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, asking him to respond to his charges of poaching attempts by the BJP with evidence by Monday. "An inquiry is being conducted by the Crime Branch of Delhi police, on a complaint received in respect of the allegations made by you that the BJP has offered Rs 25 crore each to the sitting MLAs of AAP for leaving the party and joining the BJP. These allegations were posted by you on X on January 27, 2024," a letter undersigned by Pankaj Arora, ACP of Central Range Crime said. (ANI)
The Uttarakhand Cabinet on Sunday approved the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) report in a meeting held at the Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's residence. The bill is likely to be tabled in the Uttarakhand Assembly on February 6. A meeting under the chairmanship of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was held at his residence. The UCC drafting committee, led by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, submitted the draft to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday. The UCC proposes uniform civil laws for all communities in the state. The draft was handed over to the Chief Minister by the five-member committee headed by retired Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai. Once implemented, Uttarakhand will become the first Indian state after independence to adopt the UCC. At an event organised at the Mukhya Sevak Sadan at the Chief Minister's Camp Office, Dhami on Friday said, "We promised our people to bring the UCC in Uttarakhand before the Assembly goes into session. The rollout of the UCC will be in line with a resolution adopted by the BJP."Earlier on Friday, CM Dhami said it was an important day for the people of the state as the UCC will help realise the vision of 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat'. The UCC drafting panel also comprised retired justice Pramod Kohli, social activist Manu Gaur, former Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Shatrughan Singh and Vice Chancellor of Doon University, Surekha Dangwal. The drafting panel was given a total of four extensions, the latest being 15 days in January this year. The UCC will provide a legal framework for uniform marriage, divorce, land, property and inheritance laws for all citizens, irrespective of their religion. The passage of the UCC Bill will mark the fulfillment of a major promise made by the BJP to the people of the state in the run-up to the 2022 Assembly polls. Earlier, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami informed that the draft report consists of 740 pages and has four volumes, which include suggestions from 2,33,000 people in the state. "The village, which is known as the last village of India, was referred to by the PM as the first village, so the committee started the work of taking suggestions from their only, and other 43 places. A total of 2,33,000 people gave suggestions on it which includes 10 per cent families of Uttarakhand," Chief Minister Dhami said. At its very first meeting in the second term, in March 2022, the Dhami government decided to constitute a committee to prepare a draft for the UCC. (ANI)
The Delhi Court, while dismissing a partition suit, has held that any individual belonging to the Muslim community can adopt a child without making a declaration under the Shariat Act. As per the ruling, any such adoption shall be governed by the general law and not by the Muslim Personal Law. The said child would become the legitimate child of his adoptive parents, the court said. The court was hearing a partition suit filed by the brother of a deceased Muslim man, namely Zamir Ahmed, seeking share in his property, leaving one-fourth share for the widow of Zamir Ahmed as the couple had no son. However, Zamir Ahmed and his wife Gulzaro Begam had adopted a son, namely Abdul Samad alias Sameer, without making any declaration under the Muslim Personal Law. Additional Sessions Judge (ADJ) Parveen Singh held that even under the prevalent law of the land, notwithstanding the Shariat, a Muslim who has not filed a declaration under section 3 of Shariat Act, can adopt a child and the said child would become a legitimate child of his adoptive parents with all rights, privileges, and responsibilities that are attached to a relationship. "Applying this principle to the facts of the present case, I find that there is no evidence or even an assertion that deceased Zamir Ahmed had filed any declaration under section 3 of the Shariat Act," ADJ Parveen Singh said in judgement dated February 3, 2024. ADJ Singh held, "Therefore, deceased Zamir Ahmed had elected not to be governed by Muslim Personal Law on the subject of adoption and thus, if he had adopted a child as claimed by defendant no. 1 (Gulzaro Begam), the said adoption shall be governed by general law of the land." While passing the judgement, the additional district judge Singh also discussed the previous judgement passed by the Supreme Court. The court said that a Muslim who has not filed any declaration under section 3 of the Shariat Act, shall not be governed by Muslim Personal Law/ Shariat on the subjects of adoption, wills and legacies. "Thus in the case of such a person, Muslim Personal Law cannot be applied on these subjects. That being the case, these judgments shall only be applicable to the case of Muslims who has filed a declaration under section 3 of the Shariat Act," the court said. A partition suit was filed by Iqbal Ahmed, brother of Zamir Ahmed seeking a decree in accordance with Muslim Law. The widow of Zamir Ahmed and his other brothers and sisters were made defendants in the suit. It was claimed in the suit that deceased Zamir Ahmed expired issueless on July 3, 2008. The suit said that being a Muslim, the inheritance of the property of the late Zamir Ahmed, is to be governed by Shariat/ Muslim law. The plaintiff had claimed that widow of Zamir Ahmed, was entitled to 1/4 th share i.e. 25 per cent share in the properties left behind by him, three sisters of Zamir Ahmed, were entitled to 15 per cent share in the properties left behind by late Zamir Ahmed and remaining 60 per cent devolved upon plaintiff and other five brothers of late Zamir Ahmed. During the hearing, the court found that the deceased Zamir Ahmed is survived by his widow and a son, his inheritance has accordingly to be decided in this light. As per Mulsim Law of Inheritance, there are three classes of legal heirs: (1) sharers, (2) residuary and (3) distant kindred. The court noted that of the 12 Quranic sharers, only the widow of the deceased is surviving. The claim of the plaintiff and defendants brothers and sisters was, that as deceased Zamir Ahmed had no son, his widow i.e. defendant no. 1 is entitled to 1/4th share in the estate of Zamir Ahmed and, they being the brothers and sisters of the deceased would have residue of 3/4th where the brothers of the deceased would be getting double the share of the sisters. The court rejected the claim that said that the plaintiff and the defendants could only haveinherited from the estate of deceased Zamir Ahmed had there been no son to claim the residuary share. The court said that It has been held that deceased Zamir Ahmed had an adopted son and the said son has been found to be having the same status as that of a biological son and having all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that are attached to that relationship; for the purposes of inheritance, the said son has to be considered as a son. "The son being a residuary excludes the brothers and sisters of deceased Zamir Ahmed. This being the case, I am of the considered opinion that plaintiff and defendants brothers and sisters are not entitled to the partition as prayed for. Issue is accordingly decided," ADJ Singh said in the judgement. (ANI)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday attended the centenary year of the Bihar College of Engineering (BCE)-National Institute of Technology Patna (NIT-P) and announced the preparation of an incubation centre in the NIT campus. Addressing the gathering, Bihar CM ordered the officers to prepare DPR for the incubation centre. "Funds will be released to build the incubation centre within a week. Patna Medical College and Hospital is being built with 5,462 beds, a part of which is almost complete. The work will be completed within two years," he added. Recalling his college days, Bihar CM said that it is a matter of great pleasure that we have got a chance to come here. "It has been 51 years since I passed out from this institute. Our old and new friends also come here to the alumni meet organized every year, where we get a chance to meet our classmates. I was admitted here after studying at Patna Science College. At that time 500 students used to study here, and it felt very good. If student union elections were held in Patna, then on my request, 450 out of 500 students here would vote in support. We can never forget that thing," Bihar CM said. The Chief Minister said that during his tenure as a minister in the Atal government, NITs were being built at a total of 14 places in the country. "We urged that Bihar College of Engineering be the sixth engineering college in the country, which should get the status of NIT. At the same time, in the year 2004, Bihar College of Engineering got the status of NIT. At our time, the number of students here was 500, which has now increased to 5000," he added. The annual alumni meet was organized by BCE-NIT Patna Alumni Society on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of the college. (ANI)
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressing his "deep disappointment and concern" with regard to the "pathetic state" of hospitals under the Health Department of GNCTD (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi)." Lt Governor Saxena on Saturday in his letter said, "I am writing to express my deep disappointment and concern with regards to the pathetic state of hospitals under the Health Department of GNCTD. Even as tall claims to the contrary have been made consistently by you and your ministers, recent media reports highlighting the scathing observations made by the Hon'ble Delhi High Court on the dismal state of affairs in Delhi's government hospitals have brought to the fore a rot that seems to have become deep-rooted." He further stressed, "You would appreciate that as the National Capital, Delhi deserves a world-class healthcare system that prioritizes the well-being of its citizens and not one plagued by systemic dysfunction and neglect, as the case is now." "The Court's remarks, highlighting and 'fixing' of inadequate infrastructure, manpower shortages, inefficient patient management, and potential financial mismanagement, paint a deeply troubling picture. These issues are not merely administrative oversights; they are direct violations of the Fundamental duties of the government, as indeed the Fundamental Right to health, and cast a long shadow of disrepute on the Nation's Capital," the letter read. The letter further stated, "You may be aware, as it has been widely reported in the media, that the Delhi High Court while hearing a suo motu case of 2017 based on a news report, wherein a new-born died for the lack of an ICU bed in a government hospital in the Capital. While continuing with the hearing, the Court also considered an application seeking an investigation into the death of a man recently, who was refused treatment by government hospitals due to non-functioning equipment." While highlighting the media reports, he underscored that the man was refused admission by hospitals due to the non-availability of necessary facilities, including CT scan, ICU/ventilator beds, and the absence of a communication network between the hospitals in the Capital, resulting in his unfortunate death. Similarly, there have been frequent reports of neglect, filth, and lack of basic amenities in several hospitals of GNCTD, wherein the Health Minister has taken to social media to take corrective measures, but to no avail. "Such matters are heinous in nature and expose the actual state of public health as well as Delhi's public health services. I advise you and the Hon'ble Health Minister of GNCTD to take up this issue and put in serious measures to rectify the prevailing situation," he stated. Additionally, Saxena requested CM Kejriwal to take immediate and decisive actions to address the critical concerns. "You may recall that in my earlier letter dated 22.06.2023, on a related issue, I had highlighted and raised concerns and urged prompt action with regards to enhancing the public health infrastructure and bed capacity in the City, which has been almost in a state of limbo for the past 10 years. Similarly, recent episodes regarding fake tests on ghost patients in Mohalla Clinics and reports of drugs failing tests of efficacy are issues that need urgent attention," he mentioned He also sought a factual report on the state of health infrastructure in major Delhi government hospitals. (ANI)
Naresh Singh Lal, a member of Shri Banke Bihari Sewa Pariwar, expressed his devotion towards Ram Lalla and said, "About 90 people from our organization in Ludhiana have come to present the gift."

He further elaborated on the speciality of the mirror, stating, "A pure 999 silver frame was used for making the mirror for Ram Lalla. We got this made in Rajasthan."

Speaking about his intention behind getting the mirror, Naresh said, "We just want Ram Lalla to look at himself in this mirror."

Another devotee from Ludhiana expressed, "We just want that after 'shringaar' (makeup), Ram Lalla looks at himself in this mirror. That is why we are presenting this silver mirror."

On Thursday, in a significant development, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Minister of State VK Singh jointly inaugurated SpiceJet's direct flight service connecting Ayodhya with eight cities.

This strategic initiative aims to enhance accessibility for devotees and tourists seeking the divine darshan of Shri Ram Lalla in the new, grand and divine (Navya, Divya and Bhavya) temple of Ayodhya.

Earlier, successful air services had commenced from Ayodhya to Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, the CM said.

Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his customary remarks to the media ahead of the start of parliament's budget session with 'Ram Ram' greetings, and the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at Ayodhya earlier this month figured in the remarks of President Droupdadi Murmu, who addressed the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

"Ram Ram greetings to you all for the year 2024," the Prime Minister said at the beginning of his remarks. (ANI)
Chile has declared a state of emergency as the country battles to contain fast-spreading wildfires. At least 19 people died, and the toll may increase, according to Al Jazeera. Since Friday, fires have destroyed thousands of hectares of forest, engulfing coastal communities in a dense cloud of grey smoke and causing residents to evacuate their homes in the central areas of Vina del Mar and Valparaiso. "All forces are deployed in the fight against the forest fires," President of Chile Gabriel Boric posted on X as he announced the action and added that emergency services will convene on Saturday to evaluate the situation. The rescue operation is underway; however, the interior minister of Chile has said that the death toll could rise even further. "The report of fatalities is very provisional," Interior Minister Carolina Toha said, as reported by Al Jazeera. "We have reports from other places where there are indications that there may be more people dead, but we do not have confirmation on the ground," Toha added. Toha, according to Al Jazeera, reported 92 active fires around the country, affecting more than 43,000 hectares. The wildfires are being fueled by a summer heatwave and drought in the southern part of South America caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon, as experts warn that global warming has raised the likelihood of natural disasters such as high heat and fires. Fires in the communities of Estrella and Navidad, southwest of the capital, have destroyed roughly 30 homes and forced residents to evacuate near the surfing destination of Pichilemu. As Chile and Colombia face increasing temperatures, a heatwave threatens to sweep into Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil in the following days. (ANI)
In a historic moment, the Irish nationalist leader, Michelle O'Neill, has become the first minister of Northern Ireland as power-sharing resumes after a two-year gap, according to CNN. Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Fein, the pro-united Ireland party that was originally the political branch of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), told parliamentarians after her appointment that "today opens the door to the future." I am pleased to be here as First Minister." She promised to "serve everyone equally and be a First Minister for all," including those who identify as British or Unionist. "I am wholeheartedly committed to continue the work of reconciliation between all of our people. The past cannot be changed or cannot be undone. But what we can do is build a better future," she said in her speech, according to CNN. O'Neill has been eligible for the position since 2022, when Sinn Fein secured a majority in the May election. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), the major opposition party, had refused to form a power-sharing administration in protest over post-Brexit trading regulations. The DUP reached an agreement with the UK government on Thursday that soothed its Brexit fears, setting the way for legislators to be recalled to the Northern Ireland Assembly on Saturday, bringing an end to the two-year parliamentary gridlock. A house speaker was also sworn in, as was Emma Little-Pengelly, a DUP-nominated Deputy First Minister with the same powers as the First Minister, reported CNN. Little-Pengelly stated in an address that she "could never have imagined" serving Northern Ireland in such a way, recalling the aftermath of an IRA bomb outside her home when she was a child. The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature in Northern Ireland. Despite being part of the United Kingdom, legislators in the Assembly have the authority to act on a variety of matters not specifically reserved for the Westminster government in London. (ANI)
The pro-freedom Baloch leader and the head of the Free Balochistan Movement, Hyrbyair Marri, in a statement to the media said both Pakistan and Iran were in collusion in perpetrating war crimes against the Baloch Nation in 'occupied Balochistan'. He said on January 16, 18, both Iran and Pakistan bombed the mud houses of unarmed Baloch citizens with missiles and drone attacks in a preplanned war aggression in which 12 Baloch were martyred and many others were injured, including women, children and elderly. The Baloch leader said in the wake of this military aggression, we heard some customary condemnations from our sympathizers, but they also need to acknowledge the Baloch's rights to self-defence in the face of military aggression, as both Pakistan and Iran have shut the door of peaceful means for resolving Balochistan's disputed status. We never joined Iran and Pakistan of our own free will. They occupied Balochistan by military aggression during and after British colonial rule. Marri stated further that under a misplaced perception, both Iranian and Pakistani rulers think that the Baloch people are a small disunited nation; they can easily suppress and subjugate them under an aggressive containment policy. "I want to make it clear that this illusion must end," He said, "put aside Baloch intra-party politics, which exists in every nation across the world and the Western nations, it is regarded as the beauty of democracy, but in Balochistan's case is seen as an irreparable division of the Baloch nation. However, the unity of the Baloch is demonstrated every day across the Goldsmid arbitrary line in the form of peaceful protests". "We're more than 40 million people living on our soil for thousands of years, and as a Nation State since 1666. But our enemies' problem is that they're religious fanatics, they can't face the reality, they're over-obsessed with their aggressive containment policy against the Baloch nation for the trillions of dollars of Baloch wealth and the usage of the strategic location of Balochistan for economic and military purposes. "Both these fanatic States are afraid of transparency and openness, as both are built using religion to further their self-interests (Pakistani Punjab and Iranian Persians) and to suppress and subjugate other nations like Baloch, Kurd, Pashtuns and Al Ahwazi nations. They have turned Balochistan into a black hole of information to hide their crimes against the Baloch," Marri said. The Baloch leader urged the UN and international community not to ignore Pakistani and Iranian war crimes against over 40 million Baloch people and to form a fact-finding mission to investigate the crimes that both Iran and Pakistan have been continuously committing against the Baloch nation for decades. In the case of Pakistan for more than seven decades, and in 2028 it would be 100 years (a century) of Baloch misery and suffering at the hands of the Persians, which was facilitated by the British Empire. Otherwise, they are silently aiding the oppressors and are unwittingly being used as a tool for exploitation and occupation. (ANI)
The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advised British nationals against travelling to Afghanistan, TOLO News reported. According to an FCDO statement, there is a "significant risk of detention of British nationals" and "terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks" in Afghanistan during the month of Ramadan. The statement read, "You should not travel to Afghanistan. Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Afghanistan. There is a heightened threat of terrorist attacks in or around religious sites and during religious events and celebrations, such as the month of Ramadan." "The security situation in Afghanistan is volatile. There is an ongoing and high threat of terrorist attacks throughout Afghanistan, including around airports. There is a significant risk of detention of British nationals," the statement added. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, however, said security is ensured in the country and the safety of foreign nationals is also ensured, as per TOLO News. Mujahid said: "We assure that there is no threat to any foreign national in Afghanistan. There are dozens of institutions, embassies and international institutions in Afghanistan and even tourists, they are living in Afghanistan, they are traveling, and there have been no security threat to anyone and will never be." Some political analysts have meanwhile asked the Taliban to do more to assure the security of foreign nationals in the country. A political analyst Salim Paigir said: "The Islamic Emirate should listen to all the demands of the eastern and western countries and chose a correct and rational policy towards the world." "They [the Islamic Emirate] should convince western and neighboring countries that Afghanistan will never be a threat to the countries of the region," said Sayed Moqadam Amin, a political analyst, as per TOLO News. Earlier, the US State Department asked its citizens not to travel to Afghanistan. (ANI)
"Village gala" held to celebrate upcoming Spring Festival in China's Guangxi

Xinhua) 08:25, February 04, 2024

People perform during the "village gala" at a scenic spot in Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, Liuzhou City of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024. More than 1,200 people from 22 performing teams across Guangxi participated in the "village gala" to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)

People perform during the "village gala" at a scenic spot in Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, Liuzhou City of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024. More than 1,200 people from 22 performing teams across Guangxi participated in the "village gala" to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)

People perform during the "village gala" at a scenic spot in Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, Liuzhou City of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024. More than 1,200 people from 22 performing teams across Guangxi participated in the "village gala" to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)

People perform during the "village gala" at a scenic spot in Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, Liuzhou City of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024. More than 1,200 people from 22 performing teams across Guangxi participated in the "village gala" to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)

People perform during the "village gala" at a scenic spot in Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, Liuzhou City of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024. More than 1,200 people from 22 performing teams across Guangxi participated in the "village gala" to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)

People perform during the "village gala" at a scenic spot in Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, Liuzhou City of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024. More than 1,200 people from 22 performing teams across Guangxi participated in the "village gala" to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)

People perform during the "village gala" at a scenic spot in Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, Liuzhou City of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024. More than 1,200 people from 22 performing teams across Guangxi participated in the "village gala" to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)

People perform during the "village gala" at a scenic spot in Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, Liuzhou City of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024. More than 1,200 people from 22 performing teams across Guangxi participated in the "village gala" to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)

People perform during the "village gala" at a scenic spot in Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, Liuzhou City of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024. More than 1,200 people from 22 performing teams across Guangxi participated in the "village gala" to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)

People perform during the "village gala" at a scenic spot in Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, Liuzhou City of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024. More than 1,200 people from 22 performing teams across Guangxi participated in the "village gala" to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)

People perform during the "village gala" at a scenic spot in Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, Liuzhou City of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024. More than 1,200 people from 22 performing teams across Guangxi participated in the "village gala" to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)

People perform during the "village gala" at a scenic spot in Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, Liuzhou City of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024. More than 1,200 people from 22 performing teams across Guangxi participated in the "village gala" to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The ECP described the trial as successful.

The election body said that the system designed for tabulation and compilation of election results successfully completed all the required steps and goals.

As per ECP spokesman Syed Nadeem Haider, returning officers from 859 constituencies across the country participated in the experimental exercise of EMS, and the system's eligibility was tested both online and offline and was found to be satisfactory in all respects.

He explained that the main purpose of EMS was the tabulation and compilation of election results and it would be used on polling day, according to Dawn.

"This system works at the same speed and efficiency in both online and offline modes," Haider said.

The ECP recently concluded the training of nearly 1.49 million election staff to guarantee the smooth conduct of the forthcoming general elections, which are slated to take place on February 8, according to ARY News.

In a statement, the ECP spokesperson stated that the training sessions ensured that all electoral staff could carry out their obligations competently and professionally in the future general elections in 2024.

According to the commission's spokeswoman, a total of 27,676 sessions were held in distant places around the country over 87 days, with 3,821 master trainers involved in thorough election worker training, reported ARY News.

The training sessions began on November 19, 2023, and ended on the evening of February 3, 2024.

The participants in these courses were 144 District Returning Officers (DROs), 859 Returning Officers (ROs), and polling personnel. (ANI)
Sharjah [UAE], February 4 (ANI/WAM): On the sidelines of the ongoing 53rd Watch & Jewellery Middle East Show (WJMES 2024), hosted by Expo Centre Sharjah (ECS), the Centre has received official delegations from a number of Arab nations coming to gain insight from the event's agenda, its premium international and Arab participant lineup, and the successes its exhibitors have achieved during the Show. The delegations have also discussed advancing their cooperation to build up the exhibitions and conferences sector across the Arab World, leveraging it to support different economic and industrial sectors. Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, met with the delegations and spoke with numerous officials from both sides, most notably, Mahmoud Bashir Al Masri, Consultant with the Arab Union for International Exhibitions & Conferences, Halim Ragheb Al Akhras, Director-General of the Public Establishment for International Fairs & Exhibitions in the Syrian Arab Republic, and Mohammed Abdul Kareem Al Emadi, CEO of the Qatari Al Hazm company for exhibition organisation. The delegations discussed areas of joint efforts with Expo Centre Sharjah and means of benefiting from the Centre's impressive capacities and expertise in organising and hosting one of the biggest specialty commercial exhibitions in the Middle East and North Africa region. They also touched on expanding the attendance of Arab gold and jewellery companies at future editions of the show and reviewed the main incentives, facilitations, and services offered by ECS to exhibitors, providing an ideal space for business owners and leading international brands in the gold, jewellery, and diamonds sector to come together under one roof. Al Midfa said such visits serve to advance cooperation and partnership among Arab exhibition organisers, encouraging them to exchange expertise, experiences, and best international practices. This exchange helps develop the specialty exhibition industry across the Arab world, furthering its contribution to various economic, commercial, and cultural sectors. Saif Al Midfa noted that the Watch & Jewellery Middle East Show draws in a broad array of Arab exhibitors. Every year, the event attracts several major brands and companies operating in gold, diamonds, and precious stones from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Yemen, and Lebanon, in addition to the UAE. According to ECS statistics, the number of Arab exhibitors has grown steadily over the last several years, thanks to the event's resplendent reputation and its status as one of the largest gold and jewellery exhibitions in the region. (ANI/WAM)
The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, a social movement for Pashtun human rights, organised a sit-in at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 3, demanding the release of activist Manzoor Pashteen. PTM-United States' official account on X said: "Mazoor Pashteen has been subjected to relentless torture by Punjabi police in jail. The international community cannot ignore this. Urgently calling for solidarity to denounce these severe human rights violations and demand Pashteen's immediate release. Silence is complicity." An X user and supporter of Pashteen, Faiz Baloch, wrote, "Detaining Manzoor Pashteen on baseless charges may confine his body but it cannot shackle the indomitable spirit of his mind." "In solidarity with the Pashtun people in their struggle against Pakistani state oppression," the user wrote. Manzoor Pashteen was reportedly abducted by Pakistan's intelligence agencies on his way to Turbat town in Balochistan on December 4 last year. Pashteen, who founded PTM in 2014, advocates for the rights of Pashtuns, who are affected by Pakistan's so-called war against the Taliban and its local affiliate, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The PTM has also been raising its voice for the Baloch, who have been facing similar atrocities at the hands of the security agencies. Supporters of Pashteen opine that the human rights defender speaks of the rule of law, constitutionalism, equality, and justice. Yet he is being persecuted on bogus charges. In the beginning of January this year, Mazoor was granted post-arrest bail by the Sessions Court in Islamabad. The federal capital police, after completing the judicial remand, had presented the PTM chief before the senior civil judge Shabbir Bhatti's court, where the court, after hearing the argument, approved the post-arrest bail of Pashteen. But the Pashtun leader was once again re-arrested by the police merely days after getting a bail order, reportedly being taken to an undisclosed location. (ANI)
Asulin, a resident of Beit Shemesh from the 924th Engineering Battalion of the Harel Brigade, was killed in the southern Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, IDF launched an airstrike on a Hezbollah building in the southern Lebanese village of Taybeh on Saturday, according to The Times of Israel.

Throughout the day, the army fired artillery shells into different parts of Lebanon.

The strikes came in retaliation after Hezbollah launched rockets from Lebanon towards Mount Dov and the settlements of Even Menahem and Yir'on in Israel in the early hours of Saturday, The Times of Israel reported.

These attacks, however, did not result in any casualties on the Israeli side.

The IDF, meanwhile, stated that it was targeting the launch sites of Hezbollah.

Since the October 7 attack by Hamas terrorists on Israel from Gaza, Hezbollah has been operating freely against Israel along Lebanon's border with Israel, firing rockets and anti-tank missiles at Israeli towns and army positions and opening fire at troops on a near-daily basis, according to the report.

Hezbollah has been repeatedly cautioned to remain on the sidelines.

The IDF has time and again responded by striking the terror group's cells and posts in southern Lebanon.

At least 27,019 people have been killed and 66,139 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, according to the Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza.

The revised death toll in Israel from the October 7 Hamas attacks stands at 1,139, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)
Several activists from around the world will be raising their voices for the rights of the people of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) on February 5 by organizing protests around the world. These protests will be organised to oppose the Kashmir Solidarity Day to be observed in Pakistan on the same day. Amid all this, a video has surfaced on social media 'X', blatantly threatening the people not to protest on that day. In the video, an individual can be observed claiming that he will roam the area of POK with hundreds of men and will attack the protestors and no one will be able to do anything to stop them. The description posted along with the video claims that the individual belongs to a Pakistan-backed terrorist outfit. In the video, an individual can be seen claiming that "In relation to the topic of opposing February 5, be it the people of Moscow or be it any other organization, I openly announce this that I will enter the city with hundreds of my men and if anyone can stop me he is welcome to try. Meanwhile, several activists from around the world have announced to oppose the observation of Kashmir Solidarity day. Previously, political parties like the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) in solidarity with the Joint Awami Action Committee (AAC) announced to hold a protest at the Pakistan High Commission in London on February 5 to counter the so-called 'Kashmir Solidarity Day' observed by Pakistan. The demonstrations will raise the demands of the people of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) on an international level. Speaking to ANI, Nazir Aziz Khan, the spokesperson of UKPNP said, "The protest of February 5 will be an effort by the UKPNP and the AAC to call upon the Pakistani regime for the atrocities that they are committing upon the people of POK." He further mentioned that "February 5, which is observed as Kashmir Solidarity Day is nothing but a political stunt by Pakistan. As the regime has been showing no solidarity to the people of POK, where the people have been protesting for their basic rights of electricity, food, and ownership of their natural resources." The protest aims to show solidarity and support for the AAC and the people's rights movement in POK and AAC in the POK has declared a complete shutter-down and wheel-jam strike across POK on February 5. Earlier, Human rights activist Amjad Ayub Mirza said that if the demands of the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit-Baltistan are not met by February 5, then the political exiles living abroad will have no choice but to form a national government of PoK in exile. Mirza said 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 PoGB and allow legislative assemblies of occupied territories to become fully sovereign. The Tehreek-e Itefaq-e-Rai chairman said, "For eight months, the people of Pakistani-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 added. Mirza also had mentioned that "there will be no negotiations with Pakistan on this matter. February 5 is our deadline. It's the deadline of a nation, of a nation that has come out in protest and has said that no more. We are going to take no more insult, no more exploitation and no more atrocities are going to be allowed upon our people." (ANI)
President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday posted a video highlighting a glimpse from his recent visit to India during the Republic Day celebrations and stressed that France wants to have "more and more investments" in India. Praising India, he stated that India is going to be on the front row in the world's transformation. "We have got everything to say to a country like India, a democratic power, a demographic, economic and a technological as well, which is going to be front row at the world's transformation," President Macron said in the video posted on X. https://x.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1754084000992301396?s=20 Posting the video with the caption "A look back at an exceptional trip in India", Macron further said, "For us, having chai tea is a habit." Macron said he felt "extremely honoured" to be a part of the 75th Republic Day celebrations in the national capital. "We were extremely honoured to be part of such an important and unique day. This is in our memories for ever," he added. Further boasting the good relationship between the two countries, the French President stated that even if the relations between the two countries are good, the countries can still do much more. "We developed during the past few years a series of cooperations and partnerships in different sectors with your country. And clearly, we want to make more and more investments. Even if the relationship is very good, we can do much more. Everything's good so far," the video stated. Additionally, he emphasised that they want to have 30,000 students in France coming from India by 2030. The French President visited India on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was the chief guest at the 75th Republic Day celebrations on January 26. President Droupadi Murmu and PM Narendra Modi warmly greeted him as he arrived at Kartavya Path. French contingents marched alongside Indian forces during the parade. In a reaffirmation of the longstanding friendship between India and France, President Emmanuel Macron said, "Long live the friendship between France and India." At the outset of his address during a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, Macron expressed heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome extended to his delegation. Macron shared his appreciation for the unique bond that transcends time and shared values. The French President acknowledged the exceptional welcome and recalled the five years since his last state visit, expressing his pleasure at returning to India after the resounding success of India's G20. Macron recounted his visit to Jaipur, with Prime Minister Modi showcasing the symbolic moments that resonated with historical significance. Moreover, India and France adopted a roadmap for the defence-industrial partnership during French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit for Republic Day celebrations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron also reaffirmed their vision that the India-France Strategic Partnership can help build prosperity and resilience in their economies, advance their countries' security, and create a more sustainable and healthier future for the planet. (ANI)
The Baloch Raj Aajoi Sangar (BRAS), an alliance of several Baloch 'pro-independence' groups, claimed responsibility for 14 attacks on political party offices and personnel in different parts of Balochistan, as reported by The Balochistan Post. The Baloch Raj Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) attacked political party offices arguing that the people of Balochistan have boycotted the Pakistani elections, and the organisation will continue to target them until they stop their political activities. The BRAS spokesperson said that the 'sarmachars' (freedom fighters) targeted the Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) offices in Manguchar at 8 pm. Additionally, in another attack in the same district, they targeted the mess hall of Pakistani security forces, causing casualties and damage to the 'enemy', he said, according to The Balochistan Post. In Kech, the 'sarmachars' targeted a security checkpoint of the Pakistani forces in the Tajaban area and killed at least two soldiers, injuring several others. Moreover, they also targeted another security checkpoint in the Kolwah area, causing heavy losses to the "enemy". They further attacked a camp of the Pakistani forces in Hoshap using grenade launchers, destroying a significant portion of it, The Balochistan Post reported. Meanwhile, they also targeted a security checkpoint of Pakistani forces located on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route. The BRAS highlighted that in Quetta, its fighters targeted a so-called election office on Magsi Stop on the Eastern Bypass with a hand grenade. In a similar attack, they targeted another election office in the same area in the evening, according to The Balochistan Post. They further said that the BRAS fighters attacked the residence of former "puppet" Home Minister and Muslim League N candidate Shoaib Nosherwani in a grenade attack, adding that his residence was being used as his makeshift election office. Nosherwani served as home minister to the Balochistan government at the time of Nawab Akbar Bugti's killing and since then, he has been part of the so-called elections to further the 'oppression and occupation' of Balochistan, they added. In Kalat, the 'sarmachars' hit a PPP election office in the Mughalzai area. Furthermore, in Mashkay, BRAS attacked a camp of Pakistani security forces, causing material damage and fatalities to the 'enemy'. In another attack in Mashkay's Ogaar region, they caused severe losses to the Pakistani forces, as reported by The Balochistan Post. In Kilkor, Panjgoor, the 'sarmachars' targeted the security checkpoint of Pakistani forces located in the vicinity of the water supply tank. The BRAS spokesperson emphasised that the group has clearly stated that they do not accept the so-called general elections imposed on Balochistan by the Pakistani state. He added that these elections are another tool to further entrench the 'occupation' of Balochistan, emphasising that, like all the other propaganda tactics of the Pakistani state, it will thwart this tactic with the help of the people of Balochistan. The spokesperson also made it clear that its fighters try to avoid or minimise any damage to the general public during such attacks, The Balochistan Post reported. The group further appealed to the general public to stay safe in their homes and avoid going out to election rallies or offices. Moreover, they promised to continue such attacks ahead of the upcoming general elections. (ANI)
The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced the humanitarian aid of USD 13.5 million from Japan to the Afghan people, as reported by TOLO News. The aid will help the WFP deliver emergency food and nutrition assistance to food-insecure people, support schoolchildren to learn better and keep the United Nations Humanitarian Air Services (UNHAS) operational. Najib, a 12-year-old student who works with his father in Kabul, said that he is trying to support his five-member family by working and wishes that their economic challenges would end. "We want the government to provide work opportunities for my father so that we can continue our studies," he added. The World Food Programme highlighted that with the help of this aid, the organisation will reach nearly 6,00,000 food-insecure people through food assistance, TOLO News reported. "With this contribution, WFP plans to reach nearly 630,000 food-insecure people through food assistance and treat more than 42,000 malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and children. Almost 36,000 schoolchildren in primary school will receive fortified biscuits as daily school snacks to help them stay healthy and learn better," they stated. Some residents of the capital, facing economic challenges, asked the Taliban to distribute id to the needy in a transparent manner, according to TOLO News. Barat Khan, a Kabul resident, said, "We earn 200 to 250 Afghanis a day and our family members are large, so the money is not sufficient." Ziaullah, another resident of Kabul, emphasised that help should be given to those who really deserve it. "Help should be given to those who really deserve it, and the government should have full cooperation in this area." Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, appreciated the help received by the organisation and said that they want more help from them. "The economic situation in Afghanistan is normal and it is affected after the war and forty years of war have passed in this country. The countries that help us should increase their cooperation. We appreciate their help and we want more help from them, but the distribution of aid will be good," he said. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy welcomed the aid of the countries of the world to Afghanistan and emphasised the continuation of this aid in the development and infrastructure programmes of the country, according to TOLO News. Abdul Rahman Habib, spokesman for the Ministry of Economy, said, "In addition to humanitarian aid, donor organisations and countries should focus on employment-generating sectors that lead to job opportunities through the implementation of development projects." Earlier, WFP announced USD 2.2 million from Denmark for humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and said that the total aid of this country to Afghanistan since 2015 has reached USD 36.4 million. (ANI)
In the letter, Biden conveyed his wish to partner with Bangladesh in their shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune, citing the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry.

The US President also expressed the administration's sincere desire to continue working together on various fronts, including regional and global security, economic development, climate change, energy, global health, and humanitarian aid, particularly for Rohingya refugees.

"Dear Madam Prime Minister, As we embark on the next chapter of the U.S.-Bangladesh partnership, I want to convey the sincere desire of my administration to continue our work together on regional and global security, economic development, climate change and energy, global health, humanitarian support, especially for Rohingya refugees, and more. We have a long and successful history of working together to solve problems, and our strong people-to-people ties are the foundation of this relationship," the letter read, according to Dhaka Tribune.

The US President highlighted the long and successful history of collaboration and the strong people-to-people ties as the foundation of the relationship between the two nations.

"The United States is committed to supporting Bangladesh's ambitious economic goals and partnering with Bangladesh on our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific," Biden wrote to Sheikh Hasina.

The two leaders met at the G20 Summit in September last year in New Delhi, where they shared a candid moment, taking a selfie at Bharat Mandapam. (ANI)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  One person was injured after a fight turned into a stabbing Saturday night, Nashville authorities reported.

According to Metro dispatch, the stabbing was reported shortly before 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3 in the 2100 block of Postings Point in Antioch.

Person shot in leg while inside car along Westchester Drive

The Metro Nashville Police Department said officers from the South Precinct responded to the scene, where witnesses reported the victim and the suspect were fighting when the victim was stabbed.

Authorities said the suspect fled the scene, but did not share any description of the suspect.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Meanwhile, the victim was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with a non-life-threatening injury, according to officials.

No additional details have been released about this incident.

 Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go.

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 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.
Press Release

February 3, 2024 To help in local development, Bong Go helps Quezon, Nueva Ecija with newly inaugurated legislative building Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, adopted son of Nueva Ecija, visited and attended the inauguration of the new legislative building in Quezon, Nueva Ecija, on Thursday, February 1. The event was held in anticipation of the town's celebration of its Patimyas Ani Festival. As the vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, the senator played an instrumental role in pushing for funding for the construction of the facility designed to enhance local development, promote good governance and improve public service delivery in the community. The legislative building, located at the municipal hall compound, will serve as the office of the Sangguniang Bayan and the venue for the sessions and hearings of the local legislative council. Go highlighted the importance of the new establishment in fostering efficient governance to benefit its constituents. "Today marks a significant milestone for the people of Quezon, Nueva Ecija. This new building symbolizes our commitment to progress and dedication to serving our people with utmost transparency and efficiency," said Go. "Facilities like these are instrumental in ensuring that the wheels of progress turn smoothly. They provide a conducive environment for our local council to deliberate, decide, and devise policies that will propel your community towards inclusive growth," he added. In his speech, Go congratulated the local officials led by Mayor Boyet Joson for completing the project. He also lauded the local government for advocating for good governance and other development initiatives. During his visit, Go also aided displaced workers in Quezon in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment. After which, Go also visited the town's dialysis center which District Representative Mika Suansing advocated for. The senator, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, expressed his support for establishing the dialysis center, which aims to provide affordable and accessible dailysis treatment for patients with kidney problems. "I commend Congresswoman Suansing for her initiative to put up this dialysis center, which will greatly help the people of Quezon and nearby towns who need dialysis. This is a very important service, especially for the poor and indigent patients who cannot afford the high cost of dialysis in private hospitals, Go said. In alignment with his commitment to bolstering specialized healthcare services nationwide, Go also principally sponsored and is one of the authors of the Republic Act No. 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which was signed into law on August 24. The law mandates the establishment of regional specialty centers within existing Department of Health (DOH) regional hospitals. Furthermore, Go filed Senate Bill No. 190, known as the "Comprehensive Dialysis Benefit Package Act of 2022". If approved, the bill will mandate PhilHealth, in consultation with the Health Technology Assessment Council, to develop a comprehensive dialysis benefit package that fully covers all costs of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis treatments, sessions, and procedures done in PhilHealth-accredited health facilities. Meanwhile, Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, urged residents to prioritize their well-being, encouraging them to seek the services of the Malasakit Centers in the province for medical-related assistance. The Malasakit Centers Act, principally authored and sponsored by Go, simplifies access to medical assistance programs from various government agencies, including the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Malasakit Centers in the province are located at Eduardo L. Joson Memorial Hospital and Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center (PJGMRMC) in Cabanatuan City, and Talavera General Hospital in Talavera Town. According to DOH, 159 operational centers have helped more or less ten million Filipinos nationwide. Go also mentioned his ongoing advocacy for the creation of more Super Health Centers across the country, saying, "Makatutulong po ito sa mga kababayan natin na ilapit po ang serbisyong medikal sa kanila. Ilalagay po ito sa mga strategic areas sa buong Pilipinas." Super Health Centers are medium versions of a polyclinic and an improved version of the rural health unit that offer a range of services, such as database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine, making remote patient diagnosis and treatment possible. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, local government units, and DOH, led by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, sufficient funds have been allocated for more than 700 Super Health Centers from 2022 to 2024. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed. In Nueva Ecija, Super Health Centers will be initially located in Rizal, Cabanatuan City, San Leonardo, Sto. Domingo, Aliaga, Bongabon, Llanera, Science City of Munoz, and Zaragoza. Meanwhile, besides the legislative building in Quezon town, Go also helped fund various projects in the province. Among these projects are the construction of the Talavera National High School Amphitheater; the rehabilitation of roads in Cabiao, General Tinio, Pantabangan, Zaragoza, and Cabanatuan City; the construction of flood mitigation structures in General Tinio, Quezon, San Antonio, and Zaragoza; the construction of multipurpose buildings in Gabaldon, Sta. Rosa and Cabanatuan City; the completion of the PJGMRMC in Cabanatuan City; the reconstruction of the Llanera public market; the rehabilitation of the Baloc public market; and the installation of streetlights. On the same day, he also provided assistance to indigent residents in Cuyapo town in partnership with GP Partylist Rep. Jose Gay Padiernos.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly noted the number of past lieutenant governors in Minnesota history. Peggy Flanagan is the 50th lieutenant governor.

2024 marks the 100-year commemoration of the U.S. government granting citizenship to Indigenous Americans. The Indian Citizenship Act naturalized hundreds of thousands, all but giving them the right to vote.

Full enfranchisement would take decades of activism and perseverance, and the reality of casting ballots would vary from paper to practice for decades to come.

One hundred years later, a local educator, an organizer, and a politician reflect on the many steps towards suffrage.

More: Minnesota gets A plus rating for voter access

A brief history of Indigenous voting rights in Minnesota

For hundreds of years, the United States government used promises of naturalization and enfranchisement to take land from Indigenous peoples and further urge assimilation.

In 1788, the ratification of the U.S. Constitution made it clear: Indigenous people were not American citizens and would not enjoy the right to vote.

Unlike many other states, Minnesota had built into its Constitution a provision that would allow select Indigenous people to vote, given they demonstrate a willingness to submit to the government.

In 1858, Minnesota became the 32nd state. The Minnesota Constitution prohibited Indigenous men from voting unless they were able to prove, via examination, that they had "adopted the language, customs, and habits of civilization".

"Persons of Indian blood residing in this state who have adopted the language, customs and habits of civilization, after an examination before any District Court of the State, in such manner as may be provided by law, and shall have been pronounced by said Court capable of enjoying the rights of citizenship within the State." (Minn. Const., art. VII  1(4) (1858)

Over 65 years later, The Indian Citizenship Act was signed into law by President Calvin Coolidge on June 2, 1924.

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Though the signing of the measure seemingly ended the arduous, federal, dispute over citizenship, it would not fully secure Indigenous people's right vote. The Constitution gave states broad power over executing elections, and states continued to bar their vote by implementing Jim Crow-like laws.

Iyekiyapiwin Darlene St. Clair, a citizen of the Lower Sioux Indian Community, professor, and director of the Multicultural Resources Center at St. Cloud State University, told The USA TODAY Network that the naturalization was just the first hurdle to securing Indigenous enfranchisement  burdens of racist assimilation policies and societal barriers would stand for decades to come.

"I recognize we're celebrating the 100th year of the Indian Citizenship Act," she said. "I also recognize the ways that states were given a lot of say about whether they were going to let Native people vote."

It wasn't until 1960 that an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution was passed, "eliminating obsolete provisions on the voting rights of persons of Indian blood." The Voting Rights Act of 1965 would secure the federal enfranchisement of Indigenous people.

Long before, during, and after U.S. forces fought tribes for control of Indigenous land, tribes practiced self-governance. To this day, many enjoy dual citizenship with their tribes and state, participating in both forms of government.

St. Clair said the complex relationship between Indigenous peoples and U.S. citizenship is an ongoing one.

Iyekiyapiwin Darlene St. Clair poses for a photo in Joshua Tree National Park in Joshua Tree, Calif., in 2019.

At the time the act was signed, an estimated 200,000 Indigenous people were naturalized through previous acts of Congress, including service in World War I and land grants. After its enactment, an additional 125,000 became citizens, according to historical records.

"I think that lots of Native people were debating within their own communities about the benefits or the potential harms of becoming U.S. citizens," she said. "Those kinds of discussions still happen today."

Through curricular work and community outreach, St. Clair facilitates these discussions while also educating non-Indigenous adolescence and their teachers on local history and culture.

"No one debates that a long time ago, there were Native people," she said. "The part where we have to do the educating in the public consciousness is, 'and they are still here, and they live among us.'"

Minnesota has 11 federally recognized tribes, seven Anishinaabe and four Dakota:

Bois Forte Band of Chippewa

Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe

Lower Sioux Indian Community

Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe

Prairie Island Indian Community

Red Lake Band of Chippewa

Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux

Upper Sioux Community

White Earth Reservation

According to 2020 Census data, there are over 68,600 Minnesotans that classify as "American Indian" and or "Alaska Native," making up 1.1% of Minnesota's 5.7 million population.

"I take seriously my responsibility as a citizen, as a Lower Sioux citizen, as a Minnesota citizen, and as a U.S. citizen," St. Clair said. "I always vote."

More: Minnesota gets A plus rating for voter access

Making voting a tradition

Activists wear masks at a recent gathering in Minneapolis' American Indian Cultural Corridor to register Native Americans to vote this election. Nearly half of the nearly 3 million eligible Native American voters are not yet registered.

Minnesota has one of the best voter turnout rates in the country and was ranked the highest in the last presidential election.

By engaging Indigenous communities, voting-rights organizer Darek DeLille hopes to hold on to that honor in November.

"If we could get most of them to vote, we got a real chance of making some waves," he said.

DeLille is the manager of Make Voting a Tradition, a voter engagement initiative from the Native American Community Development Institute, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit.

For over a decade, the group has held year-round voter-engagement events, reaching out to urban, ex-urban and rural communities to increase participation. DeLille said that by addressing common barriers to Indigenous voters, the group hopes to energize community members and commit them to civic engagement.

Even in 2024, obstacles still stand in the way of the polls for Indigenous voters. A 2022 report released by the Biden-Harris administration noted discriminatory redistricting, language barriers and outright hostility as ongoing deterrents to voting.

DeLille, a member of the Bad River tribe of Wisconsin, said that despite progressive efforts from the state, such as allowing tribal IDs for registration and expanding access to absentee ballots, there are some issues laws cannot fix.

"There's still, to this day, a lot of distrust," between Indigenous people and the U.S. government, he said. "It seems deeply engrained in us."

Along with creating confidence in the institution, DeLille said being able to disperse registration and polling information across communities is one of the group's top priorities. Instead of solely relying on social media to facilitate conversation, DeLille and his team hold events, "table talks," where community members can gather to discuss their views and importance of voting.

According to a 2018 Wilder Research study, Indigenous people in Minnesota were overrepresented in the homeless population across tribal land, constituting 12% of those surveyed.

Homeless encampments in the Twin Cities have faced increased threats of relocation and closure by city officials. DeLille said their mobility can cause confusion for voting registration and precincts and the lack of a residence makes it that much harder to reach and engage with people.

"Information has always been a big barrier," DeLille said. "What offices are we voting for this time? Who is running for the offices? What do they do when they get into those chairs?"

All are questions his team works to answer for community members.

In 2023, the group was recognized with an award for excellence in community service from the National Association of Secretaries of State. Though the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office does not track voter turnout based on race and ethnicity, Make Voting a Tradition reported registering over 2,000 voters last year alone.

"I have to believe our work builds excitement, especially for our younger ones," he said.

To DeLille, making voting a tradition means educating and getting the community excited to be involved and passing that energy down for generations to come.

"Our kids are watching," he said. "That's making voting a tradition."

More: Minnesota voter registration guide: How to check your status, voting options, what to know

'As Native people, we have to be in these spaces'

Lieutenant Gov. Peggy Flanagan's first memories of Election Day started long before she was able to vote. She told the USA TODAY Network it was tradition to join her mother every year, clinging to her hip as a child, and as she grew older, listening to her talk about candidates as she filled out her ballot.

Though it would be years until she cast a ballot herself, Flanagan said her childhood was filled with dinner table politics. A citizen of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe raised by a single mother who talked civics all her life, Flanagan thought politics was "just what women do," she said.

In 2002, newly graduated from the University of Minnesota, Flanagan began work on former Democratic U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone's re-election campaign. Just months later, Wellstone was killed in a plane crash with seven others, weeks before the election.

"The first campaign I ever worked on was also the biggest heartache of my life, but it was also this moment where I was like, 'This is what I'm supposed to do,'" she said. "As Native people, we have to be in these spaces."

Flanagan worked to bring attention to Indigenous issues. She served on the Minneapolis School Board, and then the Minnesota House of Representatives where she and two colleagues formed the Minnesota House Native American Caucus.

At 39-years-old, Flanagan made history when she was elected the 50th lieutenant governor alongside Democratic Gov. Tim Walz in 2018, becoming the first racial minority elected to the office. To this day, she is the highest-ranking Indigenous woman elected to executive office.

In the 2018 midterms, a record number of minorities and women were elected around the country at the federal, state and local levels. Notably, "The Squad," including Minnesota Democratic Fifth District U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar and the first two Indigenous congresswomen, were elected.

More: These are the historic firsts for women, minority and LGBTQ candidates in 2018

"We are really just in this incredible moment, " Flanagan said. "I hope that people see me as someone who held the door open for other people who wanted to do this work."

Last year, Flanagan became the first-ever Indigenous woman to lead a party committee when she was elected chairwoman of the Democratic Lieutenant Governor's Association.

"Native women have been leaders since time immemorial," she said. "It's the rest of society that's catching up to us."

Currently, there are five legislators who identify as "American Indian" or "Ojibwe" origin in the Minnesota statehouse: Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn (D-40B), Senator Steve Green (R-02), Rep. Heather Keeler (D-4A), Rep. Alicia Kozlowski (D-8B) and Senator Mary Kunesh (D-39).

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan holds a photo of herself, second from right, her father Marvin Manypenny, front center, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, left, and family in 2018 on White Earth Nation tribal land.

Flanagan is no stranger to fighting for her place at tables. Her father, Indigenous land rights activist and "rabblerouser" Marvin Manypenny, modeled the very idea of strength in speaking up for others, said Flanagan.

Manypenny worked toward constitutional reform at the tribal government-level and spent his career critiquing tribal-state relations. Flanagan said the first person her father voted in a non-tribal election was her.

"I also have critiques of the system, but I will be damned if we're not going to at least make sure that we are heard," Flanagan said. "We are a part of this decision-making process even if we don't always get it right and even though the system has hurt us."

More: Early voting begins: Primary voting is underway, here's what to know

Gearing up for November

The general election is nine months away and early voting for the presidential primaries has already begun. Across the state, hundreds of races will take place over the year on local, state, and federal levels.

Flanagan stressed the need for Indigenous people to exercise their right to vote in state elections.

More: Minnesota elections: One year out  here are key races to watch in 2024

"I think there's a responsibility we have as dual citizens," she said. "It's worth it when we see the things we've been able to accomplish."

In recent years, numerous pieces of legislation and executive orders beneficial to Indigenous communities have gone into effect.

Established first ever Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office

Returned Upper Sioux Agency State Park land to Upper Sioux Native Community

Mandated tribal-state relations training

Established Indigenous education for-all curriculum

Declared Indigenous Peoples Day as a statewide holiday

Flanagan said by continuing to elect Indigenous politicians and engaging in historically underserved communities, Minnesota can be a model for other states on how to be a conduit for changing an oppressive system of governance.

"As Native people, we are more impacted by the government than anybody else, and I will be damned if the system will make decisions about our lives without our input," Flanagan said. "Voting is one of the ways that we can do that."

 Sam Woodward is the Minnesota elections reporting fellow for USA TODAY. You can reach her by email at swoodward@gannett.com and on X @woodyreports.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Indian Citizenship Act: 100 years of Minnesota Indigenous voting rights
ST. LOUIS  An inmate escaped from the St. Louis City Juvenile Detention Center around 5:30 p.m. on February 3. Once the inmate had escaped, the St. Louis police were alerted. As the inmate is 17 years old, no physical description can be released.

He has been held at the detention center since December 8 on charges of second-degree murder and first-degree assault stemming from a homicide on October 24, 2023, in the 4200 block of Shreve Avenue.

As police continue to investigate and search for the male, if you have any information, please reach out to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
A 19-year-old man seen by security guards swimming in a lake outside SoFi Stadium has been found dead, California police told news outlets.

Guards at a concert at the stadium saw him walk into the water and begin swimming just before 9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, Inglewood police told KTTV. He went under and did not resurface.

Rescuers and police found his body around 45 minutes later, police told KABC.

Illenium, an electronic musician and DJ, staged a concert at the stadium that night but its not known if the man, whom police did not publicly identify, attended the event, police told KTLA.

SoFi Stadium, which opened in September 2020, hosts home games for the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers of the NFL.

It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of an individual on Friday evening, stadium officials said in a statement to McClatchy News. Our deepest condolences go out to the individuals family and friends for their loss. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

The 6-acre artificial lake outside the stadium features a 12-foot waterfall and is about 15 feet deep, Deadline reported.

In July 2022, a 45-year-old man who hopped a fence into the stadium property was found dead in the lake, KTLA reported.

Police ask that anyone with information call 888-412-7463.

Inglewood is about 20 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles.

What to know about drowning

At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children.

Some factors can make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim, a lack of close supervision, not wearing a life jacket and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water.

The National Drowning Prevention Alliance said there are tips to help keep you safe in the water, including checking local weather conditions, never swimming alone and choosing the right equipment.

Dont hesitate to get out of the water if something doesnt feel right, the group said on its website. Whether its that the current is getting rough, rain has started to fall, or your body is just not responding like you would like it to due to fatigue or muscle cramps, then just leave and return to the water another day. Its always a good thing to trust your instincts.

Rescuers jump into icy pond to save dog after it falls through ice, NH photos show

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President Joe Biden remains keen on a two-state solution as a resolution to the Israel-Hamas war, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday.

The only long-term answer to peace in the region, to Israel's security in the region, is a two-state solution, with Israel's security guaranteed. A Palestinian state that also has security guarantees for Israel. Thats what were going to keep working for, Sullivan told host George Stephanopoulos on ABCs This Week.

On Oct. 7, about 1,200 Israelis were killed in Hamas initial attack, with more than 200 Israelis taken hostage (more than 100 are still being held). Over 27,000 Palestinians have been killed as the conflict that began after that incursion reaches its fourth month.

Sullivan appeared on multiple Sunday shows discussing, among other things, U.S. involvement in negotiations with Israel.

The president has put his shoulder to the wheel on this. He has spoken to the leaders in both Qatar and Egypt, two countries that are centrally involved in trying to broker this deal. We are in constant contact with our Israeli counterparts on it, Sullivan said.

The goal is, in fact, to get a hostage deal in place as soon as possible. Ultimately, that comes down to Hamas, Sullivan said.



When asked by Stephanopoulos if a deal to release hostages is imminent, Sullivan said that he couldnt say.

I cant say its imminent, but ultimately, these kinds of negotiations unfold somewhat slowly until they unfold very quickly. And so its difficult to put a precise timetable on when something might come together or, frankly, if something might come together. But sitting here today, I cannot tell you its right around the corner, Sullivan said.

These negotiations have also coincided with a growing disdain from the public on Bidens handling of the conflict. According to a recent AP-NORC poll, two-thirds of adults in the U.S. disapprove of Bidens response to the Israel-Hamas war.

Sullivan defended the administrations handling of the war in an interview with CBS' Margaret Brennan.

We don't design our policy toward Israel, or Gaza or the Middle East based on politics. We do it based on the national security interests of the United States. And we've been clear from the beginning that we believe that Israel has a right to respond to the horrific attacks of Oct. 7, Sullivan said on Face the Nation.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is making another trip to the region this week to continue working with our partners on how to achieve durable peace in the region, with lasting security for Israelis and Palestinians alike. he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Nine inmates were injured after an altercation on Saturday at Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis in Buckeye, officials said.

An altercation between a large number of inmates occurred during afternoon recreation in the prison's Morey Unit, according to the Arizona Department of Corrections. Staff was able to get the incident under control, and it was under investigation, officials said.

The nine prisoners hurt in the fight had injuries that were not life-threatening, officials said. No staff members were injured.

The Morey Unit was still locked down as of Saturday night for the investigation; the other units were not impacted, officials added.

Another incident: 'Altercation' at Lewis prison results in prisoners being sent off-site for medical evaluation

The Arizona Department of Corrections said no other information about the incident was available.

In August, another altercation at the Lewis prison caused prisoners to be sent off-site for a medical evaluation, officials said.

The Lewis prison houses more than 4,000 incarcerated people and has faced major staffing shortages.

In 2022, The Arizona Republic reported the Lewis prison was so understaffed that one officer would sometimes be responsible for overseeing 200 or more prisoners during the day. During night shifts, that number could reach up to 400 prisoners per single officer.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 9 inmates hurt after fight at Arizona state prison in Buckeye
Press Release

February 4, 2024 Committed to promoting senior citizen welfare; Bong Go welcomes implementation of law doubling pensions Senator Christopher "Bong" Go expressed his commitment to continue supporting the welfare of senior citizens in the country, especially the indigent ones, as he lauded the implementation of Republic Act No. 11916 or the law that doubled the social pension of qualified poor senior citizens. RA 11916, which Go co-authored in the Senate, increased the monthly stipend of indigent senior citizens from PhP500 to PhP1,000. The law also mandated the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to review and adjust the amount of the social pension every two years, considering the consumer price index and other economic indicators. According to the DSWD, more than 2,000 beneficiaries in the National Capital Region have received their increased social pension since the law took effect in July 2022. DSWD officials also assured that it has enough funds to cover the additional pension for the four million qualified indigent senior citizens. "Ang batas na ito ay patunay ng aming malasakit at pagpapahalaga sa ating mga senior citizen na nag-ambag sa pag-unlad ng ating bansa. Hindi namin sila pababayaan, lalo na ang mga mahihirap at pinakanangangailangan," Go said. Go also mentioned his co-authorship and co-sponsorship of Senate Bill No. 2028, which seeks to expand the coverage of the Centenarians Act of 2016 to Filipinos who reach the age of 80 and 90 years old by providing them P10,000 and P20,000 cash gifts, respectively. The bill, principally sponsored by Senator Imee Marcos, was approved by the Senate on the third and final reading in September 2023. "Nasa kultura na nating mga Pilipino na alagaan ang ating mga nakakatanda. Dapat natin silang suportahan at bigyan ng pagkilala. Habang kaya pang pakinabangan at ma-enjoy ng senior citizen ang cash gift, ibigay na natin sa kanila," Go said. "Maganda rin na may inaasahan ang ating mga senior citizen pagtuntong nila ng 80, 90 at 100 years old. Anuman ang halaga, maaari itong magsilbing inspirasyon sa kanila para mas maging positibo ang kanilang pananaw at mag-improve ang kanilang katayuan," he added. Through the Centenarian Act of 2016, a PhP100,000 cash gift is extended to Filipino citizens who reach the age of 100. However, recognizing that not everyone reaches the milestone of a century, Go and his fellow lawmakers have championed the cause of those who make it to 80 and 90 years old. Meanwhile, Go also urged senior citizens to avail of the services of the Malasakit Centers, which are one-stop shops for medical assistance from various government agencies. He shared that the Malasakit Centers have a special lane for senior citizens to expedite their transactions. Go is the principal author and sponsor of RA 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. There are now 159 fully operational Malasakit Centers nationwide, which have assisted around ten million Filipinos. "Sa pamamagitan ng Malasakit Center, mas pinapadali natin ang proseso ng paghingi ng tulong sa gobyerno para sa mga gastusin sa pagpapagamot. Layunin nito na mabawasan o ma-zero ang balance ng mga poor at indigent patients, lalo na ang mga senior citizen," Go explained. Go then reminded the senior citizens who wish to apply for the social pension program to coordinate with their local social welfare offices and submit the requirements. Previously, Go called for updating the list of indigent senior citizens in October last year to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries are included. "Ang mga Pilipino ay family-oriented. Inaalagaan natin ang ating mga matatanda. Kaya naman patuloy kaming magseserbisyo para maprotektahan at mapabuti ang kalagayan ng ating mga senior citizen," Go said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) claimed Sunday that his states razor wire installation at a park in Eagle Pass, Texas, has led to a massive reduction in migrant flow in the area.

Abbott said on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures that several other governors are joining him on Sunday to show their support of Texass right to self-defense amid an increase of migrants at the U.S. southern border. This comes as Abbott has been entangled in an ongoing feud with the Biden administration over the handling of the border.

And so these governors are rallying around Texas to support our ongoing right to self-defense, and the deployment of this razor wire that has led to a massive reduction in inflow, Abbott said. The area where we have occupied this park in Eagle Pass, Texas, that we put up the razor wire, there used to be 3,000 or 4,000 people crossing that area a day.

For the past three days, we have averaged just three people crossing that area. The point is, if we put up resistance, we show that we can secure the border. Joe Biden should not be stopping that, he continued.

Texas began to install razor wire along its border with Mexico last year  a move that the Biden administration has argued the state does not have the authority to undertake. Texas has doubled down on the razor wire, with state officials arguing they have a right to defend their state against an influx of migrants.

The conflict escalated last month after Texas fenced off a public park in Eagle Pass, Texas, and erected razor wire without notifying local authorities. The state law enforcement later prevented U.S. Border Patrol officers from entering the park, which also has the regions main boat ramp.

The Supreme Court ruled last month that border agents can remove the razor wire erected by Texas, which the federal government argued prevented them from doing their jobs at the border. Despite the Supreme Courts ruling, the Texas National Guard appears to have continued installing the razor wire.

Abbott also doubled down on his declaration of an invasion last month, arguing again that President Biden is not doing enough to secure the border. Many Republican governors have lined up behind Abbott to support Texas amid its standoff with the Biden administration.

More than half of the governors are now joined together in support of a very important proposition. And that is, we are guaranteed by the United States Constitution the right of self-defense if states face imminent harm or invasion. Texas obviously is facing both, an imminent harm, as well as an invasion, Abbott said Sunday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
This is an "acceptable practice" that poses no threat to the plant or its employees, the Russian Permanent Mission in Vienna said on Jan. 31 in response to the International Atomic Energy Agencys (IAEA) report that the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plants perimeter (ZNPP) has been mined.

Read also: IAEA Director General to visit Zaporizhzhya NPP, Kyiv, and Moscow

The mines are located between the outer and inner perimeters in a closed buffer zone, access to which is restricted, the missions statement said.

The presence of mines there is due to the need to deter potential Ukrainian saboteurs. The protective measures taken at the plant are adequate to the existing threats. Laying mines to protect the perimeter of a nuclear power plant is an acceptable practice that does not contradict any IAEA recommendations.

Russian troops continue to deny experts access to the reactor halls at the occupied Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, the IAEA reported on Jan. 12. IAEA monitoring personnel have been unable to enter the reactor halls of the facility's first, second, and sixth units.

Read also: Russia denies IAEA access to parts of occupied Zaporizhzhya NPP

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi, will visit the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) as part of the agency's new rotation of experts, he announced after a meeting with the UNs Security Council, reported Ukrinform.

He also plans to visit Kyiv and Moscow, and to meet with the plants leadership and Russian representatives as the ZNPP prepares for its 16th rotation.

Zaporizhzhia NPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, and has been occupied by Russian forces since Mar. 4, 2022. Several ZNPP facilities have been damaged by Russian shelling, and the station's employees are captives of the occupying troops.

The Kremlin uses the site as cover for its forces, as Ukraine cant return fire for the risk of causing a nuclear calamity.

Currently, the plant operates solely for its own needs and does not supply electricity to the Ukrainian grid.

Read also: Kyiv blames partial shutdown at Zaporizhzhya NPP on Russian gross incompetence

During the summer, Ukrainian authorities also expressed concerns about Russias intentions to carry out a terrorist act at Zaporizhzhya NPP.

Russia was contemplating a terrorist act at the seized NPP, with preparations allegedly completed, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in June.

Explosive devices were strategically placed near four out of six power units, and the cooling system was rigged with charges, said Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraines military intelligence chief.



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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Across Americas power grid, theres a growing gap between what we need and what well allow.

As the planet warms and climate disasters grow more costly, the U.S. has set a target to reach 100% clean energy by 2035, a goal that depends on building large-scale solar and wind power.

A nationwide analysis by USA TODAY shows local governments are banning green energy faster than theyre building it.

At least 15% of counties in the U.S. have effectively halted new utility-scale wind, solar, or both, USA TODAY found. These limits come through outright bans, moratoriums, construction impediments and other conditions that make green energy difficult to build.

The impediments come as a gigantic effort to build green energy also is underway. U.S. energy from commercial wind and solar is expected to hit 19% by 2025, and those sources are expected to surpass the amount of electricity made from coal this year.

But green energy must increase radically over the next 11 years to meet U.S. goals. And those projects are becoming harder to build.

Solar panels at the future Springfield solar farm in the Town of Lomira, Wisconsin on Tuesday, June 20, 2023. The nearly 900-acre, 100-megawatt solar project is being completed by Alliant Energy and is expected to create enough energy to power approximately 25,000 homes.

In the past decade, about 180 counties got their first commercial wind-power projects. But in the same period, more than twice as many blocked wind development. And while solar power has found more broad acceptance, 2023 was the first year to see almost as many individual counties block new solar projects as the ones adding their first projects.

The result: Some of the areas with the nation's best sources of wind and solar power have now been boxed out.

Because large-scale solar and wind projects typically are built outside city limits, USA TODAYs analysis focuses on restrictions by the county-level governments that have jurisdiction. In a few cases, such as Connecticut, Tennessee and Vermont, entire states have implemented near-statewide restrictions.

While 15% of Americas counties might sound like a small portion, the trend has significant consequences, says Jeff Danielson, a former four-term Iowa state senator now with the Clean Grid Alliance.

Its 15% of the most highly productive areas to develop wind and solar, he said. Our overall goals are going to be difficult to achieve if the answer is No in county after county.

The countrys green-energy deadline now sits just 11 years away. But even if politicians fail to meet that goal, another clock is ticking.

Last year, 2023, was the warmest in recorded history, warmer than any other in 125,000 years. And with rising temperatures come rising risks: stronger hurricanes in the Atlantic, more severe cloudbursts in storms across North America, increasing drought in the Great Plains, larger wildfires in the West.

Construction isnt happening fast enough to meet the countrys green energy needs, said Grace Wu, a professor of energy resources at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Im worried about whats ahead, she said.

The shift to green energy, and the rise of bans

The transition to green energy involves a profound national shift: a move from power plants that mostly burned coal, then natural gas, to new wind and solar installations. That also means shifting much of the nations energy generation to new regions, specifically the large wind belt down the middle of the country and the sunny southeast and southwest.

Clean energy includes other emissions-free sources such as nuclear (18%) and hydropower (6%). But both of those are controversial in their own right and unlikely to see major expansion in the U.S.

And sources such as rooftop solar panels on houses or businesses, while helpful, provide just a tiny fraction of the total power supply.

In the Northeast, several coastal states have instead made plans to rely on offshore wind turbines. But a wave of disinformation in 2023, falsely claiming offshore wind projects killed whales, resulted in a sharp decline in public support for offshore wind.

The only likely way to shift away from fossil fuels quickly is a sharp increase in solar and wind farms big enough to replace power plants, each one powering tens of thousands of homes.

The total amount of energy a solar plant can make varies widely based on size and location. The average-size solar plant today can power about 20,000 homes. A field of wind turbines can be similar, as each turbine can power about 1,000 homes.

The first large-scale wind farm in the U.S. started running nearly 50 years ago, in the aftermath of a global oil crisis. Built in Southern California, it powered more than 4,000 homes.

Wind power gained momentum in the early 2000s thanks to better technology and tax incentives.

But the number of new wind projects opening annually peaked in the early 2010s, according to inventory data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and has slowed since then.

Wind power is expected to grow 11% by 2025 from last years levels. In the past 10 years, 183 counties saw their first wind projects come online. However, USA TODAYs analysis found that in the same period, nearly 375 counties have essentially blocked new wind development. Thats almost as many as the 508 counties  out of 3,144 total in the U.S.  currently home to an operational wind turbine.

Utility-scale solar plants, using solar panels that have grown dramatically more efficient, have proliferated in the past decade. The U.S. added a record 33 gigawatts of solar power in 2023, and solar is expected to grow 75% by 2025. More than 1,000 counties now host solar farms.

A solar panel in my part of Michigan produces 70% of the solar power the same panel in Phoenix, Arizona, does. Most people would expect the difference to be much bigger, said Sarah Mills, a professor of urban planning at the University of Michigan who studies energy policy and land use.

Sarah Mills, a professor of urban planning at the University of Michigan, says that if the nation's windiest and sunniest places reject wind turbines and solar farms, those sources must move to areas that are less efficient and more expensive.

However, opposition also has shot up, according to USA TODAYs analysis. Of the 116 counties implementing bans or impediments to utility-scale solar plants, half did so in 2023 alone.

This surge in obstacles is unprecedented since green-energy technology gained broad acceptance.

The local regulation landscape for renewables is changing quickly, said Tamara Ogle, a member of the land use team at Purdue University Extension who inventoried Indianas renewable energy ordinances in 2022.

Despite growing hostility, green energy can be an economic windfall in places that welcome it.

Much like places such as Texas and Alaska grew rich when drilling companies struck oil, solar and wind power can bring in both construction work and cash, in the form of leases and tax revenue from the power plants.

You're talking hundreds of millions of dollars of economic impact in these counties, many of which are shrinking, said Alan Anderson, who heads the energy practice at the law firm of Polsinelli in Kansas City, Missouri. Rural counties lower their property tax bills, Anderson said, when green energy tax money flows in.

In all, the nation will get about 12% of its electricity supply from wind and about 7% from utility-scale solar by 2025.

But thats a long way from the 60% to 80% well need in addition to nuclear and hydropower.

And building any energy source is a compromise, said Thomas Daniels, a professor of land and environmental planning at the University of Pennsylvanias Weitzman School of Design. Wind and solar do require land, just as coal, oil and natural gas did, but the acreage is larger  theres no getting around it.

Not every project can be no-impact, he said. So backlash against new power plants is a normal human reaction.

Many forms of impediments

Local obstructions sometimes take the form of outright bans or moratoriums. But other rules also block green power: burdensome limits on size, height or locations. Some places put caps on total size or implement complex rules that prevent solar from replacing specially designated areas such as prime farmland.

These limits can mean wind or solar farms are allowed in theory but may be impossible to build in reality.

USA TODAYs analysis considered a variety of limits to determine which ones were restrictive enough to effectively block new power projects. One example is a setback requirement for wind turbines. The larger the setback  a mandatory distance from a neighboring property line or structure  the larger the plot of land required for each turbine and the fewer that can be built.

Every year were seeing restrictions that are more severe, said Matt Eisenson, senior fellow at Columbia Law Schools Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. You now have counties in Nebraska that have 3-mile setbacks for wind turbines, so if you have a square plot of land, you would need 36 square miles to site a single wind turbine.

Matt Eisenson, Senior Fellow at the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School, photographed at the university in Manhattan on Dec. 19. 2023. Eisenson writes the main legal report covering opposition to renewable energy facilities in the United States for the Renewable Energy Legal Defense Initiative at the Sabin Center.

Solar farms might be allowed but subject to size restrictions that make them impractical. For example, in Virginia, 14 counties have set maximums on either the percentage of land or the number of acres that can be covered in solar panels, significantly restricting the size and number of possible projects.

Other jurisdictions create shadow bans of sorts. Projects might not technically be banned, but officials simply reject all green energy plans on a case-by-case basis.

USA TODAYs analysis began with data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Columbia Universitys Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and then built on it with more than a years worth of tracking federal data, local government filings and media reports from across the country. The methodology and conclusions were vetted by an expert panel.

Earlier research from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found local ordinances through 2021 were responsible for about a 13% reduction in wind capacity and a 2% reduction in solar capacity across the nation. That research likely underestimates the current effects, because of the large number of new impediments USA TODAY found from 2022 and 2023.

USA TODAYs findings were supported by research published in late January by the Department of Energys Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Energy developers reported one-third of the wind and solar siting applications they had submitted in the past five years were canceled, while about half were delayed for six months or more. Zoning issues and community opposition were two of the top reasons.

Developers told the researchers that opposition to wind and solar projects is becoming more prevalent and more expensive, adding they project this will get worse.

There are impacts, said Anthony Lopez, a senior researcher in the Geospatial Data Science Group at the National Renewable Energy Laboratorys Strategic Energy Analysis Center. He tracks ordinances governing wind and solar power for the U.S. government and has published extensively on the topic.

Anthony Lopez, senior researcher in the Geospatial Data Science Group within the Strategic Energy Analysis Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, looks at a map that visualizes the county and state ordinances regulating wind energy. Lopez curates the main U.S. government list of laws regarding renewable energy.

Our models show that when we reduce our nation's wind and solar resources through measures like local ordinances, it could slow down the process of decarbonization and make it much more expensive, he said.

At the University of Michigan, Mills said that if the windiest and sunniest places say no to large wind turbines and solar farms, developers move on to the next windiest or sunniest places, and then the next  each time to an area that is less efficient and more expensive.

Once you place these restrictions, whats left is less optimal, said Mills. What is the cost that were willing to pay for social acceptance?

Why people want the bans

The opposition to renewable energy isn't as simple as left vs. right, and it isn't always a matter of big business vs. small activists. Theres no one group fighting renewables  there are many, with a range of objections.

Former President Donald Trump often denigrates wind and solar power in his speeches. In December in New Hampshire, he said, falsely, that wind farms only last 10 years, that they kill all the birds, that solar energy isnt powerful enough to run factories and that wind is 42 times more expensive than natural gas.

There are several national think tanks and groups, many that receive fossil fuel funding, that have been putting out arguments, often false, opposing wind and solar power for years.

But sometimes, big utility companies that make money with fossil fuels are actually the same utilities seeking to build solar farms or wind turbines.

The East Blackland Solar Project, also known as the Pflugerville Solar Farm, is an operating 144 megawatt solar farm near Manor and Pflugerville, Texas. Aug. 20, 2023.

And much of the opposition comes from local activists without obvious ties to national groups.

USA TODAY visited communities in three states and viewed public meetings in half a dozen others to understand public sentiments for and against green energy proposals.

The opposition sometimes leads to surprising arguments about property rights, in which some landowners invoke concepts like a claim to a "viewshed"  views they want free of wind turbines or solar panels. These opponents clash with others who champion a different view of private property rights, saying landowners should be free to build what they want.

And while opponents say solar and wind farms destroy the agricultural way of life, farmers themselves are often the ones who want to build green power, saying theyre simply swapping out one crop that requires the sun  corn or soy  for another, electricity. For wind, turbines can easily be placed in working fields or rangeland.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

These arguments now create rifts in rural communities nationwide. From California to New York, proposals have drawn local opposition as virulent as any book-banning controversy, with county board meetings so tense local police and sheriffs deputies are sometimes called to keep things civil.

In Ohio in December, an anonymously funded group held a catered town hall meeting in Knox County featuring speakers linked to fossil fuel and climate change denial organizations who made many unsupported claims. Representatives of the project were not allowed in.

National renewable energy opposition points posted online are quickly taken up by people living near proposed projects who use them to fight what they see as a threat to their communities and way of life.

Farm silos appear in the background behind rows of solar panels at the Yellowbud Solar Power Plant on Sept. 28, 2023, in Williamsport, Ohio.

Attend a county zoning or commission meeting and there will most likely be conspiracy theories and wild accusations about the dangers of renewable energy and even questions about whether global warming truly exists  often the exact same arguments put forth by fossil fuel funded think tanks.

But as person after person comes to the podium, another theme develops. Often, the people say they dont reject the need for renewable power. But whatever their arguments, one sentiment underlies them  sadness and sometimes anger as they contemplate what feels like a massive change in the place they live and love.

I wouldnt say were against renewable energy, I would say were against it being forced upon us, said Coedy Snyder, who lives about three miles from the proposed Oak Run solar farm in Madison County, Ohio. The proposed 6,000-acre, 800 megawatt power plant would generate enough energy for as many as 170,000 homes, and developers say it could provide $250 million in tax revenue over 35 years.

Snyder has lived on the same road his whole life, farming soybeans and corn with his father, grandfather and brother.

You live in the country, and you want to be away from all the hustle and bustle. I kind of look at it as if theyre sticking a warehouse or a factory here, he said. He believes if we wait, renewable technology will get better and not be as disruptive.

I just think with the technology 10 years from now theres going to be something new, he said.

Thats a common anti-renewable talking point, that the world can wait for new technology that will mean current efforts to curb carbon-pollution are unnecessary.

Gary Teach and his wife, April, live next door to the proposed solar farm. They bought their home 20 years ago, specifically so they could live in the country, away from people and traffic.

Its going to change our lifestyle and the landscape and everything around here, he said. Its like a train that cant be stopped, it doesnt matter what the people want.

In the case of the Sun Run facility, that might still be true. But it wont be for any other projects.

On Sept. 12, 2023, Madison County commissioners voted on a new resolution: All new large-scale wind and solar projects would be banned.

Those kinds of bans mean the U.S. is in danger of not making the shift away from greenhouse gas producing energy in time, said Cullen Howe, a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council.

If its getting harder to build these things in the places they need to go, or they take longer or theyre more expensive, then were not going to meet these goals, he said. We cant wait 10 years for this to fix itself  the urgency is real. We need to be going much, much faster than we are currently going.

This story was produced with support from the McGraw Center for Business Journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Renewable energy: Why US counties often ban solar, wind power plants
Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) called House Speaker Mike Johnsons decision to move forward with a separate Israel package very dirty pool Sunday.

Its an act of staggering bad faith, Himes told CBS Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan in an interview alongside Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio).

Senate lawmakers are negotiating a border deal coupling immigration law and foreign aid, a deal that many lawmakers fear will be dead on arrival in the GOP-controlled House. Johnson sent a letter on the deal to House Republicans on Saturday saying that by failing to include the House in their negotiations, they have eliminated the ability for a swift consideration of any legislation.

Next week, we will take up and pass a clean, standalone Israel supplemental package, Johnson wrote.

Part of the rationale for negotiating a foreign aid deal that includes changes to the immigration system is because Republicans in both the House and Senate had been insisting that no foreign aid should be added without border reforms.

But now that a proposed deal is in the works, GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump has argued against it, and at least some congressional Republicans have changed their tune. According to Himes, "before the wording of a bipartisan border deal was even available to anybody," Johnson said the bill would be dead on arrival.

I think what's happening here is that the speaker is taking a move to get Israel aid done, which we all support, most of us support, I shouldn't say all. But that will allow him to ultimately not do a border deal because there are Republicans, Mike Turner not amongst them, who would rather that problem be an issue in November and that it not be solved, Himes said.

Turner also defended the border deal Sunday, saying, I think that we really have four significant national security threats. We have Asia, we have Ukraine, we have Israel and what's going on in the Middle East. And of course, we have our border. And right now we've been proceeding on negotiations on those four.

So I do think that all these are coupled, Turner said.

So as much as it is important for us to provide aid to Israel, this is the first step in getting aid to Israel at the expense of any aid to Ukraine and at the expense of a generational opportunity to actually get a border immigration deal done, Himes said.
Vladimir Sergiyenko has said he is the victim of a hack and that claims of his connections to Russia are 'fictitious'

An alleged spy for Russia who was working as an adviser to a German MP has resigned after what appears to be correspondence between him and a Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) agent in Moscow was published.

Vladimir Sergiyenko was, until this weekend, a political strategist for an MP from the far-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. But Ukrainian-born Mr Sergiyenko is accused of simultaneously working as an influence agent for Russia, taking instructions from an FSB intelligence agent who co-ordinated his every move and provided him with funding, according to an investigation by Der Spiegel, the German news magazine, and The Insider, an independent Russian website.

The 52-year-old is said to have played a key role in persuading the AfD to file a lawsuit against Germanys Federal Constitutional Court to stop weapons deliveries to Ukraine, telling his handler that this makes the governments work more difficult. When asked for a progress report, he responded: We are following the plan. Not easy, but were making progress.

Access pass to the Bundestag

He regularly visited Moscow, where he appeared on television chat shows, and also had an access pass to the Bundestag, Germanys parliament. Mr Sergiyenko was found with 9,000 (7,700) in cash by customs on two occasions when returning from Russia, according to the report. Western intelligence services reportedly fear he could have been funnelling the money to the AfD, which opposes economic sanctions on Russia as well as German military support for Ukraine. Officials also found a Russian passport, which he had not presented when applying for German citizenship in late 2022, which Berlin is now attempting to strip him of.

Mr Sergiyenko denies the allegations, saying he is the victim of a hack and that all claims of his connections to Russia are fictitious.

His previous employer, Eugen Schmidt, an MP who heads the AfDs Russian-German parliamentary group, said the allegations were untrue and the result of an anti-AfD campaign.

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In the summer of September 2013, a handful of journalists with close ties to Irans Revolutionary Guard were summoned to a secretive ceremony in an aircraft hangar.

Waiting for them in the hangar on a pea-green floor, which looked a bit like a repurposed school gymnasium, were two brand new aircraft in white and blue livery, marked with the number 129.

To the journalists charged with taking photographs of that new kit, ahead of a big announcement by the Revolutionary Guard, it may have felt like just another routine assignment.

But this was no ordinary plane: this was the Shahed [Witness in Persian], a deadly long-range drone that in the decade to come would wreak havoc across the Middle East and beyond.

Irans most strategic unmanned plane

Our scientists, through scientific struggle, have built Irans most strategic unmanned plane, declared General Mohammad Ali Jafari, then the commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Guard. This smart technology can do the job of thousands of soldiers, military posts and border guards... and protect the security of the borders.

It was a bold claim for a regime with a reputation for building dubious imitations of superior Western drones; in 2011, the Iranians had also managed to capture a US RQ-170 which was reverse engineered some years later to make another drone in the Iranian fleet, the Simorgh.

The RQ-170 Sentinal drone which, Iran's military said on Dec 4 2011, shot down a US Reconnaissance drone in eastern Iran

This time, however, General Jafari was proven right, as the Shahed became what one expert has called the AK-47 of Tehran: cheap, mass produced and ready to be exported worldwide to conflict zones where the regime has a vested interest.

The menace of the Shahed was underlined this week after it was, according to US officials, unleashed on their desert outpost of Tower 22 in Jordan.

Emitting its distinctive, lawnmower-like whirr, the drone was launched by an Iranian-backed militia group in Iraq and somehow evaded US air defences before crashing into the barracks, killing three US soldiers and injuring a further 25.

The next day, US TV screens were broadcasting the names, ranks, ages and photographs of the slain troops  Specialist Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, and Sergeant William Jerome Rivers, 46  as they did during the darker days of the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns. It was the moment that the latest war in the Middle East was brought home to America.

Most deadly attack since Oct 17

US officials called it the the most deadly attack since Oct 17, the date when armed groups across the Middle East started attacking US forces in retaliation for Israels ongoing war with Hamas. It was also, they said, an an escalation of significance  raising the spectre of direct conflict with Iran.

The Shahed had been used many times by Iranian proxies before in the Middle East, notably by Houthi militia groups who relied on it against the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, and more recently in a string of attacks on Western commercial ships in the Red Sea. The Syrian regimes drone fleet is also reported to include Shaheds.

A Shahed-136 drone was, according to US officials, used in the notorious July 2021 drone attack by Iran on the Mercer Street vessel in the Red Sea, which killed a Romanian sailor and a British security guard.

Perhaps most significantly, it is being exported en masse to Russia for use in Vladimir Putins ongoing invasion of Ukraine as part of a shadowy new security alliance with Moscow.

In Ukraine, the sound of a Shahed grumbling through the skies signals an imminent explosion and, frequently, civilian casualties. Fitted with warheads of up to 50kg and with a range of up to 2,000 kilometres, the Russians have mainly been relying on Shaheds to attack energy grids and grain storehouses.

A September 2023 report by Airwars, a British investigative news website, found that nearly 2,000 Shaheds have been launched at Ukraine from Russia since that month.

Iranian drones attractive to Russia

Ulrike Franke, a drone expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said Iranian drones like the Shahed were particularly attractive to Russia because they were already battle-tested in the Middle East and easy to ship in huge quantities.

Iran has a long history of building these smaller and less sophisticated drones and testing them around the world, she said. What is surprising is the sheer numbers, they are giving out hundreds and hundreds which were either quickly produced or already in their arsenal.

Experts like Dr Franke stress that drones are not strategic weapons, in the sense of being able to decide the overall outcome of the war in Ukraine. However, they bring an element of surprise that other elements cannot  they are a nuisance to the point it can become a new problem.

They are also a drain on the enemys resources, she added: The munition used to shoot them down tends to be more expensive than the drone itself.

Ukrainian forces have also been hard at work developing EV [electronic warfare] solutions to incoming drones, such as jamming their GPS so they cannot reach their target. Then there are the old fashioned, and sometimes most effective, methods  such as putting up huge nets around a base to block small aircraft.

Ukraine's President Zelensky with the Shahed drone

As for the attack in Jordan on US troops, some reports suggest this was more a case of a US security failure than an Iranian triumph; staff on the base may have mistaken the Shahed for a US drone and allowed it to pass.

While the Iranian regime admits to sending the drones to Russia  after initial denials  Russia continues to brand them as a domestic Geran drone model.

Russia ran out of Shahed drones just a few months after Iran began the supplies in spring 2022, prompting the Kremlin to look for ways to ramp up production and, if possible, set up the manufacturing locally.

Roped into building drones in Russia

Russian media outlet Razvorot last year reported that several hundred undergraduate students had been roped into assembling Shaheds at a production line in Alabuga in the region of Tatarstan about 1,000 kilometres east from Moscow.

Internal memos and email exchanges with Iranian partners showed that the factory floor at Alabuga is planned to be expanded from 40,000 sq. metres to 100,00 sq. metres in the next two years. Production figures were not revealed.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or drones) on display during a ceremony in Iran - AFP

Unnamed students of a technical school affiliated with a local university said several hundreds of their peers, mostly underage, had been coerced into working at the factory as an extracurricular activity.

Those who tried to refuse working on the drone assembly line were reportedly threatened that they would be expelled from school and would also have to pay back the scholarship they had been given.

Students were reportedly paid around 40,000 rubles (350) a month for assembling the drones.

As early as October 2022, Tehran reportedly sent members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to Crimea to help Russian forces use the one-way attack drones Moscow provided.

The widespread Russian use of the drones in Ukraine provides Iran opportunities to learn valuable lessons that can be used to refine their drone designs and better employ them, according to Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

He added: We see some of those same types of drones being used against American forces in the Middle East. Iranian drones are not just a problem for Ukrainians. They are a problem for Israel, the United States, and its Arab partners, too.



Mr Bowman said: The Shahed 136 is not exactly the most advanced drone in the world. But thats the point, you can accomplish very significant things on the battlefield with low technology, low cost systems, especially if you can employ them in large quantities.



The broader implication here is that we have Iranian weapons being used in Ukraine to kill men, women and children in their homes, and then the same Iranian weapons are being used to try to kill American forces in the Middle East.



Americas four leading nation state adversaries are increasingly aligned and increasingly coordinating with one another to undermine us and our allies.



Russia and China are closer than they have been for decades. We see Chinese money flowing into Iran. That Chinese money is going to help immunise Iran to some degree against Western, US-led sanctions pressure, making it even less likely that Tehran will ever negotiate in good faith about its nuclear program.

This smart technology can do the job of thousands of soldiers, military posts and border guards...and protect the security of the borders. - NurPhoto

By the time that the Shahed was placed in Russian stockpiles, various Iranian drone models were already well integrated into the arsenals of Irans proxies, a vast network across the Middle East of militia groups that receive funding and expertise from Tehran.

Hezbollah has mixed family of drones

The Houthis have relied on Shahed and Samad drones (the latter reputedly of Iranian origin) throughout the Yemen civil war, while various Iranian-backed factions in Iraq and Syria hold an unknown number of Shaheds. Israeli officials say that Hezbollah in southern Lebanon has a mixed family of drones, likely including models such as the Shahed.

Hamas in the Gaza Strip has a drone fleet of sorts, but it is less clear whether it contains Iranian-made models. Hamas has sporadically launched crude, possibly homemade drones in recent years, and may have used them to carry out surveillance of southern Israel prior to the Oct 7 massacre.

In all cases, however, experts say it is clear that Iranian expertise has likely supported these programmes across the Middle East.

And Irans drone production programme seems to be gaining pace. In August 2023, Tehran revealed a new model of the Mohajer [Immigrant in Persian], fitted with a 200 kilogram warhead, which it claimed was capable of bombing Israel into the Stone Age.

For Seth J. Frantzman, a Middle East security analyst and the author of Drone Wars, the mass export of these Iranian models is already looking like nascent stages of the AK-47 trafficking of the Soviet Union.

The Shahed itself is also starting to become a symbol of sorts for the anti-Israel factions, added Mr Frantzman. Were starting to see that these groups are, more and more, embracing the drone and discussing it in propaganda than they had done a few years ago.

Long-running intelligence debate

There has been a long-running debate in intelligence circles over how much control Iran maintains over its drones, and how they are used, once they arrive in the hands of their proxies.

Mr Frantzman pointed to the assassination of Qassim Soleimani, the revered Iranian IRGC leader who was killed by the Trump Administration, as a clear sign that Tehran coordinates very closely with its proxies.

Remember that Soleimani was killed in Baghdad airport  he was driving with the head of Kataib Hezbollah [an Iranian-backed group led by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis], so its clear they were seen planning operations together, he said.

Iran is yet to face any severe military consequences for arming the Russians and its various proxies, though a major retaliation from President Joe Biden over the attack in Jordan is expected to take place in the near future.

It will most likely take the form of an attack on Iranian or Iranian-backed forces inside Iraq, as bombing Iran itself would risk a tremendous escalation in the conflict.

Those with a more hawkish view on Iran have increased calls for direct action against the regime. They argue that for too long the West has allowed Tehran and its proxies to operate in the shadows across the Middle East with impunity  though the regime is subject to crippling sanctions over human rights abuses and its nuclear programme.

In killing US soldiers, the regime in Iran has greatly overreached itself. It must now be put back into place, wrote Kasra Aarabi, director of IRGC research at United Against Nuclear Iran, in a recent op-ed for the Telegraph. This must now be remedied. Weakness emboldens the Iranian regime; strength cows it.

A decade on from that portentous ceremony in September 2013, where the Shahed was unveiled, it has become a terror of the skies over two continents.

It could also be argued that the story of the Shahed mirrors Irans expanding influence across the Middle East and Europe: secretive, low-cost, and more geared towards disruption than mass-destruction.

As for General Jafari, he is now quietly retired in Iran, where he lives under US and UK sanctions  but the legacy of his scientific struggle drones on.

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Amarillo City Councilmember Don Tipps weighed in on the citys discussion of an abortion ordinance that has carried on for the past month.

The city council was studying the issue and having conversations on whether a citywide abortion ordinance is needed, but with a group of 11 citizens filing paperwork to initiate a petition in December, the council has been stuck in a wait-and-see mode. Tipps reacted to the citizen group not letting the council further explore the issue before moving forward with the petition.

Les Simpson discusses the parameters of an abortion ordinance with othe councilmembers at a special work session of city council held in December at the Amarillo Civic Center.

One of the issues that Tipps felt prompted this was the work session not being very productive with insufficient open dialogue. He said one of the issues was that council members could not discuss the proposals limited by the Texas Meetings Act. He said that, to a great degree, councilmember Les Simpson was not privy to much of the information that would have been needed for the discussion.

I hope that we would get everything on the table, but it did not work out that way, Tipps said. I was a little frustrated the way things worked out in that session. I think the citizens saw that this was not moving forward and decided to exercise this action. If they get the signatures, this shows that many citizens would like us to address this issue.

He felt that one reason the citizens moved forward was an ambition to make the May ballot vote on this as soon as possible rather than until November. With so much discussion on the issue, Tipps felt that maybe the city would be bogged down in creating an ordinance.

Members of the Amarillo City Council are seen in this July file photo of a meeting at City Hall in Amarillo. From left are Josh Craft, Don Tipps, Mayor Cole Stanley, Tom Scherlen and Les Simpson.

There is a lot of stuff to do in the city, and we cannot just focus on one issue like this when there is so much going on in the city, Tipps said. We are being asked if there are not more important things to be done in the city; just because this is a priority for some to get done, we still have to address the day-to-day issues that need to be addressed."

More: Scherlen holds another meeting to discuss abortion ordinance concerns

Tipps touched on one of the issues with the work session: the amount of time devoted to the presentation from the Florida doctor. He feels that the council had already made their pro-life position quite clear, so much of the presentation was unnecessary.

We didn't need a doctor to tell us that there are two patients' lives to consider in these circumstances, Tipps said. To me, it was not needed for our council discussion. The work session should have been more about our discussion of the ordinance. But I am not sure the council has had enough time to review the proposals. Maybe we should have put off the session to be more productive, with each councilmember having more information."

Asked what he thought about the criticism of some councilmembers who ran on pro-life as not fulfilling their campaign pledges for not automatically supporting the ordinance that has been endorsed in the petition, Tipps said that he did not see those as fair. He said that pledging to be pro-life did not mean that they would unequivocally support each measure that was brought before them.

I understand the frustration of the side that brings that criticism, but I do not know that a single councilman had an ordinance in front of us that we all said we 100% agreed with at the time, he added.

When pressed, he said he was more in line with the language of the petition, which mirrors the 18-page ordinance that Right to Life leader Mark Lee Dickson and his supporters have advocated for.

As for my position, I am still looking at it, with most of us on council comfortable with the majority of the ordinance that includes the abortion ban, the abortion pill, and fetal remains from elective abortions, Tipps said. "People like the mayor are asking good questions about where state law stands on this issue. We are looking at what is already in place, and do we gain anything by passing this? We want to pass something meaningful and not just something that does nothing.

Tipps said much of the ordinance is not about restricting travel but about keeping people from taking an unborn citizen to a different state and murdering them. The ordinance still treats the pregnant mother as an unwilling participant and is not subject to any civil action.

The wording of Texas law, Tipps says, is being studied carefully to how it applies to abortion travel. He said that his understanding is that it only applies in Texas and cannot bring action to out-of-state abortions and doctors.

We are all trying to see what Texas law says and what this ordinance will do differently, Tipps added.

He said that much of the conversation about the ordinance is about whether it has teeth, since no civil actions have been filed against those seeking abortions in other states. Tipps did more births in the state since these ordinances and Texas law have changed to protect life. When pressed that these births have risen due to the lack of abortion access within great distances being more of a factor, Tipps agreed that it could also be a factor, since many areas of the state are over eight hours away from any abortion access.

It's a deterrent for the mother maybe to pause and not go back a rash decision to end the life of a baby, Tipps said. One of the main focuses of it would be for any companies, cartels or clinics that perform these abortions to be held accountable. It is more about shutting those clinics down, and if this can happen, that will be good.

Tipps said that the argument about neighbors is how law enforcement works. He compared it to calling the fire department when one sees a fire or calling the police when one sees a crime.

We all take care of our community, and the citizens are the police and vice versa, Tipps said. This is a deterrent to protect unborn citizens.

When asked if having monetary penalties against family members who are just supporting their loved ones is right, Tipps replied that traveling across the border to commit what is a crime in Texas does not make it right. He compared it to going somewhere where murder is legal or killing a born child elsewhere in the world.

With this same logic, he was asked whether the same thought process should apply to other things not legal within Texas, such as gambling or using marijuana in another jurisdiction. Tipps stayed focused on his perception of what abortion is.

I believe life begins at conception, so my passion for this comes from standing up for this child, Tipps said. If we are different at what point we believe life begins at, then I do not know that we are ever going to agree on an issue like this.

Tipps said that common ground may be found in promoting contraception and people not getting pregnant.

Maybe we help out with that, so this issue never comes into play, he said. Let us make sure that nobody must have an unwanted pregnancy, whether it is the Plan B pill, condoms, or whatever. I feel that that life within the mother deserves protection," he said. "If I believe that is a life, why would I stand by when I see it is in danger?

Asked what he thought about Sen. Kevin Sparks' comments that this type of action should happen at the state level, he said I do not necessarily disagree with his comments, but I think it's harder to get these things done at the state level than the local level. When the state sees all these cities lining up to do this, it sends a message to Austin this is what people in the state want. I think this petition does the same for the city.

When asked whether religious beliefs outweigh the constitution, Tipps said that the beauty of the republic is that people choose who represents them.

I do not know of any election on any level that you do not know where the peoples faith is that represents you, Tipps said. When this happens, you know what principles guide them. But just because your religion may say or not say something, I do not think it necessarily your job to legislate your religion. I do not think that is right, and it comes down to who you vote for.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo Councilmember Don Tipps weighs in on abortion ordinance issue
Ann Coulter didnt mince her words when asked what former president Donald Trump could do to help us take America back.

Maybe he could die? she wrote on X.

Maybe he could die? https://t.co/TQPi5Bx3XB  Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) February 4, 2024

The one-time MAGA supporterand author of In Trump We Trustbecame a born-again anti-Trumper in recent years, admitting she was a very stupid girl to support Trump in the early days of his ascendance. Shes since flip-flopped in her stance on the former president, calling him the biggest wimp ever to serve when he bailed on a total border shutdown plan she advised.

Trump can barely speak English. Hes a gigantic baby, Coulter told New York Times columnist Frank Bruni before the first Republican debate last August.

Biden Says This Is the Weirdest Campaign Ever as Trump Suggests Hes an Elvis Lookalike

While she may have flipped the script on her former champion, and expressed extremely unexpected support for Kate Cox, the woman who was denied an abortion by her home state of Texas in December, Coulter has clearly not let go of her unabashed racism or her Karen-esque ways. She told moderate Republican Nikki Haley, Go back to your own country last year and continues to rail against illegal immigration. Instead of choosing a horse in the presidential race, Coulter expends her energies attacking Trump, Haley, libs, and anyone who doesnt support a complete border overhaul.

Trump wont close the border. Hell push for amnesty, allow anchor babies and sanctuary cities to continue, ban bump stocks, propose taking guns away without due process and hire half of Goldman Sacks, she wrote Saturday on X, misspelling the name of the investment giant. The presidential election is worthless. Concentrate on the House & Senate.

Nikki Glaser on the One Ann Coulter Roast Joke She Regrets

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Austin Police Department said it is investigating a homicide Saturday night in east Austin, according to a social media post from the agency.

An APD public information officer said during a 9:15 p.m. press briefing that 911 initially received multiple calls around 6:25 p.m., reporting a shooting or stabbing at a convenience store in the 3900 block of North Interstate 35 Frontage Road.

MAP: Where have Austins homicides occurred in 2024?

At the time, a car show was being held at the location, the PIO said, and added that callers said that bullets were flying.

APD officers and Austin-Travis County EMS arrived at the scene at 6:28 p.m., according to the PIO. The first responders attempted life-saving first aid on an adult male victim but were unsuccessful.

According to the PIO, the homicide was an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the public. The officer added that homicide detectives were still investigating, but were not actively looking for a suspect at the time.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Press Release

February 4, 2024 Bong Go defends NTF-ELCAC amid calls for its abolition Senator Christopher "Bong" Go expressed his disagreement with the recommendation of United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion Irene Khan that the Philippine government should abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). Go said that the NTF-ELCAC was established as a whole-of-government approach to address the country's various root causes of the insurgency, such as poverty, inaccessible public services and programs, and government neglect in far-flung, often conflict-ridden communities. He argued that the recent announcement that the government and the communist rebels intend to resume peace talks does not mean government should stop efforts in addressing the root causes of these conflicts through the NTF-ELCAC. "We all hope for peace amid these decades-long armed conflict. Umaasa tayo na magkakaroon ng sinseridad sa anumang peace talks na isinasagawa. Sa parte ng gobyerno, ipakita natin ang ating sinseridad sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatuloy at pagpapalakas pa ng mga programa sa ilalim ng NTF-ELCAC," he recommended. "Hindi ito ang panahon para itigil ang mga programa ng NTF-ELCAC na manghihikayat sa mga rebelde na magbalik-loob. Sa halip, iyan nga ay complementary sa isinasagawang peace talks upang maipakita na committed talaga ang gobyerno na lutasin ang mga problemang pinanggalingan ng hidwaan," he said. Go cited the achievements of the NTF-ELCAC, especially in persuading the rebels to return to the fold of the law and live peacefully with their families. He said that the task force should not waste the efforts that it started since 2018. "Marami nang nagawang pagbabago ang NTF-ELCAC, lalo na sa paghikayat sa mga rebelde na magbalik-loob na sa pamahalaan at mamuhay ng payapa kasama ang kanilang pamilya. Huwag nating sayangin ang inumpisahan na natin noon. Sa halip, palakasin pa natin lalo," he said. Go explained that efforts of NTF-ELCAC to resolve insurgencies must work hand in hand with any effort to pursue peace talks with rebels and "one should not replace the other." "Kasama sa pagsulong ng kapayapaan ang pagsulong ng kaayusan at kaginhawahan sa mga pamayanan na mithiin kung bakit itinatag noon ang NTF-ELCAC," Go explained given that he was part of the Duterte administration that established the task force. Go also questioned the credibility of Khan, who visited the country for only ten days. He said this was not enough to fully understand the depth and breadth of the real reasons for the rebellion that has been running for over half a century. "Hindi sapat ang bisita ng isang banyaga upang lubos na maintindihan ang lalim at lawak ng tunay na mga dahilan ng rebelyon na mahigit kalahating siglo nang tumatakbo," he said. Go said that, as a Filipino, he desires lasting peace in the country. He said that it is painful to see Filipinos killing each other because of different beliefs in life. He said that the most pitiful are the orphaned children of the rebels and soldiers who die in the conflict. "Siyempre, bilang isang Pilipino, hangad natin ang pangmatagalang kapayapaan sa ating bansa. Masakit makitang ang mga Pilipino ay nakikipagpatayan sa kapwa Pilipino dahil lang sa magkaiba tayo ng paniniwala sa buhay. Kapag may namamatay, pinakakawawa dito ang mga nauulilang bata ng mga rebelde at sundalo," he said. Go's statement came after Khan, who conducted an official visit to the Philippines from January 23 to February 2, released her preliminary findings and recommendations on freedom of expression and opinion in the country. Among her recommendations was the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC. Go said that without knowing yet the outcome of the said peace talks, there is no reason to abolish the NTF-ELCAC at this point, especially since its goal is to address the root causes of such conflicts in the countryside. "The task force is founded on the constitutional mandate that the State maintain peace and order. The NTF-ELCAC is one of the government's methods to ensure that insurgency is kept to a minimum, if not entirely prevented," stated Go. In 2018, former president Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 70, which institutionalized a whole-of-nation approach to attaining inclusive and sustainable peace. The order also directed the adoption of a National Peace Framework to ensure the harmonized and synchronized delivery of services in conflict-affected and vulnerable areas and provided for the creation of the NTF-ELCAC. "Peace cannot prosper long-term if we do not make a sincere and concerted effort to address all its root causes. That is the premise of establishing the NTF-ELCAC. Its mission for long-lasting peace must continue and must not be derailed by short-term developments," Go explained. Previously, Go stressed the critical need to strengthen programs like the Balik-Loob Program, which operates under the NTF-ELCAC. This program is under the management of Task Force Balik-Loob (TFBL). The TFBL serves as the central coordinating body for the government's reintegration efforts for members of the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People's Army- National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), including their immediate families. A notable aspect of the Balik-Loob Program is its Balik-Loob Lending Program, a credit facility offered by LandBank of the Philippines. It is designed to assist former rebels in starting or growing their businesses, ultimately aiding their transition into civilian life. Aside from Go, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, and Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr., along with Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. of the NTF-ELCAC, have collectively dismissed Khan's suggestion to disband the Task Force.
PRINCETON, WV (WVNS)  Kids across the two Virginias are getting an in person look at some of the best horses in the world.

The American Saddlebred Horse Association of Virginia is hosting a show for the youth.

Hosted at Mercer Springs Farm, many kids are getting to see national and world champion horses.

Bluefield State University receives bus donation

Kids had the opportunity to ask questions as well. Smith Lilly, Professional Horse Trainer, says its all about the kids.

Well, I hope they get excited about the sport. I hope they go home and wanna ride better. I hope they wanna try some stuff, experiment things with their own horses said Lilly to 59News.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The term atmospheric river refers to a long plume of water vapor emanating from the subtropics.

An atmospheric river is not a storm, but instead behaves like a fire hose that shifts with the approach of a storm system. The channel of moisture is typically 250 to 375 miles wide and a little more than 2,000 miles long.

Remarkably, an atmospheric river is capable of carrying as much as seven to 15 times the typical amount of water released in a single day through the Mississippi River, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Storms arriving from the North Pacific tap the corridor of moisture, which enhances the potential for very heavy rain and mountain snow, as sopping air is lifted thousands of feet, cooling and condensing into precipitation. The supply of water vapor is being aided by evaporation from a pool of anomalously warm water (3 to 4 degrees above normal) in an El Nino pattern.

Moisture slamming into the Pacific Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada mountains usually unloads copious amounts of low-elevation rain and mountain snow. Rainfall in Central and Southern California in the coming days will total 2 to 6 inches, with locally 8 to 12 inches on the south (upslope) side of the San Gabriel Mountains and the Transverse Ridges than run west-east.

Over the interior West, several feet of snow are expected in the Sierra Nevada, where the snowpack is only about the normal amount, so the heavy snow is welcome.

Atmospheric rivers are not limited to the North Pacific, occuring in other parts of the world where the upper-level winds tap tropical moisture. Surges of water vapor drawn from the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic contributed to widespread flooding in parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast in mid-July 2023, and again in early January 2024.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
A 55-year-old Holly Hill man was killed Saturday in Nassau County when the all terrain vehicle he was riding overturned, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The crash involving the single rider occurred at 5:17 p.m. near Crandall Road and U.S. 17, troopers said.

Fatal Christmas ATV crash DeLand woman dead after Christmas ATV accident

Troopers said the Holly Hill man was southbound on a private dirt road when the ATV ran off the road and overturned.

The 55-year-old rider died at the scene of the wreck, troopers said.

Nassau County is north of Jacksonville.

The crash remains under investigation.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida man killed in Nassau County ATV crash north of Jacksonville
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday his government was probing claims that some staff of the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, after Australia paused funding to the aid agency last month.

Australia is one of several countries to have halted funding for UNRWA, a critical source of support in Gaza, after Israeli claims of U.N. employees' complicity with Hamas.

"We're examining it, along with other like-minded countries like Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. We want that to be resolved," Albanese told the Australian Broadcasting Corp regarding the allegations, according to a transcript.

Albanese said his government wanted to make sure the accusations were "fully examined" so that all funding was "going to the purpose for which it is given".

The prime minister added that he did not want people "literally starving" in Gaza and "the only organisation that can provide that support there is UNRWA".

Late last month, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Finland joined the United States, Australia and Canada in pausing funding to the aid agency.

The agency has opened an investigation into several employees and has severed ties with those people, it has said.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in January described UNRWA as "the backbone of all humanitarian response in Gaza" and has appealed to all countries to "guarantee the continuity of UNRWA's lifesaving work."

The agency, whose biggest donors in 2022 included the U.S., Germany and the European Union, has repeatedly said its capacity to render humanitarian assistance to people in Gaza is on the verge of collapse.

(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney)
(Bloomberg) -- Australias Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the USs military action in the Middle East over the weekend has been proportionate, and reinforced his support for a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.

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US forces followed up strikes on Syria and Iraq with a new round of attacks against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen on Saturday. A joint statement of support released Sunday from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand backed the strikes on 36 targets across 13 locations in Yemen.

We support the actions of the United States, Albanese said in a television interview with Australian broadcaster ABC. These are proportionate, these are retaliatory for the actions of Iran-backed organizations and they are not an escalation. So we think that the United States has got it right.

Read more: How Iran-Backed Groups Provoke Wider Mideast Conflict: QuickTake

Albanese reiterated Australias support for a two-state solution, which would support the right of Israel to exist within safe and secure borders and justice for Palestinians.

We support a political solution in the region and its important that the international community play a role, Albanese said.

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VISTA, Calif.  One person was killed after being struck by a train in North County Sunday morning, authorities said.

According to the San Diego County Sheriffs Department, the collision occurred shortly before 5 a.m. on the Sprinter train tracks between Vista Village Drive and Guajome Street in Vista.

Sick puppy cured by new parvo treatment in San Diego

The area was reported to be near mile post marker 109.5 on North County Transit District train tracks that travel from the Oceanside Transit Center to the Escondido Transit Center.

Deputies from the Vista Patrol Station and fire personnel responded to the incident. The involved individual was pronounced dead at the scene from what authorities described as obvious signs of death due to the injuries he sustained.

The San Diego County Medical Examiners Office will identify the person and determine the cause of death pending notification of family.

The Sheriffs Transit Enforcement Unit is investigating the incident. Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the sheriffs departments non-emergency line at (858) 565-5200.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
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 sexology  the study of human sexuality, founded in 19th century Europe  scientists were excited about research on animals demonstrating that removing or transplanting gonads could effectively change an organisms sex.

In 1919, the German sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld founded the Institut fur Sexualwissenschaft in Berlin, which became the worlds 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 Hitlers 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 institutes 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, Hirschfelds sexology and Nazi race science had common roots in the Enlightenment-era effort to classify and categorize the worlds 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 Reters 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 norms  including heterosexuality, gender conformity, domesticity and marriage  in 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 Trumps 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.

The Conversation

G. Samantha Rosenthal, Associate Professor of History, Roanoke College

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
This photo taken on Feb. 1, 2024 shows first-day covers with the stamps marking the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon, at the launch ceremony of the stamp in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

The sheet of four stamps, designed by Hungarian graphic artist Katalin Bodi, will be printed in 20,000 copies.

BUDAPEST, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- A sheet of commemorative postage stamps marking the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon, has been issued here.

The stamps were issued late Thursday night by the Hungarian Post, in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Hungary, Hungary's Ministry for National Economy and the China Cultural Center in Budapest.

The sheet of four stamps, designed by Hungarian graphic artist Katalin Bodi, will be printed in 20,000 copies.

The designer employed red and white for the background, with a pair of skillfully drawn red dragons on the white backdrop and another pair on the red. The words "Year of the Dragon" were inscribed on the stamp both in Chinese and Hungarian.

The typical Chinese dragon, depicted on the stamps, is a fascinating creature deeply embedded in Chinese culture and mythology. Chinese dragons are seen as benevolent and wise creatures with long, serpentine bodies that are incredibly flexible.

Jin Hao, director of the China cultural center in Budapest, Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao, Hungarian Minister for National Economy Marton Nagy, Chairman and CEO of the Hungarian Post Barnabas Balczo (L to R) show the first-day covers with the stamps marking the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon, at the launch ceremony of the stamp in Budapest, Hungary, on Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

The stamp-issuance ceremony was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao, Hungarian Minister for National Economy Marton Nagy, Chairman and CEO of the Hungarian Post Barnabas Balczo and Jin Hao, director of the China Cultural Center in Budapest. The ceremony took place during the embassy's Chinese New Year reception.

Gong Tao said that according to the Chinese calendar, 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, a symbol of luck, strength, and wisdom for the Chinese people.

Among the goals for 2024, the ambassador highlighted the deepening of cooperation between the two countries in the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the promotion of subnational and cultural exchanges.

"Hungary is China's most important trade partner today in Central Europe," said Nagy, noting that 2024 also marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Balczo expressed his hope that China and Hungary will use stamps as a link to connect the long and splendid history and culture of the two countries, and further promote friendship between the two peoples.

The "Year of the Dragon" stamp is the 11th new year commemorative stamp issued by the Hungarian Post.


A bakery in Russian-occupied Lysychansk which was shelled by the Russians on 3 February, was used to bake bread for Russian forces and also as a venue for their meetings.

Source: representatives of the Lysychansk City Military Administration and internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Lysychansk in a comment to Suspilne Donbas

Details: On the afternoon of 3 February, Leonid Pasechnik, the leader of the LPR terrorist group, reported the shelling of a bakery in Lysychansk, blaming the Ukrainian army for the attack. He claims that 28 people were killed. The Ukrainian side has not officially commented on these statements.

As the IDPs from Lysychansk said, in one of the videos posted by the Russian Emergencies Ministry on Telegram, they recognised the restaurant as the Adriatic, which was located on the outskirts of the city, in the part of it that was adjacent to the Lysychansk oil refinery.

The Lysychansk City Military Administration told Suspilne Donbas on 4 February that the bakery started operating in this location after the city was occupied.

Quote from a representative of the Lysychansk City Military Administration: "The facility in question was used by the occupiers for their own purposes. They would eat and hold meetings there. The bakery started operating after the occupation of the city. It was opened to bake bread for the frontline...

The strike was carried out while the occupiers were gathering there. The list of the dead that is circulating on the Internet is mostly made up of collaborators, such as Firsov, who defected to the occupiers in March."

More details: Telegram channels published a list of the alleged victims on Sunday. According to information from local residents who have now left the city, the list includes the name of the owner of the facility, a local businessman who also had shops in Lysychansk. In addition, the locals recognised the name of a man who worked in the 'tax office' set up by the Russians in the city.

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The Campaign Against Anti-Semitism said that something is terribly rotten at the BBC - Carl Court/Getty Images

A BBC scheduler who referred to Jews as Nazis and white people as parasites no longer works at the corporation, The Telegraph can reveal.

Last week, it emerged that Dawn Queva  who, according to her online profile, is a scheduling co-ordinator at BBC Three  had made Facebook posts that included calling Jewish people Nazi apartheid parasites who funded a holohoax.

Her posts also repeatedly attacked white people, calling them a virus and mutant invader species.

The BBC was informed of the statements made online, which drew widespread condemnation and calls for the organisation to take disciplinary action against her.

However, The Telegraph understands that Ms Queva is no longer at the corporation, and a BBC spokesman confirmed: The individual concerned is no longer employed by the BBC.

Ms Queva previously worked with Disney and UKTV, according to her Linkedin profile.

Her social media posts were made under the name of Dawn Las Quevas-Allen on Facebook, but the profile has the same profile picture as her regular profile, and Deadline, a trade magazine, reported that her identity had been confirmed.

Dawn Queva is a scheduling co-ordinator at BBC Three, according to her online profile

She also made numerous references to the supposed origins of the Jewish people, claiming that they are not truly Jewish, but a synagogue of Satan cabal calling themselves JeWISH.

One post claimed the Rothschild family funded their own holohoax, and another that Israel was attempting to forcibly permanently sterilise black women without their knowledge or consent.

Several of Ms Quevas posts refer to Britain as the UKKK, an apparent reference to the Ku Klux Klan.

Other posts state that white people have disturbed the natural order of the planet, and that they are a barbaric bloodthirsty rapacious murderous genocidal thieving parasitical deviant breed.

A response from the BBC in the immediate aftermath of the posts emerging did not comment specifically on Queva but said that the broadcaster does not tolerate anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or any form of abuse, and we take any such allegations seriously and take appropriate disciplinary action wherever necessary.

The Campaign Against Anti-Semitism said: These posts are utterly horrific. Racist conspiracy theories and Holocaust denial have no place at our public broadcaster, but what is becoming increasingly tiresome is us having to point this out.

Barely a week goes by now without some figure at the BBC publishing some inflammatory remark relating to Jews. Something is terribly rotten at the BBC.

Everyone here is unhappy

Her exit comes after The Telegraph recently reported that groups of Jewish employees at the BBC had filed grievances over alleged anti-Semitism in the workplace.

Staff complained about the corporations coverage of the conflict in Gaza, and Gary Linekers social media use, according to sources at the broadcaster.

One of at least 22 staff understood to have submitted formal complaints said Jewish staff were fighting fires all over the place and everyone here is unhappy, adding that concerns about anti-Semitism were met with indifference or a shrug by management.

The BBC spokesman said: With regard to staff, their welfare is always paramount and we have well-established and robust processes in place to handle any issues, concerns or complaints raised with us, along with a range of support available to anyone who may need it.

On Sunday, Fleur Hassan, an Israeli special envoy and the deputy mayor of Jerusalem, has said the civilised world stood with Ukraine following Russias invasion but has remained silent about Israels victims of Hamas.

Ms Hassan led a protest outside the BBC on Sunday highlighting the plight of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas as well as the lack of coverage of the rape and sexual violence committed against Israeli women on Oct 7.

The protest was organised by The 7/10 Human Chain Project, a grassroots organisation established in the UK following the Oct 7 Hamas massacre in Israel.

Ms Queva was contacted for comment.

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Yaqub Ahmed, a migrant rapist whose deportation was thwarted by woke airline passengers five years ago, has finally been sent home - at a cost of 1million to taxpayers

A BBC editor was hired as an expert witness to help at least 15 Somalian criminals fight deportation and remain in the UK, it has emerged.

Mary Harper, Africa editor for the BBCs World Service, was paid to give expert evidence for Yaqub Ahmed, a Somali gang rapist, during his five-year legal battle to remain in the UK. He was deported in November.

An investigation by The Mail on Sunday has also found that she gave expert witness evidence in a series of other controversial deportation appeals by Somali offenders, including three other sex attackers, three drug dealers and a career criminal who spent a decade in British jails.

In one case, she reportedly cautioned that the criminals repeated history of offending in the UK  39 convictions for 80 crimes over a period of 17 years  would result in him being shunned by his clan if he was returned to Somalia.

In another, it was reported that Ms Harper warned that a 29-year-old Somali man who sexually assaulted a deaf girl aged 17 would be at severely heightened risk if he was sent back to Somalia because he had committed a sex crime.

Council flat

His appeal against deportation was thrown out by a judge who disagreed with her argument. The newspaper said some 16 months later, the attacker  whom it is prevented by law from identifying  remains in the UK and has been living in a council flat with his family.

The BBC has since announced that Ms Harper was leaving the organisation. It is understood that she will depart later this month and that her most recent role at the corporation was as a journalist reporter. It remains unclear whether she quit or was sacked.

The details emerged as a refugee suspected of carrying out a chemical attack that left a mother and child injured was twice denied asylum before being allowed to stay in the UK after claiming he had converted to Christianity.

Abdul Shokoor Ezedi, 35, who is at the centre of a nationwide manhunt, arrived illegally in the country in the back of a lorry in 2016, claimed his life would be in danger if he was returned to his native Afghanistan.

In 2018, he was convicted of a sex offence. It is understood that he was twice refused asylum but granted leave to remain in 2021 or 2022 after a priest vouched for his conversion, arguing that he was wholly committed to his new religion.

Offenders deported

A Home Office spokesman said: Foreign national offenders have no right to be in the UK, which is why we are deporting them and banning their return to the UK.

Over 16,000 Foreign national offenders have been removed since January 2019. Through both our Nationality and Borders Act and the Illegal Migration Act, we are also ensuring they cannot frustrate the removal process.

A BBC spokesman said: While there is nothing in the BBCs rules that prevent staff acting as expert witnesses, the BBC has clear processes in place to ensure any external work of this nature has prior approval. We are unable to comment on the specific details of this particular case and, more broadly, do not comment on individual staff matters.

Ms Harper did not respond to a request for comment.

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BBC journalists have appeared to support anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and statements that Israel is pure evil, despite the corporation promising to crack down on bias.

One reporter based in Egypt liked a tweet in December making unsubstantiated allegations that large numbers of Jews from around the world are buying up land in Northern Cyprus, with the aim being to seize the territory for Israel.

The story, propagated in part by some Turkish newspapers, has prompted alarm on the island in recent months, despite officials disputing the numbers.

The same BBC Arabic service journalist, Sally Nabil, liked a tweet endorsing the words of a released Israeli hostage who expressed her deepest gratitude to Hamas for her treatment.

Along with several colleagues, Ms Nabil was exposed by The Telegraph in October for liking a comment to a video showing trucks loaded with dead Israelis and kidnapped civilians on October 7.

BBC bosses subsequently said they were urgently investigating, but they have not said what disciplinary action was taken.

Corporation insiders said that despite frequent official reminders to maintain due impartiality on social media, in reality senior executives have taken no action when it comes to bias in the context of Israel.

Senior executives know about these tweets and are simply letting them sit there, one said.

BBC Arabic service journalist Sally Nabil

It comes amid heightened scrutiny of the broadcaster since the October massacre, with the BBC refusing to refer to Hamas as terrorists.

Last week Lucy Frazer, the Culture Secretary, said audiences believe the corporation is not sufficiently impartial.

The Telegraph can also reveal that a trainer at the BBC Academy is also facing allegations of bias.

Martin Asser liked a tweet quoting a former Israeli soldier saying the Israel Defense Forces should not exist.

He also liked a tweet suggesting that Israel had trained Western opinion to view them as just a bunch of little angels.

Mr Asser was commissioned in December to write an analysis on the BBC Arabic website about the possibilities of a two-state solution to the conflict.

The BBC said he was no longer working for the academy and that his involvement had been in technical training.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Rouaba, another BBC Arabic journalist, reposted a tweet which suggested that Israel had lied to the International Court of Justice in the recent genocide case brought against it by South Africa.

Ahmed Rouaba

He also reposted a tweet describing elements of Israels Gaza blockade as pure evil, as well as one suggesting that Israel was starving Palestinians to save money bombing them.

The BBC is obliged to achieve due impartiality in all its output, according to its guidelines, while its news journalists also have a particular responsibility to uphold the principle in their actions on social media.

A BBC insider who spoke to The Telegraph on condition of anonymity said: Staff keep getting reminded about social media use but its simply being ignored by some when it comes to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Despite what it claims, it is clear the BBC is still not taking robust action.

Senior executives know about these tweets and are simply letting them sit there.

These accounts are not exactly hidden and everyone knows it is going on.

Another said: Theres a clear lack of oversight when it comes to the behaviour of some BBC staff on social media.

Journalists and correspondents with a clear agenda continue to promote their views in breach of editorial guidelines, causing anguish to their colleagues, and nothing seems to ever be done to stop them.

Former BBC Academy trainer Martin Asser

It undermines the name of the BBC and the impartiality and balance that so many others work to achieve.

The staff also raised concern that BBC correspondent Rami Ruhayem appears to still be on air despite having sent a letter to director-general Tim Davie, circulated to hundreds of other staff, accusing the organisation of complicity in genocide, ethnic cleansing, apartheid.

At the top of his feed on X, Mr Ruhayem also asks: Are Western media complicit in Israels attack on Palestinians in Gaza?

Danny Cohen, formerly director of BBC Television, said: BBCs senior management is unable or unwilling to control the social media output of its journalists and presenters.

Anti-Israel bias and anti-Semitism within the BBC continues to be ignored.

This continues to have serious implications for Britains Jewish community.

A spokesman for the BBC said: We do not comment on individual staff matters or individual social media posts and will not be commenting on these cases. However, we take any breaches of our social media guidance very seriously and always take appropriate disciplinary action wherever necessary.

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The BBC nearly decided not to broadcast the Duke of Yorks derided Pizza Express alibi over allegations he had sex with Virginia Giuffre to save him from ridicule.

The broadcaster went ahead after the hapless Andrew pleaded with ex-BBC Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis to insert it in a second interview after failing to mention it the first time around, because he was convinced it would get him off the hook.

Ms Maitlis has revealed how after initially considering rejecting the request, the BBC restarted the interview in Buckingham Palace in which Prince Andrew denied claims he had sex with Ms Giuffre. She was 17 at the time and had been trafficked by his tycoon friend, paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The former Newsnight host said she eventually agreed to Prince Andrews request partly to avoid a repeat of the Diana interview fiasco, where the corporations Martin Bashir was accused of manipulating the then-Princess of Wales.

Speaking on the Desperately Seeking Wisdom mental health podcast to Sir Craig Oliver, David Camerons former No 10 spin doctor, Ms Maitlis revealed new details of the car crash interview in 2019.

Andrew said he could not have had sex with Virginia Giuffre because he had taken his daughter to a birthday party at the Pizza Express in Woking, Surrey (BBC/PA)

In it, he said he could not have had sex with Ms Giuffre in London on 10 March 2001 as alleged, because he had taken his daughter to a birthday party at the Pizza Express in Woking, Surrey.

Ms Giuffre also claimed they attended Tramp nightclub together and recalled Prince Andrew being sweaty as they danced. But he said it could not have been him as he was unable to sweat at the time as a result of trauma caused by serving in the Falklands War.

Ms Maitlis disclosed how the Pizza Express alibi, which prompted worldwide mockery, was delivered in effect as an afterthought when the duke asked her to start the cameras rolling again.

Maitlis has since described her incredulity at the princes conduct in the interview (BBC/PA)

She said: He wanted to insert that afterwards. I said to him, Is there anything you havent had a chance to say? He said Oh actually, I didnt give you my alibi. And he told us about the Pizza Express thing.

We said, But youve answered all the questions and explained that youd never met Virginia Giuffre.

He said, Yes, but the reason I couldnt have been there was because I was in my car taking my daughter to Pizza Express in Woking.

We let him record that again but it was complicated. I thought if we dont include it we havent included something really important for the interviewee to make known. And if we do include it it sounds ridiculous.

Andrew has denied all allegations made against him by Guiffre

Ms Maitlis explained her dilemma: He had asked for it to be included  but does he get the final say? Because it was clearly going to make him look ridiculous.

The BBC faced a moral battle, she said.

In the end, we decided if we had told the palace it would be part of the interview we had to include it.

Particularly in the light of the Diana interview fiasco [involving Bashir] we thought we had got to be transparent. If we have said is there anything you want included? and they have said that (that they did want it included) we had to [put it] in.

She described her incredulity at the princes conduct in the interview: Im not sure he heard it the same way those of us in the room heard it.

He thought his alibis were self-explanatory, that he had convinced us he couldnt sweat or hadnt been at the club or had been at Pizza Express.

Prince Andrew, whose reputation has never recovered from the interview, still vehemently denies all allegations made against him by Ms Giuffre.

In the part inserted at his request, he said: I was with the children and Id taken Beatrice to a Pizza Express in Woking for a party at 4pm or 5pm.

Asked why he would remember a meal at Pizza Express 18 years later, he replied: Because going to Pizza Express in Woking is a very unusual thing for me to do ... Ive only been to Woking a couple of times and I remember it weirdly distinctly.

You can listen to the Desperately Seeking Wisdom interview with Emily Maitlis from Monday 5 February
The Belgian government has proposed a plan to the Group of Seven (G7) countries that will see frozen Russian assets being used to benefit Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda, with reference to the Financial Times

Details: Belgiums plan envisions that Ukraines allies could raise debt to fund it, "using Russian assets as a backstop for the repayment in a move that would force Moscow to start paying for its invasion," the FT wrote.

The coalition supporting Ukraine would demand that Russia repays the debt and, if it fails to do so, would seize frozen Russian sovereign assets instead, officials familiar with the discussions told the FT.

The plan is designed to allow the G7 to raise funds for Ukraine without immediately settling legal issues around other nations grounds for the seizure of Russian sovereign assets.

"One of the things that this would do is put off the question of what happens to the Russian sovereign assets, even though they would be used as collateral," a person with knowledge of the negotiations told the FT.

An anonymous official said that Belgium has put forward this plan of raising debt against the Russian assets in an effort to find a compromise between the US position and that of Ukraines European allies.

"Using the assets as collateral to raise debt is an attempt to find a compromise between different viewpoints around the table, both within the EU and [...] the G7," the official said.

Background:

At a meeting on 29 January, permanent representatives of the EU countries coordinated the creation of a separate account to which the interest from taxed income of frozen Russian assets will be transferred.

Earlier in January, EU foreign ministers reached a political agreement on the plan to use Russian assets to support Ukraine.

However, a number of EU member states are against the confiscation of these assets due to legal hardships. The compromise is to tax the income of these frozen assets and transfer these funds to Ukraine.

Meanwhile the US is promoting the idea of the confiscation of frozen assets. Last week profile committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the US adopted a law intended to help create conditions for confiscation of Russian assets and their transfer to Ukraine to support its reconstruction.

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WORCESTER  The beloved and well-respected academic who created historical markers and digital materials for Worcesters Black History Trail has died.Thomas L. Doughton, senior lecturer, Center for Interdisciplinary and Special Studies at the College of the Holy Cross, died Saturday at his home in Worcester.

In a joint statement released Sunday from the college, Vincent D. Rougeau, president, Elliott Visconsi, provost and dean of the college, Michele Murray, senior vice president for student development and mission, and Marybeth Kearns-Barrett, director, office of the college chaplains, confirmed Doughtons passing.

Thomas L. Doughton, senior lecturer at the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies at the College of the Holy Cross, who helped create historical markers and digital materials for Worcesters Black History Trail, died Saturday at his home in Worcester. He is pictured here in June 2022 during the unveiling ceremony for the first of five markers unveiled for the Worcester Black History Trail at the corner of John and North Ashland streets.

Professor Doughton taught at Holy Cross for more than 20 years, with expertise in the Holocaust, comparative genocide, Native American studies and African American history. He was also highly regarded for his mentorship and unwavering support for students.

A well-respected educator and advocate for the local history and cultures of Black and Indigenous people in Worcester County and across Massachusetts, Doughton worked on Worcesters Black History Trail, which documents and highlights historical sites important to understanding the experience of people of color in Worcester from the colonial period through the present, and worked actively and collaboratively on the Laurel Clayton Project, uncovering the history of a Black community in Worcester.

Paul F. Bailey is a co-founder of the Laurel Clayton Project. The project consists of homecomings that began in 1991 for former residents of the Laurel/Clayton neighborhood, which was erased by the construction of Interstate 290 and Plumley Village. He was shocked to hear the news that Doughton, his longtime friend, had died.

Tommy was a very bright and great person, Bailey said. He was always committed to doing some good things for the Black community in Worcester, a lifelong resident of Worcester, always speaking of good things for the people of Worcester.

Bailey, who knew Doughton all his life, praised Doughtons efforts of bringing the richness of Worcesters Black history to light.

We had a neighborhood that was, kind of, taken away years ago, in respect to redevelopmentTommy had always been involved (in the Laurel Clayton Project) and he always had great ideas. And bringing Holy Cross into the picture certainly helped us, Bailey said. Tommy was very helpful to donate to the cause. He would go wherever he could go to get support. And he did a lot of work, a lot of work.

Bailey said hes going to miss Doughtons style, attitude, humor and warmth most of all.

Highlighting the citys once close-knit bustling Black neighborhoods, the Worcester Black History Trail is a joint project of the Worcester NAACP branch, Worcesters Laurel Project, the College of the Holy Cross and the office of former City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr.

Professor Thomas Doughton walks through White Woodland Aster at the parcel off Ellie Way near the College of the Holy Cross Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. GWLT and the local Nipmuc community, in collaboration with students at Holy Cross, preserved a very small site with a lot of colonial history.

The trail consists of informational panels at various locations in the city and a series of medallions embedded in city sidewalks connected to a website, with an app allowing self-directed visits to African American historical sites in Worcester.

Doughton put the mechanical part of the project together last year with some of his students.

"It was important for me to do, first, because I am a historian and it needed to be done," Doughton was quoted as saying to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette in a July 2, 2019 article. All over New England at the moment we are rethinking the role of people of color in history. But also, many of our seniors in Worcester between the ages of 80 and 100 are passing away. They have been custodians of information that doesn't really exist except within the community's knowledge."

Doughton said that in addition to the Laurel Clayton neighborhood, there were once several Black enclaves, African American residential areas, in Worcester. The oldest was at the end of Summer Street and Washington Square and adjoining East Worcester Street. Another was in the Exchange Street area in the 1840s. There was also the North Ashland Street area neighborhood. Another cluster was between Mason Street and Beaver Brook on the West Side of Worcester.

Doughton is among African Americans who can trace their ancestry in the Worcester area back to the 1700s.

Thomas Hazard, the great-great-great-great grandfather of Doughton, was a soldier of the Revolutionary War. Several other ancestors were part of the prestigious 54th Regiment, the first Black Northern regiment to serve in the Civil War.

Members of Doughton's family lived in Worcester's earliest Black communities on the East and West sides. One of those communities was in the Summer Street area near the rotary across from Union Station. That community no longer exists; the land was taken for construction of Interstate 290.

Another was near John Street Baptist Church, which was founded in 1886 by former slaves.

There was also the Beaver Brook section of Worcester in the greater Mason Court and Mason, Winfield, Abbott, Bluff, Bancroft, Bellevue, Dewey, Lovell, Parker, Pemberton and Pembroke streets area.

"When people think of Black Worcester they think of the East Side, but there was a substantial community on the West Side," Doughton told the Worcester Telegram & Gazette Feb. 19, 2012. "What makes Mason Court interesting is that Mason Court and the two buildings at the end of the court on Mason Street becomes the anchor from which an entire African American neighborhood is going to exist in Worcester. By 1950, there were several hundred African Americans living within a quarter of a mile from Mason Court. That little area now really doesn't look much like a neighborhood, but it actually was."

Doughton  who identified as a citizen of the Nipmuc Nation and had written significantly about the Native American presence in Southern New England  also spoke out about Native sports mascots.

The question of Native mascots presupposes a whole cluster of associated questions that people dont want to ask at the moment, Doughton said. How has this become a compelling issue for white Americans, and a compelling issue for white Americans who seem not to realize that Indigenous people on the great reservations of the West are living like they are people in Third World nations...To whom does it make a difference what the teams at Grafton High call themselves? Who is concerned about that? I have relatives who graduated from there  relatives of Nipmuc heritage  Im not aware of any time that people who attended Grafton High School, played on teams, and of Nipmuc heritage were injured, harmed or offended by a mascot...Are we saying we have such an ill sense of who we are that your advertising defines us for ourselves? Thats a pretty condescending attitude.

Doughton said the mascot debate sparked questions about the erasure of Native identity, adding that Native peoples also bear some responsibility for this.

I think, to a certain degree, Native people also share some responsibility for perpetuation of Indian stereotypes, particularly in response to the national Pan Indian movement embraced by most Natives in the 1920s, especially people east of the Mississippi including New England Indians. Pan Indianism promoted unity and argued for an Indian-ness or shared Indian consciousness regardless of tribal or local affiliation as more and more Native peoples presented themselves in line with white expectations of what Indian should be.

Local activist William S. Coleman said Doughtons passing is a big loss for the city of Worcester.

Tom Doughton was a historical treasure for the city of Worcester, Coleman said. He elevated peoples sense of purpose, not only for the African American community, but for the Nipmuc community.

With Doughtons passing, Khrystian E. King, city council vice chairman and councilor-at-large, said Worcester lost its truest scholar.

Professor Doughtons unwavering demand for authenticity, respect and fairness will never be forgotten, King said. It was an honor to partner with him in ensuring the validated history of Worcesters Black and Indigenous communities became certified in the Worcester Black History Trail.At the Worcester Black History Trails dedication ceremony, Doughton commented on the trail's significance.

Until recently, the narrative (in Worcester) excluded marginalized populations. It only included Indigenous peoples. Other people of color were footnotes," Doughton said during the June 3, 2022, dedication ceremony. This (Black) history, not even all people of color in Worcester know about it.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Beloved Holy Cross Prof. Thomas Doughton died at his Worcester home
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks at the G77 + China Leaders Summit during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28). Mahmoud Khaled/COP28/dpa

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier paid tribute to the late president of Namibia as a formative statesman for his country after Hage Geingob's death on Sunday.

Against the backdrop of German colonial crimes a century ago in what is now Namibia, Steinmeier said that Geingob had taken a path of reconciliation with Germany "despite the heavy burden of our history."

Germany remains "committed to the path of reconciliation with Namibia and to coming to terms with the genocide perpetrated by Germany," Steinmeier said.

Geingob was Namibia's third president and had been in office since 2015. He was one of the leading political figures in the country for decades and played a decisive role in gaining Namibia's independence in 1990.

Under the presidency of Sam Nujoma, he served from 1990 to 2002 as the first prime minister of independent Namibia. Geingob campaigned for reconciliation and the reconstruction of the former German colony with a population of 2.6 million.

The German Empire was the colonial power in what was then called German South-West Africa from 1884 to 1915 and brutally put down rebellions.

The mass murders committed by German forces during the Herero Wars between 1904 to 1908 are now considered the first genocide of the 20th century. Historians estimate that 65,000 out of 80,000 Herero and at least 10,000 out of 20,000 Nama were killed during that time.

"Namibia has lost a great and influential statesman," Steinmeier wrote in a letter of condolence to Geingob's widow.

He recalled Geingob's decades-long struggle for "the liberation of Namibia from the yoke of apartheid."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also expressed his condolences and stated that Germany was losing "a partner who was committed to the process of coming to terms with Germany's colonial history with great openness."

"Just three months ago, we spoke on the phone about the progress of the reconciliation process and he was full of hope about the successful conclusion of the Joint Declaration," Stenmeier said.

In 2021, Germany recognized the crimes as genocide and the two governments have long been negotiating a proposed reconciliation agreement.

However, the reconciliation agreement and Germany's planned payments of 1.1 billion ($1.1 billion) for development projects in Namibia are currently on hold.

Berlin refuses to negotiate directly with the descendants of the victims of the time about personal compensation. Instead is negotiating with the Namibian government, reasoning that it represents the whole of Namibia under international law.

The aid money is slated for development projects in the Herero and Nama territories.

Other leaders paid tribute to Geingob, who died in the early hours of Sunday morning at the age of 82. He had been treated in hospital for cancer.

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said Namibia had lost an "extraordinary leader" "President Geingob was a towering veteran of Namibias liberation from colonialism and apartheid," he said in a statement.

Referring to Namibia's support during the South African freedom struggle against the white minority government there, he added that Geingob was "also greatly influential in the solidarity that the people of Namibia extended to the people of South Africa so that we could be free today."

South Africa is grateful to Geingob and saddened by his death, Ramaphosa added.

Hage Gottfried Geingob, President of Namibia, speaks at a meeting with Germany's Minister of Economics Habeck and business representatives at State House. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday pushed back on House Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) suggestion that the administration waited too long to retaliate for the killing of three U.S. troops in the Middle East last week.

On Friday, the U.S. launched its first round of airstrikes on Iranian-backed groups in Syria and Iraq in retaliation for an attack on a base in Jordan that left three American troops dead and about 40 others injured.

Johnson, following the strikes, said the deadly drone strike in Jordan demanded a clear and forceful response.

Unfortunately, the administration waited for a week and telegraphed to the world, including to Iran, the nature of our response, Johnson said in a statement.

Asked on NBC Newss Meet the Press for a response to Johnsons remarks, Sullivan said, Well, I find it somewhat strange.

The president made clear before we were attacked at Tower 22 in Jordan, before our brave services members were tragically killed, that if we were attacked, we would respond, Sullivan said Sunday. So, Iran and its military groups knew that the United States was going to respond. We also said wed do it at a time and place of our choosing. We planned the attack. We executed the attack.

We hit where we wanted to hit, when we wanted to hit, and that was at the military advice of the presidents commanders, and he gave them the order to go ahead and do it.

Sullivan said U.S. forces are still assessing the number of casualties among the militia groups, while noting U.S. officials believe the strikes had good effect and degrading capability to the militant groups.

The Pentagon last Friday said more than 85 targets were hit in the first round of strikes in Iraq and Syria against Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force and affiliated militia groups.

Sullivan said the White House is confident in the steps it has taken so far and those it will take moving forward.

Earlier in the interview, Sullivan confirmed the U.S. intends to launch additional strikes and that Friday was not the end of it.

It began with strikes on Friday night, but that is not the end of it. We intend to take additional strikes and additional action to continue to send a clear message that that the United States will respond when our forces are attacked, or people are killed, Sullivan told NBC Newss Kristen Welker.

The U.S., alongside the United Kingdom, on Saturday launched a second round of strikes against 13 locations associated with the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, which has waged a series of missile and drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the Red Sea in recent months. These attacks have disrupted trade routes and destabilized the Red Sea region.

The Hill reached out to Johnsons office for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.


Aerial photo taken on July 13, 2020 shows an expedition vessel in the South China Sea. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

BEIJING, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Some waters of the South China Sea have not been calm over the past couple of months, as the Philippines has been stirring up troubles through provocative acts one after another targeting China's Ren'ai Jiao and Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea.

On Dec. 10, 2023, Philippine vessels intruded into adjacent waters of Ren'ai Jiao in China's Nansha Qundao in an attempt to illegally ship construction materials to its warship deliberately "grounded" at the reef in 1999. The Philippines has explicitly promised to tow away the military vessel, however, in the 24 years since, the Philippines has sought to repair and reinforce it to permanently occupy Ren'ai Jiao.

On Jan. 28, four Philippine personnel illegally broke into the reef plate of Huangyan Dao, and the China Coast Guard warned and drove them away in a law-based and professional way.

What the Philippine side has done, in collusion with some countries outside the region, has seriously infringed China's sovereignty, soured bilateral relations, and raised tensions in the South China Sea. The actions also contravene international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). Such provocations are not only unwise but futile.

China's Nanhai Zhudao (the South China Sea Islands) consist of Dongsha Qundao (the Dongsha Islands), Xisha Qundao (the Xisha Islands), Zhongsha Qundao (the Zhongsha Islands) and Nansha Qundao (the Nansha Islands). These Islands include, among others, islands, reefs, shoals and cays of various numbers and sizes.

The activities of the Chinese people in the South China Sea date back to over 2,000 years ago. China is the first to have discovered, named, and explored and exploited Nanhai Zhudao and relevant waters, and the first to have continuously, peacefully and effectively exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over them. China's sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea have been established in the long course of history, and are solidly grounded in history and law.

Peace and stability in the South China Sea is vital to the security, development and prosperity of the countries and people of the region. The realization of peace, stability, prosperity and development in the South China Sea region is the shared aspiration and responsibility of China and ASEAN member states.

China adheres to the position of settling disputes through negotiation and consultation and managing differences through rules and mechanisms, and remains committed to making the South China Sea a sea of peace, cooperation and friendship. But China also stands firm in safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Historical facts regarding China's sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao must be respected. Common understandings should be binding and commitments must be honored. China's goodwill, sincerity and restraint cannot be exploited without limits.

To maintain stability in the South China Sea, all parties must follow the "dual-track approach," namely, maritime disputes should be handled properly by countries directly concerned through dialogue and consultation, and peace and stability in the South China Sea should be jointly safeguarded by China and ASEAN countries.

Attempts to court external forces or create a small bloc in the region to pressure China will do nothing to manage differences. For peace and stability in the South China Sea, it would be wise for the Philippine side to change track and return to the right path of dialogue and consultation to resolve the maritime differences between the two countries. 


President Biden was projected to cruise to victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary on Saturday, handing him a decisive victory in a state on which he had bet big, according to Decision Desk HQ.

His win comes after Biden backed the unprecedented move to make South Carolina the first voting state over New Hampshire, part of his effort to promote diverse voices in early Democratic primaries.

Though Biden won the January primary in New Hampshire through a write-in campaign launched by his supporters, he did not receive any actual delegates there, since the Democratic Party did not officially sanction that contest. His victory in South Carolina, therefore, is his first official primary win.

Expectations for Biden in the Palmetto State were high. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), one of the presidents most important allies in Congress, said success for Biden would translate to at least seventy percent of the voter turnout, according to The New York Times.

I hope we get 150,000 people to vote, and of the 150 to 200,000 people, I would like to see Joe Biden get 70, 75 percent of that, Clyburn told the outlet.

The president appeared on track to surpass that goal as of Saturday night, though ballots were still being processed.

Bidens win shows that the energy he focused on the state paid off. While South Carolina likely wont be a battleground in the general election, his victory could help energize Democrats ahead of November. Biden traveled to South Carolina twice in January and deployed first lady Jill Biden and Vice President Harris to the state to rally voters.

It also further undercut arguments from his primary challengers, author Marianne Williamson and Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who have criticized Biden over the enthusiasm from the base for him and his lingering challenges, like his age and approval rating.

South Carolina was a major state for Biden in 2020 and his focus on it during his first term looked like a way to pay back voters there for helping him secure the nomination. His campaign was considered all but over until he won the South Carolina primary, which came after a pivotal endorsement from Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.).

Bidens victory among Democrats in South Carolina gives him a boost going into the general election, against likely challenger former President Trump. It marks the presidents second win this primary season after New Hampshires win last month, which was through a unique write-in initiative.

The aggregation of polls kept by Decision Desk HQ and The Hill shows Trump with a 2.2 percentage point lead over Biden in a hypothetical head-to-head contest.

Updated: 9:20 p.m. ET

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In 2020, Joe Biden turned his flailing campaign around in South Carolina.

In 2024, on Saturday, its where he officially won his first delegates.

Minutes after polls closed, the Associated Press called the South Carolina Democratic primary for Biden. Just like the overall battle for the Democratic nomination, it didnt seem to be much of a race.

Biden also recently won New Hampshires unsanctioned primary. But because the Democratic National Committeewith Bidens proddinghad moved New Hampshire from their normal position as the first in the nation primary to another place in the calendar, and because New Hampshire didnt abide, no delegates were awarded for that contest.

In South Carolina, 55 delegates were up for grabs. While the specific breakdown of those delegates could take a while to sort out, its clear Biden once again crushed his competition, primarily Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) and self-help guru Marianne Williamson.

Marianne Williamson speaks at a campaign event. Brianna Soukup/Portland Press Herald via Getty

The delegates will be divvied up proportionally, but Bidens win in a state where he continues to enjoy strong popularity among Democrats marks the beginning of the 2024 Democratic primaryand perhaps, unofficially, the end.

Even though Biden could use a jolt coming out of South Carolinathere continue to be warning signs about Bidens popularityhis campaign remains steadfastly focused on the general election.

His approval rating has been languishing below 40 percent for months. A majority of voters blame him for a surge of migrants and asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border, and the public remains divided over American military involvement in the Middle East.

And yet Democrats never really had a serious discussion about nominating anyone except for Biden in 2024.

U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips speaks to a crowd in South Carolina. Sean Rayford/Getty

Although Biden appears to be growing his lead over Trump among women voters and American sentiment on the economy is improving, his re-election outlook is bleak on a number of key fronts. In head-to-head polling against Donald Trump, Biden appears to be the underdogeven with an economy thats humming.

Trump led Biden in all seven of the major swing states tracked by Morning ConsultArizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsinin a poll released on Wednesday.

Even with the improved consumer sentimentand some strong economic data to support President Bidens case after many experts predicted a looming recession that never materializedonly 26 percent of the American public said they feel like the economy has stabilized in a CNN poll on Friday.

Biden has already gone from strenuously avoiding Trumps name in his speeches to name dropping him constantly, calling the former president a loser and Donald 'Herbert Hoover' Trump during his remarks last Saturday in Columbia, South Carolina, where he mentioned Trump by name 22 times, according to Axios.

Biden told the Columbia crowd youre the reason Donald Trump is a defeated former President. Youre the reason Donald Trump is a loser. And youre the reason were going to win and beat him again.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Incumbent President Joe Biden won by a decisive margin in South Carolinas Democratic presidential primary with roughly 96% of the vote.

The Associated Press called the race for Biden only 23 minutes after polls closed Saturday.

At a dinner on Jan. 29 to celebrate the states first-in-the-nation Democratic primary, Biden told a crowd of SC Democrats that the state was critical to his 2020 election win. South Carolina shifted on the primary calendar ahead of Iowa and New Hampshire at the presidents request to allow states with more diverse populations to go first.

President Joe Biden, left, waits to speak as first lady Jill Biden looks on at the Biden campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Del., Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.

"In 2020, it was the voters of South Carolina who proved the pundits wrong, breathed new life into our campaign, and set us on the path to winning the Presidency," Biden said in a statement after Saturdays results. "Now in 2024, the people of South Carolina have spoken again and I have no doubt that you have set us on the path to winning the Presidency againand making Donald Trump a loseragain."

More: 3 takeaways from President Biden's blowout win in the South Carolina Democratic Primary

Author and former 2020 candidate Marianne Williamson saw a second-place finish with only 2.1% of the vote, while U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) only secured 1.7%.

Despite his loss, Phillips said hes not leaving the race.

"Cracking four digits never felt so good! Congratulations, Mr. President, on a good old-fashioned whooping. See you in Michigan," Phillips posted on X Saturday night.

Overall, voter turnout was low in South Carolina at 4% with 131,870 votes cast. The Upstate was no exception with around 2-3% voter turnout in most counties in the region. Low voter turnout could impact South Carolina's position in the primaries in 2028.

Biden collected 94.6% of the vote in Greenville County, 95.4% in Spartanburg County, and 94.75% in Anderson County.

Rosetta Garrett casts her vote at the Whitehall Elementary School precinct during the Democratic primary election in Anderson, S.C., on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.

South Carolina, Upstate sees low voter turnout

When polls opened at 7 a.m., Upstate poll managers saw voters trickle in lightly and infrequently.

"I predict it to be very slow and steady because this is the presidential primary, C.C. Woodson Community Center clerk Marilyn Parks said early Saturday morning.

"Usually in the primaries, we don't have many voters come out," Parks, a native of Spartanburgs Southside, said. "A lot of them have the mentality that primaries don't count, but what we're trying to instill now is that this is where it all starts  with the primary."

The Democratic race for President kicked off in the Palmetto State on Saturday. Voters in Spartanburg County casted their ballots in the first officially sanctioned primary of the 2024 election. Here, primary voters at the C.C. Woodson Community Center in the city of Spartanburg vote in the primary. Clerk Marilyn Parks of Spartanburg's Southside talks about being ready for voters. As the Clerk at the C.C. Woodson Community Center, she and her team of poll workers make sure the polls are ready and run smoothly.

Ultimately, South Carolina saw only 4% voter turnout statewide with 131,870 ballots cast, the lowest turnout in the past three Democratic presidential preference primaries. In 2020, the state saw roughly 16% voter turnout and 12.6% turnout in 2016. Former President Barack Obama, the last incumbent Democratic candidate, ran unopposed in 2012's state primaries.

Upstate counties saw a turnout of around 2-3%.

Black voters: Black voters are asked to 'show up and show out' for Biden in South Carolina

Crossing Party Lines: Fearing Biden, Trump rematch, SC Democrats weigh crossing party lines in upcoming primary

Greenville County saw 2.91% voter turnout with 9,607 ballots cast, while 4,752 ballots were cast in Spartanburg County with only 2.4% voter turnout and 2,407 in Anderson with 1.99% turnout.

Only one Greenville County precinct - Belle Meade in Gantt - cracked over 10% turnout of registered voters, with 161 voters casting their ballot for Biden.

In 2020, 540,062 South Carolinians voted in the Democratic primary  about 16% of registered voters. Similarly, counties in the Upstate saw higher turnout in 2020 with Greenville County also seeing 16.5% voter turnout with 54,322 ballots cast, Spartanburg with 12.45% turnout with 23,613 and Anderson with 11% turnout with 13,337 ballots cast.

Henry Dirton Jr., 75, casts his vote at Greenville Senior High School during the Democratic primary election in Greenville, S.C., on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.

Biden performed better in Upstate compared to 2020 primary

The Upstate was the least friendly region for Biden in 2020s primary where he saw some of the weakest results in the state. Overall, Biden won South Carolinas primary in 2020 with 48.65% of the vote, with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in second with 19.7%.

But while Biden saw closer to 50% of the vote in most counties throughout the state, the president finished with less than 40% of the vote in Greenville, Oconee and Pickens counties. In contrast, Sanders saw some of his best results in the Upstate.

Pickens County  the state's whitest and most Republican county  gave Sanders his strongest results at 27.73%.

Recap: Joe Biden wins South Carolina during first official contest for Democrats

Primaries Past: South Carolina presidential primary results since 2000

According to prior reporting from the Greenville News, the turnout was speculated to be in part due to "Operation Chaos" a counter-campaign led by some state GOP leaders to urge voters to pick Sanders over Biden to give former President Donald Trump an "easier" opponent to beat.

President Joe Biden, from right, and Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., stand among attendees at a service before Biden speaks at St. John Baptist Church, in Columbia, S.C., on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

With a less competitive race, Biden performed better in the Upstate this time around.

In Saturdays primary, Biden collected 94.6% of the vote in Greenville County, 95.4% in Spartanburg County, and 94.75% in Anderson County.

He also finished significantly stronger in other counties in the Upstate:

95.05% in Pickens County

94.79% in Oconee County

95.91% in Cherokee County

95.47% in Abbeville County

95.92% in Union County

96.94% in Laurens County

Statewide he collected 96% of the total vote.

South Carolinas Republican primary is up next on Feb. 24 where Nikki Haley faces an uphill battle in her home state against former President Trump.

Nina Tran contributed reporting.

Kathryn Casteel is an investigative reporter and editor with The Greenville News and can be reached at KCasteel@gannett.com or on X @kathryncasteel.

Chalmers Rogland covers public safety for the Spartanburg Herald-Journal and USA Today Network. Reach him via email at crogland@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Biden easily won SC Democratic primary but faced low turnout
President Biden, who sailed to an easy victory Saturday in South Carolinas Democratic primary, lauded the win as a way to make former President Trump a loser in November.

In his celebration, Biden looked back to the 2020 election, when the Palmetto State primary became a turning point in his bid for the White House.

As I said four years ago, this campaign is for everyone who has been knocked down, counted out and left behind, Biden wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. That is still true today.

In 2020, it was the voters of South Carolina who proved the pundits wrong, breathed new life into our campaign, and set us on the path to winning the Presidency, he added. Now in 2024, the people of South Carolina have spoken again and I have no doubt that you have set us on the path to winning the Presidency againand making Donald Trump a loseragain.

His remarks came just minutes after Decision Desk HQ, a partner of The Hill, called the race for the incumbent president. As of 8 p.m. EST, Biden had garnered 55 delegates, with 10 still left to distribute.

Biden also touted his efforts to help South Carolina become the first-in-the-nation primary for Democrats, citing the need to promote diverse voices  despite the coveted status being held by New Hampshire since the 1920s.

While Biden won the January primary in the Granite State through a write-in campaign, he did not receive delegates  as it was not a sanctioned contest. This makes it his first primary win this election season.

When I was elected President, I said the days of the backbone of the Democratic Party being at the back of the line were over. That was a promise made and a promise kept, he wrote Saturday. Now, you are First In The Nation.

The stakes in this election could not be higher. There are extreme and dangerous voices at work in the country  led by Donald Trump  who are determined to divide our nation and take us backward. We cannot let that happen, Biden added.

He concluded, Lets keep pushing forward. Lets finish what we startedtogether.

2024 Election Coverage

His enthusiasm has undercut arguments from long-shot challengers Rep Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) and author Marianne Williamson, who have criticized the incumbent for his age and dwindling approval ratings.

While South Carolina is not expected to be a competitive state in the general election, which could end up being a rematch between Biden and Trump, the president is hoping it will give him the boost his campaign has been lacking. But, a coveted endorsement from Sen. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) was seen as the catalyst that propelled him to victory over the former president in 2020.

During an afterparty celebration Saturday, Clyburn called Biden  who thanked the crowd for supporting him.

Youre not getting rid of me, Im coming back, he said, according to multiple reports

Polling averages from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ currently show Trump leading Biden 43.6 percent to 42.1 percent in a general election match up.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Biden easily won South Carolinas Democratic Primary, which kicked off Democrats nominating process in the 2024 election cycle.

Biden was challenged by U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minnesota, and self-help author Marianne Williamson, but neither gained much, if any, traction in the state to make the primary truly competitive.

Phillips even publicly said he expected Biden to receive at least 95% of the vote in the state.

The Associated Press called Saturdays primary election for Biden at 7:23 p.m.

In 2020, it was the voters of South Carolina who proved the pundits wrong, breathed new life into our campaign, and set us on the path to winning the Presidency, Biden said in a statement. Now in 2024, the people of South Carolina have spoken again and I have no doubt that you have set us on the path to winning the Presidency again  and making Donald Trump a loser  again.

The Democratic National Committee moved South Carolina to the lead off spot of the partys presidential nominating contest order as a way give Black voters a greater say in the nominating process and highlight the partys diversity.

Biden also wanted South Carolina to go first because he won the state in 2020 after losses in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

The primary election ultimately is a test of enthusiasm for the president among Black voters, a group that was a key part of his coalition that propelled him to the White House.

The success I think that the Biden campaign will take from this is not the end result in terms of the numbers, but its the connections in the stories that the president, the vice president, the first lady, the second gentleman have heard, the connections that he then made with the people here in South Carolina, said Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison. I believe that theyve already won, just in terms of understanding what resonates on the campaign trail, in terms of the messages, but also what are people looking for in terms of the next four years.

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-Santee, told NPR he would watch for how Biden performed compared to New Hampshires primary. Because New Hampshire scheduled their primary before South Carolina against the DNCs wishes, no delegates were awarded in the primary. Biden was not on the ballot, but still received 64% of the vote as a write-in candidate.

Im going to see how far we got beyond New Hampshires percentage, Clyburn said. I want to beat that since we do have a ballot.

Turnout in the primary is being closely watched and Democrats.

Most top Democrats were careful not to set expectations for Biden or primary turnout ahead of Saturdays results.

What juices campaign numbers, right? Harrison said. Its media dollars. Its campaigning all around the state, its doing those things, but its also competition. People go to football games when they know its the number one team versus the number one team. Go to the Lady Gamecocks, youll see that when they play LSU, it is a packed house  But sometimes when that competition isnt there, people think its going to be a blowout and theyre going to save their dollars and their time.

South Carolina Democratic Party chair Christale Spain speaks to media before Democrats vote in Columbia, South Carolina on Saturday, February 3, 2024. This is the first time South Carolina has been the official first state for a Democratic Party Primary.

Comparing the 2024 cycle to other cycles is difficult.

The last time a Democratic incumbent president ran for reelection was 2012 and the South Carolina Democratic Party canceled its primary. Interest in an incumbent partys primary often wanes as most attention goes to the party out of the White House.

States such as Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Nevada had large drops in participation in Democratic nominating contests in 2012 when President Barack Obama ran for reelection.

Neither major party has held a presidential primary with an incumbent on the ballot since 1992 when President George Bush faced a challenge from Pat Buchanan.

Democrats watch the returns come in during the South Carolina Democratic Party primary on Saturday, February 3, 2024.

But any of the 3.2 million registered voters who did not vote in Saturdays primary are now eligible to vote in the Feb. 24 GOP presidential primary that features former President Donald Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

After the race was called, the South Carolina Republican Party said people who had not voted in the Democratic Primary should vote on Feb. 24.

We need a Republican back in the White House in order to reverse the tailspin Biden has put us in, and thats exactly what we will do, SC GOP Chairman Drew McKissick said in a statement. I encourage all Republicans in the Palmetto State to turn out in record-breaking numbers to show Joe Biden just how excited we are to send him packing.

South Carolina does not have voter registration by party, allowing Democratic and independent leaning voters to participate in the GOP primary. Even though it does happen from time to time, the amount is negligible to sway the outcome, McKissick has said.

Groups have spent money to convince independent and Democratic voters to crossover into Republican primary, including a mass text message sent by political action committee Primary Pivot that went out to those who voted in the Democratic primary in 2020.

I think that to some degree has gotten some traction among folks, said Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright.

Harrison dismissed the efforts and said any efforts to convince Democratic voters to participate in the Republican Party to support Haley should be ignored pointing to Haley signing a 20-week abortion ban when she was governor without exceptions for rape or incest and declined to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

We know Nikki Haley very, very well. And my message to Nikki, bless her heart, from the very start, is that were not going to vote for you, because you didnt do anything for us, Harrison said. You didnt do anything for us. So were not bailing you out. We got to MAGA apples in this field thats left and both of them are rotten.

The state Democratic Party and the Biden-Harris campaign focused heavily on turning out voters and reaching out to Black voters having the president, vice president, first lady or second gentleman in the state at least once every week during the month of January.

Biden spoke at Mother Emanuel AME Church, the site where nine Black churchgoers were killed by a white supremacist in 2015, and attended the SCDPs First in the Nation Celebration Dinner.

Vice President Kamala Harris made three trips to the state in January all to court Black voters at the 7th Episcopal District AME Church Womens Missionary Society annual retreat in Myrtle Beach and the annual King Day at the Dome at the South Carolina State House, and at a get-out-the-vote event Friday at S.C. State University, the states only four-year HBCU.

First Lady Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff also were dispatched to the state to speak in front of Black audiences.The state party also had outreach on college campuses to speak to young voters and a statewide tour with more than 115 events which included participation by Biden campaign surrogates and Phillips.

Before polls closed, Democrats were upbeat about turnout and enthusiasm from voters for the party and Biden. Party leaders pointed to early voting numbers where more than 51,000 people cast early votes or turned in absentee ballots in the two weeks leading up to the primary.

They also said their get out the vote events in January were often packed.

What weve seen on the ground is a completely different narrative that is getting reported in the national press, and that is weve seen crowds, said SCDP Executive Director Jay Parmley. The crowds are different. The excitement is different.

Previous S.C. Democratic Party presidential party turnout

2020: 540,062

2016: 373,063

2012: Primary canceled

2008: 532,151

Source: South Carolina Election Commission
President Joe Biden, right, hugs his son Hunter Biden on Hunter's birthday after dining at The Ivy in Los Angeles, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024. (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP)

South Carolina held the first official Democratic presidential primary Saturday. But as the polls closed, President Biden was 2,400 miles away, in Los Angeles, stepping off Air Force One.

Bidens victory in the Palmetto State was a foregone conclusion, and his campaign invested significant time there leading up to the primary.

So Biden headed west. He and First Lady Jill Biden landed at LAX around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and were greeted by Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Maxine Waters before the president choppered to the Santa Monica Airport and his wife left separately for an event.

They had no public events, and there were no fundraisers known to be taking place.

Biden had a Saturday afternoon campaign meeting at a historic Bel-Air estate owned by director George Lucas. Jill Biden spoke late Saturday night at a gala at Paramount Studios in Hollywood in support of a nonprofit that asks retailers to commit 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned brands.

On Sunday, Biden spent 90 minutes at the Ivy restaurant with his son Hunter and grandson Beau. Hunter Biden lives in Malibu, and Sunday was his 54th birthday. He is a favorite target of the president's Republican critics and faces federal tax charges.

The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Read more: Who would lend millions to Hunter Biden? Meet the Hollywood lawyer who has

Republicans predictably grumbled about Biden's decision not to visit South Carolina on Saturday, which they claimed was a slight by the incumbent.

It just goes to show you how much he cares about actually coming and how serious hes taking it, said Abby Zilch, spokeswoman for the South Carolina Republican Party. He and Kamala have spent the last three months coming down to South Carolina, telling South Carolina Democratic voters how much theyre grateful for their party here and how much South Carolina means to them. Yet he was all the way across the country on the day of the Democrats first primary.

Shortly after Air Force One landed at the Los Angeles International Airport, news broke that Biden had easily won the South Carolina primary.

The state saved his 2020 presidential campaign after he was trounced in Iowa and New Hampshire and finished a distant second in Nevada. An endorsement from Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) and the enthusiastic support of Black voters in the state gave Biden an overwhelming victory and provided momentum heading into the Super Tuesday primaries, which were critical to him becoming the Democratic nominee.

In return, the Democratic National Committee, at Bidens behest, overhauled the 2024 nominating calendar, making South Carolina the first state to hold a primary recognized by the party. The move was ostensibly meant to give a greater voice to diverse voters in the early stages of the race, compared with caucuses and a primary in overwhelmingly white Iowa and New Hampshire; it was largely viewed as a gift to South Carolina for saving Bidens 2020 campaign.

The president, Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, have spent considerable time in South Carolina promoting the Biden campaign.

On Friday, Harris spoke to supporters at South Carolina State University, a historically Black college. After a drumline performed, Harris was introduced by the reigning Miss South Carolina State and touted the administrations efforts to cancel student loan debt, cap insulin costs and boost the economy.

President Biden and I are guided by a fundamental belief: We work for you, the American people. And every day, we fight for you, she said. Sadly, however, that is not true for everyone. Case in point: Donald Trump. Former President Trump has made clear time and time again: His fight is not for the people. He fights for himself."

Scott Huffmon, a political science professor at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., noted the frequency of visits by the Democrats and their surrogates, including Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who visited his home county on Friday.

This is repayment for what South Carolina did for Joe Biden, but on a larger scale, South Carolina is so stunningly important to the national Democratic presidential process that keeping this relationship tight and warm is incredibly important, Huffmon said.

He added that he doesnt think most Palmetto State Democrats would have a problem with Biden spending primary night in Los Angeles, given South Carolina's rightward tilt in the general election. Trump easily carried the state in the 2020 presidential election. The last time a Democrat won there in the general election was 1976, and the candidate was a fellow Southerner, Jimmy Carter.

Hes paid his fealty. Hes done his bows and curtsies, and now realism sets in. Hes not going to win South Carolina in November, Huffmon said. So the repayment of the debt has happened. Now reality sets in.

Indeed, on Sunday, Biden headed to campaign events in Nevada, which is holding its Democratic primary Tuesday and is pivotal to his reelection bid in November.

Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Despite a moderate slowdown, China's economy will remain the largest contributor to global growth in 2024, said Steven Barnett, senior resident representative of the International Monetary Fund in China.

"China would still be the single-largest contributor to contribute over one-quarter of global growth this year," Barnett said in an exclusive interview with China Daily, adding that the over-a-quarter contribution is yet to add in the positive spillover of China's growth on other economies.

According to the IMF's latest forecasts, China's economy is projected to grow 4.6 percent this year, compared with 5.2 percent in 2023. The world economy is expected to grow 3.1 percent in 2024, unchanged from last year.

In 2023, US' nominal GDP growth outpaced China, sparking discussions of a widening US-China GDP gap.

Barnett said he does not take it as a sign that China is lagging behind the US further when it comes to economic strength.

"In terms of real growth, China grew last year at double the rate of the US economy."

China has, however, seen a gradual economic slowdown since even before the pandemic, Barnett said, underlining the necessity for China to pursue reforms to generate growth and further boost people's living standards.

Priorities of the reforms should include giving the market a more decisive role in the economy, ensuring a level playing field between all types of firms and improving the business environment, Barnett said.


President Joe Biden unsurprisingly won the South Carolina Democratic primary on Saturday, taking a majority of the votes and delegates in the Democratic partys first official trip to the ballot box of the 2024 election season.

The Associated Press called the primary in favour of Mr Biden approximately 30 minutes after polls closed at 7pm EST.

He ran as the incumbent against two lesser-known candidates: Representative Dean Phillips and self-help author Marianne Williamson.

The win marks Mr Bidens first official victory in his journey to re-election. Although the president obtained a majority of votes in New Hampshire several weeks ago, no candidate will receive delegates because of a conflict between the state and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) over the timing of the primary.

However, Democratic voters in New Hampshire still wrote in the presidents name, signalling that Mr Biden still resonates strongly with liberal voters.

President Joe Biden speaks at the National Prayer Breakfast at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, 1 February, 2024 (AP)

Four years ago, Mr Biden carried South Carolina in the Democratic primary with approximately 48 per cent of the vote.

With a similar win in South Carolina under his belt, the president can expect to look forward to a relatively easy primary season.

The next primary election will be held in Nevada on Tuesday.
(Bloomberg) -- Hello, from Washington, where were talking about the latest updates on border legislation, the South Carolina primaries  and, of course, Taylor Swift. Heres what you need to know for the week ahead.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The big Ukraine snub: The House of Representatives will vote to give $17.6 billion in aid to Israel next week, though the legislation excludes aid to Ukraine long sought after by many Senate Republicans and Democrats. House Speaker Mike Johnson said theres no time to consider a package that combines funding to Ukraine and Israel with US-Mexico border security provisions. That proposal is set to be released soon by the Senate after lengthy negotiations.

The big(-ish) vote: President Joe Biden cruised to victory in South Carolinas Democratic primary, a vote that tested his support among Black voters and independents  and will impact Nikki Haleys push to defeat Donald Trump in the Republican contest in three weeks. With just over nine months to go until the 2024 election, Biden also took a swipe at Trump on Saturday ahead of polls closing, calling his likely rematch opponent worse in terms of his behavior than during the 2020 presidential campaign.

The big Middle East moment: US forces followed up strikes on Syria and Iraq with a new round of attacks against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, signaling that the Biden administration is willing to deepen US involvement in the regions spreading conflict. The joint operation with the UK, backed by six other nations, targeted 36 Houthi sites at 13 locations in Yemen on Saturday. Iranian-backed Houthis vowed to respond to the airstrikes, saying the acts wont pass without response and punishment.

The big rose-colored glasses: The S&P 500 Index has climbed in 13 of the last 14 weeks, its best stretch in nearly four decades. But February, historically one of the rockiest times of the year for US stocks, is never a sure thing. Some of Wall Streets biggest optimists are worried the enthusiasm that drove the benchmark to all-time highs is sending a contrarian signal. The big oil outlook: Exxon Mobil and Chevron are generating returns not seen since their prime over a decade ago. Theyve given out a whopping $58.7 billion to shareholders last year and promise more to come in 2024, even if crude prices drop. And yet, theyre struggling to compete in a stock market beholden to Silicon Valley.

The big lull: After a slew of economic data including a high-profile monthly jobs report and the Feds first meeting of the year, the US has a comparably slower week ahead. The highlights: Chair Jerome Powell is set to appear tonight on CBS Newss 60 Minutes and the Institute for Supply Management will issue its services index on Monday. Economists project activity among service providers to have grown at a faster pace to start the year.

The big thought: The cloud of secrecy surrounding Elon Musks first Neuralink implementation creates an ethical problem, Bloomberg Opinion columnist F.D. Flam writes. Musk left out key details in his announcement, specifically by not disclosing what condition the person who received the implant suffered, how severe it was, how this patient gave consent, what benefit the doctors hoped to achieve or whether the implant helped the patient, writes Flam.

The big jetsetter: Swifties can sleep soundly tonight, it seems. Japans Embassy in Washington assures us that Taylor Swift should have no problem jetting across the globe to Las Vegas from her Tokyo concert to watch her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, play in the Super Bowl.Thanks for reading. Catch you next week.

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Why cant Florida, with all weve got going for us, produce a president? Or even a serious contender for either partys nomination?

Were the third-largest state, with 30 electoral votes. We send large delegations to both national conventions, decisive in nominating the Democratic and Republican tickets. We have probably the most diverse population in the country  rural and urban, young and old, southerners and Yankee transplants, every racial and education demographic niche  and we elect capable leaders.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed the audience backed by members of the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida National Guard, and the Florida State Guard. DeSantis held a press conference in a hangar at Cecil Commerce Center on Jacksonville, Florida's westside Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, to announce plans to deploy members of the Florida National Guard and the Florida State Guard to the borders of Texas and other areas to help slow down the tide of individuals entering the United States illegally. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]

All right, we elect some of the other kind, too.

When Gov. Ron DeSantis quit the Republican race, he continued a string of Florida flops dating back to then-U.S. Sen. Claude Peppers one-day attempt to stop Harry Truman at the 1948 Democratic National Convention.

Ohio calls itself the Cradle of Presidents, sending eight sons to the White House. California and Texas, ahead of us in population, have each given us two in less than six decades. Yet Florida has never even provided a running mate.

Winning statewide races here cant be so different from becoming governor or a senator anywhere else, it just doesnt give leaders political street cred. They need to carry Florida  before President Biden, Bill Clinton in 92 was the last man elected without our electoral votes  but they cant be from the Sunshine State.

His national ambitions smothered in the snows of Iowa and New Hampshire, DeSantis technically suspended  rather than ended  his race. Thats like saying the Titanic suspended her inaugural voyage. Perhaps hoping to launch again in 2028, DeSantis quickly endorsed Donald Trump, who, while now a Florida resident, is a New York transplant.

1978: Florida Gov. Reubin Askew congratulates House Speaker Donald Tucker.

The late Gov. Reubin Askew was avidly pursued by Democratic Party leaders in 1972, when the party needed a conservative southerner who was not George Wallace of Alabama. Unwilling to subject his family to the fishbowl of a national campaign, and knowing Richard Nixon would win anyway, Askew wisely stayed away from the 49-state avalanche U.S. Sen. George McGovern, D-S.D., led Democrats into.

A dozen years later, Askew ran but dropped out after New Hampshire. It was clear Walter Mondale had the nomination wrapped up from the start.

U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, whod succeeded Askew as governor, ran in 2004 but dropped out even before Iowa. He had voted against the Iraq war and paid for it.

Well never know how former Gov. Jeb Bush or U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio might have fared in a normal presidential year. No campaign with Trump is normal, so 2016 cant be assessed like any contest before or since.

Maybe DeSantis could have led the pack if Trump had stayed out this year. But nobody will pay to see a Rolling Stones tribute band when the real Stones are still touring, and the governor could never find much market share for his Trump-lite act.

Our elected officials didnt become historical footnotes because they came from Florida, although that didnt help much. Timing and events produce not just the candidates, but the kind of campaigns they run. Even a high-visibility pulpit like being governor of California worked well for Ronald Reagan in 1976 and 1980, but not for Jerry Brown in those same years.

Maybe the closest Florida came to a national nominee was in 1960, when the Kennedys considered Gov. LeRoy Collins for vice president. But Florida had only 10 electoral votes, and Collins couldnt deliver them, while Texas had 24 votes that Lyndon Johnson could, and did, put in the Democratic column.

How different history might have been if Collins had been vice president when JFK was killed.

Wistful wishing about what might have been is fun for political junkies, as we await the Trump-Biden rematch nobody wants. But its too bad some of Floridas finest  or maybe less-than-finest  never got a chance to show what they could do on a national stage.

Bill Cotterell

Bill Cotterell is a retired Capitol reporter for United Press International and the Tallahassee Democrat. He writes a weekly column for The News Service of Florida and City & State Florida. He can be reached at bcotterell@cityandstatefl.com.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Bill Cotterell: When will Florida produce a president?
In North Carolina, unaffiliated voters outnumber registered Democrats who, in turn, outnumber registered Republicans  yet Republicans hold not just a slim majority, but a veto-proof one in both chambers of the states General Assembly. That veto-proof majority is what allowed Republicans to pass an abortion ban last year that 45 percent of North Carolina voters oppose and only 23 percent support. How is that possible? And why is it the case that Republicans have been able to wield such power, not just in North Carolina, but in states around the country for years? You have to go back almost a decade and a half to get the answer.

Republicans had a good year in 2010: The GOP won control of 20 state legislative chambers, just in time for the once-a-decade redistricting process that gave lawmakers the chance to draw their own exceptionally favorable legislative maps, locking majorities in place for years to come. It was all part of a plan known as the Redistricting Majority Project, or REDMAP. Deeply gerrymandered maps meant legislators didnt have to reach across the aisle to build coalitions, or moderate their positions to appeal to independents and swing voters. To stay in power, all they had to do is perform fan service for the far-right fringe of their party.

That election cycle, 14 years ago, is a primary reason why GOP lawmakers today still feel empowered to pass abortion bans, even in states where majorities of voters believe the practice should be legal in most circumstances. Its the reason why gun safety measures supported by overwhelming majorities of voters repeatedly fail to become law, and why broadly popular initiatives like Medicaid expansion still havent passed in many areas. And it is a dynamic fueled by some of Americas most recognizable brands  companies that have donated tens of millions of dollars to the organization behind REDMAP, and the group most responsible for engineering minority rule in this country: the Republican State Legislative Committee.

According to a new report from the Center for Political Accountability, which tracks corporate political spending, the RSLC has accepted more than $188 million from publicly-traded companies and their lobbying groups since 2010  a sum that represents more than half of the $340 million total raised by the group during this time. The amount the corporations gave to the Republican committee absolutely dwarfed the sum they gave to its Democratic counterpart, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which raised just $52 million from corporations and lobbying groups over the same period. The DLCCs entire fundraising haul over the last 14 years  $185 million  doesnt match what corporations alone gave to Republicans in that time. (The Republican State Legislative Committee did not respond to a request for comment.)

CPAs report, shared exclusively with Rolling Stone, specifically examines donations from corporate treasury funds. Unlike political action committee donations, which are subject to strict contribution limits, companies can contribute unlimited amounts from their treasury funds  either directly or via third-party lobbying groups  to tax-exempt 527 political committees like the RSLC, the Republican Governors Association, and the Republican Attorneys General Association. The money accepted by the RSLC over the last decade and a half comes from some of the most recognizable brands in America, such as Comcast ($2.1 million), Walmart ($1.8 million), Pfizer ($1.8 million), AT&T ($1.6 million), ExxonMobil ($1.5 million), and Coca-Cola ($589,000), among others.

Republicans corporate benefactors, CPA asserts, have supported gerrymandering efforts and restrictions on voting rights that have enabled state legislatures to enact unpopular policies, like bans on abortion, while thwarting popular priorities like Medicaid expansion, gun safety legislation, and legislation to protect and expand voting rights. It notes that state legislatures have even threatened to subvert presidential elections  which, if acted upon, would profoundly destabilize the rule of law in America.

Gerrymandering is not a new phenomenon, but there is a difference between gerrymandering of yore and the legacy of REDMAP, says CPAs research director, Jeanne Hanna. The status quo among some Republicans in some state legislatures is not to win an election, but to win in a way that allows them to secure power [for years] regardless of what the voters want to have happen. That has really stark, long-term consequences.

Bruce Freed, president of CPA, puts it even more bluntly: Its destructive to democracy.

The irony is that the leaders of many of the companies that have funded and continue to fund the RSLC have, as the report highlights, made grand declarations about their commitments to democracy.

The largest donor to the RSLC since 2010 is the tobacco giant Altria, whose portfolio includes Marlboro, Skoal, and the vape company NJOY. Altria gave $6.9 million to the committee between January 2010 and June 2023. Altria declares that voting is a foundational democratic process and should be a non-partisan issue. All eligible individuals should have their voices heard at the ballot box. (Similar sentiments, the report notes, have been espoused by executives at AT&T, Citigroup, Comcast, Chevron, and Eli Lilly  all major donors to RSLC over the last 14 years.)

Reynolds American, maker of Newport, Camel, and Pall Mall cigarettes, was also a major RSLC underwriter before it was acquired by another big donor, the British American Tobacco company. The two companies gave a combined $7.6 million over the last 14 years. Other multi-million dollar benefactors include Elevance, the health insurance company formerly known as Anthem, which gave to the tune of $5.7 million, and the oil and gas company Devon Energy, which donated $2.7 million.

Almost none of the companies that donated to the RSLC responded to inquiries from Rolling Stone about whether they supported the policy goals their political contributions have enabled, or whether they would continue to donate to the RSLC going forward.

Pfizer, the only corporation to offer a response, said in a statement that the company engages with legislative organizations on both sides of the aisle all with the purpose of advancing policies that support biopharmaceutical innovation and patient access to medicines and vaccines. In no way does our support translate into an endorsement of an organizations position on any issue outside of this core mission.

Corporations often make this argument, Freed says, but it is hard to ignore the enormous difference in the amounts of money the RSLC has accepted from corporations compared with the DLCC. The amount that these [Republican] groups get from public companies and trade associations pales in comparison to the amount of money that goes to the Democratic counterparts, he says.

In many cases, Freed says, Companies are not paying attention to where the money ends up. They are giving to these groups [like the RSLC] to get access; theyre giving to these groups because it creates a favorable political climate for them. But they have not been paying attention to the political consequences  the consequences to the general public, or to their business interests.

Such contributions, Freed points out, pose a risk to businesses both in terms of consumer reaction and employee morale. A number of corporations that bankrolled the RSLC as it worked to install the legislative majorities that have passed unpopular abortion bans, were also the first companies to come out, in the wake of the Supreme Courts decision ending the federal right to abortion, and promise travel benefits for employees who might need to leave their states in order to obtain an abortion.

Those companies include Citigroup (which gave $1.6 million to the RSLC), Microsoft ($222,000), and Amazon ($292,000). None responded to an inquiry about whether they would donate to the RSLC going forward.

We know from our conversations with companies that theyre concerned about risk management, and theres a recognition by companies that political spending poses risks on many different levels, Freed says. But, he warns, Theyre not looking more broadly, and I would say three-dimensionally, at the impact of their spending.

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Ukraine has the highest chances of winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 as of Sunday evening, according to data from bookmakers.

Source: Eurovision Song Contest website

Details: The official website of the song contest features predictions of bookmakers about certain participants.

Thus, as of Sunday evening, Ukraine has the highest chances (16%).

The website says winning odds are the conversion of bookmakers' odds into a percentage of chances of success for each outcome.

However, as of 4 February, only 10 of the 37 participating countries have presented their contest songs, and the forecasts may change dramatically.

Background: The results of the voting in the National Selection for Eurovision 2024, which took place the day before, have been announced. According to the results, oAlyona Alyona & Jerry Heil will represent Ukraine at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest with their song Teresa & Maria.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The Bakersfield Police Department is asking for the communitys assistance in locating a missing teenager.

Nexie Martinez was last seen near her residence in the 2200 block of N Street on Feb. 3 at 5:38 p.m. Martinez is considered at risk due to no prior history of running away.

Runaway, at-risk teen missing in south Bakersfield

Martinez is described by police as 5 feet, 3 inches tall and 140 pounds with black long hair and brown eyes. Martinez was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweater, dark colored sweatpants, black shoes and a dark green backpack.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact BPD at 661-327-7111.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
Former British home secretary Suella Braverman at the We Stand With Israel rally that marked 100 days since Hamas terrorists attacked Israelis from the Gaza Strip - TOLGA AKMEN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Suella Braverman has been allowed to keep her 24-hour police protection since leaving office because she receives threats on a daily basis.

The former home secretary, sacked by Rishi Sunak in November, said receiving abuse was the bread and butter of front-line politics after Commons authorities decided that she should continue to receive extra protection.

There has been renewed concern about MPs safety after Mike Freer, a justice minister, announced on Wednesday that he will stand down at the next election after receiving death threats and intimidation because he expressed pro-Israel views.

The 63-year-old, who is gay and represents the London constituency of Finchley and Golders Green, which has a large Jewish population, said he was lucky to be alive after a decade of intimidation that culminated in a suspected arson attack on his constituency office last year.

Speaking on the Camilla Tominey show on GB News, Mrs Braverman said: I think its a damning indictment on our society that one of the most upstanding and honourable members of our government and Parliament has been hounded out of office because of Islamism and extremism, anti-Semitism and homophobia.

Asked whether she receives similar threats, Mrs Braverman replied: Of course  on a daily basis. Unfortunately, it is the bread and butter of life in the public eye.

Usually, home secretaries lose their personal protection when they leave office. But I have been assessed and Im very grateful to the parliamentary authorities who have afforded me ongoing protection.

The Government has faced demands from ministers to provide heightened security for all MPs after a surge in cases of pro-Israel politicians being targeted since Hamass Oct 7 attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.

One minister said it was laughable that not all parliamentarians had the personal protection afforded to senior Cabinet ministers amid concerns about the safety of government figures in their constituencies.

Mrs Braverman was dismissed by Mr Sunak after accusing the Metropolitan Police of playing favourites with protesters, and describing pro-Palestinian rallies in central London as hate marches.

Recalling a real tussle with the police over the demonstrations, she added: I think, actually, there is a case for giving ministers, the Home Secretary, [powers to ban] a march. I was powerless in law. I didnt have [the] power to ban that march on Armistice Day  it was down to the Met Police. I believe they made the wrong decision.

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DMCC, a flagship free zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise, has broken ground on the second phase of its Uptown Dubai development as it continues to substantially enhance and expand its real estate offering.

The ground-breaking comes following the appointment of Swissboring Overseas Piling Corporation for the enabling and foundation works.

Swissboring will focus primarily on basement retention systems for the three basement levels of the two towers, foundation works for the towers, podium levels and future bridges, dewatering works, and excavation of the entire plot assigned to phase two, said a statement from DMCC.

The scope of work for Phase Two includes construction of two mid-rise towers (a 23- and 17-storey facility) within the Uptown Dubai district in the southern end of the city, it stated.

According to DMCC, these towers will offer 753,000 sq ft of Grade A commercial office space as well as 86,000 sq ft food and beverages (F&B) and retail in keeping with the premium level of the urban community.

After adding the two towers to the district alongside Uptown Tower and the two residential towers within the recently launched Mercer House by Ellington Properties, over half of the districts planned towers have now been launched, it stated.

Uptown Dubais nine towers will encircle the focal point of the district, The Plaza, which will eventually be host to a dynamic and diverse offering of activities from immersive art installations to music, film and fashion performances.

Once completed, Uptown Dubai will boast a total gross floor area (GFA) of 5.8 million sq ft, with 2.5 million sq ft dedicated to commercial office space, it added.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Executive Chairman and CEO Ahmed Bin Sulayem said this comes following the successful opening of Uptown Tower last year.

The 81-storey tower is home to 31 of the worlds leading businesses, including Invisalign, Wellbred, Hikvision and the Gemological Institute of America, as well as the hotel rooms and branded residences as part of the urban luxury hotel SO/ Uptown Dubai, he stated.

"The successful pre-leasing in record time of Uptown Towers suite of Grade A offices reaffirmed our approach, and as we mark the groundbreaking of Phase 2 of Uptown Dubai, we will aim to fully replicate this success with two new commercial towers adding to the expansion of our business district and DMCCs overall value proposition," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Not everyone is destined to win all the races they race or the fights that they fight. And on some special select occasions, some of those daring souls are recognized for what they do achieve and the importance of the work to which they dedicate their lives. One of those figures is one-time Amarillo mayor Ernest O. Thompson. Thompson was denied his attempt to become governor decades ago, but his impact as a Railroad Commissioner still has a strong impact on modern Texas.

Thompson was born in Alvord, a small community in Wise County, in 1892. In 1902, the family moved to Amarillo, where his father ran a drug store. As a youth, he was considered bright and hard-working. And he always had an eye for opportunity, cleverly coming up with ways to find work or talk his way into a job.

Ken Bridges

He graduated from the University of Texas with a law degree in 1917. He joined the army in the midst of World War I, serving in the infantry. In 1918, Thompson was cited for his innovative techniques with mass, coordinated machine gun fire and promoted to lieutenant colonel. He returned to Amarillo in 1919 to practice law. Thompson was one of the organizers of the American Legion, a group of veterans dedicated to helping veterans.

In 1928, he ran for mayor, pledging to cut utility rates and won easily. In 1932, Gov. Ross Sterling appointed Thompson to the Texas Railroad Commission.

At his death on June 28, 1966, Gen. Ernest O. Thompson was recognized as a world authority on oil and natural gas conservation. Story

The role of the Railroad Commission steadily expanded from railroad hauling rates to regulating oil pipelines and oil and gas production by World War I. It expanded to other forms of energy and transportation in the 1920s. The wild East Texas oil field was producing a fortune, but waste and reckless drilling threatened its long-term stability. Drilling too much too quickly for too long had ruined the production yield in oil fields in other parts of the country, even though the oil was still available. Overproduction had caused East Texas oil prices to drop 90%.

Thompson introduced a series of measures that limited production and oversaw safety measures, all designed in a way that protected the interests of smaller producers and still protected the interests of corporations. In a short time, prices stabilized, safety began to improve, and production remained sustainable. In appreciation for his efforts, Gov. James V. Allred of Wichita Falls appointed Thompson colonel in the Texas National Guard in 1936. Though Thompson was not a producer himself, he was recognized globally as an expert on oil production. In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent him as the American delegate to the World Petroleum Conference in France.

In 1938, he decided to run for governor. Thompson started the primary season as the prohibitive favorite to succeed Gov. Allred. Initially, his biggest opponent for the Democratic nomination was William McCraw, the state attorney general and a former Dallas prosecutor, and corporate attorney Tom Hunter of Wichita Falls. A slew of other candidates joined in, with most of the debate centered on the lingering effects of the Great Depression and calls for aid to schools and the poor and a state teachers pension.

That spring, W. Lee Pappy ODaniel, a popular Fort Worth-based radio broadcaster whose noon broadcasts of popular country music and his homespun humor won him thousands of fans, jumped into the race. A master showman, Pappy ODaniel drew huge crowds to his campaign rallies with his wit and free concerts performed by his Light Crust Doughboys band. Few polls were conducted, but it was clear who had the advantage. Thompson held onto hopes that he could enter the usual runoff. But ODaniel won the July primary with 51% of the vote, with Thompson finishing a distant second with only 21%. ODaniel then went on to win the general election with an astounding 97% of the vote.

Thompson was still on the Railroad Commission but decided for a re-match against ODaniel in 1940. The result was about the same, with ODaniel winning 54% of the vote to 21.6% for the runner-up Thompson.

When World War II erupted, Thompson, now nearing 50, rejoined the army. As the Allies needed a steady supply of fuel as much as they needed troops in the field, Thompson was sent back home to his duties on the Railroad Commission to ensure a steady flow of oil and natural gas to the military. Texas was a key part of this effort.

Thompson was elected to three more terms on the Railroad Commission after the war. Gov. Allan Shivers appointed Thompson as general of the National Guard in 1952.

As the years advanced and his health started to decline, Thompson decided to retire. In January 1965, he formally stepped down from the commission. He built a steady list of honors for his work. Amarillo had named a park in his honor, and Alvord placed a historical marker in the community. And to further honor of his years of service, the State of Texas renamed the old Austin Daily Tribune Building after Thompson later in 1965. He died just 18 months later at age 74. His 33 years on the Railroad Commission is still the longest in state history. The 11-story building named for him is today home to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

Ken Bridges is a writer, historian and native Texan. He holds a doctorate from the University of North Texas. Bridges can be reached by email at drkenbridges@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Bridges: Amarillo mayor Ernest Thompson's key role in Texas oil, gas
Defence funding has been used to plug shortfalls in rather than replenish and boost stockpiles, MPs have warned - Army

Britains increasingly overstretched Armed Forces are not ready for a war with Russia, a damning inquiry by MPs has concluded.

A year-long review by the Commons defence committee found that the Government will never achieve warfighting or strategic readiness without urgent reforms to reverse a recruitment crisis and dramatically boost Britains stockpile of weapons and ammunition.

In a stark report, the MPs said that the Armed Forces required more funding to engage in operations whilst also developing warfighting readiness or it would have to reduce the operational burden on the military.

Amid increasing pressure on defence spending, the committee discovered that 1.95 billion of funding awarded in the Budget last spring may now be used to plug shortfalls in defence rather than to replenish and boost stockpiles.

Writing in The Telegraph, Sir Jeremy Quin, the committees Conservative chairman, states that the UK must rise to the challenge amid warnings that Nato countries may have just three years to prepare for a Russian offensive.

Sir Jeremy, who was defence procurement minister until 2022, says: To confront the threats we face with confidence, we need to know that we would be ready for war.

The cross-party committees warning came after it was told by former defence chiefs that the Armed Forces had been hollowed out since 2010 and, in a peer-on-peer conflict... would have exhausted their capabilities after the first couple of months of the engagement.

The report states: The UK Armed Forces have deployed above their capacity in response to the worsening security situation, but all have capability shortfalls and stockpile shortages, and are losing personnel faster than they can recruit them.

Sir Jeremy adds: The MoD have acknowledged that only five personnel are recruited for every eight that leave the military. He says a renewed focus on recruitment is vital and timely.

No 10 ruled out conscription last month when Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, the Chief of the General Staff, said that the UK must be ready to train citizens for a future conflict.

However, Gen Martin Herem, commander of Estonias Defence Force, which borders Russia, called on Nato countries to begin conscription programmes.

Whatever is scary for me, is not scary for the French or the English. Thats why its very hard to motivate their populations to join any kind of volunteer military movement ready to defend the country, he said

I definitely suggest for all countries to establish some kind of conscript-type of citizen services.

First based on volunteers, like a one-year contract which includes the training and then another half year of service, before sending them to the reserves. Thats how you will have a reserve.

A major weakness identified following evidence submitted by current and former defence chiefs, industry figures and ministers was a lack of domestic manufacturing capability to produce weapons, combat vehicles and ammunition at the pace required to replenish stockpiles and respond to the demand that would be created by a war.

In evidence to the committee, Lord Houghton, who was chief of the defence staff between 2013 and 2016, said that the UK had been taking a risk by ordering finite amounts of key equipment such as the NLAW missiles used to target Russian tanks in Ukraine  rather than longer-term contracts to ensure a ready supply.

The current approach  described by Lord Houghton as a gross strategic error  is now being urgently reviewed by senior ministers. In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, said the Government should be trying to work with our defence industries to line up longer runs in production, adding that such an approach would require committing funding over several years.

The Telegraph understands that one commonly used munition  a 155mm artillery shell  which sources said was in desperately short supply, can only be produced by one machine in the UK.

The UK is said to be desperately short of artillery shells - Ben Birchall/PA Wire

Andrew Kinniburgh, the director-general of Make UK Defence, one of two major industry bodies for defence firms, said: We are still struggling to get the Government to realise that, in terms of industrial capacity, if they dont use it, theyll lose it ... if there is no demand, the defence industry will simply let that capability wither on the vine.

He described NLAWs, thousands of which have been sent by the UK to Ukraine, as a great example of where there were no orders for years and, as a result, the production lines were effectively shut down.

In another case, Mr Kinniburgh said, the UK didnt spend a penny on armoured vehicles for years so when it came to buying the much-delayed Ajax vehicles we had to use a Spanish-designed vehicle as the base platform.

Lord Houghton told the committee that the purchase of key warfighting equipment in one-off, finite orders was a gross strategic error in our national resilience.

The report identifies three types of military readiness, only one of which it says is proven in the UK.

The first is operational readiness  the ability to deploy a force for a standing commitment or respond to a crisis  which the MPs concluded is proven, but with issues of overstretch.

Second is warfighting readiness  the ability to deploy and sustain a force that can fight at high intensity in multiple domains for a prolonged period of time. The committee said: We find this to be in doubt.

The third is strategic readiness  the ability of the state to identify and utilise all the tools available to it to support a warfighting effort. The MPs state that this still appeared to be a theoretical concept being debated in Whitehall rather than an agreed policy with measurable deliverables.

The report states: It is clear that the Government will never achieve warfighting or strategic readiness without a thriving industrial base and without an offer that can attract, develop and sustain enough service personnel skilled to meet the increasing and evolving military challenges that we as a nation face. These reforms need to work, and at pace.

Ready to defend UK

An MoD spokesman said: Our Armed Forces are always ready to protect and defend the UK, and we continue to meet all operational commitments, including participating in every single Nato mission, supporting Ukraine, and tackling Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

We are spending more than 50 billion on defence this this year alone, and have significantly increased our spending on defence equipment to 288.6 billion over the next decade, including investing in deepening our stockpiles and bringing in new tanks, fighter jets and warships.

We have been clear that increasing recruitment and improving retention across the services is a top priority, including through ensuring improved career opportunities and making it easier for people to re-join the forces, on top of the largest pay increase in more than 20 years.

The spokesman added: We are fully engaged with industry, allies and partners to ensure we can continue to equip Ukraine with vital supplies, while replacing all equipment and munitions granted in kind from UK stocks as efficiently as possible.

The MoD had placed an order for 155mm artillery shells with BAE Systems, which will increase the UKs stockpile and deliver an eight-fold increase in production capacity.

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(Left) The 15th century manuscript entry. (Right) A statue of Thurstan, who is widely recognised as one of medieval Englands most influential figures

English Heritage has uncovered evidence of a lost saint in a discovery historians have hailed as adding an extra dimension to our understanding of the medieval North.

The finding emerged from a previously overlooked entry in a 15th-century manuscript which provides key new evidence that one of medieval Englands most influential figures was, contrary to belief, a saint.

Thurstan, who served as Archbishop of York from 1114 to 1140, was thought to have been passed over for sainthood.

But an ancient service book from Pontefract Priory has now been found to list St Thurstan in a calendar of saints feast days observed at the monastery.

The discovery was made by Dr Michael Cater, senior properties historian at English Heritage, in the archives at Kings College Cambridge. The manuscript is written in Latin and its translated entry for Feb 6 reads: Death of Saint Thurstan, archbishop of York, year of grace, 1140. It is also written in red ink  a sign of its importance and significance to the monks at that time.

Dr Cater said of his discovery: Thurstan is well known among medieval historians and scholars as a figure of immense political and social significance during the early half of the 12th century, but all have denied that he ever achieved sainthood.

The entry in this manuscript is unambiguous proof that Thurstan was indeed a saint and that his name should be seen alongside other religious contemporaries in Northern England, including St William and St Aelred of Rievaulx, St Waldef of Kirkham and Melrose and St Godric of Finchale.

Thurstan was born in Normandy in 1070 and visited the Abbey of Cluny as a young man where he vowed to one day become a Cluniac monk.

On Jan 25 1140, aged nearly 70 and in failing health, he fulfilled this vow by resigning from his position as Archbishop of York and retiring to the Cluniac priory at Pontefract.

He died less than two weeks later on Feb 6, and, as befitted his status and importance, was buried before the high altar at Pontefract Priory.

Janet Burton, professor of medieval history at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, is a specialist in medieval monastic and religious orders and wrote Thurstans entry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

She added: Dr Carters discovery has added an extra dimension to our understanding of Thurstans legacy and his place in the religious culture of the medieval north.

A man of European dimensions, Thurstan spent the first five years of his period of office on the Continent where he enjoyed contact with popes and cardinals, and the leading lights in new emergent monastic movements.

He was imbued with all the latest reforming ideas that were sweeping the Church. He transformed his vast diocese, introducing administrative change, fostering pastoral care, and above all encouraging new monastic foundations.

St Thurstan was a figure of international influence, involved in the affairs of not just the church but also the state  at the highest level.

A great supporter of religious reform, he played a key role in the foundation of many of Northern Englands greatest monasteries, many of which are now in the care of charity English Heritage, including: Furness Abbey, Gisborough Priory, Kirkham Priory, Rievaulx Abbey and Byland Abbey.

Thurstan, the 12th century Archbishop of York, played a key role in the foundation of many monasteries in the North, including Kirkham Priory. Evidence has now come to light that shows he was made a saint - Dave Pickett/Historic England/English Heritage Trust

He was also politically astute, protecting the North of England from invasion by mustering the English army that defeated the Scots in the Battle of the Standard in 1138 and bringing Canterburys claim of precedence over York to an end, after many years of dispute.

While Dr Carters research is the first proof of Thurstans sainthood, other sources give several indications of his sanctity.

A few days after his death, the archdeacon of Nottingham experienced a vision of Thurstan in a dream, confirming that he was in heaven among the saints.

Meanwhile several sources say that, after some time, the monks at Pontefract opened Thurstans tomb and found that neither his body nor the vestments in which he had been buried had decayed and that a sweet smell emanated from the grave.

An incorrupt body and the accompanying odour of sanctity were sure signs of sainthood in the medieval period.

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You need medical help, said the Metropolitan Police officer, addressing Abdul Ezedi directly. So, do the right thing and hand yourself in.

Appealing to the better nature  or Christian ethics  of this man might seem completely absurd. He had just attacked a woman and two children with an alkaline substance, leaving the woman, with whom he had apparently been in a relationship, with life-changing injuries. He had previously hidden in a lorry to enter Britain illegally, twice failed to be granted asylum, and then converted to Christianity in order to claim he faced persecution in Afghanistan, his home country  while continuing to live as a Muslim.

After arriving here in 2016, Ezedi was convicted two years later of sexual assault and indecent exposure. While he was put on the sex offenders register for a decade, somehow his crimes led only to a suspended sentence. Although Home Office guidelines said this was enough to mean his asylum appeals should be refused, in 2020 an immigration tribunal ruled the other way. Crucial was the tribunals acceptance of evidence from a priest, reportedly Catholic, who claimed Ezedi was now a Christian and wholly committed to the faith.

Yet we know that he sought a Muslim wife, bought only halal meat and was described by staff at his local Kurdish shop in Newcastle as a good Muslim.

And the absurdities do not end there. Afghanistan was supposedly too dangerous for him, but he planned to return to find a wife. He was apparently so destitute, he needed the support of charities to house him, but he could plan international travel and sought to buy a car for thousands of pounds. He was supported by charities  directly and indirectly funded by the taxpayer  yet has a brother with a home in London and other family members in Britain.

There is no better case study in the weakness of our criminal-justice system, the absurdity of our immigration courts, the consequences of our human rights laws, and the complicity  conscious or not  of many people and institutions in the failure to uphold the law, secure the border and protect the public.

No sooner had the details of the case emerged than commentators and politicians lined up to insist that Ezedis immigration status had nothing to do with what happened. One barrister insisted that acid attacks are crimes of misogyny culture-war point-scoring wont stop acid attacks  tackling cultures of misogyny will. While nobody denies the existence of misogyny in Britain, the trouble with this argument is that uncontrolled immigration means we are importing misogynistic cultures  from places exactly like Ezedis home country.

Such denialism and displacement activity is now common among liberals when the reality of clashing cultures challenges their assumption that competing values and rights are easily reconciled and that radical diversity  in truth a serious challenge for us to overcome  is simply an unquestionable good.

Those who in other circumstances rail against sexism, homophobia and racism often look the other way when the perpetrators are themselves minorities, or when a growing social problem is driven by entrenched attitudes in specific communities. The principle of the particular is suborned to the broader, unthinking belief in radical diversity for its own sake. And so liberal universalism gives way to cultural relativism, and liberalism ends up devouring itself.

This is how the intellectual climate deepens the problems we face. But some play their part through deeds, not words. Action Foundation, for example, the charity that supported Ezedi in Newcastle, posts political material on its website, describing the Governments promise to stop the boats as a malign mantra. It says its work is to arrange family reunions and support those with no recourse to public funds.

This is another example of the absurdity of the system. Since 1999, illegal immigrants and asylum seekers have been ineligible for most benefits and social housing. So charities such as Action Foundation fill the gap. But who funds them? Often, and to a considerable degree, it is you. Action Foundation has received grants from central government, Newcastle Council and the National Lottery. It also gets grants from bigger national charities, such as Refugee Action, which in turn receive millions each year from public bodies and other charities, themselves often in receipt of public funds. With your money, these charities campaign against Government policies and use legal action to block the deportation of failed asylum seekers and foreign offenders.

Here, the Church is also complicit. Fake conversions are now common in the asylum system, because they allow the applicant to claim they will be persecuted in their home country. This is how Emad al-Swealmeen  who blew himself up outside Liverpool Womens Hospital on Remembrance Sunday in 2021  was allowed to stay in the country. Some Anglicans have admitted that while there are no conversions from Islam to Christianity among those in Britain legally, there have been hundreds, probably thousands, of conversions among asylum seekers.

Nobody expects the clergy to turn away those whose hearts may be open to Christ, but the suspicion lingers that many know what they are doing. Bishops constantly rail against the Government for its immigration and asylum policies. Anglican schools are teaching children about white privilege. And the Archbishop of Canterbury rushed to embrace Black Lives Matter, calling for white Christians, but not others, to repent of our own prejudices, and insisting  contrary to scripture  that there can be forgiveness of past generations, but only if we change the way we behave now.

Nobody should expect those thwarting Government attempts to control immigration to suddenly desist. Church leaders and migrant charity bosses are motivated by their own agendas. But ministers must get real. Yes, we need radical change to human rights laws, new agreements with other countries, better labour-market regulation and even ID cards. But we cannot allow unprovable claims to prevent the removal of illegal immigrants. And we must stop funding those bent on the destruction of border controls  immediately.

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BUCKEYE LAKE  Mayor Jeryne Peterson filed a complaint Thursday with the Ohio Supreme Court, seeking to cancel the Feb. 27 special mayoral recall election.

Peterson, elected in 2021, argues in the court filing that the recall election was not initiated by the village in compliance with its charter and Ohio law.

The respondents named in the complaint are the elections boards in Licking and Fairfield counties, the village of Buckeye Lake and Village Council President Linda Goodman.

Peterson alleges the Licking County Board of Elections determined on Dec. 18 that the recall petitions lacked the sufficient number of signatures and that the village charter allows 10 days for petition circulators to refile the petitions with the required number of signatures.

The mayor further alleges the petitions were filed Jan. 2, which she said is beyond the 10-day extension. Peterson objected to the acceptance of the refiled petitions.

Buckeye Lake Village Council, through solicitor Brad Nicodemus, rejected Petersons argument that the petitions were invalid. The village charter does to state whether weekends and holidays should be counted as part of the 10 days.

Goodman declined to comment except to say the village followed the Licking County Board of Elections procedure of not counting holidays and weekends.

Brian Mead, director of the Licking County Board of Elections, said its up to the village to determine the validity of the petitions, but added, Its very common in elections, if the filing deadlines fall on the weekend or holiday, its bumped to the next business day.

If holidays and weekend days are not counted, the Jan. 2 date would have been the ninth day after Dec. 18 and the seventh day after Dec. 20, when the notice of insufficient signatures was provided, according to the village ordinance setting the election date.

Initially, 246 valid signatures from registered voters were obtained, but circulators collected 19 more signatures for a total of 265, more than the required 252, which is 15% of the village's registered voters.

Council Clerk Samantha Torres notified the mayor on Jan. 5 that recall petition organizers collected enough additional signatures, allowing the recall effort to proceed, according to the charter.

The Jan. 5 date is the 10th day from the Dec. 20 notification of insufficient signatures, if holidays and weekends are not counted.

The mayor had five days after the Jan. 5 notification to resign and avoid the recall election and the resulting cost to the village.

The charter states: If the clerk of council shall find the petition insufficient, the clerk shall promptly certify the particulars in which the petition is insufficient, deliver a copy of the certificate to the person who filed the petition and make a record of such delivery.

Such person shall be allowed a period of 10 days after the day on which such delivery was made in which to make the petition sufficient. If the clerk of council finds the petition to be sufficient, the clerk shall, within five days, certify that fact to council and deliver a copy of the certificate to the person or persons whose removal is sought.

Peterson endured a chaotic year in 2023, with complaints and resignations from village employees, unanimous censure and no-confidence votes from village council, a fight with the village solicitor and a lawsuit alleging discrimination filed by a local hotel against the village, mayor and police officials.

Peterson received 30% of the vote in 2021 to become the villages fifth mayor elected in the past five elections.

The Ohio Supreme Court set the following deadlines: Respondents must file their answer to the complaint by 4 p.m. Monday; Peterson must file her evidence and merit brief by 4 p.m. Feb. 8; Respondents must file their evidence and merit brief by 4 p.m. Feb. 12; and Peterson may file a reply brief by 4 p.m. Feb. 14.

kmallett@newarkadvocate.com

740-973-4539

Twitter: @kmallett1958

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Buckeye Lake mayor asks Ohio Supreme Court to cancel recall election
By Daniel Trotta and Maria Caspani

CARLSBAD, Calif. (Reuters) -Heavy rainfall and hurricane-force winds pounded much of California on Sunday, knocking out power for 900,000 customers and threatening serious floods as forecasters expect the storm to stall over major cities for the next day or two.

The storm is the second Pineapple Express weather system, or atmospheric river storm, to hit the state in the past week and arrived just as Los Angeles welcomed celebrities for the music industry's Grammy awards, where the red carpet was tented but other attendees were forced to slog through heavy rain in glitzy cocktail attire, some with only a handbag for an umbrella.

The severe conditions prompted the National Weather Service's (NWS) Bay Area office to issue a rare hurricane-force wind warning for Big Sur and nearby areas.

The rain canceled the final round of the professional golf tournament at Pebble Beach in Northern California's Monterey County. Because heavy rain was forecast for Monday, the PGA Tour ended the event after only three days, naming Wyndham Clark the winner.

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in eight counties with a combined population of more than 20 million people, and flash flood warnings were issued for parts of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

"This has the potential to be a historic storm, severe winds, thunderstorms, and even brief tornadoes," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass told a news conference.

The San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County were not only getting drenched but the storm was expected to stall or reverse course over some areas into Tuesday, creating severe risk of flooding and mudslides.

"The Monday evening commute is going to be a complete disaster to say the least. In fact, it's going to be bad enough that I would recommend everybody stay home in L.A. if we possibly can," Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California Los Angeles, said in a live-stream on Sunday.

The NWS recorded peak wind gusts of 80 mph (129 kph) or higher in some places.

More than 900,000 homes and businesses lacked electricity on Sunday afternoon, according to PowerOutage.us.

Near Los Angeles, the port city of Long Beach could get more rain this week than it does during an entire year, said Mayor Rex Richardson, who is expecting 5-7 inches (13-18 cm) starting Sunday through Tuesday.

California's southern and central coasts are bracing for an inch of rain an hour and totals of 3-6 inches (7-15 cm), the U.S. National Weather Service said. As much as 6-12 inches are expected in the foothills and lower-elevation mountains.

The Los Angeles and Santa Barbara areas were both at high risk for excessive rainfall on Sunday and Monday, with forecasters anticipating "near continuous rainfall" for 48 hours.

Evacuation orders were issued for some of those counties' residents, as well as people in the San Jose region, Ventura County and two areas of Los Angeles County that previously suffered wildfires, making the denuded terrain more vulnerable to mudslides.

(Reporting by Maria Caspani and Scott DiSavino in New York, Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles, and Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California; Editing by Lisa Shumaker, Chizu Nomiyama, Nick Zieminski amd Raju Gopalakrishnan)
A California woman filed a lawsuit against the Alameda County Sheriffs Department and several deputies who beat her as she awaited a CT scan in the emergency room in San Leandro, California. The lawsuit was filed on Feb. 1.

According to the lawsuit, Malia Ashad was in attendance at a court hearing at the Alameda County Superior Court on Aug. 9, 2022, when a woman Ashad had a restraining order against attacked her and repeatedly hit Ashad in the head and face with a cellphone and her fist. Ashad grabbed the womans hair in an attempt to defend herself and stop the assault before sheriffs deputies intervened.

Malia Ashad is abused by Alameda County sheriffs deputies while in the emergency room at the Kaiser Permanente San Leandro Medical Center in San Leandro, Calif. (Photo: Pointer & Buelna, LLP)

Ashad was initially relieved that two deputies, Ryan Connolly and Collin Lenahan, stepped in to rescue her, but they handcuffed her instead and caused her to hit her head on a table and temporarily lose consciousness as she lay lifeless on the floor, bleeding from her head and wrists, he complaint reads.

One of her attorneys, Angel Alexander, told the Sacramento Bee that Ashads relief quickly turned into confusion and panic when she was treated as an assailant instead of the victim. One of the deputies is heard yelling on his bodycam video, I swear to fking God as he detained Ashad.

During their initial contact with Ms. Ashad, Sheriffs Deputies hit her twice in the head

causing Ms. Ashad to fall and strike her head on a table, seize and temporarily lose consciousness, her attorneys wrote.

Deputy Matthew Simon reportedly made no attempt to help Ashad and performed a pat down search as she lay bleeding on the floor, she says. The claim further alleges that another deputy, Sgt. Ruth Jones, later told Ashad she was under arrest for assault despite the woman who attacked Ashad admitting that she beat her. However, after the paramedics arrived on the scene, they said Ashad needed to go to the ER.

Ashad was taken to the emergency room at the Kaiser Permanente San Leandro Medical Center, and the on-staff ER physician determined that she needed a CT scan to rule out brain damage. However, Jones, who is named in the lawsuit, objected and overruled the physician and ordered Ms. Ashad to be removed from the hospital without a CT scan being taken, the attorneys state.

Youre not taking her to CT, said Jones. We just need her cleared for incarceration.

Ashad was shackled to the bed and began to protest after being told she needed a CT scan but would not be treated. Deputy Robinderpal Hayer then grabbed Ashad by the throat and viciously pinned her to the hospital bed while Lenahan savagely punched her in the head, causing her to lose consciousness once again, Ashad says.

After Ashad regained consciousness, Lenahan punched her again in an apparent fit of rage as she tried to remove her legs from his grip while she was put into a wheelchair. The hit knocked over the wheelchair and sent Ashad onto the floor, where her head was hit again. One of the deputies is heard on his bodycam screaming, Dont you dare!

Lenahan put his foot on her back despite her losing consciousness again, and she was transported to the Santa Rita Jail.

Instead of working to ensure she got the medical care she deserved and was entitled to, the male deputies attacked Ms. Ashad again by punching her in the head, grabbing her by the throat and slamming her onto the hospital bed, causing her to lose consciousness a second time, reads the lawsuit.  At the end of the ordeal, Ms. Ashad was left in debilitating head and body pain with lacerations on her wrists, and a boot imprint on her back! Perhaps, most significantly: she was taken to jail without receiving a CT scan.

Ryan Connolly, Collin Lenahan, Robinderpal Hayer, Ruth Jones and Matthew Simon, are all named in the lawsuit with the Alameda Sheriffs Department.

The level of callousness, brutality and arrogance these deputies displayed is stunning even by their standards, said Alexander.

These roguish, thuggish deputies choke-slammed Ashad while she was handcuffed in a hospital bed, said another attorney, Adante Pointer to KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco. We will not rest until Ms. Ashad receives the justice.

The Alameda County Sheriffs Office released a statement claiming that the video does not depict the entire story.

The released clips are a limited and skewed depiction of the incident and do not represent the totality of what occurred. Beyond stating that the complainant received appropriate medical treatment during that incident, the Alameda County Sheriffs Office must reserve further comment on a lawsuit for which we have not received service.







California Deputies Beat, Choked and Slammed Woman Who Was Handcuffed to Hospital Bed, Lawsuit and Video Show
Houses are seen for sale and under construction in a neighbourhood of Ottawa

By Kanishka Singh

(Reuters) - Canada on Sunday announced a two-year extension to a ban on foreign ownership of Canadian housing, saying the step was aimed at addressing worries about Canadians being priced out of housing markets in cities and towns across the country.

Canada is facing a housing affordability crisis, which has been blamed on an increase in migrants and international students, fueling demand for homes just as rising costs have slowed construction.

"As part of using all possible tools to make housing more affordable for Canadians, the ban on foreign ownership of Canadian housing, which is currently set to expire on January 1, 2025, will be extended to January 1, 2027," Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement.

The Canadian government has said foreign ownership also has fueled worries about Canadians being priced out of housing markets in cities and towns across the country.

Last month, Canada announced an immediate, two-year cap on international student permits and said it would also stop giving work permits to some students after graduation as it seeks to rein in record numbers of newcomers seen aggravating a housing crisis.

Rapid population growth fueled by immigration has put pressure on services such as healthcare and education, and has helped drive up housing costs. These issues have weighed on Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's support, with opinion polls showing he would lose an election if one were held now.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham)
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada will impose sanctions on Israeli settlers who incite violence in the West Bank and introduce new sanctions on Hamas leaders, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Sunday, after the United States took similar action last week.

On Thursday, the United States sanctioned four Israeli men accused of being involved in violence in the occupied territory.

In an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp on Sunday, Joly said some settlers "will be sanctioned" and "we will also bring new sanctions on Hamas leaders".

"We're working actively on it," Joly said, speaking from Ukraine. "I'm making sure that while I'm in Ukraine, the work is being done in Ottawa and I look forward to doing an announcement soon."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday said he was considering imposing sanctions on "extremist" settlers in the West Bank.

Since the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has occupied the West Bank of the Jordan River, which Palestinians want as the core of an independent state. It has built Jewish settlements there that most countries deem illegal. Israel disputes this and cites historical and biblical ties to the land.

In the 18 months before Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on Israel, the West Bank had already seen its highest levels of unrest in decades. Confrontations there have risen sharply since Israeli forces launched their retaliatory offensive on Gaza.

(Reporting by Steve Scherer; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
The Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) has expanded its taxi fleet at Dubai Airports by 100%, with the addition of 350 new environmentally friendly taxis, effectively doubling its airport service capacity, a report said.

The expansion aims to enhance the daily mobility of both Dubai residents and visitors and is attributed to the growing influx of passengers and visitors as well as the numerous international events taking place in the emirate, Emirates News Agency, WAM, said.

The airport taxi service is designated exclusively for arrivals at Dubai Airports and Port Rashid. It provides passengers with round-the-clock transportation to any destination within the UAE. Customers can easily request this service, which is backed by qualified staff dedicated to assisting passengers in reaching their desired locations.

With the newly added taxis, DTC becomes one of the largest operators in the region, boasting a fleet of 5,566 vehicles and a notable increase in market share within the taxi sector to become 45%.

Mansoor Rahma Al Falasi, CEO of Dubai Taxi Company, emphasised that the decision to double the fleet of airport taxis from 350 to 700 is a strategic move that aims to promote the taxi services at the airport, and increase trips by 30%, thus reducing waiting times and providing quicker services to passengers.

It reflects Dubai's sophisticated and civilised image, underscoring the emirate's commitment to continuously improving and developing its services.

It also aligns with the growing demand for taxis due to the increasing passenger traffic at Dubai's airports, he said.

He noted that the company offers a series of vehicles, including luxurious limousines and electric vehicles, at Dubai airports.

All vehicles are regulated and monitored by Dubai Taxi Company's control centres, ensuring the safety and efficiency of transportation operations for passengers, Al Falasi said.

Al Falasi highlighted that the expansion of the company's vehicle fleet reaffirms its commitment to further fortify its prominent position as a leading provider of comprehensive mobility solutions within the Emirate of Dubai.

It also reaffirms the company's role as the largest taxi operator in the emirate, ultimately boosting its market share through the doubling of its fleet at Dubai airports, thereby positively impacting the company's revenues, he said.

Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of Public Transport Agency, said: "In light of the increasing growth witnessed by Dubai International Airport, with the number of passengers expected to reach about 88 million in 2024, RTA has decided to equip Dubai Taxi Company, as the exclusive airport taxi service provider, with an additional 350 vehicle plates.

This move will enhance the company's operational capacity to match the rapid growth and evolution of Dubai Airports.

Dubai Taxi delivers a wide range of mobility solutions, spanning across four main business sectors. This includes expansive and eco-friendly taxi fleet, VIP limousine services, comprehensive bus services, and corporate delivery service.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and House Republicans have been determined to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas despite complete Democratic opposition. But a Sunday interview with Meet The Press showed that Johnsons playbook is one hes attacked before.

Moderator Kristen Welker played the House Speaker multiple clips of his comments in 2019 when he served on then-President Donald Trumps impeachment defense team for his impeachment over comments to Ukraines president. The founders of this country warned against single-party impeachments, Johnson said numerous times.

What changed, Mr. Speaker? Welker pressed him.

Johnson tried to defend his past comments, arguing that Democrats were determined to impeach Trump before he assumed the presidency. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who presided over the House during both of Trumps impeachments, had resisted impeaching Trump for months before his comments pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky came to light.

Homeland Security Chief Alejandro Mayorkas Failures Are Not Impeachable

Johnson then tried to argue House Republicans had methodically investigated both Mayorkas and Biden through multiple House committees.

We have followed the facts where they have led, Johnson said. Not for political purposes. Not because we take pleasure in this. Its, again, a heavy thing to look at the impeachment of a president or a Cabinet secretary. But these facts require it. The House of Representatives has the constitutional responsibility of impeachment, and that begins with the investigation.

The House is scheduled to vote on Mayorkas impeachment articles this week, though one GOP representativeRep. Ken Buck (R-CO)has already said he wouldnt support the impeachment. Republicans can only afford two more defections before the vote fails.

Mike Johnsons Five Stages of Speakership Grief

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CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY)  After assuming police were trying to pull him over and drawing attention while attempting to flee, a man was sentenced to four years for illegal possession of firearms.

A Chesapeake man was sentenced to over four years in prison for illegally possessing multiple firearms as a felon, a release states.

Courtesy: Chesapeake Police Department

34-year-old Christopher Lee Alexander was driving on a highway in Chesapeake on the morning of June 6, 2021. After a police officer turned on their lights to respond to a different incident, Alexander began accelerating, thinking the cop was pulling him over, a release states.

After trying to flee, he lost lost control and sideswiped a power pole and stopped in business parking lot. Unsurprisingly, the spectacle drew police attention and Alexander was apprehended while trying to flee on foot.

Chesapeake officers found two guns on the drivers side floorboard, and Alexander admitted to police officers that he fled because he was a felon in possession of guns.

Alexander has prior convictions of multiple felonies including robbery, use of firearms in the commission of a felony, conspiracy to commit robbery, wearing a mask in public while committing robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

He was also subsequently convicted of an unrelated felony eluding charge that he had pending at the time he committed this offense.

In order to keep our communities safe, we have to keep the repeat offenders committing the vast majority of violent crime off our streets, said Attorney General Miyares. Im grateful for our partnership with local and federal agencies, allowing our Ceasefire prosecutors to focus on high crime cities and produce successful prosecutions like this.

Check with WAVY.com for updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Devastating wildfires tearing through swaths of Chile have killed more than 120 people, authorities said Monday, as they warned that the death toll was set to rise.

At least 122 people have died so far, the Legal Medical Services of the city of Valparaiso said Monday. Officials also said that 32 bodies have been identified, 40 autopsies have been conducted, and 10 bodies are ready to be delivered to relatives.

News agency photographs and footage over the weekend laid bare the trail of destruction wrought in multiple communities by the infernos. Aerial shots from the El Olivar commune showed dozens of vehicles burned to shells alongside multiple houses reduced to ash. One video obtained by CNN showed the inside of a bus ferrying passengers through the city of Valparaiso as fires raged outside.

There are currently 161 active fires burning across the country, the Chilean National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (SENAPRED) said.

SENAPRED Director Alvaro Hormazabal told CNN affiliate CNN Chile that firefighters had controlled 102 of those fires but are still battling 40 others. Nineteen wildfires are under currently observation, Hormazabal added.

President Gabriel Boric declared a state of emergency as coastal cities like Vina del Mar and Valparaiso choked in smoke. Residents living in central regions were also forced to evacuate their homes. Speaking at a press conference held after visiting affected areas on Sunday, Boric raised fears that the death toll would increase significantly.

In a televised statement on Saturday, Boric said that the defense ministry would deploy more military units to affected areas, with all necessary resources made available.

He declared Monday and Tuesday as days of national mourning for fire victims.

Firefighters at the Botanical Garden in Vina del Mar. - Javier Torres/AFP/Getty Images

Burned vehicles in Quilpue, Vina del Mar, Chile. - Rodrigo Arangua/AFP/Getty Images

The human-caused climate crisis is making heat waves and droughts, which fuel wildfires, more frequent and intense. The world is also currently experiencing the El Nino phenomenon, boosting temperatures even further.

Wildfires have intensified around the globe, providing a stark reminder of how the climate crisis is upending lives and inflicting billions of dollars a year in damage. And it will only get worse, according to experts. Uncontrollable and devastating wildfires are becoming an expected part of the seasonal calendars in many parts of the world, the UN Environment Programme said in a report published in 2022.

The number of extreme wildfire events will increase up to 14% by 2030, according to the UN report. By 2050, the increase will climb to 30%.

A man helps a fellow resident cool down with bottled water as forest fires burn nearby. - Esteban Felix/AP

In Chile, the fires come as the country battles a summer heatwave. The capital Santiago has been sweltering through consecutive days of hot and dry temperatures climbing above 33 degrees Celsius (91.4F).

Neighboring Colombia battled recent wildfires, declaring a disaster and also calling for international help to fight the flames.

Emergency crews on the ground in Chile are prioritizing the fires in the port city of Valparaiso because of its proximity to urban areas. Local officials said 372 residents were reported missing.

Located about 70 miles (113 kilometers) northwest of the capital Santiago on Chiles coast, Valparaiso is a popular tourist destination known for its colorful houses, idyllic hills and its historic old town.

Valeria Melipillan, mayor of Quilpue city, the capital of the Marga Marga Province in central Chiles Valparaiso Region, told CNN Chile that the wildfires are probably the largest ever in the region. Nearly 1,400 houses in the municipality have been damaged, Melipillan added.

Chiles Finance Minister Mario Marcel told reporters on Sunday that preliminary estimates for damages in the Valaparaiso region was expected to reach hundreds of millions of dollars.

While evacuation efforts had been efficient, some living in affected areas did not want to vacate their homes, local search and rescue officials said.

Rodrigo Mundaca, the governor of Valparaiso, said curfews were in place in the towns of Vina del Mar, Quilpue, Villa Alemana and Limache to allow authorities to focus on battling the blazes.

Pope Francis, who hails from nearby Argentina, called upon people to pray for the deceased and injured victims of the devastating fires that have affected central Chile.

Residents being evacuated by the military in Valparaiso, Chile. - Lucas Aguayo Araos/Anadolu/Getty Images

Aerial view of burned vehicles in the El Olivar commune. - Javier Torres/AFP/Getty Images

At least one person has been detained so far in connection to the wildfires, CNN Chile reported.

According to police, the man was at his home in the city of Talca in central Chile doing welding work when a fire accidentally started and spread to nearby grasslands.

The suspect will be arraigned on Sunday in Talca, according to the Maule Prosecutors Office.

Desperate search for survivors

A man whose mother is among the dead told CNN en Espanol on Monday that he hasnt been able to locate his 14-year-old sister and is currently searching for her.

I think she could be disoriented, Ariel Orellana said. I believe with all my faith and with all my heart that she is going to appear, eventually, to put an end to this nightmare.

Orellana said his sister, Anastasia, was last seen when fleeing the wildfire in the Pompeya community in Vina del Mar, located in central Chile.

The girl had been living with her mother and her mothers partner, who also died in the fires, according to Orellana.

A man puts out a forest fire on the zone of a forest fire in the hills in Quilpe comune, Valparaiso region. - Javier Torres/AFP/Getty Images

On Saturday, after not being able to communicate with his mother, Orellana rushed to Pompeya to search for the couple and discovered their bodies near their vehicle.

They did not have time to escape, Orellana said. They had a van, they tried to flee on it and the van was engulfed by the fire.

Orellana said he is continuing to search nearby areas ravaged by the fires and is using social media to spread the word about his sister disappearance.

I only found two bodies, not three. So Im still looking for my sister, he said.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  Chipotle unveiled its list of most unique restaurant locations, and one is in Austin.

The restaurant chain said its location near the Texas State Capitol, located at 801 Congress Avenue, was placed in the No. 5 spot in its top 10 locations worldwide with stunning architecture, unique views and rich history.

The Austin location was selected for The State Capital Enthusiasts.

Chipotle Congress, located in a charming historic building blocks from the Texas Capitol, is ideal for political partisans, Chipotle said.

The company said with its approximately 3,400 restaurants worldwide, the list was created for an ideal backdrop for a memorable meal.

Other locations include:

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  The Greater Topeka Partnership is weighing in following national coverage of a local program seeking to bring fresh talent to the Capital City.

The Controversy

KSNT 27 News spoke with GTP spokeswoman India Yarborough about the Choose Topeka program which recently came under scrutiny after national news outlets highlighted it amid an ongoing immigration crisis.

An article from The Wall Street Journal delved into the specifics of the program while a segment on Fox News Fox and Friends show was more critical, invoking past movements to create Sanctuary Cities in the U.S. to act as havens for immigrants.

What is the GTP saying?

Unfortunately, some reports that have been circulating misrepresent the Choose Topeka program and what it hopes to accomplish, Yarborough said. Were happy to help clear a few things up.

I did everything I was supposed to do: Kansas wildlife officials remove anglers trophy catch from state record list

Yarborough refuted any claims that the program is meant to bring in either migrants or illegal immigrants to the city. Describing Choose Topeka as a holistic talent attraction effort, she said the program is open to people from a wide variety of backgrounds who are legally able to work in the country.

There are currently close to 7,000 job openings in Shawnee County, and with our unemployment rate remaining at a low 2.9%, talent attraction remains a key focus of The Partnerships economic development efforts, Yarborough said. I want to reiterate that when it comes to the incentives side of the program, Choose Topeka only accepts applicants who have received a job offer from a local employer, and applicants must be legally eligible to live and work in the U.S.

Local organizations like Visit Topeka and GO Topeka have placed increased emphasis on reaching out to Spanish-speakers as a primary group to focus on for the program. Yarborough said this is due to the continued and expected growth of the Spanish-speaking population in the U.S.

Choose Topeka is an employer match program, Yarborough said. This means that to enter the program you must be hired by a Shawnee County employer, legal to work in the United States, and the employer agrees to pay a relocation incentive to bring that person to Topeka. If approved, the Choose Topeka program will match that employers investment up to $15,000, after the new hire completes one year of residency.

Well make you feel like family: Topeka food truck owners set to open new BBQ restaurant

Yarborough also refuted any claim that the program has taken up 10% of the tourism offices marketing budget.

Thats completely incorrect, because Choose Topeka isnt a Visit Topeka program, Yarborough said. What is accurate is that 10% of Visit Topekas tourism marketing budget is set aside for Spanish-language engagement. That includes production of our Spanish-language visitors and relocation guide, as well as video collateral.

What is Choose Topeka?

Choose Topeka has been around since 2019 when it was approved by the Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO). In a nutshell, the program seeks to offer people incentives to move to Topeka and find work. The program officially went into effect in 2020.

In 2021, KSNT 27 News spoke with people from across the U.S. who moved to the Capital City to enjoy the benefits of Choose Topeka. Another checkup in 2023 revealed that nearly 100 people had traveled to Topeka for the program which underwent updates to become Choose Topeka 2.0. At this time, the program became open to both returning residents and members of the military.

Topeka pothole emergency extended as road repairs continue

Yarborough said the number of applicants who have taken advantage of what Choose Topeka has to offer has now grown to almost 150 eligible applicants since 2019.

The average salary of a person in this program is almost $90,000 a year, Yarborough said. In 2023, the average salary of a candidate was $87,454, representing a 75.7x return on investment over five years.

Listed among the benefits offered by Choose Topeka for those taking part in the program include:

Up to $10,000 in funds for renting in the first year and up to $15,000 in funds for the purchase of a home.

GO Topeka/JEDO & employer funds matching 50%. Employer funds $2,500 up to $15,000 with employee transfer.

GO Topeka/JEDO reimburse 50% match of the total qualified relocation incentive to the employer for employee retention after the first year.

Transitioning military service members get $5,000 in funds

To qualify for the program, applicants must:

Confirm with their employer if they decide to participate in the relocation incentive offered by Choose Topeka.

Move to Topeka for a full time position.

Buy or rent a home, for primary residence, in Shawnee County within a year of being hired or moving.

Be eligible to work in the U.S.

Must complete the Choose Topeka survey after one year.

Must participate in a Choose Topeka Immersion program.

Application from the employer must be received before permanent relocation.

Transitioning military requirements: Limit of one incentive per household. Proof of salary from employer with a minimum of $50,000. Proof of home purchase in Shawnee County. Application must be received before permanent relocation.



Does Topeka have a bed bug problem?

You can learn more about Choose Topeka by clicking here. You can also send an email to choosetopeka@topekapartnership.com with any questions.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Sacramento is in trouble

Facing $50M budget gap, Sacramento manager freezes hiring, (sacbee.com, Jan. 24)

In April 2019, Measure U took effect, raising the citys sales tax revenue by $47 million, according to the citys estimate at the time. City Manager Howard Chan, however, now reports a structural deficit of $50 million  a reversal of almost $100 million in five years.

The article implies that the deficit is due to an increase in city services. No, it is due to the incompetence of the city council and the city manager  about whom the mayor and council have spoken so worshipfully of when discussing his requested raise. This city is in deep trouble.

Brian Powers

Sacramento

Sickening

Facing $50M budget gap, Sacramento manager freezes hiring, (sacbee.com, Jan. 24)

Sacramento is floundering. Between homeless encampments and empty office buildings, plus a very expensive, shiny, obtuse sporting venue, we now face $50 million in debt. Meanwhile, City Manager Howard Chan is making almost half a million dollars a year ($420,000). This is simply astonishing.

And Howard is quibbling over office supplies? As a retired civil servant surviving on way less, this makes me sick.

Carol McElheney

Elk Grove

Opinion

Temporary solution

200 beds for 5,000 homeless people: Were promises made by Sacramento and the county pointless?

While the tiny homes facilities look nice, a lot more needs to be done to meet this crisis. Why cant the city and county lease vacant lots, (even unused space under freeways,) around town and set up camping sites as emergency measures? The city and county could easily set up a trailer with washing and shower facilities, or, at the very least, porta-potties and handwashing stations. These could be set up a lot faster and less expensively than the tiny home communities and get more homeless individuals off the streets, and, hopefully, into a safer environment.

While Im sure this isnt ideal in the long run, at least it would be a temporary measure that could go into effect quickly to allow some dignity to our unhoused community while they are waiting for a more permanent solution.

Barbara J Harris

Carmichael

Living on the edge

200 beds for 5,000 homeless people: Were promises made by Sacramento and the county pointless?

I appreciated your focus on those who are housed but on the brink of losing their shelter. As a volunteer with a local non-profit, I have been tallying the types of calls received. Out of hundreds of calls, 37% are families or senior citizens asking for help to pay their SMUD, PG&E or rent bills. These callers are as close as one can come to the edge before becoming homeless.

This is the point where we need to step in. These are the people we need to help before they lose all of their belonging as well as their dignity. Can we not all find the funds  no matter how small  to contribute to a local organization working to keep everyone in their homes? We all need to dig deep to alleviate this immediate and tragic crisis.

Ted White

Elk Grove

Unbelievable insurance rates

First of California insurance changes to be released soon, (sacbee.com, Jan. 25)

Fixes to homeowners insurance cant come soon enough. I just got my annual insurance bill, and it is triple what it was last year. I live in Granite Bay, and it seems the fire level rating has gone from a two to a four. My insurance agent says I should be happy they didnt cancel my policy. I tried to look online to see if there were better rates and I was surprised to find that Granite Bay is now a hard place to get homeowners insurance.

I had to adjust my spending to absorb the hit when the federal government would not let me write off all my property taxes. Now, Im hit with an unexpected property insurance increase. I was hoping to retire soon and enjoy my home for a while longer before I downsize. But it looks like I will need to work longer or do that downsizing sooner than expected.

William Bennett

Granite Bay

Harmful RTO policies

CA state workers at EDD must work in-office 2 days per week, (Jan. 27)

The return to office mandate for California state workers severely hurts the state. There is no transparency on this mandate from our leaders, and we have lost faith in our governor. There are obvious drawbacks to this mandate: Commuting to the office contributes heavily to traffic congestion and increases emissions and pollution  which do not align with the visions of CalEPA, one agency mandating office returns twice a week.

It costs taxpayers a lot of money to fund office needs as well as building leases. Allowing state workers to telework, however, will require them to use their own supplies. The RTO mandate also does not align with the Department of Finances goals to reduce state expenditures. We have a severe homelessness issue, and creating more affordable housing in Downtown Sacramento will go a long way.

With more housing, more people will live in Downtown Sacramento, thus creating demands for businesses.

James Fitz

Sacramento
The Opec Fund for International Development, a multilateral development finance institution headquartered in Vienna, Austria, expanded its new commitments to $1.7 billion across 55 projects globally in 2023, providing funding to address climate change and energy transition, support social and economic resilience and boost sustainable growth.

The organization was established 48 years ago and the 2023 results represent a record in new commitments.

Opec Fund Director-General Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: In 2023, the Opec Fund increased its impact through the delivery of development support in a challenging global environment. We grew our lending program across the board in response to strong demand by our partner countries and thanks to our success in raising additional funds from the capital markets. We were also able to leverage our partnerships to mobilize development support by working with multilateral development banks and development finance institutions such as the Arab Coordination Group. And we are well on track with our 2030 target to commit 40 percent of all new financing to climate action.

In 2023, the Opec Fund delivered strong results across Africa (42 percent of investments), the Middle East and North Africa & Europe and Central Asia (20 per cent), Latin America & the Caribbean (20 per cent), as well as Asia and the Pacific (18 per cent) through public and private sector lending, trade finance and grants operations.

The largest share in last years lending program was dedicated to policy-based-lending (31 percent). In cooperation with financing partners, the Opec Fund supported sustainable development government programs in Botswana ($100 million), Cote dIvoire ($74 million), Armenia ($54 million), North Macedonia ($54 million), Colombia ($150 million) and Paraguay (US$100 million) to bolster economic, social and climate resilience.

The transport and storage sector received the major share of Opec Funds support (14 percent) with the Opec Fund helping to build roads and sustainable transport infrastructure for improved connectivity in India ($100 million), Kyrgyz Republic ($15 million), Tajikistan ($10 million), Uzbekistan ($47 million) and Bosnia and Herzegovina ($28 million).

Aligned with the Opec Fund Climate Action Plan, support in renewable energy projects constituted nearly 60 percent of all lending in the energy sector. The Opec Fund supported the development of a solar plant in Niger ($25 million), a 240 MW wind farm in Azerbaijan ($50 million) and two wind power plants in Uzbekistan totalling 1 GW of renewable energy capacity ($40 million).

Opec Fund energy sector investments also included projects to promote energy security in Tanzania ($30 million) and Bangladesh ($60 million), aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7  Clean and affordable energy.

In the financial sector, the Opec Fund provided $171 million, partnering with governments and local banks to provide on-lending to small and medium-sized enterprises, promoting job creation and access to finance in Albania, Botswana, Paraguay and Vietnam. $273 million of trade finance was offered to partner banks to support the movement of critical commodities and goods in developing economies.

Aligned with its Food Security Action Plan, the Opec Fund provided $59 million to promote agricultural sustainability and fisheries in Benin, Liberia and Zimbabwe.

The institution also dedicated US$104 million towards education, $61 million to water and sanitation and US$50 million to health projects primarily in Africa and Asia.

Successful development delivery in 2023 was also fuelled by the Opec Funds debut in the capital market, which the institution tapped for the first time in its history in January.

The issuance of the Opec Funds benchmark SDG bond raised $1 billion for sustainable development projects.

The Opec Funds excellent standing in the market was confirmed in December when the international rating agency Standard & Poors assigned the Opec Fund a credit rating upgrade to AA+ with stable outlook, citing its ambitious growth agenda.

In 2023, the Opec Fund continued to expand partnerships with peer institutions including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Arab Coordination Group (ACG), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United National Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the World Food Programme (WFP) among others. -TradeArabia News Service
As far as the potential runoff concern from last week, the City of Jacksonville EQD has staff actively investigating at this time.

They will let us know of the outcome of their investigation.

FDEP Department staff coordinated with the City of Jacksonville and conducted a site investigation on Friday, January 26, to attempt to locate the source for the sedimentation runoff event.

A potential source was identified and staff are currently coordinating with the St. Johns River Water Management District to ensure the site is meeting all applicable rules and regulations.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

In regard to the Rise Doro fire, Riverkeeper has been in contact with the agencies including City of Jacksonville, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, as well as the Coast Guard.

The morning of the fire, JFRD confirmed no foam, only water had been used to extinguish the fire.

The Coast Guard was the lead in investigating and fortunately they have confirmed that firefighting foam was not used. That foam is known to contain PFAS, also known as forever chemicals. In addition, there was no evidence of harmful runoff from anything that may have been in the building.

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

We do not anticipate anything that may come later as an effect of the fire, however until the fire is put out entirely, we will not know the full effect. We will continue to be in contact with the agencies and will let you know what comes of our investigation., said Riverkeeper in a news release.

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The site of the Russian attack. Photo: Donetsk Oblast Military Administration

At least one civilian was killed and two injured in a Russian attack on the town of Toretsk (Donetsk Oblast) on 4 February.

Source: a report from Donetsk Oblast Military Administration

Details: The report noted that the Russians had attacked the city with artillery at around 13:00, hitting a residential area.

The two injured were taken to the nearest hospital for medical care.

Updated: According to the prosecutors, the Russians fired from artillery, killing a 58-year-old local man right in the street.

Photo: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office

Two more civilians were injured: a 41-year-old man and a woman who were next to a residential building were taken to hospital with shrapnel wounds to theirlimbs.

Projectile fragments have also damaged several adjacent buildings.

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FILE - Rioters are seen at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. Judges overseeing the cases against the rioters are using their platform to try to combat distortions about the attack that have been promoted by Donald Trump and his allies. Judges appointed by presidents from both political parties have described the riot as an affront to democracy and admonished defendants for casting themselves as the victims of politically motivated prosecutions. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  While sentencing a North Carolina man to prison for his role in the U.S. Capitol riot, a Republican-appointed judge issued a stark warning: Efforts to portray the mob of Donald Trump's supporters as heroes and play down the violence that unfolded on Jan. 6, 2021, pose a serious threat to the nation.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth condemned the depiction by Trump and Republican allies of Jan. 6 defendants as political prisoners and hostages." Lamberth also denounced attempts to undermine the legitimacy of the justice system for punishing rioters who broke the law when they invaded the Capitol.

In my 37 years on the bench, I cannot recall a time when such meritless justifications of criminal activity have gone mainstream, Lamberth, an appointee of President Ronald Reagan, wrote in a recent ruling. The judge added he fears that such destructive, misguided rhetoric could presage further danger to our country."

As Trump floats potential pardons for rioters if he returns to the White House, judges overseeing the more than 1,200 Jan. 6 criminal cases in Washington's federal court are using their platform to try to set the record straight concerning distortions about an attack that was broadcast live on television. A growing number of defendants appear to be embracing rhetoric spread by Trump, giving defiant speeches in court, repeating his false election claims and portraying themselves as patriots.

During a recent court hearing, Proud Boys member Marc Bru repeatedly insulted and interrupted the judge, who ultimately sentenced him to six years in prison. You can give me 100 years and Id do it all over again, Bru said.

At least two other rioters shouted Trump won! in court after receiving their punishment.

Some people charged in the riot are pinning their hopes on a Trump victory in November.

Rachel Marie Powell, a Pennsylvania woman who was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for smashing a Capitol window, told a CNN reporter that the 2024 presidential election is like life or death for her. She said she believes she will get out of prison if Trump is elected.

The rhetoric resonates with the strangers who donate money to Jan. 6 defendant's online campaigns, but it isnt earning them any sympathy from the judges. Judges appointed by presidents from both political parties have described the riot as an affront to democracy and they repeatedly have admonished defendants for not showing true remorse or casting themselves as victims.

Over more than three years, judges have watched hours of video showing members of the mob violently shoving past overwhelmed officers, shattering windows, attacking police with things such as flagpoles and pepper spray and threatening violence against lawmakers. In court hearings, officers have described being beaten, threatened and scared for their lives as they tried to defend the Capitol.

Before sentencing a Kentucky man, who already had a long criminal record, to 14 years in prison for attacking police with pepper spray and a chair, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta admonished the man for propagating the lie that what's happening here in Washington, D.C., is unfair and unjust.

You are not a political prisoner," Mehta, who was nominated by President Barack Obama told Peter Schwartz. "Youre not Alexei Navalny, the judge said referring to the imprisoned Russian opposition leader. You're not somebody who is standing up against injustice, who's fighting against an autocratic regime. ... You're somebody who decided to take the day into his own hands, much in the same way that you have used your hands against others for much of your life.

Lamberths scathing remarks came in the case of James Little, a North Carolina man who was not accused of any violence or destruction during the riot and pleaded guilty only to a misdemeanor offense. Lamberth didnt name the people responsible for what the judge called shameless attempts to rewrite history. But Trump has closely aligned himself with rioters during his presidential campaign. He has described them as hostages, called for their release from jail and pledged to pardon a large portion of them if he wins the White House in November.

Roughly 750 people charged with federal crimes in the riot have pleaded guilty and more than 100 others have been convicted at trial. Many rioters were charged only with misdemeanor offenses akin to trespassing while others face serious felonies such as assault or seditious conspiracy. Of those who have been sentenced, roughly two-thirds have received some time behind bars, with terms ranging from a few days of intermittent confinement to 22 years in prison, according to data compiled by The Associated Press.

Lamberth had originally sentenced Little in 2022 to 60 days behind bars, followed by three years of probation. But Washingtons federal appeals court sided with Little on appeal, ruling he could not be sentenced to both prison time and probation. When Littles case returned to Lamberths court, the judge resentenced him to 150 days  with credit for time already served in jail and on probation  citing the mans claims of persecution and efforts to downplay the Jan. 6 attack.

Little cannot bring himself to admit that he did the wrong thing, although he came close today, Judge Lamberth wrote. So it is up to the court to tell the public the truth: Mr. Littles actions, and the actions of others who broke the law on Jan. 6, were wrong. The court does not expect its remarks to fully stem the tide of falsehoods. But I hope a little truth will go a long way.

An attorney for Little declined to comment on Lamberth's remarks.

In other cases, judges have said their sentence must send a message when rioters have promoted the notion that they are being unfairly prosecuted for their political views. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper told Richard Bigo Barnett, the Arkansas man who propped his feet on a desk in then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office in a widely circulated photo, that he seemed to enjoy the notoriety of becoming one of the faces of the Jan. 6 attack.

You have made yourself one of the faces of J6 not just through that photo but using your platform and your notoriety to peddle the misconception that you and other J6ers are somehow political prisoners who are being persecuted for your beliefs as opposed to your conduct on Jan. 6, Cooper, an Obama appointee, told Barnett before sentencing him to more than four years in prison.

So to all those folks that follow Bigo, they need to know that the actions of Jan. 6 cannot be repeated without some serious repercussions," the judge said.

____

Richer reported from Boston.
Scotland Yard has offered a 20,000 reward for information that could end the five-day manhunt for the Clapham alkali attacker.

As officers confirmed that a very strong concentrated corrosive substance was used in the attack, they offered the bounty for information that leads to the arrest of Abdul Ezedi, 35.

The Afghan national, who is described as having very significant injuries to the right side of his face, has been on the run since Wednesday evening after a 31-year-old woman suffered potentially life-changing injuries while her daughters, aged eight and three, were also hurt in the attack in Clapham, south-west London.

Officers said the substance used in the attack was either liquid sodium hydroxide or liquid sodium carbonate, which are used in detergents and to make soaps, while sodium hydroxide is also used in drain cleaners.

Detectives on Sunday updated his last known sighting to Tower Hill station in east London late on Wednesday evening. He was spotted at the station, yards from the Tower of London, at 9.33pm, having taken a train from Victoria.

Previous sightings put him at Kings Cross Station at about 9pm on Jan 31 and police said he boarded a Victoria Line train to Victoria Station, arriving at 9.10pm, before switching to an eastbound District Line train.

Detectives have warned that anyone harbouring the fugitive is committing an offence and a charity which helps Afghan nationals in the UK on Sunday appealed for Ezedi to turn himself in.

In an appeal directly to Ezedi, Darius Nasimi, of the charity the Afghanistan & Central Asian Association, told him to go to a police station immediately.

He said: You have a serious injury that needs to be seen to but, more importantly, you must do the right thing and hand yourself in to police. This has gone on for long enough.

Experts said Ezedi is likely to have been helped to avoid detection or may be hardened to sleeping rough.

Ezedi travelled 280 miles from Newcastle to allegedly commit the attack and has been using cash and a contract-free phone making him difficult to detect. The attack has prompted a backlash over how he was granted asylum despite having a conviction for a sex offence.

He was convicted of a sexual assault/exposure offence at Newcastle Crown Court in 2018 and handed a suspended sentence and an unpaid work order, which was completed two years later. He was also put on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

His application to remain in the UK was approved by an immigration judge in 2021 or 2022 after he claimed that he had converted to Christianity and would be persecuted if he was returned to Afghanistan.

The Mets Specialist Crime Command is working with the Home Office, UK Border Force, UK Visas and Immigration, the National Crime Agency, British Transport Police and several other police forces in an attempt to track down Ezedi.

Officers said they believed there were people who knew information who had not come forward.

Commander Jon Savell said: I must warn anyone who is helping Ezedi to evade capture  if you are harbouring or assisting him, then you will be arrested.

Our inquiry line is staffed 24/7 by specialist detectives who are progressing inquiries around the clock.

If you know where he is or have information that may assist, call them now.

Commander Savell said analysis of the substance showed it was highly corrosive and would be compared to three empty containers seized from Ezedis address in Newcastle.

As part of the search, raids have been carried out at two addresses in east London and three in Newcastle, yielding significant and important pieces of evidence, police said.

However, Sue Sim, the former Chief Constable of Northumbria Police during the search for Raoul Moat in 2010, said that it took seven days to track down the gunman and a call from a member of the public would likely bring an end to the current manhunt.

The Met need to keep emphasising how important it is for the public to phone in. When they are not making appeals all of the time, people will think somebody else will have reported it.

She said there may be people prepared to shelter Ezedi and agreed that the very time-consuming task of examining CCTV footage could mean he was days ahead of officers.

When people go missing in cities, its very very easy to go missing. Everybody walks with their head down. If he can manage to get a head cover to cover part of his face, he will be able to move around quite freely.

She added that having arrived illegally he would be more hardened to sleeping rough if no one is harbouring him.

If its true he came in the back of a lorry, he is used to lying low and to hiding out. Sleeping rough and having been an illegal immigrant probably is a position more hardened to living rough and thats the other thing he could be doing.

He is clearly somebody who has sort of been able to use his wits and to literally get into the country by unlawful means so he is not a naive individual, he will have skills about him.

06:25 PM GMT

Thats it for now

We are closing this blog for now.

Thank you for following along and we will be back in the morning with live updates.

04:43 PM GMT

Former Met detective criticises armchair critics in hunt for Ezedi

David Videcette, a veteran detective of 20 years with the Met Police, has criticised armchair sleuths for questioning why it has taken so long to apprehend Ezedi.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Videcette said hunting someone who doesnt want to be found and can count on the assistance of friends is a very challenging task.

Plenty of commentary about why its taking so long to capture Ezedi



Hunting someone who doesnt want to be found and is possibly being harboured by people supportive of his actions, is a very challenging task



Its not like you see on TV in your favourite make believe cop show  David Videcette (@DavidVidecette) February 4, 2024

04:01 PM GMT

Ezedi's criminal record

Ezedi was convicted of a sexual offence in 2018 and given a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he was sentenced on January 9 of that year after pleading guilty to one charge of sexual assault and one of exposure.

He was put on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

03:25 PM GMT

Kiosk owners around Tower Hill questioned by police

Police have been asking kiosk and shop owners around Tower Hill if they had seen the suspect on Wednesday night, Neil Johnston reports.

Officers have been asking for CCTV that might show Ezedis route from the station, however many businesses were shut at the time with no footage available on the outside of stalls the suspect may have passed by.

02:47 PM GMT

Length of Ezedi search is not out of ordinary, says Raoul Moat police chief

Sue Sim, the former police chief who led the manhunt for murderer Raoul Moat, said spending four days to track down Ezedi is not out of the ordinary.

Sue Sim, Northumbria Polices former chief constable, said four days, in such manhunts is not significant.

Appearing on BBC Radio 5 Live, she said: Well four days actually in a search like this is not significant. It took us seven days to track down Raoul Moat.

But the thing I that would like to stress to the public is the thing that allowed us to actually track down Raoul Moat was the public calling us.

A lady had seen him him walking past her house and thats how we found him, so please if you have seen Ezedi, if you think you have seen that particularly scarred face, do not assume that somebody else will have rung in.

02:11 PM GMT

What chemicals were used in the attack?

Detectives have said either liquid sodium hydroxide or liquid sodium carbonate were used in the deadly chemical attack on a mother and her two young daughters on Wednesday in South London.

Sarah Knapton, the Telegraphs science editor, has this explainer:

Liquid sodium hydroxide, also known as lye or caustic soda, is used for unblocking drains and in soaps and detergents and can be bought both online and in shops. It burns the skin on contact and can cause tissue damage and scarring and serious internal damage if swallowed.

Liquid sodium carbonate, also known as washing soda, is used in soaps and detergents to soften hard water and for stain removal. It is also available to buy anywhere and can cause severe burns on the skin. It is poisonous if ingested in large amounts.

01:31 PM GMT

Last sighting of Ezedi was in Tower Hill, say police

Scotland Yard has released new information on Ezedis known movements, including that the last sighting of him was at 9.33pm at Tower Hill Underground station in east London on January 31, shortly after the attack in Clapham.

Previous sightings put him at Kings Cross Station at around 9pm on January 31.

He boarded a Victoria Line train to Victoria Station, arriving at 9.10pm.

Police say he then boarded an eastbound District Line train to Tower Hill at 9.16pm.

01:11 PM GMT

First CCTV footage of Ezedi released by police

Scotland Yard has released the first footage of Abdul Ezedi since the chemical attack on a 31-year old woman and her two young daughters in south London.

The CCTV footage shows Ezedi,35, with significant burn-like injuries across his face, wandering outside a Tesco in Islington wearing a black jacket and a blue t-shirt on Wednesday evening.

He is then seen walking down the supermarket aisle holding a large bottle of water in his left hand and heading towards a self-checkout till.

Ezedi then pays and unscrews the bottle lid and walks out of the shop with his arm raised as if hailing a bus or a cab.

12:52 PM GMT

Afghan charity calls for Ezedi to hand himself in

In an appeal directly to Abdul Ezedi, Darius Nasimi, of the charity the Afghanistan & Central Asian Association said: Abdul, I am speaking directly to you.

I want you to go straight to a police station immediately.

You have a serious injury that needs to be seen to but, more importantly, you must do the right thing and hand yourself in to police.

This has gone on for long enough.

You can contact the charity if you wish and we can speak to you, and work together so that you can help the police with their enquiries.

Abdul, please contact us as soon as you can, call 999, or go to a police station.

Scotland Yard said 31-year-old woman injured in the attack remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital having suffered what are likely to be life-changing injuries. She was known to Abdul Ezedi.

12:38 PM GMT

Corrosive chemical was 'liquid sodium hydroxide' or 'liquid sodium carbonate' say police

Police said the very strong concentrated corrosive substance used in the attack was either liquid sodium hydroxide or liquid sodium carbonate.

Detectives said that the last confirmed sighting of him is now at 21:33pm on January 31 when he exited Tower Hill Underground station.

He changed trains at Victoria, where he arrived on the Victoria Line at 21:10pm and departed on the eastbound District Line at 21:16pm.

Analysis of CCTV continues alongside many other lines of inquiry as officers work to establish where he went next.



Commander Savell added: I can also provide an update today on laboratory analysis of the substance from the attack site.



The liquid used in the attack was a very strong concentrated corrosive substance, either liquid sodium hydroxide or liquid sodium carbonate.



Further enquiries are ongoing including comparison with the containers seized from Ezedis address in Newcastle.



12:32 PM GMT

Scotland Yard offers 20,000 bounty for Ezedi

Police hunting the Clapham chemical attack suspect have offered a reward of up to 20,000 for information leading to his arrest.

Officers said they believe there are people who know where Abdul Ezedi is who have not come forward and warned anyone found assisting him faces arrest.

Ezedi is wanted in connection with an attack in Clapham which left a 31-year-old woman critically injured.

The Metropolitan Police said dozens of officers were working to find him as the search continued.

Commander Jon Savell said: I am hugely grateful to the public for the significant number of calls that we have received.

Your help is critical. A reward of up to 20,000 is now available for information leading to his arrest.



I must warn anyone who is helping Ezedi to evade capture - if you are harbouring or assisting him then you will be arrested.

11:38 AM GMT

'I have no idea how Ezedi was granted asylum'

Sir Chris Bryant, the Shadow digital minister, has said he has no idea how Ezedi was granted asylum.

'I have no idea how on earth that person was granted asylum'



Sir Chris Bryant MP reacts to the Clapham attack. pic.twitter.com/iX0RtnuxVh  GB News (@GBNEWS) February 4, 2024

11:20 AM GMT

Read: Church aiding asylum claims on mass scale, say Patel and Braverman

Suella Braverman and Dame Priti Patel have hit out at Britains churches for their alleged support for bogus asylum claims.

Writing for The Telegraph, Mrs Braverman said that during her time as home secretary she became aware of churches around the country facilitating industrial-scale bogus asylum claims.

Separately, Dame Priti, also a former home secretary, accused church leaders of political activism in their approach to asylum seekers, claiming that religious institutions supported cases without merit.

The clergys role in offering conversions to asylum seekers and support for their applications is likely to be considered by ministers in the wake of the chemical attack in London that injured a mother, two children and 10 others.

Scotland Yard found empty containers with corrosive warning labels on an address in Newcastle - Metropolitan Police

Abdul Ezedi, who is suspected of carrying out a chemical attack in Clapham, was twice denied asylum before being allowed to stay after claiming he had converted from Islam and that his life would be in danger if he returned to Afghanistan.

Edward Malnick and Charles Hymas have the full story here

10:44 AM GMT

Ezedi should not have been granted asylum, says Labour

Abdul Ezedi should not have been granted asylum in the UK, a shadow minister has suggested.

When asked by Trevor Phillips on his Sky News programme whether there is something wrong with a system that allowed the wanted man to stay in the UK, Mr Bryant said yes.

He added: In the main, on the face of it, if everything that we have been told is true, then it seems absolutely extraordinary that the British people should be put at such risk from this person.

Of course its something we might need to look at.

10:12 AM GMT

What do we know of Ezedi's movements

Ezedis last confirmed sighting was on Kings Cross underground station at 9pm heading south on the Victoria line Tube on Wednesday evening.

Here is what we know of his movements before and after the chemical attack.

10:08 AM GMT

'Why was Ezedi free to roam the streets'

Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary, has faced questions as to why Ezedi was granted refugee status despite being turned down twice for asylum and has convictions for a sexual offence.

Ms Keegan, appearing on Sky News Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, was asked why Ezedi was allowed to roam the streets with his convictions for sexual assault and exposure in 2018.

She replied: Well that is something that we need to get to the bottom of. Thats not something I have the details of and I think they will be looking at the details.

Asked if she was concerned about this apparent oversight, she said: Any time theres a case where somebodys already been known to authorities, or somebodys had a suspended sentence and then goes on to commit other crimes, rightly everybody always asks how did that happen, what did we learn from that.

So you know when youve had some cases or youve had some interaction with police or mental health services there is always a question to say what more could we have done.

09:39 AM GMT

Education Secretary: Clapham attack is 'not really about asylum'

A Cabinet minister has said the focus around the Clapham alkali attack is not really about asylum.

There are questions about how suspect Abdul Ezedi, who is still on the run from police investigating an attack in south London on Wednesday involving a corrosive substance, was granted asylum in the UK after being convicted of a sex offence.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan told Sky News Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme we need to get to the bottom of why Ezedi had been able to remain in Britain, indicating his status will be something that is looked into by the Home Office.

'How is it possible, that someone turned down twice for asylum, who then commits more than one sexual offence, is granted refugee status?'



'This is not really about asylum' says Education Secretary @GillianKeegan. #TrevorPhillips https://t.co/fhIHlpTGAF pic.twitter.com/QCVsKcnkCa  Sky News (@SkyNews) February 4, 2024

09:35 AM GMT

Good morning and welcome

Good morning and welcome to The Telegraphs live coverage of the manhunt for suspected chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi.

Ezedi, who is said to have significant injuries to the right side of his face has been urged to hand himself in following Wednesdays attack in Clapham, south London.

Follow our live blog for the latest updates.

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.
The temporarily closed Skipper's River Cafe broke loose of its dock Saturday and began floating off. New Richmond Fire and EMS personnel helped recover it.

Note: This story was updated with the correct new location for Skipper's River Cafe.

A temporarily closed floating restaurant in New Richmond, a small riverside town in rural Clermont County, is secure again after it broke away from its dock Saturday.

In a Facebook post, New Richmond Fire and EMS said personnel responded to the 300 block of Susanna Way after reports the Skipper's River Cafe and Steamboat Marina barge broke loose from its dock and began floating off into the Ohio River.

Crews on two EMS boats helped the owner of the restaurant pull it back to the docks and secure it to the riverbank. It is not clear whether anyone was on board.

Skipper's is moving from New Richmond to a new location about 50 miles upriver in Maysville, Kentucky, its owners announced Jan. 3. It is listed as temporarily closed online.

The Enquirer has reached out to the restaurant for comment but has yet to receive a response.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Skipper's River Cafe floating restaurant breaks loose into Ohio River
Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) downplayed President Bidens loss of support among Black voters, saying that Bidens win in South Carolina demonstrates that he still has a strong base among Black Americans.

I think the answer is emphatic yes, Clyburn said on CNNs State of the Union when asked whether Biden has maintained a strong standing among Black voters based on the South Carolina primary on Saturday. And the best illustration of that, he got 96 percent of the vote in this primary, but its largest percentage  over 97 percent  was in the town of Orangeburg where there are two HBCUs and a community college.

And he got the largest percentage of the whole state. So that demonstrates to me what Ive been saying all the time and that Joe Biden has not lost any support among African Americans, Clyburn continued.

Clyburns endorsement in the 2020 election helped deliver a win to Biden in the South Carolina primary and boosted the rest of his primary campaign. Bidens win in South Carolina on Saturday comes after the Biden campaign sparked concerns that it is losing support among Black voters.

A November poll from The New York Times and Siena College found that 22 percent of Black voters in six battleground states said they would support former President Trump in next years election, which is the highest percentage a Republican presidential candidate has seen among Black voters in a half-century.

The same poll showed Biden with 71 percent of support among Black voters.

Updated at 9:45 pm.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  A man was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday after his 45-foot boat began taking in water.

Boat crews with the Coast Guard Station St. Pete and Sea Tow transferred to man to EMS at St. Pete Pier after experiencing nausea.

2 dead in 5-vehicle crash on US-19 in Pinellas County

The boat was dewatered and towed to North Yacht Basin.

This is a developing story. Stay up to date on the latest from News Channel 8 on-air and on the go with the free WFLA News Channel 8 mobile app.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
PORTLAND - As a mother watched her two children run around on the playground at Simpson Park, a protest against Cheniere Energy, an LNG export facility in Gregory that is visible at the park, took place Saturday.

The protest started earlier in the day as local environmental groups, including Texas Campaign for the Environment, met in downtown Corpus Christi to start a caravan.

As people drew up posters and gathered snacks at Coastal Bend's Texas Campaign for the Environment office, Autumn Hensiek-Fain, exports organizer for the nonprofit, said people in the community should be concerned about what Cheniere Energy is doing.

"For the past couple of months, we have been pressuring Cheniere Energy CEO Jack Fusco to make a swap with some of the equipment they're using at their Gregory facility," Hensiek-Fain said. "Due to their benzene and formaldehyde levels coming under the allowed limits set for by the EPA, they are able to operate gas combustion turbines."

Vehicles with signage against Cheniere Energy were parked ahead of a caravan in downtown Corpus Christi Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.

Hensiek-Fain said she would like Cheniere Energy to switch to electrical turbines, which she said would be a safer alternative.

"We just think a company like Cheniere, who has tried to cement themselves as the highest in the industry, are not standing up to be a caring neighbor," Hensiek-Fain said. "We want folks in the Coastal Bend that are tired of the flares and tired of having to tell their kids to stop playing outside because they could develop asthma or respiratory illnesses to come together and speak out. To make that swap would be a small step Cheniere can take to cement their status they see themselves as."

In an email to the Caller-Times last week, Cheniere spokesman Eben Burnham-Snyder wrote that as the company has expanded local operations, we have done so with a focus on safety, reliability and efficiency, and that the turbines dont pose a threat to public health and the environment.

Regarding our turbines, they comply with federal regulations of formaldehyde and are below the new limits issued by the EPA, he wrote. Our turbines comply with state permitting programs for benzene.

About a dozen vehicles made the trek to the Walmart in Portland to gather more community members before setting up camp at Simpson Park off Broadway Boulevard. Cheniere Energy's facility and flare was visible in the background just three miles away.

Autumn Hensiek-Fain, Coastal Bend fossil fuel exports organizer for Texas Campaign for the Environment, speaks to a crowd at a press conference at Simpson Park in Portland Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.

With more than 20 people in attendance holding signs voicing opinions against Cheniere Energy, seven people spoke to the crowd and viewers via Instagram Live.

Love Sanchez, co-founder of the intertribal group Indigenous Peoples of the Coastal Bend, was one of the speakers. She said, "we are coming for them" and "we are going to win."

"We are living in a time where we can stand up and say something that is bringing harm to our society," Sanchez said to the crowd. "This is where I'm from and where I'm going to be."

Maggie Peacock, a climate and social justice activist and student at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, also spoke at the event and told the crowd she regularly asks her friends what gives them hope. She said most say young people, but others see the question as controversial.

Cheniere Energy, an LNG export facility, is seen from Simpson Park in Portland Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.

"People view the word hope in different ways," Peacock said. "Sometimes it means sitting around and hoping things get better. My favorite word is hope. Each and every single one of y'all here today gives me hope. I believe in radical hope and action-based hope. The clean, radical future we imagine in our heads is what keeps us going. That is our hope."

Hensiek-Fain said she hopes the Coastal Bend community realizes there is power in numbers.

"It has been really difficult for us to get in contact with Cheniere's spokespeople," Hensiek-Fain said. "To see (the Caller-Times) report about the event, I saw y'all were able to get in touch with them. That speaks volumes to the fact that there is power in numbers when we come together as a community. We need to push them to the standard to be a good neighbor they claim to be."

RELATED COVERAGE

More: Cheniere taking Biden administration's LNG export terminal 'pause' in stride

More: Corpus Christi is moving forward with its desalination project. Here's what's next.

John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or X @johnpoliva.

Consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to the Caller-Times.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Coastal Bend activists hold protest against Cheniere Energy
China's basic medical insurance fund reports revenue of 2.7 trln yuan in 2023

Xinhua) 08:59, February 04, 2024

BEIJING, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's basic medical insurance fund, including maternity insurance, saw a total revenue of over 2.71 trillion yuan (381.7 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, data from the National Healthcare Security Administration showed.

The revenue for basic medical insurance funds for urban employees, including maternity insurance, stood at 1.66 trillion yuan. The revenue for basic medical insurance funds for rural and non-working urban residents was around 1.05 trillion yuan.

The expenditure for the basic medical insurance funds reached 2.20 trillion yuan during the period, according to data.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Taiba Investments has signed a strategic cooperation and partnership agreement with TBO Holidays, a leading global travel company, during the second edition of the Saudi Tourism Forum held recently in Riyadh.

The forum, from January 22 to 24, served as a platform to enhance collaboration among all stakeholders in the Saudi tourism sector, positioning the Kingdom as a global tourist hub and providing lucrative investment opportunities for companies and investors.

Bringing together two major players in the tourism and travel industry, this partnership is expected to open new prospects for the promising sector in the Kingdom, driving growth locally and regionally, said a statement.

The partnership aims to boost tourism and leverage the shared expertise and resources of both companies to elevate Saudi Arabias position in the tourism landscape, highlighting the role of Taiba Investments hotels as an ideal accommodation choice.

Joint marketing initiatives, innovative travel packages, and targeted communication with travel agencies and corporate clients will drive the collaboration. Taiba Investments will benefit from TBO Holidays' extensive reach and network in the travel and tourism sector, accessing a broader audience and diversifying its tourism offerings.

TBO Holidays will benefit from Taiba Investments strong local presence, allowing it to tap into the burgeoning B2B travel market in Saudi Arabia.

Hassan Al Ahdab, President of Hotel Operations at Taiba Investments, stated: We take great pride in our collaboration with TBO Holidays, which will boost tourism returns for Taiba Investments' hotels and attract more visitors to the Kingdom. This aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, driving revenues for hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions and creating new employment opportunities in the tourism sector.

Ahmed Afifi, Country Product Manager - KSA of TBO Holidays, said: Collaborating with a renowned Saudi-based company like Taiba Investments will significantly enhance our presence in Saudi Arabia and support our efforts to scale up our service offerings for travelers. This agreement will drive the creation of innovative travel packages tailored to meet the specific needs of our B2B customers.

Taiba Investments boasts a distinguished legacy in the Kingdom, managing a diverse investment portfolio across various sectors. The company has a track record of investing in and developing real estate properties with strategic projects in the citys central region. Taiba Investments has recently expanded its portfolio in the Kingdom through the acquisition of Dur Hospitality, the leading provider of world-class hospitality services infused with authentic Saudi hospitality. Aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, Taiba Investments prioritizes contributing to a diversified economy by fostering growth and development in the service sectors by focusing on developing the tourism industry.

As a leading global travel company, TBO Holidays provides an extensive and affordable selection of international hotels through its platform, surpassing 700,000 across 65 destinations worldwide. The company offers innovative solutions to its product portfolio, supporting travel agents by connecting them to a vast array of hotels and real-time flight tickets available in more than 100 countries around the world.  TradeArabia News Service
While hiking in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in Siskiyou County near Californias northern border, I came across several colorful birds that were zipping around at high speed to gobble up flying insects.

I stopped for a while to enjoy these pink and green creatures and see if I could photograph them as they darted out of oak trees to surprise their prey.

But when I returned home to identify these birds, I got an unwelcome surprise of my own.

Opinion

I learned that they are called Lewiss woodpeckers, paying homage to Meriwether Lewis, a slave owner who was best known for co-leading the Lewis and Clark expedition in the 1800s.

The expedition he led played a key role in opening for expropriation the lands of this continents Indigenous people, or savages, as Lewis referred to them.

The U.S. president has become your only father, he told the tribal leaders who the expedition encountered.

Wondering why a bird species would be named after such a person, I learned that Lewis claimed to have discovered these birds even though they were known to Indigenous people for tens of thousands of years and were here on earth long before that.

I wasnt thrilled by this name. And, apparently, I wasnt alone in my dismay.

In November, the American Ornithological Society announced that it will be changing the names of Lewiss woodpeckers and all other birds currently named after people. That includes 152 species in the U.S. and Canada.

The change comes in response to a coalition called Bird Names for Birds that includes the American Birding Association and many local birding groups.

It is a questionable premise that species should be named after specific humans at all, as if bird species were possessions or trophies, said the AOS committee that recommended the new policy.

The AOS said it will involve the public to generate creative new names that reflect a bird species looks, calls or habits.

The committee noted that a large number of bird names that honor individual people were coined in the 1800s to pay tribute to soldier scientists traveling with the U.S. Army during the appropriation of Indigenous and Mexican lands.

By contrast, Indigenous communities already living in the West named birds, animals, peaks, rivers or other natural features in order to communicate something about their characteristics  not after individual tribal leaders or members.

Perhaps other agencies and organizations responsible for official names of natural features will now adopt that approach and follow the AOS lead.

The colorful woodpeckers I saw that day not only can snatch flying insects out of the air, but in the fall they also break acorns into pieces that they store in holes or cracks in trees for retrieval in winter when food is scarce.

I look forward to seeing them again on a future hike when they will have a new name  perhaps one that reflects their extraordinary survival skills.

California native Matt Witt is a writer and photographer whose work may be seen at MattWittPhotography.com.
New Columbus school board President Christina Vera grew up in Columbus City Schools as did her husband and now, their three children.

Her selection as president by her board colleagues in January might have surprised some. She had been on the board just two years.

But Vera continues to learn about the district and its schools. She is well aware of the challenges facing the district and the board: declining enrollment, high student absenteeism, low test scores.

Not to mention looming school closures and consolidations.

But she remains steadfast.

"My role is to listen," Vera said during a recent interview at the Roosevelt Coffeehouse Downtown near where she works. "I know the power of this district."

And she said her focus is on the here and now.

"I don't want to talk about decades ago," she said. "I want solutions. I don't want to be part of the negativity."

Vera has a lifelong connection with the district. A big reason: The teachers in the district helped steer her down a good path when she was younger.

"I'm grateful for my upbringing. It rooted me," she said.

Vera is of Puerto Rican descent, and the first person with a Latino background to serve as board president. Her parents were born in New York City, in Brooklyn, and moved to Columbus before Vera started kindergarten. Her father worked several different jobs here, including time as a Central Ohio Transit Authority bus driver.

"My parents saw a lot of the same struggles they went through. They didn't have a lot. You do what you can do for your family and community," Vera said.

"You have to serve other people," she said.

Her family's roots run deep in New York City. She said she remembers being in a cab heading to school on 9/11 (she missed the bus) as the cab driver listened on the radio.

"Something happened in New York," Vera recalled the cab driver saying.

She thought of the extended family member still in the city, wondering if they were OK.

One uncle was an NYPD officer. Another was a sanitation worker, one who she said helped with cleanup at the World Trade Center site and developed respiratory issues.

"I had never been scared at that level before," she said.

A relationship-oriented person

Vera was first elected to the school board in November 2021, but her fellow members unanimously elected her president in January though her experience was less than other members.

Board member Jennifer Adair had just served four years as president during a turbulent time for the district: a pandemic, a teachers strike in 2022, a levy campaign, a new superintendent. Adair said she herself had less experience as a board member when elected president than Vera had.

"I've been here five years, I'm still learning," Adair said.

"I think we have to remember it's almost a $2-billion-large government entity. Its very complex, very bureaucratic," she said.

Adair said Vera is ready to move into her new role.

"She did have unanimous support. I think that says a lot," Adair said.

"She is a very relationship-oriented person. Governing together it takes all seven of us," Adair said. "It takes an active relationship with the community as well.

"I think that's what well see from her," Adair said.

Adair said that when you are the school board president you also are the spokesperson for the board and often the target of criticism. She said she and Vera have discussed balance, mental health, and being there for each other.

"There's impact to your family and yourself," Adair said.

Vera and her husband, Kent Reid, are parents to three children, ages 20, 14 and 10; the family lives on the Northeast Side. Their oldest, a daughter, attends Ohio State University. Their 14-year-old daughter attends Northland High School. Their 10-year-old son goes to Indian Springs Elementary School. She has known her husband since she was 16.

Vera grew up in the Linden area.

Her father struggled with addiction and came to Columbus through a Linden-based program called Samaritan House. "He got clean, he sent for us," Vera said.

Except for one year when the family moved to Atlanta, Vera attended Columbus City Schools, eventually attending Brookhaven High School, from where she graduated in 2003.

Jan 31, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, United States; Christina Vera is the new president of the Columbus City Schools Board of Education. About ten years ago she co-founded Femergy, a group that empowers girls. One room of their downtown offices include this "Zen Room."

"This district gave me so much," she said.

It wasn't perfect, she said. Vera said she wasn't a scholar. She said her GPA was low. "School didn't come easy for me," she said.

But she said she had "amazing" teachers who helped guide her and stepped in to help her shape decisions.

When her family lived on Minnesota Avenue in North Linden, she was hanging out with "certain groups," mostly for protection. While Vera attended Crestview Middle School, she said her teachers saved her from what she caled a "very toxic" path. She said her home economics teacher told her, "This isn't you."

"Everybody needs support," she said.

The belief led to her co-founding a nonprofit a decade ago, Femergy, what Vera calls a restorative center teaching girls and women skills in leadership, health and wellness and other areas to overcome gender barriers.

Maylin Sambois, Femergy's other co-founder, said she remembers Vera watching school board meetings before she decided to run.

"I said, 'Whats wrong with her?'" Sambois said. But she said that Vera was very invested in the decisions the board made and how they affected students.

"She has always had this desire to help and to really do something big for the youths," Sambois said.

"She brings the heart and brings the vision," she said. "And any team, if they dont have the vision, its really difficult to get to that destination."

Leading at a time of contraction

Vera starts as president as a facilities task force will soon begin work on recommendations for school closures and consolidations. The school board could take a vote on the task force membership on Tuesday, Vera said. The task force is to make recommendations to the school board by June, with implementation of final decisions by August 2025.

Columbus City Schools is the state's largest district, but enrollment peaked at 110,173 during the 1971-72 school year. There are now about 46,000 students.

Closing schools is always a tricky thing. Vera said that the community task force will ensure that the community is at the table as school officials evaluate recommendations.

"We want their input and their ideas as to what they want to see," she said.

"Its our priority that our community is a priority in these conversations," she said. Then they can make their decisions together.

Recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic also has been difficult.

"When we got out of the pandemic, there was a lot to do," she said.

That includes schools dealing with students and their mental health issues. "There were kids trapped at home," she said, some witnessing domestic violence, others struggling with homelessness.

"The task force has a hard lift," Vera said. That includes hard discussions with the community.

"Often the thought is, we just tell the community," Vera said. "It's about building relationships."

Nana Watson, president of the Columbus branch of the NAACP, said that Vera needs to assure the community that she will engage with them.

The local branch of the NAACP did not back the November school levy because of what members thought was a lack of transparency on the board and the impact of higher taxes on older homeowners.

"She's got a big job. We gave the board a vote of no confidence," Watson said. "The board has to prove to the community to be transparent and honest and engaging."

"They're going to have to be good stewards of taxpayers' dollars," she said.

Vera acknowledged there is work to do.

"We are not able to fix this overnight," she said. "We need them to believe in Columbus City Schools again."

Voters approved a 7.7-mill levy in November that will raise about $100 million a year for operations and building maintenance. That helps.

But Vera said public schools need more financial support from state government.

"We shouldn't have to fight this hard for the children," she said. "We don't want to have to put it on the backs of seniors."

Vera called Superintendent Angela Chapman a visionary who is relatable and personable.

"We're grateful to have her," she said. "She has the same vision as the board."

John Coneglio, president of the Columbus Education Association, the teachers union, said he gets the feeling that Vera wants to do good.

"She cares about kids. She asks thoughtful questions," he said. "You can tell she does her homework when she shows up."

Asked about the board's anticipated plans to close and consolidate schools and possible teacher cuts, Coneglio said it depends on what the board and school officials want to do.

"If it was me, I would try to figure out a plan to grow the district instead of dismantle the district," he said. "Do they mean combining programs?"

"Opening up the door for competition should not be a plan," he said. "Managed decline of the district should not be a plan."

"We need to figure out a way to collectively bring our kids back into the schools," he said.

mferench@dispatch.com

@MarkFerenchik

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: New Columbus school board president Vera ready for challenges
(FOX40.COM)  Some of the most iconic voices in animation are coming to downtown Sacramento, and fans of the genre can meet them for less than $25.

On March 9 and 10, Sac Comic-Con 2024 (Sac-Con) will be held at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Hall D. The event boasts an impressive lineup of voice actors from Disney classics like Frozen, Aladdin, and Beauty of the Beast, as well as esteemed comic writers and creators.

Video Above: Disney Fun Facts

Voice actors that will be in attendance include Santino Fontana, who voiced Prince Hans in the award-winning Disney film Frozen, Jonathan Freeman, who voiced Jafar in the Aladdin franchise, and Richard White, who voiced Gaston in the Disney classic Beauty and the Beast.

2024 is a leap year, but why?

The comic book artist behind the Silver Surfer series, Ron Lim, will also be at Sac-Con, alongside Dan Brereton, an award-winning creator who has worked on a variety of characters and genres including X-Men, Justice League, Batman, Thor, Spider-Man, The Simpsons, and more.

Ticket prices for fans looking to attend both days are set at $20. For Saturday only, prices are at $15; for Sunday only, tickets cost $10.

Children ages 11 and under can attend Sac-Con for free.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
The following excerpts are from an online discussion between Michigan and Ohio representatives discussing how to further anti-trans policies in their states:

In terms of endgame, why are we allowing these practices for anyone? Why would we stop this for anyone under 18, but not apply this for anyone over 18? Its harmful across the board, and I think thats something that we need to take into consideration in terms of the endgame, said Michigan Rep. Josh Shriver.

Alice Wade

Ohio Rep. Gary Click, whose legislation would prevent transgender athletes from playing womens sports, called Schrivers comment a very smart thought and added advice for Republican lawmakers looking to outlaw gender-affirming care.

"Reuters asked me one time when they said, 'Do you feel bad because all of these states that are now blocking the procedures for children are having to close down their gender clinics and now adults can't get care?' And I said, 'No, I don't feel bad.' We have to take one bite at a time, do it incrementally.

Never before have legislators so blatantly spelled out the strategy for all to see. Start with bite-sized pieces, ban trans women from sports, prevent minors from getting life-saving healthcare, prevent LGBTQ+ topics from being discussed in schools, and eventually theyll make it to the "endgame."

That endgame is to prevent all trans people from receiving healthcare, persecute them for wanting to exist in a body thats comfortable for them, and force them back into the closet where anti-transgender politicians think we belong.

And yet the argument goes that these discriminatory laws are meant to help children. Twenty-three states and counting have gone against the recommendations of every major medical association and banned all forms of gender-affirming healthcare for minors.

Parents desperate for their children to receive care have had to flee their home state. And even that may not be safe anymore since Texas has recently sued hospitals providing gender-affirming care in other states to try and gain private medical records.

Recently in New Hampshire, HB 619 was voted on in the House, a bill that prevents trans adolescents from receiving gender-affirming bottom surgery in the state. It passed, not just with Republican votes, but with 12 Democratic votes. Why? Because Rep. Jonah Wheeler, D-Hillsborough, spoke right before the vote was held, and this is what he said:

The only argument against [this bill] being the amendment specifically opens the door to other bad trans bills, but the slippery slope fallacy I dont think applies here.

I could almost forgive his naivete if it werent for the non-stop attacks on trans rights happening here and all around the country.

How many bills have been drafted attacking trans rights here in New Hampshire just this year? Seventeen. Thats 17 bills entirely dedicated to banning trans healthcare, trans participation in sports, rolling back transgender non-discrimination protections, forcing teachers to "out" students to their parents, book bans, and more.

The healthcare these politicians are banning saves lives, including mine, five years ago. And yet a small but loud number of anti-trans lawmakers consistently overblow the amount of transition-related regret. They lie and fearmonger for cheap political wins by claiming that lots of people regret transitioning.

Here are some brief statistics to show how patently false that narrative is. While studies on detransitioning are few, the average ranges between 0.3% for people who have undergone bottom surgery and 2.5% for children who identified as transgender five years later.

And of that small percentage, a vast majority of them detransitioned because they faced external societal, family, or financial pressure that made it unfeasible for them to continue. Not because they no longer considered themselves transgender.

Its unfathomable to me that the regret of a cisgender person is more valuable to these people than the life of a transgender person.

I recently testified during a hearing on Senate Bill 562, which would ban trans people from using the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity. One person said she didnt believe that trans people attempt suicide at a much higher rate, or the trans suicide myth as she put it. Another person described gender-affirming bottom surgery as "butchering" right in front of me. I dont have the words to describe how hurtful that was to hear.

These anti-trans bills arent meant to help kids, theyre preventing kids who need the care from getting it. And they wont stop at banning healthcare for trans youth or banning schools from discussing LGBTQ+ topics. The goal is to stigmatize and spread misinformation, which is why we need to stop all of these bills in their tracks.

If you understand the need to protect trans rights here in New Hampshire, please join us at the state house to show that our freedoms cant be taken away. Our lives and livelihoods are at stake in this fight. Please call your state representatives to tell them you oppose anti-trans legislation, and tell Gov. Chris Sununu to veto these bills if they ever reach his desk.

Alice Wade is a resident of Dover.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Commentary: Stop pretending that trans persecution is helping kids
Pittsburgh police detectives are looking for a person suspected of shooting a convenience store employee as he was taking out the trash Saturday night.

It happened at the intersection of 22nd and East Carson Street.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >> Man shot while taking out trash in Pittsburghs South Side Flats

There were cops over there, cops over here, and over there, there were flashing lights everywhere, said Elias Mallouhi, a regular customer at the Jag Dev Convenience Store

Yellow tape still surrounded trash bins near the business Sunday morning, around where police say an employee of Jag Dev was shot in the chest around 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

I saw police parked out front, and I saw the store was still open, which is weird because typically they close at 11, Boris Langer said. I tried to go into the store, and the cop told me theyre closed, and I said ok and then went home, Langer said.

People who live in the neighborhood heard the gunshots but were surprised to learn the victim was an employee at the convenience store. Langer found out about what happened from another store owner in the area.

I asked if she knew what happened, and she said yeah the guy got shot taking the trash out. Crazy, Langer said.

Langer then realized he knows the victim.

He says hi to me, and he knows my daughter. Ive been seeing him since he opened, however long ago that was, Langer said.

Anyone with information about the shooting should contact police by calling 412-323-7800.

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When Carla Cochrane felt a spiritual calling to the U.S.-Mexico border, she prayed on it.

The 62-year-old evangelical Christian from rural Texas believed God had "laid on her heart" a mission to serve asylum-seekers. She didn't expect her calling would be controversial.

"I felt my friends and family were going to be excited for me," she said about her 2019 epiphany. "But I didnt get that reaction. It was like, 'What? Why do you want to go there?'"

Cochrane lives in deep red Texas, south of Dallas in Ellis County, where Donald Trump won more than two-thirds of the vote in 2016 and 2020. To Cochrane, helping asylum-seekers sounded like a Biblical call to welcome the stranger. To her conservative community, she sounded like a liberal.

"I felt very lonely," she said.

White evangelical Christians helped deliver Trump's 2016 presidential victory in a campaign fueled by his "build the wall" mantra. They favored him again in 2020. Surveys suggest white evangelical Christians are lining up behind him in 2024, even as he calls for "the largest deportation program in American history."

But there are signs of fissures. A small, but growing, group of evangelical Christian women like Cochrane are questioning the narrative of "invasion" at the southern border. They're wondering why lawmakers can't reform the nation's immigration laws in a way that could both enhance border security and treat people humanely.

A Women of Welcome group prayed over Border Patrol agents in El Paso, Texas, in November 2021 during one of the group's border immersion trips.

They say they're returning to the roots of their faith: hewing as closely as possible to the gospel.

"The Bible doesnt have anything to say about U.S. immigration policy, but it does have a lot to say about the immigrant and the refugee," said Bri Stensrud, director of Women of Welcome, a community of more than 130,000 evangelical Christian women. Group members are, by and large, conservative, anti-abortion and trying to square the Republican Party's razor-wire immigration politics with the compassion that their faith demands of them.

For a time, Cochrane stopped talking out loud about her own "calling."

Instead, she and a trusted friend drove 480 miles to the border and volunteered with local Catholic organizations providing aid to asylum-seekers. Back home, she retreated online, searching for like-minded women.

That's when she found Women of Welcome on Facebook.

"I joined the private group immediately," Cochrane said. "I felt like I was safe there to talk about things."

More: 'Tell the family we're going to kill them tomorrow': Migration crisis unveils new horrors

Pro-life values, compassion for immigrants

Stensrud lives in Colorado, describes herself as conservative and worked for years in the anti-abortion movement. In the first year of the Trump administration in 2017, she got a call from a mentor, challenging her: Did her commitment to pro-life values extend to the lives of migrants? Would she be interested in taking the helm of a new project, called Women of Welcome?

Amy Ford, co-founder of the pro-life nonprofit support group Embrace Grace, left, and Bri Stensrud, Director of Women of Welcome, view the border wall in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

At the time, World Relief  the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals  had conducted a study on the immigration views of self-identified evangelical Christians.

The results showed that evangelical Christian views on immigration were more influenced by media than the Bible. But broken down by gender, the researchers concluded, women showed higher levels of compassion than men.

"The research said there is a pocket of women out there who want to learn about the issues from a Biblical perspective, not a political perspective," said Stensrud, who is also the author of the book, "Start with Welcome: The Journey Toward a Confident and Compassionate Immigration Conversation," which publishes Tuesday.

Stensrud agreed to travel to Oaxaca, Mexico, on a trip led by World Relief and the nonpartisan National Immigration Forum, which together support Women of Welcome.

The group visited a migrant shelter for unaccompanied children. She felt judgmental before even arriving, she told a Christian podcaster in 2021: How could a mother ever leave her child behind?

But the migrants' stories of survival were worse than anything she  a privileged, white, Christian mother living in the U.S.  could ever have imagined.

Omar Tortua, 27, from Venezuela, lifts his 5-year-old son Jesus pant leg to show a 2-inch laceration he sustained from razor wire crossing the Rio Grande, at Mission: Border Hope on Friday, July 21, 2023, in Maverick County, Texas.

"I thought I was being holistically pro-life. I thought I was including it all," Stensrud said on an episode of The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey. But by the end of the trip, she said, "I looked like I got hit by a semi."

She stepped into a storage room to break away from the group. "And I just started bawling uncontrollably," she said. "I was so grieved. Ive been in this movement for so long. I thought to myself, 'If my girlfriends could see what I see they would be just as grieved, too.'"

She took the offer to lead the Women of Welcome community.

Seven years later, Stensrud has led evangelical Christian women on dozens of similar immersion trips to border communities in Texas and California to volunteer with migrants and aid workers, and meet Border Patrol agents and faith leaders. Women of Welcome's original Bible study has been downloaded over 125,000 times, and the private Facebook group Cochrane joined in 2019 now has more than 5,000 members.

During a Women of Welcome border immersion trip, women communicated with Spanish-speaking migrants by using their cellphones to translate while at a shelter in Tijuana, Mexico, in November 2023.

Members take turns reading Scripture in videos on the group's social media, including the verse from Matthew 25:35, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in."

Evangelical women 'going against the grain' on immigration

Women of Welcome doesn't have a political agenda. The community explicitly doesn't talk presidential politics. It's been challenging enough to encourage evangelical Christian women to consider perspectives that clash with their political identity, Stensrud said.

She tells them, "Your compassion isn't political. It's meant to be prophetic."

Their reluctance to take their compassion into the political sphere is frustrating for some Latino evangelicals, who for decades have been active advocates for immigration reform, said the Rev. Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition.

Unlike in white communities, many Latino families of mixed immigration status don't have the luxury of distance from the issue, he said. They live with the constant threat of a loved one being deported.

"We believe Scripture is clear in telling us to welcome the stranger," he said. "The history of evangelical advocacy on immigration is grounded in the Latino immigrant church. We Latino evangelicals, we care about the economy and peoples human rights. We want a balanced approach. Were politically homeless."

But white evangelical Christianity is now so intertwined with MAGA politics and anti-immigrant rhetoric that there is little room for dissent or compassion, said Samuel Perry, a professor of sociology at the University of Oklahoma who also grew up in an evangelical community.

"Is it radical in terms of the teaching of the Bible? Absolutely not," Perry said. But Cochrane and the Women of Welcome group "are swimming against the current of where white evangelicalism is going. I can see why they feel out of place in their communities."

Perry said it's unlikely that this "vocal exception" among evangelicals will move the political needle in the 2024 election. Up against a Democrat, evangelical support for Trump has hovered above 80% for years, Perry said.

Like Cochrane, Stensrud has witnessed firsthand the pushback that women in evangelical communities face when they want to go deeper on the immigration issue.

Stensrud said she tells them, "It's going to be hard. When you develop an outward compassion for immigrants and refugees, its likely your husband isnt going to understand. Your friends might say, It looks like youre turning into a liberal."

"That is what people dont understand about conservative communities," she said. "Going against the grain is not something you do."

Migrants are directed by a DPS Trooper around floating barrels covered in razor wire in the Rio Grande on Saturday, July 22, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Migrants travel miles along the riverbank to the edges of the wire placed under Operation Loan Star.

She is preaching the idea that compassionate-minded evangelical Christians could find common ground with progressives on issues that she says fall into the "sanctity of life" category.

Something just happened in Congress that suggests Stensrud may be right. Two groups on opposite sides of the abortion issue, Antiabortion Americans United for Life and the pro-choice Center for American Progress, both threw their support behind a bipartisan deal to boost the child tax credit to families. It passed the House in late January with sweeping support from both Democrats and Republicans.

As Latino evangelical Christians continue to press for immigration reform, Salguero warned against giving newcomers to the movement too much credit. But, he added, "We welcome and celebrate all allies. At the end of the day, evangelicals of every stripe, color and generation will have to weigh how important immigration is as a voting issue among the long list  because we are not one-issue voters."

For her part, Cochrane has invited members of her church to her calling. She has helped organize mission trips to the Texas-Mexico border, and this spring, her 15-year-old granddaughter plans to accompany her on a "grandparents" mission to South Texas  the first member of her family to join her.

She tears up at the thought.

"I will tell you," she said, "I believe God allowed me to see through the eyes of Christ and when you see things that way, when you see women and children and men  and you learn their names  its totally different. You see the human side that deserves dignity and, for me, compassion."

More: Nikki Haley is framing motherhood as an advantage, not a drawback. How it's making her rise in the polls.

Lauren Villagran can be reached at lvillagran@usatoday.com or on Instagram @fronteravillagran.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The border crisis has a new group of sympathizers: evangelical women
The Early Learning Coalition of Orange County is hosting a diaper drive event.

The ELCOC aims to reach 15,000 diaper donations to help Orange County families in need.

The organization has already received over 5,000 diapers.

We are overwhelmed by the generosity our community has shown so far. However, our goal is to reach 15,000 diapers and with their continued support, I am confident we will reach our goal, said CEO Dr. Scott Fritz.

Read: U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon kicks off busy weekend in downtown Orlando

All donations will be delivered to the Central Florida Diaper Bank.

Donations can be made online through Amazon.

You can select the diapers you wish to donate, and Amazon will send them directly to the ELCOC.

Read: Runners and spectators pack downtown Orlando for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon

A drive-through event will also be on Feb.10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The drive-through will be at Dr. James R. Smith Neighborhood Center, located at 1723 Bruton Blvd in Orlando.

All donations will be delivered to the Central Florida Diaper Bank.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
At the beginning of April 2020, a group of senior epidemiologists charged with advising the Government on Covid met for their weekly meeting. The country was barely two weeks into lockdown and in the thick of that first devastating wave. That month, the virus would reach its peak for 2020  out of 13,000 excess deaths in mid-April, around 9,500 were attributed to Covid.

The New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), a subgroup of Sage, was to provide advice on how to manage the virus based on projections of how it was spreading. One of the group, Prof John Edmunds, had requested that all meetings begin with a sitrep  a rundown of all the latest figures compiled by Public Health England (PHE). That day, one slide made his blood run cold.

In the very early days of the pandemic, Prof Edmunds had felt data on the numbers of cases was woefully inadequate. Britain was only testing people that had been to high risk places like China or were contacts of those people. It didnt really tell us about the epidemic here in the UK or how that was changing, recalls Sir John, who was knighted in the 2024 New Year Honours list. Surveillance was a real issue.

By the middle of March, he had grown increasingly distressed. I felt our situational awareness was poor. I felt that we were being misled by the data... Because by that time wed worked out some estimate of the true size of the epidemic, [it] was much bigger than what we were reporting.

Between March 2020 and January 2022, 45,632 people died of Covid in care homes in England and Wales - Getty

That day in April, PHE were going through their slides at a rate of knots. [They] would be going through these slides and then skipping 10 slides. I remember saying: Stop! Can you go back up a slide? And there it was  850 outbreaks in care homes. I was like, Oh my God. You had 850 outbreaks in care homes last week? It was just utterly shocking.

That night, Prof Edmunds went home and looked at the slide deck from the previous week. And there it was, it was about 240, he recalls. And I missed it. It was at that moment, he says, that the care home response ramped up. Sage met the following day. Honestly, thats when Sage got exercised about care homes. I really, really wish Id noticed it the week before.

The care home crisis remains one of the most devastating failures of the pandemic. Between March 2020 and January 2022, 45,632 people died of Covid in care homes in England and Wales. Families of those who died have said the Government failed to prioritise protecting our most vulnerable.

Until April 15 2020, the Governments policy allowed people to be discharged from hospital and sent back to care homes without having to be tested for Covid. PHE warned in February that elderly patients shouldnt be discharged into care homes. In July, the Office for National Statistics said doing so had been an important source of infection. In his evidence to the Covid Inquiry in December, Matt Hancock said that until mid-April there were not enough tests available to be able to screen everyone being discharged from hospital; evidence the virus could be transmitted asymptomatically was not yet concrete.

Following the former health secretarys evidence, Charlie Williams, the spokesman for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK, said transmission into care homes should have been a priority the moment news broke of Covid-19.

It was clear from the start that care homes were going to be really, really risky, says Sir John. There was very little modelling done on care homes, frankly. Not enough. I put a very small team together to look at care homes. It was basically one person. Thats one mistake.

Modelling aside, did the Government get into gear quickly enough? No, it was a mess, he says, adding: We should have done far more to protect the care home residents.

He is less clear on what could have been done, though he says we really should have put testing in place and with hindsight, its obvious care homes didnt have sufficient PPE. It did get better, but almost half the deaths in the first wave were care home residents.

Sir John, 55, was an adviser to the advisers. He couldnt directly impact policy; he and others passed their analyses to Sir Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance who would present it to Boris Johnson and senior members of the Government, whom he realised, eventually, had a loose grasp of what Sage was reporting.

Later on, I realised that they really didnt read the Sage minutes. I think they listened to Chris and Patrick, but all the material  I dont think they spent any time on it.

Sir John was an adviser to the advisers; he and others passed their analyses to Sir Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance - Heathcliff O'Malley

We meet in his small wood-panelled office in the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Coming up the steps into the building, a woman stops Sir John to shake his hand. Congratulations, she says, beaming. He received his knighthood for services to epidemiology. He didnt read the letter when it first arrived. I thought it was from the taxman  When I did it took me about three readings to understand what it was. It was so unexpected and weird.

Sir John, who lives in north London with his wife (also an epidemiologist) and their two daughters (15 and 16), was made an OBE in 2016 for his work on the Ebola crisis. At the time, his aunts joked that perhaps one day hed be knighted. I said: Honestly, you do not want me to be knighted  if Im knighted, something horrible has happened. I said that as a joke. Of course, it turned out to be true.

Sir John at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine - Heathcliff O'Malley

If asking someone how their pandemic was is a bit like asking how was your war?, its fair to say Sir John had a strange one. He is a modest sort  a scientist, not a natural talking head  but in 2020, he quickly became a kind of unlikely spokesman for science, regularly appearing on television and radio to give his take on the latest policy changes. He irritated ministers who felt he was using media appearances to push an agenda; that agenda appeared to change with the wind.

In an early interview with Channel 4 News on March 13, he went head-to-head with Silicon Valley executive Tomas Pueyo who had modelled the viruss spread and was calling for urgent lockdowns. Pueyo held his head in his hands as Sir John told presenter Cathy Newman: The only way to stop this epidemic is indeed to achieve herd immunity.

Silicon Valley executive Tomas Pueyo

There were two possible strategies, he said at the time. One: you can stamp out every single case in the world. Every single case in the world. And then, then youre free. You can stop that epidemic without achieving herd immunity, but you must get every single case in the world. With a mild disease, thats extremely difficult.

The next phase when the genie is out of the bottle and the virus is all around the world, is spreading. The next phase, the only other way the virus is going to come to a stop, is achieving herd immunity.

When, later on, he lobbied for stricter lockdowns, he was deemed a flip flopping hypocrite. He was vehemently against Rishi Sunaks spectacularly stupid Eat Out to Help Out scheme, and called for lockdown to be extended in the summer of 2020. Britain was taking a risk while cases were still high. Meanwhile the Government, he says, couldnt settle on a sensible strategy to get us out of lockdown. The big mistakes were made in the summer. That failure to come up with a proper strategy and understand it.

In early 2021, he warned that easing the third lockdown would be a disaster. Perhaps hindsight is a wonderful thing then  last May, he appeared to tell a medical conference of his worry that Britain had relied too heavily on very scary Sage findings. He wondered if the knock-on health effects and economic harm done by lockdowns could in principle have been taken into account when modelling. In practice they were not, he said. The epidemiological model is only one component [of decision-making]. And I worried that wed had too much weight.

So which one is it? A), B) or C)? Was he gunning for herd immunity? Was he Mr Lockdown, as he was dubbed? Or does he think draconian restrictions were a mistake?

In fact, he says, its D). He simply didnt always do a brilliant job of explaining himself on television. Did he think herd immunity was our best hope at the beginning? Not really. You dont want herd immunity. I was just pointing out an epidemiological fact. We were past the point of being able to stamp it out. He didnt intend to suggest it should be the Governments policy. I regret the way I explained that because I made a very bad job of it.

In the early days, the options  let the virus run or shut down the country  both seemed to him extreme and terrible in different ways. What we came up with around that time in that really critical week around March 8, 9, 10, was an alternative that mixed and matched a bit of both of those ... A background of interventions that would slow the epidemic but probably not enough. In reality, the lockdown called on March 23 was far from background; it was a full shutdown.

Easing restrictions that summer made perfect sense, he says. That was the other horrendous alternative  to stay in lockdown forever. I didnt ever think that was feasible or advisable. So I think yes, we did have to ease those restrictions.

But Eat Out to Help Out was a bridge too far. That was actually spending government money, and a lot of it  the best part of a billion pounds  actually stimulating the epidemic. For me that was absolutely obscene. The scientists had no sight of Eat Out to Help Out before it was announced. That was a shock to everybody, I think.

Looking back, he regrets not putting more into modelling the potential impact of lockdowns. I should have put more resources into modelling the macroeconomic effect. This was actually outside our official remit, though we did undertake some work in the area despite this and despite the enormous difficulties in linking epidemiological and macroeconomic models.

Matt Hancock has said that until mid-April 2020 there were not enough tests available to be able to screen everyone being discharged from hospital - Andrew Parsons

With the benefit of hindsight, we should have done more. I think that this could have helped inform what was quite a simplistic (and bitter) debate about trading off health and wealth that occurred in the autumn of 2020 and beyond.

Hes keen to stress his own influence was minimal. People have, he says, misunderstood the role of Sage. It was much more limited than people think. We were just looking at and summarising the scientific evidence. Scientists didnt have any contact with politicians, he says. That was all handled by Chris and Patrick.

Were media appearances a way to make his feelings known, then? Senior politicians might not have read the Sage minutes, he says, but they did listen to Radio 4 or Andrew Marr.

You could actually get something noticed if you dropped it into a conversation with Andrew Marr. Its kind of bizarre. You collate all of this scientific work, and then it was coming through the committee structure up to Sage, being summarised in a digestible form, and being taken by Chris and Patrick to the decision-makers. And I dont think they got it. But you could circumvent all that by saying something to Andrew Marr. And I think thats wrong.

He was nervous about doing press at first, and conscious of straying into policy because that can devalue you as a scientist. Later I kind of learned you could make a difference if you answer the question in a certain way to make it clear what you thought might be the better strategy.

The following day, he emails to clarify. The potential power of a carefully worded answer in an interview only became apparent to me after the epidemic had finished, he writes. And particularly in the light of the inquiry, where it seemed pretty apparent that some decision-makers right at the top didnt appear to be on top of their briefing notes.

He is as disparaging as you might imagine about our then prime minister, though he concedes senior decision-makers had absolutely horrible decisions to make. The big tragedy was  I think Lee Cain [former Downing Street director of communications] said it  this wasnt the right crisis for our prime minister at the time, for his particular skill sets. I think thats undoubtedly true. I think we were poorly served by who we had in charge, frankly.

He first became aware of the virus, that seemed to have sprung from a wet market in Wuhan, on Dec 31 2019. In the first few weeks of 2020, he assumed the Government must have a plan for the measures it would eventually take  must at least have a plan for what to tell the public. Some worked-up comms plan. The whole population will need to know stuff pretty quickly and there must be an order of that  what theyll tell people when  This was in February. I dont think they did until a month later.

He wonders now if he and others who knew what was coming down the tracks should have made greater effort to

ensure the Government understood the urgency. I thought the Government were very well-informed. They certainly had all of the information. And then when I looked at the inquiry, they were certainly claiming that they werent. I thought, well, was there more that we could have done to raise the alarm? And frankly, there was.

He says that he accepts now that clearly we didnt make it clear enough. So I think we have to accept a portion of the blame for that.

So you can say, well we had this plan, but the time to flex that into the correct set of actions was February, and we didnt. I dont think the politicians really woke up to it until March. And when they did, honestly, we were really up against the wall then.

In Sir Johns office in London, a busy noticeboard is decorated with drawings done by his two daughters when they were little, alongside some pretty brutal hate mail sent to him during the pandemic. Occasionally hed write back to his critics. Depending on how many glasses of wine Id had.

He is immensely proud of what British scientists achieved. Proud to have been a small cog in this amazing machine. There were times, he says, when the enormity of what was happening was impossible to ignore. I felt  and I dont want to make this sound dramatic  but you could sort of feel the weight  there were large numbers of deaths. It was hard to get away from that. So it wasnt just statistics. I feel that. A lot of people died and at times I felt they didnt really have to die.

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.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) said a man was taken to the hospital after being stabbed in East Colorado Springs on Friday, Feb. 2.

Officers responded to a report of a stabbing in the 1200 block of North Circle Drive near Uintah Street just before 5:20 p.m. Two men were in a verbal altercation at a local business and then separated.

The suspect later returned to the scene and engaged in a fight where he used a knife to stab the victim at least once causing serious bodily injury, according to CSPD.

The suspect ran away, and the victim was transported to the hospital, according to CSPD. No arrests have been made at this time.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said that a teen was arrested in connection to a shooting in Southeast D.C. on Wednesday.

Police said at about 8:50 a.m., they were dispatched to the 1000 block of Pennsylvania Ave. for a shooting.

Military changes policy regarding sexual assaults

There, MPD said the suspect shot at the victim. The bullet did not strike the person and the suspect left the scene.

On Feb. 2, a 16-year-old boy from Southeast D.C. was arrested.

He was charged with Assault with Intent to Murder, Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, Possession of Unregistered Ammunition and Receiving Stolen Property.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
It's a pretty good sign you're not qualified to be a municipal treasurer  you know, the job that requires collecting money owed to the city  when one of the debts you've failed to collect is the 90 grand YOU owe the city.

Still, it took a gadfly and a Wayne County circuit judge to finally end the disgraceful tenure of Highland Park Treasurer Janice Taylor-Bibbs after nearly 25 years in office.

Highland Park Treasurer Janice Taylor-Bibbs, as depicted on the city's website.

I can't speak to the first 13 years of Taylor-Bibbs' tenure as treasurer in the perennially struggling enclave located about a mile north of Boston-Edison within Detroit's borders. Given Highland Park's long-standing failure to pay more than $20 million in water bills it owed to Detroit and, later, the Great Lakes Water Authority, I think it's safe to say she was not able to meet all of the challenges her job presented. Then there was her failure to either detect or stop her former classmate, Arthur Blackwell II, from cheating the city out of hundreds of thousands of dollars while serving as emergency manager nearly 20 years ago. As treasurer, Taylor-Bibbs may have even signed some of those checks.

But there's little question Taylor-Bibbs has not been serving her neighbors well since December 2012. That's when she bought a new home built with federal funds administered by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, also known as MSHDA. The neighborhood stabilization program provided funds to repair homes and build new ones.

Taylor-Bibbs closed on her heavily-subsidized home on Dec. 19, 2012.

Two days later, MSHDA notified Highland Park that Taylor-Bibbs may not be eligible for the program because federal conflict of interest rules forbid city employees from participating.

Over the next six months, Highland Park and state officials argued over whether Taylor-Bibbs was entitled to what amounted to a deeply-discounted new home built with taxpayer money. State officials told Highland Park to repay MSHDA the more than $90,000 they gave Highland Park to build the home, and ordered the city to essentially boot Taylor-Bibbs so Highland Park could make the home available to someone who was entitled to new, taxpayer-funded digs. Ultimately, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ruled in MSHDA's favor.

Taylor-Bibbs' next move should have been to move. As in "vacate the premises." If she had, that might have been the end of our story. Alas, gentle readers, it was just the beginning.

Taxpayers pay, the treasurer stays

In January 2019, more than five years after Taylor-Bibbs should have started packing, MSHDA demanded $90,619 from Highland Park to repay the money used to build Taylor-Bibbs' home. Two months later, the Highland Park City Council approved sending $90,619 to MSHDA. The council also gave Taylor-Bibbs 30 days to pay Highland Park $90,619.

And then ... nothing.

At least that's what the public record shows. On Jan. 6, 2023, Robert Davis sent Highland Park a Freedom of Information Act request for any record showing that Taylor-Bibbs repaid her debt to the cash-strapped city. Davis is a longtime Highland Park resident, government watchdog, former school board member and general pain in the keister to anyone he thinks is trying to get over on residents and taxpayers. He's not perfect, having spent a little time in federal prison for his own caper, but he knows his way around government. More than three weeks after receiving Davis' request for any evidence Taylor-Bibbs paid Highland Park anything, the city told him they could find no record that the treasurer made any payment on her $90,000 debt.

"Thats quite egregious, considering the financial state of this community," Davis told me last week.

In September 2023, under oath during a deposition in which Davis did the questioning, Taylor-Bibbs confirmed that she never entered into a payment plan with the city and hasn't paid Highland Park a cent of the more than $90,000 it had to send back to the state for helping Taylor-Bibbs buy a brand-new home she wasn't eligible to receive.

While that has been a problem for Highland Park taxpayers for years, it only recently became a problem for Taylor-Bibbs.

That's because, armed with proof the treasurer was a deadbeat, Davis went to the Michigan Attorney General and then the Wayne County Circuit Court asking them to remove Taylor-Bibbs from office. The AG passed, which is a shame. But Wayne County Circuit Judge Charles Hegarty agreed with Davis that Highland Park's city charter quite reasonably says anyone who owes the city money is not eligible to serve as an elected official.

While Highland Park officials sleep, Sheriff Rob is on the job

In my 30 years as a reporter, I've found that when someone says "no comment" even before you've asked your first question, the odds are there will be no subsequent meaningful exchange of information.

My brief encounter with Taylor-Biggs on Thursday was no exception to that rule.

Highland Park Treasurer Janice Taylor-Biggs arrives at city hall on Thursday, the same day a Wayne County Circuit judge ruled she could no longer serve as treasurer because she owes the city more than $90,000.

I arrived at "her" home on Midland, a tidy street lined with a mix of older homes as well as new construction MSHDA built in 2012 as part of its neighborhood stabilization program, a few minutes before 9 a.m. I rang Taylor-Bibbs' doorbell and, as soon as I identified myself, heard my first "No comment" of the day.

As you can hear in a recording of the conversation we've posted at freep.com, I told the treasurer I was writing about Davis' lawsuit to remove her from office. She again declined comment. I persisted.

Me: "So, are you going to pay Highland Park back?"

Taylor-Bibbs: "No comment. Do you understand 'No comment?' "

Me: "Do you understand you owe Highland Park $90,000?"

Taylor-Bibbs: "No comment."

Me: "Are you going to pay it back?"

Taylor-Bibbs responded by closing the door.

She was more forthcoming on Sept. 29, 2023, when Davis questioned her during a deposition. A deposition, for those of you who have never had the pleasure, is a court-ordered session in which an attorney typically asks a person  sometimes a reluctant one  questions under oath. The interviewee can have a lawyer present, and that lawyer can object to the questions. But, generally, the subject has to answer.

Under questioning by Davis, Taylor-Bibbs harkened back to 2011 or 2012, when she said the housing program was advertised to city employees and an information session was held.

"They told me I qualified for the program," Taylor-Bibbs told Davis. She said she didn't learn that state officials ruled she was ineligible until "months later, after I moved in."

Taylor-Bibbs also said no Highland Park official ever asked her to move out. She acknowledged learning in 2016 or 2017 that the city had lost its bid to let her keep the house and said she knew Highland Park sent state officials the $90,619 the city received to build her home. She admitted that, as treasurer, she might have even signed the city's check. And she said she knew the city put a lien on her house, but copped to never challenging the lien or her debt to the city.

Janice Taylor-Biggs obtained this new home in 2012 through a neighborhood stabilization program the Michigan State Housing Development Authority created using federal funds. The authority ruled Taylor-Biggs was not eligible for the program because she was a city official.

An attorney representing Highland Park after Davis sued to have Taylor-Bibbs removed from office said Highland Park sued the company that marketed the neighborhood stabilization program to recoup the $90,000 the city had to send to the state for giving the treasurer a house. But the city was never able to get the money from the company.

Davis is outraged that Highland Park officials have made no effort, beyond putting a lien on Taylor-Bibbs house, to make the treasurer pay her debt.

"You have city officials essentially trying to cover this up," he said last week. "Its quite alarming when you have a struggling community and you have individuals possibly attempting to cover up a crime dealing with federal and state funds that are badly needed by some residents."

Davis wants Highland Park officials to get Taylor-Biggs to pay off her debt, leave the house and make it available to one of the city's many needy and more-deserving residents.

Highland Park Mayor Glenda McDonald, through her assistant, declined comment. And that's a shame, because Highland Park residents deserve to know not only what city officials plan to do to replace their treasurer, they deserve to know how city officials plan to recoup $90,000 in a town where needs far outstrip means. McDonald can hardly claim she was surprised by the treasurer's dilemma. She acknowledged when Davis deposed her last year that she was on city council in 2019 when councilmembers decided to give Taylor-Bibbs 30 days to pay up.

Highland Park's attorney also declined to comment on the case. Taylor-Bibb's attorney Mary Yancy did not return multiple messages left for her. Unless someone appeals the order Hegarty signed Thursday, the treasurer has until Feb. 22 to clear out of city hall.

The pathetic passivity of city officials who have shown no interest in holding one of their colleagues accountable for her debt leaves us with another troubling question: It took a judge to throw her out of office, but who's going to kick her out of the house she has effectively been squatting in since 2012?

M.L. Elrick is a Pulitzer Prize- and Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and host of the ML's Soul of Detroit podcast. Contact him at mlelrick@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter at @elrick, Facebook at ML Elrick and Instagram at ml_elrick.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Judge: Highland Park treasurer who owes city $90,000 must leave office
DEARBORN, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) - There will be a larger law enforcement presence at places of worship and major infrastructure points, the mayor of Dearborn, Michigan, said Saturday in response to what he called an "inflammatory" Wall Street Journal opinion piece which was published Friday.

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said in a social media post that the op-ed has "led to an alarming increase in bigoted and Islamophobic rhetoric online targeting the city."

The WSJ piece, which was headlined "Welcome to Dearborn, America's Jihad Capital," alleged thousands in the city support the Hamas militant group.

RELATED: Arab American leaders urge Michigan to vote "uncommitted" and send message to Biden about Israel policy

"In response to an Islamaphobic, Anti-Arab, and blatantly racist opinion piece published by the Wall Street Journal today, we have increased the presence of law enforcement throughout Dearborn," Hammoud said in a statement. "Dearborn Police continue to monitor social media for threats. This is more than irresponsible journalism. Publishing such inflammatory writing puts our residents at increased risk for harm."

Effective immediately - Dearborn police will ramp up its presence across all places of worship and major infrastructure points.



This is a direct result of the inflammatory @WSJ opinion piece that has led to an alarming increase in bigoted and Islamophobic rhetoric online  Abdullah H. Hammoud (@AHammoudMI) February 3, 2024

In a statement Saturday, the Michigan chapter of Council on America Islamic Relations said it "welcomed" the "stepped-up police patrols."



"We welcome the proactive approach taken by Mayor Hammoud to protect the Muslim community from potential attack based on the false claims in this inaccurate and inflammatory commentary," said Dawud Walid, CAIR Michigan's executive director.

CBS News has reached out to WSJ for comment on Hammoud's response to the op-ed.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer released a statement on X saying:

Dearborn is a vibrant community full of Michiganders who contribute day in and day out to our state. Islamophobia and all forms of hate have no place in Michigan, or anywhere. Period.  Gretchen Whitmer (@gretchenwhitmer) February 4, 2024

During a visit to Michigan Thursday to celebrate his endorsement from the United Auto Workers, President Biden was met with pushback over the U.S. support of Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza, which began when Hamas invaded southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,200 people. At least 26,000 people in Gaza have been killed in Israel's retaliatory assault, according to the territory's Hamas-led Gaza Health Ministry.

While Biden was meeting with UAW workers, about 150 pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested as outside as police with riot shields kept them away.

Biden's visit did not include any meetings with Arab Americans, according to the Associated Press.

Americans know that blaming a group of people based on the words of a small few is wrong.



Thats exactly what can lead to Islamophobia and anti-Arab hate, and it shouldnt happen to the residents of Dearborn  or any American town.



We must continue to condemn hate in all forms.  President Biden (@POTUS) February 4, 2024

This comes as some Michigan community leaders are encouraging voters to select "uncommitted" in the Michigan primary elections, hoping to send a message to Mr. Biden before November that they're unhappy with U.S. support for Israel in its war with Hamas.

Last month, Mr. Biden sent campaign manager Julie Chavez-Rodriguez to Michigan to meet with Arab American community leaders. They refused to meet with her.

"The lives of Palestinians are not measured in poll numbers," Hammoud wrote in a Jan. 26 social media post. "When elected officials view the atrocities in Gaza only as an electoral problem, they reduce our indescribable pain into a political calculation."

In another post, Hammoud stated that one Dearborn resident has so far lost 80 family members in Gaza.

 Sophia Barkoff contributed to this report.

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Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, center, sits with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawaradane, left, and the First Lady of Sri Lanka Maithree Wickremesinghe, during the 76th Independence Day commemoration ceremony of Sri Lanka in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP)  Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was the guest of honor at Sri Lankas 76th Independence Day celebrations on Sunday, as the island nation struggles to emerge from its worst economic crisis.

Srettha joined Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe at a low-key ceremony near the countrys main seaside esplanade that included a military parade and parachute jumps. The holiday commemorates Sri Lanka's independence from British rule in 1948.

Sri Lanka declared bankruptcy in April 2022 with more than $83 billion in debt, more than half of it to foreign creditors. The economic upheaval led to a political crisis that forced then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign in 2022. The parliament then elected Wickremesinghe as president.

Srettha arrived in Sri Lanka on Saturday and the two countries signed a free trade agreement aiming to boost trade and investment.

Wickremesinghe said on Saturday that Sri Lanka has made significant progress in economic stabilization and sought the help of Thailand in efforts to transform the battered economy and regain international confidence.

Sri Lanka suspended repayment of its debt in 2022 as it ran short of foreign currency needed to pay for imports of fuel and other essentials. Shortages led to street protests that changed the countrys leadership. The International Monetary Fund approved a four-year bailout program last March.

The economic situation has improved under Wickremesinghe, and severe shortages of food, fuel and medicine have largely abated. But public dissatisfaction has grown over the governments effort to increase revenue by raising electricity bills and imposing heavy new income taxes on professionals and businesses, as part of the governments efforts to meet the IMF conditions.

Sri Lanka is hoping to restructure $17 billion of its outstanding debt and has already reached agreements with some of its external creditors.
N.Y. (WETM)  New York State hunters, anglers, and trappers will be able to print their sporting licenses at home starting this summer.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that the paper used for state hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses and carcass tags will change from its current special stock synthetic paper to plain paper by Aug. 1 of this year. The change will let people who buy their licenses online print them at home instead of having to wait 14 business days to receive them by mail.

DEC encourages hunters to harvest antlerless deer

DECs transition to paper tags will provide the sporting community with a streamlined process to go afield, said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. This cost-effective shift to paper tags will reduce the states carbon footprint and ensure our sporting license program is at the forefront of emerging technologies. In recent years, supply chain issues have made it increasingly difficult and more expensive for fish and wildlife agencies to acquire synthetic paper and many have successfully made the switch to plain paper licenses.

People will still be able to buy licenses in person or over the phone. Those who purchase their sporting license in person will have the option to have the license printed at the point of sale or have the license emailed so it can be printed at home. Hunters and anglers can show their proof of licensure through the HuntFishNY mobile app instead of carrying a paper license, but backtags and carcass tags will still only be available on paper.

The license change will start with sales from Aug. 1 on. The change to plain paper is effective for the 2024 to 2025 license year and does not apply to the spring 2024 turkey season. Lifetime license holders can expect to receive their new licenses and tags on plain paper by Sept. 1.

The DEC said it will release more details about the new licenses before they go on sale. For more information about New York hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses, visit the DECs website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
A growing chorus of Democrats are warning that Israels fierce response to Hamass terrorist attacks is getting tougher to justify  and eroding support for Tel Aviv on Capitol Hill.

The lawmakers are quick to endorse Israels right to defend itself, particularly after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks killed more than 1,000 people and saw hundreds more taken hostage.

But Israels ensuing hunt for Hamas militants has led to more than 26,000 deaths in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to Gazan and U.N. officials.

And the spiraling casualty count  combined with growing allegations that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has done too little to minimize the civilian harm  is sparking new reproval in Washington of Israels military tactics while escalating calls for an immediate ceasefire, if only temporary, to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid.

A lot of people that I talk to have real concerns about whats going on in Israel and Gaza, and their conversations with me in recent times have been that we need to have some ceasefire, some assessment made that the killing has to stop, said Rep. Bennie Thompson (Miss.), senior Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee.

At some point, just because one group started it doesnt mean you move forward and annihilate a lot of innocent people who really had nothing to do with the thing, he continued. People feel that its a bit much, and that you cant try to hold on to power with that expanded killing thats going on  children, women, who had nothing to do with the situation.

The concerns are escalating just as Congress is poised to consider a package of national security proposals combining tougher migration policies on the U.S.-Mexico border with billions of dollars in military aid for Ukraine and Israel.

The fate of the legislation has already been thrown into doubt by staunch opposition from House conservatives to both the Ukraine funding and domestic border provisions. But the path gets even tougher if liberal Democrats start to balk over concerns that the Israel aid will be used for the indiscriminate killing of Palestinian civilians.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has led the charge in opposition to at least some of the Israel funds, accusing Washington of abetting the deaths of civilians in Gaza. Hes crafting an amendment to the national security package that would maintain the funding for Israels defense weapon systems, but cut $10.1 billion in funding for what his office characterizes as offensive weaponry  for Netanyahus right-wing government.

This is not some abstract horror show thats taking place in some far corners of the world. This is being done with U.S. military aid, Sanders said Wednesday on SiriusXMs The Dean Obeidallah Show.

America is complicit in this and it has got to stop.

Democrats have, for years, been frequent critics of the conservative Netanyahu, Israels longest-serving prime minister. But that scrutiny has intensified since his most recent victory in 2022, when he joined forces with several far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, forming the most hardline ruling coalition in Israeli history and forging a cabinet that includes nationalist firebrands with a long record of promoting anti-Arab sentiment.

At least two of those cabinet ministers joined a recent rally of Jewish settlers calling for the Jewish takeover over Gaza  a position Netanyahu has officially opposed.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.), a Jewish Democrat whos fought for both the return of the hostages and humanitarian aid for Gaza, said hes worried that the extremist views of those coalition ministers has already eroded American support for Israel  on and off of Capitol Hill.

A lot of the statements and actions of the right-wingers in Netanyahus war cabinet are dramatically undermining Netanyahus position in the U.S. and in Congress, Raskin said. They had a conference last week all about the removal of the Palestinians from Gaza, and then the resettlement of Gaza.

That becomes a very serious political problem here, if that is the rhetoric of people in Netanyahus cabinet.

The debate over U.S. policy in the Middle East has long divided Democrats, but those disputes have become only more pronounced since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, pitting Israels staunchest defenders against liberal lawmakers fiercely critical of Netenyahus retaliatory response in Gaza. Some have accused Israel of genocide.

Republicans are much more united on the issue. Most of them are staunchly supportive of Israels military operations in Gaza, which they maintain are necessary to root out the threat of Hamas once and for all. Some contend that the regional popularity of Hamas means that all Palestinians in Gaza are complicit in terrorism.

These are not innocent Palestinian civilians, Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) told peace activists in the Capitol last week.

The issue has become an enormous headache for President Biden as he seeks reelection this year, as Muslim voters, who flocked to Biden in the 2020 contest, are furious with the presidents refusal to call for a ceasefire. Many of those critics are vowing to withhold their support in November  a threat that could have outsized significance in several battleground states.

One of those states is Michigan, where Biden visited last week to shore up support with union workers and other friendly constituencies. But he was also confronted by protestors irate with his continued support for Israel, some of whom accused him of killing babies.

Biden has taken a number of steps to try to ease those tensions.

Hes dispatched top cabinet officials to the Middle East in an effort to build regional support for the release of hostages and a ceasefire agreement. Hes pushed Netanyahu to work towards the creation of a Palestinian state when the conflict in Gaza subsides  a move the Israeli leader has repeatedly rejected. And on Thursday, he issued an executive order slapping sanctions on Israeli settlers accused of violent attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank.

As part of that ongoing campaign, Secretary of State Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel this week to a handful of Middle Eastern countries, where hell be pressing for a two-month ceasefire and the release of all the remaining hostages.

That proposal has been stymied by Hamass counter-demands for the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners and the removal of all Israeli forces from Gaza during the ceasefire  conditions Netanyhau has rejected out of hand.

While the delicate talks continue, and the casualties pile up, Democrats are becoming more vocal in their contention that the civilian casualties are too many.

Everyone is pained by thousands of people dying, Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.), head of the New Democrat Coalition, told reporters last week. Nobody wants that to continue.

Mychael Schnell contributed reporting.





For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The recent run of record-breaking warm temperatures here in Minnesota has spurred numerous casual conversations about climate change, including frequent half-serious exhortations of welcome to the new normal! While our short-term weather is not the same as the long-term climate, the past few years have certainly given us a hint of what the future may bring: warmer winters, wetter summers, more energetic storms, and more frequent record-breaking weather events of all kinds. While Minnesota has not yet turned into Kansas  and likely wont for many decades  wed be wise to consider how investing in climate resilience now will help us all be better prepared for the sorts of disruptions to historic weather patterns we can expect in the future.

Climate scientists are highly confident in two basic weather trends for Minnesota, projecting a future that is warmer  especially in winter  and wetter  especially in summer  than the past century. Average temperatures in our state have increased 3 degrees Fahrenheit since 1895, with most of the increase concentrated in the winter months. Spring precipitation is expected to increase 15-20% by midcentury. Indeed, all of the top 10 warmest and wettest weather years on record have occurred since 1998.

Derek Larson

For nearly a decade now the US EPA has warned that Minnesota should expect the impacts of climate change to include increased flooding, reduced winter snow and ice, poor air quality in summers due to increased ozone and wildfire smoke, and a mixed bag of impacts on agriculture  both a longer growing season and more frequent droughts.

So how do we prepare for change?

Climate resilience means different things in different settings. For the household, it may simply mean preparing for more severe weather events  especially heavy summer rains  and for the consequences of warmer winters. At the community level, it might mean retrofitting infrastructure like bridges and roads to handle greater extremes in precipitation and the implications of repeated winter thaws. State-level planning will need to address economic impacts, such as changes in agricultural yields, environmental impacts ranging from habitat loss to new invasive species, and direct impacts on our communities from events like floods, wildfires, and droughts. All of these may currently be managed on an ad hoc basis, responding as crises arise, but investing in resilience can help us minimize the risks, costs, and disruptions anticipated over the long term as the climate warms.

The state of Minnesota has defined climate resilience as the ability of communities and ecosystems to cope with the effects of climate change. Some measure of resilience is inherent, already built into the social, economic, and physical systems upon which our communities were built. But the design assumptions underlying those systems were based on the past climate: roads and bridges were designed for expected rainfall levels, businesses were based on reasonable assumptions about seasonal weather patterns, and homes were built in places that were understood to be safe from floods, fires, and storms.

Now things are changing. Climate scientists tell us we are well past the point of avoiding climate change, and probably past the point of being able to mitigate many of its impacts either. As a new normal develops over the coming years we will have to adapt  and doing that successfully means investing in resilience before it is too late. As the governors office explains, that means preparing Minnesota communities, businesses, physical infrastructure, and the natural environment to mitigate, respond to, and recover from the impacts of climate change.

Becoming climate resilient will require collaboration at every level and a willingness to accept that the future will not look exactly like the past. We will need to invest in infrastructure, ecosystems, and people in ways we have not previously considered. We will need to adjust our expectations, plan for disruptions, and accept that the climate our grandparents remember will ultimately become just that: a memory of the way things used to be.

When Dorothy exclaimed Were not in Kansas anymore she was reacting to a sudden, shocking change. Climate change is differentit will arrive more slowly, in fits and starts. But unlike Oz, is it real. Fortunately, reality is something we can prepare for.

 This is the opinion of Times Writers Group member Derek Larson. He teaches history and environmental studies at The College of St. Benedict and St. Johns University. His column is published the first Sunday of the month. He welcomes your comments at twg@anderson-larson.net.

This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Derek Larson: How do we prepare for climate change?
Special Prosecutor Tim Merkle holds a photo of Casey Goodson Jr. that was admitted into evidence in the trial of former Franklin County Sheriff's deputy Michael Jason Meade, who is charged with murder and reckless homicide in connection with Goodson's death in December 2020.

New details about the case of a former Franklin County Sheriff's office deputy charged with murder and reckless homicide in the December 2020 fatal shooting of a Black man came to light during the first week of his trial in Columbus.

Michael Jason Meade, 45, is charged with murder and reckless homicide in connection with the Dec. 4, 2020, shooting death of 23-year-old Casey Goodson Jr. outside his grandmother's home in the 3900 block of Estates Place on the city's Northeast Side.

Meade was a member of a U.S. Marshals task force on the day of the shooting. His attorneys have said he saw Goodson waving a gun inside a vehicle, tried to stop Goodson and ultimately ended up shooting him.

Meade shot Goodson six times. Five of those shots hit him in the back.

Here's a look at what new information was revealed this week through testimony and arguments in the case.

Where was Casey Goodson Jr.'s gun found?

For the first time publicly, officials confirmed that Goodson was carrying a handgun at the time he was shot. In opening statements, special prosecutor Gary Shroyer said Goodson had a holster, with no strap to keep the gun inside of it, in the waistband of his pants.

Police found the gun on the floor with the safety engaged. Meade's attorney, Kaitlyn Stephens, said in her opening statement the firearm was within arm's reach of Goodson, who had a concealed carry permit.

Follow the trial live: Jason Meade trial: More witnesses testify Friday in deputy's killing of Casey Goodson Jr.

The gun, according to evidence photos shown to the jury, had an extended magazine in it, capable of holding up to 30 rounds of ammunition.

What prompted Jason Meade to confront Casey Goodson Jr.?

Stephens said in her opening statement that after an unsuccessful  and unrelated  search for a fugitive near Estates Place, Meade and other members of the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team had taken off their gear and started to leave the area.

While Meade was stopped at the traffic light at Karl and Ferris roads, Stephens said Meade saw a man in a vehicle holding a handgun with an extended magazine and pointing it at the windshield of their car. The car turned onto Ferris Road, and Meade followed the vehicle.

Related coverage: Who is the lawyer for Columbus-area cops in trouble? Collins has been go-to for decades

Stephens said Meade, who was in an unmarked police vehicle equipped with emergency lights, activated the lights and tried to pull Goodson over. However, Goodson parked facing the wrong way on the street, got out of the car, saw Meade and ran toward the side door of a home, Stephens said.

What did Casey Goodson's family see?

Goodson's grandmother, Sharon Payne, and sister, Janae Jones, were some of Goodson's relatives who were in the home when the shooting took place  shortly after noon Dec. 4, 2020.

Payne testified she heard a loud commotion, which she later discovered were gunshots, and a sound like a chandelier crashing. She ran out of a back bedroom to see Goodson lying facedown on the kitchen floor.

More: Family of Casey Goodson releases new evidence as murder trial of Jason Meade continued

Jones, who was 18 at the time, said she did not see the shooting and also heard loud noises, ran out of a back room and saw Goodson on the floor.

Goodson's family members who were in the home had not previously spoken publicly about what they saw and heard on the day of the shooting.

Did Casey Goodson know police were in the area?

Sharon Payne testified in the trial that her daughter, Tamala Payne, who is Goodson's mother, dropped off several of the elder Payne's grandchildren at her home several hours before the shooting. Tamala Payne told her mother, according to Sharon Payne's testimony, that police were in the area.

Sharon Payne testified that her daughter was planning to warn Goodson about police presence in the area. She did not elaborate in her testimony as to why Tamala Payne may have wanted to warn her son.

bbruner@dispatch.com

@bethany_bruner

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Here's what we learned in first week of Jason Meade's murder trial
Diia, Ukraines state mobile application for government services, is up and running again after crashing overnight, Kyiv Independent reporters noted on Feb. 4.



The app crashed at 8.40 p.m. on Feb. 3, after a record 15,000 people per second used Diia to vote for Ukraine's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, according to Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov.



Compared to last year, we have increased our capacity by five times and received 20 times more requests, Fedorov wrote on his Telegram channel, apologizing for the technical issues.



Olesia Lisovska, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Digital Transformation, told Ukrainian media outlet Hromadske that the crash was not due to a cyberattack.



The Diia team worked to restore the system which went back to normal at 9.30 a.m. on Feb. 4. Fedorov said that a detailed analysis is underway to prepare the app for similar traffic waves in the future.



Dubbed "the state in a smartphone," Diia was launched by the Digital Transformation Ministry in 2020.



Ukrainians can access digitized versions of various official documents, including their passport, driver's license, vehicle registration, or tax ID. It is also possible to do things like register a business or the birth of one's child on the app.



Last year, President Zelensky announced that Ukraine was helping other countries in Europe, Latin America, and Africa to develop the equivalent of Diia.

Read also: German drone manufacturer joins Diia City to produce drones in Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Will the grassroots effort to save Split Oak Forest imperil neighboring preserves of spectacular nature?

In all of the years of raging controversy over a road proposed to cross a corner of Split Oak Forest in Orange and Osceola counties east of Orlando International Airport, that question has barely been scrutinized in public.

Road backers are offering to donate a parcel of 1,550 acres to buffer and protect Split Oak and adjoining conservation lands  if the road is allowed to cross the forest. They say they will put intense commercial development on that parcel next to those conservation lands if the road is rejected.

Left undeveloped, that 1,550-acre parcel also could help create corridors for panthers, red-cockaded woodpeckers, indigo snakes and other wildlife, spanning from Split Oak, to nearby Moss Park and Isle of Pine Preserve, to other, bigger conservation lands.

While the roads opponents have rallied public and political support to defend Split Oak, the future of Orange Countys adjoining treasures hangs in the balance, all but unnoticed.

Those definitely dont catch as much attention as a proposed road, said Suzanne Arnold of the Lake Mary Jane Alliance of rural residents near Split Oak Forest. But, she said, Obviously these lands need to be protected from intense development.

Across Florida, the advancing front of development has been devastating for habitats: blocking wildlife migration, causing roadkill, unleashing predatory domestic cats and dogs, upsetting natural drainage patterns, introducing hazardous landscaping chemicals and preventing critical use of controlled fires for forest health.

The 1,550-acre donation parcel is a developers admission of the environmental toll taken when residential and commercial construction arrives at the edge of natural lands.

A lawsuit filed by Osceola County government in 2020 makes much the same point as it challenges an Orange County referendum that year to keep the road out of Split Oak Forest.

Osceola, wanting the road, this past week in a legal filing said Orange voters were duped by being told nothing about the 1,550-acre donation offer and did not know their vote to save Split Oak Forest was anti-conservation.

As the four-year-old lawsuit advances, Orange County commissioners, who oppose the expressway, have scheduled a study session for Tuesday on the Split Oak controversy. Meanwhile, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Split Oaks custodian, is negotiating behind closed doors with the expressways proponents and revealing little about the timing of a public meeting for a final vote.

The proposed road, the tolled, State Road 534 expressway, would lead from one of the regions busiest highways, State Road 417, at Orlandos airport.

It would go east along the Orange and Osceola counties border and dip down to cross the southwest corner and south end of Split Oak Forest within Osceola County.

That route would take 60 acres of the 1,689-acre Split Oak Forest for roadway and isolate another 101 acres from the rest of the forest, impairing its natural functions.

The Orlando Sentinel has visited those 161 acres many times. Their loss to the expressway would be painful: The scrubby flatwoods there are among the best of that ecosystem type in Florida, according to a state advisory group.

But, as any visitor to the southern reach of Split Oak likely would notice, an assault on those woods already is accelerating, with construction of adjoining or nearby subdivisions underway. At the southwest corner, backyard decks and lawns push up to the forests fence.

The partnership of road backers is a juggernaut: the regions toll road agency, the Central Florida Expressway Authority; Osceola County government; Tavistock Development Co., the maker of Medical City and Lake Nona community; and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose 300,000 undeveloped acres east and south of Orlandos airport are popularly identified as owned by a subsidiary, Deseret Ranches.

The road, the partnership asserts, would solve future congestion, most of which would be of their own making with the massive development they have planned for Osceola County. But the stage is set and approved for that development, and the expressway authority, county, Tavistock and Deseret say whats important is to pursue growth in an environmentally sensitive manner, as they are proposing.

We view this as a signature project that will be used to guide the development of future transportation corridors, said Tawny Olore, deputy Osceola manager, speaking to state wildlife authorities in December.

The 1,550-acre donation would wrap around Split Oak and adjoining conservation parcels in the shape of a reverse letter L.

That acreage has a mosaic of terrains, including Roberts Island Slough, an extensive strand of wetlands that appears darkly forbidding and nearly impenetrable, but is a stronghold of ecological health.

Also within the 1,550 acres is increasingly rare Florida scrub  a desert-like habitat prized for endangered plants and wildlife. Some of the land is abandoned orange groves.

To pay for restoring natural habitat there, the expressway authority has agreed to provide an estimated $13 million, with the final amount set by actual costs.

That commitment is unusual. Big parcels bought by the state are typically handed over to an environmental agency, which then scrounges for restoration money for many years.

When has anyone ever stood in front of an agency and said theres funding to maintain and operate an environmental area? asked Brandon Arrington, an Osceola commissioner and chairman of the expressway authority, at the December state hearing.

Audubon Florida has supported accepting the 1,550 acres as the least bad option in an area exploding with growth, making road options increasingly torturous. The groups executive director, Julie Wraithmell, has pushed authorities for maximum restoration funding.

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission should, Wraithmell said in a letter, bargain nimbly and powerfully if more than $13 million is needed for restoration of the 1,550 acres.

The border between Orange and Osceola is also a political fault line. Pressure for the road and development is building on one side of that line. A legacy of conservation is on the other side.

In 2010, Osceola leaders approved a Tavistock and Deseret development venture called the Northeast District, which is three times as large as the city of Winter Park.

The 19,000-acre Northeast District project, promising 40,000 high-quality jobs and homes for 46,000 residents, adjoins Split Oak, Moss Park and Isle of Pine Preserve.

In 2015, Osceola leaders approved what Seminole and Orange counties continue to resist  a flood of urban and suburban development in its eastern expanse of rural lands.

Osceola joined Deseret as a partner in a residential and commercial development called North Ranch. It is staggeringly large at 130,000 acres, which is nearly twice the size of Orlando.

The transportation link between the Northeast District and North Ranch and metro Orlando is the proposed road across Split Oak Forest.

In contrast to Osceola, Orange long ago designated the landscape around Split Oak as critical for conservation, and has spent significant sums of local tax dollars toward that goal.

The purchase of Split Oak was 30 years ago, with Orange paying $2.3 million, Osceola $2.7 million and the state $3.6 million.

But nearly a half-century ago, Orange purchased 1,500 acres next to Split Oak for $556,000. Today, that property is the countys largest park: Moss Park.

A vast portion of it, conjuring a time when Florida was pristine and unexplored, is an island of forest surrounded by wetlands inaccessible to anyone but park staff.

Next to Moss Park is Isle of Pines Preserve, a 464-acre parcel once slated for homes but purchased for $7.6 million in 2007.

The preserve today offers iconic scenery of Florida flatwoods, where native ground cover of shrubs and grasses is low-lying and the royalty of pines  longleaf pines, which have cones as big as pineapples  display signature, treetop bursts of canopy.

To the west of Split Oak is Eagles Roost, a 232-acre conservation parcel purchased about 20 years ago for $8.5 million. North of Moss Park is Crosby Island Marsh Preserve, a 272-acre conservation property bought in 2004 for $2.2 million and now a mosaic of wetlands and forest.

In all, Split Oak Forest and the cluster of adjoining conservation lands cover nearly 3,000 acres. Thats a modest expanse compared to many conservation areas, like Oranges 9,500-acre Hal Scott Preserve 5 miles to the north.

But the Split Oak Forest cluster could be part of something bigger, said Arnold of the Lake Mary Jane Alliance.

We have always argued for a wildlife corridor, said Arnold, estimating doing so for 20 years. We have hit on that over and over again in every presentation we have done.

Natural corridors for wildlife  which help ensure genetic diversity, a wider distribution of species and migration according to weather and climate changes  increasingly are a prime environmental objective in Florida.

Even the massive North Ranch development project has mapped out wildlife corridors. One of them leads to the 5,000-acre TM Econ mitigation parcel in Orange County. It is where hundreds of development projects that have harmed natural lands elsewhere in the county have paid fees for environmental restoration.

By many accounts, the TM Econ parcel, which Orange County owns a portion of, has been a success, although its main owner would not permit a Sentinel visit.

The TM Econ parcel is a little more than a mile east of the 1,550-acre donation parcel. The land between belongs to Deseret. The Sentinel asked Deseret if it would dedicate a wildlife corridor there.

While Deseret Ranch doesnt have protected corridors on its land, it has a long history of cooperating with state agencies in conducting wildlife surveys, collecting data, and implementing best practices to encourage habitat protection, spokesperson Jon Peck said.

Orange Commissioner Emily Bonilla, who has been especially vocal about keeping the road out of the forest, said she isnt swayed by the road backers offer of 1,550 acres.

We shouldnt have to trade, Bonilla said, adding that if the roads proponents cared about the environment, they would turn over conservation property without strings or charges. They are more than free to donate some of that land to us.

Responding to the Sentinel, when asked if commercial development will occur next to Split Oak, Moss Park and Isle of Pine Preserve if the road is rejected, Tavistock spokesperson Jessi Blakley emailed a brief reply.

Yes, Blakley said.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Ok (KFOR)  Theres been a shortage of blood in the state and with the recent winter weather affecting roads, appointments to donate were canceled. The shortage could soon heavily impact hospitals.

Today, dog owners from around the metro donated blood at Bar K while their furry friends let out some energy.

Arctic blast leaves Oklahoma with critical blood shortage

Our Blood Institute set up a mobile bus outside Bar K to help lower the blood shortage in the state.

It really helps if we can go to where people are. So coming here makes it fun and different for our donors to donate said Melissa Santoro, the Our Blood institute Recruitment Manager.

Santoro said the cold weather has played a major part on the blood supply in the state.

It really has a negative impact on the blood supply.blood drive cancellations, school cancellations, it really takes us some time to rebuild out of that hole, said Santoro.

Our Blood Institute said they need 1,200 units of blood per day to support local hospitals.

Each person will provide one unit of blood. So we need 1,200 blood donors every day across our network, said Santoro.

Seas the Day Mobile Library makes a splash in OKC

That may seem like a lot, but Melissa also said one persons blood donation helps three patients.

Im actually one of the what types that can be donated to anybody. So I tend to come in regularly as much as I can to do that, said Alix Scott who was donating blood.

For people like Alix, donating blood is important to helping others in the state.

I am actually a nurse, so I get to see firsthand, like, how it works and, like, why people need it and how limited it is, said Scott.

If you missed the donation event at Bar K, but still want to set up a time to donate blood to local patients, go to Our Blood Institutes website to find where the next mobile bus will be set up.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
The clue, as Sherlock Holmes taught us, is the dog that didnt bark in the night. This week was the fourth anniversary of getting Brexit done when the UK finally left the EU. Yet from the Government came not a bark, scarcely a growl  except from the Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch, who published an excellent 24-page summary of the fruits of Brexit. The rest of the government machine was mysteriously silent.

The consequence of that silence is that the narrative about Brexit is being written by its opponents.

Holmes deduced that the dog didnt bark because the thief was so familiar that it failed to challenge him. Many in the Government have failed to challenge the familiar narrative that membership of the EU single market was so beneficial to our trade that its loss cannot be offset by trade elsewhere or the ability to make our own laws less burdensome.

I must plead guilty to having helped establish this myth. As trade and industry secretary responsible for implementing the single market programme in the early 1990s I made bullish speeches about how it would boost our exports.

At the same time I helped negotiate the Uruguay Round  which halved tariffs worldwide and set up the World Trade Organisation  and made slightly less bullish speeches about that.

Over the ensuing quarter of a century our goods exports to the EU stagnated  growing less than 1 per cent a year. By contrast, our goods exports to the 100 or so countries with whom we had no trade deal grew by nearly 90 per cent.

Given how little membership of the single market benefitted our exports, it should be no surprise that leaving it has not perceptibly impacted our trade. Since we left, UK goods exports to the EU have actually done slightly better than our exports to the rest of the world.

What lessons can we draw?

We should not exaggerate the importance of trade deals. What really drives trade is businesses producing goods and services others want, alongside a competitive exchange rate. Yet business lobbies agonise about customs checks adding 1 per cent to their costs but endured without a murmur an exchange rate the IMF said was 10 per cent overvalued.

The second lesson is that the most valuable trade deals for the UK are those with fast-growing markets, which reduce previously high barriers, and which cover services. So Kemi and the Prime Minister are right to hail the Pacific trade pact of which we will be the only non-Pacific member and the potential Indian trade deal. Services, which are particularly important for the UK  accounting for half the value added of our exports  rarely featured in trade deals negotiated by the EU.

So now our priority must be to upgrade our deals to incorporate more opportunities for service companies.

The third lesson is that the greatest Brexit dividend is the ability to make our own laws. We can streamline regulations to reduce compliance costs and promote competition.

For example, simplifying the Working Time Directive wont bring back the 60-hour week, but it will simplify annual leave and holiday pay calculations and recordkeeping. 1 billion of administrative savings are planned across business.

In the 1980s we saw that the cumulative effect of individually modest deregulatory measures is huge  moving Britain from being the slowest-growing major economy in the EU to the fastest. At last we can apply deregulation to inherited EU law.

Although these measures cannot yet have had much impact, the UK economy has been doing better, or less badly, than its competitors, So the Brexit effect  pace the BBC  cannot be negative. The IMF even forecasts Britain will grow faster between now and 2028 than Germany, France, Italy and Japan. Its time to bark back at those trying to steal the Brexit narrative.

Lord Lilley served as secretary of state for trade and industry

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Donald Trump was disqualified from appearing on the ballot in Colorado and Maine for engaging in insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.

Donald Trump was disqualified from appearing on the ballot in Colorado and Maine for engaging in insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.

Nearly a decade ago, Mark Graber, a constitutional law professor at the University of Maryland, started researching a new book. He wanted to examine how the lawmakers who crafted the 14th Amendment in the aftermath of the Civil War actually thought at the time about the new constitutional provision that provided equal citizenship rights to all citizens, no matter their race.

Graber wouldnt focus on the amendments heavily cited Section 1, with its equal protection, due process and birthright citizenship clauses. Instead, he intended to dig into the more obscure sections, covering reapportionment of congressional representatives, the validity of the public debt and the disqualification from office for insurrection and rebellion, and explore the legal thinking of the era.

University of Maryland Regents Professor Mark A. Graber was one of two constitutional law experts examining the history of Section 3 of the 14th amendment prior to Jan. 6, 2021.

University of Maryland Regents Professor Mark A. Graber was one of two constitutional law experts examining the history of Section 3 of the 14th amendment prior to Jan. 6, 2021.

My purpose was not to affect any constitutional law, but to show that the constitutional universe of the Republicans who wrote the 14th Amendment was so different from ours, Graber said.

The disqualification provision in the 14th Amendment  Section 3  was particularly obscure when Graber began. Indeed, he labeled it the most forgotten section of the 14th Amendment in a draft chapter of his book, which he finished at the end of 2020 and published this past summer. It had only been employed once since the Reconstruction era that ended in the late 19th century (to, questionably, unseat a socialist congressman who advocated draft dodging during World War I). Not only had it gone into total disuse in the courts, no one in academia had even bothered to study it outside of a brief mention as an artifact of a bygone era. Who could it possibly apply to? No one who had taken an oath of office to support the Constitution would engage in an insurrection, whatever that meant, in this day and age? Right?

Trump supporters stand on the U.S. Capitol Police armored vehicle as others take over the steps of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Trump supporters stand on the U.S. Capitol Police armored vehicle as others take over the steps of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

That changed on Jan. 6, 2021, when then-President Donald Trumps effort to overturn his 2020 election loss culminated in an attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters after he had told them to march on the building and fight like hell.

Almost immediately, I got a couple of phone calls, Graber said. The callers, reporters, said, Youre the only person doing research on this. Does this [insurrection] matter? And I began to realize that it did.

Three years later, it still does. Colorado and Maine have made the monumental decision to declare Trump, who is running for president again, ineligible from appearing on their ballots under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment for participating in an insurrection on Jan. 6.

These controversial decisions mark the first use of Section 3 to disqualify a candidate since World War I, and the first appearance in the courts of a Section 3 question since Reconstruction. It is also the first time any presidential candidate  not to mention the presumptive Republican Party nominee  has been disqualified for participating in an insurrection.

Those disqualifications are now before the Supreme Court, which on Feb. 8 will hear arguments that could either put Trump back on the ballot or allow states to remove him under Section 3. The stage is set for a possibly earth-shaking constitutional decision that could turn our already simmering politics up to a frothing boil.

This is how we got here.

Then-President Donald Trump speaks to supporters from The Ellipse near the White House just prior to the insurrection on January 6, 2021.

Then-President Donald Trump speaks to supporters from The Ellipse near the White House just prior to the insurrection on January 6, 2021.

Step 1: Setting Precedent

The obvious reason, of course, why Trump finds himself facing challenges to his eligibility as a candidate under Section 3 is that he helped incite an insurrection on Jan. 6 and avoided any official sanction for it. After being impeached in the House for incitement of insurrection, the Senate acquitted Trump by a vote of 57-43. Had the Senate convicted Trump, he would have been constitutionally barred from future officeholding. Trump has denied doing anything wrong on Jan. 6.

But it wasnt clear whether Congress would take further action. Following his acquittal, Democrats in Congress discussed the possibility of passing legislation creating a method to disqualify candidates like Trump under Section 3, but this effort fizzled quickly. Thats when a couple of liberal legal groups stepped in to take action.

Right after the Jan. 6 insurrection we began to look at Section 3 of the 14th Amendment with respect to the need to enforce it against Donald Trump were he to run for office again, said John Bonifaz, president of Free Speech for People, a progressive legal nonprofit and one of the groups that has led the charge to remove Trump from ballots.

The group, perhaps best known for its previouswork trying to overturn the Supreme Courts 2010 decision in Citizens United v. FEC, started in June 2021 with letters to the secretaries of state of all 50 states and the District of Columbia urging them to exercise your authority and obligation to exclude Mr. Trump from the ballot, if he chooses to run again. None of the secretaries of state took Free Speech for People up on its request.

The next move was to the courts.In early 2022,Trump hadnt yet announced that he was running for president again, so the group filed Section 3 disqualification lawsuits against a number of Republican lawmakers who participated in some way in Trumps efforts around the Jan. 6 insurrection.

The Section 3 challenge to Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) brought in 2022 did not result in his disqualification, but set important precedents.

The Section 3 challenge to Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) brought in 2022 did not result in his disqualification, but set important precedents.

They targeted then-Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.), who spoke at Trumps rally that precipitated the insurrection, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who encouraged the protest as our 1776 moment and sat in on planning meetings, and Arizona Republican Reps. Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar and Arizona state Rep. Mark Finchem, who also participated in planning meetings with groups that participated in the insurrection.

These lawsuits, brought by individual citizens in their respective states, were the first legal challenges under Section 3 in over 120 years. Beyond simple questions of guilt, there were a lot of novel questions for courts and other judicial bodies to answer, ones that could prove consequential if and when Trump made his campaign announcement: What would the courts say about particular arguments used to dismiss Section 3 disqualification lawsuits? Was Jan. 6 actually an insurrection under Section 3? Could citizens even bring cause of action suits challenging candidates under Section 3? Even without going after Trump himself, the cases brought by Free Speech for People against his allies would end up providing some answers for this moribund area of law.

In North Carolina, Cawthorn filed a countersuit in federal court seeking to get the case against him tossed byarguing that Section 3 was meant to only disqualify ex-Confederates following the Civil War and should not be applied to future insurrections or rebellions. After an initial win for Cawthorn, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ultimately found against him, ruling that Section 3 continues to apply to those engaged in modern insurrection or rebellion.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) also faced a Section 3 disqualification case in 2022.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) also faced a Section 3 disqualification case in 2022.

Similarly, Greene sued in federal court to get the case against her dismissed. A district court judge rejected many of her arguments, ruling that states can adjudicate Section 3 disqualifications, her constitutional rights were not violated, a criminal conviction is not necessary for disqualification, speech acts can constitute participation in an insurrection, and that the Amnesty Act of 1872 that removed Section 3 disqualification from most ex-Confederates did not apply to participants in the events of Jan. 6.

These cases may not have resulted in disqualification for Cawthorn or Greene, but they did eliminate some arguments from the toolbox of those facing such challenges. For example, no one has tried to argue that Section 3 only applied to ex-Confederates since Cawthorns case. And Greenes decision clarified that citizens can bring suits to disqualify candidates under Section 3, and the ruling played a role in other subsequent Section 3 cases, including Trumps disqualification in Colorado, by stating that a criminal conviction is not necessary for disqualification.

Were proud to have catalyzed this work, Bonifaz said. We see those cases as providing building blocks for this fight now.

Trump supporters climb and surround the Capitol in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021.

Trump supporters climb and surround the Capitol in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021.

Step 2: The First Disqualification

As Free Speech for People challenged the eligibility of congressmen and state representatives for participating in some way in Jan. 6, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a liberal legal group, brought a lawsuit against someone who had already been prosecuted for breaking the law during the insurrection, who they could argue was thus ineligible for election.

At first, the group wasnt particularly focused on Trump, as he wasnt running for election at the time, and instead looked at actors who seemed to clearly fit Section 3s requirement of an official who had sworn an oath to support the Constitution and had then engaged in insurrection.

We started thinking about where it makes sense to bring a case like this, who are the officials that we think most meet this standard and where are the places that provide state-level causes of action under Section 3, said Donald Sherman, chief counsel for CREW.

Couy Griffin, the leader of Cowboys for Trump and a county commissioner in Otero County, New Mexico, fit the bill. The state allowed citizens to bring suits to challenge ballot access and Griffin was, at the time, the most well-known officeholder who had been charged and convicted for crimes committed on Jan. 6.

Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin of New Mexico was sentenced to 14 days behind bars for his actions on Jan. 6. He later became the first person disqualified from office under Section 3 in over 100 years.

Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin of New Mexico was sentenced to 14 days behind bars for his actions on Jan. 6. He later became the first person disqualified from office under Section 3 in over 100 years.

Griffin, who had been active in agitating around the country for the election result to be overturned as part of the Stop the Steal campaign, had been found guilty in a D.C. court in 2022 of trespassing at the Capitol on Jan. 6 after joining the mob that breached barriers erected by the Capitol Police. Following his participation in the Jan. 6 insurrection, Griffin warned of an even bigger protest for President Joe Bidens inauguration that would leave blood running out of that building. CREW sued in New Mexico state court in March 2022 to have Griffin disqualified and removed from office under Section 3 just before his guilty conviction.

In September 2022, a New Mexico state judge ruled that Griffin was indeed disqualified from holding office under Section 3 and ordered him removed from office. In his decision, the judge clarified how Section 3 should be applied to Jan. 6 by stating that the attack on the Capitol was, in fact, an insurrection under Section 3 and that Griffin participated in it both through his acts at the Capitol and by promoting, planning and inciting it in the months leading up.

The judge got it right, Graber, who served as an expert witness in the Griffin case, said. The judge correctly understood that an insurrection is not necessarily overthrowing the entire government. It doesnt have to be the Civil War.

Step 3: The Research

Along with the precedent-setting decisions, the lead-in to Trumps disqualification in Colorado and Maine has featured something rare for legal academics: fast-paced and extremely consequential research.

Since Section 3 was so little studied, Graber was doing his research on the definition of insurrection even asthe aftermath ofJan. 6 continued to play out.

Between the Greene trial and the Griffin trial, I did the research on insurrection that I think has strengthened the case, Graber said.

Particularly important was Grabers testimony in Griffins case, based on his research on what the drafters of the 14th Amendment thought insurrection to mean. The judges ruling ended up using Grabers four-part definition of insurrection: an assemblage of people; resisting a federal law; with the intent of coercing a legislature by force, violence, or intimidation; for a public purpose.

Prior to Jan. 6, Graber, along with Indiana Universitys Gerard Magliocca, were the only two legal academics researching Section 3.

I got into this in 2020 because it was a provision of the Constitution that nobody had written about before, Magliocca said.

When people began describing what took place on Jan. 6 as an insurrection, he knew immediately that Section 3 would soon go from something no one studied to the center of the political universe.

Gerard Magliocca, professor at Indiana University's Robert H. McKinney school of law, testifies during a hearing for a lawsuit to keep former President Donald Trump off the state ballot in court on Nov. 1, 2023, in Denver.

Gerard Magliocca, professor at Indiana University's Robert H. McKinney school of law, testifies during a hearing for a lawsuit to keep former President Donald Trump off the state ballot in court on Nov. 1, 2023, in Denver.

Like Graber, Maglioccas work examined the history and meaning behind Section 3 at the time of its enactment. This helped the courts following Jan. 6 as they tried to define an insurrection, by showing that Section 3 does not require authorizing legislation from Congress, exposing the contradictions and intent behind two important 19th century Section 3 cases and whether the president is an officer of the United States.

Maglioccas pre-Jan.6 research, along with Grabers, provided the foundation upon which all of the legal arguments and post-Jan. 6 research would rest. And its timing was untainted by any charge of bias against Trump or his actions following the 2020 election.

There are things that I looked at or reached conclusions about before Jan. 6, so that gives me more confidence that theyre right, Magliocca said. Theyre not influenced by what it means for this case or for Trump.

Magliocca provided his expertise to Free Speech for People as the group pursued Section 3 challenges to GOP lawmakers in 2022, including testifying in Greenes case. He would go on to help out with CREWs challenge to Trumps eligibility in Colorado.

Because after Trump became a 2024 presidential candidate, which he announced in November 2022, his constitutional qualification as a candidate under Section 3 could be challenged.

Its not like we were pining to bring litigation against Trump, Sherman said. Running for office created a mechanism for holding him accountable. But also Trump incited the insurrection. If you dont bring a Section 3 case against him, its hard to justify bringing a case against someone else.

Free Speech for People and CREW examined which states provided citizens with a cause of action, like in the New Mexico case against Griffin, that could be used to challenge Trump under Section 3 in state courts or other election bodies. Ahead of potential legal action, Free Speech for People targeted letters to 18 secretaries of state, urging them, again, to rule Trump disqualified.

Its not like we were pining to bring litigation against Trump.Donald Sherman, senior vice president and chief counsel for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

These efforts still rumbled under the surface until August 2023, when two conservative law professors  University of Chicagos William Baude and University of St. Thomas Michael Stokes Paulsen  published a 126-page study on Section 3 and Trumps potential disqualification.

The Baude and Paulsen study took a strict originalist approach and, building on the work of Graber and Magliocca, found, among other things, that Jan. 6 was an insurrection as originally understood by the 14th amendment drafters, that Trump participated in it, and that Trump was an officer of the United States who swore an oath to defend the Constitution and, therefore, should be disqualified from holding future office.

Their paper received attention acrossthepress, social media and the blogs of constitutional lawyers, liberal and conservative. It sparked response papers from other conservatives who disagreed with their findings.

Theres no question that the Baude and Paulsen piece was a monumental article to come out as we were preparing to file our first challenge in Minnesota, Bonifaz said.

One reason is simply who they are: conservatives with impeccable resumes in the conservative legal world, including membership with the influential Federalist Society.

Two scholars who are Federalist Society members laying out, from an originalist perspective, why the president is disqualified, Sherman said. Its hard to overstate the impact of that in the public.

Former President Donald Trump is displayed on a screen during a hearing by the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol on June 9, 2022, in Washington, D.C.

Former President Donald Trump is displayed on a screen during a hearing by the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol on June 9, 2022, in Washington, D.C.

Step Four: Trumps Disqualification

Krista Kafer, a conservative columnist for The Denver Post in Colorado, describes herself as a conflicted voter. She identified as a Never Trumper in 2016, but ultimately voted for Trump in 2020 to support his taxpolicies and judicial appointments in spite of his repulsive, as she said, demeanor.

But even that conflicted support ended the next day when Trump falsely declared he had won the election and embarked on a campaign of lies that led to Jan. 6.

I didnt know that he would create an entire conspiracy theory with the help of a pillow manufacturer, Kafer said. That was outside of my imagination.

When Trump announced that he would run for election a third time, Kafer felt that something had to be done to stop him. She was contacted by Mario Nicolais, a Republican attorney in Colorado working with CREW, to become one of the GOP primary voters to challenge Trumps qualification for the partys primary election ballot.

She had read Baude and Paulsens paper, which, as a conservative supporter of originalist jurisprudence, left an impression on her.

This made a lot of legal sense to me, Kafer said. Someone ought to do it. And if you think it ought to be done, then you ought to do it.

Kafer and five other GOP primary voters, including former state legislator Norma Anderson and former congresswoman Claudine Schneider, filed suit with CREW to challenge Trumps qualification for the ballot under Section 3 on Sept. 6, 2023. Other challenges brought by Free Speech for People followed in Michigan and Minnesota.

A Denver district court judge ruled on Nov. 17 that Trump had engaged in insurrection on Jan. 6, but that he cannot be removed from the ballot. Despite the caveat, this was the first time a court had found that Trump participated in an insurrection. The plaintiffs appealed to the Colorado Supreme Court.

A view of the U.S. Supreme Court on the morning of Jan. 4, 2024, in Washington, DC. Former President Donald Trump has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to keep his name on the primary ballot in Colorado.

A view of the U.S. Supreme Court on the morning of Jan. 4, 2024, in Washington, DC. Former President Donald Trump has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to keep his name on the primary ballot in Colorado.

On Dec. 19, the court issued a 4-3 decision removing Trump from the ballot. While the case heavily rested on Colorado state law, the majority opinion agreed with all of the major points argued by Graber, Magliocca and Baude and Paulsen in their research. Trump quickly appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which put the decision on hold.

Nine days later, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, announced that she had also found Trump to be disqualified from her states ballot under Section 3. Bellows decision was appealed to the state Supreme Court, which put a hold on it until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on Trumps challenge to the Colorado case.

Not every challenge has gone against Trump. The challenges in Michigan and Minnesota were dismissed under the reasoning that state law prohibited interference in a political party primary, but also said that the challenges could be raised for the general election. Another challenge in Oregon reached a similar conclusion, as did one in Washington. Meanwhile, Free Speech for People filed another two lawsuits challenging Trump in Illinois and Massachusetts. The Illinois Board of Elections allowed Trump to remain on the ballot in the state after dismissing the case on Jan. 30.

But it is the Supreme Court that will have the ultimate say on whether states can disqualify Trump under Section 3. The arguments scheduled for Feb. 8 will be the first time the full court has ruled on Section 3 disqualification. It is hard to know what the justices will do, because there is scant record on what anyone thinks about this issue over the past 100 years.

What is clear is how the country found itself in this position.

We are here because of Donald Trump. He chose to engage in an insurrection on Jan. 6. He chose to seek the presidency again. His choices brought us here more than anybody elses, Sherman said. If we win, Im sure people will be asking us whats next, but that is not a question for us, that is a question for the former president. Is he going to continue to hold this nation hostage because he refuses to abide the Constitution?
FILE - Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event Jan. 27, 2024, in Las Vegas. When Trump left the White House three years ago, he was a pariah  a one-term president whose refusal to accept his reelection defeat culminated in an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. But he is now on the cusp of a stunning turnaround, poised to recapture his party's nomination in record speed despite four criminal cases totaling 91 felony charges, as well as a civil fraud trial that threatens to strip him of control of much of his business empire. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

NASHUA, N.H. (AP)  When he left the White House, Donald Trump was a pariah.

After years of bending Washington to his will with a single tweet, Trump was, at least for a moment, diminished. He was a one-term Republican president rejected by voters and then shunned by large swaths of his party after his refusal to accept his 2020 election defeat culminated in an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol that sent lawmakers running for their lives.

Some members of his Cabinet had discussed invoking the 25th Amendment, seeing him unfit to remain in office. He was banned from social media and became the first president to be impeached twice. And when he departed Washington, the nation's capital was still reeling from his supporters' violence and resembled a security fortress with boarded-up storefronts and military vehicles in the streets.

Three years later, Trump is on the cusp of a stunning turnaround. With commanding victories in the first two 2024 nominating contests and wide polling leads in the states ahead, Trump is fast closing in on the Republican nomination. Already, he is the first nonincumbent Republican to win the party's contests in both Iowa and New Hampshire, and he had the largest victory margin in Iowa caucus history. His standing is expected to improve this coming week with a win in Nevadas Republican caucuses, which his last major GOP rival, Nikki Haley, will skip in favor of a competing primary, which awards no delegates.

Trump did all this while facing 91 felony charges that range from mishandling highly classified documents and conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden, to paying off a porn star during his 2016 campaign. Trump is also facing a civil fraud case in New York that threatens his control of much of his business empire and was recently ordered to pay $83.3 million for defaming a woman he was previously found liable for sexually abusing.

The story of how Trump became his party's likely nominee for a third straight presidential election is a reminder that there was an opening  however brief  when the GOP could have moved beyond him but didn't. It shows how little was learned from 2016, as his critics once again failed to coalesce around a single alternative. And it demonstrates  with long-standing implications for American democracy  how Trump and his campaign seized on his unprecedented legal challenges, turning what should have been an insurmountable obstacle into a winning strategy.

I think everybody got in the race thinking the Trump fever would break," said longtime Republican strategist Chip Saltsman, who chaired the campaign of one of Trump's rivals. And it didnt break. It got hotter.

A DERAILMENT

Trump campaign aides say their first sign of momentum was not a legal victory or a gaffe by a rival, but a trip to East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023.

Following a lackluster 2024 campaign announcement a few months earlier and slow start, the former president received a rousing welcome from residents demanding answers after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed, leading to evacuations and fears of air and water contamination. Trump was briefed by local officials, blasted the federal response as a betrayal and stopped by a local McDonalds.

It kind of reminded people what it was they liked about Trump to begin with, said senior campaign adviser Chris LaCivita. Trump, whose surprise 2016 victory had been fueled by angry white working-class voters who felt the government had failed them, was again casting himself as the outsider fighting big business and Washington.

Biden didn't visit at the time, helping Trump draw a contrast. He has accepted an invitation from East Palestine's mayor to finally visit this month.

THE CHARGES START ROLLING IN

If the derailment offered Republican voters a reminder of why they liked Trump, a series of criminal charges would reinforce their devotion to him.

Ralph Reed, chair of the influential Faith & Freedom Coalition and a presidential campaign veteran, happened to be at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida for a charity breakfast the morning Trump become the first former U.S. president to be indicted.

It was like a bomb going off, he said. You could feel the ground shift immediately.

But instead of calls for Trump to suspend his campaign, the response from Republicans was one of indignation. Trump portrayed himself as the victim of a politicized criminal justice system bent on damaging his reelection chances. Almost immediately, Republicans sprung to his defense.

His campaign was flooded with small-dollar donations and raised $15.4 million in just two weeks. (When Trump was later booked on racketeering charges in Georgia and became the first former president to have his mug shot taken, the campaign brought in a record $4.18 million that day.) Trump's allied super political action committee, which had struggled to raise money, saw a similar surge in contributions as Trump's poll numbers began to rise.

For Republican voters, the mounting charges confirmed Trump's loudly stated grievances that the system was rigged against him, driving many who had been considering other candidates to rally around him.

It was a reminder that, at the end of the day, they wear a red jersey, and Joe Biden and his henchmen wear a blue jersey, said Trump senior campaign adviser Jason Miller.

Michael Telesca, a former schoolteacher from Hickory, North Carolina, who left his job to hike the Appalachian Trail, said last fall that the indictments and other attacks against Trump had transformed him from an ordinary Trump voter into an ardent" supporter.

While he liked Trump's policies, I am more fighting against the system that is attacking him relentlessly. ... Theres a good portion of Republicans who say its time for someone else. Heres the problem: If that happens, youve allowed the system to win.

The impact was immediately felt across rival campaigns, whose candidates were put in the awkward position of having to defend their chief opponent in order to avoid siding with Democratic prosecutors or Bidens Justice Department. As the indictments continued to roll in, Trump further dominated the media coverage, denying his competitors much-needed attention.

It made him a victim, and nobodys better at playing the victim than Donald Trump," Reed said.

Trump turned his subsequent bookings and court appearances into spectacles that became fundamental to his campaign message. Indeed, some weeks, he voluntarily spent more time in the courtroom than in early voting states. Trump's team credits his decision to confront the charges head-on with helping ease voters' concerns about his electability.

It was from that point on that it essentially had become impossible to beat Donald Trump in the Republican Party primary, LaCivita said.

DESANTIS-IN-WAITING ... AND WAITING

For months, Trump's stiffest competition for the GOP nomination appeared to be the governor of Florida.

Fresh off a landslide reelection victory in November 2022, Ron DeSantis was a rising conservative star and one of his party's only bright spots in a bruising midterm election cycle. Some polls showed voters preferred him to Trump, who was being blamed for backing extreme candidates who cost Republicans winnable seats.

But DeSantis chose to wait until May 2023 to launch his campaign, giving the former president and his allies a six-month head start.

Trumps senior advisers urged him not to attack DeSantis until later in the race. But Trump, rebuffing their guidance, came out with his derisive DeSanctimonious before the midterm vote. The super PAC ads began last March.

We made a big bet, said MAGA Inc. CEO Taylor Budowich. We decided to go after him early and define him before he could define himself. That included pouring millions into ads hitting DeSantis for previously backing Social Security cuts.

For some top Trump aides, beating DeSantis was personal. A handful had worked for the governor previously, and some were burned by his actions. Even those who left on good terms were intimately familiar with his strengths and weaknesses and what would make him tick.

To contrast DeSantis awkward interactions with voters, Trump's campaign began planning photo ops at pizza joints and diners that showcased the former president interacting with his fans.

Ridicule was also part of the strategy, including a memorable pudding fingers MAGA Inc. ad that highlighted unsavory reporting on DeSantis' eating habits, and accusations DeSantis wore lifts in his boots.

To blunt the governor's momentum, the super PAC also aired attack ads on networks such as CNN, trying to target more moderate voters considering the governor.

MAGA Incs national buys were targeted at national polls because that was the barometer of strength at that time  we were able to simultaneously drive down his standing in primary and general election polling, Budowich said.

Interviews with voters suggested those who had been open to a Trump alternative ultimately realized they preferred the original better.

DeSantis, he can talk from here all day long, said Gary Leffler, a general contractor from West Des Moines, Iowa, as he pointed to his head. Fact-wise, policy-wise, all this other stuff, hes pretty solid.

But Trump, Leffler added as he moved his fist to his heart, talks from here. And thats a gear that DeSantis doesnt have.

MCCARTHY'S PILGRIMAGE TO MAR-A-LAGO

Rival campaign aides said Trumps road to the 2024 GOP nomination began just three weeks after the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. That was when Kevin McCarthy, who was the Republican leader of the U.S. House, traveled to Mar-a-Lago and posed for a widely shared photo next to a grinning Trump at the moment that Trump was at his weakest.

Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, an outspoken GOP critic of Trump, would later write in her book that McCarthy told her he had been summoned because Trump was depressed and not eating. (Trump said he was actually angry and eating too much.")

But the normalizing episode signaled the party was not ready to give up on Trump.

I thought it was the kiss of death for McCarthy, for the party and for the country, said Mike DuHaime, a senior adviser to the 2024 presidential campaign of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, another Trump critic. It breathed new life into Trump.

RISKY BETS THAT PAID OFF

From the start, Trump acted like the front-runner, declining invitations to multicandidate events and refusing to debate.

Trump's absence blunted viewers' interest and left his lower-polling rivals fighting one another instead of him.

You've got to give credit to the Trump campaign, said Saltsman, who chaired the 2024 campaign of Mike Pence, who was Trump's vice president. They treated it like they were an incumbent running for reelection."

Miller, the Trump adviser, said steering clear of the debates was part of a broader effort to focus on Biden. Trump went after the Democrat over the economy, the border and wars in Europe and the Middle East.

At the same time, Trump's team worked aggressively behind the scenes to line up endorsements that would signal his continued dominance of the party and the strength of his new campaign. It has been widely praised as far more disciplined and professional than past efforts that were plagued by infighting.

Trump invested hundreds and hundreds of hours" in relationship development, said Brian Jack, a senior campaign aide who has led the outreach. Trump worked the phones, hosted dinners and invited officials to ride aboard his private plane.

He also astutely weaponized the endorsements. In April, as DeSantis was making a much-publicized trip to Washington before his expected campaign announcement, Trumps team released a set of new endorsements from Florida politicians. Later, Trump taunted Haley, an ex-South Carolina governor and his U.N. ambassador, before the New Hampshire primary by flying in a group of South Carolina officials who were backing his candidacy.

Marc Short, a top adviser to Pence's campaign, also pointed to Trump's more than 200 midterm endorsements. While Trump had mixed success that November, he proved a powerful kingmaker in GOP primary races that often devolved into fealty contests.

Everyone saw the candidates he endorsed in their primaries won their primaries, signaling to others that, I better show my allegiance to Trump or Im going to be in trouble,'" Short said.

Beyond the endorsements, Trump's team also worked closely with state parties as they set delegate allocation rules, encouraging winner-take-all contests and other changes that would ultimately benefit a front-runner.

We were closing doors to our opponents in the Republican nomination seven months ago before they even realized that was happening," LaCivita said.

THE LOYALTY FACTOR

As the first nominating contests neared, Trump's team worked to harness the dedication of his loyal supporters. The move paid off particularly well in Iowa, where historically frigid temperatures cut expected caucus attendance in half.

Trumps team rewarded its volunteers with perks such as VIP tickets to his rallies and gold-embroidered hats. Some, like John Goodrich, who lives in suburban Des Moines and knocked on 300 doors, received personal phone calls to thank them for their efforts.

I was just thrilled," Goodrich said of the caucus day call. Trump was very thankful for the help" and asked him about his family and his expectations for the night. It just made me feel good that he would turn to just someone who was more or less a door-to-door salesman for him to get my opinion."

In both Iowa and New Hampshire, Trump's team also marveled at how DeSantis and Haley spent their time and money going after each other, largely sparing him from attacks.

In the end, DeSantis came in a distant second in Iowa, the state on which he had staked his campaign. He dropped out shortly afterward. Haley, who finished second in New Hampshire, has pledged to remain in the race through March, but her path forward remains tenuous.

___

Associated Press writer Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Two drivers were hurt and one was hospitalized via Mercy Flight after two cars collided in Niagara County Saturday evening, police said.

According to the Town of Niagara Police Department, the drivers of a 2005 Hyundai Tucson and a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado were driving in opposite directions on Porter Road at around 5:45 p.m. when the Hyundai lost control at the bend and hit the Chevrolet. Police said according to a witness, the Hyundai flipped twice and ended up trapped in a ditch, requiring the driver to be extricated by firefighters.

The driver of the Hyundai was transported by Mercy Flight via helicopter to Erie County Medical Ceter. Police said the driver has serious but non life threatening injuries.

Police identify woman fatally shot by officer in Hamburg

The driver of the Chevrolet was transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.

Police did not provide any other information about the drivers.

Police are investigating the accident and said further updates will follow.

Latest Local News

Justin McMullen is a Western New York native who joined the News 4 team in 2023. You can read more of his work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
A driver was cited for OVI after a crash in Miami County on Saturday.

Deputies responded to an accident with injury in the 6600 block of Tipp Canal Road in Monroe Township shortly after 4:15 p.m., according to a Miami County Sheriffs Office public information log.

A vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway before hitting a tree, the sheriffs office said.

>> 1 taken to hospital after crash in Harrison Twp

The driver was transported to Kettering Troy Hospital for minor injuries.

He was subsequently found to be driving under the influence, according to the sheriffs office. The driver was later issued a citation for OVI, driving under suspension, and failure to control.
Durham police officers are investigating the deaths of three men at a hotel near Research Triangle Park  but they say they do not suspect foul play.

Officials received a call reporting a cardiac arrest at the Extended Stay America Select Suites at 4610 S. Miami Blvd at 10:16 a.m. Sunday, according to Shiquita Dancy, a police department spokeswoman.

When police arrived, they found four adult men in a hotel room. Three of the men were dead, Dancy said in an email Sunday. Officials transported the fourth man, who was in critical condition, to a local hospital. Police have not yet identified the men.

This appears to be an isolated incident and foul play is not suspected at this time. The investigation remains active and additional information will be released at the appropriate time, Dancy wrote.

Dancy did not immediately respond to a follow-up asking why investigators did not suspect foul play.

Police are asking anyone with information to call Investigator D. Bussell at 919-560-4582 ext. 29254 or CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200. CrimeStoppers allows tipsters to remain anonymous while collecting cash rewards if their information leads to arrests in felony cases, Dancy wrote.
Bill Cowles tenure as Orange County election supervisor started with a flurry of uncertainty: His lead in the 1996 election to replace his boss, Betty Carter, was so tight that it triggered a recount. And it ended with widespread expressions of bewildered sorrow. Orange County residents knew he planned to retire in 2024, but they didnt expect Cowles to announce in mid-December that the January election to fill a vacant House seat would be his last.

But Cowles has more than earned his retirement, along with the trust of voters  many of whom remembered his name on their first voter ID as they watched their newly adult children inspect their own cards. Those memories covered calm times and times of tumult. Orange County voters witnessed Cowles operating his office with transparency, professionalism and reliability while other county elections officials weathered accusations of bias or incompetence. They have watched Cowles search for ways to make voting more accessible without raising doubts about the security and trustworthiness of local elections.

EDITORIAL: DeSantis should treasure integrity when naming new Orange elections chief

Perhaps most importantly, Orange County voters have watched him carefully avoid any appearance of favoritism or advocacy, with one critical exception: He never hesitated to speak up when he believed voters rights were being undermined. Republican or Democrat, young or old, voters knew one thing to be true. Cowles had their back.

Partisanship never crept in, said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who was in the state Senate when Cowles was first elected. We got (Election Night) results early, and we knew they were accurate.

Calm and competent

Cowles has so much to be proud of. Having worked for Carter for seven years prior to her retirement, he stepped into her shoes with apparent ease and considerable energy. And he was quick to embrace changes that would make registering and voting easier. The countys elections website, which went live less than four months after he first took office, was feature-packed when compared to the average government site circa 1997. Later that year, he conducted what was at the time Floridas biggest (and Orange Countys first) all-mail election. He was also one of the first supervisors to insist on Spanish-language ballots and other election-related materials.

Cowles steadfast leadership steered the elections office safely through episodes that would have been unimaginable  until they were actually happening.

When other counties were enduring the tumult of the 2000 recount, Orange County stayed calm and quiet.

When other counties were rocked by accusations of fake ballots or voting equipment vulnerabilities, Cowles and his staff were able to point toward modernized voting equipment that allowed voters to mark their ballots, feed them into tabulation machines and get electronic confirmation that their votes had been tallied.

When elections were sidelined by a mysterious illness that would come to be known as COVID-19, Cowles worked with other supervisors to keep voters safe without putting unnecessary restrictions on ballot access.

And in the festering aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots, Cowles stood with other local supervisors to make it clear that elections in Central Florida would be conducted with integrity and accuracy  and that threats of aggression toward poll workers or other voters would not be tolerated. At the same time, he welcomed partisan observers (often with full-page ads in this newspaper) to come to the elections office and watch events unfold for themselves.

Theres one more thing to recognize  and its not one that has drawn much public attention, though it deserves it. A deep dive of Cowles website reveals a wealth of data about local elections, including information about voter behavior that far exceeds the statistics other counties provide (and some expect to be paid for.) This empowers candidates who might not have the money or party backing to buy the information they need to run successful campaigns. And it does so on a purely egalitarian basis. The information is there for anyone who wishes to access it.

Tough act to follow

In the coming weeks, Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to name an interim replacement for Cowles who will hold office through the March presidential primary, the regular primary i in August and Novembers climactic general election with a presidency at stake. Like many, we are apprehensive about who the governor might choose; the smartest option would be to name someone from the upper ranks of Cowles competent, professional staff.

Why now, Bill Cowles? Grilling Oranges elections chief about his surprise retirement | Commentary

But thats another discussion for another day: Today, we focus on celebrating the accomplishments of a man who has served Orange County with integrity, innovation and heart. He will be missed, and his footprints should inspire those who come after him to continue on the same path.

The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. Contact us at insight@orlandosentinel.com
The ever-present dilemma for leaders of the Los Angeles Unified School District is whether to push for more and quicker change, because most students are still not at grade level in reading and math, or to opt for a slower and steadier course in a district thats on its fifth superintendent in 10 years.

Right now, stability is the better choice. As troubled as the district is on several fronts, it has been making some good moves: directing more attention and resources toward raising Black student achievement, adopting the "science of reading" approach in literacy instruction and investing in community schools, which provide health, recreational and other services to students and, in some cases, to neighborhoods. These initiatives deserve to stay in place.

Read more: L.A. Times electoral endorsements for 2024 March primary

Less wise is the decision by Supt. Alberto Carvalho to move away from Primary Promise, an intensive tutoring program that was successful at bringing the youngest students up to speed in literacy and math, in favor of an intervention covering more grades and using already overworked teachers.

That might have been the wrong move, but switching back would be worse at the moment. Carvalho needs a chance to try his ideas and the board is smart not to micromanage. It takes time for new programs to show their worth or lack of it. A stable school board will give the superintendent room to succeed and hold him accountable if he doesn't.

Read more: Endorsement: The Times' recommendation for L.A. District Attorney

Maintaining this stability is one of the main reasons we recommend that voters reelect school board member and retired principal Scott Schmerelson for a final four-year term in District 3, which covers the west San Fernando Valley. Though he tends to side with the teachers union, United Teachers Los Angeles, he has also made independent-minded decisions. One example: He opposed the move to gut the school police department, although UTLA had called for it to be eliminated. At that point, the district hadnt even assessed its security needs, and the education veteran was right to put school safety first.

He has been effective at bringing popular magnet schools to his district, though he also should be working harder to bring those to other parts of L.A. Unified.

Read more: Endorsement: The Times' recommendation on Measure HLA

Schmerelson has worked with the board on reaching reasonable solutions rather than taking ideological sides. At least two of the board's seven seats will change hands this year because George J. McKenna III and Jackie Goldberg are retiring, making it all the more important that Schmerelson remain on the board to avoid disruption.

Asked about his goals for a final term, Schmerelson said he wanted to keep working on current initiatives, such as community schools. That's fine, but if he retains his seat, he should look for new ways to improve kids educational experience, not warming that seat for the next four years.

Read more: Your guide to the LAUSD District 3 school board primary election

Four people are running to replace him in the March primary. The main challenger, Dan Chang, teaches math at James Madison Middle School in North Hollywood. He has a long association with charter schools and school reform organizations, though he now teaches at a traditional public school. Chang is smart, dynamic and itching to change things, but when asked how he would do that he talked about updating teacher training and staff meetings so that they are more relevant and less boring. Fair enough, but thats not at the top of the list of L.A. Unified's needs, and even most teachers are more concerned about class size, discipline and their students mental health.

The other candidates are parent advocate Elizabeth Badger, parent and school volunteer Andreas Farmakalidis and parent activist Raquel Villalta.

But Schmerelson is clearly the strongest of the five candidates, and his experience and balanced leadership are what the board needs right now.

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.
By Nelson Renteria and Sarah Kinosian

SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) -President Nayib Bukele on Sunday secured a thumping victory in El Salvador's elections after voters cast aside concerns about erosion of democracy to reward him for a fierce gang crackdown that transformed security in the Central American country.

Provisional results on Monday morning show Bukele winning 83% support with just over 70% of the ballots counted. Bukele declared himself the winner before official results were announced, claiming to have attained more than 85% of the vote.

Thousands of Bukele's supporters clad in cyan blue and waving flags thronged San Salvador's central square to celebrate his re-election, which the 42-year-old leader termed a "referendum" on his government.

His New Ideas party is expected to win almost all of the 60 seats in the legislative body, tightening its grip on the country and bestowing even more sway on Bukele, the most powerful leader in El Salvador's modern history.

"All together the opposition was pulverized," Bukele, standing with his wife on the balcony of the National Palace, told his supporters.

"El Salvador went from being the most unsafe (country) to the safest. Now in these next five years, wait to see what we are going to do," Bukele added.

New Ideas' electoral success means Bukele will wield unprecedented power and be able to overhaul El Salvador's constitution, which his opponents fear will result in scrapping of term limits.

Wildly popular, Bukele has campaigned on the success of his security strategy under which authorities suspended civil liberties to arrest more than 75,000 Salvadorans without charges. The detentions led to a sharp decline in nationwide murder rates and fundamentally altered a country of 6.3 million people that was once among the world's most dangerous.

But some analysts have said the mass incarceration of 1% of the population is not sustainable long-term.

Bukele earlier told a press conference his party needed all the support it could muster to maintain its anti-gang fight and continue reshaping El Salvador.

"So, if we have already overcome our cancer, with metastases that were the gangs, now we only have to recover and be the person we always wanted to be," said Bukele.

Few doubted the outcome of the elections. Polls showed most voters wanted to reward Bukele for decimating the crime groups that made life intolerable in El Salvador and fueled waves of migration to the United States.

Guadalupe Guillen, a 55-year-old shopkeeper, showed up at the victory party dressed in a tunic and Arab scarf, a nod to Bukele's Palestinian family heritage.

"We are celebrating, thanking him, thanking God, for getting us out of this gang problem. We don't want to go back to that horrible past," said Guillen, who added she no longer pays $300 in extortion to the gangs every fortnight.

"Democracy is not at risk because all the people have voted for him," said Guillen, echoing the government's stance regarding concerns by Western countries of authoritarian drift under Bukele.

Candidates for FMLN and ARENA, two parties that rotated power between them until 2019, were set to receive single digit support as voters once again rejected traditional parties whose rule was marked by violence and corruption for decades.

ECONOMIC WOES

A firebrand politician who often spars with foreign leaders and critics on social media, Bukele came to power in 2019 trouncing traditional parties with a vow to eliminate gang violence and rejuvenate a stagnant economy.

He used his New Ideas party's supermajority in the legislative assembly to pack the courts with loyalists and overhaul state institutions, solidifying his control of key parts of the government. He also championed the introduction of Bitcoin as legal tender, drawing criticism from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

El Salvador's Supreme Electoral Tribunal last year permitted him to run for a second term even though the country's constitution prohibits it. Opponents fear Bukele will seek to rule for life, following President Daniel Ortega from next-door Nicaragua.

"Everyone knows it is unconstitutional to re-elect the president but what people want is security. They don't care if it is unconstitutional, they just want to feel safe," said Josue Galdamez, 39, a businessman and trader who supported Bukele because of his crusade against gangs.

When asked on Sunday by reporters if he planned to reform the constitution to include indefinite re-election, Bukele said he "didn't think a constitutional reform would be necessary," but did not directly answer questions on whether he would try to run for a third term.

The Chinese Embassy in San Salvador in a post on X congratulated Bukele and his party "for the historic victory in these elections."

Rights groups have said El Salvador's democracy is under attack. Bukele has taken such concerns in stride, at one point changing his profile on X to say: "World's coolest dictator."

Bukele's biggest challenge in his second term is likely to be the economy, Central America's slowest growing during his time in power. More than a quarter of Salvadorans live in poverty.

Extreme poverty has doubled and private investment has tumbled under Bukele. There has not been much momentum on his highly publicized plans for Bitcoin City, a tax-free crypto haven powered by geothermal energy from a volcano.

The IMF, which is negotiating a $1.3 billion bailout with El Salvador, in late 2023 described the country's fiscal situation as "fragile."

(Reporting by Nelson Renteria and Sarah Kinosian; Additional reporting by Diego Ore and Natalia Siniawski; Writing by Drazen Jorgic and Sarah Kinosian; Editing by Will Dunham, Chizu Nomiyama, Nick Zieminski, Sonali Paul)
When many people look at Alabama, this is a state that has been given up on -- across the country and across the world -- for a myriad of reasons.

The state has a history that does not evoke pride, no matter how you look at it. Regardless of how hard some may try, you cannot erase or re-write the cancerous history that is forever embedded in history.

There are still those who must be brought kicking and screaming into a forever-changing world. The world is changing and anyone who thinks he can live alone is sleeping through a revolution. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said this in a sermon given at Washington Episcopal Cathedral in Washington, D.C., in March 1968.

Alabamas soil is soaked with the blood, sweat and tears of those who have sought to make a difference. King made this statement over 50 years ago. While much remains the same, many things have changed, and are changing.

Elaine Harris Spearman

There are counties in Alabama that are spoken about regularly. Etowah County can no longer be ignored. Over 104,000 people call Etowah County home.

Gadsden remains integral to the identity of Etowah County, boasting an epicenter for tourism and career opportunities. This from the current Etowah County Guide, 2024 edition, which was distributed at a recent annual meeting of the Etowah Chamber.

It really is the right thing for Gadsdens mayor to lead the way in joining mayors and their administrations of other Etowah cities to move our portion of northeast Alabama forward.

Together is better. The Gadsden City Board of Education removed the interim tag from Keith Blackwell, giving him the superintendent of schools job on a permanent basis.

Tony Reddick, the former superintendent, retired in August 2023 and should be commended for much of the work that he did for the school district and collaboration with the city administration.

The heart of a city moving forward attracting development and industry as well as attracting new people to the area is the educational system. People have got to cease the attempts to designate whom they want their children to be educated with and by. New blood is needed in the whole area to ease the every event, no matter what becomes a family reunion.

We all remember that Kermit the Frog said, it aint easy being green. A superintendent of schools could say the same thing about being a superintendent. Although there are many without the credentials, experience, demeanor, or temperament, who really do believe that they are qualified and can do the job better than anyone; one of the rotating superintendents across the country could tell you differently.

No. 1 on the superintendents agenda is reading. The Alabama Literacy Act of 2019 mandates that students read at grade level for promotion from the third grade. Reading is fundamental. We are well past the time when there are people who simply cannot read.

Superintendent Blackwell is saying it now. Parental involvement is needed, as well as community involvement. There will be no need for hysterics, parental meltdowns and alleged community outrage when your children, grandchildren, nieces and your friends children are repeating a grade because they cannot read.

Everyone has been made aware of this deficiency. It has to be tackled; Blackwell is also emphasizing teacher respect and made references to parent-teacher relationships back in the day. Yes, people of a certain age do remember that teachers were free to tell on you, and you had no recourse. It was no, not my child.

We realize that we are living in a changing world. Parental responsibility for making your child the best that they can be has not changed. All of the training that a child can get does not rest with the educational system.

It is not a teacher's fault that your child has a smart mouth and must be held to account, less we produce some of the same kind of adults that we see on a day-to-day basis. It is jaw-dropping that many people are realizing that young people cannot sign their names. No cursive. What are they to do when executing contracts (of any kind), drivers license signatures or other documents? It is a horrifying thought that they place an X on the line, or block print (which is not a signature).

The superintendent has some lofty and realistic goals for the children of this district. To achieve these goals will require better parental participation and community support.

Stop waiting until you are unhappy with something that has occurred and showing up en masse at a school board meeting following a pied piper, whichever one it may be.

The school board members need to take individual assessments and determine if they should still remain on the board. It may be time to do something else. There is no need for any lifetime positions on the board.

The voters should surely pay more attention to people that they elect to oversee the education and well-being of the children of Etowah County.

Elaine Harris Spearman, Esq., a Gadsden native, is an attorney and is the retired legal advisor to the comptroller of the City of St. Louis. The views expressed are her own.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: ELAINE HARRIS SPEARMAN: School superintendent needs community support
Elon Musk has endorsed the call for a border wall, which is a central plank of Donald Trumps election campaign - Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Joe Biden is allowing illegal migrants to flood into the US to remain in power, Elon Musk said in a bizarre claim as the tech entrepreneur stepped up his attacks on the president over the migration crisis.

Mr Musks statement on X, formerly Twitter, the platform he bought almost 10 months ago, has been criticised for giving credence to a conspiracy theory.

Bidens strategy is very simple: 1. Get as many illegals in the country as possible. 2. Legalize them to create a permanent majority  a one-party state, Mr Musk said as he posted a picture of a news story of Bidens latest border policy.

It is not the first time that Mr Musk, routinely cited as the richest person in the world, has criticised the president on migration.

In recent months he has railed against the issue, visited the border in a live event broadcast on X, and shown his support for Geert Wilders, the radical anti-migration politician in the Netherlands.

Critics have also accused Mr Musk of opening up his social media channel to hard-Right conspiracy theorists since taking over the platform in April 2022.

They argue that Mr Musks latest comments showed support for the great replacement theory that political elites are deliberately trying to turn the native white population into a minority.

Every deportation is a lost vote

Mr Musk added in his post: This explains why there are so few deportations, as every deportation is a lost vote.

He also commented on an assault on police officers allegedly by a group of migrants in New York that has caused political uproar in recent weeks.

Video of one of the perpetrators leaving court with his middle fingers up went viral on Mr Musks platform late last week.

He said: As happened this week, you can literally assault police officers in broad daylight in New York, be released with no bail, give everyone the finger and *still* not be deported!!

A group tries to cross the Texan border despite heightened security measures amid growing debate on immigration policy in the US - Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images

Last September, the owner of Tesla and SpaceX published a 15-minute video after visiting Eagle Pass on the Texas-Mexico border.

In the video, he endorsed the call for a border wall, which is a central plank of Donald Trumps election campaign.

Mr Musk, who came to the US in 1992, entered the country as a student, having obtained Canadian nationality from his mother. He became a US citizen seven years later.

I am extremely pro-immigrant, and I believe that we need a greatly expanded legal immigration system and that we should let anyone in the country who is hardworking and honest and will be a contributor to the United States, he said in the video.

We should have expedited legal approval for anyone who falls in that category. But then, by the same token, we should also not be allowing people in the country if theyre breaking the law.

In February 2023, Mr Musk railed against the number of illegal Chinese immigrants crossing into the US from Mexico.

I am very much in favour of hard-working people coming to America, but we cant have de facto open borders with no screening, he said.

Joe Biden visits the US-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas. Migration is likely to be a big issue in this years presidential election - JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

Meanwhile, Joe Biden cruised to a comfortable victory in the first official Democratic primary held in South Carolina.

The former president took more than 96 per cent of the vote.

Dean Phillips, the Democratic congressman who has challenged Mr Biden for the nomination, came a humiliating third behind Marianne Williamson, a self-help guru who took 2.1 per cent of the vote. Mr Phillips was supported by only 1.7 per cent.

Mr Trump is set for a comfortable win in the Republican primary, which takes place later this month. The latest poll gives him a 26-point lead over the states former governor Nikki Haley, who made an unconventional appeal to younger voters by appearing in satirical programme Saturday Night Live over the weekend.

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.
Executive Dysfunction

Last month, the Wall Street Journal dropped a bombshell investigation into SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk's alleged use of illegal drugs including cocaine and MDMA.

Now it's back with a doozy of a followup, including the explosive claim that people close to Musk became so concerned around the winter of 2022 that some of them asked the billionaire to go to rehab.

The newspaper's sources say that one close associate, Oracle cofounder and former Tesla board member Larry Ellison, even asked Musk to come to his Hawaiian island to "dry out from the drugs."

It's not clear from the WSJ's reporting whether Musk took any of those people up on the requests; his erratic behavior, if anything, has escalated since then. But the story is certain to be a headache for all his ventures, ranging from Tesla to the social network he renamed X from Twitter  and perhaps especially SpaceX, which is reliant on billions of dollars in contracts from the United States federal government, which strongly disapproves of illegal drugs.

Timeless Flight

At around the same time that concern was growing, according to the WSJ's reporting, there was an incident in which Elon Musk "consumed a liquid form of ecastasy from a water bottle" at a party in the Hollywood Hills.

In a testament to the strangely coddled way billionaires can end up operating, a source told the newspaper that Musk's security guards "asked people to leave the floor of the house for privacy" before Musk indulged in the drug.

Musk has also reportedly attended parties with Tesla board member Joe Gebbia "where Musk took ketamine recreationally through a nasal spray bottle multiple times." Ketamine is an anesthetic that's attracted some interest for its potential therapeutic properties, but also carries well-known health risks.

The main other drugs mentioned in the WSJ's latest story were LSD and MDMA, the latter of which is often known as ecstasy. LSD is a potent psychedelic drug that's generally considered relatively safe physically and neurologically, but MDMA is a popular club drug with established health risks, including memory and emotional issues.

Musk's camp didn't respond to the WSJ's latest story, but the billionaire's attorney told the newspaper at the time of its first article that the CEO is "regularly and randomly drug tested at SpaceX and has never failed a test."

The WSJ's latest reporting also examined Musk's relationships with various directors at Tesla, some of whom it reported felt pressured to do drugs with the CEO "because they think refraining could upset the billionaire." Overall, the newspaper's reporting suggests that people around Musk don't feel comfortable asking him tough questions about his lifestyle.

Sometimes, Musk has seemed to bolster that narrative.

"I can just call for a shareholder vote and get anything done that I want," he told 60 Minutes of Tesla in a 2018 interview pointed to by the WSJ.

More on Musk: Heavy Metal Drummer Cost Elon Musk $55.8 Billion
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY)  A employee of a Tobacco & Vape store in Williamsburg was arrested and charged with a felony count of possession with intent to distribute, police said.

Courtesy: Mohamed Lemine Ejiwen

On Jan. 26, around 1 p.m., Williamsburg Police Investigators searched the Tobacco & Vape store located at 1012 Richmond Road. 31-year-old Mohamed Lemine Ejiwen was arrested and charged with one felony count of possession with intent to distribute up to 5 lbs. of marijuana, police said.

Investigators seized around 2,900 containers or packages of marijuana and marijuana

products, police said. The investigation into Tobacco & Vape remains open.

If you have any information about this case, you can submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-888-LOCK-U-UP, downloading the P3 tips app to a mobile device, or visiting www.P3tips.com and submitting a tip.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
By Kate Abnett

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union's top diplomat said on Sunday cutting funds to UNRWA would put hundreds of thousands of lives at risk, amid allegations some of the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency's staff were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

A string of countries, including the United States, Britain and Italy, have paused funding to the aid agency, which has opened an investigation into several of its thousands of employees and severed ties with those people.

UNRWA on Thursday said its entire operations in the Middle East, not only in Gaza, will likely be forced to shut down by the end of February if its funding remains suspended.

"Defunding UNRWA would be both disproportionate and dangerous," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wrote in a blog post.

"The wrongdoing of individuals should never lead to the collective punishment of an entire population," he said.

Borrell said neither the European Commission, nor the EU's two biggest economies, Germany or France, had decided to end their contributions. Funds paused by other donors amount to more than $440 million, nearly half of the agency's expected income this year, he said.

In 2022, the EU was the third biggest donor to UNRWA, after the United States and Germany.

"The lives of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, not only in Gaza, are at stake," Borrell said.

UNRWA was established in 1949 following the war surrounding the founding of Israel, when 700,000 Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes.

It employs 30,000 Palestinians to serve the civic and humanitarian needs of 5.9 million descendants of those refugees - in the Gaza Strip, in the West Bank and in vast camps in neighbouring Arab countries.

"I am confident that the UN will take all the necessary measures following the Israeli allegations, and that UNRWA will continue to be a vital lifeline for millions of Palestinian people," Borrell added.

(Reporting by Kate Abnett, Andrew Gray; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
FILE PHOTO: A scientist looks at scans of brains at the Memory Centre at the Department of Readaptation and Geriatrics of the University Hospital (HUG) in Geneva

By Julie Steenhuysen and Andrew Silver

CHICAGO/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Japans Eisai aims to roll out its groundbreaking Alzheimers drug Leqembi to 1,500 people in China later this year, but expects growth to accelerate significantly in 2025 as diagnosis methods change, a company spokesperson told Reuters.

More convenient Alzheimer's blood tests expected to be ready then could help Eisai reach a bigger share of Chinas estimated 17 million people with early-stage disease, the spokesperson said.

China is one of the fastest-aging countries in the world and is one of the most important countries in the area of Alzheimers disease for Eisai, a company spokesperson said. The potential growth for Leqembi in China is huge.

Eli Lilly, which is developing a similar treatment called donanemab, told Reuters it has filed for approval in China. The Indianapolis-based company is now testing its drug in a 1,500-person trial with volunteers in China, Taiwan, South Korea and the EU, a spokesperson said.

The size of Eisai's planned China rollout and the filing of Lilly's approval application have not previously been reported.

Leqembi, which works by removing a toxic protein called beta amyloid from the brain, is the first Alzheimer's treatment proven to alter the course of the fatal, brain-wasting disease. China approved Leqembi in January.

Eisai and U.S. partner Biogen have already rolled out Leqembi in the United States and Japan, and it is under review in Europe.

The treatment, given by infusion twice a month, slowed progression of the disease by 27% for patients in the earliest stages of Alzheimer's in a clinical trial.

Current treatments available in China have limited effect, and Eisai's trial results give patients "a lot of hope," said Alzheimer's expert Dr. Liu Zhou of Guangdong Medical University.

Eisai said it expects to start using the drug in China by September, and forecast a total of 1,500 patients there by March 2025, a number limited by the country's diagnostic capabilities.

Leqembi's sales could "increase significantly" in 2025, the company said, with the expected introduction of blood tests to assess a patient's amyloid burden rather than PET scans or invasive lumbar punctures, which require access to specialists.

If treatment were to become possible based solely on blood tests, we think it would generate significant interest, Citi analyst Hidemaru Yamaguchi said in a research note. He did not have an estimate for China but expects Leqembi sales outside of Japan and the U.S. to peak in 2030 at 126 billion yen ($1.08 billion).

Rates of Alzheimer's diagnosis and treatment in Asia's biggest economy remain low, and medical specialists and public awareness of the disease is limited, according to The China Alzheimer Report 2022, published in BMJ General Psychiatry.

China's health ministry did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.

Experts said the country has been ramping up imaging capacity.

Siemens Healthineers, which sells imaging equipment in China, said the market in China for molecular imaging has grown more than 45% over the past four years.

'ILL PREPARED'

Initially, Eisai plans to launch Leqembi on China's private market, where it is priced at about 200,000 yuan ($28,180) per year, about $2,000 more than in the U.S.

Eisai said it will decide whether to seek government coverage after it assesses private market demand.

Inclusion on Chinas National Reimbursement Drug List typically means a steep price cut. A 2023 analysis estimated the average negotiated price cut ranged from 44% to 61%.

To be eligible for treatment, patients undergo cognitive testing, genetic testing to assess whether they carry a gene that increases the drug's adverse side effects, and testing to confirm abnormal levels of amyloid, the sticky substance in the brain targeted by Leqembi.

Once on treatment, suitable patients undergo a series of MRI scans to monitor for potentially fatal swelling and bleeding in the brain.

Economist Dr. Soeren Mattke, director of the University of Southern California Brain Health Observatory who has consulted for both Eisai and Biogen, said China lacks a system of primary care physicians to do preliminary testing and refer appropriate candidates to specialists.

Mattke and colleagues published an assessment of China's readiness for disease-modifying treatments in July in the Journal Alzheimer's & Dementia that concluded that China is ill prepared to provide timely access to an Alzheimers treatment.

"In China," Mattke said, "specialty care is almost absent in the rural areas."

(Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago and Andrew Silver in Shanghai; Editing by Caroline Humer and Bill Berkrot)
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (WFXR)The Virginia Natural History Museum in Martinsville is welcoming a traveling exhibit surrounding the mystery of bats, Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats on Saturday, Feb. 10.

The exhibit, produced by Evergreen Exhibitions, focuses on the misconception of bats by describing their ecological importance in various multi-sensory, interactive displays. For example, guests will be able to try on a pair of sculpted bat ears to experience the sensitivity of bat hearing.

In these displays, guests will discover how bats are beneficial mammals with fascinating skills and give guests an appreciation of the true wonders of the bat world.

Lynchburg Water Resources offering tours of local water treatment plants during World Water Day

One of the most exciting aspects of this exhibition is its combination of traditional museum exhibit elements, such as dioramas depicting the many hiding places of bats in various natural habitats, to more immersive experiences, such as allowing visitors to learn about the huge appetites of bats relative to their weight by weighing replica food sources in a balance scale, said Virginia Natural History Museums Deputy Director Ryan Barber. There is even an activity station for our younger visitors, where they can create an art rubbing of their favorite bat species to take home.

The museum is hosting an opening day celebration on the exhibits Saturday debut. Along with access to the special exhibit, the museum is offering special bat-themed features, including bat-themed crafts and activities for kids, special presentations by bat experts, and more.

General admission for the exhibits debut costs $10 per adult and $5 for ages 3 to 17, seniors 60 and older, and college students.

For more information about the museum and its offerings, visit www.vmnh.net.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
One case of measles has been reported in Montgomery County.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Measles case reported in Montgomery County

This is Daytons first case of measles since 2005.

According to the Ohio Department of Health, in 2023 there was one case of measles, and in 2022 there were 90 after an outbreak occurred in the central Ohio area.

A lot of people have forgot about measles and how dangerous it can be, said Becky Thomas, Medical Director, Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County.

The case was identified in a child who was evaluated at Dayton Childrens Hospital in the main campus Emergency Department on Jan. 29 and Jan. 31, according to a previous News Center 7 report.

Public Health released a warning that others may have been exposed.

We talked to the family of the individual to get more information about other people in our community, who may have been exposed while this child was sick, Thomas said.

Thomas said those who were in the ER around the same time as the child have been contacted.

>> Shooting prompts active investigation in Huber Heights

For those individuals who are fully vaccinated, we recommend they continue to monitor for symptoms of measles. It can take up to 21 days for symptoms to appear, Thomas said.

Some symptoms to look out for include coughing, a runny nose, watery eyes, and a high fever.

Three to five days later a rash can follow that starts on the face and then spreads down throughout the rest of the body, Thomas said.

The Ohio Department of Health says the disease can live in the air for up to two hours.

Measles is extremely contagious and can spread to others through coughing and sneezing. If one person has measles, up to 90% of those who come into contact with that person and who are not immune will also become infected, an ODH spokesperson said.

Complications from measles are more common among children younger than 5 years old, adults older than 20, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems, according to ODH.

Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County is now urging people to vaccinate their children.

>> 11 arrested during Montgomery County auto theft operation

The safest way to protect children from measles is to make sure they are vaccinated, Thomas said.

ODH said it is not aware of any additional cases, but it will continue to work with Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County and other impacted health departments on the investigation.

More information on measles can be found here.
In villages and towns across India, Israel is recruiting  not for its war in Gaza, but for its own economy.

Tens of thousands of workers are filling job centers across the country, spotting opportunity in the acute labor shortage created by Israels war with Hamas. But Indian trade unions have called on the government to terminate the labor agreement, arguing that it supports Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip critics say amount to genocide, allegations that Israel strongly denies.

Applicants are drawn by the chance to earn far higher wages than they could at home, even if it means working in a war zone.

For Srinivas Kundan, its a chance for his teenage sons to receive the college education he never could. The construction jobs hes applying for pay almost $20,000 annually, including accommodation, more than six times the average annual wage in India and double what Kundan said he earned in Abu Dhabi, where he worked for six years as a security guard.

The salary is really good, so I am trying, Kundan, 38, said in a phone interview from the southern Indian state of Telangana.

Israel, a country of about 9 million people, relies heavily on foreign labor in sectors such as agriculture, construction and caregiving. That need has become even more urgent amid the Israel-Hamas war, which has killed almost 27,000 people in Gaza and about 1,200 people in Israel since Oct. 7.

Construction in Israel (Christophe Gateau / DPA via Getty Images file)

Palestinians from both Gaza and the West Bank are now mostly barred from entering Israel, their work permits revoked on security grounds. Thousands of migrant workers from Asian countries such as Thailand, Nepal and the Philippines have opted to return home after seeing their fellow countrymen killed. Israeli reservists, meanwhile, have been called to war, further cutting into the supply of workers.

The labor shortage has dealt an especially big blow to Israels construction industry. Before the war, two-thirds of the more than 150,000 Palestinians working in Israel were in construction, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.

The shortage of construction labor is so acute, officials say almost half of Israels building sites are now closed.

The construction business is based on Palestinians. About a third of our workers were Palestinians before the war, Shay Pauzner, deputy director-general of the Israel Builders Association, said in a phone interview.

The overall labor shortage is estimated to be costing the Israeli economy more than $800 million a month, according to the finance ministry, leading Israel to turn to countries such as India and Sri Lanka for new workers.

Recruitment talks with India, which has grown closer to Israel under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were already underway well before the war began. India, the worlds most populous country, struggles to provide jobs for its 1.4 billion people, and although the overall unemployment rate has been falling, the jobless rate for people ages 15 to 24 was 17.9% in 2022, according to the World Bank.

There are currently 18,000 Indians working in Israel, mostly as caregivers, according to the Indian foreign ministry.

Salary and longevity of contract is the main motivator. Its a quantum leap and a killer combo to attract workers of any kind, Samir Khosla, chairman of Dynamic Staffing Services, an agency based in New Delhi that works with Pauzners group, said in a phone interview Tuesday.

The recruitment drive has its critics, some of whom fear the Indian workers might be deployed in high-risk areas or be subject to mistreatment. Thai migrant farmworkers interviewed by Human Rights Watch have described being underpaid, working excessively long hours and other rights violations.

Nothing could be more immoral and disastrous for India than the said export of workers to Israel, a group of 10 of Indias biggest trade unions said in a November statement. That India is even considering exporting workers shows the manner in which it has dehumanized and commodified Indian workers.

Indian workers submit registration forms seeking employment in Israel during a recruitment drive at the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Lucknow, capital of India's Uttar Pradesh state on January 25, 2024. (Naeem Ansari / AFP - Getty Images)

Indian officials have defended the recruitment, saying labor laws in Israel are robust.

We are very conscious of our responsibility to provide security and safety to our people who are abroad, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters this month.

The risks of war and any ethical considerations have not been enough to deter Indian workers such as Kundan from applying.

I dont care, he said. Its possible we could get injured. But we need to make our lives better, too.

The Israeli government is hiring 10,000 construction workers in the first phase, Pauzner said, including carpenters, ironworkers, plasterers and tile fitters, and up to a total of 60,000 in the coming months. He said 6,000 workers had already been selected, some of whom will be arriving in Israel as early as mid-February.

Going forward, India is likely to become Israels biggest source of foreign construction workers, he said.

Officials have set up recruitment centers in multiple Indian cities including Delhi and Chennai. Applicants in the highly competitive process must have at least three years of experience and pass an exam.

Indian workers submit registration forms seeking employment in Israel during a recruitment drive at the Industrial Training Institute in Lucknow, capital of India's Uttar Pradesh state on January 25, 2024. (Naeem Ansari / AFP - Getty Images)

A handful of online job postings seen by NBC News, some of which have had thousands of views on YouTube, list another eligibility requirement: Only non-Muslims need apply.

Pauzner and Khosla said neither the Israeli government nor the builders association has imposed any kind of religious restriction on applicants. Pauzner added that workers are also being recruited from Uzbekistan, a Muslim-majority nation in Central Asia.

That message may not be trickling down to all those involved in the process in Hindu-majority India, where about 14% of the population is Muslim. Independent recruiters in two different cities told NBC News they had been told by the bigger hiring firms they work for that only Hindus and Christians would be considered.

Niaz Ahmed Farooqui, secretary of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, a leading Muslim group in India, said Wednesday that the group was not aware of any religious discrimination in the recruitment process. The Israeli Embassy in New Delhi and Indias foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

In December, Raul Srugo, president of the Israel Builders Association, told Israeli lawmakers, As far as we care, they can bring us workers from the moon.

CORRECTION (Feb. 4, 2024, 5:15 p.m. ET): A photo caption on a previous version of this article misstated when Indian workers were pictured applying for work. It was Jan. 25, not Feb. 1.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Claim:

Japanese scientists successfully created an MRI machine that can record dreams and reconstruct them to be viewed later.

Rating:

Rating: Mixture

What's True:

In 2013, Japanese researchers published a study describing a method for "recording dreams" by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to record brain activity associated with particular objects when a subject is both awake and asleep. The resulting recordings consist of flashes of images of objects that correlate with this brain activity.

What's False:

The result is not a direct-to-video recording in the usual sense, nor does it comprise a narrative record of a subject's dream as some social media posts have suggested. Rather, the clips consist of a rapid succession of still images assembled with the help of a machine learning program.

The development of a technology to record and replay dreams like a movie, allowing dreamers to relive their wildest sleeping fantasies and nightmares alike, seems like the stuff of science fiction. But in 2013, news of an experiment that at least partially validated the idea made headlines in media publications including The Verge, NPR, and BBC.

The news resurfaced again over a decade later, albeit in somewhat exaggerated form, when a meme shared to Facebook on Jan. 15, 2024, claimed the following:

(Screengrab/Facebook)

It is true that in 2013, Japanese research developed a technology to read and "record" dreams, so to speak, but said recordings weren't like a movie, as some social media posts claimed. As such, we have rated this claim as Mixture.

Publishing their work in the peer-reviewed journal Science, the Japanese researchers described a method of recording dreams by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a noninvasive technique that the University of California, San Diego, described as being used for measuring and mapping brain activity.

This neural decoding approach utilized machine-learning models that would match particular brain activity patterns to particular objects, both when a test subject was awake and asleep.

Dreaming is often, though not always, associated with visual experiences. But do our brains behave in the same way when we see something while awake as they do when were asleep? To find out, the researchers recorded the brain activity of three test subjects  a relatively small sample size  when the subjects were shown a variety of objects when awake.

In addition to the fMRI, scientists equipped these test subjects with an electroencephalogram (EEG), a test the Mayo Clinic described as a method to measure electrical activity in the brain using small, metal discs (electrodes) attached to the head. Participants were then asked to fall asleep and were awakened as soon as the EEG detected brain activity that indicated they were dreaming.

Upon awakening, scientists asked the subjects to describe the contents of their dream, and, as the fMRI also recorded brain activity during the dream, the scientists attempted to match objects visualized in the dream to those seen by the subjects while awake based on corresponding brain activity patterns. The process was repeated until researchers had obtained 200 visual reports from each subject.

Words describing visual objects were grouped into 20 basic categories, such as male or female, and each verbal report was then represented by an image.

This data was then input into a decoder, which was described by the scientists in an April 5, 2013, Science Podcast interview as a machine learning model that predicted visual content given the measured brain activity by using an algorithm that could identify fine-scale, picture by picture images.

The result? Though brain activity associated with a given object differs from person to person, individuals experience the same brain activity associated with the object when they're awake as they do when they're dreaming. The resulting "recordings" consisted of flashes of objects that correlated with this brain activity, though not a movie-like narrative as some have suggested.

Together, our findings provide evidence that specific contents of visual experience during sleep are represented by, and can be read out from, visual cortical activity patterns shared with stimulus representation, concluded the researchers.

Our method may further work beyond the bounds of sleep stages and reportable experience to uncover the dynamics of spontaneous brain activity in association with stimulus representation. We expect that it will lead to a better understanding of the functions of dreaming and spontaneous neural events.

Snopes reached out to the study's authors to ascertain where the research stood as of January 2024. Study author Yukiyasu Kamitan, professor of the Graduate School of Informatics at Kyoto University, wrote that "there is not much progress specifically on dreaming."

However, the researchers have improved their visual image reconstruction methods that now allow for reconstructing arbitrary images that are not restricted to categories used for the study above.

"The [newly updated] model can reconstruct images that reflect subjective visual experiences, too, such as mental imagery, attention, and illusions. We are now testing sleep data to see if the generated images reflect dream content," Kamitan wrote.

Sources:

EEG (Electroencephalogram) - Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/eeg/about/pac-20393875. Accessed 26 Jan. 2024.

Horikawa, T., et al. Neural Decoding of Visual Imagery During Sleep. Science, vol. 340, no. 6132, May 2013, pp. 63942. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1234330.

Log in or Sign up to View. https://www.facebook.com/login/. Accessed 26 Jan. 2024.

Robertson, Adi. Scientists Turn Dreams into Eerie Short Films with an MRI Scan. The Verge, 4 Apr. 2013, https://www.theverge.com/2013/4/4/4184728/scientists-decode-dreams-with-mri-scan.

Scientists read Dreams Using Brain Scans. BBC News, 4 Apr. 2013. www.bbc.com, https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-22031074.

Stein, Rob. Researchers Use Brain Scans To Reveal Hidden Dreamscape. NPR, 4 Apr. 2013. NPR, https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/04/04/176224026/researchers-use-brain-scans-to-reveal-hidden-dreamscape.

What Is FMRI? - Center for Functional MRI - UC San Diego. http://fmri.ucsd.edu/Research/whatisfmri.html. Accessed 26 Jan. 2024.
Former President Donald Trump repeated a variety of his previous false claims about the Middle East, rival Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other subjects in an interview that aired Sunday morning on Fox News  notably including his years-old lie that he warned the US not to invade Iraq. Heres a non-comprehensive roundup.

Invasion of Iraq

Trump revived a lie he has been uttering since his 2016 presidential campaign  an assertion that he publicly spoke out against the idea of invading Iraq. He said on Fox: Going into Iraq was a stupid thing. Remember I used to say: Dont do it, but if you do it, keep the oil.

Facts First: Trumps claim that he said Dont do it is false; the claim was debunked eight years ago. In reality, Trump did not publicly express opposition to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq before it occurred. In his 2000 book, The America We Deserve, Trump argued a military strike on Iraq might be necessary; when radio host Howard Stern asked Trump in September 2002 whether he is for invading Iraq, Trump responded, Yeah, I guess so. I wish the first time it was done correctly; and Trump did not express a firm opinion about the looming war in a Fox interview in January 2003, saying that either you attack or dont attack and that then-President George W. Bush has either got to do something or not do something, perhaps.

Trump began criticizing the war in 2003, but after the invasion, and also said that year that American troops should not be withdrawn from Iraq. He emerged as an explicit opponent of the war in 2004. You can read more here about his shifting positions.

A CNN search in 2019 turned up no examples of Trump saying anything before the war about keeping Iraqs oil. Trumps White House did not respond at the time to our request to provide any such evidence.

Irans missiles

Trump repeated a claim he has made at various campaign events in recent months, saying Iran intentionally avoided hitting a base that housed US troops in Iraq when it launched missiles toward the base in January 2020 in retaliation for the Trump-ordered assassination of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.

Trump claimed on Fox, as he has before, that Iran called me to let him know of its plan to deliberately miss. He said, We knew they werent going to hit inside the fort even though outside observers were left wondering, How come they all missed?

Facts First: Trumps claims that all of Irans missiles missed the base are false. As The Washington Post noted in its own fact check late last year, 11 Iranian missiles hit the al-Asad base Iran targeted in the retaliatory attack. The fact that missiles hit the base was confirmed by satellite images, by the Pentagon, and by a CNN visit to the base days after the attack. CNN reported from the scene: Ten of the 11 missiles struck US positions at the sprawling desert Iraqi airbase. One struck a remote location on the Iraqi militarys side. CNN reported that the Iranian missiles, which used on-board guidance systems, managed to shred sensitive US military sites, damaging a special forces compound, and two hangars, in addition to the US drone operators housing unit.

While no US troops were killed, more than 100 were diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injuries. Gen. Mark Milley, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the time, told reporters he believed Irans intent was to kill; he credited the defensive techniques that our forces used for the absence of deaths.

Trump has provided no substantiation for the claim that Iran called him to telegraph the strike and offer reassurance. As The Post reported, Iraqs prime minister said he received a general warning from Iran that it was about to begin its response and target US troops.

New Hampshire primary

Trump said the New Hampshire primary he won in January was the one place that Haley had a chance to win  claiming that this is because Democrats are stupidly allowed to vote in the Republican primary, and independents also.

Facts First: Trumps claim is false. Registered Democrats arent allowed to vote in New Hampshires Republican primary. Only registered Republicans and independents are allowed to vote.

Some independents who lean toward Democrats almost certainly participated in the Republican primary, plus some Democrats who switched their affiliation to independent before the early October deadline. But Trump claimed, with no caveats, that Democrats are simply allowed to vote in New Hampshire. Thats not true. (And it is standard for states to allow people to switch affiliations by a certain date to participate in another partys primary.)

Indiana primary ballot

Trump claimed of Haley: We have a situation where they forgot to apply, I guess, for Indiana. You dont run and not apply for Indiana. Great state.

Facts First: This is false. Haley did not forget to apply to be on the Republican primary ballot in Indiana. The filing deadline for the May 7 primary, February 9, has not arrived yet. Trump has previously made a different claim that Haley did not submit enough signatures by the states January 30 signature deadline to qualify for the ballot; Haleys campaign told CNN and other media outlets that this is not true and that she submitted more than enough signatures.

Regardless, the campaign didnt forget to apply.

Well be on the ballot. We turned in more than double all the signatures required and they are being verified now as part of the process before the filing deadline on February 9, Haley campaign spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas said in a Sunday email.

In response to a similar claim from Trump, Haley wrote on social media on Friday: Looks like hes confused again

Mitch McConnell and the Green New Deal

In a clip from the interview that Fox aired Friday, Trump claimed McConnell has supported trillions in spending on projects that are Green New Deal. The Green New Deal is a broad congressional resolution, supported by some Democratic legislators, that calls for major investments in a wide variety of environmental, social and economic initiatives.

Mitch McConnell: I mean, hes agreed billions of dollars and trillions of dollars for projects that are Green New Deal  you know, I call it the Green New Scam  trillions of dollars for the Green New Scam, Trump said.

Facts First: Trumps claim that McConnell has supported trillions in spending on Green New Deal projects is false even under a generous-to-Trump definition of what counts as a Green New Deal project. And as in the past, Trump failed to mention here that McConnell has been a vocal opponent of the Green New Deal congressional resolution as a whole  and that Congress has never actually passed the resolution.

McConnell has repeatedly denounced the Green New Deal resolution, describing it as, among other things, radical, socialist and a mess.

So what is Trump talking about? Trumps similar past attacks have been about how McConnell voted in 2021 for a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that contained spending that overlaps with some of the proposals in the wide-ranging Green New Deal resolution. For example, the 2021 infrastructure bill contained tens of billions in spending on cleaning up toxic waste sites, modernizing public transportation, increasing the countrys resilience against climate change, ensuring drinking water is clean, and facilitating a transition to zero- and low-emissions vehicles.

But even if you were to count all of this as Green New Deal spending  which would be misleading given that the list includes priorities that both parties funded long before the Green New Deal was introduced in 2019  the total would be in the hundreds of billions, not trillions.

McConnell opposed a major Democratic bill in 2022 that spent hundreds of billions more on climate initiatives.

Border wall

Touting his performance on immigration policy, Trump claimed, as he has before, I built 561 miles of wall.

Facts First: Trumps 561 miles claim is false, a substantial exaggeration. An official report by US Customs and Border Protection, written two days after Trump left office and subsequently obtained by CNNs Priscilla Alvarez, said the number built under Trump was 458 miles (including both wall built where no barriers had existed before and wall built to replace previous barriers).

Even in his campaign speeches late last year, Trump sometimes put the figure, more correctly, at nearly 500 miles. You can read more here.

CNNs Andrew Kaczynski contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The continued presence of fewer than 1,000 Russian Wagner mercenaries in Belarus benefits Russias war effort by compelling Ukraine to maintain defensive positions and personnel along its northern border to protect against potential further incursions, according to the latest UK Defense Ministrys intelligence report of Feb. 4.

They have been present in the country since June 2023, at which point there were 8,000 Wagner mercenaries. Wagner almost certainly continues to train Belarusian military and security forces.

Read also: Hundreds of Wagner mercenaries still working in Belarus  what are they doing there?

It is unlikely that Belarusian dictator Aleksander Lukashenko would use the Wagner mercenaries beyond their current remit. They are involved in the training of Interior Ministry troops but are highly unlikely to participate directly in maintaining domestic or border security in Belarus.

Several hundred Wagner Group mercenaries continue to operate in Belarus, engaging in training activities for the country's internal troops and armed forces, the monitoring group Belaruski Hahyun reported on Telegram on Jan. 10.

The mercenaries persist in conducting systematic training sessions with the internal troops and systematic exercises with the Belarusian Armed Forces

Earlier, British intelligence reported that the Russian leadership had begun to "rehabilitate" some elements of the Wagner PMC after the militants' failed mutiny in June.

Read also: Belarus launches snap combat readiness checks of air defenses, air force

The mercenaries were given official documents identifying them as combat veterans. Wagner's PMC has also been integrated into the command structure of the Russian Guard.

All Wagner's PMC units have been reformatted, the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorates representative Vadym Skibitskyi said earlier.

A crash involving an Embraer Legacy 600 aircraft took place in Russias Tver Oblast on Aug. 23. The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) confirmed that among the passengers on board were Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary company, and his right-hand man Dmitry Utkin.

There were a total of ten individuals on board  seven passengers (Wagner PMC fighters) and three crew members.

The aviation incident occurred exactly two months after a mutiny by the Wagner mercenaries.



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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Mom, the babys not breathing!

My adult son was on the phone. I immediately kicked into take-charge nurse mode.

OK, start CPR  this is how ...

Mom, he interrupted. Shes cold and stiff. Shes gone.

Still in take-charge mode, I told him to call 911. They already had.

I couldnt wrap my head around what I was hearing. It simply could not be real. I had been sworn into the Utah House of Representatives on Monday, Jan. 31, 2011, and now, three days later, on Feb. 3, our baby, Angelia, was dead.

Unbelievable. Unbearable.

Holly Richardson and her family on Jan. 31, 2011 at her swearing-in. Less than a week later, they buried their youngest in the same dress. | Holly Richardson

I had just made it to the Capitol when that call came. I turned around immediately and went to pick up my husband, who was working in downtown Salt Lake City at the time. We sped down the highway to get to our home in Utah County, some 45 minutes away. I did not cry on the way home.

At one point, while I was still saying it couldnt be real, I felt the words, rather than heard them, I love you, Mom. Im proud of you. That was it. Ive never seen her since she died, not even in a dream; never heard or felt another message, but those two short sentences gave me  still give me  a glimmer of hope in the world beyond ours.

Angelia was always an angel in our home  in fact, her angelic nature is why we named her Angelia. She was born with hydranencephaly, which meant she was missing most of her brain, and had fluid where tissue should have been. We knew that adopting Angelia would mean burying another child. We lost our first daughter, a little girl with Down Syndrome who we had adopted from Romania, in 1995. We lost our second daughter, Elizabeth, who had been born with multiple disabilities, in 2005.

Related

Still, her death at age 3 1 2 was shockingly traumatic. She hadnt been sick, she was seemingly stable, medically, and then she was gone.

Angelias first year was hard. She had shunts placed in her head when she was three months old. Her sleep cycle was sleep three hours, be awake for three hours  and when she was awake, she was crying, for nine full months. Once that phase passed, she was a happy baby, one with smiles and giggles that lit up our home.

She was blind, she had seizures controlled with daily medication given through her feeding tube (that was placed when she was two), she never could roll over by herself or even hold her head up.

And, we loved her fiercely. If she was awake, she was in someones arms. I wrote many a blog post with Angelia cradled in my left arm. I sang to her, I danced with her, and even knowing she would die, I never shielded my heart from pouring love into her all day, every day.

She had many big brothers and big sisters who absolutely doted on her. The big sisters would paint her fingernails and toenails. They took her on outings in the stroller. One of our family goals when we adopted Angelia was that she would feel loved during her short life. She was. So loved.

We buried Angelia on Saturday, two days after her expected-but-unexpected death. Then, we all went back to normal life. Its weird that we do that in our culture. Its jarring that the world keeps turning  it seems like it should just stop. But, it doesnt and especially not the legislative session.

As a legislator, I coped the only way I knew how. I compartmentalized. I knew I could not let myself cry or I would not be able to stop. It did happen once, a week after her funeral when I was at a public meeting in our community. Someone told me they were sorry they had missed Angelias funeral. It was enough to break through my very fragile veneer and I ran to the bathroom where I was wracked with great, heaving sobs. The kind that leave you breathless and gasping for air. Nothing dainty about it.

In committee meetings and on the House floor, I tried my best to not allow myself to cry  but I cried in the car every day and all weekend. I sometimes cried in my office. I cried for Angelia and her loss every day for two years. I cry when I talk about her. I cried writing this article.

Angelias death broke us. Thirteen years later, were mostly put back together, but we will never be the same. Life is like that, you know. Break, grieve, get put back together. Break, grieve, get put back together. Every breaking, though, is the opportunity for a new us to emerge. Softer and stronger. Reshaped. A human version of kintsugi, filling our broken parts with gold.

Do I regret adopting Angelia? Absolutely not. The love she brought was and is worth the price of loss.

Holly Richardson is the editor of Utah Policy.
A final ruling on updates to Title IX, the federal civil rights law prohibiting sex-based discrimination at federally funded schools, was sent to the White House Friday for review.

Potential updates to the law could determine how schools respond to sexual misconduct and codify protections for transgender students.

The Education Department sent the regulation to the Office of Management and Budget on Friday, and if approved, could unravel policies put in place under former Education Secretary Betsy Devos  who narrowly tailored the definition of sexual misconduct, and made sure schools performed live hearings during investigations related to the matter.

The development comes after the Biden administration said in December that it would finalize the updates related to Title IX by March this year, almost a year after blowing past the first proposed deadline.

A separate proposal regarding transgender student-athletes is also expected to be unveiled by March, according to an Education Department

Even if passed, implementation of any changes will hinge on the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. According to its website, the period for the review is 90 days. It could get extended, but there is no minimum period for review.

The delay in crystalizing the rule has sparked criticism from Democrats in Congress and advocacy groups. In a late November letter directed to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, over 60 Democrats in the lower chamber urged the department to finalize the update.

The finalization of the rule could assist President Biden in his quest to be reelected to the Oval Office come November.

Biden, who is likely to square up against former President Trump, the current GOP front-runner, promised to quickly alter the Trump administrations Title IX regulations during his 2020 campaign.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Scientists are using the mRNA technology behind Covid jabs to create new vaccines that could treat and even cure cancer - E+

The first UK patients have received a revolutionary cancer vaccine as part of a global trial.

Scientists are using the mRNA technology behind Covid jabs to create new vaccines that could treat and even cure cancer.

The vaccine works by highlighting specific protein markers on the cells of a cancerous tumour to the immune system so that a patients own defences kick in and attack the cancer, which would otherwise go undetected.

Health officials said the NHS was at the vanguard of trials of cancer vaccines.

The trial is being led by scientists at Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust and Imperial College London, which said it was the first in the UK to test the jabs, administering them to British patients at Hammersmith Hospital, in west London.

The study will assess the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine against lung cancer, skin cancer and other solid tumours, researchers said.

An 81-year-old man from Surrey with skin cancer was the first to receive the vaccine, dubbed mRNA-4359. After limited success with other treatments he took part in the trial and said we have to change the fact that one in two people get cancer.

Victoria Atkins, the health secretary, said the ground-breaking development could make a difference to countless lives.

The vaccine has the potential to save even more lives while revolutionising the way in which we treat this terrible disease with therapies that are more effective and less toxic, she said.

It underlines our position as a life sciences superpower and our commitment to research and development, she added.

Scientists really excited

The mRNA therapy is one of two main types of cancer vaccine being developed by scientists around the world, but this is the one they are really excited about because of the way it could revolutionise cancer treatment.

The other form of cancer vaccine being developed has to be personalised and requires taking genetic material from a persons tumour to create a specific jab for them.

Experts hope that the mRNA cancer vaccines will serve as ready made and off-the-shelf jabs that can be given to multiple patients with a specific type of cancer, rather than having to be personalised to an individual.

It is expected that there will need to be different types of mRNA vaccines to treat different forms of cancer.

Unlike traditional vaccines given to prevent illness from contagious viruses such as measles and smallpox, they will be given to patients who already have cancer.

It is not possible to create a one-size-fits-all jab for cancer as each tumour varies by type and person.

However, it is hoped that by identifying common markers on cancer cells, the vaccines will be able to target and eradicate tumours and stop them from returning. People who have had cancer are more likely to get it again or become resistant to treatment.

Experts hope the treatment will evolve into a cure for cancer.

Dr David Pinato, consultant oncologist and scientist at Imperial College, told The Telegraph the mRNA vaccine was more potent at exposing the tumour and in the future could be used to prevent recurrence.

We desperately need these to turn the tide against cancer. New mRNA-based cancer immunotherapies offer a new avenue for recruiting the patients own immune system to fight their cancer, he said.

This research is still in the early stages and may be a number of years from being available to patients, but this trial is laying crucial groundwork that is moving us closer towards new therapies that are potentially less toxic and more precise.

Vaccines could be revolutionary

Prof Peter Johnson, the NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: The NHS is at the vanguard of trials of cancer vaccines, which could be revolutionary if we are successful in vaccinating people against their own cancers to prevent them growing back after treatment.

He said there was pioneering work happening at hospitals up and down the country and expected to see thousands more patients taking part in trials in the coming years.

The NHS last year announced a Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad in collaboration with German pharmaceutical firm BioNTech to fast-track trials of mRNA cancer vaccines, which are expected to start this year.

The early-phase Mobilize trial at Imperial is part of the Governments partnership with another pharmaceutical company, Moderna, to develop mRNA cancer vaccines in the UK.

It will recruit several hundred participants from the UK, US and Australia, over the next three years.

Patients will receive either the vaccine alone, or alongside immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, and will be monitored for up to 34 months.

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A carnival float is on fire on a street during a carnival parade in Kehl. At least five people were hurt, one of them seriously, when a Carnival float caught fire at a parade on 04 February in Kehl in south-western Germany, police said. (Best quality available) Marco Durr/Einsatzreport24/dpa

At least five people were hurt, one of them seriously, when a Carnival float caught fire at a parade on Sunday in Kehl in south-western Germany, police said.

One person suffered such severe burn injuries that he had to be taken to hospital in a rescue helicopter.

A police spokesman said that an explosion on the trailer is suspected of having caused the blaze.

To save themselves from the flames, several people jumped off the float and onto the street. Police said the truck with the float trailer was badly damaged.

The parade, which tens of thousands of people had turned out to watch, was stopped after the incident.

Kehl Mayor Wolfram Britz rushed to the scene of the accident immediately after the fire department was alerted at 3:10 pm (1410 GMT).

Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze. The police have launched in investigation into the cause of the fire.

Kehl sits on the Rhine river opposite of the French city of Strasbourg.

A cleaning machine drives along near the scene where a carnival float caught fire in the afternoon. At least five people were hurt, one of them seriously, when a Carnival float caught fire at a parade on 04 February in Kehl in south-western Germany, police said. Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa

The light of a car illuminates the spot where a carnival float caught fire in the afternoon. At least five people were hurt, one of them seriously, when a Carnival float caught fire at a parade on 04 February in Kehl in south-western Germany, police said. Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa
A shark fishing expert landed a monster on a Florida beach Wednesday when he singlehandedly reeled in a 1,200-pound, 12-foot great white shark.

Blaine Kenny, who owns Coastal Worldwide, a shark fishing outfitter and fishing tour group in Pensacola, and his business partner, Dylan Wier, set themselves up on Tuesday night at on Navarre Beach, about 25 miles east of Pensacola, aiming to catch the biggest sharks possible, they said on their YouTube channel.

The duo set out on their mission by using the biggest bait possible  a head of a 150-pound swordfish head and a head of an 80-pound yellowfin tuna head, The Miami Herald reported.

At 8 a.m. the following morning, there was a tug on Kennys line, and he started to reel in the fish.

He just jumped! Kenny says in the video.

The entire process took an hour, since Kenny would draw in the fish and it would pull back out into the water. Hes not letting me take anything, he explains in the clip, which is close to 25 minutes long.

The impressive feat was captured on video, which was posted on YouTube. Youtube/Coastal Worldwide

We might have to end up chasing him at some point.

Weir, who served as Kennys spotter, made predictions on what the sea creature could be.

Its a big, big wintertime shark, he says.

Kenny singlehandedly reeled in a 1,200-pound, 12-foot great white shark. Youtube/Coastal Worldwide

Theres only a few things it can be, a mako, a giant tiger, a white shark or the biggest dusky weve ever seen in our lives, Weir chatters. Were just going to play it out, not jump to assumptions, and really does it matter whats on the other end of that line right now? We have one task at hand and the task is Blaine has to stay locked in. I have to stay locked in.

With the help of a drone, Wier searched overhead to determine what was on Kennys line.

Look at that, thats a white shark! Wier says.

Oh my gosh, bro, Kenny replies, and continues to try to bring the shark to shore.

You did, dude, Weir continues. Yeah, thats a monster, dude, thats not just any white shark.

Dylan Wier, Kennys business partner, served as his spotter. Youtube/Coastal Worldwide

At one point toward the end of the ordeal, Kenny thought the shark had slipped off the line. That was terrifying, he said. I was gonna be heartbroken.

He eventually pulled the massive animal onto the shore, but because it was a great white, Weir said it had to get it in and out of the water as fast as possible.

Once Kenny removed the hook from the shark, the animal was released back into the water.

Ive said it so many times before, he gushed. But truly, truly words cannot describe the feeling of this fish right here.
With supporters saying the proposal would help ensure access to health care, the House began moving forward Friday with a proposal that would create a new category of rural emergency hospitals in the state.

The House Select Committee on Health Innovation unanimously approved the bill (HB 309), sponsored by Rep. Jason Shoaf, R-Port St. Joe.

The Senate Health Policy Committee last week approved the Senate version (SB 644), sponsored by Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee.

Read: Hundreds of rural hospitals at risk of closing, new report says

A federal law signed in December 2020 allowed the creation of rural emergency hospitals and made them eligible for Medicare payments.

But the state still would need to create a licensure type and change licensure requirements, according to a state House staff analysis.

Read: How hospital workforce challenges fared in Florida in 2023

The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website said hospitals that convert to the new designation can provide emergency services, observation care, and outpatient services that do not exceed an average length of stay of 24 hours.

The website said they are prohibited from providing inpatient services.

Shoaf, who represents a sprawling rural district, told the House panel Friday that the goal of the bill is to ensure that hospitals in underserved rural areas can remain open.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Lawmakers in the Florida House said on Wednesday they didnt know public school officials could still use corporal punishment to discipline students. That practice, which is in use in nearly a third of school districts, could be restricted under a proposal thats getting bipartisan support this legislative session.

Short of banning school officials from paddling or hitting kids, the proposal from Palm Beach Democrat Rep. Katherine Waldron would require schools that use corporal punishment to get permission to do so from parents at the beginning of the school year.

Principals would be barred from hitting kids whose parents dont opt in or fill out a permission slip. The bill gained unanimous approval in its first committee stop. The identical Senate version has not been heard.

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Many people probably did think that it was already banned. I didnt know it was a district-by-district thing.  I can tell you that if it were me and my kid came home and told me that they mouthed off to the teacher and as a result of mouthing off to the teacher some principal took a piece of wood to them; Me and that principal would have issues, said Democratic Rep. Christopher Benjamin of Miami-Dade County. This bill doesnt go far enough. It should be outright banned.

The measure also bans using physical force on students with students with disabilities and homeless students. Charter schools, which are public schools in Florida, would have to comply with corporal punishment restrictions.

Florida isnt alone in the use of corporal punishments against students. While the practice is most common in southern states, only 27 states have explicitly banned it, according to the latest analysis from the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Source: Florida Department of Education (Jackie Llanos/Florida Phoenix)

Over the past decade, school districts have lessened their use of corporal punishment, but that doesnt mean its uncommon. In the previous school year, 18 districts reported 509 instances in which officials used physical force to discipline students, according to the Florida Department of Education. When and how the students can be hit is largely left up to principals. Only principals, not teachers, would be allowed to hit the kids under the proposal.

Reported instances of corporal punishment are concentrated in northern Florida counties such as Suwannee, Holmes, Columbia and Calhoun.

Capricious and arbitrary treatment

Although the bill garnered bipartisan support, some House Republicans in the Education Quality Subcommittee said they disfavored a restriction against corporal punishment for students with individual education plans, which demonstrate that a student has different needs or could have a disability. Pasco Rep. Brad Yeager said his son had an IEP but that it didnt affect his behavior. He also asked if Waldron would consider changing the bill so that parents have to indicate they dont want principals to paddle their kids.

Waldron said the IEP provision protects students with disabilities who may not be able to control their behavior. In the 2020-2021 school year, school officials reported hitting 200 students with disabilities, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

The line of questioning from Marion Republican Rep. Ryan Chamberlin about whether misbehavior had gone up in counties that didnt use corporal punishment irked fellow Republican Rep. Mike Beltran of Hillsborough and Manatee. Beltran is one of the GOP sponsors of the bill.

The subtext to some of the questioning was that somehow we were being lenient, or excessively lenient to children, or that there was some problem in society that arose today that we need to preserve, or expand, or continue to use corporal punishment. I havent been lenient at all, Beltran said.

He also said that corporal punishment should be banned completely. The Legislature attempted to do so not too long ago. In 2019, then Sen. Annettee Taddeo sponsored a bill prohibiting the practice.

He continued: I could get sentenced by a judge, and theyre still not going to paddle me. Yet some principal and some teacher, basically, can decide to discipline the child. It makes absolutely no sense. Its completely susceptible to capricious and arbitrary treatment.

Chamberlin responded that he asked those questions because he was curious about Floridas use of corporal punishment.

Its not about necessarily personal preference. Its understanding whats in the best interest of the children and how they can grow and learn, he said.

Waldron gave credit to a group of University of Florida students who pushed lawmakers to take up the issue.

Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Diane Rado for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and Twitter.
A former Boston Police police officer in the K-9 unit pleaded guilty to felony charges on Thursday for his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Joseph Robert Fisher, 52, of Plymouth, Mass., pleaded guilty to eight counts of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain police officers, obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder. He also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, acts of physical violence on the Capitol grounds and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a release.

Fisher was accused of pushing a chair into a Capitol police officer inside the building as the officer was running after another rioter who was deploying pepper spray. He engaged in a physical assault against the officer moments later, which ended with Fisher on the ground.

A current Boston police officer helped investigators identify Fisher in photographs. Fisher retired in 2016 after more than 20 years in the police force, including time on the K-9 unit. He was arrested at his home on March 30, 2023.

The DOJ said U.S. District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss will sentence Fisher on May 24, 2024.

Fisher is among more than 1,200 individuals who have been charged for crimes related to the breach of the Capitol. The DOJ has continued to prosecute individuals involved, even as the Supreme Court said it will hear a challenge to an obstruction law that has been used against many rioters.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former Trump administration official Mike Gill died Sunday after being shot during a carjacking spree in Washington, D.C., last Monday. He was 56.

"It is with profound sadness that I wish to inform the community of the passing of my husband, Mike Gill. His sudden departure has left a void in our lives that can never be filled. In this time of grief, we are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from family, friends, and the community, and extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has reached out to offer condolences and assistance, his wife Kristina Gill wrote in a statement that she shared with Fox 5.

Gill had previously worked as chief of staff of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission under former President Donald Trump and recently served as senior vice president for Capital Markets at the Housing Policy Council. He was the father of three children and a St. Louis native.

"His life reflected everything that is good and right and true," former CFTC Chair J. Christopher Giancarlo said on X, formerly known as Twitter. "He will be sorely missed and long remembered."

A statement released by the Metropolitan Police Department said that the shooter approached the parked vehicle on K Street, got inside and shot the male driver and then left the vehicle. Gills family later identified Mike as the victim. The suspect in the case, whom police identified as Artell Cunningham, was subsequently shot and killed by police after a second fatal shooting.

In D.C., the number of carjackings increased for the sixth consecutive year, with 959 reported incidents in 2023 according to MPD.

Wonderful and brilliant Mike Gill, a highly respected member of the Trump Administration, was ruthlessly and viciously shot in the head during a carjacking in Washington, D.C. He was a SPECIAL PERSON  His family and friends are devastated. The Federal Government must take over D.C. God bless Michael and his family! Trump posted to his site Truth Social on Sunday.
A former Trump administration official has died after being shot in an attempted carjacking spree in downtown Washington, D.C., last Monday, the victims family confirmed to The Hill.

It is with profound sadness that I wish to inform the community of the passing of my husband, Mike Gill, Gills wife, Kristina Gill, wrote in a statement. His sudden departure has left a void in our lives that can never be filled.

Gill, a married father of three who worked at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission during former President Trumps White House tenure, was shot last Monday while inside of a car at the 900 block of K Street NW, a spokesperson for the family confirmed last week.

He was left in critical condition at the time of the incident but has since succumbed to injuries.

Kristina remembered her husband as a devoted husband and father and a cherished son, brother and friend.

Over the course of his remarkable life, Mike brought people together and made them feel included, supported, and loved, she wrote. His heart was evident in everything he did, as demonstrated by his mentorship and deep friendships with those who worked with him professionally. Above all, Mike spoke with pride and love about his family, especially our children, Sean, Brian, and Annika. 

The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said a suspect  later identified as Artell Cunningham, 28, per the Maryland attorney generals office  approached the parked car, got inside and shot Gill before leaving.

Cunningham allegedly fled on foot and unsuccessfully tried to carjack another person nearly an hour later, but the victim fled the scene and reported the incident to police, D.C. police said.

Police said he then approached another man and woman in their car in northeast D.C. about 10 minutes later and demanded the keys, before shooting the man and fleeing the scene. The man later died at the hospital, police said.

That car was later discovered in Marylands Prince Georges County, where police said Cunningham attempted two other carjackings. At around 3 a.m. Tuesday, he was seen driving one of the carjacked vehicles on the highway and shot at a police cruiser, police said.

New Carrollton Police Department officers later encountered Cunningham, who allegedly produced two handguns. The two officers shot at and struck the suspect, who was taken into custody and later died at the hospital.

At the time of his death, Gill was working as a senior vice president for capital markets at the Housing Policy Council, was an attorney and previously served as a member of the D.C. Board of Elections.

Ed DeMarco, president of the Housing Policy Council, remembered Gill as outstanding lawyer, public servant, colleague, and community member who gave his time and talent in service to his country, his city, his church, and his community. 

Mikes death is also a huge loss for the Housing Policy Council and for the Washington, DC community, which has lost an outstanding citizen, neighbor, co-worker, and friend, he wrote in a statement to The Hill.

The crime spree followed increasing concerns over rising carjackings and shootings in and around the nations capital.

The Department of Justice announced last month it will bolster its fight against violent crime and carjackings in Washington.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A former University of Texas at Austin student was sentenced Jan. 16 in connection with two burglary of a habitation charges that occurred in March 2021, according to Travis County court documents.

Records showed 24-year-old Rolando Benavides was found guilty and given six years deferred adjudication.

PAST COVERAGE | Police: Ex-UT student broke into dorm rooms, committed sexual acts with victims property

In Texas, deferred adjudication is a type of probation where the person sentenced can keep the conviction off their criminal record.

As a part of the sentencing, Benavides must also serve 60 days in county jail, as well as pay more than $12,000 in restitution, according to court documents.

Benavides was also instructed to stay away from the UT residence halls.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Forty asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm barge are converting to Christianity amid growing fears that migrants are claiming to have changed their religion in order to stay in the country.

Nearly one in seven of the 300 migrants on the barge in Portland, Dorset, are attending churches under the supervision of local faith leaders, according to a church elder.

The disclosure comes amid a growing row over the role of UK churches in supporting the conversion to Christianity of migrants including Abdul Shokoor Ezedi, the suspected Clapham chemical attacker.

Ezedi was granted asylum on that basis, despite having been convicted of two sex offences three years earlier.

On Monday, James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, is expected to receive an initial report setting out the full facts of the case as government sources questioned whether it was really possible to credibly substantiate the validity of a religious conversion.

Mr Cleverly is expected to consider whether any legal changes are needed to ensure tighter scrutiny of asylum seekers conversion claims and to enable the automatic deportation of convicted foreign criminals such as Ezedi, who received a two-year suspended sentence for sexual assault and exposure before being granted leave to remain in the UK.

As the police manhunt for Ezedi entered its fourth day, Scotland Yard offered a reward of 20,000 for information leading to the arrest of the 35-year-old.

He is alleged to have left a 31-year-old mother with life-changing injuries and injured her two daughters, aged eight and three, when he attacked them with a corrosive chemical in south-west London.

Ministers are understood to be concerned at the way church support for Ezedis conversion was critical to apparently persuading an immigration tribunal judge to back his appeal for asylum, despite the Home Office twice refusing his request to stay.

Ezedi claimed on his second attempt that he had converted to Christianity, putting his life at risk if returned to his native Afghanistan. A priest vouched for his conversion at his third appeal, saying he was wholly committed to the Christian faith.

Last week, friends of Ezidi told The Telegraph he was a good Muslim who bought half a Halal sheep every fortnight, despite his apparent conversion.

A government source said: There are clearly general questions about whether it is really possible to credibly substantiate the validity of a religious conversion, particularly where that opinion might be a main defence and carry very important implications.

The number of asylum seekers claiming to have converted is not published by the Home Office, but on Sunday David Rees, a church elder and education consultant, told the BBCs Sunday programme that 40 asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm had converted or were in the process of becoming Christians.

Local faith leaders have visited the barge and work with the council and the barge management in looking after these guys, he said, adding that the migrants had either converted in their home countries or on Christian Alpha or other courses in the UK.

The Alpha course, which introduces worshippers to the faith, was taken by Emad Al Swealmeen, the Liverpool bomber. The Iraqi asylum seeker blew himself up outside a maternity hospital in 2021, four years after his confirmation at the citys cathedral.

Mr Elder said he was confident that all the 40 Bibby Stockholm migrants were undergoing genuine conversions.

Obviously, we need to make sure that they believe in the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit and repent of their sins and also they want to start a new life in the church, he said.

So those are the sort of questions that we ask them, and they have to give a public testimony, at their baptism, which they did in their native language, and it was translated into English. There were no qualms at all about the content of that testimony, which was clear and conclusive about their faith in Jesus Christ.

However, Tim Loughton, a member of the home affairs committee and a former minister, said he was concerned that Christian conversion had become a scam, claiming there were cases in which some asylum seekers had got crucifix tattoos to reinforce their claims.

We have got to have a much more rigorous scrutiny process for those claiming to have converted and the basis on which it would be dangerous to return them to their home countries, he said.

The Home Office said caseworkers were trained to be able to establish the credibility of claims around religious beliefs so that protection was only granted to those in genuine need.

Guidance tells them to assess a claim in the round and not take the word of a priest as determinative. An asylum seekers participation in church activities must be considered, along with the timing of their conversion, knowledge of the faith, and the opinions of other congregation members as to the genuineness of the conversion.

It is believed Home Office caseworkers recommended that Ezedis application should be rejected under rules that anyone on the sex offenders register, as he was, should be barred.

However, it is understood the tribunal judge ruled that this was outweighed by the risk of religious persecution if, as a Christian convert, he was returned to Afghanistan.

Officials for the Church of England said they could find no record of any member of their clergy supporting his asylum application. A spokesman for the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales suggested it held no central records regarding conversion, and that decisions were made on a diocesan level.

Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary, came under fire on Sunday for claiming that Ezedis case was not really about asylum, saying: This is about, obviously, the attack on a mother and her children, which was horrific and obviously impacted others as well, some people who went to her assistance and the emergency services.

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Fresno County Supervisor Steve Brandau, who represents District 2 encompassing northeast, northwest and central Fresno, is seeking re-election to a second full four-year term on the Board of Supervisors. Brandau was initially elected to fill a partial term in a special election in 2019 and elected to a full term in 2020.

But hes facing a field of four candidates looking to unseat him, including current Fresno City Council member Garry Bredefeld, who faces term limits, and Paul Dictos, the countys elected assessor-recorder. Two other candidates are business owner Bryce Herrera and social worker Dion Bourdase.

The Fresno Bee submitted questions to each of the candidates and asked each to respond with answers of in the neighborhood of 200 words, if possible. Their responses are offered here, and presented in the order in which they were received.

Paul Dictos

Age: 80

Occupation: CPA / county Assessor-Recorder

Education: Associate of arts degree, Anatolia College in Thessaloniki, Greece; bachelor of science, accounting, California State University, Fresno

Other offices held: Fresno County Republican Committee

Campaign website: votedictos.com

Q: About one out of every five residents in Fresno County has income that falls below the poverty level. However, the average market-rate apartment rent rose by almost 43% in the Fresno metro area since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. How would you promote greater housing affordability?

I previously authored an article Oct. 15, 2023, (Fresno Bee Insight) which offers a plan in support of urban development. But that is not the answer to your question. I just finished building ADU (accessory dwelling unit) and found out first hand what is going on out there. Construction costs are not coming down. We got to preserve our valuable farmland. We should adopt the European way of life and learn how to live in 10- and 20- story housing units. I am excited about what Mayor (Fresno Mayor Jerry) Dyer is planning to do with the $250 million announced by the Governor to revitalize Downtown, preparing the infrastructure so that Fresno can provide affordable housing to our younger generation. We got to build up to keep the cost of housing affordable. And I dont hear any candidate talking about the most polluted air we are breathing in Fresno and the Valley. And of course the stand-off between the City and the County on a tax-sharing agreement does not help housing construction at all and makes it worse by forcing leapfrog development. Case in point: the current housing boom at Friant. Now the county is forced to spend $50 million dollars for the road to Millerton. More pollution for the Valley.

Q: The average condition of roads in Fresno County is considered at higher risk, and in many cases is deemed poor. What steps would you take to work toward improving the countys roads?

Fresno County has 3,400 miles of roads (some of that of course belongs to the city), 580 bridges, 10,000 augers and yes, there is $1 billion in deferred maintenance. Measure C is coming to an end and gas tax money that the county gets from the state is coming down by leaps and bounds as we get more electric cars on our roads. Gas tax money is about $40 million annually and that is dropping. We also get another $20 million from the feds. The countys general fund stopped contributing to the maintenance of the roads. We should correct it. But first we have to make sure that Measure C is put back on the ballot again and we should support it. Measure C money we can leverage with federal money. Currently the county is spending about $100 million on road repairs. If God wills that I get elected, I will make the road maintenance a priority.

Q: How would you work toward bringing higher-paying job opportunities that are accessible to a wide array of Fresno County residents?

Jobs dont just drop in. The county, the board and the city council must put their differences aside and prepare the ground. We need to create an Industrial park. That is how we got Amazon. We had the land for them to come in. Fresno suffers from lack of industrial land. The Fresno Economic Development Corporation reported that we lost thousands of jobs to surrounding counties because national firms that wanted to come to Fresno did not because we did not have the land. National companies bring jobs. Home and industrial construction bring jobs.

Garry Bredefeld

Age: 64

Occupation: Fresno City Council member

Education: Bachelor of arts, Rutgers University; master of arts, Yeshiva University; Ph.D., clinical psychology, California School of Professional Psychology, Fresno.

Other offices held: Fresno City Council (1997-2001, 2017-present)

Campaign website: GarryBredefeld.com

Q: About one out of every five residents in Fresno County has income that falls below the poverty level. However, the average market-rate apartment rent rose by almost 43% in the Fresno metro area since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. How would you promote greater housing affordability?

The best way to ensure greater housing affordability is to reduce government regulations and encourage the private sector to build more housing. However, California has so many regulations that make it extremely difficult for the private sector to build housing that is affordable.

In California, when the state invests in the building of affordable housing, in reality, it is anything but affordable for the taxpayer. Taxpayers are really subsidizing the development and most of the apartments built cost the taxpayer anywhere from $500,000 -$750,000 PER UNIT. Its outrageous and why I dont support such misuse of taxpayer money.

If you look at states such as Texas where regulations are minimal, taxes are low, and government is not intrusive, there is massive building of houses and apartments taking place all over the state.

In Fresno, my At-Risk Permitting Ordinance was unanimously passed by the City Council which has allowed developers to move forward with their developments without being impeded by onerous regulations and bureaucracy. It has helped locally.

Rent control is definitely not the answer and I will continue to strongly oppose it!

Its not complicated. Get government out of the way, reduce burdensome regulations that prevent the private sector from building homes/apartments, create tax incentives to build those homes, and you will have more affordable housing.

Q: The average condition of roads in Fresno County is considered at higher risk, and in many cases is deemed poor. What steps would you take to work toward improving the countys roads?

One of the most important concerns for residents is the lack of maintenance and decades-long neglect when it comes to their streets and neighborhood roads. Theyre frustrated and rightfully so, particularly with all the taxes they pay to fix their roads.

Californians are burdened with some of the highest gas taxes and gas prices in the entire nation. We pay about 54 cents in taxes for every gallon of gas. SB1 which was passed in 2017 was another gas tax that was supposed to improve our local roads. The improvements have been minimal to barely noticeable. Yet, Sacramento politicians insist on wasting nearly $100 BILLION on a bullet train to nowhere instead of spending that money on repairing existing roads and infrastructure.

As Fresno has grown, we needed to build Highways 41, 168, 180 and more recently Veterans Boulevard. It was critically important and I supported those projects. But now as we look at the possibility of renewing Measure C, if the voters approve it again it must be with the focus on repairing and fixing our local streets and neighborhood roads, not continuing to build new highways. The Fresno County budget must also emphasize the need to fix roads and I will ensure that it does in all future budgets.

Q: How would you work toward bringing higher-paying job opportunities that are accessible to a wide array of Fresno County residents?

As your County Supervisor, I will always fight for policies that promote economic growth and prosperity for Fresno County. That means pushing for policies that help Fresno County employers large and small continue to grow, and reducing burdensome regulations that impede that growth.

As mentioned earlier, the Fresno City Council unanimously approved my At-Risk Permitting program where small and large businesses can move forward with their projects without being unnecessarily delayed by government bureaucracy and regulations. It has saved them tremendous amounts of time and money, which allows for greater expansion opportunities for these businesses.

We have also offered tax incentives and been successful when competing against many other large cities to bring Fortune 500 companies to Fresno such as The GAP Distribution Center, Amazon Fulfillment Center, and Ulta which has produced thousands of quality and high-paying jobs.

I believe we can make Fresno County the center of job creation in California. And we do that by having a Supervisor in District 2 working hard to reduce regulations, making sure the bureaucracy is promoting and not hindering growth, and thereby ensuring our county is the most attractive place in the state for both employees and job creators.

Dion Bourdase

Age: 38

Occupation: County social worker

Education: Bachelors degree in psychology, California State University, Fresno

Other offices held: None

Campaign website: Bourdase.com

Q: About one out of every five residents in Fresno County has income that falls below the poverty level. However, the average market-rate apartment rent rose by almost 43% in the Fresno metro area since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. How would you promote greater housing affordability?

In order to address our housing needs we need to look at creating a blueprint through community discussion that includes everyone, and allows for every perspective to be included in coming to a genuine solution. Lets look into:

Building upwards: Instead of a continued cycle of urban sprawl and lack of infrastructure investment, why not more high-density housing projects which take up less space by building upwards? Combined with zoning, this could allow for future-oriented balanced neighborhoods including commercial and residential interspersed together, reducing vehicle use. And if an actual public transportation option existed it could also massively decrease traffic related pollution as well.

Zoning and leveraging new construction: Converting existing office spaces into residential and zoning specifically for multi-family projects would increase supply and alleviate some current market pressures driving housing costs dramatically upwards. With down payments as low as 5% for individuals purchasing multi-family properties, this could create an opportunity for homeownership and wealth accumulation for people who otherwise rent.

Leveraging new construction: Want to build single family luxury homes in Fresno County? You should. In exchange some percentage of that construction needs to be in some combination of rent controlled and/or low-income housing to provide for the housing needs of all members of our community.

Q: The average condition of roads in Fresno County is considered at higher risk, and in many cases is deemed poor. What steps would you take to work toward improving the countys roads?

For far too long our roads and related infrastructure have been neglected. Instead we pass on added vehicle maintainable costs to our community and disincentivize businesses coming to Fresno.

Traffic is often a test of patience and in some cases instead of adding lanes we even take them away. We need to repair our roads in all of our city and not just some places. Public access to maintained roads should be equal.

We need to fix the 99 and 41 interchanges. We need an effective and efficient public transportation system to help alleviate congestion and bring greater opportunities to those who choose to not drive.

Options like Measure C, and leveraging state and federal matching or multiplying grants to fund roadway improvements would go a long way to alleviating this issue. Currently we let political squandering leave too much meat on the bone, Losing out on opportunities which add up to a lower quality of living for all of us.

Nobody alone has the answer. This can only be solved in the long-term by bringing the perspectives of community members together. I bet your everyday travel experiences will provide unique solutions to this problem. Lets make our home better. Together.

Q: How would you work toward bringing higher-paying job opportunities that are accessible to a wide array of Fresno County residents?

My experiences tell me a large part of the solution to this problem starts with the Fresno County government itself. Fresno County sets a bad example. With 1,400+ current vacancies for 8,000+ positions because the majority of county workers make less than $20 an hour, this dynamic serves as an example to business in Fresno what is an appropriate wage for our community.

This nearly 20% vacancy rate works in the Countys favor as it leads to a balanced budget. It irreparably affects our community, as the foundation of the services provided by our local governments is compromised. A lack of services often leaves our most vulnerable populations at greater risks of homelessness and other chronic issues we face.

Henry Ford recognized that if you pay your workers better wages, they are more efficient and productive workers, and that issues of turnover often disappear as workers feel valued and appreciated to the point they are willing to sacrifice and give more to their employers. I want to bring higher paying jobs to our area through a combination of making doing business easier here, looking into mixed-use zoning. leveraging wages by incentivizing businesses to do so, and by making our local government itself, an example of what our workers are truly worth, here in Fresno County.

Bryce Herrera

Age: 27

Occupation: Small business owner

Education: Bachelor of science degree, business administration (entrepreneurship option), California State University, Fresno

Other offices held: None

Campaign website: herreraforfresno.com

Q: About one out of every five residents in Fresno County has income that falls below the poverty level. However, the average market-rate apartment rent rose by almost 43% in the Fresno metro area since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. How would you promote greater housing affordability?

We will address our housing, renting, and homelessness crisis in Fresno County by employing an active management and housing-first approach towards policymaking. We cannot sustain more losses to the tax base. To meet our 15-year lagging affordable housing needs, tax credits offer builders and developers incentives to add more units to meet our increasing demands.

Q: The average condition of roads in Fresno County is considered at higher risk, and in many cases is deemed poor. What steps would you take to work toward improving the countys roads?

I will work with my office to conduct a street safety assessment to determine priorities for street safety, including creating a County of Fresno hot shot team to respond to pothole repair requests in my district. In our higher risk areas, we will need to invest to improve safety overall, including directing Measure C funding towards County and and City roads maintenance and repairs and implementing Vision Zero. Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all.

Q: How would you work toward bringing higher-paying job opportunities that are accessible to a wide array of Fresno County residents?

We will invest tax dollars should in education, trades, and apprenticeship programs that offer living wages jobs to Fresnans. It is completely unacceptable to have 7.6% unemployment, and we can bring more jobs that provide living wages to Fresnans. We will foster partnerships in the public, private, and non-profit sectors to match job skills and training with the needs of businesses of today and tomorrow so residents will be prepared to stay local for work.

Steve Brandau

Age: 60

Occupation: County supervisor; small business owner

Education: Bachelor of arts degree, English, California State University, Fresno

Other offices held: Fresno City Council, District 2

Campaign website: None listed

Q: About one out of every five residents in Fresno County has income that falls below the poverty level. However, the average market-rate apartment rent rose by almost 43% in the Fresno metro area since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. How would you promote greater housing affordability?

A: Regarding the Fresno metro area, most residential housing with few exceptions falls to the City of Fresno and is not impacted by the Board of Supervisors directly. However, I would support those efforts by requesting state legislation that could remove burdensome development fees, mandates and red tape. These factors, like requiring solar on new housing, drive up the cost to the buyer and help keep housing out of the reach of the poor and much of the lower middle class. I believe that unfortunately we are at the mercy of a state government that doesnt understand the basics.

Q: The average condition of roads in Fresno County is considered at higher risk, and in many cases is deemed poor. What steps would you take to work toward improving the countys roads?

A: I have worked hard as a member of the Fresno County Transportation Authority to address these issues in our community. I would be a strong advocate for another round of funding for Measure C (local transportation tax that can be leveraged) as long as the focus is primarily on roads. Some flexibility should be given to each agency, the cities of Fresno County and the County itself to address specific needs as urban and rural priorities may at times be different. Some regional roadwork projects remain to be done also.

Q: How would you work toward bringing higher-paying job opportunities that are accessible to a wide array of Fresno County residents?

A: As a member of the Economic Development Corporation for eleven years I have worked hard to bring economic development to Fresno County, both in attraction and retention of businesses. On the Board of Supervisors I have already taken the lead to present a vision for a potential 3,900 acre industrial park. These resulted in unanimous support to begin a study of infrastructure needed and financing options. If this vision becomes a reality with much hard work we could put Fresno County on the map for drawing Fortune 500 level companies to our community, and estimates of 40,000 new jobs, many of them in tech, are not unrealistic.
More than 60 years ago, eight young African American students living in segregated Wichita, Kansas stood up for their rights by sitting down at the Dockum drugstore counter where only white people were served, according to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

ALSO READ: Charlotte-area Black History Month events, programs

Over the next three weeks, the group sat at the counter in silent protest, where they reached their goal of changing the drugstores discrimination policy.

Veteran crime reporter, Glenn Counts, sat down with family and friends of one of the Witicha 8, Frederick Umoja, who was wrongly convicted of a robbery and fled to Liberia for 40 years where he made quite the name for himself.

He provided an opportunity for a lot of our people to go to school, former student, James Johnson told Counts, I was sent to the AME Zion school to fix me up, so thats how I met him.

Umoja spent the beginning of his life in Kansas in the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement, where he became one of the Witchita 8 and even got to meet Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

He felt privileged to have met Martin Luther King and the rest of the boys that you see in that picture, his wife, Veta Dennis-Umoja said.

In 1969, Johnson and seven others were convicted on false robbery charges by an all-white jury forcing him to flee to Liberia and change his name. There he met his wife and helped educate thousands by participating in the founding of multiple schools.

It made him feel good, it made him feel useful that he could be there for these kids, Dennis-Umoja said.

Some of the kids Umoja helped were former child soldiers who fought in both of Liberias civil wars.

In 2011, he was pardoned by the governor of Kansas allowing him to return to the United States. In 2014 he and his family decided to settle her in Charlotte.

We came here during the Ebola epidemic like in 2014, his wife told Counts.

Umoja helped hundreds of students attend college in the United States, some of whom went to Livingstone College in Salisbury. Many of those students came to the Queen City to attend his funeral over the weekend.

His favorite song: if I can help somebody as I travel along this way then my living shall not be in vain, Dennis-Umoja said.

(WATCH BELOW: Black History Month Spotlight: Chatty Hatty Leeper)




















Group of Seven (G7) countries are developing strategies to issue debt to support Ukraine, utilizing Russian assets a safety net for repayment, the Financial Times reported on Feb. 3.

According to G7 officials familiar with the discussions, the proposed plan involves Kyiv's allies raising debt to provide financial support for Ukraine and demanding that Russia repays the debt. If Russia does not repay the debt, the countries would then seize frozen Russian assets.

Structuring the debt support in this way would enable allies to raise funds for Ukraine without the immediate need to resolve legal questions about the grounds on which nations could seize Russian assets

One of the things that this would do is put off the question of what happens to the Russian sovereign assets, even though they would be used as collateral, an official with knowledge of the negotiations told the Financial Times.

Despite appeals by lawmakers, some countries have been hesitant on the outright seizure of the assets, as such a step carries a number of legal and economic pitfalls. The United States, Germany, and France, as well as the European Central Bank, have also expressed that seizing assets could have financial stability implications.

Earlier this month, U.S. President Joe Biden's administration backed legislation that would allow the confiscation of some frozen Russian funds and funneling them to Ukraine.

Using the assets as collateral to raise debt is an attempt to find a compromise between different viewpoints around the table, both within the EU and . . . the G7, an official told FT.

Western countries have immobilized around $300 billion of the Russian central bank's assets since the start of the full-scale invasion. Washington, Brussels, and Kyiv have long discussed legal ways of channeling these funds to aid Ukraine's reconstruction efforts.

G7 nations have pledged that Russian assets held in their jurisdictions would remain frozen until Moscow pays war reparations to Ukraine.

The World Bank assessed early in 2023 that the total cost of Ukraine's reconstruction would amount to $411 billion. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba commented earlier this month that the full amount of Russian assets could cover over 80% of recovery costs.

Read also: Bloomberg: Internal documents show White House support for seizing frozen Russian assets













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On this "Face the Nation" broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan:

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, Independent of Arizona National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan House Intelligence Committee chair Rep. Mike Turner, Republican of Ohio, and Rep. Jim Himes, Democrat of ConnecticutRetired Gen. Frank McKenzie, former head of U.S. Central Command

Click here to browse full transcripts of "Face the Nation."

MARGARET BRENNAN: I'm Margaret Brennan in Washington.

And this week on Face the Nation: The U.S. intensifies its airstrike campaign in the Mideast, and a bipartisan group of senators finalize a border security deal. We will speak exclusively with Kyrsten Sinema, one of the chief negotiators.

The U.S. retaliates following last week's attack on a U.S. base in Jordan that killed three service members, the deadliest of 167 attacks on our forces since mid-October, and launches more strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. We will have the latest from the region, and we will hear from White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

Plus, the heads of the House Intelligence Committee, Ohio Republican Mike Turner and Connecticut Democrat Jim Himes, will also be here. And we will talk with the former head of Central Command General Frank McKenzie. Until recently, he oversaw U.S. forces in the region.

But, first, in a rare television interview, Arizona's independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema makes her case for a bipartisan immigration and border security bill. She's got all the details of the Senate proposal.

It's all just ahead on Face the Nation.

Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation.

We have got a lot to get to with the escalating tensions in the Mideast, but we begin with another challenge facing this country, how to secure the nation's borders and improve our broken immigration system.

There is near-universal recognition among Americans that the current immigration process is broken, and Congress has struggled for years to come up with a solution that will gain enough support to become law. The House has passed a bill that is a nonstarter in the Senate, and we spoke with Speaker Mike Johnson about that earlier this year.

But a bipartisan group of senators is expected to unveil their proposal later today. That bill would allow the president to shut down asylum processing during spikes in illegal crossings. It also gives the Department of Homeland Security the ability to expedite deportations.

The proposal limits access to asylum and requires cases to be reviewed within six months. Right now, there is no time limit, and many cases languish for years before they're processed.

Joining us now from Scottsdale is one of the chief negotiators of that deal, Arizona independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema.

And, Senator, we want to note this is your first official appearance on a Sunday show, and we thank you for being with us today.

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA (I-Arizona): Well, good morning, Margaret. It's great to be with you.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So you are one of the very few people who know the intricate details of this deal, since the text is still not public?

But to execute this plan, are you going to need more than the $14 billion that President Biden has asked Congress for?

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA: Well, that's really a question for the heads of our Appropriations Committee, who are in the final stages of putting this bill together this afternoon.

My job was to lead the negotiations for the border policy changes that we so desperately need. And that's why I have worked with Senator Lankford and Senator Murphy over the last four months to create workable policy that makes dramatic, but needed changes to both our asylum system and border policy.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You will need likely more personnel or funding to execute this.

But in going to the specifics, you have said publicly you are ending catch- and-release. That's that practice of detaining migrants and then releasing them with the promise of a future court date. How will your plan work?

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA: Well, I'm so glad you have asked that question, because, look, we have all seen the images on television of what's happening in Lukeville, Arizona, and in Southern Texas, where large numbers of migrants are approaching the border and being processed and kind of released into the country, sometimes with a piece of paper called a notice to appear, where they may see a judge in five, seven, 10 years.

No one knows. Our law changes that and ends the practice of catch-and- release. So, when people approach the border and say they want to enter our country to seek asylum, they will go into one of two situations, first, short-term detention, which means we take them into custody, and we actually do an interview right then and there to determine if they meet the standard for asylum.

For individuals who do not meet that standard, which, by the way, Margaret, is most of the migrants who are coming to our country right now

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm.

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA:  they will be swiftly returned to their home country.

And for folks that we can't detain, like families, for instance, we will ensure that we're supervising them over the course of just three months, and conduct that interview with that new higher standard, requiring them to show more proof early on about whether or not they qualify for asylum, and return them to their country if they do not have the evidence or the proof that they qualify for asylum.

So we will no longer have people just entering the country and maybe going to court in the next seven or 10 years. Instead, we will make swift justice. Folks who do qualify for asylum will be on a rapid path, six months or less, to start a new life in America. And those who do not qualify will quickly be returned to their home countries.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, for those who are impoverished, for example, and say they're just coming to America to have a better life, they're in search of the American dream, they won't qualify, right? They will be turned away.

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA: That's right, Margaret.

Right now, individuals who want to come to America just to get a better life or to seek the American dream, to find work, those are what we call economic migrants. They are not permitted to enter the country whenever they would like.

And our new law will ensure that they can't get into the country, that they won't get that notice to appear, they will not be allowed in through the border ports of entry or between ports of entry, like we see down in Lukeville. They will be turned away and sent back to their home countries, because they currently are exploiting the asylum system that's being really managed by the cartels.

We're ending that system. We're ending that loophole, and ensuring that they cannot enter through that manner.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, there is some concern about Democrats  from Democrats that those individuals turned away would then in turn be exploited if they're pushed back into Mexico and somehow mistreated.

How are you going to alleviate Democratic concerns about that?

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA: Well, that's an important question, Margaret.

The reality is, is that, for the last several years, cartels have used this loophole to exploit the system, telling folks from Latin and South America and really all over the world that they can come to America, claim asylum, and then gain access to the country.

We are going to end that process by ending catch-and-release and requiring folks who do come to claim asylum to actually have their asylum claims determined quickly and fairly. And that will provide a disincentive for individuals to come to this country, really sacrificing so much in their lives, for a path that no longer can be exploited.

So we believe that by quickly implementing this system, individuals who come for economic reasons will learn very quickly that this is not a path to enter our country and will not take the sometimes dangerous or treacherous trek to our border.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you have said previously that the Biden administration does bear some responsibility for this crisis and they should be held accountable for not implementing existing laws.

So what actions are you asking the president to take independent of Congress and if you  as you say, wasn't implementing existing law, what would be different with your new version of the law?

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA: Well, Margaret, our law actually requires the administration to implement these tools.

So much has been talked about with the  as you know, the number of 5,000 people a day, right? We have all heard misinformation and, frankly, just kind of rumors saying, well, the administration doesn't have to shut down the border until you get to 5,000 crossers a day.

Well, that's not true. First of all, our law ends catch-and-release. But when too many people approach the border, asking to come in seeking asylum, we're now mandating that the government actually shut down the border if those numbers get to 5,000 a day.

But we're permitting the government to actually shut down the border when it only gets to 4,000 approaches a day. And the reason we're doing that is because we want to be able to shut down the system when it gets overloaded, so we have enough time to process those asylum claims, whether it's through detention or whether it's through supervision, like for families.

We want enough time for the government to be able to process these asylum claims and then turn folks away who do not qualify, while settling people who do qualify. So we have placed provisions in the law that mandate the enforcement of each of these provisions of our law

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm.

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA:  and require the Biden administration and any future administration to actually implement this. So, we're requiring it, not permitting it.

And that's a key difference from existing immigration law.

MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.

And you just  I want to underscore your fact-check there, because the claim has been repeated, including by Donald Trump, that there would be a minimum of 5,000 people let in per day. And you just explained why that is not factually accurate.

But it has also been echoed by the speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. I know you have said you have a line of communication open with him. He said on another network this morning: "Individual senators call, give me tips and offer things that are going on in the room." But he says he was left out of this entire process.

Has he assured you that he's going to put this bill on the floor?

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA: You know, I don't know what Speaker Johnson will do when this bill gets out of the Senate.

But what I do know is that, for five months, my Republican colleagues have demanded, and I think rightfully so, that we address this border crisis as part of a national security package. I agree. The crisis on our border is a national security threat.

And this week, the Senate will begin to take action on a large national security package that includes a realistic, pragmatic, and the strongest solution to our border crisis in my lifetime. Now, as you know, Margaret, I was born and raised near the border here in Arizona. And so, more than anyone, I know how important this is to securing our national security.

So I feel confident that, when our bill passes through the Senate and gets to the House, members of the House, including Speaker Johnson, will have had ample opportunity to read, understand the bill and ask questions and watch our debate in the Senate.

And then they get to make a choice. Do you want to secure the border?

MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you believe Mike Johnson can be persuaded? In other words, I hear you saying he hasn't told you no.

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA: I think everyone has an opportunity to be persuaded.

And by persuaded, Margaret, I simply mean, read the legislation. Understand how it works. These are powerful new tools that allow any administration, this one and future administrations, to actually gain control of the border by changing the asylum system, so that cartels can no longer exploit it, and by giving a powerful new tool to the government that requires them to shut down the border during times of high traffic, when too many people are asking to come into the country to seek asylum.

We are giving tools to this administration and future administrations to actually gain control of the border. This is an incredibly powerful tool.

And I believe that, when folks have the opportunity to read the legislation and hear from groups like Border Patrol agents, ICE agents throughout the country, they will see how important this tool is for our administration to have.

The reality is, Margaret, that, while the current administration does bear responsibility

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA:  for mishandling the border, we have to give new legal tools to the administration and hold them accountable to implement them

MARGARET BRENNAN: By March?

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA:  in order to stop this crisis.

I'm sorry?

MARGARET BRENNAN: What's the timeline? By March? Because Senator Graham said, this isn't going to happen quickly.

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA: You know, I don't control the timeline. That's a question for the leadership in the Senate.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm.

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA: What I do have the ability to control, is what I have done over the last four months

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA:  which is work in good faith with Senators Lankford and Senators Murphy to craft a real solution to the border, the first one in my lifetime.

And that's what I will be focused in on, is making sure that colleagues in both the House and the Senate understand what this law will do and see the difference it will make for our border security.

MARGARET BRENNAN: When we last spoke back in May, you told me that immigration was one of the most important issues for you potentially in a second term.

You have until April to decide whether to run for reelection. You would need about 42,000 signatures to qualify for that three-way race. Have you decided? What's holding you back, if you haven't?

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA: Well, I understand you have to ask that question, Margaret.

But I think folks across Arizona and the country know that, when I decide I'm going to work on something that's important for our state and for our nation, I stay focused on it. And I think that the endless questions about politics and elections are really exhausting.

And it's what makes Americans really hate politics. So, what I have committed to my constituents is to stay laser-focused on the policy, on actually solving real problems. And that's what I have shown that I do in the work that I do in the United States Senate. And it's what I will stay focused on in the coming weeks, as we seek to pass this legislation and make a real difference for the lives of Arizonans.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA: You know, Margaret, each time I visit border communities in my state, and I hear from folks, whether it's in Bisbee, or Yuma, or down in Lukeville

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right. Mm-hmm.

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA:  they're not asking about elections. They're asking about their everyday lives.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA: Because this crisis faces us every single day. It's not just a television show for us. It's our daily lives.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood.

Senator, thank you for walking us through the details. And we hope you'll be back with us.

All of you, stick with us.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: We're joined now by White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

Jake, it's good to have you back here with us.

The White House described Friday's response as a multitiered plan, not one- and-done. Is this an open-ended military campaign? And how are you going to define success?

JAKE SULLIVAN (U.S. National Security Adviser): Well, it's true, Margaret, that what happened on Friday was the beginning, not the end, of our response, and that there will be more steps, some seen, some perhaps unseen, all in an effort to send a very clear message that, when American forces are attacked, when Americans are killed, as three service members tragically were at Tower 22, we will respond, and we will respond forcefully, and we will respond in a sustained way.

I would not describe it as some open-ended military campaign. We have a concept of how we intend to respond. I'm not going to telegraph it on the show. But we will execute that concept with the kind of professionalism that only the U.S. military can bring to bear.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, the U.S. officially has not assessed that Tehran directed the attack, but has Tehran done anything to rein in the militias that they fund and arm?

JAKE SULLIVAN: Well, we know that Iran is behind these militia groups. They train them. They fund them. They arm them, as your question suggests. And they do have influence with them.

And I can't sit here today and tell you that Tehran has shifted its policy. What I can tell you is what the United States' approach is going to be, which is that if we continue to see threats and attacks from these militia groups, we will respond to them, and we will hold those responsible accountable.

MARGARET BRENNAN: There are reportedly civilian casualties in Iraq and in Syria as a result of these strikes.

Does the U.S. assess that any of those hit in these strikes were actually Iranian Al Quds Force personnel? Or did the fact that this was so telegraphed in advance give those personnel time to go to ground?

JAKE SULLIVAN: Well, first of all, Margaret, on the telegraphed point, President Biden has been saying for months that he would respond to attacks. We have responded to previous attacks.

And when three service members were killed, of course Iran knew that the United States would respond. So the idea that somehow this was telegraphed, I think, is a bit more of a political talking point than  than a reality.

Secondly, the targets that we hit, we believe with conviction, were valid military targets. They were ammunition depots and command-and-control centers. They were the instruments that Iranian-backed Shia militia groups were using to attack American forces. We are looking at the casualties, who precisely was killed.

I don't have anything to report to you this morning publicly on that. But we will continue to make our assessments.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But no one, for example, in IRGC leadership, in Iranian leadership, no one of significance was targeted?

JAKE SULLIVAN: As I said, we are continuing to assess the battle damage. And when we are prepared to share that publicly, we'll do so. I am not prepared to do that with you today.

MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.

Jake, half of U.S. adults, according to the AP, say Israel's military campaign in Gaza has gone too far. And 31 percent approve of Biden's handling of the conflict. At what point is this open-ended Israel conflict in Gaza not just a political problem, but a national security one for the United States to be so closely associated with the Netanyahu government's war, with the civilian casualties that we've seen to date and the starvation of women and children in Gaza?

JAKE SULLIVAN: Well, first, Margaret, I'm glad you put the question in those terms, because we don't design our policy towards Israel or Gaza or the Middle East based on politics. We do it based on the national security interests of the United States.

And we've been clear from the beginning that we believe that Israel has a right to respond to the horrific attacks of October 7 and to deal with the threat that Hamas continues to post Israel, as it asserts that it wants to conduct another October 7, and then another one, until Israel no longer exists.

But we've been equally clear that we have to look out for and respond to the immense and terrible suffering of the Palestinian people. And that means pressing Israel on issues related to the humanitarian assistance that we have helped unlock and get into the Gaza Strip, and there needs to be much more of it.

Secretary Blinken is on his way to the region as we speak, and this will be a top priority of his when he sees the Israeli government, that the needs of the Palestinian people are something that are going to be front and center in the U.S. approach and that we want to

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

JAKE SULLIVAN: .. ensure that they are getting access to lifesaving food, medicine, water, shelter. And we'll continue to press until that is done.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But it's still not the degree to which you are asking for.

Today, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel will not agree to a deal that is related to the release of terrorists. His national security minister, Ben-Gvir, gave an interview to "The Wall Street Journal" saying he'd oppose any deal with Hamas that would end the war or free Palestinian prisoners, and said Donald Trump would be better for Israel than Joe Biden.

Does Benjamin Netanyahu have control of his government? And are these right-wing ministers risking blowing up a hostage deal that the United States is trying to put together?

JAKE SULLIVAN: Look, I'm going to let the Israeli government and Israeli politicians speak for themselves. They certainly have no trouble doing so, as you just related.

We're only going to speak for ourselves. And from our perspective, a hostage deal that brings out the hostages, including the American hostages, that gets a sustained pause in hostilities so that lifesaving assistance can more easily get to the Palestinian people, this is in the national security interest of the United States.

And we're going to press for it relentlessly, as the president has done, including recently in calls with the leaders of Egypt and Qatar, the two countries that are  are central brokers in this effort.

So it is a paramount priority for us. The Israeli government can answer whether it's a paramount priority for them. And depending on that answer, they'll also have to answer to the Israeli people.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, do I understand you saying there then that Israel's government has not signed off fully on the proposal that the U.S. is backing? I know Qatar has said they're waiting on Hamas.

JAKE SULLIVAN: No, no, you haven't  you didn't hear me correctly.

Israel has, in fact, put forward a proposal. And, as Qatar has indicated publicly, the ball is in Hamas' court at this time.

MARGARET BRENNAN: OK, because this minister was threatening politically the prime minister in regard to a hostage deal and saying he would vote against it.

JAKE SULLIVAN: Well, right.

There seems to be obviously an ongoing debate spilling out in public within the Israeli government. And, again, I'm not going to speak to that debate. They have to decide for themselves, and they'll have to work through their own political system.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And do you stand by your statement you made on the show previously that Palestinians in Gaza have a right to return to their homes? That's also an issue of conflict right now.

JAKE SULLIVAN: I do stand by my statement.

It's not Jake Sullivan's statement. That's a statement of administration policy. Secretary Blinken has laid it out now in full. We do not want to see a circumstance in which Israel occupies Gaza or where there is an effort to permanently displace Palestinians from their homes.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Jake Sullivan, thank you for your time this morning.

And we will be right back with a lot more Face the Nation. Stay with us.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Still to come, the heads of the House Intelligence Committee, Republican Mike Turner and Democrat Jim Himes.

Stay with us.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: We'll be right back with a report from Iraq on the tensions in the Middle East, plus former CENTCOM Commander General Frank McKenzie.

Stay with us.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome back to FACE THE NATION.

We turn now to our Holly Williams in Erbil for more on the escalating conflict in the Mideast.

HOLLY WILLIAMS: The U.S. says the strikes on Yemen last night targeted Houthi missile systems and launches, as well as weapons storage and radars used by the group. A spokesman for the Houthis, who are supported by Iran, say the strikes will not deter them. The group says its assault on commercial and naval ships in the Red Sea, which started in November, is an expression of solidarity with Palestinians under bombardment in Gaza.

The strikes in Yemen come just one day after the U.S. says it hit 85 targets here in Iraq and in neighboring Syria that are used by Iranian forces and militia groups backed by Iran. There's been an uptick in those militia groups targeting the U.S. military in this region since the Israel- Hamas war began with around 170 attacks using rockets and drones. The U.S. strikes reportedly killed around 40 people, including both fighters and civilians and were retaliation for the deaths of three American soldiers in a drone attack a week ago at a military outpost in Jordan.

There are around 2,500 U.S. Troops based here in Iraq and around 900 over the border in Syria. Iran called America's response a, quote, "strategic mistake." But the question now is whether the militia groups it backs will ratchet things up even further.

When we interviewed Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in November, he claimed the militia groups in Iraq and Syria make their own, independent calculations and decisions.

There have long been fears that the Israel-Hamas war could widen to a regional conflict likely involving Iran's proxies.

Ironically, just a few years ago, U.S. and the Iran-backed militia groups were essentially on the same side in a different conflict, the war against ISIS. Now, the U.S. appears to be trying to carefully calibrate its response. On the one hand it doesn't want a further escalation of violence here in the Middle East, but on the other, it doesn't want to risk emboldening its enemies.

MARGARET BRENNAN: That's Holly Williams in Erbil.

We turn now to the leaders of the House Intelligence Committee, Republican Mike Turner, who's in Dayton, Ohio, this morning, and Democrat Jim Himes, who's in Stamford, Connecticut.

Welcome to you both.

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER (R-OH): Thanks. Thank you for having us.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Chair Turner, the speaker of the House criticized the Biden administration for public handwringing, excessive signaling ahead of these strikes, saying that it undercuts the U.S. ability to put a stop to the attacks. Do you accept the explanation that you heard from Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser?

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Right. So - and, Margaret, I think that they have confusion among their goals and objectives. They keep shifting as to what they're trying to achieve with the attacks and really what their policy is with respect to response. You know, Secretary Austin, the secretary of defense, said that when Americans are attacked, we will respond. However, that's not true. They've tolerated over 160 of these attacks. And certainly these attacks 

MARGARET BRENNAN: They've been carrying out strikes against some of them.

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: The  well, in - in minor areas. Nothing to actually counter what is occurring here. And that's the issue.

What you also heard with Jake Sullivan then he said, when - when there are attacks or deaths of American service members we will respond. He was - he was coupling it to both, which is what they've done here.

But this is a problem, Margaret. They keep saying that they want to, you know, retaliate, but then they say it's about deterrence. Then they say it's about diminishing capabilities. Those are all different goals and objectives and they're not doing any of those.

We all know that this is just about Iran. These are all franchises of Iran. And the administration has no policy with respect to Iran how to diminish their capability, diminish these attacks and diminish their nefarious acts in the Middle East.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman Himes, how do you respond to that? And I know you have said that you hoped these strikes would cause significant pain to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Jake Sullivan says they - they still don't know if they were able to take out any personnel from the IRGC.

REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES (D-CT): Yes, yes, look, Margaret, you know, I respectfully disagree with Chairman Turner. What needs to happen here is exceedingly clear. There are two things that must happen. Number one, we must make it very clear to the Iranian and to the Iranian-backed militias that attacks on U.S. troops, on U.S. assets, will be enormously expensive, enormously expensive, and I think we are in the process of doing that.

And, number two, the other objective, of course, is we don't want to go to war with Iran. That, by the way, is an objective that Iran shares. They don't want to go to war with us. So, there is a certain amount of ambiguity in this. And what you do is, you listen to what the other side's red lines are. The Iranians, I think, would regard, for example, an attack on their territory. Certainly the killing of civilians inside Iran as a red line that they would then be forced to react to.

The chairman was just not right when he said that they hadn't responded. The administration hadn't responded to the many, many attacks, 160 attacks. Those attacks were proportional. The Iranians, in a dark way, got lucky in - in their ability in Tower 22 to take out three Americans. That, obviously, requires a much more dramatic response than the earlier attacks in which we didn't suffer casualties. And that, of course, is what their militias in Iran - in Syria and Iraq have experienced over the course of the next - the last 24 hours and will continue to experience, I think, for the next couple of days.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I think you're referring to the strikes on like January - - I think it was January 3rd or January 24th that were militia - militia people targeted by the United States, but not the kind of B-1 bomber mission we just saw carried out on Friday.

Chair Turner 

REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: That's right, the B-1s come out when -

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right.

REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: When Americans are killed.

MARGARET BRENNAN: That's right.

REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: When they're not killed, the response is, obviously, going to be less dramatic.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right. But - but to the point, it hasn't deterred the continued tit-for-tat attacks, which, by the way, Chair Turner, you would acknowledge, those - those were going on before October 7th. Those have been going on for years.

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: They've been going on for some time and this - this administration has - has - has responded incredibly poorly. You know, one is a result of another. If you tolerate attacks, you are going to tolerate that you're going to have casualties. And the problem here is that the administration, back to goal and objectives, has no goal and objective.

Iran pays no price when militias are attacked. The militias don't care. And when you diminish their capability for the - the moment that you've struck them, you haven't diminished their overall capability. These attacks are still going to happen.

The administration needs two things, a real plan with respect to Iran and countering Iran in the area, but, secondly, diminishing capacity to stop these attacks. We can't play defense forever.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Our systems to protect our troops and our ships cannot continually respond to these attacks with 100 percent success. Tolerating the attacks tolerates casualties. We need to diminish their capability and we need to take this problem to Iran.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Let me ask you, Congressman Turner, Speaker Johnson said he's putting forward a standalone Israel security bill for about $17.5 billion. You'll need 219 Republicans in the House, and one of them has already said he's not on board with this. This does not look like it has an easy path forward. What does this do to complicate all the other significant national security priorities that I know you support, like Ukraine? Isn't this just a political statement?

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Well, I'm very concerned about that strategy. I was very concerned when we did it last year and they brought up an Israel bill that was paid for. This one reportedly does not have a pay for.

I think that we - we really have four significant national security threats. We've had Asia. We have Ukraine. We have Israel and what's going on in the Middle East. And, of course, we have our border. And right now we've been proceeding on negotiations on those four. Ukraine has to be funded. It has to  we have to respond to Russian aggression or we will have a broader war there. And also, you know, the atrocities that Russia has been undertaking in Ukraine need to be responded to. Of course, we have to respond and support Israel.

And, again, back to our activities in the area, we need to make certain that we're responding to the nefarious actions of Iran in the region. And so I do think that all these are coupled.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And so that - that would suggest you don't like the stand-alone bill strategy.

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: I'm - I'm very concerned about this process. Now the 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: The speaker has said openly that he fully supports the funding for Ukraine. We have to make certain that there is a path to do that.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: The Ukrainians are getting to the point where it's critical that the funding come through. And I certainly am looking forward to the speaker describing, if he's going to piecemeal this, how each of these pieces get accomplished.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

And, Congressman Himes, Democrats may end up having to essentially deliver the votes to allow that to pass. I know you have said on another network referencing these very  this very thin majority that the Republicans have, and threats by some of the Republican members to oust the speaker, you linked his survival to whether he works with Democrats to pass Ukraine aid. Are Democrats offering Johnson protection here from his own party?

REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: Well, the move he's taken to offer an Israel-only deal is very dirty pool. It's an act of staggering bad faith. Why do I say that? Because - and Mike and I were in the situation room when the brand new speaker laid out for the national security adviser the way we're going to do this is we're going to do a border deal as a condition to doing Ukraine aid and then we'll do - you know, we'll  it will be a package with Ukraine, with Israel money, and with Indo-Pa Com money, that's for East Asia.

Before the wording of a bipartisan border deal was even available to anybody, at a time in which Mitch McConnell was saying, we will never get a border deal that is better than this one, Mike and I both heard him say that in the cabinet room, the speaker said, it's dead on arrival. It will not happen.

So, I don't have quite Mike's optimism here. I think what's happening here is that the speaker is taking a move to get Israel aid done, which we all support, most of us support, I shouldn't say all, but that will allow him to ultimately not do a border deal because there are Republicans, Mike Turner not amongst them, who would rather that problem be an issue in November and that it not be solved. And there are roughly 50 percent, we know this from the votes, of Republicans who oppose Ukraine aid.

So, as much as it is important for us to provide aid to Israel, this is the first step in getting aid to Israel at the expense of any aid to Ukraine and the expense of a generational opportunity to actually get a border immigration deal done.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, your offer essentially to protect Speaker Johnson from a motion to vacate is off the table?

REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: Well, no. Step - step back to that question. First of all, I didn't offer to protect the speaker. I made the point in the cabinet room that we were all agreeing on the importance of Ukraine aid and the importance of a good border deal. The president said he will shut down the border and he will do a big deal. So, the challenge becomes, how do we position the two congressional leaders who matter in the House, Hakeem Jeffries and Speaker Johnson, who I pointed out was in a very precarious position.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: How do we position them to get to yes? And the reality is, that with a whatever two vote majority, anything that gets done in the House of Representatives, anything, will get done with some Democratic help. So, how do we tee up the position to move forward in a bipartisan way? And here's the challenge for the speaker, any bipartisan activity, certainly activity that requires a lot of Democrats, puts him in great peril. And, of course, he thinks about that.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right.

Chair Turner, you called the border the most significant present national security threat in previous interviews.

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Yes.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I know you haven't seen the text, but you just heard Senator Sinema lay out in great detail what she has helped put together. Did you like what you heard?

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Well, I - you know, I think those are certainly important elements, and we have to - I mean in any instance we have to see the bill. And I just want to compliment Jim Himes one more time. You know, we work on a very bipartisan basis. And, you know, despite our disagreements on the administration's Iran policy.

But you heard him say, this is really a very difficult process to get all of this done. The  over 300 members have always voted for these - these funding packages. Everyone recognizes these are national security threats. And we need to find a path to get these done.

Now, on the border, you know, FBI Director Wray has said that we have the highest threat right now for the possibility of a terrorist attack on U.S. soil as a result of the open border and the people who have come into the United States, we don't know where they are, some of which who have allegiance to international terrorist groups and organizations. The FBI director himself has said that. I think that, you know, that certainly should be part of the impetus for everyone to look to, how do we resolve this issue.

MARGARET BRENNAN: In other words, you can't wait for the election to be over, there should be a bill voted on and you're open to voting for this one?

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Yes. I mean, absolutely.

MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: This is an issue that needs to be addressed now. And I look forward to reading the text and seeing what's in the bill. And this certainly is one of the highest priorities.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And, Congressman Himes, there are some congressional Democrats, including from the Hispanic caucus, who are already complaining about this even though the text is not out. Do you think Democrats will ultimately come out to support this bill the White House negotiated?

REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: I do, Margaret. And - and you're exactly right. And I've  I've - I've heard, you know, we have a general sense of what's in the bill. And, yes, there is dramatic concern in the  let's call it the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. But the president has said, and Mike and I heard this three times in the cabinet room, that he will go big. It is clear, on a bipartisan basis, if you have eyes, you understand that we have a crisis at the southern border, and it needs to be fixed.

And so the challenge here is, and I go back to what I told you previously, how do we put the two leaders in a position to do a very hard thing, because immigration border deals are very hard. There's a reason we haven't done one in 40 or 50 years. They're very, very hard. And again, I'm not looking necessarily to protect Mike Johnson, but Mike Johnson is a very precariously situated speaker of the House. And so the question is, how do we get instincts like Mike Turner's to prevail in the Republican Party and how do we get enough Democratic votes on the left to make sure that we take advantage of this truly generational opportunity?

Again, don't listen to me about this. Mitch McConnell, in the cabinet room, said, if we had Donald Trump as president, a Republican Senate and a Republican House, we would not get this deal.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right.

REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: So, my hope is that the two parties can come together to get it done.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, we will see. And, gentlemen, we appreciate you speaking in this bipartisan fashion and joining us both today.

We'll be right back.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: For some analysis on the situation in the Middle East we turn now to the former head of U.S. Central Command, General Frank McKenzie. He was in charge of U.S. forces in the Middle East for three years under the Trump and Biden administrations.

Welcome back.

GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE (Ret.), (Former Commander of U.S. Central Command): Good to be here, Margaret.

MARGARET BRENNAN: General, how would you assess the impact of the strikes so far which you just heard National Security Adviser Sullivan say is just the beginning?

GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: I think that's pretty accurate. I don't think we know yet. I think it's going to require more work and I think we do need to have an understanding of what we want as an end state. For me, as the operational commander when I was in command, it would be that they cease attacks on our bases and operating positions in Iraq and Syria. That's a pretty clear end state.

You know, the problem is, there's a lot of talk about Iran actually not giving the order for the specific attack. And there's some truth to that because around 2020 Iran began to give blanket clearance to these groups to attack United States positions in Iraq and Syria. So they now operate under a  sort of procedure where there's no mother may I. They have the opportunity to generate these attacks without directly going back to Iran. And while Iran is certainly ultimately complicit because they provide the weapons, they provide the training, they provide the funding, in some cases they probably provide some targeting assistance. It's hard sometimes to find that track back for a specific attack because of the way Iran has ingeniously designed their command and control process.

MARGARET BRENNAN: That is important context on the question of whether they have control or not.

You, before this devastating attack that killed three American service people, you were on the record in a "Wall Street Journal" editorial saying, the U.S.  you referenced the president saying the U.S. doesn't want to escalate. And you said, unfortunately, it is the U.S. that is being deterred not Iran and its proxies. To reset deterrence, we must apply violence Tehran understand."

What would that look like?

GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: Margaret, and I - yes. I  first of all, I still stand by those words. I think this particular campaign we're on, we've done two things that I think undercut us. First of all, there's a continual reference in our policy statements about not wanting to escalate. Look, I agree, escalation is dangerous, but if the greatest fear is escalation, we should leave. We can reduce the danger of escalation to zero if we leave. Clearly, we have higher priorities than preventing escalation. So, we  we should recognize that.

The second part is, we have explicitly taken Iran itself off the list of potential targets in this campaign. I am not advocating for striking Iran. I am advocating that they need to be in the space of possible targets so that they - so that they're held at risk. What happens when we say, well, we're going to strike targets in Iraq and Syria? We're not going to strike targets in Iran, at least kinetically targets in Iran. That gives them aid and comfort. That's not a good thing to do.

And what we want to do is induce in their minds, in their cognitive space, a concern about continuing on this path and what it might mean to them. Look, Iranian foreign policy is built on three things. It's built on preservation of a theocratic region, number one, above all others. Number two, the destruction of the state of Israel. Number three, the ejection of the United States in the region. Number one is a point of strength for them, but also a point of weakness. And I believe we are consciously neglecting it in this campaign.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Four years ago there were forces under your command who killed Iran's Quds forces commander, Qasem Soleimani, when he was in Iraq from Iran. His successor doesn't seem to be quite as influential. And there are some pointing to the leader of Hezbollah now as choreographing the militias. Is this the outcome you expected when the Trump administration decided to take Soleimani off the battlefield?

GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: Well, Margaret, it's important to understand, we took Soleimani off the battlefield because he felt  we felt he was preparing an imminent attack on the - on our embassy and other locations in the Middle East. So, certainly there were long-term considerations, but he was a clear and present immediate danger. And we took steps to remove him from the battlefield because of that.

Now, what's developed after that, you're right, the - the IRGC, Quds force, has not been able to get into Iraq and bring people together, as Soleimani was, because his successor is a much weaker military leader than Soleimani.

I  it's unclear to me that Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanese Hezbollah, is filling that space. I think the most interesting thing about Lebanese Hezbollah and Nasrallah is the fact he has not chosen to engage in large scale conflict with Israel right now as of what's going on down in Gaza. And I think that's  that's important to look like. It's like the dog that doesn't bark in the night. That can be important.

He's, instead, chosen to hold back, to observe the situation. And I think that's an important thing that we should continue - we should continue to take a look at because they're the largest non-state military entity in the world, with thousands of weapons that could cause great pain to Israel.

On the other hand, Israel has vast resources they could apply against Lebanese Hezbollah should this war ensue. And I don't think LH wants that war. Now they may be - they may be influencing events in Syria and Iraq. That's just not known to me at this time.

I think it's more of a hodge-podge of efforts there, but I do believe ultimately Iran is clearly behind it.

MARGARET BRENNAN: U.S. intelligence estimates Israeli forces have killed about 20 to 30 percent of Hamas fighters since October. That is far short of destroying Hamas. How do you judge the level of success of Israel's campaign?

GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: Well, it's very limited so far. You know, I think they set themselves a goal of removing the political echelon and the military leadership echelon of Hamas when they went in. They have not been successful to date at doing either.

And these campaigns are non-linear, so they don't necessarily go from day to day. You could have a big breakthrough here and things could change suddenly on the ground. But I think the larger issue, at least for me looking at it is, you have to have a theory for what it's going to look like when it's over. You know, what's  what's going to happen in Gaza. And we've had some people that have talked about it earlier on the show today. And I think it's important to consider that. You need - you need a vision of an end state when you begin a military campaign because everything you do then subtracts or adds to your ability to get to that point. And I would argue that needs to be something like a two-state solution. You're going to need help from the Arab nations in the region to go in there and do something in Gaza.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: I think Israeli occupation would be the least desirable of all outcomes.

MARGARET BRENNAN: General McKenzie, thank you for your expertise.

We'll be back in a moment.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: President Biden won the South Carolina primary yesterday with over 96 percent of the vote in the state that helped revive his campaign four years ago.

That's it for us today. Thank you all for watching. Until next week, for FACE THE NATION, I'm Margaret Brennan.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Humanitarian issues in Gaza will be a top priority for U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on his current trip to the region, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday.

Blinken was en route to the Middle East in a trip that will include stops in Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the West Bank this week.

A top priority for Blinken on this trip will be to get humanitarian help for Gaza Palestinians who are in dire straits after months of military response from Israel to the deadly Oct. 7 attacks in Israel by Hamas.

"The needs of the Palestinian people are something that are going to be front and center," Sullivan told the CBS program "Face the Nation."

The United States believes it is vital to secure a deal to release the remaining hostages Hamas took during its attack, including American hostages, and an accompanying humanitarian pause, Sullivan said.

"This is in the national security interest of the United States. We are going to press for it relentlessly," Sullivan said. "So this is a paramount priority for us."

The ball is in the court of Hamas when it comes to such a deal, Sullivan said, noting that the Israelis have put forth a proposal.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Louise Heavens and Will Dunham)
ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos would not tolerate another word from Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) on Sunday after the freshman senator said a president would have the authority to defy the Supreme Court, cutting his mic off to end the interview.

The tense moment came after Stephanopoulos pressed Vance on This Week about comments the senator made in 2021 urging Trump to fire every civil servant working within the federal government during a second term and ignore any Supreme Court ruling that ordered him to stop. Vance had suggested Donald Trump stand before the country like Andrew Jackson did and say, The Chief Justice has made his ruling, now let him enforce it.

You think its OK to defy the Supreme Court? Stephanopoulos asked.

Vance tried to equivocate, arguing that civil servants in the government were not carrying out the rulings of administration officials. He cited the deaths of three U.S. servicemen in Jordan as an example of bureaucrats who aren't listening to the political branches.

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Thats a fundamental component of our government, George, that whoever is in charge, agree or disagree with him, you have to follow the rules, Vance said. If those people aren't following the rules, then of course, youve got to fire them.

But Stephanopoulos would not back down from the proposition, demanding Vance clarify whether the president had to abide by Supreme Court rulings. Vance, however, seemed to view the rulings as guidances the president could pick and choose from to follow.

The Constitution says that the Supreme Court can make rulings but if the Supreme Courtand look, I hoped that they would not do thisbut if the Supreme Court said the president of the United States cant fire a general, that would be an illegitimate ruling, Vance said. The president has to have Article II prerogative under the Constitution to actually run the military as he sees fit. This is just basic constitutional legitimacy.

Youve made it very clearyou believe the president can defy the Supreme Court, Stephanoupolos said in response. Senator, thanks for your time this morning.

Vance could still be seen talking on screen as his mic was cut and the show went to a commercial break.

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A launching ceremony was held at a town near the Fijian capital for the Year of the Dragon stamps on Saturday in celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10.

Speaking at the ceremony in Nausori, Fijian President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere acknowledged the event as an opportunity to recognize the achievements and contributions of the Chinese community, reflecting the enduring relationship between Fiji and China.

Ma Guoliang, commercial counselor of the Chinese embassy in Fiji, said the Chinese dragon is a totem of the Chinese nation that symbolizes luck, prosperity and strength, adding that he believes the dragon will bring good luck to every Fijian friend.

Activities featuring Chinese culture and food were presented at the ceremony for both Chinese and local customers to immerse themselves in the traditional Chinese New Year atmosphere.

The event was co-sponsored by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Chinese embassy in Fiji, and hosted by the China Cultural Center in the island country.
German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze, speaks during German government questioning session in the Bundestag. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

German Development Minister Svenja Schulze plans talks with western African leaders next week after the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Schulze is due to meet ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray on Monday, her ministry said on Sunday.

Her visit comes around a week after the juntas that rule Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger withdrew their countries from the regional economic bloc, saying the grouping had come under the influence of foreign powers that threatened the sovereignty of its members.

The ECOWAS bloc had also imposed "irrational" and "inhumane" sanctions following the coups they staged against the civilian governments in their countries, the juntas said.

A military coup took place in Niger on July 26, whereupon ECOWAS imposed sanctions and threatened military action.

The neighbouring countries of Burkina Faso and Mali are also ruled by the military following government overthrows.

All three West African states have had their memberships suspended by ECOWAS.

ECOWAS consists of 15 member states, making it one of the largest regional economic communities in Africa.

It aims to promote economic co-operation between the member states to raise the standard of living.
German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze, speaks during German government questioning session in the Bundestag. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

German Development Minister Svenja Schulze plans talks with western African leaders next week after the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Schulze is due to meet ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray on Monday, her ministry said on Sunday.

Her visit comes around a week after the juntas that rule Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger withdrew their countries from the regional economic bloc, saying the grouping had come under the influence of foreign powers that threatened the sovereignty of its members.

The ECOWAS bloc had also imposed "irrational" and "inhumane" sanctions following the coups they staged against the civilian governments in their countries, the juntas said.

A military coup took place in Niger on July 26, whereupon ECOWAS imposed sanctions and threatened military action.

The neighbouring countries of Burkina Faso and Mali are also ruled by the military following government overthrows.

All three West African states have had their memberships suspended by ECOWAS.

ECOWAS consists of 15 member states, making it one of the largest regional economic communities in Africa.

It aims to promote economic co-operation between the member states to raise the standard of living.

Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have increasingly turned to Russia amid tensions with ECOWAS.

Ahead of her departure, Schulze said that "free trade and visa-free travel have made life and business in West Africa much easier."

She said she regrets the decision of the three states, but added, "the decision by sovereign states must be respected, even if it will entail many economic disadvantages."

She now plans to get an idea of the situation with talks in Abuja. "Despite the disappointments on both sides, I am in favour of not breaking any more porcelain. Both sides now have the chance to reduce tensions and approach each other. The more connections that are maintained, the better for the region," said Schulze.

Economic integration is a key driver of development, she added, saying the international donor community is ready to continue supporting West Africa on this path.
The New York Times media outlet has reported that German government officials are concerned about negative consequences for NATO in the event of Donald Trump being elected President again, or Russia winning in Ukraine.

Source: The New York Times with reference to sources, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The perspective of Trump being re-elected makes German officials and many of their colleagues from NATO lead informal discussion as to whether the structure of the Alliance will be able to survive without the US as its leader.

Many German officials say that the best strategic hope of Russian President Vladimir Putin is NATOs split.

Sources of NYT in the German government state that it is impossible to return to previous relations with Putins Russia, that they do not expect significant progress in the war in Ukraine this year but they are afraid of the consequences of Putins win.

Their immediate concern is growing pessimism about the United States continuing to fund Ukraines struggle.

Unnamed German officials stated that if American funding dries up and Russia prevails, its next target will be closer to Berlin.

Background:

Earlier, Andrzej Duda, President of Poland, expressed his doubt that if Trump returns to the White House, he will be lenient towards Russian President Putin.

Meanwhile Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, stated that he is not concerned with the US leaving the Alliance, even if former US President Trump wins the elections in November 2024.

Before that George Robertson, former NATO Secretary General and former Defence Minister of the UK, said that Putins strategy to wait for Trumps return is another mistake of the Kremlin.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia stressed that Trump says the same things about security as Joe Biden and Barack Obama did.

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People take part in a demonstration of the Dresden action alliance "Wir sind die Brandmauer Dresden" on the theater square of the Saxon state capital against right-wing extremist activities. Daniel Schafer/dpa

The many demonstrations in Germany against far-right extremism and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party during the past few weeks could coalesce into a protest movement, a researcher has said.

A key factor in determining this is whether participants form alliances and agree on common goals and strategies, protest researcher Tareq Sydiq told dpa.

Germany has seen weeks of rallies against the far right after the revelation that extremists met to discuss the concept of "remigration" namely deporting large numbers of people of foreign origin, even under duress.

Meeting attendees included some lawmakers from the AfD, as well as the opposition Christian Democrats and right-wing group Werteunion.

Sydiq said he was surprised at the large demonstrations nationwide just days after the revelations emerged.

The fact that people in rural areas also took to the streets, rather than just in the bigger cities, was also impressive said Sydiq, a researcher at the Centre for Conflict Research at the Philipps University in Marburg who specializes in social movements.

The protests could be modelled on the demonstrations of the 1990s which drew many to support refugees, so had a long-term effect. Further, the current protests could politicize people and promote democracy, he said.

Saturday saw at least 200,000 people take to the streets to rally against the far right in Berlin, Freiburg and other cities.

While the present protests don't have a clear objective yet, the demonstrators can already claim one success: With their sign against the right, they had created a "certain narrative change" in that people now focus not on the content, but "about right-wing extremism in the AfD," said Sydiq.

The AfD was founded in 2013 as a primarily Eurosceptic party but has since become known for its far-right positions on immigration.

Large numbers of people are protesting against the rising popularity of the far right and its ideas because they realize this also concerns German citizens in the third, fourth or fifth generations, he said.
WalletHub published a study on the best and worst places to get married this year in the US.

The company analyzed 182 cities for cost, facilities and services, and activities and attractions.

Orlando snagged the top spot.

Planning a wedding is a lot of pressure, but a new study attempts to cut through the noise.

Personal finance company WalletHub published a study last week titled "Best Places to Get Married in 2024." The study analyzed 182 American cities for costs, facilities and services, and activities and attractions. WalletHub examined those three categories using 26 specific metrics, including the price of a three-star hotel room and bridal shops per capita.

"A person's wedding day can be the happiest day of their life, but it can also be a financial nightmare with how expensive venues, food, and other essentials are," WalletHub analyst Cassandra Hope said. "Getting married in a city that minimizes cost while maximizing options is ideal."

Take a look to see if your city made the list.

5. Atlanta, Georgia.

Atlanta ranked No. 5. Hinterhaus Productions/Getty Images

Georgia's capital, The Big Peach, ranked No. 5 on WalletHub's list. Compared to other cities, research showed that Atlanta ranked No. 89 in cost and No. 12 in activities and attractions.

Its highest rating  facilities and services  came in at No. 3. Atlanta's total score is 67.24.

4. Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Tulsa ranked No. 4. Maskot/Getty Images

Tulsa took fourth place on the list with an overall score of 67.44.

While Tulsa ranked second in affordable costs, it slid back to No. 41 for activities and attractions. The city's facilities and services faired worse at No. 93.

3. Miami, Florida.

Miami ranked third. Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

Miami came in third. While the cost, ranked 83rd, is less than ideal, Miami scored first for facilities and services. It also ranked ninth for activities and attractions, gaining an overall score of 70.65.

WalletHub said Miami scored No. 3 partly because it's perfect for beach weddings.

"Like the other big cities at the top of these rankings, Miami has an abundance of choices for wedding vendors, ranking especially high for things like the number of venues, photo booth rentals, limousine services, cake shops and restaurants per capita," the study said, adding that Miami also has excellent food choices.

2. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Las Vegas ranked second. Jupiterimages/Getty Images

America's Sin City is the second best place to get married this year, according to WalletHub.

Las Vegas ranked No. 60 regarding cost, while facilities and services came in fourth. Activities and attractions were also in the top 10, coming in at No. 2. The overall score for Las Vegas is 75.35.

According to WalletHub, Las Vegas has lots to offer for weddings.

"Las Vegas ranks at the top of the country when it comes to the number of wedding chapels, musicians, makeup artists, and cake shops per capita, among other wedding essentials," the study said.

1. Orlando, Florida.

Orlando ranked first. Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

Orlando topped WalletHub's list of best places to marry in 2024 with an overall score of 75.88.

Orlando ranked 47th in costs, making it the second most affordable city in the top five behind Tulsa. Orlando also ranked second in facilities and services  right behind Miami  and sixth for activities and attractions.

WalletHub said Orlando came in first because the essentials to host a good wedding are readily available.

"For example, it ranks at the top of the nation when it comes to the number of venues, party equipment rentals, videographers, DJs and flower shops per capita, among others," the study said. "Being in a big city like Orlando can make the logistics of getting everything together much smoother  when one vendor is booked for a certain date or doesn't meet the couple's tastes, there's always others to look at."

WalletHub added that Orlando has "the second-highest number of hotels per capita" in the country, meaning wedding guests likely won't have issues finding lodging.

"Plus, guests who want to stay for more than just the wedding can enjoy Orlando's abundant attractions  it ranks second among the most fun cities and is the best city for foodies," the study said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary, was accused of being out of touch after her remarks - Justin Ng/Avalon

Gillian Keegan has come under fire for claiming a chemical attack allegedly carried out by an Afghan refugee given leave to remain in the UK despite being convicted of a sex offence was not really about asylum.

The Education Secretary was criticised for her remarks as police continued the manhunt for Abdul Ezedi, who is suspected to have carried out the attack.

Ezedi arrived illegally in the UK from Afghanistan on the back of a lorry in 2016 and was denied asylum twice, but was granted leave to remain in 2021 or 2022 after claiming he had converted to Christianity.

A 31-year-old woman believed to be known to him was attacked with a corrosive alkaline substance, along with her two children, and remains very poorly and sedated in hospital. The injuries to her daughters, aged three and eight, are not likely to be life-changing.

Calls to tighten British asylum laws have grown after it emerged that Ezedi had been convicted of sexual assault and exposure in 2018.

Asked how he had been allowed to stay in the country, Ms Keegan told Skys Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: My understanding is the Home Secretary has asked for all the details.

But this is not really about asylum  this is about obviously the attack on a mother and her children, which was horrific and obviously impacted others as well, some people who went to her assistance and the emergency services.

When Mr Phillips said the case was obviously about flaws in the asylum system, Ms Keegan accused him of conflating the two.

Clearly, what we say is anybody who commits crimes is not able to stay in this country, so if you have a sentence of more than 12 months youre not allowed to stay if you have a criminal record, she said.

We dont want to have people in this country who have criminal records, and there are various steps, actually, in the various Bills. The Nationality and Borders Bill tightened it up and the new Bill has tightened it up again. But in this particular case he was granted [asylum].

Asked why Ezedi had been free to roam the streets, the minister said that was something that we need to get to the bottom of. Pressed on whether she was concerned about the case, she replied: Im concerned, actually, that theres a mum and two children who are [in hospital].

But Sir John Hayes, the chairman of the Common Sense Group of Tory MPs, said: The two issues are intimately associated. You cant separate the failures of our asylum system with the fact that this bloke was in this country. They are, by their nature, linked  you cant separate them.

So I think Trevor Phillips is right that the things are intrinsically connected, and we have to review our whole system of asylum in this country. Its no use saying these things arent linked  of course theyre linked. He was here as a successful asylum seeker.

Sir John, a former Home Office minister, had previously said he would write to James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, calling on him to urgently review the asylum rules.

Richard Tice, the leader of Reform UK, said: The Clapham attack is all about the Tories total failure to stop illegal immigration, failure to deport foreign criminals and failure to protect British citizens. For a Tory minister to deny this shows how out of touch they are.

Greg Smith, the Tory MP for Buckingham, said: The case quite clearly demonstrates that we need to be far tougher on offenders being able to remain in the United Kingdom, by whatever means they have entered the country  legal, illegal, asylum routes, whatever it may be.

If youre a convicted sex offender, theres no place for you here. Until we can guarantee that, there is a problem.

The row came as a shadow minister suggested Ezedi should not have been granted asylum in the UK. Asked by Phillips on the same show whether there was something wrong with a system that allowed Ezedi to stay in Britain, Sir Chris Bryant said yes.

He added: In the main, on the face of it, if everything that we have been told is true then it seems absolutely extraordinary that the British people should be put at such risk from this person. Of course its something we might need to look at.

Tory MPs have claimed Ezedi should never have been given refugee status in the first place, with prominent backbenchers calling for the entire system to be reviewed.

Miriam Cates, who co-chairs the New Conservative group, said the shocking and tragic case showed the urgent need to tighten up our asylum processes.

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Glen Powell can always count on his family members, especially his mother, Cyndy, for support.

During an interview with "E! News," Powell opened up about his life in the spotlight and revealed how his family keeps him grounded  even if that means picking on him.

They do keep me humble, its very funny to be on this journey with them, he said.

"Obviously, sometimes you dont realize the changes that are happening, but often your mother is the first person to realize that the temperature has changed a little," the "Top Gun: Maverick" star added.

Netflix's Hit Man Sundance Film Festival Premiere (Tommaso Boddi / Getty Images for Netflix)

Powell said his mom specifically tends to call him out for his fashion choices  especially when he's headed to red carpet events.

"You know you go for style moments every once in awhile, like popping my collar, she keeps trying to take down my collar. Shes like, Glen, you know, could look a little douchey,'" he said.

However, Powell joked that "Hollywood is sort of douchey sometimes," so it's OK if he's on trend.

"That's what we're doing here," he joked.

As for the rest of his family members, the "Hit Man" star explained that he wouldn't be "sane" without them.

The thing that keeps me the most sane, with anything that changes I know that theyre going to be there, and theyre the consistency in my life, he shared. Theyre enjoying the ride as much as I am. Theyd never miss a premiere. They never miss an opportunity to celebrate me, and Im really grateful for that.

Powell's heartwarming comments came after he and his loved ones dressed up as Will Ferrell's character in "Elf" to celebrate the Christmastime premiere of his film, Anyone But You.

In a video Powell shared to Instagram in December, his family gallivanted around New York City while wearing green "Elf" costumes.

"Its nice to be born into a family who shares my affinity for elf culture," Powell captioned the post.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, center, and Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, right, stand with fellow governors as they listen to Texas Gov Greg Abbott, seated left, during a news conference along the Rio Grande to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Abbott returned to the Eagle Pass border to highlight his escalating attempts to curb illegal crossings on the U.S.-Mexico border. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

EAGLE PASS, Texas (AP)  As more than a dozen Republican governors gathered Sunday on the Texas border, Kyle Willis was across the river in Mexico considering his next move to enter the U.S.

The 23-year-old Jamaican, who said he left his country after facing attacks and discrimination due to his sexuality, had followed the path of a historic number of migrants over the past two years and tried crossing the Rio Grande at the border city of Eagle Pass. But he waded back across the river after spending hours, in soaking clothes, failing to persuade Texas National Guard soldiers behind a razor wire fence to let him through.

Its not just something theyre saying to deter persons from coming in. Its actually real, said Willis, who for now is staying at a shelter in Piedras Negras.

His experience would be considered a victory for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who returned to Eagle Pass on Sunday surrounded by GOP governors who have cheered on his extraordinary showdown with President Joe Biden's administration over immigration enforcement. But declines in crossings are part of a complex mix of developments along the U.S. border, including heightened enforcement in Mexico. Meanwhile, migrants are moving further down the river and crossing elsewhere.

The issue was also at the forefront in Washington, where senators on Sunday raced to release a highly-anticipated bill that pairs border enforcement policy with wartime aid for Ukraine.

Abbott said he would continue expanding operations along the Texas border but did not provide details. For nearly a month, Texas has restricted U.S. Border Patrol's access to an area along the river known as Shelby Park, accusing the Biden administration of not being tough enough on crossings.

We are here to send a loud and clear message that we are banding together to fight to ensure that we will be able to maintain our constitutional guarantee that states will be able to defend against any type of imminent danger, Abbott said.

The record number of border crossings is a political liability for President Joe Biden and an issue that Republicans are eager to put front and center to voters in an election year. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last week committed to send more National Guard troops to Texas and other governors are also weighing new deployments.

Although DeSantis wasn't present Sunday in Eagle Pass, Abbott was joined by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkanas and Gov. Bill Lee of Tennessee, among other Republicans.

Eagle Pass is where Texas has been locked in a power struggle with the Biden administration for the past month after the state began denying access to U.S. Border Patrol agents at Shelby Park.

Crossings in recent weeks are down overall along the entire U.S. border, including areas without such a heavy security presence.

Tucson, Arizona, which has been the busiest of nine Border Patrol sectors on the Mexican border, tallied 13,800 arrests in the weeklong period that ended Friday. That is down 29% from a peak of 19,400 in week ended Dec. 22, according to John Modlin, the sector chief.

Just a day after Biden expressed his appreciation for Mexicos operational support and for taking concrete steps to deter irregular migration in a call with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the Mexican immigration agency said Sunday that in the last week, they had rescued 71 immigrants  22 of them minors in two groups stranded on sand bars of the Rio Grande, between Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras. They were from Mexico, Central America, Ecuador and Peru.

A Honduran woman and her 1-year-old baby were also rescued from the water and the emergency team also found three corpses, apparently migrants who died trying to cross into the U.S.

Biden, now sounding increasingly like former President Donald Trump, is pressing Congress for asylum restrictions that would have been unthinkable when he took office. Immigration remains a major worry for voters in the 2024 election: An AP-NORC poll earlier this month found that voters voicing concerns about immigration climbed to 35% from 27% last year.

The arrival of GOP governors to Eagle Pass rounds out a weekend that has kept the small border city of roughly 30,000 residents in an unwitting spotlight. Hundreds protesting Biden's immigration policies held a Take Back Our Border rally on the outskirts of the city on Saturday where vendors sold Donald Trump-inspired MAGA hats and Trump flags.

The number of crossings in Eagle Pass has recently fallen to a few hundred a day. Texas closed access to federal agents at Shelby Park after the number of crossings decreased sharply at the end of December. Mike Banks, who Abbott appointed last year to oversee Texas' border operations, described the park as a magnet for migrants trying to enter the country.

So weve taken that pull factor away, Banks said.

Mexico has bolstered immigration efforts that include adding more checkpoints and sending people from the northern border to southern Mexico. The country has also deported some Venezuelan migrants back home.

Melissa Ruiz, 30, arrived at the Piedras Negras shelter, across the river from Eagle Pass, along with her four children. The Honduran mother said gang members back home had tried to recruit her 15-year-old son, her oldest, prompting her to reluctantly flee.

Ruiz said she had little awareness of the tightening security on the Texas side, having heard of many people crossing into the U.S. since she arrived at the shelter. The main deterrence for her, she said, is the cold weather and the rivers increased flow after recent rainfall. Drownings in the river are tragically common.

What they say that one suffers so much on this road, its true," Ruiz said.

___ Associated Press reporters Maria Verza in Mexico City anf Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.
(Bloomberg) -- GOP presidential contender Nikki Haley took fresh jabs at party frontrunner Donald Trumps legal troubles, age and recent gaffes on Sunday, hours after her surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live in which she mocked his refusal to debate her.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Haley, appearing on CNNs State of the Union, criticized the former presidents attempts to stymie an immigration bill being debated in Congress, and said his campaign is focused on portraying him as a victim instead of an advocate for the American people.

Trump is absolutely playing politics by telling Republican lawmakers to shoot down legislation that would strengthen security at the southern border to prevent President Joe Biden from seizing a victory on immigration.

He shouldnt be getting involved, telling Republicans that wait until the election because we dont want this to help Biden win, she said. We cant wait one more day.

Read more: Trump Isnt Calling the Shots on GOP Border Stance, Johnson Says

Haley has come under a series of attacks from Trump recently, including taunts about her gender and ethnicity. He mistakenly said Haley  then a private citizen  was in charge of security at the US Capitol during the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, confusing her with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

During her CNN interview, Haley called Trump flawed on a personal level, while also taking aim at both his and Bidens age.

Why are we allowing ourselves to have two 80-year-olds who cant serve eight years, who both are diminished, whether its in their character or in their mental capacity?

Read more: Biden Racks Up Easy Win in South Carolina Democratic Primary

Haley remains a long-shot for the nomination after suffering defeats in the first two contests in Iowa and New Hampshire. Polls show her well behind in South Carolina, which holds its primary this month and where she served as governor.

Even still, several prominent Wall Street executives and deep-pocked Democratic donors, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, have donated to Haley, fueled in part by dismay at the prospect of a rematch between Trump and Biden in November.

Haley also said that Trumps myriad legal issues should be a concern for voters, and his campaign continues to press the narrative that hes a victim.

We have got a country in disarray and a world on fire, she said. We need a president thats going to give us eight years of focus and discipline, not one thats going to be sitting there ranting about how hes a victim and how this isnt right and how this isnt just.

He hasnt once talked about the American people, and thats the problem I have with all of this, she added.

As Haley press ahead with her campaign, she made a cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live, teasing Trump for confusing her with Pelosi and over his refusals to meet his opponents on the debate stage.

Are you doing OK, Donald? You might need a mental competency test, she said to the shows regular Trump impersonator, James Austin Johnson.

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
The fifth "Happy Chinese New Year" film festival kicked off on Friday evening with the Chinese film "The Rescue" at Malta's National Centre for Creativity in Valletta.

Three more Chinese films: "My People, My Homeland," "A Little Red Flower," and "Hi, Mom" will be showcased during the festival, which will run through Feb. 20.

The festival is jointly organized by the China Cultural Centre in Malta and the National Centre for Creativity to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 10.

Charmaine St. John, the mayor of Santa Lucija, said she is deeply impressed by "The Rescue," describing it as a "nice film." Given her background as a pilot, she found a special connection with the movie.

She said the dragon symbolizes strength while wishing "stronger and closer" relationship between Malta and China in the Year of the Dragon.

Thiago Jo Said, 15, shared his admiration for Chinese films and his enthusiasm to learn the Chinese language. He said he hoped to visit China by winning the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation's "Junior Cultural Ambassador" award for 2024.

Christopher Schembri, head of the Senior Sector at San Andrea School, praised the film as "beautiful and valuable," saying that he has planned to visit China with his students this summer.

On bilateral ties, Schembri wished stronger bond between the two countries. "I'm sure that we can learn a lot from each other and see more Chinese people coming to Malta," he added.

Charmaine Zammit, an education official from the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, was so engrossed in the film "The Rescue" that she decided to watch all the other three Chinese films. She also expressed the hope that cultural and education exchanges between Malta and China would keep strengthening in the Year of the Dragon.

Yuan Yuan, director of the China Cultural Centre in Malta, emphasized the festival's role in presenting outstanding Chinese films to the Maltese audience and fostering a cultural connection through the cinematic experience.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, locked in an escalating feud with the Biden administration over migrant crossings, on Sunday asserted Texas' right to protect its borders.

At a press conference with more than a dozen GOP governors held at the border town of Eagle Pass, Texas, Abbott called on Mr. Biden to decisively address migrant crossings at the U.S. southern border, which reached a record monthly high in December.

Abbott claimed Mr. Biden had "completely abdicated and abandoned his responsibility to enforce the laws of the United States."

"Joe Biden, it is your turn now  your obligation, your duty, to follow the laws Congress passed and secure the border, just as Texas has," Abbott said, speaking alongside the governors of Tennessee, Montana, Arkansas and Georgia among others.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott holds a press conference at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, on February 4, 2024. / Credit: SERGIO FLORES/AFP via Getty Images

Eagle Pass has been a major corridor for illegal border crossings in recent years. Texas state officials last month blocked federal U.S. Border Patrol agents from entering and patrolling Shelby Park, a public area in Eagle Pass.

Abbott claims that Texas' installation of more than 100 miles of razor wire barrier led to a sharp reduction in illegal border crossings.

"They have ensured that this entire park that we are in right now will not be an area that can be used to pass anymore," he said.

Abbott cited a constitutional clause that he said gives him the right to defend Texas. He also accused the president of aiding and abetting illegal entry into the U.S.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders also called out the president during the news conference.

"Because of his failures, Governor Abbott is having to step up, governors from across the country are having to step up and do the job of the federal government because they simply won't," she said.

President Biden spoke to his counterpart in Mexico, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, on Saturday afternoon. The two "discussed challenges at our shared border and committed to continuing their productive partnership," according to a readout of their phone call.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he got into an exchange with a clerk at a Target store in December after witnessing a theft. (Associated Press)

Gov. Gavin Newsom has gone viral for shoplifting at Target. Well, sort of.

The governor didnt actually steal anything. But as he tells it, he did witness someone blatantly walking out of a Sacramento-area store with an armload of stolen stuff, presumably right in front of his own intimidating-looking security detail. And when Newsom asked why no one was taking action, the clerk told him it was the governor's fault.

Newsom has made it too easy to steal, he said the clerk told him  before realizing who he was and freaking out.

Newsom, who was Christmas shopping with one of his children at the time, said he was outraged. Its just not true, he said he told the clerk. California has the tenth-toughest laws against retail theft in the nation, he lectured  in a way that must have seemed super weird until she deduced his identity.

I said: 'Why didnt you stop him?'  Newsom said he asked the clerk.

She goes, Oh, the governor   he broke off  swear to God, true story, on my moms grave. He added that the clerk had the temerity to tell him: The governor lowered the threshold, theres no accountability.  We dont stop them because of the governor.

Newsom told the story this week to a group of mayors from around the state who had gathered on Zoom for a news conference on his mental health initiative, Proposition 1. He and the mayors were chatting among themselves while waiting for San Francisco's London Breed and San Diego's Todd Gloria to log on. After relating the anecdote, the governor added that he hoped the two mayors werent the only ones not yet signed into the Zoom. Hopefully, all the reporters werent on, he said.

Too late. The exchange, posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) and then picked up by television and print outlets around the state, quickly went viral  catnip in the heated debate about retail theft and Proposition 47, which reduced some thefts and drug offenses to misdemeanors to reduce mass incarceration. Some critics have blamed Proposition 47 for the rise in thefts.

Newsom himself came out last month calling for legislation to crack down on professional thieves without amending Proposition 47, noting that one of the wine stores he owns in San Francisco was robbed at least three times in 2021. He pointed out that Texas threshold for felony theft is among those that is higher than Californias.

But those points did little to calm the viral story. The chairwoman of the state Republican Party, Jessica Millan Patterson, quickly jumped into the fray, writing on X : Shout-out to this store clerk for saying to the governors face what every Californian has wanted to say: that he and his radical @CA_Dem buddies are to blame for CAs surging crime. Sadly, Newsom still didnt seem to take the hint.

Newsoms office declined to identify which Target the encounter occurred at, to keep the media from mobbing the store. They did say the encounter took place in the Sacramento area, around Christmastime, while the governor was shopping with one of his children.

The exchange, the governor said, ended with an attempt at a photo-op.

As the governor was explaining how strict Californias retail theft laws actually are, the clerk, he said, looks at me, twice. She freaks out. She calls everyone over, wants to take photos.

I said, no, Im not taking a photo, Newsom said. Were having a conversation. Wheres your manager? How are you blaming the governor?

He added: Why am I spending $380? Everyone can walk the hell right out.





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Gov. Bill Lee has offered to send additional Tennessee National Guard to Texas amid an increasingly politicized clash between state and federal officials over border patrol issues.

Lee joined Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and a contingent of other Republican governors in Eagle Pass, a Texas border city that has emerged as a flashpoint over immigration issues. Lee on Sunday called it a crisis, and the state previously sent 125 National Guard members to the area in October.

"It's obviously been a crisis for many years now," Lee said. "Republican governors have been sounding that alarm for many years."

Gov. Greg Abbott speaks with several state governors at a press conference about border policies at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass on Sunday February 4, 2024.

Lee issued public support for Abbott in January following a U.S. Supreme Cout ruling that allowed federal Border Patrol agents to remove razor wire bouys installed by Texas along the Rio Grande. Critics have called the razor wire inhumane and largely ineffective at addressing wider immigration issues. Last year, a woman and two children drowned trying to cross the river.

Abbot accused the Biden administration of breaking the compact with states.

The White House, meanwhile, has called on Republican governors to talk to their states' congressional delegations about supporting new immigration policies.

A bipartisan border security package recently reached in Congress would include some Republican-backed measures such as stricter asylum standards and new deportation powers. However, it will be an uphill battle toward passage as former President Donald Trump has pressured House Republicans to torpedo the deal.

Related: How Donald Trump is tightening his grip on the Republican party as he seeks to defeat Haley in SC

In a Tennessean op-ed last week, Lisa Sherman Luna, executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, criticized Lee for backing policies of "violence and devastation."

"The status quo isn't working, and our leaders have a moral obligation to build an immigration system that ensures everyone is treated with dignity and respect, from improving the asylum process and hiring immigration judges to creating an opportunity for citizenship to those already here," Sherman Luna said. "But instead were getting Governor Lees stamp of approval on bad-faith negotiations, dangerous enforcement, and the politicization of our humanity."

Reach Melissa Brown at mabrown@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN Gov. Lee visits Texas amid immigration clash, offers guard support
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The storm that has been slamming California, taking out power and flooding roads, moved into San Diegos North County early Monday and will continue to drop rain on the area for the next few days.

The storm worked its way south through the entire state of California and hit San Diego County Monday, but the heaviest rain and risk of flooding isnt expected to start letting up until around noon Wednesday.

A Tornado Warning was issued for portions of South Bay and East County and expired just before 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Flash flood, Tornado warnings issued as storm continues

In anticipation of the winter storm, the governor of California deployed thousands of boots on the ground and updated the state of emergency proclamation Sunday to include San Diego County and several other counties across the state.

A Pineapple Express  a strong atmospheric river that forms over the ocean around Hawaii and sends large amounts of water vapor through the sky  started hitting California on Sunday, flooding roads and taking out power to millions, also prompting a rare warning for hurricane-force winds.

Historic storm sends debris through L.A.s Hollywood Hills and leaves 1.1 million without power

Mayor Todd Gloria and city officials updated the public Sunday evening on storm preparations. You can watch that latest update on the Citys YouTube page.

San Diego County is expected to see several inches of rain fall through Wednesday. Mudslides, debris flows and flooding is possible.

In anticipation of the severe weather, the City of San Diego Sunday evening reissued the evacuation warning for southeast San Diego communities of Southcrest, Mountain View, Encanto, San Ysidro, Sorrento Valley and Mission Valley. Residents in those areas were warned by text message.

The evacuation order as of Tuesday evening is lifted for residents in those areas.

Tuesday afternoon, city officials held another update on the storm response and important reminders for residents. As of Tuesday afternoon, there are more than 50 road closures throughout San Diego. You can view the most updated list below.

In the past 24-hours, San Diego first responders have received more than 500 storm related calls to the Public Works dispatch center  27 reports of flooding, 17 reports of downed trees, 23 blocked drain calls.

First responders so far have received 67 emergency calls for flooding, mudslides and traffic signals in the City of San Diego.

Crews will be out patrolling all sections of the city Tuesday, inspecting inlets, unclogging drains, preventing flooding and assessing downed trees, officials said.

They are also closely monitoring areas that were impacted by the last storm  Southcrest, Mountain View, Encanto, and others. Officials report that so far the channels across the region are containing the storm water.

Video: City Leaders Give Update on Storm Response

Road Closures

The storm caused several road closures as it moved south through San Diego County on Monday. Many of those closures remained in place into Tuesday.

In the City of San Diego the following areas are closed as of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday due to the storm:

State Route 94 at 28th Street.

7400 Hazard Center Drive.

10900 San Diego Mission Road.

5100 Mission Center Road.

2100 Cam Del Este.

2100 Qualcomm Way.

5800 Ward Road.

1900  2200 Monument Road (due to flooding).

2600  2700 Monument Road (due to flooding).

2400  2900 Hollister Street.

Saturn Boulevard at Sunset Avenue.

2000 Saturn Boulevard.

2750 Dairy Mart Road.

3800 Estuary Way.

11100 Roselle Street.

Sorrento Valley Road at Carmel Mountain Road.

Roselle Street at Dunhill Street.

San Pasqual Valley Road at Ysabel Creek Road.

State Route 78 at San Pasqual Valley Road (sinkhole, one lane open each way).

Torrey Pines Road at Ivanhoe Avenue East (pothole).

1600 S. 42nd St.

Entrance to Fiesta Island (1000 Fiesta Island Road).

Kelton Place/Kelton Road.

5800 Mission Center Road (hazard on the road).

Monroe Avenue/Bancroft Street.

51st Street/Trojan Avenue.

5045 Collwood Way.



San Diego River Crossing Closures

Riverwalk between Avenida de Rio and Hazard Center.

Avenida del Rio

Camino De La Reina from Camino De La Siesta to Avenida del Rio

Camino De La Reina west of Avenida Del Rio (eastbound).

Camino del Arroyo at Camino De La Reina.

San Diego Mission Road from Fairmount to Rancho Mission Rd..

Qualcomm Way from Camino del Rio North to Rio San Diego Drive.

Mission Center Road between Hazard Center Drive and Camino De La Reina.

Ward Road from Rancho Mission Rd. to Camino Del Rio North.

Camino Del Este between Station Village Drive and Camino De La Reina.

Fashion Valley Rd. from Hotel Circle North to Riverwalk Dr.

Flooded Areas (latest update 2:30 p.m. Tuesday):

Rancho Bernardo Road at I-15.

900 Torrance St.

5100 Cape May Ave.

1825 Sunset Cliffs

Catalina Blvd. at Del Monte Ave.

Monroe Ave. from 33rd St. to Bancroft.

39th St. at Orange Ave.

Roselle St. & Dunhill St.

El Cajon Blvd. & 34th St.

4200 39th St.

Midway Dr. & Barnett St.

Midway Dr. & Wing St.

2400-2900 Midway Dr.

6000 Carroll Rd.

14200 San Dieguito Rd.

8748 Gilman

500-800 Sea World Dr.

Kurtz St. & Sports Arena.

15400  16000 Old Milky Way.

13900 Highland Valley Road.

Rancho Bernardo Road east of Bernardo Center Drive.

4300 Euclid Avenue.

Monroe Avenue at 33rd Street.

2500 Hotel Circle Place.

500 Hollister Street.

3600  3700 Beta Street.

1631 South 42nd Street.

4300 Alamo Ave.

52nd Street and Trojan Avenue.

2000 Hollister St.

Visit the City of San Diegos road closure page for the latest updates.

Other areas in the county reported road closures on Tuesday, according to the County of San Diego Department of Public Works:

5th St. dip and the Huffstatler St. 5th St dip from Huffstatler St to Old 395

Huffstatler dip from 5th St. to 2nd St.

As of 10:28 p.m. Monday, De Luz Road and De Luz Murrieta are closed near Fallbrook.

All these dips are closed from De Luz Rd dip to the other side, De Luz Murrieta at the schoolhouse dip to Riverside County line, the County of San Diego Department of Public Works posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

As of 7:41 p.m. Monday, Sandia Creek is closed from Rock Mountain Road to the San Margarita Preserve entrance in the Fallbrook area, according to the County of San Diego Department of Public Works.

As of 7:05 p.m. Monday, Quarry Road is closed between state Route 125 to Lakeview Drive due to flooding in Spring Valley, according to the County of San Diego Department of Public Works.

Eastbound and westbound State Route 78 from Old Milky Way Road to east of San Pasqual Battlefield State Park was closed by Caltrans on Monday, but all lanes have since been reopened to traffic.

On Tuesday just after 1 a.m., Campania Avenue in the 4S Ranch neighborhood was closed off to traffic due to flooding from Castello Circle to Camino San Thomas, according to the county.

According to Caltrans as of 4:30 p.m. Monday, the northbound I-5 on-ramp at Palomar Airport Road is closed due to flooding. The northbound I-5 right lane just south of Palomar Airport Road is flooded but remains open at this time.

Crews close road in Escondido for reported sinkhole

Turn around, dont drown. First responders advise to never drive through flooded roadways.

While flooding was the main hazard for drivers across the county, officials are also warning of high elevation snow sticking to roadways.

First tier chain controls were implemented by the county Department of Public Works Tuesday morning through Mount Laguna on Sunrise Highway. At this level, certain vehicles must wear chains, however automatics or pickups are required to carry them.

Video below: A Look At Current Weather Conditions In North County Tuesday afternoon

Resources

The Local Assistance Center in Mountain View was closed Monday due to the weather, but reopened Tuesday.

The Assistance Center at the Mountain View Community Recreation Center will be open from 1 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday for residents impacted by the recent storms.

A shelter is in place for those in need at the Balboa Park Municipal Gym. Free transportation to the shelter is available from the United Taxi Workers by calling 619-280-4444 or with the Ride United app.

Beds are also available at San Diegos Inclement Weather Shelters.

Cal Fire water rescue team on standby for potential flooding

The four city donation sites at Mountain View/Beckwourth Library, College-Rolando Library, Southcrest Recreation Center and Encanto Recreation Center will be closed until further notice.

Storm preparations

The city says it has upstaffed public safety, swift water rescue teams, dispatchers and extra fire crews in flood-prone areas ahead of the storm.

Since the Jan. 22 floods, City crews have cleared vegetation and obstructions from culverts and channels along four miles of Chollas Creek, which they say is more than twice the amount of work typically done in an entire year. Emergency repairs also fixed structural damage on several concrete stormwater channels. City officials say this was possible because of the local and state emergency declarations.

We have been advised by the National Weather Service that this upcoming rain event could pack a powerful punch with another record amount of rainfall over an extended period of time, said Mayor Todd Gloria. As a result, I am urging all San Diegans to take the proper precautions and make the necessary preparations now. The City has sandbags available, and we will position the assets necessary in order to protect homes and residents during this upcoming storm.

Statewide, Governor Gavin Newsom deployed more than 8,300 boots on the ground.

Gov. Newsom on Sunday updated the previous state of emergency proclamation for San Diego and Ventura counties to include Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara counties.

California also activated its State Operations Center, Flood Operations Center, Caltrans Emergency Operations Center and the Medical Health Coordination Center.

Thousands of donations pour in for flood survivors ahead of more rain

Heavy rainfall battered communities across the state, with those along the central coast and in Southern California seeing the heaviest rainfall at the beginning of the week.

Emergency officials are bracing for and warning residents of possible flooding on roadways, around creeks and rivers, and in coastal areas, with mud/rockslides and debris flows possible.

South Bay doctors warn of spike in gastrointestinal infections after flooding

Heavy snowfall with accumulations of several feet is expected in mountain areas across the state. Expect difficult travel conditions.

With the governors new mobilization, Cal OES has deployed more than 550 local government firefighters and support staff in 19 counties, including 19 swift water rescue teams, and one local government urban search and rescue team.

More than 4,000 Caltrans staff members are deployed throughout the state.

CAL FIRE has five hoist-rescue helicopters, two swift water rescue teams, additional four-wheel drive engines, and six handcrews available for the upcoming storms.

California Highway Patrol has limited emergency operations centers ready to be activated if needed.

The California National Guard is standing by to rapidly deploy with high-water vehicles, aviation search and rescue assets, military police, general transportation, and heavy engineering equipment units, if needed.

San Diego Humane Society helping displaced pets after flash floods

Around 500 California Conservation Corps members are available for support.

Caltrans has water pumps ready for the most flood-prone areas, and is working to clear storm drains of debris, checking portable backup generators, and stocking up on reflective signs in the event of power outages.

The Flood Operations Center is activated statewide and is coordinating flood planning and response.

Governor Gavin Newsom

California closed these seven state parks, including the Border Field State Park Beach in San Diego County, and partially closed six in anticipation of the inclement weather, with staff on the ground to respond if needed.

California has more than 8,300 boots on the ground as we prepare for this next set of serious storms. All Californians in the storms path  especially those in Southern California  should prepare now and follow the guidance of local government officials and first responders, Governor Gavin Newsom.

NASCAR champ Blaney needs provisional to make Clash field on rushed day ahead of predicted storms

Statewide, NASCAR moved The Clash at the Coliseum to Saturday night out of concerns for the impending weather.

What to know

A flood watch will be in effect for San Diego County from Sunday afternoon through Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

The public is advised to stay out of the ocean during the storm.

A high surf advisory was in effect from Sunday night into Monday night, with waves 6 to 8 feet and sets up to 10 feet. The highest surf was expected on west facing beaches, with dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and some beach erosion possible.

Coastal waters at Imperial Beach, Silver Strand, Coronado, Sweetwater Channel and Pepper Park are above healthy levels and remain closed to swimming at this time. As with any rain event, a general rain advisory is in effect for all coastal waters for 72 hours following rain.

Residents in the City of San Diego can pick up sandbags and sand at 10 city recreation centers and two libraries during regular hours.

Pre-filled sandbags will be available for residents at the Encanto Recreation Center and Mountain View Community Center on Monday and Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Rain threatens clean-up of waste in flood-prone Tijuana River Valley

As our county continues to recover from the recent winter storms, another powerful storm is making landfall in our region, prompting Governor Newsom to proclaim a state of emergency, said San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas. The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated, and I want to ensure that every resident is informed and prepared. As we face these challenging weather conditions, it is critical that we prioritize the safety of ourselves, our families, and our neighbors. I urge each and every one of you to stay informed about the latest developments and take proactive measures to protect your homes and loved ones. Please, if you can, stay home and off the roads. At the County of San Diego, we are working around the clock to provide resources for our community. Please take advantage of the help by visiting AlertSanDiego.org or calling 211. Follow the county on social media and pay attention to emergency information and instructions regarding flooding.

Oceanside during winter storm

To report flooding or clogged storm drains, contact the Citys dispatch center at 619-527-7500. Call 911 for an emergency.

Pineapple Expresses and rising seas are battering Californias piers, threatening iconic landmarks

Click here for more information on staying safe and preparing for severe storms.

FOX 5 is tracking the storm. Check back for live updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
During a nasty 2023 campaign, incumbent Gov. Tate Reeves derisively criticized his Democratic opponent Brandon Presley for taking campaign contributions from his solar panel buddies  that have tried to run the oil business out of America.

What a difference a few months make.

Reeves, now in his second term as governor after prevailing in that reelection contest, stood proudly at a news conference in the Mississippi Capitol last week and boasted of providing millions in tax breaks and state cash to a company that embraces green or renewable energy, including  gulp  solar energy.

A key part of his plan that landed Amazon Web Services is solar farms that will help fuel the electricity-dependent data centers the company will build in Madison County. Amazon, the company that legislators provided millions of dollars to entice them to locate in Mississippi on the recommendation of the governor, is the worlds largest user of renewable energy and has a goal of being powered solely by renewable energy in the near future.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, center, announces a tech company will invest $10 billion to build two data processing centers that will create 1,000 jobs in central Mississippi, during a Wednesday news conference in Jackson. Rogelio V. Solis/AP

The difference in Reeves past rhetoric and his recent comments and action when announcing two historic economic development projects for the state is breathtaking. And it highlights the conflict conservative leaders like Reeves face in recruiting companies that often have different positions on policies than they do.

For instance, many Mississippi politicians have strived for years to, as Reeves likes to say, make Mississippi the safest place in America for an unborn child. Yet legislators recently approved a plan at Reeves behest to lure Amazon, which has a policy of providing its employees up to $4,000 if they work in a state like Mississippi, where most abortions are prohibited, to travel to a state where they can legally get an abortion.

And it is at least a little ironic that as the state provided funds to Amazon, legislation was being considered and is still alive in the process preventing Mississippians from placing the combustible issue of abortion on the ballot for voters to decide. The legislation would prevent the initiative process where voters gather signatures to bypass the Legislature and place issues on the ballot to be used to change the state laws that ban most abortions.

Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, center, thanks legislators for their work on supporting efforts to bring a tech company to Mississippi. Rogelio V. Solis/AP

But wait, dont stop there. In recently recruiting a battery plant to power electric commercial vehicles to north Mississippi, the governor seemed to be embracing Chinese technology  another direct counter to his recent rhetoric.

In 2023, Reeves signed two bills that limited Mississippis relationship with China. One prevented Mississippi state agencies from purchasing small aircraft systems or drones produced by Chinese technology companies, and another banned the TikTok app from state devices.

In signing the bills last year, Reeves said: The Chinese Communist Party is not a friend to Mississippi or the United States. They want to exploit vulnerabilities in technology to harm our country and our citizens. Were not going to let that happen in Mississippi, and thats why I signed these two bills. Its time for our country to wake up and recognize the existential threat that the Chinese Communist Party and other bad actors around the world pose to Americans. Were putting the safety of Mississippians first, and if that means you cant use TikTok and other compromised technology on state devices or purchase drones made in China, so be it.

A bank of Mississippi State flags wave during the inauguration of Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson earlier this month. Rogelio V. Solis/AP

But earlier this month, the governor touted providing at least $350 million in incentives to entice an alliance of companies, including a Chinese company, to Mississippi. The Chinese company will provide the technology to produce batteries in Marshall County in north Mississippi on the Tennessee border to power electric commercial vehicles.

The governor is offering millions to lure a Chinese technology company to Mississippi even though during the 2023 campaign, he was so concerned about China that he criticized Presley for accepting a campaign donation from Pin Ni, a Chinese businessman who is president of Wanxiang America, a diverse green energy auto parts company.

In January, Reeves announced two economic development projects that have the potential to have major impact on Mississippi. But key elements of both projects stand in sharp contrast to the governors past rhetoric and policy positions.

This analysis was produced by Mississippi Today, a nonprofit news organization that covers state government, public policy, politics and culture. Bobby Harrison is Mississippi Todays senior Capitol reporter.
A Russian artillery strike on Toretsk, Donetsk Oblast, killed a civilian and injured two more on Feb. 4, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.

Toretsk, a front-line town sandwiched between Russian-occupied Bakhmut and Horlivka, is subjected to daily Russian attacks.

Those injured have been hospitalized, according to Filashkin.

Russia has partially occupied Donetsk Oblast since the start of Moscow's war of aggression against Ukraine in 2014. Many of the region's front-line settlements have been destroyed and depopulated in the course of the fighting.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, 1,849 locals have been killed and 4,532 injured, according to the regional authorities. The number excludes civilian casualties in Russian-occupied areas, including the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha, as it is currently impossible to determine the exact number of victims.

Read also: Georgians likely rank first among foreign fighters killed fighting for Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Back when Grant Hopkins, aka DJ Groovy Grant, was starting out in the Kansas City music scene, he wasnt allowed to walk into an establishment through the front entrance. In this time of segregation, he was sent to the back door.

After a show, he often wasnt paid the agreed-upon amount, as owners figured they could take advantage of a Black man.

Those insults did not stop Hopkins from doing what he loved. And he made sure to teach that determination to his children.

The most important thing he taught me was to be a leader, says his daughter Melinda Hopkins. Sometimes you may have to go against the grain and be yourself. He taught us to follow our own path to find out what is best for us. 

Her father, a talented saxophonist, built a reputation over the decades as a respected fan favorite in the world of party DJs as well as a host on KKFI-FM (90.1). Hopkins was known for showing up to parks with his portable turntables and transforming any event into a party.

Hopkins died Jan. 2 at the age of 78 due to health complications.

Weve been doing well to be expected, says his daughter. It just takes time with the process of everything and kind of getting used to him not being around.

I think he loved music so much because it was a way of escape and sometimes music allows people to be free, says Grant Hopkins daughter, Melinda Hopkins.

Originally from Kansas City, Kansas, Hopkins graduated from what was then Sumner High School.

Hopkins learned early on that music was more than something to just dance to. He began accumulating equipment at a young age and Groovy Grant became a fixture at clubs, parties and community events. His daughter thinks that the DJ booth was the place her father was most comfortable.

I think he loved music so much because it was a way of escape, and sometimes music allows people to be free, she says.

Hopkins was a popular radio personality, hosting the OGs Original Hangout show on KKFI as well as music events like the Kansas City Jazz & Heritage Festival. He was also an avid photographer.

Remembering her father as a walking encyclopedia of all things music, his daughter will miss having him around as the life of the party and the heart of the family.

I will miss spending time with him and being with him the most, says Hopkins, the youngest of his three children. I think they will remember him for his legacy and the music, and I think the people who knew him will miss him as dearly as we do.

Grant Hopkins with his three grandsons, Robert, Ronnell and Ricky Hopkins.

His daughter, 55, is thankful her two children could have him in their lives to share his years of knowledge and experiences.

Many friends, family and fans shared messages of grief on social media:

You will always be loved and remembered Groovy Grant Hopkins.

Fly high Old Man, my Groovy Grant you taught us so much from Blues to photography.

Gonna miss my friend and will be continuing to pray for the family and friends.

He was a walking history book. I loved to talk with Groovy. My brother, my friend.

His daughter says that as much as her father loved music, the one thing he loved more was his family.

He was a great person who loved everyone, she says. He will be missed by many but we will always have the music and the laughter to remember him by.

Relatives are planning a memorial event with local DJs and musicians in tribute to the life and legacy of her father.

He is remembered by his children, Tonya Griffie, Grant Griffie and Melinda Hopkins, along with a host of cousins, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends.

Other remembrances

Joe Crosby Jr., social worker and father, died Jan. 24. He was 68.

Joe Crosby Jr.

Joe Crosby Jr., social worker and father, died Jan. 24. He was 68.

Crosby was born on June 20, 1955, to Louisa and Joe Crosby Sr.

He graduated from what was then Lincoln High School in 1973 and earned a bachelors in sociology and religion in 1986 at William Jewell College.

Crosby moved to Philadelphia and became a social worker with The Childrens Choice Foster Care Agency. He was later a case manager, then supervisor of outpatient therapy and behavioral health rehabilitation services, at Northeast Treatment Centers.

He married Aquilla Calloway on Sept. 22, 1990, and the couple had two sons.

Crosby often returned to the Kansas City area to visit friends and family. Though he lived on the East Coast he always considered the metro home.

He is remembered by his wife, Aquilla Crosby; children, Joe Benjamin Crosby III, Hezekiah Daniel Crosby and Jo Ann Crosby Higgins; brother, Melvin Leroy Crosby; and a host of cousins and friends.

Oliver Pleasure, Air Force veteran and business owner, died Jan. 16. He was 85.

Oliver Pleasure

Oliver Pleasure, United States Air Force veteran and business owner, died Jan. 16. He was 85.

Pleasure was born on March 2, 1938, to Willie and Elizabeth Pleasure in Kansas City. He graduated from R. T. Coles Vocational School and participated in activities such as playing the saxophone and fixing cars.

He enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed in London as a mechanic. After being honorably discharged, Pleasure worked at his fathers corner store, Willies, on 12th Street and Woodland Avenue.

After the death of his father, Pleasure took over the business and in 1982 he bought additional land on 12th and Park Avenue. There he opened other businesses such as a bar, liquor store and a small grocery store that he operated for the next 38 years.

Pleasure was known as an astute businessman who was always willing to help those in need.

He is remembered by his sister, Tyra Williams; children, Lisa Wright, Terry Pleasure and Donita Collier; along with a host of cousins, grandchildren and friends.
GREEN BANK, WV (WVNS)  West Virginia is home to endless mountains, quiet streams, and the worlds largest fully steerable radio telescope. The many wonders of the universe are studied at the Green Bank Observatory. Recently, the Green Bank observatory obtained telescope parts from Norway.

Located in Pocahontas County, Green Bank Observatory houses many radio telescopes with one being 140 meters tall.

Mountain State Destinations: Green Bank Observatory

Green Bank Observatory also contains an educational telescope for those that want to pursue a career in astronomy.

If the educational telescope were to fail, replacement parts would be needed.

Brenne Gregory, Scientific Data Analyst for Green Bank Observatory, says the telescope parts from Norway are a necessity.

Because the telescope was built in 1994, a lot of these parts are obsolete. So, theyre really priceless, in price. So, the fact that Kartverket was willing to give us those parts, many making sure that our telescope will continue to run for many years as we dont have any extras was really fantastic said Gregory.

Members of Green Bank Observatory had to be cautious when retrieving the telescope parts. To be more specific, they were trained to protect themselves from polar bears.

Winter months hit tourism-dependent businesses hard

Gregory says they were trained with rifles.

A lot of our staff were actually trained to carry rifles and flare guns should a polar bear appear. In Ny-Aalesund, if you leave the city limits or town limits, you have to have a rifle for your safety. So, we were prepared to deal with that. The telescope was actually outside the city limits said Gregory.

The telescope parts made it safely from their trans-Atlantic trip back to the United States. With spare parts in hand, Green Bank Observatory is prepared to fix the educational telescope if needed. This trip across the world gives needed parts for maintenance, but also gives future astronomers the chance to get hands-on experience.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
In pics: festive lanterns in Nanjing

Xinhua) 09:18, February 04, 2024

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 29, 2024 shows festive lanterns at Bailuzhou park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. About 330 sets of festive lanterns will decorate seven urban areas of Nanjing during the upcoming Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

People visit the Fuzi (Confucius) Temple scenic area in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Feb. 1, 2024. About 330 sets of festive lanterns will decorate seven urban areas of Nanjing during the upcoming Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 21, 2024 shows a dragon-shaped festive lantern at the Laomendong scenic area in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. About 330 sets of festive lanterns will decorate seven urban areas of Nanjing during the upcoming Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 29, 2024 shows a night view of Bailuzhou park decorated with festive lanterns in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. About 330 sets of festive lanterns will decorate seven urban areas of Nanjing during the upcoming Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

This photo taken on Jan. 29, 2024 shows festive lanterns at Bailuzhou park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. About 330 sets of festive lanterns will decorate seven urban areas of Nanjing during the upcoming Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

This photo taken on Jan. 21, 2024 shows a dragon-shaped festive lantern at the Laomendong scenic area in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. About 330 sets of festive lanterns will decorate seven urban areas of Nanjing during the upcoming Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

This photo taken on Jan. 21, 2024 shows a dragon-shaped festive lantern at the Laomendong scenic area in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. About 330 sets of festive lanterns will decorate seven urban areas of Nanjing during the upcoming Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

This photo taken on Jan. 29, 2024 shows festive lanterns at Bailuzhou park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. About 330 sets of festive lanterns will decorate seven urban areas of Nanjing during the upcoming Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

This photo taken on Jan. 29, 2024 shows festive lanterns at Bailuzhou park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. About 330 sets of festive lanterns will decorate seven urban areas of Nanjing during the upcoming Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A Chinese New Year concert "Happy Spring Festival" was held in Riga, charming an audience of around 500 people from various walks of life.

Artists from the China National Opera House presented a musical feast on Thursday, introducing the concertgoers to traditional Chinese culture as well as delivering brilliant renditions of classical pieces of Western music.

"The concert was marvelous! The artists are wonderful. You can feel the happiness and joy of life in their singing. It is their artistic delivery, such a positive approach," said Danielle Shumsky from the International Women's Club in Riga.

A rendition of two Latvian folk songs, performed by both vocalists and instrumentalists, also got ovations from the audience.

"This mutual communication allows peoples to understand each other better," Anatolijs Butenko, an employee with the exhibition company BT1, said, adding that he was enriched by the knowledge of the Chinese culture.

Another member of the audience, Marija Krumina, said, "I am so glad that such artists, professionals visit here in Latvia to delight us ... A celebration for the soul and a feast for the spirit."
The leader of a New Mexico nonprofit organization that has presented dozens of gun buy-back events throughout the state says she feels vindicated by a recent legal opinion from the attorney generals staff maintaining such programs are legal under state law, despite an assertion by San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari that they are not.

On Jan. 9, Chief Deputy Attorney General James Grayson explained in a letter to San Juan County District Attorney Rick Tedrow, copied to Ferrari, that gun buy-back events conducted by nonprofit organizations in partnership with law enforcement agencies do not violate a provision of a 2019 state law requiring that a federal instant background check be conducted prior to the sale of a firearm, except in certain circumstances.

The plain language of the statute shows that a federal instant background check is not required at the type of gun buy-back event described above, Grayson wrote in his letter, noting specifically that the statute does not apply to the transfer of a firearm as a gift. As a result, there is no question that an individual could donate a firearm to a non-profit entity without being subject to the statute.

Grayson wrote that, even though a law enforcement officer provides a surrendered firearm to a nonprofit worker for destruction after making sure it has not been reported as stolen during such events, that transfer is not regarded as a sale because the nonprofit worker does not provide anything of value to the law enforcement officer in exchange for the weapon.

Unwanted firearms that were surrendered and destroyed on Dec. 13, 2023, in Farmington by New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence.

The gun buy-back involves two separate transfers of possession, neither of which requires a federal instant background check under (the statute), he wrote. The law enforcement agency, in effect, functions as an intermediary in a manner that does not trigger the background check requirement.

Miranda Viscoli, the co-president of New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence, welcomed the opinion from the AGs staff.

One-hundred percent, she said, affirming her confidence that such a review was going to validate her organizations position on the issue.

Miranda Viscoli

Now, the misinformation has to stop, said Viscoli, referring to what she described as large-scale social media mischaracterizations of the actions and goals of New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence.

Ferrari, who had raised the issue of the legality of the programs in a Dec. 17 Facebook post on his Shane Ferrari for Facebook page, acknowledged receiving the letter from the chief deputy AG and said he understood the reasoning that if a buy-back program is conducted in partnership with a law enforcement agency, it does not run afoul of state law.

But he said the letter did not address his question about what happens if organization such as New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence conduct such events on their own, without the participation of a law-enforcement agency. He said he had reached out to the New Mexico Department of Justice, formerly known as the Attorney Generals Office, two days ago for a response to that question and was awaiting a response.

Dustin OBrien, the chief deputy district attorney for San Juan County, said he had not had an opportunity to analyze the opinion with Tedrow, who he said has spent much of the past couple of weeks in Santa Fe for the start of the legislative session. But he said if such buy-back events are conducted with a law enforcement partner, he agrees with the position expressed by the deputy attorney general in his letter.

I would trust the attorney general assesses it properly, but I have not had the chance to discuss it with Rick, he said.

Hacked off or destroyed?

Ferrari said he also has been in touch with officials at the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms about whether the firearms that are surrendered at such events are being destroyed properly. Customarily, the weapons are cut up with a gun saw immediately after their former owner turns them in.

Shane Ferrari

Ferrari maintains that, according to photographs he has seen, many of them are not being properly destroyed, and he said ATF officials share his concerns.

Even though theyre cut in half, theyre still considered firearms, he said.

He said he had seen images of an AK-47 that reportedly had been surrendered at one of the gun buy-back events that had had its barrel hacked off while the receiver  the portion of the weapon that anchors the integrated gas piston and the trigger group, according to popularmechanics.com  had been left intact.

Viscoli flatly rejected that claim.

I dont know how he could have seen those images because they dont exist, she said.

The sheriff said it was his understanding that government officials will be reaching out to New Mexicans to Prevent Firearms soon to offer them education on what is legally required for the destruction of firearms.

Viscoli dismissed the idea that her organization is conducting the destructions improperly.

Theres a lot of misinformation out there saying were turning them into sawed-off shotguns, she said, scoffing and adding that when her organization destroys a gun, it makes sure the weapon is unusable.

No gunsmith in the world can put these back together, she said.

More: Gun buy-backs remain divisive topic in San Juan County

In his Facebook post that prompted an inquiry from the DAs Office about the legality of gun buy-back programs, Ferrari took issue with the destruction of several guns by New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence in Farmington on Dec. 13, 2023.

He has contended that unwanted firearms that have been surrendered must remain in the custody of law enforcement officials until a destruction order or other disposition is obtained from a court.

Ferrari also said his reading of the opinion from the attorney generals staff is that any gun buy-back event that isnt conducted in conjunction with a law enforcement agency is not covered by the review. Viscoli has said her organization is considering presenting a gun buy-back event in Farmington without a law-enforcement partner after a Dec. 6, 2023, event that was supposed to be held here in partnership with the Farmington Police Department was cancelled by city officials after several citizens complained about it.

Viscoli interpreted Graysons letter differently than Ferrari, arguing that an event without a law enforcement partner requires only a minor change of procedure.

You cant give them any kind of thank you (card) until after the firearm is destroyed in front of them, she said, noting that the firearm has ceased to be a firearm at that point.

Viscoli apparently was referring to a section of Graysons letter in which he wrote, the transfer of possession at a buy-back event includes placing the firearm in a shredder that renders it permanently inoperable such that it is no longer a firearm as defined (in the statute.)

Turning down the heat

Viscoli said she hopes Graysons letter defuses some of the criticism she and New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence have been subject to over social media. She blamed Ferrari, as well as state lawmakers John Block and Stefani Lord  who have mounted an impeachment effort against Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for her public health order earlier this year that suspended the right of citizens to carry open or concealed firearms in public in Albuquerque  for encouraging much of that activity. She asserted they are abusing their political position by vilifying her organization.

Ferrari said he worries that firearms that have been stolen could be destroyed at gun buy-back events that take place without a law enforcement partner. He said he is continuing to question aspects of gun buy-back events because he wants clarification on those issues, and he wants the law to be followed.

Ive spoken to the U.S. Attorneys Office, and they have no interest in charging them, he said of organization that he believes have violated the law. I have no interest in charging them.

The sheriff said he is hoping to receive that clarification soon in the form of another opinion from the New Mexico Department of Justice.

Im just looking forward to getting it all done so everybodys aware of the process that needs to take place, he said.

Mike Easterling can be reached at 505-564-4610 or measterling@daily-times.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription: http://bit.ly/2I6TU0e.

This article originally appeared on Farmington Daily Times: Gun buy-back programs legal in New Mexico: AG staff
Authorities have released the identity of the man who was shot to death outside of a metro Atlanta bakery.

Lawrenceville police officials confirmed that 37-year-old Ervin Fejzic of Loganville was killed Saturday morning outside of his family-run business, Fejzic Euro Bakery, on Scenic Hwy. South.

When police arrived on the scene Saturday morning after receiving reports of a person shot, they found Fejzic in the parking lot of the bakery, where he was pronounced dead.

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

Friends of the Fejzic told Channel 2 Action News that he recently became a father and was an outstanding member of the community.

Ive known the family for 20 years. You always ask yourself why bad things happen to good people and this is one of those instances. It came as a shock. The whole community is shocked, Kenan Mustic said.

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Police have not said if anyone has been taken into custody at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Lawrenceville Police Detective Sampson at 770-670-5145.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Namibia's 82-year-old president Hage Geingob died on Sunday while receiving medical treatment for cancer at a hospital in the capital Windhoek.

The Namibian presidency in a social media post said Geingob's medical team at Lady Pohamba Hospital did its best to help him but could not save the president.

He is survived by his wife, Monica Geingos, and three children, who were by his side during the last hours.

Geingob was undergoing cancer treatment and had a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy on 8 January following a biopsy. His office said he was supposed to travel to the US for treatment and return to Namibia on 2 February.

Acting president Angolo Mbumba on Sunday called for calm, saying that the "cabinet will convene with immediate effect in order to make the necessary state arrangements in this regard".

The Namibian nation has lost a distinguished servant of the people, a liberation struggle icon, the chief architect of our constitution and the pillar of the Namibian house, Mr Mbumba said in a statement on social media.

Geingob took office as the third president of Namibia in 2015 and had earlier been the longest-serving prime minister of the South African nation. He was due to finish his second and final term in office later this year.

Born in 1941, Geingob became the first prime minister of Namibia after it gained independence from South Africa in 1990.

Throughout his political career, Geingob suffered multiple health-related issues.

In 2014, he said he had survived prostate cancer just a year after undergoing brain surgery. In 2023, he reportedly underwent an aortic operation in neighbouring South Africa.

Geingob led Namibia to support South Africa's complaint against Israel's barbarity in Gaza at the International Court of Justice under the Genocide Convention. Namibia also issued a scathing criticism of its former colonial ruler Germany for defending Israel.

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa in a statement said: "Today, South Africa joins the people of our sister state Namibia in mourning the passing of a leader, patriot and friend of South Africa.

Today, South Africa joins the people of our sister state Namibia in mourning the passing of a leader, patriot and friend of South Africa.



Our thoughts and prayers are with the Geingob family and the people of Namibia who have lost an outstanding leader in a year in which pic.twitter.com/ssn7axOa3s  Cyril Ramaphosa  (@CyrilRamaphosa) February 4, 2024

"President Geingob was a towering veteran of Namibia's liberation from colonialism and apartheid. He was also greatly influential in the solidarity that the people of Namibia extended to the people of South Africa so that we could be free today."

Kenyas president William Ruto said Geingob was a believer of a unified Africa and strongly promoted the continent's voice and visibility at the global arena.

May God give the people of Namibia strength and courage during this difficult period, he added.

I extend my deepest condolences and sympathy to the family and the people of Namibia following the death of President Hage Geingob.



President Geingob was a distinguished leader who served the people of Namibia with focus and dedication.



He was a believer of a unified Africa  William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) February 4, 2024

Namibia will hold presidential and assembly elections in November this year.
FILE - Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at a New Hampshire primary night rally, in Concord, N.H., Tuesday Jan. 23, 2024. The former South Carolina governor stopped by NBC's Saturday Night Live on Saturday, Feb. 3. Haley appeared in the show's cold open in a mock CNN town hall for the upcoming primary in her home state, and took digs at Trump. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley poked fun at herself over a campaign misstep, but her primary target during a Saturday Night Live appearance was Donald Trump, joining in a skit that mocked a stand-in for the former president over his refusal to debate her and questioned his mental fitness.

Had a blast tonight on SNL! Know it was past Donalds bedtime so looking forward to the stream of unhinged tweets in the a.m., Haley posted on X, formerly Twitter, early Sunday.

The segment is a faux CNN town hall with Trump in Columbia, South Carolina, which holds the next nominating contest on Feb. 24. SNL's Kenan Thompson and Punkie Johnson play hosts Charles Barkley and Gayle King, respectively, and James Austin Johnson is Trump.

Haley, a former South Carolina governor, is an audience member who is introduced as someone who describes herself as a concerned South Carolina voter when she is called upon to question the candidate.

My question is why won't you debate Nikki Haley? she asks.

Trump, the front-runner for the nomination, has avoided all debates so far in the campaign, and Haley is his last major rival.

"Oh my God, it's her, the woman who was in charge of security on Jan. 6. It's Nancy Pelosi,'' the actor responds.

During a campaign speech in New Hampshire last month, Trump repeatedly seemed to confuse Haley, who was his U.N. ambassador, with Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the former House speaker. Trump had mistakenly asserted that Haley was in charge of security at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump supporters stormed the building.

U.S. Capitol Police are responsible for security on the grounds of the Capitol and protecting Congress, along with the House and Senate sergeants-at-arms. Trump has accused Pelosi of turning down security he says his administration offered, but a special House committee that investigated the siege found no evidence to support that claim.

After the town hall moderators correct the stand-in Trump, Haley asks, Are you doing OK Donald? You might need a mental competency test."

Trump has boasted that he has aced cognitive tests in the past, and Johnson's Trump told Haley: You know what I did. I took the test and I aced it, OK? Perfect score. They said Im 100% mental.

The final question in the skit comes from an audience member, SNL host Ayo Edebiri, who stars in Hulu's The Bear. She questions Haley, now referred to as Ambassador Haley, about the root cause of the American Civil War. The candidate, during a town hall in December in New Hampshire, was asked about the reason for the war, and she did not mention slavery in her response. She walked back her comments hours later.

I was just curious, what would you say was the main cause of the Civil War? Edebiri asked Haley during the show. Do you think it starts with an S and ends with a lavery?

Haley replied: Yep, I probably should have said that the first time, before saying, "And live from New York, it's Saturday Night.
Hamas is demanding that Israel releases Marwan Barghouti.

Some Palestinians regard Barghouti as a heroic Nelson Mandela figure.

He is serving five life sentences for his part in several deadly attacks on Israelis.

Hamas is demanding that Israel releases the high-profile Palestinian prisoner Marwan Barghouti amid tense cease-fire talks, The Associated Press reported.

As the most well-known prisoner held by Israel and a potential future Palestinian president, Barghouti's freedom is at the center of negotiations.

The Palestinian militant group's aims appear to be twofold  increase public support for their party and recognize Barghouti's rare position as a unifier among Palestinians, per the report.

"Hamas wants to show to the Palestinian people that they are not a closed movement. They represent part of the Palestinian social community. They are trying to seem responsible," Qadoura Fares from the Palestinian Ministry of Prisoner Affairs in the West Bank territory told The AP.

According to the think tank the European Council on Foreign Relations, Barghouti is "often described by Palestinians as the 'Palestinian Mandela.'" He is seen as a potential presidential successor to the aging Mahmoud Abbas.

Nelson Mandela was the leader of the resistance to the apartheid regime in South Africa who spent 27 years in prison. He went on to become the nation's first Black president.

Barghouti, 64, was a leading member of the secular Fatah movement and supported the peace process with Israel in the 1990s but became disillusioned. He went on to lead the Second Intifada (uprising) that begun in 2000.

Barghouti was arrested in 2002 and is serving five life sentences in an Israeli prison for his part in several deadly suicide bombing attacks on Israeli targets.

Throughout his trial, Barghouti refused to recognize the Israeli court's legitimacy and defend himself.

In the past, he has said he supports attacks on Israel's occupation of the West Bank but does not endorse the killing of Israelis within the pre-1967 border.

Palestinian woman looks at a mural depicting Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti as she walks past a section of the Israeli barrier, near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, September 24, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman

Despite decades in incarceration, Barghouti still enjoys widespread respect and support among all Palestinian factions.

He is the most popular politician among Palestinians, ahead of Abbas and Hamas' leader, Ismail Haniyeh, according to an opinion poll published in December.

Hamas' demands come as international mediators continue to search for an end to the conflict after nearly four months of fighting, which broke out following Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel.

The attacks killed around 1,200 people in Israel, while roughly 240 others were taken hostage in Gaza.

Israel launched a series of devastating airstrikes and a ground invasion of the territory in response to the attacks, which have left more than 27,000 Palestinians dead so far.

Israel is demanding that Hamas releases over 100 hostages, while the latter is calling for Israel to cease its offensive and release thousands of prisoners.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under mounting pressure to reach a deal over the Israeli hostages as protesters continue to voice their anger over his handling of the situation.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Bassam Masoud and Dan Williams

DOHA/GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Palestinian gunmen kept up attacks against Israeli forces on Sunday in the Gaza Strip's two main cities, weeks after they were overrun by troops and tanks, in a sign Hamas still maintains some control ahead of any potential truce.

Nearly four months into the war triggered by the Palestinian Islamist group's deadly cross-border rampage in Israel, there was persistent fighting in Gaza City in the north of the densely populated enclave, and in Khan Younis to the south.

At the weekly Israeli cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said 17 of Hamas' 24 combat battalions had been dismantled. The rest, he said, were mostly in the southern Gaza Strip - including Rafah, on the enclave's Egyptian border.

"We'll take care of them, too," he said, according to a statement from his office. Hamas does not publish its losses.

The prospect of a push into Rafah has piled pressure on the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians who have fled their homes elsewhere and are sheltering there. It also worries Cairo, which has said it will not admit any influx of Palestinian refugees in what it describes a bid to prevent any permanent dispossession.

An Israeli official told Reuters, however, that the military would coordinate with Egypt, and seek ways of evacuating most of the displaced people northward, ahead of any Rafah ground sweep.

Palestinians reported Israeli tank shelling and air strikes there, including one that killed two girls in a house.

As mourners bade farewell to the dead children, a relative, Mohammed Kaloub, said the air strike hit a room full of women and children in Rafah's al-Salam neighborhood.

"There is no safe place in Gaza, from the wire fence to the wire fence (borders from north to south), there is no safe place," he told Reuters.

Palestinian health officials said eight people were killed in separate Israeli air strikes on Deir Al-Balah areas in the central Gaza Strip. Deir Al-Balah is the second city in the enclave where Israel has not yet deployed tanks.

After conducting partial pullouts from Gaza City in the past few weeks that enabled some residents to return and pick through the rubble, Israeli forces have been mounting incursions. Netanyahu described these on Sunday as "mopping-up operations".

Before dawn on Sunday, air strikes destroyed several multi-storey buildings, including an Egyptian-funded housing project, residents said. The military said it killed seven Hamas gunmen in northern Gaza and seized weaponry. Israel's Army Radio said troops in the area were trying to penetrate two Hamas bunkers, a mission it said could take two weeks amid clashes at the sites.

"Gaza City is being wiped out," one resident who asked not to be named told Reuters. "The (Israeli) pull-out was a ruse."

'NEUTRALISING' TUNNELS

In Khan Younis, overnight Israeli shelling killed three Palestinians, medics said. Residents reported street fighting raging in western and southern areas of the city, where Israel said a soldier was killed in a Palestinian attack on Saturday.

Troops in Khan Younis seized a Hamas compound and killed several gunmen, the military said. Netanyahu said Israeli forces in the city were "neutralising" Hamas tunnels that run throughout Gaza, enabling gunmen to hole up and launch ambushes.

"This demands more time yet," he told his ministers.

Gaza health authorities, who do not differentiate between militants and civilians in their tallies, said on Sunday more than 27,300 Palestinians have been confirmed killed since the war began. They say that 70% of those killed have been women and children. Thousands more are feared lost amid the ruins.

Israel says it has killed some 10,000 gunmen in its campaign to annihilate Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack by the group, which is sworn to Israel's destruction. In the rampage, 1,200 people were killed and 253 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

More than 130 hostages are still in Gaza, and their possible release by Hamas is among issues under discussion in Egyptian- and Qatari-mediated negotiations, that are backed by the United States, to secure a truce.

Hamas has demanded an end to the war. Israel rules that out but is open to a temporary truce.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hosted French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne in a meeting on Sunday that Sisi's office said emphasized Egypt's collaborative efforts to establish a ceasefire and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Doha and Dan Williams in Jerusalem, Tala Ramadan in DubaiEditing by Frances Kerry)
Israel is facing a Hamas resurgence in northern Gaza despite declaring their brigades defeated and partially withdrawing to lay siege to the south.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fighters have come under increasing fire from militants reappearing in Gaza City, while evidence of Hamas re-establishing government duties there has also emerged.

Hamas has been deploying police officers around government buildings and handing out some partial civil servant salaries in recent days, an official from the group said.

The official claimed some police have even been sent to establish control around Al-Shifa hospital, seized early in the war in a watershed moment for the invasion. The official made the claims, which were backed by local residents, in an anonymous interview with Associated Press.

At the beginning of last month, the IDF declared that it had dismantled the military framework of Hamas in the north of Gaza and would shift focus towards the south. It took just 10 days before rockets were launched from the north into Israel.

After conducting partial pullouts from Gaza City in the past few weeks, which enabled some residents to return and pick through the rubble, Israeli forces have been mounting incursions to tackle the insurgent forces.

In the western part of Gaza City, which Israel declared cleared in November, a small group of Al-Qassam Brigades fighters have relaunched a war of attrition. Palestinian factions in the northern areas of Jabaliya and Sheikh Radwan have also been claiming responsibility for rocket attacks since mid-January.

The IDF is expected to bolster troop presence in the north of the blockaded enclave in the coming weeks to counter the Hamas resurgence efforts, Israels army radio reported. According to Israeli media reports, the IDF estimates that about 2,000 Hamas fighters remain in the north of Gaza.

A United Nations assessment of the needs in northern Gaza, where aid organisations have struggled to deliver aid for months, has been stalled because of the resurgence of fighting, the US State Department admitted on Wednesday.

Its quite clear it was ready to go and there was a resurgence of fighting in the north, said Matthew Miller, the US State Department spokesman. After Israel pulled a number of units out, there were Hamas fighters that regrouped and started launching rockets and started launching attacks against Israeli forces.

The pockets of Hamas resurgence in the north and central parts of Gaza come as Israels defence minister has indicated that Israeli ground troops will soon advance on Rafah now that they have dismantled the Khan Younis brigades.

The IDF said it had deployed its 99th division in Gaza City to create a barrier to block Hamas re-entering from the south of the Gaza Strip. The Institute for the Study of War on Sunday said Hamas was continuing to infiltrate that barrier, having done so successfully more than 10 times since Jan 31.

While Hamas gunmen keep up attacks across Gazas main cities, Israel has withdrawn most of its reserve forces from Gaza to recoup and prepare for a likely war with Hezbollah on Israels northern front.

If Hezbollah thinks that when theres a pause in fighting in the south, we will hold fire against it, its sorely mistaken, Israels defence minister Yoav Gallant said on Friday as reports of another temporary ceasefire deal grew near.

An official from Hamas said its police had been employed in some parts of Gaza City in part to restore order and to prevent further looting as hunger continues to grow more severe.

Saeed Abdel-Bar, a resident of Gaza City, said a cousin received funds from a makeshift Hamas office near the hospital, which was set up to distribute $200 payouts to government employees, including police officers and municipal workers.

The war has decimated the Gaza Strips infrastructure and left an entire population at immediate risk of famine.

Ahmed Abu Hadrous, a Gaza City resident, said Israeli warplanes struck the area where the makeshift office is located multiple times earlier this week, including Saturday morning.

Since seizing control of Gaza nearly 17 years ago, Hamas has been operating a government bureaucracy with tens of thousands of civil servants, including teachers, traffic and civil police who operate separately from the groups secretive military wing.

The indications that Hamas continues to retain some control over Gaza come amid delicate negotiations over a new truce as tensions inside Israel grow over the fate of the remaining 130 hostages.

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China's basic medical insurance fund, including maternity insurance, saw a total revenue of over 2.71 trillion yuan ($381.7 billion) in 2023, data from the National Healthcare Security Administration showed.

The revenue for basic medical insurance funds for urban employees, including maternity insurance, stood at 1.66 trillion yuan. The revenue for basic medical insurance funds for rural and non-working urban residents was around 1.05 trillion yuan.

The expenditure for the basic medical insurance funds reached 2.20 trillion yuan during the period, according to data.
Hampton Roads Transit will celebrate the legacy of civil rights activist Rosa Parks on Monday by offering free fare on all bus, light rail, ferry, and paratransit services.

The free fare is being offered in recognition of Transit Equity Day  a national day of action to bring attention to the importance of investing in public transit. The day is typically celebrated on Feb. 4  Parks birthday  but HRT will celebrate it Monday this year because transit ridership is higher on weekdays.

On Dec. 1, 1955, Parks refused a white drivers order to give up her seat in the colored section of the bus to a white passenger after the whites only section became full. Her refusal led to her arrest, which in turn helped inspire the Black community to boycott buses in Montgomery, Alabama, for over a year to challenge the citys segregation laws.

Ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in November 1956 that bus segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Hampton Roads Transit will honor Parks legacy by keeping bus headlights on all day. A seat will be reserved at the front of all buses with signs to honor her.

HRT rides typically cost $2-4. Monday will mark the second year HRT has offered free rides on Transit Equity Day. HRT spokesperson Angela T. Gregory said last year, 23,034 free rides were provided across all modes of transit. Gregory said the response from the community last year was really good and she hopes the day inspires more people to try public transit.

Were really encouraging people who maybe have never ridden transit before to try it on us, she said.

At 11 a.m. Monday, HRT will hold a celebration with local leaders to honor Parks at the Hampton Transit Center at 2 West Pembroke Ave.

Hampton Roads Transit will also offer free rides this year on Earth Day (April 22), Juneteenth (June 19), and Election Day (Nov. 5).

Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com
It was another Sunday morning of sometimes heated but always civil political debate on Hancock and Kelley for Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024.

Republican consultant John Hancock and Democratic consultant Michael Kelley discuss the following topics:

Democrat St. Louis Congresswoman Cori Bush is the subject of a U.S. Department of Justice grand jury investigation of her massive spending on personal security.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson heads to the southern U.S. border in Texas, saying Missouri has a role to play in the migrant crisis.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey appears in St. Louis with former NCAAA swimmer Riley Gaines. Gaines is leading a national campaign against transgender athletes in womens sports.

Missouri Senator Josh Hawley calls out Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg during a committee hearing on regulating social media companies.

President Joe Biden orders airstrikes in response to Iran-backed attacks on U.S. assets in the Middle East after one of the attacks killed three U.S. Army soldiers in Jordan and injured more than 40 others. The president has notably avoided airstrikes on Iranian soil.

The state election board in Illinois decides against removing former President Donald Trumps name from the state primary ballot.

Republicans are taking issue with mega-singing star Taylor Swift and her romance with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce.

Our Quote of the Week is from the late Jean Carnahan, former Missouri first lady and U.S. Senator, the first female senator in Missouri history. Carnahan died Tuesday at the age of 90.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The community is invited to join Live Active El Pasos Love Yourself, Love Your Heart Walk to celebrate American Heart Month with a 3-mile walk/run, the City of El Paso announced in a press release.

The annual event will take place starting at 8 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 at Scenic Drive.

The city says the free, family-friendly health and wellness event starts at the Westside entrance of Scenic Drive. Activities begin with a warm-up routine, followed by a run/walk and wellness booths from various organizations in attendance.

In addition to the walk/run, Live Active is partnering with The Hospitals of Providence to provide free blood pressure screenings and health information.

The El Paso Public Health Department and Immunize El Paso will provide free flu shots to everyone six months and older, according to the city.

February is a great reminder to make your health and your heart a priority by making lifestyle modifications to help you live a healthy and long life, said Erik Cazares, chief executive officer for The Hospitals of Providence Sierra Campus. We invite the community to join us at this fun family event and take a walk over beautiful Scenic Drive.

The city says that about a dozen wellness booths will provide information on free health services and resources.

Additionally, the Sunrise Civic Group will join the event by offering free water and fresh fruit, as well as the El Paso Animal Services who will allow participants to adopt a pet and also provide information on responsible pet ownership.

Participants will receive a free Live Active El Paso cooling towel and a 150th Anniversary celebration T-shirt until supplies last.

Every Sunday morning, the Parks and Recreation Department closes Scenic Drive to vehicles between Wheeling and Robinson to allow visitors to walk, run, cycle, or skateboard, while enjoying stunning views of El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, according to the city.

For more information on Live Active El Paso, visit www.LiveActiveEP.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
MAGA-wing Republicans and House Democrats agree on one thing: Its the far-right wing of the GOP conference that would deserve the credit for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkass impeachment.

Resolutions to impeach Mayorkas  eventually reaching five in total were introduced in the first days after the GOP took the House, following calls that began even before the 2022 midterms.

But interest in carrying out the impeachment ebbed and flowed, both due to reticence from Republican colleagues and a spotlight on efforts to impeach President Biden.

It was the so-called MAGA wing that kept beating the drum on Mayorkass impeachment, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) in particular who helped push it over the edge.

Bitch, bully, and bulldoze, Greene said of her strategy that pushed the issue forward.

I told leadership I would do it every week. I said Ill put it on the floor every week, force Congress to vote on it until we do something about this, until hes impeached, she said, adding that she was promised the Homeland Security Committee would move on the articles in January.

The panel beat the deadline by one day.

But where Greene might take credit, Democrats have made clear they have her to blame.

Their one visual aid at a Monday press conference denouncing the impeachment effort was a selfie Greene took with newly minted Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).

This is a political stunt and a hit job ordered by two people: Donald Trump and Marjorie Taylor Greene. The House Republicans have clearly turned their ever-shrinking majority over to the extremists. And this sham impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas is just another sad example, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said at the press conference.

But Republicans are split over how much the hard-line Freedom Caucus and its allies advanced the issue.

A lot of the conference has wanted to do that for a long time, and I know several people dropped articles of impeachment, Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) said. If it actually happens on the floor, its gonna be, you know, a conference effort.

At the end of the day, I dont really care who gets the, quote unquote, credit. I just want to see this individual held responsible for his complete dereliction of duty, Crane said.

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) took baby steps with a Mayorkas impeachment.

While he called on the secretary to resign from his office before he even officially took the gavel, he did not rush to use the nuclear option.

McCarthy largely left the cause to be handled through an investigation led by House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.), a strategy that came as some stressed the need to strategically prepare for an impeachment.

Youve got to build a case. You need the facts, evidence before you indict, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said in 2022.

But McCarthys resistance to fully commit to impeaching Mayorkas prompted pushback from the hard-line conservatives, who threatened his path to the Speakership when Republicans took over the House  and who later moved to boot him from the Speakers chair.

As a separate impeachment probe into President Biden ramped up, it was not clear whether Republicans who long wanted to impeach the Homeland Security secretary would get enough support from their colleagues or Republican leadership. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) told reporters last summer that some of his colleagues had gotten hung up on the definition of high crimes and misdemeanors with respect to Mayorkas, who is executing the Biden administrations policy.

That swiftly changed, though, with a change in Speakership, and Greenes move to force votes on the House floor for articles of impeachment.

Speaker Johnson initiated the impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas. The previous Speaker should have done it a year ago, said Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-Va.), one of the eight Republicans who joined with Democrats to oust McCarthy last year.

The unarticulated implication is that those who ousted the previous Speaker may deserve some credit for the articles against Mayorkas moving forward.

We had two years of evidence. We didnt need an investigation to do this, Good said.

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), a Freedom Caucus member who also introduced an early resolution to impeach Mayorkas, said Greenes privileged motion likewise prompted action from Johnson that may otherwise have been avoided.

That accelerated things because it demanded a response. And so I think that was important, he said.

It actually called leadership into action, and leadership actually had to do something. And I think that made a big impact on where we ended up.

But some Republicans say Mayorkass impeachment was just a matter of time, even as they credited Greene with lighting the fire that accelerated the vote.

No, I think this was coming.  We did the five phases to get to the bottom of it, Green said of his own committees work, including the investigative phases he announced over the summer.

There are lots of people who you know, have contributed along the way, so I mean, clearly her motion on the floor got the Democrats to refer it to our committee. So that was helpful, because it brought it to my committee.

But he also thanked those such as Greene for their support, saying: Im glad theyre out there doing it. So the louder they get, the better.

Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas), who filed the first resolution to impeach Mayorkas this Congress, likewise said he was assured by those in leadership that the committee would shepherd the investigation toward impeachment.

Success has 1,000 fathers and mothers; defeat is an orphan. So I dont care who takes credit for that, but its just good policy, he said.

While he also credited Greene for getting the issue dusted off and back at the forefront, he said Democrats have focused on her role primarily as a fundraising method.

I think that they see that as functionally something that will help them beneficially, because they use her as a poster child for raising money and stuff like that. Again, knowing what I know with the other Green, Mark Green, he was working on it this whole time, Fallon said.

Biggs said getting to a point where they could take a vote was time-consuming and required individual work in terms of meeting with holdouts, skeptics, and impeachment novices, a group he said took a long time to persuade.

There were questions that needed to be answered. These people were asking me, Andy, whats a high crime misdemeanor? And so I would present to them my interpretation, my understanding of what the founders intended with high crimes and misdemeanors. And then somebody else would say, But Mayorkas isnt the one making these decisions, isnt he? Doesnt have a boss? And maybe thats what we should go after. And so we would have walked through that, he said, a necessary move given the slim Republican majority.

But Biggs said credit does not rest with the Freedom Caucus alone, and that there were a lot of people who were very interested, very frustrated with the border and wanted to really get to the bottom of what was happening.

In a Congress when Freedom Caucus members and allies have long battled with GOP leaders over conservative policies and spending levels and were often brushed off, impeachment of Mayorkas is a clear win for them.

But even those who have long called for that move signal they will not be satisfied  with no one expecting the Senate to convict and remove the secretary.

Its not an end. Its just its another piece of the puzzle. Its a part of the message, Roy said. He should be impeached because hes not following the law. But then what, right? We still have to deal with the border.

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Haunt, an obscure 2019 horror movie, has shot to the top of Netflixs UK film chart  and viewers are declaring it terrifying.

The movie is currently sitting at the top of the chart, beating Netflix originals including the animated film Orion and the Dark and the Kevin Hart thriller Lift. Its also beating the far starrier action movie Ambulance, with Jake Gyllenhaal, which arrived on the platform on Friday (2 February).

Haunts popularity is particularly shocking as it received an incredibly limited US cinema release back in 2019, and did not play in cinemas in the UK.

Haunt revolves around six teenagers who attend a haunted house attraction on Halloween, one that promises to make their nightmares a reality. Once they enter, however, they discover the promise isnt bogus, and they begin to be stalked and murdered by a trio of masked killers.

Viewers have expressed their surprise over the movies scare quotient.

Well Haunt on Netflix is pretty terrifying isnt it, one person wrote on Twitter/X.

Another user praised the film, tweeting: Currently sat watching Haunt on Netflix, its giving me anxiety on the highest scale. Unlocked a new fear of horror houses and chainsaws.

One other person described the film as a must watch.

But we shouldnt be too taken aback by the films thrills, as Haunt is written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, who also co-wrote the 2018 horror smash A Quiet Place. That movie, starring John Krasinski and Emily Blunt, was one of the biggest hits of 2018. It grossed $341m (269m) on a budget of just $17m (13m). A sequel was released in 2021, and a prequel is due for release this year.

In 2023, the pair wrote  to slightly less popular effect  the Adam Driver dinosaur movie 65.

Last week, Netflix viewers heaped praise on the underrated Sandra Bullock comedy The Lost City, which arrived on the platform and instantly rose to first place on the services UK film chart.

The most popular series on Netflix right now is the limited series Griselda, starring Sofia Vergara as the real-life Colombian druglord Griselda Blanco.
This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Developer T.J. Ackermann's name.

UNION, Ky.  An upscale experience or convenience? Broken promises or exactly what was presented? In the city of Union, residents are asking those questions about a proposed Aldi grocery store that could be built as part of a massive mixed-use development called the Union Promenade.

More than 80 people attended a public hearing Thursday night to let city commissioners know where they stand on the proposal  and they did not hold back during the standing-room-only hearing.

The city commission, which includes Mayor Larry Solomon as a voting member, will decide Feb. 5 on whether to allow a change in the approved concept development plan that would permit the grocery store to be built. It's scheduled to start at 6 p.m. at the Union city building located at 1843 Mt. Zion Road.

Here's what you need to know about the project, which was pitched to commissioners and residents as an upscale, walkable development, not a run-of-the-mill shopping center.

What is the Union Promenade?

The Union Promenade is a 62-acre mixed use development along U.S. 42 and Old Union Road.

The grocery store would be part of the Union Promenade, a 62-acre mixed-use development along U.S. 42 and Old Union Road.

So far, the promenade includes plans for 44 homes with an estimated starting sale price of almost $400,000, 300 apartments, office buildings, a brewery, spa, bank, cigar bar, national restaurant chains and more.

The Cincinnati-based Meierjohan Building Group and the TJ Ackermann Company, of Cheviot, Ohio, are developing the site.

If the commission approves the concept development plan, Aldi would sit on 2 1/5 acres of the development.

About 300 apartments are planned at the Union Promenade, which is being marketed as a "high-end entertainment district."

Why are some residents opposed to the Aldi?

The opposition is rooted in a feeling that residents and city commissioners were misled about the project, which was pitched to them as a high-end, walkable experience when it was approved in 2021.

Angie Kessel, 46, of Union, lives near the development. She suspected things were going awry when a United Dairy Farmers gas station was built as part of the development. She wanted to move out of the neighborhood then because it didn't seem like the development was turning out as promised. But her husband talked her out of it.

A United Dairy Farmers convivence store is part of the Union Promenade development.

"Imagine how great this opportunity is to go out and just get some drinks in the evening and be able to just walk back home," he told her, asking her to give the project a chance.

Since then, she and others have heard rumors that fast-food restaurants and other commonly found businesses are being planned for the site.

"... All of the stuff that you're bringing in here  is just a repeat of stuff 5, 10, 15 minutes down the road. Why?" she asked.

Why do other residents support the Aldi?

The reasons vary. Some don't mind the change. Others would appreciate the convenience of an Aldi. And others just like the grocery store's low prices.

Noreen Morgan, president of the Villas of Fowler's Creek homeowners association, said there are 78 owners and spouses in the neighborhood. In a petition, 50 of them were unopposed to the Aldi. 12 were opposed.

"Union is growing fast, traffic is not the best," she said. "Apartments and condos are going into the Union Promenade. So my question is where are these people going to shop?"

Gerald Merk, 67, of Union, walked to the public hearing from his home and is looking forward to being able to walk to the Aldi for his daily grocery needs.

"I realize that it's not exactly in line with what was proposed, but through 40-something years of industrial experience, I also realize that we make plans and then we have to deal with the real world," he said.

What does the developer have to say?

T.J. Ackermann said during the meeting that developers are asking the city to approve one tenant to build a roughly 19,000-square-foot building on two lots.

Aldi, he said, is a retail establishment which is what was promised to city commissioners.

"Adding an Aldi grocery store will expand exposure to the project, provide strong financial stability for the development, and encourage other retailers to come in, because of that exposure. That is a huge plus, and an asset to the overall development," Ackermann told The Enquirer.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Aldi at the Union Promenade
As the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, approaches, numerous international brands have tapped into Chinese zodiac culture and unveiled Year of the Dragon limited edition products to embrace the Chinese market.

China will usher in the Year of the Dragon on Feb. 10 according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

Major duty-free shops in south China's island province of Hainan have been adorned with festive red hues and dragon-themed accessories. International brands are presenting their Spring Festival collections, including cosmetics, clothing, bags, jewelry, and spirits, on a charm offensive aimed at Chinese consumers.

Among the Year of the Dragon limited editions that have taken center stage in duty-free shops are LEGO Group's Lunar New Year display sets named Auspicious Dragon, Ferragamo's dragon-print silk foulard, and Swarovski's necklace with cartoonish dragon pendant, to name just a few.

In a duty-free store in Haikou, the capital of Hainan, a local resident named Tang Dan was browsing skincare products at the Estee Lauder counter. She was immediately drawn to a new Spring Festival limited edition set.

"The red packaging is very festive, and it features a dragon motif, conveying vibes of the Chinese Spring Festival," said Tang, adding that among the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, the dragon is the most special one, "symbolizing not only the Chinese nation but also good fortune."

Tang believes that the incorporation of Chinese zodiac culture in product design by international brands has been implemented to cater to the preferences and demand of Chinese consumers.

"As the Spring Festival approaches, everyone wants to buy something new, and these limited editions specifically designed for the Chinese people are undoubtedly more appealing," she noted.

At the Emporio Armani counter, a range of new clothing items tailor-made for the Year of the Dragon took center stage, including hoodies, polo shirts, sweaters, and jackets.

Presenting a new hoodie, saleswoman Pan Funa said the piece is typically Chinese red, embellished with dragon zodiac elements and Chinese embroidery, making it a perfect fit for the Chinese New Year.

She said the Year of the Dragon collections arrived in mid-January and have since sold very well. In recent years, Emporio Armani has consistently launched zodiac-themed items for the Chinese New Year, but this year's collections have been the biggest hit.

"As we Chinese are called 'descendants of the dragon,' the dragon is a relatively special zodiac sign, and also a good sign that signifies auspiciousness," Pan said while explaining why this year's collections have sold particularly well.

In recent years, international brands frequently embraced traditional Chinese cultural elements to tap into the immense potential of the massive Chinese market.

Take the luxury market for example, China's luxury market saw a 12 percent year-on-year increase in 2023, recovering from the previous year's decline due to the pandemic, according to Bain & Company's latest China Luxury Report.

In 2023, Chinese luxury consumption is estimated to have accounted for approximately 22 to 24 percent of the world's total, with consumption on the Chinese mainland comprising about 16 percent, the report read.

According to the report, by 2030, Chinese luxury consumption is expected to reach 35 to 40 percent of the world's total, with consumption on the Chinese mainland reaching 24 to 26 percent, solidifying its position as one of the leading luxury markets globally.

The duty-free market plays a crucial role in the global luxury consumption market. Hainan, a tropical resort island in China, is gradually becoming a vital luxury consumption center.

Official data showed Hainan's duty-free sales reached 43.76 billion yuan (about 6.16 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, marking a 25.4 percent increase year on year. The number of shoppers during this period hit 6.76 million, surging by 59.9 percent year on year.

In 2023, Hainan welcomed more than 90 million domestic and international tourists, and raked in over 181 billion yuan in tourism revenue, up by 49.9 percent and 71.9 percent year on year respectively.
Make intersections safer

We live a short distance from the library and enjoy walking there.

Crossing William Hilton Parkway from the library to Gardner Drive has become very dangerous due to left-turning cars that do not stop for people who are lawfully using the crosswalks and traffic/pedestrian walk signals to cross.

Recently, after waiting for the walk signal, my husband almost was hit by the driver of the third car going through the intersection who decided to go around him instead of stopping and yielding as the law requires.

The driver was going so fast that the car went off the roadway.

I was behind my husband and still had to cross. Drivers continued to drive through (and around me) instead of stopping.

I observed a total of 8-10 drivers who were oblivious to the law  even though there is a sign installed over the street to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

To top it off, we had to suffer the indignity of another driver honking at us as though we were in the wrong when we were clearly following the law.

We cannot change peoples reckless, careless and lawless behavior, but we can change traffic patterns.

Change the intersection crossing to make it similar to the intersection with Wilborn/Jarvis Creek Park Roads so that drivers cannot turn left while a walk signal is illuminated for the crosswalk.

How many more pedestrians need to be injured or die on our idyllic island at the hands of lawless drivers?

Stephanie Quigg, HHI

Not again

Less than a decade ago, we saw an energy disaster in South Carolina.

The V.C. Summer Nuclear Stations construction project finally fizzled out after years of delays and cost overruns.

Customers ended up footing the bill for a failed plant that generated no electricity.

The companies involved, Santee Cooper and SCE&G (now Dominion Energy), promised they would change.

But here we are, just a few years later, and the utilities are at it again.

Despite an independent report suggesting cheaper options, Santee Cooper and Dominion want another mega-project  a gas plant in Colleton County.

Once again, utilities want a blank check backed by customers to build a big, risky project.

This gas plant wont be complete for at least seven years, even though utilities say we need more energy now.

I hope that this time, decision-makers see the mega-project for the potential boondoggle it could be and pursue other options.

Call or write your state representatives and let them know that any new resource plan from the utilities must include renewables, and must have a clear path to transition off of fossil fuels.

Mike Bogle, Beaufort

Thank you, Nancy Mace

While Congress suffers from its stagnant inability to address national and global issues or pass any meaningful legislation other than naming a Post Office, you chase after windmills.

Please explain to your constituents how the Morgan Island facility takes precedence over border security?

How about explaining why continued funding for Israel and Ukraine or the injury and deaths of our troops at the hands of Iran proxies is less important than how an animal bred for research is used?

We anxiously await your response. Or better yet, dont waste your time doing that when you can go back to D.C. and get something ... anything done.

Richard Dextraze, HHI

Politics and the vulnerable

More Americans were homeless in 2023 than ever before  especially among the elderly and disabled.

It isnt uncommon to see unhoused people in wheelchairs, carrying oxygen tanks and dealing with a variety of other health challenges. Politicians have proposed tent cities, mental institutions and passing stricter laws to keep the homeless off the streets.

Homelessness is obviously a multifaceted issue.

In addition to addressing the lack of affordable housing, we need more conversations about Social Security and Medicaid. SSI, a program for seniors and people with disabilities, has strict asset limitations. These arbitrary laws discourage recipients from earning and saving more money.

If seniors and people with disabilities have more than $2,000 in savings, the benefit can be revoked. High rent outpaces federal disability payments. The program itself locks millions into poverty.

Warehousing people who are capable of living independently will ultimately cost more than addressing systemic causes of homelessness among the elderly and disabled.

Now that the primaries are happening, it is time for candidates to discuss policies that affect our most vulnerable citizens. Voters deserve better than screeds, gaffes and meltdowns.

Marie Griffin, Spartanburg
GARDNER, Kan.  Donna Knoche made her way up to the podium at the Johnson County Commission hearing on June 6, 2022, her new yellow shirt crisp and her voice steady. It wasnt something shed ever thought shed have to do in her 93 years in the place her grandfather first homesteaded in the 1860s.

Calmly setting aside her walker, she looked at the county commissioners arrayed to her left and began to speak.

I never in all my life thought I would stand up here to protect our property rights by being able to use our land legally for the best benefit of our family, she said.

Scores of people were in line behind her. Many of them had other ideas.

Some implored the commissioners to vote to allow the so-called West Gardner plan, a utility-size array of solar panels, saying the county needed to commit to clean energy for their childrens future.

But others were just as passionately opposed. Many wore matching T-shirts that implored the council to Stop INDUSTRIAL SOLAR, testifying for more than three hours against the plan for Knoches farm and others across the county.

To them, the solar plant would threaten health and well-being and did not fit the character of the land. It would create a landscape of black glass and towering windmills that would put lives at risk and cause a mass exodus out of the area.

The fight played out in front of one small county commission in one 613,000-person county. But at its heart, this fight  and hundreds of others like it across the country  was over the future of the whole nations energy supply and, perhaps, the future of the planet.

As the country races to shift to carbon-free energy to forestall climate change, opposition movements have popped up nationwide to fight new solar and wind farms, hampering Americas chances of meeting its climate pledges.

A USA TODAY analysis of local rules and policies nationwide found that, as of December, 15% of counties in the United States had banned or otherwise blocked new utility-scale wind farms, solar installations or both.

In the past decade, 183 U.S. counties had their first wind projects start producing power, while nearly 375 blocked new wind turbines. In 2023, almost as many counties blocked new solar projects as added them.

The reasons for local opposition are varied, and the motives behind them can be murky, but they often boil down to one essential idea: Renewables are fine, but we dont want them here.

Thats a problem, said Grace Wu, a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who studies energy systems and land use change. If nowhere seems to be the right place, increasingly well have a harder and harder time to site them.

The land owned by the Knoche family is just one spot in a statewide fight in Kansas, which has the nations fourth best wind resources and, as solar power technology has become more efficient, strong solar as well. The same sunlight that drives photosynthesis in large-scale crops like corn can generate energy in solar panels.

Today, the state gets 47.13% of its electricity from wind and 0.33% from solar.

Yet now, 14 of the 105 counties in Kansas block wind turbines and 12 block solar farms. These include outright bans, height restrictions, unworkable setbacks for turbines, size limitations for solar farms, caps on the amount of agricultural land that can be used and, in McPherson County, an indefinite moratorium on solar applications.

A sign reading No Industrial Solar in Johnson County, Kansas in response to a proposed solar project in the county. February 24, 2023

These efforts mirror those in hundreds of counties and townships across the nation, where the merest hint of a potential project quickly brings forth a Facebook group, yard signs, organized protests and  increasingly  zoning rules and laws that make new renewable energy impossible to build.

Seen as just one flare-up in a nationwide trend to oppose local green-energy projects, the fight in Johnson County shouldnt be surprising.

But to Knoche and her husband, Robert Doc Knoche, 95, its bewildering  and annoying.

For them, leasing acres to a solar farm would simplify their lands care, keep it available for farming when the lease runs out and allow it to continue to be passed on through the generations.

We figured it was just one of those sorts of things that you could do  like buying a house or leasing a car. You could just do it on your own and not have to deal with all this complexity, Donna said.

Instead, it has become a five-year battle.

I had no idea it would drag on this long, said Doc.

Deep roots in Kansas

Both Donna and Doc have deep roots in this land.

Donnas grandfather William Brecheisen came to the United States in 1850 as a 7-year-old. His German-speaking family was from Alsace-Lorraine, at that time part of France.

They got the Kansas Fever, she said. They came out in a prairie schooner wagon.

Brecheisen served in the Union Army during the Civil War and then came home to Kansas, where he homesteaded 160 acres of the flat, productive plains.

We have the patent from 1868, Donna said proudly from her well-worn chair next to her husbands matching one in the living room of their simple rambler in Gardner, Kansas. Theyve lived here since 1959. Its where they raised their six children.

From left, Donna, Bob, and their daughter Jane Knoche pose for a portrait on their land in Gardner, Kansas, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. The two hope to lease their farmland to a proposed utility-scale solar project, which has been facing growing resistance from county residents.

Robert is universally known as Doc after working more than 60 years as a large animal veterinarian in the area  he still has his license. He grew up in the town of Paola. After the death of his mother, he was raised on his uncle and aunts farm. At the time, they worked the land not with machines but with half a dozen horses  and two mules, he said.

Too young to serve in World War II, Doc had to wait several years to start veterinary school because all the slots were reserved for veterans.

He graduated in 1952 and settled in Gardner, a town of 650 at the time.

He roomed with a local woman who took in boarders, and he went on dates with a few girls in town. I never asked for a second date, he said. Then his landladys daughter had a baby at the new hospital in Gardner, and Robert met a nurse who had just been hired there  Donna.

Their first date was on July 12, 1952, to a picture show in Ottawa about 25 miles away. They drove in Docs 1951 Ford.

Today when they tell this story, the couple look at each other, their matching chairs side by side, and smile.

Weve been married for 70 years, Donna said.

So thats how it all worked out, Doc said.

Those 160 acres that Donnas grandfather had farmed grew as the family bought up additional land.

Today that legacy is about 1,190 acres of farmland that straddles Johnson and Douglas counties. For many years, the Knoches rented out most of the ground to Donnas uncle, Lucky Brecheisen, who grew corn, soybeans and hay. After he died in 1997, they took over, eventually running a 200-head cow/calf operation in addition to the veterinary practice.

We bought some land south of Gardner, and we had mostly Angus cattle of our own, Doc said. I built the fences and mowed the hay. Mom would answer the phone when people called for emergencies.

It wasnt easy, it was long hours, Doc said of the 10-year stint. Shoulder surgery around 2010 forced him to give up his herd. Since then, theyve rented the land to other farmers and ranchers.

Doc doesnt call himself a farmer, but he knows the soil is not as fertile as it is elsewhere. Lucky always said, Weve got all bottom land  because the top land is all washed away. So it's not the good prime ground you think of, Doc said.

Keeping the land healthy and productive is important to the family. We've worked to conserve the soil and make it better through the years, said Donna.

In time, they realized they would never farm the whole property, and no one person in their family was likely to, either. That led to a conundrum.

The Knoches have six children, 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. As they approached their 90s, theyd wrestled with how to divide the 1,190 acres among all those heirs.

They had a plan for sharing, but then a better one came up. In 2018, they came home to a message on their answering machine.

The caller was from a developer looking to lease land in the area for a solar farm.

Well, I called him back, and we talked about it, Doc said, and it sounded better than farming. It didnt hurt that one of their sons-in-law, Steve Clark, was an engineer and solar consultant, so they had an expert to talk with.

The Knoches ended up signing a four-year lease on their land with NextEra Energy, as did other landowners and farmers nearby.

The deal gave the company an option to build on the land. The Knoches got a little bit of money for the agreement and, for a while, nothing else happened. We didnt make a big show of it, Donna said.

They figured it would take a long time for an energy plant to be developed, if ever.

Theyd heard stories about windmills in other places, and how people fought them. This seemed different. A solar farm would keep the rural land from being built up as something else  a subdivision, or a warehouse. The panels lasted a long time, up to 30 years, but after that, they could be removed and the land could be farmed again, if people wanted.

They didnt think about it much for the next few years.

I really hadn't heard much about people fighting solar, Doc said. Then he looked over at his wife, something between a smile and a grimace on his face.

So we found out about it, he said.

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The opposition to solar

The planned solar farm  the West Gardner Solar Project  was originally proposed to include as much as 3,000 acres spread over Douglas and Johnson counties that would generate up to 320 megawatts of electricity. The project would also include 129 megawatts of battery storage, to make the solar energy available when the sun isn't shining.

Then things got contentious.

People heard about the leases and began to organize against the proposed solar farm. A Facebook group opposing the project appeared, several groups were formed and a website was created.

Soon there were hearings scheduled before the Johnson County commissioners, who were considering various proposals amending the zoning regulations for solar facilities and battery storage.

There were work sessions. Planning commission meetings. Subcommittee meetings. The work stretched for more than a year.

Crowds of opponents flocked to public meetings to demand that the plans for a solar farm be shut down.

Many people attended the Douglas County Planning Commission public hearing on Oct. 23, 2023, inside City Hall in Lawrence to express their opinions on wind turbines in their county. Shawnee County Planning Commission is considering similar steps.

The Knoches estimate between the two counties theyve attended more than a dozen meetings, not including the ones theyve watched online.

Finally, June 2022 arrived. The goal on this warm summer night was to vote on exactly what the county would allow. How large could the solar installations be? How far must they be from towns? What about stormwater runoff? How much of a buffer should there be from the land of other neighbors who werent part of the project? How many years would permits be valid?

Even if county commissioners allowed solar projects, there would still be other hurdles.

Opponents decried what they call industrial wind and solar and said the installations have no place in an idyllic landscape of corn, wheat, soybeans and cattle.

They said solar panels would drip toxic chemicals from their glass into the ground, contaminating wells. The land under them would heat up and kill all surrounding vegetation. The solar cells and batteries planned to accompany them would be at risk for catastrophic fires that country firefighters would be unable to contain. Property values would fall and so much of the land would be consumed that the country would risk starving.

Those Johnson County meetings aired many of the same concerns that emerged nationwide, in more than a dozen different local zoning meetings reviewed online or in person by USA TODAY.

The problem with these concerns is that almost none of them is true.

They had these meetings, and they were very negative, said Karlene Thomson, one of the Knoches daughters. A lot of misinformation got put out.

The meeting on June 6, 2022, lasted more than three hours.

It began with a solemn recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Then speaker after speaker came forward. There were many in favor of the project, but most were adamantly  though politely  opposed.

To them, the solar farm was an intrusion of industrial energy production that would destroy the rural community that they loved.

Not that the area hadnt long been home to more than farms. The 9,000-acre Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant was built there in 1942, employing more than 15,000 people at the height of World War II. In 2013, BNSF Railway opened an intermodal shipping hub in the southern part of the county. The 330-acre I-35 Logistics Park opened the same year. Panasonic broke ground on a new battery plant on the old ammunition plant in 2022.

Douglas County farmers concerned about proposed wind turbines on their land listen to Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission staff present the second draft of revised wind energy conversion systems regulations Sunday at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.

And people from nearby Olathe, Overland Park and even Kansas City kept moving deeper into the county, buying small 5- and 10-acre plots to build their dream homes on.

But thousands of acres of solar panels was something no one had ever experienced, and they didnt like it.

This is so far off from being right, I don't even have words. You will be affecting over 200 homeowners and 1,200 souls with one project, said Lisa Huppe of nearby Edgerton.

We are not against solar energy. However, when it comes to utility-scale facilities in the agricultural communities of rural Johnson County, its the wrong choice, she said. If you allow this to happen, commissioners, you will devalue the property and destroy the lives that we have spent years building here and threaten our health and well-being.

Many opponents sported T-shirts that read County Commissioners: Protect our Quality of Life. Let us help you draft regulations that stop INDUSTRIAL SOLAR.

We stand to lose the character of our communities, with a transition from agricultural to industrial use, said Pam Ferguson of Eudora. Developers want you to think that we need to turn our state into a landscape of black glass and towering windmills. And if you do so, the planet will be ruined.

Solar and wind power need to be sited responsibly, away from places like Johnson County that have lots of people in them, said Carrie Brandon, chairperson for Douglas County/Johnson County Kansans for Responsible Solar.

We realize that renewable energy is needed to offset oil and coal, she said. But we have brilliant people on our planet who are constantly coming up with new energy inventions. Haste makes for waste  we can be smart about it and not just go all in on blanketing rural areas and taking agricultural land out of our inventory.

Brandon says her work to fight the project has taken a toll on her health and her business. Ive spent at least half a million dollars at my hourly rate. It's been an enormous effort over the last three years, she said.

For the Knoches, the desire to farm the sun on their land is a simple matter of property rights. They and other landowners want to maximize the profit they make from their fields without having to sell it off or break it up. Its their land, they say. They should use it as they see fit.

This opposition doesnt seem to be concerned about property rights for anybody but themselves, said Donna Knoche.

Of course, zoning restrictions are nothing new. The Knoches think the solar panels  which are silent, not very tall and have no smoke or other emissions  make for a better fit in farm country than almost anything else that might get built.

A small solar panel collecting potential solar energy generation data is visible on Bob and Donna Knoches farmland in Gardner, Kansas, on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. The two hope to lease their farmland to a proposed utility-scale solar project, which has been facing growing resistance from county residents.

But the family also cant help but see it as a matter of seniority. After all, this has been their land for the better part of two centuries.

Doc Knoche does allow that things started to change even in the 1950s. People moved out of the city to small farms for the ambiance.

Back in those days, they were called agriculturalists.

There was a story about the difference between a farmer and an agriculturalist, he said. A farmer makes money on the farm and spends it in town. An agriculturalist makes money in town and comes out and buys a farm and spends it on his farm.

Back then, the spreads people bought were maybe 160 acres, he said. People actually farmed.

Today, the lot sizes of those seeking a rural lifestyle are a lot smaller, often as little as 5 acres, said their daughter Jane Knoche.

Their big statement is they came out to the rural peace and quiet of the rural area, she said.

A sign against industrial solar is displayed on a barbed wire fence in Gardner, Kansas, where landowners Bob and Donna Knoche hope to be a part of a large-scale solar utility project on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.

The issue has been divisive enough that its made the county a less neighborly place. On a drive to visit the land where the solar farm would be built, Jane Knoche pointed out sign after sign on fenceposts and in storefronts reading No Industrial Solar and Protect our Quality of Life.

Not so fun to see, she said.

Her father, who loves airplanes and aviation, likes to hang out at the tiny Gardner Municipal Airport with his buddies. Until the day someone tracked him down there to confront him about the plan.

He came in there and said, I guess youre real proud of the fact that youve lowered everybodys property values, Doc Knoche said.

Facing the future of green energy

Renewable energy plants do get built in Kansas.

Two hours northwest of the Knoches home is the Amerugi Farm. Its 400 acres of corn, soybeans, barley, oats, rye and alfalfa, woodlands and pasture. Its also home to one wind turbine thats part of the Soldier Creek Wind Energy Center.

The wind project, which includes 120 turbines dotted across the fields of 200 participating landowners, went into operation in 2020 and today produces up to 300 megawatts of electricity, about enough for about 64,000 homes.

Mary Fund and her husband, Ed Reznicek, have farmed there since 1978 on land Funds family has owned since the 1870s. The one wind turbine on their land gives them a small lease payment.

Its a nice little addition to our retirement income, but its not going to make us rich, said Fund, 70.

She views that turbine in much the same way her mother and aunt saw the oil leases on the farm in the early 1980s.

They struck oil, so we have a couple of oil wells on our land. They helped my mother in her old age, she said.

Indeed, across the farm country where green energy is now controversial, pump jacks and gas wells have long created a far less green kind of energy. Nemaha County is home to 22 oil wells and in 2022 produced 33,788 barrels of oil, enough to make as much as 675,000 gallons of gasoline.

The state as a whole had more than 48,000 oil wells and 19,000 natural gas wells in production in 2023.

Its a kind of karma, Fund said. You dont let them extract oil from your land and then not let them put up a turbine.

They signed a lease in July 2018 that gave a three-year option for NextEra to explore use of their land as a site for a potential turbine, but only after several months of communications with the wind farm representative, visiting other windfarms to see what it felt like to be near turbines and a lot of research.

I really have to confess I didnt think anybody would oppose it, Fund said. I mean, why would you?"

Wind turbines spin on a hazy morning on Friday, Sept. 12, 2023, at the Reading Wind Farm in Lyon County, Kansas.

She was wrong. Things quickly got testy, much of it organized through Facebook. Speakers railed against wind, and stacks of a misinformation-filled book appeared on the counters of local businesses and libraries all winter long.

It was never clear who brought these into the county, but the website of South Dakotans for Safe & Responsible Renewable Energy offers a case of 30 for $1,000 donations, she said.

The furor over the plan made the couple enemies in the place theyd lived together for 45 years, the place where Fund grew up.

There are people who dont talk to each other anymore, and people who grudgingly moved on and talk about everything but the wind farm, she said. Ive got a neighbor who wont talk to me, but her husband will.

In the end, Nemaha County commissioners voted to approve the wind farm in 2019. It was built in 2020 and now brings about $900,000 in taxes to the county each year.

Thats on top of the lease payments made directly to landowners including Fund and Reznicek.

The Soldier Creek turbines dot a spare, wind-swept landscape of farms, grazing land, creeks and woodlots.

Living near the turbines hasnt bothered the couple. On quiet nights, they can hear both the turbine and the oil wells.

Cattle at the Arbuckle Mountain Wind Farm in Murray County, Oklahoma. The formation is known as a "bovine sundial." When the weather is hot, the cattle line up in the shade of the wind turbine tower, slowly shuffling to the side as the shadow moves with the sun.

But theirs seems likely to be the last wind power project that will be built in Nemaha County. After the first conditional-use permits were approved in early 2019, the county commission passed a moratorium on new projects in May 2019.

In October 2023, they passed a resolution extending the moratorium for another year. A new County Comprehensive Plan documents opposition to further wind energy and effectively warns off developers.

When the Knoches first began considering the possibility of a solar project on their land, they were both in their 80s. Doc was still enjoying his hobby of going up in a gas-powered hang glider. Three of their children were still in their 50s, and they only had 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

In December 2023, Doc had stopped flying and suffered a fall. Donna had to be more careful when she walked.

And they werent much closer to having a deal.

Both Douglas and Johnson counties have passed new zoning regulations surrounding solar. In Douglas as of 2022, projects are limited to no more than 1,000 acres and must be at least 500 feet from existing residences. In Johnson, theres a cap of 2,000 acres per project and a one-and-a-half mile setback from neighboring cities.

Another solar project, which had nothing to do with the Knoches' land, is now also going through the process in Douglas County. It ended the year with a packed planning meeting that went past 2 a.m. Dec. 19, which is now headed to yet another vote by the county commission.

The Knoches continue to live in their modest rambler, full of photos, mementos. They visit children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They offer doughnuts to guests and pull out scrapbooks with clippings about the project along with books on the familys history in the area.

Both wonder at the changes theyve seen in their lives. Donna tells of growing up with kerosene lamps and remembers when they first got an Aladdin lamp, which burned kerosene but used a mantle instead of a wick.

It was almost like night and day compared to that old kerosene lamp, she said. We didnt get electricity out in the farm until, it was 1947 or 1948, when I was in high school.

Doc ponders the shifts in a state where he first plowed with horses and mules. As he testified to the county commission, hes not afraid solar power will turn the countys farmland into an industrial wasteland.

Hes afraid of the constant push to turn farms into subdivisions.

Out here, he said, I think in five, ten years you'll be glad it's there because you're going to be crowded out by other people.

This story was produced with support from the McGraw Center for Business Journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Solar power in Kansas: How one couple's land lease became a fight
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Ark.  Since 2004, Hot Springs has celebrated the Annual Worlds Shortest St. Patricks Day Parade on Bridge Street, the Worlds Shortest Street in everyday use.

In 2024 the city celebrates the 21st edition of the parade, but not without competition from Adamsville, Rhode Island, a city that hosts what they call the Worlds Shortest St. Paddys Day Parade.

Former Dallas Cowboys star Emmitt Smith named as celebrity grand marshal for Shortest St. Patricks Day Parade

Not to be denied, Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs and one of the founders of the festival issued a statement refuting Adamsvilles claim.

First off, youll note that the Rhode Island town calls their event a St. Paddys Day celebration, Arrison noted. I need not explain to them that the Hot Springs parade is the Worlds Shortest St. PATRICKS DAY Parade. We dont celebrate the Irishs saints nickname day  we celebrate the real deal.

Arrison pointed out that the Natural State has a climate that is much more conducive to enjoying the fun.

We watched an online video of the Adamsville event, and we must say it is a touching little gathering. However, their event appears to be a stroll down the towns street by hometown folks bundled up against the harsh Rhode Island climate, Arrison stated. The Hot Springs Worlds Shortest St. Patricks Day Parade celebrates the perfect Arkansas March weather. They do have a guy riding a lawnmower, but did they ever have TV star Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs fame riding a motorized commode? I say, no.

Though the parade in Adamsville is a shorter distance than the parade in Hot Springs, Arrison claimed that the parade is willing to shorten its distance however necessary to keep the title.

I take note of the fact that the Adamsville folks stroll for 89 feet to stake their claim. Ive pointed out many times in the past that our 98-foot length is flexible, Arrison stated. Ninety-eight feet does happen to be the entire length of Bridge Street, the Worlds Shortest Street in Everyday Use, according to Ripleys Believe It or Not. However, we here in Hot Springs have responded to many challengers over the years by pointing out that we are perfectly willing to shorten our parade to whatever length it takes to retain our crown. We have also pointed out that our parade will march in place if necessary to keep the title. Heck, well even march backwards if thats what it takes.

Yellowstone star named as starter for Worlds Shortest St. Patricks Day Parade in Hot Springs

The 2024 edition of the parade in Spa City features Dallas Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith as grand marshal, actor Forrie J. Smith as parade starter and live music from Pat Green. Strongman Michael The Monster Todd has been named as the parades official king and actress/director Joey Lauren Adams has been named the parades official queen.

To find out more about the parade and its history, visit ShortestStPats.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
The U.K. and U.S. joined forces for the third time to carry out strikes against Yemens Houthi rebels, aiming for 36 targets at 13 locations in Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen, on February 4, 2024. Credit - CENTCOM/AnadoluGetty Images

The U.K.s top foreign official has said the Houthi attacks must stop after the U.K. and U.S. joined forces for the third time on Saturday to carry out strikes against Yemens Houthi rebels, who have initiated a series of attacks in the Red Sea amid the Israel-Hamas war.

We have issued repeated warnings to the Houthis, foreign secretary David Cameron said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday. Their reckless actions are putting innocent lives at risk, threatening the freedom of navigation and destabilizing the region. The Houthi attacks must stop.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak posted on X that the Royal Air Force successfully took out specific Houthi military targets in Yemen, further degrading the Houthis capabilities. Recent attacks on U.K. and international vessels are unacceptable. Its our duty to protect innocent lives and preserve freedom.

U.K. Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps commented on X that the Houthis attacks are illegal and unacceptable and it is our duty to protect innocent lives and preserve freedom of navigation, and called the third wave of strikes proportionate and targeted, saying the U.S. and U.K. acted in self-defense and in accordance with international law.

This is not an escalation, he said in the statement. We have already successfully targeted launchers and storage sites involved in Houthi attacks, and I am confident that our latest strikes have further degraded the Houthis capabilities.

Ahead of the third round of joint strikes from the U.K. and U.S., Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani, in a statement on X, condemned military attacks on Yemen. He also criticized the U.S. strikes in Iraq and Syria, which were in response to a fatal drone attack that killed three American troops in Jordan. He said such strikes violate the sovereignty of the countries and would lead to no result other than the escalation of tensions and instability in the region.

In a follow-up post on Sunday, Kanaani condemned the most recent strikes from the U.S. and U.K. against Yemen, calling them a worrying threat to international peace and security.

The Houthis were undeterred by the latest military action, instead vowing to respond. Mohammed Al-Bukhaiti, a spokesman for the group, which is also called Ansar Allah, said on X: The American-British aggression against Yemen will not go unanswered, and we will meet escalation with escalation.

The Iran-supported militant groupone side in Yemens yearslong civil warbegan launching attacks on commercial shipping vessels it says are linked to Israel in solidarity with Hamas after the Palestinian militant group attacked Israel on Oct. 7, leading to the conflict in Gaza. The attacks have crippled global shipping, leading some companies to pause operating in the Red Sea and take longer, more expensive routes.

The barrage triggered a joint military response from the U.S. and U.K. on Jan. 11 and Jan. 22, while the U.S. has carried out additional smaller attacks.

President Joe Biden acknowledged in mid-January that the attacks were not yet working to stop the Houthis, but would continue. Experts questioned to TIME whether the attacks would deter the Houthis or could backfire if world powers underestimate the Yemeni groups military might, while another observer said the Western superpowers attacks were instigating further responses that continue to destabilize shipping.

Al-Bukhaiti said on X that the latest bombing wouldnt change the groups position and its military actions against Israel would continue until the crimes of genocide in Gaza are stopped and the siege on its residents is lifted, no matter the sacrifices it costs us.

Israel is currently fighting accusations from South Africa in the International Court of Justice that it is committing genocide in its war in Gaza, which has killed more than 27,000 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The court ruled preliminarily in January that at least some of the acts and omissions alleged by South Africa to have been committed by Israel in Gaza appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the [Genocide] Convention, and called on Israel to take steps to mitigate such acts, but stopped short of ordering a ceasefire. An Israeli government spokesperson had denied the accusations as spurious and specious charges.

As tensions escalate, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to travel again to the Middle East on Sunday.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Yemens Houthi rebels on Sunday pledged to push forward with their military operations and respond to the latest set of strikes by the United States and Britain over the weekend.

The strikes, conducted by the U.S. and the United Kingdom on Saturday with fighter jets and ships, were aimed at 13 locations associated with the Iran-backed militant groups weapons storage facilities, missile systems, air defense systems and radars, the Pentagon said Saturday.

The rebel group has launched a series of missile or drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the Red Sea in recent months, disrupting trade routes and destabilizing the region against the backdrop of Israels war with Palestinian militant group Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist group also backed by Iran.

Ameen Hayyan, a spokesman for the group, said Sunday on X, formerly Twitter, that the latest U.S. and U.K. attacks will not deter us from our moral, religious and humanitarian stance in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Hayyan added the attacks will not pass without response and punishment.

The rebel group is conducting a maritime campaign against Israeli-linked ships in response to Israels war with Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. Some of their attacks have hit ships with no ties to Israel, however, prompting several shipping companies to detour their routes.

Defense Secretary Llyod Austin confirmed the strikes on Saturday, stating it sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will continue to bear further consequences, if they do not halt their attacks in the Red Sea.

Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a Houthi official, echoed Hayyans remarks and said the American-British aggression against Yemen will not go unanswered.

Our war is moral, and if we had not intervened to support the oppressed in Gaza, humanity would not have existed among humans, he wrote on X. The American-British aggression against Yemen will not go unanswered, and we will meet escalation with escalation.

The weekend strikes came days after the U.S. Navy shot down three Iranian drones and one anti-ship ballast missile launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

The strikes marked the third time the U.S. and Britain have launched joint operations against Houthis assets. Austin said Saturday that the U.S. will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the worlds most critical waterways.

U.S. officials said last week U.S. troops have come under fire from various Iranian-backed groups over 160 times since last October, including last weeks deadly drone strike in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members and wounded about 40 others.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A private contractor drove "spud" poles this week into the St. Croix riverbed at Hudson, Wis., to start construction on a new public dock some 670 feet in length  perhaps the largest on the St. Croix River.

The dock has been envisioned by city staff for years, said Hudson Mayor Rich O'Connor, who campaigned on the idea of more riverfront access when he first ran for office in 2016.

"It's the biggest and longest on the St. Croix," O'Connor said. The city envisions the 8-foot-wide dock serving visiting boaters, people who want to wet a fishing line or walkers who want to get close to the St. Croix.

"I have an affinity for the river," O'Connor said, "and we just never had really good access in the city, as a river city, for people coming in to take advantage of what we have to offer."

The dock cost $1.2 million. A $391,204 state Department of Natural Resources grant will cover a portion of the cost, with the remainder coming from revenue collected through the tax-increment financing district that covers downtown Hudson. The TIF district funds must be spent in the district itself, O'Connor said.

"We want people to know that they're not being taxed for this," he said. The Lunda Construction Co. was chosen for the project last July.

The dock runs 670 feet along the city's Lakefront Park, connecting an existing concrete stairway with the new boat launch. Gangways at either end make it accessible for wheelchair users. Bump-outs along the dock's edge make it possible for people to fish without holding up pedestrian traffic. Boats can tie-up along the dock for free, but not overnight, O'Connor said.

The dock will float with the river levels, and the city expects to leave it in the water year-round. Efforts by staff at the Departments of Natural Resources in Minnesota and Wisconsin were unable to immediately verify the dock's standing as the longest on the St. Croix.

The public dock will make it possible for people to visit Hudson by boat without needing to have their own slip or mooring area, a big demand each summer, said Tyler Warwick-Mick, the events and marketing coordinator for the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau. "A lot of people do call, and they ask, 'Where can I park my boat?' So this is a really great opportunity for people to park right here and just hop off and walk a block or two."

The dock's installation began months ahead of time thanks to the freakishly warm weather that's settled over the region. O'Connor said the city expected it would have to wait to begin construction until early June, after fish spawning season. The warm temperatures and open water along the city's Lakefront Park made it possible to start now and finish before the three-month period starting March 6 when the DNR restricts riverfront development to protect spawning fish.

The boardwalk project is one piece of the city's larger waterfront vision first drafted in 2017, one that calls for more pedestrian walkways, docks for sailboat owners and rowers, a general purpose building at the end of the city's dike road and other improvements along the riverfront. The first major piece of the vision, a new boat launch, was completed last summer.

"It's one at a time as grants become available," said Mike Johnson, Hudson's interim city administrator. At the time it was approved in 2018, the waterfront vision project was estimated to be completed over the course of 10 to 15 years.

Ed Freer, the Madison-based landscape architect who was among the early designers of the city's waterfront vision, said he was glad to hear that the project was moving forward.

"It's a fabulous waterfront," he said. "I think when you responsibly create waterfront access for the community and visitors, it really helps elevate the awareness of such an important natural resource."
Police vehicles accompany a demonstration against right-wing extremism and the AfD through the city center. Thousands of people followed the call of the Bremen Alliance Against the Right to march from Bremen's Neustadt district to the final rally at the Domshof. With the demonstration, the participants want to set an example of resistance against right-wing extremist activities. Focke Strangmann/dpa

The north-western German city of Bremen saw thousands of people fill its streets on Sunday to demonstrate against right-wing extremism, as weeks of nationwide protests continued at the weekend.

The police estimated the number of participants at around 16,500, while the organizers put it higher at 25,000. The rally was organized by a new alliance in Bremen of left-wing and anti-fascist groups.

About 45,000 people had turned out in Bremen for a similar protest a week ago.

Street protests have been held in cities big and small following a report published on January 10 by investigative journalist group Correctiv.

The report revealed details of a meeting in November between radical right-wingers and individual politicians from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in which plans for the expulsion of millions of people with immigrant backgrounds were discussed.

On Saturday afternoon in Berlin, strangers locked hands outside the historic Reichstag parliament building to form a human chain. Police said more than 150,000 participated, although others said as many as 300,000 people were there.

About 30,000 people rallied on Saturday in both the eastern city of Dresden and Freiburg in the Black Forest. Another 25,000 came out in Bavaria's Augsburg. Thousands more protested at other rallies.

A majority of German citizens say they welcome the protests against the far-right.

Some 55% favoured the demonstrations in a survey conducted by the INSA opinion research institute for the Sunday edition of the Bild newspaper. In contrast, 26% were opposed and 12% were indifferent.

In the survey, participants were also asked whether democracy in Germany was in danger.

Some 61% of respondents thought so, while a third of respondents did not consider German democracy to be in danger.

Numerous participants in a demonstration against right-wing extremism and the AfD march through the city center with banners. Thousands of people followed the call of the Bremen Alliance Against the Right to march from Bremen's Neustadt district to the final rally on the Domshof. With the demonstration, the participants want to set an example of resistance against right-wing extremist activities. Focke Strangmann/dpa

Numerous participants in a demonstration against right-wing extremism and the AfD march through the city center. Thousands of people followed the call of the Bremen Alliance Against the Right to march from Bremen's Neustadt district to the final rally at the Domshof. With the demonstration, the participants want to set an example of resistance against right-wing extremist activities. Focke Strangmann/dpa
STEPHENS COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Human remains were recovered from a private property on the west side of Stephens County Sunday morning.

At about 5:41 p.m. on February 3, the Stephens County Sheriffs Office was notified by a landowner that human remains were discovered on their rural property.

On Sunday morning, the human remains of a single adult were recovered and sent to the University of North Texas Center for Forensic Identification.

The identification of the remains will be determined after further testing.

The Stephens County Sheriffs Office was assisted by the Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers, the Fort Worth Police Department, the University of North Texas Health Science Center, the Stephens County Constables Office, and the Breckenridge Police Department.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), delivers an important speech in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 2, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday inspected troops stationed in north China's Tianjin Municipality ahead of the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), extended festive greetings to service personnel of the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force, civilian personnel posted in the military, and members of militia and reserve forces, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC.

On Friday morning, Xi met with representatives of the Tianjin garrison command and posed for group photos with them.

Xi said that troops stationed in Tianjin have resolutely implemented the decisions and instructions of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC over the past year, made concrete advancement in various areas of work and excelled in completing major tasks.

Commending the troops' performance in supporting Tianjin in its flood relief efforts, Xi said their contributions have been significant to the protection of people's lives and property.

For the new year, Xi urged the full implementation of the Party's thinking on strengthening the military and military strategy for the new era, and efforts to achieve the goals set for the centenary of the People's Liberation Army in 2027.

Xi also stressed that as the 2024 Spring Festival approaches, the country's armed forces should strengthen combat readiness, safeguard national security, and maintain social stability to ensure people have a joyful and peaceful Spring Festival.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Las Vegas police arrested a man early Saturday morning after he allegedly stabbed his wife to death.

Moises Sanchez, 53, faces a charge of open murder, records showed.

Moises Sanchez, 53, of Las Vegas (LVMPD)

On Saturday around 1:35 a.m., Metro police responded to a domestic disturbance call in the 4900 block of Chantilly Avenue near Charleston and Nellis boulevards.

When officers arrived they found an unresponsive woman suffering from apparent stab wounds inside a home. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

Police said the victim was in an argument with her husband, identified as Sanchez, before the stabbing.

Sanchez is scheduled to appear in court Sunday.

For a list of local and state resources for domestic violence and abuse victims, visit this link.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Idaho lawmakers are pushing forward a bill that would add mandatory prison sentences for people trafficking fentanyl, a proposal proponents have said targets drug dealers and would deter them with longer incarceration time.

But attorneys say the bill would also target drug users, even those who didnt know they bought fentanyl.

The bill, House Bill 406, doesnt limit the drug trafficking charge to those who deliver or manufacture the drug; anyone who brought a certain amount of fentanyl into Idaho could be charged with drug trafficking. Julianne Donnelly Tzul, advocacy director for the ACLU of Idaho, told the Idaho Statesman thats a major concern for the ACLU, which is strongly opposed to the bill.

House Bill 406, like all of Idahos drug trafficking laws, defines trafficking based on the number of drugs in someones possession, rather than based on the intent to traffic the drug. Donnelly Tzul said that really shifts the due process  checks and balances  away from judges and juries and towards police and prosecutors.

Donnelly Tzul told the Statesman its important for a judge and jury to look at that context and be able to decide for themselves an appropriate sentence.

They are set up to be our impartial examiners of fact and law, Donnelly Tzul said. Were turning over the definition of trafficker to the police themselves.  Thats not due process.

The bill would also create a drug-induced homicide crime, which could be charged for someone who provided fentanyl that caused a death.

The bill would implement the following penalties for someone convicted of fentanyl trafficking:

Anyone in possession of 4-14 grams of fentanyl or 100-249 fentanyl pills would be sentenced to at least three years in prison and a minimum fine of $10,000.

Anyone in possession of 14-28 grams or 250-499 pills would be sentenced to at least five years in prison and a minimum fine of $15,000.

Anyone in possession of 28-500 grams or at least 500 pills would be sentenced to at least 10 years in prison and a minimum fine of $25,000.

The maximum penalties are life in prison and a $100,000 fine.

The House passed the bill in a 55-13 vote. The bill will need approval from the Senate next.

Are other drugs being laced with fentanyl?

Under the bill, if law enforcement authorities find a detectable amount of fentanyl in 4 grams of cocaine, for example, the person could be charged with fentanyl trafficking based on the entire amount of drugs. Rep. David Cannon, R-Blackfoot, expressed concern about that language and said the bill could even target marijuana users who didnt know their drugs were laced with fentanyl.

Because of the language of this bill ... 4 grams of marijuana which are laced with fentanyl would pull a possessor into the mandatory minimum that (is) set forth by this fentanyl trafficking bill, said Cannon said. These are users.

The sponsors of the bill said those claims are unfounded. Rep. Edward Ted Hill, R-Eagle, told the Statesman its a nonfactor because Idaho State Police hasnt tested drugs laced with fentanyl. Sen. Todd Lakey, R-Nampa, who is also sponsoring the bill, echoed Hills comments.

A state police spokesperson didnt answer a question about whether the agency had ever found other drugs laced with fentanyl. But health experts and other news reports have also commonly acknowledged that drugs have appeared laced with fentanyl. Just last year, a 22-year-old University of Idaho student died in Washington after using fentanyl-laced cocaine, the Statesman previously reported.

Reports providing information about fentanyl-laced drugs also include Gov. Brad Littles own media campaign. The websites facts about fentanyl, citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, states that fentanyl-laced drugs is a common occurrence and warns users about how difficult it is to know.

Without the buyers knowledge, fentanyl is often mixed in with other drugs because its potent and cheap to manufacture, Littles fact sheet reads. It has been found in almost every drug, including heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, molly/MDMA, and prescription opioid look-alike pills.

Overdoses from stimulants laced with fentanyl have spiked 50-fold since 2010, according to an article published in September 2023 from UCLA Health.

Fentanyl-laced pot, however, doesnt seem to be a known trend. Dr. Andrew Stolbach, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins Medicine in the Department of Emergency Medicine, told the Statesman that he hasnt seen a case of marijuana laced with fentanyl, though he confirmed that hes seen it with other drugs.

Hill said that even if marijuana or other drugs were being laced with fentanyl, authorities arent going to test them for fentanyl. He added that if someone unknowingly gave fentanyl to a friend, who then died, police and prosecutors arent going to target the friend because they are focused on the traffickers.

Drug traffickers dont like to come to Idaho for any drug because of the states harsh sentences, Hill told the Statesman, but fentanyls just not on the list yet.

We want to go after that guy who had 50,000 pills, that were sent to 10 schools and killed 10 kids, Hill said. Thats the objective.

Do mandatory sentences deter crime?

Its not the first time state lawmakers have added mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes. Idaho overhauled its drug laws in the 1990s to create mandatory prison sentences for anyone found in possession of a certain amount of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine or heroin, according to Idaho law.

The bill has garnered support from Idahos law enforcement community, including Ada County Sheriff Matt Clifford, who said during a legislative committee that fentanyl is the scariest drug hes seen in his decadeslong career with the county.

It is rare that chiefs, sheriffs, line officers and prosecutors agree on anything, and unfortunately, fentanyl is the thing that has brought us all together, Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea said during the bills public hearing. It has reeked such havoc on our community and on our vulnerable populations that we realized that we have to do something to stop them.

But those whove used drugs, or have family members whove used drugs, had concerns.

Boise resident Todd Hogan, who said hes a former gang member and addict, said many drug dealers have substance abuse disorders themselves. By passing the bill, lawmakers are taking away a judges discretion to decide whether someone is a hardened criminal or someone who has made poor choices but is redeemable, he said.

Susan Mansfield, whose son passed away from drug use, said mandatory minimums havent reduced drug use in Idaho and instead send people like her son to prison, where his addiction worsened.

I wish my son would have had the opportunity to be rehabilitated instead of incarcerated, Mansfield said.

Criminal justice experts have increasingly pushed back against the use of mandatory minimum sentences. The U.S. Department of Justice published a report that said longer sentences dont deter crime and that prison might in fact exacerbate, not reduce, recidivism.

The Prison Policy Initiative, a nonprofit focused on criminal justice reform, published a briefing last month that said mandatory minimum prison sentences were ineffective.

Wanda Bertram, a spokesperson for the initiative, told the Statesman by phone that theres a huge demand for drugs in the United States and that research shows focusing on community-based treatments is a more effective way of reducing drug use than imposing harsher penalties.

There is a genuine crisis going on right now  fentanyl is very dangerous and people are dying because of it, Bertram said. But I think lawmakers on both sides of the aisle see an excuse and an opportunity to score some political points by ratcheting up punishments even though its not going to do anything to stop the problem.
Fresno City Councilmember Tyler Maxwell is wrapping up his first four-year term representing Council District 4, which covers parts of central and east-central Fresno. Maxwell, who was elected in 2020 and took office in January 2021, is unopposed in his re-election bid in the March 5 primary, but the contest remains on the ballot for voters nonetheless.

As part of its overall coverage in advance of the primary, The Fresno Bee submitted questions to candidates in each of the City Council races on the ballot, including Maxwell in District 4, and asked each to respond with answers of in the neighborhood of 200 words if possible. Maxwells responses are offered here.

Tyler Maxwell

Age: 32

Occupation: Fresno City Councilmember

Education: Bachelor of arts degrees in legal studies and psychology, University of California, Berkeley

Other offices held: None

Campaign website: None listed

Q: Fresno has repeatedly been described as having a homelessness crisis. The state has provided millions of dollars for the city to convert old motels into shelters, but what kinds of solutions would you favor? Providing lots for safe camps? Large congregate shelters? Tiny homes? What locations in your district could suit some of these solutions?

A: Throughout my first term on the city council, my colleagues and I have invested into various forms of affordable housing and emergency shelters across Fresno, all of which compliment each other and play a crucial role in addressing the needs of the unhoused in our community. Converting dilapidated motels into temporary shelters, partnering with local colleges to build tiny homes, and investing heavily in affordable housing projects are just some examples of the types of investments this council has prioritized. District 4 has worked to do its part in addressing these needs: two recent examples include converting the old Clarion Pointe motel on Blackstone into emergency shelter and bridge housing operated by the Poverello House, as well as a multi-million dollar commitment from the City to build nearly one hundred units of affordable senior housing on the site of the old Continental Market on Blackstone and Ashlan. I remain committed to working with my council colleagues and the mayor to ensure the City continues to invest in these types of projects moving forward.

Q: About one out of five residents in the city of Fresno has income that falls below poverty level. However, the average market-rate apartment rent rose by almost 43% in the Fresno metro area since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the median sales price of homes has climbed by about 106% over the past 10 years. How would you promote greater housing affordability? And what is your position on rent control?

A: A persistent challenge in Fresno has been the ability to create an environment that incentivizes housing developers to build more homes (single-family, multi-family, affordable and otherwise) and working to ensure Fresno residents are able to afford rent or a mortgage. A conscious and deliberate investment into affordable housing has been a top priority for this council, as has the pursuit to build more housing in general which not only creates more housing stock, but also helps to keep housing prices down. Part of the solution to housing affordability needs to also address the income of our Fresno families: by bringing more jobs to Fresno, diversifying our economy, and helping more young people obtain college credentials or career-ready education, we can effectively increase the median income in Fresno. In tandem, the pursuit to build more diverse housing stock and an effort to increase the average income would have a drastic and positive impact for Fresnans seeking affordable housing options.

Q: Beyond homelessness and housing, what do you see as the most important issue facing your district, and how would you approach dealing with it?

A silent yet concerning issue plaguing central Fresno is the prevalence of blight. Families who moved to central Fresno in the late 60s and early 70s enjoyed new infrastructure, clean parks, green neighborhoods, and modern storefronts. Today, I represent neighborhoods whose streets havent been paved since Lyndon Johnson was president, whose streets and median islands have long been stripped of trees, and whose storefronts havent been renovated since I was a kid. One of my top priorities as Councilmember for District 4 is to help restore pride back into these neighborhoods by making large investments into neighborhood infrastructure and small businesses. In just the past couple of years, my office has planted nearly 1,000 trees across District 4 parks, median islands, and neighborhoods. Additionally, we have invested millions of dollars into our local parks, repaved entire neighborhoods, and invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into a District 4 small-business facade improvement program that allows small businesses up to $70,000 to improve the exterior appearances of their businesses. These types of investments from the City go a long way in restoring the pride of these neighborhoods that have long felt neglected and forgotten.
The state of Indiana wants to change its rules for deer hunting, but first it wants your input.

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission (NRC) has opened a public comment period for proposed changes to the rules before its members vote on final adoption of the proposed changes. Most proposed changes intend to simplify Indianas deer hunting rules to make them easier to understand.

Proposed changes include:

A statewide bag limit of six antlerless deer.

A newly created county antlerless bag limit instead of season antlerless bag limits. Because of this change, the bonus antlerless license would be the multiple-season antlerless license that could be used in the archery, muzzleloader, and firearms seasons.

Hunters would not be able to harvest an antlerless deer on fish and wildlife properties with a firearm.

The use of crossbow equipment would be allowed with the archery license.

The minimum caliber for a muzzleloader would be reduced from 0.44 inches to 0.40 inches.

If a deer is unfit for human consumption, DNR staff would be able to issue an authorization to take an antlerless deer in its place that will not count toward the statewide bag limit or county limit.

Adding the deer Reduction Zones and County Antlerless Bag Limits.

Removing the Special Antlerless Firearms season.

Public comments can be submitted online at IN.gov/nrc/rules/rulemaking-docket/ via the Comment on this rule link in the Rulemaking Docket for the Deer Hunting Amendments.

The deadline for public comments is March 20. A public hearing will take place March 20 from 4 to 8 p.m. Eastern at the Garrison at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis; you can attend in person or online anytime during that timeframe.

To attend the public hearing, starting at 4 p.m. on March 20, go to Microsoft Teams and enter Meeting ID: 296 491 887 327, Passcode: xTCuyW.

For more information on the proposed rule changes, visit wildlife.IN.gov/rule-regulation-changes/.

Questions about the proposed deer rule changes should be directed to 812-334-3795 or indeerhotline@dnr.IN.gov.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: What are the rules for hunting deer in Indiana?
India's economy is expected to expand by 6.5% this year, according to IMF forecasts.

The world's most populous nation was keen to talk up its prospects at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Whether India's potential is as great as its ambitions remains to be seen.

"India has seized the moment," proclaimed housing minister Hardeep Singh Puri with confidence during a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month.

That was the message being spread to the business leaders and investors by the Indian cabinet ministers who attended the Davos event.

"There isn't a segment of economic and social engagement that India has not delivered with," Smriti Irani, the minister for minority affairs and women, told Business Insider.

Indian minister Smriti Irani and BI's Spriha Srivastava at the World Economic Forum in Davos. BI

Many need little convincing. There has been increasing buzz about India as its economic growth converges with political stability, digital transformation, and the potential of a vast youth population.

Its economy is set to post growth of 6.3% this financial year, per the IMF, and rise to 6.5% in 2024 and 2025. That's more than double the global average and comfortably ahead of China too.

The finance ministry says India aims to become a $7 trillion economy by 2030  although that's still only a quarter of the US economy's value today.

Prime minister Narendra Modi's program of public investment is helping, with spending up from 3.5% of GDP in 2019 to nearly 4.5% last year, The Economist reported.

Cash is being poured into connectivity upgrades, transport infrastructure, digitizing the economy, and better welfare packages that the government says have brought the country from "fragility to stability and strength."

India's PM Modi is expected to secure a third term in power in this year's general election. SAJJAD HUSSAIN / Getty

Reforms to the financial sector, such as putting the tax system online to reduce evasion, and relaxing some commerce regulations, have also helped win foreign investment.

As the world's third-largest energy consumer, the green transition has been seen as a major investment opportunity  potentially creating tens of millions of jobs, per a 2021 report from the World Economic Forum.

The high probability of Modi's party winning the forthcoming national elections adds an attractive assurance of stability, compared to the destabilizing political polarization of some Western markets.

"I've not met a business leader either in India or investing into India who thinks that's bad," Andy Baldwin of EY told Business Insider.

A huge, young population

The other key marker of India's potential is its population of about 1.44 billion.

The country not only has the world's largest population but it also skews young, unlike the aging populations of Asia's leading economies such as Japan and China. About two thirds of Indians are under 35, a factor that drives up consumer spending potential and provides a vast workforce.

Rather than meeting the needs of an aging population, the government can spend on innovation and further boost its long-term economic prospects.

Narendra Modi and Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil at the G20 summit last year. Dan Kitwood / Getty

Last year India became the first South Asian nation to host the G20 summit, a platform that Modi used to announce India as "the voice of the Global South."

It came just months after he backed the expansion of the "BRICS." The 10-strong group of emerging market nations now accounts for 45% of the world's population and 28% of global GDP.

An alternative to China

India is also trying to benefit from the tensions between the US and China by maintaining a neutral position and offering an alternative for companies looking to diversify manufacturing away from China. Apple, for example, now makes some products in India, but the vast majority of iPhones still come from China.

There was also a potent symbol of progress last August when India became only the fourth nation to land on the moon.

India made a historic landing at the Moon's south pole last August. ISRO

Goldman Sachs analysts have predicted India will become the world's second-largest economy by 2075, up from fifth place. But for all this optimism, India's "moment" is far from assured.

Some economists have criticized the government's narrative as a "false growth story," highlighting discrepancies in the data and criticizing the methods used to calculate economic growth.

Ashoka Mody, a visiting professor of international economic policy at Princeton University and a former World Bank economist, argues that India's GDP growth would be 4.5% if calculated according to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis methods.

Double-digit unemployment

Though the forecasts are strong, India needs to create more jobs, particularly in manufacturing, improve education and tackle structural issues.

Just one in three women work and about half the workforce are in agricultural work  a lower-value sector of the economy that is increasingly at risk from extreme weather.

The unemployment rate peaked at 10% last year, higher than during the pandemic.

While startups, IT, and fintech attract buzz, they only employ the well-qualified. And under Modi, manufacturing has fallen from 18% of the economy to 16%, per The Economist.

Women still only constitute 33% of the formal workforce in India. Hindustan Times / Getty

Rising inequality, along steep regional and urban-rural divides, also highlights how the benefits of economic growth may not be as widespread as the government claims.

The top 10% of Indians now hold 77% of national wealth, according to the Harvard Business Review.

Rajesh Kumar Singh, secretary of the department for the promotion of industry and internal trade in the Commerce and Industry ministry, says internal migration is solving regional inequality.

"You have people going for jobs in faster-growing regions of the country," he told Business Insider at Davos, adding that financial support is being sent to the "more backward areas" where incomes are lower.

Russian oil and weapons

However, in India's huge cities, fewer than half of workers have full-time jobs, while the government's prioritization of welfare payments over job creation has been criticized as an unsustainable solution for wider employment issues.

Lastly, the future of India's favorable international standing can't be assured to last.

(Defying Western sanctions, the country has amped up purchases of Russian oil since Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine almost two years ago, and is now its second-largest customer after China.)

It's unclear whether India would prioritize Western investors over such a key provider of oil and arms if it had to stop playing both sides.

The ruling BJP party's Hindutva nationalist policies have prompted demonstrations in recent years from India's minority Muslim population. NurPhoto / Getty

And while social problems are overlooked by many business leaders, the BJP's divisive Hindu nationalist policies and persecution of Muslims threaten to destabilize progress and detract from job creation.

If Modi's erosion of the judiciary and clampdowns on free speech escalate in a third term, India's title of the world's largest democracy could be under threat.

Nevertheless, Singh is optimistic about India's prospects: "We look at ourselves and we feel that we are in a good spot right now, vis a vis other countries. We have to seize our opportunity."

Read the original article on Business Insider
You are here: China

Miaoyuan village in Quzhou city, Zhejiang province, held a ritual ceremony on Sunday to mark the arrival of spring based on the traditional Chinese calendar.

Miaoyuan village holds a ritual ceremony to mark the beginning of spring at a local temple in Quzhou city, Zhejiang province, on Feb. 4, 2024. [Photo/China.org.cn]



The ceremony marked Lichun, the first of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar. Lichun signifies the beginning of spring and a new year for farmers.

Children stand on either side of the temple's doorstep in a ritual to mark the beginning of spring in Miaoyuan village, Zhejiang province, on Feb. 4, 2024. [Photo/China.org.cn]



The ceremony started at 9 a.m. at a local temple where participants offered flower baskets and sacrificial offerings to the God of Spring of ancient China. They prayed for a bumper harvest and prosperity in the year ahead.

A child wearing a traditional shepherd's outfit whips a buffalo in a ritual to mark the beginning of spring in Miaoyuan village, Zhejiang province, on Feb. 4, 2024. [Photo/China.org.cn]

One of the highlights of the ceremony was the Whip the Spring Ox ritual. An elder villager led an ox-pulled plow to till the field, while a child whipped the ox and sang a folk song.

The village also held other activities, such as hosting an open-air market, a food exhibition with spring-themed food dishes (such as spring cakes, spring rolls, and spring pancakes), and an exhibition of photos, paintings, and poems.
A Bollywood actor is in hot water after she claimed on Instagram that she died from cancer.

Poonam Pandey is alive and well, trying to persuade followers her intentions were good.

Pandey said she did it to raise awareness for women who have actually died from cervical cancer.

When a social media account for an actor and model announced her death, people sent their sympathies and well wishes.

"Deeply saddened to inform you that we have lost our beloved Poonam to cervical cancer," a post on Poonam Pandey's Instagram read. "In this time of grief, we would request for privacy while we remember her fondly for all that we shared."

After a bevy of well wishes, the account for the Bollywood actor posted again the following day.

"I'm alive. I didn't die because of cervical cancer. Unfortunately, I cannot say that about those hundreds and thousands of women who have lost their lives because of cervical cancer," Pandey said in a video with somber instrumentals playing in the background.

Critics online chastized Pandey for what they called a hoax. But the model said she did it with the best of intentions, according to a barrage of follow-up posts on her page.

"While I do understand how you would have perceived this in bad taste, I also implore you to consider the greater cause," Pandey said in one post. "Feel free to express your frustration  I understand. But this is not just lip service, instead I'm committing my entire body to the service of Cervical Cancer."

Pandey did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

The American Cancer Society recommends women undergo cervical cancer screenings starting at age 25. The disease has some symptoms that are easy to miss, like unusual vaginal bleeding or pelvic pain, but it is a "rare" disease for women who are regularly screened, BI previously reported.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Four Seasons Resort in Bogaz in Northern Cyprus - Shutterstock

Yeni Iskele grows out of shrubland like Las Vegas out of the desert. Its only when you see the tops of the high rises coming into view that you can believe it exists.

Five years ago, this was a village. Now its a city bristling with high rises, villas and apartments with names like Caesars and Dream Town.

To see the intensity of the construction goes some way to explain how this city could have been built in such a short period, but not why. Then a cluster of advertisements appear in Russian and Farsi. For in this obscure patch of Northern Cyprus foreigners from sanctioned countries and elsewhere have found a new place to settle, where the restrictions of the Greek-speaking south dont apply and the embattled Turkish lira goes a lot further.

At the sales office of one luxury complex, Riverside Life, a brochure offers buyers: A new life in long beach.

Osman Erdogan, the companys general manager, said the scale of demand for apartments has surpassed expectations.

Its shocked all of us. We werent expecting to get this many sales this fast.

Yeni Iskele is very much the poster city for northern development - Guardian/eyevine/Kostas Pikoulas

A billboard advertising a new property development - Guardian/eyevine/Kostas Pikoulas

Cyprus is divided, with the north administered by Turkish Cypriots following Turkeys illegal invasion of the island in 1974, and the south officially known as the Republic of Cyprus.

The north is not recognised by any country other than Turkey, which supports it economically and militarily, but it is not under sanctions. To fly there, however, visitors must go via Turkey.

Ankara has refused to impose sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine and provided sanctuary to tens of thousands of Russians fleeing the fallout.

Many of those have now gone to Northern Cyprus as house prices in places like Turkeys coastal city of Anatalya soar and Cyprus pulls in line with the EU to impose sanctions on Russia.

Closer to the Middle East than Europe, the south has long been a haven for Russian, Arab and Israeli investors looking to park their money  often of dubious provenance.

Loose regulation, low taxes and good weather had made it an ideal bolthole. And following Cypruss financial crisis in 2013 and the launch of its Golden Passport scheme, a veritable backdoor into Europe. The investment-for-citizenship programme turbocharged the property market and set off a building boom in areas like Limassol.

There, the trappings of a wealthy life offshore are plain to see.

Huge villas owned by Russian and Middle East buyers, fronted by big heavy doors and rigged with cameras cut into the cliffs. In the marina, luxury yachts sit in rows, sparkling in the sun.

Its the Dubai of Cyprus, said one woman.

As my taxi driver, Andreas, turned into the wealthy neighbourhood of Germasogeia and up a hill that overlooks a Russian Orthodox church, he pointed out that many of the apartments look empty.

Its all black money, he said.

In 2020 Cyprus cancelled the Golden Passport scheme after journalists exposed its potential for abuse.

Its central bank said authorities have closed tens of thousands of shell companies and suspicious bank accounts in recent years and tightened anti-money laundering regulations. Cyprus has also followed the rest of the EU in curtailing international payments via Swift to Russia, Belarus and Iran.

The north, however, is less encumbered by scrutiny, while its banks are not part of the international Swift system. Many banks operating in the north are branches of those in Turkey.

Added to its appeal is the use of the Turkish lira, which has lost 500 per cent of its value in the past five years. Around 1.37 million Greek Cypriots crossed over to the north in 2022, many for cheap petrol, medicines and cigarettes.

A Russian supermarket in Limassol in southern Cyprus, which has long been a haven for Russian, Arab and Israeli investors looking to park their money - Guardian/eyevine/Kostas Pikoulas

Loose regulation, low taxes and good weather have made Cyprus an ideal financial bolthole - Guardian/eyevine/Kostas Pikoulas

The north has worked to shed its image as a pariah state with adverts to promote it as a place to holiday or retire.

Though Yeni Iskele is very much the poster city for northern development, nearby Bogaz and Otuken are also on the rise, said Mr Erdogan of Riverside Life, with the plan being for wider expansion.

Locals in the north are relieved at its rise, having long languished economically behind its southern neighbour. But its coming at a cost.

Mete Hatay, a senior researcher at the independent PRIO Cyprus Centre, said over the past ten years the norths population has swelled from 300,000 to 550,000, largely as a result of an influx from Turkey.

The number of Russians stands at around 40,000 and Iranians at 10,000. With Turkish Cypriots now comprising just a third of the population, they feel like strangers in their own country, he said.

Before there was just a small British community here. Now you have a lot of Russians, Ukrainians, Iranians, central Asians, Mr Hatay said.

The teachers union has complained about the number of non-Turkish speaking children going to schools without any preparation.

The majority of Turkish Cypriots, like their Greek counterparts, want reunification. But after UN talks to broker a settlement between the north and south failed in 2017 a feeling of hopelessness has led to a hit and run attitude to make money quickly, said Mr Hatay.

It has also led to bolder rhetoric from Ankara and Ersin Tatar, the hardline Turkish Cypriot leader, of creating two separate states.

This summer will mark 50 years since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

James Ker-Lindsay, a Cyprus scholar and author, said the more that land is bought and developed, the dream many hold of reunification grows ever more faint.

Any settlement is going to need some sort of territorial redistribution. It becomes so much more complicated if you have people building and developing on it.

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.
COVINGTON COUNTY, Ala (WDHN)  State agents are currently investigating an early morning death at the Covington County Jail.

Sgt. Jeremy Burkett with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency identified the inmate as 34-year-old Justin Aaron Blackmon of Andalusia.

According to Covington County Sheriff Blake Turman, Blackmon was found dead in the Covington County Jail at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 3, with what appeared to be self-inflicted wounds.

Blackmons body was sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for an autopsy, and the case was turned over to the State Bureau of Investigation.

Stay with WDHN for updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: An Iraqi man walks at the headquarters of the Central Bank of Iraq in Baghdad

By Timour Azhari

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq has banned eight local commercial banks from engaging in U.S. dollar transactions, taking action to reduce fraud, money laundering and other illegal uses of U.S. currency days after a visit by a top U.S. Treasury official.

The banks are banned from accessing the Iraqi central bank's daily dollar auction, a main source of hard currency in the import-dependent country that has become a focal point of a U.S. crackdown on currency smuggling to neighbouring Iran.

A rare ally of both the United States and Iran with more than $100 billion in reserves held in the U.S., Iraq relies heavily on Washington's goodwill to ensure that its access to oil revenues and finances are not blocked.

A central bank document verified by an official at the bank listed the banned banks.

They are: Ahsur International Bank for Investment; Investment Bank of Iraq; Union Bank of Iraq; Kurdistan International Islamic Bank for Investment and Development; Al Huda Bank; Al Janoob Islamic Bank for Investment and Finance; Arabia Islamic Bank and Hammurabi Commercial Bank.

The head of Iraq's private bank association, which represents the banks involved, and Ashur and Hammurabi did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reuters is contacting the other banks.

A Treasury spokesman said: "We commend the continued steps taken by the Central Bank of Iraq to protect the Iraqi financial system from abuse, which has led to legitimate Iraqi banks achieving international connectivity through corespondent banking relationships.

In July 2023, Iraq banned 14 banks from conducting dollar transactions as part of a wider crackdown on dollar smuggling to Iran via the Iraqi banking system. The decision came after a request from Washington, according to Iraqi and U.S. officials.

Banks banned from dollar transactions are allowed to continue operating and are allowed to engage in transactions in other currencies, the central bank says.

The U.S. Treasury Department's top sanctions official, Brian Nelson, last week met top Iraqi officials in Baghdad, discussing how to protect the Iraqi and international financial systems from criminal, corrupt and terrorist actors.

Treasury announced action against Al-Huda Bank during the visit, saying it was involved in diverting billions of U.S. dollars to Iranian-backed groups.

A senior Treasury official told Reuters that Washington expected Iraq to do more to help counter Iran-backed armed groups operating out of Iraq after the killing of three U.S. soldiers that has been blamed on hardline Iraqi factions.

The current Iraqi government came to power with the support of powerful, Iran-backed parties and armed groups with interests in Iraq's highly informal economy, including the financial sector long seen as a money-laundering hot spot.

Still, Western officials have lauded cooperation with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani towards carrying out economic and financial reforms meant to curb the ability of Iran and its allies to access U.S. dollars, and to bring the Iraqi economy into line with international standards.

(Reporting by Timour Azhari; Editing by Giles Elgood)
Houthi tribesmen gather to show defiance after US and UK air strikes on Houthi positions near Sana'a - KHALED ABDULLAH/REUTERS

The United States intends to launch additional strikes against Iran-backed groups in the Middle East, US national security advisor Jake Sullivan said on Sunday.

We intend to take additional strikes and additional action to continue to send a clear message that the United States will respond when our forces are attacked, or people are killed, Mr Sullivan told NBC News.

Sullivan declined to say if the US would launch strikes on Iran directly, stating it would not be wise to discuss what the US is ruling in or ruling out.

The comments came after Britain and the United States launched a fresh wave of strikes against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Saturday night.

Saturdays strikes followed a drone strike in Jordan last Sunday that killed 3 US military personnel. Iran has denied being behind the attack.

05:02 PM GMT

Today's live coverage has ended

Todays live coverage has ended. Here is a roundup of the days main events:

The US is preparing further strikes on Iran-backed groups in the Middle East, US national security advisor Jake Sullivan has confirmed.

Iran warned the United States not to target two cargo ships in the Red Sea that have long been suspected as serving as a base for Iranian commandos.

British and US strikes on Yemen are fuelling chaos and disorder, Iran said.

Trump would give more support to Israel than Biden, Israels national security minister claimed.

Yemens Houthi rebels released a video showing a raid on a mock-up Israeli command and control centre.

04:51 PM GMT

Israeli bank blocks United Nations account due to terror funding concerns

An Israeli bank has told the United Nations Agency for Palestine (UNRWA) that its account will be blocked amid allegations that some agency staff took part in the October 7 massacre.

The bank said in a letter to the UNRWA that it suspected the agencys funds are being used to fund terrorism against Israel.

UNRWA funding has been cut by the US, Canada, Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland, Estonia, Japan, Austria and Romania after reports circulated that around 12 of its employees were connected with the October 7 attacks on southern Israel.

The UN said on Saturday that it had fired 9 of the 12 staff in question over the allegations.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the UNRWA on Wednesday as the backbone of all humanitarian response in Gaza and expressed about the withdrawal of donor funding.

04:26 PM GMT

Israel has struck more than 50 Hezbollah targets in Syria since start of war, IDF says

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it has struck more than 50 targets in Syria linked to the Iranian-backed Lebanese movement Hezbollah since the October 7 Hamas attacks on southern Israel.

Everywhere Hezbollah is, we shall be. We will take action everywhere required in the Middle East, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a briefing.

Elsewhere, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant warned Hezbollah that it would continue to strike the group in Lebanon.

The clear-cut instruction I gave the Air Force is to point the noses of our aircraft northward we are prepared, Mr Gallant said during a tour of Tel Nof Airbase in central Israel.

IDF forces and Hezbollah, who are allied with Hamas, have repeatedly clashed on Israels northern border with Lebanon since October 7.

04:05 PM GMT

Pictured: Palestinian children are brought to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital for treatment following Israeli attacks on Deir Al-Balah

Injured Palestinians, including children, are brought to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital for treatment following the Israeli attacks in Deir Al-Balah, Gaza on February 04 - APAImages/Shutterstock/Shutterstock

03:56 PM GMT

Israeli troops advance into Hamas stronghold in Khan Younis

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have said its Paratroopers Brigade is advancing into the al-Amal neighbourhood of Khan Younis, which it says it is a Hamas stronghold.

The IDF said it has killed numerous Hamas terrorists in the area, as well as located weapons manufacturing plants, tunnel shafts and observation posts.

The Paratroopers Brigade fought in close-quarter battles with Hamas, the IDF said, after they were fired upon when they advanced into the district.

The IDF also said its forces had seized more than 3 million Israeli Shekels (650,000) from a Hamas office in the area during the operation.

03:28 PM GMT

US preparing further strikes on Iran-backed groups

The United States intends to launch additional strikes against Iran-backed groups in the Middle East, US national security advisor Jake Sullivan said on Sunday.

We intend to take additional strikes and additional action to continue to send a clear message that the United States will respond when our forces are attacked, or people are killed, Mr Sullivan told NBC News.

Sullivan declined to say if the US would launch strikes on Iran directly, stating it would not be wise to discuss what the US is ruling in or ruling out.

The comments came after Britain and the United States launched a fresh wave of strikes against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Saturday night.

Saturdays strikes followed a drone strike in Jordan last Sunday that killed 3 US military personnel. Iran has denied being behind the attack.

02:34 PM GMT

IDF strikes Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has said it has carried out a series of strikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.

IDF jets hit a Hezbollah observation post and a rocket launching position in Mays al-Jabal and Blida, the military said in a statement.

The IDF also said one of its tanks shelled a Hezbollah cell operating in Blida.

Troops are also shelling the source of rocket fire from Lebanon, the IDF added.

02:04 PM GMT

French foreign minister begins Middle East trip aimed at pushing Gaza ceasefire

Stephane Sejourne, the French foreign minister, met Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry in Cairo on Sunday on the first stop of a tour of the region aimed at pushing for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The Egyptian presidents office said the meeting emphasised Egypts efforts to establish a ceasefire and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Mr Sejourne, who was sworn in as French foreign minister last month, is expected to visit Jordan, Israel and Lebanon over the coming days.

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry meets with his French counterpart Stephane Sejourne in Cairo - KHALED DESOUKI/AFP

01:29 PM GMT

Pictured: Israeli attack on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip

A damaged building and its surrounding structures following an Israeli attack on Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip - Anadolu/Anadolu

01:21 PM GMT

Iran warns US not to target suspected Iranian spy ships

Iran has warned the United States not to target two cargo ships in the Red Sea that have long been suspected as serving as a base for Iranian commandos.

In a video statement posted by the Iranian military, a narrator describes the ships as floating armouries before a warning is issued overlaid with footage of US warships and an American flag.

The vessels, the Behshad and the Saviz, are registered as commercial cargo ships but are thought to act as forward operating bases for Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps.

In 2017, Saudi Arabia described the Saviz as a maritime base staffed by men in military fatigues. Saudi-owned television channels also showed footage of the Saviz with what appeared to be a machine gun bolted to the ships deck.

01:03 PM GMT

Pictured: RAF Typhoon returns to base after strikes against Houthi rebels

An RAF Typhoon FGR4 aircraft returns to base following strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen - AS1 Jake Green RAF/MOD/Crown Copyright/MOD

12:41 PM GMT

British airstrikes 'fuelling chaos and disorder', Iran warns

Iran has warned that British and US strikes on Yemen are fuelling chaos and disorder and risking a wider war in the Middle East.

Nasser Kanani, Irans foreign ministry spokesman, claimed that the strikes contradict US and UK policy on avoiding an escalation in the conflict and that further attacks on Houthi rebels in Yemen are a threat to international peace and security.

These attacks are in clear contradiction with the repeated claims of Washington and London that they do not want the expansion of war and conflict in the region, Mr Kanani added.

Hamas has also condemned Saturdays strikes on Yemen, calling the bombings a blatant assault on the sovereignty of a sister Arab country, and an escalation that will drag the region into further turmoil.

The comments came after Britain and the United States launched a fresh wave of strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen on Saturday night, in a bid to further disable Iran-backed groups in the region.



The new strikes hit 36 targets across 13 locations following attacks by the Iran-backed group against international and commercial shipping, as well as naval vessels travelling through the Red Sea.

12:29 PM GMT

Netanyahu says Israel will not agree to every hostage deal

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has said that Israel will not agree to every deal, and not at any price in order to free hostages held in Gaza.

Israeli press reports that large numbers of captured Hamas terrorists could be freed to facilitate a hostage release deal were not true, the prime minister said, and emphasised that his main war aim was to defeat Hamas.

I want to be clear about our policy  the essential goal is first of all the elimination of Hamas, Mr Netanyahu said.

Concern for hostages still in Gaza have led to criticism of Mr Netanyahu and rallies against the Israeli government.

Carmit Palty Katzir, the sister of captive Elad Katzir, called for swifter action at a rally for hostages families.

Every second a deal is not closed, the price goes up. The number of hostages who wont return alive goes up. The number of soldiers risking their lives without a clear plan for the day after goes up, she said.

11:34 AM GMT

Trump would give more support to Israel than Biden, Israeli minister claims

Donald Trump would give more support to Israel in its war against Hamas than Joe Biden, Israels national security minister has said.

Ben Gvir, who is head of the nationalist Jewish Power party, said: If Trump was in power, the US conduct would be completely different.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Mr Gvir also attacked president Biden for being busy with giving humanitarian aid and fuel, which Mr Gvir claimed goes to Hamas.

Mr Gvir has received criticism from former Israeli defence minister Benny Gantz, who said Gvirs comments were irresponsible and urged Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call Mr Gvir to order.

10:59 AM GMT

EU worried Israel may strike 'pressure cooker' town of Rafah near Egypt

The European Union has expressed deep concern over reports that the Israeli military intends to take its battle against Hamas to Rafah on Gazas border with Egypt, where more than a million people have escaped the fighting.

Josep Borrell, the EUs foreign policy chief, said that around 1 million Palestinians have been displaced progressively against the Egyptian border. They claimed they were safe zones, but in fact what we see is that the bombing affecting the civilian population continues and it is creating a very dire situation.

Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defence minister, said on Thursday that after Israeli troops seize Khan Younis, they will move on to Rafah.

An offensive in the Rafah area could push refugees into Egypt and disrupt slow-moving peace talks with Hamas.

10:21 AM GMT

More than 27,000 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza

At least 27,365 Palestinians have been killed and 66,630 wounded in Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7, the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

The toll includes an estimated 127 people killed and 178 injured in the past 24 hours, the ministry added.

10:12 AM GMT

Houthis release video of raid on mock-up Israeli base

Yemens Houthi rebel group has released a video showing a raid on a mock-up Israeli command and control centre.

The video shows Houthi artillery strikes, as well as drones dropping explosives on Israeli and US flags.

Houthi troops are then seen assaulting the mock-up base and taking people dressed as Israeli soldiers captive.

The video echoes one released by the Houthi group last month, which depicted a raid on a mock Israeli settlement as part of a training exercise.

    ..           pic.twitter.com/6U7PA8iBbn     (@Alyemen_One) February 3, 2024

09:59 AM GMT

Lord Cameron demands Houthis stop attacks on merchant shipping

Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, has demanded that Houthi rebels stop their attacks on merchant shipping.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Foreign Secretary wrote: The UK and the US have carried out further strikes on Houthi military targets. We have issued repeated warnings to the Houthis. Their reckless actions are putting innocent lives at risk, threatening the freedom of navigation and destabilising the region. The Houthi attacks must stop.

The UK and the US have carried out further strikes on Houthi military targets.



We have issued repeated warnings to the Houthis.



Their reckless actions are putting innocent lives at risk, threatening the freedom of navigation and destabilising the region.



The Houthi  David Cameron (@David_Cameron) February 4, 2024

09:52 AM GMT

Inside Cold War bombers' 15,000 mile round-trip to strike back at Iran

On Friday morning, US Air Force B-1B bombers, designed to penetrate Soviet air defences to deliver nuclear bombs, took off from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas for an immense sortie across the Atlantic Ocean to strike more than 85 targets across seven locations in Iraq and Syria.

By 9.10pm, reports had already begun to emerge on social media of a massive raid as the bombers dropped more than 125 precision munitions on command-and-control centres, rocket and missile stockpiles, drone storage sites and supply chain facilities.

Read more from US Editor Tony Diver here.

09:48 AM GMT

Houthis vow to respond to UK airstrikes

The Houthi rebel group said British and US airstrikes will not deter us and vowed a response after a new wave of strikes hit Yemen late on Saturday.

Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said these attacks will not deter us from our stance in support of the steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

Saree added that there had been a total of 48 strikes and that they will not pass without response and punishment.

The Houthis also said that the capital Sanaa as well as other rebel-held areas were targeted in the raids.

A joint statement from Britain and the US on Saturday night said they had targeted buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defence systems and radars.

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.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday Israel was not ready to accept a deal at any price to release hostages held by Hamas amid rifts in his coalition over a U.S. push to get more aid into Gaza.

The comments came during the latest episode in a rumbling coalition row between religious nationalist parties opposed to any concessions to the Palestinians and a centrist group including former army generals.

"The efforts to free the hostages are continuing at all times," Netanyahu said in comments ahead of a cabinet meeting that were released to the media. "As I also emphasized in the Security Cabinet  we will not agree to every deal, and not at any price."

He also appeared to deliver a rebuke to his far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who wants Jewish settlers to return to Gaza, and who criticised U.S. President Joe Biden, Israel's staunchest ally, for pressing for humanitarian aid deliveries to the enclave.

"Instead of giving us his full backing, Biden is busy with giving humanitarian aid and fuel [to Gaza], which goes to Hamas," Ben-Gvir said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, during which he openly backed Donald Trump, Biden's likely rival in the November U.S. presidential election.

"If Trump was in power, the U.S. conduct would be completely different," he said.

Without naming Ben-Gvir directly, Netanyahu, who has had a sometimes tense relationship with Biden, rejected the comment, which came as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed to the region.

"I am not in need of any assistance in navigating our relations with the U.S. and the international community, while steadfastly upholding our national interests," he said at Sunday's cabinet meeting.

In response to Ben-Gvir's interview, former opposition politician Benny Gantz, who joined the emergency unity government last year, tweeted a message of thanks to Biden, saying: "The people of Israel will forever remember how you stood up for the right of Israel in one of our most difficult hours."

The spat highlighted the tense political climate in Israel four months after the devastating attack by Hamas gunmen in October, in which around 1,200 people were killed, according to Israeli tallies, and some 240 dragged to Gaza as hostages.

In response, Israel has flattened large swathes of Gaza in a relentless campaign that has killed more than 27,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities, and forced most of the 2.3 million population to flee their homes.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States would continue trying to get more aid into Gaza, which is facing an acute humanitarian crisis.

"And that means pressing Israel on issues related to humanitarian assistance that we have helped unlock and get into the Gaza Strip and there needs to be much more of it," he told CBS television's "Face the Nation" programme.

(This story has been refiled to add the full name of Benny Gantz in paragraph 9)

(Reporting by James Mackenzie; editing by Giles Elgood)
National security adviser Jake Sullivan has said that the United States will take further action following the countrys retaliatory airstrikes this weekend in multiple Middle Eastern countries  a move that could possibly result in a broader regional conflict.

In the past few days, the U.S. has launched strikes in Iraq, Syria and Yemen in what officials say is an effort to target Iran-backed militias. The strikes are in retaliation for a recent drone attack by militants that killed three American military personnel in Jordan  the first attack to result in U.S. combat deaths from such militias since the violence between Israel and Hamas escalated on Oct. 7.

From our perspective, each action that we take is targeted at reducing the capabilities of the militias to be able to continue to conduct attacks against us and to send a clear message that the United States will respond when our forces are attacked, and we will respond with strength in a sustained way when American casualties are incurred, Sullivan told Dana Bash on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday.

The adviser did not directly answer Bashs question on how he defines success when it comes to the U.S. retaliatory campaign.

National Security Adviser @JakeSullivan46 tells @DanaBashCNN that there will be further action against Iranian-linked groups. pic.twitter.com/kjj8bkhcBz  State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) February 4, 2024

On Friday night, the U.S. military launched an air assault on dozens of sites in Iraq and Syria used by Iran-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The military then launched strikes overnight Sunday across several Yemeni provinces allegedly held by the Houthi rebels, an attack the U.S. said targeted underground missile arsenals.

Sullivan told Bash that the U.S. will take further action when it comes to more strikes in the region, but declined to describe what such action looks like because I dont want to telegraph our punches. He also refused to rule out whether the military would launch strikes inside Iran, a move that could very likely bring the U.S. into yet another war in the Middle East.

We are not looking to take the United States to war. So we are going to continue to pursue a policy that goes down both of those lines simultaneously, that responds with force and clarity, as we did on Friday night, but also that continues to hew to an approach that does not get the United States pulled into a war that we have seen too frequently in the Middle East, Sullivan said.

Past presidents have had to deal with a significant number of American casualties and American deaths in the Middle East because of war, he continued. This president is looking to defend our interests and to defend our troops.

During a separate appearance on NBCs Meet the Press Sunday, Sullivan told moderator Kristen Welker that the U.S. government is still assessing the damage from the strikes and could not confirm whether the attacks resulted in any civilian casualties or deaths of militant leaders.

We do not have, at this time, any confirmation of any civilian casualties. Our military is still looking at that, the adviser said. What we do know is that the targets we hit were absolutely valid targets from the point of view of containing the weaponry and the personnel that were attacking American forces. So, we are confident in the targets that we struck, and I will defer to a final analysis the question of who was taken out among militant leaders.

Militia groups in the Middle East said they have intensified their attacks on ships in the Red Sea and on U.S. bases due to Israels ongoing bombardment of Gaza, which escalated after Hamas launched a deadly attack on Oct. 7 against the country and took hostages.

Despite Israel now being accused at the international level of Palestinian ethnic cleansing, apartheid and genocide, the U.S. continues to be Israels strongest ally, supporting the country diplomatically and financially.

Sullivan told Welker that the U.S. does not believe the attacks by Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea are entirely tied to the war in Gaza, though the rebels themselves have said their attacks are justified due to Israels actions.

Those attacks will not discourage Yemeni forces and the nation from maintaining their support for Palestinians in the face of the Zionist occupation and crimes, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree told The Associated Press. The aggressors airstrikes will not go unanswered.

Related...
As the world gets hotter and the dramatic climate effects from the rising temperature become apparent, many scientists are speaking out about the path forward.

One of them is Dr. Jane Goodall, who is most famous for being the worlds leading expert on chimpanzees, some of humanitys closest relatives on Earth. In a recent video on Instagram, she condemns world leaders who arent willing to act on rising global temperatures while sharing the four reasons she has hope for our future.

Goodall began her work in Tanzania in 1960, observing chimps in the wild in what is now Gombe Stream National Park. Over the last 64 years, she has not only studied these primates but also become a powerful force for conservation, founding the Jane Goodall Institute to protect the great apes and the habitats that support them through study, education, and advocacy.

To Goodall, addressing Earths rising temperature is about protecting both humanity and the wider world around us.

Its like so many of the problems that we face: We really need to think holistically, she says in the video, which was created by the World Economic Forum (@worldeconomicforum). Of course, we should be worried about the suffering of people. But at the same time, the climate crisis and the loss of biodiversity  because they go absolutely together  we mustnt forget about that.

As an example, Goodall speaks about war. The toll it takes on human life, including the lives of civilians, is obviously massive, but there is another effect that is often overlooked.

We have to realize that war is actually having an unbelievable impact on the environment. And its emitting vast amounts of fossil fuel CO2 into the atmosphere to add to the greenhouse gases, she says.

As the Conflict and Environment Observatory explained, war creates air pollution directly because of burning fuel and other factors. It also creates chaotic conditions in which other sources of pollution are likely to go unchecked.

Because were human  humanity needs to address human suffering, says Goodall. But we mustnt forget that if we dont at the same time address the climate crisis, thats going to lead to more and more and more suffering. Already there are climate refugees.

She also speaks about the direct impact of the increasing heat, like droughts and melting ice which raises the level of the ocean.

However, according to Goodall, humanity has four things on its side that may be exactly what we need to solve this crisis. Once young people understand the problem and they are empowered to take action, theres no stopping them. Their enthusiasm, their determination.  This is probably my greatest reason for hope, she says.

She also speaks about human intelligence and the indomitable human spirit as two reasons to believe we can reverse the damage thats been done to our planet.

Finally, she points out that nature itself is resilient: Places we totally destroyed, nature, given time, will come back. Animals on the brink of extinction can be given another chance.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
LANSING  Do you know where your sunglasses have been hiding? It's been awhile since they have been needed, so it's understandable if you can't find them.

Thankfully, the sun is making a comeback after a more-dreary-than-usual January. The sun was out so seldom it tied for the second darkest first month of the year in the last 100 years.

Michigan, one of the darkest states, has what is either the only, or one of only a few, public sunshine sensors in the nation, which tracks sunlight.

Here's how meteorologists track sunlight and what we know about Michigan's winter history with the sun since 1903.

How do we know it's been dark?

The photoelectric sensor is at the Grand Rapids National Weather Service station, and it found that only about 8% of the daylight hours had sunshine in January. It's normally around 22%.

The sunshine sensor reads data for Grand Rapids, which tends to get more lake effect that can boost clouds and keep a weaker winter sun at bay, he said. But it's the only such mechanism in place in the state.

The current sensor has been used since the 1950s but an earlier version tracked sunshine as early as 1903.

In that century of data, only 1998, with 6% sun, was darker than January 2024. Januarys in 2003 and 2004 were just as dark at 8%.

Other winter months have been dim. Two Decembers, in 1987 and 2002, also had 8% sun. Only one February, in 2004, dipped below 10% sunshine and that was 7%.

But February is usually a brighter month and the state should expect to be seeing the sun more often, although it will be coming and going until April or May, said Nathan Jeruzal, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

What about Lansing's sunshine?

In the Lansing area, a proxy for a sunshine sensor is cloud cover, said Rob Dale, deputy emergency manager for Ingham County and a meteorologist.

He said about 27 of the month's 31 days had cloud cover, or about 87%.

"There were no totally sunny days," Dale said.

Muskegon had no days of partial cloudy conditions (between 40% and 80% cloud cover, which can include nighttime) in January, according to the National Weather Service. Jackson had one sunny day and six partially cloudy days; Lansing had four partially cloudy days and no sunny days.

Dale said the clouds helped to keep the month as a whole warm, even accounting for a brutal cold snap that dumped the most significant cold yet this season.

The average temperature for the month was a high of 30 and a low of 22, or roughly the normal high and about 5 degrees warmer than the normal low, according to National Weather Service records.

"Most mornings were not too cold and the days weren't too hot," Dale said.

So about those sunglasses?

It's probably a good idea to find those sunglasses, as there's more sun in the next several days of the forecast than there were in all of January.

On Friday, Feb. 2, the most famous groundhog did not see its shadow in Pennsylvania. For the groundhog, that traditionally means an earlier end to the worst of winter. However, Woody the Woodchuck, a Howell-based annual fixture, did, so it's up in the air whether Michigan sees six more weeks of winter.

For Groundhog Day, the sensor in Grand Rapids saw 45% of the possible sun.

That sun, Jeruzal said, is expected to stick around for the first part of the work week before going back to colder temperatures and with precipitation possible.

"We will be increasing sunshine, little by little, toward spring, he said. "We are expecting a decent amount of sun through Wednesday and clouds should increase around Thursday ahead of the next system. Then we should get a cloudy period for the later portion of next week into next weekend."

For the rest of the month, Jeruzal said, in general people should expect to see a cooling off in the later part of February with more chances of lake effect and clouds at the end of the month than in this first week.

The temperatures are expected to be in the low-40s as a high and the mid-20s as a low until Wednesday, when the high gets up to 47 degrees.

See a full forecast here.

Contact Mike Ellis at mellis@lsj.com

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: January in Michigan was one of the darkest in the last 100 years. Here's why
Around 100 businesses each from Japan and Ukraine are slated to attend a Japan-Ukraine economic reconstruction conference in Tokyo later this month, Japanese media outlet Kyodo News reported on Feb. 3.

The upcoming conference on Feb. 19 aims to facilitate public-private collaboration in energy, agriculture, and infrastructure to provide support for Kyiv as it continues its economic reconstruction amid Russia's full-scale invasion.

Ahead of the conference, Japan is exploring ways to assist Japanese companies to initiating business ventures in Ukraine, including easing travel restrictions, according to Kyodo News.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is also set to present Tokyo's strategies for aiding in Ukraine's reconstruction at the conference.

A staunch supporter of Ukraine, Japan has also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities in recent months.

On Jan. 7, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, and pledged to provide $37 million to a NATO fund for anti-drone equipment for Ukraine.

In December, the Japanese Foreign Ministry also reported that it was changing its laws regarding arms exports to allow for the transfer of weapons and would send the U.S. Patriot missiles.

Japanese law prohibits sending weapons to countries actively at war, but the move could pave the way for the U.S. to replenish its own stocks while sending Ukraine additional missiles.

Read also: Zelensky meets Japanese Foreign Minister: Japan is important and strong partner for us

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) blasted House Republicans on Sunday for being wholly owned subsidiaries of Donald Trump.

Jeffries discussed the bipartisan Senate negotiations that have been underway since late last year in the hopes of reaching an agreement on border security on ABCs This Week. He told co-host George Stephanopoulos that a potential proposal by the Senate should not be dead on arrival in the House before lawmakers even review the text, which has not been released yet.

How can a bill be dead on arrival and extreme MAGA Republicans in the House havent even seen the text? They dont even know what solutions are being proposed in terms of addressing the challenges at the border, Jeffries said.

House Republicans at this point are wholly owned subsidiaries of Donald Trump. Theyre not working to find real solutions for the American people. They are following orders from the former president, he said.

Former President Trump has been railing against bipartisan negotiations on the border for weeks, saying that additional legislation on the border is unnecessary. However, many Republican lawmakers have emphasized that Trump has no role in border negotiations.

Trump has also been accused of wanting to sink the border negotiations to help boost his chances in the 2024 election. He has since denied that claim, saying that he would not be opposed to a great bill that would solve the problem.

Jeffries was likely referring to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who last month said any potential Senate deal on the border would be dead on arrival in the House.

Jeffries continued to take aim at House Republicans for following the former presidents direction in his interview on Sunday.

Thats the height of irresponsibility. Thats what the American people dislike about Washington, D.C., at this moment, Jeffries added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In a wild crossover of duty and delivery, a New Jersey police officer seamlessly transitioned from apprehending an Uber Eats driver to completing the food delivery, finding himself on the front porch of a home belonging to none other than Jersey Shores Snooki.

Officers Mike Zvolensky and Alex Tredy, with the Florham Park Police Department, were out on routine patrol on Jan. 21 when the bizarre sequence of events unfolded, WABC reported Friday. They initiated a traffic stop around 8:30 p.m. that night, after a random license plate search revealed the driver had an outstanding traffic warrant out for her arrest in Denville.

Before the 60-year-old was arrested, she informed the officers shed been in the process of making a delivery for Uber Eats when they pulled her over. Tredy spotted the McDonalds meal inside the vehicle and, worried that a nearby resident could go hungry, decided to take matters into his own hands.

While his partner parked the suspects vehicle nearby, Tredy headed to a home on Summit Road to hand off the food. When he knocked on the door, the officer was greeted by Jionni LaValle, the husband of Nicole Polizzi. Polizzi, famously known as Snooki, starred on MTV reality shows including Jersey Shore, Snooki & JWoww and Jersey Shore: Family Vacation.

He was definitely surprised but he understood the situation, and was very thankful of the kind act that we did, Tredy told WABC on Saturday.

In a post following Tredys stint as a delivery driver, the police department apologized for the slow service.

We think the food got cold and no, he did not get a tip, the Facebook post reads, though Tredy later clarified that his lack of reward had little to do with LaValle and Polizzis generosity.

We cant accept tips as government officials, we do it out of the goodness of hearts, Tredy told the news station.

While the officer does not anticipate a career change in the near future, he did note there is some overlap between the two gigs.

I enjoy my job and obviously got into the job to help people, he said.
The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office announced that an arrest was made in the case surrounding the shooting incident that occurred on Saturday, September 2, 2023, in the 6800 block of Old Kings Road South.

Upon responding to the scene, authorities discovered an adult male victim with a gunshot wound. Despite efforts by the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department to transport the victim to a local hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.

The subsequent investigations conducted by JSOs Homicide and Crime Scene Units have led to the identification of a suspect.

The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office issued an arrest warrant for 43-year-old Roberto Carlos Garcia Velez in connection with the shooting.

On Friday, February 2, SWAT personnel successfully located Garcia Velez and took him into custody. He is facing charges including Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Murder in relation to the shooting death of the victim.

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"Proud," Kamala Harris said, elongating the word and stretching its vowels. "PROUD!"

Donald Trump expressed his great delight at choosing three of the Supreme Court justices who overturned the constitutional right to abortion and now the vice president was using his own word  proud  to whip up a labor hall packed with jeering, cheering Nevada Democrats.

"Proud," she said. "Proud for taking the freedom of choice from millions of women and people in America."

With that, her voice rose as though she could scarcely believe the statement issuing from her lips.

"He openly talks about his admiration for dictators," Harris continued in the same tone of wonderment, as some in the audience murmured their disapproval. "Dictators jail journalists. Dictators suspend elections."

"Dictators." She emphasized each word. "Take. Your. Rights."

After a history-making ascent to the vice presidency and a humbling descent into mockery and disdain following her rocky start, Harris finally seems to have found her footing in a role to which she is accustomed and adept: prosecuting attorney.

Read more: Why Kamala Harris prefers Gen Z to millennials, and why it matters

She's become a top fundraiser for Democrats, an emissary to groups that are lukewarm toward President Biden  in particular Black and younger voters  and emerged as the administration's most forceful voice on abortion, women's health and, as Harris frames it, the threat Trump poses to freedom and individual choice.

On a recent three-day swing through California and Nevada, she highlighted the abortion issue and urged Democrats to vote early ahead of Tuesday's Nevada primary.

"Do you believe in freedom?" the vice president hollered, and a crowd of 300 or so partisans inside the brightly lighted union hall screamed in affirmation. "Do you believe in democracy?"

"Are we ready to fight for it? Because when we fight"  and here they joined Harris in a thundering chorus  "we win!"

Her higher profile  as cheerleader, prosecutor, pugilist  is a reset of sorts after Harris' many early missteps and a series of assignments, among them immigration reform and border control, that seemed destined to fail.

Her purpose, and utility, changed when the Supreme Court issued its abortion decision in the Dobbs case in June 2022, overturning Roe vs. Wade.

Even as her approval ratings continue to languish, those in the vice president's orbit say she has grown more assured in a capacity that better suits her skills as a former district attorney and California attorney general.

The abortion issue "taps into her policy background, her political values, her legal training and experience," said Jamal Simmons, who served a year as Harris' communications director, ending in January 2023. "The issue is a comfort zone for her and since Dobbs she has done other things with greater confidence and dexterity."

::

The travels of the vice president are intended to be as frictionless as possible.

A blocks-long motorcade glides along freeways closed to traffic and knifes through city streets cleared specially for her path. Invited guests cheer Harris' airport arrival and departure, and reporters are kept at bay by an aggressive squadron of Secret Service agents.

Still, outside events have a way of piercing the bubble.

Read more: Vice president brings abortion rights tour to California as Democrats fight for House control

So the vice president appeared ready when protesters popped up in San Jose, where Harris appeared as part of her national "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" tour. Several hundred backers filled a large auditorium at the adobe-style Mexican Heritage Plaza, as Harris fielded questions gently lofted by the actor Sophia Bush.

Demonstrators unfurled banners reading "Free Palestine" and "Ceasefire Now." They repeatedly interrupted Harris, loudly condemning the Biden administration's support for Israel in its war with Hamas.

"You are complicit in genocide," a young woman hollered from the fourth row before being escorted from the auditorium as the crowd chanted, "MVP!" "MVP!"  short for Madam Vice President.

Harris looked on, expressionless. Protest is a fundamental part of democracy, she said evenly. Everyone wants to see the conflict in the Middle East come to an end.

A second outburst followed. Moments later a third. "So," Harris began, then paused at length. "There are a lot of big issues impacting our world right now. Which evoke rightly very, very strong emotions and fears and anger and tears.

"The topic for today," she went on, assuming the tone of an admonishing schoolteacher, "is the topic of what has happened in our country after the Dobbs decision ... and so Im going to get back to the issue. Because its an important one and we should not be distracted."

By the fourth interruption, Harris merely paused and waited as a demonstrator in the balcony was led away. Supporters chanted, "Four more years!" She then picked up precisely where she'd left off mid-sentence, making her case against Trump and the conservative Supreme Court majority, as though nothing had happened at all.

Read more: Inside Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff's L.A.

Equanimity could well be part of the job description.

As the first female, Black and Asian American vice president, Harris has drawn extraordinary scrutiny and with it an outsized presumption of what she can plausibly achieve.

The vice presidency is, and always has been, inherently limiting  there is no greater trespass than overstepping or overshadowing the president  and that can't help but diminish those holding the job, whatever their place in history.

Even fans of Harris have a hard time comprehending her status and appreciating that gap between expectation and reality.

Mia Casey, the mayor of Hollister, rose before dawn and drove an hour and 15 minutes to see Harris in San Jose.

"I liked her when she was running with Biden, but I haven't seen a lot of her," Casey said from her perch, 10 rows back and left of center stage. "I expected to see her more visible out there, doing some more meaty things in D.C."

::

If Harris' main mission is working to reelect Biden (and herself) in November, another aspect is convincing Casey and others that she's far more than a bit player in the Biden administration  or Biden-Harris administration, as the vice president prefers.

At her Las Vegas rally, Harris delivered a joined-at-the-hip accounting of the last three years.

"President Biden and I canceled more than $138 billion" in student loans, she said. "President Biden and I took on Big Pharma" to cap the price of insulin. "President Biden and I" boosted loans to hundreds of small businesses.

Still, it's often her lot to be eclipsed, or treated as a mere afterthought.

Introducing Harris, Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto recalled the depths of the pandemic lockdown, when the Las Vegas Strip went dark and unemployment in the metropolitan area soared past 30%.

"It was one president who came and worked with us to ensure that we could turn our economy around and come out of that horrific time," Cortez Masto said. She paused for dramatic effect. "And that was President Biden."

"And," she hastened, "Vice President Harris."

It was a non sequitur, but at least the senator recognized the guest of honor.

::

Harris loves to cook, so a pre-rally stop at the Chef Jeff Project in North Las Vegas offered a happy convergence of pleasure and politics.

The program was started by Jeff Henderson, an ex-convict turned celebrity chef, who mentors at-risk youth for careers in the culinary arts. His industrial-size kitchen in a scruffy strip mall serves as a kind of shrine to second chances, so the cramped quarters offered a perfect backdrop for Harris' event. Its theme: the power of redemption.

Standing before a small portable lectern and speaking before a brace of cameras, the vice president announced a change in federal policy that would make it easier for once-incarcerated people to obtain Small Business Administration loans.

Yes, she said over the whir of an ice machine, there must be accountability, especially for criminal wrongdoing. "But is it not the sign of a civil society to allow people the ability to come back and earn their way back?"

Read more: Kamala Harris, the first Black woman in her role, just broke a record held by an outspoken slaveholder

Harris swept through the work area, past tall shelves piled high with plates and pans, stopping where Kam Winslow was stirring a giant bowl of jambalaya. "Let's talk about your process," she said. "Tell me how you did it."

As Winslow explained  dicing chicken, browning andouille sausage, saving the shrimp for last, so it doesn't overcook  Harris punctuated his narration with a series of small interjections. "Yes." "Uh-huh." "Delicious."

"You know what I love about cooking, is the process," Harris told him. "It's about having patience and knowing that it's going to take steps, right? Like it's just not going to be easy to do."

"Same with life," Winslow said.

"Yes, that's exactly right," agreed the vice president, who's learned a few things in recent years about trial and error, mistakes and do-overs. "That's exactly right."

Get the latest from Mark Z. Barabak

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Someone was hit and left critically injured soon after exiting a KCATA bus on Hardesty Boulevard in Kansas City Saturday evening.

Around 9:57 p.m., officers responded to a call about a hit-and-run near East 18th Street and Hardesty Boulevard.

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Kansas City police say that a person exited a KCATA bus while on the west side of Hardesty, just south of E. 18th. While crossing Hardesty the victim was hit by a dark-colored SUV or van.

The driver fled the scene, according to officials. The victim was left with critical injuries.

FOX4 will update this story if more information becomes available.

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The Business Secretary has intervened over unfair 100 penalties being handed to rail travellers arriving at London Stansted Airport who believed they could pay with contactless cards.

Train passengers arriving at the capitals third busiest airport are not allowed to tap out with London Oyster cards or contactless bank cards.

However, travellers from London to Stansted are able to tap in with contactless cards at Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale stations, giving ticket inspectors the chance to penalise them.

London TravelWatch, an independent watchdog, revealed in 2019 that 16,000 people were handed penalty fares at Stansted. Michael Roberts, London TravelWatch chief executive, said: Its plainly wrong that passengers continue to be unfairly penalised for not knowing that contactless payment isnt accepted at London Stansted Airport.

London in its name

With London in its name, people quite reasonably assume that theyll be able to tap out using a contactless card, especially when they were allowed to tap in using one at the start of their journey.

Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, is the MP for the Saffron Walden constituency covering the Stansted area. Her spokesman said that Mrs Badenoch will be making enquiries directly to Greater Anglia and the Department for Transport regarding contactless card readers at Stansted Airport Station.

Another MP has accused the train company Greater Anglia of trying to catch out customers.

Railway penalty fares are 100 plus the cost of the applicable ticket. An anytime ticket to Stansted from London Liverpool Street is 21.40, meaning each passenger who mistakenly uses a contactless card to travel to the airport is made to pay 121.40 in total.

Penalties are discounted to 50 plus the ticket price if paid within 21 days.

Around 9.7 million people used London Stansted Airport train station last year, with the majority of passengers travelling from London.

London Conservatives transport spokesman, Keith Prince, accused Greater Anglia of profiting from the penalty fares.

Making millions

The train operator is making millions by imposing penalty fares on passengers arriving at Stansted without a valid ticket, Mr Prince, a member of the London Assembly said.

While the train operator says it has signage warning passengers, clearly this signage isnt working. Its unfair.

Wera Hobhouse, the transport spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, said: What are train companies doing trying to catch out their own customers?

Passengers shouldnt be heavily penalised simply for making an honest mistake. Ministers and the rail company need to sort out this mess and ensure contactless travel is rolled out to this route, the MP added.

Greater Anglia refused to say how many passengers it has penalised at Stansted since the pandemic, or how much money it has made from the penalty fares.

A spokesman for the train company blamed the Government for contactless cards not being valid at Stansted, saying: Were keen to see the extension of contactless ticketing to Stansted Airport, as that would simplify the position and be more convenient for customers, but such a step is dependent on receipt of the necessary funding and approvals from the Department for Transport.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: It is the responsibility of Greater Anglia to inform its customers how to pay its fares, and we advise passengers to always check before they travel.

Train journeys to other airports such as London Heathrow and London Gatwick can be paid for using contactless cards.

Revenue protection teams

In an October statement saying it had prosecuted 500 alleged fare-dodgers travelling on its trains, Greater Anglia said: Only people who board a train without a ticket and without any intention of buying a ticket are taken to court. Greater Anglias revenue protection teams use their discretion when inspecting tickets.

Social media posts suggest Stansted passengers who made honest mistakes are finding themselves being penalised regardless.

One user on X, the website formerly known as Twitter, posted in May 2023: I just had a humiliating situation at the station as I tapped my credit card at Tottenham Hale [like] many people so didnt see the gates with warnings. Faced with a penalty Fare of 71 at Stansted for a short journey. Not transparent!

Another, posting in 2022, wrote: Feeling totally ripped off today. Tapped in at Liverpool Street in good faith, checked with attendant at the gate as I tapped. Then, arriving at Stansted Airport, stung with 40 penalty fare like Im a criminal. What a scam! Beware people.

Greater Anglia is the only train company in Britain that makes a financial surplus, requiring no government subsidy.

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Houthi camps in Yemen's capital Sanaa were hit by airstrikes on Saturday night, residents said.

The airstrikes hit camps around Sanaa, and the sound of many fighter jets could be heard in downtown Sanaa, residents said.

The explosions occurred in the northern and southern mountains surrounding the capital, added the residents.

According to the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, the airstrikes hit the mountain of al-Nahdain and Attan, both military camps controlled by the Houthi group.

Residents near those mountains told Xinhua the explosions were very powerful, shaking the ground and smashing windows of many nearby buildings.

Meanwhile, al-Masirah TV said "U.S.-British aggression" launched airstrikes on targets in the capital city.

The U.S.-British maritime coalition did not comment on the strikes. However, U.S. media quoted unnamed U.S. military officials who said the U.S. army hit over 30 Houthis on Saturday in various locations in Yemen, including the capital Sanaa. The officials claimed the airstrikes were part of the response to the drone attack that killed three U.S. soldiers in Jordan last week.

This was the fourth operation by the U.S.-led coalition against Houthi targets in under 24 hours.

Hours before the latest airstrikes on Sanaa, the U.S. Central Command briefed on previous strikes on the same day on social media platform X, saying that "at 7:20 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces conducted strikes in self-defense against six Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea."

"U.S. forces identified the cruise missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region," it added.

The Houthi group on Saturday evening reported several strikes on the western province of Hodeidah on the Red Sea.

The group said the strikes targeted sites in the northern district of Alluheyah and the southern district of Durayhimi.

The Houthis usually do not report casualties.

The previous strikes targeted Houthi sites in the northern province of Saada and the northwestern province of Hajjah during the early morning of Saturday.

On Friday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for launching a long-range missile toward Israel's city of Eilat, which Israeli defense forces said they intercepted and destroyed the missile before it reached its target.

The Houthis have launched more than 40 attacks against Israel and Israeli-linked commercial ships in the Red Sea since the Israel-Hamas war broke out on Oct. 7, 2023.

The Houthis said their attacks came in support of the Palestinian people, demanding Israel to end war and siege on Gaza.

The Houthi group, which controls the Yemeni strategic province of Hodeidah on the Red Sea, has vowed to launch more attacks against Israel, U.S. and British commercial vessels and navy ships in the Red Sea.

Houthi leaders have said the U.S.-British airstrikes on the group's sites in northern Yemen will not deter them from launching more attacks on the shipping lines.
Because they have not received a pre-kindergarten (Pre-K) education, most children in Florida are starting kindergarten without the levels of readiness they need to succeed. This early deficit should concern us all. These same children will graduate in 13 years and will need to be ready to participate in the workforce, obtain advanced education, and participate in the democratic process. Decades of research have demonstrated the positive effects of Pre-K on school achievement and later success in life. Closing the gap in Pre-K participation is thus essential to our long-term goal of producing a more informed citizenry.

Diane Preston Moore

Locally, we have seen the positive impact of having a Pre-K education. Over the past three years, Collier County Public Schools has increased the rate of kindergarten readiness for those who have attended Pre-K programs from 49% to 72%. This impressive rate is considerably higher than the 50% readiness rate those entering students who have not participated in Pre-K in Collier County and surpasses the 49% state rate.

Nancy Chism

Despite these findings, of the approximately 5,000 students eligible for entry to kindergarten in Collier County, only about 2,000 receive Pre-K education, either through private providers or Collier County Public Schools. The three main programs that provide early preparation  Head Start, VPK (voluntary Pre-K), and ESE (Exceptional Student Education)  are not able to serve the number of students who apply. The main reasons are threefold: lack of sufficient funding, a shortage of teachers certified in early childhood education, and space needed for these programs.

Patricia Plummer

An additional critical deterrent is that many parents of eligible children simply do not apply for Pre-K education due to several factors. Working parents have childcare needs that may not be compatible with existing VPK programs that provide only four hours of state-supported education and additional four-hour coverage, when it is available, on a fee basis. Private providers offering non-subsidized programs must charge fees that many parents cannot afford.

Samuel (a pseudonym) is an example of a child from Collier County whose life and educational trajectory was changed by publicly funded Pre-K.

When Samuel first enrolled in Pre-K his development in both fine motor and gross motor physical development, as well as speech and language, were delayed. He would get visibly upset and cry if he was not carried to and from his classroom at drop-off and pick-up. Walking and other gross motor activities such as riding a bike and climbing up the stairs on the playground were difficult for him. With qualified staff working with him, Samuel has gained more control of his movements and now asks the teacher to walk with him for pick-up. His fine motor skills now meet expectations for his age: Samuel can use writing and eating utensils independently and with continued success. His speech and language have also progressed from being non-verbal to using complete sentences. He is on track to be ready for kindergarten thanks to having had access to Pre-K.

To ensure that all students come to kindergarten ready to learn and thrive, Florida must increase funding for the VPK program and expand it beyond the existing half-day to provide wraparound services for working parents. In addition, we must strengthen outreach to parents about enrolling eligible children. We must support innovative programs to grow teachers within the early childhood system through partnerships with higher education, vocational training institutions, and Pre-K providers.

Although several bills on early childhood education are now being considered, none speak to the considerable boost in funding necessary to close the Pre-K gap in Florida. We urge our Florida Senate and House members to offer amendments to these bills for increased funding. We call on citizens to communicate the need for increased Pre-K support to their state legislators. In Collier County, these are Senator Kathleen Passidomo and Representatives Bob Rommel, Adam Botana and Lauren Melo.

We need to think long-term. Our future is at stake.

Diane Preston Moore is president, League of Women Voters of Collier County. Nancy Van Note Chism, Ph.D., and Patricia Plummer, Ph.D., are co-chairs, Education Committee, League of Women Voters of Collier County.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Kindergarten: Ready or not?
Capt Kat Anderson (centre) at a fun activity session at 10 Downing Street last year for children from military families. It was hosted by Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murty (nearest camera) - RORY ARNOLD/NO 10 DOWNING STREET/10 DOWNING STREET

The King has appointed a former aide to Rishi Sunak as the first female equerry to a sovereign.

Captain Kat Anderson, 33, an officer with the Royal Artillery, will accompany Charles, 75, on official duties and overseas tours.

She joined his team last month on secondment from 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Office, where she worked as the Prime Ministers aide-de-camp and assistant private secretary to National Security Advisers Sir Stephen Lovegrove and Sir Tim Barrow.

As an assistant equerry, she will become the eyes and ears of the King, who interviewed her for the position personally, according to reports. Equerries are appointed from the Armed Forces by senior working members of the Royal family and usually hold the position for around three years.

King's equerry Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson, now promoted to "senior equerry", greets Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (second from left), as he arrives for an audience with the King at Buckingham Palace a year ago on February 8, 2023 - KIRSTY O@CONNOR/POOL/AFP VIA GETTY/AFP VIA GETTY

Capt Anderson will work alongside the Kings new equerry, Lieutenant Commander Will Thornton, 37, a Royal Navy helicopter pilot.

Lt Cdr Thornton replaces Lt Col Johnny Thompson, who was promoted to the role of senior equerry last autumn.

The 40-year-old, who often turned heads in his kilt and has achieved something of a cult social media following, will now help to organise the monarchs private affairs behind the scenes.

The father-of-one, who serves with the 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, was photographed this weekend with his girlfriend Olivia Lewis, 33, a PR executive, almost two years after separating from his wife.

The decision to extend Lt Col Thompsons secondment from the Army was considered an indication of how highly valued he had become within the Royal household.

Break from tradition

The appointment of Lt Cdr Thornton as his successor marks a break from tradition, as each service usually takes its turn to provide an officer.

Lt Col Thompsons predecessor was Major Tom White, a Royal Marines officer and Afghanistan veteran, meaning that if the same pattern had been followed, the new appointment would have been made from the RAF.

The Kings other assistant equerry is Captain Hugh Scrope, 27, of the Coldstream Guards, who was appointed in 2022.

Charles is no stranger to appointing female equerries. As the Prince of Wales, in 2006 he was served by Squadron Leader Jayne Casebury.

The Duke of York also worked with two female equerries, Squadron Leader Charlotte Fenn of the RAF, a former senior engineer with the Red Arrows, and Lieutenant Caroline Clark of the Royal Navy, before stepping down from public duties.

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Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced in July that he had sued top Oklahoma lawmakers in the state's highest civil court to try to stop compact renewals passed by the Legislature from taking effect. The case is pending.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has become known for rarely working with tribal nations during his five years in office. But in recent months, hes reached a series of agreements with tribal officials that other state leaders view as progress.

Stitt has signed off on several compacts with tribal nations since January, most recently with the Cherokee Nation and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe. All but one of the agreements spell out how the state and each tribe will split tax money generated from tobacco sold on tribal lands. The final compact renews Oklahomas car tag deal with the Chickasaw Nation.

The governors office has said more state-tribal agreements are in the works.

More: Proposed law would require Oklahoma governor to reach out to tribes during compact talks

You can read all of the new compacts below, as well as a breakdown of the dispute that led up to the deals.

What are compacts?

Compacts are agreements between governments. They are often negotiated to resolve disagreements or clear up questions over power. That could mean the power to collect taxes or the power to regulate, as two common examples in Oklahoma.

A central compact between the state of Oklahoma and tribal nations regulates gaming in the state.

More: Oklahoma's largest tribes call for negotiation to settle differences on new tax agreements

What is the controversy surrounding compacts in Oklahoma?

The governor has called many of the compacts unfair. He believes Oklahoma should be making more money under some of the deals  especially the main state-tribal gaming compact approved by voters in 2004. Under that agreement, tribes pay the state monthly fees in exchange for the exclusive right to operate Las Vegas-style gaming in Oklahoma. The payments now add up to $200 million a year.

Stitt wanted Oklahoma to receive a bigger cut of gaming revenues in 2019, but his bid failed. He also tried to arrange an exponential revenue bump for the state when two hunting and fishing license compacts came up for renewal in 2021. Instead, the Cherokee and Choctaw nations cut out Oklahoma altogether and started licensing their citizens on their own.

More: Vetoes, lawsuits and fake memes: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitts year working with tribes

What about tobacco compacts?

Tobacco compacts came out of 1990s-era legal fights between the state and tribes. Oklahoma officials argued the state should receive the tax money paid by non-tribal citizens buying cigarettes on tribal land.

Compacts resolved the legal disputes. The terms evolved over time to where they are today. The state and tribal nations equally divide the tax dollars collected from tobacco sales on tribal lands.

Customers wait outside the Riverside Indian Smokeshop, operated by the Muscogee Nation next to its Riverwind Casino and Hotel in Tulsa.

Why did the tobacco compacts face pushback from Gov. Stitt?

Many tobacco compacts were set to expire by 2024. Stitt again pushed for Oklahoma to make more money before renewing them, offering a take it or leave it split of 75-25, according to some tribal leaders. The governor relaxed his proposed split to 50-50 after top lawmakers decided to pass the renewals into law, without Stitts approval. That set off a power struggle that continues today.

The governor has insisted on one constant demand. He contends the compacts need to be tweaked to make clear they do not apply throughout entire tribal reservations in eastern Oklahoma.

More: Do tribal citizens owe state taxes after McGirt? Oklahoma Supreme Court will hear case

Whats different in the new tobacco compacts signed by the governor?

The new tobacco tax compacts recently signed by Stitt have a unique phrase: compact jurisdiction. Its defined as tribal trust and restricted land, not tribal reservations.

The governor has offered to sign compacts with other tribal nations that agree to that phrasing, he said during a virtual press conference in late January, a recording of which was later viewed by The Oklahoman. He said his general counsel, Trevor Pemberton, was leading the negotiations. Many tribal leaders have also said their attorneys are talking directly with Pemberton to work out the deals.

Trevor Pemberton, Gov. Stitt's general counsel, speaks during a Joint Committee on State Tribal Relations at the state Capitol in October.

What about the car tag compacts?

The state issues license plates directly to Chickasaw citizens under the terms of a 2014 agreement. The new compact signed by Stitt and Chickasaw Gov. Bill Anoatubby keeps all aspects of the prior arrangement in place.

Only two other tribes, the Cherokee and Choctaw nations, have compacts with the state. Those still need to be renewed. Chuck Hoskin Jr., the chief of the Cherokee Nation, told lawmakers in March that he believed the legislature may need to step in to work out a deal.

The governor has said Oklahoma needs more plate compacts because state police and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority have no idea who is at the wheel of cars with tribal plates. However, The Oklahoman found in November that at least 26 of the 33 tribal nations that issue plates share that information with state police.

Flags representing 35 tribal nations fly outside the Oklahoma Capitol.

More: Gov. Stitt says new compact guarantees access to tribal tag data. But the state already had the data

How can I read the new state-tribal compacts?

Scroll down to read through copies of the five new compacts signed by Gov. Stitt and tribal leaders. This list will be updated as new compacts are made public.

Cigarettes are advertised for sale at a convenience store operated by the Otoe-Missouria Tribe outside its 7 Clans First Council casino near Newkirk, Okla.

Apache Tribe tobacco tax compact

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Cherokee Nation tobacco tax compact

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Chickasaw Nation car tag compact

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Chickasaw Nation tobacco tax compact

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Citizen Potawatomi Nation tobacco tax compact

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Otoe-Missouria Tribe tobacco tax compact

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Wichita and Affiliated Tribes tobacco tax compact

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Wyandotte Nation tobacco tax compact

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Editor's note: This story has been and will be updated as new compacts are signed. Do you know about a compact that isn't listed? Email reporter Molly Young at mollyyoung@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: What to know about new tobacco tax, tribal tag agreements in Oklahoma
In the past 24 hours, the U.S. military has hit more than 100 targets across Iraq, Syria and Yemen, striking Iranian-backed proxies that have ramped up their own attacks on U.S. troops in the region since October.

Washington began late Friday with major airstrikes on more than 85 targets across seven locations in Iraq and Syria, a response to a drone strike in Jordan that killed three American soldiers on Sunday.

Then on Saturday, the U.S. military struck 36 targets at 13 locations in areas of Yemen controlled by Houthi rebels, a separate move in connection to the militant groups ongoing attacks on commercial and U.S. naval vessels in the Red Sea.

The intense targeting of the Iranian-backed groups has been met with criticism in the U.S., with some lawmakers arguing the Biden administrations response is too little too late and others saying its not enough.

The move has also roiled an already volatile situation in the Middle East, where the Iranian-proxy groups claim they are targeting U.S. forces in response to the Israeli war against Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, which began in October.

Heres what to know about the strikes:

Targets

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the arm of the U.S. military that oversees forces in the Middle East, began airstrikes Friday evening in Iraq and Syria against Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups.

U.S. forces struck more than 85 targets at seven locations  four in Syria and three in Iraq  using various war planes, including B-1 long-range bombers flown from the United States, dropping more than 125 precision munitions, according to CENTCOM.

The strikes also reportedly targeted the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iraqi militia groups that includes Iranian-backed militants that provide official security in Baghdad, according to Iranian Telegram channels.

Areas struck included command and control centers, intelligence facilities and weapons storage facilities used by the Iran-backed militias to attack U.S. and coalition forces, the Pentagon later said in a statement.

The Biden administration has said the strikes are the first in a series of actions by Washington to respond to the attack in Jordan  which it has blamed on the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of militias backed by Tehran. The actions are intended to wipe out capabilities used to target American troops as well as send a message to ward off further attacks, officials say.

The goal here is to get these attacks to stop. Were not looking for a war with Iran, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters Friday.

Separately, on Saturday the U.S. and the United Kingdom hit 36 Houthi targets at 13 locations in Yemen using ships and aircraft, focusing on facilities and equipment used to attack international merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, according to the Pentagon.

This is the third set of strikes carried out by the U.S. in Yemen as part of a coalition that also includes the United Kingdom, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

The targets included multiple underground storage facilities, command and control, missile systems, UAV storage and operations sites, radars, and helicopters, the Defense Department said.

The U.S. military also continues to hit Houthi cruise missiles in Yemen poised to be launched into the Red Sea, knocking out six on Saturday alone. Washington officials say these strikes are defensive in nature.

Timeline

The strikes come less than a week after three Army reservists were killed and some 40 were injured when a suicide drone hit Tower 22, a U.S. base in Jordan near the Syria border on Jan. 28.

The next day, President Biden met with members of his national security team, including national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Shortly thereafter, on Jan. 30, Biden announced he had decided how he planned to respond to the attack.

More strikes are expected in the coming days, with Austin on Friday stating: This is the start of our response.

Since Oct. 7, U.S. troops have been attacked over 160 times in Iraq, Syria and Jordan with a mix of rockets and one-way attack drones.

Deaths

While the U.S. has not come out with a tally of casulties in the wake of the strikes in Iraq and Syria, Baghdads government has accused Washington of killing 16 people, including civilians, and wounded 25.

In Syria, meanwhile, the strikes reportedly killed 23 people who had been guarding the targeted locations, according to Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, as reported by Reuters.

There is also no official U.S. tally of any casualties from the strikes in Yemen.

Joint Staff Director Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, who spoke to reporters Friday, said the strikes were carried out with the knowledge that those in the facilities would likely be killed.

Response

Bidens decision to authorize the strikes has been met with sharp criticisms on the right, with several GOP lawmakers insisting the commander-in-chief was too slow in his response or had not gone far enough.

The tragic deaths of three U.S. troops in Jordan, perpetrated by Iran-backed militias, demanded a clear and forceful response. Unfortunately, the administration waited for a week and telegraphed to the world, including to Iran, the nature of our response, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in a statement.

And Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said the airstrikes are welcome, but too late for those who died.

Other Republicans, including former national security adviser John Bolton, called for Biden to authorize strikes in Iran directly, so it can send a message.

That route is unlikely considering that any move hitting Iranian soil could provoke an all-out war between Washington and Tehran, something Biden has repeatedly said he does not want.

The strikes in Iraq are also expected to further intensify ongoing discussions between Baghdad and Washington over the future of the American military presence in the country, where some 2,500 troops are based to train and assist Iraq in the fight against Islamic State extremist group.

Iraqi officials complain their country is being turned back into a warzone as the U.S. and Iranian groups clash, with a government spokesperson on Saturday accusing the U.S. of violating international law and lying about the circumstances surrounding its retaliatory strikes.

U.S. officials said they informed the Iraqi government prior to carrying out the strikes, but Bassem Al-Awadi claims that Washington deliberately deceived and falsified the facts, by announcing prior coordination to commit this aggression, which is a false claim aimed at misleading international public opinion and disavowing legal responsibility for this rejected crime in accordance with all international laws.

In Iran, meanwhile, groups quickly condemned the U.S. for the attack with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warning in a Friday address that Tehran would respond.

We have often clarified that Iran will not initiate a war but will answer bullies firmly and authoritatively, Raisi said, according to state-run news outlet Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

And Irans foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Saturday said the move worsens the chance of reaching a political solution in the Middle East.

The U.S. decision has complicated the situation and made it more difficult to reach a political solution, Amir-Abdollahian told the United Nations special envoy for Yemen while meeting in Tehran, according to IRNA.

He added that the U.S. strikes were a continuation of Washingtons wrong and failed approach to resolve issues by force and through militarism.

The United Nations Security Council is also expected to meet on Monday to discuss the U.S. strikes in Iraq and Syria, CNN reported.

Filip Timotija contributed reporting.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has analysed Russia's statements in support of Iran after the US strikes on pro-Iranian militants.

Source: ISW

Details: The ISW indicated that the Kremlin is doubling down on its support for Iran as the United States is launching strikes to prevent Iranian-backed militants in Iraq, Syria and Yemen from attacking the US and other targets.

The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the US retaliatory strikes against Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, Syria and Yemen launched on 3 February.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, condemned the strikes as an alleged "blatant act of American-British aggression" and claimed that they demonstrated the "US policys aggressive nature" and "complete disregard for international law".

Quote: "Zakharova claimed that the US airstrikes are specifically designed to further inflame the conflict in the Middle East."

Details: In addition, she criticised the UK for its participation in the airstrike and claimed that the UK "has yet to answer" for its "zeal" in supporting the US provocative policy.

Russia has demanded a meeting of the United Nations Security Council in response to the US strikes, scheduled for 5 February.

Analysts noted that Russia often uses its invocation of international law to undermine legitimate US activities in the Middle East.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 3 February:

The Kremlin is doubling down on its support for Iran as the US conducts strikes to preempt attacks by Iranian-back proxies in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen against American and other targets.

The Kremlin censored a protest by wives of mobilised soldiers in Moscow on 3 February likely to suppress any possible resurgence of a broader social movement in support of Russian soldiers and against the regime.

Soviet leadership experienced first-hand the influence that social movements of relatives of Russian soldiers wielded in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and the Kremlin likely aims to preemptively censor and discredit similar movements before they can garner similar influence.

Putin may have learned from the Soviet Unions prior failure to completely censor soldiers relatives and changed tactics, instead using limited censorship and discreditation to keep these movements from building momentum.

Russian milbloggers continued to fixate on a recent unsuccessful Russian mechanised assault near Novomykhailivka, Donetsk Oblast and highlight divisions it caused within the Russian information space, which are indicative of wider issues with the Russian militarys ability to adapt in Ukraine.

Ukrainian actors conducted a drone strike against the Lukoil oil refinery in Volgograd Oblast on 3 February.

Ukrainian strikes reportedly temporarily slowed Russias production of Lancet loitering munitions.

Russian state media confirmed the appointment of two new officials to senior positions in military-adjacent civilian organisations.

Ukrainian forces made confirmed advances near Bakhmut amid continued positional engagements along the frontline.

Russian soldiers imprisoned for refusing to fight in Ukraine are reportedly dying in Russian detention.

Russian authorities continue efforts to militarise Ukrainian youth through the school system.

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Republican governors have made a show of deploying National Guard troops to the southern border to block the Biden administration from removing razor wire that Texas has laid out to repel and harm migrants  in defiance of a Supreme Court ruling.

On Sunday, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) suggested if President Joe Biden tries to federalize Texas National Guard forces  as some Democrats have urged  it could lead to a civil war.

If hes willing to do that and take away my authority as governor as commander-in-chief of those National Guard, boy, we do have a war on our hands, said Noem.

Under Gov. Greg Abbott (R), the Texas National Guard and state law enforcement officials have blocked federal Border Patrol agents from accessing the border area to remove the razor wire, which federal agents say has impeded their operations. Texas has been blocking access to a border area near where a woman and two children reportedly drowned in the Rio Grande.

The Supreme Court has sided with the federal government, ruling Jan. 22 that federal agents can remove the razor wire.

Republican politicians have rushed to back Abbott and Texas in the escalating standoff.

Over a dozen states have sent National Guard troops to the southern border since 2021. Following the Supreme Courts decision, 25 Republican governors (all but Vermonts Phil Scott) signed a letter supporting Abbott utilizing every tool and strategy, including razor wire fences, to secure the border.

Abbotts argument for defying the federal government relies on characterizing migration at the southern border as an invasion that requires states to exercise their right to self-defense.

Democrats including Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) have called on President Biden to federalize National Guard units. So far, Biden has avoided addressing the possibility.

Noem said Sunday that Democrats have been encouraging President Biden to come after states rights.

The U.S. government has federalized state National Guard units before  like when Arkansas tried to use its National Guard in 1957 to block school integration after the Supreme Courts ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, leading Republican President Dwight Eisenhower to step in to protect the Little Rock Nine.

Abbott said last month that federalizing the National Guard would be boneheaded but promised Texas was prepared in the event that that unlikely event does occur.

Noems statements came on Maria Bartiromos Fox News show, Sunday Morning Futures. She said South Dakota is deploying all of our resources that we have to support Texas. Last week, Noem said she had called for a special legislative session because she is considering sending South Dakotas National Guard troops to the Texas border again.

Noem is reportedly hoping to be chosen as former President Donald Trumps 2024 running mate, but she claimed she hasnt discussed it with him.

We talk all the time, but weve never had that conversation, Noem said Sunday.

Trump has made the southern border a central issue in his presidential campaign, going so far as to reportedly sabotage ongoing congressional negotiations over border legislation to keep the issue alive as an attack against Biden.

Noem said if Biden chose to assert control over National Guard troops to resolve the dispute with Abbott, it would be the first time in American history that we would have a president that would pay soldiers to stand down, to actually not protect America.

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Working around the clock, power engineers have resumed the power supply to every home in the city of Kryvyi Rih and the district at midnight after rebooting the grid.

Source: Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration

Quote: "Power engineers are working around the clock to overcome the darkness.

After yesterday's overloading of the power grids, they have reconnected Kryvyi Rih and the hromadas of the district to the power grid [a hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]. The power came back to every home by midnight."

More details: The Russian heavy artillery attacked Nikopol overnight, causing no casualties.

Background:

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LAPD officers investigate after police fatally shot a man near Skid Row on Saturday afternoon. (OnScene.TV)

Los Angeles police fatally shot a man near Skid Row on Saturday afternoon, according to the Police Department.

A statement from the LAPD said the shooting occurred after officers responded to a call about a man threatening employees at a manufacturing business.

The man, described as a male in his late 30s or early 40s, had a stick and was "possibly under the influence," according to police.

City News reported that the shooting took place around 2 p.m. in the 600 block of Towne Avenue.

The police shot the man after a less lethal munition was deployed, the LAPD statement said. Paramedics brought the man to the hospital, where he died, police said.

An officer was treated for a hand injury at the scene, police said.





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Labour MPs privately fear some colleagues could fail to get re-elected because of the backlash among Muslim votes to the partys stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Supporters of Palestine have expressed anger at how long it took Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, to call for a ceasefire as Israel struck Gaza after the Oct 7 Hamas attacks.

Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary and ex-Tory prime minister, last week went further than Labour by saying the UK was looking at formally recognising the Palestinian state.

One Labour MP estimated that as many as four colleagues could lose out on re-election because Muslim voters in their constituency decide not to vote or end up backing someone else.

Labour MPs are among those who have been targetted by pro-Palestine demonstrators who feel the party has not taken a tough enough stance calling out Israel during the conflict.

Some have seen protests take place outside of their homes  something the Labour leadership has criticised, given the families of politicians can feel intimidated.

Mike Freer, the justice minister and Conservative MP, last week announced that he was standing down at the next election amid concerns about his safety.

Mr Freer represents the constituency of Finchley and Golders Green, an area of London with a large Jewish population, and has spoken out in support of Israel since the Hamas attacks.

Stand against them at the election

Labour politicians now face having pro-Palestine candidates stand against them at the next election  something Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, is already facing.

The Guardian reported last week that the Labour Party has commissioned research into how Muslim voters are viewing the Israel-Gaza conflict and the partys stance on it.

Whether such dynamics result in some Labour MPs failing to win election will be shaped by how tight their individual majorities are and, perhaps, on how the conflict develops from now.

Prof John Curtice of the University of Strathclyde, the BBCs elections analyst, told the Telegraph: Most of the seats with large Muslim populations are pretty safe Labour seats and are going to be even more safe this election. So it would have to be a marginal with a small Muslim community that makes a difference in the vote.

The second point to make is the obvious contrast with the Iraq War. So far the Liberal Democrats have not taken a markedly different position to Labour. If the Lib Dems were to come out and say Israels approach was wrong that would potentially make life a bit difficult.

Sir Keir voiced support for a ceasefire in December, saying there was a need to get to a sustainable ceasefire as quickly as possible.

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Two members of Lebanon's Shiite Amal Movement were killed and three civilians were injured by Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday, Lebanese military sources said.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said two members of Amal Movement were killed and two civilians were injured in the southeastern Lebanese village of Blida after a two-storey house was hit by Israeli airstrikes.

The sources added another civilian was injured in an Israeli airstrike on the southeastern Lebanese village of al-Wazzani.

According to the sources, Israel has launched air raids and heavy artillery strikes on villages in southern Lebanon over the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Lebanese armed group Hezbollah announced in a statement on Saturday that its fighters had attacked Israeli sites and settlements in the Lebanon-Israel border region.

The Lebanon-Israel border witnessed increased tension since Oct. 8, 2023 after Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward Israel in support of the Hamas attacks on Israel the previous day, prompting Israel to respond by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon.

The confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel have killed 242 on the Lebanese side, including 174 Hezbollah members and 39 civilians, according to Lebanese security sources.
Labour has said it is open-minded about a potential ban on under-16s using social media sites following the murder of Brianna Ghey, the shadow technology secretary has said.

Peter Kyle urged society to get ahead of the curve in protecting children online after it emerged that Scarlett Jenkinson, one of the transgender schoolgirls killers, had enjoyed watching murder and torture videos online.

Esther Ghey, Briannas mother, is launching a petition to demand that children are no longer allowed access to social media apps on their smartphones, saying her daughter would without a doubt not have been killed if greater safeguards had been in place.

Jenkinson and her accomplice Eddie Ratcliffe, both 16, received life sentences on Friday for the murder of Brianna, who was also 16. They stabbed her 28 times on Feb 11 last year.

The pair messaged one another about wanting to kill Brianna and other people that they knew, while Jenkinson used a special dark web browser, a matrix of encrypted sites, to watch extreme videos of real people being subjected to graphic violence.

Peter Kyle urged society to get ahead of the curve in protecting children online - Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Asked whether Labour would consider a ban on social media for under-16s, Mr Kyle told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: Im open-minded about how we go forward with this.

Im already in discussion with bereaved families who have lost children to the impact of social media, or that social media has had an aggravating factor in the loss of life and the harm thats done to them.

But what we need to do is weve got to make sure that all the powers that already exist are in place as quickly as possible. The instructions that are going to come out of Ofcom as a result of the Online Safety Act arent going to go live until the end of this year We need to get a grip on the challenge that we have right here.

He also called on Ofcom, the regulator, to do more to combat the dark web, adding that If Labour came to power he would have the power to urge the regulator to prioritise looking at certain issues.

I think the role of the dark web, the pathway in particular that people take from social media into the dark web, is something Ofcom could be looking at, he said.

In her first interview since Jenkinson and Ratcliffe were sentenced, Briannas mother told the same programme she was prepared to meet Jenkinsons family and did not carry any hate for her daughters killers but was unable to forgive them.

She also urged parents to sign a petition demanding changes to the law including the use of phones for those under 16 that do not allow access to social media apps.

Wed like a law introduced so that there are mobile phones that are only suitable for under-16s, she said. So if youre over 16 you can have an adult phone, but then under the age of 16, you can have a childrens phone, which will not have all of the social media apps that are out there now.

And also to have software that is automatically downloaded on the parents phone which links to the childrens phone that can highlight key words. So if a child is searching the kind of words that Scarlett and Eddie were searching, it will then flag up on the parents phone.

Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary, said the Government was already going one step further to protect children from online harms by consulting on a ban on mobile phones in the classroom.

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(Bloomberg) -- Keir Starmers Labour Party is delaying plans to scrap the House of Lords as it nails down its policy platform ahead of a general election expected this year, the Financial Times reported.

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The opposition would instead propose limited reforms to Britains upper house, including a possible reduction in the overall size of the chamber, people familiar with the matter told the newspaper. The changes are aimed at promoting a focus on economic priorities.

Bracing for a possible early election call by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Labour leadership has instructed shadow ministers to refine their policies in their specific areas by Feb. 8.

The party is also expected to drop its specific 28 billion-a-year ($35.4 billion) target for its green prosperity plan and is debating whether to soften its plan to raise taxes on private equity profits, the FT said.

Aides for Labour told the newspaper that Starmer still favors eventually replacing the House of Lords.

Read more: Labour Unity Strains Under Starmers Focus on Tax and Business

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Tony and Kate Perry with their son Norman, aged 10, at his school LVS Ascot. Tony has launched a campaign opposing Labour's VAT raid on independent education - Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph

Picture the type of person spearheading a campaign against Labours planned 20 per cent VAT hike on private schools, and you are unlikely to come up with Tony Perry. First off, hes not even British: hes actually a Native American from Oklahoma. He also has ADHD, a wife from Moldova and a daughter, eight, who is thriving in state school.

Still, he is  as he says  always up for a fight, especially when its against something unjust  which this is  and specifically if it involves his boy, Norman, who is 10.

I know to some I will seem an unlikely person to be leading this campaign, Perry, 46, says from his home in Berkshire. But the fact I am proves that those who send their children to private school are not all the wealthy elite. So many of us are just hard-working parents trying to do our level best for our kids.

His son, Norman, he says, is not even a tiny bit spoiled or privileged. Hes just a normal boy  warm and friendly  into Minecraft and Roblox. He is also a child who suffers, like his dad, from ADHD and also dyslexia and dysgraphia, which means he struggles with writing.

My wife and I knew early on he was struggling, Perry explains. He was behind in Year One. He cant focus or take in instructions. His state school really did try with the resources they had, but more than anything, I was worried he would lose confidence and self-esteem.



And so  in 2022  Perry and his wife enrolled Norman into LVS Ascot school in Berkshire.



A non-selective through-school, with a reputation for being nurturing, its fees are 15,000 a year in junior years, rising to 21,000 for senior school, which Norman is due to start next autumn.

Perry, an analyst for the NHS, and his wife, a lawyer, earn a collective salary of around 120,000.

I know to some it will sound like a lot, but we live in a three-bed terrace in a very expensive part of the UK. Our cars are more than a decade old and we have to miss out on holidays to send Norman there. It is not easy.



When rumours of Labours planned VAT raid emerged last year, Perry and his wife immediately did the sums and began to worry.

Sir Keir Starmer has said his government will put VAT on school fees in the first year it comes to power. He has said this is not an attack on private schools, but that he wants to use the money to do something about the appalling state of state schools. Only 6.5 per cent of children in the UK go to private school.



From next year, with Norman at senior school, it would mean Perry finding an extra 4,000. But this would be out of taxed income, meaning he would have to earn an extra 7,000 or so.

"School fees sound like a lot, but we miss holidays to send Norman there. It is not easy." Tony and Kate Perry on the sacrifices they make for their son, who has ADHD - Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph

I began looking at it, thinking its going to make things much, much harder for us, he says. Im not saying we definitely cant afford it, but we have explained to Norman that he might have to leave.



This is not just about him, though. So many other children go to private schools for similar reasons, be it about faith or disability or if their families are in the military. Many parents make huge sacrifices and work several jobs to pay these fees. Why should they be punished more?

Perry, who still has an American drawl, is clearly emotional as he speaks. He feels his child has thrived at his new school, benefiting from the smaller class sizes and the weekly hour he spends with a special-educational-needs coordinator.

He says his son is being betrayed, that the idea is cruel. But he also feels the policy is ideological and not based on any logic.

Im not Labour or Tory, but I listen to the arguments Labour are making and they dont make sense. The mantra is that they are for the many not the few, but this oversimplifies the situation.

He does understand that some view the private school system as unfair, but says: The whole education system is a mess. Why is it OK to penalise private schools and not parents who spend resources moving into a catchment of a good state school? Or parents who send their kids to grammar schools? Or those who spend money on tutors?

I get that, historically, private school kids have had an easy pass into Oxford and Cambridge, but this is changing  as I believe it should.

Perry himself knows the value of a good education. He grew up in the small town of Ardmore, close to the Texas border. From the Chickasaw Nation, he lived on a reservation in his early years, but one which was infiltrated by non-Natives. His father was an architect and engineer called Norman  lots of native Americans took European names  and Perry named his son after him as he never got to meet him.



After attending a normal state school, Perry won a place at a state-run boarding school in Oklahoma City. This was followed by a scholarship to Dartmouth College, an Ivy League university in New Hampshire with historic links to the Native American community.



Perry says: It opened my eyes to the opportunities out there in the world. Thats what good schools do.



He then worked in several countries in Europe before settling permanently in the UK in 2004.

So far, his campaign has attracted 74,000 signatures on Change.org and a raft of supportive videos and messages from parents in a similar situation.

"Many parents make huge sacrifices and work several jobs to pay these school fees. Why should they be punished more?" Tony with Norman and Kate - Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph

Its heartbreaking to read them, he says. They show that private schools are not just playgrounds for the wealthy. The issue is keeping me up at night, and no doubt it is them too.



The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) estimates that private schools would lose between 3 and 7 per cent of students should the VAT raid come in. But some schools claim they may lose up to a third of their cohort.

Perry is hopeful that Labour will change their mind on the issue.



Starmer has said he does not wish to increase the burden on normal working people, so I hope he changes his mind, he says. There is no country in the world, as far as Im aware, that does this. And lets face it, its a regressive tax.

He is inviting Starmer, Rachel Reeves and shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson to meet with him in Berkshire, so they can hear directly from some of the parents affected.

I will buy them breakfast, Perry says. Starmer has taken the time to talk to other people and business leaders about some of his policies he is planning. Now he needs to listen to us.

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LAKE ST. LOUIS, Mo.  Lake St. Louis was packed Saturday morning as many prepared to take a dip for a good cause through the annual Polar Plunge.

The Lake St. Louis community teamed up once again with the Special Olympics of Missouri to raise money for thousands of athletes.

Three people may be injured in a south St. Louis County shooting

Participants from the Lake St. Louis Community Association and some people as young as 10 years old took part in the Polar Plunge. Many wore special swimsuits or attire as they ran into the water. Some decided to dress up as famous characters from popular movies.

Last year, Polar Plunge participants helped raise $98 thousand for Special Olympics. This years goal was not that high, but organizers believe they might come close to hitting that number again.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
The rocks embedded in the exterior of Chicagos Tribune Tower famously were collected by newspaper correspondents on assignment in far flung locales.

The nearly 150 stones are pieces of famous structures throughout the world, including Egyptian pyramids, the Great Wall of China and St. Peters Cathedral in Rome. Theres even a Chicago brick taken from the home of Tribune founder Robert McCormick thats dated to 1880.

But it was the limestone surrounding the famous rocks that received special attention not long ago as the towers owners converted the building from newspaper offices to condominium units.

The cream colored limestone was installed when the tower was constructed nearly a full century earlier, and portions were in need of repair.

It was in bad shape for many reasons, said Tom Van Etten, of Flossmoor, co-owner of Galloy & Van Etten, the firm hired to do restoration work on the buildings stone exterior. Mostly because the steel backing was rusting and there was deterioration over 100 years.

A year earlier, theyd completed a similar restoration across the river, at the London Guarantee and Accident building, now known as the London House Hotel, built around the same time as the Tribune Tower, using the same material. A third building, 333 N. Michigan Avenue, is another early 1920s building surrounding the Michigan Avenue Bridge clad with the same Indiana limestone.

Both projects Van Ettens company worked on required replacing some of the stone while matching it so the repairs would fit in seamlessly.

You take some existing examples, cut them open to see what they are, go down to Bloomington and find the stone thats the best match, he said. The beauty of Indiana limestone is the stone theyre quarrying today is the same stone they quarried over 100 years ago.

Quarried from huge deposits around Bedford and Bloomington, Indiana, the material already had become a hit in the booming construction industry of the late 1890s. Van Ettens great-grandfather, Dutch immigrant Abram Van Etten, hopped on the bandwagon as an 18-year-old entrepreneur when he opened his first stone shop at 123rd Street and Emerald Avenue. By 1903, he was able to construct his own shop, using Indiana limestone, at 118th and Halsted streets.

Right away, it was all Indiana limestone, Van Etten said. There were a hundred stone companies in Chicago at the time. Everything was being built out of Indiana limestone.

The stones popularity was well deserved, said Kevin Harrington, professor emeritus of architectural history at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, who co-wrote the 2003 guidebook Chicagos Famous Buildings, now in its 5th printing.

Its an incredibly beautiful stone, and its been used for many of Chicagos most iconic buildings, he said.

Beyond the notable Michigan Avenue bridge area, there are the structures in the LaSalle Street financial district anchored by the Chicago Board of Trade building, much of Chicagos Museum Campus area, Hyde Park and the Museum of Science and Industry  just about every area of the region.

Its fame spread throughout the country. Less than a decade after the Tribune Tower was erected, the Empire State Building in New York City was clad in Indiana limestone. Gilded age magnate George Vanderbilt used the stone for his Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.

Harrington said the limestone is part of an ancient legacy left from an era millions of years ago when what would become the Midwest was covered in a great inland sea that stretched from western Ohio to eastern Nebraska. Sea creatures lived and died there for millennia, and in the ages since the remains of their shells were compressed into limestone.

But not all limestone was created equal.

The higher degree of lime in the shells of the critters mean the higher degree of quality in the stone, Harrington said.

The limestone mined in Thornton, where Interstate 80 traverses a huge, man-made crater, is brilliantly white and filled with fossilized remains of the cephalopods and other creatures that lived here millions of years ago.

Everyone asks about Thornton, Van Etten said. Its not a good stone for building. Building stone has to have a certain strength. That stone is just blasted and used for gravel. It goes under roads, but isnt used for cut stone for dimensional stone.

Not far away in Lemont, workers digging the Illinois & Michigan Canal encountered vast deposits of yellow limestone that was good enough for architecture. The Lemont, or Joliet limestone ended up in the facades of some of the areas oldest structures, such as the Joliet Prison and Chicagos Water Tower and Pumphouse.

But it turned out to be too friable.

The Lemont, its a loose stone. The layers of the set will break apart easily, Harrington said. The Joliet prison, Water Tower, those were done in the last quarter of the 19th century before Bedford (Indiana) opened up. When that happened, they realized they had something special.

From the end of the depression that went from 1893 to 1897, until the Great Depression, there was a 35-year period when American cities were growing in population, in wealth and growing in buildings. All of that stuff contributed.

Not only was the limestone from Bedford and Bloomington more structurally sound than its forerunner from Lemont, it also was advertised as self-cleaning.

Limestone as a whole class is very vulnerable to acid rain. The acid rain washes away the stone, Harrington said.

Chicago relied heavily on coal mined in southern Illinois, a soft strain that was heavy in sulfur and produced more soot than coal from other regions.

The Northern Trust bank, for instance, was turned black from all the soot, he said. The attraction of the Bedford limestone is the chemical reaction from the rain on soot would wash it away, and the stone would continue to look that soft tan or beige color. It would not get as dirty as many of the earlier stone buildings.

The Bedford limestones lighter color also made it a natural fit for architectural styles that had been en vogue since the White City milieu of the Worlds Columbian Exhibition in 1893.

As economic conditions created a skyscraper boom in Chicago, the city went from a shorter city to a taller city, and from a city of dark, dark buildings to a city of much lighter buildings, Harrington said. Many of those buildings were connected to that classical language that was used at the Worlds Fair.

Even structures built in subsequent styles, such as art deco and gothic buildings such as Tribune Tower, incorporated the creamy look of Bedford limestone. But more than its color, it was the stones maintenance-free qualities that made it the go-to cladding for so much of Chicagos skyline.

Im willing to bet that when people were estimating the cost of material, it was the behavior, the more durable quality of the Bedford limestone, that made it more attractive, and if it were more yellow I have a feeling they would have found it acceptable, he said. Though its lighter color only enhanced its attractiveness.

Even now, more than a century later, Harrington said he hasnt come across another material thats been so widely distributed and exploited around the country.

Mostly, you build with the materials you have at hand, he said. You know about the Chicago common brick  thats a function of the clays underlying Chicago. Up the lake in Milwaukee they have the Cream City brick, which is the color of the clay they have up there. There are cities that like to use the local granite and other materials.

For a long time, Van Ettens firm dealt mostly in Indiana limestone, though a fire at the companys West Pullman shop in the 1980s wiped out most of their records, so he cant pinpoint any of their earlier projects.

But hes got some of the same tools used by his ancestors.

We have some of the same machinery, Van Etten said. We have old planers built in 1900 that are no longer made, and I believe theyre still the best way to profile stone.

Theyve branched into other stones in more recent decades. A recent contract to restore the State Capitol in Wyoming necessitated the reopening of a long-shuttered quarry so they could access the Wyoming sandstone the original builders used.

The quarries around Bloomington and Bedford remain open, though the heyday of Indiana limestone is behind them. But the stone still retains the qualities that made it popular to begin with, Van Etten said.

Its always been facing pressure from new materials that are cheaper, he said. But its withstood all of them, and I dont see any reason it wont continue. Theres basically an endless supply of it.

Landmarks is a weekly column by Paul Eisenberg exploring the people, places and things that have left an indelible mark on the Southland. He can be reached at peisenberg@tribpub.com.
(FOX40.COM)  Over 150 people were recently arrested and several cars were impounded at a large sideshow in Stockton.

On Saturday around 2 a.m., the San Joaquin County Sheriffs Office said they broke up a large sideshow on Country Club Boulevard and Pershing Avenue in Stockton. The sideshow activity reportedly lead to a road closure.

Stop calling: Over 80 cars towed during Stockton sideshow and sheriff says no one is getting their car back soon

The San Joaquin County Sheriffs Office continues to take a zero tolerance policy on sideshow activity, officials told FOX40. We want to make it clear that all persons participating, spectating or involved, will be held to the full extent of the law.

More than 150 people were detained and 88 cars were seized.

Everyone identified as being involved has been documented and will be forwarded to the District Attorney for prosecution, Deputies said. Future sideshow activity will be met with the same level of enforcement. Our number one priority is and will remain the safety of our community.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A new case management system that will be used by the Third Judicial District Attorneys Office will launch starting Monday, Feb. 5, District Attorney Gerald Byers announced.

The office, which serves Dona Ana County, will use a system created by Karpel Solutions, Byers office said in a news release sent out late Friday afternoon.

Byers had come under criticism last year for cases being dismissed.

Byers told KTSM last year that dismissals were handled under a new case management rule approved by the New Mexico Supreme Court. He had also said some media outlets had reported incorrectly about the way cases were being handled.

Dona Ana DAs Office explains case dismissals after media outlets reported incorrectly

According to the news release, Byers had found that the existing CMS software was faulty, slow and ill-equipped for employees to manage their caseload efficiently.

The decision was made to advocate for Karpel Solutions that offered extensive background, experience and latest technological advances for the justice industry, the news release stated.

The news release added that Byers has made improving the existing case management software a priority since taking office in January 2021.

Byers office also said that Karpel was chosen because of its exclusive focus on the justice community, with project management teams who are knowledgeable about the needs and requirements of prosecuting agencies.

The new system is state-of-the-art case-centric software that will assist Byers office with tracking every data point and improve our ability to manage multiple cases, court events and staff/electronic filing that our old CMS system could not do, the news release said.

By investing in our people, and our data systems, this leading technical innovation will ensure that our responsibility to public service continues, Byers said in the news release. This necessary software reform is specifically designed to equip our staff and prosecutors with the means to effectively address our caseloads and will help us secure convictions for victims of crime and continue the fight for justice.

Every member of this office believes in the core values of fairness, integrity, and justice by which we uphold on behalf of the people of Dona Ana County, Byers added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
The final class of Marine Corps Harrier mechanics has graduated from training, and later this year the last two Harrier pilots should complete their training, marking the end of an era as the service transitions to the F-35 Lightning II.

The bookend of the AV-8B Harrier IIs Marine service mirrors the replacement of the venerable F/A-18 Hornet, both of which will be replaced by the F-35.

The Harrier mechanics completed their training Monday, and those mechanics will continue to repair and maintain the F-402 engine as the Harrier completes its service in 2027.

Teaching this class is bittersweet, I am proud to pass on knowledge to the last generation of students, said Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Fife, a fixed-wing mechanic and instructor at the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. On the other side, this is the end of an era for the Marine Corps.

The class of five Marine aviation mechanics will be assigned to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Its mind-boggling to me, knowing that Im going to the fleet soon and there is nobody else taking this class after me, said Pfc. Landyn Powers, one of the mechanic students.

Lance Cpl. Justin Luy, a fixed-wing power plants mechanic student at the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Cherry Point, attaches a lift to an F-402 engine during a maintenance class at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. (Lance Cpl. Lauralle Walker/Marine Corps)

The Harrier and Hornet transition to the F-35 is expected to conclude by the end of fiscal year 2030, Marine Corps Times previously reported.

According to the 2022 Marine Corps Aviation Plan, Harrier pilot training will end in 2024. Hornet pilots will continue to be trained until 2027 under Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323.

The Corps deactivated Marine Attack Training Squadron 203, a Harrier training unit, in October 2021.

The Harrier has been in service with the Marine Corps since 1985. It is a single-engine subsonic, ground-attack aircraft capable of vertical landing and takeoff. It saw extensive use in the Persian Gulf War and later in Global War on Terror missions.

The F-35B, a short-takeoff-and-vertical landing aircraft, began replacing the Harrier in 2016. The Corps also flies the F-35C variant, which is a long-range jet.

In September 2023, the Corps shut down Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Marine Corps Times previously reported.

In 2022, the Marines maintained four active operational Harrier squadrons with 14 aircraft each, according to the aviation plan. But East Coast squadrons transitioned to the F-35 in late mid-2022 while the West Coast squadrons are scheduled to maintain operations until fiscal year 2027.

The Hornet is an all-weather fighter and attack aircraft used primarily for strike operations and close air support. The Marine Corps uses the F/A-18 A-D variants. The aircraft entered Marine Corps service in 1983, replacing the F-4 Phantom, A-7 Corsair and A-6 Intruder.

The A and C variants are single-seat aircraft, while the B, and D variants are two seaters. It also was used extensively in the Persian Gulf War and subsequent post-9/11 operations.

In recent years, the Hornet has provided more than half of the Marine Corps tactical air capability.

Its considered the Corps primary bridging platform as the service transitions to the F-35, according to the aviation plan.

As of 2022, there were six active Hornet squadrons and one reserve squadron. The majority of those were assigned to the Marine Aircraft Group-31 at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina.

Other squadrons are assigned to MCAS Miramar and MAG-41 at Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas.

Five of the six active squadrons consist of seven F/A-18Cs and five F/A-18Ds.
While representatives from NASA, the Space Force and commercial companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin descended on Orlando this past week for the annual SpaceCom conference, there was no shortage of action on launch pads, test sites and 254 miles above the Earth.

Heres a rundown of 15 nuggets of space news for the week:

1. Lit up: SpaceX managed the seventh launch from the Space Coast on Tuesday, and 10th of the year for the company among Florida and California launch pads. Lifting off from Kennedy Space Center, it carted up competitor Northrop Grummans Cygnus cargo spacecraft that then docked with the International Space Station with 8,200 pounds of science and supplies early Thursday, It was the first time SpaceX has flown Cygnus, making its 20th resupply mission to the ISS. Most of those missions have been flown on Northrops Antares rockets from Virginia, but Russian and Ukrainian rocket part supply issues mean SpaceX will be flying at least two more missions from Florida until a new version of the rocket can be built with American-made engines by Firefly Aerospace.

2. No. 2 provider: While SpaceX leads the way in launches, small rocket company Rocket Lab actually flew the second most in 2023 and managed their first launch of the year this week, sending up their Electron rocket on Wednesday from its launch site in New Zealand with four small satellites. It was the California companys 43rd launch of an Electron rocket and brings the number of successful satellite deployments to 176. The rocket booster made a parachute-assisted landing in the Pacific for recovery so the company can see how it can eventually reuse a future Electron rockets first stage on a second launch.

3. Next launch: SpaceX is set to send up a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Stations Space Launch Complex 40 targeting a 1:33 a.m. liftoff Tuesday if weather permits, carrying NASAs Plankton, Aerosol Cloud Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite to conduct Earth science. The probe was encapsulated in the fairing on Thursday and transported to the hangar ahead of launch. The satellites task is to observe ocean ecosystem health by measuring the distribution of phytoplankton as well as measure clouds and airborne particulate aerosols like smoke and dust.

4. Extra days in space: Axiom Spaces Ax-3 mission was supposed to depart the ISS as early as Saturday, but weather concerns continue to push the undocking of the SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom with its crew of four until at least Tuesday. The third private mission to the ISS for Axiom brought up Axioms chief astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria who made his sixth trip to space along with customers Italian Air Force Col. Walter Villadei, Alper Gezeravc of Turkey and ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt of Sweden.

5. Intuitive Machines nears launch: The next commercial company lined up to try and land on the moon is set to launch from KSC atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 during a three-day window in mid-February, although SpaceX has not announced the exact dates yet. Houston-based Intuitive Machines is looking to become the 2nd company to launch under NASAs Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program following Januarys launch of Astrobotic Technologys Peregrine lunar lander, which suffered issues after launch that precluded any attempt to land on the moon. The IM-1 mission looks to complete the task, though, with a targeted landing on Feb. 22 no matter the launch date with its Nova-C lander dubbed Odysseus carrying six NASA experiments to its planned landing site near the moons south pole.

6. Crew-8 launch date: The departure of Crew Dragon Freedom with the Ax-3 visitors will allow for the next SpaceX crew rotation mission Crew-8 to fly up to ISS with its four crew to relieve Crew-7 who have been on station since August. NASA announced that mission could fly as early as Feb. 22 with Its four crew members NASA astronauts Commander Matthew Dominick, pilot Michael Barratt, mission specialist Jeanette Epps and Roscosmos cosmonaut mission specialist Alexander Grebenkin. They will be flying in the Crew Dragon Endeavour making its fifth trip to space.

7. Space Forces 1st astronaut: NASA also announced the crew for the SpaceX Crew-9 mission slated for no earlier than August. It features the first Guardian with an astronaut flight assigned in the form of pilot Nick Hague, although he is actually making his third flight including one mission abort from Russia, but those were while he was with the Air Force. Also flying are NASA astronaut and commander Zena Cardman making her first flight, NASA astronaut and mission specialist Stephanie Wilson, who flew three times on Space Shuttle Discovery and Roscomos cosmonaut and mission specialist Aleksandr Gorbunov, making his first trip to space.

8. Starliner practice: While SpaceX continues to line up flights for NASAs Commercial Crew Program, Boeing continues to play catchup honing in on a planned mid-April flight of the CST-100 Starliner to the ISS carrying humans for the first time. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were on the Space Coast on Wednesday completing a full launch simulation exercise for the Crew Flight Test (CFT) as Boeing attempts to certify its spacecraft to share commercial crew duties with SpaceX. Teams with NASA, Boeing and United Launch Alliance ran through launch day activities including Williams and Wilmore suiting up, getting a ride in their crew transportation vehicle and climbing to the top of the ULA launch tower at Canaverals Space Launch Complex 41 from where they will fly atop an Atlas V rocket. If certified, Starliner could fly with its first rotational mission as soon as early 2025.

9. A lot of liftoffs: The seven launches from the Space Coast could be part of up to 111 potential flights from Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center, according to Florida Lt. Gov Jeanette Nunez, who mentioned the high-end number on the Eastern Ranges manifest during a speech at SpaceCom on Wednesday.

10. Big Blue: One of those could be the first flight of Blue Origins New Glenn heavy-lift rocket. The massive rocket for Jeff Bezos company thats constructed on Merritt Island has a requested launch window as early as September from Canaverals Launch Complex 36, according to a Space Force official speaking SpaceCom, although Blue Origin would only confirm the company intends to fly by the end of the year. One limiting factor to its flight is the required seven BE-4 engines needed for the rockets first stage while Blue Origin also needs to supply customer ULA with a pair of BE-4 engines for each of its new Vulcan Centaur rocket flights, the first of which occurred earlier in January.

Weve expanded our facility at Huntsville (Alabama) to ramp up and be able to support both in a capacity and in a rate, said Lars Hoffman, Blue Origins vice president for national security sales on Thursday. So we are ramping up rapidly to build to rate to stay, not just support to stay ahead and make sure that weve got some additional flex to accommodate more demand as it continues to grow. And we are 100% scaled, scoped, sized to support both the Vulcan program and the New Glenn program.

11. Asteroid Drive-by: An asteroid the size of the Empire State Building made a fly-by Friday of Earth, although only 1.7 million miles away. It was the largest of several near-Earth asteroids making a pass by the planet this week, estimated to be between 690 and 1,575 feet across. Discovered in 2008 and designated 2008 OS7, NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory classifies the rock as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid because of how close it gets to Earth. It wont be back until 2032, but not as close next time around.

12. SpaceX Starship new customer: SpaceXs in-development Starship lined up another future customer expected to fly up the hardware of one of several commercial space stations in the works. Starlab, which is a combined effort between Voyager Space and Airbus, announced Wednesday that it had chosen Starship to get their space station to low-Earth orbit on a single mission aiming to launch sometime before the decommissioning of the International Space Station. Starship, which is expected to try for its third attempt at a suborbital test flight this month after two previous attempts in 2023 ended explosively, is already tapped to serve as a human landing system for two NASA Artemis missions as well as fly a series of commercial customers on human spaceflights including the dearMoon mission paid for by Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa.

13. Sierra Space Dream Chaser: The third player in NASAs commercial cargo missions to the ISS is getting closer to its first launch. The Dream Chaser spaceplane coupled with the Shooting Star cargo module went vertical at NASAs Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio to be tested on the facilitys massive vibration table to ensure it will be ready for launch. Dream Chaser is targeting a launch as early as April to the ISS on what would be the second ever flight of ULAs new Vulcan Centaur rocket. Sierra Space would join SpaceX cargo Dragon and Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft on resupply missions to the ISS, but make its landings at KSCs former shuttle landing facility.

Space Shuttle Endeavour hoisted for display in launch configuration at Los Angeles science museum

14. Space Shuttle Endeavour goes vertical: The last space shuttle to leave the Space Coast for its forever home departed in 2012 for the California Science Center in Los Angeles, where it spent more than a decade on display resting horizontally. This week, the orbiter was back in launch configuration remated with the last intact external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters to be put on display vertically for the public to see when the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center at the museum is complete. That may not happen for another two years. Space Shuttle Atlantis remained in Florida at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in a suspended display as if on orbit while Space Shuttle Discovery resides in a hangar wheels on the ground at the Smithsonians National Air and Space Museums Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. A test orbiter Enterprise that never made it to space in on display at the Intrepid Museum in New York.

15. Psyche buckles up: The long trip to a metallic asteroid hit a milestone this week as NASAs Psyche probe entered its cruise phase. The long-delayed $700 million satellite launched from KSC atop a Falcon Heavy rocket last October to begin its 2.5-billion-mile trip to the asteroid named Psyche that orbits the sun between Mars and Jupiter. It wont arrive until August 2029, but is already traveling more than 41,000 mph as it nears Mars orbit. Scientists are interested in the rare asteroid as they believe it could mirror the inner core of Earth and other planets in the solar system.
 Flash

An Iraqi Shiite militia on Saturday claimed responsibility for a drone attack on a U.S. military base in northeastern Syria.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed in an online statement that its fighters launched an explosive-laden drone to attack a U.S. base in Kharab al-Jir town in Syria's northeastern province of al-Hasakah, without giving details about casualties.

The attack by the Iraqi armed group is part of a series of retaliatory measures against the U.S. forces amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, the statement added.

The attack came after the U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on the paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces in western Iraq, killing 16 people and wounding dozens of others.

The U.S. Central Command said in a statement on Friday that the U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and affiliated militia groups.

The U.S. airstrikes came in response to recent attacks by Iranian-backed militias that caused the first U.S. fatalities since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023.
Nanci Flores, co-founder of One More Citizen Inc.

SOUTH BEND  The League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area will hold its next Lunch with the League on Zoom at noon Feb. 9.

The featured speaker will be Nanci Flores, the co-founder of One More Citizen Inc., which helps legal permanent residents prepare for their naturalization exam and interview.

Flores will discuss the path to citizenship, challenges immigrants face in seeking to become citizens and how the local community benefits from the work of One More Citizen.

She holds bachelors degrees in social work and nursing and has worked in social work in community non-profits since 1987 and as a registered nurse in obstetrics and labor and delivery in her earlier career.

Over the last 17 years Flores has dedicated her work and efforts to founding and directing citizenship and immigration legal programming, English classes and free, bilingual non-immigration legal consultations at La Casa de Amistad and other area nonprofit organizations.

Admission is free.

For more information, visit lwvsouthbend.org or facebook.com/LWVSouthBend.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: League of Women Voters hosts One More Citizen co-founder as speaker
At least 28 have been killed in an attack on a building in the town of Lysychansk in the Russian-occupied region of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, the regions Moscow-installed head said Sunday.

In a statement on Telegram, the head of self-proclaimed Luhansk Peoples Republic Leonid Pasechnik said emergency services had rescued 10 people from under the rubble after what he said was a Ukrainian attack on a building housing a bakery on Saturday.

Pasechnik said Sunday has been declared a day of mourning in the Luhansk Peoples Republic for the victims of the attack.

Ukraines defense ministry has not commented on the incident.

Lysychansk was taken over by Russian forces in July 2022, becoming the last town in the key region of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine to fall.

Ukraine has been escalating its attacks on Russia and Russian-controlled territory as its ground offensive stalls.

Earlier this week, Ukraines military intelligence says it sank a Russian warship off the coast of Crimea, landing the latest in a series of blows to Russias Black Sea Fleet.

Last month, the Russian Defense Ministry said it stopped Ukrainian drones headed toward Moscow and St Petersburg. Also in January, an oil depot was set ablaze as a result of a Ukrainian drone strike in Russias Bryansk region, bordering Ukraine, according to authorities.

In December, Ukraine launched an attack on the Russian border city of Belgorod, killing at least 24 and wounding 108 others. Russia responded with retaliatory strikes on Kharkiv.

It comes as Russian forces are working hard to break through Ukraines defenses on the battlefield. A member of the Ukrainian army said they are in deep defense mode.

Russian troops are aiming to advance towards Chasiv Yar, a highly militarized town on higher ground a few kilometers west of Bakhmut.

Further south, Russian attention has been focused for months on the town of Avdiivka, and its massive coke plant, both of which Russia has been attempting to encircle.

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DEERFIELD TWP.  The first morning Lindsay and AJ Rowe woke up in their new home, it was her birthday; and it was a spectacular gift.

The Rowes and six of their children narrowly escaped a fire that destroyed their 1906 farmhouse in Deerfield Township near Hartland in March 2023. All were rushed to the hospital due to smoke inhalation. Some had broken bones. AJ suffered burns. Their son, Gunner, was in the hospital for some time. Two dogs died.

Still, they survived.

Their harrowing story captivated the community, who showered the family with support through a GoFundMe fundraiser and donations.

AJ and Lindsay Rowe finally move their family into a new home post-house fire.

Three hundred and eighteen days later, the Rowes moved into a new farmhouse on the same footprint as their old one. On the same farm, they operate Rustic Marine, a home decor, woodworking and event company that supports veteran-owned small businesses. AJ, a veteran himself, is a woodworker.

"For the first time in their lives, all of the kids have their own bedrooms," Lindsay said.

"The big kids were, like, gone, in their rooms," AJ said. "They still spend a lot of time in their rooms."

More: 'I'm jumping': Michigan family details miraculous escape from house fire

For months, the large family lived cramped inside a temporary mobile home on the property. They had to store Christmas presents in the garage. Some were donated by Dearborn Fire and the University of Michigan Trauma Burn Center.

"The day we moved in here, it was really like Christmas for them again, because they finally got all their Christmas presents back," Lindsay said. "They got to set everything up. They got their bedding. We had dressers."

Lindsay celebrated her birthday  their first full day in the house  with a "furniture building party," she said.

Unexpected friends for life

After the fire, Brighton car dealer John Cueter allowed the Rowes to temporarily live in his home and loaned them a pickup truck from Brighton Ford. Cueter, who's now "Uncle John" to the family, also surprised them with a puppy named Joanie.

Kasey Kasprzak, a friend who owns Tanner's Trove in Genoa Township, set up the GoFundMe, which raised thousands. Several businesses, organizations and schools organized fundraisers and donation drives. Another farm looked after their farm animals.

While staying at Cueter's home gave them a place to regroup, they missed home terribly. In May 2023, the family moved into the mobile home on the property. Tanner, their quarter horse; Jack, their donkey; and some chickens and ducks returned home, too.

"So many people helped us out so we could afford (to rebuild) despite our insurance company," a challenge they're still tackling, Lindsay said. "Our closest friends, we didn't even know before the fire."

The Rowes became close with Jason Leidel of Leidel Excavating, who razed their old farmhouse and dug their new basement free of charge. They said Leidel's wife's family once lived in the house and were there to take a picture on the front porch the day before the fire. Nicholas Bible of Bible Construction was "phenomenal." Other companies helped with items like countertops and doors.

"We'll be able to get back to our normal business here," Lindsay said of Rustic Marine. "We'll get back to our woodworking and our classes and workshops."

AJ and Lindsay Rowe take a "before" shot inside their Deerfield Township farmhouse, destroyed by a fire last March.

A narrow escape

Six of the couple's seven children  aged 2-13 at the time  were sleeping in the home when the fire broke out. Lindsay was able to find five of them quickly. She busted the window in a second-floor bedroom and evacuated her children onto the roof.

While she was on the phone with responders, AJ appeared at the window  but without their son Gunner, who was four years old at the time.

Risking his own life, AJ disappeared into the black smoke. He appeared at Gunner's bedroom window, prepared to toss him out. That's when Lindsay decided to jump off the roof, risking injury, to run to catch him.

The older kids helped toss the younger ones down. AJ jumped from the window. Their daughter, Molly, jumped off the roof.

Only weeks after the fire, what remained of the family's house and a vehicle left in their garage were broken into. The front door was broken. A brick was thrown through the glass on a barn door, and windows smashed on their Chevrolet Suburban. The Rowes still don't know who broke in.

Paying it forward, again

Lindsay wants to help other house fire victims, several of whom have reached out to her for advice and support.

Organizing something wouldn't be foreign to the couple. In May 2023, they coordinated a fire safety event, called "Gunner's Escape," with the Hartland Deerfield Fire Authority.

They also passed along donated items to others by setting up a "free little Christmas shop" in a shed they normally use for Rustic Marine wares.

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Others have asked if the family could hold an open house and sell tickets, then donate to the fire department. Or else create a resource for others who've suffered house fires.

"I feel like there's something bigger brewing," Lindsay said.

 Contact reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Less than a year after devasting fire, Deerfield Township family settles into new home
A pigeon that was captured eight months back near a port after being suspected to be a Chinese spy, is released at a vet hospital in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, Jan.30, 2024. Police had found two rings tied to its legs, carrying words that looked like Chinese. Police suspected it was involved in espionage and took it in. Eventually, it turned out the pigeon was an open-water racing bird from Taiwan that had escaped and made its way to India. With police permission, the bird was transferred to the Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, whose doctors set it free on Tuesday. | Anshuman Poyrekar, Hindustan Times via Associated Press

A pigeon suspected of being a spy for China was released this week by Indian police.

The bird was originally captured near a port in Mumbai around eight months ago with two rings on its legs. Attached was a message that allegedly appeared to be Chinese, per The Guardian. Police suspected the pigeon of being involved with foreign espionage and took it into custody.

The pigeon was then sent to Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals in Mumbai to be examined. However, after an investigation, it was determined that the bird was not a spy but an open-water racing bird from Taiwan that had escaped and flown all the way to India, per The Associated Press.

After its origins were uncovered, the pigeon was transferred to the Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals where it was eventually released.

Per CBS, this weeks incident was not the first time a pigeon was suspected of espionage in India.

In 2015, a 14-year-old boy found a pigeon in Manwal, India, with a stamped message on its wings. The message was in Urdu, a common language in nearby Pakistan. Indian police captured the bird and performed an X-ray on it, CBS reported.

Although the recently apprehended pigeon was a racer rather than a spy, militaries have used pigeons in the past.

According to the Smithsonian Magazine, more than 100,000 pigeons were used during World War I and more than 250,000 were used in World War II, including the heroic pigeon Cher Ami, who delivered 12 crucial messages at Verdun and was injured delivering the last one.

The brave bird was consequently awarded the French Croix de Guerre, a medal given for valiant service in action, according to the National Park Service.
Declarations that the recent Atmore, Alabama execution by nitrogen gas was cruel and unusual punishment bring back sad memories.

Sixty years earlier and about 150 miles east of Atmore in Dothan, Alabama, I witnessed many months of torture that my father  a WWII US Army drill instructor  received due to his years of smoking. As a child, I will never forget him crying to breathe from his unmerciful emphysema. I camped out next to his hospital bed watching as the machine sucked the black tar out of his lungs into a clear gallon jug. His only relief was under the hospital-filled oxygen tent (no portage oxygen).

Regardless of ones perspective on execution by nitrogen gas, as a longtime fatherless son, I believe that nitrogen gas death would have been much more merciful to my daddy.

Ironically, Alabama just graded an F for 2023 Tobacco Control by the American Lung Association.

Mike Sawyer, a child/health advocate and activist since 1983 and a full-time long-term substitute teacher at a high needs middle school, is the former mayor of Midland City, Alabama (1984-1988). He lives in Denver, Colorado.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Letter: Smoking gave my dad a cruel and unusual death
This is a developing story. Check back to sanluisobispo.com for updates.

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An atmospheric river storm slammed into Californias Central Coast overnight, bringing with it damaging winds, heavy rain and power outages.

Although rain fell overnight across the Central Coast, heavier rainfall was expected later Sunday and into Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Check back with The Tribune for live updates as the storm progresses through San Luis Obispo County:

SLO airport loses power, running on generator

Update, 8:30 p.m.:

The San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport lost power during the storm Sunday, but travelers dont have to worry about delays because of that  the airport was running on its generators, Deputy Director Courtney Pene said.

The terminal is open and fully operational, she said.

Pene encouraged passengers to check directly with their air carriers before going to the airport for travel during this weeks storm, however.

As of Sunday night, several flights scheduled to arrive at and depart from the San Luis Obispo airport that day had been canceled or delayed, according to the airports website  likely due to the inclement weather across the West Coast.

A slew of flights scheduled to depart from the airport on Monday morning were also listed as canceled, though mid-afternoon flights still appeared as scheduled on the website as of Sunday evening.

The canceled flights included the 6 a.m. routes to Los Angeles and Phoenix and the 8:40 a.m. route to Las Vegas.

SLO County rainfall totals for last two days

Update, 6:40 p.m.:

Rain totals over the first two days of the storm varied widely across San Luis Obispo County, according to a National Weather Service update at 6:12 p.m. Sunday.

Rocky Butte had recorded 3.27 inches, while San Luis Obispo only received 0.93 at Broad Street and Industrial Way.

Los Osos was at 2.26 inches, Lopez Lake at 2.01, Santa Margarita at 1.61, Arroyo Grande at 1.41, Cambria at 1.28 and Atascadero at 1.26.

Paso Robles received 1.19, while Shandon was at 0.77 and the Carrizo Plain only totaled 0.21 inches.

Rain total were notably higher farther south. Cachuma Dam in Santa Barbara County recorded 4.94 inches, while Solvang was 4.01 and Santa Barbara received 3.63 inches.

Matilija Canyon in the Ventura County mountains totaled 5.91 inches over the two days.

Flood advisory extended

Update, 5:10 p.m.:

The National Weather Services flood advisory for San Luis Obispo County has been extended through midnight.

According to the NWS, minor flooding is ongoing across the advisory area. Between 0.5 and 2 inches have fallen across most of the region during the latest storm, the agency said, and an additional 1 to 3 inches are expected tonight.

Some locations that could experience flooding include San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Morro Bay, Atascadero, Cambria, Templeton, San Miguel, Cayucos, Lake Nacimiento, Baywood-Los Osos, Shandon, Avila Beach and Shell Beach, according to the advisory.

The San Miguel Firefighters Association posted a photo during the storm on Feb. 4, 2024, warning about flooding at low water crossings on San Marcos Road.

Flooding closes Highway 1, South County road

Update, 4:45 p.m.:

James Way in Arroyo Grande was closed due to flooding, the city announced Sunday afternoon.

The closure was in effect at James Way and Clinton Court.

A photo of the road showed water pooling across a large portion of the asphalt.

Highway 1 was also closed from south of Oso Flaco Lake Road to three miles north of the San Luis Obispo-Santa Barbara county line due to roadway flooding, Caltrans District 5 tweeted Sunday evening.

There was no estimate for when the highway would reopen.

Turri Road at South Bay Boulevard in Los Osos was also reportedly closed Sunday afternoon, according to CHPs traffic incident page. Details on why the road was closed were not immediately available.

A fallen tree blocks a driveway at Oakwood Court in San Luis Obispo as a powerful storm lashed the county on Feb. 4, 2024.

Person trapped in submerged car near Nipomo rescued

Update, 4 p.m.:

Cal Fire and other emergency units responded to reports of a vehicle submerged in water between Nipomo and Guadalupe on Sunday afternoon.

The call for a water rescue at Guadalupe Road and Division Street came in at 3:49 p.m., according to emergency response app, PulsePoint.

According to emergency scanner traffic, one person was trapped in the stuck vehicle. The person was not injured, according to scanner traffic.

The person was safely removed from the vehicle by 4:15 p.m., according to emergency scanner traffic.

A man was rescued from his flooded car after being trapped in Nipomo during the storm on Feb. 4, 2024.

Shelter in place lifted for Arroyo Grande neighborhood

The shelter-in-place order for residents of the Arroyo Grande neighborhood damaged by falling trees and power lines on Sunday morning has been lifted.

The San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services said the order was lifted as of 4:11 p.m.

Access to The Pike was once again open, according to the Office of Emergency Services.

California governor declares state of emergency for storm

Update, 3:30 p.m.:

Gov. Gavin Newsom has proclaimed a State of Emergency for Southern California counties, including San Luis Obispo County, amid the damaging weekend storm.

According to the proclamation, the storm was expected to last for several days, threatening life and safety, public and private property and structures and other critical infrastructure.

Governor Newsom has proclaimed a State of Emergency for Southern California counties including San Luis Obispo County due to the storm that began yesterday.



To read the full proclamation: https://t.co/jQLX01z4kO pic.twitter.com/j48ET87ZfG  SLO County OES (@slocountyoes) February 4, 2024

Flash flood warning issued for southern SLO County

Update, 3 p.m.:

A flash flood warning was issued for parts of southern San Luis Obispo County on Sunday afternoon.

According to the National Weather Service, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain showers were overspreading the area and flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

The warning was for San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach and Nipomo, as well as parts of northern Santa Barbara County.

According to the warning, additional rainfall amounts of between 1 to 4 inches were possible.

People were urged to be aware of their surroundings and not drive on flooded roads.

2 SLO County beaches closed as boats drift ashore

Two southern San Luis Obispo County beaches were temporarily closed Sunday afternoon due to dangerous conditions, the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services said on X.

Fishermans Beach and Olde Port Beach at Port San Luis Harbor were both closed due to hazardous surf, rising tide and boats on the beach.

People were asked to stay away from the beaches until further notice.

Fishermans Beach and Olde Port Beach at Port San Luis Harbor were both closed due to hazardous surf, rising tide and boats on the beach during an atmospheric river storm Feb. 4, 2024.

National Weather Service issues flood advisory for SLO County

Update, 2:15 p.m.:

A heavy band of rain began moving into San Luis Obispo County on Sunday afternoon, prompting a flood advisory to be issued for the region.

According to the National Weather Service advisory, flooding caused by excessive rainfall was expected after Doppler radar indicated rainfall intensity was increasing across the Central Coast.

The NWS said between 0.5 and 1 inches had fallen across the region so far, and that was expected to increase by 1 to 2 inches through early this evening.

The additional rain was expected to result in minor flooding, as well as some potential shallow rockslides and mudslides.

The advisory was in effect through 5 p.m.

New - Flood Advisory from 2/4/2024 2:04 PM to 5:00 PM PST for San Luis Obispo County, CAhttps://t.co/BLB9P2NhRV pic.twitter.com/YM9CVcGbpJ  SLO County OES (@slocountyoes) February 4, 2024

The NWS also issued a special marine warning for the waters off Avila Beach down south to Santa Barbara County, warning of winds great than 65 knots and the possibility of waterspouts.

More customers without power in SLO County, PG&E says

Update, 1 p.m.:

The number of people without power in San Luis Obispo County continued to grow on Sunday, reaching nearly 40,000 customers as of 1 p.m., according to PG&E spokesperson Carina Corral.

That included a massive Paso Robles power outage impacting 4,262 customers on the eastern side of the city.

Power outages force businesses to close early

Update, 12:30 p.m.:

With the power out in much of the county, several businesses in Los Osos were forced to close early Sunday.

At Dominos Pizza, located at 2084 9th St., employees said the power went out around 9:30 a.m.  a concern considering they cant open the restaurants walk-in refrigerator while the power is out without potentially risking its perishable items.

Employee Eric Timmons said they had to turn away a customer who came in just after the power went out asking if they were open.

I was like, Well, going by the complete darkness in here  no, we are not open, Timmons laughed.

A Dominos Pizza in Los Osos had to close early on Feb. 4, 2024, as power outages left huge swaths of San Luis Obispo County without power during an atmospheric river storm.

General Manager Eric Dean said employees were told the restaurant would temporarily close since it didnt have power, but they could be asked to return if power came back on during the day.

Rain days are usually our busiest days, so this really does effect us, he said.

The pair both noted they had seen damage from the wind throughout the area as they came into work Sunday morning.

More power outages reported

Update, 11:30 a.m.:

Several more weather-related power outages were reported across San Luis Obispo County mid-morning Sunday, bringing the total number of people without electricity to more than 34,000 as of 11:20 a.m., according to PG&E spokesperson Carina Corral.

The new outages include in Cayucos, where 769 customers were without power as of 10:17 a.m., according to PG&Es outage report map.

Meanwhile, a massive new outage stretched along the South County coast, from Pismo Beach into Oceano, impacting 6,419 customers as of 9:39 a.m.

In Nipomo, about 1,976 customers were also without power as of 9:14 a.m., 1,659 customers were without electricity in Atascadero as of 9:59 a.m., and 708 were without power in Paso Robles as of 11:30 a.m.

PG&E crews were working to restore power.

PG&E has been preparing for this storm, has a plan, and is executing that plan, Corral told The Tribune. Ahead of storms, PG&E stages restoration crews, power poles, powerlines, transformers and other electric equipment at yards throughout our service territory in preparation to restore power to affected areas safely and as quickly as possible.

Though one of Sundays many reported outage areas did appear to include Diablo Canyon, Corral said the nuclear power plant was not being affected by the weather conditions.

Corral advised people to be prepared for the high winds to continue; she added customers could visit pge.com/stormsafety for preparedness tips.

Five cities fire Captain Barton Pearson evaluates trees that fell across The Pike in Arroyo Grande as an atmospheric river storm brought strong winds to San Luis Obispo County on Feb. 4, 2024.

Residents ordered to shelter in place as falling eucalyptus trees knock down power poles

Residents in an Arroyo Grande neighborhood were told to shelter in place Sunday morning after high winds knocked down trees and power poles in the area.

The Pike was closed from South Elm to Halcyon Road in Arroyo Grande as of 11:30 a.m. due to downed eucalyptus trees.

PG&E spokesperson Carina Corral told The Tribune a large eucalyptus tree fell through power lines in the area, breaking about 10 power poles.

The downed power poles and lines then blocked homes along that stretch of road between Garfield Place and Gaynfair Terrace. The San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services issued a shelter-in-place order to residents in that area.

As of Sunday at 11:30 a.m., PG&E and Five Cities Fire Authority representatives were telling residents of the homes via loudspeaker to stay inside due to the danger from the power lines.

Two trees fell in opposite directions across The Pike in Arroyo Grande as an atmospheric river storm brought strong winds to San Luis Obispo County on Feb. 4, 2024.

Corral said the downed lines caused an outage for 6,419 customers. PG&E crews were working to restore power at the scene, as quickly and as safely as possible, she said.

There are downed powerlines in Arroyo Grande on The Pike. Take extreme caution if you are in the area. pic.twitter.com/kioLixH4YK  SLO County OES (@slocountyoes) February 4, 2024

Elsewhere in the county, a number of downed trees, power poles and lines were also causing difficulties.

According to CHPs traffic page, a broken power pole was leaning in the area of Willow Road and Via Concha Way in Nipomo as of 11 a.m. Cal Fire closed Willow Road as crews responded to the area.

A tree was blocking the lanes of Camino Caballo near Cheyenne Court in Nipomo as of Sunday morning, according to CHP.

Meanwhile, another tree fell and blocked See Canyon Road at Johnnys Glen Lane in Avila Beach, according to CHPs traffic page. The person who reported the downed tree said they were stuck in the area because the tree was blocking the only road exit, according to the CHP page.

The Pike was closed from South Elm to Halycon Road in Arroyo Grande as of 11:30 a.m. due to downed eucalyptus trees. Residents in the area were told to shelter in place as power lines were blocking homes.

Original story:

An atmospheric river storm slammed into Californias Central Coast overnight, bringing with it damaging winds, heavy rain and power outages.

The worst of the atmospheric river storm was expected to hit areas south of San Luis Obispo County. In Santa Barbara County, evacuation orders were in effect for those living near wildfire burn scars as of Sunday morning.

San Luis Obispo County was under a flood watch issued by the Weather Service through Tuesday afternoon.

A very strong and wet storm system will move across Southwest California through Tuesday, the Weather Service wrote in its flood watch Sunday. The heaviest rain will fall today through Monday. Rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches are expected with 6 to 12 inches likely across south and southwest facing foothills and mountains.

Its possible rain could fall at rates of 0.5 to 1 inch per hour during the peak of the storm event, the Weather Service warned.

The Pike was closed from South Elm to Halycon Road in Arroyo Grande as of 11:30 a.m. due to downed eucalyptus trees. Residents in the area were told to shelter in place as power lines were blocking homes.

High winds batter SLO County

The county was also under a high wind warning issued by the Weather Service in effect through 6 a.m. Monday.

South to southeast winds of 30 to 50 mph with gusts between 70 to 80 mph were expected, according to the Weather Service.

People should avoid being outside near large trees and powerlines, the Weather Service wrote in its high wind warning on Sunday. If possible, remain indoors and avoid windows. Use extra caution if you must drive.

According to a post by meteorologist John Lindsey on X, the weather station at the PG&E TV Towers on the Cuesta Grade recorded continuous south winds at 48 mph, with gusts reaching 72 mph.

The Weather Service also issued a hurricane force wind warning for the ocean areas along the Big Sur Coast between Point Pinos in Monterey County to Point Piedras Blancas in northern San Luis Obispo County. Winds there could reach in excess of 60 knots and seas of 17 to 22 feet, according to the Weather Services warning.

The Weather Service and West Coast weather forecasters warned that these extremely dangerous winds could cause isolated tornadoes along the Big Sur Coast.

Believe the first-ever Hurricane Force Wind Warning issued in California was just issued tonight by the @NWSBayArea for the Big Sur coastal waters, with wind gusts up to 90 mph possible.



Isolated tornadoes and severe thunderstorm wind gusts from San Jose south along the Central pic.twitter.com/U1sYVqU0hQ  Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) February 4, 2024

Thousands without power during storm

The San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services said approximately 22,000 people were without power in the county Sunday morning.

The high winds caused several power outages throughout the area, according to PG&Es outage map.

In the Los Osos and Morro Bay area, the power turned off for about 6,696 PG&E customers at around 7:40 a.m. Sunday. Another 200 customers just east of the two cities also saw power turn off at around 9:30 a.m., according to PG&Es outage map.

In the Lake Nacimiento area south toward Templeton, about 679 customers had the power cut off at around 9 a.m. Sunday, the outage map showed.

And in the area just north of Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach, about 883 PG&E customers lost power at around 9 a.m. Sunday.

PG&E has been preparing for this storm, staging crews in the areas expected to receive the most severe storm impacts, said PG&E spokesperson Carina Corral in an email on Friday.

Arroyo Grande city crews clean up downed up downed cypress and olive trees at Camino Mercado and West Branch Street as an atmospheric river storm brings damaging winds to the area Feb. 4, 2024.

Fallen trees block roads throughout county

The high winds also knocked down trees throughout San Luis Obispo County.

A tree fell at around 10:30 a.m. on Highway 101 at the Grand Avenue off ramp, blocking a northbound lane, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Another fell on Mary Avenue and Tefft Street in Nipomo, partially blocking a lane, the CHP traffic incident page showed on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, a large oak tree was down and blocking Price Canyon Road off Spanish Springs Drive, according to CHP.

In Arroyo Grande, crews were working to clear downed cypress and olive trees at Camino Mercado and West Branch Street as of 10:30 a.m.

Arroyo Grande maintenance worker Victor Rocha said teams with the citys public works department have been out responding to storm issues since 6 a.m.

Victor Rocha, lead worker with Arroyo Grande Public Works department chain saws sections of downed tree. High storm winds downed a eucalyptus tree on The Pike in Arroyo Grande knocking down 10 utility poles and forcing residents to shelter in place as crews worked to clear the tangle Feb. 4, 2024.
As wind turbines get more efficient and solar panels more affordable, wind and solar plants have grown rapidly.

Efforts to block them have grown rapidly, too, especially since 2021.

USA TODAYs analysis found 15% of counties nationwide now have some impediment to new utility-scale wind and solar energy.

Gauging those impediments required researching a variety of local rules including outright bans, zoning restrictions, specialized land-use rules or political stonewalls. It also required setting a standard as to which restrictions are restrictive enough to count.

Heres what we found, and how we measured it:

Bans

In some cases, counties simply ban large renewable energy projects, as part of a backlash to their growing presence. Any county with a ban was counted in our data.

An example is in Pulaski County, Indiana. A wind farm was under consideration for Jasper and Pulaski counties in 2018. The developers said the 20 to 30 turbines in the county would have produced $600,000 per year in tax revenue.

But opposed residents said the project would harm the local economy, reduce property values, affect human health, compromise military readiness, hurt wildlife and lead to the loss of quiet nights, dark skies and the scenic nature of the region.

In 2021 the Pulaski County board of commissioners banned all commercial wind turbines from the county, citing the need to protect and promote the health, safety and general welfare of the residents.

These kinds of bans proliferated. By the end of 2023, 292 counties nationwide had similar ones in place.

Moratoriums

Counties use moratoriums to buy time to write new zoning and regulation for wind and solar farms, sometimes to craft reasonable laws and sometimes to craft bans. As of the end of 2023, 26 counties had moratoriums in place on new solar projects and 17 on wind projects.

In most cases, a county realizes it doesnt have adequate zoning and regulation in place to properly evaluate a solar or wind project, so officials place a moratorium on any new renewable projects while its county zoning board writes one. Once the new rule is adopted, the moratorium is lifted.

Thats what happened in Linn County, Iowa. Two solar projects were approved in 2022 amid a fair amount of dissent.

So the supervisors pressed the pause button, said Steve Guyer with the Iowa Environmental Council.

During a years moratorium, the county wrote revised rules that were considered fairly reasonable by everyone. As county supervisor Louis Zumback told a local television station, Theres really nothing in it that is a poison pill.

In Colorado, which has some of the best wind resources in the nation, five counties put moratoriums in place in 2022 and 2023 while they updated their land use codes.

But in other cases, a moratorium is closer to a stand-in for a ban.

Theyll carefully craft the ordinance so it doesnt look ridiculously restrictive, but they know it will stop it, said Ed Rivet, executive director of the Michigan Conservative Energy Forum, which supports the rights of landowners and all energy, whether renewable or fossil fuels.

Some counties have enacted what they call indefinite moratoriums.

In 2018 Thomas County, Georgia passed a rule saying energy facilities would not be allowed "indefinitely." Hardin County, Iowa put an indefinite moratorium in place in 2019 and in 2023 in McPherson County, Kansas, the county commission indefinitely extended its moratorium on wind turbines.

Impediments: Heights and setbacks

If youre allowed to build a wind turbine, but it has to be so short that it cant catch the wind, you cant run a successful power plan. If your county allows turbines  but requires they be at least a mile from anyone elses property line,  chances are there are almost no places turbines can really be built.

Thats the scenario in counties across the country. Green energy might technically be allowed, but building restrictions, especially focused on wind power, make it so difficult that experts and industry representatives agree theres no practical way to build.

Height is crucial to wind power because winds are generally stronger at a higher altitude. And a taller turbine can hold longer blades, which catch more air.

So a taller wind turbine captures more wind at faster speeds, making it more powerful and efficient. In the United States today, most new turbines start at around 525 feet and go as high as 650 feet tall. (The U.S. doesnt even have the most powerful new models. In 2023 a Danish turbine was built at almost 920 feet tall, producing 80 gigawatts of energy, enough to power about 20,000 homes.)

USA TODAYs analysis of rules considers a height limit of 500 feet below to be a significant impediment, based on the consensus of experts including energy attorneys and university academics who study renewable energy. They agree that overall, if turbines are limited to 500 feet, they are far less likely to be economically viable.

Wind turbines that are part of the Soldier Creek Wind Farm in Goff, Kansas, seen in October 2023.

In 2014, Connecticut passed a law that required setbacks of at least 2.5 times a turbines height, typically about 1,250 feet. No new wind projects have been built there since then.

And at some point, a height limit is so low that its not just an impediment, its really a ban. The limits range from no more than 80 feet in Inyo County, California to a trio of counties in Colorado, Iowa and Virginia that max out at 500.

Then theres the question of setbacks. That means how far any one turbine must be set back from the edge of the next property that isn't part of the wind farm.

Model zoning ordinances in multiple states require a setback of 1.1 to 1.5 times the height of a turbine  so, about 550 to 750 feet. That way even if a turbine should fall over (an exceedingly rare occurrence) it would not touch neighbors property.

But some locales require more extreme setbacks. USA TODAYs analysis considers a setback requirement greater than 1,000 feet to be a significant impediment to wind power.

The most extreme in the nation are in Nebraska.

The Cornhusker state, which ranks third or fourth in the nation for its potential wind power, has three counties with one-mile setback requirements (5,280 feet), two with two-mile setbacks, three with three-mile setbacks and one  Wheeler County  which in 2021 passed a five-mile setback requirement, the greatest distance in the country.

Even politically progressive areas have blocked green energy with these rules. In 2017, Vermont passed a setback requirement of 10 times turbine height, or about one mile, from the nearest residence. (It also enacted a sound limit of no more than 35 decibels at night.) No wind projects have been permitted in the state since then.

Impediments: Noise limits

In the 2010s a common concern about wind turbines was that the swishing noise was annoying or even dangerous to residents health. The health effects have been discounted and today turbines are quiet enough with reasonable setbacks that sound is not considered a major issue.

When Indiana enacted voluntary model renewable energy zoning regulations, it set a maximum allowable sound limit of 50 decibels, about the sound of a household refrigerator.

But other places set tough noise limits. Vermonts 35-decibel limit is somewhere between the sound of a library and a quiet rural area, according to Purdue University.

USA TODAYs analysis considers sound limits below 50 decibels to be impediments to wind power.

At some point even lower than that, sound limits also can become de facto bans.

The decision makers may say a 30 decibel sound limit sounds like a great thing, but thats quieter than the wind itself, so youre effectively placing a ban on this form of energy without having to set a ban, said Simon Mahan, executive director of the Southern Renewable Energy Association, based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

A total of 36 counties have decibel limits lower than 50, almost all enacted between 2012 and 2017.

A block to wind: Ridgeline rules

Other rules can make green energy farms impractical. One impediment for wind turbines is when they are banned on ridge tops.

Wind is stronger at the top of a ridgeline than at the bottom. In mountainous areas, if turbines cant be built on top of the ridges, they cant catch the wind.

In 2018, Tennessee passed a law making utility-scale wind almost impossible to build by setting a minimum setback of 3 times a turbines height (at least 1,500 feet), a noise limit of 35 decibels and a 500-foot height limit.

A variety of wind turbines are seen in the distance from Palm Springs Windmill Tours in Palm Springs, Calif., Wednesday, May 11, 2022.

Crucially, though, the law also allows no turbines over 350 feet high on mountain ridges. So in the states mountainous end, even if turbines could be placed in a rural spot with 1,500-foot setbacks, they couldnt actually be built high enough to catch the wind.

This became the law in every county that did not already have a wind ordinance in place. Four counties  Gibson, Jefferson, Shelby and Washington  did have preexisting ordinances and are open to wind development.

As a result, Tennessee has only one wind farm, built in 2004.

North Carolinas limits date back to 1983, when a development company built a ten-story condominium building on Little Sugar Mountain next to a ski resort. Deeply loathed by local residents, it spurred them to pass the Mountain Ridge Protection Act. which allowed counties to ban structures over 40 feet high on ridge lines. That meant wind turbines, as well as condo towers, became off-limits.

A later amendment set the maximum wind turbine height in those counties at 100 feet. In the end, 24 counties adopted the law, putting all wind off-limits in one-quarter of the state. The state built one wind project since then, in 2017, though one other is now in the works.

A block to solar: Agriculture rules

An increasingly common way to curtail solar projects is to set limits on the amount of agricultural land that can be used for them in a county. Farmland is a popular place to build solar because its generally relatively flat and open. Not surprisingly, places where crops are grown tend to have good sunlight.

USA TODAYs analysis found that in at least 22 counties in nine states, agricultural limits have been used to create impediments to solar power.

The Yellowbud Solar farm in Pickaway and Ross counties in Ohio.

Opponents argue that too much farmland being turned into solar will affect the countrys ability to feed itself at the national level and destroy the rural nature of life at the county level.

Yet the U.S. currently pays farmers nationwide to keep millions of acres out of production.

That hasnt stopped the argument that solar should be blocked from farmland. Its commonly used in Midwestern counties but has been most prevalent in Virginia, where 14 of the states 95 counties have some type of restriction on the amount or percentage of land that can be used for solar power. In October 2023, a representative from Dominion Energy, one of the states two largest electric utilities, said building out the 16,000 megawatts of solar production required by 2020s Virginia Clean Economy Act will require about 160,000 acres of state land and would take up less than 1.5% of Virginias prime farm and forest land.

Political blocks

In some counties, local governments simply refuse to engage with would-be solar or wind developers or make it impossible to build.

In Labette County, Kansas, the County Commission has refused to sign road agreements with any industrial wind developer.

A crowded meeting Oct. 10, 2023 at the Fort Gratiot Planning Commission in Michigan, where officials were considering a 900-acre solar development.

In Nebraska, Dawson County passed a permitting fee of $1,000 per solar panel in 2022. By way of comparison, a recent 81 megawatt solar project for Omaha would require about 160,000 panels. In Dawson County, such a project would cost $160 million in fees alone.

Sometimes counties may simply ignore state law.

In Maryland, the state Supreme Court ruled the Public Service Commission has final say on locating solar projects. Even so, a third of its counties have impediments in place.

Counties are trying to make legal arguments for why they dont have to abide by the states Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. It tacks on legal fees and some developers are getting tired of paying, said Stephanie Johnson, executive director of the Chesapeake Solar and Storage Association.

But some states are wide open

In spite of some locales' right-wing politics turning against green energy, other areas, including conservative ones, remain pro-renewable.

The opportunity to make money from the land  and a strong belief in private property rights  sometimes are the reasons.

Texas is the nations leader in wind-powered electricity and has been since 2005. Wind produces 23% of its electricity and solar more than 5%. There are no county-level blocks to renewables, partly because Texas has very strong rules governing the rights of private property owners and partly because of its long history of energy extraction.

Florida has the nations third largest solar generating capacity and is rapidly scaling up with output. In 2021 it passed a law prohibiting local governments from restricting solar energy on farmland. Liberal Massachusetts passed a similar law in 2022.

Wyoming has strong winds and already gets 22% of its electricity from them. It passed a law putting wind projects with 20 or more turbines under the jurisdiction of its state environmental agencys Industrial Siting Council  meaning local jurisdictions cant limit them.

There are also states that have begun pushing back against local restrictions, by taking that authority away from counties. Illinois and Michigan both made this move in 2023.

New York State has passed laws attempting to simplify and speed up renewable siting efforts. The latest, in 2021, established the Office of Renewable Energy Siting, which can override burdensome local laws.

Other states try to make it easier for developers by effectively telling them Here, but not there.

Maine was one of the first, creating a Wind Expedited Permitting Area that mapped the portions of the state considered best suited and most appropriate for wind projects. Today Maine's wind farms produce more than a quarter of the states electricity.

Washington state created a pilot program to head off clashes. A June report mapped out 212,000 acres deemed potentially low conflict and highly suitable for solar projects.

How we did this report

USA TODAYs analysis began in 2022 with data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Columbia Universitys Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. Both track laws governing solar and wind energy at the county and municipality level.

We built on that with more than a years worth of research tracking restrictions on wind and solar using federal data, local government filings and media reports from across the country.

We used this to create a database of rules and zoning restrictions for counties, plus some municipalities. We also indexed those by the date they began, stretching from the first we found, in 2000, through the end of 2023.

After interviews with more than 45 experts, we set standards for what kinds of rules and conditions constituted blocks to new, utility-scale (over 5 megawatts) wind and solar projects. These fell into four categories: outright bans, moratoriums, significance impediments and other conditions that made projects difficult to permit.

For each state, we created an overview of current and past state law on the placement and regulation of wind and solar power, and a list of counties that currently have blocks. We ran each states overview by at least two experts familiar with the state to confirm our findings. These included regional and state academics, regulators, renewable energy developers and groups supporting wind and or solar power.

The overall methodology and conclusions were vetted by a panel that included state and national experts from the industry and academia. They were:

Alan Anderson, chair of the energy practice at Polsinelli law firm, Kansas City.

Matt Eisenson, a senior fellow at the Renewable Energy Legal Defense Initiative at Columbia Universitys Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. He wrote their 2023 paper Opposition to Renewable Energy Facilities in the United States.

Tamara Ogle, a member of the land use team at Purdue University Extension, who inventoried Indianas renewable energy ordinances in 2022.

After a year and a half of data collection, by the end of 2023, we had identified 471 counties in the United States in which it is now difficult or impossible to build a new, utility-scale wind or solar farm. This inventory, and the date each block began, allowed us to see the increases over time.

Our conclusions are corroborated by research from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which previously found existing local ordinances are responsible for about a 13% reduction in wind capacity and a 2% reduction in solar capacity across the nation. The NREL numbers, based on ordinances in place in 2021, likely underestimate the effect on solar because of the large number of new solar impediments USA TODAY found from 2022 and 2023.

This story was produced with support from the McGraw Center for Business Journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How we tallied local bans, limits on renewable energy nationwide
Akron educator Abbie Willacy takes a portrait in 1964, the year that she laid the groundwork for Head Start.

Abbie Willacy gave children a head start by caring about them.

The Akron educator treated students as individuals, listening to what they had to say, showing genuine concern for their well-being and helping them reach their full potential.

As the first African American woman to serve as a teacher and principal in Akron Public Schools, she was a pioneer in education who further cemented her legacy by developing the communitys first Head Start program 60 years ago.

The light began to shine more than a century ago.

The Rev. James S. Earle was delivering a sermon July 13, 1913, at Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, when an usher rushed up to him and whispered in his ear.

Listening carefully, the minister began to smile.

I have a baby girl, Earle told the congregation. Her name is Abbie Helen.

He repeated that story to his daughter every year on her birthday, wanting her to know just how happy her arrival made him feel.

When I heard you were born, the sun shone more brightly than ever before through the stained-glass windows, he told her.

He called her Sunshine Girl.

A teacher marries a doctor

Abbie was 7 when her mother, also named Abbie, died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1920 at age 42, leaving behind a husband and five children. The preacher remarried his wifes sister Bartie the following year.

Papa knew we needed a mother, and she was just that  never a stepmother, she later recalled.

The loving, tight-knit family welcomed four more children, and the half-siblings always treated each other as full brothers and sisters.

Abbie attended private schools in Spartanburg until transferring to Benedict College, a historically Black prep school in Columbia, in the 11th grade.

In 1932, the Earle family moved to Washington, D.C. Abbie graduated from Miner Teachers College in 1935 and earned her masters degree in nursery education from Howard University in 1936.

She met her future husband, Aubrey S. Willacy, a medical student from Kingston, Jamaica, in the library at Howard. They married in Fairfax, Virginia, in 1938, a year after he graduated from medical school.

Dr. Aubrey S. Willacy, pictured in 1985, was a practicing physician for more than 50 years.

Abbie Willacy began her public teaching career in Washington and it was an eye-opening experience. She shined a light for those less fortunate.

I taught children who had never had a birthday party; who had never been made happy; who felt unwanted and a burden, or that they were just another mouth to feed; or didnt get love at home, she later recalled.

In 1947, the couple moved to Akron where Dr. Willacy took over the medical practice of an ailing colleague on South Howard Street en route to more than 50 years in medicine. His wife joined Akron Public Schools in 1947 as an elementary teacher, the first Black woman to lead a classroom in the district.

They raised two sons, Aubrey and Alfred, and lived on Edgewood Avenue and later Perkins Park Drive. The family belonged to St. Philips Episcopal Church.

In 1950, Abbie Willacy began teaching fifth grade at Miller School, where she remained a guiding light for 14 years. Students admired, trusted and respected the teacher, who gave them her full attention in class and provided meaningful lessons.

After young vandals caused heavy damage to Myers Tire Supply Co. near the school, Willacy took her class on a field trip to meet owner L.S. Myers and tour the plant. She shined a spotlight on the problem of juvenile delinquency.

When the children saw the whole picture, they realized what the damage was doing, Willacy told the Beacon Journal. They wanted things to be right. They understood that Mr. Myers is trying to improve this neighborhood  their neighborhood.

Origin of Head Start in Akron

One day Willacy was teaching an English lesson in 1964 when a school official entered the classroom and took a seat. Was she in trouble? After class, he told her that Superintendent Martin Essex wanted to see her. Now she knew how students felt when they were called to the principals office.

The next day, she met with Essex, who showed her a stack of reports that the federal government had mailed about anti-poverty initiatives. Essex said a pre-kindergarten program for low-income children would be beneficial for the school district.

Martin Essex

He told me to write the program for Akron, Willacy recalled decades later. It was like telling me to write a book.

Her proposal outlined a system that would give young kids from disadvantaged families a head start in preparing for school. Under the title of resource teacher for special services, she laid the groundwork for one of the nations six pilot programs of Project Head Start, later called Head Start.

Children need certain basic knowledge to profit even from kindergarten, Willacy explained. Children lacking this knowledge  certain words, ideas, habits  fall behind in their work. Maybe it takes from four to five years to go from kindergarten through third grade. Already theyre potential dropouts  and potential burdens on society by the time theyre adults.

In January 1965, Willacy knocked on doors around Bryan School, a predominantly Black elementary on Charles Street, trying to persuade parents to let their 4-year-old children join the new program.

Doors were slammed in my face twice, she recalled. People felt we were experimenting with their children  and we were.

Head Start pupils take a group photo in 1965 at United Baptist Church on Bellows Street in Akron. In the front row are Tony Combs, Gwendolyn Smith, Ronald Burgan and Regina Blair. In the back row are Kevin McCraney, April Gordon, Stacey Saunders and Johnny Green.

She somehow persuaded families to enroll 18 children in a three-month project financed with an Akron Community Trust grant of $2,732 (about $27,000 today). Willacy and teacher Delores Brown Smith developed the curriculum. Pupils played games, learned to socialize, practiced reading, improved verbal skills and took field trips to a fire station and farm.

The district was so pleased that it expanded the program. In March, more than 900 children enrolled in 66 classes across the city. A federal grant of $290,000 (about $2.8 million today) paid for the expansion.

Akron teachers credited Head Start for significant improvements in childrens language expression, listening habits, group participation, creative expression and self-confidence. Superintendent Essex said the initiative helped make Akron perhaps the most advanced city in the nation in the anti-poverty program.

Willacy also organized the Youth Tutor Corps, which paired high school students with elementary pupils in inner-city neighborhoods to give them extra help in class assignments.

The personal encouragement, as well as the example of youth who have been successful in school, may well produce other benefits and motivation, Willacy said.

Principal at Crosby and Barber

For her accomplishments, Willey was promoted in June 1965 to principal of Crosby School, becoming the first Black woman to lead an Akron school. In 1972, the district named her principal of Barber Elementary, where she remained until retiring in 1978.

In addition to school duties, Willacy belonged to several local organizations, including Akron Community Center, Akron Urban League, League of Women Voters and Summit County Children Services Board, where she became the first Black board member and first chairwoman.

Retired Akron Public Schools principal Abbie Willacy is pictured in 1990.

Dr. Aubrey and Abbie Willacy were married for 66 years. He passed away Jan. 1, 2005, at age 97. Two months later, she died March 8 at age 91.

She was more than a great teacher, Superintendent Sylvester Small eulogized. She was everybodys mother.

Her light still shines.

Promoting education and health services, Head Start is available at no cost to pregnant mothers, infants, toddlers and children up to age 5 from income-eligible families. Community Action Akron Summit is the grantee agency of the federally funded program in the region.

So far it looks successful, Willacy told the Beacon Journal in 1965. The children are sopping up information like sponges  and they love it.

Mark J. Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com

Local history: 101 trailblazers who achieved famous firsts in Akron Black history

Local history: Akron landmarks in Black history

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron educator Abbie Willacy gave students a Head Start
Have some fun and support a good cause with these fundraisers for local nonprofits:

Yard Sale

Sunday, Feb. 4 - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Shepherdstown Community Club

102 E. German St.

Shepherdstown, W.Va.

Clothes, household goods, and other items. Sponsored by Shepherd Universitys Student Community Services. Proceeds benefit this year's travel expenses for students during Alternative Spring Break, where students repair three homes for families in need. Email anazarok@shepherd.edu or go to shepherd.edu/communityservice/alternative-spring-break.

All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Dinner

Saturday, Feb. 10 - 3 to 6 p.m. (snow date is Saturday, Feb. 17)

St. Mark's Lutheran Church

601 Washington Ave.

Hagerstown

Spaghetti with homemade meat or meatless sauce, salad or applesauce, breadsticks, desserts and beverage. Eat in or carryout. Ticket are $10 for adults, $5 ages 5 to 11, and free for ages 4 and younger. Buy tickets in advance from a St. Mark's member, or call 301-733-7550 or 443-880-0263. Tickets may also be purchased at the door. Proceeds benefit the church.

Super Bowl Sunday Buffet Dinner

Sunday, Feb. 11 - noon to 3 p.m.

The Shepherdstown Fire Department

8052 Martinsburg Pike (Route 45)

Shepherdstown, W.Va.

Ham, fried chicken, vegetables, homemade rolls and dessert. $10. Proceeds support the fire department's fire and emergency medical services. Call 304-876-2311.

Bingo will be held Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 6:45 p.m. at South Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, 11207 Loop Road, Fayetteville, Pa.

Bingo

Tuesday, Feb. 13 - doors open 5 p.m., kitchen opens 5:30 p.m. and games start 6:45 p.m.

South Mountain Volunteer Fire Department

11207 Loop Road

Fayetteville, Pa.

Small games of chance, raffles. Food available for purchase. Call 717-749-5733 or go to southmountainvfd.org. Proceeds benefit the fire department.

All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast

Saturday, Feb. 17 - 7 to 10 a.m.

Christ Reformed United Church Of Christ

22514 Cavetown Church Road

Cavetown

Pancakes, sausage, sausage gravy, eggs, toast, variety of cereal, orange juice, coffee and milk. $7 adults, $5 ages 5 to 12, free for ages 4 and younger. Call 301-797-6292. Proceeds benefit the church.

All You Can Eat Breakfast

Saturday, Feb. 17 - 8 to 11 a.m.

Grace United Methodist Church

712 W. Church St. (corner of Winter and Church streets)

Hagerstown

Pancakes, biscuits, sausage gravy, bacon, tater tots, scrambled eggs, coffee and juice. Free activities for children. $10 ages 13 and older, free ages 12 and younger. Proceeds benefit Grace UMC Food Pantry. Call 240-850-2934.

All You Can Eat Pot Pie Dinner

Saturday, Feb. 17 - 4 to 6 p.m. or until sold out

Potomac Valley Fire Company

2202 Dargan School Road

Sharpsburg

Ham, chicken, beef, coleslaw, homemade roll, coffee and iced tea. $10. Eat in or carry out. Call 301-432-2130 after 10 a.m. on Feb. 17 for carry out orders. Proceeds benefit the fire company.

All You Can Eat Beef and Oyster Feed

Saturday, Feb. 24 - doors open 3 p.m., meal starts 4 p.m.

South Mountain Volunteer Fire Department

11207 Loop Road

Fayetteville, Pa.

Oysters (raw, steamed, fried and stew), roast beef, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy and corn. $45 includes meal and all beverages. Small games of chance and other raffles available for purchase. Must be 18 to attend, 21 to drink. Only 144 tickets available. Call 717-749-5733 or go to southmountainvfd.org. Proceeds benefit the fire department.

Annual Dave Henneberger Memorial Bull & Oyster Roast

Sunday, Feb. 25 - noon to 5 p.m.

Hagerstown Community College ARCC

11400 Robinwood Drive

Hagerstown

Must be 21 to attend. Fresh shucked Chesapeake oysters and fried oysters, beer and wine, soft drinks, gaming tables, tip jars and silent auction. $65 per person. Deadline for online tickets is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23. Tickets also sold at the door. Go to hagerstownrotarybando.org/roast-tickets.php or call 301-491-4002. Prestented by Downtown Hagerstown Rotary Club, Hagerstown Sunrise Rotary Club, Hancock Rotary Club and Williamsport Rotary Club. Proceeds benefit Washington County nonprofit organizations.

Annual Dinner, Dance & Auction

Saturday, March 2 - 5:30 to 11 p.m.

The Orchards

1580 Orchard Drive

Chambersburg, Pa.

Silent and live auctions. Black tie optional. $125 per person, $940 table of eight. Proceeds benefit Cumberland Valley School of Music. Call 717-261-1220.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Local fundraisers for February
 Flash

This photo taken with a mobile phone on Feb. 3, 2024 shows a destroyed car after U.S. airstrikes in Anbar, Iraq. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Iraqi government said Saturday that the U.S. airstrikes on the paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces in western Iraq killed 16 people, including civilians, and injured 25 others.

Calling the airstrikes "blatant aggression," government spokesman Basim al-Awadi told the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) that "the U.S. administration violated Iraq's sovereignty when its aircraft conducted airstrikes on the positions of our security forces in the Akashat and al-Qaim areas, as well as neighboring civilian places."

Al-Awadi also denied reports that claimed there was coordination between the government and the U.S. administration about the airstrikes, stressing that these reports are "a false claim aimed at misleading international public opinion and evading legal responsibility for this crime," according to the INA.

He also said that the government believes that the presence of the international coalition forces on Iraqi soil has become a threat to security and stability in Iraq and a justification for involving Iraq in regional and international conflicts.

Al-Awadi warned that the recent airstrikes put security in Iraq and the region on the brink of the abyss, adding, "Iraq renews its refusal to make its lands an arena for settling scores."

The U.S. Central Command said in a statement on Friday that the U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and affiliated militia groups.

The U.S. airstrikes came in response to recent attacks by Iranian-backed militias that caused the first U.S. fatalities since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023.
Smog hangs in the air as the sun sets on downtown Los Angeles in October 2023. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is preparing to reject California's plan to curb air pollution in Los Angeles, a consequential move that could result in stiff economic sanctions and federal regulatory oversight of the nation's smoggiest region.

Despite having the strictest air pollution rules in the nation, Southern California has never complied with federal health standards for ozone, the lung-searing gas commonly called smog. Because of this, state and local air regulators are required to submit plans to the EPA detailing how they intend to reduce pollution and comply with federal standards.

California air regulators acknowledge that the region still needs to reduce smog-forming nitrogen oxides by more than 100 tons per day in order to achieve the 1997 standard for ozone.

However, the South Coast Air Quality Management District proposal calls on the federal government to make most of those cuts  at least 67 tons per day  arguing that some of the largest sources of smog-forming emissions are federally regulated, such as ships, trains and aircraft. Local air quality officials lack the jurisdiction to regulate mobile sources of emissions, and can only control stationary sources, such as industrial facilities.

In a recent draft response, the EPA has proposed rejecting California's plan, declaring "states do not have authority" under the Clean Air Act or the Constitution to order the federal government to reduce pollution.

Read more: A fire burning deep inside an L.A. County landfill is raising new alarms over toxic air

In a pointed response, local air officials claimed the EPA was responsible for the damaging health effects of Los Angeles area smog, because it has failed to offer solutions to curb emissions from "sources that they know are beyond our control."

"U.S. EPAs draft decision is disheartening," read a statement from the air district. "South Coast AQMD intends to comment on this new proposal and take all appropriate actions in hopes that this decision does not become final. More importantly, U.S. EPA will need to answer the millions of residents, especially children, who have asthma, lung disease and other illnesses associated with air pollution that continue to suffer."

The EPA has until July 1 to decide whether to finalize the rejection. If the state and local air regulators fail to submit a plan that the EPA finds acceptable within that time, the federal government could withhold billions of dollars in highway funding, place strict requirements on new permits and even impose a federal plan to curb smog.

The EPA has disapproved of the air district's plans several times in the past, but the region has managed to avert potential sanctions.

The proposed denial is the latest confrontation between Southern California air regulators and the Biden EPA  two unlikely adversaries who have clashed for nearly two years over how to solve the region's long-standing issues with smog.

It has also highlighted the complex nature of regulating pollution in the region where at least three entities have authority  the local air district, which oversees smokestack emissions; the California Air Resources Board, which governs in-state vehicles; and the EPA, which handles interstate and international travel.

However, some environmental advocates say the dilemma is a collective failure by every level of government.

Adrian Martinez, a senior attorney with Earthjustice, said the conflict follows years of repeated delays and deadline extensions, when all three environmental agencies were capable of cutting more emissions.

"The plan to meet our clean air standards relied on these faith-based assumptions that we'll figure out how to reduce the pollution at a later time. And what ended up happening is we never figured it out," Martinez said.

Read more: Will storing CO2 in old oil fields slow global warming? First California plan nears approval

Historically, Southern California has been plagued by smog, which forms when the region's persistent sunlight interacts with vehicle exhaust and smokestack emissions. The region's mountainous terrain confines this toxic haze over the region, rather than allowing it to disperse.

Although there has been significant progress over the last several decades through the development of cleaner vehicle engines and pollution controls for industry, the region's smog remains the worst in the country.

Since 1997, nitrogen oxides have decreased 70% in the air basin. The majority of those emission reductions are the result of stricter vehicle standards imposed by the state, and locally imposed regulations on industry, according to the South Coast air district.

As emission reductions have stalled and aircraft emissions have risen, the air district has found itself under increasing pressure to force the EPA's hand. According to estimates, even if Southern California eliminates emissions from all building and industrial sources, it wouldn't be enough to meet federal standards.

The air district has sued the EPA for violating the Clean Air Act, arguing it was impossible for the region to comply with federal smog standards without massive cuts from federal sources. The move was intended to compel the EPA to adopt new regulatory strategies that would curtail pollution from ports, railyards and airports. The air district later settled the case.

For its part, the Biden administration last year adopted tighter vehicle emission standards, including for heavy-duty trucks, which is expected to reduce smog.

But these federal requirements still pale in comparison to rules in California  the only state that can implement its own vehicle emission standards with federal approval.

"We acknowledge that there are sources of air pollution in South Coast that the air district and CARB do not have the regulatory authority to control," an EPA spokesperson said in a statement. "EPA has made it a very high priority to help reduce mobile source emissions through rulemaking and leveraging unprecedented federal funding ... wherever possible."

Read more: Could Culver City's landmark deal to end oil production be a model for other cities?

The EPA is accepting public comments on its proposed disapproval of the regional smog plan until March 4.

If the EPA finalizes this disapproval, California will have 18 months to obtain the federal agency's approval for a new plan. By failing to meet that deadline, the federal government would require some newly permitted businesses to reduce twice as many tons of smog-forming as they emit.

Six months later, if the deadline still hasn't been met, the Federal Highway Administration is required to impose a moratorium on highway funding (with exceptions for mass transit and public safety).

No more than two years after final disapproval, the EPA must enforce a federal implementation plan to achieve federal smog standards.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
UPDATE: Alex Achonu has been found and is safe, according to an update posted by LPD on Saturday.

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  The Lansing Police Department is seeking help looking for a missing person.

Alex Achonu, 74, was last seen in the area of Michigan and Foster Avenues, according to a social media post Saturday by LPD.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Achonu is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 195 pounds.

LPD is asking for help finding the missing person Alex Achonu, 74. (LPD)

LPD is asking anyone with information about Achonus whereabouts to call them at 517-483-4600.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
A Discover Airlines sign pictured at a check-in counter. Some flights at Lufthansa's leisure subsidiary Discover Airlines were disrupted on 04 February as pilots walked off the job for 48 hours over pay and working conditions. Helmut Fricke/dpa

Some flights at Lufthansa's leisure subsidiary Discover Airlines were disrupted on Sunday as pilots walked off the job for 48 hours over pay and working conditions.

Discover Airlines, which until last September was known as Eurowings Discover, operates short, medium and long-haul service to popular tourist destinations using 24 aircraft.

The airline said that 90% of its scheduled short and medium-haul flights from Frankfurt were expected to depart on time during the strike. But only around 30% of long-haul flights were to be operated.

Discover flights from Frankfurt to Spain, Mexico and the United States were cancelled or delayed, for instance, on Sunday. But routes out of Munich saw fewer problems as parent company Lufthansa took over operations of those flights.

The strike began on Sunday and was set to last through Monday evening.

This is the third labour action by Discover pilots after a five-hour strike shortly before Christmas and a 24-hour work stoppage last month.

The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union is trying to forge a first collective agreement with the airline, which was founded two and a half years ago and is based in Frankfurt and Munich.

The union considers the negotiations with the employer to have stalled. The renewed strike is being used as a last resort in view of the lack of progress in the talks, it said.

The Lufthansa Group, which operates a network of airlines, is in the midst of negotiating labour contracts with employees at several of its companies. Flight attendants and ground staff have already threatened to go on strike at main airline Lufthansa.

Travelers stand at the check-in counters of Discover Airlines. Some flights at Lufthansa's leisure subsidiary Discover Airlines were disrupted on 04 February as pilots walked off the job for 48 hours over pay and working conditions. Helmut Fricke/dpa
Caroline, who posts under the handle @blondevoyage, initially outlined the mistakes -- and the tips to fix them -- back in 2022. However, her video has since resurfaced as millions of people prepare to book tickets for their upcoming summer vacations.

Bookmark these booking tips.

A flight attendant has shared the three major mistakes Americans make when booking their plane tickets, saying the errors often ensure travel chaos.

Caroline, who posts under the handle @blondevoyage, initially outlined the mistakes  and the tips to fix them  back in 2022. However, her video has since resurfaced as millions of people prepare to book tickets for their upcoming summer vacations.

I hope this can make your travel experience a little more seamless, the Fort Lauderdale flight attendant declared as she dished her tips.

The first frequent mistake made when booking a trip pertains to layover time.

According to Caroline, many fliers dont pay attention to the timing of their connections, often leading to unnecessary stress.

If you are booking a connecting flight make sure to give yourself at least two hours in between flights, she said, saying planes can often be delayed during peak summer travel times.

I hope this can make your travel experience a little more seamless, the Fort Lauderdale flight attendant declared as she dished her tips. xoblondevoyage/Instagram

She additionally advised that international travelers leave three hours in between flights, which would allow them plenty of time to clear customs before boarding for their second leg.

Caroline warned that many third-party providers only leave 30 minutes to transfer.

You dont want to be stressed and rushing from your flight and not make the next flight and then the one after is oversold, she declared.

Secondly, Caroline said many people make the mistake of booking afternoon or evening flights.

Secondly, Caroline said many people make the mistake of booking afternoon or evening flights. xoblondevoyage/Instagram

The airline employee urged all viewers to buy a plane ticket for the early morning, as there would be less likelihood of a delay.

I know you dont want to wake up at 3 in the morning to catch a 5 a.m. flight, she stated. But I promise you the earlier your flight is, the smoother everything is going to go.

The third and final mistake travelers make is not downloading the airlines app as soon as they book a ticket online.

Seasoned traveler: The airline employee urged all viewers to buy a plane ticket for the early morning, as there would be less likelihood of a delay. xoblondevoyage/Instagram

It will help you out so much as you are traveling throughout the airport, Caroline claimed, saying the hack made the lead-up to any flight so much more seamless.

You can find out if there are any delays and get information on your connecting flight and which gate it is at, she said. There is just so much information on them.
LAYTON, Utah (ABC4)  A 57-year-old man was arrested Friday after being found in a restaurant with a missing, underage Layton girl, according to the Washington County Sheriffs Office. Authorities believe the mans intention was to exploit the girl sexually.

Philip Alan Rogers, 57, was arrested on charges of purchase, transfer, possession, use of a firearm by a restricted person (third-degree felony), harboring a runaway (class B misdemeanor), and possession of controlled substance marijuana/spice (class B misdemeanor).

On Feb. 2, a WCSO deputy responded to the area of I-15 Southbound near mile marker 2. The deputy was advised by Layton Police of a possible missing, endangered girl being driven through the area.

Man hospitalized after Wasatch Co. snowmobile accident

The girl was reportedly not related to Rogers, and police believed Rogers was taking the girl to Las Vegas.

The deputy found Rogers SUV at a local restaurant, and was able to identify Rogers and the girl through security cameras inside. The two were reportedly seen sitting together at a table and Rogers appeared to be talking on a cellphone.

The deputy then approached Rogers and the girl and advised them to come outside. Rogers was reportedly carrying a firearm in his front pocket. Rogers refused to speak with the deputy, though based on investigation, police had cause to arrest Rogers for harboring a runaway.

It was also expressed to me that throughout the investigation, investigators believed the intention behind Philip taking [the victim] to Las Vegas was to engage in sexual activities, the affidavit states.

Its awful not knowing: Family of woman found dead in Bountiful shares story on National Missing Persons Day

During Rogers arrest, the deputy reportedly found a condom in Rogers front shirt pocket that appeared to be knew, the affidavit states, as well as THC edibles, a suitcase containing clothing, and several other condoms. Rogers wallet also contained a police badge due to being prior law enforcement.

It would be reasonable to believe that it was the intention of Philip to engage in sexual

acts with [the victim], the affidavit states.

Layton Police are reportedly further investigating this incident for additional charges of enticing a minor.

Rogers was booked into Washington County Jail on the charges previously stated.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man has been arrested after a teenager was found shot in a Sandy home late Saturday night, authorities say.

Just after 11:30 p.m., officers from the Sandy Police Department and deputies from the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office responded to a report of a shooting at a house in the area of Davis Street and Gary Street.

On arrival, officers found a 17-year-old boy who had been shot in the back and gave him first aid. A man was then arrested at the scene on unrelated warrants, authorities say.

Street killing leaves man dead in NE Portland

The boy taken to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Officials say he has since been released from the hospital and is with his family.

While police are still investigating, initial reports say this shooting was accidental.

No other information, including the identities of the man and the teenager, has been released at this time.

If anyone has information regarding this incident, they are encouraged to call the Sandy Police Department Tip Line at 503-489-2195.

This is a developing story. Stay with KOIN 6 News for updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
A man is dead following an officer-involved shooting in Downtown Los Angeles Saturday.

Los Angeles police received a call about a man who was possibly under the influence and using a stick to threaten employees at a business near 7th Street and Towne Avenue around 2:15 p.m.

When authorities arrived, a confrontation ensued and the suspect was shot by officers. He was transported to the hospital where he died from his injuries.

The suspect was struck by gunfire and L.A. City Fire Department paramedics responded and transported the suspect to a local hospital, said LAPD Lt. Letisia Ruiz.

No further details about the events leading up to the deadly shooting were released, but LAPD said less lethal munition was used to subdue the suspect.

LAPD is investigating an officer-involved shooting in downtown L.A. that left a man dead on Feb. 3, 2024. (KTLA)

An area near 7th Street and Towne Avenue in downtown L.A. was closed off during the investigation of an officer-involved shooting on Feb. 3, 2024. (KTLA)

An area near 7th Street and Towne Avenue in downtown L.A. was closed off during the investigation of an officer-involved shooting on Feb. 3, 2024. (KTLA)

LAPD is investigating an officer-involved shooting in downtown L.A. that left a man dead on Feb. 3, 2024. (KTLA)

The suspect was only described as a white male in his 30s to 40s. During the incident, one officer was injured with a laceration on his hand and received treatment on the scene.

KTLA asked Lt. Ruiz if the deceased could cause serious harm with a stick.

Any object can cause harm, Lt. Ruiz said. Depending on how its used.

No further details were released as the LAPD continues its investigation. The area was blocked off to traffic and authorities said they expect to be on the scene for several hours on Saturday night.

Any witnesses or those with additional information are asked to call the LAPD at 213-486-5910.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
U.S. students invited by Xi to embark on China trip

Xinhua) 09:47, February 04, 2024

The school drum band prepares to perform for a farewell ceremony at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington State, the United States, Jan. 30, 2024. The campus of Lincoln High School in Tacoma of Washington State was brimming with warmth and enthusiasm on Tuesday as the students who will embark on a journey to China for an exchange program bade farewell to their peers. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

TACOMA, United States, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- The campus of Lincoln High School in Tacoma of Washington State was brimming with warmth and enthusiasm on Tuesday as the students who will embark on a journey to China for an exchange program bade farewell to their peers.

Inspirited and galvanized by the performances of the school drum band, the audience, from witnesses of people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States, to the youths who will soon visit China, became keener to cement the bond between the youths of the two nations.

In September 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Lincoln High School during his first state visit to the United States as Chinese president and invited young Americans to visit China.

From cordial meetings to correspondence, the precious moments of Xi's exchanges and interactions with the students and school staff over the years have brought back fond memories among them, sowing the seeds of friendship which have taken root and sprouted and are now flourishing.

TWO SISTERS, TWO CHINA VISITS

Montserrat Romero-Rocha, a 12th-grade student, is one of 10 Lincoln High School students who will leave for China in March.

Montserrat comes from a modest immigrant family, and traveling abroad was a distant thing for her.

"I feel really grateful and in shock! I still haven't fully processed that this is reality but I am so happy regardless."

This is the second time luck has befallen her family.

In 2016, her elder sister Abranna Romero-Rocha was one of the 100 students who got a chance to visit China. Montserrat still reminisced about the ecstatic moment when her mother learned of the exciting news.

"Beautiful Chinese poem books still sit on my shelves. The effects of that trip have rippled down through me. Her story also sparks nostalgia and hope in me," Montserrat said.

Talking about her plan for the exchange program in China, Montserrat voiced hope that she will learn more, explore more, and make greater progress.

At Lincoln High School, many students share the same wish as Montserrat -- to observe China with their own eyes, listen to China with their own ears, and measure China with their own footsteps.

They have expressed their perception and expectation of China and Chinese culture:

"China has always been a place that I have admired and been a dream of mine to go to."

"I believe that the insights gained from a firsthand encounter with China would not only broaden my perspective but also contribute to my personal growth."

"China seems like a fascinating blend of tradition and modernity. I am genuinely intrigued by the prospect of witnessing these facets firsthand."

...

"If I could say anything to President Xi, I'd really just want to thank him for planting the seed of relation between Tacoma and China." said Montserrat.

"TAKE CARE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA"

In the eyes of Patrick Erwin, then principal of Lincoln High School, it was such an honor for the teachers and students to receive Xi's visit in 2015.

Citing a Chinese saying that "Read 10,000 books and travel 10,000 miles," the Chinese president voiced hope that more young Americans will visit China so as to have a glimpse of a real China in a multi-dimensional and comprehensive manner and build more bridges of close affinity between the two peoples.

During the ceremony on Tuesday, Erwin especially recalled a memorable moment of Xi's visit to the school. During his stay, Xi asked if the school had many students who traveled abroad, and Erwin admitted that there were not many.

To Erwin's great surprise, in 2016, students from Lincoln High School were invited by Xi to visit China as his guests.

In 2016, 118 teachers and students from the school were invited to visit Hong Kong, Fuzhou, Chengdu, Beijing and other places in China.

Among them, more than one-fifth of the students flew for the first time in their lives.

Erwin felt that this was a life-changing opportunity for everyone.

Before the Chinese Lunar New Year in 2021, Erwin sent a letter to Xi, briefing him on Lincoln High School's exchanges with China and extending New Year greetings.

Erwin has witnessed the youths of the two countries forging lifelong friendships and looking forward to a closer bond between the two peoples by strengthening student exchanges and educational cooperation.

In 2023, the U.S.-China Youth and Student Exchange Association in Washington State, not least students from Lincoln High School, and friendly people from all walks of life wrote to Xi.

In his reply, Xi said he hopes more youths from China and the United States can get to know each other, move forward together, become generational ambassadors of bilateral friendship, and continuously inject impetus into the development of bilateral ties.

John Hines, deputy mayor of Tacoma and an alumnus of Lincoln High School, told reporters that he was glad that American students had the opportunity to communicate, establish contacts and broaden their horizons in China. "It is one thing to read or hear about China. Only by visiting China can understanding be formed, and learning from each other can promote the future development of bilateral relations."

Ron Chow, co-chairman of the U.S.-China Youth and Student Exchange Association, said, "We hope that is a trip of a lifetime."

Richard Murray, mayor of Steilacoom, Washington State, recalled that his predecessor Ron Lucas, who had dedicated 20 years to growing relations with China, told him, during his last days, "to take care of our relationship with China. How important it was."

BE PART OF "SAN FRANCISCO VISION"

During a meeting in November last year, Xi and U.S. President Joe Biden laid out a future-oriented "San Francisco vision" with a special focus on jointly promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

In his speech at a welcome dinner by friendly organizations in the United States, Xi said that China is ready to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study programs in the next five years to increase exchanges between the two peoples, especially between the youths.

Since the beginning of this year, people-to-people exchanges have become more vibrant with youth exchange programs at the forefront, injecting a steady stream of youthful vitality into the friendship between the two peoples.

Karl Hoseth, principal of Lincoln High School, said they're "honored and thrilled to have ten students that will be going in March and excited to continue this partnership with China for now and for many years to come."

Fu Bo, deputy secretary-general of the China Education Association for International Exchange, said that in the future, China will set up a YES program -- the Young Envoys Scholarship to provide more high-quality platforms and channels for American students to come to China for exchange programs between schools, short visits, summer schools, winter camps, and even to study for credits or degrees.

Montserrat and her classmates are looking forward to the trip across the Pacific in spring.

"I am inclined to believe that the strongest connection found is with its people," the American girl said earnestly.

"I am immensely proud to be a part of the San Francisco vision orientated towards the future, which is so cool," she added.

Montserrat Romero-Rocha (C), a 12th-grade student who will leave for China in March, attend a farewell ceremony at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington State, the United States, Jan. 30, 2024. The campus of Lincoln High School in Tacoma of Washington State was brimming with warmth and enthusiasm on Tuesday as the students who will embark on a journey to China for an exchange program bade farewell to their peers. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

The school drum band performs during a farewell ceremony at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington State, the United States, Jan. 30, 2024. The campus of Lincoln High School in Tacoma of Washington State was brimming with warmth and enthusiasm on Tuesday as the students who will embark on a journey to China for an exchange program bade farewell to their peers. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
 Flash

U.S. and British forces launched joint strikes on Saturday against targets in the Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, aiming at degrading the militant group's capabilities to attack international shipping, said the U.S. Pentagon.

Carried out with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, the strikes targeted 13 locations associated with the Houthis' deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, and radars, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.

He said the operation "sends a clear message to the Houthis."

During the strikes, the U.S. military deployed F/A-18 fighter jets on board USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and fired Tomahawk cruise missiles from American warships deployed to the Red Sea, according to U.S. media reports citing U.S. officials.

It was the third time in recent days that the U.S. and British coalition launched strikes against Houthi targets, which also followed the U.S. retaliatory airstrikes in Iraq and Syria on Friday in response to a drone attack by regional militia groups that killed three American service members and injured over 40 others.

Also on Saturday, the U.S. military conducted strikes against six Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles to be launched against ships in the Red Sea.

On Friday, U.S. forces shot down several Houthi drones over the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
The Los Angeles Police Department is seeking the publics assistance in identifying the suspects in a shooting that left one man dead.

Authorities say they received a call around 2:10 a.m. Saturday about a shooting in the 14100 block of Delano Street in Van Nuys.

When patrol officers arrived, they found a 25-year-old man on the street suffering from a gunshot wound. Paramedics responded and pronounced the man dead at the scene.

The victims identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. There is no information about the suspects.

The LAPD asks anyone with information to contact Valley Bureau Homicide detectives at 818-374-9550. Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Authorities are searching for answers after a man was discovered dead in the lake outside SoFi Stadium.

The Inglewood Police Department said security officials at the stadium observed a man entering the lake at around 9:30 p.m. Friday. Authorities said they saw the man swimming further into the water but he never resurfaced.

Emergency crews immediately coordinated a search and rescue operation to find the 19-year-old man. Divers from the L.A. County Sheriffs Department, a lifeguard team from the L.A. County Fire Department, a helicopter support team, and drones were used to try and locate the individual.

Shortly before 11 p.m., officials recovered the body of the man who was pronounced dead at the scene. His identification is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Our hearts go out to the family and friends affected by this devastating incident, the Inglewood Police Department said in a release.

There was a concert held at SoFi Stadium on Friday night. Electronic musician and DJ, Illenium, held an event at the stadium, which was scheduled to end at 11 p.m. It is not known if the man who was found dead had attended the concert.

This is the second time an individual has drowned in the lake outside the stadium. In July 2022, a 45-year-old man hopped the fence to enter the SoFi grounds and was discovered dead.

The lakes outside the stadium have a depth of 15 feet.

SoFi Stadium opened in September 2020 and is home to the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers of the NFL.

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Inglewood Police Department at 888-412-7463

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
A man has been charged in connection to a murder in south Georgia that occurred earlier this week, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

At around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Tifton police responded to a shooting on West 17th Street and South Central Avenue. When officers arrived, they found 33-year-old Brendan Rashad Burns dead from gunshot wounds.

An investigation determined that a car stopped at the intersection and was then hit by gunfire.

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

A suspect, identified as 34-year-old Xavier Sean Ross, was found at Tift Regional Hospital suffering from a gunshot wound.

He will be taken to Tift County Jail upon his release from the hospital.

Burns body will be taken to the GBI Crime Lab for further investigation.

TRENDING STORIES:

Anyone with information is asked to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Sylvester at 229-777-2080, or the Tifton Police Department at 229-382-3132. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

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Man Seemed Shocked Police Chased Him Across State Lines

This aint The Dukes of Hazzard

One of our favorite things to do back in the day was to watch an episode of The Dukes of Hazzard. At the time we didnt know our viewership was helping to make those Dodge Chargers far rarer. Instead, we were just having fun. Apparently, some people thought the show was a bit of a documentary or at least a how-to guide on getting away from the law as the Duke boys ditched Boss Hogg at the county line over and over again.

Watch teenagers laugh after crashing a car into a storefront.

At least, we think that might be why this guy tried outrunning Arkansas State Police to the Oklahoma state line like somehow once he got over that he was on home base and couldnt be tagged. If someones told you thats how things work in these modern times of ours, were here to tell you they dont know what theyre talking about.

While its not always clear-cut, typically neighboring states have an understanding that they can chase suspects across the state line an apprehend them. Call it a common courtesy, but they of course need to let the local law enforcement agencies theyre in the area and why. But that doesnt mean if you dont want to get a speeding ticket and youre near another state, you can just haul across that line and youre off the hook.

This guy blasted past an ASP trooper at 117 mph, so he was definitely going to get a big, fat ticket. We just naturally assumed when he didnt pull over that the guy had warrants, was driving a stolen vehicle, or had illegal stuff in his car. Boy were we wrong.

After he crossed the state line, the guy started slowing down. Perhaps he realized ASP absolutely would cross into Oklahoma and arrest him. However, as he was getting cuffed he told the trooper he was speeding because he thought he was having a heart attack. Were sure cops have heard this before, but what do you all think of that?
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Metro Transit Police (MTPD) said two people were arrested after a fight on a 70 Metrobus on Sunday afternoon.

MPTD said the incident happened at 5929 Georgia Ave. NW.

Police said 36-year-old DeAngelo Reed boarded the bus, and after a verbal argument, assaulted 54-year-old Kelvin Kelly.

Kelly then stabbed Reed.

Two separate overnight shootings minutes apart leaves 2 men injured in DC

Reed was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries to his head. He is being charged with assault for beginning the altercation.

Kelly was arrested for the stabbing.

MTPD recovered the knife.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
A Manhattan grand jury will hear evidence about migrants attacks on a group of NYPD officers outside a Times Square migrant shelter, District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Saturday.

It is clear from video and other evidence that some of the most culpable individuals have not yet been identified or arrested, Bragg said in a statement.

We are working hand in hand with the NYPD to find and hold them accountable for their despicable acts, Braggs statement said.

The grand jury is to begin hearing the case on Tuesday.

Police say they have a dozen suspects in the assault, which took place around 8:30 p.m. Jan. 27 outside the migrant shelter on W. 42nd St. near Seventh Ave.

Four suspects were arrested the night of the attack. They include Yorman Reveron, 24; Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, 19; Wilson Juarez, 21, and Kelvin Servita Arocha, 19. A fifth suspect, Jhoan Boada, 22, was apprehended Monday night.

All five face charges of either assault on a police officer, gang assault or attempted assault and other charges.

Despite the charges being bail-eligible offenses, prosecutors declined to immediately ask for bail in their cases, saying they need more time to determine each defendants role. The five men were freed at their arraignments in Manhattan criminal court.

Upon their release without having to post bail, four of the suspects used false names to obtain bus tickets from a church-affiliated immigrant support group and have left New York, police sources have said.

On Wednesday, cops nabbed Yohenry Brito, 24, a man they believe was at the center of the beat down, along with Jandry Barros, 21. The pair were hit with felony assault charges.

Barros was released Thursday night, with prosecutors explaining that they were no longer sure he was involved in the incident. At this time, there is not sufficient evidence that he is one of the people who committed this terrible act, Bragg spokesman Doug Cohen said as Barros was allowed free.

The identities of five other suspects have not been released.

The melee began when cops tried to arrest Brito as they encountered a disorderly group outside the shelter. Prosecutors say Brito resisted arrest by swinging his arms and tensing up in a struggle that brought him and an NYPD lieutenant to the ground.

As Brito and the lieutenant struggled, other shelter residents kicked and punched a group of officers, video from the scene shows.

At arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court, Britos bail was set at $15,000 cash or $50,000 bond. Prosecutors sought bail in his case based on prior arrests and his lack of a permanent address.

Brito, who records show is from Venezuela, remained held at Rikers Island on Saturday night.
A Massachusetts man was extradited from Sweden in connection with fires at Jewish institutions in Arlington, Needham, and Chelsea, Mass. in May of 2019.

Alexander Giannakakis, 37, formerly of Quincy, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in 2019 for making false statements in a matter involving domestic terrorism, falsifying, concealing and covering up a material fact in a matter involving domestic terrorism, concealing records in a federal investigation; tampering with documents and objects; and tampering with an official proceeding, the U.S. Attorney in Massachusetts announced.

After the indictment was returned, at the request of the United States, Giannakakis was arrested by Swedish authorities in a Stockholm suburb, the DA in Mass. said. The United States subsequently sought Giannakakis extradition from Sweden to the United States to face charges in Boston.

After his arrest in Sweden, authorities also learned that Giannakakis unlawfully possessed a firearm and other weapons in Sweden. Giannakakis was charged and convicted of those crimes and served a sentence in Swedish prison.

According to the indictment, Giannakakiss brother was the suspect into four fires at A Chabad Center in Arlington on May 11, 2019 and May 16, 2019, a Chabad Center in Needham and a Jewish-affiliated business in Chelsea on May 26, 2019.

Giannakakis younger brother was hospitalized in a coma at the time he was identified as a suspect in February 2020. He remained in a coma until his death later that year, the DA says.

The indictment says that Giannakakis left the U.S. and went to Sweden with his brothers papers and electronic devices. He then made false and misleading statements to investigators and allegedly removed and concealed physical evidence being sought by investigators which implicated his brother.

Giannakakis is scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston on Monday, February 5th.

#BREAKING Massachusetts man extradited from Sweden to face charges in connection w/ his alleged obstruction of an investigation into fires set at Jewish institutions in Massachusetts in May 2019 https://t.co/8LAtJg3RfN pic.twitter.com/szAlnGPY27  U.S. Attorney Massachusetts (@DMAnews1) February 4, 2024

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

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A massive sewage spill forced the closure of several swimming areas in Long Beach on Friday.

Over 47,000 gallons of sewage were discharged into Long Beach Bay, affecting all recreational swimming spots at or near Colorado Lagoon and Alamitos Bay. Those areas have been closed off to the public at this time.

The spill was caused by heavy rainfall that led to infrastructure challenges experienced by the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, according to Long Beach city officials.

The citys health inspection team will monitor water quality along the affected beach sites. The swimming areas will remain closed until test results meet the states safe water quality standards.

A rain advisory issued earlier this week is also in place for all Southern California beaches. People are advised to avoid contacting or swimming in ocean waters for at least three days following any significant rainfall.

City workers have posted signs along the waterfront to let beachgoers know of the closure.

Suspect stole over $31,000 worth of items from Target in SoCal

Long Beach is home to around seven miles of public beach.

To protect the safety of the public, water samples are collected and tested routinely to monitor bacterial levels, city officials explained. For their safety, the community is encouraged to pay close attention to any warning signs posted at the beach.

The most up-to-date information about beach closures can be found by calling the Water Hotline at 562-570-4199 or visiting the citys Department of Health and Human Services site.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Smith, who played Prince Philip in the first two seasons of Netflix drama The Crown, said he 'was in luck' - Robert Viglasky/Netflix

Matt Smith believes he won the starring role in a new Ibsen production after the German director saw him in The Crown.

The actor said he received an email about a new West End production of An Enemy of the People asking if he would like to meet director Thomas Ostermeier for lunch.

I was in luck, he said. Im not sure - I dont think hell mind me saying this - that Thomas had a great knowledge of English actors or their work.

But he had watched The Crown and hed enjoyed it.

Smith, who played Prince Philip in the first two seasons of the Netflix drama, admitted he was worried about distractions from the audience in the theatre.

Im not a guy who would even take sweets into a cinema, he said.

So, yeah, I do worry about noise. But I think theres a cultural thing where at home we watch a movie or The Traitors or whatever, and at the same time, were also (scrolling on mobile phones).

Surely to God we can concentrate and suspend our disbelief for two hours - if its an interesting enough play, and part of that is up to us, keeping people interested.

The actor, who last appeared on stage in Lungs at the Old Vic in 2019, also expressed concern that it had become too expensive to go to the theatre.

I hope were not pricing young people out, he told the Observer. I mean, the theatre is so much money, for all of us. You sort of go: I could fly to Milan or Amsterdam (for that).

Long been fan of Ostermeier

The Doctor Who star said he had long been a big fan of Ostermeier.

Id seen his Richard III, and I knew of his relationship with Lars Eidinger, an actor he has collaborated with for years, he added.

So we had lunch together, at one of my favourite restaurants, and I was just really struck

Hes sort of impressive. Id always thought that if he ever did work in London, Id check in and go and see it, because thats the kind of theatre I want to be engaged with: the stuff that tries to push things to the edge of everywhere.

After their lunch, he said he called his agent immediately to say he wanted the part of Thomas Stockmann.

I think thats what you should do if youre lucky enough to get in a room with someone you really want to work with, he added.

An Enemy of the People is at the Duke of Yorks Theatre until April 6.

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Through the Eyes of Generation Z: Discover the goals, passions and motivations of Generation Z (born between 1997-2012) through a series of Black History Month stories highlighting Black influencers in Central Florida. Every Sunday in February, you will meet an individual who is making a difference in our community. Today, get to know what drives Maxwell Frost, the first member of Generation Z to be elected to the U.S. Congress.

As a blanket of gray clouds hovered above the chilly downtown Orlando streets, hundreds prepared to walk, wave and dance in the Martin Luther King Jr. parade in front of the people lining the parade route. All gathered to pay homage to MLKs work, a grouping of the diverse individuals living in Central Florida.

He is 59, with rounded high cheeks and a dark brown curly Afro. Yet he leads with his bright, youthful smile as he lopes diagonally across Orange Avenue, delivering candy to the children holding out their bags, all frantic to get just one more piece. His reassuring tone quiets their frenetic gestures, and when their eyes connect and he drops a single sweet into each bag, he briefly shares more than a piece of candy with them.

At 27, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost is delivering hope to those on Orange Avenue, in his community, in his district and in the halls of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C.

His passion for service is a product of his familys approach to life. He was adopted at birth by Maritza Argibay-Frost and Patrick Frost, who met his biological mother, a single Lebanese and Puerto Rican mother of six other children, through a mutual friend as she was struggling financially.

My dad would go to my biological mothers home and do the headphones on the stomach thing and play music, Frost said about Patrick Frost, a white steel pan musician from Kansas. I think he was hoping and praying Id be a musical person, and I am one.

He grew up with Frost and Argibay, who migrated from Cuba in the 1960s, along with her mother and sister. Argibay recently retired after 37 years as a special education teacher. The younger Frost remembers spending countless hours in her classrooms as she finished her Advances in Teacher Education paperwork, checking in with parents and all the other things teachers do not get paid for. My mom is the kindest person I know and has the sweetest heart, Frost said. She has a heart of service.

Zenaida Argibay, his grandmother, called him ChiChi and Frost called her Yeya since, as a toddler, he could not pronounce her full name. She moved from Hialeah to Orlando for the first two years of his life and took care of him. She taught him Spanish, which was Frosts first language, and the two were close throughout her life.

Decades before, she received a call giving her 24-hour notice that she had been selected to immigrate to the United States with her two daughters. Without any money, the three packed one suitcase for all and gave final embraces to the family members they would never see in person again. It was a very emotional moment.

Life was tough in South Florida for his grandmother. She worked several jobs on the factory floors and retired on a fixed income. Shes not part of the model immigrant story we made up, said Frost, but she always found joy in what her daughters and grandkids were doing.

My dad really taught me how to be vulnerable and to be OK with it, said Frost. One day, they watched an HBO special, The Music in Me, about kids playing instruments. There was this kid playing The Swan on the cello, which is  a beautiful song, and I remember that being the first time I ever cried to music.  I remember crying in front of my dad and kinda feeling embarrassed. He looks at me, and he said, Its OK. And I remember sitting down listening to music and just watching my dad just cry.

In the second grade, he got me a drum set for Christmas, and thats when I started playing drums, Frost said. In addition to the drum set, his father gave him private lessons with Paul Parker, a friend and an adjunct percussion instructor for the Osceola School of Performing Arts.

The next few years, he learned, practiced and performed for the very people he would audition for in the fifth grade at OSPA. He auditioned, they checked his grades and he was one of two students from his school to be accepted.

It was an honor, Frost said. He also called it bittersweet since he would have to leave his classmates to attend the new school.

OSPA is where Frost discovered how to learn and thrive in a competitive environment, how to audition and challenge his peers to beat them out, how to take their seats and become more empathetic and how to tap into his own creativity.

It also was a place where he could focus his energy.

When I was a kid, I got in trouble a lot. A lot, Frost said. I would be talking in class, and I would be making people laugh. I would be making stupid jokes.

After graduating from OSPA, Frost attended Valencia Community College, where his energy and commitment to serving others was inspired after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. He later worked on Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clintons presidential campaigns and as an organizer with the ACLU. After the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, he joined March For Our Lives along with other gun violence survivors, and at 22, he served as its national organizing director.

Frost felt the need to serve again during the George Floyd killing protest rallies on the streets of Orlando. He wanted to save lives and brought his organizing acumen to the streets to help guide the mostly peaceful yet sometimes volatile demonstrations.

Frost had been approached more than once to run for public office during his years of service. He was thinking about his future and his past. His parents early on told him he was adopted and opened the door to meet and correspond with his birth mother.

One day, they showed him her Facebook page, and it was the first time he saw his biological mother. He later had his first conversation with her on the phone, and she shared the story of why she gave him up for adoption.

The challenge in her life to find a job with a living wage, affordable healthcare, safe housing and gun violence reminded him of his Yeyas immigrant struggles, the students that have died in their classrooms and the life stories shared by the men and women he marched with during the George Floyd protests.

At that point, his decision to run for office was made. He tossed his hat in the ring, raised enough money and organized a campaign that eventually won Floridas District 10 while also driving for Uber to pay his rent.

This job is the job of an advocate. Im an advocate. Im not a chief executive officer. Im not the mayor. Im not a governor. Im an advocate, said Frost.

Today, the homegrown, vulnerable, talented, passionate musician, organizer and advocate works to bring hope back to Central Florida.

One drumbeat at a time.
The mayor of Dearborn, Michigan, Abdullah H. Hammoud, said residents can expect an increased police presence effective immediately at all places of worship and major infrastructure points after a Wall Street Journal opinion piece referred to his city as Americas Jihad capital.

The increase of law enforcement in the area is a direct response to a Wall Street Journal opinion piece published Friday, Hammoud said on X, formerly Twitter.

Hammoud said on social media the article has led to an alarming increase in bigoted and Islamophobic rhetoric online targeting the city of Dearborn.

Dawud Walid, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Michigan chapter, said the chapter welcomes the mayors proactive approach to protecting the Muslim community.

Those who support the genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza are now resorting to smear tactics to prevent Americans from learning the truth about the far-right Israeli governments brutal actions targeting the Palestinian people, Walid said in a statement.

The WSJ piece was authored by Steven Stalinsky, director of the Middle East Media Research Institute, which describes itself as an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization.

In the piece, Stalinsky writes Dearborn is teeming with support for Palestinian and Islamist militant groups, including Hamas. He points to rallies, marches and comments made by residents, including religious leaders, to conclude that Dearborn is Americas Jihad capital.

Stalinsky also suggests that residents support other militant groups, including Iran-backed Hezbollah and Houthis, and that support for terrorism in southern Michigan has long concerned US officials.

CNN could not independently verify Stalinskys claims.

In a statement to CNN, Mayor Hammoud said Saturday, In response to an Islamophobic, Anti-Arab, and blatantly racist opinion piece published by the Wall Street Journal today, we have increased the presence of law enforcement throughout Dearborn. Dearborn Police continue to monitor social media for threats.

This is more than irresponsible journalism. Publishing such inflammatory writing puts our residents at increased risk for harm, Hammoud added.

Asked about Hammouds criticism of his opinion piece, Stalinsky told CNN: I would ask the mayor to point out what was incorrect, and reiterated much of what he laid out in WSJ.

CNN has reached out to Dearborn police and WSJ for comment.

Wayne County Commissioner David Knezek said in a Facebook post he was deeply disturbed by the characterization of Dearborn in the opinion piece.

Rather than uplift the WSJs divisive and dangerous language, I wanted to remind people of the beautiful and wonderful city that I and countless others know the City of Dearborn to be, Knezek said. I am grateful for Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud, his leadership, and the leadership of all the citys elected officials.

President Joe Biden on Sunday seemingly weighed in on the issue, calling on Americans to condemn hate in all forms.

Americans know that blaming a group of people based on the words of a small few is wrong, Biden said in a post on X. Thats exactly what can lead to Islamophobia and anti-Arab hate, and it shouldnt happen to the residents of Dearborn  or any American town.

Dearborn is home to one of the largest Arab American communities in the United States, CNN previously reported.

In 2021, Hammoud, the son of Lebanese immigrants, was elected as the citys first Arab American mayor, an achievement he called a humbling experience.

Its humbling that in this town, people are willing to vote for someone based on the direction in which they lead, not in the direction in which they pray, Hammoud said at the time. Its humbling because it shows that someone like me, who has a name like Abdullah Hussein Hammoud, doesnt have to change or shy away from their identity to achieve success.

This story has been updated with additional information, including a response from Steven Stalinsky.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Let me introduce you to the Fossetts, one of Cincinnatis most influential couples.

Nearly a century before Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Sarah Mayrant Walker Fossett took a stand and helped desegregate Cincinnatis streetcar system.

Her husband, Peter Farley Fossett, was a pastor, a member of an elite catering family and secretly a conductor on the Underground Railroad.

The couple were among the most prominent Black citizens in Cincinnati before, during and after the Civil War. And they are getting their due at long last.

In December, an Ohio historical marker for the Fossetts was placed outside the First Baptist Church at 3640 Roll Ave. in South Cumminsville, the church the couple founded in 1870.

Between them there is so much history that Sarahs story is told on one side of the marker, Peters on the other.

Black history: Amplifying the voices of those muted by history: Challenges of researching Black history

Getting to know Sarah Fossett

Sarah Fossetts role as a civil rights pioneer is a tale that needs to be told.

Sarah was one of the historic Cincinnati women my wife, Kristin Suess, and I featured in our 10 ___ Women project back in 2019. Our goal was to bring a spotlight to some of the overlooked or forgotten women in our history. We are so delighted Sarah Fossett is getting more attention with the historical marker.

Not much is known about her early life. According to a brief profile in Cincinnatis Colored Citizens by Wendell P. Dabney, published in 1926, Sarah was born June 26, 1826, to Rufus and Judith Mayrant, in Charleston, South Carolina. She was likely born into slavery, but there is no information on how she was freed.

At an early age, she was sent to New Orleans to study under a French specialist in scalp and hair care, training which made her a skilled hair stylist.

She was brought to Cincinnati about 1840 in the care of Abraham Evans Gwynne, part of a wealthy Cincinnati family. (His daughter, Alice Claypoole Gwynne Vanderbilt, wife of Cornelius Vanderbilt II, had the Gwynne Building at 602 Main St. built and named in her fathers honor.)

Through the Gwynne familys connections, Sarah found the opportunity to be a sought-after hair stylist to Cincinnatis society women.

Sarah also was known to be a close associate of Levi Coffin, the white leader of the Underground Railroad that was secretly assisting enslaved people in Kentucky to escape to freedom.

In 1854, she married Peter Fossett, who was also an operative with the Underground Railroad.

Thomas Jeffersons house servant to Underground Railroad conductor

Peters story was the subject of a column a few years back.

Born into slavery in 1816 as a house servant at Thomas Jeffersons Monticello, he recalled as a child visits by James Madison, James Monroe and Marquis de Lafayette.

I had nice house servant work, got tips and all that sort of thing, Fossett recalled during a lecture at Ninth Street Baptist Church in 1898. Suddenly, at the death of my old master, Thomas Jefferson, I was put on the auction block and sold for $500 to strangers.

When Jefferson died in 1826, he freed only five people in his will, including Peters father, who was able to buy his wife and five of Peter's siblings. Peter was sold and ran away. Recaptured, he was then sold to friends who sent him to his family who had relocated to Cincinnati.

He joined the familys catering business (his mother, Edith, is credited with bringing Jeffersons favorite French cuisine to Cincinnati), while secretly operating as a conductor with the Underground Railroad.

During the Civil War, Fossett served as a captain in the Black Brigade that helped protect Cincinnati under siege by Confederate forces in September 1862.

Taking a stand and refusing to leave

Prior to the war, before the 13th Amendment abolished slavery, Sarah Fossett fought her own battle for racial freedom.

On Monday, Jan. 16, 1860, she stepped on a platform to board a Cincinnati streetcar operated by the City Passenger Railroad Co. The white conductor ordered her to leave, but she refused, claiming her right to ride in the streetcar. He then forcibly ejected her from the car, according to the legal case reported in Weekly Law Gazette.

Sarah had the conductor, Henry Kimber, charged with assault and battery.

An article from the Cincinnati Commercial in 1860 reports on the legal case of the conductor who forcibly removed Sarah Fossett from a streetcar.

The case went before the Police Court a few days later. The Cincinnati Gazette and the Cincinnati Commercial both reported on the case Jan. 20. (No mention was found in The Enquirer.) Sarahs name was misspelled Fawcett in the court reports and newspaper stories.

The Gazette reported that Sarah testified that she hailed the car on Third street, opposite the Burnet House, when the Conductor stopped for her, and said she could not ride. She told him that it was her impression that it was a public conveyance, and that she was not committing any offense. Conductor then commenced beating her across the breast and shoulders; still she held on to the car and refused to get off. Conductor then told the driver to go ahead. When the cars had proceeded a square or so the Conductor pushed her off.

James J. Robbins, president of City Passenger Railroad, testified that he had given orders to the conductors not to admit colored people on the streetcars, although that was not in the companys official printed rules.

Defense lawyers argued the case was one which had been got up expressly for the occasion, wherein a woman was thrust forward by a combination of colored people, who were then in Court, to test the right of the company to exclude them from the cars, the Commercial reported.

Judge David P. Lowe ruled in favor of Fossett.

Judge Lowe stated, It is not pretended that the passenger was in any way disorderly, that she refused to pay her fare, that there was any lack of room for her accommodation, that any of the passengers objected to her being received, or that there was any objection to her whatever but her complexion.

He found that the actions to remove her were assault and battery but not malicious. He fined Kilmer $10 plus costs (thatd be $344 today).

Sarah filed a civil suit, and according to Sean E. Andres on the Queens of Queen City blog, she was awarded $65 ($2,017 today) for being refused a ride, but no damages.

Sarahs case did desegregate the citys streetcars for Black womaen and children. Black men, though, had to wait until Isaac Young won the judgement in a similar case in 1866, after he and his wife were forcibly removed from the Cincinnati Streetcar Co. line.

Judge Bellamy Storer  who, as the former law partner of Abraham Gwynne, would have known Sarah and her case  awarded Young $800 ($17,000 today) in damages and desegregated the streetcars fully.

Peter Fossett's side of his and his wife Sarah's Ohio historical marker.

Fossetts appreciated for their philanthropic work

The Fossetts were both known for their philanthropic work in later years. As a newly ordained minister, Peter founded First Baptist Church in 1870 and served as pastor for the next 31 years for no pay, while he and his wife paid off the churchs debts.

Sarah was particularly active with the Orphan Asylum for Colored Youth and was elected manager, serving in that role for nearly 25 years.

Peter Fossett died in 1901. Sarah died in 1906. They were both buried in Union Baptist Cemetery in Price Hill, the oldest Black cemetery in Hamilton County.

The Fossetts stood up and refused to give in, proof of what effect one or two people can have on the world around them.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Black history: This woman helped desegregate Cincinnatis streetcar
The conversations David Hoovler had with Andre Thurston in 2008 about the Megan McDonald murder are protected by attorney-client privilege, one of the bedrock principles of our legal system.

In 2008, years before he was elected DA, Hoovler the defense attorney would not name his client as he tried to trade information about the murder in exchange for a lesser manslaughter plea. Eleven years later  on March 20, 2019, the ninth anniversary of Thurstons death  Hoovler for the first time named him as his client, in a meeting with police and members of his staff, an internal State Police report says.

That revelation drew concern from Paul Weber, who is representing Edward Holley, the man charged in the McDonald murder.

"New York State Rules of Professional Conduct regarding attorney-client privilege specifically prevent an attorney from revealing information learned as a result of the attorney-client relationship and that privilege survives even after death of the client," Weber said. "There are several exceptions to that rule but the specifics of this case, as I see them, do not fall within any of those exceptions.

Edward Holley beside his attorney, Paul Weber, in the Town of Wallkill Court in Middletown on May 3, 2023.

"If the allegations the State Police are making are true, it appears that there was a serious breach of the Rules of Professional Conduct," Weber said. "As for what repercussions there will be in the future, that remains to be seen. His former client's family has every reason to be upset if the allegations are true and the specifics do not fall within any of the exceptions."

Nina Schutzman is the mother of Thurston's son and the fiduciary of his estate. Efforts to reach her, through her father and attorney, Stanley Schutzman of Poughkeepsie-based Hanig, Handel and Schutzman LLP, were unsuccessful. Nina Schutzman is a former reporter for The Poughkeepsie Journal.

At that March 2019 meeting when he named Thurston, Hoovler told police and members of his staff that Thurston had said he had information about a homicide, but said Thurston did not specify to him which homicide. That retelling of events is refuted by notes taken in 2008 by Assistant District Attorney Maryellen Black Albanese, and by a record of Hoovlers initial call to Senior District Attorney John Geidel, which says Hoovler identified the McDonald homicide from the outset as the one his client witnessed.

Richard Lewis is president of the New York State Bar Association.

How attorney-client privilege works

Without commenting directly on the McDonald case, Richard C. Lewis, president of the New York State Bar Association, spoke about attorney-client privilege.

The attorney is obligated to devote all of his efforts on behalf of the client, Lewis said. Unless the client has given him authority to reveal something, he has an ethical obligation to stand by his client and has an ethical obligation to maintain the privilege of confidentiality.

That confidentiality lasts, even after the client dies, Lewis said.

Does attorney-client privilege survive death? The answer to that is yes. It does survive death, Lewis said.

Attorney-client privilege can be waived during a person's lifetime, obviously for the purposes of negotiations. If, for example, a guy's trying to make a deal and he tells his lawyer: 'Look, I can give this information in exchange for a plea deal,' then he is basically authorizing his attorney to go forward, sort of in a circumspect way. The client's going to say: 'Maybe I can provide information.'

Can a lawyer be released from privilege after a client dies? That is a bit thornier, Lewis said, and it depends on where you live in New York, in which geographical appellate division department.

The first department is Bronx and New York counties. The second takes in Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Hudson Valley, including Orange. The third covers the Southern Tier and the Catskills, the Capital Region to the Canadian border. The fourth is Central and Western New York.

Richard Lewis is president of the New York State Bar Association.

The waiver would have to be done by the executor, Lewis said. In some departments, it can be. In other departments, it cannot be. The third or fourth departments say that you can have a waiver by the executor and others do not. It's not a well-settled situation. And the conditions under which you could do it are not necessarily consistent from department to department. And I don't believe to my knowledge that there has been a Court of Appeals case on it. I don't know that for sure."

A ruling by the Court of Appeals would make the executor-waiver decision apply across the state. In the absence of that, the rules vary, Lewis explained.

Not at issue, Lewis said, is the unbending concept of attorney-client privilege.

The privilege is the privilege of the client. The privilege is not the privilege of the attorney, Lewis said. There isn't that ability for the attorney to say, 'Yes, I think I should say this or that.' It's solely up to the principal (client).

Reach Peter D. Kramer at pkramer@gannett.com. Support this kind of reporting by subscribing, at www.lohud.com/subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Megan McDonald case: Can Hoovler tell what his now-dead client said?
Itll be some time before all the facts come out with regard to the high-speed chase and crash that claimed the lives of a Florida Highway Patrol trooper and a tractor-trailer driver.

Lots of us have questions about the unbelievable tragedy early Friday morning on Interstate 95, near Crosstown Parkway in Port St. Lucie.

Tom Bakkedahl, state attorney for the 19th Judicial Circuit, answered one of mine Friday night.

He is going to wake up tomorrow morning and realize hes not in Miami anymore, Bakkedahl said of Michael Addison, 30, North Lauderdale, charged with fleeing from Trooper Zachary Fink in a way that led to two deaths. Were looking at every opportunity under the sun to ensure that hes punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Out-of-towners nabbed in three chases

Addison was caught after he crashed into a tree a white Kia he was driving the wrong way on Interstate 95 shortly after Fink and the tractor-trailer driver collided about 2 miles away, authorities said Friday.

Bakkedahl was the second law enforcement leader in the past week I spoke with worked up about people coming from out of town and wreaking havoc on a largely peaceful Treasure Coast. I also heard from Eric Flowers, Indian River County sheriff, citing a bank robber from down south on probation charged with holding up an iThink Financial bank in Fellsmere.

In that incident on Jan. 25, deputies located the suspect on I-95 and chased him to Fort Pierce, where his vehicle crashed into an innocent bystanders. Only the suspect was seriously injured.

On Thursday, an unrelated chase ended in quiet Fellsmere. Brevard County deputies started it after trying to stop someone driving a stolen U-Haul van. Fellsmere police, assisted by Indian River deputies, put spiked strips on the road to puncture the suspects tires before the van crashed into a ditch. Police said there were no injuries.

Remembering 1994 tragedy in Vero Beach

Lt. Indiana Miranda, Public Affairs Officer for FHP Troop L, wears the black band across her badge at the Christ Fellowship Church for a news conference on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, in Port St. Lucie. FHP Trooper Zachary Fink died in a crash on Interstate 95 near mile marker 120 on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, in in Port St. Lucie. Fink was in pursuit of a fleeing felon, when the felon made a U-turn and crashed.

After high-speed chase takes her child: Vero Beach woman helps others grieve

Broward man arrested: Judge orders no bond for man accused in death of FHP Trooper Zachary Fink

Thursday evening, a former colleague texted me, wondering what was up with the first two chases in Indian River County. After all, chases had been relatively few and far between.

I didnt give the text much thought as I drove north past Crosstown Parkway about five hours before the deadly pursuit. It hit me on Friday when I read of the death of Fink, just 26, who was trying to protect the safety of motorists by catching a suspect driving dangerously fast, officials said.

Then there was the as of Saturday yet unnamed truck driver, who, like Fink, was just doing his job, serving those of us who rely on deliveries. Like the motorist in Fort Pierce struck by the fleeing bank robbery suspect, it could have been any of us.

As it was in July 1994 when a suspect fleeing an Indian River County sheriffs deputy at about 100 mph T-boned a car crossing U.S. 1 at 26th Street, killing a woman and three children heading home after a church skating party. The local teenager was chased after a deputy saw something  believed to be a cocaine rock, which was not found  tossed out of a car window.

Laws enforced on Treasure Coast

The July 27, 1994, Press Journal reported on a U.S. 1 crash at 26th Street following a police pursuit. Eventually, authorities reported a woman and three children died in what turned out to be a high-speed pursuit that led to a more restrictive chase policy in Indian River County.

In 1995, the teen was sentenced to 24 years in prison, followed by 10 years probation, on vehicular homicide charges. The probation ended in 2018, according to court files.

If convicted, Addison could serve more time. A review of current Florida statutes suggest he could eventually face felony murder charges, punishable by up to life in prison. It makes sense that fleeing and attempting to elude police with lights or sirens on in connection with a death can lead to such consequences.

Bad guys must get two messages clearly:

Fleeing from police, especially when it leads to high-speed chases, will not be tolerated.

Come to the Treasure Coast to commit a crime and youll get caught, thanks to a gantlet of license-plate reading cameras. Then, Bakkedahls office and local judges will try to ensure you wont bother us again.

That said, law enforcement must carefully review each of its pursuits and learn from them.

Pursuits are dangerous  not just to law enforcement, who must weigh the risk of a suspects imminent danger to the community versus the risk of a chase that could jeopardize the safety of bystanders. Last year, the Police Executive Research Forum offered new guidance after a record 455 police chases involving fatalities in 2020, according to the Associated Press.

LAURENCE REISMAN

Deciding to pursue, or continue a pursuit, is not always an easy decision, which is why agency policies must be clear and training extensive.

Like the crash that killed the woman and three children, which in my mind happened yesterday, I will never forget the one that killed Trooper Fink and the tractor-trailer driver.

Hopefully, by the time investigations are done and justice is executed, we will know more about how to keep our communities, including the men and women who protect us, safer.

This column reflects the opinion of Laurence Reisman. Contact him via email at larry.reisman@tcpalm.com, phone at 772-978-2223, Facebook.com/larryreisman or Twitter @LaurenceReisman.

If you are a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest local news on the latest local news on the Treasure Coast.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: After three Treasure Coast chases, crashes in week, what can we learn?
As former President Donald Trump openly condemns the Senates border legislation, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told colleagues Saturday he wont consider a border deal anytime soon. But does that mean Trump is calling the shots?

Of course not. Hes not calling the shots. I am calling the shots for the House, thats our responsibility, Johnson told NBCs Meet the Press host Kristen Welker on Sunday.

Trump posted on social media last week that a border bill is not necessary and blamed President Joe Biden for not dealing with it himself.

At least some Republican members of Congress are listening.

Congress doesnt have to do anything to secure our southern border and fix it, Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) said Tuesday, Rolling Stone reported. 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 added.

Trump later denied trying to spike a border deal, but he went on to repeat his opposition to anything short of the perfect solution.

He said he has told legislators to reject legislation as currently proposed.

A lot of people do call me, they respect me. And they say, What do you think? Trump said at a press conference. If the bills not going to be a great bill and really solve the problem, I wouldnt do it at all. Not for political reasons, just for U.S. reasons.

Trump has campaigned on unilateral executive action, pledging to be a dictator on day one in order to close the southern border.

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) recently said that Trump has indicated to senators that he does not want us to solve the problem at the border, he wants to lay the blame for the border at Biden.

On Friday, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) posted to social media that a bipartisan deal had been reached and that full text would be released over the weekend for a vote the following week.

Another negotiator, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), said Sunday on CBS Face the Nation the deal ends the practice of catch and release  in which migrants are detained and then released before a future court date  and expedites asylum claim processing, but the full details of the legislation are not yet public.

As speaker, Johnsons challenge is to unite factions of the Republican majority that voted to remove his predecessor, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), in October.

Johnson insisted he is in control of the House of Representatives plans to address the border. House Republicans passed their own bill last year, H.R. 2, but it has no shot of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate.

He told Welker on Sunday his priorities for border legislation are based on a trip he took with colleagues to the border. We heard from the people in charge, he said. They said these are the things that you must do to stem the flow.

And I have been saying this far longer than President Trump has, Johnson added. I have been saying what the requirements are to fix the problem.

Johnson also complained about being cut out of Senate negotiations, saying he has not been offered a briefing.

I suggested to Senate leadership that the House should be involved, he said. Ive had individual senators call and give me tips and offered things that are going on in the room, but weve not been a part of that negotiation.

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Territorial Defense Forces in Sumy Oblast successfully fought off a Russian subversive and reconnaissance group attempting to cross into Ukraine, Lieutenant General Serhii Naiev, responsible for the defense of Ukraine's northern border, reported on Feb. 4.



Ukrainian soldiers opened fire on an armed group of ten people on the outskirts of the town Hlukhiv, close to the border with Russia, at 6.20 p.m. on Feb. 3.



The Russian group split into two, with one group attempting to bypass the Ukrainians from the flank side, Naiev reported. But a Ukrainian counter-sabotage team arrived and fired at the enemy, pushing them back from the Ukrainian border after a 90-minute battle.



The other Russian group evacuated the dead and wounded.



Although Sumy Oblast was liberated from Russian occupation in spring 2022, it suffers frequent shelling and attacks from Russia. Russian forces shelled Sumy Oblast 76 times in 16 separate attacks throughout Feb. 3, firing at five communities along the border.



On Jan. 27, a Russian reconnaissance and sabotage group staged an attack that killed two civilians.

Read also: Road in Sumy Oblast near Russian border closed to civilians following attack

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A Milwaukie man was arrested in late January on felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from his involvement in the attack of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

According to court documents, 27-year-old Andy Oliva-Lopez was identified among a crowd of violent rioters, from video footage and images taken early that afternoon on the West Front of the Capitol.

He was reportedly wearing gear, including a tactical style helmet and a full-face respirator, and engaging in fights with Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and United States Capitol Police officers.

Man arrested after teen shot in Sandy home: police

The documents further state that during the altercations, Oliva-Lopez reportedly deployed a yellow/orange chemical aerosol at MPD officers multiple times.

Additionally, as police attempted to keep the crowd from entering the Capitol, video footage shows Oliva-Lopez climbing past the temporary scaffolding built for the upcoming inauguration in a restricted area, not open to the public.

Oliva-Lopez was arrested by the FBI in Milwaukie and made his initial court appearance in the District of Oregon.

Street killing leaves man dead in NE Portland

He has been charged with felonies, including of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. He has also been charged with misdemeanors including disorderly and disruptive conduct and act of physical violence in a restricted building or grounds and act of violence in a Capitol building or grounds.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia, more than 1,265 people have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the January 6 Capitol breach.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Minnesota lawmakers solidified the state as a transgender refuge last year, and since then, the local community has stepped up to provide for the LGBTQ+ people seeking resources.



One thrift store in Minneapolis has especially stepped up for queer southerners and refugees from other states that have passed anti-LGBTQ+ laws. Rainbow Wardrobe offers a welcoming environment where customers can try out new styles with the guidance of accepting staff, providing clothing and basic care items free of cost.

Maddy Loch, coordinator of Rainbow Wardrobe, said that half of the store's visitors are new to the North Star State, and moved there recently because of the transgender protections.

We have people coming from southern states who are like, We need these things. This is why we moved here, Loch told MPR News. So many nonprofits like ours are bending over backwards to try to accommodate the influx of need that has come into our state, which is amazing. Individuals having access to this can be life-saving.

The Minnesota legislature designated the state as a transgender refuge state in March, 2023, passing protections for gender-affirming care, and its patients and providers. It also banned conversion therapy for minors.

Rainbow Wardrobe was first conceptualized in June during the Twin Cities Pride Festival, beginning as a booth with just one clothing rack and a few garbage bags of items. Loch, who is the programming coordinator for Rainbow Circle, the community programming division of Twin Cities Pride, spearheaded the store after its success at the festival.

Monetary donations from Rainbow Circle are used to purchase gender-affirming garments for customers, including tucking underwear, menstrual boxers, and binders. The items also come with instructions on how to use them safely.

Yes, this is a gender-affirming wardrobe, but it is also just a wardrobe for individuals to come in and find clothes that make them feel comfortable, because that is a right that everyone deserves," Loch added.



Rainbow Wardrobe is open weekdays 9-4, with after-hours appointments available.
The Miracle Mile, a 1.3-mile stretch off Gulf Shore Boulevard North, is seeing significant changes. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, it's seeing more redevelopment.

Dubbed the "Miracle Mile," a stretch of Gulf Shore Boulevard North is set to see major changes in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

While a few notable projects were in the works before the hurricane hit, the storm has sped up redevelopment along this 1.3-mile section of roadway, running parallel to the Gulf of Mexico, in Naples.

It was one of the most hard-hit areas by Ian in the city.

More than a year after the storm, condo and co-op buildings flooded by its record storm surge still aren't livable, their fates uncertain. In other buildings, some of the damaged units have been repaired, while others haven't been touched.

"Some of these people are never going to come back. That's the shame of it," said Mary Hayes, who lives at Port Au Villa, a small co-op community in the area, overlooking Moorings Bay.

At her community, built in the mid-1960s, 24 of 56 condos were virtually destroyed by Ian, and some are still being rebuilt. With a third-floor unit, Hayes is one of the luckier ones, and feels fortunate to have moved back in five months after the storm.

"Some of my neighbors, they lost a lot of their personal property," she said, from furniture to mementos.

Ian created new opportunities for developers with the sale of storm-ravaged buildings by their owners. A handful of older structures have already been demolished to make way for new construction.

Job site signs dot the landscape.

MHK Architecture has been hired to design five residential condominium projects off Gulf Shore Boulevard North, along the Miracle Mile. Most of the redevelopment projects were spurred by Hurricane Ian.

Meanwhile, the area's residents have united, and partnered with the city and others, in a way that has never been seen in Naples, to "turn lemons into lemonade," in the wake of Ian, with plans to create a more attractive, cohesive look and feel to the streetscape, through plantings, signage and other visual enhancements, along the roadway.

The city plans to hire design consultants to develop a streetscape master plan that will give the area a more distinct identity, as a true gateway to Naples. The city manager will present next steps at a council meeting Feb. 7.

"We just want this to happen. We want there to be a plan," Hayes said.

She sits on the citizen-led Miracle Mile Committee. Membership includes residents and homeowner association presidents, as well as builders, developers, architects and other community professionals.

The committee has the ear of city council.

A priority for city council

In her state of the city address for 2024, Mayor Teresa Heitmann singled out the importance of the effort to protect and enhance the mile's appearance.

"Ensuring proper landscaping is a must, as well as protecting the historic views from the road of the beaches," she said. "There must also be safe pedestrian crosswalks, while also protecting the street parking spaces, to mention some of the opportunities we have when building back."

Teresa Heitmann, Mayor, Naples

The "Miracle Mile" runs from Doctors Pass to the new Naples Beach Club, which has set the tone for future development  and streetscaping  along the boulevard. Hatched long before Ian, the multimillion-dollar redevelopment project, which is still under construction, will include a five-star resort and luxury residences managed by the Four Seasons, one of the world's most exclusive hospitality brands.

The landscape is a big focus in the design of the resort development, with the inclusion of lush plantings and paver walkways. It's replacing the iconic Naples Beach Hotel, which the same family operated for more than 70 years.

Jay Newman, chief operating officer of The Athens Group, the developer behind Naples Beach Club, said the project is clearly having a "halo effect," as the area sees more redevelopment.

The Four Seasons Resort is expected to open in early 2025, with the first residences coming online later that same year.

Naples Beach Club rendering

The Athens Group has been active in the Miracle Mile Committee, offering input and advice.

"I think there are only good things that are going to happen there," Newman said. "We are involved in it, and we are in favor of it, but it does take time."

The committee is only focused on improving publicly owned property.

A survey, conducted by the committee, and answered by more than 90% of the area's residents, over the summer, identified 10 of their top desires and concerns, from undergrounding utilities and improving sidewalks to protecting waterfront views and reducing flooding.

The Miracle Mile includes two neighborhoods: The Moorings and Coquina Sands, with an estimated 1,500 residents, or more, living off both sides of the strip.

Within its borders are The Edgewater Beach Hotel and two beachfront parks. There's Lowdermilk, one of the city's most popular public parks and prized gems, and the Moorings Beach Park, for Moorings residents only.

Dick and Susan Lerch of Naples walk past the entrance to Lowdermilk Park on Thursday, March 19, 2020, in Naples.

Lowdermilk took a beating from Ian, forcing it to close, but it reopened a little over four months later, partially rebuilt, after a massive clean-up effort by city employees. While it's still not back to its pre-Ian grandeur, the beloved park has come a long way since the storm swamped it with water and sand, and whipped it with heavy winds, leaving it in shambles.

"It looked like a war zone," said Chad Merritt, the city's director of parks, recreation and facilities. "You didn't think you were going to be able to recover in a timely manner."

Along the Miracle Mile, a patchwork of low- and mid-rise residential buildings has evoked small-town charm for decades. They've offered glimpses of the glistening Gulf of Mexico  and beautiful sunsets  on the west side, with views of surf and sand between them. On the east side, they overlook bay vistas.

More: Hurricane Ian aftermath: Tour of damage shows parts of Naples look like "a war zone"

Ian made area ripe for redevelopment

Out of 38 distinct multifamily properties, nearly a third may be redeveloped over the next three years, based on research undertaken by the Miracle Mile Committee. Every one of those properties saw damage from Ian.

At some of the most severely damaged residential buildings, many residents are still struggling to decide whether to sell or fix them up.

"Selling the properties usually requires a 'super' majority vote by all residents. Each condo has its own bylaws related to what constitutes a majority," explained Rene Lewin, president of Sancerre's board of directors. "So, it can be a bit difficult."

With eight floors, Sancerre has 23 spacious luxury residences that feel more like single-family homes. Completed in 2003, the building, overlooking the Gulf in Coquina Sands, held up well against Ian, compared to many others, so its residents didn't have to confront selling out to a developer.

None of the condos, sitting atop garages, were damaged. The building is one of the newer and taller ones along the street, built to more stringent codes. Following the massive destruction caused by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Florida adopted some of the strictest building codes in the country.

"Sancerre was operational in January 2023, as we had the passenger elevators working, but the service elevators were still unreliable. The property required extensive exterior repairs, for example, the garages, landscaping, ground level amenities, fencing, pool and all pool equipment," Lewin recalled.

"In fact, our pool was filled with sand," he added.

Insurance would only pay for about 12% of the total damage to the property, forcing owners to cover the rest, through special assessments, Lewin said.

Other properties found themselves in the same boat with insurance settlements falling short.

Repairs have been challenging, in more ways than one.

Even now, a few buildings don't have working elevators, limiting access to their owners, especially seniors, who can't use the stairs.

"People are still waiting on parts, to make sure their elevators are reliable. That's my understanding," Lewin said.

Public notice for Design Review Board hearing on proposed redevelopment of condo development at 2020 Gulf Shore Boulevard North, along the Miracle Mile.

From our archives: Fears mount over loss of charm on quaint stretch of Gulf Shore Boulevard in Naples

More: Board drops proposed moratorium on new construction along 'Miracle Mile' in Naples

Fear of 'another Miami'

The new developments on the horizon will be  necessarily  different, designed to meet today's market demands, while adhering to the stricter building codes and the latest flood elevation requirements. The looming changes have sparked both excitement and concern among residents.

"People are concerned. You know we don't want another Miami," Hayes said.

Meaning, they don't want a bunch of taller, denser buildings, potentially ruining their views and property values and the character of their neighborhoods.

To the south of Sancerre, the Gulf Shore Colony Club  badly damaged by Ian  has been demolished to make way for redevelopment. Built in 1960, the boutique beachfront development had eight two-story buildings, including carports, with 16 condos in total.

In place of the low-rise community, a seven-story building is planned, over parking, with 24 units, up to a maximum of 75 feet above flood elevation (with an additional 7 feet allotted for stair towers, elevator shafts, mechanical equipment and architectural embellishments on top).

Entrance to Sancerre, off Gulf Shore Boulevard North in Naples. Residents oppose the positioning of a redevelopment project next-door they fear could ruin their views of the Gulf of Mexico.

Every Sancerre resident signed a petition against the proposed site plan for the development, which will be built on a roughly two-acre site  at 1785 Gulf Shore Blvd. N. They fear the new building could limit their views of the Gulf and cast shadows on their building, and they question its compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood.

Sancerre residents and their attorney have appeared before the city's Design Review Board to share their concerns, but they feel they're not being heard by the voluntary board. The board has given the redevelopment project preliminary approval but still must give a thumbs up to the final design, before a building permit can be issued.

The site plan for the project is still under review by city staff, which also must sign off on it.

"It's going to be a gorgeous building. It's just going to be huge," Lewin said.

A view of the Miracle Mile, off Gulf Shore Boulevard North, on Oct. 16, 2023, which is seeing more redevelopment in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

His community's biggest concern is the building's placement, which residents feel should be moved to the east, closer to the street, instead of sitting 40 feet from the seawall.

"Forty feet from your seawall is nuts," Lewin said.

So far, he said, the developer hasn't been willing to consider a compromise offered up by Sancerre's association, and its own architect, to increase the rear setback.

Rendering of a redevelopment project planned at 1785 Gulf Shore Blvd. N. along the Miracle Mile in Naples.

Project architect Matthew Kragh, president and founder of Naples-based MHK Architecture, said the developer's petition is about three quarters of the way through the city's approval process.

He noted city code allows 37 units to be built at the site, 13 more than proposed, so the project is less intense than permitted by right. The building will be two stories lower than its neighboring developments on both sides, as well, including Sancerre, Kragh pointed out.

MHK is working on four other multifamily developments along the Miracle Mile, three of which were spurred by damages from Ian that made selling older buildings more attractive for their owners.

Kragh believes the planned redevelopment will significantly improve property values along the mile, not hurt them. He see only good things coming from it.

Matthew Kragh, MHK Architecture

"I think the eclectic nature of having the old and new next to each other is part of the charm of Naples," he said, noting it's commonly seen elsewhere in the city.

One day, he expects the Miracle Mile to live up to its name, with the addition of more resilient and modern buildings, and a more harmonious, inviting streetscape, but he acknowledges it won't happen overnight.

"It could be ultimately one of the best streets in the country," Kragh said.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples Hurricane Ian damage leads to improvements to Gulfshore Blvd N
ST. LOUIS  Claude McGee is a little-known figure in Missouri history. He was one of the 40 inmates executed in the gas chamber from 1937 to 1989.

McGees mug shot, mounted among others outside the gas chamber at the Missouri State Prison in Jefferson City, is among the most intriguing. The prison is now a museum.

Michael Lear, Podcast Host of Show Me Murder, has been an MSP tour guide for the past 12 years, and he mentions that McGees mug shot is the most questioned.

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McGee has become something of a legend at Missouri State Penitentiary. Of the 40 people whose photos hang on the wall of the gas chamber, the people who died there, his garners perhaps more questions than any of the others because of his appearance, said Lear in a FOX 2 interview. People ask whether he is crazy, and whether they follow-up with it or not, I believe what theyre really asking is, if he was crazy, whether he should have been spared the death penalty because he was insane. After 12 years of being asked those questions myself as an MSP tour guide, I decided it was time to try to come up with an answer.

In his newest episode, Lear sets out to find out if McGee was indeed insane. According to McGees medical records, he was found to be psychotic and was transferred to what is now the Fulton State Hospital, where he was hospitalized for the criminally insane.

McGees hospital records show that he underwent electroshock therapy and other treatments that were new at the time.

Three people may be injured in a south St. Louis County shooting

McGee took on a new life thanks to the tours, when by comparison to the vast array of inmates who passed through MSP in 168 years he might have disappeared into obscurity. In fact, his story turned out to be fairly fascinating, said Lear. He also holds the distinction of being the first inmate executed in Missouri for a crime committed against another inmate. He shows us that there are countless other stories to be told about those who were incarcerated, or worked, at MSP.

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McGee was initially imprisoned for life for killing a man while robbing his home in 1935. For the second murder, he killed John Manor, his partner during the first murder, beating him to death with a hammer in the prison yard on January 10, 1948, over a $20 debt.

On October 31, 1945, he escaped with inmate Bert Ivan Grimm and kidnapped a Jefferson City insurance agent.

McGee was executed at the MSP on January 5, 1951, with his last meal consisting of Stewed Chicken, biscuits, and ice cream. When asked why he didnt eat his meal, he said, Im saving it for later.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
The question of how to produce more affordable housing is a tricky one as the cost to build and purchase a home remains high in Western Washington.

In Thurston County, the median price for a single-family home is around $500,000. If you want to make a 20% down payment on that $500,000 home  typically a recommended amount to avoid paying private mortgage insurance  you need to come up with $100,000.

But under a new plan announced by the state Department of Natural Resources  a plan that also might be taken elsewhere across the state  the agency is putting its land to work. The agency wants to offer its first residential ground lease to nonprofit home builder South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity to create permanent affordable home ownership, said Krosbie Carter, a housing policy adviser with DNR.

This is the first time we have explicitly sought this out on a large scale, added DNR communications manager Kenny Ocker.

Carter, Ocker and South Puget County Habitat for Humanity interim Chief Executive Greg Laura met with The Olympian in late January near Meridian Road Southeast at Indian Summer Drive, northeast of Lake St. Clair and part of Laceys urban growth area. Its there that DNR owns an undeveloped 28-acre plot of land.

The plan is to work out a ground lease with the nonprofit to aid Habitat for Humanity in its home building efforts, keeping costs low for them and the residents who eventually live there.

Buying 28 acres would cost the nonprofit millions of dollars, Laura said, but with a ground lease its a much different financial proposition.

This is a fantastic opportunity that we want to explore here, he said.

The goal is to build between 120 and 150 homes that would serve 400 to 500 people. He thinks they might break ground in two years, then spend another five to six years completing the development.

By leasing the land from DNR, Habitat can then lease it to the homeowner, who then only buys the house, but not the underlying land, he said. They also only pay tax on the house and not the land, Laura said.

In lieu of property tax, the homeowner would pay a leaseholder excise tax. However, DNR supports current legislation (Senate Bill 5967 and House Bill 2003) that would create a leasehold tax exemption.

Habitat currently serves low- and middle-income families who earn between 30% and 80% of area median income. For a family of four in Thurston County, 80% is $80,700, said Laura, citing recent U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development figures.

One goal of a Habitat mortgage is to make sure the owner pays no more than 30 percent of their monthly income toward it, Laura said, but with average rents also high, some of their prospective clients find themselves moving from apartment to apartment, paying more than 30% or in some cases more than 50% of their monthly income on rent.

And their clients typically have good jobs  entry-level nurses, firefighters, police officers and teachers.

They are making decent money, but not enough to afford a market-rate house, he said.

In addition to supporting the leasehold tax exemption legislation, DNR is also trying to secure a $2.25 million capital budget request to help Habitat bring sewer to the site, which is 4,000 feet from the proposed development.

The site needs sewer because under current zoning it allows for one house per five acres. With sewer, it climbs to six houses per acre, DNRs Carter said.

A portion of that capital budget request  $250,000  would be used to study 37 other DNR sites, totaling 3,000 acres, to see if they would be feasible for housing, she said.

Other Habitat projects

Before they get to the project on Meridian Road, Habitat for Humanity is about to get to work on a 28-home development in Tumwater at 73rd and Henderson Boulevard, a 22-home project in Yelm, and later a 112-home development in Olympia on Boulevard Road.

The nonprofit is also about to select its next chief executive, Laura said. They have been searching since September and are down to three finalists, he said. Once the new CEO has been hired, Laura will return to being chief operating officer, he said.
A Texas woman and her infant son are dead after she ran into a burning home to rescue him, firefighters say.

The fire broke out at a home on Houstons north side early in the morning on Saturday, Feb. 3, according to the Houston Fire Department.

Neighbors said they woke up to screaming, KHOU reported.

I heard banging on the door and kids crying for help, neighbor Savannah Hernandez told the station. They are little kids, and you just never know what could happen. They were barefooted.

The mother first rescued two older children from the home, who officials say were both under 10 years old, KTRK reported. Then she went back into the home to get her 1year-old son, but never came back out, firefighters said.

She and the baby died in the blaze, according to fire officials.

House fire resulted in tragic death of young mother & infant son as she reentered the home in attempt to rescue her child from the flames



Our prayers & condolences to the family@HoustonFire crew reported heavy fire conditions on arrival. Cause&Origin investigation is ongoing https://t.co/b6aF9yYGFQ pic.twitter.com/TKseEghT0n  Chief Samuel Pena (@FireChiefofHFD) February 3, 2024

They said she didnt make it. The baby was in her arms, the mothers sister told KTRK.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze, but photos from the scene show little remains of the home but charred wreckage.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, officials said.

Grandpa killed in dog attack outside home, family says. Never forget those cries

Juvenile running from cops falls down 70-foot pit and dies, Texas police say

Husband charged with murder after missing newlywed wife found dead in SUV, OK cops say

Man bites womans face after learning she got job at strip club, Texas cops say
Gillian Anderson and Rufus Sewell star as Emily Maitlis and the Duke of York

At first glance, they are the familiar images of Emily Maitlis and Prince Andrew in their notorious Newsnight interview.

But this is Gillian Anderson and Rufus Sewell in Scoop, a Netflix film which recreates the 2019 encounter in meticulous detail.

Sewell spent three hours a day in the make-up chair to resemble the Duke of York, while Anderson studied the interview and watched episodes of Newsnight to capture Maitliss mannerisms.

The film, due for release in spring, is a behind-the-scenes look at how the interview was secured and the way it unfolded, framed as a tribute to the work of the four women responsible.

It is based on Scoops by Sam McAlister, the booker extraordinaire on Newsnight who negotiated the interview in which the Duke was questioned about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

McAlister is played on screen by Billie Piper. In addition to Anderson as Maitlis, the film features Keeley Hawes as Amanda Thirsk, the Dukes right-hand woman. Romola Garai plays Esme Wren, the Newsnight editor.

Its rare that you see a representation of women, all in their 40s and 50s. This is an opportunity to see hard-working women behind the scenes at every stage, McAlister told The Telegraph.

She was on set during filming and said Andersons likeness to Maitlis is astonishing.

It felt like being there with Emily, McAlister said. Everything about her physicality and her performance is on the money. They have a similar intellect as well. Emily is very methodical. She worked very hard on every interview; she trains, she studies. And my impression of Gillian was exactly the same. She was studying the material, she was studying Emily, and she was working on that project in an intellectual way as well as a dramatic way.

Philip Martin, Scoops director, said of Sewell: Rufus spent about three hours in the make-up chair. He started really early in the morning and had to go through this strange process of putting a bald wig on before the other stuff went on. We worked very hard to make all of the prosthetics flexible and light enough so that he could act through it all.

With Gillian, there are no prosthetics - its make-up and a wig and mannerisms, said Martin

Both actors spent hours watching the interview as part of their preparation, and Anderson also studied Maitliss presenting style on Newsnight.

Sometimes people can do a really brilliant impersonation but not capture something about the person. What Gillian and Rufus have done so brilliantly is get the spirit of the people that theyre playing, so that it feels real, said Martin.

The room at Buckingham Palace in which the interview took place is also recreated in minute detail, and the camera angles from the original BBC interview are matched exactly.

The film, with a script by Peter Moffat, will not be a hatchet job on the Duke. We dont take a side - were not saying, Oh, isnt he great, or, Oh, isnt he evil. Its for the viewer to draw their own inferences, said McAlister.

Martin, who also directed the first two series of The Crown, said: I think lots of people would tie themselves up in knots because they didnt want to appear to approve of Andrew, or to disapprove of him. Rufus wasnt afraid of that.

Andrew was slightly the Harry of his era - he was seen as a great communicator with great people skills in his 20s and 30s, a person who could get things done. I think Rufus really understood that side of things, and the sense that Andrew is older now but has a sparkle and a kind of charisma to him.

It doesnt feel like were pointing an arrow at him and saying, This is a bad guy. Youre seeing a person, and thats a real tribute to Rufuss take on it.

The Duke was pilloried for his answers to Maitlis, which included a claim that he was physically unable to sweat and an alibi placing him in the Woking branch of Pizza Express.

A bounce and a bite to it

Martin said the tone of the film would reflect the absurd elements of the interview as well as the serious issues at hand.

There was something slightly surreal about the whole process. So weve tried to make it have a bounce and a bite to it. It moves fast and its absorbing to watch.

McAlister says Andersons likeness to Maitlis is 'astonishing'

McAlister, a criminal barrister before joining the Newsnight team, left the BBC to write her book and said it felt bonkers for her behind-the-scenes producer role to be the subject of a Netflix film.

Scoop is one of two dramatisations in the works.

Maitlis is making her own three-part drama covering her career and culminating in the Newsnight interview.

Its nice that theres so much interest in the story and Im really looking forward to watching Emilys, McAlister said.

She lamented the cuts to Newsnight, which will see the BBC Two show curtailed to a half-hour slot with fewer staff.

Its a real shame. This story changed the course of journalistic history. It was a huge thing, and where do you get that kind of journalism? The places that you get it now are diminishing by the second, so to see Newsnight culled is painful because the powerful will sleep more comfortably in their beds at night.

Its a very important type of journalism and its disappearing before our eyes, McAlister said.

However, she acknowledged that Newsnights viewing figures are falling. Its what I call the beautiful hypocrisy, she said.

I often do events where people say, Newsnights amazing, I cant believe its being culled. And then Ill politely enquire when they last watched it, and 90 per cent of the time they havent watched it for two or three years. The space between what people value in theory and what they actually consume is quite vast.

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.
Politics and the vulnerable

More Americans were homeless in 2023 than ever before  especially among the elderly and disabled.

It isnt uncommon to see unhoused people in wheelchairs, carrying oxygen tanks and dealing with a variety of other health challenges.

Politicians have proposed tent cities, mental institutions and passing stricter laws to keep the homeless off the streets.

Homelessness is obviously a multifaceted issue.

In addition to addressing the lack of affordable housing, we need more conversations about Social Security and Medicaid. SSI, a program for seniors and people with disabilities, has strict asset limitations. These arbitrary laws discourage recipients from earning and saving more money.

If seniors and people with disabilities have more than $2,000 in savings, the benefit can be revoked. High rent outpaces federal disability payments. The program itself locks millions into poverty.

Warehousing people who are capable of living independently will ultimately cost more than addressing systemic causes of homelessness among the elderly and disabled.

Now that the primaries are happening, it is time for candidates to discuss policies that affect our most vulnerable citizens. Voters deserve better than screeds, gaffes and meltdowns.

M. Griffin, Spartanburg

Not again

Less than a decade ago, we saw an energy disaster in South Carolina. The V.C. Summer Nuclear Stations construction project fizzled out after years of delays and cost overruns. Customers ended up footing the bill for a failed plant that generated no electricity.

The companies involved, Santee Cooper and SCE&G (now Dominion Energy), promised they would change. But here we are, just a few years later, and the utilities are at it again.

Despite an independent report suggesting cheaper options, Santee Cooper and Dominion want another mega-project  a gas plant in Colleton County. Once again, utilities want a blank check backed by customers to build a big, risky project. This gas plant wont be complete for at least seven years, even though utilities say we need more energy now.

I hope this time decision-makers see the mega-project for the potential boondoggle it could be and pursue other options. Call or write your state representatives and let them know that any new resource plan from the utilities must include renewables, and must have a clear path to transition off of fossil fuels.

M. Bogle, Beaufort

Teach persuasion

A search of the South Carolina K-12 ELA (English language arts) teaching standards reveals that propaganda techniques, a.k.a techniques of persuasion, do not exist. Previous years standards infused the various techniques in grades 5-12.

Why is this important?

Everyday these techniques are employed in media messages from product advertisements to political campaign commercials, but South Carolina students wont recognize them because theyve been omitted from teaching standards. The omission is a form of bias.

Once again the decision to omit propaganda in instruction leaves our students behind.

F. Baker, Columbia

Please, Mr. Norman

Is it too much to ask Congressman Ralph Norman to go crawl under a rock somewhere and just keep his mouth shut?

His latest travesty is to object to the appointment of the eminently qualified James Smith to a state judgeship.

This is the same representative who three years ago emailed President Trump to invoke marshall law to stay in office three days before President Bidens inauguration.

Its bad enough to have a congressman who embarrasses our state by showing he is a traitor to the Constitution; do we have to have one that cant spell either?

H. Smithson, Columbia
Former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney commended President Biden for the relatively effective decision to launch retaliatory strikes Friday after three U.S. military members were killed in an attack by Iran last week.

You can be critical of the way theyve handled the Iran nuclear deal. You can be critical of the way theyve allowed Iran to build up their foreign currency reserves. You can be critical of a bunch of different things, Mulvaney, a NewsNation contributor, told host Chris Stirewalt on Friday. You can do a whole litany of them but at the same time, whats wrong with waiting to have an opinion on this?

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it began airstrikes around 4 p.m. EST Friday in Iraq and Syria against Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups.

Mulvaney was taking issue with the critics who were against Bidens decision to fire the retaliatory strikes. Some people are worried that the strikes will drag the U.S. into a larger regional war in the Middle East, while critics, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), were critical of his decision to wait so long to respond.

Everybody wanted President Biden to do something. He did something. It seems to be relatively effective tonight. I mean, its 85 targets, 125 munitions, thats a big deal, Mulvaney said in the interview, highlighted by Mediaite. So why dont we just say okay, this is fine, lets see what happens next.

Biden released a statement after the strikes were announced that noted he had attended the return of the three soldiers who were killed in Jordan. He said the military struck the facilities in the Middle East at his direction and the United States response will continue at times and places of our choosing.

You can be critical of whats happened in the past and still look at this tonight and say, okay, I think this might be a good first step, Mulvaney said. Why do you always have to be either for the president or against the president? Thats what I dont understand.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
We are at a dangerous point in history. The need to deter against the threat of an all-out war is more pressing than it has been for a generation. With the Defence Secretary stating that we have entered a pre-war world, where we must replace idealism with hard-headed realism, the vital importance of that deterrence has never been clearer.

Across the Western world, the voices calling for us to be ready for war have grown louder. Some senior military figures have suggested that we may have as little as three years to prepare for a possible Russian offensive against Natos territory. These warnings are a wake-up call. We must rise to the challenge.

The defence select committee is publishing its report Ready For War?, following a thorough year-long investigation into the readiness of our Armed Forces. Our conclusions are stark.

Our Armed Forces face stockpile shortages that our industrial base cannot currently replenish fast enough. It is vital that we learn lessons from Russias invasion of Ukraine. We need the flexibility and surge capacity to ramp up production quickly when required, so that we can respond with haste, whatever the threat.

Industry has a clear demand signal from the Ministry of Defence (MoD); this needs to be backed up by a drumbeat of orders and an expansion in capacity. It is of concern that the 1.95 billion earmarked for replenishing stockpiles may be used instead to plug gaps in the MoDs budget. In the current environment, defence needs greater procurement flexibility and an approach to working with industry that will deliver the current and future capacity that is required.

Our focus in this report has been on how we ensure our professional forces, the building blocks of our defence, are up to strength, able to meet their tasks and fully equipped for the most difficult challenges. The formation of a second echelon in a prolonged war, however constituted, would rely on these essential foundations.

The UKs Armed Forces are a world-class fighting force. We are fortunate to have highly trained and skilled personnel operating at home and overseas, unwavering in their commitment to protecting our nation.

Our report found that the Armed Forces are operationally ready and able to deploy at a moments notice  but they are consistently being tasked in multiple directions, threatening our ability to train for and fight a multi-domain, prolonged high-intensity war.

The latest Steadfast Defender joint Nato exercise  the largest Nato drill since the end of the Cold War  and the UKs significant contribution to its success  is very welcome, but these essential exercises with our allies will create greater pressures on our forces alongside existing commitments.

This places pressure on our people: we are currently losing personnel faster than we can recruit. The MoD has acknowledged that only five personnel are recruited for every eight that leave the military. Those who remain in service are increasingly overstretched. This is a vicious cycle we need to break; the MoDs renewed focus on recruitment is vital and timely.

Equally important is retention. The Government has the advice of two comprehensive reviews: the Haythornthwaite Review, which looked at improving the overall offer to personnel, and the Reserve Forces Review, which asked how we can best utilise our capable reserves. It now needs to set fully out its plans.

We must start thinking strategically about our resources. The Government will need to make difficult decisions: greater prioritisation of the Armed Forces tasking or provide additional resources. Its only with additional resources that we can maintain the high operational tempo and enhance our deterrence by preparing alongside allies for high-intensity warfare.

We understand that the MoD is acutely aware of this issue. Politicians, civil servants and the military have all told us that they recognise the problems. We want them to have the bandwidth and resources they need to build warfighting resilience and strategic readiness.

The UKs staunch contribution to Exercise Steadfast Defender should be the first of many such exercises as we show our resolve.

As Gen Omar Bradley said, peace is our goal, but preparedness is the price we must pay. To confront the threats we face with confidence, we need to know that we would be ready for war.

Sir Jeremy Quin is chairman of the defence select committee and the MP for Horsham

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.
By Nyasha Nyaungwa

WINDHOEK (Reuters) - Namibia's Nangolo Mbumba, who took over as interim president of the southern African country on Sunday after Hage Geingob died in office, said he had no plans to run in elections due at the end of the year.

That means Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who replaces Mbumba as vice president and was nominated by the governing South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) just over a year ago to be its candidate, will remain on the ballot.

If she wins, she will be the southern African nation's first female president.

"I am not going to be around for the elections so don't panic," Mbumba said in a move that is rare among African leaders who have often sought to retain power once it is in their hands.

"My aim was to be a school principal, which I achieved and now I have to thank the Namibian people for the honour they have bestowed on me to be their president, for a short period," Mbumba said at his swearing-in ceremony.

SWAPO's constitution forbids making changes once the candidate has been picked two years before the poll is due.

The party has ruled Namibia - a mining hotspot with abundant diamonds, uranium and also lithium needed for electric car batteries - since independence from South Africa in 1990.

Geingob, in power since 2015, died aged 82 in the early hours of Sunday after a brief battle with cancer.

"It is poignant and reassuring to note that today, even in this time of heavy loss, our nation remains calm and stable," Mbumba said. "This is owing to the visionary leadership ... of president Geingob who was the chief architect of the Namibian constitution."

Geingob leaves behind a middle-income country fighting to push economic growth above 3% following a pandemic-era slowdown and reverse racial inequalities left over from colonialism and annexation by South Africa's former white minority government.

He led Namibia's efforts to recast itself as a leader of the global green economy and in 2022 Namibia became the first African country to agree to supply the European Union with green hydrogen and minerals needed for clean energy.

Last year, Namibia began constructing Africa's first decarbonised iron plant, to be powered exclusively by green hydrogen - which is extracted from water using electrolysis powered by renewable energy - blazing a trail in the reform of steelmaking, one of the world's most polluting industries.

These developments put Namibia ahead of its economically bigger and more industrialised neighbour South Africa, whose green energy transition efforts have been faltering.

(This story has been refiled to fix Nangolo Mbumba's name in paragraph 2)

(Reporting by Nyasha Nyaungwa; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
Hage Gottfried Geingob, President of Namibia, speaks at a meeting with Germany's Minister of Economics Habeck and business representatives at State House. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

Hage Geingob, the president of Namibia, has died in hospital in Windhoek in the early hours of Sunday morning, his deputy announced.

"The Namibian nation has lost a distinguished servant of the people, a liberation struggle icon, the chief architect of our constitution and the pillar of the Namibian house," acting president Nangolo Mbumba said in a statement on social media.

Geingob, aged 82, was being treated at the private Lady Pohamba hospital in Namibia's capital Windhoek after recently revealing that his medical team had discovered cancerous cells following a biopsy.

His wife, Monica Geingob, and his children were at his side, Mbumba said.

He added that the Cabinet would convene with immediate effect to make the necessary state arrangements and further announcements would be made in this regard.

On February 1, the presidency announced that Geingob had returned from the US where he had received "a two-day novel treatment for cancerous cells."

Geingob was the country's third president and had been in office since 2015. He was one of the leading political figures in the country and played a decisive role until Namibia's independence in 1990.

Born on August 3, 1941, in the rural town of Otjiwarongo in what was then South West Africa, Geingob initially trained to be a teacher.

In the 1960s, he joined the liberation movement to free his country from foreign administration by neighbouring South Africa, which at the time was run by the apartheid government.

Geingob became a member of the South West African People's Organisation (SWAPO), which later violently pursued its goal of independence with military support from the Soviet Union and Cuba.

Geingob initially acted as SWAPO's deputy in Botswana and became the representative to the United Nations in New York in 1964, where he simultaneously studied political science at renowned US universities.

When the UN Institute for Namibia was founded in 1975, Geingob became its director, a position he held until his return to his African homeland in 1989.

As the first prime minister of independent Namibia - under the presidency of Sam Nujoma - Geingob campaigned for reconciliation and the reconstruction of the former German colony (1884 - 1915) with a population of 2.6 million.

Geingob was regarded as a brilliant thinker and accomplished rhetorician who championed the rights of the oppressed.

His vision of a united and economically strong Namibia made him a respected head of state, both within the country and internationally, especially during his first term.

One of Geingob's most important political successes was the establishment of a public service in Namibia.

Nature conservation and eco-tourism were also high on Geingob's political agenda.

However, during his second term in office, for which he only narrowly won the majority of votes, Geingob lost public support.

His inability to put a stop to government mismanagement and halt high unemployment led to a sharp decline in trust.

His lavish lifestyle, his inability to accept criticism and his increasing political cooperation with China also caused resentment among the population.

In 2021, Geingob was confronted with serious allegations of corruption, however, the results of the investigation are still pending.
WASHINGTON  In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country recently.

Call for Indigenous Knowledge Student Research Projects

The application period is now open for the Indigenous Knowledge Research Track Program developed by AISES - Advancing Indigenous People in STEM, with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Tribal Relations.

This endeavor stems from a cooperative agreement between USDA and AISES to elevate projects that focus on the intersection of Indigenous knowledge (IK) and western science and engineering. Indigenous knowledge is a body of observations, oral and written knowledge, innovations, practices, and beliefs developed by Tribes and Indigenous peoples through interaction and experience with the environment. Todays announcement encourages high school, undergraduate, and graduate students to develop and conduct Indigenous knowledge research projects. Currently, year one students are conducting research projects on topics such as ethnobotany, mental health, and traditional medicine.

Selected applicants will be supported in their project and skill development journey through a $300 stipend to support IK research project activities, monthly webinars on IK topics from leaders in the field, and access to IK resources and Indian Country and USDA mentors. Additionally, participating students will be encouraged to present their research at the 2024 AISES National Conference in the Indigenous Knowledge Research Track and other events.

Up to 20 students will be selected this application cycle. Eligible applicants include current high school, undergraduate, and graduate students in the United States. The deadline for applications is Friday, March 8, 2024. Awardees will be notified by the end of March. If interested, please complete the Indigenous Knowledge Track Research Program Application.

For questions and comments regarding the application or program, contact Sky Wildcat at swildcat@aises.org.

Reo. Peltola applauds passage of the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024, which provides a three-year expansion to multiple tax credit programs, including the Child Tax Credit. The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), the first elected Native Alaskan to serve in Congress, issued the following statement regarding the bill's passage:

This bill is a major win for families all across Alaska, and Im glad that the House was able to come together in a bipartisan way to pass this important legislation. As a mother of seven, the Child Tax Credit was extremely helpful to me during the pandemic, as it was for many other parents. The expanded credit in this bill will help nearly 32,000 Alaskan children and lift many families out of poverty. This bill also provides important credits to incentivize research and development for businesses to create jobs and grow our economy, and I will continue to push for the reinstatement of credits for our fishing fleets and processors to provide meals and worker housing, as well as clarifying tax exemptions for fishing-related investments from Alaskan CDQ (Community Development Quota) groups. Alaska is a big place with unique needs, and this tax bill is a step in the right direction. With this vote, Congress has shown once again that when we put partisanship aside, we can make real change.

The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 text can be found here.

FCC Seeks Comment on the Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program

On November 13, 2023, the Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on its proposal to establish a pilot program to learn more about cybersecurity and advanced firewall services that could help K-12 schools and libraries protect their broadband networks and data, while also ensuring that limited Universal Service funds are utilized in the most effective manner.

The pilot program proposes to provide funding to eligible K-12 schools and libraries to defray the costs of qualifying cybersecurity and advanced firewall services to protect their broadband networks and data from the growing number of school and library-focused cyber events. As proposed, this pilot program would provide up to $200 million over three years, and would be funded through the Universal Service Fund (USF), but budgeted separately from the Commissions other USF programs.

The reply comment deadline is February 27, 2024.

If you would like to file comments, you may file them using the Commissions Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), under proceeding WC Docket No. 23-234.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
Plastered on plaques, chair covers, and tabletops aboard the USS Pasadena is a decorative crest reminding the submarines sailors of their mission: anytime, anywhere.

We are like ninjas, Lt. j.g. Judner Attys said with a smirk.

The USS Pasadena, a Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine, is undergoing a scheduled maintenance pierside at Naval Station Norfolk. It is one of about 60 active U.S. Navy submarines around the world.

Capable of operating for months from the deep, these submersibles are seldom seen once they dive, resurfacing only for supplies.

What allows the Pasadena, as well as every submarine in the Navys fleet, to live up to the anytime, anywhere motto is the ability to be self-sufficient. This includes making its own freshwater and oxygen for the 140 sailors on board.

Every time we make the decision to surface, we are saying, Here we are,' said Senior Chief Petty Officer Eddie Murray, the master chief of the Pasadenas engineering department.

In July, the Pasadena made national headlines for stopping at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay around the same time a Russian naval vessel arrived at Havanas port. The Cuban Foreign Ministry called the Pasadenas visit a provocative escalation, ABC News reported.

Self-sufficiency, Murray said, can be the difference between life and death for the entire crew.

Submarines use reverse osmosis for freshwater production. The process is identical to that of coastal towns, with the only difference being powered by the nuclear energy of a submarine, Murray said.

Reverse osmosis works by bringing in seawater from the ocean and pressurizing it to remove salt and other contaminants. The water produced by submarines, Murray said, is the purest water.

The only way to get fresher water would be like in Iceland and Greenland, straight from a glacial source, Murray said.

The water is tested weekly to ensure its safe for the crew to drink. The water is also used for plumbing. Just as important, if not more important, is a submarines ability to create its own oxygen.

It is just like how you make air at your house for tools, like with a little air compressor, Murray said. The only difference is ours is a little bit bigger and goes up to higher pressure.

Submarines make air using electrolysis, which splits water molecules to produce hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is put back into the ocean while the oxygen is stored in tanks aboard the submarine.

Sustainability is what allows us to be anywhere, anytime, in any given situation, Attys said.

Invisibility is vital for submarine missions. According to the Department of Defense, submarines are tasked with anti-surface and antisubmarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine reconnaissance, land attacks, polar operations, Special Forces support and defending other fleet ships.

As supply officer aboard the Pasadena, Attys said he is responsible for optimizing every little inch of the 362-foot submarine to ensure it surfaces when leadership wants it to  not when it is forced to because it is low on supplies.

We are the tip of the spear, Attys said. Adversaries know we are out there but they cant guess when or where we will pop up.

Caitlyn Burchett, caitlyn.burchett@virginiamedia.com
SAN DIEGO  In celebration of Rosa Parks birthday and Transit Equity Day, the North County Transit District (NCTD) is offering free rides on all of its public transportation options for the entire day on Sunday.

Sunday, Feb. 4 is Transit Equity Day. To celebrate the birthday of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks, NCTD is offering free rides on COASTER, BREEZE, SPRINTER, FLEX and LIFT  for the entire day.

Black History Month: Black business owner wins with family banana pudding recipe

In 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks was riding home from a long day at work on a public bus when she refused to give up her seat.

Decades after Ms. Parks bold decision, we must continue to advocate for accessible, reliable, and affordable public transportation for all, said Jewel Edson, NCTD Board Chair and Solana Beach Deputy Mayor. Offering free rides highlights the value of providing equitable access to public transportation.

Yolanda Renee King, only granddaughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., following in family footsteps with activism, new book

In Southern California, Metrolink, LA Metro, and transit agencies in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties are also offering free rides for Transit Equity Day.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Newspaper heiress Patricia Patty Hearst was kidnapped at gunpoint 50 years ago Sunday by the Symbionese Liberation Army, later joining her captors in a 1974 San Francisco bank robbery that earned her a prison sentence.

The abduction and subsequent trial of Hearst, then a 19-year-old college student and the granddaughter of wealthy newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, was one of the most sensational and captivating cases of the 1970s.

Hearst will turn 70 on Feb. 20. She is now known as Patricia Hearst Shaw after she married a police officer who guarded her when she was out on bail, the late Bernard Shaw. She has been in the news in recent years for her dogs, mostly French bulldogs, that have won prizes in the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

Hearsts allegiance to the Symbionese Liberation Army raised questions about Stockholm syndrome, a common term deployed to describe the bond that victims of kidnappings or hostage situations sometimes develop with their captors.

Stockholm syndrome got its name from an August 1973 failed bank robbery in Swedens capital. Rather than a diagnosis of a disorder, experts describe it as a psychological coping mechanism used by some hostages to endure being held captive and abused.

Hearst, who went by the name Tania in the group, denounced her family and posed for a photograph carrying a weapon in front of their flag. The self-styled radicals viewed aspects of U.S. society as racist and oppressive, and they were accused of killing a California school superintendent.

As a member of a wealthy and powerful family, Hearst was kidnapped to bring attention to the Symbionese Liberation Army, according to the FBI. The group demanded food and money donations for the poor in exchange for Hearsts release, though she remained a captive even after her family met the ransom through a $2 million food distribution program.

Hearst took part in the groups robbery of a San Francisco bank on April 15, 1974. Surveillance cameras captured her wielding an assault rifle during the crime.

She wasnt arrested until the FBI caught up with her on Sept. 18, 1975, in San Francisco, 19 months after her abduction.

Her trial was one of the most sensational of that decade. The prosecutor played a jail cell recording of Hearst talking with a friend in which she was confident, cursing and fully aware of her role with the Symbionese Liberation Army.

While Hearst was sentenced to seven years in prison, President Jimmy Carter commuted her sentence in 1979 after she served 22 months behind bars. She later was pardoned by President Bill Clinton.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
House Speaker Charles McCall welcomes Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat to the podium May 15 as Gov. Kevin Stitt looks on.

When the Oklahoma Legislature returns to the Capitol on Monday, it won't be just to argue about policy and taxes and review the mountain of new legislation waiting for them.

There's another fight going on  behind the scenes  that could set the direction for both the House and Senate for the next several years: Who will be the next speaker and who will be the next Senate president pro tempore?

Call it pick the new guy  or gal.

This year, the second session of the 59th Oklahoma Legislature will be an unusual one  it's the last session for both House Speaker Charles McCall and Pro Tem Greg Treat.

Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, at the podium, joins Gov. Kevin Stitt, right, and House Speaker Charles McCall on May 15.

And, yes, the fight to succeed both already has started.

Forced out of office due to term limits, the days of a House speaker or Senate president pro tempore who serves for 25 years are long gone. Today, Oklahoma lawmakers are limited to 12 years and, usually, the first two to four years in office are spent learning the process and making contacts. This means the tenure of a legislative leader is limited and the jockeying for positions starts early.

In the House, McCall, the longtime speaker, steps aside at the end of the session. The most likely contender to succeed McCall is Rep. Kyle Hilbert, the speaker pro tempore. Hilbert, a Republican from Bristow, was first elected in 2016 and won't be termed out of office until 2028.

More: Tax cuts, tribal relations issues could dominate upcoming 2024 legislative session

Rep. Kyle Hilbert, House speaker pro tempore, is pictured Feb. 8, 2023, during the legislative session.

In the Senate, the odds-on money is on Majority Floor Leader Greg McCortney, a Republican from Ada.

While the majority floor leader's post is often a stepping stone for a promotion, for McCortney, it's not a sure thing. At least two other senators  Casey Murdock, R-Felt, and David Bullard, R-Durant  have made moves toward the top spot.

But getting either post won't be easy.

Key skills of legislative leadership

Becoming the next speaker or president pro tempore starts early. It involves commitment, understanding and better-than-average people skills. There's lots of travel, a billion telephone calls and a never-ending stream of problems.

"The guys who you want to vote for you are looking for two or three things," said former Senate Pro Tempore Cal Hobson, a Democrat from Lexington. "They want to know if you'll keep your word. They want to know just how much you know and they want to have access. That's usually what they are looking for."

Oh, and those people skills help, too.

More: Lawmakers have thousands of bills to sift through this session. Here are the biggest ones up for consideration

A lawmaker who rises to the top leadership post has, more than likely, traveled and campaigned for others, helped freshman lawmakers learn the ropes and served as a mentor for others in some way.

"Understanding your fellow lawmakers and serving as a resource is a big plus," Hobson said.

House Speaker Charles McCall, left, and others watch the vote board Wednesday during the special session at the Oklahoma Capitol.

Still, state politics, even though it's on a larger scale than, say, a school board, is a local endeavor.

"You have to have connections into many groups," he said. "You have to have people in each group that are supportive and that will help you. You have to connect and you have to understand."

The state's current legislative leadership does this well, says James Davenport, a Rose State College political science professor. Both Treat and McCall have pushed their respective bodies forward, and both understand well what it takes to serve as a legislative leader,

"They both have kept their caucuses on track," Davenport said. "That's not easily done."

Political supermajorities come with bigger problems and often, the majority develops fault lines. Such is the case in Oklahoma. But even with factions that have caused them difficulty, both Treat and McCall have managed their respective bodies well, Davenport said.

Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat gives a one-on-one interview with The Oklahoman on July 24 about the passage of bills.

"Both the House and Senate have factions," Davenport said. "Even in caucus not everyone agrees, and sometimes it gets difficult. The key is to keep the caucus moving forward."

Hobson, the former pro tempore, calls that "reading the room" and understanding your people.

"I remember when I made a bid to be pro tempore, one of my opponents told me he would destroy me if I didn't get out of the race," Hobson said. "I stayed in and won. Later that guy stopped by my desk, knelt down and offered me his hand. He said, 'you're my pro tempore.'"

Loyalty, too, Hobson said, can make or break a leader.

"It takes a lot to be in charge of a legislative body," Hobson said. "Your best day is the day you're elected to the post; after that, it's all downhill."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Who will succeed Charles McCall and Greg Treat in Oklahoma House, Senate?
Nigel Farage is attending the launch of the Popular Conservatives group in his role as a GB News presenter - Tayfun Salci/Aalamy Stock Photo

Nigel Farage has said he is open-minded about joining the Conservative Party after the next election as he pushes for a major realignment of the Right.

The former Ukip and Brexit Party leader, the honorary president of Reform UK, hinted at a move ahead of his attendance at a launch event for the new Popular Conservatives group on Tuesday.

Liz Truss, the former prime minister, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former business secretary, and Lee Anderson, who quit as deputy Tory chairman over the Rwanda Bill, will all speak at the event.

The Popular Conservatives group is attempting to push the Tories further to the Right on issues such as the scale of tax cuts and a willingness to consider leaving the European Convention on Human Rights.

Mr Farage will be in the audience, attending in his role as a GB News presenter, but his presence has renewed speculation about whether he hopes to attempt a populist takeover of the Conservatives, as suspected by some Number 10 insiders.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Farage said he would not try to join the Tories before the election, expected to take place in the autumn, saying he disagreed with too many of their policies.

However, asked whether he could seek to join the party after the election, Mr Farage said it depended on how the Right of British politics realigned.

I think we just have to wait to see, he said. Im open-minded about anything that happens after the election.

Pointing to factors such as the size of a potential Labour victory, how well Reform does in the vote and how the Tories then change, he went on: Lets see. But for me the thought that the official Conservative Party is ever going to move, it doesnt look very likely. But who knows?

In 2019, the Brexit Party, then led by Mr Farage, agreed to stand down candidates in seats held by the Tories to help Boris Johnson get enough MPs to pass a deal to take the UK out of the European Union.

But ahead of this election, Reform, the Brexit Partys successor, which is led by Richard Tice, has made no such promise, complicating Rishi Sunaks attempts to win his party a fifth term in office.

Support for Reform has surged in recent months amid Tory infighting over direction. The Telegraphs election poll tracker has the party on 10 per cent and the Tories on 25 per cent. Labour remains way ahead on 45 per cent.

Mr Farage said leading members of the new Popular Conservatives group, described as PopCon by some, are arguing for similar policy stances to those adopted by Reform.

He added: If you look at what I anticipate Truss is going to say and what Richard Tice is saying, then you have to think that at some point in time these people will all be together. I think there is the possibility of a post-election major realignment occurring and I can see PopCon potentially as being part of that process.

Nigel Farage and Richard Tice, pictured at a Brexit Party event in 2019 - Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Only Conservative MPs can run to be party leader. Should Mr Farage seek to become a Tory member or a Tory MP after the election, the party leadership would have to approve it.

If the Tories lose the election and Mr Sunak resigns, his potential successors  Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman rank highly in Tory membership polls  would be likely to be asked if they would let Mr Farage join.

Mr Anderson, one of the speakers on the stage on Tuesday, indicated on Sunday that he would not oppose such a move.

Discussing the prospect of Mr Farage becoming a Tory member, he told The Telegraph: Anybody who ticks the boxes with strong Conservative values should be welcomed into the Conservative Party. However, he made it clear that he was not endorsing Mr Farages return.

The breadth of support on the Tory benches for the Popular Conservatives remains unclear. Already, five different Tory groups are occupying similar political space.

According to an excerpt of what he plans to argue at the launch event, Sir Jacob will say: There is a global disconnect between the elected and the electors. This is showing itself in the protests seen recently in France, Germany and Brussels, as well as the election results in Holland and election debate in the United States.

Domestically, we have seen power go from the democratic parts of the constitution to the appointed parts. This has made the Government less responsive to the needs of the people and closer to those who have a hierarchical, internationalist view of government.

Popular conservatism is about restoring this balance and returning power to Parliament while taking it away from quangos and a judiciary that has become more political.

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.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.  Republican Nickey Maxey doesnt care that his former governor lost the first two 2024 GOP presidential primary contests.

He's fully behind Nikki Haley. And he has a warning for those calling on Haley to drop out: don't underestimate her.

While prominent conservative activists and GOP officials  including former President Donald Trump  are bellowing for Haley to exit, supporters of hers like Maxey, who helped organize a fundraiser when she first ran for governor in 2010, see glimmers of an alternative pathway to victory.

"She can win this if she stays in there," Maxey, 67, said. "Trump's going to mess up at some point, and so she's going to be in the driver's seat."

Nickey Maxey is a longtime supporter of Nikki Haley from Hilton Head, South Carolina

There's a method to Haley's South Carolina bid. In part, she's aiming to be the last person standing should Trump's balloon burst at any point during the 2024 election cycle. It's also a test of whether there's an appetite for an alternative to the former president, who has shown electoral cracks in his armor even when winning Iowa and New Hampshire.

She's drilling that message into voters' heads about Trumps character and acuity while zipping coast to coast raising campaign cash to remain competitive after pledging to shrink his enormous 26-point lead in South Carolina.

During a campaign stop Thursday night in Hilton Head Island, an affluent resort town on the east coast of South Carolina, Haley sought to make that same case before true believers who assembled at a shopping plaza.

Voters including Marriett Campbell, a 78-year-old retired paralegal, listened in. While she voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, she can't get past the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

It was treason, she said. I have 11 grandchildren. And I cannot say I want you to be like him.

Republican presidential candidate and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at a campaign event in Mauldin, S.C., Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024.

Staying in the race means Haley continues to accumulate delegates in states in which independents can vote in the GOP primary, which her campaign outlined as its path to victory in a recent memo. Some anti-Trump Republicans have cast a possible scenario of Haley emerging at the GOP convention in July, which experts say would ignite a whole different civil war within the party.

Haley's campaign maintains that she plans to stay in the race until at least March 5, when 16 states hold their contests on what is known as Super Tuesday.

"After Super Tuesday, we will have a very good picture of where this race stands," Haley campaign manager Betsy Ankney wrote in the Jan. 23 memo. "Until then, everyone should take a deep breath."

Democrat Anton Gunn, who served with Haley in the South Carolina legislature, described his former colleague as a "great political athlete" who has the ability to pull off an upset. He recalled how she shocked the entire state in 2010 after receiving key endorsements from prominent GOP figures, such as Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin.

"For the Trump acolytes, they can support him all they want. Nikki is going to be around for a while, and I don't suspect that she'll get out anytime soon or drop out," he said. "She only gets stronger the more he attacks her. That's just her thing."

Beating Biden

President Joe Biden poses with patrons at They Say restaurant in Harper Woods, Michigan, on February 1, 2024.

Haley pitched her list of accomplishments as governor this past Thursday in front of supporters at a modern and cozy barbecue joint with exposed ceilings and wood-paneled walls in one of Hilton Head Island's oldest plazas, steps away from the public Coligny beach.

But if you were expecting a cookout and the smoky aroma of burning apple and cherry wood and the distinct mustard simmering sauces, there was none there. Instead, the restaurant had stopped service for the evening, except for drinks at its outdoor bar.

Haley touted her conservative policy chops including cutting unemployment, passing strict anti-immigration laws, fighting for pension reform and cutting taxes.

By the time I left, we were named the friendliest state in the country. The most patriotic state in the country, Haley said.

Part of Haley's electability argument is that she is the preferable candidate to take back the White House.

A Jan. 31 Quinnipiac University poll shows Trump trailing President Joe Biden by 6% and also has her beating the Democratic incumbent by 5%.

Haley needs to convince conservatives that Trump is not one of them, Republican strategist William F. B. O'Reilly said in an interview. He's a narcissistic populist whose agenda can turn on a dime, depending on his mood on any given morning.

The idea of Trump once again being the Republican Party's standardbearer was not palatable to Neal Wasserman and his wife Leslie St. Amant.

The couple, who spends their time between Massachusetts and South Carolina, are former Republicans who changed their political affiliation to independents after Trump won.

She (Haley) has the mental fortitude and character to discuss what's important versus attacking individuals for either their race, how they look or how they dress, said St. Amant, 53, a personal trainer and nutritionist who works with cancer patients.

But casting herself as the Plan B candidate with a deposit of delegates could be tricky, especially if there's no path to victory through South Carolina  a winner-take-all state in which Haley could wind up winning zero delegates if she is unable to beat Trump.

Backed by the emphatic Make America Great Again movement, Trump and his allies are browbeating Haley to drop out, which is building up a cacophony of conservatives who resent her staying in the race.

The Trump campaign also has flexed multiple endorsements from the Palmetto State, including Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., whom Haley appointed, while branding her as a "war monger" who is weak on immigration.

Taking on the Trump machine

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.

Since her 11-point loss in New Hampshire, Haley's pitch has been twofold. For starters, she has zeroed in Trump's mental acuity and age, which mirrors many of the right-wing attacks that spotlight anxiety about Biden. She also is leaning into a reminder for voters about the former president's ongoing legal troubles as a pain point for his campaign.

She has reserved $4 million in airtime in South Carolina that she is using on both attack ads and commercials about the conservative legislation she signed and policies she enacted as governor.

Haley leaned into issues on Thursday that are likely to grab the attention of more conservative-minded voters.

Amid attacks from the Trump campaign that she is weak on immigration, Haley talked up an idea about a national E-Verify, which will require every business to prove that the people they hire are in the country legally.

She also promised to defund sanctuary cities, ending the current practice of releasing migrants while they await proceedings in immigration court to catch and deport.

Haley had been pining for a two-person race against Trump, suggesting repeatedly on the trail in Iowa and New Hampshire that in an un-congested field, she could beat him in South Carolina.

Yet, the abrupt exit of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis from the race last month, and other candidate departures following the Iowa Caucus, may have boosted Trump by helping him win back wayward supporters as much as it helped her.

A new Monmouth University-Washington Post poll of South Carolina voters shows Trump with 58% support in South Carolina. He had 46% in September. Haley trails at 32%. She polled at 18% in the September survey.

Nikki Haley, GOP presidential candidate, campaigns at Mauldin High School in Mauldin, S.C., on Jan. 27, 2024.

During an appearance last Sunday on "Meet the Press," Haley appeared set a new bar for how well she must do that emphasized "building momentum" over winning her home state.

"I need to show that I'm stronger in South Carolina than New Hampshire. Does that have to be a win? I don't think that necessarily has to be a win," she said.

"But it certainly has to be better than what I did in New Hampshire, and it certainly has to be close."

She said her team must show voters and donors that, "we're continuing to narrow that margin" against Trump leading into Super Tuesday.

A Democratic bailout for Haley?

Republican presidential candidate and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at a campaign event in Mauldin, S.C., Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024.

One question hanging over South Carolina is what role Democrats could play in determining Haleys fate.

Thats because voters can participate in either partys contest, which means Democrats who did not cast a ballot in Saturday's party primary are eligible to participate in the GOP contest on Feb. 24.

This prospect has gotten more traction ever since independents and unaffiliated voters showed up for Haley during the New Hampshire primary.

Haley herself has said she is open to support from Democrats who have lost confidence in Biden.

"If conservative Democrats are saying, I want to come back home to the Republican Party because they left it, I want them back," she said during January town hall hosted by CNN.

Skeptics abound, however, at the possibility that a significant enough portion Democrats will skip their own partys primary to rescue a former governor who many opposed when she was in office.

Nikki Haley is just as bad as Trump, if not worse. I call her the mother of MAGA, Christale Spain, chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, said in an interview.

Spain, the first Black woman to lead the state party, said they have been working overtime to discourage Democratic voters from joining Haleys coalition.

Months before the primary, state Democrats hammered Haley by reminding people how she blocked expanded Medicaid as part of the Affordable Care Act.

Others have pointed to her support for a 6-week abortion ban, and her failing to mention slavery when asked about what sparked the Civil War.

"Nikki Haley may seem normal standing next to Trump  anybody can do that," Spain said. "For us they're all MAGA, and there's nothing for a Democratic voter on that side."

As the state party and Biden reelection campaign pushed their backers to turn up to the polls, Haley has made no overtures to Democrats in the state to wait to cast a ballot until the GOP primary to bolster her numbers against Trump.

Instead, she is running ads touting her conservative credentials in the deep red state that has a Republican governor, attorney general, secretary of state and state legislature.

Gunn, a veteran campaign strategist in the state who worked on then-candidate Barack Obama's campaign in 2008, said South Carolina Democrats were far more focused on their new position as the national party's first official primary in the nation.

"I don't think it's worth their campaign spending any energy on Democratic voters. They need to spend all of their time focused on Republican voters," he said.

The Plan B candidate option isn't a guarantee

A man places signs outside a rally for Republican presidential candidate and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley on January 28, 2024 in Conway, South Carolina.

A candidate needs 1,215 delegates to be the Republican nominee for president, and at the moment Trump holds a slim lead that is expected to balloon in March.

The idea that Haley should stick it out and rake in more delegates until the GOP convention in July to emerge as the alternate should Trump be toppled by his legal woes is largely wishful thinking, strategists say.

Being the last candidate standing won't guarantee her the nomination given how profoundly the party is Trump's party in this day and age, said Rick Wilson, a former Republican campaign operative and co-founder of Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump group.

If something were to happen to Trump politically or otherwise, he said, his delegates could decide to back another candidate who is not even in the race  and leave Haley high and dry.

Haley would likely face an avalanche of candidates who would jump in the race at the convention.

There are a lot of scenarios where that plays, one way or the other, Wilson said.

Other Republican strategists dismiss ideas about gaming the convention, saying the Haleys campaign best shot is building a coalition of voters fretting over Trump, starting with traditional conservatives troubled by the MAGA movement.

O'Reilly, the GOP strategist, said she should continue pounding away at Trump's volatile behavior, and spotlight how chaos and conservatism are antithetical to one another.

Nikki Haley, GOP presidential candidate, campaigns at Mauldin High School in Mauldin, S.C., on Jan. 27, 2024.

Haley should also keep hitting Trump on his broken promises from 2016, most notably his dramatic deficit spending, he said.

Haley will have to continue to lean into the electability argument, which was bolstered by the recent Quinnipiac survey.

That poll shows in a hypothetical one-on-one matchup, for instance, Haley leading Biden among independents by 16%. The same survey shows independents giving Biden a 12% edge over Trump.

Among female voters, the Quinnipiac poll finds, support for Biden against Trump has increased. The president now holds a 58-36% lead with women, up from December when it was 53-41%.

Wilson said as the GOP primary in South Carolina comes more into focus, Haley will have to ramp up a stark message to voters with those alarms.

If I were her, I would frame Trumps potential return as something that will put violence front and center in American life," he said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nikki Haley in the 'driver's seat'? Supporters see alternative path
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley popped into Rockefeller Plaza on Saturday for a surprise appearance on NBCs Saturday Night Live, where she called out former President Trumps resistance to debate and ongoing legal battles.

Haley, playing a concerned South Carolina voter, stood up in the mock audience during a fake CNN Town Hall with Trump  played by James Austin Johnson  and asked, My question is why wont you debate Nikki Haley?

Her appearance prompted cheers from the audience and a not-so-happy reaction from Johnson.

Oh, my god, its her! The woman who was in charge of security on Jan. 6. Its Nancy Pelosi! Johnson responded.

Charles Barkley, played by Kenan Thompson, pointed out Haley is not former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), in reference to Trumps apparent mix-up of the two political figures last month.

Haley, shortly following the mix-up, renewed her challenge last month to debate Trump, who has declined to attend any of the GOP primary debates, citing his comfortable lead in the polls.

Are you doing OK, Donald? You might need a mental competency test, Haley said.

Trump claimed he aced that test, telling Haley, They told me Im 100 percent mental and Im competent because Im a man, thats why a woman should never run our economy.

Haley, a former United Nations ambassador, has long argued for mental competency tests for those over 75. Trump, 77, responded to this argument last month and claimed he would beat her in a cognitive test.

In fact, a woman I know recently asked me for $83 million, Johnson said, in reference to Trumps recent defeat in longtime advice columnist E. Jean Carrolls defamation case.

The former president was ordered to pay a whopping $83.3 million last month for defaming the writer when he denied her allegation that he sexually assaulted her in the mid-1990s.

Taking aim at Trumps mounting legal fees, Haley asked, And you spent $50 million in your own legal fees. Do you need to borrow some money?

Federal election filings posted last week showed Trumps various political committees spent about $29 million on lawyers fees and legal consulting in the final six months of last year, bringing the total to roughly $50 million for the full year.

Johnson responded by listing off nicknames for Haley, a nod to the various nicknames Trump has called her and his other political opponents.

These included Nikki-Tikki-Tavi and Nikki Dont Lose that Number, along with a nod to the star of The Sixth Sense  Haley Joel Osment.

Nikki Haley Joel Osman, we call her, Johnson said. Sixth Sense, remember that one  I see dead people.

Yeah, thats what voters will say if they see you and Joe [Biden] on the ballot, Haley quipped back.

The fake town hall was set in Haleys home state of South Carolina, where she is seeking to see a boost in support following two disappointments in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshires first-in-the-nation primary last month.

Johnson, as Trump, told Haley he would beat the former South Carolina governor in her state, to which Haley asked, And did you win your home state in the last election?

I won Staten Island, Johnson responded. And the parts of Long Island where the fist fights happen, where they get out of the cars if you honk your horn at them.

Trump lost in his home state of New York in the 2016 and 2020 elections.

Haley was put under the spotlight when an audience member, played by actor Ayo Edebiri, asked the White House hopeful, I was just curious, what would you say was the main cause of the Civil War, um, and do you think it starts with an s and ends with a lavery?

Yep, I probably should have said that at the time, Haley responded, in reference to the controversy she faced in December after she failed to mention slavery as the cause of the Civil War.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON  GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley urged Republican voters to hold off on supporting former President Donald Trump until they know if he's going to be convicted in any of the four criminal trials pending against him.

"I think the American people deserve to know what the situation is going to be," Haley said on CNN's "State of the Union." Former President Donald Trump currently faces four sets of criminal charges, two federal cases and state-level cases in Georgia and New York.

But Haley on Sunday went beyond targeting Trump over his sweeping indictments. Seeking to upset the former president in the South Carolina Republican primary on Feb. 24, Haley also said Trump should not be trying to block a congressional border bill. Instead, the former South Carolina governor told CNN a new border security plan should be passed as soon as possible.

Haley also used the interview to clarify recent comments she made about states and seceding, telling CNN that no state has the right to leave the country.

Nikki Haley

Nikki Haley issues warning to Republican voters

Haley on Sunday warned that, as Republican voters select their 2024 nominee to potentially face off against President Joe Biden, "For the next year, (Trump is) going to be sitting a courtroom."

"I think it speaks for itself that he's saying he's going to be spending more time in a courtroom than he's going to be spending on the campaign trail. We've got a country in disarray and a world on fire."

Haley spoke on CNN days after a federal judge announced the indefinite delay of a March 4 scheduled trial in which Trump is accused of trying to steal the 2020 election from Biden. The trial is being delayed because Trump's pre-trial appeals are taking up so much time.

Trump also faces three other criminal trials: A hush money case in New York state, a classified documents case in Florida and another election fraud case in the state of Georgia.

Trials in those cases are proposed for March, May and August, but pre-trial maneuvering could delay any or all of them.

Meanwhile, sandwiched between those potential trial dates, the Republican nominating convention starts July 15 in Milwaukee.

Trump, Haley and border politics

Trump in recent weeks has pushed House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. and other Republican leaders to kill a long-awaited bipartisan border security bill by arguing that Biden already has the power to stop illegal crossings.

But the former president's critics have argued that Trump simply wants to stop lawmakers from working with Biden on major border legislation ahead of the election.

Haley, for example, told CNN on Sunday that said Trump "is absolutely playing politics" with the border.

"He shouldn't be getting involved telling Republicans that wait until the election because we don't want this to help Biden win. We can't wait one more day."

Trump allies immediately hit back at Haley following her interview.

Nikki Haley reeks of desperation, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said, adding its clear she knows she has no shot and is now auditioning for a cable news contract when her 15 minutes are over.

Haley and secession

Haley faced her own criticism on Sunday, too. The former United Nations ambassador sought to clean up recent comments she made suggesting that states - specifically Texas - could secede from the Union, an issue that helped trigger the Civil War.

In a recent radio interview, Haley said that "if Texas decides they want to do that, they can do that." She said "if that whole state says, 'We don't want to be part of America anymore,' I mean, that's their decision to make."

She also added: "Let's talk about what's reality. Texas isn't going to secede."

But Haley this week told CNN said she was referencing comments made during her 2010 campaign for South Carolina governor, and that she did not mean to express support for secession and the country breaking apart.

"The Constitution doesn't allow for that," Haley said.

She said lawmakers should understand the frustration that some state officials feel over the authority of the federal government, citing Texas and its treatment of the U.S.-Mexico border as a prime example.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nikki Haley to GOP: Let's wait to see if Donald Trump is convicted
WASHINGTON  Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley took her campaign trail attacks on former President Donald Trump over the weekend to the biggest stage yet: "Saturday Night Live."

Appearing in the opening sketch as a South Carolina voter attending a Trump town hall, Haley delivered punchlines about her rival's age and his refusal to debate her. She jabbed at what she has called "unhinged" statements from the Republican presidential front-runner and suggested he take a "mental competency test."

"You spent $50 million in your own legal fees," Haley joked at one point to the "SNL" actor who typically impersonates Trump. "Do you need to borrow some money?

The New York studio crowd whooped it up over their surprise guest.

'Tricky Nikki'

Haley's "SNL" cameo served notice to Trump of her intent to campaign aggressively in her long-shot bid for an upset in the Feb. 24 presidential primary in South Carolina.

Trump holds a huge lead in Haley's home state and continues to dominate in national polls against his last serious GOP challenger.

Haley is taking a gamble with her feistier approach. The comedy skit put her back in the spotlight after she left the campaign trail for a few days to court donors. But the attacks on Trump might backfire with GOP voters she needs to win over.

After the "Saturday Night Live" gig, Haley said on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that she had "a blast" on the program.

"Know it was past Donalds bedtime so looking forward to the stream of unhinged tweets in the a.m.," Haley said.

Trump didn't wait until the end of the program to launch his counterattack.

As Saturday's installment was airing, Trump used his Truth Social account to post a commercial about Haley's alleged flip-flops on various issues, from taxes to running for president.

He added a tagline: "Tricky Nikki."

The 'SNL' effect

Politicians have often used "Saturday Night Live" to knock their rivals  and to try to show voters they can take a joke. Trump himself hosted the show in 2015.

But the former U.N. ambassador's jabs came after she had spent much of her campaign soft-pedaling her criticisms of Trump, as did many of the GOP challengers who have since left the race, including Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Scott and DeSantis promptly endorsed Trump after they jumped out of the primary.

Republican presidential candidate and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at a campaign event in Mauldin, S.C., Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024.

'Are you doing OK, Donald?'

Haley stepped up her criticism of Trump after losses in Iowa and New Hampshire and heading into the South Carolina primary.

Trump enjoys huge leads in Palmetto State polls, though Haley's recent hits appear to have gotten under his skin. He has attacked her Indian American heritage, mangled her name and confused her in a fiery speech with former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Haley in turn sought to hit Trump's weak spots during her surprise appearance on "Saturday Night Live." The show's opening skit was a parody of a CNN town hall featuring the Trump character played by "SNL" regular James Austin Johnson.

The program cast Haley as a "concerned" town hall attendee and offered her a chance to make her case against Trump.

Her opening lines: Why wont you debate Nikki Haley?

When the fictional Trump responded by again mixing up Haley and Pelosi, his GOP rival responded: "Are you doing OK, Donald? ... You might need a mental competency test.

The Trump character then made fun of Haley's name. At one point, he referred to her as "Nikki Haley Joel Osment," a reference to the actor who starred in the 1999 horror film "The Sixth Sense" and uttered the famous line "I see dead people."

Yeah," Haley said, "thats what voters will say if they see you and Joe (Biden) on the ballot.

'I probably should have said that the first time'

Despite the back-and-forth between a fictional Trump and Haley, she wasn't spared from criticism during the show.

At the end of the sketch, actress and host Ayo Edebiri, posing as a voter, asked Haley: What would you say was the main cause of the Civil War? And do you think it starts with an S and ends with a lavery?

Haley responded: Yep, I probably should have said that the first time.

In December, Haley drew intense criticism when she was asked during a town hall event about the cause of the Civil War. She didn't mention slavery, and her fellow Republican candidates and President Joe Biden immediately called her out for the failure on the campaign trail.

Haley later walked back her comments.

Taking the gloves off?

At the start of the 2024 campaign, Haley, as well as DeSantis, often avoided harsh criticism of Trump. She would calibrate her comments by praising the former president's policies but also saying the country needed to move on from the "chaos" he causes.

Haley shifted to much more pointed  and personal  attacks after her third-place finish in the Iowa Caucuses and second-place finish in the New Hampshire primary.

Now Haley is trying to attract Republican and independent voters wary of Trump. But by sharpening her attacks against the former president, Haley is likely to further anger Trump's supporters, who are the base of the Republican Party and could be for years to come.

Team Trump has suggested that Haley's new approach will put her on the path to political ruin.

"Haley just torpedoed her political future," Trump campaign aide Jason Miller wrote on X after Haley expressed confidence in the jury that awarded columnist E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million in defamation damages from the former president.

"There is no point of return. Haley is politically finished for 24, 28, forever," Miller said.

But Gibbs Knotts, a political science professor at the College of Charleston, said Haley's "SNL" performance shouldn't hurt her ahead of South Carolina's primary, where the former governor is hoping to show that her campaign has picked up momentum.

"Generally, it's good when politicians can show some humor," Knotts said. But he noted that her overall approach to Trump is challenging. Trump's MAGA movement is likely to remain a factor if Haley runs for president again in the future.

"It's a really tough situation she's in," Knotts said. "It's a dilemma for so many Republicans today."

Haley's aggression is no surprise, allies and analysts told USA TODAY. You have to be a fighter to rise from a little-known state legislator to governor  all as a woman of color  as Haley did in 2010.

Knotts noted that this year's fight for the Republican nomination is "a two-person race, and its common in American politics to criticize the main opponent. I think she will stay aggressive as long as both are in the race."

Katon Dawson, a Haley supporter and former state Republican chairman in South Carolina, said Haley's political rise was "rather an amazing sight to see." Dawson noted that Trump began attacking her in earnest the night of the New Hampshire primary, even insulting the dress she wore to a watch party.

"Look, she's just fighting back," Dawson said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nikki Haley triggers Trump's anger with 'Saturday Night Live' skit
Birds of a feather flock together as the saying goes, and it sure applies to Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, who flew off his Idaho nest on the day of Gov. Brad Littles State of the State address and instead landed in the Louisiana nest of right-wing Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who was inaugurated on the same day. Landry is one of Labradors soulmates from when both were in the so-called House Freedom Caucus, a gathering of right-winged Republicans who flock together in Congress.

Call it a norm of democratic government or just the stately thing to do, but its a command performance for all elected state officials, even members of the Supreme Court, to attend the governors State of the State. Its modeled after the State of the Union address when the president of the United States lays out his agenda for the nation and, all states follow the leader with this most celebratory and official day for the states elected officials.

Ive attended quite a few State of the State addresses as a legislator, lieutenant governor and state university president, and there were no excuses  maybe the death bed  for missing the one official gathering of state officials who assemble annually from all points on the political spectrum to hear the governors message. State officials attendance at the State of the State shows their allegiance to their state and the voters who elected them. Labradors absence speaks volumes about his priorities, which, when last observed, were in Louisiana.

Labrador claimed he was honored to receive an invitation from his pal, the Louisiana governor, as though it was written on tablets from on high. A Louisiana State of the State address over his own Idaho governors? That sounds like the lone wolf Labrador has become in Idaho politics. He operates as a statewide official exactly as he operated as a congressman, using public office to catapult him to the next office and, in the process, beef up his connections with his right-wing friends.

It would be in keeping with his reputation if he passed on the State of the State because the Louisiana trip served as a convenient excuse to avoid playing second fiddle to the incumbent governor. Labrador wants to be concertmaster of Idaho, a guy who strategizes daily how best to manipulate Idahos right wing and eventually use the new Republican party caucus  perfectly designed to limit voter participation  to usher him into the Governors office?

Labrador defeated Attorney General Lawrence Wasden who was respected on both sides of the aisle and who considered himself the attorney for the people of Idaho, not a self-serving ideologue with a personal agenda of running for higher office. Labrador ridiculed Wasden, but former assistant AGs who have left the AGs office claim that Labradors lack of respect for attorneys in his office is shocking as he encourages his legal staff to pledge loyalty to him rather than the state agency clients the office serves.

Using the AGs office as his stepping-stone to governor, Labrador steams ahead even hiring former Trump lawyers after he was elected who were not licensed to practice law in Idaho. And if not bringing out-of-state lawyers with their right-wing credentials into Idaho, he is attempting to make it easier for the state to track down Idaho women who seek an abortion out of state so they can be prosecuted in Idaho for exercising control over their own bodies.

He even sued Idahos State Board of Education, appointed by Gov. Little, for supposedly violating the Open Meetings Act. The State Board relies on Labradors Assistant AG for its legal advice and counsel, but that didnt stop Labrador from suing the Board his office advises, racking up substantial legal fees on both sides for Idaho taxpayers to shoulder. Apparently, the case had such little merit the judge threw out Labradors lawsuit. Its not often we see a plaintiff suing himself, but that is the way things looked on this one. The real loser in this case is the taxpayer of Idaho whose taxes are chewed up by Labradors ambitious and expensive campaign for governor.

By the time Labrador returned from Gov. Landrys inauguration, you can bet he was salivating for the pomp and circumstance that he witnessed in Louisiana, only next time for his own personal coronation as governor. And when it comes to extremist politics, Labrador landed in the right place. Landry is devoted to a right-wing agenda Labrador works daily to bring to Idaho.

The new Louisiana governor whom Labrador calls a friend is more than that. He is a fellow warrior of the Wingnut tribe, that Freedom Caucus in the U.S. House I mentioned earlier. Landry fought vaccine mandates and environmental regulations. He also objected to congressional efforts attempting to limit the spread of misinformation in social media.

On one thing Id bet the mortgage: Gov. Little didnt lose any sleep over Labradors absence.

More than likely, there was a sigh of relief in the chamber that the Idaho Republican Partys grandstander didnt attend. But thats not the point. The attorney general belonged in Idaho where people elected him to office, but sadly, it is indicative of who comes first for Idahos attorney general, and it is not the people of Idaho nor their representatives on this most important day in the life of Idaho state government.

Thats something voters should remember when Labrador makes his move for the office of governor, and you can bet the ranch on that day coming.

Bob Kustra served as president of Boise State University from 2003 to 2018. He is host of Readers Corner on Boise State Public Radio and is a regular columnist for the Idaho Statesman. He served two terms as Illinois lieutenant governor and 10 years as a state legislator.
Recruiters think a perfect storm of low unemployment, allegations of bullying, sexual assault, suicide and rapes at training centres has over several years caused a shortfall in the numbers of potential army recruits - LEON NEAL/GETTY/GETTY IMAGES

The Army has failed to meet its recruitment targets at all training centres for the past five years, the Ministry of Defence has revealed.

Figures released by the Government show that since 2018 three in four of the Armys main basic training bases failed to meet targets every year.

The Army Foundation College Harrogate, the Infantry Training Centre Catterick, the Army Training Centre Pirbright and the Army Training Regiment Winchester were supposed to begin their training programmes with 44,111 recruits but only 35,638 began the courses. Of those around starting figures, 20 to 30 per cent would have dropped out through injury or choosing to leave.

The disclosure follows a parliamentary report by the defence select committee entitled Ready For War, which says that the Armed Forces are facing a recruitment and retention crisis  linked primarily to mission over-overstretch. The report says the Army is working at 130 per cent capacity, the Royal Navy has too many tasks and not enough ships and the RAF revealed that their operational sortie number had doubled in 12 months.

The report, which also criticises the Ministry of Defence for a lack of transparency evidence sessions with MPs, said that for every eight troops who leave the Armed Forces only five join.

Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, said on Friday that the public could rule out conscription and said the Army had seen almost double the number of recruits last month than in the same period last year. It is understood that 10,800 people signed up last month - more than double the monthly average of 5,300 last year.

However, recruiters are concerned about a perfect storm of low unemployment, allegations of bullying, sexual assault, suicide and rapes at training centres that over several years have caused a shortfall in the numbers of potential recruits.

MoD statistics released in a Freedom of Information request show that between 2015 and May 2023, at least 267 instructors at the training centres were charged with abuse-related offences including actual bodily and common assault.

In October last year North Yorkshire police said that 13 sexual offences had been reported at the Army Foundation College between 22 July 2022 and 17 August 2023, including nine reports of rape, two of sexual assault and two of voyeurism.

During 2021, there were 22 victims of sexual offences at the Harrogate college. In January 2023 one instructor, Cpl Simon Bartram, was sentenced to 20 months military detention, after being found guilty at court martial of sexual assault and eight counts of cruel or indecent disgraceful conduct.

Hundreds of recruits have also self-harmed and more than 600 have been treated for mental health problems, according to MoD figures.

The Army Foundation College trains the youngest soldiers in the Army who can join up aged just 16. The recruits spend 48 weeks at the college where they complete phase 1 of basic army training before moving on to other establishments.

The Harrogate centre was the only training base which started a training year with the correct number of troops, and that was in 2018-19 when it had a surplus of 85 personnel.

The Infantry Training Centre (ITC) in Catterick, which crucially supplies troops for the Armys fighting regiments, such as the Paras and the Guards, has had a shortfall of troops joining up every year since 2018.

Last year was the worst in five for the ITC, which had 960 troops short of its training target of 2,492.

Three in four of the Armys main basic training bases have failed to meet targets in the past five years - ANDREW HARKER/SHUTTERSTOCK/SHUTTERSTOCK

The Army Training Centre at Pirbright, which trains troops for regiments such as the Royal Corps of Signals, the Army Air Corps and the Royal Engineers, was more than 1,203 troops short last year.

The Army Training Regiment Winchester, which conducts basic training for a variety of units including the Adjutants General Corps and the Army Medical Corps, should have begun its training course with 1,034 personnel but only 593 started.

The figures were released in response to a parliamentary question tabled by the Labour MP Luke Pollard.

Colonel Phil Ingram, a former Army Intelligence Officer and Iraq War veteran, said: The MoD has found itself in a perfect storm of a shortage of recruits compounded by allegations of abuse. Five years of missing recruiting and training targets is a shocking waste of taxpayers money.

A lack of ability to deliver, combined with a lack of accountability, seems to be a common theme across the Army and defence. It is time this stopped. If this happened in a business, the board would be sacked. Instead in the Army, they get promoted and given medals and we continue to wonder why our Army is in such a shocking state.

An Army spokesperson said: We continue to recruit the significant numbers of diverse talent needed to maintain a competitive advantage now and in the future.

The Army achieved its recruitment targets in 2019-20 and 2020-21 and 98 per cent of the target in 2021-22, despite the challenges caused by pandemic lockdown restrictions.

Despite a challenging recruitment environment, we continue to attract large numbers to a career in the British Army.

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.
Episcopal Childrens Services named Natalya Bannister Roby, a leader in early childhood education in North and Central Florida, as its new CEO.

"I approach this work with my whole heart. It is a calling," she said. "Throughout my professional journey, I have witnessed the importance of early childhood education and prevention as crucial elements in fostering stronger and health."

On Jan. 16, Bannister Roby succeeded Connie Stophel, who was the agency's chief for 20 years and on the staff for 34 years. She retired Dec. 31.

Founded in 1966, Episcopal Children Services offers early childhood education and holistic family services, including Head Start and Early Head Start, as well as school readiness and voluntary pre-kindergarten programs. With a $100 million budget, it is one of the state's largest youth-service organizations, serving about 27,000 children and their families in Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Dixie, Duval, Gilchrist, Lake, Levy, Marion, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties.

Thabata Ford, Episcopal's board president, said the new CEO's "leadership will undoubtedly guide us to new heights and we look forward to achieving great success in the years to come."

Most recently, Bannister Roby was senior director of operations for Pace Center for Girls, supervising Florida affiliates, for two years and executive director of Pace Center for Girls of Alachua County for almost 10 years. She held both positions simultaneously since 2022.

Before Pace, she was vice president of operations of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Alachua County, where she received the Boys & Girls Clubs of America's highest national honor for "program excellence" for four consecutive years. She has a doctoral degree in educational leadership and, as shared in a TedxUF talk, her "leadership philosophy  emphasizes 'the power of leading with love'."

Bannister Roby's arrival is among the latest Northeast Florida nonprofit news. Here is more:

Renewing Dignity

Healy

Renewing Dignity, which works to eliminate "period poverty" through product distribution, education and advocacy, has become part of Feeding Northeast Florida.

The Jacksonville-based nonprofit, founded in 2019, will operate as a "restricted fund" of the regional food bank, according to founder Jan Healy. As Renewing Dignity grew, Healy said, she and the board of directors decided it needed a "bigger home  with additional resources."

"All donations  will continue to solely and directly support women, girls and all who menstruate with period products, education and advocacy," she said. "This next step in our growth journey provides an outstanding opportunity for our mission to expand and flourish, leveraging resources for increased efficiency and scale."

Because of lack of income, one in four women struggle to purchase period products and one in five report missing work, school or other activities due to a lack of access, according to Renewing Dignity.

The nonprofit has distributed about 4 million free menstrual products across 12 northeast Florida counties, with the help of the food bank; began a pilot project with Duval County Public Schools, that led to free menstrual supply vending machines in Title 1 schools; and launched a middle and high school menstrual management workshop to educate young girls.

The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida

DuBow

Michael DuBow is the new chairman of the The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida's board of trustees. He has served on the foundation board since 2014; he will be chairman for the next two years.

DuBow manages a family investment portfolio and is president of the DuBow Family Foundation, overseeing all grantmaking initiatives. He has also been president of the Jacksonville Jewish Center and board chairman of the Wolfson Childrens Hospital.

The Community Foundation serves Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, Baker, Clay and Putnam counties through a range of charitable and civic activities.

We Care Jacksonville

Conklin

Dr. Ted Conklin has been named president of the WeCareJax board of directors' executive committee. A board member since 2020, Conklin retired in 2022 as vice president and chief medical officer of commercial business at Guidewell/Florida Blue and has since been a health care business consultant.

Founded in 1993, WeCareJax is a network of volunteer doctors, nurses, other medical professionals, hospitals, community clinics and other partners that annually provides free primary and specialty care for about 1,700 uninsured Duval County adults.

Send nonprofit news to bcravey@jacksonville.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville area nonprofit gets new CEO; others get new board leaders
The so-called "authorities" of the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories plan to involve students in the Russian "presidential elections" as observers, the National Resistance Center (NRC) reported on Feb. 4.

All higher education institutions are obliged to send students to the "elections" as observers. According to the NRC, they will be trained to falsify the results.

Read also: "Pedigree" beauty blogger becomes presidential candidate in Russia

The next presidential election in Russia is scheduled for March 15-17, 2024. In order to achieve a high turnout, it will be possible to vote in one's place of residence even without a Russian passport. This will help to use pre-prepared groups of "voters" in several neighboring polling stations, the NRC said.

The head of Russia's Central Election Commission, Ella Panfilova, said on Dec. 7 that her agency would consider holding presidential elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine  in Crimea, and in the occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson oblasts.

Earlier, the Commission registered Putin as a presidential candidate, the Russian propaganda news agency RIA Novosti reported on Jan. 29.



Read also: Moscow recruits construction brigades from Russian students, Ukraine says

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A Georgia school bus driver is being praised for going above the call of duty.

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

According to Lumpkin County Middle School, one of its charter buses bringing back eighth graders from Savannah Friday afternoon broke down on the interstate outside of Macon.

School officials said it appeared the students were going to be stranded for a while.

TRENDING STORIES:

After reaching out to school officials in Butts County, one of their drivers, identified as Ms. Deborah, came to the schools rescue.

Deborah volunteered to take her bus, pick up the students, and drive them three hours back to Dahlonega. The students arrived back home around 11 p.m.

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When Lumpkin County school officials went to thank Deborah, her response was simple, Im just doing my job.

We are thankful for our extended (education) tribe in Georgia and glad everyone is back home safely, the school wrote.

IN OTHER NEWS:
Tim Moore

North Carolina Speaker Tim Moore, a candidate for Congress in a district gerrymandered for him, is once again putting political posturing ahead of good policy in his call for Gov. Cooper to support Texas in response to border crossings. (Jan. 31):

The 125 N.C. National Guard members working in Texas are doing so under federal authority. Cooper cannot alter the chain of command or deploy guardsmen outside of North Carolina.

I urge Moore to call N.C. Sen. Thom Tillis to learn about the bipartisan immigration bill Tillis has been working on for months. Perhaps Moore will learn what Tillis has already has  that good policy requires adherence to law and commitment to negotiated bipartisan consensus.

Scott Johnson, Cary

Justice Berger

The N.C. Supreme Court announced in December that it will revisit the Leandro school funding case on Feb. 22. State Supreme Court Justice Phil Berger Jr. does irreparable harm to the integrity of the court by not recusing himself from this case, in which his father, N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger Sr., is a party to the appeal.

Louis Giglio, Raleigh

A new low

We have reached another new low from the MAGA-controlled Republican Party: After years of absurdly blaming President Biden for border problems that have existed for many years, former President Trump and others are now trying to torpedo a bill that would help restore order at the border and curb the flow of fentanyl. Its very obvious that Trump and his MAGA followers are trying to quickly destroy our country in the belief that it will help him be reelected.

Mark Slattery, Raleigh

Biden retaliation

President Biden has voiced his commitment to retaliate for the recent deaths of three U.S. soldiers in the Middle East. I hope he remembers this: In 1960 the U.S. reported five military deaths in Vietnam. Fifteen years later, we had lost almost 60,000 killed and many times that number physically or mentally injured. If there were ever a conflict in which participation was more difficult and confusing than Vietnam, its the Middle East. Let us learn from our experience.

Ed Holloway, Raleigh

Guns in NC

Thanks for reporting Jan. 26 that the revoking of a gun permit law by the N.C. legislature may be responsible for the killing of the UNC professor. Gov. Coopers veto of this ill-advised action did not deter these misguided politicians who were more concerned about the convenience of gun purchasers than the safety of citizens.

These tragic actions of gun violence are occurring all over the country  when teenagers are permitted to purchase AR-15 assault weapons, when parents do not properly secure their guns, when background checks are evaded, and when red flag indicators are ignored by families and law enforcement. These tragedies will continue until we elect politicians who are willing to enact laws that keep us safe.

Thomas K. Spence Jr., Sanford

Pedestrians





Regarding A pedestrian was hit and killed crossing the street in downtown Cary, (Jan. 30):

Cary was designed to be a pedestrian-friendly city. How is it that drivers seem unaware of what it means to share the road with pedestrians?

I take precautions. I wear safety lights and reflective gear. Yet, I find myself constantly screaming at drivers who speed towards me and almost hit me as if Im in their way when Im trying to cross a crosswalk safely. To those drivers who make the effort to stop and acknowledge they see me, I thank you.

A reminder to all drivers in all cities: in North Carolina, pedestrians have the right of way at all intersections and driveways. Learn it!

Jean Mobilia, Cary

Snow in Raleigh

With regard to Its been almost 2 years since it snowed (Jan 25) ... Ruffin Street was the place for sledding in Raleigh in the 1950s  400 feet from top to bottom. Bundled up against the cold. Hot chocolate when we got home. Three snow days out of school. It will probably never happen again. Lets call a spade a spade. Climate change is a Republican euphemism for global warming.

James Hunt, Raleigh
This Oct. 9, 2014, file photo shows the gurney in the the execution chamber at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, Okla. An execution scheduled Thursday, Jan. 24, 2024 in Alabama would be the first in the nation in which an inmate is put to death using nitrogen gas.

Thomas Suddes is a former legislative reporter with The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and writes from Ohio University. tsuddes@gmail.com

Repeated postponements of scheduled Ohio executions during Republican Mike DeWines governorship suggest that at least until he leaves office in January 2027, the only factors that might end the life of anyone on Ohios Death Row (117 men and one woman) are illness or old age.

Thats the backdrop for why DeWines fellow Republican, Attorney General David Yost, and some Ohio House Republicans are championing Alabamas new execution method as an option for Ohio  the administration of readily available nitrogen in lieu of lethal injections of hard-to-obtain drugs.

Ohios last execution, in July 2018, took place during the administration of DeWines predecessor, suburban Columbus Republican John R. Kasich. Since Ohio resumed executions in 1999, under Republican then-Gov. Bob Taft, the state has executed 56 people.

Connection between abortion and death penalty

For many Ohioans of faith, opposition to the death penalty can come in tandem with opposition to abortion. DeWine is foursquare against abortion.

Yet in what now may be second thoughts about the death penalty, DeWine as a state senator had helped write Ohios current (1981) death-penalty law.

Polling in Ohio in September by the Tarrance Group, a Republican firm, suggests a majority of Ohioans opposes capital punishment. Key findings, released last week by the No Death Penalty Ohio coalition:

56% of those responding said Ohio should abolish the death penalty and replace it with life sentences without the possibility of parole;

56% said the risk of executing innocent people is too great. And according to the coalition, Since 1973, about one out of every 25 people sentenced to death in Ohio have later been found to be innocent [and] ... spent 190 combined years behind bars  an average of 21 years each);

57% of those responding said life imprisonment rather than the death penalty was the appropriate punishment for first-degree murder; and,

58% of those responding said the governor should sign a bill replacing the death penalty with life sentences without the possibility of parole.

(The surveys margin of error is +-3.9%.)

The coalition also highlighted a racial disparity: About 13.3% of Ohios population is African American, while, as of January, 55.8% of the inmates on Ohios Death Row were African American.

Why the governor says there have been no executions in Ohio

DeWine has repeatedly postponed executions because hes said Ohio cant obtain the appropriate drugs for lethal injections. In 2019 he said the pharmaceutical industry might refuse to sell any drugs to the state if it learned the state had used some for executions, the Associated Press reported.

For a time, DeWine also cited a federal magistrate-judges concerns about the constitutionality of Ohios lethal-injection execution method, the AP said.

Yost whos considering running for governor in 2026  is supporting a law proposed by some House Republicans to give Ohio the option to deploy so-called nitrogen hypoxia, used recently by Alabama, as an additional execution method.

Nitrogen gas for executions? Ohio Republicans pitch new death penalty method

In a statement, Yosts office said, With this procedure, a condemned inmate breathes only nitrogen, leading to oxygen deprivation, which results in rapid unconsciousness and death.

How nitrogen hypoxia kills

AL.com, of Birmingham, reported the execution of the condemned Alabama prisoner, Kenneth Eugene Smith, this way: The gas appeared to start flowing at approximately 7:58 p.m. Smith visibly shook and writhed against the gurney for around two minutes. His arms thrashed against the restraints. He breathed heavily, slightly gasping, for approximately seven more minutes. At one point, his wife cried out ... Smith appeared to stop breathing at 8:08 p.m.

In terms of humane-ness, its hard to see how thats an improvement over lethal injection.

In Ohio, the death penalty is not necessarily a partisan issue.

Move to abolish death penalty

Pending right now are two death penalty abolition bills  Senate Bill 101, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, a Lakewood Democrat, and Sen. Steve Huffman, a suburban Dayton Republican, and House Bill 259, sponsored by Reps. Jean Schmidt, a Loveland Republican, and Adam Miller, a Columbus Democrat.

Is a death-penalty abolition bill likely to pass anytime soon, especially given that 2024 is an election year?

No.

But its fair to imagine that Mike DeWine wouldnt mind if, someday, one did.

Thomas Suddes

Thomas Suddes is a former legislative reporter with The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and writes from Ohio University. tsuddes@gmail.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Executed man writhed, shook. It's cruel some GOP want Ohio to use drug.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has identified the states first case of measles in 2024.

The department said the infected child is from Montgomery County, and ODH is working with Public Health  Dayton and Montgomery County to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to the disease.

Ohio mom accused of faking childs cancer for money pleads not guilty to all charges

According to Public Health  Dayton and Montgomery County, the case was first reported on Jan. 29 in a patient at Daytons Childrens Hospitals emergency room. The department said people in that area on Jan. 29 and on Jan. 31 may have been exposed.

One case of measles was reported in the state in 2023. However, in 2022, 90 cases were reported, with the outbreak centered in central Ohio with 85 of those reported cases. Those were the first cases of the disease in Ohio since 2019.

ODH said measles is extremely contagious and can spread through coughing or sneezing. The department said 90% of people who come into contact with a measles patient, if those people arent immunized, will become infected.

Symptoms of measles include a rash, fever, runny nose, cough, loss of appetite, and red, watery eyes. Normally, the rash will last about 5 or 6 days. It begins at the patients hairline, moves to the face and upper neck, and then down the body. Other complications from the disease include diarrhea and ear infections. About one in five children who contracts measles will be hospitalized with complications such as pneumonia, dehydration, or brain swelling, the public health department said.

Walmart closing central Ohio store after falling short of financial expectations

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends all children receive two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, starting with the first shot when between the ages of 12 through 15 months, with a second shot between the ages of 4 to 6 years old.

Measles can be a very serious illness for anyone, Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, ODH director, said in a press release. The key to preventing measles is vaccination. If you are not vaccinated, we strongly encourage you to get the vaccine.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
For sale: bait shop. Small-town, main street location. Comes with modest house out back, just uphill from a large lake thats home to abundant wildlife. Seller is motivated.

CURTIS  This place helped save her. Now its someone elses turn.

This is a great job, said Mick Treiber, 56. She was sitting behind the counter of her store, assembling another homemade fishing lure. Were one of the last traditional bait shops in the state. But its getting a little harder on me.

Micks Bait Shop is for sale. Everything is included: the building, the stock, the faint smell of fish in the air and the old-timers who line up just outside the shop before dawn  the early birds getting their worms.

Her shop is in Curtis, in the middle of the Upper Peninsula, on a road that rolls between two large lakes. The town is small and remote, a family vacation spot known mostly for good fishing, rustic lodging and its Fourth of July parade. Phones often cant get a signal here. It's all part of the appeal.

Theres a lot of people thats been coming for 75, 80 years to Curtis, Mick said. Generations upon generations come here just to kind of chill out and hang out. Theres a tranquility here that you dont get anywhere else. Its not backwards or anything; its just nice.

Shes owned and run the bait shop for about a decade with help from her husband, Dave, 68. They used to live downstate near Lake City, where he ran a plumbing business and she worked at a hardware store. Several years ago, the pain in her abdomen became too much to ignore, and she went to a doctor. Tests revealed something devastating. An ambulance was called to take her immediately to a big-city hospital.

They werent sure Id make the ride, she said.

Conveniently located within walking distance of downtowns old-fashioned ice cream parlor, arts center, breakfast cafe and the Tally Ho bar. Two concrete minnow wells come with the property, as does a wall of mounted trophy fish and a cooler packed with night crawlers. Well maintained with lots of character.

The priest came in the hospital room to give her the last rites before her surgery. The doctors had summoned him. Micks outlook wasnt good.

The priest says, Hey kiddo, Im here to give you last rites. I said, No, youre not. He says, Yeah, I gotta do that. And I said, No, cause I aint dying.

Those pains she neglected too long turned out to be Stage 3 colon cancer, and she plunged into grueling rounds of surgery, chemo and radiation. When they diagnosed me I said, OK, Ill beat this. You have to do that. Eighty-five percent of this is positive attitude. We never looked back. And Im still here.

She couldnt work at the hardware store anymore, where she was hauling 50-pound bags of grain around. But she was too young to retire. The couple owned a deer camp in the Upper Peninsula, on the outskirts of Curtis. They knew the pace was slow, the scenery calming, the lifestyle serene, and that a whole new life might lead to a longer life. They moved here during her treatment.

But she had to have something to do, said Dave. She cant just sit around.

The towns bait shop was for sale, and the opportunity seemed ideal. Fishing is in her blood  her dad used to travel the countryside selling his homemade tackle from the back of a truck, and he taught the craft to his daughter when she was little. She kept perfecting it, and she now has a workshop in her garage at home where she makes her own line of lures by hand, one at a time, at her own pace, when shes not crafting them in her store between visitors. "Hooked on Tackle," she calls her line.

Mick's Bait Shop owner Mick Treiber, 56, talks with Tod Lindquist, 79, of Portage during his visit to Mick's Bait Shop in Curtis, located in the Upper Peninsula, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Lindquist has been shopping at the store for over two decades.

LEFT: Fishing lures made by Mick's Bait Shop owner Mick Treiber, 56, sit for sale inside her store on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. RIGHT: Mick's Bait Shop owner Mick Treiber, 56, heats fishing jigs she made before dipping them into a paint coating.

The shop is inside a little building on the towns main road, crammed with hooks and lures and sinkers by the thousands, all neatly hanging in straight rows down narrow aisles. Theres a general store aspect to it, too; it offers a small selection of campfire cookware, paper maps, flashlights, snacks, life vests and BB guns for kids to sharpen their aim while on vacation. It gets kids started, gives the kids a little something to do outside, she said of the guns. The more theyre outside doing something, the better it is for them. In the fall, some hunting supplies rotate their way onto the shelves.

The few empty spaces between all the fishing gear have been filled over time with the uncontrived keepsakes of a rural store, like the graduation photo of a nephew taped to the worm cooler, the obituary of a departed regular, a childs crayon drawing given to the bait shop lady in thanks for her role in their summer vacation, a bucket of suckers by the cash register for every little kid that comes in.

We do well here, Mick said. The thing is, you get your money back just a little bit at a time. But people seem to like the shop. They like the nostalgia. Its an old-time bait shop.

Dave Treiber, 68, skims dead minnows from the concrete bait well minnows inside Mick's Bait Shop in Curtis, located in the Upper Peninsula, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

Mick's Bait Shop owner Mick Treiber, 56, helps a customer stopping in her store on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

Its been almost a couple of years since they listed it for sale. Since then, a few people have stopped in with a familiar, far-gazing gleam in their eye, in which they see themselves escaping wherever they just drove in from, moving to a remote town in the north, working behind the counter of their very own country store, living a quieter life alongside a lake full of fish. The way she once did.

A lot of people, as soon as they cross that bridge, their troubles go away, she said. People can go and just lose themselves. Its just a different feel up here. Its an awesome feel.

Her husband already retired from his job. Now she wants to join him. But no takers yet.

The store comes with a full line of handcrafted lures, a deli case stocked with jerky and cheese, and aisles crowded with rods and reels, nets and bobbers, knives and scalers and spools of line. The offer also includes the solitude of a rural town, the bright stars of the country night, the longtime regulars who linger to talk and easy fishing just outside the back door. For sale: bait shop. And a whole new life.

Don Peter of Germfask carries a cooler of minnows from Mick's Bait Shop as he heads out for an afternoon of fishing in Curtis, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

A customer walked in with his two little girls. Can we get a dozen crawlers please? he asked. Mick put down the lure she was creating, got up from her stool and grabbed the worms from the cooler. The dad pulled out his wallet. The little girls looked around wide-eyed at the glittering colors of innumerable hanging lures. You ready for your Dum Dum suckers? Mick asked them cheerfully.

The family left, waving goodbye, and Mick went and sat behind the counter to take a break from standing. The cancer is gone, but the treatment took its toll. Some of my stuff, the side effects, is getting worse, she admitted. Its just physical stuff, from having had the chemo and radiation and everything.

She picked up her unfinished lure and slowly assembled its parts. There was no rush to finish it.

But hey, I dont care. Im still here, she said. And every days a good day.

John Carlisle writes about Michigan. His stories can be found at freep.com/carlisle. Contact him: jcarlisle@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @_johncarlisle, Facebook at johncarlisle.freep or on Instagram at johncarlislefreep.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: U.P. bait shop owner looks to pass along her store in Michigan's U.P.
Two weeks have passed since Ron DeSantis crashed out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination, but many in Florida are questioning if the rightwing governor is still auditioning.

On his return to Tallahassee following his national humiliation there was no period of quiet contemplation, or pause to refocus on his day job. Instead, DeSantis got straight down to business, little of it having immediate consequence to Florida or its voters.

Related: We can lose more freedoms: Florida braces for Ron DeSantiss wrath after national rout

This week, insisting that the US looked to Florida for leadership, he called for constitutional reforms in Washington, including term limits for elected officials. Days later, he announced he was sending the Florida state guard to Texas to fortify its battle with the Biden administration over border security.

And anybody in his home state figuring DeSantis was ready to move on from his obsession with the culture war issues that helped bring down his White House run was quickly disabused. One month into the year, Florida Republicans priorities have included banning Pride flags and stopping transgender drivers from changing their sex on licenses.

Prominent questions circulating in the state are, now he is back to serve his final three years as governor: what are DeSantiss intentions? And what is his ultimate goal?

There is no shortage of theories. Some suggest he is ostensibly still in the race for the 2024 nomination, running a shadow campaign that would leave him ready to step in if legal troubles or other factors force Donald Trump out of contention.

Others think hes plotting further ahead. Hes still running for president, just changed the timeline from 2024 to 2028, Bob Jarvis, a constitutional law professor at Nova University, told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Another possibility is gaining traction among those who have studied DeSantis since he evolved from a nondescript and aloof US congressman to the helm of the third largest state: that he simply wants to be remembered for something when hes termed out of office in January 2027.

Such a hypothesis has plausibility if, as some observers believe, his future political career was mortally wounded by the implosion of a profligate presidential campaign that blew through $160m to garner barely 23,000 votes in Iowa, the only state he competed in.

He can move to the center and become, I shouldnt say more likable, but likable at all since he has been a black hole of anti-charisma Mac Stipanovich

My personal opinion is that hes finished, that hes going to go the way of Rick Perry in Texas, Tim Pawlenty in Minnesota, Scott Walker in Wisconsin, all of these great governors who were going to be president, who were like shooting stars and then disappeared into the darkness, said the political analyst Mac Stipanovich, a former Republican strategist.

If he were to resign today, he would have a legacy in Florida unlike almost any governor in my lifetime. It would be a legacy of anger, outrage and highly centralized top-down vitriol.

He cant turn on a dime and sprint left because that would make him seem even more inauthentic than he normally does. But if hes patient, if he takes time, he can move to the center and become, I shouldnt say more likable, but likable at all since he has been a black hole of anti-charisma.

The legacy theory resonates with Susan MacManus, distinguished professor emeritus of political science at the University of Florida. Hes still got a good while in office, and right now hes carrying on with points he was making on the campaign trail, but this happens with governors that run and come back home after having not done well, governors are always thinking about their legacy, she said.

Some want to be known as the education governor, the tax relief or tax reform governor, the environmental governor. Theres that possibility, but if hes going to take that direction it is probably best to just get through this legislative session being consistent with what youve been on the campaign trail.

Maybe hes comfortable with his legacy being the anti-wokeism governor, we will see. Some Republicans say they see the environment as a possibility for him, making inroads and having a good legacy because hes been fairly proactive spending a lot of money on water issues and so forth, but it looks right now theres been no break in his commitment to anti-wokeism.

To that end, on Wednesday, DeSantis celebrated a ruling by a Trump-appointed district court judge dismissing Disneys lawsuit against the state for political retaliation, the stripping of powers from Floridas largest private employer for opposing his dont say gay law banning classroom discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation.

His backing of the Texas governor, Greg Abbott, by sending state and national guard personnel, and law enforcement officers paid by Florida taxpayers, to bolster his fellow Republicans fight with federal authorities over immigration is to critics another example of DeSantis placing his political agenda above the needs of his own state.

Related: What we learned from our Florida voting rights investigation

Theres also growing evidence it could backfire. A survey by Mi Vecino, a grassroots voter registration and advocacy group, found 58% of Republican respondents rated as very poor, and an additional 18% as poor, the effectiveness of Floridas political leaders to handle issues that mattered most to them: in order, the cost of living, healthcare and gun violence.

People are feeling the squeeze. They are struggling with real world issues, and they feel like the governor and the legislature are spending their time on manufactured outrage, and not legislating or improving their lives in any tangible way, said Alex Berrios, the groups co-founder.

Ron DeSantis has created an engaged segment of the Republican party that will vote, is involved, and is also incredibly unhappy with him and the Republican legislature. They have become exhausted by this firehose of outrage and legislation and policy.
One person was killed and two were injured late Saturday in a Sacramento house fire that remains under investigation.

The Sacramento Fire Department responded at 10:07 p.m. to a fire at a single-family home near 44th Street and Fruitridge Road, said Capt. Justin Sylvia.

Firefighters pulled the two injured people out of the structure, and emergency responders took them to the hospital for treatment, Sylvia said. He could not provide information on the victims conditions.

Firefighters later found one person dead inside the house, Sylvia said. They left the persons body in the structure as part of the investigation.

Officials do not know if there were working smoke detectors in the house.

The fire resulted in major damage to the house, Sylvia said. He said the cause of the fire remains unknown, and arson investigators are looking into it.
WASHINGTON  Donald Trump has confronted judges, disparaged opponents and given hallway speeches during recent trials, employing his legal battles as an extension of his presidential campaign.

But dont expect provocations and off-the-cuff drama when the Supreme Court hears arguments Thursday about whether Trump should be on Colorados ballot.

Trump, who has shown up at two of his civil trials recently, hasn't announced whether he'll attend the Supreme Court arguments, scheduled for the same day as Nevada's GOP presidential caucuses. But the high court updated its rules in 2013 to codify the practice that only lawyers can present arguments.

The justices sometimes get a spectacle. When Larry Flynt, publisher of the pornographic Hustler magazine, was blocked from arguing his own case decades earlier, he shouted obscenities at the justices and was ejected. Protesters have been arrested in rare outbursts inside the courtroom.

This kind of bombast isnt expected Thursday. The high court conducts its arguments much more strictly than the lower courts do  making it less likely Trump will be the star of a similar courthouse drama.

At the lower courts, a New York judge scolded Trump for giving campaign speeches from the witness stand in one trial. In another, a federal judge threatened to eject him for making disparaging comments about his opponent that could be heard by the jury. And that was before Trump marched out on his opponents closing arguments.

Former President Donald Trump speaks after exiting the courtroom for a break at New York Supreme Court, Dec. 7, 2023, in New York.

No 'open mic night' at Supreme Court

Decorum at the Supreme Court also dictates a somber setting. Audience members have been arrested in rare protests inside the chamber. Three women  Emily Paterson, Nicole Enfield and Rolande Baker  were charged in November 2022 for protesting an abortion decision.

After court convened, Paterson, seated in the south side of the chamber, stood up and shouted a denunciation of the courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Police escorted her out. Then Baker, seated in the north side, stood and shouted for women to vote. After she was escorted out, Enfield in the center back stood and loudly urged a restoration of a womans right to choose.

Each of the three pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was sentenced to nearly six months' probation. The maximum penalty under the statute was 60 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.

The defendants actions severely undermined the respect and reverence our highest court deserves, U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves said in a court filing. Were such conduct allowed to go unpunished, the court would quickly cease to be a place where the most important legal disputes in our nation are adjudicated under procedures enacted to ensure fairness and, instead, become a sort of open mic night for citizens to voice their personal views.

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Appeals court upholds law against disturbing Supreme Court with a 'harangue' or 'oration'

Five people  Belinda Rodriguez, Matthew Kresling, Yasmina Mrabet, Richard Saffle and David Bronstein  were charged in 2015 after standing one at a time and either shouting or singing to protest a previous campaign-finance decision. Their message on April Fools Day was for the justices to ensure free and fair elections.

After the fourth protester  Saffle  was escorted out, Chief Justice John Roberts warned the audience against further demonstrations.

Anyone else interested in talking will be admonished that its within the authority of this court to punish such disturbances by criminal contempt, Roberts said.

The five protesters challenged the charge that they disrupted the court with a harangue or oration as unconstitutionally vague. A federal judge agreed.

But the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the law, ruling that a harangue or oration disturb the court.

This core meaning is delivering speeches of various kinds to persons within the Supreme Courts building and grounds, in a manner that threatens to disturb the operations and decorum of the court, the three-judge panel said.

Porn mogul Larry Flynt poses with an issue of Hustler magazine as he talks about the 40th anniversary of the magazine on (FILES) In this file photo taken on Aug. 26, 2014, in Beverly Hill.

Larry Flynt booted from court, still won case

The late Flynt, who referred to himself as the King of Smut, challenged First Amendment boundaries repeatedly  and won a landmark Supreme Court decision despite his behavior.

His December 1987 hearing appealed the verdict in a lawsuit by the late Rev. Jerry Falwell over an advertising parody in Hustler. The ad suggested Falwell had an incestuous relationship with his mother.

Falwell sued successfully in federal court for libel and emotional distress and won $150,000 in compensatory and punitive damages. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the verdict.

Flynt was kicked out of his own argument at the Supreme Court after shouting obscenities at the justices.

The First Amendment is supposed to protect offensive speech, Flynt told The Cincinnati Enquirer in 1998. If youre not going to offend anybody, you dont need the First Amendment.

The Supreme Court voted 8-0 for Flynt and threw out the verdict. The court ruled public figures couldnt collect damages for a "patently offensive" parody that reasonable people would never consider factual.

Were we to hold otherwise, there can be little doubt that political cartoonists and satirists would be subjected to damages awards without any showing that their work falsely defamed its subject, Chief Justice William Rehnquist wrote.

Judge Arthur Engoron, sit on the bench inside New York Supreme Court, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in New York. Authorities on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, have responded to a bomb threat at the home of Engoron, who is overseeing Donald Trump's New York civil fraud trial. They found no bomb and and the trial's closing arguments are to proceed normally.

Trump appearances in lower courts drew rebukes

The high court promises a much more subdued arena than Trump's two recent civil trials.

In a civil fraud trial, New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, who presided over the state trial, fined Trump a combined $15,000 for violating gag orders against criticizing his clerk in internet posts.

Engoron also beseeched Trumps lawyer to control his client during testimony, saying this is not a political rally.

In the federal defamation case, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan warned Trump against conferring with his lawyers loudly enough to be heard by the jury.

You just can't control yourself in this circumstance, apparently, Kaplan told Trump.

The judge threatened to throw out Trump after he repeatedly made comments disparaging Carrolls testimony.

"Mr. Trump, I hope I don't have to consider excluding you from the trial, Kaplan said. I understand you're probably eager for me to do that.

I would love it, Trump responded.

Trump stood up and walked out on the closing argument of Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan. The jury later ordered him to pay Carroll $83.3 million, a decision he vowed to appeal.

For his part, Trump has expressed optimism in the court. He appointed three of the nine members: Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

Hopefully this will be an easy decision, Trump said Jan. 18 in an all-caps social media post, referring to another case expected to reach the high court about whether he is immune from criminal prosecution. God bless the Supreme Court!

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Supreme Court appeal will be no open mic night for Donald Trump
Migrants walk along the highway through Arriaga, Chiapas state in southern Mexico, on Jan. 8, 2024, during their journey north toward the U.S. border. | Edgar H. Clemente, Associated Press

Ive been around politics long enough now (more than 40 years) to have learned how to tame the beast of cynicism. In my experience, most politicians share an inner desire to improve things and help people, even if they occasionally act nutty or mean for political reasons, and even if I happen to disagree with their philosophies.

But whats happening right now in Washington over attempts to craft a border bill is causing the beast to strain at its leash.

Its not just me.

One of the nations leading Republican voices, Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford, seems to be turning into a cynic before our eyes.

Described by Politico as an even-keeled conservative, he was appointed by minority leader Mitch McConnell as the lead Republican negotiator in talks with Democrats over an immigration bill that would take a step toward solving the mess at the southern border.

For about 20 years now, my colleagues on the opinion page and I have been urging just such a thing. Fourteen years ago, Utahs political, business, academic and religious leaders joined in writing the Utah Compact on Immigration, which the Deseret News correctly said was celebrated as a visionary approach to forging bipartisan compromise. It has long stood as a model for the rest of the nation.

And so, I was encouraged to hear that Lankford and Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., were on the verge of releasing a landmark bill that would begin to unravel the mess at the southern border.

But that didnt last long. The conservative wing of Lankfords own party quickly turned on him, even though the contents of the deal have yet to be made public.

The right wing of the party has refused to continue funding Ukraines desperate struggle to repel Russian invaders  a struggle that once would have resonated with the partys core anti-tyranny platform  until a deal is reached on border issues. Lankford now thinks thats just a ruse.

It is interesting, Republicans, four months ago, would not give funding for Ukraine, for Israel and for our southern border because we demanded changes in policy, he told Fox News Sunday last weekend. So we actually locked arms together and said, Were not going to give money for this. We want a change in law.

And now, its interesting, a few months later, when were finally getting to the end, theyre like, Oh, just kidding, I actually dont want a change in law because (its a) presidential election year.

Lankford has been playing whack-a-mole with all the internet rumors that have arisen about the bill. Chief among these has been the notion, which Lankford calls absolutely absurd, that the agreement would allow 5,000 people a day to cross the border illegally.

Instead, he said, a daily total of 5,000 would close the border and many of them would not be allowed to stay.

But facts dont seem to matter much in this frenzy. Even the text of the bill, when released, might not help. Republicans in Oklahoma have already voted to censure Lankford  something the partys executive director said was done in an illegitimate meeting.

This for a conservative senator who walked away from border discussions in 2018 because some progressive ideas were gaining traction.

The border crisis is bad enough, but the lack of support for Ukraine and Israel is appalling. On a practical level, anything that gives aid and comfort to Russia or Iran could put the United States one step closer to having to deal with the mischief of dictators closer to its own borders.

Back at the 10th anniversary of the Utah Compact, the Deseret News lamented, It is frustrating that even the rare attempt at bipartisan compromise is derailed in the miasma of ideological warfare over whether reform measures can be perceived as too lenient.

Or in this case, because it might give the president something positive to tout during an election year, regardless of the consequences to world events.

As Oklahomas other Republican senator, Markwayne Mullin, put it, The perception is already out there, and you have a lot of people up for reelection. And the perception of the American people is that (the bill is) bad. So its really hard to get ahead of that.

That beast is starting to growl now. I dont know if I can calm it down.
Nikki Haley titled her 2022 book after the late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatchers assertion that If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman. Shes made a point of projecting that Iron Lady toughness in the 2024 race, from her Reaganesque foreign policy views and 5-inch heels she calls ammunition , to her response when Donald Trump said anyone supporting Haley after New Hampshire would be  permanently barred from the MAGA camp.

Well in that casedonate here. Lets Go! the former South Carolina governor said on X, and linked to a contribution page. Within less than 24 hours, $ 1 million had poured in.

Read more: Editorial: Trump's nomination is becoming a horrible inevitability. Why can't the GOP do better?

Sometimes Haley has struck me as too tough, too harsh. Still, I felt for her when the top politicians from her state  the governor, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, the treasurer, two congressmen, the speaker of the state House and even the senator she appointed  traipsed to New Hampshire last month to endorse and celebrate Trump. He carried the state easily and is on track to win even bigger in her home state primary on Feb. 24.

Why doesnt South Carolina love Nikki Haley? Or maybe it does, just not enough?

Read more: Opinion: Panicking over polls showing Donald Trump ahead of President Biden? Please stop

A humiliating home-state loss is sometimes the final straw in a nomination race (see: Marco Rubio , Florida, 2016). It can also make the difference between winning or losing the presidency itself (see: Al Gore , Tennessee, 2000).

Gore and his state had grown apart politically, on guns and many other issues, over his decades in Congress and as vice president. Haley is facing more of a Rubio-style Rubicon moment. In South Carolina, she has trailed Trump by crushing margins in every poll.

Read more: Litman: Disqualify Trump? The Supreme Court is getting lots of urgent advice  but no clear direction

At the same time, like Rubio, who easily won a third Senate term in 2022, Haley has not been unpopular in her state. In a Winthrop University poll in November, 59% of registered voters had a very or somewhat favorable view of her, and that rose to 71% for Republicans. And while a new Washington Post-Monmouth University poll of potential South Carolina primary voters shows her approval rating slipping as Trump has attacked her, 54% still say theyd be enthusiastic or satisfied if she became the GOP nominee.

She is a very conservative Republican and that has made her beloved among South Carolina Republicans, Scott Huffmon, director of Winthrop Universitys Center for Public Opinion & Policy Research, told me. They just want Donald Trump to be president again.

Thats one problem. The other is that Haley has endeared herself to South Carolina voters far more than to her colleagues in politics. She really curried popularity among rank-and-file Republicans, while at the same time cultivating disaffection among the political elite, Huffmon said.

Haleys political career took off in 2004 when she defeated a 30-year legislative veteran in a state House primary. Six years later, she became governor after besting a field that included the lieutenant governor, the attorney general and a congressman.

As governor a dozen years ago, Haley chose one-term House member Tim Scott, a conservative Black Republican, to fill a Senate vacancy. He dropped his own presidential bid in November and is now an enthusiastic Trump backer .

You must really hate her , Trump said as Scott smiled behind him on victory night in New Hampshire. I just love you, Scott replied. He must be quite madly in love, because just a few days earlier, Scott had asserted that the quadruply indicted Trump would  restore law and order .

Then theres Gov. Henry McMaster, another Trump lover and another politician who has a history with Haley . He was the state attorney general she defeated in the 2010 gubernatorial primary. Four years later, he was elected lieutenant governor, and he endorsed Trump early in the 2016 race. By late November that year, President-elect Trump named Haley to be his United Nations ambassador  allowing McMaster to become governor.

Trump is a vengeful cult leader. I dont get too angry, I get even , he said in his victory speech after the New Hampshire vote  then threatened that if Haley didnt drop out, shed be under investigation in 15 minutes for a little stuff that she doesnt want to talk about. Scott told CBS News the race would solidify for Trump in South Carolina and I would love for her to join the Trump team and go ahead and endorse now and not wait any time. But, as Scott also said, shes tenacious.

The most astonishing thing about the Trump-versus-Haley finale is that, while I personally disagree with her on nearly everything outside of supporting Ukraine and removing the Confederate flag from the state Capitol, she is a candidate tailor-made to nudge the Republican Party into the future: the smart, conservative, 50-something daughter of immigrant Indian parents, with a multiracial family and a husband in the National Guard, who sees the world clearly and wouldnt hand Ukraine to Vladimir Putin.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, ending his campaign a few days before the New Hampshire primary, said hed endorse Trump because we cant go back to the old Republican Guard of yesteryear, a repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism that Nikki Haley represents. But the DeSantis war on woke and corporations such as Disney is no path to the future, nor is the Trump war on truth, justice and the American way.

Haley is the best option. But her own state will likely finish her off if she doesnt cave to MAGA Mania before that happens.

Jill Lawrence is an opinion writer and author of The Art of the Political Deal: How Congress Beat the Odds and Broke Through Gridlock. @JillDLawrence

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.
Fifth in a series on the culture of engagement.

Encouraging people in any enterprise, public or private, profit or nonprofit, volunteer or professional, to maintain a healthy balance between their work engagements and personal lives leads to lower stress levels and higher job satisfaction. Making matters more challenging is that there is no perfect work-life balance, according to Business News Daily. Maura Thomas, a contributor to Forbes, says there are four causes of stress and burnout for contemporary workers; These challenges include expectations of being always on; time constraints caused by back-to-back meetings all day; the constant distractions of communication technology and open-office floor plans; and the pervasiveness of work given our constant connectedness.

Balance may be a misnomer. Even limiting the number of hours spent at work does not guarantee a balance. I have experienced times when turning off work was difficult, regardless of job duties. Even people in task-oriented, regimented work sometimes have difficulty shutting work off when they leave. Flexible working hours, remote work options and understanding personal commitments all sound good, but do not eliminate stress and burnout for all.

Dr. Walter Wendler, President of West Texas A&M University

Creating reasonable expectations and a healthy respect for people's lives inside and outside the workplace helps create a positive culture of engagement when people are working. It has nothing to do with balance.

Offering flexible working hours or the option to work from home can help people manage their personal and professional responsibilities more effectively and can demonstrate that the enterprise respects people's time and personal life. But, results are mixed based on the type of work performed. For example, The Economist reports on a study by two Harvard doctoral students that showed workers from call centers experienced productivity increases when working at home. On the other hand, the Harvard Business Review reveals tensions are rising around remote work opportunities. One such challenge in enterprises that build human capital, such as universities, is lost chance interactions that occur all day, every day, in teaching and scholarly work, which are intended to serve students individually. Faculty and staff working remotely will not pick up a fair share of these interactions, leaving them ostracized from those working in their offices. A hybridized environment with shared opportunities provides the strongest work culture.

Setting reasonable and achievable goals without requiring people to consistently work long hours can help reduce burnout. Leadership should sustain a culture where taking time off is encouraged and not frowned upon. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, people should feel comfortable taking vacations or personal days to recharge, and management can help create a culture that values the importance of balance. Such a commitment will foster a workplace culture where people feel supported both professionally and personally.

We all know the benefits of encouraging a healthy lifestyle by offering wellness programs, gym memberships or organizing health and wellness-related activities. Not every enterprise has the opportunities WT offers, such as access to counseling, fitness activities and employee-supported health initiatives, of which many at the university take advantage. All such benefits would likely bring advantages to any enterprise in any sector of the economy. However, they are profoundly important in universities as the intensity of interaction between faculty and students leads to a first-class educational experience. The work environment, the value of the individual and the relationship between on-campus life and off-campus life all enrich the mix of experiences and provide for excellence in performance and educational opportunities.

Transparent communication channels allow people to voice concerns and offer suggestions. This helps in addressing issues that might be contributing to stress and burnout. Opportunities for professional growth shows concern for individual well-being. Investing in a persons career development can increase job satisfaction and lead to a culture that values engagement. Rural enterprise offers especially potent opportunities for work and life well-being, according to The Manufacturing Institute. Leadership and management should model ways to lower stress and eliminate burnout. When leaders prioritize their own work and personal life in healthy ways, a precedent is set for others in the organization.

Implementing these strategies requires a commitment from the top levels of management that flows out to every person. According to Harvard Business Review, creating a positive institutional or corporate culture with a good work-life balance leads to increased satisfaction, lower turnover rates and ultimately a more successful and sustainable enterprise.

Walter V. Wendler is President of West Texas A&M University. His weekly columns are available at https://walterwendler.com/

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Wendler commentary: Work-life balance
Senegalese riot police lobs tear gas at supporters of opposition presidential candidate Daouda Ndiaye, in Dakar, Senegal, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024. West Africa's regional bloc on Sunday called for dialogue to resolve the political crisis in Senegal as opposition leaders rejected the decision by the country's leader to postpone the Feb. 25 presidential election over an electoral dispute between parliament and the judiciary. (AP Photo/Stefan Kleinowitz)

DAKAR, Senegal (AP)  Police made arrests and fired tear gas at opposition supporters during protests Sunday against the decision by President Macky Sall to postpone Senegal's Feb. 25 elections as federal lawmakers prepared to debate a bill to formalize the postponement.

Demonstrators rallied in the capital of Dakar after leading opposition figures and candidates in the presidential election rejected Saturday's announcement of the election postponement. Opposition leaders had called on citizens to defend democracy amid a push for dialogue by West Africa's regional bloc, ECOWAS.

Among those arrested as the protests spread in the capital included former Prime Minister Aminata Toure and Anta Babacar Ngom, one of the presidential candidates in the election.

The government cut off the signal of the private Walf television channel as it broadcast the protest live. The global Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the signal cutoff in a post on the social media platform X, urging Senegalese authorities to ensure that journalists can work without hindrance.

Analysts say the crisis in Senegal is putting one of Africa's most stable democracies to the test at a time when the region is struggling with a recent surge in coups. Senegal has been embroiled in political tensions as a result of deadly clashes involving opposition supporters and the disqualification of two opposition leaders ahead of the now-cancelled presidential ballot.

Several opposition figures rejected Salls decision to postpone the presidential election citing a dispute between the judiciary and parliament over the final list of candidates and those disqualified. At least two of the 20 candidates said they would proceed with their campaign scheduled to kick off Sunday.

Sall's tenure is scheduled to end April 2. Senegals electoral code requires 80 days' notice of an election, meaning the earliest a new vote could take place is the last week of April.

I am launching my electoral campaign tomorrow, in Dakar, with the candidates who have chosen to defend the Constitution, former minister and opposition candidate Thierno Alassane Sall said Saturday in a post on social media platform X.

Former mayor of the capital of Dakar Khalifa Sall also asked the citizens to come together to save our democracy while another opposition candidate, Dethie Fall, said, We will start our campaign and we call on all candidates to do the same.

The U.S. Department of State noted Senegals strong tradition of democracy and peaceful transitions of power in a post on X, which urged all participants in (the) electoral process to engage peacefully to swiftly set a new date and the conditions for a timely, free and fair election.

In postponing the election by repealing a decree that set the electoral process in motion, Sall cited a dispute between the judiciary and federal lawmakers over the disqualification process and the reported dual nationality of some qualified candidates.

But opposition leaders have argued the Senegalese leader lacks the power to delay the vote. Senegals constitution empowers the Constitutional Council, Senegals highest election authority, to reschedule the election in certain circumstances including in the case of the death, permanent incapacity or withdrawal of candidates.

His announcement followed a request to postpone the vote made by the opposition Senegalese Democratic Party, whose candidate Karim Wade was among those disqualified.

Wade had accused two judges of corruption in the disqualification process and said that postponing the vote would make it possible to repair the damage suffered by those disqualified.

___

Asadu reported from Abuja, Nigeria.
JEFFERSON PARISH, La. (WGNO)  A New Orleans man accused of fatally shooting and robbing a Gretna barber shop owner in 2021 was found guilty by a jury.

Officials with the Office of District Attorney Paul Connick Jr. said a Jefferson Parish jury found 38-year-old Raymond Ray Lee guilty of second-degree murder, obstruction of justice and felon in possession of a firearm on Friday, Feb. 2.

One person injured in Mandeville parade route shooting

According to court documents, Jefferson Parish deputies responded to a 911 call from a motel in the 2200 block of the Westbank Expressway on Dec. 5, 2021.

At the scene, deputies said they found the body of 35-year-old Alonzo Zo Wiley on the floor of a room.

During an investigation, Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office detectives discovered that Wiley had been texting a person named Ray, who was reportedly lying to him to put him at ease so Wiley would freely allow him into his motel room.

Following the text exchanges, the district attorneys office reported that Lee then carried out an armed robbery.

Court documents state Wiley was shot five times during the armed robbery.

While detectives found no subscriber information for the person with whom Wiley communicated in those last text messages, they did find texts between Wiley and Lees girlfriend.

Surveillance video footage from the motel showed Wileys car and Lees girlfriends car leaving the motel after 911 was called.

On Dec. 28, 2021, Lees girlfriends car was found at another motel.

At that motel, court documents state detectives found a bag of ammunition identical to two brands of spent bullet casings found at the scene, sunglasses, a necklace and Lees phone.

In a search of Lees phone, deputies said they found a video of a gun with a visible serial number. Detectives then used the serial number to trace the gun back to Wileys niece, who allowed Wiley to carry it.

Deputies said the gun was reported as stolen after Wiley was killed.

According to investigators, data from Lees phone was found to conflict with his alibi. Data from Lees girlfriends phone displayed identical travel data to Lees.

The district attorneys office reported that Lees girlfriend was not involved in the armed robbery and murder and was not charged.

Lees sentencing is scheduled for March 7.

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FILE - SUV car drive on the Champs Elysees avenue, near to the Arc de Triomphe Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024 in Paris. Paris residents are voting on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024 whether to muscle SUVs off the French capitals streets by making them much more expensive to park. It's the latest leg in a drive by Socialist Mayor Anne Hidalgo to make the host city for this years Olympic Games greener and friendlier for pedestrians and cyclists. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

PARIS (AP)  Parisians voted Sunday to muscle SUVs off the French capital's streets by making them much more expensive to park starting next September, the latest leg in a drive by Socialist Mayor Anne Hidalgo to make the host city for this year's Olympic Games greener and friendlier for pedestrians and cyclists.

More than 54% of the votes cast in the low-turnout election supported the measure to triple parking fees for large SUV drivers from out of town to 18 euros ($19.50) per hour in the city's center, according to official results from City Hall. Only 5.7% of the 1.3 million eligible voters cast ballots at the 39 voting stations around the city.

In get-out-the-vote posts on social media, Hidalgo argued that SUVs take up too much space on narrow Parisian streets, are too polluting and "threaten our health and our planet," and cause more traffic accidents than smaller cars. The additional fees will come into force from Sept. 1, Hidalgo said.

The time has come to break with this tendency for cars that are always bigger, taller, wider," she said. You have the power to take back ownership of our streets.

The cost for non-residents to park SUVs in Paris central districts, in the arrondissements numbered 1 through 11, would soar to 18 euros ($19.5) per hour for the first two hours, compared to 6 euros per hour for smaller cars.

After that, parking would become increasingly punitive. A six-hour stay with an SUV  enough, say, to take in a show and a restaurant  would cost a whopping 225 euros ($243), compared to 75 euros for smaller vehicles.

Away from the heart of the city, in Paris' outer arrondissements numbered 12 through 20, an out-of-town SUV driver would pay 12 euros per hour for the first two hours, progressively rising to 150 euros for six hours.

The mini-referendum was open to Parisians registered to vote. The question they were asked was: "For or against the creation of a specific rate for the parking of heavy, bulky, polluting individual cars?

Cyreane Demur, a 20-year-old student, voted in the chic 8th arrondissement that includes that car-clogged Champs-Elysees boulevard and its chaotic traffic circle around the monumental Arc de Triomphe.

Demur said heavier cars make congestion even more complicated and that one must consider the ecology, the parking issues."

But Jadine LOrlendu, a 75-year-old voter, said SUVs do not disturb me, they do not take more space than other cars, the parking places are marked, and people should drive what they want to drive. Its about freedom.

The vote follows another City Hall consultation last year on whether to ban for-hire electric scooters. The 15,000 opinion-dividing mini-machines were subsequently banished from Paris streets after nearly 90% of the 103,000 voters rejected e-scooters.

In a country of car-lovers, home to Renault, Citroen and Peugeot, Hidalgo has worked for years to make Paris less car-friendly. Motor vehicles have been barred entirely from some roads, most notably a River Seine embankment that used to be a busy highway. Its become a central Paris haven for cyclists, runners, families and romantics since Hidalgo closed it to motor traffic in 2016.

More bike lanes are being added for the July 26-Aug. 11 Olympics and Paralympic Games that follow.

But City Hall says that as car traffic has steadily decreased, down by half since the end of the 1990s, SUVs are denting the progress and fouling the air with their outsize dimensions. City Hall says that SUV collisions with pedestrians are twice as deadly than accidents involving smaller cars. It notes that two-thirds of Parisians now don't own a car.

City Hall's proposed ramped-up parking prices would apply to conventional or hybrid-engined SUVs from out of town that weigh 1.6 tons or more and 2 tons or more if they're fully electric.

___

Leicester reported from Le Pecq, France.
The cover page of a recent New York Times special supplement stated, There are few challenges facing students more daunting than applying and paying for college. Lets focus on the applying aspect for now.

More than 50 colleges and universities, some of them favorites with New Jersey students, have acceptance rates below 15%, according to U.S. News & World Report. The eight Ivy League schools, as well as Duke, Northeastern, Swarthmore, Barnard and more, have single-digit acceptance rates starting as low as 3%.

Students know that an impressive GPA and SAT scores, and often a multitude of AP courses with a high score on year-end exams, is only the starting point for a chance of being accepted to many of these revered institutions. The next step is to stand out from the crowd, typically through an impressive passion project.

More: This new tool is helping prospective college students | College Connection

A passion project is a unique activity that students create or engage in that relates to a specific area of interest. Students demonstrate their ability to immerse themselves in something theyre passionate about, typically to benefit a particular group, such as their peers or a community organization. An ideal passion project usually relates to the field that a student plans to pursue in college.

A future English major may want to start a high school book club to promote literacy and encourage thoughtful discussion among students. This group could organize an annual collection drive to provide books to schools in underprivileged neighborhoods.

A future pre-med student might launch a campaign to collect used eyeglasses to be dropped off at sites (such as Costco and Walmart) that ship them overseas and distribute them to visually impaired children and adults worldwide. A social media campaign could educate people, within the school and neighboring community, and drop-off bins could be set up at convenient locations.

More: How prospective college students should spend their summer | College Connection

A future business or engineering student could launch a Speakers Bureau at their high school, inviting guest speakers on a monthly basis, to offer insight into the multitude of specialties within the field. For business, professionals who specialize in Accounting, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Entrepreneurship, and Business Analytics could be invited. For engineering, experts in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, and Aeronautical could be asked to present.

Regardless of the project undertaken, the goal is to demonstrate leadership and provide assistance to an identifiable group. Colleges value ingenuity and a commitment to help others, making a passion project particularly beneficial to students engaged in an increasingly competitive college admissions process.

Susan Alaimo is the founder & director of Collegebound Review, offering PSAT/SAT preparation & private college advising by Ivy League educated instructors. Visit CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: College admissions: Why passion projects are important
Paxon School for Advanced Studies is soaring high once again as it celebrates being named a Magnet Schools of America National Merit School of Excellence for the second consecutive year. This prestigious accolade, the highest honor granted to magnet schools, underscores Paxons commitment to excellence in education.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

In a remarkable achievement, Paxon stands out as the only secondary school in Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) and one of just two schools in the district to receive this distinguished recognition for the year 2024. Last year, Paxon held the distinction of being the sole school in DCPS to receive this honor, further solidifying its position as a beacon of academic excellence.

Joining Paxon in the spotlight is Spring Park Elementary International Baccalaureate School, which has also been named a school of excellence, showcasing the districts dedication to providing exceptional educational opportunities across all levels.

The entire Paxon community, including teachers, staff, students, and supporters, is beaming with pride at this achievement. The schools nurturing environment and unwavering commitment to high standards have made it a standout institution in the field of education.

We are #PaxonProud to have the hard work of our teachers, staff, students, and school community recognized, remarked a spokesperson for Paxon School for Advanced Studies. At Paxon, our warm environment and commitment to the highest expectations for all make Paxon a special place! Way to go Eagles!

This recognition not only highlights Paxons dedication to academic excellence but also serves as a testament to the collective efforts of the entire school community in fostering a culture of learning and achievement.

For more information about Duval County Public Schools, including Spring Park Elementary, please visit the official website.

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Pedal power: This climate change play in Lithuania is activated using exercise bikes

Next time you hit the gym or jump on your exercise bike, take inspiration from the fact you could be powering a work of art.

While chances are youre the only one feeling the fitness benefits, a new tech and theatre partnership is proving that anything is possible.

Two specially created exercise bikes powered an entire play in the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre last weekend.

When we created the bike we never imagined that it would be used on stage during such a performance in the national Lithuanian theatre, says Jonas Navickas, CEO of Tukas EV which makes the bike-cum-energy storage units.

But performances of A Play for the Living in a Time of Extinction are showcasing the bikes versatility. It can power your laptop, smartphone or even provide energy for the whole house, regardless of where you live, adds Navickas, who founded the Lithuanian startup in 2010.

Why was the play powered by bikes?

Written by American dramatist Miranda Rose Hall, the play takes the form of a monologue in which the main character narrates the history of Earth, explaining the creation and extinction of its various species. The storyline emphasises the potential role of humans in causing the worlds sixth mass extinction.

Rose Hall and British director Katie Mitchell have adapted the piece to be easily replicated in any country. As part of the STAGES (Sustainable Theatre Alliance for a Green Environmental Shift) initiative, the idea is to put on the play with completely local resources.

That means a local director, local actors, local sets and even locally generated electricity - which is where the bikes come in.

This co-production system enables a play about the crisis to tour the world - from Europe to Taiwan - without adding any fuel to the fire.

Co-funded by the EU, the alliance describes itself as, an ambitious sustainable theatre experiment to re-imagine how the cultural sector interacts with the concept of sustainability.

14 European theatres are on board so far, including Theatre de Liege in Belgium, Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, Theatre Vidy-Lausanne in Switzerland and Piccolo Teatro di Milano in Italy.

As part of a commitment to only use electricity generated by the people on stage (up to 150 watts) the Lithuanian production of Halls play is powered by two actors on bikes.

With just 15 minutes of pedalling, one of Tukas EVs HR Bank bikes produces enough electricity to charge a smartphone. Three hours of pedalling generates sufficient energy for the entire 1.5-hour performance. So two actors pedal two bikes to keep the show going, including the lighting.

How does the energy storage bike work?

Tukas EV is a company based in Lithuania developing clean mobility and energy solutions. - Supplied/Tukas EV

HR Bank can generate from 50 to 300w/h of electricity by pedalling it like a regular exercise bike. This energy can be stored in a battery of 2 kWh - roughly the same amount of electricity needed to keep a light shining for a week.

Navickas has revealed that he was partly inspired to make the bike last year after witnessing the war in Ukraine.

When the bombing of Ukraines infrastructure started, I was shocked by the sight of people with many extension cords trying to get electricity from one power generator to charge their phones, he told UK newspaper the Guardian.

HR Bank can provide an off-grid solution when a disaster - manmade or natural - strikes. And its been consciously crafted with sustainable materials, according to Tukas EV.

Sustainability in production is a continuous responsibility rather than a passing trend, says Navickas. We understand that the materials we choose today have lasting implications for the future.

With that in mind, the bike is made from recycled aluminium and FSC-certified birch plywood.

Its customisable and portable (with trolley-style wheels), with an optional desk attachment for home and office work. But not yet affordable for most, at around 3,000.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A pedestrian was seriously injured after police say she stepped in front of a car Saturday evening.

A woman was walking across Paradise Valley Road near Jester Street in Paradise Hills on Saturday at 6:11 p.m. when San Diego Police say she walked across the street and reached the curb before turning around and stepping back into the street in front of a car.

Pedestrian killed by train in Camp Pendleton

SDPD reports the woman was hit by the car and taken to the hospital with a fractured right

arm, right leg, and a pelvic fracture. Her injuries are considered to be non-life-threatening.

Authorities report alcohol was not a factor in this crash.

One injured, gas station damaged after street race

The accident is under investigation by the San Diego Police Traffic Division.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Command handling the investigation or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Two civilians were injured in Kharkiv and Donetsk oblasts on 3 February.

Source: Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration; Donetsk Oblast Military Administration

Details: Russian artillery and mortars reportedly targeted nearly 17 settlements in Kharkiv Oblast.

The Russians struck the village of Hryhorivka in the Kupiansk district with two guided bombs at around 14:00 on Saturday (3 February). Windows, roofs, and roof coverings of two private houses were damaged.

A civilian man, 26, was injured and taken to hospital.

In addition, the Russians injured 1 resident of the settlement of Maksymilianivka (Donetsk Oblast) on 3 February. The total number of injured in the oblast has increased to 4,532 civilians.

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Guest Opinion. The language that our ancestors spoke to pass along Cherokee wisdom through countless generations; that the unique Cherokee genius Sequoyah created a syllabary for; that Cherokee hero Durbin Feeling dedicated his life to preserving and promoting; and that hundreds of Cherokee elders, teachers and students are working to revitalize today; is our most valuable cultural treasure.

Sadly, in recent generations, fewer and fewer of our people have grown up speaking Cherokee. Today, at Cherokee Nation, we have the urgent task to reverse that trend. We must shake up the status quo. We must ensure that generations to come will experience the Cherokee language not as a relic of history but as a living, breathing part of our identity.

Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

We have taken another step in that mission with the permanent reauthorization of the Durbin Feeling Language Preservation Act. Originally passed in 2019, the act laid the foundation for the largest language investment in Cherokee history. Now, with the 2024 expansion, we have authorized a minimum operating funding budget of at least $18 million annually.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr.

The 2024 legislation designates the danger of losing the Cherokee language as a national emergency. It sets a new budgetary baseline along with $35 million for capital projects, with the majority for a new immersion middle school in Tahlequah. The law also formally dedicates language campuses in Tahlequah and Greasy in Adair County and a new language satellite office in Kenwood. Additionally, it authorizes the protection of over 1,400 acres of trust land in Delaware County to be the forthcoming Kenwood Cherokee Language and Culture Preserve.

Today, the Durbin Feeling Language Center in Tahlequah is the epicenter of Cherokee language renaissance. Our fluent elder speakers, alongside our young and adult students, are doing the daily work, and daily joy, of teaching and learning. While these programs are supported by the largest investments in Cherokee language in history, I hope they are small compared to the investments and language activities to come.

This is a generational effort that will continue long past my time in office. The new law establishes the strategic investments and continuing funding required to build generations of fluent speakers. The Cherokee spirit of Gadugi, the power of working together, propels us in this work.

All Cherokees can play a role in this effort, no matter their age or where they live. Success is not a static destination, but rather an ongoing journey towards greater and greater usage of the Cherokee language in our homes and communities. To survive and thrive, Cherokee must grow beyond the classroom, into our daily interactions and the fabric of our lives.

The Durbin Feeling Language Preservation Act of 2024 is more than just a legal document. It is a testament to our collective commitment, a promise to our ancestors, and a pledge to future generations that the Cherokee language will not wither on the vine. Together, we can revitalize our language and defend the essence of our cultural identity.

Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.
The Perry Police Department received reports from multiple concerned parents and students on Saturday that a student allegedly made a threat to the high school.

The threat was supposed to occur on Monday while school was back in session, according to a news release from the Perry Police Department on Sunday. There also was a second "concerning" photo posted to social media, the release said.

Perry police deemed both threats to be non-credible, but "officers will continue to be present at all Perry Community Schools," the release said.

More: As Perry High students returned to class after shooting, some parents want more security

What actually occurred was one student drew a picture and made a comment about the picture, Superintendent Clark Wicks said in a statement Monday. Another student posted pictures of shell casings. It was concluded that there was never any intent to threaten the safety of Perry Schools.

Wicks did not describe the drawn picture or what was said in the comment. He said students were questioned over the weekend and police searched the school.

In the wake of the fatal school shooting at Perry on Jan. 4, school officials will take all threats seriously and report them to law enforcement, Wicks said.

We want students and community members to continue to report things that are questionable or concerning, Wicks said in the statement. And we know that social media can turn into a bad game of telephone where small pieces of information become misconstrued causing more panic and harm than good.

"Please know that all threats and concerns are investigated. We will continue to keep you informed, as we are able," he said.

The school district also is working to create a local Safe+Sound, an app created by the state of Iowa on which parents and students can anonymously post concerns.

The threats to Perry were made the same day a bomb threat interrupted an Iowa High School Speech Association competition in Ankeny. The threat, made on social media, also was deemed as non-credible by police.

Both came one month after the Perry school shooting occurred on Jan. 4. Dylan Butler, a 17-year-old Perry High School student, shot and killed 11-year-old Ahmir Jolliff, a student at the adjacent middle school, fatally wounded Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger and injured two other staff members and four students before taking his own life.

High school students returned to class last week, and elementary and middle school students the week prior.

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

Jose Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@dmreg.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Perry police investigate threat to high school month after shooting
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Police are investigating a Saturday evening shooting in the Bellshire area that left one person injured.

Metro dispatch told News 2 the shooting was reported at approximately 6:24 p.m. in the 1300 block of Westchester Drive.

According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, the victim met a suspect at the location and got into a dark-colored sedan.

Man found shot in leg along Dickerson Pike

While the victim was in the vehicle with two other people, one of them reportedly took the victims handgun, hit him in the back of the head, and shot him once in the leg.

Authorities said the victim was brought to TriStar Skyline Medical Center with a non-life-threatening injury.

An officer at the scene told News 2 that nobody had been taken into custody in connection with the shooting.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

No additional details have been released about this incident, which remains under investigation.

 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.
In his Christmas message last year, Pope Francis spoke of how the eyes and hearts of Christians throughout the world turn during the holidays to Bethlehem, where amid the deep shadows covering the land, an undying flame has been lighted.

Lamenting the killing of innocents in war, Francis spoke of children whose lives have been devastated by war as the little Jesuses of today. He reminded the faithful that the birth of Christ changed the course of history, and that, even as a small child, Jesus, the prince of peace, gives us the power to become children of God.

Addressing the Israel-Hamas war, the pope spoke of how his heart grieves for the victims of the abominable attack of 7 October and reiterated his urgent appeal for the liberation of those still being held hostage. He also pleaded for an end to the military operations with their appalling harvest of innocent civilian victims and called for a solution to the desperate humanitarian situation by an opening to the provision of humanitarian aid.

Pope Francis is not alone in praying for peace and healing for the children of Israel and Palestine. All of Utahs faith communities are acutely aware of the depth of the sorrow and suffering visited upon families in both Israel and Gaza, and recognize the imperative of finding a peaceful resolution to conflicts that have turned the Holy Land into the very tomb of peace itself.

By now, humanity as a whole, particularly in the Middle East, has suffered through enough tragedy and war to heed the popes warnings. Rather than seeing one tribes existence premised on the extinction of the other, we must recognize and transcend these historical patterns. We cannot look at each others children, families and faiths through the carnage visited upon Israel and Gaza. To honor the dead we must guard the sanctity of the living.

In Utah, we are blessed to have a congressional delegation that listens and cares deeply about the pain and anguish inflicted on our brothers and sisters in Israel and Gaza. All of us recognize the grave humanitarian toll and the growing risks of a regional war. Should this conflict escalate, it will claim the life of many more civilians and soldiers, threaten the peace and prosperity of all nations and potentially draw the United States and other powers into a wider war in the Middle East and Europe.

Fortunately, as many of our interfaith and congressional leaders recognize, such a war is not inevitable. Diplomacy can deliver on the promise of peace.

Related

History matters. Were it not for the Camp David Accords, or more recently, the Abraham Accords, Hamass terrorist attack and Israels military response would have provoked a regional conflagration akin to the 1973 October War. That the Arab world  Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and many others  has not embraced Hamass leadership or joined Irans so-called Axis of Resistance is a testament to diplomacy. The Iranian regime, Russia and China have not succeeded in driving a wedge between the United States, Israel and the moderate Arab states. Pax Americana in the Middle East and Europe has not collapsed.

This is not an accident of history. And it is no thanks to the warmongers who perpetuate violence and death. It is because generations of American, Israeli and Arab statesmen have dared to imagine an end to war and have laid down the foundations for an enduring peace.

As a member of Utahs vibrant interfaith community, I draw enormous strength from the bonds of faith and friendship throughout the Wasatch Front. I know that, like Pope Francis, our political leaders are not blind to the suffering of the children of God. They not only recognize the force of Christs example as the prince of peace, but Americas role in bringing the Arab-Israeli conflict to an end.

Today, many around the world, including the United States, recognize the urgent need for deescalation. Ending the scourge of terrorism and war does not depend on military victory but on political negotiation  finding a peaceful and permanent solution to the Palestinian question.

But we must lead by example. As an Iranian-American, I know what can happen when fanatics hijack a faith, hold entire nations hostage and equate all that is foul  corruption, crime, terrorism and war  with holiness. For Americans to adopt their inhumane rhetoric, labels and conduct as our own is not the way to address the conflict. It is to surrender the bedrock of faith in exchange for the quicksand of violence.

This moment calls on all of us to engage in compassion that renews our faith in each others humanity. As Pope Francis reminds us, what binds Christians, Jews and Muslims to the Holy Land is not hatred and enmity. It is the joy that consoles hearts, renews hope and bestows peace  the light of Gods love for all his children manifests as peace and joy within and between nations.

Let us deny the fanatics and extremists what they seek  a perpetual war between Arabs, Israelis and Americans.

Khosrow B. Semnani is an Iranian American industrialist and philanthropist in Salt Lake City, and the author of Where is My Oil? Corruption in Irans Oil and Gas Sector.
This photo taken on Jan. 31, 2024 shows the headquarters of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Africa CDC has gained acclaim for its contribution to bettering public healthcare in Africa as it marked its seventh anniversary. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua)

ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has gained acclaim for its contribution to bettering public healthcare in Africa as it marked its seventh anniversary.

A special ceremony was held at the headquarters of the Africa CDC in the southern suburb of Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital on Wednesday to mark the African Union (AU) autonomous specialized healthcare agency's seventh anniversary.

The celebration, under the theme "A journey of action and commitment to safeguarding Africa's health security," highlighted the Africa CDC's successes in supporting public health initiatives on the continent and strengthening the capacity of public health institutions in Africa to detect, prevent, control and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats.

Since it was established in January 2016 by African leaders and officially launched one year later, the agency has withstood various public health threats, ranging from the Ebola virus outbreak to the most recent COVID-19 pandemic, said Director-General of the Africa CDC Jean Kaseya.

"It's a great pride to see our Africa CDC growing, thriving, and achieving more than what one has ever thought of in just seven years of its existence. As we reflect on our collective achievements, we are inspired by the impact created, the lives saved, and the resilience of our continent," he said.

"As Africa CDC, we have relentlessly advocated for a New Public Health Order for Africa, emphasizing the necessity for a fundamental shift in our approach to public health on the continent," he said.

"Our journey forward will be rooted in the foundational principles of the 5Cs -- community, connectivity, capacity, collaboration, and climate. These pillars have not only anchored our progress but will remain the guiding light as we aspire to shape a New Public Health Order for Africa," he added.

According to the AU, the occasion marked a significant milestone in the existence of the young organization since its establishment, witnessing transformative growth at the institutional, strategic, and operational levels.

Africa CDC, as a platform for strategic guidance and knowledge exchange among member states, is steadfast in its commitment to continental health security, the AU noted.

Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission Monique Nsanzabaganwa said the Africa CDC has been playing a critical role in the promotion of timely response to health emergencies on the continent.

"The results we can see today are significant, and proof beyond doubt that Africa CDC is well placed to carry out the mandates entrusted to it," she said.

To mark the occasion, Africa CDC honored Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the former chair of the AU Commission, and John Nkengasong, the inaugural director of Africa CDC, by naming the twin towers of its headquarters after them in recognition of their contributions to the establishment and development of the agency, respectively.

The Chinese-built Africa CDC headquarters, which is regarded as a flagship project in China-Africa public health cooperation, was officially inaugurated in January last year.

In November last year, the Africa CDC also unveiled a China-aided reference laboratory at its headquarters. It said the completion of the laboratory marks a milestone in its pursuit of a strong continental public health institution that will support AU members in improving disease diagnosis, surveillance and outbreak response. 

This photo taken on Jan. 31, 2024 shows the headquarters of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Africa CDC has gained acclaim for its contribution to bettering public healthcare in Africa as it marked its seventh anniversary. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Jan. 31, 2024 shows the headquarters of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Africa CDC has gained acclaim for its contribution to bettering public healthcare in Africa as it marked its seventh anniversary. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Jan. 31, 2024 shows a laboratory at the headquarters of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Africa CDC has gained acclaim for its contribution to bettering public healthcare in Africa as it marked its seventh anniversary. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Jan. 31, 2024 shows a laboratory at the headquarters of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Africa CDC has gained acclaim for its contribution to bettering public healthcare in Africa as it marked its seventh anniversary. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua)

People are seen at the headquarters of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Jan. 31, 2024. The Africa CDC has gained acclaim for its contribution to bettering public healthcare in Africa as it marked its seventh anniversary. (Xinhua/Liu Fangqiang)
A pigeon suspected of spying for China and held for eight months was released by Indian officials this week after intervention from animal rights organization PETA, the group said in a statement.

After learning that a pigeon was held at the Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals (BSDPHA) in Parel as case property for an astonishing eight months, PETA India sprang into action to secure the birds freedom from captivity, PETA said.

The animals ordeal began in May last year, when it was captured near a port in Mumbai. There was a message written on the pigeons wings in words that appeared to be Chinese, PETA added. This led to suspicion of spying and caused police to seize the bird, who was sent to Mumbais BSDPHA for a medical examination as part of an investigation.

CNN has reached out to Mumbai police for comment.

Another pigeon was reportedly taken into custody in 2016 after authorities found it with a note that threatened Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In the most recent case, PETA contacted police in Mumbai without further delay to grant formal permission for the hospital to release the pigeon.

The bird was released yesterday on the hospital premises by Colonel (Retd) Dr B. B. Kulkarni, Chief Medical Superintendent of the BSDPHA, PETA said.

Earlier Indian media reports had said that the bird had been transferred to the Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, whose doctors set it free on Tuesday. CNN has reached out to Bombay SPCA for comment.

While the pigeons case has made global headlines, spy animals captured and exploited by militaries are nothing new.

In 2019, a snowy white beluga whale, later nicknamed Hvaldimir, shot to international fame after it was spotted wearing a specially made harness with mounts for a camera, leading experts to suggest the whale may have been trained by the Russian military.

Belugas are social animals that hunt and travel together in pods. Hvaldimir the whale was found alone, and has been known to follow boats and play with those on board.

He resurfaced in Swedish waters in 2023 and there have been concerns expressed by animal rights activists and marine experts about his fate.

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A Pittsburgh man pleaded guilty in federal court to a firearm charge on Friday.

The Department of Justice says Dijuan Taylor, 22, pleaded guilty to a count of felony possession of a firearm.

According to the plea, Taylor dropped a loaded gun with an extended magazine during a Hazelwood traffic stop in November 2022. Taylor cannot possess firearms or ammunition because of previous felony convictions.

RELATED COVERAGE >> Allegheny County sheriff: 2 arrested with illegal guns after traffic stop

Taylor will be sentenced in May. He faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both, and up to three years of supervised release following his incarceration.

Taylor remains detained pending sentencing.

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PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  February is Black History Month. However, this year also marks the anniversary of the Board vs. Education decision by the Supreme Court that ruled racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. That decision paved the way for the Freedom of Choice program that aimed to integrate schools across the country.

On Saturday, Feb. 3, Pittsylvania County schools honored some of the first students who integrated, what were previously known as the white high schools. Those honored participated in the Freedom of Choice program some 60 years ago, from 1964-1969.

On Saturday, the Freedom of Choice committee hosted ceremonies at Gretna and Tunstall High Schools and unveiled a plaque in their honor. They are two of the four high schools that will be receiving plaques with the names of students who first integrated the school system in the 1960s.

New exhibit at Lynchburgs Main Library showcasing citys African American history

I am honored to be honored today. I count it a huge blessing. I see it as progress. I am very honored and I am happy that I was able to participate in 1966 and today 2024, said Rev. Joan Tarpley Robinson, Tunstall Highs Class of 1969.

Robinson spoke at the Tunstall High ceremony, detailing her experience in being a part of the integration program. She spoke highly of the Black school she previously attended, saying she had the best education there that she could get. When transferring schools, Robinson said she experienced a smooth transition with support from both Black and white communities.

Two plaques dedicated to honor Yancey House, Grasty Library in Danville

According to Henry Myers, a member of the Freedom of Choice Committee, the committee had been doing research since March of 2021. They held interviews, searched yearbooks, and looked at photos to try and piece together those who first broke the barriers in the Pittsylvania County education system. They had help and support from the Danville Regional Foundation, as well as the Pittsylvania County Library and Pittsylvania County School Board.

After some research, they discovered Wallace Barbour was the first African American to integrate into Gretnas band. His sister, Richetta Akers was at the ceremony to speak on his behalf due to his passing.

He never looked at it or thought about it as if something would happen to me. He just went, like I said, he just joined the band like it was the most natural thing to do, shared Akers.

Barbour graduated and went on to serve in the Air Force for four years.

Two others representing one of the first to break barriers in Gretna were Brenda Robertson Fuller and Gloria Jean Miller. They entered Gretna the same year as Barbour, but since he was a senior, after he graduated, they were each others support system.

Nursing shortage hitting southwest Virginia, local university hopes to provide relief

It wasnt easy. It was scary. It was challenging. But, something inside of us said it was time to go there. Because we heard about better education and better things, and we both wanted that, said Robertson Fuller.

They say while the beginning was uncomfortable, to say the least, it prepared them for the future.

I was inspired to try for jobs that a Black wouldnt normally get, Miller said. I thought, if I could stay here and went through what we went through  then I could do anything.

Both say it was amazing to see how far the school system has come today, noting the diversity of staff members. They say they would do it again if given the choice.

I cant believe were part of history, Miller commented.

Committee members tell me their interviews as well as the others will be made available at the Pittsylvania County library.

On Feb. 17, Freedom of Choice students from two other Pittsylvania County schools will be honored with a plaque. Dan River High Schools ceremony will be at 9:30 a.m. that Saturday and Chatham High Schools will follow at 1:30 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
Plans to convert a historic Tacoma church into affordable housing for young adults have created tension among neighbors in Tacomas North End neighborhood.

KIRO 7 News spoke with the owners of Amici House based in Port Orchard. They also own the property of The Rock Revival Center, a historic church built in 1908, located at the corner of North 24th Street and North Warner Street in Tacoma.

Andrew and Julie Cain purchased the property for $1 million in April of 2021.

They said they plan to convert the building into affordable housing which will house roughly 40 to 50 tenants in 11 shared rooms.

They are targeting young adults, from the ages of 18 to 26.

Drugs and alcohol will not be allowed inside the building, Andrew Cain said, and the building will be set up as communal living.

One of the things weve heard in the last few years from the young adults is a need for community, a need for affordable living, and a need for our generation to invest back into them, and help them pursue their dreams, Cain said. As an educator by my profession, it just matches what Im about.

Cain said the tenants will have full background checks and will be required to participate in a mentorship program.

They will be encouraged to invest in the surrounding neighborhood, he added.

Its an opportunity to give back to what was invested in us, he said. This is about just giving to those young adults who have dreams and visions, and supporting them and going after them.

KIRO 7 News asked Cain if his and his wifes business portfolio had any other similar projects that have shown success.

I know there are some models in the University District and Seattle, he responded. This idea is blossoming around the country as a means to provide affordable spaces for young adults.

KIRO 7 News asked Cain if he and his wife had any steps or measures to ensure the tenants would follow their planned values and message.

There will be a residential director who will be on-site, who will be working with setting up the program, he said. Its an intentional program thats fostering up, hey these are our core values.

If youre going to live here, this is the expectation, he said.

We asked Cain if the tenants would be forced out of the program and building if they did not follow their expectations.

If theyre not following the agreements, and its a congregate living, that could be the final outcome, he said. That process, were in the works of developing and we will develop with the resident director and with the first round of residents.

Some neighbors shared their thoughts about the scheduled plans and pushed back.

Sharyn Hinchcliffe, who lives one house away from the church, expressed her dismay about the proposal.

Frustrated, she said. For somebody like myself who has severe limitations on mobility, thats a concern for me that I wouldnt be able to park within 25 or 30 feet of my home.

Hinchcliffe said she is concerned about the tenants possible lifestyles, and how it would affect the neighborhood filled with families.

So you got 18- to 26-year-old young adults that are trying to get on with their lives, She added, There has to be a 100 percent guarantee to protect the children in this neighborhood and theres a lot.

Jaen Elliot said she moved into the neighborhood to be near her family in 2015.

I was looking for my death house, and now with Amici coming in, many of us are saying, Maybe we cant stay. She added, This is a family neighborhood.

Elliot said the neighborhood is typically filled with many children who often play outside.

But that traffic thats going to come in cant be good for kids on their bikes or walking or on their scooters, she told KIRO 7 News.

Tyler Kolbo has a special connection to the historic building.

He and his wife held their wedding inside the church in 1998.

It was really special to us. He added, It was the start of a pretty amazing family.

While Cain and his wife said they would prohibit any drugs or alcohol inside the building, Kolbo said that could make the neighborhood worse.

Theyll end up with lawn chairs in our front yard, smoking and drinking and leaving their monster cans, instead of doing on their property because they cant, he said.
In Poland, they announced the strengthening of checks on the border with Ukraine

The Polish government has introduced tighter control and more intensive inspections of goods from Ukraine at the border, the Minister of Agriculture of Poland Czeslaw Siekierski announced on X (Twitter) on Feb. 4.

"Excessive imports of agricultural products from Ukraine that do not meet EU production requirements threaten the competitiveness of Polish agriculture," the Polish official said.

Read also: Tighter rules for Ukrainian food exports to EU

Six European agricultural organizations earlier called on Brussels to limit imports of Ukrainian products to the EU in order not to jeopardize their "survival." They published a joint declaration with this call.

Polish carriers began strikes on the border with Ukraine on Nov. 6, blocking three checkpoints for freight traffic: Korczowa-Krakivets, Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska, and Dorohusk-Yahodyn. On Nov. 22, the blockade of the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint on the Ukrainian-Polish border was extended until Feb. 1, 2024.

Read also: Romanian farmers & truckers continue to block Ukraine border despite Romania agreeing to aid package

Polish farmers joined the carriers blocking the Polish-Ukrainian border on Dec. 20.

The Polish government signed an agreement with the farmers to end the blockade of the border with Ukraine on Jan. 6.

Agriculture Minister Czeslaw Siekierski promised to meet all farmers' demands: a 1 million zloty ($250,035) corn subsidy, a 2.5 billion zloty ($625.1 million) increase in lending, and maintaining the agricultural tax at the 2023 level.

The Polish government agreed with carriers on Jan. 16 to end the blockade of the border with Ukraine. The blockade was suspended until March 1.



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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Poland will clamp down on poor-quality Ukrainian agricultural imports into Poland, the Polish Agricultural Ministry wrote on X on Feb. 4.



Polish Agricultural Minister Czeslaw Siekierski conducted checks at the Medyka and Korczowa crossings with Ukraine over the weekend. He promised strengthened border control and more inspections.



Excessive import of agricultural products from Ukraine that do not meet the production requirements applicable in the EU threatens the competitiveness of Polish agriculture, Siekierski said, according to the Polish Agricultural Ministry.



Polish Deputy Agricultural Minister Michal Kolodziejczak also conducted inspections on Feb. 3 and Feb. 4 at several checkpoints with Ukraine. He highlighted several products, including rapeseed. of questionable quality and sugar with an allegedly strange smell.



Goods that are in transit... should be carefully inspected by Polish services and, if necessary, returned to Ukraine, he wrote on social media.



In a separate post, Kolodziejczak uploaded a photo of moldy frozen raspberries allegedly discovered at a checkpoint. He concluded that an embargo should be imposed on Ukrainian raspberries.



Polish farmers have held protests on and off since spring 2023. They are protesting the influx of cheap Ukrainian imports to aid Ukraines war effort which they claim hurt local agricultural businesses.



They announced a nationwide strike on Feb. 1, pledging to blockade all Polish border crossings with Ukraine following protests on Jan. 24.



Siekierski said he will attempt to halt new blockades through negotiations with protestors. He claims Poland is in bilateral talks with Ukraine over the issue.



The minister said on Feb. 4 that he is in discussions with representatives of the Oszukana Wies (Deceived Village) farmers association.



Previously, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Jan. 24 that he would try to address Polish farmers concerns in a way that does not violate EU regulations and would be acceptable for the Ukrainian and Polish sides.

Read also: Polish PM Donald Tusk pledges unity, end to border blockade during Kyiv visit

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For the second day in a row, Micha Koodziejczak, Poland's Deputy Minister of Agriculture, has arrived to oversee the inspection of agricultural goods imported from Ukraine.

Source: Polish radio station RMF24, as reported by European Pravda

Details: In his social media posts, Koodziejczak indicated that he was going to inspect the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint on Sunday (4 February), while he spent the whole day on Saturday (3 February) inspecting the Hrubieszow checkpoint.

 Wiceminister @EKOlodziejczak_ rozpocza kontrole na granicy. Wczoraj by w Hrubieszowie, a dzis prowadzi kontrole na przejsciu granicznym w Dorohusku.

 Polska granica bedzie szczelna jak nigdy dotad. pic.twitter.com/sVYi7E6WZ6  Ministerstwo Rolnictwa i Rozwoju Wsi (@MRiRW_GOV_PL) February 4, 2024

"Today's border control is the result of specific instructions: zero tolerance for any violations. I will stand up for Polish farmers and Polish food production. No one will question the fact that our market is well protected. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has made it clear: no one should have the slightest doubt that banned Ukrainian goods are entering Poland," Koodziejczak said.

He also posted a photo of low-quality frozen raspberries discovered during border control, accompanied by a comment that the only conclusion could be an embargo on Ukrainian frozen raspberries, over 60,000 tonnes of which, he said, were imported to Poland in 2023.

Zaplesniae maliny cofniete na Ukraine.



Po takich malinach moze byc jeden wniosek: embargo na ukrainskie maliny mrozone, ktorych do Polski w 2023 roku przyjechao ponad 60 tysiecy ton. pic.twitter.com/smqP7953C5  Micha Koodziejczak (@EKOlodziejczak_) February 4, 2024

The deputy minister's visits come amid protests by Polish farmers who are dissatisfied with the European Commission's proposal to extend the suspension of import quotas and duties on Ukrainian exports to the EU for another year.

For his part, Agriculture Minister Czesaw Siekierski said he would seek to prevent new road blockades by protesting farmers through negotiations with them. He announced that he will visit the border crossing with Ukraine on Monday to observe the inspections, and on Tuesday, he is scheduled to meet with farmers' organisations.

"We want to know the main demands of farmers: whether it is a question of lower profits, or regulations under the European Green Deal, or the influx of goods. And we are in bilateral talks with Ukraine," he said.

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By Kanishka Singh

(Reuters) -President Joe Biden on Sunday denounced anti-Arab rhetoric in response to a Wall Street Journal opinion piece targeting Dearborn, Michigan, that the mayor called "bigoted" and "Islamophobic."

The WSJ published the piece on Friday headlined as "Welcome to Dearborn, America's Jihad Capital", suggesting the city's residents, including religious leaders and politicians, supported Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and extremism. The column drew outrage from Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, as well as several U.S. lawmakers and rights advocates from the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee.

The mayor said on Saturday he had ramped up the city's police presence at houses of worship and other public places after "an alarming increase in bigoted and Islamophobic rhetoric online targeting the city of Dearborn." As of Sunday afternoon, there were no reports of any unrest in Dearborn, a suburb of about 110,000 people that borders Detroit.

Biden, while not referring directly to the WSJ or the article's author, said on social media platform X it was wrong to blame "a group of people based on the words of a small few."

"That's exactly what can lead to Islamophobia and anti-Arab hate, and it shouldn't happen to the residents of Dearborn  or any American town," Biden said on the platform formerly called Twitter.

The city has one of the highest percentages of Arab Americans among U.S. cities, with census figures showing it is about 54% Arab American.

"Reckless. Bigoted. Islamophobic," Hammoud said on Saturday about the WSJ piece written by Steven Stalinsky, executive director of the Middle East Media Research Institute.

Biden, who is running for re-election, has himself faced criticism and protests from Dearborn and from anti-war voices around the country for his administration's support for Israel in its operations in Gaza.

The WSJ did not respond to a request for comment. Stalinsky said he stood by his piece and added that videos compiled by his institute showed that "shocking anti-U.S. and pro-jihad sermons and marches" had taken place in the city. Reuters was not able to independently verify the location or the date of when the videos were filmed.

Rights advocates have noted a rise in Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian bias and antisemitism in the U.S. since the eruption of war in the Middle East in October.

Among anti-Palestinian incidents that raised alarm were a November shooting in Vermont of three students of Palestinian descent and the fatal stabbing of a 6-year-old Palestinian American in Illinois in October.

Some Democratic members of the U.S. Congress like Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Ro Khanna, and Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow, also condemned the WSJ opinion piece, with Jayapal demanding an apology from the newspaper.

The latest eruption of war in the Middle East began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200. Israel has since assaulted Hamas-governed Gaza, killing over 27,000, according to the local health ministry. Nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million population is displaced. The densely populated enclave also faces starvation.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington;Editing by Dan Burns and Lisa Shumaker)
Inspections of agricultural goods at the Ukraine-Poland border show excess imports of goods and a need to strengthen veterinary inspections, the Polish Agricultural Minister Czesaw Siekierski said on Feb. 4.

The excess goods included sugar, oil, and cereal products such as flour and cornmeal, according to the ministry's statement.

It is also worrying that the final recipients of many deliveries are the Baltic countries - Lithuania and Latvia, the statement said, noting that the goods could return to Poland.

Read also: Polish farmers to hold large protest against imports from Ukraine

Earlier in the day, Poland announced it was stepping up inspections of Ukrainian food products.

Polish farmers announced a nationwide strike on Feb. 1 to block Ukrainian goods at the border, protesting what they say are an influx of cheap goods harming their domestic business.

Demonstrations by Polish farmers have taken place intermittently since spring 2023.

Siekierski has said he will try to stop further blockades by negotiation with the protesters.

Read also: Anger and disappointment in endless lines of Ukrainian trucks at Polish border

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LUSAKA, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Friday expressed optimism that the local currency, the Kwacha, which has depreciated significantly in recent months, will stabilize this year.

Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane said the resumption of operations by two of the country's biggest mining firms, Konkola Copper Mines and Mopani Copper Mines, will result in increased foreign exchange inflows into the country's economy, a situation that will have positive effects on the foreign exchange market.

In remarks delivered at a national symposium on the 2023 economic performance, the 2024 budget as well as economic outlook, the minister said the lack of operations at the two mines has affected revenue collection.

"The Kwacha is facing too much pressure due to lack of dollars in circulation but the situation will change when new investors inject more liquidity in the two mining companies," he said.

Copper is the biggest economic mainstay for Zambia and accounts for over 70 percent in foreign exchange earnings.

He further said the local currency was under pressure because much of the fertilizer procured by the previous government was not paid in cash but through government bonds which have now started maturing.

Secretary to the Treasury Felix Nkulukusa said it was vital to concentrate on growing the economy as a way to increase financial resources for the development of the country.

He said enhanced growth of various sectors will result in higher economic growth, a situation that will see more jobs being created and more resources for public service.

"With the International Monetary Fund program and subsequent assistance from the World Bank and other cooperating partners, the restoration of macroeconomic stability of our economy will be realized through commitment and diligence towards meeting all structural benchmarks agreed upon in a timely manner," he said. 
TEL AVIV  As Hamas prepares to deliver its verdict on a proposed deal for a cease-fire and the freeing of more than a hundred hostages in Gaza, ministers, political analysts and people close to Israels prime minister say the accord threatens to tear apart the countrys right-wing Cabinet.

While Hamas deliberates, Israels war Cabinet is expected to discuss the deal during a meeting Sunday evening, according to Israeli media.

But Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right minister of national security, threatened last week on X that a reckless deal = the dismantling of the government.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his office in Jerusalem on Sept. 27, 2023. (Abir Sultan / POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Hours after Ben-Gvirs comments, opposition leader Yair Lapid volunteered his center-left Yesh Atid Party to enter the Cabinet to rescue the coalition and the hostage deal if Ben-Gvir withdraws.

Even if the current government survives, the conflict over the hostage deal exposes profound rifts in Israeli society. The deal pits dueling narratives of Israels vision of itself against each other: its solemn pledge to its soldiers and citizens that no one will be left behind, versus Israels oft-stated goal that it will destroy its enemies at any cost.

Where do you put the primacy in terms of those who say, look, if these hostages arent prioritized, they will die in captivity and that will be devastating for the Israeli public and it could really rip the fabric of the Israeli social contract, said David Makovsky, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a professor in Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University. The other side would say weve come this far to defeat Hamas, and if Israel withdraws before the job is done, Hamas will be emboldened to do more Oct. 7s.

Follow for live updates.

Looming over the conversation is the 2011 deal by Netanyahu to release Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier whom Hamas held captive in the Gaza Strip for more than five years. In exchange for Shalits freedom, Israel released more than a thousand Palestinian prisoners in Israel, including Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who would go on to plan and execute the Oct. 7 attacks.

Ben-Gvir further isolated himself from the Cabinet this weekend after he publicly criticized U.S. President Joe Biden while praising former President Donald Trump in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. He also called on Israelis to resettle the Gaza Strip  an inflammatory position Netanyahu has rejected.

Its clear that hes trying to establish himself as the voice of the right wing, said a senior government official who asked to remain anonymous because of a lack of authorization to speak with the media. You understand that right now, Netanyahu needs [Ben-Gvir]. I dont know about later, but right now he needs him.

It will break the coalition and also the right-wing public.

The proposed framework of a deal, which was negotiated a week ago in Paris by intelligence chiefs from Israel, the U.S. and Egypt as well as Qatars prime minister, would include a six-week pause in the fighting in the Gaza Strip, during which the two sides would exchange Israeli hostages in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

The framework for a deal does not include the number of Palestinian prisoners who would be released for each Israeli hostage freed. Even if Hamas agrees to the framework, negotiations between the two sides regarding those numbers could prove protracted.

Hamas leaders have also so far hewed to maximalist demands from earlier in the war: that Israels army fully withdraw from the Gaza Strip and implement a full and final cease-fire  stipulations that Israel has already rejected as nonstarters.

Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official in Beirut, told a Lebanese television station on Friday that the group would insist that any deal include freedom for Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat, two Palestinian militant leaders who are serving long sentences in Israeli prisons for murder and belonging to terrorist organizations.

Acceding to those demands would come at an unacceptably high political cost for Netanyahu, according to a former right-wing lawmaker who said they were not authorized to speak on the record.

Those are the two murderers that we never agreed to release. I dont believe that Netanyahu will be able to release them, the lawmaker said. It will break the coalition and also the right-wing public.

The hostages families, at the same time, routinely hold protests demanding their release. Images of hostages family members protesting outside the prime ministers residences, storming parliament sessions and blocking highways are regular fixtures on Israeli television.

I believe till today that they prefer to keep on with the war instead of stopping everything right now to bring them home, said Ifat Kalderon, whose cousin Ofer was kidnapped on Oct. 7 and remains in Gaza, during one of the protests outside the Ministry of Defense. They must do it. They must have a cease-fire and then make a deal to bring them back home.

The families visible anguish has made the terms of the Paris deal broadly popular among the Israeli public. According to a Maariv poll published in late December, more than two-thirds of Israelis would favor a deal to free hostages that would bring about a cease-fire.

Complicating negotiations for Israels right wing is the perception that a six-week truce would be tantamount to ending Israels war against Hamas, Makovsky said. With hundreds of thousands of reservists now returning to their day jobs, he said, few Israelis believe that Israel would be able to return to the same combat strength after a six-week pause.

Israelis are also reckoning with the wars failures. So far, only one hostage has been freed by Israels combat operations. Three of the hostages are known to have been shot by Israels military by mistake, and many more are thought to have been killed by Israels own bombardments.

For many, the question of freeing the hostages is a binary one: destroy Hamas or bring home the hostages. Many here increasingly believe they cant have both.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Powerful wind gusts of up to 65 miles per hour battered northern Ohio in mid-January, pushing shallow water out farther into Lake Erie and revealing portions of the lake bed.

The phenomenon is known as a seiche and happens when strong winds combine with rapid changes in atmospheric pressure, sending water from one side of a body of water to the other. They can last for hours or days.

Local resident Barry Koehler captured some pretty otherworldly photos of the event, including large exposed boulders that usually are mostly covered by six to nine feet of water.

Its not something you see often, twice in the last 13 months is rare, but when the lake bed is exposed due to wild winds from the southwest like on Saturday, its thrilling, Koehler told Fox 59.

Still, seiches are not unheard of, and Lake Erie is particularly susceptible because of its location.

Its oriented in the same direction that we typically get wind in, so west to east from Toledo to Buffalo, Madeleine Dewey, a coastal planner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers told Spectrum Local News.

However, five major seiche events, which may have been partly because of a lack of ice on the water, have occurred in the last five years, causing flooding and erosion in the region (all of that water has to go somewhere).

Seiche has always happened, Dewey told Spectrum. It will probably continue to happen, but as we see, in general, [with] warmer temperatures and a warming climate, were going to find that there is going to be a bigger frequency in how the lake is shifting.

Seiches are not the only extreme weather phenomenon affected by our overheating planet. As temperatures continue to rise, scientists widely agree that the frequency and severity of extreme weather events will increase as well.

In the first nine months of 2023, the U.S. faced a number of droughts, floods, hurricanes, and wildfires that caused 373 deaths and cost $67.1 billion. Twenty-four of these disasters were severe enough to cause more than $1 billion apiece in damages.

Scientists have also noted other changes, such as shifts in where certain types of severe weather events occur.

For instance, tornados are becoming more frequent outside of Tornado Alley, which has traditionally been located in the Great Plains  many of these storms are now appearing in the South, and this could be linked to rising temperatures, among other factors.

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PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  A man was arrested in connection to a drug operation and charged after eluding police and firing his gun in Portsmouth, police said. He was also served outstanding charges in several Hampton Roads cities.

Special Investigations Unit detectives identified 35-year-old Keeshawn Faltz as the man seen delivering narcotics to a street level drug dealer. Faltz was also wanted on charges from several local cities, so a Flock alert was entered for his car, police said.

On Feb. 1, officers from different tactical units conducted an operation targeting street level narcotics distribution and wanted subjects.

Courtesy: PPD

Courtesy: PPD

Courtesy: PPD

Faltzs vehicle was seen in the downtown area and was found unoccupied at a hotel in the 300 Block of Effingham Street. Faltz was seen getting into the vehicle and fled the scene before being apprehended, police said. However, while leaving the hotel parking lot he struck a curb, and the car was disabled in the 300 Block of Green Street.

Faltz got out with a gun in his hand and ran. While fleeing from officers, he fell and shot one bullet.

A Police K9 found him hiding in a storage area with his gun. After being ordered to come out, he was taken into custody without further incident and the handgun was recovered. There were no injuries to the public, police or Faltz, police said.

He was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, reckless handling of a firearm, felony eluding police and driving while suspended.

He was served with outstanding charges in Portsmouth, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach and VADOC. These charges included robbery, assault charges, failure to appear, etc.

Check with WAVY.com for updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  President Joe Biden has won South Carolinas Democratic primary, notching an overwhelming 2024 victory in the state that vaulted him to the White House four years ago.

Biden on Saturday defeated the other longshot Democrats on South Carolinas ballot, including Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips and author Marianne Williamson.

The presidents campaign had invested heavily in driving up turnout for Biden, aiming to test-drive efforts to mobilize Black voters, who are a key part of the Democratic vote in South Carolina and central to Bidens strategy for victory in November.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APs earlier story follows below.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  President Joe Biden is looking for an easy victory Saturday in South Carolinas Democratic primary that officially kicks off his partys nominating process, validating a new lineup he championed to better empower Black voters who helped revive his 2020 campaign.

Biden is overwhelmingly favored against Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips and self-help author Marianne Williamson. Yet the long and sometimes contentious process that saw the Democratic National Committee officially replace Iowa with South Carolina in its presidential primarys leadoff spot has made whats unfolding noteworthy.

The GOPs South Carolina primary is Feb. 24.

Arguing that voters of color should play a larger role in determining the Democratic presidential nominee, Biden championed a calendar beginning in South Carolina. The state is reliably Republican, but 26% of its residents are Black.

In the 2020 general election, Black voters made up 11% of the national electorate, and 9 in 10 of them supported Biden, according to AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of that elections voters.

Biden was in Delaware  not South Carolina  on Saturday before leaving for a trip to California and Nevada. He attended an open house at his campaign headquarters in Wilmington, telling supporters, Im feeling good about where we are. The president said voters around the country are beginning to focus on the election and the polling data is picking up across the board.

We cannot, we cannot, we cannot lose this campaign, for the good of the country, Biden said before leaving on a weekend trip. He appeared with first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff.

Biden also called into four Black radio stations to talk up the importance of South Carolinas primary, telling WJMZ Radio in Greenville, We have a large African American population in America, they deserve to have a say  particularly in the Democratic Party  a say in who the nominee should be.

Earlier in the day, in South Carolinas capital of Columbia, Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said, We all know that we, because of the color of this, we, our great grandparents, our grandparents, could not always vote here. A South Carolina native who is Black, Harrison pointed to his own skin.

For this president to say, Jaime, for the entirety of your life, we have started this process in Iowa and New Hampshire, and now, were going to start it in South Carolina  no other president before ever decided to touch that issue, Harrison added. But Joe Biden did, and I will always be grateful to the president for giving us a chance, for seeing us, and understanding how much we matter.

Biden pushed for South Carolina to go first followed three days later by Nevada. The new calendar also moves the Democratic primary of Michigan, a large and diverse swing state, to Feb. 27, before the expansive field of states voting on March 5, known as Super Tuesday.

South Carolina was also where Biden reversed his fortunes with a resounding victory during the 2020 Democratic primary after defeats in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

Many Black Democrats in South Carolina are still loyal to Biden after he was vice president to the nations first Black president, Barack Obama. The states senior member of the U.S. House, Democrat Jim Clyburn, long one of Congress most powerful Black leaders, remains a close Biden friend and ally.

The DNC sponsored a six-figure ad campaign across the state and Nevada to boost enthusiasm for the president among Black and Latino voters. Nevadas population is 30% Latino.

Black voters interviewed during the recent early voting period listed a range of reasons for supporting Biden, from his administrations defense of abortion rights to appointing Black jurists and other minorities to the federal courts. Some echoed Bidens warnings that former President Donald Trump, the heavy front-runner for the Republican nomination, would threaten democracy as he continues to push lies that the 2020 vote was stolen.

We cant live with a leader that will make this into a dictatorship. We cant live in a place that is not a democracy. That will be a fall for America, said LaJoia Broughton, a 42-year-old small business owner in Columbia. So my vote is with Biden. It has been with Biden and will continue to be with Biden.

Some voters said they were concerned about the 81-year-old Bidens age, as many Americans have said they are in public polling. Trump is 77. Both men have had a series of public flubs that have fueled skepticism about their readiness.

Theyre as old as I am and to have these two guys be the only choices, thats kind of difficult, said Charles Trower, a 77-year-old from Blythewood, South Carolina. But I would much rather have President Biden than even consider the other guy.

New Hampshire held a primary last week that defied the new calendar and wasnt sanctioned by the DNC. Still, Biden won the state via write-in and a big South Carolina victory could begin to allay the concerns of a majority of voters, as even most Democrats dont want him seeking a second term.

In the meantime, the Democratic establishment  and even potential presidential hopefuls who could have competed against the president from the left or middle  have lined up behind Biden. The DNC also isnt planning primary debates, while Phillips has challenged his name not appearing on primary ballots in Florida and North Carolina.

The presidents reelection campaign says its already focusing on Novembers general election. Trump has in turn accused Biden of threatening democracy, while downplaying his role in promoting falsehoods about election fraud embraced by the rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Bidens campaign, the DNC and its other fundraising arms announced raising $97-plus million in the final three months of last year and entered 2024 with $117.4 million in cash on hand. Trump amassed about $130 million in 2023s final quarter and had $42-plus million to start the election year.

___

Weissert reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim in Wilmington, Delaware, and Ayanna Alexander contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
South Carolina residents cast their ballots Saturday in the first of two presidential primaries to be held in February.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. Saturday for the Democratic Presidential Primary and closed at 7 p.m.

President Joe Biden won with more than 95% of the votes.

It was an overwhelming 2024 victory in the state that vaulted him to the White House four years ago, according to the Associated Press.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: South Carolinians cast their votes for the 2024 Democratic primary

Other candidates listed on the Democratic ballot included Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson.

Each candidate combined grabbed less than 5% of South Carolina voters, according to the Associated Press.

South Carolina will hold its Republican primary on Saturday, Feb. 24.

VIDEO: South Carolinians cast their votes for the 2024 Democratic primary
Former Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson and Russian mouthpiece has arrived in Moscow, according to a photo published by the propaganda Telegram news channel Mash on Feb. 3.

Read also: Musk shares video of pro-Russian Tucker Carlson blaming Ukraine for Kakhovka dam blast

He has reportedly been in the Russian capital since Feb. 1, when he was spotted at the Istanbul airport while he was boarding a flight to Moscow.

Mash published a photo of the American propagandist, allegedly enjoying a visit to the Bolshoi Theater. It is unknown whether Carlson paid for the trip himself or with whom in the Russian government he has been in contact with.

Mash/Telegram

Mash/Telegram

Known for promoting conspiracies, Carlson left Fox News in disgrace in Apr., 2023, after which he launched his own show on X (Twitter), where he promotes anti-balding treatments, flirts with right-wing grifters, and spreads racially-tinged disinformation about foreign DNA entering Americans blood via COVID vaccines.

Read also: Italian mayor withdraws approval for suspected Russian propaganda show meant to whitewash occupation

Carlson has also repeatedly and knowingly spread lies and Russian propaganda, and has openly supported Russias genocidal war against Ukraine. For example, Carlson accused, offering no evidence, Ukraine of bombing the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, says that the Ukrainian government is oppressing Christians, and denies that Ukraine is a democracy.

Carlson has previously said that his is rooting for Putin and for Russia.

Carlson said in September 2023 that he wanted to interview Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, but the U.S. government allegedly prevented him from doing so.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, whom Carlson fervently supports, said that if he won the election, he would consider electing Carlson as his Vice President. Trump is also known for calling Russian dictator Vladimir Putin a very smart person.



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No 1 Central Document details rural vitalization strategy

09:52, February 04, 2024 By Li Lei ( Chinadaily.com.cn

Central authorities have unveiled a more detailed "road map" for the national rural vitalization strategy in its annual No 1 Central Document, Xinhua News Agency reported on Saturday.

The document is the first policy statement released at the start of each year by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, China's cabinet, and has long served as an indicator of government priorities.

Xinhua said that it has authorized to release the text of this year's No 1 Central Document, whose theme was to call on local authorities to learn from the successful experience of the Rural Green Revival Project, a sweeping campaign launched in the early 2000s to improve rural environment across Zhejiang province.

The project was recognized with a Champions of the Earth Award, the UN's highest environmental honor, in 2018.

According to Xinhua, the document is composed of six parts, including ensuring national food security, improving rural industrial chains, and strengthening construction and governance in the countryside.

The document stressed that agriculture and rural affairs are the bedrock for China to advance its modernization drive, and the lessons offered by the Rural Green Revival Project must be employed to solve problems related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers in the new era.

The document also called for officials to focus on solving issues that can be felt by rural residents this year, it said.

The document noted that two redline requirements in rural-related work is to ensure food security and prevent farmers from sliding into absolute poverty after almost 100 million farmers shook off poverty since 2012 as part of national antipoverty drive.

It said that this year's rural work will be driven more by technology and reforms, and efforts to increase rural income.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
WINDHOEK, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Tributes flooded in from African countries after former Namibian President Hage Geingob passed away earlier Sunday.

In his message of condolences, Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi described Geingob as a true friend of Botswana.

"We deeply value his support in building an extraordinary partnership our two countries and people enjoy today. We honor his legacy, mourn his passing, and remain committed to our steadfast friendship and cooperation," said Masisi.

Masisi has directed that flags of Botswana fly at half-mast throughout the country from Sunday until Geingob is laid to rest.

Mourning Geingob's death, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has lost a liberation stalwart and icon.

"We deeply cherish the exemplary role that he played in consolidating the excellent relations that exist between Zimbabwe and Namibia, as well as in advancing the integration agenda of our regional body, SADC, and the cause of the African peoples and continent," Mnangagwa said.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his sadness over the passing of Geingob, saying, "Today, South Africa joins the people of our sister state, Namibia, in mourning the passing of a leader, patriot, and friend of South Africa."

Ramaphosa said Geingob was a towering veteran of Namibia's liberation from colonialism and apartheid. "He was also greatly influential in the solidarity that the people of Namibia extended to the people of South Africa so that we could be free today."

"This loss is not only deeply felt by Namibians but also reverberates throughout the entire SADC region and the African continent. We mourn the passing of an outstanding revolutionary and dedicated statesman who led with wisdom, integrity, diplomacy, and a deep passion for his people," the Parliament of South Africa said in a statement.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema also extended his deep condolences, describing Geingob as a true friend, liberation icon, senior African statesman, and elder brother.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan expressed her condolences via X, formerly known as Twitter.

"I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the president of Namibia, His Excellency Hage Geingob, a dear brother, a venerable pan-Africanist, and a great friend of Tanzania," she said.

Nangolo Mbumba, the former vice president of Namibia, took the oath of office on Sunday in the Namibian capital of Windhoek, officially becoming the country's fourth president after Geingob passed away at the age of 82.

On Jan. 19, the Namibian presidency said Geingob's medical team discovered cancerous cells following a biopsy examination. 
The wreckage of PS752, which was shot down near Tehran on January 8, 2020

Iranian security officials dispersed family members of the victims of Ukrainian International Airlines flight PS75, who gathered outside the UN office in Tehran on Feb. 3 to demand justice from the Iranian government for obstructing the investigation, the Voice of America reported on Feb. 4.

The plane was shot down by Iran in 2020.

The protesters requested a meeting with Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif, but instead were threatened and intimidated by plainclothes security agents and security forces.

Read also: Ukraine and partners appeal to ICAO over Flight PS752

The Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 flight from Tehran to Kyiv was shot down on Jan. 8, 2020, shortly after departing from the Iranian capital.

All 176 people on board died, including 11 Ukrainians, with most victims being citizens of Iran and Canada.

Four days after the disaster, Iranian authorities officially acknowledged that their military downed the flight, having mistakenly identified it as a hostile target.

Iran insists that the air disaster occurred because of a defense system operator's error, not by the order of the country's military leadership. Ukraine disagrees with this position and demands access to the investigation and monetary compensation.

In April 2023, an Iranian court announced it had sentenced 10 Iranian servicemen, accused of involvement in the air disaster, to prison terms. The International Coordination and Response Group for the victims of Flight PS752 has labeled the trial as fictitious and non-transparent.

On Jan. 8, Ukraine, the UK, Sweden, and Canada have lodged a complaint with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) against Iran regarding the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 near Tehran in 2020.



Read also: Top Ukrainian official accuses Iran of terrorist act in downing UIA Flight PS752

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A reset of Ukraines leadership is necessary and could involve several personnel shakeups beyond the military, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Feb. 4 interview, according to Italian media outlet Rai News.

Responding to a question about a rumored dismissal of Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, President Zelensky said he had a serious reset in mind that was not about a single person, but about the general direction of the countrys leadership.

The change could involve replacing a series of state leaders, he said, according to Rai News.

The remarks came during an interview broadcast by Italys TG1 television program.

Zaluzhnyi has served in his role as commander-in-chief since 2021 and enjoys overwhelming support among Ukrainians.

A December 2023 poll found that 72% of Ukrainians would disapprove of his resignation.

However, the relationship between Zelensky and Zaluzhnyi has appeared to be strained for weeks, particularly after Nov. 1, when Zaluzhnyi described a potential trap of a prolonged war during an interview with the Economist.

Read also: Contradicting reports point at dismissal of Zaluzhnyi as top commander; Zelenskys office denies it

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A Friday police shooting in Lauderhill ended an episode that began with a man using his car to smash in a Plantation gas station convenience store. Inside, a woman hid from him, assisted by the minimart clerk.

Roshod Grahams death was announced Saturday by Plantation police, whose officers chased and shot the 30-year-old Graham after they were called by the minimart clerk. As is standard, all officers involved are on administrative leave while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates the shooting.

The court docket of Grahams last arrest, in November, lists his home as being in unincorporated Broward County, but Plantation police said he was now living in Jacksonville.

READ MORE: Broward car thief charged with homicides after FHP Trooper, truck driver die in crash

Plantation police say they headed for the Mobil station at 10261 W. Broward Blvd. at 4:54 a.m. Friday to answer a call. Surveillance video acquired by WSVN-Channel 7 shows the overnight Mobil station attendant making that call and why he did so.

The store surveillance video shows a woman running into the store and locking the door behind her. After a white-shirted Graham starts banging on the door, the clerk calls for help and appears to show Graham that hes doing so. Then, he and the woman, whom Plantation police say was Grahams girlfriend, retreat into a back room and barricade themselves there.

The video shows Graham ramming the door with his car several times, eventually successfully smashing an opening large enough for the 6-2 man to get inside. But, hes inside a short time before turning tail as police arrive.

As Graham tried to race away from police, Plantation cops say, he rammed a police unit. But, what that police unit and what the Mobil station door couldnt do  stop the car  a median in the 1600 block of Lauderhills Northwest 31st Avenue did.

Graham ran and, when caught, Plantation police say, attempted to forcibly take the officers gun and was shot. He was taken in critical condition to a hospital where he died.

Roshod Graham in 2018.

Online Florida Department of Corrections records say Graham had done four years in prison after convictions on grand theft, burglary, sudden snatching, and battery on a senior citizen charges and was still on probation for the buglary charge until March 12, 2027.

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A woman is facing a five-and-a-half year wait for justice after the trial of her alleged rapist was delayed and then postponed hours before it was due to begin, The Telegraph can reveal.

The victim reported the alleged rape to police in September 2019 but found out last week that the defendant in the case may now not stand trial until early 2025.

Sarah (not her real name) has accused the criminal justice system of revictimising her and believes the case illustrates why rape conviction rates are so poor.

While the number of rape prosecutions has improved in recent years, more than 60 per cent of complainants withdraw before their case gets to court, with delays being cited as one of the main factors.

If Sarahs case is delayed until next year, it is believed it will be one of the longest waits for a rape case currently in the system.

The alleged attack was reported to Cleveland Police in September 2019, but it was more than three years before the suspect was charged with rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

A plea hearing took place in January last year at which the defendant pleaded not guilty, with a three-day trial set to start last week.

But the day before the case was due to get under way at Teesside Crown Court, Sarah was informed the defence barristers were busy with another matter and so the trial would have to be postponed.

Sarah has been advised not to seek counselling until the trial has concluded and has also been warned that because of the length of time it has taken to bring the case to court, the defendant might get a more lenient sentence.

Criminal justice system has revictimised me

Speaking from her home in the northeast of England, the woman has been left questioning whose side the justice system is on, saying it was illustrative of why so many rape victims withdraw from prosecutions before their cases get to court.

She told The Telegraph: The criminal justice system has revictimised me and there is nothing I can do.

The CPS say they want to improve the number of rape convictions but is it any wonder that victims walk away when it takes this long.

Sarah said she was attacked by a stranger in March 2019 and went to police in September that year to report the offence.

She said she heard very little about how the investigation was going but then in October 2022  more than three years after going to police  was informed the suspect had been charged.

He was originally due to appear at a Magistrates Court on 7 November 2022, but owing to a legal blunder, the hearing did not take place until 16 December of that year.

The matter was then sent to the Teesside Crown Court for a plea hearing which took place in January last year.

Chronic court backlogs meant that the earliest the trial could be listed for was January this year.

The hearing should have begun last Tuesday, but with just hours to go, Sarah was informed it had been postponed.

I had prepared myself mentally and was ready to go to court and give evidence, she explained. It was only listed to be a short trial and I was expecting to be called on the first day, but then on Monday afternoon at about 4pm I got another phone call to say that the defence team was busy elsewhere and so they were going to have to postpone the trial.

I was absolutely devastated, it felt like the whole system was working against me rather than to support me.

There will now be a hearing this month when a new trial date will be decided, but Sarah said she has been warned that because of the backlogs it could only be this time next year.

I am determined to fight on

She said: We are about to pass the fifth anniversary of the day my life changed forever and I am still waiting to get justice.

The CPS say they want to improve the number of rape convictions but is it any wonder that victims walk away when it takes this long.

This is the whole reason that people do not come forward. I do not blame victims who do not come forward, but I am determined to fight on.

If the CPS and the courts are serious about improving the number of rape convictions then they have to find a way of speeding up the system. Nobody who has not been through this can begin to understand how traumatic it is.

A CPS spokesman said: We understand the devastating impact delays can have on rape victims and thanks to our joint working with the police we are reducing the time taken to charge these awful crimes.

In this case we provided Cleveland Police with a clear action plan before authorising charges of rape against the suspect so we could build the strongest possible case to put before the court.

We are clear victims of sexual offences should never delay seeking the support they need.

A spokesman for the local police force which investigated the case said: Cleveland Police recognises the significant impact this type of abhorrent crime has on victims, and that any delay to the investigation can compound this.

Officers investigating this type of crime are dealing with often complex circumstances, however, this should not lead to significant delay to bring charges and any challenges should be swiftly overcome by agencies working together as effectively as possible.

MoJ: We know much more needs to be done

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: The latest figures show we are helping more victims get the justice they deserve, with more cases reaching the Crown Court and a 48 per cent increase in adult rape cases being prosecuted in the last calendar year.

But we know much more needs to be done, which is why we are recruiting around 1,000 new judges and letting our courts run at full throttle by lifting the cap on the number of days they can sit for a third year.

Official figures show that to the year ending June 2023 there were 68,109 rapes reported to the police in England and Wales, but in the same period just over two per cent of cases resulted in someone being charged.

In December a report by Rape Crisis revealed that the number of adult rape cases waiting to get to court had reached a record high of 2,591.

And according to data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, at the end of September 2022 there were more than 300 Crown Court cases that remained unresolved after four years.

Andrea Simon, director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said: We are still only prosecuting a small proportion of rape reports, and survivors who do see charges brought are having to wait longer than victims of any other crime type to have their case heard in court  often waiting years in limbo and having court dates repeatedly rescheduled.

On top of this, they are often advised not to have therapy as their therapy notes may be shared with the police, lawyers and courtroom in an inappropriate attempt to discredit them.

This leaves survivors in an impossible position where they are forced to choose between pursuing justice and healing, and has a devastating impact on their lives.

She went on: It is little wonder the number of victims withdrawing from prosecutions is continually rising. The lack of political will to deal with this long-standing crisis is a national scandal which undermines the very fabric of the justice system.

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A snow leopard that reportedly killed dozens of livestock animals is to be released after being captured by Afghan authorities - OMER ABRAR/AFP via Getty Images

Afghan authorities, which captured a rare snow leopard in the countrys mountainous north-east, are preparing to release it back into the wild after it reportedly killed dozens of livestock, a conservation group said on Sunday.

Abdulrahman Kasra, the districts deputy governor, told AFP, the endangered animal was caught on Thursday night after becoming trapped in a livestock enclosure in the rural Zebak district of Badakhshan province, savaging about 30 animals.

The juvenile leopard was transported to Faizabad, the provinces capital and was being held at the governors compound, he added.

The head of the Wildlife Conservation Society office in Badakhshan said a vet had treated a minor leg injury to the leopard and that it would be released back into the wild.

Khorosh Sahel told AFP: The authorities have promised us they will release the leopard back to the Zebak district soon.

The juvenile snow leopard is being held at the home of the Zebak district governor in Faizabad - OMER ABRAR/AFP via Getty Images

The mountainous north-east of Afghanistan is one of the few habitats of the elusive leopards, dubbed the ghosts of the mountains.

They are listed as vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with numbers decreasing as a result of climate change impacts, habitat loss and poaching.

Experts warn that warmer temperatures can push tree lines higher and prompt farmers to move further up mountains to plant crops and graze livestock, encroaching on snow leopard territory.

Badakhshan suffered a similar incident last year, when 40 livestock animals were reportedly killed by a snow leopard.

The farmer whose animals were killed on Thursday said he had sought support from the government after losing his only source of income.

Ganji Baig said: The animals were the only asset I had to support my family.

Other Zebak residents told AFP they wanted authorities to follow through with the plan to release the leopard.

Mir Saeed, a local resident, told AFP: I hope the Islamic Emirate will do its utmost to protect wildlife in Badakhshan so its natural heritage will be protected and the snow leopard will not disappear from the province.

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Oregon Senate President Rob Wagner presides over the first day of the legislative session at the Oregon state Capitol, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Salem, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

SALEM, Ore. (AP)  Oregon lawmakers began a new legislative session Monday, hoping to turn a fresh page after a record-long Republican walkout last year ground the Capitol to a halt for six weeks and disqualified 10 GOP state senators from reelection.

All Republican senators were present for the opening floor session, and lawmakers from both parties have said they're unified in their focus on the top issues facing the state: homelessness, a housing shortage and surging drug overdose deaths.

Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber, a Portland Democrat, described feeling excitement and relief when the chamber gaveled into session with all members present. She said she hopes her GOP colleagues continue to show up, now that the Oregon Supreme Court has provided clarity on how Ballot Measure 113  which voters passed in 2022 in a bid to stop walkouts  will be applied.

We are working in good faith to make sure that we are addressing their needs as well as the needs of Oregonians, she said of Republican senators, adding that both parties were taking it day by day for now. "I was really pleased to see all of our colleagues on the floor today.

Lawmakers will have just 35 days to pass bills during the short session. Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek has urged lawmakers to concentrate on the state's most pressing issues.

My No. 1 focus for the legislative session is to put as much as possible into the effort to improve housing production in the state, Kotek said. That is the ultimate solution to our housing and homelessness crisis.

The sole bill introduced by Kotek this session is a sweeping $500 million housing measure that would make changes to Oregon's hallmark land-use law to facilitate the construction of homes, among other things. In place since the 1970s, the law placed growth boundaries on cities in a bid to prevent urban sprawl and preserve farmland and forests.

Koteks measure would grant cities a one-time exemption to the rule, allowing the addition of new land for housing in a so-called urban growth boundary. It would require 30% of new units in expansion areas to be affordable housing.

Not all Democratic senators supported a similar version of the bill last year. But Sen. Michael Dembrow, who co-chairs the Environmental Caucus, said the governor's team has been proactive in reaching out to hesitant lawmakers and proposing certain changes to win their backing.

I would say that we are very, very close to something that will be broadly supported," Dembrow said.

Another top priority for the governor is expanding and increasing funding for summer learning programs in a bid to help students overcome learning losses largely stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The more heated debates this session are expected to revolve around a proposed overhaul of the state's first-in-the-nation drug decriminalization law.

Facing growing public and political pressure and one of the largest national spikes in overdose deaths, Democrats have unveiled a bill that would undo a key part of the law by once again making the possession of small amounts of drugs a low-level misdemeanor. The move would enable police to confiscate drugs and crack down on public use, its authors said.

Measure 110, approved by voters in 2020, directed the states cannabis tax revenue toward drug addiction treatment while decriminalizing personal use amounts of illicit drugs. Possession of under a gram of heroin, for example, is only subject to a ticket and a maximum fine of $100.

Republicans say Democrats' proposal doesn't go far enough. They want personal use possession to be a higher-level misdemeanor and treatment to be mandatory.

House leaders from both parties have acknowledged there will be policy disagreements but said they were focused on building relationships and adopting a no surprises approach to avoid the communication breakdowns that contributed to last years GOP walkout in the Senate.

We have an agenda in front of us that we need to focus on, said House Minority Leader Jeff Helfrich, a Republican. If the system breaks down and we dont produce for Oregonians, thats a problem.

While Senate leaders have not touted their working relationships to the same extent, minority leader Tim Knopp, who led last years walkout, said he has had positive meetings with the chamber's Democratic president, Rob Wagner.

Wagner said he spent the interim period between sessions traveling across the state to visit Republican senators in their home districts and described having good and open conversations with Knopp.

Knopp is among the 10 GOP senators who have been disqualified from seeking reelection after last years lengthy walkout. Under a voter-approved constitutional amendment aimed at stopping such boycotts, lawmakers with more than 10 unexcused absences cannot run for reelection. A group of GOP senators, including Knopp, had challenged their disqualification in a lawsuit that was rejected by the Oregon Supreme Court.

The high court ruling upheld an administrative rule implemented by the secretary of state's office last year stating that lawmakers with at least 10 unexcused absences could not seek office for the immediately following term.

Taking another step to prevent walkouts, Democrats this session have introduced a joint resolution requiring a majority of lawmakers to be present for a quorum, rather than two-thirds.

Republicans' walkout strategy has been based on denying the two-thirds quorum needed for the House or Senate to conduct legislative business. If passed, the proposed constitutional amendment would be put to voters.

Kotek said she has been in contact with Republican leaders and isn't concerned about policy differences erupting as they did last session.

Lets focus on housing, lets focus on behavioral health, lets focus on summer learning, Kotek said. This isnt a fancy session. Lets stick to the basics.
The prime minister hailed a 'special opportunity' for Northern Ireland as he began a visit marking the return of power-sharing government - UNPIXS

Rishi Sunak is visiting Northern Ireland and meeting the new leaders of its power-sharing executive after Stormont reopened after an almost two-year hiatus.

On an historic day on Saturday Michelle ONeill, Sinn Feins vice-president, was sworn in as Northern Irelands first nationalist first minister, in what some believe brings the prospect of a united Ireland a step closer.

The impasse ended after the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) dropped its opposition to power sharing after months of negotiations with the UK Government.

An extra 3.3 billion was given to Northern Ireland as part of the deal, as well as new legal assurances over limiting checks on goods moving from there to and from Great Britain.

Mr Sunak is due to be welcomed at Stormont Castle on Monday by Ms ONeill and the DUPs Emma Little-Pengelly, the new deputy first minister.

Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks with a member of the crew as he visits the headquarters of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, in Lisburn - CARRIE DAVENPORT

Rishi Sunak and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris arrive at meeting with local business leaders in Lisburn on Sunday - WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Prime Minister arrived in Northern Ireland on Sunday, when meetings were scheduled with community figures such as emergency responders.

It is Mr Sunaks seventh trip to Northern Ireland since becoming prime minister back in October 2022, including one visit which saw him meet Joe Biden, the US president.

In a message of support on the reopening of Stormont, Mr Biden said: I welcome and strongly support the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly at Stormont, and I commend the political leaders of Northern Ireland for taking the necessary steps to restore these core institutions.

Over the weekend, Ms ONeill talked up similarities in priorities with Ms Little-Pengelly despite their political differences, noting areas of policy overlap in recent speeches.

Ms ONeill said: Particularly around issues like childcare, that is one of the biggest issues facing families right now, affordable childcare being an option to them.

Michelle O'Neill was sworn as First Minister at Stormont on Saturday - Liam McBurney/PA Wire

I think this is something together that this executive wants to do.

That, alongside so many other things, we know there is a big list of things to be done on all of our desks but we are ready to get down to that, and I think that is what is most important.

I am determined to do our very best. This place has been starved of public services funding for over a decade because of the Tories in London, we can do much better than that.

Meanwhile Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary, said she did not want to speculate about the possibility of one day there being a poll to create a united Ireland.

Ms Keegan said on Sky News: What is actually fantastic is to see Stormont back up and running. It has been a long time and I know lots of people have been working towards this day.

That is where things that affect Northern Ireland will be discussed. So, it is right that they are there and it is right that the ministers are now there and able to take big decisions.

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RAF Typhoon FRG4s being prepared to conduct further strikes against Houthi targets - UK MINISTRY OF DEFENCE/Reuters

Rishi Sunak is facing fresh calls to give MPs a vote on future strikes against the Houthis in Yemen after the UK joined a third wave of bombings over the weekend.

The most senior MP in both the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party issued statements on Sunday saying now was the time for the House of Commons to have a vote.

Downing Street figures argued when the first air strikes were made on Houthi targets last month that the action was limited and in self defence and therefore no vote in the Commons was needed.

But since then bombings have been carried out two more times. With the Houthis again warning that they will keep firing on Red Sea ships, the potential for more strikes remains.

There is no constitutional need for MPs to sign off on military action, but it has become a convention ever since Sir Tony Blair gained Commons approval for the Iraq invasion in 2003.

RAF weapon technician prepares a Typhoon FRG4 aircraft for strikes against Houthi targets - UK MINISTRY OF DEFENCE/Reuters

Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, said on Sunday: The Liberal Democrats support the case for limited strikes, so long as they remain limited.

However, it is absolutely vital that Parliament has an opportunity to have its say, via a debate and a vote.

It is becoming increasingly worrying that the Prime Minister seems to be doing all he can to avoid a proper debate and accountability in Parliament.

Caroline Lucas, the only Green MP, said: There is no more serious decision a Government can take than to launch military action and its therefore essential that Parliament has the opportunity to express its views  all the more so given the tinderbox which is the Middle East right now.

Ministers cant argue that seeking Parliaments views would take away the element of surprise, given that this is the third round of strikes, with potentially more to come.

Houthi fighters in the Arhab district of Sana'a in Yemen - Mohammed Hamoud/Anadolu via Getty Images

Labour is yet to call for a vote, with Sir Keir Starmer standing by Mr Sunaks earlier decisions to approve military action against the Houthis.

Asked why he had not recalled Parliament ahead of the first round of military action, Mr Sunak argued the action taken was limited and necessary.

Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, tweeted on Sunday: The UK and the US have carried out further strikes on Houthi military targets. We have issued repeated warnings to the Houthis.

Their reckless actions are putting innocent lives at risk, threatening the freedom of navigation and destabilising the region. The Houthi attacks must stop.

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Its early January, more than a mile out to sea, and were looking for a body in the water. Im on patrol with the crew of the Shoreham lifeboat, Enid Collett, a Tamar-class vessel, the RNLIs largest all-weather boat. With its battery of screens and hydraulic-cushioned seats, the cabin is closer to the cockpit of an F-16 fighter jet than any boat Ive been in, and its capable of travelling 250 nautical miles without refuelling, and hitting 25 knots.

That doesnt sound like much  but going nearly 30mph on any sort of chop is unforgettable. Three storeys above the waves, eyes streaming uncontrollably, its like being strapped to the roof of a double-decker bus as it blasts over rubble.

Right now, though, were motoring more gently. The pilot hugs the coast for a mile, before tacking back to sea, mapping out a rough grid: standard procedure on a search. I huddle deeper into my foul-weather gear. After a week of storms, its blindingly bright. Yet the wind is brutal, hatcheting the waves into spray and numbing exposed fingers. Suddenly, a shape: 200 metres off starboard, something is in the water. There, I point.

Surprised it took you so long, says coxswain Simon Williams. Hes bright yellow with a head the size of a beach ball. Hes got a point  and this casualty seems notably ungrateful for his rescue. A sodden 25kg dummy by the name of Fred  well have to change the name if we get a crew member called Fred  I watch as he is truculently manhandled aboard.

Ive been invited out with the West Sussex Shoreham crew on one of their regular Sunday training sessions. In common with the 237 other lifeboat stations around the British and Irish coasts, only the coxswain is being paid for this. The other six crew are volunteers, giving up around 20 hours a month to training, briefings and boat care. This commitment is on top of any rescues  shouts in the RNLI parlance  that they are summoned to.

The RNLI have seen increasing requests from vulnerable, 'desperate' people, says their Shoreham team - Nigel Millard

The exercise isnt just being put on for my benefit. Only two days ago, Williams and his crew spent four hours searching for a missing person. It didnt end well, he tells me. There was a delay in telling the lifeboat to launch and by the time it arrived, there wasnt much to be done.

The Shoreham boat is usually called out to recreational water users, such as stricken paddleboarders, or drunken revellers from nearby Brighton. But recently the team has seen more and more vulnerable people. Its the cost-of-living crisis. People are getting desperate, says Williams.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution turns 200 next month, the oldest organisation of its kind in the world. To many, this anniversary will be unremarkable  after all, as an island nation, the RNLIs existence seems unquestionable. Its an unimpeachably British institution.

Yet the anniversary finds the RNLI at perhaps the most difficult moment in its history. Since 2018, the charity has been inextricably associated with the small-boats crisis in the Channel. In 2022, around 46,000 people attempted the crossing. In the first half of last year (the last time for which figures were available), about 11,500 were detected  a 10 per cent fall from the same period in 2022. Nonetheless, the RNLI saved 108 lives responding to migrant call-outs in 2022  20 per cent of all those it saved.

The Prime Minister has staked his premiership on solving the small-boats crisis, making it one of his five pledges and concocting the Rwanda plan to put a stop to the illegal people smugglers. By responding to distress calls, some argue the RNLI aids the traffickers.

Others suggest the frequent call-outs are placing an unsustainable strain on the small communities, such as Dungeness in Kent, which most often respond to them. In 2021, Nigel Farage claimed the charity had become a taxi service for illegal immigration.

In comparison to other European countries, the UKs refugee intake is small. According to the UN Refugee Agency, for example, Germany took in 2.5 million refugees last year; in the same time period, 93,300 people claimed asylum in the UK.

A volunteer member of the RNLI crew in Shoreham - Alex Ingram

Still, there is something indisputably emotive about the Channel crossings. As I was writing this article, after a few weeks without an attempt, five migrants were killed off the French coast. Around 70 had tried to launch a dinghy near Boulogne in the middle of the night. It capsized. Some drowned. Others perished of hypothermia after attempting to stay afloat in the 7C water.

The RNLI was the eccentric dream of an eccentric man. Its founder, Sir William Hillary, was brought up in a Quaker family in Liverpool but left the city in his 20s to see the world. An adventurer, he became equerry to the son of King George III and sailed around Sicily in an open boat.

He also conceived a scheme to raise a private army in Essex  one of his many outlandish wheezes. Having come into a fortune, he squandered it and fled to the Isle of Man to escape his debtors. But part of him never lost that Quaker core to his being, says Hayley Whiting, the RNLIs archivist. He wanted to help others.

Living on the Isle of Man, one clear way Hillary saw of doing that was through a nationalised lifeboat service. At the time, shipping lanes were the busy heartbeat of the economy and lifeboat services were patchy and private. In a pamphlet published in 1823, Hillary called for a large body of men in constant readiness to risk their own lives for the preservation of those whom they have never known or seen, merely because they are fellow creatures in extreme peril.

Almost immediately, his idea caught the imagination of the great and good. After all, this was the era of grand plans, buoyed by early imperial self-confidence and philanthropic paternalism. Among the documents in the RNLIs archive are the notes from the charitys inaugural meeting  then called the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck. Held at the City of London Tavern on 4 March 1824, among the signatories were the Prime Minister Robert Jenkinson, the campaigner William Wilberforce  and, for good measure, King George IV became patron.

The RNLI is unique, says Whiting. Weve been here since 1824. Weve weathered two world wars and a pandemic. The idea has been passed down through generations of our crews  whatever the call, theyll go. Theyre here to save people at sea, no matter who they are.

The RNLI is an independent charity  yet it is also the UKs primary at-sea rescue service. Shouts are directed by the Coastguard and, as many in the organisation told me, lifeboats cannot choose which they respond to. Often crews wont know the nature of the distress call until they are kitted up and at sea. To some, this universality is precisely the issue.

Lots of people in the south-east feel the RNLI is being used and abused by the Government, says David Wimble, a councillor for Romney Marsh in Kent. Wimble spent 30 years with the RNLI, yet grew increasingly disillusioned with its professionalisation and its part in the small-boats crisis. The people of Romney Marsh support their lifeboat crews, but they are getting very fatigued that they are being used as a pick-up service to help take people to Dover. And the crews are getting fed up with it.

Once the Coastguard puts in a call, the lifeboat cant refuse, says former coxswain Patrick Richardson, who joined the Dungeness lifeboat in 1959, retiring in 97 after 38 years of service. It puts the crew in an impossible position.

Still, he argues, its only those members of the public who dont know how the service works who complain about the RNLIs work. Locals are OK with it, but [others] dont know how frightening it can be to be in a small boat in the Channel.

I tried several times to speak to the current crew of the Dungeness lifeboat. Each time, the RNLIs comms teams declined the requests. They told me that, in the charitys 200th year, they preferred to focus on other aspects of its work. Wimble says this approach is unhelpful.

The crews have been told to direct all enquiries to the press office, he reports. Theyre not allowed to talk about it. [They should] tell people the truth  dont stonewall them. The UK will always help people in crisis, but unless we shut our borders, nothing is going to change.

The Shoreham crew are completely made up of volunteers and train on Sundays - Alex Ingram

Late last year, I visited Mark Dowie, the chief executive of the RNLI, at its sprawling headquarters on Poole Harbour. Residential training centre, boat-building yard and archive centre, the campus is an impressive reminder of how far the RNLI has come from William Hillarys original vision. Its now a 230 million a year outfit, with nearly 2,000 permanent employees and close to 10,000 volunteers. When I asked him about the migrant boats, Dowie rejected the idea that the RNLI wasnt engaging with the crisis.

Im very emotionally connected to this  because its the RNLIs purpose, says Dowie, who steps down this June after five years in charge. The day the RNLI starts judging who it is picking up is the day we lose our reason for being. He points out that, while the topic dominates headlines, it makes up only three per cent of the shouts the RNLI attends.

I ask whether it has changed public attitudes to the RNLI. Right-thinking people feel very positively about the humanitarian work the RNLI is doing, he says. Dowie spent time in the Royal Navy before a career in business, and he still speaks with the sturdy robustness of a naval officer.

To give an example, he went on, I got a letter recently from a lady who said she was very proud that the first people from the UK these migrants met were the crews of the RNLI. Of course, I cant ignore those who feel differently. But Im absolutely convinced its the right thing to do.

Since its foundation, the RNLI has relied on volunteer crews and donations to stay afloat. In fact, the only time it has taken any government funding was between 1854 and 1868 when the organisation looked in danger of running out of cash. Maintaining this financial independence is key, argues Dowie. Were an apolitical organisation. Im not paid to have opinions [about a political solution]. Im here to ensure this country has a first class search and rescue service.

In 2022, the RNLIs total income was 221 million, with about 64 per cent from legacy donations in wills. (The rest was made up of ad hoc donations and commercial trade, including in its 171 shops.) Dowie points out that this figure has remained consistent throughout the small-boats crisis  in 2019, for instance, wills made up 66 per cent of its income. Still, the charity cant afford complacency.

The first lifeboat Saturday in Manchester, organised by Charles and Marion Macara

On average, it costs 3,000 to train and equip a crew member over the course of a year. Meanwhile, launching and maintaining an all-weather boat of the kind I sailed in costs tens of thousands. (The RNLI said it was impossible to give an exact figure for how much each shout costs.) If donations ceased tomorrow, the charity would have operational reserves for seven months. It is, Dowie admits, a very tight collar.

Among the joys of the RNLIs archive is a sumptuously illustrated newsletter commemorating one of the first Lifeboat Saturdays. These were the brainchild of a Manchester philanthropist, Sir Charles Macara, who transformed the fortunes of the RNLI in 1891.

A few years earlier, the crews at Lytham St Annes and Southport had been summoned when a German boat, the Mexico, capsized in heavy seas and thick fog. Due to a miscommunication, the lifeboats werent informed that they were no longer needed and both sunk, killing 27 crew  the worst loss of life in the charitys history.

To raise money for their children and widows, Macara organised for the salvaged lifeboats to be dragged through the streets of Manchester, before launching them on a nearby lake. It was an extraordinary thing to do, says Whiting. This was an inland, industrial city. A lot of people would have never seen the sea before, let alone a lifeboat.

Macaras showmanship paid off: the first Lifeboat Saturday raised more than half a million pounds in todays money. And since then, from collection tins to Blue Peter appeals  which bought 28 lifeboats in the programmes history  donations have provided the bulk of the RNLIs funding.

Until recently, the RNLIs volunteers were largely drawn from the fishing communities it served. And they paid the heavy price for what was arduous, dangerous work. Near the entrance to the RNLIs Poole headquarters, theres a sinuous sculpture paying tribute to the more than 600 volunteers killed at sea since its foundation. Among the most recent names are the eight-man crew of the lifeboat Solomon Browne.

In December 1981, it launched from Penlee Harbour in Cornwall to come to the aid of the coaster Union Star. In hurricane-force waves and mountainous seas, a coastguard helicopter saw the lifeboat battle to come alongside the stricken ship. But after watching four crew escape from the Union Stars deck, the helicopter had to turn around to refuel and lost radio contact. By the time it returned, the lifeboat had vanished. Its the last time an entire lifeboat crew has been lost in action. Janet Madron, whose husband Stephen was killed, was chosen to represent the RNLI at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

These days, only 10 per cent of the more than 5,700 volunteer crew have a maritime background and, thanks to improved training, navigation and equipment, the risk is greatly reduced. The worry now is the effect of repeated exposure to traumatic experiences on crews, especially those responding to the shouts involving migrant boats. Weve seen incredible distress in the Channel, notes Dowie.

In response, crews have had to employ new equipment and techniques, such as a floating platform which allows them to bring mass casualties in the water swiftly aboard. With small boats, whats surprising is that more [migrants] dont drown, observes Richardson, the ex-coxswain at Dungeness. Some of these vessels are only lashed together, they fall to pieces. They get a puncture and the whole lot goes down, then everyone is in the water in the busiest shipping lane in the world.

Painting of Colonel Sir William Hillary, Bt. Founder of the RNLI. Oil on canvas, half length portrait. Artist unknown. - Nathan Williams/Image courtesy of the RNLI

For the last few years, the RNLI has run a counselling service for its crews. In 2019, 130 crew took it up; last year, it was 171. Yet most people I spoke to in the RNLI agreed that it was the other crew members, the RNLI family, who provided the most support in times of need. You see some shocking things, says Simon Tuggy Tugwell, the assistant coxswain at Shoreham, who has served for 41 years. Sometimes that can play tricks on your mind. But you always do your best. We can all be out searching with the best kit, everything we need. But you cant Save everyone, I finish. Yes, he nods.

Since its foundation, the RNLI has saved an estimated 150,000 lives. During the Second World War, it pulled more than 3,400 troops from the beaches of Dunkirk as well as numerous airmen shot down over the Channel. Since 2001, it has run a lifeguard service across 242 beaches in the UK; in 2022, they saved 117 lives. It also teaches water safety courses in developing countries, such as Bangladesh, where drowning is one of the common causes of child mortality.

Yet despite this constant evolution, Dowie believes its essence remains true to Hillarys original mission. It saves lives at sea  whoever they may be. The time, dedication, passion and courage that all our crews give is a very human thing, he says. Were a very good example of the generosity of spirit which exists in these islands and were going to be needed for a long, long time to come.

For the Shoreham crew, though, such concerns about the RNLIs legacy are far away. Like the 200 years of volunteers before them, out on the water, their world is simple. Its the sea, the crew  and the call. As one puts it: My pager goes off and Im at the boathouse. Then Im on a boat, and away we go.

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Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales at Portsmouth in Hampshire is being readied to take the place of HMS Queen Elizabeth in NATO exercise Steadfast Defender

The departure of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to lead the largest Nato exercise since the Cold War has been cancelled at the last minute after an issue with a propeller shaft was spotted during final checks.

The setback comes 18 months after sister ship HMS Prince of Wales broke down off the Isle of Wight after a similar malfunction with a coupling on the starboard propeller which meant she could not take part in exercises with the US Navy and a delay of nine months to operational service.

The newest of Britains two 3 billion aircraft carriers will now be readied to take the place of the fleet flagship on the Nato exercises, which are planned to involve more than 40 vessels.

Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Andrew Burns said: Routine pre-sailing checks yesterday identified an issue with a coupling on HMS Queen Elizabeths starboard propeller shaft. As such, the ship will not sail on Sunday.

HMS Prince of Wales will take her place on Nato duties and will set sail for Exercise Steadfast Defender as soon as possible.

HMS Prince of Wales broke down as she was heading to a diplomatic mission to carry out exercises with the US Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and the US Marine Corps.

The carrier came to a halt off the Isle of Wight and was brought under tow back into harbour for the problem to be identified.

Inspections by divers and engineers found the ships 33-ton starboard propeller had malfunctioned, with the coupling holding it in place breaking.

Separate issues

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the issue on HMS Queen Elizabeth was separate and not linked to the earlier defect on its sister ship.

The spokesman said: The issue identified is with the ships shaft couplings. The ships propeller shafts are too big to be made from a single piece of metal, so each shaft is made from three sections, which are connected using shaft couplings, which bind the shaft sections together.

HMS Queen Elizabeth had been set to lead a carrier strike group of eight ships  four of them British, including frigate HMS Somerset and two Tide-class tankers from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary  supported by US, Spanish and Danish vessels.

On board would have been F-35B Lightning stealth fighters from 617 Dambusters Squadron, based at RAF Marham, Norfolk, submarine hunting and airborne early warning Merlin Mk2 helicopters from RNAS Culdrose, and battlefield Wildcat helicopters of 847 Naval Air Squadron from RNAS Yeovilton.

HMS Prince of Wales will now take over the lead of the Nato exercise Steadfast Defender, which will take place off Norways Arctic coast in March.

Announcing the carriers sailing, Commodore James Blackmore, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group, said: Steadfast Defender demonstrates the unity of the alliance, our commitment to it - and that the UK continues to play a leading role in Nato.

The exercise allows us to train with our neighbours in a truly challenging environment, especially at this time of year  but that is why we have to operate up there; the weather cannot put us off.

Before heading to the Arctic, the Carrier Strike Group was due to take part in the annual Joint Warrior exercise off northern Scotland before joining Exercise Nordic Response  the maritime part of Steadfast Defender.

Having HMS Queen Elizabeth out of action could affect the ability of the Royal Navy to deploy an aircraft carrier to the Red Sea amid the continuing threat by Iran-backed Houthi rebels which James Heappey, the armed forces minister has suggested was being considered.

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Russian forces are having increasing problems with military equipment, a veteran of the Russo-Ukrainian war, and former company commander of the Aidar battalion, Yevhen Dykyi, said in an interview with Radio NV on Feb. 1.

Dykyi noted that the Russian military, whose losses are many times higher than the Ukrainian, are running out of soldiers more slowly than of hardware.

Read also: Whole graveyard of Russian military equipment in war-torn region north of Avdiivka

"In all the areas where they are on the offensive (and they are now on the offensive in Slobozhanshchyna, in Maryinka, in Avdiivka, north of Vuhledar, trying to attack Krynky), armored vehicles are burning in astronomical quantities," said the former company commander of the Aidar battalion.

The main thing here is not just that it is burning a lot, but that it is burning much more than their defense can put on the front in a timely manner.

He cited the example of tanks, critical components for which have not been produced in Russia for 30 years.

Read also: Russia suffers major equipment losses as Ukrainian forces strike Zoopark radar and Repelent-1 electronic warfare stations

"Unlike drones, which can be completely assembled from civilian components, this does not work with a tank," said Dykyi.

You can't replace bearings in a tank with those taken from a Lada. As a result, their entire defense industry, Uralmashvagonzavod, etc., produces 20 new vehicles a month, and demothballs about 50 more vehicles from storage warehouses.

T-54 and T-55 tanks are also being demothballed from Russian warehouses, according to the former company commander of the Aidar battalion.

"Let me remind you that in the Soviet tank industry, this double-digit index is the year of adoption," he stated.

That is, the 80s disco has already burned down, the tanks from the '80s have all burned down. Now tanks from the 60s are actively burning, and tanks from the 50s are coming to replace them.

Dykyi, citing data from Oryx and other OSINT analysts, said that while 70 Russian tanks arrive at the front per month, "our defenders burn 100 to 150 tanks per month, on average 120 tanks."

"Their artillery is even worse," said the veteran.

Read also: Russian forces intensify attacks amidst freezing conditions, suffer sharp increase in losses  UK intelligence

They themselves have posted literally the screams of [Russian Defense Minister Sergei] Shoigu at one of their defense plants. He accuses the plant's management of disrupting the production of self-propelled artillery systems, that they were given the task of producing self-propelled artillery systems at a normal pace in 2022, and they are producing as much as they did before the war. What they produced before the war was about 10 new self-propelled artillery systems a year.

In addition to the fact that the Ukrainian military destroyed a lot of Russian artillery, its barrels are also wearing out and exploding.

"They started exploding even more often when Korean shells arrived," said Dykyi.

You don't know whose role is more important: the worn-out barrels or the beautiful Korean shells. It's more likely the latter.

The veteran added that he had seen army tractors "with light bulletproof armor, and a gun turret welded on top of it, cut from a ship."

"The last time this was done was during the siege of Leningrad," said the former Aidar battalion company commander on the appearance of this equipment at the front.

Read also: UK sends UN experts photos of alleged North Korean missile and shell shipments to Russia

In late January, CIA Director William Burns reported that Russia had lost at least 315,000 soldiers killed or wounded and two-thirds of its pre-war tank stockpile since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Forbes reported on Jan. 10 that during Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, the aggressor state lost at least 2,619 tanks  at least 90% of the total number of tanks in their inventory.



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Russian forces shelled Sumy Oblast 76 times in 16 separate attacks throughout the day, firing at five communities along the border on Feb. 3, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported.

The Russian military fired on the communities of Yunakivka, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, and Esman. Throughout the day, Russia assailed the border communities with mortar, artillery, drone, and grenade launcher attacks.

The town of Kransnopillia, with a pre-war population of about 7,700 residents, experienced the most intense attacks with 31 explosions recorded in the area. The community is located just 11 kilometers west of the Ukraine-Russia border.

Shelling is a daily occurrence for the communities near Ukraine's northeastern border with Russia. Residents in the region's vulnerable border settlements experience multiple attacks per day.

Earlier in the day, a section of road near the Russian border in Sumy Oblast was closed to civilian traffic. The closure is in response to an attack on Jan. 27, staged by a Russian reconnaissance and sabotage group, that killed two civilians.

The regional authorities said that road sections that are located within five kilometers of the Russian border have been blocked to prevent further civilian casualties.

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

Read also: Russian sabotage group kills brother, sister in Sumy Oblast

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FILE PHOTO: Roscosmos cosmonaut Kononenko reacts in the bus just before the departure to the launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome

FILE PHOTO: Roscosmos cosmonaut Kononenko reacts in the bus just before the departure to the launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome

By Guy Faulconbridge and Lidia Kelly

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko on Sunday set a world record for total time spent in space, surpassing his compatriot Gennady Padalka who logged more than 878 days in orbit, Russia's space corporation said.

At 0830 GMT Kononenko broke the record, Roscosmos said. Kononenko is expected to reach a total of 1,000 days in space on June 5 and by late September he will have clocked 1,110 days.

"I fly into space to do my favourite thing, not to set records," Kononenko told TASS in an interview from the International Space Station (ISS) where he is orbiting about 263 miles (423 km) from the earth.

"I am proud of all my achievements, but I am more proud that the record for the total duration of human stay in space is still held by a Russian cosmonaut."

The 59-year-old took the top spot from Padalka, who accumulated a total of 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes and 48 seconds, Roscosmos said.

The Soviet Union spooked the West in the early years of the space race by being first to launch a satellite to orbit the Earth - Sputnik 1, in 1957 - and then Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to travel into space in 1961.

But after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia's space programme grappled with massive funding shortages and corruption.

Officials under President Vladimir Putin have repeatedly vowed to turn around the decline of Russia's space programmes, though serious problems still remain, according to officials and space analysts.

LIFE IN SPACE

Kononenko said that he worked out regularly to counter the physical effects of "insidious" weightlessness, but that it was on returning to earth that the realisation came of how much life he had missed out on.

"I do not feel deprived or isolated," he said.

"It is only upon returning home that the realisation comes that for hundreds of days in my absence the children have been growing up without a papa. No one will return this time to me."

He said cosmonauts could now use video calls and messaging to keep in touch with relatives but getting ready for each new space flight became more difficult due to technological advances.

"The profession of a cosmonaut is becoming more complicated. The systems and experiments are becoming more complicated. I repeat, the preparation has not become easier," he said.

Kononenko dreamed of going to space as a child and enrolled in an engineering institute, before undergoing cosmonaut training. His first space flight was in 2008.

His current trip to the ISS launched last year on a Soyuz MS-24.

The ISS is one of the few international projects on which the United States and Russia still cooperate closely. In December, Roscosmos said that a cross-flight programme with NASA to the ISS had been extended until 2025.

Relations in other areas between the two countries have broken down since Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago, to which Washington responded by sending arms to Kyiv and imposing successive rounds of sanctions on Moscow.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow, Lidia Kelly in Melbourne and Filipp Lebedev in Tbilisi; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
FILE - From left: CSA astronaut David Saint Jacques, Russian cosmonaut leg Kononenko and U.S. astronaut Anne McClain pose for a photo before their final preflight practical examination in a mock-up of a Soyuz space craft at Russian Space Training Center in Star City, outside Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. The Russian space agency says one of its cosmonauts has broken the world record for the most time spent in space. Oleg Kononenko, who's 59 has made five journeys to the International Space Station, dating back to 2008. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)

Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko has broken the world record for the most cumulative time spent in space, Russias space agency Roscosmos reported Sunday.

The 59-year-old has now spent more than 878 days and 12 hours in space, surpassing fellow Russian Gennady Padalka, who set the previous record of 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds in 2015.

Kononenko has made five journeys to the International Space Station, dating back to 2008.

Speaking with Russian state news agency TASS, the engineer said that each trip to the ISS required careful preparation due to the stations constant upgrades  but that life as a cosmonaut was a childhood dream come true.

I fly into space to do what I love, not to set records. Ive dreamt of and aspired to become a cosmonaut since I was a child. That interest  the opportunity to fly into space, to live and work in orbit  motivates me to continue flying, he told TASS.

Kononenkos current trip to the ISS began on Sept. 15, 2023, when he launched alongside NASA astronaut Loral OHara and Roscosmos compatriot Nikolai Chub. By the end of this expedition, the cosmonaut is expected to become the first person to accumulate 1,000 days in space.

The International Space Station is one of the few areas in which the United States and Russia still cooperate closely following Moscows invasion of Ukraine in Feb. 2022. Roscosmos announced in December that its cross-flight program with NASA transporting astronauts to the ISS had been extended until 2025.
Russians want to return to the "traditional way of life"

Russia's State Duma is considering a return to the Soviet practice of so-called "work troops," in which city dwellers were forced to work in rural areas, The Moscow Times reported on Feb. 2.

In this way, Moscow is trying to compensate for labor shortages caused by widespread drunkenness among farmers, while reminding various "intellectuals" that it can do whatever it wants with them.

Read also: Utility crisis hits half of Russia, with hundreds of thousands left without heat, light, gas, or water

The proposed bill on "agritourism" is being drafted under the dictatorial regime of Vladimir Putin to encourage Russians to experience the traditional rural way of life and therapy without offering any material gain.

According to the bill, "this type of tourism means visiting rural areas and small towns with a population of up to 30,000 people for the purpose of recreation, involvement in the traditional way of life and customs of the peoples of the Russian Federation. It also includes trips to 'get acquainted with the activities' of farmers or 'participate in agricultural work'".

More and more Russians have recently been "coming to the countryside to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, to get acquainted with the process of food production and to participate in the traditional way of life, such as milking cows," which has already led to a 5% increase in milk consumption, Deputy Agriculture Minister Maxim Uvaidov said.

Although the Russian authorities are currently hiding behind the "development of domestic tourism," it is possible that in the future forced agricultural labor will become another method of punishing "dissenters," just like Soviet-style punitive medicine, to which Russian security forces have already returned.

Read also: Russian occupation brings humanitarian crisis  problems with water supply, heating, and medicines

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Belbek airfield after the attack of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

The Russians are trying to find safe launch sites after losing at least three planes in a missile attack on the Belbek airbase in occupied Crimea, Southern Defense Forces spokesperson Natalia Humeniuk said on national television on Feb. 4.

"They are not approaching the areas where they learned an unfortunate lesson, but we continue to work on reducing the number of enemy aircraft, and this is confirmed by the effective work at the Belbek airbase, where there are again three fewer [aircraft]".

Read also: Explosions rock Crimea for second day, proximity to Yevpatoriya raises concerns

Despite these setbacks, the enemy still maintains air superiority. But the Ukrainian Armed Forces are trying to "equalize the situation as much as possible".

"In particular, [the Russians] are afraid to use aviation in the same places that they allowed themselves before, which will be critical for them," she said, noting that the Russians "complain about the powerful work of the (Ukrainian) armed forces" in successfully destroying their drones.

The enemy is "increasing the use of FPV drones, but it has no result, because we find ways to counteract".

Strike on Crimea on Jan. 31: What is known

An air raid alert was declared in temporarily occupied Crimea on Jan. 31 as explosions were heard. The occupiers claimed the explosions were from air defense systems.

Read also: Five rockets found their way home: Russia seems to confirm successful attack on occupied Crimea

Russias Defense Ministry claimed, without evidence, to have destroyed 17 Ukrainian missiles over the Black Sea, and three more over occupied Crimea. Missile fragments allegedly fell on the territory of a military unit near Lyubymivka in Crimea.

Russian public media reported that ten Russians were killed in the airfield attack, including Lieutenant General Alexander Tatarenko. However, the Ukrainian Armed Forces did not confirm this information.

Read also: Ukraines bold strike: Belbek Airfield in Crimea hit as Kyiv sends unmistakable message to Moscow

Crimeas Belbek Airfield was hit in the evening, with Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk sharing a video of smoke and a powerful explosion. He expressed gratitude to those involved in clearing Crimea from Russian presence.

Simultaneously, the Crimean Wind monitoring channel verified that the Ukrainian Armed Forces targeted the Belbek airfield and disclosed the impact point on the Russian airfield.

Belbek military airfields communication post in temporarily occupied Sevastopol was attacked, Russian Telegram channel ASTRA reported on Feb. 1.

Russian military facilities in the temporarily occupied Crimea were hit by five missiles that day, Humeniuk said.



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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Editor's Note: This story originally published in 2019.

It can be downright fun to strip down your inhibitions for the camera. And with Valentines Day just around the bedpost, its as great a time as any to strike a pose for some sexy boudoir photos.

That goes for all shapes, sizes and sensibilities. Too shy? Lose that fear and prepare to be empowered. Think youre not pretty enough? Your partner already adores you and knows youre the hottest thing on earth.

Were not kidding, either. Remember that viral story about a San Antonio husband who, after his wife gave him boudoir photos of herself, wrote a letter to the photographer bemoaning that her stretch marks and other bodily indicators of their life together has been Photoshopped out? Plenty of other ladies and gentlemen seconded that emotion with supportive comments of their own.

So see yourself in a whole new light, preferably one that accentuates those curves and come-hither eyes. Here are some tips for taking your own sexy photos at home, and what to look for when seeking a professional boudoir photographer.

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Boudoir photos arent just for women. Oscar McAnally /Vanity Boudoir Photography

Tips for doing it yourself

Think about lighting. Every photographer extols the virtues of proper lighting. Mary Talamantez of Miss Mary Boudoir Studio is no different. For indoor photos, she recommends positioning yourself near a window, which will provide natural and flattering light for an intimate yet illuminated image.

The direction of your light source matters, too. Angela Michelle, founder of Raven Red Photography in San Antonio, noted backlighting will silhouette the shape of your body as well as your nose, neck and eyelashes when you turn your face to the side. Front lighting can diminish skin texture to help hide imperfections, she said. And side-lighting best highlights those curves or muscles.

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Minimal, uncluttered backgrounds are a must for boudoir photos. Angela Michelle /Raven Red Photography

Have a clean photo backdrop. Stick with plain white bedsheets and other distraction-free minimalism in your photo setting.

You dont want anything embarrassing appearing in the background or anything messy, Talamantez said.

Strike the right pose for your body. Michelle advises you give yourself a thorough look in the mirror to see how your body changes shape with different poses. For pose ideas, scroll through Pinterest for models that match your body type and look through the online galleries of professional boudoir photographers.

Poses for boudoir photos make look natural but often feel awkward and uncomfortable for models. Angela Michelle /Raven Red Photography

Expect poses to feel uncomfortable. Professional models make every languid pose look natural, but the truth is they often must arch their backs and elongate their limbs to point of discomfort. That will go for you, too, especially if youre a woman pointing your toes to make your legs look longer or a guy flexing those muscles.

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(Youre) going to be in some uncomfortable positions, and it may feel awkward, said Michelle, who advises stretching before your photo shoot. But it will look amazing in the photos.

Oscar McAnally of Vanity Boudoir Photography said the facial expression is the most important feature of a photo. Oscar McAnally /Vanity Boudoir Photography

Give good face. Your facial expression is the most important part of any boudoir photo, according to Vanity Boudoir Photography owner Oscar McAnally. Yes, even more important than the body itself.

McAnally said to relax your mouth to show the natural curvature of your lips. (A closed mouth is unnatural, he said.) Stretch your chin toward the camera to accentuate your jawline, and keep your shoulders back to perk up your face.

Focus on other body parts. Sexy photos arent just head-to-toe affairs. Michelle said detail photos such as the curve of the neck or just feet in heels can look just as beautiful for women, while guys may want to spotlight their back and shoulder muscles and glutes.

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For boudoir photos, bodysuits make a sexy alternative to typical lingerie. Oscar McAnally /Vanity Boudoir Photography

Dont limit yourself to lingerie. Not the naughty nightie type? Michelle encourages alternatives to lingerie. Rock a favorite band T-shirt and panties, she said, or try a leather jacket with no bra and high-waist underwear. A bodysuit or just a sweater also work wonders without showing too much skin.

Or just make a strategically positioned bedsheet or blanket your costume.

It doesnt have to just be (underwear), Michelle said. If thats not your thing then dont force it.

Use a tripod with a remote. Skip the awkward, extended-arm selfies. Michelle recommends an inexpensive cellphone tripod with a remote, which you can set up to shoot with the push of an inconspicuous button. Amazon has plenty such tripods, with some that include extra lenses for even more creative shots.

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Involve your partner. If youre shooting these pics for your significant other, why not include them in the process?

Its a chance for your partner to not just tell you but to show you the beauty they see in you, said Michelle, who stresses to focus on that connection and enjoy exploring each other with the camera.

That connection can be sensual as well as silly. While shooting photos, say what you love about your partners body or just make each other laugh.

Sexy photos don't have to just feature lingerie. A simple sweater goes a long way. Mary Talamantez /Miss Mary Boudoir Studio Even when seated, boudoir photos will require arched backs and extended toes. Angela Michelle /Raven Red Photography In boudoir photos, posing near a window provides natural and flattering light. Angela Michelle /Raven Red Photography

Tips for hiring a professional

Seek a real professional. Baring so much body and soul to any photographer can be unnerving to say the least. Thats why you want a boudoir photographer who specializes in the field, not some wannabe giving Valentines season a try between weddings and quinceaneras.

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All boudoir photographers interviewed for this story are part of the Association of International Boudoir Photographers, which has strict standards and ethics for its members. Such guidelines include having boudoir-specific websites that feature at least three models or clients in a gallery and images that reflect consistent lighting and creative storytelling with no overdone post-processing.

You can search the organizations member directory at aibphotog.com. You also can seek referrals from lingerie stores as well as the Sexology Institute in San Antonio.

Backlighting creates provocative silhouettes for boudoir photos. Mary Talamantez /Miss Mary Boudoir Studio

Get references. Michelle said a trustworthy boudoir photographer will provide client and model references. Ask those subjects about their experiences and any tips.

Get to know your photographer beyond email. All the boudoir photographers in this article insist on at least a phone call with a prospective client to put that person at ease. Michelle recommends an in-person consultation before the photo shoot as well.

Express yourself verbally as well as physically. Communication is key in boudoir photography. Be prepared to discuss candidly what you want and dont want in your photos so you look and feel your best.

If you have something in mind, or theres a vision that you have in mind, you want to work with your photographer to be able to build that vision together, Talamantez said.

Boudoir photography is all about celebrating your sexiness and sensuality. Angela Michelle /Raven Red Photography

Expect to spend a lot of time on a shoot. In addition to the photo shoot itself, factor in extra time you may need for hair and makeup as well as wardrobe changes. McAnally dedicates a whole day to a client so shell look and feel relaxed for her photo shoot, and takes fully clothed beauty shots of his subjects first to help them get in the mood for those more revealing photos later.

Expect to spend a lot of money, too. Boudoir photography is considered luxury photography, McAnally said, and runs more than your typical photo sittings. Michelle said the average cost for boudoir photos in the San Antonio market starts at around $1,000 to cover the photo shoot with several prints or other finished art. Hair and makeup often will run another $200.

Book now. Planning in advance is so important, said Talamantez, who recommends booking a boudoir photographer as soon as possible for those Valentines Day pics to account for availability and turnaround time.

Trust your gut. Safety always is important, Talamantez said. Even after you vet a photographers clients and credentials, youre always within your rights to cancel a shoot if you dont feel comfortable. You should never feel pressured or coerced into doing anything you dont want to do.

If youre a woman being photographed by a man, McAnally said its perfectly fine to have a girlfriend present, though he noted his wife is his assistant and always attends shoots.

Red Raven Photography owner Angela Michelle said boudoir photography empowers its subjects. Angela Michelle /Raven Red Photography

Prepare to feel awesome. Talamantez has seen abuse victims leave a photo shoot feeling invincible, while McAnally has had preachers practically bless him for making their wives feel so beautiful. Boudoir photos can be a life-changing experience, McAnally said.

The real gift, Michelle said, is how you are going to see yourself.
(Bloomberg) -- A top Senate negotiator laid out key details of bipartisan border legislation ahead of its expected release on Sunday, outlining new asylum rules she said would slash the release of migrants into the US.

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Senator Kyrsten Sinema, an independent from Arizona, said the proposals give tools to this administration and future administrations to actually gain control of the border with Mexico, where a surge of migrants has increased challenges for officials and turned into a divisive election-year topic.

Those who approach the border seeking asylum protection will either be held in custody and face an immediate review of their asylum claims, or be released under close government supervision for a decision on their case within three months, Sinema said on CBSs Face the Nation.

Those who dont meet asylum standards will be swiftly returned to their home country, she said.

The proposed change is designed to address immigration-court backlogs that border hawks have long blamed for drawing people to the US. Under the existing legal system, migrants who claim asylum at the border are allowed into the US and funneled into immigration court proceedings that can drag out for years or even longer than a decade.

The Border Patrol released more than 1.8 million migrants into the US from fiscal 2021 to 2023, a sharp increase over less than a quarter-million the previous three years, according to federal data. The migrant releases have stoked ire  and political recriminations  in US border states and northern cities alike, as communities struggle to provide services for the new arrivals.

Sinema also addressed misinformation around an element of the border deal that would give the president sweeping new authority to turn away asylum-seekers and other migrants whenever the border is deemed overwhelmed. Even before the emergency authority kicks in, any migrants approaching the border would be subject to the fast-tracked asylum review or deportation process.

Sinema and other negotiators  Oklahoma Republican James Lankford and Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy  have spent weeks defending the key elements of the deal as House Speaker Mike Johnson and former President Donald Trump throw cold water on it.

Johnson, speaking on Meet the Press on NBC, reiterated concerns that the Senate compromise, which he hasnt yet read, isnt strong enough. Sinema said shes confident everyone has an opportunity to be persuaded.

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President Macky Sall of Senegal on Saturday suspended elections that were due to be held on Feb. 25, hours before political parties were set to commence official campaigns.

A meeting of opposition leaders in Senegal was scheduled for 3pm local time Sunday to decide on a joint response, according to people familiar with their plans. Yassine Fall, vice president of external relations for Pastef, one of the opposition parties, described Salls cancellation of the election as a constitutional coup. Pastefs leader Ousmane Sonko was disqualified from running for president in the vote.

Sall did not announce a new date for the vote, saying instead that he will open national dialogue to bring together the conditions for a free, transparent and inclusive election. He cited troubled conditions that could undermine the credibility of the ballot by sowing the seeds of pre- and post-electoral disputes.

Those conditions are thought to be in relation to the decision by the Constitutional Council  a body that approves election candidates in Senegal  to exclude some members of the opposition from participating in the vote, including Karim Wade of the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS). The party had requested a postponement of the vote.

Know More

Sall is term limited after serving two terms since he was elected in 2012. He had said last July that he would not seek another re-election, and then named Amadou Ba, who has been prime minister since September 2022, as the ruling partys candidate.

Senegal has held a succession of peaceful elections over the last two decades, giving it a reputation as one of Africas most stable democracies. Its constitution empowers the president to put forward a decree calling for elections to be held. But debates are currently ongoing in the country over whether the president can cancel elections, Abdou Salam Thiam, a Dakar-based advocacy and campaign expert, told Semafor Africa.

The View From Abuja

Ecowas, the regional bloc in West Africa embattled by the recent departure of three French-speaking member states, said it was concerned by the postponement and also called for a new date to be set speedily.

The View From Washington

The U.S. State Department urged all parties to engage peacefully in the important effort to swiftly set a new date for fair elections.
California will specially designate at least $2 billion to spend on learning recovery for disadvantaged students who fell behind during the pandemic, according to a legal settlement reached last week.

The agreement  which will not require the state to raise or spend new revenues  serves as a partial validation of complaints from thousands of families around the state who said their children received inadequate assistance after state and local authorities closed schools in 2020 and 2021. But it is also an attempt to square Californias financial commitments to students with a $32 billion budget deficit facing lawmakers this year.

Going forward, school districts will receive money in proportion to their respective enrollments of high-needs populations such as low-income students, English learners and foster children. As part of the settlement, state legislators will direct schools and districts to spend the funding on interventions with previous records of success, such as in-school tutoring.

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Ben Austin, an attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Education Civil Rights Now, described the deal as necessary, but far from sufficient.

Ben Austin

This settlement is not a wholesale solution but an important step in the right direction to remedy this historic injustice for an entire generation of children, Austin wrote in an email. It includes funding and basic accountability measures tied to outcomes for kids.

In a statement provided to the Los Angeles Times, a spokesman for the California State Board of Education called the details of the agreement appropriate and said the state appreciated the collaborative approach and the insights that plaintiffs offered.

Filed in 2020, Cayla J. vs. the State of California charged state officials with bungling the transition to remote learning and subsequently failing to mitigate the learning loss that resulted. Fifteen students across Oakland and Los Angeles, along with a pair of community organizations, originally brought the case against the state superintendent, the state board and the California Department of Education.

Related

700 Days Since Lockdown: COVIDs Seismic Interruption to Education

Several plaintiffs said they received only a handful of days of live teaching after their schools were shuttered in the spring of 2020. That fall, many school days consisted of less than two hours of instruction split up in the morning and afternoon. Even in households that received district-provided laptops and tablets, access to high-speed internet was sometimes so poor that very little schooling actually took place during those months.

Among the effects was a pronounced downturn in student achievement as measured through standardized test scores. Recently released data from the Education Recovery Scorecard, a research partnership between social scientists at Harvard and Stanford, shows that even four years after the emergence of COVID-19, many California students still lag far behind grade level on assessments of math and reading skills.

Reflecting the fierce disputes over COVID-era shutdowns, and the enormity of the task ahead for educators and policymakers, responses to the settlement from education observers across the state were mixed, ranging from optimism to disappointment.

Lance Christensen

Lance Christensen, the Republican nominee for state superintendent in 2022, called it significant that the students most harmed by the academic disruptions of the last few years would receive additional resources. But the bumpy road to Zoom classrooms was damaging for students throughout the state, he said, and not just those in struggling districts like Oakland.

It ignores the fact that most of the districts theyre focusing on  like Oakland Unified, where this originated  are some of the worst districts in the state, and throwing more money at them is not going to fix the problem, added Christensen, who now serves as vice president for education policy at the right-leaning California Policy Center. So Im concerned that this will just be another payment plan for a broken system.

The funds underwriting the targeted spending will come from an existing source, the states $7.9 billion Learning Recovery Block Grants initiative. Education advocates were alarmed last spring when Newsom proposed cutting $2.5 billion from that revenue stream as a response to Californias mounting budget shortfall. Amid a patchy return from pandemic-era restrictions on economic activity and a spurt of migration from the state since COVID, tax revenues fell significantly below projections in 2023, leading to expectations that more retrenchment will be required.

Ted Lempert, a former Democratic assemblyman and president of the advocacy organization Children Now, said he was encouraged by the settlements strict mandates on how the recovery money would be spent, but argued that much more was required to fully address learning loss.

Well always take something, but were still really focused on that cut from last year being restored, he said. A lot of dollars were promised, and this settlement doesnt guarantee that those dollars will be forthcoming.

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A Billionaires Gift Expands Reach of Unapologetic Oakland Parents Group

Lakisha Young struck a similar note of caution around the states fiscal constraints, but also said she regarded the agreement as a meaningful victory. Young is the CEO of Oakland REACH, one of the community organizations that signed onto Cayla J. as a plaintiff, and a frequent critic of inequities in the provision of educational services in California.

Three years ago, our families would not have thought their voices mattered at a level to make this kind of impact  not only to impact their kids, but other folks kids across the state, Young said. Families and communities that have typically not had this type of agency, when they can get a win, its really a win for all of us.
Sheriff Billy Woods spoke to the media on Friday and showed body camera footage of a woman stealing a deputy's vehicle.

Woods said dispatchers received a call from a woman alleging another woman was trying to steal her vehicle keys.

The body camera video shows Deputy Chris Witte arriving on scene. He lowered a window and told a woman, later identified as Kendra Dalyn Boone, to go to the back of the SUV.

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods spoke to the media on Friday afternoon.

Witte got out of the cruiser, closed the door and walked to the back. As he was walking, Boone entered the SUV through the passenger's side open window and got to the back seat.

Realizing what she had done, Witte quickly went to the driver's side door and tried to unlock the vehicle. Witte was able to open the door and attempted to grab Boone, but she managed to speed away.

The crash

She drove the stolen SUV on State Road 40 East for several miles with a deputy in pursuit. She made a U-turn near the weigh station, just west of State Road 19, sheriff's officials said.

As the vehicle continued westbound, other deputies were putting out stop sticks. Boone turned the vehicle around before reaching the stop sticks and headed eastbound on SR 40.

Boone drove recklessly at speeds of more than 100 mph. The pursuing deputy lost sight of the stolen SUV on multiple occasions, authorities said.

Eventually, the stolen SUV ran off the road and onto the right shoulder while trying to pass a semitractor-trailer. When Boone re-entered the roadway, she lost control of the vehicle and it slammed into a GMC Sierra pickup truck that was in the oncoming lane.

A Marion County Sheriffs Office mobile forensic unit on Thursday.

When deputies got to the location, they found Boone and three other people unresponsive. Boone, and two people from the pickup truck, a man and woman, died at the scene, deputies said. The third person from the pickup, identified by Florida Highway Patrol troopers as a man, was taken to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital in critical condition.

Troopers said the stolen SUV caught fire.

The deceased from the pickup truck were identified as 73-year-old Earl Middleton from Waterloo, South Carolina. His brother Russell Middleton, 74, is from Silver Springs. He remains hospitalized, troopers said.

The third occupant, a 72-year-old woman, also from South Carolina, was killed in the crash. Her family has not been notified of her death, troopers said.

Woods defends deputy

"My deputy did absolutely nothing wrong," Woods said at the press conference.

The sheriff said law enforcement officials call never know what they will be facing when responding to a call for service.

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods holds Kendra Boones rap sheet during his Friday press conference.

With Boone climbing through the window, Woods said: "You saw how fast that happened."

Woods said no policy or procedure could've prevented Boone from doing what she did. He called her a "moron" at least twice during the news conference.

"The blame goes to this individual," the sheriff said.

Holding stacks and stacks of paper, Woods told the media that each page highlights Boone's criminal history. The record includes 13 felony arrests and nine misdemeanors.

Boone's criminal past

Locally, records show Boone was taken into custody on a trespassing charge in February 2020. She spent a day in the jail and was released. Months later, in July 2020, Boone was again arrested. This time it was for an Orange County warrant for violation of probation for burglary of an occupied structure. Court records show the 33-year-old woman was released in November 2020.

Her final arrest came in late October 2021, when she was accused of trespassing and fleeing and eluding police/disregard of safety to persons or property.

Sent to prison in May 2022, Boone was released in October 2023, according to a state filing. Those same records show she had other convictions for grand theft, grand theft of a motor vehicle and attempted robbery, all from Volusia County.

Woods said if Boone would have been sentenced to prison for violating probation, there wouldn't be two dead innocent people.

"Hold people accountable," Woods said.

Crash with death: Woman, 70, killed in two-vehicle crash in rural northeast Marion County

The sheriff said his heart goes out to the families of the two people who died. He said Boone "was a threat to human life" because there were firearms in the stolen vehicle and because she was driving recklessly.

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

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Sheriff: Blame rests with the woman who stole the deputy's vehicle
Hers was one among 50 emails, but the only one that shocked.

The sender: Tashay Campbell.

Hello u might not remember me u did my story and the Kansas City star 30 years ago how u doing ? And thank you so much.

Remember?

All these years later, the image of 6-year-old Tashay on the night of Feb. 4, 1994, remained unforgettable: the bottom of her face caked in blood, her jawbone and teeth pulverized.

Duck! her grandmother Diane Hudson had yelled. It was just before the second of two stray bullets, shot by gunmen in cars, pierced her home at 50th Street and The Paseo, blasting holes through the skin and muscle of Tashays cheeks while she played with her cousins and sister on the mattress of a fold-out couch. Tashays flesh hung in tatters.

At Childrens Mercy Hospitals emergency room, she was the girl who never cried. She was the quiet child who, even a year later, didnt want to speak, at least not to strangers. Now, with the 30th anniversary ahead, she was reaching out to talk.

Oh my god, Tashay Campbell! I emailed back. Are you kidding me? I never have forgotten you.

Last week, she arrived early for lunch at a Crossroads restaurant a 36-year-old woman  4-foot-9, decked out in the Nike gear she loves: pink knit hat, pink shirt, white sneakers. Her facial scars are hard to see unless she tilts her head and points them out. A dimple beneath her chin  it remains numb since the shooting. A faded scar creates a pink crescent along her right jawline.

I think that all the time: Why did that bullet have to come through my face because somebody else was angry outside? said Tashay Campbell.

When Tashay laughs, its light, a chortle, mouth closed. When she smiles, its close-lipped, a habit from years of self-consciously hiding her teeth. Her initial presence seems demure, but that is not entirely right.

Im really strong. Ive been through a lot, Tashay said, although even now, 30 years on, she wonders what it was all about.

I think that all the time: Why did it have to be me? Why did that bullet have to come through my face because somebody else was angry outside? I hate that I had to go through that at a young age.

In 1994, The Star set out to write about children and gun violence in an intimate way.

Childrens Mercy, even then, was treating ever more kids whose lives were ripped apart by bullets, not just at home, but also as collateral damage from drug wars and drive-by shootings. More than 5,800 young people in the United States, 16 children and teens a day, died by guns in 1994. Gun violence was a major public health issue then, as it still is.

In 2020 guns for the first time became the leading cause of death for children (4,368), outpacing deaths from motor vehicle crashes. That number rose in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic only made matters worse, with kids at home and closer to guns.

The Stars story, showing Tashay Campbell at Childrens Mercy Hospital, ran on the front page on Feb. 20, 1994.

No words. No tears.

At the restaurant, neither of us recognized the other, nor would we have. Those days, 30 years ago, were chaotic.

The Stars account of Tashays trauma was graphic and some of it confused.

It described how the bullet exploded into Tashays right cheek (it actually entered her left and exited the right) shattering her jaw and her baby teeth. It pulverized some of the front permanent teeth that lay beneath. Her younger sister, Tashyra, and eight cousins who were at their grandmothers home for a sleepover, screamed, Nay Nays been shot! Nay Nays been shot! using her nickname from Renee, her middle name.

It described the operating room  surgeons tweezing one rice-sized piece of bone after another from her jaw that, one doctor said, had been turned to cornflakes. Pieces plinked as they were dropped into a dish. Nerves in Tashays jaw had been blown out, the dental surgeon, Taylor Markle, said that night.

Shes not going to be just fine, he said. No way. She could have pain the rest of her life. The best scenario is that shell be numb.

Tashay doesnt remember being struck.

I couldnt feel it, she said.

A portrait of Tashay Campbell, before she was shot at age 6. This photo appeared in The Star on Feb. 20, 1994, for a story that chronicled the night she was shot.

Her mother, Chantell Mullins, who was 25 at that time, last week told of bursting into the house after the bullets flew. She and her sister-in-law had just pulled up to bring Gates Bar-B-Q to the kids. They took cover as gunshots rained from the two cars, heading east on 51st Street, two bullets crashing through a side window.

The women pushed through the front door.

Thats when my mother says, Your babys been shot!.  Yours, Chantell. And by the time she said that, she (Tashay) was walking toward me. It looked like someone had put a gun under her chin.

Through it all, Tashay was silent. No words. No tears.

Just moments before paramedics arrived, the 6-year-old went to a bathroom, her mother said, stared in a mirror, and quietly began singing the song from her favorite television show, Barney & Friends, about a purple dinosaur.

I love you, you love me 

That night was horrible, Mullins said.

Tashay was whisked into the emergency room and on to a treatment bed. Bright lights lit her wounds.

I just remember everybody coming in the hospital crying, Tashay said. And Im just looking like, Why?

Tashay Campbell, 6, being comforted at Childrens Mercy Hospital by her brother, T.T., after she was treated for a gunshot wound to the face 30 years ago.

The initial story was published on the front page, Sunday, Feb. 20. Television news crews descended three days later when Tashay was released from the hospital. Her father, Tyrone Campbell, carrying a bouquet of balloons, dressed as Barney the purple dinosaur. A white limousine spirited Tashay away. A year later, when The Star did a follow-up, Mullins insisted her daughter was doing fine.

Except, Mullins said then.

Except?

Except she never talks about the shooting, her mother said. And shes afraid to go out at night.

Time moved on.

Over the interceding years, Tashay said, she doesnt remember receiving a single minute of psychological counseling.

Although Missouri has a crime victims compensation fund, which would have helped with bills, she and her family received nothing because of what the family believes to be the assumption by police (suggested in every story) that the bullets may have been meant for Tashays dad, who had a criminal past.

That assertion never bore out.

They did her wrong, Hudson, her grandmother, said last week. She was an innocent person.

Police also never discovered who fired the bullet, but Tashays family said that the word on the street was the shooter eventually died by gunfire.

The sound frightens her still.

I hate guns, she said.

Thirty years later, Tashay Campbell, 36, displays the front page story of the night, Feb. 4, 1994, when a stray bullet hit her in the face while she played in her grandmothers house.

Im still here

Tashay is measured in assessing the years past.

Ive had a good life, she said. Ive had some bad times. Overall, its good.  Im still here.

She does not take that lightly, knowing that had she crouched a couple inches lower, the bullet could have entered her brain. Rise up an inch higher, and it might have pierced the major vessels in her neck, killing her either way.

The hardest parts of her life are mostly in the past.

In school, classmates would mock her about her height. Others pointed out the scars on her face.

Some days I would take my article, Tashay said. She got the newspaper laminated and has kept it since. She would bring it to school because the photos alone showed more than she could explain. They would say, Oh, you got shot.

When mocked at school for her scars, Tashay Campbell, now 36, would bring classmates this copy of her story published in The Star to explain where they came from.

Family brought other trials. Her mother was imprisoned from 1999 until 2006 for her role in the robbery of a Brinks truck, federal court records show. Her father, now living in Illinois, would also do a short period of time behind bars. Even more recently, in 2021, her older brother, T.T. Campbell, now 38 and living in the Kansas City area, said he finished seven years in prison on drug and other charges.

Mom went away, her brother recalled of Tashays childhood. We split up, had to live with our grandma. They would keep crying every other week about my mom. She had a hard time with other boys, he said, because of the scars on her face.

Tashay has no children, has not married and is unsure if she ever wants to. Boys arent faithful, she said, laughing. Gotta find me a good man.

A serious threat arose three years ago when high blood pressure led to a stroke, she said, that has affected her left eye.

But for all that, Tashay said, she feels generally content. Her younger sister, Tashyra, who is 34, is her best friend.

Were real tight. Were real close, Tashay said.

Theyre rarely apart. Tashay is a massive Chiefs fan, enjoys playing the slots at the casinos, has a day care job she likes and, at church, I love to see my grandma get the Holy Ghost.

The front page of The Kansas City Star, Sunday, Feb, 20, 1994, captured the night Tashay Campbell, age 6, was struck in the face by a stray bullet while she played in her grandmothers living room on the night of Feb. 4, 1994.

From the time she was shot, one of her most lasting and unexpected relationships has been with Brett Ferguson, now the chair of oral surgery at University Health, formerly Truman Medical Center.

He has seen her through at least five significant surgeries, fortunate to be fewer than anyone expected. Tashays mother said that Ferguson has been like a surrogate father.

It is one of those things, Ferguson, 70, told The Star. You always try to tell yourself that you dont have a personal relationship with patients. But she was just somebody who struck me.

After Tashay was injured, Ferguson delivered the family Christmas gifts. When Tashays mom went away to prison, Ferguson became a support. He has helped pay her rent and buy her groceries. To him, she is that child from 1994.

Shes just a sweet little girl, he said. You know, you just feel so bad for a little 6-year-old. All she was doing was watching TV at Grandmas house.

Every time I go down Paseo, I think about Tashay. Every time.

Tashay is still missing some of her permanent lower teeth. Moments still exist, she said, when she looks in the mirror and dislikes what she sees.

Some days, when I think about it, I hate how my mouth looks, she said.

But more recently she has also made a turn. What she once saw as a victims scars, she said, she sees more and more as the scars of a survivor.

Why she survived, why she has had to bear the wounds of that split second, is still something shes not sure about.

I wonder, like, I gotta be here for a reason, she said.

Sometimes that reason is as visible as a scar. Im here to tell my story.

Hello u might not remember me, Tashay Campbell, 36, recently emailed KC Star reporter Eric Adler, who responded, I never have forgotten you. Adler wrote about Campbell 30 years ago in February 1994 for a story of the toll of mounting gun violence on children.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said it arrested several people last month suspected of being involved in human trafficking. James Durbin / James Durbin

The Texas Department of Public Safety arrested several people last month suspected of being involved in human trafficking, including one man from San Antonio.

The department arrested 53 people in January for solicitation of prostitution, a state jail felony, according to a DPS media release. Five people also were arrested and charged with prostitution.

DPS arrested one man from San Antonio, 25-year-old John Nanez.

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READ MORE: Police arrest Bexar County teen in Boerne school threats case

Multiple operations were conducted by DPS in the West Texas region as part of human trafficking awareness month, DPS said. The purpose of its operations was to target people seeking to exploit and victimize human trafficking victims, and to identify and arrest people suspected of being involved in human trafficking by using different websites to solicit sexual acts, DPS said.

This was a very successful operation due to the outstanding collaboration of multiple agencies working toward combating human trafficking, said DPS West Texas Regional Director Jose Sanchez. Human trafficking is on the rise, and we need the communitys assistance in reporting human trafficking; if you see something, please say something.

In 2021, a total of 2,027 people were referred to U.S. attorneys for human trafficking offenses, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The number of people prosecuted for human trafficking more than doubled from 2011 to 2021, from 729 to 1,672, according to the Department of Justice.
This is a developing story. Check back to sanluisobispo.com for updates.

To get breaking news alerts, click here

Update, 4:20 p.m.:

The shelter-in-place order has been lifted, and access to The Pike is once again open, according to the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services.

Original story:

Residents in an Arroyo Grande neighborhood were told to shelter in place Sunday morning after high winds from an atmospheric river storm knocked down trees and power poles in the area.

The Pike was closed from South Elm to Halycon Road in Arroyo Grande as of 11:30 a.m. due to downed eucalyptus trees.

PG&E spokesperson Carina Corral told The Tribune a large eucalyptus tree fell through power lines in the area, breaking about 10 power poles. Initial dispatch calls from the area noted some of the poles had been shattered like toothpicks.

One 70-foot tree also fell over a house on the street, blocking the road and landing with its uppermost branches on the roof of the home. Shattered utility poles and lines fell on cars parked in driveways and on the street

The Pike was closed from South Elm to Halycon Road in Arroyo Grande as of 11:30 a.m. due to downed eucalyptus trees. Residents in the area were told to shelter in place as power lines were blocking homes.

The downed power poles and lines blocked homes along that stretch of road between Garflied Place and Gaynfair Terrace. The San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services issued a shelter-in-place order to residents in that area.

As of Sunday at 11:30 a.m., PG&E and Five Cities Fire Authority representatives were telling residents of the homes who came out to view the scene via loudspeaker to stay inside due to the danger from the power lines.

Corral said the downed lines caused an outage for 6,419 customers. PG&E crews were working to restore power at the scene, as quickly and as safely as possible, she said.

Five Cities Fire Authority Captain Barton Pearson evaluates trees that fell across The Pike in Arroyo Grande as an atmospheric river storm brought strong winds to San Luis Obispo County on Feb. 4, 2024.

Arroyo Grande Public Works crews were at the scene sawing the fallen trees into chunks so they could be moved to make way for power line repair workers. They were also using a tractor to clear gutters that had filled with eucalyptus bark.

San Luis Obispo County was under a high wind warning issued by the Weather Service in effect through 6 a.m. Monday. due to the strong storm that slammed into California on Saturday night.

South to southeast winds of 30 to 50 mph with gusts between 70 to 80 mph were expected, according to the Weather Service.

People should avoid being outside near large trees and powerlines, the Weather Service wrote in its high wind warning on Sunday. If possible, remain indoors and avoid windows. Use extra caution if you must drive.

Two trees fell in opposite directions across The Pike in Arroyo Grande as an atmospheric river storm brought strong winds to San Luis Obispo County on Feb. 4, 2024.

According to a post by meteorologist John Lindsey on X, the weather station at the PG&E TV Towers on the Cuesta Grade recorded continuous south winds at 48 mph, with gusts reaching 72 mph, early Sunday morning.

By mid-morning, gusts were coming in at 79 mph, he said.

PG&E TV Towers peak wind speeds have increased to 79 mph. https://t.co/8BkhLZAXDh  John Lindsey (@PGE_John) February 4, 2024
Washington  President Biden cruised to an easy victory Saturday in South Carolina's Democratic primary as the incumbent facing two long-shot candidates, winning about 96% of the vote. But for voters in the Palmetto State, which marked the beginning of the Democratic primary nominating calendar this year, turnout was exceedingly low.

South Carolina primary voter turnout for 2024

Around 131,000 South Carolinians voted in the 2024 Democratic primary, making up just around 4% of registered voters statewide. The showing marks the lowest turnout in the last few presidential primaries for Democrats, though those contests were notably more competitive.

How does 2024 South Carolina Democrat turnout compare to previous years?



Turnout for this year's Democratic primary fell well below previous contests. In 2020, 540,000 people  around 16% of voters  participated in the Democratic primary, while in 2016, 373,063  more than 12%  did the same. In 2012, former President Barack Obama ran unopposed in the primary, but in 2008, 532,151 turned out, accounting for around 23% of registered voters, according to the South Carolina Election Commission.

A person votes at a polling location in February 3, 2024, in West Columbia, South Carolina during the South Carolina Democratic Primary. / Credit: ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images

How many delegates did Biden get in South Carolina?

CBS News projects Mr. Biden will win all 55 pledged delegates at stake in the state's primary, defeating Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota and self-help author Marianne Williamson, as was expected for the current president facing party opposition only from long-shot candidates.

Still, the South Carolina primary was expected to be an indicator of the president's support among Black voters, who helped revive Biden's 2020 campaign after underwhelming performances in earlier state primaries.

Why was the South Carolina Democratic primary so early this year?



While the state has been fourth among nominating contests in previous years, occurring on the same day as the Republican primary, the Democratic National Committee moved South Carolina's primary to the top of the calendar this year, citing the Palmetto State's more racially diverse electorate that's more representative of the country more broadly. Even so, New Hampshire defied the move by holding its first-in-the-nation primary, as is tradition, last month, though Mr. Biden did not appear on the ballot.

When is the Republican South Carolina primary?

The state's GOP primary is set for Feb. 24, falling in the traditional order of state primaries. The contest has been billed as a major test for former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who served as the state's governor from 2011 to 2017, as she tries to make inroads despite former President Donald Trump's dominance in the race so far.

For the Republican primary, early voting begins on Feb. 12 and ends Feb. 22, with polls open on Feb. 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Polling places will be open from from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the day of the primary.

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South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC22) in Orlando, Florida, in February 2022. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI

Feb. 4 (UPI) -- South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem has been banned from the Pine Ridge Reservation after saying she wanted to send razor wire and security personnel to Texas to help that state's effort to deter immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border.

She also claimed cartels are infiltrating South Dakota's reservations.

"Due to the safety of the Oyate, effective immediately, you are hereby Banished from the homelands of the Oglala Sioux Tribe!" Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out said in a Friday statement addressed to Noem. "Oyate" is an Indigenous word for nation or people.

Noem made her remarks in a speech to lawmakers Wednesday during which she said a gang known as the Ghost Dancers is murdering people on the Pine Ridge Reservation and is also affiliated with border-crossing cartels that use South Dakota reservations to spread drugs throughout the Midwest.

Star Comes Out argued that Noem was trying to use the border issue to garner support from former U.S. President Donald Trump and better her chances of becoming his running mate in the presidential election.

Governor-elect Kristi Noem of South Dakota speaks during a meeting hosted by former President Donald J. Trump at the White House in Washington in 2018. File Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI

Noem responded to Star Comes Out's statement later in the week.

"As I told bipartisan Native American legislators earlier this week, 'I am not the one with a stiff arm, here. You can't build relationships if you don't spend time together,'" she said. "I stand ready to work with any of our state's Native American tribes to build such a relationship."

Many of the Indigenous people arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border are from El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico who come "in search of jobs and a better life," Stars Come Out said.

"They don't need to be put in cages, separated from their children like during the Trump Administration, or be cut up by razor wire furnished by, of all places, South Dakota," he said.

Star Comes Out took deep offense at the governor's statement saying the Ghost Dance is one of the Oglala Sioux's "most sacred ceremonies." He said Noem's state "was used with blatant disrespect and is insulting to our Oyate."

He added that the tribe is a sovereign nation and does not belong to the state of South Dakota.

My focus continues to be on working together to solve those problems," Noen responded Sunday.

Star Comes Out declared a state of emergency on the reservation in November 2023 responding to increasing crime on the reservation.

A judge ruled last year that the federal government must support law enforcement on the reservation, but did not rule on the funding to pay for it, which the tribe had requested.

Noem has deployed National Guard troops to the Mexican border three times. Other Republican governors have done the same. She accepted a $1 million donation from a GOP donor in 2021 to help pay for a two-month deployment of 48 National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico line.
South Dakotas Trump-supporting governor, Kristi Noem, has been banned from a tribal reservation after she offered to deliver razor wire to Texas to fortify the Mexican border.

Her remarks on Fox News outraged the president of a local Sioux tribe.

Due to the safety of the Oyate [meaning people or nation], effective immediately, you are hereby banished from the homelands of the Oglala Sioux Tribe! the president, Frank Star Comes Out, said in a statement.

He accused Ms Noem, 52, who has been touted as a potential running mate, of trying to boost her chances of getting on the Trump presidential ticket in November.

Sioux tribe president Frank Star Comes Out - KALLE BENALLIE/INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY

Her offer of supplying razor wire follows a Supreme Court ruling last month that federal agents had the right to remove barbed wire installed on the border by Texas, as its governor Greg Abbott battles with the federal government over immigration.

The tribal chief said that those arriving at the border were often indigenous people from countries such as El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico, who were migrating north in search of a better life.

They dont need to be put in cages, separated from their children like during the Trump administration, or be cut up by razor wire furnished by, of all places, South Dakota, he said.

He was also incensed by Ms Noems claim that a gang called the Ghost Dancers, which she said was affiliated with Mexican drug cartels and had managed to recruit tribal members, was murdering people on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Donald Trump with Kristi Noem - SUSAN WALSH/AP

Mr Star Comes Out said he took deep offence at the claim, not least because Ghost Dance is the name of one of the tribes most sacred ceremonies.

The nine tribal reservations in South Dakota, which have a population of 71,000 people, enjoy considerable autonomy, granted under the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty.

Tribal courts have authority over native and non-native Americans on the reservations and have the power to ban people from the territory.

Ms Noem defended her stance.

She said: It is unfortunate that President [Star] Comes Out chose to bring politics into a discussion regarding the effects of our federal governments failure to enforce federal laws at the southern border and on tribal lands. My focus continues to be on working together to solve those problems.

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Signs are going up across Fort Smith encouraging people to give to local nonprofits that support homeless people  while also urging motorists and passersby to keep their change in their pockets and not give it to the unhoused at intersections.

The campaign is to discourage panhandling, not ban it, the city said.

Change Helps. These are the words on 25 signs being posted at intersections across Fort Smith, said city spokesman Josh Buchfink.

Please do not give spare change to panhandlers, reads the sign.

A sign discouraging panhandling while encouraging donations to local nonprofit homeless shelters went up Monday, Jan. 29, at the intersection of Greenwood and Rogers avenues in Fort Smith. There will be 24 signs placed as part of the city's Change Helps campaign.

The first sign went up Monday, Jan. 29, at the intersection of Rogers and Greenwood avenues, where panhandlers have been a frequent sight in recent years near a Walgreens store. The second sign went up at Rogers and Interstate 540, further from downtown, where panhandlers are found. Two more signs about panhandling will soon be up downtown along 5th Street at the intersections of 5th and B Street and 5th and A Street near the Garrison Pointe convenience store, another area where panhandling is frequent.

These signs of the times, explained Buchfink, were an idea that came from homeless shelter advocates and others across the city, including businesses downtown.

We are trying to put the signs at locations where weve noticed panhandling the most. It is citywide. We spoke to several people and nonprofits to get an idea what to post on the signs, Buchfink said.

Change Helps is also the theme of a video the city plans to release soon, he added.

People are encouraged to give their spare change to the Riverview Hope Campus, Community Rescue Mission, Next Step Homeless Services or the Salvation Army in Fort Smith, Buchfink said.

How donations help the nonprofits

At the Riverview Hope Campus, 301 S E Street, director Chris Joannides has been busy with a Point-in-Time homeless count that was conducted by local teams Jan. 25. The numbers have not been totaled but all indications are that it will be higher than the 439 counted in a day last year.

As for panhandling, it is a common practice of those who are unhoused, but Joannides also discourages it.

It is the exact reason we were created here. We serve three meals a day. I would tell people who panhandle to please utilize the services that are available. You cant go hungry in Fort Smith, Joannides said.

Back in 2018, the Fort Smith Board of Directors prohibited panhandling, but challenges from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Arkansas Municipal League led to it being legalized again.

A woman in the past year has frequently panhandled at the intersection of Rogers and Garrison holding a sign asking for help because she was homeless. She told the Southwest Times Record why she panhandled.

Its not easy, but I manage to do it. Its not something I like doing but its something I have to do to get by, said the woman, who did not want to give her name.

The Change Helps campaign will urge a different use for coins than to be dropped into a bucket or left in the hands of those standing outside convenience stores or drugstores.

Buchfink said there is a bigger picture.

We are collaborating with others so we can help people out of homelessness, Buchfink said.

It is about more than food and shelter. It is about helping people with addictions, with healthcare. It is about more than just giving money. We are trying to raise awareness of these organizations in Fort Smith that also need volunteers, Buchfink said.

The signs encourage people with spare change to text Fort to 91999 to donate.

100% of your donation goes to local nonprofits that serve the homeless, the sign reads.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: New Fort Smith signs ask donors to support nonprofits, not panhandlers
The historic Gift Chapel, located on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, has been closed to the public since December 2022 due to severe mold growth and crumbling infrastructure. The chapel was unveiled in a 1909 dedication ceremony in front of President William Howard Taft and a crowd of 25,000 people. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Brig. Gen. Russell Driggers, commander of Joint Base San Antonio, talks about the extensive repair that Gift Chapel needs while standing inside the building at Fort Sam Houston on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Plastic is wrapped over the organ to prevent water damage from a hole in the ceiling inside Gift Chapel at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The organ was installed in 1969 and consists of 33 ranks of pipes and is custom made for the historic chapel. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Ornate ceiling tiles have cracked and fallen to the ground inside Gift Chapel, located at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. The historic chapel closed to the public in December 2022 due to severe mold growth and crumbling infrastructure. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Paint is peeling off the walls due to water damage inside of Gift Chapel at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The historic chapel closed to the public in December 2022 due to severe mold growth and crumbling infrastructure. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The historic Gift Chapel, located on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, has been closed to the public since December 2022 due to severe mold growth and crumbling infrastructure. The chapel was unveiled in a 1909 dedication ceremony in front of President William Howard Taft and a crowd of 25,000 people. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The historic Gift Chapel, located on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, has been closed to the public since December 2022 due to severe mold growth and crumbling infrastructure. The chapel was unveiled in a 1909 dedication ceremony in front of President William Howard Taft and a crowd of 25,000 people. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Water damage can be seen on the ceilings and walls of Gift Chapel, located at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. The historic chapel closed to the public in December 2022 due to severe mold growth and crumbling infrastructure. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Gift Chapel, a historic building on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, is in need of significant repairs. It closed in December 2022 due to severe mold growth and crumbling infrastructure. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The historic Gift Chapel, located on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, has been closed to the public since Dec. 2022 due to severe mold growth and crumbling infrastructure. The chapel was unveiled in a 1909 dedication ceremony in front of President William Howard Taft and a crowd of 25,000 people. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News A hazard notice and a water-logged hymnal book are seen on a pew bench inside Gift Chapel at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The historic chapel closed to the public in December 2022 due to severe mold growth and crumbling infrastructure. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Multiple commercial dehumidifiers are running inside of Gift Chapel at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The historic building closed to the public in Dec. 2022 due to severe water damage and mold issues. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The historic Gift Chapel, located on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, has been closed to the public since Dec. 2022 due to severe mold growth and crumbling infrastructure. The chapel was unveiled in a 1909 dedication ceremony in front of President William Howard Taft and a crowd of 25,000 people. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Paint is peeling off the walls due to water damage inside of Gift Chapel at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The historic chapel closed to the public in December 2022 due to severe mold growth and crumbling infrastructure. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Plastic is wrapped over the organ to prevent water damage from a hole in the ceiling inside Gift Chapel at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The organ was installed in 1969 and consists of 33 ranks of pipes and is custom made for the historic chapel. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The historic Gift Chapel, located on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, has been closed to the public since Dec. 2022 due to severe mold growth and crumbling infrastructure. The chapel was unveiled in a 1909 dedication ceremony in front of President William Howard Taft and a crowd of 25,000 people. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

As grand openings go, the one for Fort Sam Houston's Main Post Chapel was grander than most.

A crowd of 25,000 turned out for the Oct. 17, 1909, dedication ceremony, the star of which was President William Howard Taft.

The copper-domed chapel, built in the ornate Beaux-Arts architectural style, was Fort Sam's first permanent house of worship for servicemen and their families. It became known as the Gift Chapel because it was constructed on land donated by the city of San Antonio, with money raised by community leaders and military personnel.

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Taft marveled, in his stilted way, at the close collaboration between the local community and the Army.

"It has not always been so at every post, but that you should love the Army and that the Army should love you under the conditions is a noteworthy fact in which I rejoice," the 27th president told the crowd. "This is a beautiful post."

The chapel is still standing 115 years later, but it's in sad shape. The building is mold-infested and has been declared unfit for human use. Air Force officials shuttered it in December 2022.

Early cost estimates for the chapel's restoration range from $20 million to $30 million  but the final tab could be significantly higher. The military hasn't yet done a top-to-bottom review of the structure to determine the full scope of needed repairs.

The catch is that there's little or no money available for such a project in the foreseeable future.

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The Gift Chapel is one part of a larger problem at Fort Sam, which opened in 1876. The post has 1,153 buildings, including the chapel, on the National Register of Historic Places, and some of them are in serious disrepair and vacant.

Six are slated for renovation, and 19 others will face the wrecking ball. Among the ones to be razed, the oldest was built in the 1890s.

The restoration of historic properties isn't all that high on the military's priority list.

Joint Base San Antonio, which includes Fort Sam Houston and Lackland and Randolph Air Force bases, is under the command of Air Force Brig. Gen. Russell Driggers. Funding for construction at the installations, including restoration projects, comes largely out of the Air Force's budget.

And the Air Force's overall spending priorities include building up major bases in the Pacific, where an increasingly belligerent China is America's chief adversary.

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Still, five renovation projects on buildings registered as historic are currently in the works at JBSA installations, costing between $10 million and $15 million each. One of them is the Dwight D. Eisenhower Barracks near Fort Sam's New Braunfels Avenue gate, where the famous general  and 34th president  lived as a lieutenant. It will become office space for U.S. Army North.

Still, it's anyone's guess when the Gift Chapel will have its turn. With a lot of luck, the work could be complete in five years. However, that appears unlikely.

JBSA competes with other bases for money for its planned construction and renovation projects, but the local command also can tap funding from "mission partners," including the Army and Navy. In the case of the Gift Chapel, however, the funding most likely would come out of Air Force repair and renovation dollars appropriated by Congress.

That pot of money is different from military funding for construction of such facilities as new child development centers.

"The Air Force and each of the services provide guidance on the prioritization of how we spend the precious dollars that we have for infrastructure, whether it's for military construction or renovation and restoration," Driggers said. "And so we abide by those priorities and compete against other bases  the needs that we have versus the needs those others have."

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A major priority in San Antonio is troop dormitories, some of which have suffered from the same age-related problems plaguing the Gift Chapel. They'll have top funding priority.

Driggers said he won't know where the Gift Chapel will fall on the priority list until engineers determine this year just how bad the old structure has gotten.

The possum incident

In 1997, Fort Sam was home to more than 900 vacant historic buildings, including the old Brooke Army Medical Center. The Army had no intention of spending military construction dollars to upgrade even the best known of the structures, including the Depression-era BAMC, used toward the end of the 20th century as a training site for the Army's Delta Force, and the nearby Beach Pavilions and Long Barracks.

Some San Antonio civic leaders worried that with so many decrepit structures on its tranquil grounds just northeast of downtown, Fort Sam would wind up on the next base closure list. The post's chief spokesman at the time, Phil Reidinger, echoing the concerns of post commanders and generals who loved the historic nature of Fort Sam, often talked about that possibility.

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It wasn't just that many of its buildings were 100 years old or more; some of them weren't well suited to their present-day uses. Hundreds of the buildings were also dilapidated, a problem underscored one day in a dining hall where a possum fell through the ceiling, landing on a combat medic trainees lunch tray.

We werent even serving possum that day, a lieutenant colonel reportedly told the chief of staff of then-U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas.

Before the Base Realignment and Closure Commission convened in 2005, Army Lt. Gen. James Peake, a BAMC commander who later headed the Veterans Affairs Department, worked with local leaders on a plan to use private-sector developers and contractors to renovate old Fort Sam buildings and lease them back to the Army. That move helped convince the Army to relocate U.S. Army South from Puerto Rico to Fort Sam in 2003.

Peake told the San Antonio Express-News that one building, the 129-year-old Stilwell House, was renovated with private funding. But he also noted that the Army isn't allowed to solicit money from the public, making projects such as the Stilwell House renovation difficult to pull off. The military effectively has to wait for a benefactor to come along.

Their function is war-fighting and keeping the nation safe. Their primary mission is not to be a museum. Although history is really important, and the museums become a part of our heritage, its not the primary mission," said Peake, 79, of Austin. "And in a time of a really constrained fiscal environment, there are trade-offs that have to be made.

Stately gathering place

The Gift Chapel grew old gracefully, at least by outward appearances. A little more than a year ago, it was still used for worship services, funerals and other ceremonies and events.

Retired Maj. Gen. Russell Czerw often went to church there during his time as commander of the Army Medical Department Center and School and Fort Sam Houston, from 2006 to 2010.

"I think what it was for me was community-oriented, so that I was able to go into Mass and be around those that served together, and a number of retirees used to come there as well," said Czerw, 62, of San Antonio. "So it was a very community-oriented Mass."

The Gift Chapel also played a part in one of Fort Sam's darkest chapters. It was the venue in 1917-18 for the largest murder trial in American history. In all, 110 Black soldiers were convicted of mutiny and other crimes tied to the 1917 Houston Riot, which claimed 18 lives. Nineteen of the soldiers were hanged at Fort Sam. In November, the Army granted clemency to the 110 soldiers.

Fixing the old chapel will require patience.

Before work begins, an architect and engineer will conduct a study of the facility this year and issue their findings.

"Once we know exactly what we could do and get the money for it, then it's anywhere from a nine- to 12-month process to finish the design, go out and do acquisitions and hire a company to start the work," said Jeffrey McNeeley, deputy director of the 502nd Civil Engineer Group at JBSA. "A project this size I could see being easily two, two and a half, three years  with the emphasis on when we get the money."

The work would be done in phases.

"There's a process we're going through, and if there are ways to break up a project, then you could speed up certain aspects of it. But obviously we want to make sure that whenever this thing gets opened back up it's going to last another 100 years," said Driggers, the JBSA commander. "We're going to do it right."

Mold was found where dozens of flags are anchored inside the chapel, forcing the command to close the building and move worship services elsewhere. Tin pipes that funneled rainwater deteriorated over the years, causing leaks that damaged the structure. Dehumidifiers dot the building, running night and day.

Engineers also discovered water damage and black mold in the chapel and the basement, site of the Houston Riot trials 106 years ago. Black mold popped up at dormitories and other structures across the three major installations and Camp Bullis training range that make up JBSA.

The engineers' first priority will be to examine the Gift Chapel's exterior to see if the foundation has shifted or the roof is leaking. It's critical to ensure that moisture isn't getting into the building.

Once that's done, interior renovation work, ranging from possibly replacing the heating and air-conditioning system to installing or upgrading modern electrical wiring, can begin.

"And then we get back to the beautification, and that would be getting after the paint and the other cleaning aspects, both internal and external," Driggers said.

On the plus side, the Gift Chapel's distinctive copper dome was replaced just 2 years ago.

The Gift Chapel was designed by San Antonio architect Leo Dielmann, whose father, John, supervised the construction work. The Beaux-Arts architectural style Dielmann chose had its origins in Paris in the 1830s. It was a favored style for civic buildings and memorials in the early 1900s.

The chapel's buff tone facade, central Roman copper dome and neo-classic design are hallmarks of Beaux-Arts.

Planning to build the chapel began with a fundraising drive in 1907 led by a chaplain at Fort Sam, Thomas Dickson. Donations came from more than 1,000 San Antonio residents and military families.

Dickson raised $50,000 for construction.

Driggers said the Gift Chapel remains a big deal.
This is the first of several articles in a Be a More Informed Voter series by Sandy Parker of Sparker's Soapbox that will appear in the coming months.

Sparker's Soapbox

As the election season gets underway, an understanding of Floridas primary election process is crucial if you want your vote to make a difference. Thats because the laws governing primary elections in Florida are different from those in other states, and some rules even vary by political party.

Sandy Parker

Here is some information to help you be a more informed voter in the upcoming primaries.

Partisan vs. nonpartisan elections

Partisan elections involve political parties. In partisan primary elections, voters choose the parties candidates to face off in the general election. The candidate who receives the most votes wins. An example is the presidential preference primary (PPP).

The Florida Republican Party will hold its PPP on March 19 to choose its nominee for president. The Florida Democratic Party will not have a PPP because its State Executive Committee submitted only one candidate, Joe Biden, to appear on its PPP ballot. Under Florida law, that candidate is deemed the winner.

Nonpartisan elections do not consider political parties. The candidate who gets 50% of the votes + 1 is declared the winner. If no candidate gets the majority of the votes, the top two vote-getters face off in the general election. Examples of nonpartisan elections are elections for school boards and judges.

Florida is a closed primary state

Florida is one of just eight states in the country with a closed primary system. The others are Delaware, Kentucky, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.

How you are registered in a closed primary state determines which party's primary elections you may vote in.

Specifically, in Florida, only those registered with a party may vote in its partisan primary. For example, only registered Republicans may vote in the Republican Party primary, and only registered Democrats may vote in the Democratic Party primary.

Independent or unaffiliated voters are, by definition, excluded from participating in either partys nomination contest. This is intended to prevent "cross-over" voting.

The deadline to register with a party to vote in its primary is 29 days before election day.

Universal primary exception and write-in loophole

A 1998 amendment to the Florida Constitution provides an exception to Floridas closed primary rule. It says that all voters, regardless of the party they are registered with, may vote in any party's primary election if the winner of that primary will face no opposition in the general election.

Upon passage of the amendment, the political parties sought an opinion on whether write-in candidates constituted valid opposition. The state said yes, and the courts upheld that view.

In practice, the write-in loophole provides a way to circumvent an otherwise universal primary.

Conclusion

Understanding the distinction between partisan and nonpartisan elections, the intricacies of closed primaries, and the need to register with a political party in a timely manner to participate in its closed primary is vital for informed voting.

Awareness of exceptions like universal primaries and the write-in loophole is also important.

In 2024, most Florida elections will be for partisan offices, with partisan primaries often deciding the winner in one-party-dominated areas like Collier County.

If you want to vote in any of this years partisan primary elections, the deadline to register or change your party affiliation with the Supervisor of Elections is February 20th for the PPP and July 22nd for all other primaries including Congress, state Legislature, county commission, and more.

Sandy Parker is the founder and publisher of Sparker's Soapbox, whose mission is to encourage and facilitate informed voting in Collier County and throughout Florida. Learn more at sparkers-soapbox.com

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Sparker's Soapbox: Floridas primary election process explained
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Sunday revealed that he has not been offered a briefing on the bipartisan Senate border talks taking place but said that some negotiators said they would send [him] something  thats palatable.

Asked on NBCs Meet the Press if he was offered a briefing on the hard-fought compromise being negotiated in the upper chamber, Johnson said, Well, when they began to do the negotiation, I suggested immediately after taking the gavel, I suggested to the Senate leadership that the House should be involved.

We should be in the room. I wanted to send the chairmen of our committees of jurisdiction to be a part of that negotiation. And they said, No, no. Let the Senate take care of it. Well send you something  thats palatable. What were hearing right now is not, he added.

Asked again if he was offered a briefing, Johnson said, No. I have not been. No, Ive had individuals senators call and give me tips and offered things that are going on in the room, Johnson said. But weve not been a part of that negotiation.

Johnson said he has been absolutely clear from the moment he took the Speakers gavel last October that he prefers functional equivalence of H.R. 2  a sweeping bill passed by the GOP-controlled House last year that would significantly restrict the asylum process and establish a new surveillance system to curb regional migration and crack down on the existing undocumented population.

H.R. 2 is widely opposed by congressional Democrats, prompting Senate negotiators to attempt to hammer out a different border security bill that would appease Republicans and unlock aid for Ukraine.

Negotiations have lasted weeks in the Senate as lawmakers are now racing against the clock as the upper chamber prepares for a two-week recess from Feb. 12 to 23.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in a separate interview on Sunday poured cold water on the idea that the Senate could vote on a border deal before the recess and offered a message for those trying to pass H.R. 2 in the Senate: Its not gonna happen. So if it doesnt happen, you go to do something else.

Johnson on Sunday pointed to his trip to the U.S. southern border in January, where he and more than 60 Republicans visited Eagle Pass, Texas, where he called on the Biden administration to take more action to curb the migration influx.

We heard from the people in charge, the border patrol agents, the people there. And they said, These are the things that you must do to stem the flow. And the reason we have the biggest immigration catastrophe, border catastrophe in U.S. history is because President Biden took these actions,' Johnson recounted.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
This story originally published in The Star on Feb. 20, 1994.

There was hardly enough time to scream.

In less than a second, just before 9 p.m. on a recent Friday, Diana Hudsons living room was transformed into a scene of bloodshed and pandemonium.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Duck! Hudson yelled to her nine grandchildren as a 9 mm bullet - fired from a passing red Chevette and powerful enough to shatter bricks - pierced the walls of her home at 51st Street and the Paseo.

Wood splintered from the window frame. The bullet sailed into the room, tore through a lampshade and sped just over the heads of her grandchildren, who were there to spend the night - kids 2 to 12, most under age 9. Some in their pajamas, watching television, playing on the floor.

Everyone get down! Hudson screamed.

She tried reaching for 6-year-old Tashay Campbell, who was kneeling on the mattress of a fold-out couch. A second slug smashed through a window and rocketed with destructive force into her granddaughters face.

When I went to hold her head up, thats when I saw my hand was full of blood, Hudson said.

Weve all heard the statistics before:

Fifteen children a day in the United States are killed by gunfire.

Seven times that number are injured daily.

With more guns on the streets, in schools and in homes, thousands of innocent children - infants, toddlers, adolescents - are being caught in the crossfire nationwide. Scores of children in the Kansas City area are shot down each year.

Americans have heard the numbers so often that to many they have become just that, innocuous statistics - nameless, faceless, distant enough to ignore.

That is why Feb. 4, when Tashay Renee Campbell was rushed to Childrens Mercy Hospital, The Kansas City Star was there to recount what happened after the trigger was pulled - what happened in the home, the emergency room, the operating room and days later.

Like the first night after the shooting when Tashay, having a nightmare, bolted upright in her hospital bed calling for her older brother, Tyrone, by his nickname - T.T.! T.T.! - as she cried and felt her face.

Or the first time, bandaged and swollen, Tashay saw her reflection in a hospital mirror and said, Mama, Im ugly, to which her mother replied, God doesnt make ugly little girls.

Or that Tashay, for at least 15 years as she grows, perhaps the rest of her life, will bear the scars and physical discomfort of a brief, violent act.

People should know it is nothing like the movies, said Jane Knapp, the hospitals emergency room director. Bullets wreak havoc.

Yet, in many ways, physicians say, Tashay is fortunate.

Fortunate, because had the bullet traveled a few inches higher, had she ducked a minute angle lower, the slug surely would have burst through her skull and ripped her brain.

A fraction of an inch lower and it might have pierced the major blood vessels in her neck, killing her instantly.

When Tashay lifted her head, still conscious, blood poured from her mouth and wounds - two burnt-edged punctures looking as if hot irons had been jammed through her face.

The first wound, a quarter-sized hole beneath her right jaw line, is where the bullet entered. The second hole, about the size of a half dollar, is where the hot bullet exploded from below her left cheek and kept moving with enough speed to bore holes in the sofa cushions just inches from where Hudson was sitting.

At the sight of Tashays wounds, the other children in the house became frantic, screaming and crying: Nanas been shot! Nanas been shot!. They were calling Tashay by her nickname, short for Renee, her middle name.

Hudsons adult son bounded down the stairs and picked up the little girl in his arms. Somebody ran for towels. Hudson pressed the buttons on her wall-mounted security alarm for the police and paramedics.

Chantell Mullins, Tashays 25-year-old mother, ran in the house. She had just returned from Gates & Sons Bar-B-Q with other relatives, picking up dinner for Tashay and her 4-year-old sister, Tashyra. She arrived just in time to see her mothers home being hit by gunfire.

Exactly what happened is still unclear. Family members said the Chevette, which was traveling east on 51st Street, was swapping gunfire with a black van that was in pursuit. A gunman was firing out of the drivers side window. Bullets that hit Hudsons house were strays, the family believes.

But police said witnesses thought the house seemed to be the target.

Theres more to the story thans being told, said homicide Detective Jay Thompson of the Kansas City Police Department. Somebody knows. But I have nothing to go on. Theres a million red cars out there and a million minivans.

No matter the target, Tashay was the victim. On seeing her daughter, Mullins turned away, burying her face in her hands and bursting into tears.

I couldnt look at her. I didnt want to see her, Mullins said. I was so afraid - afraid her daughter was dying.

But Tashay was oddly serene.

Why is Mommy crying? she asked her grandmother as blood dripped from her lips. Perhaps she was in shock. Or perhaps the bullet, in obliterating her mouth, destroyed the nerves in her jaw, making her numb to pain.

There were people everywhere. People and babies and everyone was screaming. It was hard to tell what was going on, said Officer James Kneuppel, among the first to arrive. One of the calmest people in there was the little girl.

Just minutes after 9 p.m., shortly after the shooting, Tashay was wheeled into the emergency room.

The trauma team  technicians, nurses, doctors  took X-rays, hooked up intravenous lines, checked Tashays eyes, blood pressure, breathing.

The good news was that no major vessels were hit. X-rays showed Tashay hadnt breathed any fractured teeth or bones into her lungs. She would certainly live and wasnt in any immediate danger.

The bad news:

It looks like it blew her anterior mandible apart, the whole front of her lower jawbone, baby teeth, permanent teeth, everything, said pediatric surgeon Steve Bickler.

The nerves in that entire area have been blown out, said dental surgeon J. Darrell Steele. Tashays bottom lip had no feeling and likely never would.

In essence, the doctors said, much of her lower jaw had been literally pulverized, her teeth and jawbone shattered like glass into hundreds of tiny rice-sized pieces. Like corn flakes, one doctor said. Her jaw was being held together by tissue.

Shes probably going to lose most of her lower jaw, Steele said.

At 10:12 p.m., Tashay - still conscious, exhausted, her face caked with dry blood - was wheeled on a hospital bed to the intensive care unit to rest, stabilize and prepare for surgery.

Doctors werent sure how much of her jaw they could save. But they would operate this night.

Tashays family and friends, meantime, had arrived at the hospital.

Tyrone Campbell, Tashays father, had been at a music concert with his son, 8-year-old T.T. - the eldest of his and Mullins three children together - when he received the message that his daughter had been shot.

He drove to the hospital and was led, with Mullins, into the intensive care unit, where his daughter was asleep and had been lying for at least an hour.

She doesnt seem to be in any pain, a nurse told him.

Campbell nodded. His eyes watered as he stood staring at his daughter. Mullins sat beside Tashay and took her hand. She closed her eyes, brought her daughters hand to her cheek and softly prayed.

As Tashay slept, her mother cried.

At 12:52 a.m. the operation began.

Three surgeons, two nurses and two anesthesiologists would work on Tashay for more than three hours. Dental surgeon L. Taylor Markle was called in to lead the team.

Minutes into the operation, he knew.

Its worse than we thought. I can guarantee that, he said.

Tashays upper jaw was fine. The teeth were intact. But the right side of her lower jaw, where the bullet had burst through her face, was almost powder. The left side wasnt nearly as bad.

Hour after hour, one rice-sized and pearl-sized piece at a time, doctors Markle, Steele and Ed Laga picked and plied pieces of fragmented teeth and bone out of what was once Tashays lower jaw. Each fragment clinked as it was dropped in a plastic cup. It became a familiar sound.

The hope, Markle said, was to try to save as much bone as possible that was still attached to blood-rich and nutrient-rich tissue. Any bone that remained intact and connected, even though shattered, would have the potential to heal.

There would be no way to save the baby teeth or permanent teeth on the right side. But as the jawbone healed, perhaps in three, four, five months, Tashay later could be fitted with a partial denture.

Well save these teeth for now just to hold the fracture together, said Markle, suturing torn gum tissue inside Tashays mouth near a few front teeth.

But they would eventually die, he said, and need to be removed in a later procedure, which would hardly be Tashays last.

Just because of her growth, this will present a constant battle for her, probably for 15 years, Markle said. Shes not going to be just fine. No way. She could have pain the rest of her life. The best scenario is that shell be numb.

Using acrylic material, Markle and Laga made a mouthpiece, a splint, to be wired into Tashays mouth to help her jaw heal.

At 2:24 a.m. they began closing her wounds, cutting away burnt tissue, suturing deep in the holes.

Its not perfect, Laga said, but...

But she had a bullet go through there, Markle said.

I think it looks wonderful, a nurse said.

By 3:28 a.m., more than six hours after the shooting, the operation was over. Tashays wounds were bandaged. She was slowly removed from the anesthesia and wheeled to intensive care.

Markle walked slowly to the waiting room where Tashays mother, grandmother and other relatives - tired, their coats wrapped around them as blankets - stayed throughout the night.

Shes going to be OK, Markle told them.

Mullins, her eyes glazed with exhaustion, listened and nodded. The doctor explained the destruction of Tashays jaw, about the corn flakes and loss of permanent teeth. Mullins cringed at the explanation.

When Markle left, Mullins, who would stay the rest of the night, remained seated and silent.

Im just happy my baby didnt die, she said moments later.

Time: 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15.

Its 11 days later. Tashay, in colorful leggings and slippers, is smiling and at play, running around the halls of the hospital, where shes been since the shooting.

Her bandages are off. Already the scars on her jaw are wispy pink lines.

The feeding tube came out of her nose the day before. Shes in no pain and already is eating grilled cheese sandwiches, french fries and fish sticks.

Therapists are helping her exercise her lips, giving her games to play such as puckering and blowing bubbles.

Mullins is just relieved her daughter is alive.

Really, she seems the same, Mullins said as Tashay came running into her hospital room, handing her mother a crown shed made of colored paper. She smiles all the time.

But nothing about being the victim of a gunshot wound is ever neat and clean, including the emotions.

Ask Mullins, and she will say that everything is fine these days and list how well Tashay is dealing with the injury:

Tashay had one initial nightmare, but no more.

She was miserable right after the shooting, of course. That was the nasal tube. And she lost some weight, so the doctors kept her in the hospital longer than they expected.

The main thing is what Tashay calls her slobber. She has a white cotton towel knotted around her neck as a makeshift bib. With the acrylic splint in her mouth, saliva pools behind her lip before it spills out in strands. But shes getting better at dabbing it.

On Friday she would have one more surgery to replace the splint with a smaller one and remove a loose tooth. Shes scheduled to go home this week.

All of which is great. But, Mullins is asked, what of the shooting? Does Tashay talk about it?

She realizes that shes been shot and stuff, Mullins said.

Shy in front of strangers, Tashay looks to her mother when asked about her wounds and the night she was struck.

She doesnt like to talk about it, Mullins said. But its not like they were shooting to get anyone in the house.

And the other children?

They dont ever mention it, Mullins said.

And herself?

Im angry, she said, but I cant do anything about it. Its just sad shes got to go through this because of the ignorance of what someone else did.

Mullins has been at the hospital day and night with Tashay since the shooting, sleeping in a reclining chair next to her daughters bed. Her other kids are at her mothers.

Im going to stay with her as long as it takes, she said.

So, she says, everything is fine, you see, except, well, there is one thing Tashay will say about being shot:

She asks me almost every day if someones going to get the man who shot her, and I tell her, said Mullins, turning to her daughter.

Nana, who is its going to get him?

Tashay looked up at her mother, dabbed her lip and answered quietly.

God, Tashay said.

Thats right, Mullins said. God.
(FOX40) A man is in an unknown condition after he was shot by Stockton Police during a domestic dispute with his wife.

At around 9 a.m. on Saturday, the Stockton Police Department responded to the 1500 block of East Eleventh Street for a report of a disturbance that involved a man armed with a knife. The reporting party told officers that their parents were in an argument and that dad was going to stab mom.

Large Stockton sideshow ends with several arrests, police say

Upon arrival, officers said they located the man and shot him. Additional details of the incident were not revealed.

Officials said the man was transported to a local hospital in an unknown condition. The woman was also taken to the hospital to be treated for stab wounds. Her condition is unknown. No officers were injured during the incident.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
FILE - Brian Steven Smith sits in a courtroom while waiting for his arraignment to start in Anchorage, Alaska, Oct. 16, 2019. The double murder trial of Smith, a South Africa native accused of killing two Alaska Native women will begin this week, more than four years after a woman provided police with a digital memory card that authorities said contained images and video of one of the killings. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)  A woman with a lengthy criminal history including theft, assault and prostitution got into a truck with a man who had picked her up for a date near downtown Anchorage. When he left her alone in the vehicle, she stole a digital memory card from the center console.

Now, more than four years later, what she found on that card is key to a double murder trial set to begin this week: gruesome photos and videos of a woman being beaten and strangled at a Marriott hotel, her attacker speaking in a strong accent as he urged her to die, her blanket-covered body being snuck outside on a luggage cart.

In my movies, everybody always dies, the voice says on one video. "What are my followers going to think of me? People need to know when they are being serial-killed.

About a week after she took the SD card, the woman turned it over to police, who said they recognized the voice as that of Brian Steven Smith, now 52, a South Africa native they knew from a prior investigation, court documents say.

Smith has pleaded not guilty to 14 charges, including first- and second-degree murder, sexual assault and tampering with evidence, in the deaths of Kathleen Henry, 30, and Veronica Abouchuk, who was 52 when her family reported her missing in February 2019, seven months after they last saw her.

Henry and Abouchuk were both Alaska Native women who had experienced homelessness. They were from small villages in western Alaska, Henry from Eek and Abouchuk from Stebbins.

Authorities say Henry was the victim whose death was recorded at the TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a hotel in midtown Anchorage. Smith was registered to stay there from Sept. 2 to Sept. 4, 2019; the first images showing her body were time-stamped at about 1 a.m. on Sept. 4, police said.

The last images on the card were taken early on Sept. 6 and showed Henry's body in the back of a black pickup, according to charging documents. Location data showed that at the time the photo was taken, Smith's phone was in the area of Rainbow Valley Road, along the Seward Highway south of Anchorage, the same area where Henry's body was found several weeks later, police said.

As detectives interrogated Smith about the Marriott case, authorities said, he offered up more information to police who escorted him to a bathroom: He had killed another woman, and he went on to identify her  Abouchuk  from a photo and to provide the location of her remains, along the Old Glenn Highway north of Anchorage.

With no prompting, he tells the troopers in the bathroom, Im going to make you famous, District Attorney Brittany Dunlop said during a court hearing last week. He comes back in and says ... You guys got some more time? You want to keep talking? And then discloses this other murder.

Alaska State Troopers in 2018 incorrectly identified another body as that of Abouchuk, because Abouchuk's ID had been discovered with it, for reasons that remain unclear. But with the information Smith provided, investigators re-examined the case and used dental records to confirm a skull with a bullet wound found in the area Smith identified was Abouchuk's, authorities have said.

Smith's attorney, Timothy Ayer, unsuccessfully sought to have the digital memory card's evidence  or even mention of it  excluded at trial. The woman who turned in the card initially claimed she had simply found it on the street, and it wasn't until a second interview that she confessed she had stolen the card from Smith's truck while he tried to get money from an ATM and she had it for a week before giving it to police, he said.

For that reason, he argued, prosecutors would not be able to demonstrate the provenance of the 39 photos and 12 videos, establish whether they were originals or duplicates, or say for sure whether they had been tampered with.

The state cannot produce a witness to testify that the video fairly and accurately depicts any act that actually happened, Ayer wrote.

However, Third Judicial District Judge Kevin Saxby ruled late Friday that the woman can testify about her possession of the card until she handed it over to police and that the recordings can be properly authenticated.

Henrys family has not spoken publicly about her death and efforts to reach relatives have not been successful. Abouchuks family has not returned messages from The Associated Press.

These were two Alaska Native women, Dunlop, then the assistant district attorney, said in 2019 after Smith was charged. And I know that hits home here in Alaska, and were cognizant of that. We treat them with dignity and respect.

Authorities said Smith, who is in custody at the Anchorage Correctional Facility, came to Alaska in 2014 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen the same month Henry was killed.

In a 2019 letter to the AP, he declined to discuss the case. He added that he was doing well: "I have lost weight, I have much less stress and I am sober.

His wife, Stephanie Bissland of Anchorage, and a sister acting as a family spokesperson in South Africa, both declined to comment until after the trial.

The trial, expected to last three to four weeks, was scheduled to begin Monday with jury selection.

Prosecutors had suggested the possibility of closing the courtroom to prevent the gruesome videos from being seen by the public. The Associated Press, the Anchorage Daily News, Alaskas News Source and Alaska Public Media objected to any such move in a letter to the court's presiding judge.

Afterward, Saxby said he has no intention of keeping the public from the courtroom, but safeguards will be in place to prevent those in the gallery or watching the trial's livestream from seeing them.
A man was found dead inside a vehicle on the Northwest Side, according to San Antonio police. kali9/Getty Images/iStockphoto

A man was found dead inside a vehicle Sunday morning on the Northwest Side, according to San Antonio police.

The man, who has not been identified, was found with a gunshot wound just before 4:30 a.m. in the 5000 block of Glen Ridge near the medical center. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Police said officers were called to the area after they received a report about shots being fired. Officers searched the area and found shell casings but did not locate a suspect.
The remains of 19 Black Philadelphians have finally been laid to rest, almost 200 years after they were stolen and corralled into the Morton Cranial Collection, the worlds largest 19th-century assemblage of human skulls. The individuals bones had been used to provide pseudo-scientific justification for white supremacy in the lead-up to the American civil war.

Related: Activist who led ouster of Harvard president linked to scientific racism journal

The Penn Museum, the branch of the University of Pennsylvania which has housed the remains since 1966, staged an interfaith service on Saturday to commemorate their restitution to hallowed ground.

Finally, after nearly 200 years, we can begin to make it right, said the Rev Charles Lattimore Howard, the universitys chaplain, at a service in the museums Harrison auditorium. He said the event was part memorial service, part truth-telling and repentance, part an opportunity for closure.

But the buildup to Saturdays historic event  which marked one of the first voluntary burials of the remains of people of color from a major anatomical collection  was engulfed in controversy. Outside researchers and activists have accused the museum of ignoring the wishes of the local Black community, which wanted a more thorough investigation into the identity of the 19 individuals, who remain unidentified, before their bones were interred, and for the Penn Museum to loosen its control over the restitution process.

Amid the heated debate, the museum admitted that it had quietly laid the bones to rest on 22 January at Eden cemetery, the citys earliest African American burial ground. The 19 Philadelphians remains had been placed in two simple grey granite mausoleums created specially for the purpose.

The collision of these conflicting ideas about approach left the event  one which academic institutions around the world are watching closely for clues as to how to conduct their own reparative processes  coming across as fraught and troubled. The Rev Dr J Wendell Mapson Jr, a pastor with the Monumental Baptist church, recognized as much at the memorial service.

This commemoration, he said, has not come without some pain, discomfort and tension.

A sordid history

The Morton Cranial Collection was amassed by Samuel Morton, a physician at Penns medical school who gathered about 900 craniums in the 1830s and 1840s from around the world. He measured the skulls in a spurious and thoroughly debunked attempt to prove that white people had larger brains and were more intelligent than other races.

After Mortons death in 1851, skulls continued to be sent to the collection from around the globe, increasing its size to about 1,700 individual remains.

In recent years, the collection has come under mounting public scrutiny given its egregious uses in the pre-civil war period. According to Paul Wolff Mitchell, a leading researcher of the collection who is now at the University of Amsterdam, Morton was about as infamous as anyone in the history of US scientific racism. He articulated perhaps the most extreme vision of white supremacy as scientific racist ideology in the 19th century. Morton was also a leading proponent of polygenesis  the theory that different human races were in effect separate species.

The Penn Museums move to address the racism embedded in its anthropological collection was supercharged by the reckoning that followed the police killing of George Floyd in 2020. A year later, the museum had to contend with further criticism when it was revealed that one of its top curators, Janet Monge, had used the bones of a child killed in the 1985 police bombing of a Black Philadelphia liberation group, Move, as a prop in her online classes on forensic anthropology. Relatives were unaware that the childs remains were even in the universitys possession.

At Saturdays service, John Jackson, the universitys provost, apologized for the possession and treatment of the bones. The remains of these people  human beings, our brothers and sisters, anonymized, dehumanized  should never have been on display, he said. For that, on behalf of the entire university, please accept my regrets and deepest apologies.

During his address, Howard noted that as a Black man connected with the Ivy League institution he felt deep resentment and anger at the way Black bodies were stolen and disrespected. He also expressed deep pain at the bogus scientific research used to justify it.

This is just to placate the community

Little is currently known about the 12 women and seven men who have been laid to rest at Eden cemetery.

Finding Ceremony, a reparations project which has helped establish a descendants group around the Morton collection, has accused the museum of failing to conduct sufficient research on the provenance and identities of the skulls. Though the lack of names of the 19 has rendered it impossible to find their literal descendants, the group claims general ancestry as part of the Philadelphia Black community.

The projects co-convener, Lyra Monteiro, said that her main objection to the way the restitution of the bones had been conducted is based on a fundamental justice principle: decisions over ancestral remains should not be made by the very institution that caused the harm. The museum is calling the shots, said Monteiro, who was denied entry to Saturdays service. They are not listening to descendants  they are making their own decisions, and we absolutely have a problem with that.

Alex Wilson, a member of the descendants group who attended the commemoration, said that she was sceptical of the process conducted by the Penn Museum. She worried the event was something just to placate the community.

The museum insists that it does consult with the local community, working through the Morton collections community advisory group, which it founded in 2021. The panel consists of university and city officials, community organizations and spiritual advisers.

The museum also stresses that research on the remains is ongoing. Christopher Woods, the museums director, said at the memorial service that it was his sincere hope that continued research will be successful in determining the identity of some of the remains.

The fight for more adequate research

In 2021 Mitchell, the Morton collection researcher, published a report on the Black Philadelphians whose remains were held. The study, which helped inform the events leading to Saturdays commemoration, chronicled how bodies of Black Philadelphians were often stolen from graves for dissection and anatomical research.

Many came from the former grounds of the Blockley almshouse, upon which the Penn Museum is built. Poor Black and white people, orphans and unhoused people resided at the institution in prison-like conditions, and after death their bones were often trafficked for medical research or for dispatch to the burgeoning Morton collection.

Some of the 19 are known to have been in the almshouse. It is almost certain, given the demographics of Philadelphia at the time Morton was collecting, that some were enslaved people at birth.

Finding Ceremony has conducted its own research, and discovered last month that the museums original plan to lay to rest a 20th Black Philadelphian may have been a violation of federal law because the remains belonged to a man with Native American ancestry.

The individual, John Voorhees, was the only Black Philadelphian in the group whose identity has been confirmed. He was listed in Mortons own catalogue of his collection as a mulatto who died in the almshouse in 1846.

Finding Ceremony found that a few weeks before he died Voorhees was interviewed by the Quaker group which oversaw the almshouse. He told them that his mother was an Indian Squaw, suggesting that he was of part Native American descent.

Under the 1990 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (Nagpra), Native American remains have to be returned to the relevant tribe or lineal descendant. As a result of Finding Ceremonys discovery, the museum withdrew Voorheess skull from its burial plans.

A spokesperson for the Penn Museum said that the institution has always carried out its responsibilities under Nagpra, and that if a claim regarding Voorhees were made by a federally recognized tribe, the museum would consult with tribal representatives.

Monteiro, an assistant history professor at Rutgers University, said that the Voorhees experience exposed the inadequate nature of the museums research. She said that Finding Ceremony had evidence that could lead to the identification of five of the 19 individuals interred at Eden cemetery, which could in turn provide clues as to their descendants.

But she also said she feared that unless the university begins to put more resources into researching the provenance of the remains in the Morton collection, making a focused effort to uncover the human stories contained within them, then connections with the modern world could remain hidden. The descendant community is in danger of losing the ability to lay to rest their own ancestors in a way that is meaningful for them, she cautioned.

For his part, Woods said that the Eden cemetery mausoleums had been built above ground precisely to allow access: If future research should learn of the identification of any of the individuals, their remains can easily be retrieved and returned to their families.

At the end of a poignant day in Philadelphia, the ceremony left attendees looking to the future. A historic step had been taken, fraught with tension though it may have been. Still, many more difficult decisions lie ahead relating to as many as 1,500 other human remains stored in the Morton collection.

As Dr Mapson put it: Society treats its dead as it treats its living, not always with dignity, sometimes with contempt  If the same mistakes are made again, shame on us.
The Los Angeles crowd was small and perhaps a bit bored, but what they witnessed had consequence, observing the 10 candidates competing for L.A. County district attorney, heading one of the nations largest and most influential prosecutorial offices. The candidates were squeezed cheek-by-jowl, jostling to get a word in edgewise in a race increasingly defined by its counterintuitive dynamics.

Incumbent George Gascon had a spot in the middle of the lineup. Once an emblem of the progressive prosecution movement, hes now shunned by liberals, detested by conservatives, isolated from the citys power structure and saddled with dismal approval ratings.

And yet, he has the advantage of facing a big field that includes a few formidable foes along with a bunch of non-starters, whose utter unsuitability for the office makes Gascon look brilliant by comparison. Flanking him on this recent night was a field featuring four serious candidates: Jeff Chemerinsky, Nathan Hochman, Eric Siddall and Jonathan Hatami  and then a sharp drop to the second string.

Three on the lower rung  Debra Archuleta, Craig Mitchell and David Milton  are current or former judges, and they are not doing any favors to the reputation of the bench.

On this night, Archuleta and Mitchell came off as shrill and hyperbolic  asked to rank, on a scale of 1 to 10, how safe she felt in L.A. County these days, Archuleta replied 0, proof that she missed the 1990s. Milton, on the other hand, lobbed vague pronouncements about communism taking over the country. Eyes rolled.

Collectively, the judicial officers served as a reminder that being a judge is not necessarily a qualification for managing a complex law office.

That leaves Gascon, Hatami, Siddall, Hochman and Chemerinsky.

Gascons credentials are impeccable, up to a point. He was an LAPD officer who served as both police chief and district attorney in San Francisco, as well as having served a term as L.A.s top prosecutor. He came to office, as he said during the debate, on a very clear platform of reform.

And hes made some changes, issuing directives on how the office would handle misdemeanors, pulling back on death penalty prosecutions and moving away from certain sentencing enhancements.

However, his efforts to implement reforms have been by decree rather than in consultation with his prosecutors, giving him a reputation as high-handed and aloof. Hes backtracked so much he now seems to downplay his own work as a reformer. And hes become increasingly isolated in a position that depends upon cooperation with other agencies and officials.

In short, Gascon has lost the confidence of those in power.

Blood in the water attracts sharks. Siddall and Hatami represent the most interesting challengers from inside his office, which is not saying much but does get them attention. Siddall is a veteran prosecutor and popular with the union that represents deputy DAs. Hes clever and quick, but hes also glib and sometimes mean.

Hatami has a clearer message. Hes a conservative with an appeal to victims and victims rights. That gives him a path, though not necessarily one with broad appeal in an electorate that still likes the idea of criminal justice reform, at least in theory. Hatami has real prosecutorial credentials and has assembled some money and endorsements from the right, but at the debate he seemed most determined to tout his own childhood victimization  a sad story, no doubt, but not one that makes his case for office.

Chemerinsky has a different problem, though a preferable one for a candidate. He seeks to inherit the reform mission that Gascon fumbled and fuse it with his background as an effective federal prosecutor focused on public safety.

He refuses to reject all that Gascon has done while also arguing that hes better equipped for the task. Thats a thin, difficult line to walk, though Chemerinsky has managed it well so far: The most recent campaign finance reports show that he raised more than $800,000, and he has secured endorsements from leading police reform advocates.

Given that, Chemerinsky is probably the best hope for those who support a reform agenda but have lost confidence in Gascon.

Chemerinskys biggest challenge? Its hard to be nuanced in a setting that favors bombast. That became clear during the debates discussion of Proposition 47, a 2014 initiative that reclassified some felonies as misdemeanors and raised the threshold for felony theft. As a result of Prop. 47, which Gascon supported, most thefts of $950 or less are treated as misdemeanors in California rather than felonies.

The DA candidates were asked whether they favored revisiting Prop. 47.

Chemerinsky sensibly responded that the felony threshold set by Prop. 47 was not responsible for rising property crime  more than 30 states, including Texas, have higher thresholds  and crimes such as the much-discussed organized retail thefts are not covered by Prop. 47.

Gascon agreed. Thats when Siddall called Chemerinsky mini-Gascon.

And yet, having scored his point, Siddall went on to acknowledge that Prop. 47 did not stop us from being able to do criminal justice in Los Angeles. The initiative, he said, had contributed to rising property crime, but not as much as some of its critics argue  nor was it as blameless as Gascon or mini-Gascon would have it. Siddalls argument? Who knows.

That leaves Hochman, whose candidacy should give all sides pause.

Hochman is running as an independent, but he was a Republican when he ran for attorney general of California just two years ago. Its not popular to be a Republican in Los Angeles County, so Hochmans switch makes sense in purely Machiavellian terms for this race, but its still fishy.

Though Hochman likes to tout his independence and is working to rally moderates and conservatives to make the runoff against Gascon, theres nothing Gascon would like more than to face him. Gascons woeful popularity makes it hard for him to win against just about anyone  except a freshly converted Republican in an overwhelmingly Democratic electorate.

The race is strange enough then that Gascons greatest chance to retain his seat depends on the 2022 Republican candidate for California attorney general, now an independent who attacks him at every turn, advancing to November.

The election will determine the direction of a nationally important office at a pivotal political moment. It may or may not serve as a referendum on progressive prosecution strategies, but it almost certainly will deliver a verdict on Gascon himself.

Jim Newton is a veteran journalist, best-selling author and teacher. He worked at the Los Angeles Times for 25 years as a reporter, editor, bureau chief and columnist, covering government and politics.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: The strange dynamics of the L.A. district attorney race almost make George Gascon look brilliant
A former contractor for the IRS was sentenced to five years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to leaking tax information about former President Donald Trump and thousands of other prominent U.S. citizens.

Charles Edward Littlejohn, 38, of Washington, D.C., received the maximum sentence for leaking the tax records to The New York Times and ProPublica between 2018 and 2020, as he sought to damage Trump while he was still in office.

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to guest at a campaign event on December 19, 2023 in Waterloo, Iowa. Iowa Republicans will be the first to select their partys nomination for the 2024 presidential race, when they go to caucus on January 15, 2024. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes scolded Littlejohn, saying his crime undermined trust in the nations tax system.

When you target the sitting president of the United States, you target the office, Reyes fumed. It cannot be open season on our elected officials.

In addition to the five-year sentence, Reyes imposed three years of probation and a $5,000 fine, after expressing surprise that Littlejohn faced only one felony count of unauthorized disclosure of tax returns and return information.

Before being sent away, Littlejohn apologized and said he took full responsibility for his actions.

I acted out of a sincere, if misguided, belief I was serving the public interest, he told the judge. My actions undermined the fragile trust we place in government.

Moments earlier, defense attorney Lisa Manning asked the judge for leniency since Littlejohn did not have a criminal record, but Reyes rejected that argument, citing the exceptional nature of the crime, which she said justified a sentence that would deter others who might feel an obligation to break the law.

Prosecutors pushed for the maximum sentence of five years to send a strong message that those who violate laws intended to protect sensitive tax information will face significant punishment, said Nicole Argentieri, acting-assistant attorney general of the Justice Departments criminal division.

The charging documents against Littlejohn refrained from explicitly naming Trump, however the descriptions and timeline closely align with news reports that emerged on Trumps tax returns in recent years after Trump parted with a longstanding tradition among presidential candidates to disclose his federal tax returns.

The 2020 report published by The New York Times revealed that Trump paid only $750 in federal income tax during the year he became president. The report further highlighted instances when Trump paid no income tax at all in certain years due to significant financial losses.

At the time, the Democrat-controlled House Ways and Means Committee released six years of Trumps tax returns, which revealed he paid little to no taxes during the first and last year of his presidency.

Meanwhile, a simultaneous ProPublica investigation uncovered a substantial collection of tax-return data concerning the 25 wealthiest Americans, who were found to contribute a much smaller percentage of income taxes compared to regular working people.

The leak also reportedly ensnared the tax records of Republican Sen. Rick Scott, of Florida, who said the Justice Department went easy on Littlejohn as he should have faced additional charges because his crime targeted multiple victims.

Littlejohn applied for a position with the Internal Revenue Service with the specific goal of obtaining Trumps tax returns. Court documents revealed that he meticulously devised a plan to extract the tax data while ensuring that his actions wouldnt raise suspicions among his colleagues.

A Strong Message: Judge Gives Ex-IRS Contractor the Maximum Prison Sentence for Leaking Trumps Tax Records In 2020
Authorities in Los Angeles arrested a 21-year-old woman on Saturday in relation to a viral dognapping that sent the owner skidding across the hood of a moving car.

Sadie Slater was charged with robbery for allegedly stealing the pet French bulldog belonging to Ali Zacharias, who was eating on a patio outside when she saw the thief pick up her dog and carry it into a car manned by an accomplice on Jan. 18. Zacharias tried to block the car with her body but the driver took off anyway, and the car can be seen in cellphone footage speeding down a street with Zacharias clutching the hood. She was eventually thrown off the car and suffered minor scrapes and bruises while the alleged dognappers got away.

 VIOLENT DOGNAPPING: Dramatic moment woman clings to thieves' speeding car after suspects steal French Bulldog: 'They stole my child.'



Ali Zacharias is offering a reward for her dog's safe return. Call the Los Angeles Police Department at (877) 275-5273. pic.twitter.com/kennSJMzSf  John-Carlos Estrada  (@Mr_JCE) January 30, 2024

Slater was the only person arrested in relation to the crime, although police initially said they were investigating two possible suspects, a man and a woman. She is being held on a $70,000 bail.

Zacharias dog remains missing. In an email to The Daily Beast, the Los Angeles Police Department said they are still searching for the pup.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A teenager was left hospitalized following a shooting in Wingate Saturday afternoon, according to the Union County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies said a male in his late teens was shot at the intersection of Bobwhite Circle and Canary Court around 4:30 p.m. The teen was shot multiple times after meeting a group of people who were in a vehicle. A gunman began firing shots, deputies said.

ALSO READ: Boyfriend charged with murder after woman dies at hospital, CMPD says

The suspect vehicle is a gray Honda Civic and left the area at a high rate of speed. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Sheriffs Office or Crimestoppers.

You may be eligible for a substantial cash reward if the information leads to the identification and arrest of the suspects.

(WATCH BELOW: 2 people shot in Salisbury, no arrest made)
San Antonio has joined the Delice Network, a group of 27 cities worldwide that view gastronomy as a tool for boosting economic development. Mike Sutter/Staff

San Antonios lively food scene has earned the city yet another exclusive culinary accolade.

The Alamo City has been admitted as a member of the Delice Network, joining 25 other cities worldwide, and only two in the United States, to be recognized for viewing gastronomy as a tool for economic development.

Being accepted into this international professional network is a tremendous honor for our city, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a news release. It recognizes the dedication of our chefs, the vibrancy of our local food scene and our commitment to fostering a sustainable city and thriving culinary culture.

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Acceptance into the network is the result of collaboration between the San Antonio World Heritage Office and the San Antonio Chapter of the Texas Restaurant Association. Colleen Swain, director of the city's World Heritage Office, said in the news release that the membership further positions San Antonio as a global culinary capital.

In 2017, the city became one of two nationwide to receive the distinction of a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. This latest recognition earns it access to an even smaller club.

Created by the city of Lyon, France, in 2007, the Delice Network currently includes 27 cities across three continents, according to its website. The only other U.S. cities that have been invited into the network are Chicago and Tucson, Ariz., the latter of which is also a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

The network is described as a tool for cities that believe their heritage and strong gastronomic culture can help improve their city attractiveness, economic development, employment and general well-being, its website says.

According to a news release, member cities help to strengthen the network by offering unique concepts and approaches related to one of the four fields of action: food culture as a part of city identity, food sector as a boost for economic development, food scene as a tool for global recognition and attractiveness, and food policies to enhance urban livability.

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In a statement provided on the news release, Delice Network Executive Director Elisabetta Bernardini said San Antonios vibrant, rich and diverse food scene will bring a valuable contribution to the groups work.
Youve gotta hand it to the Republican majority on the Fresno County Board of Supervisors.

For a threesome in political alignment with less than a third of the countys registered voters, these guys sure know how to cling to power. Even when that requires resorting to a little chicanery.

As evidence, we offer up the two measures placed on the 2024 primary election ballot by Supervisors Steve Brandau and Nathan Magsig, with fellow Republican Buddy Mendes in tow.

The key word in the preceding sentence being primary. Not the big ol general election in November, when the largest number of voters mail in their ballots or make their way to polling places. The one coming up in a few weeks, when the historical turnout is comparatively sparse.

Whenever politicians so plainly suppress the vote, automatically be suspicious.

Opinion

In Fresno County and most others in California, law enforcement elections are held during the gubernatorial election cycle. That changed in 2022 due to a relatively obscure state law, AB 759, which mandated that most counties switch their district attorney and sheriff elections to the presidential cycle. Exceptions were made for counties whose charters specifically designate when those elections take place.

Fresno Countys charter contains no such language, meaning AB 759 would take effect here and the current four-year terms of District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp and John Zanoni would be extended through 2028.

Measure A, if approved by a majority of the countys voters, would amend the pertinent section so that law enforcement elections remain in the off-year cycle.

Why is this important? Because in Fresno County, historically, Republican candidates for DA and sheriff run unopposed or win comfortably  Smittcamp and Zanoni being the latest examples  even though registered Democrats outnumber their GOP counterparts by nearly 7%. (The exact figures are 39.06% Democrat to 32.13% Republican, according to the latest voter data.)

Switching those elections to the presidential cycle could alter that equation, something our Republican threesome simply cant risk leaving to chance.

The problem with Measure A isnt so much the language as it is the timing. Fresno County voters absolutely should have the right to decide when they vote for the countys top two law enforcement jobs. Better us than the governor or the Legislature.

If Brandau and Magsig had placed the initiative on the November 2024 ballot, when 66% to 75% of the countys electorate would weigh in (based on voter turnout from the last two presidential elections), you wouldnt be hearing a peep from this corner.

But by bringing it before voters in March, when about 40% will fill out and return ballots (again, based on 2016 and 2020), the GOP supervisors play the same political games they accuse Democrats in Sacramento of playing.

Valley that shall not be named

Speaking of political games, time to turn our attention to Measure B. Which is all about the renaming of a certain unincorporated foothill community east of Fresno. One the initiatives authors fail to actually name. Kind of odd.

Heres the condensed backstory: In 2022, as part of an effort to strike the word squaw from federal lands, the U.S. Department of the Interior changed the name to Yokuts Valley. Later that year, state lawmakers passed a law requiring that the s---- term be stripped from all place names and landmarks by 2025.

That should have settled the debate. Change the name of the post office, repaint a couple highway signs, and thats it. The issue is behind us, and we can move on to matters more substantial.

But for reasons understood only to him, Magsig wont let go. First, he wastes taxpayer money on an unsuccessful lawsuit against the state, only to double-down with an appeal.

For an encore, Magsig authors a ballot measure that claims to give the duty and power to name or change the name of geographic features and place names of unincorporated areas to he and his fellow county supes.

Voters who dont know the backstory might be duped into thinking Measure B grants autonomy over such decisions to local officials. That is not the case whatsoever.

All it really does, if successful, is provide Magsig with another tool to make his arguments in future lawsuits. And if Fresno County continues to fight the feds and state over the renaming of Yokuts Valley, those will surely be coming.

Only by the grace of the 3-2 Republican majority on the Board of Supervisors does Magsig get to continue this culture war. If this election cycle is any indication, voters can expect more of the same.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A big week for UAMS as a fundraising goal is met and the future looks a bit brighter for those dealing with cancer in Arkansas.

Host Roby Brock met with UAMS Chancellor Dr. Cam Patterson to talk about meeting a $30 million fundraising goal for NCI designation for the Winthrop Rockefeller Cancer Institute.

UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute reaches fundraising goal for NCI designation

Roby also met with UA Walton College of Business economist Mervin Jabaraj to discuss how new data on the US and Arkansas economy has business leaders looking for a new direction.

Talk Business & Politics airs Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on FOX 16. For more coverage, head to TalkBusiness.net.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com.
ST. LOUIS  Mardi Gras is right around the corner, and celebrations are already kicking off in St. Louis historic Soulard neighborhood.

Saturday marked the first day of a two-day celebration known as Taste of Soulard, a self-guided tasting and pub crawl that allows people to choose their own food and drink adventure through the many Cajun specialties.

If you werent able to attend Saturdays Taste of Soulard event, you can also participate Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on the celebration, click here.

The Soulard neighborhood also hosted a Supplement Superstores Run For Your Beads 5K on Saturday. The official Soulard Mardi Gras parade is set for next Saturday, which could bring tens of thousands of people to Downtown St. Louis.

Soulards Mardi Gras festivities generate around $20 million each year for the local economy. Nearly one-quarter of parade visitors come from out of town, helping with the annual contribution.

While the origins of Mardi Gras stem from New Orleans, St. Louis also has some deep-rooted connections. Back in the 1790s, one southern area of St. Louis City was run by an upper Louisiana surveyor named Antoine Soulard. The neighborhood later embraced his namesake and began hosting Mardi Gras celebrations more than 200 years later.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
NEW DELHI, IndiaOn January 22, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the consecration of Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, a temple devoted to Hindu deity Lord Ram and built on the ruins of a historic mosque in the northern Indian city of Ayodhya.

Both in the days before the ceremony and since, India has seen a surge in violence against minoritiesoften fueled by Hindu nationalistsspread across several states. Reported incidents have spanned from sandals being thrown inside a mosque and a shop being set ablaze in Telangana state, to more serious incidents like a graveyard being vandalized and set on fire in Bihar.

The inauguration of the temple holds particular political significance, presenting an opportunity for Modi to bolster his popularity among voters in India, a nation of 1.4 billion people, before elections later this year. But since the temple now stands where a historic mosque was demolished in 1992, critics say Modis participation exacerbated the long-standing tensions between Indias Hindu majority and its religious minorities, particularly Muslims.

One day before the temple consecration, a group of individuals chanting Jai Shri RamGlory to Lord Ramascaled a Christian church in the town of Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh. They hoisted a saffron flaga symbol of Indian independence movements in the 20th century and used today by a nationalist paramilitary groupatop a cross, with an image of the Ayodhya Ram temple and the inscription Jai Shri Ram.

On the day of the temple consecration, a 19-year-old Muslim man was assaulted and paraded naked by a mob of Hindu nationalists celebrating Ayodhyas Ram temple consecration at Margi, Telangana.

A day later, the state government in Maharashtra razed about 40 shops owned by Muslims. The demolitions were carried out in the same area where violent Hindu nationalists celebrating the Ram temple inauguration confronted Muslims days before.

On January 29, in Balrampur, Chhattisgarh, members of the Hindu Mahasabha, a nationalist political party, disrupted a Christian gathering based on false allegations of religious conversions.

On January 30, officials from the Delhi Development Authority, accompanied by police, demolished a 600-year-old mosque in South Delhi without providing prior notice. The mosque was razed and debris cleared before worshippers could gather for the pre-dawn prayers. As he arrived during the demolition, the mosques imam was denied entry and had his phone confiscated to prevent him from contacting others. A small school for Muslim children was also destroyed, and a graveyard next to the mosque dug up.

A group of 22 Indian diaspora organizations released a joint statement drawing a straight line between Modis Hindu nationalism and the recent violence. This is happening against a backdrop of a horrifying escalation in discrimination and violence against religious minorities, particularly Muslims, and is against the secular fabric of the country and its Constitution, they said. They also condemned Modis presence at the temple consecration, which they said signals Modis intent to sideline and replace Indias secular Constitution.

Both Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have championed Hindutva, the political ideology that prioritizes the interests and identity of Hindus in India and seeks to promote a sense of cultural and national unity among Hindus and asserts the primacy of Hindu culture and values in Indian society.

Modis political worldview has put him in conflict with the Indian Constitution, established in 1950, which emphasizes secularism, democracy and equality for all citizens. Policies such as the Citizen Amendment Actwhich opens up pathways to Indian citizenship for refugee groups with the exclusion of Muslimsand Modis 2019 move to revoke the autonomy of Indian administered Kashmir have both been met with criticism.

Since he assumed office in 2014, Modis tenure has seen concurrent mass events of communal violence targeting Muslims, Christians, and other religious minorities, and a sharp decline in press freedom. He enjoys the support of the Hindu majority, boasting an approval rating of 76 percent, which positions him as the most popular leader globally, according to data from the U.S.-based firm Morning Consult. His influence among world leaders also seems to be rising, as does the reach of Hindutva.

In New York last month, Indians who sympathize with Modis far-right Hindu populism chanted slogans calling for the takeover of two more mosques in the Indian cities of Mathura and Varanasi. Ayodhya is just a teaser, the crowd chanted. Kashi and Mathura are pending!

The recent widespread festivities in the United States are concerning, Rasheed Ahmed, who heads the Indian American Muslim Council, said. The celebration of Ram temple consecration and glorification of Babri masjid demolition on a global scale is a blatant endorsement of religious intolerance.

Modis involvement at the temple consecration in Ayodhya lends significant weight to the event, which heightened the emotions, inflaming existing animosity among the Hindutva believers, said Sudeep Dalvi, a social activist based in Goa, India.

For decades, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Modi has been strongly advocating for the construction of the temple, viewing it as a symbolic assertion of Hindu identity following centuries of Mughal and British rule, he said.

The site of the temple has been a flashpoint for religious tensions for decades, particularly since the demolition of the 460-year-old Babri Masjid mosque in 1992 by a large mob of more than 150,000 Hindutva men and women. In November 2019, the Supreme Court of India ruled that the mosque site should be handed over to a trust for the construction of a Hindu temple.

The central governments announcement of a half-day closure for numerous hospitals, government offices, central institutions, and businesses across the country on the day of the consecration raised concerns about potential disruptions to emergency services nationwide and received harsh criticism.

Criticism for Modi also came from international organizations, opposition parties, and prominent spiritual leaders following the ceremony.

Four shankaracharyasrevered spiritual leaders of the Hindu faithdid not attend the ceremony, unhappy with what they perceive as a departure from the ancient Hindu tradition. Its the responsibility of priests and sadhus to consecrate Lord Ramas idol, said Shankaracharya Nishchalananda. They also viewed the ceremony as overly politicized, potentially influenced by electoral considerations. The Congress Party, the chief rival to Modis BJP, asserted in a statement that while religion is a personal matter, the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist volunteer paramilitary organization, have long pursued the construction of the Ram Mandir as a political project.



Modi is a lifelong member of the all-male RSS, which was established in 1925 and modeled on Italian fascist groups such as Mussolinis Blackshirts. Both the BJP and RSS view India as a nation for Hindus, by Hindus. Before assuming office as Indias prime minister in 2014, Modi served as the chief minister of Gujarat state, which in 2002 experienced a riot resulting in more than 2,000 deaths, predominantly among the Muslim community.* A United Kingdom inquiry later declared Modi was directly responsible. This dark chapter netted Modi international condemnation, including a U.S. travel ban in 2005, and cemented his image at home as an anti-Muslim leader.

Despite the rising Hindu nationalist violence against Indian Muslims during his tenure as a chief minister, Modi led the BJP to victory in the 2014 general elections and secured another win in 2019.

Now, with the inauguration of the temple, Modi and the BJP are aiming to leverage religious sentiments to shore up their grip on power for a third consecutive term in the upcoming elections, expected to take place this spring. Modi aims to position himself as a leader who honors and promotes Hindutva and Hindu heritage, appealing to a broad spectrum of voters across the Hindu majority in India.

The temples opening not only marks a milestone in the BJPs Hindutva agenda but resonates deeply with Hindu sentiments, potentially solidifying support for the party among its base, Dalvi said.

Correction, February 4, 2024: The Gujarat riots referenced in this article were in 2002, not 2022.

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To borrow a Mexican phrase, Julian Castro is tejano hasta los huesos (Texan down to the bone).

The San Antonio native served as that citys mayor, and has lived in the countrys seventh-largest city except when going off to Stanford University with his twin brother Joaquin, and the time he served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Obama administration.

In between, there was a stop at Harvard where both brothers earned their law degrees.

The 49-year-old Texas (he was born on Mexican Independence Day) introduces himself on his Facebook page as a Texan and proud dad.

This man from a Republican stronghold will now help determine the future of the countrys most populous and progressive states. Last month, Castro began a new job as CEO of the California-based Latino Community Foundation, the largest network of Latino philanthropists in the country.

The foundation has raised more than $100 million since it was formed in 1989 to dole out to community-based organizations that have boosted Latino communities in areas ranging from pandemic relief to voter registration. It has given out more than $29 million to groups like The Dolores Huerta Foundation, the Youth Leadership Institute, and Community Center for the Arts and Technology.

Castro  in a recent multi-day visit to the San Joaquin Valley  applauded Californias political and cultural expertise.

Theres a better foundation to create prosperity for low-income people and people of color, Castro said during a half-hour meeting with The Fresno Bee and Vida en el Valle. There is a greater commitment to equality, to equity, to justice here.

The school boards, city councils and state legislators, Castro added, better reflect the diversity of the state than we see in Texas.

But, you know, there is a lot of work to do.

Castro, who will remain based in Texas, plans to spend a lot of time in California, especially the states farm region.

The Central Valley reminds me in some ways of South Texas, in that you have a tremendous number of Latinos and Latinas  but the power is not commensurate with their numbers, said Castro, a 2020 presidential candidate.

He attributes that problem to power dynamics that exist in South Texas and the grower-driven Central Valley that doesnt fully support the prosperity of the Latino community.

And we want to help change that.

Castro wants to duplicate what previous CEO Jacqueline Martinez Garcel started in other parts of the country. She said Castro was the prime candidate for the job.

The fact that he can resonate with Latinos, not just from California but from Texas, and his time in D.C., can really accelerate this vision of taking the impact of LCF nationally, Martinez Garcel told The Los Angeles Times.

She is not alone in expecting Castro to take the foundation to new heights.

Vivian Velasco Paz, chair of the Arte Americas board, is excited.

He brings renewed energy. Hes been a really progressive voice, and in politics hes national figure, said Velasco Paz, who hosted a reception for Castro.

The Fresno Giving Circle was the largest of 20 throughout the state that works with the foundation in convincing Latinos to become philanthropists, said Velasco Paz. That participation has dwindled a little bit over the last couple of years, she said.

Velasco Paz hopes Castros leadership will help turn that around. She noted his multi-day visit to the Central Valley as proof of Castros local interest.

Sen. Alex Padilla, a Democrat, praised Castro. Julian brings the necessary experience and passion for supporting our communities to build upon the organizations legacy, he said.

Arianna Paz Chavez, executive director of Arte Americas, is part of the Fresno Giving Circle. She hosted Castro on a tour of the Latino cultural center, which received a $150,000 grant from the foundations PoderArte campaign for programming.

The foundation is a very unique model and represents the potential that we have within the Latino community to support one another and realize our own objectives as a community to invest in ourselves and invest in the work that benefits us, said Paz Chavez.

Castro told The Bee/Vida en el Valle that he can make a difference through public service rather than running for political office.

Im excited in the years to come about expanding beyond California. I see so many possibilities both inside the state and outside the state for growth.

Heres a Californian rooting for a Texas!

Juan Esparza Loera is editor of Vida en el Valle
By Ted Hesson

EAGLE PASS, Texas (Reuters) - Texas Governor Greg Abbott, joined by fellow Republican governors on Sunday, vowed to defy the Biden administration and maintain state control of a U.S. border hotspot "as long as it takes."

Abbott has clashed with Democratic President Joe Biden over the state's aggressive tactics to deter those crossing, including troops, concertina wire and a floating buoy barrier in the Rio Grande.

The Biden administration has maintained that border control falls strictly under federal jurisdiction, but Abbott has deployed the Texas National Guard at Shelby Park in the border town of Eagle Pass, where he staged Sunday's news conference along with Republican governors from 13 other states.

They stood in front of Texas state military vehicles, just paces away from shipping containers and concertina wire that block access to the park along the Rio Grande.

Abbott said Shelby Park, which has been at the center of a standoff between state and federal officials, "is going stay under control as long as it takes to maintain security and to eliminate crossings."

"We can relinquish control of it tomorrow if Joe Biden were to step up and do exactly what we're doing here and stop people from crossing the border illegally," Abbott told reporters.

As he spoke, activists from opposite sites of the issue staged competing protests a short distance from the park. Several dozen immigrant rights activists and people opposed to illegal immigration demonstrated without incident.

Four of the other governors spoke at the news conference: Bill Lee of Tennessee, Brian Kemp of Georgia, Greg Gianforte of Montana and Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas. They took turns accusing Biden of being weak on border security.

Immigration has become a potent political issue in the run-up to Nov. 5 elections that will likely pit Biden against former President Donald Trump.

Trump has motivated his voting base with calls for more restrictive border policies. His critics say such policies and events such as a migrant convoy that preceded the rally could stoke tensions.

The governors gathered one day after hundreds of protesters from around the U.S. on Saturday flocked to the Texas border town of Quemado, about 20 miles (32 km) from Eagle Pass, to vent over illegal immigration and show support for Trump at a rally that blended border politics with religious rhetoric.

(Reporting by Ted Hesson in Eagle Pass; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Diane Craft)
Aylin Moreno, 5, watches the Western Heritage parade & cattle drive which kick- offs the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News The Western Heritage parade & cattle drive kick-offs the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Hannah DiMarco, left, pets a horse in the Western Heritage parade & cattle drive which kick- offs the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News A member of Kimball Cattle Company prepares to drive cattle in the Western Heritage parade & cattle drive which kick- offs the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Texas longhorn cattle join the beginning of the the Western Heritage parade & cattle drive which kick- offs the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Cyrus Yates, 4, watches the Western Heritage parade & cattle drive which kick- offs the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News The Western Heritage parade & cattle drive kick- offs the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News The Western Heritage parade & cattle drive kick- offs the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News The Western Heritage parade & cattle drive kick- offs the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Spectators watch the Western Heritage parade & cattle drive from above the Majestic Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 in San Antonio. The parade kick-offs the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News

Herds of longhorn, mounted infantry groups and old-fashioned wagons and buggies took over downtown San Antonio on Saturday morning to the delight of San Antonians lining Houston Street.

It was all part of the Western Heritage Parade & Cattle Drive, the annual kickoff of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, which will start Thursday and run through Feb. 25.

The cattle drive is part of Western Heritage Weekend, which runs through Sunday. Other events included a rodeo wrangler breakfast Saturday morning at Milam Park, a 5K, music and a vaquero cook-off in Market Square.

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Here are five things to know about the rodeos cattle drive and the history behind it.

The first Western Heritage Parade & Cattle Drive

It was held in 2008 and featured 35 head of cattle and 60 parade entries. An estimated 5,000 people headed downtown to watch it.

Nowadays, the celebration of western heritage and local culture of San Antonio and Texas draws tens of thousands to check out the cattle, horses and other livestock. Organizers said this years cattle drive would feature at least 125 head of longhorns. It also will feature organizations representing the heritage of Texas and the Old West, Fort Sam Houston and the Fort Hood 1st Cavalry Division.

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The route starts at Houston Street at Interstate 35 and ends in front of the Alamo.

READ MORE: San Antonio was pulse of great cattle drives

The first cattle drive from Texas

One of the displays at the Bullock Museum in Austin showcases the letters authorizing the first cattle drive from Texas, which was tied to the American Revolution.

Spain saw the fighting as an opportunity to drive out the British and so sided with the Americans, according to the museums website. In 1779, Bernardo de Galvez, the Spanish governor of Louisiana, sent Gen. George Washington 2,000 barrels of gunpowder, tons of lead and clothing.

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He also sent troops that took on the British army in an area spanning from Baton Rouge to the Bahamas. He reached out to Texas to provide cattle to feed those troops. The letters at the museum, dating from 1779, show that the commanding general of New Spain authorized 2,000 herd of cattle to be sent to Louisiana, according to the website.

The Briscoe Western Art Museums website says Galvezs emissary reached San Antonio de Bexar on June 20, 1779, and that by that August, 2,000 cattle from the areas mission ranches had been acquired. But both museums say there arent any records showing the cattle actually made it to Louisiana.

RODEO TIME IN S.A.: Pearl rounding up Western-themed artisans for Rodeo Night Market in February with music and food

How did cattle get to Texas?

The Bullock Museum says the precursors of the Texas longhorn are the Spanish cattle that Christopher Columbus brought to Hispaniola on his second voyage in 1493. Ranching  and cattle  spread to Spanish Mexico and then north into Texas. Spanish missionaries started the first ranches in Texas.

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Longhorns were a hardy breed  they were self-sufficient and so could be left on the range. Plus their long horns helped them keep bears, coyotes and wolves at bay so they thrived in Texas.

The Chisholm Trail

The trail, named after Scot-Cherokee trader Jesse Chisholm, developed after the Civil War and connected San Antonio to Kansas cattle towns, which were the small communities that popped up where trails intersected railroads.

By the end of the war, there was somewhere between 3 million and 6 million head of cattle roaming Texas, driving the local price down as low as $2 each, according to the Texas State Historical Association. But the war had taken its toll on supplies of cattle up north  pushing prices as high as $40 or more per head. That spurred Joseph G. McCoy of Illinois to reach out to the Kansas Pacific Railway to invest in a site at Abilene, Kan. He then built a stockyard and cattle market and sent word to Texas cattlemen to come on up.

O.W. Wheeler and his partners were the first ones to use the trail (in the days before it was the Chisholm Trail). They bought 2,400 steers in San Antonio with the intention of getting them to California (in the 1850s, most the cattle drives headed west to Californias gold fields). But they ended up going to Abilene after coming across the tracks created by Chisholm as he hauled goods to a post near whats now Wichita, Kan.

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RODEO TIME IN S.A.: H-E-B ice cream flavor honors 75 years of San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo

By the end of the first year, 1867, McCoy had shipped 35,000 cattle. The number doubled each year so that by 1871, there was a glut of 600,000 head and the Abilene market shut down. But other cattle markets sprang up and the trail continued to be used until 1884.

Were talking individual drovers that took 200,000 cattle up the trail during that time period, and you figure a couple of bucks apiece, youre talking a million bucks, Bruce Shackelford said in a 2017 interview while he was working as the Brown Foundation curator at the Witte Museum. And a million dollars in 1880, youre talking real money.

Did the cattle drives go through downtown San Antonio?

During that 2017 interview, Shackelford said that while there probably were cattle on Houston Street at times, it wasnt a case of thousands of them being herded through downtown San Antonio. Instead, San Antonio functioned as a business hub for the owners, he said.

They could get reports, they could get telegrams and find out what was going on with the market, what was going on with their herd, Shackelford said. Had they lost any? Had there been bad weather? Did anybody get killed? That kind of thing. And most of the big cattlemen kept rooms in at least one or more of the San Antonio old hotels.

San Antonio served as a hub even while the Spanish were in charge.
State Sen. Paul Bettencourt during a debate in the Senate Chamber in Austin. Associated Press

A Texas state senator said a Texas-based basic income plan will "hand out money like popcorn."

State Sen. Paul Bettencourt asked the state attorney general to declare it unconstitutional.

The Houston-area plan to give $500 to needy families began taking applications last month.

A state senator continues to attack guaranteed basic income plans after a Houston-area program announced it would deliver $500 a month to some of the region's poorest residents.

State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Republican from Houston, sent a letter to the state's attorney general in January asking him to declare the Harris County income plan unconstitutional.

Bettencourt's request came on the same day that the program  called Uplift Harris  started taking applications. The Uplift Harris program plans to provide eligible households in Harris County, which includes Houston, $500 a month for up to 18 months.

County officials used more than $20 million of federal COVID-19 relief from the American Rescue Plan to fund the project.

The program received more than 76,000 applicants, according to The Houston Chronicle. As applications for the program closed on Friday, Bettencourt appeared on Fox News to further voice his unhappiness with the program.

"We just can't hand out money like popcorn on street corners to people that walk by," Bettencourt told Fox.

Bettencourt argued in his letter that Uplift Harris violates the Texas Constitution's "gift prohibition" clause that says the state legislature cannot authorize any "county, city, town, or other political subdivision of the state" to grant public money to any individual.

Bettencourt told the outlet that comparing Austin's guaranteed income program, which gave $1,000 a month to low-income families, is like comparing "apples to oranges" because Harris County is enacting its program on the county level rather than the city level.

"The point I'm making about counties involved with universal basic income is that it hasn't happened before," Bettencourt told Fox. "We don't have anyone else in the state besides Harris doing that. And counties are different than home-rule cities. The state gives [counties] the authority as an extension of the state to do certain tasks."

Christian Menefree, an attorney for Harris County, responded to Bettencourt's claims in a brief to the state attorney general on Friday, arguing that the program does not violate the gift clause, according to Houston Public Media.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The following is a transcript of an interview with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan that aired on Feb. 4, 2024.



MARGARET BRENNAN: We're joined now by White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. Jake, it's good to have you back here with us. The White House described Friday's response as a multi-tiered plan, not one and done. Is this an open ended military campaign and how are you going to define success?

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER JAKE SULLIVAN: Well, it's true, Margaret, that what happened on Friday was the beginning, not the end of our response, and that there will be more steps, some seen, some perhaps unseen, all in an effort to send a very clear message that when American forces are attacked, when Americans are killed as three service members, tragically were at Tower 22, we will respond and we will respond forcefully. And we will respond in a sustained way. I would not describe it as some open ended military campaign. We have a concept of how we intend to respond. I'm not going to telegraph it on the show. But we will execute that concept with the kind of professionalism that only the US military can bring to bear.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So the US officially has not assessed that Tehran directed the attack, but has Tehran done anything to rein in the militias that they fund and arm?

JAKE SULLIVAN: Well, we know that Iran is behind these militia groups, they train them, they fund them, they arm them, as your question suggests. And they do have influence with them. And I can't sit here today and tell you that Tehran has shifted its policy. What I can tell you is what the United States' approach is going to be, which is that if we continue to see threats and attacks from these militia groups, we will respond to them. And we will hold those responsible accountable.

MARGARET BRENNAN: There are reportedly civilian casualties in Iraq and in Syria as a result of these strikes. Does the US assess that any of those hit in these strikes were actually Iranian Al Quds Force personnel? Or did the fact that this was so telegraphed in advance, give those personnel time to go to ground?

JAKE SULLIVAN: Well, first of all, Margaret, on the telegraphed point, President Biden has been saying for months that he would respond to attacks, we have responded to previous attacks, and when three service members were killed, of course, Iran knew that the United States would respond. So the idea that somehow this was telegraphed, I think is a bit more of a political talking point than- than a reality. Secondly, the targets that we hit, we believe with conviction, were valid military targets. They were ammunition depots and command and control centers. They were the instruments that Iranian backed Shia militia groups were using to attack American forces. We are looking at the casualties, who precisely was killed. I don't have anything to report to you this morning publicly on that. But we will continue to make our assessments.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But no one, for example, in IRGC leadership and Iranian leadership, no one of significance was targeted?

JAKE SULLIVAN: As I said, we are continuing to assess the battle damage. And when we are prepared to share that publicly, we'll do so. I am not prepared to do that with you today.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay. Jake, half of US adults, according to the AP, say Israel's military campaign in Gaza has gone too far. And 31% approve of Biden's handling of the conflict. At what point is this open ended Israel conflict in Gaza, not just a political problem, but a national security one for the United States to be so closely associated with the Netanyahu government's war with the civilian casualties that we've seen to date and the starvation of women and children in Gaza?

JAKE SULLIVAN: Well, first Margaret, I'm glad you put the question in those terms. Because, you know, we don't design our policy towards Israel, or Gaza or the Middle East based on politics. We do it based on the national security interests of the United States. And we've been clear from the beginning that we believe that Israel has a right to respond to the horrific attacks of October 7, and to deal with the threat that Hamas continues to post Israel, as it asserts that it wants to conduct another October 7, and then another one, until Israel no longer exists. But we've been equally clear that we have to look out for and respond to the immense and terrible suffering of the Palestinian people. And that means pressing Israel on issues related to the humanitarian assistance that we have helped unlock and get into the Gaza Strip and there needs to be much more of it. Secretary Blinken is on his way to the region as we speak, and this will be a top priority of his when he sees the Israeli government that the needs of the Palestinian people or something that are going to be front and center in the US approach and that we want to ensure that they are getting access to life saving food, medicine, water, shelter. And we'll continue to press until that is done.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But it's still not the degree to which you are asking for. Today, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel will not agree to a deal that is related to the release of terrorists. His National Security Minister Ben-Gvir gave an interview to the Wall Street Journal saying he'd oppose any deal with Hamas that would end the war or free Palestinian prisoners, and said Donald Trump would be better for Israel than Joe Biden. Does Benjamin Netanyahu have control of his government? And are these right wing ministers risking blowing up a hostage deal that the United States is trying to put together?

JAKE SULLIVAN: Look, I'm gonna let the Israeli government and Israeli politicians speak for themselves, they certainly have no trouble doing so as you just related. We're only going to speak for ourselves and from our perspective, a hostage deal, that brings out the hostages, including the American hostages, that gets a sustained pause in hostilities so that life saving assistance can more easily get to the Palestinian people. This is in the national security interest of the United States. And we're going to press for it relentlessly as the President has done, including recently in calls with the leaders of Egypt and Qatar, the two countries that are our central brokers in this effort. So it is a paramount priority for us, the Israeli government can answer whether it's a paramount priority for them. And depending on that answer, they'll also have to answer to the Israeli people.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, do I understand you saying there then that Israel's government has not signed off fully on the proposal that the US is backing? I know, Qatar has said they're waiting on Hamas.

JAKE SULLIVAN: No, no, you haven't, you didn't hear me correctly, Israel has in fact put forward a proposal. And as Qatar has indicated publicly, the ball is in Hamas' court at this time.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay. Because this minister was threatening politically the prime minister in regard to a hostage deal and saying he would vote against it.

JAKE SULLIVAN: Well right, there seems to be obviously an ongoing debate spilling out in public within the Israeli government. And again, I'm not going to speak to that debate. They have to decide for themselves and they'll have to work through their own political system.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And do you stand by your statement you made on the show previously, that Palestinians in Gaza have a right to return to their homes? That's also an issue of conflict right now.

JAKE SULLIVAN: I do stand by my statement. It's not Jake Sullivan's statement. That's a statement of administration policy, Secretary Blinken has laid it out now in full. We do not want to see a circumstance in which Israel occupies Gaza or where there is an effort to permanently displace Palestinians from their homes.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to ask you quickly about Ukraine as well. And the ongoing war there. President Zelensky has visited the frontlines today. Did his government inform the White House that Ukraine's army chief is going to be fired and would the loss of that top general really impact the success of that war?

JAKE SULLIVAN: The personnel decisions in the Ukrainian Armed Forces are a matter for the Ukrainian government. That is not something the US government should be weighing in on one way or the other. And so we have stayed out of that set of personnel decisions. And of course, it's the sovereign right of Ukraine and the right of the President of Ukraine to make his personnel decisions. We've been clear, we're just not going to get embroiled in that particular decision. We have indicated that directly to the Ukrainians.

MARGARET BRENNAN: All right. Jake Sullivan, thank you for your time this morning.

Saturday Sessions: Billy Strings and Chris Thile perform "I've Been All Around This World"

U.S. strikes Iraq and Syria after deadly drone attack in Jordan

Candice Bergen on Truman Capote's storied Black and White Ball
Britain has grown gloomily accustomed to failures within our criminal-justice system. Shoplifting was once considered a relatively serious crime, but it has slipped so far down the priority list that last year, out of sheer desperation, shopkeepers grouped together to start paying the police to investigate thefts from their stores.

Alongside the deepening sense that the police cannot fulfil their primary functions are the repeated warnings that Britains criminal courts are unable to dispense justice efficiently. Such is the state of our bursting prison estate that, last October, judges were told to hand suspended sentences to offenders they would otherwise have sent to prison. There is also a chronic shortage of upcoming barristers to replace experienced judges who are retiring, exacerbating the backlog.

It is against this backdrop that the Telegraph today reports of a woman facing a five and a half year wait for justice after her alleged rapists trial was delayed. The victim has described the anguish of preparing to go to court and give evidence, only to be informed that the proceedings would be postponed just hours before they were due to begin. This news will shock, but the case is not unique. A major report by the charity Rape Crisis last year revealed that rape and sexual-abuse victims were facing delays of up to eight years.

The old legal maxim that justice delayed is justice denied will be felt acutely by these victims, who will worry the system is working against them. After taking the brave step to come forward and report an assault, some have reached such depths of despair that they have become suicidal. Too many have simply given up, allowing their alleged attackers to walk free. The fear must be that other women are then being put at risk.

Over the past 12 months, the Labour Party has sought to advance the narrative that the Tories are soft on crime. Figures on the percentage of reports of rape resulting in a charge or summons give this credence: Home Office data showed that in the year to June 2021 just 1.4 per cent of reported attacks had been prosecuted in England and Wales, leading to the warning that rape had been effectively decriminalised. Even before the pandemic, it was only a few percentage points higher.

We now have a system unfit for purpose, where innocent people live in fear, victim suffering is prolonged and alleged perpetrators evade justice. This issue, which extends beyond sexual offences, can no longer be avoided.

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.
TROUSDALE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  One inmate was flown to a hospital following a Saturday night fight at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center (TTCC).

A spokesperson for CoreCivic, the company that owns and operates the prison, said TTCC staff were notified about a physical altercation between inmates just before 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3. Facility security and medical staff responded to the incident immediately.

Nashville corrections officer charged with strangling inmate

According to CoreCivic, one inmate was injured during the fight, but when medical staff provided first aid, they determined the inmates injuries required outside medical attention.

Officials said they immediately contacted emergency medical services (EMS) for help. After first responders arrived at TTCC and completed an evaluation, they reportedly decided to have the inmate flown to a nearby hospital in a medical helicopter.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

CoreCivic said none of the other inmates were injured during the altercation, which is currently under investigation. Officials also notified the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) about the incident.

This news comes less than two weeks after another fight at TTCC left two inmates injured.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
The Boise Fire Department rescued two people thrown over an embankment near Lucky Peak Lake on Saturday.

The department said it responded to a 5:30 p.m. incident involving a truck rolling off an embankment at milepost 13, according to a department social media post.

Fire crews quickly found one person near the highway and, with help from Ada County Paramedics, provided immediate care, according to the department.

The Fire Department said crews saw that a truck with a second person had rolled 150 feet down a steep hillside.

The departments tech team lowered rescuers down the hillside, immobilized and packaged the patient in a basket, then brought her up to where a helicopter was waiting, according to the department.

Rescuers brought one person to safety after she fell 150 feet down an embankment.

The helicopter flew the patients, both of whom had significant injuries, to local hospitals for treatment, the department sent.

No one else was injured, according to the department.

The Boise Fire Department, Boise Police Department, Idaho State Police and Ada County Dispatch did not respond to the Idaho Statesmans request for more information.

The rescue occurred Saturday evening.
(Bloomberg) -- Former President Donald Trump said he might impose a tariff on Chinese goods of more than 60% if elected, signaling an increasingly hawkish tone against the top supplier of goods to the US.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Asked about a Washington Post report that he was considering a flat 60% tariff on Chinese goods imports, Trump said no, I would say maybe its going to be more than that in an interview on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures.

Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, rejected criticism that the moves would start a trade war, saying that he did great with China with everything during his presidency.

Well, you have to do it, Trump said, referring to imposing tariffs. You know, obviously Im not looking to hurt China. I want to get along with China. I think its great. But theyve really taken advantage of our country.

The Trump administration began imposing tariffs aimed at curbing imports of Chinese goods in early 2018, eventually escalating to duties on goods ranging from seafood to chemicals by the fall of that year. China responded with retaliatory levies on US imports including soybeans, wheat and poultry.

President Joe Bidens administration largely kept the tariffs in place, prompting criticism by business groups that the tariffs have driven up prices and undermined US competitiveness. Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, including those aimed more broadly than at China, amounted to an $80 billion tax increase on $380 billion worth of imports in 2018-19 according to the Tax Foundation, a Washington-based research group.

The US has been Chinas biggest export market for more than 20 years, including $536 billion in exports in 2022.

Curbing economic ties between the worlds two largest economies is gaining support from some US lawmakers, led by Republican Representative Mike Gallagher and Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi, who recommended raising tariffs and restricting Chinese investment in a House committee report in December.

Read more: Trump Says If Reelected, He Wouldnt Reappoint Powell Fed Chair

The Post report on Jan. 27 sparked currency hedges by traders bracing for any market turbulence that policies under a second Trump presidency could set off.

Trump also made light of his comment at a Fox News town hall in Iowa in December where he suggested hed be a dictator for day one if he were elected to a second term in November. Asked about the comment on Sundays show, he said it was meant to signal immediate action on the US-Mexico border and fossil fuels.

Its very simple, he said. Im going to close the border and were going to drill, baby, drill. Thats all. And then after that, Im not going to be a dictator. Now, that was said in jest.

(Updates with additional Trump quotes in fourth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Phil Heck makes his political stances known at his roadside stand as he waits for the Take Our Border Back convoy to arrive in the small South Texas town of Quemado, which is north of Eagle Pass. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News Drivers gather on Friday as they wait for the Take Our Border Back convoy to arrive at the Cornerstone Children's Ranch in Quemado, a South Texas town not far from Eagle Pass. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News Paige Tooker drives a hearse on Friday as she waits for the Take Our Border Back convoy to arrive at the Cornerstone Children's Ranch in Quemado, a South Texas town not far from Eagle Pass. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News Paige Tooker drives a hearse on Friday as she waits for the Take Our Border Back convoy to arrive at the Cornerstone Children's Ranch in Quemado, a South Texas town not far from Eagle Pass. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News Jerry and Wendy Fairchild on Friday walk past one of the trucks in the Take Our Border Back convoy after it arrived at the Cornerstone Children's Ranch in Quemado, a South Texas town not far from Eagle Pass. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News A dog sticks its head out of an American flag-themed RV during the Take Our Border Back rally at Cornerstone Children's Ranch in Quemado on Saturday. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News Jeffrey Lee carries an American flag during the Take Our Border Back rally at the Cornerstone Children's Ranch in Quemado ion Saturday. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News People take part in a rally for the Take Our Border Back convoy on Saturday at Cornerstone Children's Ranch in Quemado. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News Lola and Jeffrey Lee wave American flags during the Take Our Border Back convoy rally at the Cornerstone Children's Ranch on Saturday. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News Vendors sell flags and banners on Saturday in Quemado near where the Take Our Border Back rally was being held. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News T-shirts critical of President Joe Biden were for sale Saturday in Quemado at the Take Or Border Back rally In South Texas. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News A person dressed as Batman stands Saturday outside the Cornerstone Children's Ranch in Quemado, where the Take Our Border Back convoy rally was being held. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News

QUEMADO  Marty Crouse sat in a mesh rocking chair, a shade covering his head as he took in the scene.

Overhead, dozens of flags flapped in the breeze, many proclaiming Come and Take It and Trump 2024. A band played Christian worship music from a stage, and around him, several hundred people milled about under a bright blue sky at Cornerstone Childrens Ranch in Quemado, about 20 miles north of Eagle Pass.

Crouse drove from his home near Tampa, Fla., to reach this tiny border town, typically home to fewer than 200 people.

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He came, he said, because its important to show not just the Biden administration but also other Americans that things along the border are worse than they think.

On the side of his vehicle, Crouse had written Vets 1st, stop fentanyl, close the border.

His was one of more than 200 vehicles that streamed into Quemado on Friday night as part of the Take Our Border Back Convoy, an event organized by conservative groups calling on the federal government to secure the U.S-Mexico border.

Members of the group say President Joe Biden and his administration are in violation of federal immigration laws, and in videos promoting the event, some called the situation at the border an invasion.

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The convoy was scheduled to hold three rallies near the border Saturday: the one in Quemado, along with events in Arizona and California. The ranch hosting the Texas event, which describes itself as a multidenominational ministry and retreat center, is about 20 miles north of Shelby Park, the city-owned park in Eagle Pass that Gov. Greg Abbott took control of last month.

As the national debate swirls over U.S. immigration policies and how to secure the border, Eagle Pass has become the epicenter of a standoff between the Biden administration and Abbott, who has restricted the Border Patrols access and installed razor wire on the Rio Grande to stop border crossings.

Abbott and 14 other Republican governors are scheduled to visit Eagle Pass on Sunday.

The Take Our Border Back convoy started from Virginia Beach, Va., with fewer than a dozen vehicles arriving in Jacksonville, Fla. The group moved on to Baton Rouge, La., then to Dripping Springs, about 20 miles west of Austin, where they rallied at One Shot Distillery and Brewery with former vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and musician Ted Nugent.

On Friday, they headed south, bolstered by a much larger number of vehicles by the time they arrived in Quemado shortly after 8 p.m.

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'Meeting a lot of folks'

While most cars were from Texas, there were license plates from at least 20 states, including California, Alaska and Pennsylvania, as well as a few from Canada. About 100 cars arrived earlier in the afternoon and were waiting to welcome them, greeting the vehicles  including a few semitrucks  with cheers and honks.

At the gate, participants acting as security told people no guns or alcohol were allowed, at one point turning away a man in a bulletproof vest, telling him it wasnt necessary.

While leaders of the convoy said the group had no organized events planned in Eagle Pass, some of the participants made their way into town, strolling around downtown Saturday morning, taking in the fencing at Shelby Park, some carrying Trump and Dont Tread on Me flags and snapping photos and selfies.

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Kelly and Dave Szyperski were among those in Eagle Pass, taking photos through the fencing at an entrance to the park. The couple drove from Dallas to join the convoy in Dripping Springs, and they were planning to join the rally at the ranch. It was their first time in the border city, which they felt they needed to see for themselves, they said. They support Abbotts recent actions but said its sad that state government leaders feel they have to do what the federal government should be doing.

In addition to locking down the border, Dave Szyperski said, government officials "need to be rounding up the people that are here and sending them home. He said undocumented immigrants are being allowed into the country only because Democrats need more votes.

Some said the highlight of the trip was meeting others who share their views on politics and immigration.

Im just meeting a lot of folks, like-minded people that are not from here, said Ramon Garza, a San Antonio resident and president of the group This is Texas Freedom Force. He was manning the gate at Cornerstone Ranch on Friday night and Saturday afternoon, waving vehicles through one by one.

He said that since April, hes come down to Quemado to work with a group of volunteers who patrol ranches in the area in an attempt to deter people from entering the country illegally.

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Most of the migrants gathered at the border in recent months are seeking asylum and turning themselves over to the Border Patrol as soon as they cross, which is legal.

Like many others, Garza is in favor of the states recent actions at the border  but said he wishes Abbott had done so two or three years ago.

As long as he doesnt back down, it should work out well, Garza said, and will draw legislators attention to the situation.

Criticism from local leaders

At a news conference Friday ahead of the convoys arrival, some local advocacy groups and civic leaders called on Abbott and state leaders to focus on Eagle Pass needs, including infrastructure and jobs, and accused them of using the city to win political points.

Jessie Fuentes, who owns a canoe and kayak business on the Rio Grande, said Abbotts actions have turned the river into a disaster zone and that the state has taken over a park used for connecting people with each other and nature.

He said the convoy, which has called itself Gods Army, was coming to spread hate and dissension. Eagle Pass residents need to be respected and listened to, he said, instead of being ignored in the midst of a national debate playing out in their town.

Resident and community activist Jose Corpus said government dollars should be spent on better water and sewage systems and other investments to benefit the citys residents, instead of border fortifications.

Corpus said the convoy visitors should let the government handle the situation. The border doesnt need their protection, he said, "and we dont need them here."

Crouse, the visitor from Florida, said he doesn't trust what the news media is reporting about the border situation, so he came to see things for himself. He encouraged other Americans to do the same.
Former President Donald Trump said Sunday he would consider imposing a tariff upward of 60% on all Chinese imports if he regains the presidency. His remarks come at a time of high economic and other tensions between the US and China.

No, I would say maybe its going to be more than that, Trump said when asked by Fox News Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures whether he would consider imposing a 60% tariff, as The Washington Post has reported.

As president, Trump slapped tariffs of 25% on $50 billion of Chinese goods in June 2018. Beijing countered with its own tariffs, and the spiral continued until the two countries arrived at an agreement in 2020. The Biden administration has largely kept the Trump-era tariffs in place.

The former president also said he thought China would try to interfere in the 2024 presidential election.

I think they will, and they wont be interfering on my behalf. We should go same-day voting, paper ballots, voter ID and no mail-in ballots, Trump said.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping told President Joe Biden that China would not interfere in the 2024 US presidential election when the two men met in November, CNN has reported. But FBI Director Christopher Wray warned Wednesday that Chinese hackers are preparing to wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to the US.

Trump also praised Xi, whom he described as a very good friend of mine during my term, and said, I want China to do great, I do.

Trump would not say whether he would intervene if China tried taking over Taiwan, arguing that doing so would jeopardize my negotiating ability with China.

Chinas ruling Communist Party views Taiwan as part of its territory, despite never having controlled it, and leader Xi has not ruled out the use of military force to reunify the island with the mainland.

The US, meanwhile, is obligated under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taiwan with the military means to defend itself, something Beijing regards as interference in its internal affairs.

CNNs Jack Forrest and Brad Lendon contributed to this report.

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Former President Donald Trump on Sunday said therell probably be some changes when asked how Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel is doing  an apparent shift from his previous praise for the chairwoman.

After Fox News Sunday Morning Futures host Maria Bartiromo asked, Hows Ronna McDaniel doing? Trump predicted that some changes will be made, though he did not elaborate.

I think she did great when she ran Michigan for me. I think she did OK, initially in the RNC, he said. I would say right now therell probably be some changes made.

Trumps remarks contrast with his past praise of McDaniel. During a speech to the Republican Jewish Coalition in October, Trump said McDaniel did a fantastic job leading the RNC.

The Trump campaign and the RNC did not immediately respond to NBC News request for comment.

Prior to NBC News projection last month that Trump had won the New Hampshire Republican primary, McDaniel signaled an intention to rally around Trump if he continues to dominate early caucuses and primaries.

If President Trump comes out strong tonight, thats a clear message being sent by our primary voters, McDaniel said in a statement to NBC News before the New Hampshire results came in. Republicans know that if were not united as a party behind our nominee we wont be able to beat Biden.

After Trump decisively won the New Hampshire Republican primary last month, McDaniel reiterated her desire to unite around Trump on the assumption that he emerges as the Republican presidential nominee.

Every Republican has to agree that Joe Biden is a threat to our country, and if we do not unite and if we dont coalesce to beat him, then were not going to be successful in 10 months, where the Senates at stake, the House is at stake, and the White House is at stake, McDaniel told Fox News, referring to Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley.

I just dont see the path and the math. I hope she reflects tonight. I think its time to move forward, and I think Donald Trump is going to be the nominee, she added of Haley.

Haley has said she has every intention of staying in the race through Super Tuesday, and she said last week that the RNC was clearly not an honest broker in the primary race.

If youre gonna go in and basically tell the American people that youre gonna go and decide who the nominee is after only two states have voted? I mean, 48 states out there? she said. This is a democracy. The American people want to have their say in who is going to be their nominee. We need to give them that.

McDaniel attracted criticism after many Republican candidates had underwhelming performances in the 2022 and 2023 elections, punctuated by the GOPs loss of ground in the Senate after Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., captured the seat previously held by Republican Pat Toomey.

Shortly after the 2022 midterms, the RNC stated its plans to proceed with a post-election audit, which closely examined the role Trump played in the results.

Republican Party officials last year said that their internal autopsy report analyzing the losses of many of their candidates in the 2022 midterms would not be made available to the public, two people familiar with the partys thinking on the matter told NBC News at the time.

Despite an uprising from some corners of the RNC, McDaniel won a fourth term as chair in January 2023.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Part of the Reformation in Europe, initiated by Martin Luther, was the rise of Calvinism, a new interpretation of Christianity. The Calvinist creed includes the ideas of separation of church and state, hard work, self-reliance, individualism, and the belief that some people are chosen over others.

Calvinism became the creed of the emerging Puritan and Presbyterian branches of Protestantism, and they (including Separatists) constituted a large percentage of early immigrants to Colonial America.

Through time, Puritanism developed into various Congregationalist churches. Hence Calvinism today is prominent in the Congregationalist, Reform and Presbyterian churches  and some Southern Baptists. These denominations tend to have numerous Evangelicals and closely related Fundamentalists (who also have their own non-Calvinistic churches). Many good folks are in these churches, but they have also long sought to impose their paternalistic hierarchy onto society.

The Calvinist ideology has, moreover, run in tandem with laissez-faire American capitalism. Hence, its promotional of capitalists, libertarians, and oligarchs.

Another ideological influence shaping America began with the importation of African slaves. There can obviously be slavery without Calvinism, but the particularly brutal form of American slavery was shaped by a religious-sanctioned embrace of social hierarchy and racism.

Social and economic differences grew to be so large and intractable between North and South that there was eventually nothing left to do but duke it out in the Civil War (1861-1865). The North won, but the paternalistic view of racial and gender superiority didnt die. During Reconstruction (1865 -1877) the term socialist became a derogatory slur toward people wanting social equity, as it still is today.

Jim Crow laws followed the Civil War to maintain white superiority in the South. Moreover, beginning in the 1930s, some people began attacking FDRs New Deal. They hated the idea of a more equitable income distribution, social security, business regulations, and a lack of overt racial segregation. The opposition came mostly from racists, libertarians, and business elites. With Nixons southern strategy, they grew in power, and around 1980 the GOP merged with the new religious right (fundamentalists & right-wing evangelicals).

Former President Ronald Reagan attacked the common good commitment that had enriched our society after WWII. He deregulated businesses and let the corporate raiders of the 1980s, such as Carl Icahn, transform American economics.

We currently live in a plutocratic oligarchy (rule by the rich) where Wall Street fat cats usurp the wealth produced by hard-working Americans and then use their economic power to control our political system. To defend their privilege, they tell the shafted, white, middle class that minorities, women, and liberals are to blame for their troubles. Democracy is barely hanging on.

The essence of the contemporary conservative movement, which is not led by true conservatives but instead radicals, is the belief that some people (themselves) are better than others and should paternalistically control society and possess most of the wealth.

If you listen carefully, youll notice that the core message from Donald Trump is that you (white, Christian men) used to dominate society, but those socialistic Democrats and their evil federal government have taken that away. Be aggrieved, outraged, and fearful of what theyll do next. Take back your country; Make America great again; and Drain the swamp of people unlike yourselves.

When Jan. 6 rioters striving to overthrow the Constitution carried a confederate flag into the nations capitol, that was no coincidence. In addition to oligarchs and fundamentalists, the GOP is now openly welcoming white supremacists and neo-Nazis into their party. They will do anything to take power, roll back civil rights, and impose their autocratic ideology onto the country.

All people beware, for elitists dont just subjugate women and minorities; they eventually reduce most white men to menials too. Deceiving con men who exploit social wounds, fabricate scapegoats, and say only they can fix it are the real threat to your freedom.

Mark Mansperger, of Richland, WA., is a professor of anthropology. His research includes cultural ecology, societal development and political economy. The views presented in this column are his own.
Tucker Carlson (centre) could be the first Western journalist to interview the Russian president since the war in Ukraine - Twitter

Tucker Carlson, one of Americas most influential presenters, was compared to Jane Fonda after pictures appeared to show him in Russia.

Russian media published a picture that is said to show Mr Carlson attending a performance of Spartacus at Moscows Bolshoi Theatre, prompting speculation of an interview with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president. Mr Carlson has expressed sympathetic views on Russia and Putin.

Commenting on the unverified pictures, Bill Kristol, former chief of staff to the vice president of the United States during the Reagan administration, said: I didnt like Jane Fonda going to Hanoi in 1972, and I dont like Tucker Carlson going to Moscow in 2024.

Fonda was nicknamed Hanoi Jane and accused of showing sympathy for a US enemy when the American actress was filmed posing on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun as US troops were battling communist forces in the country.

Mr Kristol suggested a temporary ban on Mr Carlson reentering the US.

He said: Perhaps we need a total and complete shutdown of Tucker Carlson re-entering the United States until our countrys representatives can figure out what is going on.

The image of Mr Carlson, alongside another of him allegedly at Istanbul airport on a layover, reignited rumours that the political commentator and former Fox News host may be the first Western journalist to interview the Russian president since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Visit follows rumours of Mr Carlson (left) being involved with Russian state television - Twitter

The potential visit also follows rumours of Carlson linking-up with Russian state television for a new show. Mr Carlson is one of the most prominent figures in US media, particularly on the Right, and was close to Donald Trump.

He is known to be sympathetic to Putin, and any link with Russia will likely worry Democrats at a time when Joe Biden is pushing for more money and weapons to be sent to Ukraine.

Tucker Carlson Tonight was the most viewed cable news show in America before it was taken off-air amid a defamation lawsuit in April 2023.

The presenter has since taken his show to Twitter, where his interviews with figures such as Victor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, and controversial online influencer Andrew Tate have reached millions of views.

Rumours of a link-up with Russia first circulated in the summer when state television ran ads with a montage of Mr Carlson repeatedly saying Russia and promising: The high-profile American presenter is moving to another level. Here.

Mr Carlson is popular with Russian state-controlled media. Vladimir Solovyov, an anchor on the Russia 1 channel, urged him to come join us after his departure from Fox News.

Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary to Putin, said in September that he believes that the time will come for an interview by Western media of the Russian president, adding that whether Carlson will be among those who will be considered for an interview, well, lets wait and see.

Remarkably stupid or consciously evil

Bill Browder, the British financier and arch-critic of Putin, said: As Russia conducts a genocidal war to eliminate Ukrainians and Putin is wanted for crimes against humanity by the ICC, Tucker Carlson, an American citizen and influencer, is in Moscow?!? Either hes remarkably stupid or consciously evil. No other excuse.

Some Republican responses have been supportive of Mr Carlsons visit to Moscow.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, a member of the US House of Representatives from Georgia, wrote on social media that Democrats and their propagandists in the media are spasming at the prospect of Tucker Carlson interviewing Putin.

In January, Donald Trump Jr, the eldest son of former US president Donald Trump, said Mr Carlson was a contender to be his fathers running mate in the US 2024 presidential election.

I mean theyre very friendly, I think they agree on virtually all of these things. They certainly agree on stopping the never-ending wars. And so, I would love to see that happen. That would certainly be a contender, Trump Jr said in an interview with Newsmax.

According to Russian Telegram channel Mash, Mr Carlson was pictured at the Bolshoi Theatre after spending three days in Moscow.

He was earlier pictured during a layover at Istanbul Airport en route to the Russian capital.

The Telegraph has contacted Tucker Carlson for comment.

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ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey agreed to provide its increasingly popular drones to Egypt after the two countries normalised ties following a decade of rupture, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Sunday.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is set to travel to Egypt on Feb. 14 to meet counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in his first visit since Ankara and Cairo upgraded relations by appointing ambassadors last year.

Fidan told private A Haber television that Turkey's leader will discuss bilateral and regional issues including trade, energy and security with Sisi.

"Normalisation in our relations is important for Egypt to have certain technologies. We have an agreement to provide (Egypt) unmanned air vehicles and other technologies," Fidan said, without further elaborating.

International demand for Turkish drones has soared after their impact on conflicts in Syria, Libya, Azerbaijan and Ukraine. Ethiopia, which has frosty relations with Egypt over a hydropower dam on the Blue Nile, is among buyers of Turkish drones.

(Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)